February Deals

CVS

2/1

• Fusion Gamer razors $7.99 - $4 coupon = $3.99 and get $4 ECB so FREE!  The limit is 5 on each card. The deal ran month long and the limit change to 1 after the first week.  Walgreens also have a deal with them where you buy it for $8.99 - $4 coupon = $4.99 and get $6 RR.
  
  
  
  
• Stayfree are $3.99 so buy 2 = $7.98 - BOGO = $3.99 and get $4 ECB for 2 so FREE. 
  
• EARinse are Free this month.  Limit is 2 on each card.  $7.99 and get $7.99 ECB!
  
• Energy drinks are free and the limit is also 2.  $4.99 and get $4.99 ECB!
   
   
• 4 Revitalift Cleansers or towelettes @ $5.99 each = $23.96
  -(4) $2.00 coupon =$15.96 receive $20.00 ECB back.
  
  
  
• Small CVS cotton rounds are = $.99 and get $1 ECB!
  
  
   
  
  

2/8

• American Greeting cards are $.99 each.  Buy 3 and get $3 ECB.
  
  
  
• Wheat thins are on sale for $1 each and there is a coupon for $2/2 = FREE!
  
  
  

2/15  

• Colgate Total Advantage $2.99 - $1 mfq = $1.99 and get $2.99 ECB.  At first the deal was limit 2 but then they change it to limit 5 further down the week.
  
  
  
• Neutrogena soaps 2 @ $2.99 = $5.98 and get $10 ECB!
  
  
• Lysol Freshmatics are on sale for $5.99 - $5 coupon = $.99
  
  
  
• Ultimate Strength Mint 12 ounce now $3.65 - $2 coupon and spit back $3 ECB.
• Airborne SquidSoap are on clearance for $1.  There is a $2/1 any Airborne coupon but I didn't want to push it.
  
  
  
• Johnson & Johnson Adhesive pads With Neosporin $4.98 - $2 peelie = $2.98 and get $3 ECB!

  2/22

  • 2 Nyquil/Dayquil $9.98 - (2) $1.50 q - $1 CVS cold q = $5.98 and get $5 ECB = $.98/2.
    
    
    
  • Renuzits Tri Scent Starter Kit $5.49 - $4q = $1.49 and get $2 ECB!
    
    
    
    
    

  Kroger's
  
  

  • Mega Deal:
    
  3 Totinos pizza rolls $1.25 each - .35 tripled - .30 for Daytona deal = -.30
  3 Pillsbury grands $1.27 each - .25 tripled - .30 for Daytona deal = .22 each
  4 BC snacks $1.79 - $.50/2 doubled for fruit rollups - .30 each for Daytona = $3.96 (earns a $2.50 catalina)
   

  Randalls 

  • Thanks to ZM for posting this on her blog.  I was able to grab some even though it's wasn't marked at the Randall's near my work. $1.29 - $1 coupon = $.29
     
    
    

  Walgreens

  2/1

  • Olay Ribbons or Botanical $1.29 - $1 coupon = $.29. I called my sisters after I bought these and told them there is something wrong with me.  I still have a bunch of the Olay Ribbons that was FREE when CVS had them on clearance a while back that I still haven't use.  Here I am buying more for $.29 each!
    
    
    
  • Nice n' Easy Perfect 10 hair dyes are on clearance for $5.69 and there is a $2 coupon so it'll be like this:
    $5.69 - $2 mfq = $3.69 and there is a rebate in the ESR "Buy one Perfect 10 and get a $5 Walgreens gift card."
    
    
  • These are Free After Rebate (FAR) items for February:
    Zucol - there was $2 coupons so made the deal even better!
    ThermaCare
    Revlon Creme Lipgloss
    Garnier Wonder Waves shampoo/conditioner
    

  2/8

  • Windex canister wipes 2/$5 - $3/2 printable coupon - $2 ESR = FREE!  On top of this, there is a try-me-free-rebate!
  • Scrubbing bubbles are "just" FREE.  2/$5 - $3/2 printable coupon - $2 ESR = FREE! 
  • I read that the VentFresh is FAR again this month and bought one to try.  I didn't see it show up online after I submit the receipt so I thought people were wrong.  Turns out they DID credit me for the air freshener at the end of the month!
    
    

Ky-An's New Bed

We decide that we'll try getting a cool bed for Ky-An and see if it'll work.  I was just browsing on Craig's List and found this great deal.  I sent it to Hieu and he said it's a really good deal so he wants to jump on it.  It's a car frame that fits a twin mattress.  Perfect for the mattress we have that Hieu has been sleeping on.  She listed it for $150 and Hieu was able to bargain it down to $125. 

Ky-An was really excited when he first saw it and couldn't wait to go lay in his new bed that night.  That night he wanted to skip reading and all the night time routine to go lay on his new bed.  It was great until right before he falls asleep, he climbed back on to the big bed..haha. 

The next night we were expecting him to do the same thing but we were surprise to find him asleep on his own bed!!!  It's been on and off since and we don't force it.  As with his development so far, we just let him progress at his own pace and he eventually gets it.  With Ai-Vy..I can see many fights ahead every step of the way.  The first battle will be taking away her bottle. *sigh*

Week in Pictures

Mesmerized with Enstein:

Esting breakfast on her own:

Quanh (pants)

Closing the hamper lid, her favorite game at the time:

Ky-An watching Tom & Jerry on the portable dvd player while little sister watches Baby Einstein on the big TV:

I wish I have his life! LOL

Ugh..bad couponing day

I was unmotivated to run to Walgreens yesterday because there was no good deals so I just spent the day enjoying time with the kids and my husband.  I thought my RRs expire today but turn out they expire yesterday!  I ran to the store this morning to see if they'll take it, nope no luck.  I have another one expiring today so I was going to get the Revlon Creme lip gloss that's free after rebate.  I went to check out then realize I forgot to get a filler so the register reward won't beep.  I ran off to get something cheap and left my $6 register reward there.  Dumb move I know.  I thought I'd be right back and never had a problem before.  The cashier usually just hold it for me.  Well I came back after grabbing a filler and there was no register reward anywhere!  I've checked out with this cashier before and I talked to her about Hot Coupon World so I don't think she's a dishonest person.  I don't know if she accidentally put into her drawers or if someone came along and took it.  I even asked if she can look around the register and it wasn't anywhere. 

So I lost $6 today and got nothing.  In addition with the $6 RR I let expired then I lost total of $12. OUCH!! 

My birthday, my life - First day in a new country

I still remember the day we land in America. It was December 15, 1985. My dad had warn my mom to prepare us for the cold so she had an old lady knit us all brand new thick sweaters. We found out later that those sweaters are no protection against the winter in Houston.

The flight is over 20 hours so my mom gave us all cough medicine when we board the plane. We didn't know what it was and I just remember being really tired on the plane and don't remember much of it. In hindsight I completely understand why she would want to subdue us. She's a tiny woman traveling inter-continental with four small girls and all our lives packed up in suitcases. It probably did make the trip easier for all of us.

My mom woke me up as our plane land in San Francisco, CA. I remember they herd us through the airport, each of us have a nametag on us. Some charity handed out coats to everyone and we were so thankful because we have never experience such cold weather. They took us to a hotel and fed us dinner in the lobby. I believe it was broiled chicken and an apple. I've never had a plate of just meat to eat and it being so tasteless. I tried the apple and it didn't taste like any of the sweet fruits back home. We all ate about two bites and watch as they take all our full plates away, mesmerized by this new country where they threw away so much food without batting an eye.

They took us to hotel room and we felt like we are in the most luxurious resort. I remember all of us running place to place exclaiming about everything. The first thing we notice is the carpet. I remember it being so soft on my feet and I felt pampered just walking on it. (Now I won't even walk in those hotel room without slippers.) We then got excited about how not only is there indoor water, but hot water that comes out of the faucet!!! We lay on the bed and it just sink in and it's so nice, not those hard board we use as bed or the floor. I usually recall this experience to make sure I never take my life here for granted.

We stayed at San Francisco for the night and board another plane to Houston the next morning. There's much excitement this morning because my mom told us that dad will pick us up. We haven't seen our dad nor hear his voice in over four years so we pretty much grew up without him. My little sister has never seen my dad except in pictures so the word "dad" is just some illusion to her. She looked at my older sisters with interest and curious as to what the excitement was about. I myself didn't fully understand why my sisters were so excited either. To me "dad" was just a man who used to play with us and someone who I am suppose to respect. I had no idea who this man is as a person.

I wish I had remember what my mom's reaction was or how it was when she finally saw my dad for the first time after so long. I can only imagine the emotions running through her body and what a difficult time they both had to try and reconnect. The only thing I remember as soon as the plane land and my two older sister ran past us to look for dad. I hang back with my mom and she was holding my little sister. We got off the plane and I saw my sister was holding some man's hand. The dragged him over and told me say hello to dad. I shyly say hi to him and my aunt. He reached over to my little sister and tries to hold her but she quickly pulled back and started crying. Sadly, she never develop a bond with him, even through her adulthood.

We all cram into a four-door Oldsmobile Cutlass that my dad just bought in preparation of us coming over. We have never been in an automobile for so long before and I got carsick on the way home. We got back to his "home" and thought it was a so nice. In reality, it was just a two-bedroom apartment that was barely furnished. We marveled over the carpet again and everyone take turn bombarding my dad with questions. I remember thinking my dad is so wealthy and was amazed that he has TWO television in the house. I asked him how to turn that TV on and that's when I learned there is such a thing as a microwave. My dad then brought out a big bag of candy he bought for us in all varieties. We never had such treats and it was like Christmas! Needless to say my little sister warm up to him very quickly after that.

The saddest moment is after we ate the candy and my little sister said she wanted to go home to grandma. My mom tried to tell her that we are home but she said no! Grandma said when she's done eating all the candies then come back to Grandma so she needs to go home to grandma and then started crying.

Pre-School for Ky-An

We've been looking at pre-schools for Ky-An because he seem so bored at my babysitter's house.  He also so bright (our pediatrician made the same observation I am proud to say ^_^) that I want to make sure he's challenged and stimulated.  Two of my friends highly recommend Primrose and after all my initial research, I am a little biased toward them as well.  I took Ky-An with me to tour their school and he just fell in love with it.  He loved all the toys in the classroom and I left him there while I talk with the School Director.  He happily waved bye to me and hardly notice when I came back.  Hieu got out of for lunch so I asked him to meet us up at the school while Ky-An hung out some more in the classroom.  When Hieu and I came back, he was sitting at the lunch table with the rest of the kids and was showing them the whale he was holding.  He tell his new friends "this is a whale" and they all go "oohhh".  He then make the whale swim and said "it swim like-a this".  It's really cute and sweet to see him interacting with kids his own age and you can read from his face how happy he is.  Of course he cried when we made him leave and I promise him we would come back. 

I want to keep an open mind and choose the best school for Ky-An that fits our budget.  I went to visit Kids R' Kids two weeks later.  Hieu knows the owner at this location and so he's a little partial to it.  I gave it a chance and took a tour at the school with the School Director without telling Hieu's friend.  I want to see what the experience is if I am just a regular parent.  The School Director gave me a quick tour, thrust a brochure at me, then ushered me back to the front and I was out the door 10 minutes later.  You got it..10 minutes to tell me about the school's curriculum and tour it.  I was offended at the amount of time she spent with me. The school was not crowded and I came before their lunch time so there was no excuse.  I didn't even get to walk into a classroom, didn't get to see the bathroom, didn't see the lunchroom that Hieu raved about, nor see the state-of-the-art playground.  She didn't even ask if I have anymore questions before she shook my hands and said "nice to meet you."  This is someone we'll have to interact with if we have a problem with a teacher or the school and I was not comfortable with her at all. On top of that as I was walking into the school, two parents were in the front talking to each other and cussing while their kids sit in the car.  I know the school can't help that but it makes me wonder the type of parents and kids Ky-An would interact with if he attends this school.

The school is also built to be like a regular school so it's very institutionalized.  It's very clean, very big, and very cold.  The school environment would help Ky-An adjust quickly when he gets to kindergarten but he's too young right now to be in a classroom environment.  He needs a little more attention and nurturing than I feel this school can give them.  I am also concern about the teacher to student ratio of 22 to 2.

Since the tour only took 10 minutes, I had time to stop by the Sugar Land Montessori school before meeting Hieu for lunch.  Hieu's co-workers raved about this school and said their kids are very happy there.  He did admit that he didn't hear any of them talk about the curriculum so he's not sure if they are any good.  I met with the Director at this school and she was as sweet as could be.  I feel welcomed and important as when I tour Primrose.  She took the time to answer all my questions and we hang around the classrooms for a while.  She even invite us to an open house they are having.  Unfortunately I am a little turned off by their outdated facility.  She opened the bathroom to show me and I am a little appalled at how grimy it is.  The playground is very small and the apparatus seem like they are for toddlers and not for pre-schoolers.  The biggest drawback for me is that they don't serve lunch and we have to pack it for Ky-An every day if he goes here.  Because of this, it also make them the cheapest out of the 3 schools with Primrose leading the pack.  The school's excuse for not serving lunch is that it's healthier if the parents pack it and some kids can only eat their ethnic food.  I can understand that and can see their point but having to pack his lunch every single day is going to be an added stress for me.

Hieu and I met for lunch and discussed the three schools and my findings.  Primrose's curriculum is accredited by several academic organizations and their classroom ratio is 12 to 2.  Their facility is new, clean, and nurturing at the same time.  My impression of Kids R' Kids is that they model after a regular school; Montessori is similar to home school where everything is unstructured; and Primrose is in the middle .  Ky-An has a very laid back and mellow personality so he needs a little structure to help him move along.  He is also sensitive and affectionate guy who would crave attention and someone to nurture him.  I won my case and we enrolled Ky-An to Primrose.  Too bad he's on a waiting list and may not be able to attend until possibly June. 

There will be a lot of adjustments we'll have to make once Ky-An starts school beside the huge blow to our finance.  Our current babysitter cooks and feed the kids 3 meals a days plus snacks so we don't have to worry meals at all.  Hieu and I will just eat whatever for dinner and we are done.  Once Ky-An starts school then I'll have cook more to make sure he has a good dinner.  I will also have to change my work schedule so I can be home an hour earlier to pick him up and prepare dinner.  Everyone will have to make adjustments to this new milestone but I am excited.  I just hope he end up liking school and that we made the right choice for him.

New Year

I can't believe I never published this. These are the pictures of the kids at temple on New year morning. We decide to take them early in the morning to make some offerings. Ai-Vy would've been much cuter with her pigtails but I was in a hurry to meet my parents.











I am a sucker and bought them 2 fishes on a keychain for $10! At least it's going to a good cause.

January Deals - Part 2

CVS

1/18

• Starbucks Frappuccinos are 3/$5. Buy $20 and get $10 ECB.  I have some extra bucks to burn and I love these things so it's an awesome deal.
  
  
  
• American Greeting cards are $.99 each.  Buy 3 and get $3 ECB so FREE!
  
  
  
  
• 1/25
  Gillette shampoo/conditioner $3.99 - $2 MQ = $1.99 and get $2 ECB! 
  
  
  
•   Olay Definity mousse cleanser was on clearance for $5.  Buy 2 for $10 and sent in for a $15 Gift card from Olay.  I also had more ECB expiring so I bought this Vitamin shampoo with a Try-Me-Free form to get my money back.
  
  
  
  

Kroger's

• Kroger had their Mega deal 1/21 - 2/3 with some great deals! Price listed is already AFTER $5 off when you buy 10 items.  If you want to know what the price is before the $5 off then just add $.50 to each item.
  
  • Kleenex lotion $1.09 - $40 coupon - $.40 doubled = $.09/box
  • Frank's hot sauce $.99 - $.35 coupon - $.70 tripled = -$.01
  • Glade aerasol cans $.46 - $1/2 coupon = -$.04
  • Green Giant Steamers $.99 - $.50 coupon - $.50 doubled - $.50 loadable coupon = -$.51
  • Chex Mix $1.69 - $.50 coupon - $.50 doubled - $60 loadable coupon = $.09
  • Pace Picante sauce or salsa $1.26 - $.50 coupon - $.50 doubled = $.26
  • Kraft shredded cheese or slices $1.49 - $.75 = $.74
  • French's mustard $.99 - $50 coupon - $.50 double = -$.01 4
  • Tropicana $2.19 - $1.25/2 coupon =  $1.57
  • Totino's pizza rolls 40 ct $2.49 - $.35 coupon - $.70 triple - $.50 loadable = $.94
  • Ken's salad dressing $1.49 - $1 coupon = $.49
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• Blueberries weren't part of the sale but was only $.99 so I stocked up!
  
  
  
• Hormel pepporonis are $1 - $.35 coupon - $.70 tripled = FREE! It's hard to take all these pictures when there's a little thief always trying to take me items.
  
   
  
• Here she is...caught red-handed!
   
  
  

Walgreens

1/18

• 8 Ragus @ 1.99 x 8 = 15.98 - (8) $.25 coupon = $13.92 and get $10 RR so $3.92 for 8 bottles.
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• Mauna Loa Macadamias are 2/$4 next week. there's a $3/2 coupon in the ESR catalog. Pay $0.50 each after coupon.
  
  
• 2 Starbucks chocolate 2/$10 - $6 ESR.  There is a promotion until the end of the month where you get a FREE 9.5 oz bottle of Starbucks frappucinos.  So 2 box of Starbucks chocolate and 2 bottles of frappucinos for $4