For My Family

Because I know that you all love them as much as I do....ENJOY:)

Spin (Live)

Disarray (Live)

He Actually Got It Right!

As I peered out the window this morning and saw two Tribunes and a Sun-Times at the foot of my driveway, I almost couldn't believe my eyes.  Was I seeing this right?  Had he finally succeeded?  Well wouldn't you know it...winner, winner, chicken dinner, he had!  Now, will he be able to sustain it for more than one week?  Only time will tell, but I have to honestly say I don't hold out much hope considering his past track record.

Since it is Mother's Day, the hubs took me out to breakfast at Nosh and then to do a little shopping for our room redecorate.  I was able to find a cute little table and some awesome shams.  We finished up and headed home...but of course, I had to make a small pit stop to do some couponing...just a teeny, weeny bit...it is my day after all!

Here is what I picked up at Jewel, I had to do two transactions:

Transaction 1:

• 4 boxes Magnum ice cream bars $12.00.  Used 4 $1/1 q's and the $3 OYNO Cat I picked up at Wags the other day for the Mr. Clean deal.

Total OOP was $5.21, and I got back a $4 OYNO Cat.

Transaction 2:

• 4 boxes Magnum ice cream bars $12.00.  Used 4 $1/1 q's and the $4 OYNO Cat from the previous order.

Total OOP was $4.21 and I got back another $4 OYNO Cat.  Not to bad for some awesome ice cream bars...gonna take these to my Mother-In-Laws house tonight to enjoy after a nice dinner.

Happy Mother's Day!

Will He Or Won't He....

...deliver my second Tribune tomorrow?  Or will I awake only to find a Beacon in its place?  These are the questions that have been plaguing me all day.  I am already feeling anxious about my coupon inserts' arrival (or possible lack thereof).  Will they be waiting to greet me on a beautiful Mother's Day morning or will I have to partake in what has now become a Sunday morning ritual and place an angry call to a far off land?

Either way, I will not let my inept carrier's early morning performance taint my Mother's Day.  I am going to enjoy it to it's fullest, even if my kiddos continue to carry on like the Bicker Brothers.  I know how lucky I am to have two beautiful children and a wonderful hubs.  I am just going to sit back and enjoy it all.....

But I will get my papers...oh, yes...I will get them.  After all, it is MY day...check back to see what happens....

P.S.  Aren't these photos just fabulous???  Kelly Vanderploeg took them, she is A-MAZ-ING!  You can check out her blog here.

Friday Finds

I ventured out to Target for a birthday gift for my niece and picked up some nice little extras to put in my care package to the tornado victims as well as some overage to cut down the cost of my other goodies.  Here is what I picked up:

• 11 22-ct. Carefree Pantyliners $10.67.  Used 11 Target q's for $0.01 packages = $0.11
• 4 Revlon Nail Clippers $9.36.  Used 3 Target q's $2/1 and 2 manufacturer q's $5/2 = $6.64 MONYMAKER
• 1 Revlon Nail Buffer $2.99.  Used $2/1 = $0.99
• 1  package Revlon Nail files $1.47.  Used $2/1 = $0.53 MONEYMAKER
• 1 toddler swim shirt $8.00
• 1 small caddy $1.00
• 1 Polly Pockets gift set $13.28 (on clearance)
• 1 green bathroom caddy $2.99

Got another $0.10 off for using reusable bags.  Grand total was $21.58.  I saved $30.66 in coupons.  All of the pantyliners and nail clippers were added to my tornado victims care package.  The box is almost full and ready to be shipped.  Just gonna add a few more goodies for those in need.

I also made a quick stop at Walgreens to pick up some cheap Mr. Clean Magic Erasers.

• 1 2-ct Extra Power Magic Eraser $2.61.  Used .75/1 = $ 1.86
• 4 2-ct Original Magic Eraser $7.76.  Used 4 $1.50/1 = $1.76

Grand total with tax was $4.48 and I got back a $3.00 OYNO Catalina (Walgreens calls them Register Rewards or RR) for an end cost of only $1.48 or about $0.30 per box!

Not bad for a little Friday jaunt:)  Happy Mother's Day to all my mommy's out there...ENJOY!

A Little Meijer Stock-Up & A Donation

Ran out to Meijer today to pick-up a couple of stock-up items.  Here is what I picked up for $22.25 OOP:

• 1 dz. large eggs $1.64
• 8 cans Manwich $8.00.  Used 2 $1/3 and 2 B3G1 = $4.00
• 20 Yoplait Light Yogurt $10.00.  Used 3 .40/6 stacked with a mPerks q for $2/20 = $6.80
• 4 Eckrich Sausage $8.76.  Used 4 .55/1 = $6.56
• 1 Suave Heat Styling Spray $2.79.  Used mailer q for free item = FREE
• 2 packages Hot Dog bunes $2.22.  Used 2 .55/1 = $1.12
• 1 Memorial Vase for cemetary flowers $1.49 (no q, but a clearance item)

I saved a total of $13.49 in coupons and and got back a $2 OYNO Catalina for a total end cost of $20.25.

We have also been putting together a box of much needed items to send off to Alabama to help with all of the devastation from the massive storms that swept through the area.    One of the many perks of couponing is being able to give more to others.  

If you are interested and able to donate, you can send your donations to:

Disaster Relief

C/O First Baptist Church of Moody

902 Church Street

Moody, AL 35004

You can also check out this fellow blogger's site for more information here or head on over to Mash-Up Mom and read about it here.

  

Tuesday's Goodies

This week was top heavy with the coupons, but a little bit lighter on the deals.  I still managede to scrounge up some goodies.  The boys and I made three stops today: Dominick's, Target and Jewel.  Here is what I picked up for a grand total of $59.82.

I managed to pick up enough that it wouldn't all fit in the picture.

First stop, Dominick's.  J4U stands for Just 4 You and is Dominick's loadable coupon program that lets you add both Store and Manufacturer q's.  You just go on-line and add them straight to your frequent buyer card and it takes it right off at the register.  I had to do two transactions to utilize all my coupons.

Transaction 1, total $7.92:

• 1 Uncle Ben's Ready-To-Eat Rice $1.50.  FREE after mailer q.
• 2 boxes Kleenex tissue $3.00.  Used J4U coupon for 1.02/2 and manufacturer q for .50/2 = $1.48
• 1 20lb. box Arm & Hammer Cat litter $6.99.  Used 2 J4U coupons. One was a store q for $2/1 and the other was a manufacturer q for $2/1 = $2.99
• 1 dz. large eggs $1.89.  FREE after J4U coupon. 
• 1 8lb bag navel Oranges $3.99.  Used J4U $1/1 q = $2.99

Transaction 2, total $14.06:

• 2 boxes Kleenex tissue $3.00.  Used Doms store q for 1.02/2 and manufacturer q for .50/2 = $1.48
• 3 12ct packages string cheese = $6.00
• 1 1lb block Monterey Jack cheese = $3.00
• 1 Red Bell Pepper, 1 Zucchini and some fresh Broccoli. Used Dom's store q $1/$5 of fresh produce.

Next stop, Target.  I also had to do two transactions here as well to make the most of my q's.

Transaction 1, total $13.80:

•   2 Aveeno Naturals Sun Care lotions $17.98.  Used 2 Target q's $1/1 and a manufacturer q for $3/2 = $13.80.  

Got back $10 in gift cards for purchasing two Aveeno products (an in store promotion).

Transaction 2, total $10.66 OOP (used $10 in gift cards from the 1st transaction):

• Eyebrow brush $2.99.  Used mobile Target q $2/1 = $0.99
• 1 Tres Semme Hairspray $3.34.  Used Target q $1/1 = $2.34 (Yes T, I bought more)
• 1 Tres Semme Hairspray (smaller size for the car...yes, I keep one in the car) $2.49.  Used Target Q $1/1 = $1.49
• 2 8-packs Viva Paper Towels $19.98.  Used 2 Target q's $1/1 and 2 manufacturer q's $2/1 = $13.98

Last stop Jewel, total $13.38:

• Pepperoni $2.63
• 7lbs chicken drumsticks $6.80
• 4 bags sun Chips $10.  Used 2 store q's $1/2 and 2 manufacturer q's $2/2 = $4.00
• 4 2-liters Sierra Mist Natural $5.00.  Used 4 manufacturer q's for free Sierra Mist with Sun Chips purchase = FREE
• 1 can Black Olives $1.39

I also used a $2/$25 printable for Jewel.  

My total savings for the day was $59.46, putting me right at the 50% savings mark.  I am pretty happy with that considering I bought some items without coupons (GASP) and some high priced items.  

The Beacon-Wielding Thief Strikes Again!

Sunday has arrived again...every couponer's favorite day of the week...the day that paper goodness is delivered at the end of my driveway and I get my coupon fix.  It is also now the day my inept paper carrier crushes my spirit and throws out the fall guy....The Beacon....instead of my second Tribune.  How many times must I tell this man, "I don't subscribe to the Beacon".

I have to admit, he was on a good roll, seven whole days in a row without a mis-delivery.  But alas, it just couldn't last and I am again stuck with the cursed Beacon.  I knew this would happen, I knew he would let me down again.  This relationship has to come to an end...I just cannot take the disappointment anymore.  I wish he would just up and leave instead of prolonging this emotional abuse.  The man needs counseling....ok, at the very least a delivery map.

Anyone remember the Nintendo game "Paperboy" from back in the day?  You had to get the papers at the right house or you would lose your subscribers and eventually get fired.  Maybe I am stuck in a real-life version of "Paperboy", if only this one had a reset button and I could start over.  Maybe then, I could wake up on a Sunday morning stress-free and coupon satisfied.  Instead, I am again faced with repeated calls to that far off land where they could care less about my addiction.

Overreacting you say?  Maybe a pinch, but I need my coupons and this weekend's edition has five, yes five, inserts.  Good thing I hit up Menard's yesterday for two extra copies (they sell them for only $1/paper...a good investment for the return I will surely get from this week's coupon extravaganza).

So here I sit, blogging yet again about my paper carrier's shortcomings (of which, there are many).  I sit waiting and hoping that my second Tribune will arrive...that my set of inserts will be complete with this last addition of friends.

I do know one thing for certain.  When Christmas rolls around and he leaves that little note wishing me a Happy Holidays and asking for a tip, I will have one to dole out...and it won't be of the monetary variety.

Stay tuned for another episode of "As the Paper Turns", I am sure it will be yet another drama-filled adventure.

****Update****

My paper finally arrived at around 12:30....just a little over the one hour redelivery time the hubs was promised when he called into the Tribune at 7:30 this morning.  You would think that having to drive a paper back out to a house on your route would help you remember what papers that address gets.  You would also think that having to do it at least once, if not twice, every week for almost two months would doubly reinforce that....you would think.  Unfortunately, I am of the conclusion that my paper delivery man does no thinking at all.