Outwardly Pleasant

More coupon savings....

2008-07-07T09:47:00.002-05:00

Of course I have more coupon savings to share with you! haha!

On Thursday, did the grocery shopping for the 4th and saved $21.10.

Yesterday, I stopped at the grocery store to pick up more paper plates for my sisters baby shower. They were on sale and i had more coupons, so it was worth it. I saved $1.75.

I also stopped in at walgreen's to get more sunscreen, since it was buy 1 get 1 50% and I had 2 coupons, I picked up a couple of other things and ended up saving $9.49 by using coupons.

So total savings: $32.34

Back from Wyoming

2008-06-30T11:54:00.001-05:00

Last week hubby and I went on a vacation with his parents. We spent time in Jackson Hole, WY and in Cody, WY. We did day trips to Grant Teton National Park and Yellowstone. We also went into Montana and visited the Battle of the Little Bighorn national monument and went to a reenactment of the battle.

I was excited to see a Grizzly in Grand Teton but was unable to get a picture before it was out of site. That was my first time seeing one! Then in Yellowstone we saw several black bears close to the road. Of course, we also saw a lot of bison, elk, and moose.

In Cody hubby and I went white water rafting. I have never gone before and had a lot of fun! We also went horseback riding and I experienced my first ever rodeo!

If you care to see pictures, see below:

Guess what? you got it - more coupon savings

2008-06-29T19:31:00.003-05:00

So I told you all about the awesome deal I got at walgreens in my last coupon post, well guess what? I went back and did it again! haha! This post is late because I have been on vacation. This time instead of buying the refills of the toothbrushs, I got two toothbrushes, since I had a coupon for buy 1 get 1 free. So I ended up saving $11. Then I used the register rewards to make another purchase, and saved $10.82.

Today I went to Target, walgreens, and the grocery store. At walgreens I saved $6, at target I saved $12, and at the grocery store I saved $15.25.

So the total for all of these is $55.07

Friday Feast #194

2008-06-20T16:25:00.003-05:00

Appetizer
If you could live on another continent for 1 year, which one would you choose?

I would love to live in either Europe or Australia

Soup
Which browser do you use to surf the Internet?

Internet Explorer - a lot of the things I do online don't work with FoxFire, so no point in using it.

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how much do you know about the history of your country?

oh - going to be ashamed with this one - I would say probably a 4.

Main Course
Finish this sentence: Love is…

hard work.

Dessert
Have you ever been in or near a tornado?

Thankfully - no. There are a lot that come through parts of the St. Louis counties - but so far not the specific area that I love in.

Friday Fill-in #77

2008-06-20T16:14:00.002-05:00

1. A smile is contagious.
2. Monopoly is my favorite board or card game.
3. I would love to have more friends in my life and less stress at work
4. When I think of the Summer Solstice, I think of warm weather (because of the word summer. haha!) I'm so pathetic.
5. I just remembered I need to check in for my flight tomorrow.
6. One of my favorite song lyrics goes like this: raise up your glass and toast the mother' fuckers, just move a long. (seriously - how can you NOT love that. haha!)
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to a book signing for Elaine Viets, tomorrow my plans include leaving for Wyoming and Sunday, I want to visit the Tetons!

Other Coupon savings....

2008-06-20T08:06:00.002-05:00

Forgot to mention some other coupons from this week. Last Sunday I bought m&m's at walgreen's and used their $1 off coupon that was in the easy saver catalog.

Then I got gas yesterday and used a $2 off coupon for the gas station and had a free 20 oz coke coupon, so I saved $1.39 there.

Also, I had a coupon for a local pool supply company and bought some chemical there. I don't have the one reciept so not sure what I saved, but on the 2nd receipt I saved $6.00

So...an extra savings total of $8.39.

House pictures!!!!!

2008-06-20T05:47:00.004-05:00

If you have been reading the friday fill-in's - then you know that I have been working my tale off on the new house, mostly the kitchen. I am happy to report, that as of last weekend, we have a working kitchen again! Woohoo! For those who have lived in a house while doing a complete kitchen renovation, you know how hard it can be. Hubby and I would come home from work, work in the kitchen till we went to bed or it got too dark to see. We would work all day on Saturday or Sunday unless we had to go somewhere. Work work work work work. I'm so tired of working! lol! My prize for working so hard on the kitchen was getting our pool open and ready for use last weekend. It was great being able to just float around in the water and relax.

So here are some pictures for all of you. I hope this works. If not, let me know and I'll send you a link to see the pics on my picasa web site. I have before, during, and after pictures. This includes the master bedroom, which we did before we moved in and changing out some nasty lights. Then of course, the entire kitchen adventure. We aren't completely done with the kitchen. However what is left is stuff like the transition strips on the flour, the molding around the cabinets, the crown molding for the top of the cabinets, the backsplash (which we are waiting on until we have money again), kitchen lights (whenever what we like goes on sale), and blinds (which we bought out the store - and they only had half of what we need! so waiting for more to show up).

(if you want to see captions - or don't want to see the captions - click on the itty bitty square in the bottom left. The one next to the person symbol. If you don't see the square or symbol - just move your mouse to that area and it will show up. You can also click on the little symbol in the bottom right to link to my picaso album itself and see the pictures in a bigger format)

Walgreens - Finally!!!

2008-06-20T05:30:00.003-05:00

Walgreen's had a deal with an automatic toothbrush and the replacement heads for it this week. I already use the toothbrush and wanted to get the replacement heads. The deal was that if you bought it, you would get that same amount back in a rebate to use on your next shopping trip. Deal right? I had to go to 5 walgreen's before I found the item in stock! Pathetic!!!!! But..I had to keep trying because it was such a deal. Especially because I had extra coupons for the item. haha!

Ok...so here's the break down:

1st purchase:
chapstick - $1.89
toothbrush heads - $5.50 (sale price)
Total: $7.39 (before tax)
But wait...I had coupons for the toothbrush heads. Walgreens had one in the easy saver catalog for $3 off and I had a vendor one for $1. So...
I paid this amount $3.60
and I got a rebate reward for $5.50 to use on my next shopping trip -which I used right away.

2nd purchase:
skittles - $1.99
starburst - $1.01
contact solution - $7.99 (sale price)
Total: $10.99 (before tax)
But wait...I had coupons (of course!!!). Walgreens had one in the easy saver catalog for $1 off the candy. Then I had a vendor one for $1 off the contact solution. Then....I used the rebate reward I got from the first purchase. So...
I paid this amount: $3.64.

So I bought 5 items and I spent a total of $7.24 instead of paying $18.39(before tax). So I saved a total of $11.50 by using coupons. I love finding a good deal!!!! (I will also note that by getting some items on sale - I saved an extra $3.98)

More coupon savings

2008-06-15T08:19:00.002-05:00

On Friday Walgreens had a coupon for $5 off of $20. I decided to take advantage of it because zyrtec was on sale and I would need to buy some soon.

So...I ended up saving $10.15 by using coupons. But here is the kicker...this just shows that when you pay attention to sales and use coupons, you can really save a bunch. The zyrtec itself was on sale for $18.99. I only paid $18.74 for everything I bought! woohoo!

I ended up walking out of there with some photo's I had printed, zyertec, 2 things of toothpaste, deoderant, and fritos. Not bad!

The next day I went to schuncks to pick up a couple of things and saved $4.05 by using coupons.

Save Anheuser-Busch!

2008-06-06T16:26:00.002-05:00

Anheuser-Busch (you know -the make beer?) might be in some trouble. There is a rumor, maybe not a rumor, that a non-USA company has it's sites on AB and wants to buy it out. While I don't own stock in the company, nor do I drink beer, nor do I work for the company, I would really hate to see this happen. AB is such a huge company here in St. Louis.

I can't begin to tell you what is going on, but there is a website that can. So, if you own stock or just interested in what is going on, take a peak.

http://www.savebudweiser.com/

More coupon savings

2008-06-06T11:04:00.000-05:00

Went grocery shopping last night, as you all probably know by now, I like to go on Thursday's when I can get $10 off of $50 at one of the stores. I ended up saving a total of $19.60. Not too shabby! I should somehow convince the hubby to allow me to use this "saved" money on myself, but I dont' see that happening. haha!

Friday's Feast - #192

2008-06-06T10:55:00.003-05:00

Appetizer
When you drink soda/pop/coke, do you prefer to drink it from the bottle, a can, or after pouring it into a cup?
I prefer a bottle, because I can put the cap back on which keeps me from spilling it, and I can carry it around with me, in my car, purse, etc. You get the idea.

Soup
What television show are you willing to stay up late to watch?
None! That's what a DVR is for! That being said, I don't have a dvr at the moment (and not happy about that) but I watch the shows online or just put in a request on netflix to rent the dvd when it comes out.

Salad
Name one person, place, or thing you think of as brilliant.
Computers - sure they are only as smart as the person using them but....you can do almost anything with them! It saves on time, it helps me keep my book database in great shape, and allows me to blog and keep in touch with all my online friends.

Main Course
Would you be willing to work 4 10-hour days instead of 5 8-hour days in order to save gas?
I would love that! Not so much to save on gas, but to have an extra day off during the week. Unfortunately, it's not possible with my line of work. bummer.

Dessert
If you were a superhero, what would you call yourself?

SuperReader! The only problem, I would be so busy reading, I wouldn't be saving anybody. haha!

Friday FIll-In's - #75

2008-06-06T10:44:00.001-05:00

1. Idle hands are making me jealous right now, when will this kitchen work be done! lol
2.I love warm water in the shower (even after being outside in the heat)
3. My favorite time of the day is when I go to bed and I get to relax and read.
4. The last tea I drank was so long ago I don't even remember when.
5. I like to spend time at the pool in the Summer.
6. My mother always said to hold in my stomach and use lotion on my face every day.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to dare I say it? working on the kitchen, tomorrow my plans include working in the kitchen/cleaning house and Sunday, I want to probably work in the kitchen/house and hopefully relax and watch a movie.

Friday Fill-In # 74

2008-05-30T08:40:00.002-05:00

1. For me laziness is the opposite of creativity.
2. The Tea Rose was the last excellent book I read.
3. I like fill-ins because the questions are fun.
4. In nature I like looking at nature? Mountains, ocean, wildlife - to name a few.
5. Democrats should win the US elections. (I purposely left out the specific person I want to win)
6. The last time I laughed with all my belly was wow - I don't know!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to putting primer on the walls in the kitchen, tomorrow my plans include still working in the kitchen and Sunday, I want to enjoy the 5k zoo run and then work in the kitchen!
(hopefully pretty soon my weekends will not involve working in the kitchen! haha)

More savings

2008-05-23T08:44:00.002-05:00

First, I have to tell you my drape story. So I was on the hunt for light blue drapes for the bedroom. We wanted drapes that would block out the light, to help with energy costs and because it's just really bright at night where our new house is. The catch is that we have bay windows, so I needed 5 drapes.

So the hunt began...and continued....and continued....and continued. We found some drapes at Lowes. They were on clearance for $21. So that was affordable. They looked really good, but let in light. However, we liked them so we kept them up while we searched for something else. We went tones of places. It is hard to find light blue drapes in our price range, that also block out the light. All in all - we tried 4 different drapes! None of them worked! So finally I convinced hubby that I could just buy blackout fabric and sew it on the drapes we got from Lowes. I used a 40% off coupon to buy the fabric. (for a coupon savings of $44.40) So, the day I go out to get the fabric, I stopped at Lowes first to return some items. I was walking down the aisle with the drapes and saw ours and just thought - oh there's our drapes. Then I happened to notice the clearance price a bit different. So, I stopped for a closer look. They were now on clearance for $6.24! So I went home and got my receipt and back to lowes I went. Since I was within 30 days from when I bought them. I was able to "return" them and then "buy" them back at the new price. So, I basically saved about $60! haha! Boy did I get lucky.

Ok, went to target the other day because I received the clipless coupon from Target in the mail and had many items on it that I use. Well, for most of those items I also had vendor coupons. Then in the add this week they advertised two brands where if you bought a specific size, you got a $5 gift card for Target. So, I went. How could I pass this up! So I saved $26.30 in coupons and on top of that I have the $5 gift card to use on my next trip.

Friday Feast #73

2008-05-23T08:29:00.002-05:00

1. On my laziest day I like to stay in bed and watch movies, read, and nap!
2. Creating lots of support documents at work makes me feel like I'm being productive.
3. I love little shoes and big purses.
4. This summer I want to get my pool opened and enjoy.
5. reading other blogs made me start my blog.
6. Red starbursts and orange soda taste good - but not together!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner with my grandparents and sisters, tomorrow my plans include flying to LA and Sunday, I want to relax by the pool before the wedding.

Friday Fill-Ins #72

2008-05-16T09:12:00.002-05:00

1. There is absolutely NO way you can get me to eat fish!
2. Usually Spring flowers reminds me that summer is almost here but it's been so rainy and cold, I wonder if summer will ever arrive!
3. I cannot live without my books.
4. Sky diving and traveling to Greece are two things I'd like to try.
5. When life hands you lemons climb in bed and read a book or nap or watch tv until you feel better.
6. ???? is my favorite childhood memory. This one is hard - don't really know if I have one
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to installing the rest of the cabients in the kitchen and go out to eat, tomorrow my plans include removing the wallpaper border in kitchen and Sunday, I want to relax - but will probably work in the kitchen. haha!

Some days are just weird....

2008-05-14T09:54:00.000-05:00

So last night I had a dream that my car was stolen and we were thinking of getting a smart car.
In my dream we were at the dealer, seeing how many grocery bags I could fit into it, etc.

Then after I woke up, hubby turned on the news and it was talking about the smart cars and crash tests. weird.

Then at work one of my co-workers sent me an email with a link to an article on CNN regarding smart cars. weird.

I really hope my car doesn't get stolen. haha!

Please vote for me!

2008-05-11T17:42:00.001-05:00

***sticky post - keeping at the top until May 11th***

I joined a contest at Lush, so if you read this message, I would really appreciate it if you voted for me. You can vote once a day, the last day being May 11th.
So if you really want to...you could vote for me once a day. That would be cool. :)

Here's the link to my profile:
http://usa.lush.com/cgi-bin/lushdb/greenface/zoom3.html?vid=68

Need a good laugh?

2008-05-09T12:54:00.002-05:00

Check out this post from Gwendomama. I came across it a couple of days ago and couldn't stop laughing. I went to it again today because I needed a pick-me-up...and I'm still laughing.

http://gwendomama.blogspot.com/2008/04/art-by-children.html

Friday's Feast One Hundred and Ninety

2008-05-09T12:42:00.002-05:00

Appetizer
When someone smiles at you, do you smile back?

I do, I can't help it, it's automatic, isn't it like that for everyone?

Soup
Describe the flooring in your home. Do you have carpet, hardwood, vinyl, a mix?

We have a mix. Currently almost every room is carpeted except bathrooms and kitchen and entryway. The master bathroom is marble. The two other bathrooms are, um, wow, I can't remember. Seriously, I've been living there for a couple weeks now, you would think I would know. I admit I don't really use those bathrooms, but still. The entry way is marble also. The kitchen was tile, nasty color, but we ripped that up last weekend. Currently it is the vinyl that was on the floor before they previous owners installed the tile.

We plan to put a laminate floor down in the kitchen, dining room, entry way, and library. The flooring is ordered...stay tuned for pictures.

Salad
Write a sentence with only 5 words, but all of the words have to start with the first letter of your first name.

Wow - that's hard - is there even a verb that starts with a "k"? I can't think of anything here.

Main Course
Do you know anyone whose life has been touched by adoption?

I know a couple who has adopted two children from Russia, however I don't really "know" them that well.

Dessert
Name 2 blue things.

My post-it tags are a medium blue and the center of my coiffured ceiling is a light blue.

Friday Fill-In #71

2008-05-09T12:34:00.002-05:00

1. The relationship had an extra secret ingredient; it was good communication!
2. I can hear the stupid frogs in my pool all night long through my window.
3. Right now, I need some more friends so somebody calls my cell phone so I can hear my Harry Potter ringtone. haha!
4. Grocery shopping at Shop N save is where I went Thursday night; it was worth the trip to save at least $10.
5. Why does my back hurt so much?
6. All I can think of is the job interview I had yesterday and if I got the job.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing and hopefully not doing anything around the house (yeah right), tomorrow my plans include probably doing something to the kitchen and a graduation party and Sunday, I want to do nothing but will probably work on the kitchen and I assume see the in-laws for Mother's day (my Mom is out of town)!

More coupon savings...

2008-05-08T20:31:00.003-05:00

I know I know...even more savings....or you could be thinking...even more shopping...I prefer to think about it as more savings. haha!

Stopped by Borders today to get #2 book in the Skulduggery Pleasant series, Playing with Fire. I had $15 in rewards points. woohoo! I used a 30% off coupon and basically ended up getting that book for free. Since I would have rewards points left over, I went ahead and bought another book, but paid full price for that one. I wont' count the rewards points, just the discount with the coupon. So for this I ended up saving $5.10

I went grocery shopping tonight and ended up saving $$15.42 by using coupons.

Also, over the weekend we bought a new duvet cover and ended up saving $8 by using a coupon.

Woohoo Wednesday!

2008-05-07T16:10:00.003-05:00

I'm going to take the idea from Bookfool and do a woohoo! Wednesday.

It's a woohoo Wednesday because on Monday, one of the facilities guys game me a big honkin' trash bag full of tulips that they dug up. I replanted them right away (hoping that's the right thing to do..I know you aren't supposed to dig them up until the leaves turn yellow so that they get the nutrition needed for next year. I guess we'll see what happens). I forgot to water them, but woohoo! today it rained and rained and rained. Probably too much rain, but at least they are getting rain. Oh, and it was about 40 bulbs! I'm so excited because tulips are one of my favorite flowers.

Another woohoo because hubby put the cabinets and counter tops we are replacing from the kitchen on craigs list. We thought it would take awhile to sell, so we did it now before we have all the cabinets out of the kitchen. Well, Woohoo because he has already had 15 people contact him wanting to see and possible purchase the cabinets.

So that's it for me right now, hope you all had a woohoo Wednesday!

New Neighborhood

2008-05-06T20:42:00.003-05:00

So far, we really like the new neighborhood. All the houses look nice, the yards look nice. We have been all the neighbors that are in our circle and they have all been really friendly. They are excited that we are getting rid of the pink kitchen too. haha! I figure we'll have to show them all the new kitchen once it's finished. Oh, and one couple even brought us brownies!!! They sure know how to win us over. They were really good too.

So overall, even with the amount of work that needs to be done with this house, we are very happy we made the decision to buy it.