And the winner is...

For those of you who participated in the Salvation Army giveaway, thanks. That was fun! The winner is Jennifer and she guessed $39.85. My total bill was $40.10. I will admit though, that I forgot to add a couple pictures. The missing items included a short-sleeved hoodie for my daughter and 2 pair of slim pants for my friend Jackie's daughter.

I lied when I said I limited myself to going once a month. I should have said, I TRY to limit myself to going once a month. Madeleine really needed a jean skirt to go over some cute leggings she has, so I HAD to go again this week. Besides, a friend asked me to and who can turn away a friend in need, right? So, The Price Is Right continues. Check back to see my newest stash and guess how much I paid for it. There will be a prize again.

Planning to have an afternoon snack at Taco Bell on Tuesday, right?

Walgreens $5 off $20 purchase coupon

Go here for a coupon good for $5 off a $20 purchase at Walgreens good Friday and Saturday only! I believe you will be able to print 2 if you click your browser's back button and refresh the page.

Bear with me!

It's a well-known fact, among my close friends, that I am a Salvation Army addict. Let me clarify: I am a Wednesday ONLY Salvation Army addict. Every Wednesday, at the Salvation Army Family Store closest to our house (12 miles away), it's Half Price Wednesday, meaning all clothing items are half price. I am ruined for retail shopping forever now. Well, that MIGHT be an exaggeration, but it definitely puts all my retail shopping into better perspective.

This past week was an average week, but I wanted to show you some pictures (ok, LOTS of pictures) to show exactly what I walk away with each time I go. I have literally had to limit myself to once-a-month trips to the SA because I always find things to buy!

I found 2 summer dresses and 2 winter dresses for our daughter coming home from China (a hot pink Tommy Hilfiger tennis dress, a red Ralph Lauren dress, a flannel plaid Pottery Barn Kids dress, and a "calico" corduroy Ralph Lauren dress):

I found 2 pair of pants, 5 shirts, and a pair of Chirstmas pjs for Price (a pair of Old Navy jeans, Gap slacks, a l/s blue and brown striped Gap t-shirt with darling brown elbow patches, a navy Tommy Hilfiger polo, a red Gymoree t-shirt with a hot rod on it, a green polo with a vintage bulldog design on the back of it, and a red Gymboree t-shirt with a chopper motorcycle on the front):

For Madeleine, I found 2 skirts, 2 dresses, a pair of capri pants, a tank top, and a polo (2 Target brand skirts, a Gap halter dress and a Gymboree halter dress {either of which will be perfect for her Easter dress this year}, a green Aeropostale polo, a white Walt Disney World tank with a bejeweled crown on it, and a green pair of Old Navy capri pants):

For Jack I found a t-shirt and a l/s button up shirt (Yes, that's a Nascar shirt you see! It will have to be a play shirt or pj shirt, because I just CAN NOT bear to let him wear that otherwise.):

For myself, a real treat...a blue and orange striped Tommy Hilfiger dress shirt and a blue Tommy Hilfiger t-shirt

And, because I can find things at such good prices, I am usually able to afford to buy frivolous things or things for friends such as:

An apron for Madeleine's baby

A bike helmet (to replace a recently broken one) for Jack's friend at school:

A fall rug for our front door













A brown dress polo from Banana Republic for my stepson Adam

And a sweet little fall jacket from Gymboree for my friend Sunday's baby Noah

Obviously, I don't have "Name Brandaphobia"! At SA, you can totally use the theory that "You get what you pay for". I tend to be drawn to the look and quality of name brand clothing, but I also purchase items that are not recognized name brands.

Ready for the punchline? Guess what my total was for ALL OF THIS?!? Bet you can't! I tell you what, I will give a $5 gift card to the person who makes the closest guest! Just leave a comment. Brandi, no guessing and no telling our friends (She was there with me this week.)!

Free Burrito from Chipotle

Chipotle is holding a nationwide promo campaign called BOORITO. On Halloween, from 6 p.m. to close, if you dress up like a burrito, taco, head of lettuce, Chipotle bag, etc., you'll receive a free burrito. The only locations that are NOT participating are the ones that normally close early (like some of the downtown locations). To find the location nearest to you, go to Chipotle's website.

I'm so proud of myself!

I had what I think is my best grocery shopping trip ever yesterday. I usually think it's silly when people post pictures of every CVS, Walgreens, and grocery trip they make, but I am pretty proud of this trip.

Included was:

2 jars of unsweetened applesauce

3 gallons of milk (2 fat free for bigs and 1 whole fat for our under 2 year old)

1 gallon of orange juice

2 bottles of Welch's white grape juice

1 package (12 count) of Sorrento light string cheese

10 Smart Ones meals (lunch for Tom)

2 Smart Ones desserts (dessert for Tom at lunch)

2 jars of Reduced Fat Jif peanut butter

1 jar of grated parmesan cheese

2 dozen eggs

2 boxes of Oatmeal To Go breakfast bars

2 bags of Fresh Express Romaine Heart bagged lettuce

4 boxes of various Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheat cereal

2 bananas

My total bill without coupons would have been $122.13. However, thanks to 4 $5 off $25 Whole Foods coupons, many Sunday paper insert coupons, and some Publix coupons (from in-store flyers), my total was $36.90. But, I still can submit my grocery receipt for a $10 Kellogg's rebate, bringing my total shopping trip that was worth over $122 down to just over $26!!

Wanna get paid $10 to bring Kellogg's Cereal home from Publix?

THEN HURRY THERE TODAY!!

When I was doing my weekly shop at Publix this afternoon, I noticed a magazine by the exit.

It advertised a $10 gift check for purchasing Kellogg's cereal.


I felt a little guilty getting the magazine, since they had already paid me 4 cents to leave with 4 boxes of Frosted Mini Wheats, but I did...OF COURSE!


Go to my friend Cassie's blog to see how I got 4 boxes of Kellogg's cereal for 4 cents overage. Here's the catch: even though the sale is on at Publix through Wednesday, the coupons for Food Lion (see Cassie's blog to understand more) expire TODAY.