Mommy's Helpers

Helping Mommy in the kitchen is so much fun, especially when there is Cool Whip involved!

Happy One Year Blogiversary to Me

One year ago today, I started my blog with this post. Thanks to all everyone for reading my ramblings for a whole year now (and listening to them for many more years than that for some of you).

Watched Much Dora The Explorer Lately?

Caleb loves watching Dora the Explorer or playing Dora online games whenever we will let him. He has picked up several Spanish words from watching this show. This morning I told him that we needed to get ready to go bye, bye. He responded, "Goodbye, adios." He also knows "Come on, vamanos," "Hola, hola, hello, hello," and "Feliz Cumpleanos." I think that it's neat that he is picking up Spanish words, but I sure hope he doesn't pick up Dora's habit of wearing a pink shirt with red shorts!

House Hunters

Have you seen it? House Hunters on HGTV is my new favorite show. And the best part is that it is on every night. On the show, buyers look at three different houses. Then they reveal which one they pick and show the changes and improvements that they made to the house. I love it when I guess the correct house! The only problem is that it is not a show that I can turn off right in the middle because I am too curious to know which house the people chose.

A Day In My Life II

Back in September, I posted here about how much time went into a typical work day for me. Well, not any more. Thanks to my mom's "retirement" she is now keeping the kids on Thursdays. It worked out perfectly since my friend Annette, who kept the kids for me last semester, is unable to keep them anymore due to a busy schedule.

Having my mom keep the kids at our house makes my Thursday so much easier. I no longer have to pack the kids' diaper bag, toys, and lunches. I don't have to wake them up at the crack of dawn and throw them breakfast in the car. I now leave the house shortly after 8:00 and get home around 2:35. Somehow, I still don't feel like making dinner when I get home, though. :) Thanks, Mom!

Deal Hunting Fun

I told Dave that I was going to run around with my coupons tonight after the kids were in bed, and I did just that. I went to three stores, Walgreens, Publix, and Kroger, and spent a total of $12.68 for 7 bags of groceries and household items! I love trips like that!

Walgreens
I had a $10 Register Reward to spend. I was going to get my ink cartridge refilled, which would have been $5 with a rebate of $5.50. My store has not gotten its ink machine yet, though, and I didn't want to go to another store. So I got some things we needed instead. I'll be getting a rebate of $1.10 for the trash bags. After using my RR, I spent $.91 and saved $13.11, a savings of 94%.

Publix

I spent $2.40 and saved $16.54, a savings of 87%. I got 4 boxes of Ritz bits for $.50 each and 2 bottles of Huggies bath products for free.

Kroger
At Kroger, I spent $9.32 and saved $38.28, which is 81%. Here's what I got.

2 packages Cottonelle toilet paper - $.25 overage
1 bag Dark Chocolate Chex Mix - $.11 overage
2 bags No Yolk pasta - $.29 each
2 bags Wacky Mac pasta - $.19 each
4-pack Yo Plus yogurt - $.49
9 packages Kraft 2% cheese (slices, shredded, cubes, and hunks) -$.74 each

Checkups

I was lying awake in bed around 6:00 this morning (after dealing with a screaming baby girl) when all of a sudden I realized that the kids' well visits were today at 9:00 a.m. Since they often don't get up until 8:15, getting everyone dressed and at the doctor by then is no easy task. But I managed it, and we were even on time despite getting stuck behind a school bus in the neighborhood this morning. And I decided that I actually don't mind 9:00 a.m. appointments because they are not running late like they usually are. Anyway, here are the kids stats.

Caleb-
41 1/4 inches tall - off the chart
35 lbs - 75th percentile
No shots today
Passed his hearing and vision screenings
Was a little ornery, but managed to tell the doctor his name and age
Could not correctly answer if he was a girl or a boy. Maybe I should work on that. :)

Alexa -
Around the 50th percentile for height and weight
32 inches
21 lbs 8 oz
Got her last 2 baby shots today. No more until she is 5.
Wanted to do everything that big brother did (Like putting her finger on the doctor's light to see it glow and giving the doctor high five. She also wanted to get dressed when Caleb did even though she hadn't had her exam yet.)

All in all, they are both healthy and developing normally. Alexa has her next well check appointment when she turns 2, and Caleb when he turns 5.

Peekaboo

CVS and Publix

I haven't been to CVS much lately, but I remembered the joys of CVSing today. I spent $2.04 for everything in the picture. Diapers, soda, and milk can often be budget busters, but not when you have a CVS nearby.
Here's what I did -
5 Gillette shampoos/conditioners - $24.95
1/2 gallon skim milk - $2.99 (I would not normally pay that price, but I needed to get over $50 to use a $10/$50 coupon, and we needed some milk. They were out of gallons of skim.)
1 12 pack Mountain Dew - $3.34 (This counted towards a Pepsi/Lays deal that is buy $20 get $10 back, and I will be finishing the rest of the deal later this week once I get some coupons from Molly.)
1 pack Pullups - $10
1 pack Huggies diapers - $10
1 package CVS cough drops - $1.19

Total (before tax) - $52.47

Coupons used
$10/$50 purchase
Free CVS cough drops CRT
$1.5o/1 Huggies diapers
$2/1 Pullups
$2/1 Pullups CRT
5 $2/1 Gillette
$10 ECB
$14.97 ECB

Final total - $2.04 ($1.33 of which was tax)

I earned back a $15 ECB and a $5 ECB. Thanks CVS!

I also went to Publix this morning. I spent $35.18, and I saved 55%. Since I got several fresh fruits and veggies, as well as the ingredients to make a meal from a Rachael Ray cookbook (Molly and I were just talking yesterday about how we were bored with our meal plans and wanted to try some new recipes) that I got at the library, this savings percentage is great! No picture, but here's what I got.

1 loaf Italian bread - $2.59
1 onion - $.53
Strawberries - $2.50
1 bunch rappini - $2.99
Bananas - $1.57
Publix sliced provolone - $2.49
Yellow squash - $1.08
Sargento shredded parmesan - $3.79
Zucchini - $1.12
Baking soda - $.59
3 packages Halls cough drops - $.19 overage
6 bottles Juicy Juice - $1.25 each
2 Huggies body washes - FREE (see my last Publix post for the details on how to get these for free)
2 cans Rotel tomatoes - $.31 overage
1 roll Publix paper towels - $.01
2 packages Dole pineapple fruit bowls - $.76 each
3 boxes Dreamfield pasta - $.67 each
1 package turkey Italian sausage - $3.29
1 bag Publix rice - $1.19
1 carton Daisy sour cream - $.29

Menu Plan Monday

Tonight - Barber chicken breasts, pasta romanoff, green beans
Tuesday - Pork chops, wild rice, carrots
Wednesday - Homemade macaroni and cheese with ham, broccoli, rolls
Thursday - Eggs, bacon, hash browns, smoothies
Friday - Homemade pizza
Saturday - Date night!
Sunday - Church Lunch

80% Savings at Publix - Updated with Huggies Deal Info

I took the kids with me to Publix today to grab a few sale items that I needed for dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow. We made out pretty well, spending $3.51, and saving $14.04 or 80%. Check back Monday for my big weekly Publix trip.

Today we got -
2 cans Rotel tomatoes - overage of $.91
2 bottles Huggies body wash - free (These are on sale 2 for $5 this week. Use $3/2 Publix coupon from Kimberley Clark/Publix Gift Card Offer flyer. I found these on a display near the registers at my store, and I also got one in the mail. Use 2 $1/1 Huggies Bath products coupon from 1/11 SS).
2 packages Ball Park beef hot dogs - $2.00 each after sale and coupons

A Big Girl Bed for my Little Girl

Well, we no longer have a crib set up in our house. Dave took it apart today, and I set up Alexa's big girl bed. I still need to get her a bedspread or at least a dust ruffle or something. She is kinda young to be in a bed, but she can climb out of the crib and loves to have room to spread out while she is sleeping. So, we decided to go ahead and move her. We moved Caleb to a bed pretty early as well, and he slept so much better once we did.

Here are the kids trying out the new bed -
And here is Alexa all tucked in for her nap -

Pizza and a Ball Game

Caleb was so excited tonight when we told him that we were going out for pizza and then to a ball game. First stop was a pizza buffet, where I used a coupon (of course) to get dinner for four for $8.98. Caleb must definitely be having a growing spurt; he ate a bread stick, two pieces of pizza, and a bowl of ice cream.

Then we went to Dave's school for the homecoming basketball game. The kids watched for a little bit and then played with the sticker books and cars that I brought. Dave, along with 3 other teachers, sang the national anthem before the varsity game. As soon as he finished singing, we left so that we could get the kids into bed.

Sometimes Life is Just Not Fair

This is what I am doing this morning -
- making breakfast for a hungry little boy (and for myself) who has now consumed 3 waffles, 2 pieces of bacon, and a glass of orange juice.

This is what Alexa is doing this morning -
-still sleeping IN MY BED! (Notice her Canada socks, Oma and Opa.) She woke up screaming shortly before six, and we ended up putting her in bed with us so she wouldn't wake Caleb up since they share a room. She drifted back to sleep right about the time Caleb woke up.

I have to admit, though, that both of these options are better than working today, like Dave is doing. I do love the opportunity to be home with my starving, sleepy children as much as possible.

Serenaded

Caleb has been singing to me this afternoon while jumping on the couch cushions in the living room. Yes, I am the bad mom that lets him jump on the couch cushions. Anyway, he started out singing various theme songs from the DVDs we get from the library. He followed that with Amazing Grace, the new song we have been learning in our family devotion time. I tried to video tape him singing this, but he refused to cooperate. Anyway, then he kept wandering around shouting, "Soup." So I told him that we are having chicken and rice soup tonight for dinner. Then he started singing a made up song that about chicken soup with rice. Oh the joys of having a three year old!

On the Mend

Judging by the amount of food they ate for breakfast this morning (2 pieces of French toast and 2 waffles EACH), I would say that the kids are officially on the mend from their colds.

Super Savings at Walgreens and Publix

Well, I am back on the savings bandwagon. First we went to Walgreens where I purchased 8 jars of peanut butter and 2 bags of macadamia nuts for just over $12. Then I got back a $10 Register Reward to spend next time I go to Walgreens. The peanut butter worked out to $.14 a jar, and the nuts were $.50 a bag.

At Publix, I saved $100.61 and spent $32.34, for a savings of 76%. I had a coupon for $2/$20 purchase, which I used to bring my total down a bit.

Here's what I got. Prices listed are after coupons and sales.
14 boxes Kelloggs waffles - $.45 each
7 boxes Jolly Time popcorn - free
2 bags Quaker cheddar cheese rice cakes - $.79 each
1 loaf Publix wheat bread - $1.69 (It is $.88 at Kroger, but I did not want to go to one more store. So, I just got one loaf to tide us over until the next time I go to Kroger.)
1 dozen eggs - $1.49
1 pint blueberries - $2.99
1 box Corn Pops - $1.15
2 bottles Lysol multipurpose cleaner - $.35 each
4 bottles Lawry's marinade - $.43 each
2 boxes Yoplait gogurt - $.73 each
1 box Quaker instant oatmeal - $.95
3 Betty Crocker muffin mixes - $.50 each
3 boxes Dreamfield pasta - $.67 each
Beef Smoked Sausage - $2.00
Bananas - $1.20
1 bag Lender's bagels - $.80
2 bags shredded cheese - $1.62 each
4 cans Del Monte vegetables - $.10 overage each
1 jar Smuckers strawberry jam - $.90
1 bottle Mott's apple juice - $1.48
1 bottle Publix white grape juice - $.01
1 pack juice boxes - $.39

Check out Fiddledeedee for more Publix savings!

Menu Plan Monday

Tonight - Stuffed chicken breasts, pasta, steamed broccoli and carrots

Tuesday - Cheesy jambalaya with smoked sausage, corn

Wednesday - Chicken and rice soup, sandwiches

Thursday - Birds Eye Voila meal, cheesy garlic bread, salad

Friday - Out for pizza

Saturday - Hotdogs, mac and cheese, applesauce

Sunday - Not sure yet

Crazy Coupon Lady

Yes, that's me. I think I might have mentioned this before, but our neighborhood gets a free newspaper on Thursdays that contains coupons from the Sunday paper. I love being able to get multiple papers because it greatly increases my savings at the grocery store. I have asked many neighbors if I can have their papers. I also often walk around the neighborhood several days after the paper has been delivered to pick up any papers that my neighbors have left in their yards to rot. Last Saturday, it was a balmy 60 degrees, so Dave and I took the kids for a walk in the stroller while I picked up papers. Well, today it was in the high 30's. And everyone is still sick. So, I figured I shouldn't take the kids for a walk in the stroller. Right after we put the kids in bed tonight, I threw on my coat and shoes and started a quick walk around the neighborhood to get some newspapers. I didn't get as many as I hoped since it started raining on me, but I did still get several. Now I am clipping my coupons and watching TV. Yes, I am a crazy woman.

Grocery Totals for January 11 - 17

I have not done much deal hunting this week since the kids and I have been sick. In fact, until today, they had not left the house since Sunday. So, once again not a spectacular week of savings. Fortunately, the weeks that I do get lots of great deals help to balance out the weeks where I just don't have the time or energy for it. Anyway, here are my totals.

Grocery Store Spending - $87.54
Grocery Store Savings - 53%

Drug Store Spending - $34.37
Drug Store Savings - 6o% - I will also be getting $20 in gift cards.

Total Amount Saved - $147.91

Still Sick

The kids and are still recovering from the bad cold we've had this week, and Dave stayed home sick today. He and the kids enjoyed a few rousing games of Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, and Mickey Mouse matching today.

Sick and Stuff

If you are wondering about the lack of bloggage (is that a word?) around here this week, it is because the kids and I are sick. Caleb started with a cough last Thursday, and we have been fighting colds since then. Caleb is definitely on the mend, and hopefully Alexa and I will be soon since I have to teach tomorrow. I have enjoyed my month long Christmas break, but I am excited to go back. The kids are giving presentations on Central America tomorrow including food from their countries, so it should be a fun day. I'm also excited that Grammy starts keeping the kids tomorrow.

I did get out on Monday night to do a bit of shopping.

Here's what I got at Rite Aid. I will be getting back rebates equivalent to what I spent. Yay for free diapers!

And here is my just over 60% savings at Publix. In some shape or form, I purchased enough chicken for 11 meals as well as fresh fruits and veggies and milk, so I am happy with my savings.

Crib Climber

This morning I was in the shower when the kids woke up, so it took me a few minutes to get to their room. While I was walking down the hallway, I heard a loud thud, and Alexa started crying. When I opened the door, I had guessed correctly that she had climbed/fallen out of her crib. She was not very happy with landing in a heap on the floor, and Caleb kept saying, "Alexa bonk head." Caleb never tried climbing out of his crib; in fact, he still sits in his bed until I come get him. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with Alexa, since she seems awfully young to sleep in a bed. Here's hoping that falling scared her enough that she won't try it again.

English Oatmeal Bread

The kids helped me measure the ingredients this afternoon for some bread-machine bread to go with dinner tonight. It is baking right now, and it smells yummy! Hopefully it tastes as good as it smells. I'll add a picture when it is finished.

Here's the recipe. It makes a 1.5 lb loaf. I used the wheat setting on my machine. Add the ingredients to the bread pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer of your machine.

7 oz warm milk
3 oz warm water
3 TB butter, softened
1 c rolled oats
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c whole wheat flour
1 1/2 c bread flour
2 tsp yeast

Menu Plan Monday

Tonight - Broccoli cheese soup, homemade bread, fruit

Tuesday - Pork chops, leftover hash brown casserole, carrots

Wednesday - Chicken breasts stuffed with ham, feta, and spinach, pasta, broccoli

Thursday - Eggs, bacon, hash browns, fruit

Friday - Chicken quesadillas, corn, rice

Saturday - Barber chicken breasts, pasta, green beans

Sunday - Soup and sandwiches

Drink Blender

Several nights each week, I make the kids a smoothie before bed. Caleb calls them drink blenders, which is just too cute to correct. I use different flavors each time, but here is my basic recipe. If you use the lesser amounts, you will get 2 kid size servings, and the larger amounts yield 2 kid size servings plus enough for one adult (me).

1-1.5 cup(s) of juice (I usually use apple if I am making strawberry smoothies and orange for peach smoothies.)
1 carton of yogurt, any flavor (I usually use strawberry-banana, mixed berry, or peach depending on what fruit I am using.)
1-1.5 frozen banana(s)
1-2 cup(s) frozen fruit (We like strawberries, mixed berries, mango, or peaches.

Blend until smooth and enjoy! If I make too much, I freeze it and defrost it later in the microwave,

Grocery Totals for January 4 - 10

Well, it wasn't a spectacular week in the grocery shopping department, but I did fabulously at CVS and Walgreens this week. Here are my totals.

Grocery Store Spending - $90.94
Grocery Store Savings - 51%

Drug Store Spending - $5.38
Drug Store Savings - 97%

Total Amount Saved - $249.57

My grocery spending was a bit high this week for two reasons. 1) I bought a huge box of diapers for Alexa at Kroger this week since they were having a deal where you buy $25 worth of certain products and get $5 off of your order. Hopefully this box will last a good long time. 2) I bought (and consumed) a lot more fresh fruits and veggies than usual this week as part of my effort to eat healthier and perhaps even lose a few pounds.

I Spy...

...two crazy kiddos. Can you see them?
How about now?

Bouncy Balls

We got these bouncy balls for $2 at Target this morning, and we have already gotten our money's worth out of them!

Works For Me Wednesday: Haircuts at Home

Out of our little family of four, I am the only one who gets my hair cut professionally. I cut everyone else's hair. I must admit that sometimes (usually) it is a chore that I don't love to do, but I do like the money savings. Also, I am horrible at remembering to call and make appointments, so I like being able to cut hair at home whenever I feel like it, like this afternoon, for instance.

Here's my fancy hair cutting station

Caleb with his new haircut, waiting for Mommy to find him some clean clothes

The final product

Fun Shopping Trip

The kids and I stayed home all day today, so I went to do some errands after they were in bed. It was good to get out of the house and get some deals, and I even made it home just before it started pouring.

#1 - CVS
I got -
4 boxes Throat Coolers
2 bottles Infants Motrin
1 Garnier styling product
2 packages Stayfree pads
2 rolls Mentos (added because my total was in the negative)

I spent $.21 (my subtotal was -$.90) and saved $53.89. I also earned back more ECBs than I spent.

#2 - Target
I got -
A diaper bag on clearance (I have 2 that are way past their prime. One is ripped and one has lost the changing pad)
2 boxes Electrasol - $.75 each

#3 - Walgreens
I got -
3 Garnier products (I was going to get 4, but she made up a limit of three. The cashier said I could get the other one in another transaction, but I decided that was too much of a pain.)
3 Ben and Jerry's ice creams ('cause we really needed more)
1 box Puffs

I paid $0 out of pocket (I used a Walgreens gift card to pay the $1.39 I owed), and I saved $25.35.

#4 - Publix
I got -
5 Lean Cuisine meals $6.15 total for all 5
2 boxes Savorings - $.90 each
1 Sorrento cheese sticks - $2.00
1 Laughing Cow cheese - $1.94

My total was $12.23, and I saved $19.92.

This is What Happens When Mommy Plays Trains

I built this nice train track for the kids this morning, so I decided to get my camera and take a picture of it. Only when I was taking the picture did I notice a problem. Do you see it? There is a 4 way track with pieces only coming out of three sides. Any train that falls will certainly face destruction. Oops! This is why I normally leave the track building up to Daddy or Uncle Phillip.

Savings at Walgreens and Publix

It is definitely time for me to get back to sticking to my grocery budget after the holidays! There were 5 coupon inserts in this week's paper, so those should help me get started. Here's the shopping we did today.

Walgreens -

4 bottles Garnier shampoo and conditioner
1 Garnier hairspray
1 Garnier mousse
1 Reynold Wrap
1 Electrasol gel pacs
3 Ben and Jerry ice creams

My total was $2.44, and my savings was $42.25, which is 95% savings. I will be getting back a $1.65 rebate for the Electrasol. I completely forgot to pay with my Walgreens gift card, or I could have done even better!

Publix -
In case you were wondering if I ever buy fresh produce, the answer is yes. Although we do eat a lot of frozen vegetables and fruit as well. I still managed to save 64% even though I bought several produce items without coupons. Here's the breakdown. I spent $8.05 and saved $14.14.

1 box Publix Frosted Flakes - $.01
4 boxes Betty Crocker potatoes - $.10 each
2 cartons blackberries - $1.29 each
1 lb carrots - $.89
1 jar minced garlic - $1.99
2 boxes Kelloggs pop tarts - $.10 each

Check out Fiddledeedee for more savings at Publix.

Menu Plan Monday

Here's what we are eating this week -

Tonight - Chicken picatta, angel hair pasta, steamed carrots, salad
Tuesday - Pork tenderloin, rice, mixed vegetables
Wednesday - Homemade chicken noodle soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, fruit
Thursday - Hamburgers/hotdogs, fries, applesauce
Friday - Bird's Eye Voila Meal, cheesy garlic bread
Saturday - Homemade pizza
Sunday - Lunch at Molly's house

Yummy Snack Idea

For lack of anything better to blog about, I'll share with you a yummy snack idea that we are feasting on at Molly's house right now. Take Triscuit crackers (I just use Aldi brand knock offs), top with small square slices of mozzarella cheese, and then top each cracker with a slice of pepperoni. Microwave on a plate for 20-30 seconds until warm. Yum, yum! And before Dave beats me to it, I must admit that he is the one who gave me the idea for this snack.

Yet Another Caleb Funny and a Silly Little Girl

This morning while I was getting Caleb dressed, I told him that I needed to cut his toenails before I put his socks on. He replied, "Mommy, I need to cut my hand nails, too. My hand nails a mess!" Too funny!

This afternoon while I was gone taking Dave's parents to the airport, he set up a train track for the kids using the new pieces they got from Oma and Opa for Christmas. Later on, this is how Alexa was attired while playing with trains.

A Year In Review

January
Played in the snow

Caleb took (and hated) swimming lessons
February
Happy Valentine's Day


My 28th birthday (and Phillip's 25th), which I have no picture of

March
Dave's 29 birthday

Easter


April
Trip to Dave's parents' house for Spring Break
May
Mother's Day

June
Fun in the pool

Dave's parents came to help build us a deck. We celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary while they were here.

Visited the Georgia Aquarium

Alexa turned one


July
Caleb's 3rd and Alexa's 1st Birthday party

Caleb turned three

Caleb started preschool at home
August
Caleb helped Gramps fix it light

Dave and I went to a Braves game with my parents
September
Went to another Braves game, this time with Nick and Molly

Took the kids to the North Georgia State Fair twice
October
Had a party for Dave for finishing his Masters degree

Went to Nashville for Phillip's graduation with a stop at Covenant on the way home


Went to the Reformation Party at my parents' church
November
Went out with Molly for her birthday

Had the kids' Christmas pictures made

Went to my 10 year high school reunion

December
Celebrated Christmas with lots of family and friends

Enjoyed a visit from Dave's parents