Ladies' Night

On Thursday night I hosted a Ladies' Night out at the Melting Pot.  I haven't had a ladies night in a few months so I was really looking forward to it.  I met up with my cousin Jessica, my friend Dorothy (she drove all the way from Baltimore), and my friends Debbie and Laura that live down the street.  This was the first time Jessica, Dorothy, and Laura had ever been to Melting Pot and I think they loved it.  We went to Melting Pot because they were donating 20% of the proceeds to the Susan G. Komen foundation and we all know what a great organization that is. 

I meant to take pictures all night, but just ended up with pictures of the dessert course (which of course, is the best).

Mixing the chocolate.

We got the cookies and cream chocolate and the original chocolate.

Fun times with the ladies: Laura, Debbie, Dorothy, me, and Jessica.

(We all wore pink for the Susan G. Komen night)

All the yummy dippers!

25 weeks

I am 25 weeks pregnant!

Baby girl is the size of an Eggplant.  She weighs around 1.5 pounds and is about 13.6 inches long.

Weight gain so far: 17 pounds

New this week: Baby girl is enjoying her new sense of equilibrium, she

knows which way is up and which way is down.

This week: She is also adding fat and hair to her little body this week.

Weeks left: 15

Days left: 104

Greensburg baby shower

This weekend, Sally Anne (my mother-in-law) held a baby shower for me in Greensburg.  I had such a good time at the luncheon and opening presents.   Baby girl got a ton of super cute outfits and books and toys. 

The centerpieces- so beautiful!

Some of the gifts and the fabulous diaper cake that little Abby made me.

The wonderfully delicious cake!

Smiley cookies, these were the favors.

The gifts for baby girl

A tummy time play mat.

I love pink for baby girl (and cupcakes!)

Beautiful spring dress.

Me, Brigette, Sarah, Abby, and Becky

Thank you Becky for taking all my pictures.

Mom, me, and Grandmother

I adopted Ben's wonderful cousin Becky as my own and asked her to take pictures of the shower.  Thank you again Becky for taking a ton of pictures (only a few are shown here).  Thank you to everyone who came to the shower and brought beautiful gifts for baby girl.  I know she will look fabulous in all of her new clothes and love all of her new toys and books.

Sunday Savings!!!

At CVS this week I bought 2 boxes of Claritin 20 counts. 

They were listed at $18.79/box. 

With my Extra Care Card, I paid $16.99/box.  I also had two, $4 off coupons.

So, I ended up paying $12.99/box.

Claritin was included in the spend $30 before coupons and receive a $10 gift card.

So in the end:

Original total: $37.50

Total spent: $25.98

Total saved: $11.60

Plus I received a $10 gift card to Old Navy!

At Giant this week...

I bought 3 bananas, 1/2 gallon of milk, 3 chicken breasts, 1 container of ice cream, 1 box of lunch bags, 1 loaf of bread, 2 bags of cheese, 4 cans of soup, 10 yogurts, and 1/4 pound salami

I only found 2 coupon match-ups this week, but the soup, yogurt, cheese, and chicken were all on sale.

Original total: $39.89
Total spent: $32.38
Total saved: $7.51


Budget for the week: $70
Total spent: $58.36

24 weeks

I am 24 weeks!!!

Baby girl is the size of a papaya!

At the ultrasound on Friday we learned that Baby Girl weighs 1 pound and 4 ounces.

Weight gain so far: My guess is 13-14 pounds

Time left: 16 weeks or 110 days.

Weekend round-up

Ben and I had a fabulous weekend!  Friday night we went to Happy Hour at Mango Mike's with my co-workers.  Saturday we watched my Gamecocks defeat Mississippi State!  After the game we went to Butler's Orchard to pick pumpkins from the field.  It's our third year going to Butler's Orchard and it gets better every year.

Pumpkins, pumpkins, and more pumpkins...

Me and my pumpkin (it was very windy)

and more pumpkins...

Ben with both of our pumpkins

After Butler's Orchard we went to a Japanese Steakhouse and had some of the most delicious hibachi.  Ben got steak and I had shrimp.  What can I say?  I love hibachi!!!

On Sunday, I went to Baltimore to have lunch with my friend Dorothy.  It's amazing to me that I have lived here for 2 1/2 years and had never been to Baltimore.  Dorothy lives basically on the Inner Harbour so we got to walk around the beautiful Inner Harbour and then had lunch at this fabulous open-air cafe.

These dragons are paddle boats. 

Beautiful.

Super windy by the water.  Dorothy and me.

This military ship docked in port this week. 

This ship is part of a museum.

Sunday Savings

So I am starting a new weekly entry called Sunday Savings.  Each Sunday I will share the ways I saved (or tried to save) in my shopping outings for the past week.  Since I already covered my Bath & Body Works shopping this week, today will only be my Giant and CVS savings.

Up first, CVS...

This week, CVS started their spend $30, receive a $10 gift card to select locations.  Now the $30 is on select items and it changes every week.  Additionally, the $30 is before coupons!

I purchased 2 boxes of Puffs tissues, 1 package of Pampers diapers, 1 bottle of Wisk laundry detergent, 3 bags of chex mix, 2 tubes of Colgate toothpaste, 1 package of 9Volt batteries, and 2 packages of butterfingers (for Halloween).
I received a package of Huggies diapers for FREE and a $10 gift card to Gap/Old Navy for FREE!

Total before coupons: $76.68

Total spent: $28.61 + I received the free $10 giftcard to Gap/Old Navy

Secondly, Giant...

This week at Giant, they had a ton of deals and specials going on that I had not received in the newspaper.  So... once I got to the store and got everything on my list, I started looking at the ad to see if I can hook up any other deals.  I did! :)

I purchased 1 loaf of bread, 1 4-pack of Yoplait yogurt, 4 individual cups of Dannon yogurt, 1 1/2 gallon of Lactaid milk, 1/2 pound of hard salami, 4 boxes of Cherrios, 2 cans of scrubbing bubbles shower cleaner, 1 Dove deodorant, 1 Suave Shampoo and 1 Suave Conditioner, 1 Barbell Cordon Bleu 2-pack Chicken, and 4 bananas.
I received a gallon of milk for FREE!

Total before coupons: $55.59

Total spent: $42.86

Total spent for the week: $71.47.  My goal was $50 at Giant and $20 at CVS.  I came close, maybe next week I can make it under $70.  How did you do???


***CORRECTION***

After reviewing my Giant receipt, I discovered that I did not receive an instant $4 off that I was supposed to receive after my Cherrios purchase.  So... I drove back to Giant with my Cherrios and showed them my receipt.  I have now walked in my front door with $4 cash in my pocket!  :)

So... for Giant...

Total spent: $38.86

Total spent for the week $67.47, which means I made it under my budget!!!

23 weeks

I am 23 weeks!

Our baby girl is between 10.5 inches and 11.8 inches  and weighs between 12.7 and 20.8 ounces.

Cool facts: She can hear my voice and other "outside" noises. 

New this week: She is kicking and punching me all the time.  Ben can feel her too!

Weight gain: I haven't stepped on a scale, but probably 13-14 pounds

Days left: 118

Bath and Body Works

After work today I headed to Bath and Body Works to use a coupon I had.  I got a few items for me and then some items for my prize box for my students.

 I picked up 4 lotions, 12 hand sanitizers, 1 candle, and 1 bottle of bubble bath.  Now for the fun part...

Lotions; original price:  $3.50
Hand sanitizers; original price: $1.50
Candle; original price: $3.50
Bubble bath; original price: $12.00

What I paid:

Lotions: $1.00 each (x4)
Hand sanitizers: $0.37 each (x12)
Candle: $1.75
Bubble bath: FREE

Original total: $47.50

Total spent: $10.19

Saved: $37.31


 

 THIS WAS FREE!!!

Mark and Erika's Wedding!!!

Another weekend, another trip...

Yesterday we flew to Atlanta for Mark and Erika's wedding.  They got married at a beautiful church in Decatur and then had a fabulous reception at Paris on Ponce.  I absolutely loved Erika's dress and her shoes were the most fabulous shoes I have ever seen!

The beautiful bride and her groom!

Maid-of-honor and the Best Man.

Paris on Ponce event room.  Everything is red.  The furniture, the candles, the chairs.  Everything. 

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Mark Rambler...

First dance.

Tyler, Cassie, Chris, Ben

Cutting the cake.

Father-daughter dance.

Mother-son dance.

Cassie, Frank, and Robert

Lauren, Frank, Anjaly, Leslye, and Cassie

Lauren, Frank, Anjaly, Leslye, Robert, Ben, & Cassie

Jason F., Tyler, and Jason P.

Me and Ben

Me and Cassie

Grant and Lauren

Tossing the bouquet

Retrieving the garter

The guys catching the garter

The winners!

Ben and me

Mark, Erika, me, and Ben

Leaving through the bubbles

The get-a-way car...A UHAUL Moving truck!