What a day.

The past 24 hours has been ruff to say the least.

I was so sick last night, I think my nose ran a 5k marathon.  Whatever chemist that came up with Musinex is a freaking genius and I love you!  Nothing stops a runny nose like they do.

Then if you read my rant you would know that I am not loving Target right now but I decided that I would try out a third store....how refreshing....the sweet girl that worked at the register was excited to see my coupons and was not nervous at all.  Thank GOD!!  So I walked out with 12 Revlon beauty tools for FREE and 4 Aquafresh toothpaste for FREE!!  WHOOPeeeeee!!  :)

Unfortunately my great trip to Target turned sour when I was putting my stroller in the trunk I dropped and shattered my iPhone 4. 

:( eeekkk!  

 I should have listened to my hubbs when just last night he asked me to use my Otter Box.

Rant: Target managers hate coupons

After stopping by 2 Target stores yesterday I am convinced that Target managers HATE couponers and don't understand that it is OK to get items for free using coupons.


I went in to purchase 10 Revlon beauty tools using this combination.  The first coupon is a Target coupon for $5 off 2 Revlon beauty tools and the other two is $1 off 1 Revlon beauty tool.  According to Target couponing policy you can stack Target and MF coupons.

The issues I had at the first Target (in Vernon Hills IL) was the manager litterally said to me....well I am not giving you these items for free so I am not accepting these coupons!  WHAT!  Does this store manager not know that Revlon will reimburse them for the face value of the MF coupons PLUS $.08 handling fee?!  HELLO....you are making $.08 for every coupon your store takes in!!!!! 

The second store that I went to was on Addison in Chicago.  This store manager said that I could not use these coupons on the lower priced nail files because they were not "beauty tools".....UMMMMM....please look at the picture on the coupon....THERE IS A PICTURE OF THE EXACT ITEM I WANTED TO BY!!!!  She still said no....and when I pressed her she said well now I am going to decline all your coupons and I walked out of the store with NOTHING!!!

Target has gone out of their way to advertise their couponing policy and has printed and mailed out Target coupons and even text them to my phone.  I think Target needs to educate their managers on the coupon policies and the benefits of coupons in their stores!

CVS Free-Bee of the day!

Let me start off by saying I LOVE CVS!

The free-bee of the day is Revlon ColorBurst lip gloss and lipstick.

Here is how it is done....

Use this coupon from a Walgreens Revlon display from today.  (but since it is a Manufacturer Coupon it will still work.)

Split the transaction into 6 transactions.

Transaction 1: Pay $4.49 get $5 ECB back.

Transaction 2-6 use the $5 ECB making the item FREE and a $5 ECB will print out on the bottom of each receipt.  The last transaction will print out your final $5 ECB that you can save for your next "Free-Bee"

I am in the diaper selling business...

Being a stay at home mom and wife I have made it my job to save money any way possible.
I am an avid couponer and bargain shopper, but lately I have also been a diaper deal hunter and seller.

Here is what I do....

After I find my super deal of $3 per pack or less I purchase the diapers and sell them on craigslist.com for $5 each.  So far I have made over $100 profit selling diapers and have amassed at diaper stockpile of my own up until size 3!!!  More than half the diapers that I have sold I got for free using coupons.  It feels so good to be able to earn a little extra doing my favorite things...shopping and saving!!

Huggies diapers are on sale at CVS for 2 for $18....doesn't sound like a deal?

Let me tell you how it is done....

Buy 3 packs at $9 each = $27
Use 3 $3 off coupons from last weeks Smart Source insert = $18
Use a CVS $3 off $15 or more on baby care coupon = $15
I used $9.79 in ECB from a previous purchase = $5.21 + tax
AND
Get $10 ECB on purchace of $25 or more on baby products.

So when I sell them for $5 each on craigslist.com I am making a profit of almost $10 that I get to use on other fun stuff!!!

September 11, 2011

9/11 is a special day in my family.  On that day 10 years ago my Titi (aunt in Spanish) Lillian was working on the 97th floor at Marsh McLellan on the first tower that was hit on 9/11/01.  She had just a week before changed her scheduled work time from 10am to 8am.  She was a wonderful Christian woman and mother to my cousin who was 11 years old when her mother was taken so tragically.  This year my family was in NYC.  Here are some pictures of our trip....

Rant: Evil, Stupid, Ignorant Chicago Bus Drivers/Riders

As a driver in Chicago I have been annoyed with the aggressiveness of bus drivers and now that I am a rider I am annoyed with their attitudes even more.

I have a newborn.
She is 3 months old
So when I go out into the city I have a lot I need to take with me.
Not to mention that she has to ride in a car seat in the stroller because she is too little to sit up.
So I am sorry if my baby is in your way....but that is just too freaking bad!
GO AROUND! 
Would you get all pissy with a person in a wheel chair because their wheels are too big....no....why not....because they can't walk....well guess freaking what....NEITHER CAN MY BABY!!!!
And I don't know if you want to walk all over Chicago with a baby in your arms, a diaper bag and any shopping bags you may end up with but I DON'T!
I will be bringing my over sized stroller ON THE BUS and you can just get over it....AND NO, I will NOT be folding it up.
WHY you ask...let me tell you why...because holding the baby, diaper bag, shopping bags, lunch bag, and carrier she is in will take up more room and take twice as much time putting back together then it is worth.
...SO FYI...
I am doing you a freaking favor by NOT folding it up! 

IN YOUR FACE EVIL BUS DRIVER and STUPID RIDERS!!!!!!

I feel sexy!!

I feel sexy!

It hit me all at once today while I was buttoning up my jeans.  It is the first time since I have had my baby that I feel this way.  As a matter of fact as soon as the feeling came over me I started shouting for joy and jumping up and down!!!  My bestie told me that I would feel good about myself around 3 months in....and she was right.

So this is for any mommies or mommies-to-be....you will feel like your own person again...just give it time.

Yay!  I feel sexy!

CVS Free-Bee of the day!

Free! Free! Free!

I have been obsessed with coupons lately, especially CVS.  I live right down the street from CVS and I have made it my personal goal to walk to CVS everyday and today was no exception.  The first thing I do when I walk in the door is scan my CVS card in the red box.  Last week everyday I went I got a $1 off a pack of Orbit gum.  I didn't spend any of these until today.

Here was my deal:

Orbit gum is buy 1 get 1 free at $1.37
--I bought 8 packs of gum and used 5 $1 off coupons = .48 subtotal

Hearshy candy bar is $.99
--I bought 1 bar and used a $.79 CVS red box coupon (even though it said "FREE") = $.20

Big Chill bottled water $1.49 + $.05 bottle tax
--I bought 1 bottle and used $.50 CVS red box coupon = $.99

It looks like my cashier scanned the $.50 coupon twice which was an error but thanks.....

Subtotal: $1.22
Saved : $12.48

Not a bad trip :)

No College Football????? WHAT?!?!?

I grew up in the south, mainly Alabama, where college football is a way of life.  Everything is about football.  So when I moved to Chicago I was unprepared for what was going to be my new reality.....

NO SEC FOOTBALL!

Not only is Saturday in the Fall just another day up here, to make it worse, Alabama (the #2 ranked team in the nation) was not showing on TV!  Sitting at home donned in my Alabama gear....ALONE....I felt so disconnected from my normal life.  So out of touch with what I felt was my reality.

Thank GOD for Houndstooth Saloon, the local Alumni Saloon that televises every game (including basketball and baseball games)!

 

HUGE sigh of relief.

Scarlett and I caught the bus and met up with my fellow southerners in Wriglyville where we cheered Alabama and enjoyed Dreamland BBQ sauce.  Inside those saloon walls, where the wallpaper is houndstooth and the ceiling is crimson, we are surrounded by Southern tradition and best of all the spirit of football!  

On my way home all the mid-western Chicago-ites were wearing their Cubs gear and all I was thinking was....."I sure do miss home!"

MammaTribe on Facebook

Blake and I downsized our driveway recently anticipating he would get a transfer to downtown and he would be taking the train....that didn't happen....and now I am left at home with a baby all alone.  Normally I would feel trapped but for some reason I feel like I have been liberated.  I have been walking all over the place and even taking the bus **gasp**. 

Last week after I attended  the tye-dye party, I was invited to join a Facebook group called "MammaTribe".  

MammaTribe is a Chicago based group of mammas that hosts events for (mostly) new mammas.

What a great idea!

 Every town should have one of these sites.  

The Facebook page was started by 6 ladies and is now over 150 strong and hosts so many fun events.

Today, Scarlett and I went to the pool for an event!  Even though it was just 3 ladies that came we had a great time.  The coolest part is that it was just one bus ride down the road and I feel like I am finally getting to enjoy the city in its full glory. :)

This was Scarlett's first time in the pool.  I am still not brave enough to don a two piece yet but felt pretty good about myself in this old one piece I pulled out of the dust.  I do wish the hubby was with us but I sent him some pictures to make him jealous. LOL.

I can't wait till our next meet up and meeting more city mammas.

 

What we did today.

This morning Blake and I decided that we would sleep in and spend the whole day in the house....BUT....our landlords called at 9:30am asking if they could come up AND bring up an inspector.  UGGGG!!  So much for sleeping in.  I bought us some time by telling him that I was nursing sweet sweet but it wasn't 20 minutes and heard the knock on the door.  I can't stand it when people show up unexpected.  I need at least an hour or 2 to get the house ready.

Then, we took sweet sweet to her 4 month doctor appointment (which I don't understand since she just turned 3 months old 3 days ago, but whatev's).  I love our pediatrician.  The clinic she works at was the one suggested by the hospital but it seems like I am the only person that goes to that clinic with private health insurance.  Its kinda gross in the waiting room and it seams like all the kids that come in there are in serious need of a bath and a Kleenex.  What is it that is so hard about some of these ladies that they can't keep their kids faces clean!!!  To make it worse we ended up waiting for an hour in the hall (because I refuse to sit in the dirty and loud waiting room.  I have a way of making the best of waiting in the exam room....I take a hand full of band-aids, anti-bacterial ointment or rubber gloves for every 10 minutes I wait.  So we left with a diaper bag full of stuff...don't judge....I hear you judging....lol.

Feet feet!

I was editing some pictures and videos today and noticed that more than half are of her feet!
 

I think I might have an obsession with those stubby, wiggling appendages!  

SO FREAKING CUTE!

My Bestie is BLOGGING!

I always love it when I find a great new blog to follow.  I love it more when a great blog finds me.  My Bestie of 15 years has finally started a blog.  Check her page out.

www.newblogginmama.blogspot.com 

P.S.
Tiff...I love you more than life. :)

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

What's Cookin, Chicago?

Yesterday I went with my best friend to a Chicago Moms Network "Tye-Dye Party". 

 We had such a BLAST!!

The idea is we bring whatever you want to dye (mostly onsies, bibs or other baby item) and just enjoy the company of other Chicago moms.

What a great idea and it was so great to have some grown up conversions!!

Here is the product of my tye-dye attempt.....

HOW COOL!

Well today was also filled with excitement.  At the meetup yesterday I was invited to another meet up with a group called What's Cookin, Chicago? 

This meet up was a potluck picnic. 

Blake and I brought his yummy chicken and potatoes & I made my famous peach cobbler.

The best part of the day was watching my husband mingle with people who love food and cooking as much as he does.  He has not had any time to meet new people in the city so this was a special treat.  So not only did we eat great food but I also believe that we have made new friends that we will keep for as long as we live in Chicago!

PRAISE GOD! :)

Finally Got A New Camera!!

I have been wanting a new camera for the absolute longest time!
Today is the day.....

I got a Nikon Coolpix L120.
This was not my first choice but since I purchased it a sears and I purchased the 2 year warranty I can upgrade pretty much any time!

Which I will be doing in about 6 months (I hope).

So lets see some pics from my new camera :)

Spit up

I am starting to wonder how Katie Scarlett is getting so fat since it seams like she is spitting up half of what she eats!  I swear I am burping her every 2-3 minutes but the child is constantly spitting up.....then of course....she is hungry again!!  AHHHHH!!!

Photo of the day

My husband the multi-tasker

I just love her.

This morning Blake and I were woke up by Katie Scarlett gasping for air and flailing around like she was falling...We both jumped up.  As I held her I was terrified.  She was crying big full tears and curling her lips in the most desperate fashion.  

I was thinking did she choke on something?
Did she get bit by something (that I will be killing with great force)???

Does she have a big boogie blocking her airway?

WHAT IS WRONG??

It was so sad.

I called my mother immediately.

She lives in Hawaii and it was 3:30AM there, but I needed professional help.....

(and by professional, I mean a seasoned vet....my mother is a mother of 6)

Mother suggested that she might have had a bad dream.

That sounds about right because after I quit using the nose sucky thingy on her she stopped crying and just smiled as if our faces was all she needed to soothe her.

It is amazing how seeing her frown can break my heart completely and her smile can immediately make whole again.  I have never been so wholly consumed with love then when I see my precious daughters face. I love her beyond reason.  

I just love her.    

I think I have the BEST husband in the WORLD!!!

I think I have the BEST husband in the WORLD!!!

After a long day at work and an hour (or more with Chicago traffic) drive home he comes home and cooks for me.

When I say cook....I don't mean hamburger helper.  I mean delicious special recipe pan fried chicken with asparagus and mushrooms with homemade mashed potatoes or eggplant Parmesan with sauteed mushrooms and onions and roasted potatoes.

Blake LOVES to cook and that is a good thing cause I am so intimidated by him.  I am afraid to cook because he is so good.  He can turn just about anything into a gourmet meal and all I know is the 3 meals my mom taught me...with no variations.  Oh well, I am eating good and he is happy making me happy so its a win win. :)

Good news....I am learning to walk :)

Last week Blake and I downsized from 2 cars to 1.  So far so good but we were planning on my honey getting transferred to downtown Chicago and him taking the El train to work....but his transfer has been pushed back to November, which is a big bummer, and I have no car....

Good news.....I am learning to walk. 

Living in Chicago we have so many shops near our home and walking is exactly what I should be doing anyway to lose this baby weight.  Plus it is nice to have something to do every day.  So my daily routine is to walk to CVS , then to Walgreens , and finally to the produce store to pick up fresh fruits, veggies and meat.

Today, I actually did my hair and make-up!!  It is just amazing how good you feel when you look good too.  On our walk a man honked and made a "cat call"...before I would have called him a vulgar perv, but now think of as that nice man who made my day.  lol.  So, since becoming a SAHM I am finding that if I have a purpose, like a daily walk, I actually feel like part of the world and not trapped in a box.

Laundry, Laundry, Laundry

Why do I feel like there is ALWAYS laundry that needs to be done?  Let me tell you why...

Cause there is!!!  GRRR!

I think I will declare tomorrow official naked day so that we won't add to the laundry pile.

What is a kitchen without a frig!

About a week and a half ago our frig broke!  

We lost ALL our condiments, frozen meats, juices, and most importantly all my frozen white gold, AKA breastmilk!

Our landlords went out and immediately bought a new frig and it was set to be delivered two days later

....BUT 

they had the back stairs scheduled to be rebuilt (perfect timing) and so it was postponed to Friday

....(another)BUT 

it rained for 2 days which set back the builders not finishing till yesterday

.....(again)BUT

Lowes was not able to deliver till tomorrow

.....SO.....

I have been almost 2 weeks without a frig and it completely makes my kitchen obsolete!  NO ICE, NO COLD DRINKS!  I am do dehidrated.  GRRRRR.

Free Pampers!!

Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive Size 1 are on clearance for $2.74 or $5.49 (depending on the location) at CVS!

Being new to couponing I have been reading a lot of blogs on how to make a deal.  CVS is by far my favorite store.  Check out this deal....

When I saw the Pampers on sale at my CVS they were $5.49.  I had a $2 off coupon making them $3.49.  I bought 4 packs.

I had a printed coupon for $5 off $25 precoupon but I was $3.04 short so I went by the printed coupon box and out prints a free pack of U by kotex....that is $1.77 towards the $25....the other coupon was $2 off Gold Emblem popcorn 2.49 each just hitting my $25 mark. :)

In total I spent $10.88 on 

4 Jumbo packs Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive Size 1,

1 pack U by Kotex panty liners

1 bag Golden Emblem popcorn

BUT the thing is I don't need diapers.  Sweet sweet has a closet FULL of size 1 diapers.  SO I sold the Pampers on craigslist.com for $5 each making a profit of $10!  WOOT WOOT!!!

After I sold the diapers on craigslist I was so pumped up that I went to the 4 other CVS stores.  I found this deal....

Please notice the subtotal....THATS RIGHT....$0!  I bought 6 packs of diapers for $0 (just $1.17 in taxes)

THATS NOT ALL!!!!  CVS also has a deal going that if you buy 6 jumbo packs get the 7th FREE....SO....out prints an $11 ECB.  I LOVE THIS!  I stopped by 2 other CVS stores and made similar purchaces.  In total I bought 15 packs of diapers and I am selling each pack that I bought for $5.  BIGG BALLIN'

New Name, New Layout

I have not been writing lately and I know why....

When I visited my page I felt disconnected.  The name of my blog was "Baby and the Windy City" but the reality was I am a SAHM and I am really not out there enjoying the city shopping and prancing around in wedges and mini skirts....I am sitting at home trying to keep up with the laundry while breastfeeding my baby.  

So I am here to revamp my page and try this blogging thing again.....

I hope I have better luck the second time around. :P