10 Things You Never Knew About Me

I wanted to share a few things about myself.  Feel free to ask me any additional questions. 

 I love comments and questions!

1.  I love fudge bomb pops. . . occasionally the CVS that's near my house has them on sale for 50 cents, and  I am SO happy to grab one from the freezer {after the boys are fast asleep} and enjoy one.  I have also been known to grab one on the weekend in the middle of the day and hide in the laundry room while the boys are asking Mr. Perry, "Where is mommy?  Do you know where she is?  Mommy?  Mommy?!?"  I wanted to post a picture with each of these tidbits about myself, and I couldn't find one that I liked. . .if Jax wasn't napping right now I might just might have to drop by CVS!

2.  I love QT drinks. . .I am also a fan of Sonic drinks as well, but here lately "Quick Trip" has been way more economical and flavorful.  I love mixing in vanilla or cherry with the Dr. Pepper.  I also have been addicted to a new flavor of green tea called "Pineapple Papaya."  They also have the delicious crushed ice that melts in your mouth.  This summer I have been making all kinds of excuses to stop by there. . .I am not too happy when I have to pump my gas at the station {because Mr. Perry does this 99% of the time}, but I have been making all kinds of trips up there!  I especially love when I wake up from a nap on Sunday afternoon and there's a fresh drink sitting on my dresser. . .it's so refreshing!

3.  I grew up as a 4-H kid. . .so I grew up in a fairly small town, and I learned how to cook, sew, use consumer decision making skills, give speeches, keep records. . . all of that stuff I despised while I was doing it has been so helpful as an adult.  Not to mention after 14 years of being a 4-Her I got some pretty nice scholarships for college!  I even raised pigs and chickens for a couple of years.  I know it's crazy right?!?







4.  I am slightly addicted to pinterest. . .but the thing about pinterest is we have a love-hate relationship.  I LOVE all of the ideas and fabulous things but I HATE it because I cannot do all of them!  Despite this relationship, I just keep on pinning and pinning and pinning!  It can be overwhelming at times, but I am grateful for the pinterest inspired stuff that I do start and finish!

5.  Almost half of the furniture in my home is from Craig's List. . .We are bargain shoppers!  Yes, we do splurge on some things and we don't get every single thing from Craig's List, but we have gotten some really nice deals.  You do have to be careful and use discernment when you're buying things from C List, but if you're a smart shopper you can get some amazing deals. This is a shabby chic roll top desk. . .fell in love with it and convinced Mr. Perry that I needed a desk in our room!

Also we recently got some little student desks for the boys. . . they now think they have their own "office" now. . .ha!  These were just $10 each!

6.  I love cooking and baking and I use my crock pot as often as I can. . . I think cooking is therapeutic.  I love the aromas that fill our home.  I love to see things simmer.  In college I took a nutrition class called "The Chemistry of Foods."  It was one of the hardest classes I have ever taken.  We learned about the chemical make up of butter and sugar and flour. . . why/how things melt. . .how various foods and chemicals react to each other.  It kicked my butt.  Anyway, I just love to cook.  Our kitchen is the largest one that our home builder has out of all of the floor plans/designs that are available, and I absolutely love that place.  I better love it. . .in 10 years I'll be cooking for 3 very active boys ages 11, 13, and 15 {yikes. . .grocery bill!!!}.  Here lately my favorite sweet treat to cook has been "Neiman Marcus Bars.

So easy to make yet so delicious!

1 box of yellow cake mix

1 container of cream cheese

about 1/2 bag of powdered sugar

1 stick of butter (slightly soft)

3 eggs

Combine the cake mix, 1 egg, and stick of butter.  Add to the bottom of a glass pan.  The mixture will be slightly stiff.  Mix the cream cheese, 2 eggs, and powdered sugar.  Pour this mixture on top of the cake batter part.  Bake at 350 until golden brown on top (about 20-25 minutes).  Share them with family and friends because they are addictive!  I have also made them with pecan crumbles and mini chocolate chip morsels on top, but my family prefers them plain so that's how I make them most of the time.

  7.  Speaking of groceries and cooking-I am a couponer. . .so I am the person who walks around the grocery store with a notebook full of coupons and sales ads.  I used to feel really nerdy about it, but I have gotten much more comfortable, especially when I get all those groceries unpacked at home and realize how much $$ I have saved.  My coupons are very organized so I really really try not to hold up everyone else in the entire store.  I am still learning how to get great deals, and we're on our way to cutting our monthly grocery bill in half!  I usually buy 2 Sunday papers on Sunday morning after church from Dollar Tree. . .for $2 I get SO many wonderful coupons.  Then I file them in my handy coupon binder.

8.  I drive a silver Honda Odyssey. . . I said I would NEVER EVER EVER drive a mini-van.  I was adamant.  I was the one who laughed at my friends who drove mini-vans. . .then I had 3 kids under the age of 5. . .unloading, unbuckling, squeezing, pulling, pushing, and snapping was extremely problematic and tiresome.  I remember the first time I took all three boys out. .  .in "Olivia" {my Honda Civic-who's just a bit sad about the new driving arrangements} I spent longer getting everyone in and out than we did in the store.  So next I tried driving our Honda CR-V. . . still the same thing, slightly better, but everyone just looked so smushed and cranky!  So then I had to humble myself and tell Mr. Perry that it was time for the van.  Never thought I'd say that, but today I don't know what I would do without the van.  We have named her "Silvia."  Probably wouldn't be going anywhere with the boys during the day if it weren't for her. . .and me being inside the house all day, every day is not a good thing!

9.  I love dark chocolate {really all kinds of chocolate}. . . but the fact that dark chocolate has some great health benefits is an added bonus!  I really like the dark chocolate m&m's as well as the dark chocolate reese's peanut butter cups.  They're pretty amazing.

                            

10.  I love writing, note taking, and planning. Y'all I cannot tell you how much time I spend making lists, jotting down new ideas, and writing!  I have a zillion notepads and journals but this Erin Condren planner is my absolute favorite.  It keeps me focused and helps me think ahead!

On a completely different note:  The guys are loving school!  Here's a picture from our first day. . .

Today was construction day. . .and they were SO excited to get dressed and out the door!

and Jax is doing fabulous as well. . .a jolly little fella who's just growing up too fast!

Happy Tuesday!  I hope you're having a great week so far!  This week is "picnic" week for us at home.  We're saying goodbye to summer and hello to fall. . .since fall officially begins in a couple of weeks!