Happy New Year!!

Here we are again, seems like just yesterday we were bringing in 2009. Reflecting back on 2009, I realized quite a few things.

1. Family: I have a family right here and need not go looking for something that never was in Chicago. I love my family!! I may not have the Beaver family but we are what we are and as we age things seem to get easier. We have to accept each other for who and what we are . With age, life gets easier. You seem to look at things in a different light. New babies come and people leave. My husband tells me all the time, we all have to die sometimes and I really am not ready for someone leaving yet but I look it like this. They say there is better things out there on the other side. I know that when we leave this earth, that we will see this bright light and angels waiting to take us in. There are many family members on the other side of this white light and for that I feel peace.

2. Friends: I have many wonderful friends, too many to mention. I have learned to let go, if your not good for me then out you go. I have to do what is right for me, whether family or friends. I have learned alot from some good friends, like "Blood is not necessarily thicker then water." You pick your friends, that are like family. I have friends that are closer to me than my own family. A few that I know I can count on when it really comes down to it. See, sometimes I break down too and I know where the friends that will catch me and put me back on solid ground. For that I love and adore you all!!

3: Career: For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to work in the Medical Field. Maybe, because my family comes from the Medical Field. I like the rush, I like helping people. There will be a whole new adventure for me starting in July, heck I'm in the middle of a whole new adventure. I have always wanted to work in the OB dept and with a little bit of studying I am on my way.

4: BBP: Brown Bag Party has been an adventure all its own. I have learned quite a few things and adore my BBP sisters. If your in for some romantic times and thinking same old thing with the hubby, I can tell you "Think outside the Box"

Getting Ready for the New Year

Are you ready for the New Year? What are your plans? I know my plan is to save money while grocery shopping. I would much rather have money in my pocket then putting it into the store registers.

Last week Hubby and I went to Sam's Club, I like Sam's Club until we get to the register. It really hurts when you have a basket full of groceries and the total is well over much more then I would usually spend. Hubby has to keep reminding me that with this much food, we will not have to go shopping for a month. I'm holding this and see if we can really do this.

Sam's Club offers a coupon feature on your card. I don't know if it will work and really afraid to put more money into Sam's Club, if it doesn't work.

Do you take the time to clip coupons? Do you shop at Food outlets? What are your tips?
Here are a few tips and ideas..... Shop at your local bakery outlet I found an outlet that was close to home but never knew it was there. There is the Sunday Paper that you can clip coupons from. Start a coupon exchange. Look online for coupons, go to Kraft.com or your favorite company and they sometimes have coupons on their sites.

If you have a store near you that offers you discounts if you have their card, then do this. I found this out by accident. Clip your coupons for the BOGO (Buy One Get One Free) items, clip two or look online for extra. Have the registrar run your items through, hand her coupons FIRST then give her the Store card for your discounts. This way you will get the savings on both BOGO items and you will also get it free. It's like they are paying you to buy the item.

Also, sometimes you don't have to buy the exact item, does have to be from the same company does have to be the same type of food item. But I bought Cheese one day, they didn't have the exact item, so I thought maybe I can get something close. Well, it worked. It may not always work, and if it doesn't play dumb.

There is also The Savings Queen show, Melissa Pearson gives alot of great tips for saving.

Are there any other tips out there that we could use?

Rock and Roll

Rock and Roll People, Christmas is over and the New Years is here!!! What is on your agenda for the New Years? Are you going to let another year go by and live it the way you have in the past or will you be the one who takes the bull by the horns and says, "Enough is Enough" I am in charge of my life. I am in charge of my own destiny.

I was told many times that I should be a Motivational speaker, there's a problem with that though. I am petrified to get in front of people and speak. Where that comes from I don't know but I need to put my mind in a certain place and then I will be fine. Thanks to very good friends at school, they are helping me over come this.

In the meantime, I will continue to write my blogs and be addicted to Facebook. (Deanna Whitten or Brown Bag Party's by Deanna)

I was also asked recently to motivate a very good friend, whom I have known since grade school to motivate on losing weight for the New Year. First, I want to say whether Big or Thin, your beautiful. Beauty comes from within. Beauty comes from your personality. Who cares what others think. As long as your happy with yourself, then your good to go.

Are there others out there with good eating or dieting tips? Lets hear some comments from you!!