Hi Carol!

Archive for June, 2010

Ghirardelli chocolate $2.00; $1 mfg Q
Green Black chocolate $2.50; $1 mfg Q (I’m stocking up cos these coups are rare!!)
Soybeans 99c
2 Bullseye Bbq sauce $1.25 ea; 2 x $1 mfg Q’s
Einstein cream chese 99c
Tassimo choccy sauce $2.24
2 x 3lb bags apples $3.99 – $7.98     (sure wish I could coupons for apples)
2 pears 59c
Milk $2.29
Yoplait yogurt $1.52; $1 mfg Q
2 Armor All products $5.18; 2 x $2 mfg Q’s
Nivea for Men $3.49; $2 mfg Q, $2 Target Q
Tresemme 99c; $1 mfg Q
Advil $3.32; $3 mfg Q
Cliff Bar $1.24; 50c mfg Q
Ziploc Storage Bags $2.50; $1 mfg Q, $1 Target Q
2 Mosquito Lamps $9.99 ea; B1G1 free, $2 mfg Q
Always pads $3.14; $2 mfg Q     (I put these in li’l Cec’s diaper at night  works wonders)
Scrubbing Bubbles Brush Refills & Toilet Gels $3.94 ea; B1G1 mfg Q, B1G1 Target Q  FREE
3 Old Spice Body Washes $11.07; B1G1 mfg Q, $2 mfg Q, $1 Target Q  &  FREE Target $5 giftcard
TOTAL  $34.29     SAVINGS:  $62

I had a terrific Tuesday with li’l Cec this morning; we went to Hardberger Park (named after our last mayor) which is just down the street from us and has lots of slides, swings and other “things” to keep kids occupied.  Li’l Cec had a ball, whizzing around from one thing to another and the neat thing there is that the ground is covered with either bark or a soft cushiony material (shall have to ask Dave what it is) so if they fall down, they can’t hurt themselves.  He made friends with a dear little boy but sometimes Cec is a bit overwhelming as he loves to cuddle other kids and tends to knock ‘em over.   He played until he was hot, sweaty and cranky and then we went to McDonalds for a $1 Double Mac – stopped at Target to exchange Dave’s sandals which were literally breaking in half; I had bought them just before he left for England mid-May.  I had no problem returning them and found another pair size 11 and was delighted when I got to the checkout to find out they were $3 than I originally paid for them.  Li’l Cec was falling asleep by the time I got him to Melody’s.

We all went out to eat at Rudy’s Barbecue in Leon Springs – Matt’s choice for his Last Family Night out – Rudy’s proudly advertises their restaurant as the Worst Barbecue in Texas, but let me assure you that is a big fat lie!!!  We mmmmm’d and licked our lips at the brisket, chopped mix of brisket, sausage and pork, creamed corn (the best on the planet) and coleslaw – the chopped barbecue was wonderful slathered on slices of white bread (yeah white bread is bad for you but once in a while never hurts).  We had to stop at Just Brakes to have them check the van as it was shuddering terribly at high speeds – hopefully they’ve fixed the problem. 

We watched a silly romantic movie tonight called Serious Moonlight with Timothy Hutton and Meg Ryan – Greg got all teary eyed (aaaaahhhhh) an then caught up on Glenn Beck’s take on the problem in the Gulf.

Tuesday Daily Deals:   “Like” DiGiorno Pizza on Facebook and get a coupon for a free pizza
Avon is running a great online special: order $5 (ormore), get free shipping with code 622FSD at checkout.  I always sort by price and pick the super cheap items (hey I don’t mind being called “cheap”) and never spend more than the minimum amount.  I got 4 items for $5.18 shipped free.
Whataburger had a free Bacon or Sausage Breakfast on a Bun today 7-10am.  Dave said they were really good – unfortunately, Matt stayed at a friend’s overnight and missed his.  It’s true what they say – the early bird gets the worm”

Check in with me again tomorrow and I’ll give you my 3 fave Deals of the Day.

Wow, start of another new week, we’re heading toward the end of the month again.  Had a great trip to Target although I wasn’t able to use my $5 off of $50 worth of groceries cos I didn’t present it at the beginning of the transaction and of course, after all my coupons, it was only $27.  The checker told me to be sure to present it before all my coupons next time – gotcha!!  Even so, I paid $26.36 and saved $50.82;  my fave deal is getting 2 John Frieda products for just $1.08  Check details in Shopping Posts.

My brakes suddenly started grinding badly Saturday night so Greg and Matt took my van in to have them checked today – so much for the advertised $99 deal – apparently some damage had been done and the bill was $400.  Yikes – why don’t we get more warning when our brakes are going out?? 

Melody and li’l Cec came over for dinner and I cooked up the mahi mahi Matt and Greg caught in Port A a few days ago – it was really good; I fixed roasted cubed potatoes, brocolli and corn on the cob and pecan pie.  This will be our last Monday night family dinner with Matt for a while and despite my efforts to have a Normal Rockwell event, Matt and Dave got into it about Matt waking Dave up at night and Dave pitching a fit.  But it was still a good night with a lot of laughs and li’l Cec was a bundle of energy; I just put him down for the night, made a cup  of tea and listened to 10 mins of Bill O’Reilly and now I’m well and truly ready for bed.

Pampers Wipes $2.39; $2 mfg Q
Green Black Chocolate $2.50; $1 Q (I love their dark chocolate)
Tostitos $3.59; $1 mfg Q, $1 Target Q
Snyders Pretzels $2.59; $1 mfg Q
Juice Juice $2.59; $1 mfg Q
Carrots $1.49
French’s mustard/dipping sauce combo $1.17; 50c mfg Q
Girards dressing $2.59; $2 mfg Q
President Feta $2; $1 mfg Q
Ginger $1.20
Einsteen cream cheese 99c
Wesbrae canned beans 79c
Bread $2
Bananas 34c
2 Snapple $2.50 ; B1G1 mfg Q
Nesquick $1.09; 55c mfg Q
Daisy cottage cheese $2.34; 45c mfg Q
Dannon Yogurt $1.97; $1 mfg Q
2 Vanish Drop ins $2.14 ea; B1G1 mfg Q, B1G1 Target Q
2 John Frieda items $10.08; 2 x $3 mfg Q’s, $3 Target Q
Purina Cat food $1.48; $1 mfg Q
Vaseline lotion 97c; $1 mfg Q
Arm n Hammer Toothpaste 97c; 75c mfg Q
Dove hairspray 97c; $1. mfg Q
Axe Body Spray $1.97; $1 mfg Q
Burts Bees Toothpaste $4.99; $1 mfg Q; $2 Target Q
THEY NEVER TOOK OFF MY BUY 1 GET 1 SNAPPLE SO WILL HAVE TO VISIT CUSTOMER SERVICE ON WEDNESDAY 

TOTAL $26.36     SAVED $50.82

I was so impressed with myself today at Walgreens.  I got all this stuff for $6.75

Bengay $4.99; $3 mfg Q
Aussie Shampoo $2.99; $2 mfg Q
Herbal Essense Shampoo $2.99; $2 mfg Q
3 Chicken of Sea Tuna $2.97; $3 x $1 mfg Q’s
2 Metrx Bars $1.79 ea; $2 mfg Q
Cute Leopard Skin slides $1.99
Knox Glucosamine $6.24

I had $8 in Register Rewards from last weeks Walgreens trip and after all coups, my total was $6.75.  That means I only paid for the glucosamine!!!
Oh yeah and I got $2 RR’s for next time!!

Oh, I didn’t want to get out of bed this morning, I wish church wasn’t so early – 8:30am – we could go to the later service at 11am but then half the day is gone.  Even when the kids were babies, we went to early church so we could go do something with them and really enjoy our Sundays with family – how did I do it?  I keep asking myself this question cos I just don’t have it now – it must have been grace from the Lord, that’s all I can put it down to because I just don’t bat in that league anymore.  It was a terrific Father’s Day Sermon tho; we had a visiting pastor from Nigeria and he talked about how we need to honor our parents – we told the kids that so often, they must’ve been tired of hearing it – but it goes for us grownups too.  I was estranged from my dad for 14 years and had a chip on my shoulder all that time and I am so grateful in 1987 God urged me to go see my dad and make amends; I can’t imagine how my life would have turned out had I not done that.  I love my dad so much, I get warm fuzzies when I think about him, I am proud of him and proud to be his daughter.  Happy Father’s Day Dad – I love you.  Now, I’ve been doubly blessed because I have a stepdad Keith who is also my dad – he’s always been there for me and my brother and sisters – he’s the best. 

He also talked about the importance of the father’s blessing so dads bless your kids often!!

After a well deserved coffee, we all gathered round to give Greg his cards and presents.  David picked up a bunch of balloons last night that we had to hide under the stairs, Matt and Dave gave him a Dremel Trio (very manly gift), and I gave him an Avatar T shirt, Father’s Day Mug, bag of goodies, another T shirt and 50 prints of the kids when they were younger.  Didn’t he do well??  He was thrilled with everything and said just now it was his best Father’s Day ever ever!!

Time to sit down and watch Masterpiece Theater – Miss Marple – we love anything filmed in England and about England!!

Here’s Matt with his cache of fish!!!  Red Snapper, Mahi Mahi, Bar Jack and Shark – it was all cleaned and filleted but it took Matt and I ages to bag it up but it’ll be worth it when we put it on the grill.  Picked up li’l Cec and he fell asleep in the van but he soon perked up when we got home, especially after  a choccy cookie; by 9:40pm I figured he was definitely ready for bed – he always fights getting his diaper and jammies on but once they’re on, he goes running towards the stairs.  Had to have Dave lift him into the crib cos of my back (which is healing beautifully by the way) and I sang his special song “Little Cecil is so Small and Sweet” (OK I know it sounds nerdy, but he is only 2) and said nighty night.

I was on the phone next morning to Jenny my sister when I heard him gooing and gaaaing upstairs – he’s so good, he will play happily in his crib for ages after waking up – however he had taken off his jammy bottoms and diaper when I got up to his room.  Thank God, it was only wet or we’d have had a real mess – I hate to squeal on him, but he does on occasion take off a dirty diaper!!!  I am happy to say it’s only happened at our house once, but Melody has had to deal with it a few times.  He is always such a little darling in the morning and very lovey – I could just eat him!!  He had a big breakfast of eggs, sausage and potatoes and some bites of waffle and then he was off and playing.

We went outside for a while and then I took him up to the pool.  The last time I put him in the kiddie pool was last summer and he wasn’t sure he liked it and was a bit scared – not so today – he absolutely loved it and  I couldn’t believe how much bigger he was than last year – the water came up to his shoulders.  After a while, he started climbing out and running away and so I took him to the big pool but it was a little precarious as he didn’t have his floaties and he liked to run around the pool and I was a bit freaked in case he fell in.  Sooooo next week I’ll make sure he has his floaties and it’ll be more enjoyable for both of us.  After he had lunch, he was zonked so I put him down for a nap and he slept for over 3 hours.

We dropped lee Cec off at home on our way to dinner  and then went to Jason’s Deli; I am never diappointed with that place, their food is always so fresh and there’s lots of it.   Drove over to the mall, had a really good brisk walk thru with a stop at Both and Body Works to pick up a free 2oz size of their new lotion Forever Sunshine (check out their Facebook Page and Like em and you can print a coupon).  Next to CVS to pick up my 50 free prints – OMG I was so thrilled, they were wonderful, tons and tons of prints of Melody, David and Matthew at different ages and a few of me with the kids too.  The quality was terrific so I shall definitely be doing business with them again.  Unfortunately, my Father’s Day Book didn’t come in but Greg’s got plenty of presies for tomorrow – an Avatar T Shirt, a Father’s Day Mug, bag of goodies, and another T shirt so he’s doing fine.  The boys gave him a power tool but Matt wouldn’t wrap it, saying it was a “Man Gift” and you can’t wrap man gifts – hmm news to me!!

Came home to watch a movie “The Maiden Heist” which was Ok but not great.  It seemed a good choice seeing Christopher Walken, Bill Macy and Morgan Freeman was in it, but it wasn’t their best but still good watching.  This was a Super Saturday!!

and clingy

It was so quiet when I got up this morning, no Greg in the Family Room reading his bible, no Matt rushing outa the door for work – even Toonces (our driving cat) was still fast asleep on the sofa – usually she’s chomping at the bit for some tuna (that’s what she always eats in the morning).  Went for a long walk, came back, checked email and my fave save blogger sites and found some good deals – Bath and Body Works are giving away a free 2oz Forever Sunshine Body Lotion (no purchase required) – head over to their Facebook page and you’ll be able to print the coupon.  David appeared, bleary eyed, made himself breakfast and then took off for class and I tackled my large stack of coupons – took me a good hour but it’s worth it.

I told you yesterday about the terrific deal when you sign up at CVS Photo Shop – well, I found out last night that when you sign up for Walgreens Photo Shop – you get free prints and a free collage and you can pick them up at your local store.  Sooooo I worked about 2 hours on that last night and I was cross eyed when I was done but I was so proud of myself.  I couldn’t believe it, but less than 30 minutes later I had an email from Walgreens saying they were done and that my order was ready for pickup – truly amazing!!!   I picked them up this morning and I was delighted – hope Greg doesn’t read this because I’m going to frame the collage for our anniversary in August.

I just heard from the guys and they got over 20lbs of fish fillets – wow; apparently 2 shark got away, but they did get red snapper, mahi mahi and I forget what else but now I have to make room in the freezer for those babies.  They stopped at Whataburger cos Greg said they were too smelly to eat in a “real” restaurant; hmmm, I’m gonna have the wonderful job of washing those duds – yuk!!

Time for another walk and then I have to go pick up li’l Cec.

Goodies in my mailbox
Free Pace Salsa coupon (value $4)
Genesis Today 4 Sleep & Relaxation (4fl oz), $5 coupon, $1 coupon (that was my favorite this week)
Kraft Taste of Home Magazine (full of terrific recipes) – I signed up for just one free copy, 2 years subscription is only $10
Aveeno Hourish & Volumize Shampoo & Conditioner & $1 Coupon
Curel Itch Defense Skin Balancing Moisture Lotion Sample & $1 coupon
Bounty sample
Sport Pharma Thermadrene Sample (Matt will like this as he works out a lot)
2 Barleans Omega Swirl samples
4 True Lemon samples (2 lemon, 1 orange, 1 lime); $1 coupon
Lanacane Sample & $1 coupon
Hebrew National coupons
2 Kellogs $1 coupons
Always 4 pak
Kotex 4 pak

My Van Gourgondien package of bulbs  blew me away – weeks ago, I got a promotional code for $10 off $10, so I ordered some Gladiolus and Bleeding Heart bulbs and the cost was $2.98 shipped!!!  I thought I was gonna get just a couple of Gladiolus bulbs, but there were 10 in the box and the Bleeding Hearts came all packaged in rich soil – I can see the little roots sticking out.  I am so excited – I think I can plant the Bleeding Hearts now (need to read up on it) but the Gladiolus can’t be planted til the fall.

Nivea Men’s Body Wash $5.99; $3 mfg Q.   $5.99 REGISTER REWARDS (to use next time)
3 Hallmark Cards $2.97;    $2 REGISTER REWARDS
All Detergent $2.99; $2 mfg Q
2 Dentyne Gums $1.29 ea; 2 x $1 mfg Q’s
Post Grape Nuts $1.99 (I never had a coupon – can you believe??)
2 Chinet Dinner Plates $1.50 ea; 2 x $1 mfg Q’s
TOTAL:  $12.29     SAVED:  $9.78     $8 Register Rewards     WOW