What's in a name?

I was playing around with swagbucks searching today trying to earn more points (btw - you can join me and earn points to redeem for gift cards too - just look on the right side bar).

Anyway, I decided to google the meaning of the kid's names and see what came up. I already knew what they were, but again, trying to just do searches to earn points. But something struck me as I read over the results.

Through doing bible studies this past year I've learned a lot about how people were named that are in the bible. A great amount of effort and detail was put forth in giving a name. Names had meanings and were specifically chosen for an individual. Today we don't really name our children in that manner, rather we prefer picking names that sound pleasing to us.

So Viggo's name means "war", "warrior" or "war-like". It's Scandinavian even though it sounds Italian. I think back to how it took a while for us to get pregnant with him and it did seem like a war of sorts. Months and tests that we went through waiting for him. And while Viggo is the sweetest, caring and loving child.....sometimes Damian and I feel like we are at war with him. :)

Nadia's name means "hope", "hopeful" or as one website says "one who received the call of God". I like the latter. Mostly because after all the "war" to have our son, our daughter was a bit of a surprise to come so soon. I think she was heeding the call of God to come to our family. Just something nice to think about.

I'd post a couple pictures of them but it seems I haven't been taking many lately. Of course, Viggo knows that we are having his three year photos done next weekend and is daily bumping up his face with bruises and scrapes. Every year that child has a bruise in his photos! My children have this sixth sense about professional photos being taken - they just know it's coming and start banging their faces up.

Here's a little break from the usual posts

I was just sitting here watching my daughter pull every toy out of the toy box and realized she's 20 months old, just week away from being 21 months old.

Then I start to think about how my first two children are only 14 1/2 months apart and it BLOWS MY MIND people. I mean, it would be like having a 5 month old right now. I can't even imagine that even though I've lived it! There must be some serious blockage going on because I can't fathom having another baby right this very minute - much less a 5 month old.

I know God gave me some serious grace to go through having two so close together. He continues to as well but I have to say it is much easier now than it was then. By no means am I claiming to have it down and it's easy - no way! Anyone that has me as a facebook friend could see from yesterday that I have some trying days. Probably more then I often talk about but I guess I think the good always outweighs the bad.

I don't know why He choose to create my family the way He did but I'm ever grateful for my beautiful babies. Even when they shred a box of q-tips, pour baby powder all over their room and scream like a rabid banshee. They make me smile and life is much more interesting, that's for sure!

Walgreens for 5/4

Transaction 1

• Colgate Sensitive toothpaste 6 oz, $4.49 (used $0.75/1 man coupon, received a $4.50 RR making this a profit of $0.76!)
• Right Guard Xtreme deodorant 2.6 oz, on sale for $2.99 (used $1/1 man coupon, received a $2 RR making this free!)

Total before coupons and RR's: $7.97
Total after coupons and RR's: -$0.28
Total saved: I made $0.28!

Transaction 2

• Colgate Sensitive toothpaste 6 oz, $4.49 (used $0.75/1 man coupon, received a $4.50 RR making this a profit of $0.76!)
• Right Guard Xtreme deodorant 2.6 oz, on sale for $2.99 (used $1/1 man coupon, received a $2 RR making this free!)
• Listerine Total Care 500 ml, on sale 2/$9 x 2 (used $2/1 x 2 man coupons, received a $4.50 RR)
• V8 Fusion Juice, on sale 2/$6 (used $2/1 x 2 man coupons)
• 12 pack soda, 3/$11 (used $1/1 x 2 man coupons, received a $5 RR)
• Pert Plus for men 3-in-1, on sale 2/$5 (used $1.50/1 x 2 man coupons, received a $2 RR making these both free!)
• Aveeno Active Naturals Daily Moisture lotion 2.5 oz, on sale for $2.63 x 3 (used $2/1 man coupons x 2, used $1/1 man coupon, supposed to receive a Free Travel Kit with purchase of 3 Aveeno items but I didn't so I'll have to take my receipt back and check on that)
• Pencil, on clearance for $0.03 each x 3
• Hershey Kit Kat, $0.69 x 2
• Twix bars, 2/$1.59

Total before coupons and RR's: $52.06
Total after coupons and RR's: $14.31
Total saved: $37.75 or 73%

Total for entire trip before coupons and RR's: $60.03
Total for entire trip after coupons and RR's: $14.03
Total saved: $46 or 77%!

I bought the candy and pencils as filler items because I used RR's to pay for my 2nd transaction (didn't count those in the total though since I have already counted them). Because of the "one coupon per item - including Register Rewards" rule, I had to add a few things in so I could use $16 in RR's (it ate up $3.06 of that $16 - I could have just got the pencils but a little bit of chocolate is nice too).

Walgreens for 5/1

Transaction 1

• Nivea body wash 16.9 oz, on sale for $4.99 (received a $5 RR making this free!)
• Rembrandt toothpaste 2.6 oz, on sale for $5.99 (used $1/1 man coupon, received a $6 RR making this purchase a profit of $1!)

Total before coupons and RR's: $11.69
Total after coupons and RR's: -$3.31 (I also used a $3 RR from a previous visit and am counting it since I didn't write a post about it)
Total saved: made $3.31!!

Transaction 2

• Got2B styling mousse 8 oz, on sale for 2/$10 (used $2/1 x 2 man coupon, received a $5 RR)
• Huggies Natural Fit diapers 34 ct, on sale for 2/$20 (used $3/2 man coupon, received a $2 RR, will also send receipt in to Caregivers Marketplace and receive back $0.75 for each pack)
• Zyrtec 24hour 30 ct, on sale for $18.99 (used $4/1 man coupon)

Total before coupons and RR's: $49.38
Total after coupons and RR's: $4.86 (I also used $25 in RR's from previous visits and am counting them since I didn't write a post about them)
Total saved: $44.52 or 90%!

Total before coupons and RR's for entire trip: $61.07
Total after coupons and RR's for entire trip: $1.55
Total saved: $59.52 or 97%!!

You may have heard that Walgreens is no longer doing the Easy Saver Rebate Program and there is no longer the IVC (instant value coupons) that were in the book. Boo! Hiss! Maybe they will come out with a new program or maybe, like I'm seeing lately, is that they are beefing up their Register Rewards offerings. There are also always store coupons in their weekly flyer. The only thing I don't like about RR's are that they expire and most of the time, they expire within a week or two. So you have to really be on top of the dates.

One note of caution: they are being pretty strict with redeeming the RR's. The manager tonight told me that you have to at least as many items in your transaction as you have coupons - including the RR's. So, you can't buy 12 items, use a manufacturer coupon for each of those 12 items and use RR's. The register will beep. My suggestion is to add cheap "filler" items (a pack of gum, candy or pencil) that will fill that "needing enough items" quota. I'm not sure yet if that also includes the Walgreen flyer coupons since they are a store coupon and not a manufacturer coupon. I will have to either do a trial and error or ask.

Walgreen's for 4/16 - one of the best yet!

Transaction 1

• Scunci no-damage elastics 18 pk, on sale for $2 (received a $2 Register Reward making it FREE!)
• Fiber choice 10 count tablets, $2.49 (received a $2.50 RR making it FREE!)
• Coffee Mate 16 oz, on sale 2/$3 (used $1.50/1 man coupon x 2 making these both FREE!)
• Breyers Ice cream, on sale BOGO, $6.29 (used $0.75/1 x 2 man coupon)
• Bertolli Oven Bakes, on sale $5.99 each x 2 (used $2/1 man coupon x 2)
• Chapstick 100% Naturals, on sale $1.99 (received a $2 RR making it FREE!)
• Bounty paper towels, 128 sheet, $2.39 each x 3 (used Wags coupon making them 3/$5, used $1/1 man coupon x 3)
• PAAS Egg color kit, originally $1.99, on clearance for $0.49 each x 2
• PAAS Egg Party kit, originally $4.99, on clearance for $1.24

Total before clearance, coupons and RR's: $50.91
Total after clearance, coupons and RR's: $4.70
Total saved: $46.21 or 91%!!!

Transaction 2

• Skintimate shave cream, on sale $2.99 (received a $3 RR making it FREE!)
• Chapstick 100% Naturals, on sale $1.99 (received a $2 RR making it FREE!)
• Colgate MaxWhite toothbrush, on sale $3.29 (used $0.75/1 man coupon, received $3.50 RR making this a profit of $0.96!)
• Fiber choice 10 count tablets, $2.49 (received a $2.50 RR making it FREE!)

Total before coupons and RR's: $11.30
Total after coupons and RR's: -$0.45!
Total saved: I made $0.45 and that includes the tax!!

Transaction 3

• Skintimate shave cream, on sale $2.99 (received a $3 RR making it FREE!)
• Colgate MaxWhite toothbrush, on sale $3.29 (used $0.75/1 man coupon, received $3.50 RR making this a profit of $0.96!)
• Scunci no-damage elastics 18 pk, on sale for $2 (received a $2 Register Reward making it FREE!)

Total before coupons and RR's: $8.82
Total after coupons and RR's: -$0.43!
Total saved: I made $0.43 and that includes the tax!!

Total before clearance, coupons and RR's for entire trip: $71.03
Total after clearance, coupons and RR's for entire trip: $3.82
Total saved for entire trip: $67.21 or 95%!!!!

Yay!!! This is one of my best trips yet!

Today's Target Trip

• Gillette Fusion Gamer razor x 2, $7.99 each (used $2/1 x 2 man coupon, received $5 Target gift card x 2 b/c I bought Gillette shaving gels too)
• Gillette Shave Gel x 2, $1.89 each (used $1/1 x 2 man coupon, received $5 Target gift card x 2 b/c I bought Gillette razors too)
• Johnson's baby lotion x 2, $2.19 each (used $1/1 x 2 man coupon, used $0.75/1 x 2 Target coupon)
• Johnson's Bedtime bath wash with bonus bottle, on clearance for $2.54 (used $1/1 man coupon, used $0.75/1 Target coupon)
• Johnson's Bedtime lotion with bonus bottle, on clearance for $2.54 (used $1/1 man coupon, used $0.75/1 Target coupon)
• Gerber Graduate Yogurt Melts x 4, $2.99 each (used $0.75/2 x 2 man coupon, used $0.50/2 x 2 Target coupon)
• Pledge Multi-surface spray x 2, $3.74 each (used $2/1 x 2 man coupon, used $1/1 x 2 Target coupon)
• Little Debbie cakes, on sale for $1.50 (no coupons, going to put a couple in the kid's Easter baskets)
• Betty Crocker Warm Delights x 2, $1.50 each (used $0.50/1 x 2 man coupon, used $1/2 Target coupon)
• Splenda 100 pack, $3.99 (used $0.55/1 man coupon, used $0.55/1 Target coupon)
• Vitamin Water x 2, on sale for $1.00 each (used $1/1 x 2 man coupon making these free!)
• Eggo NutraGrain Waffles x 2, $2.44 each (used $0.75/1 x 2 man coupon, used $1/2 Target coupon)

Total before coupons and gift cards: $66.29
Total after coupons and gift cards: $23.64
Total saved: $42.65 or 64%!!

Not too bad! There were a few of these things that were already on my "To Get" list (like the Splenda, waffles and Multi-surface spray) and it just happened that Target had some coupons out for these items so it was a good time to purchase.

We had to break into one of the yogurt melt bags while we were there. Nadia was becomming rather impatient (oh those toddler fits!) while Viggo was going potty. Luckily, stuffing a few of those in her mouth kept her quiet. :)

Rolling, rolling, rolling....

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. We have been working hard on getting our new office finished and we are finally done! Well, there is still a lot of organizing that needs to happen, but we are up and running. I am so happy we are done - I love this new space!

I have been doing Walgreen shopping but haven't posted about it. I went today and got some awesome deals. Here's how today's trip went:

• Skintimate Cream Shave, on sale for $2.99 (received a $3 Register Reward for this item making it free!)
• One A Day Women's 2O Multi-vitamin drink mix, 2 pack, $1.49 (will send in for Easy Saver Rebate #1 for $1.49 back making this free!)
• Cottonelle refill wipes, 84 pk x 2, $4.99 each (used Wags coupon making them 2/$5, used $0.50/1 x 2 man coupon)
• Quaker Chewy Granola Bars, 10 pk, on sale 2/$5 (used $1/2 man coupon, received a $2 RR for this purchase)
• Hershey Kit Kat bar x 2, 2/$1.59 (got these both free with in-ad sale, will explain below)
• Pringles chips x 4, 2/$4 (used Wags coupon making them 2/$3, used $1/2 x 2 man coupon)
• Diet Coke x 2, 2/$2.89 (used two Coke Rewards coupons making these both free)
  
• Edge shaving gel, on sale for $2.99 (received a $3 Register Reward for this item making it free! I also did this in a separate transaction since the other shaving gel is from the same company and I wanted to make sure I got both RR's.)
• Chapstick Naturals, on sale for $1.99 (received a $2 RR making this free!)

Total before coupons, rebates and RR's: $38.04
Total after coupons, rebates and RR's: -$5.41
Total saved: That's right - I got PAID $5.41 for the above purchase, keep reading to understand why

Normally I do not count the Register Rewards I redeem in a purchase when I show my numbers because I already counted them on the previous deal. If you count them again, you're double counting and it's not reflecting the true amount you save. However, since I did not post about my last deals, I got to count them on this one. Like my logic? :) Anyway, I redeemed $16 in register rewards so that really took my total down.

When you use Register Rewards to help get more Register Rewards, it's called "rolling". That's a bit of a goal, use RR's to help get more RR's. That way you really aren't spending money out of pocket.

Also, I got the Kit Kat's for free because in this week's flyer it states if you buy a Coke or Diet Coke, you get a free Hershey candy. I ended up getting the two Cokes and the candy free because I had the Coke Rewards coupons to use. Coke Rewards is a point system, sign up for free and you enter points off their products that you can redeem. I had a bunch so I just choose free 20 oz coupons.

I also wanted to notify everyone that Walmart has Gerber sleepers on clearance for $3. They are the blanket sleepers (with footies) and footless kind and come 2 to a pack. They hardly had anything for boys but a bunch of girl ones. I picked a few up for Nadia. At $1.50 a sleeper, that's a good deal! There's also the opportunity to get some free mascara from Rimmel if you purchase the All You April edition magazine (it's Walmart's magazine). There are several good coupons in it this month and you get a $6.47 masacara for free (coupon in the mag). Pam cooking spray is on rollback for $2.88 and there was a $1/1 man coupon in that magazine. I had Pam on my list so I got some cheap cooking spray too!