Getting Creative

This is our pantry. I'm needing more space now due to the overstock of cheap/free items accumulating from using coupons.
This is our laundry room. It's in the kitchen.
I had the great idea of making it a walk-in pantry/laundry room.
We just installed some shelves and voila!
Our new overflow pantry. We should have done this a long time ago.
My last trip to Jewel cost $10.75 out of pocket ( really $14.75 without $4 CAT from last visit) for all this!

1st Coupon Experience

I've been inspired by my friend Tracey to start saving $$$ using coupons. This involves checking several coupon blogs, getting a few Sunday newspapers, and going to several stores to get the weekly sale items. Here's how I did...

Walgreens: Spent $26.10 Saved $49.70
I had to go through the checkout line 7 times! And I learned about Register Rewards (RRs). I bought 3 boxes of Kotex tampons, 3 of pads, 40ct Claritin, 20 Huggies diapers (s6), 3 boxes mac n cheese, big bag craisins, and 2 small cans of pringles.
Jewel: Spent $8.02 Saved $31.72 (sales + coupons)
With this deal I got $3 CAT which I think is money I can use on my next purchase. If I were more experienced, I would have used the $3 on the yogurt and made the total spent $5.02.
Target: Spent $5.87 Saved $4.42
I eat Kashi cereal every morning for breakfast.
So what do you think Tracey, how'd I do?

Special Guests

Our first visitor this week was my Uncle David. He was performing again at the Village Church of Gurnee. This is him with one of his dummies, Mac.
Since his performance was during our regular small group meeting, I invited everyone to come to his show instead. Then afterward we came to our place for dessert. Here's Dave explaining the secrets of being a ventriloquist.
Our second visitor was my Dad. He was staying downtown while Sandy attended a conference, so he took the train from the city to visit us. We went to the Racine zoo and this is the only picture I got of him.
On another note, here's the completed master bathroom.
Uncle David was our first guest to use the new shower.
I love having a full length mirror (Walmart $44).
No, the red stop on my baby's cheek is not lipstick. This is what happens when I kiss him after eating cereal with milk on it. He's still allergic, even if it touches his skin.

Next Door Neighbors

I hope the kids grow up with great memories of their friends Reese and Rocco.
We finally broke down and bought Josh a car! It's a used 2007 Honda Accord.
His old Maxima had 162,000 miles and the service engine soon, slip, and some other caution light was on.
We're exclusively a Honda family now.

Easter Weekend

My family came to visit us from Cincinnati this weekend.

We went to an Easter buffet. Aaron was so excited to see the Easter bunny there. He would whine when the bunny would leave the room.
But after a big hug from the giant bunny, he was finally satisfied.
All the girls were treated to pedicures as a special Easter gift from Grandpa.
Grandpa's treat was that he got to take a nap with Aaron.

I forgot to get a picture of everyone dressed up for the Easter church service. Thanks guys from coming to visit us. We had so much fun!