Why Can't I Think of Something Unique?

Almost Heaven

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:20:00 +0000

Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains
Shenandoah River -
Life is old there
Older than the trees
Younger than the mountains
Growin' like a breeze

Country Roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads

See you next weekend!

SHARP deal of the week

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:43:00 +0000

Sharpies!!! How many of you love Sharpies? They're one of those things that making working in an office or organizing things at home enjoyable for me. I've always loved Sharpies, I have lots of colors and points at home, and today when I had to make a trip to Office Max for work I picked up a 6-pack of colored Sharpie pens. I have some black pens already but needed the six color pack. (Black, Blue, Green, Red, Orange, and Purple.) And the sale was buy $5 in Sharpie products get a 12-pack of Sharpie Mini Markers free!!!!! That's a value over $15! I wonder if they are discontinuing the mini markers and therefore getting rid of stock? But who cares? Also, I had a $10 off $50 purchase and my pens and ink for the printer were only $44 so I asked if I could do the Sharpie deal twice and the cashier said YES!!!! So now I have TWO packs of color Sharpie pens and two packs of mini markers. We don't really need the markers for anything at work (I already have various sizes in black and a few colors) so I'm leaving one pack here and taking the other home. Woot! I <3 Sharpie!

Free! And not this boring 4 pack, no! The 12 pack with cool colors like Raspberry, Lime, and Teal!

End of Year Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:25:00 +0000

While some people are starting to think about New Years Resolutions, I'm thinking of End of Year Goals.

Things have changed a bit in my household. Starting this week Thomas is at a new job working days, so the boys are at full time daycare and I will suddenly have two weeknights free to myself when he takes them for a few hours. What in the world will I do with all that free time? Clean and organize, I hope. I got a jump start today at lunch, I reorganized a drawer in my dining room that had been devoted to candles and gift bags and tissue paper and an assortment of other random things. Now it's organized with candle and light bulbs and cocktail napkins and most importantly, I can actually see what I'm looking for when I open the drawer. It feels so good.

Also, since I've started couponing, it has resulted in a stockpile of health and beauty (and Glade) items. I organized a few shelves in my linen closet and now I have a mini drug store to go to any time I need something. It's actually kind of satisfying to see all these bottles and packages and know that I got them for pennies on the dollar. Any time I'm bored or have the urge to shop, I think I'll go to that closet and try out a new lotion or body wash or conditioner or whatever. Sounds like a fun relaxing thing to do.

Also, I want to go e. As in e-calendar. Right now I still use a good ol' paper calendar to keep all my work appointments on, but I'd like to get a personal and work calendar merged digitally and keep it all on my MacBook and my new ipod touch that I'm waiting to have delivered. That may take more getting used to. Anyway, it will all be an experiment, but I'll let you know how it goes.

$16.87 - Black Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 03:49:00 +0000

I had my Walgreens Black Friday ALL planned out - on a spreadsheet and everything. So needless to say when I got to the first Walgreens and they were already out of most of their "free" RR products it threw me off and I got flustered in my mental math and trying to coupon. Luckily, I was able to pick up my game at the one downtown Dubuque Walgreens, far, far, far away from the malls and super stores. (Too bad the second time I went the manager came up to check me out and told me I could do only one RR deal and not do more than one transaction, and by that time, I had all the other stuff I wanted, I just wanted more Dove.)

3 boxes of 64 count Crayola Crayons (one not pictured)

5 Dove deodorants

2 Johnson's body washes

2 Right Gaurd deodorants (giving to Thomas, ha)

2 Nivea Shave Gel

3 Infusium hair products

9 Christmas bags

Total OOP: $16.87

RR I walked away with today? $48

Not bad, not bad at all.

Happy Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:27:00 +0000

Ok, sure, it's a month late, but I forgot to share this with you all - my kids are famous! Flickr famous anyway. There was a photographer at the Spooktacular event at the zoo and he chose the picture of Max and Will as the cover photo for this particular flickr stream. We were also photographed for another zoo photographer and video taped. Hopefully that's all the paparazzi they have to deal with in life.

(Darn, I can't copy the photo, so I just emailed the photographer, hopefully he will send it to me.)

Cracker Deal Update

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:08:00 +0000

Ok, this great deal is for Wheat Thin and Triscuit lovers.

Full size (9.5 - 16 oz) Nabisco crackers are on sale this week 5 for $10. Basically Wheat Thins, Triscuits, and Ritz.

There are $1.00 off two box coupons through Nabisco's site here: (-$1 off 2 nabisco cracker products 5-16 oz (click "get started," then "coupons")

There are $1.00 off two box coupons through SmartSource online coupons (http://coupons2.smartsource.com/smartsource/index.jsp?Link=5S2ZUA6PWPEPO)

Walgreen's has it's own coupon in the Diabetes and You booklet. (-$1 off 2 nabisco triscuit, wheat thins, snackwells 6-pack 100-cal pack diabetes & you magazine holiday 2009/winter 2010)

(So note that because only full size crackers are on sale, you can only use this on triscuits and wheat thins)

Finally if you happen to be an avid couponer and have the SS insert from 11-08-09 there is a $1 off one box coupon.

Don't forget the mail in rebate - Buy ten boxes, get $10 back.

AND you get $3 Register Rewards for buying 5 boxes.

Here's how I did it:

Transaction 1

4 Boxes Wheat Thins

1 Box Triscuits

= $10

(2) $1/2 box manufacturer's coupon (Nabisco online) - $2

(1) $1/1 box manufacturer's coupon from SS insert - $1

(1) $1/2 box Wag's coupon (automatically does this for 2.5) - $2.50

Final OOP Cost: $4.50

Prints $3 RR

Transaction 2

3 Boxes Wheat Thins

2 Boxes Triscuits

= $10

(2) $1/2 box manufacturer's coupon (SmartSource online) - $2

(1) $1/2 box Wag's coupon (automatically does this for 2.5) - $2.50

(1) $1 RR from Ricola deal last week - $1 (I could have used a bigger RR to make this a better deal, but I wasn't really thinking, I was just making the cost the same as my other transaction)

Final OOP Cost: $4.50

Prints $3 RR

So I spent $9.00 OOP but got $6.00 in RR and will get a $10 MIR so making this a $1 cash money maker or a $7.00 all together money maker. Yeah!

BTW - I had the NICEST cashier at one Walgreens today (usually at the one where the lady is super grumpy and acts like its the biggest chore for me to use a coupon). He noticed all my RRs in my wallet and said I must shop there a lot. I said, just like these crackers, there are a lot of good deals. And he told me that while Walgreens prices may be a bit higher, when you get coupons and sales and RRs it's very cheap, I said, I know that's why I shop here! He proceeded to give me a "heads up" of all the Black Friday/3-day Sales (which I already knew but thought was totally sweet of him). And he was cute too! Bonus!

One other deal today:

Triaminic is on sale 2/$10

-$1.50 triaminic any product or ss 10/18/09
-$3 off 2 triaminic any product ss 10/18/09
-$2 triaminic liquids 4oz or thin strips 14ct healthy savings coupon book

I bought 2 and used (2) $1.50 off and the $2/1 Healthy Savings coupon (automatically takes off $4) so total OOP is $3 and it prints a $5 RR. This is one of those things that while it's a great deal (and a $2 money maker in terms of RR) I'm not going to stock up on and would advise others not to unless they have a lot of kids, or are going to donate or give it away. It does expire, and these two bottles should last us up to the expiration date of Sep. 2011. I just cleaned out our medicine cabinet and threw away expired meds and encourage you all to do that once in a while. Also I only bought the night time cold & cough medicine because otc meds aren't really encouraged for children under 6. We only give a cough suppressant right before bed if one of the boys has a really really bad cough that he can't sleep. There are other varieties available for this deal.

Oh yeah, and I bought the Swiss Miss just because it was on sale 2/$2 and it was on my grocery list anyway.

Sources:

Sams Secrets

I Heart Wags

Cracker Deal

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:46:00 +0000

From Sam's Secrets and I Heart Wags:

$3 RR when you buy $10 worth of Nabisco crackers – $2 each. There is a $10 rebate here when you buy 10 boxes. Use two of the $1/2 boxes coupon, and the $1/2 100-calorie packs (or other nabisco crackers) from the Diabetes & You magazine. Can also use the $1 coupon in the 11-8 SS (Sunday paper insert). So that's $5 for 5 boxes of crackers get $3 RR and do this twice to take advantage of that MIR.

Except, I'm not sure I have two copies of the 11-8 SS, so my second transaction may be $6 for 5 boxes. Still cheap!

Winter Song

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:48:00 +0000

I wish I could embed this song and video, but I can't, just take my word for it that it's beautiful and go check it out.

This Week's Deals

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:31:00 +0000

I didn't take a picture before I put it all away, but for $7.21 I got:

2 pkg Bic Soleil Razor cartridges (4ct)

3 pkg Ricola Mixed Berry lozenges (19 ct)

3 Lubriderm unscented lotions

2 pkg Thermcare back wraps (2 ct)

1 Tums Dual Action (25 ct)

3 votive candles

$12 in Register Rewards

Total w/out coupons? $47.08

And I'm probably not done because the cashier actually put my Soleil and Thermacare coupons back in my bag (which I didn't notice until I got home) so I'll probably get more razor refills and I still have a tums coupon so I'll be using that too. I'm stocking up on RR for Black Friday, it's going to be nuts.

21 Boxes of Tissues

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:59:00 +0000

I just got 21 boxes of tissues and 3 bottles of baby lotion for $5.69. Total without coupons would have been $57.68.

Thank you, Sarah, for mailing me that extra coupon book!

Awful Money Day

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:20:00 +0000

This week I received emails from the two biggest malls in Omaha that they were giving away $10 gift cards on Saturday. I had received a promotion like this one other time and it was a multi-day promo, I went on the first weekday as the mall opened, I waltzed in, then out, $10 gift card in hand.

However, this was one day only, and only on Saturday, so I decided to take the boys to pick up both of them. I had to bribe them with McDonalds and tell them that they could run the Thomas trains at the mall, after all, I was going to get $20 in mall gift cards.

First we stopped for gas ($9.95). We got to the mall and of course there was a line, so I thought I would bribe them with a cookie to stand in line. ($3.90). Then we got in line and we only waited a few minutes before I decided that standing in line for 20 minutes or more would only result in two very angry toddlers and a mom ready to blow her brain out. So we walked all the way back through the mall to stop at the Thomas train ($1.00). After about 10 runs thanks to other sucker moms and whiney kids, I convinced them to stop at the sports store next to the trains because they had Iowa flags and I've been wanting one. ($21.39). And of course, I had to take them to McDonalds because it was noon and I promised. ($9.98). I was determined to not make it a wasted day, so I stopped at Walgreens because I had received a book of coupons in the mail from Sarah so that I could get boxes of Kleenex for $.09. They didn't carry the specific box of Kleenex that was on sale.

By this time, I was cranky, they were cranky, and I had wasted too much money and didn't get much in return. *sigh*

And I bet Iowa will lose today.

Short Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:22:00 +0000

Many, many thanks go out to my friend Mattie who helped me finish painting my dining room last weekend. Now I'm finally ready to give you a tour of the dining room.

Before:

After:

Please ignore the mess in the living room next door. I cleared everything out of the dining room to take these pictures and plan to go through everything tonight. Time to get everything unpacked and tossed or donated.

$.27 Wipes at Target

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:36:00 +0000

Another good one from Coupon Cravings (they really span all stores).

Target's new brand of Up & Up was launched and it seems you can print as many of their online coupons as you want. Here's the deal and here's the Target coupons. I bought a pack of flushable Toddler Wipes for $1.27 - $1.00 coupon so $.27 for the package. Other wipes might run 50 - 70 cents, but that's still ridiculously cheap. Only one per transaction, so I'll be stopping there a lot and bringing change from my change jar to stock up on wipes!!!

Another Walgreens Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:46:00 +0000

This was a good deal, though accidental because at Walgreens you're supposed to have a 1:1 coupon product ratio, one of my coupons didn't want to work, but the cashier gave it to me anyway. :)

From Coupon Cravings

Buy 2 Glade Sprays for $.99 each (use in-ad coupon)
Use $.75/2 printable coupon
Use $1/2 Walgreens coupon from November Coupon Booklet
Final Price = $.12 each

I also grabbed this deal and coupons through I Heart Wags

bic soleil razor or refill 4 pk get $3 rr
♥ check for clearanced bic soleil for $3.49 available in some stores

-$2 bic soleil

(The cartridges were on clearance at my local store for $3.79)

These were my two identical transactions:

2 Glade sprays (were $1.89 each)

-used $.99 each

-used $1 off two Glade products

-used $.75 off two Glade sprays

4pk Bic Soleil (were $3.79 each, earn $3 RR w/ purchase)

-used $2.00 off Soleil

Total (plus tax)= $2.42 x 2 = $4.84

Earned = $6.00 RR!

I meant to use some of my Almay RRs, but didn't really feel like grossing up the purchase because there aren't any basics we need right now, so I decided just to earn more RRs. Tomorrow I am going to use a $5 Almay RR to buy a an actual Soleil razor (w/ coupon) so that I can use the cartridges I bought, lol.

So that will be:

$7.99 Bic Soleil

- $2.00 coupon

- $5.00 RR

Total: $.99 (Of course, because of the Walgreens 1:1 coupon product ratio, I'll have to get some other very small item to put with it but razors and refills are SO expensive, this is such a great deal!)

***ETA*** BTW - there's a $5.00 rebate on SC Johnson products (glade) when you buy three items. Moneymaker! www.scjohnson.com/files/Rebate_Form.pdf

$.99 Santa Potato Head

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:05:00 +0000

Another deal! I stumbled upon Coupon Cravings yesterday and found a great Christmas gift deal. Santa Claus Potato Heads for $.99! Go to coupons.com and click on Toys & Games and clip the Mr. Potato Head Spud Buds coupon for $5.00 off 1. The Santa potato head is a Spud Bud and can be found in the Christmas section of Target for $5.99. I bought two today for Max and Will and I'm thinking about going back to get them for my nieces too.

***ETA*** Yes, I printed out two more coupons (limit 2 per computer) at work and got two more for $.99 Now I'm wondering if I should really give each kid a Santa or just each set of kids and then donate the other two, especially because I know that each set (my boys, Luke's girls) has a regular Potato Head already. I'll probably donate. I think I may also do a makeup donation to the Lydia House as well.

Also, you can print two MORE at couponbug.com

Walgreens Update

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:20:00 +0000

Total Cost: $16.40
Total Cost w/out coupons: $116.62
Savings: $100.22 or 86%
Earned: $20.00 RR

A follower of Sarah

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:50:00 +0000

Ok, I'm no Sarah, but for my first ever attempt at getting things really cheap and using register rewards at Walgreens, I'm really excited about my haul. I got six bottles of lotion, six cans of tomato sauce, five mascaras, three foundations, two eyeshadows, a bag of cough drops and a nail scissors all for $16.49 (or less). I say less because I don't think the cashier gave me a receipt for one transaction and I think the cost was $3 something, but for the purpose of adding tonight, I just put it at $4.00. If I show you each transaction, I may be able to figure out what the charge was. So:

Transaction 1

1 Almay Foundation $9.99

1 Almay Mascara - Free (BOGO Almay products)

- $4.00 mascara coupon

Total OOP (out of pocket) = $6.65

Transaction 2

3 Lubriderm $11.37

3 Hunts Tomato Sauce - Wag's coupon 3 for $1 + MFC $1 off 3 (FREE!)

Use $10.00 RR

Total OOP = $2.17

Transaction 3 (this is the missing receipt)

Almay Eyeshadow - $7.49

Almay Mascara - Free

Almay Foundation - $9.99

Almay Mascara - Free

- $8.00 mascara coupon

3 Hunts Tomato Sauce - Wag's coupon 3 for $1 + MFC $1 off 3 (FREE!)

nail scissors - $.76 (used this as filler, but not sure I needed it, wish i had the receipt!)

Use $8.00 RR

Total OOP = Between $3-4 I think, depends on what is or isn't taxed

Transaction 4

3 Lubriderm $11.37

- $3.00 Lubriderm coupon (Finally found the Lubriderm coupon at this store)

Cough Drops $1.69

Use $10.00 RR

Total OOP = $.97

Transaction 5

Almay Eyeshadow - $7.49

Almay Mascara - Free

Almay Foundation - $9.99

Almay Mascara - Free

- $8.00 mascara coupon

Use $8.00 RR

Total OOP = $2.70

TOTAL OOP = $16.49 or less

Total Register Rewards still to use: $20

"profit" = $3.51

Many, many, thanks to Sarah (aka Sam) for walking me through my first Walgreens shopping spree and answering my texts and getting me hooked. I'll be looking forward to the next great deals!

Scare Taylor

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:01:00 +0000

My boys keep asking me to replay this video of Ellen scaring Taylor Swift. It is pretty hilarious. Good luck on SNL tonight, Taylor!

Note to Self

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:52:00 +0000

Reminder to myself: Taylor Swift is on SNL this Saturday. Yay!

Hooray!

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:10:00 +0000

As much as it would have been fun to visit Luke & Sara if they had moved to Wisconsin Del ls, I'm way more excited that when she told her employers about her other offer that they promoted her, gave her a raise, and other benefits so that they are staying in Iowa. After all, as beautiful as Wisconsin is, we all know that Iowa is a far superior state.

And I'm leaving in less than 12 hours for Wisconsin....oh well. :)

Iowa Pine

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:51:00 +0000

Mrs. Meyer really knows her stuff and creates great smelling and biodegradable cleaning products. Today when I was in Target I noticed that they had the holiday scent set out so I opened the dish soap, sniffed, loved the christmas tree smell and decided to buy the countertop spray and dish soap for the holidays. At only $2.99 and $3.99 for these green products, it seems like a steal. Anyway, it wasn't until I got home that I realized the name of this Holiday's scent is Iowa Pine. *sigh*

Can't wait to go home for Christmas! I *heart* Iowa

A little sad, a little excited, a little jealous

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:59:00 +0000

May be starting to plan frequent trips here...

photo via

Be Still, My Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:45:00 +0000

Ok, after my last post, I thought what happened to me today was pretty funny. When is the last time a total stranger was so good looking that he (or she) made you flustered...so flustered probably couldn't spell your own name or remember your age if asked? For me...about 12 hours ago, and in the unlikeliest of places too.

Let's start from the beginning...this morning I overslept because I was up late with Will who had what the doctor diagnosed as a "whopping ear infection" this morning, so I skipped breakfast in order to get out to the Lutheran camp to print newsletters for work. After a longer than usual time at the camp because of printer issues, I headed back into Omaha and decided to stop at Sam's Club since I was in the area and we needed a few things at home. By this time it was just after 11:00 and I was starving, not sure I would be getting home for lunch because I had so much to do today. My only option in that area was Wendy's and I decided that even though it had been years since I had a fast food hamburger, I was willing to risk taste-bud assault on a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger.

When I got to Wendy's there was a line three or four cars deep for the drive-thru so I opted to quickly run inside...and there he was...so hot he should be a model...the guy behind the counter taking my order! Now I will admit it, if you will admit it...most of the time I, and we, think of fast food workers as uneducated, lower class, stoners, unattractive, lazy, etc. etc. So imagine my surprise when the guy behind the counter is one of the most attractive guys I have ever seen, someone whose dazzling white smile lit up his face, his dark brown eyes felt like they peered into the depths of my soul, and his accent danced through my mind and made me want to run away with him. I was flustered. My heart was racing! It's been so long since my heart beat fast for anyone that I felt younger - like junior high crush younger.

And when I left and got into my car and drove away in a daze, I realized what I actually felt...alive. For the first time in such a long time my heart, which has been hidden behind a very tall, thick, strong, stone wall felt alive. And it felt good.

Four weddings and a Baby

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:49:00 +0000

I know a lot of people who seem to attend eight weddings in a year, which always sounded like torture to me. Weddings of good friends are fun, weddings of families are fun, but attending the weddings of peripheral friends, coworkers, distant family members or your significant other, or whatever, are mind numbingly boring. However, through my 20s I only attended one or two a year, proudly congratulating my friends (in my mind) of being reasonable and waiting until we were older to get married. The fact remains that most of my college friends are all still single, and my high school friends are about 50/50, but my local friends are the ones falling victim to wedding bells.

In 2010 I have two Omaha friends getting married, two college friends getting married, and another Omaha friend expecting a baby (so far). I'm starting to hit that point that I so gladly avoided through my early and mid twenties where major life changes are happening to my friends. I'm more excited for them than I thought I would be, and I can handle four weddings next year (but if it gets to eight, I'll start to boycott).

At the same time, my friends who did marry early and have kids early are the ones going through major life changes too. I've had one friend get divorced, another who has a child is separating from her spouse, and you never know when or if these things will happen to others you are close to because so often marital problems are hidden.

I personally have moved to the side of marriage not being for me. Of course, I also acknowledge that because I have two wonderful little boys that it's easier for me to say that. I have a family even though I don't have a partner. So I get to enjoy my house, my space, and be independent in my decisions concerning both. Sometimes I think I have the best of both worlds.

Anyway, this isn't really a post for or against marriage, after all, I have decided that I might be interested in dating once I turn 40. That just seems like a really good age to date as my children will be in high school and busy with their friends and activities, and who knows, maybe once they are in college I will be ready for someone to start sharing my life and my home. And by then statistics show my peers will all be divorcing and some of the good guys might be on the market again. LOL

Banging my head against the wall

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:34:00 +0000

I don't know how moving your dresser into your girlfriend's new apartment so that you have a place to store your clothes because you sleep there most nights isn't moving in together, but Thomas isn't moving in with his girlfriend tomorrow.

In other news that doesn't make me want to bang my head against the wall, I got a new MacBook Pro two days ago, and it's love at first sight and touch. I'm adoring it. I just need to get Office for Mac so that I can work from home too. Hopefully I'll find a way to get it cheap, otherwise, I guess I'll have to use my printer rebate to go buy it. Maybe NFM will run another "Free Snuggie with Purchase" deal. Must wait for the deal of the century...