Jan 3, 2010
new blog...
check out my new blog... i'm not going to move all my posts from this one over, and this one will probably stay up, but i won't be posting here... so, for updates, go to: http://robynlikeabyrd.blogspot.com
Dec 11, 2009
some exciting savings.
so, lately, i've gotten really excited about saving/discounts/coupons/etc.
Here are the best ones I've had lately:
1) getting part of chris' christmas present for $8.32 from $106... saving $94... it was a combination of sales and other incentives... but i thought it was way impressive. i clearly won't write what cost that much, just in case... but it's impressive.
2) 50 photo christmas cards w/envelopes: $3.19. and i got them in less than a week. now i have to address and send them out. and figure out a blog address i like to update (another task) to put on the back of the cards before i send them out - saving me time and money on printing out a letter to go with each one. (see... smart.)
3) a wall photo calendar, customized: $9. This is not that great of a deal, but the calendar was free... it was just the shipping that got me. i didn't want to settle for 21 days, so opted for 14... hoping it makes it in about 5. still pretty impressive to have such a fun customized calendar.
4) dinner at target: $1.64. when i was checking out, i got a receipt coupon for $1 off of purchase at least $1 at the snack bar. a hot dog/coke combo is $2.50, and i saved $1 off of that. pretty good. of course, then it had me craving potato chips, so i got a bag at wal-mart for $0.30... so i guess my full dinner total was about $2 w/tax.
5) hint passed on from my mom (from some magazine): use paint swatches in holiday colors (from paint stores, etc) as gift tags. i currently have some that i will use with my "brown paper packages tied up with string" and also some ornaments that i got 5/$2. So: all together, i will be able to wrap 15 presents, each w/an ornament tied to the top and a gift tag for: $11... and will probably be able to wrap another 15 w/o ornaments and still include that in the total cost. not bad
in a way i feel kind of nerdy, but at the same time, it's wonderful. I saved a lot of money this week.
btw: my new favorite site that amy told me about: www.faithfulprovisions.com - #s 2,3 came from there.
Here are the best ones I've had lately:
1) getting part of chris' christmas present for $8.32 from $106... saving $94... it was a combination of sales and other incentives... but i thought it was way impressive. i clearly won't write what cost that much, just in case... but it's impressive.
2) 50 photo christmas cards w/envelopes: $3.19. and i got them in less than a week. now i have to address and send them out. and figure out a blog address i like to update (another task) to put on the back of the cards before i send them out - saving me time and money on printing out a letter to go with each one. (see... smart.)
3) a wall photo calendar, customized: $9. This is not that great of a deal, but the calendar was free... it was just the shipping that got me. i didn't want to settle for 21 days, so opted for 14... hoping it makes it in about 5. still pretty impressive to have such a fun customized calendar.
4) dinner at target: $1.64. when i was checking out, i got a receipt coupon for $1 off of purchase at least $1 at the snack bar. a hot dog/coke combo is $2.50, and i saved $1 off of that. pretty good. of course, then it had me craving potato chips, so i got a bag at wal-mart for $0.30... so i guess my full dinner total was about $2 w/tax.
5) hint passed on from my mom (from some magazine): use paint swatches in holiday colors (from paint stores, etc) as gift tags. i currently have some that i will use with my "brown paper packages tied up with string" and also some ornaments that i got 5/$2. So: all together, i will be able to wrap 15 presents, each w/an ornament tied to the top and a gift tag for: $11... and will probably be able to wrap another 15 w/o ornaments and still include that in the total cost. not bad
in a way i feel kind of nerdy, but at the same time, it's wonderful. I saved a lot of money this week.
btw: my new favorite site that amy told me about: www.faithfulprovisions.com - #s 2,3 came from there.
Dec 9, 2009
grateful that i don't get paid based on how much i blog.
amanda, sonja... this is for you...
a day in my life.
an essay by robyn.
i've gone to school in arkansas for all different grade levels. at some point, i'm SURE that i had to have 2 mmr shots. however, when i tried to track down shot records in august when i started at pulaski tech, i could only find a record for 1. even though i'm only going to pulaski tech for a license program (not degree), i still had to have proof for two... but i knew that i could wait until later in the semester to complete this task. it came time for early registration, and i realized i hadn't gotten the shot yet (and had a hold on my account... seriously!?!), so i needed to get it done this week.
i had a dentist appointment this week, so i thought that while i was already gone from work, i'd kill two birds with one stone (poor birds.)
2:05 p.m.: i go to the health center close to my office. after circling the parking lot at least 12 times (this is not an exaggeration - there were no parking spots), i finally see a car pulling out and i snatch up the space. i pass a lady who is clearly pregnant smoking in the parking lot. i was sad for her unborn baby, thought, "maybe she's not pregnant." then i thought, "who am i kidding? she's at least 8 months along." i walk in the front door and there are people EVERYWHERE. i was told to take a number. looking around, i thought, "no way. this is crazy." then i might have said those same words as i walked out the door. i knew there was a health clinic close to pulaski tech, so i just thought i'd head there. i wasn't sure where it was, and i couldn't get in touch with anyone who would know, but i just went toward the school anyway.
2:15 p.m.: i call my old family doctor... some family members still go to him, but i haven't seen him in 15 years. they tell me that he can't do an immunization for me because he's not my pcp. then, i ask if he can be, and they tell me no.
2:45 p.m.: lost in nlr. find a "medical center" and i know it's tied to the VA, but i'm not sure if there is a separate clinic. i park, go in, and ask the lady who looks at me like i'm crazy and says, "this is the VA!!" and i explained that i knew i wasn't in the right place and asked if she could point me in the right direction. she gives me directions by saying, "it's down the street"
3:00 p.m.: i find a health clinic "down the street" and go in... it's a baptist health center. they don't do immunizations there, but she tells me there's a health clinic right across the street that does them.
3:05 p.m.: i get to the health clinic, sign in... they get some information and tell me it will be $5. i hand them my debit card and they inform me that they only take cash or checks. i don't have either (only $3 in cash) and the guy tells me that i can bring the money back later. i wait 20 minutes and finally get called back. i get my shot and leave. btw, it hurts.
3:35 p.m.: i am on a hunt for a bank of america atm... though, after a few minutes of searching (and not being able to connect on my phone - was mccain really the closest?), i decide that ANY atm will do. i still can't find one and decide to head to downtown lr (10 minutes away), and then, on the way, i see a boa atm. i stop for cash.
4:00 p.m.: i return to the health center to pay. the lady tells me that it was "sweet" and that i don't have to worry about the $5 fee. wish i'd known that when i was searching for an atm.
4:10 p.m.: i arrive at pulaski tech to turn in my shot record. i pull up to the "administration" building, find a parking space and walk to the door. there's a sign on the door that says the administration departments have moved to another building across campus.
4:20 p.m.: i walk into the building and go to the 3rd floor office where i was advised (there weren't any signs telling where i should go, so i went there). it was obviously the wrong floor.
4:23 p.m.: i get to the right floor... right office and all the doors are shut with signs on them that say, "DO NOT OPEN! Sign in on computer." i go to the computers and try to decide whether i need to "speak to someone" or "drop off documents." i choose the second, and then another screen comes up for me to select the type of document. immunization records are not an option, so i start over and choose "talk to someone" - it asks for my student id. i don't know my student id and there's not a computer that has internet access (all are that menu screen) for me to see what it is.
4:30 p.m.: i take my immunization record and draw large asterisks by my name and mmr. i drop it in the student services box and leave.
oh, and i never ate lunch and had a headache. and the dentist told me i had to have my other wisdom teeth out. the ladies in the front of the dental office told me that if i'd chosen a different dental plan (i had multiple options) that my visit that day would have been free, not $45 and it would cost me $16 per tooth to have the wisdom teeth out instead of the $85 it will cost per tooth under my current insurance.
but the immunization record cleared my holds and i registered for the one class that wasn't full that i can take. i have bruises on my arm from the shots (they talked me into a tetanus booster also).
the end.
a day in my life.
an essay by robyn.
i've gone to school in arkansas for all different grade levels. at some point, i'm SURE that i had to have 2 mmr shots. however, when i tried to track down shot records in august when i started at pulaski tech, i could only find a record for 1. even though i'm only going to pulaski tech for a license program (not degree), i still had to have proof for two... but i knew that i could wait until later in the semester to complete this task. it came time for early registration, and i realized i hadn't gotten the shot yet (and had a hold on my account... seriously!?!), so i needed to get it done this week.
i had a dentist appointment this week, so i thought that while i was already gone from work, i'd kill two birds with one stone (poor birds.)
2:05 p.m.: i go to the health center close to my office. after circling the parking lot at least 12 times (this is not an exaggeration - there were no parking spots), i finally see a car pulling out and i snatch up the space. i pass a lady who is clearly pregnant smoking in the parking lot. i was sad for her unborn baby, thought, "maybe she's not pregnant." then i thought, "who am i kidding? she's at least 8 months along." i walk in the front door and there are people EVERYWHERE. i was told to take a number. looking around, i thought, "no way. this is crazy." then i might have said those same words as i walked out the door. i knew there was a health clinic close to pulaski tech, so i just thought i'd head there. i wasn't sure where it was, and i couldn't get in touch with anyone who would know, but i just went toward the school anyway.
2:15 p.m.: i call my old family doctor... some family members still go to him, but i haven't seen him in 15 years. they tell me that he can't do an immunization for me because he's not my pcp. then, i ask if he can be, and they tell me no.
2:45 p.m.: lost in nlr. find a "medical center" and i know it's tied to the VA, but i'm not sure if there is a separate clinic. i park, go in, and ask the lady who looks at me like i'm crazy and says, "this is the VA!!" and i explained that i knew i wasn't in the right place and asked if she could point me in the right direction. she gives me directions by saying, "it's down the street"
3:00 p.m.: i find a health clinic "down the street" and go in... it's a baptist health center. they don't do immunizations there, but she tells me there's a health clinic right across the street that does them.
3:05 p.m.: i get to the health clinic, sign in... they get some information and tell me it will be $5. i hand them my debit card and they inform me that they only take cash or checks. i don't have either (only $3 in cash) and the guy tells me that i can bring the money back later. i wait 20 minutes and finally get called back. i get my shot and leave. btw, it hurts.
3:35 p.m.: i am on a hunt for a bank of america atm... though, after a few minutes of searching (and not being able to connect on my phone - was mccain really the closest?), i decide that ANY atm will do. i still can't find one and decide to head to downtown lr (10 minutes away), and then, on the way, i see a boa atm. i stop for cash.
4:00 p.m.: i return to the health center to pay. the lady tells me that it was "sweet" and that i don't have to worry about the $5 fee. wish i'd known that when i was searching for an atm.
4:10 p.m.: i arrive at pulaski tech to turn in my shot record. i pull up to the "administration" building, find a parking space and walk to the door. there's a sign on the door that says the administration departments have moved to another building across campus.
4:20 p.m.: i walk into the building and go to the 3rd floor office where i was advised (there weren't any signs telling where i should go, so i went there). it was obviously the wrong floor.
4:23 p.m.: i get to the right floor... right office and all the doors are shut with signs on them that say, "DO NOT OPEN! Sign in on computer." i go to the computers and try to decide whether i need to "speak to someone" or "drop off documents." i choose the second, and then another screen comes up for me to select the type of document. immunization records are not an option, so i start over and choose "talk to someone" - it asks for my student id. i don't know my student id and there's not a computer that has internet access (all are that menu screen) for me to see what it is.
4:30 p.m.: i take my immunization record and draw large asterisks by my name and mmr. i drop it in the student services box and leave.
oh, and i never ate lunch and had a headache. and the dentist told me i had to have my other wisdom teeth out. the ladies in the front of the dental office told me that if i'd chosen a different dental plan (i had multiple options) that my visit that day would have been free, not $45 and it would cost me $16 per tooth to have the wisdom teeth out instead of the $85 it will cost per tooth under my current insurance.
but the immunization record cleared my holds and i registered for the one class that wasn't full that i can take. i have bruises on my arm from the shots (they talked me into a tetanus booster also).
the end.
Oct 20, 2009
to be loved
it's too late to really go into a lot of details... but i wanted to type a quick something because i just realized i'd let another 2 months go by without recording any electronic thoughts... i've been busy.
i just realized a couple of times tonight how wonderful it feels to be loved.
not because of anything i've done to deserve it... because of who i am...
i'm joyful in the deepest places of my heart. to be understood... to be loved... it's more than i could've ever asked for.
and not only by jesus but by an incredible and godly man.
wow.
wow.
i just realized a couple of times tonight how wonderful it feels to be loved.
not because of anything i've done to deserve it... because of who i am...
i'm joyful in the deepest places of my heart. to be understood... to be loved... it's more than i could've ever asked for.
and not only by jesus but by an incredible and godly man.
wow.
wow.
Aug 18, 2009
you know i'm sick when...
i get into a super-hot car with a sweater on... in arkansas... in august... and i remark at how good it feels...
i'm not 100% sure what virus or bacteria has taken up residence in my sinuses (sini? haha... i know it's sinuses.)... and my throat... but it's a bad one...
and i wish it'd go away...
i'm not 100% sure what virus or bacteria has taken up residence in my sinuses (sini? haha... i know it's sinuses.)... and my throat... but it's a bad one...
and i wish it'd go away...
Aug 7, 2009
finally friday
i know... it's been a long time...
been busy... lots of changes... lots of non-changes...
i am going back to school... if i can get everything turned in (and get a MMR immunization sometime early next week), then i will be starting a week from monday at a local community college working toward a technical certificate in medical transcription... i'm curious about it... the school is pretty inexpensive... and i have been looking for a new challenge... the biggest hurdle so far? an immunization record... i'm looking forward to learning some new stuff, though... and to being back in school...
because i don't really have time to go to school and work two jobs... and because i can't afford to go to school and live on my main source of income... i'm moving back in with my family... i need to be saving money and not killing myself, so it seemed like the logical choice... it will happen in a couple of months... and i don't know exactly how long it will last... we'll see...
so, in the foreseeable future (december at the latest), i should be going to one job... my full-time one, not sbux... which is good... because i've been working 2 for 2 years... too too long!!!
and my love life is still great... that's one of the non-changes...
and that's all... i kind of feel awful for a friday night which stinks... but i'm glad it's the weekend!
been busy... lots of changes... lots of non-changes...
i am going back to school... if i can get everything turned in (and get a MMR immunization sometime early next week), then i will be starting a week from monday at a local community college working toward a technical certificate in medical transcription... i'm curious about it... the school is pretty inexpensive... and i have been looking for a new challenge... the biggest hurdle so far? an immunization record... i'm looking forward to learning some new stuff, though... and to being back in school...
because i don't really have time to go to school and work two jobs... and because i can't afford to go to school and live on my main source of income... i'm moving back in with my family... i need to be saving money and not killing myself, so it seemed like the logical choice... it will happen in a couple of months... and i don't know exactly how long it will last... we'll see...
so, in the foreseeable future (december at the latest), i should be going to one job... my full-time one, not sbux... which is good... because i've been working 2 for 2 years... too too long!!!
and my love life is still great... that's one of the non-changes...
and that's all... i kind of feel awful for a friday night which stinks... but i'm glad it's the weekend!
Jul 10, 2009
sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name...
so, today, i realized something...
i should have realized it a long time ago... and then, i should have realized it last weekend, then earlier this week... and then yesterday... but it took today to make it a reality for me...
here's the story (not about a lovely lady)...
i love mexican food... that has to be center to the story for the rest to start to make sense...
of all the mexican food in little rock, i happen to love senor tequila the best... (we don't have a u.s. border cantina...) i love the salsa... i really like the guacamole... i like the fajitas, burritos... all around, it's my favorite... plus, there are several locations in the area... so regardless of where i end up (near work or home... or someone else's home... or wal-mart or church), there's one nearby...
i have eaten there multiple times in a week... it's true... (realization opportunity #1)
sunday came, and chris and i were trying to decide where to eat dinner... and landed on mexican... while senor tequila (who, on my bank statements comes up as "senor tequilla") is not his favorite, he went there with me... mostly, i think, to keep me happy and to not make me eat the gross salsa at la hacienda that everyone that i know, including chris, loves... and senor tequila is cheaper than on the border, which i also love, but not as much...
so, in order to get what i want, i've now coerced another person into going there to eat dinner there... but it was wonderful... (realization opportunity #2)
i've gotten in the habit of going to senor tequila for lunch on mondays... because their lunch special on monday is fajitas for $6.00... that's a deal... seriously!!! with tax and tip, it is usually in the neighborhood of $8... because i'm a good tipper... so monday comes, and i remember that i just had senor tequila on sunday night, but it's "fajita monday," so i must go... and because it's "fajita monday" (which is basically a holiday to me), i go... and i have to convince someone to go with me... because one can't do fajita monday alone... sharing is better, as with any holiday...
so, i've hit twice in one week... not as uncommon as it should be, and probably a bit excessive... and i've also rambled on about fajita monday in crazy-speak and all my friends know about it at work and are now avoiding it...(realization opportunity #3)
i signed up for mint.com this week (yesterday)... and i LOVE IT... it breaks down my purchases and shows me (conveniently) where i've spent money... luckily for me, it doesn't lump all the senor tequila locations together when it sorts them and lists them... i mean, i've looked at my bank statement online, but it's just a list... not a pretty pie chart that shows just exactly how ridiculous i can be with my spending habits... now, thanks to mint.com, i know that senor tequila is one of the places i spend money most frequently... not the grocery store... not the gas station... but senor tequila... (realization opportunity #4)
so, today... i have been pretty good about eating food i brought with me to work this week... not eating out as much... and working through lunch... but today, i needed to get out of the office... no one wanted to go with me, and it was too late to call friends not at work with me, since i was hungry right then... so, of course, i make my way down to my favorite lunch spot...
today's special was a burrito for $5, so i opted for that... because i love them and it's cheap... almost moe's cheap, if you ask me...
and i sat and worked a sudoku puzzle while i ate... just hanging out...
and i go up to the counter to pay...
the guy behind the counter looks at my ticket and says, "no fajitas today?"
my name is robyn and i'm addicted to senor tequila (specifically, but not limited to fajita monday).
i should have realized it a long time ago... and then, i should have realized it last weekend, then earlier this week... and then yesterday... but it took today to make it a reality for me...
here's the story (not about a lovely lady)...
i love mexican food... that has to be center to the story for the rest to start to make sense...
of all the mexican food in little rock, i happen to love senor tequila the best... (we don't have a u.s. border cantina...) i love the salsa... i really like the guacamole... i like the fajitas, burritos... all around, it's my favorite... plus, there are several locations in the area... so regardless of where i end up (near work or home... or someone else's home... or wal-mart or church), there's one nearby...
i have eaten there multiple times in a week... it's true... (realization opportunity #1)
sunday came, and chris and i were trying to decide where to eat dinner... and landed on mexican... while senor tequila (who, on my bank statements comes up as "senor tequilla") is not his favorite, he went there with me... mostly, i think, to keep me happy and to not make me eat the gross salsa at la hacienda that everyone that i know, including chris, loves... and senor tequila is cheaper than on the border, which i also love, but not as much...
so, in order to get what i want, i've now coerced another person into going there to eat dinner there... but it was wonderful... (realization opportunity #2)
i've gotten in the habit of going to senor tequila for lunch on mondays... because their lunch special on monday is fajitas for $6.00... that's a deal... seriously!!! with tax and tip, it is usually in the neighborhood of $8... because i'm a good tipper... so monday comes, and i remember that i just had senor tequila on sunday night, but it's "fajita monday," so i must go... and because it's "fajita monday" (which is basically a holiday to me), i go... and i have to convince someone to go with me... because one can't do fajita monday alone... sharing is better, as with any holiday...
so, i've hit twice in one week... not as uncommon as it should be, and probably a bit excessive... and i've also rambled on about fajita monday in crazy-speak and all my friends know about it at work and are now avoiding it...(realization opportunity #3)
i signed up for mint.com this week (yesterday)... and i LOVE IT... it breaks down my purchases and shows me (conveniently) where i've spent money... luckily for me, it doesn't lump all the senor tequila locations together when it sorts them and lists them... i mean, i've looked at my bank statement online, but it's just a list... not a pretty pie chart that shows just exactly how ridiculous i can be with my spending habits... now, thanks to mint.com, i know that senor tequila is one of the places i spend money most frequently... not the grocery store... not the gas station... but senor tequila... (realization opportunity #4)
so, today... i have been pretty good about eating food i brought with me to work this week... not eating out as much... and working through lunch... but today, i needed to get out of the office... no one wanted to go with me, and it was too late to call friends not at work with me, since i was hungry right then... so, of course, i make my way down to my favorite lunch spot...
today's special was a burrito for $5, so i opted for that... because i love them and it's cheap... almost moe's cheap, if you ask me...
and i sat and worked a sudoku puzzle while i ate... just hanging out...
and i go up to the counter to pay...
the guy behind the counter looks at my ticket and says, "no fajitas today?"
my name is robyn and i'm addicted to senor tequila (specifically, but not limited to fajita monday).
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