This Week's Deals at Fry's - thanks to
Saving Cents with Sense.

$4 + tax

Here's the best deals I bought from Fry's while my Heath and I ran to the store for some need items this week. Thanks to my parents and sisters for babysitting my kiddos while Heath and I had a little date to the store. :D They were outside sitting on the porch waving when we arrived home from the store. So cute. I'm so grateful for my family!

So the deals...

Quaker Rice Cakes - FREE

sale price $1 - (3) $1 coupon in this past Sunday's paper

Cottonelle - FREE

sale price $1 - (4) .50 coupon, doubled to $1 printable on coupons.com

Quaker Cereal - .50 each

sale price 4/$4 - (4) $1/2 coupons printable on coupons.com & from product packaging.

FOUR DOLLARS for 8 boxes of cereal, tp, and healthy snacks. Yay.

Daddy's Haircuts

My Heath is such a trooper when it comes to Jacob's hair. I'm obsessed with keeping it VERY short and I feel like he's dirty if he has long hair. I know I know...stupid...but his head sweats and he always looks like he has bedhead if its not short! So, my mother in law and my husband talked me into letting it grow---ugh. It looks good---- I admit I still cringe a bit about it----but it looks good it looks good it looks good. So, this haircut was much needed to shape it up and I'm so proud of heath - it looks great! Jacob cut his own hair a week or so ago and he has a bald spot in the front of his head---so we needed to work around that and make it look ok (wedding in less than 2 weeks!) So - here's a few shots of Jacob and Heath....only the close ups cause Jacob is in his big boy underware...not blog appropriate. :) Jacob is so patient when it comes to sitting still for his haircut because he's used to me buzzing his hair every month or so for the past year...I'm over that now....I'm trying not to be so obsessive about that.

Car Phone

My princess Lexi thinks EVERYTHING is a phone. She has an old cell phone and a few play phones yet she still used remotes, trains, cars, crackers, bottles, whatever---as a cell phone. The other day Heath snapped this shot of Lexi talking on her CAR PHONE. Love it. See the drool on the couch? Yuck.

Yay for Family!

So my sister's love me so much that they came over to help pull weeds! Wohoo!!! Its all done. Seriously I thought it was NEVER going to be done! Happy Day! Then we ate pizza and had some laughs. And to top it off----I just took a 30 minute nap while they played with my kiddos. Sweet. One of my sisters was wearing a white sun dress while she was weeding. Crack me up. She came over knowing that she would be on the ground weeding and she wore it anyway. Chels----your a dork. Arizona landscapes----hmmmm-----what's up with rocks and dirt. Weird. I was actually raking the rocks to make them even and to cover up the dirt spots. Haha. Heads are gunna roll if I don't get a compliment or 12 from Heath about the landscaping. lol. He's proud of my hard work.....my motivation to do it now (instead of on a Saturday when heath is available to help) is the party tomorrow! Yay! Play-doh and Popsicle Party! Wohooo!!!

My soon to be brother in law Brenden and I were outside checking out the front scoping out the area for the party tomorrow. The party is at 9 so we went outside at 9 on the dot to see what the shade was like and to see what was up. He's so funny----we talked about how to place the tables and played around with the office junk in the garage while talking about random things and commenting about the weather and the weird fire smell outside...but no sign of smoke.

What's up with my blogging lately----maybe its cause my office is in the front of the house so whenever I'm waiting for someone to come over or when I need a break from my mommy chores I blog. cool cool.

princessjulie

Weeds in AZ!

This pic is supposed to represent "silly". Kinda looks like weeds tho- huh?

Trying to pull weeds with a 3 year old and a 1 year old...

takes place in a 30 min. period



Put on shoes and gardening gloves on both kids and mom - per kids' request.

Gave a cute green plastic bucket to each kid-thanks to grandma.

Mom's large bucket is half full from the last weed picking adventure.

Get garden tools and watch like a hawk that they don't stab someone.

Put kids' gloves back on because they fell off.

Pull a few weeds.

Stop to switch tools with Jacob because he likes mine better.

Move to new spot.

Get a band aid for Jacob because he has a green plant stain on his arm that he says is an ouchie.

Take away Lexi's gloves because all she's doing is throwing them.

Put back on Lexi's shoes because she took them off and she's crying cause the rocks hurt.

Jacob wants a drink of water.

Get sippy cups for both kids.

Take the large rake from Jacob because the rocks are hitting the car.

Pull some weeds.

Switch tools with Jacob again, per his request.

Say hi to the neighbor and try not to die from embarrassment at my pulled back wet hair that looks like I haven't showered for days.

He starts pulling his weeds. (what the heck---its a Thursday not Saturday? What's today...weed day?)

Take away Jacob's gloves.

Run to get Lexi who thinks the smoking while gardening neighbor is fascinating.

Pull some weeds at the far side of the yard.

Realize that we have a sleeping guest right inside the window that we're pulling weeds by.

(oops...poor Brenden getting an earful of us at 7:30 am)

Move to a new location.

Pull more weeds.

Lexi is tired (because she woke up at 5am!) and wants a nap.

The neighbor is done pulling weeds and his yard looks great.

He waves as he goes inside and I smile and wave wanting to cry. (haha..not really...just sounded dramatic).

Now-

Jacob is eating a snack...Lexi is napping...House guest is still fast asleep...and I'm blogging...all is right in the world.

Except for those stinking weeds. I sware!

Link for Arizona Grocery Deals

Here's the link for

Saving Cents with Sense

Its always nice to have a blog that is specifically for your area until you get the hang of the coupon shopping thing.

Take a look. Its always great to have a good source.

$$$ $4.10 $$$

Life cereal on sale 4 for $4
- used 2 $1 off 2 coupons.
.50 ea

Cottonelle sale price $1
- used $.50 off 2 coupons, doubled + cellfire coupon for $.25 off ea
.25 ea

Grands (small can) on sale .75 ea when you buy 4
- used 2 $.35 off when you buy 2, doubled, so $1.40 off
.40 ea

Here's some good deals I grabbed at Fry's this week. Just the highlights tho---I still need to take a good look at the ad and other blogs to see what else is a great deal. This morning my little princess decided to wake up at 4am. Ugh. So her and I were looking at the Fry's deals online and cutting a few coupons to go to the grocery store since we just didn't want to sleep---ya right. Then at 5 Lexi fell asleep in a pile of recycling trash on my floor---off to bed----and I ran to the grocery store.

Random ... House Pictures Post #3

My pantry is filling up (should have pictures the entire pantry)....I'm still missing some major stockpile items---like canned fruit and veggies, cream of soup whatevea, and canned tuna or chicken....you know....good food storage stuff. I'm having a really hard time with the price points here (the best sale price to stock up on grocery items) so I'm sorta holding back to see how things go with the grocery stores here. So far, the groceries seem cheaper but the FREAKIN TORTILLAS are $4.50 for the brand I like What the heck!!!! Mexican is a major influence in our cooking because Heath's mom is mexican and my boy eats some form of a quesa at least once a day. Goodness. I'm having a heart attack here----so today I bought 3 different types of tortillas and we're just gunna have to find another brand we like. UGH!

Stockpile items in Hall Closet---Here's my opinion on stockpiling----I know that it would look better if it was stacked neatly on shelves (kinda like the picture below) but some things just work better in boxes. Here's a few highlights from this picture...Cotton balls, q-tips and feminine pads ALL FREE, Box of shampoo ALL FREE or less than .50, the box on the top is full of Medicine all costing less than .50 ea and most FREE, the blue bag is FULL of mitchum deodorant, and the box on the bottom has Razors, and a 2 year supply of toothpaste, toothbrushes, and mouthwash.

Here's the top of the Hall Closet---this is pretty much a year supply of most of the cleaning supplies I use. Some of my favorites are the Lysol wipes---not really showing much in the picture that I purchased for like .40 ea or something like that. I keep only the unopened items here and the opened items are in the Laundry room. Note: These are the top two shelves in the closet that I can barely even reach---but I feel better cause the kids can't reach.

Not pictured---Heath and I also have a 9-12 month stockpile of our favorite hygiene items in our bathroom cabinet for easy access.

Here's the rest of my stockpile items----All in boxes for the Garage Sale I'm having next weekend. yay! I have over 400 items and 90% of it will be selling for $1 or more. A ton of these items I got for FREE and Overage and only a handful of these items I actually spent a few quarters on....so the way average it out-----selling this will be PURE PROFIT! YAY!

Box at the bottom of my kitchen pantry----decor for my kitchen----this box makes me sad every time I see it----I really need to make some decisions and DECORATE! Ugh. In all the places I've lived (as a married woman:) the kitchen is the first room I decorate (and sometimes the only)....so this box is just killing me.

I made banana bread the other day---it looks pretty and yummy huh?! I was so happy that my hubby took some to work with him today....I actually cooked something (other than cookies) that someone likes! ** Sense aggression in my voice? Not your imagination. haha. Just kidding. I'm just having my usual I can't cook crisis. Whatever. Actually, I looked up 6 recipes on a crock pot recipe site (in my blogroll) to try. I'm excited.

Random...House Pictures Post #2

Jacob's Room UNDER CONSTRUCTION---I bought letters for the kids' rooms and they didn't have a J for Jacob's room at the Michael's I went to----so when I get a chance to head to another Michael's I'm all over it. Jacob was SO FUNNY.....He was so angry about the letters on his door. I told him that Its his name and I just needed to buy one more letter. He kept telling me he doesn't like it because "IT SAYS MAKEUP MOOOMMMMM!!!" Haha. Apparently Jacob only recognizes his name with the J---understandable. Jacob is still angry about it. Poor boy.

Sneak Peak of Jacob's Room. Train table - FREE from my buddy Cari, Art desk - B-day gift from Grandma, Basket of Toys (sorta hidden) 90% of our toys are from my friend Jennifer in CA---she's amazing and has given me and Cari SO MUCH stuff! Thanks again Jen. My boy is only allowed to have that basket of toys and his trains out at once. I have 4 large bins in the closet with toys that are "on vacation" to rotate through. This helps with clean up (because you know how much kids like to dump out and "play" with every single toy they have) and it helps to keep Jacob interested in his toys.

Guest Bed. Still working on the walls in this room----I want black and 2 shades of pink dots on the walls. When Lexi turns 2----in 11 months---if she gets a bed we'll definitely need to rethink this room---its NOT baby proof.

Lexi's Room---$12 rug from Target Clearance----love it! This room is technically a "supervised play" only room. There's a few toys in here, in baskets under the crib. I keep all my crafting and scrapbook stuff in the closet and under the guest bed (because it's not allowed in the office---that's another story!).Lexi LOVES her room. She prefers to play with Jacob in his room tho.

Lexi's Door.


Gees----like 2 hours between posts----haha----my kiddos woke up, breakfast, play outside, baths, clothes...now Lexi is sleeping and Jacob is playing nicely...blog time.

Random ... House Pictures Post #1

My bed. I finally splurges on a bed set from Target (which I've been wanting to do for the last 4 years!)

Ever Present in my room----LAUNDRY!

One of the FEW things I've pulled out of my many "decor" boxes.

Item #2 from the "decor" box

The snack mats....Here's the dealio----kids don't always like to eat at the table----In my effort to keep Food & Drinks in the kitchen I have these mats from Target (2.50ea) that the kids sit on when they're eating or drinking a snack. Its suck a dry climate here so its really important to hydrate the kids lots and lots, these mats in the kitchen help remind me. Plus, I'm getting pink zebra plates and wallpaper. jk.

to keep me sane----and cause my Internet cuts out randomly---the pics will be in a couple posts.

Jacob's Wonderful Aunt!

We're having trouble potty training Jacob. When we moved into our new place----Jacob then decided he doesn't like the toilets and won't sit on the 'big boy potty' anymore. So, in an effort to potty train my 3 years, 4 months (!!!!!) child----I bought this potty chair. Its working OK...but he needed a little more motivation...


So Jacob's totally fun Aunt Kacie made him this Potty Chart. It says, "Time to Potty!"
Jacob is cracking me up while we're starting to use it----here's what happens---
After he goes potty he wants to put a sticker on HIS ARM, then the next time he goes potty he puts the sticker from his arm to the chart, then a new sticker onto his arm. Haha, his arm is just part of the cycle of placing a sticker onto the chart. The mind of a 3 year old is such a fabulous wonder.

Thank You Kacie for this totally cute and 100% scrapbook ready Potty Chart. Your so creative and fun. I love living so close to you!

My girl cracks me up.

This is an old post from last week I think that I accidentally saved as a draft when my internet cut out on me. Oldie but goodie... Today is 3.25 but it should post on the original date...

I really really like the google image today. My buddy cari pointed it out to me. Love it. Worth saving and blogging---I think so. So I guess today is the 40th anniversary of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Take a look at the author's blog...www.ericcarleblog.blogspot.com There's a link for his artwork----I think I want to own a collection of his books....that's my new quest.

Oh my girl is hilarious.

Today she was following me around with a magnadoodle. She would stop and sit wherever I stopped---sketch for a minute---then travel along with me to the next destination. So funny. And, if I when I was at her level (which I frequently am---sitting on the floor organizing a shelf, or picking up toys, or changing Jacob's clothes, whatever) she would sit on my leg, or lap, or even my arm and sketch there. She just plops anywhere she can so she can sit and sketch. I love it. Maybe she'll be an artist like her daddy, or a journalist like her Aunt Courtney, or a super smart speller like her Grandma Moss (my mother is my walking dictionary), or a blogger and rambler like her mother. hahaha. Lexi is such a cutie. Sure wish I could walk around everyday with a video camera ---- capture it remember it ---- (name that tune...?...That one's for you chels).

pj

Another trip to Fry's

Yay.

Today---thanks to a tip from my sis in law Tenille I purchased:

6 boxes of Quaker instant oatmeal for $.50 ea. That's GREAT!

And as part of the buy 10 get $5 off --- I also got Quaker Rice cakes for FREE. Yay. I only had 2 coupons for it...so 2 for FREE and the rest for .50 wohooo!

Girls Night Out!

While visiting CA for my sister's bridal shower---I snuck in a Girls Night! Yay! We went to Citrus City Grill (with our $25 gift card which we bought for $2 on Restaurants.com) then a quick shopping trip to American Eagle, then off to Shopaholic the Movie. We figured that movie would be perfect for our little group----we loooove to coupon shop and we are definitely Shopaholics! We shop the deals---same thing right? haha :D Note: didn't love the movie...definitely not true to the book---but the same idea i guess. Cute actress. Thanks again girls for a fun night out! Is this twice already this year? wow. We're on a roll! Too bad I live 400 miles away now. deeep sigh. Love ya!

princessjulie

Allergies?

2 trees in my backyard

So---I haven't been feeling well these past two days and just this morning I went to open up the patio door and windows to the house because its a cloudy and not too hot day....and THIS IS WHAT I SEE!!! At first I thought --- oh that's so pretty. Then I realized that its Pollen. Oh goodness----I sware if I'm having allergies and not a cold I'm going to chop that tree down! Not really, its just that I NEVER get sick. Really, I just don't have the time to be sick or have allergies. I've never really had them before...but I've never really had a tree like this 10 feet from my bedroom window. Gees. I have every over the counter medicine and allergy medicine known to man in my med boxes----so I guess I'll be drugging up so see which one works best. I have lots of opinions available to me---I hear zyrtec is good...claritin...I don't know. Maybe just taking benadryl when I'm feeling the issue coming on instead of a daily pill? Don't know. I don't want to deal with this. Maybe my body just needs to get used to this climate-trees-flowers- whatever. Time will tell.

Still lovin AZ.

princessjulie

Target Deals this Week!

In my quest for Family Organization I've been on the hunt for a cheap family calendar. Confession: My sister in law has one on her wall and I'm lovin that her and her family can communicate and always know what's going on----I'm totally doing that! I know a calendar isn't exactly new to the family world----but I'm a little behind... AND I'm so tired of telling my super sweet and loving heath a THOUSAND times about an event---only to have him the night before trying to talk me out of it cause he forgot about it.

Problem solved:

family calendar---$2.48 Target Clearance

Family Organization---priceless.

AND

Its the little things that make me happy----like loosing the blades to my circle cutter---and finding the blades that I need on CLEARANCE for $ .98 WOHOO!

Here's my deals from Target this week. I didn't have the coupons to do all the deals I wanted to, BUT I'm liking my finds this week...


Gillette Body Wash - .04
used $1.50 Target coupon from bottom of receipt on previous purchase
used $2 manuf. coupon
Some Target stores have the gillette items on sale for $2 not me. sad face.


Mott's Apple Sauce 6pack- .69 ea
used 2 - $1 off 1 Target online coupons (had to do 2 transactions)
**deal could have been better if I had the .55 printable coupons---but I'm maxed out on those.

Quaker Products - $8.95 for 10 !!

Used $6.05 of manuf. coupons
Received 2 - $5 gift cards for purchasing 10 (had to do 2 transactions)
I turned around and used the gift cards towards my other purchases...

A trashcan! Yup. I said a trashcan. I've REALLY been on the lookout for a nice stainless steel trashcan for a good price. A little while ago when I was shopping at target for pillows ($4 again this week btw) I received a coupon for $10 off of a $50+ home purchase. Score! So not only was my trashcan of choice on sale at Target but I also had $10 off!! Yay! So happy.

Jacob's View of the Zoo

Jacob LOVES to take pics at the Zoo while he lays in the double stroller. Here's his view of the Phoenix Zoo from our trip last week. Thanks Jacob.

Green is the new Black!

Dare I post 3 leaf clovers?----yes----I like this one the best.

I love that everyone is trying to go green these days! In no way to I feel like my family is really eco friendly ---- but I definitely feel like we're trying. YES, I am aware that this isn't exactly EARTH DAY----but the green clovers remind me of my quest to GO Green. My little quest to be environmentally friendly includes canvas shopping bags...that's it. I do try to conserve water and power---but mostly because its expensive. And the bulbs I buy---same story. I'm going to try to find more ways I can be more eco friendly and try to put them into practice before Earth Day.

Oooooooo-The Disney Movie Earth comes out this Earth Day (April 22). Yay! I just saw a preview for it and I loved it! I cannot wait to see it! Here's a link to the Disneynature website with a trailer and great pictures and information about the film.

Earth

Wohooo! While I was watching the trailer (at the theatre) it has amazing music that makes me feel the same way I feel on the ride Soaring over California. Awww-----such a feel good movie comin our way!

-princessjulie

Jacob and Lexi "playing"

Pics of Jacob and Lexi "playing" in his new room. Special thanks to Jennifer for all the bunches of toys she's passed along, Cari for the train table that Jacob LOVES, and also the fun art desk in the pic that Jacob loves to use so he can be just like his dad. I asked Jacob why Lexi was sleeping and his response was, "Mom, Lexi's tired leave her alone".

**Found another draft I forgot to post....I'm sure there was more I wanted to add---but its too late...my kiddos are silly

Courtney's Bridal Shower

My sister Kacie on left, cousin Katelyn, then my sister Chelsey on right. Such cuties.

Here's a super small amount of pics from my sister Courtney's Bridal shower that me and my Aunt Teresa organized ... a huge thanks to Kathleen Hemphill for allowing us to throw the shower at he SUPER CUTE home.

I started this post --- then started uploading pics and they are all too dark! Ugh. I don't even have a pic of my sister Courtney---the BRIDE! I'll have to work on that...

Note: I have a ton of more pictures did turn out of Courtney during a game we were playing------but she had lacy underware and lingerie all over her----so I figured I better keep this post appropriate. I'll have to get some pics from friends that I CAN post.

Pictures of the House----Finally!

Welcome to the Avery Home!

These are pics in absolutely the worst order-----of the day the kids and I picked up the keys! Yay. They were so happy----but Jacob thought that it was "Tenille's house"....haha....not sure why.

Plant shelf---and master ceiling ----I love the height.

Master Bath. Lexi loves tubs.

Master ---- I love this picture because I honestly think that the sq.footage in this room is bigger than my entire last apartment. (poor lexi and her arm...sad face)

Left side of hallway closet----soon to be full of my stockpile of hygiene and cleaning items. So happy to have a home for them instead of stored in boxes in impossible places.

2 Pics of the pantry! A stockpiler's dream!

Typical AZ landscaping with a not so typical HUGE driveway. A major factor in choosing the rental house was the neighborhood and the lot the house was on. This location is perfect! Look at the blue sky!

The home has tile throughout except for in the rooms. So the tile goes all the way from the front door back to the master---another check off our list of demands. I don't like most of the light fixtures and one of the bushes in the front yard---but other than that its amazing!

No pics of the finished house yet---My goal is to be decorated by 2nd Tuesday in May----Bunko is hosted at my house. :D