Shopping Trips....

I've been trying to save money when I go shopping. I have become one of THOSE people you see in the grocery store with the coupon binder. I hardly buy anything without a coupon, seriously.

I do Rite-Aid trips and score big sales. I think Mark and Kerry have enough guy body wash and deodorant to last for a while, but I can't stop getting the good deals. I'd rather have a stockpile than not enough...especially when they practically pay me to take the stuff out of the store.

I went to Publix yesterday. I spent 136.00, but saved over 100.00 on stuff we WILL use. That is my rule...if it isn't something we would normally use or try I won't buy it. No need in buying junk that will just take up room when I could use that room for good stuff! :) One of the great deals that I got at Publix yesterday was 10 jars of Peter Pan peanut butter for .79 each. The other good deal...shredded Sargento cheese...2 for $4. I have $1.00 off coupons for each bag. So, I go Sargento shredded cheese for a buck a bag! Whoot! Plus, I had two .40 off coupons for additional savings on two bags. I was especially excited about that. Sad, but true. ;)

Spring Break! YES!

Finally....Spring Break! Whew!

The last week before Spring Break was ridiculous! The teachers were asked to eat lunch with the students in the common area because we had so many fights. Insanity. We typically have very few fights at our school. I don't know what was up with the kids.

Mark and I are going to the Shakespeare Tavern for my birthday. I'm SO excited! We're going to get to see Midsummer Night's Dream. Yay!

Shakespeare Tavern

Mark and I are going to the Atlanta Shakespeare Tavern for my 40th! I'm so excited. We got tickets for the 28th for Midsummer Night's Dream! YES!

Score :)

I've just started couponing. I went to a class about three weeks ago with Becky. It has been interesting getting everything done.

This is my latest haul from Rite Aid.




9 bags of Hershey's Kisses
2 bags of Snicker's mini
4 bags of Starburst Jelly Beans
2 bags of Hall's Cough Drops
2 bags of Planter's Grove nuts
4 cans of Pringles
Total Cost of items: $79.37
Cost with Coupons/Sales: $30.04
UPRewards earned: $15.00
So after UPRewards: Each item was 65 cents!

WHOOOO!

The school year...

The first part of the school year was terrible. I was, for the first time in many years, thinking about putting out applications for other jobs...other schools. I was SICK of the students I had. I was sick of the apathy. I was sick of the rude, rude children. By the end of the semester, I was just counting the days until holiday vacation. I'm glad that I stuck it out. I have great classes this time. Apparently, I just needed to get to Spring semester. Now, I'm sure that by May I will be ready for a new crew of students, but so far I've really enjoyed my classes. They have the cutest personalities! Seriously!

I have SO much homework keeping up with them though. They are a smart group, and I have to be on my toes! :)

Today has been a super lazy day. I've loaded the dishwasher today. Yeah, that's about it. I've watched a lot of Law and Order as well. Other than that....nada. I need to do laundry (which I'm sure I'll get to), and I need to get groceries.

I have a HUGE bruise on my right forearm. OUCH! I fell when I was taking out the garbage. Yeah, I'm a klutz. :|

Valentine's Day is Monday. I'm excited about the stuff I got Mark. I hope that he likes it.

I got the students Mad Lib Valentine pencils and Laffy Taffy....they better love me ;)

Book Challenge

In addition to my list earlier, I'm going to do the Books I Should Have Read in High School challenge. I'm super excited!

I'm going to read 12 books:
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines by Thomas C. Foster
The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan
Beauty and the Beast by Marie Le Prince de Beaumont
Night and Day by Virginia Woolf
House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Villette by Charlotte Brontë
My Antonia by Willa Cather

I teach high school English so I've read a bunch of the "classics".

One more day...

School starts on Wednesday. I can't say that I am ready to go back. I'm not. I enjoy staying home and being slothful. I enjoy cooking more when I don't have to come home and rush to get everything cooked and on the table before midnight. I enjoy snuggling down with a good book whenever I want. I guess I can deal with 90 more school days. I certainly hope that spring semester is much better than fall was. I am not one to be overly grouchy or "srunch-y faced" all the time, but my classes last semester did that to me. Even with my worst classes I could usually find at least one class of the three that I liked...not last semester.

In other random news, I'm going to miss gingerbread Pop Tarts. Sad, I know!

Mark has gone back to 4-day weeks. It means he won't get home until about 6:30 tonight which stinks. I really do miss my husband when he's not around. There isn't anyone I'd rather spend my time with, really.

Books for 2011

I love making lists...I just need to learn to follow them more :/

Here is the list of books I would like to read this year. I'm sure that I will add a ton more as I read them:

1. Cleopatra's Daughter--Michelle Moran


2. Wise Woman--Philppa Gregory


3. The Distant Hours--Kate Morton


4. The Dark Rose (Morland Dynasty)--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles


5. The Princeling--Cynthia Harrod-Eagles


6. The Rose of Sebastopol--Katherine McMahon


7. Pale Rose of England--Sandra Worth


8. Watermark--Vanitha Sankaran


9. Heretic's Wife--Brenda Vantrease


10. The Last Queen--CW Gortner


11. The Lace Reader--Bruonia Barry


12. The Confessions of Catherine de Medici--CW Gortner


13. House Rules--Jodi Picoult


14. Queen Isabella--Alison Weir


15. The House on Tradd Street--Karen White--finished 1/4/10


16. Haunted Ground--Erin Hart