NEEEWWW YOOOOOOORRRRRRKKK

*insert Alicia Key's voice*

Last weekend was the weekend. The girls weekend. The Ramos family (Kyle's mom's side) girls weekend. In NEEEWWW YOOOOOOORRRRRRKKK.

Kyle's cousin, Meghan, lives there. So, she took us all in and was a WONDERFUL host!! We saw some of the popular sights & got to experience some special other things! And the top 5 highlights were.... (in no particular order)

1. Hanging out with the girls - I'm so blessed to have married into such a wonderful family!!



2. CBS Control Room - Meghan works in there for The Early Show so she took us in the studio to watch the live filming & then to the control room....and THAT is where the action is at! Her guy, Michael, is the director & it was one of the coolest things I've ever seen!! Next time you watch live TV pay attention to how much the camera angle changes...then picture someone standing behind a podium sounding like an auctioneer going nonstop "Camera 2 ready...camera 2 go. Camera 4 ready...camera 4 go...roll the internet video..." while other people are watching monitors...talking on headsets...screaming "15 seconds...wrap it up! say thank you!" And we missed the good part when they lost some film they needed....*insert explicits* I really can't explain it & give it justice...those people are awesome! I will not get angry during 5 minute commercial breaks ever again! (during live tv that is...haha) Oh...and we talked to Harry Smith for like 10 minutes...no big deal.

This picture doesn't really do justice!

3. The view - One word.....BREATHTAKING. Meghan's view from her apartment will leave you speechless! Their apartment is in Hoboken, NJ...which is just on the other side of the Hudson River from NYC. Her wall of windows displays the entire NYC skyline..from uptown to downtown. A-MAZING.
Uptown: (Empire State Building)



Downtown at Night: (where the WTC was)

That's right: Cruise ships leave right out their window...

Uptown during the day:


4. Wicked - FABULOUS!! I will never watch the Wizard of Oz the same way again. It was witty & brilliant! HIGHLY recommend! I'm considering getting tickets to see it again when it comes to St. Louis.


5. Carlo's Bake Shop - home of the "Cake Boss". That's right...he's located right in the heart of Hoboken & we had some wonderful treats from there! :) And the camera crew was upstairs filming!


2 Events Made Honorable Mention:
**Granny & Nannie and the Obama condoms. hahahahahahahahahaha

**Man getting hit by cab. (don't worry...it was his fault & he was ok enough to get up & cuss out the driver)

I'm going to live in New York or Chicago (or both) for at least a year. The end.

Put that in your pipe & smoke it!

I officially broke my record this morning....$52 of groceries for $8.12. That's right...eight dollars and twelve cents!! AAAAANNNNNDDDD I got $5 back for my next trip! Here's what I got:

I know what you're saying. "But Emily, there is so much there I don't need or wouldn't normally buy."

Let me explain. I am so stocked up on groceries (not ever going over $40 & staying around $25 the last few weeks) that all I really "needed" for next week was the water, bananas, Sweet-n-Low, and shredded cheese. These items would've cost me $7.78 if I would've bought them on their own....on sale. So why not spend $0.34 more & get all this plus $5 back?!?! Plus they had the 3lbs frozen chicken & 5lbs ham on sale for $5...great time to stock up! (plus I had a $1Q for the ham)

Here's how I did it. I try to only go to Shop-n-Save when they are doing their $10 off $50 Thursdays. (happens frequently) On average I spend about $22-$26 for $50 worth of groceries. Last week I spent $23 & got back a $15Q that expires on 11/17. Well, this Thursday was my only option to pair it with the $10off$50. I also had a $5 off $50Q in the Entertainment book.

So...I immediately was able to take off $30 & I had about $14 in Q. The Pillsbury items were the ones that gave me the $5 back...and I'm going bake them & put the items in our youth snack bar to try to prevent mine & Kyle's own fatness...:)

No blogging in October?!?!!

What happened to me?! I know all 3 of my readers are excited to finally see a post! I was told once that if I was consistent I'd have more readers...ha!

So here's an update of what's been going on in the lives of Kyle & Emily...

I am having a MUCH better year in middle school PE. My classes are soooo much better & I don't have NEAR as many "in your face", mouthy kids. This time last year I had already had to move students out of my class, call an ambulance, cursed at a student during a fight breakup, and been told "You WILL listen when I call your name Mrs. Parker" (and that was just one of many...) I don't dread going everyday and the year is already FLYING by compared to last.

Two weekends ago Kyle's family flew in to hang out. We had a great time shopping (well Valinda & I) and going to the Rams vs. Colts game. We loved, loved, loved watching Peyton!! Of course, they killed the Rams.


Texas Tech Red Raider Danny Amendola!




Valinda also got the EXCITING opportunity to shop a great deal at CVS with me. I got all this for $3.52 and got $10 back!!! (My total was $52 after sales but before coupons & it went down to $1.37 before tax!) Don't worry...I paid her with some deo for suffering through my coupons.


Another awesome deal I got last week...for $0.07 and $5 back!! (even w/o using gift cards I had already earned it would've only been $5.73!)


My parents came this past weekend to hang out. We had a wonderful time with them as well! (and more shopping!) Kyle took the youth to play Demolition Ball in St Louis & on our way over to hang out with them I stopped off at Target to show my dad that you CAN try on purses. :) Thanks to him for finding a full length mirror to assist me! And to my mom for helping me decide black or brown. The average American spends $24 on a Halloween costume....mine & Kyle's costume is now being carried around my shoulder! I forgot to get pictures!

Now I'm gonna go take care of Kyle...who has an ear infection...and as the doctor told him "It's swollen as s&#%!"