I am really excited to let you all know that you can catch me on the Rachel Ray show this WEDNESDAY (I thought it was Tuesday!).

Ashley Judd is her celebrity guest and made really good biscuits!

Paul and I are going to make her Cincinnati Slider sandwiches and post a review and video on Wednesday along with the recipe!

You can see a preview of the show HERE.

Our Extreme Shopping Trip Purchases

I once read a post about couponing etiquette when I was first couponing. It made such a big difference for me to understand the “rules” of couponing. There was also a Do’s and Dont’s of couponing that was really good reading when I first started. Someitmes you make mistakes as a beginner and you learn from your lessons, but when you continue to do the same things over and over you can no longer claim that you “didn’t know” it was wrong.

Recently, there has been more and more cracking down on illegal coupon use, and it is a good thing. Fraudulent use of coupons hurts all couponers and consumers. There are so many good deals out there that there is no need to use coupons in a way that they were not intended for.

It is possible to “extreme” coupon and follow even strict coupon policies. For our shopping trip we followed the following guidelines that are the store policy where we shop:

• We purchased no more than 10 of any item.
• We doubled and tripled 1 (one) like coupon.
• We did not pre-order anything.

This was a very realistic and achievable shopping trip that anyone would be able to do. The difference that the doubles and triples made on my receipt was $5.15. So if your store does not double or triple your total would have been $11.12 and not $5.97 (mine). The difference on Paul’s was $4.59.

There is no need to do anything fraudulent to achieve these results! Here are the 2 most important things that I believe in as a couponer, thanks to Cincy Savers.

1. Leave some behind (don’t clear shelves)

   While I may talk about buying 20 packages of oatmeal during a sale, I don’t buy them all at once. I make sure my store has plenty in stock for other shoppers by making multiple trips or special ordering through the store manager. Being fair to the stores and other shoppers means that other shoppers won’t get mad at the store. This helps both the store and the other shoppers and is just good practice.

2. Use coupons for products they’re intended for

   If a coupon says $1 off two, buy two. If it’s a coupon for 12 ounces only, buy the 12 ounce, not the 8 ounce, even if the cashier or register doesn’t catch the discrepancy. Don’t use Swiffer coupons on diapers. All these are a form of misredeption and coupon fraud which costs manufacturers and stores millions every year. In essence, if you know the coupon you’re using isn’t being redeemed properly, it’s the same as shoplifting.

Extreme couponing is a fun and great way to stretch your families budget. It is an awesome feeling to have the confidence to know, that if something were to happen to my husband, and we had to live off my income alone that I would be able to take care of my children. But, I believe that if you abuse it, it will all go away.

What a strange name for a deal site? Well, it has not always been a “deal” site. First, it is my families site, a place where I can post crazy stories about my fun kids and for extended family to read about them. When I started blogging it was strictly family, but then I was getting such good deals, and having so much fun couponing, that I started teaching friends and family how to do it.  It got to be easier for me to post them so they could read them, then for me to tell everyone about what the deals were.

We had a friend of the family that always referred to my kids as a “Litter”, not many things bug me but that really did! One day she said it in front of my oldest kids, my oldest actually blew Orange Julius out his nose he was laughing so hard. The big kids for days talked about it and how funny it was to them. They started calling the little kids “their litter” and so my husband and then “adopted” the term affectionately.

Why Mother’s Don’t Shower. A Sob Story!

I wanted to make sure I gave you a heads up that my Today Show appearance has changed days to WEDNESDAY!!

They had to move their schedule around a bit, this is better though as I will be on the first 30 minutes of the show! I had a bunch of appearances to day that were a blast and have a few more tomorrow, when they air I will post them and I am looking for some links for the others now!

For all of you who watch T.V. in the mornings, I want to give you a heads up that I will be on The Today Show, this Wednesday morning. I am not sure what hour it will be, I am guessing I will be in the lifestyle section. I will have the chance to talk about couponing, saving money and the upcoming TLC show!

Now, if you know me, I have a story to go along with this as well… You can’t go to New York and be on the Today Show and not go get a new outfit. My schedule was so tight this week I literally had 90minutes in between softball games to go shopping. It was already hot outside so I was in jean shorts and t-shirt, my little kids with me were sweaty and the baby was hungry. I walked into a NICE store outside the Woodlands mall that I had not been in before, it is a little fancier than where I normally shop. No one would help me. It was a TOTAL PRETTY WOMAN MOMENT! I had 2 sweaty little kids and a squeaky stroller, finally a sweet little girl came over and started helping me, I didn’t even look at price tags, and started trying clothes on. I found an outfit and bought it. No COUPONS, but I got a discount for signing up for their email list and I got $25 off a $100 purchase for next time I am in.

I hate shopping that way, but I had no time!

**Little known fact about Paul and Tiff – The first summer we were married we spent it at a military base in Bayonne N.J. we earned a semester of credit for college and were paid a living stipend. We ran a summer camp for the dependents on the base. Every weekend we spent in NY city. It was a BLAST!

I am a little late in my spring break report, but sometimes the recovery takes longer than the actual trip! I still have laundry to do!

For the past 3 years our friends the DuBois have been brave enough to come with us. It is hard to spend time with us I am sure, we move at a pace all our own. It is called “Ivanovsky standard time”, meaning we are usually late and missing something important that we will eventually have to go back for, or re-buy. It is just the way we roll!

If you have been a reader for a while you will remember this trip HERE that we took to the diamond mines, I mean the diamond park to force/let our children look for diamonds. OMG I just looked back at that trip! I can’t believe at how little they all were…. and Pauls Coke, still makes me laugh.

Then last year we went to Florida right before the oil spill, you can read about that HERE. I talked about the difference between a family trip, and a “real” vacation!

This year, we took the easy way out and got a hotel room! What? No camping…. Yes, I am slacking! Don’t worry, we have a few trips planned this summer that you will be able to read about and thank me later for reminding you why it is such hard work to take kids camping!

I have a little advice about Sea World. If you are thinking of going this is what we did:

• Bought 1 Passport for Paul, they are $99 but you get free parking and 20% off everything in the park. We were there for 3 days so the price difference was paid for in parking alone.
• Bought the rest of us a Fun Card passes for the year, these are $59 for adults and $49 for kids. They don’t come with free parking or the discount, but Paul already had that on his card so we didn’t need it.
• You can bring some food and drinks in. You can have a small cooler the size of a 6-pack (or a little bigger) or soda. I had food packed for the little kids, cheerios, goldfish etc. and all 3 days they clearly saw it and had no problem with it. I also brought in water, quite a few bottles and they also didn’t have a problem with that.

Some advice about the rides and shows… Well, no advice, depending on your ages of kids you will have to figure out what will work for you. We had to split up. The big kids wanted to go on the big roller coasters and the little kids did also! After prying them out of line for “Great White” I took them over to the kiddie park.

• Get to the park when it opens!!! Get in line QUICKLY for the big rides. You will have about 1 1/2 to ride the big rides before the lines are 2 hours long.
• Make sure to see the main shows first. You will need to be there about 30 min before the show starts to get seats. ** Just FYI…. Babies DO NOT like sitting in the “splash zone” at the Shamu show. Just in case you think it is a good idea. Also, phones do not like 51 degree salt water. I have a new phone to prove it 🙂

On the way home we stopped by The Alamo. This is one of my favorite places in the entire world. Honestly. It is really beautiful and although in the middle of a city, seems so peaceful to me.

Wow, I love these girls. They are carbon copies of each other.Look at the thighs on that baby! Why is it just not as cute on me?!

Got sidetracked, sorry.

Then of course if you are in San Antonio you MUST eat on the Riverwalk. It is REQUIRED! We ate the oldest restaurant down there, and now I can’t remember the name! Cafe’ Rio? Something like that. It was awesome, just what we were looking for. Stay tuned to catch the review of the other restaurant we ate at! It was weird!

And this is pretty much how we all felt on the way home! Don’t worry I will destroy this picture before she stars to date, I think she is drooling….

Wrapping up, we had a great trip, it was a TON of fun. But honestly, we really missed the crazyness that comes with our standard camping trips. Maybe because I have to have an extra sense of humor and find the funny when it is exhausting, and we are dirty and tired!

What did you do for Spring Break?!

I wanted to give you a report on how the hygiene kit assembly went today. I think it went really well. We put out all the items on different tables. Towels, combs, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes.

Then we had the kids (and adults :)) work in an assembly line to fill each bag. The adults helped roll the towels to fit and another group took toothpaste out of their boxes to fit better in the bags. Everyone had a job! We assembled them MUCH faster than I had anticipated! We were done in about 20 minutes!

Then of course we had time for Chik Fil A!

Suzanne and I drove them down to 1960 at the Bishops storehouse. We had 160 complete hygiene kits. 45 more that needed toothbrushes (I have a dentist donating them). Plus, one of the Curves in Conroe donated all kinds of extra items that we were able to leave with the kits.

All of that on the pallet came out of my suburban!

A HUGE thank you to all who helped today, you guys were awesome! Thanks again to Kroger, Chik Fil A, Davis’ and all the other who donated items and your time! What a blessing you all are!

If you are in the Houston area…. please come and help us assemble hygiene kits for the earthquake victims in Japan! It is easy and should only take about an hour. I am personally using this as a service project for my children and am having the kids do the assembly part when we put them together. WE NEED YOU TO HELP!

I am sooo excited to tell you of a few donations that we have gotten:

• Kroger donated a $50 gift card for supplies
• Chik Fil A has donated some food for the kids to eat as they are helping!
• My Mom and Dad (thanks guys!) Have donated another $50 to help buy some more supplies!

I am sick that MOST of my stockpile is in storage as we move. I asked Paul to go and pull it out last night, he was gone for an hour and came back empty handed and told me to go buy some things. He was not going to be able to pull it all out from a 20×20 storage unit!

Please take an hour out of your day Thursday to help. Bring what you have and if you are able to purchase some items we would greatly appreciate it! If each family beings enough supplies to make 5 kits I am hoping we can get 400 done!!

Assembly Instructions
2 unbreakable combs (no sharp handles)
4 toothbrushes (packaged)
1 tube of toothpaste (6-8 oz., no pumps)
2 bars of soap (approximately 4 to 5 oz.)
2 hand towels (new towels, approximately 15 by 25. To sew towels, serge or zigzag the edges of terry cloth to make a 15 by 25 towel.)

Location: The Woodlands Christian Church
Time: 11am
Address: 1202 North Millbend Dr. The Woodlands 77380

My Dad called early Friday morning (he is in Beijing) to tell me to turn in the T.V. He had been watching since the earthquake happened. Some in Beijing said they had felt it. I always feel helpless and frustrated that I want to get my hands dirty helping, but from so far away I feel like there is not much I can do. BUT… there are a few things that I can do that will make a small difference in the long run.

Donate Money:

Check and see if you or your husbands employer will match any contributions that you make, many are.

The American Red Cross – Text REDCROSS to 90999 and instantly donate $10 to the Japanese relief efforts.

The Salvation Army – Text JAPAN or QUAKE to 80888 and make an instant donation.

LDS Emergency Response – This is where I donated money this weekend. There is no overhead OR administration costs that are taken out of donations. 100% goes to help those in need.

Want to get your hands dirty?

If you want to actually “get your hands dirty” and make hygiene kits! If your kids are home for spring break this would make a GREAT service project. Have them watch the news for a little while, explain what happened in Japan. Have them help you gather items from the Dollar Store and your stockpile and have a family service project!

Making kits are very simple, the items I didn’t have in my stockpile I got at the Dollar store.
Hygiene kits provide disaster victims with basic items necessary for health and cleanliness.

Assembly Instructions
2 unbreakable combs (no sharp handles)
4 toothbrushes (packaged)
1 tube of toothpaste (6-8 oz., no pumps)
2 bars of soap (approximately 4 to 5 oz.)
2 hand towels (new towels, approximately 15 by 25. Please do not use dish towels or washcloths. To sew towels, serge or zigzag the edges of terry cloth to make a 15 by 25 towel.)

Now, I will deliver these to my Bishops Storehouse to be sent to Japan. If I didn’t live close to a storehouse I could have mailed them. Once donated, these items are processed and prepared for shipment to where they are needed most. In a typical year, the Latter-day Saint Humanitarian Center will ship about 12 million pounds of shoes and clothing, 1 million hygiene kits, and 1 million pounds of medical supplies to relieve suffering in more than 100 countries.

Latter-day Saint Humanitarian Center
1665 Bennett Road
Salt Lake City, UT 84104

*** I will be working on these with my kids today getting items together. Thursday March 17th at 11am if you would like to join us assembling these we would LOVE to have you. I will bring what we have, you bring what you have, and we can let the kids assemble them. If each family can bring enough supplies for 10 bags my goal is 400 to be sent! Paul and I will pay the shipping. We will deliver them to the Bishops Store house in Houston. Email me at mylitter@mac.com with any questions.

Location: The Woodlands Christian Church
Time: 11am
Address: 1202 North Millbend Dr. The Woodlands 77380

Like I mentioned earlier we are going to Sea World during spring break. Many of you have emailed and asked if I found a good deal. NO I have not! I looked and looked and looked and didn’t really find anything. I swear I can find a deal on anything and this one has me stumped. So if anyone has any experience I would really appreciate a tip!

We chose Sea World because it had been a VERY long time since we had been and because I LOVE San Antonio. If you have never been it is worth a trip even if you live 3,000 miles away. It is a great city with a ton to do. You could spend a solid week and not be bored.

Here are some of my favorite things to do in San Antonio:
Alamo
Riverwalk
Natural Bridge Caverns
Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch
Six Flags
Sea World

We are just going to Sea World this time and eating on the Riverwalk. I appreciate the suggestions of Julie H. Mi Tierra in San Antonio. It’s in Market Square (El Mercado) and it’s open 24/7. It’s a Mexican restaurant and bakery that has been around for years and years. And Angela who reminded me to use Restruants.com to get a good deal!

The plan that I have for Sea World is to purchase Fun Card tickets for myself and 6 of the kids. Dang Rush, JUST turned 3 or he still would have been free! These are tickets that allow us to go in and out of the park for free all year long. I plan on buying 1 Passport (they are more expensive) for Paul. This will get us free parking and 20% off almost everything in the park.

The first day we will pack our lunch in a cooler and just come out to the car to eat lunch. This will give us a chance to check out the prices inside and what they have to offer. I have heard that they have a meal pass for $29, but I am not sure what that is about, and entails completely.

As you can see, any suggestions or advice would be appreciated! I am pretty excited. If we even go one more time this year it will really be worth it.