The Clayton Circus

Three things that help me survive the day!

2009-10-19T21:17:00.004-04:00

I absolutely love homeschooling my Circus. I couldn't always say that. Before, I felt like it was the best for my kids, but I wasn't convinced that I was really supposed to be doing it. Over the summer, I spent lots of time really praying about what we were supposed to do (not about giving it up, but working through curriculum/methods, etc). I came to a great peace about it all and found a new curriculum. I won't talk about that now, but I gained a whole new perspective and attitude toward school with my kids. I love it, and now I can't imagine doing anything else. Some days are phenomenal, and some days are nightmarish. I have learned that there are 3 things that get me through the daily grind.

Sleep: I am the worst at this one. I am preaching to myself here. I've talked to many homeschool moms who face the same problem. Once the kids go to bed, that's when the house is quiet. We can get things done, watch a movie, read a book, get on the computer. I am also a "night owl." Or I have called myself one since I knew what it meant. I have now discovered that I really enjoy the early mornings. I am finding that if I go to bed, and get up early, I still have time to do those things (not a watch a movie), but I'm actually rested and awake when I do them. I have literally been shocked at how awake and productive I am between 4:30 and 6:30am. The people who really know me are now laughing out loud. And women who've been practicing this for years are now breathing a sigh of relief that I've joined the dark side!
F.O.B.: Did you know that you can order your burgers this way at Burger King? Fresh off the Broiler? Yes, you really can, but this is not what helps me homeschool. Every afternoon for an hour we have Feet on the Bed (F.O.B) time. The kids are required to be in their bed. They may read, play with a couple of quiet toys, or draw and color. My almost 5 year old still naps everyday. It's obvious that she needs it. My 7 year old naps 1-2 times a week, and my 9 year old naps about once a week as well. That is time for me to do whatever I need or want for an hour. I may even take a nap. This is survival for me, and the kids will one day appreciate knowing how to set aside some time each day to be still.
Trigger the nose: This sounds weird, but I recently learned this from a veteran homeschool mom, and it has made all the difference in my house. When the kids seem to be stressed or frustrated with school, she said to cook something aromatic. I tried it with great skepticism. My kids love fresh popcorn. We pop it in a big pan on the stove. One day they were frustrated with bad attitudes. They were arguing about everything. I popped some popcorn, and we worked successfully for 1.5 hours more. I've used that a few times since with success every time. The only problem is that my oldest daughter heard me tell another mom about it, and just the other day she said, "Mom, I'm feeling a little stressed. Can you cook something?"

Guess what? These tips may help homeschool moms, but even if your kids go to school, these three things can and will work for you as well! It was a public school teacher who taught me about F.O.B. She did it in the summer with her own children. So, homeschooling or not, go to bed and rise early, introduce your kids to F.O.B., and cook something aromatic FOR YOU!

MeMe

2008-02-27T23:06:00.001-05:00

I've been tagged. My friend Hannah has tagged me and told me to do a MeMe. So in my 3rd post, I get to do a MeMe. How fun! Here are 6 quirky things about me.

1. I am a wanna-be organizer. I read books upon more books about organization. I have tons of ideas about how to organize my things, but mostly other people's things. In the past I actually helped lots of other people organize their things. Have you ever watched that show on HGTV called Mission: Organization? Well, I think it's great. I watch it and dream of all the neat things I could do in different rooms in my house, or better yet, in other people's homes! But guess what? I am a messie!

2. I am addicted to soft drinks. I would have Coke Zero piped in through an I.V. but then I wouldn't feel the burn. The burn from the carbonation is what I long for! And even better....one that is so cold it's almost frozen. You know when you pop the top and there are little ice pieces in the can? MMMMMM, I get excited just thinking about it.

3. Speaking of things I am addicted to, try Nachos. I have a weakness for them. And it doesn't have to be "gourmet" nachos that come with beans, lettuce, etc. It can just be cheese and chips. I even like the kind from the 7-11 (yes we have those in Virginia!). I went to Sam's and they actually have that HUGE can of fake cheese for Nachos. BOUGHT IT! And you can actually freeze the stuff. So I divide it in to ziplock bags and put it in the freezer. When I want to use it, I let it thaw, I cut a hole in the corner of the bag and squeeze it out. And I found the perfect tortilla chips here. They are Utz brand and they are light and thin and crispy and salty. All the stuff I love about a good chip for good nachos. Then I add jalepenos and some sour cream and I am good to go. Yes, I have a weakness for Nachos. So if you ever want me to tell you deep dark secrets then tempt me with Nachos....and an almost frozen Coke in a can!

4. I can't go to sleep with my feet cold, but I hate to sleep in socks. So how in the world do I remedy that one? Well, I put socks on until my feet are toasty. Then I take off the socks, but make sure that I can wrap a blanket or the sheet tightly around my feet. I just can't sleep in socks, because if I do, my feet would suffocate. I am just sure of it.

5. I don't like to have my face wet in the shower. Those little drops of water that trickle down your face when you're in the shower????? I HATE THEM! I must always have a towel nearby to dry my face. Unfortunately, I think my kids have the same phobia, you know, tricklingdropsaphobia????

6. I now get very emotional when I hear the Star-Spangled Banner played or sung...and sometimes even when I see a picturesque view of the American flag. After living outside of the U.S., I find myself a more and more patriotic, not egocentric, but patriotic. I get teary-eyed when I hear it. Please understand me that I am not saying the U.S. is perfect and makes no mistakes. I just think I appreciate more all the sacrifices people made/make so that I can live in a country where we are FREE. Yes, I cry!

So there...6 quirky things about me. And believe me, there are a ton more, I just don't want to bore you any more. So now I tag, Craig , and that's all for now, because I am just getting into this blogging thing and don't have too many froggers (friends combined with bloggers) in my life!

I am without my computer...

2008-12-03T00:58:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to let you know that my lack of bloggage is because I am without my computer. My dvd/cd-rom drive quit working, and the casing on the computer is cracked. I took it in and should be getting it soon. I am having to use Craig's computer when he's home, or the VERY slow computer that the kids use for school/games. I am very excited about lots of things that are going on, but I will wait for my computer to share it all. Thanks for your patience!

Angel Food Ministries

2008-11-24T11:41:00.002-05:00

Have you ever heard of this? I had heard of it, but finally took advantage of it for the very first time. It is a ministry that ANYONE can take advantage of. There are no salary requirements and no application process. Read about the ministry HERE, and find a distribution center near you. This past weekend, Craig took the kids and picked up our first box. The menus are different for each month. In November for $30 we got this:

1 One Dessert Item (it was a package of cookies)
1 One Dozen Eggs
1 1 lb. Diced Sweet Potatoes
1 1 lb. Green Beans
1 1 lb. Ground Turkey
1 1 lb. Smoked Sausage
1 1.5 lb. New York Strip Steak (4 x 6 oz.)
1 10 oz. Peanut Butter
1 15 oz. Cranberry Sauce
1 2 lb. Baby Back Pork Ribs
1 2 lb. Chicken Chunks (I thought they would be nuggets. They are popcorn style chicken bites made from dark meat. I fried some because I want to fix them in lots of different ways. Next time, I will bake them with some seasoning and add them on to a salad.)
1 20 oz. Shoestring Fries
1 28 oz. Jumbo Charbroiled Beef Patties with Gravy
1 3 lb. IQF Split Chicken Breast
1 32 oz. 2% Reduced Fat Shelf-Stable Milk
1 6 oz. Pancake Mix
1 7 oz. Beef-Flavored Rice & Vermicelli

They also have "special units" that you can buy if you buy one of the regular boxes like the one I listed above. There are meat only boxes, or produce only boxes. And for December they have a few more options than usual. They have a special meat and cheese gift box for $20, full Christmas meals, and a holiday mixed fruit box $26. I am impressed with it, and it would make a neat gift for someone this season! It includes all of this for $26:

4 Washington State Large, Extra Fancy Red Delicious Apples
4 Washington State Large, Extra Fancy Golden Delicious Apples
4 Washington State Extra Large, Extra Fancy Granny Smith Apples
5 Washington State Large, Extra Fancy Red Anjou Pears
4 Extra Large, Extra Fancy Red Rome Apples
4 Large Florida Tree-Ripened Navel Oranges
4 Large Florida Tree-Ripened Tangerines
4 Large Florida Tree-Ripened Tangelos
6 Large Florida Tree-Ripened Juice Oranges
5 Large Florida Tree-Ripened Ruby Red Grapefruits
1 Recipe Sheet

Now that I look at it again, it's AWESOME for $26! That's 45 pieces of fruit!!!!

In this time of stretching our budget for holidays, I hope this helps you, too!

Happy Savings and Happy Thanksgiving!

Black Friday is coming...

2008-11-23T20:11:00.002-05:00

This is one of the best shopping days of the year! And you can get almost ALL of the ads online before Thursday. Just go to BLACK FRIDAY INFO and check out the ads. Hope you have an incredible Thanksgiving. We all have so many things to be thankful for!

Good retreat!

2008-11-22T19:22:00.002-05:00

Well, I am back! I just returned from a Ladies Retreat with the women of Bayside Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, and some who attend other churches. We had a great time. God met us there. I thank each and everyone of you who attended for making me (and my friends from FBC) feel so welcome! We'll have to do it again sometime, and maybe the Ding-A-Ling Sisters will make another appearance!

I have one prayer request. The woman who puts the retreat together every year (this was year 19!) is sick. She ended up having to leave this morning before the retreat was over. I would ask that you pray for Frances Gamel. She has a heart for the women of her church and the Hampton Roads area to know Christ and know Him intimately. She has had some health problems in the past, so her recovery from this illness may be long. Please pray for her to rest and get well!

We love you Frances!

Thank you also for your prayers for me. God met me there, too. He worked and He was glorified. Thanks again for lifting me up.

Love to all!

Just a warning....

2008-11-17T08:34:00.003-05:00

This week there will most likely be a lack of bloggage. Bloggage...is that word? Well, it is now. When I was learning Spanish, there were times when I would be in the middle of a conversation and come to a place where I wouldn't know a word. So, I would just make one up. We laughed so hard at me, and many Costa Ricans (thanks Guema) and Mexicans laughed at me, but there are still words we jokingly use that I made up! So, bloggage is now in my and your vocabulary!

Back to the warning....not much bloggage this week. I am laying out my schedule for you so that you can pray for me this week. I don't remember the last time I've felt this much pressure (good pressure, just lots to do), so all of your prayer are welcome and coveted!

Monday: Loop de Lou Party, prep for the party, necessary trip to the store
Tuesday: Luncheon at church, Kindermusik, and Basketball tryouts for the Artist and the Jedi
Wednesday: Must have prepared and taken 6 desserts to the church by 9am, and church
Thursday: Dentist appoint. for the Jedi, errands to run, and North Suffolk church plant meeting
Friday: Leave at 9am for a Women's Retreat...oh, and for the biggest part...I am leading the retreat!

And homeschooling...and laundry...and meals...and sleep...and final prep for the retreat...and spend time with my husband just returned from Portugal....and the MOST IMPORTANT of them all, have focused time with my Savior (the only one that can help me do it all with a Godly attitude).

So please pray! Thanks in advance for lifting me up!

Couponing with Kids...

2008-11-15T10:01:00.005-05:00

First of all, MAKE SURE THEY GO TO THE BATHROOM!!!! The Circus and I went on Friday to take advantage of the Triples/Doubles weekend at Farm Fresh. And of course we had to make a trip to the bathroom, even though they all "supposedly went" before we left. Now, this is not an easy task as not only do you have to take the kids to bathroom, you must lug all of your paraphernalia with you: coupons, purse, umbrella (it was raining), daughter's purse (that won't happen again). So, first the ingredient necessary to couponing with kids is PATIENCE. Just know that there will be interruptions, a million questions, a bathroom break, etc. I did not handle it well at first, but then it hit me, "Lori, you're the problem, not them. They don't deserve the stinky attitude. They didn't complain that you brought them grocery shopping, so don't complain when they need to go to the bathroom." So, patience! Now once I get over my issues, the next key is what MAKES OR BREAKS A TRIP:

ORGANIZATION! This is NOT one of my strengths. You've all read my posts on being a messie! And sometimes, Coupon Central (aka the dining room table) is a disaster. But, my binder is usually very organized. Have you seen my binder? I must post pictures soon. You can see a an example of what I use HERE. Back to the original post. You see, although I got all flustered over the trip to the bathroom, I went right back to my list and picked right back up where I left off. Before I left on Friday, I spent 30-45 minutes making my detailed list and gathering my coupons. I only got the coupons ready that I needed on my SPECIFIC list. As I put an item in my basket, I check it off! (This may sound like the basics, but it's a DEFINITE when kids are along!) When I finish with the list, I go to an aisle where there is usually no traffic (the make up aisle in the grocery store, or in my Walmart, it's the men's clothing department; it's right there as I finish up). I go over the list and look at my coupons.

Now, what do I do with all those busy hands? Use handcuffs....JUST KIDDING!!! When I am being the mother I should be, I am patient and take my time and let them help me! I show them which item I need and tell them how many I need. My oldest carries a small notebook writing down items and prices. Talk about homeschooling. That is spelling, handwriting, and math all in one!!! Not to mention a lesson in frugality. And in the check out lane, they help me unload the cart. Then I tell them to watch the screen. I am trying to instill a sense of excitement as they see the total drop.

Does it always go this way? NO! Am I always the patient mother I should be? NO! There are a couple of more tips I will share with you. If you have a list as long as your arm, and you know you are going to be in the store for an extended period of time, do your best not to take them. There are many of you who don't have a choice. Take a small notebook and pencils for them. I do that, too. And the last trick up my sleeve that I have mastered is a good game of "Guess Who?" This is a made up customized version of the board game. I give a simple description of one of their favorite characters from a movie, book, tv show, or a real live person. From my description, they have to guess who I am talking about. They have even begun to do it for each other. This always stops a sudden break down!! It never fails. There can be weeping and gnashing of teeth and when I say, "Let's play Guess Who," you can hear a pin drop. Now, how I do that and still manage my list? Patience and Organization.

And with kids in tow, I bought $111 worth (retail value at this store) of stuff for $21! Eight cans of Manwich, 9 cans of Campbell's Chunky soup, 9 Pillsbury cake mixes, 4 boxes of Town House Crackers, 2 boxes of Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa, 4 boxes of Special K, 2 jars of Peter Pan peanut butter, 1 can of French's French Fried Onions, 1 jar of Smucker's preserves, 1 jar of Marshmallow Creme (kids with me and it was on sale), 2 Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers, and 1 can of Reddi-whip Whipped Cream! It was a GOOD RUN!

Oh...and just so you'll know, my kids have begun to beg me daily for their own coupon binder. So, it's really not too bad. And kids who learn about frugality while young usually have a better chance of practicing it as adults...not always, but usually.

If you have questions, comments, or suggestions on how you deal with kids while couponing, please leave them for all to see!

Today is Worth Two Posts

2008-11-15T12:11:00.002-05:00

Sign up for a Home Made Simple Coupon Booklet. It is a free booklet that has $27 in coupons for Proctor and Gamble products. I had to share this!

Happy Savings!

Don't forget my Couponing with Kids post below!

Triples and Doubles at Farm Fresh 11/14-11/16

2008-11-14T08:21:00.002-05:00

You've got a lot to choose from this weekend when it comes to good shopping! I hope I can pull it together with the 3 kids and take advantage of some of the deals! I think I will wait until after my trip with them to write about couponing with kids! Here are the details from Farm Fresh! I got this directly from the ad. You can see this weeks ads from the paper HERE.

3 DAYS ONLY!
Friday-Sunday
November 14-16

UNLIMITED DOUBLE COUPONS UP TO $1.00
That means that a manufacturer cents off coupon worth:
.55=1.10
.75=1.50
1.00=$2.00
1.25=1.25

PLUS
UNLIMITED TRIPLE COUPONS UP TO .50
That means that a manufacturer cents off coupon worth:
25=.75
.35=1.05
.50=1.50

*Limit 1 coupon per item, maximum of 2 like items double or tripled per shopping visit. If the value of the Triple or Double Coupon exceeds the retail price of the item, you will receive the item FREE. Coupons stating "Not Subject to Doubling" or "Do not Double" will not be eligible for Tripling or Doubling. Quantity Rights Reserved.

Good deals Hampton Roads!!!

2008-11-12T16:44:00.003-05:00

If you are in the Hampton Roads area, then this week is great for deals! You must check out the Farm Fresh sale paper, and all Super Kmarts in the area are having Super Double coupons AGAIN!!! Happy savings!

Continue to pray for Craig. He and Curt made it safely along with all the loot for the Bustrums! I think they had as much fun unpacking it as I did packing it! Most likely more!

And I promise the "couponing with kids" post is coming soon. I am trying to prioritize some things and get some cleaning/laundry done. Thanks for your patience!

Oh, and check out NYC Mission. Some of our friends, Freddy T. and Susan Wyatt, are church planting missionaries in the heart of New York City. They have just had twins about 6 weeks early. Read their story and please continue to pray for them as Elliott David and Lillie Beth are in the NICU. Thanks for lifting them up!

Couponing with Kids in Tow

2008-11-11T10:35:00.002-05:00

A friend of mine commented on my last post wanting to know about couponing with kids. I thought that it was such a good question that I would devote a whole post to it. I wrote a short answer for her, but I will do an in depth look at it soon....hopefully before I close my eyes to sleep tonight.

Pray for Craig. He flies to Portugal today to be our missionary friends, Mark and Hannah Bustrum. I have packed more than 100 pounds of stuff for them!!! SO EXCITING!!! When we were in Mexico, one of the things we loved most about teams coming were the "goodie suitcases." Teams asked all the time what we needed or wanted. They also also asked about gifts they could bring for the kids. It was like Christmas. Now, we get to be on the other end. I have sent so many things, and I wish I could be there to see them open the suitcases.

Craig will be traveling back on Sunday. Thanks for reading about the craziness in our lives and also your willingness to lift us up!

The Epitome of Using Coupons....

2008-11-06T19:28:00.003-05:00

Today was a GREAT day shopping. I went to Harris Teeter (3.35 for 50.90 worth), to Kroger (24.09 for 89.07 worth), Walmart (3.00 for 11.96 worth), and an unexpected trip to Farm Fresh (13.51 for 102.11 worth). I spent a total of $44 dollars for $254 worth of stuff. My trip to Farm Fresh is the one that amazes me most. I paid $13.51 for 33 items. Those 33 items include 8 bottles of All Small and Mighty Laundry detergent and 10 bottles of Suave Shampoo for kids. It's an average of 41 cents an item. I am just shocked. I have laundry detergent for awhile!!! And I love All!

Many of you ask me what it takes to do the kind of deals I do. If I think about the three most important things I would say are organization, time, and persistence. Of all the deals I found today, I have a picture of two lone boxes of goldfish crackers. I read on Hot Coupon World that one of the stores had put the Halloween boxes of Goldfish on clearance. When I scanned these two boxes, they rang up for 5.98 each. I took them to the front anyway to find out if they were supposed to be marked down. My cashier went and found the manager which took almost 10 minutes. You can imagine how the people behind me were oozing with love. I told them coupon savings stories to ease the tension. The cashier came back and said, "They are 75% off! They are only $1.50 a box." I looked at the people behind and said, "Thanks for your patience, I just saved 9 dollars!" They all smiled and laughed and I pranced out with $12 in Goldfish for $3.

Organization, time, and persistence are the keys. Six months ago, I never would have waited. My time was TOO valuable. Well, I've learned my lesson over the past few months. My time IS valuable. I saved a dollar a minute today, just at one store. STAY WITH IT! DON'T BE DISCOURAGED! You can do it!

Harris Teeter Triples 11/6-11/9 ONLY

2008-11-05T16:25:00.002-05:00

For those of you in the Hampton Roads area that happen to read the blog, and for those who have HT in your area, triples are back. Here are the regulations.

1. Twenty coupons total per VIC card or household per day.
2. Only 3 of the same coupon will be tripled.
3. Triple coupons with the face value of up to 99 cents.
4. No internet printed coupons will be doubled.

Here are some of the deals you can get:

First an explanation of the abbreviations

SS=Smart Source
RP=Red Plum
These are the names of the coupons inserts in your paper each week. The date by the abbreviation is when that coupon came out. Thanks to HOT COUPON WORLD for all of this!

Lysol Wipes - $2
.75/1 10/12 SS = free

Colgate Max Fresh Toothpaste - $1.99
.75/1 11/02 SS = free

Reynolds wax paper, 75 ft - $1.50
.50/1 10/19 SS = free

Trident Gum - $1.19
.55/1 9/21 SS = free

Nesquik hot cocoa packets-1.50
.50/1 any nesquik 9/14 RP= FREE

Muir Glen Tomatos (paste, sauce, diced) $1.49-$2.19
.75/1 10/26 SS =free

Fleischmann's Yeast .99
.45/1 9/28 SS =free

Beechnut Juice=1.39
0.75 10/26 SS = Free

Betty Crocker Pouch Potatoes--1.19 reg. price (Durham, NC)
.40/1 in 9/14 SS=FREE (exp 11/08)

Wholly Guacamole 1.99 - 75/1 10-05-08 SS = free

Kikkoman 10 oz soy sauce or teriyaki = $1.67
.55/1 8/24 SS = .02

Muir Glen soups - $2.29 ( a few flavors $2.89)
.75/1 10/26 SS = .04

Quaker Oatmeal Express Bowls 1.59-
.50/1 coupon 9/07 RP =.09

Whiskas Temptations cat treats on sale 1.67
.50 9/21 RP = .17

Smithfield Smoked Sausage $2.50
$.75 9/29SS = $.25

Betty Crocker Frosting - $1.79
.50/1 10/19 SS = .29

Carnation Evaporated Milk – 12 oz - .99
.55/2 9/14 RP = .33 for 2

Argo Corn Starch $1.99
.55/1 10/05 SS= $0.34

Snyder's Of Hanover Pretzel Sticks - 12 Multi Grain 2.59 - 75/1 09-28-08 SS = .34

Viva Papertowel=2.59
.75/1 10/12 SS =0.34

Arnold 100% Natural bread - $1.99
.55/1 10/05 SS = .34

These are just a few of the good deals that will be available.

Happy Savings!

OK Ladies....

2008-10-30T21:35:00.006-04:00

Tonight was a GREAT night. I was able to attend "Let's Do Dinner." It's part of the Women's ministry at our church. They have "Let's Do Lunch" once a month at noon. For the women who work and are unable to attend, they have the nighttime dinner program. Well, I was able to share with the ladies for a a few minutes about my one of favorite topics....COUPONS!! Can you imagine me talking about coupons??? NEVER! Well, a good time was had by all. I promised the ladies tonight that I would post some of the websites that I have shared with you all before, but by posting them now, they are easily accessed from here.

Ladies of Let's Do Dinner, tonight was wonderful! I had a great time, even if you laughed at my binder. When you have one for yourself, we'll both laugh all the way to the bank! Also, one other thing. You all saw the products I bought. Just because I bought those doesn't mean that those were the only things on sale or with good prices at Kmart. I bought some weird colors of fingernail polish. Well, those are for gifts for the little girls in Portugal whose parents are the missionaries I mentioned last night. Little girls love that stuff! The "normal" colors are also on sale! Also, there was lots of free cat food at Kmart to be had, too, but I don't have a cat. That was just a sampling of what was there. Here are the websites I promised! Just click the links below and be whisked away to a saving wonderland! Please feel free to ask questions by clicking the comment link at the bottom of the page. You can ask questions there, and all of the women can see the question and the answer.

1. The Coupon Mom This is a free site, but you must sign up. Her services are free because of all of the advertising on her site. When you first sign up, you will see LOTS and LOTS of ads, but just click "No Thanks" or "Skip," and you will never have to deal with all of the ads again. This site has lots of information, but it's main feature is that is has weekly lists of the sales at Walgreens, Rite Aid, Walmart, Target, CVS (coming soon to Hampton Roads), Kroger, Harris Teeter, and Food Lion (listed under North Carolina, not sure why). On each list for each store, it lists the sales on everything in the sale ad, matches a coupon to it, and tells you how much you should save. Also, you can select the items you are interested in buying, click a link at the the bottom of the page (Display Selected Deals), and it will give you a printable shopping list! GREAT SITE!

2. Hot Coupon World This is a free site, but you must also sign up. It is a forum site. Women from all over the country post deals they've gotten, and specials they've found that might not be advertised anywhere else. There are also LOTS AND LOTS of tips on how to save money, stockpiling, and much much more. You can spend literally HOURS reading the information there. DO NOT GET OVERWHELMED. Start slow and small. One tip for navigating this site. They use a lot of abbreviations like YMMV, TMF, Man Q, WAGS. At the bottom of every page you're on there is a link to a page with abbreviations. It will help you tremendously.

3. Money Saving Mom. This is my favorite frugal blog. It does not require that you sign up. She has lots of great posts about saving money and she also lists many of the deals for the week.

OK ladies, enjoy this. Take your time. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will be your coupon binder or your personal stockpile. It takes time, and you've got lots to learn. It's so worth it!

Happy Savings!

Today was a good shopping day....

2008-10-29T22:11:00.003-04:00

Many Kmart stores around the country are having Super Double Coupons this week. That means coupons with a face value up to $2 are doubled. So a $2 coupon is worth $4. A $1 coupon is worth $2 and so on. That means you can get some incredible deals. Here is a picture of everything I bought today.

This is $141.97 worth of stuff. After all the sales and coupons, I was able to get all of it for $17.38. Don't worry, I couldn't believe it either. Neither could the cashier or the lady behind me in line. We all did the happy dance right there together. After my last post, I realized once again that this is what couponing is all about.

I bought 51 items today. As I looked at the picture, I realized that there were only
22 items that I actually paid something for. Everything else on the table was absolutely free. And some of the items that I got today are actually going to my friends, the Bustrums that I wrote about in my last post.

God is good. He does provide. He can use it all!

Happy Savings!

Walgreens wants your business 10/17 & 10/18 DEAD DEAL

2008-10-16T20:56:00.004-04:00

Get your $5 off $25 here and save again on Friday and Saturday. Walgreens is really wanting your business. Remember, the total must be $25 after all your coupons and other discounts.

Happy Savings!

Great Days to Shop at Walgreens 10/24 & 10/25 DEAD DEAL

2008-10-24T09:15:00.005-04:00

Get your $5 of $20 coupon here. Remember that your total has to be $20 after all other coupons and discounts.

Hope you have a GREAT day shopping. Check out Money Saving Mom HERE and HERE see some of the deals you can get right now at Walgreens (if you have the coupons from the last few weeks). Thanks Money Saving Mom. There are some good money makers as well as some free and cheap items. I am hoping to profit about $8 shopping there, if not more. With some careful planning, you can do it!

It's finally Fall....and other stuff

2008-10-27T19:23:00.003-04:00

I know, I know, Fall started in September. Well, for some reason, it finally feels like Fall today. I was driving today and looked up and the first few trees are beginning to turn. The weather is changing, and it's getting darker earlier. I just love Fall. Today the first real cold front has arrived. I needed food to make me warm, and I thought about Sopa de Elote. That is Sweet Corn Soup, and it's one of my favorite foods that I ate in Mexico. I found this recipe online. It was SO good. I made two small alterations. I added a little chicken bouillon powder because that's what they do in Mexico, and I didn't add the peppers. The other thing that I can say about this recipe is that I did it last minute, and it came together so quickly! There is nothing better than a quick, yummy supper. And I tell many people, "If it's not easy, I don't do it!"

Couponing is going well. It has it's ups and downs. Some days I am thrilled about doing it, other days I feel such a weight from the responsibility of keeping it all together. I am saving hundreds of dollars of every month. I am getting lots and lots of stuff for free each month. One of the highlights for me has been collecting stuff for my friends, Mark and Hannah Bustrum and their girls, who are missionaries in Portugal. Craig is going there in a couple of weeks for a vision trip. Our church wants to send a team there next year. I had Hannah send me a list of stuff they wanted and needed. I laughed and laughed when I got it. I have things that I've gotten for free (lots, actually) that were on her list. Not only is using coupons a benefit to my family, it is a benefit to some of our closest friends on the other side of the ocean. So, when I get discouraged with the time it takes to cut coupons, file them, and purge the expired ones, I will remember the Bustrums. God can use it all, remember that.

Catching up and priorities....

2008-10-22T22:29:00.003-04:00

Just so you know, I am catching up. I am 3 weeks behind on clipping coupons. I am behind on house work. And I have just got to get my mind around some things. My family is coming for a visit, and we are planning for the Princess's 4th birthday. I will be back regularly soon. Thanks for your patience, and thanks for continually checking the blog!

Happy Savings!

Like a dirty aquarium....

2008-10-09T22:19:00.004-04:00

We are on a new adventure: FISH! A few weeks ago, we were at a GREAT garage sale and found a fishbowl and a bunch of the accessories for $3. The Artist was so excited. She bought it with her own money, and she was thrilled to think about buying her VERY own fish. We bought a betta. The first one died. We're not sure why, but it's probably because I didn't have water conditioner (we were told we didn't need it). We bought another betta and the water conditioner and he, Flame, is still alive. And, he's happy, too.

Well, about two weeks ago, we inherited a 10 gallon aquarium with one fish. To make the transfer to the house, we put him in a carrier and emptied the water. I read online that I shouldn't have to clean the tank completely. I only needed to add new water, water conditioner, and change the filter. As we filled the tank with water, lots of gunk began emerging from below the rocks. It was awful. We decided to let the filter run and see if was any better. It got better so we put the fish in.

Last Friday, Craig and the kids went and bought 6 new fish. Well, one died. We got a new one. Another one died, and another fish had a "growth" on it's head. After talking to the fish expert at a pet store, we discovered that the fish had ICK. In the meantime, another one died. So, we got ICK pills and an aquarium vacuum. We were also told to bring in a water sample after vacuuming. Well, I was determined to take it in because the whole room where the aquarium is smelled like dead fish.

Today I took the water sample in. The fish expert used an abbreviated form of a VERY bad curse word to tell me how BAD our aquarium water was. So I asked what I needed to do. These were the instructions: START OVER. Start over? I am new to this whole aquarium thing. How do you start over? Put the fish in bags. Wash the aquarium and all that's in it with the basic blue Dawn dish soap. Buy 10 gallons of spring water and add two other things I bought from her. I sure hope it works.

I am tired of this aquarium. As I drove away from that big pet superstore with the kids talking in the back ground, I was mumbling quietly about having to put my hands in "icky" aquarium water once again. And I heard the Lord say, "It's just like sin." You see, when we come to the Lord, He completely cleanses us from our sins. We are completely clean. As you know, we continue to sin because we are human. Well, our unconfessed sin is like the mess in my aquarium. The water can look clean, until you begin to move it around a little, and the gunk begins to emerge from under the rocks. We might confess some of it, put in a new filter, do a water change and it will look a little better. But then the water begins to stink. It affects us and everyone around us. Until we confess it all and bring it all to light, sin festers. God is the only one who can cleanse it all and wipe it away.

So, tomorrow morning, I will be changing nasty, stinky, aquarium water. I hope there are no more dead fish. I hope I don't get sick. And I pray this reminds me of how often I need to just START OVER by completely confessing my sin. (1 John 1:9)

Be a tester for companies....

2008-10-13T20:52:00.003-04:00

My desire to be frugal comes from my mama. I tell people that she raised me on a 4 letter word: S-A-L-E! One day I came home from 4 year old preschool and she had arranged on my bed a bunch of clothes that were "hand-me-downs." My eyes were immediately drawn to a pair of black patten shoes. I held them with such excitement and asked (as a 4 year old), "Were they on sale?" And she said, "Better, they were free!"

Today, I want to share with you how you can get products for free. There are two consumer groups, one with General Mills and the other is Kraft, that want your opinions. You sign up for the groups, and they will send you either coupons for free products or the products themselves for you to try out. In response, they want your feed back. They want you to share the products or coupons with your friends and family. And after you've tried the products, they want you to tell your friends and family about the products. Join for FREE!

Join Kraft First Taste

Join General Mills Pssst

Here is my first recommendation from General Mills!

Pillsbury Thin Pizza Crust. I like this product because of its convenience. One of the things that I did that we ALL loved was made a Breakfast Pizza. I was tired one night and looked in the fridge. I scrambled eggs and browned sausage. I crumbled the eggs on top of the unrolled crust, spread the sausage on top of the eggs, and sprinkled lots of shredded cheese on top. I put that in the oven and cooked it as long as the directions called for. And the kids ask for it at least once a week!

Enough for commercials. Sign up and get FREE STUFF!!!

Happy Savings!

See, you can do this! And deals for the week!

2008-10-12T19:32:00.006-04:00

Here's another reason why you can do this. Both of these trips were done at Walgreens and Walmart. Most of you have either Walgreens or Walmart or both. Neither one of them doubles coupons and both of them accept internet printed coupons. So, these are two runs I made yesterday.

Here is the Walmart trip. I actually bought some other stuff, but these were the most impressive deals.

This is 11 packs of the Green Giant Steamers. I bought 8 of the regular bags of veggies. They were $1.23 each. I bought three of the specialty steamers that were $1.82 each. I had $1.00 coupons for all of them that I got from the Sunday paper 10/5 and another week in the past. So I got all 11 packages of veggies for $4.30. Also, you will see the two Gillette Fusion Gift packs. On the box you can plainly see that it says a $15 value. Walmart had put these gift packs on clearance for $5.00 each. Well, I still had a couple of coupons left. The coupons were $4.00 off. So I got those gift sets for $1.00 EACH!!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT???? I CAN'T EITHER!!! So, even if you don't have a coupon, look for those gift packs at Wally World! $5.00 is still a great price. So for 11 bags of veggies and 2 gift packs, I paid $6.30!

Now, for my Walgreens run. This last week, they had all of this on sale. And because of coupons and rebates all of this was free! The coupons were in the Sunday papers in the past, or they were internet printables. YOU CAN DO THIS!!! Now, actually, because I had some Register Rewards (coupons for money of your next purchase that print when you buy qualifying products) that were left from two weeks ago, I will actually make $9. BUT even if you didn't have the Register Rewards, it would all be for free. If you request your rebate on a gift card, you would make an extra 10%!

I have lots of sites that I use for finding out great tips. You will see the main ones listed on the left of my blog. This week, there are also GREAT deals at Walgreens and Rite Aid. I think at Rite Aid this week you can get almost $150 in stuff for free after rebate! Money Saving Mom lists the deals each week that you can get from the stores. She also tells you the sources of the coupons. So, for the deals for this week, click on the names of the stores below! Thanks Money Saving Mom!

Walgreens
Rite Aid

I hope to post more good deals from Walmart and Target soon. Or, you can check out Coupon Mom. You must sign up for free, but then look for the deals of the week from Walmart as well as Target!

Happy Savings!

Pray for Craig's family....

2008-10-11T23:17:00.002-04:00

We received a call this morning that Craig's grandparents were killed in a car wreck last night. Pray for Craig as he spends time with his mom supporting her through this difficult time. Pray for members of family that do not know the Lord. Pray that they will seek and that Craig can be light. Thank you so much for lifting us up.

I like visitors....

2008-10-07T23:39:00.003-04:00

Well, maybe. You see, I am a messie! I have posted on this before. I wish I could say that I continued what I had going here. I have not kept it up like I wanted to. I would have struggled if someone had knocked on my door at 5pm. I wouldn't want to let anyone enter. My pride would not have allowed me to open the doors to ANYONE.

Well, at 6pm tonight, my temporary neighbor, who is here for 9 weeks taking classes for her job, asked if I was going to watch the debate. I said, "Well of course." Then it hit me, she was wanting to watch it over here because she has no cable at her house. And before I knew it, "Would you like to come over and watch it with me?" flew out of my mouth!!! I am so thankful that I live on the Eastern Coast. You see, in California, the debate started at 6pm. Fortunately, in VA, it started at 9pm and I had 3 hours to feed the kids and clean the downstairs area of our house. (DON'T YOU DARE GO UPSTAIRS!) So, the kids and I worked (mainly me with some good help from the oldest), and we got it done! The downstairs area looks GREAT! It even smelled good, thanks to an apple cinnamon candle that I lit immediately at 6 when I invited her over!

So, do I like having guests over? YES! I love it. Do I like having a clean house? YES! I love it. But, it takes planning just so someone can come over! So, what's the problem? That's the million dollar question. So, help me fellow messies and organized friends. Help me figure out why I can't stay disciplined enough on a daily basis to just take care of the basics. Do I want perfection? No, just want a little order. So, comment on this post and share your greatest tips for staying on top of the chaos! Tomorrow we will conquer the upstairs area! I told the kids we could play play play on Thursday and Friday if we conquered the upstairs! I look forward to your replies!