I'm still here, sort of.

Where has the time gone?

I cant' believe that I haven't posted ANYTHING in over a month. Well, it isn't because I have been decorating for Christmas, or Christmas shopping or anything like that. (I have done some of that, but that isn't what takes up all of my blogging time.)

Well, you see, I have discovered Google Reader. Thanks, Comfy Denim, for that. (By the way, I tried to go with Bloglines, but I never received the confirmation email from them and so I could never access the site. What is that about?)

Now, it is so much easier to read all of the blogs I love. In fact, it is so much easier to read them that I find myself reading all of the blogs which leaves me little or no time to write anything. In comparison to all of the wonderful writers out there, it seems that anything I would have to say pales in comparison.

So, thanks ComfyDenim. She periodically checks in on me and leaves me a comment just to let me know that there is still someone out there.

Yes, I'm still here. Hopefully, I'll think of something to write about. At least more frequently than once a month.

Blogging issues

I think blogging is difficult. Difficult because most of the time I feel like I am writing to myself. I usually have lots of ideas to blog about, but it is usually hard to decide what is appropriate for my blog audience of, hmmm, well whoever might stumble upon my blog and ComfyDenim of Notes from the Laundry Pile.

In my "real life", I have seldom come across with a good first impression and a few people who I have become close to have confirmed that they really didn't like me when they first met me. I really wonder if that is why I don't feel comfortable even in the relative anonymity of blogging.

I am even hesitant to write comments on other blogs. I think it comes from feeling intimidated by the "popular" girls and their groups of friends and/or groupies.

I am nearly 40 years old (!) and am still struggling with adolescent issues like "cliques" and who is more popular than whom and whether I would be accepted in their circles. What is wrong with that picture? Does everybody struggle with acceptance or do I have some repressed (or even not repressed) memories that keep me from my true potential of having more abundant relationships with others?

Any amateur psychiatrists want to chime in on this one?

Grocery Budget Reductions

In one of my previous posts, I mentioned that we spend a boat load good bit of money on food. Well, I realized that this is a money pit huge burden on our family and so I have made some changes.

First, I started doing the grocery shopping. When I married my wonderful husband, I found that he was a better cook, house cleaner and grocery shopper than I was. He never needed to plan meals or make out a grocery list, he just always seemed to have everything he needed in his pantry. I still don't know exactly how he did that, because I plan, make lists and it never fails that I forget something.

When my husband went shopping, he refused to use any coupons. He always went to the same grocery store, no matter what might have been on sale anywhere else. He would have gone to this same grocery store even if all of the other stores were giving away free food. I know how easy it is to get stuck in a rut, but when I started doing the grocery shopping, I found out that the one store where he went every week, without any coupons, was the most expensive of all of the grocery stores in our area. (I do like their meat though, and many times, I will go there for meat and a few things they only sell there.)

The next thing I did was start clipping coupons in the Sunday paper. I only clip the coupons for the things we need and use. That way, I'm not tempted to buy anything that will go to waste. I noticed that the grocery receipt says how much money you save and I was very proud of myself for all of the money I saved with my coupons. It still didn't seem to really make much of a difference in our budget. Then I read a blog post somewhere (I can't remember where, or I would link to it here) about a mother of four who doesn't pay for toiletries anymore. She uses coupons and some other deals to get everything without paying for them out of pocket.

This is baffling to me. I have read stories and seen shows about people who buy $250 of groceries and pay $3.24. I always thought that these people were buying stuff just because it was on sale and they had a coupon. I would probably buy this stuff and it would go to waste because I would never use it, plus I would still have to buy the stuff I would actually use and it would cost twice as much to get stuff on sale.

Finally, I have been reading and learning how to do these really great deals. The best information, so far, has come from a little e-course called Supermarket Savings 101. It comes with an e-book, six audio lessons and six bonus books. There is more, but you should check it out for yourself. If you want to see some of the ongoing updates check out moneysavingmom.com.

I can't wait to write more of an update on our grocery budget and how all of this is working for us. I'll keep you posted. Let me know if you have any other ideas for reducing the grocery store budget.

Looking for answers about worms and butterflies

As I was reading the newspaper one morning, my 4 year old was coloring a picture. He came to me and asked, "Mommy, do worms have ears?"

"I don't know, why do you ask?", I said.

He was coloring a picture and needed to know if it would be correct to draw ears on the worm. I told him that I thought if they do have ears, that they probably wouldn't be the kind that you can see.

Today, he was coloring as I was cleaning up after lunch. "Mommy?", he called. "Do butterflies have toes?"

I'm sure I don't know the answer to these questions. Anyone else know?

Win a Wii? Pick Mii!! Pick Mii!!

I am already starting to panic a little about Christmas this year and it isn't even Halloween. I just don't know how we are going to stay out of debt and get all of the gifts for all of our friends and family this year, but it has been my goal not to use any credit for our Christmas gifts this year.

I have been trying to plan our gifts and do as much shopping online as possible. I think that by planning ahead I can get a better deal with some of the sales and deals online. For example, did you know you can save money by using coupon codes when you shop online? UltimateCoupons.com offers tons of great online coupons for hundreds of online merchants to help you get free shipping or dollars off your regular purchases.

One of the things I want my kids want for Christmas is a Wii, but they're a little bit expensive. How does a free one sound? You can Win a Nintendo Wii from the ultimatecoupons.com blog EverybodyLovesCoupons. Hurry though. The contest ends on October 31st.

Just nod if you can hear me

OK, if there is anyone out there to read this post, I need some help.

What is an RSS feeder or RSS reader? Here is why I ask. I have a list of blogs that I like to read daily or at least some days. I just hate to keep clicking on them all day if there is some way I can have an automatic notification that there is new content.

So, I realize that I have been less than regular lately with my own blogging even though I really, really want to participate in the Fall Reading Thing and in some contests and I have some really good stories to tell about things that have happened and blogs and websites I have found.

But that is all for a later time. Please tell me about RSS please. Anyone?

Wordless Wednesday: See ya later! First day

For more Wordless Wednesday go to Five Minutes For Mom or
Check out the Official Wordless Wednesday HQ