a nice photo of gunnar

So there are very few good photos of Gunnar, our mixed breed redbone coonhound. He either gets all weird when I get the camera out and his ears go back and look funny, or he is wearing clothing, or he is laying in the blankets asleep, or he just looks fat. Well today I got him in a good mood and he let me take a couple cute photos of him. So Caitlin wanted me to put it up on the blog. So, for all y'all who miss Gunnar, here you go, complete with eye boogers and skin rolls:

I promise we're still alive

Well it probably doesn't seem like it though. We have been quite delinquent in the blogging world. Here's a quick update about our life for the last 3 weeks. Chris has been enjoying his break from school and it's hard to believe but on Monday he begins his final quarter at Portfolio Center. He'll oficially be done in about 3 months. I cn't believe how fast this has gone. He was also just given the amazing opportunity to intern next quarter for an amazing photographer Gregory Miller. We have recently discovered a new restaurant called Bonegarden Cantina, which has yummy Mexican food and pays homage to the day of the dead. Our garden has been quite productive this year. Our zucchinis are going crazy. Chris participated in an photography assistants challenge. They broke into teams and had to do all sorts of crazy drills with equipment. I got a nice laptop bag for being a spectator. My birthday was earlier this month and Chris made it extra special by turning it into a birthday week. He took me to dinner, gave me presents, took me to breakfast, and planned a surprise picnic at the park for me. What a great guy!! By the way, visit Riah's Bluebird cafe...they have the best pancakes. They're located in Grant Park for you Atlantans. Well that's about our last few weeks in a nutshell. We're now eagerly anticipating my friend Barb to arrive tomorrow and we're heading to Savannah.

Again...Bless You Southern Savers

I can't stop talking about Southern Savers. This woman has saved me hundreds of dollars. Here's the total savings for this week's groceries: Amount I should have spent $157.77 Amount I actually spent $57.48 I can't believe how little I spent and I literally have no more room in my cabinets, fridge, or freezer. I have enough toilet paper, coffee, tampons, panty liners, disposable razors, toothpaste, and deodorant to last me for an entire year...I'm actually not kidding. You have got to check out her website.

A very happy birthday to me!!

Yesterday it was my 28th birthday and it was a great day. Thanks to all my friends for the wonderful cards, gifts, calls, and messages I received. I did have to work, but it wasn't so bad. My wonderful coworkers helped me celebrate with yummy cake. I had a beautiful arrangement of flowers delivered to me from my parents at work. I came home to more beautiful flowers from Chris, a card that made me cry and very thoughtful gifts. I got a fully equipped picnic basket (something I've wanted for a long time so now we can have romantic picnics at the park, my favorite champagne, CD's (this is important because I don't buy music, so I have to rely on Chris listening to me say "I like that song" then he buys the CD on ITunes for me), a microplane (if you go back to my previous post of 100 things about me, you'll remember that I think kitchen gadgets are great gifts...and I complain every time I have to zest a lemon that I don't have one), and the most darling apron (again...kitchen gadgets, and I love aprons, and the best part is that I happened to see it hanging in the store and Chris remembered I thought it was cute). The best thing about all of the gifts I received was that it seemed like people heard little things here and there that I had said and remembered, which really makes me feel special. My parents and my sister gave me great gifts and I can hardly wait for the shopping it will allow. Then today I came home to a beautiful flower arrangement from my inlaws. I got to celebrate for 2 days!!! Chris and I also went and had dinner at JCT Kitchen...highly recommended!!

A big thank you to Southern Savers!!!!!!!

About a week ago I discovered a website called Southern Savers. It is a website that teaches you how to use coupons, store sales, and all the drug stores to your advantage. I spent some time reading and wasn't sure if I was totally convinced. Saturday morning I gathered all my adds and coupons (now remember, this is my first week so I only had 2 weeks worth of coupons). It was fun, sort of like a scavenger hunt...I know, I know I'm sort of weird like that. Anyways....drum roll please....my grand total for groceries pre coupons and sales was $179.02 and here's how much we actually spent $74.94!!!! Are you impressed? I am. I must say thank you to Jenny who runs Southern Savers and spends hours each week I'm sure. CVS actually paid me 2.26 for taking dish soap and some disposable razors off their hands. Yes I did by things we don't use. I bought contact solution, but Rite Aid paid me $2 to buy it, and we'll give it to a friend or a shelter who could use it. If any of you who read our blog live in the Atlanta area and are interested in bringing Jenny to us to teach a class let me know and I'll contact her. She charges $10 per person.