WHoohoo...

So, the school I'm subbing at for the rest of the year has had some interesting days.  But that's all I can really say about that beyond the fact that I have a sprained wrist from holding back someone while there was a fight... it was a mother...  who was encouraging her children to 'kick their ass'... ya, fun times.

But, the Internet has been having spotty issues, and Blogger hasn't been working.  And since this is the place where I do a majority of my reading/posting of blogs... the amount has gone drastically down! By the time that I get home and get what I need to get done, done, I usually read the blogs, but don't take the time to update my own.

There are probably going to be a bunch of short, full of pictures posts... so hold on to your britches, here they come!

I cleaned out my wallet... and this is everything in it I don't need.  Wow!  It motivate me from purging other things.... from my closet, and my garage, and even my life (like the friend from high school who has 'such a hard time getting pregnant' (3 months) and complains almost daily on facebook how shes 'so sick'.... blah!)

This is how thick everything was... it's like a whole new wallet.

I also cleaned out my purse (it had gotten really heavy) and for the first few days, when I picked it up I had to check to make sure my wallet was in there, because it felt to light to have it in... that's when you know it was bad!

Grad school

Well, I thought I would catch up, but alas- blogger has been having issues at my school, so instead of blogging while babysitting, I figured it wouldn't hurt to do some of my homework that I've been neglecting over the past week.... Ya, I'm really behind. 

So far, I've finished 2 lesson plans, a research article, a grant, and reviewed a few articles for an annotated bibliography project in one of my online classes.  I still have a few more things to catch up on, but a few more days and I should have it!

I'm a teacher, and I know that I have no excuse...

I told my professors that I understand if they don't give me credit, and I take complete responsibility, but I would still like their comments if they wouldn't mind looking over my assignments...

I've gotten lucky- every single one has given me most of the credit I deserved (just a few points off for being late). 

I'll have to remember that when one of my students doesn't turn something in and comes clean about the reasons why!

wow

It's been a while, but its been fun! I've had spring break this past week, and I'm in a bunch of trouble.. because not only did I ignore this blog- I ignored my grad classes (even skipped them!) this week (the college and public school's spring break are two weeks apart). 

Tomorrow it's back to my 'baby-sitting' teaching job (literally, like ISS), so I'll take my memory card and slowly update pictures of the past few weeks of my life.

But, as for now, I'm going to finish off this spring break the best way I know how... Human Target and a bubble bath.

Slap in the Face

I have two blogs, some of you know that, some of you don't... this one is 95% infertility, and 5% military, the other one is vice versa... I usually keep things seperate, but this one I need to duplicate.

Being an Air Force recruiters wife has helped me to forget about the very true reality. Knowing my husband is non-deployable for this 4 year tour makes all the 14 hour days worth it. I've been able to forget, or at least block out last summer when he was gone. Him coming home with orders is not something I have to worry about for another few years.


But that all changed today. Today, and my tears flowed, and my heart sank, I remembered the harsh reality of our life. That this is the life we signed up for.

Please go over and give Rachel some love, and prayers. A Little Pink in a World Full of Camo.

Tomorrow she will be traveling to Florida to say good bye to her amazing husband one last time.


Though I'm an Air Force wife, nothing else quite seems right tonight- Semper Fi

Today one of my students was talking about his girlfriend.  They will find out the sex of their baby next week.  I couldn't help myself, I asked if they were planning on keeping it or putting it up for adoption.  He said no, ' that would suck'.  I asked if it would suck for him as the father or for the baby, and he said the baby.  I was impressed that I didn't mention or hint that we were headed down that road (totally not appropriate), but I did say that I was adopted, and I thought it was pretty great.  I have amazing parents, and I'm so grateful of the decision my birthmom made. 

I wonder if that's why more people don't place for adoption?  I just am pondering that... don't really know the answer, nor am I expecting one, but I just wonder if that is a thought most people have?

Source of my Madness

A few people have asked how I do it... I am by NO MEANS an expert- just getting my feet wet, but this is how I do it... as I refine my process, I will surly let you all know!

I do my coupon shopping at Dillons (our local Kroger) store, and use the 'frequent shopper card' they have. They are more expensive for overall 'grocery' shopping, so I buy my coupon stuff there, and usually go to Wal Mart/Sams Club for everything else.


Dillons does 'coupon matching', up to $1.00 on paper coupons. We don't get the paper, so I get my coupons from redplumb.com, coupons.com and smartsource.com These websites have the printable ones- coupons.com you have to download their 'coupon printer' on whatever computer you are on, but its not that big of a deal.


Also, there are electronic coupons you can 'store' on your frequent shopper card. The two sites that I use for these are shortcuts.com and cellfire.com. Check to see if your store takes the deals from P&G eSaver, ours doesn't but your's might!

The store I use (check your local stores rules) will let me use the loaded and paper coupons on the same item to double up my savings. Example: The GreenGiant Steamers frozen vegetables were on sale this week for $1.89. I had a paper coupon for $.50, which doubled to $1.00, and an electronic coupon for $.50, so my total discount was $1.50, bring my price to $.39. Often shortcuts and cellfire will have similar coupons, so I was able to buy 2 packages, taking advantage of that electronic coupon for each site.

Of course everyone wants you to register for their site, and I've now figured out you should come up with a 'coupon' email address. That way everything goes to that one address, and if you ever sign up for freebies (Kraft, Betty Crocker, etc) you can give them that address too.

These are some blogs that I enjoy following up with every few days or so. They give some great 'scenarios' to help you save the most money.

http://happyhomemakercindy.com/
http://thekrazycouponlady.com/
http://www.livingrichwithcoupons.com/
http://www.savingcentswithsense.net/

There are a ton more out there, these are just a few I've found... if you have one you love, please let me know, I'm always looking out for new ones!!!

High Schoolers

I love teaching.  I think.  On most days.

But then you have hard days like today.

 I'm on a long term sub position at an alternative high school. 

One of my students wasn't on his meds.
There were several that were dismissed (6) for some infractions.
I found out the 'real' reason that some of my students are there...some was quite shocking!

But all of those I'm used to, those I can deal with.


It was finding out that two (of my four) students had pregnant girlfriends... one was about 3 months, and one about 5 months.  They were talking about how they didn't know if it was theirs, and that the whole situation was pretty shitty.  I had to turn around and make myself busy to wipe away the tears. 

So ya, it hasn't been a great day.