Swim Lessons!

Just a few pics from our swim lessons!

Fried Squash

Zeke was helping me cook dinner on Monday night and we were making fried squash. After watching me he decided he would do it.... and he did!!!! Pick up the squah with a fork....

Dip it in the egg/milk wash.......coat it in flour.... and then drop in the pan. He did drop it in the pan himself but I didn't get a pic of that step as I was staying very close to make sure he didn't get burned!

I think I might have a future chef on my hands!

Jake and Cooper Visit

We had such a great visit with Jake, Cooper and Aunt Malia. We swam and played and enjoyed celebrating bday cake all together for all the boys' bdays!

This week's shopping trips

Had a great shopping trip today at Target. Here is what all I got:

4 Oscar Mayer Hot dogs $1.39 each
Used 2 $1.00/1 Q (one from Kraft mag)
Used 1 $1.00/2 Q
Final price $.64 each
*
2 Little Debbies (unplanned purchase - kiddos!)
$1.43 each
*
MP Hot dog buns
$.98
*
Pepperidge Farms buns $2.00
used 2 $.75/1 Target Q
Final price $1.25 each
**
MP COoking spray $1.37
*
2 Duncin Hine Cake mix $.99 each
used 2 $.50/1 Target Q
final price $.49 each
*
Hershey Syrup $1.77 (just needed this for chocolate milk!)
*
Family Pack Chicken on sale for $8.99
used $1.50 off Gold N' Plump online Q
Final price $7.49
*
2 Bake Shop Eggos $1.50 each
used 2 $1.00/1 online Q
$.50 each
*
California Pizza Kitchen $5.79
Used $1.00 off online Q
Final Price $4.79
*
2 MP Pizzas $2.66 each
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2 Edy's Ice Cream on sale for $2.33 each
used 2 $1.00 Target Qs
Final price $1.33 each!
*
2 travel size Coppertone Sunscreen $.99 each
used 2 $1.00 off copperton sunscreen
Final Price $.02 overage!
*
2 Travel size Dove deodorant $.97 each
used 2 $1.00 Dove deodorant
Final price $.06 overage!
*
Solo Bare Naked Plates on sale for $1.50
used $1.00 online manu Q
final price $.50
*
UP (new target brand name) plates on sale for $1.49
used $1.00 Target catalina Q
final price $.49
*
2 Pitureka Card Game on sale for $6.64 (thinking Christmas)
used $5 off online manu Q
final price $1.64 each
*
Fresh corn on the cob 10 ears for $1.00
(will be blanching and freezing this for future use!)

I also used a $5.00 gift card from the Huggies deal
Total was $42.09

Total Savings: $37.86

Also had trips to Walgreens and Rite Aid on Sunday...no pics..
Rite Aid - first of all just want to say I got annoyed b/c they aren't even carrying the Banana Boat sunscreen that is advertised on their front page of the ad this week! That messed up my whole plan!
I got 2 cans of Planters cashews at B1G1 free
used $1.00 manu Q from newspaper
total $4.99 for 2
*
Mars candies B1G1 free (they were out of twix, snickers and M&Ms!!!!)
got 2 Milky Way
used 1 FREE coupon (up to $.85)
final price $.03 for 2 candy bars.

Total spent was $5.68 with tax.

Wal-Greens
4 Pringles at $1.00 each
used 2 $1.00/2 Qs
final price $.50 per can
*
Special purchase Soliel razor with 5 cartridges for $8
used $3 manu newspaper Q
final price $5
*
FreeStyle Blood Glucose monitor on sale for $19.99
manu q for $9.99
rebate in box for $19.99
final price - I made $10.00!
*
Dawn dish detergent $.99
manu Q $1.00 off
overage $.01
*
Off brand dish washer detergent $1.99
*
Barber's Milk $2.99
*
used $3 RR, $1RR, $1 RR

Total OOP - $21.72 (with $19.99 rebate coming, so $1.73)

Publix

Pepperidge Farm Bread $1.99
peelie $1.00 off
Target Q $.75 off
final price $.24
*
Apple Juice $.01 (Penny Item)
*
Capri Sun $2.00
$.75 manu Q
final price $1.25
*
2 Kraft BBQ B1G1 so $.75 each
used $1.00 off and $.75
final price $.25 overage
*
2 Tenn Pride Sausage Roll $2.50 each
used $1.00/2 off
final price $1.50 each
*
3 Chex Mix Bars $2.00
used 2 $.60/1 Q
used 1 $.75/1 Q
final price $1.35 each
*
Strawberries $2
$1.00 off Target Q
Final price $1.00
*
Pineapple $2.99
used $.75 off Q
final price $2.24
*
Fugi Apples 3 lb $2.49
*
Back to Nature Granola $3.59
used $1.00 Q
final $2.59
*
2 Trop 50 OJ $3.00
used 2 $1.00/1 Online Q
final price $2.00 each
*
Bananas $1.65
*
Also used $5 off $25 Piggly Wiggle Q

Total with tax $20.53!

I also bought an $8 jar of local honey (we use this for homemade granola bars) and $4 on blueberries that we picked ourselves! So my total grocery money spent this week is $82.03 after my rebate is rec'd! I still might run back to Target for more Edy's Ice Cream if we make any room in the freezer to hold it!

Target Shopping Trip

Sorry the pic is not very good... here is what I got:

3 Dawn Pure Essential 24 oz on sale for $2.09

used 3 Manu Qs (newspaper) for $1.50 off each

Final price $.59 each

*

Velveeta Shells and Cheese $1.52

use 1 online manu Q for $1

Final price $.52

*

2 Easy Mac cups $.73 each

used $1 off online manu!

final price $.23 each

*

special deal - buy 1 oscar mayer deli meat and 1 kraft cheese singles, get oscar mayer meal free

used $.75 off /2 online manu Q for the meat

final price $5.58 for 2 deli meats and singles

*

special Deal - Buy 2 archer farms tortilla chips get AF salsa free

(My kids LOVE the AF Pineapple salsa and I buy this for them regularly)

2 chips at $2.33 each

used 2 $1 off Target Q's for the chips

Final price $2.66 for 2 tortilla chips and 1 salsa

(wishing I would have done this deal again, but my stockpile is overflowing and chips take up a lot of room!)

*

Special Deal - buy 5 Breyers/klondike/popsicles at $2.50 each, get $5 giftcard

I bought 3 Breyers, 1 popsicle and 1 klondike

after giftcard, final price $1.50 each!

*

On clearance endcap was a package of two Kashi cereals for $2.74! I didn't have a Q but wow!

Final price $1.37 per box!

*

3 lb bag of apples $3.99 (apples at Aldi this week didn't look good and we were totally out!)

*

Total OOP at Target - $27.32 (and used a $5 GC from the Softsoap deal last week)

and got $5 gift card for next purchase.

*

Note: Target was out of the pullups in the size I needed for the pullups deal. Luckily we went out of town and I tried that store and they had them so I bought 3 packages of pullups at $8.99 each, used $9 in coupons and received a $5 giftcard. I used my $5 GC from the Breyers Deal and spent $4.32 for each pack of pullups! I still have a $5 Giftcard to use on my next trip!

Lilly's Visit

We have had a lot of fun this week - VBS, swimming, painting and just hanging out together!

Vacation Bible School

We have had a great week at VBS!

My Publix Shopping Trip

Today I went to Publix after VBS with my 3 kids and my niece! My total was $21.28. We did good and got everything I wanted and I managed to use ALL of my coupons without forgetting any! I didn't have a Mystery Item coupon in my paper Sunday and I didn't even bother to try to ask the manager about it since we were all hungry and tired and they were wild!

Here is what I bought:

Kleenex Cottonelle 12 pack - on sale for $6.49
used a $.50 manufacturer coupon that Publix doubled
final price $5.49
Smartfood Popcorn - $2.99 (would have bought these at Target, but mine isn't carrying them!)
used a $1.00 off manufacturer Q and a $1 off Target Q
final price $.99
6 Knorr Sides - BOGO Free at $1.47 (so .73/.74 each)
Used 2 $.40 off 1 Q's , which Publix doubled (online Q)
Used 2 $.75/2 Q's (from newspaper)
final price $.22 each
4 Chex Mix - BOGO free at $2.79 (so 1.39 each)
Used 2 $1.00/2 Target Qs
Used 1 $1.00/2 Manufacturer Q
Used 1 $.50/ 1 Manufacturer Q (Publix doubled it)
final price $.40 each
Honey Nut Cheerios BOGO free
Bought 1 with no Q
final price $2.15
Back To Nature Granola $3.59 (this was not on sale)
used $1 off Target Q (printed out at register with another purchase but our
Target doesn't carry this granola that I love!)
used $1 manufacturer online Q
final price $1.59
Grapes $1.69 per pound
final price $3.01
Bananas $.69 per pound (we use these for smoothies and the kids eat them, too!)
final price $1.90
Strawberries $2.00
used $1 off Target Q
final price $1.00
Cantaloupe $2.49 each (I thought the sign said $2 but I didn't catch this on my receipt until I
was home....again 4 kids while shopping.....)
French Bread $1.99 just a splurge. I want to make some garlic basil butter to toast on this!

I was very happy with this trip!

Blowing Bubbles

Zeke was so proud of himself doing it all alone!

Eli's Birthday

We went bowling and took along two of Eli's friends. We came home and ate pizza and had cake and ice cream! Can't believe Eli is 6!

Zeke's 3rd Birthday Party!

Zeke's birthday was a lot of fun! He had some friends over and we swam, jumped on the trampoline and ate cake and ice cream! Look at that smile! He was so happy to see his best friends Madi and all his other friends, too!

Homemade Granola Bars

I make granola often and have tweaked the recipe to get it just how I like it, but Tony wanted me to make some healthy, yummy homemade granola bars. A friend of mine sent me a link to this great blog: http://www.joyfulabode.com/2008/04/11/homemade-granola-bar-recipe-no-high-fructose-corn-syrup-in-these-bars/ that had a recipe and directions. I made them yesterday. I made some chocolate chip (which I added after I spread the mixture out on the baking sheet) and the rest with craisins. After this picture I cut them into individual bars and wrapped them in plastic wrap. I am storing them in an airtight container. They are yummy and fabulous!!!!!

Southern Savers

I have been on a mission to save more money on groceries. For those of you that know me, I have always been thrifty - my mom taught me, but it has become more and more of a necessity for us. Our 3 boys eat a lot and I can only imagine what it's going to be like a few years from now! Zeke loves lots of fruits and I want to feed them healthy things in general, so I won't sacrifice our health for savings, but I want to save where I can. I have always used coupons since Tony and I were married. Since Publix came to Trussville, I have used their BOGO free sales with my coupons and saved a lot.

However, I have recently discovered a great website called Southernsavers (www.southernsavers.com) that helps to match up the coupons with the sales for several stores AND locates online coupons, too! Using online coupons has greatly helped me to save even more more and get lots of things for FREE or almost FREE! If you are in need of saving money, I recommend you check it out. They cover 9 stores! I started using this site in April. We generally have been spending $600-$800 each month in groceries. This site has helped me to lower this to about $500 and you should see my stockpile! I've always had a small stockpile of extras, but now I have a HUGE stockpile of food!

So if you need to save money on groceries, I recommend that you check out Southern Savers. I will try to start posting some pics of my shopping trips with what I spent! It really is fun to know how much you saved after a successful shopping trip!

Weeds, weeds and more weeds!

We have had the rainiest May EVER that I remember. All the rain, while certainly good for our community has caused numerous weeds to grow and it's been so rainy that I haven't even been able to get out and pull the weeds! SO this week, I've been working on weeds. Weeds in my garden, weeds in the play area, weeds every place I look! But Zeke's bday party is tomorrow so it was very important to at least rid the play area of weeds and I feared if I didn't get the out of the garden, the carrots would have no chance of survival and the beans and squash would be in bad shape, too! So I've been weeding, EVERY SINGLE DAY!

The lack of sun has also been a hindrance to my strawberries getting ripe! I've picked and trashed so many mushy, rotten, unripened strawberries - breaks my heart! Now that we've finally had sunshine this week, we have finally had some more, but I think the bulk of the crop is done and unfortunately, were nothing but rot! Here is my strawberry patch:

Here are a few pics of my garden:

My squash:
My green beans (about ready to plant a third row)
Tomatoes of several different varieties:
Carrots:

Peppers and collards(from the winter) and one onion plant:
Herbs (rosemary, basil, mint, thyme, cilantro and oregano):

Beach Fun!

We had a nice weekend getaway - just wish it could have been longer!

Eli Swimming

Eli asked me to take this video and put it on the blog!