Oh the joys of shoping at Target with coupons...

Ya know...I "thought" they were getting better.

My last several trips had been good.

I had cashiers who actually KNEW their coupon policy and didn't question or screw things up.

But eventually, you go in, and STILL run in to a cashier who is completely unfriendly and inept at her job.

I first off must say, that when I go in using coupons anywhere, I try to be super friendly, chatty, and appreciative of my cashier hoping to put them at ease and let them know I'm not there to be a big problem case for them.

Well today at Target...I had a cashier I had never seen before. And as her luck would have it...I had a coupon for every item I was purchasing. Let me first say, every coupon was legit (as they always are...I am NOT a scammer!) and NONE of them were difficult.

I really don't understand WHY she had such problems.

She first tried to tell me I couldn't use a Tide coupon on a travel size. SOME coupons DO say this...but this coupon said "good on ANY SIZE Tide product". This product was priced at 97 cents and as Target policy states, they will give you up to the dollar amount charged.

Her: "You can't use this coupon"

Me: "Oh? Why is that?"

Her: "It's a travel size"

Me: "Oh really, I believe it says ANY SIZE Tide product ma'am"

Her: "NO, I KNOW it says somewhere on here NO TRAVEL SIZE, I had one of these the other day"

Me: "Maybe we can read it and check or ask the manager"

Her: (she asks the cashier next to her)

Other cashier: "You can use it on travel size items Tammy, you just give up to the dollar amount charged for the item"

Her: "Hmph!"

LOL...it was pretty funny.

Well she made it clear from then on out she was going to give me a rough time with every item.

And I made it clear I was going to be as friendly and helpful to her as possible and I think she hated that even more! LOL!

In the end, I got some really great deals, including...

Tide travel size...priced at 97 cents...used a $1.00 coupon...FREE.

Dove travel size deoderant...priced at 97 cents...used a $1.00 coupon...FREE.

Bumble Bee Tuna pouches...priced at $1.37...used a $1.00 coupon...37 cents.

Degree deoderant and body spray...$3.29 each ($6.58 total)...used a $1.50 man. coupon for each...plus a $3.00 off Target coupon...making them 29 cents each.

Glade Scented Oil Candle Tins...priced at $2.64 ($5.28 for both)...used a $2.00 off two coupon making them $1.64 a piece...PLUS...I had two coupons "Receive a FREE refill pack when you buy a candle tin"...those are priced at $2.99 each...so in the end...I got two candle tins and two refill packs which normally would have totalled $11.64...all for $3.28!

My tally was:

Spent $6.22

Saved $17.25

Woohoo!

My son...the "Survivor"...

Well, tonight was church. The boys are both involved in Royal Rangers. And I have to say that we have one of the best programs out there. We have such dedicated leaders with such a passion for our kids. I am just in awe of all my boys have learned and how much they've grown spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically over the years they've spent in Rangers.

Evan is in the Expedition Rangers...the oldest group and he is doing so many neat things. They have been working on a backpacking merit and survival skills. Tonight they built survival shelters out in the woods back behind the church and then talked about survival kits.

They later had a "trivia" game of sorts to see how much they remembered from what they were learning and awarding prizes for each question answered correctly. As it turns out...Evan joked that they had to "cut him off", LOL, because he kept getting all the correct answers. LOL! I told him, "Gee Ev, if only you could remember as much in Algebra as you do in Rangers!" LOL! Anywho...he came home with an armfull of prizes. He earned three neat survival items that he can take to their next campout...a canteen, hand-warmers, and an emergency blanket.

We were pretty proud of him!!! Good job Ev!!!

Evan's creation...pumpkin carving cont.

Well, Evan came home from school today and finished up his jack-o-lantern. I forgot to tell the story last night while we were all scooping the "guts" out of the pumpkin how we kept misplacing one of our tools. We'd reach down, look for one of the picks, scoops, or saws...and they'd be GONE! They kept disappearing one by one! We thought "what in the world"?!?! Well turns out...as with most activities in our house..."cat" is usually right in the middle of whatever we're doing. As you can see in the picture above he had his head poked RIGHT in Evan's pumpkin! But anyway...as it turns out...we look up and away cat walks. We look closer, and he has something in his mouth. Sure enough, we follow him...and he's carrying off our carving tools and taking them under the kitchen table! He had his stash and was playing with them batting them around and chewing on them. Thankfully he didn't carry off anything sharp. Silly cat! Mystery solved. So we gather all our tools back from cat and finish up. LOL!

Evan did a really nice job. He designed his own pumpkin face this year and didn't go with one of the pre-designed patterns that came with the kit. He did great. Hopefully it won't get too warm and we won't have any rotting pumpkins before Saturday! Happy Halloween!

Great recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds!

Several people have been asking us what recipe we use when we roast our pumpkin seeds each year. Well, I came across this recipe years ago in an old cookbook and it is our tried and true favorite "go-to" recipe year after year.

2 c. seeds, washed/dried
1 1/2 tbsp. butter, melted
1/2 tsp. worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. salt

Pour in a thin baking sheet and bake at 250 for two hours or until golden brown.
Yummy!

Pumpkin guts, pumpkin guts, lots and lots of slime!

Tonight was pumpkin carving night at our house! Both of the boys actually picked their own pumpkin FROM the patch this year. We usually go to the farmer's market or something, but it was fun to actually get them from the patch this year. Here's Nate getting ready to design his pumpkin. You can see all seeds off to the side. We love to dry and roast them with butter, salt, and worchestershire sauce.

It was neat because both of the boys chose totally different types of pumpkins. Nate's is a brighter orange and completely round and squatty. Evan's is a deeper orange and taller and thinner. We have lots of patterns for jack-o-lanterns, but Ev decided to design his own pumpkin face this year.

Nate surprised me this year...he's really come a long way in his pumpkin carving skills! He cleaned out that pumpkin great! There weren't any guts left at all! I usually have to do more for him. He did all the "poking" for his design too. I offered to help him and he matter of factly told me, "I'm a big boy, you don't have to do that anymore". LOL!

I did help Nate with the actual carving. Those little "saws" that come with the carving kits are quite sharp and I'm not quite ready to let him loose with one of those. He chose a "Gobster"...I'm guessing it's a cross between a "goblin" and a "monster", LOL! It was a cute little pattern.

And here is Nate's finished product. A cute little gobster if I do say so myself! Great job Natee! We had so much going tonight between homework and such that Evan didn't quite finish his. I'll have pictures of his tomorrow night. We concluded our night with pizza and "It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown". It was a fun night. Halloween is my second favorite season to Christmas. I'm just like a little kid. More Halloween pics coming! Until then...Happy Haunting!

I am hoping I jinxed the flu away from my family! LOL!

So I went and did my usual couponing at Walgreens this week. They had lots of cold, flu, and pain meds on sale this week. And even though everyone around us is or has been sick...we have remained relatively healthy. So I figured I'd stock up on all these cold, flu, and pain meds, thinking maybe since I'm so stocked up and PREPARED for it...maybe, just maybe it will pass us right on by! LOL!

I also got some great deals on haircare for myself.
Dove haircare products were on sale Buy 1, Get 1 FREE. So at $4.99 a piece, which I would NEVER pay for one bottle...that get's it down to approx. $2.50 a bottle with the BOGO...which is STILL a bit high in this frugal momma's mind. Well, I added a $1.00 off coupon on each item and a $1.50 off on one of them...getting them all down to $1.50 and one for $1.00. Not too bad for Dove products! I ended up getting two shampoos, two conditioners, and two hair sprays.

I also got a great deal on some ColorSilk hair color...got three at $1.99 each.

And with the cold/flu season upon us, I took the opportunity to stock up on antibacterial soap which was on sale...regular $6.29...on sale for $3.99. I got two 64 oz. tubs of those!

My tally for this trip was:
Spent: $41.07
Saved: $45.65

Oh yeah...SAVED more than I spent!!!
Love it!

He is not me...

I have come to realize...that one of the things that sets me off the most about being the parent of a teenager...is something I cannot change.

And that is...

My child is NOT ME.

We may have similar looks or characteristics...

But he is NOT ME.

I am trying REALLY hard to learn this and make peace with this.

It becomes very frustrating when things such as academics come up.

I was always a VERY organized, schedule oriented, stay on task, set goals type of person.

My son...simply...is not.

He is a very laid back...take it as it comes...wait till the last minute..."Oh by the way"...type of person.

And I have to be perfectly honest...it drives me insane.

When I had homework, I came home and did it.

When I knew I had a test, I would panic, study my brains out, and worry till it was over.

When I had a paper due, I planned, researched, wrote notes, rough drafts, typed it, re-typed it...until it was PERFECT.

My child...not so much.

This drives me batty.

As much as we are alike in so many ways...

We are COMPLETE and TOTAL OPPOSITES in this area.

What is a mother to do...

Pray.

And pray alot.

And...

Learn and TRY to take one day at a time.

Because if I have to think of it in terms of four and a half more years of this...

I am going to send myself to the nut-house. :)

So...my bright honor roll son...dad and I are here to coach, encourage, and help you stay organized...whether you like it...or think you need it. We love you more than anyone else in the world!

Pinchin' more pennies!

I did really well grocery shopping this week. Not so much because there were TONS of bargains to be had, but the ones that were there, I nabbed and I stuck to my plan of ONLY buying what I need to stock up on and not just spending to spend.

Some of my best deals...

Mandwich...regular $1.00 a can...on sale for 89 cents a can...used a Buy 2, Get 1 Free coupon...paid only 59 cents a can!

Men's Sure deoderant...regular $1.89...on sale for $1.84...used a $1.50 coupon...got it for 34 cents.

Lean Pockets...regular $2.19...on sale for $1.89...used a $1.00/5 Meijer MealBox...used a $1.00/5 man. coupon...another 75 cent coupon...and a 50 cent coupon...got them for $1.36 each.

Tyson Chicken Nuggets...regular $5.99...on sale for $3.99...used a $1.00 Meijer MealBox coupon...and a $1.00 man. coupon...paid $1.99.

Deans icecream...regular $2.75...on sale for $2.49...used a $1.00 off two Meijer MealBox...making it $1.99.

Those were the best of the best this week!

My tally was:

Spent: $29.15

Saved: $28.32

Walgreens bargains this week...

I got some decent deals this week at Walgreens.

My favorite was my contact solution. It happens to be a brand that is fairly expensive and NEVER puts out coupons. (Clear Care) Well, Walgreens had the double pack of it for $14.79 on sale for $5.00 off...so I got it for $9.79 (for 2 bottles!). I also got a catalina coupon for $1.50 off my next purchase so I may go back and get another double pack for $8.29! I pay $7.99 for ONE bottle normally!

They also had Starbucks Frappuccinos regular $1.99 w/ a Walgreen's coupon for $1.29...used a $1.00 coupon and got them for 29 cents! Nabbed two of those!

Those were the best of the best.

My finally tally was:

Spent $23.73

Saved: $21.67

Not bad!!!

Family fun at New Salem Corn Maze

Saturday, spur of the moment...we decided to take the boys on an adventure. We had heard about the New Salem Corn Maze at the PumpkinFest Parade here in Zeeland when they were marching through. They have a corn maze, kiddie rides, petting farm, hay rides, pumpkin patch, donuts and cider, and all kinds of other fun! They also have a Haunted Maze at night...which is something Nate and I wanted nothing to do with as we're not fans of the dark...so we stuck with the family fun during the day. LOL!

We took the tractor ride out to the corn maze...a little bumpy...but fairly comfy padded seats! It was a lot of fun. They had some cute little Halloween decorations made of hay bails...spiders, black cats, jack-o-lanterns, frankenstein, mummies, etc.

Here's Nate checking out a scenery of the "Burnips Cemetery". They had alot of cute scenes set up.

Here's The 3 Stooges being "corny" in the corn maze. LOL! At first it was really simple...but it got really challenging as we went on. There were alot of dead ends, forks in the road, and sprirals.

Here's Nate...leader of the pack...he's always leading the way, no matter where we travel.

Havin' fun in the corn field!

Momma and her babies...havin' fun!

Evan and Jamie had fun trying to scare us. Between Evan jumping out and startling us and Jamie's famous werewolf calls...it was a hoot!

Standing atop the bridge in the middle of the maze...enjoying the scenery!

CONQUERERS OF THE CORN MAZE!!! WE DID IT!!!

Picking out our pumpkins at the pumpkin patch!!!

Evan finally got his apple cider...his favorite autumn drink!

Nate enjoying a donut.

We had a wonderful adventure that day! No bickering! Beautiful weather! Funny thing was...after our beautiful sunny day...we no sooner got down the road heading home, and it started raining like crazy! We were so blessed to have gorgeous weather! If you're looking for family fun, the New Salem Corn Maze is a great place to take the fam for an enjoyable day. Oh...and there's more pics on my facebook! These were just a few of the best! :) Happy autumn!

Caramel Apple Salad (recipe)

With many of my friends telling me they have been going to the apple orchard and trying to come up with many ways to use apples...I suggested making Caramel Apple Salad (if you have Granny Smith). Many people asked what it was and if they could have the recipe. It is delicious...and really not a salad at all...it tastes more like a dessert to me. With the super sweet and rich taste of Cool Whip and Snicker Bars, Granny Smith apples give it the perfect amount of tartness to balance it out. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!!!

Caramel Apple Salad

4 Granny Smith apples

4 Snicker bars

1 container Cool Whip

Chop up apples and Snicker bars; combine in bowl with Cool Whip. Chill until ready to serve!

How easy is that!

Yum-O!

Burn baby burn! The end of an era...

Yes...it's the end of an era.

Next Tuesday is Evan's last Cross Country meet of not only this season...but of his middle school career.

Last year when Zeeland started Cross Country as an organized sport for the middle school kids (it was only a club before) Evan took an interest and joined. He enjoyed running so much that he also joined the Track team in the spring. He discovered he enjoyed Cross Country more and finished out the Track season but his true love is Cross Country. He did really well both years...and although not the fastest on the team...definitely not the slowest either...and always giving it his best and improving his best time at many of the meets.

I am so glad he has finally found his niche. He made some good friends on the team and had alot of fun.

They are ending the season with a celebration at Vitale's on Monday. He's totally excited.

The shoes you see at top are the shoes he has used for 7th grade Cross Country, 7th grade Track, and 8th grade Cross Country. They have been through grass, rocks, gravel, water, and mud. They have run mile upon mile! They have gotten us through middle school running. And...THEY STINK!!! They are disgustingly nasty! LOL! I have joked and said we are retiring them on Tuesday after the meet and having a shoe burning party! I told Evan we are burning those shoes at the stake...nasty stinky 'ol thangs! LOL!

Congrats Ev...you did great!

Proud of ya!

Snickerdoodle Pie (recipe)

Flaky Pie Dough

1 1/4 c. all purpose flour

4 tbsp cold unsalted butter cut into small pieces

4 tbsp vegetable shortening chilled

1/4 tsp salt

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse several times until mixture resembles coarse meal. With motor running, add 2 tbsp ice cold water and process just until dough forms a ball. Add more water, 1 tsp at a time, if dough is too dry. Press into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 2 days before using.

Snickerdoodle Pie

1 recipe Flaky Pie Dough

1/4 tsp cinnamon and 1 tbsp sugar for topping

1 c. sugar

4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 1/2 c. buttermilk

4 large eggs yolks

1/4 c. all purpose flour

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp salt

Roll out pie dough on a lightly floured surface into an 11 inch circle. Fit into a 9 inch pie pan and trim edges so they overhang by 1 inch. Fold dough under to create a double thick edge, crimp decoratively. Place in refrigerator to chill while preparing filling.

Preheat oven to 350. Set a rack in the lower third of oven. Line a baking sheet with foil and set it in the oven to preheat. In a small bowl combine cinnamon and sugar topping. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter, buttermilk, egg yolks, flour, vanilla, salt, and remaining sugar. Pour into chilled pie shell. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

Set pie on preheated baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes at 350. Without opening oven...reduce temperature to 325 and bake an additional 20 minutes until pie is set, puffed, and golden. Let cool on a wire rack.

"Whatever Martha"!!!

Well, I did it.

I am proud to say...I baked my first pie tonight.

From scratch...100%.

I have made cream pies...with graham cracker crust and your basic pudding/whipped topping filling. I have made other dessert pies with pre-made crusts.

But, this my friend...was totally 100% from scratch!

I got my All You magazine in the mail today and saw this recipe for "Snickerdoodle Pie". It's a custard type pie. It looked divine. I read the recipe and thought "how hard can it be...it sounds easy enough".

Well...let me tell you...making crust from scratch is HIGHLY over-rated!!!

I suppose if you get some sort of twisted enjoyment from making a huge mess in your kitchen...ok...but that's not for me! LOL!

All I can say is I have a complete and totally new-found respect for bakers who make pies from scratch!

The filling was "easy as pie"...no pun intended...

But that crust...I tell ya...

First of all...I discovered I was supposed to have a food processor to blend the pie crust...which I don't. So I didn't panic...I was almost sure that I had gotten a "pastry blender" as a wedding gift. I thought I'd do it by hand.

Nope! Nada!

So...I got the bright idea I'd use the "pulse" setting on my blender! LOLOLOL!

Well...it kindof worked...I ended up scraping it out after it was mostly blended and then working it with my hands, LOL!

Well, I rolled it...trying my best to flour it so it wouldn't stick. I flipped it and managed to get it into the pie pan "good enough".

Well...let's just say it was pretty uneven. I tried doing as the recipe called...rolling the edges under and then pinching them "decoratively". Yeah right.

Well...I started mixing the filling...much to my dismay...I THOUGHT I had all the ingredients and discovered I didn't have buttermilk. Well...no panic...I knew I remembered reading in my trusty old Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook that there was a substitute. Sure enough, you can mix either lemon juice or vinegar (1 tbsp) with 1 cup of milk and let set 5 minutes for the same result. Okay...problem solved.

I LOVE TO BAKE!

I bake cookies, brownies, bars, cakes, and other desserts...from scratch too!

But pie...

I may attempt more pies...

But I will NEVER...EVER...make another homemade crust!!!

That was pure torture!!!

My motto for the night was "Whatever Martha!"...the title of the show Martha Stewart's daughter hosts.

Yeah...whatever Martha...

I'll take my pre-made Pillsbury crust anyday over that mess! LOL!

P.S. It smells divine...just like a Snickerdoodle Cookie!!! We haven't eaten any yet...still waiting for it to cool! I'll let ya know later! And if it's as delicious as it sounds and smells...I'll post the recipe for ya! :)

These are the times your heart sings...

I have to say...that I try to be a good example to my children.
I have tried to instill to them the importance of giving and sharing with others.
I just had to brag on my Nate for a few moments.
He has just been sharing examples one right after the next with me of how generous he truely is.
The amazing thing is...as a child...he thinks nothing of it.
He'll share a story with me...just like it's nothing...out of the blue.
And until I say something to him about how generous he was or how kind he was...he doesn't even think about it.
It makes my heart swell with pride (Lord forgive me...not pride in a bad way...) that he is learning to be kind and generous without even giving it a second thought.
Today he shared his snack with a little girl at recess because she didn't have anything to eat.
Last night, he asked if he could bring in some cookies for his three pizza party buddies today at school, because "we need dessert mom and we have so much food to share with others". LOL!
It's cute...but it just blesses me that he has such a big heart.
And it's not just his school friends...he's always giving pencils, stickers, and other things of his to the daycare kids.
I am just so proud to call him my son. :)

Coupon & Money-Saving Blogs...

Many of you have asked about what coupon sites and money-saving blogs I use.

Many of the sites I use are listed right on my blog and are "clickable".

But I thought it might be helpful for the "newbies" to have a list to work with to get started. I know when I first started couponing, I'd have NEVER made it without all the help I received from friends who coupon, money-saving blogs, and coupon sites that were shared with me. So I thought I'd pass on what I use.

One of the first things I recommend doing is getting a Sunday paper of some type EACH Sunday. That way you will have all the coupon "inserts" to work with.

Next comes the printable coupons! I had no idea how many printable coupon sites were out there! I would encourage anyone reading this post who has more to PLEASE post and share your additional links in the comment section. That is how I always find new sites...from other couponing mommas!

Ok...first off...I'm going to list some great money-saving blogs that I recommend you bookmark or subscribe to. They update you on all the latest coupons, store sales, freebies, give-aways, contests, you name it!!!

Here we go...

http://www.momsavesmoney.net/


http://mommysnacks.net/


http://thefreebieblogger.com/


http://www.dealseekingmom.com/


http://bargainbriana.com/


http://www.stretchingabuckblog.com/


http://diane-anderson.blogspot.com/

Ok...now those are my favorite blogs to check in each week and see "what's going on" in the world of couponing and saving money.
Now...I'm going to list some great sites that have lots of printable coupons.
Here we go...


http://www.meijermealbox.com/


http://www.organicgrocerydeals.com/forums/view.php?pg=coupon_generator (Target)



http://print.coupons.com/Couponweb/Index.aspx?pid=13903&nid=10&zid=xh20


http://www.afullcup.com/



http://www.redplum.com/



http://coupons2.smartsource.com/smartsource/index.jsp?Link=2VAXBFAWFHBK2



http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/coupons/


https://www.pillsbury.com/coupons-promotions/CouponsPromotionsLanding.htm


http://www.bettycrocker.com/coupons-promotions/coupons/coupons.aspx


http://www.homesolutionsnews.us/offers.shtml

Now...one of the most helpful tools you can use is this coupon data-base from Deal Seeking Mom. If you are in search of a coupon and don't know where to find it...this is the place to look!


http://www.dealseekingmom.com/coupon-database/

Coupon clipping takes time. You will not just be able to whip off a grocery list like you used to. Saving money like coupons queens do also takes patience. You will want to start building a stockpile. When you see an awesome deal...stock up whether you need it now or not. If it's something you ALWAYS use, why pay full price later? I can't tell you the last time I've paid more that 25 cents for toothpaste. I refuse to pay more than 99 cents for cereal (and it's name brand too!). I won't pay more than 80 cents for spaghetti sauce. You will learn what the deals are...and you'll get it in your head what you're willing to pay for. You learn to cook and plan meals from your stockpile. You don't just go off on a whim and say, "Let's have lasagna!" I ONLY BUY WHAT'S ON SALE IN THE FLYER AND IT MUST HAVE A COUPON! If it's not on sale and I don't have a coupon, I don't buy it. I plan my meals from my stockpile. You will eventually want to create space for your stockpile...meaning good storage, cabinets, pantries, freezers, etc. It's gotten to the point now, where I'm not buying much at the store...just the incredible deals...we're pretty much living off our stockpile at the moment. You are going to feel sooooo good when you start seeing the savings knowing that YOU are saving your family so much money!
It does take time. This is not instantaneous. You will make mistakes. You will have questions. It's all a learning process. For example, I never knew you could use a manufacturer's coupon along with a store coupon! Think how much money I could have saved all these years! I didn't know you could do a Buy 1, Get 1 Free and still use two more coupons on these items as well! It's all a learning process. For those who contacted me with questions, feel free to ask away in the comment section anytime or on facebook! I love to help! I still don't have all the answers...I'm still asking questions! Hopefully this will give those of you who asked a good start! Happy couponing!

This week's bounty...

This week yielded some pretty good savings while shopping.

Here are the results...

The best of the best from Target...

Chex Mix...regular $1.99...use a 50 man. coupon...use a $1.00 Target coupon...pay 49 cents! Got four of those.

Fancy Fest Appetizers (kitty food)...regular $1.27 a piece...use a Buy 1, Get 1 Free man. coupon...use a Buy 1, Get 1 Free Target coupon...GET BOTH FREE AND PAY NOTHING FOR EITHER!!! I was able to do this twice because I had two BOGO man. coupons and two Target coupons, so I got FOUR for FREE!!!

My tally:

Paid: $6.55

Saved: $11.58

(Love making money on the store!)

Walgreens...

Best of the best...

Halls Refresh...on sale for $1.00...Register Reward $1.00...plus 75 cent coupon...MONEY MAKER...like getting 75 cents back! I did this three times and also used a 50 cent coupon and a 25 cent coupon.

My tally:

Paid: $3.75

Saved: $8.60

(Another money-maker!)

Meijer...

The best of the best...

Kraft cheese...regular $2.59...on sale for $1.88...use 50 cent man. coupon...$1.38.

V8 Smoothie...on sale for $1.99...Buy two and get $1.00 off w/ a Meijer Meal Box AND $1.00 off man. coupon...pay only 99 cents a piece.

Post Honey Bunches of Oats/Pecans...regular $3.43...on sale for $2.99...use a $2.00 coupon...pay 99 cents!

Tony's Pizza...on sale for 99 cents...use a 50 cent coupon...pay 49 cents!

Pillsbury Cookie dough...regular $2.89...on sale for $1.99...use a 50 cent coupon...pay only $1.74...PLUS get a $1.00 COUPON OFF A GALLON OF MILK!

Score some milk for $1.29 a gallon! This was a great deal because I'm scheduled to bring cookies to Nate's Halloween party, so we picked up two packs of the Halloween cookies!

My tally:

Paid: $51.91

Saved: $37.81

Family Fare...

The best of the best...

I didn't have any coupons for this run because the majority of it was Spartan items. But they did have some great deals on some things we really needed.

My tally:

Paid: $15.01

Saved: $12.04

So...

All in all...
Groceries/supplies for this week...

Paid: $77.22

Saved: $70.03

Now that's what I'm talkin' about!!!

Yeah!

The results are in...WHEW!

Well...another term where I can breathe a sigh of relief...WHEW!!!

We made it through Term 1 of 8th grade (and I say WE for a reason).

Yep...not just Evan...but WE...Jamie and I...after going over assignments, making sure things were done, reteaching some things, studying, quizzing, and much STRESSING...

WE DID IT!!!

We not only "made it" through the first term...

But he will make the Honor Roll...again.

WHEW!!!

He has managed to make the Honor Roll every term of middle school...6th grade, 7th grade...and now we're off to a good start in 8th grade...although nerve-wracking at times!!!

I'm so proud of Evan. He is so intelligent...more so than he gives himself credit for...yet like all kids...can be lazy at times, but hey...who isn't? LOL!

But thankfully with much prodding along...he did it!

YAY!

Congratulations Ev!

We're very proud of you!

On to Term 2...

Here...we...go...

Again...

The "Advance Kitty"

As of this past summer, the boys have taken over the "Advance Newspaper" route for our subdivision.

Well...we not only have two "paper boys" in the family...

As you can see, Oreo also like to get in on the action when it's "paper day".

Nate is our "roller/bagger"...and Evan delivers.

Well kitty usually gets right in there too while we're rolling and bagging.

His favorite thing is to play with and chew on the strings that bind the paper stacks together.

But this week, he found himself a cozy little nook to lay down in and watch all the action that was unfolding.

Silly guy.

Tickled PINK!!! Teeheehee!!!

Well...I've been wanting to do it for a LONG time.
Afraid of what people would think.
But finally...
Don't care what people think!
So...
What do you think?

It's very faint.

Very subtle.

Very pale.

Exactly what I wanted.

I LOVE IT!!!

I think I am making up for lost time. Do I really care that I am 37 years old, a wife of 16 years, a mother of a 13 and 9 year old? Should that hold me back from being who I want to be? It always has. But what held me back when I was younger and supposed to be doing wild and crazy things?

Nothing but myself!

My husband thought I was only getting this for Halloween. But I couldn't stand it and did it today. He said, "You're not really going to wear it like that everyday are you?"

Well...

Maybe I am.

It makes me happy.

As does my nose ring.

As do alot of other things that maybe a 37 year old wife and mom "shouldn't" do.

Maybe people will stare.
Maybe people will gossip.

But anymore...

I don't care.

I like it.

It makes me happy.

Mid-life crisis?

Maybe.

Feeling liberated?

ABSOLUTELY!

Maybe people won't like it...

Maybe people will think it's immature...

But how do I feel???

TICKLED PINK!!!

And we have a winner!!!

Yesterday we had a phonecall and the woman on the other end asked me if this was the home of Evan James.

Yes...I replied.

She promptly identified herself as a representative from Dolphin Travel the sponsor of the Candy Guessing Game at PumpkinFest on Saturday.

All four of us had entered our guesses on all three bins of candy.

Two of the bins were just a variety of hard candies...but one was full of CHOCOLATE!

So...she proceeds to tell me that Evan had guessed SPOT ON...RIGHT ON THE NOSE...the PERFECT number of chocolate bars in the one bin!

HE WON!!!

So...

She told us we could stop by and pick up the chocolate at our convenience.

They had it all bagged up in a special Halloween bag for him.

It was so cool!!!

He was pretty darn excited because according to him, "Nate has all the luck and I never win anything."

LOL!

What a day it was for Evan!

And by the way...in case you're wondering...

There were 103 candy bars in the bin! Teehee!

Just one little word...

It's amazing how powerful our words are.
They can cut and hurt worse than anything physical pain.
But they can also bring more joy than anything thinkable!
Today I was told that I was an "answer to prayer".
WOW!
Now that's powerful!
The person proceeded to tell me that after so many negative things happening in their life that I brought them the answer they needed and so much joy they wanted to cry.
Double WOW!
Sometimes this is all we need.
Little did this person I was speaking with know...that just by saying THAT to ME...brought me immense joy!
After a very stressful, chaotic, emotional, exhausting week...this was just the little something that really made my day.
When you're a person like me...a person who is always striving for perfection...in everything...it can become emotionally exhausting...physically exhausting...
And eventually...you find yourself breaking down at times.
But just these few little words spoken to me...from a complete stranger...made my day.
To me...this was just an example of how we need to choose our words carefully...and not only choose them carefully, but also take the time to speak what's REALLY on your heart to those around us.
Did someone do something nice for you?
Did someone make you feel good?
Does someone bless you?
These may be things that the other person has no clue they're doing...but TELL THEM!
Don't wait...TELL THEM!
Sometimes...it's these little words that we share with people...these are the words that they really need to hear at that precise moment.
And sometimes...like in my situation today...we ended up blessing EACH OTHER!
What I did for this person blessed her...and her sharing with me and speaking these words blessed me immensely!
Don't hold back...show the people in your life...no matter how close they are...how much they mean to you!
Thank them...love them...bless them!

Great shopping excites me!

I had the most awesome trip to Walgreens last night! I think it was one of my best yet. I didn't buy alot, but the total savings were incredible...and I only bought things I really need or will soon need.
Here's what I got:
Nabisco Wheat Thins...on sale for $1.00...used a $1.00 coupon...FREE!!! (got two)
Visine for Contacts...priced at $4.79...used a Walgreens coupon for $2.00 off...AND a man. coupon for $2.00 off...paid 79 cents!!! (got three)
Campbell's Tomato Soup...regular $1.39...used a Walgreens coupon...paid 50 cents. (got two)
Rimmell mascara...regular $6.99...Walgreens sale Buy One, Get One Free...combined that with a Buy One, Get One Free man. coupon...and I got BOTH FREE!!!
My totals were:
Spent: $2.75
Saved: $29.76

AMAZING TRIP!!!


I only picked up one item in Target this week. They had Snuggle for $3.99 and I found and amazing coupon for $3.00 of one...making it 99 cents!!! This was for the 64 load bottle!!! What a steal!!!

This was not a good week for coupons at Meijer. It was "Meijer brand week". But I did fairly well. I only bought what was on sale and only bought what we needed.

My totals were:

Spent: $29.54

Saved: $14.14

Not bad!

PumpkinFest Parade 2009

We had a really nice time at PumpkinFest Parade today. We went a little early...had to get Evan there by 2:15pm...but we left even a little earlier because we weren't sure what parking would be like. Turns out, we got to park right in Cityside's parking lot. AND...we saw Mr. Goode coming up the walk and he said that all the band members could wait in the band room and watch the football game right up until time to meet! How cool was that! So they all got to stay warm and dry! Here's a nice shot of the Cityside/Creekside Band (they played together today). Evan is the one with his hood up. I wished it had been down for the picture...but he said it had just been raining and he pulled it up during a break in their song.

They were surprised when they got there...they ended up being given these really nice warm hooded jackets to wear. And as cold and damp as it was that was a nice suprise! Evan said they were so warm, he was almost hot! They aren't the correct school colors. Turns out these were older jackets the band had in storage from when Cityside's colors used to be blue/gold. Now they are brown/gold. Oh well...hey, it kept them warm and dry! LOL!

These are just a few shots from the parade. I didn't take too many pictures today. I just thought this little witch float was cute though. LOL!

I liked this giant pumpkin too and had Jamie snap a quick picture.

All in all we had a really great time. Nate got TONS of candy. We didn't have the greatest of weather, but we had a great time. As always, I look forward to the next parade/festival!