I hit the mother-load at Walmart and Kmart today....

Walmart take today....$96.98 total before coupons....paid $8.98!

Now, read the fine print.....I had 17 coupons for $3.00 off flea collars which sell for $.97 each. This equals an overage of $34.51. Other overages were 4 x $3.00 coupons on $1.97 disposable razors = $4.12 overage on razors. And 2 x $5.00 coupons on $3.97 Zantac = $2.06 overage on zantac. This equals total overage of $40.69. Now Walmart is not gonna hand over $40 in cash for buying their stuff....BUT....if you buy enough stuff so that the $40 is absorbed and you end up paying something then it works. So I chose to buy over $40 in groceries that I don't usually have coupons for such as meat, bread, produce.

Kmart doing doubles again....total before coupons $78.81....paid $3.79!

More fine print.....

I had overages at Kmart because I had a couple of Kmart coupons for $3 off total purchase. I had two of these so I broke the order into two orders to use both. That's why I purchased the bacon....no coupons for them but I had overage to use up. I ended up with two $5 off coupons to use on your next order. I'll probably use these at Publix 'cause they honor all competitor coupons.

What 'cha want for dinner tonight??

Been workin' the deals' in August. Here's a couple of pics from a trip to Kmart and Publix. Kmart was doubling up to $2.00, so 2.00 coupon was doubled to $4.00. They're doing it again next week. Kmart total was $105.42 and I paid $14.80. Publix trip was today to get some buy one/get one frees before the weekly sale ended. Publix's ads run Wednesday thru Tuesday. This trip was $93.74 and after B1G1's, in-store specials, $3.03 left on gift card...I paid $15.08. Also went to Wally World Sunday. Total was $60.33 and I paid $15.20. Plus short trip to Winn Dixie to pick up a couple of B1G1 was $12.14 and paid $2.10

Totals for 4 stores was $271.63 and I paid $47.18. That's 82.6% savings. Not too bad. I didn't have to buy any meat in these trips, just the 2 boxes of fish sticks which will make 4 or 5 meals. I already had pork chops (B1G1 at WD last week) and ground beef. Publix has chicken and ground beef on sale this week so I'll do that before next Tuesday.

I'm always on the lookout for fast food/restaurant coupons. We eat out once or twice a week. Monday night we had Burger King - 2 whoppers, 2 fries, and 2 sr. diet cokes = $3.20 after free whoppers (on back of every receipt!). We ate a MacDonald's twice this month 'cause we had coupons for their new big burger; just buy burgers and get medium fry and drink free. And those burgers were surprisingly good but I'd never pay full price ($3.99) without coupon of some kind! Then there is Subway's footlongs for $5. Very good deal to bring home and add chips and diet coke. And I still have a few Sonic coupons for B1B1 burgers, footlong dogs, etc. There is also a new place in town called Chow Time. It's similar to Golden Corral but only $5.49 before 4:00. They have good peel'n eat shrimp.

Kmart/Publix

Our new baby boy.....

~Buddy~

He was lost and we adopted him.

Highlights of 2 weeks with Kyle and Logan

Extremely cool springs...........68 degrees.............

Go fly a kite...............

Lunch at Tom's Famous Hot Dogs........

The most gorgeous beach in Fla........

A great time was had by all!

Last photo from Texas

Here's the last of the cacti.....taken on our trip from Texas to Florida July 3rd.

We've been very busy since returning. We got back to Florida on July 4, taking just 2 days to travel over 1000 miles from Del Rio, TX (we weren't in a hurry or anything, lol!) Just glad to be back.

We stayed at cousin Marilyn's place from Saturday until Friday, July 10, when we moved on down to St. Andrews State Park at Panama City Beach, Fla. to begin our volunteer duties. We have the same site as last year, #103, looking out on the bay. Samantha and Nathan and the 3 boys came that night and stayed til Monday. Two boys, Kyle and Logan, stayed with us. We've been busy with them and trying to keep them entertained!

And lots of beach fun, too!!

Lazy Days of Summer.....

Now I know why they are called the lazy days of summer. It's too dang hot to even move around. Sit very still, in front of a big fan, with the air on high. That's all you can do when the temp is in the 100's. The past several days the sun comes up before 7:00 a.m. and there are no clouds to block it. Gets hot early. We spend the afternoons at the pool to stay cool. Actually, the only bad part of the day is from about 2:00 until 7:30 or 8:00. After 8:00 it gets cool again (inside). Today was probably the worst. Sam said he drank four bottles of water after lunch. They were weed-eating!! Luckily, he gets off at 3:30 when the very hottest part of the day begins.

Here's some pics of Scott & Angelia's trip to Myrtle Beach. Beautiful family!!

Big ol' Portabella Mushroom burgers

Something like this..........only bigger!

Forgot to take a picture...we scarffed 'em down too quick.

Two large Portabella Mushrooms - sprinkle with EVOO and Red Wine Vinegar. Grill 4-5 minutes on each side. Top with two slices fresh mozzarella cheese last minute of cooking.

Sprinkle buns with EVOO and grill til toasty.

Garnish with Lettuce leaves, Tomato slices, Red sweet onion slices, Mayo and any other favorites.

Enjoy!

Less than 4 weeks to go

and we'll be out of here!

Nothing new to report. Just trying to keep cool (103!).

Sam has enough annual leave built up so that we are leaving 2 weeks early..........July 2 will be his last day to work. We're leaving July 3rd. Not a great time to be on the road but we can't just sit here and wait for the Holiday to be over.

Here's our son's (Scott) newest toy! They are all at Myrtle Beach this week! WHAaaaaaa!

More pictures from Atlanta trip last month...

My first flight on an airplane with props instead of jet engines. I won't do that again! Just too bumby and too scary for me. This was Continental's "code share partner" flying from Del Rio to Houston.

The Houston to Atlanta flight was on Continental's Express, operated by Colgen Air - the same company whose plane crashed near Buffalo in March. I was nervous.

Houston in overcast skies. There were thunderstorms in the area. We managed to go around them.

Everyone gathered for the Easter Egg Hunt. It's hard to get all five to be still at one time!

Mackenzie has a pretty good start...

Tyler searching...

Ethan wonders "what's going on?"Kyle counting his haul...
And Logan, digging in....

Here I am with all five!

Birthday boy enjoying his first cake...

And just a little bit more....

And a few Ka-Zillion presents to open!

Happy first birthday, Ethan!

Northern "Bullock's" Oriole

Another bird for my life list...this Oriole has an almost peach-colored stomach that shows up when he flies. They like fruit and nectar from the hummingbird feeders.