$5 dress

So, last month, our BBQ went kaput. FisherPapa went outside to find the knobs on the ground in front of the grill, and the front of it was on fire. BAD.

So we started checking out new grills. He had been using that one for 5 years, so it was probably time anyway. We generally don't pay more than $200 for a grill, so that was our budget. (I'm sure at some point we'll need to adjust for inflation, but it's worked for the last 10 years).

After checking everything out that we could, we stopped by Sears one day. 3 burner gas grill on sale from $249 to $199... we were excited by the price, and even more so about the quality. This Kenmore brand grill seemed heavier duty than any other one we had looked at within the price range. And even better, I had a MK sale that covered nearly all of the price of the grill.



So we went to go get it on Monday night. But then realized it wouldn't fit in our car. That's ok, we'll head back the next morning to get it in the SUV. This decision led to the $5 dress.

Since we had some time, we shopped around a bit. I stopped into Romy, and headed toward the clearance racks. The weird thing was, they had DOZENS of the same dress in a bunch of sizes. I tried on a few until I found the perfect fit, while chatting with the sales girl. The most interesting thing she told me was that when things go on clearance, they get shipped to the Lloyd center mall store, because the stores in the nicer areas (Looking at you Bridgeport Village) have trouble selling the items once they go on clearance.

Seriously, once it goes on SALE they have trouble selling it? I'm not complaining...I got a cute dress for $4.99, and the tip that if there is something I want, go to Lloyd center to look. It might have better selection and better sales!

A little under the weather and a little overwhelmed

So, the last week and a half as been a little off, and I had so much running through my head that I couldn't put it into words. I still really can't, except to say that I still really haven't made much progress in my thoughts about all of it.

This weekend I was fortunate enough to lead worship for a friend at Living Hope's Camas/Washougal campus. Those people LOVE to worship! I had to adjust what I was doing because they were singing so loud it actually drowned me out at times, and I had a monitor! :)
I love leading worship for passionate people. It reminds me why I do what I do, and it inspires me. It makes me feel more passionate, and isn't draining at al - it's life-giving.

That said, one of the things I realized in the last couple weeks was that I need to step back and take some time where I am being led in ministry, and not just pouring myself out. It's so much fun to lead a small group, and to lead worship. But this week I really wrestled with a couple things, and what would have greatly helped was having a group where I could go and be refreshed. It's what I desperately miss about my women's group. So I am working on that...

Anyway, as I unbury myself from my beginning of the month workload, I'll be able to find more time to write and track down awesome deals!

Freebie Friday!

Yesterday was a day for free stuff!

FisherPapa had a Health Fair going on at work, with LOADS of people giving away samples, including a Whole Foods booth giving away yummy fresh apples, Pirate's Booty, reusable bags, dish soap, Cliff Mojo bars, and bottles of Tea. I went to a pediatric dentist booth and got a free toothbrush for BabyFish. It was fun and a great time to see friends. We even ran into our neighbors who have a chiropractic practice!



Yesterday I made a box of Fiber One muffin mix that I had gotten last month. I was amazed at how good they were, and how incredibly filling they are! It also made my whole house smell like blueberry muffins! So I realized that my paper coupon for another box was expiring, so we stopped off so I could use it. I knew they were kind of expensive, but I figured the extra dollar (.50 coupon, plus double at Safeway) would make a difference, and I was willing to pay a little bit since they were so yummy.

I grabbed the box, double checked the clearance meat sections (You never know what AWESOME deals you will find there!), and then went to the self checkout. I scanned my box of muffin mix, and then my club card, and waited to see how many e-coupons I had. (I didn't check before I left the house, and I am too cheap to buy a phone with a data plan that would let me check on the fly.) 6 E-COUPONS later, I owed $ .99! Plus my paper coupon for .50, and the checked could only double it for the amount left (You can't get money back). So I walked out without paying ANYTHING out of Pocket with muffin mix that is tasty and filling.

FisherPapa was pretty darn excited, and so was I. I LOVE freebies!

Counting Up Savings

OK, So I just got an email from Cellfire.com that told me how much I have saved using their service. So I decided to add together the amounts I have saved since I started using e-coupons (shortcuts.com and cellfire.com).

Between these 2 sites, I have saved $46.40. That doesn't include paper coupons and sales that I now watch for. Splitting that out over 2 months, I saved an average of 23.20 a month...I have gotten things free and I have gotten overage, which I then use to take the overall price of my groceries down.

It makes me so happy to know that my newest hobby is allowing me to purchase MORE than I would have otherwise been able to, and has enabled us to share more freely, and go out to eat more often (with food budget overage!).

Sweet Scores!

I've had a pretty good week with the sales and coupons!

At Target this week I got 2 packages of my Dove Ultra Deodorant each with a little body mist sample for 1.29 each. Not bad when they are normally 3.64 each, without the free sample.

But probably my best score at Target this week was toilet paper. They are clearancing out their January Stock up and save items. I found a couple packages of Quilted Northern for 7.98 (50% off). These each had 36 Big rolls, which they equate to 72 rolls of normal tp. BUT, I had coupons, making each of these guys 6.98. So for less than the cost of 1 of those large packs, I got 2...and I shouldn't have to buy tp for a month or two. :)

It makes me really happy when I can pair a really good sale with coupons!

At Walgreens, I had to use up a $3 Register Reward that was going to expire. I knew there was a $2 Register Reward for buying a Goody Hair Accessory, but even cooler was that they were being clearanced out. I thought I was paying about $1.25 for a pack of Hair Bands and then I also got a couple clips since mine have been been breaking (they were also on clearance for $2.29). I was wrong about the Hair Bands though...they were actually ringing up .75. So together, my Out of pocket was .29, PLUS I got another $2 in Register Rewards to use later!

At Safeway I got 2 of those little 8 packs of coke bottles for $1 each. We had been out of cola for a week or two, and around here, that's not good. We don't drink it all the time, but heaven help us if we want it and we're out :)

Today, I went to New Seasons Market. They are having an anniversary sale that made this trip so fun! They are giving away a smart car and tomorrow will have cake. I mostly went because they have some pretty good meat prices. The meat I bought from them today isn't treated with hormones or antibiotics, and is semi-local, which if I can get a good deal on, I'll take any day of the week. PLUS, they will wrap it up in small portions so you have meal sized amounts to pull out of your freezer.
Anyway, their Natural Beef Ground Sirloin (5% fat) is $2.99/lb and their Pacific Village Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast is on sale $3.99/lb.

I didn't stock up as much as I would have liked, but I may be headed back there tomorrow. :)

I also got 4 bags of Kettle Chips for .50 each, Organic Navel Oranges for .59/lb, and Organic Fuji Apples for .99/lb (holy smoke were their apples HUGE).

But the best thing is that they have the Chinook Book on sale for $13 (normally $20), and with coupons from that I was able to combine with sales and got:
Organic Pumpkin Flax seed Granola (YUMMY) & Organic Kids cereal for $1 each
Cage Free Eggs (2 dozen) for $2 = $1/dozen!
Free Handmade Sausage
Free Organic French Baguette
3 Sunshine Yogurts (Normally .69 each) for .36 each.
2 Pacific Natural Organic soups for $1 each

Now, I saved about $8 using the Chinook Book, BUT, this was something I had already been thinking about buying, since it features coupons for local businesses. I got even more excited when I realized that upon my first trip to Burgerville, I would definitely make up the rest of the $5 I spent on the Chinook book.

YAY!
So overall, it's been a good week for deals in our household!

That WAS Easy

So, Nolan has taken to his toddler bed in his own room better than I could have hoped. He happily stays in bed at night, and even stays there most of the time when I put him down for his nap. We've only had one bad night where he had to sleep in the Pack N Play for part of the night.

Our current problem is that he's getting up really early in mornings. We think it's because there's so much more light in his room than in our room.

So we're shopping for a way to make his room much darker. I bought the blackout curtains, and honestly they don't make the room any darker than his old curtains did, and they are stiff and won't pull to the sides to open them to let light in during the day. We bought a roller blackout shade, but the stupid thing is worthless and won't stay rolled up at all.

I'm an avid Dave Ramsey fan, and have been listening to his podcasts almost exclusively in the car for a few months. One of his main advertisers is Blinds.com. I decided to price them on cordless blackout cellular shades, and they truly are less money than anywhere else I have found. So we've ordered some samples to choose a nice neutral color, and then we'll suck it up and spend the money on his window treatments - cause our sleep is worth it! :)

Sleep and Growing Up

So, my little boy has slept in our room pretty much since he was born. He doesn't sleep in bed with us, he sleeps in a pack n play next to my side of the bed. It's been easier because he still nurses at night some of the time, and I don't love the idea of getting out of my cozy bed at night to go down the hall to feed him.

We've been considering moving him to his own room, but weren't sure how to make that happen. We'd wondered if a toddler bed was right or if we should just start him on a mattress on the floor. Whether we do it in small transitions or one big one... He solved the problems for us tonight on his own, though it could very well be a fluke.

Tonight I set him down in his toddler bed (Converted crib that he has been able to climb out of since he was 14 months old). He liked it and laid there for a few minutes. We went back to our normal bed time routine, but then he pointed at the bed and said nigh-nigh. So we decided to read the bedtime stories while laying down in the bed.

We got to the last story, and I asked him if he wanted to sleep in his bed in his room tonight, and he said yes. So while I read the last book Daddy made the room ready for him to sleep in (Rocket lamp night light, baby monitor, closed the curtains). I stayed with him and helped him lay back down a couple times. Then I asked him if he wanted me to go, and he said yes.

I kissed him good night, and walked out the door, closing it behind me. He cried for maybe a minute, and has been quiet ever since.

If this lasts, it would be the easiest transition ever. It also supports my thought that kids will let you know when they are ready for the next stage. It took him a long time to sleep through the night (He was over a year before the first time it happened) but I felt like he would do it in his own time - and he did.

But I also know that toddlers change their minds about everything - so in 20 minutes he could decide that it's too scary and never want to be left in there alone again. We'll see, but it's fun while it lasts.