Walgreens Trips - Week of April 17

1st Transaction:
2 - Duracell Batteries @ 5.99 each
4 - Cottonelle Wipes @ 5.49 each
1 - Goody Hair Barrette @ 3.00

Coupons Used:
11.96 Walgreens coupons for Cottonelle (makes them 2.50 each)
1.50 Duracell
1.50 Duracell

Total After Coupons & Taxes: $23.85
Earned $3 Register Rewards for buying the batteries and $3 Register Rewards for buying the hair barrette.
2nd Transaction:
1 - Goody Hair Barrette @ 3.00

Coupons Used:
$3 Register Rewards earned by buying the batteries in transaction 1.

Total After Coupons & Taxes: $0.23
Earned $3 Register Rewards for buying the hair barrette.

3rd Transaction:
1 - Nasogel @ 4.99
2 - Candies @ 0.39 each

Coupons Used:
$1.50 Nasogel coupon found on the package
$3 Register Rewards earned by buying the hair barrette in transaction 1.

Total After Coupons & Taxes: $1.38
Earned $5 Register Rewards for buying the Nasogel.


I also bought some candy for stuffing Easter Eggs from Walgreens this week. I used my Register Rewards and paid very little. So, I now have no Register Rewards, but I got some good stuff this week.

CVS Trip - April 17

Here is what I got:
2 - 24 pack bottled water @ 2.22 each
2 - Nivea Body Wash @ 3.88 each
1 - 18 pack Cottonelle Toilet Paper @ 8.99

Coupons Used:
$4 off $20 purchase CVS coupon
-3.00 off Nivea
-3.00 off Nivea
-0.50 off Cottonelle

Total after coupons and tax: $11.75
Earned $2 Extra Care Bucks

Walmart Question

I recently had an issue with Walmart refusing to accept my coupon on a travel sized item. The coupon had no size restriction, so I decided to email customer service and ask what their policy was on accepting coupons on travel sized items.

Here is what I sent:

I would like to know if coupons can be used on travel sized items, if there is no size restriction on the coupon.I have been able to use my coupons in the past on the travel size items.

Today with I went to the store, I was told I could not use coupons on travel size items, even if they did not have a size restriction. The CSM looked at the coupon and said I could not because the picture was of the full size item. The items I was purchasing were priced at $0.97 and the coupons I had were for $1.00 off. I had a total of 6 items, so even if I was given the overage to apply to the rest of my order, it would have only been $0.36.

I do not want to misuse my coupons, but I was under the impression I could use the coupons in this way unless there was a specific size requirement. Please advise me on this situation.

Here is the reply I received:

Thank you for your message.

Dear Amy,

Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding the acceptance of coupons at Walmart. Our guidelines generally allow for the following types of coupons to be accepted:

- manufacturer coupons (Cents Off)
- free merchandise (or manufacturer's Buy-One-Get-One-Free) coupons
- store coupons
- internet coupons
- soft drink container caps

A salaried manager may refuse to accept a coupon if it does not meet certain criteria.

Coupon guidelines and limits include but are not limited to the following:

Walmart only accepts coupons for merchandise we sell and only when presented at the time of purchase. Coupons should have an expiration date and be presented within the valid dates. Walmart will not accept expired coupons or double/triple coupons. Internet coupons should be legible and say "Manufacturer Coupon_ and there should be a valid remit address for the manufacturer and scannable bar code. Store Coupons must reflect a specific sale price or original price and must be available to all customers. For 'Free' merchandise coupons, customers will not receive cash back -- the cashier will adjust the value of the coupon to the actual retail of the item at the time of sale. In addition, only one coupon per item is permitted and use of 40 or more coupons per transaction will require approval by a Customer Service Manager.

Sincerely,
Walmart Customer Care

So, I guess they are telling me a salaried manager can refuse any coupon. I don't feel like they really answered my question.

I am not sure why I continue to go to Walmart. I go there a lot less now than I used to, but with all the trouble they have given me with coupons, I think I can do without Walmart. I can do most of my shopping at Kroger, CVS, & Walgreens. If I can't get it there, Target is only an hour away and I can always check at Kmart.

Who I Am & Who I Want to Be

I heard something the other day and I think it is so true:

You are constantly becoming the person you will ultimately be.

This really got me to thinking about my life and who I am now and who I want to be. I will have to admit, I do things now, that I wouldn't want to define me in the future. I see people around me and how selfish and uncaring people can be, but on the other hand, I see people who are loving and caring. I want to make sure I am taking steps in the right direction. So I decided to write who I feel like I am and who I would like to be.

Who I am:

I am a wife who doesn't have a very good relationship with her husband, who knows things could be better.

I am a mother who doesn't take the time she should for her children, who makes sure they are clean and fed, but, who knows there is a lot more to being a parent.

I am a Christian who doesn't read her Bible and pray as often as she should.

I am a woman who is overweight and finds it difficult to lose the weight.

I am a woman who has been depressed for several years, who is no longer taking any depression medicine, who is much better, but still has so far to go.

Who I want to be:

I want to be a wife who has a great marriage. I want to have a good physical relationship with my husband. I want to find things my husband and I enjoy doing together. I want to build a better relationship.

I want to be a homeschooling mother who has lots of time for her children. I want to make the most of each day with them. They will be grown up before I know it and I don't want to waste the time.

I want to be a Christian who reads and prays regularly. I would love to be more like my Grandma Wilson. She was so loving, caring and had such a sweet, gentle spirit. I want to be an encourager.

I want to be a woman who is no longer overweight, but a woman who has lost the weight and is in the best shape of her life. I want to learn and teach my family healthy ways to eat.

I want to be a good housekeeper. I want to learn to better organize our house and keep it clean.

I want to be a “finisher”. Often times, I am good at starting a project, but sometimes I find it difficult to finish the project. I get it to a point of stopping to a point of “good enough”. I don't want to settle for “good enough” I want to expect excellence.

There are many more things I would like to be, but these are a good start.

Intesesting Links

Recipes

These recipes look yummy!

Pizza Casserole

Strawberry Muffins

Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites

Homemade Granola Bars

Homemade Dog Treats (I am sure my dog will love some of these)

Homeschooling Resources

These websites look neat. If I home school in the future, I think they will be valuable resources.

I Can Teach My Child

Sheppard Software

Recipes

There are a couple of casseroles I made last week and thought I would share the recipes.

The first is for Corn Casserole. My sister-in-law gave me the recipe, but I also found it online HERE.

Ingredients:
-1 box Jiffy cornbread mix
-1 can corn, drained
-1 can cream style corn
-1 cup sour cream
-1 stick (1/2 cup) melted butter

Mix all ingredients. Pour into a greased 8x8 pan. Bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes.


The second one is for Hash Brown Casserole. You can find the recipe HERE.

Ingredients:
-1 can cream of chicken soup
-2 cups cheddar cheese
-1 stick (1/2 cup) melted butter
-1 bag (2 lb) frozen shredded hash browns
-salt, pepper, onion to taste

Combine all ingredient except the hash browns. Then gently fold the hash browns into the mixture and pour into a 9x13 greased pan. Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes, until top is browned.

"Paper" Dolls for the Bathtub

More Christmas gifts for the girls. This was a fun project. I made these dolls and the clothes from craft foam. I bought a big pack at Walmart. When you wet the foam, it will stick to the bathtub walls. I found this idea here. I got a little carried away making clothes for the dolls. Originally, I was only going to make one doll, but then decided that could cause problems. Of course, I will probably need to create something to keep these in, but that is for another day (when I find something good). Since they will get wet, I can't just keep then in a fabric envelope, I will have to find something better.

Monkeys (& Elephants) Jumping on the Bed

I made another Christmas gift for the girls today. They love the "Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" song and book. I found a magnet board story here. The bed, each monkey and each elephant has a magnet on the back. They will be able to play with them on the refrigerator. The elephants are for "5 giant elephants jumping on the bed". Of course, I had to make something to keep the pieces in. I created another envelope like the one found here. This time I used the "heat and bond", it is much studier than yesterdays envelope.

Decorating the Christmas Tree

I posted a while back about some homemade Christmas gifts I would like to make. I really haven't had a lot of time to work on any gifts. Here is the first thing I decided to make. We are decorating our Christmas tree at home and thought the girls would enjoy decorating this little tree over and over. I followed the pattern found here.

Then, I thought it would be nice to have something to store it in, so I made a fabric envelope. I used the tutorial found here, I just adapted it so I could work with the things I had.

Homemade Christmas Idea List

There are many things I am thinking about for Christmas this year. Every year I decide I would like to make some of the gifts I give. I bookmark each site I find with a gift idea I like. It can be difficult wading through all the bookmarks. So, I decided this year, I would post an list on my blog, where I can look at all my ideas at anytime and from any computer.

Decorate the Christmas Tree - again & again

Homemade Doll Clothes
Doll Clothes made from Baby Clothes
Craft Foam Bath Toys
Foam Bath Dolls
Tote Bag
Potato Prints
Mini Car Mats
Magnet Board Stories
Matching Games
Fabric Gift Bag
Fabric Mail Box
Fabric Mail Box 2, Mail Bag
Fabric Stationary, Envelopes, Post Cards, More Post Cards, Stamps
Teacup Bird Feeder
Rice Warmers
Cozy Hand-Warming Ice Scraper
Photo Blocks
Homemade Lacing Cards
Homemade Sewing Cards
Baby Doll Bassinet & Accessories
Felt Bookmarks
Owl Tag Toy
Fabric Memory Game


Sew, Mama, Sew - new ideas each day
Domestic Cents - 50+ Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas
Sugar Bee - Idea List

I am sure there are more, and I do realize I will not get all these things finished before Christmas. This list is to inspire me and give me something to work on and not have to look for something.

Ham Recipe

I recently bought a ham and cooked it in the crock pot by adding pineapple and brown sugar to season it.

We ate some of the leftovers, but still have some. I chopped it up and today I am making a Ham & Cheese Casserole. I tried to find the recipe online I use, but could not. I had to call my mom to ask how to make it again. This time I am recording the recipe on my blog until I can make my recipe book.

Ham & Cheese Casserole

2 cups chopped ham
2 cups velvetta cheese
2 cups cooked rice
2 cups Medium White Sauce**

After preparing the white sauce, combine all ingredients. Place in 9x13 pan. Cook at 350 for about 20 minutes.

I decided to prepare this casserole and freeze half before cooking. I will update you on how it turns out.

**I made a few changes to how the white sauce was prepared. Instead of adding all the milk at once, I added it a little at a time combining it a little along.

Chicken Recipe

Thought I would share a few things I have tried recently.

Over the weekend I make Barbecue Chicken Packets. They were pretty good, but I am not sure if we like them well enough to have them again.

We had leftovers, I hated to waste them. I decided to make Chicken Fried Rice and use the rest of the barbecue chicken. The fried rice had a little bit of a barbecue taste, but overall was still good. I make my Chicken Fried Rice using a seasoning packet I buy at Kroger or Walmart. I put chicken, rice, scrambled eggs, peas & carrots in mine. The kids don't like it much, but they pick out what they like.

Target Clearance - Shoes

I went to Target this morning and found some things on clearance. I got some great deals. The girls got some new shoes. From left to right they cost: $3.74 (originally $14.99), $3.24 (originally $12.99), and $4.24 (originally $16.99). So I spent $11.22 for $44.97 worth of shoes. The girls were very happy and so was I!

Recipe Book

Ever since I saw this recipe photo book on Shutterfly, I have been wanting to make one. I have decided this year, I am going to make some of our family's favorite recipes, take pictures and make a photo book. I think it would be great to pass this on to my girls. I know I would love to have a recipe book like this passed on to me, especially if I was in some of the photos. I am working on a list of recipes I want to include.

Here are some of the recipes I am wanting to include:

• Banana Bread
• Chocolate Chip & Butterscotch Cookie Bar
• Candied Yams
• Cream Cheese Mints
• Fruit Cobbler
• Fruit Dip
• Cherry Delight
• Pink Salad
• Hamburger Casserole
• Homemade Granola Bars
• Homemade Biscuits
• Winter Coffee Mix
• Four Cheese Lasagna
• Crock Pot Beef (or Deer) Sandwiches
• Champagne Salad
• Chicken Parmesan
• Chocolate Christmas Candies

I am sure there are many others, but this list is a start.

CVS Trip - 5/9/10

1st Transaction:
2 Right Guard @ $2.49 each
2 Crest Pro Heath Toothpaste @ $3.50 each

Coupons Used:
2-$0.75 off Crest Pro Health - 5/2/10 newspaper
$3.00 off 2 Right Guard - Printable
$5.00 ECB (from last week)
$1.00 ECB

Total after coupons and tax: $2.30
Earned - $4.00 ECB & $7.00 ECB

2nd Transaction:
1 Carefree @ $1.00
1 Bayer @ $1.00
1 Apple Jacks @ $1.88
2 Corn Pops @ $1.88 each
2 Rice Krispies @ $1.88 each
1 Kotex U Tampons @ $4.99
1 Candy (as filler) @ $0.89

Coupons Used:
$1.00 off Carefree - 4/25/10 newspaper
$1.00 off Bayer - 3/21/10 newspaper
$1.00 off 3 Kelloggs Cereal - 4/11/10 newspaper
$1.00 off 2 Kelloggs Cereal - 4/11/10 newspaper
$1.00 off Kotex U - 4/18/10 newspaper or Printable*
$1.00 off Kotex U -CVS coupon - Printable*
$7.00 ECB from 1st Transaction
$4.00 ECB from 1st Transaction

Total after coupons and tax: $0.90
Earned - $4.99 ECB

SO...I started with $6 ECB and ended with $4.99 ECB. For everything in the pictures, I only paid $3.20 in cash and lost $1.01 ECB. I am happy with that.

*Since one of the Kotex U coupons is a Manufacture and one is a CVS coupon, you can use both for the same product.

CVS Trip - 5/2/10

This was by far one of the best CVS trips I ever made. Sorry, I did not get around to posting last week.

Here's what I got:

4 Nivea for Women @ $4.88 each
1 Dawn @ $0.97

Total: $20.49





Coupons Used:

$4 off $20 purchase from email
4-$4.00 off Nivea from newspaper
$0.50 off Dawn

Total After Coupons: -$0.01 + $1.24 tax = $1.23

Plus I received $5.00 ECB for purchasing $15 of Nivea products.

CVS Coupons

I am not sure if you regularly visit CVS or if you have seen the Price Checker/Coupons Center machine. Our CVS did not have one until late last year.

I scan my card each time I visit CVS. It prints coupons each day for to use in the store.  The coupons vary each week.  Many times the coupons will be for products that are on sale or will be on sale soon.  Sometimes you will get $/$$ coupons (like $4 off a $20 purchase).  Sometimes it is for CVS products.  I think each day you scan your card, you will get 2 coupons that expire in 1 week.  You can scan your card more than once each day until it says you have no more coupons for today.

A few weeks ago, one of the coupons was $1 off CVS hair care.  Well, some CVS Shampoo is $0.99.  Also recently, the coupons were $1 CVS paper product and $1 off CVS skin care product.  I used the CVS paper product coupon on paper towel and got them for $0.29 and on 2 travel tissues and got them for free.  The CVS skin care coupon, I mostly used on travel size lotion and got it for free.  The week these great coupons printed, I made it a point to go in each day and scan my card.

I Heart CVS  has a list of coupons that are printing each week.

So next time you are in CVS, look for this machine, scan your card and see what coupons you are given.

Phase 1 - Week 4

WOO HOO! I made it the whole 4 weeks, without missing a day. There were days that I did not want to work out, but I pushed through it and complete the first phase. I am very proud of myself. I feel like I have developed a good habit. I will just have to be careful that I don't allow myself to undo what I have accomplished.

I even lost 3 pounds. I know that is not much, but I am now 3 pounds closer to my goal. I can sometimes lose 2-3 pounds quickly, but it seems to always come back. I feel like this 3 pounds I will never see again. I lost it only by walking an working out each day. I didn't change my eating habits (and I have some bad habits). I will work on some of my eating habits in the next phase.

Coming Soon...Phase 2

Phase 1 - Week 3

Just wanted to give you a quick update. I made it through another week, walking for 5 days, 30 minutes each day.

Free Tote Bag from Red Gold

There is a free tote bag offer from Red Gold. Go HERE and enter the UPC and product code from a can of Red Gold.

Thanks The Thrifty Mama!

Also if you do not have a can of Red Gold in your pantry, you can print a coupon for $1 off 3 cans HERE, or you can go HERE to find a UPC and product code.