Barbara Jean

This is a pictureof my aunt and i about four years ago before she got sick. This was just the kind of person she was....always smiling and laughing. . . and she brought those silly Christmas headbands just for her and I because she knew I would wear one with her.

Its hard to say goodbye to someone who was always so full of life, but yesterday she passed away. As some of you know, she really fought through her cancer. They told us she had less than a week left over 7 weeks ago!

I talked to her once during that sad and scary week and she assured me that she was going to be okay. She was scared, but that she believed in God and had done all she could to make things right. She also said that she didn't want me to be sad because she was going to watch over me every day and she knew that Kyle and I had a wonderful future ahead of us.

It was so sad and heartbreaking to hear it then, but now it eases my mind a little. This struggle has been really difficult for my aunt and my family. Her services will be held in Decatur some time this week, so please keep us in your prayers as we make it through this difficult week.

Dress

I just watched part of an episode of Say Yes to the Dress on TLC. The episode started with a very petite, pretty, and tan bride walks in and looks amazing in every dress she puts on. After just a few dresses, she walks out, looks into the mirror, and exclaimed "I Love It." Then the camera panned over to her also georgous mom who was starting to cry and she muttered, "That is it! You have to get that one!"

Then the sales lady went on to talk about how important it is to find the right dress because you can only wear a dress like this once in your life. . .

All I can say is . . I wish

Free Dr Pepper

So here is a cool deal I found while just looking around on the Internet. Dr Pepper is celebrating the new Guns n Roses CD that comes out on Sunday(11/23/2008). . .So on Sunday and Sunday only, you can print a coupon for a free 20 oz bottle of Dr Pepper from their website. I believe that you do have to register your information with them and the coupon is sent snail mail, but its still free. Who knows it might work into an awesome CVS deal!

Peace

Peace does not come from knowing how you'll find the answer,
or when it will come, or what it will be.
Peace comes from simply knowing you will find the answer.

3 Signs its Winter

Until just lately, it hasn't really seemed like winter for me, but as you can tell by my Christmas blog craze I am now in winter mode. There are three main reasons that it feels like winter for me and they are as follows :

1.) The Temperature
It has obviously got much colder the past week or so. Yesterday, as I left for school, there was a frost on the grass and houses and my dad was scraping his windshield. Also last night when I left Jenn's house I could totally see my breath!

2.) SNOW !
That is right. . It snowed. For those of you who didn't notice it, don't feel bad. I have a snow radar or something. Anyways on Sunday around 2 pm, it snowed.

3.) The Decorations
Everyone is starting to put up their Christmas decorations and play Christmas music (that is among retail stores.) I can't wait until after Thanksgiving when I can decorate my house!

Couponing for Christmas

With Christmas coming, a tightened budget is weighing heavily. I wish I could buy everyone the perfect gift, but I don't have $200 for the newest gadget. I have always felt like a great gift showed those even greater people in my life how much I love them. I guess I know it isn't true, but with the bustle of shoppers and gifts under the tree, sometimes I have to remind myself. It's the thought that counts anyways, right? Well, this Christmas I am going to be as frugal as I can while still getting gifts that are fun and usable. This is my first thrifty gift this Christmas, and you guessed it . . I even used coupons!

Pack of 36 Hair Ties : 4

$2.19 each @ Target (Even cheaper than Wal-Mart's $2.28!)

-$2.00 Goody Ouchless Coupon

$0.19 each

Pack of 8 Headbands : 3

$2.19 each @ Target

-$2.00 Goody Ouchless coupon
$0.19 each

Blue Basket : 1

$1.00 @ Dollar Tree

Gel Handel Hair Brush : 1

$1.00 @ Dollar Tree

TOTAL COST : $3.33 (plus tax)



I may add some other little things (hair spray or other product) if the price is right! It is only a start considering I buy for 14 people not including friends! So, if you have any other gift ideas . . . let me know!

Excited

I know I haven't blogged in like forever, but I figured I had something slightly blogworthy! I am super excited about Christmas! . . and yes, I am one of those people. I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I love everything about it. I love shopping, Christmas music, decorations, baking, wrapping gifts, celebrating Juses's B-day, and even waiting in line isn't quite as bad around Christmas.

Evey thing is just better around Christmas. People are in better moods (outside of retail that is.) There is always something to do and something to be thankful for. Things have been hard lately for my family and I, so I have decided to just get through it as best I can and look forward to Christmas. I am also looking forward to thanksgiving because maybe it will help too. If nothing else, the Thanksgiving newspaper is awesome! (not to mention Black Friday Shopping)

I have ready purchased a few Christmas presents and have even seen a few commercials (also the only time of the year I am interested in commercials.) To those of you who hate the big deal people make over Christmas.... keep it to yourself. You can't bring down my Christmas excitement! Check out this wonderful link to the Countdown to Christmas. I was really surprised to see how few days there were.

I do believe that part of my excitement stems from my freeness from retail! No working until midnight, no customer getting mad at me because we don't have their size, and no mountains of clothes from the dressing rooms to put away. Now don't get me wrong, I still loved Christmas when I worked at JCP. I just love more and have a greater appreciation for retail employees.

So . . my apologies for not blogging and my best wishes for a Merry Christmas!