WoodElves

David graduated with his Juris Doctor. We had a lot of family in town and had a wonderful weekend with everyone celebrating his accomplishments!

2

The next weekend, we moved out of student housing to a beautiful place just down the road. We spent a few weekends and several evenings getting unpacked and settled and making our new house "home".

3

We're expecting in December! While everything else has kept us busy, being pregnant has kept me not feeling well and honestly, I haven't had much to say on the blog that wasn't pregnancy-related so I just had to keep quiet for awhile :) We're thrilled though, and now that I'm on my way out of the first trimester, hopefully I'll be feeling better soon.

4

Related to #3, I just haven't been grocery shopping much. This picture is our one good shopping trip lately, when David went to Harris Teeter triples for me. Lately when we shop, I just buy what sounds good to me, and I have him buy what he will eat to get him through the next week. I look forward to being able to look at the circulars without feeling sick and getting back into getting good deals at the grocery stores.

5

Last night we went to Farm Fresh for a few items that were on sale (no coupons) and to Harris Teeter for Super Doubles.

Here's the Harris Teeter trip:

We picked up 4 coffee creamers for church for less than $1 total and that whole 5lb bag of grapefruit marked down to $1! I figured even if we only at 2 of them, we still saved money! Total before coupons was about $19, and we spent $5.65.

Things have been pretty busy around here between hosting Easter dinner, finishing up David's law school, and packing to move besides I'm still working full time. It's all good though!

I've still been making several little trips these past weeks. Over the weekend, I went to Harris Teeter twice for free croutons and brownie mix, to FF for inexpensive chicken, and to Rite Aid and CVS for the usual freebies. I know I won't be able to keep this up forever. I'm about ready to eat from my pantry from now until we move next month... except for Easter dinner!

Here's my Farm Fresh trip today.

Before coupons, the total was $24.70. I spent $8.83 out of pocket and got back 3 $1 catalinas for next week, so in effect everything shown was $5.83 when everything is said and done.
I grabbed up artichoke hearts and canned beans because they were on sale - no coupon. No, I don't buy popcorn every week. Why do you ask? (It was free - and one of David's favorite evening snacks!) I used my free milk coupon from last week to splurge on 2% milk!!!!! I feel rich.

By the way - I joined a coupon train for the first time this week, and I"m first on the list. I hope everyone else is as excited about the coupons I sent on as I am.

We went back to Harris Teeter today to use the new cheese coupons from the Kraft website while super doubles are still going on. The cheese was 50 cents each and we broke it up into 2 transactions to use all our coupons. The cereals were both free.

Between the 2 transactions, we spent $6.93. Before coupons and tax, it would have been $37.

Last weekend, we went to the Norfolk Scope Arena for WinterJam, which is a huge event with lots of top Christian music artists. The best part is that it is only $10 at the door! You can click on the pictures to see them bigger.

Inside the Scope


It was so much fun! We enjoyed the energy and all the artists as well as the presentation of the gospel


Red

Francesca Battistelli - she was so cute & I love her positive, energetic songs



the David Crowder band


David Crowder - we didn't go into the concert being fans of theirs, but ended up getting their Church Music cd & I really enjoy it not only for the style but the portrayal of God. It's both a humble view in reverence at a holy God but also a thankful view in happiness at a life-giving God.


Kutless was another treat because they're such a pillar in Christian music. We knew all their songs, because many of them are sung in our church and are so mainstream in Christian music


Chris August


The Newsboys! We've been fans for years and neither of us had seen them live before so it was sooo exciting for us



We were happy & surprised to learn that Michael Tait from dc Talk is now with the Newsboys!! We got a little old school dc Talk as well as old school Newsboys!


Jody Davis




Jeff Frankenstein


Duncan Phillips with Michael Tait


Then they played up in the air :)


Here's a far away view to see them playing so high, even the drummer - what a show!

We'll definitely be going back to WinterJam next time it comes around, despite the crowds. It was one of the most fun and encouraging things we've done in awhile!

It's our 22 month anniversary today! And the stores are giving away all kinds of things to celebrate.

First, Farm Fresh:
I was excited to find the $1/1 peelies on the Mission chips - I usually can never find the good peelies. So many good freebies! Free Jello Temptations, Triscuits, cheese, yogurt, frozen veggies & Miracle Whip. Before coupons, my total was $29.10. I spent $9.32.

Tonight, we went to Harris Teeter for more freebies and cheap strawberries.
We actually did 2 transactions to use all our Kahiki coupons and got strawberries B1G2 (they were $5 each before the sale!). I spent $8.08 between both transactions on all the items above. I'm not sure what it was before coupons, but it was over $50.

I also went to Walmart this week to get the items for the All You rebate, onions & lemon juice that I needed. I'll go back later to get milk. I've been making several little trips lately it seems, to the bread store and to Walmart for milk so that stuff adds up on the side as well.

After stopping to get our free Rita's after church, we hit up the drugstores.


First stop was Rite Aid.

Transaction #1:

2 Lysol Wipes at $1.99 each = $3.98
Used $1/2 coupon = $2.98 + tax
Spent $3.18 OOP

Received $1 SCR back = $1.98
Received 2 $1 UP rewards back= $.18


Transaction #2:
Bought 1 birthday card for 99 cents plus tax
Used $1 UP reward
Spent $.04 OOP

Then to CVS (This picture refused to upload the right way):

David's Transaction:
1 Allegra: $6.99
1 Schick blades: $8.79
Used $2/1 Allegra Coupon
Used $2/1 Schick Coupon
Used $6.58 in ECBs

Spent $5.64 OOP
Got back $11 ECBs

Total: $1.22




My Transaction:

1 Allegra - $6.99
1 Physicians Formula eye shadow - $6.59
1 filler item - QTips - $.50

Used $2/1 Allegra coupon
Used $6/1 Physicians Formula coupon from the Magic Coupon Machine (CRT)
Used $5.80 in ECBs
Spent $.64 OOP
Got back $6.99 in ECBs

Total: $.55 Moneyemaker