I'm Blaming Cade...and My Mom

I am blaming them because I don't want to feel as stupid as I would if I accepted responsibility for my actions.

This past Friday I bought fruit at my local grocery store. It was containers of mixed fruit. Cade loves different fresh fruit and I despise having to cut it, etc. So, this works for both of us. However, within a day, it was looking pretty sad. I looked at the date and on both containers and it said USE BY 2-23-08. Hmmmm.... Last Friday was 2-23-08. So, the fruit that I bought, expired on the same day I bought it. Bummer. So, I dumped it. I figured it was my mistake for not looking at the date on the container when I bought it--and knowing that I should have looked since it is a very slow grocery store that probably doesn't sell a lot of anything much less fresh fruit.

So, today Mom, Cade, and I walked to the store I work in. The larger containers of the fruit medley Cade likes was on sale. Great! Grabbed a container of that, a red bell pepper (which Cade called an apple and demanded he hold), and a gallon of milk...we were ready to leave. I was putting the groceries on the belt to pay, Mom pointed to Cade who was biting into the red pepper like it really was an apple. Luckily he likes red peppers, but still...he was REALLY angry when we took it away so I could pay for it. He got ice cream on the way home, so he survived.

I made dinner tonight and pulled out the container of fruit to put some on Cade's plate. I just happen to look at the date on the top (no, I didn't look in the store) and noticed it said USE BY 2-26-08. Lovely. So the fruit I bought today, basically expired YESTERDAY! Why didn't I look? Here is where I am putting the blame...

• Cade is sick and is miserable...and making me unable to think properly.

• Mom should have reminded me (yes, I am a "grown-up" but I am still her daughter) to look at the date. In Mom's defense, she stuck with Cade and I all day--so her brain was also probably fried from the screams of a sick 18 month old. Thanks for hanging out with us, Mom!

So, there you go. Mom and Cade are to blame for my expired fruit purchase. I think this one I will take back tomorrow. It was my error partly, but it also should not have been on the shelf! Right?!

One.Word.Answers.

So, yet again, here I am celebrating my 100th post. For real this time. You can add it up.

I saw this on another blog and thought it was pretty cool...

You.
Can.
Only.
Type.
One.
Word.
For.
Each.
Question.

Not as easy as you might think.

1. Where is your cell phone? Purse
2. Your significant other? Bath
3. Your hair? straight
4. Worst bad habit? Chocolate
5. Favorite food? PIZZA
6. Your favorite thing? shopping
7. Your dream last night? bizarre
8. Your favorite drink? dietcoke (I made it one word)
9. Your dream/goal? happiness
10.The room you're in? office
11. Your ex? thankfully
12. Your fear? alone
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? similar
14. Where were you last night? home
15. What you're not? loud
16. Muffins? warm
17. One of your wish list items? quiet
18. Where you grew up? AZ
19. The last thing you did? snuggle
20. What are you wearing? clothes
21. Your TV? Big
22. Your pets? none
23. Your computer? used
24. Your life? mine
25. Your mood? mediocre
26. Missing someone? Wisconsinians
27. Your car? Dirty
28. Something you're not wearing? retainer
29. Favorite Store? Kohl's
30. Your summer? Florida?
31. Love someone? Yes
32. When is the last time you laughed? minutes
33. Last time you cried? days

Please feel free to copy and paste into the comments--I would love to see how you respond!

My, What Good Manners You Have

At a family party last night, Jim's Grandma kept commenting on how neat Cade was while eating.

It was true...Cade was feeding himself with his fork--and really wasn't making a mess at all. Of course, he was eating strawberries, which he loves, and a cheese crisp, which isn't really messy...and he had some help from his Grandma--whose lap he was sitting on.

Just to set the record straight, Cade is NOT a neat eater most of the time. And dinner tonight proved that. You should never turn your back on a child armed with a fork and sweet potatoes...

This was Cade after he ate an ice cream cone on a walk we went on...no where near neat!

Luckily, this kid is washable--and seems to enjoy bath time!

100 Cans of Beans on the Shelf...

Sing it with me! 100 cans of beans..you take one down, pass it around...

Okay. I really didn't get 100 cans of beans. But, just to wow you all with my coupon prowess (which I totally attribute to Coupon Sense and my friend, Amy) here is a list of the 147 items I got last week for a total out of pocket cost of $56.31 (that is less than $0.40/item!)

(3) Boxes Fruity Cheerios
(3) Boxes Cheerios
(1) Boxes Multi grain Cheerios
(1) Boxes Apple Cinnamon Cheerios
(1) Boxes Frosted Cheerios
(2) Boxes Cinnamon Toast Crunch
(4) Boxes Cookie Crisp
(2) Boxes Lucky Charms
(2) Boxes Golden Grahams
(6) Boxes Frozen Green Giant Vegetables
(12) Boxes Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks
(6) Boxes Betty Crocker Potatoes
(6) Boxes Pop Secret Popcorn
(6) Pouches Betty Crocker Cookie Mix
(6) Cans Betty Crocker Frosting
(1) Betty Crocker Cake Mix
(12) Cans Del Monte Tomatoes
(24) Cans S&W Beans
(8) Bags Gum Flossers
(1) Gum Toothbrushes
(5) Crayola Kids Toothbrushes
(2) Boxes Nature Valley Granola Bars
(2) Marzetti’s Ranch Veggie Dip
(1) 4-pack of Tava
(2) Quaker Instant Oatmeal
(2) Boxes Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs Cookies
(3) Boxes Nutrigrain Bars
(3) Bags of Chex Mix
(2) Quaker Original Oats
(3) Bottles of Snapple Tea
(1) Disney’s Cars Sippy Cup
(2) Banquet Frozen Entrees
(6) Boxes Rice-A-Roni
(4) Bottles Propel Water
(1) Bagged Lettuce
(1) Bag Chiquita Apple Slices

I saved over $336 which is a savings of 86%. I know people say that I am crazy (heck, I even say it) for buying so many boxes of cereal, etc. However, a lot of this food is going to food bank. Like the beans and the tomatoes, and the extra cereal. This promo really gave me a rush!

The first time I did the promo at my store, Jim, Cade, and I had walked over. Then, we shopped...and I bought 40 items. Jim and I had to take turns carrying Cade home on our shoulders since the stroller was packed full of groceries!

I am sure I bore most of you with my grocery shopping escapades, but I am a serious coupon addict.

Hello, my name is Courtney and I am a couponaholic.