20 Questions for a 2011 New Year’s Reflection

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?

Adopting Jasmine and watching her and Tölpel learn to love each other.

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?

Losing a sense of security that everything would be ok - between the tornado and the pitbulls, I really felt like I lost a childhood innocence of safety that was really hard for me.

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?

Promotion at work!! :)

4. What was an unexpected obstacle?

Some depression unexpectedly made an appearance this year. I'm moving past it, but it was difficult just realizing that something I thought I conquered 4 years ago was coming back.

5. Pick three words to describe 2011.

growth, change, surprise

6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2011 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you).

growth, mother (of the dogs), peacemaking

7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2011 (again, without asking).

graduation, job, change

8. What were the best books you read this year?

A Song of Ice and Fire books 3-5... Or The Wheel of Time books 1-4. I've really enjoyed my fantasy novels this year.

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?

my sister, my mom, my husband. And several dear friends from church.

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?

Making the decision to leave the church that I love. While we haven't fully transitioned to our new one yet, letting go of a place we love so much and don't want to leave, and surrendering to where God seems to be leading was really hard for me.

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?

I'm learning some determination and perseverance.

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?

I'm learning to pray and trust God. I like control, but I'm slowly learning that it's really better when He is in control.

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?

Out, around the waist, mostly. :)

14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?

Several good friends have moved away (or already lived far away) and I feel like I've done a little bit of a better job keeping up with those friends and treasuring them.

15. What was the most enjoyable part of your work (both professionally and at home)?

Professionally - when I have a really difficult bug and I finally solve it. There is no greater feeling. At home, cooking a really delicious meal.

16. What was the most challenging part of your work (both professionally and at home)?

At work, dealing with frustrations brought on tight deadlines, miscommunications, and never working face to face with people. And home... finding the time and motivation to keep the house running etc.

17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?

facebook

18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?

learning to do some creative things in my freetime (gifts, webdesign). I'm very much learning, but enjoying the right brain outlet.

19. What was biggest thing you learned this past year?

What other people think is not the most important thing.

20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2011 for you.

The difficult things are the things that taught me the most, so I shouldn't run from them.

Christmas Gifts Part 1: Personalized Mugs!

This year for Christmas, I decided to make my gifts. Having recently discovered Pinterest.com, I had plenty of ideas... I just needed time and patience. So craft number one was these awesome personalized mugs! They have names on one side, and chalkboard goodness on the other.

Given that I currently have Crafting Level 1, It was a massive battle of trial and error. Armed only with a picture on pinterest of a vase and an idea of the mug in my head, I set out.

Version 1 - First, I tried Elmer's glue. However, Elmer's glue is no where near thick enough, and I ended up with a droopy mess. I washed the mugs and then I wrote the names on with a glue gun. Then painted over it with chalkboard paint. They took awhile (I kept having to redo the names) but eventually, I came out with a beautiful product. Until Jacob took his to work. The heat from the coffee melted off both the glue AND the paint!

Back to the... er... chalkboard.

Version 2 - I did a lot of internet research (the very best kind.) And found that you have to cure a ceramic - this entails putting a painted mug into a cold oven, heating to 350, baking for 30 minutes, and then letting it cool. Ok, problem one solved, but a hot glue gun is going to certainly melt off during the curing process. I tried it just to make sure - and yes. Big melty mess.

Jacob had some ideas but in the end, after much trial and error, and a little exasperated sighing (ok, I was screaming something about "stupid mugs, why did I even think I could make something?!!!") we used puffy paint! (aka fabric paint).

I was very pleased and I hope all those who received them liked them. Plus, I leveled up to Crafing Level 2!

Recommended Read: O Christmas Tree

Jacob humorously shares about getting our first real Christmas Tree and some thoughts on tradition here :).

A Guest Post: Couponing 101

Last night, my friend Erika taught a Couponing 101 class to my sister and I. My sister is a complete newcomer to couponing and I have tried previously - even having some small success at a Harris Teeter Super Doubles. But we both learned a lot! I asked Erika to write a guest post for the blog. Thank you so much Erika for teaching us your couponing ways!

Here's what I've shared with others who have asked for help. Isn't cut and paste a wonderful time saver? :) There are a few things you have to learn in order to make coupons work for you

1) Don't buy something just because you have a coupon for it.

If you're not sure you'll use it don't buy it. Also make sure that the store brand isn't cheaper than the name brand even after the coupon.

2) Learn all your local store coupon policies.

• Some stores here have double coupons (give you twice the face value off) up to a certain amount. A lot of times that means that even though that particular store is a little more expensive, the items still work out cheaper since the coupon is worth more.
• Also know how many of a particular coupon they'll take. There's nothing worse than digging items back out of the bags because they won't take more coupons. Here, Harris Teeter and Lowes double up to $0.99 face value (so a 75 cent coupon is worth $1.50) and Kroger doubles up to $0.50 face value coupons. Harris Teeter and Lowes will also only double 20 coupons per day. None of the other local grocery stores double coupons that I know of. Harris Teeter takes 3 identical coupons (if you buy 3 items obviously), Lowes Food takes 4 and Kroger only takes 2.

3) Learn the store's sale policies.

When items go on sale for buy one get one free, most of the grocery stores in let you buy just one at half price instead of having to buy two. Plus, because you are paying for both of them instead of one being free, they'll let you use a coupon on each item if you do buy 2. This particularly saves waste when it's an item that you just can't use 2 of.

4) Always try to match up the coupons with sales.

That's the way you can end up getting lots of items for under $1. Granted, if you're out and you have to buy it, use the coupon, but it obviously will save you more if you can buy the items on sale as well. For me this does mean that I might visit 3 different stores in a week, but I'm only buying a few items at each store that are on sale and am in and out in 20 minutes or less.

5) The biggest way to save money is to try and build a stockpile.

Almost any item that you buy will go on sale every month or two. So, if when a non-perishable item is on sale for a good price you should buy enough to last you a month or two, so that you won't have to buy it again until it's on sale. It's took me several months and a bit of extra money up front, but now I rarely buy things that aren't on sale except milk and some produce.

6) Be willing to try new things/brands.

While I do have certain items that I'll only buy a certain brand, when I was willing to start trying new brands of soap, deoderant, shampoo, etc I was able to save a lot of money by buying what was on sale. The drugstores make it fairly easy to get most toiletries for under $1 each if you match sales. Also be willing to try new types of produce. What ever is in season is soooo much cheaper than everything else. You just have to be open.

I have two blogs that I follow and both of them will tell you what's on sale for good prices where and what coupons line up with the deals. It means that I don't have to actually go through all the fliers each week to find the deals. The majority of the work is done for me.

• I use the Smartshopper on the WRAL website
• and the Centsable Saver Blog on the N&O website.

I will also say that I get 3 papers every Sunday so that I have lots of coupons to use when there is a sale. I know it sounds a little excessive, but since I only pay a little over $2 for the first copy and the extra copies are only $1 each, it's very easy to have them pay for themselves. I only have to average one coupon a week from each of the extra papers for them to pay for themselves. I don't know if you currently get the paper, but it's where I get a majority of my coupons. You can sign up for the extra papers for $1 through the N&O website and they come delivered to your door with your other paper.

Well, I know that was a ton of information and I hope it helps. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

"Hey MB, what type of music do you like?"

This is a tough question for me.  I grew up with a Justin Timberlake shrine in my bedroom... and then rebelled against my "pop queen" self and proclaimed loudly that I really liked "Hard rock, like Metallica and stuff."  As I got older, I determined that my tastes are pretty specific, but generally, my go to answer is "I like music with really interesting lyrics."  This is easier than elaborating, but I thought it would be kind of fun to elaborate here on some of my "interesting lyrics".

So without further ado, a sampling of MB's all time favorite music:

Silly

1. Profanity and Unicorns by Rhett and Link (0:57)
2. Stuck Inside Your Head by Jeffery Dallas aka Julian Smith (2:04)
3. Word Disassociation by Lemon Demon aka Neil Circierga (4:06)

Sweet

1. Gracie by Ben Folds (2:40)
2. Nothing Matters When You're Dancing by Magnetic Fields (2:56)
3. Two Become One by Bill Mallonee (4:20)
4. The Hazards of Love  (the entire album is a beautiful and deeply symbolic story, but this is the beginning) by The Decemberists (4:19)
5. Long Legged Guitar Pickin Man by Johnny Cash and June Carter (2:38)