2-0

For the last month I have been playing “The Grocery Game,” which is a guide to buying groceries at rock bottom prices, and the general idea is to buy what’s on sale while also using coupons. Since I love organization, I put myself in charge of keeping the coupons in order and making the grocery list then my roommate and I split the cost. It's so much cheaper to buy stuff together. Anyway, I have been averaging a savings of $30 a week but yesterday was different. I could just feel it. I went into Kroger with my crazy long list, a pile of coupons, and I’m not going to lie…I was nervous. If I didn’t shop correctly, I would end up spending way too much money.

My total bill came to $188.11 after my 50+ items were rung up. I started to stress out a little when that number popped up on the screen because our entire monthly budget is $200. I just had to remember that my Kroger card and coupons hadn’t been scanned, and once they were, the final cost came to $78.46!!! That’s right. I saved $109.65 for this week’s worth of groceries. I think I secretly expected the cashier to congratulate me on what a great job I did and for confetti to fall on my head, but instead she just handed me my receipt.

Well I get really excited about saving money, so before I knew it, I had walked out of the store, raised my arm in the air and yelled, “I beat Kroger!” Yes, my roommate made fun of me. Yes, I probably got some strange looks. No, I didn't care. It felt great saving almost 60% on my groceries, and the people in the parking lot needed to celebrate with me.

After grocery shopping and my annual Monday night dinner with friends, I had a softball game to play. My team (who loses more often than not) ended up winning 16-1. It was like having batting practice without the hassle of having to field your teammate’s balls and was a fabulous way to end my day.

I’m 2-0 and loving it!

Find the Time

"An international art dealer and a modern-day slave from Louisiana become friends after the art dealer is roped into volunteering at a homeless shelter by his saintly wife." - Marcia Z. Nelson, Publishers Weekly

I wish everyone would take a couple of days and read this book. It really draws the reader into the lives of these two men and sends you on a (sometimes emotional) journey through their friendship. I started reading this at the airport on my way to visit Alyssa and Michael in Arizona, and sitting on the runway coming back to Texas, I couldn't stop crying in order to finish the last chapter. I would read a little bit, put the book down, hold back tears, read again, and finally decided I couldn't continue without causing a scene. People around me probably thought I was scared of flying, and I half expected a stewardess to walk by and offer me some comforting words before takeoff.

The chapters alternate between Ron and Denver sharing about their childhood, adult life, and eventually their lives after crossing paths. I appreciate the honesty and openess of the authors in telling about their struggles, thoughts, and responses to situations and to each other. Our thoughts are not always pleasant, but they refuse to make themsleves look good and instead just tell the truth. Same Kind of Different as Me is highly entertaining yet challenging. It made me consider my priorities and left me in awe of how God orchestrates people's lives, always knowing what's best for us even when we don't see it.

No Worries, I'm Fine

Ever since I got back from England, my teeth have been bothering me. I convinced myself I had cavities because I drank so much tea while I was there, adding two scoops of sugar to each cup can’t be beneficial. Since I just don’t do cavities, I started flossing, listerining, drinking more water and less Dr. Pepper, and have really cut back on sweets. (If you know me, that’s usually my preferred choice of food.)

So yesterday I went in for my dentist appointment and was horrified to be told that it had been 22 months since I came in last. WHAT?! I honestly had no idea that much time had slipped away, and I’m usually very dedicated about checking in every six months. Well here’s what happened:

Good news: I am cavity free!

Bad news: My younger brother who went with me came out with one cavity and an appointment for 9 a.m. this morning to have his wisdom teeth pulled. Ouch.

He’s doing great and apparently kept waking up during the surgery asking the dentist if he needed any help. I wish I had that on video, but since I don’t, I thought this one would be entertaining enough. I can’t find the one without ads, sorry!

God's Pharmacy

I received this in an email my dad forwarded to me. I think it's pretty amazing how creative God is, and we don't even realize it sometimes.

1. A sliced Carrot resembles the human eye including the pupil, iris, and radiating lines. Science indicates that carrots help protect the vision, especially night vision.

2. A sliced Tomato can have four chambers and is commonly red. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene and help prevent heart disease, prostate cancer, breast cancer and more. Tomato juice can also reduce the tendency toward blood clotting.

3. Grapes hang in clusters that resemble the shape of the heart. The stronger the color the grape is, the higher the concentration of phytonutrients. Grapes prevent heart disease and reduce platelet clumping and harmful blood clots.

4. Walnuts resemble the brain, mimicking the wrinkles and folds of the neocortex. Research suggests that walnuts may reduce the risk or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease. The high concentration of omega-3 fats in walnuts promotes healthy brain function.

5. Kidney Beans, true to their name are kidney shaped. They provide nutrients that are helpful to the human kidneys. Kidney beans contain molybdenum, which is responsible for detoxifying sulfates.

6. Celery has a bone like appearance and is rich in silicon and Vitamin K, which are needed for healthy joints and bones.

7. Avocados, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers.

8. Figs are loaded with seeds and increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.

9. Oranges, Grapefruits and other Citrus fruits have been compared to the appearance of female mammary glands. These fruits contain nutrients that are helpful in the fight against breast cancer.

10. Sliced Onions resemble skin cells and contain quercetin. Studies have shown when treated with a combination of quercetin and ultrasound at 20 kHz for 1-minute duration, skin and prostate cancers show a 90% mortality within 48 hours with no visible mortality of normal cells.

11. Sweet Potatoes resemble the pancreas and have a low glycemic index count, which is beneficial for diabetics.

12. Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.

Things I've Enjoyed Since Being Home

1) Thunderstorms
Yes, it rains plenty in England, but it's not the same because there is no thunder. I was never wakened by loud claps of thunder in the middle of the night causing me to schooch deeper under the covers and enjoy the fact that I was in my comfy bed.

2) Weddings
Two days after landing in Texas Danielle and I headed off to see our friends say their vows. I'll admit I was extremely tired (when the ceremony started it was past midnight in England, and I was ready to sleep) but it's always exciting to see people get married. My childhood friend got married last weekend and my college roommate ties the knot in five days. I love seeing what each bride does differently and the unique touches every wedding has.

3) Swimming
It's hot enough here that I actually want to get in the water.

4) Friends
My friends from growing up took me out to dinner when I came home and let me talk all I wanted about my trip. I loved it! I've also loved the phone calls and emails from everyone else wanting to catch up.

5) Driving
The other night I rolled my windows down and turned up my country music not caring who saw me singing. Driving at night is one of my most favorite things to do in the summertime. It relaxes me.

6) Refrigerators
They're huge here! You can actually fit a gallon of milk AND a gallon of orange juice in it along with a whole lotta food...which takes me to my next point.

7) Waffles
Because all freezers lack space in the UK, we had to reserve room for meat and dinner type food. As a result, I was cruelly denied the pleasure of eating waffles with peanut butter for breakfast, but that has all changed since being back :)

8) Family
I simply love them.

9) Shoes
This sounds so superficial, but I love having all of my shoes at my fingertips. Stilettos, pumps, peep toes, flats, sandals, flip flops, tennis shoes, red, black, brown, blue, pink, whatever I want it's here, and I have options when getting ready for the day.

10) Organizing
I've unpacked, put away, cleaned out, and made sure everything has a rightful place. There is always great satisfaction in organizing, and I do it whenever I can. Sometimes when I'm at someone else's house, I'll organize their mess or rearrange their furniture in my head. I can't help it. It's a disease. For my birthday when I was seven, my grandma took me to Walmart and let me pick out anything I wanted. I walked through the whole store and chose two pink storage containers with matching lids. My grandma tried to talk me out of them, but I insisted that's what I wanted. We compromised. She made me pick out a board game, and I still got to get my storage bins.