Nanny to Mommy

Today I did a HUGE shopping trip which I am not going into the details of everything because I only saved 37% total. But most of you may not know, I had a car accident on Thursday morning so my shopping trips have been cut in half. My husband said if it's free or a really good stock up price than he will take me but it has to be GOOD. Which is probably for the best because we live about 20 minutes from Publix and 30 from Kroger. Anyways...I am excited about the Mega sale Kroger had going on so I will give you the details on the deals I got from it. :)

The promo was buy 5 select products, get $5 off automatically at check out.

This is what I did:

2 Special K Fruit plus Yogurt - $2.27 each after mega savings
Kellogg's Corn Pops - $1.88 after mega savings
Kellogg's Frosted Flakes - $3.49 after mega savings
Kellogg's Fruit snacks - $1.69 after mega savings

TOTAL after sales: $9.33

Coupons Used:
$2 off Fresh Fruit wyb 2 Special K cereals from home mailer (I bought the cantalope which was on sale) - FREE cantalope
$1/3 Kellogg's cereals from 6/3 RP
FREE 8ct pop tarts wyb 2 Kellogg's cereals (peelie)
$3 off milk wyb 3 Kellogg's cereals - made for FREE milk!


NONE of the coupons used said can not be combined with any other offer and scanned at the register with no problem.

So savings after you consider all of this:

Total before sales and coupons: $21.31
Total after sales and coupons:  $8.32
Total Savings: 61% Savings!
I took my husband with me which is always a MISTAKE because he throws things in the cart that I don't have a coupon for and isn't on sale, so some things got past me and I paid full price. UGH! But at least he did get Kroger brand. I also used some coupons from my Bzz Kit because #imabzzagent. I also wished I got the Edy's Fruit bars instead of the Frosted Flakes but I left the coupon at home and hubby talked me into the cereal instead because we really don't need ice cream in the house.

Okay not literally, but let me show you what I mean. I would never have been able to afford all the clothes that come with having a little one if it wasn't for all the hand-me-downs others have given to me. My mother-in-law is a huge help and so is my mom. But there are still things that we just needed and I would feel bad for asking, couldn't wait until Birthday/Christmas, but really didn't have the extra money at the time to buy.

At the beginning of the summer, my in-laws took us to Stride Rite and paid half for my daughter two pairs of new shoes. They were having a BOGO sale so we got an awesome deal and they are quality shoes but with that they were still pricey so them chipping in really helped. We were hoping they would last until we at least went on our vacation. But they didn't make it. A week before we left, we needed new shoes for her. She went through a crazy growth spurt and we were scrambling trying to figure out how we would pay for them. My Hubby's bonus hadn't come in yet and we were thinking we were just going to have to bite the bullet and charge them.



I was randomly going through a box of clothes my sister gave me. And when I say random, I really thought there was no reason to be going through that box. In the bottom were size 6, girl, tennis shoes. Exactly what she needed. I almost cried.

Yesterday, going through the massive amount of hand-me-downs my former boss gave us, I was searching and hoping I would find some 24 month winter items. I had gone through the only 18-24 month bag of clothing in there previously. I only saw 18 month but thought she would be in that size anyway. She had been on the same growth curve since she was born, so why would that change. But that crazy growth spurt completely skipped her into a size up. And struggling to go through the closet, just searching and complaining to myself that I wasn't better organized, I found a whole other bag FILLED with 24 month clothing. Some isn't proper season but there was enough to last until her Birthday and Christmas.



With so many wonderful people in my life, who generously gave us hand-me-downs, we don't have to break the bank buying clothes for Sweet Pea. I feel so blessed.

My friend also gives her clothes too. She gets her nieces hand-me-downs and anything that she has two of (they wore the same size at the same time), she gives to us. So Sweet Pea and her best friend get to match. :)

So I guess I am using this post to say, thank you. Without you all we would go broke. I am not against shopping consignment shops or yard sales or using ThredUp, but I didn't have to. And I feel truly blessed.

Now, to just go through these clothes and reminisce without crying...

Side Note: These pictures were taken before our yard sale. Instead of the huge amount of clothes spread out over our spare bedroom, they are now shoved into closets.

I am not a 'yard saler'. You know those people who no matter what they were doing the night before will get up at 6 am every Saturday during the Spring and Summer to make sure they don't miss any good deals. I know people who are. And they score some pretty amazing finds...they also bring home a lot of junk.

I am having my FIRST yard sale. My husband works at a Kroger store, as most of you already know, and every year they donate to Children's Miracle Network. Well, this year they are having a yard sale in the parking lot! For only $25 you can buy a parking spot (all proceeds go to Children's Miracle Network). PLUS there is a Good Will in the shopping center. So once the sale is over, you can get a tax deduction by making a donation there. :)

I am very excited to get my spare bedroom back. There are mounds are baby clothes. I am very fortunate to have so many people in my daughter's life who are willing to buy things for her and that hand down their hand-me-downs.

I am also excited about getting my garage back. I miss parking in my garage. Especially on those cold mornings or when it's raining. And this Georgia heat is terrible for my paint job.

The issue is, I only have until June 2nd to get everything together. JUNE SECOND! I have 5 days! I have already started although I only found out earlier this week. Here are some pictures of my progress:









(I know, not very accomplished...YET! :] )

So if you would like to get a parking spot of your own, go to the Griffin Kroger and make a great donation for only $25. You can get rid of your unwanted stuff and make some money of your own in the process. And if you don't want to buy a spot, still drop by and see if there is something that you could use. :)

Kroger:
8 packages ball Park hotdogs - 4/$5
used $0.75/2 5/6 RP = $7 or $0.88 each
1 Kroger antibacterial wipes -  $1.39
after discount and $1/1 ANY Home Sense antibacterial wipes from Comforts for Baby Home Mailer = $0.24
5 Knorr sides - 10/$10
used 5 $0.45/1 Knorr products from Spanish insert = $0.50 or $0.10 each
4 Dial hand soaps - 10/$10
used 1 $2/4 IP from coupons.com (NLA) Plus $0.50/1 SavingStar ECoupon = $1.50 or $0.38 each
2 Plum Organics pouches - 10/$10
used 2 $0.50/1 IP = FREE

PLUS Donated $1 to Children's Miracle Network!

Total Due: $11. 27, Kroger Savings $37.10, Saved 77%!

Publix:
***NOTE: My Publix does not do true BOGOs, so I don't have to buy two to get the deal. My store accepts Kroger, Target, and Ingles as competitors.***
1 French's Mustard - BOGO  $1.87
 used $0.30/1 SS 5/13 = $0.34
4 Gerber Graduates Yogurt Melts - 2/$5
used B3G1 from Publix Hello Baby! Hello Sale! Booklet
$1/3 Gerber Graduates items from Publix Baby Club
and $0.50/1 Gerber Graduates items manu = $2.50 or $0.63 each
1 Sabra Hummus - BOGO $3.99
used $1/1 manu IP and $1/1 Deli item Publix coupon from Baby Club = FREE
2 Johnson's Bath Time Products - reg price $4.79
used $3/2 Walgreens MANU catalina and $3/2 Publix coupon from Ad = $1.79 each
2 Scrubbing Bubbles - 2/$5
Used 2 $2/1 Manu IP and  $1/2 Target Print = FREE
2 Kraft Shredded Cheese - 2/$5
Used 2 $1 off Publix IP and $1.35/2 Manu from Kroger Home Mailer and $1/1 Dairy item from Baby Club = $0.65 or $0.33 each
1 Huggies wipes - reg price $6.99
Used $5/1 ANY Kimberly Clark Product from emailing and $1.50 Publix from Hello Baby! Hello Sale! Booklet = $0.49
1 Bananas - $0.69/lb - $1.73
used $1/1 Produce from Baby Club = $0.73

Total Due: $10.12, Publix Savings: $42.39, Saved 80%

TOTAL Spent: $21.39
TOTAL Saved: $79.49

For a 78% Savings!

***Note: This picture is from their website***

Since some of you may know, I am a Bzz Agent and one of my very recent campaigns that I am on is The Pork Be Inspired campaign. So since I received some awesome coupons to try Kroger Private Selection pork products, I decided to get in the kitchen and whip up a very yummy recipe. This week it was Pork with Dijon Sauce. I got this recipe from Campbell's Kitchen.

What you'll need:

4 boneless pork chops, 3/4-inch thick (about 1 pound)

1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 cup sliced mushrooms (about 3 ounces)

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)

1/4 cup milk (I used Kroger brand cream of mushroom soup)

2 tablespoons Chablis or other dry white wine (I used a Sauvignon Blanc)

1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard 

What to Do:

1. Season the pork with the lemon pepper.

2. Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the pork and cook for 6 minutes or until browned on both sides.  Remove the pork from the skillet.

3. Add the mushrooms to the skillet.  Reduce the heat to medium.  Cook until the mushrooms are tender, stirring occasionally.

4. Stir the soup, milk, wine and mustard in the skillet and heat to a boil.  Return the pork to the skillet.  Reduce the heat to low.  Cover and cook for 10 minutes or until the pork is cooked through.

We served ours with carrots and wild rice. This pork recipe was very yummy and will be included in my recipe rotation from now on! :)