We got a late start in planting our garden, but we're finally starting to think we may get to harvest some vegetables before it freezes up here. The peas are doing great, beans are starting to grow tiny beans, lots of blossoms on the cucumbers. The carrots are still growing, also. The pumpkins have blossoms, so hopefully we'll have some by Halloween! We have Lilliput zinnias blooming, and cosmos that are getting tiny buds.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Extra Coupons

Monday, August 24, 2009
Eight Months

He still only has two bottom teeth, but I think more will be poking through soon. I also had to get out size 12 months pants as his belly was just too big for smaller sizes. The other kids usually move up in shirt size before pants, but not this roly poly!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Arts and Crafts
With Barry and Jackson gone last week, I had a chance to do some arts and crafts projects with Raina. Although I am by no means an artist, I do enjoy the artistic process, even if I'm not totally satisfied with the end result.
First we made paper bag puppets: Mabel and Emily
Next we painted with Piet Mondrian as our inspiration. Remy joined in with his own painting.
Then we made abstract art colorings.
Last we made flowers out of caps from milk and orange juice jugs and water bottle covers.
The artist with her work:
First we made paper bag puppets: Mabel and Emily





Monday, August 17, 2009
Backyard Water Park
Only 29%



Milk: $1.77 each (usually around $3)
Also adding to the lower savings rate was buying coffee, charcoal and razors.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Walgreens

#1: Bought 3 Reach toothbrush 2-packs at $3 each, used $1 coupon and buy one get one free coupon=$5 plus tax, got $6 RR back.
#2: Bought 2 boxes of Band Aids at $2.99 each, used 2-$0.50 coupons=$4.98
Coffee filters, 200 pack for $0.99
Two backpacks at 2/$9.99
Used $6 RR from #1, paid $9.96 plus tax, got $4 RR back for the Band Aids
#3: Bought Colgate Total at $2.99, used $0.75 coupon=$2.24
Filler paper for $0.49
6 folders at $0.19 each
Glue at 2/$1
Used $4 RR from #2, paid $0.87 plus tax, used part of a remaining balance on a $5 cash card from a box of cereal, got $2.99 RR from Colgate
#4: Bought 2 Lysol toilet cleaner at 2/$3, used $0.50 coupon on each=$1 each
2 Huggies wipes at $3.29-$2 Walgreens coupon on each-$0.75 mfg. coupon on each=$0.54 each
6 Mini notebooks at $0.19 each
2-96 ct. packs of construction paper at 2/$1.99
Used $2.99 RR from #3, paid $3.21 plus tax from my PayPal account that had a few dollars in it
In all, I paid $22.22 and saved $59.61, or about 73%. Considering I would/could have paid $22.22 just for one backpack, not to mention everything else, I think that's a pretty good savings rate!
School Shopping

Office Max has $0.01 notebooks, with a limit of 3 per customer, so Raina, Jackson and I each got 3. Can't beat 9 notebooks for $0.09!
Shopko had folders for $0.10 each, notebooks for $0.19 each, markers for $0.99 or $1.29, crayons for $0.20, glue for $0.20. They also had Scotch glue stick 2 packs for $0.59 each, I used a $0.50/2 coupon, making each 2-pack $0.34. And Bic pens were $0.89 each. I bought 4 packs and used 2 $1/2 coupons, making each pack $0.39.
At Target (which was way busier than Shopko) we got lunch boxes for both kids (Raina picked one with princesses on it, Jackson's is blue with a water bottle included), 2 boxes of 64 crayons at $1.70 each, 3 little calculators at $1 each, and more crayons and markers.
We also stocked up on socks and underwear for the family--even Diego and Sesame Street for Remy. I plan to work on potty training once school starts. $50 on socks/underwear doesn't sound like a great deal, but it was 5 packs of underwear total and 4 packs of socks.
Some non-school deals:
Cover Girl blush was $3.79-$1 Target coupon-$1 mfg. coupon=$1.79.
Kotex Lightdays were $2.70-$2 Target coupon-$1 mfg. coupon=$0.05 money maker.
Twix/Snickers/3 Musketeers candy bars are $0.52 each; I bought 6=$3.12-buy one get one free Target coupon=$2.60-3 $1/2 mfg. coupons=$0.40 money maker.
We also got some clothes and shoes for the kids. Raina likes sparkly, stars, butterflies on her clothes. Jackson likes jeans and tees.
Overall, not exactly a bargain shopping day, but there were some bargains here and there. They're mostly ready now, except I need to figure out where to get a nap mat for Raina (who hasn't napped since she was 2 years old, but I guess she'll be able to use the down time in the middle of a long day at school.)
Monday, August 10, 2009
Science Week
Last week was Science Week in our house.
Monday: We did a couple of baking soda and vinegar experiments. First the kids poured a spoonful of vinegar into baking soda and watched it bubble. Then they did the "dancing raisin" experiment--water, raisin, baking soda and vinegar. The raisin forms bubbles around it, the bubbles make the raisin more buoyant, it floats to the top, the bubbles pop, the raisin sinks, and the process repeats. Remy hasn't learned how to follow directions yet. He grabbed a handful of raisins for his jar, tried to eat them, and dumped the jar out.
Tuesday: Jackson was at the office with Barry and Remy was napping, so Raina and I did a "Sink or Float" experiment. We gathered 20 objects around the house, filled a big bowl with water, and tested them. Raina kept track, and we had 13 float and 7 sink.
Wednesday: We made oobleck. Mix 1 1/2 cups cornstarch and 1 cup water. Food coloring is optional. This makes a substance that is both liquid and solid. You could feel in the bottom of the bowl like it was wet sand, but when you pick it up in your hand it does not hold shape, but acts like a liquid. The kids had fun playing with it and made quite a mess!
Friday: I was babysitting a little girl for the day, so we did not do any science.
Saturday: We were doing other things around the house and at the office, so we did not do any science.
Sunday: We did the Mentos/Diet Coke experiement. I threaded a small pack of Mentos onto a large paper clip and Jackson dropped it into the Diet Coke. We all watched it fountain out of the bottle! I'll try get the video posted soon.
Monday: Finishing science with a nature walk this morning, then the kids will make an art project with the things they find on our walk, transitioning us into Art Week!
Monday: We did a couple of baking soda and vinegar experiments. First the kids poured a spoonful of vinegar into baking soda and watched it bubble. Then they did the "dancing raisin" experiment--water, raisin, baking soda and vinegar. The raisin forms bubbles around it, the bubbles make the raisin more buoyant, it floats to the top, the bubbles pop, the raisin sinks, and the process repeats. Remy hasn't learned how to follow directions yet. He grabbed a handful of raisins for his jar, tried to eat them, and dumped the jar out.
Tuesday: Jackson was at the office with Barry and Remy was napping, so Raina and I did a "Sink or Float" experiment. We gathered 20 objects around the house, filled a big bowl with water, and tested them. Raina kept track, and we had 13 float and 7 sink.
Wednesday: We made oobleck. Mix 1 1/2 cups cornstarch and 1 cup water. Food coloring is optional. This makes a substance that is both liquid and solid. You could feel in the bottom of the bowl like it was wet sand, but when you pick it up in your hand it does not hold shape, but acts like a liquid. The kids had fun playing with it and made quite a mess!
Friday: I was babysitting a little girl for the day, so we did not do any science.
Saturday: We were doing other things around the house and at the office, so we did not do any science.
Sunday: We did the Mentos/Diet Coke experiement. I threaded a small pack of Mentos onto a large paper clip and Jackson dropped it into the Diet Coke. We all watched it fountain out of the bottle! I'll try get the video posted soon.

Sunday, August 9, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Cereal and More

Other deals:

Wanchai Ferry frozen dinners: $7.97, buy one get one free store coupon, used 2-$2 coupons, making each package $1.99
Cole's mini toast: $0.99
Westfield Farms cheese: $2.39, buy one get one free store coupon=$1.20 each (also bought two blocks of cheese for this price)
Reddi Wip: 2/$4, used $1 and $0.50 coupons=$1.25 each, and got a FREE Hunt's Snack Pack pudding

Blueberries: $0.97
Schweigert summer sausage: 2/$4, used $1 coupon=$1
Anatina pasta: FREE when you bought 5 Hunt's tomatoes
Suave shampoo/conditioner: $0.88, used $1/2 and 2 $0.50 coupons=$0.38 each
Renuzit air fresheners: 10/$10 (bought 3), used buy 2 get 1 free coupon, $0.67 each
Hunt's tomatoes: 10/$10 (bought 5), used buy 1 get 1 free coupon=$0.80 each
Hunt's spaghetti sauce: 10/$10 (bought 2), used buy 1 get 1 free coupon=$0.50 each
Chef Boyardee: 10/$10 (bought 2), used buy 1 get 1 free coupon=$0.50 each. I personally don't eat this stuff, but Barry will eat it for lunch sometime
Bumblebee tuna: $0.67-$0.25 coupon=$0.42
I saved $124.95 shopping sales and using coupons--44%. This was even with buying 2 big packages of pork chops, a family pack of hamburger, big pack of boneless/skinless chicken breasts and big pack of boneless/skinless chicken thighs, plus shrimp, breakfast sausage, and summer sausage (about $40 in meat). I used so many coupons, the cashier got confused when it said coupon limit reached, called the manager (she just had to scan her card), and the manager said, "She just knows what she's doing!"
Monday, August 3, 2009
Kids Play
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)