Coupons - Still Not Convinced?!?

If you're still not convinced that you need help learning how to use coupons correctly...

Shopping trip this evening -

3 Bertolli spaghetti sauce pouches = $.33/each
3 McCormrick Grill mates = FREE
8 travel sized Band Aid pkgs (8 band aids in each) = FREE
2 Colgate toothbrushes = FREE
1 Vitamin water bottle = FREE
4 Angel Soft toilet paper 4 packs = FREE
2 Soft Soap 7.5oz = FREE

And yes I did buy some sunscreen ($1.oo off), Tree Top apple juice ($1.00 off 2) and sugar ($.90 off), etc. but as usual I spent the same amount that I saved and got some items I wouldn't usually buy like the spaghetti sauce pouches. Ragu is about $.06/oz at Kroger and Bertolli is a lot more, but in this case it would up being maybe about $.03/oz or less. I can't remember how many ounces are in each pouch. Either way, I'm hoping it tastes better than Ragu!

In other news I've got an artist on my hands. He drew on the walls a few days ago and all over his body and today he drew on himself, his clothing and his car. Sigh. Thankfully most of it washed up easily. I'm hoping the clothes come out unscathed this time. These markers weren't washable. He's so funny too. He tells me where he colored when I ask! lol.

90% Coupon Savings!

I did a talk on Tuesday to my MOPS group about using coupons and sales and saving lots on your groceries. I'm hoping some of those people are serious that they'd hire me to actually sit down with them and teach them my techniques. If you're interested, here's what I bought and spent and if you think that's spiffy, you can hire me too! Have a coupon party with me; I'll even teach you how to make a coupon binder which is so much easier to use than any other method.

On Wednesday at Kroger I bought:

1 pkg Juicy Fruit gum
3 Pillsbury brownie mixes
1 bag Kroger tortilla chips
1 bag organic baby carrots
4 bags Quaker Quakes rice cakes
2 bags Birds Eye frozen veggies
2 bottles Suave conditioner
2 bottles Suave shampoo
2 Suave deodorants

Final purchase price: $2.88

I was super excited when I got the ad that morning in the mail because I knew it was going to be a great shopping trip. I actually went back the following day and bought a few more brownie mixes, deodorants and shampoos to put in a box for the food pantry. I've decided that this is a way that I can contribute to those who can't even afford good food without breaking my limited grocery budget. I think on that second trip I only spent about $1 to buy 6 items to donate. And everything was a name brand.
If you already have couponing somewhat down, I can help you to figure out how to stock your cupboard so you can "shop" for dinner from it as well as figure out how to make meals from the sales circulars that actually taste good.

Monkey in the Rain

It rained a lot last night between 11pm and 12am. Not as much as our friends a bit further south in the metroplex, but enough. So while it rained I was talking to my mom about how my grandmother was doing. Then I talked to D about it. Got tired. Its after 12am by now. Say, "I'm going to feed Monkey and then go to bed." Get up off the floor where I was sitting, walk into the kitchen and then, and only then, do I realize that Monkey had been outside the whole time. Oops. I yelled (quietly) "Monkey is outside!" And then we both dashed outside laughing about it. She probably didn't think it too funny, but it was amusing especially at 12am. She was fine. Her tray was full of water so I dumped it and put in dry newspaper and Monkey got rubbed down with a dry towel. She looked funny, but she was alive and well this morning and no worse for the wear. Poor bunny. She didn't know that when the child came home, she got moved down the totem pole. It's been a tough 2 years for her!

6 Months Later

So it's been almost six months since Hashimoto became a word in my vocabulary. Well, in truth that word didn't enter until November when I found a GOOD doctore, but nevertheless. I feel less tired than I used to, but it's still a rollercoaster ride. I need to go back to my doctor and get my meds readjusted. I also am going to have them test for Celiac Disease and something else that I can't remember. Celiac Disease is closely related to Hashimotos. I feel like an old lady lately. (Sorry old ladies) I get so stiff and sore when I sit in one position for too long. Especially if I'm sitting on my knees. That isn't normal and from what I've read could be Celiac. BLAH. Not fun. I also have some days where I could clean the whole house followed by days of not wanting to do anything. Again, not good. I need to reserve a day to sitting and waiting and going back to the doctor so that I can get to feeling better again. I've lost my creative side most days and that I hate the most. I just don't feel like sewing or scrapbooking or anything. Too much mess, too much thinking. Gotta get down to the bottom of this so that I can feel better.
Oh and my toes hurt with cold on chilly days. And I'm tired of being cold all the time still!

To Santa or not to Santa

Santa or no Santa is the current debate in our household. I do not wish to perpetuate the fantasy of Santa to our child(ren in the future). I don't see the point. Yes, we all lived through it and amazingly still trusted our parents after the pulled a huge rouse over our heads. I just can't do it. What makes me highly amused this Christmas is looking at the thought of Christmas through non-believers who celebrate it anyhow. Those people with the "holiday" trees and such. If you look at Christmas strictly from that view it is hilarious. They are celebrating a fantasmical man who "breaks" into houses to leave gifts. What is the point???? It's absurdly funny. Celebrating a fat man whose belly is like a bowl full of jelly. Pointless. Yes, you can say that it's the spirit of St. Nick that they are celebrating. Giving to others. That is a good thing, don't get me wrong. But why must we do it under the cloud of some nice guy that lived a long time ago? Why can't do we believers go along with the fat man idea and tell our children that some mystical person cares about them enough to give them presents? Why do we do that? What about the real reason of Christmas? The real person who came down to earth, the real person who gave us the best gift of all. Why don't we give eachother gifts in memory of Jesus coming to earth? Why do we buy into the fantasy fat man?
Maybe it's the magic of being young. But it seems shoddy that we have to lie to our children to give them some magic in their lives. I think the magic in life can come from the amazement of how a tiny acorn becomes a mighty oak tree. That kind of magic will even cause adults to take a second look at the amazment of it.
So my reasoning abolishes the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny from being acceptable facets of the holidays and the like. Not everyone in my household agrees with me mind you. Why did I come to this line of thought? I have two children whom I give cooking lessons to. They were here about two weeks ago and they were going on and on about Santa and how they have seen him here and there and some elf creature that lives in their house who goes to the North Pole every day to report on their behavior, etc. etc. etc. It pained me (really it did) to hear them, ages 10 and 7, go on and on and on about this. I felt awful listening to them and going along with the lie that they believed. I didn't agree with them or encourage them. I didn't say anything except "wow" and the like. I didn't need to because they were so excited.
Maybe I'm being overly analytical about this whole thing. Maybe I should just relax and let my child believe in the fat man. But I don't know why I should. Why should some fat guy he's never met love him more than I and buys him gifts that he'll love get all the thanks? Not that I need praises from my child, but I don't think some nobody should get the credit. I want to focus on the real reason for the season. I want my family's view to be that of Jesus and not a guy in a red suit. Is that so wrong?

Come Lord Jesus

I regularly read a blog and I came across this from an entry on this particular blog and I agreed a lot with the sentiments that she expressed -

Honestly, I am grieved over other things…I am grieved that some Christians are walking around with anxiety, gripped with fear that O is the Antichrist. I am also grieved that other Christians are walking around rejoicing in a man’s ability to save them from all their sorrows, all their pain, their financial woes, and who knows what else. If people were to actually read the Bible they would see that God has always been aware of who is in office and at times, appointed leaders to teach His children lessons. I am grieved that for some, so much emotion is put into a political election that when their candidate wins or loses, some actually think it is the saving answer or the end of the world…So? What if it is? What if it is the end of the world? Why does that thought provoke paralyzing fear in some people, namely people who claim the name of Christ? Either God is on the throne or He’s not…He is who He says He is or He’s not…either He is truth or He isn’t…either He knows what He’s doing, or well, if He doesn’t, we are all screwed, frankly, so none of this really matters…I rest in the peace of knowing that God is good, He is on the throne, and that He loves us too much to allow us to become complacent...He is sifting, therefore, He disciplines those He loves. (noahsteven.blogspot.com)

It is true. It is interesting that people think Obama is going to save us from ourselves. He can try, but he is man. Man cannot save himself or anyone else. And does it really matter about O's position on life? Not really. We're all responsible to God for our decisions. If we support abortion and partial birth abortion murder then we answer to God for what we believe. I wish that people didn't believe that abortion was a good answer to an unwanted pregnancy, but unfortunately it is. But whether or not it's legal or whether or not our president elect is for or against it, he will answer to God just like everyone else. All we can do is to pray for those who feel that way because answering to God for the murder of an innocent human being is going to be quite a scene, one that I never want to be a part of. God knit everyone in their mother's womb from the time of conception onward. He is the one that is going to be angry at anyone who thinks that abortion is a good idea. We don't have to be angry at them. We need to feel sorry for them and pray that they will have a change of heart.

And also to comment on the quote I have above, I agree, so what if it is the end of the world? If you're a Christian, what in life is there to fear? Nothing and no one but God himself. He is the only one that deserves our fear. It is He who controls the storms and the wind and the waves. It is He who provides and gives is what we need. Not man, not a president. No one but God Almighty is to fear. And if the end of the world is coming, all I have to say is "Come Lord Jesus."

Find Your Fun

I had orchestra rehearsal last night. I finally practiced my piece with some determination to master some rather difficult parts with nearly impossible fingerings. I'm tell you, Tchikowski was no flute player. That's besides the point. As I was playing and finally able to play those tricky measures I realized how much fun I have playing. I think when we get to be adults we put behind some of those things that use to give us so much pleasure as children. Who says that you can't still play on a soccer team or still play your musical instrument? There are plenty of outlets in most major cities for people who want to continue something that they enjoyed earlier in life. I think that not finding a fun outlet is another reason why so many people are so glum all of the time. I'm around other mothers quite often and I don't see a lot of sparkle anymore. I sometimes think, do these women really know how to have fun anymore? We get so bogged down by the trials and not so fun stuff that we have to deal with as adults that we forget to have fun once in a while. I love playing my flute in the New Life Symphony Orchestra. Yes I'd love it more if I got paid for it, but that isn't the point of this orchestra. I have fun, it is challenging, and it is something that is unique and different about me because I really don't know a whole lot of adults who still have hobbies that they began when they were only 11 years old. Go find your fun. Join a club, band, team, whatever and stop being so gloomy and feeling sorry for yourself.