Hi Carol!

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I love that song by Craig Morgan “What I Love About Sunday”, I’ve got it playing in the background while I write this blog.  I’m not a huge Country Western fan, but Matt turned me onto it and now I tune in quite often.  My first exposure was way back in 1980 when I went to see John Denver in Tucson and I ran out next day and bought his album – course the country roads that take me home are all in Southwest England…..

Speaking of Matt, he’s now sporting a tattoo between his shoulder blades – I think it looks cool but I’m sure Greg’ll have something to say ’bout that!!  

Boy it’s cold today, but I’m not complaining – I love the cold weather cos we get so little of it here in South Texas; it’s overcast too and kinda reminds me of home.   A perfect day to order that cute little red hoodie I’ve been wanting from American Eagle – after the 20% AE are offering today, it was $30 shipped.  It will be perfect for the Christmas season, specially if this cold weather keeps up.  AE are offering 20% off & FREE SHIPPING HERE using code  34786903 at checkout or if you’re going to the store, you can print the coupon HERE.

Woman Within are offering a Triple 40% off coupon, last chance! Use promo code WW49547.   Here’s how to redeem your offer:

1. Place one or more items in your shopping bag.
2. At check-out, type WW49547 in the “Promotion Code” box, then click “Apply.”
3. Extra 40% off discount will apply as follows: To your highest-priced item; to 2nd highest-priced item with 3 or more items; to your 3rd highest-item with 5 or more items.
4. Continue shopping or begin checkout.

JCPenney have a VIP Pass online today and tomorrow (Sunday-Monday, 11/14-11/15) where you can save 20-30% plus FREE shipping (I always love free shipping).  Use code 4NICEVIP at checkout.  This offer is today only (Sunday 11/14 thru 10pm) in stores -  go HERE to print coupon.

LANDS END is offering 30% off EVERYTHING plus FREE shipping on orders of $50 or more thru Nov 15.  Use code LESHARE30 and PIN 7785 at checkout.  You know how much I LOVE Lands End.  If you’ve not shopped at Lands’ End before, you are in for a treat – they have such fabulous deals – my favorite area is On the Counter, where they gradually reduce the clothes listed there during the week.  My friend Jenna over at Bucktown Bargains turned me on to them back in the summer and I haven’t looked back.  Thanks Jenna.

This is the last day for Catherines Friends & Family Event.  They have reduced their accessories further and have several cute Halloween pieces for just $3.99.
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Okay, time for me to get dinner on the table………………..

Yesterday my $1 order from Botanic Choice arrived – 30 Wheatgerm softgels but also included in the package was a 7-day pill box and a 2oz Cocoa Facial Wash – all this for just $1 SHIPPED.  Check out Botanic Choice  HERE; they always have a terrific clearance section 75% or more off and I’ve always been happy with their products.  Can’t wait to try out this Cocoa Facial wash.

I hope some of you got in on that Victoria Secret Free Scarf deal with free shipping last night – I got the red one of course as it’ll be perfect for Christmas.  Actually I hope it arrives before we go up to Fort Leonardwood right after Thanksgiving, I’ll probably need it.

 

Get a FREE sample of Truvia Sweetner HERE

Get aFREE sample pack of KOTEX Regular Maxi Pads and KOTEX Fresh & Dry Long Liners HERE

Old Navy is offering this printable coupon HERE today 11/11 thru 11/18 and it includes Clearance.  I went today and got a cute knitted jacket that had been marked way down to $10.99 and after the 30% off, was only $8.80 – isn’t it cute – I was surprised to find that it’s much more expensive online!!

I did myself marvellously proud today at Target – spent $24 and saved $71.67.  I had hoped to find some Halloween/Harvest cookies still lurking around but no such luck – no candy either; it went really quickly this year and also I noticed there wasn’t much in the way of T shirts etc.  Sooo I don’t have a new Halloween T for next year unless I can find one someplace else. 

Catherines has a few Halloween costume jewelry items marked down HERE, and you can get free shipping if you have it delivered to the store.  I got these cute earings for just $3.84 shipped.

You can find a $5 off Hallmark coupon in the November/December issue of Midwest Living magazine, the December issue of Real Simple magazine and the December issue of Martha Stewart Living Magazine. 

BATH & BODY WORKS are offering this beautiful snowglobe for $20 with your $20 purchase HERE- I want one!!

One of my fave deals at Target has been the $2 off 2 Kraft Homestyle Macaroni Dinners combined with a B1G1 free coupon from the Kraft Noodlette Game – check it out HERE and see what you win.  I had Dave play too to get me extra coupons.

I ordered a darling green jacket from Lands End last week from their On The Counter section for $5!!!  That included FREE shipping.   It arrived today and boy am I pleased with it, the fabric is high quality and the color (green) is gorgeous.

The best deal I saw today is offered by Yves Rocher and it’s listed on Hip2save.com HERE.  Collin does such a terrific job of explaining everything step by step and getting you the most for your money.  I ordered $40 worth of goodies so that I could get this fabulous fleece – I’ve had my eye on it for a while and bin waiting for just the right deal to come up.  Not only do you get $10 off from Yves Rocher but if you go thru Ebates as Collin suggests, you will get a whacking 30% back!!!  Wow!!

We’re still up in the air about going to see Matt over Thanksgiving – the flights are really expensive and booked up so we’re trying to decide whether to drive up there right after our big dinner (I think we’ll both be too sleepy to be alert after all that turkey).  OR wait til the following weekend to go up and see him so hope we can button it down tonight when we speak to him.  Here’s a photo of Matt (on the right) at the Marine Corps Birthday Party – isn’t he handsome???

Freebies in My Mailbox
$10 Starbucks card from Swagbucks
4 fl oz Proforce Disinfectant Cleaner & 4oz Glass Cleaner
Sample of Shout Color Catcher
Samples of Vitafusion Gummy Vitamins
Samples of John Frieda Luxurious Volume Shampoo & Conditioner
Sample of Curel Sensitive Skin Remedy & $1 coupon
$1 Florida’s Natural OJ coupon
Sample Garnier Moisture Rescue Cream

I was wondering if I’d ever get out of my garage this morning – now that my van is parked on the other side, and Greg’s new 57 Belair is in there, I can’t manoeuver my way out very well.  God forbid I should hit that beauty or my van!!  Finally got to Target where I had quite an ordeal trying to get them to adjust their overcharge on my Kraft Light Dressings; they were clearly marked $1.52, but ringing up at $2.04 like all the others.  I had used a $1 mfg Q and the Target 50c Q and three dear ladies couldn’t figure out how to give me the 52c ea that was owed – I did my best to explain how to do it and did finally get my money but one lady was positive I was pulling a fast one!!

Apart from that, it was a very productive trip – got the Mossimo floral shirt in cream that Melody wanted for $4.48, Converse hoodie for Dave for $6.48, 50′s style shirt for Greg (so he can drive his 50′s style car!) $4.48, 2 C9 sports shirts for Matt $1.24 and $1.98 after $2.50 Target Q’s.  They have those lovely Glade Fragrance Collection Candles half off for $3.48 and I had 2 x $3 mfg Q’s so just 48c ea.  Hillshire Farm Cheese Sausages were reduced to 51c and I had 2 x 75c off 2 coupons.  Also got the Curel Lotion deal 2 @ $3.79 (use 2 x $2 mfg Q’s and 2 x $1 Target Q’s) and get a $5 giftcard – so 79c ea.  And to top it all, got 2 Leapfrog Books for Li’l Cec for $4.99 ea after $5 mfg Q.

I’ve gotta run as people are pouring into my kitchen  for a meeting.

I miss Marvellous Matt but we signed up for this – or I should say he signed us up for this when he joined the Marines.  My friend Rachel gave me a pep talk this morning when I complained that he wouldn’t be able to come home for Christmas like “they” had said he could.  She said “Welcome to the Marines – I don’t think they’re gonna care that you’re upset your baby boy can’t spend Christmas with you!”  And there you have it………….

Had a very good shopping trip to Target – saved $61, my TOTAL bill being $22.00 and that included a wrong charge of $4.99 for some Camembert cheese that was sposed to be only $2.50!  I finally got to use my $5 Kraft Cheese coupon – coupled with the Target coupons, this was a very sweet deal as were the Oscar Mayer Lunchables which are free after mfg and Target coupons.  I love those new Glade scented oil candles that come in a lovely “fall” glass dish; they’re on sale for $2.34 and after a B1G1 Free plus $1.50 mfg Q’s, they come out to 84c for 2.

Other goodies are spearmint Tic Tacs reduced to 69c which are free after 75c mfg Q from Smartsource insert, Combos $1.27, just 27c after $1 mfg Q, Hungryman Frozen meals $2.34, just 34c after $2 mfg Q, Kraft Dressing $2.04, just 54c after $1 mfg Q and 50c Target Q.

Lands End are offering 20% off thru tonight on their Fall Sale and Overstocks.  There are some really good deals in Overstocks already and with 20% off added in, you can score big.  The 20% off doesn’t apply to On The Counter and Not Quite Perfect Section.

I’m so in the mood for fall food so we’re having mock Thanksgiving tonight with turkey breast, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole etc.  We had pumpkin pie last week, didn’t want a repeat so I made a quick plum cobbler – just empty a can of plums into dish and sprinkle muffin mix over top, using a Betty Crocker Lemon Poppyseed muffin mix.

Yesterday we went downtown to a famous Mexican Restaurant, Mi Tierra to celebrate my niece Chloe’s 18th birthday.  It’s a really fun and pretty place and we had a really good time.  Li’l Cec was a li’l grumpy for a while but soon cheered up after he’d thrown every menu on the floor; I brought him a lunchables – I don’t think he had much of an appetite cos he never really finished it.  He did, however, enjoy Chloe’s Gooey Choccy cake.

After dinner, everyone went over to the Mexican Fiesta Mall and Li’l Cec and I walked around the Market Square area.  He entertained me and several other people dancing and running around and being positively cute!  We met up with Greg, Mel and Dave and went over to the Marketplace where they have lots of great little shops/booths etc.  They had groups of kids doing Mexican Folklore dancing and they were so good – Li’l Cec was mesmerised.  I was so impressed with a girl who was 10 or 11 who just stole the show – she was so animated and really good.  I went up to her afterwards and told her she was very good and I enjoyed her dancing – so did Li’l Cec!!

By the time we got home, answered phone calls, etc. it was 8:30 but we did get half way thru The Great Debaters with Denzel Washington; great movie – can’t wait for the second half.

Fave Deals of the Day
GO HERE  to print a coupon for free lip product with ANY purchase at Bath & Body Works; I usually buy a travel size item and they often have $1 items.�
GO HERE to print a terrific coupon from Picture People - they are offering a great deal thru the end of the month.  You can get 6 color portrait sheets 10×13 or smaller for only $9.  We’ll be heading over there soon to have a family portrait done – minus Matt of course but Greg said he can “frame” him in somehow.  Good, can’t have a family pic without one of my sons.

I have had so many Fabulous Freebies in my mailbox this week – see them all below.  The weather’s been fabulous too, it’s actually cold when we go for our walk in the morning, I think it was about 50 this morning.  I love it – this is my fave time of the year – all the way thru Spring.

Date night got pushed aside this week for – wait for it – getting The Car, the Orange one.  Someone’s not too happy about that, we already switched it because of our friend Chris’s Recovery Church tomorrow night and now I get gipped again.  Hmmmmm – I think I need to order some things online to make up for this don’t you?

I’m looking forward to having Li’l Cec tonight – he always makes stuff more Fabulous; I have to figure out what I’m gonna do with him tomorrow.  Melody put so many photos of him on her Facebook Page and everyone is terrific – I especially love the one of him with a new Fancy Denim Diaper on his head.  He’s so smart, he’s wearing it like a backwards cap!!

Freebies in my Mailbox:
Bright Red Wristband from Mountain Dew
Kashi Chewy Trail Mix Bar & $1 coupon
Quaker Life Cinnomon Roll Raisin Pecan Soft Baked Nutrition Bar & $1 coupon
$1 Quaker Hearty Medleys Hot Cereal coupon
Clarins Rouge Prodige Sample Lipstick Palette w/ mini brush (I love this)
Sample Nivea Happy Sensation Body Lotion & $1 Coupon
Sample Nivea Touch of Happiness Body Wash
6 Nescafe Taster’s Choice Flavored Coffee Samples & $1 coupon
Sample Zantac
FREE coupon for RepHresh Brilliant Tampons ($6.99 value!!!)
     plus 2 x $2 coupons WOW
Sample Post-it Label Pads & 3 x $1 coupons
Sample Crest Toothpaste
Sample Jergens Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer, Overnight Repair Nightly Restoring Moisturizer & $1coupon
Sample Nature Made Chewable D3
2 FREE coupons for Triscuit Thin Crisps & Wheat Thins Crunch Stix
2 x $1.25 coupons for Triscuit Thin Crisps & Wheat Thins Stix
Sample Smartypants Gummy Vitamins & Skin Transfers
Sample Organyc Pad & $1 coupon
Sample Whisk Laundry Detergent

I was thankful not to be whizzing around town today – well I did whizz around the upstairs, dusting, vacuuming and polishing the bedroom and landing and cleaning our bathroom.  I just love Swiffer and all their products – the Wet Mop System for kitchen/bathrooms and the Dry System for the hardwood floors.  Swiffer just makes it so easy.   My closet looks like a bomb dropped in there and I never got to it today but I will tomorrow.

My order from Aeropostale arrived yesterday with a hoodie for me and some goodies for Melody for Christmas but an item was missing – I was so disappointed as that’s the one she particularly wanted.  I called Aeropostale and was told they’d credit my account but I was very pleased to get an email today offering me a code for free shipping.  That’s a biggie cos shipping is usually $7.  I was ecstatic with the hoodie tho’ – it normally retails for $49.99 and I got it for $6.99 with the 30% off they were offering last week. 

I was also disappointed to get an email from EAS informing me that they had to recall the EAS Peak Product Beverages they sent me over a month ago.  Matt already drank one!!   If you have any of the EAS Peak Products, fill out the form here and they will send you a FedEx return label for you to send them back.

Had a really Terrific Tuesday – Li’l Cec and I went over to North Star Mall with Matt.  He needed new jeans so made stops at American Eagle and Hollister (both of which were on sale – of course),  the Oakley store for new sunglasses and  had pretzels at Auntie Anne’s with BOGO free coupons.  Matt watched Li’l Cec while I took a look at the jewelry in Lane Bryant but unfortunately all the $2.99 items were gone.  I used my $14 off $15 coupon from Lane Bryant in San Diego – got some lovely citron drop earings $14.50, and some pink glass earings on sale for $2.99 that matched the $2.99 necklace I got there a few weeks ago – after the $15.00 coupon, my bill was only $2.82!!

We dropped off Li’l Cec and then went to McDonalds for lunch – well lunch for Matt and a McCafe for me; it’s hard to comprehend still that my son is home after been gone for 3 months.

Tonight we all went to Ruby Tuesday for my brother in law’s birthday – of course I had a BOGO coupon but my niece Chloe works there and gets 25% off so couldn’t use the coupon.  The bill was only $38 for the 5 of us so we can’t complain; Greg, Melody and I had the salad bar, Dave had a burger and Matt had barbecued chicken.  Laurie ordered a dessert which was huge and we all got to have bites of hers!!

After dinner, Matt took off to the gym, and Greg, Melody, Dave and I went next door to Ali Baba’s, a middle eastern import store and they sell all sorts of wonderful interesting foods.  We got olives as always, rosewater, mixed nuts, juice and Melody got naan bread and sheep cheese.  Li’l Cec was a star tonight, was so well behaved and happy but unfortunately, he tripped over the Naan bread and almost hurtled to the ground stepping out of the van but luckily he nit my soft shoe so his bump on the head wasn’t too serious!!

I’m so thankful today to be able to see my son after 3 loooong months; I’m thankful he made it thru with God’s help and is now officially a Marine altho graduation is not actually until tomorrow.

We were up bright n early, had a great breakfast and drove over to the base to join the 500 other families who were anxious to see their lads again.  I was already choked up before the young marines started running by in their green T’s and shorts so by the time I spotted my handsome son, I was in tears.  I wanted to run up and hug and kiss him but of course no chance of that – all the moms had been given strict orders on how to hug them when we’d meet them later.  He looked great, thinner of course but healthy.  All too soon, they ran off and we were herded to another area where we waited for them to come running back and face us and then they were gone again – it was all very emotional.

We were shown a video and informative talk etc. etc. and then we all walked over to the bleachers with strict instructions not to set foot on the Parade Ground which is Hallowed ground.  The band played and then all the young Marines marched out in their uniform, stood before us again for what seemed for ever on that same Hallowed ground where his grandpa had stood in 1943.  Finally we were given the order to go hug our son.  The smile on his face was worth the long wait and we hugged and kissed him but not too much……….

There were so many things we wanted to say and questions to ask and he had plenty of his own and I think over the next 6 hours we got it covered.  We were so blessed to have those 6 hours with him – we had a buffet lunch, he showed us all over the base, shopped and bought him his Marine ring and just talked and talked and talked (with hugs in between).

The difference in Matt is phenomenal.  He was always a terrific kid, very handsome, great personality but here was our boy, now a man, standing tall, with a confidence that could only come from having endured 3 months of the very best training in the world.  His gift to me was seeing him so happy.  I think that’s what all moms want for their kids – to be happy.  He’s fulfilling God’s purpose for him and his demeanor shows that he is right where he’s supposed to be.

When it was time for him to go, we watched him til he disappeared and then drove off sniffing and wiping tears and talking about how wonderful the day was.  Greg wanted to drive over to Fletcher Hills where he grew up and see the house he lived in, his school, and where his friends lived and then we came back to the hotel and watched Everybody Loves Raymond.  What a terrific day.