It's Madness!

Can you believe we're in the last week of March?? I know I can't!  Darrin and I celebrated our 6-month anniversary earlier this month and are quickly approaching the 7th month mark!

This was even more fun than it looks!

And along with the first day of spring and the Ides, March also gives us Madness - in the form of college basketball that is!

Now my husband is a HUGE basketball fan!

My hubs is 24!

And he LOVES college sports!

The Duke game we went to a few years ago!

So March is a great month for him!  I've never gotten into the March Madness thing but in the spirit of taking an interest in your spouses hobbies, when I co-worker asked if I wanted to fill out a bracket this year I said sure - what's $10 if it means I care about what my hubby cares about for three weeks!

As a side note, I am currently in third place - and while there is NO CHANCE of me coming in first, I could finish a respectable second!

Anyway, Darrin and I decided that it would be fun to pit our brackets against each other!  Winner gets to decide the activities for an entire Saturday!  And it's gotten even more fun because if Kansas and Kentucky both win this weekend Monday will not only decide the National Champions, but also the winner of our little bet!  (PS. Everyone be pulling for Kentucky - it will make for a much more entertaining blog post!).

And now for a smooth transition...

I made a yummy pasta side this weekend!  It was super simple and pretty tasty.

First, dice one onion and 8oz of mushrooms and add to a skillet with a little bit of olive oil and minced garlic.  I seasoned with "Pasta Sprinkle" from Penzey Spices, but basil, oregano, and thyme would taste the same!

After about 8 minutes, when the veggies are nicely cooked down, add in sliced prosciutto and continue cooking for another few minutes.

Add about 3/4 Tbsp of flour and cook for one minute.  Add 1/2 cup of chicken stock and simmer for a few minute, until the sauce gets slightly thick.

Add in the juice of 1/2 a lemon and as many capers as you'd like (I LOVE THEM so I add a lot).  Add a bit more chicken stock (I did another cup) and simmer about 5 minutes.

Toss with cooked pasta and serve!

We had this with some rotisserie chicken (the rest of which I made a yummy chicken salad with) and asparagus!

So I must know:  Have you been following March Madness?  How's your bracket doing?  What would you make your significant other do for a day if you had that power?

What I Saved: I saved 100.1% at Harris Teeter with a $2 overage!

This is just a quick update post for the new ad that started today at Harris Teeter!  Now typically you cannot get money back at Harris Teeter, BUT if you stack one of their electronic store coupons with a manufacturer's coupon you can!

This week they are running a B1G1 sale on their Eat. Think. Smile. Granola Crispy Thins, which are normally $3.69.

A few weeks ago they loaded an evic coupon that was also B1G1.  This is no longer available, but if you have it, read on!

The 1/15 SS had a $1 off Eat. Think. Smile products coupon (I still had two left!).

Here's how the math works out:
Buy (2) ETS Crispy Thins for $7.38
B1G1 Promo takes off $3.69, making your new total $3.69
The evic coupon takes off another $3.69, making your new total $0.00
Use (2) $1 off coupons and that makes your total -$2.00!

I also picked up (2) Smart Balance Milks using the coupon for $1.50 off that was issued a few weeks ago and (1) Febreeze Set and Refresh using a $1 coupon from the March P&G and a $1 evic coupon that I had loaded to my card.

That made my grand total -$0.02.  I had $0.36 in taxes so my final OOP was $0.34!

This is my first time really going negative so I am SUPER pumped!  I hope a lot of you have the right q's to match up! 

Happy Shopping!

What I Saved: A look at my Triples

Whew, I'm kinda glad I'm done with Triples for the week (or at least I think I am!).  I'm a little worn out from it!  I definitaly spent a lot more time this week couponing than I normally do, but in the end, I think it was worth it.

I made my last trip today and did pretty well.  I did pick up a rotisserie chicken and salad bar salad for dinner/lunches this week.

Total value: 81.74
OOP: $26.65
Savings: 67%

Some of the big things I picked up (that weren't duplicates of things I've already got) include:

(2) Quaker Oatmeal Cookies: $2 each
Used (2) $0.55 coupons from the 3/25 RP
Total: $0.70

(2) McCormick Seasonings (Chili powder and parsley): $3.68 total
Used (2) $0.75 coupons from the 3/25 RP
Used (1) $0.50/2 evic coupon
Total: -$0.50 (I made money because I used an evic with paper q's - the only way you can get an overage at HT

(4) Dannon Greek Yogurts: $1 each
Used (2) $0.50/2
Total: $1.00

(2) Degree Men's deodorant (2/$5) and 1 Dove Men's deodorant ($2.99 on clearance)
Used (1) $0.50 off two Degree from 3/25 RP and (1) $1 off Dove Men's from the 3/25 RP
Used (1) $1.00 Dove Men's deodorant evic
Used $3 off instant savings promo
Total: $1.49

 Since I've decided I'm now down with Triples, this is my final total:

Total value: $208.13
OOP: $44.73
Savings: 79%

Not too shabby, but I might like Super Doubles better!

I also ran to CVS to see if the scenario I had worked up in my head would really be successful - I think it was!

Here's what I got:

(3) 12 roll packs of Bounty paper towels: $10 each
(2)  Mars Milky Way Bunnies: 2/$1

And I used:
25% off that loaded to my card
(2) $3 off $15 from the CVS Facebook page
(1) $1/2 Mar candy from last week's paper (I don't remember the insert)
(3) $0.25 off Bounty from the March P&G
$0.25 off 2 Mar's Easter singles that printed at the "red box"
(1) $5 ECB from last week

I spent $10.25 before tax and got back a $1 ECB and a $10 ECB.

Now I really want to say that it means that I got everything for free (with the ECB's), but if you look at what I spent and don't take into account what I got back, I still saved 67% and we're going to have paper towels for a while! 

If you have a Harris Teeter, are you done with Triples or are you still going after some deals?  Did you find any great savings this week?

I made a yummy pasta tonight so I will post the recipe later this week for all you non-couponing reader!  Til then I'm off to get ready for the Mad Men premiere...I love me some Don Draper!

What I Saved: Triples round 3&4!

First, let me apologize - I forgot to take pictures of my recent shopping trips, so I will leave you with this:

That's me in Vegas a few years ago, but it's also how I feel about saving $$

Okay, now that that is out of the way, let's get on with the savings!

My boss let us out of work early on Friday (woo hoo!) so I made a quick trip to the store before getting ready for my standing date night with the hubs!  On a side note, this is Restaurant Week here and we tried out a place we had never been and LOVED it!  And we got a four course meal for $20/person - and it was an amazing meal!  But back to the savings...

Friday trip:
Total Value: $26.03
OOP: $2.90
Savings: 89%

Here's what I got:

(4) Eggo Waffles: $2.00 each
Used (2) $0.75/2 coupons from the 3/18 RP
(1) $1/3 evic coupon
Total: $2.50 (or $0.63 each)

(2) Rosino Meatballs: $2.29 each
Used (2) $075 coupons from the 3/4 SS
Total: $0.09

(1) NY Texas Toast Croutons: $1.89 each
Used (1) $0.40 coupon from the 1/29 SS
Total: $0.69

(3) Mentos Gum: $1.50 each
Used (3) $0.55 coupons from the 2/5 SS
Total: FREE!

Today Darrin took me to see The Hunger Games and we made a quick HT run.  I also met a friend at HT to give her a few coupons, used someone else's VIC card and grabbed extra Poptarts.

Today's totals look like this:
Total value: $14.46
OOP: $1.82
Savings: 87%

(4) Pop-Tarts: $0.97 each for the Saturday Special (Limit 2 but I borrowed a VIC card)
Used (2) $1/2 Blinkie coupons
Total: $1.88 (or $0.47 each)

(2) Coffeemate Creams: $2.45 each
Used (2) $0.75 coupons found on the Coffeemate Facebook Page
Total: $0.40

Here's the numbers so far!
Total value: $126.39
OOP: $18.08
Savings:  86%

I'm pretty close to being done for this round of triples - my list tomorrow is a lot of essentials with a few other deals thrown in.  I'm really excited to stock up on paper towels at CVS tomorrow.  It's not a great price on it's own but I have another $3 off $15 and a 25% off coupon added to my card.  Plus $5 in ECB to use!  That's going to make my (3) 12 count packs of paper towels $13.75 AND I'm going to get back a $10 gift card! 

Let me know how you've been doing this week!  I love reading about what other people are saving :)

What I Saved: Triples round 2!

Sorry this post is a little late - but better late than never, right?

Second HT trip during triples and I still did pretty well, although I went to a smaller HT this time and they just didn't carry a few of the things I was looking for.

Here's how I did:

Total value: $27.09
OOP: $6.19
Savings: 77%

And the match-ups for what I used:

(1) Reynold's foil: $4.39
Used (1) $0.75 off coupon from the 1/22 SS
Total: $2.14

(3) Blistex: $1.39 each
Used (3) $0.35 off coupons from the 1/22 SS
Total:  $1.02

(3) Quaker Yogurt Bars: $2.79 each
Used (3) $0.75 off coupons from 3/11 RP
Total: $1.62

(1) 14 oz Minute Rice: $2.19
Used (1) $0.50 coupon from the 1/29 RP
Total: $0.69

(1) French's Worcesteshire: $1.99
Used (1) $0.40 off coupon from 1/22 SS
Total: $0.79

My triples totals so far look like this:

Total Value: $85.90
OOP: $13.36
Savings: 84.5%

You can find my first shopping trip HERE!

Planning a third trip either tonight or tomorrow morning so check back to see how that one goes!

Hope everyone is having a successful Triples!

What I Saved: The start of TRIPLES

First a confession:

I set my alarm for 5:35 this morning and was up waiting for it to go off at 5:25!  I was really excited for my first early morning coupon event! 

It was a great experience.  A few fellow couponers, amazingly stocked shelves and LOTS of amazing deals!

Here's what I got:

Total value: $58.81
OOP: $7.17
Savings: 88%

Here's what I did:

Yoplait Greek Yogurt 4 packs (3) $2.99 each
(3) $0.75 coupons from the 3/11 SS
Total: $2.22

Mardi Grais Napkins (2) $1.99 each
(2) $0.55 coupons from the 3/18 SS
(1) $0.55 evic coupon
Total: $0.13

Suave Deodorant (3) $2.29 each
(3) $0.50 coupons from the 3/18 RP
Total: $2.37

Ortega Taco Seasoning (2) $1.15 each
(1) $0.50/2 coupon from the 1/15 SS
Total: $0.80

Krunchers Chips (1) $2.50
(1) $0.75 coupon from the 1/29 RP
Total: $0.25

NY Texas Toast Croutons (1) $1.99
(1) $0.40 coupon from the 1/29 SS
Total: $0.79

French's Spicy Brown Mustard (2) $1.25 each
(2) $0.30 coupons from the 1/22 SS
Total: $0.70

Natural Bliss Cream (3) $2.19 each
(3) $0.55 coupons from the 2.19 SS
Total: $1.62

Rosano Meatballs (2) $2.29 each
(2) $0.75 coupons from the 3/4 SS
Total: $0.08

Fiber One Cereal (2) $3.00
(2) $0.75 coupons from the 3/4 SS
(2) $0.75 evic coupons
Total: FREE!

I also rack up a lot of Recyclebank.com points and redeem them for $10 off $50 purchases.  Then I spend $40 and get a $50 gift card that I can use as little or as much of as I need so I take an additional 20% off of my total spent!  I plan on writing about Recyclebank once Triples is over - or at least slower!

Check back tomorrow for Round 2!  Can I say again how much I LOVE coupon events!?!

Any great savings you found today that you wanted to share?  What you most excited to get this week?  

What I Saved: A $0.29 CVS Trip!

Based on the ads that came out this week I didn't think this would be a great weekend for deals, which I was okay with because I am SO excited for Harris Teeter Triples starting on Tuesday!  I was wrong...this was a great weekend for deals - especially the unexpected kind!

I grabbed two of the Scrubbing Bubbles from Target using the $1 off Target printable and the $2/2 from the 3/11 RP.  Not the best price possible, but I needed and it and for $1 each I was okay with it!

Before I did my Sunday shopping Darrin and I drove out to Carolina Beach to look for a Beach Cruiser for me.  We found a Trek beach cruiser in pretty good condition for only $75!  I was so excited.  The guy we're getting it from still has some work to do on it, but I'll have it by next weekend.  I couldn't believe the amazing deal we were able to get for it.

I also ran to NY and Co and grabbed three pairs of shorts for less then $55.  They are having a B1G1 50% off sale and I had a $25 off $75 coupon from the Entertainment book.  Less than $20 for a nice pair of shorts is a good deal in my book!

I ran to Harris Teeter and didn't get that much; I spent less than $20!  I did grab 4 packages of Perdue Ground Chicken for $1.69 each!  I love ground chicken - I use it in place of ground beef and ground turkey and it freezes really well!

Finally I hit up CVS and I did really well (as you can see from the title of the post!).  I did another round of the buy and Olay facewash and get a free bodywash using the coupon in the March P&G and the $3/2 Olay facial cleansers from the 2/12 RP.  I also grabbed the free Carefree panty liners using the $1 off coupon from today's SS.

They also had some great clearance deals on scented bodywash, bar soap, lotion, hand sanitizer, etc.  Items as low at $0.49!

I couldn't justify getting bodywash when it's free using the deal above but I did grab some hand sanitizer! I think these would make amazing gifts for some lucky friends.  Or even stocking stuffers if you're thinking that far ahead!  They had a wide selection left, but just be careful because not every product was on clearance!

In addition to the coupons listed above I also used a $3 of $15 coupon that you can find on the CVS Facebook page and a 20% off coupon that loaded onto my ExtraCare Card (make sure you check your email!).  I ended up getting $35.71 worth of items for only $0.29 plus tax!  That's a 99% savings!!

Here are my weekly totals (just HT and CVS because the other items come out of another part of our budget):
Total value: $84.99
OOP: $17.95
Savings: 79%

Time for me to start prepping for the Harris Teeter Triples Event!  I plan on getting up and making it to the store by 6am on Wednesday!  I'll post my savings throughout the week!

Any great deals you've found this weekend?  What are some of your favorite stores for clothing sales?

And don't forget to check out the Facebook page!  Go ahead and click like while you're there - you know you want to!  

The Six Month Itch?

So this week has NOT been the best!  Time change is wreaking havoc on my body, work is beyond stressful and I've been all sorts of crabby lately.  I needed a pick-me-up so I decided to write about the amazing weekend we've had recently!

Two weekends ago Darrin and I celebrated our six-month wedding anniversary! 

I can't believe this was six months ago!

We had an amazing weekend together.  We went and had some coffee to start off our weekend,

I love Starbucks!

Up next was a trip to Lowe's to look at plants.

Isn't he handsome!

We're planning on making some improvements to our backyard this spring and started searching for inspiration!

After a trip to Joanne Fabric for thread and Bed Bath and Beyond to check out food savers we headed home to a fantastic dinner and a not so fantastic Duke/UNC basketball game!

The next day was Hometown Tourist Day (a lot of local attractions offer free admission to county residents in the hopes that they will become tourism ambassadors - GREAT idea by the way) and after our typical Sunday Funday routine of coupons, church and lunch (where I had the most amazing Tuna Steak Sammie) we headed off to the Cape Fear History and Science Museum.

He's so cute when he concentrates :)

I LOVE local museums - it's so fun to learn about local history!  Alright, maybe I just like it because of the nerdy history major in me?  Either way I thought they had some amazing exhibits and I loved learning a little more about the place I've called home for almost FOUR years!

Bad picture; Cool Wilmington model!

We had an amazing weekend and spent the week resting up for a trip across the state to visit the Overholt's and our newest little nephew, Logan!

We had an absolute blast!  In case you don't know, we have 6 nephews and one niece all between the ages of 3 weeks and 8 years old!  We wanted to surprise the kids so the looks on their faces when we showed up at Grandma and Grandpa's house was adorable.

After a pizza party and time catching up we called it a night!  The next day was spent just spending time with family.  Darrin played baseball with his nephews, who had tryouts that day, and I took a quick Target trip with my sister-in-laws!  My in-laws treated us to a yummy dinner and ice cream with strawberries and then I convinced my sister-in-law we should run to CVS (I can't pass up good coupon opportunities). 

Uncle Darrin with his brother, Ryan, and nephews!

We left early on Sunday and were sad to say goodbye!  Even sadder that we had a five hour drive ahead of us!

Wow - I guess my plan worked, because after writing about such great weekends I am in a much better mood!

What do you do to help get over a bad day?  Any fun family activities you can't wait to start doing now that the weather is warming up?

Don't forget, like our Facebook page for fun giveaways and a daily dose of my whit and moxie!

What I Saved: On the road!

Darrin and I spent the weekend in Asheville, NC visiting our family and meeting the newest Overholt - our nephew Logan!  It was a great weekend spent with family, but it did mean my couponing routine changed just a little.

I ran to CVS on Wednesday to try my hand at a variation of a deal I had found online (have I mentioned how much I LOVE the online couponing community?  Hopefully more about that coming later!).  I was able to get all of this for $4.98 before tax AND get back $7 in ECB:

I needed a good stock up on bodywash!

That deal ended on Saturday.  I wanted to try it one more time, so while I was in Asheville my sister-in-law, Sara, took me on a quick CVS run!  I just got the two Olay facial cleansers and two bodywashes this time and no ECB back, but I only spent $0.98 before tax.

On the first trip I used a $3 off $15 coupon that you can find on the CVS Facebook page, a $3/2 Olay facial cleansers from the 2/12 RP and (2) Buy one Olay facial cleanser and get one Olay bodywash free from the March P&G.  On the second trip I had a $4 off $20 loaded onto my CVS card and used the $3/2 and B1G1 coupons.

We got home kind of late so today wasn't as great as I would have liked.  I picked up 5 12 packs of Diet Coke at CVS for $5 before tax using another $3 of $15 and $7 in ECB.  I got back $5 in ECB.

Can't have enough Diet Coke!

I also spent about $25 at Harris Teeter.

Just a few of the things I picked up at Harris Teeter

My totals for the week look something like this:
Total value: $174.09
OOP: $36.18
Total savings: 79%

On a super fun note, I was able to pick up some Charlotte newspapers and extra Raleigh News and Observers! 

For my lucky readers!

I have 4 sets of inserts (2 from each paper) to giveaway to some lucky couponers.  Just go to our new Facebook page, Like us and then send a comment that you'd like one of the inserts!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

What I Saved: I hit the coupon jackpot!

It was a pretty decent week for inserts.  I was excited because I had a coworker meet me at Books A Million for our Raleigh News and Observers this morning.  We were the first few people in line and by 9:50 that line had to be over 40 people deep!  It was NUTS!

There was chatter on Facebook that some Raleigh papers were missing the Smart Source insert.

SIDE NOTE:  For those of you who don't coupon newspapers (at least those in the South?) typically have two types of inserts, the Red Plum and Smart Source.  Some weeks you get both, some weeks only one and some weeks you may get two of the same but with different coupons in each

Anyway, I let my fellow coupons know what I had read this morning and we all decided to check our papers super carefully.  I was planning on getting four this morning but wanted to make sure I got all of my inserts.

I was the fourth person in line and all three women before me were missing their Smart Source and returning some of the papers they had initially asked for.

ANOTHER SIDE NOTE:  The newspapers are kept behind the counter to prevent insert theft on Sunday!

When it was my turn I asked for two, but I specifically asked that they come from a different part of the stack.  I did a quick check but didn't see the SS (Smart Source) either.  I grabbed two local papers because I knew it would have both inserts, although the coupons would not be as good.

FINAL SIDE NOTE:  The bigger the paper the better the inserts.  Our regional inserts are never as good as the larger city.

We all wait for each other and go through our papers together after we're done - it's a great group, it really is!  While were were doing that, I decided to go through my N&O again and what do you know, I found a SS in BOTH of my papers!  I was so excited.  One of the ladies told me I hit the coupon jackpot!  I felt bad because only one other person had the SS and it was only in one of her two papers.

I'm going to search for the Charlotte paper next weekend when we go to Asheville (I'm looking forward to some new writing material from the trip!) and if I can find them bring some back from my coupon friend!

After all of that, I had a pretty low key shopping weekend.  I really stocked up two weeks ago during Super Doubles so I've needed very little these past few weeks.

Total Value: $79.26
OOP: $27.02
Savings: 66% (not my best week but still pretty good - I like to hit at least 70% though)

I was also excited when this bad boy printed out.

For those of you who don't know, this is a "Catalina," which is a manufacturer's coupon.  Sometimes you just get random Catalina's and sometimes they are running promotions that if you purchase the correct quantity of a certain brand you can get dollars off of your next purchase.  I had heard about the Kraft promotion but didn't really pay attention (SO NOT LIKE ME!) so I was excited when this printed off, although I'm not totally sure what triggered it.  I purchases two bags of shredded cheese and a block of cheese as well (just in case you want to try it).

A few other great deals I was able to get are:
12 pack of Diet Pepsi for $1.97 - this was the Saturday Special at HT
Oscar Meyer bacon for $0.49 (using the $3 evic coupon)
Dozen eggs for $0.97
8 bags of Steamfresh frozen veggies for $5.56

Finally, I spent some time getting coupons ready to send to CoupsForTroops.

Basically, they take expired coupons and send them to military families overseas, where they can be used for six months past the expiration date!  If you coupon, you should really check them out!

So I'll leave you with this:
Do you have any hobbies that you get super excited about?
Did you coupon this weekend?  If so, how did you do?

"Blogger's" Block!

I'm not sure how it happened, all I know is that It Has Happened!

Writers Block!  Or in this case, Blogger's Block!

I remember when I started this blog (almost nine months ago) I had no problem coming up with material to write about.  I guess when you're planning a wedding, remodeling a house and trying to rent out another house you have lots of great material!

With our Wedding Party!

And I love writing about my couponing successes, but let's face it, unless you're on the coupon train you probably don't care if deodorant is free after coupon or if a clearance deal make something that typically goes for $8 about $1.50!

So I've been sitting at my computer night after night trying to come up with something exciting to write about.  And I'm stuck!  Not that things aren't great, they are!! They've just really settled down.  Darrin and I have found our rhythm in this whole marriage thing, our floors haven't ripped in months, and our rental tenants are a dream!

But where does that leave you, my loyal followers ( all four of you!)?  I'll tell you where it leaves you - with a very frustrated blogging wife! 

So while I'm working on getting my grove back I thought I'd leave you with something entertaining...or at least entertaining for me!  AMERICAN IDOL!

Now if you've been reading this blog for a while you know that I am a huge Reality Television Junkie!  I can't get enough of it!  And I was SO excited for American Idol to start back.  The auditions, Hollywood week and Vegas results were awesome but I knew the live shows were going to ROCK this year!

The Top 25 didn't disappoint and I'm pretty sure I've narrowed down my two favorites already this year.  I mean, with performances like these how could they not win!

 Phillip Phillips is Amazing!

I am so happy Colton Dixon came back this season!

All that said and done I was little sad to see some of the guys go home on Thursday night.  My third favorite, Jazzy and Wacky Reed Grimm didn't make the cut this round but I would still pay to see him live!

So while I go off to ponder how to get my blogging mojo back I hope I've left you with some entertaining video clips!


Do you watch American Idol?  Any favorites so far?  
Have you ever had writter's block?  How did you move past it?