Real Fast

I went in the house today and when I left after 9 tonight they were still working like crazy and had a fair amount to get done!  I saw Michael Malone in the house, one of the designers.  I met a guy that works for Disney that works for the show Handy Manny.  

I am tired so very very tired. I have to get in the bed so I can do it all again tomorrow.  I have VIP passes for the reveal tomorrow along with tons of other people.  This should be interesting.

Here is the latest on the money they are trying to raise........Day Six. They are still a long way away from what they need.  Even $1 adds up if you feel like donating $1!

Thank You LG for donating after I blogged about it!!!!!!

It has been an awesome experience this week.  I am so tired and I know as I am getting ready to head off to bed there are people working around the clock tonight, many have not slept but a few hours here and there.  Every person that I have talked to that works for NationWide/Palm Harbor will tell you they have had no sleep and it has been exhausting but they would not trade it for anything.  That says a lot about what an undertaking these builds are.  

Hopefully I will have more to share and some pics after I get to sleep.

Good Night!

HELP

As you all know I have been out volunteering the past couple days at the site of the Extreme Makeover Home Edition and I am headed back early in the morning.  I was able to go up and view the house today (don't have pictures of that because you are not allowed to take pictures).  The family is being blessed with a beautiful new home that will meet their needs.  The one need that has not been met yet is that they need a wheelchair accessible vehicle that can have a wheelchair lift installed for their son Jacob who has Spina Bifida.  The wheelchair lift has been donated already so Palm Harbor and Nationwide Homes are trying to make this a reality.  I was in the tent this evening when Dan came down, he is one of the higher ups on the project....I have been told his exact title with the company but for fear that I will give him the wrong title I am just letting you know he is of great importance to this project!  Anyways he shared with us that they have set up a fund for this and are trying to raise the money by Saturday which is reveal day.  So many people have brought it items and given of their time but they do feel this vehicle is a big thing that would drastically help them.  The family does not have a vehicle to support their needs for their son.  They are also trying to pay off their mortgage!  When Dan was speaking about this I told him I would go home and get to the blog, facebook, and email with this.  I know so many of you contribute to so many things but as he pointed out if you tell 10 friends and they each donate even $1-5 and then they tell 10 friends then the money will start to add up quickly to help this family out with one of their greatest needs.  If any of you are able to just do a few dollars that would be awesome.  If you are able to donate leave me a comment and there will be a surprise in it for you!  

Go to this site here and there is a paypal link to the right.  Dan is in that video above the paypal link.  He is the guy on the right.  

Here are a few pictures to share with you!

 

Dan with Nationwide Homes

This lady was donating this laptop to the family!

 

The two ladies are from Nationwide Homes and the guy on the right is with Extreme!  He is the man that brings down the blue shirts.  I am sure that is a job of many he does!

 

  

  

The Columbus Cottonmouths

Extreme Update

I have not been home long and will be going back to Pine Mountain at 8 am in the morning folks so I am making this a short one.  Long story short I ended up heading to the house after driving halfway through half of the Georgian counties because they did not need help at the high school because they were laying floor so other people really could not get in to do any work right then.  So when I got there they asked if I would like to help them in the tent?  SURE!  It is the main tent.  No one enters without going through the tent to receive their t-shirt, hard hats, badges and fill out release paper work.  So I get to go back tomorrow and Friday to work up their with some fun ladies and the ladies from Nationwide and Palm Harbor.  Not sure about the weekend though.  We have a party to go to Saturday night although I would like to go to the "Move the Bus" Saturday.  The Columbus Cottonmouths came through tonight to come help.  It is really awesome to see all the people that have come out to support them and donate of their time and skills.  One lady came in today and dropped off a bunch of toys for the kids.  Her kids and nieces and nephews all pooled their money together to buy them for the daughter and son that will move into the house!  How great!  Good Night!

You can go here to read about the family and what all is going on!
 

Extreme News

 

I get to go help on the Extreme Home Makeover this week!!!!!  Yep I do!  I saw where they were coming to our area and needed volunteers.  I volunteered Cas (him the days he is off) and I both a couple of weeks ago starting today through next Sunday but they had so many volunteers in the end that I received and email to come Wednesday.  They did not email me back about Cas though.   I guess they had all they needed after the media coverage over it.  We have been looking for ways to give back and when I heard about this I immediately got online and signed up!  I will not be at the house site I will be at the "other" site.  You know how many times they have another project going on.  The Dad works at the local hogh school and is a coach and the athletic director so I am thinking that they are doing something at his school.   I recieved the email about the family today and I will share it later this week.  The design team and Ty always travel to the "other" site as well so maybe I will get to see them or the celebrity that is working with them.  If not that is o.k. too because it is all part of giving back and "paying it forward"!  The rules say that you can not take pictures inside the house but I don't know if you can take "general" pictures or not?  I can not wait until Wednesday.....what Extreme fun!

We Are Around

We have been so busy and it has seemed non stop since Thanksgiving.  I have not forgotten about blogging!  I have a lot of things to post when I get a chance this weekend!  Happy Friday to you all!

Marriage Mondays

 

#964 (Dealing with a Man) ~ You need to know if you come to him with a problem, he will tell you how to solve it, then get back to watching t.v.  He will think his work is done.

I can't even get him to stop watching the t.v. while I am spilling my problem!

#199 (Marriage and Happiness) ~ You need to know men who marry are less likely to be arrested.  They're busy doing chores.  And that makes wives happy.

If he got arrested he would be there a while!  I don't do cops or jails!

#800 (Dealing with a Woman) ~ You need to know she secretly believes that if you use her razor on your face, you will give her a staph infection.  Somehow though, your razor is perfectly safe for her legs.  

Amen.....he has the good razor and I have the cheap disposable so I use his often!

Wedding Wednesdays

Not much to report this week.  I have just been online looking at ideas.  I do have two main colors and some ideas in the works and I will post those later for ya'll.  We are going to Birmingham again this weekend so I can go look for a dress.  I have found two that I really like but I want to try on more to find "the one"!  I have always loved the Melissa Sweet dresses (not just because of the name) but I know that I am not getting one! Ladies who was the designer of your wedding dress and your bridesmaid dresses?  Also what stores did you find your dresses at? A small shop or a chain store?  Did you have a certain style in your head and then when you tried it on decided it was not "your style"?  Where did you have the best luck?  Tell me your stories, Bride to Bride!
Here are some rather interesting selections! LOL

 

  

 

Tips Tuesdays~Grocery Shopping

Leslie over at Lamberts Lately is doing a new blog hop about tips and this week it is about grocery shopping.

I have blogged about this many time and it can be really fun to grocery shop once you realize how to get the most for your money and  it is super fun when you are walking out with numerous bags and you hardly paid anything for them.  It is kind of like legally stealing!  Last night I saved over $90 at Publix.  I had not done to much shopping lately since we have been gone so much since Thanksgiving so therefor I had not blogged about any fabulous deals.

* I learned in a coupon class that you should buy a paper for ever person in your house, so I buy two each week.  Even if you live alone I think you should get a minimum of two papers or print out two coupons because when they have a BOGO sale and the coupon is for a % of of one item then you can use both coupons off of the cost of one item since the second one is already FREE!  That is when you start saving a lot!

* You should make your menu off of what is on sale and not make your menu and then grocery shop because it is really hard to save money that way.

*If you go once a week (I Puffy Heart Publix so that is where I try to do most of my shopping) and use your coupons and get the non perishable items that you use anyways then in no time you will have a good amount of food to choose from.  Then you are not always running out to buy an item here and there.
* I have many saving cites listed on the right side of my blog and I refer to them often especially when they are notifying me of FREE or close to free things.  I do like iheartpublix.com
* I also have a very organized coupon book that is split up by categories.  I have found that it is better to make your own list of categories depending on your needs and the easiest way for you to file things and find them!
*I try to get on the website of which ever grocery store I am going to and make a list of the things I need that are on sale and then I try to pull my coupons before I go to the store so that way I know if I have coupons for the item.  The best way to save money is to get items on sale and BOGO and then use coupons on top of them!
* I buy a lot of our meat at Sam's (much to the dismay of my Father because he likes better quality meat...ha) because it is much cheaper and I can break it up and freeze what I am not getting ready to use.  I also buy the large items there as well such as rice.  Milk and eggs are super cheap there too!  My tip for the best thing to buy at Sam's is the hoagie rolls that they bake fresh there.  It is a little more than three dollars for 6 loafs and we use them for sandwiches and also use them as french bread with meals.  They are so much cheaper than buying regular french bread and you can freeze it as well.
* I also am better at shopping alone so that I do not get sidetracked.

Happy Valentines to Me

Well it will be when I hopefully WIN I will I will this fabulous giveaway!  You see I have a great love obsession with those two candles Miss Laura has posted and they NEED to come to my house so they will have some companions that I use sparingly because I can't bare to use them all up.  If any of my friends win the giveaway then I will come sit at your house to enjoy the great smell of them burning and if they dissapear well then I will have no idea what happened....honest.  So go over and try to win the prize for you ME, today is the last day!

Marriage Mondays

 

I am continuing with this again this week. 

#267 (Marriage Problems) ~ You need to know if you are still mad about something that happened five years ago, it's a sign you're off your meds.

Ha.....I do not forget anything~I can't help it that is just my memory.  I did not say that I don't forgive or I would be mad I just do not forget much!

#666 (Marriage and Counseling...the number 666 makes this sound doomed anyways) ~ You need to know if your marriage counselor is divorced.

Sounds kind of like calling a computer repairman that does not own a computer!

#687 (Marriage and Fidelity) ~ You need to know that having one affair will tend to lead to another.

Maybe Tiger should pick up a copy of this book.......just sayin.

What are your marriage tips?

Super Bowl

We are settling in to watch the Super Bowl. I have made Spaghetti with turkey....the 1st time ever and I am about to make some banana pudding as well!  I am not a huge sports fan  except I like hockey because people get smashed up against the plexi-glass and if I am going to watch them I prefer to be there!  I do like the Super Bowl though for the commercials and musical performances!  Let me tell you how we have picked teams around here....Cas is pulling for the Colts because he likes Peyton Manning.  I am pulling for the Saints because they have beignets, king cakes, Mardi Gras and fluer de lis!  I know I know but a girl picks by food and symbols and events.  You will see my thing for fluer de lis come up soon in another post.  Too bad I did not buy some beignet mix to make. I do love Hank and Kendra and Reggie and Kim so I am hoping to see  them on tv tonight as well. You can also see that relaity t.v. plays consumes a part in my life! We have actually been to New Orleans and Indianapolis together and gone past both of the stadiums.  This should provide for an entertaining evening! Any of you have anything special going on? Go Saints!

Wedding Wednesday

This past weekend we went to Rome (where we are getting married) to the Bridal show.  Yep that would be four of us that went.  My Dad and Mary and Cas and I.  The men could have gone elsewhere but they stayed with us.  They taste tested all the food that was out.  I was able to get some info but after a while I was kind of over it.  I am really really wishing we would take my Dad up on the offer of going away to the Bahamas or Jamaica. This is just too stressful.  People put their comments in about what you should do or things they don't/do like.  Well I will be happy to ablige that when they send a check!  There is just too much to get done and it is stressful.  I am trying to see what friends have left from their weddings that I may could use because a. I do not have to spend money on it but b. then I won't own it and I do not have to bring it back to this house to try to find somewhere to store it!  I already have one box full of things.  Let's not forget I have to figure out a way to get this all there!  One of my best friends Leslie and her Mom have offered to let me come and look through their stuff.  Leslie's last name is Smith (what mine will be) and so she may have some monogrammed things.  Her Mom gives lots of parties and has a lot of items from her daughter's weddings that she said I could come look at.  Her taste is great and she always has cute ideas too!  My friend Charity has some things too that she said I could borrow including vases.  I have not decided what I am going to do just yet as far as decor.  That maybe because I have not nailed down a color scheme either! 
My question to you this week is what do you think of when you hear September wedding?  Do you think of Summer or Fall?  When I first started thinking of wedding ideas in my head I thought our wedding would be in October so I had a lot of fall ideas in my head.  Then when I went to book the church they only had September available.  Are brown dresses still o.k. for September? I know people do this all of the time but what do you put with the guys black tuxes to make them look good with brown?

 

Not good pictures but as you can see there is a lot of wood and stone so I thought browns would look much better in here and plus my dress will be ivory not white.  What other colors would you use with brown?

Who Says Ice Cream Is Not For Dogs

While perusing the freezer section at Publix the other night I came across these little doggie ice creams.  

 

Maggie gets some ice cream on occasion and whenever we take her to Bruster's they give her the doggie sundae that consists of vanilla ice cream and a dog bone.  She eats all of the ice cream and leaves the dog bone!  I was excited to find these since she loves ice cream and these are made for their tummies.

She gives it four paws!

Mmmm Mardi Gras

One of the best things about Mardi Gras.....King Cakes!

Yes I realize the baby is sitting on top!

It was deliscious!

We have been a couple of years to Mardi Gras in Mobile...I can not find the pictures on my computer though.....and we love it!  It is so fun to see what you get at the parades.  We have seen Halloween and Christmas candy thrown out before.  The Joe Cain parade is fun because the black beads are the coveted prizes.  Renea and I have even been thrown Mardi Gras panties before!  When I say panties I mean the cheap kind that are printed and would fit your baby doll!  What fun!   We really really wish we were going this year but with a wedding coming up we are not going to go and pay for a hotel room at Mardi Gras prices........Happy Mardi Gras!

Marriage Monday

I recieved the book above in my Christmas stocking from Cas this year.  It is filled with tips in facts in twenty-three differant topics that deal with all aspects of marriage.  So I thought each Monday I will share a few with you.  Some serious, some sarcastic, and some funny but true.  

#59 (Marriage Plans) ~ You need to know to make major decisions together.  Don't buy a car or lease an apartment as a surprise.  It will be.

We have already had a discussion about this because I do not really like surprises and I really don't like them when it is something that you are stuck with and can not take back!  Hence why we have been picking out my ring together.  The only way I would want to ever be surprised with a car is if we had just been there and I said FOR SURE that was the one! 

#956 (Dealing with a Man) ~ You need to know he views the bathroom the way you view a library.  It's a place to get serious reading done.

Really why?  Just get in and get out, there are so many other things that could be accomplished in that time! 

#786 (Dealing with a Woman) ~ You need to know you can't make her happy all the time, you can't please her all of the tme, and you can't understand her all of the time.  You can, however, love her all the time.

Women or men......not going to be anything 100% of the time.....sigh, just love them!

Do you have any marriage tips you want to share?  

Happy Monday!