Happy Birthday Grandma!!!

Last night our family celebrated Grandma's Birthday at Tony's in Houston. My Aunt Ricki came intown from DC to celebrate. I got to catch up with my cousin, Ria (I don't see her very often because she's so busy with tennis) and enjoy a nice dinner with the rest of my family!

Aunt Ricki, Uncle David, Dad & Grandma

Grandma & the cotton candy!

Ria, me & Adam with Grandma, Ricki & Dad

Chocolate Souffle- YUM

Happy Birthday, Grandma!!!!

Tax Free Weekend

This past weekend was 'tax-free' weekend in Texas, so all clothing under $100/item was tax free. Gap had a promotion that the first 50 customers in their stores will receive a new pair of jeans valued up to $69.50. I got to Gap on Saturday morning at 8am expecting to wait in line. Not a single person there! The location near me didn't even know that they were supposed to open at 9am. They ended up opening the doors at 9:25, I grabbed my jeans & headed over to a different Gap to get another pair! Amazing deal- 2 FREE pair of jeans (aka $140 FREE!!!!!). I had also purchased a Gap Groupon ($25 for $50 worth of clothes). I was able to stock up on undies & comfy clothes.

Weekend shopping:

$140 jeans--------------------> FREE

$126 Gap clothes/Groupon---->$25

$36 groceries------------------>$12.36

$61 Target run----------------> $34.26

Approx $70 for groceries, clothes & essentials!

I'll be living off of my groceries (the weekend trip and last week's trip) for the next week! Starting September 1, I'm going to challenge myself to live off of $50 worth of food for a month ($50 will include all meals)!

Have a fantastic week!

Kroger Groceries

I have one perscription that is renewed monthly. I transfer it around to different pharamacies because many of them offer gift cards to their store. I recently transfered a perscription to Kroger to get $25 in groceries. I went to the grocery store last night to stock up on frozen foods (for nights when I'm too tired to prepare dinner) & snacks (for while I'm at work). Although I didn't use many coupons, I still had a great savings because many of the Kroger brand items were on sale. Before I went to the store, I loaded coupons electronically to my Kroger card.

Kroger brand chips: $1/bag--> online coupon $0.25 off --> $0.75 per bag

Quaker rice cakes (hiding in the back): $1.99 --> on Sale $1.48--> Kroger plus card --> $0.99

Kroger brand wheat crisps: $1.89--> on Sale $1.48

Southbeach protein bars: $2.89 --> $1.50 online coupon -->$1.39

Kroger brand crackers: $1.50 (on sale)

Kroger brand oatmael: $1.46 (on sale)

Skinny cow: $1.39 -$1.00 coupon --> $0.39

Kroger ice cream: $2.89 on sale for $1.38 -$0.50 --> $0.88

Raspberries: $2.50 (on sale)

Tina's burrito: $0.49

Budget Gourmet frozen dishes: on clearance for $0.71

SPLURGES OF THE DAY:

Nestle's mango popsicles (I'm obsessed): $3.49

Jarlsburg cheese dip (I'm obsessed): $3.22

Total Spending: $22.39 (but really free because I had a $25 credit... Now I have $2.61 left on the card). If I had skipped out on my 2 splurges, I would have spent $15.68.

Busy Weekend!

I have SO much to write about from Friday through Sunday! Friday I went to Target (barely finished shopping in time before dinner), and I had some excellent finds:

Cetephil face wash & moisturizer (a daily necessity): $8.94 + $5.64 (-$5.00 coupon for 2 Cetaphil products) --> $9.58 (not an amazing deal, but I was in need for it, so I had to splurge)
Dawn: on clearance for $2.34 from $2.89 (-$1.00 coupon) --> $1.35
Schick Hydro 3 razor: 6.99 (-$5.00) --> $1.99
All detergent: $4.49 on sale from $4.89 (-$1.00) --> $3.49
Scotch tape: $0.50 on sale from I'm not sure what --> $0.50
Clorox toilet tabs: BAD- NOT ON SALE, but I needed & haven't found a coupon in months- $4.74
2 tie-dyed tank tops: $10.00 on clearance for $2.50 --> $5.00
Cut off shorts: $14.99 on clearance for $3.47 --> $3.47

Total Spending: Just under $70.00

Total: Savings: Just over $40.00

Total Spent: $31.80
Not the best deal that I've had, but it was a decent savings, and I got a lot of things that I needed.


Saturday, Mom & I went to the Houston Design Center for a big sample sale. I didn't find anything, but I learned a lot about rugs & I got a lot of decorating ideas. I bought a beautiful Kilim (made in turkey) to go by my bed. I've been looking for another one (to go on the other side of the bed) for a while. Unfortunately the rug stores didn't have any that I liked in the size that I needed.

Houston Design Center- beautiful setting!

Sunday, Jeepers & I went to Beaumont to visit PawPaw and have lunch. We had a great time, and I made it home just in time to shower and head out to Improv to see Jo Koy with Adam Hammer opening for him. This was the first stand up comedy show that I have ever seen, and I LOVED it. The show was HILARIOUS; I laughed so hard that I cried. It was a neat/cozy venue, and I look forward to seeing more shows there.

Jo Koy with a fan after the show

Coley's Collars

I was so happy to find Jeepers' new bow in the mail! I ordered it from Coley's Collars on Etsy, and I love it! The master behind this is Nikki. She is a super sweet woman who has a very creative mind (and very reasonable prices)! I had her pick the fabrics for Jeepers first bow, and I look forward to ordering more from her!

Cute packaging!

Jeepers flaunting her new bow!

Feeling beautiful, even while eating!

Lounging with her new accessory!

Birthday Party

I had a great little Birthday brunch this past weekend at Shade. Although most of the people didn't really know each other, I had a nice time and the food was fantastic.

Table

Party favors made by Mostly Chocolate... If you haven't had anything by her, I highly recommend trying her chocolates & chocolate dipped fruit!

The girls

Brittany & Me

After brunch, Brittany & I went over to the Contemporary Arts Museum. The exhibit was interesting, to say the least. I finished up the day at BRC for dinner. I had never been, and I was very impressed! I will definitely go back in the near future. Sunday, I was able to get majority of my Christmas shopping done. I know, I know... It's early, but I love having that taken care of in advance.

Target Savings

Most of you know that I'm a huge coupon/rebate/savings fanatic. I'm contemplating starting a blog about my savings to share my knowledge and information to others about spending less & saving more. I organize my trips to the grocery store & Target by my coupons. I (majority of the time) will not buy something without a coupon. I go to the store with the coupons out for the items that I want to buy, and I shop from those. ...Otherwise I end up spending way more because I impulsively grab things off the shelf that I THINK that I need.

My Target trip last night:

Betty Crocker brownie mix (impulse buy) --> $0.89
Scrubbing Bubbles shower cleaner ---------> $6.99 (-$6.99 coupon) - FREE
Bio True contact solution -------------------> $4.99 (-$2.00 coupon) - $2.99
Skinny Cow Ice Cream ---------------------> $1.22 (-$1.00 coupon) - $0.22
DiGiorno Pizza -----------------------------> $2.89... On sale 2/$4 (2 -$2.00 coupon) - FREE
(Pencil sharpener --------------------------> $0.20 on clearance)
(Crayola Crayons --------------------------> $0.25 on clearance)
Bottom two items not pictured because I donated them before I got home.

Total Spending: $4.83

(*$3.24 will be reimbursed by my flexible spending account that I have through work.*)

Not too shabby!!!!!

PawPaw & Max

This past weekend was busy like usual. PawPaw came in for a visit & Ally (family friend) had her engagement shower. My cousin Max came to lunch to see Pawpaw; he is cute (and big) baby.

Have a great week! I have a lot going on this week, so I probably won't be able over the next few days. I'll have some good updates come Monday!