The joys of being a stay-at-home mommy

I've been very blessed to have been able to stay at home with my little munchkin all these years. I have been a stay-at-home mommy ever since I was 8 months pregnant. I know that with this economy, not many mommies are able to do so which is why I consider myself very fortunate! Never has my baby ( well, now he is 3- not a baby anymore) stepped inside a daycare or has he had a babysitter. I have wonderful friends who have watched him for a day ( and one time even overnight!), but my little Justin has always been under my care. I've always been so afraid to take him to a daycare. Although it would mean more income for my family, I figured I'd wait! At least until he started school! After that, I can find a real job (I say real because I do work now, only one or two days a week. I fill in for my husband and he stays home with our son. I do this so that he is able to spend time with our son.) and get a workin'! Although I did complain in the past about being a stay-at-home mom, I realize that I'm very blessed and so many woman would have loved to do what I am doing now. Spending quality time with my son. I've been present for every single milestone. I witnessed his first time crawling, walking, talking, everything. Now that he is older, staying home with him brings more joys and of course more challenges! With the terrible two's almost at it's end (Gosh, I hope I don't jinx myself!), I can enjoy more of Justin and less of Justin's tantrums! A few months ago, I thought I was going to lose it! His tantrums and public meltdowns were taking a huge toll over me! It was extremely frustrating to say the least! Now, a few months later, I am elated to see that his tantrums are slowly coming to a culmination.
Another great thing about this year or so that I have left before my munchkin starts school, is that he is talking soooooooooo much more! My husband and I were just talking about how it seems that both his vocabulary and speech are dynamically changing! It almost seems, to us, that he is speaking as well as an adult and it blows our minds! This is our first child so everything we are experiencing is for the very first time. This age, I'd say, is magical. Very soon he will be able to join a youth baseball team which is very exciting! My husband and I are so looking forward to this! My husband has been trying to enroll him into sports since he was one, lol! We found out that we had to wait until he was at least four which means we have just one more year of waiting!
Another great joy of this age is that they are so willing to help out with cooking, cleaning, and just any task you give them! My son is always volunteering to sweep and cook! Sometimes, I'm in such a hurry to get dinner ready that I let him help me for half a second and no more than that. Today, however, I decided to let him help me make his own lunch. Which he had lots of fun doing! We made quesadillas out of homemade tortillas. He helped mixing the "masa" or corn flour as well as making the tortillas and adding the cheese on the tortilla to make the quesadilla. He was super happy that I let him do this! He ran to the restroom to get his stool and was ready to help me with anything I needed help with. After washing our hands, I let him form the masa and he helped me flatten it out with the tortilla press. After we were done, he ate a very big quesadilla and was a happy camper. Moments like these are what I will be thinking of as I cry my heart out the day he goes off to college! I feel a tear coming!

Biore face wash & pore strips: 5 cents at CVS

I paid my friends at CVS a quick visit because I received an email from the CVS beauty club this week with a coupon for $2 off any Biore item. I was already planning to buy them (and good thing I waited!) so it was perfect! I had a Buy one pore strips, get one face wash free MQ coupon and they have a deal going on as well. Buy $15 worth of select Jergens, Curel, Biore, or John Freida products and get $5 ECB back. The Biore products were on sale at 2  for $15.  The thing is, it was supposed to cost me 50 cents + tax but somehow, the coupon (BOGO) rung up as -9.00 and not $7.50 so I ended up paying 5 sents for both items- tax and all. 

So This is how it went:

2 Biore products (1 pore strips, 1 face wash) at 2/$15                     

Used 1 BOGO free MQ                                                                

Used 1 CVS Beauty Club Coupon ($2 off)                                       

Received $5.00 back in ECB                           

$15.00 + tax ($16.05)

- $9.00 

-$2.00

-$5.00

____________________

Final Price: $0.05               

I love these strips! The face wash I have yet to try :)                 

                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                 

Free Olay Barsoap at Walmart

The March P&G has some $2/1 Olay Bodywash or In-shower Body Lotion that I hadn't been able to use. I had read that the bars (2 pk) were at low price of $2.59 at Walmart but everytime I went to Walmart, they were out. Shelves cleared. It is a good deal so I wasn't surprised. I haven't been shopping a lot at Walmart so keeping the expiration date (3/31) in mind, I decided to go ahead and (hopefully) use the coupons for these Olay barsoaps. I immediately noticed that one of the 2 pk was priced at $2.00! That meant it'd be free! Yay for free Olay Barsoap!

So I grabbed 8 of them and got them for free. I did have an issue with the cashier, though. He thought the coupon was only valid for 1ct barsoap. I explained it and he called the manager over who told him I was right so that was that. Some of these are heading my in-laws' way :) Some I brought to work with me. The other ones are staying at home and should come in handy during Georgia's scorching hot summer (and Spring!). Yikes!

8 Olay Barsoaps (2 pk) at $2.00

Used 8- $2/1 Barsoap, Bodywash, or In-Shower Lotion MQ from March P&G

Final Price: Free- just paid tax

Quick Kroger Trip 3/27: $36.88 value for $3.37

I love the buy x, save x at checkout sales at Kroger! Although I don't do much shopping at Kroger, I do plan a trip whenever they have a good sale and I have matching coupons. This week, they have the buy 4 participating items, get $4 off at checkout- a really good sale! That's a dollar off per item- yay! Another sale I love at Kroger is the $10/10 sale! I made a quick trip to Kroger this morning (hoping the shelves wouldn't be cleared). Many times I've had to get rain checks for the good sales. Today, I didn't! They were very stocked up! That made me happy because it made for a super quick trip. In and out. 

4 Colgate Toothpastes at $10/10

Used: 3- $0.50/1 Colgate Toothpaste, any MQ

1- $0.75/1 Colgate Toothpaste MQ

Final Price: $0.25 for all four

4 Colgate Toothbrushes at $10/10

Used: 3- $1/1 Colgate toothbrush, any

Used: 1- $0.40/1 Colgate toothbrush, any

Final Price: $0.20 for all four

2 Febreze Air Effects at $2.49

- $2.00 (Mega Event Savings)

Used: 2-$1/1 Febreze Air Effects MQ

Final Price: $0.98 for both (49 cents each!)

1 Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner at $2.99

- $1.00 (Mega Events Savings)

Used: 1- $1/1 Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner

Final Price: $0.99

1 Glade Expressions Fragrance Mist Starter Kit at $3.95

- $1.00 (Mega Events Savings)

Used: 1- $2/1 Glade Expressions Fragrance Mist Starter Kit MQ

Final Price: $0.95

Total Value: $36.88

Total Saved: $33.51

Total Paid: $3.37

CVS Trip: Saved 100% (48.41 value + tax)

Ever since I found out about Publix and their awesome sales, I started shoppping less and less at CVS. I used to do a lot of CVS shopping but I soon lost interest. Well, yesterday I decided to pay my friends at CVS a visit. Hehehe. I did prepare before and luckily, my sister had handed me some coupons she had obtained at her dentist office. They were a one page flyer with these coupons: $1/1 Colgate Toothbrush, ANY and $0.50/1 Colgate toothpaste, ANY. These expired in a few days (3/31) so I was hoping for a sale. My sister had brought me 4, she says they had a whole bunch and nobody was paying them any attention. Well, this week both coupons came in handy. Some at CVS, some at Kroger. This is my CVS Trip. Yikes, I saved 100%! I can almost never say that! I even got a 60 cent overage, which I used on candy hehe. Oh, and I had to use my husband's CVS card too since the ECB (Extra Bucks) deals were 2 per card; this is what I purchased in altogether:

8 Mars Chocolate Bunnies/ Eggs at 2//$1

 BUY 2, GET $1 ECB BACK

Used: 4- $1/2 Any Mars Easter products MQ

Used: 1- $0.25/ 2 MARS Easter Candies CVS coupon

Final Price: Free + 4.25 overage!

1 Glade Scented Plug-in Oils Warmer, 

1 Glade Sense & Spray Starter Kit, and

1 Glade Scented Plug-in Oil Twin Refill at a sum of $20.15 for all 3 products

BUY $20, GET $10 ECB BACK

Used: 1- $3/1 Glade Sense & Spray MQ

Used: 1- $1.50/1 Glade Plug-in twin refill MQ

Used: 1-$/1 Glade Plug-in scented oil warmer MQ

Used: 1-$1/1 Glade Sense & Spray CVS coupon

Final Price: $3.65

4 Colgate 360 Toothbrushes at  $2.99

BUY ANY COLGATE 360 at $2.99, GET $2 ECB BACK

Used: 4- $1/1 any Colgate Toothbrush MQ

Final Price: FREE

2 CVS Gold Emblem Jelly Beans at $0.99

BUY ANY GOLD EMBLEM JELLY BEANS, GET $0.99 ECB BACK

Final Price: Free

Total Value: $48.41

Total Paid: $0.00

Great Trip at CVS! I was planning on buying Glade products and toothbrushes anyway! Love it!

Publix: $66.16 worth for $11.16+tax

It feels like forever since I was last on here! I've been really busy lately. I headed to Publix last night, family and all. I usually don't participate in Publix's penny item but I did last night. I didn't make this trip because of the penny item, though. The reason why I decided to make this unusual Thursday trip is because of a Milk Bone coupon that was about to expire hehe. We are pretty much stocked up on dog food for our pup, Coco. We have treats, too, but I knew I had to get these treats at such a low price- almost free! I also went ahead and got my husband's MUST-HAVE cereal- Cinnamon Toast Crunch. They were bogo last week but I got a rain check since my Publix ran out. My munchkin behaved very well so it was a very smooth trip. In and out. This is what I got (Oh yeah, I need to buy myself a better camera!):

6 Milk Bone Healthy Favorites Treats BOGO at $3.19

Used: 2- $1/1 Milk Bone Treats MQ (Milk Bone's website)

Used: 2- B2G1 Free MQ

Used: 1- $1.50/2 Milk Bone Treats MQ

Used: 2- $1/1 Milk Bone Healthy Favorites Treats PQ

Final Price: $0.88 for all 6!! (Less than 15 cents each!)

3 Kraft Macaroni and Cheese BOGO at $1.39

No coupons

Final Price:$2.09 for all three (or about 70 cents each)

1 Publix Animal Crackers at  $1.85

-$1.84 (PENNY ITEM)

Final Price: $0.01

2 I Can't Believe It's Not Butter BOGO at $2.45

Used: 2- $1.25/ 1 ICBINB MQ (coupons.com)

Used: $0.75/2 ICBINB TQ

Final Price: FREE + $0.80 overage

1 Kettle Brand Chips BOGO at $3.69

Used: 1- $1/1 Kettle Brand Chips MQ

Final Price: $0.85

2 Bumblebee Premium Tuna BOGO at $2.89

Used: 2- $1/1 Bumblebee Tuna MQ (Facebook)

Final Price: $0.89 for both (or about 45 cents each)

4 Betty Crocker Poatoes BOGO at $1.57

Used: 2- $0.50/2 Betty Crocker Potato items MQ

Final Price: $1.14 for all 4 (or about 29 cents each)

2 Lance Cracker Creations BOGO at $3.29

Used: 2- $1/1 Lance Cracker Creations MQ

Final Price: $1.30 for both (or 65 cents each)

2 Cinnamon Toast Crunch BOGO at $3.59 (Raincheck)

Used: 1- $1/2 General Mills cereals MQ

Final Price: $2.59 for both (about $1.30 each)

2 Kellogg's Eggo Waffles BOGO at $2.37

Used:1- $0.75/2 Frozen Eggo Products MQ

Final Price: $1.62 for both (or 81 cents per box)

1 Honey Bunches of Oats BOGO at $3.29

Used: 1- $1/1 HBO Fruit Blends MQ

Final Price: $0.65

___________________________________________

Total Value: $66.16

Total Saved: $53.63

Total Paid: $11.16 +tax (or $12.53)

I just now realized that the Eggo Waffles were supposed to be BOGO at $3.25 and not $2.37..... I don't know what happened. My hubby picked these up so I am confused now. Maybe there were two sizes on BOGO? Who knows. Either way, this classifies as a "good trip". My dog loves these new Milk Bone treats so I am a very happy camper! I love bringing stuff home that my family loves! Tonight, I'm making chicken pot pie so the ICBINB will come in handy! It's been too long since we last had delicious chicken pot pie made from scratch! Well, hope everyone has a great weekend! 

PUBLIX: $86 worth for $12.96+tax (Fresh Fruit Included)

This week was awesome, as usual! I just got back from Publix and I got a great deal. On this trip (my first time ever using a Publix coupon on produce), I was able to get a good deal on fresh fruit! Being at the peak of it's season, I just HAD to get strawberries! They were on sale already at 3 for $5. They are the regular 16 oz (1 lb) container. Yay for cheap fruit! My husband, as I have mentioned before, makes post workout protein shakes and one of the ingredients is strawberries. My little booger, Justin, loves strawberries as well! I was elated to see that they had enough Kraft Fresh Takes this time, last time they only had about 6. I did, however, have to do more than one transaction since the manager said that one of the coupons (the store coupon $2/2 found in the yellow flyer) was 1 per customer. So here is my trip (Luckily, my Publix doubles MQ coupons of up to 50 cents):

(MQ= Manufacturer Coupon, PQ= Publix Coupon, TQ= Target Coupon)

10 Kraft Fresh Takes at 2/$4

Used: 8- $1/1 Fresh Takes MQ (2 printed and 6 from a Sunday paper insert)

Used: 5- $2/2 Kraft Milk Bite, Philadelphia Indulgence, Philadelphia Cooking Creme, Fresh Take, or Oscar Meyer Selects Beef Franks (PQ in yellow advantage flyer) 

Final Price: $2.00 for all 10 ($0.20 each)

(they were supposed to be free but I misplaced 2 coupons >_< It's ok!)

4 Activia 4pks at 3/$6

Used: 3- $1/1 Activia MQ

Used: 2- $2/2 Activia TQ

Final Price: $1.00 for all 4 4pks ($0.25 per 4 pk!)

2 Birdseye Viola Meals BOGO at $5.49

Used: 2- $1.85/1 Birdseye Viola Meals MQ

Final Price: $1.80 for both ($0.90 each)

2 Stouffer's Family-Sized Dinners at $3.99 each

Used: 2- $2/1 Stouffer's Meal MQ (from their Facebook)

Final Price: $3.98 for both ($1.99 each)

3 lbs/ packs of Strawberries at 3/$5

Used: 1- $2 off produce when you buy $5 or more PQ

Final Price: $3.00 (or $1 per pack)

1 Publix Milk at $3.29

Used: 1- Free Milk when you buy any 3 Breakfast Items (I bought Activia & Toaster Strudels) MQ from the Milk Mustache Campaign's Facebook

Final Price: FREE!

2 Country Crock Spreads BOGO at $2.39

Used: 2-$1/1 Country Crock product MQ

Final Price: $0.40 for both ($0.20 each)

2 Toaster Strudels BOGO at $2.35

Used: 1- $0.50/2 Toaster Strudels MQ

Final Price: $1.35 ( $0.68 cents each)

3 Maggi Soups at $0.65

Used: 3- $0.50/1 Maggi Soups MQ

Final Price: FREE + $1.05 overage!

1 Crystal Light Energy Drink Mix BOGO at $2.99

Used: 1- $1/1 Crystal Light Energy MQ (Mailed along with sample)

Final Price: $0.50

Total Value: $85.93

Total Saved: $73.99

Total Amount Paid: $12.96 +tax  (or $14.10)

My favorite buys this week were the strawberries and the Activia. Well, I'm also loving the cheap Stouffer's! Easy peasy dinner, all I have to do is make homemade garlic bread and a salad. Even more awesome is that I have another produce coupon for next week! Maybe I will get bananas and pears. I love fruit! With all these Fresh Takes I'm going to send some more to my mother-in-law (I gave her all 4 from last week) and buy some chicken breasts to make some easy yet yummy dinner. The crystal light are going to be my pre-workout drink- I need to beat my lame record of running 2.5 miles in 25 minutes. Hopefully it'll give me enough energy to improve my record. Well, that just about wraps my Publix trip for this week! Hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday and a great weekend!