The Money Saver...

Ok, so I did this on Monday and actually wrote it then as well, but I wanted to upload a photo of all the stuff to show you. Well, I have not had a chance to download our camera. So, for now...here you have it.

What a steal….I mean deal!?!?!?!?!?!?

I am a new bargain shopper! Have you ever heard of people playing the CVS game and really maximizing those Extra Care Bucks. Well, I had done some reading on-line and my friend Lisa talked me in to giving it a shot. Sure you have to spend money, but you can save a ton. The key here is to only buy things that you need or will need in the future, so you aren’t really overspending. Now, I know what you are thinking…CVS is over priced for a lot of things and in so many cases, they are. That is why you have to watch the weekly and monthly flyers and clip coupons out of the newspaper on the weekend. So, here is the scoop…

At CVS I did 2 transactions. Transaction 1 looked like this:

2L of Coke $0.99 (saved .70 from orig price)
2L of Coke Zero $0.99 (saved .70 from orig price)
Bottle Deposits $0.20
Neo to Go Spray $5.50 (saved .99 from orig price)
Dora Bandaid $2.99 (saved .30 from orig price)
2 Aveeno Baby Lotion $7.98 (saved 3.40 from orig price)
2 Listerine Mouth Wash $8.00 (saved $1.98 from orig price)

Now, I used my coupons:
-.50 Bandaid
-.50 Listerine
-.50 Listerine
-.75 for Aveeno Baby Lotion
-1.00 Neosporin
-5.00 CVS Extra Care Bucks that I go for swiping my card at the reader when I went in the store

So, for the above stuff, my total came to $19.57. In return, I got $10 in ECB for purchasing $20 worth of selected Johnsons & Johnsons products (the Listerine, Neosporin, and Lotion) and $2ECB for the bandaid purchase. I also got another $5 off an order of $25.

My 2nd transaction looked like this:
2 V05 Shampoo $1.50 (saved .48 from orig price)
2 V05 Conditioner $1.50 (saved .48 from orig price)
24 bottles of Dasani Water $3.99
2 Palmolive Dish Liquids (BOGO Free) $1.59 (saved 1.59 on the free item)
8 rolls of papertowl $4.99 (saved 3.00 – I was supposed to get Scotts because it was on sale, but since they were out, the guy let me get bounty)

Coupons:
-10.00 ECB
-2.00 ECB
-.25 for the Palmolive soap
-.25 for the Palmolive soap
-1.00 for the papertowels

So, when it all rang up and with the coupons and ECB, my total came to $0.07. Yes, you are reading that correctly…..And I cleaned my wallet out and used 7 pennies!!!

So my CVS total came to $19.64!!! But, I saved $35.57!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then, I went to Rite Aid…

9 Speed Stick Deoderants $8.91 (saved at least 1.80 per depderant) – On sale for .99ea
4 Coke 2L $5 (saved 0.24 per bottle) – on sale for 1.25ea
Bottle Return $0.40
2 3 packs of Irish Spring Soap $1.98 (saved 1.80 per 3 pack) – On sale for .99ea
2 Colgate Toothpaste $1.98 (saved 1.80 per tube) – On sale for .99ea

Coupons:
-1.00 Speedstick
-1.00 Speedstick
-.75 speedstick
-.75 speedstick
-.30 irish spring soap
-.30 irish spring soap
- .50 toothpaste
-.50 toothpaste
-1.00 for coke products

My total came to $12.95!!! But, I saved $34.06!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, so for going to these 2 stores, I spent a whopping total of $32.59…….
AND I SAVED $69.63!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I should also note that all of the coupons I used (except for the Aveeno Baby Lotion) I got out of Sunday’s paper. I had 2 of a lot of them, because I raided my dad’s paper as well!!! Now, I don’t usually use V05 shampoo, but heck I will give it a try, or if I don’t like it I could give the other bottles to church when they do different gift baskets for the needy. I love Aveeno lotion and Rachel and I use the baby lotion every day! The deodorant is a new type for me, but with the deal I found, I will use it!!! We needed the pop for Rachel’s birthday party…Let’s just say this, nothing I bought will not get put to good use.

In closing, I know that these stores can be more expensive that Meijers and Targets, but NOT THAT MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE!!!

So, is this cool….or what?!?!?!?!?!?!?

The Latest in Updates

Well, it has been awhile since I have checked in. Last weekend we did Family Camping. It was a great time, but we got a TON of rain. We spent pretty much from Saturday at about 3 until the time we packed up under one of those big blue tarps...ya least we stayed dry! We have not downloaded the pictures yet, so nothing to post for you.

If you get a chance, take a look at this blog. It is pretty funny!

http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/

And the closet comes crashing down!

Literally! Yesterday afternoon, I was in the family room when I heard 2 loud booms. I ran to check to see if Rachel and Brad were ok in their beds. It seemed too loud be one of them falling out of bed, but who knows. (Rachel is now in her toddler/day bed that her crib converts to.) Well, they were ok. Next I was thinking that the house was getting broken in to. My stomach just sank! But a quick look at the windows proved that we were ok on that front. As I turned out of my room, I saw something on the floor that I knew shouldn't be there...Then I turned around....

The bracket holding up our to shelf of our closest broke and the shelf came crashing down and made for a big mess. I got Jamie's suits and newly ironed dress shirts out of there, but I was fearful of it falling even more.

So, Jamie had to do some major rework of the closet last night after dinner. Like a true engineer, it took him HOURS!!! Finally at 10pm, we were moving everything back in to the closet!

I feel so bad for Jamie. He has been working a ton. He usually gets home at a good time, but as soon (if not sooner) as Rachel goes to bed, he gets back on the computer and works until about 11pm for the past few weeks. So yesterday he didn't get a break at all!

PTing!

Well, I have been working with Rachel on potty training over the last 2 weeks. She is now wearing panties for 1 1/5 weeks now, does #1 and #2 on the potty and maybe has an accident once every few days. I didn't want to say anything sooner, because I didn't want to jinx us!

So, needless to say, I am SOOOOO proud of her. She is such a trooper!

How old is she you ask... Not even 2! She will turn 2 next month!

Proud mommy here...I had to brag!

My Poor Girl

Ok, so we had the tests done and concluded that she has Vesicoureteral Reflux.

http://www.webmd.com/hw-popup/vesicoureteral-reflux-and-urinary-tract-infections-in-children

We only know what the tech told us as she was looking at the x-rays following the test and we need to wait and hear the actual results. These will come in next week. Then, we will need to see a pediatric urologist.

Rachel Has Testing Today

Please keep my sweet little girl in your prayers. I don't think that I have done a follow-up on my blog regarding her bladder infection. Last week we had an appointment with her pediatrician and he is sending her to have two follow-up tests. Apparently one positive test result like this is reason enough to do more testing, because in the past perhaps she has had an infection and it just wasn't as bad and not tested for. So, here we are today having to take her to get two tests at Royal Oak Beaumont. I will keep you posted!

It is just so crazy, because in all she is a healthly little girl. But she has already had so many off the wall problems. Her infection at birth and spending 10 days in Special Care, ring worm on her forehead at 2 weeks old, all of the ear infections and tubes, her belly button is still herniated (which can take until age 5 to go down before she will need surgury) and now this. Good thing that she is a tough cookie!

My toes...

Ok, no picture will be given of this one, but I am so excited to get a pedicure. This Tuesday, a few friends of mine are getting together for a girls night out and we are getting pedicures and going out to dinner. Getting together with these friends and getting a pedicure are so long over due. These friends of mine (Alison, Shelley & Michele) are friends I had from work and while working I have become such good friends with each of them. I can't wait to see them and catch up!!!

As requested...

Vacation pictures! So sad that it is over!

Love this one. You can see her shadow as she is pointing at something. I know, pretty creative!

First full day on vacation: Sunday. At Wagner Falls.

Visiting Jamie's family in the U.P. Rachel enjoyed getting spoiled by Great Uncle Bill and Great Aunt Shirley.

Monday: At Tahquamenon Falls.

Ok, can't remember which day is which now. The next couple are at Miners Castle which is part of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Look at the beautiful waters of Mexico...oh, no...Lake Superior. Despite its great color, the water is freezing cold. Probably in the 50's.

Ok, later that day, we played out in Lake Superior, which was right outside of our cabin. While skipping rocks (or in Rachel's case throwing...), she took the plundge and got wet. It bothered her at first, but she is a tough girl!

The view we had out of our cabin! Pretty, isn't it?

Trying to skip rocks like her Dada!

The next day (whenever that was!)... Holding a sleeping Rachel overlooking the water.

At Munising Falls.

Family pic outside of the cabin.

At AuSable Falls.

So, there you have it...in a blog...not in a scrapbook!