becoming 2011

It’s 10:31pm on Saturday night.  I. am. exhausted!  And I really haven’t done anything active all day. What is it about being in a car and sitting around in a conference room that makes you so tired?!?  I’m going to make this post short and sweet, slap some photos up, forget to spell check, and call it good.

Let’s get to it.

Today, I attended a women’s conference in Asheville, N.C. called Becoming 2011.

Taken from Southern Savers’ website:

“Becoming 2011 is a weekend designed to encourage and inspire women to live  intentionally by becoming more creative,  purposeful, and  frugal. As women,  many of us desire to be more intentional with our time and financial resources;  more intentional with our family and homes. As we gather from all walks of life, we will tackle some of those day to day issues that typically seem mundane. Our desire is that you will leave, not only refreshed, but encouraged, empowered, and motivated with the practical and tangible ideas you have received. Hopefully, by tackling the mundane, they will now have a sense of magic.”

I have yet to divulge my LOVE of couponing yet on the blog (it’s coming…oh, it’s coming!) but let’s just say that I have amassed a small stockpile of items that has slowly taken over our kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanity.  I wouldn’t say I’m an “extreme couponer” because that brings to mind that awful TLC show, which while entertaining, is basically a show about hoarders parading around as couponers.  Nobody needs 63 bottles of mustard!  I’m too tired to make a mustard joke.  (Eden, do you have any??)  Anyway, I only buy things we USE or items that I can donate.  And I must say, I’m getting pretty good at it!!  All thanks to Southern Savers.

For anyone who doesn’t add sugar to their tea, you might not be familiar with this amazing website.  Blogger, Jenny Martin, takes all the guesswork out of couponing by matching store ads with available coupons and posting daily deals.  There are similar sites out there, but Southern Savers is by far my favorite!

This woman has helped me save well over $1,000 this year!!  Thanks, Jenny!

The day started out bright and early, with the alarm going off at 5:45AM.  Ugh.  Coffee and Oats In A Jar were devoured on the car ride over.

The marketing genius that came up with this one deserves a raise!  “Sugar Free” peanut butter, you know, for low-carbers or diabetics.  It’s just natural peanut butter people.

Dance Party…ghetto style.

ok..maybe not.

I swear, I’m awesomer than I look in pictures.

From 8:30AM to 5:00 PM, there were 5 hour-long sessions on couponing, home decor, consious parenting, frugal living and budgeting.  I’ll not go into all the details, but if you want to see the agenda, go here.  I learned SO much more about couponing, specifically at drugstores, but my favorite session, “Creating Purposeful Moments In Our Mothering”, helped to remind me of some core values that I sometimes forget.  Like patience and encouragement.  Repeat to self: this is just a stage, this is just a stage.

Swag bag, filled with goodies

Green salad, BBQ Pork, Fried Okra, Snap Peas.

On the way home, we stopped by EarthFare, an Asheville-based health foods market.  I picked up all the essentials: almond butter, Kombucha, Annie’s Cinnamon Bunnies.  Yes, all must haves.

Oh, ya’ll….this was a new product, Broo!  Shampoo and conditioner, made with hops from a local brewery, Highlands Brewing Company.  It smelled JUST like a can of beer. 

I spend most of my day thwarting off Travis’ advances already.  Beer hair?  That might just put him over the edge.

A huge thank you to Travis for being willing to watch the kiddos all day long.  To Jenny for putting on a wonderful conference!  And to Katy, for throwin’ them bows.

gnight all!

 

splendid…lindsay