7 posts from September 2009

Couponsale9232009

I was back at it this week with my couponing and mega buys!  So once again that meant tallying my total savings ($40.63 worth of stuff for $9.48) and taking a picture. I hit up our one store's last day of triple sales for a few items then hit another local store for their super double Wednesday where they take your $1 coupons and make them worth $2.  This week I was thrilled with the total lack of time this took and I even found one match up of a coupon and in store sale that was huge that the local websites missed.  Kudos to me :)

However, my mistake this week? I forgot my $1 off 3 Progresso soups coupon at home and they were on sale. They would have been 33 cents a can which is a huge savings and we actually eat that soup. However, I wasn't about to run home just for that so I'll consider that my lesson for this week.  Make sure, double and triple check, that you have all the coupons you want to use *before* leaving the house. It ranks right up there with having an estimate of your bill prior to check out.

Once again this is beginner level couponing, and if I can do it with my flaky ass brain, anyone can.  Almost all my coupons were just from the Sunday paper or my weekly flier in the mail.  I am not a huge fan of printing coupons yet. Our local stores are great about taking them-even black and white ones--but I hate the idea of constantly printing coupons and then oh lookie there, I have to buy a new $25 ink cartridge and more printer paper. It just seems a little counter productive to me. So for now, I am only printing the coupons I feel really are worth it--huge savings or because I was out of an item I need to buy anyway.

*On to the fun stuff. The breakdown (normal price first, the price I paid second):

--Pillsbury Toaster Strudel: $3/box normally. I paid $1.17 and bought two (on sale plus tripled 55 cents/2 coupon)

--Cole's Garlic Bread: $3.19/package. Paid $1.59 (BOGO sale and just bought one)

--Maria Callendar's Al Dente Frozen Dinner: $4.29. Paid 25 cents (sale and tripled printed 75 cents coupon)

--Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks: $2.79/box. Paid 50 cents/box and bought two (sale and doubled printed $1/2 coupon)

--Campbell's Soup At Hand: $1.89/container. Paid 25 cents and bought two (sale and doubled $1/2coupon)

--Mentos Gum: $1.50/container. Paid 40 cents and bought two (sale and doubled 55 cents coupon)

--Colgate Advanced Large Toothpaste: $4. Paid $1 (sale and doubled $1 coupon)

--Yoplait Delights 4 pack: $2.79. Paid 50 cents (sale and doubled $1 coupon)

--Activia 4 pack Yogurt: $3. Paid 50 cents (sale and doubled printed $1 coupon)

--Turkey Hill Large Ice Cream: $5. Paid $1 (sale and doubled $1 coupon)

Total without sales or coupons would have been: $40.63

Total with just in store sales: $27.95

Total value of coupons used: $18.10

FINAL TOTAL AT REGISTER: $9.48

*Which is a total savings of $31.15 or about 77%

I don't often talk of this subject on my blog eventhough it's been an obsessive interest of mine since I was about 9 or 10 years old.  I have mentioned my fascination with the paranormal before on here--my fascination with evidence of hauntings and spirits.  But I respect the fact that not everyone is a believer and many would not appreciate it if that material saturated my blog all the time. 

However, I just have to give a mention to an absolutely amazing clip of evidence that the team on the Sci-fy show, Ghost Hunters, managed to catch and aired this week on their show.  Ghost Hunters, for anyone unfamilar with the show, is compromised of the TAPS team (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) who, although they have been investigating for years, has only recently become quite noticed by the general public.  I enjoy just about any program on this subject but find myself waking wake up with a happy "It's Ghost Hunters night!" thought every Wednesday morning.  Although many paranormal investigators go into a case trying to prove a location is haunted, TAPS goes in trying to debunk the claims. The creaks, the moans, the electronic equipment that acts funny--they try to offer a rational, scientific reason to it all.  It's amazing how many people believe their home or work is haunted only to find out plumbing pipes are loose, or its the expansion and contraction of the HVAC ductwork, or their radio alarm has some default setting that makes it go on at odd hours, or even how just old uneven floors can make objects appear to move on their own.  High EMF (electrical magentic fields) can even make people experience feelings of dread, paranoia, of being watched, even feeling sick to their stomachs.  All of which is, obviously, not legitimate paranormal activity. 

However, this week's episode was particularily fascinating to me. Aside from the fact that the case took place in NJ (my homestate for any new readers), it also showed one of the first pretty darn clear shots of an apparition.  A somewhat see through shadowed figure, that moved like a human, came through a solid wall, walked towards the camera, turned right and then proceeded to exit through another solid wall.   I was absolutely enthralled. It was just downright amazing footage. 

In the last year, I have watched Jules (our 11 year old) go from having very little interest and dismissing such discussions with me to being as completely obsessed as I am.  I fully admit I love sharing this with her.  She reminds me so much of how I was at that age--completely fascinated and yet scared crapless at the prospect of encountering such a thing.  Little of what happened at our old apartment sticks with her to this day. She only remembers her name being called alot when it was only the two of us there.  However, I have watched her interest grow and never have I been more proud than when we were discussing this particular episode of Ghost Hunters (which she had missed due to her bedtime during the school week so she had to just listen to my account of it).  She made two observations I had not even thought of.  She first questioned if there had been construction at the site. I thought, at first, she was concluding some renovations might have riled up the spirits which has been known to happen. But instead she went on to explain, "I bet there was once a doorway where that wall is now and the spirit is simply taking the route they used to take before the wall was put there."  I sat there and wondered why I had not thought of that one myself. She then went on to say she bet it was just a residual haunting--a haunting where a spirit will not interact with you but rather whose actions play out like a movie on repeat. A left over energy or memory if you will that sensitive people would be able to perhaps pick up on.  It does my heart good to know I have an heir to whom I can pass on my cherished album of haunted places I have visited (contented sigh)

It is also with great excitement that I anticipate a potentially amazing trip this upcoming year. Being that it is a rather momentous birthday for me this year (I will not say which one..it makes me feel a bit sick to my stomach), my parents have offered to send Jules and me on a trip with my mother to Colonial Williamsburg--one of my favorite "hot spots". Sure that was not their first thought when planning this gift I am sure, but it surely was mine when they told me of their idea!  We will be staying in one of the old cottages right there by Duke of Glouster and with any luck will be partaking in LB Taylor's Ghost Tour (the king of haunted legends in the area)  Jules first thought? "I am so bringing my MP3 to do EVP work" (Electronic Voice Phenomenon)  I just wanted to tear up--ahh she does a mother proud.  She is as excited as I am but fully admitted she'll probably want company when she goes to the bathroom. Yep, she is just the way I was...fascinated but scared crapless.  We will, of course, post a link to pictures of that trip. We are unsure, as of yet, when it will happen.

If anyone is interested in the paranormal and has not yet watched Ghost Hunters, I highly recommend it. Sci-fy channel Wednesdays at 9pm.

Today is the type of day where I won't be getting dressed or showered until probably dinnertime. I'm not sick (although Alyssa is and is home from school today). I'm not overly tired (well nothing out of the ordinary anyway).  I will just be a cleaning machine and I find it pointless to shower when I am just going to get all sweaty and covered with various chemicals. The silver must be polished. The fan blades must be wiped down again. Windows washed and sills cleaned out.  Counters made to gleam, floors mopped, toilets (shudder) scrubbed. The lawn needs mowing and edging. Patio furniture wiped down. Flowerbeds weeded and the porch swept.  The furniture lint rolled, light fixtures double checked for those dreaded webbies that seem to form eventhough I obsessively "up" clean. 

It's not all due to my anal retentive tendencies.  I am not doing this just for kicks and giggles.  This weekend will be the largest entertaining weekend of our married lives.  Saturday I am hosting a baby shower here and Sunday? Oh Sunday Matt's co workers and their families are invited out to celebrate all of the new guys making Chief at Matt's command--the RSVP list is up in the 70's although I fully admit I am kinda hoping some more people back out cause dear Lord, that is a lot of people. 

I do sit here and question why we are bothering cleaning.  Will anyone even notice?  And I know darn right well the house will be trashed come Sunday night.  But somehow I can't help myself.  Cause if there is a smudge on my window, I won't be able to concentrate on the important parts of the parties--having fun and visiting.  Yes, I do realize I have a slight problem.

I will post next week, once I have recovered, to let you know how it goes.  I am happy to do all of this and feel blessed we have a home and property that allows us to do such things, but I know I'll my moments of needing to deep breathe my way through.  I am particular anxious to see the headcount for Sunday. I have never seen so many cases of soda, hot dog buns or chips in all my life as I see right now in my garage.  Let's just hope it doesn't rain. We'll be royally screwed if it does.

This week has otherwise been quiet. Yeah I did some coupon shopping and there was 4 hours of soccer practices thrown in there, but it's really been about preparing for this weekend. Matt had an absolutely hellish schedule in the last week, so he hasn't been around much but even so, I think I have only managed to read about 5 pages total. It's usually when Matt is gone that I manage to sneak in some chapters but everytime I went to try at night, I ended up passing out asleep.  Man, the library wants their books back soon and I can't seem to get any reading done.  This bothers me greatly. I have left my beloved characters just suspended in perpetual battle for days now.

I would ramble some more but I have toilets crying out to me and furniture waiting to be dusted.  Wish us luck! 

Couponsale91609

Couponsale916092

Oh my, oh my!  Our local store had triple coupons this week so just look at what I was able to get for $16.44 (most of it needed or on my shopping list anyway) with store sale and coupon match ups!

FREE:

--2oz. Tabasco sauce (normal: $1.89)

--18 ct. kotex pantyliners (normal: $1.29)

--8oz Duke's mayo (normal: $1.89)

--32 oz. Glass Plus Cleaner (out of stock today-got a rain check)

--3oz Starkist Sandwich Tuna Poach (normal: $1.99)

--2.75oz Bumblebee Tuna Poach (normal: $1.45)

Low Cost:

--Colgate 7.8 oz Advanced Whitening Toothpaste: 25 cents  (normal: $4.00)

--Green Giant Frozen Veggies: 25 cents (bought 2) (normal: $1.79/box)

--Lysol 35 count wipes: 74 cents  (normal: $3.49)

--Quaker 10ct box of granola bars: 87 cents a box (bought 2)  (normal: $3.00/box)

--Famous Amos 33 count chocolate sandwich cookies: 34 cents  (normal: $2.96)

--Yo Crunch Breyers Yogurt Pack: 75 cents  (normal: $3.00)

--Betty Crocker Cookie Mix: $1.05 (normal: $2.25)

--Yoplait Delights: $1 each (bought 2)  (normal: $2.79/each)

--GoGurt: $1.37 each (bought 2)  (normal: $3.00/each)

--Betty Crocker Brownies: 87 cents each (bought 2)  (normal: 2.49/each)

--Pillsbury Cres. Rolls: 1.25 each (bought 2)  (normal: $ 2.19/each)

--Toaster Strudel: $1.17 each (bought 2)  (normal: 2.99/each)

-Total before sales or coupons: $63.26

-Total w/ in store sales: $40.90

-Total value of coupons used: $32.18

**FINAL Register Total w/ Sales and Coupons: $16.44

*Which is a total savings of  $46.82 or about 74%

                                                                
                                                                *************************************

Now with that said, let me address a of couple things:

--All of this was pretty darn simple to do and if I could manage it, I know anyone else could. I know some big time couponers out there stack, print coupons, etc and sometimes their strategies, I admit, are confusing.  I am still learning that whole aspect of couponing and will hopefully be there one day soon. So what you see above was the simple route of just pairing sale items with coupons (that were tripled this week) that I had cut from the newspaper and flyers that came in the mail during the week. I didn't even print any coupons online nor did I stack (my coupon supply is too new to have been able to unfortunately).  Again, very easy/beginner level couponing produced awesome savings. 

--I couldn't find the single Propel water bottles or the Mentos gum.  Both would have been free . Bummer

--My free online store registration won't go through until next week, so I missed out on the $1 a box Eggo waffles. Another bummer. I had a coupon for that.

--Lastly, I will give a huge ole pat on the back to anyone that can find the mistake I made today by being careless and distracted by a three-year-old in the store.  Study the picture above (click on it to make it larger if needed) and leave your guess in my comments section.

Matt is back at work. The two older girls are back at school.  I am left alone with Madi for 8 hours a day. I had to find a new obsession. 

Couponing, baby.

I am not talking about slapping down a 35 cent coupon on full price detergent. I am talking about the serious couponing that you hear about. The ability to get things for almost nothing, or free, or where the store pays YOU to buy them. It's always fascinated me. It was time to cash in.

As a breakdown, here is what I have managed by matching coupons, sales and using in store cash rewards (in this case, Walgreen's register rewards..instant money to use on the next transaction):

At the food store I managed:

--Sparkle Paper Towels normally $7.69.  Sale price: 4.29 but used $1 coupon. Final: $4.29

--Cottonelle Toliet Paper: Normally $10.49/12 pack.  Sale BOGO.  Coupon doubled to $1 for a total of $9.49 for 24 rolls or $4.70 for one 12 pack.

--12 oz box of Fruity Cheerios normally $3.49/box.  Sale BOGO. Coupon $1 on two. Final: $2.96 for two boxes or $1.48 a box

*These are not overly fantastic prices as far as serious couponing goes, but they weren't too bad considering we *needed* paper towels and toilet paper and I refused to drive out to Walmart again to get it.  As far as the Cheerios, that was a treat for our girls. Normally I get malt-o-meal cause, baby, barely anything beats that brand at Walmart. Only the food store's double couponing combined with sale prices could even begin to come close.

Redbox:

--Free rental using promo code "dvdonme"

At Walgreen's:

--Glade's Sense and Spray air freshener usually $10. Sale $5.99.  Eligible for in store reward money at check out.  Coupon for $4. Final price: $1.99 and I earned $2 register rewards money for another purchase.

--Carefree pantyliners normally $4.19 but on sale for $1.99.  Coupon for $1 off. Final: 99 cents but I earned $1.99 in rewards money again

--OB tampons 40 pack normally $7.99. Sale $3.99. Coupon for a $1 off and was allowed to use my register rewards from the other purchases on top of it. Final: 99 cents/40ct box.  I did this twice so I could get two boxes.

*I am learning that you really have to know when to use your coupons to make the most of it and when to say "this is just not worth it."  Some items can be 50 cents but if we won't use them or it's the only thing that store has that I want and the store is 10 minutes away, forget it. I also refuse to go nuts and throw myself into the hoarder status because I just had to keep buying 88 cent boxes of cereal I wouldn't eat or cheap TP (although if you have this compulsion, consider donating to your local church or homeless shelter)

Also, some stores let you stack coupons-meaning you can use a store coupon as well as one from the newspaper but some places won't.  At Walgreen's, you have to plan it so you check out your register rewards eligible items first and then ask the cashier if you can do multiple transactions in order to use all your in store money on your other items all at the same visit.  Yeah, they aren't happy about it but so what? 

It can all be a little tricky and it takes getting used to. I don't want to admit how much time I spent this week going through websites, coupons, fliers, and in the aisles of the stores to do this but in the end, I bought items we actually use and had to buy anyway and instead of spending $66.82, it was only $21.62.  

It has been three weeks since Matt's return, and I realize I have barely posted anything even slightly resembling a normal blog entry since that time.  I have barely gone running or read any paranormal smut for that matter.  Since Matt is once again on  24 hour overnight duty (something he has had to do every 3 days for the last two weeks), and since it is pouring rain outside and therefore I feel no need to rush outside for any reason, I figured now is the time to fill in the large blank of my life I have left on this blog during the last three weeks. 

The morning of Matt's homecoming was a deary one. A funny tradition whenever he has arrived home from being out to sea for a while. Its almost as if a perpetual cloud follows him no matter what ship he is currently serving.  We awoke at an ungodly early hour and proceeded to get ready to go pick up the man that matters most to us four females in this house after being separated from him for nearly 7 months.  And collectively speaking, he had barely been around for an entire year, so it was with obvious anticipation that we readied ourselves.  I didn't even bother eating breakfast that morning because, DUH, perfectly executed make up and hair was more important than proper nutrition.

We arrived at the base, where it started to rain harshly, and waited in the car for a while. We had atleast a couple hours before the ship pulled into the pier, so I called my mom to pass some time while the girls played quietly.  We finally made our way out to the large tent and waited with the other families for the moment we could finally see the mast of the ship rounding the corner at an excruciatingly slow pace.  Music played, food was served, flags were handed out and we endured the unwelcomed DJ'ing of some hired dude who only slightly redeemed himself when he chose to play some decent music.  I claimed my spot near the front of the tent, refusing to even sit for a moment. I had a death grip on Madilyn's stroller and tried to contain my excitement while also trying to keep my corset style top in place.  Homecoming outfits are nothing even close to practical when planned as they should be.  I had an annoying moment where a rather commanding rude woman forced me to move back from my spot so she could set up her own personal lawn chairs and I knew, just knew, I was probably setting eyes on the captain's wife. No other individual would dare walk around with such an air of self importance. I later found out I was correct. It made me giggle. I always find it amusing when a spouse of someone in a high ranking position seems to forget we all have to start somewhere--be it officer candidate school or boot camp and therefore no one individual is more or less important than the other.  However, her arrogance was but a tiny blip on my radar for the day since I had much more important things on my mind.  

Some braved the weather to stand out by the gates--the gates that would separate us from our loved ones until the ship was fully docked and secured.  I stayed underneath the tent with Madilyn while Alyssa and Jules hung out with Matt's sister and nephew and Matt's mom and step dad took turns at the gates excitedly looking for the first signs of the ship's arrival.  Some sailors were calling their loved ones via cell phone  to give updates like, "We just crossed the bridge tunnel!"  "We are just rounding the corner" and before too long, I heard my mother in law's shouts of excitement as she first spied the top of the ship.  It was a full 5 to 10 minutes or so before I was able to make out anything resembling a ship myself, but I also was stuck under the tent with Madilyn.  I had resigned myself to the fact I had to keep my toddler dry and focused, rather, on the fact that soon I would be seeing Matt.  For the first time in almost 7 months, I would lay eyes on him and be able to touch him.

It was roughly 1 1/2 hours from the time the ship was spotted to the time we were able to walk through the gates and search through the mass crowds to spy him.  However, we had a brief moment of excitement when during the long securing of the lines process, Matt appeared in all his uniformed glory (and dare I say, complete male hotness) on the bow of the ship.  The rain had subsided a bit so I took Madi and the other girls up the gates so we could wave and blow him kisses.  It is hard to explain the feelings that coursed through me as I laid eyes on him for the first time in over a half a year, taking note of his now bulging biceps threatening to tear apart his Chief's uniform that I had never before seen him wear.  Noticing the new anchor tattoo gracing the underside of his forearm. Seeing the way his face lit up and knowing soon I would feel the press of his sinfully full lips against mine.  Dozens of thoughts--of both the loving and the impure kind--raced through my mind.  Although soon came the somewhat awkard moment of realizing we were just standing there staring at each other because nothing else could be done. We were not close enough to even shout to one another. And it would be a while yet before he could come down the brow to the pier.  He eventually gestured to his watch and to the brow and he disappeared into the ship while I went back to my place under the tent. 

I have shared the pictures of our reunion on here already, so I am sure not many words are needed to describe that moment--a task I am not sure I would even be able to accomplish because we simply do not have words strong enough to aptly portray that moment.  But imagine your most cherished loved one being taken from you for so many months and then imagine the moment you can once again embrace them.  You can take it from there.

We returned home and Matt bathed (something he always does and if I were to describe to you the true hell in which he lives, sleeps and bathes while out to sea, you would understand why), he unpacked, he gave us our presents, he wandered around the house and yard and we all experienced extreme surreal moments.  I thought it would pass. I thought in a day or two, I would get that full moment of, "Holly hell! He's home!" but it never came. With the last deployment, I remember feeling a jolt of shock every time he walked into a room, but this time it wasn't like that.  This time it just felt...right.  It felt almost like the last 7 months of hell hadn't even occured. Sure things had broken, we had been sick, milestones had come and gone, birthdays and holidays had passed without him, and I had teetered on the delicate edge of sanity and alcoholism, but seeing him mulling around the house, tinkering in the garage, having him cook a big breakfast for his girls--it all just seemed right again. Like the last 7 months were some horrible nightmare and I had finally awakened.  Life just continued on..in just a normal fashion.

The girls all took a trip to NJ with Matt's family who had all stayed with us during the first few days of homecoming.  We then were gifted with almost five days alone.  We ate when we wanted, what we wanted (which often was take out or junk food--something we almost never do), shopped at 8pm because we could, did some home projects, watched movies, took a glorious camping trip, and managed to fill all our other time with things better left unsaid. 

Saturday came around, the day we were due to take our trip to pick up the girls to bring them home.  I had actually looked forward to this particular road trip because it would be one of only two we have ever taken without any children or a puking dog. We planned to make stops along the way just because we could and enjoy our ride together.  However, that morning I awoke before the sun to not only insanely intense stomach pains but also a raging UTI infection.  I do not need to describe that pure hell to anyone that has endured such a thing.  It became painfully clear there was no way I could travel and I needed to get to a Dr. immediately.  Luckily, the office had an opening later that morning and although Matt didn't want to leave me (my bawling my eyes out fetal position on the bed probably didnt' help that matter), when arrangements could not be made to keep the girls in NJ for another day or two, we knew he had to head up on his own.  I laid there crying and afraid honesty to be alone and wanting so badly to have his comforting touch when I felt so utterly sick, but I also worried about him traveling alone with the girls especially given the harsh weather forecast and the plan he had to pick up the girls and immediately turn around to come home. 

That day is not one I could be paid to repeat. The pain and agony I felt especially as I endured the 2 hour long process of driving to and from the drs and having to wait for the dr and medication was just something humans shouldn't have to go through. UTI's rank right up there with the worst of stomach viruses and labor. Sharp pains in my back stole my breath away and a fever raced through me as I laid in bed praying Matt wouldn't come home to me being in the hospital. Dramatic as it sounds, anyone that has had such an infection knows how quickly it can go south and turn into something much more serious and for a while that day, I became much worse before I started to get better. 

Life eventually return to a state of normalcy although the medications had some unpleasant side effects. We did manage to have some fun times with the girls--hitting an amusment park, taking them on their first tent camping experience, and just enjoying the ability to all be together again. Matt, all too soon, had to return to work and as the second group of guys went on leave on the ship, Matt had to begin a schedule of working 24+hours every three days.  Luckily I am still in a very independent state so although I miss him, it really isn't a big deal to once again step into the role of the one and only and do what has to be done around the house and for the girls.  And luckily the girls have handled it well and understand he is still geographically close by, just working.  We even were able to join him on one duty day to have dinner with him--which was especially nice for Alyssa, Madilyn and myself since we had yet to see the inside of this ship.  We received the grand tour and once again, if you have never seen a naval ship in person and, therefore, have not seen firsthand the condition in which sailors live for months at a time, I am not sure I can aptly describe it. Even if I were to try, half of you would probably think I was exaggerating.  Suffice it to say, though, that most people serving time in an American prison right now have better sleeping quarters than our military members do.

Tomorrow marks not only the return of Matt's "normal" schedule (24 hour shifts every 6 days and a roughly 10 hour work day Monday-Friday), but also the return of the school year for Jules and Alyssa.  For eight hours, five days a week, I will be down to one child.  I am not quite sure what to do about that. It will be strange to say the least. Very, very strange.  Even more strange will be next year when for a few hours while Madilyn is in preschool, I will be on my own. I truly do not know what I will do then.  Become work-out obsessed so that I become a gender neutral female body builder? Read record amounts of romance novels so that I can be official dubbed queen of smut? Manage to write more than a paragraph at a time so maybe one day I'll have something slightly resembling a full story?  Or perhaps squander our life's savings on things such as shoes and unneeded knick knacks for our home. Hmm...but alas that is a dilemma for a time far from now.  For now, I just have to adjust to the new ungodly hour at which I am expected to fully function.  Why they do not offer a night school option for elementary school students is beyond me.

Besides installing two new ceiling fans, a screen door on the sunroom, fixing our lawn mower and doing car maintenance on both our vehicles, Matt has also built another custom piece of furniture for us.  Originally meant for the guestroom, I decided it looked better in the sunroom.  Boat inspired, behold momma's new smut holder...I mean...umm bookcase :) (sidenote, Vox is being a royal pain in the ass about allowing me to post pictures so you can either click on this one to make it larger or go to my photos main page to see the bookcase in a larger format)

Sunroombookcase2