The "Good Enough" Couponer

Last week I had a HUGE couponing week!! By stacking manufacturer's coupons with a Publix coupon, with a Publix sale, I got these two 24 oz toddler formula cartons for $9.98 (original total cost=$38). Little e is drinking a lot of this stuff these days, since she's in between mama's milk and cow's milk----with these prices, I hope she makes this transition soon!! I also used $42 worth of coupons for my weekly groceries, with $56 in Publix sale items, making my total damage $73 with a value of $170. This includes my weekly items + stocking up on soups, Cheerios, and canned vegetables.

This week I didn't feel like putting in the time to track down all of my coupons and then chatted too long on my girls' lunch, which only gave me 30 minutes to do my weekly groceries shopping (couponing takes time). But, I think I did "good enough." I got all of this:

for $56 before tax, using $8.50 in coupons and $27 in Publix sales. My current "plan" (and I use that loosely) is to shop during the week when Publix isn't so packed, buy only things that are on sale (besides a few necessities), stock up on sale items that we use a lot of, and bake a chicken or a turkey breast for lunch meat every week. That is "good enough" couponing, as far as I'm concerned!!

Four Likes and a Jab

Soooo....I asked a very specific question: What is your preference? 1. Dear Jackie. 2. Embarrass Myself. 3. Get Out of the Blogging Sphere.

My response: four likes and a jab. Hmmm. Don't get me wrong. I'm glad somebody did in fact read and like my post. It just makes it difficult to interpret your preference. Well, everyone except my sister, that is. She was very decisive: OPTION 2! But, of course she would say that. What sibling wouldn't say she wanted her older sister to embarrass herself?? I also had an anonymous tip to do the food thing and what I'm assuming was a desperate plea for the Dear Jackie. So, it looks like the four LIKES won!! I will throw out Option 3 and continue blogging...I'm sure that at some point the topic will make itself known. ;)

So, for now, here's a question fo-o--oorrr YOU! (for you non-moms, that's a quote from Elmo's World) What is your advice for someone who wants to have a cabinet for her baby play in but would like to have some inkling where her tupperware matches are? The system below isn't really working for me:

For my reader who wants to laugh at me: check. So, for my reader who wants something about food, I'm going to Publix this afternoon. Hopefully, tomorrow you will have some eye candy! For my Dear Jackie fan, I need another question.

Over and out. I hope that all seven of you have a fulfilled day! Love ya!

Should I Be Mad At My Brother?

So, there were no takers on the couponing/grocery idea...so, I have a few other ideas.

OPTION 1: A Dear Jackie Column. EicherEicher thinks this is my calling. The idea is that someone writes to me and asks if they should be mad at their brother, or someone else in their life. I in turn tell them yes or no. If yes, I let them know how long is appropriate to be mad. She got the idea while we were sitting at lunch this weekend and the waitress noticed how smart and trustworthy the Hillsiders seemed (at least based on the half of us that were represented). So, she asked for some advice. "Should I be mad at my brother?" So, obviously, we had to get all of the info. What did his text say? You need to move the date of your wedding so my pyramid scheme work plans won't be debunked (paraphrasing here). Answer: Yes, you should be mad at him for a year, then get over it. And, of course, don't change your wedding plans!!

 
OPTION 2: I could just post embarrassing stories about myself on here to provide you with entertainment if in return you write in the comment section that in fact it's not as bad as I think. Example: last week I was reading my friend/photographer/lady I look at and ask myself how in the $#&* does she do that?!!!, Erin's eloquent writings on Creative Mama about how we should trade in our sweats for earrings and present our best selves to the world... Well, really. I tried. I bought a pair of earrings on etsy and ordered the gold rose ones from these awesome ladies in Louisville. Still when I'm rushing out the door in the morning after dressing two squirts, packing one or two lunches, I ended up looking like this:

 OPTION 3: Nobody wants to hear from me, and I should just blow it out my elbow (as Honey says)!

Slackerdom

OK, so, is there anyone out there?? I know it's been forever...or, actually, 11 months. Wow. I was worried that I didn't have it in me to be a regular blogger, but two posts and then 11 months. That kind of slackerdom surprises even me.

So, I was thinking about changing the direction of my blog, since writing about my kids isn't really panning out. ;) Here's my thought: every Wednesday I'll post my grocery list/coupon deals, and every evening I'll post what I do with my loot.

Does that sound like something you all (all two of you left) would like to read about?