Mama got a new Shark Steam mop

Happy Black Friday to me!  We went out more for fun than real deal shopping. (We didn't hit the stores till the crazies went home)  and we ran across this baby for $49 at Target.  Now 3/4 of my downstairs is hardwood, plus tile in all the bathrooms, and I have tied several different tools to make the job of cleaning them easier, to no avail.  Enter in the Shark Steam mop, I took it out of the box as soon as dinner was done tonight, and quickly cleaned all the wood floors.  ( I hosted Thanksgiving yesterday with 6 little boys running around with food, it needed to be cleaned.) Let me tell you I am in love!  This baby is amazing!  It is easy to use, quick, and it really gets the job done.  It even got paint I spilled on the floor over a month ago, not to mention all the sticky what have yous from under the chair where my 3 year old eats.

  I am one happy mama. I love the fact that all it takes to clean the floor is steam, no chemicals or special things to buy, just fill it with water and you are set.  Also it comes with 4 reusable pads.  That is plenty to clean all the floors in my house and still have one or two to use if the others are in the wash.  It also came with with an attachment glider that makes it so you can steam your carpet.  Now I wouldn't say that it takes place of steam cleaning your carpets with your bissel or anything, but it is nice for a quick refreshing of the carpet.

I think I am becoming a huge fan of Shark products- don't even get me started on how much I love my Shark Navigator vacuum  that I bought this summer...  that's a whole other post...

What is your favorite cleaning tool?

Kimberly

** Disclaimer, I was not compensated for my purchase or my review of this product (though that would be cool)- I just really really love it and wanted to share it with you.

Going to the mall? Warm up your Printer first!

We headed out for a day of shopping today- but before we left the house, I spent about 20-30 minuets searching online for coupons to use in some of the retail stores I knew we would go to.  I found a bunch, just using Google, like ones for Childrens Place, Old Navy, Aeropostale, Bath and Body Works, Kohls, Toys r Us, just to name a few. 

We started out with a trip to the Mega Brand warehouse sale in Fife.  We have been going to this salefor about 5 years, it is incredible, they have Mega Bloks and Rose Art products, and a few other brands, for well below retail prices.  If you missed it, don't fret, they will be having another sale Dec 8th- 11th, and new this year they are collecting toys for Toys for Tots, and matching each donation.  They will also have Santa there for pictures (free with donation) on Dec 11th.  Anyways, we scored a bunch of deals, and plan to go back in December to shop for our oldest son (who is too old to trick, so we can't shop in front of him like we do his brothers).

Then it was on to the mall  (well the Super Mall in Auburn, so more like 1/2 mall 1/2 outlets)  Where I was able to pick up gifts for some of the harder to shop for teens and tweens on my list, shopping clearance and using my printed out coupons I scored big.  For instant, I got my son a shirt at Aeropostale, normally $29.99, on sale for $3.99, then I had a 30% off coupon.  Craziness I tell you, and since he is in Junior High Next year, name brands are becoming important. 

All this is to say, coupons are not just for groceries  people.  There are a ton of deals out there- so before you headout to the stores, print out some coupons to match with in store sales.  Tis the season for giving and saving.

Kimberly

Dear Santa, can you bring me a Freezer this Year?

Because mine is full.  I have been a good girl, and saving my family alot of money and feeding them well.  Tonight I even emptied the whole freezer, cleaned it all out, and loaded back up with the packing skills I learned from an eagle scout.  There is not an inch of room left in there folks.  And I have to cook one of the turkeys  I bought this week because there was no room in the freezer for it.  It's ok though, I did buy it to practice with, as I am hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the 1st time this year.  Anyone want to come over for a pre- thanksgiving turkey?  I won't have room to freeze leftovers, so come hungry. 

Of of the keys to couponing success is to stock up on items when they are at the lowest price, so that you don't have to buy more until they are on sale again.  It just so happened that the eggos my kids love to eat were free or as little as 25 cents (which is cheaper than what I can make them for) and hubby's entrees he has for lunch at work were the lowest I have seen them in the nearly 3 months since I started couponing.  Add to that the great price on turkey (I have bought 2)- and well my already semi full freezer is now really full.

So if anyone sees a coupon for a freezer let me know.  :)

I hope everyone has a great start to their week, and may your freezers and wallets be full.

Kimberly

Shopping while the shelves are still stocked.

I went to Albertsons tonight for 3 reasons.  The first being I needed butter, the second, after running into my cousin Jess today, I was inspired by her recent brownie mix deal (that I apparently inspired in her after posting about the Safeway book) Don't you love how we all help each other!  LOVE. And the last reason was I knew that by the time I get up and ready for the store tomorrow (read- I am not an early riser) the shelves will be picked over, as the deals are THAT great.  So I only paid for what I needed in this case.  That being the butter ($2.29) part of the buy 10 save $5.  The cheese, $4.99 with in ad coupon and the frozen entrees my hubby eats for lunch at work (*they were 50 cents each!)  Aside from the in ad coupon of the cheese, all the other coupons I used were from the Safeway Thanksgiving book. 
$1/1 Sierra Mist
$1/2 Brownie Mix
$1/1 Swiss Miss
$1/2 cookie mix
 my out of pocket was $13.56 and I saved $53.24!

My 3 year old was so excited about all the brownie mix :)

Kimberly

Coffee Filter Wreath

Ever get so inspired by something you see online, you know you just HAVE to try it?  I do, all the time!  Normally, I convince myself that I can't find the materials, or mine won't turn out as well...  etc.  But this time, with a list of materials as easy as coffee filters, a dollar store wreath form and hot glue.. Thank you Nesting Place for sharing and inspiring!  I HAD to do it. I headed out to the dollar store yesterday with all 3 kids in tow.  When hubby came home from work I went and hid in my craft studio.  Check it out!

 I ran out of coffee filters (I used 320!) so I added the little orange tulle bow to cover the gap until I get more (it is just pinned in place)

 Showing you the scale here- this thing is huge, I hung it above my 3 person bench in my entry way for now.

LOVE it!  I am Thrilled with how it turned out. An I only burned myself 6 times with the hot glue gun.

I'll be linking this up at the Nesting Place as well

What have you been inspired by in blogland lately?


Kimberly

She's got Legs!

And she knows how to use them.  I present to you, Maggie, the sock monkey.    I have challenged myself to make something everyday this month.  So far, most of those things have been sock monkeys.  I am behind in posting them though, so tonight I am playing catch up.  Maggie is my current favorite.  In fact, if she doesn't sell quickly, I may just decide to keep her.  She is so colorful, and her cute face makes me smile.




Hope you enjoyed meeting her, I have a feeling she will go quick.



Kimberly 

linking to Just a Girl, 
fireflies and jellybeans
somewhat simple

Albertsons Doubler Run 11/8

Did a little quick shopping today.  I had to run to Safeway to get their Thanksgiving coupon book.  I made my trip worth it buy stocking up on Pillsbury Biscuits while I was there.  Then it was on to Albertsons, where I scored this deal.

Buy 3
Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa on sale $1
Use $1/1 coupon from Safeway Coupon booklet x3
3 FREE after coupon
-------
Kelloggs Pop Tarts $2.50
Buy 6, Receive a $4.00 Catalina
$1.00/3 – Kellogg’s Pop Tarts, 8ct or larger – (kelloggs.com) x2
Pay $1.83 each after coupons, Receive $4 Catalina
------------------
    Buy 6 Heinz Gravy$1.29/$0.79
    $1.00/3 – Heinz Homestyle Gravy – (heinzgravy.com)

    Buy 4 Eggo Waffles $1.49/$0.99
    $1.00/2 – Kellogg’s Eggo Products, 5.3 oz or larger – (kelloggs.com)

    Save $5.00 instantly when you buy 10 items
    Use all manufacturer coupons and 3 Twice the Value coupons
    Final price: $1.70 for 10 items or $0.17 each!!


Total Spent out of pocket = $13.70, saved $46.71 and got $9 in catalinas back. (not sure what triggered the $5 catalina, but it is good off my next purchase of $50 or more)


 Kimberly

Loving Lola- the Sock Monkey

We had a wonderful evening last night at my in-law's house.  Great food, good company and lots of little boys! (between my family and my hubby's brother's, we have 6 boys, 5 of which are under 5 years old!).  Knowing that I am much more relaxed when my hands are busy, I brought along some socks to whip into a monkey.  I named her Lola..  after my father in-law.  No, his name is not Lola, but the poor sweet man has no one named after him since his name is Durwood.  So i took his middle name. Lowell, and girlied it up to Lola.  Love you Dad!

And since I am behind on my thankful posts...

yesterday I was thankful for family get togethers and yummy food.

Today I am thankful for lazy Sundays and hot coffee!


Kimberly

A thankful November

The theme for the month in both the blog world and Facebook seems to be thankfulness.  I posted yesterday on facebook that I am thankful for my family and my home.  I also posted that I plan to take this thankfulness one step further and purposefully show my thanks each day by way of actions.  I hope that you will follow me this month, as I share the ways I come up with to give thanks, be inspired and give thanks too.

So, what are you thankful for?


Kimberly