What Up?

Have you ever felt that telling someone you'll be doing something is the surest way to ensure you won't do it? I think I've got this accountability thing backwards. I'm pretty sure I told everyone they could expect updates by checking this blog right before I stopped blogging.
So the last three months in a nutshell:
Vacation.
Baby.
Studying.
Socializing. (Shocker)
Baking.
It seems like all the single males in our family have gotten or will be married by the end of the summer. All at various locations stateside and over seas. Congrats! Then of course was my high school reunion...I still don't feel grown up enough to have graduated 10 years ago. Whoa. How random all this goes down the summer I give birth. Really, if I were prone to conspiracy theories this would be begging for some explanation. Luckily I'm not that paranoid. :)
Our newest addition, Marcus, is definitely not at fault for my lack of attention to...well, anything really. I'm convinced he is the easiest newborn ever. He is completely agreeable, amazingly portable (and not just because he's tiny *sigh*), and absolutely adored by his big brother. Even as I'm typing this I feel the sudden urge to pinch myself. Of course there was a serious adjustment period for me. The transition from meeting one child's needs to meeting two children's needs was terrifying. I had a couple rough days after mom left but it was all in my head, as usual. I do realize how much I love sleeping longer than two hour intervals. Luckily Marcus is already sleeping six hours a night. Of course there is a lot more to our newly expanded family dynamics than that but this was supposed to be a quick update since I logged on and promptly lost myself in food blogs for, ahem, too long.
During all this change we've been building our food storage which in turn is leading up to Bryan building something for us to store all the buckets now populating various parts of our house. Another random coincidence all these orders went out and were delivered right at baby time. Since food has been on my mind so much I decided to finally take the plunge and actually do what we've been casually tossing about the past year. We're eliminating processed foods from our diets. There, its out there. I'm now waiting for the urge to go and buy every box of macaroni and cheese on the shelves of my local market...nothing yet...I'll keep you posted.
Now I'm definitely not planning to go cold turkey. I still have an amazing stockpile of pasta from one of my coupon trips and I'm not going to buy bushels of tomatoes to produce my own sauces. I'll be using up what we have and not getting more. Except the tomato sauce. That will have to do until I can get a bumper crop of my own tomatoes grown which is not looking promising for this season at our community garden.
(Ah, but we laughed. Right?)
Anyhoo, I've known making the switch would be better for us but I lacked the confidence I could manage to produce home cooked everything while juggling my boys, school, and my daytime charge who returns next week. The good news is I forgot how much I loved to cook. Ok, the fact I forgot that isn't the good news. The good part is that I  LOVE to cook and making dinner has actually been more of a chore because I've been using processed stuff. As I've started to do less and less prepackaged goods I've had more and more fun. I know, everything about me is counter-intuitive. Derek asked for macaroni and cheese and I made it from scratch in time for dinner without even breaking a sweat. And it tasted waaay better than Kraft, thank you very much.
My big stumbling block has been baking. I have tried three batches of  fresh ground whole wheat bread and still have not had a success. Since I fancy myself a better than average cook and I'm terribly over dramatic, the less the perfect outcome of any dish is devastating. There are simply no words for complete failure.
So the past week I've put on my absolutely adorable apron and got busy getting flour on my nose. And baking. So far I've managed to produce delicious banana bread, chewy bagels (another Derek request), and light and fluffy crescent rolls. The last has even convinced Bryan, who is was a devotee to bread from a tube.
Okay, so one paragraph on new baby and like five on food. I have issues. Pictures will follow...I mean of the food, of course :)

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.

Counterfeit Coupons

After couponing the past couple years I was surprised how much I didn't know about counterfeit coupons. I think there is more awareness at stores right now because of shows like TLC's extreme couponers. Interestingly Kroger (which owns Fred Meyer, King Soopers, Dillons, Food4Less, Bakers, City Market, Fry's, Hilander, JC, Gerbes and various other grocery market/department store chains ) is where most of the couponers on that particular show shop. I read about one of the participants in the show being a fraud and since then I've been doing some research. Today one of my favorite coupon blogs posted this link.

I've learned that stores DO NOT get reimbursed for illegit coupons. I hadn't thought much about it before because I've always assumed the coupons I get were legitimate. I guess I always assumed that the manufacturer bore the burden of these coupons but apparently there is a way to detect coupons that are not credible even when they are printed via internet from home computers. The manufacturers do not honor the coupons and the store/pharmacy you shop at does not get reimbursed.
With Kroger already tightening their scrutiny of coupons I think it is important that we spread the word to our fellow coupon users to watch out. Printable coupons are so prolific these days that my guess is they will be the first to be denied at local stores. Just in the short time I've been couponing I've seen stores change their policies about printable coupons numerous times. I've already experienced two local Walgreens that turned away my printables for several months because they had been inundated by counterfeits. Now when they do accept printables they only accept a couple at a time.
I would say the majority of my savings and free items come from printables and it has been such a blessing to my family. Lets take care of our local stores so they can be properly reimbursed and thus continue to accept all types of coupons. They don't have to accept coupons at all and we are the ones who will suffer if they stop.

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.

57 Free Boxes of Pasta!

*sigh* Just look at them. Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE couponing?
This is by far the best pasta deal I've ever gotten and it just so happened to come while we are assessing our food storage. I have a hard time with the idea of paying for pasta in bulk containers when I can get so much for absolutely nothing. This is good stuff too. Tri-color rotini, penne, and whole wheat linguine. I'm just bummed the lasagna and egg noodles weren't part of the deal. Otherwise I would be in complete pasta bliss.
Though pasta was the star today, I did get several deals on my Kroger trip.

57 Boxes Ronzoni Smart Taste, Healthy Harvest, and Garden Delight pasta
   FREE

1 Gallon Private Selection Organic Milk (so excited to buy gallons of organic milk in my regular store for such a great price!)
   $5.29

12 cans Red Gold Tomatoes
   $1.00
1 Philly Cooking Creme
   Overage of .26

1 Organic Ground Beef
   $4.44

2 Dozen Large Eggs
   $2.20
1 Country Crock
   $0.49

1 32oz All-Natural Dannon Yogurt
   $1.49

Veggie Wash
   $3.99
Sunflower Seeds
   $1.99
Dove Men's Deoderant
   $0.99
Gillette Satin Care Shaving Cream
   $0.79
2 16 count StayFree Long w/Wings
   $0.49 (I would like to point out that these numbers are the total for the product listed, not price per piece)
Bananas
   $1.52
4 Classico Pasta Sauce
   $6.00
French's Spicy Mustard
   Overage of  .21

I paid a total of $24.09 plus tax out of pocket. I saved $155.63 or 86%. For the most part the prices listed above reflect my coupons except for my Entertainment Book $5/75 purchase which came off the total.
I do buy organic or all natural animal products (milk, eggs, meat, yogurt etc.) when possible so that does increase my total a little bit. If I had opted for regular milk and meat at this trip it would have saved me an additional $6.00 or so. Because I coupon and stock pile at sales like the current mega event our grocery budget is still tiny even with the organic products.

Last weekend I stocked up on produce at Costco. I also went to Walgreen's last week for the first time in forever because I just couldn't pass up on the PediaCare deal.

I actually went twice.
This is the first trip where I made $0.15 cents after getting the Always register reward. The second trip I got three more PediaCare free. Every time I checked out I got more coupons and ended up having to give them away. As hard as it is to pass up on free stuff, especially when medicine is so expensive, I couldn't jinx our family by having so much on hand. You know?

It's great to be back in the swing of things.

Custard Makes Me Feel Fancy

Above you will see my improvised double boiler in which my mom is assisting in the constant stirring of vanilla custard as I indulge a whim and take a picture.
Maybe it isn't just custard that makes me feel fancy...maybe just pulling out a recipe that calls for a double boiler will do the trick. Yesterday it was banana pudding that was calling to me. I don't understand living in the South where banana pudding is tradition and having so many variations of said dish presented from box mixes. I remember the first time I wanted to make it for my husband's family...they had never heard of cooking custard and layering vanilla wafers and bananas. I think it is devastating. I should start a foundation.
Now as I sit typing I realize I should have taken a picture of the finished product. That is impossible now seeing as it has been almost completely devoured.
How about a picture as I was preparing the layers?

You can find a picture of the finished product along with the recipe here. You might note I made mine in a Pyrex boil. I don't do meringue. Ick! So I didn't bake the pudding. My family has just always layered and let it sit for a bit. In hindsight I will bake it next time, that way I can eat it sooner :). 
On a side note: The vanilla custard portion of this recipe is delicious on its own.
Happy banana pudding-ing!

Our Anniversary

Bryan and I celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary over the weekend. I can't believe it has already been five years! Add to that a year of engagement and sort of a year of dating and that totals seven years. Wow.
It seems only appropriate to include the newest song on my list of love songs (I add one every year to the Bryan and Andrea mix). Of course it would be country...

*Sigh* The guys always seem to have the market cornered on awesome love songs. Bryan's addition this year is the Bruno Mars hit. I'm seriously starting to wonder if females can nail love songs...maybe I just haven't heard any lately...highly possible since I rarely listen to the radio.
I digress. We decided to stay at The Inn at Hunt Phelan B&B using a Groupon (I heart Groupon!). We got a suite including a closet the size of my living room for less than $100. It was gorgeous but it didn't come with the promised jacuzzi tub. Prego Andrea required a spa bath so we switched to a smaller room with the appropriate tub and I was very pleased. We had dinner at our most favorite splurge restaurant and just relaxed. I think we were both surprised at how much we missed Derek even though we were only 30 minutes away. We called home to say good night to him *sheepish grin*
We had a great time but I think that had more to do with how much we like hanging out with each other than with the bed and breakfast itself. We always have trouble sleeping when we travel. Our bed must be made of mush or something because hotel beds always feel like a slab of rock.
Then when we went down for breakfast we were served one bagel (total, not each) and a single plate with three strawberries, four blueberries, a few sticks of cheese and two piles of prosciutto. I was waiting for the second course when I saw another couple who had been there before us get up and leave. I mean come on, one bagel? We could have stayed at the Holiday Inn Express and gotten eggs and bacon. The last B&B we stayed at had a five course breakfast that was divine. I mean I feel like the whole point in choosing a B&B over a hotel is feeling pampered. I must say Hunt Phelan left a lot to be desired, but Bryan and I had a good laugh over it on the way home...I don't eat uncooked cheese or meat when I'm expecting so Bryan even offered to stop and get me an egg McMuffin. Hehe.
Even with all that I was thrilled spending the weekend with my favorite person. I am thankful for Bryan everyday. And when I see him and Derek together...shoot, I can't even not cry when I'm blogging...I just can't believe how blessed I am.
Cheesy, huh? Totally true though.