The Budget Grocery Reveal

I think my first budget grocery trip was a good experience. I definitely got a lot of groceries for about $30 than I normally spend.

Here is what I picked up:


A lot of frozen vegetables and meats. Two items I picked up because I needed a refill won't be included in every trip - ranch and honey mustard dressing. I get the big bottles and these can be quite expensive at about $7.50 total.

I saved $4.29 in coupons and apparently saved $16.31 in store savings. My total came out to $89.18. I made sure I always compared brands and didn't always buy my 'favorites.' Right now it comes down to more about savings than actually about buying what I enjoy. I plan to only shop about once every two weeks if I can. I want to make sure I use items that are in my kitchen pantry for meals and tap out all my resources before I need to go back. I will go back earlier, however, if there are sales on meat since it is my most expensive item. I do have some tuna stored away I can use in the meantime if I run out.

Any one have any further suggestions on how I can save? I am open to all ideas! :-)

Frugal Food Shopping

I recently updated my overall Financial Budget. I realized that need to start saving money in areas so that I can pay off outstanding debt. The one area I decided to tackle first is saving money at the grocery store.

I decided on some particular strategies in order to achieve my goal of reducing my food expenditures. First, I cut out coupons. Second, I am going to research my Publix (grocery store in the state of Florida) to see what the specials are before I venture to the store. Then, with the coupons and the in-store specials, I will make a grocery list and stick to this list if at all possible. If I buy something off the list, I need to make sure I do a brand comparison first and figure out why I want this item (i.e., impulse buy or just left it off the list).

After I get home, I will upload a picture of my groceries, as well as a copy of the receipt to the blog. That way I am held accountable and see how I can improve on the savings going forward. There are also a couple of city produce markets I can go to for better deals on fresh items.

The last way I will save on food expenses is to stay in more for home-cooked meals. I want to start making more 'crock-pot' dinner receipes. This ensures a pre-cooked dinner for not only that particular night, but also for lunch days later.

Any advice on other ways to save on food is well appreciated! Wish me luck!

Falling Into It...

Seeing that the movie ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’ is now out in theatres, I am sure millions of American women are wondering the same thing – How can you tell if he is really into you? I have read the book and the premise is very good and quite common sense honestly. Basically you need to stop making excuses for guys who don’t come around, call or even seem interested unless there is nookie involved or unless they are craving attention for that night from someone (and that someone doesn’t necessarily have to be you).

In most relationships, you do crave that connection from the get go. At least I do now that I am older. My tastes are more refined and I have more specifics about what I want from someone. Obviously chemistry and intimacy are high up there, but intimacy takes time to develop and is something that will always need to be cultivated. Beyond that, I have to relate to someone on multiple levels – emotionally and intellectually for sure. I want that fire and passion and that extra ‘ummph’ that makes you all giddy and happy inside. I want ‘ummph’ not only for today and tomorrow, but for years down the road. Is that even possible?

I want someone who initiates affection before I do at times and wants to talk about ‘us.’ Don’t get me wrong… I don’t want over-the-top displays. I have had dates where a guy sent me roses afterwards – that same day! That was just too much and it seemed to me more of a game than being normal and actually taking your time to get to know someone. I have also had dates and relationships where the guy needed a lot of space. And when I say a lot, I mean A LOT. I don’t equate hardly spending time or sharing experiences with each other a relationship anymore. Someone should want to hang out with me or at the very least pick up the phone and call me to chat.

So let’s say all systems are a ‘go’ in a particular relationship… Is it possible to misread the signs signaling that the other person does not feel the same? I know people can masquerade a grand relationship and in the end, when you look back, you realize that you were somehow cheated… That the signals you got from them were all false. That person was obviously not right for you, but led you on to believe that he had the same morals, values and interests that you did. Isn’t dating about being truthful so you can weed out those we simply aren’t compatible with? Time was wasted on your end and inevitably you were left heartbroken. So again, how can you know before it is too late?

Maybe I would like to see the future… I don’t think that is how life works and honestly it would take all the fun out of it. How, then, in a current relationship, can you be sure that your feelings are really mutual? Or how can you read right away when they no longer are?

Many of my married friends say they just knew when someone was ‘the one.’ Since I am not married, you can assume I have no idea what they are talking about. It baffles me. Maybe people should come with a relationship handbook… Do you get a feeling in the pit of your stomach? Had you ever felt that way before? Did it make you happy, sad, confused or something else all together? Did you get expectations from this feeling, or did you continue to take it day by day, moment by moment?

I definitely need some sort of gut-level excitement about someone. I can’t imagine being in a relationship anymore without that feeling. It does take time, however, to learn whether someone is kind, dependable, emotionally available and compatible with you beyond the gut check. I guess I always err on the side of caution and maybe that is why I tend to question things in a relationship before other people do. I want to make sure 100% that my heart is safe with someone before I truly relax, let go and fall in love.

Inevitably, it becomes harder and harder not to ‘fall’ when things seem absolutely perfect and I can’t seem to wipe the smile off my face or avoid the thoughts of him that filter into my every day life… No one knows for sure what the future holds… but I am content (and absolutely enamored) for right now.

My Current Likes and Dislikes

Obviously this is not a complete list... but the things I can think of at this moment in time.

Things I love:

football, FSU, San Diego, my friends, intelligence, intense eye contact, the euphoria after a workout, hopeless romantics, a nice restaurant and a bottle of wine, butterflies - both kinds ; ) , new experiences, my boxer doggie - Bailey, traveling, my dad, seeing beauty in simple things, flip-flops, having a connection, Key West, not having to say a word, open bars, knowing glances, rainy days in bed, foreplay, drunken nights surfing MySpace or Facebook, unrelentless passion, girl's get-aways, skinny dipping, Sugar-free Redbull, being out on the boat all day long, knowing a secret, Season's 52, Le Coq Au Vin, Hot Olives, Kres, wine bars, sushi, AIM at work, the dog park with Bails, holding hands, pedicures, the smell of the Merita Bread Factory on I-4, Drinking games, bananas, making smores in front of a fire, playing board games, bear hugs, good sex, firm handshakes, dive bars with good friends, having long hair, being asked on a date, DVR and not watching commercials, espresso, thunderstorms, an amazing hotel room, just knowing that someone will always be there for you, cuddling, key lime pie at the Boheme, the way that I can love someone so deeply, letting go, moving on, wakeboarding, turquoise, life, not regretting, fresh flowers, the moon, old school Nintendo and Sega, cards with special messages inside, deep belly laughing, poetry, any Edward Norton movie, brunch, receiving flowers just because, old love letters, "ah ha" moments, feeling valued, feeling respected, feeling understood, text messaging, when Bailey barks in her sleep, dipping pizza in ranch dressing, spontaneity, scavenger hunts, digital picture frames, daydreaming, having hope, sexual fantasies, slow-dancing, talking about the good old days, realizing how important family is, white lilies, heart-to-hearts, best friends, Fly Clear card, beer and chicken wings, great advice from someone who cares deeply about me, full face smiles, hooker heels, black-tie weddings, Lee & Rick's, knowing glances, good music, walking on the beach, Jamaica, sunrises and sunsets, waking up in the middle of the night and smiling at the person you love, fast cars, Cleo's, being tan, getting my hair did, naps, working from home, sleeping in, curling up with a good book, math, Halloween, learning, insane chemistry, a nice hot bubble bath, green tea, good hair days, getting into bed with clean sheets, white chocolate, pedicures, a good massage, fitting into skinny jeans



Things I hate:

ignorant people, Jager, meatheads, hangovers, homewreckers, disrespect, dishonesty, socks, overcast days, relying on someone, manipulation and games, the cracking of knuckles, people who use people, cheating, spam, cold weather, biting my fingernails, 10 hours or more of work, having a desk job, people who have no manners, warm beer, pop-up advertising, fatigue, being sick, smoke, excuses, other drivers, obnoxious people, boys in tapered jeans with penny loafers, sad surprises, non-confrontational people, being ignored, hindsight, cattiness, procrastinating, geography, cardio workouts, boredom, a messy house, folding laundry, home repairs, not knowing how to accomplish something, being clueless, gullible, hurting, abuse or neglect

7 Weird Things About Me

I saw some other bloggers posting '7 weird things' about them and decided to steal their idea and repost mine. I did have a couple in common with a few of them, but overall not many. And NO, I am not this weird!!!



#1 - I can not fall asleep with the closet doors open no matter what. Even if I am comfortable in a warm bed, I will get up begrudgingly to close those darn doors. I think it is more about everything in my room not being in place then it is about being afraid of the closet boogie-man.

#2 - I like peanut butter A LOT! I went through a phase where I would not touch the stuff after eating too many PBJ's as a child I suppose. Now I like it on toast, bananas, apples, pancakes, muffins... well, most sweet and carby things. I have learned to buy all natural now and also to try to consume only 1-2 tablespoons. The even funnier part is that I would never order a peanut butter dessert. Ever!

#3 - Growing up in Orlando, I visited a theme park several times a year. No matter how old I get, though, I still love theme parks. Disney, Universal, Busch Gardens, Sea World, even Six Flags if I want to make the drive. People and lines do bug me once in a while, but overall the experience is a good time!

#4 - I hate stopping and filling up my car with gas. I have once run out of gas turning into a gas station before. That is how much I hate it. I wait until I absolutely HAVE to get gas. Whether it is because I feel it wastes time, it is a waste of money or it wastes the environment... I can't be sure.

#5 - I took the SAT in 7th grade and scored high enough to get into college. I was invited to take it through some Duke University Talent program. Afterwards, the high achievers received acknowledgement and a nice certificate to hang on the wall. So it didn't really mean anything, but is just a fun fact I like to throw out there sometimes.

#6 - I set my alarm to wake up in the morning for odd numbers. For instance, I can only wake up at 6:23 or 7:47 and not 6:15 or 7:45. I don't know why, but it really bothers me to wake up at what everyone else would consider a 'normal' time.

#7 - I tried out to be one of the 25 Bachelorette's on The Bachelor a long while ago. I made it to the round before the final round. I was going back to school for my MBA at the time so I like to think that I wouldn't have chosen to go on the show any way. I would have probably been kicked off for an actual physical cat fight! I can't stand when girls say one thing to your face and another behind your back.

That's it for me for now! Your turn.........

The Talk

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." -- e.e. cummings

I had a talk with a friend last night. The kind of talk that you never see coming. I, like most people, love my friends regardless of their bad traits, faults and mistakes. We do discuss these issues together and maybe small adjustments are made on their part, but never anything extraordinary.

Last night was different. A friend, whom most girls view as an asshole for lack of a better term, realized his true potential. It was like a moment of growth and realization wrapped into one. I love this person for who he is... asshole and all. I had grown to accept him in that sense. Now, however, if he follows through with his epiphany, he will be a different person.

My friend had reached out to his ex recently. Maybe out of loneliness, or maybe out of curiosity. They had shared a conversation about what had gone wrong in their relationship. I don't know how he drew his conclusion, but he said he realized that a lot of the issues in the past was his fault. His stubbornness, his closed off nature, his inability to change. There are obvious reasons as to why he is the way he is. Mother and brother died in freak accidents way before their time... absent father, etc. But it takes courage to face them head on. Courage to face your fears and realize that if you don't change, you will forever be alone. I wholeheartedly support him and hope that he is able to become the new person he envisions in his head.

I too looked at my past mistakes later in the night. I know I am stubborn. I know that I don't always admit fault. I know that I, too, can push people away when I am scared of being hurt. All I can hope is that when push comes to shove, I will also have the courage to look my fears deep into their beady little eyes and..... change.

On Cheating...

Last night, I found out a friend of mine is cheating on her boyfriend. The boyfriend is also a friend of mine. It saddened me. Why is it so hard for people to let go? Yes, it hurts. A lot. But letting someone go before you really crush them hurts a lot less.

You destroy your own integrity when you cheat. In the face of your friends and in the mirror. How can you dare say you 'love and care' for someone when you hurt them so cruelly? Even if they don't know you are cheating, you are hurting them. You are hurting your relationship as well. Not just with your partner, but other relationships around you. I may not respect you as much, the guy you are cheating on him with may not respect you as much.

I guess I am just saddened by the games people play.