Surviving and Shopping

I'm still here. I have survived a double illness (stomach virus on top of allergies), driving Gabriel far and yon to the drama performances and 3 solid days of teaching in the same kindergarten class. My house needs some serious attention tomorrow and my brain needs a rest. I must make time to read a good book. I happened to get 3 in the mail. I actually won a contest! Thanks Marsha! I can't wait to sit down and relax a bit with these.

Last Friday night, Hannah, Holly and I stayed on the other side of town while waiting for Gabriel. I had a $10 off coupon for JC Penny so we decided to check it out. We happened upon a great deal. Most everything was 40% off and I was in desperate need of some new clothes. It was actually fun to shop with Holly as she hurried around all the racks, picking out things that she thought would look good on me. "Oh Mom, you have to get this one!" was repeated over and over again. I was glad to have Hannah along to, to help me decide what looked the best. We had a great girls' night out.

I have some more blog entries in my head. A bit deeper and hopefully not as boring as things have been lately. Please stay and chat a while. I've missed my bloggy friends.

More Deals at CVS

I am sure that I have mentioned before that I dislike shopping very much. This feeling that sometimes comes close to loathing does not come without reason. I do not like spending money, especially money that I don't have or that I might need for something else later. Being in the ministry, we've always been on a tight budget. We have never gone without things that we need. We've been able to include some wants here and there. But it's always been tight. I must admit that I didn't really like shopping before that anyway. I guess it's in my blood. Who can fight circumstances and DNA?

While I would still rather scrub the bathroom than take a trip to the mall, I have found a new love - shopping at CVS! I learned from Crystal over at Money Saving Mom about an unadvertised special. The 18 oz Softsoap SPA shower gel is $5.49 and you get back $5.49 in ECB's! I also learned from a couponing friend of mine that CVS takes competitors coupons. I had a Target coupon for $1 off. So I paid $4.49 and got $5.49 back. Even a tightwad like me has to like that kind of a deal! Now I need to go and make some space to put everything I have recently bought.

Here's what I got today:

18 oz Softsoap SPA shower gel - $5.49
VO5 shampoo - .66
VO5 conditioner - .66
Nuetrogena eye makeup remover 7.49
Total = $14.30 plus tax

$1.00 Target coupon
9.99 Extra Care bucks
Total out of pocket = $3.53

Extra Care Bucks earned - $10.49

Catching Up

I think I'm in a blogging slump. I don't have time to blog and when I do manage to squeeze some in, I cannot think of anything exciting to say. Here are a few things that have happened in the past few weeks:

• Gabriel turned 17 - He is the most awesome young man in the whole entire world. I am blessed.
• Holly turned 10 - She is turning into a young lady right before my very eyes.
• My parents came up for a visit. They'll be here until Friday.
• Holly had a "Grandma and Me" dinner with her Girl Scout troop. Her leader was kind enough to schedule it when my parents were here.
• They decided to do a 50's theme. Holly wore a dress and sweater that we already had and I spent $1.00 on some ribbon for her hair. She looked really cute.

• She read a poem that we wrote together.
  
• We went shopping in Williamsburg. I found some dishes that I like at the Pfaltzgraph outlet. I bought some shoes.
• I took Hannah to the DMV to get a driving manual. She will be old enough for her learner's permit in only a few days.
  
• My dad and John took the kids on a field trip to the Navy Museum in Washington DC.
  
• My mom and I looked for some more deals at Walgreens and CVS. We found some.
• I'm hoping to mostly stay home tomorrow.
  

Random Thoughts

· I spent eight weeks in a classroom surrounded by coughs, colds, fevers and even strep throat and managed to evade all the germs. Tuesday night, a sinus cold decided to infringe upon my free time.

· Saturday night, I’m singing with my church at the mall. I have a very short solo and a few narration parts along with singing with the group. I’m praying the sinus cold is gone soon!

· The weather turned back to normal today. Almost summer became cool and drizzly.

· I went shopping with Holly yesterday afternoon. We found some good deals.

· I can’t tell you what they are because I have a bunch of family members who like to lurk around my blog.

· My family is taking a nap on the floor. What’s with that? I guess so many years in Romania with cold rooms and colder floors, the carpeted floor looked inviting.

· John worked midnight shift last night and barely slept this morning. He’s tired.

· The children’s Christmas play at church is Sunday night. Holly has a drama part and I’ve been told she’s doing very well with it. She had a solo part but denounced it last night, adamantly stating that she wasn’t ready and wasn’t going to humiliate herself.

· I feel badly for not working with her on her solo.

· Gabe and Hannah have silent parts. Hannah is Mary and Gabe is a Wise Guy Man.

· We’re having frozen pizza for dinner. That seems to be the easy thing when there’s Christmas shopping and colds to deal with. What’s for dinner at your house?

An Accomplished Goal

Hannah and I went out shopping yesterday in the very warm, spring-like weather. It was nearly 80 degrees. Being on the second floor of an apartment building, we haven't even turned on our heat, not even when the temperatures have dipped into the 20's. Yesterday and today I have had to open windows. I won't complain and neither will my electric bill!

Today I was able to accomplish my goal of not going anywhere. Life has been busy lately and I have been out every day and evening for too many nights in a row. Today, I slept late, stayed at home, worked on a project with Holly and basically relaxed. I am ready to get back to real life now - I think. How was your day?

Black Friday and Shopping Online

Thanksgiving is all but over and people are turning their thoughts toward Christmas and shopping. Tomorrow is Back Friday. Will you join the millions braving the crowds of frantic shoppers or will you shop online from the comfort of your home?

1. If you shop online, you should sign up at Mr. Rebates.
2. You can get cash back for your online purchases at stores like Barnes & Noble, Office Depot, Old Navy, Target, Best Buy and hundreds more.
3. It’s free.
4. It’s easy.
5. You find out about great deals
6. And online coupons.
7. You get a real check in the mail.
8. I have made nearly three hundred dollars.
9. I can think of a lot of things to do with three hundred dollars!
10. You can also sign up your friends and get 20% of what they earn at no cost to them.
11. Half of what I have earned is from friends who have signed up.
12. Shopping online is convenient and profitable!
13. Click here and use my email as a referral karen at woodward-family dot com
14. Don't forget to shop through the Mr. Rebates website in order to get CASH BACK!!

Clean Carpets and a Deal

When we were signing the lease on our apartment, the landlord told us that she wasn't happy with carpet cleaning job that had been [supposedly] done and that they would let us move in and then have the carpets cleaned at our convenience. When, might I ask, is it ever convenient to clean carpets? With a family of five in a small three bedroom, we don't have a lot of free floor space. Well, we decided that it was mainly the living room, dining area and hallway that needed attention. So last Thursday we cleared as much stuff as possible out of those spaces and waited for the carpet cleaners to come. They didn't show up. John called to find out what was going on and they said they wouldn't be able to make it until 2 PM. UGH! John told them to just come back the next week. It was rescheduled for this morning at 9 AM and we had to clear the rooms again. Thankfully, they were only 35 minutes late and it only took the guy 30 minutes to get it cleaned. We went to the library, the mall and a grocery store while waiting for the carpets to dry.

This mall is not the one near our apartment but it's closer to the library. It is beautiful and has some great stores. I really think I would enjoy it on a crisp fall day. It's not enclosed like a typical mall so you have to walk outside in the heat to go from store to store. It would be great in a place like San Diego. Oh well. The girls and I had to go to Claire's. We always do. I could live without it but the girls love it so much. Today we happened upon a good sale. They had a couple of sections marked, "10 for $5." I was able to get a bunch of clippies for Holly who is trying to grow her bangs out. Don't you love to find a great deal?!

We are home again. The carpets are still damp. At least they are done and look much better.