This week @ CVS (11/29/08)

Click for larger image.

I took a $2 ECB hit to get all of this tonight but it was worth it. I paid with an $11.99 extra buck and only got back $9.99. LOL

4 Febreze Air Effects. Love spraying my bed/room down with this stuff. Makes it smell good for a least three solid days.
3 bags Russell Stover Private Reserve Triple chocolate mousse.
2 bottles Dove Cream Oil lotion for extra dry skin.
2- 2ct. packs of 6 Hour Energy shots. Love these!
1 bag M&M Premiums mint chocolate.

That's $47.79 retail value for $2 in ECBs and .37 in change. The best part is that it is all stuff I can and will use.

Gettin' In the Holiday Spirit Yet?

These are my "gingie babies." I collect gingerbread men and huddle them all together in my basket with a pip berry sprig, barn star, and one over-sized pear (which will be removed once I get more gingerbreads). lol

Remember the other demin stocking I made? Well, I made two more and thought I'd show ya how they turned out.

This stocking has a pocket on the front, just in case you've been naughty and a lump of coal is all you're getting. lol

My basket of cinnamon scented rose hips and other fixin's.

My (not so little) house that sits on my piano. I'm using this picture for my Christmas cards this year. Wouldn't a nativity scene look right at home in front of it? That's next on my list.
I also need to take a pic. of the Christmas tree. I took a couple but the lighting was all wrong!

I think that does it for now. Hope I've helped get you in the mood, if you weren't already. :)

"Black Friday" @ CVS this morning.

You are looking at $222.38 in product that I got for less than $2 cash. In fact I paid with $53.99 in Extra Bucks (after coupons) and got back $83.35 in return. So, I actually got PAID an extra $29.36! Now that's what I call a very productive morning.

6 Gatorade G2
4 Schick razors
4 Colgate toothpastes
3 Bic Soleil razors
2 Magnavox Universal remote controls
2 Phillips Ear bud headphones
2 Johnson's Softlotions
2 Aussie shampoo/conditioner
2 Maybelline Mineral liquid foundations
2 Lipsheers lip glosses
2 5 Hour Energy Shots
1 CG Smoothers foundation
1 Garnier Nutritioniste facial cleansing wipes
1 Platex tampons
1 Maybelline pressed powder foundation
1 king size Hershey bar
1 reg. size Hershey bar

I think that is everything.
One thing I like about doing the CVS plans with my friend is that we can trade our stuff. I don't need tampons thanks to modern medicine, and she doesn't use the Soleil razors. So, we are always helping each other out that way.
And the cashiers were all in a good mood today and we talked about how much fun it is to work up plans and see what all we can get for next to nothing out of pocket. It makes such a difference to have employees that really "GET" it and cheer you on. Thank you CVS for a FUN morning. And I am ever indebted to my good internet friend Valerie for turning me on to this hobby. This year our family has enjoyed over $7,000 in free, useful items thanks to you! :)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Surprise, surprise.

Chris won't be home for Thanksgiving. He was sent to Seattle, WA. straight from Pasadena, CA.

So what's new?! :(

I got mine.

Go get yours. Thank you God I am grateful.

I got one for me, the hubs, both of my boys, and some for a couple of friends. These are going to be nice to put in their stockings and a wonderful way to remember to be grateful for all that you have been blessed with. Be sure to read the inspiration link and the about link as well. You'll be glad you did.

Vices and their significance.

Coffee is my vice. There's history of how that came to be. It's about way more than a beverage. Read on if you're feeling nostalgic...

My dad drank coffee, but only one cup at breakfast time and occasionally when we went out to eat. It wasn't something I took note of or put any thought into at the time. Not until after he passed away. He's been gone almost 12 years now. He died in his mid 60's due to a missing heart valve. He was born without it, as was his mother that passed away when he was only 16.

He was a Christian, upstanding citizen, helper of his fellow man, and a good example of what (we believe) God intended a father to be, and how to love his children. He did not drink, smoke, or swear. And God love him, he put up with my Moms mood swings and bouts with depression for 39 years. All the while never letting it get him down. He truly loved her as Christ loved the church.

Anyway- I'm getting off topic a bit.
The point is that I slowly started drinking coffee after his death. I didn't care for it. But even though I didn't like the taste of it, I found that taking even a couple of small sips somehow made me feel better emotionally.
You know where I'm going with this. It was a comfort thing. It was sub-conscious at first.
Now I "get" it. It makes me feel better because it is familiar. It makes me feel like a part of dad still lives. It brings back childhood memories of him. And in a way, it is my little way of celebrating him, concentrating on my roots and getting in touch with myself all at the same time.

Now I'm on the eve of turning 36 and I've come to like the flavor of coffee, but mostly I like the sense of peace that comes over me. I stop everything I'm doing and have a hot cup. I like having it in my presence.
I drink it to reflect. I drink it in memorandum. I drink it to celebrate. At the bottom of every cup is my reminder that things aren't so bad and it's a new day, and anything really is possible. Yep, all that from one cup of coffee. For me it really is more than just a beverage.

Thanks for listening...

Gearing up for CVS tonight.

My regular readers know how I spend my Saturday nights by now. I spend them at CVS.
Tonight's plan isn't a very big one. I'll be picking up a Maybelline Mineral Foundation, Crest Spinbrush Pro, and some contact solution. Do I wear contacts? Nooooo. Then why am I getting it? Cause they are paying me to take it! DUH. lol I'll give it to my neice that wears contacts.
I'll also be getting a couple packs of Duracell batteries free.

This little plan is a money maker. I'll spend $15 in extra bucks and get back $19.98, so a $4.98 money maker and It will only cost me around .48 in (real) money for all of it.

I wouldn't normally bother with the drive to town for such a small plan but DS has a plan, as does my friend Karen. So that makes it more worthwhile.



I can't believe I ever used to pay for toilet paper, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, medicines, candy, razors, lotions, shampoo, deodorants with REAL money when you can get it for free, and in a lot of cases get PAID to take the stuff! Oh all those wasted years that I lived in the dark.

Remember these pictures from last year? STOCKPILE
I need to take new pictures because there is just so much more now. So, SO much more! lol

My blogging style.

Your Blogging Type is Confident and Insightful

You've got a ton of brain power, and you leverage it into brilliant blog. Both creative and logical, you come up with amazing ideas and insights. A total perfectionist, you find yourself revising and rewriting posts a lot of the time. You blog for yourself - and you don't care how popular (or unpopular) your blog is!

What's Your Blogging Personality?

OK, so I am not sure about that first line. Me? A ton of brain power? OOOOk if you say so!
I'd agree with line 2. ;)
Line 3- So very true.
Line 4- right on the money! lol

Just call me WEAK!

I gave in and bought those shower curtain hooks. I am weak. Oh well, so be it.

Sheep crazy I am.

Be still my heart!!!

Sheep, sheep, sheep. Primitive sheep that is. Love'em. Can't get enough of'em!
I just stumbled upon this prim sheep and barn star shower curtain set and I am dying to have it.
Then there was the matching shower curtain, rug, valance, etc., etc. lol I'd be happy with just the curtain set!

I did however indulge myself by purchasing this little cutie from CountryAcres
at etsy. I have it hanging on my TV hutch which looks a lot like the picture below.

I hope the hubs reads this and takes a HINT. ;)

A Little Pre Holiday Baking

I heard a lot of rave reviews about cake balls so I thought I'd make some to try. They are good but I think I would prefer them without the chocolate, if you can believe that! HA HA.

I took a couple pictures of them to share with you.

Ouch! And other nothings.

Today is the 4th day in a row that I have woken up with a headache. Not just a headache, but headaches that will not go away all day. Headaches that fear no Excedrin Migraine. I thought maybe a Claritin might be in order so today that is what I took. Nope. It isn't helping one bit. That's a first!

DS went to get the mail today and apparently someone took it upon themselves to hit our mailbox with a bat! It had to have been done some time last night because the damage was not there yesterday. What is wrong with people? Do they have nothing better to do? So juvenile, so pathetic. And what's the point? I know it was probably some kid that hit every box on the street and I'm telling myself it wasn't personal, but it feels personal, ya know? At least the mailbox took the blow and it still standing. It's just so senseless though. Sigh.

I need a little pick me up so I think I will go make myself a cup of Starbucks coffee (my fave!), and pray for this headache to end.

Denim Christmas Stocking

Those discarded jeans come in handy again. lol
I stitched muslin fabric on the back of denim so that I could cut inside the stitched areas for the fraying effect without having any contents fall out.
The side seam of the jeans worked perfectly for making the hang loop.

One side of the tag says Dec. 25th, same as the other one I made.

The other side I stamped Merry Christmas.

Just to show you how really fluffy and frazzled the edges turned out.

Many, many buttons added!
I don't think I can bear to give this one away either. Sigh. Back to the drawing board. I really want to give my stocking swap partner a hand made stocking!!! LOL

I am so happy about my latest creation!!!

This was my first time making a Christmas stocking and I am very pleased with how it came out. I designed the template for it myself by drawing it free handed. That may sound easy since it is a stocking shape, but it is a bit harder than you'd think. lol
I did the edges in what is called rag quilting because I was going for a soft primitive look. After a quick trip through the washing machine and the dryer the edges fluffed right up.

I put a prim tag on it. On one side I stamped Christmas Blessings, and on the other side I stamped December 25th, as you can see above and below.

I tied a ribbon on that says Warm Holiday Wishes and also added the matching miniature stocking which I put on with a safety pin. The miniature stocking has a holly leaf, a real miniature candle, and two little candy cane accents.

When I decided to try making a Christmas stocking it was because I thought I might try making one for my stocking swap partner, but now that I see the finished product I don't think I can let go of it. Maybe I will try to make another one for her. lol
My sewing machine is quickly become one of my favorite tools in my craft room!
I hope you've enjoyed my pictures. :)

For a friend.

I made this set of (real) pearl jewelry for a friend that is getting married in June. These are what her wedding colors are going to be. I made her a necklace, a pair of earrings, and 3 different bracelets - because I am not sure what size her wrist is! And also because I thought she could give the other two to her mom and her maid of honor, maybe...

I hope she likes them. I told her I was going to make her some jewelry but she doesn't know what exactly. I do know that she loves pearls so I hope my gift is a big hit that she'll be proud to wear on her big day.

ATTENTION

UPDATE: I am no longer in need of these thanks to some wonderful people. You know who you are! :)

I am wanting to trade items in my etsy shop (think FREE Christmas gifts) to anyone that can score me some coupons.
They read as follows: $5 off the purchase of 2 packs of Duracell batteries.
They are located in your local CVS store, supposedly NEAR the Duracell battery display. They are on a tearpad.
If anyone finds these or has extras and wants to do a trade please let me know. I'd like to get 15 of these coupons and I need them BEFORE next Saturday Nov.15th.

A Lovely Day

Note to A, The porch is screened in. Further on the left is an "outdoor" table and chairs with seating for 6 and a matching swing. The door is a huge one that slides open on a rail. I love our porch. And I still don't know why this stupid thing is underlining what I type!! lol

My hubs, as I call him. =)

Chris leaves out for Pasadena CA early, early in the AM. I have to get up at 4:45 to take him to the airport. I am not looking forward to that. But, his last day home couldn't have been nicer- weather wise. Chris manned the grill and made us a tasty dinner of rotisserie chicken, kielbasas, and other yummy things.
We ate dinner on the porch and just enjoyed one more day of having dad around.
While he was cooking I went up behind him and asked him if anyone ever told him how stunningly handsome he was, and the boys giggled like little school girls. I told them that wasn't meant for their ears, lol. Silly kids!

The chef!

Grill baby grill.

Caleb and Alex playing a game of pool. (Alex ran from the camera.)

And last but not least, Miss Faith. Can you honestly look at that picture and not smile???

I was afraid of this.

Knowing that the stray dog was female and pregnant I feared that her and Faith might not get along.
Everything was kosher for the first couple of days. Faith didn't seem to mind the stray and the stray paid no attention to Faith.
Then tonight for no apparent reason the two got in a fight. It didn't last long because I pulled the stray one way and Alex pulled Faith another. It probably only lasted 20 or 30 seconds but that was long enough for me to decide the stray has to go.

Faith was walking by the couch where stray was laying. All of a sudden stray growls and snarls her lip. Faith being bull headed as she is decided she was going to show stray that she wasn't afraid of her. So she approached stray and growled back. Then it was ON!
Stray leaped off the couch and went straight for Faith's neck. Faith still didn't back down and was trying with all her might to get a bite in on the stray. That's when me and Alex jumped up and against my better judgment I began pulling on stray to separate them. -Yes, I know that was stupid. I could have been bitten real bad, but Faith is like one of my children and I was going to do whatever it took to keep Faith safe.

Now, I know that it wasn't entirely strays fault even though she was the one that initiated the fight. She is pregnant and she was finally starting to feel like this was her home, her domain.
But at the same time I can't understand why she just suddenly chose that one moment to decide to lash out when Faith and her had no trouble at all getting along before. It wasn't as if Faith tried to take food from her, or anything like that!

I didn't want to do it but stray has given me no other option but to chose between her and Faith. And I know that once her babies are born she will naturally be extremely aggressive and protective.
I have to chose Faith! Besides the fact that Faith is our baby, I've also got a TON of money tied up in her and I just can't risk her life for stray.
So later today stray will be taking a ride to the local animal shelter. I fear she will not live to see next week, but at this point my hands are tied.
Right now she is locked off the porch so that she can not gain access to the doggy door. Which means that Faith has to go potty on the porch until morning when the shelter opens up. I hate that this happened before I had a chance to find her an owner, but as is true so many times in life we have to make touch choices. Yeah, I was afraid of this...

Do I have a sign in my yard...

that says please drop off your unwanted dogs here???

It's yet ANOTHER abandoned Pit Bull!! I don't know what it is with this breed but they always get dropped off on my street and find their way to my house and ultimately figure out how to use our doggy door! I am so angry with irresponsible pet owners. What is wrong with people?
We have Miss Faith, our pug, and she has her shots, she has been fixed, she has year round Frontline. She gets a treat every night promptly at 9pm. Same goes for out cat Bandit. It really isn't that hard to take proper care of your pets, people!

Anyway, this little lady was abandoned and guess why...She is PREGNANT! Very much so. So she is also very scared, starving for food and love. She is also extremely SWEET and affectionate. But most of all she needs a permanent home! I can properly care for the ONE dog, and the ONE cat that I have and that is all.

Because I am not heartless I let her come in and eat because like I said, she is pregnant and it was getting chilly outside. I also had to bathe her because she has fleas!!! She is totally smitten with Caleb and will not let him out of her sight. Are you seeing a pattern here? All Pit Bulls love Caleb so much. But that is beside the point.

I've contacted a lady that I hope will be able to help me with this unexpected situation. If all goes well she might be able to help me find this soon to be mommy a good home and a safe place to have her babies. Wish us luck folks. I can NOT keep her.

Faith is totally disgusted about the whole situation too.

Grubby Style Peppermint Candles

I just thought I'd share my latest creation with you. These are my hand made grubby candles made with real crushed peppermint candy. Two styles, votives (which look soo sweet in cupcake cups I might add), and taper style.
The peppermint is sealed under a few coats of wax. It's tempting to take a lick, but I wouldn't recommend it! ;)