There's Nothing Like Fresh Peanut Butter

Saturday I was invited (by a total fluke I'm sure) to a Very Important Blogger Event (VIBE). Several of us blogging kind were invited to tour the new Kroger Marketplace that just opened on Chenal. We got a sneak-peak (ok a 2 1/2 hour sneak peak) inside the store that was set to have its Grand Opening later that night. And they served us "lunch by the bite," including the freshest peanut butter and most unique produce these buds have ever tasted.

Our tour guide (Kroger division president, or something like that) told us that most folks do 80 percent of their shopping at the same store, and I'm just going to admit it: 80 percent of my grocery dollars go to Wal-Mart. But......if I lived a little closer to this monstrous, mega, magnificent Kroger Marketplace, THAT would all change!

This place was really a grocery-shopper's dream... and not just groceries, my friend. They had baby and toy sections right on par with Wal-Mart and a huge furniture/home section giving Pier 1 a run for its money (almost).

 

 
Here's some more pics from my new favorite store...that I'll probably never again visit because it's 1,000,000,000,000 miles away from me.

Kyran trying an interesting pear-ish fruit.

This bulk island had everything you could ever want to stock up on: granola, beans, nuts, etc.

Being the carb fanatic that I am, THIS is what excited me: made-fresh-daily Artisan breads for $2.99 a loaf!

A close-up of these beautiful breads.

They also had a HUGE selection of cheeses from around the world, of which we got to sample. This was almost as exciting to me as the breads...

The meat selection here will definitely be a draw for a lot of people. Come get your pre-made kabobs, slap 'em on the grill, and supper's done.

Not a red meat kind of gal? There's stuffed and wrapped chicken breasts ready for your oven instead.

Possibly THE most mesmerizing contraption of all... the grind-your-own peanut butter machines (or almond butter or honey peanut butter). Just push the button and there's freshly ground nuts in your cup... no oils or sweeteners, just nuts, ground up.

And finally, here's our group. Names and blogs are listed below.

From L to R::
Me...you're reading my blog.
Savannah Butler...Chasing My Bees.
Kat Hills...Kat and Karl.
Division President or something? Tour Guide guy... somebody help me out... who was this guy again?
Sarah Osborne...The Adventures of Ernie Buffalo.
Kyran Pittman...Notes to Self.
SaraBeth Jones...The Dramatic.
Kerri Jackson Case...Damn You Little Rock.


(Disclosure:: I was not required to write any of the fabulous things in this post.)

Not The Coupon Queen

When I went from working full-time to part-time, I figured some things would have to change. I presumptuously declared on a blog post that I would become a coupon-clipper and figured I would have plenty of time to do so. But does anyone else find this easier said than done? I WANT to be thrifty and domesticated, really I do! But no matter how many tips I hear on how to find the sales, clip the coupons, or slash your grocery bill in half--- I just can't seem to get the hang of it.

(Here's a site with those tips, if you're interested.)  (And here's another.)

Here's what usually happens with me:  I flip through a book of coupons and think, "I never buy that anyway," or "I don't want two of them; I just want one!" And close the magazine with maybe one coupon in hand. Then, I put it in my purse where it stays until it expires.

When you have 100 items in your cart, how do you remember to pull out that one, lone coupon for that one, lone item, that is only going to save you 75 cents anyway? Just seems like a lot of work for nothing.

Again, I WISH I was better at this kind of thing. I have this neighbor-- I'm sure you have one too-- who is a domesticated diva. She clips and saves coupons like it's nobody's business. She knows where the sales are. AND she always manages to cook healthy meals. It makes me green with envy.

Try as I may to be the perfect, stretch-every-dollar housewife, I'm starting to accept the fact that I may always have a slightly higher grocery bill than the next person. But then again, in my corner I have the time that she spent clipping and storing. And as a busy mom, I'm starting to think that's more valuable than 75 cents.

My CheeseburgHer

I spent last night munching on McDonald's cheeseburgers and acting silly with a McDonald's sack on my head. You probably think I was goofing off with my daughter.

Wrong-O.

Would you believe it if I said I was on the 18th floor of 300 Third Tower wearing paper sacks with a group of glamorous women? Believe it.

Aren't we pretty? :)

The event was a CheeseburgHer party, hosted by Kyran Pittman, a Little Rockian whose fabulous blog ultimately led to a book deal (coming out next year). Anyway, CheeseburgHer parties originated at the BlogHer conference in New York a few years ago. A group of blogger friends decided to throw an impromptu hotel room party involving cheeseburgers, bags on heads and lots of fun. A tradition was born and now CheeseburgHer parties are thrown around the country. Jennifer Pyron, my lovely boss, invited Assistant Editor Lindsay Irvin and me to join in on the fun (us three pictured above :)

Yes, we really wore paper bags on our heads and yes we really had an awesome time. I got to meet some AMAZING women with blogs so kick-awesome I hesitate to share them (for fear you will never read mine again).

Oh, what the heck.

Kyran Pittman- Notes to Self

Savannah Butler- Chasing My Bees

Kat Hills- Team Hills

Natalie Ghidotti- The Juggling Act

And there's many, many more. But those four should keep you busy reading for a long, long time. Oh, and here's some more pics. These pictures alone should make you want to start blogging.

Oldies but Goodies

23.5 hours out of the day, I am oh so glad to be out of college. Studying...tests....papers, I'm over it. But there is one thing about college I really miss. Ok, several actually. And these are them.

Friends for goodness sake!

Last night I went to Memphis and met up with some of my college besties for my all-time bestie's 23rd birthday ((she's the one proudly sporting the tiara)). We went to Swanky's on Poplar. When I heard the name of where we were going, I thought "ooh, fancy restaurant." Then I looked it up online and saw that it was "Swanky's Taco Shop." Ok, "nevermind," I thought, "we're hitting up an imitation Taco Bell." Thankfully, it was a big step up from that. It was super cute in fact:  blue coast burrito menu served to your table in a modern, trendy atmosphere.

Anyway, the food was good, but the best part by far was the fellowship :) There's nothing quite like catching up with old friends.