Connections

I can honestly say I have the best group of friends in the world. I wanna let you know about them.

Angie-I can tell you anything and feel safe. You make me laugh with your witty yet amusing banter. You sing real pretty!

Amanda-It's just easy with you. You make everyone feel loved. You have really cool placemat handbags(in other words... you're very creative!)

Sandy-I feel like I've known you forever. You're sweet and pretty. You make the best snow cones ever!

Leigh Ann-I can always count on you to say what I'm thinking but can't quite articulate the way you do.

Sally-I can't quite narrow it down to one thing with you. You are ALWAYS there for me! Loyal to the end!

Stacy-I can be silly with you and then completely serious. You fluctuate your mood with mine. We are one! :)

Ariel-You always encourage me with your vivacious and fun-loving spirit. You're just a fun gal!

Alexie-I look up to you... even if you are just a bit shorter! You've been adopted into my family as my new third sister. I wanna be the mommy you are one day... amazing! I am in awe!

These are just a few friends that I have recently spent time with. I love all of you and thank God for the blessing of having friends like you in my life! I am always praying that God connect me with more of the women at C3. There are so many of you I'd love to know better. We all have busy schedules and hectic lives but don't forget to take some time out for some real connection.

C3 women rock!

411 on the Women of C3

Periodically, I like to highlight what some of the great women of C3 are thinking. Lately, God has used many of their blogs to encourage me. So, I wanted to share their blogsites with you so you can check them out, too! Here are some of my recent favorites: Patti says this in her brand new blog Patio Talk. Jennie says this in her blog Controlled Chaos. And Monica says this in her new blog Laugh Often, Love Always. Thanks, ya'll for keepin' it real, and for helping me "run free and fearless". You rock and you are SO C3! Peace.

My New Reality Obsession

I have a new television show that I love. "Tori and Dean: Inn Love." They are sooooo Andrea and Darrell. We happened to catch it while the marathon of season one was on and Darrell just laughed at Tori's theatrical over the top personality. He then said, "honey, oh my gosh, that is you!" I loved the idea of running a modern bed and breakfast and pulling out a red carpet for the grand opening with ice sculptures, spotlights and just good old fashioned fabulousness. What I love more is that her husband tries SO hard to bring her back down to earth. I'm definitely exuberant, emotional, intensely passionate, and very much a dreamer. Darrell is much more the realist. I need that. I think I want to meet them and see how we click. We'd probably become best friends. There goes my dreamer side again...

Death by Exercise

Dear Drill Sergeant at the Blanchard Park YMCA Boot Camp Class:

Why do you hate me so much? Why do you make me run until I feel like I will throw up? Do you love the look of sheer pain on my face as I do my 100th jump-squat? And what's with all the push-ups? Why do I continue to torture myself by going to your class twice a week? I think it's because secretly I love the torture...I love how I feel when I leave your class. Thanks for the great workout...now I need to go throw up.

Amanda

At Home With Amanda

One of my favorite things to do is shop and I love to get a good deal, whether it's on groceries, an outfit for one of my kids, or a new pair of shoes for myself. My sister, Larissa, and I have competitions to see who can get the best deal...she usually wins. (One time she bought a brand new pair of pants for 99 cents...and they were cute!) I have lots of stories about her and her bargain-shopping experiences that would make you laugh including one about expired beef jerky at Eckerd's. (Sorry, Larissa...hope I didn't embarrass you! I love you and all your bargain shopping stories.)

So, between Larissa and my good friend, Heather, I have learned how to be a better bargain shopper. Thought I'd share a couple of websites that are my favorites.

1. mycoupons.com This site has several message boards that give great advise on which stores are having good sales. My favorite is on the LWIF board (look what I found). People share about bargains they have found around town at stores like Target, KMart, and CVS. They let you know when Target does their 75% off markdowns!

2. afullcup.com This site has a target coupon generator where you can print as many coupons as you need on a particular item. (A few weeks ago they had a great deal on baby food...I stocked up! I spent a total of about $2.00 and got enough food to feed Jackson for a month!) You can also find weekly ads for just about any grocery store in the area.

These are just a couple of sites to help you save a few bucks. Try it out...you just might get addicted! Happy shopping!