I am online to take care of some money business (making a credit card payment and scheduling auto bill pays for the next paycheck on 12/21).

I hope that everyone is enjoying December so far. We have been decorated since the beginning of Advent and rang in the New Liturgical Year (C) on December 1st.

We were able to donate two big boxes of groceries to my high school daughter's homeroom class's Adopt A Family (six boxes of Post cereal, six boxes of fruit snacks, three boxes of pasta, three cans of sauce, ten boxes of canned soup and spaghettios, six cans of vegetables, and two tubes of toothpaste and two hand soaps.) And we went to Mass at a different parish the weekend that we usually pick the name off the gift tree. We piggy-backed on my mom's tag and spent $23 on some clothing for a 12 year old girl who wanted yoga pants (found some really cute clothes at great prices at Target) also used a coupon to pick up some lip gloss for her.

Life here is nice and peaceful, despite the calendar. We went to the Band Concert last week (what a difference a year can make when it comes to musical talent!). We went to Drury Lane for Breakfast with Santa last Saturday with the Cub Scouts and I'd like to make that a new tradition. My parents came too and it was a lot of fun. This Friday we go caroling at the Retirement and Nursing Homes in our town. Looking forward to that, should be fun.

Finals and Christmas parties are next week. We'll follow our annual tradition of Mass at 3:00 on Christmas Eve followed by dinner and a gift exchange at my parents. Christmas Day my inlaws arrive at about noon and I host dinner at 4:00.

I've made an effort to be more social with the group of people that I'd like to be friendlier with. I invited one mom to breakfast on 11/29. We had a really nice conversation and I realize that she's pretty similar to me (not wanting to engage in the drama that goes with the two grades our sons are in - our boys match up and are best friends). She then texted me last week on the spur of the moment and I went over for tea. The nice thing about this friendship is ... no drama. I do have to encounter the drama mama from last year, but since my attitude has changed, there isn't much significance to things.

To end, my money-saving strategies of late:

$25 gift card to Walgreens with a simple Rx transfer
$25 off $50 groceries at Dominick's (also due to Rx transfer)
$168 saved for Rx sample from pediatrician
Stacking up on Triaminic stacking coupons at CVS

I also splurged and spent my birthday money on a Nikon camera ($479 purchased online, free shipping and no taxes) And I bought myself a dress that I love at Macy's and found another on clearance. Total purchase was $41 after discounts and coupons and tax was added. Original price was $79.50.

Happy Holidays. I really probably won't be back til 2013. Off to catch up on everyone's blogs!!