90% Off on Restaurant.com!!

Starting at 12am (PST) tonight Restaurant.com is having a 90% off sale in honor of tomorrow's date 09/09/09! This means you can get $25 gift certificates for $1! Use the code NINETY at checkout. That is an awesome deal!

Some Great, Quick Deals!

Sorry I've been out of action lately. We've been on vacation so I took a break from EVERYTHING! Go HERE for a $10/20 coupon to Express and HERE for BOGO for Ruby Tuesdays!

CVS - Back in the Game!

Well, it's been a while since I've really been excited after a CVS trip! Here's what I scored today:

Transaction #1

Loreal eye wrinkle serum: $14.99

use $5/1 coupon HERE (left hand corner)

Loreal face cleansing wipes: $5.99

use $1/1 coupon from recent insert

use $4/20 CVS coupon from Readyfill booklet (at pharmacy)

ECB's earned: $10

Total: $.98

***save your reciept and send it in for the the FREE Loreal cosmetic bag filled with Loreal products! Go HERE for the address***

Transaction #2

2 Pureall 3-n-1 detergent: $8.99

use 2 $1/1 (print twice) HERE

2 BOGO SoBe drinks: $1.49

use BOGO coupon HERE

use $2/10 CVS coupon (printing from card scanner)

Total: $4.99 (pay with ECB's FREE for me!)

Transaction #3

Cottonelle toiliet paper 16pk.: $12.99

use $1/1 from recent coupon insert

2 Rice Krispies boxes: $4.49 each

use FREE coupon from Vocalpoint mailer (sign up HERE for to get awesome coupons like these mailed to you!)

2 BOGO SoBe drinks: $1.49

use BOGO coupon

use $4/20 CVS coupon from Readyfill booklet

ECB's earned: $3 (cotonelle)

Total: $4.99 (FREE if you use your ECB's!)

I was very excited to not only get free stuff this week but get a bunch of stuff we really needed. I'm back in the game!

A Great CVS Scenario!

Here's a good CVS scenario for you to try tomorrow!

Revlon colorstay mineral mousse: $9.99

use $1/1 coupon from recent insert OR

use $2/1 from last Glamour magazine (I've been getting these free lately --- no idea why)

ECB's earned: $9.99

Total: FREE with either $1 or $2 overage!

Coppertone Nutrashield Sunscreen: $8.99

use this $5/1 coupon HERE

ECB's earned: $2

Total: $1.99

This will get you to $18.98 so you will need some fillers to get up to $25 so that you can use this CVS $5/25 coupon HERE (you just have to watch very, very short clip).

Here are some ideas:

Sharpie accent highlighters 4pk.: $.99

use this $1/1 coupon HERE (you can print as many times as you need)

Total: FREE

Mars candy bars 2/$1

use recent $1/2 coupon from recent insert

Total: FREE

CVS FREE item that printed off most people's receipt's last week

valued around $1.99 -$3.99

Total: FREE

Use any combination of the fillers to get you up to $25 and it should look like this

Revlon: $9.99

Coppertone: $8.99

Fillers: $7

Total (before tax): $25.98

use $5/25

use $2/1 Revlon

use $5/1 Coppertone

use coupons for fillers $7

Total: $6.98 (oop -- use ECB's to pay)

ECB's earned: $12.99 -- that's a $6 profit!!! Good week at CVS.

Restaurant.com 80% Off Again!

Go HERE and use the code PORTION to receive 80% your purchase. That makes $25 gift cards only $2 --- I love using this site. We've gotten a lot of cheap meals lately!

High Value Coupon Alert!

Go HERE for a $2.50/1 coupon for Healthy Choice Frozen meals or Fresh Mixers. I've seen these for $1.88 on sale at Kroger so this would be a great FREE item and a moneymaker! You could also stack this with the Target .50/1 coupon HERE for a really good deal! These will go fast so print now.

New Gift Card on Swagbucks!

This is a really good deal. Right now Swagbucks has a gift card for Restaruants.com for $25 -- for only 45 swagbucks. The really good deal is that Restaurants.com runs 80% off all the time, making $25 gift card only $2! So, in essence you could get 12 $25 gift cards from Restaurants.com with your one $25 gift card for Restaurants.com. Does that make sense? :) My mother is reading this right now and has no idea what the heck this means. All I'm saying is that for very little swagbucks you can get A LOT of restaurant gift certificates for FREE! It's awesome. If you have no idea what Swagbucks is click on the ad; if you have no idea what Restaurants.com is go HERE. (Just recently Restaurants.com ran the promotion for 80% using the code NAPKIN -- I just got one yesterday).

***If you are wondering if Swagbucks is worth it, let me just tell you I've gotten over $800 in giftcards and it just keeps coming!!!***

Gimme Some FREE Sweet Tea!

Okay, so I know some people who are going to LOVE this deal. I won't mention who you are (Brian and Laura :) Tomorrow 7/23 is FREE Tea Day at McAlisters Deli! Yeah! Seriously, though this is the best tea in the whole world. Be careful though. They are really big and you will have to go to the bathroom a zillion times if you drink a whole one. You can see more details HERE.

Open Hands

*This is just something I shared at a recent shower I attended*

We all know women who just exude motherhood. They look and act like moms way before they ever have children. They are the people every one's kids flock to and the first thing others say to them is "you are going to make a great mom." I was never one of those women, not take away from my love of being a mom, but I just didn't have that aura about me like some women do.

In first Samuel there is a woman named Hannah who is one of those women. She lives and breathes motherhood. Unfortunately, the scriptures tell us that for years and years Hannah tried to conceive a child. After many failed attempts at motherhood , Hannah finally prayed this prayer "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life..." (1 Sam. 1:11).

Later in the chapter we see where the Lord answers her prayer,

"19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him."

21 When the man Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow, 22 Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, "After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always."
23 "Do what seems best to you," Elkanah her husband told her. "Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the LORD make good his word." So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
24 After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. 25 When they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli, 26 and she said to him, "As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. 27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there."

Just picture this scene with me for a moment. Hannah is walking hand in hand with what is probably her three year old little boy, Samuel. Samuel does not know where he is, or why he is there. He is probably asking her "Where are we, Mommy? Why are we here?" Every question he asks is like a knife in her heart. How could she possibly explain this to him? How would his little mind ever understand? Can you imagine the tension she must have felt between being obedient to her God and clinging tightly to the love of her baby boy? As she gets closer to the priest I can only imagine the pain she must be feeling. Pain so deep she must want to physically double over. I can almost feel the weight of the sobs she is holding inside. In my mind I can see her unwrap Samuel's tiny fingers from her own and hand him over to Eli. I can picture her kneeling in front of Samuel with her hands on his face one last time as she prays this prayer over him: "Then Hannah prayed and said:

"My heart rejoices in the LORD;

in the LORD my horn is lifted high.

My mouth boasts over my enemies,

for I delight in your deliverance.

2 "There is no one holy like the LORD;

there is no one besides you;

there is no Rock like our God."...

6 "The LORD brings death and makes alive;

he brings down to the grave and raises up.

7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth;

he humbles and he exalts

8 He raises the poor from the dust

and lifts the needy from the ash heap;

he seats them with princes

and has them inherit a throne of honor.

"For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's;

upon them he has set the world.

9 He will guard the feet of his saints,

but the wicked will be silenced in darkness.

"It is not by strength that one prevails;

10 those who oppose the LORD will be shattered.

He will thunder against them from heaven;

the LORD will judge the ends of the earth.

"He will give strength to his king

and exalt the horn of his anointed."

11 Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy ministered before the LORD under Eli the priest."

So what are we to take away from this story? Certainly, the challenge is not to give your children over to the church. As someone whose husband works for the church -- Don't do that! We do not want your children to raise. :) There is a challenge though, and I found two I'd like to share.

One, Hannah knew the gift was not hers to keep before the gift was even given. She set out to bring glory to God with what he gave her before He even answered her prayer. Gifts from God are given to those who receive with open hands. In His goodness, He does this because the true gift lies in the glory being given back to God. I can't help but wonder if God was just waiting all those years for Hannah to ask for a child with open hands rather than a tight grip.

Two, Hannah knew the God she was handing her son to. We see it in her prayer. She knew the power he held. She knew He held the universe in his hands. He had the power over life and death and yet still loved and cared for heart. She knew He held the strength of all these things and was still her strength as well. You see, when we really know God's character and trust that He is who He says he is, we have the ability to be open handed with His gifts to us -- even our children.

There will be times when you will wish you could drop your child off on the doorsteps of the church, and there will be times when you will feel the tension that Hannah felt between obedience to your God and a tight grip around your baby.

Hannah had an eternal focus. Oh, how she must have enjoyed the moments she had with Samuel, but Hannah knew God's plan for Samuel had eternal affects.

So, enjoy your moments. Relish in them. Just don't lose the eternal focus. Have an open hand with your child so that through both of you -- God will be glorified.

YoBaby Giveaway!

***Our randomly drawn WINNER is Laura W.!!!***

Recently a representative from Stonyfield Farms contacted me and asked me to try their newly reformulated YoBaby yogurt cups. I got several flavors and I have to say my kids love them! The yogurt is very thick and creamy so it's easy for my toddlers to eat on their own, plus it's incredibly good for them!

YoBaby is all natural and certified organic, made with milk from cows fed organic feed and not treated with antibiotics or artificial growth hormones. YoBaby includes vitamin D and zinc, both known to boost immunity and promote the development of strong bones and teeth.

I feel very good knowing my kids are not only getting organic yogurt, but vitamins as well. Here's the part that includes you --- Stonyfield Farms wants to provide a giveaway to my readers in hopes that you will try their yogurt! The giveaway includes:
- a YoBaby bowl with lid

- an organic YoBaby bib

- 5 Free YoBaby multipack coupons (also note that when I used these coupons at Kroger my next shopping trip printed out another free multipack yogurt coupon!)

All you have to do is leave a comment in the comment section and check back on Sunday night to see the winner! If you want leave your email address, too.

Incredible Kahsi Deal at Target!

I know I haven't posted many deals lately, but truthfully there haven't been too many to get excited about until today (I even did Kmart yesterday and wasn't all that impressed). I just got back from Target and scored with Kashi! Here's my scenario (use whatever applies to you):

Buy (2) Kashi Heart to Heart Cereal: $2.66 each ($5.32)

use (2) $1.50/1 coupon HERE (to print twice hit the back button twice)

use (1) Target .50/1 coupon HERE

use (1) Target FREE cereal coupon HERE

Total: FREE, plus $.84 overage!

Buy (2) Kashi honey oat frozen waffles: $1.74 ($3.48)

use (2) $1.50/1 coupon HERE (to print twice hit the back button twice)

use (2) $.25/1 Target coupon HERE

Total: FREE, plus $.02 overage!

Buy (2) Kashi soft cereal bars: $2.50 ($5.00)

use (2) $1.50/1 coupon HERE (to print twice hit the back button twice)

use (1) $1/2 Target coupon HERE

Total: $.50 each

GRAND TOTAL: $.14!!!

I also bought Ocean Spray for $.54 (I had a Target $2/1 CRT) and 5 Edy's pint size ice creams that were $1.19 and I use the Target $1/1 coupon making them $.19! My entire purchase was $2.37!!! Yeah - I feel like I'm finally back in the game.

FREE Paint!

With my newly started business, Lila's Pockets, I am really excited about this freebie. Go HERE to get a free quart of Glidden paint mailed to you. It's that simple. Love it!

A Couple of Freebies

Get a coupon HERE for free beverage (notice it doesn't say coffee, which means you can get one of their fancy drinks) at Borders. We have one right around the corner so I will definitely be partaking in this deal. Have fun!

HERE is a BOGO coupon for Fridays as well!

Earn Prizes for Scanning Your Purchases!

I love points systems -- always have. If you want me to do something give me a reward. That's why I love Swagbucks so much. I've done really well with them so I am anxious to see how this new company works. Nielen Homescan will send you a home scanner with which you scan all of the items you buy each week. You will then download this information onto thier website (they send you everything you need to do this). There are no costs to be a part of this panel, however, they do have an application that you must fill out. With each item you buy you will accumulate points. With your points you win prizes, like electronics and household items. I'm really excited to see how this works. Would like to go along for the ride with me? Just click on the icon above to sign up. I don't know how many applicants they are taking, but it can't hurt to sign up and at least be put on the waiting list! Let me know how it works for you and I'll keep you updated about my progress.

80% Off at Restaurant.com

Right now if you use the code PRESENT at checkout you can get 80% off any restaurant.com gift certificates. I got 2 $25 gift certificates for $4. Pretty good deal! Go now because I don't know how long it is going to last.

Redskin Leather Jacket for a Penny!

***DEAL OVER*** :(

Okay this is kind of a wierd deal -- but I just helped my cousin do this 10 times so he could sell them for a big profit at Cowtown in New Jersey. We laughed the whole time. The jackets are ugly, but they are leather -- I mean it's Wilson's leather! So anyway HERE is the link and the free shipping code is 7283. He literally spent 10 cents for 10 leather jackets. Whatever...

New E-Coupon Website!

I love this new site, Bringing Hope to the Table. They've got lots of great coupons that are different from the other e-coupon sites: Cellfire, PGesaver, and Shortcuts. All you do is load your Kroger card, or Kroger store affiliate card on to the site and you can start adding coupons to your card. These coupons will not double, but they can be used in conjunction with paper coupons. Load up!

Gymboree Stuff A Bag Sale - 5/31-6/1

You will receive 30% off all items you can stuff in the reusable bag they will be handing out. This includes all full-price, sale and promotional items. If you have any 20% off mailer coupons or coupons from magazines, you can use those as well. Also, the Summer Deals $7.99 tank tops and shorts will still be on sale and will be included in the Stuff A Bag sale. The reusable bags they will be handing out cost $5, however, you do not need to purchase the bag in order to get the 30% off. If you do purchase, the cost of the bag will be $3.50 after the discount. I was told that the sale would also be available online (www.gymboree.com) and that you could use a coupon online as well. This is a great deal for those who shop at Gymboree!

I used to be a member at Curves and then I moved, had a baby, and blah, blah, blah. It was great and it really did work. This is a great offer. You get a membership for half off, plus 30 days FREE! It's all women, which I loved. Maybe I'll do this....click the picture for more details.

Potty Humor is a Part of EVERYTHING

My son (3) and daughter (2) were playing "space guys" and were imagining that they were superheros. Of course, with every good superhero there comes a great name. My son announced to me that he was (with no surprised to me), "Buzz Light Year, and this is my sister Flower toot." So typical of him. She's a girl, deserving a specific girl name, but not to be left without a little potty humor, too. Oh, I don't want them to grow up.