Yet more savings!!

Ok, had another great trip to Harris Teeter yesterday. Crazy enough I didn't even get everything!! I still have a few items I'd like to score the deals on but since I could only use up to 20 coupons for triples I had to pick and choose. So here's what I did get. Any coupons under $.99 were tripled!

Original Total $99.46, Total Spent $25.50, Savings $73.96

Reynolds Recycled Aluminum Foil-Have a rebate making this free!
Regular $3.29, Sale $2.99, $.55 coupon Cost=$1.34

Multi-Grain Cheerios
Regular $3.79, Sale $2.50, $.75 coupon Cost=$.25

Palmolive Dish Soap
Regular $3.79, Sale $1.89, $.25 coupon Cost=$1.14

Ortega Taco Shell & Taco Seasoning (price is for both combined)
Regular $3.45, Sale $2.30, $.75 coupon Cost=$.05

Wishbone Ranch Dressing
Regular $2.99, Sale $0, $.75 coupon Cost=$.74

Pillsbury Brownie Mix (bought 2, price based on 1)
Regular $1.89, Sale $0, $.35 Coupon Cost =$.84 each

Grill Mates Marinade Rub
Regular $1.19, Sale $1.00, Coupon $.50 Cost=$0.00

Electrasol Finish Tabs
Regular $5.99, Sale $3.50, Coupon $2.50 Cost =$1

Electrasol Finish tabs
Regular $5.99, Sale $3.50, Coupon $1.00 Cost =$2.50

Wacky Mac Veggie Noodles (bought 2, price based on 1)
Regular $1.49, Sale $1.29, Coupon $.50, Cost=$0.00

No Yolks Noodles (bought 2, price based on 1)
Regular $1.99, Sale $0, Coupon $.75, Cost= $0.00

Grande Tortilla Chips
Regular $3.49, Sale $2.00, Coupon $.75, Cost =$0.00

Colgate Regular Toothpaste
Regular 3.39, Sale $1.50, Coupon $.75, Cost =$0.00

Bagel-Fuls Original
Regular $2.99, Sale $0, Coupon $.75, Cost =$.49

Hot Pocket Panini
Regular $3.00, Sale $0, Coupon $.75, Cost =$.75

Land O lakes Margerine (bought 2, price based on 1)
Regular $2.39, Sale $0, Coupon $.55, Cost = $.75

Sargento Pepper Jack Cheese Slices
Regular $3.69, Sale $2.59, Coupon $.50, Cost $1.09

Hillshire Farm Beef Links (Bought 2, price based on 2)
Regular $6.98, Sale $5.98, Coupon $.65 + $2 off purchase, Cost=$2.03

Hillshire Farm Sausage
Regular $2.99, Sale $2.79, Coupon $.55, Cost=$1.34

Deli Creations Sandwich (bought 2, price based on 1)
Regular $2.99, Sale $0, Coupon $.75, Cost=$.44

Thats it! Now my total won't add up exactly as I had stated because I didn't bother listing things like my bread or drink that I paid full price for.

Handmade Shorts!

So toots needs some shorts and since we're trying to save money it's not really condusive to go out and buy brand new clothes. Especially since I got my spiffy sewing machine and can just make them for $1! How you ask?? Using a dishtowel and some scraps of fabric. The ones pictured below took me about 45minutes to make this morning before work.

I'd say there was an extra 15 in there from stopping and doing photo's so maybe 30mins on average. Not bad really if you think about it. I picked up the dishtowel at the dollar store where there are actually lots of cute ones. I'd say try to stay away from those thin bubbly looking ones. You want something that will hold up as well as look good.

Here's the directions so you can make some too!

Start of with just a standard dishtowel Fold the dishtowel in half and then cut so you have 2 equal pieces.

Place both sides on top of each other and then fold in half again. With the finished edge towards you cut as shown below.

Seperate the pieces and lay one flat as shown. Finished edging should be closest to you

Here you will attach pockets if you want them. I used scrap fabric and cut in squares. to create finished edge fold over edges and sew around fabric before attaching to towel

Pin pocket to towel making sure to center. Put it closer to the bottom of the towel to create a cargo type pocket.

Repeat for other side for pockets on both.

Lay both pieces of towel together, lining up edges and so that it appears to be inside out. Pin cut out edges together and then sew making sure NOT to go down straight part. Just around curve part that was cut. Repeat for other side as well

Pin and sew the inside seam

Keeping shorts inside out fold over top to create waiste band. Allow enough room for width of elastic. Also be sure to leave an opening to feed the elastic through. Sew ends of elastic together and then turn shorts right side out.

This is the finished short before the elastic was put in.

And thats it!! I've got several more things I'm going to add up later. A girls skirt made from a dishtowel and then a kids apron made from a placemat. All for $1 or less!

Oh and as for sizing these would typically fit 6-12 months depending on the size of your kiddo. My 14lb shrimp requires me to hemp up the leg parts a bit or they hang down to his ankles.

Changing Careers

Yup it's official. I am back in school as of this fall...2009. And I'm not going for the Business management that I was in before. Way back in the day before I had Monkey I was pre-med but backed out because it was too time consuming as a single parent. I've been doing insurance for going on 10 years now and although I'm good at my job and for the most part enjoy it, I don't LOVE it. So I've decided to go back towards the medical field but of course being a doctor is out. Just not feasible. So I'm going to work towards getting into the nursing program. And I'm closer than I thought! I have 5 classes to finish before I can apply. Needless to say it should be interesting to see how things go!

Did you see this???

Check out the newest phenomenon!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

A lesson to all.....NEVER judge a book by it's cover!

Whut YOU doin'

I've been slacking on updating about us here lately and have just been posting about my awesome deals. I have more to score today so I'll post again later about that.

As for us we're hanging in there. I've come back to work full time which stinks really. I miss having more time with the kids, more time to take care of the house, more time to cook. Just having more time in general really! It's how it has to be though so I'll survive. It's wierd though cause when Monkey was a baby I would never have thought twice about working. I did it and I WANTED to do it. Now, I wish I could just stay with them all day. **Sigh** Oh well.

Mr. X is doing good too. Struggling with some big decisions lately. He's up for re-enlistment this year and is tottering on the fence on what to do. I actually want him to stay in. With the economy the way it is and the job market pretty much sucky I just don't think it would be a good idea. There is no telling how hard it will be for him to find a job not to mention the benefits we get. He doesn't want to stay in though. He works on a sub and staying in means being deployed again. That also means months at a time of no contact and all the things he will miss with the kids. Yes, I hate that he woudl miss that too but I'll take the lesser of two evils in this case. He's gotta decide pretty soon though so we'll see what happens.

Monkey is her normal self. Constantly gabbing about something or crying at the drop of a hat. She has turned into quite the little drama queen and is ultra sensitive. I'm so proud of her though. She can pretty much read anything and has a phenomenal memory. She got picked to do morning announcements next week so she's super excited about that but admitted she's nervous too. The poor kid is in kindergarten and going to read announcements out to everyone. I'd be nervous too! Her dad is still around although contact has tapered off a bit. She got an email on Friday from him that had pic's of him with her sisters. The youngest girl must definitely resemble her mom but the other one is similar to monkey. You could tell they are related at least.

Toots is growing like a week. Just last week he started army crawling and then on Monday pushed up on all 4's. Won't be long before i'm chasing him around the house too. He's finally started eating like crazy. The boy can put away some food! And he will try anything you give him. He must get that from Mr. X. He's pretty much figured out how to hold his sippy cup on his own now too. He's still not sleepign through the night though which is a battle we're working on. We're not doign the full cry it out method but we're not running in there at the first peep either. It's gotten down to just once at nice and thats getting later and later. Last night he slept from 6pm to 4am before wakign to eat than goign back to sleep till 6:30. I can't believe he's 7 months old now though...time is flying!

Guess thats it for now.

Yet more savings.....

Yes I know I've really only been posting about the things I save on but I jsut got so gosh darn it excited!!! I just can't help myself. I gotta say, I'm falling in love with Harris Teeter. Seriously, I get my best deals by far there. The store is always clean and the staff is awesome. Liek tonight I went and part of my order was huggies wipes. I had 2 coupons and seriously thought i grabbed 2 boxes. When one coupon wouldn't ring the cashier questioned it. I insisted that it was ok cause I had got both tubs of wipes. He called a manager who came over, didn't even ask what it was. Just swiped her card and accepted teh coupon. I got home and realized that I only got ONE BOX! Major oops there on my part but goodness...that was an extra $1 off my order. So yes, I heart them!

On to the good part. Here's what I got today and the breakdown.

Crest Prohealth mouthwash. Reg $6.29, Sale $3.99, Coupon $.75x2. Paid $2.49
Crest Toothpaste Reg $4.29, Sale $2.50, Coupon $.75x2, paid $1.00
Softsoap handsoap Reg $1.49, Coupon $.35x2, Paid $.79
Softsoap handsoap Reg $3.19 Sale $2.00, Coupon $.50x2, Paid $1.00
Franks Red Hot sauce Reg $1.29, Sale $.50, Coupon $.50x2 Paid $.00 ($.50 overage)
Huggies Wipes Reg $3.29, Sale $2.50, Coupon $.50x2, Paid $1.50
Soleil Razer Reg $7.39, Sale $2.94, Coupon $2.00, Paid $.94
Country Crock Reg $2.49, Sale $1.24, Coupon $.45x2, Paid $.34
Knorr Sauce(2) Reg $1.79, Sale $1.25, Coupon $.50x2, Paid $.75 each(2)
Breyers Icecream Reg $5.39, Sale $2.69, Coupon $.75x2, Paid $1.19
Uncle Bens Rice(2) Reg $2.29, Sale $1.67, Coupon $.75x2, Paid $.92 each(2)
Virginia Deli Ham Reg $6.49lb, Sale Buy 1 get 2 free, Paid $2.10lb (3lbs)

Original Total was $65.92, Paid $19.95, Total Savings $45.97

My Bag

Krogers is doing a design a bag contest. I created one so go HERE to check it out and vote!

Marley and Me

Anyone else seen the movie yet? Ugh! I got it from Walmart yesterday and Mr. X and I decided to do a movie last night after the kids were in bed. It was a great movie, don't get me wrong. I actually really liked it. But man I haven't cried like that over a movie in a LONG time. Even Mr. X boohooed. Seriously. We were cuddling up and I could hear and feel the shudders going through him quickly followed by that tell tale sniffle. Ya we both just lost it at the end.

Over all a great movie though. Just a strong suggestion to have some tissues near by if you haven't seen it yet.