How safe is safe?

Everyday I sit down at this computer and try to post something about our everyday life. I upkeep several different blogs...for several different reasons.
1. This blog, which I love to share deals, ideas, randomly passing thoughts, etc.
2. I have a family blog that is only for my relatives that live away from us. It is so wonderful that they can look at pictures of our children and giggle with us in the everyday ins and outs of our lives. This one is private to try to protect my family.
3. I have a homeschool blog that I share tips and ideas about homeschooling.

But how safe is safe? How safe is the data that I sit here and type in and the pictures that I post? I have this sense of "ok" simply because I never have any problems. But, my friend, Danielle, at Extraordinary Mommy through strange randomness, had a picture stolen that is now being used in an add in the Chech Republic...to read more about the article Danielle posted, go here. And please, whatever you do, think about what you post and how before you do. You never know where it might show up!

What do you do Wednesday- How do I stop a 5:45 alarm?

Peaceful quiet runs my house at 5:40 a.m. Where I live the sun has not broken the horizon but the evidence of day has begun-birds chirping happily outside our windows, the sky has lightened to the point where the crisp brightness comes through the blinds and curtains. The preset alarms on our cell phones have not begun buzzing yet....

5:45 a.m. all silence is broken....

"Mama! Can I get up now?!" Resonates through out our house. My three year old's internal alarm has gone off.

We have tried everything we can to get his alarm to change times. Staying up later does nothing but cause us to have one very grumpy toddler on our hands. Going to bed earlier isn't really an option as he is already asleep by 7:15 p.m. And he doesn't take a nap most days.

This alarm clock is killing us. Our house is situated such that all three bedrooms are clumped together. My son and oldest daughter happily share a room so when he yells to get up, of course she is now grumpily awake too. Her internal alarm is usually set for 8:00 a.m.

Does anyone have any advice on changing an internal alarm?

Kroger's Customer Service

A couple weeks ago, I purchased a "Valu" brand syrup at Kroger. I am usually a name brand buyer but have found several things that I will buy the Kroger Brand for. The Valu brand is just another (cheaper) Kroger brand.

I got the syrup home and did not like it. On the Kroger brand items, there is a 100% guarantee printed on it however there was not one on the Valu brand. So, I called the 800 number listed instead to see if I could return the syrup.

The customer service representative was very pleasant and helpful. I had to give her the usual information; barcode, stamped numbers and letters, expiration date, why I didn't like it...

Then she asked me how much I paid for it. Well, I couldn't remember. So I told her a dollar or so. She apologized for the problem with the product and loaded a $3 credit toward my next shopping trip to my Kroger card.

Now that is good customer service!

Triple Coupon Saturdays at Ukrop's

Now through the end of May (with the possibility of the promotion lasting longer) my local Ukrop's (Virginia) is TRIPLING manufacturers coupons upto and including $1.00! This means huge savings throughout the store!

BE SURE TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL UKROPS TO SEE IF THIS DEAL IS AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA.

The conditions:

1. Limit of thirty (30) coupons per transaction.
2. Limit five (5) of same item per transaction.
3. If coupon says "off any" only five of that name brand item per transaction. For example: Make up coupons say $1 off any product. You cannot purchase 5 foundations AND 5 blushes and try to use 10 coupons.
4. If coupons states "Do not double", it will not be tripled.
5. In store Ukrop coupons will not be tripled.
6. Tripling of printed coupons are at the discretion of the individual store manager.
7. Overages will not be given.

Now, here are some deals. I went shopping with a hungry husband, cranky baby, bouncing out of the buggy boy, and one way to happy skipping little girl.

Chinet Comfort Cups $2.99
Coupon Avail: $1/1 any Chinet item
Triple Coupon Savings: $2.99
Final Price: Free

Band-Aid $2.79
Coupon Avail: $1/1
Final Price: Free

Vaseline Lotion $3.49
(It was on sale this week for $2.99)
Coupon Available: $1/1
Final Price: Free - 49 cents when sale goes off

Johnson & Johnson baby wash: $3.69
Coupon Available: $1/1
Final Price: 69 cents

French's Fried Onion (small can) $2.49
Coupon Avail: 75 cents/1
Final Price: 24 cents

Now, these are just the best deals that I ran into this week. I will be running to Ukrops to check out deals for the trip next Saturday and will post a list of possible deals.

Also, be sure to check out "The Centsible Sawyers" site for deals galore!

The old Mr Coffee Pot...

Do you see him lurking back there in the picture?....
















Now do you see him...
















Yea...he has been reduced to making tea. You know, I put the tea bags in and let them steep through...poor Mr. Coffee Pot he has been replaced with this....

Ta Da...

My First Feel Good Kroger Deal in Weeks!

I have been Krogering, mind you, just not striking up any good deals. Part of this was due to the fact that I was like 30,000 weeks behind in clipping and sorting my coupons. So, even though the deals were there, I wasn't prepared for them. Another part was simply that I didn't need/want any of the things there were being promoted for the week.

But I went prepared today.

My Total before Coupons/Card deals was $82.06.
I actually spent 25.54 and saved $56.52 or 70%. Here's what I got...

2 Angel Soft Tissue $1 each

4 Kraft BBQ Sauces $1 each
Coupon Used: 3 $1/1 printables-I ran out of ink for any more
Final Price: $1/4 or 25 cents each

6 Hunts Ketchup $1 each
(Coupon Used: 20 cents/1 doubled to 40 cents/1)
Final Price: $3.60/6 or 60 cents each

5 Mentos Gum @$1 each
Coupon Used: $1/1
Final Price: Free

6 Shick Quattro Razors @$4.99 each
Coupon Used: $4/1
Final Price: $5.94/6 or 99 cents each

1 Package Comforts Diapers @$6.99

2 Packages of Tyson Chicken Breasts $3.70 & $3.52
Coupons Used: 2 $2/1 Poultry when you purchase 2 Kraft Products
Final Price: $1.70 & $1.52

1 Dr Pepper

And...there is a Catalina deal for the BBQ sauce. I got a $2 off my next purchase Catalina!

Kroger Deals for 04/10

Garnier Fructis Shampoo or Conditioner $1.99
Coupon Available $1/1 (05/03 RP)
Final Price: 99 cents

Electrosol (Finish) Dish Detergent $2.77
15-20 count or liquid
Coupon Available: $2.50/1 (04/19 SS)
Final Price: 27 cents

Windex $1.99
Coupon Available: 40 cents/1 (5/10 SS)
Final Price: $1.18

Franks Hot Sauce $2.49
Coupon Available: 50 cents/1 (03/01 SS)
Final Price: $1.49

French's Mustard, assorted $1.49
Coupon Available: 30 cents/1 or 50 cents/1
Final Price: 49 cents - 90 cents depending on coupon

Kraft BBQ Sauce 10/$10
Coupon Available: $1/1 here
Final Price: Free

A1 Sauce $2.99
Coupon Available: $2/1 (05/10 SS)
Final Price: 99 cents

To Know But Not Be Known

Today it happened.
Today was the day that my memories were all that are left.
Today was the day that the eyes that have loved me and cared for me looked hard to try to know me and yet could not.
Today was the day that I knew would come.
And prayed never would.

Today was the day that I know but was not known.

Today I was not my mother's daughter. That memory for my grandmother didn't exist.
Today I was no one.
Today I was a name.
Today I was a hand holding hers and her holding it back out of politeness.
Today "I love you" was only a response because I said it first.

Today I was lost to my grandma who has progressing dementia.
Today she was sick and needed help and I went but she didn't know me.
Today I was a stranger in her room...in her house...in her eyes...in her mind.

All day I have told myself that I am ok with this.
All day I have thanked God for the time that I have had with my grandma and the fun, sweet, wonderful memories that I have of being with her.
All day I have been able to let go of her.
All day I have been ok with the not knowing.
Until now.

Free Chocolate!

Mars Chocolate (makers of Twix, M&M's, Snickers, Milky Way, and my favorite, Dove) is giving away coupons for free chocolate. When?

Every Friday between today and September. That's alot of chocolate! All you have to do is to go here for a chance at snagging one of 250,000 (yes two hundred fifty thousand) coupons to be given away each Friday.

Good luck and happy eating! Mmmm....chocolate...

A coupon shocker

Ok, lets be honest. Have you ever been in the store and found a peelie coupon on a product that you are going to buy but only not on the particular flavor/size of that product that you want?

I confess. I have to be honest. There have been peelies on the Comfort diapers at Kroger that I like to use for my son at nighttime. However, the peelies are always on the small size diapers. I have taken the peelies off of one size before to use on a larger size. Is this wrong? I don't know. Sometimes I feel guilty-and this in itself should be my clue, right? However, I have not harmed the package in any way. In fact, you would not even know that the sticker had been there.

Yesterday, at Kroger, I had to purchase some icing. I like the Betty Crocker icing. It was on sale and I was happy to have my coupons with me! However, there were some flavors of icing that had a coupon to "use now!" incorporated in the label.

INCORPORATED IN THE LABEL. This means that to use the coupon, you had to destroy the label, which would be fine if you were buying this flavor and were going to throw away (or recycle) the container at home.

Well, to my utmost surprise, some one had totally destroyed the labels of that flavor to grab the coupons to use for a flavor that didn't have a coupon incorporated in the label. The poor container and label were left discarded on the shelf. Now this, I think, is completely wrong. Not only was the lable destroyed but now who will buy it?

So, would you destroy a label to save some pennies? Have you ever grabbed a peelie off of a product to use (without destroying the package)?

Kellogg's Cereal for 88 cents

This week at Kroger, select varieties of Kellogg's Cereals (Raisin Bran is shown on the ad) are on sale for $1.88

You can go here and print coupons for $1/1 several different Kelloggs cereals, including Raisin Bran.

There were also $1/1 coupons in the 04/05 Sunday Paper.