5th of July?

Tonight we finally got to enjoy the fireworks!!! Rowan and I went back to Franklin, and YEP the fireworks were amazing!!! :-) Rowan loved the "boom booms"; he kept pointing to them and saying, "WOW!!!". So sweet. He was not afraid of them at all, which surprised me. He is still talking about the fireworks. It's cute to watch him. I'll try to get a video. All the way home, he kept turning around and blowing kisses, "bye bye boom booms, thank you, MUAHHHH!!!" Precious, right?

pretty blog

Well, perhaps a new layout will intice me to be more proactive on this blog! Teeheehee

We are hoping everyone had a wonderful and happy Independance Day!!! The celebrations were abruptly haulted here lastnight due to the rain. DARN RAIN!!! Rowan did get to play with his bestie, Kayli, and we did sparklers and went to a cookout at Kayli's Aunt Brandi's house. It was fun to get out and be amongst other adults for a change!!!
Hopefully the fireworks will be going tonight. Rowan wants boom booms!!!

BBW

I had another great shopping trip at Bath and Body. Melissa and I stocked up on the 90% off items, combined our purchases, and used a $10 off $30 purchase coupon! With tax, we spent about $12 each and walked out with massive amounts of GOODIES!!! They make great gifts!!!

BATH AND BODY WORKS

I fell in love with the Eucalyptus, mint, spearmint products from BBW last year. I got lucky today!~!! I went in for the semi-annual sale and the old label products were 90% off!!! It just so happened, my Eucalyptus prodcuts were on that table! YESSSSSSSSSS

I walked out with a HUGE, HEAVY bag full of goodies! I had coupons, and only ended up spending $20. Pretty awesome!

CVS SHOPPING TRIP

Lady Speed Stick/Mens Pro Extra deodorant, sale 2/$5.00.

Used 2 B1G1 free coupons. = 4/$5

ECB's earned $3.00

Aquafresh toothpaste sale, .99. Used $1/1 coupon = FREE

Aquafresh toothpaste sale, .99. Used $1/1 coupon = FREE

Aquafresh travel toothpaste, used coupon for one free = FREE

Aquafresh travel toothpaste, used coupon for one free = FREE

Vaseline travel lotion .99, used $1/1 coupon = FREE

Used $2 ECB's from last week

Total OOP $3.00

ECB's earned for next trip = $3.00

***Somehow, and I don't know how, I also received an extra $2 ECB coupon! Not sure how that happened?

Walgreen's shopping trip

TRANSACTION ONE:

Dawn dish detergent 1.99, used in ad coupon for .99 = .99

Pringles, sale .99 each. bought 2, used coupon for $1/2 = 2/.98

Pringles, sale .99 each. bought 2, used coupon for $1/2 = 2/.98

Dry idea deodorant, sale 2.99. Used $2/1 coupon = .99

Earned $2 RR back

used 1 $3 RR from last weeks purchases

Total out of pocket, with tax, after coupons and after RR = $1.26

Register Rewards Earned = $2.00

TRANSACTION TWO:

Oust Air Sanitizer, 2.99. Used 1 $2/1 coupon = .99

Oust Air Sanitizer, 2.99. Used 1 $2/1 coupon = .99

Got2B mousse 8.5 oz andGot 2B hairspray 9 oz, buy one at $5.99 get one free = 2/$5.99.

Used 2 $2/1 coupons = 2/1.98

Dry idea deodorant, sale 2.99. Used $2/1 coupon = .99

Earned $2 RR back

used 1 $3 RR from last weeks purchases

Total out of pocket, with tax, after coupons and after RR = $2.82

Register Rewards Earned = $2.00

TRANSACTION THREE:

Buy 4 Pepsi 12 packs, get one free with in ad coupon = 5/$12.00

Dry idea deodorant, sale 2.99. Used $2/1 coupon = .99

Earned $2 RR back

Used FOUR $3 RR from last weeks purchases

Total out of pocket, with tax, after coupons and after RR = $2.25

Register Rewards Earned = $2.00

TOTAL FOR 3 TRANSACTION = $6.33TOTAL

RR EARNED BACK = $6

*I had to do three different transaction in order to use all of the RR from last week. Also, you can only RR on one item per transaction.

*Picture shows my purchase without the 5 Pepsi 12 packs and with out one of the Oust Air Sanitizers.

I MISS YOU!

So, it has been nearly ten LONG months since I last saw my husband, who was sent on his second tour to Iraq last year. Let me tell you, ten months is a long damn time. Prior to his last visit, we had gone almost seven months without seeing one another.

I am getting pretty sick and tired of being a single mom to our two year old. Since Rowan was born, Jamie has only seen him a hand full of times. It angers me, yet I know that it is a choice that WE made and this is just one of the many sacrifices that go with. Still...I miss him and want him home terribly.

I know that Jamie will be home shortly, and this always leads to some anxiety. I want him here more than anything, but I know that with his return comes many adjustments. Again, I have gotten used to being the only parent to our son and to my stepson when he is here. I do it all around here; I pay the bills, clean the house, do the laundry, wash the dishes, put the dishes away. I do our budget and make sure we are putting enough back for savings and upcoming expenses. I also do the yard work; I mow, I trim, I weed...I take out the trash and clean out the garage. I maintain the vehicle and make sure it is serviced. I raise Rowan by myself; he knows nobody but me as his caregiver. I make his meals, make sure he is fed, I give him his baths and make sure he takes his vitamins and medicine. I have broke him of the binky and bottle. I have watched every single milestone from day one: first smile, first giggle, first word, first time he sat, crawled, walked. The first time he went up steps, and down... First at the pool, swimming lessons, first time in a big boy car seat. I've taught him how to peddle his tricycle and pull the dog in the wagon. I have been with him for every single doctor's appointment and held him down while they gave him his shots. I've witnessed a concussion and his first stitches... It's been just me. I know that when Jamie gets home, it will free up some of my responsibilities with Rowan. In one way, I can't WAIT!!! In another...am I ready for this? Is Rowan? Is Jamie???
How do I let go and hand over the reigns when this is all I have known for so long? It's huge...

COUPONING PICTURES

For the previous post, here is a nice little picture. Cute, isn't it? LOL

couponing

With all that has been going on recently (the house, family issues, lawyers...you name it), I have been slacking on the couponing. For the last two weeks, I have gotten back in the game, and it FEELS SOOOO GOOD!!!
So, here was my bargain shopping for the week, which I completed in one day...thank you very much!

Walgreens:

TRANS. 1

Aquafresh whitening toothpaste on sale for $3.00 each.
I used one $1 off mfc
Total = $2.00 OOP
RR earned = $3.00
Dial body wash travel size .99 each
I used one $1 off mfc
TOTAL FREE
Dial body wash travel size .99
I used a second $1 off coupon
TOTAL FREE
-------------------------------
total OOP = $2.00
RR Earned = $3.00

TRANS 2:

Aquafresh toothpaste $3.00
I used a second $1.00 off mfc
------------------------
TOTAL OOP $2.00
RR earned $3.00

TRANS 3:
Kotex pads $2.99
Used $1.00 off mfc
Kotex pads $2.99
Used $1.00 off mfc
Kotex tampons $2.99
Used $1.00 off mfc
________________
total = $5.97
used $3.00 RR from trans 1
Total oop = 2.97
RR earned = $3.00

Yay, I still have $6 left to spend! :-D

_________________________________________
CVS TRIP

CVS has Huggies Jumbo packs on sale this week for $8.99
CVS has Huggies Pull-Ups for $8.99

I bought 4 packs of Huggies Jumbos size 4
Total 35.96
I used 4/$3 off MFCs (can use on the old packaging)
______
total = 23.96 for 4 Jumbo packs

I bought 2 size 2-3T pull-ups at 8.99 each
Total = 17.98
I used 2/$3.00 MFCs
______
total = 11.98

I will submit 6 packs of Huggies to Caregivers Marketplace to earn .75 back per pack = $4.50 rebate

TOTAL 31.44 for 4 packs of Huggies diapers and two packs of pull-ups! Not too shabby.

Also, Pepsi is on sale 5/$13, yep, I bought five! :-)

words

ere - here
dere - there

I have been working with Rowan on songs, and he is loving it!!! He has learned the Itsy Bitsy Spider, 5 little monkeys, 3 Little Alligators and monkey dance. Youtube has great kiddy movies with dance and song. I like the "simple" songs. The guy is hilarious, and Rowan LOVES him!!!