Publix and CVS

I went to Publix today for my weekly deals! This is so much fun to me and I love to see how much I can save. I am beginning to realize that I do not have to buy every good deal - that some of things we just simply will not eat and I can leave them on the shelves for somebody else.

I bought all of this for $23.79 (before tax). This is worth $125.68!

This is how I did it:

4 Green Giant Steamers - BOGO $3.49
(4) .50 printable coupon (doubles to $1)
Final price: $2.98 (.74 each)

4 Ziploc Freezer bags - Sale $2.19 (one was $1.99)
(2) .40 manufacture coupon from the paper (doubles to .80)
(1) $1.50 wyb two printable coupon
Final price: $5.46 ($1.36 each)

4 Mueller Whole Wheat Pasta - BOGO $1.39
(4) .55 printable coupon
Final price: .58 (.14 each)

1 Carl Budding Turkey - BOGO $3.49
No Coupons :(
Final price: $1.74

6 Pillsbury Simply Cookies -Sale $2.00
(6) $1.25 printable coupon
Final price: $4.50 (.75 each)

4 Nature Valley Granola Bars -Sale $2.50
(4) .40 printable coupon (doubles to .80)
$4 off 4 GM products (Publix in ad coupon)
Final price: $2.80 (.70 each)

4 Shedd's Country Crock Butter (our FAVORITE butter) - BOGO $1.95
(4) .50 printable coupons (doubles to $1)
Final price: FREE

2 Dial Foaming Hand Soap -Sale $1.50
(2) .55 printable coupon
Final price: $1.90 (.95 each)

Whole Fryer - Sale .99/lb.
No Coupons :(
Final price: $4.46

4 General Mills Cereal (2 Coco Puffs 2 Golden Grahams) -Sale $2.50
(2) $1 off 2 Manufacture Coupons
(2) $1 off 2 Target coupons
$4 off 4 General Mills Products (Publix in ad coupon)
Final price: $2.00 (.50 each)

Uncle Ben's Country Inn Rice - BOGO: $1.49
$1 off 2 printable coupon
Final price: .49 (.24 each)

(2) Kraft Velveeta Chesse - BOGO $3.59
No Coupons :(
Final price: $3.59 ($1.79 each)

(4) SOLO Heavy Duty Plates -B0GO: $2.79
(4) .75 printable coupon
Final price: $2.58 (.65 each)

- I used (2) $5 off $25 Rite Aid Coupon in two separate transactions.

Oh, and I forgot to post my deals from last week - I won't go into details with them but I got all of this for $49.00 and it was worth $163! The bread I got from the local bread store for about half off.

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This was my CVS deal from earlier this week:

All this cost me ZERO out of pocket and is worth $29.99

This is how I did it:

$10 in ECB when you purchase $20 in Dove Products
(2) Dove Deodorant - $3.50 each
(2) $2 off Printable Coupon

(2) Dove Conditioners - $4.00 each
(2) $1.50 off manufacture coupon

(1) Dove Bar Soap (6pack) - $7.00 each
(1) $1.25 off manufacture coupon

Total in Dove Products: $22.00
Total After Coupons: $13.75
Total After $10 ECB - $3.75 (.75 each item)

1 Spin Brush - Sale $6.99 - Get $2 in ECB
$2.00 off printable coupon
Total after coupons: $4.99
Total after $2 ECB: $2.99

Purchased 1 Green Tag - $1.00
Attach this tag to ANY reusable shopping bag and get $1 in ECB every fourth time it is scanned.

- I used a $5 off $25 purchase coupon

Total in products: $29.99
Total AFTER coupons: $14.74

I paid that with ECB bucks and put the tax on a gift card that I got for transferring a purchase. And I got $12 back in ECB and I still have a $5 ECB from previous weeks.

A NON-Coupon Post!

I know you are all so shocked to find out that this post will not contain any coupons or deals! *GASP* I figured it was a long over due post that was in need of some pictures and things about the babies. Which is really the number one reason why our parents and grandparents come to the site!

I love October- it might be one of my favorite months! This month has been full of fun for us. Our church had a Fall Festival. The members of our church get pretty creative with their costumes! Last year, the Sunday that we were voted in was the Sunday of the Fall Festival. I remember thinking "Wow - they go all out with costumes" I told Mike that we needed to start thinking of what to do for this year then! I think we did pretty good this year:

The boys went as spaghetti and meatballs! They won the Most Original Prize:


Mike joined in with two of his good buddies and went as the "Staff". Mike went as our music minister, Brad. David (in the red) went as our pastor, Wade. And Heath went as Mike! It was hilarious and everyone got a laugh out of it - they won the funniest!


A local town had a fall festival that included free food and animals to pet! The best of both worlds for two adults that like to eat and two babies that like animals! :)




What would October be without Pumpkins? I bought a "Baby" pumpkin and had a grand plan about the boys painting it. Michael enjoyed the first few times of painting on the pumpkin, but really just enjoying putting his fingers in the paint for the most part. Jeremiah really enjoyed it at first but thought the paint was edible. It apparently tastes horrible because the rest of the times was spent gagging and coughing and then having a love hate relationship with the pumpkin. :)




I am lovin' being at home with these babies! The joys that come with staying at home are not able to be put into words. I am so thankful that the Lord has allowed this opportunity and I am so thankful for a husband that desires and works so that I can be at home with our children! Here are some things I get to do and teach during the day:

- We having been working harder to teach the boys to stay out of the kitchen. They seem to be at the age where they want to be where we are most of the time. So, when I am cooking it has become more of a challenge to teach them to not be in the kitchen. I just can't risk an accident to happen that I can't turn back the time and fix it. So, we have started to teach them to sit on this rug and look at books while I am cooking. Michelle Duggar (you know I LOVE the Duggars!) made a comment on the show the other night that it is good for our little ones to learn how to sit still and look at a book or something. I thought about that and thought of ways that I can begin to teach the boys to sit still at certain times in the day. So far they have done real well with this. Of course they are only 18 months old, so their attention span is not long at all, But Jeremiah sat the whole time looking at the books and Michael got up a few times, in which I gently sat him back down and gave him a new book. Towards the end I gave them measuring cups to play with. I was so proud of them to sit there the whole time I made their meal! Most of the time I am able to cook while they are sleeping, but I think this will be good for them to learn. I will keep you updated on the progress! :)




- The boys L.O.V.E. playing behind the couch! I think it is one of their favorite things to do. I hear laughing and carrying on, so I walked behind the couch and they are wrestling and just lovin' on one another. I got the camera out and Jeremiah just hops on top of Michael!



Here is a video of exactly how this works:


- I got out their diapers for a diaper change and both of them wanted them on their heads! They played the rest of their play time with those diapers on their heads. If it fell off their head they picked it up and gave it back to me to put back on their heads! They had so much fun!





Here is a cute video of them running around and laughing at each other with these diapers on their heads!


These are just the cutest two little boys in the entire world!

Sickness

Please pray for us! Michael is now sick, which makes this bully we call "icky" has stayed around for three weeks now. He comes and goes and comes back looking like something different every time. But I am about sick of him.

In the beginning of the month, Michael had he fever virus. I dind't know at that time what it was so we took him in to the doctor, paid them about $80 for them to tell us that yes he was sick but because it was a virus there was nothing they could give him. He had it for about 4 days and got better. A few days after that Jeremiah had it. His temperature got up to 104.5 at one point and like to stay around 103. It took him longer to get over, but after about 5 days and a $150 doctor visit (which they told me he had a fever virus and nothing any of us could do anything) he got better. That was Monday. Now it is Saturday and last night Michael started running a fever. He had a running nose all day yesterday and seems to have an upset stomach. I am already exhausted and have not recovered from the last sickness, and neither has our checking account - yikes,

Why does a runny nose accompanied with a fever always have to mean swine flu? I remember being sick many times with a runny nose and I was never oinking. Hopefully this will just clear up on its own and I won't hear any oinking from the nursery.

Not trying to complain. I am just exhausted from this sickness in more ways then one.

One thing that I try to remember at all times with the boys and especially when they are sick is how thankful we are. A friend of mine tragically lost her baby at the end of her pregnancy. Her husband wrote on their blog on his 3rd birthday (the same day the boys were born) some things that he has learned. (They now have 2 children). One of them was that he is thankful when his little girl throws up on him in the night because that means that he has a little girl! I read that the morning that I gave birth to the boys and it helped form our attitude through those 2 am feedings and sleepless nights in the beginning and has helped our perspective during those often sleepless nights these past weeks. Every morning at 2 am when Mike and I would crawl out of bed to feed those little 5 pound boys we would say outloud "I am thankful I get to get up at 2am because that means we have babies to feed!" And even now when we are up in the night with running noses and upset tummies and when we have to pay so much to take them to the doctor I will say "I am so thankful that I get to be up this morning, or I am so thankful that I am taking him to the doctor because that means I have babies that I get to take care of."

If you would be so kind and just pray for our little family and pray that Michael will get better quickly, not require a doctor's vist, and that we would all stay better!

The Duggar Family

On of my all time favorite shows to watch is "18 Kids and Counting." It is a show on TLC about the Duggar family. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have 18 children, and one on the way and one granddaughter. Whether or not you agree with their view of having children and some of their super conservative views, I believe we can all agree that they are seeking the Lord and wanting their lives (and their 18 children's lives) to honor the Lord. And, to be honest, I would rather be a woman that adores my children and long for more of them, then to view the children that I do have as a "nuisance" or "time-consuming." I am not saying that I believe all woman should have babies and lots of them - I am not called to have 18 kids (by no means), but we do feel God calling us to have children and if he desires that we have 2 children, then we will praise His name and if he longs for us to have 5 children, then we will praise His name! Children are a gift from the Lord, and as I put the two boys that God so graciously gave us, to bed I cannot fathom my life without them. They have brought me and Mike more joy then I could have ever thought little 20 pound babies could bring! We praise the Lord for His goodness to our family and seek wisdom and guidance in expanding our family as He desires.

As "extreme" the Duggars may seem, I am thankful that the nation is able to tune in to TLC on Tuesday nights and see a family that is walking with the Lord. To see a husband and father that is leading His home with conviction and sound guidance; To see a wife and mother that respects her husband, loves her children, and values her home. These characteristics are so counter-culture. Our society tells us that materialism is more important then the little feet that are running around in our home. Our society tells us that as women we are not to submit to anyone - that men are not over us. I am so thankful for a God that loves us and longs to be gracious to us. I am thankful for the grace that He has given us that allows us to walk in His word. I am thankful that the Lord gave me a husband that loves His word and longs to lead our family in righteousness. I pray that the Lord will continue to develop in me the qualities of a wise wife and mother; A woman that seeks wisdom in the affairs of our home; A mom that cherishes every moment with her children and longs to teach them the Gospel. I pray that God pours grace and favor over us in our home and that our home will point to the Gospel!

The speaker at MOPS this morning was so precious! She has 11 children and spoke with so much wisdom. She said that the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control, should be the "normal" in our home. That is my prayer: that has I am "working" at home and trying to be faithful to preparing my home daily for my family, that our home will resonate the fruits of the spirit. That as people walk into our home, strife and dissension is not what is felt, but it will be an environment that people love to be in and in turn points to the Gospel. I want a home where my children's friends love to be at. I was raised in a home where I loved to spend time there. I loved to bring friends over and my friends loved to be there. How amazing would it be if people came to know the Lord because of the home that you were faithful in preparing?

It is not the norm for me to blog on something other then coupons and babies :) Maybe this was more for me to just write it out and to have it somewhere.

For those that came to see baby pics here is one to tie you over until next blog that ISN'T on couponing :)

Oh: The whole purpose why I sat down to write this blog was just to give you guys a link to some character qualities that the Duggars have their children memorize. It is a pretty neat chart that lists character qualities, definitions, and verses. For those that have young and school age children it is a wonderful resource. We plan on teaching Michael and Jeremiah these definitions when the appropriate time comes.

Link to Duggar Character Qualities.

Cvs Deal

I went to CVS yesterday before MIke went hunting.

Side Note: Hunting season started on Thursday morning. Mike and some budding camped out Wednesday night so they could be right there and ready to start hunting. Mike is super excited about it and is thankful that he has a buddy and place to hunt at. He shot at two dears with his bow, but only killed one. It is currently in a cooler in the backyard. Mike keeps doing something with ice with it. I think he is assuming that we are going to cook and eat it soon, but with all do respect, he is misled - there is not way in this ENTIRE world that I would be eating that. I told him if he got it processed I may eat it - but may is the key word in the sentence.

whew, anyhow.

Here is what I bought at CVS yesterday for basically nothing but tax (the tax issues can be confusing)

Here is how I did it:

Glade Reed Diffuser - $6.99$6.99 in ECB's
I used a $3 off manufacture coupon that was in the paper a few weeks ago.
Total up front: $3.99 - but free plus overage after ECB

Spend $15 in Revlon products get $7 in ECB

Revlon Mascara - $7.49 and Revlon Lipstick - $7.99
I had a $1 off coupon for each item.
Total upfront: $13.48 - but after ECB $6.48

2 Blistex Chapstick - $2.99
I used a $3 off printable coupon for Neosporin Chapstick. Our store was out of that product and our manager is amazing, and let me get another item and still have it free. I needed these two items in order to get to $25 so I could use a coupon for $5 off.
Total: FREE!

Total before coupons: $28.45
- I used a $5 off $25
- $10.98 in coupons
Subtotal: $12.47
Tax: $1.95
Total: $14.42
I gave him $14 in ECB
(Now, sometimes you can use ECB on the whole purchase, and sometimes you can only use it on the subtotal. I am not sure why this is. So, I took the chance and gave him $14 in ECB and it took them all.)
I had to pay the .42 for tax. And I got 14 in ECB back. So, basically I just traded in ECB's and walked out with all these items.

Riding Along in my Automobile!

A couple of weeks ago our pastor's wife, Christy, bought the boys these cars at a yard sale. Immediately, we put the boys on them and they loved it. The boys love being outside and would stay out there all day if we let them. Jeremiah is (finally) feeling better so we spent some time outside on their cars.




Aren't they the cutest things ever?!

Cvs, Rite Aid, and Target

I went to CVS a few nights ago and made it out to Target and Rite Aid tonight for a few things. Jeremiah has been running very high temperatures (it has gotten up to 104 three times in the past 24 hours) the past two days, so I was able to slip out for just a bit while he was taking a good, long nap. Please pray for him that he will get past this fever virus - it is a beast.

Btw, I am not the only one in our home that is on the hunt for good deals:




My favorite deals for the day came from Target. The boys are ready to move up in to big boy carseats. I am looking forward to them facing us, it will be alot easier to keep them entertained on long trips. We were given two convertible car seats when I was pregnant with the boys. At that time we didn't know what we were looking for in regards to safety, etc.. When Mike when to go get them out of storage they were missing straps and were just old. So, now I have been on the hunt for carseats and cringe everytime I look them up and see that they are about $90-$150 a seat. Tonight when I was at target, I found 3 matching Graco carseats on clearance for (are you ready for this? ) THIRTY FIVE DOLLARS!!!!!!! They were brand new, never been used and still in the box. The employee told me that they were discontinuing that line and so they were trying to get rid of them. I was ecstatic!


Here is what else I got at target: I paid $5.99 out of pocket for all this:


20 oz. Johnson Head to Toe Soap: $2.99
I had a $1 Manufacture Coupon and a $1 store Coupon
Total in coupons: $2 - Final Price: $.99

2 Degree Deodorant and 2 Degree Body Mist: $3.29 each ($13.16 for four)
I had (4) $1.50 Manufacture Coupons and (2) $3.00 off for both Target coupons
Total in coupons: $12.00 - Final Price: .29 each ($1.16 or all 4)

3 boxed of Nature Valley Granola Bars and 1 bag of Nut Clusters - $2.49/$2.50 each ($10 all)
I had (2) .40 Manufacture coupons and (1) .50 Manufacture Coupon. If you purchase three boxes you receive the nut clusters for free (value of $2.50)
Total in coupons: $3.80 - Final Price: $1.55 each ($6.20 or all 4)

Total before coupons: $26.15
Total after coupons: $8.33 (this is what it should have been, but mine was $9.33 because ONCE AGAIN, the casier didn't scan a coupon. I just noticed it now. This is the second time this has happend. Everytime I go to target they are in a hurry or the computer messes it up that they just in a frinzy)
Tax: $1.66

Total Price: $10.99
I used a $5 gift card from previous deals
TOTAL PAID: $5.99 (should have been $4.99 - grr :) )

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CVS:
This wasn't a great week at CVS but I was able to get a few things for Mike that he really enjoyed. Now that I am starting this coupon adventure, sometimes MIke will say "What are we going to do with 14 bags of Chex Mix, or 5 bottles of body wash!" So last night I came home with a Gillette Razor and Shaving Gel and he was super excited (Well maybe not that SUPER, but he was pleased!)

So here is what I got:

I had to pay $5.14 out of pocket. This was my first time spending that much out of pocket, but I feel that it was still worth it, especially for things that Mike needed.

Here is what I did:

2 Kashi Go Lean Crunch - Sale for 2/$6NO ECB
I had a $3 off coupon that I got in the Vocal Point Mailer. If you haven't already, you need to go sign up to recieve it. I got about 7 coupons for Kashi - two of them were $3 off and the others were $1.50. Paired with a sale (like this one) you can get it it for free or just pennies.
Final Price: FREE

2 Light Sticks- $1.99ECB: $1.99
I had no coupons but after ECB it was free. :) This was suppose to be the carving tool but they were already out of them when I went so the nice gentlemen gave me these instead. I didn't need them, but I had a $5 off $25 coupon, so I needed it to get to $25 - and I got all the money back in ECB's.
Final Price: $3.98 (Free after ECB)

The Following Items were buy $15 in Gillette products and get $5 back in ECB
2 Gillette Shaving Gel - $3.29
I used two $1 off Manufacture Coupons from the paper and $1 off CVS coupon
Final Price for both: $3.58

Gillette Fusion Razor - $9.99
I used a $4 off Manufacture Coupon from the paper.
Final Price for both: $5.99

I had a $5 off $25 coupon that I printed for taking a flu quiz.

Total before coupons: $26.55
After Coupons: $8.55 (plus $2.11 in tax)
I had a $10 ECB and $3.50 ECB - because my total before tax was $8.50, if I gave him the $10 I would have lost $1.50 - so I gave him the $3.50 and the remaining on my gift card ($2.02) and had to pay out of pocket for the rest).
Total after ECB and gift card: $5.14

So I paid $5.14 but I got $9 back in ECB. Now, I have $19 ECB to work with next week.

I am pleased.

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Rite Aid:

This is my first time shopping at Rite Aid. I followed a guideline that my friend, Tara, posted the other day for diapers. I had to pay $35.64 (plus tax - boo) but I will be getting $20 back. So, really, it is like $15.64 after the rebates.

This was the deal that was going on:
- Spend $30 in P&G products and get $10 in a rebate check
- Spend $50 for Fall Savings and recieve a $10 Gift Card

I did two transactions and used a $5 off $25 Rite Aid coupon with each transaction. I didn't have a lot of coupons and my original plan failed because they didn't take the coupons I had - so I had to revamp and choose different items that I did have coupons for to make my total's up to $50.

First Transaction:
1 Jumbo (96) Pampers Diapers (P&G) $19,99
1 Neosporin Lip Therapy $4.99
1 Air Head .20

Total: $25.18
- $5 off $25 coupon
- $3 Neosporin coupon
Final Price: $17.18

Second Transaction:
1 Jumbo (96) Pampers Diapers (P&G) $19.99
3 Dawn Dish Soap $1.99

Total: $25.96
- $5 off $25 coupon
- $1 Dawn Coupon
- .75 Dawn Coupon
- .75 Dawn coupon
Final Price: $18.46

TOTAL PRICE: $35.64
I went online and entered my receipts in order to get my checks and gift cards. Once I receive them I will just hold on to it until another deal like this for diapers or other essential items come around at Rite Aid and I will use it for that - this time hopefully for FREE diapers.

*** This may not have been my best or wisest frugal purchase, but I did learn some things from it and I think I will be more excited once I get those rebates in***

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Sorry for the deal overload tonight. I am going to Publix tomorrow morning, as long as Jeremiah is napping well, and I will let you guys know how I do.