Food Revolution

I don't know if any of you have seen the new show on ABC called Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution but I am in LOVE with this show. If ever there was a TV show that was screaming at me this is it. The show has been at an elementary school showing what the kids eat and it is all high fat processed food. I am happy to say for all of my years in school I was a "hot lunch kid" and Ryan thus far has been the same. Ryan is even lucky enough to have free breakfast everyday. Although after watching all of this I wonder just how lucky we really are / were.

On Saturday's show they showed how a chicken nugget is made... YUCK (I think I might have puked a bit in my mouth) All the leftover chicken parts and fat in a blender then covered in more fat to hide the bloody chunks inside. I am going to have a hard time ever feeding my kid's their favorite meal of nuggets again.

There is a family they are following that only eats processed foods, fast foods...etc. and they never cook. This week they went to the doctor to learn the real state of their health. WOW ... they are a really sick family. As I watched I saw so much of myself. Let me be real honest for a minute. I don't cook. Why don't I cook? it use to be because of my job. Working  70 hours a week just didn't allow time for it. Then I became this coupon crazy girl. Have you ever seen a coupon for free fruit or veggies? Which I admit I love coupons, and free stuff, but I think it is time I really start looking at what we are eating and take a little bit better care of ourselves and our children.

Tonights dinner:
Chicken Breasts on the grill
frozen mixed veggies (that I got for free)
frozen dinner rolls (that I got for free)
1% milk... I am trying REALLY hard to give up 2%
Oh and a few chips for the kids so they don't die on the first night of new dinners. :)

We will see how long I can make this last!!

Coupons!

As you read a few posts back I have be come a fan of coupon's but I don't use all of them. An example would be diapers or denture paste. Last night I had this great idea of coupon circles. Here is my thought.

If I clip the coupons I will use and keep them but then cut every other coupon I won't use and I send it on to the next person they would take out what they would use and add what they would not use. (They would also have to take out and toss anything that had expired). If there was a circle of five people and each sending to the same person each week you would get a new envelope every week and could really help yourself as well as others.

Does this sounds crazy? Does it sounds like a lot of work? Should there only people people from your area in your circle? Or people from all over so you would get different coupons? Would you want people at different stages in their lives to be in your circle? (so the diaper and denture coupons both get used) If I organized it I would start a whole new blog dedicated coupon circling but before I do that I want to know if people would join in? So give me your thoughts????

Thanks for reading!

Nanc

How Do You?

Ryan's new favorite question is "how do you spell..." or "How do you read..." and Emmalee's is "how do you write...?" I love that both of my kids love school, however do you know frustrating it can be?

It is frustrating to me because let's be honest... I use spell check and I can't spell 1-800- ask- Gary. I get to 1-8-0 ... and Ryan screams ''SPELL it!" Suddenly we are both frustrated and neither of us is understood.The same thing happens if I read a book and change the words or skip a few. I am not sure if he has memorized the book or does first letter reading as I read. Either way he is learning and that is the ultimate goal.

Emmalee on the other hand wants to do everything Ryan does but doesn't have the skill level. This morning she was coloring and said I can make a circle but my triangle is wrong, fix it. I grabbed the crayon and drew a new triangle and then was told ''no not like that!" I guess it wasn't perfect. Her other huge frustration is her name. She so badly wants to write her name but when I make connecting dots for her she gets very upset when her lines aren't perfect. Wait till she has to write Emmalee Elizabeth Hochschild, I think her perfectionism will fade away. Sadly she has a whole year to wait till she can go to school, but thankful that means she has another year to practice that long name before she gets to school.

The main thing I have learned is that I would fail horribly at home schooling!

Spring Fever!

Today is the first day of spring and I think the kids have internal clocks to remind them that they should now have spring fever. From the moment Ryan got up this morning all he could talk about was going to grandma's today to play with his cousin outside. Where he got this idea I have no idea. When my eyes were fully open and Emmalee was screaming "me too! me too!" I called grandma to see what her plans for the day were. Just my luck they were going to drive up to Cabella's and would gladly take the kids with to see the fish. SCORE! This was perfect seeing I had to work today and Keith needed to go to Rainbow for double coupon day. Grandpa and Grandma had so much fun with the kids at Cabella's they also took them to Stride Rite and Crocs for new shoes... I think they had spring fever too! Just as I got home from work the kids came home happy as could be and a bit tired, but there was no way they could nap they just had spring fever in their pants. After eating for an hour and bouncing around Ryan announced "ah, hey, guys, I have a very important message for grandma, can we call her?" I dialed her up and about 30 seconds into the conversation Ryan says "so, um, do you think we can have a sleepover?" and with those words Em came flying out of somewhere screaming "I sleepover too?" of course grandma and grandpa jumped on the opportunity for a sleepover and Keith and I have jumped on the opportunity to watch New Moon.

I will update you tomorrow on how late into the night their spring fever lasted... I just hope it doesn't last longer then a few days.

Happy First Day of Spring!!

Ryan's best day of the year

If you ask Ryan what today is he will tell you "It is St. Patrick's Day but really it is the best day ever because it is GREEN DAY! I thought you all might enjoy seeing what Ryan looked like when he cae home from school today. Oh and Happy Green Day!

\

The "beech"

Emmalee has been "at the beach" everyday for about two months. No, not the real beach, rather, our living room floor. While most kids are wearing clothes, or even jammies she prefers her swimsuit, or as she calls it her "swimming suit" She has been known to lay on the hardwood floors and slide her body across the floor and tell you "I swimmin" A few weeks ago she hauled her body pillow out of her room and now uses it as a air mattress so she can float at the beach. Today we added sun glasses, a sun hat and with the breeze coming in from the open windows and doors she truly believes she is at the beach. Now if she starts hauling in sand from the sandbox the beach will be shut down, but until then I will play along and dream I too am at my favorite beach, Sanibel Island.

So what if we take the bus?

Today after school Ryan and I were watching our favorite Disney video's online. We were in the middle of  "A Model Day at Disney'' when Ryan looked up at me with his big brown eyes and said "If we take the bus and not the airplane can we live there forever?'' Oh, how I wish it was that easy.

Please check out our favorite video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyZfIlxwsfI

goal for the week is to attempt to insert pictures and video's on the blog.

Another savings tip...

A couple of times this week people have asked me "how do you know where the deals are" so I thought I would jot down some of the basics.

I highly suggest opening up an email account to be used just for sign ups. Then go to all your favorite stores websites and sign up for their emails. Go to free coupon sites, sweepstakes sites etc. By having a separate account you don't have to read them all day everyday they can be there when you need to shop for something.

Before you buy online google search the stores name and then "coupon code". Often you can find coupon codes to apply to your order.

Also before you buy anything "froogle it" go to froogle.com. Froogle is a search engine owned by google  that will find you the lowest price on an item.  Once you have froogled do the tip before this one to get an even lower price.

Check the thrift stores first! Goodwill gets all of Target's "leftovers" and if you are in southern WI they also get Johnson and Johnson's seasonal items as well. In MN we are lucky to have a goodwill outlet where everything is 1.29 a pound. Another one of my favorite chain thrift store's is Unique Thrift and Ark Value Village. If you have never been thrifting what are you waiting for?

Ask stores when they get in new stuff or what day is mark down day or what day sales typically start on. It never hurts to ask.

Well, I hope you learned something new and it will save you a little green!

I have a question... or two... or 100!!

In the last week Emmalee has found her voice and become extremely inquisitive. Let me run you through the first five minutes of my morning.

I wake up to "Mama is you sleepin?'' ... "You gonna get up?"... "You help me?" ... "Where is my blanket?" ..."Where is my juice cup?"...  "You fill my purple juice cup?"...

At this point I know I have no chance so I open my eyes and it continues.

"You awake now mama?"... "You come down stairs?"... "Where is Simba?"... "You go first?"... "No, I go first"... "You get new jammies?"... "You like my jammies?"... "you like my jammies?' ..."Where is Ryan?"... "Is Ryan at school?'... "Where is daddy?"... "Is daddy waiting for the bus?"... "You workin today?"... "I go potty, you go potty too?'' ... "Whatcha doin?" "You do it by yourself?'' "I help you" "I gonna have a drink?" "Where is my blanket?" "put it in my hair?" "it from your hair?" I would love to tell you what other questions she asks but after the first five minutes I start to glaze over and turn into the uh huh mama. You know, the mom that just says "uh huh" no matter what you ask.

It is a mystery how she hasn't lost her voice or run out of questions, but I guess it is just one more reason why she is special!

Not in jail...YET!

So today was the big hearing at the juvenile detention center. It turned out to be a meeting with other parents as well from all over. The meeting was at 1:30, I got there at 12:45 with the hopes of explaining my case and getting out of there. Well I made it through security and learned the "welcome" desk was closed until 1:00pm. Some welcome they give you! So I stood in the 10x10 space between the metal detector and welcome desk. Then at 1:05 this boy, maybe 21, shows up at the desk who of course past judgment on me and said "Oh, your kid doesn't go to school" I wanted to say "none of your bees wax"... in adult words, but instead I said "no his absences where not recoded properly". I could tell by the level of his nose he didn't buy it and by his clothes and wrist flicks I could tell he was much better then me on the social scale. Anyways, I figured out the gold signs on the wall saying this way matched the color of my sign in sheet and figured I could follow the gold paper trail and find out where I was going. As I walked away the bright boy says "but I didn't tell you where to go" my reply "no need to, your amazing color coding gave it away" Not sure if crushed him by taking a way his one task of the day or thrilled him because someone respected the time and effort he put into color coding.

I found the room and the St. Paul schools rep was there with a print out of Ryan's absents. As I compared them to the emails I had that I had sent to the teacher there was only one that should have been excused that was marked unexcused but no matter what there were only 7 days (from our Disney trip) but the list said 14. When I asked why I was told "Oh, must be a computer glitch" gurrr whatever. I am here, I put $2.00 in the meter, once those two bucks are up I am out of here!

At 1:36 there were 6 parents each one bitching for their own reasons. "My kids had his tonsils out" My kid had H1N1" "my kid doesn't like to get out of bed and then misses the bus, and I don't have a car." I am not sending my kid when it there is that much snow, roads are bad, or it is below 0". By 1:45 I think we were up too about 20 and by 2:00 when it was over I think we had 24... humm wonder why they get their habits from?

Anyways, we were in a room that had a vent to the room next door that was doing a courtroom training. It was very interesting to listen to when I first got there but then just as our speaker started they were done for the day and made a ton of ruckus. So much so I can't tell you what the first 10 minutes where about between the loud noises and the newbies coming in.

Here are the basics.
1.K is optional but if you decide to register your child you have to follow the rules of 7 years and up.
2. Also if you sent your kid to 4K they must go to K.
3. If your child has "too many'' (no number was given) absents or unexcused absents you get turned into the system... which is why we are there.
4. If you need help getting your kid to school pick up the welfare packet at the door. Or go to a non-neighborhood school so you get free busing.

Now that you are "in the system" What does that mean?
you can never go back and start over. From grade k-12 you can go through the steps ONCE.
1. attend this meeting
2. attend a one on one meeting with the Ramsey county D.A.
3. first apprance before a judge for "education neglect"
      a. fine of 300.00 or
      b. 30 days in jail or
      c. Child protection involvement instantly
4. Child prtection brought in
5. child(ren) taken away

I left feeling very frustrated and like I needed to see someone at Como ASAP. I went right up to school and when I got to the office the lady  tried to call the truant officer but she didn't answer her phone so then she asked "who is your child and what grade?'' As soon as I said "Special Ed" she said "Oooooohhhhh you have to go down to the special ed office" THIS IS THE PROBLEM 2 offices, 2 sets of rules, and (as I learned) 2 different ways of taking attendance. So when I got to the special ed office I explained where I had just been and I showed the emails I had explaining the absents and then questioned how 7 days can be  14 unexcused absents and how 3 excused can be 6? Well because many kids in special ed have doctor appointments and some in the autism classes can't do full days of school  they do attendance like this: 8:05-8:20 tardy, 8:20-11:00 absent AM, 11:00-2:35 absent PM. So if you are out for a full sick day  it shows up as two days. BUT the truancy lady wouldn't know that because she isn't  to be having anything to do with special ed kids. We are NOT to be calling the main office hotline when Ryan is sick. We are to be calling the special ed office or E-MAILING THE TEACHER!!! Yes, just like I had been all along! Are you wondering how I stayed calm or left any of my hair in my head? ya... me too! Anyways she made all the changes, said she was sorry I had to go to the meeting but she couldn't change what "step" we were on. Then she said normally you have to have 20...yes 20 unexcused days to go to those meetings and if they know you were on vacation or had funerals they don't count them. So we have 7, from Disney but we got to go! I really think Lucky is tattooed on my ass and I just can't see it!

Overall I am still mad because we get to deal with this for another 13 years after this year. (Ryan is going main stream K next year) I also want a meeting with the asst. principal (principal is ESL, Hmong) because the way the truant officer talked to me was unacceptable. 

Hope you had a wonderful Tuesday!

Give a day... get a Disney day

It was announced today that this program will be coming to an end most likely at the end of the week if you were planning on getting a free ticket to be used by the end of the year you better register VERY quickly. In the blog below you will see the latest Disney deal.

Disney World this summer... kids stay, play, and eat for free!!

Disney is not in the near future for us but I thought I would pass along the AWESOME deal I found!

Dear Parents:

If you have ever thought about taking your kids to Disney World over spring or summer break now is the time to act! Here is the best deal I found: 

Next book a 4-night/ 5-day or longer Magic Your Way package  that includes room, theme park tickets and the Quick-Service Dining Plan, AND a child (ages 3-9) can stay, get 5-day theme park tickets and the Quick-Service Dining Plan for FREE!

Note that children ages 3-9 normally stay for free in the same room with their parents, so that is no savings. However, the savings on theme park tickets and the dining plan can be substantial, particularly if you have two adults and two children in the correct age range. 

You must book by 4/24/10. The number of packages available at this rate is limited. Child must stay in room with adult. Tickets are for one theme park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. Maximum of four guests per room. 

So how much are we talking?

If you stayed at a value resort (POP Century is our favorite) about $120.00 a night during summer ($480.00)

2 adult park passes are about $460.00

If you fly into Orlando there is free magical Express transportation from the airport to your resort. (no car rental needed) 

2 adult quick service meal plans  $320

If you don't already have a Disney Visa both you and your spouse apply for one and viola there is your fun spending money for the trip  $100.00 (free $50.00 gift card for applying)

So for less then $1300 you have  a wonderful cheap vacation. All you need to add is airfare and if you fly our of MSP  I suggest Air Tran for their $89.00 each way airfare. 

Have a magical Disney day! 

DISCLAIMER: Planning cheap Disney trips is my passion if your planning on going let me know. I am sure I could save you some money or give you a tip to make your trip extra magical. 

Where did you get that?

Friday night Ryan spent the night at grandma and grandpa's and when Emmalee figured it out she demanded her sleepover night too. So Saturday night both kids spend the night. Keith and I had a great night of listing their old clothes for Munchkin Markets. I know so romantic! Anyways, this morning I had to work at 10 and was not sure what time the kids were coming home so I called around 9:00am and learned they had slept in and Ryan was still sleeping. Why they can't do this at home? I have no idea. Grandma informed me they were going to hockey at 1:00pm and they would drop the kids off after. Nice!

On my way home from work at 7:30pm I called my mom to see how the day went and her first words were "oh, we miss them so much." She then continued on to tell me how funny Emmalee is. You see at the hockey game there was a candy crane. You know the thing that cost 50 cents for a chance to win a piece of old stale candy. Anyway, Em decided the candy was free for her. She stuck her head in the drop slot and  then reached her hand up inside the machine and pulled out a sucker. After a few minutes she was tired of the sucker so she crawled up again to the point of only seeing her plumbers crack while she pulled out some off brand candy she didn't like. The next 3 pulls were great she got a small plastic horse, butterfly and frog.  Being as loving as she is she was kind enough to ask grandpa and Ryan if they wanted anything, like it was her personal store.

As my mom told me this story all I could think of is "oh, em you never seem to amaze me"

PS... stealing is not part of 20/20 haha

bulldog bull

As I write this many of my high school classmates are attending a fundraiser to try and save our high school. A few weeks ago it was formally announced that St. Bernard's high school will be closing after this school year. I have sat back and read the good, the bad, and the insane but I have to write a few of my thoughts somewhere so here goes...

If you really think this problem just started dream on! If you really think you can raise one million dollars ... and then get donors to commit to giving for years to come your dreaming... and if you think Pohlad and Nassaf will bail out SBH like they did Agnes you really are crazy!

I have worked in the Roman Catholic church for seven years. When something is decided they don't go back. They decided to pull the loan. Meaning SBH had to pay it up right now or close. Plus all the daily expenses the Arch has been paying for. There is no possible way for them to raise enough money to pay the loan, pay salaries and promise there will be givers in the year ahead.

I feel sorry for all the staff, students, and families that have kids in the school right now. I also feel bad for anyone who has donated money to the school in the last few weeks, or during the phone-a-thon. Way to send the money out of the north end and right up the hill to all the men waiting to laugh in your face!

Good bye SBH.... as someone suggested... You would make a great lightrail stop or senior housing location. No matter what the outcome... I hope the Church of St. Bernard can remain open and do the community some good with the building.

And we're OFF....

I have been working a lot lately and mostly the 1-9:30pm shift meaning I don't see Ryan much. When I realized Ryan didn't have school today and I was not working I begged... okay asked... Keith to take the day off so we could all do something together. I didn't have to ask twice and he said I am not working Friday... WOO HOO.

A few weeks ago my good friend Angela told me the MN science museum membership paid for itself in two visits (If you are on state insurance or reduced school lunches you get it 1/2 price and it pays for itself in one visit) and you not only get to see the exhibits but you get to see an omni show each time you go. We went a few weeks back and the kids had a blast. It has been a great place for the kids and Keith to go when I am working long weekend hours. When we learned we could also get a children's museum membership at a discount because we had a science membership we also jumped on that opportunity. (This was not part of 20/20 but rather... mission: hello tax return haha)

Yesterday it was decided we would visit both musuem's today and to make the day even more excited Dylan, my 6 year nephew,  would join us.

The plan for the day was.
1. Pick up Dylan at 8:30
2. Stop at the Science Museum at 9:00am and get tickets for the Elephant Omni show at 2:00
3. Go to the Children's Museum for the morning
4. Have lunch at McDonald's by the Children's musuem
5. Go to the Science Musuem for the movie and maybe some exibits
6. Dinner
7. Boys high school hockey games

Of course it didn't go like that...

The day started at 6:15am with Ryan coming up in our bed saying "good morning guys, it is museum day. I am already dressed so you need to get up." I informed him the sun wasn't up yet so it was time to cuddle. I also successfully got him to go back to sleep until 7:30am when Emmalee joined in the fun and she informed Ryan that the sun was up and mom was "kiddin" We all got up and got ready. We picked up Dylan by 8:45 and got Keith dropped off at the Science Museum door, only to learn the box office opens at 9:30 so we decided to risk it. We got to the Children't Museum and were met by multiple groups and buses. We started on the top and it didn't take long to find the crowds. We made it though the ant tunnels and the dino exhibit before my patience was wearing thin with the unchaperoned children and the chaperone talk circles with their backs to the kids. Although the mom that backed into the emergency exit and set off the screeching alarm was my breaking point and our que to get out of there. We headed down to the works room and we didn't last long down there and Ryan was asking to leave. We quickly stopped by the bus and the post office for a bit of play before leaving. Thank God we had a membership so I didn't feel like I was stuck there in the sea of name tagged kids with colorful t-shirts! After just an hour and a half we were out of there! We got to the Science museum and the kids were hungry so we headed up to the cafe. Everyone enojyed a slow enjoyable lunch with a couple of bathroom breaks. Everything was great until just before we were going to leave the table. Ryan shoved way too much food in his mouth and started choking, something he has been doing quite a bit lately. To be able to breath he ended up puking all over the carpeted cafe floor. I guess you could say we left our mark!

Next up we hit the musical stairs with the hopes of getting rid of some of the hyper bugs that had invaded our pants however it was obvious the kids were getting tired. We visited the Dino's, the sneezing girl, and the hand with the sores on it (Ryan's favorite exhibit) before hitting the snack counter for an ice cream sandwich... I could have bought 3 boxes for what I paid for 3 sandwiches but it got the kids to sit and relax a bit before we had to stand in line for the movie. At 1:30 we got into the que and thank God we did. Four school groups came in right after us. We were pushed like a herd of cattle but were able to sit third row from the top, center, in a sold out show. Everyone enjoyed the elephants and about three minutes into it Ryan claimed "this is awesome!" Then when the stampede took place he couldn't hold me tight enough or get out the words "this is scary" out fast enough. Just as the movie ended and went silent Emmalee felt the need to announce to everyone "we go to hockey now"? Well, hockey didn't happen because as soon as we got home she fell asleep and grandma called and asked the boys if they wanted to have a sleepover. It should be the easiest sleepover grandma has ever had, the boys were exhausted!

My house is a mess, I need to get stuff listed for Munckin Market but for today I accomplished the one thing that trumps everything else. I spent time with my family and made memories that will last for ever.

I got bugs! ...ladybugs!

Saturday when I got home from work Ryan informed me that "lady bugs were making a nest in his ears and it hurt really bad" of course priority peds closed 20 minutes early which meant Children's hospital  here we come. I felt blessed to see there was only one child waiting in the waiting room and Batman was on the TV. Score! Ryan didn't care about the blood pressure machine, or taking 5 syringes of meds as long as he could see Batman. When we got into our room about 10 minutes later it was like a mom's heaven. Nice dim lighting, clean and sterile with an over stuffed relining rocking chair. When the nurse said I will be right back with a movie for you to watch while you wait I thought I had died and gone to heaven and suddenly I didn't care how long I had to stay. All though when 45mins hit Ryan and I where ready to leave and find dinner and our beds. It was about 9pm by the time we got out and I knew I had to fill his prescription. At this point I didn't care who filled it or what the cost was. I knew CVS was open 24/7 and I could get him the Hersey bar I promised him.  So CVS filled all of our needs and I didn't have time to look for coupons or deals.

Now me on the other hand... over night last night I got an ear infection. I went to the doctor and he sent the prescriptions to Rainbow Foods (6 prescriptions gives you a gift card) but they didn't have the 4.00 prescriptions so I asked the lady to transfer it to target who not only had 4.00 meds but I remembered reading this week they had a coupon for a 10.00 gift card with a new prescription fill. Of course when I got there they didn't have any coupons left so I went up to customer service where the nice lady found me a coupon from the ad n her drawer. So I left with 3.09 off brand sudefed, a 4.00 prescription and a 10.00 gift card for target.

So before you fill your meds call around. Target and Wal-Mart both have 4.00 meds and often there are coupons out there for free gift cards. Plus, Rainbow is always running their 6 fills and you get a gift card. 

Now hopefully all of the prescriptions will work and we will all be better very soon.

Quote of the day from Ryan: "There are ladybugs making nests in my ears and lady's don't belong in boys ears because they are girls!!"

And the Grand Total is...

Here is what my Rainbow receipts for today look like:

TRIP NUMBER ONE
2@.99 white bread          1.98    reg price 3.50  
savings 1.52                              total 1.89
1 dt pepsi lime                  2.98    reg price 4.69    
savings 1.71                              total 2.98
1 dt mtn dew                    2.98    reg price 4.69   
savings 1.71                              total 2.98
1 cherry pepsi                   2.98   reg price  4.69   
savings 1.71                              total 2.98
3@2.50 fiber one              7.50   reg price 10.47  
savings 2.97    coupons 2.00     total  8.47
2@.99 can pears              1.89    reg price 3.78     
savings 1.80                              total 1.89
3@.99 pudding                 2.97   reg price 4.47     
savings 1.50                              total 1.89
2@.89 peaches                1.78    reg price 1.78                                                    
   total 1.78
4@.89 pringles                 3.56  reg price 6.76      
savings 3.20  coupon 1.00           total 2.20
4@.99 ravioli                    3.96   reg price 5.56     
savings1.60                                total 3.96
2@2.89 pace                    5.78   reg orice 5.78                     
      coupon 1.00          total 4.78
2@1.89 taco sauce           3.78   reg price 3.78                        
   coupon 1.00         total2.78
2@2.00 frz corn                4.00   reg price 4.00                         
  coupon 1.20         total 1.60
1@2.00 frz broc chz          2.00   reg price 2.00                        
   coupon 1.20         total .80
3@.99 lunchable                2.97   reg price 6.87   
  savings 3.90                               total 2.97
1shrp chdr                         .99     reg price 2.89    
  savings 1.90                               total .99
1 string cheese                    3.00   reg price 4.39     
savings 1.39     coupon .80        total 2.20
         TOTALS              55.10                 74.63            
     24.91           8.20                 46.96

TRIP NUMBER TWO
2@2.99 qkr bar              5.98  reg price 5.98                          
        coupon 2.00     total 3.98
1 Gatorade                      1.59  reg price 1.59                            
      coupon 1.00     total .59
2@2.45  progresso          2.45  reg price 2.45                              
    coupon 1.00     total 1.45
trky breast                       0.00  reg price 7.99   
  savings 7.99                                    total 0.00
lil sizzlers                         0.00   reg price 1.49   
  savings 1.49                                   total  0.00
pepperoni                        3.79   reg price 3.79                                 
  coupon 1.10    total   2.69
deli slect trky                   3.99   reg  price 3.99                                 
  coupon .70      total 3.29
cooks ham                      20.21  reg price 20.21                                                       
  total 20.21
eggs                                0.00    reg price 1.58      
savings 1.58                                 total 0.00
      TOTALS                 35.66            49.07               
11.06                     5.80                32.21

TRIP NUMBER THREE
Veggie Tale fruit                1.50     reg price 2.09     
savings .59                                  total 1.50
Choc Cheer'o                    3.69    reg price 3.69                                
  coupon 1.00    total 2.69
cin chex                             2.29     reg price 2.99     
savings .70           coupon 1.00    total 1.29
 choc chex                         2.29      reg price 2.99     
savings .70           coupon 1.00    total 1.29
hny nut cheer'o                  2.29      reg price 2.99     
savings .70           coupon .31     total 1.98
chwy bars                         3.49       reg price 3.49                               
   coupon 1.10  total 2.39
rld gold pretzel                 2.50        reg price 2.99     
savings .49           coupon 1.10   total 1.40
fudge shop                       2.49        reg price 3.49     
savings 1.00        coupon .51     total 1.98
3@ 2.59progresso           7.77        reg price 7.77                               
  coupon 1.50   total 6.27
fisher nuts                         4.55        reg price 4.55                               
  coupon 2.00   total 2.55
frz chix breast                   8.99        reg price  8.99                              
   coupon 4.22  total 4.77
bacon                               5.79       reg price 5.79                                  
coupon 3.30   total 2.49
ribs                                  4.99        reg price 5.99      
  savings 1.00       coupon 2.00   total 2.99
TOTALS                    52.63              57.81                    
    5.18                 19.04            33.59


TRIP NUMBER FOUR
2@4.19  fiber 1 cer       8.38          reg price 8.38                                                  
     total 8.34
coco puffs                     2.99         reg price  2,99                                
   coupon 1.25  total 1.74
cheero's                        3.69         reg price 3.69                                  
  coupon 1.31   total 2.38
2@2.89 chwy bar        5.78         reg price 5.78                                  
coupon 1.25   total 4.53
club crks                      2.49         reg price 3.99          
savings 1.50        coupon 2.00   total .49
cookies                        2.49         reg price3.49             
savings 1.00       coupon .51     total 1.98
chili                              2.39        reg price 2.39                                      
coupon  1.00  total 1.39
prez snacks                  3.69        reg price 3.69                                     
coupon 2.00    total 1.69
2@2.29 ice cream       4.58        reg price 6.78       
     savings 2.20     coupon 3.21     total 1.38
cool whip                   1.99          reg price1.99                                                            
   total 1.99
truffles                        3.99         reg price 3.99                                   
    coupon2.00      total 1.99
frz chix breast            8.99          reg price 8.99                                      
  coupon 4.22    total 4.77
bacon                         5.79        reg price 5.79                                       
  coupon 3.30   total 2.49
2@3.00 hot dog         6.00        reg price 9.18            
   savings 3.18                              total 6.00
sure deo                   1.99          reg price 2.49              
  savings .50         coupon 2.00   total -.01
bananas                   1.04          reg price 1.04                                                              
   total 1.04
salad 2@1.69          3.38         reg price 3.38                                                                
  total 3.38
2@ 3.89 OJ            7.78         reg price 8.58               
  savings .80        coupon 2.00      total 5.78
2@2.50 go-gurt      5.00         reg price5.98                 
  savings .98         coupon 2.00     total 3.00

TOTALS                82.52          91.49                          
10.16                    28.05              54.34


                             225.91        273.00                           
51.31                    61.09              167.10


      GRAND SAVINGS OF $105.90
plus I have .70 off per gal of gas because of the fuel perks program AND on the back of the slip there are coupons for .05 off per gallon of gas.


A few notes on this project:
1. I rarely read my food slips closely but there are 2 costly mistakes I found. One was I had grapes that were .99 a pound ring up at 2.29 a pound. (going back to complain) The Fiber One cereal didn't scan for a 1.00 off a box which made it UBER expensive.
2. As you can see the kids went shopping on this trip and added in a few "bonus items" which made the savings a bit less
3. You may be asking yourself what is she going to make with all that random stuff? Well really thins was a fill the cupboards trip with a few meals. I will have to buy things along the way to be able to use everything I bought in meals....aka there was no meal planning involved.
4. I have spent way to much time on coupon's today... it is now 2am!
5. A huge Thank You to my husband Keith who took the kids and my crazy lists and did his best at fulfilling my crazy envelopes while I worked.


Keith's tip: go early to get the best selection on sale items on coupon days.


Final thought... well at least we won't smell because they paid us .01 to take deodorant off their hands!

Food savings

To get back to my original plan of talking about how we save money on everyday purchases... tomorrow is a great day to buy your groceries at Rainbow. Wednesday's are double coupon days! Here are the basic rules for rainbow double days:
1. The coupon must be worth $1.00 or less (doubled $2.00 or less)
2. The first 5 coupons you give the cashier will be the doubled ones
3. Store coupons and manufacturer coupons can both be doubled
4. If the coupon says "do not double" it will not double
5. If you print them from the internet they must be in black and white and have a bar code. (the whole coupon has to be there)
6. The shelf price of the total items must be $25.00 or more
 7. Buy one get one or try this free coupons are not able to be doubled. 

So here is my strategy:
1. I go threw my coupons and see if any of them expire this week.
2. I go threw the rainbow ad and see if there as any on sale products I can match up with coupons for free or nearly free items.
3. Next I make envelopes. I pick 5 coupons to be doubled for that envelope and I write them on the outside of the envelope and then I list a few other things some I have small coupons for or things that might be on sale but the goal is to make the RETAIL / SHELF price equal $25.00. I make 5-10 envelopes worth of shopping lists.
4. When I go shopping I go in and out as many times as I have envelopes.
5. Lastly don't forget to search the internet for coupons on any items you many need for the week.

Right now Rainbow is also running double coupons on Saturday and this week they are doubling 10 coupons on Wednesday.

The first couple of times it takes some time to get into the swing of things but once you get it you will be amazed at how much you can save on your food budget by using double coupons at Rainbow.

My other money saver is shopping at Aldi's. Aldi's is especially great for produce but it is a very different shopping experience. The very first thing is you need a quarter (not .25 cents) to get a cart. But don't worry you will get it back. You also have to buy your shopping bags so I suggest bringing your own. You might not know the brand names at Aldi because they are all Canadian brands or privately labeled to keep the cost down. I highly suggest trying many of their foods and taking advantage of the ready to eat cheap produce. 

Share your coupon, Aldi or food saving success story!

Happy shopping... and cheap eating!

ETA: rainbow has changed the rule about your total of your bill. Now that they are doing 10 double coupons your total AFTER coupons has to be $25.00. So if you get down checking out and you haven't hit your $25.00 grab a gift card and add it to you order then use it on your next envelope/ order.

Welcome to the "system"

Saturday Keith and I received a letter that has summoned us to court next Tuesday. Why you ask? Because Ryan is a truant student. We got this letter stating we could be fined or have jail time blah blah blah and I figured no big deal this has to be a mistake. I will call school on Monday. I called yesterday and the truant officer doesn't have voice mail so I left a paper message but didn't get a call back so I emailed Ryan's teacher asking where this lady's office was because today I was going to show up at her door and get an explanation. Well the threat to show up worked I got a call first thing this morning. Except I didn't get the explanation I was looking for. You see every time Ryan has missed school I have emailed his teacher, just like I had been told to do. Well really you have to call the "absent hot line" everyday the child misses school and the child must have a handwritten note restating the reason for absent on the first day back or it is not an excused absent.

What happens now? Well we first go to court. Hopefully I have a copy of every email I ever sent to his teacher. Then hopefully there will be no fines or jail time but most of the time a social worker from the child protective agency will be assigned to your child and will make a few home visits before we are release from the "system"

I don't know if I should scream or cry! and if I should scream who should it be at? 

Munchkin Market is coming

The Munchkin Market is another piece of 20/20 and it is fast approaching. The Munchkin Market is a kids consignment sale that happens for three weekend's every spring and fall. This a great place to sell all your kids old stuff and get new-to-you stuff. if you need baby / kid equipment the prices and quality can't be beat!  New mom's and those that consign get in early on Friday night to shop before the public. Visit the website for more information

This year the spring dates are:
April 17 & 18 at the MN State Fair
April 24 & 25 at the Anoka County Fairgrounds
May 1 & 2 at the Washington County Fairgrounds

You can find more information here: munchkinmarkets.com

note to self: don't put the tubs of kids clothes in the shed that is snow and iced over.