The Frightmare

I'm going to start this post off by saying that if you've never been to a haunted house with Karen, Ashley or Kara, I highly recommend that you call them up and get a once in a lifetime experience.

Last night, we decided to check out The Frightmare. Unlike last year's Raleigh Jaycees Terror at Possum Creek, there was no large group and there were no men. Karen did not have the brave, burly and gallant John there to protect her so she used me as her shield instead.

We're really good at psyching ourselves at and with it being a Thursday night, the house was deserted and there were no patrons. We sat in the parking lot a good 10 minutes trying to decide if this place was really legit since it was a ghost town (da dum dum) and tumbleweeds were blowing by. The conversation went like this:

Karen: I'm so nervous ya'll. I can't do this! I can't do this!
Ashley: I'm not going in there until we talk to someone about it. I will not be touched. They can't touch me.
Me: What if they see four girls and knock us out and sell us into human trafficking? It could happen.
Karen: No, it won't.
Me: Yes, it COULD happen. How would anyone find us? There's no one here.
Kara sits in silence with a look of terror on her face.
Ashley: I will NOT be touched. Where's the exit? I don't see anyone coming out of this joint.

A Honda mini-van and a car pull up. From them exit, two large men with mullets, two women, a twelve year old girl and a seven year old boy.

Me: Let's go! Let's go! We can on in with them.
Karen: Seriously. A child. Let's go. It can't be that bad.

Reluctantly, we exited the safety of Terry the X-terra and entered into the unknowns of The Frightmare. After paying for our tickets and confirming multiple times that no one would in fact touch us, we went in. The experience went something like this:

Karen, Ashley and Kara: Ashely, you have to go first.
Me: Why me? Why do I have to be the brave one?

I would love to see what we looked like going through this thing. Four almost 30 year old women, linked up like a conga line shuffling really slowly through haunted twists and turns. Screaming at the top of our lungs. I'm sure the people in the house got a kick out of us. I know some dude with a Jason mask laughed at us at one point and it wasn't an evil sinister laugh but more of a America's Funniest Home Videos hearty laugh. Mind you, The Frightmare is in 3-D so we not only were conga lining it, but we were conga lining it in some really super cool glasses.

A few minutes into the house.

Karen: Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh.
Me (being held in a Full Nelson by Karen): Karen, I can't breathe.
Ashley: They better not touch me.
Kara brings up the rear in silence with a look of terror on her face.

Scary man jumps out of corner.
Everyone screams.

Me: Karen, I can't breathe.

A scary man jumps out of another corner.
Everyone screams.
Karen's hands in her Full Nelson have moved from my shoulders to my chest.

Me: NOW, WAIT A MINUTE!

We enter into a 3-D room that takes you around in circles and we can't figure out how to get out.
Scary man jumps out of corner.
Everyone screams.

Karen: I'm not looking! I'm not looking!
Me: Karen, I can't breathe.
Ashley: They BETTER not touch me.
Kara brings up the rear in silence with a look of terror on her face.

Me (breaking out into a fit of coughing/choking): I can't breathe. I can't breate.
Man with blungeoned face and in scary homicidal killer outfit: Ma'm, are you okay?

All jokes aside, us girls had a blast and we made it out alive though perhaps some a little bruised and beaten. I'm not going to be a spoiler and give anymore details. But, I will say that it blows that Possum Creek place out of the water and the 3-D was neat. Check it out if you get a chance and give me a call if you do! I might be up for it again!

High on the Hog: Writing to Companies

Kristin over at Couponing to Disney has a series called 5 A Day. The idea behind 5 A Day is that you can write to companies and receive coupons/free product just for providing feedback. She explains in more detail of how to do this here.

At first, I was like this is a little whack, time consuming and simply crazy lady, but then I got to thinking about my friends at the Starbucks near church. I thought someone really needs to tell Starbucks corporate how awesome they really are. Thus, I decided to play 5 A Day (which is really one a day for me). So far, I've only sent notes into Caribou Coffee, Starbucks and Scrubbing Bubbles. Yes, Scrubbing Bubbles is random, but I'm almost out of it.

Starbucks has not responded. Caribou simply said thanks. Scrubbing Bubbles (aka SC Johnson) on the other hand, is sending me a coupon booklet and the customer service rep filled me in on which products are safe for my refurbished tub! So helpful! I hope my booklet arrives before I need to buy a new bottle of product.

And, yes, I am fully aware that I am now officially crazy.

High on the Hog: Target $1.50

Since I'm new to this couponing business, I thought I would start a series called High on the Hog.

High on the Hog is how I hope to be livin', eatin' and just plain bein' while using coupons to save on my out of pocket cost. So, sit back, relax and enjoy the excitement of scoring some cheap stuff!

So, without further ado.....da da dum....my first High on the Hog post!

On Monday, I had to stop by Target to pick up a few items for my coupon organization binder (post forthcoming) and decided to attempt some couponing (I'm doing baby steps to start off with).

Total: $1.50 (+ tax)

Keebler Chips Deluxe

Retail: $2.00

Sale: buy 2 get 1 free

used a manufactor's printable coupon for $1.50/2 and a Target printable for $1/2

WOW-ZA!

Booger the Monster Pumpkin

Hello, this is Booger the Monster Pumpkin.

I carved Booger the Monster Pumpkin Friday night at Keri's Annual Pumpkin-n-Pastry party. Before the creation began, we bellyed up to a good ol' southern comfort meal of chicken-n-pastry, sweet peas, butter beans, sweet potato casserole, biscuits, deviled eggs and sweet tea! It was like being at church homecoming without the treacherous feelin' of pantyhose riddin' up.

And, they're off! Let the carving begin!

This is Marcie. Say 'hello, Marcie.' Marcie is an art teacher and makes you sick with her super cool pumpkins. You just wait. Oh, and I guess her husband Brantley helped her. :)

This is Keri. Say 'hello, Keri.' Keri is an amazing cook and makes you sick with her super yummy dishes. You saw what I mean with that southern spread.

This is Melissa. Say 'hello, Melissa.' This is Melissa breaking her 40th carving tool.

We were going to vote for our favorites, but the aforementioned boyfriend Andrew carved Jesus onto his pumpkin. You can't not vote for Jesus. But, next to Jesus, I really like Tim's autobot.

I mentioned Marcie's talent. Below is her Pumpkin Snake/Chinese Dragon. It's supposed to be a snake. I think it looks like a Chinese dragon. See, I told you she'd make you sick.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!

'Bout Time!

It's 'bout time I did it! That's right ya'll - I bought a new camera!

After a few puppy-sitting weekends, saving 'found money' and my birthday, I marched into Best Buy like a twelve year old with her cash allowance, handed over a wad of 10s and 20s and happily exclaimed 'I'm buying this camera with my birthday money!'

It's probaby one of the first purchase in a while that I've been proud of since I saved and waited before rushing out and buying one because I 'needed' it.

So, let the blogging begin! (AGAIN!)

The Last 20-Something

On October 9, I celebrated my last 20-something birthday. And, it was a great day! My birthday was on a Friday and I took the Friday before and after off. Everyone asked why I worked on my birthday, but work much I did not. My company had our annual Oktoberfest party on my birthday so it was like a party all day! We had some fun, chowed down on some brats and played musical chairs to yoldling music. Yes, we're adults and musical chairs is a kid game, but it was so much fun! And, I won! Yay me!

When Oktoberfest wrapped up, the balloons were brought to my cube. PS - some of my co-workers didn't understand why the balloons were red, yellow and black. Seriously? Really? You don't know why? Please notice my lovely home away from home.







Another tradition in my company. The infamous photoshoped birthday poster that hangs all over the office. I gotta say, I loved mine. Karen was obviously behind this one. Do you know how I would have KILLED to have that outfit back in the day? A lot of people had not seen Teen Witch so we spent a good bit of time playing clips on youtube which killed a good half hour. If you're reading this and you haven't seen Teen Witch, do let me know! We will have a viewing party pronto! During Oktoberfest, my coworker Ben said 'I wouldn't get any german chocolate cake if I was you?' That's like blasphemy as far as I am concerned because I am a sweets fanatic. But, I listened and later that afternoon, his wife Erica stopped by with my birthday cake!

Here's the awesome thing about the cake - it's a nerds cake! It's chocolate and has got some kind of hard chocolate chip things on the inside and is topped with nerds! Erica is a sweetheart. She had made this cake MONTHS ago for someone else and I said 'I want a nerds cake on my birthday.' Low and behold, she remembered and made me a nerds cake!

The birthday night was rounded out with dinner with my Carolina girls at Porter's and a party with the CYC crew at Derek's. So fun!

My girl Kara is nine days younger than me (but, a WHOLE grade behind mind you) and we decided to take the next Friday off and use our 'free round of golf on your birthday' coupons at Pine Hollow in Clayton. Free golf is nice, but we were charged $16 in cart fees! But, all in all, $16 for 18 holes is pretty good.

It was cold and had been rainy the whole day before so the ground was pretty wet. But, it was nice because there was no one behind us, rushing us and helping to increase my frustration.

Here's Miss Kara teeing off. She shot 46 on the back nine and 100 overall. We won't discuss my lack of shooting.

HOWEVER, while I didn't do well overall, I did tee off over this here body of water in which my ball SKIPPED on the water and went up on the green! I probably could have pared the hole had it not been for the pooping Herring that was in the way.

All in all, my Last 20-something was loads of fun! A good time was had. Kara has since celebrated her last 20-something as well. We went to El Rodeo to practice for our Big 3-0 trip that's planned for October 2010! Can you guess where we are going!?

$5 Off The Proposal

As you know, I've recently begun couponing and plan on sharing more about my money saving good times in the future. To read about my first couponing experience, click here.

I'm super excited because I found a deal that I haven't seen on any of my regularly visited couponing blogs. Makes me feel good!

The Proposal is by far my favorite movie of the year! I mean, who didn't loose it when she did the fire dancing part with Grandma?! So, I was heading to Target after work to purchase it as a late birthday present to myself - sale or no sale. But, lookie what I found today! $5 off DVD or $10 off Blu-Ray coupon here.

Go and get 'em girls!