Walgreens 8/22/11 haul...

I'm actually starting to feel like I've got a good handle on how to make my trips to Walgreens the most effective. I know it's taken some time to do, but that's pretty typical when starting something new! I've been  consistently saving 70% - 90% on the last few months of shopping and I've really noticed a difference in how I shop and plan my trips! It has been very rewarding!

So here is a list of what I got this week!!

4- Chex Mix 8.75 oz $3.19 --> $1.10 ea.

4- Dawn Dish Liquid 10.3 oz $1.99 --> $.49 ea.

4- Glade Sense & Spray Refil 6.2 oz $5.79 --> $1.50 ea.

2- Glade Cling Wrap 200 sq ft $3.29 --> $1.49

12- Scotch Transparent Tape 12.5 yds $.99 --> $.06 ea.

6- PaperMate Write Bros Pens 10 pk $1.49 --> $.29

3- Dove Body Wash 24 oz $7.49 --> $2.75

(This was a great buy because not only did I get a great price for the body wash, I also got bonuses on the back of the bottles! One came with a deodorant and the other two came with a trial sized body wash!)

3- Reach Floss 55 yds $1.99 --> FREE

4- Degree Antiperspirant $2.99 --> $.50 ea.

4- Crest 3D White toothpaste 4 oz $3.99 --> $.25 ea.

Total Spent: $29.05

Total Retail Cost: $127.52

Total Saved: $98.47

SAVED 77%

Walgreens 8/1/11 haul...

So, I'm now feeling like I've got a pretty good stock pile and things are slowing down a bit for me!! It's a great thing too because the month of July was GO, GO, GO!!! 

So today I made my way back to Walgreens after two weeks off and here's what I snagged...

For a closer look, here's what was included...

3- Crayola markers- 8 pk

3- Complete Contact Lens solution (12 oz.)

3- Papermate highlighters (6 pk)

3- Sharpie Permanent Markers (2 pk)

4- Jell-o boxes

4- Penway Pink Erasers (2 pk) 

3- Goody Snap Clips (6 pk)

2- Penway Cap Erasers (15 ct)

Total Retail Cost: $50.89

Total Spent: $6.98

TOTAL SAVED $ 43.91

SAVED 86%

Wham, Bam, Thank you Ma'am!!! 

Walgreens 5/30/11 haul...

I made out like a banchee! It was well worth getting up at 6:30 am, running to Walmart for some Memorial Day BBQ necessities, then straight over to Walgreens for some smokin' deals!

I didn't have time to post a pic since I had guests arriving to party right when I got home- but here is what I hauled in today...

1- Gillette Fusion Powerglide Razor System $9.89 --> $.89!
8- Degree Men's Deodorant (2.7 oz) $3.79 each --> $.63 each!
6- RightGuard Men's Deodorant (2.7 oz) $4.49 each --> ALL FREE!
3- Reynolds Aluminum Foil $1.99 each --> $.99 each
4- Chips Ahoy Cookies (1.6 oz) $.99 each --> $.25 each!
4- Aplied Nutrition Triple Calcium supplements (90 ct) $10 each --> MADE $5 ON 3 OF THEM AND ONE WAS FREE!!!!
1- Twizzlers Nibs- $2.49 --> $2.19

So total retail value for this trip was $113.92
Spent $4.42
Saved $109.50 = 96%

I think this trip could have been featured on TLC's Extreme Couponing!!!  Haha. And I guarantee that I spent much less time prepping and planning for this trip than most of those crazies on the show. But obviously this isn't THAT much stuff- yet, it's still just as exciting to save 96%!! Oh yeah!!

Walgreens Couponing...5/23/11

So I've been learning how to maximize coupons at Walgreens...and it's NOT for the faint of heart! It is semi-complicated, but the benefits definitely outweigh the headache!

So, here's what I got for this week...

5 packs of Huggies Little Swimmers (12 ct/pk)
2 Puresilk  Shaving Cream
4 Carefree Undieliners
8 Butterfinger bars
1 Yardley Soap bar
4 Dixie paper plates (20 ct)
2 Dixie paper bowls (24 ct)
4 Suave lotion
1 Advil PM (20 ct)
1 Thermacare Heat Wrap (3 ct)
3 Scunci Hair Elastics (18 ct)
4 Colgate Sensitive Whitening Toothpaste
1 Nexcare bandaids
2 Sunburnt cream
-------------------------
-------------------------

Total Retail- $171.79
Total Spent- $45.69
Total Saved- $126.10

SAVED 73%


The great thing is that I am creating a great stockpile! This has been my goal for a long time- and now I'm actually able to do it without breaking the bank! I used to just get stuff at Costco since it was all under one roof, and seemed less expensive since it was in bulk...but when you compare it to using coupons and matching ads- the cost doesn't even compare!

Take me home tonight...

Jovie and I just got back from "home"- which to me is Colorado, Utah, Arizona and a slew of a few other places. But we did just visit Colorado and had a fantastic visit. This was our view in Phx before we left...

And by the time we got to Denver we were pleasantly surprised by SNOW (In MAY, yes, ridiculous right?)...I shouldn't have been surprised because I packed 1 pair of pants and a light jacket- and the rest shorts and tshirts. Ugh. I hate when the weather gets the best of me!!

  However, since it was cold and we were ill-prepared, we got to stay in and Jovie & Papa played "Moonshadow" on the guitar. Tender, just tender. Jovie even sang a bit too, which was so sweet.

Then we got to spend the night at my sister Katy's house. Jovie LOVES her cousins...upon driving up into their neighborhood she started yelling.."CAMILLE, CALLIE, KATY, DAN!!!" I was pretty surprised by that since she hasn't been to their house in 9 months!! Good memory!

 We were even lucky enough to spend the day celebrating Callia's 5th Birthday!! It was "Tangled" themed and just adorable. My sister is such a visionary. She made mostly everything herself, which just amazes me!!

 Pinata princess hats and suckers!!

Ring-around-the-rosies... and play time at the park when it finally warmed up!!

 Mom and Katy looking like twinners!!

We even discovered a little burrow of baby rabbits- there were 5 or 6 of them- they couldn't have been more than a few days old, but boy were they just adorable!! They just kept trying to follow us around, even when we were trying to coral them into their burrow!!

Jovie peeling her first orange all by herself!!

Jovie with Katy's dog Koko- Jovie just adores her (as we all do!) and follows her around and calls out her name incessantly! Do we need a dog, or what??

It was nice to spend some time with my family- since we rarely get to spend time together!! I also got to see my parent's lovely new home and even got to help my mom organize her kitchen, pantry, and basement storage. I actually love helping other people organize...I just hate doing it for myself!! Jovie sure got used to spending time with Tutu and Papa! (which was much needed since my mom will be watching Jovie for a whole week in July when we go on an Alaskan cruise with all of the adults in Blake's family)

We also spent many nights playing a new card game- Bohnanza!! It was a total blast! I've definitely got a  knack for this game! "Beans, beans the magical fruit....

Maxin' & Relaxin'

Krazy Couponing...

So, in the past two weeks since my surgery, while I was down and out only able to sit- I decided to watch video on demand and see the show Extreme Couponing on TLC. When I was growing up my parents did light couponing, but NOTHING to this extreme. I really think it's an art form. Really truly amazing. If you haven't seen the show, watch it...really!

I've always gone through life loving to get a deal, but I don't LIVE for it! After watching a few episodes of the show I thought- the people are MOSTLY crazy, but they do have some gumption!! I've always felt sort of cheap, or lowly when using coupons- I guess I never really knew you could get things totally free and even sometimes MAKE MONEY couponing. 

So I saw one episode of Extreme Couponing with a gal they call "The Krazy Coupon Lady" (yes, it pains me too to see crazy spelled with a "k") and I thought- she's a young mom, she started a website with a friend, and gives free advice on how to start couponing, continue couponing, and all the deals each week for many grocery stores, drug stores and supercenters. I thought it really was awesome!! 

Well, now 3 weeks later I've started this whole couponing thing, and each day I get better at it!! I've really learned a ton from the book "Pick Another Checkout Lane, honey", that they co-wrote, and I've already started stockpiling tons of non-parishables, cleaning supplies, and food for just a FRACTION of the retail cost! 

So today was kind of an awesome day shopping at Walgreens. Below is a view of all that I got.

Now- do you know what I would have spent if I bought this all at retail price & no coupons???

$183.24

Did I pay that much??? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!

I only spent $61.73!!

That is almost 70% savings!! 

I'm glad that I've been given an opportunity to help save some cash around the house without having to go outside my home and get a job. This is totally something I can do. It takes some time at first, but I know with practice it will get easier!

The last 3 weeks I've gone grocery shopping and saved between 50-65% of the retail cost each trip to the store. It really is becoming life changing. I don't think I'll ever get to the "Extreme" level, but I may just get a little bit "krazy" now and again!!

crazy day...crazy few weeks...

I'm doing alright people. That is the bottom line. Just for the sake of keeping a record here is the story as far as I can tell it. 


I had a miscarriage in January and felt like I knew I would be able to get pregnant again soon. I found out April 5 that I was 5 1/2 weeks pregnant and was ecstatic! It didn't feel like the last time. I felt like this pregnancy was going to be ok. On Saturday April 9 I started to have the all-too-familiar bleeding (red and heavy) and I was just sure I miscarried again. Well, the following Sunday and Monday I took a home pregnancy test and they both showed up as pregnant. I called my doctor immediately Monday morning and he had me come in on Tuesday to have an ultrasound and blood test done to check my HCG (pregnancy hormone) levels. So after the ultrasound my doctor confirmed the pregnancy was no longer "viable" (so....I miscarried....again). 


Or so they thought.


I went in again on Thursday to do a follow up blood test. Friday noon I had some weird sharp pains in the middle of my lower abdomen- not bad enough to lay me out- but they hurt pretty bad. It only lasted for about 5 minutes, then went away. Friday afternoon I get a call back from my Dr. to tell me the results of the blood tests. 


Tuesdays HCG levels- 530. Thursdays HCG levels- 890. WHAT THE HECK? (when you aren't pregnant your HCG should be less than 3!!!)


For someone who didn't have a baby in my uterus those levels are VERY HIGH!! Well, Dr Huish says..."it looks like you are still pregnant, but usually we like to see the 2nd HCG number double from the 1st HCG number, and since it didn't quite double we want you to come back in on Tuesday for another ultrasound and blood test." 


Holy roller coaster of emotions!!! pregnant...Not Pregnant....PREGNANT!!! (In the mean time- I've been playing hostess while my parents have been in town with some of their friends, having swimming parties, celebrating Blake's 30th Birthday and having bbq's at our house! Also, Sunday my dad left to go back to Colorado, and Monday Blake, Scott, Chelsea and Shauna left for Orlando FL for a business meeting of a marketing company that they would have on Wednesday morning. 


Ok- so Tuesday I went in for the ultrasound and blood test. I didn't have a consultation with the doctor scheduled after my ultrasound, so the tech said my dr would call me back by Wednesday afternoon with the results. On Tuesday afternoon I reluctantly said goodbye to my mom as she flew back to Colorado that night! 


Wednesday morning 4:00 am April 20, 2011: Jovie starts crying so I bring her into my room and lay her in the bed next to me, since Blake isn't here. As I lay in bed I start getting a horrible dull pain again in my lower abdomen. At this point I am now 7 1/2 weeks pregnant. I get intermittent sleep between 4 and 7am and then Jovie wakes up. I still have a horrible pain in my stomach and when I go to use the restroom I could barely get out 5 drops of urine and when I wipe I notice bright red blood. That's when my body started tingling from head to toe. It was a horrible sensation. Fear just came over me and I thought I was gonna pass out so I layed on the floor for a minute or two. By then, Jovie came into the bathroom and saw me on the floor- I tried to calmly ask her to go get my phone on my nightstand- but I think me completely pale, lying on the floor kinda freaked her out and she just paced around me trying to pull me off the floor. I knew something was severely wrong with me at this point because my body was still tingling and I was feeling horribly faint. I decided to run and leap onto my bed to get to my phone. I called 911- CALL FAILED!! I thought to myself....I'm gonna die right here in my room and Jovie is going to be the only one here watching her mama die!!! I finally got through to a dispatcher who stayed on the phone with me while I crawled down the stairs and dragged myself to the front door to unlock it so the paramedics could get inside. An ambulance came and took me to the hospital. Luckily my bishop who lives across the street saw the ambulance and came over to check on things so he was able to take Jovie until Blake's sister could come pick her up. Thank heavens for good people- especially being there at the right time!

So once I got to the hospital they ran a bunch of tests and did an ultrasound. Thankfully my sis-in-law Jaime was able to come sit with me in the ER- it was so comforting having her there with me! By about 10:30 am (PST) Blake and the rest of the family were able to switch their flights and come home early and be home by 5:30 pm (PST). At about 11:15 am my doctor, the radiologist and the ER doctor determined I had an ectopic pregnancy (baby implants in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus). I basically could have died if I would have waited any longer to go to the hospital. My tube could have burst and I would have bled internally. Very scary stuff!!!

So at noon my brother Eli and Bro-in-law Rajiv came to give me a blessing before my surgery at 12:30 pm. Blake had no idea that I was even having surgery since he was in the air before I got the news. So he found out on his layover in Kansas City that I was mid surgery. I felt so horrible because I know that must have totally freaked him out! By 2:00 pm the surgery was over and I was in recovery until about 4:00 pm waking up to see a good friend Barb- Nielson (from Blake's home ward/book club) who works at the hospital pass by my bed and recognize me!! So we talked for a bit and then Jaime and Kayleen came in to check in with me! It was so nice to see faces of my loved ones!

So surgery went as well as it could have. They did a laparoscopy- which is just 2 small incisions in my abdomen and 1 incision in my belly button. They ended up needing to remove my right fallopian tube and the baby as it was too damaged to save. But I will still have two good ovaries and my left tube so I should still be able to bear more children. Hopefully.

I was able to go home at 4:30 pm which I was just happy to be in the comfort of my own home at this point!! Hospital beds can be so uncomfortable! Thankfully I had Jaime, Jason and Rajiv here to help out with Jovie and drive me from the hospital. Blake got home at 6 pm with everyone and I was feeling very grateful to see him and everyone else. I'm gonna be down recovering for a few days but overall I'm feeling pretty good and am in good spirits!

Thanks for your love, concern, prayers, etc. I've got great friends and neighbors who have shown the true spirit of Christ-like love and charity. Thank you for everything. You don't know how much this all means to me. 

Photoing...March...

"Almost"

A drive out near Red Mountain produced this pic. Isn't is so sad? This ancient saguaro cactus is just hanging on LITERALLY by a limb.

"Almost"

This poor little dove egg...almost made it.

"Lightning"

I had written down "lighting" but then read the blog and it said "lightning" (I guess after all that is was actually lighting)... so I had to cheat as AZ doesn't exactly produce lightning storms in March. So here is an old pic from the Coachella Music Fest from 2004 I believe- it was a cool lightning display.

"Sick"

Poor little Jovie has had to be on breathing treatments since being sick in December...

continuing until she gets all better. 

"Wings"

Went on a train ride on the Verde Canyon Rail Road and saw many birds- including this hawk. 

"Wings"

Also taken on my train ride- saw several bald eagles fairly close. So magnificent!

April Photo Club topics: hoof, everybody, occupation, winning

The little things...

Sometimes it's just great to see people conquer their fears...for Jovie, it just happened to be goats. She loves dogs, ferrets, cats, chickens, etc, and will pet just about anything. But when it came down to hanging out with the goats at the petting zoo, Jovie just wasn't having it. We've been reading lots of farm books and singing "Old Macdonald Had A Farm" and maybe that was easing her into liking goats, so either way it was success. She wanted to pet every single goat (literally) in the zoo. It was sort of obnoxious, but I was happy to go with it. It was sort of endearing- even though goats are pretty creepy with their rectangular pupils. She just kept pointing and saying "this one" to each one she wanted to pet. I love childhood excitement!

Photoing...February...

This months themes for photos in photo club- 

celebrity, cliche, road trip, vintage

"Celebrity"

He's a pretty famous bear. We weren't limiting this to people, 

were we? ;)

"Cliche"

 Shoe pics are rough. I can't decide if I hate it more because you 

want people to get phased off of your shoes or because it's the 

closest thing you can take of yourself that isn't a cliche 

"self-in-mirror" pic (don't get me wrong- I've taken them too!)

"Road Trip"

I like a little adventure, even if that includes sitting in the middle 

of the beeline highway on a beautiful spring day. Love those 

rolling roads.

"Vintage"

Found this beat up little gem on a private property in the 

desert. Let's just say I rolled down the window to my car, 

snapped a quick pic, and high-tailed it out of there. I didn't 

know what kind of weirdos were lingering.

Come and gone...

I can't believe February has already come and gone. I don't even feel like I have anything to show for it!! I guess a lot of my time has been spent reading, praying, thinking, driving, singing, chasing, laughing, cooking, entertaining, babysitting, planning, etc. etc. etc. Life is busy. And I only have one kiddo. I do enjoy the downtime. I know it will be limited once we have more children. But for now I am enjoying things. I love watching Blake interact with Jovie. He is so good with her. He makes her giggle ALL THE TIME. It is so cute. Exhibit A. I am one lucky lady.





In other news: A few weeks ago I was called to be the Assistant Ward Choir Director (to become the director in a month when the current one moves out of the ward). I was really excited and thought..."This should be easy...I've sang in choirs my whole life. I know music. I love music. I love church music. This should be a snap." Well, I actually love getting humbled. I needed the humbling. Directing choir music is HARD. Harder than I ever thought. I've always been on the receiving end- getting the feedback. Now I'm giving the feedback- and it's tough!  I need a music 101 refresher course, evidently. Well, I've said some prayers. Not very many people have shown up to choir practice in the last few weeks. We were scheduled to sing a version of the hymn "Love at Home" on Sunday. I was so worried no one would show up. I am lucky to say that my prayers were answered. There were almost 20 people who showed up and it sounded amazing!! I directed the choir and didn't mess up. That was some sort of miracle. I know that music brings the Spirit, and lifts the soul. I needed some lifting.

I know that it would be weird to have children that weren't musical since that is such a huge part of mine and Blake's lives. Well, Jovie is no exception. Since she was very little she has responded well to music...she bobs to the beat, she claps, she sings, she dances. I love this. It makes me so happy. I caught a small part today of Jovie singing "I Am A Child Of God". It helps remind me that I'm not totally failing at this thing called "Parenting". I am a teacher. I am a Mother. I love her.

It is finished...my never ending advent

 Well I started this in November 2010... finished it in February 2011. That's not bad considering the blood (literally- countless pricked fingers...hopefully diabetes isn't on my plate in this life), sweat and tears that went into finishing this! But it was fun- a nice stress diffuser. 

 But I must say- I'm extremely happy I did it and proud of how it turned out. A lot of love went into the making of this advent! Hopefully this will be something we get to enjoy for many LONG years ahead! 

Outfitting the living room...

My style...hmmmmmm- that's a hard one. I guess I might say it's contemporary and a bit modern. I LOVE clean lines and open space. I'm really loving this soft and romantic, yet contemporary style I've been seeing more of lately. I've been searching for months and months for things to outfit our new house...my chosen color palette is as follows...

Gray walls
white accents
light/dark purple accents
Light brown accents

So far I know that we've got to save the money and find some fantastic things to really fit our ideal design aesthetic. I'm horrible at decorating, but I've been watching Divine Design and Candice Tells All (two shows that highlight Canadian Interior Decorator Candice Olson- whom I just adore) and I'm learning some things...

1. Arizona has weak stores.
2. I can't even SLIGHTLY shop with Jovie. She is ridiculous and a total spaz. What can you expect from a 2 year old?
3. There is NO medium ground with price for what we want. It's either WAY too expensive or WAY too cheap! Argh.
4. I should just have someone do the decorating for me since I don't really have the creative eye to put things all together.

But I will be honest...I've seen some fantastic things that are really catching my eye...

This FAB SOFA (In white)

Another FAB sofa (in charcoal)

This may be my favorite sofa yet!! (In Brussels Sky Grey)

Elton Chair (Cotton Basket Weave- Taupe or white)

Birds A-Plenty

Buzz Buzz (in white)

Sides and mirrors

Window treatments (in platinum)

Maybe even add a pet

tabletop birds

Passion in purple

Triangles never looked so good

Horses are awesome

Time's up! (in silver)

This may have to hang above the formal dining table!!

Bringing the outside (light) in...

And while I'm at it...lets take a look at some options for outdoor seating...

Loving this collection (in blue)

Now I've got to figure out how I can pay for some of this stuff. Hmm...what to sell, what to sell??? :)

Photoing...January...

I belong to a club...not sure why they let me in...maybe out of pity...or because I sometimes crack jokes...I don't know....but I like to take photos...I've really enjoyed taking pictures and now there is a purpose behind the madness.  

Objective: Each month there are 4 different topics (each member writes down 4 topics- 4 are chosen at random from a bowl) to photograph. Then, print out your favorite (or a few if you can't decide) and share it with everyone at the monthly get together. 

Here were the topics for January: Hands, Muscles, Jeff Guymon, Lost & Found

Barbie "Hands" 50 mm

'Diamond' Dallas Page "Hands" 50 mm

Vroom Vroom "Muscles" 50 mm

"Jeff Guymon" 50 mm 

(I don't know Jeff at all- Blake just said he is phased off of PCs- therefore, I had to hack)

"Lost & Found" iPhone pic

 I don't claim to be good...I just like having some sort of purpose for taking photos...sometimes those are the ones that feel the most inspired.

My baby...

** This will be a graphic "mommy" post- so for those who get squeemish talking anything "mommy" related, just skip to the end. **

Life is hard. There is no better way to put it. But, life is also really good. Jovie knows how to calm my troubled heart. Tonight, when laying her down for bed, she said "night, night, Mama" and made kissing noises from under her binkie. That is sweet...she is just awesome. I am one lucky mama.

This past week has been tough, yet strangely good. On Wednesday morning I got the best news anyone who loves children could ever get- a positive pregnancy test!! By this time I was a week late, so I figured I would give it a shot and take the test. When this has happened before, I have been reluctant to get excited to take the test because it just ends up being negative. Ugh. As if just getting your period isn't bad enough! But even when I saw the positive test, I just didn't feel the same way as when I got a positive test for Jovie. I didn't feel the same. I suppose it was Heavenly Father's way of protecting me. Protecting my heart, my emotions, and my relationship with Blake.

It didn't take but a few short hours for the nausea to set in. But that's also when the cramping started. And the blood (evidently 70% of women bleed throughout their pregnancy- and is completely normal...I just never did with Jovie)...so naturally I was really alarmed. It was red...really red. And when that combines with cramping that is not good. So I did some internet searches and called my doc...most likely if I continue to bleed, then it may be a miscarriage.

So, Wednesday came and went...and the bleeding continued. Thursday was surprisingly good- I was nauseated the whole day...so I saw that as a positive sign. Friday the bleeding came back in full force- as did the nausea. By Saturday morning I could no longer stand the anticipation. I had to know. Did I still have a baby inside me? So, I took a test... negative. Well, there was my answer. Did I really want to know? No. In my heart I already knew the answer.

**We've been trying to have a baby for a year. Reality really sucks some times. I guess I already figured that I had learned patience when waiting 3 long years to get pregnant with Jovie. I suppose Heavenly Father felt I needed to be humbled. again. He's right. I do.

I've been in surprisingly good spirits this week, considering. I understand the plan of salvation. I KNOW that I will see all of my (spirit) children some day. I know this special little spirit just wasn't ready to come join our family yet. There is a reason for all things and I have faith that through our trials in life we can gain a stronger testimony of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and learn to lean on Him as well as on our friends and family when we need strength the most.