Do I like this format?

I was not in love with my previous blog template. I'm not really in love with this one either. Any comments or suggestions? Too bad I can't figure out how to use all those crazy backgrounds/music/embellishments other people use. Too bad, indeed.

"I'm a Granny"

Last weekend we helped my mom and dad move. ("We" means Chris and I. Rory and Soren sort of "helped" when they returned from cousin Becky's house on Saturday night. More comic relief than anything.)

While unpacking we came across a stack of crocheted doilies. Now, I myself do not fully appreciate the beauty and intricacy of such items, but apparently my mom does. Because she had a ton of them. After the "special" doilies... (Aren't they really ALL special? Oh, excuse me, let me get my tongue out of my cheek before I continue!) After the "special" doilies were put away, Aunt Sukey helped the girls dress up in the leftovers/discards/lesser specimens.

Soren must have an appreciation for the very old and intricate, because as soon as she was "dressed," she used her creakiest voice and a short crouched walk to channel someone much older than her three years. Here's a picture. She walked a short way a across the room, creaking out, "I'm a granny. I'm a granny. I'm a granny." It was truly hysterical (and a little historical, I'm sure)!

Did you know I work for Walgreens?

Or....
I made money shopping at Walgreens today!

Yes, I made money today shopping at Walgreens. I happened to wake up very early and started perusing the online ads and such, and then worked up a couple of deals I just couldn't pass up. Here's how it went down.

I bought:
Crest Pro-health toothpaste - 3.79
Chemistry conditioner - 7.99
Lip Moisturizer stick - 1.99
Cuticle oil - 4.79
(2) Dawn dish soaps - .99 each (regular 1.99)
Nivea men's body wash - 4.99
Gillette Fusion razor (w/ bonus!)- 9.99
(2) Prep H wipes - 3.99 each
Neutra air kit - 9.99 (regular 11.99)
(2) Poster boards - .25 each (regular .79)
Total before coupons
53.07

Then for my coupons:
$10/$40 purchase (supposedly this can be used only if $40 is your total AFTER manuf. coupons - my checker let me use it first)
$4/1 Gillette Fusion
$5/1 Neutra Air kit
(2) .50/1 Dawn dish soap
$3/1 Prep H
$2/1 Prep H
$3/1 Chemistry conditioner (Aug ES book)
(2) $2/1 Prep H (Aug ES Book)
Total after coupons
21.07 OOP

I then submitted my receipt for both the August ES rebates and the September ES rebates. I get them put on a Walgreens gift card, so I get a 10% bonus. That means I'll be getting back:
Neutra Air - 3.00
Crest - 4.79
Chemistry conditioner - 7.99
Lip moisturizer - 1.99
Cuticle oil - 4.79
Nivea body wash - 4.99
Total: 27.55 + 2.75 bonus = $30.03

I made $9.23 today shopping at Walgreens!
(The bad part is I could have done better if I'd planned ahead and had more coupons for some of the rebate items. Oh well.)

Soren's First Day of Preschool

Soren has been waiting to go to preschool for a long time. It has been especially hard during the past week since Rory went to school.

Before we get to the actual "first day" documentation, I'd like to share a couple of

Soren's preconceived notions about preschool:

1) Anytime anyone asks Soren what she thinks she's going to do/learn/play at preschool, she says, "PAINT!" This has occurred during many, many conversations with many, many people over the last many, many weeks. She seems to think painting is what you do at preschool. (I do admit, painting is a novelty around here. I really don't ever let them do it. Unfortunately, there was no painting today. Don't worry- she lived.)

2) When we visited the preschool classroom last week, her teacher asked me if she was going to go by "Soren" or "Sosi" at school. I hadn't really thought about it, so I asked Soren what she thought. At first she said, "Soren. My name is Soren." Then she thought for about three more seconds, and said, "They can call me 'Dragon', because I breathe fire." (I really don't know where that came from. Really, I don't.)

On to the FIRST DAY:

After breakfast Soren put on her new dress (without help, and without saying, "I can't," even once!) and we put her "Welcome to Preshool" paper and mandatory Kleenex donation into her backpack. We took pictures outside, and then we were off to school. She wasn't even a little bit nervous when we got there, just super interested in the play kitchen. (She was so interested that I had to pull her away from it and put her back in the line to get her nametag, etc.)

Some pictures:

"I'm so excited to go, I just cannot stand still!"

"I am really annoyed that my sister has to be in MY picture!"

"I am so distracted! Is that a play kitchen over there?"

Soren gets a boo-boo....

Today after Chris got home, he took the girls out in the front yard to play and ride bikes, scooters, etc. (I still don't let them play out front by themselves. I just don't trust drivers on our street.) After a few minutes I heard the door open, and a quiet whimpering sound. Then, as if she just HAD to spill the beans to anyone she could, Soren said,

"I'm BLEEDING, Copper and Tilly!"

Apparently they were the first "people" she saw, and she was really needing some sympathy. It was the funniest thing I've heard in quite a while.

It was not a huge deal - a fall off the scooter and a scrape on the inside of her ankle. Nothing a little Curious George band-aid couldn't fix.

Kindergarten... Here she comes!

Rory's first day of kindergarten was Tuesday, August 19th. She was really excited....up at 6:15 to get dressed! Note the cool brown and pink backpack (the product of about six trips to the store due to her inability to decide on one) and the Hannah Montana lunchbag (Dad thinks she's a little young for Hannah Montana, but it was the easiest decision of all).

Soren was also excited to take Rory to school. She really can't wait to go to preschool next week. (Stay tuned for further information!)

We all drove Rory to school and walked her to her classroom where she hung up her backpack and put her lunchbag in the lunch basket. Then she sat at a table and found some beads to string (mostly because I just wanted a picture of her sitting at a table). She really wanted to play with the wooden dollhouse she'd seen at Unpack-Your-Backpack Night, but unfortunately, it was not a choice.

If you're sitting there thinking, "Gosh, there aren't many kids in that classroom," there are two explanations:

1) We were a little early. School doesn't really start until 8:15, but we got there about 7:55 (slight over-acheivers that we are). They let the rest of the kids in at 8:00, so I'm pretty sure once Chris and Soren and I left the room did fill up a bit more.

2) In kindergarten, they do a "split-start," meaning Rory only goes with one-half of her class every-other-day for the first two weeks, while the other half of the class goes on the alternate days (that's a rather technical explanation for kindergarten, isn't it?). After Labor Day, the entire class will be together everyday.

It was an early-out day, so Rory came home on the bus about 1:30. It seems that her favorite parts of the day were:

1) Riding the bus

2) Eating snack (goldfish crackers and OJ)

3) Going out for recess (something about walking on a swinging bridge)

Tomorrow she'll ride the bus TO school. She's REALLY looking forward to that!

*On a side-note, Rory wasn't feeling well at the end of the day. In fact, at dinner time she was running a low fever. She got really concerned that she won't be able to go to school tomorrow. She seems to be better this morning!

Rory is FIVE!!

Rory turned FIVE years old on Friday, August 8th!

She had a celebration that lasted almost three weeks:

* Chuck E Cheese with Alayna & Westin 2 weeks before

* A party at Grandma & Papa's (Julie & Mark) 2 weeks before

* A party at Grandma & Grandpa's (Sharon & Rob) 1 week before

AND...

* A fun day with Mom, Dad & Soren on her birthday!

If you saw my posts on "Making the Cake," you know that Rory wanted a Barbie birthday cake. I delivered, with the marvelous Barbie cake decorated in pink frosting. I must say, I thought she'd be very excited. Here's a video of her reaction on when she woke up on her birthday. You be the judge:

She really enjoyed it later on with the candles and the singing. (And yes, it was really hard to get the candles on there without starting Barbie on fire!) The cake was really good, if I do say so myself. We ate bits and pieces for a few days. Yummmm!

We waited for Chris to get home from work and then Rory opened her presents. (She had already opened all the "good" presents from the Grandmas and Grandpas, so these were more functional from-Mom-and-Dad-type presents.) Here are a few pictures. Please note the FOUR band-aids on her thighs where she got FOUR "kindergarten shots" the day before her birthday. (My hearing is still recovering.)

Yes, that is a DVD of Hairspray she is holding. My kids love musicals. Even musicals that are mild-to-moderately inappropriate in nature. Ask them to sing "Good Morning Baltimore" for you. Its a great experience! And the boots are for walking to the bus stop in the rain.

After presents, we went to Culvers and then hit Rory's highlight of the day... going to Toys R' Us to spend some of her birthday money!

She looked at almost everything in the store, saying about several things, "We'll remember that this is here, and if I want it we can come back and get it." It seemed as if she'd been looking for one special thing without even knowing it. When she laid eyes on it, she HAD to have it- no question! What was this magical toy? Bunk beds for her baby dolls!

She even had enough money (and kindness) leftover to let Soren pick a toy. She chose a baby you can bathe in real water. For a while they referred to it as "Soren's Washing Baby," but soon added an extra syllable. Now the baby has historic political ties and is called, "Soren's Washington Baby." (I try to correct it, but they just don't even hear themselves!)

It was a great day, and now Rory's looking forward to kindergarten!

Check back as Rory heads off to Ekstrand Elementary School!

My Great Deals - Aug. 3 - 9

I went to CVS and Walgreens this week. I stocked up on some much-needed goods, and saved a lot of money in the process. Take a look:





This is what I got at CVS.






(2) Chex Mix - 2/$3 (regular 1.99)
(2) Dawn dish soap - .88 each (reg. 1.69 each)
(2) Colgate Advanced - 2.99 each (reg. 3.89 each)

(1) Fusion razor - 9.99
(1) Childrens Advil - 5.79 (reg. 5.99)

(2) Cover Girl TruBlend makeup - 7.99 each
(2) Pert Plus - 3.69 each
(2) Index cards - 1.49 each
(2) Pilot pens - 1.99 each
(1) CVS toothbrush - .79

(1) candy bar - .79

Total before coupons: 58.42

Minus these coupons:
(1) $2/$10 CVS purchase
(2) .50/1 Chex Mix
(2) .50/1 Dawn
(2) $1/1 Colgate
(1) $4/1 Fusion razor

(1) $1/1 Advil
(1) B1G1 Cover Girl coupon -7.99
(1) B1G1 Cover Girl - in store special - 7.99
(1) B1G1 Pert Plus - 3.69
(2) $2/1 Pert Plus
(1) B1G1 index cards - in store - 1.49
(1) B1G1 pens - in store - 1.99
(1) Free CVS toothbrush - .79
(1) Free Hershey bar - .79
(1) ECB - 5.79
(1) ECB - 5.00
(1) ECB - 2.00


Total OOP = $5.90



*ECB's out = 12.79, ECB's earned this trip = 12.79!



* I really wanted to take advantage of the Buy $5 Pert product, get a $5 rebate on school supplies, but I kind of messed it up. The receipt only shows the price of one Pert Plus, and the other is marked as "free," so I guess I didn't meet the minimum $5 purchase. Oh well!




I had to wait until Tuesday the 5th to go to Walgreens, because that's when the Kellogg's rebate started. Here's a picture of what I got:




Here's out it worked out:

Transaction #1:

(6) Pop Tarts - 5/$10

(2) Corn Pops - 4/$10
(2) Froot Loops - 4/$10


Total before coupons = $22.00

Then I used these coupons:
(2) $1/2 Kellogg's cereal
(3) $1/2 Pop Tarts
$3 Register Reward (RR)

Total OOP = $14.00


* I earned (2) $5 RR's on this transaction, and I will mail in the Kellogg's $10 rebate using this receipt.


Transaction #2:


(2) Shout Wipes - 2/$5
(2) Frosted Flakes - 4/$10
(2) Corn Pops - 4/$10


Total before coupons = 15.00 + tax


Then I used these coupons:
(2) .75/1 Shout
(1) $1/2 Kellogg's cereal

Total OOP = 12.85


* I earned $5 RR's on this transaction. I wanted to use a RR from my previous Kellogg's purchase, but I was afraid it wouldn't print out since they were the same promotion.

* I also will submit for (2) $1/1 Shout wipes Easy Saver Rebate.


Transaction #3:


(3) Jif Peanut Butter - 3/$5

Used a $5 RR from Transaction #1

Total OOP = 0.00 - FREE

Transaction #4:


(2) gallons of milk - 3.39 each
(2) Welch's jelly - 3/$5 (3.34 total)

Used a $5 RR from Transaction #1

Total OOP = $5.12


*I wanted to use (2) $5 RR's on this last transaction, but the cashier said I could only use one.


Bottom Line for the Week:


For all the stuff pictured above (from both CVS & Walgreens) I spent a


total OOP of $37.87, not including remaining rebates, ECBs and RR's.




My net spending is 37.87 MINUS:

$10 Kellogg's mail in rebate

$12.79 ECBs

$5 remaining RR's

$2 Easy Saver rebate


$8.08 !!!!


(for products valued at $129.31)

That's a savings of 94%!

Step 5: The Finished Product

The cake is finished! We decided not to hide it all day tomorrow. (I am a little fearful of what could happen to it if its not in a safe, visible place at all time.) I'll have to update you on Rory's reaction. I may even try to get it on video. (And if I'm feeling really ambitious, I might learn how to post a video on here.)

It now sits on top of the stove, and the hood light gives it an aura of reverence.

The Barbie cake....

Step 4: Finishing the Frosting

After doing a little time in the freezer, the cake was ready for some good amounts of frosting. I tried to make it swirly like Video Lady described as "billowing fabric," but I'm pretty sure I fell short in that area. It was nice knowing no one but my happy-to-be-5 daughter would be critiquing my skills. (And don't forget, she has never seen Video Lady's rock-star version.)

Overall I was happy with how the large amounts of frosting covered the uneveness of the cake layers. Chris was impressed with the outcome (but I don't think he looked too closely at Video Lady's cake, either).

Once the skirt was done, I had to wrap Barbie in Press N' Seal. I then discovered that she was too tall for the cake, with everything above her thighs sticking out of the top. I solved this by turning Ballerina Barbie into Contortionist Barbie. I used a couple of rubber bands to bend her legs backward. Then she fit fine. I'm hoping the physical effects are not permanent.

Once Contortionist Barbie was stuck into the cake, I "piped" some frosting on her bodice. Really I just used a Ziploc bag with the hole cut a little-too-large. The instructions say to make rosettes, and by golly that's exactly what Video Lady did. Not me- mine are more like pebbles of frosting. They eventually all blended together. Here's what she looked like before I finished her hair, wiped off the plate, etc., etc.

Stay tuned for Step 5: The Finished Product

Step 3: The Crumb Coat

This is pretty much where I gave up on the techniques of Video Lady. This crumb-coat is supposed to be a very thin coat of frosting to hold the crumbs onto the surface of the cake so they don't show on the finished product. Video Lady even went so far as to use a strip of paper to smooth the cake on all sides from bottom to top. (I did not smooth it that much, and was lucky enough to have the alternative she suggested- an off-set spatula.)



After the crumb-coat was on the cake, I had to freeze it for 45 minutes for it to set. We had to make room in the big freezer for the cake plate, which included figuring out how to suspend the pedestal between some frozen spinach dip and a box of Cheerios. (If you want to know why I have cereal in my freezer, come back Saturday to read about the great grocery deals I got this week!) So far, so good.


I got so preoccupied with positioning the plate in the freezer that I forgot to take pictures of the finished crumb-coat. This is what it looked like stacked up on the plate, before I put the crumb-coat on. (I even used the parchment paper strips recommended by Video Lady to keep frosting off of the serving plate.)

Coming Soon.....Step 4: Finishing the Frosting

Step 2: Trimming the Cakes

Step 2 was totally easy. I trimmed the rounded parts off each layer, and cut the "bowl" layer in half. I used my extra-large-really-sharp serrated knife, and it worked just fine. I didn't even freeze it first.

Step 2 also involved cutting the 2-inch holes in the middle of each layer. The ultra-prepared demonstration lady on the video used a cute "decorative cutter" (although it looked suspiciously similar to a biscuit cutter to me). I couldn't find anything that small, so I just cut the holes with a knife. Nobody is really going to see them anyway!

Stay tuned for Step 3: The Crumb Coat

The Barbie-cake-baking has begun.....

I've studied the video on the web, I've used my positive imagery, and now the wheels have been set in motion.

Step One: Baking the Cake Layers

*First, a disclaimer: I realize in my original plan I stated I would be baking the cake, frosting the cake, and assembling all cake-related items AFTER the kids go to bed tonight. Then, when re-reading the instructions, I noticed that it said, "TOTAL TIME- 3 HOURS and 40 MINUTES"!

So, for those who know me well, you know that I can't stay awake past 10:30 p.m. to do much of anything, let alone create a Barbie doll dress out of sugar and sprinkles! I decided the best course of action would be to let the girls help me bake the layers, and then do the frosting/assembling after bedtime. Hopefully this will go okay!*

The cake mixing went pretty much according to plan. I used my big Kitchen Aid mixer. I greased and floured the pans and bowl. (The instructions say to use 2-8" round cake pans PLUS a 1.5 quart bowl with a diameter of 8 inches across the top. My bowl was about 7 3/4 inches, but I'm figuring I can make up the 1/4 inch with frosting.)

The round cakes just came out of the oven- I was hoping for as little doming as possible, but I can see that we are going to have to trim some off the tops. That is also going to be true for the bowl cake. Its actually domed so much that its cracked a bit on top.

We're headed to the doctor this afternoon (Rory's 5-year checkup with shots), so I will let them cool until we get home. The video then describes freezing the layers for a short amount of time so they trim easier with fewer crumbs.

Stay tuned for Step Two: Trimming the Cakes.....

Countdown to THE BIRTHDAY CAKE

Rory's 5th birthday is Friday, 8/8/08. (I keep getting reminded that its coming up by the TV because that's the same day the Olympics start.)

Rory wants a Barbie cake, and I've come across this wonderful creation at Betty Crocker.com that looks really cute and girly. It uses a *REAL* Barbie doll placed in the center of the cake, and then the lower half of the cake is her skirt. My own personal expectations for the outcome of this cake are pretty high. (Although I am trying to be realistic: I've not ever been really successful at the piping of frosting, [which is necessary to cover the doll's upper body], and I'm not sure I have the skill to cut the "dome" off of the inidvidual cake layers without them breaking in half.) I have wisely chosen NOT to show the Betty Crocker picture to Rory in the hopes that she'll be super-impressed with whatever low-rent version I am able to pull off. (This is also why I have not posted a link to the beautiful Betty Crocker version.)

Even though the big day isn't until Friday, I'm starting my prep work today. Here's a rundown of the tasks I hope to complete:

Monday: *Buy cake mixes, frosting, candy sprinkles and Barbie doll.
* Re-read directions printed from website.

Tuesday: * Watch a Betty Crocker web wizard make the entire cake on a video.

Wednesday: * Complete positive visualization exercises by imagining myself making
perfect frosting swirls and rosettes, and trimming the cake layers swiftly
and easily. (I might even try to dream about this perfection.)

Thursday: * Take a nap in the afternoon.
* Bake cake layers, assemble, and frost after the kids go to bed.

Stay tuned for updates on my progress...there's more to come!

CVS Deal of (Last) Week

I hope I don't confuse you...the great deal I am about to explain happened LAST week, and is not available anymore. (Parts are, but not the entire thing.) It was super great, so I just have to share!

I bought:

(1) Infant Advil - 5.79 (regular price - 6.49)
(1) Chlorophyll tablets - 3.38
(20) Candy bars @ 2/$1 - 10.00 (reg. .79 each)

Then I used these coupons:
$1/1 Infant Advil
$19.99 ECB's

My total OOP was 18 CENTS!!!
Plus I got 10.79 back in ECB's.

Total value of 25.67 for 18 CENTS!
My husband is starting to get impressed.

Walgreens Plan - Get more cereal!!

Here's my best scenario for getting the most out of the Kellogg's rebate and Walgreens cereal sale.

According to the Kellogg's website (http://www2.kelloggs.com/Promotion/PromotionDetail.aspx?PID=9117), to get the Kellogg's $10 mail-in-rebate, you must purchase 10 items ALL IN THE SAME TRANSACTION. I am learning that doing multiple transactions at any one store increases your rewards for that store, so this made my scenario a little more difficult. And the register receipt MUST BE DATED AUGUST 5TH or AFTER!

I plan to buy:
(2) Froot Loops
(2) Corn Pops
(6) Pop Tarts

The total price for these should be $22 + tax. (Cereals 4/$10, Pop Tarts 5/$10, added one Pop Tart to get the 10th item needed for the Kellogg's rebate.)

After using (2) $1/2 cereal coupons, and (3) $1/2 Pop Tart coupons, and $3 in RR from a previous purchase, my OOP is $14 + tax. I then should get $5 RR for the cereal (pg. 1 of the weekly ad), and $5 RR for the Pop Tarts (pg. 3 of the weekly ad). Plus I can use this one receipt to get the $10 mail-in-rebate (MIR)from Kellogg's.

Summary: $14 OOP
- $5 RR (cereal)
- $5 RR (Pop Tarts)
- $10 MIR
$6 PROFIT!!!

I will probably stock up on more cereal without the Kellogg's MIR, and it should still be a good deal.