Nanny to Mommy

Hey everyone! How was your Thanksgiving? Did you do any Black Friday shopping today? I am more of a cyber Monday kind of girl so I don't do the hustle and bustle of the busy crowds, but this year I have noticed some completely awesome Black Friday deals that I just couldn't pass up and what's even better? Most are online! I am almost done Christmas shopping! :)

First though I would like to share my Weekly Totals from Publix and Kroger. Last night we decorated our Christmas tree.



Isn't it pretty? And then this morning Hubby took me grocery shopping and then had to be back at work at one. But tomorrow he is off! So let's check out how I did!

Publix:

2 Kleenex Hand Towels, 60 ct, $1.99
- 2 $0.50/1 Kleenex Hand Towels IP
- 2 $0.75/1 Kleenex Hand Towels , TARGET coupon Target.com (exp 11/27/2012)
= or $0.24 each

2 South Diet Protein Bars $2.99
$2/1 South Beach Diet® Products (zip 30187)
$1/1 South Beach Diet Protein Fit Bars Publix Coupon Winter Family Savings Booklet or PRINT
= FREE

4 MARUCHAN YAKISOBA HOME-STYLE JAPANESE NOODLES, BOGO $0.99
- 4 $0.50/1 Maruchan Yakisoba 10/14/2012 SS Insert (exp 12/31/2012)
= $2.02 MONEYMAKER!

8 PILLSBURY TOASTER STRUDEL PASTRIES, 6-CT, BOGO $1.99
-FREE Toaster Strudel Movie Ticket Rebate Offer HERE
-$5 Toaster Strudel Grocery Cash Rebate Offer HERE
- 4 $0.50/2 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel, Toaster Scrambles, Pastries or Pancakes 09/09/2012 SS Insert (exp 12/01/2012)
= $3.96 - $5 rebate = $1.04 MM PLUS FREE Movie Tickets!

2 KELLOGG’S EGGO WAFFLES, 9.8 to 12.6 oz box, 2/$4
- 2 $1.50 from Kellogg's Family Rewards
= $1 or $0.50 each! :)

2 FRUITFULS, 64 OZ OR 8 PK, $1.99
- 2 $1/1 Nestle Juicy Juice Fruitifuls Juice Beverage, 6.75 oz, 8 pk IP
- $1/1 Juicy Juice from Publix Baby Club {our last batch and then we are in the preschool pals program. :( }
= $0.98 or $0.49 each! :)

4 KELLOGG’S CEREAL RICE KRISPIES, 9 oz box, $1.99
-B4G1 – Free Gallon of Milk wyb any 4 Rice Krispies, Frosted Flakes or Froot Loops Cereal 8.7 or larger In-Ad Publix Coupon Yellow Advantage Buy Flyer “Bake & Save” (valid 11/24 to 12/14)
- 4 $1.50/1 from Kellogg's Family Rewards
= $1.96 or $0.49 each PLUS FREE milk! :)

2 DANNON ACTIVIA YOGURT 4 PK, 3/$6
- 2 $1/1 Dannon Activia Breakfast Blend, 4 pk IP
- $1/1 Dairy product from Baby Club PQ
= $1 or $0.50 each! :)

4 Knorr Sides 10/$10 (this might be a regional deal)
2 $1/2 Knorr® Sides products PUBLIX coupon Best Meals Happen at Home email
2 $0.50/2 Knorr® Rice and Pasta Sides IP (NLA?)
= FREE

2 Maybelline Single Eye Shadows $2.99
- 2 $2.00/1 PUBLIX coupon Green Advantage Flyer
- 2 $1.00/1 Maybelline Eye Shadow
= FREE {I can NOT turn down FREE makeup! :)}

10 Vivarin Alertness Aid $3.19
10 $1.00/1 Vivarin printable coupon IP
5 $5/2 Vivarin, Contac, Feosol, or Geritol Products PUBLIX COUPON Green Advantage Buy Flyer
= $3.10 MM!

4 Gerber Graduates Snacks, Puffs, Lil Crunchies, or Wagon or Waffle Wheels, assorted varieties, 1.48 oz $1.75
$1/2 Gerber Graduates 2+ Meals or Snacks printable
B3G1 Gerber Graduates Snacks or Healthy Meals or Lil Entrees, exp. 12/6/12 (Publix, Time To Save Coupon Booklet)
= $3.25 or $.81 each!

2 Krusteaz Bakery Style Cookie Mix, assorted varieties, 15.5- 18 oz BOGO $2.19
2 $1/1 Krusteaz Bakery Style Cookie Mix IP
= $0.18 or $.09 each!

Total after coupons (before taxes): $7.66 Total Saved: $96.48 Percentage Saved: 93%!!

Kroger:
{Remember: You can still catch these deals until tomorrow. :)}

4 Brut Deodorant 10/$10
{I love getting these and giving them out to my nephews in their 'stockings'.}
- 4 $1/1 Brut, fragrance, 3.5 oz+ or antiperspirant/deodorant, 2 oz+ 11/18/2012 SS Insert (exp 12/18/2012)
= FREE

4 Kroger Large Eggs, Grade A, 12 ct, $1.59
- 2 $.55/2 Dozen Eggs Incredible Egg Facebook Coupon - NLA
= $5.26 or $1.32 a dozen!


1 Kroger Ground Beef, Fresh, 73% Lean, Sold in a 5 lb Roll for $10.45, $2.09/lb
- $3 off when you spent $10 in meat department Kroger Mailed Coupon
= $7.45

Van’s Waffles, $2.99 (reg $3.15)
-$2/1 Van’s Product (NLA)
= $0.99

Total before coupons and taxes: $20.85
Saved: $14.86
Percentage Saved: 45%

Total Spent: $28.51 Total Saved: $111.34 Total Percentage Saved: 80%!!! :D

Kelly Kits encourage art play using a wide variety of creative tools & materials beyond what coloring books can offer and are the perfect holiday gift for your creative kiddo!

For 72 hours only Kelly Kits is having a site wide sale where all products are 10% off! Get your favorite little artist a years worth of art kits or a special gift pack with 5 activities that explore the five discipline of art:
Drawing, Painting, Print Making, Collage & Sculpting!



Complete Review and Possible Giveaway coming soon!

*Disclosure: This is a sponsored post offered by US Family. Although I have the opportunity to receive free products by posting this information. This is an ad copy. Thanks!*

February of 2010 my Father was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer and given six months to two years to live. So that March my husband and I planned to conceive in hopes that he would get the opportunity to meet his first grand child. We were blessed and found out we were pregnant in April.

My grandmother who had been suffering from Alzheimer's for quite sometime, became very ill and passed away right before I was able to tell her the wonderful news. I was one of the few people she remembered and I was by her side when she passed away.

May 2010, I got into a random car accident.

That June my husband's sister got married in Florida.



As soon as we returned, my father took a turn for the worse. He passed away July 16, 2010, the day after my husband and mine's third year wedding anniversary. Time seemed to stand still. I was very close to my father.



July 27, 2010, we found out we were having a little girl. I walked out of the doctor's office and the first thing I did was get out my phone to call my dad. And then I cried. But he told me I was having a little girl in a dream a few days before. And I just knew.


Right there after, my identity was stolen. She opened multiple credit cards and I had to take time off of work to get a police report. It over two years later and there is still something on my credit report.

Then the blood pressure issues started and I was put on bed rest November of that year.
My step-mother fought with us constantly over life insurance money and I just wanted my father back. But at least he was no longer in pain.



December 8, 2010, I went to a scheduled appointment and was sent to the hospital for induction due to preeclampsia. December 9 at 2:56 p.m., my perfect 7.3lb ray of sunshine was born.



I am thankful for her. Yes, I am thankful for my husband, he is my Prince Charming. Yes, I am thankful for all the other wonderful people in my life. But this little princess saved me. She was the silver lining on that horrendous year. And every day I look at her and I can not believe that we were blessed with this beautiful, smart, amazing miracle.

I don't know if many of my new followers know this but I was a nanny. Duh, right? Not only was I a nanny but I was a nanny to the same family for five years. I loved those children unconditionally. And I was only 19 when I started caring for them.

I can not tell you how many times I played the never game. I hate pacifiers, "My child will never have a pacifier", and it's almost two years later and just look,



"I will never let my child sleep in my bed". I thought co-sleeping created terrible habits and we did it for the first few months of her life and I still miss it.

Sweet Pea's new thing that I said I would never let my child do? Sleep with a ton of stuffed animals. It's ridiculous the amount of lovies she currently 'has' to sleep with. Why did it bother me as a nanny? I think the main reason is because his mom and I were expected to keep up with the millions of lovies that got dragged throughout the house. I do let Sweet Pea have all her lovies at night but only one when we go out and about in the world, and only two out of bed period. It gets too chaotic when they are all out. But she is okay with these rules. Sometimes she tries to bring out more and even slips one past me. But I feel like, is the battle really worth it? And no it's not.


I may not have liked this before but sure makes for some cute pics!

The children I was a nanny for listened to me without a doubt. With their mom, it was a different story. And I couldn't figure out why. I thought maybe she somehow spoiled them behind my back or something. And it's not that they didn't listen to her most of the time. It just seemed that they would try to pull one over on her more than they ever did with me. I always said, "My child will always listen to me".

Now to Sweet Pea, that girl is bull headed and rough around the edges. She throws fits and if you tell her to do something, she doesn't want to. But my mom watched her and said she was a delight. My friend, whose little girl I watch - who listens to me By the way, can ask Sweet Pea to do something and she does it. When I ask her, she looks at me defiantly. My question for you, why? Why do they have to push Mommy's buttons more than anyone else's?


This picture probably perfectly describes her attitude towards me when I ask her to do something.
My sister-in-law works at a day care and currently is pregnant with her first biological child. She has started playing the never game. But I just keep my mouth shut. It is easy to play the never game when you have never been in a certain situation. But until you are in it for yourself, you truly have no idea what you are going to do.

My daughter is almost two. That means it has been two years since I was a nanny. I can not believe it has been so long. Time sure does fly when you are having fun.




But my advice? "Live and learn, then get Luvs." ;)

So what are your nevers?

My friend decided she had to see that new movie everyone is talking about...what's it called? oh yeah 'Twilight'...Ugh...



I know this post has nothing to do with this but I just have to say those books are terrible. I usually get addicted to a series and read them the entire way through, like with 'Chronicles of Narnia', 'Harry Potter', or even 'Gossip Girls' (of course I was in high school when I read those).
But Stephenie Meyer is an irresponsible writer. She wrote Bella as this character 'that a girl could be' which is crap because it just means she couldn't invent an awesome female lead. PLUS it made the 'Shades of Grey' series difficult to stick with because I got sick of her. For those of you that don't know, '50 Shades of Grey' was originally written as fan fiction for 'Twilight'.
Now saying that, Meyer is also a TERRIBLE, completely HORRIBLE writer. She uses "there there". That should never be used. Yes, sometimes when speaking you may phrase something that way but when you are writing a book, it's called edit it before it's publish! It's like she wrote it one night, never looked it over, and said, "Hey I think I will try and make money on this since I'm bored with my life".
Saying all that, I liked the books better than the movies.
My reason?
My imagination is better than their acting.
Okay rant over, now on to what you came here for.

Went to Kroger and Publix this week. Hubby took me after his ridiculously busy week at work. Not only are the Holidays coming up but they are opening a new store in January. So he has been non-stop getting everything ready.

Publix Haul:
{You can still grab these deals for yourself until Wednesday - 11/21}

2 Orajel Toddler Toothpaste, $3.29 (reg. price)
- 2 $2/1 Orajel PUBLIX Coupon Winter Family Savings Booklet or PRINT
- 2 $1/1 Orajel Toothpaste Product 08/19/2012 SS Insert (exp 11/30/2012)
= $0.58 or 29¢ each!

4 Kraft Fresh Take 6 oz, BOGO $2.99
- 4 $1/1 Kraft Fresh Take Cheese & Breadcrumb Mix, Any (DND 5) – Found On Product peelie (exp 12/31/2012) or here's a $0.75/1 Kraft Fresh Take IP
= $1.98 or 50¢ each!

4 Vanity Fair Premium Napkins, 40 to 100 ct, BOGO $2.29
- 2 $1/2 Vanity Fair® Napkins - RESET! or use this $0.50/1 IP if your store doubles you should get them for $0.15 each!
= $2.58 or 65¢ per pack!
(Not the best deal I've ever got on napkins but these are super nice and perfect for the Holidays. :])

2 Pam Cooking Spray, 5 to 6 oz, (Excluding Organic) BOGO $3.49
- 2 $0.75/1 Pam Cooking Spray or Wesson Canola or Vegetable Oil, 48 oz, TARGET coupon Target.com (exp 11/25/2012)
- 2 $0.40/1 PAM Cooking Spray 10/21/2012 SS Insert (exp 12/01/2012)
= $0.39 or $0.20 each!

2 Lindsay Olives 6 oz, (Excluding Low Sodium and Naturals) BOGO $1.99
- 2 $1/1 Lindsay Olives products IPs (NLA?)
= FREE

4 Kraft Velveeta Shells & Cheese BOGO $2.35
- 2 $1/2 Velveeta Shells & Cheese Dinners IPs (NLA?)
= $2.70 or $0.68 each!

4 Philadelphia Cream Cheese 4/$5
- 4 $0.50/1 Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese 10/14/2012 SS (doubled) = $1 or $0.25 each!

2 Muir Glen Tomato Paste $0.79 (reg. price)
- 2 $0.50/1 Muir Glen Product IPs (doubled)
= FREE PLUS $0.42 MM

2 Kikkoman Seasoning Mix, 89¢
- 2 $0.50/1 Kikkoman Product (doubled)
= FREE + $0.22 MM!

Publix Total: $8.59 {before taxes}
Publix Total Saved: $34.47 {approx.}
Publix Percentage Saved: 90% in Savings! {approx.}

Kroger Haul:
{You still have until tomorrow to catch these deals, so HURRY! ;) }

4 Starbucks K-Cups $6.99
- 2 $3/2 packages of Starbucks IPs
PLUS submitted for THIS $5 rebate!
= $16.96 or $4.24 per 12 pack or $0.35 per cup after sale, coupon, & rebate!

4 Scope Mouthwash, $1.99, Buy 4 P&G mega event
- 4 $1.50/1 Scope Mouthwash, 750 mL+ 11/04/2012 RP Insert (exp 12/31/2012)
= $1.96 or 49¢ each!

4 Carefree Liners, $1
- 4 $0.50/1 Carefree 10/28/2012 SS Insert (exp 12/31/2012)
= FREE!

2 Original Cheerios $2.50, eligible for free milk promo
- 2 $0.50/1 Original Cheerios IPs (doubled)
= $3 or $1.50 each!

2 Pillsbury Pie Crusts, Select Varieties, 2 ct, 2/$5, eligible for free milk promo
- $2 off milk wyb 2 Pillsbury Refrigerated Cookie Dough or Pillsbury Rolled Refrigerated Pie Crusts (zip 99218) - NLA?, if not here's a $0.50/2 Coupon
- $0.75/2 SavingStar Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crusts E-Coupon
= $2.25 or $1.13 each!

PLUS, FREE MILK for buying 4 Participating General Mills items! :)
{And at $3.29, I needed those savings! ;) }

4 Pampers Wipes 64-74ct, $.99, Buy 4 P&G Event
- 4 $0.50/1 Pampers Wipes 10/28/2012 P&G Insert (doubled)
= FREE!

4 Old Spice Deodorant, 2.6 to 6 oz, $1.29, Buy 4 P&G Event
- 4 $0.50/1 Old Spice 10/28/2012 P&G Insert (doubled)
= $1.16 or 29¢ each!

4 Secret Deodorant, $1.29, Buy 4 P&G Event
- 4 $1/1 Secret, antiperspirant / deodorant 10/28/2012 P&G Insert (exp 11/30/2012) = $1.16 or 29¢ each!

4 Duracell Batteries $1.98
- 4 $0.50/1 Duracell CopperTop, Ultra Power, Ultra Photo LIthium or Specialty Batteries 10/28/2012 P&G Insert (doubled)
= $3.92 or $0.98 each!

- $2 for applying 4 P&G e-coupons to my card.

Kroger Total: $30.41 {before taxes}
Kroger Total Saved: $48.24 {approx.}
Kroger Percentage Saved: 71% in Savings! {approx.}

Total for Both: $39 {before taxes}
Total Saved: $82.71 {approx.}
Percentage Saved: 88% in Savings! {approx.}

Attention Bloggers or Vloggers – at the bottom of this post is a place for you to share your totals! So how did everyone else do this week? No need for anything brag worthy, I care about your savings and love knowing that maybe I helped. :)
If you don’t have a blog, feel free to leave a comment on this post letting me know how you did shopping this week!

Share your savings with me even faster by tagging me on Twitter or Instagram!
Hash tag: #DianasDeals