A SIGN?

Standing in line at Walgreens just minding my own business when suddenly this very old woman came up behind me and handed me a small pamphlet. I didn't want to be rude so I smile and took it from her. She left right away and I looked at the guy behind me to see if she gave the people behind me the same thing. I laughed seeing that I was the only one given that. I told the guy " I guess I'm the only one that needs some help being saved".

I am not laughing at religion. I am proud to say I am Catholic but I haven't been as active as I should be. Going to church used to be a necessity for me when I was still in the Philippines. It is embarrassing to admit that I haven't been to church for the longest time. Making excuses as to why I haven't attended church will not make a difference. I will have to make a conscious effort to do that regularly. I want my children to grow up with God and to understand and respect all the church holidays. Once I learn to drive things will be different. One thing for sure, I know that I believe in God the Almighty..

HAVING KIDS

Guest post of the week by Bradley Guthrie

Having kids has made me really aware of how far behind I am when it comes to technology. I really wish I had learned all these things before it was do or die time but I guess now’s as good a time as any and it’s important that I’m learning now and not that I’m not already knowledgeable. My kids are really great about teaching me what I need to know to get by – they’ve helped me set up the TVByDirect and get a good wireless provider and all that and they even showed me how to work my new iPhone when I finally broke down and bought one. I can’t believe that me, I’m a smartphone owner, but hey, that’s what you’ve got to do to keep up with the times. I can’t believe how many things there are to know not to feel like you’re totally out of the loop but I’m getting there, slowly but surely and that’s what really counts. Right? Am I right?

ONE OF MY BEST TRIP TO W

A quick shot of one of my best trip to my favorite store Walgreens. I have gotten stuff competely free but I love this one. This was last January 11, 2012. My friend Allison and I got dropped of my hubby to one of the nearest Walgreens in our area. This particular store is one of the cleanest Walgreens store I have ever been to. They also have very nice and helpful store associates that really make you feel at ease and taken cared of. Before I start going on and on let me start by breaking down what I got.

4 Chex Mix
2 EOS Shaving Cream
1 Tom's Maine kids toothpaste
1 Kids Omega Smart DHA
1 Tylenol Precise
2 Colgate Total
1 Snytha bar
1 Reach Floss (not in picture)
2 Candy canes and
3 Holiday Pencils

Retail Value for the whole thing is $37.5o. And guess how much I paid for all that? Drum roll please..............

My total out of pocket was $.10 cents. Below is a picture of my actual receipts. I love couponing and I am going to keep on clipping and saving until they say that its illigal to coupon.

NEWEST HOBBY

Wow I have really been neglecting my blogs. The last time I updated was last year before the new year started. I guess It should be in one of my New Years resolution not to neglect my blogs and to keep updating even just once a week.

A big part to blame for my neglect is my newest addiction. Yes, I to have gotten addicted or got bitten by the bug. The coupon bug/addiction that is. I officially started couponing last October 2011 and have not stopped ever since. In fact, I have gone full speed ahead, lol. I am still a greenhorn compared to all those people that have been couponing for years. I am proud to say that I learned on my own with the help of a few websites.

As a stay at home mom, my days can be very boring. I miss the interaction with adult people and other people in general. Couponing has given me back my confidence to try out new things and be heard. Couponing has also given me back my body, lol. Since I have been couponing I have walked to our neares Walgreens almost everyday and its like a mile going to and back. Loosing weight the fun way and a way that I didn't even notice. Yes, couponing is fun for me, its my newest hobby and addiction. And no, I am not like those couponer on the show that has a big big stockpile. My stockpile is still growing everyday, little by little.

How about you? Have you thought about couponing?

POOL IT UP

Winter is officially here and its making its presence known. The past few days were just perfect and wonderful. But yesterday and today is kinds of brutal. A day like today reminds you that its time to put on heavy coats, hats and mittens. I don't mind if its cold as long as its wasn't so windy out. When its windy outside, that is when I hate it! Not only does it bring bone chilling coldness but it also makes me worry about our pool cover. For the past years we have not been so lucky when it comes to our pool covers and got extra lucky when we didn't have to replace our pool filter. Its going to be interesting come opening season for next years summer. I just hope that our pool pump don't give up on us. If things don't go as planned at least I know a place like pentair pool pumps. The should have all sorts of pool pumps. I just pray that all will go as planned and that nothing breaks. Maintaining a pool is no easy feat. It takes time, money and effort.

ACTIVITIES TO PLAN

I have been so busy!!! If only Thanksgiving wasn't so close to the Holidays I would have been fine. I feel like I haven't recovered from Thanksgiving and then its already Christmas and New Year is just a few days away. I did get a reprieve when we had Christmas day dinner at my BIL house. The only thing about holidays is that I hate cleaning up and the cooking. It just drains me. Sure, its very fulfilling to see your family enjoying your fruit of labor but not so when its time to clean up, lol.

My cousins and her family are here as well. She has two girls and they are just so adorable. I am glad though that they did come. We have been talking about anything and everything. She is homeschooling her kids and her kids are striving. We also talked about the things they plan to do in the spring time and summer. Since they enjoy camping that will be included in future activities. I could not believe that she camps with her kids. She then proceeded to tell me that camping is fun specially if you have the right mountain hardwear. The trick is to be organized and to have fun. I don't think I will ever go camping. Ralph has been talking about camping with the kids in our backyard in the Summer. Well, they can camp all they want! I am sleeping inside where no worms can get close to me, lol. I just want to stick to the kids playing in the backyard or either swimming. I will not say never but camping is so at the bottom of my list.

TREE UP

A photo of our Christmas Tree this year. For the past years we have been using my MIL tree but since it was to big for the playroom I decided to put Ralph's tree instead. Before putting it up I did consult with my MIL so as not to offend her. She was okey with everything since and even helped me put up the Christmas Tree. I took half the time to put up the new tree than her old tree. It looked fuller and it fit perfectly. The kids also helped me put the ornaments on and put tinsels on the tree. It turned out beautiful! Next year I am planning on doing a color theme for the whole house. Maybe purple or white. Who knows, all I want is for my kids to enjoy and remember Christmas.

FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS

MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS

MOUNTAIN MEMORIES

The last two days has been very cold. Frost covering the ground early in the morning. Autumn/Winter is not my favorite season as you can tell. For some winter is all they look forward to specially those that hunt in the winter time. Its this time of the season where they head on off to places where they can hunt. A high school friend of mine is married to a man who loves to hunt. She has been to a lot of hunt as well. I have even seen pictures of her wearing hunting gear. I forgot to ask her if they stay in a log cabin with beautiful hand crafted log beds and big toasty fireplace. My grandparents use to have a cabin in the mountain. We didn't have a log cabin, nor the log beds but we had a great time. It was one of the most memorable experiences I will cherish forever.

TARGET MONDAYS

What a great Monday! My new friend Allison and I went to Target to score some great deals. Of course since I don't drive and she doesn't have a care my hubby played chauffeur for us, dropping and picking us up at the mall. It was the husbands day to babysit while the wives go on a bargain hunt,lol.

We first went to Target to check out what things we could get. While there we checked out the baby aisle for my friends 6 month old baby. We ooohed and ahhhed over the cute outfits. And of course talked about anything and everything from feeding, potty training, being pregnant, maternity dresses,breastfeeding to parenting. After Target we hit up the food court where my husband and Kaitlyn met with us for lunch. It wouldn't be a mall day without visiting some of the other stores like Victoria Secret and Forever XXl. We didn't purchase anything, just ended up looking. Our main goal was one thing Target. We went back in with a vengeance. We both went home with a few bags of great finds. Mine was under $12 which was great since we had a $20 deal limit. She went over since she had to purchase diapers for her baby. But, all in all we did great!!!

WARM,COLD, WARM,COLD???

The weather has been crazy lately. One minutes its nice outside and the next its bone freezing cold. Winter and I are sworn enemies and will continue to be so. It's not even officially winter yet, here I am looking forward to warmer weather. A weather where I no longer have to bundle up and wear my granny coat which is down to my ankles. I must admit though, I am looking forward to the snow. Not a lot mind you but just enough for the kids to play. Winter is going to put a damper on my couponing. My walks to Walgreens will be very limited once its hits under 32. Oh well, I guess I will just have to content with looking at those great deals online and drooling over them, lol.

DOOR BATTLE

Just this morning I was having a battle of my life. With what? With our downstairs hallway closet door. For some reason the sliding door won't cooperate on me. I hate and love sliding doors. No matter what I tried lifting the door and aligning the bearings it still wouldn't align properly. I was so close to loosing it and just tearing the door down, lol. Giving up was not a choice, had to think of another way. Finally I got a philips screw driver and just took the bearing out. I realigned it on top of the door and screwed it back it. Beaming with pride, I hopped off Kaitlyn's stool and almost did a dance. I was so proud of myself. Now that I know how to fix it by the end of this night I will have fixed the sliding door closet in our guest room.

BREAKING DAWN

Last Thursday I finally went to see the newest installment of the twilight saga. My gal pal Krista went with me. It was my first girls night out, lol. I was so excited to finally go out and see the movie. I had heard raves from people who had seen it already. Before going to the movies we went on a little detour. Actually Krista had to stop at Fashion Bug to get her outfit for her work Christmas party. We were almost late going to the movies. The good thing about going to the movies on a weekday is that its slow. It was almost deserted that I was afraid they were closed. We got in before the actual movie started. Missing some of the previews of upcoming shows was no biggie.

The movie was good but I thought they dragged some of the scenes to long. My favorite part was of course the honeymoon. It was funny and romantic at the same time. There were scenes in the movie that was different from the book. All in all it was great, I loved it. I cannot wait for the the last installment which i heard will be this coming summer. To those who haven't seen the movie yet, go see it.

BACK TO APPLE

Did I ever write about my husband frustration about his Cellphone? A couple of weeks ago he called me and ranted about his Iphone4 not working right. The home button key was giving him such a headache. I told him that I could take it to the apple store to have it looked at and maybe fixed. He didn't want to do that, instead we headed off to the Mall on his next day off to look at other phones. He got the newest Samsung Skyrocket complete with Cell phone accessories. It had a bigger screen and was almost the same as his Iphone4. He was excited about his new cellphone. In less than a week he got more and more frustrated with his new phone. The battery life was just ridiculous that he threatened to throw it against a wall. I had to remind him that we can still return it and get a refund so he can choose another phone. He ended up with the new Iphone4s. He said he is sold on the Iphone more than ever. I can't wait until the newest Iphone6 comes out next year. Having a smartphone has not only kept me connected to my family but it has also helped with my newest addiction, couponing!

DEALS AND MORE DEALS

Last week was not only full of good food and good laugh it was also full of good bargains. As a couponer I was excited for all the great deals that were out for people to grab. This year I wasn't so much into going to the malls. My sole purpose was to head on to our nearest Walgreens to score some serious deals. What made it more fun was I had my cousin to tag along with me. I taught her a few of the ropes and she picked up pretty quick. We had such a great time. My cousin was having a blast and so were her little girls. You wouldn't believe the screaming and the running around in our house the day of Thanksgiving and after.

We did go to the mall still since my cousin wanted to do some retail shopping specially with no sales tax in our state. We got to the mall afternoon of black friday. The Mall was still packed and people were still running around trying to catch good deals. I dread to think what it must have been like the morning the Mall opened up. There were more people out shopping this year than last. My cousin bought a couple things for her kids and I also got tempted. Yes, I to get tempted. With so many transaction going on It made me wonder. If the cast registry could say something they would probably call for a time out. With all the many transaction being dealt they better have a good receipt printer like the Epson TM-T88V. I am one of those people who is very anal about my receipt. For sure a whole bunch of people will be keeping track of their receipt just in case some of their purchases have to be returned. My cousin and I have already put our receipt in our wallet. I'll probably still have my receipt until next year,lol. This years Thanksgiving was amazing. Not only did a get to shop for the first time as a couponer but I also had the pleasure of sharing the experience with a fellow couponer who happens to be my cousin.

TURKEY AFTERMATH

I am so exhausted. My cousins family just left last night before 12 midnight. They were going to stay one more night but decided against it. Her husband wanted to be on the road so that they won't hit to much traffic. They had a long drive ahead of them going to Chicago. I hated seeing them go but in a way I gave a sigh of relief. Don't get me wrong, I didn't want to get rid of them but I wanted to rest, lol. The few days that they spent with us was great. My cousin and I had so much fun, we connected in a different way this time. I guess its because we are both mom and marred. We talked about a lot of things ranging from our kids, our husband, our childhood and most of all our couponing, lol. Yes, my cousin was ecstatic to find out I was already couponing. She is more of a newbie than me so I taught her some of the things I learn along the way. It was a great few days and I can't wait to have them here again. Now, I just need a few days to recharge my batteries. I don't feel like blogging at all. All I want to do is go to sleep for a week and not do any chores! How was your Thanksgiving?