CVS 8/30

I did a CVS run on the way home from church. I probably will go back for some other things this week, but only if I get the chance or have to use some ECB before they expire.

1 Tide Stain Release @ 3.99 (was located above Febreeze, not by detergent??)
1 Bounce Dryer Bar @ 3.99
1 Glade Reed Diffuse @ 6.99
-$3 Glade
-$2.50 Bounce from Vocalpoint
-$1.50 Tide from Home Mailer
-8 ECB
=1.47 OOP
Got 8.99 ECB back

Burt's Bees Update

I have used the Burt's Bees wash for 3 nights now. I have somewhat sensitive skin, so I can't use acne cleansers more than once a day.

I am pretty impressed with the results I have seen. The face wash does not seem to dry my skin out. It smells wonderful and leaves your skin feeling very soft and clean, even if you had makeup on. The spot treatment is actually amazing. I was kind of unsure how it would work. I don't have acne, but do get blemishes and this little product does the trick. In the few days I have used it, it has cleared up a few blemishes, whereas other products can take up to a week to clear them away. I really like these products and am thankful for the opportunity to try them out!

Burt's Bees Natural Acne Solutions

I am getting the opportunity to try a free full size sample of Burt's Bees Natural Acne Solutions Spot Treatment and Purifying Gel Cleanser. As a BZZAgent, I get to try free products while spreading the word about them and reporting those conversations back to the program. I have done 2 other ones so far and they turned out to be great products that I probably never would have tried if it weren't for this program. If you want to join, it is quick and easy. Let me know and I can refer you!

There are 4 product in the line:

Purifying Gel Cleanser - 99.4% Natural with Evening Primrose and Beet Root Extracts$9.99

Pore Refining Scrub - 100% Natural with Jojoba Beads and Fruit Acid Complex $9.99

Daily Moisturizing Lotion - 100% Natural with Golden Seal, Lemongrss and Hops $17.99

Targeted Spot Treatment - 100% Natural with Tea Tree and Parsly extracts $9.99

The good thing is that the products contain natural Salicylic Acid from Willow Bark Extract, are Dermatologist tested and won't clog pores. It does not contain Benzoyl Peroxide that bleaches hair and fabrics. All Burt's Bees products are not tested on animals and packaging is made with recycled/recyclable materials. These products are increasing availability at Target, drug stores and other retailers.

I am excited to try this product because it is a truly natural product. Reading labels on products is quite frightening and I am becoming more aware of the junk that is in our everyday beauty products. Keep checking back for updates on this trial.

I have several samples that I can hand out. These samples are for you and your friend too! If interested, let me know and I'll be sure to hold one for you.

To find out more about the products, vist Burt's Bees.

Importance of Socialization

Since February, I have been a full time SAHM. Before that, I worked as a nurse 2 days a week and before Ian was born, 3 days a week. Work was my social time and me time. I loved being a nurse, but when Ian came along, that changed some. I wanted to be at home caring for him and loving him. I was blessed to have family that could watch him while I worked, but it still wasn't me. Then, the hours got to be too much and I was exhausted and basically useless on my days off. Ian deserved so much more. I quit my job and although I miss it sometimes for the adult interaction, I am so much happier being at home and I know he is better of for having me home.

I really haven't gotten into too many activities outside the home since I quit. It kind of gets repetitive and you realize that you are talking to everyone on the toddler level, which is humorous, but embarrassing too! The last couple of weeks, I have craved the interaction of other moms. I decided to start a playgroup with some moms who also SAH with their kids. I truly realize that it is not just me that craves interaction with others, but moms like me.

It is very important for each of us to interact with someone on our own level. Kids need other kids to play with every now and then, and adults need adults. We are planning on getting together once a week on certain weeks of the month to just hang out and let the kids play, while we socialize. Last week I went to a group, which was just small because of all the sickness, and I really enjoyed it. Ian enjoyed playing with other kids his age too. Today, we had a group at my house and it was only two other moms, but all the little boys seemed to enjoy being around other kids. It is so nice to be able to talk to other people!

If you haven't been involved in anything, I encourage you to search out other moms like yourself who need interaction. Call some churches around and inquire about Mother's Day out or playgroups that meet. Also, look up your local MOPS group. If there isn't anything available where you are, do like I did, suggest it to some other people and start it yourself! All it takes is the suggestion to get the ball rolling and before you know it, you'll have a nice little playgroup of your own!

We meet on a set day certain weeks. We will rotate who hosts it that particular week and that person will provide a snack and drink for the kids. When it is cooler, we will go to the park, playground, zoo, etc. Hopefully we can find some other interesting things to do as well.

Awesome Coupon Weekend

There will be 3 inserts this week. The Proctor and Gamble one will come out. Make sure you get multiples!

For the full list of what coupons to expect, with variations to region, go here.

Coupons in Junk Mailer

I just got the mail and got our Mailsouth junk flyer. We actually get 2, which is very convenient!

The coupons were:
$1 off Nutriserums Body Wash
$1 off Edy's Grand Ice Cream
$1 off Edy's Dibs or Fruit Bars

Look out for these coupons! You can get some great bargains with them when they go on sale.

Target Baby Coupons

Did you know you can print Target baby coupons online? If you don't get the coupon booklets in the mail, this is a great way for you to combine Target coupons with your manufacturer coupons and get some possibly good deals. I would save them for prices better than CVS or when there are gift card deals!

Go here to see all that is available. They expire September 5 but might reload, I'm not sure, so keep checking back.

For food and other product coupons, go here. The current ones expire Sept 12.

As always, you can combine 1 Target coupon and 1 Manufacturer coupon per product as long as the coupon does not state 'one per transaction' if you are buying more of the same product.

Walgreens Run - 4 Wipes for $1.96!

I did my run! A few items were priced different. This was for the 4 day deal where you spend 25 and get 5. You can read about that here.

2 Listerine Kid's Smart Rinse @ 4.99 ea
4 Huggies Wipes @ 2.99 ea
1 Nutriserums @ 3.99
=25.93
-$5 RR (from last week)
-$1 Listerine coupon
-BOGO Listerine (4.99)
-$8 Wags Huggies Coupon from Back to School Booklet
-4/.50 Huggies
=4.99 + 2.07 tax
=7.01 OOP
Got 5RR, 4RR (nutriserums was 3.99, but rounded to 4), 3RR (Listerine)
4.99 MM!


I also went to CVS and did the Loreal deal again. It was a little more this time because I didn't have the extra item I did yesterday (which I should have done and used a 1.98 ECB for a zero subtotal!). I was in a hurry and didn't think about it. Oh well, was still paid with my gift card!

Kind of Hectic

I realize I missed posting for a few days. We had a very busy weekend with a birthday party, church, an infestation of armyworms in the yard and just life. I am back to posting now and hopefully can share some things with you soon that I have been thinking about and dealing with. Life with a toddler is joyful, but oh so busy and challenging!! It offers wonderful insight (although probably ignored, if I recall correctly) for those who haven't been down the road yet, or just funny reminders of the past for others!

God is amazing though and each day is just a special gift. I love cherishing my little boy and am so thankful to be blessed with the ability to stay at home with him! I am also thankful for my hubby who works so hard in order for me to be able to stay home and not have to work myself.

Walgreens Special Wednesday Thru Saturday

I usually despise shopping at Walgreens for various reasons. However, I have gone back to trying to find some good deals. I can never do as good OOP there for some reason. It just doesn't click.

However, there is a huge 4 day promo going on tomorrow (Wed) thru Saturday and the deals are almost too good to pass up! The deal is that when you spend $25 you get a $5 Register Reward for your next purchase. We won't exactly know all the details until tomorrow when people try testing it out! I plan on trying to do one for a few things that will give me even more RR.

2 Listerine Smart Rinse @ 4.88 ea
5 Huggies Wipes @ 2.99 ea
Softsoap Nutriserums @ 3.99
- BOGO Listerine
- $1 Listerine
- 5/.50 Huggies
-5/$2 Store Coupons for Huggies (back to school brochure - you only need one coupon as it applies to all items)
-$5 previous RR
Should be 5.32 + tax
Get 5, 3, 3.99 RR - at least a $4-5 MM!

For all the matchups this week, go here. For some scenarios go here and here.

Thanks Money Saving Mom!!

CVS Run $3.07 OOP

I love those prescription gift card coupons!! I haven't had to use any money the last few weeks!! I paid .17 in change for one of these, but who needs all the change?! I also finally got the Ready Fill Coupon Book. All I did was ask and he gave me one....would've liked more!! ;-)

My store was out of the paper, composition books and only had 1 pencil box. Also, I didn't know the Loreal was limit of two! I am going to print some more coupons and go back!! I want to get my free bag of goodies!!! Also, I will probably use the other 4/20 coupon from the Ready Fill book to make it cheap.

Transaction 1:
M/M @ 1.00
Loreal Facial Cleanser @ 5.99
Loreal Revitalift @ 14.99
-4/20 Beauty coupon from Ready Fill book
-5.00, 1.00 MQ
-7.99, 4.00 ECB
= -.01
Total 1.43 on Gift Card
Received $10 ECB

Transaction 2:
2 Pens @ .99
1 Tampon @ 1.89
1 Play ball @ 1.19 (Ian's blew away last time!)
-4.00 ECB
=1.06
Total 1.47 on Gift Card
Received 1.89, 1.99 ECB

Transaction 3:
1 School Box (cashier said they had them and I looked and 1 was hidden)
=1.99
-1.98 ECB
= .01
Total .17 OOP
Received 2.00 ECB because there was no price sticker and she had to manually enter it.

New Point Earning Site

I was just referred to a cool new site called Lockerz. It is kind of like the Swagbucks concept where you earn point by doing certain things and redeem for prizes. It hasn't officially started yet, but you can get in now and start earning points!

This new site is invitation only. You get points each day for logging in and answering a poll of the day. When you first sign up you get some bonus points by playing a little game. I just earned 23 points. I think the minimum prize is 5 points.

The prizes are pretty awesome. Brand name bags and jewelry, Ipod Touch or Nano, Macbook, Wii products and games, as well as other system games.

You get 2 points per friend you get to join. When you get 20 friends to sign up, you get preferred status which gives you a FREE tshirt, double points and VIP status.

The site was so popular that they sold out of ALL their prizes. They will be adding more tomorrow, so sign up now!!

New Kirklands Site

I know I love to shop Kirklands for home decorating. Did you know you can sign up to get a weekly sale email and it comes with a coupon?

Well, I just got an email today about a new website they have. It is called MyKirklands.com. People post pictures and ideas for home decorating so that you can get great ideas too! There is also a contest where you and 3 friends could win $10,000 to shop at Kirklands! You also get a $5 off coupon when you enter. You can create various teams and enter as many times as you want.

The site's pretty new, but I imagine will become a great resource for some.

Win Signed Copy of Karen Kingsbury's Above the Line Series

All You is hosting a giveaway for a chance to win one of five sets of signed copies of Take One and Take Two, from Karen Kingsbury's new series Above the Line.

I personally love Karen Kingsbury. Her stories are real and inspirational. I have read all of her books so far!

Go here for more information on this contest!

A Confession of Neglect

I have a confession to make. A particular member of our household has been very neglected.

David and I have been married almost 7 years. This member has been very faithful to us, yet we have not paid the attention needed to it. It is my trusty Hoover vacuum. Don't get me wrong when I say the following, as I am a very clean person. I vacuum at least twice a week and mop once a week. I keep my laundry up most of the time. We try to change the air filters every few months. The only other thing I neglect is the ironing, because I absolutely CANNOT STAND to iron! I was taught how to do it well, but it is one of my least favorite tasks.

Did you know you are supposed to change your vacuum filters every 3-4 months?! For the past 84 months (!!!!), I have not changed any of my filters. EEEK!!! Now, I have taken the HEPA out and shaken all the dust out and tried to wash an unwashable final filter. I just couldn't stand the though of spending $30-35!

Well, the other day I finally took the plunge. I was surprised to see the variety of products available at Walmart compared to a year ago. Did you know they make Febreeze filters and Arm & Hammer filters? I had no clue. So, my $32 was well spent on a Febreeze HEPA and A&H final filter (a double pack ;-)!). The performance improvement is outstanding and ashamedly, I admit that the air quality will be much improved because it won't be severely dust laden. Also, the Febreeze scent that fills the house, although a little strong at the moment, is much better than a dusty vacuum smell!!

Hoover, I will no longer neglect you!!!

Free Shake at Steak and Shake

Free mint cookies and cream shake with coupon, 8/10-8/12.

Lowes Build and Grow Clinic - Free School Bus August 22 or Drum September 12.

Sign Language

If you don't know me, I have a 20 month old son. When you have a toddler, it is so hard to communicate and understand their needs and desires, because they can't voice them. It is especially frustrating as you approach the 2 year mark, when the frustration comes out as hitting, screaming and other tantrum events. I fully believe that the whole debacle with the 'terrible twos' is just the inability of the child to communicate properly with parents and those around him/her.

With Ian, I started teaching him some basic signs when he was about 9mo-1yr. We really haven't done as much as I'd like, but we do basic signs. I started teaching him eat, more, mommy, daddy, please and thank you. It is very slow going when you begin. You feel weird signing something a baby won't understand, but you have to remember, their brain is a sponge! They absorb EVERYTHING, no matter whether you think it is too complex for them or not. I was not as dedicated as I should have been, but kept doing them every now and then. He doesn't sign mommy and daddy, because he can say those words, but the others, he signs and says the word too. He actually signed before he spoke them. Signing is as much as a learning process for parents as children, because not only do you have to learn and use them, but you have to adjust to the fact that your child won't do it perfectly and will have their own little variation of the proper sign.

We are starting to hit the potty training age and my goal is to start relating the signs with the actions and maybe it will make that process easier in the long run.

If you haven't thought about this, I highly recommend it. It is something that I think will make both your lives easier.

The American Sign Language site is a great site that shows a video of the sign to go with the word/phrase. You may not find all the phrases that you need, but if you can use your imagination, I'm sure you can come up with a sign that will work for you and your child.

Also, Baby Einstein makes a signing DVD that Ian loves to watch! It helps both parent and baby learn the signs.

CVS 8/9

We took a much needed getaway weekend to the beach. I enjoyed the time away, but am glad to be back to our beds and routine.

I didn't get to post anything before I left, for this week's deals. I didn't get any local papers either, but did get 2 from down there.
I will be doing this today:

Revelon Colorstay Mineral Mousse 9.99
2 Huggies Diapers 18.00
-5/25 here
-(2) $3 Huggies (didn't think I had these!)
-$1 Revlon
- 15.99 ECB
= tax OOP
Get 13.99 + 1.50 Saved for college through Upromise

You can view all deals and scenarios here.

Stonyfield Yogurt Rewards

Do you use Stonyfield products? If not, it is so worth it. It is a company that believes in the benefit of organic products. They have a large variety which includes, yogurt, Greek yogurt, the YoBaby line, smoothies, milk, soy varieties and more.

I just opened a new container and found under the lid a program that I did not know about. My Stonyfield Rewards. Under lids of the individual yogurt cups, quart containers of yogurt, YoBaby and YoKids lines. You can earn points to redeem for free product coupons on various organic products.

The availability of codes is currently limited, but they will be expanding the products that have the codes over the next few months.

For more information and to sign up, visit My Stonyfield Rewards.

You can also earn referral points for referring up to 5 friends and for sharing the web page with up to 5 friends.

Free Glade Gift Pack

Hurry and register here for a chance to get a full size Glade Fall Into Fragrance gift pack. Only 10,000 available or til Aug 28. Will be mailed in October.

Free Redbox Movie Code

Here is a Redbox Code for today: 27HZ4KT. It is good until midnight tonight. Find your local Redbox location here.

Remember if you don't return it by 9pm tomorrow, you will get charged $1.

(Thanks, Thrifty Mama!)

CVS Purchases 8/2 - $4.06 OOP

My scenarios partially worked. My CVS didn't carry the Softsoap Nutriserums or whatever it was. Also, a woman before me cleaned out the Electrasol! :-( I got rain checks for both though!

ECB are coming out as CVS COUPON or CVS MFR COUPON. The ones that come off as just COUPON are pre tax and decrease your subtotal. Then tax is added and the other ones come off, just like a regular MFR coupon. It is so confusing and I have emailed corporate hoping for some explanation and guidelines. There is no way to know which come off and print out as what until you are done. I will update as I have word.

#1
2 - Pocket Portfolios 2/.99 (the ones adv. are plastic, they do not carry these, but since it was .01 off, she pushed it through)
2 Stretch Book covers @ .99 ea
1 Pen/1 Pencil @ .99 ea
2 1 Subject Notebooks @ .99 ea
2 Protractors @ 1.50 ea
2 Rulers @ .99 ea
2 Scissors @ 2.99 ea
1 Glue stick/1 Sticky Notes @ .99 ea
1 Dawn @ .99
-4/20 and 1.89 ECB (both as CVS COUPON)
+8% tax
=16.17
-1.98, 1.98, 1.98, 2, 2, 5 ECB (as CVS MFR)
= 1.23 OOP (on gift card) - mostly tax
Got 19.88 (Folders didn't print b/c of susbstitution - forced .98 and computer rounded to $1)

#2
1 Tylenol Arthritis @ 4
1 Tylenol ES @ 4
1 Listerine @ 3
Blink @ 7.99
CVS Chapblock @ .99 (Free item)
-.99 for Chapblock
+1.52 tax
-1.98, 1.98, 1.98, 1.98, 5.98 ECB
-2, 2, .50 MQ
=2.11 OOP (Giftcard) - mostly tax
Got 5, 7.99 ECB

#3
2 Pampers @ 20
-11 ECB (as CVS Coupon)
+.72 tax
-2, 2 MQ
-5 ECB (as CVS MFR)
subtotal 0
=.72 OOP - only tax
Got 5 ECB

GRAND TOTAL 4.06 OOP
Value 60.84
Have 19.97 ECB for next week.

My Scenarios for CVS 8/2

Here are some scenarios I have come up with for CVS this weekend. I am not sure how they will play out as far as stock on the school supplies...which kind of irritates me. The stores should know ahead of time....or at least this time of year keep things well stocked! Mine has not restocked any of this week's items. We shall see.

The tax issue is another issue. For sake of all the talk, I am going to calculate the tax based on my total merchandise price. I may end up paying less, but better count on the higher amount.

#1:
dawn .99
pencil erasers/glue stick 3pk or sticky notes .99 get .99 -2
1 subject notebook .99 get .99 - 2
pencelis or pens .99 get .99 - 2
compass or protractor 1.50 get 1.50 - 2
scissor 2.99 get 2.99 -2
ruler .99 get .99 -2
book cover .99 get .99 -2
2pocket .49 get .49 -2

20.85
-4/20
-5,1.98,1.98,1.98,1.89,2,2
=.02 + 1.67 (8% tax on subtotal)
-1.00 Dawn MQ
=.69 OOP (.02 if tax on total after ECB deducted)
Get 19.86 (have 5, 5, 1, 1)

#2
Blink Drops 7.99
Softsoap 4.99
5 Electrasol @ 4.50 ea
2 Tylenol ES @ 4 ea
Listerine @ 3


46.48
-19.86, 5, 1 ECB
-1.50 Blink
-2.00 Softsoap
-(5) 2.50 Electrasol
-(2) 2.00 Tylenol
-1.00 Listerine
=-.38 +3.72 tax
3.34 oop (1.27 if tax on total after ECB deducted)
Get 7.99, 4, 10, 5

#3
Pampers 2/20
-15 ECB
-(2) 4.00 MQ
=1.00 +1.60 tax
2.60 OOP (1.40 if tax on total after ECB deducted)
Get 5

Have:
7.99, 4, 5, 5, 1 for 8/9