Catching up with life is hard sometimes

We have had strep, croup, pink eye, and sinus infections in our house in the past month.  It seems like we just can't get rid of illnesses.  Hoping this is it for our family for the entire winter season...heck, we haven't even hit winter yet.

The hardest part about not being able to catch up is pulling an all nighter shopping with a great friend.  Had a blast, lots of laughs, and got a lot of my shopping completed!  I feel pretty good about being done with shopping in the next week...crossing my fingers I can find some deals this week and finish up. 

I already got my Christmas present...I am typing on my new laptop!  :)  Been waiting for a deal for about a year.  Hubby is happy with his streaming device and I love my laptop!  So much for Christmas surprises...but, I am okay with it, the kids are what make Christmas fun anyway.

Now I must wrap all the presents...but first I must make sure I have everything written down in my Christmas notebook. 

Let's hope for some great deals while I try to catch up with my life.

I believe there is a deal on The Sorcerer's Apprentice and Fantasia.  As soon as I verify that I am correct I will post.  I think you can get both movies for $17.97ish with coupons.

Glade Deal at Target this week

I hit Target today as I needed a few items and I thought I had better check out the Glade scented oil candles.  I LOVE the scent of the cinnamon Holiday candles...so that is what I bought!

I bought 5 for the Gift Card deal (buy 5 get a $5 gift card)
(3) scented oil refills
(2) Scented Oil Candle Holders
5 @ $2.50 each =$12.50
Use (1) $3/3 coupon HERE
Use (2) $1.00 off 1 Any Scented Oil Holder
Pay $8.50 get a $5 gift card...not free...but a pretty good deal, now I have a $5 gift card to do it again!  Then I will pay $3.50 and get a $5 gift card!

B1G1 Free Starbucks

No Coupon needed, just find a participating store and take your best friend out for coffee!  Try out their Holiday coffees!  Sounds like a good excuse for some girl time!

November 18-21st 

B1G1 Free Starbucks!

Great Driscoll Berry Coupon

$.50 off your next Driscoll Berry Purchase

Enjoy!

King Soopers 11/10-11/16

King is running the same deals as last week!  I was counting on this as I didn't get back to get more Annie's Mac and Cheese.  I have 20 boxes to donate to the school's food drive...and I have enough coupons to get more.

I picked up 24 boxes last week along with 2 toothbrushes, 2 boxes of Stove Top Stuffing, 4 boxes of Advil, 2 cans of Chunky Campbell's Soup, 6 cans of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup, and a tub of Dannon Vanilla Yogurt (to offset the effects of the antibiotics that dh is on).
Paid $3.04!!!

They have plenty in stock and I plan to get more for the food drive!  Look for the coupons in the produce section by the Optimal Wellness magazines...it's just a little booklet with the Annie's coupon on back.

I haven't looked over the other deals yet...I will post some more deals if they are to be had!

Getting Organized for Christmas

I am getting prepared for Christmas early this year, and thought that I would share some of the things that I am doing to get it done and not be stressed...along with saving $ on gifts!

Here is my list:
1.  I created a "Control Journal" of sorts to stay organized, here are a couple of good sites/references:

• Organized Home/Christmas
• Fly Lady Holiday Cruising

2.  Ordered and addressed my Christmas Cards...stamps and all!
3.  Today I plan to order the little gifts that I need to send in the mail.
4.  I am also doing Flylady's 27 Fling Boogie today as I do my blessing (this is where you gather up 27 things that are cluttering your home to donate, throw away, or recycle)
5.  Take 15 minutes a day to get some planning done.  Today I am getting my home projects list completed, and adding to my gift ideas list.
6.  Begin purchasing or planning for purchases.

• Black Friday Ad Scans  (Check here for Black Friday ads and plan out your purchases as soon as the ads come out)  There is also a message board for great ideas and sales plans.
• A Full Cup (I love this site for more deal ideas...check out the message boards, they are a plethora of great ideas).

7.  Plan a budget and stick to it!  I do this every year, and I am pretty successful at staying on budget!
8.  Create your menu for each week and for your holiday meals...this will keep you stress free!
9.  Have your kids go through their toys and get them to get rid of 27 things each week...that way they have room for the new toys they get at Christmas!
10.  Relax, enjoy, and remember all the blessings of your life!

Target Toy Printables

Check out all the new toy Coupons on Target's website.  Be on the look out for Manufacture coupons to go with them!  There will be some great deals to be had!


Target Toy Coupons

WOW...some great deals this week at Kings 11/3-11/9

Here are some of the great deals this week!

Part of the Buy 10 get $5 off
Playtex Living Gloves FREE with 10/3S
Colgate Toothpaste FREE with 10/24 and 10/31 S
Ricola Cough Drops FREE with 10/17 S
Hormel Chili $.34 each with 9/12 S2
Jello Pudding Boxes $.29 with 10/17S
Swanson Broth $.29 each with 9/26S
Carnation Evaporated Milk $.19 Each with 9/26S
Valley Fresh Steamers $.39 each with 10/3 or 9/12GM and shortcuts and cellfire loaded coupons
Activia Yogurt $.49 each with 10/10 S
Imagine Organic Vegetable/Chicken Broth $.99 with 10/17S


3lb Bag Onions $1.00
Pasta $.79
Green Beans $1.00 lb
Kroger Canned Vegetables 2/$1
Nestle Toll House Refrigerated Cookie Mix $.77 with 10/3RP
Early California Olives $1 (at 120th and 104th Stores)
Sara Lee Pies are 2/$4 I think the coupon on coupons.com for $.75 will work and make them $1 each

Ways to Save $ for/on Christmas

I have been sick...the kids have been sick.  So, lack of posting is what happens.

I thought we should get started thinking about Christmas...it is only 52 days away (thanks to my Whimsical Friend)

What do you do to save $ during the Holidays, what items to you like to stock up on...and what are your favorite traditions?

I love this time of year...it's when I know I can stock up on baking items for CHEAP, I can get some killer deals on toys and gifts...and it is just a wonderful time of year with all the holiday smells, things to do and most of all the time I get to spend with my friends and family.

So, I am going to start a list and we can add our ideas to it:

1.  Stock up on Baking items (keep your eyes peeled for coupons now)
2.  Look for toys to price match (I got a $75 toy last year for $7 by price matching and using manufacture and store coupons).
3.  Watch for coupons for toys (store and manufacture...and print them when you see them, they may disappear)
4.  Make a list of all the items you will need for baking and upcoming holiday events and watch for sales on the items.
5.  Make a Holiday plan (if you shop Black Friday...start your lists now)
6.  I like to follow a Black Friday site that updates me when the ads come out and I add items to my list that I want to get.
7.  Look for codes for your Christmas Card orders.  (Free Shipping, % off, etc.)
8.  Stay Organized and on top of the sales and coupons.
9.  Stash away what you can now for Holiday shopping so you won't use credit and have a bill after the holidays.
10.  Get a Visa Gift Card and add $ to it so you can shop for items instead of keeping it in an account or cash around...I am so going to do this one next year for groceries, etc.

School is almost out...add some ideas and I will add more as I think of them.