COSTCO ROUND-UP

Prices vary each region as well as from month to month! If you would like to add to this list, please post it in the comment section and I will add it to the list! THANK YOU!





Milk $3.15 2 Gallons = $1.57 per Gallon



Chocolate Chips $8.79 72 oz. = $1.46 per 12 oz.



Butter $6.25/ 4 lbs. = $1.56 per lb.



Skippy Peanut Butter $7.99 2 jars = $3.99 48 oz. jar (usually store jars are much smaller)



Juice Boxes (K-brand) $8.29 = .23/piece



String Cheese 48 sticks



Apple Juice (Tree Top) $6.91 2/128 oz. = $3.45 128 oz.



Frozen Chicken Breasts $1.99 lb.



Fiber One Bars .32 piece



Nature Valley Nut Bars .24 piece



Paper Towels $1.46/ 100 ft. roll



Bounty PT $2.00/100 ft. roll



TP $.993/100 sq ft.



Brand TP $2.09/100 sq ft.



Ziplock Sanwich Bags $1.51/ 100 bags



Trash Bags $5.24/100 bags (white kitchen draw string)

My First Convert

I had my first convert. . to the world of coupon-ing. Actually, she had done it before, but had long since given it up. Too much work, not enough reward. . she didn't know that you could combine coupons WITH a sale, and back when she was doing it, the blogging world wasn't so hot!

I took a few hours with her on Friday, and she took her husband out that night for a date night to the grocery store. . EVERY MAN'S DREAM! no?

She came back and posted her results here! She was excited and so was I. It is fun to share something you know, and have that fire pass on to someone else. . . Kinda like missionary work. (Hey, it kinda is! REALLY!)

Anyway, she had a lot of really great questions for me and the greatest one was, are these prices really better than Sam's Club? Well, honestly, I have no idea, because I don't have a Sam's club membership. But I DO have a Costco membership, and believe me. . it is a burning question in my mind too!

SO: My next post will be my Costco Roundup. . . i.e. What I buy at Costco, and how much it is. That way, the next time I see a screamin' deal, I can know if I can find it cheaper at Costco. Hope it helps you too! (Of course, prices may vary from region to region!)

GET CUTE NOW!

My lil' sis bought this handbag not too long ago. I always thought it was so cute. It made her look hip... cool... I so want to be her.... AND NOW I CAN!

She bought it for ALMOST full price here: But you can get it FOR JUST $19.99 + 25% off! Be cute... I dare you.

I got this purse because I am not as cool as her and could NEVER pull off a bag like that. But I did get this bag for $14.99 (Originally $79.00)


AND this bag. . .

I got in in GREEN. But I SERIOUSLY CONTEMPLATED ORANGE. (Did I make a mistake?) It was only $11.24. So, I guess it is ok if I did. :0

GET ONE! (I don't care if we match... I am just not that vain.)

Still a little good in the world . .

I don't watch the news... Unless you call THIS the news. It is just too grisly. Especially in a big city like PHX. I like to live in my nice sheltered life and not really know what is going on in the world around me. It is bad, because then I don't catch important news either. . . . but anyway. . .







Today, I am here to tell you that there still is some good in the world because yesterday, I set off to get my oil changed. I am WAY over due. But tell me getting your oil changed is high on your list when you have a 2 year old and 6 month old. Yeah, me neither. But, I did a babysitting swap and dropped Wade off so that waiting for an oil change would only be 1/2 as bad and it would have been. . if I would have ever gotten there.







I just happened to stop off here for some gas. . . to GET to my oil change. Recognize it? It is the Costco Gas station. . .

I pulled in, started pumping and left the key in the ignition. Then I hopped in the back seat to try to deal with K who has decided that she H.A.T.E.S her car seat again. She hated it, then she got used to it and then I had to put her in a REAL car seat (not a carrier) because she is so stinkin' big and now she is back to hating it. I can't win.

Anyway, I finished up, put her back in her seat and she started to scream right away and I went to turn the car on and NOTHIN'. . I mean, SOMETHING. . .But not enough to start the car! It is definitely at the top of my list to be stuck outside in 100+ degree weather with no car battery.

A nice lady in front of me offered her jumper cables and Trevor (the guy manning the station) came over to help. He told me that if I went to buy a battery at the store, and brought it back out he would put it in for me. . . NOW THAT IS SERVICE!!!

But the store wasn't open. I drove around until it was open and hopped back on over for Trevor to help me out.

Before I knew it, another guy had come over and was helping out too! He said, "I just changed my wife's battery! She has a Honda too!" and then he just went to work. . . talking about how he has kids and he wouldn't want his wife out here in the heat with his baby and so on. They were so amazing. As a matter of fact. Here they are. . hard at work.



If you go to the Gilbert Costco gas station EVER, say hi to Trevor for me, and thank him again for helping me. It meant the world to me! (He said he changes brakes too! I can't wait to go back to him with my brake pads in hand!)

And the other guy. . . I asked his name before he left and asked him what on earth he was doing at Costco in the middle of the day. He said he was going to buy his wife some jewelry . . . GOOD MAN. . GOOD MAN. . I asked him what he did and he said, "Well, I am not soliciting business, but if your husband needs a vasectomy. . . " I took his card with GLEE and said, "HE DOES." (If your husband needs one, please see Dr. Lin. . he is GREAT at changing a car battery, so, I am sure he would do a great job with your husband's plumbing!)

Doubting Thomas. .

I can hear you out there... Saying.. SHE'S CRAZY!!! I can't BELIEVE that she would drive around to ALL those stores and do all that couponing. Just NUTTER!

Well, believe it. . but believe it because I have all those stores within a close driving distance. I happen to live in the shopping mecca.. So, it is easy. It may be easier for me, than it is for you. However, Kmart IS NOT CLOSE, but sooooooooo totally worth it sometimes.(I try to go after Peter gets home from work too. . the more concentration, the better/more fun it is and less mistakes I make)


However, it is not without some serious pain-in-the-butt-ness most times because I do have two children in tow. But sometimes, it is just WORTH IT!


Like, when you can score 3 bottles of Johnson and Johnson's baby wash for .19 a piece. (Did today at Target)

Or two spongebob toothpastes for free. Yeah, they are travel sized, but who cares. . . they actually PAID ME to take them off the shelf. Because I printed out this coupon. (Expires in 2 days $1.00 off Spongebob Toothpaste) and when I went to the store, the travel size were only .52 a piece. Yep. Target PAID ME .96 to take these off their shelves for them. :) AND LIKE YOU DON'T GO TO TARGET! Sheesh. Maybe I should have bought more. . . you can print as many of those coupons as you want!

Ok, here is my challenge to all you, "Couponing is too much work!" Nay sayers (Because baby, I hear ya. . I said it ALL THE TIME TOO)

Add THIS BLOG to your Google Reader. Because if there is a deal to be had, SHE is going to have it on her blog.

and ONLY COUPON at the store that you go to... I.e. Target, and your local grocery store. DEAL?

AND (one more challenge)

ONLY buy things that you would normally buy.

DO IT FOR 4 weeks.

Because after that, I know you will be hooked. You will make some mistakes, but don't beat yourself up about it.

READ YOUR WEEKLY GROCERY AD.

Keep the coupons from your weekend paper (you don't even have to clip them out-- you can just look them up on Couponmom.com and see if there is a coupon for something you need to buy) If you don't get the paper, just print the ones that you will USE off Coupons.com. You can print two of each coupon and more if you have access to another computer/printer. (I.e. Your momma's house or your friendly neighbor who wouldn't dream of couponing)

ONLY BUY IT IF YOU HAVE A COUPON AND it is on SALE!!! BOTH! Not one, or the OTHER!

Pretty soon, you will be able to spot your own deals from a MILE AWAY and you won't even really need the "Hip" girl anymore. . Oh wait, you will, b/c she always finds the best deals!



On a side note: Does weaning your baby make you grumpy?? Because it sure has been making ME grumpy... Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....

Happy Birthday Bub

My little Bub... He turned 6 today.

Sometimes it seems like it all went by so fast,

And sometimes it feels like it has been FOREVER!

Jaxon comes with his own set of challenges.

But we wouldn't have it any other way.

The other day, I knelt beside him for his night time prayer and he asked Heavenly Father to help him.

He said, "Please help my brain, that it will work right and do what I want it to do."

I put my arms around him after he finished and said, "Jax, it WILL. You just have to listen. Heavenly Father will TELL you what to do and if you do it, you will be happy."

Sometimes having a child with special needs is a priceless experience.

And sometimes it is down right difficult.

But, I wouldn't change it for the world. I mean, just look at him. . .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BIG BOY JAXON!!

To see Jax open his favorite Birthday present today, view the video below. To see "Optimus Prime" in action, check back tomorrow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP41HZ9eytA

YES: ANOTHER CONFESSION

I have another confession to make. . . this is added to a LONG list of Confessions that I have put on this blog. I just looked over them. They are good ones. . .I laughed at myself when I read back over them. . moving on. . I HAVE ANOTHER CONFESSION:

I HAVE BECOME THE CRAZY COUPON LADY

You know the one. . the one that you get behind in line at the grocery store. . when the store is closing at 10:00 p.m. and she plunks down 20 coupons and most of them are ringing up wrong and so they have to turn on the blinking light for her? Yeah, that is me.

And I don't care.

I can't help myself.

I love couponing.

I might need an intervention.

I know I have posted about couponing on this blog before.

It is funny, because I just read one of my first posts on couponing from March! So, I am still a novice...

But I am getting to be a really GOOD novice.

You wanna try? Just once? You'll be hooked. But you just can't pass up a smokin' deal can ya?

Here is a few I just cashed in on.

Walgreens:

Buy on Great Lash Mascara get a coupon for a FREE one. (You don't even have to do the buy one get one 50% off) Just buy ONE and get a FREE ONE. (It will print off after you complete the purchase)

Get Huggies wipes on the CHEAP there too! They have a $2 coupon with the coupon books up front. Read about it HERE: With Walgreens, you can use their coupons for however many items you have. Want 4? Get 4. No problem. Wipes: .99 box.

Oh, and if you spend $25 at Walgreens (before coupons) they will print you a $5 register reward! (Spend like cash on your next visit-- which can be after you walk around the store one more time like I did today!)

KMART is also doing doublers this week. And believe it or not, I got Jars of Welch's Grape Jelly for .50 a piece!!! You can print coupons for the Jelly at coupons.com and you can print two per computer. They are on sale for $2/4 at Kmart, and Kmart then DOUBLES your .75 coupon and VOILA! JELLY FOR .50! And it was a BIG jar too! :)

The other Kmart deal I snagged was Motts Apple Sauce. Print off as many coupons as you want here: I printed like 6 of them and I never came across a "you reached your limit" sign. So, PRINT AWAY !! Kmart is selling them $2/5 so, $2.50 a piece. You give them your $1 coupon. They DOUBLE IT and VOILA! A 6 pack of applesauce for .50 a piece!!! I walked away with 3 only b/c I had already used my other coupons at Target last night-- I got them for $1.25 at Target which is still a great deal, but you CANNOT BEAT KMART!

Need ANOTHER reason to go to KMART? You can do this TRANSFORMERS DEAL HERE. They look like little match box cars, but hey. . $1.16 a piece? You can't beat that for a stocking stuffer or SOMETHING!

Ok, just ONE MORE REASON TO GO TO KMART: Trio toys. They are building blocks and they are on sale. $5 off. . Then, you can get a coupon HERE for ANOTHER $5 off and get a toy for 12.99 for just a couple of dollars. Yup. I did it. TWICE. And if you don't use the $5 off $20 coupon on the Transformers, you might be able to use it on this and score them for free. I am just sayin. . . Can you RESIST??

I can't.

Me and Her

A year ago , we had been in Arizona for a little over a month. Well, exactly a month. In that short amount of time, we had found out that the guy that we had bought "our future" from had lied about our investment and we had no choice but to enter into a large legal battle with him to get our investment (or a small part of it) back.

We had moved away from family, friends, and made a big sacrifice to be "on our own" and "doing our own thing." We had calculated and prayed before we signed on all the lines but, it wasn't enough. Sometimes you just can't control what OTHER people are doing. Like, forging documents.

I was pregnant. Newly pregnant and frustrated. Frustrated that I was pregnant. I mean, the timing was not great. The economy was going into a major recession. Our "new business" was floundering. We were in a law suit with the man who mis-lead us and it looked like we were going to have to completely re-invent the wheel. Peter was going to have to find work and it was unclear if we would ever recover our losses. Not the greatest time to be pregnant . . for emotional reasons. Losing all of your financial stability is a lot to take on as a general stress level when you are newly pregnant.

I struggled daily with our new position. For the most part, our hopes were high. We hoped things would work out. We felt like we were here for a "reason", even though that "reason" was completely unclear. It was a Sunday night, and I was laying on my couch reading blogs. I was reading Cjane. Which is a blog that I came across after asking a few people about their favorite blogs to read. It quickly became a favorite, but that night, a year ago today, I was reading her blog in complete and total shock. An extreme accident had happened. I clicked over to the accident victim's blog, her sister, Nie Nie. I read, and I read, and I read. I had never read her blog before. But I sat and read for probably 3 or more hours (it was after the kids had gone to bed) and suddenly, I realized that my problems were very, very, very small.

Over the next year, I followed Stephanie's progress, as many of you did and I watched in awe as she recovered, came back to life and even started blogging again! When Peter and I would come up to hurdles in our law suit, or in finding work, being a completely sleep deprived mother of a new born who was packing up her boxes for her 9th move in 9 years or in having the same guy STOP making his settlement payments to us, I would think of her and I would try to remember that there were others out there who suffered more than we did.

Today, Nie Nie showed the WORLD just how brave she really is, and it is far, far, far more brave than I ever have been, or maybe ever would be. You can see why HERE.

I am sure she will never read this blog, but I just would like to thank her personally. Thank you for being so strong. Thank you for being a wonderful example of hope. Thank you for enduring happily, or as happily as you can. Thank you for showing us all what it means to be strong. Thank you. I hope to be more like you.

Lindsey

Struggling

Peter works late 2 nights a week. But I have prided myself on getting all the homework and reading done on my own. Hey, I think I am doing pretty well for having an infant on hand! I recently got Jaxon a "Hooked on Phonics" work book and CD. (On Major Clearance at CashBaq!) Anyway, he had been doing so well and was totally picking up on reading! I tried to read with him last year and it was dismal. He could barely remember ANY sounds and always got them wrong.

It had been a few days since we had last practised. A lesson usually takes about 20 minutes. The in-laws came into town on Friday, so, Thursday night was pretty much the last time we had sat down to work on it.

It went horribly. He was getting "p" "d" and "b" all mixed up and a few times just completely guessed at words without even trying to sound them out. I was devastated, and became quickly frustrated at his lack of concentration. It was almost unbearable to get through a page. I made him stop several times to focus just on letters and sounds and when he would start again, he would be fine. However, a few minutes later it would all be jumbled up in his head again.

It was painstaking, but we finished the page. I put my arm across his chest and laid him down on the bed (we were sitting on the edge of the bed in the room with the only cd player in the house--darn ipods). With frustrated anxiety in my voice I sighed and said, "Jaxon! What happened!!??? You were doing so well a few days ago! You knew all of these words!"

And then something I didn't anticipate happened. His eyes welled up with tears. We were both lying down, gazing straight into each others eyes and there was such a clarity in those big green eyes. He started to cry. Not in a sad way, but in a truly frustrated way and said, "I can't help it mom. My brain doesn't always know what to tell my mouth. And sometimes I look at a word and I just don't say the right one!" Tears started to flow from both of our eyes and I took a few minutes and told him it would be ok. I told him I KNEW he could do it, because he did it just last week! I told him we would practise (earlier than right before bed) every night, so that he can learn to read. He seemed, for once, relieved that I was going to help him and that he was going to make it. So many times I think that he doesn't really worry about his life. That he doesn't think about the future, but after last night, it was clear to me that he DOES care and in the worst way possible he wants to be "normal".

It is heartbreaking to watch your child, who has his obvious impairments struggle with the reality that he is different and suddenly realize that his differences are causing his struggle. He wants to badly to have friends, be liked and do well in school. I realized last night that I have a huge responsibility to do every thing in my power to give him those opportunities. And I will. Day by day, minute by minute. . reading one word at a time. We will do it, and he will win. I just know it.

Crazy Cooks

IT IS FINISHED!! The whirlwind birthday/baptism extravaganza is finally over. . . and so, I am finally able to blog about it. Abby's birthday was officially on July 30th. It amazes me what is expected of birthdays these days! Cupcakes at school, parties, family parties. To be honest, we try to make it as simple as possible, but this year, it just wasn't going to be. I had already told Abby that we weren't going to do birthday parties EVERY year because honestly, that seemed excessive. We did a birthday/going away party for her last year, and so I had already resolved NOT to do it this year. But, I caved.

FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

Abby is still trying to find her footing here in AZ and from time to time forgets or doesn't realize how many friends she has made. She has also gotten into the habit of thinking she gets less than her brothers and baby sister. [Abby, he is autistic! Abby, he is 2! Abby she is a baby!]This was my last ditch effort to make sure she knows how loved she really is. [But no party next year. . .serious]

She is our major 'foodie' ( I have NO IDEA where she gets that from!) and Peter and I thought she would L.O.V.E. a Chef's Academy party. however, a party at the REAL Chef's Academy is $$$. A little more than we set out to spend these days. So, I put some creative juices to work. I left it up to my husband to create a chef's hat AROUND the party announcement. It was kinda difficult to make it look like a chef''s hat and NOT a dress, but, I think it turned out pretty well! (It is nice to have an "artist" in the family).
Think I have it all together? Yeah. The invite doesn't even have the day. Cool. Just the time.




I just expect people to know when to BE THERE. That is just how I roll.


One of my trips to Target really paid off when I picked up some of their clearance picnic items that were marked down to 90% off. Some cute ice cube trays, some cute popcorn cups, cute patootie straws and I picked up some corn holders, but didn't end up having enough for everyone. So, at the last minute, I picked up a 5 pack of wooden spoons from Walmart and painted the girls names on them. . Very CHEFy. . Don't cha think?

We made pizza dough and I helped each girl step by step make their own pizza dough. They did a great job, and LOVED being involved. I accidentally got some flour in one girls hair and they all insisted to have some so they looked more "authentic". Each one of them made their own pizzas.


And believe it or not, they ate the WHOLE THING. Not one speck left. And YES, each pizza took up 1/2 a cookie sheet. I guess all that hard work made them HUNGRY!

As part of the party, I helped them make and ice cream cake, and we hollowed out some cupcakes, put some softened ice cream on them, hardened them back up in the freezer and topped them with whip cream and mini chocolate chips and chocolate sauce. They loved it.

I think she had a blast, and even better, she got to feel like an extra special girl on her birthday weekend! She was baptized on 8/8 and it was a great day. I think I will post more about that later, but for now, here is a pic of her in her baptismal dress that I snapped when I was at my mom's house in SLC. Isn't her yard something out of a movie?

It is amazing to look at her and to think we have come this far! I can't believe I have an 8 year old. . . Amazing. Sad. Wonderful and overwhelming all at the same time!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABBY! 8 is GREAT! And so are YOU!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch. . .

My daughter is obsessed with Little House on the Prairie. We recently down-graded our cable and now have 5 channels INCLUDING the Hallmark channel which pretty much runs re-runs of LHOTP all day. I don't mind it. . sometimes I even watch it with her. . But we had our own "prairie moment" this morning.



Pa (Peter) told Ma (me) the other mornin' that the irun don't work no more. Ma decided Pa didn't know what he was talkin' about so ma jus ignored 'im. So, this mornin' when Pa needed an IRONED shirt ma plugged in the irun and sure nuf the irun wadn't workin'. So, ma had to make like a pioneer. . .





















What is that phrase again? Make it do, or do without? Well, I like to think that I live by it. This worked like a charm. . . and I don't even know if I AM going to get a new iron. . .

Guess who is 6 months old?

I can't believe it. Was that the shortest 6 months known to mankind? It was for me! I had to take some pictures to document the day, AND to show off her new trick. . .that she debuted, JUST for her 6 month mark! (She was working on teeth too, but they didn't make it in time)

Presenting

KAYLIN

I tried my darndest to get a smile, but couldn't capture one. The cat was providing too great a distraction!

LOVIN' TARGET STEALS!

The other day I posted on my facebook page that Target was having a "clearance sale" on all of their toys. It just happened to be on Abby's birthday. I had just dropped Jaxon off at therapy and was going to stop off at Target for "just a few last minute items." I mean, after all, we were ALL in our pajamas, so I wasn't gonna stay. . . .


It started off innocently enough. I saw there was a "clearance" aisle in the toys section and I started thinking about Jaxon's birthday that is coming up. There were lots of boy toys and I even snapped a few pix on the cell to text to Peter and get approval.


Here was the first item. . Star Wars. . slam dunk. . I can't read the tag (cell phone pic) but it was around $2. Normally $10.


Just as I did that, a woman went by me with an entire cart full of toys. I though, wow. She is really going crazy!! I started to go up and down the aisle and realized that there were "clearance" items on EVERY AISLE! And before you know it, I was throwing stuff in my cart right and left. The Target employees were unloading boxes of toys as I went and was even patient enough to score a Transformers talking helmet (?) for 75% off! (Definitely a coveted birthday item)

Wade of course wanted THIS.

It was NOT on sale, but is on my short list for "Black Friday".

Wade had a hard time with "NO".


My last text included this image. And the words:

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING: DONE!

Peter and I carefully sifted through the toys I had grabbed and made a yes/no pile. This the the pile that stays. . . I added up all of the tickets because I was curious to see how much I would have "spent on Christmas" this year. It added up to $367.80. (Ok, a few of those items were earmarked for Jaxon's birthday, but still). . . My final bill? $94.36. Just to give you an idea. . there were only 4 items on my list that were over $5 and NONE over $10!

THAT IS RIGHT!

Oh, and that lady with the full cart? I told her that she seemed to "know" this was going on. She admitted to it and said that it happens sometime in the last two weeks of July every year. NOW YOU KNOW. . .put it on the calendar for NEXT YEAR and save some Holiday bucks! :)

Coming to you from 12 feet under. . .

Today, I feel like I am coming to you from 12 feet under.

I read blogs today. . and actually made comments.

It felt good.

I have missed my blogging friends.

I don't have my lap top in operation right now.

It makes for not so much blogg-ing-reading.

I realized that I needed you. .

All of you, this past year.

You were my only friends. . a lot of times.

And it really got me through.

(Now I am crying)

This past year has been hard.

Really hard.

Just when I thought it was going to get better,

it got even harder.

It was horrible.

But today,

I feel blessed.

To have you.

Because you helped me through a really difficult time.

When I didn't feel like I had many people to turn to.

I turned to you.

Thank you.

For reading my blog.

And commenting.

And being there.

Thank you.

Life is GETTING better.

But still pretty (insert your favorite) busy/crazy/hard/stressful/exhausting/box filled.

Had 3 Birthday parties this week.

And actually un-packed boxes.

A LOT of boxes.

And had my own version of decorator prison.

I did it by myself this time.

Without my mom.

And I have to say,

I didn't re-invent the wheel.

But what I love about my stuff,

is that it looks great in ANY house.

I didn't want to unpack.

Because I hate packing.

And I thought that if I just left it packed I wouldn't ever have to pack again! (Great rationale)

But, now that it is unpacked,

I feel more settled.

And the kids are back in school.

And I can see just a LITTLE BIT of light.

And it feels good.

REALLY good.

Oh.

And I am grateful for my husband.

Who took the kids to the ward swimming party.

And I stayed home.

By myself. (Well, K is in her bed)

And read blogs.

And other things.

And cried a little.

Cuz I'm tired.

And that is it.

K.

Thanks for being there when I needed you.

See you soon with birthday updates.