Grandma is alive and doing laundry in Arizona!

This is one of my tank tops, as you can see George has picked up where Grandma left off! I have to say it is definitely white and there are no spots!

Winter fashions in Arizona

We do dress for winter out here, even if we don't need to.... notice the winter boots and that is a winter scarf around her neck.

There was a lady in Walgreen's a few weeks ago that I didn't think of taking her picture till we had left. She was dressed in a tank top with a sleeveless hooded vest with fur trim, short shorts and muckluck boots with fur lining.

Brrrrrrrrr !!!!!!!!

Dang, it's only the beginning of December and I had to turn the heat on to take the chill off. Last year I didn't have to turn it on till February and then it was only for a week! Sure hope this cold spell isn't a sign of things to come, I did not move out here for this! The only thing we are missing is snow, although Monday on my way to work my car dashboard had a snowflake next to the temperature reading.

Thanksgiving shopping

Stood outside Walgreen's this morning waiting for it to open, along with about 20 other people. Got 9 bottles of Arm & Hammer laundry detergent for $17.97 (a savings of $44,93), 4 tubes of crest toothpaste free (actually made 75cents on each), 6 packages of ponytail holders free, 6 packages of batteries for $7.98 (savings of $15.98) 2 razors for 99cents each (savings of $15.92) and 1 box of hair color for $1 (savings of 7.99).

 I wanted to put 2 potted christmas trees on the front porch so got buy 1 get 1 free pre-lighted trees. So almost ready to start decorating outside.

Was surprised to see that most of the people waiting to get in were actually there for the buy 1 get 1 free toy selection.

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

5 minutes and $400

Doctor looked at my wrist, had me try to bend it a particular way, then said you have De Quervain's Tendinitis. Gave me a shot and said it will be better in 3 days. I'm suppose to go back in 3 weeks for a follow up. I asked him if I could sit in the office for a little while to feel like I got my money's worth.

tempermental benz

Ok, so the mercedes wouldn't start for the last time and unlucky for it we just happened to be in the parking lot of a new car dealer....so.... say hi to my new car!!

it's a 2012 volkswagon jetta and it is  now parked in our garage.

I don't know if the mercedes started or not, I didn't hand over the key until we were ready to leave the dealership just in case. We told them we wanted a new car with nothing out of our pocket and we didn't want to spend over a set amount on payments and they made it work. In fact we have a check coming back to us from the buy out of the mercedes.

Started decorating for Halloween

I know 2 posts in the same day.... oh well, makes up for going a month with nothing at all. Getting ready for Halloween, my favorite holiday next to Christmas. My lantern was working but it blew its fuse, so going shopping Friday to see if I can find some. Also need a few pumpkins for the porch. Will take another picture Halloween night because I have some bags with witches on them to put candles in that I'm going to put up the driveway to light the way for trick-or-treaters.

the little skeleton guy is in the corner of the yard at the end of the driveway.I was going to put the headstone there but the rock was already there and it just seemed to work. If you look closely in the bottom picture of the 3 pictures you can just make out the dog sitting in the doorway. 

And here is a full picture of the front of our house. As you can see we have a tree directly in the front that needs to be trimmed back a little...soon, definitely before Christmas decorations go up.

Monsoon season is over....

at least that is what the weatherman said, but looking out our back patio I'm not so sure. It officially ended last  month. This is what it was like yesterday afternoon. The wind blew, the rain poured, and the temperature dropped 20 degrees inside of a few hours. It rained so hard you couldn't see the mountain in our backyard. I heard that further south they had it so bad that there was a 9 car pile up on the highway. Only they didn't have the rain, they had the sand.  It feels great to open the doors and windows and turn off the air conditioning. It's 8:30am right now and it's still off. We're suppose to be 80's today and then 70's for the rest of the week (60's at night).

Dang dog!!

The dog woke me up with his howling last night... sometimes I wonder what he could be dreaming about that he howls in his sleep. Worst part though he woke me from a great dream! My handy man brother and my mechanic nephew were both here visiting and while my favorite sister-in-law and I were having coffee on the patio, soaking in the sun and chit chatting about everything newsworthy my nephew was fixing our car and my handy brother was doing some much needed repairs around the house. I was in heaven!!! Damn dog!!

Tom in parade

Cool, thanks Diana for the link, found his pictures. I couldn't download them because the guy's website doesn't allow it, he wants you to buy them, so I found another way to get them. Unfortunately, you have to put up with the guy's watermark on the pictures, but oh well, what do you want for nothing???? ;)
Oh yeah, can't believe how white Tom's hair is! wonder if mine would go that color if I stopped coloring mine??? If it would I wouldn't mind... hate the gray... love the white.

Break in the temp's today

 Only suppose to hit a 100 today, brrrr, going to have to get a sweater out, but go figure... 110 degrees and I come down with a freakin' cold! How can you get a cold in the heat?@#$%*$&#^$(? I could see if I got it today cause after a month of 110 the 10 degree drop would give anyone a chill. Oh well, George called me off work from Cracker Barrel today so I could have a day to rest and medicate.
Not much else happening here, except the storms coming through the area, nothing like what you guys back east are getting in the rain department though, but we did have quite the light show Friday night with over 2000 lightning strikes a minute going on in the sky. Yep, that number is right, 2000. They have a meter out at the airport that counts the flashes in the sky. It covers the whole valley.  It was so cool, it was like hundreds of flash bulbs going off at once. They had another storm last night, but I forgot to check the news for the number, I don't think it was 1/2 the number though cause only 1/2 the valley got hit hard with rain and hail. All we got was the wind, had to sweep the pool and pick up the back yard this morning, things were blown everywhere. More storms coming today through Tuesday..... welcome to monsoon season.

Been awhile

since I've posted anything. TOO DAMN HOT! to do anything. It was a record breaking August. The other day the weather man said it was 112, but that it only felt like 105... what an ass, he obviously wasn't outside,  it felt like 112 to me, I was out in it. Yeah, yeah, I know it's a dry heat. It's been hovering between 112 to 116 the past week at least. Few more days at this temp and you can stick a fork in me, I'll be well done.

One of the things I miss about back east, cold running water. No matter how hot it is outside you can run the faucet for a few minutes and have nice cold water. There is no such thing as cold water here without the use of ice cubes. We use to do our laundry in cold water, here your choices are warm and hot, it starts out hot and after a load or two goes to warm. During the summer you can actually turn your hot water tank off if you wanted to, we know a few people who do.

6 Sunday papers coming tomorrow!

Was getting the paper on Wednesdays and Sundays and buying 5 at the grocery store, but then the price went up on the home delivery so I cancelled and was buying 6 Sunday papers on my way to Cracker Barrel. Paper called last Monday and wanted me back. Told them no thanks cause I needed to buy 6 papers and they wouldn't deliver 6, they said no only 3 at a time. Called me back on Tuesday, said they would do 6 but I said no cause I didn't like their price, they were only going to save me a few dollars. Called me Wednesday and they said we will give you Wed, Thurs, Fri. Sat. and 6 Sunday papers for $8.50 a week. Since I was paying $2 a paper for just the Sunday paper, I asked for how long will the deal be good for.... they said a year.... I said you got a deal!!!!

Not much happening this week,

except sandstorms, dark skies, few thunderstorms and a little rain thrown in for good measure. I had finally got the pool perfect when we had the first big sandstorm and now I've been chasing the sand for 2 weeks. Seems when I think I've gotten it, the wind kicks up and I'm chasing sand again.

Sandstorm hits Valley

Tuesday evening we were hit with a major sandstorm. It is definitely Monsoon season! It is muggy and muggy means monsoon which means storms... usually thunderstorms with heavy rain, but sometimes it means heavy winds resulting in sandstorms... also known as habubs (haboobs). We had a sandbox in the bottom of our pool. We are still cleaning the sand and debris out of the deep end. The wind at 70mph had us running around the backyard picking up cushions and pool toys and furniture. George got some pictures out our back door but I haven't had a chance to download them yet. Here are some pictures from the local weather channel that other people took from around the area. Queen Creek and that side of the valley got hit harder than we did. It was so thick that there was zero visibility. Some people lost power for a little while.

Happy 4th of July!!!

Hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th! Spending the day watching Firefly marathon. Monsoon weather is here. 122 here Saturday, heavy storm here last night brought the temp down some but now it's muggy, expecting more thunderstorms later today.....

Walmart shopping trip yesterday

went shopping at Walmart's yesterday.....

gallon of milk $2.48 price match $1.74

5 packages farmer john's sausage links $1.28 .... coupon for $1.00 off each...28cents each

8 ears of corn $.31 cents each price match 8 for $.99cents

peaches .88cents a pound price matched 4lbs for .99cents

lettuce $1.18 a head price matched for 3 heads for .99cents

lays potato chips $2.50 a bag price matched for $1.77 a bag (bought 2)

colgate 6.4oz tubes $1.17 a tube price matched for .99cents with .75cent coupons off of 6, $1.00 off 1 (bought 7 well actually 1 was free, the other 6 were .24cents each)(stocked up on toothpaste, unless I can get it for free, then will donate freebies to local church)

pedigree canned dog food .68cents a can, 6 coupons for B1G1 (coupon lingo for buy 1 get 1 free) 12 cans for .34cents a piece

milo dog treats $2.98 , 7 coupons for $1.50 off, 7 packages for 1.48 (dog is very happy!!!)

6 jugs 98oz bottles of beach for $1.47each  for the pool

2 jars of vilasic pickles $1.88 each, coupon for $1.00 off 2 making them $1.38 each

redi-whip whip cream $1.98 with coupon for $1.00 of 2 making them $1.48 each

bananas.59cents a pound, price matched to .47cents a pound (.77cents total)

so....

before coupons and price matching... $88.54

oop (coupon lingo for out of pocket)...$55.32

heading to Albertson's grocery store today to get muriatic acid for the pool.... usually buy it at Home Depot at $19 and change for a box of 2 1gal jugs.... Albertson's has it on sale for $5 a box so going to stock up

Moon over our Mountain

Full moon last couple of nights has been so big that you can see his face so vividly. The picture just doesn't do it justice at all.

Here's a picture of my coupon binder... sucker must weigh about 40lbs. It's a 4" binder and as you can see is almost full. But that's not all my coupons.. every Tuesday there is a flyer that comes in the mail (Red Plum) with coupons in it, (this set is also in Sunday's paper). Anyway, I grab a bucket of them out of a recycling dumpster (about 50 or so), I have them in a basket in a corner of the bedroom right now till I can figure where and how I want to store them. I have a print out in my binder that has a list of those coupons for each week. The plan with them is that if I can get 50 or so of an item for free, I will use those coupons and donate the items to a local charity and then the expired coupons I ship over seas to a marine base in Japan that I adopted. I buy our items using the coupons that come in the 6 Sunday papers I buy each week. I buy 6 because of the deals where you have to double up your coupons and you need an even number. For example if you have a buy one get one free or 1/2 off, you can use two coupons... 1 for the item you are paying for and  1 for the item that is free or 1/2 off. There are a few stores now that won't let you do that, like Target, but most of them will.

Our last shopping trip I didn't get pictures of but, we got 5 trial size bottles of Pert 2-n-1 shampoo for free, 5 bottles of Bulls eye BBQ sauce free, package of Wilkerson's disposable razors free, Spic-n-span for 47cents a bottle, 4 heads of lettuce for $1, 1 fresh pineapple for $1 (going back today to get 2 free with coupon), 4 boxes of Pillsbury cake mix for 50cents a box., jars of Alfredo sauce (normally 3.50 a jar) for 1.20 a jar, oh yeah, and dinner was a rotisserie chicken with a free family size side of cole slaw for under $5.We got a package of chicken and a couple of steaks with register rewards from Walgreen's, which I got by buying a bottle of vitamin D for $10 that gave me a register reward for $10 so it was like getting them for free, (I did that twice so the 2 $10 rewards paid for the meat). 

It's like a treasure hunt each week. We sit down with the sale ads on Tuesday (prices take effect on Wednesday) and match sales with coupons, check the internet for coupons that might be available that weren't in Sunday's paper, then map out our plan of attack. We might have to shop at 3 or 4 different stores, but saving 80% or more on our grocery bill is worth the hassle, besides they are all within a one mile radius of each other.

 I was never a fan of grocery shopping at Walmart's till they started the price matching policy. We have a Food City here that you feel you need to put rubber bands around your pant legs before you go in, but their prices are dirt cheap. Now that Walmart's price matches, we can get that 4 heads of lettuce for $1 or a bottle of Clorox for 88cents (I use bleach instead of chlorine in the pool).

Ok, enough, I've got to get ready to go back to the store. Going back to Walmarts. Going to get some free pineapples (after price match from Food City and coupons), free Dial body wash, free Frank's red hot sauce, package of ice cream for 68cents, LALooks hair care for 94cents and some Lysol toilet bowl cleaner for $1 (after price match from Walgreen's and coupons).

Today's Shopping Trip

First stop: Staples...
3 rolls of magic scotch tape on sale for .98cents with my $1.00 coupon = Free
1 box #10 envelopes on sale for $5.00 with my $3.00 coupon = $2.00
1 purple pen on sale for $1.00 with my .06cents savings from scotch tape = .94cents
                        Total out of pocket = $2.94

Next stop: Walmart....
3lbs of peaches for $1.38lb price matched from Food City at 3lbs. for 99cents = 95cents
6 tubes of  6.4oz  Crest toothpaste at $1.96 each price matched from Food City $1 minus my .75cents coupons = .25cents each
6 Suave deodorants at .97cents each minus my .75coupons = .22cents each
5 packages of magnum ice cream bars (3bar pkg) at $3.68 each price matched from Food city for $2.49 minus my $1.00 coupons = $1.49 each
                  Total out of pocket = $12.72

Ice cream is missing from the picture, had to put it in the freezer, temperature is almost 100.
Heading for the pool!!!!

Today's Shopping Trip

Went to Fry's for weekly shopping trip... receipt was $131
after coupons... I paid  $32
some of our deals were:
6 boxes of pasta (different types; spaghetti, linguini, penni) 50cents a box
KC BBQ sauce 59cents with $2 off a package of pork ribs
all pork was 50% off so my package of ribs cost just over $4
Oscar Meyer lunchables for $1
Hawaiian Rolls $1 a package

what was really cool was after all was said and done it gave us enough gas points to get 20cents off a gallon and considering the mercedes runs on premium.......

What did you do over the Memorial Day weekend?

I covered the seats to our patio set.... as you know I made the pillows for the tops of the chairs, but the bottoms needed help. They were stained and starting to tear. I tore this one up just by sitting in it one evening.

I also did the 2 chairs on the patio except the top is also a box cover like the bottom. 

I don't think I'll get hired for HGTV but they sure do look better than before and it was a lot cheaper than a new set of cushions. Plus I sewed in a velcro opening in one end on all the cushions and pillows so that they can come off and go in the washer if needed.

My trip to Safeway

I saved 104%!!!

I bought 5 bottles of Jack Daniels BBQ Sauce and Marinades (on sale 99cents a bottle used 5 $1 coupon = free), 1 bag Ore-Ida Sweet Potato Fries (coupon from Ore-Ida = free), 1 febreze plugin heater $3.29 (w/coupon buy 1 refill get heater for free = free), 2 febreze scents for plugin (coupons for $1 off each), 2 steaks, 6 oranges, and 2 bagels.
I used register rewards from Walgreen's shopping trip(that's what the scanned coupons are on the receipt) towards the total bringing the cost of my shopping trip to a credit of 78cents.

Safeway doesn't give you the credit and I didn't think fast enough to pick up a candy bar so they got to keep the 78cents. Oh well, live and learn! It was so cool knowing that I was not going to open my wallet for a $71.00 grocery bill.

Diana  (you would be good at this) if you want to know how you can stock up on 6 months or more of things like toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, bath soap (either bars or body wash) razors, shaving lotion, toilet paper, paper towels, cereals, and all kinds of other things for free or practically cheap check out these sites....   http://thekrazycouponlady.com/beginners/  has 10 days to using coupons or go here http://www.commonsensewithmoney.com/2011/04/free-extreme-couponing-101-ebook/ scroll down towards bottom of page and insert your email address, select html and free ebook will be emailed to you, it's a pretty informative ebook. Walgreen's, CVS and Rite-Aid can be confusing at first, but that's where you are going to get most of your stuff for free and once you get the hang of how they work it is so cool.

Take Walgreen's for example, went shopping there Wednesday and bought stuff I really had no use for (renu contact lens cleaner and carefree panty liners to name a few)but the lens cleaner was 7.99 and I got $8 back in a register reward. I can use that register reward to buy something in Walgreens  that I do need or use it at Safeway towards my shopping trip there. So that makes the cleaner free and I can either give it to someone who needs it or sell it to them dirt cheap and make a few bucks. The carefree panty liners were on sale for 99cents and I had 5 coupons for $1 off so since they weren't going to cost me anything I went ahead and got them. It's another item I can donate or keep on hand for anyone visiting that needs them. So what I try to do is shop Walgreen's first for any item that offers a register reward making that item free or if not free, if I have a coupon to use that will make it free. Then I use the register rewards toward items I do need or I take them to Safeway. I did get razors, tylenol, body wash, and deodorant free using that method, so I do get things I can use.

3 hours in the beauty parlor

not me.... boo.   before

                after:

looks pissed doesn't he!?!?!?!?!?!
Oh well, he wants to go in the pool and with his full coat he sheds too much. He's funny to watch in the pool. He is in a constant state of turmoil. The lab part of him loves the water, but the chow part of him hates the water, so he spends a lot of time in and out of the pool....he goes in swims a circle and then gets out... runs around the outside, goes in, swims a circle and gets back out....

I have become a coupon fanatic

but I'd rather be known as a bargainista or fabulessly frugal.
Latest shopping spree to Wags (coupon talk for Walgreens)

2 bottles of Old Spice body wash, 1 bottle Gillette body wash, 1 bottle garnier shampoo, 1 bottle garnier cream rinse, 3 tubes speed stick deodorant, 1 gillette profusion razor, 1 bottle calcium vitamins, and 4 packages of disposable razors all for an amazing price of just under $5. 

Also got 12 bottles (96oz) of bleach from Walmart's for the sweet price of 87cents a bottle. (use bleach in pool instead of chlorine, it's cheaper and does the same thing) They price matched a local grocery store here that I just can't bring myself to go in. The place makes you feel like you need to put rubber bands around your pant legs, but they have some awesome deals. 3 heads of lettuce for 99cents, everyone else wants $1 to $1.50 a head. So got Walmarts to price match that too.

Yesterday at Fry's we got 6 packages of bacon for 50cents a package. 

The drugstores are the hardest or should I say the most confusing places to shop with coupons but they are the best places because you can walk out with more free stuff. I have enough rewards compiled from Walgreens that I should not have to open my wallet when shopping there as I can pay with rewards I have and accumulate new ones for the next shopping trip. As soon as I feel real comfortable with their policies I am going to start a coupon class and teach how to shop with coupons.

walgreens and staples

Got 10 rolls of scotch tape at Staples today for free. Then went to Walgreens and got 3 bottles of Gillette body wash for men and 3 tubes of Gillette deodorant for $1.00 and a large bottle of both Garnier shampoo and conditioner for $2.00.

This is sooooo much fun!! It's like a treasure hunt.

latest deals

went to safeway today....what a deal!!!!
got 12 bags of lays potato chips
6 bottles of soda (big bottles)
6 bottles of pine-sol (big 42oz bottles)

and my out of pocket........ $13.83

got 2 bottles of sally hansen nail polish at target's for 8cents

today's shopping trip

Went to walgreen's today. Here is my stash:

Package of paper towels...free          2 tubes of Tylenol cream....free

Cottonelle toilet paper.......free          4 Reach toothbrushes....free (went back later and got 4 more)

1 tube of Sunburnt cream....3.99 with mail in rebate so will be free

1 box Nexcare bandaids...3.49 with mail in rebate so will be free

5 boxes of bayer low dose.... 99cents each

2 bottles of calcium vitamins....free

and 2 gillette razors ($10.00 each)..$1 each (also got 2 more on second trip back)

not in picture are the other 4 toothbrushes, other 2 razors and the other packages of paper towels and toilet paper.

well actually the razors were $6.00 each out of pocket after using $4 coupons, but got $5 register reward for each, used that $10 to pay for the paper towels and the toilet paper which were priced at $5 each making them free. On second trip back got 2 more $5 register rewards for the razors so used them for another package of paper towels and toilet paper.

All in all it meant going through the register a total of 8 times (5 times in first trip and 3 times second trip).

Ended up getting another coupon which would get me 4 more toothbrushes but the store was sold out so have to wait till their delivery comes in on Friday. Also have a $3 register reward good towards any purchase in the store.

Also went to Fry's, they are having a mega 10 sale.. meaning $5 off towards the purchase of 10 specially marked items, which you can mix and match. So I got:

4 boxes of pasta...free          2 boxes of rice...49cents each

2 boxes of cereal....free       2 dog treats that the dog really loves for $2 each

Groceries for free!

So, went grocery shopping yesterday with our coupons, got lots of free stuff.

as you can see there are 12 tubes of toothpaste, 4 bottles of ivory body wash, 4 pkgs of 3bars of ivory soap, 1 bottle of nivea body wash for women, (got the men's body wash the other day at walgreens) 12 right guard deodorants, 5 speed stick deodorants, 2 secret deodorants, 2 hand lotions, 2 pkgs dental floss, 4 toothbrushes, 3 boxes of hair color and 1 pkg of bic razors (and a partridge in a pear tree hahaha). Anyway, these items were all free with coupons!!!!

Also got 6 bags of quaker rice cakes free, 6 jars of ragu for .08cents and a few other grocery items for practically nothing. All in all, our check out came to $217.14 before discounts and afterwards we paid $75.11, not too shabby.

important to check receipts

Did learn today that it is important to check your receipts.
At 1st Walgreen's the cashier kept saying that there was no register reward for the cottonelle and that I would only get $1.00 off with my coupon so I might as well only buy 1 package. She was wrong of course. 3 packages  printed out a $4 register reward and my $1 coupon took off a dollar on each package.

At 2nd Walgreen's the bleach was supposed to be buy 1 get 1 free, but the register rang up all 4 and did not deduct 2 as being free. Had to have the manager take 2 of the bottles off the bill.

At Walmart's the toothbrushes were mixed up on the rack and I had to exchange 3 of them for the ones matching the coupon.... I'll take most of the blame on that one, I should have looked at them closer before getting to the register.

Hooray for Coupons!

OK...Walgreen's

1st store: purchased

3 packages cottonelle for $15.00 - $3.00 coupon

1 package bic soleil razors $5.99 - $3.00 coupon

2 right guard men's deodorant $5.98 - buy 1 get 1 free coupon

2 Eucrene hand cream $4.98 - $3.00 coupon

1 degree deodorant $.99 - $1.00 coupon

paid $25.18 and got $8.00 back in register rewards for next trip. 

2nd store purchased

3 cottonelle $15.00 - $3.00 coupon

4 gals bleach buy 1 get 1 free 1.99

with tax = $20.84

used $4.00 reward from 1st store

paid $13.84 and got $4.00 back in register rewards for next trip.

Walmarts

12 cans of alpo at .78 each with coupon .36 a can

4 toothbrushes at 1.50 each with 1.50 coupon = free

2 reach floss at .88 each with 1.00 coupon = -.24

for total of $6.12

Target:

3 hair color $11.99 each -(3) 5.00 coupon, (3)5.00 target coupon

2 chex mix $2.49 each - (2).55 coupon, .50 target coupon

2 fiber one granola bars 2.50 each- (2) .50 coupon, 1.00 target coupon

for total of $13.98 plus $5.00 gift card for buying 3 hair colors

total saving today: $80,86 plus 5.00 target gift card and $8 register rewards for walgreens

going to use $8 walgreen register rewards for maxwell house coffee as soon as delivery comes in tomorrow

 priced at 5.99 - 1.00 coupon for $4.99 so going to buy 2  minus $8.00 register reward will make the cans 99 cents each.

Really nice day

Today was a really really nice day weather wise, in the mid 80's, little breeze. Had to deliver the mail today but not a heavy load which is unusual for a Monday.. was home by 3:30 which is really unusual.

Tomorrow is start of big coupon shopping days... Walgreen's, Target & Walmart's tomorrow.. Fry's  for groceries on Wednesday (senior 10% discount on 1st wednesday of the month). Will post results when we're done.

Walgreen deal

Went to Walgreen's and they had the gillette hydro 3 razor on sale for 8.99, buy 1 get 1 free and hydro shaving cream 3.79, buy 1 get 1 free. I had coupon for $3.00 off razor and $1.00 off shaving cream. So, got 2 razors and 2 cans shaving cream for $10.00, saving almost $17.00.

Aspen Dental

Diana, you will appreciate this one. George's denture cracked in half yesterday, so we called Aspen Dental because that's where he originally got it from in New York. They told him to come in today and you guessed it they wanted to do a complete exam with full x-rays, both upper and lower. George told them that he didn't need lower x-rays and didn't want the upper ones either, he just wanted them to remake the dentures he already had. He was happy with the fit. They said no they had to do the exam and x-rays, so he got up out of the chair and walked out. We found a few labs here in the area but they were already closed so we are going to make some calls tomorrow to see about getting them repaired or replaced.

Just got my free tree from lowe`s!

Coupons!!

Well, just getting into the coupon rage. Since Walmart's advertise how they will match any price we went to Walmart's today to see how we would make out with a few coupons we had. Walgreen's was advertising Splenda sugar for $2.99 and Walmart's price is $3.49. They matched Walgreen's price, no problem. I had a $3.00 coupon. The other item we bought was Reach Dental Floss, on sale for 88cents, I had coupon for $1.00. The other items we were hoping to get were out of stock. But anyway, took our 2 items to the register and after adding 17cents sales tax and deducting our coupons we ended up having to pay a whole 3cents!!! What a rush!! Definitely hooked!

temperature on the rise

Not much happening last few days. George's sciatic was giving him a lot of pain, so had to get a shot and some meds, but he's doing better now. Temperature has been great all week.. low to mid 80's... although heard it is suppose to hit 90's... of course, I head back to work tomorrow. Working most of the week next week, regular driver is taking some time off... paycheck will be nice.
Looking at paint colors for living room today. Grocery shopping and other errands too.

Hummingbirds at feeder next to the patio. They have gotten so you can stand at the feeder and they'll sit and drink. I am waiting for the day that they will land in my hand.

new cushions for table/.chairs

Went shopping for cushions for back of chairs, but couldn't find anything that was nice without costing a fortune, so decided to make our own since Joann fabrics was having a 50% off sale on everything.

before and after:

need to take a better picture during the day... too many shadows

weather update

well the weather has been just terrible the last few days... but ... warm weather is on its way back.... 80's predicted for next week. Pool is looking sooooo inviting, can't wait for it to get warm again.

traded truck

my new car

1999 mercedes benz cl480

After pictures

Room is done!! Went looking for something for the windows, found a few things that would work, but decided to wait and look around a little more.

tibetan red, really is a pretty red.

living room  is next.. not sure what exactly I want to do with the room, but I have a few ideas, definitely painting. NO WHITE WALLS!!!!

before pictures

Ok, here are the before pictures of the kitchen/dining area:

If you notice, you can get a little sneak peek into the color by looking at the wall near the sliding door. Almost done so will post finished pictures later this evening. Going shopping for some greenery to put in the windows.

Looks and feels like rain here.... little on the chilly side (had to put a sweater on) only 58 right now (8am) only going up to 72 today.

dining area make over day 2

thought we were going to be done today... painting went well. Be not afraid of color!! Was at first, but I'm really beginning to like it. Started putting on wainscot, but had to run to Home Depot for a few things we thought we had, so finishing up in the morning. Will post pictures tomorrow.

dining area make over

Started the make over of the dining area of the kitchen. Putting wainscot on 2 of the walls, did and staining of the wood today, painting tomorrow and then Friday putting wood planks up. Will post pics of the before and after.
Looks like rain here today, little windy and overcast but in the low 80's.

bathroom remodel

Our first major remodeling job started out as just as simple paint job and then I asked George can we change the mirror? of course that lead to changing the light and then since the cabinet above the toilet (which was there) was a dark wood and the mirror I picked was a dark wood I just had to do something with the bottom cabinet, (painted it with gel stain). Finally, the medicine cabinet didn't look right so had to change that to wood and also paint to match,

before:

color of wall

plain glass mirror with large bulb lightbar with medicine cabinet on left

light maple wood sink cabinet

after:

new mirrors, medicine cabinet and lightbar

paint color

and to top it off, I talked George into installing a dimmer switch for the lightbar.

Our backyard oasis

So just a few pics to show you the different areas of the yard.





I made the beach towels with hoodies so they slip on to the back of the chair.. cool huh? Next I need to make cushions for the backs of the chairs at the table. The table and chairs were left by the previous owners without the backs.

picture of cactus

ok here is the picture of the prickly pear cactus in our backyard, and every bloom isn't opened yet!