In the market for a SLR? This deal is amazing!

I came across this deal online and just had to share. If you are in the market for an SLR camera and have the money to buy one, why not throw in a few extra dollars and get an extra lens?

Here is how you go about getting a Canon SLR and a lens for just over $640.00!!

Add this camera to your cart:

Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)

Amazon has a deal going on now where you if you add a Canon XSi DSLR lens to your cart, you will get $200.00 off automatically. Here is the lens:

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

This deal ends up costing about $899.00 before discounts. Depending on your taxes and such, you will pay around $641.00!!

Make sure you your items are from Amazon directly or the deal will not work. If it does not say you are getting it from Amazon, then click "17 New" (or however many are mentioned) and scroll down until you see the vendor is Amazon.

I have had Canon's before and if I had the money to spend on this deal, I would have definitely considered it. Do your research and I hope this may be helpful to you!!

And it begins...

Even though classes usually have me strappped for time during the week (and not to mention housework), I have found a few minutes to just play around with my camera.

I am clueless on how to work this thing to it's full advantage.

One thing that I do not want to do is rely on 'Auto'. I want to learn the camera...ISO, aperture and shutter speed, just to name a few. Right now, for the most part, those terms mean nothing to me.

Which is why I am going to get this today...

I have to really, if I am going to get the full effect of what my Nikon can do. Hopefully this weekend will allow me to take some practice shots.

Once I learn more about the camera body and the lens I have that came with it, I will be looking at some lenses.

Eeeekkkkkk!

A picture is worth a thousand words.

You guys, I got it. I have not said anything here but I have been madly in love with the Nikon D40 (doesn't it just roll off the tongue so nicely?) for some time now. Anyone that knows me IRL (in real life) knows this. And Sunday morning I woke up and within three hours, knew that it was going to be the day this baby got in my hands.

In was not planned that way. The plan was for me to save up money...money from Ebay sales, doing surveys and a few dollars here and there. And I had close to 20% saved so far. Once I got the right amount of money saved, I would walk in and get it. Simple as that.

But then Whitney calls me. She has been shopping digital SLR cameras and just started today actively looking, catching a feel for them.

"Alaina, they have this Nikon D40 on clearance for $299.00. This years model and everything."

At this time, I think my heart skipped a beat.

After a bit on convincing Jeremy that this was the best deal ever, he agreed.

(Or maybe it was he was just sick of hearing about it. I am still not sure.)

But I have it! And I'm in awe. There are so many things this baby can do and I must learn it all, or at least try! So I am warning you, I will be posting some pictures. They may not be great but we can learn together, m'kay?

Menu Plan Monday: The week of November 8

The first week of November has come and gone. With the busy holiday season coming faster than ever, I am scared we are going to go waaayy over budget on our grocery bill. On top of all the holidays, we have both the girls' birthdays and Jeremy's birthday all before December 28. I did one big shopping trip this past weekend for the rest of November and will hopefully make some of the meals ahead of time so it will help me out in the kitchen (and give more more time to play with my new toy! More on that tomorrow). We shall see...

One thing I want to add is if I don't post a veggie with the meal, assume I add one. I have looked back on my menus and noticed that one is not always posted. Just want to mention that.

Here is what this week looks like...

Sunday: Hamburgers and a side
Monday: Rice Lasagna & No-Knead Fococcia Bread (I am hoping this will taste like the bread at the Macaroni Grill)

Tuesday: Baked Salmon, mashed potatoes and a veggie

Wednesday: Crock Pot Pulled Pork and corn

Thursday: Zuchinni Crab Cake Burgers and a veggie

Friday: Taco Night with Mexican Rice
Saturday: Homemade Pizza

For more menu ideas, check out I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Menu Plan Monday: The week of November 1 (!)

Typing out the title of this post is so odd...I can't believe it is already November! Here is my menu for the week...

This week is a menu for Jeremy - it has his two favorite recipes in it.

Monday: Stuffed Peppers (My own version of this recipe.)

Tuesday: Beef and broccoli

Wednesday: Crock pot chicken chili with cornbread

Thursday: Bruschetta n' Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Friday: Homemade Pizza
Saturday: Stuffed shells
Sunday: Seven layer tortilla pie

Snacks: Spiced Pumpkin Bread, applesauce, grapes and cheese and crackers

For more menu planning ideas, check out I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Don't throw away those Halloween candy wrappers!

I just wanted to take a minute to tell you about this promotion YoCrunch has:

If you send in two candy wrappers to YoCruch, you can get free yogurt! They will send it to you in the form of a free product coupon.

You can read all the details here, but I thought it was worth mentioning to all the trick-or-treaters!