New Moon

I am not going to lie...I am torn. I have friends coming in from Atlanta this weekend to stay with us. I am SO happy they are coming! Honestly...THRILLED! I finally get to meet my good friend's boyfriend who we hope is the one :) We are going to dinner somewhere fancy tonight...more on that later...but I don't think they want to see New Moon...and I REALLY want to see it! I might just have to slip out and see it myself at some point--has anyone seen it already? Let me know what you think. I wasn't crazy about the first movie...but also not crazy about the second book.

I also HAVE to tell you about an ADORABLE giveaway LLM is having...check her out--she is absolutely hysterical--makes me laugh nearly every day!

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My First Turkey!

I made my first turkey EVER this past weekend. We are spending the Thanksgiving holiday with my mom so I will let her cook (phew) and I will just supervise and make sure she is making my sweet potato casserole correctly and with enough marshmallows :)

All I did was buy a small turkey breast (not the entire thing, people) and put it in the slow cooker with some seasonings and a can of gravy. So easy! The gravy turned into a dark delicious sauce that we could pour over the turkey. That stuffing is just that boxed stuff...you know, the real goodness!

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Yum Yum Pumpkin Muffins!

Ya'll have probably seen these floating around the internet, but I have made them so often this past month, they fill my freezer! They are DELICIOUS and easy to freeze/thaw/warm. If you haven't tried them, you have to because they are so soft and yummy!

I always use a measuring cup to fill the muffin pans...

Our new "oven" because ours is no longer in use...grrr...

Yes, we can only make 6 at at time...please don't laugh.

YUM!

Ingredients: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 (16 ounce) can pumpkin

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups vegetable oil (yes, 1 1/4 cups)

3 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips (Regular or mini, I like mini best)

Directions

In large mixing bowl beat eggs, sugar, pumpkin, vanilla and oil until smooth.

Mix dry ingredients together and mix into pumpkin mixture. Fold in chocolate chips.3

Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups 3/4 full.4

Bake at 400 F for 16-20 minutes.

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Beautiful Bag

I splurged last week on a GORGEOUS new bag. It is very large, lots of pockets, and has the most FUN rose design on the front of it. It is modeled after a Valentino, wich I will never own nor do I want to. I can put this bag down in a spill and simply wipe it off and not think twice about how much I spent on it :)

http://www.funsac.com/pshop/254-big-buddha-rose.html

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Coupon Love!

Sadly, going to Publix on the first day of the sale is almost like Black Friday for me...I look forward to it all week, plan for it, and become as excited as a child about to ride their first roller coaster when I watch the prices drop on the screen.

Here's how this week went:

By the way, this is the kitchen we can't wait to rip out! More on that another day...would love your suggestions when I post some pictures.

2 chinet napkin packs--FREE

2 glade candles-1.50 (I have a secret santa in Dec. these will be perfect for!)

2 Progresso Soups (.30 for both)

2 Emerald nuts containers (3.50)

2 Mueller's whole wheat pasta (.19 for both)

Men's multivitamins (6.00...grrr--biggest purchase)

Cascade- (3.50)

Apples (2.99)

4 yoplait yoplus yogurt packs (1.00!!!! for ALL of them!)

2 Kraft cheeses, one shredded, one block (1.67)

Kashi breakfast bars (FREE, emailed the company)

Softsoap (.40)

Dove bars (1.99)

TOTAL: $25!!!

Saved in coupons and advertised special savings: $50!!

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Ikea "Fun"

The hubs and I are on the lookout for kitchen inspiration. We recently decided that we wouldn't be leaving anything in the kitchen for the remodel, but completely starting over. So, that takes a lot more planning than our original plan: reface cabinets and replace counters and appliances.

We headed off to Ikea on Saturday. First, let me say that never have I been to a store in which I felt like I should have gotten a free train ride at some point during my visit. This place is like an amusement park!

Here is one of their beautiful kitchens:

Love the floor tile, although we already replaced ours so that isn't in the budget.

Here is a white version, I think we will end up doing wood that matches the wood we have in the main part of the house since we have tile in the kitchen. The tile is light so the white cabinets just might make the room too white.

I love those undermount lights...they would be so useful and cozy.

Overall, we decided against Ikea for the following reasons:

1. All cabinets must be put together by the purchaser

2. You must design the kitchen and cross your fingers and toes that you measured correctly and picked the right cabinetry.

3. Costs extra for them to install it (almost $100 a cabinet, more than the cabinets are actually worth)

4. Wood is particle board.

5. Many of the pull-outs are made of plastic.

I think this would be a great option for a condo, but we think we might need to spend a little more to have our house stand out for a future buyer. Sad that we are always thinking of that, but hey, what can ya do?

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Fireproof

Ok, kind of corny...but overall we liked the message that the movie Fireproof sent (especially for $1). We have The Love Dare and did it over the summer, and now we are doing it again...it honestly changes the way you look at your marriage over and over again! Kirk Cameron--too cute. Acting...not so cute, but still--good message!

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