Apparently, He Brought Obama’s Birth Certificate

How was your Easter?  I had a lovely time in Newton Grove (or Circle City, as my Daddy likes to call it).  On my way down on Sunday morning, I ran by the new Whole Foods on Six Forks Rd and grabbed two fruit tarts for $4.99 each for Sweet Thing and Uncle Carl, and a lavender bunny cake for $6.99 for Mama and Daddy.  They were a hit!  And I loved that my family was eating products made with ingredients like cage-free eggs, natural butter, and unbleached flour.  (www.wholefoodsmarket.com)  I was able to spend the entire afternoon relaxing and visiting and chatting.  I love using Hallmark’s FREE e-cards to surprise friends and family on holidays (my favorite this year was ‘Candy Wrappers’, a rapping chick and bunny duo), but I also picked up seven Easter cards and one birthday card at Kroger for $8.18.  (www.hallmark.com)  Of course, my folks never let me come back to Raleighwood empty-handed.  Mama saved her recent collection of “Good Housekeeping”, “Southern Living”, and “Redbook” magazines for me, and Daddy had three baby tomato plants waiting.  The simple gifts are always the sweetest.  Looks like the Easter Bunny wasn’t empty-handed, either, in DC… Apparently, he brought Obama’s birth certificate.

Since last week, I walked my dog, downward-facing, at one of my two FREE yoga classes offered each week.  Both classes break for the summer, so I need to get in the habit of practicing on my own.  Instead of paying for gym membership fees, Andrew and I have opted to take part in FREE outdoor activities now that the temperatures are soaring and the days are longer, like walking around Lake Lynn with Chuti, Scott, Alex, and Chela.  (Can you imagine how excited I was to hear almost-two-year-old Alex say my name?!)  (http://www.raleighfree.com/lake_lynn_park.html)  Andrew and I took a road trip to Goldsboro to the Wings Over Wayne air show on Sunday.  My absolute favorite trick was the snow white exhaust from a jet forming a humongous heart in the bright, blue sky.  Afterwards, we had dinner at the local Outback.  I was able to get my favorite Signature Side Salad (the blue cheese pecan chopped salad) in an entree size, at NO additional charge ($3.99).  Andrew’s father, Dale, gave me a FREE Adele CD.  Love, love, love it.  Think Macy Gray meets Amy Winehouse.  We redeemed a $4 off coupon at Red Lobster.  I had one of my favorite dishes (a tuna salad salad) at one of my favorite places (Shish Kabob) for only $5.50.  I used the last of my $50 gift card to Goodberry’s that I paid only $25 for.  I will miss those late night frozen custard runs.  I racked up at Trader Joe’s:  salsa, spicy black bean dip, gorgonzola crackers, fig cereal bars, pita chips, 2 pounds of pink lady apples, blue corn tortilla chips, apricot and raspberry shortbread cookies, oat and wheat bran cereal, 2 cans of no salt added albacore tuna, 4 bananas, and tea tree oil facial wash…. all for $32.49.  No coupons, none needed, and still not cooking!  (www.traderjoes.com)  I destroyed my Citipass book.  It was starting to look mangy from all of the missing coupons and pages, so I put it out of its misery and ripped out all of the remaining pages.  For the coupons that I wouldn’t use, I made piles for various friends and passed the rest around my office.  (http://raleighcitipass.com/)  On Monday, Andrew and I took advantage of PF Chang’s tax day special (15% off all orders) and dined on Mandarin Chicken and Buddha’s Feast for $17.47.  On 4/19, I did Ornamentea’s Try-It Tuesday project (Fabulous Floral Earrings) with Bluefish.  We wrapped pastel flowers and beads around copper-colored hoops.  On 4/26, Andrea and I did the Try-It Tuesday Comfy Summer Bangle project.  I made mine for Miss Morgan, with purple beads, of course.  (www.ornamentea.com)  It’s that time of year again – time to take continuing ed classes to keep my NC real estate license active.  Of all the schools (HPW, JY Monk, Fonville Morisey, etc), Legacy offers the most affordable classes at $45 per class versus $50-$65 for other schools.  (www.legacyrealestateschool.com)  I know it is only April, but I have already ordered my first Christmas gift, for Andrew’s grandmother!  I also found a cute gift for Brian, whose birthday is not until August.  With such passion for the ‘Pack, this family is easy to shop for.  (www.ncstateshop.com)  Tonight, Chavon, Andrew, and I joined tons of other folks at Brio for $2.95 appetizers in the bar.  Don’t let the price fool you; these appetizers are hearty.  Try the margherita flatbread and ravioli.  (www.brioitalian.com)

In response to the devastation caused by last Saturday’s tornadoes, folks at work donated items to the Red Cross.  (www.redcross.org)  I shopped at Costco, which allowed me to buy in bulk and use coupons from this month’s coupon booklet for 5 out of 8 items purchased, saving me $11.75.  I donated 90 33-gallon Kirkland trash bags, 36 jumbo rolls of Cottonelle toilet tissue, 12 rolls of Kirkland paper towels, 2 loaves of Nature’s Own bread, 4 packs of 320 Lysol wipes, 35 half-liters of Deer Park bottled water, 152 Ziploc gallon size freezer bags, and 2 48-ounce JIF creamy peanut butter jars, all for about $81.  We also held a bake sale to raise $565 for Christina Alvarez.  You may have read about her story on WRAL.  (http://www.wral.com/weather/story/9474504/)  She lost two nephews, a son, and an infant daughter when a tree crushed her home.  Donations can be made at the McDonald’s at the corner of Six Forks and Wake Forest roads.  In times like these, a high school classmate’s recent Facebook status comes to mind, “Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.”  It is my hope that Kewana’s thoughts touch your heart and encourage you to give time, money, or needed items.

From Thursday until Saturday, Andrew and I enjoyed a mini vacation in Richmond, Virginia.  Andrew’s childhood friend, Quincy Latimore, plays minor league baseball and we always try to watch as many games as possible.  He plays for Altoona Curve, which happened to be the away team playing against the Richmond Flying Squirrels, that weekend.  (http://altoona.curve.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t452)  Quincy is sweet enough to offer FREE tickets to his games, which we gratefully accepted for both Thursday and Friday nights.  I thought I was a damn good sport (no pun intended) on Friday night when we finally left the ball field at 11:30pm, after 5 hours and 15 innings, wearing a sweater and three light jackets (I could barely bend my arms, like Ralphie in “A Christmas Story”), holding an umbrella in 48 degree temps.  Ugh.  At least Altoona won…  While vacationing, we received 15% off of our meal at Quaker by simply showing our hotel room key and enjoyed complimentary breakfasts (including divine Earl Grey tea… mmmmm).  Admission to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts was FREE and I scored Sweet Thing’s birthday gift of Renoir greeting cards for $13.95 and an adorable bird mobile for the guest bedroom at $6.95.  (http://www.vmfa.state.va.us/Default.aspx)  We were super excited to find a Costco near our hotel, which saved us money on gas.  On our way home on Saturday, we stopped by downtown to attend Richmond’s Earth Day street festival, with live music and a gorgeous view from the top of the pedestrian bridge.

Some Things To Look Forward To:

Today 4/29 – Whole Foods One Day Sale – organic strawberries $1.99/lb  (www.wholefoodsmarket.com)

Today 4/29 – FREE Midnight showing of “Princess Bride” at NCSU’s Witherspoon Student Center  (http://www.ncsu.edu/cinema/index.html)

4/29-30 – 25th Annual NC Pickle Festival (Mt. Olive) – FREE admission  (www.ncpicklefest.org)

4/30 – Designer’s Downtown Market  (http://www.designersdowntownmarket.com/)

4/30 – 18th Annual Spring Daze (Cary) – FREE admission  (http://www.townofcary.org/Departments/Parks__Recreation___Cultural_Resources/events/festivals/springdaze.htm)

5/1 – American Tobacco’s “Explore… Create… Move” (Durham) – a 4 part series for kids featuring an expert leader and a theme – $5 registration fee  (http://www.wral.com/lifestyles/goaskmom/blogpost/9500062/)

5/1-8 – Sherwin Williams – 25% off paint  (www.sherwin-williams.com)

Through 5/2 – Lowe’s 4 for $10 Spring Essential Sale  (www.lowes.com)

5/2-3 – FREE 7pm and 9pm showings of “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers:  The Movie” at NCSU’s Witherspoon Student Center (http://www.ncsu.edu/cinema/index.html)

5/3 – $2 Try-It Tuesday Coreopsis Bangle project at Ornamentea  (www.ornamentea.com)

5/6-7 – North Carolina Symphony – $20 tickets to “Blues in the Night” – code SPRING*  (http://www.ncsymphony.org/?link=1&trid=380)

Through 5/8, $3.50 off any $10 purchase at Ulta (http://search.ulta.com/nav/marketing/couponwk1260640e/0?n=ulta&CID=ET_wk1311_Mon_SH_TStore_TN_x_x_x&ET_LID=Coupon&RID=358350579)

5/12-14 – North Carolina Symphony – $20 tickets to “Composer Portraits:  Mahler” – code SPRING*  (http://www.ncsymphony.org/?link=1&trid=380)

Every Thursday through 8/25 – Midtown Music Concert Series – FREE  (http://www.northhillsraleigh.com/)

20th of Every Month – Shop Local Raleigh – $20 on the 20th  (http://shoplocalraleigh.org/care/$20-onthe-$20th-Promotions)

Beginning Every Tuesday – Half price rolls at Carolina Sushi and Roll.  Check under “Events” for a list of the discounted items and also under “Coupon” for a buy one get one half off deal.  Tell Edward and Nahbi that Andrew and Amanda sent you.  C-dub and I dined their recently for only $11!  (www.carolinasushiandroll.com)

Borders Bargain Blowout – BOGO FREE  (www.borders.com)

Bed, Bath, & Beyond now offers wedding invitations and stationery, online.  FREE shipping on your FREE printed samples.  (http://invitations.bedbathandbeyond.com/index.jsp?utm_source=e&utm_medium=e&utm_term=e&utm_content=BridalInvitations&utm_name=BridalInvitations)

Vestique – fabulous styles at affordable prices.  Be sure to read “Our Story”.  (www.vestique.com)

Hamlin Drug Company – FREE deliveries to downtown Raleigh for prescriptions, which are by Segway  (www.hamlindrug.com)

Taste of Home – $5 cookbook sale  (http://www.shoptasteofhome.com/$5-Cookbooks/5CBK,default,sc.html)

Food Network Breast Cancer Merchandise – all items $5 or $10 – 100% of the net profit is donated  (http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/landingpages/foodnetwork_new/WomensCauseMerchandise.jsp?om_mid=_20110428_BCMerch)

FREE legal assistance by the North Carolina Bar Association to those affected by recent storms  (http://www.wral.com/news/local/noteworthy/story/9496873/)

$1.00 off any cream cheese tub at Bruegger’s  (http://www.wired-differently.com/bei/dlz/11/042511/nodup_x111005.jpg)

JC Penney – $10 off a $25 purchase  (http://f.jcpenneyem.com/i/2/95827765/welcomemain.html)

Happy Royal Wedding Day!  I am super excited to see Kate’s gown and to view the festivities on tv.  Get prepared by purchasing a big, fancy hat and perfecting your royal wedding guest name (Lady or Lord + your grandmother’s or grandfather’s first name + the name of your first pet + the name of the street where you grew up).

Regards,

Lady LaRoyce Midnight Rosin Hill

Those Greeks Sure Know Their Way Around the Kitchen

What a long and fun week of savings!  As you have noticed Andrew and I aren’t fans of cooking, but he is more willing to fire up the oven than I am; the extent of my contribution is using the trusty microwave or handy Keurig (savings of 20% at Bed, Bath, & Beyond).  To give you a better idea of how much I despise the domestic task, I purchased a magnet in Arizona in 2009 that reads, “I only have a kitchen because it came with the house.”  Hilarious and, yet, so true.  That being said, we look for ways to find tasty, healthy, and affordable options on weekends and weeknights (we brown bag it during the week).  Going out is fun, but seeing how much money you can save while going out on the town makes it even more fun.  Two Saturday nights ago, we used our best resource – the Citipass book that I mentioned in an earlier post.  We used a buy one get one free coupon to Sweet Tomatoes for dinner (an $8 and change savings).  The following night, we used a $25 gift card to Olive Garden that my brother had given me for Christmas.  Thanks William!

Monday night brought snow, ice, and free pizzas!  We had a coupon for a free large pizza from Hungry Howie’s.  (Never had it?  They offer pizza with flavored crusts – try the garlic herb.)  When Andrew went to pick it up, they were afraid we wouldn’t be happy with the first pizza because it was a little done on one side, so they made us a second one and let us keep both.  Score!  This worked out wonderfully, since the parking lot on Tuesday was a sheet of ice.  We already had a meal for the night and didn’t have to go out to get it.

Remember the $50 gift card that I opted to receive through BCBS, last week?  Well, it came in the mail on Thursday!

On Friday, I took my precious black winter boots to the shoe repair store.  This isn’t just any shoe repair store – not for my pointy toe heels.  This place (Watkin’s) is locally owned and charges only $7.00 to have the heels redone for BOTH shoes.  Prior to finding this jewel, I was having my babies worked on at another shoe place, which charged $7.00 PER shoe.  And, the best part?  They are ready to be picked up tomorrow.  Talk about inexpensive and quick service…  More good news was shared with me on Friday.  For the past few years, I have participated in the Race for the Cure to raise money for the research and prevention of breast cancer.  It is an awesome experience to sweat it out in the heat of a June day and see more than 30,000 other volunteers all around you.  I received an email reminding past participants that registration was now open for the 15th annual 2011 Race for the Cure on Saturday, June 11.  Not since I began participating has a discount been offered.  This year, if you register and join a team before April 1, you’ll receive $5 off of your $25 registration fee.  What’s that you say?  You’d like to sign up, but don’t know of a team to join.  No worries – team Pink Floyd to the rescue!  Pink Floyd was created last year in honor of a co-worker and breast cancer survivor.  If you’d like more details on the event, just let me know.  I’d be glad to share.  Friday night, Andrew and I took friends of ours (Dave, Nikki, and Aaliyah) to Shish Kabob (you’ll hear about this place over and over and over and over….).  We never tire of it.  We used a coupon, of course – $2 off of a $10 purchase.  Those Greeks sure know their way around the kitchen.  Andrew loves his coffee and I adore the occasional chai tea latte, so we used a coupon for a 99 cents coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts and saved over $3.

On Saturday, we were treated to the “Discover the Real George Washington” exhibit at the Museum of History.  My dear friend, Grace Ann, volunteers there and gave me two free tickets (a $20 savings).  I’ll have to say, the most interesting and disgusting part of the exhibit was the display of animal and human teeth on a metal frame, the only surviving set of dentures worn by Washington.  I was excited to find a birthday gift for my great Uncle Carl in the museum gift shop.  Even though his birthday isn’t until September, I’d rather purchase a gift early that he’ll love rather than shop like a mad woman later and feel like I’m settling for a so-so gift.

Sunday, Andrew and I headed for Smithfield.  On the way there, we used a buy one get one free coupon for smoothies at Smoothie King (a $4 and change savings).  Smithfield is home of the Carolina Pottery and Outlets.  I always make a trip there to buy my Yankee candles and Bath & Body Works liquid hand soaps.  Both outlet stores offer amazing prices compared to non-outlet stores in the mall, for example.  In the outlet stores, large and medium size candles are $12 and $10 respectively and hand soaps were 6 for $20!  Two special editions of hand soap were $1.99.  I was able to take home 8 hand soaps for around $25.  After the steals at the Pottery, we opted for a matinee viewing of “Tron”.  Of course, we were at the theater before 6pm and received the discounted price (and were able to keep the super cute 3-D glasses).

Today, we’ve enjoyed a day off from work and took more friends (Miles and Farrad) to Shish Kabob.  I know, I know – we were just there!  We were able to redeem another coupon of $1.00 off.  (Hey, every dollar counts!)

I hope your week has been as chock-full of savings as mine and that you are taking advantage of coupons and discounts.  I am excited to burn my new Fresh Mint candle and to learn more about the new 13th Zodiac sign, this week.  I’m hoping the short work week will be a good one…

Greetings!

Happy Belated New Year!  I thought the creation of my first blog was appropriate during a time of resolutions and new beginnings and positive changes.  Like millions of Americans, I am on a mission to eliminate debt, stick to a budget, and maintain a fun lifestyle.  With the help of Dave Ramsey (thanks baby brother!) and the drive to be financially stable, I intend to make wise financial decisions on a daily basis.  Hopefully, this blog will keep me on track.

Today at the gym, I watched “Mary Talks Money”.  In this particular episode, Mary Caraccioli interviewed three women who were shopaholics.  One, specifically, said something that kept my interest… “High heels make us feel…. high.”  She is sooo right.  She was referring to the purchase of shoes or handbags or accessories that give so many women a sense of euphoria.  I left the gym knowing that the release of endorphins from working out would have to be my “high” for the day, or maybe the buy one get one free coupon that my boyfriend and I used at Bruegger’s. (If your city offers Citipass books, you absolutely must invest in one.  The $25 book is worth every penny and offers tremendous savings.)

Until next time, google Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps…