Couponing Tips and Tricks

Don’t buy something you weren’t already planning on buying.
You will not save any money if you buy a bunch of crap just because you have a coupon for it. This is a lesson I had to learn early on in my couponing career. This is along the lines of “Just because something is on sale, you don’t have to buy it/buy 10 of it.”

Pair coupons with store sales.
If you clip a coupon from the newspaper or your favorite coupon website, it probably doesn’t expire for at least a few weeks. This gives you time to couple your coupon with a store sale for maximum savings! I check my coupons every week and make a list. When I get to the store, if a certain item I don’t need right then (like bathroom cleaner or deodorant) isn’t on sale, I don’t get it. Next week it may be on sale for fifty cents off and I can couple my coupon with that sale for the better price. Likewise, if a non-perishable item IS on sale and I also have a coupon, I’ll go ahead and grab it even if I don’t need it right then. I’ll always need laundry detergent, deodorant, toothpaste, cat food, etc. at some point.

Pair store coupons with manufacturer coupons.
Kroger often mails me coupons for items that we buy often. I also clip coupons for these items from the paper or print them from a website like coupons.com. I’m always looking for items for which I have 2 coupons – one store and one manufacturer. If that item is also on sale, that’s like triple savings!

Always check out the per-ounce/per-item price.


I was at Kroger today preparing to use a coupon on Cascade dishwasher tabs. I saw a “big” pack and figured that was probably the better price. But no! I looked at the per-item price on both the bigger and smaller bags, and the smaller bag is actually a much better value. I totally believe that companies do this on purpose! When I stopped breastfeeding and began buying formula (STICKERSHOCK!), I was compelled to buy the refill bags that go in your empty tub of formula. “BETTER VALUE!” the bags’ packaging proclaims. Nonsense!! The 23-ounce tub of formula is $22.99 [at Kroger], and the package of two bags, 35 ounces in total, is $35. It’s $1 per ounce regardless of which you buy! How is it a better value?? Always check these kinds of claims.

Know the difference between store and manufacturer coupons.
This may sound obvious, but I actually only recently figured out that the little coupons I get at Kroger with the register printout (they’re called catalinas) are actually manufacturer’s coupons. Even though Kroger gives me the coupon for, say, Gerber baby food, it says at the top “Manufacturer Coupon” and is actually redeemable anywhere that Gerber baby food is sold. Of course Kroger wants you to redeem it at their store, but unless it says “Store Coupon,” use it where you like!

Using these tips, I save a lot at the grocery store. Kroger has begun telling you what percentage you saved on your shopping trip, and then breaks down your savings into coupons used, bonus coupons (doubles), and store sales. Check out my receipt today – 37% savings!!

Do you have any couponing tips?

Great Baby Feeding Ideas

Baby Benjamin just passed the 6-month mark, and we have made the leap into solid foods. I have found some cool things I’d like to share with my mom pals that they can pass along!

On a recent trip to Target, I got sucked into the vortex known as the dollar deals. I did buy a lot of crap, but there are 3 things I purchased that were well worth the buck, and worth sharing. These ice cube trays are a super idea for babies Benjamin’s age. They have small cube sizes, and the bottoms are made with a little flexible rubber stopper so you can just POP out one cube at a time without doing that bendy, flexy, ice-all-over-the-floor dance that most trays require. I bought 3 and I keep them rotated in the freezer with breastmilk, apple juice, and food purees in them for a great between-meal snack.

As a bonus, this blogger over at Activity-Mom has some activities that you can engage in with a toddler using these trays!

The next item up for consideration, which is related to these ice cube trays, is a mesh feeder for baby.

You put a piece of solid food into the net and close the feeder. Baby can hold onto it and “feed” himself, as the net allow the food to squish out into a puree instead of chunks. I have the Munchkin version of these feeders, but they are a TOTAL NIGHTMARE to clean. They have seams down the side and it is impossible to get tiny pieces of banana out. Do yourself a favor and get the kind with the replaceable nets like the picture above [hyperlinked to amazon.com].

While I’m preparing Benjamin’s breakfast or lunch, I typically sit him in his highchair and pop out two cubes from my Target trays and put them into his mesh feeder so he can have a little juice snack while I make his food. He loves the independence, and I love the whine-free moments!

Happy mommying,

Lissa Lou

16 and Stupid

Watching 16 and Pregnant is becoming more and more painful as I go through the ups and downs of having my own baby. The biggest problem I typically have, though, is not with the teenagers, but with their parents. Teenagers are, by nature, ignorant. They all are; we all were.

The people who are pissing my off are the parents. Why do they always – every episode – pussyfoot around these very important conversations? If I hear one more parent say, “It’s going to be hard,” “Have you thought about any other option?” or “You might not be ready for this,” I might scream. I just want someone to bust out with some reality on these kids. “It’s going to be HORRIBLE. You will be up most of the night, every night. You will never get a break. Your friends will be out having fun and you won’t be able to go along, if they even remember to invite you. Your little immature, on-again-off-again dick of a boyfriend will be around for the screaming infant for 6 months, tops. And do you think he’s going to help out financially? He has no job. How are you planning on paying for diapers, wipes, clothes, and baby gear?”

Last night’s episode, the mom did say all those things – after the baby was born, after she kicked the girl out of the house and then accepted her back in, and after she threw a “welcome party” (baby shower) for the newborn. The babydaddy said that adoption was the best option too – after he told the girl he would be there for her and after he led her on to believe that they would be that elusive “family” that they all want.

It horrifying to me how many of these teen girls seem to make the decision to keep a baby because the father will be there and they think they will be a big happy family. Because statistics, and this show in particular – which has been on since these girls were in middle school! – show that that doesn’t happen! So the little boy goes on to live his life however he pleases, and the teen mom gives up the rest of her high school career, her proms and dances, her friends, sometimes her college hopes and career dreams, and all to raise a baby in yet another fatherless home, which those silly statistics show will likely produce ANOTHER teen pregnancy, and so on and so forth.

I just wish someone would drop some serious knowledge on these girls. Having a baby as a teenager isn’t cute. It isn’t fun. And most importantly, it is YOUR responsibility to take control of your sex life. Don’t expect a guy to bring a condom, don’t think that it won’t happen to you because you’re magical, don’t have unprotected sex just one or two times. If you insist on having sex (which you aren’t ready to do anyway, but that’s another blog for another day), then talk to someone about birth control. And then… TAKE IT! It doesn’t do you any good if you don’t take your pill or you “forget” to go get your shot. Jesus, kids, it’s literally as easy as getting a small shot every 3 months. If you can’t deal with a little prick every 3 months, then you aren’t ready to be dealing with the little prick who wants to get in your pants.

Crafting/sewing Projects To-Do List

I have so many crafting ideas and I really want to make them work. This week I’ve been working on baby blankets/blankies/taggies. They’re popping up in my Etsy shop everywhere, I got my adorable labels in the mail to add to them, I am getting really good and quick at sewing them. When I run out of minky fabric for their backing, I have lots more projects to get started.. but one thing at a time! I’ve been meaning to make a list of things to do so I can check them off, so here we go!

1. Baby mini-blankies/taggies. (Check!)

2. Larger-sized baby blanket.

3. Paci clips. (Check!)

4. Soft blocks (some with rattles inside). (Check!)

5. Pillowcase dress.

6. Hand-drawn graduation/occasion card. (Check!)

7. French-beaded bumble bee earrings.

8. honey-do list stationery.

9. Bikini onesie.

10. Embroidered “bride” undies.

12. Wet bag.

13. Diaper/onesie/sock cupcakes.

14. “Baby’s sleeping” signs.

15. Flower-pens (made with my leftover daisies upstairs).

So there you have it! I know it’s a long list, but believe me, there is more that I can’t think of right now! I’ll add to it as time goes on. Christmas ornaments will be in full-swing soon enough and, if last year is any indication, I won’t have extra time to sew. I want to have my Etsy store stocked up to make that extra money.

Baby B loves his repurposed-denim block.

Paying It Forward: an update

Last time I wrote I challenged you to “pay it forward” – do something kind for someone with no expectation of anything in return. This week has already been a great experiment for me, and it’s only Wednesday!

Last Friday night, I was out running errands around 9 p.m. It had been a long, hard week, and David was home with the baby while I did a few things I hadn’t gotten the chance to do all week. My last errand was to Kroger to get grocery essentials for the weekend. Ill-fitting jeans and a t-shirt, horribly frizzed hair in a totally unacceptable ‘do.. I’m sure I was quite the vision.

I yawned and walked toward the dairy case, when a woman reached in front of me to grab a gallon of milk. She was dressed in a necklace and pearls, had a beautiful updo, and lovely makeup. I said the first thing that popped into my head: “Wow, you look beautiful!” She smiled and said, “Thanks. I was about to say the same to you.”

HAHA! Ain’t that a hoot. But she said it with such sincerity. Her eyes sparkled with a “Been there, done that” wisdom. I looked behind her and saw two older children rambunctiously falling all over a grocery cart being pushed my a man in a suit and tie. This woman.. she had seen the doors of Kroger at 9 p.m. after a hellish week, wearing jeans and no mascara! And she had the kindness to compliment a disheveled, exhausted new mom on her “look.” I will never forget that.

Monday morning came and I was sick. I didn’t know if it was simply allergy issues or a full-blown sinus infection, but I decided not to take any chances, so I dropped into the Little Clinic inside Kroger. When I heard the wait was one hour or longer, I ran back home to get B’s baby carrier so I didn’t have to carry the carseat. On the way back, I stopped at McDonald’s to grab a $1 large soda – and decided to go totally nuts and get a regular Dr. Pepper (HOLY SUGAR!). As I paid, I heard the cashier tell the person behind me her total was $1.09 – she had gotten the same thing I had. Eyeing the extra dollar in my wallet, I asked the cashier if I could pay for the order behind me. As I grabbed my drink from the second window, I saw the look on the woman’s face as the cashier gave her the news, and she waved her hand at me and said loudly, “Thank you!” I went back to the doctor’s office, where I waited ANOTHER hour to be told I’m allergic to everything and to go home and take some Benadryl. I was so happy I did a good deed, because I had nothing else that day to feel fuzzy about!

Finally, today, I stopped into a huge used bookstore in town to grab a mom-and-baby yoga DVD I’d seen the other day. B was squalling in the backseat, and there was no way he was going to make it until we got home without eating. The only shady parking spot was in between a couple of trucks belonging to landscapers, but I backed in anyway to climb into the backseat and nurse B in comfort. As I backed in, a man hopped out of one of the trucks and recommended I move my car so they could trim some nearby trees. I interrupted him: “I’m just gonna crawl into my backseat and feed my baby, you got about 10 minutes?” “Oh, bless your heart!” he replied. “Of course.” He smiled a kind, non-creepy smile. As a new mom, I don’t expect everyone to kiss my ass because I have a baby. All I expect is common courtesy and a little understanding. This man’s reaction to my request was so welcomed and compassionate.

I’ve been surrounded by kindness this week. How about you?

The laundry can wait..

I recently figured out – after over a year of owning my camera – how to put it into a setting that is able to capture a quicker subject (long story short: no blur, even with Benjamin’s quick little hands). I have been going nuts the past week or so exploring new settings and tricks to get great pictures of my baby.

Today I sat down to edit the pictures from a few little “sessions” from the living room and kitchen over the past few days. As I pulled up picmonkey.com and began uploading pictures, I grimaced. Why is that laundry basket in the background. Oh my god, look at my t-shirts just laying over the back of the couch! Gah! I was appalled. Every single picture: adorable baby, laundry, adorable baby, dirty dishes, adorable baby, broken lamp that we STILL have not discarded.

I covered my face with my hands. All I saw when I looked at each picture was failure to keep basic household chores up to date.

I then remembered an email that my mom sent me a few weeks ago when I was very sick with some insane sinus crap. I told her that I was feeling really bad and could hardly keep up with Benjamin’s schedule, much less do anything else. Then I told her that I just didn’t care, because if I had a little energy, I was going to spend it with him, not doing laundry. “The laundry can wait,” came her response. “Spend time with your baby.”

She then emailed me the corresponding poem to her encouraging words:

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,Lullaby, rockabye, lullaby loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peek-a-boo
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren’t his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullaby, rockaby lullaby loo.
The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.
- Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

This poem brought tears to my eyes, and I just asked for it again so I could enjoy the lesson today. How many things are there to do around my house? At least 50 that I could write down right now, and probably more. I need to clean the kitchen counter, unload the dishwasher, do those 3 loads of laundry, cut back Godzilla-shrub on the porch, sew two hospital gowns for Etsy orders, dust everything, put away Benjamin’s clean laundry, take out the diaper trash, clean Studly’s food area, go through coupons.. That’s just off the top of my head.

On top of all that, guess what? I’m sick again. Damn allergies!! They have been horrible since I got pregnant, and this spring has been hell.

I remembered that poem, and I began going back through those photos of my son with fresh eyes. Instead of a laundry basket in the background, I saw his big blue eyes looking right at the camera. Instead of my dirty shirt laying on the couch, I saw his amazing trademark toothless grin. Instead of an unkempt house and a to-do list a mile long, I saw a woman who spends time in the floor with her baby, soaking up every divine moment of the innocent and awesome love that he gives so freely and unexpectedly.

Mommies.. Put that basket down and look into the eyes of your baby. The laundry can wait.

My favorite picture from today: laundry basket and all.

Pay It Forward

Last Friday night, I remembered while we were at dinner that I had two movie passes that I had bought from a Groupon-like website. It suddenly struck me that they may have expiration dates, so I grabbed them out of my purse and, sure enough, they expired in 3 days! I was glad I hadn’t missed the date, but I was frazzled that I would have to use them so soon.

Anytime before January 12 of this year, David and I could have hopped over to our favorite theater and indulged in popcorn and fountain Cherry Coke (my favorite!) and get cozy in the theater seats for a movie. Now? Now we have to find a sitter, or ask our neighbor, or ditch the idea.. It’s not something we can just suddenly choose to do.

Recently, however, I have found that I LOVE going to movies by myself! My mom used to do it, and I would call her weird and a loser. But after I had a baby? Hell yeah. Any alone time to enjoy an adult activity is more than welcomed. Think I’m a loser? I don’t care!

Since David was out of town yesterday with the football team and I was on baby duty on a Saturday, I decided to take advantage of a “me” day today. First on the agenda was sleeping in, and then I went to see a movie I’d been wanting to see for a while – “Bully.” I got to the box office and made sure the young lady knew how to ring up my odd-looking voucher, and then I sluggishly took my ticket stub, waiting for someone else to come in. When a woman got in line behind me, I turned to her and handed her my other voucher. “Are you sure?” she said. “Yep, it expires tomorrow so there’s no way I can use it!” I replied. A big grin spread across her face.

I smiled back, and as I walked toward the concession stand to get my traditional corn dog nuggets and Cherry Coke, I wondered if she would “pay it forward” – do something nice for someone because I had done something nice for her. I like to think so.

One day last fall, David and I were in my car, about to turn onto the main road out of our neighborhood to go to the mall. As we sat at the light, the man in the truck behind me was honking and flapping his arms. Is the light green? I looked. Nope. He jumped out of his truck and I felt my heart beat a little fast. What in the hell was he doing? He grabbed at my spoiler and approached my door, thrusting something hot pink in through the open window. My PHONE! I had sat it on the spoiler of my car as I walked around the car, and the textured rubber cover on it had kept it on the spoiler on the mile-long trip out of our neighborhood. I thanked him profusely and kept driving. My heart still beating fast, I imagined how much it would have cost to replace it!

About 10 minutes later we approached another light and I saw a large brick sitting in the road, right where someone’s tire would hit it. The light was red, so I hopped out of my car, grabbed the brick, and threw it off to the side of the road. From the car behind mine, a man rolled down his window and yelled, “Hey, thanks for doing that!” I waved at him and jumped back in just as the light turned green.

I wonder if that man did something nice on his route that day? It seemed like the chain of paying it forward was working through me that day. I wish I could remember to do things like that every time I was out and about, but most of the time sadly I’m too wrapped up in whatever I’m doing to think about someone else – especially as a first-time parent with all the things going on with the baby at every outing.

I beseech you to pay it forward this week. Do something nice for a friend. Send someone a card in the mail for no reason. Purchase the order of the car behind you at Wendy’s. Help a new mom get her stroller into the trunk (thank you to the man who helped me with that last week!). Inspire someone to do something nice for someone else. It will make you feel great!