Finally, the house is for sale. Its official. We've been in the "temporary house" for what, eight years now? We talk about moving on every year, and never have we listed the house for sale. We came close last year, finding out the day before signing that we were expecting again, which put a hold on things. Until now. We are ready. Ready to roll!
Anybody want to buy a house?
By the way, baby number 6 was born back in February...sorry for not letting you know!
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Monday, April 06, 2009
Bear Reviews the Free Store
In case you missed it elsewhere, below is a Bear's review of my beloved "Free Store".
Please, share the video with everyone you know. Hopefully they will take the Bear's advice, leaving more free stuff for the rest of us!
Please, share the video with everyone you know. Hopefully they will take the Bear's advice, leaving more free stuff for the rest of us!
Friday, April 03, 2009
and then they came for me
...
Als die Nazis die Kommunisten holten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Kommunist.
Als sie die Sozialdemokraten einsperrten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Sozialdemokrat.
Als sie die Gewerkschafter holten,
habe ich nicht protestiert;
ich war ja kein Gewerkschafter.
Als sie die Juden holten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Jude.
Als sie mich holten,
gab es keinen mehr, der protestieren konnte.
Translation:
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
Then they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
I did not speak out;
I was not a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out for me.
...
Als die Nazis die Kommunisten holten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Kommunist.
Als sie die Sozialdemokraten einsperrten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Sozialdemokrat.
Als sie die Gewerkschafter holten,
habe ich nicht protestiert;
ich war ja kein Gewerkschafter.
Als sie die Juden holten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Jude.
Als sie mich holten,
gab es keinen mehr, der protestieren konnte.
Translation:
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
Then they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
I did not speak out;
I was not a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out for me.
...
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
No More Jokes
...
A more appropriate title for that last post might have been little pink LIES. I am not pregnant, but it seemed a fitting joke because when you have a larger than average family and tell someone you have news, the FIRST thing they ask is, "Are you pregnant?"
Do you remember that baby that I asked you to pray for? Thankfully he was released from the hospital this week and is doing much better. However his mother DIED today. She is also the mother of a two year old and a four year old, as well as the nursling. I can't even comprehend the magnitude of this family's loss. It overwhelms me. The timing sucks, but I swear this happened; local readers can look it up in the online edition.
Please keep sending thoughts and prayers their way.
A more appropriate title for that last post might have been little pink LIES. I am not pregnant, but it seemed a fitting joke because when you have a larger than average family and tell someone you have news, the FIRST thing they ask is, "Are you pregnant?"
Do you remember that baby that I asked you to pray for? Thankfully he was released from the hospital this week and is doing much better. However his mother DIED today. She is also the mother of a two year old and a four year old, as well as the nursling. I can't even comprehend the magnitude of this family's loss. It overwhelms me. The timing sucks, but I swear this happened; local readers can look it up in the online edition.
Please keep sending thoughts and prayers their way.
Little Pink Lines
...
Not one, but two pink lines. Holy friggin cow!!!! I can barely breathe!!!
The past month of constant tiredness and ill feelings are beginning to make sense...low iron my butt! Now I understand why increasing my iron didn't decrease the fatigue!!!
Based on my calculations I'm guessing another early November date. Holy friggin cow!!!!! Did I say that already? 'Cause HOLY FRIGGIN COW!!!!!!
...
Not one, but two pink lines. Holy friggin cow!!!! I can barely breathe!!!
The past month of constant tiredness and ill feelings are beginning to make sense...low iron my butt! Now I understand why increasing my iron didn't decrease the fatigue!!!
Based on my calculations I'm guessing another early November date. Holy friggin cow!!!!! Did I say that already? 'Cause HOLY FRIGGIN COW!!!!!!
...
Friday, March 27, 2009
Update on Baby Micah
...
I don't have a lot of news but I did hear that the doctors were "cautiously optimistic". Baby Micah had gone a whole day without a seizure but still the doctors assured the family that he had a long hard road ahead of him.
I met with my friend today and gave her a huge basket filled with books, notebooks, pencils, snacks and personal care items to give to the Mom, and a bag filled with diapers, snacks, coloring books, and small toys for the grandparents who are caring for the family's other children. I was glad to be able to do something tangible to contribute.
Please continue to think of this poor family. I can not even imagine the trauma they are experiencing; 3 weeks postpartum, confined to the ICU with a seriously ill child, 2 more small children at home separated from their mother...it's going to be a long hard road for all of them.
...
I don't have a lot of news but I did hear that the doctors were "cautiously optimistic". Baby Micah had gone a whole day without a seizure but still the doctors assured the family that he had a long hard road ahead of him.
I met with my friend today and gave her a huge basket filled with books, notebooks, pencils, snacks and personal care items to give to the Mom, and a bag filled with diapers, snacks, coloring books, and small toys for the grandparents who are caring for the family's other children. I was glad to be able to do something tangible to contribute.
Please continue to think of this poor family. I can not even imagine the trauma they are experiencing; 3 weeks postpartum, confined to the ICU with a seriously ill child, 2 more small children at home separated from their mother...it's going to be a long hard road for all of them.
...
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The House
So we went to a house auction today. It was the same house that we wanted three years ago but couldn't buy because the owner was an idiot and wouldn't budge on his price.
We didn't get the house.
Wanna know who the high bidder was? Will you believe me if I tell you that the high bidder was the former owner who let the house go into foreclosure to begin with?
Seriously. Don't pay your mortgage or taxes, have the property taken away from you, but don't fret...you too can buy it back at the public auction.
I asked him why the hell he didn't sell the house to us three years ago, we would have paid him MORE than he owed on the mortgage back then. He said, "well I guess we should have negotiated more." Yeah. Ya think?
There goes another experience with the upside down world of banking and real estate. I just don't get it.
We didn't get the house.
Wanna know who the high bidder was? Will you believe me if I tell you that the high bidder was the former owner who let the house go into foreclosure to begin with?
Seriously. Don't pay your mortgage or taxes, have the property taken away from you, but don't fret...you too can buy it back at the public auction.
I asked him why the hell he didn't sell the house to us three years ago, we would have paid him MORE than he owed on the mortgage back then. He said, "well I guess we should have negotiated more." Yeah. Ya think?
There goes another experience with the upside down world of banking and real estate. I just don't get it.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Thought/Prayer Request
...
I just received a phone call about a friend of a friend. It seems her three week old baby Micah fell and has sustained a pretty serious head injury.
If you are are so willing, please keep the family and Baby Micah in your thoughts and prayers.
I just received a phone call about a friend of a friend. It seems her three week old baby Micah fell and has sustained a pretty serious head injury.
If you are are so willing, please keep the family and Baby Micah in your thoughts and prayers.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Filet O Fish
K: Last night, at Barnes and Ovals...
Me: What did you say?
K: Last night, at Barnes and Ovals.
Me: Barnes and Noble.
K: Last night, and Barnes and Opal.
Me: Barnes and Noble.
K: Last night, and Barnes and Opals.
Me: NOBLE.
K: Barnes and Novals.
Me: Barnes. And. Noble.
K: Bards and Nopal.
Me: No. Filet o Fish.
Me: I'm having problems.
Me: What did you say?
K: Last night, at Barnes and Ovals.
Me: Barnes and Noble.
K: Last night, and Barnes and Opal.
Me: Barnes and Noble.
K: Last night, and Barnes and Opals.
Me: NOBLE.
K: Barnes and Novals.
Me: Barnes. And. Noble.
K: Bards and Nopal.
Me: No. Filet o Fish.
Me: I'm having problems.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Day one. Part Two.
...
Driving down the strip was exciting, even during the day, but nothing looked like we expected that it would. It wasn’t grand, or beautiful, but crammed and mis-mashed, and everything was under construction.
We arrived at the hotel, and after two times around the parking lot finally figured out where we could wait for Gary to go in and register us. The plan was to check in, get the room key, then head out for something to eat. We were all tired, hungry, jet lagged, and needles to say, grumpy. Gary went into the hotel and I swear it was a week before we saw him again. I was handing out fruit snacks and granola bars, but it just wasn’t cutting it.
Finally Gary made his way back outside. I had googled directions to several key places, one of them being "CiCi’s Pizza, pasta, salad, breadsticks, and dessert buffet, all for around 5 bucks". We got on the highway and drove for three days in heavy traffic.
The food wasn’t bad, and the salad was actually really yummy. They had one made with romaine, tomatoes, bacon and ranch. Mmmm.
At one point, the kids stepped out of line for a minute, then when the stepped back it looked like they stepped in front of some people. The kids couldn’t see this from their place, but I could. The people behind them made a comment and I pretended not to hear. Later it began to bother me that WE were the rude ones, so I went over to their table and began babbling about how we had just stepped off of a plane and hadn’t slept in two days and maybe even something about medication and please forgive us for our terrible manners. I’m sure she was impressed!
After eating things looked a little less bleak, and we went back to the hotel where we took a nap. I would have preferred to sleep thought the night, but the damn sun would not give up. We woke up after at least an hour of sleep and it was only 1. I began to think that we were in hell, and that the sun never set here.
Off to the thrift store to procure appliances. I was hoping to get a griddle, but they didn’t have any. We did get a coffee pot and a crock pot. Score! Then we headed out to find a grocery store. We bought an overpriced cooler, milk, sandwich fixings, some crock pot meal ingredients, and cream for our coffee of course. We spend about $70, which damn near killed me.
We went back to the hotel and I ran up to the in house McDonalds to get us all dinner. We walked around, explored the hotel, midway, and circus a little. We tried to get our Krispy Kreme fix, but the donuts were not made at that location, and when they said HOT, they meant, “reheated hours ago”. I was not impressed.
I just LOVE this picture of Katherine. These contortionists were absolutely amazing to watch and you can see that clearly on her face.
...
Driving down the strip was exciting, even during the day, but nothing looked like we expected that it would. It wasn’t grand, or beautiful, but crammed and mis-mashed, and everything was under construction.
We arrived at the hotel, and after two times around the parking lot finally figured out where we could wait for Gary to go in and register us. The plan was to check in, get the room key, then head out for something to eat. We were all tired, hungry, jet lagged, and needles to say, grumpy. Gary went into the hotel and I swear it was a week before we saw him again. I was handing out fruit snacks and granola bars, but it just wasn’t cutting it.
Finally Gary made his way back outside. I had googled directions to several key places, one of them being "CiCi’s Pizza, pasta, salad, breadsticks, and dessert buffet, all for around 5 bucks". We got on the highway and drove for three days in heavy traffic.
The food wasn’t bad, and the salad was actually really yummy. They had one made with romaine, tomatoes, bacon and ranch. Mmmm.
At one point, the kids stepped out of line for a minute, then when the stepped back it looked like they stepped in front of some people. The kids couldn’t see this from their place, but I could. The people behind them made a comment and I pretended not to hear. Later it began to bother me that WE were the rude ones, so I went over to their table and began babbling about how we had just stepped off of a plane and hadn’t slept in two days and maybe even something about medication and please forgive us for our terrible manners. I’m sure she was impressed!
After eating things looked a little less bleak, and we went back to the hotel where we took a nap. I would have preferred to sleep thought the night, but the damn sun would not give up. We woke up after at least an hour of sleep and it was only 1. I began to think that we were in hell, and that the sun never set here.
Off to the thrift store to procure appliances. I was hoping to get a griddle, but they didn’t have any. We did get a coffee pot and a crock pot. Score! Then we headed out to find a grocery store. We bought an overpriced cooler, milk, sandwich fixings, some crock pot meal ingredients, and cream for our coffee of course. We spend about $70, which damn near killed me.
We went back to the hotel and I ran up to the in house McDonalds to get us all dinner. We walked around, explored the hotel, midway, and circus a little. We tried to get our Krispy Kreme fix, but the donuts were not made at that location, and when they said HOT, they meant, “reheated hours ago”. I was not impressed.
I just LOVE this picture of Katherine. These contortionists were absolutely amazing to watch and you can see that clearly on her face.
...
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Another Shaw's run
...
It's much more fun when they pay me to take crap home!
6 Crystal Light on the go packs
1 OM Deli Selects sandwich
2 $1.00/2 Crystal Light
.50/1 OM Deli Selects
Pay $11.50, get $14.00 back
(profit of $2.50)
6 Crystal Light on the go packs
2 Nabisco 100 Cal packs
2 $2.00/2 Crystal Light and 100 Cal packs
Pay $12.00 get $14.00 back
(profit of $2.00)
When you get to Shaw's, be sure to look for the "Cool Savings" coupon book. There are many FREE items in it, including lemonade, pie crusts, vegetables, and ice cream! Most stores have them on a display in the frozen food section, but in my local Shaw's they have them under lock and key at the service desk so you have to ask for one.
It's much more fun when they pay me to take crap home!
6 Crystal Light on the go packs
1 OM Deli Selects sandwich
2 $1.00/2 Crystal Light
.50/1 OM Deli Selects
Pay $11.50, get $14.00 back
(profit of $2.50)
6 Crystal Light on the go packs
2 Nabisco 100 Cal packs
2 $2.00/2 Crystal Light and 100 Cal packs
Pay $12.00 get $14.00 back
(profit of $2.00)
When you get to Shaw's, be sure to look for the "Cool Savings" coupon book. There are many FREE items in it, including lemonade, pie crusts, vegetables, and ice cream! Most stores have them on a display in the frozen food section, but in my local Shaw's they have them under lock and key at the service desk so you have to ask for one.
Vegas Day 1 Part 1
...
The plane ride was uneventful. Long, but no problems. Unless you count the hot cocoa disaster.
Matthew and Katherine both ordered hot cocoa. I was sitting with Joshua, Molly, and Matthew in a row, and Gary was with Noah and Katherine. Matthew managed to DUMP the entire cup of cocoa all over himself, soaking his shirt and pants. I had that, “Oh my frigging hell, can you BELIEVE what I have to deal with now” look on my face, and I turned to show it to Gary, just as he began to sport an identical look. It seems at that moment Katherine spilled her hot cocoa all over Gary’s lap.
I brought a change of pant for Matthew, but nothing else. A flight attendant opened up her own luggage and found a shirt for Matthew to wear while we washed out the cocoa one. The pants went into a bag and we didn’t find them until we returned home, so they ended up in the trash. L Gary had no good options, so he just did his best to wash up in the one square foot of bathroom space.
(Matthew, post cocoa, wearing the flight attendant's shirt. I can't believe he could sleep in that position!)
The plane landed and everything was good. Finally we arrived. Two days without sleep and we were feeling it! But! We were in Vegas, Baby! Life was good!
We retrieved our luggage and quickly realized that there was NO WAY we could physically move this on our own. Remember we had 12 pieces of large, heavy checked luggage that included a pack and play that did not roll and a massive duffel bag containing two very heavy car seats. We had the little ones in two separate strollers that needed to be pushed, and one of the strollers didn’t seem to turn.
From where we were at baggage claim we had to go about 30 feet to the doors, then another 20 to the street, cross 4 lanes of traffic, then get on a BUS!!! to travel to the other side of the airport. From there we needed to make it about 100 feet into a building, then another 60 to a desk, then wait in line, then take an elevator down, then travel to the other side of a parking garage. Then there was the fun experiment to see if we would fit an elephant into a cupboard. By the time we were in the rental car we all felt so defeated. This sucked. It felt like a full weeks work just to get to this point, and we weren’t even at the hotel yet!!
...
The plane ride was uneventful. Long, but no problems. Unless you count the hot cocoa disaster.
Matthew and Katherine both ordered hot cocoa. I was sitting with Joshua, Molly, and Matthew in a row, and Gary was with Noah and Katherine. Matthew managed to DUMP the entire cup of cocoa all over himself, soaking his shirt and pants. I had that, “Oh my frigging hell, can you BELIEVE what I have to deal with now” look on my face, and I turned to show it to Gary, just as he began to sport an identical look. It seems at that moment Katherine spilled her hot cocoa all over Gary’s lap.
I brought a change of pant for Matthew, but nothing else. A flight attendant opened up her own luggage and found a shirt for Matthew to wear while we washed out the cocoa one. The pants went into a bag and we didn’t find them until we returned home, so they ended up in the trash. L Gary had no good options, so he just did his best to wash up in the one square foot of bathroom space.
(Matthew, post cocoa, wearing the flight attendant's shirt. I can't believe he could sleep in that position!)
The plane landed and everything was good. Finally we arrived. Two days without sleep and we were feeling it! But! We were in Vegas, Baby! Life was good!
We retrieved our luggage and quickly realized that there was NO WAY we could physically move this on our own. Remember we had 12 pieces of large, heavy checked luggage that included a pack and play that did not roll and a massive duffel bag containing two very heavy car seats. We had the little ones in two separate strollers that needed to be pushed, and one of the strollers didn’t seem to turn.
From where we were at baggage claim we had to go about 30 feet to the doors, then another 20 to the street, cross 4 lanes of traffic, then get on a BUS!!! to travel to the other side of the airport. From there we needed to make it about 100 feet into a building, then another 60 to a desk, then wait in line, then take an elevator down, then travel to the other side of a parking garage. Then there was the fun experiment to see if we would fit an elephant into a cupboard. By the time we were in the rental car we all felt so defeated. This sucked. It felt like a full weeks work just to get to this point, and we weren’t even at the hotel yet!!
...
Friday, March 06, 2009
Update: my Shaw's trip today
...
I just got back from Shaw's. In the beginning I didn't really have a plan and forgot my pencil so I was just winging it. I bought:
Order #1
Nabisco 100 calorie pack 2.00
Crystal Light On the go 2.00
4 Oscar Mayer Deli Meat 3.00 (12.00)
Cost: $16.00
used
$1/2 Oscar Mayer blinkies ($2.00)
$2/2 Nabisco and Crystal light peelies
Total: $12.00
Paid with $10 coupon from yesterday and $2.00 on my gift card
Received back: $10.00
Order #2
5 Polly O String Cheese 3.00 (15.00)
Planters Trail mix 1.25
5 Quaker tortillas 1.00 (5.00)
Cost: 22.25
Used:
5 $1/1 cheese ($5.00)
5 $1/1 Quaker (5.00)
Total: 11.31
Paid with the $10 coupon and $1.31 on my gift card
Order #3
Same as order #1
Order #4
4 boxes Wheat Thins 2.50 (10.00)
2 Nabisco 100 cal pack 2.00 (4.00)
2 Crystal Light to go packs 2.00 (4.00)
Cost: $18.00
Used:
2 $2/2 Nabisco coupons
2 $2/2 Nabisco/Crystal Light peelies
Total: $10.00
Paid with my $10 coupon
Got back a $10.00 coupon
Order # 5
2 Nabisco 100 cal pack 2.00 (4.00)
2 Crystal Light to go packs 2.00 (4.00)
2 Oscar Mayer Deli Meat 3.00 (6.00)
Planters Trail mix 1.25
Cost $15.25
Used:
2 $2/2 Nabisco/Crystal Light peelies
$1/2 Oscar Mayer blinkies
Total: $10.25
Paid with my $10 coupon and $0.25 on the gift card
Got back $10.00 coupon
...
I just got back from Shaw's. In the beginning I didn't really have a plan and forgot my pencil so I was just winging it. I bought:
Order #1
Nabisco 100 calorie pack 2.00
Crystal Light On the go 2.00
4 Oscar Mayer Deli Meat 3.00 (12.00)
Cost: $16.00
used
$1/2 Oscar Mayer blinkies ($2.00)
$2/2 Nabisco and Crystal light peelies
Total: $12.00
Paid with $10 coupon from yesterday and $2.00 on my gift card
Received back: $10.00
Order #2
5 Polly O String Cheese 3.00 (15.00)
Planters Trail mix 1.25
5 Quaker tortillas 1.00 (5.00)
Cost: 22.25
Used:
5 $1/1 cheese ($5.00)
5 $1/1 Quaker (5.00)
Total: 11.31
Paid with the $10 coupon and $1.31 on my gift card
Order #3
Same as order #1
Order #4
4 boxes Wheat Thins 2.50 (10.00)
2 Nabisco 100 cal pack 2.00 (4.00)
2 Crystal Light to go packs 2.00 (4.00)
Cost: $18.00
Used:
2 $2/2 Nabisco coupons
2 $2/2 Nabisco/Crystal Light peelies
Total: $10.00
Paid with my $10 coupon
Got back a $10.00 coupon
Order # 5
2 Nabisco 100 cal pack 2.00 (4.00)
2 Crystal Light to go packs 2.00 (4.00)
2 Oscar Mayer Deli Meat 3.00 (6.00)
Planters Trail mix 1.25
Cost $15.25
Used:
2 $2/2 Nabisco/Crystal Light peelies
$1/2 Oscar Mayer blinkies
Total: $10.25
Paid with my $10 coupon and $0.25 on the gift card
Got back $10.00 coupon
...
Wanna buy some cat food?
...
I bought a lot of cat food this week. We don't have a cat. You say addicted, I say committed (and I don't mean that in a white coat with buckles kind of way!)
The house is starting to smell like cat food, and I don't really care for the scent, so I'm selling what I have before someone brings home a cat to eat it all. Yes, children are already talking about how the argument that they can't afford to buy food for a cat doesn't apply anymore.
Here's what I have:
It's all brand new, in the package unopened, and expiring in 2010.
IAMS ProActive Health Original Chicken Flavor 4 pound bags
IAMS ProActive Health Weight Control 4 pound bags
$5 per bag
5 bags (20 pounds total) for $20
The original price on these bags was over $10 each!
...
I bought a lot of cat food this week. We don't have a cat. You say addicted, I say committed (and I don't mean that in a white coat with buckles kind of way!)
The house is starting to smell like cat food, and I don't really care for the scent, so I'm selling what I have before someone brings home a cat to eat it all. Yes, children are already talking about how the argument that they can't afford to buy food for a cat doesn't apply anymore.
Here's what I have:
It's all brand new, in the package unopened, and expiring in 2010.
IAMS ProActive Health Original Chicken Flavor 4 pound bags
IAMS ProActive Health Weight Control 4 pound bags
$5 per bag
5 bags (20 pounds total) for $20
The original price on these bags was over $10 each!
...
Trying again to overexplain
...
We talked earlier about the $25.00/$10.00 deal currently running at Shaw's being 40% of the total. Another way to think about this is that the sale is 60% off, and if you can find items that will be 60% off the shelf price after sale and coupon, you have a free item (still understanding that you need to get to the $25 first!)
Example: Jello Pudding or Gelatin Snacks $3.99 shelf price. Sale price of $3.00. .60/1 coupon, doubled to $1.20. $1.80 after sale and coupon, about 55% off. Not free, but pretty darn close.
Any questions so far?
...
We talked earlier about the $25.00/$10.00 deal currently running at Shaw's being 40% of the total. Another way to think about this is that the sale is 60% off, and if you can find items that will be 60% off the shelf price after sale and coupon, you have a free item (still understanding that you need to get to the $25 first!)
Example: Jello Pudding or Gelatin Snacks $3.99 shelf price. Sale price of $3.00. .60/1 coupon, doubled to $1.20. $1.80 after sale and coupon, about 55% off. Not free, but pretty darn close.
Any questions so far?
...
Couponing with Kerry at Shaws
...
Starting Friday Shaw’s has some great deals running. Most bloggers post simple deals to help people get started, but not me. I am going to let you into my brain for a brief moment and share with you the great detail that goes into my thoughts.
Enter at your own risk, and please keep your hands and especially your feet away from my gray matter.
The deal that I am the most excited about is the spend $25.00 get $10.00 back.
This works out to 40% back. The “trick” is that the $25 is calculated on the pre-sale prices, not the prices in the add. So the game plan is to literally pay 40% of the shelf price using sales and coupons, making your purchases free.
Here is an example. The Arnold bread. Presale price varies from store to store, but on average is about $3.99. It is on sale for $2.50, and there are coupons available for .55 off one loaf that will double to $1.10, making the final price $1.40. Presale price $3.99 down to $1.40, about 35%, which is below our goal of 40%. Essentially this item will be free.
Even if the final price is above the 40% of retail, when Shaw’s is running a promotion with 40% back, most things will be a good deal. Let me give you an example without even using coupons.
Capri Sun. Shelf price of $2.79. Sale price of $2.00. Nine of them will reach the $25.00 minimum based on the shelf price and will cost $18. You will get back a coupon for $10, so you are really only paying $8 for 9 of these boxes.
These coupons can be “rolled”. That means if you happen to have 6 of the Arnold bread coupons and buy 6 loaves of bread, and one cup of Kraft Easy Mac (this is what they call a filler item*). The bread will cost $15, plus another $1 for the Kraft Cup, minus $6.60 in coupons. Total cost $9.40, get back $10.00.
Now you can take that $10.00 coupon and do the same deal over again, or buy the 9 Capri Sun boxes for $8.00, or mix it up. You can mix and match any of the items included in the buy $25 get $10 sale.
The important thing is to pay attention to the shelf prices and make sure the items that you are buying total more than $25 so you get back the $10.
* There are two kinds of filler items. The first is when you need a small amount more to qualify toward the amount needed to get the reward. Make sure you get a qualifying item (something included in the sale).
The second is when you need to use up “overage”. If you tried to do the bread transaction more than once you would owe $9.40 and in order to pay with the $10 coupon you need to add in an item for that extra 60 cents. Bananas make great fillers!
...
Starting Friday Shaw’s has some great deals running. Most bloggers post simple deals to help people get started, but not me. I am going to let you into my brain for a brief moment and share with you the great detail that goes into my thoughts.
Enter at your own risk, and please keep your hands and especially your feet away from my gray matter.
The deal that I am the most excited about is the spend $25.00 get $10.00 back.
This works out to 40% back. The “trick” is that the $25 is calculated on the pre-sale prices, not the prices in the add. So the game plan is to literally pay 40% of the shelf price using sales and coupons, making your purchases free.
Here is an example. The Arnold bread. Presale price varies from store to store, but on average is about $3.99. It is on sale for $2.50, and there are coupons available for .55 off one loaf that will double to $1.10, making the final price $1.40. Presale price $3.99 down to $1.40, about 35%, which is below our goal of 40%. Essentially this item will be free.
Even if the final price is above the 40% of retail, when Shaw’s is running a promotion with 40% back, most things will be a good deal. Let me give you an example without even using coupons.
Capri Sun. Shelf price of $2.79. Sale price of $2.00. Nine of them will reach the $25.00 minimum based on the shelf price and will cost $18. You will get back a coupon for $10, so you are really only paying $8 for 9 of these boxes.
These coupons can be “rolled”. That means if you happen to have 6 of the Arnold bread coupons and buy 6 loaves of bread, and one cup of Kraft Easy Mac (this is what they call a filler item*). The bread will cost $15, plus another $1 for the Kraft Cup, minus $6.60 in coupons. Total cost $9.40, get back $10.00.
Now you can take that $10.00 coupon and do the same deal over again, or buy the 9 Capri Sun boxes for $8.00, or mix it up. You can mix and match any of the items included in the buy $25 get $10 sale.
The important thing is to pay attention to the shelf prices and make sure the items that you are buying total more than $25 so you get back the $10.
* There are two kinds of filler items. The first is when you need a small amount more to qualify toward the amount needed to get the reward. Make sure you get a qualifying item (something included in the sale).
The second is when you need to use up “overage”. If you tried to do the bread transaction more than once you would owe $9.40 and in order to pay with the $10 coupon you need to add in an item for that extra 60 cents. Bananas make great fillers!
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Thursday, March 05, 2009
Pre Vegas
...
Katherine needed a refill on her meds, so off to the pharmacy I went. The insurance is broken. I decided to go home and call, then come back the following morning.
Gary was having some issues that led him to the emergency room. After many hours it was determined that the most likely issue was a side effect from some medication that he was taking. He still had the problems, but knowing the cause was a huge relief. He was advised to take some over the counter meds.
Back to the pharmacy. Insurance still broken. Decide to come back later in the day.
Noah’s tooth pain became severe, so we got him in for an emergency dental visit. Bad news, he needs a root canal. Ugh. In the mean time we were given some antibiotics to clear up the infection.
To the pharmacy. Again. Insurance still broken. Pay out of pocket without the hope of reimbursement for his, still need to return for Katherine’s, she still has a few pills left at home.
Matthew developes an ear infection. I called the pediatricians office, but it was after “sick hour” so we needed to wait until the next day to be seen. Ugh. During the night his pain was unmanageable and we ended up in the emergency room again. They did send him home with his prescription, which was very nice.
Later that night Molly was inconsolable. We waited until morning to bring her into the doctors office because I was able to keep her fairly comfortable, and she already had an appointment scheduled. The doctor confirmed an ear infection. Plane ride in just 24 hours…what to do? They offered her an inter muscular injection to clear it up, but I was concerned about contributing to resistant bacteria so we opted for the good old liquid. If we got her started right away, we should be okay.
The pediatrician also noted that Matthew’s prescription was not enough, so she changed it. We seemed to be a on a roll with medicine, so I also had her issue a new script for Noah in liquid form.
Off to pharmacy. Again. Insurance fixed for some people, not all. Worried about having all kinds of liquids that require refrigeration. How will we get through security at the airport? Kerry comes up with the brilliant plan to get the meds un mixed. This confuses the hell out of the pharmacy people. We have the same conversation at least three times, with the added bonus of asking that all the distilled water for mixing be packaged in 2 ounce containers so we can pass through security.
I lost count of how many times we were back and forth to the pharmacy that day, but 8 seems about right.
Noah was still in extreme pain, so back to the dentist. He (the dentist) really believed that we just needed to keep waiting. Oh what fun.
In the midst of all this chaos, I threw out my back. I was in excruciating pain and pooping Tylenol and Advil like they were breath mints. I was able to get in last minute with the chiropractor and his adjustment did take the edge off of the pain, thankfully
The grand plan was to pack up the car, put everyone to bed, then wake up at 12:30 am and leave the house at 1. The actual course of events was more like excited children bouncing off the walls until being corralled into the car at 1.
12 pieces of HUGE luggage to be checked, 7 carry on bags, 5 children, and two strollers.
I brought Lysol wipes for the plane to protect us from other people’s germs. It occurred to me that I should be passing out wipes to other passengers to protect them from us. Did I mention that everyone had a cold? Oops.
The pilot was nice enough to take these pictures for us.
Katherine needed a refill on her meds, so off to the pharmacy I went. The insurance is broken. I decided to go home and call, then come back the following morning.
Gary was having some issues that led him to the emergency room. After many hours it was determined that the most likely issue was a side effect from some medication that he was taking. He still had the problems, but knowing the cause was a huge relief. He was advised to take some over the counter meds.
Back to the pharmacy. Insurance still broken. Decide to come back later in the day.
Noah’s tooth pain became severe, so we got him in for an emergency dental visit. Bad news, he needs a root canal. Ugh. In the mean time we were given some antibiotics to clear up the infection.
To the pharmacy. Again. Insurance still broken. Pay out of pocket without the hope of reimbursement for his, still need to return for Katherine’s, she still has a few pills left at home.
Matthew developes an ear infection. I called the pediatricians office, but it was after “sick hour” so we needed to wait until the next day to be seen. Ugh. During the night his pain was unmanageable and we ended up in the emergency room again. They did send him home with his prescription, which was very nice.
Later that night Molly was inconsolable. We waited until morning to bring her into the doctors office because I was able to keep her fairly comfortable, and she already had an appointment scheduled. The doctor confirmed an ear infection. Plane ride in just 24 hours…what to do? They offered her an inter muscular injection to clear it up, but I was concerned about contributing to resistant bacteria so we opted for the good old liquid. If we got her started right away, we should be okay.
The pediatrician also noted that Matthew’s prescription was not enough, so she changed it. We seemed to be a on a roll with medicine, so I also had her issue a new script for Noah in liquid form.
Off to pharmacy. Again. Insurance fixed for some people, not all. Worried about having all kinds of liquids that require refrigeration. How will we get through security at the airport? Kerry comes up with the brilliant plan to get the meds un mixed. This confuses the hell out of the pharmacy people. We have the same conversation at least three times, with the added bonus of asking that all the distilled water for mixing be packaged in 2 ounce containers so we can pass through security.
I lost count of how many times we were back and forth to the pharmacy that day, but 8 seems about right.
Noah was still in extreme pain, so back to the dentist. He (the dentist) really believed that we just needed to keep waiting. Oh what fun.
In the midst of all this chaos, I threw out my back. I was in excruciating pain and pooping Tylenol and Advil like they were breath mints. I was able to get in last minute with the chiropractor and his adjustment did take the edge off of the pain, thankfully
The grand plan was to pack up the car, put everyone to bed, then wake up at 12:30 am and leave the house at 1. The actual course of events was more like excited children bouncing off the walls until being corralled into the car at 1.
12 pieces of HUGE luggage to be checked, 7 carry on bags, 5 children, and two strollers.
I brought Lysol wipes for the plane to protect us from other people’s germs. It occurred to me that I should be passing out wipes to other passengers to protect them from us. Did I mention that everyone had a cold? Oops.
The pilot was nice enough to take these pictures for us.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Same kid, different day
So far we have seen what Matthew + peanut butter + apple equals.
For today's lesson in stellar parenting we have Matthew + scissors =
From this angle, it doesn't look that bad...but he had a mushroom/bowl type cut that now has a huge chunk missing. I don't know how to fix that.
We thought he was in bed sleeping. We was under the bed with a pair of scissors.
For today's lesson in stellar parenting we have Matthew + scissors =
From this angle, it doesn't look that bad...but he had a mushroom/bowl type cut that now has a huge chunk missing. I don't know how to fix that.
We thought he was in bed sleeping. We was under the bed with a pair of scissors.
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