Weekend

It's been a great weekend, and we've been spending lots of time with my parents who are out from Michigan visiting.

Christian and Ellee have absolutely adored having their grandparents here.  

Last night, we had a small window of time to head out to the ocean, before the rain returned.

We captured a few special pictures.

To our commemorate time spent all together.

We finished up just as the rain started, then headed back home to enjoy pizza from Michaelangelos, which is one of our favorite things to do when my parents come out to visit.  

Then, this afternoon, I headed out to Rite Aid, with my Mom and a well strategized plan to get some of our family's favorite products.  I was excited to show my Mom the ways I've learned to save using coupons.  The way that I try to approach couponing, is to focus on only buying things that we will use.  In a fun turn of events, today's shopping trip was for things that we absolutely love.  In fact, there have certainly been times that I have paid full price for the items I got, because they are that good.  All that being said, using sales, coupons and +Up Rewards from last week, I paid a grand total of $7.07 out of pocket for all of the items pictured below.  And then I got $7.00 in +Up Rewards (basically store credit for Rite Aid) back.  So... theoretically, I paid .07 cents for everything.  

Afterwards, we drove out to Staples, where I got 5 incredibly cute composition note books.  I've heard rumors that they are on the supply list for 3rd grade, so I thought it would be a good time to get them as they were on sale for $1.00 each.

Because I spent $5.00 I was able to get everything pictured below, for $1.18.  The regular retail price for the folders, tissues, paper clips and pencils would have been $16.94.

All in all, it was a fun afternoon, shopping with my Mom and saving money for great things that we will use.  Hope you all enjoyed your Sunday afternoon as well!