Welcome to my world....

It is the E-N-D...at least for now.

2009-09-14T09:42:00.002-04:00

So, this will be the very last post here. :( I want to keep this blog open-since I love being able to go back and look at how far I have come with my health, how much my babies have grown and to remember all the fun that we have had. Right now I just do not see any "use" for this blog. As I am no longer sharing money saving tips and I have restricted my family's updates to FB. Maybe someday I will pop up in another "blog world"...but for now, this is what is best.

Once again....

2009-09-03T11:54:00.002-04:00

I have to apologize.....I haven't been very good at updating this blog anymore!! I think it will get better once I am fully recovered and will not be updating my private blog as much. Also, with facebook, I feel like I keep everyone up to date on my day to day life....so I feel like I am just "doubling" what I write and pics that I post!! Anyhoo, if you follow this blog (for reasons other than saving money....which I have not been posting about lately anyway!) and you would like to follow me along on FB, just send me a request...along with a note that states you came over from my blog! My facebook name is Sherri Walker-McCann....if that helps!

2009-08-26T09:45:00.002-04:00

Today I am going to my 2 week post op appt. I still have one drain in..(Brett had to remove the other one....per docs orders...when it was causing me some pain). I REALLY hope they will take it out today!! I am pretty sure they will. I can hardly wait to try on my clothes! Although...right now, even though I have lost 8 lbs since surgery, my pre op clothes (that I have tried on) are too tight!!! Normal...since there is swelling (and a binder).....but aggravating! Still...I am ready to get out of maternity and stretchy clothes!

Still here!

2009-08-17T13:18:00.003-04:00

This pic was taken just a few hours after surgery....what a MIRACLE God has preformed in my life!!

Like I said before, I have not been diligent in updating this blog lately...mostly because I am updating my private blog on the ONLY thing going on in my life right now...recovery!! Anyhoo, I go back to the PS on Wednesday and I was hoping that I could get both drains removed....but I have to get down to 25 cc's or less of drainage each day and yesterday I was at 60 cc's....so I am not optimistic that I will be getting them out so soon. I would rather leave them in until they are ready to come out than deal with the complications of taking them out too soon. I am just sooo ready to get into REAL clothes...instead of stretchy pants or PJs! Patience....it IS a virtue!

2009-08-15T09:39:00.001-04:00

Still doing great! Had my 4 day post op appt yesterday...the doc said everything looks perfect! Yeah God! :-)

checking in

2009-08-13T16:20:00.004-04:00

Sorry I have been MIA! I feel like I am juggling too many websites! I have this one, a personal one (by invitation only because of the graphic pics) and FB. Anyhoo...my surgery went AWESOME!! I am SOOO excited! First of all...for the VERY FIRST time I did not get sick from the anesthesia. Thanks to an online friend who suggested a new medication (used for chemo pts) and thanks to my surgeon who actually LISTENED to me and got the med for me and thanks to GOD...for His mercy!! Anyhoo..I was expecting the worst kind of pain ever and I can honestly say I am not in ANY pain....I am just "sore". I did not even need to take a Tylenol while at the hospital! I took a PM one last night...to help me sleep. I spent one night in the hospital and I was "itching" to get out by the time I was discharged! I still get sleepy, leftover anesthesia ....I am guessing. I am walking bent over per doc orders..but even that is not as bad as I prepared myself for. My biggest challenge now is just to follow doc orders. She was worried that I would try to do too much since I am feeling so good.....but I have seen pics of incisions where people did too much and I do NOT want to go through that (I have several hundred stitches....3 layers for each stitch!)!! SO.....I am taking a mini (6 week) "vacation". Reading books, having friends visit..(and bring me food!), watching TV.....taking it easy. Thanks for all the prayers!! Please continue to pray..I am believing God for a flawless recovery!! He has brought me this far and I know that He will not leave me now! I feel so loved....I feel like God heard my cry and He answered my prayers...exceedingly-abundantly ABOVE all I could ask for or think! Truly...He has!

3 days and counting!

2009-08-06T21:22:00.006-04:00

Y'all....I can not EVEN begin to explain how excited I am about my upcoming surgeries!! I am SOOO ready to be through with them....and recovered! I feel like I am getting a "new lease" on life, like I finally get to be comfortable within my own skin! There are so many people who do not understand...or "approve" of my decision-but I have learned that I need to do what is best for ME, for a change! I am SO grateful to God for giving me peace concerning these surgeries and for the godly counsel He has placed in my life! At first I was tormented with guilt and worry....but God worked EVERY detail out in my favor!! He has provided a way for the surgery to be paid for, He provided insurance company approval, provided help for my kids (THANKS Lynn and Phil!), a way for Brett to take the week off to help me, .......every detail is in place.

A wise, godly woman told me, when I was struggling with my decision, that sometimes God leaves things up to US, they are not always black and white, He always CARES....but some things he chooses to leave in our hands. She told me that the money that I am INVESTING in myself was really trivial in the grand scheme of things....she reminded me how much people spend on boats, cars and vacations. I am so grateful that God placed her in my life...I am truly blessed! When I looked at the situation with that in mind, I was so relived and I felt peace about spending the money. Oddly enough...the people who disapprove of me spending the money actually waste a lot of money themselves! It is nothing for some people to drop a few hundred dollars on this or that....stuff that has no real PURPOSE....stuff that will not change ANYTHING! I am spending money on something that will change my LIFE! It will not be a memorable vacation that lasts 1 week, or a new car that will be old in a few years, it will not be new clothes that will not fit me in a month or that will be moved to the back of the closet when styles change,............it is a gift that I am giving myself for the rest of my life!! Now...if there EVER was a fail proof investment, I'd say that would be it! I have just decided that I REFUSE to feel guilty about it. I have worked SO hard to lose my weight....and keep it off. I gave myself that gift...no one thought THAT was vain or unnecessary....I just do not understand why this is any different.

One thing that I DO understand is me having this surgery may make some people uncomfortable because they are not happy with themselves. Listen.....I have been overweight.....OBESE even, and I know how badly it made me feel to hear some skinny "Barbie" talk about how she "needed" to lose 5 lbs...or whatever. I have NOT forgotten the feelings of shame that comes with being obese...BELIEVE me, I haven't! I can STILL feel the pain (11 years later!). However, I feel that someone judging me for being thin and still wanting to improve myself, is NO different than someone judging a person who is overweight. I do not judge people based on their weight, I do not look down on anyone because of their weight (there is NO way that I could, having overcome obesity myself!)..I am just asking for the same respect.

Ok...I really have NO idea how I even got off on all of that....I think it may that I am procrastinating on folding that load of laundry! :-) Anyhoo, I had decided that to avoid being judged I would just keep everything to myself.....but "word got out" ....as it often does, so I am facing it head on. The way I look at it is if you can't accept my decision and just be HAPPY for me....then you probably aren't the kind of friend I want to have anyway. I am VERY grateful for my "Sistas"...who have stood behind me, encouraged me and who are "armed" with disposable foil tins...with supper for my family in them! THOSE are the people I want to share my life with.....they Know EVERY detail, and they are still willing to help me in any way that they can....setting aside their own "issues" with their bodies (and WHO doesn't have issues!) and are celebrating WITH me! WOW! It just doesn't get any better than that! And...when THEY are ready for their Tummy tucks (yes! I REALLY believe that one of my friends will be needing one one day soon! I have that much faith in her! She lost more than 4 lbs this week!) , facelifts (NO! I am NOT getting a facelift), breast lifts......or whatever...I will be there for them too!

So, even if you disagree with my choice, PLEASE pray that all will go well on Monday! I will be spending one night at the hospital. When I am home and feeling up to it I will update my blog.

Good morning!

2009-08-06T09:19:00.003-04:00

Today is the first day all week that I do not have several appts! I enjoyed sleeping in until 8:30! I have missed my workout this week, with all the appts I have not worked out once all week! I could have gotten up at 6 am-to fit the gym in, but I decided that it was best for me to rest as much as possible this week. Anyhoo, today I am taking the kids swimming and catching up with some friends who are more like family....they have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember! I am really looking forward to seeing them and catching up!

Heart test results

2009-08-04T13:09:00.003-04:00

Today I went in for my heart test results and they came back showing that my heart is throwing extra beats. It is nothing serious, mostly annoying. They want me to go on a beta blocker medication but I am going to wait to try the medication until I am 100% recovered from my upcoming surgery (the cat got let out of the bag on FB...so why try to hide it now?). Anyhoo, a few people have asked, so for all you who are NOT on my FB, I wanted to share the results. Hope everyone is doing well!

Just wondering out loud.....

2009-08-04T13:06:00.003-04:00

Sometimes I wonder......if a certain person hates me soooo much......why does she continue to read my blog? Hmmm? Wonder if she's ever heard of a IP address tracker? Really..it is alright with me. I still love her....and she must love me too....somewhere deep inside or else she wouldn't be reading my blog at all.....am I right?

Crazy day!

2009-08-03T20:12:00.005-04:00

Today has been one CRAZY day! Maddie woke up with her eye swollen shut. This is the 6th eye infection she has had over the last 2 months! I took her to the doctor at 8:30 am, took Spencer to Tanya's house (to play with Ryan) at 10 am, had to be in Tampa for my neurosurgeon appt by 12:00 pm, picked up Spencer, took Maddie to another doctor (a specialist), then filled her Rx's. Now I am home and ready to rest!
So...here is the news!! My neurosurgeon took new x rays and I am 80% fused (I had back surgery 1 year ago on Aug 5th)!! YEAH!!! I was hopeful that I would be 100% fused but the surgeon was very pleased with 80% so I am happy too! He told me that he thought I should get the screws removed since they are pushing into my muscles. He gave me the option to go ahead and do it now or wait another year until I am completely fused. Since I am not sure I want to get them removed at all, and since I am having another surgery next week, I am going to wait until next august to even consider it. The pain I have from the screws is not even close to the pain I felt before...if the pain before was a "10", the pain now may be a "2" or "3". So I can live with it!
I just wanted to share the news with everyone! I am so grateful to God for causing my bones to fuse properly!! That was one surgery that I NEVER want to have to go through again!

This evening Maddie managed to SHATTER the front of my oven! She was leaning over it, trying to get to the microwave and the door just shattered into thousands of tiny pieces! Anyhoo...sometimes ya just gotta laugh! Only my Maddie!

Loss

2009-07-31T14:51:00.004-04:00

Last night I attended a funeral. The ex wife of one of my cousins died at the age of 41. In my family, once you are family....you are ALWAYS family (TRUST me on this one!! I have to deal with this fact with a few old boyfriends that became "part of the family"......no one can just let it go already!) Anyhoo-No one wants to go to a funeral...but I am glad that I did. The church was packed to overflowing with our family and her friends. I have to be very careful how I word what I am about to say...so bare with me please. As I sat in the church last night, and I looked around.....my heart became broken for the lost souls that were there. I saw the tears that they cried for the loss of their loved one and I became burdened for them. Part of me knew that they were not just crying because of their loss....but also because the realization that they are headed down the very same path that ultimately buried their friend. Unfortunately, I did not get to stay for the entire funeral, but in my heart I was hoping that there would be a call for repentance within the service. I have heard so many people speak as though "she got what she deserved"....and the truth is, I may have felt that way at one time too. But God has softened my heart and I can see that someone who lives with addiction, lives a life pain. They use, whatever it is that they use, to escape the pain. I have been blessed, sheltered really. I have never been in the shoes of an addict, but everyone has experienced pain and hurt. Can't we try to look beyond the addiction and see the pain?

Being at the funeral and seeing all the lost souls gave me a new burden for the lost. A new urgency to do all that I can do to snatch their souls from the grips of Satan and keep them from an eternity of torment in Hell.

If any of my readers would like to contact me, my email address is sha9830@msn.com please do not hesitate to send me an email if you have any questions about where YOU stand with God. None of us are promised tomorrow-but you can have the security of KNOWING where you will spend eternity!

Doc report

2009-07-28T22:39:00.002-04:00

Today I went to the doctor to get the results of the echo cardiogram. The news was GREAT! I was so relieved! She said that I have "mild regurgitation" (where the blood leaks back into the heart, instead of being pushed out all the way), but apparently it is not anything to worry about! I have to go back on Friday to get a "holter heart monitor" and wear it for 24 hours...just to be "safe". That just gives them a more detail report on my heart and the palpitations. Anyhoo...the doc gave me the "all clear" to go ahead with my "plans". I am SOOOO excited and relieved! Thanks for all the prayers!!

2009-07-27T22:17:00.003-04:00

I know that I am the WORST blogger EVER lately!! I am really sorry about that....things are just crazy right now (then again...aren't they always?!).

Anyhoo, one tip: Publix has starkist frozen fish BOGO this week ($5.99 each)-use 2 $3.00 off MQs and they are free!

Tomorrow I am getting my echo cardiogram tests results back. I am a little nervous about that, mostly because I am depending on a good report so I can proceed with some other plans! My heart seems to be doing better today...so I am praying it continues to keep getting better! I have "mitral valve prolapse" (MVP), which is fairly common and not at all threatening......unless.... . My symptoms started getting really bad about 3 or 4 months ago, when I was going through some MAJOR stress. It got a little better as my stress level went down, but it never really recovered all the way to back where it was. Then, the last couple of weeks it got bad again for some reason.....probably a little stress and a LOT of excitement! Anyhoo-I get those results tomorrow and I am gonna let out a sigh of relief when the doc gives me the "all clear"!

Spencer is going to Tanya's house to play with her son , Ryan, in the morning. The Brooke and I are gonna run some errands, have a Mom/daughter lunch, go to the doc and then grocery shopping (if I can fit that in before I have to have Spencer at APD therapy!). Gonna be a busy but fun and exciting day! Maddie is at my "in laws" tonight, she is spending the night there and her grandpa is taking her on a boat ride down the river tomorrow! She is very excited about that...but we miss her here at home!! Her dog, scruffy, was CRYING tonight when I asked him where Maddie was!! It was so sweet...and sad! She loves that dog and he loves her just as much!

I will be sure to post the good news that I plan on hearing from the doc tomorrow!! Hope you are all having an awesome summer!!

Pics from the wedding

2009-07-22T08:35:00.007-04:00

I shot a wedding on a yacht Saturday. The bride was beautiful! The families were very friendly and welcoming! I was treated more like a guest than the "hired help". The bride was incredibly sweet, she kept asking me if I needed anything, she insisted that I sit and eat at the table with her best friend (who was also very friendly!). It was a very good experience!
I did realize that I may not be as ready to go back to work as I thought! Weddings are especially hard on me. Long hours...lots of standing, bending, lifting (that camera weighs a TON!). Anyhoo, I finished editing the pics yesterday. It did not take me nearly as long as it used to...and I took nearly 800 pics!

Today I am driving to Tampa, I have a doc appt at USF/TGH. I really hate driving to Tampa! I SHOULD be able to get there and back with my "eyes closed"...as much as I have driven it, but I always seem to get lost!

I just wanted to share a few pics from the wedding! Hope you are all having a wonderful Wednesday....(is it WEDNESDAY...already!)

2009-07-17T14:54:00.002-04:00

Today has been a hectic day...too much to do....not enough time to do it in.....and too worn out! Anyhoo...tomorrow I am shooting a wedding on a yacht......that should be interesting! I have not done a wedding since my back surgery. Weddings are a LOT of work, but I enjoy being a part of such a special day and giving a couple a way to remember their day forever! Thankfully this wedding will only be about 7 hours of shooting, and I can edit from my Dormia next week! I wish I had an assistant to come along and help carry all the equipment!

I can hardly believe that on August 5th I will be ONE YEAR post op!!! Time flys when you are havin' fun....huh? I go for my post op appt on August 3rd. I am feeling a bit nervous about that. I am PRAYING that I am 100% fused so there is NO reason to re-do the surgery!! Last year the surgeon told me that he may remove the screws when I was one year post op.....but unless he feels that it HAS to be done then I am gonna just leave them all alone!! God knows that I do not want to go through that again!!

There has been a WHOOOOOLE lot going on in my life these past few months. My life has been crazy! I am excited about some of the changes, mourning the loss of some things, but confident that I am doing what is best for me and my family at this time. I have learned so much about myself and who I am deep inside. You know what I realize is that I take the blame (or put blame on myself) when I SHOULD be standing up for myself. I always thought I was the type of person who would not let anyone "push me around"....but in reality I have allowed myself to be pushed around most of my life....without even knowing it! I know that there is a time to be respectful, quiet, and gentle....but I have allowed "stuff" to be turned around on me and taken the blame for things that I had every reason to be mad, upset, hurt over. I am REALLY working hard on getting over the "guilt complex" that have carried around my whole life. It is both liberating and devastating. Not everyone wants to hear what I have to say, and NO one wants to take the blame for ANYthing! So, if I give up the guilt.....that means someone else has to face their own "issues" and take responsibility. That is a hard pill to swallow. Does that make sense? Brett has been a huge help with trying to support me through this "journey", he has encouraged me to "let go" of the guilt and he has validated my feelings about many things. I am also grateful for my Pastor's wife, Sister Susan. She has embraced me, she has listened to me and she has been an awesome "sounding board". She has also made me feel validated in MANY things! One day I hope to get to the point where I just trust myself and let go of the guilt and validate myself!
Anyhoo....I really need to take a shower already! I worked out this morning and it is now 3:30 pm and I have still not had time to shower...yuck! I still have lots to get ready for the wedding tomorrow. If you think of it, say a prayer for me!! I will need God's strength and creativity to get through the day!

2009-07-13T11:43:00.004-04:00

This past week Krystal, my 15 yr old cousin, came and stayed with us. It was really nice to spend time with her and to see the kids getting to know and love her! We played a lot of Wii fit and hung out at home a lot. One thing that we did was visit our grandpa's, grandma's and uncle's graves. Two of the graves are not marked so the kids made a little marker to put at their grave sites.

Yesterday was Brooke's b-day! I can hardly believe that she is 13 years old!! WHERE did the time go?? I am so proud of the young lady that she has become though. She really is a special young woman! Anyhoo..I wanted to check in and share some pics!

Maddie let the girls mark on her face with PERMANENT marker!

two tips

2009-07-07T20:34:00.003-04:00

Here are 2 tips for the week...
Publix has A1 sauce BOGO ($4.00)...use 2- $2.00 off MQs=FREE
Walgreen's has Starbucks ice cream BOGO ($4.79)...use 2-$2.00 off MQs=.79 cents for 2! (thanks Michelle)

checking in!

2009-07-06T19:25:00.004-04:00

Had a great 4th...hope you all did too! Right now my 15 year old cousin-Krystal- is staying with us. We have enjoyed spending time with her.....although, I wonder if we will not scare her away with all the craziness that this house holds! Tonight we had a water fight while doing dishes...that spray thing on the sink, a water gun a few water bottles.........we were all soaked-...everyone but Krystal! I did manage to get her a little bit...but she sat in a chair while we were being crazy and mostly just looked at us like we belonged in the looney bin! Anyhoo....I am getting ready to drop Maddie off at her friend's and pick up a family movie. Just wanted to check in!

BTW-Finn was dedicated at church yesterday. My cousin's husband-Kenny, did the dedication and it was beautiful....like none I have ever seen! Here are some pics!

2009-07-02T08:22:00.003-04:00

Today I am doing one of my least favorite things.....going to the mall with a mission. Don't get me wrong..I LOVE to shop...I just hate shopping knowing I can't actually BUY anything...(but the one thing that we need for one of the kids). I am glad to have my credit cards paid off.....but I am fondly remembering the days when I could pull out the plastic when I found that "perfect" top that was "dirt cheap". Of course...as most people know, it is a much different feeling when the bill comes in the mail so, for that reason, I will be stick to the plan...get in and get out ......and try to do it with my eyes CLOSED! :)

Update: my insurance company called me yesterday to tell me that they are sending my records to an "independent board certified plastic surgeon" to get a 2nd opinion. So.....now they have an additional 2 weeks to give me an answer. As far as my tummy tuck goes.....I am SO frustrated...angry......depressed......................, but I have had to spend the money I had saved on bills! Urrrrrr!(with the exception of a deposit that I may have to return to a client, if she doesn't have her wedding as planned-but even that has a "chunk" missing!). I guess the thing that makes me most angry/frustrated is that paying those bills did not make any difference! It did not even get us caught up all the way! I worked so hard to save every dollar that I saved-and I feel like I have nothing to show for it...of course, except a car to drive, house to live in....for at least one more month.
Anyhoo....I am done pouting now.....but none the less.....unless a "golden brick" falls from "heaven" I do not see how it is possible for me to get the tummy tuck.
A small part of me STILL wants to be the selfish one and do it anyway.....but knowing how bad our financial situation is right now....I doubt I can go through with it. I guess it depends on what the insurance company comes back with.

Here are my thoughts....

2009-06-30T18:40:00.004-04:00

on Brad's newest CD.....
Songs I LOVE:
"Then" (my FAVORITE!) It follows a relationship in its many stages...and explains how he thought that he loved her "then"...but only falls more in love with her through out the years.
"American Saturday night"
"No" Brad's grandpa tells him "Make no mistake....every prayer gets answered, but sometimes the answer is 'no' "
"I hope that's me" (My 2nd Favorite!)
"Anything like me" Refers to when he found out that he was having a little boy......

Songs that are ok:
"Welcome to the future" Talks about the way technology has changed throughout the years.
"Everybody's here"
"Oh yeah, you're gone"

Songs that would be hits (in my book)...but have unnecessary stuff (language, references)
"Water"
"She's her own woman" How "she"can manage on her own...but he can't live without her
"Catch all the fish" a song about spending the day fishing.....and drinking "not gonna leave until they catch all the fish..and drink all the beer"
"The pants" A comical take on men who claim to "wear the pants" in a relationship.

Brad USED to write the simplest of songs...the kind that really make you think or bring you back to a time when life was simple. Unfortunately, the last few CDs have included songs that have references to drinking...or they slip a curse word in here and there.......
On this CD, he really nailed a few songs......definitely "keepers"...but he added a few to "toss out" as well. OH......and what happened to the hymn??? He always includes a hymn on EVERY CD...but on this one..it is no where to be found :( I was disappointed by that...I LOVE southern Gospel music and NO one can sing it (or play it) like HE can!
Anyhoo...that is my take on "American Saturday Night".

It is here!!

2009-06-30T08:10:00.005-04:00

After WEEKS of counting down...Brad Paisley's newest CD "American Saturday Night" was just released this morning!! I woke up this morning, like every morning, to a cup of fresh, hot coffee... brought to me in bed by my amazing man.....but when I finally got BOTH eyes open I saw "it".........sitting there like a brand new bicycle under a childhood Christmas tree!!! Brett got up early and made a trip to Wal Mart to buy me the new CD! I am so excited I feel like I could "burst"! You just gotta know how much I love Brad Paisley ( ......and his song writing, guitar playing.....) to really appreciate my excitement! He is such an amazing artist!! I am gonna get myself out of this bed, put the CD in my computer, then on my ipod...I have a feeling I am gonna have a CD long work out this morning!!

2009-06-29T10:17:00.011-04:00

Today I am cleaning....from top to bottom. Noah is here to play with his "big brother" so I am taking the day to stay at home and get some stuff done! I have dusted, vacuumed, cleaned out behind the fridge........ (FYI-unplug the fridge first if you plan on using water to clean! Esp....when you have a back full of metal!....got just a little jolt in my back :).

Yesterday we went to the beach and we stayed to watch the sunset....that is one of my most favorite things to do! There is just something magical about watching the sun sink into the water to signal the end of another day....... with the promise of a new one to come. It is the most calming, centering experience for me. Anyhoo....sometimes I wish I could move to the beach....not to a house near the beach...but actually ON the beach....just give me a tent, the sand and the waves (and maybe my Dormia!) and I will be set! Brett said " uh....Honey....I don't think they let people live in tents on the beach" to bring me back to reality when I told him my "plan"! Oh well....it was a thought!

I finally got a new cell phone....since my old one got dropped into a cooler of water! I LOVE my new phone...I got a Samsung "Behold"...it is a touch screen, but the thing I love the most is it has a built in 5 mega pixel camera...WITH a flash! My other cameras are a bit bulky....at least too big to carry around everywhere, so this one is nice because it has decent quality (for a cell phone!) and I can carry it everywhere. I took the sunset pics (posted on this blog) with it. I also love that it has a SD card....so I can easily transfer my music files from my computer AND easily transfer my pics from the cell phone to the computer! The downside is that the camera has a delay.....like most non pro digital cameras. I am used to having the ability to shoot 8 frames per second...so that is a bit frustrating.

Well...I need to get back to work...I am almost finished with the housework...except the laundry.

Oh...just so you know...I have been taking a break from reporting on the sales and coupon deals....for good reasons..that I just do not want to share right now. I am still using coupons....just not reporting on them right now.

what a day!

2009-06-24T22:30:00.007-04:00

Last night I went out with my Sistas and I did not get home until 2:00 am! Anyhoo....by the time I got in bed it was close to 4:00 am! I had to be back up at 5:45 to take Maddie and Spencer to meet Francesca Battistelli! She is a Christian music artist and she happens to be Maddie's FAVORITE, so when I heard she was going to be at a local diner (with the Joy fm) I knew that I could not let Madeline down! We got there at 6:00 am....but SHE did not get there until 7:30 am (the Joy fm began broadcasting from there at 6...so I assumed she'd be there then!)....anyhoo, the kids and I ate breakfast and waited for her. Maddie was SO excited!! She got to meet her, get pics with her, get her autograph and hear her sing 2 songs! While we were there, I stopped by the table to register to win Night of joy tickets....as I was filling out the info one of the DJs stuck a mic in my face and announced (LIVE!)..."here we have a Mom...what is you name?". I was taken off guard a bit...I thought they ASKED you before they put you on the air.....but I was not worried about it too much....UNTIL...he put the mic up to Spencer-who then announced for the entire listening audience that he was "AWESOME"! (He has this new thing where he goes around saying " I am awesome!") The Dj asked Maddie "Is that right...is your brother awesome?" She said "uhhhhhhhh......most of the time!".

After we left there I had to get the kids to VBS, pick up Finn and run several errands. Then it was back to VBS to pick the kids up, drop Spencer at a friend's house, come home feed Finn, go back to pick Spencer up................. . The whole day was crazy-but it was a really good day!

After supper, we hooked up the Wii and all played games together...it was so much fun! I am having such a blast with the Wii fit!! Running races, doing yoga, hula hooping (now THAT was a sight....ME.....with my back all screwed together trying to shake my "stuff"!). Now......it is time for me to get some rest!!! I wanted to share some pics from our day today! (BTW...I am gonna have to proof read this tomorrow...I can only imagine how badly I butchered the English language...as tired as I am!)

A day at the beach....cheaper than therapy! :)

2009-06-20T10:13:00.004-04:00

Yesterday I took the kids to the beach. We spent the entire day swimming, sunbathing, building sandcastles, collecting shells, jumping waves......... . The beach was so beautiful! The sand literally felt like baby powder, the water was perfectly clear, the waves, that were crashing against the shore, captured every worry and washed it into the sea....(at least until we packed up to go home.....they found their way back to the shore in just enough time to go back home with me!). I find such peace and relaxation while I am at the beach...especially a really great beach-like the one we went to yesterday. The kids had a blast! I am so glad that they enjoy it as much as I do!! After hours on the beach, they did not want to go home! We are going to make it a habit to get there more often! I will post some snapshots, from our day at the beach, later! I am on my laptop right now and I uploaded the pics on my desktop. Hope you are all enjoying summertime as much as I am!

Date/Today/Summer ideas

2009-06-16T08:20:00.004-04:00

Last night Brett and I went out on a date! Seems like it has been FOREVER....even though we went out in April for my birthday! Anyhoo, Brett's brother bought him a gift card (to Chili's) for his B-day, so we decided to use it to go out on a date. It was SOOOOO nice! We even split a dessert and had coffee.

So, this summer has been challenging....already! Finding things to do with the kids that are free are getting harder the older that they get! We go to the library once and week, we will start going to the free movies this week, VBS starts next week. FYI...for those of you who may be unaware...AMC and Regal offer kids/family movies for free 2 days a week (I think AMC may have started charging $1.00 per person....but they allow you to bring in your own food/snacks/drinks...at least the "woodlands" one does). They are all movies that have already been released to DVD...but this year there are lots of movies that we have not seen yet! Just thought I'd share!

Now, I need to get out of bed and get myself ready to face the day. I have to pick up some groceries! Hope you all have a great day!

why I love ice cream.........

2009-06-13T17:16:00.004-04:00

This is one of those posts where I am exposing the deepest part of my being....I do not expect everyone to understand it, but I hope that it will be received by the ones who DO understand!

I have been reading a book titled "Free to be thin", it is a Christian based book on weight loss and living a healthy lifestyle. I have been been getting lots of great "nuggets" from it! Anyhoo, I have been trying really hard to analyze why I sometimes make food choices that are harming my body......and often my emotions. Most of the time I seriously think I just love chocolate....and I began questioning if it really IS just "about the food". Well, today I finally came to realize why I love ice cream! It is a sad realization really....but none the less, I felt relieved to finally learn what drives me to the freezer section at the grocery store! Let me back up a little and tell you about my day. This afternoon I began craving ice cream..in a really bad way (with NO hormonal reason :), so I decided to "analyze" what is was that was making me want it so badly. I came up with NOTHING!! I was not emotional, upset, angry.....I just wanted some ice cream....or so I thought. I decided that since I really did not NEED the ice cream, and since I had no cash to BUY the ice cream, that I would just take a nap and hope the feeling passed. I woke up 2 times in the middle of my nap.....wondering if there really could be a reason behind intense craving. Still.....nothing. When I woke up I STILL wanted ice cream...the really good kind.....Edy's "loaded"...(yum!). I decided that I would take a bath...and hope for the craving to pass (it has been a lazy saturday). While in the bath I continued to ask God if there really was a hidden reason that was causing me to want to run to the store and buy out every carton of ice cream they have! FINALLY! It hit me! I was reminded of a time, when Brooke was just a baby......Brett and I barely had enough money for food, so anything extra.....even so much as a pack of gum......was just a luxury! One day, I went to my parent's house, I opened the freezer to get some ice......and I saw TWO cartons of ice cream! I had a breakdown...seriously! I got myself a bowl, filled it up and cried as I ate my ice cream.....seriously! I think that remembering a time in my life when buying ice cream would not cause some sort of financial devastation was just too much for me process at that moment. I really think that from that moment on, having ice cream meant we had "enough". I was upset yesterday about not having enough money to register the kids for the YMCA fishing tournament....it doesn't cost that much....but the money is just not there. I had a little "conversation" with God....I asked Him why it seemed like we need an honest to goodness "act of God" to get our needs....and in this case, our "wants".... met. After I had my "pity party" I picked myself up and went about my day......still not understanding God's ways...but choosing to trust Him anyway. So...I guess I said all that to say this... I realized that, for me, ice cream stands for so much more than just a bowl of frozen heaven ;)......it means that there is "enough". I decided that I really did not want the ice cream....as much as I wanted the comfort of knowing that I could have it.

I have wondered why I choose to make myself so vulnerable on this blog......I have always said it was because I do not want to "waste" any experience by not sharing it with someone who may benefit from it. I still question if I am doing the right thing by being so open......none the less......
I have learned so much about myself over the past several months...through many (MANY!) tears and series of devestating events. I learned a lot about why I do some of the things I do and why I feel the way that I feel, in the deepest parts of me. I have found such freedom in knowing why, for instance, I often display anger...when really I am just hurt. I have reconciled myself with issues in my past, I have finally accepted some things that I have fought accepting for years and I can finally say that I look forward to living my life........ honestly.

I hope that this has made sense to someone "out there".......if it didn't make sense to you....just know that it must not have been meant for your "ears".

Can I brag.....pleeeease?

2009-06-12T10:41:00.002-04:00

I just walked up to the school to pick up the kids' report cards, they also had the SAT scores in! I am so proud of each one of my "babies"!! Brooke's overall score was "POST high school" (she is going into 8th grade)!!, Maddie's overall score was 11.9th grade (she is going into 5th grade)!! and Spencer's scores were all on grade level (with the exception of "listening"...a VERBAL test. Considering that he is hearing impaired, I think we can "overlook" that score). Spencer being "on grade level" is a huge accomplishment with all that he faces! Anyhoo....I just wanted to brag a little (MORE) on my kids, I am SO blessed to be their "Mommy"! People often ask us...."where do they get it from?"....um.....HELLO!! I have been trying to tell everyone that we are geniuses too :)

Summer.....we're off and running!

2009-06-11T16:36:00.007-04:00

I just love lazy summer days!! No need to rush through my coffee in the morning, no need to get in bed by 10:30 pm.....just love it! Today I took a long nap......and I did not have to cut it short because of school letting out! I enjoy having the kids home with me all day too (....most days :).

I wanted to catch everyone up since we were off the computer for so long! Where to start? As a PROUD Mother I have to start with the awards that our kids got this year! Brooke made honor roll (all As and Bs)...(for the whole year!) and she was one of 2 kids, in the whole school, who got an award for being so "respectful". She got a beautiful plaque with her name engraved on it!! Maddie got Principal's list (all As)...(all year long!)! She also got an award for academic excellence in EVERY subject! She was also given the HIGHEST award ever given at their school..."The Eagle Award", which is only given to one child per class (and only one child in the entire middle school and one child in high school). Anyhoo, she got it for her grades and her Christian character!! She got a beautiful glass trophy with her name etched in it! One of the Dads at the award ceremony joked that Maddie was gonna need a whole room just for all her awards! Spencer got awards for improvement, conduct and Science. I am so proud of all three of my "babies"!!

I am STILL playing the "waiting game" for my surgery!! My insurance company now has 30 business days to give me a response! I am trying really hard to trust God with the whole thing...but I must admit I have become impatient! If my Insurance co denies me then I have to question my decision on going through with the "tummy tuck" anyway. I know I have said that for once in my life I am gonna do the "irresponsible" and "selfish" thing......but I do not know if I can bring myself to do that! I have always walked that "straight line".....my whole life. IF I can come up with the rest of the money for the hospital/anesthesia then I will go forward....I am doing really well, I have about 1/2 of the money needed for those things. I am praying in the rest! At first I struggled with guilt....even asking God for that, when there are so many other needs in this world........but, I realized that God cares about EVERY aspect of my life and HE knows my heart and how much I desire this! He cares about the major issues AND the "minor" issues in our lives...nothing too big or too small! Although.....I'd have to classify this need as a major one...in my life at least. I know that most people do not understand.....but I remind myself that GOD knows my heart. I spoke with an older, wiser woman about this issue....and once I showed her my part of stomach, she said "honey...you have got to do whatever you have to do to get that taken care of"! Even I was shocked by that answer...perhaps if you knew who she was, you would be too ;) Anyhoo...not sure how I got here from where I started in this post.....ramblin' on I guess! Well, I made crab cakes for supper.....they are just about ready and I need to get the table set!! Hope you are all having a blessed summer!!

Weeki Wachee

2009-06-08T08:34:00.005-04:00

Yesterday Brett's Dad took us out on his canoe. We had to take turns going out on the river so while Brett, Maddie and Spencer were out, Brooke and I swam in the beach area. While on the boat, we got to see an otter (I did anyway), a snake (yikes!) and lots of fish! While we were swimming a manatee swam up near where we were. I wanted to swim over to see it, but I was worried about the kids swimming out that deep. Several people swan over to it and they were petting it! Anyhoo, I wanted to share some of the pics from yesterday, I am so blessed to have my family and I love spending time with them!! Thanks Phil for taking us out (even though the kids and I were not in the "original plan")!

I am back!

2009-06-05T16:53:00.002-04:00

Well, our family made it through the 3 weeks of NO computer time! To be completely honest, I did NOT miss it! There were a few times that I wanted to "google" something, and I missed talking to my friends......(we had to actually use the PHONE!).....but it really was not that hard! In fact, I did not even use it at all yesterday. They kids, on the other hand, have been sucked right back in! Anyhoo, just wanted to check in and let you all know that I am "back"......kinda.

BTW-Kmart is having double Qs starting Sunday (up to $2.00)!

3 week break

2009-05-14T19:10:00.004-04:00

We have decided to take a three week break/fast from the computer. So.....see you in 3 weeks. Please do not hesitate to call me at home or my cell phone if you need to reach me!

2009-05-13T21:13:00.002-04:00

I feel very encouraged since my class at church tonight. I feel "sane". It is so nice to be able to talk to other women who understand what I am going through. I am hopeful.....even when there seems to be no hope. I will get through this!!

EVEN in the storm......

2009-05-12T19:13:00.002-04:00

A lot of you have asked me about the "mess" going on in my life right now. I am STILL here and STILL breathing so I have that to say. Yes, things have been insane the last few weeks....with no sign of sanity in the future. BUT..God is STILL good and He is STILL faithful and I will CHOOSE to trust HIM with my life! The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. I WILL praise Him in this storm (LOVE that song by Casting Crowns!...it has become my theme song!). Blessed be the name of the Lord! I will come through this storm victorious....NO matter HOW it turns out! God has taught me so much through it already and I know He will continue to use it for my benefit! What the devil meant for bad....GOD is using for my good! God IS faithful...and I WILL NOT give up!

Truth

2009-05-11T08:18:00.003-04:00

New American Standard Bible (©1995)"But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die."
Note that the Bible calls him a "righteous man"

As Christians, we have to be very vigilant as to what preachers we choose to listen to and we should ALWAYS confirm what is being taught with the word of God. Satan KNOWS God's word....and he WILL use it to bring confusion and deceive people! Some preachers will twist a verse to mean whatever it is that they WANT it to mean. They will be held accountable. What is really sad to me is to see good, godly people being lead astray, while they are believing that they are receiving truth. Satan is the deceiver.....would his tactics work (in a Christian) if we knew upfront what his plan was? NO! I just caution each of you to be careful. Always, ALWAYS (even if you KNOW a person or have sat under a minister for years!) to search the scriptures for YOURSELF to be sure that you are not being deceived! When you are reading the Bible I encourage you to read it for yourself....and ask God to show you the meaning of a verse rather than read a person's commentary on the scriptures. I recent read several QUOTES out of the John MacArthur study Bible that were false! If you are reading these quotes and trusting in this man's interpretation (or twisting of the scripture)....you are being deceived. Please....be very careful who you listen to! Click HERE to read some of them for yourself.

International Standard Version (©2008)"Now the Spirit says clearly that in the last times some people will abandon the faith by following deceitful spirits, the teachings of demons,"

If someone teaches that you can not walk away from God, that you can not"lose your salvation" by your own choice...then they are being lead by deceiving spirits. God gives us a FREE WILL.....WE chose to accept Christ....and we can choose to walk away! I believe that God is all knowing but I KNOW that he did not "predestine" some people to be saved..."For God so loved the WORLD (the entire world!) that He gave his only son......(John 3:16).
The two Scriptures that I have quoted PROVE that the "once saved, always saved" theory and the "predestination" theory are both heresy!! There are hundreds more that will do the same. Some people will argue that if you turn your back on God then you were never really saved to begin with. The scriptures that I quoted above ALSO disprove this theory. Salvation is not something you can be unsure of.....the Bible makes it VERY clear what we must do to be saved. So, are the people who hold to this theory calling God a liar? If GOD says you must believe in the virgin birth of Christ, believe that He lived a sinless life, believe that he died on the cross for our sins, believe that he rose from the grave-conquered death and hell, and you ask Him to live with in you........AND you believe all of this and live to serve God....WHO can tell you that you are not saved?? The only answer to that question is "someone who calls GOD a liar". Now, if you decide that you want to live for yourself and you chose to walk away from God....does that mean that you never believed or that you were never saved? Of course not! We are humans...NOT robots. God gives us free will!

My goal here is to just warn you that just because some one quotes you a scripture (myself included!) does not mean that they are final authority on a matter....people twist scriptures all the time! Search the Bible for yourself.....and be lead by GOD....not man.

I firmly believe that God is a loving and gracious God. There is no reason to live in fear....everyone makes mistakes!! Ask God's forgiveness and move on. MOVE ON...and continue your relationship with God. It is only when you do not MOVE ON (repent) and you continue to live in sin that you're in danger.
(NKJ version)
Verses to look up:
Hebrews 2:1-3 ("lest we drift away")
Hebrews 10: 38 (" if anyone draws back")
John 15:6 ("abide")
Galatians 5: 4,7 ("estranged from Christ" , "fallen from grace")

Happy Mother's day!

2009-05-10T12:56:00.004-04:00

I just wanted to wish you all a Happy Mother's Day!
For all the snotty noses you have wiped, tears you have wiped away, sleepless nights, prayers prayed, books read...over and over and over again, trips to the doctors, school field trips you have gone on, papers you have proudly posted on the fridge, laundry washed......never ending laundry, soccer games, meals cooked, homework and practice tests, swim lessons......soon to be driving lessons :( , car trips, friends running through the house, fights with friends who were once running through the house, the pain of growing up, for laughing until it hurts at the simplicity of a child's mind, for spending all day watching "kid's movies"....just to be together, for being "that Mom" who would love nothing more than to fight your child's battles for them.....and sometimes DOES!............and all the beauty that comes along with each of these things.......Happy Mother's day!

Brooke

2009-05-08T21:56:00.002-04:00

Tonight ECS had their sports banquet...Brooke took home the"Christian Character" award! I am so proud of her!! Only one athlete per sport was given this award!

New site...coming soon.

2009-05-08T08:45:00.002-04:00

I am in the process of creating a "personal" blog. As this one has been spread so far and has so many readers that I no longer feel comfortable sharing my deepest thoughts here. As I mentioned in a previous post, I have learned through out the years that not everyone has MY best interest at heart and they will use anything (and NOTHING!) against me. Anyhoo, I will open my newest personal blog up soon but I will not be sharing the web address publicly. I have been dealing with a TON of personal issues the last few weeks and I feel like I need a outlet to explore them, but I just do not feel "safe" doing it here :( . Of course I will still be posting family pics and money saving tips on this site...so don't think you are getting rid of me that easily! :)

Free chicken at KFC

2009-05-06T09:19:00.009-04:00

Here is a link for a coupon good for a free grilled chicken 2 piece meal from KFC (my computer printed out 2 and it allowed me to print it out a second time....so I got 4 coupons!) KFC for lunch anyone?)! Thanks Victoria (Brett's "other mother...as he calls her :).
BTW...this coupon can only be printed out until 11:59 pm today (CDT).

Arby's is giving away free fruit tea today...so swing on in while you are "out and about" today!

Today's deals!

2009-05-05T12:26:00.003-04:00

Today I did PART of my grocery shopping...the last 2 weeks we have had to divide it up and take a little out of each pay check to get us through. Anyhoo at Target this week they have Nabisco 100 calorie snack packs on sale for $1.93....use your printable TARGET coupons for $1.00 and they are just .93 cents each!! Remember...you can print the coupons right there in the store!! I bought 5 boxes...my kids take them in their lunches for school. Also at Target they have Quaker rice cake minis (the large family size bag) for $2.44...use the $1.00 TARGET coupon that says "$1.00 off Quaker snacks" (it has granola bars on the pic but they will work for the rice cakes too...since they are Quaker snacks) and use your $1.00 MQ and they are .44 cents for a huge bag! I bought the ranch flavor..I really like them! I also bought 4 boxes of Fiber One bars...for $2.39 each. When you buy 4 Fiber One products you get a $5.00 Target gift card....which I used on my second order. At the Target that I shop at they had packages of Right Guard deodorant on clearance for $4.18 (there was 4 in each pack!) and I used a $1.00 MQ to make them just $3.18 for 4!!!

Publix has Capri Suns on sale for $2.00 a box...use your $1.00 off SUNRISE Capri Sun to get them for just $1.00 a box!! It must be the "Sunrise" kind to use the MQ.

I also made a trip to Kmart this morning for the double coupon deal. I bought Adidas Men's deodorant..on clearance for $1.89..used a $1.00 MQ so they were free!
I got Quilted Northern tp (6 mega rolls), they were on sale for $4.99, I used a $1.00 MQ...when doubled it came out to $2.99!
One note..I bought 2 Suave shampoo/conditioners that were on sale for $1.25 each and I used the $1.00 MQ...the computer only took $1.25 off (instead of $2.00) but I brought it to the cashier's attention and she manually took off $2.00 making them just .25 cents each (for the LARGE bottles!). Those coupons that say "$X off of X amount of products" confuse the system and since Kmart will only take off what you paid..(no overage) it just takes off the remaining amount of ONE item when it "doubles". The computer doesn't realize that the coupon is off of multiple items...so watch those registers!!

Anyhoo...those are some of the deals that I got today.

kmart

2009-05-04T20:39:00.002-04:00

This week's ad was a misprint....they are doubling up to $2.00 again! Yippee!
Click HERE for some great ideas on what to buy.....keep in mind that prices vary from region to region.

Blueberry pickin'

2009-05-04T16:12:00.004-04:00

Yesterday we took the kids to pick blueberries! We had a great time together...here are some pics!

Kmart

2009-05-04T14:47:00.002-04:00

Lisa just called me and told me that Kmart is actually doubling Procter and Gamble coupons up to $2.00!! And...if you spend $35.00 on PG products (usually this means $35.00 BEFORE coupons..I am guessing it is the same this time), you get a $10 Kmart gift card!!

Keep in mind that all other coupons will be doubled up to .75 cents.

Redbox

2009-05-04T13:00:00.002-04:00

Here is the code for a free redbox rental....good only until midnight tonight!!
BT73H9
Enjoy!

Kmart doubles coupons again...

2009-05-02T16:28:00.003-04:00

Sunday through Saturday Kmart will be doubling coupons again! The aggravating thing about it is this time they will only double up to .75 cents :( BUMMER! Anyhoo...just wanted to let you all know....just in case you haven't already heard. I doubt that I will be making a trip there this time...... it is just really hard to accept that they dropped it from $2.00 to .75! I usually do not use anything coupon than $1.00 there (making it $2.00 on double coupon weeks).

Just a note.......I wanted to remind everyone that every time that you "click" on one of my "google ads" I get paid! There are some great offers there so don't forget to check it out from time to time! Be cautious to not "over click" though...as that raises a "red flag" and will likely cause google to pull their ads. I am using all the money raised from the ads to put toward my upcoming surgery!

Free Mother's Day card!

2009-04-30T12:22:00.002-04:00

Get a FREE Hallmark Card mailed to your mom for Mother’s Day!
Here’s How:
Choose a 5 x 7 folded paper card.
Personalize it. You can even add a picture to it.
Use Promo Code CARD4MOM at checkout. FREE Shipping.
They will print it and mail it out for you...all for FREE (when you use the code)!
(You will need to order by May 1st to ensure Mother’s Day delivery.)
This is a great idea for Moms who do not live near us!

CVS find

2009-04-30T10:20:00.004-04:00

Today I ran into to CVS, while I was there I checked out the 90% off bins at the back of the store. The CVS that I shop at had Glade plug ins on clearance for just .37 cents each! I got 23 Refill oils, each one came with a free plug in. I also got a extra plug in (without the oil) and my total was $1.07 after MQs!!! I used 11 "$1.00 off and twin pack or two single packs of refills" MQ and I used one "Buy a refill get a free warmer" MQ . Since the value of the Q was more than the product the cashier typed it in manually.....taking off .74 cents for every two-making them FREE. Since they were clearanced down so cheap the tax was minimal......bring my total to $1.07 for all 23 oils with warmers and the extra plug in! I cleaned out my CVS (Sorry...if it is on CLEARANCE....I consider it "fair game"! I do not do that with "Sales")...but check your local stores to see if they have the same deal!!

My Birthday celebration!

2009-04-29T10:46:00.005-04:00

Yes...I am "milking" my B-day month for all that it is worth! Last night I went out with my girl friends for our monthly "GNO"-and since April is my B-day month we celebrated last night. I got lots of great gifts including: a bracelet-inscribed with a "love" saying, shopaholic coffee mug, journal, pedicure gift cert, Starbucks gift card, necklace-bracelet-earring set, and an adorable storage box. We tried out a new place to eat-"Flamestone Grill", the food was really good...a bit "pricey" but REALLY good! Anyhoo, I just wanted to check in with everyone.
I am starting PT again tomorrow, I have not gone for 3 weeks-since I have been sick. I am really hoping that it will help me get rid of these tension headaches that I have been having!
I am still very excited and nervous about my surgeries.....I am not sure why, but I am MORE nervous about this surgery than I was about my 9 hour back surgery! My guess is because I knew that I could not continue to live my life like I was having to before the back surgery, so the risks just did not phase me. This time, however........is quite different. I think that it will have a huge impact on my life and how I feel about myself....but I would not say that it HAS to be done. I am still working on coming up with the money, so my photo shoot offer is still on the table...let me know if you are interested! I spoke with my insurance company and my surgeon yesterday. The insurance company said that the paperwork has been submitted so it will take up to 2 weeks to get an answer. Once it gets approved it will take up to 1 month to actually have the surgery. I am REALLY hoping that it doesn't take too long, since I have that wedding to shoot in July. I want to be 100% recovered for that. My surgeon said 4-6 weeks recovery time, but I would feel more comfortable having a "cushion" in case it takes me longer. If I can't get the surgery by June 10th, then I will have to wait until after the wedding...if my insurance approval doesn't "run out" before then. Well, I have too much I should be doing....so I need to get off of this computer. I will keep you updated on the progress!

yesterday

2009-04-25T18:19:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was insane! I was up by 6 am, went to Sam's to buy all the produce that I needed for the event, rushed home to take the kids to school and then I rushed home to cut up enough veggies to feed 100 people! I ran out of time and had to rush to the event to set up-realized I did not have enough serving spoons and rushed to the store to buy some.......rush, rush, rush........ . The event went really well, I had several people stop to thank me for the food and tell me how much they enjoyed it. I even got the job of doing it all over again in 6 months! I got paid $200, which is more than I agreed to do the job for! I also had a shoot last night-so I am still recovering from the craziness today. Anyhoo, all the money (after tithes) is set aside for my surgery.......we are just "pretending" that it is not there. My insurance co told me yesterday that I should have an answer (either way) in about 14 days.........I am nervous and excited.

I have STILL not been feeling 100% better yet. I think that stress is probably to blame. I have continued to get severe headaches, I am tired and have no appetite. I have lost 10 lbs in the past 2 weeks.......7 lbs within one week.....looking for the positive in the situation. I appreciate all the emails and prayers...please continue to pray for me. I WILL come through this situation......I just need a little "push" to get through to the other side.

checking in!

2009-04-23T08:23:00.004-04:00

Well, I am finally (almost) back to "healthy"! Today I am even going to go for my walk with Tanya! I have missed our walks together :( I lost 6 lbs last week......being sick is not the best way to do that, but at least I have something to show for my misery!
Anyhoo.......I had a class last night, we had a great turn out! ( Welcome! new readers!) I am using that money to put towards my surgery......$60 doesn't seem to put much of a dent into the $5,250 that I need....but at least it is SOMETHING! I have a had several people respond to my $100 photo shoot donation....but no one has nailed down any dates yet. IF all the people who said that they wanted a shoot actually donate $100, (along with the wedding I am shooting in July and some extra "grocery money" that I have managed to save the last 2 weeks).....I would "only" need $3,450! My goal is to get as much cash as possible so I can limit the amount that I am going to have to finance! We will just have to wait and see! I have struggled with this issue.......one minute I think EVEN if I have to go into debt to get the surgery...I am GONNA do it! The next minute I think....well, I could just keep saving my money and pay cash within a year.......but then I think back at the nasty effects of the anesthesia and the reduced cost of doing it now (since I am already going to be having one surgery, it brings down the overall cost).....and my mind is once again SET to just "go for it"!
I have had a LOT on my mind lately.....the surgery is just "one more thing". I have always said that I was going to be 100% honest on this blog.....and I ALWAYS have been....but I have finally realized that some people just do not have my best interest at heart and they will take anything that I say and use it to attack me.....so for THAT reason alone, I am choosing to remain silent on a more private issue that is pressing me. But....I will ask for prayer....I will take all that I can get!

2009-04-20T20:31:00.002-04:00

You will have to forgive me this week...I was feeling better on Saturday and then Sunday I got a migraine headache! Today I still feel weak from throwing up all day yesterday....I hope to be 100% by tomorrow! Anyhoo-I am still here-kinda! So glad to hear all the great deals that you guys got at Kmart this week! I went today-but I only got a few things since I was not feeling well. I bought the Kellogg's cereal for .50 cents a box, I bought Quaker rice cakes (those were free!) and I got a can of scrubbing bubbles. Anyhoo-my total was $6.42 and I will be getting a $5.00 gift card back by mail! Well, I need to make my grocery list for tomorrow-if I am feeling up to it I am going to do my weekly shopping.

2009-04-18T10:11:00.003-04:00

I am finally feeling much better and I have regained my voice! It is a good thing....next week is going to be a busy one for me! I am teaching a class on Wednesday, I am catering (kinda-it is only a salad bar) an event at a local church-I have a lot of prep work for both of those things! I have booklets to print and put together for the class. For the catering, I need to make a list and price all the items that I will need to feed 120 people! The church is paying for all the food-thankfully it is not coming out of my pay. I am excited because BOTH of those things are going to help me with raising the money that I need for the surgery.

Tonight I am meeting up with some of my oldest friends from middle/high school in a "reunion" of sorts. I am looking forward to seeing everyone and catching up! HS seems like a lifetime ago...I guess it really WAS a lifetime ago! My life is so different now..but it will be nice to step back into that "world" for a while.

Right now, Maddie and I are cuttin' coupons....getting ready for our Kmart trip tomorrow! BTW....I looked through some of my coupons and I realized that there are $1.00 off ANY Kellogg's cereal MQs. Use these at Kmart on that 4/$10 deal and the cereal is just .50 cents a box AND you'll get a $5.00 gift card...so it is a money maker! I will let you know what we bring home tomorrow and I would love to hear the deals that you find too!

DOUBLE coupons!

2009-04-16T19:32:00.002-04:00

Starting Sunday some Kmart stores (check with your local store) are doubling MQs up to and including $2.00-so your $2.00 Q becomes a $4.00 Q! Yipppeee! Here is the deal though....you can only use 25 MQs per person per day and you can only use 4 identical MQs. Kmart does not allow overage so I do not think it will double if the value of the Q is higher than the value of the item-it may make it free..I am not sure how that works with Kmart.Anyhoo-I will be going through my Q box and searching for those high Qs to use this weekend! One deal I saw was Kellogg's cereal will be on sale 4 for $10 and when you buy 4 boxes you get a $5 Kmart gift card. Use your MQs and this is one sweet deal!

BACK to the doctor

2009-04-16T14:27:00.002-04:00

I went back to the doc today, she put me on a stronger antibiotic (Levaquin), hoping to knock out this "thing" I have going on! Anyhoo, I am feeling a little better-finally! I am ready to get back to "life"! I miss going to the gym, playing with the kids,...shoot...I miss getting out of BED! I wanted to update everyone on my status.

I have come up with an idea to help me pay for my surgery (NOT one that I want to share here on this blog though-sorry)! I am very excited and relieved! Now hurry up already Citrus care! I have to be 100% recovered by July 18th-when I have a wedding to shoot.....so if the insurance company takes too long deciding my fate then I will have to wait to have the surgery until after the wedding! It is all in God's hands-I need to be patient...weddings make me nervous-NO reshoots :)

So glad to feel kinda human again...thanks for all the prayers!

:(

2009-04-15T18:21:00.002-04:00

I have spent the entire day in bed today! I am still sick ! Last night I got sick in the middle of the night, but I have not thrown up again since! How crazy is this virus!? I have had a fever, sore throat and cough for three days. My strep test was negative on Monday, or else I would be convinced I had strep throat! The doc wants me to go back in tomorrow-so we'll see what happens from there! Please continue to pray for me. I SOUND much worse today-but since this afternoon I FEEL a little better. Anyhoo-I am still here-just too sick to get out of bed and not feeling well enough to even blog from bed! Hope all is well with you and your families!

Publix

2009-04-14T08:22:00.005-04:00

Update: Publix also has "vitamin water'"on sale for $1.00-use your $1.00 off MQ (for the 10 cal vervion) and they are free!

I have been sick the last 2 days.....Maddie shared her fever and sore throat with me...ain't she sweet? :) Anyhoo, I HAVE to go buy groceries today or else we will not be eating tonight! I was looking through the new Publix ad and I spotted a few really good deals that I wanted to quickly share.
Pam cooking spray BOGO @ $3.39 -Use 2 Publix Qs for .55 cents off 1 and 2 MQs for .35 cents off 1= .59 cents for 2!
Crystal Light drink mix BOGO @ $3.99- Use the MQ that states "buy 2 get one free" and since they are BOGO you can get 4 boxes for the price of one! Since you will be charged $3.99 2xs but the cashier will take off ONE of those $3.99 when you give her your coupon. BTW-I always write the price of the product on the coupon when I have a bogo coupon....it makes the cashier's job a lot easier!

Now....if this rain will just let up a little I can get my shopping done and get back to bed.

On second thought....I may just head back to bed now-it is STORMING right now!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T19:04:00.005-04:00

Brett had NO work this whole weekend-it was nice to have him home! Yesterday we took the kids to an egg hunt at Publix and then we went to another one at a local church. Today after church we went to Cracker Barrel-we expected to have a loooong wait-but to our surprised we walked right in and got a table immediately! After CB, we came home and took a nap. While we were taking a nap, the kids cleaned our entire house from top to bottom! What a nice surprise! They said that they were grateful for all the "Easter bunny" brought them (which wasn't that much!-Brooke got a $10 gift card for music for her Zune, Maddie got a Christian CD and Bubba got the movie "Bolt"....along with a litte candy). Anyhoo-I am so proud of my "babies" for taking the initiative to work TOGETHER to surprise us! I wanted to share some pics from our weekend!

Brett helping Bubba make a craft.

Brooke and her new "Vera Bradley" purse & her and Maddie taking a B-ball shot.

I had to post this pic....the sun was "too bright" for Spencer and Maddie!

For my local readers

2009-04-12T18:00:00.000-04:00

As you already know, I am trying to raise $5,250 (that is LESS than I thought!) in 4 weeks for an upcoming surgery. I have already sent out a mass email, but in case I do not have your email address I wanted to make this offer available to you as well: I am offering a full photo shoot (location of your choice!) , complete with a disc with ALL the images and copyrights for a $100 donation per family (a $400 value!). Once you donate you will receive a certificate that can be redeemed immediately or any time in the future! I am offering this special for the next 4 weeks only! Once I recover from this last surgery I will be going back to my photography business full time-to get this price locked in you can donate using paypal or you can contact me via email at ilovelucyfan4@msn.com . Hopefully my surgery will be within the next 4-6 weeks (I am still waiting to hear back from my insurance company)-if you want portraits done soon contact me right away...otherwise I will need to do the shoot at least 3 weeks post op. Here is a link to some of my old work.....the website address for "capturedbyshay" is no longer valid, but I did post a few pics. Let me know if you have any questions! Thanks!

Pics

2009-04-10T19:08:00.003-04:00

Little "Miss Gillie" was combing my hair and she got the comb STUCK!

I thought I was gonna have to get a few MORE inches of hair cut off! :)

We're home!

2009-04-10T16:03:00.003-04:00

The kids and I got home today...we are busy unpacking and getting settled back in. We enjoyed spending time with family and just kickin' back...but I am ready to get back into our routine. Anyhoo, I hope to post some pics later. Hope you are all having a great Spring Break!

My date and Spring Break

2009-04-05T23:07:00.003-04:00

Today Brett took me out on a Birthday date! We went shopping (so I could spend my Birthday money!) and we went to Sweet Tomatoes (they are having a Lemon fest this month...the lemon pasta was soooooooo good!). I got 3 new shirts, 3 pairs of capris, some Victoria's Secret coconut body spray and lotion and VS honeydew lotion and spray (I had a VS gift card and a $10 Q!) ! I love being able to shop and actually BUY something for myself...but I must admit, I had some major guilt about it! Anyhoo, I enjoyed my night out with Brett.
Maddie was REALLY sick last night and this morning. I took her to the urgent care center today, she was running a fever and had a sore throat, the doc said that he thought she had strep throat-but I am happy to report that she is SOOO much better now! We have been praying hard for her! We will be leaving first thing tomorrow morning to spend Spring Break with my parents in Cross City...the kids are SO excited about that! I am excited too...I miss my Mama and Daddy!
Anyhoo, I will not be back in town until Easter afternoon....so no one file a "missing persons" report on me when you do not see any recent posts! Brett will still be here...he has to work :( . I hope that you all have a great Spring Break! See you next week!

CVS

2009-04-04T17:52:00.003-04:00

Here are some of the deals I got at CVS:
4 BOGO intuition razors ($9.99 each)-used 4 $4.00 MQs and 1 CVS $4.00 off $20 purchase Q. I paid tax only!
2 Easter baskets ($1.49 each), FREE after ECBs
2 bags of Easter grass (.79 each), FREE after ECBs
1 Skintimate shave lotion ($3.79), FREE after ECBs
Colgate freshmax toothpaste (6 oz) FREE after ECBs!
Revlon BOGO-bought eye shadows that were $6.99, used 2 $2.00 MQs and one $2.00 Store Q= .99 cents for 2!
My CVS has a clearance section that is 90% off right now! I bought all kinds of footcare items (lotions, files....).
I saved over $120.00 and I spent less than $3.00 out of pocket!

CVS deals

2009-04-04T11:59:00.000-04:00

Here are some of the deals available at CVS next week.

How I spent my day..

2009-04-03T20:09:00.003-04:00

I took full advantage of my Birthday today. I woke up to breakfast in bed...(ok, I must admit, I get that every morning!), the kids gave me their homemade cards (those are the BEST!) and they gave me the gifts that they got for me. The girls bought me a gift certificate for a mani/pedi and Spencer got me the "entertainment book" (he's been wanting to buy that for me ever since he saw it at Walgreen's months ago!). Spencer has turned into quite the coupon connoisseur! He was so excited for me to get a book FULL of coupons! He said "this is the best day of my life!".....?? Anyhoo, then I went to the gym and worked out (which really is a GIFT that I gave myself!), then I went into the steam room, hot tub and sauna....ahhhhhh! Once I finished that I came home and had lunch with Brett. After lunch I went to cash in my gift certificate..I now have some majorly HOT pink fingernails and toenails! I have not had a mini/pedi in at about 3 years! Thanks girls...I REALLY enjoyed that! Tonight, Brett made me one of his famous paninis for supper and then we went to see the tigers, monkeys, pony at the traveling "animal thingy". Now, I am heading for a super long, hot bath! Thanks for all the birthday wishes that you have all sent! I am looking forward to Sunday, Brett and I are going out on a "date" to celebrate! I get to go shopping and then to dinner with the love of my life....it just doesn't get any better than that!

My trip to Publix

2009-04-02T14:40:00.004-04:00

I went to Publix today to take advantage of some of the great deals they have this week. Here is what I bought:
6 bags of steam fresh veggies
6 bottles of Kraft salad dressing
and
6 bags of Halls cough drops

My total was just $1.09! The dressing ends up being negative .05 for 2! I am not sure if all Publix stores allow overage but the one I went to did not have any problem with it. They did have a hard time getting the computer to take the last 2 Halls coupons for some reason, the cashier called the manager and she just entered them manually. The cashier suggested that it may be because I had 18 items and 20 coupons (since I had 18 MQs and 2 Store Qs), which was perfectly fine, but the computer may have rejected it for that reason. Anyhoo...that was HUGE savings! I saved $35.54 and only spent $1.09! Yippee!

Isn't that the cutest pic you have ever seen?

Just bein' real.....

2009-04-02T09:10:00.004-04:00

Sometimes I ask myself "WHY am I SO real on this blog?". Most of the people who read this blog are complete strangers and yet I offer up my deepest thoughts! Anyhoo, it is what it is and I suppose it will always be that way. I can NOT believe that I am about to share this on my blog! What in "tarnation" is wrong with me!? Well, yesterday I got a second opinion, from a plastic surgeon, about getting a breast reduction. The few people, I told that I was considering it, all told me that I did not "need" one...as their eyes diverted to my DD chest! (All but Tanya...she was very supportive...NO pun intended!). I asked my doctor about it last month, and she seemed to think it could relieve some of my headaches, neck pain and upper back pain-so she referred me out to a plastic surgeon. The first one that I saw seemed "nice enough" but he was primarily a "hand surgeon". When I asked him how many breast reductions he had done he said between 12-24! I could not help but wonder if that meant 12, and since he did the surgery on both breast he doubled it to 24! I did not feel comfortable with that number, so I kept searching. Yesterday I ended up at the same USF office that my neurosurgeon is at. I have a MUCH better feeling about the surgeons that I met there! So, now it is a waiting game.....the insurance will have to approve it, if they do then it will be 100% covered! Now...here is the problem that I have...I have been wanting a "tummy tuck" for years! Ever since I lost 92 lbs I have been left with lots of saggy skin in my belly and it REALLY bothers me. I am ashamed of it and I feel like I have this "dark secret" that I am hiding! Most people can not imagine what I am talking about.....they see me and think that it must be about being "skinny". It is NOT a skinny issue. I honestly feel like I have a deformity that I have been hiding for years! The few people who HAVE seen my "secret" all agree and can understand my desperation! Anyhoo, I thought that while I was at the plastic surgery office, I'd get an estimate on getting a "tummy tuck" too. I get REALLY ill from anesthesia, so if I could get them both done at the same time then it would save me from having to go back "under" again. A few years ago I got estimates (from 2 docs) and to get both a breast lift and tummy tuck it was going to be $17,000! Well, now, since my insurance will be paying for the breast reduction and the breast lift, it would "only" cost me about $6,000 to get the tummy tuck. Well, I do not HAVE $6,000......YET! I am racking my brain trying to come up with a way that I can make that kind of money! Tanya says "where there is a WILL...there is a WAY!". The WILL is there...I just have to find a WAY. I know that I run the risk of sounding "vain"...which is one reason that I hesitated on being so REAL on this issue, I even considered taking a picture of my belly and posting it-just so you'd know that it is not a vanity issue. ( but, knowing some of the people who read this blog would be seeing my bare belly was just unbareable for me!) It truly effects how I view myself, it is like a "foreign" body part that I live with and can feel 24 hours a day! Anyhoo-Brett has told me that I should post a video of one of my coupon classes and charge people to view it (he's been telling me that for months!). Does anyone "out there" know how that can be done? OR...does anyone have any creative ideas that can help me come up with this money? PLEASE let me know if you have any ideas that will help me. Please try to understand my "heart" on the matter. And, if you have gotten any help through this blog, and you have learned how to save your family money and you have the "extra" to give.....there is a pay pal "donate" button...feel free to use it :) . I figured that even if every person gave just $2.00-within one month I could have most of it paid for! Honestly, I really do not expect my readers to donate..I KNOW that times are tough...I know what it is like to have even have $2.00 to give, I also know the "anger" that people may have towards me for me even wanting a "TT", but unless you know me and have seen my body-please do not judge me too harshly..I just thought that I would "put it out there".

Hurry in to Publix!

2009-04-02T08:28:00.003-04:00

Sherrie brought it to my attention that Publix's store coupon, for $1.00 off 3 Steam fresh veggies, is still good! It expires tomorrow. So, hurry in and combine the store coupon with 3 of the MQs and you will pay as little as .25 cents per bag! These steam fresh bags ROCK! You just pop them into the microwave and out comes perfectly steamed veggies! My kids LOVE them! They often eat them as a snack! DH cake mixes are bogo, if you use (2) .35 cents off MQs-they are around .50 cents a box! Brett made my B-day cake last night...we are celebrating my B-day with my "in laws" tonight. I had him make a WW recipe. I doubt the Angel food cake mix is bogo-but here is what you do to make this cake...it is worth paying full price for! Take a angel food cake mix, pour it into a non metal bowl, dump an entire can (juice and all) of crushed pineapple (in its own juice) into the bowl and stir (with a wooden or plastic spoon-NOT metal!). It gets really "foamy"...so don't worry! Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 mins (in a 9x13 pan). Do NOT add anything else....just ignore the directions on the box! It is SO good and VERY WW friendly! Hope you all enjoy!

Final total

2009-04-01T21:49:00.000-04:00

Final total savings in March=$2,522.21!

Publix

2009-04-01T18:21:00.002-04:00

Starting tomorrow Publix will be having their Kraft 16 oz salad dressing bogo @ $3.03. Use 2 of this week's coupons for $1.50 off any ONE bottle (16 oz or more) and they are just .03 cents for two bottles! Thanks for the 'heads up" Tina!Some other great bogo deals include:
Mt Olive pickles
A1 steak sauce
Kraft mayo-use $1.00/2= $3.59/2
Chex mix
Keebler crackers
Emerald nuts
OR popcorn
Wheat thins-use $1.00/2= $2.39/2
I can't believe it is not butter
Ragu sauce
Ronzoni pasta
Kellogg's cereal-use (2) .70 cents off MQs=$2.59 for 2 boxes

50% off Birdseye steam fresh veggies
That is just to name a few...don't ya just LOVE Publix?

Publix sale

2009-03-31T19:17:00.003-04:00

It is the "Buy THEIRS, get OURS FREE!" sale at Publix! If you buy a national brand product, you get a publix brand equivalent FREE! Click HERE for details!

Click HERE to learn about a Walgreen's deal...it is not yet released apparently, but I am assuming it will work in the NRP area too. I am gonna try it tomorrow. Thanks to "deal seeking mom".

Well...I FINALLY did it!

2009-03-31T12:18:00.005-04:00

I quit my complaining and I finally went and got my hair chopped off! I was working out this morning and I just thought..." I am just gonna go for it!" Plus...I had a little encouragement from Tammy and Kina. I taught a class last night, so I used the money that I earned on it, to get a hair cut. I went in having NO idea of what I really wanted to do, so I consulted with the hair dresser and we went through some books together. I ended up getting 7 inches cut off! It is now just above my shoulders, with some light layers. I haven't taken the time to really "play" with it, but I think that I will like it. It is still long enough to pull up, but it is short enough to have a little "style".

FYI..it is REALLY hard to take a picture of yourself! I need to have one of the girls take one for me!

Redbox

2009-03-30T17:34:00.001-04:00

Here is today's code for a free rental: 89ZQJ3
Enjoy!

Class tonight.

2009-03-30T09:25:00.004-04:00

Just a quick note to remind everyone that I am teaching a class tonight (clearwater), I have had a lot of people ask me to tell them when I have another class....but I never remember who it was that asked, when it comes time...anyhoo, if you are interested, let me know. I am swamped with "stuff" to do today, tons of errands to run, I have physical therapy, soccer games.......I wish you all a Happy Monday!

CVS ad

2009-03-28T17:19:00.000-04:00

Here is the CVS ad for this upcoming week!

just a couple of things....

2009-03-27T15:12:00.003-04:00

Lisa, Noah's "other Mommy", brought a Walgreen's deal to my attention. the Stride gum is .79 cents each (with ad coupon), use it along with the $2.00 off 3 packs MQ and you pay just .37 cents for 3 packs! Seems to be a good "gum week" between Walgreen's and WD! Thanks Lisa! Also, I ventured into the dreaded Walmart territory (ONLY because I HAD too!) and I saw that they have an additional 50% off their clothing clearance! I noticed a lot of kids and baby clothes, but there were also some clothes for adults too. I got a satin pj set for $1.25! ALL the clearance is located on the baby department at the SR 54 Walmart.

I leave for ONE night......

2009-03-27T11:12:00.009-04:00

Last night I went to Tanya's house to keep an eye on the kids, while she and Chris went to a meeting at the school. BTW-they are working REALLY hard to save First Christian School from going under...they are leading a group of people who are trying get donations from people and businesses, so they can save the school. If you know of anyone who can help out-please send me an email so I can connect you up with them! They have ad space, in a awesome newspaper/ magazine -available in the Trinity area, to sell to businesses. Anyhoo, while i was gone last night, Brett decided it was time to "groom" the dogs. They REALLY did need a trim....but, THIS is what I came home to! Poor Lady bug :(

I got home kinda late so Lady was already asleep in Spencer's room-Brett said "go take a look at Lady bug, I have a feeling this one is gonna make it onto your blog!". Maddie said that none of her friends are allowed to come over until Lady's hair grows out! She begged me not to post these pics.."cause all her friends read my blog"....."WHY?".
Anyhoo, it is like that old country song "It'll grow back, 'honey' don't be mad...God and the rain will bring it back" (The song is referring to a boy talking to his Daddy about a tree he cut down...but it this case, I think the song fits!)

BTW-to really appreciate these pics, you must click on them to enlarge them...so you can see the "detail" of his grooming job! I just have to laugh every time I think about it! In fact, last night, while I was trying to be "serious" I busted out laughing! Brett wanted to know what I was laughing about...when I was trying to be "serious".....when I told him we both had laugh!

Winn Dixie find

2009-03-26T11:52:00.005-04:00

You never hear me talk about Winn Dixie, mostly because it makes me mad that they raise the prices for their bogos, and their prices are high to begin with! Anyhoo, I got the sales flyer yesterday and I took a look-regardless. They have Mentos gum bogo-the ad says "10 pack", but there is no such thing as a "10 pack" so I asked the manager...it is actually a 15 pack of Mentos gum (located at the register) for $1.59 cents (that SAME pack is $1.28 at most stores.....btw) and it is bogo. I used ONE $1.00 MQ AND ONE .55 cents off MQ for each deal that I got! So, I paid .02 cents a pack. You can't use 2 $1.00 MQs since WD does not allow overage. I bought 16 packs and my total....INCLUDING tax was $1.22! I have more MQs, so I think I will go back and get more before the sale ends next week. Anyhoo, if you have those MQs...(and you should-if you have been cutting them all like I tell you to do :)-then go get yourself some super cheap gum! I bought Tropical flavor-yum, peppermint, wintergreen and strawberry. Gum is helpful for me to fight cravings....so who knows? You may drop a few lbs too!

Today......

2009-03-25T13:54:00.002-04:00

I did my weekly shopping today, here are some noteworthy deals!
Walgreen's:
Sunlight dish soap bogo (with ad coupon) $1.79-used 2 .25 cents off coupons= 2 for $1.29
Degree deodorant-on clearance for $1.79 each. Used -.75 cents off MQ= $1.09 each.
Soft soap-.99 cents with ad Q

Target:
9 Gillette men's body wash-$2.00, used $2.00 MQs= FREE!
8 Olay soap (single bars, found in the trial section) .97 cents each...used $1.00 MQ= FREE (cashier manually typed it in-so they took off .97 cents for each bar)
French's mustard-$1.11, used .50 cents MQ=.61 cents
Hostess 100 calories cupcakes-$2.99. Used .50 cent Target coupon (I printed it right in the store!) and .75 cents off MQ=$1.74

Publix:
bogo Dole fruit cups $2.25 each-used 2 .55 cents off MQ= 2/$1.15!
bogo Smart Balance butter spread-$2.89 Used MQ for a free 1/2 gallon of Smart Balance milk w/ purchase of one SB butter and 1 MQ for free SM butter sticks w/ purchase of SB butter spread. So I got 2 smart balance spreads, 1 box of SB butter sticks and a half gallon of SB milk for $2.89!
Secret Flawless deodorant-on clearance for $2.89, used $2.00 off MQ= .89 cents each.
Johnson's and Johnson's bath wipes-for babies, on clearance for $1.67, used $1.00 MQ= .67 each......although, they rang up at full price-so I got the "Publix Promise" and they gave me one free and I paid $1.67 for the 2nd box , so it was ACTUALLY negative .33 cents for two boxes!
The Glade deal is still going on too! The starter sets (scented oil candles) are ONLY $2.50....you can use your BOGO coupon=2/$2.50 or the $2.00 off coupon=.50 cents each...whichever you have (I think I got the $2.00 one is inside the box from another purchase).
Ocean Spray cranberry juice-bogo $3.49, used 2 $1.00 off MQs= 2/$1.49. I got those coupons at the front of the store....inside a booklet of coupons, located with the sales ads (every Publix may not have them).
So, that is about it...the Publix deals end today-sorry it is so late. My husband gets paid on Tuesdays, so I usually do not get to shop until Wednesday!
*****I am having a class at Karen's house (Clearwater) on Monday....let me know if you are interested in attending! Hope to see you there....Mr "Olive Garden Guy"...and your wife! (Our waiter last night was very interested in the amount of Olive Garden coupons that I had, when I pulled 2 out...so we told him about couponing!....it was Girl's night out last night.....had lots of fun!)*****

CVS

2009-03-23T12:14:00.004-04:00

UPDATE! The CVS bogo deal on Hersey's has a limit (sorry...I did not realize that!)....so if you buy 6 bags, you'll pat full price for 2. Thanks Sherrie!

I ran to CVS this afternoon, here is what I bought:
4 Dawn dish soaps-on sale for $.99 cents each, get back $1.00 ECBs wyb 2=2/.98
3 bags of jelly beans-.77 cents each
2 bags of Twizzlers-bogo @ $2.69
2 bags of Hersey's candy-bogo @ $2.99 (btw-if you buy 4 you can use the $1.50 MQ from last weekend's newspaper insert-by 6 and you can use 2 MQs. The Q is for $1.50 off 3 bags. Since you are getting one free for each one you pay for, you only have to PAY for 3 bags to use 2 MQs....got it? So 6 bags would cost you $5.97 and if you have the Store Q for $3.00 off, you'll save even more!)
10 trial size bags of Schick razors (2 razors in each bag) .99 cents Used $1.00 MQs=free
1 trial size St Ives face scrub- $1.49 Used $1.00 MQ= .49 cents (I needed it).
2 gallons of milk $3.00 each -earn $1.00 ECB for each one= $2.00 each gallon.
2 rolls of CVS paper towels- 2/$1.00

When I scanned my card at the entrance of the store I got a $4.00 off $20 purchase Q and a $3.00 off any Easter candy purchase of $10.00 or more Q. I used both those Qs along with the MQs and ECBs. My total was .84 cents and I earned back $4.00 ECBS. I usually try to EARN as many ECBS as I spend, but since I bought all the Easter candy that the "Easter Bunny" is gonna bring this year-I figured I'd go ahead and actually spend some ECBs.

I saved $46.16 today.

This week's deals

2009-03-23T08:26:00.008-04:00

I am sorry that I have not had the chance to post the deals available at Walgreen's, CVS, or Publix! Things have been very busy around here and yesterday we took time off together, as a family, to go to the park and grill out. We had a great time playing baseball....I got a home run! Anyhoo, I know that the ads were available in yesterday's newspaper but if you see something that you have questions about, do not hesitate to ask me! Wish you all a Happy Monday!! Be determined to LIVE your life today!

I wanted to share some family pics from this past week....our "kitty" is doing really good, he is such a loving animal....already spoiled rotten...but loving!

"Kitty's" spot on Maddie's bed and "scruffy" sunbathing

Spencer, blowing bubbles and Maddie....being goofy! (I told you I was gonna post it Madeline!)

Me, just before my "home run"....although....the "pitcher" (Brett) let me keep swingin' until I finally got a hit :)

Bringin' out my soap box...

2009-03-21T15:02:00.014-04:00

Alright....I realize that this post is gonna "ruffle some feathers", but truthfully....I really do not care. I have got to speak my mind and bring attention to the state that our "churches" are in! So, here goes..........
At what point did we (the church) forget that we are supposed to be IN the world....but not OF the world? A while ago I got "stirred up" buy a sermon I heard via podcast...and I do not mean "stirred up" in a good way either! I have just not taken the time to speak out against until now. I have also gotten "stirred up" about a local youth group event taking place this weekend...so I am just gonna let loose on both at the same time! First....the "sermon". You may find this hard to believe...unless you go to this particular church or are associated with it in some way, but I heard a "pastor" preach a sermon devoted ONLY to the subject of alcohol...titled "Should Christians be able to drink"....or something along those lines. This "pastor's" point was that "YES", Christians should be allowed to drink alcohol...as long as they do not become drunk. He used the scripture "do not be drunk with wine......" saying that as long as you can "control" your drinking then by all means "drink". Now, I have some friends who drink, and I am not stating that drinking is gonna send you to hell (that is for God to decide)....but, what is the purpose of it? And, WHY on earth would a "pastor" promote drinking?(I have to put the word "pastor" in quotation marks simply because the title describes a true shepherd, who cares about his "sheep" not one who cares about being popular with the "wolves".) Why would he take up an entire sermon to endorse drinking alcohol? Why did he leave out the devastating effects that alcohol has on families, how it KILLS and destroys? Nope...he managed to leave all of that out of his sermon, he only reminds people that they should not buy it for minors (since that is illegal) and that they should not get drunk. SERIOUSLY? Are you for real?? What is the purpose of even just ONE drink? To relax, to have a good time, to "fit in"?? What ever happened to being "set apart", DIFFERENT from the rest of the world? It alters your state of mind....period. If you are not looking for that altered effect, then why not drink Pepsi? EVERY single alcoholic on the face of this earth became an alcoholic beginning with just ONE drink. Where was THAT in his sermon? What kind of example would I be to my kids if I used alcohol, in ANY amount? What is that telling them? I will share with you something that happened a few months ago, I was at dinner with a large group of women when one of them ordered a martini-the drinks were 2 for 1 so she offered the second to whoever wanted it. A few people at our table tasted it, but no one drank it so the woman, who ordered it, finished the first and the second. I asked Brett, later that night, how much it would take for this woman to be too impaired to drive. I explained that a few people sipped from the second drink but there was still a good amount in it when the woman finished it. Brooke, our 12 year old daughter, heard me talking to Brett and she said "Mommy, did YOU take a sip?". The THOUGHT of me taking one single sip was just eating at her! Thankfully, I was able to tell her honestly that I had not taken a sip....nor did I have the desire to! I know that I have a VERY addictive personality and all it would take, would be ONE sip for me to lose control. But regardless, even if you CAN take one sip, or one drink...why? What kind of testimony are you being if you use alcohol in any amount? People who have seen alcoholism destroy lives view it so much more differently than those who have not. They do not see the "one drink", they see the bruises their husband's have left behind, they see the tears running down their children's faces, they see infidelity, heartache, death........ . It all started with one drink. I heard all that I needed to hear from that "pastor" and I immediately went home and deleted the remaining "sermons" and unsubscribed to his podcasts! He is not the only "pastor" I have heard who tries so hard to be "cool" and fit in with the world. Once Brett and I were visiting a church and the "pastor" said from the pulpit.." I am tired of hearing all the Bi*#ching and complaining.....". Unbelievable! The congregation just laughed...it was funny to them! Again, what is the purpose?

Now, onto the "godly" event that a local church is hosting this weekend. You may or may not be familiar with the books and the movie titled "Twilight". Basically, it is about a vampire that falls in love with a woman.....that is really all I needed to know to realize that it was NOT something that my children would be reading or watching. Well, there is a church that is hosting a "Twilight" party where they are going to view the movie as a youth group at the church. What is wrong with that picture. The leaders of this youth group are saying that they are gonna "draw" teens to Christ by offering "fun" events as a way to be introduced to the church. Brett and I have been youth pastors, so we KNOW that it takes some "bait" to get youth into the church, but what does it say about a church who is willing to use the same bait that Satan uses? The problem lies here......a LOT of people (not just at this particular church-but at churches around the country) do not see any harm in vampire movies, or Harry Potter........ They are blinded and do not see that there IS a spiritual world that exists and by allowing that garbage to come into their homes it opens the doors for all kinds of satanic activity. Like it or not...it is the truth. I have friends that think I am NUTS when I talk like this...but it is the truth. Just because it makes you uncomfortable does not mean it is not factual. Anyhoo, I could not believe that this church was going to try so hard to "fit in" with today's youth that they are forgetting the reasons why the church exists to begin with! The world wants something DIFFERENT...not more of the same.....isn't that why people come to Christ to begin with? I know...I KNOW, that I have slammed some people here today-but after all, it IS my blog-intended for MY voice...I am gonna let it be heard! I just get so frustrated with the lows that our churches have stooped to...and for what? Does it bring about change? No-it only allows a person to sit comfortably in a church service as they continue to live the way that they always have....believing (or hoping) that they are right with God...all because the "pastor" wants to be a "seeker friendly" church. Seeker friendly? I guess it all depends on what the person is seeking. If they are seeking the pastor's stamp of approval on their messed up lives...then yes, some churches are "seeker friendly". If they are seeking GOD...? Not so much.

Free Rita's Italian Ice!

2009-03-20T12:04:00.001-04:00

Today you can stop by any Rita's Italian Ice and get a FREE regualr sized Italian Ice! If you have never been there beofre, you MUST go!! They are SO good and they even have "light" versions! Take the family out tonight!

Happy Spring!

2009-03-20T11:20:00.002-04:00

Today is the first day of Spring....don't you just love Spring? A fresh start, new beginnings, the smell of orange blossoms filling the air (for all you Floridians), birds chirping......beautiful! I just wanted to wish you all a Happy Spring, may God's blessings be poured out upon you as He brings new life to this Earth!

Redbox

2009-03-18T13:47:00.000-04:00

Here is the code-good for a free rental...today only!
GTL456

My weekly shopping trip

2009-03-18T13:28:00.003-04:00

Today I did my weekly grocery shopping, here are some of the deals that I got:

Walgreen's:
Trident Xtra care gum-on sale for $1.00 per pack. Used -.75 cents off MQs= .25 cents per pack (I bought 14 packs).
Crest Pro health night toothpaste-on clearance for .95 cents. Used -$1.00 off MQs= free

Publix:
IAMS cat food :) 0n sale for $6.49. Used $5.00 MQs= $1.49 per bag.
Duracell hearing aid batteries-$8.49. Used $3.00 Store coupon and $2.00 MQ=$3.49 a pack.
Birdseye steamers meals for 2-$5.99. Used $1.00 store coupon and $2.00 MQ= $2.99 each.
Kellogg's fruit snacks-$2.95 BOGO. Used $1.00/2 MQ=$1.95 for 2 boxes.

Target:
Gillette body wash-$2.00. Used $2.00 MQ= free
Quaker Simple harvest granola bars-$2.50 each. Used $1.00 MQs for each box. Buy 5 boxes get $5.00 Target gift card. Final cost=$2.50 for 5 boxes. I used that gift card to get another deal-on that one, I paid $2.50 cash and got back another $5.00 gift card!
Suave shampoo/conditioner-.97 cents each. Used $2.00 off 3 MQ= .91 cents for 3 bottles. I also used another $2.00 MQ on the trial size hand lotions= .97 cents for 3.
Market pantry juice pouches-on clearance for $1.14 per box (10 in each box).

Those a the most "noteworthy" deals that I got.

Tonight Brett will be preaching at Highest Praise Family Church (Tarpon Springs)-if you are welcome to come by!
Happy Wednesday!

Coupon

2009-03-17T19:48:00.004-04:00

Click here for a $2.00 coupon good off of ANY Snuggle Creme' fabric softener. Make sure you hit the "back" button (then "refresh") so you can print out two! Thanks Tara.
I have two coupon classes coming up...one on the 30th and another in April, let me know if you are interested in taking one!

a new addition to the McCann family......

2009-03-17T11:37:00.004-04:00

.....and NO! I am not pregnant! :) (thankfully!)

It all happened while I was shopping for a swim suit (got lucky and bought the 3rd one I tried on....btw!). Brett and the kids walked down to Petsmart while I was at Ross-that was all it took! The pet rescue people were there, trying to get the dogs and cats adopted out. The kids spotted a playful kitten and once Brett held it....it was all over! They drug (literally DRUG) me to the pet store for me to see this kitten that we just HAD to adopt. I, being the "level headed one", said "NO!". They begged and pleaded and I reminded them of Spencer's asthma (and the 3 dogs, hamster and fish that we already have!). The adoption "expert" stepped in and told us that because the kitten has short hair, he should not upset Spencer's asthma....BUT.....if it did then we could return the kitten back to the shelter. Brett and I told the kids we'd "think about it" while we were running other errands. I was hoping that once they could not see the cat, we'd be able to talk some sense into them! We stopped at Starbucks (thanks for the gift card Tanya!) and the kids all sat up at the bar and Brett and I sat at a nearby table. I was pleading with Brett-telling him all the reasons why we'd be NUTS to even consider bringing a cat into our house! He told me that we would need to switch seats-since he was facing the kids. I turned around to see what he meant and there they were, all three of them lined up at the bar, staring at us with anticipation. I knew THEN that we'd be bringing home a cat! I told them that IF their maw Maw said it was a good idea THEN they could get the cat-thinking that my Mother would NEVER say that...we'll she gave them the "go ahead"! They handed me the phone and she said "why did you do that to me?!" and responded..."why did YOU do that to ME!?". I even tried to get out of getting the cat while I was in line at Walmart (...did I ever tell you how much I HATE Walmart?)...the kids were thinking of a name for the cat and they saw the movie "pinnocio" for sale. They asked the lady behind us if she could remember the cat's name in the movie. She said "no". I told them that IF the lady would have know the name, then they could have had the cat...just kiddin' around with them. Anyhoo-needless to say, we got the cat! He really is a sweet kitten, he's 3 months old and he is playful and loving....and fascinated by the slow drip we have in our bath tub (when the kids do not shut the water off all the way). He gets in the tub and just watches it. He sleeps at the top of the bed with Madeline. Once I get home from taking the kids to school, he roams from room to room crying....I am convinced that he is looking for the kids! It is the only time he does that. His name was Einstein-according the shelter worker. The kids have not agreed on any one name just yet though...they mostly call him "Frisky" or "Kitty". Well, I just wanted to share the news with you! Hope you are all having a awesome Tuesday! FIND something to celebrate today...don't just let this day go by "just another" Tuesday!

OH! And FYI....the dogs are getting along just fine with the kitten.

CVS

2009-03-16T16:38:00.007-04:00

I did my CVS shopping today, here is what I bought:
Infusium shampoo-clearanced to .72 cents-used $3.00 MQ-cashier entered in manually making it free.
1 Dry Idea deodorant-$2.99 used $2.00 MQ printable and earned $2.00 ECBS=$1.01 money maker
2 Right Guard deodorants- $2.99 each used $1.00/2 MQ and earned $4.oo ECBs ($2.00 for each one)=.98 cents for 2
1 Ajax dish soap=.99 cents
1 Irish Spring body wash 18 oz-$4.99, earned $4.99 ECBs=FREE (limit 1)
1 Colgate Max White toothpaste 6.0 oz-$2.99, earned $2.99 ECBS=FREE (limit 1)
12 trial size Schick razors (2 in each pack)-.99 cents, used $1.00 off ANY disposable Schick razor= -.01 each pack.
I paid $2.11 out of pocket, used $9.99 ECBs and 1 $4.00 off a $20 purchase store coupon (scan those cards BEFORE you shop!!). I got back $13.98 in ECBs.
The Irish Spring and Colgate deals are ONLY available until Tuesday!
Happy Shopping!

Sunday's Walgreen's ad

2009-03-14T09:00:00.002-04:00

Click here to view this week's Walgreen's ad...thanks to HCW.
Couple of the deals that I spotted are:
Speed stick deodorant .99 cents (final cost after you get $1.00 in RRs-pay $1.99 up front)
Revlon cosmetics: bogo....use 2 coupons for each deal you get!
Dove products: 25% off...buy 8 products get $8 RRs, buy 6 products get $6 RRs, buy 4 products get $2 RRs. That is a great deal since Dove is on sale for 25% off and you can use your coupons to make the price even cheaper!
Listerine/ Reach products are on sale 3 for $9. Buy 3 get $6 RRs=final price of 3 for $3...use those coupons to make this deal even better!

That is just to name a few...I often find more deals while I am doing my shopping...I'll let you know what else I find!

Later tonight I will post CVS deals....if I have time.
Just a note...the RRs you may have earned, from the "Blink" deal or the hidden "Dove" deal (2 weeks ago), expire tomorrow...make sure you use them up!
Happy shopping!

Publix

2009-03-13T19:19:00.003-04:00

Ok, so here are the deals that I spotted so far, if you find more, feel free to post a comment and let us all know!
IAMS cat food-$6.49 Use -$5.00 off any IAMS cat food MQ= $1.49
Lysol spray cleaner-bogo, use 2 -.50 cents off MQs (or $1.00 off, if you still have them).
General Mills cereal-bogo
Bertolli olive oil-bogo
New England coffee-bogo
Bertolli pasta sauce-bogo
Barilla pasta-bogo
Uncle Ben's rice-bogo
Planters trail mix-bogo
Kellogg's fruit snacks-bogo
Post cereal-bogo
Kraft/seven seas dressing-bogo
Orville Redenbacher pop corn-bogo
Cheeze-it-bogo
Bryers Ice cream-bogo

These are just a few of the deals this week-if you want to see the entire ad, click "publix essentials" on the AdSense side bar. I do not have my coupons with me right now, so I am not exactly sure of which ones match up. I am almost certain that there are coupons for each one of these products that I listed-so check your coupon boxes before you go shopping!
Today I cut this week's coupons-now I need to get them filed. It is a chore, but once you see how much money you can save (or MAKE...in some cases), the work is definitely worth it! My dear, sweet, loving, husband-has tried to convince me that I need to "cut back"-he fears it is too much "work" on me. He' s already told me that once I start up my business I am not going to be able to keep up. It really does not take up that much of my time-in my opinion. Once you get organized and you keep up with your weekly coupon cutting it is a smooth process. Now....if you should fall behind, even for just one week...THEN it can be overwhelming. I do feel over whelmed from time to time...but what Mom doesn't?? Running the kids here and there, keeping up with the household chores, church duties, coupons, photography, working out..... it is a lot to do. But I look at it this way-which one of those things can I cut out? NONE of them.
MY DH (dear husband) has also tried to get me to "sell my seed"! He thinks I need to sell some of my stock...I just do not feel good about that. I feel like I 'd get much more in return by sowing it-rather than selling it. Anyhoo, once again-I have just rambled on about the thoughts in my head...some things will just never change. :)

Publix

2009-03-12T21:08:00.003-04:00

I am so sorry that I have not had the chance to post this week's Publix deals...I am gonna try super hard to do it tomorrow. Until then, you can always take a look at the ad by clicking on "publix essentials" on the right side under "google adsense"....and earn me some money while you are at it :) . I will try to get to the coupon match ups for Publix some time tomorrow....things have just been crazy busy here-each day seems to be as busy as the last and each week-just as busy as the week before.....when will it slow down? I do not know how I ever had time to "work" before!

Today....

2009-03-12T13:55:00.002-04:00

This morning I had a Doctor's appt in Tampa-some of you know what it was for, others may not. It is more of a "personal" situation and until I make a final decision on the matter I am gonna keep it that way. Anyhoo-for all of you who pray....please pray that God would lead me in the situation and that HIS will be done. If I decide (and my insurance company decides), I may be having surgery...not major-just one night at the hospital...while I am there, I 'd REALLY like to take care of another issue-that will NOT be covered by my insurance...so I'd be needing about $7,000 to get that done. So y'all please pray for God's will and His provision in the matter.

On my way home from Tampa, I stopped at Walmart....did I ever mention that I HATE Walmart??? Well, I DO! The kids needed some school supplies so I just stopped in to pick up a few things. While I was there I checked out the "trial size" section and I found "Johnson & Johnson" body lotion (not the kind for kids, but the kind for women). The trial size was .97 cents and I had $1.00 MQs good on ANY J&J body lotion. I got 15 of those and just paid the tax on them. The cashier manually entered the coupon so there would be no overage. Well, it is about time for me to pick up the youngins...hope you are all having an awesome Thursday!! Oh! I was so thrilled to hear from Tina today, she took my class a few weeks ago and she just called to let me know how much money she is saving!! I LOVE IT! Thanks for letting me know Tina...sometimes I wonder if I am helping anyone or if I am wasting my time.

2009-03-11T09:21:00.002-04:00

This morning has been a bit slower than yesterday...thankfully! I took the kids to school and then went to the gym. Just before I walk into the gym I tell myself that I am no longer a wife, mother, friend, couponer-lol, .......I am just ME and I choose to put ALL I can into the time that I am giving myself there. It may sound strange, but I make it time to "de stress" and I choose to look at it as a "luxury". Anyhoo.....I do think that the way we look at things GREATLY affects our attitudes and our outcomes! Not sure what all that was about....but it came out so I typed it...much like the way words come out of my mouth...with no good reason.

2009-03-10T22:29:00.002-04:00

Today has been a CRAZY day...I've been so busy! Anyhoo, I have about 300.00 more to add to my monthly savings-but it will have to wait until tomorrow. I did want to share a couple of good deals with you...Publix has their "bird's eye" steamers-frozen veggies on sale for 50% off. Original prices vary from $1.89-$2.39. Use your $1.00 off 3 MQs along with $1.00 off 3 Store Q and you can save a TON! If you choose three that are $1.89 (corn, peas....)-you end up paying just .83 cents for THREE bags!I love these steamer bags...they are so easy to pop into the microwave...my kids sometimes eat them as snacks! Also, Publix has Glade scented oil candles and refills on sale for $2.50 each. Use your BOGO MQ to make them 2/$2.50 and then use the $2.00 MQ inside the box (if you can reach it) to make them 2/.50 cents. I just learned that you can do this. I always thought that if you had a bogo coupon-you could not use another MQ-but I met another Christian blogger/couponer and she assured me that it was perfectly legal...since you are getting 2 products (you would not be able to use 3 MQs-since you can never use more than 1 MQ per product). I tried it out at Walgreen's last week and they register accepted both coupons, so I am trusting that this other lady is correct.....who do you ask about "stuff" like this? She said she confirmed it with a coupon guru. Anyhoo-I'd never want to do anything that would compromise my integrity...I want to please God in everything I do...including couponing! But, I feel safe knowing that this other lady shares my principles and she is "certain" it is legit. PLUS...I am sure the Walgreen's register would have "beeped" if it as not correct...as it does half the time when it IS correct lol!
At Walgreen's...besides the awesome deals that I have already told you about, they have Trident splash gum (peppermint) on clearance for .60 cents. Use your .75 cents off 1 MQs to get them for free (+ overage, if your Walgreen's allows it-if not, they can just enter the .60 cents in manually to make them free) Irish Spring body wash is $4.42-when you buy one the register will print out a coupon for a free Irish Spring body wash.

That is about all I have "in me" right now-I promise to share more tomorrow!

Free samples

2009-03-09T19:02:00.001-04:00

Click here for a free sample of Gain detergent, from walmart.

Click here for a coupon and sample of sun crystals stevia sweetner.

Redbox

2009-03-09T17:10:00.000-04:00

Here is the code for today's free Redbox code : F3T9L6

FYI

2009-03-09T09:55:00.002-04:00

When you do your Walgreen's shopping, make sure that the cashier scans your MQs BEFORE the store Qs.....otherwise the computer may not allow you to use ALL your MQs. I have found that this varies from store to store-but to be safe give them your MQs first.

God's blessings have been poured out upon us here in the McCann household....we'll you may be shocked to find out that "God" sent Spencer LOTS of new clothes! Well.....maybe not "God"exactly-He may have used someone to give them to us. There was a note in the box that said " This is a little something back because you have given unto others as you would have them give unto you." The sender said she wanted to sign the note "God"...but she was afraid too :)! How funny! I'd probably be afraid to do that too! Anyhoo, Spencer has LOVED his new clothes! The first morning after he got them, I woke up to find him wearing the robe that he got....and his shoes and socks were on! Well, as soon as he saw that I was awake he said excitedly "Mommy, I am wearing this robe 'cause I did not want you to see what I look like" then he flashed open his robe to show me how his clothes looked on him! He had a sweatshirt on, and before I could even look at it, he was stripping that off to show me the shirt he had underneath it! Poor kids must have been sweating to death waitin' for me to wake up! He is so proud of his new clothes ! Thank you God and the people that you use to bless our family!

Walgreen's

2009-03-08T12:33:00.004-04:00

I already put up this week's Walgreen's deals but I wanted to share what I bought and how much I saved there!I shopped at 3 different Walgreen's today-since I had to drive my niece to Weeki Wachi, to where she left her car. Instead of wiping our any one store, I just stopped a those along the way. All together I got 33 bottles of "Fructis" shampoo/conditioner/ styling products, 11 tubes of Colgate, 3 packs of Revlon emery boards, 4 boxes of "sambucol" medication, 2 candy bars, 2 bottles of Coffee mate creamer, 4 Glade Sense and sprays, & 3 Glade lasting impressions. My TOTAL (for all 3 stores) was $16.26! Some of my receipts had a subtotal into the negative...one was -.65, the other was -.08! Too bad we gotta pay the tax! I SAVED...$291.26 (JUST today!), between the 3 stores! Anyhoo, there are lots more deals this week, but I just had to time to get the free stuff for now! I have over $60 in RRs to spend, I just gotta find the time to really look around or more deals! BTW-if you have one in diapers still, the Huggies deal at Walgreen's rocks! Use those printable coupons and get a ton of diapers for super cheap! The printable Huggies coupons re set...so even if you already printed your limit of 2, you can still print 2 more of each one (while they last!)

Allie's pics

2009-03-07T21:50:00.008-05:00

A few of my favorite pics from Allie's shoot!

My CVS trip

2009-03-07T19:29:00.003-05:00

Transaction 1= 2 Herbal essence shampoo/conditioner ($2.88 each-earn $1 ECBs for each bottle (limit 5), used $3.00 off of 2 MQ)=.76 for 2 bottles. 1 Secret Flawless deodorant ($3.99 earn $1.00 ECB, used 1 $2.00 MQ=.99 cents).
Transaction # 2=9 Zone bars (on sale $10 for 10...or $1 each...used $1.00 off 1 coupons=free) 4 bottles of Herbal Essence, 4 Colgate total ($2.89 bogo...used 4 $1.50 coupons=negative .04 cents).
That is all I have time for right now.......so sorry!
I have been busy shooting my niece's senior pics..I'll post some later!