Weight Loss Chart

With the new year coming in just a couple days, I decided I needed something to help me stay accountable to the goal of losing weight. I designed the chart below to keep me motivated. I plan to print a copy each week and keep them in a binder to be able to go back and see where I was and where I am now. The document is designed with extra space on the left side so you can three-hole-punch it.

Along the right side is where you enter the date, your current weight, how much you've lost total and how much you have left to lose to meet your goal. This way you can quickly flip through the pages of your binder and see the numbers going up on the "lost" line and down on the "left to lose" line (hopefully!).

For each day there are water bottles, each representing 20 oz of water (the size of a typical water bottle) to mark off as you drink your water each day. There is also a notes section where you can note your exercise or food intake for each day.

 

Download Here!

Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon When You Take the North "Poll"

Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best! Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North "Poll!" You'll Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon** to use at MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting!

Fourth of July

The difference of a year...

Fourth of July 2010, Jillian 3 months old, watching
fireworks with Daddy

Fourth of July 2011, Jillian 15 months old, playing while
waiting for the fireworks to start

7 Quick Takes, Vol. 4

This week's "7 Quick Takes" all relate to a summer camp class that Jillian and I are taking at the local school district. The class is 1.5 hours long and for kids ages 12-22 months and their moms. I wish I had remembered my camera - I will next week!

1. Within the first few minutes of class, both the teacher and the teacher's assistant asked me if Jillian had any older siblings. Apparently they thought her socialness and curiosity would have come from watching an older sibling at home.
2. For the first 15 minutes of class the kids had free-play time. I left Jillian at a little table with buckets and shapes to sort and went over to the diaper bag to grab her sunscreen. I turned around (maybe 30 seconds after walking away from her) and she was sitting on top of the little table so that she could reach all the shapes and put all of them in her bucket.
3. Next up was outside time, she had no interest in the sand table or the sprinkler, but loved the water tray, bubbles and ball pit - all things she has at home.
4. Upon coming back inside, the next activity was crafts. There were 4 crafts to choose from, and I knew all were well beyond Jillian's experience with arts and crafts. We did 2 of the 4 crafts. The first was taking dot paint and dotting a paper plate cut into a fish shape. She didn't understand the dotting and wanted to suck on the dot bottle. I gave her a marker and let her finish her fish by coloring. I was trying to avoid the paint table but alas, Jillian saw it and wanted to play with the paint. The kids were to paint shells with paintbrushes. Jillian mostly just painted her mouth - she just really wanted to eat the paint.
5. Then it was time for circle time, but you know who was not at all interested in sitting on mommy's lap in the circle (I mean, why would she, the room is full of toys to play with). She ended up in the cozy coupe (which we also have a home) and I had to drag her out of it to bring her to the circle. After a couple of songs the teacher brought out a box of musical instruments and the kids each got to pick one. This got Jillian excited and she ran over to grab a shaker. However we only used them for one song and then the kids had to put them away. I pried it out of Jillian's hand and then she followed the teacher to the cabinet where she was putting away the box, pointing and saying "no no no no no no no no."
6. The last activity of the day was snack time. Jillian did pretty well with this one except that she dumped half her goldfish crackers onto the floor. 
7. We got home and she went right down for a nap (and so did I). The teacher says by the end of the 4 week class the kids get used to the routine, I guess we'll see what happens next Wednesday!
   

Walgreens, vol 1

The walgreens receipt doesn't have the regular price for the items on it like the CVS one does so I don't know what the regular prices were. 

Items Purchased:
- 3 boxes of Golden Grahams ($1.99 sale)
- 3 boxes of Cinnemon Toast Crunch ($1.99 sale)
- scunci hair elastics ($2, with $2 RR)
- 2 bottles of pantene ($3.50 each sale, $1 RR with purchase of 2)
- Bayer Asprin ($3.49 sale)
- Huggies Little Swimmers ($6.99 sale price)


As is typical of walgreens, the sale started yesterday and they are already out of the contact solution that was free with Register Rewards. I got the last package of the Huggies Little Swimmers and there were only 3 hair elastics packages left on the shelf.

minus
- save $2 on Little Swimmers (manufacturer coupon)
- save $2 on Little Swimmers (May walgreens coupon book)
- save $3 on 2 Pantene products (manufacturer coupon)
- save $2 on Bayer Asprin (walgreens ad coupon)
- save $1 on Bayer Asprin (manufacturer coupon)
- save $1 on 3 boxes of General Mills cereal (manufacturer coupon)
- save $1 on 3 boxes of General Mills cereal (manufacturer coupon)

Total value of purchases: $32.45

Total out of pocket: $20.45
Total RRs into pocket: $3.00

*******************************************************

As it now stands, here are my savings year to date at Walgreens:

Total value of purchases: $32.45
Total out-of-pocket that I paid: $20.45
Total ECBs generated: $3.00

CVS , vol. 9

Items Purchased:
- 2 boxes of Advil Tablets, regular price $9.49, sale price $7.99, plus $5 ECB when you spend $10 or more on Advil products
- 1 box of tampax pearl tampons, $7.99
- 2 packages of stride chewing gum, regular price $1.49, sale price $.99, plus $0.99 ECB when you buy 1 (limit 1)
- CVS green bag tag, $0.99

minus
- (2) save $2 on advil coupons
- save $2 on tampax pearl
- save $1 on 2 stride chewing gum
- free  CVS green bag tag coupon from coupon machine
- $8.54 in ECB from previous shopping trips

Total value of purchases: $30.94
Total out of pocket: $11.19
Total ECBs into pocket: $8.99
Total ECBs left over from last week: $0

*******************************************************

As it now stands, here are my savings year to date at CVS:

Total value of purchases: $267.74
Total out-of-pocket that I paid: $73.87
Total ECBs generated: $55.55

Mamarazzi Monday - Easter Egg Hunting

One egg for each hand

playing with the eggs

oops

Grandpa helped her find another one

She was not a fan of the orange egg...not sure why but she kept passing it up!

Extreme Couponing CVS, vol. 8

 Items Purchased:

• Pantene Shampoo - $4.99 (sale price of 2/$6.97, get $1 ECB w/ purchase of 2)
• Pantene Conditioner - $4.99 (sale price of 2/$6.97, get $1 ECB w/ purchase of 2)
• minus $3 off purchase of 2 pantene products

• Herbal Essence Shampoo - $4.29 (sale price of 2/$5.97, get $2 ECB w/ purchase of 2)
• Herbal Essence Conditioner - $4.29 (sale price of 2/$5.97, get $2 ECB w/ purchase of 2) 
• minus (2) save $0.50 on any Herbal Essence product coupons

• 2 Old Spice Fiji Body Wash - $4.99 (sale price of $3.99)
• 2 Old Spice Swagger Body Wash - $4.99 (sale price of $3.99)
• minus (2) buy 1 get 1 free Old Spice Body Wash coupons

• 2 boxes of Cheerios - $4.46 (sale price of $2.47)
• 2 boxes of Golden Grahams - $4.99 (sale price of $2.47)
• 2 boxes of Lucky Charms - $4.39 (sale price of $2.47)
• minus (2) $0.55 off one box of Cheerios coupons  
• minus $1 off purchase of 2 General Mills cereals coupon
• minus $1 off purchase of 2 General Mills cereals coupon
• minus $2 off $10 CVS grocery purchase coupon from CVS coupon machine

• Colgate MaxClean SmartFoam Toothpaste - $2.99 (sale price of  $2.77, get $2.77 ECB w/ purchase)
• Colgate MaxWhite Toothpaste - $3.39 (sale price of $2.77, get $2.77 ECB w/ purchase)
• minus (2) save $0.75 on any colgate toothpaste coupon

• Minus $6.71 in ECBs

Total value of purchases: $72.58
Total out of pocket: $20.53
Total ECBs into pocket: $7.54
Total ECBs left over from last week: $0

*******************************************************

As it now stands, here are my savings year to date at CVS:

Total value of purchases: $236.80
Total out-of-pocket that I paid: $62.68
Total ECBs generated: $46.56

Extreme Couponing CVS, vol. 7

Items Purchased:

• 2 cvs green bag tags (every 4th scan you get $1 ECB) at $0.99/each (get $0.99 ECB each with purchase)
• PAAS Easter Egg Coloring Kit - $1.99 (get $1.99 ECB with purchase)
• 24 pack of bottled water - $3.99 regular price, on sale for $2.22

Total value of purchases: $7.96
Total out of pocket: $6.62
Total ECBs into pocket: $3.97
Total ECBs left over from last week: $2.74

*******************************************************

As it now stands, here are my savings year to date at CVS:

Total value of purchases: $164.22
Total out-of-pocket that I paid: $42.15
Total ECBs generated: $39.02

Easter Bunny

I am so proud of my little sweetie...she sat on the Easter bunny's lap at the mall and we even got a cute picture! She was terrified of Santa back in December (we visited him twice and both times she cried). Now to be honest, she wasn't sure what to think of the Easter bunny and a second before the photo was taken I tickled her and then jumped aside so the photographer could snap a photo. But still, she sat for a short time before reaching out to me and giving me her "get me outta here" look.

Extreme Couponing CVS, vol. 6

Items Purchased:

• Froot Loops - $1.69
• Coke - $1.59 (coupon for up to $2 drink or candy value from twitter)
• Bubbles - $3.99 (they were out of the $1.99, get $1.99 ECB w/purchase bubbles so they substituted these higher value bubbles)
• Jelly Beans - $0.99
• Hand Soap $3.99 (coupon for free full sized Essence of Beauty Antibacterial Collection Product when you like CVS Beauty on facebook)
• Russell Stover Chocolate @ $.74 (Get $.74 ECBs WYB 1 – Limit 1)
• $1 ECB from the coupon machine for winter spending

Total value of purchases: $12.99
Total out of pocket: $0
Total ECBs into pocket: $2.73
Total ECBs left over from last week: $0

*******************************************************

As it now stands, here are my savings year to date at CVS:

Total value of purchases: $156.26
Total out-of-pocket that I paid: $35.53
Total ECBs generated: $35.09

Extreme Couponing CVS, vol. 5

ECB = Extra Care Bucks. They are printed with your receipt when you check out and are good toward your next purchase at CVS.

This week wasn't too terribly exciting in the way of deals and savings, but since I'm tracking my CVS purchases for the year, I have to post.

Total before discounts/coupons:
- Dole Fruit Cups (x4) - 3/$5
- Halls Cough Drops (30 ct bag) - $1.87
- Colgate Toothbrush - $2.99

Used the following coupons:
- $0.75 off 2 Dole fruit cups (traded at coupon exchange playdate - I think it was from a newspaper insert)
- $0.75 off 2 Dole fruit cups (newspaper insert)
- $0.75 off halls cough drops (newspaper insert)
- $0.75 off halls cough drops (newspaper insert)
- $1 off colgate manual toothbrush (newspaper insert)

Total value of purchases: $13.40
Total out of pocket: $9.93
Total ECBs into pocket: $4
Total ECBs left over from last week: $0

*******************************************************

As it now stands, here are my savings year to date at CVS:

Total value of purchases: $143.27
Total out-of-pocket that I paid: $35.53
Total ECBs generated: $32.36

Who wore it better?

Who wore this dress better at their baby shower? Me or Callie on Grey's Anatomy this week? I have never seen an outfit that I own on TV in a popular show - until I this week's Grey's episode. It felt kind of strange actually to see the same dress I wore at my shower on Callie!

7 Quick Takes, Vol. 3

1. Last night I found myself explaining to Tom what zydeco music was (he brought it up). The funny part is that I had no idea what it was until the new episode of the "Fresh Beat Band" that aired on Monday!
   
2. Jillian got her first pair of real shoes on Monday. They are so cute and seem so tiny - but then I pulled out the shoes she wore at her baptism and those were about half the size of this new pair.
   
3. Jillian started walking just over two weeks ago - it's hard to believe it's only been 2 weeks, since she walks all over the place now, it's so cute!
   
4. I have really been enjoying watching Jillian start to interact with other kids. She likes to sit by other kids, but doesn't play with them yet. Twice this week (at a playdate and at the mall playground) she played the role of the "bad guy." The boys were pretending that Jillian was out to get them and they had to stay away from her, but she kept crawling and walking up to them to try to be next to them.
   
5. I love to see what item Jillian chooses to take to bed with her. Last night it was the Good Night Moon book. At naptime today it was a block.
   
6. It's funny how I look at Jillian and think she's so big, but put her next to older kids and she is so tiny still.
   
7. I am excited to get Jillian a big girl bed this weekend. I'm tired of sleeping with her, and this will allow us to have a more structured bedtime routine because I won't have to stay in bed with her like I do now, because we won't have to worry about her rolling out of bed with a mattress on the floor.

Extreme Couponing CVS, vol. 4

ECB = Extra Care Bucks. They are printed with your receipt when you check out and are good toward your next purchase at CVS.

Total before discounts/coupons:
- Cherieos - $1.99
- Cinnamon Toast Crunch - $1.99
- Lucky Charms - $1.99
- Huggies Wipes - $2.50
- Pampers Wipes - $2.50
- Huggies Little Movers Diapers - $20
- Frosted Flakes single serving - $1
- Umbrella Stroller - $17.99 (free with $25 purchase of baby items)

Used the following coupons:
- $0.50 off huggies wipes (huggies direct mail piece)
- $0.50 off pampers wipes (newspaper insert)
- $2.00 off huggies diapers (huggies direct mail piece)
- $0.75 off box of cherieos (pampers direct mail piece)
- $1.00 off purchase of 2 general mills cereal (newspaper insert)
- $1.00 off CVS purchase of kellogs cereal (CVS coupon machine)
- $10 Extra Care Bucks (ECBs)
- $6.58 ECBs
- $3 ECBs

Total value of purchases: $49.96
Total out of pocket: $7.24
Total into pocket: $0
Total ECBs left over from last week: $0

*******************************************************

As it now stands, here are my savings year to date at CVS:

Total value of purchases: $129.87
Total out-of-pocket that I paid: $25.60
Total ECBs generated: $28.36

Extreme Couponing CVS, vol. 3

ECB = Extra Care Bucks. They are printed with your receipt when you check out and are good toward your next purchase at CVS.

Total before discounts/coupons:
- Oral B Power Toothbrush - $6.00 (get $3 ECB with purchase)
- Crest Prohealth Toothpaste - $3.29 (get $3.29 ECB with purchase)
- Crest Prohealth Toothpaste - $3.29 (get $3.29 ECB with purchase)
Total: $12.58

Used the following coupons:
- $0.75 off crest toothpaste from newspaper coupon insert
- $0.75 off crest toothpaste from newspaper coupon insert
- $3 off oral B power toothbrush
- $2 Extra Care Bucks (ECB)
- $0.99 ECB
- $1.61 CVS gift card

Out of pocket I paid $3.85

Total value of purchases: $12.58
Total out of pocket: $3.85
Total into pocket: $9.58 in ECBs
Total ECBs left over from last week: $10

*******************************************************

As it now stands, here are my savings year to date at CVS:

Total value of purchases: $79.91
Total out-of-pocket that I paid: $18.36
Total ECBs generated: $28.36

Extreme Couponing CVS, vol. 2

No picture this week because I already ate the jellybeans!

ECB = Extra Care Bucks. They are printed with your receipt when you check out and are good toward your next purchase at CVS.

Total before discounts/coupons:
- Jelly Beans - $0.99 (get $0.99 ECB with purchase)
- Colgate Total Advanced 5.8 oz - $4.49 (get $2 ECB with purchase)
- Sunday Newspaper - $2
Total: $7.48

Used the following coupons:
- $0.50 colgate from newspaper coupon insert
- $2 Extra Care Bucks (ECB)
- $3.79 ECB

Out of pocket I paid $1.27, but then I realized that the toothpaste ECB did not print. After asking the cashier about this, he adjusted the price of the toothpaste and printed the ECBs for me manually.

Total value of purchases: $7.48
Total out of pocket: $1.27
Total into pocket: $2.99 ECBs, plus a CVS gift card worth $1.61 from the manual price adjustment on the toothpaste
Total ECBs left over from last week: $10

Take the Total ECBs and gift card minus the total out of pocket, and you get a profit of $3.33

*******************************************************

As it now stands, here are my savings year to date at CVS:

Total value of purchases: $67.33
Total out-of-pocket that I paid: $14.51
Total ECBs generated: $18.78

Extreme Couponing CVS, vol. 1

Today I scored my best "extreme couponing" deal to date at CVS Pharmacy. My purchase total was $59.85, but I ended up MAKING 94 cents on the transaction, and here's how it worked out...

ECB = Extra Care Bucks. They are printed with your receipt when you check out and are good toward your next purchase at CVS.

Total before discounts/coupons:
- Speed Stick Stainguard deodorant - $2.99 (get $2 ECB with purchase)
- Colgate Total Advanced 5.8 oz - $3.79 (get $3.79 ECB with purchase)
- Two Prilosec OTC 42-ct $24.99 each, total $49.98 (get $5 ECB with purchase)
Total: $59.85

 Used the following coupons:
- $0.50 from 1/30/11 newspaper SmartSource coupon insert
- $0.75 from newspaper coupon insert (I forget which insert and week it was from)
- $8 off of purchase of 2 packages from 1/30/11 RedPlum newspaper coupon insert
- $25 rebate with purchase of 2 packages - download HERE
- $1 Extra Care Bucks (ECB) from the "coupon machine" that is just inside the store that you scan your card on and it prints coupons for you.
- $10 CVS gift card


I've seen on other blogs how shoppers keep track of what they spend out of pocket vs the actual retail cost of the items they take home. Below is the summary of this transaction:

Total out of pocket: $14.85 (really $39.85 but I took off the $25 prilosec rebate since I will be getting that back)
Total into pocket: $15.79 ECBs
Total ECBs left over from last week: $0

 Take the Total ECBs minus the total out of pocket, and you get a profit of $0.94.

*******************************************************

As it now stands, here are my savings year to date at CVS:

Total value of purchases: $59.85
Total out-of-pocket that I paid: $14.85
Total ECBs generated: $15.79

*******************************************************

I highly recommend following the blogs below to save yourself time when finding these awesome deals:

• STL Mommy
• Coupon Queen
• Mama Cheaps

My baby is walking