After the rain

Speaking of good books...

Actually, no one was talking about good books, I was just ready for something new at the top of my blog and this is one very exciting thing for me right now.

Mere Chrisitanity is a GREAT book! I'm surprised I haven't read it sooner but I also think God knows what he was doing. Reading it now is perfect timing. In it, C. S. Lewis explians the basics of Christain faith and why it is truth using a logical thought process and common language.

C.S. Lewis is much better with words than I, so rather than giving more of an overview here, I will just give a strong recommendation to everyone to read the book.

PS. Dad, I added my name to the 'read by' list and let friends here know they can borrow this copy to read - and add their name to the list too! No takers yet.

Last night

Yes, I did stay up until midnight, but I just couldn't stop watching. I tried to go to bed but ended up in the living room with the TV on again. It's fun to get wrapped up in the sport, especially during the Olympics. I just wish I had any small idea of what it feels like to be at an Olympics. Since I probably won't make it as an athlete, spectator could be the next best thing.

Anyone want to go to Vancouver in two years with me?

Drywall Party!

We thank all of our friends and family who came to help us put up walls today!

Here's what our basement looked like Friday night.

Some snacks for the workers.

Ryan's sheet rock ramp to get it down the stairs (and make it a challenge for people to get up the stairs. :) It worked really well... for both.

Saturday morning. I was so excited to see the ceiling when I came home.

Brian wanted me to get a photo of him 'working'. Mic and Tim were doing more productive work.

They've moved on to the walls.

Saturday night!!! Woo-Hoo.

Laundry room. "Umm... can somebody help me turn the washer around? There's two weeks worth of laundry waiting to be washed."

Poor Camden had to stay outside in the pouring rain all day while all these fun new people were at his house. He is such a good dog!

They got so much done today and I know Ryan was so thankful for the help. We still have a few small pieces and the stairwell to finish ... we also have yet to schedule someone to mud and tape though, too.

Chacos Adventures

Ryan's parents have been in town this week helping us with the basement. This afternoon we helped them pack some insulation on the top of their van. I, of course, wore my sandals. Here they are while waiting for zip ties to finish the strap-down.
Stay tunned for more photos and stories of our Drywall Party tomorrow!

Coupon things

There are some good deals at CVS this week.

What I picked-up:
2 Pert Plus shampoos - Buy 1 get 1 free (B1G1) $3.69
1 Oral B Toothbrush - $2.49
2 Colegate Toothpastes - $2.99 each
2 Cover Girl Compacts - $9.99 (one not pictured)
1 Children's Advil - $5.49 (also not pictured - already gave to a friend)
1 CVS shave gel - $1.99
2 CVS tampons - $1.49
1 Schick Intuition - $3.99 (rain check from last week)
How I Paid:
2 $2/1 Pert Plus coupons - making this free plus overage
$1/1 Oral B Advantage toothbrush
$1.50/1 Colegate coupon (from the freebie I requested)
$1/1 Colegate coupon
B1G1 Covergirl coupon
$1/1 Children's Advil coupon
$2 off CVS skin care product
Rain check for the tampons from last months ECB - making these free
$4/1 Schick razor coupon
ECBs: $8.98
Cash: $.45 + a whoping $1.97 in tax!

ECBs received:
$11.29

If you are new to couponing my tip Number 1 is start collecting coupons. I get the KC Star delivered ($26 for 6 months of the weekend papers) and also have neighbors and co-workers that give me their coupon inserts (I give them free items in exchange) to get more than one of each coupon. There are a lot of online resources that discuss the deals each week. You can link to Shannon's blog or MoneySavingMom from my links section - from there link to many other blogs of couponers. Tip number 2 is get organized. Find a good way for you to sort and organize your coupons. I also find is very beneficial to spend time planning my trips for each week - pulling out the coupons I plan to use and putting them in a separate envelope.

Hmm...what's in this?

I had my free sample of Warm Delights Minis today at work. (yes, I ate the cake before I got a photo of the real thing). It was actually pretty tasty. Although I really wonder what's in it. Since when does powder + water +30 seconds in a microwave make a cake? Which one of those ingredients I can't pronounce will give me cancer? Well, maybe not cancer, but last I knew sugar+butter + eggs + flour + baking soda + 30 minutes in an oven made a cake. There must be some new, fancy, high-tech, (bad-for-you?) ingredient that makes the quick cake possible. In the end, it was good enough that I would definitely get another one for free!

Unlike what I expected, it came in a bowl with two bags, one the cake mix the other, fudge. Instructions say add water to the cake mix, swirl the fudge on top and micro it for only 30 seconds. So it really is a 'fresh-baked' cake.