Go gators!! sort of...

I found out on Tuesday that UF was named the #1 party school by Princeton Review. Where was I when I found out? In the middle of my substance abuse class. Oh the irony...

Coupon Underground

My coupon madness has reached new heights and I've been told that it is a little crazy! Oh well, I don't care. Some people have real expensive hobbies, (like saltwater aquariums, for example :) and I figure that this is fun for me and could be considered a hobby and helps my family save money in the process. What's not to love? My sister had a great way of putting it, she said that it combines a lot of her loves: saving money, ocd, making lists, organizing things, etc.. and that is definitely true for me.

Today I went to a few stores and got some things. It was fun, but it wasn't as fun as recently just because I encountered more than a few cashiers who didn't try to hide their annoyance at my coupon usage! A girl at work made a great point: if you are a cashier at wal-mart(which I am pretty sure pays minimum wage), shouldn't you be appreciative of someone trying to save money or live on a lower income? I'm just saying.

Here's what I bought today. We didn't really need anything, so I just went for the good sales. Some of the stuff is kind of random (like the glucometer) but the random stuff I got for free, so I figured why not? If not us, then someone we know might need it one day.

What did I pay for all of this? $22.44. Yes, I rock.

I've discovered an entire underground coupon world. There are sooo many blogs and forums that not only point out all of the sales with corresponding coupons for each week of a certain store, but members make comments and add tips on where to find even more sales or coupons. Crazy, huh?

New Job!!

I found out last Thursday that I got a PRN position at a local behavioral healthcare facility as an addictions counselor!! I am really excited about it, although I am also really nervous and intimidated. The program I will be working in is an Intensive Outpatient program for women with mood disorders and substance abuse problems, so it is going to be pretty intense. I'll only be working around 12 hours a week during the fall, but that's okay because since I will already be a paid employee, my practicum there in January will be paid. That is really awesome, because it is really hard to get paid internships, much less practica!!

Since Anthony will only be working part-time starting in the fall, we can't really afford for me to quit my job at Shands, so this chica is going to have a full plate starting in two weeks. I am going to work full time at my new job during the semester break, while still doing 20 hours a week at Shands on the weekend. (Yes, that means 120 hours of work in two weeks). Then once school starts, I will be taking 15 hours of graduate classes while working around 28-32 hours combined both jobs. I have a feeling that there will be a lot of sleep deprivation and a lot of caffeine!

Shop Victoriously!

Today I had another shopping victory! I can't believe how many deals I've gotten in such a short time of starting to "shop strategically". I originally planned to go to Albertson's for chicken because they have the best prices, even if you have to clean them up more before you cook with them. Of course, I planned ahead and found these deals that were too good to pass up. Here's the take:

12 pounds of chicken breasts
What it usually costs: $35.88 ($2.99/lb)
What I paid: $23.76 (on sale for $1.98/lb)

8 boxes of General Mills cereal
What it usually costs: $23.92 ($2.99 each)
What I paid: $8.85 (on sale 4/$6, plus $3.15 in manufacturer's coupons)

5 4-packs of Scott's Soft Toilet Paper
What it usually costs: $9.95 ($1.99 each)
What I paid: $0 (on sale $1 each, plus $1 manufacturer's coupon for each one)

So that brings today's savings to $37.14!!

Hmmm.. So how do you feel about that?

Lately Anthony and my family have been teasing me about me saying "therapist" phrases or saying things that sound like I've gone into counselor mode and I have started to realize that they are right! I talk about counseling and discuss all different aspects of and issues that come up for hours a day every single week and it is getting pretty hard to turn it off.

For example, Anthony and I watched this show on TLC the other day about obesity in children. It followed a 300+ pound 13 year old who was trying to get approved for liposuction and another group of overweight teens who were attending a special school that offered counseling and diet/food control in addition to regular classes. Every time the 13 year old talked to the camera, her sister, or her mom all I kept seeing were bright, neon, flashing red flags. They were impossible to ignore!! I identified so many different issues that contributed to the girl's binge eating, not the least of which was her dysfunctional relationship with her mom. At one point the family took a vacation to Las Vegas which is known for extravagant buffets and the mom spent the entire time gambling in the casino while the girl and her sister ate tons of junk from the hotel buffet table. As she was eating, she said that she was mad that her mom wasn't there to monitor her eating, even as she put a piece of fried chicken in her mouth. If that isn't a cry for help and attention I don't know what else is!! Anyway, I kept thinking about this family and this girl especially and I wanted soooo badly to get in there, because I know I could help them.

It's like I am all of a sudden tuned to a different frequency and I can pick up things I never did before, like when you get a new car and all of a sudden all you see is people driving your model of car around town. I always thought people were overreacting when they had such a strong reaction to hearing someone was a psychologist, like the psychologist had xray vision and could sense of of their inner-most secrets. Now, I sort of get where they are coming from, because I am starting to notice little, small things about people that say a lot about what they are thinking or feeling. I guess if I can't learn to turn the perception and observation off, I should at least learn to turn my mouth off :)

Coupons, Coupons, Coupons!!!

So, my response to how crazy prices are getting (including gas prices, don't even get me started) is to become one of those crazy coupon ladies that you HATE to get behind in line at the grocery store. :) I've tried doing the coupon thing before and I never really got into it. I hated having to keep track of what coupon to use at what store and to be honest, I felt a little embarrassed using them. It felt like I was begging the store to give me a break. Now I have no shame!! A girl needs to pay her utility bill! (which is still $300+, by the way) What got me back into it was a blog that a friend from work recommended: http://fiddledeedeeblog.blogspot.com/

It is a blog of a friend of hers and it keeps track of deals at Publix with corresponding coupons, with links to get the coupons or where to find them. The cool thing about it is that Publix accepts all supermarket competitor coupons, so you don't have to travel around to different grocery stores trying to get their deals. The woman who writes the blog also tries to point out deals for organic/gluten free foods so that families on a budget can still eat organic. My friend from work likes this especially because she buys gluten-free for her son who is autistic, and I know of a lot of people who would like to try going organic, but it just so darn expensive!

So, my plan of attack: Last Friday I looked at the Publix weekly ad online and made my grocery list of things we absolutely needed and things we could use that were on sale. I got most of my coupons off of her blog, and then I googled each individual item I didn't have a coupon for to see if I could get even more coupons. I found a few more that way, and then I paper-clipped my coupons to my grocery list. I went to the grocery store today and it was so much fun!!

Here is the deal I am most proud of from today:
What I bought- 2 boxes of Kashi cereal, 1 carton of Silk Soymilk
What it usually costs- $10.47 ($3.59 per box of cereal, $3.29 for Silk)
Coupons/Deals I used-
*Publix deal: 2 boxes of Kashi for $4.99
*In store coupon: Buy 2 boxes of Kashi, get 1 carton Silk free
*Manufacturer's Coupon: $2 off any Kashi product
What I ended up paying- $3.00

Total I saved $33 today at the grocery store. Am I the bomb or what? My goal is to save $50 in one trip. Just as a side note for those of you who want to do it, Publix only accepts coupons of supermarkets that are in town. For example, if you want to use a target coupon, there has to be a Target Superstore in town that has a full grocery section.

Just one of those days

Today has been just one of those days where everything seems to go wrong. I woke up this morning with some serious indigestion, which I haven't had in a long time. I didn't even eat anything that crazy the night before! I did have a lot of sherbet, which I don't normally have, so maybe that did it. So I woke up, took some tums and pepto and went to class. All during the 4 hours of class, I kept fighting waves of nausea but I couldn't leave because you just can't miss a single class period. You cover so much, it is really difficult to make up and I have learned to just suffer through the best I can.

As soon as class got out, I was going down the outside stairwell to make my way to my car and I felt a little rain drop on my forehead. It was raining pretty bad yesterday, so I left my wet umbrella to dry out in my car. Smart, huh? Literally within one minute it was POURING!! "Big 'ol fat rain" as Forest Gump would say. I got completely drenched and so did my bag with my notes and books. My shoes also don't have much traction on my feet when they are wet, so I was slowly and gingerly walking across campus, getting more and more wet by the second, trying not to fall on my booty. As soon as I got close to my car, the rain stopped completely and the sun came out!! Driving home the rain was sparse with a few drops here and there and as soon as I pulled into our neighborhood: torrential downpour. Come on!!! That almost seems like it was on purpose!! I know it's a little narcissistic to think that the weather was trying to annoy me specifically, but you've got to admit the timing was an amazing coincidence.

I couldn't wait out the rain in the car, because I had to make an emergency visit to the bathroom. Oh, yeah. I spent a good part of the day in there. (I know, TMI, but it really added to the theme of the day). Because I had such a sketchy stomach I didn't eat much during the day, which brings me to the next great event. I was sitting in Institute, minding my own business when I suddenly start to get an aura. I get occasional migraines that are usually triggered by either not sleeping or not eating and most of the time they are preceded by visual auras, or spots in my vision, and numbness and tingling on one side of my body. Usually if I take some medication right when I first get an aura, I do pretty well. Unfortunately I was stuck for another hour and a half in Institute with no medication. I had Anthony bring me some when he got off of work, but I took it too late. For the next few hours all I could concentrate on was not vomiting on everyone and resisting the urge to bore a hole in my head with a sharp object to release the pressure. Luckily I was able to get home pretty much intact, take some benadryl and sleep it off. I guess that is the silver lining of the day: it wasn't as bad as ones I have had in the past.

So, there you have it. It is now past midnight and I just now woke up to eat so I won't have another one tomorrow or tonight. I didn't even get to go the gym today! I know that sounds weird, but I've sort of become addicted to exercise endorphins. Thank goodness today is officially over.

Hubby Tag

I know I wasn't officially tagged, but I love doing these things so here it is:
1-What's your husband's full name? Anthony Paul Charles Robert Lagana. I know. It's a mouthful.
2-How long have the two of you been together? Since February 14, 2005. Our first date was on Valentine's Day :)
3-How long did you date? We dated for five months before we started seriously talking about getting married. We actually booked our sealing room at the temple in July (hey, those things go fast), but we didn't get officially engaged until August. So I guess the answer to the question is Dating: 6 months, Engaged: 4 months.
4-Who eats more? Frustratingly, me! Since I have started Sparkpeople, he definitely eats more junk food than I do, but he still manages to lose weight when he doesn't make himself eat more. I think he would eat more if I cooked more, but there you go.
5-Who said, "I love you, first?" I did. We were hanging out at his house a few weeks after we started dating and I whispered it into his ear. I hadn't planned on doing that, but I felt like I just couldn't keep it inside any longer. He said it right back and told me that he had been thinking it too, but was afraid that if he said it too soon I would be freaked out.
6-Who is taller? He is, but not by much. I think we are the perfect size for each other. I'm 5'4" and he is 5'11".
7-Who sings better? - Oh, I do!!!! Not that I am super great or anything, but singing is not one of Anthony's many talents. When we first met I was the choir director of our ward and I kept trying to get Anthony to join the choir so we could talk/flirt more. It is a testimony to how much he liked me that he joined and suffered through choir practice for 10 months.
8-Who is smarter? I think that I am smarter in the traditional sense, but Anthony is years ahead of me in people skills and his general attitude towards life. He definitely is much wiser when it comes to enjoying life and not sweating the small stuff.
9-Who does the laundry? I do, but Anthony has told me that he will do his if I separate mine from his. I guess that is fair because 85% of the clothes are mine because I change outfits a lot and I put them in the wash even if I only wear them once (Anthony hangs his up to use again if they aren't stinky or dirty). I don't mind doing the laundry, its hanging them up and folding them that gets me.
10-Who does the dishes? I do. Anthony does them every once in awhile, but mostly it is all me
11-Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do. I like to be by the window. When I work the night shift, the cat sleeps on the right side of the bed.
12-Who pays the bills? I do the physical action of submitting the payment, but my sugar daddy's sweet job provides the money while I am still in school.
13- Who mows the lawn? We don't have a lawn, but I imagine Anthony would for two reasons. One, I have heard SO many stories about him mowing his Grandfather's lawn when he was a teenager. Two, I am adamant that he takes out the trash because it is dirty and gross, so I imagine that preference would apply to the lawn.
14-Who cooks dinner? Lately it has been Anthony because he has been grilling on our grill. Otherwise I would say it is pretty equal.
15-Who drives when you are together? We both hate to drive, so we often argue about who "has" to drive. Luckily, if we take his car he has to drive because I can't drive a stick-shift. I've been meaning to learn, but it gets me out of a lot of driving so I haven't been trying all that hard.
16-Who is more stubborn? Me. Definitely me. I don't think Anthony has a stubborn bone in his body.
17-Who kissed who first? Anthony kissed me first, but I gave him TONS of subtle hints so that he would know I was open to the idea.
18-Who asked who out first? I am pretty sure Anthony did. He invited me to watch Scrubs at one of his friends house because I had never seen it, but I was pretty shameless in angling for the invitation. I think he asked me out for Valentine's Day for our official first date.
19-Who proposed? Anthony did. I knew he had the ring, so I was bugging him about giving it to me so I could tell everyone. He wanted to make it special and have it all planned out, so I am glad he didn't give in to my nagging. He planned a scavenger hunt through gainesville to different special places: where we met, where we had our first kiss, our first date, our favorite restaurant, where we picked out the ring (we picked it out together so he would be sure it was a style I loved), and ended with him waiting to propose in the middle of a botanical garden. It was so romantic and one of the best proposal stories I have ever heard, but then again I am biased.
20-Who is more sensitive? I am. Anthony can be very understanding, but not only is he impossible to offend, sometimes he doesn't really pick up on subtle emotion.
21-Who has more friends? I would call it equal. We spend the majority of our time with each other and we both have a few close friends that we keep in touch with. We aren't really social busy bees.
22-Who has more siblings? Me. 5 to his 4.
23-Who wears the pants in the family? If by wearing the pants, you mean who makes the decisions, I would say me but that is only because Anthony is such a wonderful husband that he lets me do whatever it is I want to do so that I can be happy. He is pretty easy to please :)

Underwater Camera

Today we got to play with our friends Laura and Tim's kids at the pool while they went to take their truck to get fixed. We thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to have some fun with our underwater camera and we got some awesome shots!
Anthony shooting a water gun at me. How mature!
I thought this one was cute because it shows all of the kids with their noodles :)
Anthony coming up from a dive
I was impressed with how fearless Cami and Zeke were about putting their face under the water. That is something I haven't even mastered yet!
We were curious to see what face Cami was making under the water and this was it! We have at least four more pictures of her making this exact face. After we showed this picture to Laura, Laura asked her, "Cami, do you close your mouth when you go under water?". Cami replied with a quiet, "nooo".
This is Zeke right after an impressive cannonball. And yes, he does have a mohawk.
Cami and her dad, Tim. Too cute!!
Cami after being thrown into the air.
Zeke had to be thrown too, of course!

A Day in the Life: my first attempt

7:34 AM- The day starts nice and early...
8:20 AM- After a long it's-time-to-wake-up shower, I have a quick breakfast of yogurt while I check my email. My favorite internet clothing store is having a sale! Score!!!
8:35 AM- I make sure to mail Anthony's intent to enroll letter for USF as I leave for school.
9:15 AM-I'm the first one to class. It is going to be a long day...
This is the podium where I will spend the next 2 hours explaining the many facets of personality disorders:
1:45 PM- After class I spot a friendly gator in a drainage ditch near the parking garage enjoying the sun.
2:20 PM- Time for a yummy lunch
Um, where's mine?
3:30 PM- Now I get to lay back, relax, and enjoy reading a non-school related book
3:45 PM- I can't keep my eyes open anymore, so I'll just rest them for a few minutes... or hours...
7:00 PM- I go by myself to Institute because Anthony is still out fishing. The story of my life!
8:45 PM- Anthony meets me for what is becoming a tradition: dinner out after Institute.
10:05 PM- Today is an off-gym day, so I decide to kick some dance dance revolution rear end.
The camera man gets a little distracted...
11:15 PM- Some strength training with my new, increased weight amount. It's all about the muscle, baby!
11:56 PM- Good night!!

A Day in the Life

Tomorrow I am going to try something that my sister turned me on to: A Day in the Life Photography. I'm going to try to photo-journal my entire day. I have never done something like this before, but I think that it is going to be fun! Of course, Wednesdays are one of my busiest days and tomorrow especially because I am doing my 2 1/2 hour long presentation in class, but what better day to do it, right? If you want to check it out, here is the website: http://community.livejournal.com/ditl/

I have been alternately excited, nervous, and worried about Anthony starting school in August. I started calculating how much tuition is going to be with both of us doing full-time grad school and only working part-time and I seriously almost started hyperventilating. I have to keep reminding myself over and over again, that student loans are not the devil and we are taking out a relatively small amount compared to some people. Just for fun: tuition is $300 a credit hour, my program is a total of 60 credit hours, Ant's is 46. So.... $300 x 106 = A heart attack. Our plan is to pay one half of tuition ourselves, take out loans for the other half, and have our jobs pay our living expenses. We'll see how that plan works out :)

One thing that I am excited about is the idea of leaving Gainesville. I know I have lived here all of my life, but I am definitely ready to move on. We have it worked out so that Ant can do two semesters of school while we are still in Gainesville, traveling to Tampa once a week for classes. Then, next summer I can do my final internship (!!) in Tampa which will hopefully lead to a full time job for the next year or so while Anthony finishes up. Another cool thing, which is yet another reason I love that Anthony is a nurse, is that when we move Anthony can get a part-time travel nursing job in Tampa and the company will not only pay a NICE salary, but they also cover living expenses and will pay for our apartment and utilities!

As a side note, when Anthony and I were talking about when we would move to Tampa the first thing out of his mouth was: "You know, I've always wanted to know what the fishing is like down there. I've heard that it is awesome..."

Accepted!!!!!!!!!!

We found out today that Anthony got accepted to USF's graduate program for Adult Nurse Practitioner!!! We've been waiting to found out since the middle of March, so this is wonderful news! So, he'll be a graduate student starting August 25th! And no, we're not moving :) His program is a lot more flexible than mine, so he will be commuting to Tampa a few days a week for when they lecture. Congratulations Ant, we always knew you could do it!

More discovered treasures

After having so much fun with Anthony's childhood photos, my mom and I pulled out the shoeboxes yesterday to sift through my childhood photos. It was so much fun!!! We got to reminisce and remember old times, old places, and old friends. It also made me miss members of my family that I don't get to see very often like my sisters and my cousins. Here are a few of my favorite childhood pictures that I commandeered from my mom:
Since I put Anthony's newborn picture up, I had to put up mine. Now, I'm not going to openly SAY that I was cuter. I'm just going to put the picture up...
I've always loved this picture. That's my mom on the left, then me as a pot-bellied toddler, my grandpa, and my brother Alex. My mom tells me that Alex and I used to be inseperable! Whenever he was away from me I used to cry and say "Where's my Alex? *with a glistening tear down my cheek*"
This is me at church

I don't know if you can see from the way the picture scanned, but I had a MULLET!!
My brother Daniel said that this was my "gansta" shot.
I found a picture of me making faces at the camera, just like Anthony did when he was a kid. See? More evidence that we were meant to be together :)