Thursday, April 30, 2009
Hungry Hungry Hippo
What do you do when your child has eaten a bagel with cream cheese, a banana, a bowl of whole wheat goldfish, strawberries, 6 chicken nuggets, a handful of shredded cheese, some cantelope, and is STILL hungry before noon? Did I mention she's not quite 18 months old?
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
WHAM! CHickClick.
WHAM! A door slams shut.
CHickClick. A door opens.
WHAM! The door slams shut again.
CHickClick. The door opens again.
WHAM! CHickClick! WHAM! CHickClick! WHAM!
John: "GIRLS, stop slamming the door...you're gonna scare the skunk!"
CHickClick. A door opens.
WHAM! The door slams shut again.
CHickClick. The door opens again.
WHAM! CHickClick! WHAM! CHickClick! WHAM!
John: "GIRLS, stop slamming the door...you're gonna scare the skunk!"
Friday, April 24, 2009
Quicky explanation of savings
Here's a quicky explanation of my savings:
I used coupons out of 2 Sunday circulars and internet coupons. The internet coupons gave me trouble at the check out counter so I doubt I'll be messing with those again. Both stores took the coupons but said they weren't supposed to. Whatever. I shopped over a 3 day period, but could have done it all at once. Like I said before, I'm learning, so as I researched and found out about certain deals I had to make subsequent trips. Next week will be different.
Since this was my first time to do this, I had to spend some cash up front. But over time, as I accumulate Extra Bucks (which spend like cash towards your subtotal), I'll be able to walk in every week and spent LITERALLY pennies like some of the better Couponers do!!!
I've attached a spreadsheet with details of my transactions from the receipts. Although I swear I saved over $186, my receipts said I saved $162.48. Hmmm. Not sure about that. *EDIT* I couldn't figure out how to attach a spreadsheet to a blog post. Anybody know how to do this? If you're desperately interested in seeing it before I figure out how to link it up, shoot me an email or comment and I'll email you the spreadsheet.
http://www.couponmom.com/ really helped let me know where to find my coupons! I'm doing the hanging file method, sort of. Each week I'll pull the Sunday circular and write the date in bold print on the front and file it in the monthly folder. I'll use the Grocery Deals by State section of the couponmom site, search for the store I plan on shopping, and check out their deals. The chart that pulls up will tell you, in code, where to find the coupon (which circular by date),coupon value, sale price, final price and % saved. So I don't have to spend my entire Sunday cutting, organizing and trying to match up what's on sale where. It's all done for you in the charts. All I have to do is mark the deals I want and it prints the detail sheet. I take the sheet and pull/clip ONLY THE COUPONS I NEED for that shopping trip according to what's on sale where.
If it seems confusing, the instructions on how to understand the chart are in the Grocery Deals by State section. I'm telling you, this section has it all and makes it so easy to clip coupons!
Eventually, I'm going to attempt Coupon Mom's "Cut your grocery bill in half" method. We shall see.
Hope this helps. Comment if you have questions or you'd like me to send you some MONEY SAVING VIBE DUST!!! Now go, shop. Find your FREE stuff!
I used coupons out of 2 Sunday circulars and internet coupons. The internet coupons gave me trouble at the check out counter so I doubt I'll be messing with those again. Both stores took the coupons but said they weren't supposed to. Whatever. I shopped over a 3 day period, but could have done it all at once. Like I said before, I'm learning, so as I researched and found out about certain deals I had to make subsequent trips. Next week will be different.
Since this was my first time to do this, I had to spend some cash up front. But over time, as I accumulate Extra Bucks (which spend like cash towards your subtotal), I'll be able to walk in every week and spent LITERALLY pennies like some of the better Couponers do!!!
I've attached a spreadsheet with details of my transactions from the receipts. Although I swear I saved over $186, my receipts said I saved $162.48. Hmmm. Not sure about that. *EDIT* I couldn't figure out how to attach a spreadsheet to a blog post. Anybody know how to do this? If you're desperately interested in seeing it before I figure out how to link it up, shoot me an email or comment and I'll email you the spreadsheet.
http://www.couponmom.com/ really helped let me know where to find my coupons! I'm doing the hanging file method, sort of. Each week I'll pull the Sunday circular and write the date in bold print on the front and file it in the monthly folder. I'll use the Grocery Deals by State section of the couponmom site, search for the store I plan on shopping, and check out their deals. The chart that pulls up will tell you, in code, where to find the coupon (which circular by date),coupon value, sale price, final price and % saved. So I don't have to spend my entire Sunday cutting, organizing and trying to match up what's on sale where. It's all done for you in the charts. All I have to do is mark the deals I want and it prints the detail sheet. I take the sheet and pull/clip ONLY THE COUPONS I NEED for that shopping trip according to what's on sale where.
If it seems confusing, the instructions on how to understand the chart are in the Grocery Deals by State section. I'm telling you, this section has it all and makes it so easy to clip coupons!
Eventually, I'm going to attempt Coupon Mom's "Cut your grocery bill in half" method. We shall see.
Hope this helps. Comment if you have questions or you'd like me to send you some MONEY SAVING VIBE DUST!!! Now go, shop. Find your FREE stuff!
I'm learning
If you add this to Tuesday's shopping ...
I bought $185.43 worth of goodies for......................
.
.
.
a whopping $30.92!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've got a super busy day/weekend ahead, but if I have time, I'll update with the specifics on what coupons were used.
This is the first time I've EVER bought anything from CVS! I'm hooked.
I missed out on a few good deals because I didn't have the old Sunday circular coupons. But I've learned my lesson...I'll never throw away a coupon again (unless it's expired)!
I learned about shopping with coupons from http://www.couponmom.com/. I find out about CVS deals at http://www.iheartcvs.com/. Everything I bought is legit and on the up and up. I only have one CVS card and I receive coupons from them via email. Although, my CVS gave me flack about using the Internet coupons. They took them THIS time, but I think the savings still would have been great without them.
I also enjoy the money saving tips on http://www.moneysavingdivas.com/ and http://www.jane4girls800dollarannualbudget.com/.
Couponing isn't for everyone. But the way I see it, if this SAHM thing is my J.O.B., I may as well do everything I can to increase my 'salary.' KWIM?
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Guess how much...
...all of these goodies cost me?
Hint #1 Everything was on sale AND had a coupon.
Hint #2 Everything was bought at CVS.
Hint #3 The total regular price value...$96.24
So how much do you think I paid? Stay tuned and tomorrow I'll reveal the total and a detailed explaination of the savings. P.S. yes, it's all legal and nothing was stolen. hehehehe :)
Monday, April 20, 2009
Unworthy
This weekend, we went to TN to visit family. After loading up the truck with DVD player, toys, kids and suitcases (and going back in about 5 times for items we forgot) we were ready to hit the road.
"Where's the map quest I printed out and put on your purse so we wouldn't forget it?," John said.
Oops. I must have left it inside. I was NOT opening the garage door, unlocking the house, turning off the alarm, turning on the alarm, and closing the garage door for a 6th time.
Besides, it would be a great opportunity to try out the navigation feature on the new (to us) SUV.
First step: program in a home address.
Second step: make sure the correct regional navigation CD was loaded
Third step: program in a destination address.
Seems easy enough. So we get on the road and follow HER directions.
(in a soft feminine voice) "Proceed on HWY123 for 6.2miles. Be prepared to turn left onto HWY 456"
Nice. We drive for 6.2 miles then turn left. Great.
(soft voice again) "Proceed on HWY456 for 10.8 miles. Prepare to merge onto HWY 789.
Although we were sans the map quest printout, we've driven this route before and know we shouldn't take HWY 789. So we continue straight and planned to hit HWY101. We pass the exit. HER exit.
(soft voice turns a bit louder and harsher) "You have chosen a path that is not recognized by this system. Please make a legal u-turn and proceed on the designated path."
I hit the 'ignore this route' button to shut HER up. A few 100 yards farther, the screen goes blank. Is it broken? Did we mess up the 'path' thus lose the information that had been stored? Will we have to program it again? Darn HER if she ruins our time table by forcing us to stop for directions. I should have just went inside and gotten the map quest directions when I had the chance. Why was I so lazy? I'll never use this stupid navigation system again!!!SHE doesn't know where we're at now. We're lost!
Then, as if nothing had happened, she says, "Proceed on HWY 101 for 37.5 mi."
The system had reconfigured the path to our destination based on the choice we made to ignore the last route. Cool. No information was lost.
We drove on and followed her directions for about two hours. Then, we saw a familiar exit. John seemed to recall taking that road before as a short cut. Only, SHE didn't acknowledge the cut through. We called his parents, who were planning to meet up with us, and his Dad advised us to take the short cut...not knowing we had the navigation telling us differently. John, confused and not wanting to make a wrong decision, pulled over and asked for directions from a hairy, smelly, dude at a gas station. The dude confirmed HER directions.
John chuckled and said, "We should have listened to HER, she knows where we're going and where we've been."
SHE knew where we were going and where we had been. SHE knew the correct path for us. And when we doubted, questioned and even detoured the road to our destination, she reprogrammed and gracefully continued to guide us.
Sound familiar?
I am so humbled by the grace God has given my family. I'm on my knees confessing for doubting HIS ability to make my path straight. I am in AWE and wonder at how HE can aline the stars and direct my life when I make decisions or have moments that cloud up my future. HE has NEVER failed to open my eyes and shine light on HIS path...even when I can't understand or find reason for HIS direction.
HE gathers up the fruit of my worry, fear and anxiety about the future. Then HE squeezes it like a juicer and serves it's nectar in a crystal glass on a silver platter, saying, "Take. Drink. This is my blood." HE gathers up the messes I've made and the mistakes that linger, and bakes them into a luscious apple pie that is The Word and says, "Take. Eat. This is my body." HE soaps up my hands with the Dawn of Resurrection and guides me to The Water that cleanses my soul of imperfection. HE cloaks me with the fabrics of his spirit and protects every footprint my sandals dig.
Recently, our family was faced with some major financial decisions, and we were feeling uncertain about which path to take. As always, God provided for our needs in ways we never could have expected, and he made it VERY clear as to which direction we should take...HIS direction. He always gives us just enough, according to HIS standard. For that, I am grateful and extremely humbled at the blessings he sees fit for our family. I can't help but feel unworthy.
"Where's the map quest I printed out and put on your purse so we wouldn't forget it?," John said.
Oops. I must have left it inside. I was NOT opening the garage door, unlocking the house, turning off the alarm, turning on the alarm, and closing the garage door for a 6th time.
Besides, it would be a great opportunity to try out the navigation feature on the new (to us) SUV.
First step: program in a home address.
Second step: make sure the correct regional navigation CD was loaded
Third step: program in a destination address.
Seems easy enough. So we get on the road and follow HER directions.
(in a soft feminine voice) "Proceed on HWY123 for 6.2miles. Be prepared to turn left onto HWY 456"
Nice. We drive for 6.2 miles then turn left. Great.
(soft voice again) "Proceed on HWY456 for 10.8 miles. Prepare to merge onto HWY 789.
Although we were sans the map quest printout, we've driven this route before and know we shouldn't take HWY 789. So we continue straight and planned to hit HWY101. We pass the exit. HER exit.
(soft voice turns a bit louder and harsher) "You have chosen a path that is not recognized by this system. Please make a legal u-turn and proceed on the designated path."
I hit the 'ignore this route' button to shut HER up. A few 100 yards farther, the screen goes blank. Is it broken? Did we mess up the 'path' thus lose the information that had been stored? Will we have to program it again? Darn HER if she ruins our time table by forcing us to stop for directions. I should have just went inside and gotten the map quest directions when I had the chance. Why was I so lazy? I'll never use this stupid navigation system again!!!SHE doesn't know where we're at now. We're lost!
Then, as if nothing had happened, she says, "Proceed on HWY 101 for 37.5 mi."
The system had reconfigured the path to our destination based on the choice we made to ignore the last route. Cool. No information was lost.
We drove on and followed her directions for about two hours. Then, we saw a familiar exit. John seemed to recall taking that road before as a short cut. Only, SHE didn't acknowledge the cut through. We called his parents, who were planning to meet up with us, and his Dad advised us to take the short cut...not knowing we had the navigation telling us differently. John, confused and not wanting to make a wrong decision, pulled over and asked for directions from a hairy, smelly, dude at a gas station. The dude confirmed HER directions.
John chuckled and said, "We should have listened to HER, she knows where we're going and where we've been."
SHE knew where we were going and where we had been. SHE knew the correct path for us. And when we doubted, questioned and even detoured the road to our destination, she reprogrammed and gracefully continued to guide us.
Sound familiar?
I am so humbled by the grace God has given my family. I'm on my knees confessing for doubting HIS ability to make my path straight. I am in AWE and wonder at how HE can aline the stars and direct my life when I make decisions or have moments that cloud up my future. HE has NEVER failed to open my eyes and shine light on HIS path...even when I can't understand or find reason for HIS direction.
HE gathers up the fruit of my worry, fear and anxiety about the future. Then HE squeezes it like a juicer and serves it's nectar in a crystal glass on a silver platter, saying, "Take. Drink. This is my blood." HE gathers up the messes I've made and the mistakes that linger, and bakes them into a luscious apple pie that is The Word and says, "Take. Eat. This is my body." HE soaps up my hands with the Dawn of Resurrection and guides me to The Water that cleanses my soul of imperfection. HE cloaks me with the fabrics of his spirit and protects every footprint my sandals dig.
Recently, our family was faced with some major financial decisions, and we were feeling uncertain about which path to take. As always, God provided for our needs in ways we never could have expected, and he made it VERY clear as to which direction we should take...HIS direction. He always gives us just enough, according to HIS standard. For that, I am grateful and extremely humbled at the blessings he sees fit for our family. I can't help but feel unworthy.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Ode to Chips
Maybe it's your salty shell and the ripples on your back,
Or maybe it's your crunchiness that causes his attack.
Could it be your flavored sprinkles of onion, cheese and ranch,
Or might it be the aftertaste that puts him in a trance.
Maybe it's your half filled bag that makes him feel like King,
Holding you so tightly with one palm makes freedom ring.
It may just be a midlife thing like fast cars, trucks, or boats,
But mine is ever satisfied with you and the remote.
He begs me to go shopping when you go 10 for $10,
And every sale we come across makes him want to holler.
"We can never have to many !" his voice trailing our driveway,
As I speed off to the grocer, I'd buy zero if it was my way.
But for him I'll load the basket with Ruffles, Lays and Pringles,
Because I know it fills his love bank and gives him heart tingles.
Or maybe it's your crunchiness that causes his attack.
Could it be your flavored sprinkles of onion, cheese and ranch,
Or might it be the aftertaste that puts him in a trance.
Maybe it's your half filled bag that makes him feel like King,
Holding you so tightly with one palm makes freedom ring.
It may just be a midlife thing like fast cars, trucks, or boats,
But mine is ever satisfied with you and the remote.
He begs me to go shopping when you go 10 for $10,
And every sale we come across makes him want to holler.
"We can never have to many !" his voice trailing our driveway,
As I speed off to the grocer, I'd buy zero if it was my way.
But for him I'll load the basket with Ruffles, Lays and Pringles,
Because I know it fills his love bank and gives him heart tingles.
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