FREEBIES!

It was definitely a shop 'til you drop day.  I hit up a bunch of CVS's plus ShopRite (earned my free ham!) and Price Chopper.  I bought a ton of freebies at CVS on several cards, but for simplicity's sake, I'll list them all together.  I had a $10/$50 coupon on two of my cards, so I bought some things I didn't really want just to get my total up.  I forgot to put the Pur-Absorb and Nasal Ease in the pictures, think I got everything else.  Keep an eye out for $1 peelies on the South Beach meal bars, makes them a $1 profit.

• Advil Children's Suspension Liquid (1 oz) $2.37, used $1.50 coupon or $1 coupon (9/30 or 10/28 RP) and got back $2.37 EB (Limit 1) = $1.50 - $1 profit 
• South Beach Diet Meal or Snack Bar (5 ct) $4.99, used $1 peelie on meal bars and got back $4.99 EB (Limit 1) = $1 profit
• Glade Scented Oil Base Warmer $1.25, used $1 coupon (or here or 10/14 SS or 11/4 SS) and got back $1.25 EB (Limit 1) = $1 profit
• AirWick Scented Oil Warmer $0.99, got back $0.99 EB (Limit 1) = $0.99 profit
• 2 Charmin Basic Single Rolls $0.99 each, used $1 off 2 coupon (10/14 or 10/28 P&G) and got back $0.99 EB (Limit 1) = FREE
• Coke (1.25 liter bottle) $0.99, got back $0.99 EB (Limit 1) = FREE
• Nasal Ease Allergy Reliever (0.18 oz) $9.99, got back $9.99 EB (Limit 1) = FREE
• Advil (10 ct) $2.99, got back $2.99 EB (Limit 1) = FREE
• Carmex Lip Balm $0.99, got back $0.99 EB (Limit 1) = FREE
• Bayer Countour Next EZ Meter $10, got back $10 EB (Limit 1) = FREE *Used coupon in Diabetes & You magazine found in stores for a FREE One a Day vitamin WYB this meter
• Street King Energy Shot (2 pk) $3.99, got back $3.99 EB (Limit 1) =FREE
• Pur-Absorb Iron (28 ct) $16.99, got back $16.99 EB (Limit 1) = FREE
• Haviland Thin Mints or Nips Candy $0.88, got back $0.88 EB (Limit 1) =FREE *I found the Haviland in the seasonal aisle, not with the other candy
• Kraft Mac & Cheese (5.5 - 7.25 oz) $0.99, got back $0.99 EB (Limit 1) =FREE
• Kleenex Slim Pack Facial Tissue (3 pk) or Sparkle Single Roll Paper Towels $1, got back $1 EB (Limit 2) = FREE
• Scooby Doo Fruit Snacks (8 oz) $2, got back $2 EB (Limit 1) = FREE
• Starbucks Refreshers (12 oz) $1.50, got back $1.50 EB (Limit 1) =FREE
• Hot Wheels Cars $1, got back $1 EB (Limit 1) = FREE
• Powerade (32 oz) $1, get back $1 EB (Limit 1) = FREE
• Play-Doh Soft Pack Resealable Pack $1, get back $1 EB (Limit 1) = FREE *This was hard to find, it was in the seasonal aisle with the other toys or on endcaps.  Only found two of them
• Nature Valley Granola Bars $2.99, got back $2 EB (Limit 1) = $0.99

Oh Gigi, how cute you look!  She just loves this blanket and when I laid it out on the foot stool, she eagerly jumped up and took a nap.

The only problem was that she was blocking the path to Shadow's favorite chair.  Being too polite to nudge her out of the way or attempt to jump up...  

 ...Shadow resigned herself to a nap in the cat bed.  Doesn't she look thrilled?

New Addition to the Family

Say hello to Minnie!  Isn't she adorable?  My sister took her in a couple months back.  She belonged to my sister's friend, who kept her outside 90% of the time and could no longer keep her once her daughter became allergic to the dog.  She's about 12 years old so my sister volunteered to take her in, rather than having her go to a shelter.

I don't understand people who get pets and then just leave them outside and alone all the time.  Dogs are not lawn ornaments.  They need love and attention.

"Can I please come inside with you?"  How could you say no to those beautiful eyes?

Now she has a much better life, living inside a cozy condo with my sister and Rocky.  She's such a cutie!

On my way home from visiting my family, I finally did something I've wanted to do for a year.  I stopped along the way and took pictures of the beautiful scenery!  I've driven by this lake countless times and now I can share the beauty with you.

I just love the fall!  The leaves could stay these colors all year round and I'd be perfectly happy.

First PC Doubles Trip

Price Chopper - did Sheila's deal and it worked perfectly!  I'm very excited about the doubler coupons this week.  Unlike in the past, you don't have to spend a minimum amount to use them.  The circulars in the paper had these coupons, and I'm hoping they'll put the coupon online somewhere too.

• Scott Paper Towels $6.99 ($10.99 shelf price), used $0.75 coupon (8/12 SS) and 2 Scott Toilet Paper $6.99 each ($10.79 shelf price), used two $1 coupons (8/12 SS) and two doubler coupons = $15.47 and got back $10 catalina (WYB $30, based on shelf prices) = $5.47
• 2 PC Pickles $2.19 and BOGO sale = $2.19 for both
• 2 Wishbone Dressings $2 each, used two $0.25 coupons (7/29 RP) = $3 or $1.50 each
• Used $5 off $25 Save A Lot competitor coupon, total was $17.36

Stopped into CVS for my papers - $2 each.  I used a 30% off coupon I got in my email and a $5 Beauty Club EB.  After scanning the EB, the discount adjusted to $2.10, so I paid $9.90 for my papers.  So strange how some things make these coupons adjust the discount!

Welcome to my least favorite room in our house, except maybe the basement.  The pink room, named after the lovely carpet, has become our junk room.  We haven't really done anything with it yet because we're planning to rip out the carpet and take down the paneling.  Until we do that, we haven't had much motivation to do much in here and its become the storage space for our odds and ends.

I had all my scrapbooking materials stored in the large box.  I took most of the stuff out about a month or so ago to work on a scrapbook of our projects/updates around the house.

A couple of weeks ago, we noticed a funny thing.  Gigi was disappearing somewhere in the house for hours on end.  She still loves the dining room and spends a lot of time gazing out the window, but she'd found a hiding spot somewhere else in the house.  She always emerges when its time to eat or when she decides she wants to play, but when we looked for her - couldn't find her anywhere.

This has been going on for a couple weeks.  We saw her poke her little head out of the pink room a couple times but when we'd look for her in there, couldn't find her.

Until...

...one day when da boyfriend had enough and was determined to find her.  He snuck into the pink room, looked around for places we hadn't checked before and slowly lifted the lid of the box.

TA DA!

That little bugger had been hiding behind the box, in a tiny spot just big enough for her.  She'd probably been laying back there, a little smirk on her face as we walked all over the house calling her name.  Its amazing how good cats are at hiding (when they want to).

"Crud, now I gotta find a new spot to hide."

Another Big Profit Day at RA

Rite Aid - finally found the accessory boxes!  Not every store carries these.  I found them in the seasonal aisle with a bunch of other Gracious Living items (laundry baskets, plastic totes, etc.)


First trip - 

• Revlon Tweezers $2.49 and three emery boards $1.25 each, BOGO 50% off sale so two emery boards were $0.62 each, used $2 eye beauty tools RA coupon and four $1 coupons (6/24 or 7/29 SS) and got back two $4 UP's ($4 WYB 2 tools, Limit 2) = $9.02 profit
• 2 Bob's Mints $5 each, got back three $3 UP's (one weekly deal, other two from monthly deal ending 7/31) = $1 or $0.50 each 
• Used two $4 UP's, total was $2.03 

Repeated this same transaction on another card.  The mints are really tasty!  I left a bag at work to keep in a candy dish for students and I'll save the other bags for Halloween.


Third trip -

• 2 Gracious Living Accessory Boxes $2.39 each ($2.99 reg price, 20% discount), will get back $5 (July SCR #86, $5 WYB 2, Limit 3, valid through today 7/31) = $0.22 profit
• Snapple 6 pack $4.79 ($5.99 reg price, 20% discount), will send away for TMF peelie rebate = FREE
• Visine for Contacts $4.23 ($5.29 reg price, 20% discount), used $2 circular coupon and $2 coupon (7/29 RP) = $0.23 *Counts towards spend $30, get $10 promo this week
• Used two $4 UP's, total was $2.77

Fourth trip of the day - 

• 2 Crest Pro Health Rinses $5 each (one 946 mL or larger, one 473 mL), used BOGO coupon (7/1 P&G) and got back two $3 UP's ($3 each, Limit 2) = $1 profit
• 2 Gracious Living Accessory Boxes $2.39 each ($2.99 reg price, 20% discount), will get back $5 (July SCR #86, $5 WYB 2, Limit 3, valid through today 7/31) = $0.22 profit
• Visine for Contacts $4.23 ($5.29 reg price, 20% discount), used $2 circular coupon and $2 coupon (7/29 RP) = $0.23 *Counts towards spend $30, get $10 promo this week
• 2 Bob's Mints $5 each, got back three $3 UP's (one weekly deal, other two from monthly deal ending 7/31) = $1 or $0.50 each 
• Used six $3 UP's, total was $4.02

If you can't find the accessory boxes right away, never fear.  There's another SCR for these in August (#44, $5 WYB 2, Limit 3).  I found the Oral Health coupon booklet in the store too.  There's a coupon inside for Crest Pro Health items that I'll use on another set of mouthwash.

Here's the UPC in case that helps.  Other folks (like Sheila) have found green ones too.

This is where I always seem to find Gigi nowadays, stretched out in front of the slider, gazing outside at the birds and bugs.  Thank goodness she has no interest in actually going outside, we'd never be able to use the door!

Beautiful Collars

Lisa, one of the gals who reads my blog (Hi Lisa!) contacted me to see if I might be interested in trying out some of her beautiful, homemade dog collars.  Well, not me personally try them out, but the canine members of my family.  Surely you knew what I meant.  Surely.  Anyhoo, she makes these collars herself.  That's right, you heard me - she makes them!  The last time I used a sewing machine to hem a pair of pants, I sewed the leg shut, so I have a great deal of appreciation for those who are blessed with the sewing gene.  


Check out her Etsy shop - I can't get over all the varieties and patterns to choose from!

Lisa started making collars herself after rescuing a tiny Rat Terrier puppy from some folks that left her to die.  The little gal needed surgery and was only two pounds!  After having no luck finding a harness for her, she decided to make one herself.  Now she makes collars - dog and cat, and leashes too!  


Lisa donates a portion of her proceeds to rescues and charities.  She's an angel for animals for the ASPCA and donates to several local rescue groups as well.  She also recently became a foster mom for Open Arms Pound Rescue.  Her first foster "kid" was a little Yorkie who just went to his new home a couple weeks ago!  She donates a portion of the proceeds from the breast cancer and autism collars to those respective charities also.  How can you not love a woman like that?  

She made a lovely collar for Riley in this green plaid print that my sister picked out.  Shadow told me she would simply settle for no print other than this black and white dot.  

We typically use a choker collar on Shadow so Lisa made her a martingale collar, which is more adjustable than a typical collar would be. I can't get over how strong the material and the collar are - no way Shadow or Riley are going to rip these bad boys any time soon!

And they're so pretty!  Check out her Etsy shop today!

Other Plans

Well I was excited to show off my Pier 1 goodies from today but somebody forgot to recharge the camera battery. My hunny must've snuck over while I was snoozing and snapped up all the battery juice 'cuz this lady never forgets a thing. Musta been what happened. So instead, I give you...The Adventures of Gigi and the Unfortunate Cricket.

(queue orchestra)
"Yeah that's right, try and fly away."
"I can see you....""What did you say to me chirpy?!?"
"I've been practicing my yoga moves and now I can reach you even when you're "this" far away!"
"HAHA take that! That move's called the Gigi-give-it-to-ya!""Back for MORE?"
"That all you got?!?"
"Umm Gigi, I'd like to express some concerns I have about the safety of that little guy. See I'm all for bug rights and I feel that the cricket might be a little overwhelmed here."
"Shut it big ears. You're gonna make me blink and I ain't about to lose a staring contest now."

Be Careful with Whom You Snuggle

Its a bit blurry, but this is a picture of my upper arm and the scratch that's now living on it. Wanna guess how I got this cut? Gigi! And that's not even the worst of it!

Last night, I was watching Grey's Anatomy before drifting off. Gigi was snuggled in the crook of my arm on the bed with me. Snoring away, she was totally asleep by the time the credits came on. I turned off the tv and started to roll on my side, which apparently woke her inner tiger. Totally freaking out, she scratched the hell out of my arm and head-butted my cheek. It felt like the receiving end of a Mike Tyson punch. Groaning and clutching my cheek, it was all I could do to lay there until the pain subsided to a dull roar. She watched me from the floor, a strange expression on her face. I'm not sure if she was apologizing or hiding a smirk.

I expected to have a black and blue mark when I woke up today but my face is perfectly ordinary as usual. Its still tender to the touch and hurts when I smile. Imagine my surprise when I saw that one of the scratches was smiley-face-shaped. Is it just me, or does that look like a smirk to you?