Tobi, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.

So last week I made the long trip from Florida to Illinois with my little dog, Tobi and what an experience that has been. Although when I was moving, I really only accounted for how much it was going to cost me to get up to Illinois... not how I was going to survive without a job when I got here.

The first rule to survival is you have to eat - So off to Publix I went. Luckily for me, Publix had some crazy coupons going around as part of their Flavor Excursion display. A lot of the coupons were for things I already loved to eat and so the savings began.

When I finished shopping - I couldn't believe it ---

I saved a $1 off Old El Paso™ Frozen Entrée
I got Green Giant Frozen Bag Steamers on sale
I saved $2 off my KRAFT Natural Chunk Cheeses
And another $2 off Publix® Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
I also saved $1 off four cans of Chef Boyardee® canned pasta

Do you know what that means? I was going to have a feast tonight! I ate the Old El Paso for lunch but with the rest I made a nice meal of fried potatoes with chicken and Hunt’s® Diced Tomatoes, topped with KRAFT Natural Shredded Cheese - Yum!

This is going to be so tasty!

I couldn't believe it when I walked out of the store with a cartload of groceries and nearly half the cost! That's one less worry off my checklist as I begin my grand adventure into The Prairie State.

Be on the lookout for these exclusive savings at Publix starting September 11:

In-Store Savings

Coupons available in-store, look for the Flavor Excursion display with products at your local Publix. Display will be available in most stores between 9/11 and 9/24. Savings available with coupons:

•Save $2 off Publix® Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts when you buy Any Four (4) participating products. Participating products: Progresso™ Bread Crumbs, 100% Natural Broths, Beans, KRAFT Salad Dressing (16oz), Natural Shredded Cheese (6-8oz), Hunt’s® Diced Tomatoes (14.5oz or larger).

•Save $2 off Produce (minimum $2 purchase) when you buy Any Four (4) participating products*. Participating products: Old El Paso™ Seasoning Mixes, Enchilada Sauce, Refried Beans, Taco Shells, Ro*Tel® (10oz or larger), Hunt’s® Diced Tomatoes (14.5oz or larger), KRAFT Natural Shredded Cheese (6-8oz

•Save $1.00 off Any Five (5) Ro*Tel® Tomatoes (10oz)

•Save $2.00 off Any Two (2) KRAFT Natural Chunk Cheese 7-8 oz

•Save $1.00 off Any Five (5) Hunt’s® Tomatoes 14.5oz

•Save $1.00 off Any One (1) Bisquick™ 40oz

•Save $1.00 off Any One (1) Old El Paso™ Frozen Entrée

•Save $2.00 off Any Two (2) KRAFT Natural Shredded Cheese 6-8oz

Looking for an Italian themed dessert? Try Crème Brulèe Cheesecake Bars, find the recipe and a $1.50 off any two Betty Crocker pouch Cookie Mixes coupon on the Betty Crocker display in-store.

Plus… find these items on sale this week. No coupon necessary, available at Publix:

•Green Giant Frozen Bag Steamers 11-12oz on BOGO

•Pillsbury Crescents and Pizza 3 for $6

Printable Coupons

Visit www.ReadyPlanSave.com to print your coupons. Available while supplies last.

•Save $1 when you buy FOUR Progresso™ products

•Save $1 when you buy THREE Old El Paso™ products

•Save 75¢ when you buy ONE BOX Old El Paso® Bold Nacho Cheese Flavored Stand 'N Stuff® Taco Shells OR Dinner Kit

•Save $0.50 when you buy ONE 20 OZ. OR LARGER Original Bisquick® OR Bisquick Heart Smart® Baking Mix

•Save $0.60 when you buy THREE any variety Green Giant® Seasoned Steamers™ or Valley Fresh Steamers® Frozen Vegetables.

•Save $0.40 when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Crescent Dinner Rolls

•Save $0.40 when you buy THREE CANS any size/variety Pillsbury® Refrigerated Grands!® or Grands! Jr.® Biscuits

•Save $1 when you buy any flavor or variety of Old el Paso™ Froze Entrees

Digital Coupons

Visit, https://publix.couponselectionpage.com/offers/all, to find and instantly select digital coupons. Including the following from ConAgra. Available while supplies last.

•Save $0.40 off any TWO (2) ROTEL® products

•Save $1 on any FOUR (4) Chef Boyardee® canned pasta or microwave cup

•Save $1 on any ONE (1) Orville Redenbacher’s® Gourmet® Popping Corn (6-pk or larger)

•Save $0.50 on any ONE (1) Super Snack Pack® 6 pack

Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op.

He-Who-Could-Never-Be-Named

So Amy and I recently went to the pet store to get some things for her daughter's bunnies and possibly a new harness for my little dog. (His keeps slipping) While we were there, the local shelter was adopting out animals. It wasn't long before Amy and her daughter that had accompanied us, had fallen in love with a large, 4 year old orange tabby.

His shelter name was "Thackery" and he had been living there since he was four months old. His story was just precious and all three of us soon fell in love with the older tom. Adoption papers were signed, carriers and cat food purchased... and soon we found ourselves riding home with a new furry friend.

As we pulled through the Starbucks drivethru to grab something to drink on the way home, we found ourselves trying to pick out a name for him.


"He was trapped in that shelter for so long with no one to take him home, what about Crookshanks?"

"I'm not sure, he looks like a lion."

"Simba!"

"No, Mufasa! Oooh! Say it again!"

"Mufasa?"

"Sampson!"

And so it went, trying to pick out a name for the cat who sat miserably in his cage yowling at us. He didn't seem like he was big on travel. By the time we got home, we had decided on "Mufasa". But not a few hours later, everyone seemed to have their own names for him.

"Come here little Timone!"

"No, it was Simba, remember?"

"Hold up - What happened to Mufasa?"

"Is it a girl? We should call her Nala!"

And so the Lion King references continued. Eventually I started to call him "He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named" as that seemed to fit him temporarily as everyone else tried to figure out what to call him. He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named is currently hiding in the bathroom as he tries to get used to his new surroundings. Maybe by the time he decides it's safe to come out, we'll know what to call him.

My Magical Room

So the crazy thing about houses in Illinois, is they are built down not up. Instead of two story houses, the two story house is flipped upside down with stairs leading underground rather than up. That's a horrible explanation but we could just say everyone lives one floor under the ground.

They do this because when Tornadoes roll through, you're safe even if your sleeping in your bed. So really the only part of the house that's above ground is the kitchen, living room and one bathroom. I actually have a window with metal around it to keep the grass and dirt from falling over and blocking out the sunshine. I'll just show you...

But if that wasn't crazy enough, my entire room is pink... and filled with Harry Potter stuff! Yep, I'm living in an underground pink Harry Potter room... and I feel magical. My friend, Amy, is a HUGE Harry Potter fan and used to use this room to store her massive Harry Potter collection. Most of it has been moved to other rooms but I still have maps and magical paintings hanging all over my wall accented with dragons and three-headed dogs.

Excuse the mess... I'm still moving in.

After the trip I've had, I literally feel like I'm in Hogwarts. Being so far away from everything I've ever known has really been a magical experience for me... hopefully, though, I won't have any run-ins with Basilisks and Dementors during my journey.

Illinois Update #2

So this morning I woke up to a horrible calf cramp (one that has kept me limping all day) but besides that I've had a decent enough morning. Usually my mornings begin at 11am with Tobi whining at my door to wake me up. From there we take our usual morning walk, a tradition we have held through any state, and then I'll go home and refill his food and water.

The funniest thing that has happened here since I arrived is the Highland, Illinois teachers have gone on strike. Literally, no school or school activities until they get a 6% raise. Beyond that, my main focus has been trying to find a job. Moving to another state doesn't excuse you from paying things like credit card bills and car insurance.

I've been applying for everything from Carhop at Sonic to Registrar at the local hospital. A job is a job... My friend, Amy knows a guy who knows a guy who happens to be the manager at the local Walgreens, so we're trying to get me onboard with them.

The day before yesterday Amy took me to the local thrift store to get me some warm clothes and some boots since the temperature here has dropped to 49 degrees. I was shivering in my flip flops (which actually broke shortly after I arrived) listening to them talk about how nice the weather was right now, and just wait until winter comes. Apparently last year you couldn't stand outside longer than ten minutes unless you wanted to get frostbite because it was below 0.

Sounds perfect for the Florida girl.

Besides looking for a job and walking the dog, I haven't done much else since arriving. I miss my family tons... but one foot in front of the other. Hopefully before I know it I'll settle in.

Moving Day...

I'm to tired to get into the details of the last week, but on Monday I actually made the move from Florida to Illinois. I'm absolutely exhausted and everyone in my family is calling constantly to try and find out any news.

First thing I have to say is that driving across the country (or at least that's how it felt) ... is terrible. I've never driven farther than a 2 hour trip in my life and the drive I just finished was a whopping 14 hours. There was everything from fog to big cities, traffic jams to crazy drivers. I actually have blisters on my fingers from gripping the steering wheel so hard during my drive.

I left during the middle of the night so my little dachshund, Tobi, would sleep during the drive... and honestly I didn't think I would be able to get any sleep myself with how anxious I was to get the trip started. I was armed with a 4-pack of refrigerated coffee and crispy sushi-seaweed paper to keep me awake. Why crispy seaweed paper? Well my mother didn't want me to eat nuts or candy because she was worried I would have a sugar crash - So naturally the only option was Japanese seaweed squares. Yum!

Besides getting lost in Nashville and turned completely around in Kentucky, I think I made it alright and apparently made good time. If there's one thing I want to say about Illinois though, it's fricken freezing!

Right now in my little town back home, it's 80 degrees - Here in Illinois it's 50 and expected to go down as the night progresses. I come from a land where the temperature gage doesn't read below 70 degrees!

So now I'm exhausted and ready to pass out... so begins a new chapter of my and my little dog's life here in Illinois. I miss my family so much but I feel like this is the path I was supposed to follow. One day I might return to Florida, only time will tell.

P.A.W.S. got a virtual makeover!

So about every week or so I try to put up a post about some of the local dogs that are looking for a home and today I noticed one of my favorite animal shelters got a virtual makeover. After clicking over to www.paws-shelter.com I was surprised to see that after like five years (or maybe longer) they redesigned their website.

If you don't remember the old website (and I tried to see if I had a picture of it, but I don't), it didn't really do this wonderful shelter justice. I love the new layout and design of the website, especially all the cute paw prints everywhere - plus it's easier to navigate.

If you're looking for a furry friend and your in the Emerald Coast area, be sure to check them out!

Safety First!

'Really Mom?'

In case you haven't heard the horror stories about the highway known as "Bloody 98", we can just say that I live on a busy road. So busy in fact that my insurance jumped nearly $50 more a month after letting them know I moved. I have to drive down this road nearly every day, sometimes several times a day to work, shop and more importantly, take my little dog to all his appointments.

A lot of dogs spend most of their time at home, but Tobi is a very busy dog. He has trips to the vet, dates at the dog park or to visit my mother's dogs and even bi-weekly trips to the groomers to keep him smelling fresh and clean. However, all these trips take him down the dreaded "Bloody 98" where I pass a terrible car wreck at least once a day. Suddenly safety had become an issue for my little dachshund.

So while I was in the store one day, I spotted a "Doggy Seatbelt Harness". I honestly didn't know they existed before that day but I was willing to give it a shot. Well today I got to put the harness into action and it was pretty hilarious.

My dog just laid there like I was putting some terrible device on him that kept him from hopping in the front seat. He kept giving me this look like "Really mom? Is this even necessary?". I couldn't help but to burst out laughing when I finally got it secured on him and all he could do was flop over like he had been abused.

Although, driving with it had been a relief. I always worried about him when we did our doggy errands but now at least he was a little safer. The harness was padded and secured to the seatbelt so that if we went flying, he was tethered to something short and safe.

One more worry off my list!