Oprah's Got Another Giveaway!

I'm downloading it right now as I type this.
Today is Oprah's favorite things show. Because of the economy she is doing a show with items that are affordable.
I haven't seen it yet, but in looking at blogs that are in an earlier time zone, I found that she is giving away a CD's worth of free music downloads.
It's a star studded CD of Christmas music, looks great. Can't wait to get mine onto a CD and into my car.

Here is a link!

I don't think they sold boxes of chicken stock in "the olden days"...

...but if they did, I just got "the olden days" pricing!

3 Oregonians (only 1 purchased), one coupon pack from ebay, 7 trips to Safeway, 26 boxes of stock and $2.47 total cost.
I was turned away once at our local Safeway. They said that they couldn't use coupons on the free boxes of stock, because there was no value on them. I didn't want to tell her that I had just did this same deal an hour before at their store and it went through just fine. I just politely asked her to take them off my bill and "can I please have my coupons back".
I didn't visit that Safeway again during this process. The good thing about living as far out as we do, is that there are a few Safeways on the way to and home from church.
No one else batted an eye at my deal, as I handed over $.38 per transaction for $12.76 worth of stock. I mainly just dug around in my purse and got rid of the loose change rolling around for this deal. For the very last one, I did have to whip out the old debit card because I was short a few pennies.
But like I said before, I use stock all the time! So this is an awesome stockpile item for me, and most of them don't expire till next December.
This was a fun deal for me, because I figured it out on my own, it is pretty exhilarating really.
So, snicker at me and my nerdy coupon box if you will. But, I just might be the one getting the last laugh....Mua ah ah ah ah!!! (In case you couldn't tell, that was my best attempt at typing out a sinister laugh)

Please Excuse The...

...Blurry Pictures.

Goodness Gracious!
I think my camera and I are in a funk right now. This is what quite a few of my pictures have looked like lately, for whatever reason. It's quite disheartening actually. It's probably because I boycott using the pop-up flash, at all cost. Such harsh light. But what would I rather have, harsh light or blurry pictures. Both are pretty equally frustrating for me.

Anyway, most of you know by now that my mom comes over on Monday mornings to watch Wyatt so I can go to the gym. Well, mom usually tries to bring Wyatt a little something every time. This time it was a cool pair of little spinny-tops that lit up (he later took them down to his bed and broke both of them...sorry mom). She also brought him these "coke-bottle" glasses and a clown nose. At first he wasn't too keen on having anything to do with these. But, the curiosity of just leaving them on the coffee table got the better of him. The next thing we knew, he had those silly glasses on and was posing for pictures.
Whatta little hammy.
He cracks us up so bad.

A couple things that he's said lately.

We left him at Babu and Papa's (Ryan's parents) for the evening...
They were eating dinner and Lisa (Ryan's sister) started choking on her food.
Wyatt said, "Lisa Slow Down Girl"

Later that same night.
Wyatt wanted Babu to take him out to look at the pool. (that had recently been covered for the winter)
He took one look at the pool and said:
"Pool's Covered....Darn"

My mom asked Wyatt what he wanted for Christmas. (a question that hasn't really been explored with him...
He thought about it for a long second, then said, "a candycane"
(ah the simple things)

This one was from last year at the RV show...not sure if I shared this one already.
We were going in and out of the beautiful motor homes. And it became quite obvious that we were saying "HOLY COW" ALOT!!! Well, at that time Wyatt was learning all of his animals. He looked at us and said "HOLY DONKEY" That one makes me smile inside.

Anyway, he's just getting funnier and funnier. I know that there have been dozens of other things that I can't remember right now.
I can't believe that he's already almost 3 years old. Where has the time gone, really?

You Know You're Crazy When...

...you give up going to a football game to go grocery shopping!

Ok just a disclaimer, yes this is a coupon post. I promise the next post will have some cute pictures of Wyatt.

Pat and Jackie & Ryan and I were supposed to go to the Ducks game on Saturday afternoon. On Friday morning Jackie called me and asked what I thought about keeping our babysitters and spending the entire day shopping with our coupons. I was game, so that's just what we did.
We started at Pete's for a cup of coffee and game plan.
Deciding to hit Safeway first we headed to Damascus where I bought the following items:









6 Cans of Progresso Soup- On sale for $.97 (MQ's $2/4, $1/2) .47 each
1 box Wheat Thins - On sale for $1.88 (MQ $1/2, Double $.50) $1.13
1 box Triscuits - On sale for $1.88 (MQ $1/2, Double $.50) $1.13
Pilsbury Pizza Crust - $3.29 (clearance stickers - $2.25, MQ 1/$.40) $.64
Kraft Cheese - On Sale for $3.00 (clearance stickers - $1.50) $1.50
Minute Maid Pomegrante Tea - $3.49 (clearance stickers - $2.25) $1.24
Ranch Dip - On Sale 2 for $5.00 (MQ $1/1, Double $.50) $1.00
Dill Dip - On Sale 2 for $5.00 (MQ $1/1, Double $.50) $1.00
Sunday Newspaper - $2.00

Total Out of Pocket: $11.96 Ok I realize that this doesn't totally add up but this is the gist. This was all the way back to Saturday and I'm trying to remember to the best of my abilities. Also, these receipts are really hard to read, after the fact!

Safeway took us forever. Jackie was going after the coveted catalina promotion (home for the holidays). Yay for her too, she got it $10 off her next purchase. That made it sound like it was Jackie's fault that it took so long. It wasn't, we were just taking our time.

We stopped back by Jackie's house and dropped off her groceries and my perishables, picked up her sister and were off to lunch. Her sis was craving breakfast, and we thought we had coupons for Sharis so to Sharis we went. The coupons didn't work on the weekend, but that was ok, because not too many other people serve breakfast at 3pm. Ok it was a late lunch.

After lunch we headed off to Gap outlet to try to use the friends and family 30% off coupon. I struck out. I couldn't even find anything for Wyatt. I'm sure I could have bought something, but I didn't want to just get something for the sake of getting something.
We ducked into a couple more stores before leaving and I got Luke his birthday present.

We wanted to go to Walgreens and "figure it out" so that was our next and final stop together.
They had a coupon that was only good for Saturday and Sunday for $5 off a $20 purchase.
So, the goal was to go in there and use that.

Here is the list of the stuff I got:












Maybelline Mascara x2 $3.99 - Buy one Get one Free (MQ $1.00 x 2) $1.99 for both
Notebook - $1.99 because I needed one
Bic Soleil Razor System - $6.99 (Store Coupon $3, MQ $3) $.99
Bic Soleil Razor Refill - $6.99 (Store Coupon $3, MQ $3) $.99
Loreal Age Moisturizer - On Sale for $14.99 - Free after Mail in Rebate

With the $5 off coupon my Out of Pocket total came to $15.95
Since Walgreens adds 10% to the total if you elect to have them send you a gift card I will be getting $16.49 back.
And that my friends is my first profit of $.54
So yay, I got all that stuff that I will totally use for free!!! And I love that moisturizer!

By this time, it was almost 8pm at night. We were ready to go home to our babies and we were all tired. But the guys weren't home yet, so after awhile I left and made a quick stop by Albertsons for a toilet paper sale that was going to be over that night.

Here is my Albertsons List:












12 pack Cottonelle Double Rolls (I got 2, second pack not in picture because it's...ahem...already in use! - $11.59 reg price (FM coupon $4.99 ea, MQ $1/1 not double-able) $3.99 ea
9 pack large rolls charmin - $4.99 (Albertsons Rain Check $2.99 ea., MQ $.25, Double $.25) $2.49

That finished out our day of shopping!

The weekend wasn't quite over yet.
One thing of note, that I'm very excited about is a great deal on Progresso Chicken and Beef Broth.
I showed my couponing skills off to my hubby on Sunday after church...once again back to Safeway.
We needed to buy his brother a gift card and I had figured out this deal, so why not right?

Progresso 32 oz chicken stock x 2 - $3.19 Buy 1 Get 1 free (MQ $1/1, MQ $1/1, Doubles $1) $.19 for 2
AHHHHH ISN'T THAT AWESOME? I enlisted the help of a coupon clipper on Ebay and bought 20 more coupons. Hopefully they come in time so I can do that deal some more times. What a great item to put in the food basket at church.

I also met up with a gal after church that bought some scrapbooking stuff from me for $40. (I've switched to digital scrapbooking so I don't have a need for the paper and all that jazz)
With $40 burning a hole in my pocket, and the burning desire to buy a printer so I can delve into the world of internet printable coupons...I searched the ads for a good deal on a printer.
And, did I ever find one... An HP printer, copier, and scanner for $39.99, it came with the print cartridges. The print cartridges retail at $30.99 for the combo pack so, I like to think that I got a printer for $9. Ha. I love this machine so far. It rocks.

All in all it was a pretty productive weekend.

This post took FOREVER, and while I love sharing my deals, it was exhausting to try to remember everything!!!


Ok...pictures of Wyatt next, I promise!!!

More Coupon Madness

I set off for Albertsons today with a few purchases in mind. I had my plan. It didn't work out quite like I had planned, but I did pretty good anyway.
I had planned on stocking up on toilet paper with some great deals that I had worked out in my noggin. The store didn't have the right quantities that went with the coupons that I had. Two of the coupons were Albertsons coupons, so I was able to get a rain check. I will get my deal eventually! *evil laugh*
But for now, I'll be content with the rest of my list.
Transaction #1:
1. Melita Coffee Filters Ct. 40 $10 for $10 (I bought 2)
$1 x 2 = $2
2. Old Spice Deodorant - On Sale 2 for $7 (I bought 4)

• Fred Meyer Coupon - $2.99 Each (Limit 4)
• Manufacturers Coupon - 2 @ $1 off 2
  
• Safeway Double Coupons - 2 @ $.50 off
• $2.99x4= $11.96 - $2 = $9.96 - $1 = 8.96 / 4 = $2.24 each x 4 = $8.96 Total
  

3. Fresh Express Premium Salad Mix - On Sale for $1.47 ea
Manufacturers Coupon - $.75 off (Not Subject to Doubling)
$1.47 - $.75 = $.72 ea

Total should have been $11.68 Actual total was $8.20
There was alot of confusion swirling around due to the toilet paper fiasco. Somewhere in the mix I think my checker messed up and I didn't realize it till I got home. These receipts are so dadgum confusing anyway, I couldn't figure out how she did that if I tried. I can only do the math on my own.

Transaction #2

1. Tag Deodorant - On Sale 2 for $7 (I bought 1)
Fred Meyer's Coupon - $2.99 ea
Manufacturer's Coupon - $1 off 1
Safeway Double Coupon - $.50
$2.99 - $1 = $1.99 - $.50 = $1.49 Ea
2. Fresh Express Premium Salad Mix - On Sale for $1.47 ea
Manufacturers Coupon - $.75 off (Not Subject to Doubling)
$1.47 - $.75 = $.72 ea
Should have been - $2.21 Actually Charged - $1.71
In this case, she doubled the coupon that was not to be doubled)

Total Out of Pocket $9.91

My goal with couponing right now is to get some nice "stockpiles" of things that we use all the time.
Since Ryan goes through 1 stick of deodorant per week (I'm not exaggerating) , 5 sticks of the stuff was not a bad deal for me. What can I say, my husband is paranoid about smelling. That's not too bad for me, even if I have to buy him deodorant once a week.

I'm kinda becoming the "crazy coupon lady". But when I see that total on the sidebar slowly rising, it makes me feel quite sane, thank you very much!

How Was Your Weekend?

Since, once again, it has been a very long time since I've posted something. I just now decided to set aside some important things (Ryan, I promise to pay the window guy sometime today) and do a post.
Friday evening, Ryan came home a little early (due to some late nights earlier in the week) and we had Shredded Pork Burritos with Caramelized Onions, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and guacamole for dinner. I kinda made these up as I went along, and OH MY GOODNESS they were delicious! (If I do say so myself) So, after dinner we took Wyatt swimming at the gym (might as well utilize family night). He is a very confident child and because of the superman swimsuit (with built in floaties) that Babu bought him this last summer, he can afford to be confident. Everyone looks at us in amazement as we throw him back and forth between us and he is just delighted. He can go underwater, and come back up with a sparkly smile and say, "do it again".
We went home after that, Wyatt went to bed and Ryan and I watched a movie I had rented from the Safeway kiosk.
Saturday morning, Ryan cleaned the house and I sorta helped him here and there. We had an open house on Sunday so it had to be cleaned.
There was a Ducks game on, and where the Ducks are, so is Ryan. Whether in person or otherwise. So I dropped Wyatt and him off at his parents house and hit the Old Navy hat sale. ($1 for performance fleece hats) I dinked around a little more, hit up Costco for some dog food and eggs...boring stuff.
*Disclaimer*
Oh my goodness, are you asleep yet?
I'm sorry, I'm halfway done. I know this is probably really boring.
Anyhow, I have been bugging Ryan to take me on a date, so after the Ducks game we headed off to McMenamins Edgefield for a showing of Dark Knight. It was pretty scary for me, but I'm kinda wimpy when it comes to that. I will say that Heath Ledger played an INCREDIBLE villian. Seriously, it was an amazing performance. The wonderful thing about going to McMenamins is that you can order food and beverages and eat and drink during the movie. Plus the movie is only $3 apiece so it's a great value. It was a great time out.
Sunday was church and our open house. After Lunch/Dinner (depends on what part of the country you're from, in these parts its lunch) at Becky and Ray's, Ryan and I headed over to the little house to do some work. We have slowed way down on going over there and working. There is still this and that to do, but we are so burned out.
Then we went to night church and out to Chevy's with "our gang" after church.
So, all in all, it was a good weekend for the record books.

Points of Note:
* We don't know how our open house went yet

* I won the motherload of coupon contests. I'm very excited about that. (Even if my husband makes fun of me for being "that wife") Seriously this is a coupon jackpot. Thanks Rebecca and Angela!!

*Someday, (very soon) I will post the recipe for that yummy pork roast that I made. If you like sweet and spicy...this recipe is just for you. You can also really cool it off by using a can of mild chilies instead of the 4 (yes I said 4) jalapenos that I like to use!!

* I need to get back to a rhythm of blogging. This couponing is seriously cutting into my blogging time. It'll happen.

I know, no pictures. But I will leave you with this. A couple weeks ago, I mentioned that I had ordered and received the first digital scrapbook that I made myself. I love this scrapbook and it came out to about $.60 a page. That's pretty darn good. In my "paper days" I would have spent that in paper alone per page, and possibly more not to mention stickers and the pictures themselves. And definitely $20 min on the book. This book was only $60 and that included shipping. Granted, I landed on a pretty good sale with MyPublisher and you have to have a Costco card to get the really good deals with them. But they are always running specials.
And they put my book online. Let me know if you have problems viewing this.

Ok...I'm done rambling.
I promise the next post will be useful!!!

Shopping Trip(s) and Menu Plan

Tonight is part 2 of 2 of the Frugal Living Workshop that I attended last week. I've been working on collecting my coupons and trying to start slowly. It is very inspiring to read the blogs ( Frugal Living Online, Super Coupon Girl, Money Saving Mom, Common Sense With Money...) and see how much money there is to be saved.
Before Bible study last night I went to Fred Meyer's to take them up on a $10 for $10 coupon that they had on milk, chocolate milk and orange juice. It was a great deal, so I bought 5 - 1/2 gallons of whole milk, 2 - 1/2 gallons of orange juice and 1 - 1/2 gallon of chocolate milk...all for $8. The milk is the non-hormone milk, that's something that I always look at first.
Then, after Bible study, I went to Winco while Ryan took Wyatt home to go to bed. I shopped for 2 hours, and used 3 or 4 coupons. I didn't save too much using my coupons at Winco, but I figured if I had them and was buying the product anyways, why not use them.
There was one snafu though, the Pumpkin Spice Creamer that I bought rang up at $2.98 and I knew that it was marked at less than that. So I told the checker and she was really nice about it and made a phone call for me. The person on the other line told her that it was $2.98, I knew that was wrong but I didn't want to argue over pennies. But it was right up front so on the way out, I double checked it... it was marked at $2.78. Ok $.20 you say? Normally it wouldn't be worth it to go complain. But dang it all, I had clipped a coupon for that little puppy and this clipping coupons business is hard work. So, I went back and waited for my $.20. (did I mention that it was just past 11:00pm?) Talk about feeling silly, but it was the principle.
So, I came home and Ryan and I worked on our ballots till 12:45am. Ryan had been reading all the measures since he had gotten home. Talk about more hard work. I always forget how much thought and studying voting takes. But, we got it done and I delivered it promptly to a voting box first thing this morning.

Part of these classes I'm going to is making a budget and a meal plan. I did 1 of 2. Yikes, I sat down to do a budget and didn't even know where to start.
Making a menu plan wasn't too hard for me, because I've been doing this since we moved back to Oregon and decided that I would be a stay at home mommy. It really does save money, because when I get lazy every once in awhile and don't do it.... well let's just say it wipes us out.
I wanted to try a couple new recipes this time so here you have it:

- Turkey Curry on Flatbread (this is a tried and true recipe from Everyday with Rachael Ray)

- Coca-Cola Glazed Pork Roast w/ acorn squash

- Pulled Pork Burritos w/ Sauteed Sweet Onions and Rice (I will make this recipe up as I go and use the yummy pork from the roast above) (new to us)

- Knockwurst Stoup (I have no clue what knockwurst even is so I use 2 pkgs of turkey bratwurst) (I also don't do the apple/parsley topper)

- Chicken Parm Meatball Subs (this is a Rachael Ray recipe, but I can't find a link)

- Apple Juice Pork w/ Squash and Golden Rasins (From my Everyday With Rachael Ray Magazine, October 2008) (new to us)

- Crockpot Black Bean Chili w/ Beef (new to us)

This will last us for about 2 weeks as we are big on leftovers in this house!!

If any of these sound tasty to you, please don't hesitate to ask for the recipe. I'm always happy to share!

Coupon Giveaway?

Anyone interested in getting into "couponing"?

Check out this blog entry by Frugal Living Online and enter their contest for a coupon giveaway!!

Who knows, you could be the next crazy coupon person.

Good luck!!!