We LOVE free!!

So, today when I opened the mailbox, a nice size box was in there (I just LOVE going to the mailbox these days, theres almost always something out there!!!) filled with some AWESOME products compliments of John Frieda! They have a new Root Awakenings line of haircare out and sent me 2 full size bottles for my use along with samples and coupons to give away to friends! I tried the products which are designed to stimulate the scalp and roots of your hair, and I really love them! My hair is damaged from coloring at home for 17+ years, and this product really made it feel softer and it smells GREAT! I'm really excited about this stuff and am hoping a deal comes along at one of the local stores :)

Suuu Weet! awesome shopping day!

Hey all! (well, all you 2 or 3 who read my blog LOL!) just an update about my awesome shopping day today. I was excited to have a great trip to Walgreen's and Target (especially after the trouble I had at CVS yesterday-I was really disappointed with their advertising

Here is a pic of what I got at Walgreens:

I was really happy with these deals especially that scrubbing bubbles shower cleaner-I have been wanting to get one for a while but I AINT paying 25 bucks for the thang! LOL! So luckily I ran across a post about it last night: on sale at Wags for 13.99 plus a 3.00 RR-and go to the scrubbing bubbles site to print out a 7.00 coupon!!! so it was like I got it for 3.99 (actually it was basically free because I paid with RR's yay!)

The soleil razors were on sale for 1.59-I had two 2.00 q's and used RR's to pay most of the balance. The quattro was on sale for 8.99 with a 3.00RR and I had a 4.00 coupon, again paid mostly with RR's from a couple of weeks ago.

The got2b products are 2/10 and you get a 5.00 RR, I had two 2.00 coupons, and the nivea soap was 4.99 with a 5.00 RR, I had a dollar coupon.

All in all I spent under 7.00 out of pocket, left with a bunch of RR's and got all this!! wahoo!

The target trip was fun too, I was really hoping to find some shorts for Callie (8yr old) but all they had were shorty shorts-what makes them think everyone wants their child to wear those? why cant they make them a decent length without having to buy a bermuda length??? ugh! anyway, I wound up buying a clearanced outfit for Samantha instead. here's what I got:

those glade candles are 5.79, and if you buy 2 you get a 5.00 target card. I had 2 of the 4.00 off coupons that reset a while back, so I did that transaction first and paid like 4.00 out of pocket. I then used the 5.00 card to pay for the rest - the vitamin waters were a buck each and I had 1.00 off coupons, the outfit was 5.80 total so I wound up spending like a little over 2.00 out of pocket. the cashier refused the axe coupons because they were for 1.00 and the product was only .97 but I went by customer service on the way out and they entered the coupons at .97 so I paid .47 out of pocket for the 6 of them! so all in all, under 7.00 got me all this! yippee! great shopping day for me!

the best part was, while we were in Madison, we got to meet my husband for a picnic

CVS'ing - getting the hang of this!!!!!

I couldn't resist adding a comment about my CVS trip today:

I got a coupon for 10.00 off a 50.00 purchase, which at CVS isnt a lot of money but more than I would usually consider spending...but I ran across a post about the Aveeno deal this week (spend 25 get a 10 ECB) and realized that would get me at least halfway to the 50.00 so decided to see what I could come up with...I wound up getting

2 Aveeno Sunblocks for 18.00(one had a free lip care attached!)

1 Aveeno Moisturizer for 15.00

2 Revlon lipsticks for 7.99

2 johnsons buddies soaps for 2.38

1 Edge shaving gel for 2.88

1 Crest toothpaste for 2.88

I used the 10.00 off 50.00 coupon

a - 10.00 off three aveeno products from the aveeno website

2 - 1.00 off aveeno suncare coupons from the walgreens easy saver booklet

a - 1.00 off crest whitening toothpaste from a flyer I found at publix a while back

2 - 2.00 off revlon coupons from the publix green flyer

1 - 2.00 off revlon coupon from the paper (it must have been expired because I cant find where it was listed - they took it anyway!)

1 - 1.00 off revlon coupon from the paper (it must have been expired because I cant find where it was listed - they took it anyway!)

2 - 1.00 off Johnsons buddies soaps

to make a long story short, I spent 14.50 out of pocket(after coupons and 5.99 in ECB-total saved was 56.61) and received 14.88 in ECB!!!!!!!!!!!! all those products PLUS a .38 profit! woohooo!!

Publix Trip 2/14

I had a good trip to Publix today. Samantha was fairly good (thanks in large part to the samples they give out!) so I was able to get in and out quickly-well I would have EXCEPT-I forgot my debit card at home so after getting all the way through shopping and checkout I realized I couldnt pay :(:(:(!!! What a nightmare! Luckily for me, at Publix the cashiers are able to save your transaction in case of emergencies! Even more luckily, my father in law was nearby so he was able to come bail me out instead of me having to go all the way back home! Here's what I got today:

Total Before savings: 113.73

Total out of pocket: 49.21

Total savings of: 64.52

I had a really great Rite Aid Coupon for 10.00 of a 30.00 purchase which of course they honored-they are just so eager to please at Publix. It is a pleasure shopping there!

Basket Full of Kisses Giveaway

Wow, can you believe it was ME who won the coffee lover's giveaway at http://www.southernplate.com/?? I am sooo thrilled I just can't stand it! Can't wait to get my new coffeemaker and grinder from Hamilton Beach!

go on over to her site today-she is giving away a basket full of lipsticks and lip glosses this time! What an awesome prize right at Valentine's day! I am pretty sure there's no chance I will win but I would LOVE if one of my friends did! While you're there, check out the yummy recipes- Chicken Planks is my latest favorite!

These babies were soooo easy to make and my family scarfed them down-even my hubby who is a bit snobby about his fried chicken :D

Hooked on coupons worked for me!!!

Ok, well I am pretty proud of what I got today at Publix! I still can't match Jessalee's savings, but I don't have the room to keep all that stuff either so I am still just stocking up a little at a time. I do plan next week to start trying to give back by purchasing items to donate to LCCI. I think next week I am going to shop on Wednesday though so I won't have to take Samantha-what a nightmare!! It is just such a hassle to try to shop with a toddler, especially Sami. She is very uncooperative! Anyway, here is the picture of my purchases today:

There was so much stuff I had to get up on the chair and take the picture at a downward angle for it all to show. This is the most I have bought in one trip since starting couponing. You can't see it but Samantha is saying "cheese" behind the milk. She ran and jumped in the chair when I got out the camera! So cute it made up for being a monster at the store :D!! One of these days I will have the energy to post every line item but for now:

Total Before Savings: 116.92

Total out of pocket: 53.95

Total Savings of: 62.97

I have set a goal (suggested by Jessalee-thanks honey!) of saving more than I spend each week! So, I am doing good so far! I have tried to show this to a few of my friends because after a couple of weeks, it gets easier and easier to spot the savings. I never thought I would be doing this but it is really becoming addicting! I could talk/think about it ALL day LOL!! I am especially happy to be shopping at Publix these days, a place I'd once labeled as the "expensive" store. NOT!!

coffe maker giveaway

Hey, all the people who are reading this - wouldnt you like to win a FREE coffee maker AND grinder? head on over to www.southernplate.com for a chance! While you're there, check out the awesome recipes!! A few personal faves: Southern Steak with milk gravy and the Meatloaf!