8.06.2009
digi layout {field day}
I created this digital layout last night. It was a one-page Jessica Sprague template, which I mirrored, to create a two page layout. The photos are from Field Day at Spencer's school. It's incredibly simple, but I had a ton of photos so I wanted to leave the focus there. One of the things I enjoy about digital scrapbooking is how easy it is to switch out "papers" to see what works and doesn't. In this case, I put in all the photos first and then pulled in various papers, sampling them to find the best colors. I have also found that I tend to waste a ton of time picking the "perfect" font - what's up with that?
8.05.2009
wealthy wednesday {8.5}
Maybe "wealthy" is pushing it a bit, but there aren't many words related to saving money that start with *W* and I'm all about some alliteration. So, I went to Rite Aid on my lunch hour for some serious shopping. Have I mentioned that I love, love, love the Rite Aid in Mooresville and the people there are alway so nice!?!?!? My only Rite Aid complaint is that since they have a monthly rebate system, you have to pay more out of pocket (unlike CVS), but it's cool that you get real money back - not just coupons. If you look below, I paid almost $40 today, but I'll get almost $20 back next month when my check comes...so, I'll stop whining now.
The only thing that went wrong on this trip was that they were out of toothpaste that could've been free (not a huge deal - we have some stockpiled) and I was planning to transfer a prescription to get a $25 gift card, but my insurance changed something and that didn't work out. Oh well! Here is what I did accomplish...
I had the cashier ring up three second transactions. I was able to use two $5 off $25 coupons and if I'd spent a little bit more time and made a trip out to my car for my coupon binder, I probably could've used a third (I was about $7 away from hitting the $25 mark on the last transaction).
MONEYMAKERS:
Zantac 8ct (SCR for purchase price + $3 coupon)
Renu Contact Solution Twin Pack (SCR for purchase price + $2 coupon)
FREEBIES:
6 packages of BIC pens (10 each): sale + coupon ... anyone need to borrow a pen??? :)
GE Lightbulbs (SCR for 100% purchase price)
Summary
Total @ Full Retail = $89.15
Total @ Sale Prices = $65.92
Coupons used = $26.50
Paid Out of Pocket (before taxes) = $39.42
SCRs due = $19.98
Total Saved = $69.71 (78%) <--- that's awesome
Just as a side note...I am on my way to qualifying for a few of the monthly SCRs as well - I'm trying to pay better attention to these because I've missed some good ones in the past by just a few dollars.
1 - I purchased $9.99 in Duracell batteries and there is a $5 rebate on a $15 purchase. It'd be stupid for me not to get $5 more in batteries, for a $5 rebate...basically free. And I think I have more coupons. So, I will be doing that before the end of the month.
2 - I also bought HP black printer ink for a $3 SCR. However, if I buy another one, I'll get $8 and if I buy a total of 3, I will get $15. That makes for a pretty sweet deal so I may see how the budget looks at the end of the month and get some more. It's a good thing to stock up on for all of that coupon printing :)
3 - There is a good Johnson & Johnson rebate. Spend $25, get $5 back (not that great), Spend $50, get $25 back. NOW we're talking! $50 is a lot but looking at the assortment of items, it's brands we buy a lot anyway. And you have a month to do it so you can match up all sorts of sales, coupons and other SCRs :) $14.47 of today's purchases (aveeno + benadryl) should qualify (and I used $5 in coupons on those items).
Wow...this is long post about nothing!
The only thing that went wrong on this trip was that they were out of toothpaste that could've been free (not a huge deal - we have some stockpiled) and I was planning to transfer a prescription to get a $25 gift card, but my insurance changed something and that didn't work out. Oh well! Here is what I did accomplish...
I had the cashier ring up three second transactions. I was able to use two $5 off $25 coupons and if I'd spent a little bit more time and made a trip out to my car for my coupon binder, I probably could've used a third (I was about $7 away from hitting the $25 mark on the last transaction).
MONEYMAKERS:
Zantac 8ct (SCR for purchase price + $3 coupon)
Renu Contact Solution Twin Pack (SCR for purchase price + $2 coupon)
FREEBIES:
6 packages of BIC pens (10 each): sale + coupon ... anyone need to borrow a pen??? :)
GE Lightbulbs (SCR for 100% purchase price)
Summary
Total @ Full Retail = $89.15
Total @ Sale Prices = $65.92
Coupons used = $26.50
Paid Out of Pocket (before taxes) = $39.42
SCRs due = $19.98
Total Saved = $69.71 (78%) <--- that's awesome
Just as a side note...I am on my way to qualifying for a few of the monthly SCRs as well - I'm trying to pay better attention to these because I've missed some good ones in the past by just a few dollars.
1 - I purchased $9.99 in Duracell batteries and there is a $5 rebate on a $15 purchase. It'd be stupid for me not to get $5 more in batteries, for a $5 rebate...basically free. And I think I have more coupons. So, I will be doing that before the end of the month.
2 - I also bought HP black printer ink for a $3 SCR. However, if I buy another one, I'll get $8 and if I buy a total of 3, I will get $15. That makes for a pretty sweet deal so I may see how the budget looks at the end of the month and get some more. It's a good thing to stock up on for all of that coupon printing :)
3 - There is a good Johnson & Johnson rebate. Spend $25, get $5 back (not that great), Spend $50, get $25 back. NOW we're talking! $50 is a lot but looking at the assortment of items, it's brands we buy a lot anyway. And you have a month to do it so you can match up all sorts of sales, coupons and other SCRs :) $14.47 of today's purchases (aveeno + benadryl) should qualify (and I used $5 in coupons on those items).
Wow...this is long post about nothing!
whatever wednesday {elsie + red velvet art}
OK, I know I'm the one that came up with "Wordy Wednesday" but I wasn't enjoying it...and well, isn't that the point??? So, *whatever*. Today I'm posting about Elsie Flannigan and Red Velvet Art.
I fell in love with Elsie's fun scrapbooking work several years ago. She was all over 2Peas and then published a super cool book. Even though her unique style is totally different than mine, I am still inspired by her. She doesn't do much with scrapbooking anymore, but is part of a group of crafters called Red Velvet Art. There is a website store and now a real store front somewhere far, far from here. Below are links to her blog, the RVA blog, the RVA store and some super cute things there that I love :) Basically just "eye candy".
Red Velvet Art's Blog
Red Velvet Art Shop
I fell in love with Elsie's fun scrapbooking work several years ago. She was all over 2Peas and then published a super cool book. Even though her unique style is totally different than mine, I am still inspired by her. She doesn't do much with scrapbooking anymore, but is part of a group of crafters called Red Velvet Art. There is a website store and now a real store front somewhere far, far from here. Below are links to her blog, the RVA blog, the RVA store and some super cute things there that I love :) Basically just "eye candy".
Red Velvet Art's Blog Red Velvet Art Shop
i was a chi omega before owls were cool....
Inspiration Journal Set
you really need to follow the link to *get* this, but i think it looks like F-U-N...like i have time for junk like this :)
Inspiration Journal Setyou really need to follow the link to *get* this, but i think it looks like F-U-N...like i have time for junk like this :)
I wish this wasn't so girly or I'd grab one up for coleman in a heartbeat :)
Good Thing Print
Good Thing Print
would love to get one of these. supposedly they fit nicely on the back of an iphone :)
8.04.2009
digi layout {safety patrol}
A perk of digital scrapbooking? Good activity when you're sick and don't feel like doing much...
Put together this one of Spencer doing Safety Patrol this past school year. I chose 8.5x11 because his school album is that size.
Put together this one of Spencer doing Safety Patrol this past school year. I chose 8.5x11 because his school album is that size.
Disclaimer: I do not keep up with the designers of my digital goodies. But I take no credit for the design of the above layout, or the various papers & elements used within it.
8.03.2009
computer wallpaper {august}
This is what I am using as my computer's wallpaper this month. It was a free template at Designer Digitals. They had one for July that I used too, so I'm hoping they do it every month. What fun. If I keep using them for a while, it might be cute to print out a little "mini book" of them :) The photos are all from our walk at Kings Mountain. I reduced the saturation of them to fit the feel of the design.
The free template is HERE. They always have great freebies.
The free template is HERE. They always have great freebies.
8.01.2009
savings saturday {8.1}
I made my rounds to three stores today. Nothing spectacular, but overall I think I did OK. My only concern is upon arriving home I realized that we don't have that much "meal stuff". But I still need to go to Food Lion, so maybe that will help :)
Harris Teeter
I was able to take advantage of two Buy 2 Get 3 Free deals - Harris Teeter brand bacon and Ocean Spray Craisins. I don't typically need 5 of anything, but we do eat a lot of bacon and it can be frozen. I like the cranberries on my salads and I checked the expiration date - not until April of next year, so I think I'm good! Craisins came out to $1.12 each (normally $2.79). Bacon came to $1.52 each (normally $3.79).
Stocked up on some cereal. I got a great deal on two boxes (on sale for $2 each + a coupon), and just an "OK" deal on two others that are favorites of Matt and Spencer (aren't I sweet???).
I got some Kleenex for $0.64 each for back to school. They were on BOGO and I had a coupon for $0.50 off 2.
Summary:
Total @ Full Retail = $106.04
VIC Savings = $32.73
Coupons = $7.35
Savings = $40.08 (38%)
Amount Paid = $65.96
Bi-Lo
I used a few sale+coupon combinations to get some decent savings, but nothing *fantastic*. I had a $3 coupon from my last trip that I used. The power went out while I was there...that was different :) Luckily it didn't last long. It's a bit creepy to be stuck in the dark with strangers.
Summary
Total @ Full Retail = $53.75
Bonuscard Savings = $11.01
Coupons = $11.28
Savings = $22.29 (42%)
Amount Paid = $31.46
Rite Aid
As is always the case at the Rite Aid in my town, this was a ordeal. No one was rude (which is a nice change), but there a long debate (involving two managers) as to whether they could manually adjust the value of a coupon since it was above the cost of the item. They had no clue how to do it, so they just let it go...but it took a while.
Softsoap was on sale for $0.89 and I had $1 coupons - did that twice -so I actually made $0.22...guess that was worth my time???
One subject notebooks were Buy 1 @ $0.99, Get 3 free - and they actually had plenty of inventory - much better than CVS.
Herbal Essence was on sale for 2 for $6 + an SCR ($2, I think) + I had a BOGO coupon. So I was able to get some shampoo and hair spray, all for $1.
Summary:
Total @ Full Retail: $17.52
Store Savings: $8.75
Coupons: $5.00
Total Saved: $13.75 (78%)
Amount Paid: $4.38 (after taxes)
The End
Harris Teeter
I was able to take advantage of two Buy 2 Get 3 Free deals - Harris Teeter brand bacon and Ocean Spray Craisins. I don't typically need 5 of anything, but we do eat a lot of bacon and it can be frozen. I like the cranberries on my salads and I checked the expiration date - not until April of next year, so I think I'm good! Craisins came out to $1.12 each (normally $2.79). Bacon came to $1.52 each (normally $3.79).
Stocked up on some cereal. I got a great deal on two boxes (on sale for $2 each + a coupon), and just an "OK" deal on two others that are favorites of Matt and Spencer (aren't I sweet???).
I got some Kleenex for $0.64 each for back to school. They were on BOGO and I had a coupon for $0.50 off 2.
Summary:
Total @ Full Retail = $106.04
VIC Savings = $32.73
Coupons = $7.35
Savings = $40.08 (38%)
Amount Paid = $65.96
Bi-Lo
I used a few sale+coupon combinations to get some decent savings, but nothing *fantastic*. I had a $3 coupon from my last trip that I used. The power went out while I was there...that was different :) Luckily it didn't last long. It's a bit creepy to be stuck in the dark with strangers.
Summary
Total @ Full Retail = $53.75
Bonuscard Savings = $11.01
Coupons = $11.28
Savings = $22.29 (42%)
Amount Paid = $31.46
Rite Aid
As is always the case at the Rite Aid in my town, this was a ordeal. No one was rude (which is a nice change), but there a long debate (involving two managers) as to whether they could manually adjust the value of a coupon since it was above the cost of the item. They had no clue how to do it, so they just let it go...but it took a while.
Softsoap was on sale for $0.89 and I had $1 coupons - did that twice -so I actually made $0.22...guess that was worth my time???
One subject notebooks were Buy 1 @ $0.99, Get 3 free - and they actually had plenty of inventory - much better than CVS.
Herbal Essence was on sale for 2 for $6 + an SCR ($2, I think) + I had a BOGO coupon. So I was able to get some shampoo and hair spray, all for $1.
Summary:
Total @ Full Retail: $17.52
Store Savings: $8.75
Coupons: $5.00
Total Saved: $13.75 (78%)
Amount Paid: $4.38 (after taxes)
The End
7.30.2009
photo editing {burning tool}
OK, this is the last one. I need to go to bed so I'm not a zombie when Coleman (a.k.a. "Mr. I-don't-want-my-mommy-to-sleep-ever-again) gets up shortly. Another how-to article from ScrapJazz. Click here to view.
I'm very excited about this one. Using the "burn" tool, I was able to darken very specific areas of the photo that were too light. You can also use the "dodge" tool to lighten dark areas. I get these "super light" areas a lot so this will definitely come in handy. See the before and after below and note how bright the bib and highchair tray are in the first photo and they just look *normal* in the second :)
photo editing {darkening edges}
I'm completely obsessed with Photoshop Elements 7. I ran across some tutorials tonight and was just a fiddlin'. I found them at ScrapJazz under their Learning section.
This first one isn't that exciting, but just using the levels adjustment to improve the photograph. I actually think I pretty much had a good handle on this already. That article is here.
This was a bit more fun. This article taught how to darken or lighten the edges of a photograph, and then add a basic frame, if desired. Super simple, but creates a nice little something extra, don'tcha think???
This first one isn't that exciting, but just using the levels adjustment to improve the photograph. I actually think I pretty much had a good handle on this already. That article is here.
This was a bit more fun. This article taught how to darken or lighten the edges of a photograph, and then add a basic frame, if desired. Super simple, but creates a nice little something extra, don'tcha think???
thankful thursday {7.30}
today i am thankful for...
word warp on my iphone
dual action lysol wipes. the scrubby side is perfect for cleaning the high chair
that spencer's teacher from last year gave them a summer reading challenge
james patterson - one of my favorite authors
the family feud calendar on my desk at work - fun, fun.
7.29.2009
photos {kings mountain}
On Sunday, the four of us went for a "hike" at Kings Mountain. Even though it's relatively close to home, we don't think to go there often. The 1.5 mile paved trail is perfect for us & the stroller. We took our time, reading the historical markers, and taking some off-road adventures with Spencer. Coleman was great - just hanging out in the stroller, taking it all in. It was toasty but we went early enough to miss the hottest part of the day. Too cool off, we stopped for ice cream on the way home. See the rest of the pictures here.
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