Taking time to smell the flowers

Today was Caroline's first day in her new Sunday School class. She is now longer in the "walkers" class. It was bittersweet because it means that my baby is becoming a big girl. :( Caroline had a great time in her new class.

I took Caroline outside in the backyard to take some pictures of her. I need to remember to take her picture more when she's dressed up. By the time we get home from church, we are running like crazy to eat lunch, get to tennis matches, and take naps. I am a bit sad to see how "growny" this dress made her look. It almost makes me want to sell this dress and put back on her usual smocked dresses...

I am super excited because I won a photography session at Tim's tennis tournament. I have been "bidding" on these and FINALLY won! I can't wait to have Caroline's portrait made. Now...time to go shopping!!! Yay that Nana is still here!!!

Kroger Wins By A Landslide!!!

I have had 2 amazing grocery shops this week! Publix stole my heart yesterday (I didn't write about it because I was too tired to take a pic). Amazing trip with lots of overage and free stuff!

But....tonight, Kroger won by a landslide! My mom and I went to purchase some free rice, Glucerna cereal, Dial handsoap, and some super cheap Organic juice, but came home with lots more! Here's the deal...we stumbled across a tearpad of coupons for $3.00 off any pork purchase, no beer purchase necessary. WOW! FREE MEAT!!!!!

Transaction Lowdown:

18- Mahatma Rice Bags---FREE (coupons)

5- Pillsbury German Chocolate Cake Mix--56 cents each (close out price)

3- Betty Crocker Brownie Mix--30 cents each (coupons)

4- Dial Hand Soap- 30 cents each (coupons)

1- Active Lifestyle Bread- 89 cents each (marked down from $1.89)

2- Natra Taste Sweetner- $1.34

1- Oregon Chai Latte Mix- $3.49 (was $4.59)

9- Santa Cruz Organic Lemonade- $2.99 (BOGO and coupons)

12- Vitamin Water- FREE (coupons)

1- gallon Milk

1- 1lb Grapes

1- 5lb bag of Potatoes

1- Sour Cream

1- Hashbrowns

4- Oikos Greek Organic Yogurt ($1.00)

1- Earth's Best Organic Milk Pack of 3- $1.39 (was $2.87)

19- Packs of Pork Chops, Ribs, and Sausage

Total OOP: $33.12

Total Saved: $175.33

So, between my two grocery shopping trips, I spent a total of $40! Right at my weekly budget!! Can't beat the great deals!!!

Sleeping Beauty

I snuck into Caroline's room when she was napping one day and snapped these pictures of her. I just love watching her sleep. She's so funny now. She LOVES her babies and MUST have them in her crib when she naps and goes to sleep at night. I love listening to her talk to them and arrange them around the perimeter. Adorable!

What's in store for the week?

We are so excited about this upcoming week. Nana is coming to town! She arrives on Sunday and will be here for a few weeks. We've been talking about Nana coming to town and Caroline has been waking up asking for her "Nana". She doesn't say many words, but this is one she has nailed down! :)

On Monday, Tim and I are playing in a tennis tournament (not with each other). Tennis is huge in our family and I can't wait to enroll Caroline in a tennis camp. Tim surprised her and bought her her very own racquet. It came in the mail and she LOVED it! We took her to our courts and she just walked around with it, hitting the balls like golf balls...hmmmm...we've got some work to do!

We will also be enrolling in swimming lessons. Caroline loves the water, and since we live on a lake and basically live in the pool, it's time. I have no idea how much "learning" will go on, but it will be cute!

We may also go to the beach next week with Nana. A couple of things will have to happen for this trip to take place. One, I am currently in first place in my tennis league and if I finish first, then I will make it to the tournament draw. Tournament or beach?? Ask me tomorrow! Two, it also depends on how much work I can get finished and if I can reschedule tutoring students around.

Lots of great deals at Publix and CVS are happening. I haven't been CVSing in a while, so it will be refreshing to get lots of toiletries for next to nothing! Gotta love great deals!!

What does your week have in store?

Great Deal on Spray n' Wash at Publix

If you are like my family, we get TONS of 'junk' on our clothes. We go through so much stain remover, that I should seriously buy stock in some of the companies! This upcoming week at Publix (sale starts on May27th or 28th, depending on your area) Spray n' Wash stain remover will be BOGO. What does this mean? CHEAP! Use the 50 cent coupon found in the 5/3 SS insert, and you will pay about 20 cents a bottle. If you don't have enough coupons or don't have any, try buying them on Ebay. I just checked and you can buy around 20 of them for about $1.00 total. I have bought coupons on Ebay in the past and haven't had any trouble, just remember to check their ratings. If you are afraid of not getting them in time, simply get a raincheck. Works like a charm!!

Last time this went on sale, I bought 4 or 5 and I almost finished with my last bottle. STOCK UP time!!!

BBQ with Friends

Last weekend, we had a BBQ at our house with some of our friends. The boys went on a boat ride in the lake, the girls played on the slides and the parents relaxed. We had a great time and the weather was perfect!

A New Favorite Blog...I Love Publix

I would like to introduce one of my newest favorite money saving blogs...I love Publix! I have been following this blog for a bit and have decided to add it to my blog roll. She is so inspiring with all of her Publix deals that she finds. I love how she takes pictures of her purchases and details them for her readers. Already this morning, she has motivated me to take more advantage of sales at Publix. What's also cool about this blog is that she is also an adoptive parent! Go check out this blog and let it serve as a motivation for you... I have no excuses. Do you?

Tea Party with Friends

On Sunday, Caroline set up a tea party for her friends in the living room. We bought her some cups/glasses and silverware from Ikea a few weeks ago. That was one of the best purchases that I can say we have bought for her. She loves them! Anyway...I love how she set up the blanket on the floor and gave them each a fork and cup. But, it looks like they were going to have to share a pear and a lemon for snacks!!

Publix Shopping Trip

It's been quite a long time since I posted a picture and shopping trip experience. I went to Publix today and had a successful trip.

OOP: $3.19
Saved: $82.44

I had lots of MQ's, competitor Q's, and store Q's. I would have been $2.00 less, but they didn't accept one of my Q's for the baby wipes. I didn't need them and they weren't on sale, but I had a competitor Q and a MQ to make them free. Since the competitor Q was rejected, I paid $2.00 for them. Not a horrible price, but definitely not rock bottom. I also got Lipton Organic Green Tea to make Tutti's Iced Green Tea Lemonade. These weren't on sale either, but they were on Advantage Buy and I had a coupon for $1.00/2.

Baby Dedication and Mother's Day Pics

On Mother's Day, our church celebrated Baby Dedication. It was the first one that our church as had since we've been home. Caroline was so funny! She did great and let me hold her for the first few minutes and then BAM! it was over! She wanted down on the ground. I was having a debate in my head "Do I put her down and risk her crawling all over the stage? Or, do I hold her (like everyone else) and risk her screaming?" So, I went went with putting her down. She proceeded to lay down on her belly, pull up her dress, and beg for a drink. BUT, she was quiet. I guess we both won that battle. Our church made a slide show of all the babies/toddlers, and they are giving us 'gifts' this coming Sunday.

Caroline won the battle of wills...she's on the floor!

Crawling....

This was probably when we first walked on stage...

I think we were getting ready to exit the stage

Our church had it's first annual "Super Mom" competition. In order to get in the contest, you had to be nominated by a written essay...Why is so and so the Super Mom? Tim wrote an awesome essay about our adoption experience and I won! I was in shock! I had no idea. We were standing in the back, I was holding Caroline and was just about to take her to the nursery. I heard..."Blank is the SuperMom of the year...Last year after a routine trip to Guatemala with her mother..." I looked up and started crying. I knew it was me. Anway, I won a trophy and a basket of goodies. We also got to sit in the "Lexus seats", which was actually a leather couch, drink sparkling water and munch on goodies while listening to the service. I was so honored that Tim took the time and wrote such a heartfelt essay. It was the best Mother's Day ever!!!

Caroline's 2nd Birthday Party

My dear friend, Melissa and her boys came to the party. Melissa knows that I definitely have
a girly girl on my hands, so they gave her sunglasses, a cell phone, purse, and lip gloss and
finger nail polish. She ADORED this gift!!

I decided to bake Caroline's cake for her this year. So, I got on Betty Crocker's website to
find a cute idea. WOW, BC made this cake look super easy and it WAS NOT! I think I'll
stick to buying her cakes from now! Anyway, in case you can't tell, I made a pair of flip
flops.

We are singing Happy Birthday to her. She loved being the center of attention!

We had to sing Happy Birthday again because she loved it so much!

I love the next few pictures because Caroline was really trying to blow out her

candle. She was so cute!

Enjoying her cake and ice cream

So sweet and sugary!

My sister and her family got Caroline this adorable tricycle. She was so excited and LOVES

it! It was definitely her favorite gift!

Caroline's opening up her Weebleville toy. She really likes this one too.

Super Woman...

I LOVE this song by Alecia Keyes (As I Am...Super Woman). I saw her perform this on the AMA show some time ago and fell in love. In honor of the super woman in your life, I thought it would be a great time to add it to the music playlist. Happy Early Mother's Day!!!

Our Birthday Girl

On April 21st, we celebrated Caroline's 2nd birthday! WOW, how time flies! Tim and I got her this cute bouncing inchworm. She loved it for a brief moment and now has moved on to other things. LOL!

FREE KFC 2 piece meal

Today, May 5th, print a coupon for a FREE 2 piece grilled chicken meal. This must be printed by May 6th by 9AM CST.

The coupon is good until May 19th (excluding Mother's Day). The print limit is 4, so you can hit your back browser to print out your second coupon. Go back to the site and click "print coupon" and you can do it again.

I personally do not like the new grilled chicken at KFC. Last Sunday, our paper had free Q's for a free piece. We tried it and don't care for it. BUT, FREE IS FREE! :)