dystopia

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I signed up for Kraft Food & Family magazine a couple years ago and have received it for free ever since. However, when I went on their web site yesterday I learned that it is no longer free! They are now charging $11.98 for a 1 year subscription (which is awful! they only publish 4 to 5 times a year!) Anyways, I was deeply saddened to learn they are now charging for it, I couldn’t believe it. I wanted to give it to my mom as a mother’s day gift, but another magazine may be worth more than that, since you can order a 2 year subscription to All You magazine for only $18 and it has lots of money saving coupons and recipes and good money saving tips. Does everyone else know they’re charging for Kraft Food & Family magazine now? Was I the only one still in the dark? Oh well…I wonder how this is going to affect the people who receive it free now, will we continue to receive it or will they stop sending it and we will have to pay to continue to receive the paper magazine? You can still get all their recipes online for free and use all their other services for free, but getting the magazine was really nice.

On to my weekly savings, I shopped at two stores this week, Kroger and Ukrops.

Ukrop’s only had a few good buys:
Canned food Food Club Brand (vegetabables and fruit cocktails) were on sale 5 cans for $2 or 40 cents each. I bought 12 cans of vegetables(corn, green beans, peas, carrots, creamed corn, wanted potatoes but unfortunately they were out) Cost= $4.80
Freschetta pizza on sale for $4.99 each (regular price $6.99) Bought 1 pizza Cost = $4.99
Piece of individually sliced cake on clearance Cost= $1

Kroger:

2 Liters of Kroger brand soda: 50 cents each, bought 4, Cost=$2
New Cat food bowl on clearance table: .89 cents
Cat toy on clearance table = .59 cents
(4) Boneless Pork chops=$4.98
Perdue individually wrapped chicken(5 count bag) used $1 off coupon and on sale for $6.99 Cost=$5.99
Suddenly Pasta Salad (2), used $1 off coupon paper and cellfire coupon
Betty Crocker Warm delights, used paper coupon and cellfire coupon
Kotex pads, used paper and cellfire coupon
Total Cost with tax was around $20

My plan was to purchase the can soda 12 pack for only $1.77, but my soon to be husband wanted the 2 liters instead, also did not plan on buying the clearance items for the cats, but couldn’t resist since can’t find toys or food bowls that cheap anywhere else and now they have their own food bowl as opposed to eating off of one of our small saucer plates. I was happy to get a good price on the chicken and pork this week, but disappointed in the price of beef, which I really wanted to buy. Kroger used to have good sales on their packaged rolls of beef, but even that is overpriced now and I haven’t seen it go on sale for a while, so I’m trying to stick it out to wait and stock up on beef the next time the rolls go on sale. You used to be able to get a 1 lb roll for around $1.66 when they have them on sale for 3 for $5 or sometimes on sale for $1.99 or the 5 lb tube on sale for a good price. We used to eat a whole pound per meal between just the two of us, but we have gotten used to eating only a half a pound in each meal now, which we have been doing for probably the last 6 months or longer now. 1 pound is too much for just two people to share, we always had leftovers, so now we only use a half pound in meals and find that to be more cost effective and less wasteful.

I’m trying to get a coupon for a free chocolate bar and the site does not seem to be working for me or lots of other people. Perhaps there are just too many people trying to get it right now. oh well, i’ll keep trying, here’s the site if you want to try too, remember if you’re not successful, they’re running this promotion every Friday from now until September! www.realchocolate.com

Just wanted to let everyone know that from tomorrow until September Mars will be posting coupons for a free chocolate product every Friday at 9 AM!!! Make sure to go to the site bright and early tomorrow to get your coupon!!!

Here’s the site address: http://www.realchocolate.com/

Today is 05 - 07 - 09, a day where all the numbers are odd and not only are they all odd but they are in ascending order. According to many geeks this doesn’t happen very often so it is worth mentioning.

I ordered some jordan almonds on Monday for my favors and recieved them in the mail yesterday. I was surprised, it didn’t take long at all to receive them. I am going to make the favors up either this weekend or next weekend. I might wait since I still have three weeks until the wedding. Time is flying by now of course. We are going to the circuit court clerk this evening to get our marriage license. In Virginia, or at least the part of VA that we live in it costs $33 for a marriage license. You don’t have to have a blood test either. I had thought everywhere required that at one time or another, but most states no longer require it.

I am still waiting for the measurements and money to get my brothers tux for him so he can walk me down the aisle. The way it’s been going though, I don’t know if he’s going to have enough time to get one now though, maybe he won’t be walking me down the aisle after all, maybe I’ll be walking myself or he’ll just be wearing a nice outfit and no tux. Ughhh…. I have been quite disappointed with my family lately because of this whole wedding thing. I think I finally have a final count for the number of guests at the reception though, it’s a nice even number and a good number out of the 115 or so that have been invited, the magic number currently stands at 70. That’s a great number, not too many, not too little. It includes most of my immediate family and friends and Paul’s family and friends. I do believe however he’s definitely going to have a lot more people on his side than on mine. We may have to move some of his friends over to my side to even it up in the church pews sadly.

We also need to get our programs printed, we’ll probably do that either this weekend or next. I’m just taking care of some of the more smaller or minor things now and figuring out when to organize everything to take for the wedding. I’ve learned a bit from being engaged and planning a wedding (mostly all by myself!). Here’s my nuggets of truth of what I’ve learned from wedding planning:

* Just like in life, nothing will ever turn out the way you imagine it will. (haven’t even had the wedding yet, but I know and accept it’s not going to be completely PERFECT, I expect something will happen / go wrong / not turn out exactly how I wanted / expected.) You have to realize nothing is ever going to be EXACTLY PERFECT. Life is just that way. Take it all in stride and remember to breathe and count to ten.
* At the beginning of wedding planning it is so much fun and thrilling and exciting but by the end of wedding planning you’re probably going to be stressed, disheartened, angered, screaming, wanting to pull out your own hair or someone elses, going crazy insane, possibly even bitter or resentful of some people who don’t come to your day who you thought for sure would come and no doubt it will even probably cause an argument between you and your fiance. Just be prepared for the war ahead I caution you. Engagement is a time of mostly happiness, but also dreadful stress that sends you screaming in the other direction and questioning why in the world you or anyone else would put themselves through so much hardship to just have a wedding. By the end of wedding planning there’s no doubt every bride in America has asked themselves “Is a wedding really worth it? Why didn’t we just elope or go to the justice of the peace? Really? For God’s sake?!”
* Everyone keeps telling me that oh yeah, it’s a lot to deal with and that even though it was a stressful process, I’ll be happy in the end that I did have a traditional wedding and didn’t just elope. I don’t know though, I guess we’ll see in the next 23 days. I am really happy to be having a wedding, just wondering if it is truly worth the money, time and stress it has caused the last year, when we could have just went to the court, signed the paper and invited like maybe 5 to 10 people to come witness it and then go out to dinner together. Would have been a LOT LESS HASSLE & money. Oh well… here’s hoping this wedding is a blast and tons of fun!!! ‘Cause God knows that if something major happens and it goes wrong I will be upset ten times over, I guess that’s any bride though.

50+ Things About Me
Name on your birth certificate: Amanda Lynn Haddix
Were you named after anyone? Yes, I think I was named after a popular character on a daytime soap in the eighties or maybe the song “Amanda” by Boston.
TV shows you always watch: The Simpson’s, Chuck, 24, Dollhouse, American Idol, Prison Break
Book you’re currently reading: Getting ready to read “Through the Storm” By Lynne Spears and Lorilee Cracker
Favorite song: I listen to everything, it’s hard to think of a favorite, but I do have one that comes to mind, I love the song “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith.
Favorite movie: Again there are too many to count, one that comes to mind is “Happy Gilmore”
Last movie you saw in the theatre: Bride Wars
Favorite pastimes: Cooking, scrapbooking, writing, organizing, going to the movies, blogging
Favorite restaurants: Texas De Brazil, The Melting Pot and Outback Steakhouse
Favorite season: Spring
Favorite food: Tacos or anything Mexican, not very spicy though
Least favorite food: Any kind of seafood or fish
Favorite drink: Water and kool-aid
Favorite sandwich: Peanut butter and banana
Favorite dessert: Peanut butter chocolate pie
Favorite cookie: Classic chocolate chip
Favorite ice cream: Moose tracks
Favorite flower: Carnations, their so pretty and smell so good
Favorite smell: Lavender, very calming
Least favorite smell: Any kind of fishy smell
Favorite sound: no sound at all, silence
Least favorite sound: Horn blowing
Favorite feeling: A sense of accomplishment
Least favorite feeling: Disappointment
Biggest fear: Becoming someone I don’t want to become.
Biggest pet peeves: Inefficiency, feeling disorganized, spending too much money
Biggest weakness: SUGAR and CHOCOLATE
My perfect day: A day free of responsibilities to just relax and do nothing, sleeping in, probably getting a massage and pedicure, going out for a walk in nature or to the park for a picnic
Have you ever been outside the country? Yes, to Bermuda and Canada so far. Going to St. Maarten later this year.
What time do you wake up? 7:00 usually
What time do you go to bed? 10:30-11:00 usually
20 interesting/unique things about you:
- I almost always order the same thing at restaurants that we frequent; that goes for fast food too
- I am newly obsessed with using coupons, finding good deals and saving money and being as frugal as I can
- I love to read and write poetry and fiction
- I like to put things in piles
- My dream job is a job that allows me to work from home writing and/or editing
- I was raised in southeastern Kentucky; I’m a mountain loving hillbilly
- I want to get published; my goal is at least one to three published books
- I love free stuff and I’ve searched for free stuff on the internet ever since I began using the internet back in the late 90’s
- I always feel disorganized at my house; there is never enough organization or cleanliness
- I had a crush on a soap opera actor for a long time; the character was “Jax” from General Hospital
- I don’t lie, even when the truth hurts, I think it’s better to know.
- I didn’t grow up going to church, I went once with a friend and was turned onto God and Christianity ever since, although I always knew there was something more from the beginning before ever going to church or hearing about God
- I am afraid of dying and the thought of death, I know there must be a way we all continue to exist, we never cease to exist, our soul is eternal.
- I am really short, only 4’11”, which makes it hard to reach things that are up high.
- I am always trying to empathize with others and put myself in their position
- Sometimes I think I care too much.
- I love planning and creating order, cleaning and organizing stuff.
- I want to be more intentional about things
- I like to listen to music while cleaning or organizing stuff at the house.
- I love music and sing along to every song in the car or at the house. Music can make you feel better and ultimately put you in a better mood.
- I hate it when people feel left out
- I am sometimes very negative in my feelings and views, however, I think I am positive sometimes too, I just try to see things in a realistic way, the way they truly are in reality. The truth is not always pretty and sometimes life gets messy. I’m a realist, not a pessimist or optimist. I’ve learned things happen in life and you just have to deal with them in the best way you can or know how to. You can’t stop or change most things, all you can do is play the hand you are dealt to the best of your ability.

Here are some new freebies I’ve found:

Receive 5 Free Makeup Coupons from Walgreens (Almay & Revlon products): http://www.nmamicrosites.com/walgreens/mainLogic.lasso

Free Playtex tampon sample: http://www.playtexgentleglide.com/Gentle_Glide_Sample.html

Free Iced Fruitea at Arby’s (only Today, May 6th): http://arbys.fbmta.com/members/ViewMailing.aspx?MailingID=27917290261&storecode=5735

Free EBook by L. Ron Hubbard “The Devils Rescue”: http://www.goldenagestories.com/html/ebookforfree.php

Caress Evenly Gorgeous Bodywash: http://www.vivemejor.com/Sample.aspx?NavID=173&CultureCode=en-US

Free Sample of Cape Cod Potato Chips: http://www.capecodchips.com/promo/hgpromo.aspx

Lots of free e-cookbooks: http://www.shop4freebies.com/category.php?cid=40

There are a bunch of shows being cancelled or being considered for cancellation that may not make it back for another season.

We already know that this show is not coming back next season:
Prison Break

Here are some other shows that are all in trouble of being cancelled:
Kath & Kim
“Worst Week”
“Without a Trace”
“Sit Down Shut Up”
“Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”
“Scrubs”
“My Name is Earl”
“Medium”
“Everybody Hates Chris”
“Dollhouse”
“Chuck
“Better off Ted”

Out of these I really hope they keep: “My name is Earl”, “Dollhouse”, “Chuck”, “Kath & Kim”, “Scrubs”

I like most of these shows and watch them regularly, especially “Chuck”, “Dollhouse” and “My name is Earl”. I hope at the very least they save those three.

To vote to keep your favorites go here: http://www.questionpro.com/akira/TakeSurvey?id=1229499

More shows ending in 2009:

4Real (CW)
Ending after seven episodes, final episode on 11/23/2008

13: Fear Is Real (CW)
Ending after one season, final episode on 11/23/2008

According To Jim (ABC)
Ending after eight seasons, final episode on 5/19/2009

America’s Toughest Jobs (NBC)
Ending after one season, final episode on 10/25/2008

Battlestar Galactica (SCI)
Ending after four seasons, final episode on 3/20/2009

Boston Legal (ABC)
Ending after five seasons, final episode on 12/8/2008

Celebrity Exposé (MNT)
Ending after two seasons, final episode on 10/27/2008

Charlie Jade (SCI)
Ending after one season, final episode on 10/21/2008

The Chopping Block (NBC)
Ending after one season, final episode on 7/17/2009

Christina’s Court (SYN)
Ending after three seasons, final episode on 9/?/2009

Crusoe (NBC)
Ending after one season, final episode on 1/31/2009

D.L. Hughley Breaks The News (CNN)
Ending after one season, final episode on 3/28/2009

David Alan Grier’s Chocolate News (COM)
Ending after one season, final episode on 12/17/2008

Dirty Sexy Money (ABC)
Ending after two seasons, final episode on 8/8/2009

Do Not Disturb (FOX)
Ending after three episodes, final episode on 9/24/2008

Easy Money (CW)
Ending after four episodes, final episode on 10/26/2008

Eli Stone (ABC)
Ending after two seasons, final episode on 7/11/2009

The Emperor’s New School (DSNY)
Ended after two seasons, final episode on 11/20/2008

ER (NBC)
Ending after fifteen seasons, final episode on 4/2/2009

The Ex List (CBS)
Ending after four episodes, final episode on 10/24/2008

Extreme Trains (HST)
Ending after one season, final episode on 12/30/2008

Flip That House (TLC)
Ending after four seasons, final episode on 10/28/2008

Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends (CAR)
Ending after six seasons, final episode on 5/3/2009

Frank TV (TBS)
Ending after two seasons, final episode on 12/23/2008

Greg Behrendt’s Wake-Up Call (SOAP)
Ending after one season, final episode on 2/12/2009

Guiding Light (CBS)
Ending after fifty-eight seasons, final episode on 9/18/2009

Haunting Evidence (TRU)
Ending after three seasons, final episode on 10/25/2008

Hole In The Wall (FOX)
Ending after eighteen episodes, final episode on 3/15/2009

Homeland Security USA (ABC)
Ending after eight episodes, final episode on 3/10/2009

In Harm’s Way (CW)
Ending after five episodes, final episode on 10/26/2008

Jail (MNT)
Ending after two seasons, final episode on 5/19/2009

Kath & Kim (NBC)
Ending after one season, final episode on 3/12/2009

King Of The Hill (FOX)
Ending after thirteen seasons, final episode on TBA (end of 2009)

Kings (NBC)
Ending after one season, final episode on 7/25/2009

Knight Rider (NBC)
Ending after one season, final episode on 3/4/2009

Koppel On Discovery (DSC)
Ending after three seasons, final episode on 7/12/2008

Kyle XY (FAM)
Ending after three seasons, final episode on 3/16/2009

The L-Word (SHO)
Ending after six seasons, final episode on 3/8/2009

Late Night With Conan O’Brien (NBC)
Ending after sixteen seasons, final episode on 2/20/2009

Life (NBC)
Ending after two seasons, final episode on 4/8/2009

Life On Mars (ABC)
Ending after one season, final episode on 4/1/2009

Lipstick Jungle (NBC)
Ending after two seasons, final episode on 1/9/2009

MADtv (FOX)
Ending after fourteen seasons, final episode on 5/16/2009

Magic’s Bggest Secrets Finally Revealed (MNT)
Ending after one season, final episode on 5/18/2009

Masters Of Illusion (MNT)
Ending after one season, final episode on 5/18/2009

The Middleman (FAM)
Ending after one season, final episode on 9/1/2008

Mind Of Mencia (COM)
Ending after four seasons, final episode on 7/23/2008

Momma’s Boys (NBC)
Ending after one season, final episode on 1/19/2009

The Morning Show With Mike & Juliet (SYN)
Ending after three seasons, final episode on 6/?/2009

Moral Orel (ASW)
Ending after three seasons, final episode on 12/18/2008

My Gym Partner’s A Monkey (CAR)
Ending after four seasons, final episode on 11/27/2008

My Own Worst Enemy (NBC)
Ending after nine episodes, final episode on 12/15/2008

Opportunity Knocks (ABC)
Ending after three episodes, final episode on 6/30/2009

Prison Break (FOX)
Ending after four seasons, final episode on 5/15/2009

Pushing Daisies (ABC)
Ending after two seasons, final episode on 6/13/2009

Roommates (FAM)
Ending after one season, final episode on 5/4/2009

The Shield (FX)
Ending after seven seasons, final episode on 11/25/2008

Shin Chan (ASW)
Ending after two seasons, final episode on 12/14/2008

Sophie (FAM)
Ending after five episodes, final episode on 4/20/2009

South Of Nowhere (N)
Ending after three seasons, final episode on 12/12/2008

Stargate Atlantis (SCI)
Ending after five seasons, final episode on 1/9/2009

The Starter Wife (USA)
Ending after two seasons, final episode on 12/12/2008

Street Patrol (MNT)
Ending after two seasons, final episode on 5/19/2009

Stylista (CW)
Ending after one season, final episode on 12/17/2008

Survivorman (DSC)
Ending after three seasons, final episode on 12/19/2008

Swingtown (CBS)
Ending after one season, final episode on 8/29/2008

Testees (FX)
Ending after one season, final episode on 12/18/2008

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (NBC)
Ending after seventeen seasons, final episode on 5/29/2009

The Tony Rock Project (MNT)
Ending after one season, final episode on 3/11/2009

Trading Spaces (TLC)
Ending after eight seasons, final episode on 12/6/2008

TRL (MTV)
Ending after nineteen seasons, final episode on 12/16/2008

Trust Me (TNT)
Ending after one season, final episode on 4/7/2009

Under One Roof (MNT)
Ending after one season, final episode on 1/14/2009

Valentine (CW)
Ending after four episodes, final episode on 10/26/2008

Vice Squad (MNT)
Ending after one season, final episode on 2/3/2009

The World’s Funniest Moments (MNT)
Ending after one season, final episode on 5/20/2009

Here are some deals I may take advantage of this week. I’ve been so busy lately. There’s a lot going on in my life right now. I’m getting married in 25 days, my soon to be husband is training for a new job and we’re both trying to figure out how to cut back on debt and save money for the future. Here are the deals that I’ve found this week that you may want to consider when grocery shopping.

Weekly Deals

Kroger

Pork chops $1.79 / lb
Tropicana Orange Juice $3 (use $1 off coupon)
Big K Soft Drinks (12 pack) $1.77 each
Kroger brand bread $1

Food Lion (only through 5/5/09)

B1G1F Kraft BBQ Sauce (use coupon)
Food Lion brand pasta .59 cents
Banquet Homestyle Bakes 2 for $7 ($3.50 each)
Pictsweet Steamable Meals B1G1F ($2.99)
Birdseye Steamfresh Vegetables $1 (use coupon)
Advil $4.99 (use coupon)

Ukrops

Canned Food Club brand vegetables 5 for $2
Freschetta pizza $4.99
Kens dressings $2.50 (2 for $5) (use coupon)
I can’t believe it’s not butter $2.50 (2 for $5) (use coupon)

Walgreens (have $5 RR, use before 5/10)

$2 RR wyb Right Guard Deodorant at $2.99 - $1 off any Right Guard, Dry Idea or Soft & Dri, SS 4/19 (makes it FREE)

$2 RR wyb Bic Soliel or Comfort Razors at $5.99
-$2 off Bic Comfort 3 Advance Shaver 4-pack, SS 4/19
-$2 off Bic Soleil Disposable Shaver, SS 4/19 (either coupon makes it $1.99)

V8 Juice at 2 for $6.00 ($3 each)
-$1 off V8 V-Fusion Juice, 46 oz+, SS 4/19