Not Much To Say...

It's been a pretty quiet week. Cody has been a bit feisty this week and his nose a bit runny.  He seemed to give whatever he had to Gordon and I and then some because yesterday we were hit all of a sudden with a massive sore throat, headaches and general aches and pains.  Thankfully it seemed to be relieved by a night's rest, and we are feeling a bit better tonight.

Tonight we went to Rancho Grande in Monticello.  This was the first time visiting this location.  We had been, dare I say....regulars....at their Albertville location, which TO OUR HORROR closed down a few months ago.  [They need to update their website!]  We were so sad.  Heartbroken even!  We'd been taking Cody there ever since he was teeny tiny and to see it close down ~ we were so disappointed.  There is not many restaurants in our little town, which is actually a good thing, but it was nice to have a "old standby" when we just didn't feel like cooking.  So tonight we decided to try the Monticello restaurant tonight and we were not disappointed!  The food was the same and even a couple of the same staff members from Albertville were there and remembered us!  That was kind of neat. Cody loves Mexican food!  He ate a good majority of the kid's meal which is almost as big as any adult plate!

TGIF tomorrow.  This week has been a weird one.  No plans for the weekend as of yet.  My garage saling buddy is busy so I don't know if I will go out or not.  Gordon took today and tomorrow off and is workign hard in the basement to get the ceiling tiles up.  Slowly but surely.  Our custom media cabinet is almost done.  Just the trimwork is remaining to be done on it.  I will have to take some photos & get them up on the blog when it is complete.  We love it so far!

Have you checked out my new blog, Fun Finds For You?  I've been adding a few posts here and there.  Visit soon & visit often!

Hope your weekend is great!

Singing...errr...Saling in the Rain

Well, I wasn't go to go out garage saling again this weekend, but my g/s buddy couldn't go the following weekend, so I convinced my DARLING husband to watch the little guy again so I could go.  Oh, I am so lucky!  No, really, as much as I like hanging out with Cody, he's not exactly FUN to bring to garage sales.  This time my saling buddy brought her aunt with who is also really into garage sales.  We got wet, my jeans were soaking by 11am, but a good time was had by all.

I don't have a photo to share with you all for this round, but I think I can remember most of what I got:

• 2 boxes of Lawn Edging - not the black rubber stuff, but individual pieces that fit together and have more of a metal look.  I was excited about this find because it's something we have been thinking about buying at (gasp) the store.  I'm not entirely sure it will work for our lawn/garden, but at $3 for two boxes, we'll give it a shot.
• Gymboree spring/lightweight jacket for Cody - $1.00
• 7 pairs of trouser socks $2.00
• 2 pairs of socks 50¢
• 2 Baby Einstein DVDs $1.00 each
• Leapfrog Radio toy for Cody $2.00
• Melissa & Doug puzzle with sound $1.00 (exactly like this one)
• Angel Christmas tree topper $1.00
• Set of 4 truck books for Cody (Forklift, Tow Truck, Cement Mixer & Flat Bed Truck!)

I think that's it!  Nothing outstanding, but some neat finds.  Have I mentioned lately that I love garage saling?

I skipped the Wayzata High School Band sale this year.  I have gone most years, but the competition is getting stronger and crowds crazier every year.  It was a great sale for when I was more into eBay, as they always had a clothing bag sale for $5 or $6 per bag, and I can fit a LOT of clothes into one bag!  But last year, we went a little bit later in the morning (Gordon and Cody were with) and it was already picked over, but I saw SEVERAL people with huge piles of stuff that they were going through piece by piece in a corner or separate area of the place.  This drives me nuts - the "hoarding" of stuff, basically grabbing anything that looks half-ways decent, and then going through all of it slowly, afterwards putting back whatever they didn't want. I don't have an issue with quickly looking through your stuff before you buy it, especially in these big church/charity sales, but to take most everything and then put half of it back after many of the people are done ... is just annoying in my book.  

At any rate...we have had a good weekend.  After saling, Gordon and Cody met up with me for lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings which is always tasty.  Went home and Cody had a great nap and Gordon and I relaxed and worked on finances (oh, so fun).  We are debating finishing the bathroom in the basement....we were going to wait on it until later, but are considering just doing it now and getting it over with.  We are also discussing me getting a new car as my sweet Protege will be 10 years old this fall!  It's been an awesome car and I would recommend a Mazda to anyone.  I wouldn't mind getting another one.  We were hoping to get another couple years out of it but we also don't want to be in crisis-mode if it does have a major issue.  So, we'll see.  Anyone know how to make big money fast & legally?  Ha.  Just as a reminder, I will earn a small commission if you print coupons through my website!

On Saturday night, I headed down to the MOA with a friend to do some shopping and dinner, then later met up with another gal for a drink.  Always fun to have a girls-night.  Today has been a nice family day.  Slept in a bit, lounged around, and then Cody and Gordon got their hair cut this morning.  They both sure look sharp!  After haircuts, we took Cody to Cabela's where he enjoyed looking at the big mountain and all the animals they have on display.  He enjoyed it and we will have to remember that is an option when were are looking for something indoors to do.  It is definitely a shopping 'experience'!

I am off work tomorrow and not sure what Cody and I will be up to.  It's been a rainy weekend but the sun is trying to come out and hopefully we will have a sunny & warm day out tomorrow so we can play outside and take a stroller ride. I'm sure a Target/grocery shopping trip is on the agenda, too.  No playdates scheduled, simply me and the little guy.  Just the way I like it :)

We are blessed!

Earth Day 2010

Well, I did my part for Earth Day 2010 by buying a bunch of people's used junk they didn't want anymore.  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!  Alright, so it is definitely re-using, not so sure about recycling, and at least I reduced the amount of stuff in other people's houses :)  

I was able to hit a church rummage sale after work.  I've been to this sale in the past and got some memorable finds. I arrived about half an hour before the sale opened and besides the people invading my personal space and others cutting in line (How dare they?! Cheaters.), I didn't even mind waiting half an hour to get in.  What in the world did I do when I had to wait before I had my iPhone?!?  It wasn't bad at all.  I soaked up the sun, wrote an email, checked my ebay auctions, posted on Facebook...  Pretty soon it was time to go in.  I paid my $2 entrance fee (a "premium" for getting to shop the first night) and we were herded in like cattle.  Fortunately, there was no pushing or shoving :)  

Since I haven't been doing a lot of eBay lately, especially the purchasing aspect, I really wasn't setting out to buy anything for resale.  I need to do research on what actually sells these days, as the items that were always sure-sellers just don't seem to do as well anymore (Levi's jeans, especially).  Sad!  Still, I have lots of items on my wish list and always have things to buy.

Here's my score!  Click on the photo to drool.

• OshKosh denim jean jacket, size 3T.  Oh, I hope this fits as Cody needs a light-weight jacket for spring.  It is way too adorable and I know he will look super cute in it with his glasses.  $3.00
• 2 - My First LeapPad toys with various books and cartridges.  Paid $8 for the lot.  I am planning to resell one of them and keep the other.  I didn't know much about them but figured they were worth that amount.  One doesn't even look like it was played with. It's a cool toy.  We really like the Leapfrog toys.  We find they are used a long time (i.e. activity table, cell phone, shopping cart, fridge magnet game) and hold up well. Now I get to be on the lookout for more books & cartridges.  Whee!
• Small metal Tonka dump truck.  What little boy can't use another dump truck?!  25¢
• Carter's firetruck 2 pc jammies set $1.00
• 3 pairs of jeans, size 2T (2) and 3T.  I think they are Levi's and OshKosh.  $3.00 for all.  Dying over the fact that I paid $10+ on one pair of jeans new at Carter's.  More than once.  Eek.
• Denim jean shorts $1.00
• BABY doll!  Yes, I bought my son a doll.  These days many men are the primary childcare givers, stay-at-home-dads, and very involved with the little ones.  What's wrong with a little practice?  Cody absolutely LOVES his "baby" and wanted to carry it around as soon as I showed it to him.  We even read her stories and put her night-night.  It looks like new and even cries and talks ("Mama", "Dada") when you press her belly.  That was a surprise to me, as I thought it was just your basic baby doll.  A total deal at 50¢,
• Green backpack with surprises inside - this is a gift for one of Cody's little friends, so we have to keep it secret!  Shhhhhh :)  $1.00
• Fire Engine "touch and feel" book.  Can't believe we don't have all of these in the series yet!  25¢
• 2 more dark-wood frames for the basement.  I'm determined to not have bare walls down there like the rest of the house, apparently! 25¢ each
• Stride-Rite shoes; unfortunately, too small.  Oh well, only $1.00.  To the baby boy bins they go!
• Various t-shirts and other shirts, including a few short sleeve shirts which we really needed.  50¢-$1.00 each
• Step stool for the bathroom (not pictured). Another item on my "to-be-found" list.  Yes.  25¢ 

Hooray!  I had a great time and while it's nothing earth-shattering, I was pleased with what I found.  A happy mommy is a good mommy.

Ok, what is this you say?

I usually have my "Santa Bag" that I take to church sales that I can shove lots into and not worry about trying to find a bag or a box at the sale.  I couldn't find it though, but I remembered this re-usable bag that my boss at work gave me along with some toys for Cody.  It worked great and actually even better than my Santa Bag.  I lost it for a moment on the floor but thankfully no one picked it up.

I was also able to get a few items for our child care provider.  It is such a joy to me to find things for other people that they are looking for.  Not pictured in my finds above, I was able to find a play vacuum which was #1 on her wish list!  She used to have two vacuums but one broke, and that was near a tragedy for two little boys at her house!  I was thrilled to find a vacuum almost identical to the one she had for ONE DOLLAR!  $1!  It is in near-perfect condition and I held back my happy dance while I picked it up.  I also got a sweet doll umbrella stroller for $1 (can kind of see it on the side of the picture), and also this super cute doll-sized Graco swing and high chair set for $3.  Isn't it sweet?  Looks like the real thing but in a miniature version.  So cute.  I know the daycare kids will have fun with everything.

Is there anything YOU are looking for?  I would love to put it on my to-look-for list!  I need to figure out a way to make that a business so I can get paid for garage saling! But seriously, if you are looking for something particular, let me know, along with your target price, and I'll do my best to find it for you.

This weekend is supposed to be rainy, so I am unsure if we will be able to go to any sales or not.  I got a pretty good fix this week though, wouldn't you say?!  :)

What a Wonderful Day!

I had the day off from work today, and Cody and I had a wonderful day together!  We both slept in a bit, had breakfast, and then headed to Target for our weekly deal-finding expedition!  We got some goodies, of course.  We made it out of Target for under $40, and in 45 minutes, which is a somewhat short of a miracle.  Wonderful!  We had to make it a short trip, as we were expecting visitors at 10:00am.  We got home at 9:55am.  Cody now knows the word "Hurry!".  

We had to get home as Cody's friend, Jordan, and his little sister, along with their mommy, were coming over to play.  We had planned to go the park, but it was too chilly of a morning.  No fret, we played for a couple hours and had lunch.  A wonderful time was had by all.

Cody and I both took naps in the afternoon (ssshhhhhh, don't tell) and they were wonderful!  After quiet-time, we got up and made Monster Cookies!  I haven't made these in years!  Although there was a slight mix-up in ingredients, solved by a couple of Google searches later, we had cookies upon cookies in hand.

We made supper and had a wonderful stroller ride around the neighborhood.

What a wonderful day!

Garage Sale Season is Here!!!

Wahoo!  Garage sale season has officially started in Minnesota!  Careen and I made our maiden-voyage to people's crap-filled garages and junk-lined driveways.  Ahhhhh...heaven.

Here's my finds from this past Saturday:

(Click above for a close-up shot!)

Okay, let's see, shall we go from left to right?

• "Finding Nemo" pillowcase for Cody's bed.  We just watched this movie as a family ~ almost in its entirety! ~ so I thought it'd be fun for Cody to have a "Mee-Mo" pillowcase.  25¢  
• Cream-colored tablecloth.  $1.00
• 4 shirts for Cody.  Thrilled with this find, he's really getting down on his clothing. Two were new with tags.  Need more summer stuff though!  $1.00 for all
• Miracle Intense by Lancome perfume.  Destined for Ebay. Here's a similiar one, different box, but otherwise the same.  I'd be thrilled with half this price!  $2.00
• Sid Hartman (Star Tribune sports-writer) Bobblehead.  Again, destined for Ebay.  Call me morbid, but might pack this one away for a few years.  Did find a similar one on eBay, although mine doesn't have the original box and paperwork.  Paid 25¢.  Yes, I said 25¢.
• Dark wood frame, should match our basement perfectly.  $1.00
• 2 white storage bins.  Don't know what I'll use them for, but they were 10¢ each and I will almost buy anything for 10¢.
• Dimensions cross-stitch kit.  Looked it up on eBay and I was happy.  $2.00
• A few kid-related books.  Excited about the Potty for Dummies book, and who couldn't use Jo's advice?  $2.00 for the lot.

We had a great time, and are considering going again this weekend!  We will have to bring Cody though, and I'm not so sure I'm up for that yet.  While he likes to say "garage sale", he's not what I would call a good shopper.

I also took Careen to Target and showed her a few deals that could be obtained with recent coupons and sales.  Here's a picture and a few details of what we got.

1. 5 boxes of Kellogg's Low-Fat Granola Cereal.  After coupons & gift card deal, it worked out to be 39¢ per box.  WOW!!  I actually love this cereal although I am as far away from crunchy & granola-ey as them come.  Careen took 2 boxes and I took 3.  
2. 4 Energy Smart covered CFL bulbs for $2 each.  These light bulbs are normally over $7 each!  Careen took 3 and I took 1.
3. 2 bottles of Dial Nutri-Skin body wash.  $2 each after Target and manufacturer coupons.  Careen used as bridal shower gifts along with a body pouf in a pretty basket.  What a great idea!
4. Windex Cleaner x 3.  Used mftg coupons and while I can't recall the original price, Careen is planning to take advantage of the $5 SC Johnson rebate (form will download automatically as a PDF) promotion currently running.  This is a wonderful rebate that you can do 3 times per household!  (I, of course, have already did my 3 times!)  

What a great morning of shopping!

After we were done with our bargain hunting, I met up with Cody and Gordon for lunch at CiCi's Pizza.  We had seen the commercials and been wanting to try it. It wasn't bad, although wasn't great, and now we can say we've tried it!

New Blog

I started another new blog.  Why -- I don't know :)  I am crazy?

Let's face it...I'm a "natural" when it comes to deal shopping.  I know how to work the system.   I know how to get the coupons, where to find the deals, and when the best time is to shop. Well, I know these things; however, it doesn't mean that I always do it right or am perfect at it....or have wittled our budget down to $30/week for groceries...but I am getting there.

Come learn some of my secrets and tips of the trade.  I just wrote up a post tonight about Holiday Station Stores and some of the great deals you can score.

Fun Finds For You

I hope you will check it out!

I forgot to tell you Cody's new phrase!

GARAGE SALE



Yes, it's true.  He is my son :)

Mama is so proud.