Garage Sale Show & Tell {April 28th}

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Carolyn

Yesterday all five of us were up bright and early, shopping the garage sales! Here’s what we made out with…

I like to stock up on crafty items for the girls whenever I find them. To buy this kind of stuff brand new is crazy pricey! All the bags of stamps and benderoos were $1. The foam letters and letter beads with bracelets were $0.50 each. Hubby grabbed the Minnie hat for me to wear at Hayleigh’s birthday party this week for $1. It looks brand new!

The frame is a piece of Christmas wall art I got for $0.50. The basket on the far right looks brand new and was $1. The baby toy in the basket was FREE! And looks never used! The puzzles and big dinosaur stencils were purchased together for $1.

Everything pictured above is from a church rummage sale, where we paid I believe $9 for everything. (Bryan also picked up a lot of things to resell that aren’t pictured included in the total.) The top has some crafty things – googly eyes, green sequins, scissors with interchangeable blades, stamps and wooden hearts to be painted. In the bag are some foam bath toys, which was perfect timing because I just threw out our foam bath toys! I always pick up bath toys when I see them! The two HP inks were BRAND NEW, UNOPENED and are EXACTLY what our printer uses and the very next colors we needed!! That would have cost us $60 to buy those at Staples. Crazy!! I LOVE church rummage sales!!

On the right are a bunch of figurines and horses for pretend play with the girls. I don’t see Veggie Tales items often, so we were excited to find this stuffed Larry plush. And the purple wooden shelf will go perfect in the girls’ room!

We hit a really good house in a community sale that sold us all the clothes and puzzles above, along with a few items Bryan picked up (not pictured), for only $5!!! The top picture has a white skirt and brown blouse in 3T, Gymboree rain jacket in 4T-5T, and the rest of the clothing and pajamas in size 5.

The second picture has all size 6 clothing, including a brand new OshKosh shirt with tag!

We stopped at a park along the way that had some booths set up of people selling their stuff. The sign language poster, unopened Eric Carle flashcards (going in gift closet), Georgia aquarium puzzle, and two unopened vinyl decals were $4. I am going to let the girls put the decals on the insides of their bunk beds. The two small pillow pets were $1 each, from another sale.

The top three items are random items Hubby picked up for me. I love the wooden clock to be painted and the rain ball, which I think he paid $1 together. I am going to resell the game because even though it’s wooden and looks cool, it’s ghosts and a cemetery. The Elmo DVD was $0.25, the cheapest I’ve ever seen a popular kid’s DVD!

All of the homeschool books were purchased at the church rummage sale for $0.50 each. I saw them as we were leaving and just had to grab them! I am loving the three Activity Packet books and know they will get lots of preschool use! (Below is a description of what they are.) The Alphabet Starters teacher guide will be a nice addition to our preschool activities. Explode the Code and Self-Check multiplication boards will be put away for future homeschool use!

Below Hubby grabbed the art lap desk for $2 (which I have been looking for another one!) and the Richard Scarry big book for $1. I love Richard Scarry and I love big books!

Below is the mass chaos that erupted in my house when Hubby got home from work late Saturday night. I guess he stopped off at a garage sale on his way to work at 2pm and scored five huge boxes of clothes and toys for $5 together! Isn’t that just crazy talk??! We went through it all together and separated everything into piles – donate, resell at consignment, for the girls, for me and Bryan, for family. I am excited to be passing along our great finds to family! Phenomenal score, Hubby!

This is my very favorite find of the week below. Perhaps of the year! It’s a library book display that turns! I spent many summers growing up at the library down the road, twirling very similar book displays, stocking up on my Sweet Valley High books to read. It was a very nostalgic find for me and I am so happy Hubby let me purchase it for $5! Even though he thinks it’s ugly, I know it will make a great addition to our playroom! (Which it’s standing in front of but Hayleigh was asleep in there!) My easy readers fit perfectly in the slots and one day will be replaced with chapter books!

This coming Saturday is a huge community garage sale in a very nice neighborhood. We go twice a year and make a huge event of it! This time will be a bit different, as hubby and I are splitting up and competing to see who gets the best buys! We are such nerds, I know!

Linking up to Garage Sale Treasures!

Posted in Garage Sales, Preschool | Tagged Educational, Garage Sales | 1 Comment

What We’re Buying {April 27th}

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Carolyn

I bought a lot more than what you see below this week. But it was for a cute little girl’s first birthday party. Hayleigh’s birthday party!! I can’t believe my little one is turning ONE! Ack, the time sure does goes fast!!

Aside from the basics and meat (which I have to go get in the morning at the market), we really didn’t need much this week. Thus, making it not very hard on the wallet when I had to buy food for the party next weekend.

The girls and I went to Aldi and Costco, spending $17. 68 and $53.33 respectively. If you want the breakdown, I got it for you below.

Aldi

2 Cucumbers ($0.50 each)
Navel Oranges, 4 lb. bag ($1.39)
Pita Chips ($1.99) *for hubby because he love the ones I bought from Publix last week. These actually taste pretty good too!
Marshmallows ($0.99) *for the party
Rice Snacks ($1.99) *snack for the girls since we were out during snack time
Sweet Potatoes ($1.99)
2 heads of lettuce ($1.19 each)
White Chocolate Baking Chips ($1.79) *for the party
Vanilla cookies ($1.69) *for the party
Roast beef lunch meat, 7 oz. ($2.49)

If you couldn’t tell, we are doing a “sweets & treats” dessert buffet. I bought a bunch more sweets than what you see above at Walmart. I also plan on making my own sweets to add to the buffet!

Costco

Disney Mickey chicken nuggets, 5 lbs. ($11.99) *for the party, the bag last week disappeared!
Organic Broccoli ($5.99)
Bananas, 3 lbs. ($1.39)
Egglands Best Eggs, 18 ct. ($2.99)
Organic Animal Crackers ($9.49) *for the party
Canned Green Beans, 10 lbs. ($3.05)
Canned Crushed Tomatoes, 10 lbs. ($2.99)
Canned Pineapple ($4.65)
Silk Almond Milk, 3pk of 64 oz. ($7.79)
2 All beef hot dog meals with drinks ($1.50 each) *not pictured, split and devoured

Why have I never seen the HUGE cans of fruits and veggies before at Costco?? The prices are incredible!! I’d like for the girls to eat fresh, but they prefer canned green beans and pineapple. And the price just can’t be beat! I am hoping to use up the pasta in my pantry, so the huge can of crushed tomatoes should make a huge batch of red sauce!

Any special grocery finds this week? Share with us below!

Linking to Friday Finals at Southern Savers, Weekly Totals at I Heart Publix, Photo Show & Tell at Addicted to Saving, Super Savings Saturday at Money Saving Mom and Shopping Superstars at The Thrifty Mama.

Posted in Grocery Photos, My Shopping Trips | Tagged Aldi, Costco | Leave a comment

Garage Sale Show & Tell {April 21}

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Carolyn

I was hoping to get this up on Sunday, but that is hubby’s main day off and we are usually on the go. Then I spent the early part of the week with my sister and niece having lots of fun playtime and couldn’t find time to squeeze it all in! Sigh. That’s life I guess!

My mother-in-law took the older girls on Saturday, so hubby and I could really focus on garage sales. It was a busy and fun day with some great sales! Here’s our recap…

huge bag of snap-lock beads ($1)
Baby Smart booster, 5 sets of BOB books, Snuggle Puppy board book, car seat toy ($13) **I’ve been looking for the BOB books as a complete set and was excited to make a deal on them! This booster is incredibly cool and I really want to keep it, but I guess it’s worth $60 on ebay, so not sure if Hubby is going to let me keep it! He wanted to sell the BOB books, but I said no. LOL. Our copy of Snuggle Puppy is pretty worn, so I was excited to find a new copy!
books ($0.25 each)
miscellaneous little toys ($0.05 – $0.50 each)
handmade huge bib & taggie blanket ($0.50 each)
Melissa & Doug knob puzzle ($1)
Fireman coat & hat ($3)

Pampered Chef toaster oven stoneware ($4)
Fire King oval casserole dish ($1)
white Rubbermaid lazy susan ($0.50)
clear over the door shoe organizer ($1)
town people magnets & scene ($1)
Water bottles & toy elephant ($0.25 each)
complete set of Chronicles of Narnia ($2)
IKEA star & moon lights ($1 each)
2 Disney Store water toys, new in box ($1 each)
giraffe baby toy ($0.25)
40 kids DVDs (Dora, Barney, Diego, Curious George) $30 *some to keep, some to sell
4T dress ($2)
Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy & Toddlers ($1 each)
Picture frame shelf with palm tree knobs, NEW! ($1.50) *for my mom for Mother’s Day!

This is my recap from a couple Saturdays ago, which I didn’t get a chance to post. But I just had to share my fun finds!

I snatch up board books when I see them in good condition for cheap. This is because once board books make it into my house, they become ripped, torn, chewed on, and eventually thrown in the trash! I was happy to find some for $0.25 each and in new condition! Hubby scooped up the wooden and jigsaw puzzles for me for about $1 and $0.25 a piece. The goosebumps books he bought to resell. The bags on the top right are filled with a felt board and lots of felt pieces, for about $1 a set. Now to my favorite find of the day… these awesome alphabet animal stickers that will one day hit the walls of our playroom! I believe hubby paid $3 for them, a stinking amazing deal!

We hit a few houses that had TONS of girls clothes, ranging from 4T – size 7. And great, quality brands! I just had to stock up at $0.25 – $0.50 each! I believe I now have almost full clothing bins for the next few years!

Have YOU been thrifting lately??

Posted in "New to You", Garage Sales | 4 Comments

Moments to Remember {Sisterly Love}

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Carolyn

Moments to Remember was developed as a simple way to look back on our week as homeschoolers and find photos that encompass the memories we want to remember. The week may have been tough, there may have been more bumps than smiles, but in the end these are the moments that keep us going, the ones we need to remember.

I love this picture, for so many reasons! Cami is such an incredibly loving and helpful sister. I love watching her interact with Hayleigh. Who, by the way, is just growing older by the minute!! Ack!

This one I caught early one morning, while all three girls were watching cartoons in our bed with milks in hand. Or rather in mouth. Love the bed head!!!

Posted in Moments to Remember | 2 Comments

WOW of the Week {April 20th}

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Carolyn

What WOWed me this week…

This outdoor classroom at Teach Preschool, equipped for science, nature, and sensory play, made my mouth drop! This makes me want to run out, grab some supplies and screen in our back patio!

Good Cheap Eats shared this Thai Chicken Pizza over two years ago but I just stumbled upon it this week. And boy, does it look delicious!! With only a handful of ingredients, it should be easy to whip up one day this week!

Wise words that made me go WOW…

“…your husband is one of the greatest tools God has for sanctifying you and purifying sin from your life. God uses your husband — either through his leadership or through conflict — to show you your sin and weaknesses…. God does not want you to harden your heart, but to submit to what He is doing in your life through your husband and your marriage. The question is, are you resisting His will and your husband’s role in your sanctification? Or do you look at everything that happens in your life as an opportunity to purify you and make you more holy?“ – The Excellent Wife Day by Day

“If you have heard Jesus Christ’s voice on the waves of the sea, you can let your convictions and your consistency take care of themselves by concentrating on maintaining your intimate relationship to Him.” – My Utmost for His Highest

What made YOU go “Wow!” this week?

Posted in Children Activities, Preschool, Recipes, Things to Remember | 4 Comments

What We’re Buying {Week of April 15th}

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Carolyn

This week I was able to run out grocery shopping while my mother-in-law watched the girls at home. It is so much easier and quicker shopping without children! I hit up four stores in two hours. Here’s what I have to show from it.

Target

Gerber mesh feeding ring ($3.00) -$1/1 = $2.00
Gerber pack of spoons ($2.69) -BOGO coupon = FREE!
Archer Farms Organic Whole milk ($3.79)

Total = $6.19

Costco

Almond Milk, 3pk 64 oz. ($7.79)
Eggland Best Eggs, 18 ct. ($2.79)
Disney Chicken Nuggest, 5 lbs. ($11.99)
Bananas, 3 lbs. ($1.39)
Organic Spinach, 1 lb. ($4.49)
Organic Tortilla Chips ($5.29)
Chicken Salad, 2 lbs. ($12.57)

Total = $47.19

My Costco trip was a bit high this week because I splurged on a couple items for company we had coming over. The chicken salad and chicken nuggets were my splurges. But because I did so well at Publix (see below), I stayed under my $80 budget for the week!!

Publix

2 Crusty 5 Grain Bread Baton ($1.29) – $1/1 coupon wyb Kraft cheese x2 = $0.29 each
Lettuce head ($1.49) – $1/1 coupon wyb Kraft cheese = $0.49 each
Banana ($0.27) – $1/1 coupon wyb Kraft cheese = FREE + overage
2 Clif Crunch granola bars, 10pk. (2/$5) – $1/1 coupon x2 = $1.50 each
2 Kraft Cheese block, 8 oz. ($1.75)
2 Kraft Sliced cheese ($1.50)
3 Silk Fruit & Protein drinks, 1 qt. ($2.00) – $1/1 coupon x3 = $1.00 each
2 Alexia Sweet Potato waffle fries ($3.00) – $1/1 coupon x2 + $0.75 Publix coupon x2 = $1.25 each
Sea Salt Pita Chips ($2.99) – $2/1 Publix Deli item = $0.99 each
Hawaiian Sandwich Rolls, 4pk. ($2.99) – $2/1 Publix Deli item = $0.99 each
2 Shell Gas cards ($25.00) – $10 wyb $25 in groceries = $20 each

After a $5/30 Winn Dixie coupon, my total was $52.30, which included the two $25 gas cards! Hubby took $50 out of the gas fund for the gas cards, so I really only spent $2.30 for all of my groceries!! And I saved $42.84!! Not sure if I figured the percentage right, but I am pretty sure I saved 95%!

I also ran by the bread outlet and paid $2.07 for 3 loaves of Nature’s Pride whole wheat bread, not pictured.

This week I managed to stay $20 under my grocery budget, which never happens! But I am really trying to get better about not grabbing every deal and buying only what we will really use and need.

Any fun grocery deals this week? Share with us below!

Posted in Grocery Photos, My Shopping Trips | Tagged Cos, Costco, Publix, Target | Leave a comment

Traveling With Toddlers {The Travel Binder}

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Carolyn

While we spent most of our vacation dealing with three very sick kids, I did learn a great deal about traveling with toddlers. I will spend the next couple weeks sharing all of my tips and tricks I learned along the way. I’d love to hear all of your tips as well!

I may have over-planned, with our huge activity bag and now this massive travel binder, but it did keep the girls extremely occupied and entertained!

When I was researching activities for in the car, I kept seeing lots of printables. Which made me think to put all of them in one binder for easy organization. A place for everything!

The cover art for our binder came from Prepared NOT Scared! I just placed a piece of scrapbook paper behind it to fill up the front of the binder more. Looks fun and inviting, huh??

The left side pocket holds our travel car bucks which the girls received for good behavior and could be redeemed for souvenirs along the way. In the pouch are power magnets to be used with most of the printables in the binder (along with a $1 store cookie sheet). I Spy Bingo was another printable from Prepared NOT Scared!

These counting printables worked great with the power magnets and helped get in a little math review on our trip!

The letter match palm trees on the left were so fun to do with Brylee! I’d call out a letter and she would place a magnet over the letter on the tree. She did such a great job! The ocean graphing game is part of this ocean girly preschool pack.

I tried to keep some of our printables related to what we were doing on vacation. This fish counting game and fish coloring matching game went perfect with our visit to the aquarium!

We started our trip off seeing Veggie Tales Live in concert, so these Veggie Tales printables made for fun matching and BINGO games! I also created two matching games out of the girly ocean preschool pack and the princess preschool pack.

I searched through my sticker stash and then made printables to go along with the stickers I had selected. The left printable was for separating the heart and star stickers. The right printable was for separating the stars by size. I also had one printable with letters all over it with letter stickers to go with it. That was Brylee’s favorite!