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| How sweet is that? |
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| The set up I woke up to. He is such a charmer when he wants to be. |
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| Beautiful Tubbles |
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| Truffles! |
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| To Steve from the kittens. I also got him some chocolate and a card. |
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| To Mommy from the kittens |
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| Dinner at Tasti Thai |
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Valentines Day
I woke up before dawn like I always do and I walked out in to the living room and started walking in a bunch of hard objects that hurt my feet. I had to keep walking on them to get to the kitchen to get to the light switch to find out that my wonderful husband traveled Hersey kisses from the bedrooom to the entertainment center where sat a heart box of Hersey truffles, a dozen roses, a beautiful card with a hand written poem in it, a small box of chocolate that was from the babies (Tubbles and Bunker) as well as a stuffed dog that is now Bunker's cuddle buddy.
Friday, February 1, 2013
First shopping trip with Coupons!
I have been walking across the street to Wawa, a gas station that I have never heard of until I moved to the East Coast, to pick up a Sunday paper every week. By the second week, I was hooked and as soon as I get up, I am over there. Can you believe they are $3.00? Back in Washington state, it was $1.50 for a Sunday paper, at least they were before I moved to Germany. I decided to get a subscription to the paper so now its only $8.50 or something a month for Sunday delivery so that is awesome.
I have been collecting coupons and having a ton of fun with this. My little accordion file will not hold any more coupons so I ordered some baseball card protectors to start my coupon binder. But since it wont be in the mail for a few more days, I had to bring my overly stuffed file with me for my first shopping trip using coupons. Thankfully Steve had the day off of work and school so he got to come with me because I needed some back up. Being a "coupon virgin", I really had no idea what I was doing and the thought was intimidating.
Once I got the ads for the week and knew what was on sale, I immediately started doing match-ups for what was on sale and what I had a coupon for to make the price even lower. I had a envelope for each store we were going to with its coupons I was going to use inside. I emailed all the stores requesting its coupon policy, emailed companies of products we bought the most requesting coupons, and then created a spreadsheet and had a tab for each store with the item, sale price, coupon amount off, qty, and what I was expecting to pay. I wanted to be 110% prepared.
All that work paid off. Those gals on TLC's Extreme Couponing are not joking when they say that couponing is a part time job. Its just something that I make time for in my week now. Steve and I started the day off with some fast food so we wouldn't be hungry while we shopped and started our day. Steve was a bit skeptical with it all and I didn't want him thinking I wasted all that time clipping coupons, going through ads, and being as organized as possible for this one trip to not save any money at all. I loved having my list right on my tablet in front of me while we went aisle to aisle matching coupons to sales that weren't even in the ad, its like a treasure hunt. It was so nervous that the cashier at the first store, which was Pathmark by the way, wasn't going to accept any of our coupons. I was having a lot of self doubt when we got to the register. I thought there was no way I did this right and there is no way he will accept all these. But he did, and we only paid twenty something for a sixty something order. I couldn't believe it. Steve actually said he felt like we robbed them.
We went to 6 or 7 stores total in that one day, every single one I had an Adrenalin rush at the register. It was exhilarating to see the prices drop dramatically from retail prices because of coupons, sales, membership club cards, and in store coupons. We have never ever filled up our car with groceries. We never spend enough or get enough at the store to do so. Our car was FULL! Trunk was full and back seat.. Full! Wanna know how much we paid for all our groceries? ...(drum roll, please)... about $200. How much would it be if we just walked it and bought it without coupons or any thing else? Over $400. Steve and I were so happy and giddy the whole way home. We were having a hard time trying to fit it all in our cupboards. fridge, and freezer.
He is encouraging me now more then ever to keep couponing and I never want to stop. Steve is a see it to believe it sort of man and he says he is now a believer in couponing, Hah!
Want to know some of my favorite deals we got?
Tidy Cats 20lb bag cat litter
On sale for 3 for $10.00 (thats 60lbs of litter for 10 bucks, that's a deal on its own)
1.00 off coupon (from calling them saying how much I love their product)
Total: $3.00 per 20lb bag (Reg Price:20lb Tidy Cats can get up to $12.00+ each)
Palmolive Dish Soap
On sale for $0.88 each
$0.25 off Mfr coupon that doubles to $0.50 off
Total: $0.38 ea (I had a few coupons for this so I stocked up, we will have clean dishes for some time!)
KY Lubricant
Retail $5.99 each
Walgreen's Register rewards gives you $6.00 towards your next purchase.
Buy KY in first transaction, gets $6.00 Register Rewards to pay for other items you have
Final price: FREE!
International Delight Iced Coffee
Retail $3.99 each (not on sale)
$1.00 off Mfr coupon
$1.00 off in-store coupon loaded to saving card
Total: $1.99 (what I had to pay at the register)
Ibotta (app) paid me $1.00 to buy product
Final price: $0.99 ea (had to get a few of these too, they are delish)
Check out Iboota here! I get paid for every "recruit" so please sign up through that link. pretty please.
I could go on but you see how I shop! It is thrilling to see the savings and now we have more food in our home then we know what to do with. Couponing gives us affordable food and we get to try all these new foods that we never could before because to us, they were over priced, with coupons when they are on sale, they are cheaper then generics. Its wonderful.
I just wanted to share with you my first couponing experience. It was pretty great, went better then I expected and I did not have one coupon rejected which was a fear. I am looking forward to Sunday to see next weeks deals and start the process over again.
Once I realize that I have coupons that will expire soon and will not be on sale anywhere around me, I put them aside to be shipped off to Military families stationed over seas. They can use them at Commissaries over there for six months past the expiration date. I remember going to ACS (Army Community Service) and getting coupons that people sent from the states. Although I wasn't as in to couponing as I am now, it was pretty neat to use them at our Commissary after they were expired. Military member really don't make that much and coupons were a big help for us and many of our friends.
Another thing I learned and encourage you to do as well is that I don't throw away any newspaper, ads or anything that the newspaper comes with every Sunday. I set those aside as well and let my stacks of newspapers keep piling up and then donate them to animal shelters because they use newspaper to line cat cages. At the end of the day, the only thing that enters the trash from my couponing is the insert scraps that I cut the coupons out of because their isn't much to speak of after they are all cut out. Its great that we are able to help two things we care about; other Military families, and animals that are less fortunate then ours.
I have been collecting coupons and having a ton of fun with this. My little accordion file will not hold any more coupons so I ordered some baseball card protectors to start my coupon binder. But since it wont be in the mail for a few more days, I had to bring my overly stuffed file with me for my first shopping trip using coupons. Thankfully Steve had the day off of work and school so he got to come with me because I needed some back up. Being a "coupon virgin", I really had no idea what I was doing and the thought was intimidating.
Once I got the ads for the week and knew what was on sale, I immediately started doing match-ups for what was on sale and what I had a coupon for to make the price even lower. I had a envelope for each store we were going to with its coupons I was going to use inside. I emailed all the stores requesting its coupon policy, emailed companies of products we bought the most requesting coupons, and then created a spreadsheet and had a tab for each store with the item, sale price, coupon amount off, qty, and what I was expecting to pay. I wanted to be 110% prepared.
All that work paid off. Those gals on TLC's Extreme Couponing are not joking when they say that couponing is a part time job. Its just something that I make time for in my week now. Steve and I started the day off with some fast food so we wouldn't be hungry while we shopped and started our day. Steve was a bit skeptical with it all and I didn't want him thinking I wasted all that time clipping coupons, going through ads, and being as organized as possible for this one trip to not save any money at all. I loved having my list right on my tablet in front of me while we went aisle to aisle matching coupons to sales that weren't even in the ad, its like a treasure hunt. It was so nervous that the cashier at the first store, which was Pathmark by the way, wasn't going to accept any of our coupons. I was having a lot of self doubt when we got to the register. I thought there was no way I did this right and there is no way he will accept all these. But he did, and we only paid twenty something for a sixty something order. I couldn't believe it. Steve actually said he felt like we robbed them.
We went to 6 or 7 stores total in that one day, every single one I had an Adrenalin rush at the register. It was exhilarating to see the prices drop dramatically from retail prices because of coupons, sales, membership club cards, and in store coupons. We have never ever filled up our car with groceries. We never spend enough or get enough at the store to do so. Our car was FULL! Trunk was full and back seat.. Full! Wanna know how much we paid for all our groceries? ...(drum roll, please)... about $200. How much would it be if we just walked it and bought it without coupons or any thing else? Over $400. Steve and I were so happy and giddy the whole way home. We were having a hard time trying to fit it all in our cupboards. fridge, and freezer.
He is encouraging me now more then ever to keep couponing and I never want to stop. Steve is a see it to believe it sort of man and he says he is now a believer in couponing, Hah!
Want to know some of my favorite deals we got?
Tidy Cats 20lb bag cat litter
On sale for 3 for $10.00 (thats 60lbs of litter for 10 bucks, that's a deal on its own)
1.00 off coupon (from calling them saying how much I love their product)
Total: $3.00 per 20lb bag (Reg Price:20lb Tidy Cats can get up to $12.00+ each)
Palmolive Dish Soap
On sale for $0.88 each
$0.25 off Mfr coupon that doubles to $0.50 off
Total: $0.38 ea (I had a few coupons for this so I stocked up, we will have clean dishes for some time!)
KY Lubricant
Retail $5.99 each
Walgreen's Register rewards gives you $6.00 towards your next purchase.
Buy KY in first transaction, gets $6.00 Register Rewards to pay for other items you have
Final price: FREE!
International Delight Iced Coffee
Retail $3.99 each (not on sale)
$1.00 off Mfr coupon
$1.00 off in-store coupon loaded to saving card
Total: $1.99 (what I had to pay at the register)
Ibotta (app) paid me $1.00 to buy product
Final price: $0.99 ea (had to get a few of these too, they are delish)
Check out Iboota here! I get paid for every "recruit" so please sign up through that link. pretty please.
I could go on but you see how I shop! It is thrilling to see the savings and now we have more food in our home then we know what to do with. Couponing gives us affordable food and we get to try all these new foods that we never could before because to us, they were over priced, with coupons when they are on sale, they are cheaper then generics. Its wonderful.
I just wanted to share with you my first couponing experience. It was pretty great, went better then I expected and I did not have one coupon rejected which was a fear. I am looking forward to Sunday to see next weeks deals and start the process over again.
Once I realize that I have coupons that will expire soon and will not be on sale anywhere around me, I put them aside to be shipped off to Military families stationed over seas. They can use them at Commissaries over there for six months past the expiration date. I remember going to ACS (Army Community Service) and getting coupons that people sent from the states. Although I wasn't as in to couponing as I am now, it was pretty neat to use them at our Commissary after they were expired. Military member really don't make that much and coupons were a big help for us and many of our friends.
Another thing I learned and encourage you to do as well is that I don't throw away any newspaper, ads or anything that the newspaper comes with every Sunday. I set those aside as well and let my stacks of newspapers keep piling up and then donate them to animal shelters because they use newspaper to line cat cages. At the end of the day, the only thing that enters the trash from my couponing is the insert scraps that I cut the coupons out of because their isn't much to speak of after they are all cut out. Its great that we are able to help two things we care about; other Military families, and animals that are less fortunate then ours.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Six weeks with Bunker
Its been about six weeks since we adopted Bunker from the shelter. He has been such a blessing but also a terrorist to the efforts of a clean home. He jumps on to anything and everything, he gets in to everything, eats everything, chews on anything that fits in his little lion mouth, but is the sweetest cuddle bug. He is growing like a weed and I can already feel that he is much heavier when I pick him up. His overly large tail and paws are signs he is going to be a huge cat. He is already as big as Tubbles at only five months old. They say he wont stop growing until he is one. We are in for a big cat, I'm eager to see how big he does get.
Remember how I told you that I had to move the Christmas cards so Bunker wouldn't knock them down? Well now He is big enough to jump up and knock them down from the floor, and he can now jump from the table to the top of the fridge to have easier access to the cards that way as well. I just can't win.
I also have a video on our YouTube of him playing with water. So cute. Check it out.
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| His favorite place to nap; in the warm pile of clothes after his Momma does laundry. |
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| Watching the printer as I print off coupons. So interesting, right? |
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| Kisses for Daddy to welcome him home after work. |
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| Being a naughty boy. Look how big he is now. |
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| Cuddle bugs with Daddy. |
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| Baby paws. |
Remember how I told you that I had to move the Christmas cards so Bunker wouldn't knock them down? Well now He is big enough to jump up and knock them down from the floor, and he can now jump from the table to the top of the fridge to have easier access to the cards that way as well. I just can't win.
I also have a video on our YouTube of him playing with water. So cute. Check it out.
Crazy couponing cat lady
That is what my husband calls me, and its completely true. Everyone that knows me knows that my cats are my life and with the economy being the way it is and with the financial place that we are in, I asked God what I could do to contribute to my family's income outside of my home business. He answered with my new love for Couponing. I watched an episode of TLC's Extreme Couponing and knew that is what I had to do. I watched all the episodes they have out now and just took notes and then I found some neat sites online that taught me exactly how to make it work. Its wonderful. Its surprisingly simple, you just need to make sure you know the store's coupon policy because every store is different and it can get confusing.
As a wife, I am always looking for ways to save a buck but couponing has brought it to a new whole level for me. I love it and its both a hobby and a way for us to save money.
As a wife, I am always looking for ways to save a buck but couponing has brought it to a new whole level for me. I love it and its both a hobby and a way for us to save money.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Happy New Years
2012 flew by! So much has happened. The beginning of the year was so fast paced. We were facing a move across the world and about to enter in to a whole different lifestyle, the one we are living now.. where we are utterly normal. If I had known how much we would miss the Military lifestyle, I wouldn't have been go eager to leave Germany (although I ended up missing Germany too). Funny how life happens. I am glad to be back in America, no doubt about that but I miss the Army Wife sisterhood and the pride it gave me. I am still in contact with my friends in Germany and they are always asking my advice for their upcoming moves and advice on traveling with pets. It makes me miss how fun and adventurous that time was when we were in the process of moving back to America. Although we both miss it terribly and the Army will always be apart of us, we are also very happy to not have to worry about deployments, trainings, separations, or anything of that sort anymore. Having him home every night is amazing.
Now let me take a left here and get off of Memory Lane.
2013 brings a fresh new slate and I am already working towards my resolutions. There are changes I need to make in myself and how I run my life. I can't fail myself this year too and not complete all of them. I want to go in to 2014 next year feeling accomplished and setting 5 whole new goals. Hope you all had a great new years. We spent ours at home with our fur balls, snacks, sparkling cider, wine, and watching the ball drop with our midnight kiss.
Here are a few last minutes photos of the ending of our Holiday season.
Now let me take a left here and get off of Memory Lane.
2013 brings a fresh new slate and I am already working towards my resolutions. There are changes I need to make in myself and how I run my life. I can't fail myself this year too and not complete all of them. I want to go in to 2014 next year feeling accomplished and setting 5 whole new goals. Hope you all had a great new years. We spent ours at home with our fur balls, snacks, sparkling cider, wine, and watching the ball drop with our midnight kiss.
Here are a few last minutes photos of the ending of our Holiday season.
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| Bunker discovering how easy Christmas balls break |
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| Sleepy boy |
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| My cuddle bugs |
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| Relaxing with Daddy |
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| Christmas cards that wonderful family and friends sent us. Bunker loved to make a game out of swatting them all down when they were on the side of the fridge so this is their new home, where he cant jump to. We also have some magnets we acquired during our travels in Germany and a few other fun memories on the fridge. |
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
A merry Christmas to all...
Our first Christmas back in America. It was wonderful and it was Bunkers first Christmas. We opened presents before the sun even came up. I got Curious by Britney Spears perfume (one of my favorites), a Nexus 7 tablet (that I got to open early and love), a pink tablet case, comfy pink pajamas from my Mom (wearing them now, love them), and money. Steve got his Emergency food bucket, a Hickory Farms package with meats, cheese, crackers and this really good mustard spread (good find, Crystal, good find), a few gift cards as well as money from family also. The fur kids already have so many toys and play houses as it is that we didn't buy them anymore. Its taking over the apartment. So we just got them some of their favorite treats and wet foods.
We had a great Christmas dinner as well as the kids but after pawing it around the floor first, of course. We watched A Christmas Story while eating. It had been such as long time since watching it. I remember watching it every Christmas as a kid and we just had to watch it because Steve had never seen it. The second one has just been made as well so I can see that in our near future.
After that we were pretty full and tired. We called family and went to bed early. It was a great Christmas. The Lord had really blessed us and spending it together made it perfect.
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| My two wonderful gifts from my amazing husband. I remember standing by it at Staples and sighing, I wanted my tablet so bad. I am one lucky lady. |
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| Playing in the wrapping |
We had a great Christmas dinner as well as the kids but after pawing it around the floor first, of course. We watched A Christmas Story while eating. It had been such as long time since watching it. I remember watching it every Christmas as a kid and we just had to watch it because Steve had never seen it. The second one has just been made as well so I can see that in our near future.
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| One of the fur-kids plate. |
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| Don't have a fireplace at home? Netflix has got you covered. No really, they do! |
After that we were pretty full and tired. We called family and went to bed early. It was a great Christmas. The Lord had really blessed us and spending it together made it perfect.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Resolutions for 2013
Here we go again. I failed myself in a couple of my 2012 resolutions and a new year always wipes a slate clean for me so I am going to set another five because its a good solid number of things you want to accomplish in a year. But I did have accomplishments in 2012, as well. My marriage is striving and I do feel I am more independent instead of just someones wife, daughter, and sister. I have goals of my own and I find myself doing things for myself instead of trying to make everyone else happy first. My marriage is happier for it.
1.) Lose 60 pounds!
Reason- This was one of my 2012 resolutions and I did lose 15lbs but gained it back from poor eating habits and quitting my daily exercise regimen. This year is the year. I can feel it.
2.) Get better at money management.
Reason- We have been living paycheck to paycheck like we are still kids. We need to get serious about getting a savings and be more responsible. This will have to have Steve's effort in it as well.
3.) Work hard and excel in my new career as a contractor.
Reason- As I type this, today is my first day of my new job and life. I wanted so badly to work from home and be a business owner. I am finally here and this is my chance. I am so nervous and afraid to fail. I pray the Lord creates a path to my success and have a wonderful monthly income by 2014. I know it wont be overnight so I know I will have to work hard and do my very best every day.
4.) Learn to sew correctly.
Reason- People always say I make the cutest things but I don't know how to do a lot of things. I have a real hard time cutting fabric right and some things that I see, I have no idea how they made it. I want to learn to make curtains, clothes, and others things. This year I am going to start attending sewing classes, read more sewing how to books and just do everything I can to learn and be on the path to one day opening a sewing business. I will be working from home so this can't be too difficult to do in my free time. I love to sew and excited to learn more. Some people just go sew up some amazing great quality projects. I want to be able to do that. Expect a lot more sewing projects on my blog in the near future.
5.) Live by the Bible.
Reason- I want to the be person, wife, friend, and family member that God wants me to be. Reading the Bible has changed my life and my Husband has already seen a change in me. God has changed my life. I want to maybe start attending Church even if its just on occasion. I just want to live by his words.
1.) Lose 60 pounds!
Reason- This was one of my 2012 resolutions and I did lose 15lbs but gained it back from poor eating habits and quitting my daily exercise regimen. This year is the year. I can feel it.
2.) Get better at money management.
Reason- We have been living paycheck to paycheck like we are still kids. We need to get serious about getting a savings and be more responsible. This will have to have Steve's effort in it as well.
3.) Work hard and excel in my new career as a contractor.
Reason- As I type this, today is my first day of my new job and life. I wanted so badly to work from home and be a business owner. I am finally here and this is my chance. I am so nervous and afraid to fail. I pray the Lord creates a path to my success and have a wonderful monthly income by 2014. I know it wont be overnight so I know I will have to work hard and do my very best every day.
4.) Learn to sew correctly.
Reason- People always say I make the cutest things but I don't know how to do a lot of things. I have a real hard time cutting fabric right and some things that I see, I have no idea how they made it. I want to learn to make curtains, clothes, and others things. This year I am going to start attending sewing classes, read more sewing how to books and just do everything I can to learn and be on the path to one day opening a sewing business. I will be working from home so this can't be too difficult to do in my free time. I love to sew and excited to learn more. Some people just go sew up some amazing great quality projects. I want to be able to do that. Expect a lot more sewing projects on my blog in the near future.
5.) Live by the Bible.
Reason- I want to the be person, wife, friend, and family member that God wants me to be. Reading the Bible has changed my life and my Husband has already seen a change in me. God has changed my life. I want to maybe start attending Church even if its just on occasion. I just want to live by his words.
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