COUPONING AT IT'S BEST!

After finishing the book Fit for my King, and after having a year prior to that of couponing, I have decided to make a decision for the Winkler family.  Sheri Rose had some very good points for keeping your temple healthy.  And couponing helps with being a good steward.  So...we decided to stick with several suggestions from Sheri and for sure stick with couponing.  After grocery shopping yesterday, I couldn't help but be over excited at all the deals/free items I took home.  Here is a glimps at what I took home:

• 4 FREE Deodorants! (Right Guard, originally $3.99 each) 
• 2 Old Spice body washes ($1.25 each, origianlly $3.99 each)
• 3 Family-size boxes of Kellog's Frosted Mini Wheats. ($1.35 each, originally $4.19 each)
• Eight O'Clock Coffee ($1.50, originally $4.99)

Without savings:$41.50              

Total WITH savings:$8.05

Total Savings:$33.45!

Coupon Mom.  http://www.couponmom.com/

Southern Savers http://www.southernsavers.com/

Although this week's savings is running a close race with last week.

I paid $4.00 and came home with:

• 1 bag of Doritos
• 2 family size boxes of Cheerios
• 2 Betty Crocker Supreme Brownie Mix

THAT IS LIKE PAYING $0.80 PER ITEM!

THE FOURTH CONTINUED

CAPTAIN E

THE WINKLERS

MY PRECIOUS MOM, DADDY, AND SISTER

SITTIN ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY

EXPECTING THE BIG CATCH

My Country Tis of Thee

After a hard day of play...

Lake Martin

My Country Tis of Thee

Sweet Land of Liberty!!! What a blessing to be able to spend the 4th of July with both of our families! So much to tell that I don't know where to start...

We went to the lake Friday night after Stu got off work. We wanted to get a good night sleep before we would wake up early to catch what we knew would be huge, hungry fish. Lately, Stuart has picked up on this wonderful hobby. We already had a boat, tackle box, and a lake to fish on. All we needed was a pole, bait, and a license. Stu had bought a pole and bait a few weeks ago, so on the way up to the lake he got his license. Early Saturday morning we dragged out of bed and went to put the john boat in the water. We went to grab our coffee and returned to find that we had forgot to put the plug in the boat. So we spent 30inutes of our fishing time trying to save the classic, timeless family john boat from spending the rest of it's life at the bottom of Lake Martin. After the rescue we decided that we should probably just fish from the shore. Needless to say that with Jenkins barking at every cast and me wanting to sip coffee and talk about the history of our country, we didn't catch the huge bass we were expecting. Here at the lake the only thing that tells us what to do and when to do it (other than the first lady of the house) is the heat of the sun. With the sun beginning to blare we marched back up to the house...fishless. Never the less, our heads were held high for this was only the start of a wonderful weekend. After brunch on the screened in porch we all put on our suits expecting to get a tan. Five years ago I would never have put on sun screen for I knew that girls looked their best with a tan. But thanks to wisdom and knowledge, I have now learned that Red=Dead. Ladies, put sunscreen on! MELA NO THANK YOU.
My friend Allie was on her way down to the beach and popped by to spend the afternoon with me! I hadn't seen her since our wedding 2 years ago! So this was such a blessing to be able to spend time with my long lost friend, who is doing wonderful. She also updated me on all our other friends who had gone off and made a name for themselves. Congrats to all my friends who are doing well in the design world these days! One of our friends is the designer for Martina McBride and Faith Hill. What a dream. Congrats Rachel!!! I really need to keep up with my friends more.
As far as the boat ride goes... I didn't think anyone could love a boat ride as much as my mother in law, my sister in law, and myself...But sorry to say ladies that there are three out there that love it more. Co-captain Jenkins (our sweet Great Dane), Sir Barkley, and Princess Dixie were the true lovers of the water. Our sweet dogs couldn't get enough of the fresh wind blowing in their faces. Jenkins takes his seat, right behind Captin E (my sweet father in law Mr. Eric). Jenkins is a loyal companion for our Captain, always on the lookout and ready to alert Captain E of anything unusaul out at sea. Sir Barkley is master of the front of the boat. Unable to sit on the seats in the back of the boat, he is forced to be the front lookout. (He is not allowed to sit on the seats in the back because every now and again he gets an itch'n to jump off the boat. If ever not paying attention, he is gone. And swimming isn't his forte.) So Barkley stands at the front watching for any oncoming boats. Being an English Mastiff...he doesn't look alert, but I assure you, he is trying his best. And no worries, the waves that consume the front of the boat are of no concern to him. Most of the time he doesn't even know it happened. Princess Dixie, a legend, sits quietly in the shade of the boat. Just enjoying the wind. Quiet Dixie. Our Princess Dixie.

That night we had our annual display of fireworks to watch. Stuart and Ryan (Ashley's boyfriend) went to go get fireworks. Stuart decided that since I am always talking about coupons and BOGOs, he would participate. He came back with so many fireworks that were BOGOs. After seeing the fireworks that Stu shot off, I couldn't help but think...does eating BOGO food compare to watching a BOGO firework show? If that is the case, I might want to re-visit the food I am buying for my husband. Well, I thought that they were great at first, until I realized that the big ones at the beginning were Ryan's. He bought the ones that were border-line illegal. The crowd went crazy every time one of his expensive fireworks was shot off. What a wonderful bright light filling the sky. But I couldn't help but notice that every time we used a BOGO firework the neighbors next door would take out their World Cup Horn and honk it. So we would have to cheer extra hard on Stu's display to mask the sound of the dissapointed neighbors blowing their horn. Never the less, what a wonderful show our men put on for us. Only in the South can you pull your truck down to the edge of the lake, sit on the tailgate, listen to country, and watch your husband light fireworks just to make you happy. And I was...very happy. (That is until Jenkins ate my sparkler because he liked the sparks....I spent the rest of the night giving him water to get the taste out of his mouth.)

Sunday the Fourth....a day filled with American History Facts. It all started with me realizing that I didn't retain much knowledge from any of my history classes I ever took! So last week I bought an American History book and began my journey. I was determined that the 4th would be a day filled with telling each other fun facts about the beginning of our country. We linked the future to the past. Durning Sunday brunch we pulled out our phones (not mine, my phone doesn't even get service, let alone internet) to google any fun fact about our country that we didn't know. We reviewed so much about our country! My Father in law will be calling to make sure I retained the 'obvious' information concerning who wrote the Star-Spangled Banner and who wrote the Pledge of Allegiance. So Captain E...Francis Bellamy was the author of the Pledge (1892). And Francis Scott Key was the author of the Star-Spangled Banner (1814). My mother, daddy and sister came up to enjoy another day out in the sun. (We missed you Chris.) We had a wonderful cookout and fun family times. My parents were able to enjoy a refreshing boat ride. And I got to catch up with my fun-loving, spark plug of a sister. She will be a sophomore in College this year and I live vicariously through her awesome college life. My mom and dad were as happy as could be. I am so glad they came to hang out. I love my family...all of it.

Chicken, Spinach, and Onion Crepes

Fit for my King day 10! It's going great! And I have learned so many new things to cook. I made the Savory Tuna Crepe from http://www.hisprincess.com/.
And then decided to try grilled chicken the next night. Both were AWESOME! Who knew health could taste so good!!! And, Stu and I cut our huge watermelon we got at the Farmer's Market! YUM!!!

Designing My Dream Room

Love the mirrors!

Precious for a cottage home or a farm house.

Minus the black pillows.

I could live here.

If anyone knows me, they know this is my favorite scene in the whole world. A fireplace, a fire, and a Christmas tree ALL IN A WHITE ROOM!

All my life I have dreamed of having a white/cream/neutral room. I just love the crisp, clean look. But now having precious Jenkins I am not so sure it will work out like planned. BUT...thanks to my perfect, adorable job...I am designing one right now!!! I can't wait unitl it all plays out. Here are some pics of white rooms I like, but mine will hopefully blow these away...if all goes according to plan.

Fit for my King

So I had done some thinking, and I realized that I really wanted to be healthy...not just skinny, but I wanted to be healthy...no matter what I weighed. So I did some research and found a book that has so far, been exactly what I needed. Fit for my King. I really wish I could explain it all, but you should just go get the book!!! You can find it on Sherri Rose Shephard's website.

http://www.hisprincess.com/

I am on day 7, feel great, loving life, never in a grouchy mood anymore, and my pants fit better each day!!! AND...look what we even got to eat for dinner. I just had to change a few things. I made my own dough from that website (under Royal Recipes). Dry Active Yeast and wheat flour/pancake mix. And I made my own pizza sauce. It was delicious! And I added turkey pepperoni for the hubby.

Sweet, Sweet Summer

I love summertime. Every Tuesday Opelika has their Farmer's Market. And it is right outside our precious design store. So on Tuesdays at 2:00 you can bet you will see a closed sign on the door for ten minutes while I pick up my fresh watermelon, tomatoes, squash, peppers, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, and much much more. My mom usually comes to meet me and walk with me to get her fresh fruits and veggies. So much fun! What a perfect day!