Recent Runs

Recent Coupon Trips!!!

Walgreens:

3 pks Splenda
2 pks Butterfinger Snackerz
1 pk Srayfree
1 pk Nexcare Bandages
1 toothpaste
TOTAL: 14.01
MINUS: $8 in Register Rewards
NEW TOTAL: $6.01
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^



CVS

4 Honest Ade Teas
1 Colgate toothpaste
1 Dove Men's Deodorant
3 Clean & Clear body washes
1 Blink Tears
2 Schick Hydro Razors
TOTAL: $9.27
I had to do three transactions and use ECBs to get this total.

1 Old Orchard juice
1 Parkay Butter
2 Stove Top boxes
1 Rhodes rolls
1 Rhodes Cinnamon Rolls
TOTAL: 5.40

Feel free to ask any questions or share your own coupon adventures!!!!!

Couponing!

Now that I finally have some local friends that have joined me in couponing, I feel "safe" to share my crazy shopping trips! Even a year ago, I thought most people would think I was crazy for the time and effort I put into saving and couponing. But with the new show "Extreme Couponing" and a local woman who runs a rockin' deals blog, many of my friends have jumped on board! Yippee!!! Now, if you have seen the TLC show you will likely think those families are a bit, well, EXTREME. And yes, I totally agree! I don't have a stockpile in every room of my house, I don't have 3 yrs worth of mustard or spend 3 hours in the check out lane. I do my best to get deals that we will actually use in the near future.

So, here are 3 trips I made yesterday!

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TRIP #1: Hen House Supermarket
2 artichokes
2 Kraft Mayo/Miracle Whip
3 boxes of Puffs
1 box of brownies
3 containers of Philadelphia Cooking Creme
8 bags of shredded cheese

TOTAL: $21.01
SAVED: $39.46

This store doubles coupons up to $1.00, they had a special deal where you buy 10 Kraft items, you save $5, they have their own coupon book not found in the newspapers or online.

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TRIP #2: Walgreens

2 Skittle Easter Eggs
2 M&M Easter Eggs
1 Enfamil Formula
1 Gatorade Fit Perform
1 Gatorade Fit Prime
1 Gatorade Fit Recover

FIRST TOTAL: $26.08
$10 in Mail in Rebates
NEW TOTAL: $16.08

I was disappointed in this run. I have enough coupons to get 2 formulas but they only had one container left. So I had to get a raincheck. Also, this store has its own coupons - one specifically for infants. It had another $2 off the formula but this store was out of the coupon booklets. Finally, the formula was on sale but rang up full price and I wasn't paying close enough attention to notice until I got home. Live and learn. I should have saved another $4.

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TRIP #3: WalMart
2 Powerade Zero
2 Similac Sensitive
1 Aquafresh toothpaste
1 Reach floss

TOTAL: $2.56

I accidentally grabbed the wrong floss and spent $1.08 more than the cheaper version. My total could have been even less! Walmart has a new coupon policy where they give you any overage from your coupons!!!

What do you think? Have I convinced anyone to try couponing?! :)

You Capture - Smile

This week's theme is SMILE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I had a bit of fun playing around with this photo!!!! Which do you like best?!)

Also linking up with.....

April Photo a Day Take 1

April 7th
This photo is such poor quality. But I don't care! My bff and Kennedy's bff went to a consignment sale. (big surprise, right?!) In the check out line this man was playing his guitar. The girls immediately wanted to dance! They are both such performers! It was adorable - even though the picture is totally wonky!


April 6th
Ooops - I guess I didn't take a photo!

April 5th
Kennedy's actual birthday! She was opening her gift from Dad and Mom. She was very surprised!!!!


April 4th
Normal day - watched the National Basketball Championship game.
April 3rd
Just Quinn enjoying her bath!!!!

April 2nd
Kennedy's family birthday! Loving on Cousin Logan!!!!


April 1st
Kennedy's birthday party! The gals LOVED playing dress up in Kennedy's closet! The cheese pizza we got for the girls burned. :( So while Jeff dashed out to get another pizza, I stalled by having the girls parade up and down the street in their "model" outifts! Here are just 3 of the girls skipping down the street!!! It was a super fun party for the girls!

Thanks for taking a peek!

Baby Zia

We are all just in love with our new niece/cousin! Zia has been the tiniest of the babies born in our family at just 6lbs 6oz!

We visited her at home just 8 days after she arrived! I had an impromptu photo shoot! The lightening was not good and I didn't have my portrait lens. But I made due and just snapped a few. Hopefully next time I share they will be better!!

First up is Zia with Elijah, now the middle brother!!!



Sweet little fingers.....

Unhappy....almost waking up....

peaceful again...

raising her hand.....

don't you just want to grab her and cuddle her!??!

Thanks for taking a peek!!!!

March's End

Gonna try to keep this short and sweet!!

March 31st
Kennedy and her bff. The gals and the moms went consignment sale shopping and then to McD for lunch!
March 30th
My adorably tiny little niece, Zia (pronounces like Maya). Isn't she sweet?!

March 29th
Last fall Jeff was in the right place at the right time to help save a man's life. I am not kidding at all. Truthfully I believe God placed him there at that time. The story will likely be shared in another blog post. But....Jeff went to visit the man and his wife today. They have written out their account of their experience that day. They gave Jeff and copy and he brought it home to share. It is an amazing story. AMAZING. You can't read it without wanting to scream "Our God is Great!!!" So, this is just a snapshot of the beginning of this man's story of a near death/death experience.

March 28th
Just my super cute girl! Excited to wear "high heels" to school! Not so excited about them when I picked her up after school!!!

March 27th
Look who is sitting up!!!!!!

March 26th
Kennedy and her family of dolls and animals!!!

March 25th
Quinn is working soooo hard at trying to hold that darn bottle all by herself! She is quite persistent but doesn't have it fully figured out yet!

March 24th
Soccer Practice!!!!! K has on brown pants, the yellow jersey and purple sleeves.


March 23rd
Quinn loves her Jump-a-Roo! On this afternoon I put dog treats on the tray in front of her. We used to do this with tennis balls when Kennedy was little. Kennedy would giggle hysterically at Izzy while Izzy started down the ball. I was hoping for a similar reaction from Quinn but didn't quite get it! She watched the dogs intently but didn't really giggle much! And don't worry - the dogs know better than to lunge toward her. They never did more than sniff around for the treats!

March 22nd
Welcome to the world Baby Zia! Jeff's sister and her family welcomed child number 3 to their family! This is Elijah, K and Zia.

March 21st
Quinn's first time in a swing! This photo may not show it but she truly enjoyed it!!


March 20th
Just Izzy chillin' in her favorite spot. This reindeer dog toy has been her favorite. It was actually a gift to our old dog, Gabe. Izzy got the same gift that year and ripped hers to shreds. Gabe never played roughly with his. He died that fall (2005) and it became Izzy's toy. She NEVER played roughly with it...would just hold it in her mouth or hang with it like she is in the photo. Jeff and I like to think she realizes it was Gabe's and that is her "link" to him! I know, very unlikely, but it is the only soft toy she hasn't destroyed!!!!

March 19th
Our last day in Iowa. We went to dialysis to see what Gigi does when she is there. Then we went to brunch at Mimi's! Yum! I love that Kennedy is so attached to her great-grandparents!

March 18th
My grandmother with Quinn. (LOVE)

March 17th
Spring Break in Iowa still! This is my niece, Marin. She was chasing Kennedy all over my mom's backyard! They even had an impromptu 2-person parade using twigs from the tree to wave. Too cute!

We had a huge birthday weekend here! I am exhausted! Phew! A few pics will come later next week!!!

You Capture - Vibrance

This week's You Capture topic is Vibrance.....
Do you think this photo fits the bill?