What can $2.47 get me at Target?

I have found a new addiction. Freebie sites. The past few months I've been signing up for free samples and in the past week or so, I've discovered that coupons are just as good. Target accepts a manufacturer's coupon and a Target coupon for each item.

Last night, I perused one of my favorite sites and began my quest to download and coordinate coupons to get as much as I could for free or almost free. Here is what I got....

Sobe Lifewater....Target has a .50 off coupon for the water which is 1.00 this week making the water .50
2 8 packs of Juicy Juice....the Juice is 2.29 each, Redplum had a coupon for 1.00 off and I printed (2) 1.00 Target coupons making the grand total for the juice 1.58
2 cans of Chef Boyardee...Target has coupons for 1.00 off one can. You can print up to two coupons for each item from the Target coupons. The item was .99 each making the Chef Boyardee FREE
Con Agra has a coupon for 1.50 off of (4) listed items, including Chef Boyardee and Banquet meals. Since I only had 2 coupons for the Chef, I got 2 Banquet meals at .68 each with the 1.50 coupon they were FREE
Bic Pens are .99 each, Target has a coupon for 1.00 off making them FREE
Willy Wonka Bar...Redplum had a 1.00 off coupon and Target had a 1.00 off coupon. The candy bar was 1.97 with the coupons the bar was FREE
Bagel bites...2.24 for a package, Target had 1.00 off and Ore Ida had 1.00 off making them .24

My receipt lists my savings as 12.66. Pretty sweet deal if I do say so myself.

We also went to Staples and saved 5.00 by getting 2 -6 packs of highlighters, regular price of 2.00 for .25 each and 2 - storage boxes, regular price 1.00 for .25 each. Total at Staples was 1.07

A full nest

So, I had planned a quiet weekend home alone. Plans change. Kelly called me Friday to go downtown to help her apply for medical assistance.

We started our drive in her car, which overheated then switched to my van and drove downtown, walked about 4 blocks, paid $10 for parking and sat in the office for 2 1/2 hours so Kelly could sign 2 pieces of paper. WTH? Then to top it off, as we left it started to rain. We were soaked by time we got to the parking garage. We decided to head straight to the mall so I could get a new t-shirt and she got a new outfit off the clearance rack. I was so proud. All clearance was buy 1, get one for a penny. She got a pair of sweat pants for 9.99 and a top for a penny. Then we walked around the mall, had dinner and proceeded to get lost in Ross Township looking for a baby store. Eventually, we found our way back to civilization, went grocery shopping and spent the evening chilling at home with our laptops. All in all, it was nice being with her.

On Saturday I chilled at home because I was sick and then on Sunday headed to Aunt Sharon's to help her make a gift. We got the foundation done but discovered that we could not finish it. While heading out to get the appropriate items for the gift, we stopped and Linda's and I discovered that I just couldn't go any farther. Poor Aunt Sharon had to finish it on her own. I'm sure it is beautiful.

Poor Glenn managed to be the sole casualty at camping. He tripped over the firewood and into the fire at Raystown. Then when he got home, he got sick today. Can anyone say whiny baby? I shouldn't laugh because his fever was up to 101.8 last night. We both are starting to feel better with some medicine from Dr. Weiner.

The school called today and Cameron's school schedule is aaawesoooome. His first class is at 10 a.m. and he finishes at 2 p.m. What a sweet schedule? He can get up at 8, watch tv, eat breakfast, take his meds at 9 and be in class at 10. He sounded happy with the schedule when I told him.

Kelly has a tiny bump, mostly water gain. I posted pics of Glenn and Kelly on my facebook. When I told Cam that he is off school on Valentine's day and he can go the hospital with us if she goes into labor that day, he said fine...but not too close he didn't want to hear any women screaming. LOL He's so cute.

Home Alone?!

I can't believe that for the first time in 5 years I will have the house all to myself for a few days. Last time I enjoyed this pleasure was in 2005 when Glenn took the kids to Pennsylvania and went camping with his family. Sounds eerily familiar as that is what is going on now.

We dropped Cam off at Raystown earlier this week. Well, drop off sounds a bit cold. We did spend a night and returned home for a few days of quiet together. This afternoon, Glenn will return to the scene of the crime on his motorcycle leaving me with Milo duty and a completely quiet house all to myself. Whatever shall I do?

So far, I've just been spending time surfing the net signing up for free stuff. You know me...never one to pass up FREE. This morning I signed up for free ziploc bags, a nursery bag, a free cheerleader magazine for Keara and plenty more.

I may go see Jake in his skateboarding competition tomorrow and Sunday I am going to Aunt Sharon's to help her finish a baby shower gift we have been discussing.

Happy weekend. I am off for a weekend of....who knows, but it will not include anyone calling for Mom, demanding a head scratch or even cooking. A little bit of heaven on earth my friends. Fortunately, the house will be full again by Sunday evening and life will begin anew.

6 years or just yesterday

Gram at about 14-16 years old




My mom, Darlene, grandma, Margaret, and me


the day I found out I was pregnant with Kelly.


July, 1991.

I can't believe that it's been almost 6 years since I lost one of my best friends, my grandma. Literally, every day I go to pick up the telephone to call and tell her something that is going on or to ask her advice. Then, I remember that she is no longer there. I don't cry anymore but sometimes I get so cranky that I think it may because my best therapist is on permanent retirement.

I hope that Kelly's baby is a girl so I can try to have a great relationship with her the way I did with my Gram.

One of the best and worst days of my life was the day Gram found out she had ovarian cancer. It was the best because when the doctor came in to tell her the results of her surgery, she told him he could talk in front of me, I was one of her best friends. Worst because....well, she had cancer.

Watching her die was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I have always been scared of death and dead people. I imagined that when she passed I would hardly be able to enter the room. Instead, I rushed to the Hospice House in record time and climbed in bed with her.

I'm proud to say I held it together through the planning of the funeral and distribution of her estate, but when the funeral was over and they made me leave, I lost it. I still hate the fact that I had to leave her there to be cremated. She was my Gram. Why did God take her from me? I know that He has a plan for my life and every obstacle I encounter is to make me a stronger person and remind me to reaffirm my faith in Him.

Sometimes, I am looking at pictures and Cameron does not remember her. That makes me want to cry. She loved every grandchild and great grandchild of hers. I think she even loved my sister, Tammy, despite the adoption and the fact that she forced it. I am saddened that Tammy never got to meet her. I think Tammy would have loved Gram's sense of humor.

Gram and I laughed so much and I could talk to her about anything. She never let me feel I was unloved. No matter what I did, I was still her granddaughter and I believe I was actually the favorite. Sorry Paula and Tina. I got documents to prove she trusted me with her life literally. I know she loved us all, but I'll hold on to a little bit of superiority in that LOL.

If there were ever a grandchild she loved the most, it would be my brother, Chuckie. I remember Gram talking about him and how when she moved to Florida in 1970 that the thing she missed the most in Pittsburgh was him. She never grasped how that hurt me. On a logical level I understand that I wasn't even born yet so she had no relationship with me to miss. But, she had 19 months with Chuckie and she missed him dearly. His death caused an insurmountable amount of grief to her. I can't believe it's been 25 years since we lost him, too.

I remember the story of how when she got his ashes she opened them to see him. She had no fear of dead people. One of her childhood friends lived in a funeral home so she often played there. I have had my brother's ashes for years and I still cannot bring myself to take his box out of the bag she passed it to me in.

There are certain ways my Gram did things that I am strictly adherent to. My macaroni and cheese has to have white cheddar cheese. We must have red beets and cucumber salad with it. She preferred white cheese and I even prefer white american cheese over orange. I remember she always had a drawer full of candy in her fridge. She loved tastee cakes. She would not eat chicken AT ALL!!! Why do so many memories of her include food?

Gram and I have had similar medical issues so it scares me that I may end up with ovarian cancer when I am older. Fortunately, I have been on birth control and I understand that that will reduce my chances.

In my room is my grandmother's free standing mirror and jewelry armoire. Sometimes, I open it up and hold the flowers she used to wear to Christmas parties or wear some of her jewelry and it makes me feel closer to her. I have her wedding band but finally stopped wearing it.

A few days ago I was scanning pictures into my computer and have some of her as a child. Looking at them I can see similar features in Cameron. That makes me smile. My grandmother was an absolutely stunning woman and I am proud to be her granddaughter. July 8th will never be the same in my life. But, I'm glad to have known such a loving, caring, smart, strong and funny woman.