Finally, Birthday Pictures

I know its been over a month, but here it is, the long awaited post about Target Boy's Birthday.

Target Boy turned three on August 15th! I decided maybe I would actually try to throw a party together and hold it on a weekend where Target Man could actually make it. I got most everything together, sent out (meaning emailed) invitations to the three little kids his age (plus Emerson) and amazingly both Target Man's and my parents were going to be in town. But, the boys got sick, and then I got sick, and then Target Man got sick. So instead of having a Monster Truck Birthday Bash, we had a lay on the couch and try not to die Saturday.

My awesome cake/monster truck track!

So two weeks later, minus all the grandparents, and two of the three little kids his age, we had the party. Target Boy was so excited about his cake. I made it the day before and he just kept pulling his stool over and staring at it, saying, "Its soooo cool" and "Is Emerson here yet?" He had such a hard time waiting. Saturday we had a great time making cool Monster Truck shirts, pinning the tire on the truck, beating the heck out of the pinata I made, and most of all, finally playing with the cake. I say playing, cause I think Target Baby, Emerson, and maybe Grace were the only ones who actually ate the cake. (Three days later, after hours of playing, and crumbling to pieces all over the kitchen, I finally threw it out during nap time!)

Target Boy is such a cheater at this game!

My paper mache pinata, which I was so done with it got wrapped in tissue paper like a present.

Caleb showing off his loot (which I think his mother confiscated shortly after this was taken!)

Adventure # 2

So first of all, Happy Birthday to Me! Second, for my birthday one of my wonderful visiting teachers watched my boys for a little over an hour yesterday evening, while Target Man was working. Instead of doing anything really exciting, I went grocery shopping by myself for the first time in my married life. I got to stroll through the aisles of Martin's without threatening anyone's life. It was peaceful.

I came prepared with my list of items, coupon binder, and envelope ready to go. I had a mission. This was the result.



After all was said and done my total was 94.42. Then I scanned my bonus card, off came 30.50. Then I handed in all of my coupons, off came 23.35. Final total with tax: 42.46! Plus, this is the really awesome part, I earned rewards for $0.90/gallon off an entire tank of gas! We are taking my dad's van to Kentucky next week and this will save us 27.00 when we fill it up!

One more thing to mention, I actually bought expensive laundry detergent for our new adventures into cloth diapering (another post, for another time), and decided its not what I want, so I'm going to return it. So, subtract 6.99 plus tax from 42.46.

I spent under $4o for 6 boxes of cereal, 12 boxes of hamburger helper (not so healthy, but great for when I feel icky, like the past 4 months, and the coming 5), 8 boxes of scalloped/mashed potatoes, 4 boxes of toaster strudels (personal breakfast favorite), 2 bags steamer veggies (free!), 2 lbs apples, milk, 2 dole salad bags, toilet paper, and 1 yoplait yoplus yogurt!


I'm addicted!

My First Adventure into "Extreme Couponing"

After reading and searching so many blogs/websites/forums about saving money, I finally took my first adventure into the world of "extreme couponing" today. Three weeks ago, I subscribed to our Sunday paper (which, by the way, is really poorly written), and started gathering coupons and printing them from online sites (http://www.coupons.com/ is good). Two days ago, I finally organized all my coupons into a binder so I could see what I had.



Money Saving Mom has great info on several different methods. I like this one because I can easily see what I have. Oh, and trust me, go with a zipper binder, Target Baby has already thrown mine across the room several times, he thinks its really cool!


So after scouring the weekly ads and forums, I headed to Rite Aid and Target today.



I bought all of the above for $1.79 plus tax!

Here is the break down:

Rite Aid

2-Bic Mark-it Ultrafine 2pk sale 2/.33

1-Bic ReAction Ballpoint 2pk sale .33

1-Pantene highlighting Expressions Conditioner reg 4.99

1-Crest Whitening plus scope (with free travel size crest prohealth, oral rinse, and floss) sale 2.49


total: $8.47

-2/.50 Bic Mark it coupons (you can only print two, but still can get three items for FREE)

-1/.75 Crest coupon (P&G 8/31)

-1/2.00 Pantene coupon (P&G 8/31)

-1/1.00 Rite Aid Pantene coupon

-1/1.74 Crest Rite Aid Single Check Rebate(SCR)

-1/1.99 Pantene SCR

total: -$8.48

total out of pocket after SCR = -.01 (after tax its .41)


Target

4/ 12 count Pop Tarts sale 4/$2.25


total: $9.00

-4/.50 target pop tart coupons

-10% (sorry guys, get a job at target)

+ $5.00 gift card offer (see ad)


total: $1.80 (after tax 1.85)


Total with tax for the Day: $2.26 for 9 items! Not bad for my first trip.


Obviously I'm excited about this. I mean I could have posted pictures of Target Boy's birthday, but this was more exciting!