Ahh Girl Time!

Tonight I went out to eat with two of my friends from high school. I like to refer to them as A Lamb and JL :) We went to eat at the Brick to talk and catch up and ended up talking for a few hours. It's always interesting when the three of us get together--lots of laughs and maybe just a little tiny bit of "chit chat". We decided that we are going to get together Thursday and karaoke... I'm pumped! You should probably stay tuned because I am sure there will be a lot to blog about after that night.... Anyways! I love girl time- it should definitely be a bi-weekly or monthly thing. Sometimes you just need a little time with some girls! We got into the discussion of having a lot of people on our facebooks that we don't really talk to or even know that well... Ashley shared that she had deleted a lot of "friends" and I shared that I had tried, but it takes a really long time! I mean what is the point of having someone on your facebook that you don't even talk to? Like if you saw them in public, neither one of you speaks or everything they post you just find annoying... that makes them not facebook-friend-worthy (ha)! So I think I am going to go through my friend list again and do some deleting! Don't be upset if you don't make the cut--kidding. You probably won't even read this because you will be deleted off of my facebook before I share it :)

Meanwhile... when I got home 3 hours later, my sweet sweet husband is painting our house! Let me just enlighten you a little. You would think after buying a house over a year ago all of the renovations would be complete, right?! I know, I mean that does seem logical... but some of the doors still don't have trim and the window in the kitchen doesn't have trim and well let's just say the house isn't "finished". However, Adam did finish painting the bookcase in the living room (that is built into the walls), and he is in the process of re mudding and taping the walls... which means repainting. There are white spots on the walls in the kitchen.. you would think we are remodeling, but no we are just trying to finish! I guess I'm just thankful for a husband who is willing to fix up a house for me and make it look like I want it to... even if it does come in spurts!

Until my next post...

I forgot to mention...

On the way back home from ATL, we stopped at a Zaxby's and I saw the coolest thing. Now I have seen these before on tv or the internet, but never in person! The Coke machine was all digital!!!! It was like a touch screen menu!!!! I was so amazed... I could have sat there and just watched people pour their drinks! I only got water, so my choices weren't that exciting. My camera on my phone isn't the best, but you get the idea. Some of you may have already seen these before! Look at all the choices for Sprite! You can get any flavor.. it was like that for Coke and all the others too! I tried Raspberry Sprite. It wasn't as good as I thought it would be.. guess that's what I get for stealing it with my clear water cup.

Until my next post....

The Weekend

Well, Happy Monday Blog World,

This past weekend was tons of fun! We got to Atlanta Friday afternoon, checked into our hotel and attempted to develop a plan. We finally decided to just go out to eat somewhere and hang out! The next morning we got to sleep in and go lay out by the pool. Saturday night I ended up getting my tattoo. I absolutely LOVE it! Getting a tattoo on my foot was VERY painful. I almost cried when the guy first started, but I held back my tears and tried to breathe through it. The guy who did it was very nice and patient with me. I told him it was my first tattoo, as if he couldn't tell, and that I was very nervous, again-as if he couldn't tell! Since my tattoo was so simple, it only took about 10-15 minutes... and thankfully because I don't know if I could have sat there any longer. Honestly, about halfway through I felt like I was going to pass out, but I just tried to focus and get through it! Some of you may deal with pain better than I do, so if you ever get a tat on your foot you may not think it is that bad... HOWEVER, I am a baby and I do not do well with pain. I think overall I did very good though. My sweet husband was right beside me holding my hand :) After getting tatted up we went out to eat at The Twisted Taco, which was very yummy! Then, Sunday it was back home to Milledgeville.... with a very interesting ride back :) Now it is Monday and I still feel like I am on vacation... no job, no schedule, nothing really to do except watch tv, coupon, and blog...what a life (I guess I could clean the house every now and then-my husband would probably appreciate that. Maybe I'll try that one day this week) One day I will miss this! But until then, I will try and be productive with all of my free time!

Here are some pictures from my tattoo experience:

Before

The stencil...

I told the guy I might need a 1 minute breather after he got done with the verse..

 

Trying to keep my "breathing steady" but it was hard... haha this picture makes me laugh!



Almost done!

I did it :) Cross one thing off the list!

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday to all!

My husband and I, along with some of our friends were supposed to go on a trip to Alabama this weekend to stay on a house boat, but those plans changed. After looking for condos at different beaches, we decided to not go too far away.... sooo we are headed to ATL for the weekend! I'm sure we will find lots to do and there is already one thing I plan on doing that is on my 50 list. Yep, I'm getting tatted up. I'm getting the word faith on my foot and under it Psalm 56:4 which says: I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. I just love this verse! For me, it kinda sums up my faith. I praise God and His word, I don't fear because I trust Him and have FAITH in His plans. I wanted to get a tat that was meaningful, not just a random star or heart (unless there was some meaning behind it), so I decided to go with something related to a huge part of my life-my faith in Christ. I also saw a "faith" tattoo on a girl's foot at church camp a looooonnnggg time ago and I have always said if I ever got one, that's what it would be. Of course, mine will look completely different. Trust me, it has taken a very long time to pick out a font, decide on a verse, and design my tat. So last night I was laying in the bed watching NY Ink (this is one of the habits on my 50 list I want to break btw-) which comes on TLC Thursday nights at 10. I'm laying there trying to get pumped and get some motivation for this weekend and one of the tattoo artists on the show has a client come in who wants a tattoo on her foot. Before she tats her friend she says, "You know the foot is the worst. It hurts really really bad!" Well I'm thinking in my mind- Dang, I just talked to Ashley and she said it wasn't that bad! So I turn to my husband for reassurance and say, "It's not gonna be THAT bad, is it?" (like he knows?!) and he said, "No! Yours is just a word it will only take like 20 mins!" I am always worrying and exaggerating, so he sometimes gets a little frustrated with me! :) So, I'm clinging to his reassuring words that it won't be TOO painful. I will document and post on Monday! There is no telling what all else we will get in to, but I will be sure to document it all. I hope you all have a great, fantabulous weekend :)

Until Monday.... 

Meet Ca$h!

As previously mentioned, we have an American Bulldog/Pit Bull mix, who is 4 months old. Cash is an inside dog and I have come to the conclusion that he is like having a baby in the house. There are many reasons that having a puppy is like having a baby. Here are a few:

*We have to clean up his pee/poop
*We have to bathe him
*We have to feed him
*We have to groom him (hair/nails)
*We take him to the doctor/vet
*We are potty training him
*We have to "puppy proof" the house each time we leave (he no longer stays in his crate...after about 5 times of him pooping and laying/stepping all in it, we decided we would rather clean up poop from one central location rather than all over Cash. So, he roams the house while we are gone... which leads me to my next point)
*Even after attempting to puppy proof the house, he WILL find something to get into and chew/tear apart
*We teach him things--sit, shake, lay down, here and most popularly NO!
*He likes to be held/cuddle/lay all over us
*He likes to jump up into our bed
*He likes to follow me around.... everywhere
*He is excited to see us when we get home
*I take pictures of him to document how he changes... "don't judge" (quote taken from A Lamb )
*I love him like he is my child!

And cue slideshow...

He likes to snuggle with his Mommy!

 

This is Cash at about 7 weeks playing outside! 

He is always getting into trouble when he goes outside! This is what Cash looked like when we first got him, but him getting into trouble hasn't changed.

Cash is getting bigger! He is now 4 months old. I always wonder what he will look like and if he will be protective..

My two favorite boys! :) Love them...

This is Cash's sister, Daisy

My little baby!

Hope you enjoyed meeting Cash! Don't worry, there will be more interesting stories to follow, I'm sure!

My 50 List

When thinking about some recent goals I have set for myself, I started to think-What all do I want to do in my life? And after seeing a friends post, I decided I need to create a "bucket list". So I decided to come up with My 50 things to do at some point in life-I actually have 51! Ashley and I have been friends throughout middle and high school. She is also one of the reasons I finally decided to create a blog. Check out her bucket list here!

I already had some things in mind that I knew had to be on my list, but after about #35 I had to really think of what to add to my list. These things are written in no particular order and I am still working to 100! Please share your bucket/life list--comment or post a link to where we can all see it! 

1 Run a 10k
2. Run a half marathon
3. Complete a full marathon
4. Participate in a triathlon
5. See the Northern Lights
6. See the Grand Canyon
7. Take a road trip across the country
8. Be on a game show (Preferably The Price is Right)
9. Become a Mommy
10. Christmas in New York
11. New Year's Eve in Times Square
12. Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
13 Mardi Gras
14. Visit Australia
15. Visit Atlantis
16. Visit each of the 50 states
17. Visit the San Diego zoo
18. Go deep sea fishing
19. Go on a cruise
20. Go hunting (deer or duck)
21. Go on a safari
22. Go to the Kentucky Derby
23. Go to the Masters
24. Go to a rodeo
25. Go on a mission trip out of the country
26. Swim with dolphins
27. Meet someone famous
28. Catch a shark
29. Ride in a cable car in San Francisco
30. See Niagara Falls
31. Play in a casino in Vegas
32 Learn to sew
33. Learn to bow fish
34. Learn to sleep without the tv on
35. Get a Masters
36. Get a tattoo 06/25/11--"faith Psalm 56:4"
37. Get over $100 in groceries for free
38. Read the entire Bible
39. Read every Nicholas Sparks book
40.  Watch a dog race
41.  Make a difference in someone's life
42.  Make an investment
43. Make a wedding scrapbook
44.  Start an annual event
45.  Start an organization/ministry
46.  Teach someone to coupon
47.  Keep my house clean for one month
48.  Audition for American Idol
49.  Take a self defense class 
50.  Attend a midnight screening of a movie on the day it opens
51.  Have my own classroom
52. Partipate in a 3-day breast cancer walk

More Couponing!

So today was the big day that I picked up my 30 pks of wipes--all FREE. I also noticed Nesquik mix would be free after coupons so I picked up some of those too. (I have had some people ask to add what coupons I use, so that it what is written next to each item) P.S--Sorry the pic is kind of blurry!
(30) pks of wipes=Free (.99 WYB 5 participating products)
-.50/1 Huggies wipes 64 count or larger (From SmartSource insert 6/12)
(8) Nesquik packs=Free (.99 ea.)
- .50/1 Any Nesquik product (From RedPlum insert from paper I picked up in FL)
(4) Wacky Mac pasta- 1.79 each before q (coupon)--> $1 ea. after q
- .40/1 Wacky Mac noodles (online printable)
(5) Bayer Asprin-2.99 ea. before q--> .99 ea. after q
- $2/1 Bayer product (From SmartSource 6/12)
(4) Great Value pasta sauce- .88 ea.
********************************************
Total before q's: $100.74
Out of Pocket (OOP): $14.92
Total Savings: $85.82 (87%)

It's Official!

Hello Readers!

So last night I found this in an envelope sitting inside the front porch door. We never use this door to go in and out of. I just happened to take Cash out front to use the restroom since it was raining (and he won't go out in the rain). I had to pick him up and run him underneath a tree where the rain wasn't falling as hard so that he could go! I'm glad I went out that way--there's no telling how long it has been sitting there!


It's kind of strange after years and years of school work and now having nothing to do! No assignments, papers, or projects to complete. I am proud of myself for all of my hard work and it is neat to see the path that God has brought me down. Four years ago, after getting enough credits to transfer, I started at GCSU, where I met many amazing people and grew a lot in my faith. At first I had no clue what I wanted to do and even thought about Marketing-for those of you who really know me, that will give you a good laugh--I know it does for my husband (a salesman)! At some point I had a revelation--I love kids, why not be a teacher?! After completing my core work, I applied for the Education cohort there and was 1 of the 40 out of 80 people who didn't get it. Very disappointed, but determined, I looked into other education programs at various colleges in Georgia. This one little bump in the road was not going to stop me from doing what I knew God had given me a passion for. So, after a lot of thinking and weighing of options, I decided to transfer to Macon State. My first few weeks there were probably the hardest. All of the girls knew each other and seemed to be close and here I was some random girl in class with all of them. I was very intimidated at first and already being a shy person let's just say I kept to myself for a while. I later learned that some of the girls (who I became good friends with) thought I was stuck up and mad because I was at MSC and not GCSU--apparently I used to wear my GCSU shirts often?! I don't think this was done on purpose. I would wake up and throw on whatever t-shirt was at the top of the drawer! After getting to know everyone, I actually found it to be a blessing that I came in not being a part of any existing "clique". This allowed me to do what I like to call "float"! I could sit with one group of girls one day and a different group of girls another day, then a different group at lunch, etc. Obviously I had girls I got closer with than others, but I felt like I could talk to any and all of them. I am actually thankful for my Education degree from MSC because I am what you call "duel certified". This means I am Early Childhood and Special Ed certified- it makes me more versatile than all of those GCSU girls who got into the cohort that day :) Haha I'm kidding, I made friends with some of those girls, and I have no room to brag, I still don't have a job.


All of that to say this....At the time I was very disappointed about having to leave GCSU and a close knit group of girls who I love love love and I was definitely not excited about driving an hour back and forth to Macon. However, now I can look back on that journey and appreciate all that the Lord took me through--each experience-- all to grow and mold me into who I am today.


Until my next post....

Car Shopping+Jobless=Pointless

Hey Readers!

Let me give you some background... when I turned 16 I was blessed to be able to have a car, the car I wanted-a Honda Accord. It was a used car, but in pretty good condition. Well, 6 years later I still have it and it IS paid off. Now, some of you may be thinking you have a car that is paid off, you should be satisfied with what you have. Well I do appreciate my car and I am thankful that it still runs. It has been a good little car. It lasted me through high school and college, but now I just want something newer-an upgrade
So right now I am in a strange mood... frustrated, sad, anxious, annoyed, mad....you know how you get when all of those emotions hit you at one time and you just feel blah-well that's kind of where I'm at right now. I stopped after lunch to look at a car I passed the other day and thought I might like. I'm now realizing that was probably not the best idea. I was fine when I was on the car lot and looking at cars, but once I got home I started thinking about not being able to get a car until I get a job and then I got frustrated about not having a job and then I got annoyed because no one is hiring and then I got mad because the past two schools I interviewed with chose someone else and then I got kind of sad because I really want to teach, but if I can't get a teaching position I might have to do something else (if I want to work) well that thought process just kept going on and on and on. You know how it is. And can I just say that I am still realizing life in the "real world" as an adult is not easy.. I know some of you have already figured that out by now and have more experience than I do, and I do know that it is hard, but that is one thing I am still learning the more I experience. Call me naive or sheltered....sometimes I wish I could still be that little 10 year old innocent girl, you know when you thought your parents were perfect and could never be wrong, they took care of all of your needs, you think just because someone goes to church they are nice and don't do bad things, you could never imagine some of the horrible things happening that we hear about all the time now--you just think the world is full of good people, and then you grow up you realize your parents make mistakes and sometimes are wrong, they are no longer responsible for taking care of your basic needs, you realize just because someone attends church does not make them a good person, and every day you hear of a story more horrifying than the last. Life was easier then, my biggest decisions consisted of what color clip I wanted to put in my hair for the day or which color to paint my nails! I'm not trying to be Debbie Downer-I love the life I have and am thankful for the people in it, but sometimes I just get a little discouraged about my job situation! So I guess this post was kind of pointless-more for me to vent and get out some frustration-maybe some of you can relate.. share below if you have any similar stories!

Until my next post....I'll still be job searching and car dreaming!

Free Huggies Wipes!

This week, Kroger is having a sale where you buy 5 participating items and get $5 off. The sale price for wipes are .99 cent and after a .50 cent coupon that will double to $1, these wipes will be free! I went to Kroger today and did my first pre-order request...I am SO EXCITED! Couponers who plan to buy items in bulk will ask stores to pre-order that item so they don't clear the shelves and they are sure they get the exact number of the item they want. I will have 30 coupons for these wipes, so I asked the store to order 30 pks of wipes for me... and they will all be FREE!!! The truck should come in on Friday, so I will definitely write again and let you guys know how it goes. Why am I buying baby wipes? They will all be given out through The Store House or to other parents who may need them.

P.S-- I forgot to put out this commercial earlier--If you would like to donate to The Store House in any way, please comment and leave your email (or cell number if you are comfortable with that) and I can get in touch with you. Also, donations can be dropped off at Sinclair Baptist Church- 102 Airport Road (off Log Cabin Rd. in Milledgeville)

Until my next post.....

Couponing Queen!

As previously mentioned, I am a self-taught couponer! I guess this would be the time to introduce another part of my life that is in the early stages. Another lady at my church and myself are starting a food pantry at our church which operates off of donations and coupons! We use coupons to make big trips and donate it all to our food pantry, The Storehouse. We are very excited to get the pantry up and running so we can help people in our community. Now, I have been promising pictures from recent shopping trips so here we go.. Brace yourselves people, you are about to witness coupon MAGIC :)

My first big haul (Kroger shopping trip): 

37 boxes of pasta (free)

8 BBQ sauces (4 cents each)

8 bags of rice (free)

4 D.O (B1G1 @ about 1 each)

6 3-pks of soap (free)

2 bodywashes (free)

****************

Before Coupons: $107.97

Out Of Pocket (After Coupons): $2.85

Total Savings: $105.12 (98% savings)

Another small Kroger shopping trip:

14 boxes of pasta (50 cents each)

4 D.O ( 6 cents each)

Bayer ( 99 cents)

**************************

Before Coupons: $54.71

Out of Pocket: $8.24

Total Savings: $46.47 (85%) 

Walmart Trip:

6 Suave D.O (46 cents ea.)

10 Degree D.O (22 cents ea.)

10 Ramen noodles (16 cents ea.)

5 Hormel Meals (68 cents ea.)

*************************

Before Coupons: $25.52

Out of Pocket: $9.96

Total Savings: $15.52 (61%)

Small CVS Trip: I was so excited about this trip! Pharmacy stores can be tricky, but once you figure out how to use their store rewards in addition to your coupons, you can rack up! P.S-I told Cash he was gonna be famous--he gave me his permission to put his picture on the internet!

1 Schick Hydro 5 Razor-not disposable, a real razor! 

1 4-pk Schick refill cartridge

3 Mitchum D.O
********************************

Before Coupons: $21.79

Out of Pocket: $4.39

Total Savings: $17.40 (80%)

Couponing is something you can do! It does take time to learn, but once you get it down you just get better and better at it. We will be hosting a coupon seminar soon to raise money for The Storehouse--more details to come!

Until my next post..... 

Greater Than You Can Imagine...

For those of you who don't know me, I am a Christian and believer in Jesus Christ. I prayed to receive Christ one night all alone in my bed when I was in 8th grade. We had just started attending Sinclair Baptist Church and I was getting involved with the youth ministry. I made many friends (including a bushy headed boy that would almost 8 years later become my husband) and would even go out with them to pass out tracks (a booklet telling people how they can become Christians) in different neighborhoods. That night, I picked up a track that was laying by my bed and what do you know, my 13 year old self actually opened it up and READ what I had been handing out to people. It was then that I realize I am not perfect, that I am a sinner and basically sinners who have not turned to Christ through repentance can not get into Heaven or have a relationship with Christ. I wanted that relationship, so I made the decision to follow Christ and strive every day to be more like Him. Then I took the next important step, I told someone-my Mama and she took me to talk to our pastor. As I grew in my faith and learned more about the meaning of being a Christ follower, the more I started to understand his love for me and who I am in Christ. Throughout college I was involved with a ministry called Campus Outreach, which gave me many opportunities to grow in my faith. I also met many friends that I have kept past my time in college! I am still following Christ today and while it is a hard path to stay on at times, it is the most rewarding and fulfilling.

All of that to say this.... I have an app on my phone called Daily Bible that will put a little bible icon at the top of my phone each morning and when I click it, it gives me a different verse each day. I have this app for many reasons--one is that I do not always discipline myself to sit down and have a good, quality quiet time, each and every day. This app ensures that I can at least get a little snippet of God's word each day. This morning the verse was 1 Corinthians 2: 9--But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him" (ESV)--this verse spoke to me on many levels. For one, as a lover of Christ, we cannot imagine the blessings that he has for us. While it may be hard to see them at the time, when you love Christ, he has unimaginable things planned for you! I sometimes look at other translations to get different versions of a verse, so that I can better understand the meaning of that verse. I like how The Message translates this same verse--That's why we have this scripture text: No one's ever seen or heard anything like this, never so much as imagined anything quite like it-What God has arranged for those who love him.-- Like I have mentioned, I am still looking for a teaching position. This verse reminds me that what God has in store for me is unlike anything that I can even imagine.While it is very discouraging to know of 5 open positions that have now been filled, I know that God has things planned for me that are greater than anything I can even imagine!

Don't forget the keywords to this verse----for those who LOVE him...most can look at this verse and stop right before these words. They then think well I don't understand why {fill in the blank}, well do you love God? I mean really love Him? Do you follow Him? Are you following Him and pursuing His plan for your life? If you are, then it is a whole lot easier to trust Him and His plan.. if not, well it makes it a lot more difficult to wait for or recognize the great things He has planned! Well, while I am no Beth Moore (some of you will get that), I hope that you were encouraged or at least got something from this post! If you don't have a relationship with God, and are interesting in making that decision, please talk to someone who can guide you in making that decision. I promise it won't be the easiest decision, but it will be the best decision you make in your life!


Until my next post....

Dinner Plans

After a VERY long shopping trip to Walmart and Kroger, I get home and slave away making a hot meal (spaghetti!) and AS SOON AS I fix our plates and we sit down to eat, we get an invitation to go out to eat... now, some of you may be thinking--Surely you would just decline and eat your meal at home.... Not these two Schulzes!!! First of all, we love to go out to eat. Second of all... well there is no second of all, BUT we did wrap everything up and plan to eat it for lunch or dinner tomorrow night. This is the plus side to not having kids yet. Sometimes I think I want one, but it's times like these that I am thankful we can just up and do whatever we want without having to plan for a sitter or packing a diaper bag! Well, after all of that randomness, I plan to post pics from recent shopping trips! Stay tuned :)

Until my next post....

My First Blog Post!

Well hello, Blog World!
I have been wanting to start one of these for about two years now, but I kept putting it off. I like to think of it as a kind of online journal and I LOVE to journal! So, I finally sat down and took the time to think of a name and create my very own blog, which by the way, was very tedious! For anyone out there who may be reading and doesn't know me, I was married a little over a year ago and graduated college about a month ago. I majored in Early Childhood/Special Education and I am currently unemployed :) but still trusting that God has somewhere for me. There are many things I experience that I am eager to write about to whoever may be reading.

So, until my next post...