Gaming my groceries

So I'm playing the grocery game - this was my first week. I was afraid that all I would be able to get on it would be loads of taquitos and frozen pizza rolls. But I have been pleasantly surprised by my stuff this week. The list told me the produce that was on sale, the meat that was cheap, and all the canned items I could handle. The list couples the sale with the coupons found in the Sunday paper. And not just the ones from the previous week - you hold them and the list tells you the best time to use them to get rock bottom prices. So, no gambling necessary - just trust the list. I thought it might be stressful to do it and to go from store to store but actually it was much less stressful. I didn't have to wonder what to get or what was a good deal. Just stick to the list! In the end my grand total for food that will last a looong time -

the regular price for all the dummies: $272

and after the sales & coupons: $150

TOTAL SAVINGS: $120

And that was just my first week - if I had had the stockpile of coupons it asked for I could have saved sooo much more! And that's not for crazy foods you'll never use - it was for roasts, chicken, frozen veggies, produce, and all that. I am excited! Go check it out and if it asks for a referring email address give them mine! mmknorpp@earthlink.net (For every three people who sign up and last past the trial I get 12 free weeks!)

Andy Parker, P.I.

Ok, so it's a nerdy thing to do but I'm doing it. We don't get/have television but watch movies instead. Last week when reading google news I read a review for a show produced by Conan O'Brien and wanted to know more about it. When I looked it up I found that you could watch the episodes online. The show is called Andy Parker, P.I. and it has a total of 5 or 6 episodes so far. The reviewer said it started quietly but that eventually it gets to you and you love it. Mike and I sat down and watched the episodes and felt the same way - we are total fans now. Andy is an accountant starting up his own practice not knowing that his office used to be rented by a private investigator. When people show up thinking that this is still the private investigator's office...trouble ensues - simple setup but it is actually pretty fun. Especially with Andy's new neighbors in the mini-mall trying to help him on his investigations - there is Simon, the owner of Video Riot downstairs and Wally, the overly patriotic Afghan who owns a falafel restaurant downstairs. When the old(and aging) P.I. shows up to help it gets even better. It airs on Thursdays, I believe, so if you have TV check it out. If not or if you want to catch yourself up - you can go and watch the shows @

http://www.nbc.com/Andy_Barker_PI/

I also like how clean the show is. It's not sexy - Andy is happily married with children. And it isn't trying so hard to be revealing, stylish, or cutting edge. Which actually makes it feel quite refreshing. You can really see Conan's hand in it. Check it out!

Weston und Gretyl

When we were expecting our first we went through many names. After the trauma of finding out I had a developing male organ inside of me (and it was pretty traumatic for me) we started on the hunt for boy names. At that point we were young (I was 21 and Mike was 22) and still hoping to be cool. We wanted something hip and different - something that would ensure our child would be able to have his name on a program for his art opening or on the cover of a book and it would look cool. And having the last name "Knorpp" makes that a little tricky. We started with the names Jack and Henry - I think Henry was in the lead. Then while reading some parenting magazine I read that Meg Ryan's two sons were named Jack and Henry. I knew that wouldn't work so I went looking again. If you don't know Mike then you might not know that as a teenager he was obsessed with the Beatles - he even had the huge chops, little round glasses, and an asian girlfriend to prove it. So I thought "Jude" would be the perfect choice. Not only could we pay homage to the fab four but also to our religion - Jude was the half brother of Jesus. On a weekend trip with family we announced the name and were surprised at the opinions of disgust that were shared. Not deterred, I remember thinking I would tell our little Jude exactly which aunt and uncle hated his name and thought it was ugly. Still though, deep down I knew it might be a little too "cool" a name for us.

A few weeks before I was due Mike said, "What about Elijah". Now, this was a name I had mentioned a million times over in the beginning of my pregnancy and Mike protested it up and down. I loved the stories of Elijah the prophet in the Old Testament and I also thought the name had been youngified by Elijah Wood. So, as soon as he mentioned it - it was sealed. And that was our first journey onto the difficult path of choosing a name. Our second time around we played with names from Elfie to Calvin. Andrew actually ended up written on the birth certificate, then scratched out and replaced by Calvin, which was also scratched out and Andrew was written in again. Elijah means "Jehovah is my God" and we love that meaning but Calvin means "bald one" and we didn't want that to come out on some Family Night, "Elijah - your name means... and Calvin - well...we just like the comic "Calvin and Hobbes" a lot." Andrew was a family name - Mike's g'pa and my brother's middle name. And he was a rockin apostle who when he met the Savior immediately went and got his brother Peter and brought him back. Knowing Andrew would have at least one brother we thought that was special.

And now we are here again. Hoping for a girl because this may be our last time doing this. Last Saturday, with a minivan full of teens, I was asked what we would name it if it was a girl and when I told them they laughed because they thought I was joking. Nope, "Gretyl Louise" isn't a joke name. I like "G names for girls - we started with Gwendolyn and then went to Gwyneth and then ended up here. Louise was one my amazing grandmother's names.

If we have a trilogy of sons - now that is difficult. We like Peter, Daniel, Atticus, Toby, Asher - but none really fits - or it makes our other kids names seem different - either too Bible themed or too trendy. So, we are starting to settle on Weston Daniel. A family name - Weston is my mother's maiden name and my little brother's first name. Daniel is Mike's brother and my brother Spencer's middle name.

We'll find out in April which name it is - for now at least. And we'll let you know. Now, I'd love to hear your comments but tread lightly - At least I try to. Names are personal. So, if you don't like it - I'd rather not know.

For a really cool baby naming tool - or just name tool go to : http://babynamewizard.com/namevoyager - it is worth it.

need this online

just need a photo of me so here it is....