What a wonderful Christmas we've had. I've had wonderful Christmases in the past, but I think this year - by far - has been the best. December passed by way too quickly for my liking. My goal was to relish and take time to enjoy the traditions of Christmas - most ones from our childhood, some new ones - and teach Grace the game of Santa and the true meaning of the day - as much as she can understand. I believe we accomplished my goal. Christmas Eve found Clint and I putting Grace to bed around 11:45, after setting out Christmas cookies, milk and a carrot for Santa. Then, we began to set out the stockings and wrap her Christmas presents. We were all pretty exhausted from the very busy day and wonderful evening we spent over at Mom & Dad's, but Clint and I always get revived when it's just us and we are getting things ready. I think that is one of my favorite times. 12:30, with a Christmas movie or music on, quietly humming around our little house getting things ready for the girls. Sure - it's REALLY hard to get up in the morning, but I love that feeling of preparing something special for Grace & Annie - knowing that she was excited before she went to bed. I crept in and hung a candy cane on her bed frame, hoping she'd see it and think that Santa was looking in on her (She didn't get it). All day long she kept talking about how "I'm going to see him putting presents under the tree, then she was going to say "Hi!" and he'd say "Ho! Ho! Ho!" - she said that scenario over and over all day long - it was so cute.
This is the first Christmas that Grace has been old enough to truly appreciate and understand the excitement of everything, and - although she is going through an incredibly contrary phase right now, (It IS a phase!) we had some tender and wonderful moments. I loved stroking her hair, talking to her about Christmas as she lay in my lap after a huge fun filled gift-giving extravaganza and Grandma and Grandpa's. She never lays in my lap, she's too busy, but there she was in her new princess dress-up clothes, tiara, slippers and all and cuddling.
Today, Grace & Annie played all day long with her new toys, and we stayed home and relaxed - no time frame, no stress to get anywhere, no worries for today, no thoughts about bills or even coupons! - we just relaxed and enjoyed being a family. I will say that my one shining moment today was that all my cooking endeavors turned out! i.e. homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast and homemade egg rolls and cashew chicken along with birthday cake for dinner. Side note: perhaps the key to good cooking is to be relaxed?? (hmmm....) We watched movies, we played games and we just generally enjoyed being home. Grace was fairly cooperative all day, we had some moments, but when we sat down to dinner at the end of the day, she stole my heart - simply by looking at me with her big blues and saying "Merry Christmas to you, Mom!" and then gave me a hug. I almost cried - it was so simple and sweet. Loved it.
Annie was so precious today. Yesterday and today she has really tried hard to start crawling. Up on all fours and starting to rock - adorable. She's 9 months today. She was sweet playing with her new stacker and turtle. I can't believe how big she's getting and that 1 year is only 3 months away. She was cracking herself up this evening, making faces, blowing bubbles, drumming her lips with her hand (this is new today!) and generally being my sweet, cuddly lovable Annie-cakes.
Two little girls and a husband who thinks I am the world, a loving family and parents - I have much to be thankful for this Christmas. I am truly blessed.
12.25.2008
12.15.2008
All Quiet on the Mid-Western Front
Typical Monday night at the Young House. This is what we look like by 9:30 pm...Ahhhh...
ZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZZZ
And then, there's me...
You can see me in the previous position at 7am trying to pry my eyelids open and my daughters off my lap so I can hop in the shower and whisk them away to work. I don't know how I got this way, but I think I will always and forever be a night owl! 12.12.2008
Sweet Annie
I have the hardest time getting pictures of Annie - rarely can I catch her beautiful smile in it's truest form...witness the attempts yesterday morning in her bear hat...
I think she's just the cutest thing...
I think she's just the cutest thing...Daddy's coming 'round...
to Momma's way of thinkin...
This picture does not do justice to the massive Wags haul I got today. Took me 3 trips and a trip to Meijer -but it was totally worth it...
We're looking at 6 bottles of laundry detergent (that's 9 months worth), 9 boxes of aluminum foil, 1 Ped Egg, 1 package Ped Egg replacement blades, a mixer, 2 Jiffy cornbread mixes, 2 packages of pull-ups, 2 packages size 3 diapers and 3 boxes of Chex cereal (to make Chex Mix -yum!)
Grand total: 20.75 + I got 13 dollars in RR back - Whoopeee!!!! That's 1 Christmas present and 1 birthday present included in there folks...
The diapers alone at retail price were 42 bucks - come on now, that's a good deal! All those RRs from last weekends stocking stuffer haul totally came into play this weekend. Woohoo :) So - obviously, not everyone can do this deal because not everyone walks in to Wags with 28$ of register rewards - BUT - here's on ya'll could do and it was my cheapest transaction!
Buy 4 Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergents - they are regularly priced 5.99 at the TR store. Use the special IVC that's available to the 13th and knock them down to 1.99 each - use 4 of the 1.00 off coupons from armandhammer.com - this is a tricky one because you need two computers and two email addresses. Print off 4 of the coupons and slap 'em down. You'll pay .99+tax for each of the bottles (pay 4.32) AND then you'll get a $5 RR -good on your next purchase -so if you have to buy something for 5 bucks or more at Wags do the laundry soap first, and get it for free...I actually bought 4 of these bottles and a coloring book and paid .76 for the whole darn thing. She couldn't even use one of my coupons because then they'd owe me money. I'm going to see if I can drum up three more coupons around here at the Oaks and do this deal again - Laundry soap for 2009! So - yeah I've now got coffee, laundry detergent, shampoo, toothpaste, aluminum foil, cleaning supplies and kotex for next year. We'll be clean and hyper!
So - Clint finished my (starter) shelves in the basement for my hauls. Almost all of this stuff was dirt cheap or better yet - FREE. He has taken a while to come around to the whole stockpiling, couponing method of grocery shopping - in fact, quite a few times he's made note of the fact that "Honey - I can't eat KOTEX..." But he got real happy when I stockpiled him coffee and I think now that all of the supplies are organized on shelves, rather than in massive amounts of plastic grocery bags - he finally gets and LIKES what I'm doing. In fact - all this stuff is 3 months worth of collecting and I'm almost out of space...
No room on the shelves for the TP -
That's 54 boxes of FREE Jello...not a one did I pay for...no joke
Kotex anyone? -all the pantyliners were completely FREE...as well as 17 tubes of FREE toothpaste and my starter pile of Johnson's Buddy soap - all free as well...oh, wait - no - I pay .03 for each of them (tax)
And then there's the Glade. Don't get me started on the Glade. The Glade is embarrassing, but taught me a huge lesson - anyhoo - made about 30 bucks on the Glade, but it was a LOT of work and a HUGE mistake on the Glade people's part. Anyhoo - that's two totes full and underneath that blue tote is 20 bottles of the Aerosol Glade spray. Psycho - I know. I'm completely embarassed.
This picture does not do justice to the massive Wags haul I got today. Took me 3 trips and a trip to Meijer -but it was totally worth it...
We're looking at 6 bottles of laundry detergent (that's 9 months worth), 9 boxes of aluminum foil, 1 Ped Egg, 1 package Ped Egg replacement blades, a mixer, 2 Jiffy cornbread mixes, 2 packages of pull-ups, 2 packages size 3 diapers and 3 boxes of Chex cereal (to make Chex Mix -yum!)Grand total: 20.75 + I got 13 dollars in RR back - Whoopeee!!!! That's 1 Christmas present and 1 birthday present included in there folks...
The diapers alone at retail price were 42 bucks - come on now, that's a good deal! All those RRs from last weekends stocking stuffer haul totally came into play this weekend. Woohoo :) So - obviously, not everyone can do this deal because not everyone walks in to Wags with 28$ of register rewards - BUT - here's on ya'll could do and it was my cheapest transaction!
Buy 4 Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergents - they are regularly priced 5.99 at the TR store. Use the special IVC that's available to the 13th and knock them down to 1.99 each - use 4 of the 1.00 off coupons from armandhammer.com - this is a tricky one because you need two computers and two email addresses. Print off 4 of the coupons and slap 'em down. You'll pay .99+tax for each of the bottles (pay 4.32) AND then you'll get a $5 RR -good on your next purchase -so if you have to buy something for 5 bucks or more at Wags do the laundry soap first, and get it for free...I actually bought 4 of these bottles and a coloring book and paid .76 for the whole darn thing. She couldn't even use one of my coupons because then they'd owe me money. I'm going to see if I can drum up three more coupons around here at the Oaks and do this deal again - Laundry soap for 2009! So - yeah I've now got coffee, laundry detergent, shampoo, toothpaste, aluminum foil, cleaning supplies and kotex for next year. We'll be clean and hyper!
So - Clint finished my (starter) shelves in the basement for my hauls. Almost all of this stuff was dirt cheap or better yet - FREE. He has taken a while to come around to the whole stockpiling, couponing method of grocery shopping - in fact, quite a few times he's made note of the fact that "Honey - I can't eat KOTEX..." But he got real happy when I stockpiled him coffee and I think now that all of the supplies are organized on shelves, rather than in massive amounts of plastic grocery bags - he finally gets and LIKES what I'm doing. In fact - all this stuff is 3 months worth of collecting and I'm almost out of space...
No room on the shelves for the TP -
That's 54 boxes of FREE Jello...not a one did I pay for...no joke
Kotex anyone? -all the pantyliners were completely FREE...as well as 17 tubes of FREE toothpaste and my starter pile of Johnson's Buddy soap - all free as well...oh, wait - no - I pay .03 for each of them (tax)
And then there's the Glade. Don't get me started on the Glade. The Glade is embarrassing, but taught me a huge lesson - anyhoo - made about 30 bucks on the Glade, but it was a LOT of work and a HUGE mistake on the Glade people's part. Anyhoo - that's two totes full and underneath that blue tote is 20 bottles of the Aerosol Glade spray. Psycho - I know. I'm completely embarassed.
I am cracking myself up - this hobby is totally hilarious...
12.10.2008
Want to know how to make a 3 year old look like a Kindergartner?
Add a Headband!
Give her a snack...
And a Project!
This past Sunday we began a tradition that I hope continues for a long time. It was a simple one - build a gingerbread house with Grandma & Grandpa. Something that Grace could do and she LOVED it...she had just gotten a new dress and headband and was all dressed up right down to her new patent leather Mary Janes and I looked at her and had visions of life in a classroom at Howie...
Can it be that it's just 2 years away??
12.05.2008
Can't help myself...
I HAVE to write about my Wags score on my lunch break. Here's what I emailed my mom just a minute ago:
"I just scored BIG time at Wags:
They are having good RR's on stuff that we use/need and I wanted to stockpile some diapers this week...I was going to get 4 packages - which retail would be 36.00, but they have deals going on now where I could knock that down to 24$ - so I wanted to see how much other stuff I could get along with the diapers and still pay between 24 - 30$ - still 6 bucks less than the retail price.
So - here's what I got:
1st Transaction:
2 Reach Toothbrushes
2 Colgate Toothpastes
3-2 liters of Diet Coke
3 jars of Planters cocktail peanuts (for the holiday chex mix we are going to make)
2 jars of Peter Pan peanut butter
1 12-pack of Coke
-paid 23.37 (and that includes tax
After I paid - the machine spit out 2 - $5 RRs, 1 - $6RR - 1-$2 RR = 18 dollars in RR!
2nd Transaction
2 Reach Toothbrushes
1 Colgate Toothpaste
Used 1 of my $5 RR from Transaction #1 and paid 1.23
After I paid the machine spit out 1-$6 RR and 1-$2 = 8 dollars in RR
So to sum up -out of my pocket I paid: $29.6 and got $26 in RR to use on diapers! Woohoo -
MEANING - I got all that stuff for$ 3.60 -which is less than the price of the 12 pack of Coke...
Wahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo"
I know, I know - I need more toothbrushes and toothpaste like I need a hold in my head, but with the coupons I have matched up with the deals that are running - they are MONEYMAKERS -so why the heck not? Bring down the out of pocket cost of the diapers.
I am SO tempted to do that all over again if one of the Wags in Portage has the Reach toothbrushes on sale (my beloved TR one does not - which is a bummer because the toothbrush deal is a BIG one). Of course, I didn't add in all the types of deals going or the coupons I used to the email. Otherwise my OOP costs would be way higher. But anyhoo - if you want the details, give me a buzz - otherwise just appreciate the buzz I have going from getting all that stuff for less than 4 bucks...
"I just scored BIG time at Wags:
They are having good RR's on stuff that we use/need and I wanted to stockpile some diapers this week...I was going to get 4 packages - which retail would be 36.00, but they have deals going on now where I could knock that down to 24$ - so I wanted to see how much other stuff I could get along with the diapers and still pay between 24 - 30$ - still 6 bucks less than the retail price.
So - here's what I got:
1st Transaction:
2 Reach Toothbrushes
2 Colgate Toothpastes
3-2 liters of Diet Coke
3 jars of Planters cocktail peanuts (for the holiday chex mix we are going to make)
2 jars of Peter Pan peanut butter
1 12-pack of Coke
-paid 23.37 (and that includes tax
After I paid - the machine spit out 2 - $5 RRs, 1 - $6RR - 1-$2 RR = 18 dollars in RR!
2nd Transaction
2 Reach Toothbrushes
1 Colgate Toothpaste
Used 1 of my $5 RR from Transaction #1 and paid 1.23
After I paid the machine spit out 1-$6 RR and 1-$2 = 8 dollars in RR
So to sum up -out of my pocket I paid: $29.6 and got $26 in RR to use on diapers! Woohoo -
MEANING - I got all that stuff for$ 3.60 -which is less than the price of the 12 pack of Coke...
Wahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo"
I know, I know - I need more toothbrushes and toothpaste like I need a hold in my head, but with the coupons I have matched up with the deals that are running - they are MONEYMAKERS -so why the heck not? Bring down the out of pocket cost of the diapers.
I am SO tempted to do that all over again if one of the Wags in Portage has the Reach toothbrushes on sale (my beloved TR one does not - which is a bummer because the toothbrush deal is a BIG one). Of course, I didn't add in all the types of deals going or the coupons I used to the email. Otherwise my OOP costs would be way higher. But anyhoo - if you want the details, give me a buzz - otherwise just appreciate the buzz I have going from getting all that stuff for less than 4 bucks...
12.03.2008
Things I don't know...
I don't know if "luckily" is a typical word for a 3 year old - but she used it...
And correctly too, I might add.
I don't know if I'm ready to turn THIRTY-FREAKING-TWO tomorrow - but it's gonna happen...
I don't know if MPI will cut my husband's job next year - but they didn't today...
I don't know what the heck was so wrong with Annie that she had to scream almost all night long - but she did...
I don't know exactly how my story is going to go at Kid's Club tonight - but I'm still gonna tell it...
I don't know what I'm going to do for games tonight at Kid's Club - but I'm in charge...
I don't know what I'm getting everyone for Christmas - but I better figure it out soon...
I don't know if I will have to work tomorrow! Inclement weather is a comin'...
I don't know WHY Grace isn't potty trained by now...but she isn't
I don't know when I've not known so much, and still been okay with it all. For a control freak, it's hard to see life situations like kids and jobs go beyond what you can control. I would think that is the biggest lesson I have learned in my 32 years - is that you gotta flop with the mop and trust God for His control. Sure - there are little things that I could control - i.e. I could definitely be better prepared for Kid's Club tonight (shame on me) - I could definitely be better at Christmas planning on shopping (I am learning!)
But the big stuff - like Clint's job (MPI just cut about 350 jobs today) and my job and my kids are all so out of my control that if I don't learn to be flexible and be okay with "not knowing" - I'll break and will go crazy with worry. This morning I got an email and a phone call from my dad wanting to know if Clint still had a job and what was going on with MPI - I had NO CLUE - apparently, they had to do cuts because of the economy and it sounds like it was sort of a shock and they were calling people at home even to tell them not to come into work. Clint didn't have a clue either, till he got to work. 3 people in his department were cut, he was not one of them. We are so thankful right now. But - it sorta puts the fear into ya. Who knows what will happen if the economy keeps spiraling?
The only security we have is in Jesus and His promise to take care of us. Which, right about now, is the one thing that I feel right now that I DO know for certain.
Writing this post, I have an old hymn in mind that I learned growing up that is applicable and is extremely comforting to me right now:
I don't know about tomorrow;
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from its sunshine
For its skies may turn to grey.
I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said.
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.
Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand.
Every step is getting brighter
As the golden stairs I climb;
Every burden's getting lighter,
Every cloud is silver-lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eye;
At the ending of the rainbow
Where the mountains touch the sky.
Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand.
I don't know about tomorrow;
It may bring me poverty.
But the one who feeds the sparrow,
Is the one who stands by me.
And the path that is my portion
May be through the flame or flood;
But His presence goes before me
And I'm covered with His blood.
And correctly too, I might add.
I don't know if I'm ready to turn THIRTY-FREAKING-TWO tomorrow - but it's gonna happen...
I don't know if MPI will cut my husband's job next year - but they didn't today...
I don't know what the heck was so wrong with Annie that she had to scream almost all night long - but she did...
I don't know exactly how my story is going to go at Kid's Club tonight - but I'm still gonna tell it...
I don't know what I'm going to do for games tonight at Kid's Club - but I'm in charge...
I don't know what I'm getting everyone for Christmas - but I better figure it out soon...
I don't know if I will have to work tomorrow! Inclement weather is a comin'...
I don't know WHY Grace isn't potty trained by now...but she isn't
I don't know when I've not known so much, and still been okay with it all. For a control freak, it's hard to see life situations like kids and jobs go beyond what you can control. I would think that is the biggest lesson I have learned in my 32 years - is that you gotta flop with the mop and trust God for His control. Sure - there are little things that I could control - i.e. I could definitely be better prepared for Kid's Club tonight (shame on me) - I could definitely be better at Christmas planning on shopping (I am learning!)
But the big stuff - like Clint's job (MPI just cut about 350 jobs today) and my job and my kids are all so out of my control that if I don't learn to be flexible and be okay with "not knowing" - I'll break and will go crazy with worry. This morning I got an email and a phone call from my dad wanting to know if Clint still had a job and what was going on with MPI - I had NO CLUE - apparently, they had to do cuts because of the economy and it sounds like it was sort of a shock and they were calling people at home even to tell them not to come into work. Clint didn't have a clue either, till he got to work. 3 people in his department were cut, he was not one of them. We are so thankful right now. But - it sorta puts the fear into ya. Who knows what will happen if the economy keeps spiraling?
The only security we have is in Jesus and His promise to take care of us. Which, right about now, is the one thing that I feel right now that I DO know for certain.
Writing this post, I have an old hymn in mind that I learned growing up that is applicable and is extremely comforting to me right now:
I don't know about tomorrow;
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from its sunshine
For its skies may turn to grey.
I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said.
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.
Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand.
Every step is getting brighter
As the golden stairs I climb;
Every burden's getting lighter,
Every cloud is silver-lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eye;
At the ending of the rainbow
Where the mountains touch the sky.
Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand.
I don't know about tomorrow;
It may bring me poverty.
But the one who feeds the sparrow,
Is the one who stands by me.
And the path that is my portion
May be through the flame or flood;
But His presence goes before me
And I'm covered with His blood.
11.24.2008
Gift Cards
Boo - only 5.00 in rebates from Wags for the month of November. Apparently the holidays are a bit slow in the rebates and register rewards department because everything is already marked down so low...ah well - looking forward to February!
It was a Gift Card weekend this weekend. It all started with my mother and my friend, Allegra. Remember her? She's the one who ministers to my allergy problems...
Anyhoo - Mom got a register coupon from Meijers that was get $3 off a $25 gift card. Well - hello - that's just free money right there if you're doing your grocery shopping that weekend. So - here's what I did - bought the gift card with the coupon -paid 22$ - and THEN did my grocery shopping and paid with the $25 dollars. Instant savings. If you're going to buy the groceries anyway - why not save the 3$? Makes sense to me. Then, my register printed out a save $5 off the purchase of a $50 gift card. Well - gotta have gas next week, don't I? So I bought that GC too -(for 45 bucks!) - was thinking I'd get a save $8 off a $75 card - but my cashier's register tape ran out - ah well...I'm on the lookout for more of those!
On Friday, I took my last Allegra and had an empty pill bottle when all of a sudden I remembered! A Wags coupon/promo this week - transfer any prescription to Wags and get a $25 gift card free. Woohoo - pranced my little bottle on over there - paid 5 bucks for my script, walked out with a package of diapers and 18.65cents on a card. Hey - if they're going to pay me to shop there, who am I to say "no"? here's hopin' my inhaler doesn't run out before the next promo, eh? I could really rack up on this one - I've got scripts coming out my ears...
I think we've gotten our sickness out before the holidays. I hope so - my darling Cinderellas puked on me a collective total of 5 times this week. Ugh - we are talking full on, projectile, green bean vomiting -so repulsive. Annie always manages to soak my bra...it's disgusting. It's times like these when I'm thankful I lack the sense of smell!
But - they've come through it without so much as a call to the doctor - so I'm thankful for no fevers and here's to looking forward to a great week!
It was a Gift Card weekend this weekend. It all started with my mother and my friend, Allegra. Remember her? She's the one who ministers to my allergy problems...
Anyhoo - Mom got a register coupon from Meijers that was get $3 off a $25 gift card. Well - hello - that's just free money right there if you're doing your grocery shopping that weekend. So - here's what I did - bought the gift card with the coupon -paid 22$ - and THEN did my grocery shopping and paid with the $25 dollars. Instant savings. If you're going to buy the groceries anyway - why not save the 3$? Makes sense to me. Then, my register printed out a save $5 off the purchase of a $50 gift card. Well - gotta have gas next week, don't I? So I bought that GC too -(for 45 bucks!) - was thinking I'd get a save $8 off a $75 card - but my cashier's register tape ran out - ah well...I'm on the lookout for more of those!
On Friday, I took my last Allegra and had an empty pill bottle when all of a sudden I remembered! A Wags coupon/promo this week - transfer any prescription to Wags and get a $25 gift card free. Woohoo - pranced my little bottle on over there - paid 5 bucks for my script, walked out with a package of diapers and 18.65cents on a card. Hey - if they're going to pay me to shop there, who am I to say "no"? here's hopin' my inhaler doesn't run out before the next promo, eh? I could really rack up on this one - I've got scripts coming out my ears...
I think we've gotten our sickness out before the holidays. I hope so - my darling Cinderellas puked on me a collective total of 5 times this week. Ugh - we are talking full on, projectile, green bean vomiting -so repulsive. Annie always manages to soak my bra...it's disgusting. It's times like these when I'm thankful I lack the sense of smell!
But - they've come through it without so much as a call to the doctor - so I'm thankful for no fevers and here's to looking forward to a great week!
11.22.2008
All Together Now...
"Awwwwwwwwwwwww"
3 oclock on Saturday afternoon finds my Cinderellas (or Snow White, as the case may be) like this. Grace is starting to phase out of the nap these days, but she's been coughing all morning and all last night so I made her take a nap...I expect she'll be out for a while - Annie not so sure :) Even the dog is asleep! Hmmmm - should I go take a nap myself or hunt up some more bargains????
11.19.2008
It's only Wednesday?
Sheesh - this week is dra-a-a-a-a-a-a-agging along! Here are just some random musings I find myself thinking about after I drop the girls off to their babysitter and have about 6 minutes of peace to myself on my way to the Oaks...
"Grace is really being clingy when I drop her off...the worst part about being a working mom is having to drop your kids off and wake them up while they are still sleeping. Breaks my heart."
"Annie did the sign for milk last night! She's such a biggie girl..."
"Can't wait for next week! Thanksgiving, day off and a reunion!"
"I hope the rumors about Walgreens aren't true..."
(rumor has it that Walgreens is going to stop letting us stack IVC coupons with Manufacturing coupons)
"It's going to really suck if I have to start paying for stuff..."
"I should really get my hearing aid fixed. I just had a whole conversation with 2 other people and I have zero idea what we were talking about" (okay -that wasn't in the car, that was just now...)
"Grace is really emotional lately...honeymoon on having a 3 year old is over..."
"I wasn't ready for the snow we got last night...but it shore is purty..."
"All they do is cry on the Biggest Loser...apparently losing mass amounts of weight in a condensed portion of time makes you emotional..."
"What the heck will I blog about today???"
Random, I know - but what can I say?
"Grace is really being clingy when I drop her off...the worst part about being a working mom is having to drop your kids off and wake them up while they are still sleeping. Breaks my heart."
"Annie did the sign for milk last night! She's such a biggie girl..."
"Can't wait for next week! Thanksgiving, day off and a reunion!"
"I hope the rumors about Walgreens aren't true..."
(rumor has it that Walgreens is going to stop letting us stack IVC coupons with Manufacturing coupons)
"It's going to really suck if I have to start paying for stuff..."
"I should really get my hearing aid fixed. I just had a whole conversation with 2 other people and I have zero idea what we were talking about" (okay -that wasn't in the car, that was just now...)
"Grace is really emotional lately...honeymoon on having a 3 year old is over..."
"I wasn't ready for the snow we got last night...but it shore is purty..."
"All they do is cry on the Biggest Loser...apparently losing mass amounts of weight in a condensed portion of time makes you emotional..."
"What the heck will I blog about today???"
Random, I know - but what can I say?
11.15.2008
Couldn't help myself...
but I actually ran out at 9:30 tonight - girls and Clint snoring because I had missed a deal at Wags this afternoon...
This is a non-check weekend - so not a lot to spend - no worries, makes the game that much more fun...
Yup that's four cans of soup, two Hershey bars (mmmm) 2 bags of chex mix, 12 rolls of t.p. and the piece de resistance...the Schick Quattro Titanium Trimmer -which is the deal I went back for. All this for the low, low price of 11 coupons and $2.23 -and that includes tax! Grand savings of over 25 dollars...psycho right? I think the razor deal will be back to Wags in December if the rumors are true...I'll let ya know - ha ha - can you say "Stocking Stuffer?"
Yeah - this is a 12 dollar razor - all I had to pay was the .42 tax...come on, give it up!
This is a non-check weekend - so not a lot to spend - no worries, makes the game that much more fun...
Yup that's four cans of soup, two Hershey bars (mmmm) 2 bags of chex mix, 12 rolls of t.p. and the piece de resistance...the Schick Quattro Titanium Trimmer -which is the deal I went back for. All this for the low, low price of 11 coupons and $2.23 -and that includes tax! Grand savings of over 25 dollars...psycho right? I think the razor deal will be back to Wags in December if the rumors are true...I'll let ya know - ha ha - can you say "Stocking Stuffer?"
Yeah - this is a 12 dollar razor - all I had to pay was the .42 tax...come on, give it up!
Are they cute or what?
Classic Annie :) -she's just recently figured out how to stick out her tongue, I'm patiently waiting for the right shot!
Talk about your Diva action! Feather boa from Auntie :)
Queen Annemarie...She's finally getting some hair!
Snow White about to blow out her candles
Cute little Strawberry!
Getting the Dora-do
In her crib - biggie girl!
11.13.2008
Wow!
Has it really been almost a MONTH since I last blogged??? Good grief - well, October totally got away from me, that's for sure. I've never seen a month go by so quickly before! I had a post written on 10/23, but the pictures turned out weird -really small - and I never got around to fixing them at home. (I'm NEVER on the computer at home, there's no time!) I just reread the post and it's about stuff that already happened, so *delete*!
Crazy days with Halloween - We dressed Grace up like Dora and Annie was a cute little Strawberry. I refuse to pay more than 5 bucks for a Halloween costume, because anything expensive for 2 hours is just ridiculous. We bought warm clothes in bold colors and put make up to darken her skin. We bought a black haired wig at Wal-Mart and cut it to make it short like Dora. Popped her pink back pack on and away we went. Annie's costume is the same strawberry costume we dressed Grace in her first Halloween - a hand me down from Clint's sister. She wore it well! I hope to update with pics later!
Grace did a really good job at trick or treating. Two fun things: We walked up to a little old lady's house. Little old lady complete with straw hat and front porch - Grace went up and nicely took a piece of candy, Clint reminded her "What do you say?" "Thank you!" she piped and then reached out and gave that little old lady a kiss on the cheek! The l.o.l. was so surprised, "That's the nicest kiss I've had all day!" - we haven't yet had the talk about not kissing strangers...
Second funny thing: We went to Clint's mom's house and camped out there a bit. Grace helped to hand out candy to some of her trick or treaters and a couple of girls, about 4 years old, came to the door dressed as Snow White and Cinderella. Of course, Grace was just enthralled. She grabbed her backpack and we headed out the door to do more candy hunting and she just took off down the street: "I want to talk to Snow Whi-i-i-ite!!!" She shouted. Poor Snow White was ahead of us, getting her candy and Grace was just spinning for her - not interested in candy at all. She was determined to talk to Snow White, so there I was about 2 paces behind trying to catch up and convince Grace to leave the poor girl alone and go get some candy. Snow White is one house ahead of us and the WHOLE time Grace is shouting "I want to talk to SNOW WHITE!" The father of the group that Snow White was walking with kept looking at me like, it was funny the first time...I'm tired of pretending it was cute." Finally about 3 houses down, Snow White stopped and looked at Grace and Grace went up to her and told her she liked her dress. She stalked that girl the whole rest of the street.
We ended the evening doing something unexpectedly fun - on our way to R&B's house, we passed by the old Riviera theatre - (Kate, you'll appreciate this!) that has been recently restored. They were playing a 10pm showing of Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" -which I had never seen before. R&B watched the girls while my brother, his wife, Clint & I all went and saw a late movie. Do you know how LONG it's been since I've seen a late night movie??? The theatre was a tad chilly, so we did manage to stay awake. It was cool to watch an old movie in an old, restored semi-historic theatre!
After Halloween - it was time to think about Grace's third birthday. I can't believe I have a 3 year old! We actually celebrated that birthday 3 times. Once with my family the weekend before, once by ourselves on the actual day (first time at McDonald's playland for Grace!) and last weekend we celebrated with Clint's family. We just don't have enough room in our house to invite everyone over all at once. So - the birthday saga dragged on and on, but of course she loved it. We are in the process of redoing the second bedroom - we've transitioned from Winnie the Pooh to Tinkerbell. That way we didn't have to repaint, because the Tinkerbell sets at Walmart are purple and green. We were given a brand new toddler bed and mattress from someone we don't even know, spray painted it green and moved Grace out of her old bed so we could convert it back to a crib for Annie. Finally got her moved out of the dining room *ha!* and into a bedroom. It's been three weeks and so far it is NOT going well. Annie is a tremendously light sleeper and wakes up EVERY night between 2 or 3 for a bottle, which wakes Grace up and all three of us end up on the couch. Plus, Grace has been coming into our bedroom every night since we switched her, wanting to sleep in our bed, even if Annie hasn't made any noise. I think she's afraid or not adjusting to the switch. I'm giving it till the end of the year before I decide that we may have to do something different. 5 hours of sleep for Amy just isn't enough. And, at some point, I would enjoy sleeping in my own bed, underneath my sheets, next to my hubby.
We've successfully phased out the pacifier. That was a major hurdle and we were quite nervous about the 3 year old milestone and the loss of the plug that would entail. But, I've spent about 3 months gearing Grace up for it. Telling her that when she was 3, the plug fairy was going to come and take all her plugs and leave a present behind. She's been pretty cooperative, but on the 4th, when it came time to put the plugs under her pillow, she got very reluctant. We put them all under her pillow and in the morning, there was a new video (the new Ariel one) there for her, which she's been wanting to see. We have only had 2 major meltdowns since then, but we just tell her - "don't have them! Plug fairy took 'em" and she moves on. I haven't heard about them for the past couple of days. Although at one point, I do believe I heard the words "I don't want to be 3!" come out of her cute little mouth that was trying to cope without a plug. Annie is not so attached to the pacifier and after what we went through with Grace, I am not encouraging it one bit. That thing drove me nuts.
Annie has got her bottom two teefers! Has been sort of fussy with runny nose and painful mouth this week, but the first one cut through on the 8th and the second one cut through 2 days ago. She's such a fun girl! She's going to be my happy, sensitive kiddo. Grace is pretty independent and doesn't need much comforting, but Annie is going to need lots of nurturing and hugging, I can tell already. She's so alert and always watching everything everybody does. I think she'll be pretty smart. I KNOW Grace is smart. Her vocabulary is out of control. Saying things like: "Pass the Parmesan cheese, please..." yeah...we REALLY have to watch what we say now because she absorbs everything.
We're gearing up for the holidays. I'm still couponing my little heart out. In fact, that might be a reason why I didn't blog for a month. I've been completely obsessed by a certain deal at Meijers this past month and I tell you what - it was borderline exhausting and I'm a little ashamed to own up to the whole thing. I haven't yet decided if I'll include it in the blog. Let's just say, I'm pretty sure I made about 75$ in Meijer groceries and have 5 bags full of Glade products. I may just leave it at that!
Crazy days with Halloween - We dressed Grace up like Dora and Annie was a cute little Strawberry. I refuse to pay more than 5 bucks for a Halloween costume, because anything expensive for 2 hours is just ridiculous. We bought warm clothes in bold colors and put make up to darken her skin. We bought a black haired wig at Wal-Mart and cut it to make it short like Dora. Popped her pink back pack on and away we went. Annie's costume is the same strawberry costume we dressed Grace in her first Halloween - a hand me down from Clint's sister. She wore it well! I hope to update with pics later!
Grace did a really good job at trick or treating. Two fun things: We walked up to a little old lady's house. Little old lady complete with straw hat and front porch - Grace went up and nicely took a piece of candy, Clint reminded her "What do you say?" "Thank you!" she piped and then reached out and gave that little old lady a kiss on the cheek! The l.o.l. was so surprised, "That's the nicest kiss I've had all day!" - we haven't yet had the talk about not kissing strangers...
Second funny thing: We went to Clint's mom's house and camped out there a bit. Grace helped to hand out candy to some of her trick or treaters and a couple of girls, about 4 years old, came to the door dressed as Snow White and Cinderella. Of course, Grace was just enthralled. She grabbed her backpack and we headed out the door to do more candy hunting and she just took off down the street: "I want to talk to Snow Whi-i-i-ite!!!" She shouted. Poor Snow White was ahead of us, getting her candy and Grace was just spinning for her - not interested in candy at all. She was determined to talk to Snow White, so there I was about 2 paces behind trying to catch up and convince Grace to leave the poor girl alone and go get some candy. Snow White is one house ahead of us and the WHOLE time Grace is shouting "I want to talk to SNOW WHITE!" The father of the group that Snow White was walking with kept looking at me like, it was funny the first time...I'm tired of pretending it was cute." Finally about 3 houses down, Snow White stopped and looked at Grace and Grace went up to her and told her she liked her dress. She stalked that girl the whole rest of the street.
We ended the evening doing something unexpectedly fun - on our way to R&B's house, we passed by the old Riviera theatre - (Kate, you'll appreciate this!) that has been recently restored. They were playing a 10pm showing of Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" -which I had never seen before. R&B watched the girls while my brother, his wife, Clint & I all went and saw a late movie. Do you know how LONG it's been since I've seen a late night movie??? The theatre was a tad chilly, so we did manage to stay awake. It was cool to watch an old movie in an old, restored semi-historic theatre!
After Halloween - it was time to think about Grace's third birthday. I can't believe I have a 3 year old! We actually celebrated that birthday 3 times. Once with my family the weekend before, once by ourselves on the actual day (first time at McDonald's playland for Grace!) and last weekend we celebrated with Clint's family. We just don't have enough room in our house to invite everyone over all at once. So - the birthday saga dragged on and on, but of course she loved it. We are in the process of redoing the second bedroom - we've transitioned from Winnie the Pooh to Tinkerbell. That way we didn't have to repaint, because the Tinkerbell sets at Walmart are purple and green. We were given a brand new toddler bed and mattress from someone we don't even know, spray painted it green and moved Grace out of her old bed so we could convert it back to a crib for Annie. Finally got her moved out of the dining room *ha!* and into a bedroom. It's been three weeks and so far it is NOT going well. Annie is a tremendously light sleeper and wakes up EVERY night between 2 or 3 for a bottle, which wakes Grace up and all three of us end up on the couch. Plus, Grace has been coming into our bedroom every night since we switched her, wanting to sleep in our bed, even if Annie hasn't made any noise. I think she's afraid or not adjusting to the switch. I'm giving it till the end of the year before I decide that we may have to do something different. 5 hours of sleep for Amy just isn't enough. And, at some point, I would enjoy sleeping in my own bed, underneath my sheets, next to my hubby.
We've successfully phased out the pacifier. That was a major hurdle and we were quite nervous about the 3 year old milestone and the loss of the plug that would entail. But, I've spent about 3 months gearing Grace up for it. Telling her that when she was 3, the plug fairy was going to come and take all her plugs and leave a present behind. She's been pretty cooperative, but on the 4th, when it came time to put the plugs under her pillow, she got very reluctant. We put them all under her pillow and in the morning, there was a new video (the new Ariel one) there for her, which she's been wanting to see. We have only had 2 major meltdowns since then, but we just tell her - "don't have them! Plug fairy took 'em" and she moves on. I haven't heard about them for the past couple of days. Although at one point, I do believe I heard the words "I don't want to be 3!" come out of her cute little mouth that was trying to cope without a plug. Annie is not so attached to the pacifier and after what we went through with Grace, I am not encouraging it one bit. That thing drove me nuts.
Annie has got her bottom two teefers! Has been sort of fussy with runny nose and painful mouth this week, but the first one cut through on the 8th and the second one cut through 2 days ago. She's such a fun girl! She's going to be my happy, sensitive kiddo. Grace is pretty independent and doesn't need much comforting, but Annie is going to need lots of nurturing and hugging, I can tell already. She's so alert and always watching everything everybody does. I think she'll be pretty smart. I KNOW Grace is smart. Her vocabulary is out of control. Saying things like: "Pass the Parmesan cheese, please..." yeah...we REALLY have to watch what we say now because she absorbs everything.
We're gearing up for the holidays. I'm still couponing my little heart out. In fact, that might be a reason why I didn't blog for a month. I've been completely obsessed by a certain deal at Meijers this past month and I tell you what - it was borderline exhausting and I'm a little ashamed to own up to the whole thing. I haven't yet decided if I'll include it in the blog. Let's just say, I'm pretty sure I made about 75$ in Meijer groceries and have 5 bags full of Glade products. I may just leave it at that!
10.16.2008
The Wags Lady...
...keeps trying to trip me up! I swear she thinks I'm ripping the place off!
Has it really been 2 weeks since I blogged last? I need to catch up here. Things are starting to settle down around our home. Through the month of September and first week of October, Clint worked 2 weekends and I worked 12 hour days on Monday and Thursdays - that's a LOT of overtime for the two of us, and the checks were/are nice, but talk about EXHAUSTING. This week has been nice though, our babysitter's kids got sick, so I took Monday & Tuesday off to stay home with the girls - a MUCH needed break - and Clint took Wednesday off - so we had a nice little week of seeing what life was like when things weren't at a breakneck pace and how happy a family could be when it's properly rested! Very nice :)
Let's see what has happened these past couple weeks:
Well, Annie can now sit up by herself! Whoot! Whoot! It seems like she got really strong and grew a ton last week. She's eating fruits now. Have done nanas, pears and applesauce on her cereal. And, hey, don't even think of giving her plain cereal now - she will SCREAM...
Grace - in the grand tradition of Madison Hammond, also attempted giving herself a haircut. Yup - we caught her in the bedroom, she had found Gramma's spray bottle and scissors and did everything perfectly right - sprayed her hair soaking wet and began snipping. Fortunately for us she started with strands underneath, and didn't get very far - actually layered the one side up a little bit and I think it looks kind of cute! Ha! A subtle difference. So - I guess that's one perk of having hair cutting genes.
Was TOTALLY stoked yesterday to find that my WAGS rebate had come - only 2 1/2 weeks! That's not bad - I opted for the gift card loaded with my rebates (19.50) because they give you 10% extra for loading the rebates on to their gift card. Yeah - I've already used 12 dollars of it. This afternoon I ran to Wags on my lunch break and got 1 Cross Action Toothbrush toothbrush (for 4.49), 3 boxes of Kotex tampons (9.00) -just call me the Kotex Queen, and 4 Glade Plug-Ins. This all came up to about 22 dollars before coupons, I think. So I hand the cashier who doesn't like me, the coupons (3 $1.00 Kotex coupons, 2 B1G1 free Glade Plug-in coupons and 1 $3.00 RR from last week) and knocked my total down to 12.00. Swiped my Wags card and out spits 7.50 in RR :) whoo whoo - 4.50 for the toothbrush and 3 dollars for the Kotex. I'm also going to submit the Glade Plug-ins for rebates for October (that will make them free) so -in a manner of speaking - I really only paid $3.00 for the Kotex! Ha ha!
Everytime I have Wags Woman ring me up - she tries to say I did something wrong - "you won't get your rebates if you use a coupon, you can't use more than one IVC coupon, etc..." and today it was you can't use 3 coupons on 2 boxes of tampons. And I look confused at her, so she spells it out very slowly for me and I reply - "I have 3 boxes in there"
"You do?" says she. "Oh! My brain is fried"
Yeah - she's trying to trip me up. Does she think I don't know what I'm doing??? Come on - now, she's rung me up about 6 times now and everytime I'm doing it right. See - there are a lot of couponers out there who don't play by the rules, but I PLAY BY THE RULES, dude. And I'm thorough, so "Humph!"
I don't know why she can't be like Wags Boy who works nights - he gets a kick out of my and my 13 tubes of FREE Crest - you read that right. AND my 7 MASSIVE bottles of dirt cheap Fructis.
Just you wait, Wags Boy - just you wait - more to come, more to come.
Has it really been 2 weeks since I blogged last? I need to catch up here. Things are starting to settle down around our home. Through the month of September and first week of October, Clint worked 2 weekends and I worked 12 hour days on Monday and Thursdays - that's a LOT of overtime for the two of us, and the checks were/are nice, but talk about EXHAUSTING. This week has been nice though, our babysitter's kids got sick, so I took Monday & Tuesday off to stay home with the girls - a MUCH needed break - and Clint took Wednesday off - so we had a nice little week of seeing what life was like when things weren't at a breakneck pace and how happy a family could be when it's properly rested! Very nice :)
Let's see what has happened these past couple weeks:
Well, Annie can now sit up by herself! Whoot! Whoot! It seems like she got really strong and grew a ton last week. She's eating fruits now. Have done nanas, pears and applesauce on her cereal. And, hey, don't even think of giving her plain cereal now - she will SCREAM...
Grace - in the grand tradition of Madison Hammond, also attempted giving herself a haircut. Yup - we caught her in the bedroom, she had found Gramma's spray bottle and scissors and did everything perfectly right - sprayed her hair soaking wet and began snipping. Fortunately for us she started with strands underneath, and didn't get very far - actually layered the one side up a little bit and I think it looks kind of cute! Ha! A subtle difference. So - I guess that's one perk of having hair cutting genes.
Was TOTALLY stoked yesterday to find that my WAGS rebate had come - only 2 1/2 weeks! That's not bad - I opted for the gift card loaded with my rebates (19.50) because they give you 10% extra for loading the rebates on to their gift card. Yeah - I've already used 12 dollars of it. This afternoon I ran to Wags on my lunch break and got 1 Cross Action Toothbrush toothbrush (for 4.49), 3 boxes of Kotex tampons (9.00) -just call me the Kotex Queen, and 4 Glade Plug-Ins. This all came up to about 22 dollars before coupons, I think. So I hand the cashier who doesn't like me, the coupons (3 $1.00 Kotex coupons, 2 B1G1 free Glade Plug-in coupons and 1 $3.00 RR from last week) and knocked my total down to 12.00. Swiped my Wags card and out spits 7.50 in RR :) whoo whoo - 4.50 for the toothbrush and 3 dollars for the Kotex. I'm also going to submit the Glade Plug-ins for rebates for October (that will make them free) so -in a manner of speaking - I really only paid $3.00 for the Kotex! Ha ha!
Everytime I have Wags Woman ring me up - she tries to say I did something wrong - "you won't get your rebates if you use a coupon, you can't use more than one IVC coupon, etc..." and today it was you can't use 3 coupons on 2 boxes of tampons. And I look confused at her, so she spells it out very slowly for me and I reply - "I have 3 boxes in there"
"You do?" says she. "Oh! My brain is fried"
Yeah - she's trying to trip me up. Does she think I don't know what I'm doing??? Come on - now, she's rung me up about 6 times now and everytime I'm doing it right. See - there are a lot of couponers out there who don't play by the rules, but I PLAY BY THE RULES, dude. And I'm thorough, so "Humph!"
I don't know why she can't be like Wags Boy who works nights - he gets a kick out of my and my 13 tubes of FREE Crest - you read that right. AND my 7 MASSIVE bottles of dirt cheap Fructis.
Just you wait, Wags Boy - just you wait - more to come, more to come.
10.03.2008
*Smile*
I read a rumor online that you should never buy toothbrushes or toothpaste at full price because you can almost always get some for free or next to free. Well, it's proving true so far. I've got a toothbrush and four tubes of Colgate in the "stash" that cost me about 2 bucks altogether. This upcoming week, I'm going to amp up my dental stash:
Next week at Wags there is a deal on Crest - 6.4 oz tubes for 1.99 - they have a $1 off IVC coupon. Most Wags all you have to do is have 1 of these IVC coupons and it takes $1 off each item of that kind that you buy - the one in Sturgis did - who by the way has an awesome cosmetics counter cashier! Heather :) - the one in Three Rivers, I'm not sure if it does it or not...anyhoo - doesn't matter, you can print off 10 of the coupons online. In the Gazette this past Sunday there was a PG insert with some awesome coupons - 3 of which are for Cres! One is get $1 off any Crest tube 4.1 oz + and the other is get a $1 off of 2. So - I went online and there are lots of people selling this particular coupon! In bunches of 10 or 20. So, I emailed the gal I bought the Fructis coupons from and asked her, since we live fairly close, if I could send her 2 bucks in cash and she could mail me 10 of the $1 off coupons. She agreed and by this time next week I'll have 10 of those babies, plus 3 of my own. That's 2.00 off a tube of toothpaste that's on sale for 1.99! I figure all I'll have to pay is .12 each for the tax. Ba dum dum. That's 12 tubes of toothpaste for 1.44 dude + 2.00 for the coupons + .42 for the stamp...comes out to be .32 cents a tube!...and I won't have to buy toothpaste for about 4 years, I'm thinking... Grace will be SEVEN by then and in the first grade! ha!
Now my big decision - do I bite the bullet and get them all at once...or spread it out...hmmm....
Go on do it...try it for yourself!...you know you want to!
Next week at Wags there is a deal on Crest - 6.4 oz tubes for 1.99 - they have a $1 off IVC coupon. Most Wags all you have to do is have 1 of these IVC coupons and it takes $1 off each item of that kind that you buy - the one in Sturgis did - who by the way has an awesome cosmetics counter cashier! Heather :) - the one in Three Rivers, I'm not sure if it does it or not...anyhoo - doesn't matter, you can print off 10 of the coupons online. In the Gazette this past Sunday there was a PG insert with some awesome coupons - 3 of which are for Cres! One is get $1 off any Crest tube 4.1 oz + and the other is get a $1 off of 2. So - I went online and there are lots of people selling this particular coupon! In bunches of 10 or 20. So, I emailed the gal I bought the Fructis coupons from and asked her, since we live fairly close, if I could send her 2 bucks in cash and she could mail me 10 of the $1 off coupons. She agreed and by this time next week I'll have 10 of those babies, plus 3 of my own. That's 2.00 off a tube of toothpaste that's on sale for 1.99! I figure all I'll have to pay is .12 each for the tax. Ba dum dum. That's 12 tubes of toothpaste for 1.44 dude + 2.00 for the coupons + .42 for the stamp...comes out to be .32 cents a tube!...and I won't have to buy toothpaste for about 4 years, I'm thinking... Grace will be SEVEN by then and in the first grade! ha!
Now my big decision - do I bite the bullet and get them all at once...or spread it out...hmmm....
Go on do it...try it for yourself!...you know you want to!
10.02.2008
Things that just are not right...
Things that just are not right:
WaMu credit card applications in the mail...are they serious??
Clipping coupons in your sleep...stay tuned for a post on how to obtain 10 tubes of Crest toothpaste for 27cents a tube
Working 12 hour days...I'm almost done with this
Grace decorating the toilet with stickers...yup...Dora flowers...
Discussing "The Office" with former 4th graders of mine...this one makes me feel old!
Taking pictures of poopies...That's right...sick, I know, but that's just how excited I was this morning when Grace announced that she had indeed pooped in the toilet! I may or may not have also made up a song to the tune of Super Why's "Hip, Hip Hooray"...I believe there were also "Potty Candies" involved
My 3 year old rolling her eyes at me about all the fuss I was making over her morning poop.
It is also not right that this completely made my morning!
WaMu credit card applications in the mail...are they serious??
Clipping coupons in your sleep...stay tuned for a post on how to obtain 10 tubes of Crest toothpaste for 27cents a tube
Working 12 hour days...I'm almost done with this
Grace decorating the toilet with stickers...yup...Dora flowers...
Discussing "The Office" with former 4th graders of mine...this one makes me feel old!
Taking pictures of poopies...That's right...sick, I know, but that's just how excited I was this morning when Grace announced that she had indeed pooped in the toilet! I may or may not have also made up a song to the tune of Super Why's "Hip, Hip Hooray"...I believe there were also "Potty Candies" involved
My 3 year old rolling her eyes at me about all the fuss I was making over her morning poop.
It is also not right that this completely made my morning!
9.29.2008
All growed up...
Lately Grace has been bound and determined to stay up past her bedtime. We have a pretty good routine: snuggle a bit on the couch in our jammies, go in to her bedtime, read 3 or 4 stories - depending on the size of the book! Then we (I) sing a song and pray. We've been leaving the lamp on for her for about a month now, and she reads herself to sleep. Grace has always been very good about bedtime - a parent's dream since she was 6 weeks old and sleeping from 7-7!
But she is going through some sort of phase lately - she is bound and determined to stay up as late as she can. She has figured out how to go to the bathroom and then come to me and say "I peed, Mama" this is the ONLY time she ever tells me that -so I know she's using it as an avoidance tactic - she does the same thing at daycare. She saves all her poops for naptime and let's go...I feel so bad for her DCP! Apparently it's quite the mess. So I KNOW she knows what she's doing. Darn her.
Last week Friday her babysitter finally got her to nap around 3pm and I picked her up at 4:15 - I almost had to pry her eyes open she was so tired and was in such a deep sleep. So I knew she was tired and was anticipating an early bedtime. We even rented a movie and everything! Well, it's Monday and we still have not watched that movie...
Friday night she was so funny! She was bopping all over the place - just bouncing off the walls. Smacking herself in the forehead, making funny faces, dancing, jumping on the furniture, spinning in circles, making nonsensical noises and just generally trying to be funny and make us laugh. I told Clint - I'm getting my first glimpses of what junior high life is going to be like with Gracie. She reminded me so much of a hyper junior higher saying "I'm hyper! I'm hyper!" You know how we used to be. Then it hit me - Gracie's not a toddler anymore. Nothing about her suggests "toddling" - Nope - she's a KID.
It was a sort of bittersweet realization, you know? But I have my sweet Annie coming right up behind her and I wonder what she's going to be like learning to walk and talk. It just came upon me all of a sudden that she needs to be starting to eat baby food this month. Wasn't she just born???
Pretty soon I'm going to have to start thinking about preschool and number 3..
Maybe just preschool~
But she is going through some sort of phase lately - she is bound and determined to stay up as late as she can. She has figured out how to go to the bathroom and then come to me and say "I peed, Mama" this is the ONLY time she ever tells me that -so I know she's using it as an avoidance tactic - she does the same thing at daycare. She saves all her poops for naptime and let's go...I feel so bad for her DCP! Apparently it's quite the mess. So I KNOW she knows what she's doing. Darn her.
Last week Friday her babysitter finally got her to nap around 3pm and I picked her up at 4:15 - I almost had to pry her eyes open she was so tired and was in such a deep sleep. So I knew she was tired and was anticipating an early bedtime. We even rented a movie and everything! Well, it's Monday and we still have not watched that movie...
Friday night she was so funny! She was bopping all over the place - just bouncing off the walls. Smacking herself in the forehead, making funny faces, dancing, jumping on the furniture, spinning in circles, making nonsensical noises and just generally trying to be funny and make us laugh. I told Clint - I'm getting my first glimpses of what junior high life is going to be like with Gracie. She reminded me so much of a hyper junior higher saying "I'm hyper! I'm hyper!" You know how we used to be. Then it hit me - Gracie's not a toddler anymore. Nothing about her suggests "toddling" - Nope - she's a KID.
It was a sort of bittersweet realization, you know? But I have my sweet Annie coming right up behind her and I wonder what she's going to be like learning to walk and talk. It just came upon me all of a sudden that she needs to be starting to eat baby food this month. Wasn't she just born???
Pretty soon I'm going to have to start thinking about preschool and number 3..
Maybe just preschool~
9.26.2008
Wags 9/26
Oh, I just tore it up at Walgreens during my lunch hour today! This weekend is what they call Double Dip Days - it means that it's the end of their September Easy Saver Catalog and the beginning of their October Easy Saver Catalog. The Easy Saver Catalog is a catalog that prints out - online and they usually have copies of it in their stores -these Instant Value Coupons that can be stacked with Manufacturer's coupons. The catalog also has all the store's rebates for the month. Well Double Dip Days are cool because for two days you can use one month's IVC coupons with another month's rebates and vice versa. See? And they were pretty good this month! Here's what I did:
The October Easy Saver Catlog had an Instant Value Coupon for $3 off a 25.4 oz Garnier Fructis Shampoo or Conditioner. September has a rebate that if you buy $20.00 worth of Garnier products, you get a 10 dollar rebate. So - to sweeten this deal up, I went on Ebay and there was a seller out of Kalamazoo selling Garnier coupons - $1.00 off any product. They sell in increments of 10 for 1.99 (shipping included) so I bought them early this week, they came in the mail on Wednesday -and now I'm getting $4 off each bottle. But the nice thing about the rebates is that they take the rebates off the price BEFORE coupons are added. So - I used 3 -$3 IVC coupons (printed off the computer) and 3-$1 manufacturing coupons from Ebay. They are regularly priced 6.99 and I got 3 of them for 2.99 each - 8.97 + tax OOP (out of pocket)...submit to Easy Saver for Rebate get 10$ back! Did they just pay me .49 to take 75 ounces of shampoo home???? Uh - I think they did!
Even if you factor in the 1.99 I used to buy the coupons - I still paid 1.50 for 75 ounces of a GOOD shampoo! Whew!
Now, I still have 7 of those $1 coupons from Ebay left and the $3 IVCs are running all month long - so I'm going to wait it out and see if they put those big mammoth shampoos on sale some week and then really cash in :)
I also did this with Pert Plus - they have a September rebate for up to 4.59 and an October IVC for 2.50 off -plus I had a 2.00 coupon off of the 25.4 oz size and a 1.50 coupon off the 13.5 oz size. So I put two coupons with each bottle and paid $1.49 for the 25.4 oz size and uh - here we go again - they paid me .41 cents for the smaller bottle. That's 1.08 +tax for both. AND - I submit to the rebates for 4.59 so it's a 3.51 profit. See what I did there? Oh yeah...
My third and final rebate for September was this: they had a September sale: buy 4 bags (14 oz) of Halloween M&M's 4/$10 - buy 4 and get a $5.00 rebate. There was an October IVC coupon that was get $1 off 2 bags of Halloween M&Ms - so - I paid 8$ for 4 bags of yummy M&Ms and am getting 5 bucks back...that's not 4/10 baby, that's 4/3! And who doesn't like M&M's???
Walgreen's also puts out these coupons online every once in a while like get 10$ off a 40$ purchase, etc...this week it was buy 20$ (after coupons are tallied) get an extra 5.00$ off. So I used that and put in some filler sale items as well that I had coupons with.
Here's what I got this afternoon:
4 bags Halloween M&M's - 10.00
3 bottles of Garnier Fructis - 20.97
1 bottle of Pert Plus 25.4 oz - 5.99
1 bottle of Pert Plus 13.5 oz - 3.59
2 Mitchum Lady Deodorants - 3.98
1 Snuggle Fabric Softener Sheets - 3.59
1 Hall's bag of cough drops - 1.99
1 bottle Glade Pet deodorizer air freshner - 3.99
Total before coupons: 54.10 + tax
Coupons:
Garnier Fructis - $3 IVC
Garnier Fructis - $3 IVC
Garnier Fructis - $3 IVC
Garnier Fructis - $1 MQ
Garnier Fructis - $1 MQ
Garnier Fructis - $1 MQ
Pert Plus - 2.50 IVC
Pert Plus - 2.50 IVC
Pert Plus - 2.00 MQ
Pert Plus - 1.50 MQ
Mitchum - 1.00 IP (internet printable)
Mitchum - 1.00 IP (internet printable)
Halls Cough Drop - .99 7 Day Coupon (from Wag's weekly flyer) ($1 off RP)
Halls Cough Drop - .35 MQ
Glade Air Freshner - $1 IVC
Glade Air Freshner - $1.50 MQ
Snuggle Fabric Softner - 2/4 7 Day Coupon (1.89 off RP)
M&M - $1/2 IVC
M&M - $1/2 IVC
Total of Coupons: 30.24
Total: 25.29 ZING! 5.00 coupon!
Total Out of Pocket: 20.29 (that's what I paid! Crazy!)
Total Rebates Earned: 19.59
Difference: .70
ALL THAT FOR 70CENTS????? My math may be off a bit, but it's still an insanely small price for all that....!
Am I out of my freaking mind here or what??? Please feel free to skip over Wags postings if you think I'm going a little psychotic, but this is SUCH a FUN game. I've got shampoo pretty much for all of 2009 dont'cha think? And next week Johnson's & Johnson's is on sale! And I of COURSE have coupons :)
The hard part about these are getting the exact items for the exact deals and coupons - they are VERY specific -coupons and rebates alike. The other hard part is the cashier's sometimes don't know what to do with all my coupons and things. Like this afternoon the cashier told me that I couldn't use three of the same IVC coupon (for the Pert Plus & Garnier) because it says 1 item per coupon. Well that's fine, but I had 3 items and I had 3 coupons - so I'm sorry - but it goes through! But, I just said - that's fine, just give me the one then and took the other coupons knowing that I can just come in tonight when my favorite cashier, Katie, is working and do my deal. So - she took off all the extra merchandise, and then it turned out that I had picked up the wrong cough drops, so she asked me if she wanted her to go and get me the right kind. I said "sure" (otherwise, no cough drops for Amy) - this is interesting because I knew the store manager was over by the cough drops stocking because I had asked him where the Snuggle was earlier. So she comes back and says, "You know what? I'm just gonna go ahead and let you take all that shampoo...etc..." Translation: "I asked the store manager and he said you can use as many IVC's as you want, I was wrong, you were right, but I'm not going to let you know that..." Sorry, Carol - I am ON to you! But who cares? You've got to be nice to the cashiers, giving them crap never gets you anywhere and I got my freaking boatload of shampoo. Not to mention 7 more bottles to come in the month of October...
Ah, it's the little things in life isn't? Do not dismay - a picture will come :)
The October Easy Saver Catlog had an Instant Value Coupon for $3 off a 25.4 oz Garnier Fructis Shampoo or Conditioner. September has a rebate that if you buy $20.00 worth of Garnier products, you get a 10 dollar rebate. So - to sweeten this deal up, I went on Ebay and there was a seller out of Kalamazoo selling Garnier coupons - $1.00 off any product. They sell in increments of 10 for 1.99 (shipping included) so I bought them early this week, they came in the mail on Wednesday -and now I'm getting $4 off each bottle. But the nice thing about the rebates is that they take the rebates off the price BEFORE coupons are added. So - I used 3 -$3 IVC coupons (printed off the computer) and 3-$1 manufacturing coupons from Ebay. They are regularly priced 6.99 and I got 3 of them for 2.99 each - 8.97 + tax OOP (out of pocket)...submit to Easy Saver for Rebate get 10$ back! Did they just pay me .49 to take 75 ounces of shampoo home???? Uh - I think they did!
Even if you factor in the 1.99 I used to buy the coupons - I still paid 1.50 for 75 ounces of a GOOD shampoo! Whew!
Now, I still have 7 of those $1 coupons from Ebay left and the $3 IVCs are running all month long - so I'm going to wait it out and see if they put those big mammoth shampoos on sale some week and then really cash in :)
I also did this with Pert Plus - they have a September rebate for up to 4.59 and an October IVC for 2.50 off -plus I had a 2.00 coupon off of the 25.4 oz size and a 1.50 coupon off the 13.5 oz size. So I put two coupons with each bottle and paid $1.49 for the 25.4 oz size and uh - here we go again - they paid me .41 cents for the smaller bottle. That's 1.08 +tax for both. AND - I submit to the rebates for 4.59 so it's a 3.51 profit. See what I did there? Oh yeah...
My third and final rebate for September was this: they had a September sale: buy 4 bags (14 oz) of Halloween M&M's 4/$10 - buy 4 and get a $5.00 rebate. There was an October IVC coupon that was get $1 off 2 bags of Halloween M&Ms - so - I paid 8$ for 4 bags of yummy M&Ms and am getting 5 bucks back...that's not 4/10 baby, that's 4/3! And who doesn't like M&M's???
Walgreen's also puts out these coupons online every once in a while like get 10$ off a 40$ purchase, etc...this week it was buy 20$ (after coupons are tallied) get an extra 5.00$ off. So I used that and put in some filler sale items as well that I had coupons with.
Here's what I got this afternoon:
4 bags Halloween M&M's - 10.00
3 bottles of Garnier Fructis - 20.97
1 bottle of Pert Plus 25.4 oz - 5.99
1 bottle of Pert Plus 13.5 oz - 3.59
2 Mitchum Lady Deodorants - 3.98
1 Snuggle Fabric Softener Sheets - 3.59
1 Hall's bag of cough drops - 1.99
1 bottle Glade Pet deodorizer air freshner - 3.99
Total before coupons: 54.10 + tax
Coupons:
Garnier Fructis - $3 IVC
Garnier Fructis - $3 IVC
Garnier Fructis - $3 IVC
Garnier Fructis - $1 MQ
Garnier Fructis - $1 MQ
Garnier Fructis - $1 MQ
Pert Plus - 2.50 IVC
Pert Plus - 2.50 IVC
Pert Plus - 2.00 MQ
Pert Plus - 1.50 MQ
Mitchum - 1.00 IP (internet printable)
Mitchum - 1.00 IP (internet printable)
Halls Cough Drop - .99 7 Day Coupon (from Wag's weekly flyer) ($1 off RP)
Halls Cough Drop - .35 MQ
Glade Air Freshner - $1 IVC
Glade Air Freshner - $1.50 MQ
Snuggle Fabric Softner - 2/4 7 Day Coupon (1.89 off RP)
M&M - $1/2 IVC
M&M - $1/2 IVC
Total of Coupons: 30.24
Total: 25.29 ZING! 5.00 coupon!
Total Out of Pocket: 20.29 (that's what I paid! Crazy!)
Total Rebates Earned: 19.59
Difference: .70
ALL THAT FOR 70CENTS????? My math may be off a bit, but it's still an insanely small price for all that....!
Am I out of my freaking mind here or what??? Please feel free to skip over Wags postings if you think I'm going a little psychotic, but this is SUCH a FUN game. I've got shampoo pretty much for all of 2009 dont'cha think? And next week Johnson's & Johnson's is on sale! And I of COURSE have coupons :)
The hard part about these are getting the exact items for the exact deals and coupons - they are VERY specific -coupons and rebates alike. The other hard part is the cashier's sometimes don't know what to do with all my coupons and things. Like this afternoon the cashier told me that I couldn't use three of the same IVC coupon (for the Pert Plus & Garnier) because it says 1 item per coupon. Well that's fine, but I had 3 items and I had 3 coupons - so I'm sorry - but it goes through! But, I just said - that's fine, just give me the one then and took the other coupons knowing that I can just come in tonight when my favorite cashier, Katie, is working and do my deal. So - she took off all the extra merchandise, and then it turned out that I had picked up the wrong cough drops, so she asked me if she wanted her to go and get me the right kind. I said "sure" (otherwise, no cough drops for Amy) - this is interesting because I knew the store manager was over by the cough drops stocking because I had asked him where the Snuggle was earlier. So she comes back and says, "You know what? I'm just gonna go ahead and let you take all that shampoo...etc..." Translation: "I asked the store manager and he said you can use as many IVC's as you want, I was wrong, you were right, but I'm not going to let you know that..." Sorry, Carol - I am ON to you! But who cares? You've got to be nice to the cashiers, giving them crap never gets you anywhere and I got my freaking boatload of shampoo. Not to mention 7 more bottles to come in the month of October...
Ah, it's the little things in life isn't? Do not dismay - a picture will come :)
9.23.2008
5 Little words I'm longing to hear...
"I have to go potty"
BEFORE actually going potty
*deep sigh* she's getting there...
BEFORE actually going potty
*deep sigh* she's getting there...
9.22.2008
Sweetness
I know I've had a verbal toddler for a couple of years now - (I can't believe Grace is almost 3!) But just this weekend, for the first time since November, 5, 2005, I thought to myself how beautiful the name "Mommy" sounds coming from a sweetheart of a little girl who just wants to be near me all the time.
Another thing I don't ever want to forget is waking up to the sound of Annie, in her bed, jibber jabbering away to her toy lambs. She does this every morning -for at least 20 minutes, just talks away. Inflections and everything. I so wonder what she is thinking about, but mostly I just love to hear the contentedness as I wake up --before the fussing for breakfast comes!
Another thing I don't ever want to forget is waking up to the sound of Annie, in her bed, jibber jabbering away to her toy lambs. She does this every morning -for at least 20 minutes, just talks away. Inflections and everything. I so wonder what she is thinking about, but mostly I just love to hear the contentedness as I wake up --before the fussing for breakfast comes!
9.19.2008
Taking down the Barker
So - funny story about Grace at the fair this past Tuesday. Of course as prizes, there are Dora balloons, blowups and stuffed animals EVERYWHERE. Well, we stopped at an easy thing that she could win - the fishing picture. She won her Dora blow up hammer thingy and was happy as a lark.
Off we head towards Kiddie land, passing by numerous other games with like prizes. This exceedingly obnoxious barker at a dart/balloon game calls out to us "Hey - prize for the kiddo - each one wins..."or some other such thing that they all do. Well Clint says to him flat out, "No thanks, we're happy with what we've got." Upon further inspection of the booth I see this huge plush Dora doll- obviously it is a nicer prize that what we won, and actually we have a small Dora doll at home for Grace.
Even after Clint telling him "No thanks" the barker than proceeds to yell at Grace - "Hey little girl - I've got Dora prizes too" OBVIOUSLY trying to entice her and start the whole two year old temper tantrum of wanting more. And how out of line was he? To be barking at a 2 year old AFTER we had refused. Clint wanted to deck him, and I was very displeased.
Not to worry - Grace turned, looked at him, leaning forward with her fists straight out behind her and barked back: "I've got Dora at MY house!"
and walked on.
Oooh girlfriend!
Off we head towards Kiddie land, passing by numerous other games with like prizes. This exceedingly obnoxious barker at a dart/balloon game calls out to us "Hey - prize for the kiddo - each one wins..."or some other such thing that they all do. Well Clint says to him flat out, "No thanks, we're happy with what we've got." Upon further inspection of the booth I see this huge plush Dora doll- obviously it is a nicer prize that what we won, and actually we have a small Dora doll at home for Grace.
Even after Clint telling him "No thanks" the barker than proceeds to yell at Grace - "Hey little girl - I've got Dora prizes too" OBVIOUSLY trying to entice her and start the whole two year old temper tantrum of wanting more. And how out of line was he? To be barking at a 2 year old AFTER we had refused. Clint wanted to deck him, and I was very displeased.
Not to worry - Grace turned, looked at him, leaning forward with her fists straight out behind her and barked back: "I've got Dora at MY house!"
and walked on.
Oooh girlfriend!
9.18.2008
9.17.2008
The Big Splurge
Above is my slideshow of my grocery shopping this weekend. Scroll over the pictures to see prices and deals and the final tally for the weekend! I almost doubled my money. I think for the most part the big splurge is out of my system. Now my goal is to get lots of stuff for pennies, you know and then fresh items. But my stockpile is beefy. That's the key to cutting down the grocery budget, getting a stockpile in your pantry. Finding the good deal...i.e. Kotex and boxed potatoes...and stocking up with multiple coupons! Also the trick to Wal-greens is their Easysaver catalog, rolling over the Register Rewards and they have some monthly rebates that I'm going to try to learn about also. And don't let any disgruntled, know it all cashiers stop you. Merely smile and ask them to try the coupon. Or speak to the manager if necessary. Both happened on my Wal-green trip in Portage. The cashier and manager at the Wal-green in TR were awesome :) I'm actually going to write in a letter about them.
So anyhoo - I promise I'll get back to logging about my Cinderellas, but I'm going to keep in the grocery tips too as I find them. After all - it's for the family's sake that I'm doing this!
@Kate: Thanks for the blog template tip! I found one and stayed up entirely too late last night working on it...and also - I'm putting in a couple of days of overtime by helping out in the Glen Oak's library on Monday and Thursdays - then I come in and do my 8 hours in the Distance Learning Center. Probably only for September, until they hire their new morning person. I figure the OT can be my Christmas budget :)
@Elisabeth: Kotex must be running a massive campaign because I am finding coupons for them everywhere! If you have both Internet Explorer and Firefox, you can download two coupon printers and print Kotex coupons off of coupons.com and smartsource.com - you can print all coupons from these sites twice until they cut you off. Plus there has been the same coupons in the inserts in the Sunday paper. Find the package of Kotex from Wal-Mart that are $1.00 and stock up. You can use multiple coupons in 1 transaction as long as you have a coupon for each thing. i.e. 10 packages of Kotex + 10 1.00 coupons = pads for life! ha ha!
So anyhoo - I promise I'll get back to logging about my Cinderellas, but I'm going to keep in the grocery tips too as I find them. After all - it's for the family's sake that I'm doing this!
@Kate: Thanks for the blog template tip! I found one and stayed up entirely too late last night working on it...and also - I'm putting in a couple of days of overtime by helping out in the Glen Oak's library on Monday and Thursdays - then I come in and do my 8 hours in the Distance Learning Center. Probably only for September, until they hire their new morning person. I figure the OT can be my Christmas budget :)
@Elisabeth: Kotex must be running a massive campaign because I am finding coupons for them everywhere! If you have both Internet Explorer and Firefox, you can download two coupon printers and print Kotex coupons off of coupons.com and smartsource.com - you can print all coupons from these sites twice until they cut you off. Plus there has been the same coupons in the inserts in the Sunday paper. Find the package of Kotex from Wal-Mart that are $1.00 and stock up. You can use multiple coupons in 1 transaction as long as you have a coupon for each thing. i.e. 10 packages of Kotex + 10 1.00 coupons = pads for life! ha ha!
9.15.2008
Exhausted
Well, all I have to say is I ended last week exhausted and am beginning this week exhausted. Some weekends are just like that. The biggest bummer is that I left my camera at Mom and Dad's so I have to wait to blog about my big, MASSIVE savings this week, but Wal-greens did not let me down!
A brief glimpse though of what I did today: Meijer is running a special -buy 5 Kellogg's cereals for 10 and get a free gallon of milk...well - I went here and printed off 2 coupons for Mini-wheats on my computer at work and 2 from my boss's computer (most websites let you print 2 coupons)-I went to the store and got 4 boxes of Mini-Wheats, a box of Rice Krispies (for treats) and a gallon of milk for cha ching - $5.00 (I also had a register coupon for $1 off next purchase from this weekend's gala)
Considering that milk is usually 3.89 a gallon - I think that's a pretty good deal :) - my receipt said: "total savings - 13.99.
My second transaction -sometimes ya gotta make more than one - and I had another register coupon so I did two transactions was for 6 tubes of crescent rolls and 6 tubes of cinnamon rolls. I had $1/1 coupons for each tube and they were on sale at Meijer 2/$3 - I got them for 50 cents a tube - 12 tubes of rolls for +$1 register coupon and- cha ching - $5.00. Total savings on that transaction was 21.34.
Do you know how many different things you can do with crescent rolls! These babies come in handy and I know it says not to freeze them, but I think you totally can. And the cereal I'm putting in the care packages we're putting together to hand out. I wanted to put some cereal in it, but all I bought this weekend were the Fiber and Kashi health cereals and I figure since we're giving it to families with small children, they might want something tasty, rather than something that was merely designed to make you poop...*hee*
I'm thinking of keeping a tally of my savings on the sidebar - simply because I'm annoyingly competitive and this whole coupon thing has gotten to be one big massive game for me right now and I want to see if I can keep one-upping myself. My goal each week is to get at least SOMETHING free (from the store) and yes, I do sound incredibly Dutch right now Kate! :) but heck- this is fun.
This past weekend my free items were:
10 packages of Kotex pantyliners (I have 6 more coupons for these, I think I'll be set till menopause)
1 Johnsons & Johnsons Bud-E suds bar
1 bag of beef jerky
4 bags of Green Giant vegetable steamers
6 bags of Chex Mix
1 bottle of Crest Mouthwash
Are you mocking me yet? I totally wouldn't blame you!
and I'm already starting on this week with my gallon of milk :) with some very well laid plans for shampoo and toothpaste...(insert wicked grin and evil laugh)
A brief glimpse though of what I did today: Meijer is running a special -buy 5 Kellogg's cereals for 10 and get a free gallon of milk...well - I went here and printed off 2 coupons for Mini-wheats on my computer at work and 2 from my boss's computer (most websites let you print 2 coupons)-I went to the store and got 4 boxes of Mini-Wheats, a box of Rice Krispies (for treats) and a gallon of milk for cha ching - $5.00 (I also had a register coupon for $1 off next purchase from this weekend's gala)
Considering that milk is usually 3.89 a gallon - I think that's a pretty good deal :) - my receipt said: "total savings - 13.99.
My second transaction -sometimes ya gotta make more than one - and I had another register coupon so I did two transactions was for 6 tubes of crescent rolls and 6 tubes of cinnamon rolls. I had $1/1 coupons for each tube and they were on sale at Meijer 2/$3 - I got them for 50 cents a tube - 12 tubes of rolls for +$1 register coupon and- cha ching - $5.00. Total savings on that transaction was 21.34.
Do you know how many different things you can do with crescent rolls! These babies come in handy and I know it says not to freeze them, but I think you totally can. And the cereal I'm putting in the care packages we're putting together to hand out. I wanted to put some cereal in it, but all I bought this weekend were the Fiber and Kashi health cereals and I figure since we're giving it to families with small children, they might want something tasty, rather than something that was merely designed to make you poop...*hee*
I'm thinking of keeping a tally of my savings on the sidebar - simply because I'm annoyingly competitive and this whole coupon thing has gotten to be one big massive game for me right now and I want to see if I can keep one-upping myself. My goal each week is to get at least SOMETHING free (from the store) and yes, I do sound incredibly Dutch right now Kate! :) but heck- this is fun.
This past weekend my free items were:
10 packages of Kotex pantyliners (I have 6 more coupons for these, I think I'll be set till menopause)
1 Johnsons & Johnsons Bud-E suds bar
1 bag of beef jerky
4 bags of Green Giant vegetable steamers
6 bags of Chex Mix
1 bottle of Crest Mouthwash
Are you mocking me yet? I totally wouldn't blame you!
and I'm already starting on this week with my gallon of milk :) with some very well laid plans for shampoo and toothpaste...(insert wicked grin and evil laugh)
9.12.2008
And so it begins!
Well girls, wish me luck! I've got my coupons organized, my spreadsheets and shopping lists ready and I'm going to hit the groceries HARD this weekend. I counted it up and I have - no joke - 200 (yes, that's right) valid coupons to use this weekend at Hardings, Walmart, Walgreens and Meijer. I'm taking pictures and tallies of everything and I'll let you know how it goes!
Last night was my first trip of the weekend - small one to Hardings - had 5 coupons for Betty Crocker potatoes - normally priced 1.97, marked down to 1.00 save $1/2 boxes - that's .50 a box and 5.00 for 10. That's 75% savings am I right? And those are nice to have in the pantry for when you're in a bind for supper.
And today during my lunch hour I began the rolling at Walgreens - bought 3 boxes of Robitussin cold medicine - on sale from 5.79 to 3.99. Had 3/$3 coupons and paid 2.97 for all three boxes. Register Rewards this week awards you a 10.00 in store coupon for your next trip when you buy three, so basically I just MADE 7.03 - in a way of looking at it :) HA!
Oh, and last night it was DEAD at work so I went to Freeflys and signed up for about 30 free samples! (That's for you Elisabeth! :) But watch out you have to be careful of the ones that say participation required - I don't do those they are a pain in the butt. I just do the ones that ask for your address.
The only bad thing is that I'm already worn out from planning and I have a long way to go this weekend!
Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Last night was my first trip of the weekend - small one to Hardings - had 5 coupons for Betty Crocker potatoes - normally priced 1.97, marked down to 1.00 save $1/2 boxes - that's .50 a box and 5.00 for 10. That's 75% savings am I right? And those are nice to have in the pantry for when you're in a bind for supper.
And today during my lunch hour I began the rolling at Walgreens - bought 3 boxes of Robitussin cold medicine - on sale from 5.79 to 3.99. Had 3/$3 coupons and paid 2.97 for all three boxes. Register Rewards this week awards you a 10.00 in store coupon for your next trip when you buy three, so basically I just MADE 7.03 - in a way of looking at it :) HA!
Oh, and last night it was DEAD at work so I went to Freeflys and signed up for about 30 free samples! (That's for you Elisabeth! :) But watch out you have to be careful of the ones that say participation required - I don't do those they are a pain in the butt. I just do the ones that ask for your address.
The only bad thing is that I'm already worn out from planning and I have a long way to go this weekend!
Keep your fingers crossed for me!
9.10.2008
My first freebie!
First things first! Here's some pics of my sweeties :)
Scary, scary monsters!
My little Newsie
This outfit had the whole kit and kaboodle - hat, bib, sleeper and two little booties!
My sweet Anniecakes
Charlie Chaplin...Or...Grace enjoying her ice cream sundae!
Scary, scary monsters!
My little Newsie
This outfit had the whole kit and kaboodle - hat, bib, sleeper and two little booties!
My sweet Anniecakes
I got my first free sample in the mail today (I've had free samples before, but this is my first since my official moneysaving hobby has begun!) It's from Fiberone.com - kind of fun to get because today I found out that Walmart.com has a free sample section and I signed up for four or five more grocery item samples!
Here's a pic of my yummy Fiber One samples: 
Let me tell you this stuff works and it's tasty too! Bars and Cereal are on sale at Wal-greens for 2$ and I have lots of coupons! Planning to stock up :)
Kudos (!) go to Clint for taking the pic of my Fiber One!
Wow! Two posts today!
Change Please
Every year or so - generally right around the end of summer/beginning of fall, I get very antsy for a change at my job. This summer was no exception. I attribute this to the fact that when I was teaching there was an actual end to my summer and a beginning of something new with the upcoming school year - new kids/new challenges/different schedule, etc...I've been out of teaching for two years now and I still feel like something should be starting up in September. Very weird.
Anyhoo - this summer I was getting antsy and had a couple of interviews scheduled with jobs that weren't really in our family's best interest - i.e. farther away, longer hours and different daycare providers for about the same amount of money I make now. The only upside to these jobs is that they would be DIFFERENT and provide me with a change of pace. Apparently I just cannot commit to one thing for any specific period of time - not comfortably anyway. That was getting to be what I didn't like about teaching - I had a hard time sticking to the ROUTINE that kids need so strongly because I was getting bored.
I actually wound up cancelling my interviews because I didn't want to go and get excited about something I wasn't going to take, because ultimately - even though I personally need a change - my family needs stability and with Clint getting his job last March we finally are getting to where we have a routine and things around the house are stable - routines, daycare, finances, activities, etc...
I think this is what typical family life is. At least for those of us with kiddos who aren't in to activities/sports yet. I want to provide the stability for my girls and for my husband, but in my head I am looking/desiring for something new to spice things up a little. Any new obsession will do. Clint suggested I get a hobby - I told him I needed a hobby I could do from 8-4 Monday - Friday.
Not many of those around, but I do have time to do my coupons at work :) We are talking multiple trips to multiple stores and at least 75 coupons (no joke) for just this week! I guess you could say that my hobby will be finding moneysavers for our family's grocery/shopping bill. There are tons of moneysaver blogs that I am reading and tips and links to coupons. It has taken the bulk of the past two days to make up my spreadsheet, sort my coupons and route my course of action to my money saving deals. BTW - my boss totally knows that I do all this, she tells me that if I don't have anything to do to look busy and ribs me at times about clipping coupons.
I'll probably wind up posting my progress on the blog here just to keep a record. This weekend is my first major spree and we'll see how it goes. I'm excited. I suppose you could say my new hobby will provide change - in both ways!
Anyhoo - this summer I was getting antsy and had a couple of interviews scheduled with jobs that weren't really in our family's best interest - i.e. farther away, longer hours and different daycare providers for about the same amount of money I make now. The only upside to these jobs is that they would be DIFFERENT and provide me with a change of pace. Apparently I just cannot commit to one thing for any specific period of time - not comfortably anyway. That was getting to be what I didn't like about teaching - I had a hard time sticking to the ROUTINE that kids need so strongly because I was getting bored.
I actually wound up cancelling my interviews because I didn't want to go and get excited about something I wasn't going to take, because ultimately - even though I personally need a change - my family needs stability and with Clint getting his job last March we finally are getting to where we have a routine and things around the house are stable - routines, daycare, finances, activities, etc...
I think this is what typical family life is. At least for those of us with kiddos who aren't in to activities/sports yet. I want to provide the stability for my girls and for my husband, but in my head I am looking/desiring for something new to spice things up a little. Any new obsession will do. Clint suggested I get a hobby - I told him I needed a hobby I could do from 8-4 Monday - Friday.
Not many of those around, but I do have time to do my coupons at work :) We are talking multiple trips to multiple stores and at least 75 coupons (no joke) for just this week! I guess you could say that my hobby will be finding moneysavers for our family's grocery/shopping bill. There are tons of moneysaver blogs that I am reading and tips and links to coupons. It has taken the bulk of the past two days to make up my spreadsheet, sort my coupons and route my course of action to my money saving deals. BTW - my boss totally knows that I do all this, she tells me that if I don't have anything to do to look busy and ribs me at times about clipping coupons.
I'll probably wind up posting my progress on the blog here just to keep a record. This weekend is my first major spree and we'll see how it goes. I'm excited. I suppose you could say my new hobby will provide change - in both ways!
9.09.2008
Yikes
I'm clipping coupons and singing Princess songs in my sleep now. Seriously - my brain is on overload with those two things and when I've stared at a computer for 12 hours and try to go home and sleep - all I see are barcodes and advertisements and all I hear is "Colors of the Wind", intertwined with "A Whole New World." Yikes!
Not much going on this week - last weekend was sort of a sloth weekend - didn't do much, Clint worked on Saturday and we sold our recliner. Kind of a nice bargain as we got Clint's mom's chair and ottoman combo - which is SOOO much nicer for free :) It'll lend itself to some minor redecorations which will keep our spirits up about the house. We've decided to take it off the market. It's been 18 months and no real leads - just some apparently unfinanceable people interested. I suggested to Clint that we let it go off the market for the winter and then maybe put it up for sale next spring with a FSBO sign. Not sure yet on that, but it will be nice not to have the stress of trying to keep the house immaculate (which really is about 50% of the time!)
It'll be nice not to have to THINK about it so much anyway.
This next weekend starts the fair - Clint is a huge fan of the fair. In fact - we got gigs on Saturday beFORE the fair to be 4H judges. 50 bucks and lunch baby! Just for talking to kids about their projects and then handing out awards. Very nice set up as that can be our Fair money :) I suppose on Saturday night there will be visions of stamp collections and sewing projects running through my head. Double yikes!!
Not much going on this week - last weekend was sort of a sloth weekend - didn't do much, Clint worked on Saturday and we sold our recliner. Kind of a nice bargain as we got Clint's mom's chair and ottoman combo - which is SOOO much nicer for free :) It'll lend itself to some minor redecorations which will keep our spirits up about the house. We've decided to take it off the market. It's been 18 months and no real leads - just some apparently unfinanceable people interested. I suggested to Clint that we let it go off the market for the winter and then maybe put it up for sale next spring with a FSBO sign. Not sure yet on that, but it will be nice not to have the stress of trying to keep the house immaculate (which really is about 50% of the time!)
It'll be nice not to have to THINK about it so much anyway.
This next weekend starts the fair - Clint is a huge fan of the fair. In fact - we got gigs on Saturday beFORE the fair to be 4H judges. 50 bucks and lunch baby! Just for talking to kids about their projects and then handing out awards. Very nice set up as that can be our Fair money :) I suppose on Saturday night there will be visions of stamp collections and sewing projects running through my head. Double yikes!!
9.04.2008
9.03.2008
Utopia
I've decided that one of things that would occur in a perfect world would be - a husband who - on his own - observes his wife doing a time consuming/somewhat exhausting routine every evening and - JUST ONCE IN A WHILE - says, "Hey honey, I'll do that tonight." I'm not asking for regularity, I'm just saying once in a while. So I don't have to ask him, nope I want him to come up with it on his own.
My husband is many wonderful things, but a volunteer he is not.
My husband is many wonderful things, but a volunteer he is not.
8.25.2008
Mayhem
Utter chaos reigned in our house last night. I went to visit some friends up in Kazoo and took Annie with me, leaving Clint and Grace to an afternoon by themselves. It never fails - 1 time I take an afternoon off, I come back and the whole evening is shot to hel...ck. CRAZINESS was the name of the game last night.
We came back from retrieving a chair and a quick trip to Meijers about 8:30 last night. Annie has begun screaming (due to teething and being hungry) on the car ride home from Meijers and does not let up until inside with a bottle in her mouth and even then she was at the gasping, sobbing hiccuping stage so she was slurpin' the formula all over the place. We had stopped to get Grace a Happy Meal on the way home because of the late hour and she was in her jammies on the couch eating that, after having 2 very huge meltdowns that were Dora and jammie related - to add to the Annie chaos. She's begging for her drink, Clint hands it to her and tells her to be careful, which of course, she's 2 so - yeah. She spilled Sprite all over - the same time the phone rang. Clint did some yelping and had words for our darling, to which they BOTH responded by wailing. So, I had 2 crying girls in my lap, an angry husband moving the couch to clean up and a dog who responded to the whole situation by laying down completely in the middle of everything.
I got them both settled down, Annie finished her bottle and into jammies, very happy now. Grace finished her happy meal and into her jammies and just when I was pondering how I didn't think I could handle ANY MORE CRYING - Grace runs into her bedroom, completely unaware of the HUGE 80 pound dog in the middle of the floor, trips over him and lands face down onto the laminate. Wailing ensues.
I couldn't help it. I cracked up. It was either that - or CRACK UP. Her feet went so high into the air, I'm laughing about it now as I'm reliving it. She completely flipped.
This the girl, who, on Friday at the sitter's house ran down the hallway tripped over NOTHING but her own feet and slammed into the bathroom doorway. HUGE black and blue and green and yellow goose egg on her forehead.
Grace is no name for her :)
We came back from retrieving a chair and a quick trip to Meijers about 8:30 last night. Annie has begun screaming (due to teething and being hungry) on the car ride home from Meijers and does not let up until inside with a bottle in her mouth and even then she was at the gasping, sobbing hiccuping stage so she was slurpin' the formula all over the place. We had stopped to get Grace a Happy Meal on the way home because of the late hour and she was in her jammies on the couch eating that, after having 2 very huge meltdowns that were Dora and jammie related - to add to the Annie chaos. She's begging for her drink, Clint hands it to her and tells her to be careful, which of course, she's 2 so - yeah. She spilled Sprite all over - the same time the phone rang. Clint did some yelping and had words for our darling, to which they BOTH responded by wailing. So, I had 2 crying girls in my lap, an angry husband moving the couch to clean up and a dog who responded to the whole situation by laying down completely in the middle of everything.
I got them both settled down, Annie finished her bottle and into jammies, very happy now. Grace finished her happy meal and into her jammies and just when I was pondering how I didn't think I could handle ANY MORE CRYING - Grace runs into her bedroom, completely unaware of the HUGE 80 pound dog in the middle of the floor, trips over him and lands face down onto the laminate. Wailing ensues.
I couldn't help it. I cracked up. It was either that - or CRACK UP. Her feet went so high into the air, I'm laughing about it now as I'm reliving it. She completely flipped.
This the girl, who, on Friday at the sitter's house ran down the hallway tripped over NOTHING but her own feet and slammed into the bathroom doorway. HUGE black and blue and green and yellow goose egg on her forehead.
Grace is no name for her :)
8.22.2008
Awwww...
Even at 5 months, my younger daughter has learned the art of manipulation. She has this sort of shrieky scream (new this week) that she uses now because she has learned that it produces results quicker. I'm on to you honey!
So this morning, I put her in the carseat and we were off to get gas before going to daycare and she starts screaming this piercy shriek. At first Grace started laughing because it is quite comical sounding. But then she blessed my heart by saying things like, "Shhhh...it's okay, Annie, shhhh...it's okay!" all trying to soothe her sissy. To no avail - so she does what soothes her - she pulled out Dora Mermaid, leaned over and held the book out so Annie could see the pictures and began to read/recite the whole book to her. So in my rearview, Grace is bent over with the pictures stuck in Annie's face saying, "Hola, I'm Dora and this is my best friend, Boots..." - She "read" her the whole thing :) I was impressed with my compassionate little sweetie heart.
Course, when she stopped Annie started crying again. I suggested Grace give Annie her plug to help her calm down. I got the LOOK. Then Annie got the SIDEWAYS LOOK. And the plug stayed put.
So this morning, I put her in the carseat and we were off to get gas before going to daycare and she starts screaming this piercy shriek. At first Grace started laughing because it is quite comical sounding. But then she blessed my heart by saying things like, "Shhhh...it's okay, Annie, shhhh...it's okay!" all trying to soothe her sissy. To no avail - so she does what soothes her - she pulled out Dora Mermaid, leaned over and held the book out so Annie could see the pictures and began to read/recite the whole book to her. So in my rearview, Grace is bent over with the pictures stuck in Annie's face saying, "Hola, I'm Dora and this is my best friend, Boots..." - She "read" her the whole thing :) I was impressed with my compassionate little sweetie heart.
Course, when she stopped Annie started crying again. I suggested Grace give Annie her plug to help her calm down. I got the LOOK. Then Annie got the SIDEWAYS LOOK. And the plug stayed put.
8.21.2008
Fire!
So we just had the fire alarm go off at work, but hey - I don't see anything or smell anything and all the employees around me come looking at me and say "Is that real? Do we have to go somewhere?" Hmmm good thing we have the fire alarm! No hotfooting out for the Glen Oakians!
8.20.2008
Kudos to Moms
Ever since we came back from vacation - when I drop the girls off at the baby-sitters Grace just bawls her eyes out. Now, it is not easy being a working mom. Not easy at all. Early mornings for the kids, dressing them when they are half asleep, putting them in the car wrapped in blankets and eyelids drooping really sucks. BIG TIME - makes me feel tremendously guilty for putting them through that, but the one consolation I have always had is that Grace loves her babysitter and has never put up a fuss about staying. Now, all of a sudden at almost 3 years - she's crying and having fits because I'm leaving for work. I thought maybe the first week after we were back because we had been together for a whole week, but she has not let up and it makes me feel terrible!
I know that in this day, age and economy, staying home with the kids is really hard to do and Grace and Annemarie will be growing up in a different time than I did. My mom always worked, but mostly because my dad was in the ministry. If he'd pursued public education it probably would've been a different story. I can now empathize with my mom and kudos to all those moms out there who have to get their kiddos to daycare before 8am. And to the moms who are blessed enough to stay home - you are truly blessed and amazing for doing it. With all the guilt I feel about leaving my babies with someone else - I am also generally a tiny bit relieved because I know I would go crazy being a SAHM. Part-time would be the best option for me - part-time from about 11am - 5pm that paid full-time pay and full-time benefits would be ideal! ha ha
So - here's to ALL moms - it's not easy no matter what we do - stay at home or work - but we all deserve a pat on the back - I think!
8.18.2008
All You, Baby!
So - my latest conquest in the coupon game: The ALL YOU magazine from Wal-Mart. This magazine ROCKS! It's geared towards families/moms and it has TONS of coupons! I counted up just the ones I clipped (which were most, but not all) and counted at least 60 dollars in savings! On stuff that we buy! Stuff like Tyson chicken nuggets, Uncrustables (RACH!), peanut butter, gum, cleaning products, Kraft items - it was awesome - it's a monthly magazine and I'm STOKED.
So - here's what rocked about the issue I purchased on Friday night: I bought the mag at WalMart for 1.77 - it has five coupons in it that are: Buy 3 Kraft, Nabisco or Oscar Meyer products get a specific item free. There were coupons for a free box of Wheat Thins, package of hot dogs, bottle of salad dressing, tub of Crystal Light and package of Kraft singles. I've seen and used these coupons before - last time it was buy three of the K, N or OM items - get 3.00 off a can of peanuts. Well - KOOL-Aid packets are made by Kraft and last week Kool-Aid packets were on sale for 10 cents each. Sooooo....I buy 3 packets of 10 cent Kool-Aid and got a box of Wheat Thins for free! :) I did that for each of the coupons which translates into: 1.50 + 1.77 (for the magazine) = 3.27 paid for: 15 packets of Kool-Aid, Wheat Thins, Ranch Salad Dressing, Cheese Singles, Crystal Light and Hot Dogs...
I'm getting high reliving it!
So - here's what rocked about the issue I purchased on Friday night: I bought the mag at WalMart for 1.77 - it has five coupons in it that are: Buy 3 Kraft, Nabisco or Oscar Meyer products get a specific item free. There were coupons for a free box of Wheat Thins, package of hot dogs, bottle of salad dressing, tub of Crystal Light and package of Kraft singles. I've seen and used these coupons before - last time it was buy three of the K, N or OM items - get 3.00 off a can of peanuts. Well - KOOL-Aid packets are made by Kraft and last week Kool-Aid packets were on sale for 10 cents each. Sooooo....I buy 3 packets of 10 cent Kool-Aid and got a box of Wheat Thins for free! :) I did that for each of the coupons which translates into: 1.50 + 1.77 (for the magazine) = 3.27 paid for: 15 packets of Kool-Aid, Wheat Thins, Ranch Salad Dressing, Cheese Singles, Crystal Light and Hot Dogs...
I'm getting high reliving it!
8.07.2008
Tantrum Envy
I called my baby-sitter this morning to relay some info and, as always, I ask how my girls are doing. Especially Grace right now, because she is just flat out ornery! We haven't dealt too much with the jealousy bug over Annie yet, but it's a comin' the older Annie gets and the more attention she needs. She's to the interesting point of being a baby - smiling, cooing, talking, rolling over. No longer is she just eating and sleeping - consquently affections must be shared and Grace is none too happy.
So, I was talking to the baby-sitter asking how the girls were doing and all of a sudden I could hear a fit being thrown. I knew it was Grace - I recognize my girl's fits. I said something to the effect of, "Oh there she goes now." And the DCP (daycare provider) said "Yeah, I just took her fork away."
Okay - why don't I get to throw a fit when someone throws my fork away??? Why can't I abandon all inhibitions and let my true feelings out when things don't go my way??? How nice to be a 2 year old and not have to suppress your emotions to be socially acceptable. I'm not saying that I want to throw fits or am evening having tantrums in my mind - but boy! The option would be nice every once in a while. Even if it is over something as trite as a fork!
So, I was talking to the baby-sitter asking how the girls were doing and all of a sudden I could hear a fit being thrown. I knew it was Grace - I recognize my girl's fits. I said something to the effect of, "Oh there she goes now." And the DCP (daycare provider) said "Yeah, I just took her fork away."
Okay - why don't I get to throw a fit when someone throws my fork away??? Why can't I abandon all inhibitions and let my true feelings out when things don't go my way??? How nice to be a 2 year old and not have to suppress your emotions to be socially acceptable. I'm not saying that I want to throw fits or am evening having tantrums in my mind - but boy! The option would be nice every once in a while. Even if it is over something as trite as a fork!
8.06.2008
Jiggedy Jig
Home again, Home again. Yeah, we've been back from vacation for about 4 days now and like everything else (ie laundry, dishes, unpacking) I'm just now starting to get caught back up. Some people come home and unpack everything, put it away, do all the laundry and are ready for the new week before it comes...not so at the Young house, although I wouldn't mind getting my act together that way. At the Young house, we're still on vacation till Monday and consequently, here it is Wednesday and the laundry is just now going to get put away. Tonight. Hopefully. I have a really hard time crashing back into reality. I actually have to be forced into it, kicking, screaming and clawing.
Vacation rocked. We all went up to the most beautiful lake - Lake Leelanau. It's FREAKING huge. Takes 1 hour in a fishing boat just to get down 1/3 of the lake. The house we stayed at was awesome - fit all 8 of us so comfortably and had a deck and yard completely in the sun. The lakefront was so shallow Gracie could still touch all the way to the end of the dock - which was about 100 yards long - easy. Normally, I'm not a big fan of swimming in lakes other than the Great Lakes- I just can't stand the muck and turtle poop, I prefer the sand and rocks. So in years past on vacation, I pretty much just swim the day we head to Lake Michigan. This lake front was all sand as far as I could touch - even as far as Jeff could touch. Awesome. We swam everyday and I have the sunburn to prove it!
The only kink in our week in the lap of Lake Leelanau luxury was my 2 year old who wanted to go home on Wednesday. Grace was perfect - sweet, compliant, excited the first half of the week and then she started saying "I want to go home." Yikes! Why on earth? I couldn't figure out, but she said it about 4 times on Wednesday and the rest of the week went downhill from there. Fussy, crying, getting into trouble, balking at EVERYTHING except her Dora videos. Sheesh. It was tough and the hardest part is, I felt so horrible that she was acting that way and everyone had to be a part of it! Once we got home, after about 3 hours she was back to normal. I guess I just didn't realize how much Grace needed her routine and her home surroundings.
But despite Gracie's actions it was a great week of relaxing, tanning and doing whatever we wanted. Clint and I saw Mamma Mia! one night (we all had a date night :) and it took a while to get used to seeing James Bond singing, but having listened to ABBA's greatest hits EVERY Sunday morning before church while growing up, I loved it! :) Took Clint a while to attach though, so I promised him I'd go and see the Dark Night - although I'm a little nervous about the dreams I'll be having. Creepy clown makeup tends to bother me. Not to mention psychotic villians.
Tough to come back to reality. All I want to do is lay out in the sun! Maybe I'll be sick tomorrow!
Vacation rocked. We all went up to the most beautiful lake - Lake Leelanau. It's FREAKING huge. Takes 1 hour in a fishing boat just to get down 1/3 of the lake. The house we stayed at was awesome - fit all 8 of us so comfortably and had a deck and yard completely in the sun. The lakefront was so shallow Gracie could still touch all the way to the end of the dock - which was about 100 yards long - easy. Normally, I'm not a big fan of swimming in lakes other than the Great Lakes- I just can't stand the muck and turtle poop, I prefer the sand and rocks. So in years past on vacation, I pretty much just swim the day we head to Lake Michigan. This lake front was all sand as far as I could touch - even as far as Jeff could touch. Awesome. We swam everyday and I have the sunburn to prove it!
The only kink in our week in the lap of Lake Leelanau luxury was my 2 year old who wanted to go home on Wednesday. Grace was perfect - sweet, compliant, excited the first half of the week and then she started saying "I want to go home." Yikes! Why on earth? I couldn't figure out, but she said it about 4 times on Wednesday and the rest of the week went downhill from there. Fussy, crying, getting into trouble, balking at EVERYTHING except her Dora videos. Sheesh. It was tough and the hardest part is, I felt so horrible that she was acting that way and everyone had to be a part of it! Once we got home, after about 3 hours she was back to normal. I guess I just didn't realize how much Grace needed her routine and her home surroundings.
But despite Gracie's actions it was a great week of relaxing, tanning and doing whatever we wanted. Clint and I saw Mamma Mia! one night (we all had a date night :) and it took a while to get used to seeing James Bond singing, but having listened to ABBA's greatest hits EVERY Sunday morning before church while growing up, I loved it! :) Took Clint a while to attach though, so I promised him I'd go and see the Dark Night - although I'm a little nervous about the dreams I'll be having. Creepy clown makeup tends to bother me. Not to mention psychotic villians.
Tough to come back to reality. All I want to do is lay out in the sun! Maybe I'll be sick tomorrow!
7.24.2008
BB Power
I HATE packing lunches. I have yet to meet a woman who enjoys packing lunches for her hubby and family everyday. My mom did it for all the years we were growing up and she's still doing it for my daddi-o, but I know in her heart she secretly hates packing lunches. But - it's not cost efficient or healthy to eat out for every single lunch for the both of us - been there, done that. So, what I've taken to doing this summer (and I really like this method) is on Sunday evening - either Clint or I grill 8 chicken breasts. Chicken is almost always on sale at Meijers either fresh or frozen, but fresh is soooo much tastier. Apparently Sam's Club has huge chicken breasts for sale at 1.99 a pound - always, so we're going to check that out. Anyway - grill up the breasts and then I set up a little assembly line of 9 square gladware containers and two bags of lettuce, 3 cucumbers and about 5 peppers (I love the colored peppers) and then I just assemble 9 salads and stick them in the fridge. When the chicken is done, I bag up 9 bags of breasts and stick them in the fridge in a bowl. Then I also bag up 9 bags of baby carrots as well and stick them in a different container. Grab and go - baby! And it's a tasty healthy lunch that I don't have to do every single night. Takes me only an hour on Sunday evenings for the whole week!
For the past two weeks I've also bagged up these brownies from a recipe that I found online - it's a Weight Watcher recipe that I stumbled on during my days of Web surfing. I was a bit incredulous at it, so I wanted to try it. All you do is get a chocolate brownie mix, dump it in your mixing bowl and then take a normal size can of black beans, drain the juice out of the can while keeping the beans in it. Then fill up the can of beans with water and then puree the heck out of it. So that the skins are all pureed and everything. I have a Magic Bullet (WHICH ROCKS) and it takes about 1 minute to do! Then dump that in with the brownie mix and blend up. Then bake according to the directions on the mix. It totally works! They are a bit of a different consistency and I like to melt about 1/2 a bag of chocolate chips on top for a "frosting", but they are pretty healthy (for being chocolate) and give a big boost of fiber! There's a little something off about them, but not that much and I really like them.
Well - I had been packing them for our lunches prior to this week and this week, I just have little snack bags of something sweet to go with our salads. Anyway, the salad, carrots and brownie have totally satisfied both Clint and I until dinner - I remember coming home from teaching and just wanting to SCARF while I was getting dinner - cuz I was so hungry. Not these days. This week both Clint and I have been SOOO hungry in the afternoon and just feeling like the salad wasn't enough. And we figured out that it was because we were missing the black bean brownie!! Isn't that incredible? Seriously - the brownies were only maybe 1-2 inch squares and they would hold us for 5 hours!!!!! Having just figured that out, I was totally amazed. Gotta get me some more of those made! I'll have to add it to the Sunday evening line up.
Another recipe that I tried from WW (I'm not on WW, but the bb brownies led to this one and I didn't believe this one either) is to make a cake out of a cake mix and a can of Diet Coke. Is that crazy or what??? So, I tried it. Dumped my chocolate cake into my mixing bowl, added a 12 oz can of DC and mixed it up. Baked it according to directions and out it came!! It really light and fluffy and I eat it with Cool whip, rather than frosting because in the beginning it was so light that it looked as if frosting would tear it up or be too thick tasting. The cool whip is really tasty on it. Is that amazing or what? Apparently the DC only really tastes good with chocolate cake mixes and for white or yellow cake mix they recommend fruity pop like 7up or Sprite or red pop, etc....
How crazy is all of that???? The power of carbonation and the black bean can totally eliminate the need for eggs and oil in a recipe. Who figured this stuff out anyway???
For the past two weeks I've also bagged up these brownies from a recipe that I found online - it's a Weight Watcher recipe that I stumbled on during my days of Web surfing. I was a bit incredulous at it, so I wanted to try it. All you do is get a chocolate brownie mix, dump it in your mixing bowl and then take a normal size can of black beans, drain the juice out of the can while keeping the beans in it. Then fill up the can of beans with water and then puree the heck out of it. So that the skins are all pureed and everything. I have a Magic Bullet (WHICH ROCKS) and it takes about 1 minute to do! Then dump that in with the brownie mix and blend up. Then bake according to the directions on the mix. It totally works! They are a bit of a different consistency and I like to melt about 1/2 a bag of chocolate chips on top for a "frosting", but they are pretty healthy (for being chocolate) and give a big boost of fiber! There's a little something off about them, but not that much and I really like them.
Well - I had been packing them for our lunches prior to this week and this week, I just have little snack bags of something sweet to go with our salads. Anyway, the salad, carrots and brownie have totally satisfied both Clint and I until dinner - I remember coming home from teaching and just wanting to SCARF while I was getting dinner - cuz I was so hungry. Not these days. This week both Clint and I have been SOOO hungry in the afternoon and just feeling like the salad wasn't enough. And we figured out that it was because we were missing the black bean brownie!! Isn't that incredible? Seriously - the brownies were only maybe 1-2 inch squares and they would hold us for 5 hours!!!!! Having just figured that out, I was totally amazed. Gotta get me some more of those made! I'll have to add it to the Sunday evening line up.
Another recipe that I tried from WW (I'm not on WW, but the bb brownies led to this one and I didn't believe this one either) is to make a cake out of a cake mix and a can of Diet Coke. Is that crazy or what??? So, I tried it. Dumped my chocolate cake into my mixing bowl, added a 12 oz can of DC and mixed it up. Baked it according to directions and out it came!! It really light and fluffy and I eat it with Cool whip, rather than frosting because in the beginning it was so light that it looked as if frosting would tear it up or be too thick tasting. The cool whip is really tasty on it. Is that amazing or what? Apparently the DC only really tastes good with chocolate cake mixes and for white or yellow cake mix they recommend fruity pop like 7up or Sprite or red pop, etc....
How crazy is all of that???? The power of carbonation and the black bean can totally eliminate the need for eggs and oil in a recipe. Who figured this stuff out anyway???
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