Craggyosaurus....Rawr.

1st CVS Trip

2009-11-30T20:02:00.000-06:00

Tonight I went on my first real CVS trip since I've been clipping coupons. I'm writing this post as a little motivation to myself to let me see how much I can save and where I need to do better. And maybe it might inspire you to start clipping! :)

Trans #1
Total Without Coupons: 9.98
Coupons: 1.50
Tax: .90
Total Out of Pocket: 9.38

Trans #2
TWOC: 6.98
C: 0.75
XB (CVX Extra Bucks) 4.00
Tx: .63
TOOP: 2.86

Trans #3
TWOC: 5.99
C: 2.00
XB: 2.00
Tx: .54
TOOP: 2.53

Trans #4
TWOC: 7.44
C: 2.78
XB: 4.66
Tx: .67
TOOP: .67

Grand Total Without Coupons: $30.39
Total OOP: $15.44
Total Saved: $14.95 or 49%!

I think that's pretty darn good! The M&Ms were a filler to use more of an XCB.. on my last transaction I think I lost 37 cents of the last one.. but that's ok. Lesson learned. :)

Now.. for those of you that aren't interested in this.. I'm sorry. I probably won't blog about coupons on here very much. As I get good at this I might start a coupon/savings blog. We'll see.

Good day!

Late night thoughts

2009-11-25T03:02:00.001-06:00

I'm sitting here thinking about various things while playing a little Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook. I'm currently in the #4 spot on my team. Go me.

Anyway I started thinking about something that I would like to give deeper thought later and I thought I would post a little blurb about it so that maybe I can put more thought into it later and write a deeper post. I've learned (painfully) that if I don't write down a trail of thought that I have it will get lost in the depths of that gray matter in my noggin for who knows how long? Those lost thoughts are probably hanging out with Nessie or Inside Out Boy .. yeah they live in my brain. Deal.

Here goes.. but first..

If you have any thing you would like to question something or add please leave a comment or contact me in the 100s of other ways you can now do so with our technological advances. Though smoke signals are still pretty stellar.

- The thought occurred to me that being told "Because I Said So" as a child really affected my ability to question things. Especially when it comes to people of a higher rank, responsibility, etc.
- There are things that I just let happen that I don't even blink an eye at. Things that on hindsight seem to been areas where details were either uncomfortable, or maybe the person thought I wasn't old enough to understand or what have you.
- Looking back on my life I'm questioning things. On the small amount of time I've spent thinking about this I've thought of many an instance where I knew that something bigger was going on and any attempt to question my mom about it was met with "Because I said so" or something akin.
- These are things now that I feel like I have a right to know. (Was my mom's car really stolen that one time? Why did we allow those people to take everything that was in the old trailer we lived in? ... even more recently Why exactly were those cops searching our apartment after the shooting of the dog in the apartment above us. )
- How do I cure myself from not questioning things that go on around me?
- How do you stop yourself from questioning EVERYTHING before you go insane?
- How do I teach my future children to have a healthy curiosity?
- Are there times when "Because I said so" should honestly be used? I feel like no is the correct answer but I'm open to a debate.
-What do you do when they are at the age where all day everyday they ask the same questions 92749879893 times?

Ok.. that's all I have for now. I think this topic deserves more of my time but as of now it's 3am and I must be lonely. Ok.. no really. It's late and I need to get some sleep.

Goodnight dear reader(s?).

xoxo,
Taren

Memories

2009-11-10T01:58:00.001-06:00

Why do I let my mind wonder down these paths of memories that only hurt me so?
This darkness I'm trying to fight only gains power from this.
I know I shouldn't go here and unearth these wounds.
But I do.
I do it and I feel the pain as raw as that first day it was found.
I've been fighting the darkness for a while now.
These memories do cause the darkness and pain to grow.
But it's strange that in this dark painful place that I start to feel alive.
The numbness starts to fade away.
The numbness I've created to fight the pain.
Maybe it is healthy to let my self wander farther and farther into the darkness?
It's in that darkness that the tiny light of hope begins to grow.
Begins to warm my soul.
The past is gone and I don't have to make the same mistakes.
I've grown.
Ive changed.
I can choose to embrace the light and beauty that is is still in this world.
A hug from a friend.
A song that makes my day.
The way the light shines through the autumn trees.
The smell of coffee in the morning.
There is still good.
There is still life.
There is still love.
<3

I love music...

2009-10-07T19:50:00.000-05:00

My pal Matt Taul got me an iTunes card for my birthday. I bought some random songs tonight and thought it would illustrate the vast musical taste I have... Do you like any of these songs? There are soooooooooo many more songs that I would love to purchase but these were the first few I thought of.

1. That's Not My Name - The Ting Tings: My name is Taren...... so there are many instances when I have to correct people from saying, "Karen, Terry, or any other random thing they think I say." So I'm secretly singing this in my head.
2. Party In The U.S.A. - Miley Cyrus: Don't judge me.
3. 99 Red Balloons - Nena: I have always loved this song. I debated between the english version and the german one but decided to go with english for now. I'll probably get the german one later.
4. Brighter Than Sunshine - Aqualung: Such a pretty song.
5. Breathe (2 A.M.) - Anna Nalick: This song comes on my pandora a lot.. I like it.
6. You Found Me - The Fray: I really like The Fray and I don't own their new CD. Sad.
7. 99 Problems - Jay-Z: Classic... one day I will know all of the lyrics! haha
8. Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio: Whatever happened to ole' Coolio? I had this on tape back in the early 90s.. and I loved it. I would switch between this tape and Billy Ray Cyrus. Yeah.. I've always had a wide taste in music. And mullets.
9. Enter Sandman - Metallica: I am very sad to admit that I don't own ANY Metallica.. well. now I do. My brother is a big Metallica fan and I've probably listened to this CD 85679038493 times... but I need to buy a copy.
10. This Ain't A Scene, It's an Arms Race - Fall Out Boy: Ashley Grace has never been prouder of me! This is my first FOB song. I like it. I felt like a poser following Pete Wentz on Twitter and not listening to his music.

There you go... May this inspire you to go on a random song buying spree.

Later!

Stop what you're doing..

2009-10-06T21:47:00.001-05:00

Stop whatever it is you're doing right now (unless you're saving someone's life.. and if you are you should probably not multi-task during that)...

I'm going to need you to watch this video. It's from a guy called Matthew Mayfield. He's from Birmingham and he's pretty amazing. http://www.myspace.com/matthewmayfieldmusic if you would like. (You would. Trust me.)

Video:

You're welcome. -Taren

Just like magic..

2009-10-05T22:50:00.000-05:00

Updating for the second day in a row. Look at me being all awesome.

I don't really have a specific topic for you so how'z about some blurbs?

My digital camera has bit the dust. It was a Canon Power Shot and I've had it for years. About a month or so ago I bought some cheap batteries and it wouldn't stay powered on for longer than a few seconds. I chalked it up to the cheap batteries. I tried again tonight with different batteries and it would show me the pictures I had taken but when I switched to camera mode it just turned off. I've had it for years so I'm sure it is time for a new camera. I wish I had the monies for an awesome digital camera but I think I'm just going to have to get a good cheap camera to get me by for a while. Any suggestions?
Some of you kind readers have never heard of a guy called Caleb Chancey. That makes my heart sad. I just browsed a few months of archives on his photography blog and I was blown away. His stuff is so beautiful. Check him out, http://www.calebchanceyphotography.com/
Have you heard of the band, The Civil Wars? I saw them open for a concert and fell in love with their music. You can download a live ep from for free! Check them out, www.thecivilwars.com I've played "Dance Me To The End of Love" at least 5 times today. I know it's a cover.. but it's amazing.

Blog #One Million and One

2009-10-04T21:23:00.000-05:00

Hi interwebs,
My name is Taren and I'm a chronic blog creator. I create blogs and post a few times and then forget about them. I have hope that this time it will be different. But it's all about the baby steps, right? Right.

If you are reading this you must rock at life. That's right. I'm here to tell you how AMAZING YOU ARE and if you continue to read this little ole' blog you will only further your own amazingness. I will give you funny stories (to impress the girls), I will give you cooking advice (to impress the fellas) and I will give you photography, poetry (maybe) and random musings as I see fit (to prolong the chores that you're neglecting.. what? I'm honest.).

So.. stick around and see how you like it here. I've got my new "Fireside" candle burning and it smells lovely. Almost like being beside a tiny tiny fire.

k. bye!