Walgreens for 5/26

Wow. It has been a while since I showed you a deal (or wrote on this blog thing) but here's what I got today at Walgreens.

• Goody Ouchless Hair Barrettes, on sale for $2.99 (received a $3 Register Reward which made these free!)
• Complete Multipurpose Eye Solution, $7.99 (received a $8 Register Reward which made this free!)
• Colgate Total Advance toothpaste, on sale for $2.99 (used a $0.75/1 manufacturer coupon and also received a $2 Register Reward making the toothpaste $0.25)
• Noxema Disposable Razors x 2, on sale for Buy One Get One Free at $4.99 (used 2 $2/1 manufacturer coupons making each razor pack $0.50)
• Pantene Nature Fusion Shampoo and Conditioner, $4.49 each (used 2 $2/1 manufacturer coupons and received a $2 Register Reward making these $1.49 each)
• Duracell AA 4 pack batteries, $4.99 (used Walgreens flyer coupon making them $2.99 each and a $1/1 manufacturer coupon making a total of $1.99)
• Trident Gum, $1.29 each x 6 (used Walgreens flyer coupon 3/$2 -counts twice- and 2 $1/3 manufacturer coupons making these $0.33/pack)
• Altoids x 6, $1.99 (used Walgreens flyer coupon making them $0.99 each) - these were a "splurge" for Damian

Total before coupons and register rewards: $59.86
Total after coupons and register rewards: $16.38
Total saved: $43.48 or 73%

I'm slowly getting back into some deal shopping. Not sure if I'll always have time to share but I will when I can! Best advice for those looking to start saving like this is buy at least 2 newspapers on Sundays (or if you can find a place that does the early edition on Saturdays you can save some money there too).

Outlet Shopping

This post is brought to you by Amy Kramer. :) Hope you enjoy seeing the deals I scored at the Medford Outlet the last couple weeks:

First up is Viggo's haul. I did really good and with some other clothes I have already bought, I feel like I have his winter wardrobe covered for the next two winters. I might need to pick up a special outfit for Christmas or Easter but for his regular every day clothes and even for church we are good. This time I found 4 pair of pants (one cord, two lined and one dress pair) at Old Navy. I only spent about $1-$2 for each pair! Unbelievable! I also got plenty of t-shirts and a couple polo shirts. I also found some summer tanks for him at Gymboree for 99 cents! I went into Carter's but I am finding less and less clothing for Viggo there. All their cute boy clothes he has already outgrown and the older boy things I don't really care for the style. However I did find socks for him there. I do like their socks a lot so I picked up three packs for him for $1.74 each! At The Children's Place I bought two pair of their lined windbreaker pants at $4.25 each. I got an extra 15% off at TCP because I had my birthday coupon with me (7 more days until the 3-1!). Also not pictured is a nice warm robe I got Viggo at TCP for $5!



Nadia's pile is smaller but don't think she doesn't already have a huge bin of clothes sitting and waiting! The girls selection was more limited this time. I did find a bunch of tops for her at Gymboree for $2-$4 each, which is a huge savings when you're talking Gymboree! I also got her a skort from there. The green and white t-shirt on the bottom are from Old Navy for around $1. The sweater and beaded shirts are from TCP. The picture doesn't do them justice though! That sweater is adorable in person!! I got it for $4.25. The t-shirts were $3.60 each with my extra 15% off birthday coupon. Gloves and mittens were from Carter's, just like Viggo's. They didn't have ANY socks for girls though. :( I got the bunny at Carter's and I thought it would be very cute to put in her Easter basket - it was $3. Those pajamas are adorable and I got them at Target a few weeks ago. I think I paid a couple dollars for each set from the Christmas clearance section.

After all that shopping I went to Target to get a couple storage bins for under the beds. Hehe! Got a good deal on those too! Christmas 110 quart storage bins clearanced to $7! They were half the price of the ones on sale for the same size. And who really cares what color they are, they are hiding under the bed!

Target for 8/28

• Johnson&Johnson Buddies soap, $0.97 x 2 (used $1/1 Target coupon x 2)
• Gerber bottles, $0.99 x 4 (used $1/1 Target coupon x 4)
• Booster seat, on sale for $16.09 (no coupons, not pictured)
• Bounce dryer bar, on sale for $3.79 (used $2.50/1 man coupon)
• PS3 Guitar Hero, on clearance for $22.48 (no coupon but this was a steal at 75% off! It was originally $90)
• Snickers bar, $0.52 (used a Chocolate Relief man coupon getting this for FREE)
• Dove deodorant, on sale for $3.79 x 2 (used $2/1 man coupon x 2, used $1/1 Target coupon x 2)
• Crest Advanced Seal whitening strips trial size, on clearance for $4.24 x 4 (used $7/1 man coupon x 2 *see note below*, originally $4.99 each)
• Cutter mosquito spray, on clearance for $6.98 (no coupon, originally $9.99)

Total before sales and coupons: $157.42
Total after sales and coupons: $54.97
Total saved: $102.45 or 65%!!


So the Guitar Hero game was a big surprise and an awesome deal! We have been borrowing the game for the Wii system and like it but didn't want to spend so much on it. So when we saw the price on this we grabbed it up. The Northfield Target still has a few left if you're looking for it on the PlayStation 3.

The booster seat was a great deal too since we are going to be needing this for preschool carpooling. Also if Viggo will be riding with someone else this will be way easier to transfer from car to car. The booster said it seats at 30-100 lbs and 34-57" so it is perfect for him or any of his carpool friends.

I got the Bounce dryer bar coupon from VocalPoint. If you're not a member you should definitely sign up! I've gotten lots of great coupons and free products from them. I read that there was a Target coupon in last Sunday's paper that you could stack with this but I forgot to buy a paper last Sunday! I know! Still, for $1.29 and it's supposed to last 2 months, that's a steal.

Every Friday through the end of September Mars has been having this free chocolate campaign. Go to the link above and sign up for your free chocolate (each household can do this up to 4 times).

The Crest strips were a great score! And the best part was that each box contains a $7 off coupon so you can keep rolling this deal as long as they keep the strips in stock. Although I'm not sure if they will be around much longer since they are in the clearance section?

Target for 8/25

• Dove Visibly smooth deodorant, on sale for $3.29 x 4 (used $2/1 man coupon x 4, used $1/1 Target coupon x 4)
• Johnson's buddies soap, $0.97 x 4 (used $1/1 Target coupon x 4)
• Gerber baby bottles, $0.99 x 4 (used $1/1 Target coupon x 4)
• Colgate SpongeBob toothpaste travel size, $0.52 x 2 (used $1/1 Target coupon x 2)
• Johnson&Johnson First Aid travel kits, $0.97 x 2 (used $1/1 man coupon x 2)
• Cottonelle wipes travel size, $0.99 x 2 (used $1/1 Target coupon from paper x 2)
• Purina One cat food, $5.99 (used $2/1 Target coupon) - OH NO! missed the $1 off coupon on the package!
• Target brand cereal puffs, $1.59 (no coupons)
• Gerber Graduates meals, on clearance for $1.73 x 4 (was, $2.04, no coupons)
• Girl's dress, on clearance for $4.98 (was $9.99, no coupons)
• Icecube gum, on clearance for $0.52 (was $1.04, no coupons)
• Trident gum, on clearance for $0.48 x 2 (was $0.99 x 2, no coupons)
• 5 Lush gum, on clearance for $0.64 (was $1.29, no coupons)
• Orbit gum, on clearance for $0.48 (was $0.99, no coupons)

Total before sales and coupons: $55.92
Total after sales and coupons: $20.93
Total saved: $34.99 or 63%!!

That's a lot of free stuff!

If anyone needs the baby bottles let me know and I'll give them to you. I just figured I'd pick them up and make sure I got them to someone who might be able to use some free bottles.

I didn't see the cat food coupon on the bag until I was loading it into my van. Darn, I could have saved another dollar! :)

The cereal puffs were a "splurge" - both of the kids love those things so I thought I'd get them some even though they are geared more for the under a year set. Same with the Gerber meals. I have never bought these before so I hope the kids like them. I thought they'd be a quick and easy meal for Damian to make one night when I'm at bible study or not home.

I'm thinking I could go back and get a few more things (like the deodorant - what a deal!) in the next day or two. But you can score big too!!

Target Deals for 8/18

• Pampers diapers box, $19.99 (used $1/1 Target coupon, used a $2/1 man coupon but they didn't scan it!!! GRRR)
• Swiffer wetjet refill, on clearance for $1.88 each x 2
• Clorox bleach, on clearance for $0.84
• Duracell 16 pack "AA" batteries, $10.39 (used a $0.75/1 man coupon but they didn't scan it!!! GRRR - also came with some form about $10 in P&G coupons but I haven't looked at it yet)
• Extra long beach towel, on clearance for $5.48
• Hefty trash bags, on sale for $8.49 (used $1/1 Target coupon)
• Up & Up trash bags, on clearance for $3.98 x 3
• Viva Big roll select a size paper towels, $2.24 x 2 (used $0.50/1 x 2 man coupons)
• Charmin Mega roll toilet paper, $12.74 x 2 (used $0.50/1 x 2 Target coupons, used $1/1 x 2 man coupons but they only scanned one of them!!! GRRR)
• Arm & Hammer cat litter (not shown), on sale for $10.99 (used $2/1 Target coupon but for some reason it only took $1 off!!! GRRR)
• Benefiber, $9.94 (used $2/1 man coupon, used $2/1 Target coupon but again it only took $1 off!!! GRRR)

Total before clearance and coupons: $140.18
Total after clearance and coupons: $105.53 (should have been $99.78)
Total saved: $34.65 or a 25% savings (should have been $40.40 or 29%)

As you can see, they really screwed up my coupons!! Because I had the kids with I wasn't able to watch her closely and they were getting wild at the end so I didn't want to go through them with her. Lesson learned for next time - no kids with when I'm using lots of coupons. I don't usually take them when I do big coupon trips but since I was going to be driving right by Target on my way home from an appointment I decided to try.

At first I was really irritated about loosing almost $6 in coupons but then I realized that there have been several times where an error was made in my favor at Target so I just chalked it up to making us even. I went to the Owatonna Target and I really don't care for that store but since I was driving right past it I decided to bring my coupons with. I have just generally had lots of problems at that particular store with using coupons, the employees and they don't mark the children's clearance clothes down as much as the Northfield store does.

They had a lot of household cleaners on clearance. I grabbed the last two Swiffer refills that I could see (they still had bottles for the hardwood only floors). I've never tried their garbage bags but they are supposed to be like the Glad Force Flex ones. Don't know if I'll like them but since I bought three boxes we're gonna use them!! :) I figured at $4 a box that's a good deal.

Times like these when I find unexpected clearance items I wish I had a way to bring all my coupons with. I use a plastic shoe box to store them because I have so many. I wouldn't want to look like a weirdo with my big shoebox of coupons at the store! Haha! I did try the binder method once but it didn't work for me.

Well, as long as I don't have the kids with me on future visits maybe I could take the box with me? It could be a fill-in for Nadia in the cart seat. :)

I hope to do more posts on deal finds since I have sort of took the summer off from doing it. No promises though!

Boy vs. Girl

As a mom of both a boy and a girl it sure does make life interesting. Daily I get to see how truly different the two sexes are and why there are stero-types regarding each. And often it's not that they have been taught to act in that particular way, just that it is very instinctual to them.

I am constantly keeping an eye on Viggo. He has such an amazing spirit and is FULL of energy. He definitely has a zest for life and loves attention. If there ever was the epitome of boy, he is it; curious, active, physical, loud and very smart. You can often find him trying to "bait and switch" his little sister or any other friend of his who has a toy he wants. Nadia will pick up his train and he will want it. If we aren't monitoring the situation he'll just take it from her and it's followed up by her banshee scream. But if we tell him to give it back or happen to intercede the situation he will find some toy he doesn't want to play with and try and give her that so he can take the one he wants. It's so funny that that behavior is instinctual and not something he's necessarily learned. I mean, he just turned three so it's not like he even understands what "bait and switching" is much less have learned the technique of it!

Being a woman it's always interesting observing Viggo's "maleness". The other day he was in the bathroom going potty. He always asks for privacy so I go back to check on him and he tells me "I need it to get smaller". I'm like, what? What needs to get smaller? "My pee-nee, it needs to get smaller". Oh dear, now how do I handle this one? "Well stop touching it and it will get smaller." I mean, seriously, you wouldn't think that behavior would start this young but it most certainly does....younger even!

He certainly is my challenging child but he is so loving and affectionate. He's always thinking of others and if someone gets hurt he's right there with a concerned attitude and ready to kiss a boo-boo all better. He loves to snuggle and I will take all that I can get of it because I know one day he might not want to.

Now little miss Nadia is definitely coming out of her baby shell and becomming very much a toddler in her own right. She has been a lot easier to discipline then Viggo ever has. But she's also always been much more emotional (see above in second paragraph re: banshee scream). At one point we were trying to teach her to say please and she would break down in an emotional puddle of goo complete with screaming and crying just because we were making her say please. I mean, the gall of us!

She also fills in some of those sterotypes of women being afraid of insects. This morning we were outside playing and she starts screaming "BUG! BUG!" It was an ant. A very small ant. I show her to stomp on it and she looks like I've grown a second head and shakes her head no while saying "UNH-UH!!!" How dare I suggest such a thing. Then she runs over to the other end of the patio to sit on the steps. She also is much less physical than Viggo. She doesn't care about climbing except to go up on the couch. Where I had to watch Viggo so he didn't climb all the way up on top of the dinning room table and swing from the ceiling fan, Nadia has never had that as an option on her list of To Do's.

I love that she is so gentle. She loves to play with my hair and give me a nice snuggle. She also loves the girlie things like painting her nails. She calls it "pretties". She loves shoes! Oh my the girl loves her some shoes. And recently she's started playing with her toy purse. I have a couple up in her closet saved for when she really was ready to start getting into that and I think we are almost there.

They also eat differently although maybe not as one who is stero-typing would think. Viggo is the picky, bird eater and Nadia is my put-it-in-front-of-me-and-I'll-definitely-try-it kind of girl. And if it's not something truly hideous (like cole slaw) she'll eat it. I've never had any worries about her getting enough food in her tummy like I've had with Viggo. He's had me so worried at times that I've bought him nutritional drinks just to cover our bases.

Having both a boy and a girl is truly a blessing. They certainly complement one another and I get the best of both worlds!

Why aren't you writing???

Well it has been quite a long time since I last wrote. Life just got really crazy about a month ago. I mean, everyone is busy. I think it would be quite the rare person to say they weren't. Just a ton of stuff going on all at once.

First off, the biggie. My mom became very ill right about the same time I last wrote something. It started off with her having pneumonia and her body just took a turn for the worst. She has previous health issues (a liver transplant but the disease came back in the new liver) and this complicated matters. She was in ICU for almost 3 weeks. At one point the outlook seemed grim and we didn't think she would pull through. Her kidneys stopped working, she was under sedation and on a breathing tube. It was like one bad thing after another. But slowly, day by day she started to heal and just today she was released from the hospital and moved to a rehab clinic so she can start the process of walking again. From all the illness and being immobile for so long, her body got so weak and it is a lot of work and effort just for her to stand and walk a few feet. So she is getting physical therapy every day and growing stronger. Hopefully she will be back home in a couple weeks. She still has pneumonia but will be on an anti-biotic for 6-8 weeks to hopefully knock it completely out. I just bought a plane ticket this evening to go out and help her in about 3 weeks. Once she's home she will need a lot of help around the house so I really want to be there for her. I'm going to miss my kids like crazy though! I've only ever been away from the both of them for 24 hours at a time so this is going to be hard on everyone.

I haven't actually done a lot of shopping this past month either. I did hit up Target last week and scored really well on Pull-ups. They were on sale for $8.99 and I had two $5/1 coupons from mailers and a $2/1 coupon. Then Target had a special that if you bought 3 packages you got a $5 gift card. AND I will send the receipt into the Caregiver's Marketplace and get $0.75 back per package. So after all is said and done I paid $2.57 a package! Not shabby at all. My son is completely potty trained now however I still put a pull up on him at night just in case. He wakes up dry but I guess I just think it's too good to be true and the one night I don't put a pull-up on him he's going to wet the bed! I figure whatever he can't use my daughter certainly can. I will probably start actively potty training her in a couple months. She's been going potty since she was 16 months old but I just didn't have the energy to pursue it further than plopping her on the potty when it's convenient for me.

Now I need to go and distract myself with some television. Damian decided to "re-apply" the tiles in the bathroom because they are separating from the wall from water getting behind there. There's crashing....and well, that's usually not good. All I can envision is him walking down the stairs and telling me we are now remodeling our ONLY bathroom. YIKES!!