Hey! I just learned a clean little secret about Lowe’s. They have quite the selection of cleaning products plus air and water filters to help keep your home spic and span inside and out. And they’re sending out up to $46 in savings so you can really clean up. Get your coupons before they’re gone! Go to vocalpoint.com/Lowes.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
I love coupons!
So I have been shopping ALL day today. My mom & I (&Rylee) went to the malls to get our Christmas shopping done. I didnt really have much to do, since most of my list was purchased on Amazon, but my mom needed a few ideas....& a shopping buddy. It's a good thing my list was mostly done bc Rylee did not sleep the entire time. She wasnt bad, but I needed to keep her occupied & that hinders shopping. Anyway, I got a good deal @Bath & Body Works (2 lotions, 2 body mists & a shower gel for $26) & I used one of my Groupons @The Body Shop. (This purchase was for me. The other covered a couple gifts.) Also found another gift @Sears that was $5 less than I was expecting!
Overall, the malls (yes we went to 2!) were good deals, but the best was at Walgreens this weekend. I only used 1 manufacturer coupon & still got amazing deals. Here's the low down on my purchases:
4) Gummi Lifesaver Story books
4) Walgreens invisible tape (2 different widths)
3) Halmark birthday cards (for Josh...his bday is the 23rd & he needs a card from me, Rylee & Winston!)
2) Reese Trees (they are my weakness)
12) kids activity books (Im going to use these for kids gifts at a family gift exchange)
1) 8" scotch scissors (these were originally 6.99 & i got them for 2.99!)
1) scotch paper cutter (also org. 6.99 & i got it for 2.99)
1) Revlon top speed nail polish
3) Andes mints
16) 12oz tumblers
Total= $51.13
-coupons $15.26
-RR $7.00 (from last Wags purchase)
=$35.86
Then I received $17 RR for my purchases ($5 for Revlon polish & $2 for 3 Halmark cards & $10 for purchasing over $50 (Wags is great bc they determine your bonus RR, which they call Jingle cash, BEFORE coupons are deducted.)
Pretty cool, huh? I know Im excited, especially since most of these things are going to be used for Christmas gifts or related things. Well, I should probably go to bed now. Tomorrow I'm taking Rylee to get her FREE pics with Santa & then we are hanging out with friends tomorrow night. Good times & good night!
Overall, the malls (yes we went to 2!) were good deals, but the best was at Walgreens this weekend. I only used 1 manufacturer coupon & still got amazing deals. Here's the low down on my purchases:
4) Gummi Lifesaver Story books
4) Walgreens invisible tape (2 different widths)
3) Halmark birthday cards (for Josh...his bday is the 23rd & he needs a card from me, Rylee & Winston!)
2) Reese Trees (they are my weakness)
12) kids activity books (Im going to use these for kids gifts at a family gift exchange)
1) 8" scotch scissors (these were originally 6.99 & i got them for 2.99!)
1) scotch paper cutter (also org. 6.99 & i got it for 2.99)
1) Revlon top speed nail polish
3) Andes mints
16) 12oz tumblers
Total= $51.13
-coupons $15.26
-RR $7.00 (from last Wags purchase)
=$35.86
Then I received $17 RR for my purchases ($5 for Revlon polish & $2 for 3 Halmark cards & $10 for purchasing over $50 (Wags is great bc they determine your bonus RR, which they call Jingle cash, BEFORE coupons are deducted.)
Pretty cool, huh? I know Im excited, especially since most of these things are going to be used for Christmas gifts or related things. Well, I should probably go to bed now. Tomorrow I'm taking Rylee to get her FREE pics with Santa & then we are hanging out with friends tomorrow night. Good times & good night!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
I'm stressed! This time of year always does this to me, but this year is especially crazy. We have a little schedule dictator now, & there is no more waiting until the last minute on anything! I have done most of my christmas shopping online bc going to a mall right now makes my skin crawl. I worked retail for over 6 years & that will make you hate the holidays. I dont actually hate Christmas, just all the nut cases that decide to come out this time of year. Honestly, if you only make it to a mall once a year, why even bother? Save yourself the time (& gas money) & shop online...or at your local walmart! Please leave the malls to the people that actually know where the stores are located. There is NOTHING like being loaded down with shopping bags & getting stuck behind a pack (yes, like animals) of people that have no clue where they are going or what they are buying. It's not a Tues afternoon in February. This is Christmas! Get with the program people.
I had a followup appointment today & I was lucky (sarcasm) enough to be traveling west bound on the Watterson @330. Normally, this is not an issue, but not @Christmas! Evidently when the season hits, it erases the brains of 85% of the population. This stupid girl driving a white lumina (i made sure to notice) completely cut me off on my way home. I was in the stinking fast lane, & she decided to jump her happy butt infron of me with (no exaggeration) about 2 feet between my front end & her bumper. I was furious. She is VERY lucky that I did not have Rylee with me. Im not sure what I would have done, but it would have been something that suited the crime. Then, to top it off, after she got infront of me, still in the fast lane, she started going just a couple miles over the speed limit. I have to admit that my road rage was slowing trying to take control of my body. I had to turn the heat down bc my blood pressure was going up! Im proud to say that I managed to pull it toogether & not honk, get infront of her only to brake check her, or even tell her to "read between the lines." I settled for just waiting until I past her & then giving her a really "mean" look. After all, I am a mother now, I have to be mature about things, lol!
Speaking of mature, my daughter looks older & older everyday. I have informed that she could stop doing this (only for a short time) but she has refused. Today, she had therapy & while being stretched like Gumby she looked over at me & gave me "the look." I didnt need words. I know what she was saying. It went something like this, "Seriously, mom! Get this crazy woman off me RIGHT NOW! She is pulling on my shoulders and I DO NOT LIKE IT!" I responded by pointing at her daddy & mouthing the words: It's your daddy's fault. :)
Well, my eyes are starting to roll back in my head, so I guess it's about that time! Hopefully Rylee will sleep late tomorrow, maybe 10 or even 11! She's been sleeping 8-10 hrs at night for the past month. (I'm knocking on wood as I type.)
I had a followup appointment today & I was lucky (sarcasm) enough to be traveling west bound on the Watterson @330. Normally, this is not an issue, but not @Christmas! Evidently when the season hits, it erases the brains of 85% of the population. This stupid girl driving a white lumina (i made sure to notice) completely cut me off on my way home. I was in the stinking fast lane, & she decided to jump her happy butt infron of me with (no exaggeration) about 2 feet between my front end & her bumper. I was furious. She is VERY lucky that I did not have Rylee with me. Im not sure what I would have done, but it would have been something that suited the crime. Then, to top it off, after she got infront of me, still in the fast lane, she started going just a couple miles over the speed limit. I have to admit that my road rage was slowing trying to take control of my body. I had to turn the heat down bc my blood pressure was going up! Im proud to say that I managed to pull it toogether & not honk, get infront of her only to brake check her, or even tell her to "read between the lines." I settled for just waiting until I past her & then giving her a really "mean" look. After all, I am a mother now, I have to be mature about things, lol!
Speaking of mature, my daughter looks older & older everyday. I have informed that she could stop doing this (only for a short time) but she has refused. Today, she had therapy & while being stretched like Gumby she looked over at me & gave me "the look." I didnt need words. I know what she was saying. It went something like this, "Seriously, mom! Get this crazy woman off me RIGHT NOW! She is pulling on my shoulders and I DO NOT LIKE IT!" I responded by pointing at her daddy & mouthing the words: It's your daddy's fault. :)
Well, my eyes are starting to roll back in my head, so I guess it's about that time! Hopefully Rylee will sleep late tomorrow, maybe 10 or even 11! She's been sleeping 8-10 hrs at night for the past month. (I'm knocking on wood as I type.)
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Long day ahead
Tomorrow Rylee has her MRI. It's going to be a really tough day for me & her. She cant have any formula after 2:30am & we dont have to be at the hospital until 7am. Who knows when they will decide to actually do the MRI, & then after she is done with that she has to have another complete Renal Panel workup (basically, lots & lots of blood drawn being taken from her heel.) As I type this, my eyes are filling up with tears. The MRI is such an emotional thing for me. I'm not really sure what exactly gets to me so much. The room is so sterile & cold. They do let me sit in the room, but I have to stay seated about 8 feet from the machine. The machine makes so much noise that Rylee & I have to wear earplugs. Last time, I sat in a chair & watched as 2 MRI techs strapped my 15 day old baby into a harness, injected her with dye, & slid her back into a tunnel. I couldnt touch her, hold her, console her, or even talk to her. I just had to sit & wait. Wait to hear whether or not she had brain damage. The procedure took about 30 minutes. I spent that whole time praying. Praying that her little brain would be perfect. That nothing was wrong with her. There was a projector in the room & it was projecting an ocean scene on the otherwise white walls. I would stare at the ocean & then stare at the huge machine that my little girl was completely inside. I hated that machine. Im claustrophobic, so I hated seeing my baby girl in there. I had to sit on my hands to keep from jumping up & trying to jerk her out. There was one window in the room & on the other side was all the staff. At one point, I looked out & saw Rylee's nurse & one of the MRI techs laughing. "how could they be laughing at a time like this?" I thought. Here I was literally locked in this solid white room with a machine that was "screaming" at me & watching a hole where my baby was slid through, & they were laughing. To me, this was no laughing matter! I was scared. Scared for Rylee. Scared for me. Scared for Josh & the rest of our families. The results of this one test were what we had been waiting for since Sept 6th. Finally, the test was over. The door opened, & I think I finally took a breath. It was over, & despite the outcome my baby was out of that machine.
If you have been following Rylee's caring bridge website, then you know that the MRI showed that she did have some brain damage. That wasnt the result I had prayer for, but I just had to let go & let God handle things. When strangers find out that Rylee has brain damage they are shocked. She doesnt look like she has any mental or physical disabilities. Im amazed at the people that say, "I think you have a miracle in your hands." We know we have a miracle, but it's strange to here random people say it.
I'm not worried about the outcome of tomorrow's test, but I am worried for my baby girl. She has been at home for about 8wks now & she is very aware of her surroundings. I am afraid that she is going to be very scared in the MRI machine. They need her to be still, & I am anticipating that they will have to sedate her. I just dont want to see that. Maybe that is just me being selfish, but she was sedated for the 1st 3 days of her life, &, unless you have experienced it, I cannot explain how seeing your baby lay lifeless feels. I get sick to my stomach just thinking about it. I think tomorrow will be a true test of faith for me. I will probably be an emotional basket case. I'm praying that I dont snap at Josh or any of the hospital staff. <side note: Kosair is a wonderful place. I wouldnt want Rylee anywhere else.> Im just so ready for this all to be over with, but I dont think that is going to happen anytime soon. There will always be a follow up appointment or test. We will always be waiting & wondering when she will hit her next "milestone." I guess I just need to snuggle up in God's arms & let Him carry me through this. Everyday is a gift that shouldn't be taken for granted.
On a positive note, Rylee is pushing herself up during her tummy time. She hates it, & she whimpers through most of it....but she IS doing it. (This is one of those milestones that we anxiously anticipate.) She seems to like holding her head up better when she is on her bobby, rather than the floor of couch. I took a few pictures of her doing this:
And, yes, I know she has some crazy curly hair! This was right after I washed it. It's turning blonde too, which makes me happy. As you can see, she is doing really well with holding her head up. I think she's nosy like her mama, so that gives her the drive to keep her head up & see the world!
Well, I am going to try waking her up soon. She was too tired to eat after she took her meds tonight (they make her sleepy) so I would love her to get 1 good feeding in before she has to fast. Please keep us in your prayers tomorrow, for my to be able to hold myself together & for Jesus to comfort Rylee while she is getting the test done. I know He was in there with her the last time bc she was wide awake & squirming like crazy until they started sliding her into the tunnel. I think she was just so comfy in His arms that she went right to sleep!
If you have been following Rylee's caring bridge website, then you know that the MRI showed that she did have some brain damage. That wasnt the result I had prayer for, but I just had to let go & let God handle things. When strangers find out that Rylee has brain damage they are shocked. She doesnt look like she has any mental or physical disabilities. Im amazed at the people that say, "I think you have a miracle in your hands." We know we have a miracle, but it's strange to here random people say it.
I'm not worried about the outcome of tomorrow's test, but I am worried for my baby girl. She has been at home for about 8wks now & she is very aware of her surroundings. I am afraid that she is going to be very scared in the MRI machine. They need her to be still, & I am anticipating that they will have to sedate her. I just dont want to see that. Maybe that is just me being selfish, but she was sedated for the 1st 3 days of her life, &, unless you have experienced it, I cannot explain how seeing your baby lay lifeless feels. I get sick to my stomach just thinking about it. I think tomorrow will be a true test of faith for me. I will probably be an emotional basket case. I'm praying that I dont snap at Josh or any of the hospital staff. <side note: Kosair is a wonderful place. I wouldnt want Rylee anywhere else.> Im just so ready for this all to be over with, but I dont think that is going to happen anytime soon. There will always be a follow up appointment or test. We will always be waiting & wondering when she will hit her next "milestone." I guess I just need to snuggle up in God's arms & let Him carry me through this. Everyday is a gift that shouldn't be taken for granted.
On a positive note, Rylee is pushing herself up during her tummy time. She hates it, & she whimpers through most of it....but she IS doing it. (This is one of those milestones that we anxiously anticipate.) She seems to like holding her head up better when she is on her bobby, rather than the floor of couch. I took a few pictures of her doing this:
And, yes, I know she has some crazy curly hair! This was right after I washed it. It's turning blonde too, which makes me happy. As you can see, she is doing really well with holding her head up. I think she's nosy like her mama, so that gives her the drive to keep her head up & see the world!
Well, I am going to try waking her up soon. She was too tired to eat after she took her meds tonight (they make her sleepy) so I would love her to get 1 good feeding in before she has to fast. Please keep us in your prayers tomorrow, for my to be able to hold myself together & for Jesus to comfort Rylee while she is getting the test done. I know He was in there with her the last time bc she was wide awake & squirming like crazy until they started sliding her into the tunnel. I think she was just so comfy in His arms that she went right to sleep!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Couponing
So I've recently got into using coupons. I always thought coupons were for old ladies or crazy/cheap people, but recently I've caught the coupon bug. It really is alot of fun to go into a store & get brand new products at a huge discount. I was extremely overwhelmed when I started couponing, bc I was trying to coupon EVERYWHERE. Recently I decided that I would just focus on a few stores, & I chose Walgreens & Target. I chose them bc they both carry an array of items & both allow you to "stack" manufacturer coupons with store coupons.
Here is my recent Walgreens purchase:
2) M&M plain 12oz
2) M&M peanut butter 12oz
3) Ricola Cherry Honey
1) Ricola Berry
6) Haribo Gummie Bears5oz
1) Similac Sensitive Powder 23oz
2) Plackers (plastic flossers)
2) airbourne
4) carmex lip balm
4) carmex healing lotion 1oz
2) jar candle 18oz
2) olay quench 20oz
2) scotch tape
2) lysol automatic soap starter kits
2) chewy c/chip 8ct box
Total spent = $92.75
Total saved = $70.23
Received $9 in register rewards to use on my next shopping trip
I probably could have saved alot more, but it was a spur of the moment trip & the only coupons I had were a $3 similac coupon, a $2 RR from my last shopping trip, & a friends & family coupon that gave me 15% off of every item in the store.
I saved almost as much as I spent! Walgreens does tend to be higher than some other stores, but I still saved & that's the objective. Also, other than the candy (which I plan to use in containers for Christmas gifts) I needed everything that I purchased.
Well, all this saving has wore me out. Josh is going to be working a new shift at work, so I should probably get to bed before he gets up for work! :)
Here is my recent Walgreens purchase:
2) M&M plain 12oz
2) M&M peanut butter 12oz
3) Ricola Cherry Honey
1) Ricola Berry
6) Haribo Gummie Bears5oz
1) Similac Sensitive Powder 23oz
2) Plackers (plastic flossers)
2) airbourne
4) carmex lip balm
4) carmex healing lotion 1oz
2) jar candle 18oz
2) olay quench 20oz
2) scotch tape
2) lysol automatic soap starter kits
2) chewy c/chip 8ct box
Total spent = $92.75
Total saved = $70.23
Received $9 in register rewards to use on my next shopping trip
I probably could have saved alot more, but it was a spur of the moment trip & the only coupons I had were a $3 similac coupon, a $2 RR from my last shopping trip, & a friends & family coupon that gave me 15% off of every item in the store.
I saved almost as much as I spent! Walgreens does tend to be higher than some other stores, but I still saved & that's the objective. Also, other than the candy (which I plan to use in containers for Christmas gifts) I needed everything that I purchased.
Well, all this saving has wore me out. Josh is going to be working a new shift at work, so I should probably get to bed before he gets up for work! :)
ShoeDazzle
I love shoedazzle! Every month I get fabulous shoes in my "showroom" & I can choose which one I want or I also have the option to not purchase any. It's great, especially since I don't get the shopping time I used to get. This month I chose these chocolate brown boots. I like them bc they look comfy & they have a semi-chunky heel, so I dont have to worry about stumbling!
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