How do you celebrate?

This past week at school, we talked about Christmas in Mexico. Before each lesson, I asked the kids to share some of the ways that they celebrate Christmas every year. It was such a joy to hear the excitement in their voices as they described putting up lights, decorating trees, baking cookies for Santa, singing, and visiting with their families.

My sisters and I were lucky enough to have some great Christmas traditions of our own growing up. We always opened presents from one another and our parents on Christmas Eve, and then struggled to fall asleep as we anxiously awaited Santa. Literally, visions of sugar plums danced in our heads. We would leave flashlights and socks by our beds so that when (not if) we got up at 3am, our parents wouldn't hear us sneaking into the living room to see what Santa had left. It was such a fun time. It is those memories that still make me feel uncontrollable excitement at Christmas time.

I know this Christmas there will be many children wondering where Santa is this year, and the magic that is in their hearts will fade a little. It is my Christmas pray that these boys and girls will not give up on the magic. That they will find joy in the lights of a Christmas tree in someones window, a song they hear on the radio, in the belief that Jesus is alive in their hearts.

Support programs like Toys for Tots and The Angel Tree. Give a little magic to a child this year.

Share a comment below on your favorite Christmas memories.

Until next time...

XOXOXOXO

Black Friday

Black Friday for me has always been something I could take or leave. I have never really keep up with the sales or felt too much excitement over the shopping experience. I have gone shopping on Black Friday and felt like a crazy person afterwards.

This year, I think I have a different outlook on Black Friday. I have already looked at lots of the Black Friday ads, and there a few things that I want to buy that are really great deals. While I might regret this later, I think I will venture out before sunrise, fight the crowds, and see if I can snag any of these great sales. I have my eyes on Target and Wal-Mart along with the rest of the crazies, I am sure.

If you are interested in what is going to be on sale the Friday after Thanksgiving go to www.bfads.net . Here you can look at each stores ad by clicking on the adscans link on the left side of the page or just look at a list of items on sale by simply clicking your desired store. Register for free and you can make a printable shopping list.

Happy Thanksgiving and happy shopping. If you find an unbelievable sale, leave a comment below.

Until next time.......

XOXOXOXO

Butterfly

Lately, I have been the social butterfly if I do say so myself. It all started with the Rocky Horror Picture show. Yes, you read that correctly. I subjected not only myself but several of my friends to this once again this year. The movie itself is horrendous, but who doesn't like throwing rice, wearing party hats, shooting water guns, yelling, throwing toilet paper that I got for free, and dancing all inside a building where these things would normally be prohibited? It was a BLAST! Then it was out on the town to dance the night away.

That was all fine and dandy until 7am Saturday morning came around, and it was time for me and my cotton mouth to get out of bed and get ready for an 11am USM football game. I would not have minded this at all, but the Eagles are not at the top of their game. I sat out in the HAWT sun, watching them play terrible ball and asking Wes every five minutes, "Can we go now?" That night it was off to bed early because the next day was the SAINTS game!!!

Wes and I spent the entire day in NOLA getting all "jazzed" up for the game. This really should be a post in its self, but I will just say it was tons of fun! Wes wore his Steelers jersey, left his terrible towel in the truck, and watched the Saints lay the smack down. GEAUX SAINTS!!! I should probably not put this in writing, but there were a couple of times that I did clap for the Steelers...whoops. :(

Then there was a crazy work week, and I came down with a terrible cold. That always happens at the worst times. Then it was off to Tupelo to celebrate my sisters birthday. It was so wonderful to just relax and not have to do a thing but shop for good deal :). Angela was the hostess with the mostess.

And now this weekend, I am off to NOLA again for a bachorlette party.

Kind of a side note....

Two things I am really excited about right now:

1. The amazing holiday deals I hope to get with Jenny's advise.
2. Holiday baking.

Until next time...

XOXOXOXOXO

HaPpY HoWlAwEeN

Here's to a FRIGHTFUL night!

The best deal EVER!

So, I get home from school. Open computer. Go through daily ritual of school e-mail, yahoo e-mail, facebook, and then couponing blogs. Passion for Savings and Southern Savers are both blogging about this great deal at PiperLime. Plus, they were offering up some pretty good promo codes. I thought it never hurts to look, and besides I knew I had a $20.00 reward card from Old Navy.

You will never believe this because I barely do. I am sooooo EXCITED!! I have been to Old Navy a few times this month because 1. They had a good sale, and Wes needed some new clothes and 2. I had to pick up a few gifts. So, I have had my eyes on this pink Fushia double breasted coat. It costs $89.50, and I don't need it at all. I have a black one.

So, this PiperLime deal is buy anything at PiperLime and get a free $25.00 gift card to celebrate thier birthday. PiperLime is owned by Old Navy. Old Navy has an online code out for 50% off outerwear. Plus, if you use your Old Navy or Gap card on Tuesday you get 10% off. PiperLime was also offering a 10% off code.

So here is how it went down (hold on to your seat!)



Double breasted wool Fushia coat $89.50
- OUTER50 (50% off)
-TUESDAYS (10% off)
=$40.27

Pierre Dumas sandals $14.99
-TREAT4U (10%off)
=$13.49

Total $53.76
-$20.00 rewards card from Old Navy for shopping eariler in the month
+2.36 tax
=$36.12
-25.00 gift card (will come in mail)
-2.76 (8% ebates cash back will come in mail) Not sure what ebates is look here http://www.ebates.com/ the site that pays you to shop.

=$8.36 for a coat and a pair of sandals.

You can do something like this too. Just use the codes above. This deal is only good today.

I LOVE GREAT DEALS! WOOT!

Until next time.......


XOXOXOXO

Hello again

My oh  my! I did not realize how long it had been since I last blogged. We have been pretty busy around here with football games, band competitions, school, cleaning, cooking, and whatever else we can get into. For the most part things are going well, and we are enjoying every minute of it!!!

I for one am loving this FALL weather. I have big plans for some yard work tomorrow. I am going to transform my garden plot into a fall flower bed. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

Of course, I have been shopping and getting some really great deals. Here is the latest:

Total CVS ticket: $45.06
Total paid: 14.98
Total Saved: 30.08
Cash back: 10.00

I got 60 loads Tide detergent, 60 loads Downy, 16pk Charmin, 24 tablets Advil for $4.98. I am still in awe of these deals! Also, just this week, I received $55.00 in free samples and coupons in the mail. It is like Christmas every time I open my mailbox! I have broadened my horizons so to speak and read a few more really awesome couponing blogs. Check them out for yourself .

www.passionforsavings.com Wal-Mart deals here
www.momminitup.com
www.shopperstragety.com
www.bargainbrianna.com
www.mojosavings.com Tons of free samples here.

I have some pretty exciting things coming up at the end of this month and the beginning of November. Can't wait to blog about those.

Until next time...

XOXOXOXO

Why I love IT

It is weeks like this week that keep me excited about couponing and getting great deals. The last couple of weeks have been so boring. Buy stuff, use coupons, save 60%. This is exciting, don't get me wrong, but like most things in our lives once an expectation has been met it just becomes the same old, same old. We constantly need to push ourselves to the next level to keep things exiting. (Hey, that sounds like a great teaching philosophy.... oh well, another post on that later maybe.) This week I had 3 great shopping experiences and 1 opportunity to help someone else.

When I first started couponing, Wes would say things like do we need that much toothpaste....ummm... I think we are good on the peanut butter and jelly. I would say things like if it is free at the store, I might as well get it. Besides, I can use that stuff to help others. This week a very special opportunity presented itself to me, and I am sooo super excited that I have a stock pile of stuff to share. Yes, it takes time to plan and cut coupons just to get something for free..... well this makes it all worth it. (Can't stop smiling!)

Okay, so I actually went shopping a lot this week. I won't bore you with all the transactions, though, just the exciting ones. Ha!

A few weeks ago, I took advantage of a Groupon sale of $25.00 for a $50.00 gift card to the GAP. I waited for GAP to put things on clearance and here is how it went down.

GAP total ticket: $100.50
Total spent: $25.00 for the gift card
Total saved: $75.50 (75%) Here is what I got.

Bed, Bath, and Beyond Total ticket $10.68 and got the following:
Libby 16 piece Orbita glass set on sale $9.99 8 big glasses; 8 tumblers
12 reusable containers with lids on sale $4.99
Used $5.00 off a $15.00 purchase received in mail.

And this is what really gets me excited.....

CVS total ticket $58.20
Total spent: $9.98
Total saved: $48.22 (83%)
Cash back $5.30
Like paying $4.68 for $60.00 worth of stuff. WOW!!!

If you want to know the details of this purchase leave a comment and I will be glad to share with you.

Until next time....

XOXOXOXO