The Thrill is Gone

UGH I am having such a hard time getting back into the swing of things with my coupons. I am super behind on clipping and don't see myself catching up anytime soon, with my school schedule and the kids. My other issue...I just cant get motivated to clip .25 coupon after, after .25 coupon. Our local paper has not had a good insert in WEEKS.
I am still keeping my spending down, because we have a good surplus. I am also lacking in the CVS dept., I have been really let down by the lack of sales and total lack of stock on the few sale items they do have.
I know this terrible economy it effecting a company's ability to keep a lot of stock on hand, but CVS should be able to keep key sale/ECB items in stock.
I have scored some good deals in other areas, the days before yesterday I bought 32 items at Old Navy for $45!
And yesterday I scored 2 shirts and a jacket for me, and 2 pairs of shoes for the boys for a total of $29!
Anyone have any good grocery deals to motivate me?

Trying to Conceive

I try not to flood this blog with the heavy stories of our trying to conceive over the last two years, but as the second anniversary of Kai's loss, next month approaches I may dump some of my feelings into the blog-o-sphere. I am all too aware that I am not the only woman to go through these trials, not by a long shot. In fact, so many go through even worse.

If someone told me, even in the days after we lost him, that I would still be grieving so deeply 2 years later, I wouldn't have believed you.

It is easier, don't get me wrong, but there will always be someone missing from our family. This pain is compounded by the 3 losses that followed. I don't know if will ever be blessed with another baby, but I am learning to be okay with whatever God has planned for us.

Tomorrow one of my dearest friends will face the one year anniversary of the loss of her little girl, M you are in my thoughts and prayers. ((((hugs))))

Happy Birthday Jordan

Today my middle son is 6!
Holy cow!
I have no idea where time has gone, it seems like yesterday he was the biggest preemie in the NICU. Now he is one of the biggest Kindergartners.
He can read like a big boy now.
His biggest birthday wish was for a skateboard :gulp:
We spent the day at Disney with the family and had a great time.
Happy Birthday Jordan!

Not so Super Savings Saterday

Well actually I went shopping on Friday, but it stunk either way.
Here is my issue... We have as much of a stockpile as we have room for in the dry goods dept. and so I really don't need anything from the Publix bogo sale.
Albertsons has better meat in my opinion so I shopped there this week.
My only banner deal was on steak. They had seasones sirlions on bogo and they had some that need to go soon with $3 off qs. I was able to use 2 of them and got 2 packs of steaks for $3!!
I am looking for ways to get fruit, veggies, and flour cheaper.
Anyone have any tips?
TIA

Happy Valentines Day

In a time long, long ago, back in my er.. friskier days, I thought Valentines Day was a commercial holiday for the suckers trapped by monogamy.
Then when I met dh and became one of those suckers, it was all about lavishing gifts on each other.
Flash forward 12 years and its now about this:


A Valentines gift never meant so much, did you see that?
Noah wrote the card himself!
Snuggle your loved ones a little closer today.
And if you want something sweet I made the yummiest chocolate covered strawberries last night, I would have put a pic up, but we devoured them already.

Super Easy Chocolate Covered Strawberries:
1 Pack Strawberries
1 bag Ghiradelli Milk Chocolate Chips
1/2 tsp shortening

melt the chips and shortening in the microwave
one minute then stir, then in 30 second increments until melted

Dip cleaned and dried strawberries in chocolate
(you may need to zap the chocolate few times if it gets too stiff while dipping)
place on a plate (you may want to very lightly oil the plate mine got stuck lol)
Cool in the fridge for about and hour, and try not to eat half of them before they harden.

Dont CVS Sick

Ugh. I should have known better to shop with snot in place of where my brain should be. I spent $30 at CVS today and only earned 8.99 in ECBs. I should have known my trip was in trouble, when I questioned the manager about the Fusion Gamer Razor (which they didn't have) I said, "The one with the ECB's" and he actually ASKED me what an ECB was?????? Oh no.
For that huge total I did get stuff I needed to get anyway.

1 Tide Free and Clear sale $6.49
used .35/1 *sob* terrible q
1 Downy sale $5.49
used .35/1 q
2 Dawn dish soap sale .99
used 2 .50/1
2 Pantene products
used $2/2 q
Earned $15 off of Madagascar 2
Madagascar 2 sale after Discount $4.99
**there was a $5/1 q in the paper a week ago today, but I forgot to get it. This coupon would make it free!**
2 pack Edge gel. sale $5.39
Earned 2 ECBs
Garnier Hair color sale $5.99
used $2/1 q
Earned 2 ecbs
6 Hour Energy Shot sale $4.99
Earned $4.99 ECBs
Garbage bags $4.99
Also used 10 ecb
and a $10/50q
total oop $30
I think I may cry now.
CVS needs to bring back the good deals!

We Think We Have Tough... Buy Some Pampers

Times are tight here in the US there is no doubt about it. Its scary stuff, people are losing homes. One in ten families in Florida is on food stamps.
Every news cast is filled with the doom and gloom of our economy.
I have more than once FREAKED about what our financial future holds. And I am sad to admit had more than one pity party over the fact that we do not OWN a home.
And after watching this video on lilsugar, I want to smack myself.

Can you imagine watching your child die, because you were not given a 7 cent shot?
Or being so starved yourself that you couldn't produce milk to feed your hungry baby?

I don't want a debate about whether or not Salma should have nursed the baby in the video, I find it admirable, but understand others concerns.

I did want to mention, in the video they talk about the campaign Pampers is having. For every pack of diapers we buy, they donate those much needed Tetanus vaccines. It is a win win to me.

Jumping in on the Rant Bandwagon

I have privately ranted to my poor dh about this nutball...uh woman who just gave birth to octuplets, but have tried to avoid the controversy of it all. However sitting here on my couch, sick as dog, watching her interview on Dateline, I feel compelled to RANT to world. While I commend her for choosing to let all the babies have a chance at life and not get selective reduction, I am just at a loss as to why someone with no partner, and no income would have IVF.

Her denial about the seriousness of the situation alarms me. She is going to have 14 children to care for ALONE. Three of her older children have special needs, one is autistic. These babies are not going to have an easy road. She has no INCOME, none!
Unless you count student loans, social security for the three special needs kids, and food stamps.
Now those who know me in real life know, I am the last person that should be throwing stones on most of those things. And its true. I don't judge anyone for taking advantage of much needed assistance. Believe me I am there now, but I am not alone and we do have income. AND I am not having EXPENSIVE medical procedures to have litters of children that I don't have the means to care for.

Still I feel as though I am the pot calling the kettle black on some levels, we are far from financial secure, but would still love another baby.

Maybe I am a nutball too... wouldn't be the first time it was questioned.

CVS Deals

I havent even made it CVS this week, yet again there isnt too much to be excited about.
I do plan on getting:
Gillete Fusion Gamer sale $7.99
use $4/1 q from this weeks paper
Earn 4 ecbs
*making it free
Garnier Hair Color sale $5.99
use either $2/1 or $3/1 q depending on the type
Earn 2 ecbs
*making it .99 or free!

Another deal I am debating it the buy $20 in PG products and get $15 off of Madagascar 2 on DVD.
I can always stock up on Tide and Downey.
But if you need diapers anyway this is a sweet deal!

Twitter Anyone??

I am finally figuring out this whole Twitter thing! But now I need friends!
Click on the link --------------> to join me.
Please? I only have one friend, lol.

Maybe I Shouldn't Have a Stove

After a very long wait, I finally have a brand spanking new stove. I couldn't wait to break in the stove and my new Kitchen Aid mixer, so I decided to attempt to bake cookies. Notice I said ATTEMPT??
First let me say I love the mixer (Thanks Mandy).
But I couldn't help wonder, as I scraped garlicky dough off the walls, if God was trying to tell me something with the lack of a stove for almost 2 months. Maybe I shouldnt bake?
Are you wondering why cookie dough would have garlic in it?? My spice cabinet is right over the mixer and as I put the vanilla away, the Adobo fell out and into the mixer! The top flew off and the dough was instantly full of Adobo. The dough splattered all over the walls before I could turn it off.
I cleaned up the mess and started all over.
Long story short the cookies were divine!
And worth the mess, even though I am still finding dough in the weirdest places!

Finding Time to be Frugal

If you had not noticed my posts on money saving have been fewer and further between.
My classes this semester have been much more work than the last and I am WEEKS behind on coupon clipping and frankly was close to giving up the ghost. I happened to catch Oprah today and Couponmom was on. First let me say I am SOOOOO jealous of places that get double coupons, I literally salivate at the thought of Publix doubling. Second and most important I realized I need to get my coupon clipping kiester in gear. I need ideas on how to organize my coupons without having to clip them all, until summer break, I just don't have time to clip 3papers worth of coupons. Help!!