Saturday, July 31, 2010

Friday: Ode to the Chevy Traverse with a couple of choruses of stupid, stupid ignorance




FRIDAY:  Freebies in my mailbox from this week!!  

4 TENA pantiliners + $2 Q
2 AA ENERGIZER Lithium Batteries + $2 Q
1 photo mousepad from Artscow.com - completely free!!




CVS
-transaction 1:
bought U by Kotex tampons
$4.99 sale - $1 man Q (website) = $3.99
+4.99 ECBs
bought 3 muskateers bar
$0.50 sale
OOP (out of pocket)= $4.86
-transaction 2:
bought diapers (96 ct - more than the Cruisers counterpart)
$21.99 sale - $1.50 VocalPoint Q = $20.49
used $4.99 ECBs from tampons = $15.50
+ $10 ECBs
bought M&Ms (4)
sale $0.50 = $2.00
OOP = $18.95
-transaction 3:
bought 2 dove bars
$0.50 sale = $1.00 - free dove bar CVS Q (printed from kiosk @ store - max value 0.79)
OOP= $0.23

*Special note:  Make sure you buy a green bag tag for 99c - scan it with each visit and every 4th visit, get a free ECB! (pays for itself after 4 scanned visits)

I finally scored my diapers after 3 (count them, THREE) CVSs.  Apparenly none of the people I came into contact with yesterday chewed their Flintstones or ate their wheaties  - they fell way short!  My store didn't have them in Lulu's size, so the cashier called another store and we got some saved for me at the front desk.  She gave me directions and off we went.  Then, hubs called and wanted me to go home (figures) and buy our plane tickets to visit Grandma and Grandpa.  We are getting close, so we needed to buy them quick, before the prices jacked up again! So, since I realized he was right (write it down), I went home.  I got the tickets and grabbed the rest of my quiche for lunch, so I saved even more money.  I then went to the 2nd CVS - on the other side of town - which was fine, as long as I get my diapers and my ECBs.  But did I?  NOOOOOoooooo.  The lady there didn't initally act like she even wanted to talk to me, much less help me.  And for those of you who know me, you know how well that went over!!  She proceeded to tell me there were no diapers behind the counter.  And yes, I tried Aisle 9 on the left side.  No size 3 - every other friggin' size was there, but NO 3s!!
So, back up to the counter I go to talk to the lady again.  I explain we called from my original store to have some put on hold.  I told I talked to the guy myself.  She looks at the teenager there and asked if he talked to me about diapers.  He, of course, says "no".  So, I explain myself again.  She asked who I talked to at the store.  I said that I wasn't sure the lady's name, but it started with a N and she was the AA lady who worked at the front - she's the only one.  So this lady called the original store to find out where they called, since it was not this #2 store.  I hear her on the phone describing the lady I spoke with and she says, "Uh huh.  Interesting.  Well, thanks anyway."  I said, "she doesn't remember where she called, does she?".  She says, "no, there is no AA woman working there".  Turns out #2 CVS lady called the wrong CVS, as did the #1 lady.  We finally call store #3 - they have size three, and the lady hangs up!!  I ask for the # again to call and have them hold the diapers (has she learned NOTHING with all of this?!?!?).  SO, as I'm going out the door, I get the #3 CVS on the phone and #2s lady comes out and says #1 lady called and she DID call the #3 store, too!!  GOOD GRIEF!!  So, I explain myself to the man at #3 store and he just says "yes ma'am".  I asked if he was the one I talked to earlier, he says, "yes ma'am".  He says he also talked to the lady in the background (CVS #2) and the other lady (#1).  {bless his heart}  I asked if my size 3 diapers were still on hold - to which he says (you guessed it) "yes, ma'am".  I said, "thank you so much, this has been a huge confusion, I'll be there shortly!"  I got all the way to the light (it's on a corner), and realized that if I left and went the opposite direction, I'd still have to come this way to go to Randall's for the few things I wanted there with coupons.  So, I pulled a U-ey and went to Randalls - after all, they were holding the diapers for me, right?  So, to Randall's I went and I got my stuff pretty much without a problem, but then came the checkout...  nothing but problems....  First, I got the Fruit2Days - I had coupons for the twin pack, but they only had singles.  I wanted to try them, so I took them to the register and had them separated w/their coupons, and asked if I could use the coupons on the singles, because they did not carry the twin packs.  First, the fabulous cashier, who has been a team member since way back in 2009, had to read the coupons fifty zillion times, like it was a crossword puzzle.  Then, she informs me I have duplicate coupons. I said, I know, there are 4 of them!  She says, "well, IF they let these go through, you can only use 2, because you'll have to buy 2 for each, since they are for a twin pack. I said, that's fine.  She said, "and that's if they let you."  I said, "fine, ask if they'll let me.  I'm paying more buying them as singles, but I really want to try them".  So, she finally takes the Qs to the service desk to ask the higher ups if we could use the Qs.  She came back, and of course, they would NOT let me use them. So I said, that's fine - I'll try to find them elsewhere.  She wanted to tell me that they would issue me a raincheck and I could use the coupons too.  I told her (for about the third time) they do NOT have them.  So, she proceeded with my order.  All was fine until she came to the oatmeal - priced 10/$10 - they rang up for $1.99.  So, she felt the need ask about a "per piece" price. I told her I had no idea - the yellow sign said 10/$10.  She called someone over for a price check and in the meantime decided it was a good time to lecture me on their pricing policies and x for $x sales.  Then she decides to look in the sales ad for the oatmeal - I told her it was on sale last week - it's not in the ad.  Finally the guy comes over and then she had to explain all of that to him - you know 'cuz he didn't work there!  {bless HIS heart!} So, she completes my order while he's gone - I apologize to the lady behind me, who goes to another line with half of her stuff.  The guy finally comes back and plops the oatmeal down on her printer and says "10 for 10".  I was thinking, nah nah nah nah nah naaaah, but I said, thank you.  So, instead of voiding the wrong price and rescanning it to adjust the price, she manually inputs a store coupon for the price difference (after checking it out with her trusty calculator - because you know in some countries, you might wake up and $1.99 minus $1 might equal 457 or 37 or H).  She then has to closely study my other coupons for what seemed like an hour and a half.  She scans the coupons. And then, the Campbell's coupon doesn't scan right.  So, instead of trying again, she says "you have to buy 2 to use this". I said, "I know, that's why I did - one cream of mushroom and chicken and one cream of chicken".  So, she manually overrides this, the whole time talking about having to be careful for all the coupons, b/c so many of them are frauds.  This one came directly from the Campbell's website, so I think I'm okay.  I ask her if she's not going to double it. She says, oh yeah and does, but then she stops and says (Remember the flintstones she didn't chew this morning? This is where it comes into play - I have bought 2 cans of soup to use with a 50c/2 Q and Randall's policy is to double if 50c and below. )     ma'am, it doesn't read that you get 50c off of each of them, just 50 cents.  I said I know, but you need to double that coupon, because it's 50c.  She said, "no, you don't understand what the coupon says".  I say, your store's policy is to double 50c and below coupons. She said in a haughty attitude, "well, I guess I'll just leave it (read: for YOU THIS time)". I said, "yeah, you do that".  She then scanned the last 50c coupon and it read under it on the screen "multiplied [doubled] coupon" 50c.  I said, "I wasn't trying to be tricky - look at your screen - that one doubled, too.  Doesn't matter what you had buy or how many you had to buy to get the coupon, if it's 50c or below, it doubles here."
My next transaction (God forbid) was 6 tubs of wipes.  I had only 2 coupons (save 2.50/3) - I thought it was dummy proof - WRONG!  They rang up $3.99/ea - because she scanned them and then my club card, so it was right - and it did self adjust -$12.00  in the end. She whips that calculator out again, I thought to verify the price adjustment - wrong again!  She is mumbling to herself about the coupons and the price off.  She figures out that they are $1.99 each - bring the poor woman a noble prize!!  I said, "yes, they are."  (on a serious note here - scan the coupons and if they come off, you musta scanned the item.  If it doesn't, that's when you really need to pay attention and maybe ask questions, or go through the bags).  We finally got that taken care of.  So I jet off and she calls out to me for my receipt.  I go back to get it.  I found another coupon for an additional sugar that I can get today at my feet while she was arguing or lecturing or mumbling, I forget which.  So, I go to get the sugar and FINALLY accidentally find the Bisquick (found only one too-small size earlier).  I had several e-coupons already on my card for it, and had an additional 50c coupon that gets, what? DOUBLED (so, a total of $2.50 off). And no, I did NOT go back through her line - I went to self-checkouts.  Still had an issue with a coupon, but it was resolved.  So, this transaction only costs $1.58 - less than half price of either item.   So, needless to say, I wanted to tie this poor woman's hair around her neck and choke her with it.  And I still had to go to #3 CVS.  So, that's where we headed, Lulu and I.  Had no issues at CVS #3.  We found the diapers behind the counter - he saved the Cruisers for me and I went back to double check them - found the 12hr dry - 20 more diapers for the same price - so, those were the ones that went home with us.  We bought the U tampons first and applied that ECB to the diapers w/the Q.  At the last minute I double check the Q that printed at the kiosk for the Dove chocolate.  I asked the lady if would work on the 50c/each bars. She said we'll just try it and see.  They did, so 2 Dove chocolate bars - one milk chocolate and one milk chocolate and almonds (which i'm snacking on as I type this-uummmmm) for 23c!!  That help soothe the crappy day...UNTIL......I head over to Target.  I see a lady getting in her Chevy Traverse to pull out of the first parking place (thank you Jesus).  I pull in - all the way over to the right, with my tail still a little out in the main street that runs in front of the store.  She can't manage, after about 5 tries to back up in a single lane plus some extra room.  I mean, she ran over the curb twice, I think (note to self:  back straight out if you didn't hit the curb on the way in, THEN turn).  She finally rolls her window down, sticks her head and her arm out (Lord help me) and says, with a swatting motion, can you move?!?.  Luckily, Lulu was with me, so ALL I said, was sure....you can't back your car, you don't need to drive it.  Of course, she heard none of this.  Probably better that way - for both of us.  So, needless to say....my day was crappy....but my deals made up for them!!  


Here's the Randall's deals:
Bisquick 40 oz - 2.79 - 1.50 e coupons - 50cQ - 50c doubled Q=0.29
4# C&H sugars 2.29 sale (reg 2.99) - 50cQs - 50c DQ =  2.58 or 1.29/ea
huggies wipe tubs 1.99 sale/each x 6 = 11.94 - 2.50Q (printed) - 2.50 Q (printed) = 6.94 or 1.16 ea - and I even gave my third coupon to another lady on the baby aisle
1# brown rice - 0.75 sale
egg noodles (for diddy's dumplins) 1.25
kellogg's frosted flakes - sale 1.99 ea - $1Q (printed) = 2.98 or 1.49 each - not the best, maybe, but good price and I wanted them!
campbells soups (2) 1.25 ea = 2.50 -50c Q - 50cDQ = 1.50 or 0.75 ea
better oats oatmeal (5 pouches/box) - 1.00 ea - BOGOF Q from site = 1.00 or 50c each box
peaches (4 large) 68c/# = 1.33
smoothie makers (all you add is ice) 2.00 ea -$1Q for each = 2.00 or 1.00 each
swanson chicken cans 1.69each = 3.38 - $1Q/2 - 2.28 or 1.14 each


lastly Target...
4 transactions:
First, I filled a new Rx and got a $10 GC.  The 2 J&J first aid kits were free - 0.97/ea with 3.00/2 Q - target adjusts down automatically now.
Tag Jr Backyardigans Opposites book - clearance to 2.74 - $3 printed Q = FREE
so, I just paid for my Rxs.

Transaction 2:
BIC Soleil razors (3 pk) price drop to 3.99 - $3Q from paper = 0.99 each (unheard of!!) x 2
Schick Quattro WMN  - $5 GC wyb 2 - 5.49 each - $4Q from memory game on facebook - $2 Q from paper (plus $5 GC)
U by kotex tampons sale 3.84 - $1 TQ - $1printed Q = 1.84
total 10.41 (maybe not the BEST total, but there's a method to my madness)

transaction 3: (had to be done twice...first time, I overshot by a lot on my budget...I was SO tired, I didn't keep up with my totals like I should have! I was soooo embarrassed...but the two young men who helped me were great!)

wheat thins flatbread crackers (for sew cute on tuesday with cream cheese and pepper jelly)  sale $2 - $1Q = $1
soft soap hand pumps 0.99 - (2)0.50Q - $1/2 TQ (thanks, Candace) = FREE
Head and shoulders (one of my favorite deals) - 4.74 each - $3/2 Q (blinky from randalls) - BOGOF from paper - 1.47 for both or 0.73 each!!!
MP green beans (no salt added) 0.67 (3c more NOT to put the salt in it!)
MP peas and carrots (no salt added) 0.67  ("baby" foods)
bagel bites 2.24 price drop x2 - $1 printed Qs - $1 TQs = 0.48 or 0.24 EACH
ritz crackerfuls sale $2 - $1Q = $1
ranch style black eyed peas 0.71 sale - these go with the rice and corn for a vege meal
MP corn (no salt added) 0.67
chef boyardee 0.92 each x 4 = 3.68 - (2) $1 coupons (adjusted to 0.92) - 1.50/4 printed Q = 0.34 or 8.5c each!!  and 2 of them are for Lulu!!  talk about cheap baby food!
baby no spill bubbles - for Lulu and her friend Baby J's party - they are sharing their first birthday party this year - they're 1 day apart - of course, Lulu is the OLDER woman! :) clearance 0.48 each = 0.96
green works laundry detergent 90 oz new price 9.99 - $3 printed Q - $3TQ = 3.99
up and up blueberry puffs 1.59 (she will still eat baby snacks)
juicy juice - 4 packs - 2 toddler size and 2 "regular" size - apple and fruit punch - 1.99/2.29 each = 8.56
-$1 printed Q for all (2 TQ and 2 Q) - $2/4 printed = 2.56 or 0.64 each (8pks)
gillette men's deo 4.24 - $2Q from paper (last day to use) - 2.24
betty crocker helpers 1.25 each x 3 -0.75/3Q printed = 3.00 or $1 each (one to use with can of chicken from randalls, one with tuna pouch for free from walmart and one with hamburger in freezer)
total 13.38

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Today was a really good day!!  How was your day?  My friend, Grandma Cookie, and I went out to peruse some quilting shops.  We went to this great cafe for lunch where we had the quiche lorraine (um, YUM!), fruit, fried potatoes, and freshly baked muffins (blueberry for her, carrot raisin for me - since I didn't have to share with the hubs - he hates raisins).  I then had to come back home for a virtual meeting for a part-time job I'm starting - from home, from home - don't get so excited!  I'm not going back!  I'm staying home with Lulu!! It's just a computer thing - earned me 20 buck today for the training, though!!  YAY!  Then, later this afternoon we went back out for one more shop and The Cheesecake Factory!! (another YUM!)  I found many, many patterns I would have loved to have, but I cannot afford to pay up to $2.75 for a fat quarter (18"x22" for those non-sewers out there).  I'd love to make little Lulu some outfits, but we can't afford those prices this week!  I've seen some awful cute patterns out there in blogworld....like, this fat quarter shirt here: http://theadventuresofroryandjess.blogspot.com/2009/06/fat-quarter-baby-toddler-top-tutorial.html
I also went over to this blog today:
http://apartmenthomesteader.blogspot.com/2010/07/being-kind-to-yourself.html
*be sure to check out her protein balls recipe....sounds yummy to my tummy!*
More later,

*Summer*

Saturday, July 24, 2010

special note

I have decided to try out "daily scriptures" - provided by Christ Notes Bible Search - instead of typing my own. See upper left hand corner of blog.  We'll see....

MY SHOPPING ESCAPADES

This was my Wednesday $1.08 CVS run!  I bought the M&Ms 2/$1 with $1ECB back.  The Pantyliners were 2/$1 with $1ECB back too!  So, I bought the M&Ms and just rolled the ECB to buy the liners until I hit my limit (8)!!  I know the shelf tag said something about one offer per family, but the limit prints out on the bottom of the receipt, so, YAY!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This was the load of goodies I bought from Randalls - the first time I really paid attention to using ecoupons AND paper coupons - somethings weren't even on sale, but I still got them free plus a profit! Here's the breakdown:
*C&H sugar - 4# - $2.29 - 0.50 Q - 0.50 doubled Q = $1.29
*Betty Crocker Brownie Supreme Mixes $2.29/ea - (4) 0.75 eQs for
2 = $1.58/2 then 0.75/2 printed Q = 0.83 total for 2 or 0.42 each
*bell peppers - 3/$1
*baby carrots - 2# bags x 2
*celery - $1.59
*onion - 0.52
*Mott's apple juice - sale - $1.49
*Nature Valley Nut Clusters - $3.69 - regular price - rather high in my opinion,
but, I had 4 ecoupons for $1.00, plus another $1 printed coupon
*Betty Crocker Warm Delights bowl - I have tried one of these (choc) and didn't like it,
but I plan to let Hunny try them or donate them (I got 3 free at CVS last week) -
HOWEVER - this one is chocolate chip - figured I'd give it a whirl!
$1.79 - (3) 0.50 ecoupons - (1) 0.75 ecoupon - 0.50 printed Q - 0.50 doubled Q =
free + $1.46 profit!
*Dole Pineapple (8oz cans) x 3 - 89c each (Hunny needed these for a cake he's making) -
-0.50 man Q  -0.50 doubled Q = 1.67/3 or 56c each
*Yoplait Yogurt Delights - $2.29 - (2) $1.00 eQs - 0.50 printed Q - 0.50 doubled Q -
so free plus 0.71 profit!
*Little Debbie oatmeal creme pies - sale $1 - who can resist?  apparently not me - I nabbed
a box - I explained it away by saying, only a dollar, and the hubs likes 'em too! (excuses, excuses) - but you know with all i made off the yogurt and chocolate chip thingy, why not? It's not like they're gonna give me money!
*Ground beef 80/20 - about 3 1/3 # @ 1.99/# - $6.65 - more than I wanted to spend, but I needed some meat and the stuff I have/bought goes better with beef - it was the best deal!

Now, I did this in 2 different transactions - the first with stuff for church and the veggies, sugar, and brownie mixes - that transaction was $20.21, but that was $10 worth of chicken and buns for wednesday night supper and the veggies are mostly for the veggie tray I"m making - a few for us here this week.  However, the second tranaction had the $6.65 of ground beef, juice, warm delights bowl, pineapple, yogurt, and little debbies - for only $7.33 - so you could look at it like I paid for my ground beef and got the rest for less than a buck!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

These were my Wal-Mart Deals:

*Huevos de Calidad eggs - 18 ct - $1.68 - 0.75 printed Q = 0.93
*Kids N Pets Stain Remover $4.68/ea - both free after MIR (mail
in rebate) - one from their facebook page and one from WalMart -
normally wouldn't have spent almost $10 on this, but I actually used my "rebate money" - I got 3 checks this past week to total $17.99 from rebates!!  It pays to get MIR stuff if you can afford it!!  And actually after several times shopping like I have, I was able to do that and not spend much at all!
*Raisinettes - 6 pack - yummy to my tummy - $2.88 - $1Q = $1.88
decent price for "big girl prize" as my Lola says
*Del Monte Spaghetti Sauce 0.94
*Cream of Chicken Soup (great value) - 0.78 - for my Daddy's Dumplins - maybe I'll post that easy breezy
recipe!! It's yummy with english peas and onion (optional).
*Black-eyed peas (great value) - 0.72 - to eat with rice later in the week
*Libby's Naturals Whole Kernel Corn - 0.68 - free with Q - this was the only place that carried Libby's!
*StarKist tuna pouches - on rollback 0.70 each (regular price 0.98) - B2G1F - so $1.40/3 or 0.47 each - not bad for lunch (add mayo, pickles, bread - that I will already have anyways)
*9 pack wash cloths (utility cloths according to label) - $3 - to use for reusable swiffer cloths found here:
http://keeninspirations.blogspot.com/2010/07/cheap-and-easy-homemade-swiffer-pads.html
However, she got a MUCH better deal than I did - 18/$2 - but I'm happy with my 3 bucks spent - less than a refill of wet OR dry cloths - I plan to just double up on the wash cloths - or rather, put a 1/2 cloth in instead of the towel she uses.  The other day, I used a doubled up piece of and old tshirt!!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ah, Walgreens - $4.02 -
*3-10pk sheet protectors - 0.29 each = 0.87
*Dole Pear cups - 0.85 clearance (for me AND Lulu)
*Sweet Oil - walgreen's brand - clearance 75% off - 0.82
*Liquid Paper - 0.59
*Pilot G2 pens (pack of 2) - $1.19 sale - $1WQ (Walgreen's Q)=0.19
*Butterfinger - sale (w/WQ) = 0.39 (good price for chocolate)



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And, last but not least Hobby Lobby (or THE Hob Lob, according
to Lola)
*4th of July clock (complete w/scrolly stand, only needs hands) - 90%
off clearance - so I scored this for $1.29 - will refinish with scrapbook
paper and modge podge (which I already have in my stash)
*clock hands - $2.99 - 40% HL Q = $1.79 (so a new clock for Lulu's room for about $3.08 - not as low as it could be, but it will match her decor!!)
*stuffed animals for Lulu - frog and snail - 0.60 each
*Simplicity pattern for felt food for Lulu - sale 99c
*Thanksgiving stamp - for this year's card - so I won't show too up close up :) (oh yeah, price of $1.52 clearance) I will use card stock I already have - may or may not buy envelopes - I think I still have some - so Thanksgiving cards for the fam for $1.52!! Yay!


.I forgot the "special"
Hobby Lobby stuff - this is for the babies party - Lulu and her friend, Little-Big J - we're doing their first birthday with a Flintstones theme - with her being Pebbles and him being Bamm-Bamm.  So, I found this cute pattern for my (wilma's) dress - also on sale for 99c.  Also, I'm gonna decorate the babies plates for their cakes.  These were on 90% off clearance - for only 0.69 each!!


<--  First Bday plates my friend Chasity had for her twins' first bday

These are the plates I'm gonna -->
use for ours!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Target Deal - $0.51 transaction

2 Armour Alls - $3.99/ea sale -$3/2 T Q - $3/2 man Q - $2/1 man Q = Free + 0.02 overage
Diet Coke (half gone! yum!) $1.49 - $1Q from Facebook boost





Friday, July 23, 2010

Verse of the day

Isaiah 53:4-5 (King James Version)


 4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
 5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.


This is one of my favorite verses....I remember Gospel Bill saying...and by His stripes we are healed!  I'm so thankful for those tapes I played endlessly as a child!!  Thanks, Mama!

Ever been busy?

Sorry it's been a couple of busy days!! It never turns out quite like you think, does it? What? you ask - well, in my life, typically, nothing!! Lulu and I have been very busy girls!! Thankfully,
I have had some FAB shopping trips in the last 3 days - kinda helps make up for all the other junk going on! Pictures and details to follow!!
Right now, I wanted to mention a few cool giveaways I found on websites I follow.


Amy is giving away a set of Bummas cloth wipes:
http://www.thecheapandchoosy.com/2010/07/bummas-cloth-wipes-review-and-giveaway.html

she's also giving away some uber cool reusable produce bags:
http://www.thecheapandchoosy.com/2010/07/chicobag-produce-stand-starter-kit.html

AND


Ms Deal-icious found a great prize!! A custom mousepad - in several shapes - COMPLETELY free - mine has already shipped!! (my kinda deal!)

http://dealiciousfinds.com/?p=2285


Sorry about the necessity of having to copy and paste the links - or you can just go to the site and find them - I'm still learning, and apparently haven't found the right key combo to make it work!!

*Summer*

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Verse of the day

Psalms 84:11
For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Sew Cute

I went to our church sewing club today - all day - 12 hours (even though I didn't make it that long today - I was late) of sewing, laughing, stories, cutting out 17 squares instead of 12, undoing what you just sewed (sometimes 3 times over). I LOVE IT!! The first day I went, which was several months ago, I "won" an honorable position - the youngest! Honestly, these girls completely crack me up!!! Today, I finally finished a tote bag I started before Lulu was born - in fact, I may have started it a long time before her - when she was just a prayer. Anyway, I love to repurpose things. I actually cut up an old quilted robe and added an inside layer of fabric, and TA-DA - I got a bag! Not really sure what I'm gonna do with it, but it is finished. I left it out in the car, however. I will post a picture of it soon. I also started on Lulu's crib quilt today, with the help of my good friend, Grandma Cookie (THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!! You're my hero) I got a cool freebie today - not in my mailbox, but from our waitress at Applebees. I got hubby a bag of Guatemalan Starbucks coffee!! Woohoo! So, I traded those girls for the Golden Girls (affectionately called "the girls") here at home. I just watched the one where Blanche won tickets to see "Mr. Burt Reynolds" and the girls go to stay in a hotel for the weekend (because they have termites and have to tent the house) and they are caught in a hooker raid. I HEART my girls - both sets!! Oh, and Lulu and I got 2 surprises today - a pattern for stuffed fruits and veggies (I'm making her food to go with her soft tea set - stay tuned - more to follow) Well, I'm very tired, so.... Good nite, blogworld!

*Summer*

Monday, July 19, 2010

Verse of the day

Nehemiah 10:38 (New International Version)

38 A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury.

$1.50/slice CHEESECAKE





Is there anything better? Chocolate, you say? I can give you one better - combine the two!!! You just can't go wrong!!





Thursday, July 29 (in celebration of National
Cheesecake Day which is July 30). Now, why didn't I come up with that?? Oh wait, if I did, it would be
EVERYDAY!!!



But seriously, to get this great deal, go to the website listed below and "LIKE" the cheesecake factory (like there's an alternative!?!?!!!) and get your coupon. You will need to bring picture ID, according to the coupon. ENJOY!! I know I'm planning on it!!





Click here:


General musing and wonderingment....

Sitting here eating a cold biscuit, pondering the complexities of life....no, seriously, just waiting for my spaghetti-o's to warm. Has any mother out there ever shaved her legs while sitting in the bathtub with a 9 month old in between them?? Oooh, oooh, I have!! It was hilarious! You should have seen it...no, wait, not so much - that's yuck! But anyways, soooo funny! It all started when we went downstairs to get the stroller out of the trunk. I packed up little bit and down to storage we walked. I parked her right inside the building so she could catch a breeze. I was pouring buckets of sweat in the back of the unit while attempting to find material for tomorrow's sewing club. I have become addicted!! I mean, I sewed before, but now....woah! look out!! People randomly walked and drove by and no one stopped that I'm aware of, until....I hear a dog collar jangling and I stand up from my crouch to see little bit. I hear someone talking - close - so I walk to the front of the unit, only to hear "...there's no way...". I look out and see this lady walking her weenie dog - she's about my age (lady, not dog - at least I don't think dog, but who can tell?). I can tell my her expression, she thought the baby was out there alone. I assured her I did not leave my child and my garage full of stuff just sitting there for the first taker... She apologized and said she wasn't meaning to "check up" on her, but... I said, no, thank you for checking, no one else did. It was nice to meet someone else (nice) from the complex. So, Miss Audra, nice to meet you and thank you for being a pet and baby lover!

my savings inspirations...

So, several of my friends have asked me how I save so much money with my coupons. I'm going to explain a little and share other tips I've found. First of all, please feel free to check out the following sites - if you like 'em, follow 'em!




ECoupon sites: (to save these coupons onto a shopper card such as randalls or kroger)
These coupons do not double or triple, but sometimes you can get multiples, as they are placed online for about 2 weeks then taken off (but do not necessarily expire when taken off), but may reload in next batch of coupons loaded. These savings come off automatically when you scan your card!! In addition to printed coupons!! Perfectly legit to use multiples this way (at least in Randalls - Safeway store - according to their coupon policy). It may also be a good idea to check out your favorite stores' policies and print them out even to carry with you with all your coupons, in case they are needed - you'd be surprised how many employees don't know their own store's policy!!


http://shortcuts.com/ - *NEW* you can also print coupons from here now!

and possibly:
Proctor & Gamble esaver site


Hope these help! Don't get discouraged! Clip your coupons, load your coupons, make your lists then shop those sales!!

target baby stuffs

we're swimming in the diapers at my house!! (and we do it gladly!!) had to ask the hubs for an extra $20 so i could get more diapers and use my coupons before they expired - worth it i think, since we had it and i got some killer prices!!
luvs 6.99/ea sale - $2.50 and $2 Qs = $4.49-$4.99/each
huggies 8.99/ea sale + wipes (214) 5.99 reg price - $3 man Q - $3.50 T Q - $2 T Q = $15.47 for all 3
T formula 18.59/ea - i know, right? GAG ME WITH A SPOON - the other store 5 additional minutes away carries it for 16.89, but of course, they have been OUT (what?!?) the last TWO times we've gone!
gerber yogurt $2.24 sale - try me free MIR - FREE after rebate
gerber puffs/mini fruits - $1.89/$2.19 sale - 55c/2 Q
gerber stage 3 meals 67c/each sale (i'm about to stop buying baby food - she won't eat much of it - she wants mine!! so, i'll be making some stuff up for her - i'm going to the farmers market, so i may find lots of yummies there and maybe can some for later!!

randall's savings - last week

this was actually an accident - i was supposed to buy the diapers on one transaction - actually slid my card and everything, but apparently the cashier cancelled it and with all the coupon talk, i missed it - so, for this trip to randalls (safeway), i spent only $11.65 - not too shabby considering i got $5 worth of paper plates (GOOD "usual/sale" price) and $9 (sale price - reg is $11) of diapers!!
4 nivea chapsticks - 99c sale/each - 2 $2/2 Q = FREE
tone blueberry soap 2 pk - $1.04 on clearance (smells divinely yummy)
chicken/broccoli rice - $1 sale (good meal for next week)
cake mix 99c - for hubby
then GREAT gen mills/betty crocker sale - buy 4 products, save $4 AND get a FREE box of granola bars - plus i had coupons (paper AND electronic - from 2 sites!!!!) for all products AND i got double coupons for the paper ones!!! (so, less than $2 i think on those FIVE items) holy cow!! i'm beginning to see a future here....it's not the bogof king publix, but it's pretty darn good!!

best cvs run to date!

I paid 35cents total out of pocket (oop)!! (and i paid that for the diet coke i wanted so badly - it was SOOOO HOT!! as you can see, i enjoyed it), 12 sobe lifewaters - (bogof raincheck from last week) + bogof coupons = FREE ,betty crocker warm delights (i don't like but can give to hubby or donate for the 13c i WOULD HAVE paid - actually rolled into my 'credit' - so F-R-E-E, free coupon for hand sanitizer, free coupon from facebook for haircolor, printed in store coupon for cards - bogof (99c each), gum (filler), green bag tag (reg price 99c - scan w/each visit - on 4th visit/day, get $1ecb free) - started out with biotrue contact solution (i don't even wear contacts) - "paid" w/$1 ecb left over from last week and earned full price (2.99) in ecb - then just rolled all into next purchase. this was 3 purchases, i think.
This is my first post! YAY! I'm very excited about this blog! I will be able to post my savings, coupons found, general musings - including random thoughts that just pass through my head, baby adventures and granola mama moments!