Dish Towels

So I saw this tutorial on another website - crazymomquilts.com - and knew I had to do this. So, I went to the store and got the waffle weave muslin, then got into my small stash of fabric and made some binding. My very favorite part of quilting is the binding! So, this was right up my alley. I think I will be making lots of these for teacher presents. I could make dish towels and matching dish rags for all occasions! Oh, this will be fun :)

Neighborhood

I love our neighborhood. I couldn't get my kids to go outside and play in Pensacola. I have the opposite problem here - I can't keep them in the house! I had to buy one of those door chime things that lets me know if the door is opening. Tyler's tall enough that he can unlock the chain at the top of the door. Sometimes it's crazy having kids in and out all the time. But for the most part it's pretty fun. We have twin girls in Kindergarten (one in Tyler's class) that live on one side of us, then a boy in kindergarten on the other side of us and his sister who is in 5th grade and LOVES Brena and follows her around, which is good because she makes sure she doesn't go where she isn't supposed to go. And that's just right next to us - that doesn't include all the kids across the street and down the street! Last Friday I was supposed to go to dinner with a friend. TJ was at his last sim flight and was supposed to be home. I couldn't get a hold of him and it was past the time I was supposed to meet my friend for dinner. The neighbor and I were talking in the back yard and somehow I mentioned I was supposed to have been at dinner with my friend. She insisted I leave my kids with her and go. She is a great neighbor and I totally felt comfortable leaving my kids with her. It's good to know you have a neighbor right next door if you ever need anything.

A Must Read

This is only the second book in my life that has touched me to my soul, left the greatest impression upon me that I will never, ever forget. I can't begin to adequately describe to you what this book did to me. I have always known about the pioneers and heard their stories, I have pioneer ancestry from my mom's side of the family who crossed the plains. I have a renewed awe for all the pioneers, especially those in the Martin/Willie Handcart Companies. I had the opportunity to visit Martin's Cove last May. It was a very special place and I could feel a great spirit there. I think from the Visitor's Center at Martin's Cove up to the actual Cove is only a 2 mile walk. I remember that day I had flip flops on and I walked the two miles up and down. My toes had blisters on them and they hurt! After reading this book and imagining what the Saints went through, I wish I'd never complained about a couple of blisters. I wish I had read this book before I went to Martin's Cove. As a Latter-Day Saint I never feel anything but joy at what I am able to do in the Church. I feel the Lord has blessed me so completely I am more than happy to do what he asks of me, keep His commandments, live up to my covenants I have made with Him. What those people suffered to obey what they were asked to do is nothing compared to what I am asked to do. I have always had the "Fire of the Covenant" burn in me, I only hope I can always keep that fire burning and always do what He asks me to do so someday I will have the blessing of dwelling with Him and these faithful Saints.

Devil's Gate

Martin's Cove


On the Trail

Independence Rock

K-Mart Double Coupons

So K-Mart is doubling coupons - check on your local store! They are doubling coupons up to $2. Here's what I got:

(1)Gillette Shampoo

(1)Gillette Conditioner

(1)Kotex

(1)Schick Quattro Razors

(1)Rolaids

Merchandise Total: $20.77

Total OOP: $3.68

Savings of 86%!!

The shampoo, condition and rolaids were absolutely free. I had to pay $1.50 each for the Kotex and Razors - and tax on everything. I didn't want to pay that much for those things, $1.50 is a lot to me now after getting everything for free! But, what can you do? When you need Kotex, you need Kotex :) The razors were my impulse buy. Again, my favorite part is when the cashier is shocked at my total. It happened again tonight! She said "that's your total?" I LOVE that!

Clothes from Grandma

I have been meaning to post this for a month or so, and haven't gotten around to it. My mom kept my kids outfitted this summer with clothes she made for them. I love that she sends them homemade clothes, I wish I could sew like this! She sewed all the clothes you see (except Tyler's shorts). They even have matching pj pants too - I just haven't gotten a picture of those yet.

These two are my absolute favorite. I love the NAVY shirt and Brena's little sailor outfit. Thanks Mom!

Wii fun

Well, we finally broke down and got a Wii. I have been wanting one for forever, so I am super excited. I have such fond memories of my sisters and I staying up all night long - literally - to play Nintendo when it first came out. I think TJ and I will be staying up all night playing Wii now. Brena threw the first strike in bowling - go figure. She actually came in second place, right behind TJ, I think she bowled 4 strikes! She was hilarious jumping up and down screaming "yeah buddy!"

Primary Program

Today was our Primary Program. Tyler memorized his part and the little nursery kids sang I am a Child of God - they were SO cute. Here are the kids doing their parts. Oh, before you hit play on these - go down on the right side of the blog and click on the pause button of my music so you aren't hearing the kids along with another song at the same time.

Walgreens Double Dippin'

I really feel sorry for those of you who don't have a CVS, so hopefully you have a Walgreens (wags) to take advantage of big savings! Wags has what is referred to as Double Dipping days. Around the last of the month, for two days, you can use coupons from a Wags' coupon book (found on display at the front of the store) for that current month, plus the next month that will be starting. In addition to that, they will let you use Manufacturer's coupons on top of the Wags coupons! So here's what I did:

(1) Glad Fabric & Air Odor Eliminator

(1)Glade Scented Oil Candles

(1)Revlon Nail Color

(1)Crest Pro Health toothpaste

(1)Excedrin

(3)Garnier Products that came with free products & 2 $1 coupons!

(1)Pert Plus 2-in-1

Total: $47.01

Total coupons & Wag savings: $23.80

Total OOP: $23.21

TJ was like "that's not that impressive"...oh, but wait!!!!!! Wags has a great rebate program. Through their website, you enter in your receipt and check the items you bought that have a rebate (it's so easy!). They then mail you a check for the amount of the rebates - or instead of a check you can choose a Wags' gift card with the amount of rebates - plus 10%!! So, here is what I will get back from Wags - $29.55 (includes my 10%). Do you see what I see?? YEP - I got all that stuff in the picture for free and I made $6.34. Also, the two glade items I can't file for the rebate until the end of October which is an extra $3 in rebates - so technically I will have made $9.95 (.30 cents from 10%). So, be ready for Walgreens Double Dipping days next month!

One more thought - can you imagine how much you could save in your lifetime if you never had to buy things like shampoo, conditioner, pain pills, toothpaste, etc. ever again????? After two weeks of couponing I have what I think is quite a bit of that stuff - that I didn't pay for, made money on, or paid very little for. I probably won't be able to use it all at some point, but anytime people come over or my family comes to town, be prepared to take home some shampoo!

Oh yeah!!!!!

I kept telling myself I wasn't going to post anymore "awesome" deals, that I might be boring the

few readers I have - but I figure, it's my blog and I am TOTALLY stoked about this deal, and I have to post about it!! Here's what I got:

(4)bags chex mix

(4)Voila chicken & beef dinners

(2)Pillsbury toaster strudel

(2)boxes Cheerios

(1)Ice Cream

(2)Dole Fruit cups

(2)Ronzoni pasta

(2)Green Giant Frozen Vegetables

(1)Grands Biscuits

Total Merchandise: $56.51

Total OOP: $12.29

That's a savings of 79%!!!!!!!!

I actually did this in two separate transactions because TJ was rushing me at the store the first time, he had a flight he had to get to, so I couldn't get everything I was looking for. My first trip was a total of $7.49 for what I got and after the cashier had rung up all my coupons she said "is that really your total - $7.49?" I said "Yep!" That was pretty cool having a cashier shocked at my total!

This all came from Publix and I had help figuring out all the great deals/savings from these sites: http://fiddledeedeeblog.blogspot.com/ and http://couponladiesskills.blogspot.com/

Kendra from Coupon Ladies Skills has taught me everything I know - thanks Kendra!!!

My sister Kim - the killa'

So my sister forwarded these pictures to me of her and her hubby's recent, successful, hunting trip. My sister is definitely from a different mold than me. As Kim was gutting her - I think this is an Antelope?? - she says "you know Patrick, you are lucky you married me because neither one of my sisters would ever be doing this." Yep, that is absolutely certain - I might break a nail or get blood on my clothes. Yes Patrick, you married the "outgoing" sister! So, now Patrick will be going out again to get his Elk next. They grind their own meat, so they never buy meat at the store. I am totally into saving money and all (as you have probably seen from my previous posts recently) - but I will never, never, eat antelope or elk. And no, I am not a "don't kill animals" girl, I just prefer my meat to come from the cows in my parents back yard, or the (beef) at the store, whatever, I am just a beef, chicken girl!


Awww, look - the two can RIP together, she even let their little heads rest on something, oh my - is that their bodies?? My sister is so thoughtful!



Yup, that's my little sister - I don't know where she came from.

That would be Patrick - hmm, Patrick I think Kim's animal looks bigger than yours???

.65 cents

Yes, it's true...out of my own pocket I paid .65 cents for all you see in the picture:

2 bottles of Purex

1 bottle of Lever 2000 body wash

3 jars Ragu

3 jars skippy

2 johnson buddies soap

2 xl chocolate candy bars

I can't even describe how excited this makes me and how much I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE CVS Pharmacy!! I did use $7 ECB's from CVS that I had gotten on a prior trip, but those were free from buying something else - it just keeps rolling over with no money out of my pocket. I realize I can't explain it well, I just know how it works, and I just know I dug out 2 quarters and 3 nickels to pay for everything in the picture :) Have you gotten your CVS card yet???

Go to CVS.com to sign up, or go to your nearest CVS pharmacy.

Friday Night Tradition

It's a tradition in our house that I make pizza every (most) Friday night. I have been making this homemade pizza since middle school - I even read a journal entry from high school saying "mom is going out of town this weekend, so I get to make pizza for dinner - yah!" Yes, I guess I had a sorry personal life - just kidding, I have just always liked to cook! Ok, so I am pretty sure I haven't posted this before, and if I have - oh well. Here is our homemade pizza recipe, enjoy and happy Friday!!

1 TBS yeast 1 cup hot water

1 tsp sugar 1 tsp salt

5 TBS shortening 2 - 2 1/2 cups flour

Now, add the water to your yeast and stir. Add the sugar and salt, stir. Add the shortening (I have found that the butter flavored Crisco makes this crust rock - nice and flaky!). Add your flour. Now, I used to always just use 2 cups flour, however, there is something different about Jacksonville that I have to now add a lot more flour. I don't measure it, so I'm not really sure how much flour to use - just add flour until it's not sticky anymore. Let that dough sit for 15 minutes in a warm place.

Ok, then spread your dough out on your pizza stone (if you don't have a pizza stone...I don't know how you are surviving). Spread Ragu pizza sauce over your dough (TJ insists on Ragu pizza sauce), add your toppings and then your cheese - you must use block cheese you shred on your own, it melts better and tastes better too. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes - the times are always different in every house I have lived in, so you will just have to figure that out on your own too. Also, I have used 1 cup whole wheat flour, 1 cup white flour and the crust still turns out really good. Now please excuse me, we will be enjoying our pizza night.

Couponing

I am still working up to a big CVS money making trip, but I did use quite a bit of coupons at the commissary today just getting things for cheap. Here is what I got:



Blueberry Muffin Mini Wheats - $1 off coupon from internet + the box has a mail in rebate you get the cereal for free - so I made $1.
Kashi Cereal - $2 off coupon from internet - .50 cents for the box
The Cascadian Farms Cereal $1 off coupon from internet - .99 cents for the box
Muir Glen tomatoes $1 off each can - made .11 cents on each of the 3 small cans and made .01 cent on each of the 2 big cans, so I made .53 cents on tomatoes.
Easy Mac $1/2 off coupon from internet, they were .10 cents each
Grands Biscuits $1 off internet coupon, they were $1
Bumblebee Chicken breast $1.00 off internet coupon, it was .89 cents.
Pizza Rolls $1/2 off internet coupon, they were .75 cents each
Hamburger Helper $1.10/3 they were .61 cents each TJ can take all those for lunches, that's a cheap lunch!
So everything in the picture was $4.89...not free, but definitely cheap!!!

Slacking

I haven't blogged much, don't know why. We are just doing the normal stuff around here. The kids finished swim lessons, so that's done. Every day for two weeks gets kinda hard for me. Like I have said in a previous post, I think I have a problem with commitment! It is still so stinkin' hot here, can't wait for some cool weather! Tyler's teacher asked me to be the Room Mom, so I am sure I will be getting a little busier with that with the Fall stuff coming up. And we will be starting T-ball in a few weeks too. Here are some pictures of the kids from swim lessons.

On another note - do any of you CVS?? We had a girl at church last week give a little presentation on couponing, and boy have I been missing out!! But, I am starting to get on a CVS and coupon kick and have already been making money - whoohooo! It does take a little bit of time to figure it all out, but saving 50% on your grocery bill each month is worth it to me! There are BILLIONS of blogs/websites about CVS, coupons, and saving money on food, etc. It makes it easy because I don't really have to figure out the best deals, they are already on a website somewhere for me to just look up and take advantage of it. Here are some of my favorite websites so far:

http://www.moneysavingmom.com/

http://iheartcvs.com/

http://thecentsiblesawyer.blogspot.com/

There are MANY, MANY more websites out there, and believe me I have spent about 6 hours the last week finding more out about all this. I am not about to go into all the details about it all here, I can't explain it like other websites can, but in case you don't already have a CVS extra care card - you really, really should get you one!

Chicken Quilt

Well, I finally finished the chicken quilt. The first picture is of just the top, the next 3 pictures are of the finished quilt. It is so cute! I just need to hand sew the binding down, and it is totally done. I stipple quilted it, I got up my nerve and just did it. That's the first time I have done that. It turned out ok, there are some spots that I'm not too happy with, but not enough to go and pick them out!

We haven't been doing much around here. The kids are in swim lessons, so by the time I get Tyler from school, get homework done, get to swim lessons, come home, eat dinner, get kids into bed, there's not a lot of time for much else. I don't know if I have mentioned it before, but I LOVE Jacksonville! The best part is I only gas up my big Expedition once every 3 weeks or so, where in Pensacola I had to fill up usually more than once a week. Everything I need is just 1-2 miles from my house, it's great! If it weren't for all the heat and humidity (we are still over 90 degrees with probably that much humidity) I really think I could live here the rest of my life. But, TJ's in the NAVY, so that's not going to happen! But, I will really enjoy living here while we're here.