Holy Cow--He's TWO!

That's right friends, my Isaac is officially two years old.  I'm not sure how we managed to keep two whole children alive this many years, but we did!  Yay us!

My Isaac is so much fun---more so every day.  I love it when he sings primary songs.  His favorites are "I Am A Child Of God," "I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus," and "I Love to See the Temple." He also loves to sing the ABC song, and to count.  One of my very favorites is when he says "I Love YOU!!!!"  I love to watch him play.  He can focus so much longer than...some of my other kids ;).  He loves legos and books and putting things away.

I love you Isaac bug!

Farewell to the Marriot Center

And it's not just me waving goodbye.  I have the strange feeling that everyone should join me.  If tradition holds, the building's a goner--since most of the buildings I grew to love at BYU have been destroyed.

T Hall of Deseret Towers, where I had my first taste of college and gained the freshman (never mind, you don't want to know how much weight I actually gained...love you Morris Center) is now only a happy memory.  You can't tell that there ever was a room 311 where Meagan and I nearly never slept.  There's only a lovely green lawn.

The KMB.  How do I begin to describe the way I feel about that sprawling, ancient, fabulous building?  With thespians in one side, computer geeks (and who knows what other outcasts got their offices in there) in the other, generously sprinkled with large spiders, bugs the color of Annie's hair, and perhaps some mice scattered generously throughout.  Oh, that I had found the courage to discover where those multitudes of trap doors led--or followed the janitors into the basement just once.  My favorite part was how far away the bathrooms were--perfect for my first pregnancy: I was always waddling across the building with my heels and growing belly, trying to not wet my pants or lose my lunch before I got there.  With all of it's defects, there's a true nostalgia for that building, which once again has become a grassy field.  So many friends, fun, and good times.

All right, that's only two buildings I loved that have been wiped off the face of the earth.  But I really DID love them.  The only other building I really got attached to is brand new--and GORGEOUS.  I do love the JFSB as well, but since BYU just spent millions rebuilding that one, it is probably safe. 

Which leaves the Marriot.  Basketball games with CRAZY Bobberts, devotionals and forums, my first date with Mike, parking in that lot every day my senior year, and now TWO graduations (I may have forgotten to mention that I FINALLY finished my last class Independent Study style.  Only four years for one class...it was starting to feel like NEVER, so I'm pretty proud).  That building and I have a lot of history.

It would be sad to have another monument to my college years felled to the earth. 

Although, after sitting through commencement with my knees crammed into the chair in front of me, the sacrifice loses some of its sting.

It just blowed up...

This one time, my life BLEW UP.  Really, that's the only way I can describe it.

I'm not sure exactly when it started.  Maybe it was sitting in a little room in the Stake Offices hearing that Mike was being called to be Stake Men's Sports Specialist.  As this meant he'd be released from Elder's Quorum Secretary, we thought maybe we'd get more time together (everyone laugh manically since you know that this occurred sometime in February, which meant BASKETBALL SEASON).

We briefly talked about my calling: Primary chorister and pianist (not at the same time, silly).  I distinctly remember saying, "and I don't want to be moved please.  EVER."  I also distinctly remember the LOOK that President Stratton gave me.  The Spirit was either speaking to him or to me.

I was called to be Relief Society Secretary one and a half weeks later.

Okay.  When you've finished laughing and rolling on the floor ('cause that's about what I was doing when the Bishop asked me to accept that calling), I can continue. 

Maybe I should just say that being a secretary doesn't come easily for me.  Punctuality...organization...generally clear thinking...NOT ME.

Aaaaaand Mike was at basketball two nights a week and several hours on Saturdays for basketball.
Aaaaaand another night for volleyball and another couple hours on Saturdays for that as well.

Then there's my firstborn.  Really, it's not for nothing that he is known to Mike's coworkers as Attila the Son.  He's smart, and he is good at HAVOC.  "When it comes to havoc, nobody wreaks like me!!!!"  He was also starting to scare me.  Something about the animal look in his eyes and the snarl on his face when he got angry...and STAYED angry.  So, we went to a psychologist (Dr. Richards, for those of you who know him) and had a little talk. The first thing he mentioned was that we should try going off of gluten.

and a little bell went off in my head that said, "YEP."

For those of you who aren't acquainted with "going off gluten," I can explain it in two words: STOP EATING EVERYTHING YOU LOVE.  Pizza? Donuts? Cereal? Bread? Pasta? CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES made by your mother-in-law?  All out.  Every dinner that you have been stocking up for using your hard earned coupons (anyone want a storage room full of gluten)?  Sorry, you are going to have to START OVER.

So, kinda, I've been going a little bit crazy.  But the awesome part is: Gregory feels SO much better.  He's a different child.  I wish gluten worked for the "terrible two's" though.  Isaac is becoming a handful (it never ENDS)!  I feel way better too.  Remarkably so.  Always listen to your mother, because she's just about always right (she's been telling me to try going off gluten for years).  And even though most weeks right now are CARAZY (did I mention I spent ALL DAY at visiting teaching conferences?) we're doing pretty well.  Although I feel like I'm going on a super fast treadmill and I might fall off if I step wrong.

But hey.  I've always wanted to get better at running.

Fun, Fun, FUN.

Dear my friends,
Once upon a time, my cousin married a super awesome girl.  I like her lots, and would love to be like her when I grow up.  She has a blog, which I read, and guess what I found on it the other day?

"I promise to send something hand-made to the first five people who leave a comment here. You must in turn post this on your blog and send something that YOU make to the first five people that comment on your blog! The rules are the item has to be HANDMADE by YOU and sent sometime in 2011! How fun it that!"

So.  I commented.  Because this cousin of mine (okay, by marriage, but I claim her, okay?) is ALWAYS up to cute things, and I can't wait to see what she makes for me!!  I even decided it was worth trying to decide what to make for YOU dear readers!  Because deciding is the hardest part.  The making is fun.

I may have cheated, since I probably have all of two people reading this, but I hereby solemnly swear to make something for the first five people who comment here.  Comment at your own risk, since you never know what you will receive. ;)

Love,
Me.

Innocent Face

Once upon a time, around Christmas, Mike had a crazy dream.  He doesn't usually remember any of his dreams, but this one was a chestnut.  He found himself in the middle of an Agatha Christie murder mystery.  Can you guess who the oh-so-creepy villain of the piece was?  Yep, yours truly.  So naturally he woke up and was a little disturbed to find a murderess right next to him in bed. 

Luckily I rolled over and mumbled, "the best part about Christmas is giving..."  which probably creeped him out even more.  Why can't I be more original when I sleep talk?

Tale of a tail...

One of my favorite things about Preschool is that I get to share the daily giggles of my existence with an "expert."  For instance, when my child walked into preschool today with a belt twice his size only through half the loops of his pants, most people would think I was insane.  I'm positive that the teacher understood that Gregory had figured out how to give himself a tail.  Rather than try to appear like a completely normal family and risk missing preschool altogether because of a tantrum, I did not try to dissuade him from appearing in public with said tail.  We just happily walked to preschool with a belt flapping behind us.  All I heard from Miss Bev at the end of school was, "I see he's wearing Daddy's belt today!  What a big boy!"

Of course, the belt was "fixed" and wound twice around his waist through his belt loops--maybe the tail idea didn't translate.  Maybe they think I'm insane after all.

The Home is...

the great laboratory of love.  There the raw chemicals of selfishness and greed are melded in the crucible of cooperation to yield compassionate concern and love one for another.
~Russell M. Nelson

WEWT!

Susan got back to me--she gets the same discounts on the newspaper as Amy does.  So I would love to set up a class here at my house sometime!  Would after Christmas work the best?  Unless you guys want to hurry it up quick like :D  Maybe the 28th, or 30th?  Will you all be around then?  Let me know what works and we'll get something started.  I'm still going to go to Amy's class on the 16th--Carly, if you're to busy next week, let me know, and Meagan, if you are too tired--not like you're moving across the world or anything ;).  We can do the smaller party later if you want.  I can't wait!

Savvy News

All right.  The first two people that talked to me were Meagan Brady and Carly.  Here's the deal though.  Amy says there's a waiting list for the class.  I wrote a post on the forum about getting on it for you Meagan Meyer (and anyone else that wants to come).  If that doesn't work out, there are also other ladies on the site that do free classes as well.  I've written to my favorite to ask her if she gets the same killer deals on the paper that Amy does--if so, I will totally host a class and we will PARTAY.  I don't want to deprive anyone of their couponing kick.  I will keep you guys updated!

Exciting News

My dear friends:
I got a link to this in my e-mail today--http://forum.savvyshopperdeals.com/showthread.php?t=23664
Amy the Savvy Shopper is having a coupon class.

Sounds mega exciting right?  Oh...joy...a COUPON class?

It's not just any coupon class though, she's going to GIVEAWAY A TON OF STUFF.  She normally gives away a bunch of stuff at her classes.  This time she says she's doing a Christmas giveaway and going crazy with it.  That got ME excited to go, and I've already been!

I know several of you have said you want to get together and learn how to do Amy's system--everyone who can come on the 16th should come!  I'll come too, we'll have a girl's night, and go out for treats after.  And of course, we will revel in all of the free stuff we will get.

There's another reason to go.  Amy gets the best subscription deals for the Daily Herald, and sometimes the Deseret News too.  She hints in her forum posts that there is something exciting relating to that--I'm guessing an awesome deal on the newspaper!  Hmm...maybe she'll let me get seven copies?  Lol...  so if you've been wanting to sign up (and you don't have to start with five if you don't want to!) This class is the place to do it.  I didn't know about the dealz she could give, so I signed up just from her website--21.something a month.  Now I pay 18.something (22 I think?) a month, and it sounds like it COULD go even lower at this class!  18 a month is totally worth it to save 79% on my shopping trips!

So, if you even think you might want to come, DO.  Amy is HILARIOUS and very entertaining.  Plus we'll get to hang out and get free stuff, and get amazing deals on the newspaper, and I'm thinking ice cream after?  Or maybe that new Chocolat place on S. State in Orem?  Somewhere awesome.

Call me, write a comment, facebook me, do SOMETHING, click on the link at the top of the post and sign up, and we will PLAY and LEARN and have fun.

Edit:  I just signed up and reserved 3 spots.  So two of you are already reserved!  Hurry and contact me so we can get enough spots for everyone (I could only do 3)!  Did I mention it was free free free?  

Yipidee Doo Dah

YIPEEEE!!!  It was a fun shopping trip, I tell you what!  I'm still geeking out over the excitement.  It's really not ME that's awesome though (in negation to those who have commented in such manner).  It's Amy the Savvy Shopper, who puts these lists together.  I just looked off of a list she made of awesome deals, decided what I would use in my family, grabbed my coupons and went shopping.

I had to brave Linda's line, of course.  Fate would not have it any other way.  If you ever go shopping at Orem Smith's early in the morning, try to avoid her line.  Especially if you have coupons.  She's reduced me to near tears before.  Lauren can bear witness.  But since I was expecting the absence of all enthusiasm, or replies to my enthusiasm, it went all right.

Speaking of Lauren, remember how she says things so much better than I do?  Check out her post here to see her version of my crazy-makes-no-sense explanation of couponing.  Much more concise and readable, don't you think? 

My Best Shopping Trip YET!!

I know, it's been a long time--and I was doing so well there for a little while!

But I'm back to tell you more of my couponing adventures!!!

8 Krusteaz Cookie Mixes
7 Bounty Paper Towels
8 muffin mixes
4 Ziploc Boxes of Gallon Freezer Bags
6 Dawn Dish Soap (Hand Renewal!!!)
2 Pouches Idahoan Potatoes
6 Renuzit air fresheners
2 boxes Ronzoni Pasta
8 cans of evaporated milk
6 boxes of kleenex (with LOTION!!!)
1 bottle of cream of tartar
1 can Campbell's Soup
2 containers of Clorox Bleach
7 Toothbrushes
1 chapstick
7 Toblerone bars (yummmm)
1 half pint of half and half
1 gallon milk
1 bag clementines
4 boxes green giant frozen vegetables
2 bags frozen steamer veggies
6 banquet freezer pies
2 bags of chex mix (brings back freshman year, every time ;)

That's what I got.  A whole back-of-my-outback full of groceries.  Can YOU guess how much I paid for it?

Please notice the length of the receipt--it's about a foot shorter than I am :D

Want a Good Laugh?

My sister Lauren introduced me to a blog called Catalog Living.  It's about the man and the woman, Gary and Elaine, who live in all of those perfect house catalog pictures we see.  Mostly it's a chance to poke fun of the silliness in those perfect houses.  I adore it and I laughed really hard at a lot of these posts!  Take your time and read a bunch--it took me a bit to get past the tee hee hees and into the HAR HAR HAR!s. 

This is one of my very favorites:

Use your big boy furniture…

Gary, we got the desk and Medieval Torture Chair you wanted, so why do you still insist on reading on the floor?  Now, where’s that beige book I came in here for?


It's made me step back and giggle at some of the designs I used to take too seriously.  Who really has an entire collection of beige books anyways?

Prodigies Both

Gregory has been surprising me lately with phrases coming out of his mouth that are distinctly more grown up than he is.  Every once in a while he will turn to me, put his hand on my face tenderly (assuming that my face is within reach), and refer to me as "my darling."  If I try to reciprocate, however, he says, "I'm not your darling!!! I'm just Gregory!"

He's started Preschool.  !?!  Yeah.  Exactly.  Not really sure how he managed to live to the ripe old age of three, but there you have it.  Ever since preschool started, I've noticed an increase in social skills.  He told me yesterday, "I want to put a blanket on top [of that tower you are building around me].   Let me know when you are finished Mommy."  Okay sweetheart.  I'll just let you know.  I was delighted to hear the word "October" issuing from the living room while I was making dinner.  I know he didn't learn that one from me--I just try to keep the kid alive.   Preschool is a beautiful thing.  And when I pick him up and he says, "I sure missed you while I was at preschool Mommy.  Did you miss me?"  That's even beautiful-er.

The drama side of Gregory is winning out over his shy side a little more now.  He'll actually finish singing a song out loud sometimes.  Instead of starting out to sing loud and strong (think Adriane-ish behavior), and then slowing and quieting to a stop as his reserved self (think Mike-ish) realized what was going on.  The poor thing has polar opposites vying for control inside!  But lately (preschool may be helping this one out too) he's been actually having lots of fun singing.  He LOVES the Phineas and Ferb songs (of course), and a slew of primary action songs like "The Eensy Weensy Spider" and "The Wise Man Built His House Upon a Rock."  I have a 75% chance of not getting SHUT DOWN when I start singing too.  This is up from a 10% chance, so I'm liking life a lot more lately.

Isaac...well, he's learning to be a handful.  He's a climber, for one thing.  Gregory always liked to play things safe--maybe we should have named Isaac after my Dad too (I love you Daddy ;).  I had to pull my youngest off of the toilet tank the other day.  I know, what neglectful parenting.  Let me just say that he's fast.  All it takes is the blink of an eye and a second of turned back.

Isaac loves SHOES!  Shoes mean freedom.  But since he's figured out how to open the front door, he's not picky about being shod before leaving the house.  I realized he was gone the other day while I was finishing my toilette (read: I was not fully clothed and Gregory had let Isaac escape from the basement where I keep them caged).  There was too much sun coming through my door for it to be closed.  By the time I finished getting my clothes on and got outside, he was all the way to the mailbox.  Which is a really long way when you remember that it usually takes him a good three minutes to work his way down the two cement steps of our porch.  When I'm watching him, that is.  After having a heart attack (almost), I resolved to keep the deadbolt locked at ALL TIMES.

So, you know, I'm just trying to keep up here.  Now that we aren't as sick (we spent basically the entire month of September sick.  When I wasn't in bed in utter misery, I was cleaning up the result of my children's misery.  NOT FUN) I might have a better chance of staying ahead of the game.  RIGHT.  Okay, being realistic, two steps behind isn't all that bad, right?  :D

Kiss Up

The other day, I was squatting in the laundry room, trying to help Gregory put on his pants.  It's a regular occurrence, as we are working on potty training...still...and probably will be until he leaves on his mission.  Everybody start praying for him NOW--or perhaps pray for his companion (because if I, as Gregory's Mommy, don't want to change his diapers, it's a GUARANTEE that his companion won't).

BUT, as I squatted there, patiently holding out Gregory's pants to him, he pulled a three-year-old and charged me.  Smack went my bottom (luckily my 'hind parts had not yet been introduced to spinning :P) on the hard tile floor.  Needless to say, I was upset.  So how do you react when your three year old that just caused bruising to your tail bone looks at you with concern and says, "What happened Mommy?"

You should be proud of me--I didn't lose my temper.  It must've been a good day ;).  I explained that when he ran into me, it knocked me off balance, and falling hurt my bottom, because the ground was really hard.  He looked at me, taking all this in.  Then as I struggled to pick my old feeble body up from the floor, he said, "Mommy, can I kiss your bum?"

Lia Sophia Party

Dear Friends,
This one time, I accidentally signed up to host a Lia Sophia party.  Let me 'splain.  My sister Lauren had a jewelry party last night (yeah, that's the party that I had chocolate on my pants for).  It was really fun!  The jewelry is gorgeous, her pie was delish, and I LOVED seeing all the people that I hadn't seen in forever.  I was mostly planning on going, having fun, visiting, and looking at jewelry of course.

But then Liz pulled out the chocolate.  You know me.  I grab chocolate and ask questions later.  I hear, "choose up to three."  By gum, I did. :D  But if you get one with a "P" on it, you get signed up to do a party.  I got two.  But I don't have to do two parties, she said.

At first I was pretty stressed out.  My Dad's anti-party genes started manifesting themselves.  And my wish to avoid any interaction with pyramid schemes and pressuring my friends.  But then I got to choose my favorite piece of jewelry and pay $20 for it.  It originally cost $120.  Yeah, saved a hundred.  The savvy shopper would be proud.

So.  Nobody tell the Lia Sophia advisor, Liz (promise, Jamie?)  but I've decided that I really don't care if I get any more stuff.  My goal is to ditch the stress and have FUN.  So.  You are all invited to my party--next Thursday at 7pm, my house.  Call me if you need an address or directions.  My number is eight zero one eight eight five seven three zero nine.  I don't know if writing like that will keep me safe from bots or not.

My plan for the party is to get together, talk a bunch, play dress up with jewelry and eat something good--I've been craving some of Meagan's yummy spinach dip, so I'll probably make that.  If not a single person orders anything, I will be a happy camper.  If you find something you love and decide to buy it, I will be delighted for you.  You don't have to book your own party (unless you fall in love with a $120 bracelet and only have $20 to pay for it like me...), and you don't have to buy anything.

You don't even have to come if you don't want to. Liz and I are very capable of talking enough for a whole room full of people--even if we are the only ones there. :D

If you're not sure/can't come/want to check out the jewelry first, you can check it out at www.liasophia.com/sites/lizt  There's some really REALLY pretty things--and don't worry, they don't all cost as much as the bracelet I chose for my hostess gift!  I would post pictures here, but they are all Flash and I can't just grab them.

So there.  I basically broke all the rules of a pyramid scheme party, but whatever.  Leave me a comment if you want a fun, pressure-free girls night.  I'll even have my OWN chocolate so you don't find your stomach calling the shots. ;)

Relativity

I have my own theory of relativity.  I got back from a party tonight and remembered that my jeans had been splattered all down the backs of the legs.  With chocolate milk.  See, it could have been a lot, lot worse.  I could have gotten back from the party and realized I had the same thing on my pants as yesterday.  In FACT, the same pants that I was wearing when I got pooped on yesterday but cleaned it up really well (GROSS!  TMI!  DO MY LAUNDRY!  In my defense, I've been doing a LOT of cleaning up laundry lately, I had JUST done it, {Rather, Mike had just done it} and I was running late.  Don't judge). 

At least I THOUGHT I'd cleaned it up really well, 'till I saw the back of them when I got home from spinning this morning.  And then I was trying to remember all of the places I had worn them, and wondering WHY Lauren hadn't TOLD me I had POOP ON MY PANTS.  Maybe no one noticed.  Riiiight.  Ah well.

Which reminds me of this blog post Lauren shared with me a while back:
That's Not Chocolate

Tee hee hee.  Pretty much one of my favorite blog posts EVER.  Don't you feel better about your day?  And mine?

Saddle Sore

Today, I rode a bike up to Sundance.  Visualizationally speaking, of course.  Lauren and I have decided that if we want to work out we've got to sacrifice, and that means going to the gym at 6am.  Yeah, I had forgotten there even WAS a 6am.

Today we decided to try Spinning.  From what I'd read, I imagined yoga on a bike.  Without the poses.  And more aerobic activity.   As our bike wheels gently spun piles of straw around us into thin cords of gold (nope, nix the straw.  The candles I imagined would have been too dangerous with all that straw).  They said the instructor would lead you through visualizations as you pedal your way to thinness and gorgeously attractive sporty-ness (which incidentally, is my number ONE life goal).  Well, you know, I'm paraphrasing.  I should have turned around when I saw the biking cleats (is that what they are called?).

I wasn't exactly expecting it to be so INTENSE.  But it was.  Everyone was SO NICE to us newbies.  That was the upside.  The downside was that after I'd been on the bike for two minutes, my bottom began to be ready for the end of the ride.  We hadn't even started the warm up yet.  Later Audra, the instructor, tells us we're climbing the Sundance road today.  "It's not that long."  In my visualization, my body got off of my bike and began to haul it up the hill.  There is NO WAY I signed up for mountain climbs at SIX in the morning.  Alas.  My pride would not let me walk my visualized bike out of the classroom, and there was a real bike to be pedaled.

Halfway through I tuned Audra out.  As much as I'm sure I would like her once she let me get off of that torture device, I couldn't listen to her urging AND focus on breathing.  "Don't listen, don't kill yourself, just pedal easy so you can walk back to the car.  Instead of crawling."  That would be my OWN voice in my head--not what Audra was saying.  Hers was more like, "C'mon Adriane, you don't need to sit on that saddle, lift your bottom up and down and up and down and OH, it's time to go STEEPER!!!  Up the resistance everyone!!" 

Well, we got through it.  And it turns out I was doing the "jumps" (the up downs) wrong--I didn't have enough resistance.  Luckily a nameless  but very kind man took pity on me and told me it would be easier if I made it harder.  AFTER the ride was done...but I wouldn't have been able to hear him with the music going during anyways. 

I've discovered that Spinning is where HARD CORE bikers go when it is raining or snowing and they can't ride their bike up Mount Everest.

We are going back.  We refuse to be cowed by Mount Everest.  I mean the Sundance road.  I mean the stationary biking that is called spinning.  It would be WAY too embarrassing to be the "sisters-that-came-one-time-and-couldn't-hack-it-so-they-never-came-back."  Besides, nameless man told us that if we come for three days a week, two weeks straight, the distinct soreness I am feeling in my bottom bones would be gone.  "I don't know what soreness you're talking about," I said as I wobbled towards the door.

Shyeaaaah.  I'ma go lie down now.

Validation

I came across this clip from Studio 5 when I was looking for something about growing herbs that I saw back when Gregory was first born.  I know, you totally needed to know how I found this.  Maybe you didn't, but I needed you to hear, okay?

Isn't that gorgeous?  I'm going to start embracing everything I don't do now.  I think I will actually be able to do MORE when I follow these steps and stop obsessing over all the things I leave undone. 

Who's with me?

Sweet Dealz

So, I've been on a quest lately.  A quest to save money.  It's fun and ADDICTING.  Like the time I went to Staples and got $68 worth of stuff for...$5.79!!!  It was AWESOME.  My favorite is going to stores and filling my cart up with stuff that will be FREE after my coupons.  I got 15 tubes of toothpaste for frrrrrREEEEEEEEE at Smiths when they were doing their cool coupon event.  And deodorant, and hand soap, all sorts of stuff that won't go bad so I can stock up!  That must be a lot of work to save all that money, huh?

NOPE!!!

Amy the Savvy Shopper does almost all of the work for me!!!  Wahooooooo! http://savvyshopperdeals.com is awesome.  Here's what I do.  I get 6 copies of the Daily Herald Sunday paper--because that's where all the coupons are.  I'm sure my neighbors are like, "what on earth?" when they walk by on their way to church.  Sunday night after the kids are snuggled into their beds (it sounds so pleasant, doesn't it?  We're talking after they've finished with ONE more glass of water, going potty ONE more time, and crying because they don't WANNA go to sleep...) Mike and I get to work.  Let's be honest, Mike is just about as excited about this as I am (if not MORE so).  We take apart the coupon booklets and lay them out page by page.  Then all the first pages go in a pile, and all the second pages go in a pile, etc.  That way we can cut out the coupons SIX at a time instead of one at a time (which would take forever...).  Mike cuts out the coupons and puts them on papers that are labeled by category.  These papers (just ordinary 8.5 x 11 printer paper) make it really easy for us to 1) move the coupons if we need to, say, eat dinner (which is why we try to wait till bedtime) and 2)organize the coupons into my coupon binder.

My coupon binder is a zippered binder like a Trapper-Keeper (oh, the memories!!!) filled with baseball card protectors (they have nine pockets on each page).  They've got tabs on them for each of my categories, and then each page has a sub category.  The categories I use are basically the same as Amy's: http://savvyshopperdeals.com/utah/blogs/article_fdb0f5f2-3c23-11df-af9b-001cc4c03286.html After that I just watch the Savvy Shopper site.  Amy sends e-mails on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays directing me to awesome deals.  For instance, yesterday I got the e-mail for Smiths, Maceys, and Reams deals (all the stores whose ads run from Wednesday thru Tuesday).  If I click on the link in my e-mail, it takes me to the Shopping Wizard!!!

The shopping wizard is amazing! You can limit your search by category, store, percent savings, savvy rank (which is Amy telling you if it's actually a good deal or not) and keyword.  This makes it really easy to search for
1) the best deals at Maceys, or
2) the best deals on chocolate chips, or
3) the best deals at ALL the stores in my area.

While I look at these deals, I can add things to my shopping list as I go by clicking on a plus sign.  When I'm done, I say "print list." The list prints out, organized by store and category.  And THEN at the bottom there is a list of coupons I need to make sure and bring with me!  K.  The shopping wizard is GEEK OUT worthy.  SRS BZNSS (as we former serious gamers like to say).

Oh wait!  This is sounding like an infomercial--"and you can have all this for just 19.99 a month.  Call now!!"  NOT TRUE.  it's Free.  FREE FREE FREE.  That's a very important thing to Savvy Shoppers.  :P  Well, the newspaper costs money.  But the site (which is funded, I believe, BY the newspaper in an effort to get us to buy MORE of their newspapers) is FREEEEEEE.

To get the best deals on the newspaper, you need to go to Amy's class.  There are rates on the savvy shopper site that are a few dollars more expensive than rock bottom (i.e. 21.82 for 5 Sunday copies).  I know, because I saw them and said, "hey, that's a good deal and I will save way more than that every month."  I called and ordered.  THEN later, I went to one of Amy's classes and she showed us the prices we could get if we signed up that night.  I haven't been charged yet, so I can't remember the cents, but it's a little more than 18 bucks a month.  I was feeling a little sad until she said she'd change it for me (YAY!).  And right now they have a deal going where you can get another copy on Sunday for $20 bucks a year.  A YEAR!!  Even if you are already getting five, which was the limit.  You do need to be an existing customer I believe. Whoooboy, I jumped on that one.  That way, when I steal Mom's coupons (she doesn't use most of them anyways)  I'll have SEVEN of every coupon!!! 

It's going to take some time while I stock up on essentials and work on recipes that use the things I can get often with my coupons.  Amy spends $155 a MONTH on groceries for a family of five and HALF of the stuff she buys is for storage!  She's having a class on September 23rd and you can sign up here: http://savvyshopper923.eventbrite.com/ if any of you want to go.  I loved the class--Amy is hilarious, and if you answer questions you get goodies  PLUS you can get that awesome subscription deal!  And if you need a buddy, I'll come again!

*****

There are another couple of deal sites I like to check--
Daily Deals from the Daily Herald has some great deals for Utah county.  Sometimes even half off gift certificates to grocery stores!

http://www.redplum.com/dash has one awesome coupon every day--the other day I got a $5 off coupon for Rite Aid.  There's a bunch of stuff that's free after rebate and coupons and register rewards and I want to grab some this week.  That $5 coupon will make it so I GET money back for shopping!!!

Daily Deal from the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune these are mostly for stuff in Salt Lake county, but I don't mind driving up to Salt Lake if it's something incredible--like something I bought from a different site--wait till you see.  Incidentally,  I get $10 for a friend referral if you click on this link instead: http://deals.mediaoneutah.com/r/4c929fda8  which would be cool if you are interested, but no pressure if you aren't.

| Groupon Salt Lake City has mostly SLC deals, but there have been a couple of Provo chestnuts thrown in.  For instance, Mike and I are going to Agatha Christie's Mousetrap at the Covey Center for HALF OFF!!!  Yay for cheaper dates!  It's funny, cuz I was like, "huh, we were just talking about that."  And Mike saw it and said, "HEY!  That would be a great way to round off our Agatha Christie marathon."  We've been listening to all the Agatha Christie audiobooks at Pioneer Overdrive (it's FREEEE too!)--so it was HIS idea.  The other week the daily deal was buy one get one free tickets to Ririe Woodbury!!!!!  Okay, so many of you may not know who they are, but they are an incredible and pioneering modern dance company right here in Utah!!!  This is the SLC deal that I totally jumped on because I have always always wanted to see Ririe Woodbury!  So we are going in January.  And I cannot geek out enough about it.  This one has a $10 bonus to me if I refer you as well--click here: http://www.groupon.com/r/uu7277478

The Best Daily Deals in Salt Lake City --I just got an e-mail that these guys got a SLC deal.  I've only looked at today's (which seems like it's the first one) so really I don't know enough to recommend or not.  It looks like SLC deals mostly.

http://www.citydeals.com/ --I LOVE this site!  All sorts of gift certificates to local businesses.  You can request deals to places you love as well.  I'm crossing my fingers for an Olive Garden one.  We got a REALLY good deal to Cherry Hill this year when we went for a family reunion.  Also, Mike and I were talking about our date to Mouse Trap and I wanted to go to Arctic Circle afterward.  I'm basically ADDICTED to their hot fudge oreo shake.  YUM.  So I though, huh, I wonder if there's anything good on CityDeals.  FRONT PAGE.  Except it's two $10 certificates for the price of one.  Which is AWESOME except you have to use the whole certificate at once (watch out for that).  Since we only ever get two shakes there, I don't know that we would ever hit $10 on an order--especially if we have a coupon.  Sigh.  ANYWAYS, there's a referral bonus here too--click here: http://www.citydeals.com/?ref=CDUMTAyMzkx  

WHOAH that was forever long!  But I thought you all should know that you TOO could be saving MILLIONS of dollars EVERY DAY!  Call now and you too can be happy and addicted to saving money!  Limited time offer!  If you call now you can get your very own Perry the Platypus plush doll absolutely FREE!!!