April Deals

CVS

4/26

• Zooth toothbrush @ $1.99 each - BOGO coupon = $1.99 and get $2 ECB so FREE! 
• Buy $15 in 3M products and get $5 in extra care bucks back.  I couldn’t find the metal hooks that would’ve been a better deal:

  $15 buy six 3M Command Hooks
  -$6 use six printable coupons
  = $9  and get $5 in ECBs back!

• It would’ve been an okay deal since I need some hooks but one store I went to didn’t have enough hooks so I stopped by another one after work to complete my deal…except I did it on the WRONG CARD!!!!  So now I have to complete the deal on both cards paying lots of OOP.

• Shick Intuition $7.99 - $4q = $3.99 and get $3 ECB so they cost $.99 each.  Love these razors!
  
• Buy $20 Band-Aid/Neosporin deal get $10 ECB:

  Buy 4 Band-Aid @ $3.59 each =  $14.36 - $4q = $10.36
  1 Neosporin to go @ $6.29 - $1q = $5.29
  Total $15.65 and get $10 ECB so pay $5.65 for them.  Not great but I had some bucks to roll and we can always use these.

4/18

• Edge shaving cream for $2.49 and get $2.49 back so FREE! 
• Crest toothpaste for $2.88 - $1q = $1.88 and get $2 ECB so –$.12
  

• Bayer Aspirin Quick Release Crystals $2 - $1q tearpad = $1 and get $2 ECB so $1MM!

4/12

• Softsoap bodywash 4.99 - 1.00 MQ = $3.99 and get $4.49ECB so $.50MM
• Colgate Enamel Protect toothpaste for $3.99 - $1q = $2.99 and get $3.99 ECB so $1MM 
  
  
  

4/4

• Skintimate for $3.49 and get $3.49 back so FREE! 
  
• Glade aerosol $1.99 - $1 BOGO - $1 CRT = FREE! 
  

Kroger's 

4/1 -

• Ducan Hines cake mix $1 – $.35q – $.70 triple = –$.05
  

• McCormick Grillmates $.99 – $.25q – $.50 triple = $.24
  We got McCormick $1 q over the weekend so these spices were FREE! 
  

• French’s mustard $1 – $.50q – $.50 double = FREE and get $1 catalina for every 2 that you buy.
  

• 3 Pillsbury Crescent @ $1 – $.25q – $.50 double = $.25
  1 Grands @1 = $1 – $.30q – $.60 double = $.10
  $.85 for 4.  There was suppose to be a catalina that comes with it but I didn’t get mine. :(
• Vitamin water $1 - $1q = FREE!
  
  
  
• Barilla Whole Grain Rotini close out for $1.04 – $.50 q – $.50 double = $.04 each box
  

• Stride gums are $2/3 and there’s a $2/3 q making them FREE! 
  
  

4/19 -

• Angel soft 4-pack toilet paper are $.99 –$.50q –$.49 doubled = FREE! 
  

• Pillsbury brownies $.99 –$.35q –$.69 tripled = FREE!
  
  
  
• More McCormick $.99 – $.50q – $.49 doubled = FREE!
  
  
  
• Softsoap handwash $.99 – $.35q – $.69 tripled = FREE!
• Huggies wipes $.99 - $1 bath and body product = FREE!
• I had a $5/3 Comfort items so they are also FREE!
  

• Quakers $.99 - $1q = FREE!
  

• Community Coffeee for $3.99 - $2q = $1.99!! Not free but GREAT price for good coffee.  Too bad they were on sale for only a week so I didn’t get to stock up more.  BOO.
  

Randalls

4/18 -

• Randalls is also having a Living Well deal where you buy $30 and get $10 catalina OYNO.  There is a huge list of things that are included and these $10 cats do roll. 
• I got 2 packs of water @ $1.99 = $3.98 - $1q = $2.98
  8 Bertoilli pasta pouches @ $8 = $16
  1 Downy $5.99 – $1q = $4.99
  

• I searched all over for more water and found a Randalls with plenty of peelies.  I had enough with the $1/2 catalinas to run another water deal.  ZM told me that there was some on Westheimer and Wilcrest so I decide to make a run even though it’s about 20 minutes away from my house.  I had a lasagna in the oven but was desperate to go and there was over an hour left to cook so I left the house with the oven on!!! I almost turn around thinking of how crazy I am but decide since I am already on my way then I may as well and pray that it’s worth it.  On the way I am thinking of how crazy I am to drive to this store to run a deal with the oven on at home not knowing if they even have any water I want.  I got to the store and said a quick prayer that they’ll have the water.  My heart skipped a beat when I saw they have PLENTY!!!  I load up the cart with 16 packs of water and pray that the deal will go great; that the cashier won’t give me any problem with my coupons; and that the water cat will still print!!  Everything went PERFECTLY and I was on a coupon high.  I just couldn’t believe I got 16 6-pack water for FREE!!!
  16 Ozarka $1.99 * 16 = $31.84 - $8 q = $23.84
  got back $10 cat for the Living well promotion
  got $16 cat for the Ozarka waters so $3.84 MM!!!
  
  
  Unfortunately my coupon high didn’t last long because as I race home, images of my house burning down because I  was irresponsible enough to leave the oven on and not being at home to watch it.  I said another quick prayer that my house will be okay.  I passed by 2 firetrucks on the way, not anywhere near my house mind you, but panic because I thought what if they are going to my house??!!!  I was antsy to get home and keep looking at the horizon to see if I see any smoke coming from my house’s directions.  I was very stressed as you can tell and it was all my fault.  I came home and was greeted by the smell of a great lasagna, run to turn off the oven, took it out and set the table for dinner.  Shhhh, don’t tell my dh!!
  

Walgreens

4/25
Walgreens stopped their rebate program this month so lots of great RR deals this week.

• Walgreens tissue on clearance for $.07  each!
  

 

• Contour diabetes monitor on salefor $14.99 - $14.99q = FREE and get $5 RR so –$5 MM!
  
  
  
• Bayer Quick Release $2.29 - $1q = $1.49 and get $2.50 RR so –$1.01 MM!
• Nivea Woman’s bodywash $4.99 - $1q = $3.99 and get $5 RR so –$1.01 MM!
• Ecotrin for $2 and get $2 RR so FREE! (There are $2.50IP out there but I knew my stores would not adjust them so i didn’t even bother.  I just got them as fillers to use my RRs.
• Rembrandt toothpastes for $5.99 and get $6 $RR so FREE! I like the way the box look and I like the type of variety they have so I bought them to try out.
  

4/1

• Colgate $3.49 – $.75q = $2.74 and get $3.50 RR
• Chapstick deal was still going on until the end of the month so I got some to roll my rrs:  $1.99 and get $2 RR.
• Glade Lasting Impression $5.99 - $4q = $1.99 and get $2 ESR
  

 

• Oust air sanitizer are $2.99 - $2q = $.99 and get $1 ESR
  

 

Fun with cousins

They look happy don’t they?

   

Water!

So fun!

This is how he ran around most of the time in the water:

We put the cowboy hat on my niece, Yvonne, and was surprised when she goes “Hee-Haw”.

Milk..it does a body good.

Ky-An wants to get in on the action.

Then it’s Miss Ai-Vy:

See?  I am Sure!

Hehehe..I took this away from big brother!

What's this girly ribbon crap doing here!?!?

Flawless skin:

KyAn:OOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!
Mommy: I haven't started yet!!!!!!

Work sucks!!!

My work is sucking so bad right now that I don’t enjoy going to work anymore.  I still love what I am doing but my assistant is the source of all my stress.

I’ve always thought I am a good leader, but work is making me re-think my skills.  I’ve always take the lead throughout school, all my jobs in college, and even was President of the sorority leading 18 girls.  I was also Pledge Mom for 1 semester teaching and guiding 8 new girls to become a part of our organization.  During this time, I’ve done loads of public speeches at formals and travel to our sister college campuses to make speeches.  Even within the U of H campus, I’ve attend other organization’s events and make speeches there.  I never thought in a million years that I have a communication problem!!! Seriously..are you kidding me??!!  Somehow I’ve been with at this place for 6 years and now suddenly has lost my communication skill.

It all started with me hiring this assistant from a great company.  My first clue of something not right is when he was let go from this company we worked with and contacted me to apply for a job.  However, his supervisor gave him a great reference and assured us there was nothing fishy about him being let go so I trusted it.  In hindsight I think the right questions was just not asked to him.  Since I didn’t do the reference call, I can’t tell what was asked nor said, just what was relayed to me.  My biggest regret is not listening to my instinct when I wasn’t happy with his performance after working with him at the other company.  I just dismissed as an isolated incident.

After messing up project after projects and counsel after counsel, I wanted to let him go after he majorly screw up a simple technical task.  This is a task even college students in our field knows how to do.  He claim that he failed at all these projects because of communications problem. Then somehow his incompetencies turn into faults of mine..my expectations of him is too high; I shouldn’t worry about the details if the web page looks okay (again..seriously??!!!!); that I nitpick too much in which I tried to explain I have to in my field. It doesn’t help when your boss doesn’t understand your line of work.

So if I lower my expectation and he screw up, is it going to be somehow my fault again because I didn’t supervise him?  If I don’t worry about the details of the page and the page has an error, wouldn’t I be the one who look bad?

This just bring back memory of growing up and being the middle child.  I could never be right in any situation.  I am just so frustrated and unsatisfy right now.  I don’t feel that I am being valued at work nor anyone appreciate my hard work.  I’ve been happy at this place until now and I don’t feel my boss support me nor stand up for me in front of upper management.  She’s a great friend but but maybe I’ve stayed at this place too long and it’s time to explore other options.

Garage Sale

A month before the garage sale, I start weeding out my excess stockpile and offer them to my friends and co-workers.  They were all amazed at the stuff I was selling and for such a cheap price.  I receive $214.50 from selling my stockpile to them and they were grateful. 

The neighborhood garage sale was originally set for April 18th.  My sister from Dallas was so excited about it and decide to come down to participate in the event.  We monitored the weather all week and it said 30% chance of rain..then 40% chance of rain by Friday.  We were hoping that it’ll just rain early in the morning or will have a big pour down and be done for the day.  My sister made plans to come down and the chance of rain changed to 60% by Friday night.  By Saturday it’s 100%.  It was ominous when we woke up but we prepare for the garage sale anyway hoping for the best.  People start coming in right away and after 2 hours before the storm arrived; I made $133.25, $97.25 was for the excess stockpile.  My oldest sister made $84 and my little sister had $75 in sales.

Because of the rain, the HOA rescheduled it for the following week and I was pretty bummed out for my sister.  She was so excited about it and did so much prep work.  She surprised me when she announced that she’ll come down again next weekend to sell her stuff.  I nervously monitor the weather again and thank goodness it turn out to be a beautiful day.  She and I were up until 1 the night before preparing for the sale, sorting out clothes and pricing everything.  We were suppose to wake up at 6 in the morning to get ready but didn’t wake up until 7.  Hieu and my brother-in-law looked after the kids and took them to Discovery Green so we can manage our garage sale.  I made a total of $283.75 that day, $188.25 of which was for stockpile items.  My oldest sister made $294, my second oldest made $48, and my youngest made $36.  It was tiring but a very fun day.

So $214.50 for the pre-garage sale sell
     $ 97.25 for the raining garage sale
     $188.25 for the re-schedule garage sale
Total $500 going toward the grocery budget.  Lots of work but now I have some more room to stock up more stuff.