Couponing 101

I have jumped on the band wagon of couponing. A really good friend brought me into the loop, and I am officially addicted!!

I wasn't sure I would be able to understand it all, I didn't know if I'd be able to stick with it, and I was so afraid I would wind up spending more money than I would be able to save. I figured I would clip a few coupons, buy some things I didn't normally use just because it was "too good of a deal" to pass up, and leave the store with a doubled grocery bill. I'm just being honest.

My friend sat down and showed me all her coupons, her filing system, how she makes her grocery list, and gave me numerous websites for information and coupons, and she even started me off with a few of her coupons. She answered all my questions, and gave me a few tips that she's picked up on since she started it. Her stockpile of coupons, circulars, and products were amazing, and a little bit overwhelming. What if I didn't find all those good deals? What if I cost us more money? What in the world am I gonna do with all those products? This was going through my head constantly while I was getting organized, researching websites, learning the "coupon lingo."

I finally decided to "bite the bullet" and go shopping. As long as I stick to my list, I should do fine. So I headed to my local Walmart. They match prices from other stores, and allow coupons on top of those deals. Not to mention that's where I get my groceries, anyway, so going there was an easy decision. And the result (for my first try at this):

I SAVED A TOTAL OF $95.21!!!!!

Not the "Extreme" savings you see on t.v., but it's a pretty good start, if I may say so. I'm loving this so far, and could not wait for the hubs to get home to share my savings news!

Kodak? More Like Ko-DON'T!!

I absolutely loved my Kodak Easyshare digital camera and Kodak Easyshare All-in-One Printer when I got it a few years ago. Of course, they were the "things to have" at the time, and after using them, and buying ink for the printer, I understood what all the buzz was about. They were SUPER easy to hook up and use, and the ink... can't beat those prices! If you had asked me anytime between when I got them and 8 months later how I liked the camera & printer, I would've had nothing but good to say. BUT...
After having the printer for only 8 months, it started "acting up" and not wanting to print. I called Kodak, and was told to purchase and replace the printhead. Which I did. Then the printer kept telling me to "Replace the color ink cartridge." After buying an embarassing amount of ink cartridges (all new, all Kodak brand, and all for my model printer), I contacted Kodak again with the same problem. They suggested I buy more ink. What? I had well over $100 worth of new ink cartridges laying around and they want me to buy more! I don't think so! So they offered to send me an ink cartridge, because they could send me the "correct ink cartridge" for my printer and they could insure me that it would be new. Come on. Don't insult my intelligence, people. I know what kind of ink to buy for my printer, and I also know that paying full price for a new cartridge in the manufacturer's packaging BETTER have insured me that I bought a new cartridge!
Well, then the guy at Kodak tells me that it's my printhead again. Also, "have you downloaded the newest firmware." Yes, via instructions from their website, and I will not buy another printhead for it not to fix the problem. Could they assure me that it indeed would fix my printer? Well, maybe "you just need to buy a new printer." "I can offer you a 30 percent discount on the purchase of a new Kodak All-in-One printer/copier/scanner." Hummm...
I'll have to think hard about purchasing another Kodak. I've put more money in trying to fix my printer than I actually paid for it brand new. I mean, if I buy a new Kodak printer, I will have an enormous stockpile of ink for it. Not to mention two printheads that are perfectly fine.
When I mentioned my printer woes to Mom, and offered her lots of unused ink for her Kodak printer, she remembered having another Kodak printer in her basement that wasn't being used, if I wanted to give it a try. So I did. And guess what... "Replace color ink cartridge." I can't make this stuff up. I have the worst luck with these printers! So, I research their website once again. I have found numerous cases from other customers stating they're on their second or third Kodak printer because of similar problems. I just can't see me buying another Kodak printer if I'm gonna have to fix it before it goes out of warranty. It doesn't matter how cheap the printer or replacement ink cartridges are, if you have to buy them more frequently, it's not really as financially friendly as they advertise in the long run. I think I'm going with an HP printer.
After saying all this, I have a coupon for 30 percent off the purchase of a new Kodak All-in-One printer if anyone's interested. It expires 30 days from yesterday. No takers? I don't blame you.

Boys Will Be Boys

It's so hard to remember sometimes, especially with me being female (obvious, I know), that boys are so completely and utterly different than girls. I have the awesome, God-given blessing of being the mother of two wonderful little boys; 7 yrs. and 2 yrs. They're your typical boys: so sweet, full of love, tempers that I swear is from their daddy's side of the family but know that they get their fair share from mine, usually covered in dirt and whatever messy food they've eaten that day (even though I'm constantly washing hands and mouths), full of surprises that only boys can think of (like flowers in their pockets picked just for me), and most importantly, they both have the biggest hearts in such small people.

I've been inspired by a blog post I read that has circulated through Facebook and Pinterest. It's called http://studerteam.blogspot.com/2011/11/11/25-rules-for-mothers-of-sons.html (Team Studer). If you haven't read it and have boys, nephews, grandsons, or have friends with boys, I strongly encourage you to read her post.

Every night at bedtime, we're starting "favorite time of today" by all saying what our favorite part of that particular day was. Whether it was spending time with someone special, going to a new or favorite place, helping a friend, or simply having pancakes for breakfast, I feel like saying these out loud gives us all a chance to think back on all the positives for that day and makes going to bed a lot easier for little ones. And it's not a bad idea for us adults, either, because when I'm having a not-so-good day, and hear my little ones say their favorite part of the day was spending time with me, it makes my heart just melt! It instantly turns my day into one of my best ever.

Tonight's Favorites of the Day:

Ian: "spending the afternoon with you and Tucker riding the four wheelers"

Tucker: "Chocka!!!" (from Will Ferrell's Land of the Lost) Haha!

I thought I'd share what Ian wrote at school when he was in first grade (winter of 2010):

It reads: "I am just like a snow flake Beecos I am deferent Than everyone else! I am deferent becos some harts are big and my hart is biger!"

Whatcha Got Cookin?

Here's a couple of recipes that I'd like to share. One that is a regular at the Cordes household, and a newbie that is sure to please the "sweet tooth" in any family.

The first one is what I like to call Breakfast Pizza. Like any pizza, the possibilities of toppings are endless! So please, take this recipe as a base recipe and run with it. Try something different every time, or find one you like and be faithful. You decide.

Breakfast Pizza

Ingredients:

1 tube crescent rolls

8 slices precooked bacon, torn into bite-sized pieces

1/2 bag precooked, crumbled sausage

1 cup shredded cheese

4 large eggs, beaten

salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray 9-inch cake pan with nonstick cooking spray. Press crescent rolls into bottom of pan and up sides about 1 inch. Be sure to press all edges together in order to seal the crust. Spread sausage and bacon evenly over crust. Top evenly with cheese. In seperate bowl, beat eggs well, adding salt and pepper to taste. Pour as evenly as possible over cheese (beating the eggs well helps with this step). Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until cheese and crust is brown and eggs are completely cooked. Serve with pancake syrup, if desired.

The second recipe is Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Pie (a well-known favorite from The Original Oyster House in Gulf Shores, Alabama). I have altered their recipe a little, because I didn't have any Kahlua, but I will put their recipe as they've written it. I actually substituted 1 TB instant espresso + 1 TB water for the Kahlua.

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Pie

Ingredients:

8 oz cream cheese

(1) 16-oz tub Whip Topping (thawed)

(1) cup peanut butter

1 Tablespoon Kahlua

8 oz powdered sugar (about 1 cup)

3/4 cup miniature chocolate chips

(1) Oreo pie shell

Beat cream cheese until well softened. Mix in peanut butter, Kahlua and powdered sugar, one at a time, until well mixed. Add cool whip and blend well. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour into pie shell. Should be mounded high in the middle.

Note: Keep refrigerated. Serve with a dollop of whip cream. If you can't find miniature chocolate chips, freeze regular chocolate chips and chop quickly in processor.

This is what mine actually looked like.

No Pepe LePew Here!!

OK. I promised to pass along any product that I find, fall in love with, and can't see myself living without. Here's the most recent.

A little back story: I am obsessed with clean smelling laundry. And if I'm gonna take the time to wash, dry, fold/hang the mounds of laundry a household full of boys can go through, I want it to smell awesome and keep the smell until the next wash (which is not near long enough). I've been using Ultra Downy softener (pink lid, not sure of the name of the scent) for a long time now, and don't mind switching to Snuggle every now and then. But, I have found the most amazing laundry detergent and don't see myself changing products anywhere in the near future.

I am in love (at least as much as you can be in love with detergent). It's made by Arm & Hammer; and as good as the original detergent by them cleans and smells, you can NOT beat the duo of Arm & Hammer PLUS OxiClean in Fresh Scent. OxiClean alone, I am convinced, will get virtually any stain, old or new, out of every type of fabric (leave the garment soaking in OxiClean and water to remove EVERYTHING unwanted from clothes). This marriage of two wonderful products is down-right A-MAZ-ING!! I challenge you to give it a try, or at least a sniff (I know I'm not the only one sniffing the detergent & softener at the store. You're smiling right now because you do it too!). Anyway, happy laundry day!