Random Thoughts

I thought I would try something new today. I'm going to share some of the random thoughts and questions I've had this morning and over the past couple of days. So, here they are. Oh and a little disclaimer, they're not necessarily deep thoughts or philosophical. Just random, weird thoughts...

I have loved watching the Olympics this year. The athletes, their stories, and their God-given abilities are incredibly inspiring. I've never enjoyed an Olympic season like this one.

I have a hard time coping with the athletes who don't get gold, especially those that look really nervous before they perform. I had a super tough time with one of the 100 meter sprinters from Jamaica over the weekend. He looked SO nervous before he ran, he lost to a guy who seemed really arrogant, and he looked heart-broken. I worried about him for two days!

Is Michael Phelps part fish? I mean, seriously. Is he? Has anyone checked? That guy is INCREDIBLE! He is no human. The guy has got to have gills somewhere.

Is the scrunchy back? A great majority of the female Olympic athletes wear them. Do they even sell them in stores anymore, or is they made specially for Olympic athletes? I haven't rocked a scrunchy in many years. I was just wondering if I should be running to Wal-Mart.

A night out with a friend, minus the hubby and kids, is needed more than I realized! I had dinner with a great friend last night and was reminded of how I need to do that more often. Friends and personal time should be more of a priority for me. I must make time. I'm a better wife, mom and friend for it.

Asher can say so many things these days. He never ceases to amaze me.

Tristan's school actually starts next week. I can't believe it! For so long, it seemed a ways away, now it's just days. He can't wait.

Kobe Bryant is fluent in Italian and Spanish (and who knows how many other languages). Who knew?

Charles Barkley has a really embarrassing golf swing, and he's coming out with a golf show. I will have to watch that!

I missed Sunday's service at church and am sad about it. I heard it was really great. I tried to watch it online but ran into trouble. When will I find a spare 30 minutes to watch it?

Is it bad to tell people how much you love your makeup? Because I do. I think it's fantastic. But if I came up to you and said, "Wow. I really like my new mineral makeup." Would you think, "Wow. Thanks for letting me know because I've been wanting to try that out. Now I know I shouldn't." Is it one of those things? I'm going to confess right here... I've thought that before when someone has told me how much they love their makeup. That's BAD!!! I'm not proud of it. Or do you think, "Man, she sure is conceited. She's bragging about how pretty she thinks she is." Just wondering.
On this note...thanks, Lindsay, for pointing me in the right direction! I LOVE it!

I really really want to use my $2/$10 CVS coupon. It STINKS that they don't want me to.

That's all I can think of right now. Do you have any random thoughts you want to share???

Sad Day for Me and My CVS Plans

This morning, I happened across an awesome blog, The Homemakers Resource. As I was reading her posts, I came across some sad news that will affect the deals I have planned for CVS. Check out what she found on Hot Coupon World:

"CVS has LEGALLY requested that online printable coupons no longer be posted anywhere on the internet. CVS has contacted several of the larger websites, not just HCW. It is their position that the only valid printable coupons will be sent to you directly through their email system.

As to the online magazines and newspapers. Their online version is simply a convenience service. It's not meant to be printed out and replace their paper magazines and newspapers, otherwise they'd lose their income from their product. Same goes with the coupons in those situations, they are not meant to be printed out and replace the paper ones. My guess is CVS doesn't have the time to police every single newspaper or magazine's online source to make sure that their coupons are blacked out or made unprintable.

In the end, we at HCW are intent on following the parameters stated on the legal notice that we received. And that is that the only valid internet coupons will come directly to you in your email and that any other sources of internet coupons are not legitimate, not approved by CVS and will not be allowed to be posted on HCW."

So... that $2/$10 CVS coupon I've been printing and using, the one found from the Richmond Parent's Magazine, should only be used if I actually bought the magazine and cut it out. SAD!
Like the Homemaker's Resource and HCW, I want to make sure that all my frugal shopping trips are ethical, legit, and 100% above board. That being said, I will only be using CVS printable coupons that I personally receive through email. So CVS, if you read this (and I'm SO sure you do) please send me some coupons. Pretty please!

To read more about this, check out this ABC News story: Secrets of Online Shopping Discounts

Lake + Friends = Fun!

Last weekend, my three boys and I headed down to the lake for a much-needed getaway. We haven't been able to go much this year because we've had such a busy summer. The fact that we haven't been down in more than a month and that we had good friends who were able to join us made this weekend even sweeter.
For Tristan, there is no greater place to go than the lake. He counted down all week last week. Friday couldn't get here soon enough.

Here are my two of my three boys and me right after we got there:

Jon and Karen, two of our family's favorite people, joined us Friday night. They don't have any kids yet, but they sure do love on ours. Our boys adore them! We are so blessed to have such awesome friends!!! Here they are on Saturday morning, right before we went down for some relaxing on the lake:
My sweet Tristan floating in the lake. Sheer joy!Karen and Tristan on one of our boat rides:Asher is a GREAT driver!
Daddy's first mate!
Tristan and Jon on the sea doo. Jon was amazed at how fast Tristan likes to drive. He said Tristan always has the throttle completely down. That's my boy!
Here are a couple of random pics of my sweet boys. The first one is a great "noodle" shot (that's what I call it when my boys don't have any clothes on). I just love noodle babies!And finally, my sweet grinning Tristan!We had a great weekend. We didn't get much rest because Asher didn't sleep well...at all. Aside from that, it was the perfect getaway. We enjoyed it so much, we think we'll go back this weekend and spend some time with Mimi and PaPa.

She's Just Too Smart

This past Friday, I had the pleasure of attending my dear sweet friend, Leisha's, baby shower. Her mom and sister worked hard and quietly for weeks planning a surprise shower for her at Kobe Steakhouse. The rest of us were thrilled to be in on the surprise. However, Leisha, being the super smart lady that she is, figured things out ahead of time, and spoiled the surprise. She really is just too smart! Oh well! It was still fun for ALL!!!

Here is Leisha walking in on the big surprise. Isn't she precious?!Here are all the kids in the hot spot...right beside the gift opener. Is there any greater place to be???After the shower, I got someone to take a picture of Rachael, Leisha, and me. I have none! These ladies are two of my best friends, yet I've never had a picture of us together. Now I do! Yippee! :)
Baby Luke will be here very soon, and I, for one, can't wait to meet him! If he's anything like the rest of his family, he will be hard not to love.
Hairston Family, we sure do love you!!! Leisha, you're almost there. Soon, you'll be tickling little Luke's toes. I can't wait!!!

Best Friends

See that blue blanket? That, my friends, is a priceless masterpiece. That is, of course, if you're asking Asher. This blankie is his lovey, and his lovey is extremely important to him. I don't know what we would do if anything ever happened to Lovey. Asher refuses to sleep without him, and lately, he takes him everywhere.

Tristan, knowing how important Lovey is to Asher, likes to snatch him and run away. This always elicits loud screams from Asher. It's gotten to the point that when I'm out of the room and I hear him scream, I immediately say, "Tristan, give Ash his lovey back." Then I hear Tristan laugh and run away. It happens at least once every other day.

Look at this love! Whenever I showed Asher this picture, he said, "Oh wee..." because that's what we say when he snuggles Lovey. Now it's an automatic response out of him.

This picture is a rare one. He was actually going to share Lovey with me. I couldn't believe it!

"Ok, Mom, if you're not going to take him, I'll just chew him!"
Great thing about Lovey is that he's very forgiving. He has been thrown, gnawed on, thrown up on; he's been dragged and snatched. He's been with Asher through loud nights of screaming in the nursery at church and in his bed. He's been on every trip Asher's been on. Lovey is a loyal friend. I dare say that Lovey is Asher's best friend. Again I say, what would we do without Lovey. I hope we never have to find out.

A New You...Actually a New Me...and the Boys

The boys and I have all gotten new haircuts. Well actually, Asher didn't. The big boys did. Between the three of us, I think we lost about 20 pounds in hair alone! If I were super organized and had lots of time, I would post before and afters. Alas, I'm not super organized, and it's probably not worth the time it would take me to do so. So, you'll just see the after. What a thrill, right?
I'll have to get a more clear shot of Channing, but for now, this sweet one of him reading toTristan will have to do...So that's it. I know, I know. Really exciting. You'll probably want to pass this link on to thousands. I know. I understand.

This Week's Publix Trip

Like my friend, Hillary, I LOVE Publix. Not only is the place clean and organized and the workers helpful, but Publix is also the home of the double-seat car buggy. This is a plus for me but an even bigger plus for my boys! They love to steer and drive themselves all over the store. I mean, look at that picture...don't they look happy? This was taken before the free cookie, so imagine how happy they were after that!

This post probably won't help any of you get deals since I shopped on Tuesday, and all those deals are over. But I had these sweet pictures of my boys and got some great deals, so I had to share. Normally, I will probably forgo sharing my Publix deals because I almost always shop there on Tuesday nights (which is the last night for each week's sales). I do this so that I can get rainchecks for whatever they've run out of. By Tuesday night, they are usually out of several things, but have comparable things which allow me to take advantage of the sale AND allow me to get rainchecks for later. I LOVE it! Anyway, on to this week's deals. This is what I got:

I did two transactions on this trip (with the help of my patient husband) because I had two $5/$25 coupons that I wanted to use AND two $2/$10 CVS coupons.

First transaction:
Natures Own Wheat Bread 2.69
Turkey and Cheddar Lunchable 1.89
Strawberries 2.50 (on sale)
Pepperidge Farm Cinnamon Raisin Bread 2.50 (on sale)
Spinach 1.50 (on sale)
Bananas 1.42
Baby cut carrots .85 (on sale)
Gerber meat sticks 1.25
Gerber carrot dices .75 (on sale)
Simply Orange Juice 3.00 (on sale)
Greenwise organic milk gallon 5.69
Coupons used:
$5/$25 Piggly Wiggly
$2/$10 CVS
.50 off Pepperidge Farm bread~Target
Total OOP: $18.03
My savings: $11.90!!!

Second Transaction:
2 Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats (I used a raincheck from last week) B1G1 Free at 3.99
2 Fiber One Cereals B1G1 Free at 2.00
2 Total Raisin Brans B1G1 Free at 2.00
2 Boxes of Spider Man Fruit Snacks B1G1 Free at 2.69
2 Pringles chips on sale @ 5/$4
Cucumber on sale @ .75
Kraft pudding .97 (I usually try to shop only sales when possible, but Tristan really wanted some pudding)
Yo Kids yogurt on sale 1.40
Plums on sale 1.76
Coupons used:
$2/$10 CVS
$5/$25 Piggly Wiggly
Kellogg's $1/2 cereal
(2) .75 Total cereal
(2) .75 Fiber One cereal
1.50 online printable yogurt coupon
.50/2 Pringles coupon~online Target
Total OOP: $8.57
Total Savings: $26.92!

So in this trip, I spent a total of $26.60 and saved $38.82!!!
Even though you can't go out and get these deals (since the deals have changed), I hope this gives someone hope. You too can get your grocery bill down. With the high cost of things you can't control (like gas), this is one way that you can minimize your expenses.
Happy shopping! OH! And as always, for a list of all the Publix deals and corresponding coupons, check out Sarah at Fiddledeedee.

I'll leave you with this picture of my boys:

As you can see, Asher was ready to get moving....quite possibly because he knew there was a cookie in his very near future.