101 FREE Prints at Shutterfly! Just pay shipping!

I literally never buy prints unless it is with this deal on Shutterfly.  It comes around all the time!  And it keeps my prints from getting too out of date and overwhelming.  Check out the link for information.  You just need to use code 101PRINTS at checkout.

I also read that if you only order 99 prints your shipping is less, so you save a few dollars and only get 2 fewer prints.  It's worth a shot!

Prints | Shutterfly:

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Free Bic Razors at Walgreens! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady

I have to use up some rewards at Walgreens this week, so I will definitely be picking up some of these free razors while I am there!

They are priced at $3.99 this week, and buy one get one half price ($5.98 total).  There were $3 coupons in the paper a few weeks back, so they are totally free when you buy 2 and use 2 $3 coupons.  Yay!

Free Bic Razors at Walgreens! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady:

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Mel's Diner Groupon - Half Price!

I just bought this Groupon, and wanted to share it with you guys too.  It is only $12 for $24 worth of food at Mel's Diner, which is such an iconic place!  Great to bring friends from out of town.  And anytime I can get half price food at a place that is super close by I am going to do it:)

http://www.groupon.com/deals/mels-drive-in-4?p=1&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&sid=ebb68992-932b-496c-bc9e-573138630fb7&division=los-angeles&user=2110fb9794234545ca801073eed751709b20d9fafd58095497cfb8d8e0fcb808&date=20130331&s=body&c=deal_button&d=deal-page&utm_campaign=mels-drive-in-4

Again I couldn't use "blog this" but the link should work, or just search on groupon.com for the deal.  Yum!!

Free Science Day at the Downtown Library

This free event sounds so great, and it looks there there is something for every age!  The downtown library is a bit of a hike, but such a beautiful place.  Follow the link to check out the details.  There are shows, and hands on activities from the California Science Center.  Anything with dinosaurs gets our vote!

LAPL | Kids Path | Events:

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Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft

This craft is great because you don't need anything fancy - just a basket coffee filter, a pipe cleaner, and some watercolors.  I did this with my 1.5 year old and 3.5 year old, and they both enjoyed it.  I got the idea from a friend that ran a toddler group.

First have your kids paint a coffee filter, and then let it dry before adding the pipe cleaner.  Fold the pipe cleaner in half (like picture #2), with the filter scrunched in the middle, and twist the pipe cleaner on either side of the filter so it holds the middle in place.  Continue twisting the bottom half to make the body, and bend the tops to make the antennae.  So cute:)  I'm going to make a bunch to decorate my daughter's room.

$15 off a $50 Purchase at Old Navy

Old Navy has some great summer items at great prices, and I love that I can shop for the whole family in one place!  If you need some new summer stuff grab this coupon for $15 off your $50 purchase, valid through 4/1.

$15 Off! Seal the Deal, In Stores Only:

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Free Almay Make Up Remover at Walgreens!

This one is for the mommies!  And maybe teenage daughters, too:)

Almay make up removers are free this week at Walgreens when you combine a manufacturer coupon with a store coupon.  For this deal you do not need to have any kind of a coupon stash - you can print the mq and find the store q at your Walgreens.  It's easy!!

This week Almay products are buy one get one half price.  The remover pads or wipes are $5.99, so for both products you would pay $8.99.  You can print a $5/2 coupon and use a $2 store coupon that will apply once to each product, meaning you save $9!  

The store coupons are usually in the same rack as the weekly flyer at the front of the store.  They are issued each month, so you will be looking for the March Savings Book.  

You can print the online q twice, so you can get 4 products totally free.  The store coupon automatically applies to each product, so you just need to have one.  

Because the value of the coupons is $.01 more than the cost of the products you might run into trouble with your cashier.  What I do to avoid trouble is buy a cheap filler item.  This week I picked up 2 Easter tumbler cups for $.39 each.  Technically the cashier should adjust the value of the coupons, but some people don't know that and won't take the coupons, so to make a smoother checkout  just add something to my order:)

Here is the breakdown from the KCL web site with the link for the coupon:

Buy 2 Almay Eye Makeup Remover Pads, 80 ct $5.99, regular price
Buy One Get One 50% Off
Use one $5.00/2 – Almay Cosmetic Products, excludes trial and travel sizes – (coupons.com)
And use one $2.00/1 Almay Cosmetics or Makeup Removers from Walgreens March Savings Book (exp 3/30) (will automatically deduct $2.00 twice)
Final Price: Free, when you buy 2 

Spring/Easter Cute Craft for Kids:)

I am a sucker for anything that has hand prints or hand cut outs. This little duck has hand cut outs for wings.  I love it for a Spring or Easter craft.

I couldn't use the "blog this" feature on the page where I found this picture, so I copied the link below to reference the page.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://crafts.kaboose.com/swf/eastercard_large_rdax_65.jpg&imgrefurl=http://crafts.kaboose.com/easter-chick-card.html&h=516&w=450&sz=80&tbnid=I7594WTAcp1JAM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=78&zoom=1&usg=__tIu0gkdwve8k6FIaJ3D0iNRLQFw=&docid=g01H6dWiPbwtuM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=R8NTUY-vCqOSiAL8tYGICg&sqi=2&ved=0CEIQ9QEwAQ&dur=1661

DIY Workbook - Starter Fill in the Blanks

Here's another idea for a do it yourself workbook page - no need to spend money on practice books!!

I love the idea of fill in the blanks, but my son is a pre-writer, so I never get to use them.  He does, however, love to spell, so I wanted to try a different way and see if he would get the concept.

I wrote a simple word, tree, on the top of the page, and gave him the letters to glue in the right places below.  he got it, though he insisted some of the letters should go sideways:)  I think now that he has the concept I can do fill in the blanks in a more traditional layout, but use cut out letters since he cannot write them yet.  

I am thinking I will try out my first one with the titles of some of his favorite books (i.e. The _at in the _at).  

I'll post some variations after I try them out on my little guinea pig:)

Annenberg Beach House

Annenberg Beach House is a great free spot on the beach. There is a designated parking lot (not free), and a great cafe right on the sand. This is my favorite feature because the kids can play while the grown ups eat and maybe actually have a conversation :)
There is a playground here as well, and in the summer they have splash pads and a pool. I'll post more about that when it opens for the season, which I think is May.
Check it out before it gets super busy this summer!

Mini Golf in Sherman Oaks

Castle Park is a great way to spend a few hours, and the mini golf is not expensive.  Kids 4 and under are free with a full price paid adult ($6.50), and if you can get there before 10:30 am on a weekend it is only $3 per player.  Replays are only $3, and let me tell you my kids love this so much and play so fast that we almost always get a replay if it is not busy:)

There is an arcade that you have to walk through to get through to get out back, so you might want to budget a few extra dollars for some games.  They now have loadable cards so you don't need quarters, but it makes it easier to spend more when you just swipe the card each play!

http://www.laparks.org/shermanoaks_castlepk/

I saved $60 on board games at Toys R Us!

I stocked up on board games this week! I already posted about the great deal on Candyland. The same deal applies to Chutes and Ladders. It was on sale for $4.99, and I used the $3 coupon, making it only $1.99. Operation, normally $18.99, was on sale for $9.99, and I used a $3 coupon on that one too to get to $6.99. I bought 4 of each, plus one My Little Pony. It was normally $6.99, on sale for $2.99, and I had a $1 coupon. All told with tax I spent just over $43 for 8 board games and the pony, and saved $60!

I am so stocked up for birthdays for 3 year olds and 6 year olds!  You know what you're getting this year!!

Easter Egg Shell Art Craft

I love this idea to use those beautifully dyed eggs in a craft project!  All you need to do is draw a picture of an Easter egg on a blank paper, trace the outline with glue, and then used the crushed up Easter egg shells to bring the shape to life.  Have a look at the link so you can see how neat the finished product is:)


Easter Egg Shell Art - Easter Crafts for Kids - Parenting.com:

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Need a few minutes??

When I need a half hour kid free, but the kids are crawling all over me, I have a fail proof go to activity that keeps them busy and lets me get some things done.  It doesn't cost anything more than some flour, but you will pay for it a bit with the clean up. I set it up outside, so I can just wash away the mess, and strip the kids down before they come inside to minimize the mess:)

All you need is some flour, a variety of bowls and containers (I always throw in a muffin tin), and a variety of scoopers - measuring spoons, small cups etc.  Just let the kids transfer flour from one place to another.  

You can call this a tactile exercise, allowing the kids to feel a different substance and stimulate the sense of touch, but I just know it keeps them entertained.  And I love watching them try to formulate a plan and then execute it, such as how to get the flour out of the muffin tins and back into a bowl.  It's harder than it sounds:)

Clearance Sippy Cups at CVS!

This sale was perfectly timed for me, because my daughter is just about to transition (hopefully) from bottle to sippy cup.  I found these cups with a soft spout top on clearance at CVS for only $1.24.  Yay:)

I feel like I robbed Rite Aid this week!

This is so crazy.  Check out all the goodies I got this week.  I used a ton of coupons, plus $15 in rewards ($10 from the sunscreen deal I told you about).  I got everything pictured for only $20.08 (tax was $4.34), and I earned back a crazy amount of rewards!  The razor deal is really the most amazing thing - make sure to check it out below.  Here is how it happened:

2 Elmers Glue - $1.99 and got $1 back for each one.

4 bags of Easter Mixed Snack Size Mars candy - $2.99 each, and generating a $1 plus a $1 mystery reward per bag (saw this on KCL, no one knows why the double reward!).  Used $1/2 coupons.  Paid $9.96 and got back $8 in rewards, so $.49 each after rewards:)

Poise cooling towelettes - $3.19 with gold discount, used $3 mq and $1.50 RAq, so made money on that one:)

4 snickers bars, $.59 each and used a buy one get one free coupon, so $.30 each.

1 Scuni elastics, pay $1.99 and get $1.99 reward

The Schick deal was the best.  The promotion is spend $25 (before coupons) and get $10 in rewards.  I bought 2 Hydro silk razors, $9.99 each after discount, and 2 Skintimate shave gel, $2.79 after discount.  On each razor I used a $4 in ad coupon and a $4 mq, so they came to $1.99 each.  On the shave gel I used a $2 in ad coupon and $.55 mq, so they were $.24 each.  All together I paid  $4.46.  But I also had a $3 RA video values coupon that I brought with me because I wasn't sure if I could use 2 in ad coupons.  My cashier was so nice, and just tried to ring up all the coupons I had, so this went through too!  So, I would have paid $4.46, but I only paid $1.46 for all that, plus I got $10 back in rewards!  How is that even possible??

Last, I bought 2 packs of tugaboos diapers, buy one get one half price.  They were $8.99 and $4.49.  I also got back a $5 reward on these.

So, the grand total was $20.08, and I got back $26.99 in rewards.  I love coupons!!!

Beverly Hills Library is Looking Good!

The Beverly Hills Library recently renovated the entire Children's Library, and it is amazing!  I am always unsure about taking my kids to the library, and then trying to keep them quiet and keep them from pulling all the books off the shelves!  This library is really well laid out, and the best part is they have a built in play room.

The Family Room is awesome.  It is full of toys, building sets, animals, puzzles, and puppets, so your kids can let loose and play before or after looking for books.  Because it is new, the toys are also super clean, and the hall monitor in the room helps to keep everything organized:)

I am looking forward to checking out some story times - they have a ton of options, and do not require pre-registration the way they used to.  I'll let you know more about those when I make it out.

Remember that if you are not a resident of Beverly Hills you will not be able to check out books.  Happy reading!

Elmer’s School Glue, Only $0.99 at Rite Aid! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady

Here's a great post from the Krazy Coupon Lady - Elmer's glue only $1.99 at Rite Aid, plus you get a $1 reward!  This is a monthly deal, so not in the flyer but should be tagged in the store.  The limit is unknown, but I plan to go to buy a bunch tomorrow or Tuesday and I will test it out!

Elmer’s School Glue, Only $0.99 at Rite Aid! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady:

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Candy Land Board Game only $1.99 at Toys R Us!

I love when these holidays roll around, and there are so many great toy deals!  I have been stocking up like crazy for birthdays and baby showers!  I made it out to Toys R Us yesterday to get the Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head toys, and spent only $8.31 with tax for 4 heads.  Amazing!

This week Candy Land (and some other games) are only $4.99, which is a great price already, but you can also print a $3 coupon!  Go to coupons.com and choose toys from the menu to find the coupon.  Sweet deal!

Reminder - Free Bowling thu April 1, Mon-Thurs!

Don't forget to check out free bowling for Spring Break.  The link is for the summer program, but if you register you will get coupons for 2 games each day (Mon-Thurs) through April 1.

KidsBowlFree.com: Kids Bowl Free All Summer Long!:

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DIY Workbooks - Print your own materials

There are tons of great resources online for great printable worksheets.  The site I link to below is one I use all the time. A project that I have going on with my son is to look at different countries and keep worksheets about them (more on this later!), so I will often use this website to find a letter tracing worksheet related to an animal that lives there, or something that ties into the information we are learning.  Google away - you will find a ton of great free stuff out there!

Multicultural Preschool Activities and Crafts:

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Ralph's Freebies and Stock-ups!

I just ran out to Ralph's to pick up some milk and fruit today, but I also wanted to check out the Mega Sale, because my friend had told me about a great freebie on one of my favorite things - Bailey's coffee creamer!  The sale requires that you buy 5 participating items, but it is a mix and match sale so it is easy to find 5 things you need!
The Bailey's is on sale for $.99 and I had $1 coupons.  Free!
GoGurt was my favorite deal.  I go through this stuff like crazy with 2 kids!  The preferred method is to freeze them, and then either add into a lunch box or cut in half and eat frozen.  With summer coming I was so happy to find a stock up price on these.
They are normally $3.69, and are on sale for $.99.  Additionally, I used a $.75/2 coupon, so I got 2 packs for only $1.23, or just $.61 each!  Amazing.  I won't tell you how many I bought, but my son was very impressed when I opened the freezer to show him:)
I also grabbed a 4 pack of Yoplait Pro Force yogurt on sale with this promotion for $1.49, and used a $1 Ralph's catalina coupon, making it only $.49 for 4 yogurts.
There are so many great participating items that it warrants a walk through the aisles, coupon organizer in tow:)

Fun, Free, Fire Station Visit - Spring Break Idea:)

If you are looking for something super fun (and totally free) to do on your kids' Spring Break, consider a local fire station tour.  I have done a few of these at different stations, and they are so fun for the kids. The fire fighters are really good about gearing the tour to the age of the kids. I usually call ahead (just google your local station for the number), just to make sure the visit is ok, and then grab a group of friends and enjoy!

Target Price Match Saved Me Big!

I really wanted to get the Fisher Price Stride and Ride for my friends that are expecting in the summer. I was able to score this and a Fisher Price Puppy for a better than expected by asking for a price match at guest services. I am always going to double check prices online when I have a big purchase at Target!!
Stride and Ride:
Retail $49.99
Price match to Target.com $33.99
Used $20 in coupons (see post below about FP toys for coupon links)
Final price - $13.99
Puppy:
Retail $19.99
Price match to Target.com $14.25
Used $10 in coupons
Final Price - $4.25
So I spent $18.24 for both toys!
I also found the Disney Princess Memory game for $6.99, and used the 30% q and $3 q to get it for $1.87.  Good deal!

FREE Photo Book at Shutterfly - $29.99 Value!

I love when these free photo book deals come up!  They make such a great gift for grandparents, or for your own kids.  This offer is for an 8x8 book (I think 20 pages is standard).  It expires on March 26.  To redeem use code MYBOOK at checkout.

I have made a couple of storybooks for my kids using Shutterfly, and they always turn out great.  I like to take the books that they are really into, and then personalize them.  Last year I did a version of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? for my son, using his family, pets, and favorite toys.  It was pretty cute.

If you are pressed for time, just upload a bunch of pictures and choose the option that you are given when you start the book to have Shutterfly make it for you.  It will automatically group photos and arrange a layout for you, so you literally have a book in one click.  It is great.  I did this when I made a book with pictures of our dog.  Yes, our dog.  He has his own photo book.  But don't tell him I didn't spend any time making it:)

Diapers & more at CVS this week!

After my class tonight I did some serious shopping at CVS.  I was in need of overnight diapers, so I stocked up and got some great deals.  Here is how it all went down:

CVS has a promotion this week where you get $10 in rewards if you spend $30 on Huggies.  I only buy diapers when I am getting money back!  When I saw this deal has a limit of 5, I decided to stock up a bit and also get the wipes I need.  I had $2 coupons for Huggies, and $2.50 coupons for the Huggies slip ons, plus $.75 coupons for the wipes.

The diapers were $10 each, and the wipes were $6 each.  I bought 5 diapers and 2 wipes for $62 subtotal.  I used $12 in coupons, plus $14 in previous rewards, making my total $36, and I got $20 back in store rewards.  Not bad!

I also found the small trial size John Frieda hair spray for $1.57.  These are 2 oz, and I had coupons for $3/2, 1.5oz and larger.  So these little guys qualified!  They came to only $.07 each, and will make a great donation item.

Next, I bought the Carmex lotion on sale for $4.99.  I had a $1 mq and a $1.50 store q that was expired, but honored (most stores will take expired store coupons).  So I paid $2.49 for the lotion, and got back $3 in rewards.

Next I bought the Paas for $1.99 and got $1.99 back.  I also bought 2 Milky Way eggs for $.87 each, and used a $1/2 q.  Ok, I actually bought 4 but I ate 2:)

So, all told I spent around $40 and got back $25 in rewards.  Whew!

Paas Egg Decorating Kits Free After Reward at CVS

Make sure to pick up one of these Paas kits this week at CVS. They are $1.99, and generate a $1.99 reward.  You can also print a $1/2 coupon from their Facebook page.  The reward is limit 1, but you will only spend $3 and get back $2, so a pretty good deal too:)

The Grove Thursday Kids Club - Free Concerts!

The Grove has a great Kids Club program that runs every Thursday from 11am - 1pm.  They are set up in the grassy area near the large fountain, and they have concerts every week featuring kid friendly music and performers.  They put up a tent for shade, and have folding chairs as well as grass areas to dance, picnic, and enjoy some good company!  Grab a friend and check it out!

The Grove also has Monday Morning Mommy Movies, and free story times at some of the stores.  I'll post more about the story times as I get the info:)  The mommy movies are super fun too - the theaters are packed with kids, and they keep the lights up and the sound low.  The movies are full price, but they are totally worth it, especially if you have an infant and don't want to worry about nursing, diapers, etc.  My son slept through these movies until he was about 3 months old.  It was great!!

The Grove:

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DIY Workbook - Color Match Columns

I have seen this practice in lots of workbooks, so of course I tried to make my own:)  In many workbooks they ask the kids to cut out pictures and then organize them into categories indicated and glue them into the columns.  This was the most basic form of that exercise that I could think of, and from here I can make it more advanced.
I put the color pieces in a box and asked him to close his eyes when he picked them. Then he had to glue them in the right column.  We also worked in some math because we knew there were 4 in each color (i.e. we have 2 red, how many are left to find?).  It was also kid of a race to see which color would "win".
Definitely planning on doing similar projects with variations - he really enjoyed this one.  I think next I will do sort by shape, but use different colors. 

More Free Paper at Staples:)

All these great printable coupons might be running down your paper supply, but have no fear! Staples is once again offering printer paper and photo paper free after rebate. Limit is 2 per household.

Stack Coupons at Target for Fisher Price Deals!!

This month there are a bunch of great coupons available to print for Fisher Price toys.  For some of the higher value toys, you can print a $10 manufacturer coupon and a $10 Target coupon, and save your self $20 on one item!  Check out this link for some ideas on how to take advantage of these deals:

http://thekrazycouponlady.com/2013/03/17/fisher-price-laugh-learn-puppy-only-5-19-plus-more-toy-deals-at-target/

I am going to look for the Puppy this week.  I love giving this as a baby shower gift.

Disney Princess Memory, Only $1.89 at Target!

Another great toy deal this week at Target from the Krazy Coupon Lady!  The Disney Princess Memory game is only $1.89 after 2 coupons.  You can get the 30% off coupon from the ad, or print it on Target.com.  I didn't find it under Toys, where you would think to look, but another reader told me it was under Easter, so click on that on the left menu and you'll see it.

Disney Princess Memory, Only $1.89 at Target! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady:

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Campbell’s Go Soup, Only $0.49 at Target! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady

This has got to be my favorite new product in forever.  These soups are amazing.  I don't feed them to my kids, but I will cook up some rice and heat this soup pouch up and pour the soup on the rice for a dinner for 2.  Every flavor I have tried is so good!  At this price, you can try it out too!  Get those printers ready!

This link will get you all the other links you need for the coupons.  Remember, at Target you can use a manufacturer coupon and store coupon on the same item.

Campbell’s Go Soup, Only $0.49 at Target! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady:

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Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head Only $1.74 at Toys R Us!

I love a good deal on toys!  I hang onto these items that I score for a great price for birthdays, holidays, and gifts, and they make it so easy and stress free when those dates roll around!

Check out the post below for the details on the Potato Head toys, and to get the link to print the coupon.

Basically, they are $4.99, buy one get one half off, and you can use a $2 coupon on each one!

Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head Only $1.74 at Toys R Us! Hot! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady:

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Kids Handprint Artwork - Amazing Idea!

Last night my husband and I were at our son's preschool fundraising dinner, and one of the auction items was this amazing hand print craft.  There are 2 classes of 13 kids, so one of the moms had the idea to use each kid's hand print to make something to complete an alphabet.  This would be so sweet to do for a kids class or a group of friends, and the hand prints can totally be different sizes and still work great!

I picked out the duck and peacock to highlight in this post because of Easter coming up.  There are so many great ones that I really wanted to showcase them all!

This would also be fun to using the letter of you child's first name (i.e. A is for Alligator and Anna) with a picture of the kid.  If you want to see any more detail just post a comment and I'll post larger pics.

Fun Spring Craft - Pine Cone Birdfeeders

Here is a craft that can be done by a wide age range, and is perfect for this great warm weather and to welcome in Spring:)

All you need is a large pine cone, some peanut butter, and birdseed or crushed up crackers.  Outdoor set up is definitely preferable!  Have the kids spread peanut butter all over the pine cone (or do this part for them if they are little), and then roll the pine cone in the bird seed or crushed crackers.  Then just tie the pine cone so it hangs from a tree, and you've got a home made bird feeder!  The shape and texture of the pine cone allow the birds to land on it to eat - if it is too accessible from the tree it may become a squirrel feeder, which is not necessarily a bad thing:)

And, just FYI, Vons has got small jars of Skippy on sale with a coupon from the flyer (or online with the Just 4 You program) for only $2.49 a jar:)

2 FREE 8x10 prints at Shutterfly today only!

Use code BIGSMILES to get two free 8x10 prints, today 3/16 only!

I am not sure how much shipping is, but if you have other stuff to get these would be a great add on to your order:)

The Children's Place Sale plus up to 25% off

I am in love with the sale rack at Children's Place.  They always have the cutest stuff, and the quality is great. Today I got an email with a discount code for in store or online, so I headed in to see what deals I could find!

My local store (on Ventura in Studio City) had a $2.99 rack, with lots of winter goodies.  I picked out 4 of these cute sleepers to keep for gifts, and they were only $2.54 each after my 15% discount!

The email promotion code is good through March 17.  If you spend $50 you get 25%, $40 you get 20%, and 15% off anything below $40.  The store code is 154, and the web code is LUCKY25E, LUCKY20E, or LUCKY15E depending on your total.

Clearance shopping is a great way to get baby gifts.  The clothes are great, they are just off season!!  If you can plan ahead and shop, for example, for a friend that is expecting, and if you know how old her baby will be in the winter/summer you can score some great deals:)

I always buy ahead for my own kids too.  Now that they are out of the crazy growth of that first year and a half, I need seasonal clothes in every size.  And, they are too young to want to pick their own clothes (thank goodness for that!!).

Reminder: Petco Small Animal Play Day Tomorrow 3/16

Just a reminder about the small animal play day at some Petco locations, tomorrow from 10-2.  Call your store to make sure they are hosting the event (www.petco.com to find your store).

I take my kids into Petco all the time when we are passing by because they love to watch the mice run around.  I am hoping they will have a chance to hold them (and then sanitize immediately after!!).

Update: we got to pet these rats.  They were actually pretty cute:)

Think outside the bath - Water Toys!

I have been saving yogurt cups, small drink bottles, and these great Uncle Ben's rice cups ( they have a lid with holes in the top) and they have provided hours of fun for my kids! They are great for the bath or water table. I also sometimes just set up bowls of water outside and let them scoop and play and make a mess. Best free toys ever!

7 FREE Items at CVS!

I got all of the items pictured below completely free at CVS today.  Check it out:

The Kotex liners retail for only $1.57, and I printed 2 $2/1 coupons on coupons.com.  I am not sure if the coupon is still available.  The cashier just adjusted the coupon down, so they were both free.

The Alka Seltzer Allergy was on clearance for $1.37, and I had $2 coupons, so they were adjusted down as well, and all free.

The Almay was a bit more complicated.  This week I had a coupon from the CVS coupon machine for $3/1 Almay product.  My CVS will take expired store coupons, and I had one for $4 off a $12 cosmetic purchase.  I had also printed a $5/2 Almay cosmetics coupon last week.

The product I bought was make up remover pads, which are $5.99 each.  At CVS they will round up your totals, so I could buy 2 of these for $11.98 and they will still take the $4/$12 coupon (you just need to be within 98% of the required total).  So, I used that coupon first, making them $8.  I then used the $3 coupon to get to $5, and the $5/2 to make them free!

The best part is that there was also a promo this week: if you buy $10 of Almay you get a $4 reward.  So not only were they free I also got a $4 reward for my next trip!

Most CVS stores will take expired rewards (ExtraBucks) and expired store coupons, so hang on to them as just ask before you shop if your store will allow them.  If they say no I promise you will find a CVS that will honor them.

Easter Crafts 50% off at Jo Ann!

Jo Ann always holds their seasonal clearance sales a couple of weeks before the holiday. They never have a ton of selection left, even now when Easter is still 2 weeks out. But, you can get some cute stuff for a.good price. I bought a pack of 78 foam stickers for just $1.49. They will make some pretty cute Easter cards!

You can also sign up to get store coupons by mail. Just give the cashier your info at checkout. The great thing about Jo Ann coupons is they are often valid for regular and sale price items, so you can get a 50% off item and then use a coupon to get another 40% off. They also accept competitor coupons, and most weeks the Sunday paper has a flyer for Michael's. Happy crafting:)

Easter Sweets for only $1 each!

The magic coupon machine at Cvs was nice to me today! I got a $3/2 coupon for whoppers Easter eggs. They are on sale 2 for $5, so this made for a great deal:)

Clearance Finds at CVS

I took some photos of great clearance prices I saw while shopping today. Have a look!

The Alka Seltzer is actually free with a $2 coupon, and the Pediacare is improved with a $1 coupon:)

Pampers & Pull Ups Printable Coupons!

Head on over to coupons.com for some great printable coupons for Pampers and Pull Ups!  The Pull Ups and Pampers Easy Ups q's are $2/1, and the Pampers are available in Swaddlers, Cruisers, and Baby Dry, $1.50/1 each.  You can always print 2 copies per computer.

This week at CVS you can get a $10 reward with a $30 purchase of Pampers and select Gerber baby products.  I added gerber Yogurt Melts into my sceanrio, because I would buy them anyway, and they were on sale 2/$4, which is a good price.  So, you can get 2 Easy ups and 1 Cruisers, pay $24.50 before tax, and get $10 back.  Or, what I did was 2 Easy Ups and 5 Yogurt Melts for $26, get $10 back.

If you can find a deal to use these high value coupons on smaller packs you will actually pay less per diaper, and have a higher percentage of savings:)

http://www.coupons.com/coupons/Baby-%26-Toddler-Coupons-5491/

Or go to coupons.com and choose the baby toddler category.

Easter shopping at Party City

I found a lot of great Easter basket items today at Party City!  I am always looking for non-candy options, since my kids are too young to know what they are missing!

Here are the prices:
Frogs - $.99
Activity pads - $.59
Pencil - $.50
Pencil sharpener - $.25
Pens - $1.99
Bunny toys - $.99
Candy - 15 for $1, or $.07 each

All this came to $10.76, and will fill in baskets for 2 kids:)

Free after Rewards Jelly Beans at CVS!

If you are in CVS this week, make sure to pick up a pack of Gold Emblem Jelly Beans.  These are the CVS brand.  They are on sale for $.99 and generate a $.99 reward.  These jelly beans are big enough to hide aorund the house for an egg hunt, or just to spruce up the Easter basket:)  Free DOES taste better!!

Gas savings from Vons and Ralphs

I have to admit that even as a seasoned couponer and avid money saver I was confused about the new gas rewards program at both Vons and Ralphs. I tried to decode the summary on my receipt, but I couldn't tell if I had earned a reward, or how to redeem the reward.
One day I was at Chevron and before I swiped my credit card I saw that the screen was asking if I had a loyalty number. I put in my phone number linked to my Vons card, and I saved 20 cents per gallon.
Even if you are, like me, confused, just try keying in your phone number associated with your store card before you get gas.  Vons is linked to Chevron, and Ralph's is linked to Shell. I shop mostly at Vons, and always get 20 cents off per gallon at every fill up - I guess with 2 kids I spend enough on groceries:)  You can also ask at checkout if the cashier can tell you if you have a gas reward.  Try it out!!
For more info on the programs check out these links:


VONS:
http://www.vons.com/ShopStores/RewardPoints.page?

RALPHS:
http://www.ralphs.com/fuel/Pages/D1.aspx

Giggles & Hugs only $5 during Happy Hour!

Giggles & Hugs is offering Happy Hour again this week.  Head in between 2 and 5 pm to get $5 play and $5 kids meals!  Keep in mind that Century City Mall is now charging for parking, $1 per hour.

IT'S BACK!!!

   

 MONDAY - FRIDAY 2pm - 5pm

$5 Play!

$5 Kids Meals!

$5 Beer & Wine!

FREE Kids Bowling at Pinz now thru 4/1!

This is a great Spring Break idea! Pinz offers 2 games of bowling free for kids, Mon to Thurs, 9-5 through April 1! Shoe rental is $3.  The location I go to does not require that kids use the rental shoes if they are smaller than a 9, so you can decide what size your kids are before you go:)

When you follow the link it will say "summer", but this is valid for March 11-April 1 as well.  The program does also run all summer long!  And, you can sign up to get postcards for the free summer bowling program to hand out at your kids school, delivered to you free, which makes you look like a cool mom in the know:)

One thing I would like to pass along is that the location on Ventura near Coldwater does also have an arcade section, so plan for that expense if you think your kids will love it.  Also, the Jerry's Deli that is next door to the lanes will bring food over to the bowling area.  I suggest you bring a friend and order a pizza for the best value.

PINZ Bowling Center

The Kids Bowl Free Spring Break program is now available. March 11 to April 1, Monday thru Thursday, 9am to 5pm registered kids can bowl two free games. All you have to do is pay the shoe rental. Don't let the kids miss out! Register today at Kids Bowl Free.

Staples Coupons: More free printer paper!

Use the link below to print a coupon for a ream of printer paper, free after rebate!

Staples Coupons: Coupon Codes & Printable Coupons | Staples.com®:

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Hot deal on sunscreen! Try it out!

I wanted to try this deal before I posted about it, and it worked!

This week at Rite Aid Banana Boat sunscreens are buy one get one free. They are also generating a $5 reward each! So if you buy one sunscreen for $10.49, you get $10 back. Also, if you have the newspaper coupon from this Sunday you can save an extra $3/2. Or, you can print $1 coupons on the Banana Boat Facebook page.

These ones were $10.49, so after coupon and sale only $7.49. I used the $7 rewards that I earned last week buying diapers, and these 2 bottles were only $.49 plus I made back $10.  Amazing deal!!

The $5 reward is not in the flyer because it is a monthly deal, but if you lift up the yellow store tag advertising buy one get one free you should see the $5 reward tag posted beneath.

Annie’s Macaroni & Cheese $1 at Ralphs (or less with coupon!)

Annie's Mac & Cheese is a big hit in my house, and this price rivals the Kraft variety!  They are on sale 10/$10, but you do not need to buy 10 to get them for $1 each.  The grocery stores will often label things this way to encourage shoppers to buy more, but they ring up at $1 regardless of how many you buy.  If you must buy a certain quantity to get the sale price it will be labelled, and you can always check the small print on the tag for the single purchase price if you aren't sure.  Pharmacies, especially Walgreens, usually do have a higher single purchase price, but grocery stores usually do not.  The link below will take you to the KCL post with the link for the coupon:)  Stores in CA do not double coupons, so with the coupon you can get the $.65 price.  Yum!!

Annie’s Macaroni & Cheese, Only $0.30 at Kroger! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady:

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PAAS Easter Egg Decorating Kits only $.79

I am betting these will go on sale in the next few weeks, but they are already a really good price at Vons and Pavillions this week.  I picked mine up for $1.29 each, and used the $1/2 coupon from Facebook.  That made them only $.79 each!  Like I said, they might be cheaper next week, but I was shopping with a toddler, and this kit was his "you can pick one thing" selection today:)

PAAS Easter Egg Decorating Kits - PAAS Coupons | Facebook:

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Goody hair clearance at CVS!

I noticed tons of goody hair products were clearance priced 50% off at CVS. If you need some new stuff for you or the kids this would be a good time to stock up!!

Kids’ Star Wars Slippers Under $3.00 at Sears! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady

My son is in love with Star Wars, and even my 1.5 year old knows Darth Vader and Yoda.  I am totally getting these for their Easter baskets!!  Follow the link below to get all the details:)

Kids’ Star Wars Slippers Under $3.00 at Sears! | | The Krazy Coupon Lady:

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Kids Cold and Flu Deals at CVS

When your kids get sick the last thing you want to do is have to run them out to the store to get medicine!  I like having things handy.  After the last monster cold my daughter had, I realized I was running low on cold and flu stuff, so I headed out to CVS with my giant coupon bag to see what I could do!

I was excited to see PediaCare on clearance, but unfortunately the one pictured was not the correct type for the clearance deal.  Maybe you will have more luck!  Clearance price was $4.34, plus I had a $1 coupon.

I did, however, get some Children's Advil and Pedialyte.  The Advil trial size bottle retails for only $2.77.  Because it is a full price item, I could use my 20% off CVS coupon to lower the price.  If you have a CVS card just register online with your email address, and you will usually get a coupon each week for either a percentage off or a dollar amount of (i.e. $5/$30).  You can print the coupon or send it directly to your card, and the cashier will ask you at checkout if you want to use it.

Any who....I also had $2 coupons for the Children's Advil from the Sunday paper a few weeks back.  They had no size restriction, so I could use them on this small size for the most savings.

Next I picked up the Pedialyte, also full price at $5.99.  I bought 2, and my 20% coupon applied to these, plus I also used a $1.50/1 coupon on each one.  You can print 2 copies of this coupon from the Pedialyte web site.

I also had a $5 Beauty Club Reward.  If you sign up for the Beauty Club you will get $5 reward every time you spend $50 on beauty products.  The great thing is CVS tracks the before-coupon price, so I earn these rewards a lot when I am not actually spending that much out of pocket.  So, I had the $5 reward that I got today, and a $1 reward from last week.  I ended up with a lot of rewards last week, but they were all for big amounts that I could not use today.

So my retail was $23.06.  My 20% took off $3.62, and I used $11 in coupons and $6 in rewards, making my total only $2.44 plus tax, $3.06.  And, the Pedialyte is generating a $2 reward when you buy 2.

I am hoping to find some PediaCare on my next trip.  The small Advil were definitely the right price today, but they don't last long!!  At least I know I have some on hand if I need it:)

Petco Small Animal Play Day 3/16

Petco is holding a Small Animal Play Day on March 16 from 10-12.  You can meet and play with small animals to see what great pets they would be (apparently...not so sure about that:)  This could be a super fun free outing for the kids, or you could be hearing about that cute baby rat for months.  I'll let you decide!  The link below is for the calendar of events at the Westwood location.  To find out if your nearest store is holding the event just search for your store by zip, and then click on events to get the calendar.

Pet Supplies - Pet Products - Pet Food | Petco.com:

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Rolling Rewards at Rite Aid!

Here is a good example of how to roll your rewards at Rite Aid. 

In my last post I told you how I earned back $7 with my diaper purchase. Remember, at Rite Aid you cannot use rewards until the following day.

Eucerin lotion is part of a buy one get one half promotion, and also generating a $10 reward when you spend $20. I bought 2 large and 2 small lotions. Large were 8.49, and small were $5.79. I used 4 $3 coupons, one for each of the lotions.

My total after coupons was $9.41. I used my $7 in rewards, so It was $2.41. Then I earned back $10 to spend on my next trip! Amazing what you can get with a little planning!

I also picked up another genie refill using my discount and $3 coupon from the flyer.

The eucerin coupons are printable from coupons.com so you can print 2 from each computer/tablet in your house. I got 2 from my coupon buddy, Wendy. Thanks Wendy!!