The Perfect Birthday Gift

I love knowing exactly what I'm going to get someone for their birthday.  Lexie turns 15 this Friday and there's not a doubt in my mind what I'm buying. And she's going to love the ____________________. When she opens the box/package she willl make all kinds of happy noises, she'll do the little happy dance, I love so much. Yeah, the ____________will fit, will be perfect, will be loved, unlike the Swivel Store that didn't fit in my cabinet this weekend. Because I know exactly what I'm getting her I don't have to wander through the Mall picking up weird shirts and hats and books she doesn't care about. I don't have to hold up odd looking jewelery and wonder if she will think it's cool. And I don't have to buy her a pet that might die in six month because she'll forget to feed it. (wait  minute, that wasn't Lexie, that was Mary who accidentally killed her pets. She gave them plenty of love but not enough water) Lexie is gonna love the ______________and I'm gonna be a hero.

I Want To Shop For My Own Birthday

I try not to go to malls and look at stuff because it makes me want everything. Malls and the Internet make me want stuff i didn't even  know existed and that's just stupid. I've lived very well without most of the see. Still, when I look something like the gardeners supply boot tray I think I have to have it.  Yeah, I want that boot tray cause it keeps all the muddy boots off the ground.  We have something called a 'shoe pot' behind our front door. By the end of the week there are sometimes seven or eight pairs of shoes and boots in the pot.  A rack that holds them sounds way better than a  pot. I also want a new pair of cowboy boots and Toms to put in my shoe pot.

I want furniture too because none of ours matches. We have granny furniture from three different old women and the kids get the left overs.  I need a twin trundle bed pull out for Sandor's room. It has drawers underneath so he can more effectively hide all his trash, dead lizards and candy wrappers when I tell him to clean his room. When I see things like boot trays and trundle beds I imagine my house will suddenly be clean and organized if I just buy this stuff.

And then there's my bed.  If I don't get Botox for my birthday I better get a beautiful quilt and bedding set. I actually really like this one. It's a black damask bedding set and it's gorgeous. Look it all matches! I have three different pillow cases on my bed right now, stripes, white, and Sponge bob Square Pants.  I would feel like a queen if I had a bed that looked like this and I'd probably make my bed a lot more often. I think my kids would even respect me more if my bed was this beautiful. Chances are they'll bring me breakfast in bed just cause my room is so lovely. 

My birthday is only three weeks away. Hey folks, you need to start shopping now and please use real wrapping paper. I'm not a fan of those gift bags.

I Love Paying Full Price Because I'm Not That Smart

      I absolutely love thrifty/cheap/bargin hunting people, especially the ones who use  coupons. You know, the one's I throw away every week cause I'm a moron and like giving giant corporations all my money.  Last week I was behind a woman in Kroger with a beautifully organized box of coupons. She had 50 bottle of Gatorade and they were all going to be free because of her coupons.  She had two baskets over flowing with food and was patiently going through her file box. I asked if I could stand next to her and watch her totals.  I swear to you, this ladies' $386 dollar grocery bill rolled back to $74 dollars. I was actually cheering for her.  She said she spent about 10 hours a week working on her coupons, as result she saved $312 dollars. Wow.  My friend Cara is super thrifty too and always makes me fill out stupid forms on facebook then I get awesome free stuff in the mail. So thanks Cara.  She actually has a blog about saving money and getting free stuff. http://thebargainhuntingmommy.blogspot.com/  Cara brags that she has 26 boxes of cereal at home so she can donate to charity all the time and she works over consignment stores like a CPA in tax season. So hats off to all you coupon clippers.  You attack your grocery bill like a linebacker, determined to knock it down. It's a sport, a hobby, a passion, a disease I wish I could catch.