Last minute CVS Deal

Reminder
Today is the LAST day to use the $5/$15 coupon at CVS and the $3/$15 beauty coupon, as they both expire today! These are great coupons and really reduce your out of pocket expense on anything you are buying. You really can't beat $5 off $15, and these high value coupons don't come around too often. FYI...Pampers are on sale this week.

Here's an idea:
Buy (4) Softsoap Spa $19.96 (limit 5)
Use (1) $5/$15 coupon (if you don't have it email me)
Use (1) $3/$15 beauty coupon (email me if you want this too)
Use (3) $1 off coupons for Softsoap Spa (there were $1 off coupons in Sunday's paper (I got an extra this week), plus a .75/1 coupon in a past paper.
You can also print $1/1 coupons online here - one per computer)
Total = $7.96 + tax out of pocket, but you'll get $19.96 in ECBs back!!

Another deal if you need diapers:
Buy (2) pack of Pampers $8.99 = $17.98
Use $5/$15 coupon
Use any Pampers coupons you have (check your Pampers packages)
$1-2 off
Total = $10-12 for 2 packs of diapers, depending on coupons.
Even though you don't get any ECBs, this is still a good deal!

If you want to make some ECBs - do this:
Buy (1) pack of Pampers $8.99
Buy (1) Softsoap Spa $4.99
Buy (2) Johnson's Buddies Soap 1.98
Use $5/$15 coupon
Use $1/1 Softsoap Spa coupon
Use (2) $1/1 Johnson Buddies coupon
Use $1 Pampers coupons (check your packages or an older P&G coupon insert)Total $6.96 (less than the cost of the diapers)
PLUS $4.99 back in ECBs!

CVS Deal for this week

So, the great CVS $5/$15 coupon expires on Monday, March 31st. But I have a great deal that you can do before then with next weeks sale. Most stores load the deals in on Saturday night (mine does) so that's when I usually do a quick CVS run before they run out of stock!

Softsoap Spa (Body Wash) are $4.99 each with $4.99 in ECBs back, making them FREE! Limit 5.
Buy (3) at $14.97
Buy (1) Johnson's Buddies Soap .99
Use $5/$15 coupon
Use (3) $1 off Soft Soap coupons printed here (there's $1.50 coupons coming in Sunday's paper)Use (1) $1 Johnson's Buddies coupon here
Total = $6.96 and get $14.97 back in ECBs!

Let me know if you have any questions - or you need access to the $5. off coupon.
There's more deals coming, but that's all I've got for time for now! Happy Shopping!

Thanks alot Disney...

Last night,

(right smack in the middle of watching American Idol - Go Michael Johns!)

8:32 p.m.

"Mom...I want to sleep with you tonight."

"You can't sleep with me Raistlyn, you need to get in your own bed so you can get up early tomorrow. Remember, this morning you had a little trouble getting up for school?"

"But, my stomach hurts."

"Your stomach hurts? When did it start hurting?"

"Whenever I think about having to go to bed." "You know, I think about - I'm going to (not audible, she spelled this out and just mouthed it) D-I-E."

"Honey, you are not going to die. I don't want you to worry about that. You know what happens when you die right?"

"Yes, we go live with Heavenly Father. But, I don't want to be there without you."

"I don't want you to be there without me either. Go get your pillow, you can sleep with me."

This isn't the first time Raistlyn and I have had this same discussion. What I couldn't figure out previously is why she gets these thoughts? The first time I was pretty freaked out because I thought she might be having some kind of premonition or something. just in case, I didn't go out much and when I did I drove the car really slow and carefully for the next few days.

Fortunately, my sister Jolene was over hanging out with us last night and overheard our little conversation. She said I bet it was that movie she just watched.

Brother Bear 2. Truthfully, I haven't seen the entire movie - just bits and pieces while the kids have it blaring in the background. I do remember that the mother bear gets killed in the first Brother Bear movie. Then I got to thinking, many Disney films have death scenes...I could think of 11 right off the top of my head. Brother Bear, Snow White, Bambi, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Mulan, Tarzan. I'll bet there are probably more. Thanks Disney for introducing the concept of death to my 7 year old. Her little mind just doesn't quite understand how to put it all together. Fortunately, she knows about Heavenly Father and his Plan of Happiness for our Family. And she went to sleep knowing that she is loved by her mother....so much that she even got to go to sleep in my bed.

I heart FREE stuff

On these CVS advertised and non-advertised sale items
(a few items are missing because they were already eaten)
Retail price over $115.00
Paid $15.68 out of pocket and I have
leftover ExtraCare Bucks totalling $30.46 to use on future purchases
I won't use all the products such as the Clean & Clear brand but they will be perfect to donate to a Women's shelter or someone else than can use them.
I LOVE CVS!
Want to know how I did this?
Just comment and I'll share my secrets.

TTA: The Working Girl

Being one of 8 children I was quite anxious to obtain a job and make a little moola. I think I was about 15 when I got my first job doing some telemarketing with a couple of my girlfriends. My mom had to drive me to and from work every evening (good think gas was cheap back then) - I remember all sort of shenanigans going on. We weren't very good at following the rules -the calls were pretty brutal at times - we did make a few friends over the phone though. That lasted a couple of weeks.

Then I got a job working at the big waterpark in town called Wet n' Wild. WORST JOB EVER! I worked as a cashier in the hot, hot summer - which in Texas is REAL HOT! I liked this skater boy named Chris that worked there so that made it at least little bearable. I tried out lots of jobs- several were at clothing stores....The Gap, Lerner, Foley's (now Macy's) and Talbots. Most of my paychecks were spent filling my closet to the brim.I sold furniture and home accessories for a while at This End Up while I was in Design School. We still have some of the furniture - that stuff is real wood and lasts and lasts - the best part was the Oops! Sale. We got an outrageous discount like 90% off.
I worked 1 day putting toys together at the Mattel factory.

Barbie was not my friend. You've seen all those stinking wires they use to put those toys in the packages right? Enough said.

I also did the waitressing thing at The Grand Prairie Diner (high school) , the Outback Pub in Downtown Dallas, and Del Rio Mexican Grill (college) - boy those were good times - lots of friends from school worked there too. Many, many 'after hours' parties.

One of my best jobs was working at The Nana Grill. I was what many of my waiter friends termed The Hostess with the Mostest! As a uniform we had to wear these pretty little black suits that had lovely rhinestone and pearl buttons - high heels too. Yeah, we were hottie hostesses!

Nana is located atop the Loews Anatole Hotel (now the Hilton Anatole) on 27th Floor. This restaurant possesses a magnificent view of the Dallas skyline. It is named for a painting "Nana" by G. Marcel Suchorowsky which hangs in the bar.

Yep, a full on nude painting of the lovely Nana.

The painting is part of Trammell and Margaret Crow's art collection that is displayed at the Anatole - there are Picasso's, Wedgewood and bunches of other great pieces. It's fun to go exploring there just to see the art.
The restaurant has changed since I worked there...of course menus and chefs have come and gone. I worked with some amazingly talented chefs that have gone on to bigger and better things. Working at Nana was the period in my life when I became a total 'Foodie'. It was a 4 1/2 star restaurant at the time. The menu was Neauvou American and there was an Exhibition Kitchen right smack in the middle of the place. The atmosphere was amazing. The food was amazing and they hosted the most glorious Sunday Brunches EVER...even more glorious and over the top on holidays like Easter, Mother's Day and Thanksgiving! I still haven't seen or eaten anything that quite compares. Luckily, I was able to swipe a few recipes of my favorite dishes. Nana Salad....mmmm....need to put that on my menu list for next week!

I did my Interior Design internship with Daiker Howard Architects & Design in Dallas. I was hired on after the internship which was cool, most of the kids in my class weren't so lucky. We specialized in Hotel & Restaurant Design.

I was a grunt.

Spent most of my time driving around to pick up samples and doing basic drafting projects. One interesting thing of note....our firm did design work on one of the restaurants in the World Trade Center after the first bombing.

A year or so later I got a call from a guy named Ron he wanted me to come interview for a job with him. Random. He had obtained my resume from a friend and had an opportunity for me. This kind of thing didn't happen everyday so I went to check it out. The firm was R.L.S. & Associates. They did Financial Planning and investments. The owner was a self made millionaire and a very generous man. He had built a very lucrative investment portfolio for himself and had retired in his 40's from an executive position in Printing. He was my mentor. I worked under him, learning along the way for over 9 years. I got all my financial and insurance licenses (the Series 7 was a seriously HARD test!) The first time I took it I made a 69 and dang it, you need a 70 to pass! The second time around I made and 89. The options trading kicked my butt for a while, but I finally got the hang of it. The market rocked for most of the years I was there. WE MADE A TON OF MONEY FOR PEOPLE!!! I loved what I was doing. I was married and had my first child in my 8th year working there. I was even able to take my daughter to work with my on Fridays (thanks to the owner's daughter-in-law having a baby at the same time) We set up a little nursery in one of the back rooms. Then the market tanked and the tech bubble burst. My commission based income was no longer so great. My husband was in school - I had to get a salaried job.

Enter Northwestern Mutual Financial Network. I transferred my licenses and worked there for a year. Not very exciting....not very challenging.....I did get to take a fun trip to Minneapolis for the annual meeting though.

My youngest sister works for an Orthodontist - she referred me to a job with 6 Day Dental & Orthodontics. The home of the mighty Molar Man! It was a bit of a drive each way but the increase in pay was nice. Fortunately, I am able to pick up new things easily because all the dental jargon and protocols were totally new to me. I had a hard-core, crash course in all things dental and basically flew by the seat of my pants for the first couple of weeks. This office sees ALOT of patients - at the time we scheduled for 3 doctors and 4 hygienists. It was BUSY...and there was alot of drama going on ALL the time because there was an office full of GIRLS. I worked up in to managing the front office...what they called "Team Leaders". I loved that I only worked 3 days a week, though they were stressful, long days. The office sponsored The Frisco RoughRiders Baseball team. It was a exciting to go out on Title nights and pass out goodies with Molar Man and just hang out and have fun with co-workers and our families.

The down side: The doctor that owns this practice is - to put it as nicely as possible - horrible. He is NEVER satisfied with your work performance. It's never good enough even when you produce $50,000. in one Saturday! He had me in tears on several occasions. He fired or ran off mostly every competent employee. I am thankful for the training that I received at this job. It led me to the one I have now and I am SO BLESSED!

Oh and I did get free braces while I worked there - these are my chompers...they used me as a mouth model for their website- *hehe*

I am currently employed by a wonderful female dentist as her Practice Manager. There is never much drama or stress and just a few employees. I still love the fact that we have a short work week and I get to spend long weekends with my family. Adam and the kids meet up for lunch some days...it's the best job to have when you have to work outside the home.

I am so grateful for all the opportunities that I have had over the years. I feel as if I am well rounded. I'm still a full time mother to my 3 children, those duties don't get passed off even though I am not home with them 24 hours a day. I'm looking forward out a couple years in the future - I think I'll be ready for another change by then and Adam will have completed his certifications - maybe I'll stay home full time, maybe I'll start a new adventure.

What jobs have you held over the years?

Friday Field Trip

Raistlyn was SO excited
finally a 1st grade field trip on a Friday
no work on Fridays - mom would be able to go
hitch.... note sent home stating that there were limited seats available for parent chaperons....they would draw 2 winners
We won - Yeah!
Then we got stupid Texas style snowed in and the Field Trip was cancelled. Bummed....Raistlyn was so distraught she sat in the Library and cried~ boo hoo
Weekend came and went
Found out Monday evening the Field Trip was rescheduled for Tuesday
Tuesday....what.....???.....
Talk about Short Notice
Luckily Mom works for super nice doctor and was able to take the morning off . We had a great time at Casa Manana. We saw a super fun production of 'Junie B. Jones' on a gorgeous Spring Day!

The Venue

Raistlyn A. Camphuysen First Grader at Last

Raistlyn's Dad made these shirts for the class!

with Allee & Mikayla - special friends from another class

The 3 Musketeers ~ Katelynn, Raistlyn & Reagan

Raistlyn & mom (a not so good self portrait)

on the bus, headin' back to class!

TTA: Collections

They were short, blue and bald.

They lived inside mushrooms in a remote part of a medieval forest and loved to sing and dance.

They were three apples high.

They were Smurfs.

Smurfrabilia came out in force: plush toys, school supplies, clothing, lunchboxes(BTW...I had all of these!), the list goes on and on and on. By far the most popular avatars of Smurf nation were the little 2-inch PVC figurines.

Small, cute and vibrantly colored,Smurf figurines were so small that dozens could be obtained and before you knew it, an entire Smurf army would be adorning your bedroom. Smurf fever hit circa 1981 - didn't you just LOVE the Saturday morning cartoons? Papa Smurf had quite the fan club, along with Smurfette (the lone female Smurf). Brainy, Lazy, Handy, Hefty and Greedy also had their devotees. Gargamel and Azrael, the evil wizard and his cat, I never did add these creeps to my collection.

I was 9.

I was awashed in Smurf culture!My collection was similar to this, however I only had two shelves due to the fact that I shared a tiny bedroom with not just 1 but 2 of my sisters. They weren't exactly thrilled with my obsession. They did join me on Saturday mornings to watch the Smurfisodes. We'd sit in front of the TV (that didn't have a remote I might add) with our nightgowns pulled over our legs and eat whatever the heck we wanted for breakfast - Doritos, Froot Loops, Tang - since my parents were holed up in their bedroom WITH THE DOOR LOCKED! Ahhh...those were the days!

Somehow just knowing there is now a Smurfs DVD out there it threatens to send me into a fit of giggles. As Saturday morning cartoons go The Smurfs were rock solid, but I don't think it's only the smurfy adventures that take me back. I plan to revisit The Smurfs and share them with my children - I'm going to try to procure Season 1 of The Smurfs this weekend - we'll relive those carefree days of the past, maybe even eat some Doritos!

You might feel a little silly watching them, but the Smurfs will be more than happy to take you back to simpler times.

What childhood collections did you have?

You know it's going to be a great day....

When you wake up to this Smiling Face!

Dang, I love this kid!

TTA: What's in a name?

When I was younger (elementary - middle school aged) I was certain that I would name my first child Bailey. Bailey Rene to be exact - the last name didn't matter. If my husband grumbled...too bad. That's just what SHE was going to be named.

I tested that name with my first Cabbage Patch Doll. The one my mother staked out in the wee hours standing outside a Target in the freezing cold on the hint that a delivery was coming that day. Remember that craze back in the 80's? Well, out of the box she was Thelma Louise. Yuck. That just wouldn't do for my ponytailed blondie with beautiful blue eyes! I quickly filled in that birth certificate change form and sent it that Xavier guy to get fixed up. With much anticipation it came back 'Bailey Rene' - the most beautiful name in the world! I hung it up in my room and still have it to this day - the doll too - all frazzled and played with stored for nostalgia's sake in my memory trunk. (Hmmm...It's much easier to name a child or doll when you don't have to agree on it with someone else.)

Married for a mere 5 months I had the faint idea that I might be pregnant. I hid out in the bathroom of my one bedroom apartment in Grapevine, TX with my friend Shelley on the telephone anxiously waiting for the results via an EPT stick. Are those REALLY two pink lines??? They are kinda faint. Yep. (still have that stick to prove it too) The hardest part of the pregnancy - probably agreeing on a name. We mulled over many and rested upon something unique. Unique does run in the family with wonderful names like Cale, Rossi and Saedryn. Our eldest daughter is Raistlyn - the name originated from a DragonLance book series that Adam had read - it has a male character so we changed the spelling and made it more feminine. It's the first name we both liked, there were never any other options.

Next came our boy - 5 years later. We had originally picked the name Zane way back before we knew Raistlyn was a girl and intended on it throughout most of the pregnancy. When it came time for the baby shower I was in the midst of making 'thank you for coming to the shower pumpkin saltglow scrub' when it came time to print the tags. I changed the name to Caiden and printed the tags. I say "I" because my hubby insists that it was ALL me. It stuck. Caide's middle name has a bit of special meaning via his daddy....it's Michael....his dad's name is Adam...if you are LDS you might get the symbolism with those names.
Our youngest is Rowan. Her name was a toss up between that or Maclaine which we thought of via the main character in the Die Hard movies. I do still LOVE this name! We were attempting to have the 'ai' in each of their first names. She got her's via her middle name which is Ainsley - and she has the same initials as her sis.

I need to ask my own mother if there is any sort of story behind my name. I do know that I was originally a Jennifer and that I had two birth certificates each with different names. I don't have a middle name as do none of my four sisters. The 3 older boys do though. Growing up I always felt I got gypped. So, I unofficially gave myself the middle name of Lyn....because that is what my sisters always yelled at me when they were mad at me....Jennifer Lyn!

If I were to change my name I would be either Amber, Heather or Roxy. Random. I know.

Is there a story behind your name?

How did you pick the names of your children?

Going, Going, Gone

I used to have time to make jewelry. I could sit for hours upon hours and create little masterpieces of stone, glass & precious metal. Now, not so much. My needy little chitlins would be curious and just make a mess of all my neatly sorted beads and findings. SO....if anyone out there is interested I will be selling off my stash. Do you make jewelry? or if you would like to I have TONS of wonderful pretty things for you at REALLY tiny prices. Here is just a sampling of what I already have made - leftovers from previous sales - sorry some of the pics are atrocious. Contact me if you are interested!
Just $12. bucks each, except the Purple one is just $20!
I can take PayPal or checks via mail.
(Most of the necklaces are about 17 inches, the bracelets around 7 inches)
I'll post pictures of all the other junk soon so please check back! I'll update them as they are snatched up.

Red Swarovski crystal w/sterling silver fleur de lis Black leather cord w/coin pearl and swarovski crystal
Turquoise Swarovski crystal w/ a blue agate drop
Peacock freshwater pearls w/abalone drop
SOLD Round swarovski pearls with a sterling silver cross
Sterling silver chain with a Carnelian drop

14kt Gold filled chain with a clear quartz drop

SOLD Swarovski crystals with sterling stamped pendant

Sterling chain with quartz and swarovski crystals

Sterling silver chain with a large black pearl

Suede with sterling charm that has multicolored, semi-precious stones

Sterling chain loops with Amethyst & ribbon tie

SOLD Turquoise mixed stone bracelet with sterling clasp

SOLD Mixed stone bracelet with sterling 's' clasp

Ocean blue swarovski necklace with sterling pendant

Light Blue glass beaded necklace with sterling silver flower & pearls - stamped pendant

Year of the Rat

I am married to a man that doesn't particularly enjoy eating out Chinese like I do. I don't get to eat it very often but, I do still love it! Especially at my fav ~ Golden China in Bedford where they actually use meat that you can tell what it is. Go for the Sesame Chicken and Sizzling Rice Soup, I promise you won't be disappointed. I even have a 1/2 price coupon I can offer you. Anyway, you know those placements - the ones with the Chinese zodiac that you can't help but decipher while you're waiting for your crispy noodles & sweet n' sour dipping sauce. Well, I'm a rat. I have always hated that I was a rat as it just didn't sound very dignified - low on the food chain, everyone including elephants scared of you, rummaging through garbage, a cat's next meal - a RAT. A dragon, now that sounds magisterial. Or how about the Tiger...grrrr.....

I have finally come to terms with being a rat.

Rat people are born under the sign of charm and aggressiveness. They are expressive and can be talkative sometimes. They like to go to parties and spend quiet times chatting with their friends. Although the Rat can be quiet sometimes, it is rare to catch a Rat sitting quietly.
Rat people usually have more acquaintances than real friends and they revere and cherish those close to them. Once you become their real friends, they will treat you as their family. Rats are self-contained and keep problems to themselves. And even though they can be talkative sometimes, they never confide in anyone. The Rat is quick-witted. Most rats get more accomplished in 24 hours than the rest of us do in as many days. They are confident and usually have good instinct. Stubborn as they are, they prefer to live by their own rules rather others. It won't be an easy task to work with Rat people, why? Simple, because they are also 100% perfectionists. They are very organized and talented, perhaps that is why the Rat makes a good businessman or politician. Unfortunately, as soon as the Rat earns money, it is spent. Maybe that explains why the Rat is so careful when he lends money to others. If you ever borrow money from the Rat, don't be surprised by the high-interests. The Rat is not romantic, but is sensual and loving. Rat people could be hard to see through at first glance, because they are also very protective, but even though they are not easy they are worth it - ask anyone who has a Rat for a lover, parent, child or friend. They are very loyal and devoting to their families.

The Chinese astrological cycle begins with the year of the Rat; consequently those born within this category like to be first, pioneers, at the forefront of the action. Restless and inquisitive, those born under the influence of the Rat are active, both physically and mentally, and tend to lead busy lives. Challenge is essential to them for they love the thrill of living. With clairvoyance, intuition, perspicacity and an eye for detail, Rats are formidable problem solvers, finding workable solutions to the knottiest problems. The Rat possesses attributes ranging from charming and humorous to honest and meticulous. The Chinese say those born in these years make good and wise advisers. Rats are best known for their charm. Blessed with a sharp wit, they possess a marvelous sense of humor, which makes them stimulating and amusing company to have around.

Now, I don't know about ALL that but, I do think the above describes ME quite well! I highlighted the section about friendship because it resonated so deeply. I don't have a lot of friends. I do however, have some of the best friends imaginable. Ones that I need to stay in closer contact with. This is a call to action for me.

The only way to have a friend is to be one.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wanna Be My Friend?

(I'm always looking for new ones.)

Just for fun....more info on the Chinese Zodiac:

Before Buddha left earth, he called for all the animals to see him for the last time. Only 12 came to him and it is these who are honoured by having its own year to govern over. Each animal has its own characteristics and being born under a particular zodiac sign will impact on your personality, relationships, life in general. Each of the 12 animals rules a particular year in rotation. In addition to lending its characteristics to people born during that year, it also influences the quality of a particular year. So according to Chinese Astrology knowing which animal rules a future year can help you plan in advance for the trials and triumphs that year might bring.

Rat 1996-1984-1972-1960-1948-1936-1924
Ox 1997-1985-1973-1961-1949-1937-1925
Tiger 1998-1986-1974-1962-1950-1938-1926
Rabbit 1999-1987-1975-1963-1951-1939-1927
Dragon 2000-1988-1976-1964-1952-1940-1928
Snake 2001-1989-1977-1965-1953-1941-1929
Horse 2002-1990-1978-1966-1954-1942-1930
Goat 2003-1991-1979-1967-1955-1943-1931
Monkey 2004-1992-1980-1968-1956-1944-1932
Rooster 1993-1981-1969-1957-1945-1933-1921
Dog 1994-1982-1970-1958-1946-1934-1922
Pig 1995-1983-1971-1959-1947-1935-1923