WHAT'S UP YOU ASK....NOT MUCH!!

First, a fun pic! Simon has decided he likes my office chair. He will circle it until I get up, just as soon as I stand up he jumpes up in it and gets comfortable. So because he's so spoiled and I respond to his every request as cat owners do - I push the chair back away from the desk. If I push too fast or accidentally spin it he let's me know by lifting his head and meowing. Jeez - talk about living like a king!! So here he is relaxing!



Now I must sit back down and transcribe from a dining room chair! Which actually I prefer! Because of the straight back, lack of arms, and harder seat I have better typing posture. Of course it drives Darren crazy that I do this, so we only do it when he's not at home!!! :o) Darren never checks my blog, so shhhhhhhhhh. But it's kind of fun having my cat for company during the day. I've asked for his help on medical terms, but so far he just raises one eyelid and closes it back up, much too busy to help me.



I'M TOTALLY OBSESSED WITH GROCERIES!!! Christy Platt posted on her blog a while back about The Grocery Game. So I went to the link and now I've become obsessed, possessed, you name it. From that site I've found links to other helpful sites, sites with coupons, how to's, etc. We looked over our spending last year and boy did we waste a lot of money. I found myself going to the grocery store about every other day spending $40 here, $50 there and then major shopping too, trips to Target - not good. So one of the things I wanted to focus on regarding our finances this year was how I handle the grocery shopping. I wanted to be a better steward with that. It takes time, but I don't mind. I actually feel like I'm doing something productive for my household. I'm actually going today after 1pm to Albertsons because they are having an eight hour sale that starts then and I have coupons for some of the products - I'm pumped to find out how much I've saved!! Here's a few pics of my coupon binder.



I have made categories - non-perishables, dairy, frozen foods, produce, etc. SO COOL!! I guess I've become a grocery geek!! This is way easier than fumbling through an envelop full of coupons. Then as I put things in my basket, I pull from the sleeve and put it in the pocket up front. I'll have my list on a post it on the inside. Can you tell I'm very impressed with myself!! :o)



My island is coming in very handy for this. I can totally spread out and make a plan!! Darren mistakingly threw out this weeks ads and messed up my organized piles - well, let's say he'll never do that again!!! :o)



Back to work for a bit and then off the grocery store!!

UPDATE: Grocery total: $142.87 minus club savings of $89.07 minus coupons $19.85 equals $33.95. Plus I earned a coupon for free 12 pack of soda and a free loaf of fresh french bread from the bakery!! I ROCK!!! :o)

BUSY WEEKEND....

Friday night started with a sleep over for nine teenagers!! Janae and Wendy asked if they could have a sleep over at the house and I ALWAYS say yes...as long as I get to hang with them then they can come!! We talked first kisses - I was the youngest to get my first kiss! Scarey! Painted toe nails getting ready for the winter formal that was the following day! Ate pizza, brownies, cookies, candy, chips and dip, tortilla chips and yummy melted cheese, hostess snacks....then about 10:00pm ordered more pizza because they were still hungry!! We talked guys, of course, purses, clothes, hair, and yes, we did talk a bit about other people - but we were nice!! I think that's why I love having those girls over - we had such a great time just hanging out, listening to music and eating!! We didn't talk bills, lack of money to pay our bills, we didn't talk weight or how much fat that twinkie had in it! We didn't talk husbands and how they drive us crazy. We didn't talk work or about the stresses of it all. So, I'm going to have an adult sleep over and we are going to talk boys, hair, purses, do nails, etc. No grown up talk!! Anybody want to come?? Here are a few picks of our lazy night!





Saturday I spent doing errands, running around, had to be up at church for a skit rehearsal we did on Sunday night - which was really fun!! Wish I had pics to post. Then Sunday we attended church with our friends David and Keri Simmons who some of you might remember used to attend Life Center. They now attend a great little church down town Long Beach that is an Angelican church. It's certainly quite different than what we are used to, but I did enjoy it. I love the church and its feel. There was something that was just really comforting about that little church. Iain got baptized Sunday morning and we were asked to be his god parents. We met with their pastor before the service and he explained to us all of our responsibilities as a god parent and wow - pretty heavy stuff!! That is not something we practice in our faith, but I wish we did. It was such an honor to stand up on that platform with him and be with David and Keri that day and know that they invited us - US - into their lives the way they did. We spent the day at their house having a celebration in honor of Iain.


Saturday afternoon I went by Kimberly Deojay's to see how pretty she looked in her winter formal dress - look how tall her boyfriend is!! Mark, her dad, asked me to stay as they prayed a blessing over the couple before they headed out, which I gladly did. Isn't she so pretty and so grown up - when did that happen?!


So I had a great weekend - what felt like a family filled weekend!! Hung out with my girls from church, got to pray with parents for my teenage friend Kim, and then stood up as godparents for Iain - I had a GREAT weekend!! I love being a part of my surrogate families out here!

HELLO AGAIN - I HAVE RETURNED TO THE WORLD OF BLOGGING!!

I'm sure some of you have probably stopped checking my blog since I haven't posted in like three years! I have been keeping up on my reading of the blogs, just not very good at posting on mine. Just some highlights below!!

Of course the pictures aren't in order and when I try to rearrange I lose them, or they get turned upside down, etc. So I gave up...you'll just have to see things out of order!! I didn't bother asking people if I can post their picture, so if you see yourself here, hey, do you mind??!!

The first picture is from New Year's Eve - I actually cropped myself out of this one, but it didn't stick....anyway, these are some of my favorite peeps! Wendy, Leah and Greg!! We went to the Kennedys for a non party New Year's Eve party!!



We had our first California Christmas this year. Darren's parents came out for the holidays instead of us going home. This is Barry and Chris, aka Mom and Dad Williams at the beach in Santa Monica on Christmas morning. While I stayed home and cooked Christmas dinner, Darren took his parents all over Los Angeles to see the sites on Christmas morning/day. It was great because nobody was on the road, they actually got around the city and saw lots of things!! More than they would have seen had it been a regular day. I missed being home with my family - that was tough as it was the first year EVER being away from them during Christmas. But since we stayed home to be with Darren's family this year, next year we are just staying in DuQuoin - my little home town in Illinois. Trying to trade off - so next year my parents get us all to themselves!! Although after a few days my dad may tell me to go visit the in-laws!!! :o)


This is Darren carving our Christmas turkey - isn't it just so pretty. It was so big it barely fit on my platter - there wasn't even any room on it to decorate it with parlsey pieces or any kinds of pretties!!! I wanted that Norman Rockwell painting look of us sitting around the table while the turkey is being carved...didn't quite make it. Plus, it was later in the evening on Christmas night, we were all in our comfy clothes, not exaclty picture perfect!!


Here's Mom and Dad Williams again at the Getty Villa in Malibu. We spent part of the day down there and then went to Gladstones on the beach in Malibu for some fish. It was a really gorgeous day and the Villa is just beautiful. I love going there. We are sitting outside the restaurant for dinner and as we were watching the sunset it got REALLY cold. We kind of rushed through dinner because they were too cold to sit outside. Me, well I was in direct setting of the sun, so it was right on me and I was actually warm. I wanted to stay for some coffee and watch the sun go down completely...wimps!! :o)


We took his parents to see The Glory of Christmas....Darren couldn't refuse a picture. He got caught and was told to put his camera away!! Here's one illegal shot.


This is our youth pastor, Pastor Matt and his now wife Danielle. They got married on January 5th and even though the weather caused them to move the wedding inside, it was still a very sweet wedding and fun reception. They are honeymooning in Hawaii. Kyle, his best man, gave a great toast, it was so neat to see two men and how close their friendship is. Kyle couldn't make it through his speech without tears and Matt was trying to hold it together as well. Me, well of course I was crying right along with them!!



Donna posted a picture of Lenny on her blog of him dancing like crazy. We have those pics too, but ours are fuzzy. I guess he was just boogying down too fast!! Here is an adorable picture of these two at our table.



This is Matt at his bachelor party - He's putting on a show of some sort. Of course, I can't get the picture to turn back the right way, so tilt your head and you can see it better!! :o) Darren had a great time with these guys. I actually wanted to go too - but I wasn't allowed!!


Back to New Year's Eve - we first went to the Platts for a Pajama Party. This is Darren, Jenny, Dylan and Emma - aren't they just the cutest family ever!! Emma fits right in - you can tell she is her mother and father. The girl was held by everybody, but she just played along and didn't get irritated at all. She's quite the social butterfly!


This is Michele and Jenny singing to a game - looked like fun. I've played it with my nieces and I kept laughing too hard to score anything!!



So that's pretty much been it for the past month, we had company after Christmas. Darren's cousin and his wife from Champaign Illinois came out for the Rose Bowl. They are both Illini alumni. They stayed a week with us. I'm just now taking down my tree - today!!

Um...what else?? I'm no longer working with my friend Dave at his Remax office. I am back at home doing medical transcription. Real estate wasn't my thing, so I'm back doing what I do and know best!!!

Happy New Year Everybody!!!