Today I made a grocery shopping trip to Vons. I bought $111.45 worth of groceries and only paid $31.47! That is a 72% savings!
And no, I didn't just buy frozen food junk. I bought real, normal food that will get us through the week.
Here's how I did it. Part luck, part timing, part planning.
My grocery store is having a grand reopening, so pretty much everything in the store is on sale right now. Eric went to the store yesterday to pick up just a few things for dinner and ended up winning a $25 gift card! Yay for luck!
I don't think I paid full price for anything. Wait...yes I did. I bought a packet of Lawry's Fajita Seasoning for the full price of $1.39. I also bought Welch's grape jam for Eric for his lunch.
Most everything else was either on sale or on sale with a coupon. I got free eggs, free peanut butter, and free soup. I got Kraft salad dressing for $1, a bag of ravioli for $2, and five Lunchable sandwich kits for $3.
While I don't think TLC's Extreme Couponing tv show will be calling me any time soon, I sure understand the rush and excitement of purchasing so much for so little. I'm not willing to cut 50 coupon inserts out each week, but I am willing to use the coupons in the Sunday paper to save a little money here and there.
I also love the idea of building a stockpile for future use. How cool would it be to know that you always have something on hand and that you never have to pay full price?
Love coupons!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Tiffy Got Married
My sister, Tiffany, got married today. It was a very simple but pretty wedding in the park near a little waterfall and creek.
Me, my sister, and my mom taking photos before the ceremony.
I've been able to wear this dress several times now: graduation, last day of school, wedding shower and now in a wedding!
Tiffany and her husband, Thomas, with their kids.
Since we were all done up (re: hair combed), we took the opportunity to take a few family photos.
Hudson. Do you see why this kid gets away with murder? One look with those eyes, and he pretty much gets what he wants. Ugh.
My handsome boys.
Love this one of Eric and the boys.
My new favorite family shot. I think I want to blow this one up for a frame on the wall.
Pretty great day.
Me, my sister, and my mom taking photos before the ceremony.
I've been able to wear this dress several times now: graduation, last day of school, wedding shower and now in a wedding!
Tiffany and her husband, Thomas, with their kids.
Since we were all done up (re: hair combed), we took the opportunity to take a few family photos.
Hudson. Do you see why this kid gets away with murder? One look with those eyes, and he pretty much gets what he wants. Ugh.
My handsome boys.
Love this one of Eric and the boys.
My new favorite family shot. I think I want to blow this one up for a frame on the wall.
Pretty great day.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Spot the Tot
Click HERE to see Evan and Hudson on the news this morning.
We were up and off to the Channel 26 KMPH Great Day studio by 8 this morning to join two other kids from OLPH to do a segment on child safety. I was so proud of Evan and Hudson. They stood right on their spot behind the car showing just how difficult it can be for drivers to spot kids in their rear view mirrors.
I didn't know if there would be enough kids, so I put Hudson in a uniform in case he was needed! He'll be in preschool in a matter of a month or so, and he looked so stinkin' cute in the shirt and shorts!
After doing such a great job being on tv, we celebrated with a smoothie, a session at Pump it Up, and lunch. Busy and fun day so far. Grocery shopping, allergy shots, and McDonald's cones yet to come! I love summer days like this.
We were up and off to the Channel 26 KMPH Great Day studio by 8 this morning to join two other kids from OLPH to do a segment on child safety. I was so proud of Evan and Hudson. They stood right on their spot behind the car showing just how difficult it can be for drivers to spot kids in their rear view mirrors.
I didn't know if there would be enough kids, so I put Hudson in a uniform in case he was needed! He'll be in preschool in a matter of a month or so, and he looked so stinkin' cute in the shirt and shorts!
After doing such a great job being on tv, we celebrated with a smoothie, a session at Pump it Up, and lunch. Busy and fun day so far. Grocery shopping, allergy shots, and McDonald's cones yet to come! I love summer days like this.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Better
The only thing that could make this three day weekend even better would be if I was here for the holiday doing this:
Biking by the ocean in Monterey. Doesn't get much better than that.
I'll have to settle for pleasant weather and good family time in Clovis. I'm okay with that option as well!
Biking by the ocean in Monterey. Doesn't get much better than that.
I'll have to settle for pleasant weather and good family time in Clovis. I'm okay with that option as well!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Memorial Ride
Click HERE to go to Pokey Slow to read about us participating in the Crystel Stanford Memorial Ride.
Friday, May 27, 2011
What's For Dinner?
There has been a stray chicken living in our yard for the past few weeks. I am not kidding.
The chicken does not always stay in our yard. Sometimes it flies over the fence to bug our neighbors as well. Hudson was quite afraid of the chicken at first. Now, she doesn't bother him.
For the most part, the chicken doesn't create a problem other than making Hudson nervous. Honestly, I'm surprised that Mac and Bandit haven't managed to eat it.
Apparently this chicken is quite clever, both at keeping from getting eaten and at finding a cozy spot to lay her eggs...which are on my back patio chair!
A few days ago Evan comes running in from the backyard all excited and shouting for me to "come see this." I informed him I was not moving my butt off the couch. Again, he squealed that I "had to see this." Finally, I asked him what was so exciting. (Usually Evan's excitement does not match up to whatever it is he wants to show me. The item in question is usually quite dull or uninteresting...to me at least!)
Evan then yelled, "There's a chicken on a chair!" Um, okay. That was enough to get me to go outside and look. And sure enough, there was a chicken sitting on one of our lawn chairs underneath the covered patio.
Went I went to the other side of the chair to get a better photo, I saw two eggs poking out from under her feathers!
Evan and Hudson were PETTING the chicken. I had a fit and made them wash their hands twice.
The chicken then proceeded to sit in our chair for the next three days barely moving. I was worried I was about to be the mother of two chicks. I have no desire to have chicks at this house. None.
Eric called Animal Control, and they were supposed to come out yesterday, but we weren't home. They came today and took the chicken away. Look at what they found:
Eleven eggs!!
And apparently she laid one more egg in the cage before the Animal Control guy got her to the truck!
I do feel bad that Dinner (what we affectionately named her) is probably going to meet her demise sooner rather than later. However, I don't have need of a live chicken at my house. We are not country dwellers. This isn't Chowchilla!
I am still amazed that neither dog seemed to notice or care that she took up roost in a chair in their backyard. Pretty crazy chicken week!
The chicken does not always stay in our yard. Sometimes it flies over the fence to bug our neighbors as well. Hudson was quite afraid of the chicken at first. Now, she doesn't bother him.
For the most part, the chicken doesn't create a problem other than making Hudson nervous. Honestly, I'm surprised that Mac and Bandit haven't managed to eat it.
Apparently this chicken is quite clever, both at keeping from getting eaten and at finding a cozy spot to lay her eggs...which are on my back patio chair!
A few days ago Evan comes running in from the backyard all excited and shouting for me to "come see this." I informed him I was not moving my butt off the couch. Again, he squealed that I "had to see this." Finally, I asked him what was so exciting. (Usually Evan's excitement does not match up to whatever it is he wants to show me. The item in question is usually quite dull or uninteresting...to me at least!)
Evan then yelled, "There's a chicken on a chair!" Um, okay. That was enough to get me to go outside and look. And sure enough, there was a chicken sitting on one of our lawn chairs underneath the covered patio.
Went I went to the other side of the chair to get a better photo, I saw two eggs poking out from under her feathers!
Evan and Hudson were PETTING the chicken. I had a fit and made them wash their hands twice.
The chicken then proceeded to sit in our chair for the next three days barely moving. I was worried I was about to be the mother of two chicks. I have no desire to have chicks at this house. None.
Eric called Animal Control, and they were supposed to come out yesterday, but we weren't home. They came today and took the chicken away. Look at what they found:
Eleven eggs!!
And apparently she laid one more egg in the cage before the Animal Control guy got her to the truck!
I do feel bad that Dinner (what we affectionately named her) is probably going to meet her demise sooner rather than later. However, I don't have need of a live chicken at my house. We are not country dwellers. This isn't Chowchilla!
I am still amazed that neither dog seemed to notice or care that she took up roost in a chair in their backyard. Pretty crazy chicken week!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Congratulations Mom!
The boys and I went to Chowchilla to enjoy my mom's retirement luncheon today. She has worked as a teacher's aide in first or second grade for 26 years! Wow! Next Thursday will be her last day of work. Crazy to think she won't be heading off to help kids each day next year.
Tons of pictures are ahead.
My mom and sister. The staff room at Mom's school was decorated in a red, white, and blue theme. It was very cute!
Cute shot of mom and sis.
I caught my future brother in law, Thomas, in a funny moment!
Evan and his grandma.
Susie said some nice things about my mom. I've known Susie since I was five-years-old. She is the mom of my best friend. Notice the cool poster behind her. The District Office has a huge printer that can print out these huge posters! They were all around the room with pictures of our family!
A gift from the staff.
A Margaret Hudson bear! Margaret Hudson is a local Fresno artist who is known for her sculptures. She did two large bear sculptures that sit in front my mom's school.
There was tons of food from spaghetti to garlic bread to meatballs to Mexican food. I had a hard time from overloading my plate! Yummy stuff.
This poster included family shots with my dad. I was sad that he wasn't here today.
Adorable mouse pad that one of Mom's friends created for her.
Someone else gave her a monkey!
This was such a cool gift! At first it looked like an ordinary kleenex box with a tissue poking out. Then when my mom pulled out a tissue, a WHOLE BUNCH of dollar bills followed! The dollars were all taped together and stretched around three quarters of the room! Evan and Hudson thought it was pretty cool to help Grandma stretch her dollars!
What's a party without cake?
After lunch I let the boys play on the school playground. Evan was impressed with all the different play structures. This school is MUCH bigger than his school. My mom's school only has first and second graders in attendance and many classes of each, while Evan's (and my) school is a K-8 with just under 200 kids and only one class per grade.
We also got to enjoy a Patriotic Show put on by three first grade classes. The rest of the afternoon was spent at my mom's house catching up and talking. It was a really nice way to spend the day.
Congratulations, Mom!
Tons of pictures are ahead.
My mom and sister. The staff room at Mom's school was decorated in a red, white, and blue theme. It was very cute!
Cute shot of mom and sis.
I caught my future brother in law, Thomas, in a funny moment!
Evan and his grandma.
Susie said some nice things about my mom. I've known Susie since I was five-years-old. She is the mom of my best friend. Notice the cool poster behind her. The District Office has a huge printer that can print out these huge posters! They were all around the room with pictures of our family!
A gift from the staff.
A Margaret Hudson bear! Margaret Hudson is a local Fresno artist who is known for her sculptures. She did two large bear sculptures that sit in front my mom's school.
There was tons of food from spaghetti to garlic bread to meatballs to Mexican food. I had a hard time from overloading my plate! Yummy stuff.
This poster included family shots with my dad. I was sad that he wasn't here today.
Adorable mouse pad that one of Mom's friends created for her.
Someone else gave her a monkey!
This was such a cool gift! At first it looked like an ordinary kleenex box with a tissue poking out. Then when my mom pulled out a tissue, a WHOLE BUNCH of dollar bills followed! The dollars were all taped together and stretched around three quarters of the room! Evan and Hudson thought it was pretty cool to help Grandma stretch her dollars!
What's a party without cake?
After lunch I let the boys play on the school playground. Evan was impressed with all the different play structures. This school is MUCH bigger than his school. My mom's school only has first and second graders in attendance and many classes of each, while Evan's (and my) school is a K-8 with just under 200 kids and only one class per grade.
We also got to enjoy a Patriotic Show put on by three first grade classes. The rest of the afternoon was spent at my mom's house catching up and talking. It was a really nice way to spend the day.
Congratulations, Mom!
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