My Top 5

1. Walter Cronkite is dead.

And yet another huge icon of Americana is gone. Let me be the first of many to say that this has been a rough 4 weeks to be an icon in this country. Mr. Cronkite has been a part of all of our lives and, as a perpetual student of politics and law, I can truly say that reporters of this caliber will always leave a hole in my world. Of course, I think he set the bar that so few after him have been able to reach.

2. All You Subscription Deal @ Southern Savers

Ok, for those of you who seek out the best deals on the planet each week to keep your families fed, here’s the deal for you. But you’ve got to hurry, the deal expires July 31, 2009, so you must act quickly. Go on over to Southern Savers and check it out. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

3. Sanford scandal leads to first key departure.

While I’ve never had anything nice to think or say about Joel Sawyer, press secretary to our future ex-gov, I still find his timing to leave the office interesting. He refuses to give too much detail on what his next venture in life will be, but I pity the fool that’s hired him. He’s an idiot, plain and simple. Well – but maybe not, at least he’s finally showing SOME intelligence – a little late, mind you, but some, just the same. He’s finally figured out that it’s best to put as much distance between him and Mr. Argentina as possible. Thanks for playing, Joel. You won’t be missed.

4. Lawyers & Politicians ARE NOT treated equally in SC!

You might have to look back at the original story to get my full meaning here, but this truly disgusts me. We are locking up kids for years for carrying around a couple of joints, but a Solicitor in this state can fail (miserably, I might add) several field sobriety tests and yet still he is able to avoid both the DUI charge AND any other charge that would require a jail time penalty. Yep, our justice system is totally fair and balanced here. Wow!

5. White Man’s Last Stand by: Maureen Dowd

Simply my favorite editorial this week. You go, girl!

1. Better Groceries for Less Cash: The next book I want to read.

As may be obvious now from my previous posts, I’m very interested in couponing and saving money at any possible juncture. This book looks like just the “next best” resource. I have a feeling it probably offers some of the advice that I already live by when it comes to shopping at grocery stores in general, but my next passion is being able to get more nutritious food for less, rather than so many processed foods for next to nothing (as it seems I’m doing now).

2. My Coupon Binder: My next project

So I’ve been stockpiling coupons since the first week of May and I’ve saved probably close to $600+ by now. We are using coupons for everything from groceries and personal hygiene items to eating out and admission to local museums and movies. However, I’ve tried several ways of organizing all of these coupons and it just seems to be more and more frustrating the longer I go without one set way of doing things. I’ve been searching far and wide for what might work best for the volume of coupons I have (I tend to get 3 papers on Sundays and then inserts from my dad’s paper, also). I’ve decided that this Binder system seems to work best for most people, so I plan on getting together the supplies to make my own this week. I’ll keep you updated on how it works out.

3. The Superficial: My favorite Celeb Gossip site on the web.

It’s a bit more tasteful than TMZ and seems to have good feeds. This is definitely what I turn to for instant entertainment whenever possible.

4. Paint Charleston Daily: My favorite online gallery of Charleston artwork

One of these days, when the money is flowing a little more freely than it is now and when we OWN our home instead of renting, I want to purchase a piece from this artist and have it on prominent display – maybe above my long-dreamed for fireplace.

5. FML: A favorite turn-to when I’m feeling down on myself.

While most of the stories are pretty humorous, some of them are so far-fetched you have to question their truth, but still when you’re having a bad day and things seem especially f’ed up in your life, go here and read about someone whose lot in life is far worse than yours.

1. Southern Savers blog:
I recently discovered this blog in my quest to become an expert couponer. Let's face it, the economy sucks and being a graduate student with a family and no regular income at this time makes it 1000 times worse. This site and many others like it have become my light at the end of the long, dark tunnel of self-imposed poverty. If you live in the Southeast, Jenny does a great job at scoping out all the great deals for southern grocery chains and even some national chains, like CVS (my fave!). I can guarantee this will be a site you come running back to again and again.

2. Sanford: Will he stay or go?
Governor Sanford -- what a loaded topic that is around these parts these days. Personally I wish he'd pack his bags, call up that real estate agent he met with in Argentina a year ago, and book the next flight out of SC. We'd all be better off -- including his wife and boys. However, according the the paper, the death of MJ couldn't have come at a better time for Sanford. Once again, Hollywood gets in the way of moral values being allowed to sweep out the trash.

3. All You Magazine
This is simply one of the best magazines I've come across in a long time! Full of coupons, recipes and USEFUL tips and articles, it has quickly become a go-to publication when I'm in need of just about anything to do with my busy (and sometimes chaotic) home life.

4. Kids-in-Mind: Movie Ratings with families in mind
Being a mom, the ratings of movies have become almost impossible to interpret, but this great site actually tells me (in word - not letter-ratings) what content in the movies I might find objectionable for my kids to see regardless of how Hollywood chose to rate it. It rates thousands of movies, old and new alike.

5. PostSecret
Simply my Sunday hobby that helps me understand the world a little better. People create postcards with secrets they've never told a soul and mail them in. I'm telling you, it's like the best gossip reel out there. Of course, you have no idea who is posting what, but I can promise you that no matter what your secret is, you WILL find one that's worse than anything you could have ever dreamed! Makes you realize that being "perfect" is so not a part of being "human"!