K-Mart Double Coupons 8/30

You have no idea how good it feels to be back in the bargain hunting saddle! I have gone here and there and do take coupons to the grocery store, but there's nothing like those trips to CVS and Walgreens walking out with lots of bags and still lots of cash in your pocket. Well this week I jump back in full force with the droug stores and also not missing out on the last Kmart Double Coupon Event for the rest of the year. (This is the rumor I heard from http://www.hip2save.com/)

** So Kmart's computer decided to eat my receipt - so I'll do my best here**

Lacross Lash Curler: $5.95

-$2.00 coupon (doubled to $4.00)

Clearasil Face Wash: $5.29

-$1.50 coupon (doubled to $3.00)

Rimmel Blush: $3.19

-$1.00 coupon (double to $2.00)

Rimmel Mascara: $3.29

-$2.00 coupon (Free after coupon doubled)

2x Skintamate: $3.29 each

-$1.00 coupons (doubled to $2.00)

2x Visine: $3.99 each

-$2.00 coupons (Free after coupon doubled)

2x Swiffer Duster Starter Kit: $4.29 each

-$2.00 coupons (doubled to $4.00)

Total before coupons: $42.xx

Total OOP after coupons: $8.28

**TOTAL SAVINGS: 84%**

Walgreen 8/30

Transaction #1:

3x Coca- Cola: $1.25 each (sale)

Colgate 360 Toothbrush: $2.99
-$.40 coupon

Men's Razor: $3.99

Rembrant Toothpaste: $5.00

Carefree Panty Liners: $1.99
-$1.00 coupon

Used $3/$15 coupon
Total OOP: $12.89
Earned: $13.97 RR

___________________________

Transaction #2:

Men's Razors: $3.99

Carefree panty liners: $1.99
-$1.00 coupon

Colgate 360 Toothbrush: $2.99
-$.40 coupon

Total OOP: $6.04
Earned: $8.97 RR

_____________________________

Total OOP for both transactions: $18.93
Earned: $22.94 RR
**$4.01 PRoFIT**

SUPER CVS Trip 8/30

Today was the offical GRAND OPENING of our brand new CVS in Columbia, IL. We have had one all along, but it was very small and well... old. CVS out did their selves offering free coffee, donuts, face painting, gift bags with free CVS goodies, cards for free McDonald's $1 menu item, and even drawings for a girls and boy bike and gift cards to local restaurants. My daughter especially enjoyed the free balloon. They also had the St. Louis Cardinal's mascot "Fred Bird," Cinderella, a clown, and even St. Louis Ram's cheerleaders on hand to celebrate this big day!

We had a lot of fun - but there was still bargain hunting to be done!

New store = Well stocked store!!

Transaction #1:

2x G.E. Cookie Dough: 2/$2.00
*One not pictured - they were yummy ;-)

Clairol Hair Color: $4.99
-$2.00 coupon

Reed Diffuser: $6.99
-$3.00 coupon

Bounce Dryer Bar: $3.99
-$2.50 coupon

Aquafresh Iso- toothpaste: $4.99
(couldn't get coupon to print)

G.E. cashews (not pictured - they were yummy too): $.99
-$.99 (Free coupon from CVS e-mail)

Used $14.98 ECB's
Total OOP: $2.10
Earned $13.99 ECB's

Total Saved: $29.65
***93% SAVINGS***

Right now my receipt says my:
Summer Savings is - $524.29
Summer Spending is - $19.68
WOW!


Transaction #2: (husaband's card)

G.E. Sharks: 2/$2.00

Reed Diffuser: $6.99
-$2.00 coupon

Charleston Chews: $1.50

Used: $7.99 ECB's
Total OOP: $.99
Earned: $7.99 ECB's

Total Saved: $13.99
***93% SAVINGS***

Friendship

Another blog about neither creating cute things or saving dough, but is just as important to me. Friendship... friendship. What does this word mean? Does it mean, someone to lean on? someone that shares your interests? someone who you enjoy being around? I'm sure all of the above and then some. But what happens when lives just start to separate, change, and your "friend(s)" isn't/aren't quite so close?
I think the great thing about life is that you are in charge of your own destiny and you can lead it in any direction you wish. However, the sad part of it is that others lives do the same thing and some people just don't mesh well anymore.
The honest trust is today is a sad day as I try to leave an old life behind in hopes of a better future for me and my family. Not to throw a pitty party on myself, but it may in the end be the for best.
Today I am sitting here reflecting on what is truly important in life. Top of that list is my little girl, next of course my hubby, 3rd our health, 4th happiness, and father down I can't help but put friends. I feel like they are still important, but I'm lucky to have my top 4 out of 1,000 in tact, but still I am sad. Why?
Why do we get sad when we throw out old jeans or a worn out purse, the exact same reason I'm sad to see a friendship end... the memories that are involved. Not to say that the two are remotely the same in nature, but you emotionally attach yourself to things and people.
Today a new chapter begins. Our family has goals in life and I choose to only involve the people that will enrich those goals.
So here's to a new day, a happy life, and a positive outlook on the future.

They grow up too fast...

Alyssa, ready for her first day of school

My darling little baby girl for some reason decided to keep growing and getting older and now she a "big girl" and attending her very first day of preschool today. It was exciting for the whole family to gather all the items on the school supply list, choose the perfect back to school outfit and backpack, talking up the whole event - and the day has finally arrived.

As the mom (and a stay at home mom at that), I can't help but be nervous for her. I try to be reassuring and upbeat, all the while thinking to myself, what am I supposed to do without her?

On our way to her first day of school

As a family we all ventured up to the school (a whole 3 blocks from our home) and walked into the classroom where she would spend the next year. She did as the teacher asked, taking her back pack to the cubby with her name on it and putting her folder in the basket by the front door, then went to sit at a table to explore all the great educational toys.

Playing with the toys at one of the stations

It didn't take her long to find a corner of the room with dress up clothes. She went straight for the pink frilly dress and multi colored feather boa, that's my girl.Finding the dress up corner

The time came to say goodbye and that is not easy for her or for us for that matter. She maybe made it harder on herself sitting next to a boy that was already crying as we were trying to leave. We said "we will be back in a couple hours, have fun, we will see you very soon, we love you so much." And it seemed like at that instant she knew she was going to be on her own to do this now. The teachers assistant came over to visit and we quietly left.

As we left the school I was telling myself, it's only for 2 1/2 hours, it will go by faster then you think. I came home and my husband left for work. I immediately started cleaning, arranging, organizing. I even took the opportunity to run Christmas gifts we had been hiding in our closet to the storage unit. Once I got home I didn't want to slow down, thinking I know if I do I'm going to start thinking about Alyssa and wondering what she is doing, is she okay?, did she do okay after we left? is she having fun? making friends? learning fun stuff? listening to the teacher?.... on and on.

However, here I am editing the photos I took of her this morning and blogging about this whole ordeal and I still have almost an hour before I have to leave to pick her up. An HOUR! I'm sure the whole newness of this will wear off quickly, but the fact that my baby is no long a baby will never leave my mind.

She's grown up too fast

Back to School and Back to Blogging

My display at the St. Louis Mills Mall
August 7, 8, & 9

So I did squeeze in some deal hunting in the middle of my prep for the 3 day Back To School Expo, but not much, this was the reason for my short falls in blogging lately. I'm happy to report we made it through the expo this weekend and it was a great success! If you are new to the blog I have an obsession with making bows and tutus, a hobby turned small business. You can visit my store here: Crossin My Heart Creations Not only did I have to get my display looking fabulous I also had to make sure I had enough inventory to last 3 days during Missouri's tax free weekend/Back to School sale (expected to have 125,000 people come through!) I think I had just enough and gauged it just right. It was fun and it was also a lot of work! I do plan to do more shows at malls, it was a great experience and I'm glad we got the chance to do it.

This table had bow/clip holders, fall/Halloween items, & pony streamers
Tutu in the background, pixie wings hanging in the very back

Baby Items including: wipe cases, paci clips, infant bows
Kufi hats, crochet headbands, and flower clips

Solid color bows and clips, princess tiaras, themed boutique bows, snap clips, bobby pin clips, ribbon flowers, simple lined alligator clips, applique clips, & puffy clips

I LOVE TARGET!

Holy Moly! I had a total blast shopping Target's end of July toy sale last week: F-U-N! I went to three different Targets and found different, new, and great stuff at each one. My FAVORITE buy was the V-Tech V-Motion games (3 items at the very bottom of the photo). Reg price: $24.99 each I paid $6.22 each!! YAY! We already bought the V-Motion game console as our daughter's "big Christmas gift" and set it aside (another great buy from Amazon using swagbucks gift cards and catching a great sale - we paid $5 out of pocket for the $75 machine!!). Anyway, for all 28 items pictured below I paid $88 and it was nearly $350 worth of toys at regular price. I offically can call Chirstmas shopping for our little 3 year old DONE (we have gathered other things along the way that she will also be getting). Is it Christmas yet?? How am I supposed to keep these wonderful toys from her for so long?!?

3 weeks of CVS

So I've been on a hiatus from blogging lately. I've been preparing for a HUGE Expo this coming weekend and as of right now the car, supplies, and tools are all packed and therefore I can no long spend my time preparing for that so here I am - BLOGGING again!! I did miss it, I must say.

To catch up on my last 3 weeks of CVS trips here are photos of everything I've gotten, broke down my each week. I probably paid $3.00 (if that) out of pocket for EVERYTHING and still have about $15 in bucks to keep rolling. Now for the pics:(I think we are set on ice pops for awhile)

*I'll figure out the savings another day, but it must be significant with all the freebie deals going on for back to school.

Local Artist

A good friend and fellow artist of mine was featured on the STL Homemade website. She is a person of many talents and is not afraid to try anything. From painting to sewing, jewelry making and more she always does a fabulous job and puts her heart and soul into her work. Visit her featured post here. Please contact me if you are interested in using her services and live in the St. Louis Metro area.