Monthly Wrap Up

I am feeling kind of down and out today as I post.  I will be honest that the last month has really been tough on myself and my family.  Both of my jobs have been challenging and time consuming.  I use to work my second job because I loved it.  I still love it, but now the income is a need. I have even picked up a 3rd job (have you ordered your make-up yet? shameless plug).  I started couponing to save money for a new house, now I coupon because there is no other choice.  I am overwhelmed, overworked, exhausted, frustrated, sad, but grateful for everything I have!!!

There is an African proverb that says "It takes a Village to raise a Child".  Let me tell you, I need every bit of that village.  I will admit, I need help.  I don't like asking for help and I get burned and my feelings hurt easily especially when it comes to my kids.  They are the most precious things in my life.  In my head there should be a line of people eagerly waiting to spend time loving on them.  On the flip side that village also enriches their lives and provides numerous learning environments and opportunities.  Different voices, ways of life, concepts, rules to learn, songs to hear, books to read, and adjustments to make.  A village shapes their lives.

I am still trying to balance my life, support my husband, keep my kids healthy, and parent them wisely. Some days I fail and some days I succeed.  It is kinda like a guessing game everyday when I wake up.  Will I survive the day? What is God's plan?

Okay quit the whining.  Here some pictures to cheer us up.....

The point of today's post... my monthly spending breakdown.  There was no time for anything this month, so the money spent was primarily for maintaining.  We relied heavily on the freezer and whatever it had to offer.

Sams - $84
Brookshires - $60
Walgreens - $26
Wal-Mart - $30

Total for the month was approximately - $200

Favorite Things Friday

Today I will discuss my favorite music. I am not a huge music changes my life kinda person, but I do enjoy the often mood altering experience.

My likes and dislikes have no patterns and barely make sense. Its all over the place.

In highschool, I chose to listen to whatever was popular or what I could afford to buy on a tape single to play on my awesome dual cassette player. Of course my friends and I made copies for each other to cut down on cost. Friends help friends save money. The more money we save here the more money we have for gas on the weekends to drive around for hours to stalk the popular people in the Brookshires parking lot.  Didn't you know? Anyone who is anyone hangs out in the Brookshires parking lot.

In college, I listened to those songs that were clearly written for me to describe whatever relationship problems I was going through at the time.  The sad ballads, the empower me as a woman, the boys sucks, the I want you back, the songs that clearly described your life.  I would drive around on the back roads with the windows down singing my heart out and imagining that I sounded like Christina Aguilera.  I'm pretty sure that I do sound like her a little bit. :)

Lets also not forget the club songs.  I most certainly listened to the club songs.  I had to be prepared with my steller dance moves.  It defined me.  Did you also know that I was the DJ for Karaoke night?  Yep, I was.  I called myself "DJ Jazzy Jules" and my crowd said "What?!?"  My staples you ask? Coolio - Gansta's Paridise and Reba - Fancy.  Ask me to perform for you.......I may bust out with it.

Into my adulthood music kind of fell off the radar for me.  Nothing was appealing. I guess my old mature self just couldn't keep up with the new age music.  I don't get the Pit Bull, Beyonce annoys me, Gaga overwhelms me, blah blah blah.  It is here that I found Christian music.  Love it.  Seriously, Love it.

I can honestly say that this music has encouraged and kept my relationship with Jesus Christ on track.  Thank goodness!! I am human and a walking sin, so I need a constant back pocket companion.  This music keeps my relationship relevant and living every day.  If you are local...88.7 is the place to be.  Try it out and I promise it will make a difference in your daily life.

Now........I still bust out some old school every once in a while.  This morning I jammed to a little snoop dog, just to make sure I still had some skills.  I am happy to report.......I still have skills.  Mad skillz.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Deals this Week

Here are a few deals around town this week:

Walgreens:

Vaprina A-D Anti-Diarrheal Meds - $5.00 receive $5.00 Register Rewards - FREE
    - It wouldn't hurt to have this stocked. You never know! :)

24 Ct Water bottles - $2.99 - always stock up here!!

Folgers K-Cups - $5.99 - Use $1.50 from coupons.com.  = .37 per Kcup.

CVS:

Just the Basics Paper Towel Roll - Print out a 75 cent coupon from the Magic Coupon Machine and get it for FREE!!

Buy 2 Bic Twin Shavers Silky Touch Disposable Razors. $3.99 - BOGO 50% off. - Use 2 $3.00 of from SS 3/9 = FREE!

Zarbee's Seasonal Relief - $7.00 receive $7.00 Extra Care Bucks = FREE!!

These should be pretty easy deals for the non couponing expert.  Have you tried couponing yet?? Are you learning more or getting better?

Give me some feedback!!

My weeks are starting to slow down and I am dying to get back on track for regularly scheduled meals and a MEAL PLAN!!  I would love to hear some new ideas....anyone?

I HAVE RETURNED

Okay Okay. Before I loose the 3 loyal readers I have, I am re-entering my blog life. I had to take a bit of a break for a couple of weeks to catch up with everyday life.  Sorry there was no warning, but I am sure everyone survived.  Right!?!



This is what you have missed.  My calendar for the month of March... yuck!



Starting a new job ( I started a new job by the way), requires a little more brain power than I'm use to.  Extra time training and observing and digging deep to find that child development knowledge I use to spit into almost every conversation.  There is a lot to learn, but I am getting there.



Ruddick has been sick....yes again.....for the entire month.  He was tested for an immune deficiency and was all clear.  Now what? I don't know.  I am very frustrated, sad, overwhelmed, confused, and everything else that goes with motherhood.  Another appointment with the ENT tomorrow.....so we will see.





RL competed in a pageant.  She loves it!

















I bought some clothes and sold some clothes at Munchkin Market.  One of my FAVORITE times of year.  I am currently in mourning that it is over.



We went to the circus.







VERY little has been spent on groceries this month.  I also haven't cooked much.  I HEART FREEZER COOKING!!



That's a wrap!! I promise to get back to the deals tomorrow!!!!

Deals this Week

I scored a major deal at walgreens today totally by surprise!! I dropped in to get the kelloggs and kashi cereal that were on sale for $2.50 compared to $3 at walmart. My husband was completely out which made for an unpleasant morning. I had a couple of coupons for kashi from the back of previous boxes and coupons.com. It was a good deal simply for the sale price.

I checked out and received an additional $3 register rewards AND 5000 points (which equals $5). 8 MORE dollars than I had expected!!!

The 5000 points came from a promotion that ends today. Spend $25 receive 5000 points.

So if you have never taken the leap to buy ahead before and this is your cereal, just do it TODAY. I bought 10 boxes that cost $15 compared to the $30 full price at walmart. This is what savings looks like my friends.

While you are there buy 1 colgate and recieve $2 RR. Use $1 off from last Sundays paper and its FREE.
-
I heart Walgreens this week!!

February Grocery Spending

Here is a look inside my monthly grocery spending.  I share this on  my blog so that I can hopefully show that shopping sales and coupons really do make a difference in your grocery bill.  Before I started shopping this way, I was never able to lower my grocery bill below $500 a month.  This was 3 years ago and pre-kids.  Now that I have two kids that eat real food and require additional snacks PLUS the increase of grocery prices, I can only imagine what it would be!!!!! I am just not willing to pay that money.  I just can't.

February

$131 - Brookshires - Load up on meat and produce with the BOGO sale

$40 - Walmart - Kids snacks and reload of produce

$100 - Walmart - This is my husband's spending and it drives me CRAZY that I can't track it.  I know it
includes protein bars, milk, and any other random things needed throughout the month

Total for the month is $271.

Since this was a low month, I expect it to go up next month.  I have not needed to purchase diapers in 3 months and I am getting low.  March will be a reload month!!

Mushroom Tilapia

It seems my blog has moved away from the dinner table and focused more on the pocket book lately.
The truth is ..... in this season of my life (a three year old and one year old) there has not been too many new and creative dinners. I have focused mostly on my staple rotations and keeping the grocery bill low.

I put a little extra time into dinner Sunday to prepare this Mushroom Tilapia.

I used frozen tilapia (sams), mushrooms (sams), spaghetti (brookshires bogo), alfredo (brookshires bogo), bread crumbs (brookshires bogo), spinach (sams), steamed veggie mix (sams)

I cooked the noodles as usual and then just mixed alfredo sauce when they were done.

I layed out the talipia in a baking dish and covered with melted butter and garlic.

The mushrooms were sauteed seperate with red wine vinegar and salt and pepper.

Next I sprinkled fish with bread crumbs and topped with mushrooms. Broiled for about 10 minutes






D gave this a TEN!!! Both kids wanted seconds! Success!


Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Deals this Week

Here are a few good deals this week!!

Walgreens:

Kelloggs Breakfast to Go - $1.49 get $1.49 Register Rewards - FREE.  I will probably stop by and get this deal a few times this week.

Insync Probiotic - $10 get $10 RR - FREE

Crest Pro Rinse Mouthwash - $3.00 get $1.50 RR - Use .75 from 3/2 PG.  Final cost .75 cents!

CVS:

Cadbury Single Egg, Cadbury Mini Eggs, Hersheys Egg - $.87 receive $.87 Extra Bucks - FREE

Gold Emblem Jelly Beans - $.99 receive $.99 EB - FREE


I HEART FREE!!!

Dillards

If you havent been able to make it to dillards, I will write one more plea. I think you should go. I believe it will be worth your time. Let me share a few more finds (all prices including tax)

All 4 for $8. Im hoping this may get me excited about exercise. Perhaps? Maybe?


Kids stride rite shoes. $7 each.





Both pair of shoes for daniel $55.


All of the above were items I
have been on the look out to find. I'm pretty proud!!!