2 weeks ago, I started using Plexus. I wanted to lose weight and have tried many times in the past with no success. I heard about Plexus and was reading about it and I loved the fact that it was all natural ingredients. I did not want to put anything unknown in my body. I've only been using this products about 2 weeks now and I have noticed a BIG difference! I'm down 7 lbs and an inch or so around my waist and hips. I have more energy. If you don't believe me, just check out my before and after pictures! AMAZING! Go check it out and let me know if you have any questions. http://nicoleedwards.myplexusproducts.com/

All you do is, pour a packet of Plexus Slim in your bottle water, shake and drink.  You don't need to do anything more.  It looks and tastes like Cherry Crystal Lite.  It is not a meal replacement, There is no harmful chemicals in it.  It's all natural plant ingredients. 

I'm excited to start my journey to being healthy and slimmer.  I've gained weight due to my pregnancies and unhealthy eating habits.  Plexus makes me feel fuller so therefore I don't eat as much.  I've noticed my portion sizes have reduced.  I don't crave a lot of sweets or starch.  I was a BIG sweet tea drinker, that's all I drank.  Some days I don't even want any.  I do allow myself to have 1 glass a day with dinner.  My husband is on this journey with me and I will be keeping this blog updated with our progress.

Target Toy Clearance

Tomorrow is the day that every couponer looks forward to!  It is the annual July clearance sale at target.  Where all the toys goes 70% off to make room for all the new toys for Christmas.  This is my favorite time of the year because I can stock up cheaply for my kids birthdays and Christmas.  I love having my kids opening and seeing all their gifts and I know that I didn't pay full retail price for them. 

Christmas 2012

With 3 kids, gifts get expensive!!  Add that in with being invited to birthday parties for classmates or family/friend's children.  I love how I can just go into the gift closet and pick out something and it won't break the bank.  I end up in the long run giving a nicer gift that looks like it cost more but didn't.

So if you have time tomorrow or Friday, go to Target and check out the toy aisles for clearance items.  But I warn you, It might be best to get there early in the morning to get the best choices.

Vacation time!!

My kids are out of school for the summer!!  They had an awesome school year and did great!!  

I can't believe I will have a 2nd and 5th grader!!  I will also be putting my 3 year old in a church preschool where he will only go 3 hours a day.  The last time I didn't have any kids with me during the day was when my middle son started the same church preschool.  Of course at the time I was 7 months pregnant.

I'm hoping to stay busy this summer and let it past by quick!!  We are taking a major family vacation in a couple months that we are excited about!! 

 First off we will be starting our summer with a girl's weekend to Pigeon Forge.  Me and 2 girl friends will just spend the weekend shopping and taking in the sights.  Of course a couple hours at a spa doesn't hurt either!  Can't wait for my hour long massage and pedicure!

Once we get back, I will be taking the kids and driving up to Indiana to spend a week with my Dad and step-mom.  Then I'll be driving to Illinois and visiting with my Mom and Step-dad.  We will be gone about 2 weeks while Hubby stays behind and goes to work.  

Then we will take our big family vacation in October during the kids fall break.  We will be taking a 5 day cruise to the Bahamas!!  We will be going to Half Moon Cay and Nassau.  I can't wait!!!

Isn't the water gorgeous??!  Can't wait to dip my feet in the clear blue water and white sands!!

We have taken 2 carnival cruises back in 2000 and 2001 before we got married and had kids.  This will be the 1st cruise our kids will be on.  They will be 10, 8, and 3 at the time of the cruise. 

We will be going with friends of ours and their son.  I hope everybody has a blast!!  

Rite Aid Clearance

I belong to a refund cents website and there was several people saying that Rite Aid had a bunch of clearance items at 75% off.  So you know me, I couldn't resist going.  So before I picked up my daughter yesterday, I went by 1 store and then went to 2 different stores after I got my daughter.

1st Store I found this....

Healthy Choice Lunch Mixer - .99 cents x 4

2nd store I found this...

Hungry Jack Syrup - $1.07 x 3

Smuckers Grape Jam - .74 cents 

Smuckers Strawberry Jam - .89 cents x 4

(2 of the bottles had .50 cent Rite Aid coupons)

Prego Spaghetti Sauce - .82 cents x 2

(I had a .50/2 coupon)

Pillsbury Funfetti frosting - .64 cents

Hungry Jack Pancake Mix - .74 cents

3rd store I found this...

Royal Strawberry Jello - .19 cents x 4

Smuckers Strawberry Jam - .89 cents x 4

Hungry Jack Syrup - $1.07

Healthy Choice Lunch Mixers - $1.07 x 3

Special K Granola Bars - .99 cents x 2

I had $13 in + up rewards expiring that day so I used them all up.  Not a bad deal in my book considering I just found out that I was out of jelly yesterday morning.  Now I have plenty of jelly for my kids PBJ sandwiches.

Here is a list of what people came across at Rite Aid.  I found several items, but they weren't marked on clearance.  So it just depends on your store.  Good luck finding them!!

Always liners and Always pads - reg. $4.29 = $1.07
Bounty Napkins - reg. $2.28 = .57
Bounty Paper Towels (15 ct) - reg. $18.99 = $4.75
Bumble Bee Tiny Shrimp - reg. $3.68 = .92
Bumble Bee Crabmeat - reg. $3.49 = .87
Campbell's Healthy Request Chicken Noodle - reg. $3.29 = .82
Cottonelle 140 Wipes - reg. $8.29 = $2.07
Cream of Wheat (10 ct.) Plain - reg. $4.19 = $1.04
Cream of Wheat (10 ct.) Variety - reg. $4.19 = $1.04
Crisco Pure Corn Oil (32 oz) - reg. 4.79 = $1.19
Del Monte Peaches w/ brown sugar cinnamon (4ct) - reg. 3.59 = .89
Domino 2lb. Granulated Sugar - reg. 2.79 = 1.39
Dream Lights - reg. $29.99 = $7.99 
Emerald Breakfast Oatmeal Blend (7.5 oz.) - reg. $4.29 = $1.07
Emerald Breakfast Nut Blend (7.5 oz.) - reg. 4.29 = $1.07
Folgers Instant Coffee (12 oz) reg 9.99 = $4.99
Folgers Instant Decafe (120 oz) reg. $10.99 = $2.74
Glad trash bags (78 count) - reg. $11.49 = $2.87
Gracious Living Sweater Box - reg. $9.99 = $2.49
Hamburger Helper - don't know reg price, don't care, wouldn't eat it if they paid me
Herb-Ox Bullion - Beef and Chicken (8 ct in a box) - reg. $1.36 = .34
Heinz Chili Sauce (12 oz.) - reg. 2.69 = .67
Hormel Compleats - reg. $3.29 = 82 cents
Hungry Jack Syrup - reg. $4.29 = $1.07
Hungry Jack Pancake Mix - reg. $2.79 = .74
Hunts Snack Pack Tapioca (4 ct.) reg. $2.19 = .54
Hunts Garlic and Herb Pasta Sauce (24oz can) reg. - 1.99 = .49
Kelloggs Special K Blueberry Cereal (11.4 oz) reg. 4.99 = $1.24
Knorr Rice Medley Reg - reg. $1.89 = .47
Lipton Green Tea Acai (10 ct box) - reg $4.28 = $1.07
Lipton Green Tea Black Raspberry (10 ct box) - reg. $4.28 = $1.07
Northern Ultra Plush Toilet Paper Purple package (12 ct) reg. - $11.99 = $5.99
NYC 783 Cover Stick in Natural (UPC#074170152364) - reg. $1.99 = .49
NYC In A NY Minute Quick Drying Nail Polish 260 Radio City Rose - reg. $1.99 = .49
NYC In A NY minute Quick Drying Nail Polish 266 Battery Park Purple - reg. $1.99 = .49
NYC Showtime Glitter Eye Pencil 945 Starry Blue Sky - reg. $2.48 = .62
NYC Showtime Glitter Eye Pencil 946 Glitterazzi Brown - reg. $2.48 = .62
NYC Lip Plumper 475 Pink Champagne - reg. $3.99 = .99
NYC Lip Plumper 472 Strawberry Mousse - reg. $3.99 = .99
NYC Lip Plumper 474 Toffee Kiss - reg. $3.99 = .99
NYC Lip Plumper 476 Plum Tart - reg. $3.99 = .99
NYC Long Wearing Nail Enamel 130 Classic Coral Creme - reg. .99 = .24
NYC Long Wearing Nail Enamel 139 Plaza Plumberry - reg. .99 = .24
NYC Long Wearing Nail Enamel 140 Empire State Blue - reg. .99 = .24
NYC Long Wearing Nail Enamel 115A Skin Tight Denim Creme - reg. .99 = .24
NYC Smooch Proof 16 Hour Lip Stain 491 Forever Freesia - reg. $4.96 = $1.24
NYC Smooch Proof 16 Hour Lip Stain 499 Foever Mine Wine - reg. $4.96 = $1.24
Pillsbury Funfetti Frosting - reg. $2.56 = .64
Prego Traditional Pasta Sauce (24oz jar) reg. - 2.99 = .74
Post Fruity Pebbles Treats (8 bars) - reg. $3.28 = .82
Progresso Italian Bread Crumbs - reg. $2.29 = .57
Rite Aid Coffee (smaller bags) - reg. $7.99 = $1.99
Rite Aid Coffee Filters - reg. $2.39 = .60
Rite Aid Chicken Broth cans - reg. $1.29 = 32 cents
Rite Aid English Breakfast Tea Bags (20 ct) - reg. $3.28 = .82
Rite Aid Home Gallon Freezer Bags (15 count) - reg. $6.56 = $1.64
Royal gelatin - reg. .80 = .20
Scott Bath Tissue (20 ct) - reg. $19.99 = $4.99
Simplify Lunch baggies (35 ct) - reg. $2.00 = .50
Simplify Sandwich Bags, Fold Top (150 ct) - reg. $3.29 = .92
Simply Plastic Cutlery - reg. $1.00 = .25 
Simply Aluminum Foil (25sq ft)- reg. $1.00 = .25
Simplify 1 Gallon Zipper Storage Bags (12 ct) - reg. $1.00 = .25
Simplify Foam Plates and Paper Plates ( 20 ct) - reg. $1.00 = 25 cents 
Skippy Creamy Peanut Butter (16.3 oz) - reg. $4.29 - $1.07
Smuckers Squeezable Jelly (strawberry) - reg. 3.59 = .89
Smuckers Squeezable Jelly (grape) reg. 2.99 = .74
Snows Chopped Clams - reg. $1.99 = .50
Special K Blueberry (11.4 oz) - reg. $4.99 = $1.24
Stompeze Slippers - reg. $19.99 = $5.00
Stove Top Stuffing (Chicken flavor) - reg. $2.49 = 62 cents
Tampax Radiant Regular (32 ct) - reg. $8.99 = $2.24 per box
Uncle Bens Original Ready Rice Packs - reg. $2.39 = .60
Vanity Fair Hand Towels - reg. $1.74 = $1.14
Wholesome Goodness Cereal (Rice & Wheat with Strawberries) - reg. $4.79 = $1.20 

Start of Spring Break

As of 11:15am my kids will be on spring break till they go back to school on April 8th.  We aren't going any where during their break.  But I figured we can do some things around town.  

On Monday I'm planning on taking them to Six flags.  They don't know it yet, it'll be a surprise.  I will be taking the older 2 while hubby stays home with the younger one.  Hubby isn't a very big amusement park fan and with the little one limited to little areas, it wouldn't be fun for the older 2 to be limited as well.   We are going to go with a friend of mine and her 2 boys as well.  So should be a fun day!!  Just hope the weather cooperates and stays nice like its supposed to be.  The rest of the week is supposed to be rainy and gloomy.  

Then on Friday, hubby is taking my middle son to a braves game.  He will be meeting up with his dad and sister.  Me nor the older one don't like baseball so we decided not to go.  I know the little one will be restless and wouldn't stay still to watch it.  So we might go do something while they are at the game.

Etsy Fail

A while back, you may have read that I was opening an Etsy store selling my homemade hair bows and other items.  I've ventured out from that adding in Ribbon trees and my latest creations is Sashay Scarves.

All of my scarves are $20 each. 

Nothing on Etsy was selling.  Since I opened it up in Oct, I haven't had 1 sale!  Very Frustrating!!  I was talking with a friend of mine and she gave me some tips to boost my sales.  So I spent all day yesterday revamping my listings.  I even splurged and did an Search Ad.  Its only $7 so I'm hoping it works.  

I checked it today and I don't have any viewings today as of 11 am.  I only had 22 views yesterday.  So right now its not looking any better!

I'm just frustrated at this whole thing!  I just wanted to make some extra money.  I know I'm not going to be getting rich off of these but every little bit counts.    I taught a friend of mine how to make these and she's already sold 10 of them!!

I need to find some local craft show and put my stuff in it.  But again, the last couple of vendor shows I went to, I didn't make anything.  

Just ignore this rambling post - having a pity party for myself.