End of an Era

Sad day. Coach Fulmer just coached his last UT football game after 17 years as head coach. I don't care what anyone else says, I liked him and am sad to see him go.

Good Luck and Trouble

My shopping adventures today went well; I got the two big gift items on my list (can't say what or for who!) and several other good deals that were just too good to pass up. I started at 4:30 with a trip to Fry's where I waited in the freezing cold for twenty minutes before the doors opened, but I snagged what I went for so it was well worth the temporary suffering.

Then off to Target for another twenty minute wait in the cold. This wait was a little more pleasant because they had live Christmas music and were handing out 'breakfast' boxes with Christmas cookies and mini-bagels. How great is that? This stop was also wildly successful as Katie and I shopped our way through our lists via cell phone (she lives in Florida).

A quick trip to Old Navy (more success in the form of several sweaters for Nate!) and I was home by 7:30am.

After a quick breakfast and some make up (I was looking rough on Round 1!), we headed out to the mall and Michael's. I scored some more ornaments for my new tree and wreaths to decorate the front windows, all for under $40 (yeah for sales plus coupons!).

The best buy of the day was this new coat that I picked up at Ann Taylor Loft. It was on sale plus a 20% off coupon, and they were flying off the rack like hot cakes. I am in love with the collar and despite my closet full of coats, I don't own anything in this color. When it's this cold outside, you can never have too many coat options, right?


Sadly, our shopping foray was cut short when Nate was locked out of the house and we had to go 'rescue' he and his dad. But it's probably lucky for my wallet because I was having some serious decorating envy at Pier One when we got the call!

Success

Ladies and gentlemen, I have stuffed my first turkey. And I didn't throw up once. (There may or may not have been some covert gagging, but I'm pretty sure that doesn't count).

Ain't That Always the Way?

What better way to kick off the holiday season than with a car that won't start? That's right folks, no one else has to worry this weekend, because the obligatory car horror story has already happened to me. Save your thanks; send cash.

It happened yesterday as I was loading the beasts dogs for a trip to the groomers. They were in bad shape and with the in-laws coming, a little haircut was in order. Trips to the groomer are always an ordeal. Oliver loves to be in the car and shows his pleasure by bouncing from seat to seat and joyously licking your face (while you are driving). Lola, on the other hand, does not care so much for car rides and registers her displeasure by keening at the top of her lungs. This is worse than barking or howling; it is so high pitched that I am sure other dogs can hear her in Canada. Then she will claw her way up my arm to sit around my neck, the better to make herself heard (READ: keen directly into my ear).

Needless to say, I was already dreading the ten minute drive to PetSmart. So we have leashes, we have keys, we get in the car and the hysterics have already begun...but the car does not.

WTH?

After trying in vain several times to turn the engine over, we pile back out of the car by which time the puppies are frantic (why aren't we going?!) and I am more than a little pissed.

Put the dogs in the house, call Nate, call PetSmart, call Dad, call Nate again. Not exactly how I had envisioned my puppy free afternoon going. Boo.

Long story short, it's not the battery or something easy like that. And the shop that the neighbor recommends can't take it until Monday. So on this most busy of holiday weekends, we are a one car family. And then for who knows how long once we finally get it in the shop.

I have been car-less for less than 24 hours and already I am stir crazy. Not that I have anywhere in particular to go, but just knowing that I can't is enough to make me desperately NEED to get out of the house. Go figure.

Distraction

Who can work when her inbox is piling up with coupons and fliers for the holiday weekend?

"Not Me!" Monday

Okay, so technically this is now Tuesday, but these things happened on a Monday, so isn't that close enough? I have been enjoying the blog My Charming Kids for awhile now and finally decided to get in on the "Not Me!" Monday action.

This week I did not turn the wrong way out of the Wal-mart parking lot and make it three miles before I realized I was going the wrong direction. Again.

I did not try to buy wine for Thanksgiving and discover that I did not have my driver's license in my wallet.

Last night when Nate asked for grilled cheese for dinner (WTH?), I most certainly did not sneak off to call my sister Katie to make sure I knew how to make grilled cheese correctly.

And I definitely am not posting this while eating yet another spoonful of cookie dough from the refrigerator.

Start Your Engines

Search engines, that is. In preparation for the Most Important Shopping Day of the Year, here are a few websites to help you plot world domination your shopping course. Many of the Black Friday sale fliers can already be found online at one of these websites. Don't forget that many online retailers will start their Black Friday sales online on Thursday!

Black Friday 2008
Black Friday at Gottadeal.com
Black Friday Info

And just in case you suddenly fall deathly ill from a turkey overdose (or possibly food poisoning at my house) and can't make it on Black Friday (HORROR!), never fear! Check out the deals for Cyber Monday here.

CyberMonday.com
CyberMondaySales.com

If you just can't wait until Friday, check out this 30% off online offer at NY and Company.

Somebody Stop Me

I am completely incapable of staying away from the Nestle cookie dough in my refrigerator.

I knew I should have put off Thanksgiving grocery shopping until Wednesday.

He's a Keeper

Bad day: When your husband has to work on both Saturday AND Sunday.

Good day: When your husband brings you Starbucks because he had to work on both Saturday AND Sunday.

Great Expectations

As if I didn't already have enough to look forward to in the next few weeks, we have finally ordered our entertainment console for the family room. We picked it out several weeks ago in the hopes that it would come before Nate's parents visit for Thanksgiving, but it's a new piece at Haverty's and apparently very popular - it's on back order through Christmas. So we decided to hold off a few weeks since it wouldn't make a difference anyway. And I'm so glad we did, because this week I got a coupon for 15% off any one item. Yeah for saving money!

This lovely merlot media console will arrive just in time for New Year's Day football. I can't wait to get the ugly craft table out of our family room and finish up my craft room upstairs!


Up next - new couches and tables for the family room!

Press Play

Last weekend I bought the new Taylor Swift CD, Fearless. Don't judge; you know you secretly like country music too! I was a big fan of her first CD, Taylor Swift, so I went ahead and bought the new one before I heard a single song.

That's a big deal, people, in case you didn't know. I buy maybe one or two CDs a year. In fact, I made it to November before I bought one this year. I rarely like an entire CD enough to buy it; I copy borrow from my parents anything I really want or just download the one or two songs I like from the Internet. So buying a CD, songs unheard, is unprecedented.

And totally worth it! It's maybe not as great as her first one but it's pretty darn close. I have already listened straight through several times and only skip through one song (It's about the prom. Ugh). I haven't found anything I like quite as much as Our Song (from the last album), but think Track #4 (Hey, Stephen) and Track #5 (White Horse) could be contenders for my new favorite Taylor Swift song.

I think this one is going to be in heavy rotation for quite awhile. Might even supplant the Christmas music for awhile!

Wish I Had Thought of That

Seen on Post Secret

Dear Universe (because I don't know who else to thank)

Dear Person Who Sent Me This Gift,

What a delightful surprise to come home this afternoon from Starbucks to discover your mystery package on my doorstep. You are very welcome for whatever it was that I helped you with, although I wish you had been a bit more specific on my helpfulness (or perhaps signed your name!) so that I would know whom to thank. I was having a spectacularly bad day and your gift was just what I needed to remember that there are nice people in this world, not just stupid ones.

love,
Sara

You Know It's Bad When...

...not even a massage could help after the day I've had. A total blackout is the only answer.

You Call THAT a Sale?

So I just checked my email and was jazzed to see an announcement that Baker's Shoes is having a boot sale this weekend. Immediately, my mind was dancing with visions of wearing these babies for my Black Friday shopping adventures next week as I bopped over the Baker's website to check the sale price. Imagine my dismay to discover that Baker's idea of a rip-off sale is $5 off! What the heck? You call that a sale?

Fortunately, my favorite store was feeling a little more generous over on their website. Enjoy!

A Polite Request

Dear Mother Nature,

There is snow. On the ground. In November.

Please check your calendar. Mine says that the first day of Winter is December 21. Please kindly refrain from snowing again until then.

sincerely,
Sara

Line of the Night

Serena: I need your word on something, Chuck.

Chuck: If you mean your hemline, then I say shorter.

Gotta love Chuck Bass.

Christmas is a Time of Sharing

And you can't argue with Christmas, so here I am sharing...(You see this Santa? Make sure I'm on the 'Good' list.)


Also, through Wednesday, save 20% at Container Store (best wrapping paper selection ever!). Coupon code: CLUTTERCREW

Got any bright ideas?

I have decided to outsource buy our Christmas cards this year. I know, I know, it's impersonal. But writing Christmas cards is right up there on my list of top 5 things I hate to do:

1. Cook
2. Dust
3. Vacuum
4. Christmas Cards
5. Shop (Wait, how did that get on there?)

Anyway, who really wants to spend Black Friday writing 'We wish you and yours a Merry Christmas!' one hundred times? Not me.

So I have shopped a couple of stationary websites for card options but so far I am coming up empty. I can't believe that it is this hard to find a decent Christmas card! I don't want anything with photos, nothing kitschy or folksy, and I am not inviting people to a Christmas party or announcing the birth of my child via Christmas card. Do only old people and people with kids send out pre-printed holiday cards?

So far this one from tinyprints is the only half-decent option that I have found and I am not super thrilled about it. I was hoping for something bright and merry (perhaps red and green to stick with my theme?) and while this is bright, I'm not feeling very merry about it.


And so, dear blog readers who happen to be really amazing online shoppers, anyone know of a good website I can search or a good stationary store in the Indy area that I can visit?

I need to order in the next week or so in order to have them in decent time to address (I will at least do that myself. Good enough, right?) and send out before anyone else sends us cards. Why the hurry you ask? Because I somehow never got around to doing change of address cards. Did I mention how I really hate to do change of address cards, too...

Santa Baby....

Please hurry down my chimney with these ruffled beauties from Baker's Shoes. Love, love, love!


(In black, though. Size 7.5)

love,
Sara

Inspiration

So on the advice of Amy Grace (sister #2 for those of you who are not in the know already), I decided to go with the 'whimsical' red, green and white/silver tree. Although I had been planning something else, I really fell in love with this little ornament at Michael's last weekend and decided to let it be my inspiration.


After Kimberly saw my post about my Michael's trip, she was sweet enough to send along a coupon for an additional 15% off their ornament collections. Hello?! On sale for 40% off AND an additional coupon? It was all I could do to wait until Saturday to get back over there!

I patiently explained to Nate why a second trip in the same week was in order and tried to prepare him for the glut of decorations I planned to bring home. Yeah, he totally didn't get it. But at least he didn't stop me, and I was off to spend my Saturday in a crafter's paradise.

And here is part of my haul. I got about two dozen red, green and silver ornaments plus some basic silver pieces as 'filler'. (Excuse the ghetto shopping bags under the ornaments. I didn't want to glitter the whole floor up!)

So cute, right? I also got this great ribbon to put in the tree. I saw some green ribbon with red stitching that is the perfect shade of green to match my inspiration wreath. I am considering getting a roll or two of that one also and alternating the two different types.

So now I just need some good red and green 'filler' ornaments and maybe a few more 'special' pieces for the front part of the tree. I am so ridiculously excited, I don't know how I will wait another 10 days to get started!

Dear Mother Nature

Rain, rain, go away...

I'm tired of bad hair days!

I Have Arrived...Or Why I am a Blight on Humanity

And so has my Starbucks Gold card! I have been watching for it in the mail and it finally turned up just when I needed a little extra cheer in my day. The Gold card is the Starbucks version of a Black Amex. And the best part is that my membership fee was waived because of my Starbucks credit card. Sweet!

Cut to three hours later and I am in the check out line at Wal-mart....

____________________________________________________

Cashier (commenting on my purchase of Starbucks bottled Frappuccino): You know you could make this stuff at home for much cheaper.

Me (trying to be polite even if she isn't): Yeah, I do that sometimes but it never turns out quite as good as the real deal.

Cashier (when I hand over my Starbucks credit card): Oh. I guess you spend a lot of money there. You know people save hundreds of dollars a year by making coffee at home.

Me (As if this is any of your %@^! business): Yeah, I know it's overpriced but there's nothing else quite like it.

Cashier: Seems like a waste of money to me. You are what is wrong with the world.
_____________________________________________________

Seriously?! Did you just say that to me?

Apparently people like me (i.e. the ones who work hard to earn a paycheck and keep you employed at Wal-mart) are responsible for all the ills of the world. I'm sure that Starbucks somehow engineered the economic slump and the five-year war as part of their plot for world domination.

And who do they plan to steal the world away from? You guessed it - Wal-mart! Maybe, Ms. Know-it-All Wal-mart cashier, YOU are what is wrong with the world.

With.much.love for Milkshakes

If you haven't already tried Chick-fil-A's amazing Peppermint Chocolate Chip milkshake, then you must get thee to a Chick-fil-A immediately! Chick-fil-A has amazing milkshakes anyway, but this Peppermint holiday version tops them all. Sadly, they are for a limited time only. I am going to be one sad Chick when this baby goes away.

Tis better to give than to receive

So what's even better than just giving? How about receiving while giving? Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic are letting you do just that this weekend! Thanks to Kimberly for sharing this with her blog readers; I'm going to pass the cheer on! Save 30% at any of the stores (coupon can be used multiple times!) and 5% of your purchase goes to charity.

And I promise not to make this blog all about shopping but when someone shares the love with me, I feel the need to pass it on. Some of these deals are just too good to keep to myself.



Also, here is a coupon for $10 off a $50 purchase at Kirkland's. And enter promo code 20FRIENDS when checking out at Bath and Body Works and save 20% off your online purchase through November 16th.

After the week I've had, some retail therapy is definitely on my weekend agenda.

How was your day?

It is a good thing for some people that I work from home.

A Spade is a Spade....and now it's on SALE!

Kate Spade is having a Private clearance sale this week, and now these items are an additional 20% off today and tomorrow.

Please let me know if you can't use the link and I'll be happy to forward you the email directly.

A Girl Has Needs.....or How to Know You're a Starbucks Addict

After rolling out of my comfy bed to find a rainy gray morning, I grabbed the keys for my all-too-often morning trip to Starbucks. For someone who spends 95% of her week in her own house, this little bit of escapism keeps me from burning the place down.

So I grabbed my wallet and headed out the garage door....and realized my car had been stolen.

Okay, maybe not really, but for about 10 seconds I thought it was true. I was momentarily panic stricken until I remembered that Nate was taking my car today so that he could use the GPS to go to the dentist. I flipped on the garage light and saw his car exactly where it should be.

And you want to know the funny part? My first thought wasn't, 'Ohmigosh, my car!'. It was, 'How the heck am I going to get to Starbucks'?

Sad, but true.

SOS

Have they stopped making Diet Coke with Lime? I have been craving one for five days now. I have hit three gas stations, a CVS and a Wal-greens in the last week but no dice. Let this be a lesson, boys and girls, to never try new stuff. Ever. They lure you in and then they just snatch it away!

On a happier note, it is only fourteen days until my wonderful in-laws arrive with four cases of Cheerwine just for me. Is it sad that I actually have a countdown clock for Cheerwine? Don't get me wrong, I am excited to see the actual in-laws too (Hi, guys!), but if you've never had this fizzy Southern goodness, you couldn't understand. And, NO, I will not share mine with you. Get your own fizzy goodness.

Sound Off

Why does it always take my dogs longer to do their 'business' when it is 30 degrees and raining outside? Seriously? Can't you just GO already?

A Jolly Addition

Yesterday I hit up one of my favorite craft stores, Michaels. They are having a great sale on most of their Christmas items so of course I had to go scouting so I can plan my Christmas decorating conquests.

I could have spent literally hours there going through each section, but I came away with a few great finds for stocking stuffers and a lot of great ideas. First decision to be made is how I want to decorate my second tree. This is the first year that we (and by 'we', I mean 'me') get to have a 'decorative' tree in addition to our family tree. I am torn between a white and gold tree (a la the Langer family tradition) or a cute red, white and green tree (because I saw so much cute red, white and green stuff yesterday). I can't decide if I want it to be breathtaking or smile-making. Have to give that one a little more thought.

And although I am technically still not allowed to begin my holiday decorating (you should have heard Nate's sigh when he saw the Christmas CD's in my car on Saturday!) I did pick up one thing that I just couldn't resist leaving out. This super cute wooden Santa countdown was $24.99 but with my 50% off coupon, I scored him for $12.50! I put him next to the front door and he looks adorable. You should have seen the puppies going nuts over this little man. They are not too sure about old Santa.


A few other items on my Christmas decorating wish list....

An outdoor Christmas tree for the front porch. Something like this:


or maybe like this.


I am definitely in love with this wreath from Pier One, but not the $80 price tag. You can't really tell in the picture, but each berry is covered in sparkles that make the whole wreath glitter every time you move. Going to have to wait for a really good sale before I can justify this one.


I am also on the hunt for a mistletoe kissing ball to hang in the living room or dining room.


And finally, these amazing candle holders, which have zero to do with Christmas but have totally caught my attention (also at Pier One). It's hard to tell in the pic but they are 3.5 and 4 ft tall. I think they would look amazing in the foyer.

Bad, Wife, Bad

I must make a confession - I have been a very poor wife to my darling husband. Nathan has worked tirelessly to make sure that our lawn is the greenest on the cul-de-sac and I have completely failed to acknowledge his efforts here on the blog.

So, drum roll please.........I am proud to present our lovely lawn.

For comparison sake - This is our side yard compared to the neighbor's grass. We love our neighbors, but our grass looks WAY better!


I think this one is the biggest testament to Nate's TLC. This was just seed a month ago. When the warranty guy came for our orientation last week, he kept looking out the back window saying he couldn't believe that our backyard hadn't been sodded. He said it was the best looking seeded lawn he'd ever seen!


We have just a couple of spots where the gutters keep washing away the seed, but we will take care of that in the Spring, maybe with a few little pieces of sod.


The front yard was where we had the sod and it has just grown by leaps and bounds. It is amazingly green in person. I don't think the pics do it justice.

Do they make them any cuter than this?

Being this cute is exhausting.

Not right

I saw snow flurries today. It is November. November is not the time for snow. Boo hiss.

It is going to be a long winter.

Pretty Sister

My baby sister had her senior pictures taken last week and here are two of my favorite shots (with her horse Coby). I cannot believe that she is about to graduate from high school; that makes me feel very old.



I am blessed to have three very cool sisters (and a fourth 'adopted' one). I wouldn't trade any of them for the world.

In the words of Emily herself, you guys are the 'best whole world'.

Get LOST

I was all ready to blog about our frustrating furniture experience today and rant about pushy salespeople but then I saw this, and now I can't be anything except excited.

I love this show and have watched from the very first episode. Okay, so I caught the first episode when they replayed it the next week before the second episode, but who cares? I did not plan to watch any new shows that season but two minutes of that season premiere and I was hooked.

I wait with breathless anticipation for each Wednesday night (and last season, Thursday) and eagerly read the episode recaps on Thursdays for all the 'little' details that I might have missed. I can't remember ever being as interested in a show as I was that first season of LOST.

I have exactly 75 days to brush up on my LOST history and get ready for the crazy ride of Season 5. Anyone up for a LOST season 4 marathon?

Genius

As if one great sale posting today wasn't enough, here is another that you won't want to miss. Thanks to the stylish Kimberly over at Fab Finds under $50, I scored a bunch of great Christmas gifts at the Vera Bradley clearance sale.

I am not a big fan of VB myself but I am totally excited about this curling iron case I ordered for when I travel. It's lined inside so you can stick a hot curling or straightening iron in it without worrying about singeing your clothes or melting your suitcase. I can't count the number of times I have checked out of a hotel, hot curling iron in hand.


Word of warning to ladies in my family - you may want to check with me before you order. I won't admit to exactly how much I spent today, but some of you are going to be pretty happy this Christmas!

Will you be my friend?

I bet you will after I share this coupon with you! It's good through Sunday, in-store and online. And it's even good on accessories and sale items. You don't run across those too often! Happy shopping!

Endless love

Dear Santa,

I have been a very good girl this year.

Please put these babies under my Christmas tree this year. Size 7.5, please.



love, Sara

Honesty is the best policy

I have been tagged by Leah for the Honest Weblog award. I must share ten honest things about myself.

1. I am the oldest of four girls and I am pretty sure that I am everyone’s favorite sister. (Love you, guys!)


2. I am totally going to copy Leah on this one – I am a military brat and moved every four or so years with my family. I get anxious to move or change things every few years. We just bought our first house and it will be interesting to see how I am feeling about it four or five years from now!

3. I am kind of a nerd. I do the daily crossword puzzle at msnbc.com on the Master Level. My personal best time is 8 minutes, 31 seconds.

4. I laugh every single time I see a Sonic commercial. I know these commercials are really stupid, but they make me giggle anyway.


5. If I hear someone gagging or throwing up, there is a 90% chance that I am going to follow suit.

6. I am completely terrified of needles. I avoid the doctor at all costs because I am afraid they will want to take blood or give me a shot. My fear is so bad, I don’t like to be touched in the crook of my arm because it reminds me of having blood drawn. Even thinking about it now makes me want to cross my arms and protect my crooks!

7. I own over 70 pairs of shoes and I am not ashamed to admit it.


8. I regret that I quit piano lessons when I was a kid. I wish I had some cool musical talent like the piano or guitar. Should have listened to my mother!

9. I am a self-soother. I bounce my leg or wiggle my foot when I am tired, bored or anxious. I used to rock myself to sleep by wiggling my foot but Nate made me stop once he had to share a bed with me. (Complete truth be told – sometimes I just wait for him to fall asleep and then I do it anyway!)

10. My ultimate dream in life would be to attend New York Fashion week.


I would like to tag the following blogs: Cookie Crums and The Hine Family (yes, that means you too, John!).

Even Starbucks votes RED

The red holiday cups have arrived at Starbucks just in time for the election. A coincidence? I think not. Maybe it's subliminal advertising at it's best....vote RED, vote RED, vote RED. Or maybe that's just my wishful thinking. Either way, I am super excited about red holiday cups back at Starbucks. Just another sign that the holidays are upon us!


And although I am feeling decidedly more blue than red today, I am keeping my fingers crossed for a miracle tonight.