Thanks to Bookish Penguin for giving me something to post about!
I was trying to be original and write something entertaining, or witty, or uplifting, or informative, but God again decided to humble me and I have a cold. I haven't had a cold for a year or two (usually I'd get sick and sound like a frog for the whole month of December every, single year). I should of been more vigilant at washing my hands and using hand sanitizer when watching other people's runny nosed children. So I feel like crap. No, more like my head is going to explode. I also really ramble when I am on cold medicine. Ugh. Anyways:
Monday Five Countdown!
Five Things I Am Grateful For:
1) For having cold medicine stocked up in the cupboard where I could actually find it. I'm glad I got the big pack of sudafed. Sudafed for the stuffy head, Allergy meds for the runny nose. Now I will have a use for all those Halls I got for free at Rite Aid.
2) Again, for being a SAHM, not a WAHM. I have been able to watch my "niece" while her mom goes back and forth to the hospital to visit her baby in the NICU. I'm glad I can watch her (and take care of my crew), without having to worry about getting reports or rents or something else done. I'm so grateful it's an option for me to stay home.
3) My hubby for getting me extra papers at the store and making dinner yesterday when I had been gone all day and was pooped.
4) I'm grateful my van is fixed and I can drive it once again.
5) I'm grateful that my kids are all healthy and helpful towards each other, so I can lay on the couch and attempt to feel better.
Four Things I Can't Stop Thinking About:
1) I need to go to Rite Aid today to roll a bit more +UPs and get some Combos for hubby to take to work for snacks.
2) I need to clean the trash out of the backyard and organize the toys a bit back there.
3) I really want to go to the train museum and ride the trains and look at the historic ones too. Oh, and have a picnic there too.
4) I need to mop the floors very badly.
Three Things I Want To Accomplish This Week:
1) Mop the floors
2) Clean my bathroom and install a towel rack somewhere, anywhere. The kid's/hall bath needs a towel rack too.
3) Visit friends that I haven't seen in a long while.
Two Things I Am Working On Being Positive About:
1) I need to stop thinking annoyed thoughts at myself, it only makes me more annoyed.
2) I need to be more supportive of other people's parenting styles when they are different then my own. I can be supportive without thinking they need to do things my way.
One Random Thing:
I did not get a redplum coupon insert this weekend, and I've now gotten 5 different papers. 2 I bought extra from the store, and 3 to my house. I am impressed at how fast the papers were re-delivered, it just about makes up for the missing redplum. You make think I am crazy, but if I don't get that insert, two weeks from now there will be 20 really good free deals all using coupons from THAT insert. So I may seem crazy, I really am not. It's probably just the cough medicine.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Super Savings Saturday- Costco & Rite Aid
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| Yum! |
25lbs of Bread Flour for $6.99
A big thing of yeast (too lazy to look at the size, but probably the equivalant of 20 jars) $3.26
Yes, I will use all that flour, probably within a month. A 10-lbs thing of flour lasted me a week. We love our rolls! I just need to find a good (inexpensive) way to store it, since this will probably be a regular purchase. Any suggestions?
Rite Aid #1
8 bottles of J & J baby wash at $2.99 each
2 Desitin at $2.99 each
Used 10 $1.00 off coupons
Total: $19.90 (+tax)
Paid with $19 + UP rewards
Received $19 in +UP Rewards back ($2 for each)
FREE (paid tax + the oddball $.90)
Rite Aid #2
6 bottles of J & J at $2.99 each
2 Desitin at $2.99 each
2 Oreos at $2.50 each
Used 8 $1.00 off J & J coupons
Used $1.00 off 2 Oreo Rite Aid Coupon
Total: $19.92
Paid with $19 in + Up Rewards
Received $19 in +Up rewards back ($2 for each J&J, $1 Monthly Food UP for each oreo, $1 UP for buying 2)
Free (Paid tax and the odd ball $.92 cents)
Rite Aid #3
I'm going to simplify here since I did this in 3 separate transactions at 3 separate Rite Aids so I didn't take all of the stock they had. One lip balm and one chip aren't pictured, as they are in my car.
4 Nivea Lip Balms $1.00 each
1 Foam Hair Color at $8.99
22 Lays Chips at $1.00 each
8 Bags of TGIF potato skins
2 Bags burger king snacks
Used $2/2 Nivea Coupon (I had two coupons-facebook offer)
Used Free Foam Hair Color Coupon (from facebook offer)
Total Cost: $36.00 (+tax for the personal products)
Paid $36.00 in +UP
Received $38 in +UP rewards ($1 Monthly food UP for each, $2 UP on the hair color)
*I also recieved my $20 +UP bonus reward*
First Month of Rite Aid Recap:
I've been playing the Rite Aid game now for a month (roughly). I've gotten 5 cartons of ice cream, tons of Chex Mix (15 bags or so?), 4 packs of diapers, 4 bottles of Mens body wash, 10 bottles of shampoo and conditioner, 4 lip balms, 30 cans of chips, hair color, the other bagged snacks, 2 mens deodorant, 2 womens deodorant, 4 tubes of toothpaste, 2 boxes of cake mix, 2 frostings, and 2 cookie mixes. I think that's everything. Where I stand now I've probably spent out of pocket less then $20 (counting my $20 bonus in there). I've found it's best to keep $20 cash with my +UP rewards to keep the out of pocket costs in check- I use it to pay the tax when I need to. I budget the $20 out of my grocery money.
Was this stuff I'd by normally? I don't buy 20 cans of chips ever. All of this stuff I bought mainly because it was either free with +UP rewards or coupons, or something we would use and under my price book best price (like the shampoos I got where .50 each- which is under my stock up price). Most of this stuff is put away for when we need it. Instead of going shopping at the store, I shop my stock pile for what we need. Now my grocery trips are pretty much purchasing fresh fruit and meat that is on sale, along with whatever I coupon for cheap or free.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
What we are up too...or not up too
We've been madly going room to room and sorting out things for a yard sale. I put an ad in the paper so there is no going back on my yard sale (or else I'd still keep procrastinating). After the yard sale we will send all the stuff on it's way via Goodwill or Salvation army. The kids are saving up money for a PS3, and what a better way to teach saving up for a goal. They also counted all the money in the change jar too. It was a great way for them to learn their money, and it taught them more then a million worksheets could have. When we go places they always keep an eye out for spare change to put in the jar. Plus, all the yard sale funds will go for them too. Anything to get more toys that they don't play with out of here!
Daredevil is 3rd from the top of the Student Study Team, so hopefully we will get some thing, some answers, some suggestions, something, on helping teach him to read. At this point, he mostly reads things by having them memorized well. He can't seem to sound anything out. At least he has made progress in baby steps in reading. At least we are making big steps in memorizing bible verses, by making hand motions and songs with them.
Princess on the other hand, is chomping at the bit to start reading, so I spend a few minutes each day doing the same Phonics program I use with Daredevil. I really like it. It's quick and to the point, which is what I need around here. I also read lots to all of the kids from a few textbooks and storybooks I got from the $1bookstore.
Speaking of the $1 book store, Genius picked out a bunch of baseball books he has been reading. I'm so glad he got out of the rut of only reading the Magic Treehouse books. He doesn't like fantasy books, only books that can be sort of real. I don't care what books he reads for the most part, as long as he's reading. Then we talk about the books, discuss what happened, what he thinks will happen next, how they felt, etc. He is getting much better at discussing what he read and what happened in them, and I can see it when he practices his STAR test papers. I really dislike the test, but I do like using the practice tests to see what I need to work with him on.
I finally got our work box system set up for the boys. Just in time to make one more for when Princess is ready for her school to start. We have to make a trip out to get her birth certificate, since I don't have it yet. We will make a fun trip out of it and go someplace along the way.
Doorbuster is such a funny little guy lately. This morning he had a fake foam sword and was hitting and stabbing toys on a path of destruction. We were trying to get him to knock over a stack of blocks but he didn't want to, so he was stabbing the ground and a toy box instead. Whenever he goes outside, or knows we are going for a walk, he will look around for someone's hand to hold. It's so cute! He will also try his hardest to jump, but he can't jump yet.
On a funny note (and unrelated) we now have a 2nd microwave in the schoolroom. The microwave in the kitchen works to warm and cook everything but popcorn. So I moved our other microwave into the school room just to make popcorn. It's really silly to me, but kinda funny when you walk in and there's a microwave. The kids love popcorn as a snack, and it's pretty cheap and easy. I also like that they can cook things without climbing on a chair to get to the microwave. I'd move the microwave in the kitchen, but at this moment there is no space on the counter for it, so until I get a cart or something, the floor is its home.
Well, that's about it from around here. The kids are getting sick of going to Rite Aid for my deals, so I made them in charge of supervising the cashiers when they scan coupons and rewards. This makes them feel very important. Plus, they are learning a lot about money and math, as I make them check the receipts too!
Daredevil is 3rd from the top of the Student Study Team, so hopefully we will get some thing, some answers, some suggestions, something, on helping teach him to read. At this point, he mostly reads things by having them memorized well. He can't seem to sound anything out. At least he has made progress in baby steps in reading. At least we are making big steps in memorizing bible verses, by making hand motions and songs with them.
Princess on the other hand, is chomping at the bit to start reading, so I spend a few minutes each day doing the same Phonics program I use with Daredevil. I really like it. It's quick and to the point, which is what I need around here. I also read lots to all of the kids from a few textbooks and storybooks I got from the $1bookstore.
Speaking of the $1 book store, Genius picked out a bunch of baseball books he has been reading. I'm so glad he got out of the rut of only reading the Magic Treehouse books. He doesn't like fantasy books, only books that can be sort of real. I don't care what books he reads for the most part, as long as he's reading. Then we talk about the books, discuss what happened, what he thinks will happen next, how they felt, etc. He is getting much better at discussing what he read and what happened in them, and I can see it when he practices his STAR test papers. I really dislike the test, but I do like using the practice tests to see what I need to work with him on.
I finally got our work box system set up for the boys. Just in time to make one more for when Princess is ready for her school to start. We have to make a trip out to get her birth certificate, since I don't have it yet. We will make a fun trip out of it and go someplace along the way.
Doorbuster is such a funny little guy lately. This morning he had a fake foam sword and was hitting and stabbing toys on a path of destruction. We were trying to get him to knock over a stack of blocks but he didn't want to, so he was stabbing the ground and a toy box instead. Whenever he goes outside, or knows we are going for a walk, he will look around for someone's hand to hold. It's so cute! He will also try his hardest to jump, but he can't jump yet.
On a funny note (and unrelated) we now have a 2nd microwave in the schoolroom. The microwave in the kitchen works to warm and cook everything but popcorn. So I moved our other microwave into the school room just to make popcorn. It's really silly to me, but kinda funny when you walk in and there's a microwave. The kids love popcorn as a snack, and it's pretty cheap and easy. I also like that they can cook things without climbing on a chair to get to the microwave. I'd move the microwave in the kitchen, but at this moment there is no space on the counter for it, so until I get a cart or something, the floor is its home.
Well, that's about it from around here. The kids are getting sick of going to Rite Aid for my deals, so I made them in charge of supervising the cashiers when they scan coupons and rewards. This makes them feel very important. Plus, they are learning a lot about money and math, as I make them check the receipts too!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Dinner & Science
On our visit to the grocery store- a very different visit to the grocery store. Normally we go and shop for everything we need for meals for the next two weeks (because usually we've eaten just about everything there is to eat), but this time I have managed to grow our stockpile of stuff to the point that I don't have to. There was much cheering and satisfied smiles when this was realized (well, I do need some more meat, because it hasn't been on sale as much as I'd like lately). This trip was just to buy more brown sugar, and some buttermilk. Who'd of thought I can actually cook from mostly scratch now!
Looking through the freezer isle, we bought a Turkey to celebrate. It's Thanksgiving in February! There is always much to be thankful for. The turkey provided us much more then a meal- it made a good science lesson!
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| He gets all excited when you ask him to take a picture |
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| Dad's the man! |
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| Princess dresses for the occasion |
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| Learning what the parts are and how to use a |
scalpel
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| Dissecting! |
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| Looking at what they cut |
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| She's not squeamish at all. |
I had to laugh when cleaning up while Hubby cooked, when I hear, "NO! Where'd you get a taquito from? NO! Don't EAT THAT!" Yep! Sure sounds like school around here!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Rite Aid 2-18-11
So I've been loving Rite Aid lately. I spent a bit more out of pocket this week due to the toothpaste mishap last week (I bought two tubes, used my +UP reward to get them free, then sent hubby in to use his card and get two more, but he used my card number instead, and I already hit the limit. So lesson learned!)
This week I took advantage of the Johnson and Johnson deal, and the Huggies Deal. Johnson and Johnson was purchase at $2.99, get $2 in Ups back. I then used a J&J $1.00 off coupon to make them free. The Huggies were on sale for $8.99, receive a $2 up reward, and I used my $2.00 off coupons.
Transaction #1 (I did two to roll up some of the new UPs I got)
1 Huggies at $8.99
1 Huggies at $8.99
1 Huggies at $8.99
1 Huggies at $8.99
1 J & J Vanilla Oatmeal Lotion $.299
1 J & J Head to Toe $2.99
1 J & J Head to Toe $2.99
1 J & J Lavender Shampoo $2.99
1 J & J Lavender Shampoo $2.99
1 Desitin $2.99
Total- $53.90 (excluding tax)
Used 6 $1.00 off J& J coupons
Used 4 $2.00 off Huggies coupons
Total OOP- $39.90
Received $20 back in +Up Rewards (Plus I hit my $100 spent to get the extra $20 reward)
Transaction #2
1 Right Guard Body Wash $3.99
1 Right Guard Body Wash $3.99
Total- $7.98
Used 2 $1.00 off peelies
Total- $5.98
Used 2.00 +UP Reward
Used 2.00 +UP Reward
Used 1.00 +UP Reward (from earlier in the week)
Total OOP $.98
Received $6.00 in +Up Rewards
I currently stand at $31 in +UP Rewards, which I will roll into more J & J products tomorrow, as my Rite Aid was pretty near empty, and I didn't want to take all of what was left. I spent a bit more out of pocket money this trip due to the diaper deal- anytime I can get Huggies for less then $6.99 a pack I stock up.
This week I took advantage of the Johnson and Johnson deal, and the Huggies Deal. Johnson and Johnson was purchase at $2.99, get $2 in Ups back. I then used a J&J $1.00 off coupon to make them free. The Huggies were on sale for $8.99, receive a $2 up reward, and I used my $2.00 off coupons.
Transaction #1 (I did two to roll up some of the new UPs I got)
1 Huggies at $8.99
1 Huggies at $8.99
1 Huggies at $8.99
1 Huggies at $8.99
1 J & J Vanilla Oatmeal Lotion $.299
1 J & J Head to Toe $2.99
1 J & J Head to Toe $2.99
1 J & J Lavender Shampoo $2.99
1 J & J Lavender Shampoo $2.99
1 Desitin $2.99
Total- $53.90 (excluding tax)
Used 6 $1.00 off J& J coupons
Used 4 $2.00 off Huggies coupons
Total OOP- $39.90
Received $20 back in +Up Rewards (Plus I hit my $100 spent to get the extra $20 reward)
Transaction #2
1 Right Guard Body Wash $3.99
1 Right Guard Body Wash $3.99
Total- $7.98
Used 2 $1.00 off peelies
Total- $5.98
Used 2.00 +UP Reward
Used 2.00 +UP Reward
Used 1.00 +UP Reward (from earlier in the week)
Total OOP $.98
Received $6.00 in +Up Rewards
I currently stand at $31 in +UP Rewards, which I will roll into more J & J products tomorrow, as my Rite Aid was pretty near empty, and I didn't want to take all of what was left. I spent a bit more out of pocket money this trip due to the diaper deal- anytime I can get Huggies for less then $6.99 a pack I stock up.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Milk Truck & The Avocado Farmer's Wife
My Great-Aunt and I have a long running joke with our nick names to each other. I'm the Milk Truck, since I am usually nursing a baby, just finished nursing a baby, or am instructing someone in nursing their baby. She is the Avocado Farmer's Wife, being that she was at a gathering (I don't remember where or what it was, sorry!), her husband introduced himself as being an Avocado Farmer, so she introduced herself as the Avocado Farmer's Wife. They do have an avocado farm that is so much fun to visit.
So when I was shopping at Target, I saw this little toy on clearance and I had to buy it.
So now the milk truck will always have a Milk Truck. And when I hear the "ding, ding, ding" of the truck being pulled down the hall, it makes me smile.
So when I was shopping at Target, I saw this little toy on clearance and I had to buy it.
So now the milk truck will always have a Milk Truck. And when I hear the "ding, ding, ding" of the truck being pulled down the hall, it makes me smile.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
A Tour of....my Fridge
I guess this could be considered more of the house tour I did earlier. Or, it's just sharing my joy of having a 25.2 cubic foot fridge, and not a 14.4 cubic foot fridge. Or, look at my fridge, it's clean!
Every time I walk in my kitchen it makes me smile. It looks like we live here, not like we are just on a temporary stay. Every time I open the door Doorbuster tries to climb in. He thinks it's like Home Depot and he can play in the bottom of the fridge all day.
The very, very best part of the fridge- the part that is most loved and used:
We are big water drinkers around here (well, the kids are. I'm more the Dr Pepper/flavored water type). My kids don't like milk unless it is on their cereal. If I drink more then my one glass of milk a day, I get bad, bad stomach problems. We used to have a water filter jug in the fridge but the kids would go through it in about an hour. Now, we have our very own filtered water fountain. Say it with me...Ahhhhhhhh.
Here's a once in a lifetime peek, my fridge before I fill it up! It shows just how much more room we have.
In our old fridge, all the alcohol just sat in a row in the back and you didn't notice them (kinda like the bad kids in the classroom. Now they are all up front and obvious in the fridge. My friend says this will either turn me into an alcoholic, or I'll be driven nuts by them. Hubby declared our fridge officially awesome (for the record though, I think we've had these bottles for months upon months, we rarely drink).
Now onto the freezer....before someone has meat on sale, and I haven't stocked up.
The very best shelf of them all:
So that's my new fridge, that I'm very thrilled about buying! We got a good deal on it, and free delivery. I don't think I'll ever do an appliance without them delivering it and setting it up, it was wonderful! I didn't have to do anything other then empty the old fridge into the new one. It was great!
*I was not compensated in any way for this post.
Every time I walk in my kitchen it makes me smile. It looks like we live here, not like we are just on a temporary stay. Every time I open the door Doorbuster tries to climb in. He thinks it's like Home Depot and he can play in the bottom of the fridge all day.
The very, very best part of the fridge- the part that is most loved and used:
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| Our very own ice maker/water dispenser! |
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| As Princess demonstrates (and I foresee a lot of spilled water) |
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| How does it taste? Good! |
In our old fridge, all the alcohol just sat in a row in the back and you didn't notice them (kinda like the bad kids in the classroom. Now they are all up front and obvious in the fridge. My friend says this will either turn me into an alcoholic, or I'll be driven nuts by them. Hubby declared our fridge officially awesome (for the record though, I think we've had these bottles for months upon months, we rarely drink).
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| Just because it's funny! |
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| It's just so pretty! |
The very best shelf of them all:
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| I spy Thin Mints, hidden from little fingers |
*I was not compensated in any way for this post.
Valentine's Day
We had a fun, relaxing, stay at home Valentine's Day. We aren't big fans of getting a sitter and going out to eat on Valentine's Day. If we did, it would mean some other couple was staying in to watch our crew of kiddos. I also have no desire to go to a really crowded and noisy restaurant just because it's the 14th of the month. So we had fun at home.
Hubby got me roses from Costco (my favorite!)
He also got me a new fridge, or new tires on the van. Take your pick. Both of them were very much needed and are so very much appreciated by me. Nothing says I Love You more then being safe while you drive, and having much, much more room for food in the fridge.
For dinner I made pizza dough in the breadmaker. I'm on the hunt for a new breadmaker, as the one I bought on craigslist only makes 1lb loaves, and I really need a 2lb machine. I found one at Target for $41 on clearance, but when I took it up to pay for it, it rung up as $69.99. Which was still a deal from being $99.99, but not the deal I wanted. I tried to convince them to give it to me at the $41 price, but apparently none of the clearance stickers that were on it (there were two), were the right price or the right number. So, I'll check in a few days and see if it goes down in price. So, for the time being, I just made the recipe twice, and put one chunk in the fridge while the other was made. I love my bread machine. Making pizza dough in it was really fun! Then I gave each of the kids a chunk of dough and a pan to make their own (heart shaped) pizza. They love to make their own pizzas.
I told hubby I wanted to try something different, so he made a half ranch-chicken-cheese pizza and half pizza sauce-pepperoni-hot chicken-cheese pizza. He cooked the chicken in wing sauce. It was SOOOOO GOOOOD.
We did cook the crust a bit much, and I also learned the crust really rises a lot in the oven, so a little goes a long way. I still needed to make 2lbs of the dough, one wouldn't of cut it. I think the recipe would be good for bread sticks or something like it too.
After all that pizza making and eating, I had two pooped kids:
So me and hubby enjoyed a quiet evening of watching Pawn Stars and that other picker show (American Pickers?). We love looking at all the old stuff. I couldn't of asked for a better Valentine's Day!
Hubby got me roses from Costco (my favorite!)
He also got me a new fridge, or new tires on the van. Take your pick. Both of them were very much needed and are so very much appreciated by me. Nothing says I Love You more then being safe while you drive, and having much, much more room for food in the fridge.
For dinner I made pizza dough in the breadmaker. I'm on the hunt for a new breadmaker, as the one I bought on craigslist only makes 1lb loaves, and I really need a 2lb machine. I found one at Target for $41 on clearance, but when I took it up to pay for it, it rung up as $69.99. Which was still a deal from being $99.99, but not the deal I wanted. I tried to convince them to give it to me at the $41 price, but apparently none of the clearance stickers that were on it (there were two), were the right price or the right number. So, I'll check in a few days and see if it goes down in price. So, for the time being, I just made the recipe twice, and put one chunk in the fridge while the other was made. I love my bread machine. Making pizza dough in it was really fun! Then I gave each of the kids a chunk of dough and a pan to make their own (heart shaped) pizza. They love to make their own pizzas.
I told hubby I wanted to try something different, so he made a half ranch-chicken-cheese pizza and half pizza sauce-pepperoni-hot chicken-cheese pizza. He cooked the chicken in wing sauce. It was SOOOOO GOOOOD.
We did cook the crust a bit much, and I also learned the crust really rises a lot in the oven, so a little goes a long way. I still needed to make 2lbs of the dough, one wouldn't of cut it. I think the recipe would be good for bread sticks or something like it too.
After all that pizza making and eating, I had two pooped kids:
So me and hubby enjoyed a quiet evening of watching Pawn Stars and that other picker show (American Pickers?). We love looking at all the old stuff. I couldn't of asked for a better Valentine's Day!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
The Perils of "My kid doesn't do that!"
I've learned a little trick about having more then one child. It's to never, ever, ever say "My kid(s) doesn't do that." to someone when they are describing a certain bothersome behavior their child is doing. Never. Ever.
Because then God will laugh, and figure you need to be humbled a bit, and your child will start with the habit!
Take Princess- everything that the first two boys didn't do, she did. My kids don't throw temper tantrums- she did. My kids don't scream- she did. My kids don't stand in the cart and fall out- she did. If I so much as thought that my kids didn't "do" something, she would start right up doing it.
So I have it all figured out now with Doorbuster. He's going to climb on things, and run into the street. He already climbs up on the miniature chairs we have everywhere (and then gets stuck). He climbs up the stepladder when he sees it, and tried to scale the ladder at home depot. He took the end of the cellphone charger and tried to lick it, and this morning, tried to take Hubby's keys and stick them in the one plug that doesn't have plug protectors in it. The little bugger knows when he's doing something he shouldn't, you can see the gears going in his head- "What happens if I.....?"
So whenever someone tells me something their child is doing, I am very sympathetic!
Because then God will laugh, and figure you need to be humbled a bit, and your child will start with the habit!
Take Princess- everything that the first two boys didn't do, she did. My kids don't throw temper tantrums- she did. My kids don't scream- she did. My kids don't stand in the cart and fall out- she did. If I so much as thought that my kids didn't "do" something, she would start right up doing it.
So I have it all figured out now with Doorbuster. He's going to climb on things, and run into the street. He already climbs up on the miniature chairs we have everywhere (and then gets stuck). He climbs up the stepladder when he sees it, and tried to scale the ladder at home depot. He took the end of the cellphone charger and tried to lick it, and this morning, tried to take Hubby's keys and stick them in the one plug that doesn't have plug protectors in it. The little bugger knows when he's doing something he shouldn't, you can see the gears going in his head- "What happens if I.....?"
So whenever someone tells me something their child is doing, I am very sympathetic!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
I've been busy....
I've been busy lately. I'm always busy, but the weather is perfect and we've all been soaking up the sun, playing games (like our own silly inventive hockey), and having picnics.
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| Busy Making Hats |
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| Having Picnics |
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| Busy visiting |
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| Busy teaching life skills (or future ways of making money) |
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| Busy playing in boxes |
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| Busy Blowing bubbles |
Monday, February 7, 2011
Monday Five Countdown!
Again, another Bookish Penguin Monday Countdown!
5 Things I'm Grateful For:
1) That hubby has Thursday-Tuesday off this upcoming week. That will make our teacher meeting on Thursday nice and easy!
2) For living so close to my sister/friend who is in the hospital on bedrest, trying to stay pregnant and cook her 33 week baby just a little longer. I'm glad I live close enough to visit often, and I'm glad I'm not working so I can visit, and watch her daughter, without people complaining about things that wont matter days or weeks from now.
3) For having a hubby that doesn't complain, grumble, or whine when I leave him with all the kids and run out the door for an unknown period of time, and he even manages to feed everyone, put the baby down for a nap, and clean the house. It's very awesome and much appreciated.
4) I'm thankful for the coupon deals that have been going on lately, they are helping us save a lot, and me on my goal of getting a good sized stockpile built up.
5) I'm thankful for the beautiful weather we have been having lately. The kids spend a large part of the day playing outside with all their new toys.
Four Things I Can't Stop Thinking About:
1) Praying for my sister/friend's baby to stay healthy and safe, for her sanity, for her daughter and husband. I'm praying for a safe and healthy outcome for all of them (and for her to avoid a c-section too).
2) I wish my federal tax return would hurry up and get here. I have things that need to be paid back and paid off. I heard it takes 10 days for a federal refund, but then the irs says another thing, and when I see "where's my refund" it's a completely different date (3 weeks later?), and my friend said she got hers in about a week. Go figure!
3) Laundry, I really need to catch up on laundry, but I don't think that's even a possibility.
4) I need to take in the recycling at some point in the future, before it takes over the dog run in the backyard. It's a can run!
Three Things I Want To Accomplish This Week:
1) Clean out the end of the hall cupboard. It's filled with junk I tossed in there when we moved, and I need the space for my free stuff from Rite Aid.
2) Add more envelopes to my coupon organizer to split up a few categories so it's easier to shop. It's a pain having shampoo-body wash-deodorant-hand soap all in one spot.
3) Clean my room. The rest of the house is nice and clean, my room is lacking. It's mostly laundry, but it needs to be neatened up.
Two Things I Am Working To Be Positive About:
1) Raiding with my guild (I know, silly, but I'm pretty positive most of the time!)
2) Dirty Floors. I mop and I mop and I mop and someone goes and spills orange juice on the floor 2 seconds after I finish, and then it's all sticky.
One Random Thing:
I think I'm addicted to Rite Aid deals. I only pick up the free things, so it's not like it's costing me money, just time.
5 Things I'm Grateful For:
1) That hubby has Thursday-Tuesday off this upcoming week. That will make our teacher meeting on Thursday nice and easy!
2) For living so close to my sister/friend who is in the hospital on bedrest, trying to stay pregnant and cook her 33 week baby just a little longer. I'm glad I live close enough to visit often, and I'm glad I'm not working so I can visit, and watch her daughter, without people complaining about things that wont matter days or weeks from now.
3) For having a hubby that doesn't complain, grumble, or whine when I leave him with all the kids and run out the door for an unknown period of time, and he even manages to feed everyone, put the baby down for a nap, and clean the house. It's very awesome and much appreciated.
4) I'm thankful for the coupon deals that have been going on lately, they are helping us save a lot, and me on my goal of getting a good sized stockpile built up.
5) I'm thankful for the beautiful weather we have been having lately. The kids spend a large part of the day playing outside with all their new toys.
Four Things I Can't Stop Thinking About:
1) Praying for my sister/friend's baby to stay healthy and safe, for her sanity, for her daughter and husband. I'm praying for a safe and healthy outcome for all of them (and for her to avoid a c-section too).
2) I wish my federal tax return would hurry up and get here. I have things that need to be paid back and paid off. I heard it takes 10 days for a federal refund, but then the irs says another thing, and when I see "where's my refund" it's a completely different date (3 weeks later?), and my friend said she got hers in about a week. Go figure!
3) Laundry, I really need to catch up on laundry, but I don't think that's even a possibility.
4) I need to take in the recycling at some point in the future, before it takes over the dog run in the backyard. It's a can run!
Three Things I Want To Accomplish This Week:
1) Clean out the end of the hall cupboard. It's filled with junk I tossed in there when we moved, and I need the space for my free stuff from Rite Aid.
2) Add more envelopes to my coupon organizer to split up a few categories so it's easier to shop. It's a pain having shampoo-body wash-deodorant-hand soap all in one spot.
3) Clean my room. The rest of the house is nice and clean, my room is lacking. It's mostly laundry, but it needs to be neatened up.
Two Things I Am Working To Be Positive About:
1) Raiding with my guild (I know, silly, but I'm pretty positive most of the time!)
2) Dirty Floors. I mop and I mop and I mop and someone goes and spills orange juice on the floor 2 seconds after I finish, and then it's all sticky.
One Random Thing:
I think I'm addicted to Rite Aid deals. I only pick up the free things, so it's not like it's costing me money, just time.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Things Doorbuster Says
It's really funny to listen to Doorbuster talk. He has a squeaky little voice.
So far he says:
Momma
Dad
Dada
Bef (Princess' name)
No, no, no, no, no
Yes!
That's Good
Thank you!
Costco
He also the Ooooo part of 3Oh!3's song "My first kiss", which is hilarious to listen too.
So far he says:
Momma
Dad
Dada
Bef (Princess' name)
No, no, no, no, no
Yes!
That's Good
Thank you!
Costco
He also the Ooooo part of 3Oh!3's song "My first kiss", which is hilarious to listen too.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Playing the Drugstore Game
I started "playing" the drugstore game. Now I'm hooked! I think I have a new hobby.
Let me explain a bit.
Rite Aid (CVS and Walgreens have their own, but I'm sticking with just rite aid), has a program where you get both Rebates (cash back) and things called +Up Rewards. +UP rewards give you coupons printed at the bottom of your recipe that give you an amount off your next purchase. For The Mommas explains it really well right here. Read it, read it over again.
So the goal is to buy things that give you an +UP reward to make it free, or things you can use a coupon and a +up reward to make them free (or low cost). Then you use your +up reward to repete the same deal, or save for the next week deals. So for a small amount out of pocket, you'll keep rolling your rewards (use, then use again for the same transaction). Ideally, you want to keep the same amount of +UP rewards going, or do deals that add to your rewards.
The most important thing in all of this deal rolling is you must remember how much things cost. A Price book is really handy for this sort of stuff (they even have an app for that!). If you can get shampoo for $1.00 at walmart (on sale/with a coupon- you should figure out for your area what's the normal price, and what's the best price you can get it at), buying Shampoo at rite aid needs to cost less then that OOP (out of pocket). It's very, very important to know how much things cost, how much they cost on sale, and what's the very best price you can get them for. When things are at their lowest price, you stock up well, so when they are at their highest you don't buy.
So for my first adventure out to rite aid, I did the easy, coupon less deal they have going with the dryer's ice cream. (Details are here, here or here). I bought 5 ice creams at $2.99 each, and 2 packages of chex mix at $1.50 each. I gave them two coupons- one a rite aid video value for .50 off one chex mix, and a regular coupon for .50 off two chex mix. Since one is a rite aid coupon, and one is a regular coupon, you can use them together. I then paid $16.95 cash OOP. That is my start-up rolling money. I allotted this money out of my grocery funds- so that's $16.95 less that I will not be spending buying food at the store. I then got $17 back in +UP rewards ($2 for each of the ice creams, $1 for each of the chex mix, +$5 bonus for buying selected items).
Here's where you start to really save money- the next time you go to the store, you use your rewards instead of paying money out of pocket. I went to a different Rite Aid (I was really looking for the Lays stackers- pay $1.00, get a $1.00 reward back), and this time I bought Dishwasher Detergent (3.99 - $3.00 coupons = .99OOP- which is cheap for dishwasher detergent) and 2 packs of paper plates (Buy one get one free at $3.99 each, then used a $3.00 off 2 video value coupon, for the grand total of .50 each). I did find two cans of Lays, so I bought them. I paid my total with my up rewards ($4), paid the $1.86 tax with cash, and got two more rewards back. My $17 in Up rewards from the last transaction is now $15. Less- but still a good deal on things I will put in my stockpile cupboard.
I then took my $15 in +Up rewards and went to another rite aid (I had time to kill! I was still looking for more Lays). I bought Afrin ($5.99 with $4.00 in rewards back + my $2 off coupon = free), and 10 bags of chex mix ($1.50 each, $1.00 back in rewards for each one purchased + $5 bonus for buying $15 worth). So my total was $20.99- used the $2 Afrin coupon, and paid $14 in Up rewards, and paid $5.51 OOP (tax and a bit since I paid for the plates & washer stuff). I got back my $14 in UP Rewards (and also messed up- the bonus $5 is per reward card- should of used hubby's phone number if I would of known!).
Is it a deal? Yes! For a grand total of $24.32 (and I still have $14 in UP rewards to use), I have gotten $93.39 worth of stuff (but of course, those are drugstore prices- at the sale prices they were still pretty good deals, the +ups made them awesome). So ultimately $10.32 for $93.39 worth of stuff. Plus, I got the extra value of the entertainment of doing the deals, making Genius double check my math, and taking up quite a bit of time while I was waiting.)
Would I buy 5 cartons of ice cream and 12 bags of chex mix if they weren't on sale? No. Buying ice cream, chips and chex mix is not a must have on my list. Ice cream is a treat around here, as is the chips and chex mix. I occasionally buy treats to take with us to park day, or for Disneyland trips. Most of the things (aside from the ice cream), I've put away for when we take our next trip. The paper plates I like to have on hand for when people come over (less dishes! yay!), and who couldn't use more dishwasher detergent? Afrin is great for stuffy noses- and it also has the same ingredients that the ER uses to stop bloody noses. It is a very useful drug to keep around. The generic kind at Target costs $2- and I got the name brand for free.
If you are thinking about trying the drugstore game, it may be worth taking a bit of money and trying it. $20 was worth the investment to me. I'd also recommend re-reading the hows of the program and checking the ads carefully before heading out. Baby steps! What may work for my family, may not work for yours.
And if my math is wrong, I have a very grumpy, not feeling well baby, and I apologize).
Let me explain a bit.
Rite Aid (CVS and Walgreens have their own, but I'm sticking with just rite aid), has a program where you get both Rebates (cash back) and things called +Up Rewards. +UP rewards give you coupons printed at the bottom of your recipe that give you an amount off your next purchase. For The Mommas explains it really well right here. Read it, read it over again.
So the goal is to buy things that give you an +UP reward to make it free, or things you can use a coupon and a +up reward to make them free (or low cost). Then you use your +up reward to repete the same deal, or save for the next week deals. So for a small amount out of pocket, you'll keep rolling your rewards (use, then use again for the same transaction). Ideally, you want to keep the same amount of +UP rewards going, or do deals that add to your rewards.
The most important thing in all of this deal rolling is you must remember how much things cost. A Price book is really handy for this sort of stuff (they even have an app for that!). If you can get shampoo for $1.00 at walmart (on sale/with a coupon- you should figure out for your area what's the normal price, and what's the best price you can get it at), buying Shampoo at rite aid needs to cost less then that OOP (out of pocket). It's very, very important to know how much things cost, how much they cost on sale, and what's the very best price you can get them for. When things are at their lowest price, you stock up well, so when they are at their highest you don't buy.
So for my first adventure out to rite aid, I did the easy, coupon less deal they have going with the dryer's ice cream. (Details are here, here or here). I bought 5 ice creams at $2.99 each, and 2 packages of chex mix at $1.50 each. I gave them two coupons- one a rite aid video value for .50 off one chex mix, and a regular coupon for .50 off two chex mix. Since one is a rite aid coupon, and one is a regular coupon, you can use them together. I then paid $16.95 cash OOP. That is my start-up rolling money. I allotted this money out of my grocery funds- so that's $16.95 less that I will not be spending buying food at the store. I then got $17 back in +UP rewards ($2 for each of the ice creams, $1 for each of the chex mix, +$5 bonus for buying selected items).
Here's where you start to really save money- the next time you go to the store, you use your rewards instead of paying money out of pocket. I went to a different Rite Aid (I was really looking for the Lays stackers- pay $1.00, get a $1.00 reward back), and this time I bought Dishwasher Detergent (3.99 - $3.00 coupons = .99OOP- which is cheap for dishwasher detergent) and 2 packs of paper plates (Buy one get one free at $3.99 each, then used a $3.00 off 2 video value coupon, for the grand total of .50 each). I did find two cans of Lays, so I bought them. I paid my total with my up rewards ($4), paid the $1.86 tax with cash, and got two more rewards back. My $17 in Up rewards from the last transaction is now $15. Less- but still a good deal on things I will put in my stockpile cupboard.
I then took my $15 in +Up rewards and went to another rite aid (I had time to kill! I was still looking for more Lays). I bought Afrin ($5.99 with $4.00 in rewards back + my $2 off coupon = free), and 10 bags of chex mix ($1.50 each, $1.00 back in rewards for each one purchased + $5 bonus for buying $15 worth). So my total was $20.99- used the $2 Afrin coupon, and paid $14 in Up rewards, and paid $5.51 OOP (tax and a bit since I paid for the plates & washer stuff). I got back my $14 in UP Rewards (and also messed up- the bonus $5 is per reward card- should of used hubby's phone number if I would of known!).
Is it a deal? Yes! For a grand total of $24.32 (and I still have $14 in UP rewards to use), I have gotten $93.39 worth of stuff (but of course, those are drugstore prices- at the sale prices they were still pretty good deals, the +ups made them awesome). So ultimately $10.32 for $93.39 worth of stuff. Plus, I got the extra value of the entertainment of doing the deals, making Genius double check my math, and taking up quite a bit of time while I was waiting.)
Would I buy 5 cartons of ice cream and 12 bags of chex mix if they weren't on sale? No. Buying ice cream, chips and chex mix is not a must have on my list. Ice cream is a treat around here, as is the chips and chex mix. I occasionally buy treats to take with us to park day, or for Disneyland trips. Most of the things (aside from the ice cream), I've put away for when we take our next trip. The paper plates I like to have on hand for when people come over (less dishes! yay!), and who couldn't use more dishwasher detergent? Afrin is great for stuffy noses- and it also has the same ingredients that the ER uses to stop bloody noses. It is a very useful drug to keep around. The generic kind at Target costs $2- and I got the name brand for free.
If you are thinking about trying the drugstore game, it may be worth taking a bit of money and trying it. $20 was worth the investment to me. I'd also recommend re-reading the hows of the program and checking the ads carefully before heading out. Baby steps! What may work for my family, may not work for yours.
And if my math is wrong, I have a very grumpy, not feeling well baby, and I apologize).
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Works-For-Me Wednesday
1) Trash bags make great cheap covers for chairs you don't want ruined, or for the floor if you are worried about toddler food messes.
2) Don't match socks! Just buy the same style socks and put them in a basket for each kid. We organize by brand- one has hanes and one has fruit of the loom (and then the girly stuff). It doesn't matter if one is missing a mate when there is more then one sock in the basket.
3) The 99 cent only store carries lots of valentine stuff if you have kids who need that sort of thing. I just like to much on candy hearts this time of year.
4) Play money is very, very useful to have around in large quantities. Playing store is a great way to learn money and counting. If you're going to have more then one child, buying the large cash register from the learning store is a good way to go. It actually holds the dollars, and withstands a lot of abuse.
5) Teach your kids to be helpful no matter what age they are. When we come home from the grocery store, everyone carries a bag or two in and helps put it away. I keep an extra bag in the car just to rearrange a light grocery for Doorbuster to carry.
2) Don't match socks! Just buy the same style socks and put them in a basket for each kid. We organize by brand- one has hanes and one has fruit of the loom (and then the girly stuff). It doesn't matter if one is missing a mate when there is more then one sock in the basket.
3) The 99 cent only store carries lots of valentine stuff if you have kids who need that sort of thing. I just like to much on candy hearts this time of year.
4) Play money is very, very useful to have around in large quantities. Playing store is a great way to learn money and counting. If you're going to have more then one child, buying the large cash register from the learning store is a good way to go. It actually holds the dollars, and withstands a lot of abuse.
5) Teach your kids to be helpful no matter what age they are. When we come home from the grocery store, everyone carries a bag or two in and helps put it away. I keep an extra bag in the car just to rearrange a light grocery for Doorbuster to carry.
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