Big Thanks and a Menu Monday

I recently won a giveaway from Kelly over at The Merry Martini! The prize? My choice of Lilly Pulitzer item from the new fall line! I chose the thermal mug in the Private Property pattern {and it is absolutely fabulous}. Be sure to visit Kelly's amazing online boutique, The Merry Martini.
Summer rocks! And I'm not talking about the season either {in fact, I'm so over summer, yet it has reached a sweltering 107 degrees this past week in the Valley}! I'm talking about Summer from b is for brown, of course! Look at this sweet little print she sent me for placing in her blog bake-off. Thanks Summer!!! It looks great hanging up in my new kitchen.


On another note, I have recently gotten into clipping coupons. I never minded using coupons, but was usually too lazy to go through the clipping process. But I've recently joined in on The Grocery Game and last night was my first try at purposely saving money. I'm happy to say that we bought over $110 worth of groceries for only $56. I had so many coupons and it also helps to just be aware of the sales the grocery store is doing. I've even planned out a menu for the week because I was shopping with purpose, not just to buy the things with a coupon. So I'm excited about that. We are having a lot of pasta, but it was only 59 cents a package so I can't really complain.

Here's my tentative menu for the week:

Shrimp Scampi Bake - DONE and Delicious!
Baked Chicken and Perfect Crispy Potatoes - DONE and my first attempt at the potatoes resulted in the fire alarm going off...oops!
Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina
Bow Ties with Sausage, Tomatoes and Cream
Grilled Hamburgers - DONE!

I promise to take some pictures of my new place so I can post them this week!

Update!

Thanks for the thoughts and well wishes on Tuesday's post! Just to let you know, I was able to pick up my car Tuesday afternoon after paying the $243.80. When they drove it out of the lot, there was a big, fat parking ticket on it to the tune of $150. Lesson learned. Unless you want to pay $400 to the city of Los Angeles, be careful where you park and always read all of the posted signs.

The story is actually much more complicated and has to do with my new apartment manager not providing me a usuable space in the garage, but I really don't want to get into that. I'm just happy that I have a mode of transportation and a supportive boyfriend and family who help me get out of jams like this.

Needless to say, Tuesday had me feeling frustrated and angry. I couldn't concentrate on anything but the situation at hand and work was particularly unproductive. When I feel like this, I like to cook. It helps me calm down and relax. So after work, I went to the grocery store for some supplies and found this:

I couldn't believe that the Lilly Pulitzer / Florida's Natural juice carton was in my local grocery store! I had hoped to find it, but really didn't think it would make it's way to Southern California. I detest grapefruit juice, but of course I had to buy it anyway. Now I can stop looking for it in every grocery store I go to :)

I also got these beauties to help cheer me up:


So I think this post marks my return back to the blogging world {I really wasn't gone anyway} and I'm so excited about it! Last night I turned in my 15 page paper for my class and gave a short presentation. I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders! Now I have a short time to relax and next week it starts again with two new classes. AND...the technicians are coming to the apartment today to install our cable/internet and I'll be able to blog from the comfort of my living room couch. I will definitely try to post some pictures of our new place as well.

Have a great Thursday lovelies!

but today's not monday...

Loving the new place.

Don't love that my car was towed this morning:

If you can't see, that's $243.80 to retrieve my car from the IMPOUND lot!

Going to sort this all out...pray for me to have patience and to keep my sanity :)

Thank You Preppy Princess!

I know that I said I was really busy {and I am!}, but I wanted to schedule a couple of posts to go up while I'm away! I can't have you forgetting about me...that would be tragic :)

I simply can't go another second without saying a huge thank you to Preppy Princess! I recently placed my first order, and am now wondering what took me so long!?! You see, I'm participating in Hopsy's Prep for Fall Swap and I wanted to make sure my partner {Megs from Newbie New Yorker} got some fabulous goodies! Preppy Princess made the ordering process so simple and I was updated when my order was received and when it was shipped out. I received my package so quickly and everything was wrapped beautifully. There was even a handwritten thank you note included! I couldn't have asked for a better experience!

I won't post what I bought because I don't want to ruin my swap partner's surprise, but I will say that it's all fabulous! I'm already preparing a wishlist for my next Preppy Princess purchase {once my funds are back to normal of course}!

Here are a couple of my favorite items:



What are your favorite Preppy Princess items?

Busy Bee!

Happy Monday lovelies! After a busy weekend I am not ready for the week yet. The weekend should be full of fun and relaxation, but mine was full of packing and running around "borrowing" boxes from the back of supermarkets. Such are the joys of moving. The highlight of my weekend was meeting with some very fabulous bloggers for lunch on the beach. Belle on Heels was kind enough to include me in her meet up, as she was visiting Southern California from Virginia. I was able to meet her, Annabel Manners, and Icing on the Cake. Kate from Nautical by Nature and I met the lovely ladies at One Pico at Shutters on the Beach! The food and dessert was delicious, the view marvelous, and the company excellent. Unfortunately, Muffy Martini was also supposed to be in attendance, but had to cancel last minute due to illness. As this is the second time for me missing out on meeting her, I'm hoping third time is the charm! Muffy, I'd love to meet up with you before too long - I'm sure you would agree, it's long overdue!

{Me, Belle on Heels, Annabel Manners, and Kate}

Kate and I had some fun after the lunch too...see below for proof. She's always wanted to do this!

It's a busy day at work. Add packing up an entire apartment and a 15 page paper due for class {which I haven't even started} and you've got a busy Miss Sweet Tea. I will just let you all know now that my comments and reading will be sparse until the end of the month when I can add it back to my schedule. I'll try to get on when I can, but let's consider this a much needed break from blogging for now!

See you soon with lots of updates and pictures of my new place!