Coupon Challenge

I have mentioned in an earlier post that I had started to become a little addicted to using coupons. I went to publix yesterday and yet again saved ALOT of money. In case you did not know publix will accept competitors coupons (at least most will).I got a ton of stuff. One blog that a friend shared on her blog that I have grown to LOVE is http://www.moneysavingmom.com/

Before my coupons and store savings the total was $121.57 but I only paid $47.31.

Using coupons and finding the great deals can take up a good bit of time. I have really grown to enjoy it and find that is certainly worth my efforts. The key is using coupons on things that are already on sale.One example of a great deal I got yesterday was on Ritz crackers. They were Buy One Get One Free. At publix that means you can get one at half price. So if you got one they would be $1.83. I had a coupon from target for $1 off and at publix you can stack coupons so I had another coupon from kraft for $1 off. So I got them free plus some overage. I also had a coupon where if you buy a box of Ritz crackers you got a box of wheat thins for free. So I got a box of Ritz and a box of wheat thins for free. I also got 3 boxes of cereal for about $1 a box. I got 3 containers of yogurt for about .50 (12 yogurts total) and two deoderants for .25 each. I had gotten a coupon for $5 off at target with a $50 purchase and I found somewhere on the Internet a coupon for $5 off a $25 at Rite Aid. Luckily for me my publix happily accepted both. Hopefully I will inspire someone else to save money as I have been inspired by others.

Mother's Day

I had a wonderful mothers day this year. Robbie got the kids up early (very very early!!) to cook me breakfast with the new waffle iron they had bought me. Lydia picked one out that you could make heart shaped waffles.I had wrapping paper on my chair and some balloons. He had taken them the week before to paint me a spoon rest for the kitchen at "Splatters" (our local pottery place). It was such a pleasant surprise. Lydia had also made me a portrait of myself at her art class and Caleb (with the help of Ms. Nancy) had made me the cutest pillow with his hand print as a flower and his fingerprints as bugs. Robbie also let them each pick me out something. Lydia picked me out a very cute necklace that said "MOM" and Caleb picked me out a very cute ring with blue and pink "diamonds". I wore them both very proudly to church.

Mother's Tea

On Friday Caleb had a "Mother's Tea" in honor of mothers day. It was incredibly nice. I had been in the day before and the walls were somewhat bare compared to normal. I assumed it was because school was winding down and Ms. Nancy was trying to prepare for the end of the year. Boy was I wrong. When I went in for the tea there were all new decorations hanging up that the kids had made for us. Huge pink flowers covered one wall. She had pulled pink tulle through the ceiling tiles. Everything was so nice.

Special Time with Grayson

I have always given Grayson such a hard time about being "my difficult one." He is slowly becoming easier and easier and I have really enjoyed some special time with him lately. He is talking more and more each day and it is fun yet depressing to watch him grow. I have been taking him lately to the soft play at the mall while Caleb and Lydia are in school. Robbie and I always laugh at the fact that he is such an easy "only" child. I will ask him, "Do you love mommy?" and he says "yeah...and dad...and sissy(Lydia)...and brudder (brother/Caleb)". It is so sweet. He hesitates after he says each persons name. I am not sure why he has decided to call Caleb brudder but it is really cute. I realized today that this was our last outing alone because Caleb's officially graduates pre-k on Thursday. I am not sure if I am prepared for that or not. And Grayson will start school next year :(

Soccer Trophy

Caleb got his first trophy this weekend. He was soooo proud of it. It is bitter sweet to have soccer over. We really enjoyed watching him grow. He became more agressive each game.

Rainy Day Fun

Lately we have had ALOT of rain , so I did what any good parent would do... I sent the kids out to play. They begged me to let them go out in there rain gear so I figured what could it hurt. It was not freezing and it was not lightning so off they went. And what a mess it was!!!!! Nothing like a bath at 11:00.

The Coupon Challenge

I have been very inspired lately by some of my frugal friends (thanks Kelly and Crystal) to use coupons lately. It has become a "game" to see how much I can save. It is really fun. I bought all of this stuff for $7.50 and it is all valued at $23.00 normally.

Friday Fun

Okay, so it was not this Friday it was two weeks ago but it has been awhile since I have been able to post. These are some pictures of the kids at the children's museum. We have season passes there and the kids always enjoy going.