There's no place like HOME: 10/1/09

Funny and cute things the kids say ...

Tim had 2 tickets for the Warriors game Friday night. So one boy got to go to the game with him while the other would get to go to Lincoln Lopez's house to play. We let the boys choose. First they both wanted to go to Lincoln's house! Then they decided that Miles would go to the game with Tim and Caden would go to Lincoln's. Caden said the prayer that night. He said "Thank you dad can go to work, thank you that Miles can go to school, and thank you that I can go to Lincoln's house." We were all busting up laughing during the prayer.
-November 15, 2007

Miles was at a high school football game with Tim. One of the players had tattoos on both of his arms. Miles thought that was cool (oh great!) and told Tim that he wanted a tattoo. Tim asked him what kind of tattoo he would want and Miles replied with "SpongeBob."
-November 9, 2007

Miles: "Caden Doll is my arch enemy!"
-October 31, 2007

Tonight for dinner I made turkey broccoli casserole with rice. The boys always say that I make gross dinners, but tonight Miles added that "This dinner is worse than school lunch."
-October 22, 2007

Tim took the boys to another football game friday night. This time it was the Concord Minutemen vs. the Dublin Gaels. So this time, Caden thought the "Minimen" were playing against the "Girls."
-October 19, 2007

Last Friday, Tim took the boys to the high school football game that he was covering for the newspaper. The teams playing were the Northgate Broncos vs. the Concord Minutemen. They got to stand on the sidelines and watch the game. Caden thought it was really cool. The next day I was asking Caden about the game. I asked him if he remembered what teams played. He said, "the Boncos and the Minimen!"
-September 29, 2007

Caden is learning to count. He can count to 29 with a little help (but he somehow manages to skip 16 everytime). He gets to 29 and says twenty-ten, For 30. And does the same for the rest of the numbers.
Thirty-Ten = 40
Fourty-Ten = 50
Fifty-Ten = 60
and so on.
-September 2007

Tim and I went out with some friends on their boats. The boys went to the babysitter's house. After we picked them up we were telling them about how Tim got flipped around on all the different tubes. Miles said "So dad, there was 2 people on the tube ... you and your KIDNEY STONE!!"
-August 11, 2007

Friday, October 23, 2009

This week: Adventure in Coupons

Growing up my mom taught me about saving money while you shop.

This is what I learned from her:
1. Only buy an item if it is on sale. Especially clothes - and 20% to 30% off is NOT a sale. If it is 50% or 60% off retail than that is a SALE.
2. Purchase items that are on clearance. When I go clothes shopping at Kohl's or Target I always look through the clearance racks first.
3. Use coupons. I have always used coupons when I had them. Especially for diapers. But after this week I didn't know how much I could really be saving.
4. When purchasing toiletry items look at see if the packaging has "more free" in it. Example: The other day at Target the Suave body wash was on sale for $1.50. Some were 12 oz. but some had 50% more free in the package making it a total of 18oz. of body wash for the same $1.50. If you are going to buy the product get more for the same price.
5. Buying the store brand instead of the national brand is just as good. And it is cheaper.

This week I decided to go full force using coupons and see what would happen. There are SO MANY websites/blogs out there of people trying to save money and using coupons and they are sharing their information. And there are websites where you can print coupons. I am truly amazed.

Here are some of my favorite websites:
http://thekrazycouponlady.com/
http://couponingtodisney.blogspot.com/
http://www.savingwithshellie.com/
http://www.morethancents.info/
http://hip2save.blogspot.com/
and April Preston (our inspiration!)

So this week I did some research. And printed out a bunch of coupons. I shopped at Walgreens, RiteAid, Target and CVS. I spent $73.55 at the stores. I saved a total of $119.91. Plus I am getting a coupon for a package of free Huggies diapers in the mail.

So what did I buy using my coupons?
Olives (2 cans)
Deodorant (x2)
Tissues (3 boxes)
Bandaids
Huggies diapers. (5 packages)
Toilet Paper
Purex 3-in-1 (2 packages)
Baby Wipes (4 boxes)
Conditioner
Glade Candles and Refills
Chex mix (x2)
Cinnamon Toast Crunch (x2 - Caden's favorite cereal)
4 large bags of Halloween candy

A few things that I learned.
1. You can "stack" coupons. You can use a manufacturer's coupon plus a "store" coupon for one product. Walgreens, Target, CVS and RiteAid all have store only coupons.
2. If you are buying an item that is Buy one, Get one FREE (BOGO) You can use 2 coupons. One for each item.
3. Stores like RiteAid and CVS have coupons for $5 off a purchase of $25 or more. The $25 total is BEFORE you use any coupons.
4. RiteAid has monthly rebates. Look through the rebates along with your coupons and sale items and you could be getting items for free or even making money back after the rebates. RiteAid also has a new program online. It is called Video Values If you watch videos on their website they will give you a store coupon for that product that you can print out.
5. Target will price match. Bring in the local competitors ad and they will match the price.

My friends this week have been my computer, printer and scissors. I had to run to Fry's to buy another ink cartridge for the printer. (Sadly, I didn't have a coupon for Fry's.)

Tim thinks this is crazy and is calling it "working the system." All I know is that I am hooked on coupons. Or should I say "clipped"?

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What else did I do this week?
Tuesday we made homemade Apple Pies for YW. I will post the recipe on Recipe Queens
Wednesday I volunteered at our schools book fair.
I didn't do much laundry, so I am catching up today.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Welcome Fall

I have really been happy that fall is here. A little bit cooler during the day. I've been reading. Drinking hot chocolate and toast (a little guilty pleasure). I made strawberry freezer jam for the first time ever.

And then today I made these:

And, yes, they tasted delicious too. I decided to put a sturdy fork in them instead of a wimpy popsicle stick. I worked great for eating and it didn't fall off! Tim and I were talking and we have decided that Fall is our favorite season.

Golden Gate Bridge

We took our YW and YM on an outing to the Golden Gate Bridge. I brought Miles along. Why do we live so close to these amazing landmarks, but never go to them. I will tell you that I hate going into San Francisco. There are too many (weird) people, too many cars and not enough parking just for starters. Anyway, the Bridge really is amazing and it was clear that morning and could see across the bay. Miles said he was scared of heights and didn't want to walk on it but I made him go. Miles and I ended up cutting our activity short - we had to drive back home because Tim's kidney stones decided to make an appearance that day. The rest of the youth and leaders stayed for a picnic near the beach.

Miles being afraid of walking on the bridge:

Can you tell he was having a great time?

Then, when we started to walk back he was suddenly not afraid anymore. He kept looking over and spitting and watch his spit slowly twirl down towards the water. I guess that is what 9 year old boys like.