She's destined for a singing career - don't you agree?

Amelia loves to sing. Sometimes it's actual songs, sometimes just random syllables to the tune of Old McDonald or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. For a while she had to sing "Happy Birthday" to all of our close family members and friends, one at a time, until she'd sung to everyone.

Here's a recent video of her singing in the car on the way home from Chicago. I know the video is crappy, I was squeezed in the backseat next to her trying to get far enough away so I could get all of her face in, while trying not to crack up.

Also, I have no idea why she sings "Rockabye Baby" in such a high-pitched voice - I promise I don't sing it to her like that!

CVS January deals

Each month, CVS offers monthly ECB deals in addition to the weekly ones in the weekly ad. The monthly deals can be found in an 8x8(ish) booklet that sits next to the weekly circulars in the front of the store. There are usually one or two free after ECB deals as well. This month, there are three, and two of them have coupons that can be matched, making them moneymakers:

Children's Throat Coolers Ice Pops, $4.99 (limit 2)
Get 2 and use B1G1 free coupon from 12/7 SS, or print one here.
You'll get $9.98 back in ECB.

NeilMed NasoGel spray, $7.99 (limit 2)
Use $2/1 printable coupon found here.
You'll get 7.99 back for each one you buy. There's also a mail-in rebate (MIR) on the last page of the booklet in the box, for $3 off one or $6 off two.

Nutratrim weight management chewing gum, $3.99 (limit 2)
No coupon matches for this one.

This week, Soy Joy 6-packs are also free after ECBs, limit 2.

Here's my scenarios from tonight - they incorporate a $5/25 CVS coupon that I received in an email, for registering my CVS card on their website.

Scenario #1:
Soy Joy 6-packs 2x6.00 = 12.00
NasoGel 2x7.99= 15.98
Total before q's = 27.98

Q's:
NasoGel 2x2.00 = 4.00
CVS 5/25 = 5.00
Total q's = 9.00

Total after q's = 18.98
I paid with 18.00 in ECB, leaving .98 plus tax to pay OOP, which I put on a gift card that I got for filling a new prescription. I got back a 15.98 ECB and a 12.00 ECB, making this a $9.00 moneymaker.

Scenario #2:
Sambucol 1x12.99 = 12.99
Throat Coolers 2x4.99 = 9.98
Maybelline NY lip gloss (clearanced) 1x3.99 = 3.99
Total before q's = 26.96

Q's:
Throat Coolers B1G1 = 4.99
Maybelline ($4/1 from an old insert, don't know which one) = 3.99 (adjusted down to not exceed price of item)
CVS 5/25 = 5.00
Total q's = 13.98

Total after q's was 12.98. I paid with the $12 ECB from my first purchase, and got back a $10 ECB (Sambucol) and a 9.98 ECB (throat coolers). I came out 17.96 ahead in ECBs - definitely a good trip!

Keep an eye out tomorrow for a list of this week's CVS sales. Also, tomorrow is a GREAT day to buy the Sunday paper - there are FIVE coupon inserts and some great coupons in them! Remember, if you're local, DON'T buy the Rockford Register Star, buy the Tribune instead!

My Brand of Crazy

Today I didn't leave the house once, and it was so nice. I rearranged some things in the living room so Amelia's Christmas gifts will fit better, played "craft" with her and some other games, and baked - french bread and dog treats, among other things. I was cracking an egg to use for the top of the french bread when I noticed myself cringing. I realized it has become second nature to me to do that in recent years. Every time I crack an egg, I do a mental cringe and hold my breath.

No, I do not feel guilty that that egg could have been a chick, nor do I take an indignant stance to the hormones given to chickens. (I'm all for animal rights and organic food, but realistically I just do NOT have time for that in my day right now.) The reason I cringe when I crack an egg is because I fear that this will be the time.....

that someone put the wrong egg in the ones to go to the market, and inside MY egg, which should contain a relatively benign egg white and yolk, is a dead chick.

UGH. That was really hard to type. I am traumatized by the mere act of writing it. I don't know why I fear this, but there is a part of me that is certain that one day, the wrong egg is going to be in my carton and I will absolutely freak out when that happens. I have no idea where this comes from, I have never heard of that happening to anyone (and if you have, please don't tell me!). I sort of think it was borne during my biology class in college, much the same as my trepidation that someday, I may somehow ingest a tapeworm and later, after many years of unexplained weight loss, find it in my underwear when I go to the bathroom (yeah, thanks a LOT for that one, Dr. Rogers. Really.).

Anyhow, I got to thinking about other irrational fears I have, as later on in the day I prepared a turkey for roasting. Mark had to leave the room as I unwrapped the bird (he just can't handle meat on the bone, lol). It's not my favorite thing to make either, but when I found a 20-pound turkey at Hilander on Friday for $10, the bargain hunter in me couldn't pass it up.

I unwrapped the old girl (guy? IDK.) and set it in the sink. I turned it on end and peered into the cavity, noting the neck and giblets inside. Why do they have to put the neck in? There's really not enough meat to make it worthwhile, and it just makes it too realistic for my liking. I did manage to refrain from dry heaving as I used tongs to remove the neck and pouch of giblets - no way was I touching those with my fingers (see? another irrational fear. I don't know what could happen that would be so horrible if I touched them, but my mind is convinced something would). I threw them in the trash and set the bird on the roasting rack. Ugh. Now it really looked like a turkey. I really much prefer beef or pork, that looks nothing like what it came from by the time you buy it! I don't usually buy whole turkeys or chickens though, as much as I hate to admit DH is right, they do freak me out a bit, especially when you boil them and you pick through and see all the vertabrae.

Anyway, I made it through all of my cooking without coming face to face with any disembodied chickens hidden in egg shells, and without having to touch any turkey livers.

Other irrational fears:

• That the oven will explode if I open it as it's relighting.
• That I am going to accidently put the car in drive when it should be in reverse or vice versa, and run over someone
• That I will go out to the kitchen one night and some Freddy Krueger type will be standing at the back door.
• That something will happen if I reach into a sink full of dishwater to pull the plug (not sure what, mostly just that it's gross, I think). I use my tongs for this as well.
• That if I eat a cough drop at bedtime, I will fall asleep with it in my mouth and choke on it before it dissolves.
  

So do you have irrational fears like that? Reinforced by nothing, can't pinpoint where they came from but nevertheless are here to stay? Please tell me I'm not the only one!

P.S. Not sure it was such a great idea to post this as night....am wondering what kind of dreams I'm going to have now, lol!

Go read my other blog!

I just put a post up on Amelia's caringbridge page that everyone needs to read! Go check it out!

The "Cheese" face

We haz it.

Hilander Mega Saver is back!

Last spring I wound up with 24 free bottles of Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner during the Mega Saver sale, so I was excited to see that it was back again this week. I was counting on it coming - Ohio Kroger stores (Hilander is owned by Kroger) had the deal last week, and Kroger deals tend to travel around the country, so I was already making plans.

This sale has a lot of baking items included, so I'm focusing on stocking up for my holiday cookie and candy making. Customers of the Ohio stores had reported Carnation evaporated milk and Nestle chocolate chips on sale, both of which I'll use a significant amount of, so I went ahead and ordered coupons for those items, as well as some Bic razors which will be free after coupons. It does sound counterintuitive, but I spent about $10 on coupons that will save me $80. I usually order my coupons from The Coupon Clippers, but have also used the Coupon Master in the past. TCC is my favorite - super fast shipping, though coupons for hot items do go quickly so you've got to be on the ball. This time I also ordered from ebay - I'll let you know how that goes! (Side note: I am not actually buying the coupons - those are illegal to sell. I'm paying for the time it takes to collect and clip them. That's the official word ;))

First, a few Hilander tips:

• Sales in this area run from Thursday-Wednesday - the sale flier arrives in my mailbox on Wednesday, and also goes out in the paper if you get the fabulous usually less than worthwhile couponwise Rockford Register Star (and don't even get me started on their "journalism"). If you don't get either you can view the ad online at http://www.pay-less.com/.
• You need to sign up for the Kroger Plus card - another one of those goodies to put on your keyring. Scan it every time you shop even if you're not buying anything on the card - you can rack up points toward 0.10 off a gallon of gas if you buy it at the Hilander next to the mall. Sometimes you may also receive coupons in the mail, depending on how much you spend that quarter.
• There are also websites to link e-coupons to your Plus card - Shortcuts and P&G E-saver. When you buy an item for which you've loaded a coupon onto your card, it comes off automatically at the register.
• Hilander doubles coupons up to $0.55 everyday. Given the choice between a $0.50/1 coupon or a $0.75/1 coupon, I'd choose the lesser because it will actually give me $1.00 back.

So this is how the Mega Saver sale works: If you buy any ten items included in the sale you get $5.00 taken off your transaction immediately at the register. These items are sale priced from $1.00 to $3.00 - basically you get $0.50 taken off each item. Combined with coupons, especially those that double, you'll make out well on certain items. Here's a few of my scenarios for next week:

Johnson & Johnson baby wash 10x3.00 = 30.00

Q's:
Mega Saver bonus = 5.00
J&J coupons $1/1 (from 11/2 SS) 10x1.00 = 10.00

Total after q's = 15.00 (1.50 per bottle!)
-------------------------------------------------------
Nestle chocolate chips 10x2.50 = 25.00

Q's:
Mega saver bonus = 5.00
Nestle coupon $0.50/1 10x(2x0.50) = 10.00

Total after q's = 10.00 (1.00 per bag)
-------------------------------------------------------
Carnation evaporated milk 10x1.00 = 10.00

Q's:
Mega saver bonus = 5.00
Carnation coupon $0.50/2 5x(2x0.50) = 5.00

Total after q's = 0!

These can be mixed and matched as well, meaning I could buy 3 J&J, 5 bags of chocolate chips, and 2 cans of milk and still receive my $5.00 bonus. As long as I have ten items included in the deal I'll get it. One word of warning - be careful if you're using coupons that require you to buy 2 items - make sure you have an even number of those!

Some other great deals:

-Bic Razors 2.50 (use 2.00/1 coupon from 10/12 SS to make them free after Mega Saver)
-Quaker Oats 1.50 (use 0.50/1 coupon from 9/7 RP; after it doubles and the Mega Saver these are free too)
-Swiss Miss hot chocolate 1.00 (use 0.50/2 shortcuts coupon, combined with MS it's 0.50 a box)
-Domino sugar 2.50 (use 0.50/1 coupon from 10/12 RP, making it $1.00/5 lb bag after q and MS)
-Scotch lint roller 1.00 (use 1.00/1 coupon from 10/5 RP; after the MS deal this is a money maker!)

So you know where I'll be in all my spare time for the next week or so! I hope it's helpful to you to see how I work out my scenarios - it helped me when I first started couponing to see what others were doing. If you're inspired to try for yourself, leave me a comment and let me know!

Great day at Walgreens!

Walgreens used to be hit or miss as far as deals, and those they did have were sometimes clunky and difficult to understand, but they've been fine-tuning their system and it's become increasingly lucrative. Combining their store coupons with manufacturer coupons and their Register Rewards deals is a great way to get things for very cheap, if not free. Their monthly rebates are also a great way to save money - I get mine on a gift card so that I can use that to pay for OOP expenses and not have to use cash.

The important Walgreens points:

• Instant Value coupons (IVCs) are found in the weekly ad - they're only good for that week.
• EasySaver coupons (ESQs) are from the smaller books found in front of the ad display - these are good monthly.
• Rebates are also listed in the EasySaver book - often there's at least two items that are free after rebate (FAR).
• Register Rewards (RRs) are coupons to use on your next order that are generated when you buy certain items according to each week's ad. They print from the machine next to where the receipt prints. You can only use one per transaction, however.
• You can't have more coupons than items you're buying - sometimes you end up with 2 q's for one item because you're using an ESQ and a manufacturer q, or you use a RR and wind up not having an item to match that q with. So count your q's before you go to the register - if you have 8 q's and 7 items, grab a small filler. I usually buy the individual Crystal Light mix-ins for .59 - certainly not a bargain, but I drink them and since I save so much with q's it's not that big a deal.

I've hit Walgreens four times since Sunday (three of those times were today!). I had a bunch of RRs from a deal a couple weeks ago, so Sunday I went and bought 8 boxes of gallon-size Hefty bags, which are B1G1F with the IVC in this week's ad. After 4 0.55/1 coupons, my total was 10.96 plus tax, and I used a $10 RR. You can do the math from there :)

Today I decided to get serious about burning up some more of those RRs. I did three transactions and came home with the following items (plus the 6-pack of Ensure I got for my mom) for only $2.10 OOP, and that's only because I forgot to use my gift card to pay for the first transaction - it should have been $0 OOP.

Transaction #1:

Hefty bags 4x3.29 = 13.16
Ensure 1x6.99 = 6.99
Total before q's = 20.15

Hefty IVC B1G1 2x3.29 = 6.58
Hefty man q 2x0.55 = 1.10
Ensure 1x3.00 = 3.00 (I also have a mail-in-rebate for the full price, so I'll make 3.00 on this deal!)
RR 1x10.00 = 10.00

Total after q's = 2.10 (includes tax)

Transaction #2 (done twice):

Almay makeup is B1G1F, so there is no price for the second Almay product. I bought the Almay one coat mascara, which is FAR this month so I'll get back 6.49 twice for that.

Celestial seasonings tea 2x1.50 = 3.00
Schick Quattro disposables 2X5.99 = 11.98
Almay eye makeup 1x7.99 = 7.99
Almay mascara B1G1F
Filler 1x0.59 = 0.59
Total before q's = 23.56

Celestial seasonings ESQ ($2/2) 1x2.00 = 2.00
Celestial seasonings man q 2x1.00= 2.00
Schick ESQ 2x3.00 = 6.00
Schick B1G1F man q 1x5.99 = 5.99
Almay 1x2.00 = 2.00
RR 1x5.00 = 5.00

Total after q's = $2.72 with tax, put on a gift card. Notice that the tea and razors were free after q's!

Coming tomorrow - Hilander Mega Saver preview!