Well...we've been here for a while now, you could say. (Curtis has been here almost 6 months already...I've been here almost 5.) In that time, we've lived in 3 different places. We made our last move into our own place in September into an apartment in Ahwatukee.
Since then, we've battled many, many problems in our apartment. (Unclean, not move-in-ready...flooded apartment...all in the first 1 1/2 weeks!) So, it feels good to say that after everything that's happened...we are finally getting settled in! :)
We've painted an accent wall or two in the main rooms...living room has yellow :) (my fave)...bedroom has green...guest room has bronco blue! We've established enough in cooking utensils and things to survive (although I truly miss our things we left behind). We've started hanging things on walls. And the entertainment center setup is SAAA-WEET! It's finally starting to feel cozy!
We're starting to get into a routine w/ work and softball and soccer and everything else! It's nice!
And the weather is finally decent! 70's during the day, 40's or 50's at night! It feels so good outside now! (Although I really miss the seasons...missing the leaves changing colors and falling off the trees...snow...I miss the snow already!) :)
Arizona is finally starting to seem alright. :)
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
"Couponing"
It has been soooo long since I've blogged! I've decided I need to get back on it!
Now that Curtis and I are experiencing a new adventure in life, we've had to make some changes. We both went from full-time jobs (mine w/ benefits), to part-time work and no benefits...we've added to our monthly expenditures (starting a business isn't easy)...and life as we knew it in Boise (being financially comfortable), no longer exists. So, I've decided to try "couponing." No...not crazy, extreme couponing! (I watched that show and I don't think I could be that hard core.) But, I figure, if you don't have to pay full price, you shouldn't. And, it never hurts to save a few bucks here and there. In my mindset, every little bit counts! :)
I'm following a few couponing blogs that are supposed to help you find the good deals...and the great deals...and it tells you what coupon insert the coupon was in and when. They also say that realistically, saving 90-95% isn't normal. You have to be EXTREME to do that! They encourage stocking up when the prices are good (not wiping out the store). Then you have supply/storage until the next cycle of good deals comes along (typically every 3-4 months). And, the church encourages food storage in case of an emergency or life change. So, why not?!
I've made some rookie mistakes w/ my first few trips, but still feel I did alright compared to our normal grocery bills. You tell me if it was worth it. :) (Keep in mind, my totals also include the 9+% sales tax for AZ.)
My first and BEST find was ONLINE! I was able to get (7) 9.1 lb boxes of Arm & Hammer w/ Oxi-Clean Laundry detergent for $15.39!! I was able to get free shipping too! This made the detergent $2/ea (plus tax)! Original price: $8.99/ea! I basically got 7 for the price of 2!! Total savings of $53.20!!! That's 78% savings! And I won't have to buy laundry detergent for a long time! (Why 7 you ask? Because that was the maximum weight they could ship in one order, otherwise I probably would have gotten more and shared the wealth!) ;)
Albertson's: (This was my first couponing trip at a store)
Original total: $123.93
After coupons/savings: $57.73
Amount saved: $66.20
Total savings: 53%
*Here's where I made my rookie mistake: The chicken
was Buy 1, Get 2 free (limit 2 per transaction). I picked
out 3, $9 packages; then 3, $6 packages. They don't separate them like I did in my head.
They charge you for the 2 highest priced ones, and the other 4 were free! So, I paid for 2
of the $9 packages and got the rest free, instead of paying for one $9 package and one $6
package, like I thought I was!
Best deals: 1 gal milk $1.57; Chicken came out to about $2.01/lb (instead of $4.99/lb);
Hamburger Helper $0.99/ea.; Cereal $1.49/ea.; Betty Crocker Cake Mix &
Frosting $0.69/ea.; Pillsbury Cookie Dough $1.49/ea
Fry's (like a Fred Meyer): Original total: $155.88
After coupons/savings: $97.44
Amount saved: $58.44
Total savings: 38%
Dr Pepper Ten 2L - FREE (both of
them)!; Schick Extreme 3 Razors Buy 1, Get 1 free + $2 off coupon =
$2.16/pack 4 (normally $6.33/pack 4 - I bought 16 razors for less than you
can buy 1 Gillette ProGlide razor or Venus Embrace!); Eggs Buy 1, Get 1
free; Shredded Cheese 8oz $1.79
My FAVORITE save: Large DiGiornio Pizza & Breadsticks Combo for
$3.99 (usually $8.49)!! YUM!
Safeway: Original total: $31.51
After coupons/savings: $19.02
Amount saved: $12.49
Total savings: 40%
The soda was Buy 1, Get 1 free, came out to $0.25/can!!!
Safeway: Original total: $49.00
After coupons/savings: $22.10
Amount saved: $26.90
Total savings: 55%
Welch's Juice $1.99 (normally $3.49); V8 Juice $1.99
(normally $4.29); Powerade $0.59 (normally $1.49); Lay's
Potato Chips $1.99 (normally $4.29)
I took pics to give you an idea of how much I got for the price. I didn't think about taking them until after I had frozen things and of course, we've eaten some of it. So, not everything is pictured. Most of the Fry's shopping trip is refrigerated or frozen goods, so I only pictured my non-perishable awesome finds (there was a lot more before I put it all away)! :)
And so goes my adventures in couponing! I hope to get better as I go.
Does anybody else coupon? Let me know!!!
Now that Curtis and I are experiencing a new adventure in life, we've had to make some changes. We both went from full-time jobs (mine w/ benefits), to part-time work and no benefits...we've added to our monthly expenditures (starting a business isn't easy)...and life as we knew it in Boise (being financially comfortable), no longer exists. So, I've decided to try "couponing." No...not crazy, extreme couponing! (I watched that show and I don't think I could be that hard core.) But, I figure, if you don't have to pay full price, you shouldn't. And, it never hurts to save a few bucks here and there. In my mindset, every little bit counts! :)
I'm following a few couponing blogs that are supposed to help you find the good deals...and the great deals...and it tells you what coupon insert the coupon was in and when. They also say that realistically, saving 90-95% isn't normal. You have to be EXTREME to do that! They encourage stocking up when the prices are good (not wiping out the store). Then you have supply/storage until the next cycle of good deals comes along (typically every 3-4 months). And, the church encourages food storage in case of an emergency or life change. So, why not?!
I've made some rookie mistakes w/ my first few trips, but still feel I did alright compared to our normal grocery bills. You tell me if it was worth it. :) (Keep in mind, my totals also include the 9+% sales tax for AZ.)
My first and BEST find was ONLINE! I was able to get (7) 9.1 lb boxes of Arm & Hammer w/ Oxi-Clean Laundry detergent for $15.39!! I was able to get free shipping too! This made the detergent $2/ea (plus tax)! Original price: $8.99/ea! I basically got 7 for the price of 2!! Total savings of $53.20!!! That's 78% savings! And I won't have to buy laundry detergent for a long time! (Why 7 you ask? Because that was the maximum weight they could ship in one order, otherwise I probably would have gotten more and shared the wealth!) ;)
 |
| Minus the 10 lbs of chicken and some cinnamon rolls |
Albertson's: (This was my first couponing trip at a store)
Original total: $123.93
After coupons/savings: $57.73
Amount saved: $66.20
Total savings: 53%
*Here's where I made my rookie mistake: The chicken
was Buy 1, Get 2 free (limit 2 per transaction). I picked
out 3, $9 packages; then 3, $6 packages. They don't separate them like I did in my head.
They charge you for the 2 highest priced ones, and the other 4 were free! So, I paid for 2
of the $9 packages and got the rest free, instead of paying for one $9 package and one $6
package, like I thought I was!
Best deals: 1 gal milk $1.57; Chicken came out to about $2.01/lb (instead of $4.99/lb);
Hamburger Helper $0.99/ea.; Cereal $1.49/ea.; Betty Crocker Cake Mix &
Frosting $0.69/ea.; Pillsbury Cookie Dough $1.49/ea
Fry's (like a Fred Meyer): Original total: $155.88
After coupons/savings: $97.44
Amount saved: $58.44
Total savings: 38%
Dr Pepper Ten 2L - FREE (both of
them)!; Schick Extreme 3 Razors Buy 1, Get 1 free + $2 off coupon =
$2.16/pack 4 (normally $6.33/pack 4 - I bought 16 razors for less than you
can buy 1 Gillette ProGlide razor or Venus Embrace!); Eggs Buy 1, Get 1
free; Shredded Cheese 8oz $1.79
My FAVORITE save: Large DiGiornio Pizza & Breadsticks Combo for
$3.99 (usually $8.49)!! YUM!
Safeway: Original total: $31.51
After coupons/savings: $19.02
Amount saved: $12.49
Total savings: 40%
The soda was Buy 1, Get 1 free, came out to $0.25/can!!!
Safeway: Original total: $49.00After coupons/savings: $22.10
Amount saved: $26.90
Total savings: 55%
Welch's Juice $1.99 (normally $3.49); V8 Juice $1.99
(normally $4.29); Powerade $0.59 (normally $1.49); Lay's
Potato Chips $1.99 (normally $4.29)
I took pics to give you an idea of how much I got for the price. I didn't think about taking them until after I had frozen things and of course, we've eaten some of it. So, not everything is pictured. Most of the Fry's shopping trip is refrigerated or frozen goods, so I only pictured my non-perishable awesome finds (there was a lot more before I put it all away)! :)
And so goes my adventures in couponing! I hope to get better as I go.
Does anybody else coupon? Let me know!!!
Monday, July 18, 2011
A Day at the Lake
 |
| Curtis and Jason |
 |
| Curtis Wakeboarding |
 |
| Emily and Steph |
 |
| Jason Getting Ready to Skurf |
We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends here to help us out and get us acquainted with Arizona! (And to invite us out for some fun!) :) Emily and Jason invited us to go to the lake on Saturday with Mark (the dentist Emily used to work for here). So, we were up and out the door at 4:30 (yes...that's A.M.) to go hit the water!
 |
| Curtis, Jason (in water), and Emily |
We met up with Mark, and his friend, Curtis, at Mark's house, then jumped in the Sequoia and headed out. Curtis and I have only wakeboarded a couple times each and it has been a while. But, we both got up on the first try and did alright. Hopefully we'll get many more chances to hit the lake and get better!
 |
| Mark Skurfing |
Em and I soaked up some rays, while getting to enjoy the vast array of music from "DJ Marky Mark's" playlist. And we occasionally jumped in the lake to cool off from the Arizona heat. All in all, it was an awesome day! We were totally worn out when we were done, but we had so much fun!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Kiesig Fam Reunion
Before my big move to Arizona, I got to spend my last week hanging out at the Kiesig Fam Reunion! We were supposed to go to Yellowstone and have a big extended family event, but we planned a little too late and there were no available campsites or cabins. So, my dad and his siblings decided to still get together and have a "mini reunion" in Twin Falls & Boise.
We went hiking to Balanced Rock in the morning. Then spent a couple hours on the Hagerman River on a pontoon boat for lunch. The lunch was made by a nationally famous chef that cooks for the Snake River Grill in Hagerman - it was delish!!! After that, everyone went back to dad's house for naps and to relax. Then we BBQ'd at dad's house...trout...sloppy joes...hot dogs...potato salad...deviled eggs...rolls...and more. Then strawberry shortcake for dessert! It was an amazing meal!
 |
| Cassi Making Strawberry Shortcake at Papa's House |
We went hiking to Balanced Rock in the morning. Then spent a couple hours on the Hagerman River on a pontoon boat for lunch. The lunch was made by a nationally famous chef that cooks for the Snake River Grill in Hagerman - it was delish!!! After that, everyone went back to dad's house for naps and to relax. Then we BBQ'd at dad's house...trout...sloppy joes...hot dogs...potato salad...deviled eggs...rolls...and more. Then strawberry shortcake for dessert! It was an amazing meal!
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| Scotty, Delany, Vicky, & Dad |
 |
| Lexi & Steph at Balanced Rock |
 |
| Ken & Jeni |
 |
My Favorite Tree at 1,000 Springs |
 |
| Watermill at 1,000 Springs |
 |
| 1,000 Springs Boat Tour (Lexi, Vicky, Ken, Jeni, & G'ma) |
 |
| The Capitol (Delany, Scotty, Ken, Vicky, Jeni, Dad) |
 |
Go Broncos! |
Some people stayed in Twin and went to Shoshone Falls the next day...some people headed back to Boise to relax. Then, everybody met up in Boise to hang out for the 4th of July. We went to the parade downtown. Then headed over to the capitol to be tourists. While we were there, we only felt it necessary to write "Go Broncos" in the seats (as you can see above). We also wrote "Go Orange, Go Big Blue." Now they have something to look forward to, they next time they meet. Then we headed back to Scotty's farm and played lasso golf...ate...played a cornhole tournament...ate...drove remote control cars...did I mention that we ate?! Scotty BBQ'd for all of us and we had burgers & brawts & pulled pork...watermelon...cantelope...potato salad...and key lime & graham ice cream sandwiches. After a while, everybody that wanted to go, got ready and headed down to Ann Morrison for the fireworks. They weren't very long, but they were good! I love fireworks!!! The 4th of July is one my favorite holidays!!! Everyboday camped out under the stars the night of the 4th. We had a campfire and roasted smores. Then we woke up to a yummy dutch oven breakfast! Then everybody had to head back home.
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Jeni, Scotty, Ken, & Vicky playing Cornhole |
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| Dad & G'ma watching Cornhole |
I had such a good time hanging out w/ my aunt's & uncle's, dad & Jeni, and Lexi!!! (And Tiffer & the kids when we were in Twin!) Loved that we still did the "mini-reunion" before I headed off on my new adventure!
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