Congratulations to Mr. Poe!
Three months ago today he began is official mechanical engineering career that moved us to Atlanta.
Three months ago today he began is official mechanical engineering career that moved us to Atlanta.
As a Christian, wife, mother of a little girl and two fur-babies, Mississippi State Bulldog, and PhD, I lead a very busy life. If you add on top of that my obsession for organization and loves for couponing, sewing, knitting, cooking, reading, gardening, and a host of other random hobbies, you've got the recipe for...well...variety. And variety is the spice of life!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
MrsDrPoe: Congrats to Mr. Poe
Thesis Tuesday's first post is very loosely related to our present discourse on fluid mechanics...it could possibly be categorized under "general mechanical engineering." Having said that:
Monday, June 13, 2011
MrsDrPoe: CVS and Walgreens Deals, 6/12
As promised, here are some fabulous deals at the drugstores this week:
Walgreens
Nestle candy - $0.39
Wal-Fex Allergy (5 ct) - $3.99, get $3.99 back in RR (makes it free)
Blistex RPM for Men - $2, get $2 back in RR (makes it free)
Bayer Advanced Asprin (20 ct) - $3, use $2 Q in 6/12 SS, get $1 back in RR (makes it free)
CVS
Pepsi 2 Liters - $0.88
Zyrtec (5 ct) - $5.99, use $2 Q printable, get $5.99 back in ECBs (you make $2)
Motrin PM (20 ct) - $4.00, use $1.00 Q in RP 6/12, get $3 back in ECBs (makes it free)
Bayer Advanced Asprin (20 ct) - $3.00, use $2.00 Q in SS 6/12, get $1 back in ECBs (makes it free)
Schick Hydro 5 - $8.00, use $4.00 Q in SS 6/12, get $4.00 back in ECBs (make it free)
Since we discussed couponing at CVS earlier, I decided to share with you the scenario I used when purchasing these items:
Bought: 2 DrPeppers, 1 Motrin PM 20 ct, 1 Schick Hydro 5, 1 Zyrtec 5 ct, 1 Bayer Advanced Asprin 20 ct
Total cost (regular price, including tax): $33.76
Total cost (sale price, including tax): $24.26
Total coupons used: $9.00
Total ECBs used (from previous purchases): $13.75
Total paid OOP (out of pocket): $1.51
Total back in ECBs: $14.99
Not too bad, huh? What deals are you planning to take advantage of this week?
Walgreens
Nestle candy - $0.39
Wal-Fex Allergy (5 ct) - $3.99, get $3.99 back in RR (makes it free)
Blistex RPM for Men - $2, get $2 back in RR (makes it free)
Bayer Advanced Asprin (20 ct) - $3, use $2 Q in 6/12 SS, get $1 back in RR (makes it free)
CVS
Pepsi 2 Liters - $0.88
Zyrtec (5 ct) - $5.99, use $2 Q printable, get $5.99 back in ECBs (you make $2)
Motrin PM (20 ct) - $4.00, use $1.00 Q in RP 6/12, get $3 back in ECBs (makes it free)
Bayer Advanced Asprin (20 ct) - $3.00, use $2.00 Q in SS 6/12, get $1 back in ECBs (makes it free)
Schick Hydro 5 - $8.00, use $4.00 Q in SS 6/12, get $4.00 back in ECBs (make it free)
Since we discussed couponing at CVS earlier, I decided to share with you the scenario I used when purchasing these items:
Bought: 2 DrPeppers, 1 Motrin PM 20 ct, 1 Schick Hydro 5, 1 Zyrtec 5 ct, 1 Bayer Advanced Asprin 20 ct
Total cost (regular price, including tax): $33.76
Total cost (sale price, including tax): $24.26
Total coupons used: $9.00
Total ECBs used (from previous purchases): $13.75
Total paid OOP (out of pocket): $1.51
Total back in ECBs: $14.99
Not too bad, huh? What deals are you planning to take advantage of this week?
MrsDrPoe: A Beginners Guide to Couponing, Part 4
Happy Money Monday to all! Today I'll be starting out with the fourth installment in the "Beginners Guide to Couponing" Series...
The Drugstore Game
Couponing is not about using coupons as soon as you get them in a willy-nilly fashion. The goal is to exercise patience, waiting to match a coupon with a store sale to get the best possible deal on an item. Couponing is an art.
What avid couponers often refer to as "the drugstore game" is the matching of coupons to sales at (you guessed it) drugstores. Since the Poe Posse membership is a measly two persons at this time, playing this game has allowed for the most successful reduction in our spending. We'll start with my favorite store...
CVS
Initiation
To begin at CVS, you must sign up for an ExtraCare card. To do this, you can simply go up to the counter and ask for one. Once you fill out some info (name, address, etc.), you will be given a sheet with two cards- one that fits on your keyring and one that can go in your wallet:
Next, you should obtain a reusable bag and a CVS Green Bag Tag:
Your reusable bag does not have to be purchased at CVS, but theirs are only 99 cents. Attach the tag (also 99 cents) to your reusable bag, and take them with you every time you go. After the clerk scans at least one of the items you are purchasing that day, have him/her scan the barcode on the back of the tag. After four scans, you will get $1 free in ECBs. In no time the tag will have paid for itself, and then you can continue to rack up the free dollars! (Note: you may only scan the tag once per day.)
Preparation
Again, couponing is not willy-nilly- some degree of preparation is what will save you the big bucks. Before I visit my local store, I carefully examine the sale and coupon matchups. Typically, since I'm exceptionally busy, I let Jenny do most of the grunt work for me. Her site details the items that are on sale, the ECB offers, all the coupons that could be applied to the product, where to find these coupons, which coupons to use to get the best deal, and how much you'll end up paying if you do what she tells you to. There's even a function to print out a nice list of the deals that YOU want and the possible coupons you can use.
Since CVS requires you to use a card to get these deals, they can limit the amount of sale products that you purchase. This is one of the few downsides to the store. The "household" limit is listed on Jenny's site, as well as at the store, and in the sales flyer. Sales at CVS run from Sunday to Saturday.
When I get the CVS add in the Sunday paper, I make sure the deals I like are available at my store, then I clip the coupons I need, and I'm ready to go to shopping.
Coupon Matching Notes: You may only use one manufacturer coupon per item, so don't try to find all the coupons Jenny lists. However, you CAN pair a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon (from the paper, online, etc.); this is the ONLY way you can use two coupons on the same item.
B1G1 coupons are typically best paired with B1G1 sales at drugstores because of the way they price these items - the first item rings up full price, and the second rings up at no charge. When you pair the B1G1 coupon with the B1G1 sale, you're truly getting both for free. Consequently, when you are purchasing an item that a drugstore advertises as B1G1, you must purchase both to actually see the savings!
Furthermore, if you have two $x off 1 item manufacturer coupons, you may use both when taking advantage of a store B1G1 sale, since you are purchasing two items. If the product costs $y, you are getting two items for $y-$2x...if you're not great at algebra, this usually means it's a great deal.
Implementation
As soon as I walk in the store, I get out my Extra Care card and scan it twice at the price checking kiosk. Each time, store coupons will print out. Pay special attention to these coupons. Occasionally, a $x off a purchase of $y coupon will print out (ex: $5 off $25); these coupons are essentially free money, but they should be the FIRST coupon you give the cashier when you are checking out.
Quarterly CVS will reward you with an amount of ECBs based on how much you've spent at the chain that period. These ECBs will also print out at the price checking kiosk at the beginning of the next quarter.
After checking the kiosk, I continue shopping like normal. When I've grabbed all the items that I want, I pull out all the coupons for the items I have in my cart, double check that I picked up the correct items and number of items, think about how many transactions I wish to make, and head to the register.
If I am planning to make multiple transactions, I try to limit myself to two, and I make sure that the cashiers aren't swamped so that I'm not a nuisance to them or other customers. The potential benefit to multiple transactions is based on the idea of rolling ECBs, i.e. when I purchase items that give me $x back in ECBs, I immediately use that $x on my second transaction. Rolling ECBs helps to keep the amount of money you pay out of pocket (OOP) as low as possible.
When I get to the register, I show the cashier my CVS card and place the items for my (first) transaction on the counter, along with my reusable bag and tag. After the card, the items and the tag have been scanned, I hand the cashier my coupons, starting with any $x off a purchase of $y coupons that I have. Next, I hand him/her any ECBs I have from previous transactions. ECBs will not cover the tax on an item- if you owe $1.75 and $0.75 is tax, you may only use an ECB worth $1. If you attempt to use an ECB worth more than $1, you will loose the rest of it! When I've gotten the total down as low as possible, I pay for my purchases and obtain my receipt.
As with all receipts, CVS receipts detail the items you purchase, the coupons you used, the tax, and the total you paid for the transaction. They also show you how much you saved on an item (the difference in the price you paid for an item and its regular price at the store).
After the typical information, the receipts detail what you saved today and so far this year, what you've spent this quarter, and your "Beauty Club Spending." For $50 in qualifying purchases (at once or over time) of certain health and beauty products, you will receive $5 ECB back.
Following these totals, you can see the offers that you have taken advantage of so far this week and any offer limits you have reached. The ECBs you've earned from this transaction print out at the bottom of your receipt:
To redeem the ECBs, simply tear them off your receipt and present them to the cashier. You must present your ExtraCare card at the time of purchase! The ECBs have your card number on them and can only be used with your card. There are some exclusions to how you spend your ECBs (for instance, you can't use them on prescriptions); these are listed on the ECBs, as is the ECB expiration date (1 mo. after you receive it).
While this may seem a bit overwhelming at first, I can assure you that it is totally worth it. I have not paid for toothpaste in the past year and a half. Our brand name shampoo, razors, OTC medications, air fresheners, etc. that we use have been bought for a fraction of the cost of store brand items. We've been able to make nice "pampering" gift baskets for birthdays, as well as "care" baskets for sick folks. We've even made money by purchasing certain items! I would suggest that if you're just starting out, go slow, trying a deal or two a week, and ask questions if you have them.
In a bit, I'll post some of the deals I've gotten so far this week at CVS and Walgreens, so stay tuned!
The Drugstore Game
Couponing is not about using coupons as soon as you get them in a willy-nilly fashion. The goal is to exercise patience, waiting to match a coupon with a store sale to get the best possible deal on an item. Couponing is an art.
What avid couponers often refer to as "the drugstore game" is the matching of coupons to sales at (you guessed it) drugstores. Since the Poe Posse membership is a measly two persons at this time, playing this game has allowed for the most successful reduction in our spending. We'll start with my favorite store...
CVS
Initiation
To begin at CVS, you must sign up for an ExtraCare card. To do this, you can simply go up to the counter and ask for one. Once you fill out some info (name, address, etc.), you will be given a sheet with two cards- one that fits on your keyring and one that can go in your wallet:
Next, you should obtain a reusable bag and a CVS Green Bag Tag:
Your reusable bag does not have to be purchased at CVS, but theirs are only 99 cents. Attach the tag (also 99 cents) to your reusable bag, and take them with you every time you go. After the clerk scans at least one of the items you are purchasing that day, have him/her scan the barcode on the back of the tag. After four scans, you will get $1 free in ECBs. In no time the tag will have paid for itself, and then you can continue to rack up the free dollars! (Note: you may only scan the tag once per day.)
Preparation
Again, couponing is not willy-nilly- some degree of preparation is what will save you the big bucks. Before I visit my local store, I carefully examine the sale and coupon matchups. Typically, since I'm exceptionally busy, I let Jenny do most of the grunt work for me. Her site details the items that are on sale, the ECB offers, all the coupons that could be applied to the product, where to find these coupons, which coupons to use to get the best deal, and how much you'll end up paying if you do what she tells you to. There's even a function to print out a nice list of the deals that YOU want and the possible coupons you can use.
Since CVS requires you to use a card to get these deals, they can limit the amount of sale products that you purchase. This is one of the few downsides to the store. The "household" limit is listed on Jenny's site, as well as at the store, and in the sales flyer. Sales at CVS run from Sunday to Saturday.
When I get the CVS add in the Sunday paper, I make sure the deals I like are available at my store, then I clip the coupons I need, and I'm ready to go to shopping.
Coupon Matching Notes: You may only use one manufacturer coupon per item, so don't try to find all the coupons Jenny lists. However, you CAN pair a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon (from the paper, online, etc.); this is the ONLY way you can use two coupons on the same item.
B1G1 coupons are typically best paired with B1G1 sales at drugstores because of the way they price these items - the first item rings up full price, and the second rings up at no charge. When you pair the B1G1 coupon with the B1G1 sale, you're truly getting both for free. Consequently, when you are purchasing an item that a drugstore advertises as B1G1, you must purchase both to actually see the savings!
Furthermore, if you have two $x off 1 item manufacturer coupons, you may use both when taking advantage of a store B1G1 sale, since you are purchasing two items. If the product costs $y, you are getting two items for $y-$2x...if you're not great at algebra, this usually means it's a great deal.
Implementation
As soon as I walk in the store, I get out my Extra Care card and scan it twice at the price checking kiosk. Each time, store coupons will print out. Pay special attention to these coupons. Occasionally, a $x off a purchase of $y coupon will print out (ex: $5 off $25); these coupons are essentially free money, but they should be the FIRST coupon you give the cashier when you are checking out.
Quarterly CVS will reward you with an amount of ECBs based on how much you've spent at the chain that period. These ECBs will also print out at the price checking kiosk at the beginning of the next quarter.
After checking the kiosk, I continue shopping like normal. When I've grabbed all the items that I want, I pull out all the coupons for the items I have in my cart, double check that I picked up the correct items and number of items, think about how many transactions I wish to make, and head to the register.
If I am planning to make multiple transactions, I try to limit myself to two, and I make sure that the cashiers aren't swamped so that I'm not a nuisance to them or other customers. The potential benefit to multiple transactions is based on the idea of rolling ECBs, i.e. when I purchase items that give me $x back in ECBs, I immediately use that $x on my second transaction. Rolling ECBs helps to keep the amount of money you pay out of pocket (OOP) as low as possible.
When I get to the register, I show the cashier my CVS card and place the items for my (first) transaction on the counter, along with my reusable bag and tag. After the card, the items and the tag have been scanned, I hand the cashier my coupons, starting with any $x off a purchase of $y coupons that I have. Next, I hand him/her any ECBs I have from previous transactions. ECBs will not cover the tax on an item- if you owe $1.75 and $0.75 is tax, you may only use an ECB worth $1. If you attempt to use an ECB worth more than $1, you will loose the rest of it! When I've gotten the total down as low as possible, I pay for my purchases and obtain my receipt.
As with all receipts, CVS receipts detail the items you purchase, the coupons you used, the tax, and the total you paid for the transaction. They also show you how much you saved on an item (the difference in the price you paid for an item and its regular price at the store).
After the typical information, the receipts detail what you saved today and so far this year, what you've spent this quarter, and your "Beauty Club Spending." For $50 in qualifying purchases (at once or over time) of certain health and beauty products, you will receive $5 ECB back.
Following these totals, you can see the offers that you have taken advantage of so far this week and any offer limits you have reached. The ECBs you've earned from this transaction print out at the bottom of your receipt:
To redeem the ECBs, simply tear them off your receipt and present them to the cashier. You must present your ExtraCare card at the time of purchase! The ECBs have your card number on them and can only be used with your card. There are some exclusions to how you spend your ECBs (for instance, you can't use them on prescriptions); these are listed on the ECBs, as is the ECB expiration date (1 mo. after you receive it).
***
While this may seem a bit overwhelming at first, I can assure you that it is totally worth it. I have not paid for toothpaste in the past year and a half. Our brand name shampoo, razors, OTC medications, air fresheners, etc. that we use have been bought for a fraction of the cost of store brand items. We've been able to make nice "pampering" gift baskets for birthdays, as well as "care" baskets for sick folks. We've even made money by purchasing certain items! I would suggest that if you're just starting out, go slow, trying a deal or two a week, and ask questions if you have them.
In a bit, I'll post some of the deals I've gotten so far this week at CVS and Walgreens, so stay tuned!
Friday, June 10, 2011
MrsDrPoe: Cool Kitchen Gadget
When I was in high school, I worked at Williams-Sonoma part-time. It took a lot of self discipline to make any money there because we sold so many pots, knives, plates, and gadgets that I wanted. Since that time, my mother, sister, brother and I have amassed quite the collection of kitchen items from the store, but one of my absolute favorites is this:
a veggie peeler made by the Swiss company, Kuhn Rikon. It fits so nicely in my hand and allows me to peel carrots, potatoes, etc. in no time. AND it only costs $3.50...it's definitely the best peeler I've ever used. If you ever come across one, buy it- you won't be disappointed!
What's one of your favorite kitchen gadgets?
a veggie peeler made by the Swiss company, Kuhn Rikon. It fits so nicely in my hand and allows me to peel carrots, potatoes, etc. in no time. AND it only costs $3.50...it's definitely the best peeler I've ever used. If you ever come across one, buy it- you won't be disappointed!
What's one of your favorite kitchen gadgets?
MrsDrPoe: First Fruits
Hello again! I'd like to share with you our first tomato:
It's the biggest one I've ever grown! Inside, it was a little more mealy than I would like, but I'm not sure there is anything I can do about that. Since harvesting this one, we've picked 2 more. Fifteen remain on the bushes, and several new tomato and pepper blossoms have popped up. It's going to be a tasty summer!
For any other gardeners out there, how are your gardens growing?
It's the biggest one I've ever grown! Inside, it was a little more mealy than I would like, but I'm not sure there is anything I can do about that. Since harvesting this one, we've picked 2 more. Fifteen remain on the bushes, and several new tomato and pepper blossoms have popped up. It's going to be a tasty summer!
For any other gardeners out there, how are your gardens growing?
MrsDrPoe: Cutie Pies
Good morning, and happy Foto Friday everyone! If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times. I have some cute cute CUTE girls! Layla sprawls out in the funniest ways:
And this is how Sascha looks at me when I'm working and she wants something:
And this is how Sascha looks at me when I'm working and she wants something:
Thursday, June 9, 2011
MrsDrPoe: Seeking
In a couple of recent studies in Mark and Luke, the topic of seeking God has come up. I've found it very interesting how, though both writers present the concept, they each present it in a different way.
A running theme in Mark is "inside" vs "outside." As Jesus teaches outside by the sea, we see huge crowds gathered around Him listening; however, many of these individuals are not truly seeking Jesus. In Mark 4:3-9, we see Jesus presenting the parable of the sower. Christ brackets the parable by "Listen!" and "He who has ears to hear let him hear!" Obviously these people came to listen, right? Right...sort of. Jesus is telling His listeners to listen with a purpose...to listen with an ear for the spiritual, not the physical. He's not just telling a nice story about a farmer who only had some of his seed produce!
In verse 10, we see the scene shift, and Jesus is now among His disciples (including the apostles). And they're not just hanging out- the disciples are asking about the parable. Christ answers, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables." The disciples are disciples because they're asking...and because they're disciples, they're are on the inside and can know the mystery of the kingdom. They are seeking!
Luke is a little more forward with the topic, in that the theme of "seeking and finding" is prevalent in the book. In Luke 11:9-13 Jesus tells His disciples, "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." It is my understanding that in this case "ask," "seek," and "knock" activities we must be continually doing. We can see this by examining the parable Jesus tells in the previous verses (5-8). At the conclusion of the parable He says, "...because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many [loaves] as he needs."
From these passages, we can see that, as Christians, we should be seeking God and seeking Him continually. Seeking and asking for wisdom to better understand His word. Seeking and asking for strength in times of difficulty and temptation. Seeking and asking for guidance and growth so that we can become more and more like Christ everyday.
But if we're always seeking, what about everything else? Matt 6:33 says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." From the verses before, we know that "these things" refer to life's necessities like food, drink and clothing. Thus we can spend our efforts seeking after God and seeking to be like Him, knowing that He will take care of us.
A running theme in Mark is "inside" vs "outside." As Jesus teaches outside by the sea, we see huge crowds gathered around Him listening; however, many of these individuals are not truly seeking Jesus. In Mark 4:3-9, we see Jesus presenting the parable of the sower. Christ brackets the parable by "Listen!" and "He who has ears to hear let him hear!" Obviously these people came to listen, right? Right...sort of. Jesus is telling His listeners to listen with a purpose...to listen with an ear for the spiritual, not the physical. He's not just telling a nice story about a farmer who only had some of his seed produce!
In verse 10, we see the scene shift, and Jesus is now among His disciples (including the apostles). And they're not just hanging out- the disciples are asking about the parable. Christ answers, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables." The disciples are disciples because they're asking...and because they're disciples, they're are on the inside and can know the mystery of the kingdom. They are seeking!
Luke is a little more forward with the topic, in that the theme of "seeking and finding" is prevalent in the book. In Luke 11:9-13 Jesus tells His disciples, "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." It is my understanding that in this case "ask," "seek," and "knock" activities we must be continually doing. We can see this by examining the parable Jesus tells in the previous verses (5-8). At the conclusion of the parable He says, "...because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many [loaves] as he needs."
From these passages, we can see that, as Christians, we should be seeking God and seeking Him continually. Seeking and asking for wisdom to better understand His word. Seeking and asking for strength in times of difficulty and temptation. Seeking and asking for guidance and growth so that we can become more and more like Christ everyday.
But if we're always seeking, what about everything else? Matt 6:33 says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." From the verses before, we know that "these things" refer to life's necessities like food, drink and clothing. Thus we can spend our efforts seeking after God and seeking to be like Him, knowing that He will take care of us.
MrsDrPoe: Spiritual Summer Challenges Update
Good morning all! To start this Theology Thursday off, I'd like to update you on our progress with the family mission statement and summer Bible reading challenges I discussed a few weeks ago. The reading is going well; I've adapted one of the plans for myself, and it was worked out great thus far. Mr. Poe and I have also finished our family mission statement! Grammatically, it's a bit simplistic, but I love the symmetry:
We are the Poes.
We serve the Lord, Jehovah.
We serve our neighbors.
We serve each other.
As Poes we multiply words,
but we prefer numbers.
We are growing.
We are content.
We are blessed.
We are the Poes.
Have you accepted the challenges? How are you progressing?
We serve the Lord, Jehovah.
We serve our neighbors.
We serve each other.
As Poes we multiply words,
but we prefer numbers.
We are growing.
We are content.
We are blessed.
We are the Poes.
Have you accepted the challenges? How are you progressing?
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
MrsDrPoe: Biscuit Pizza
Today is Wednesday. Wednesday nights are often difficult as far as dinner choices are concerned because we typically rush around trying to make it to the midweek Bible study on time. With this difficulty in mind, I present to you one of the easiest ways in the world to make your own pizza: biscuit pizza.
Ingredients: 1 (or more) refrigerated canned biscuits, 1 jar (or more) of your favorite pizza or pasta sauce, 16 oz (or more) mozzarella cheese, any additional pizza toppings your heart desires (we just went with cheese this time)
Remove biscuits from the can, and gently press or roll them out till they are approximately 1/4 inch thick. Place them on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
Top with sauce, cheese, and additional toppings. Bake according to the biscuit directions, checking periodically to ensure that the tops and bottoms don't burn. Remove from the oven and serve.
Attn Moms: These make GREAT party/sleepover dinners for children. Provide a variety of toppings so that each child can make his/her own the way he/she wants to. My mom did this for us when we were growing up - it was a cheap, fun way for her to feed a houseful!
Ingredients: 1 (or more) refrigerated canned biscuits, 1 jar (or more) of your favorite pizza or pasta sauce, 16 oz (or more) mozzarella cheese, any additional pizza toppings your heart desires (we just went with cheese this time)
Remove biscuits from the can, and gently press or roll them out till they are approximately 1/4 inch thick. Place them on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
Top with sauce, cheese, and additional toppings. Bake according to the biscuit directions, checking periodically to ensure that the tops and bottoms don't burn. Remove from the oven and serve.
Attn Moms: These make GREAT party/sleepover dinners for children. Provide a variety of toppings so that each child can make his/her own the way he/she wants to. My mom did this for us when we were growing up - it was a cheap, fun way for her to feed a houseful!
MrsDrPoe: Mr. Robinson
It's that time again ladies and gents! I'd like you to meet another one of the Poes' Pals...Mr. Robinson.
As Mr. Poe pointed out last Friday, Mr. Robinson is one of the many individuals we visited with during our trip to Starkville over Memorial Day weekend, so obviously we think he's pretty cool.
We first met Mr. Robinson when he began his studies in engineering at MSU. His freshman year, he joined the school's FSAE team with Mr. Poe, and the two of them have been building and dreaming of building automotive devices together ever since. Mr. Robinson is very intelligent (even when dealing subjects he has no interest in...ask me how I know...) and is quite capable of applying engineering principles.
Skilled in suspension design and construction (and probably in powertrain construction after Mr. Poe abandoned him with the go-kart half finished), Mr. Robinson will be well prepared for any engineering job that comes his way. Mr. Poe especially hopes that he comes to Atlanta after graduation so they can continue their automotive adventures together.
As Mr. Poe pointed out last Friday, Mr. Robinson is one of the many individuals we visited with during our trip to Starkville over Memorial Day weekend, so obviously we think he's pretty cool.
We first met Mr. Robinson when he began his studies in engineering at MSU. His freshman year, he joined the school's FSAE team with Mr. Poe, and the two of them have been building and dreaming of building automotive devices together ever since. Mr. Robinson is very intelligent (even when dealing subjects he has no interest in...ask me how I know...) and is quite capable of applying engineering principles.
Skilled in suspension design and construction (and probably in powertrain construction after Mr. Poe abandoned him with the go-kart half finished), Mr. Robinson will be well prepared for any engineering job that comes his way. Mr. Poe especially hopes that he comes to Atlanta after graduation so they can continue their automotive adventures together.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
MrsDrPoe: Buoyancy
We open up this Thesis Tuesday with a well-known scene from Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail:
Sir Bedevere:
Peasant 1:
Sir Bedevere:
Peasant 1:
Sir Bedevere:
Peasant 1:
Sir Bedevere:
Peasant 1:
Peasant 2:
Peasant 3:
Peasant 1:
Peasant 2:
Peasant 3:
Peasant 1:
Peasant 2:
Peasant 3:
King Arthur:
Sir Bedevere:
Peasant 1:
Sir Bedevere:
Peasant 2:
So why does wood...or anything else...float? The answer lies in buoyant forces and Archimedes' Principle.
The buoyant force on any partially or fully submerged object is the net (or overall) force placed on the object by the fluid the object is submerged in. If we examine all the forces on a region of fluid around the submerged object, we can determine that the buoyant force acts in the upward direction and is equal to the specific weight of the fluid times the displaced volume of fluid. This is Archimedes' Principle.
Any object submerged in a body of fluid displaces a certain volume water equal to the volume of the object submerged in the fluid. For example, a cylindrical cup is floating in soapy water in the sink. If 2 inches of the 3 inch diameter cup is underwater, 56.52 cubic inches of the cup is submerged. Thus, 56.52 cubic inches is the volume of fluid displaced by the floating cup. We can multiply this volume by the specific weight of the dish water to determine the buoyant force acting on the cup.
Fantastic! But how do we know if an object will float or not? If we apply Newton's Second Law to a stationary floating object submerged in a fluid, we see that only two forces are acting on the object (the buoyant force and the object's weight) and that these two forces must be equal and opposite. So an object will float (fully submerged) if its weight is equal to the specific weight of the given fluid times the total volume of the object or (partially submerged) if its weight is less than the specific weight of the given fluid times the total volume of the object.
Sir Bedevere:
Good. So how do you tell whether she is made of wood?
Peasant 1:
Build a bridge out of her.
Sir Bedevere:
But can you not also build bridges out of stone?
Peasant 1:
Oh yeah.
Sir Bedevere:
Does wood sink in water?
Peasant 1:
No, no, it floats!... It floats! Throw her into the pond!
Sir Bedevere:
No, no. What else floats in water?
Peasant 1:
Bread.
Peasant 2:
Apples.
Peasant 3:
Very small rocks.
Peasant 1:
Cider.
Peasant 2:
Gravy.
Peasant 3:
Cherries.
Peasant 1:
Mud.
Peasant 2:
Churches.
Peasant 3:
Lead! Lead!
King Arthur:
A Duck.
Sir Bedevere:
...Exactly. So, logically...
Peasant 1:
If she weighed the same as a duck... she's made of wood.
Sir Bedevere:
And therefore...
Peasant 2:
...A witch!
So why does wood...or anything else...float? The answer lies in buoyant forces and Archimedes' Principle.
The buoyant force on any partially or fully submerged object is the net (or overall) force placed on the object by the fluid the object is submerged in. If we examine all the forces on a region of fluid around the submerged object, we can determine that the buoyant force acts in the upward direction and is equal to the specific weight of the fluid times the displaced volume of fluid. This is Archimedes' Principle.
Any object submerged in a body of fluid displaces a certain volume water equal to the volume of the object submerged in the fluid. For example, a cylindrical cup is floating in soapy water in the sink. If 2 inches of the 3 inch diameter cup is underwater, 56.52 cubic inches of the cup is submerged. Thus, 56.52 cubic inches is the volume of fluid displaced by the floating cup. We can multiply this volume by the specific weight of the dish water to determine the buoyant force acting on the cup.
Fantastic! But how do we know if an object will float or not? If we apply Newton's Second Law to a stationary floating object submerged in a fluid, we see that only two forces are acting on the object (the buoyant force and the object's weight) and that these two forces must be equal and opposite. So an object will float (fully submerged) if its weight is equal to the specific weight of the given fluid times the total volume of the object or (partially submerged) if its weight is less than the specific weight of the given fluid times the total volume of the object.
Monday, June 6, 2011
MrsDrPoe: Wags and JCPenny Deal, 6/5
To round out the day, I've got a few more deals to share with you.
At JCPenny:
I got $10 in JCP cash in the mail Saturday, plus they have a multitude of items 50-80% off...which means I got a new shirt, a summery place mat, and Ryan got a new tie all for $3.60.
At Wags:
Duracell Batteries: $2.99, get back $1 in RR
Frozen Fruit Pops: $1
At JCPenny:
I got $10 in JCP cash in the mail Saturday, plus they have a multitude of items 50-80% off...which means I got a new shirt, a summery place mat, and Ryan got a new tie all for $3.60.
At Wags:
Duracell Batteries: $2.99, get back $1 in RR
Frozen Fruit Pops: $1
MrsDrPoe: A Beginners Guide to Couponing Part 3
For the third installment of my beginners guide to couponing, I'd like to investigate coupon storage. As I mentioned in part 1, there are many different ways of storing coupons; we'll look at three specific ones today:
Method 1
This method is the most labor intensive, but it allows you to be most familiar with the coupons you have.
Materials:
large 3 ring binder, dividers, baseball card sleeves ($$)
Procedure:
Initial Setup: Label the dividers (dry food, cold food, household, baby, pet, misc, etc.) according to your needs, and place the dividers and the sleeves in the binder.
Each week: Set aside a specific time each week to go through that weeks' inserts. Clip each coupon*, and place them in individual sleeve pockets behind the appropriate divider. If you have minions...I mean children...they can be a huge help in this endeavor! Periodically go through your coupons to remove those which have expired.
Shopping: While you are making your shopping list, use a coupon database to aid you in picking out the coupons you plan to use during your trip (you can place them in an envelope if you'd like). With this method, it is also very quick and easy to look for a specific coupon while in the process of shopping (if you bring your entire binder into the store with you).
Method 2
This method is slightly less labor intensive at the expense of loosing some amount of familiarity with the coupons in your possession.
Materials:
large 3 ring binder, dividers, page protectors ($)
Procedure:
Initial Setup: Label the dividers according to your the types of inserts (RP, PG, SS, Misc), and place the dividers and the page protectors in the binder.
Each week: Set aside a specific time each week to go through that weeks' inserts. Place each page of each insert in its own page protector behind the appropriate divider. You may wish to label at least the first page from each insert with the date on which you obtained it. Periodically go through each sheet to get rid of any expired coupons.
Shopping: While you are making your shopping list, use a coupon database to aid you in picking out and clipping the coupons you plan to use during your trip (again placing in an envelope). This method can aid you in determining whether or not a specific coupon was in your area's inserts. You can also search for coupons "on the go" with this method, just not as simply as with the previous method.
Method 3
This method is the least labor intensive, but you may not realize you have some coupons that you do.
Materials:
13 slot accordion folder, index card holder/canceled check file ($)
Procedure:
Initial Setup: Label dividers in the index card holder/canceled check file (dry food, cold food, etc.).
Each week: As soon as you get the inserts on Sunday, write the date on the front of each one and place it in the next available slot. Once you've filled your folder (in approximately 3 months), you'll need to add the additional step of removing the old coupons from the "next" slot. When you remove the old coupons, quickly flip through and clip any* that have not yet expired (most will have). Place these loose coupons along with any other coupons (those printed or received in the mail, etc.) in the appropriate section of the index card holder/canceled check file.
Shopping: While you are making your shopping list, use a coupon database to aid you in picking out and clipping the coupons you plan to use during your trip (I place these in the front of my index card holder). It's almost impossible to find a coupon "on the go" with this method, so it requires a bit more pre-trip planning.
*You want to make sure that you keep all the coupons that you get in the inserts even if they're for items that you don't purchase or use. Often times store sales will allow you to get these items for free (or even to make money by purchasing them). You may discover a new favorite product, find the perfect gift, or bless someone less fortunate than yourself this way!
Of course there are many variations of these methods (and many others) that folks use. The key is to find something that works for you.
To all my fellow couponers out there: what method do you use?
Method 1
This method is the most labor intensive, but it allows you to be most familiar with the coupons you have.
Materials:
large 3 ring binder, dividers, baseball card sleeves ($$)
Procedure:
Initial Setup: Label the dividers (dry food, cold food, household, baby, pet, misc, etc.) according to your needs, and place the dividers and the sleeves in the binder.
Each week: Set aside a specific time each week to go through that weeks' inserts. Clip each coupon*, and place them in individual sleeve pockets behind the appropriate divider. If you have minions...I mean children...they can be a huge help in this endeavor! Periodically go through your coupons to remove those which have expired.
Shopping: While you are making your shopping list, use a coupon database to aid you in picking out the coupons you plan to use during your trip (you can place them in an envelope if you'd like). With this method, it is also very quick and easy to look for a specific coupon while in the process of shopping (if you bring your entire binder into the store with you).
Method 2
This method is slightly less labor intensive at the expense of loosing some amount of familiarity with the coupons in your possession.
Materials:
large 3 ring binder, dividers, page protectors ($)
Procedure:
Initial Setup: Label the dividers according to your the types of inserts (RP, PG, SS, Misc), and place the dividers and the page protectors in the binder.
Each week: Set aside a specific time each week to go through that weeks' inserts. Place each page of each insert in its own page protector behind the appropriate divider. You may wish to label at least the first page from each insert with the date on which you obtained it. Periodically go through each sheet to get rid of any expired coupons.
Shopping: While you are making your shopping list, use a coupon database to aid you in picking out and clipping the coupons you plan to use during your trip (again placing in an envelope). This method can aid you in determining whether or not a specific coupon was in your area's inserts. You can also search for coupons "on the go" with this method, just not as simply as with the previous method.
Method 3
This method is the least labor intensive, but you may not realize you have some coupons that you do.
Materials:
13 slot accordion folder, index card holder/canceled check file ($)
Procedure:
Initial Setup: Label dividers in the index card holder/canceled check file (dry food, cold food, etc.).
Each week: As soon as you get the inserts on Sunday, write the date on the front of each one and place it in the next available slot. Once you've filled your folder (in approximately 3 months), you'll need to add the additional step of removing the old coupons from the "next" slot. When you remove the old coupons, quickly flip through and clip any* that have not yet expired (most will have). Place these loose coupons along with any other coupons (those printed or received in the mail, etc.) in the appropriate section of the index card holder/canceled check file.
Shopping: While you are making your shopping list, use a coupon database to aid you in picking out and clipping the coupons you plan to use during your trip (I place these in the front of my index card holder). It's almost impossible to find a coupon "on the go" with this method, so it requires a bit more pre-trip planning.
*You want to make sure that you keep all the coupons that you get in the inserts even if they're for items that you don't purchase or use. Often times store sales will allow you to get these items for free (or even to make money by purchasing them). You may discover a new favorite product, find the perfect gift, or bless someone less fortunate than yourself this way!
Of course there are many variations of these methods (and many others) that folks use. The key is to find something that works for you.
To all my fellow couponers out there: what method do you use?
MrsDrPoe: CVS Deal, 6/5
Good morning, all! I wanted to start Money Monday off with a GREAT deal at CVS this week on FUZE. This is the same deal as last week, except for the coupon matchup that I read about here:
Buy 5 for $5, use two $1 off 2 coupons from SS 4/10, get $2 back in ECBs...which makes it 5 drinks for $1 (plus tax).
This is one of our new favorite treats, and at this price we can definitely afford it! What fantastic deals have you gotten in the past week?
Buy 5 for $5, use two $1 off 2 coupons from SS 4/10, get $2 back in ECBs...which makes it 5 drinks for $1 (plus tax).
This is one of our new favorite treats, and at this price we can definitely afford it! What fantastic deals have you gotten in the past week?
Friday, June 3, 2011
MrsDrPoe: Our Visit with the Davis Family
Next we visited the Davis Family (more on them later). In the next month, they will be moving into the second house they've built themselves. We got a grand tour during our trip. Everything is finished except the cabinetry (which Mr. Davis is making himself). The house is fantastic! Mr. Poe and I particularly loved the master bathroom:
Later, we watched Ms. K. Davis prepare for the Bible class she was teaching Sunday morning on John 6, where Jesus feeds the 5,000. She made a basket of loaves and fish as a visual aid:
It was a great weekend in our old hometown!
Later, we watched Ms. K. Davis prepare for the Bible class she was teaching Sunday morning on John 6, where Jesus feeds the 5,000. She made a basket of loaves and fish as a visual aid:
It was a great weekend in our old hometown!
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