mPerks

Meijer is one of my all time favorite stores. Even when I was younger it was my favorite store to go to with my mom. I remember when they had a lot of fun activities for kids - and they still do. They have lots of sample Saturdays and they even hand out coupons and have things for kids. I even got a free goldfish when I was little and last summer, Mark won 2 Reds baseball tickets from Meijer. I didn't think this store could get any better but it does. I'm pleased to let you know that they have a program that allows you to use digital coupons at the store. That's right, no clipping coupons, no wasting paper or time. All you have to do is sign up here, "clip" the coupons that you want, then redeem them at the checkout. They just need your basic information and your cell phone number which becomes the number that you input at the checkout BEFORE you pay. It's easy as that. No card to carry, and you definitely won't forget your phone number, and there are no pins to remember either. They have a really awesome coupon right now that gives you $2.00 off a purchase of $5.00. They update their coupons weekly which is really awesome. I was so excited (and eager) to see how this program works, how easy it is and how user friendly it is so my lovely boyfriend and I ventured to Meijer the other day to check it out. We purchased some chicken and 2 Purina kitten chow in which I will donate to the animal shelter since I don't have a kitten, or a cat. My transaction looked like this:

Purina Kitten Chow $1.99
Purina Kitten Chow $1.99
Meijer Family Size Chicken breasts $8.52
________
Total $12.50
- $1.99 (Purina Kitten Chow FREE coupon)
- $1.99 (Purina Kitten Chow FREE coupon)
________
Total $8.52

I then hit the mPerks button on the check out card machine and it took my $2.00 off coupon since I purchased more than $5.00 which took my total down to $6.52. Add in .23 for tax and I only paid $6.75 for 5 lbs. of boneless chicken breasts. For me, this program comes at a great time seeing as how I am unemployed and have very limited funds. I've never had a bad experience at Meijer - they have friendly greeters, awesome cashiers, very helpful employees on the floor, fast pharmacy workers and now they have this amazing time and money saving program. My cashier that I had today even said "I'm gonna have to sign up for that thing (meaning the mPerks program) because it really does save money." Yes!! It does and that's what I love to do --- save money! And I can, thanks to Meijer!!!

Peace, hugs & smiles,
J

free stuff

I am the QUEEN of free stuff! I love getting free stuff...I mean, who doesn't. I get free stuff in the grocery store and in the mail which is why I want to share this with you. It's only one of many, many wonderful sites that offer free samples and merchandise. Within the last week, I've already received a book, bookmarks, and pencils in the mail. Do I need the book - maybe not. If I don't like it I will pass it on to someone or take it to Goodwill and donate it. Do I need bookmarks, well, YES! I read a lot and I lose bookmarks a lot so that is something I would need. Do I need pencils - no, but I will donate those to my church camp. Whether or not I use these things, or need these things, I still sign up and get them in my mailbox. I love mail and I love free things. Some of the other things I have gotten in the mail include laundry detergent, diapers and baby formula, post-its, cookbooks, coupons for FREE merchandise, glucose monitors (to donate), shampoo/conditioner, trash bags, cleaning products, feminine products, toothpaste, cards, and clothing. Companies pay a lot of money to get their products out there so why not take advantage of it.

Peace, hugs & smiles,

J

tv on dvd

In the midst of my unemployment, I have logged a million hours watching TV on DVD compliments of Netflix. When I was employed, I didn't really have time to watch TV (except my beloved One Tree Hill) so I am apparently playing catch up now. Afterall, I don't have any money to spend, and I don't have a job to go to, and I don't have any projects that I can start because I'm afraid that ADD will set in and I won't finish it so my best bet is to apply for jobs and watch the tube. I love Netflix so very much - for several reasons but thanks to them I have dozens of movies and hundreds of episodes under my belt. Some of those including:

all 5 seasons of The Hills

Out of the Wild - The Alaska Experiment

Season 1 of The Little Couple

Season 1 of Celebrity Rehab

2 seasons of Crank Yankers

Season 1 of Cake Boss

lots and lots of episodes of Futurama (compliments of my dear boyfriend)

Season 1 of Laguna Beach

a handful of episodes of Chappelle Show (once again, thanks to Mark)

3 seasons of 30 Days

Seasons 1-4 of the Deadliest Catch

What am I watching now you ask?


I only have 2 more seasons of this wonderful crab-filled adventure left...

Peace, hugs & smiles,

J

back to my roots

As I was looking through random blogs, the first 11 that I saw all had photos posted. They were photos of families, vacations, scenery, engagements and other events. Some were by professionals and some were by amateurs just capturing the moment. Regardless of who they were done by, I considered it a sign. A sign that I need to go back to my roots, back to the love I had and yearn to have again to produce art. I went to a vocational school my junior and senior year of high school for photography. I loved it. I loved seeing things from a different perspective. I even won a Kodak medal from a photography competition. I have a portfolio filled with my very own art inside. My mom has some of my best artwork hanging in her house. But, it's been a loooooong time since I actually did any kind of photo shoot. Yes, I have taken candids of friends and family and I did take some time to capture the serenity on my way in to Bountiful but I haven't shot any photos of things or of people to be capturing any kind of art. I want to go back to my roots, to start doing photography again - to just go around photographing any thing that I see and get back in touch with my artistic side. To capture the simple things in life. Maybe this is MY time...

I leave you with a few photos from Camp Bountiful, Jackson, Ohio

Peace, hugs & smiles,

J

3 down...1 to go...

I've conquered Sr. High camp, Reunion, and Jr. High camp. I leave Friday morning out of Columbus for my LAST camp of summer 2010 to Graceland University in little Lamoni, IA. It's been a fabulous summer - good friends (old and new), good spirit and beautiful scenery. Even though I could be at Bountiful everyday of my life, it would ruin the specialness of being there. I'm ready to get on with whatever God has in store for me. I'm ready to start working again, to actually be able to go shopping instead of window shopping, to be able to go out on a date with my boyfriend without staying home. I have learned a lot about myself this summer, some things that I want to do in my life and some things that I need to do in my life so that I can "have my cake and eat it too". I wouldn't give up this summer for anything. I have wonderful people in my life to have made it the way that it is and I appreciate those people. So here's to 3 camps down, 1 more to go...and then here comes Fall - my most favorite season of all.

Peace, hugs & smiles,
J

reading makes me happy

Reading is quite possibly one of my all time favorite things to do. Nothing beats opening a book and just jumping into a story with the characters. This hobby clearly requires books...and I have lots of them. You could maybe say that I collect books. Some people have even gone as far as to say that I am a hoarder, which is so not true. I just appreciate good books and some not so good books. My bookshelves may be full, and I may have one too many books but I simply love books. Books make me happy and knowing that I can choose any one book on any given day makes me happy. Why am I talking about reading...because I want you to check out two websites that I would suggest if you love to read... www.goodreads.com and www.swaptree.com. They are both very resourceful and could even get you a new book or two or even suggest new books to you that you may be interested in reading...so happy reading and let me know what good books you have read or are currently reading.

Peace, hugs & smiles,
J

camp & best wishes

I just came off a looooooong (but extremely POWERFUL) week at camp for our senior high campers and have been laying low and catching up on my sleep and planning Jr. High class for Reunion which starts on Saturday. Mark and I have just been busy trying to get in a date or two before I leave and before he leaves for work at the end of this week and next week.

I also wanted to send out a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge BEST WISHES to my newly engaged friends - Becky & Rob. They are awesome individuals and an incredibly amazing couple. They both deserve each other and all the grand things that life to the both of them will bring. They both make me happy and I am so glad that they make each other so happy that they have found each other to spend the rest of their lives together. I am wishing you both nothing but the best!! Love you guys!!