Productive Sunday!

We started the day out right, by walking for Michael at the Annual Spread your Wings Walk (talked about here)

I meant to take a picture, but forgot :(
Here's CBS 58 footage though! See it here

Then, we went to Red Mango where they were running a Fundraiser for the walk.

I mean, it was our duty.  

It was a hard sacrifice, but we did it ;)

Then off home, where I got dinner going.

Green Chile Pork! It was DELICIOUS!

And then canned some salsa! (and man-o-man does that use A LOT of water! I let it cool and then tossed in on the garden!)

AND I even got some studying in!!!

I'm quite pleased :)

What did you get accomplished on Sunday?

What are you doing on Sunday??

Thankfully the Packers have off this week... they need to regroup, and refocus...

Anywho...

Michael <3
we will always remember

Patrick and I will be walking in memory of Patrick's cousin, Michael.  Michael was only 18 when he got into the passenger side of his "friend's" car.  The so-called friend had been drinking and got into a car accident. The car hit a pole and flipped over. The "friend" panicked, as he was also a multiple drunk driving offender, so he left Michael there. Michael died of his injuries.

The "friend" now lives in a jail cell.

Michael's mom, Karen, is a momma bear.  She made sure the charges stuck.  She also made sure that Michael's wishes were fulfilled.  Michael donated his heart, lungs, liver, pancreas and kidneys. All of the people that received his organs are blessed to have a part of Michael. He would have loved to know he helped others. 

Karen also started a yearly walk to give money back to the school system, Fox Point-Bayside, that Michael loved so much.   The Spread Your Wings Walk takes place Sunday, September 29, 2013 at Ellsworth Park (600 E. Ellsworth Ln., Across Street From Bayside Middle School)

Please come walk with us. Walk to remember Michael.  Walk to raise funds for the school system. 

Registration is at 10am and the walk starts at 11am.

Michael's obituary can be found here

Another article about the walk and Michael's little brother Rob found here

Follow up on "Love You Forever"

I posted here about how much I love this book and I just learned something new about it that makes me cry even more.

Some people think the part about the mother climbing into her grown son's window is creepy.  I didn't take it literally.  I read it as, the love she has for her son as unconditional and the love a mother has for her child even when they are grown and gone.  That she still sees her baby (even as her son has grown up), and in her mind she will always be rocking that sweet, baby boy.

A friend posted a related link about the book on her facebook page and I wanted to see what it was about. 

On Robert Munsch's (the author) website he writes, 

"Love You Forever started as a song.

“I’ll love you forever,
I’ll like you for always,
as long as I’m living
my baby you’ll be.”

I made that up after my wife and I had two babies born dead. The song was my song to my dead babies. For a long time I had it in my head and I couldn’t even sing it because every time I tried to sing it I cried. It was very strange having a song in my head that I couldn’t sing."

And now it makes EVEN more sense why I love this book as much as I do.  And why I connected with it.  I felt strange in a way because I didn't get to watch my boys grow old, and go through everything that happened in the book, yet the book really hit a note with me.  And now I know why.  Because it actually came from a place of pain and grief.  So I no longer feel silly finding comfort in my grief with this book.  I no longer feel silly for crying every time I read it.  Thank you Robert Munsch for being brave enough to tell the story behind the song and book.  

You can see his page here

Happy Anniversary Honey!

Three years ago, I was getting my hair done and eating a asiago cheese bagel.

Three years ago, you were waking up at Brad's apartment and running to Alterra for coffee.

I could not wait to walk down the aisle and see you standing there, waiting for me.

I could not wait to say and hear the vows we wrote to each other.

Three years ago, I married my best friend. To have and to hold. Through good times and bad.

We have had our share of both.

I truly believe us fighting through the muck together and coming out on top, is a true testament of us living up to those vows.  It is a true testament of our love for each other, and to our family.

Patrick, I love you more and more after every passing day.

Al's Run 2013

Well, Fall is definitely here in Wisconsin. Time to pack up the shorts and unpack the sweaters. Time to turn on the furnace and pay expensive heating bills.


But what if you also have medical bills for your sick baby or child? What if you can't afford both??


Help us raise money for Children's hospital to help those families. Help us give back to the hospital and programs at CHW that were there for us when we needed them.


Visit our page here to donate: http://events.chw.org/goto/devotedtomcgraws

Another shopping tip

I personally enjoy shopping from the comfort of my own home over trying to find parking at a crowded mall.  By the time I find my spot, walk passed the food court where the teenagers are trying to do their courting, I don't feel like shopping...I feel like leaving!

Feel the same? Or do a mix of both?

If you DO shop online, I've got another tip for you.

I earn cash back when I buy from certain retailers (this is not a short list at all! SO many stores are on here! Gap, Maidenform, Melissa and Doug (for you parents) and MUCH more.

So far I've earned back $127! So I can tell you it adds up fast! My deal today only earned me $1.20, but that's a $1.20 I didn't have yesterday!

So on to the how. I use shop at home click here -this will take you to the page AND you'll get a bonus $5 for signing up today! (This is my referral link, but if you get "referred" YOU get an extra $5! But you have to go through this link) It's 100% free and there is nothing left to do! You shop, you get a check in the mail!

You just need to remember to pull up the store through shop at home when you order so they have a log of your transaction :)

I really like helping other people save money! I probably drive my coworkers crazy, but I know they appreciated the help with some very cheap diapers recently! ;)

Feel free to leave any questions here to if you have any! I'll try and help as best I can!

Happy shopping (AND earning!) !

Happy shopping!

Well, the submission is in...They will let the people who were selected know Oct 15th.

School started and well, I've got one nervous breakdown done.

So the other things I like doing...you know couponing/saving money etc.

Well here's an easy AWESOME deal that I came up with.  (The deal was because of Colin at Hip2Save - I love her and her site! My deal is different than Collin's but it's because of her that I knew about it!

First, if you haven't heard of ibotta YOU NEED TO DO IT! You need a smart phone though!

then you sign up : here

Ok got that done! ....easy, right?

Ok so you have to go through the app and "select" the deals you want to earn money for.
Example:

so look at the simply orange pic on the left.  You watch a video/take a poll etc to rank up what you will earn back. Once that is done, you go shopping at select retailers. There are a TON of retailers, scroll through to make sure you are shopping at these stores to use this app. This is simple on it's own. The deal below is more complex, but it's because of the added bonuses and it's SO worth it! If you are scared, maybe don't try the deal below. I don't want you to feel overwhelmed and give up! I want you to save money!

On to the crazy-I-can't-believe-this-is-all-FREE deal

Select the:

Scott toilet paper, scott paper towel/palmolive, cottenelle, Kleenex, Kleenex towel/soft soap, Huggies diapers, huggies wipes, scott naturals, poise and u by Kotex deals.

Next go shopping!

I went to Walmart.  And I took KMART's ad with me for some price matching.

I bought:

- Huggies Diapers jumbo packs $8.97
- Huggies Wipes $1.97
- Softsoap hand soap 8.5 oz $2.27
- Kleenex Hand Towels $2.67
- Scott Paper Towels 6pk $5 *PRICE MATCH
- Palmolive 25 oz dish soap $2.47
- Scott bath tissue EXTRA SOFT 12-pack $5 *PRICE MATCH
- Scott Natural Cleansing Wipes $1.96
- Kleenex facial tissue 4pk $5 *PRICE MATCH

- Cottenelle toilet paper 12pk $5 *PRICE MATCH

-Cottenelle Flushable wipes 42ct $1.96

(the items that we can't use, I donate or give as a gift-like the diapers and wipes went to a gift for my co-worker :) )

Total = $42.27

I used the $3/1 Huggies Diapers coupon found in the 8/18 SS (SMART SOURCE)
 the $0.50 Huggies wipes coupon found in the 8/18 SS
 the $1/1 Kleenex hand towels coupon found here
 the $0.75 Scott paper towels coupon found in the 8/11 SS
 the $1/1 Kleenex facial tissue coupon found here 

I paid = $35.39 OOP (Out of pocket) incl tax

Then I submitted my receipt to ibotta (it takes a picture of your receipt and you have to scan the UPC from each item)

The NEXT day (this is important for one of the those bonuses! they need to be submitted on TWO DIFFERENT days!)

I bought:

Buy U by Kotex tampons 18-ct $3.97
Buy Poise pantiliners, 36-ct $2.72

Total = $6.69 
I used  the $1.50/1 U by Kotex coupon found here
and the $2/1 Poise Product coupon found here

I paid = $3.56 OOP

and then submitted my receipt and scanned the two barcodes. 

And I earned my money back:

Earn $1.50 back via Ibotta for buying Huggies diapers (any variety – any size)
Earn $0.75 back via Ibotta for buying Huggies wipes (40 ct or larger)
Earn $1.50 back via Ibotta for buying Kleenex hand towels and Softsoap Brand
Earn $1.00 back via Ibotta  for buying Cottonelle toilet paper and flushable wipe
Earn $0.75 back via Ibotta  for buying Scott paper towels and Palmolive dish soap
Earn $0.75 back via Ibotta  for buying Scott bathroom tissue (8-pack or larger)
Earn $1 back via Ibotta  for buying Scott cleansing wipes tub or refill (51 pk or larger)
Earn $1 back via Ibotta  for buying Scott facial tissue (3-pack or larger)
Earn $2 via Ibotta  for buying the items included in the Hug Your Baby Bonus (click on “Bonuses”)
Earn $3 via Ibotta  for buying the items included in the Freshen Up Bonus (click on “Bonuses”)
Earn $3 via Ibotta  for buying the items included in the Kitchen & Bath Bonus (click on “Bonuses”)
Earn $1.25 back via Ibotta  for buying Poise pads and liners (excludes 10-16 pk)
Earn $0.75 back via Ibotta  for buying U by Kotex tampons or pads (any size – any variety)
Earn $5 back via Ibotta  for buying items included in the Autumn Stock Up Bonus (click on “Bonuses”)
Earn $20 back via Ibotta  for buying 10 participating items in the Offers Bonus (click on “Bonuses”)
Total earned with Ibotta offers = $44

So. let's recap.

$35.39 OOP (day 1) +$3.56 OOP (day 2) -$44 (money earned from ibotta) = 

-$5.05! 

I MADE $5! :)

All this and I made $5!

Please keep in mind that ibotta offers change and are only available in limited numbers.

Helpful hints:

You can check to make sure the item in your cart will work for the deal. If you have the app open and are looking at the product (look at the picture above with the simply orange) you will see a green barcode button on the right. Click on that and it will have you scan the UPC. It will tell you if it's a match or not!