My name is Christy...

And I am a couponing addict. Yes, this was how I spent my saturday... rounding up fantastic deals and hoarding all these wonderful products!! Its the best fix since diet coke, and Im feeling good about my storage closet looking nice and fat for 2010.

But before I tell you about my phenomenal deals....I just want to mention that I saw New Moon this morning, and well, its going to be sweet sweet dreams tonight :) It was SO GOOD! Yes, Im 13 and I am considering hanging up a poster of Edward Jacob on my bedroom ceiling. HELLO! Feast your eyes:

Boy was it tough to find a picture of him with a shirt on! Oh, And the most hilarious part of seeing this movie, was the theatre FULL of housewives. Legit, forty something women, oohing and aahing, clapping, gasping, and sighing. Honestly, it was hilarious.

Ok, back to my Killer Deals!

First up: Bath and Body Works. Total Spent: $12

What I got:
3 Hand Soaps (foam pumps) = $10
Buy 3 Shower gels get 3 free = 6 for $31.50
1 travel size item = free

HOW:
I used my $5/$30 coupon
A Free travel Item coupon
And a $20 gift card from my birthday, so my total was $12 for 10 products! Not too shabby!

Next was a trip to target for baby wipes! Total Spent: $8.50

What I got:
6 tubs of sensitive wipes (64 count)
6 tubs of unscented wipes (72 count)
Thats 816 wipes for $8.50!

How:
I used the $1 off UP and Up wipes Target coupons found HERE (yes, I printed and used 12 of them! Just scroll down to the expires 12/5 list, and enter the number of coupons you want, then click generate!) Knocking each box of wipes down from either $1.66, or $1.72 to just $.66 ea for unscented and $.72 ea for sensitive. A great deal and YOU CAN DO THIS TOO!!! You can print as many of these Target coupons as you want from now until December 5th!!!

EVEN BETTER - up and up has a small pack of wipes that are on sale for just $.94, along with the flushable refill packs for toddlers - which MAKES THEM FREE AFTER THE COUPON!!!! So go stock up on your free wipes people! (Target is usually sold out of these ones though, so call ahead and see if they are in stock, or ask when the next shipment is coming in!)

Next Up: Carter and OshKosh. Total Spent: $26

What I got:

1 adorable dress

2 long sleeve fashion shirts

1 pair of jeans

2 pairs of jogging/sweat pants

1 set pjs (top and bottoms)

How?

I signed up on the mailing list a few months ago, and received a $10 gift card to each store. My mom also signed up and gave me her two cards (one to each store) so I had 4 FREE $10 cards! I went a teensy bit over my $40 limit, but I didn't mind paying a little out of pocket for the cuter jeans and dress I wanted! Not too bad for 7 pieces of clothing! Sorry these pictures are SO BAD, they are from my cell phone!

And finally the grand finale! 80 bottles of Herbal Essences shampoos, conditioners, and stylers - Total spent $11!

How????

Well first I found out through my friend that Rite Aid had a buy one get one free sale going on a few weeks ago AND herbal essences also happened to have a buy one shamp/cond get one free styler coupon out. So what I did was order up 40 coupons from ebay. (they were sold in packs of 20, so I bought one set for myself and one for my sister) I spent $6 buying 40 coupons on ebay. Then I found out that Rite Aid was sold out of products since so many people did the deal, so they wrote me a rain check, which just means they promised me a certain amount of products and ordered them up for the next shipment. They called me when the shipment was in, and I went in and this is how it works:

1. They scan a shampoo and a conditioner. Only one of them rings up, because rite aids deal is buy one get one free.

2. Then they scan a coupon from ebay (which is put out by the manufacturers of herbal essences),  and that erases the OTHER price AND gets me a FREE styler! Basically what happens is Rite Aid paid for one bottle, and the manufacturer paid for the other.

3. So when all is said and done, I bought 40 bottles of Shampoo and Conditioner, and got 40 FREE stylers - all for just the cost of TAX!!!!

So awesome! I urge you all to try a Buy One Get One free deal at Rite Aid sometime. Anytime you can find a coupon that coincides with a product featured as a buy one get one free - it will be FREE and all you'll owe is tax! (I also recommend asking if you can order up your shipment, so you dont feel like scum clearing the shelves. The great part is, you can do this deal at different locations, so if you only find 4 bottles at one store, go grab 6 from another and so on!

So there you go! I hope I have inspired you to join my addiction :) Come join us on Discount Queens and start shopping like a pro!

Small update

Just thought I would do a little update. Seriously, life has been pleasant and calm to an almost scary degree! We have been gearing up for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and it seems like time is flying by SO FAST! Gabe hung up a few strands of red Christmas lights on the house, and he can't WAIT to get the rest of them up. I fear for my life. Someone should have warned me that I married Clark Griswald.

We let Brigitte put up her own little pink tree with pink lights the other night and she can't BELIEVE its there every morning when she comes downstairs! She exclaims with glee every time she sees it, "Oh, wow! HOT! OUCH! NONONO BABY!" And then she hugs it and tries to suck her thumb on the lights.

We have been having discipline issues with her, because she is finally doing naughty things on purpose, but she's too little to really understand discipline or apologizing. She runs up to a cousin and instead of hugging them, she pushes them over. And then says very sweetly , ohhh - YOU OK?!! Any ideas?

Time outs dont seem to phase her, although that is what we do when she does something bad. For example we were at Lee Read a while ago (the quiet, clean, diamond store....) and one minute she was playing in the toy area watching tv, and the next time I look over she has SCOOPED giant handfuls of soil out of the ginormous potted tree in the corner. She was very pleased with her mess and was sitting right IN the dirt smoothing it around the carpet with her hands, while sucking her thumb on her baby with the other. I picked her up and said OH NO brigitte, yucky! NONO! We DONT play in the DIRT! And then I sat her away from the mess against the wall. She cried just a little, then put her thumb in her mouth for a second before she pulled it out, took her baby, and sternly said to it :NONONO BABY! So there you go. She has invented her very own whipping boy in the form of her "baby". No so effective. She simply passed the punishment on!

The "baby" I am referring to is any one of 4 disgusting little blankets with part of a stuffed animal attached to it. She INHALES the satin edges while she sucks her thumb. We lovingly refer to them as "Rats" because they are so gross. Brigitte cant function without one, two, or even three babies with her at all times. She likes to round them up, stuff them places, and then rescue them for her sniffing pleasure. I dont know what Im going to do when she needs to quit sucking her thumb and have them taken away. Im hoping we can burn them soon....very very soon.

The NEW baby by the way has been being very nice to me. Already I feel like maybe there is hope that this one wont cry for hours every day. We are SO EXCITED to find out what it is. We did decide to open the news on Christmas morning so that should be fun! Our Ultrasound is on Dec. 7th, so not so much waiting left. I am certain that it is another girl (heart rate always in the 160's) but a boy would be such a fantastic surprise! We do have a boy name in mind (which is miraculous, because last time we nearly divorced over it!) But no girl name options we can agree on. Suggestions??? Either way we feel so so lucky just to be this far along without any complications or drama. Ive never had such a quiet uneventful pregnancy! Its been odd to just get ONE ultrasound! All the other times we got weekly peeks at what was going on in there. Its been hard to wonder if there really IS a baby in there at all! Thank goodness I can feel it move every now and then!

I havent had any major cravings like last time. I pretty much want to eat Taco Time burritos or pizza every day but thats sort of normal for me! I just love having a baby to blame it on now. I dont have  a REAL baby bump yet (just an enlarged fat roll), so Im still stuffing myself into my normal clothes, although I look far from great. Everything is chubbier and I just FEEL really full all the time. I hate the 4-5 month stage. Its Frump city, and my beloved jeans start to be replaced by stretchy fatty pants! Oh the joys! I cant wait until its obvious that I am pregnant. I LOVE the belly stage where all vanity is lost and you don't have to care about looking ok, because nobody cares. You are just the pregnant girl.

I wish I had some pictures, but alas, the camera is broken. Maybe if I start to feel ambitious (or if I drink ANOTHER diet coke) I can muster the energy to go to costco and exchange our broken one for a new one! Which is something Id better do before we head to Arco next wednesday! I kind of dread Thanksgiving. I hate the food ( I know I know, judge me, go ahead). But Arco is always a good time. So think of me as you are out grabbing black friday deals. I will be going round and round on a four wheeler :)

Happy ThanksGiving!

Brigitte The Lion

Here is our wild animal in her costume. Better late than never :)

The Whole Scary Family

Brigitte the 'dog whisperer' . We should have just forgotten about the candy and knocked on houses with pets. She would have been THRILLED!

*On a random/depressing sidenote: Did you notice my hair is the same color as Brigittes costume? Frumpy mom syndrome I know. Dont worry, tomorrow I will be embracing my dark hair again...and saying farewell to my lion mane mullet!

I know this is random...

What are your favorite websites and why? What is bookmarked, where do you browse daily, what am I missing???? I feel like everyone is always talking about some great site they visit - and I am out of the loop! take pity on me and SHARE!

Halloween was splendid. I have no photos because they were taken on Gs work camera. So just picture Brigitte looking like herself, stuffed into a lion suit. No faux mane necessary :) She had a hoot running, and I do mean running from house to house. She stopped only to grab candy, say thank you, and maybe call over the dog or cat. People totally cracked up at her. I think it might have been her hair costume.

On a hilarious or slightly humiliating note - we got some trick or treaters this year, and a lady from my ward kindly remarked at me when I opened the door "WOW! You look good with a little weight put on you!" So there you have the baby update: I look fat. She was meaning it as a compliment (right? RIGHT?) but cmon. Thems fighting words with ANY pregnant girl. I just laughed about it. Ok, I cried inside, and then put on a sweatshirt.

Hope your halloween was great, and full of fat remarks too. If not just wait, all that candy you ate might catch up to you! (Dont make me be the only one!)

Brigitte Update

I am a TERRIBLE blog mother. I never post my cute slash educational play group pictures or even brag about my 15 month old's extensive vocabulary and motor skills! All of our time lately has been spent on being holed up in my disinfected house avoiding the swine flu and all people who might have or carry it. (If you or your dirty children fall into that category - our apologies. We still love you,

just not your germs :)

So, we havent done any major photoshoots lately (again, what kind of blogmother am I???) and Brigitte's fall/winter wardrobe makes me depressed with the ugly baby blues. She needs a big healthy trip to H&M ASAP if you ask me. But alas, here is an honest, non-shiny peek into our daily lives with our crazy girl:

What on earth is she doing you might ask? Well dont you worry - she is just crawling into the empty cupboards of the island in the kitchen. She likes to sit there and eat things she has stolen out of the pantry. Naughty things like chips (which she chokes on every time, and still - she wants to eat them!)

 I think she thinks she is hiding or something, like I cant see her. She is as wild as ever - and has the hair to prove it. Yes, that is natural, and No we dont style it that way. I have tried a number of remedies, but alas, her mischievous mullet is here to stay. I do kind of like the way Brigitte always looks as though she has just escaped a room full of staticky balloons, but that could just be a mothers love clouding my better beauty judgement....

I just cant help but be mystified at myself for giving birth to "Thing 3"

Shes a wild one. But we love her!

You want this....

I love this! Head over to Discount Queens to enter to win this 9x13 art print from BluLima. You haveprobably seen her work throughout the blogosphere - and wondered where that picture came from...well now you know!It can be shipped so dont worry if you dont live in Boise - if you win I will mail it to you! Also, blulima is offering a B1G1 free for all Discount Queens, so visit her SHOP on ETSY and pick out two prints for only $12!

Here is more of what she has available:

For Gabe

My poor husband. Seriously. Gabe, Im sorry. Your birthday was over 2 weeks ago, and here I am just barely getting around to celebrating you. Although, you must believe me- that in my heart I have been full of noble, wiferly feelings towards you this whole time, whilst anticipating  this very post.

And Sarah, if you read this, yes I copied you. But the shout out negates any wrongdoing on my part, so i consider myself absolved from any blogger sins. 


So without further ado: 33 stunning amazing possibly terrifying things about my 33 year old Hubby:

1. Gabe Beal - say it 5 times fast and tell me what YOU hear? Gotta love your name, it truly IS one of a kind.
2. When I met you and you introduced yourself all I could hear was 'farm' and 'Arco' before my brain shut off. But now - well, its gotta be the best most wholesome thing about you. I love a boy who can do manly outdoor activities in coveralls. Mostly because it means I dont have to do them!
3. It never ceases to amaze me that you can stand to brand cows and clip their horns -- but the slightest movement from a cat and you freeze in terror.
4. I've never met anyone that takes a mid-meal nap before - eat, rest, eat more. I like it.
5. I never knew that bringing a People magazine on our date to the Baseball game would fill you with so much rage. But honey, you knew I wasn't a man when you married me...
6. Thank goodness you like to travel. Even if it is to a town called Letha on a sunday night.
7. I appreciated that as a bachelor you enjoyed decorating your condo for the holidays. Very festive!
8. You had some pretty crazy boyfriends. I cant believe I ate out of the same pistachio jar as jeremy. I shudder.
9. Ive never met a person who knew such huge amounts of random sports trivia..but at the same time believed "Independency" to be a real word. Such as "I love my independency too much to get married"
10. You love football so much that I could cry. And often do...
11. I appreciate your love of good celebrity gossip.
12. Flexing. You love it. I think you think that I love it too. And other people.
13. You have never received a gift I have given you appropriately. There is no big thank you, i love it, you shouldn't have. There is a lot of I dont need this, this is gay, and why would i want that? And thus, you now know why you took yourself to Lowes and bought yourself a drill this year. You're welcome.
14. You love me even though I am a heartless, cold, unfeeling woman who hates being touched during sacrament meeting.
15. You keep Gandolfos in business, and I love that I can always bribe you with those sandwiches to take me on a lunch date!
16.  Even though you hated our honeymoon in Paris, you 'toughed it out' for me. merci
17.  Maybe my most favorite thing about you is the fact that you are not tight with money. If someone needs something, you get it for them. And when that someone is me, needing new jeans, well - you do what you have to do!
18. Im glad you like kids, especially our kid who looks and acts just like you. I think you love her more than me, which is just right!
19. I am very impressed with your teaching skills. The SS kids love you. (Clearly it is not based on your spelling)
20. Im glad you are handy with tools and can always hang a picture straight, or a huge 200 pound tv. whatever the job calls for.
21. You can stuff a crock pot on sunday like nobodies business. Even though I am always willing to cook you a frozen pizza.
22. Your calves ARE amazing. Even if Harts thighs give them a run for their money.
23. I appreciate that you care about having a Tan. Nothing makes me happier than seeing your swim trunks rolled up pool-side as high as they can go!
24. Im glad you almost married like, everyone I know. It makes for some great stories around the blog world, and who are we kidding - around my dinner table. Im glad you and my brother in law shared a common bond of being rejected by the same girl. what were the odds?
25. You take such great care of the hair you have left. As you explained to me - they are your sheep. You know them each by name.
26. Im pretty sure your favorite dessert is peach pie.
27.  Remember the time when our relationship nearly ended over "divorce chili" and the infamous cranberry sauce? Im still boycotting thanksgiving and all its evils.
28. You are weak sauce when it comes to our daughter. One peep and shes in our bed saying "hi mama, dada, baybee!" Her shoes also cost more than mine.
29. You + Mountain Dew = me ticked
30. I think it is hilarious that you will only watch certain movies during particular seasons of the year. For example, a few months ago I suggested watching "Rudy" to which you replied, "no, its not cold enough outside yet."
31. Your mother is the most hysterical woman I have ever met. You remind me of her every day when you shout out "oh my LANDS!" I still have no idea what that even means. Just a classic Beal term.
32. Thank you for teaching our daughter words like "TOUCHDOWN" and "AIRPLANE". I was going more for words like "PRETTY!" and "Shopping" but oh well.
33. You are the handsomest devil I know. And I know you agree :)

Love you,
wife + 2 kids

Gabes Life in Pictures:

You were born. Ahh cute.

You grew up feral on a farm

You learned early on to survive life in a big family (thats YOU in the dump truck)

In no time at all you had wooed the town of Arco, and some of its finest citizens. All hail the Prom King.

You served a faithful mission to the Canary Islands. (although some swear this is where you started to become 'worldy')

And when you got home, you began your marvelous 9 year stretch as the world's most eligible bachelor. Deep bromances were formed:

Quality time was spent "soul searching"

There were victories to celebrate...

Trips were taken....

And MORE trips (remember this was 9 whole years!)

Until FINALLY...you came upon the new girl at FHE and KNEW you could " maybe one day somehow kinda love her." (yes, that is an actual quote from somewhere around the 2 week mark in our relationship)

You charmed her with your awesome muscles and even more awesome fashion choices

                            

And so, after months of dedication and determination....you finally married the girl of your dreams. 

You had a dream wedding... and lived happily ever after:

For 1 year.

And then came Brigitte. And you realized that once again...you were in love.

You are thrilled to have a child that looks exactly like you.

And you have taught her some very bad habits that we are STILL trying to break...

But all in all, you are a very good Daddy. Who would do ANYTHING for his girls!

And you have the most Grateful wife EVER!

Happy Birthday Gabe

xoxoxo