—In other news, I’ve completed a few items the last few month of my 101 list.  The biggest one being “cut coupons for an entire month”—I did this for all of March and the difference has been INCREDIBLE.  Now I won’t buy anything (with the exception of clothes and some groceries) without a coupon or incredible deal tied to it.

Today for example, our local K-mart (which we’ve never shopped at before) was doubling coupons up to $4 in value ($8 off) or tripling coupons up to .75 ($2.25 off).  My mom had a lot of coupon inserts and Jonathan and I spent the better part of yesterday afternoon clipping & organizing (oh yes, I’ve developed a system for organizing said coupons).  This activity replenished my somewhat sad coupon collection.  So today, Jonathan and I headed out and this is how we did:

(this photo doesn’t quite do it justice)

We paid $48.31….and better yet SAVED…$68.60!

Some of the best deals were the free huggies travel case of wipes, free reynolds foil, and free ziploc steam bags.  The pull-ups we snagged for my sister were $3.99.  And lots of the cleaners were .25-1.00…not bad!  The cereal was 99 cents a box after coupons and we scored some razor refills for $8.00 off!

We then headed over to walgreens where I purchased all of the items below for $2.69 .  I used register rewards and money off my walgreens gift card from my mail in rebates from last month—BUT I earned back an additional $13 in register rewards!

and so other life updates…well, there’s not much to report.  Life these days is busy and ever-changing.  Not busy in the way most people would define, but busy in the “holy cow, we’re going to be parents in less than 12 weeks…” sort of way.  I’ve felt ridiculously exhausted lately (the extra iron should help) and have had to spend a lot of time with my feet up at night and/or resting in bed for extended periods of time.  Sounds nice?  It is…except when I have so much else to be doing.  Either way, my sweet husband is doing all that he can to make me comfortable in the process.

and so, with the apparent need to rest more than I’m used to,  I’m using the time to think and mentally and spiritually prepare for such a big change on the horizon.  I’m terrified, yet overjoyed.  Excited, but scared to death.  Thankfully, the same God that blessed us with this developing life, a healthy pregnancy to this point, and so many other things–is the same God that will prepare us for the next step.

..so for now, I wait.  and rest.

…and take iron supplements with protest.

(photo courtesy of ericamayphotography)

A year ago yesterday, (after a night of no sleep due to putting all the final preparations together), my now husband asked me the best question I’ve ever been asked…

…and I couldn’t be happier that he asked me. 

So now here we are…married, expecting a baby, and loving this whole “life together” thing.

disclaimer…this post contains details of how I used coupons to score some sweet deals for our growing family—it’s not at all meant to be entertaining

so, as i’ve mentioned before…thanks to so many sweet bloggers out there, I too am learning the ropes of wal-greens shopping.  (soon to venture out to CVS when I feel a little braver)

so yesterday–with the help of my encouraging husband–(and after an afternoon of studying the ad and planning with my coupons)–this was the result…

Some of the deals I’m most proud of include the diapers in varying sizes (that we plan to exchange for more appropriate sizes)–We were able to purchase the 4 newborn packs for a mere $5, and the 2 larger sizes for $7.  With the use of $5 off and $3 off Huggies coupons. 

Total diaper savings?=$26

The creamer was on sale for buy one, get one at 2.49.  I had 2 $1.50 off coupons.

creamer savings?–FREE plus overage

Garnier Fructis sleek and shine cream (which I LOVE and use every day) was on sale for $2.99.  I used a walgreens coupon for $2 off

Total savings: $2  (though I had another $1 off coupon that they wouldn’t let me use…)

The Glade sense and sprays (regular 9.99 a piece) were on sale for 7.99.  I used a buy one get one free and a $4 off walgreens coupon–Total cost was only $3.99 for both!

I love the Curel pregnancy lotion.  I have a bottle currently and it is NOT cheap.  I found it on clearance for $3.50 yesterday and used a Walgreens $2 off coupon, and a manufacturer’s coupon for $1 and only spent .50!

The shaving gel was on sale for $1.99, plus it produced a $1 register reward.

The jet dry was on sale for $3.99 and we’ll receive a $1 rebate in a few weeks.

The gum was 3/99 cents..and we used these items for mostly fillers.

The Sunsilk shampoo, conditioner, and hair styling creme was on major clearance for 1.09 each!

Total savings after using coupons, sales, walgreens coupons, and earned register rewards=93.03

total out of pocket cost=37.96

HOWEVER, we earned an additional $22 in register rewards between the shaving gel and diapers AND we’ll get $1 back in a rebate

so, in my opinion…total cost for all these items WE ACTUALLY USE/WILL USE=14.96 

you can call me a nerd, but I love taking the time to learn this stuff…and Jonathan is even getting excited about ways we can save our growing family money!

our little girl is now a whopping pound or so according to our book!  she’s the length of a small doll and moving so much!

additionally, our book tells us that she can taste things already as what I eats changes the taste of the amniotic fluid she drinks….and some research suggests that babies favor what they have tasted on the inside.

as my husband would say “great…she’s never going to eat veggies.”

oh well.  at least she can keep the sweet tart factory in business.

Since we’re preparing for a baby, we’ve been on the hunt for bargains, coupons, and free stuff.

Cutting coupons for a month is also one of the things on my 101 list.  We did alright off and on for a few months, but last week we saved around $20 in coupons on our monthly Costco trip, and this weekend we saved even more!

I’ve been reading up on Wal-greens and CVS shopping, and I’ll admit that it quite confuses me–but my hubby is helping me along the way

This weekend on www.moneysavingmom.com,  a post was written about $5 off 1 Huggies product and $3 off 1 Huggies product printable coupons…my husband and I of course printed what we were allowed and this was the end result:

Each package was on sale for $5.49 at Target.  We used 4 $5 off coupons and scored all of these refills for $2!  We have some more Huggies coupons stashed away and have put a call out to family and friends who want to print us some as word on the street in coupon land is that there is going to be a stellar deal on Huggies diapers and register rewards next week at Wal-greens.  Either way, $5 off a $10 pack of diapers would be a sweet deal.

We also spent a little time at Children’s Orchard (a gently used children’s consignment shop) where we purchased 3 dresses, a pair of jeans, and a sweater for our little girl for around $15.

I promise more stories of our coupon adventures as I work to truly “learn” the ropes and save our growing family some money in the process

but last night, at 20 weeks and 6 days…we’re quite positive that our little girl decided to introduce herself to her daddy.

he only felt it briefly…and only once, so we’ll of course be on the lookout for more….

but boy is her daddy proud. 

#5 “grow our family or at least begin the attempt” 

   We took a pregnancy test on November 4th, 2008—(and several more later)–the results all the same!  We’re now almost 21 weeks pregnant and expecting a little girl in July!

# Have a campout in our living room..make smores, stay up late watching movies, etc

  While I don’t think we did the smores, we certainly had a night with a fire in the fireplace and movies in the dvd player.

#18 have emma over for a sleepover

   This was pretty easy as Emma stayed with us the night before her baby brother was born

75.)  purchase Christmas gifts for foster kiddos each Christmas

  Working for a foster care agency, we certainly understand how these kiddos often have nothing. Each year, tons of kiddos submit wish lists and ask for someone to provide a Christmas for them.  Jonathan and I enjoy this a great deal  (along with many others in our office) 

79.)  Make a special treat for co-workers

   Not sure when, but I definitely made apple crisp from scratch one day.

81.) Sit in a different spot at church at least 5 times (0/5)

   For some reason we got into a real quick of moving around at church…and by now we’ve set in well over 5 spots.

82.)  Try 5 new recipes (3/5) (Bacon Cheeseburger roll up, maple baked apple chicken, and cheesy chicken skillet)

83.)  Learn how to make a dessert from scratch

  I learned to make apple crisp from scratch

84.)  Go to the dentist for 6 month check up

  Went in October 2008  (though I found out I was pregnant a week later and haven’t been back to get wisdom teeth out or cavities filled)

96.) Pay off all of my personal credit cards (3/3)

  Completed this one—and have continued to utilize one as needed…only to pay it off at the end of every month!

and hoping to stick around this time.

i’ve tackled some things on my 101 list…but those updates will come in a future post.

for now…

this result has been changing a lot in our lives….

…and we couldn’t be more excited.

time flies when you are starting life together as a married couple.  our apartment is coming together and is pretty decked out with fall decor at the moment…

but moving on….i have some new things to cross off my list!

#85 (memorize a verse a week)–new ones to note are: Matthew 11:28-30; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

#16 (walk 2 times a month with Jonathan)–I actually took 2 walks with Jonathan in the past few days, so again–this one is a work in progress

#92:Put together scrapbooks/albums or shower photos, wedding photos, and honeymoon photos

so this one will most definately be a work in progress, but i found a honeymoon and bridal shower scrapbook a few weekedns back and it comes with stickers and paper!  The middle one for our wedding i found for 3 bucks at hobby lobby!

#82:Try 5 new recipes–I have tried two so far….

Bacon Cheeseburger roll up

(i know it looks gross, but it was so good!)

And the other recipe: maple baked apple chicken!

…more to come!

but, in the past few days, i have accomplished some items…

i uploaded a plethora of our wedding photos to facebook, cooked a few meals, and spent some good time reflecting.

i’ve also checked off 2 things off my 101 list and started on another…(the italicized ones will be works in progress) you can find my complete list at the top of this page as well.

#46 start a blog…..ok..ok…so i kind of cheated on this one.  but i’m crossing it off

#67–join a bible study/small group—Jonathan and I joined Razor’s Edge at our church.  it will be intense–refining and simply wonderful.

#85 will be an “in progress one–but it is to memorize one new verse a week and through Razor’s Edge, we will be doing this weekly…and our first one was Psalm 78:70-72

we’re taking off for the weekend….headed to Wichita to see some awesome people make a pretty exciting commitment to one another–in front of friends and family.  Can’t wait…