I could make much more money if it paid to be a professional wife

Well, 15 minutes ago I sat down to take a 5 minute break from the loads of housework and swapping over winter and summer clothes to simply say:  being a wife requires SKILLS!  And I'm not talking Desperate Housewife skills, or Housewives of Beverly Hills skills, I'm talking about real wives having real skills.  I couldn't count the skills on both hands right now, but for sake of not wasting more time and needing to get back to my day-off duties, I'll only list a few, ahem:

1.) ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS:  I'm usually a big fat FAIL on this one, but how much does a professional organizer make?  I just organized under the kitchen sink, the hall closet (again, I do that one every two months), the hutch, and the shelves in the laundry room.  And I'm not even going to talk about closet organization with shoes, clothes, all the unnamed STUFF that gets touched once every year... Oh, and couponing!!! That requires some major organization.  WHEW! 

2.)  COOKING:  This should go without saying, but this takes a lot of responsibility.  And how much does Paula Deen make?  Not to mention all the time it takes to plan out meals for the week (and some are crazy enough to plan for the MONTH!) and you have to keep nutrition in mind.  Even though something in a box might save time, it may not be good for you in the long run.  After you enjoy a satisfying meal, you're still not done. you've gotta CLEAN UP all of the mess to make your bountiful feast.

3.)  BUDGETING:  Number Two brings me to this point: how much do financial planners make???  Because it takes me a very long time to budget for meals for the month.  It would be easy to go out and eat, but we've compared, and we save an awful lot more money when we eat at home compared to going out to eat.  And that's just budgeting for FOOD.  All the other expenses can run the monthly expenses up to the max before the month is even over!  Strategy and coupons are very helpful, if you have the TIME and BRAIN POWER.

4.)  CLEANING:  A maid is not a fun job.  While it's a very rewarding feeling to have after you've dusted, vacuumed, scrubbed, shined, etc.: THIS IS HARD WORK! 

Conclusion:  These are only four skills needed for a wife.  Skills that don't get paid by the hour or get a salary.  I can't imagine all the skills required to be a MOTHER, a role I am eternally grateful not to have right now. 

Therefore, I will be happy to get back to my attempt at organizing more closets, without a baby or two or three, and enjoy the peace while I still can :-) 

Savings tonight

So I haven't been posting my savings since week one, but I HAD to tell my great deal from tonight.  Last Sunday Brett and I went to CVS and bought 15 items for $18.98, with everything being on sale and $10 in MFR coupons.  We also received $6 CVS Extra Care Bucks.  They gave me a raincheck for Ozarka water 24 pack for $3.88 since they were out.  Tonight I went in to get the water with a $1 off two coupon.  I was a bit discouraged when none were on the shelf, but I asked, and then saw one sitting by itself out of the corner of my eye.  They luckily had more in the back.  While I was waiting for them to bring me one more out, I noticed the pack sitting on the floor had 28 bottles in it, instead of 24.  The gentleman who was helping me also toted out a 28 pack.  I guess it's a 4-bottle bonus.  With $6 CVS Bucks, and my $1 off coupon, my grand total was $1.30 for 56 bottles of water!  56 bottles of water for basically $0.02 each!  Yeaaaahhhh!  I was excited. 

Week 1 of couponing review and the beginning of Week 2

Okay, so after the coupon party I attended on Saturday, June 4, (check out Gone Klippin' Crazy on Facebook and follow her blog!) my husband Brett and I decided to buy into this new coupon craze.  Last week was our first attempt at tackling Walgreens (or Wags) and take advantage of their Register Rewards (RRs).  They had a sale on four 12-pack softdrinks for $10 (with the in-store coupon).  We don't drink softdrinks too often, but we like to keep gingerale on hand.  Since all the coupon experts say having a "stock pile" of items is key, we decided to start with these drinks.  But BEFORE we bought those, Brett wanted to get some RRs. Wags had a Gillette Fusion Proglide razor (Brett's fav) for $9.89 with $5 back in RRs, plus we had a MFG coupon for $4 off the razor, which basically made the final price $0.89!  I also bought two Colgate toothpastes for $2.50 each, with an additional $0.75 off coupon.  For buying those I received $2 RRs.  In conclusion, we bought the four dozen drinnks for only $3. 

Today after church Brett and I headed back to Walgreens to get Wags brand allergy pills for $3.99 with $3.99 back in RRs.  Surprise, surprise!  They were already sold out, something we've quickly gotten frustrated with.  Betty Crocker products were on sale for $0.99 each and I had a MFG coupon for $0.75/2.  We also got a Helmans mayonaise (hubby won't eat any other brands of mayo) on "sale" for $2.99 and used a $0.25 off coupon.  Better than nothing, and it has been more expensive at Kroger and Walmart lately.  My philosophy with couponing right now is that every little bit helps.  Any suggestions on stretching our dollar are appreciated! 

September 11 remembered around city, state, nation, world

Emergency personnel in Prattville, AL are urged never to forget Sept. 11, 2001. Photo courtesy of Prattville Progress. 

Prattville city and public safety officials remember 9/11  (Prattville Progress)

Robert E. Lee High School students and faculty gather around the flag pole (Montgomery Advertiser)

9/11 remembered on coast of Alabama (al.com)

New York recalls tragedy of World Trade Towers (NYT)

Florida preacher calls off burning Korans (Washington Times)

President remembers 9/11 from Pentagon (White House)

Michelle Obama remembers Flight 93 with former First Lady  (Epoch Times)
American soldiers remember 9/11 in Afghanistan  (ABC News)

Wetumpka man killed in motorcycle accident

On Wednesday, September 8, a fatal crash occurred with a Wetumpka man.  According to a news release from the Alabama Department of Public Safety, Joseph Eugene Burton, 49 years-old, was traveling two miles north of Wetumpka on Alabama Highway 111.  At approximately 11:05 p.m., Burton lost control of the 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle he was driving and crashed, resulting in Burton’s death.  Burton did have a helmet on, but it was unable to save his life.  He was transported to Gassett Funeral Home after he was pronounced dead at the scene.  Burton was the only person and vehicle involved in the accident.  The Department of Alabama State Troopers is still investigating this accident. 

Wetumpka man faces statutory rape charge

       A Wetumpka man is facing a rape charge for an incident that occurred on August 27 at 5 p.m.  Ladarious Eaves, 20, was arrested for allegedly having consensual sex with a 13-year-old female.   

       According to Deputy Police Chief Anthony Crenshaw, Eaves is facing a charge for second-degree statutory rape.  Even though contact between the two parties is said to be consensual, the victim is underage, and that makes this case a statutory rape case.   

Eaves was arrested on September 1 and is being held at Elmore County Jail on a $90,000 bond.

Wetumpka police look for gun, find crack cocaine instead

      On Wednesday, September 8 between 1:06 and 1:15 p.m., Willie Arthur Ezell, a 35-year-old black male from Wetumpka was arrested for unlawful possession of a controlled substance.   

      Deputy of Police Chief Anthony Crenshaw said, “Units were responding to a shots fired call near or around Short Street when they came in contact with this subject. He was very uncooperative and he took off running in a foot pursuit. There was a small struggle, and then the arrest.”   

      Because Ezell was uncooperative when he was first approached by authorities, he was a possible suspect for the gun shots fired.  After resisting arrest, Wetumpka Police officers did not find a gun on Ezell, but instead, a small amount of crack cocaine was found in his possession. 

Ezell is being charged with a class C felony and is being held on bond at the Elmore County Jail.