So, I’ve taken a new job.  While I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at home attempting to be a radical home-maker, and still stand by my commitment to never working a conventional job again, this is definitely a job worth taking.  It’s like it was tailor made for me.  The job–homeschooling.  The children–two kindergarten girls and a third-grade boy–bright, funny, and exceedingly pleasant.  The parents–friends from church who paint and write and teach at a school for Muslim refugees.  The classroom–a sunny little nook on the top floor of a colorful Victorian home in a downtown neighborhood.  I couldn’t be happier about my employment status.

Tomorrow, we start if off with a bang.  The curriculum is en route, and until its arrival, we have some paper, crayons, writing books, and   A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Tonight we had dinner with the aforementioned families and I made this snazzy cake.

Tragedy has recently struck on a few levels.  There is nothing I can do to change anything.  It seems absurd to make cakes and read books, but there’s nothing else to do but to go on with life, even when it seems fickle.  One for sorrow, two for joy.  So for now, there is a new computer, a handsome cake, winsome children, a perfect job, and beautiful weather.  And all of it put together doesn’t outweigh the loss and sorrow, but there’s nothing else to be done.

As Marilla Cuthbert would be quick to remind us, those who soar to the highest heights also plunge to the deepest depths.  Maybe some plum puffs will soothe my downcast spirits. 

Love from a forlorn Rabbit Wife,

Mary Ann

My family is in town and we’ve been enjoying their good company.  We’re settling in for a cozy night of board games and hot chocolate…with humongous marshmallows. I’m overly excited about the marshmallows.

Your chubby bunny,

Mary Ann

I came to church last Sunday morning at Powell United Methodist, where Jesse works during the week and on Sunday mornings, and I quite enjoyed spending the morning with him.  So I decided to come again this week, but since Jesse works here, and we only have the one car now, that means I have to be here at 7:30 and stay until 12:30.  So I decided to get my usual Sunday morning routine done in his office while he works.  (I attended the first service.) This is where I’m hanging out.

It’s pretty cozy for a church office.  I decorated this two years ago, when Jesse was hired, with about $25.  Today I’ve been huddled up in here watching The Office, clipping coupons, and planning this week’s menu and shopping lists.  This is how I do it:

First, I clip all the coupons from Sunday’s paper, usually found in Smart Saver and Red Plum.  Then I hop on over to coupons.com and print all the coupons I think I’ll use.

One last trip to Kroger.com to load virtual coupons onto my Kroger card, and the couponing task is complete.  (I then print a list of the coupons loaded on my card so I don’t forget about them.)

Now for the planning.  This is when I take a gander at the handy circulars found in Sunday’s paper.  Kroger is my favorite, because they double all manufacturer’s coupons under fifty cents.  I also take a look at Food City, Wallgreens, CVS and Target.  With the instant rewards systems at Wallgreens and CVS, you can often find items that are essentially free, especially cosmetics / toiletries.

I peruse the sale items and match those up with the coupons I have.  I try only to buy what is on sale AND for which I have a coupon.  Double whammy every time.  I plan my menu according to what is on sale, and then I make shopping lists for each store I’ll be visiting.  I list the quantity, item, sale price, coupon, and total cost on my list, taking note of which coupons should be doubled (only applicable at Kroger) so that I make sure to get the most bang for my buck.

I attach the coupons I need for each store on their respective lists with a paper clip, and I’m ready to shop and save.  Bada bing, bada bang.

The best deal I’ve gotten so far was a few months ago.  I spent about $50 and saved about $60.  It’s such a thrill to see those numbers, and it becomes a really satisfying game.  I’ve gotten loads of stuff for free (mainly toiletries) with coupons, sales, and instant rebates combined.  It’s fun to try foods I might otherwise skip over were it not for the coupons.  Something I’ve loved: Sara Lee Deli Flats.  Something I would advise you to stay far, far away from:  Gogurt.  Even if it is practically free and comes with a free music download, the stuff is toxic and revolting.  And I like what Ellen has to say about it (start at 1:45):

I wish I was as funny as Ellen.  The good news is, according to one terribly inaccurate face-recognition website, I have a similar facial structure to that of her wife, Portia.  We’re all pretty tight.

Happy couponing, and steer clear of Gogurt,

Mary Ann

This is what a church picnic (for worship volunteers) looks like at All Souls.

The quilt was made by my great-grandmother, and it’s one of my favorite things.  Consider that late work from yesterday’s skipped “Friday’s Favorites” post.

Love,

Mary Ann

Maybe I occasionally stop by a baby blog or two. Maybe Spearmint Baby, Dear Baby and The Shopping Mama are on my RSS feed.  It’s casual.

I want this stroller. It’s on both of my registries. I was looking for reviews of it today (specifically the carrycot) and found this giveaway. The suspense is killing me. I want to push my little rabbit around in this.

You can see the review here and the Flite here.

The Flite is actually what’s being reviewed, but I prefer the Indie, because it’s a jogging stroller, and I’m super sporty. Also because it will make me more hip if I watch indie movies and listen to indie music and I have an indie stroller, right?

You can enter to win a free one on the review site. I’m not gonna lie, that’s why I’m posting this. I’d post about it eventually anyway, because I love it, but I’d probably wait until I was at least pregnant.

I need a hobby,
Mary Ann

I’ve been thinking about some weekly themes for the Hearth and Home portion of this little rabbit website. I’ve decided that my Tuesday thrifting loot posts will be changed to Thursday, for the sake of alliteration. There will now be a weekly Thrifty Thursday post.

I’m also going to to a Favorite Things Friday post, where you’ll see photos of some of my favorite things and what makes them special.

What else would you like to see on here? (Suggestions are not required to involve a repeated consonant.)

Rabbitly yours,
Mary Ann

Today’s my dad’s birthday.  He’s a preacher and a Christmas tree farmer and itchin’ to be a grandpapa.  Happy bithday, old man!

Good night, rabbit friends.

Mary Ann

Today I got more cleaning done than usual by talking to a dear old friend on the phone about water birth and midwiffery and whatnot. The porch is swept, the refrigerator is spotless, and the floor is currently pet-dander-free…until the morning.

Speaking of pets and their dander, today I ran across a home-made carpet cleaner / odor remover in Ready Made magazine. It mixes lemon, lavender and tea tree oils with baking soda. That’s on the agenda for next Monday. For now, I am tucked into my cozy bed, with the coziest of down comforters, in freshly laundered sheets. Cleaning day does have some major benefits.

Love from a very clean rabbit hole,
Mary Ann

I love everything about our church home at All Souls, which meets on Sunday nights. But I adore a good nostalgic Sunday morning church routine. It brings back a flood of happy memories. Early morning summer air. Dew. Empty roads. Chicken biscuits.

Jesse is leading music at Powell Church today, where he is the full-time tech director. I’m here to support him, to watch him rock, and to fall in love with him all over again when I hear him sing. I’ve always had a thing for music. In fact, that’s how we met. But that’s another story for another time.

Happy Sunday in the South,
Mary Ann