Thanks!

Just want to say a quick thank you to all of you who have been voting in the Vera Bradley contest! Sadly, I don't think we'll catch up to the 1st place team who has over 20,000 votes considering as of today we have a little over 600 votes...but 600 is amazing and the contest runs until the end of September so keep voting and I'm hoping we make it to the first page!

While I'm here I want to thank you as well for taking time to read my blog! Leave me a comment or subscribe to my blog so I know you're out there!

Harris Teeter Doubles until Tuesday!

Total before savings: 80.86

Total paid: 23.42

That's a savings of almost 80%

Here's what I got:

2 bottles of Jack Daniels BBQ sauce

4 bottles Budweiser BBQ sauce

6 pk Motts Apple Sauce

Honey Nut Cheerios

3 pk Dial soap

2 boxes 100 calorie cookies

Dinty Moore Beef Stew

4pk Dole Pineapple

4pk Dole Pears

4pk Dole Peaches

4pk Dole Mandarin Oranges

6pk Double Roll Quilted Northern

2 jars of Smuckers Ice Cream Toppings

4 jars Beechnut Baby Food

2 boxes Beechnut Cereal

1 tube Colgate toothpaste

1 GUM toothbrush

1 bottle Herbal Essence Shampoo

1 bottle Herbal Essence Conditioner

1 bottle Pert Plus Shampoo

1 bottle Flintstone Vitamins

---

One thing I want to add though is sometimes you think well this is like 25 cents or free...unless you can use it yourself before it expires or give it away don't buy it! I would say about a 1/3 of my shopping trip (since most of it was free) is going to my nephews...so yes I have no use for baby food right now but they sure do! And although I do take Flintstone vitamins myself these are also for one of my nephews! You also want to make sure you're not getting too much of something as Brian brought to my attention this week we have 4 tubes of toothpaste in the closet now! Anyone need toothpaste!

In addition, just this week I got talking to a friend of my and we are now swapping coupons...since I don't like yogurt and her kids do I send her all my yogurt coupons and if there is something I am looking for we go vice versa...So if there is something you are looking for give me a shout or if you want to get started and need help...let me know

Here is a quick breakdown of stores in my area and coupon polices:

Harris Teeter - doubles coupons everyday up to .99 cents (often run better deals like triple or double up to 1.98 - that's up to 3.96 off) You need to have a VIC card

Food Lion - they do not double coupons etc but if you sign up online they send you coupons in your inbox and they run alot of specials with the MVP card

Farm Fresh - they double coupons up to .99 cents everyday - each Wednesday they double 1.00 coupons as well (they also periodically run double on coupons up to $2.00)

Walmart - they do not double but they do price match so take all your ads in with you and they will match the price if their price is more! You can use Buy One get one Free specials in ads but the price has to be listed in the ad)

Kroger - they double .50 cent or less coupons everyday

BabiesRus - they will take their coupons you get in the mail on top of manufacturers coupons for things like diapers and wipes

Bed Bath and Beyond - takes expires and competitors coupons as well as manufacturers coupons

Drugstores like Rite Aid, CVS and Walgreens all take manufacturers coupons on top of their own ad coupons or discounts

Sunday Savings!

I took at trip to the mall since I had some coupons...Heres what I got:

9 cards from Hallmark (6 @99.cents after coupons FREE & 3 were the FREE breast cancer card)

2 packages of tissue paper (originally 1.49 each...75 percent off .37 each)

3 travel lotions from Bath and Body Works (1 FREE w/ coupon & $2.00 for the other 2 bottles )

1 lip gloss from Bath and Body Works (Free w/ coupon when I bought the lotion)

1 bottle of hand soap (FREE with CVS coupon emailed to me)

1 travel bottle of lotion from Victoria Secret (Free from email)

2 tubes of Burts Bees ChapStick(3.29...75 percent off .83 each)

Then I stopped and got a free pretzel with a coupon I had

Total before savings: 38.88

Total spend: $4.40

Babymania

During the “Great Trade-In” event, which begins Friday, August 28 and continues through Sunday, September 20, all Babies“R”Us and Toys“R”Us locations nationwide will accept returns of any used cribs, car seats, bassinets, strollers, travel systems, play yards and high chairs in exchange for a 20% savings on the purchase of any new baby item, in any of these product categories, from select manufacturers.
... Manufacturers participating in the “Great Trade-In” event include Baby Cache, Babi Italia, Baby Trend, Bertini, Britax, Chicco, Contours by Kolcraft, Cosco, Delta, Eddie Bauer, Evenflo, Graco, Jeep, Nature’s Purest by Summer Infant, Safety 1st and Sorelle. Customers can save 20% on a new purchase, from any of the specified product categories and from any of the aforementioned manufacturers, in Babies“R”Us and Toys“R”Us stores nationwide on the day they trade in their used item This is such clever marketing! If you really need something, and have had trouble finding it on sale, this program is definitely worth considering. You could trade in something your child has outgrown (like an infant car seat) for something you will need (like a high chair or a convertible seat). Just don't go too crazy; although 20% off is good, it's not spectacular. Also, if the item you're interested in trading in has not been recalled, consider whether you could get more for it by selling it at a local kiddie consignment store or on Craigslist.

Here is a $5 off 25 coupon

Here is a link to over 30 coupons with a savings of up to $600.00

Click Here to sign up for a FREE Hallmark Card from Walmart...while you are there check out their free samples page...You can get free samples of many different things and they add more periodically so bookmark it and check back!

Try, Try again....

So as many of you may know Brian and I are trying to start our own family! Well I have no news to report. For some reason I thought it would just happen whenever I was ready...well I'm ready! and surprisingly so is Brian...so what gives...I have told a few people this but I thought I would share with everyone...I don't know how it is so many teenage girls get pregnant considering when you break it down its like a 36 hour window to work with. So we'll keep trying of course and wait as long as it takes for our own little miracle!

Carson has truly changed my life. Many of you can probably recall when I was admit I would never have kids and for my parents to bank on Jeff and Dana for all their grandchildren. Carson...and then came Ethan...and only a few months ago Cole (which did Brian in) ... all these babies have given me a new respect for life...although i know its gonna be stressful and hard at times...i can't wait...I can't wait for all our kids to grow up together!

So do me a favor sprinkle some baby dust my way!

Below: Carson & I working on Easter Eggs!

Our adventures

Good Morning folks! After a vacation week, I am so glad this week is done! Here are some pictures from our trip to the seafood buffet on vacation! They are in reverse order I cant seem to fix it!

This is Dana and Mom. I think Dana was ready to go at this point!

Here you have my brother (being goofy as usual.) We had to practically drag him out

I still don't think he was done eating crab legs but the rest of us were!

Me & Carson, after he was over the broccoli and fries he ate off the buffet! Luckily he was free!

Mom and Dana, two of my favorite girls!

This is us in line waiting to be seated! Carson was intrigued by what was waiting for us!

Don't forget to vote for me at the link below! You can vote every hour so go back and keep voting! THANKS

http://www.verabradleylife.com/Gallery.aspx?sbmid=672&new=true

Vacation was great but back to reality!

Nags Head 2009

Another family vacation in the books! We had a great time despite the weather not being great the end of the week! Carson was as usual the entertainment for the week! This pictures is outside Captain Georges, an all you can eat seafood buffet! Our group definitely put a dent in their crab leg supply that night! We were walking distance from the soundside and did some kayaking! The beach and pool were a daily occurrence as well! Back to work on Monday...where did the week go!

Below is a link to register for Terrys Tinkerbells. Terrys Tinkerbells was started in honor of Terry Williams. Terry was diagnosed with breast cancer and after a courageous fight passed away from this disease. My oldest friend, Kelly Williams (Terry's daugther) and I walk every year among many friends and family to remember her and support this cause! Please consider registering to be a part of our team or donate to our team at Komen for the Cure - Tidewater Affiliate. You can register anytime from now until thru race day! Thank you in advance for your support, once you register or donate if you know someone who may consider also donating or joining our team feel free to forward the information along to them!

Left: Kelly and I at a Tinkerbell event!

http://tidewater.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/VAB_TidewaterAffiliate/1271432139?pg=team&fr_id=1270&team_id=113705

Tinkerbells fundraising event!

Terry Williams, a life lost too soon. If you haven't been effected already by breast cancer 1 in 8 women will be in their lifetime. Please support this cause...every dollar helps!

Terry Saulman Williams

One woman leaves behind a legacy that will never be lost for she touched so many. She played a different role in all our lives, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, and a friend, no matter what love we have for her, ask anyone they'll tell you the same, she brought us joy when we had pain, the strength and love of one women held all of us together even more now than ever, she isn't physically here but we still feel her near in every step we take and every move we make, what she's giving to us is dear and no one could ever replace. Terry Saulman Williams died of breast cancer 12-10-05...1 day after her 50th birthday

http://www.verabradleylife.com/Gallery.aspx?sbmid=672&new=true

Click the link above to vote for me in the Vera Bradley Best Bridesmaids Contest!

You can vote once an hour and the winner gets a bridesmaid getaway!

Please go back and vote as many times as you can!

Glade® Fall into Fragrance Gift Pack

First 10,000 people to respond will receive a Glade® Fall into Fragrance Gift Pack. For your chance to receive a gift pack, simply complete all required information on the form below by August 28, 11:59:59 p.m. Central Time. Offer available to U.S. residents only. Gift packs available until August 28, 2009, or while supplies last. Only 10,000 gift packs available. Limit: one (1) gift pack per household/address. S.C. Johnson is not liable for any typographical errors in the offer or any illegible, lost, late, damaged, separated, misdirected, incomplete, stolen or nondelivered email or redemption requests. Gift packs will be mailed by October 15, 2009.

http://www.rightathome.com/offers/0908RAHgift-free-fragrance/

Happy Tuesday!

No much to report except tomorrow is hump day! and that means I am that much closer to my week vacation! Don't get me wrong I heart Progressive...but it will be nice to get a break...Plus with our busy schedules I feel like we haven't spend hardly any time with either of our families this summer!

The picture to your left is the first summer Brian spend with my family down in Nags Head. Who knew then we would be happily married just a few years later!

Brian's job is stressful at times so just to have him a week without any distraction is nice and very relaxing.

So here is a question I posed to my mom the other day...for the last 4 years its been Carson and if I get pregnant (and Dana is already pregnant) we go from 1 to 3 kids for our family vacation! Now that should be very interesting! But that's a year away!

Do you blog?

If you are reading this and have your own blog...let me know I will add your blog to my blog list! I know its time comsuming but its a great way to keep up with kids, family and life in general!
Start you blog today at blogspot.com!

Super Savings Saturday!

So thanks to a friend of mine I found out today was Double Coupons up to $2 at Farm Fresh. I usually do my normal shopping Wednesdays because Farm Fresh has double coupons up to $1.00!

Here's what I got:

1 lb sugar $2.19 (2.00 coupons doubled FREE)

24 pack Mtn Dew $5.88 (1.00 instant rebate and 2.00 doubled .88 cents)

24 pack Pepsi $5.88 (1.00 instant rebate and 2.00 doubled .88 cents)

Wacky Mac Pasta $1.49 (.75 doubled FREE)

Sparkle Paper Towel 3 pack $3.99 (1.00 doubled $1.99)

2 Bottles of Wishbone Dressing 2 for $4.00 (1.50 doubled .50 per bottle)

Kool Aid 10 packets $1.25 (FREE with coupon for sugar)

Wheat Thins $2.50 (1.00 off doubled .50 cents)

12 pack Ritz Crackers $2.49 (1.00 doubled .49 cents)

CoffeeMate Creamer Packets 2 @1.19 (Buy one get one free .60 each)

2 bags Grande Tortilla Chips 2 for $6.00 (1.00 doubled and .75 doubled 1.25 each - on top of that chips had $2.00 off ground beef)

Splenda Sweetener $2.79 (1.00 doubled .79 cents)

Ground Beef $3.28 ($2.00 doubled FREE)

1 Gallon Swiss Miss Sweet Tea $2.29 (1.00 doubled and .75 off FREE)

.15 cents off for using my own bags!

3 tubes of Colgate Toothpaste $7.50 (3 $1.00 doubled .50 each)

2 containers 64 ct. Huggies wipes $5.00 (1.00 doubled 1.50 each)

2 packs Pull-ups 9.99 each (2.00 doubled x2 $5.99 each)

4 Pull-ups Wipes (2 for $5.00 - 2 $3.00 off 2 boxes $1.00 each)

Act Mouthwash $4.49 ($2.00 doubled .49 cents)

Hot Shot Ant Killer $3.89 ($1.50 doubled .89 cents)

2 bottles of Suave Shampoo $1.29 each (1.00 doubled .29 cents each)

Excedrin 24 count $4.19 ($2.00 doubled .19 cents)

Bayer Quick Release $5.00 ($2.00 doubled $1.00)

Complete Contact Solution $9.99 ($2.00 doubled and $1.00 off $3.99)

Total before coupons $123.15

less coupons $80.02

Paid $43.13

I met up with mom after grocery store...went to JcPennys...Got3 baby outfits, a birthday gift for Brian's dad, 3 mascaras, 2 blush compacts, 2 lipsticks, 2 pairs of flip flops for Carson, 2 pairs of flip flops for Bryce, two wall plaques, a cashmere throw, 2 window treatments and spend$55.81 which I was happy with then I took a look at my receipt and saw the bottom said Your Total Savings Today:$339.61

Stopped by Victoria Secret on the way home! Had three coupons...ended up getting 2 pairs of cotton underwear $7.50 each, 1 lip gloss $7.00 and Lipstick $8.00...paid $2.10

Gotta love the deals!