I am a Couponing Queen!

OK...not really! However, I have been following the coupon blogs this week and picked up on some great deals. I won't bore anyone with the details, since no one really reads my blog and anyone who might read already knows the deals I found. I just wanted to give a big THANK YOU to the great bloggers who helped me find my Meijer and Kroger deals. A special thanks to Carolina Clipper, Nickels-n-Dimes, I Am A Money Magnet!, Living as Mom, and Kingdom Klipper for inspiring me this week.

I have been saving my coupons and dating the inserts since last fall. For some reason (laziness???) I haven't taken the time to do any serious matching with them. This week, I got down to beginner business.

My husband was quite pleased with my Meijer purchase tonight. He even took a photo and sent it in an e-mail to our parents and siblings! I guess all of that cheap Lysol got to him. The only bad thing - now I need to use it all and clean my house!


I have also learned that I need to be a "clip them all and put them in the binder" kind of girl. I have my inserts dated and filed in order right now, but there were many times during my two trips this week that I wished I had access to all of my coupons while in the store. I like the cleanliness and orderliness of the file folder method, but, it is not very mobile. I worry that I won't be able to find the exact coupon that I need if they are all cut apart. I guess I can give it a try and go back to the other way if it doesn't work.

Overall, I think I am hooked! Now, I have to make CVS and Walgreens work for me.

Coupons, Coupons and More Coupons!

I'm surfing the coupon blogs this afternoon in an effort to reduce our household expenses in this area. We can think of many more fun ways to spend our money than on groceries!

I added my favorites and a few discoveries to the sidebar.

I got my coupon binder all cleaned out last night. I recycled months of unused coupons. I almost cried when I tossed lots of coupons that I had clipped and never used. I felt as though I was throwing money in the trash can!

Now, I am overwhelmed again. The tough part, in my opinion, is crafting the shopping lists! I think I need some more coffee...

Lilly Pulitzer on Martha!

I just loved yesterday's Martha Stewart Show! By the end of the show, I was in such a good mood! I have marked the episode "Do Not Delete" in the DVR just so I can watch it any time I need a pick-me-up.

The show inspired a great idea for an end-of-the-year gift for my Daisy Girls Scouts. I am a Leader of a troop of nine adorable girls! I am going to make picture frames, complete with straw daisies and a daisy watercolor created Lilly style. I even have some preppy polka-dot ribbon already that will be the perfect finishing touch!

I've been thinking about what types of flowers to add to my landscaping this year. I had a difficult time choosing colors last year and think I will also use the beautiful segment featuring Meredith Waga-Perez as an inspiration.

I'm also on the hunt for a few cute Lilly dresses for the girls and me. What a great show!

First Post!

I'm finally re-jumping into the blogging world! I actually tried to blog once before, but I just wasn't feeling it. So, I've changed my focus and my title, and think this will work much better!

Why "Belle Up North"? Well, I grew up in the North and now live in the North, but I went to college in the South (UGA to be exact) and I just fell in love with everything Southern! I even have a sorority sister who tells me that I was born in the wrong area of the country and I am a Southern Belle at heart. So there you have it!

I am simply going to blog about me, what I love, how I feel, and what I am doing. Perhaps an update about the family (which falls under the "what I am doing" category anyhow). I also want to do a better job of participating in other blogs, instead of just reading them, so I might as well share a little about me in the process.

A little more about me...I am in my thirties, have a wonderful husband and two beautiful little girls ages 6 and 3. I stay at home and try my best to keep everything in order. I'll add some of my favorite things to my profile!

Thanks for stopping by!