Back in the (couponing) saddle

I wish I had some fun pictures for this post, but I don't. While I'm still beyond excited about coupon shopping, it's A LOT of work to neatly arrange items that I've purchased in order to get a fun photo. And THEN, I still have to put it all away. Oye....there's just no time. BUT, after taking a break from coupon shopping over the busy holiday season, I'm thrilled to be back in the saddle! I don't know how I ever shopped without it! I admit, I'm a total dork, but this is how I get my thrill. I love watching how, in just one short month, I'm already running out of room in storage again. I love that I can spend a fraction at the store, get four times as much for my money, and that 90% (or more) of what I buy can go straight downstairs into the storage room. It makes me feel good to have all that stuff in there. Warning: it's a boring list from here on out, so stop reading if you wish! : )

Last night, I went to Albertsons, Smiths and Walgreens. Between the three stores, here is what I purchased:

2 boxes Raisin Bran
8 cans Hormel Chili
3 can Hormel White Chicken Chili
12 cans Ro-Tel
15 cans Hunt's diced tomatoes
2 packs Extra gum
8 Philadelphia Cream Cheese
2 gallons of milk
6 Skippy peanut butter
6 jars of Ragu
14 boxes (3-pack) Pop Secret popcorn
10 Snickers candy bars
8 packs of Skittles
2 Minute Maid orange juice
4 Diet Pepsi 12-packs
6 packs of Stayfree Maxis
2 Pedia Care children's cold relief
12 boxes of Kleenex
1 package of paper plates

Whew....there you go. If I had paid retail for all of these items, I would have spent close to $300. I spent $84 for everything, and saved almost five dollars on gas as well. That's a 70% savings, and I'll take that any day!

As I hand over my stack of coupons at Smiths, the cocky young (male) checker says, "Someone has a lot of time on their hands." Yep....he nailed it. I'm a stay at home mom of three kids who also runs a business from home. Uh huh...just sitting around......looking for ways to fill my time! That's what we do as moms...right? As I watched the total at Smiths go from $114 all the way down to $34, I said, "That was worth every second I spent on it." In the one hour (tops) that I spent gathering coupons for that sale, I basically made $80. Not a bad hourly wage!

I'm hooked again, and it's fun to have an outlet that is doing so much good for the family as well!

Ice Fishing!

Today was a beautiful day, so Darrin decided to take Emma & Nathan ice fishing! What a production to get two kids bundled up and out the door. They had a great time with Dallin and Garrett, and I had a great time on my own with Matthew!

Happy Birthday Naters!

We can't believe it, but our Nathan is......

yep.....FOUR! It was so fun to have Grandma and Grandpa here this year, and since Grandpa's birthday is on December 28th, we had a joint celebration!

He tasted his frosting, but that's all we got out of him....darn it! : )
When anyone asked me what to get Nathan, I thought of one thing immediately....glasses! He has an obsession with glasses lately. We learned that we can buy them right off the display rack at the Wal-Mart vision center....that way the frames are clear. Look at how his face lit up when he opened this pair up!

He also got a fun Toy Story guitar, and a Smart Cycle! We had a great time, and love our little guy so much! It seems like he has grown WAY too fast over the last year......