Monday Madness

I cannot blog for long right now.  Husband and I are in the midst of a cleaning frenzy!  I do not want to do anything to detour the process!  As of right now (12:47 pm) between the two of us (with a lot of it being done by husband) we have done the following:

• Made waffles, bacon, and homemade blackberry syrup (with actual blackberries floating around in it)
• Thoroughly emptied and cleaned the bathroom
• Cleaned out fridge, discovered a lot of apples needing attention = a break long enough to make 2 completely from scratch apple pies (can you smell them?)
• Gathered all throw rugs,  all shook and vacuumed
• Vacuumed all carpets thoroughly
• Emptied everything from under kitchen sink (yuck) that was a mess, wiped down and replaced only what is necessary
• Turned oven on to self clean mode
• Stripped the bed
• Started laundry, moved to dryer and started more
• Finally emptied and washed turkey fryer that has been sitting in garage since Christmas (ewww) it is washed and shiny now
• Emptied my crock full of kitchen gadgets that sits by my stove, washed everything and will selectively put things back
• Emptied basket of gadgets that sits on my counter, washed everything and will selectively put things back

We are still working and my 15 minute break is almost over, so I will report again when we are finished! I love starting spring  break with a nice clean house!

Sunday Shopping Spree

Today was equally as exciting.  I pretty much copied most of the deals from here and here to maximize my coupon usage at Walgreens.  I got everything in the first picture (value of $104.57) for $13.47.   I was happy to get some things that we always need, such as trash bags, paper towels and toilet paper.  I added another box of trash bags to one of those deals because the scenario was listed for buying 5 cans of tuna as part of the deal.  I did not need or want tuna. 

Then I hit Family Dollar with my Snuggle coupons and got everything in that picture for $3.35. 

I came in under $20.00 for everything in both pictures. 

Super Saturday

Sister and I shopped all over her town today, and I came home with a haul!  The above items should have cost $135. 43, but with combining sales with coupons, I spent $36. 65!  I was able to get many of the items absolutely FREE!  The following were free due to coupons:

• 2 Packages of Irish Spring bar soap
• 4 Snickers bars
• 2 tubs of I Can't Believe it's not Butter
• 8 boxes of Ronzoni Pasta
• 2 Tostitos Dips
• 2 of the packages of Bistro lunchmeat
• 5 packages of Bar S smoked sausage

Not bad, heh?  This is why I save coupons. 

The only items that I did not have a coupon for were the Powerade, the oranges, and the chips (but they were on a special deal, and buying them gave me the Tostitos dip for free)

• We also hit Kohl's (bought a greatly reduced suit and sport-coat for hubby , with an additional 30 % off)

• Wal-mart -had a couple of free item coupons and some other good ones there as well.

• I got free shampoo at CVS

The day ended on a sour note however due to a huge misunderstanding on the part of the checker at Kroger's.   I let these things get to me, but she clearly did not know how coupons work.  I did make one mistake because there are no posted or clear rules on their coupon policy.  I had 3 too many Ronzoni coupons in my order.  After I did that (even though  I offered to return them) she acted as if I was out to "get" them.  I was in the right other than my Ronzoni error, but she started questioning all of my coupons after that.   I will shake this feeling off, but I hate being made to feel like I am cheating when I try so hard to be ethical.  Would some of you out there vouch for me, and could you please call this Kroger store? 

 I will sleep better tonight if you do! 

All for now, I need to cook tonight. 

Frugal Friday

Things I did frugally today:

• Wore slacks from a local Thrift shop
• Carried a purse from Goodwill
  
• Wore a jacket that a friend gave me
• Put ripe bananas in my freezer that our school was giving away due to the beginning of our Spring Break
• Used a total of 13 coupons at 3 different stores
• Will watch a rented movie at home instead of going to a theatre
  

Not so frugal: husband and I ate out tonight for the 2nd night in a row

(you win some, you lose some)

Congratulations!

The winner is ........"Sister" who said that she would try Blackberry. The winning number was picked at random by a 5th grade teacher at the school where I work. "Sister" you will be contacted soon so that I may obtain your mailing address!

Give-Away # 2

A while back I was contacted by MyBlogSpark and Yoplait about doing another review / give-away. This one was for Yoplus yogurt. Now, if you really really know me, you know that I have never really been a fan of yogurt.

Never, seriously.

Recently, however I bought some desert type yogurts and decided they were not so bad. I know it was probably the sweetener that attracted me, but I kept buying them for a while. Still, staying away from "real" yogurt.

Then along comes this proposal. They provided me with a Yoplus "better-for-you" gift pack which includes a VIP coupon, and all the cool items you see in the picture. So I decided to give it a try.

Honest opinion?

I really liked it! I chose the blackberry / pomegranate flavor, and I was quite surprised. I am pleased (now that I actually like the stuff) to offer the same for one of my readers.

First I will share the information that Yoplait and MyBlogSpark provided:

Each 4 oz cup of Yoplus contains the following benefits:

• Antioxidant vitamins A and E (now with 20 % of your recommended daily value)
• A blend of pro-biotic cultures & fiber (three grams of fiber per 4 oz serving) for digestive health
• Calcium and vitamin D for bone health

Yoplus comes in 6 flavors, Strawberry, Vanilla, Cherry, Peach, Blackberry Pomegranate and Blueberry Acai , and is available in a light variety.

So, if you would like to win a gift package like the one pictured , here's the drill:

• Leave a comment stating which flavor you would like to try
• Leave your contact information (unless I have it already)
• Come back and check on Friday (March 26th) when I will announce the winner

I am tired, but it is a good tired.

I hear that phrase a lot.  Tonight I know exactly what it means.  I have pretty much devoted this weekend to our oldest son.  He has just moved into his first solo apartment, and since it was unfurnished there was much to be done.  

  Thursday we went shopping.  Husband and I bought many items together, and I made a few trips this weekend on my own.  On Friday I picked up the two chairs you see in the picture from a teacher in my district.  He was getting rid of them, and Jake was the benefactor!  On Saturday I started cooking food to take to the apartment.  On  Saturday evening husband made a trip to my sister's house and picked up shelves, chairs, small tables, and other items that she is loaning to Jake.  I stayed home to continue cooking, and to do our own cleaning and laundry. 

After church today we went to Menard's to pick up some large area rugs, and headed out of town to his apartment. Luckily, we had borrowed Husband's folk's van, because we filled every nook and cranny of it with things to take.   Yippee for me, I was able to clear out a good number of things from our basement to help him out.  

When we arrived I started working in the kitchen.  There were boxes and tubs everywhere, and I thought we would never get done.  Husband started putting together a shelving unit and a microwave cart.  As soon as these were completed, it took no time to empty the boxes and put things away.  The cabinets are older metal cabinets, and really there are not enough for dishes and food, so the metal shelving unit is being used for an open pantry.  

Youngest son got busy putting together a small desk, and I began working in the kitchen. Jake was busy going from one to another helping everyone.  After about an hour the kitchen was shaping up pretty well and I started to put the finishing touches on the food I brought.  I put together some baked beans and put those and the mac and cheese in his small oven.   They practically filled the oven, my pans were really big, and it is an apartment size stove.  

 Three friends had come over to help out, and they got busy putting together a stand up clothing rack/closet and putting CDs on a shelf.  Soon we all sat down to our supper of  Italian Beef, homemade mac and cheese, baked beans, chips, carrots, and dip, plus red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing , and brownies. 

We stayed about another hour and a half unpacking, and doing odds and ends.  After all was said and done, we still made it home by 8:30.  

It really did keep me busy this weekend, but it was a lot of fun, and I think Jake appreciated it.  It sure did help him get settled faster. 

Time Flies!

I know I have not posted for a while, but things have truly been busy!

Husband and I have attended a wedding two weeks in a row, and these were not just any weddings.  They were of children of some of our closest friends!  We had so much fun!  

Our oldest son just rented an apartment so we have been busy gathering things for that and that has kept us busy as well.  

I will post more soon, but I simply do not have time right now.  Keep on the lookout for another give-away!

WINNER WINNER WINNER

This is Friday the 5th and time for my first ever blog winner (more to come).  The winner is...Sara!  Sara said she spends time on Sunday mornings with her 1 year old.  Sara, I have emailed you, reply to my email and your gift will be on its way!

Look for another contest soon!

I Need Therapy

********Don't forget to scroll down and enter my contest.  Enter by leaving a comment on the Pillsbury post.  Tell me how to contact you**********

I wonder if there are any coupon support groups out there?  Maybe one for coupon addicts, or one for coupon crazed middle aged women, or most importantly, a group for those who suffer from melt downs when a coupon was not credited?   Yikes.  I have fallen into the last group and just to let you know how very low I have fallen, let me tell you what happened last night:

I made trips to two different Walgreens last night and did very well with my wheeling and dealing. I did 4 transactions and because of great coupons, I made money on some items which transfered over to savings on other items.  I was quite smug, yet a tiny bit confused when I left the store.    I knew something did not seem right, but I came home anyway.  Two hours later, I am curled up in my pajamas, in my bed, when it hit me!   The clerk did not take off my buy one get one coupon!   A B1G1 no less!   How dare he?   I did the math and realized that my total would have been $2.99 less.  $2.99, why that's a gallon of milk and a candy bar and I just lost it to a clerk that forgot to deduct it from my total.  

I am embarrassed to say what I did next.  I got out of bed, threw off my pj bottoms, slipped on my slacks, my coat and shoes, receipt in hand,  and went back!   Now, the store is only 2 minutes away, so at least I am not totally crazy, but I was pleased as punch when the manager handed over cash to me to cover the coupon.  

Pictured above  is my loot for the evening.   And my final total was only $8.63!   ( I even came home with a $3.00 RR from the Kleenex!)  Just look at all that stuff!   I know I am a bit crazy, but the craziness helps the budget.