Frugal Finds: CVS

I've been reading a ton of blogs about shopping at CVS.

So, I thought I'd give it a shot.

First thing I did was dig out my Extra Care Card. It's free and can be used right away and it can earn you money that you can use on products on future purchases.

Next, I clipped coupons. I have a TON of coupons. I only clip the good ones, the ones for products I use and only if they are for money off of 1, unless I usually buy 2 or more (like yogurts).

Then, I compared my coupons to the CVS flier. I was eager to get some deals today. I wanted out of the house. I pulled the coupons for items I use and products on sale, and off I went, with coupons, flier and CVS card.

When you get there, scan your card for coupons. It'll print out extra coupons only available for cardholders.

So, this was my score today!

• I got 2 bottles of Dawn Hand Renewal dish liquid. Normally $1.69. On sale for $0.96 each. I had a $1 off 2 bottles coupon. I got 2 bottles for $0.92 ($0.46 each). I saved $2.46 on 2 ($1.23 each).
• I got a bottle of Dawn dish liquid (not above). Normally $1.69. On Sale for $0.96. I had a $0.20 off 1 bottle coupon. I got 1 bottle for $0.76. I saved $0.93.
• I got a bottle of Fabreeze Fabric Refresher. Normally $6.29. On sale for $4.99. I had a $1 off 1 bottle coupon. I got 1 bottle for $3.99. I saved $2.30.
• I got a can of Fabreeze AirEffects. Normally $3.59. On sale for $2.99. I had a $1 off 1 can coupon. I got 1 can for $1.99. I saved $1.60.
• I got 2 bottles of Old Spice body wash. Normally $4.49. On sale for $3.49. I had a $1 off 2 bottles coupon and a buy 1 get 1 free coupon. I stacked these 2 by giving the $1/2 first and the BOGO second. I got 2 bottles for $1.49 ($0.745 each). I saved $7.49 on 2 ($3.745 each).
• I got a bottle of Tide Cold Water with ActiLift. Normally $8.99. On sale for $5.96. I had a $1 off 1 bottle coupon. I got 1 bottle for $4.96. I saved $4.03.

NOTE: I don't normally use Tide, but thought I'd give it a try with such a good deal going on...I've been tossing the idea around for several weeks.

I also bought a bag of ice.

I paid $16 for everything plus tax. My total was $16.85. My savings was $18.81. Not bad for 15 minutes of work and the cheap on stuff I actually use.
Don't forget to scan your card. I'm headed back because they were out of the fabric softener I wanted and I had to get a rain check. I have a coupon for that too. If I spend $2.02 more on Fabreeze products, I'll have $3.00 off my next purchase at CVS. You can save these Extra Care Bucks and pay for your whole bill that way.

Yummy Chocolate Chip Scones!

I found this recipe for chocolate chip scones. And they are amazing!

I went to Beautiful Nest for the recipe. And she's got it down!

The recipe is as follows:

• 2 c. flour, plus more for work surface (I use about 1/2 c. more)
• 1/4 c. sugar
• 1 Tbsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3/4 c. chocolate chips (or more or less, whatever you like)
• 1 1/3 c. heavy whipping cream

First, mix all the dry ingredients, minus the chips in a bowl with a whisk or fork. I recommend the fork.
Add the chocolate chips.
Add the whipping cream and mix well.
Turn out onto a floured surface. Knead for 3 to 5 minutes.
Pat into a 10 inch circle and cut into 8 (or more or less) wedges with a pizza cutter. You could also use a cookie cutter and make shapes.

Bake at 425 for 11-13 minutes, or until slightly starting to turn golden.
EAT and ENJOY!

MHR

This week's MRH is gonna be about Mike's temperament.

Sometimes Mike has a short fuse. But, this week we've all been sick and Mike maintained a happy attitude. Not an easy feat when you're sick.

Love you Mike!

MHR on a Saturday

Mike rocks today...

I've decided that with a busy life like mine (yesterday I worked from 8am to 7pm and then went to a football game to support Mike's little bro and didn't get home until after 10pm and today I worked 8am to 12noon and then ran errands with Mike and went out for a free meal at a local establishment and then went to my Grandma's house) and a new baby, I'm not going to feel guilty if MHRF is a few days (or a week) late. I don't think my hunny will mind.

So, on to Mike rocking today.

Last Monday, I was accused of walking out on a dinner bill. My cousins took me out for dinner Saturday night and a table near us walked out without paying. Monday night, a manager came to my house (since the place served alcohol, they swiped my license...thus they know my address) to collect payment. When we got the whole thing straightened out, they offered me and my husband a free meal. We took them up on it.

Yesterday, my Grandma got a new kitchen faucet and was so excited about it that Hubby and I decided to go install it for her. Well, she has stupid plumbing (cheap, old stuff...like the guy she bought the place from) and it took us 4 hours to install something that should have taken 30 minutes. We're still not done, since a trip to Home Depot is in our very near future (like tomorrow morning) in order to get a few bolts that we need so she can turn her kitchen sink on.

But, Mike rocks because he kept insisting that doing the work for her was no big deal when she kept saying that she felt bad that we went to all the trouble. It really wasn't a big deal, but I just love knowing that he doesn't mind going out of his way for people.

Hunny, you rock!

Frugal Finds:Good Will

I decided to take a stroll to the local Good Will today. Last year, it burned down and relocated "temporarily" near my house. I love it's new location and will be greatly sad when the old one gets rebuilt. I think they do a better business where they are at now and I like that I can walk there. It's also set up very nicely.

I put Norah in her wrap (that's how I carry her when it's just the 2 of us, since I can't carry/nurse a baby and push a stroller by myself) and headed off for Good Will.

My Good Will has a nice selection of books. I've gotten novels there, but lately, I've been into board books for N and parenting books (or more like books on the development of babies and toddlers).

Recently, I've gotten board books there like Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? and Maizey's Colors. I've also gotten Jennifer Weiner's Good In Bed and Emily Giffin's Something Borrowed. None of these books looked at all used. SCORE!

Check out my parenting books score! This also includes a picture Bible for N, a prayer book (I can find good Christian books there, too!) and a book that I got a few weeks ago. Usually, I pay $0.97 for the books. Occasionally, I'll pay $1.97 or $0.47. But still, a good deal for books never used, or at least that's how they look. One book and N's Bible did have names written in them, but that can be covered up, thus, it's no big deal.

This book snob finds nothing to sneeze at about that!

I picked What To Expect The First Year up because I read What To Expect When You're Expecting and thoroughly enjoyed it. They had several copies of that book too, but I'm not expecting (and I already had a copy that I got for free by taking a survey about whether or not I would take a prescription prenatal vitamin if I was already taking an over-the-counter vitamin) so I left it lay.

I picked up Your Baby & Child because I just happened to open to a page that talked about infant learning and play. I'm always looking for new ways to play with N because I get bored with playing peek-a-boo and using her play gyms. I liked what I saw and I liked the $0.97 price tag.

I participated in a pregnancy program (free) through my insurance company. As a thank you for doing so, they gave me 4 free books. They gave 2 that I could not pick (one about what to do in case of minor emergencies, like cuts and bee stings, and the other was about caring for a baby during the first year, like how to take a temperature and what to do if she gets a cold) and 2 books that I could pick. I chose one about basic baby care (like diaper changing, rashes, and bathing) in case I wasn't home and hubby had a question (we don't have a cell phone for him to call me and ask), and one about child development through age 5. This book, Touchpoints, was recommended to me by the nurse that directed my pregnancy program. It was one of the free ones they offered, but I didn't take it so I could take the book for Mike. When I found this at Good Will for, you guessed it, $0.97 I couldn't turn it down. This book explains how children's emotions develop and how their behavior can result from their emotions, and (if I remember correctly) how to understand their emotions and behavior on their level, how to show empathy so they understand it.

Norah was dedicated to the Lord this past week at the church we've been attending. We recently left our church of 4 years at the direction of God. As part of her dedication, Hubby and I got her her very first Bible. It's the New Testament with Psalms and it's a pink leather bound printed in the King James. More of a momento than a teaching tool (even I don't understand KJV very well). I picked up this picture Bible, so she can start to look at the pictures and learn about Jesus and God on her level. We even read a few stories after lunch today.

Lastly, I picked up this book about prayer because I believe that prayer brings miracles. When we pray, we are showing God our faith. I also picked it up because I struggle with prayer. I struggle with remembering to pray daily. I guess I struggle with "formal" prayer. I talk to God sometimes throughout my day, but it's not what I desire. I want something a little deeper. So, I decided to give this book a shot.

And that, my friends, is my Frugal Finds at Good Will. Maybe it's time you checked out Good Will's book selection, too!

Jersey Sew-Down

This past week, I made a jersey for N.

She comes to my hubby's brother's high school football games and cheers him to victory. But, the only proper way to do that is to support her team with the proper attire.

So, I invited my grandma over (she's super!) and she cut the pieces for me. We took a shirt of N's and made a pattern. We cut the front and back longer to create a yoke (that straight piece of fabric at the top of the shirt in jerseys and button-downs), we cut the sleeves, the front's neck piece was cut a little lower, and then we cut inserts to go down the side of the shirt, like a jersey.

She had some knit scraps that we used. After I sewed it all together, I took puffy paint and painted her uncle's number on it and our last name on the back. Now, they match!

We got so many comments on it. Now she's stylin'!

Mike Rocks...

...because he's a great Dad!

This past weekend, Hubby had N for a combined total of almost 9 hours completely by himself! And he didn't let her crying get the better of him.

Give Away Winner

The photography give away winner is Beth!

Congrats! Beth, email me for when you're available and we'll set something up!

My First Give-Away!

I apologize to all my readers who are not local...as this give-away can't be mailed...

I am a budding picture-taker. I must say that I'm very excited for November to get here. My employer puts out a yearly calendar and yours truly is the featured artist for 2011. It arrives in November, and it's FREE!
So, for my give-away...

1 lucky winner will receive a 1 to 2 hour family photo shoot. We'll head to a local park with some pretty backgrounds, take some pretty fall pictures, and you'll get a disk of the photos. Then, you can pick the ones you like and get them printed!

Here's some examples of my work...I also take nature and landscape photos, but they don't really apply.




There are a few ways to enter...

1. Leave a comment if you are a follower or a just became a new follower
2. Leave a comment and a link if you blogged about this give-away or mentioned it on Facebook
3. Leave a comment about what kind of family photo you'd like
4. Leave a comment for each new follower that you recommend to Homemade Comforts

This give-away will close on Sunday, September 12. Then, I will announce the winner and contact him or her to set up a time for some fun picture-taking!

Good luck!

Two MHRF at once...

MHRF is the one thing I try to post religiously. It shows my hubbs how much I truly appreciate him.

I am terrible. I admit it. I have not been on time with MHRF in 2 weeks!

Sorry Babe! (I think he actually reads this once in a while...)

So, for last week, Mike rocks because he took me away. His parents have a place at the beach and he took me for the weekend. We really enjoyed ourselves and got a weekend to relax.

Now, for this week, Mike rocks because he is so super supportive. I went back to work on Tuesday. I only work part time. I was a little upset leaving my peanut girl to go to work. Why is it that I can't earn a paycheck for taking care of my daughter?! Anyway, knowing this week would be a little rough for me, he changed the subject on the way to work on my 1st day (we carpool) and made dinner twice this week. He's the best.