New Year Savings!

My new years eve was spent getting somewhat caught up on cleaning and then a trip to the chiropractor (much needed).  Then I did some shopping, more like couponing. :)

Here is my CVS trip (top 2 photos).
A lot of this was all marked down and on clearance.  Then I had coupons.  It was pretty awesome. 

 The cereal was all marked down to $1.09.  I had (2) $1 off 2 coupons.  That made them about $.75 a box.  The SnackWell's were marked down to $1.07.  I did not have any coupons, but they are an amazing deal without it anyway. The Snickers was $.75 and then I got $.75 EB back = Free. 

 The Clairol was all on clearance.  Priced at $2.24 for the Nice and Easy, $3.49 for the Perfect 10 and $1.82 for the Root Touch-up.  I had (4) $2 off coupons.  (you can only use 4 Clairol coupons per customer per day).  But that made them about $1.03 each. 

The Dial lotion was on clearance for $1.74 each (no coupon). Triaminic was on sale for $4.99 each and I had a $2 off $10 cold meds and then a $3 off 2 coupon. made them $2.49 each. Pantene Hairspray was on clearance for $1.44 each. I used a $1 off 2 coupon.  Made them $.94 each.  The Pantene Shampoo and Conditioner was on sale for 2 for $7.  I had a coupon for $3 off 2.  Made these $2 each.  

Aveeno  lotions were on sale for $4.99 each.  I had a $3 off 2 and I also got $6 EB's back.  This made them $.50 each.  The Dawn dish soap was on sale for $.99.  I had one $.50 off coupon and a $.25 off coupon.  That made these about $.61 each.  

The Carmex lotion was on clearance for $2.74 each.  I used (2) $1 off coupons.  Made them $1.74.  The Carmes lip balms were on sale for 3 for $4.  I had (3) $.55 off coupons.  Made them about $.78 each.  The VO5 was on sale for $.54.  

This was an awesome shopping trip.  I used $3 EB's from my last visit. I spent a total of $29.4 plus $4.41 tax.  My savings was $162.42... WOW!  How amazing is that?  

 I found these deals at Target. 

 I had a few coupons for these.  They were free plus took some money off my other purchases as well. :)  They were marked $2.99 each.  It took the max off my purchase which was $3.49. :)  I got $1 in overage. These will make great items to put into the boys' Easter baskets.

 This was marked down to $2.20.  Not a huge deal, but I got it for the $10 off my next shutterfly order. :)
I also got some goodnights.  They weren't on sale, but I had a target coupon and a manufacturers coupon.  It brought them down to $5.99 (which is a great deal for these).

New Year...

The new year is upon us.  I am completely scared of this fact.  I do not know what it holds for me or my family.  This past year was a roller coaster of grieving, excitement, great joy, worry and everything else in between.  I had a fabulous end to a great year.  And now... I am just trying to go one day at a time into the unkn0wn. 

Sometimes I think way to far into the future.  This year, I am going to try to focus on what that day holds and leave the rest to God. 

 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matthew 6:25-34

God knows what tomorrow holds.  I will let Him take me through it. 

Looking Back!

Here is a photo from Shaun and my first Christmas as a married couple.  Wow... Look how young we both look. :)  I came across it while looking for something and it got me thinking.  I am so glad I have these photos to bring back the memories of these times.  After 8 years of marriage, I am so blessed.  It gives me the warm fuzzies to see where we came from and how far our relationship has grown. God is so good. :)

The Vargas Family

Do you remember the Vargas Family?  I posted some photos of little Gabriel.  He was premature and I had asked for prayer.  He is doing wonderful.  His daddy just got back from Afghanistan in time to spend the holidays with him.  We got to see them all for a few minutes when they were traveling through to go back to Colorado where he is stationed.  

 Here is the little man.  He is so cute.  He had to be on Oxygen for the ride to Colorado due to the altitude changes.  He is not normally on it.  But they wanted to make sure he was safe during the mountain drives they needed to make and also Colorado is a higher altitude and the Drs. want him on it for a couple of months.

 Johnny is just a few weeks older than Gabriel.  They will both be 6 months old in January.

 They are a very cute family.  So glad Alan is safe at home and is able to be here for Gabriel's first Christmas. :) Welcome Home Alan and I am so happy for you guys.

Church Group Photos

Here are some Church photos I took.  We sent a letter and these photos to Sandy Hook Elementary School.  Our prayers have been with the children and families.

Kayla's Strings Concert.

We had the wonderful opportunity to go to Kayla's (one of the teen girls in our youth group) strings concert.  It was wonderful.  Shaun and I have taken over YLC (Young Leaders for Christ) while Bro. Jake is away for work. They meet every Wednesday for a Bible study and game time.  On this particular Wednesday, one of our most faithful teens had this to attend for school.  So we thought we would just all show up at her concert.  :)  Here are some photos...

 Great Job Kayla. :) 

Christmas Craft Time

I will be posting a lot of photos and there will be many different posts going up today.  I seem to run out of time for some reason. LOL!  But I want to share all this with you. So, Here we go. 

First I want to share some photos of the boys making gifts for family and friends.  This craft is amazingly easy and very affordable. They are making Salt Dough Ornaments.  I helped them make a list of people they wanted to make them for, then we picked out cookie cutters that they wanted to use for each person.  All you need is 1/2 cup Salt, 1/2 cup Flour, and 1/4 cup water. 

 You mush it all together.  I used a fork cause it was easy for the kids and I.  When you get the water mixed in you can then use your hands to make it more like a dough.

 Then you can roll it out like sugar cookie dough.  I would make it a bit thicker though.  If it is too thin, they will crumble easily. 

 Then you cut them with your cookie cutters.  They can stay close to each other because they do not rise or spread.  They stay the same as when you cut them out.

 Then you bake them at 200* for 3 hours.  If you bake them any higher, they will get air bubble and turn an awful brownish color.  So stick with the 200*. :)  Also, a side note, Don't make them too thick or they wont cook all the way and the back will be a little doughy.

 After they cool for a bit, you can then paint them.  I used an acrylic water based paint.  I got the 2 oz bottles on sale for $.69 each.  Picked out a few different colors.  We still have a bunch left and We all made them.  Plus I did ornaments for the Church as well. (scroll down for photos of those).

 When they are all done you do not really need to do anything.  They can be done, but they look a bit dull in the color.  So I got a spray gloss to get them all shiny.  That was the most expensive part of all this.  But I used a coupon and cut the price in half.  All you do is put a ribbon on them and they are ready to go. :)  The boys had a ton of fun.  I also did their handprints and we did this project in JR. Church.  It takes a few weeks to accomplish, but the kids really enjoyed it.

 Here are the ones I made for the Church family.  I really like them. :)

  Here is how they hang after I tied the ribbon. 

Teen Girls and Ladies Baking Day

We had a great time at our Teen Girls activity.  We included the ladies of SVBC to join us and we had 9 all together join us in the amazing fun time. :)  

Mrs. Sharon Cruz has worked in a bakery for many years and she hosted this activity.  She is amazing in the kitchen and we made 5 types of cookies, chocolate covered pretzels, 3 kids of popcorn balls and chocolate covered popcorn.  We also had lunch together.  All in about 5 hours.

Here are some of our creations. 

 LeAne

 Chocolate Mint Popcorn

 Sharon, Brii, Megan, Claudia and John

 Melted Snowmen

 Little John Henry

 Claudia and Kayla

  Little Mice

 Brii

 Kayla and LeAne

 Cinnamon Polar Bears

Chocolate Reindeer    

I would like to thank Sharon for opening her home to all of us and for being an amazing teacher.  We all love you very much.  

I would also like to say thank you to Megan for picking up lunch (So super yummy).  

Thank you to Sandy, Pam Doyle, LeAne, Brii, Kayla and Claudia for coming out and having a wonderful time with all of us crazy ladies.   

Photos from Apple Hill

Here are some photos I took while in Apple Hill.  I seem to never find the time to edit and show all my photos, but here are some of my favorites from our family day out of town. :)