Coming Back

I am gathering all the happenings from the past 3 months...kinda overwhelming....but I am back! :) Here is a little snapshot of lil' man...much more to come!

Publix Deals

I am not going to blog each week about what deals I have found at Publix or Kroger but I thought I would give you updates on how I am doing...plus, it will hold be accountable to keep doing it no matter how much extra time it takes. (not that much really!)

I am in love with Publix's BOGO (buy one get one free). I stock up on items each week and when I have a coupon on top of that...OMG! :) This is what I found today:

$.01 Item was Publix Bleach - you just can't beat it!

BOGO: Cheerios (all the kinds - I got plain ones for me and Frosted ones for Lee)

Kellogg cereals (got Raisin Bran and Corn Flakes - plus I had a $1.00 coupon)

Kashi Chewy Granola Bars

Ruffle Potato Chips

Hunts Can Tomatoes

Muellers Pasta

Chocolate Chip Cookies

BBQ Sauce/Marinade

Arnolds Bread

Sargento Cheese

I got some great produce (bananas, blueberries, asparagus, green leaf lettuce) and some other things that we needed. The great thing about Publix (besides the great customer service and clean store) is that you don't have to buy 2 items to get the BOGO deals. Or you can and just stock up like I normally do. That way, I don't have to buy things every week. I am still loving it and will not go to the store without a coupon now. It is just WAY too easy and darn it...I lvoe saving my family some money! :)

Catch Up and 7 Months

I know...I know...where in the world have I been? (if you have actually missed me!) haha Things have been kinda crazy around here the past couple months and I haven't really wanted to blog. I remember sitting down with 4 of my college friends this summer and asking them if they read my blog. Susan said yeah we all read about your perfect life.....HUH?? First of all, my life is no where near perfect. Wonderful...yes....perfect...no! My close friend Mary talked about this last week on her blog as well. I usually tend to put the "highlights" of our life...maybe there just hasn't been that many lately. I work on the computer all day so when I get some down time the last thing I want to do is type. BUT I am going to try harder not just for you but for me...I want to record our life...that is why I started this.

So here is my not so perfect life...we are broke...living pay check to pay check...spending only what we have....not putting anything on credit cards but paying a credit card bill...pay cut after pay cut...it just doesn't pay the bills anymore. I really don't know how much further we can go in this economy. I just try to do my part and pray....a lot!! I am still working 4 part time jobs plus taking care of Eli. It is hard. HARD! I am trying to keep my head above water most of the time. My dogs drive my crazy most days (but I love them!) sitting on Eli's quilt on the floor...barking at the UPS guy...running around the neighborhood...shaking their collars. Some days it is just too much! But then I watch a Marley and Me and can't imagine my life without them.

But then...I have this life...I am crazy in love with my husband...have a roof over my head...food on the table...car to drive around...the sweetest baby on the planet...A JOB!...great church...family and friends whom I adore and couldn't live without. So no matter how overwhelming life seems right now my life is good! :)

In other news...my little man is 7 months old today! He is my sunshine...I mean really my sunshine. I know I say this all the time but I never knew I could love someone so much. He is really one of the happiest babies I have been around and I am so thankful. Here is what's going on with him:

• Saying "mama" and "baabaa" (we are working on "dada")


• Still nursing like a champ (no formula, no bottles)
  
• Eating baby food - his favorites are applesauce, peaches, pears, peas and rice cereal


• Sleeping about 11 - 12 hours a night (PRAISE THE LORD!!) - goes to bed around 7:30pm
  
• Sleeps on his stomach or his side and always has something in his hands - blanket, stuffed animal or the rails on the crib


• Loves to jump, take a bath, take a shower, water in his face, any kind of live animal, squealing (this is new and kind of annoying!), limes, swinging on the porch swing, being outside, when Daddy comes home from work, his silver rattle, banging his hands on his high chair, playing with his toys on the floor, watching Bob the Builder


• Can sit by himself for about 2 - 3 minutes before he falls over - won't be long now!


• Still pooting and still stinking! :)
  
• No teeth yet...still waiting.


• Wakes up in the morning happy as can be - plays, talks, looks around - you won't even know he is awake he is so quiet.


• Loves his paci and I am okay with that! I do not want him to suck his thumb or fingers and so far so good.
  
• Last month he weighed about 15 pounds - think he is probably around 17 pounds now.

Here are some recent pics:







We had a wonderful Easter...will post about that tomorrow. Hopefully, I am back full time...miss you guys!

wee bit o'irish!

Copeland Savings: Part Three

Okay...last one for the day! (or rather night since it is almost midnight and I am still up!)

We have been beyond blessed with clothes for Eli and are so thankful. Lee's cousin (Hollie and Mark) had a little boy (Eli too!) a year before and gave us 3 or 4 giant gift bags full of clothes, socks, shoes, etc. Then my friend Angie sent me a box of clothes (15 lbs) from Statesboro from her little boy Griff who was born the year before as well. This (plus my shower gifts) have kept Eli clothed completely for 6 months. We really have not had to buy anything...except for the outfits I had bought him while I was pregnant...which still wasn't a lot.

I was starting to run out of my hand me downs and worried about what I would do for his spring and summer clothes. My cousin Kristin told me about this Consignment Sale in Gwinnett that was supposed to be incredible. Long story short, I ended up going by myself and RACKING UP on some deals. I was very selective....name brand items...no stains....most were new items or rarely worn items. Look at what I got for $65!!

My aunt Danielle is also letting me borrow Sim's clothes from last year...so literally this boy is set for Spring and Summer. HALLELUJAH!!! God surely answers prayers doesn't he? :)

Copeland Savings: Part Two

Here is my weekly menu for this week:

Breakfast: Waffles w/ Peanut Butter (YUM!), Cereal, Yogurt (w/ Grape Nuts), English Muffins (w/ cheese or honey), Bacon

Lunch: Tomato Soup, Turkey Sandwiches, BLT Sandwiches, Chips

Dinner:

Sunday: Elk Burgers, Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Green Beans (already had this from last week)

Monday: Leftovers from Sunday (great thing about only having 2 people to feed)

Tuesday: Chicken and Vegetable (broccoli, red pepper, carrot, water chestnuts) Stir Fry w/ Rice (had other veggies left over from last week)

Wednesday: Leftovers from Tuesday

Thursday: Spaghetti and Homemade Meatballs (already have meat) w/ Salad (Friends over so no leftovers)

Friday: Mini Pizzas (w/ English Muffins) and Salad (already have pizza toppings)

I also went to Kroger today (it really wasn't that bad going to two grocery stores b/c I knew exactly what I needed and was quick). Here is what I got:

BOGO: Bacon (put one in the freezer)

Sale Items: (using Kroger card) Yogurt (5), Perdue Chicken (GREAT SALE! $2.50), Deli Turkey Meat (.5lb), Wheat Bread, Diced Tomatoes, Cheese Slices

Coupon Items: Baby Food, Butter, Cottonelle TP (one of my best deals - was on sale for $6.99 but I had $2.00 in coupons - 12 pk), DH Cake Mix (FREE!)

Other: Milk, Ginger Ale, Broccoli, Romaine Lettuce

All this for $37.24!! I saved $18.80!!


The savings will get better and better each week as I learn the process and get more coupons in my stash. Remember, check out Leigh Ann's blog and she will teach the you the process. Let me know if you have any questions!! I hope everyone starts saving! :)

Copeland Savings: Part One

I am a girl on a mission!! Watch out...here I come! haha

Our finances have taken a beating this year with me getting laid off and losing our great insurance coverage (WHEN I WAS ON MATERNITY LEAVE!!), the pay cuts from Lee's company and the addition of little man. Lee is working extra side jobs and I have taken on a couple extra side jobs...but I still thought we could do more to help with our budget. I have read some blogs and done some (mini) research on cutting coupons...but was terrified! I was scared of not doing it right and then getting to the register and having the cashier glare at me for wasting her time. One of my friends from high school, Leigh Ann, is a pro at this and started a blog giving all of us "first timers" tips and advice. You should check out her blog Half Baked - it really tells you what to do step by step.

I followed her directions and got my Sunday paper early on Saturday afternoon. I thought it would take me forever but it wasn't that bad. I don't have a 3 ring binder yet and clear sleeves to put all my coupons in so I just took 2 ziplock bags and labeled them "FOOD" and "HOUSEHOLD" - coupons are fine in there for the time being. I knew it would be best for me to start small and focus on 2 stores - Kroger (where I normally shop) and Publix. I planned my menu for the week based on what I already have here and what was on sale at the two stores. I tried to find things that were on sale and then had a coupon for - double savings! I was so excited and boy did I do GREAT on my first trip!

Here is what I got at Publix:

They have select items each week for BOGO (Buy One Get One Free) and alot of those items this week were things that we eat. **NOTE: I refuse to buy things we don't normally eat or like just b/c they are on sale or I have a coupon for. I feel like I will get discouraged and not get the satisfaction I need to continue this process each week.**

BOGO Items: Cheese Its, Honey Nut Cheerios, Lays Chips, Barilla Spaghetti, Bertolli Pasta Sauce, Kraft Dressings/Marinades, Thomas English Muffins

SALE Items: Eggo Waffles, Tomato Soup (4 pack), Viva Papertowels (8 rolls)

COUPON Items: Energeizer Batteries (for Eli's swing!), Gum (FREE!!), Baby Food (8 packs of 2), Ziplock bags

Publix $.01 item of the week: Tortilla Chips

All this for $47.01!!!! I saved $36.21!!!

Also - the great thing is that most of these items will last us a couple weeks so divide that value over two or three weeks and it is even better. Take a look!

Check back for my post on Kroger and my consignment sale finds!