Friday Favorites!

It's been a while since I posted a "Friday Favorite", so here it is.

Vera Bradley has been around a long time - 1982 to be exact, but I've recently fallen in love with their patterns all over again. This is my new favorite VB pattern. It's called Symphony in Hue. I really like all the brights on the black background.

I have two items in this pattern. The Let's do Lunch Tote and the Wristlet. I'm looking to expand my collection soon.

The Store in Lake Highlands carries a wide variety of Vera Bradley among other things. I've gotten lots of cute stuff there. They also carry Yellowbox flip flops - which might have to be my posting for next week's Friday Favorite:)

Have a great weekend.

Rainbow Cake!

I saw this cake on a blog that I read a couple of months ago and thought it was cool. I noticed it was on Martha Stewart this week. There is even a link to an instructional video on http://www.marthastewart.com/ - check it out.



Martha's cake.





Homestyle cake from the Whatever blog. She explains how she does it here.



This would be a really cool Birthday Cake come August. (That's a hint for S or C&C who are the only people I know who would actually try to make this cake.)

Coupon Queen!

In the fall of 2009 I decided to start clipping coupons to help save a little cash. I've recently had a couple of people ask me where I get some of my coupons so I thought I'd post about it.

I try to get the Sunday paper which of course always has a lot of coupons. Some times I skip the paper and just go online. Here are some of my favorite online saving spots. Most of these sites allow you to browse through a wide variety of coupons and click on the ones you want. Once you've scrolled over maybe 20 pages of coupons, then you hit print and it only prints the ones you selected. Most of these sites also require that you join or become a member. This basically involves registering your email and is free. I also had to download something that sends the coupons to my printer. I'm completely computer illiterate and if I could figure it out I imagine anyone can.

Note: Some of the coupon sites say you should print them in color, but I always print in black and white and I've never had a problem with them being accepted at the store.

http://www.coupons.com/

http://www.couponsurfer.com/

http://www.redplum.com/

Next I always check out the weekly coupons available from Target. There is not really a link to this one. I just google, "this week's target coupons" and it usually comes right up. Again, you check the ones you want and then print. Some are target only coupons, others are manufacturer's.

Here are some Savings Blogs I read daily. Many offer links to a daily deal or printable coupons.

http://www.coupondad.net/

http://www.southernsavingsanddeals.blogspot.com/

Southern Savings and Deals along with along with my Alabama blog buddy Leslie from http://www.lambertslately.com/ often post about their shopping trips to Publix , a popular southern supermarket, which apparently offers the mother load of savings. I will often find on both of these sites a picture of the dining table filled with 20 items or more and a note that it was all purchased at Publix with the quadruple coupon for $2.10 or something completely absurd like that. Seriously, It makes me wish we had a Publix, but they are not in Texas. I used to shop at one in Savannah. If I had only known.

http://www.southernsavers.com/

All of these sites offer coupons for groceries, household items, toiletries, pet care and some even offer deals on travel and discounts at department stores. I typically save around $10-20 a week from these sites.

Happy Savings to you!

Zoe

Here are some cute pics of Zoe from daycare yesterday. She's back today, getting groomed.

Waxahachie!

The Beautiful Courthouse in Waxahachie

I should have posted about weeks ago, but I guess I just never got around to it. Before spring break, Amy and I spent a Saturday in Waxahachie. I've driven through there a number of times seeing as it sits between Dallas and Waco, but I've never ventured into town.

A Blog Buddy, Caroline (You'll find her on my blog list) is from Waxahachie and I often read about some of the neat stuff she's up to in the downtown area, so it was nice to check it out for myself. It was also a great way to celebrate Amy's B-Day a little early.

First, we stopped at Catfish Plantation. It was a fried food fest. The fried pickles we great and I normally don't like pickles. The spicy catfish was awesome. The restaurant is in an old Victorian home that is supposed to be haunted. There website has some interesting information about past sightings and scheduled ghost hunts. http://www.catfishplantation.com/

Next we headed to the downtown square to checkout the cute shops. We found one place that had tons of Fiesta ware which Amy and I both collect. They had all kind of unique pieces that you don't see every day. My big purchase of the day was a Fiesta turquoise mug for $4. 00 to replace the one I had dropped the week before.

Shops downtown


Fiesta

Next we headed back to Dallas and hung out at Amy's for a while before deciding that cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory would be a well rounded dinner:) Technically we were celebrating Amy's B-day so cheesecake for a meal seemed acceptable.

Over all it was a great day and I hope to return to Waxahachie soon.

Books and Boots!

I wanted to share a couple of books I've been reading. First, I've been reading this Nora Roberts book. It's actually a collects of the stories, Partners and The Art of Deception.

Next I'm starting Beth Moore Bible Study called Breaking Free. I've done many of her Bible studies in the past and she has such a gift for for sharing God's word with practical application. This study is not new by any means and I don't really know how I've never done it in all of these years being part of Women's Bible study groups, but I'm excited about starting it now. I'm not doing it with any particular group, I do have a couple of friend who are going through the workbook at this time, so I guess we'll be doing it along together.

Now on to the subject of Boots. When my parents were in Dallas a month ago, during the major snow event. My mother made note that I should get some rain or snow boots, because they would be good for walking Zoe when it was wet or snowy. In all honesty, it is rarely snowy in Dallas, but rain boots did seam like a practical purchase I have just somehow failed to make.

So, I purchased these, they are called gardening Sloggers. I got them from QVC. They came is some great colors and patterns.

Saturday night Dad and I headed down to the Nederland Herritage Festival. It is your typical small town fair. When you go to the Great State Fair of Texas every year, your hometown festival just doesn't have the same appeal. None the less, it is a spring break tradition, so Dad and I went down to people watch and purchase a funnel cake, but the line was too long. We just walked around and looked at all the booths. I saw these Rubber Boots that would be perfect for the all out Cow Girl.

After our attempt for a funnel cake bombed we hit the DQ before going home. For tradition sake, I can say I attend Heritage Festival 2010!

Steffi and Tad are taking a little day trip for the 5th anniversary and I'm babysitting while the Rents are at work. I'll probably head back to Dallas on Wed. or Thrs.

Later Y'all.

The Holly I Once Knew.

Wow, it's been a while since my last post. Those girls scout cookies I mentioned just about did me in, but a couple of boxes did make it to the freezer and unfortunately a couple of boxes made in my mouth and now reside comfortable on my hips - sigh.

I hope to be better about posting more frequently. I am so glad spring is here. Next week is spring break for me and I am headed to Nederland. I always look forward to the drive. I love the beautiful Texas Bluebonnets.

This was Zoe last year on our way back to Dallas.

This year there are not big plans for Spring break. Just a few days at home with the Rents.

Speaking of the Bluebonnets - They always remind me of Holly Hobbie. Remember her - If you grew up in the late 70s or early 80s I'm sure you do. I guess Bluebonnets make me think of her because of her sweet little blue patchwork dress and she always looked she was standing out on the prairie, like she would be friends with Laura and Mary Ingalls.

This is how I remember Holly.

I still have this Holly Hobbie Board Game - No one ever wants to play it with me.



I think my sister had this lunch box, which means I used it later.

But there is a new Holly Hobby. She looks like this, I think she kind of looks like a Bratz doll (OK maybe not that bad, but still - so sad.) I don't see the need to modernize absolutely everything. Some things are just fine the way they are.

I hope every one's spring is off to a good start. Have a great week. More postings on Spring Break to follow.