How did this happen? There were times I had hoped I could stay home with our children - if we had any. That was just some what if... And now it is my reality.
When I was pregnant I read lots of birth books, some parenting books but no stay-at-home Mommie books. I am completely unprepared for this job! Some days are great, and others I think what was I thinking!?
I often wonder if I'm enough for her, do I provide enough interaction, do I talk enough, did she eat enough, do I show her how much she is loved enough? My gut says, "yes, don't worry about it, just enjoy being with her." It's my brain that says we have to play all the 'right' games, read, sign, sing, dance, and Learn everything!
Am I Really a Stay-at-Home Mom?
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Homemade Laundry Soap
OK, I know I'm on a homemade kick! It's my sister-in-law's fault, she said she was doing it, and once I made my first batch of homemade deodorant I was hooked!!
This is what I've been using:
1/3 Bar of Fels Naptha
1/2 Cup Borax
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
Use 1 Table Spoon in wash. This is a cost of $0.03 per load!!
I didn't use this on whites yet. I've read that whites can become dull, and that if I do use this with whites I will need to add an oxygen cleaner to the wash.
I have to say I liked the lack of smell. I am sensitive to perfume and so this mix had a nice clean smell that was not over powering.
Homemade Deodorant
I did it, I made my own deodorant. There are lots of recipes out there, but I had these ingredients so I used this one.
1/4 Cup Baking Soda
1/4 Cup Corn Starch
1/4 Cup Coconut Oil
2 Drops Essential Oil (I used Lavender)
Some notes from the field:
- It is easy to put way too much on! So the first day I was extra greasy and had grease spots on my tank.
- I love the smell and the feel of this stuff. This is working way better than Tom's ever did and so much cheaper.
- After mixing I put it in an old deodorant tube and the remainder in a small container.
- When I apply it some does melt on the tube.
- I am using only one swipe and let it dry before putting my shirt on.
- It's a little flaky but the cost and smell (or lack there of) it totally worth it!
Homemade Sugar Scrub!!
I am in love with this homemade sugar scrub! Who knew it could be so simple and AMAZING!!
After I used this one time my dry skin was so soft and silky. No need for lotion after the bath!
Ingredients:
1 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup Baking Soda
1/8 Cup Coconut Oil (or enough to coat sugar)
2 drops of Essential Oil (I used Lavender)
That's it just mix it up in a jar and you have very cheap, homemade, chemical free Sugar Scrub!
Empathy
I have never had much empathy. Being a selfish creature and relying more on logic than feelings, I felt I never had much use for it....that is until I read some parenting books.
Wow, now I am beginning to understand the word and the need for more empathy. Empathy helps us feel accepted, understood and loved. One suprising thing about empathy, is you don't have to approve of the behavior or emotion to understand. Empathy shows you understand, but then taking it a step further you can explian what you didn't like about the behavior. I have always skipped over the empathy part and just gone into what I didn't like. Opps! People need to be understood and once they are they become more willing to listen.
I've always been picky about my friends, there are lots of people I don't like to be around, and very few that I feel comfortable around. When I think about my relationships, empathy is a big part of why I like who I like. I just never put that word on it before. I appriceate frankness in my relationships, and often agree to disagree. What keeps us friends is empathy. We hear each other and understand where the other comes from.
As a parent I am putting empathy into practice. When my DD throws a tantrum, I put myself her in shoes and let her know that I understand why she is upset. And then I explain why that behavior is not acceptable. Putting a lable on what she is feeling drops the intensity of the emotion and it soon passes.
Top 6 Reasons I love to Nurse!
I'm a little late in posting for breastfeeding week, but better late than never!
1) I get to hold my on the move little one
2) Getting her to go to sleep involves zero tears
3) no worries about nutrition, if she doesn't eat 'real' food I know
she'll get all she needs from nursing
4) we stay healthy! No sickness
5) instant comfort, just put her on the boob and she's happy
6) Weight loss! Yes, you can loose baby weight without stressing about calories, or exercise!!!
Moving
So we moved out of the city in May and I am just now getting things back to "normal" around the house. Hoping to have some time to blog this month!
Some new exciting posts soon to come!
- I've made my own deodorant, and can't wait to try my hand at lotion!
- My sweet baby girl is quickly becoming grown up. She is 15 months, walking, and talking! Striving to make wonderful memories with her everyday.
- Starting to wonder if Modern is really a good label for where I'm at right now. I feel like we need to get back to basics and try to be un-Modern.
- Couponing is time consuming and after a move, what to do with all the inserts??
Whatever You Do....Do NOT Pay Full Price for Baby Gear!
We fell into the Babies R Us trap, and bought the travel system. We love the car seat, but the stroller is just too big (it's really nice, but not good for being in the car).
Top five best places to get good deals on baby gear!
#1 Craigslist:
Do a little research and look for the items you want.
#2 Garage Sales:
This is hit or miss but a great place to find clothes, toys, books and furniture.
#3 Friends:
Most of our friends where happy to share with us all the baby stuff that you only use for a few months.
#4 Consignment:
These sales are held frequently, and are more expensive than garage sales, but you will find great deals on large items.
#5 Grandparents:
If you are eying a dress or some new clothing, tell the grandparents and they are usually more than happy to help out!
Attachment Parenting - Yep Attached
Attachment-Independent, commitment-freedom. Why are these concepts polar opposites? I find them to harmonious and not conflicting. This word seems to scare Americans. People are also scared of commitment. Well, raising a child is a commitment and like it or not you will be attached.
People are obsessed about being independent. Really? Are we ever truly independent? Think about it, we are never alone or completely self-sufficient. We are raised in a family, then when we go off on "our own", usually to college. We have roommates, study groups, and join groups.
Even if you live alone, you still have to rely on others to help run your household; like electric, phone, water, sewer and gas companies. And everyday when you go to work, guess who's there? More people. People are not independent, no matter how much we value the idea of independence.
So why do so many parents try to make their children independent? This really bothers me. People need other people. I love having "me" time, but right now while I'm raising my daughter I'm okay knowing I'll get lots of "me" time later. If she needs me to hold her and I have to pee. Well then I'm going to hold her while I pee. I'm not going to set her down somewhere and let her cry. I think doing that would reinforce the idea that I don't care about her needs and not reinforce the idea of independence. She will become independent in her own time, but for now I love getting to snuggle with her and wake up to her smiling face.
See Other Pages:
Top 6 Reasons I Love to Nurse
12 Things to Know about Breastfeeding
PLAN
Love to have a plan? Me too, I like knowing what is coming. One really fun thing about planning is you get to imagine what your life could be like, and then put in steps to make it happen! Plans never work out exactly like we plan, but without one I feel lost. It's comforting to know what to look forward to, but motherhood and being a wife have shown me that day to day living is where the real joy is to be found.
Not sure why but some days are like summer breezes, they are warm, gentle, and soothing. Then other days come at you like a storm quick decisions are needed and every word seems to be thrown at you. I don't handle storms well. It's the unexpected that I struggle to handle with grace, and it's so hard to have a plan for the unexpected.
So I think I need a new PLAN:
Purposeful
Living
Absolutely
Now
Yep, that's what I need. A plan to be in the moment, when life happens. To drink in each moment and start living in the now and not hoping for a someday to happen. And when the storms come up, I will just enjoy them and look for the silver lining that comes with them.
Sweet Talk
I have a vision for my family: To live together harmoniously.
This is not always easy, but I strive to create a safe, happy ,comfortable and loving environment. After all these are the people I care most about in the world! Often my vision ends up not being the reality and I find it is too easy to let my mouth run away with itself when I'm at home. The inner beast gets unleashed and sometimes I want to turn around and see who sad that terrible thing, only to realize it was me! Ah!
Misunderstands, happen too often, I think my husband knows what I'm talking about and then he'll ask a question and I will jab at him with my words. As soon as they leave my mouth I wish I could stuff them back in. There is never any anger or hatred behind them, but my tone would lead any hearer to think otherwise. This is NOT how I want to speak to my wonderful husband and this is NOT the example I want to show my daughter. I want to show her how to talk sweetly.
I Thought I Knew How to Talk....
Just finished How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk, by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish. This book was mind opening...I hope I can put it into practice! All the parenting books I've been reading lately come back to one main theme, empathy. Responding to your children with empathy, and help them to understand their feelings; giving a name to an emotion allows the freedom to then move on from that emotion. Giving an empathic response defuses a lot of the arguments, and allows children to share their feelings and thoughts.
One of the chapters dealt with discipline, and really suggested finding other ways than disciplining. At first I thought they were crazy, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Don't set yourself, and your child up for discipline. Take ACTION, this can be hard, but by letting your child become part of a solution lets them not be a problem.
Like all things, the approach changes with age, and each kid, some respond better to some techniques than others. Right now my daughter is 1 year old and distraction is the best way to avoid a melt down. With my 4 year old nephew, a choice works really well. This book just had so many good ideas on how to handling a large variety of circumstances.
Such a good read, highly recommended!
Here are the Quick Reminders from the book:
A) Helping Children Deal with Their Feelings; Children need to have their feelings accepted and respected.
1) Listen quietly and attentively
2) Acknowledge feelings with a word
3) Give feelings a name
B) Engage a Child's Cooperation
1) Describe what you see, or the problem
2) Give information
3) Say it with a word
4) Describe what you feel
5) Write a note
C) Instead of Punishment
1) Express your feelings strongly, without attacking character
2) State your expectations
3) Show how to make amends
4) Give a choice
5) Take action
6) Problem solve
D )Encourage Autonomy
1) Let children make choices
2) Show respect for a child's struggle
3) Don't ask too many questions
4) Don't rush to answer questions
5) Encourage children to use outside resources
6) Don't take away hope
E) Praise and Self-Esteem
1) Describe what you see
2) Describe what you feel
3) Sum up praiseworthy behavior with a word
F) Free Children from Playing Roles
1) Look for ways to show the child a new view of themselves
2) Put children in situations where they can see themselves differently
3) Let children overhear you praise them
4) Model behavior you'd like to see
5) Be a storehouse for your child's special moments
6) When they act according to an old label, state your feelings and express your expectations
Happy Birthday, 1 years old!
My baby girl is one. What a year. I've gotten to stay home with her and watch her amazing development; her little personality take shape and watch her start to navigate her way in the world. She mobile and independent, but still attached and helpless all at the same time. I have loved each stage as it comes and am looking forward to the next and all the joy and challenges it will bring. Happy First Birthday beautiful daughter.
12 Things to Know about Breastfeeding
My background: I am eight years older than my only sibling; I remember my mother nursing him, going to La Lache League meetings and how great it was for them to have quite time together. I grew up thinking babies are breastfeed until they are ready to self wean (2-3 years old). I was shocked to find that most of my friends were not going to even try to breastfeed, and even ones that did might only do it for a few weeks. This breaks my heart. I think moms are missing out on something wonderful. It is awesome to be able to comfort your baby this way, help them sleep, provide the best nutrition for them, and do it while relaxing!
1) Postpartum:
We are creatures of hormones. All are logical, rationale thoughts still come down to connections in the brain that are controlled by hormones. Postpartum can be really tough, the hormones that help maintain pregnancy come to a screeching halt and we are not only dealing with lack of sleep, a new baby and a new way of life, but hormones. Breastfeeding helps to regulate these hormones. When you let down you get a big dose of Oxytocin (the love hormone). This helps you to bond with your baby and calms you down! It is one of the best ways to relax after a stressful day/night.
2) Some Pain:
My daughter latched on within an hour of her natural childbirth (yep no meds). She took to it like a fish to water. We never had any latch issues or concerns about her getting enough. Still my nipples were tender. It didn't hurt to nurse but the initial first 5 seconds - OUCH! I would grind my teeth, clench my jaw and brace for the pain. But really within a few seconds it would be over and I would then try to relax my jaw and body while she nursed. This only lasted a week or two and then once my nipples stretched out and toughened up there was no more pain. Once you get through the first few weeks, the hard part is over.
3) Let Down:
I remember when I started to feel the let downs - it was like ZING! Electric, kinda weird feeling, not bad but not good, sorta like a relief but if she wasn't nursing it's like I could feel my breasts swelling! So I started to have to wear nursing pads. I couldn't use the cloth ones, I'd soak them in minutes. I had to use the disposable ones, and I like Lansinoh the best. Some of the other ones had a smell to them. I get these on Amazon in a 4 pack. I still use them but not as often, I can use the cloth ones now, but it took me 9-10 months before I could.
4) Sleep:
I love to sleep. I love napping and getting up late! This was a big concern for me while I was pregnant. How on earth was I going to get sleep. Nighttime, can be really hard for new moms. Babies have to eat often (every 2-4 hours) and they don't know that nighttime is for sleeping. I really think nursing and co-sleeping helped me get through the first few months and I know I got lots more sleep than my non-co-sleeping and non-nursing friends. I often say that I can handle almost anything after some sleep! Well rested moms make much better moms!
When she would wake up at night to nurse, I was right there and I could get her nursing and we could both fall asleep while she drank. There were times in the night that my daughter would wake to nurse and my husband would put her on me and I didn't even wake up enough to notice. I used a puddle pad on the bed for several reasons: To catch any diaper leaks, spit ups, and me leaking. (Even now I have a puddle pad on the bed to catch my leaks - she doesn't spit up anymore and diaper leaks don't really happen.) There are even studies out now to show that co-sleeping is safer and better for babies!
Now there were some nights that she just didn't want to sleep. But she would swing with the hairdryer on! I could catch a few winks on the couch while she swang. Once she got her days and nights straight we could easily get a good solid 6-8 hours.
5) Lifestyle:
I remember asking my mom about breastfeeding and she would always say, "It's a mothering style." I didn't get it until I became a breastfeeding mother. It is a mothering style, and I think a much easier style than bottle-feeding. I have lots of girl friends that bottle feed and most of their complaints are about sleeping. I really don't have any issues sleeping. Naps are super easy, just nurse and then there is a magic 7-10 minute window where you can put them down without waking them up! When she was little I would just hold her and putting her down could be tricky, but as she got older (3-4 months) it got easier to put her down. Even now she is 11 months, and she just woke up 30 minutes into the nap, I went in and nursed her back to sleep. I don't know what you'd do if you weren't nursing. Guess it would just be a short nap.
I am an engineering, type A personality. I love schedules and routines, but with babies comes constant change! I am a much more relaxed mother because I breastfeed. Breastfeeding helps me go with the flow and to enjoy each moment and each phase (they change so quickly). I can be in the present because I’m not worrying about how to get her to nap, or how many ounces she had today or what she did or didn't eat..
Nursing is a way of life that I highly recommend. But it does have a price. I can't consume anything I feel like. Foods have not affected my daughter but what I drink sure does. I was on a lemonade kick drinking about 2-3 glasses for several days, until I noticed diaper rash. I stopped drinking the lemonade and the rash went way in a day. Opps! And almost any alcohol will get her fussy. I also can’t wear anything I want if we are going to be out all day.
6) Nursing Tanks:
I live in these. A girlfriend of mine gave me two, and I found them to be the most convenient for nursing, day or night. They hold the pads in place, I don’t have to lift my shirt, so my tummy stays covered up. I get them at Target and the cheapest I’ve seen them on sale is for $14.99, but they are worth every penny! The only issue I have was sleeping in them in the winter time, my shoulders would get cold, but I would wear my hoodies to bed or I had a light weight robe.
7) Loosing Weight:
Let me just put it out there. I gained 60 pounds. That is lots of weight! I really thought I was doing good only put on 5 pounds the first trimester and then by the third trimester I was packing on the pounds. I followed the Bradley Diet and was trying to get 80-100 grams of protein in a day. I was eating well, but maybe I had too much ice cream (next time around I’m going to lay-off the ice cream). Even with all that weight gain by 10 months I was back to within 5 pounds of my pre-pregnancy weight. I wasn’t exercising or dieting like crazy, just eating healthy and running after my kid. So I’m here to tell you, the weight does come off and breastfeeding helps! You have to eat when breastfeeding, if you don’t your body will tell you. Weight-watchers recommends 500 more calories a day, and you get it by 2 servings of fruit and milk. But honestly during life change I CRAVE chocolate, so I did have my share of brownies, and the weight still came off.
8) Healthy:
This is a huge worry off my mind. I have girl friends that have sick kids all the time. I know that my baby is getting antibodies from nursing, and let me tell you, we just aren’t sick. We’ve gotten 2 colds in 11 months, and everyone in our house was sick at the same time.
9) Food:
Around 6 months I started to expose her to food. She was so not interested. The advise I’d get from LLL mothers, was she will let you know when she is interested. I kept giving her things we were eating, and she would just spit them out. She was still gaining weight and nursing well, so I wasn’t too worried. At 11 months (on the day!) she ate. I mean chowed down a quesadilla. Now I have to remember to pack a snack for her, but really nursing is still her main source of nourishment and it’s nice not having to worry about how much of what she is getting.
10) Teething:
Around three months she started to experiment. She was nipping at me when she wasn’t super hungry. So I stopped trying to nurse her if she wasn’t really ready to eat. At this time I found if I put my hand near her face (ready to detach at the first sign of biting) she was a more polite nurser. Luckily (like most things) this changed quickly and after a week or so the experimentation stopped. Then the real teething began for us at 7 months and she would bite because her gums hurt. I would firmly set her on the floor and tell her “no bite.” She would cry a little, and I would pick her up, but not nurse again for several minutes. Even at 11 months (and 6 teeth later) she will still sometimes nip at me, and I still set her down and tell her “no bite”, but this is a rare occurrence and is really not an issue.
11) Homeopathy:
This stuff works! Especially the teething tabs, they help calm the baby and take away some of the pain. I use it for everything. Check out the website: http://www.1-800homeopathy.com/ I also use the baby tabs for any tummy issues, and Arnica Montana for any bumps and falls. So far that hasn’t been anything nursing and arnica can’t fix!
12) Support Groups:
I go to La Lache League meetings. It's kind funny how much I don't have in common with the women at LLL except for how we raise our children. But I go to hear advise from other breastfeeding mothers. It’s so nice to feel like what you are doing isn’t crazy, that it is what the majority of mothers do around the world and it is best. Before I was a mother, I used to think it was weird how the mom’s would just whip out their boobs and kids would drink. Sexual is not the right word, but I can’t think of another besides weird. I think it’s our society and how they have sexualized breasts. But now that I am a nursing mother, I can tell you there is nothing weird about it. It is comforting, and closeness that can only be found through nursing. Because of this aspect of our relationship, I am more in tuned to my daughter and her needs.
Worst Bathroom Trip EVER!
The day started like any other. Aislie woke up happy, she danced while I drew a bath; ate breakfast, and then we played. I thought about getting out of the house and running errands, but first I needed to use the bathroom.
I held her hands as we walked towards the bathroom, then had her sit down and play while I did my business. She wasn't content so I grabbed a coat-hanger and dub her queen of hanging clothes. I put the hanger down as I grabbed the toilet paper. That's when it happened.
At my feet, my little girl hooked her face with the hanger I had given her. At first I thought she had gotten her mouth so I scooped her up and went to give her some Arnica and nurse (that fixes almost anything). When I gave her the Arnica that's when I noticed the blood; it was not coming from her mouth, but her eye! Oh Merciful God, please help us! She was still crying and her eyes weren't open, I called Todd (my husband and her Daddy). He told me to call 911. I hung up, knowing he was on his way, and called 911. Daddy got home before the ambulance. At this point she had stopped crying and the bleeding had stopped. Her eye was open and looked fine. Thank God, she probably just caught her eyelid!
The EMTs checked her out, and we made an appointment with the pediatrician. Went to the pediatrician's and by now she has almost no signs except some dried blood around her eye, which she would not let me clean. Her eye is FINE! Praise God, things could have been so much worse....
She falls asleep on the ride home we nurse some and I make sure she is sleeping good. I hug my husband before he goes back to work and then I sit in the quiet house. I am so thankful that it is not as bad as it could have been.
What could have happened makes me feel sick. She was at my feet, not in another room but right in front of me. I gave her that darn coat-hanger to play with. Ah! I feel so helpless and out of control. My mind races, with what if and thank God. Guilt, that's not strong enough a word to describe how I feel. Am I the worst parent ever? How could God let me steward of this precious little life even when I might fail? Was this just a reminder that I am not the one in control? Things will happen and even when things look the bleakest, God will be there with me, guiding me on His path.
This bathroom trip has helped put things into perspective. Be grateful for every day, even the "bad" ones (which aren't really so bad). Things can change in a moment. Something as mundane as a coat hanger could change your life, so be grateful for every healthy day you get!
Brain Rules for Baby
Just finished reading, "Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five" by John Medina. I really enjoyed it and learned a few things that I'd like to put into practice.
Empathy: This is something that does not come easily to me, and yet it is the main theme of this book. Parents need to have empathy and teach their children how to be empathic. It is the foundation for building lasting friendships (which is the main predictor of happiness). To develop an empathy reflex, 1. Label the emotion, 2. Guess where it came from. This helps you understand the action/emotion of others.
Label Emotions: Explain emotions to children and help them understand what they are feeling. This will help them act better when they have intense emotions. Verbalizing emotions has a calming affect.
Be Present: Parents must spend face time with their babies to encourage brain development. They need to be responsive and engaged in their lives. Parenting is very hands-on and messy! It's okay to make mistakes, but love your kids and be active in their lives. If you pay attention to their emotional needs and development, you will be less surprised as they change. This also gets parents into a predictive mode, instead of reactive.
Praise Effort: To foster a learning brain, praise the effort and not only the result. This will encourage kids to try harder.
Read Together: This seems to be the way to get a "smart" baby. Talk somewhere near 2100 words per hour, and read together. Babies learn from human interaction more than they do from a TV or CD player. Along this line of thinking, it's better to have your child take music lessons than to play them music. (He recommends 10 yrs of lessons!)
Really, if I want a happy and successful child, I need to help her become a good friend.
Ode to a Grand Prix
April 2003, I bought my first new car. It was amazing. Black, V6, Sun Roof, Grey Leather seats...it hugged corners and flew around town. I was in love. My life seemed to be on a fast track. I was engaged to the most wonderful man in the world, I was working on a new product launch for GM, it was springtime and I was on top of the world.
Fast forward to the present. I am now married to the most wonderful man in the world, we have the most amazing daughter and it is once again springtime and this year is filled with possibilities. But...this week we traded in the Grand Prix for a .... Buick....Minivan.
I knew that one day we would sell the Grand Prix and I would get a more "family-friendly" vehicle, but the shroud of Mommie-hood covered me up this week. I feel like very little of who I was in the spring of 2003 is still here. My life is not on a fast track, I am staying home, clipping coupons, reading parenting books, and wondering what to cook for supper. I am now in the slow lane.
This is the life I chose, the life I want to have and I am so grateful to have, but that still didn't keep me from crying on the way to buy the minivan. I love being in the slow lane right now, watching my daughter grow up and know that being a stay at home mom is the best job for me. I just need some time adjust to this new life and selling the Grand Prix hit me hard. I will never be that wide-eyed, optimistic girl I was...I will forever now be a Mommie.
Good bye Grand Prix I will miss you and all the youth you represent.
Coherent Thought
Sleepless Night
No sleep last night, and it wasn't Aislie's fault! She slept like an angel while I laid in bed wide awake. I wasn't thinking about anything in particular. Songs floated around in my brain, along with medical billing frustrations, and excitment about an offer we put on a house, but I don't think it was any of those things keeping me awake.
Earlier in the day I was thinking about some of the tragedies in my life and I was feeling completely grateful. God has been there with me every step of the way and by His grace I have come out the other side closer to Him. What a blessing to know God, and His Peace. He is always there ready to listen; I struggle to remember.
God speaks during quite times, and often in the wee-small hours of the morning. Are you listening to Him?
Rise and Shine!
Today is a day for living. Make the most of it for no one knows what tomorrow holds. There is always laundry to be done, toys to pick up and bills to be paid. Let the stress of today wash off, and live in the now. Life, love, joy, it's happening right now. Soak it up while it is here!
Coupons Are Not Easy - but SO Worth It!
I get so excited when I look at what I could be saving with coupons. When I get to the store it is always a let down. Coupons are a hassle, plain and simple. The best deals are when there is a sale, and you have a manufacture and store coupons. So to get the best deal you have to know the sale price, and how your coupons work. I'm still learning the ins and outs.
Friday I went to Target to stock my freezer full of $0.30 frozen veggies. The store had...NONE! Same thing happened with Q-Tips, mouthwash, pizza and cleanser. Now I've learned my lesson (the hard way) don't wait until the end of the week to take advantage of the store sale. :(
Saturday, went to a different Target and it had all the frozen food and veggies I could desire! I restocked my freezer, I bought $70 worth of food and got $40 in gift cards. I feel wonderful!! So good in fact my husband says he just can't keep up with me. Crazy how getting a good deal can make me so happy. Here's how I did it:
Store had a special, when you buy 7 frozen items you get a $5 store gift card.
10 Smart Choice @ $1.80, had $5 Target Coupon, $4 Manufacturer's coupon, Total $9.00
18 frozen veggies @ $0.97 Total $17.46
- got $20 of Target gift cards for the 2 lines above
Moisturizer @ $6.64, had $2 Target Coupon, $2 Manufacturer's coupon, Total $2.64
Bleach @ $1.37, had $1 Target Coupon, Total $0.37
Mouthwash @ $2.89, had $1 Target Coupon, Total $1.89
Q-Tips @ $2.29, had $0.50 Target Coupon, Total $1.79
Liners @ $1.97, had $0.50 Target Coupon, Total $1.22
PAID: $34.37 and got $20 of gift cards
then had cashier ring this up separately (so I could use the in store coupons - even if you have two coupons they must be used on separate transactions.)
10 Smart Choice @ $1.80, had $5 Target Coupon, $4 Manufacturer's coupon, Total $9.00
13 frozen veggies @ $0.97 Total $12.61
5 Pizzas @ $1.00, had $2.50 Manufactures coupons, Total $2.50
- got $20 of Target gift cards for the 3 lines above
Moisturizer @ $6.64, had $2 Target Coupon, $2 Manufacture's coupon, Total $2.64
Bleach @ $1.37, had $1 Target Coupon, Total $0.37
Mouthwash @ $2.89, had $1 Target Coupon, Total $1.89
Q-Tips @ $2.29, had $0.50 Target Coupon, Total $1.79
Liners @ $1.97, had $0.50 Target Coupon, Total $1.22
used the $20 gift cards
PAID: $12.02 and got $20 of gift cards
So Total I paid $46.39 and have $20 of gift cards!!! :)
I had a whole shopping cart full! I felt like I was stealing, we had gotten such a good deal! As we were driving away I realized that couping is like garage sale-ing. You might have to hit several stops before you get everything and it can be hit or miss. But if you like garage sale shopping, then clipping coupons is for you!! Who wouldn't want to get Free deodorant, mascara, eye liner, lotion, and more?! So even though clipping is challenging, I think it's worth the hassle and someday...I will be a pro and not make so many mistakes. A special thanks goes out to Clippin with Carie! Her blog is how I knew about the great deal to be had at Target.
Why I'm Blogging
I would like a place to hold my thoughts on being a mother. Plus I'd like to record what I'm going through and what I've learned. Being a mother has already thought me so much and I am blessed beyond measure and would like to encourage others.
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