Consignment Success

We've been blessed that I haven't had to buy clothes for Derek since he was born. That isn't to say I haven't succumbed to a cute new outfit now and then. Mostly he has worn hand me downs from my cousin and a few my sister, Paula, has passed along. As well as various new outfits family and friends have given us.
This consignment season is the first that I've really been gearing up for some serious shopping. My stash of 3T clothes that Derek will soon be transitioning into was sadly lacking in colder weather wear. So last Thursday I hit my first sale of the season to stock up. What a circus! I stopped by the strollers on the way in just in case there was a double jogger...in my dreams...and then went straight to the 3T section. Good thing I didn't get sidetracked any where else. Every other woman in the city decided to try to get there early, like I did, and it was a race to get the clothes you wanted. It only took me thirty minutes to find way more than Derek would need for the fall/winter and then after I culled my picks I headed over to look for a couple 2T church shirts. The racks were all but picked clean. I found a total of 3 polos, two were white and very stained (who exactly did they think would buy those?) and one was a dark green that came home with me.
I admit I went over budget by 23 dollars. I couldn't resist. I came home with thirty items and paid less than $2.50 each. That ain't bad when you take note that I brought home several Gap, Children's Place, and Osh Kosh items in like new condition. As a matter of fact one shirt still had the tags on it. The score I was most thrilled with was a three-piece hooded sweater set. I know I'm not great at pictures but I'll pull out some of my steals and get them up sometime this week.
There is another sale this weekend and I'm planning to scope it out to get a head start on his 4T clothes since my stash of that size is almost non-existent. I'm still hoping to find a good double jogger (odds are better this time 'round because it's the Mothers of Multiples sale) or at least a sit and stand.
Then there is the shoe dilemma. I just bought four pairs of shoes from a co-op and Derek already is growing out of the last pair. Holy moley. I don't like used shoes and I refuse to buy new ones with inch thick immobile plastic soles so that turns out to be a big problem. The brands I would like to buy are like $44 a pair. For a two year old? You've got to be kidding. I've managed to miss all the shoe sales on my favorite discount site too. I'm certainly open to suggestions.

Shop, Shop, Shop

Walgreen's
So for the first time I actually had a successful Walgreen's trip. I never thought it would happen. The store was nearly empty. Derek was happy. The cashier was patient and very helpful. I found every single item on my list...
At first I thought I was in the twilight zone.
I ended up with four different transactions. Each Register Reward printed and I was able to roll them over to my next transaction. My scenario was modified from this one at Saving A Bundle. I had a higher value coupon than one listed for the Colgate but it had expired since I'd organized my q's for the trip and I had to dig another one out of my binder. I spent $5.74 including tax.

CVS
Giddy with success I went over to a new CVS that just opened in my shopping radius to check it out and get some more great deals. As soon as I walked in the door I nearly did a little heel click because they actually had mini carts with cars. Derek was way excited but I might have been more so. This is my new fave CVS.
They were all out of my Stove Top Stuffing though. It is on sale this week for .88 a box and I have some lovely coupons that would have scored me 5 boxes for a buck fifty. Yum. I should have asked when they planned to restock. I'll give them a call later. They were also out of the shave gel I was going to get Bryan and score some Extra Care Bucks with, but I did end up getting 3 free reach floss and two bottles of Head and Shoulders for $3.19. I also earned 2 Extra Care Bucks for my next trip.

Target
Last night I took the boys with me to Target. Bryan handled damage control with the little man while I shot around grabbing my coupon deals. My savings at this store are never what I want them to be. Usually because there is either some item I get that I don't have a coupon for or it just is a big ticket item (at least what I would call a big ticket item, you know like five bucks) and it throws my total. I get really upset about that. Last night it was the Charmin Moist Wipes for $4.99. Sigh. They never have good coupons for those things. I ended up with:
2 Degree men's deoderants, free after coupons
1 Kandoo wipes .42 (any one else looking forward to potty training in the near future?)
2 Girard's Caesar salad dressing 1.52
2 Cool-Whip 1.98 (sadly no q's for these)
2 Halls cough drops .19 (I'd found a BOGO tear pad at schnuck's a couple weeks ago. Sweet!)
1 dozen plastic Easter eggs .65
1 Charmin 4.99

I'd remembered reading an article about Target's coupons not always working like they should so I was watching closely as each q was scanned and I caught when one of the Target coupon's scanned for 0.00. The cashier told me that meant I was getting the product for free but I had to point out to her that then it would have listed the price of the item, not a bunch of 0's. She rescanned the coupon and I was credited my correct coupon savings of .50. So my total was $11.28. Minus the Charmin I would have paid more like $5 plus tax which would have made me much happier. *sigh* Still a good trip though.

Wal-mart
Right before Target I'd run into Wal-mart to price match my Toys R Us ad for Chutes and Ladders. On top of the matched sales price of $4.99 I had a $2 coupon so I got the game for $2.99 plus tax. I was hoping to score the Buzz Light Year Operation game that Wal-mart had for $5 and use my $3 off coupon and Hasbro rebate to score a game and a pizza for 2 bucks but they were all sold out. I'll have to try and check out another Wal-mart for that deal. I also grabbed some meat, black beans, tomato sauce, and maple syrup. Again the meat and syrup killed my total. I walked out paying $21.12. Good thing I only buy meat once or twice a month or my budget would be shot.

After my two day shopping spree I've spent $41.33. My weekly budget goal is $40. I'm hoping that adding regular trips to Walgreen's and CVS to earn RR and ECB will make my budget go farther. Especially since organic milk is $5 a gallon and the meat is pretty pricey as well. Don't even get me started on what happens when I walk into Costco...
It seems weird to me to post something private like a budget and my grocery list but I've seen the accountability of it working for some of my friends so I'm going to give it a try. I love insights on how to get good deals too and I wouldn't know what I do if others hadn't shared their experience with me.

Squeaky Shoes

A friend of mine did a shoe co-op recently. We got shoes at wholesale. I'm totally excited because I got two Robeez style baby shoes for our new little one for half the cost of what just one name brand pair would have set me back. I've even looked for Robeez shoes at consignment and they were outrageously priced. I guess I understand why people price them so high even when they are used considering how much it probably cost them to buy new. Anyway, I was grateful to be a part of the shoe order because I got a serious steal.
I also bought two pairs of shoes for Derek. The larger size shoes from this particular company are actually squeaky shoes...you know the ones that sound like a rubber ducky when you step down? Well I totally don't like squeaking kids running around. I mean they make enough noise without any assistance. But the shoes were so cute and so cheap I just figured I'd puncture the squeaker and still come out way ahead on the shoe budget. The shoes also have a more flexible sole than those that I've found in local stores. How shoe companies expect kids to be able to walk with half inch think rubber soles strapped to their tiny feet I have no idea. It drives me bonkers.
Anyway, we get home from picking up our shoes and Bryan wants to see how they fit Derek so we put them on before any puncturing had occurred. Derek was absolutely thrilled. I mean he started river dancing just to hear his shoes. I was rolling. Bryan even got out the camcorder. Now I'm reluctant to puncture the stinking things. Derek is so cute when he's grinning ear to ear squeaking this way and that. Also he can no longer sneak up on me...I see these could have advantages. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for another order going out and get some silly shoes for him to wear for fun. Maybe that will appease my conscience when I silence these squeakers for good. For now I just don't have the heart to do it.
Squeak, squeak, squeak...sigh.

The Blueberry Monster and other harrowing experiences.

Today we went out to Nesbit to pick blueberries. Big, plump, juicy, fall off the branch and into your mouth blueberries. Yum! This is a big deal because I don't like blueberries. Not your average sort that you find in the store anyhoo. Bryan loves them but I always thought they were kinda bitter and way too expensive. Well a couple years ago we found out about Nesbit blueberries and ever since then our lives have been the picture of peace and harmony. *sigh*
Ok, that may be a little dramatic but they are still amazingly yummy berries. And at only 11 bucks for a gallon bucket worth they are a steal. If you're in the area and decide to make the trip I'd show up as soon as they opened at 7am to make sure you had plenty of time before the heat really kicks in.
Picking is a big deal for me. This is the first year I actually picked the berries and didn't pay extra to get them picked for me. This meant I had to strap Derek into a hip holster...or whatever you want to call it...and head out into the bushes. Bushes that are outside. Bugs live outside. Ewww.
Call me a wimp if you wish. The thing is I'm allergic to biting things and if something that didn't bite crawled up my arm, well that would probably give me a rash too. Not to mention the nervous tick I develop when I hear buzzing *shiver*. All this notwithstanding I went out into the wild to pick the delicious blueberries. I started hesitantly but then I started to pick up the pace and then I saw a big old spider web with food storage. I must say the occupant was very tidy. He had like 8 meals wrapped nicely and lined up in a perfectly straight row. I'd almost crashed his house reaching for a berry. I cannot tell you the hysterics that were only narrowly avoided by my noticing that web before I went in hand first. I decided to let that bush be and I moved on to the next one. At this point a hornet started following me. I guess it liked the smell of my sunscreen or something because the thing would just not quit. I squished him with my water bottle. Brave, huh?! Well it was a small hornet. Again I was just happy I hadn't run away screaming. I mean I had to keep my composure. The kids there with us didn't freak out and the other adults were as calm as could be. No big deal.
I started to get more comfortable. Nothing was crawling on me. I wasn't stung and I was still sticking my hands into the bushes and pulling out yummy berries. My confidence level was climbing as my bucket was filling and then...wait....what is....is that....*deep breath* I checked one more time and then with a voice as calm as if I saw such things everyday I called for the boys to come check out the snake skin I found.
Amazing how you can experience fear and trepidation on the inside and just by pretending things are ok it somehow makes it better. At least a little bit. The kids came over and checked out the snake skin. They thought it was awesome...of course. I told them not to touch it. Ick! Their aunt told them they could take it home. Yeah, she's kind of a nature chick. She was one of those adults that probably would have cried from laughing if I had acted the way I wanted to around all the tiny living things in the bushes. She made me strong. I even managed to keep picking when another mom found a tick on her little girl. A tick. Good thing nature chick was willing to check out Derek before we left.
Now are you starting to understand the goodness of the berry? During this experience while I was battling my fear of creepy crawlies the little guy in my hip holster was slowly transforming. I was distracted or maybe I would have realized what was happening right under my nose. He tried a blueberry. He liked it. The other kids got excited about it and brought him their biggest, most beautiful berries to sample. He took them all. And then he wanted more. I have to say I honestly don't know how many the little tyke consumed but I do know that when I was worried he'd have a tummy ache and I cut him off he completed his transformation into the blueberry monster. I think you could have heard him for miles. I tried water. I tried bouncing. I tried letting him walk. The only thing that could satisfy this terrifying creature was more blueberries. At one point he even tried going head first into my blueberry bucket. When I told Bryan he simply said, very much like Bill Cosby, "that's my son." At least I can say Derek has been thoroughly anti-oxidized for now.
One thing I know now, it looks like I'll be going back to pick more blueberries.

I'm trying this new travel plan ya see....

Open scene: We find ourselves in a smoke filled speak-easy where our heroine is trying desperately to order Sasparilla at a discount. Finding the bartender uncooperative she is forced to commandeer the microphone on the stage and climb atop the piano in a desperate attempt to sing for her supper.

Don't worry, I have a plan B.

So our trip to Chicago is fast approaching and I'm in the final stages of acquiring the food we'll take with us. Seems crazy. I am never ready more than an hour (even that is optimistic) before go time. I'm sure there will still be clothes to pack and the such on travel day but I have already stocked up on just about all the food we'll take. My plan is to pack breakfast (for our stop in St. Louis where we will not have breakfast provided by our hotel), lunch for the duration of the trip, drinks, and snacks. I refuse to pay 10 bucks for a gas station nosh stop when I can get the same things here for super cheap and actually mostly free.
I was inspired by Saving a Bundle's super frugal Disney World trip where she packed most of their food and saved mega bucks. We'll still eat dinner out with planned stops at The Cheesecake Factory, Pizzeria Uno (the original, sweeeet!), and another Chi-town pizzeria.

An added bonus I'm totally stoked about is that from St. Louis to Chicago we'll be traveling on Route 66 where we will pass the original Steak and Shake drive in. Milk shakes might have to make it into the eating out budget. I mean Steak and Shake is my absolute favorite.
As it stands now I'll spend less than $20 for all food, snacks, and drinks, besides dinner, for the entire trip. I'm pretty stoked because we can't eat out twice on that budget let alone six times. I'm planning to make a menu plan so I know how much we can eat when and where to pack it so it is accessible. If I'm super ambitious I'll post my final plan. The dinner restaurants we are going to are a little pricey and don't have Restaurant.com gift certificates.

*Side Note*If you haven't used restaurant.com yet you should totally check them out! Right now you can save 70% by using the code savor at check-out. Stack that with a rebate site like Mr. Rebates to get an additional 30% off. If you haven't used a rebate site before most give you a $5 bonus for signing up. What that spells is free certificates! Around Christmas I took advantage of the deep discounts and scored twelve free certificates for some super cheap date nights. Just pay attention to what you are buying! These aren't tradition gift certificates, there are usually minimum purchase amounts and some restaurants have weekend or dinner exclusions.

As I was saying there are no discounted certificates so we'll be paying full price which means our dinner budget will be closer to $50. For Hotels and Travel we are taking advantage of Costco and AAA discounts. And we're thinking about getting a Chicago Citypass to save money on site seeing. I'm totally bummed we can't take the Segway tour but having little guy along will be totally worth it...even if he won't remember a thing we'll have pictures.

Lastly we'll be visiting the Temple we were married at in St. Louis

as well as the temple in Chicago which we haven't been to yet. I'm excited to add a new temple to the list of those we've visited in our travels.

P.S. Totally stoked to tell you I'll be having my first give-away ever coming up soon. I feel...so blogficial....sigh.