I am about to turn 33. Wow...I remember when my dad turned 30, and that doesnlt even seem that long ago. I guess time really does fly when you're having fun!! Last year I posted the following list of Birthday Freebies I got.  I thought it was worth revisiting and reminding you of all the free stuff you can sign up for so you will be ready to watch the birthday freebies start rolling in as well!

Here is what I got last year:

• FREE $30 gift certificate for a Birthday dinner from Benihana
• FREE bowl of Noodles from Noodles and Co.
• 10 FREE wings from Hooters
• $10 Free Game Play at Dave and Buster's
• A FREE Creation from Cold Stone
• A FREE Drink from Caribou Coffee
• FREE birthday Burger from Ruby Tuesday
• FREE 1/3 lb Burger (or entree or equal value) from Fuddruckers
• FREE Gourmet Burger of my choice from Red Robin
• FREE Ice Cream Cone from Maggie Moo's
• FREE one scoop Sundae from Culver's
• FREE dessert at Buffalo Wild Wings
• FREE 16 oz Julius from Orange Julius
• FREE SEPHORA COLLECTION Beautiful Eyes Kit featuring: Lash Plumper Volumizing Mascara in Black, Nano Eyeliner in Silver Green, Colorful Mono Eyeshadow in Aspen Summit from Sephora
• FREE Dessert in one email and Free cookie with purchase of adult entree in another email at Fazoli's
• FREE Rooty Tooty Fresh and Fruity or menu item of equal or lesser value at IHOP
• FREE Grand Slam at Denny's
• FREE cookie at Brueggers
• FREE brownie Sundae from Chili's
• Birthday Surprise from Famous Dave's (what you get depends on the code in your email. My code is B08 and I called them and found out that is a free appetizer-excluding the sampler)
• Free Mini, 12 or 16 oz Blizzard when you buy a 16 oz Blizzard at Dairy Queen
• Free 12 oz Shake with any purchase at Arby's
• Free Appetizer with the purchase of an entree at Lone Star
• Buy one Pretzel Item, Get one Free at Auntie Anne's
• Buy on Entree, get one free at Fox & Hound
• Free Mousse cake with purchase of regular size sandwich at Gandolfo's
• Free Dessert with entree purchase at TGIFriday's
• $3 off any Ice Cream Cake from Baskin Robbins
• $10 off purchase of $20 or more at Mimi's Cafe
• In snail mail I got a coupon from Lofthouse cookies for a FREE package of any package of Lofthouse frosted cookies

This year so far I have gotten:

• A Sephora birthday surprise
• A Procter and Gamble coupon booklet
• A coupon from Chicken of the Sea
• A trip to Disney World with the family from my husband!! :)

Here are my favorite deals in Omaha grocery this week:

Hyvee

• Doritos or Ruffles 8.5-11.5 oz $1.88
• Pepsi Product 12 packs 4/$10 with in ad coupon
• RoTel Diced tomatoes 10 oz can 3/$3
• KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce 18 oz $.99 (Depending on where you live, there was a coupon in the 08-21-11 Super Saver insert for wither $.50 ot $1 off this item, making it either FREE with overage of a penny, or $.48)
• Van Camp's Pork and Beans 15 oz $.48
• Ortega Taco Shells (regular, whole grain 12 ct or tostada shells 10 ct) $1.77 (for theOrtega Products, you can Go to their Website and print out a coupon for $1/2 which makes these Ortega deals even better)
• Ortega Seasoning (taco, hot taco 1.25 oz or Guacamole 1 oz) $.88 (**Please see coupon note above)
• California Necterines $.99
• Delightful Farms Boneless Skinless Chicken 3 lb bag $5.99 (about $2/lb)
• Hy Vee Natural Chunk Cheese 16 oz $3.99
• Gushers $2.39 each, but there is an IN AD coupon for $4 off when you buy 4, so essentially you end up getting them for $1.39 each!!

In addition to their regular week long special, HyVee also has a 1 Day Sale Thursday 9/1 that includes the following:

• 80% Lean Ground Beef $1.79/lb (sold in 5 lb roll for $8.95-limit 1)
• Dole Iceberg lettuce $.69 each
• Hy Vee OJ 64 Fl Oz $.99
• Midwest Country Fare Peanut Butter 18 oz $.99
• Hy Vee Butter 16 oz $1.99
• Midwest Country Fare Laundry Detergent 45.4 fl oz $1.48 (limit 6)
• 7 Up Product 6 pack bottles .5L 6/$10 (about $1.67 each-WOW)

No Frills Fresh

• 80% lean ground beef $1.88 (any size package!)
• Armour Meatalls 14 oz $2.99

In addition to their regular week long special, No Frills also has a 4 Day Price Buster Sale Friday 9/2-Monday 9/5 that includes the following:

• Wimmer's Natural Casing Wieners $4.99
• No Frills Hot Dog or Hamburger Buns $.77
• Our Family 36 oz Ketchup $.88
• ONLY AT THE BAKER SQUARE STORE: 7Up pr Dr Pepper Products 12 packs 4/$8.88 ($2.22 each!)

Bag N Save

• Capri Suns $1.48 (with in ad coupon when you buy 4)
• Our Family Cereal 10.7-20 oz or Oatmeal 10 ct 4/$4 with in ad coupon when you buy 4
• Pepsi, Dr Pepper, 7Up, or Coke Product 12 packs 4/$10 (limit 4)
• Sweet Yellow Onions $.88/lb
• Mr Dell's 24-32 oz Hash Browns $2.19

In addition to their regular week long special, Bag N Save also has a 4 Day Sale Thursday 9/1-Sunday 9/4 that includes the following:

• Birds Eye Steamfresh Vegetables $.89
• Dole Bananas $.39/lb 

Baker's (Remember their sales are almost always WITH card)

• Kroger Value Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts or Thighs $1.79/lb
• Pepsi Soft Drinks 2 L $.86 each (when you buy 6-it is a Buy 4 get 2 deal)
• Pepsi or 7Up Products 12 packs $2.50 each (when you buy 4 in the same transaction)
• Kroger Cheese 6-8 oz shredded or chunk, or 16 ct singles $1.88
• Kroger Cottage Cheese, Sour Cream or Dip 4/$5 (Which is $1.25 each)
• Handi Foil Foilware Buy 2 get 1 free 
• Hot Wheels $.79

Aldi

• Red or Green Grapes $.79/lb
• Kirkwood Chicken Breasts 48 oz (3 lbs) $5.49 (that is $1.83/lb)
• Multi Colored Peppers $1.59/3pack
• Tomatoes on the Vine $.86/lb
• Pur Aqua Natural Sprinh Water 24, 16.9 oz bottles $2.99

Super Saver

• Bar S Jumbo Franks $.85
• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast $1.88/lb
• Gatorade 8 pack $3.97
• Mama Lupe's Soft Taco Tortillas 10 ct $.98
• Super Saver White Bread 16 oz $.98

In addition to their regular week long special, Super Saver MILLARD LOCATION also has a 4 Day "Game Zone Savings" Sale Friday 9/2-Monday 9/5 that includes the following:

• Jack's Pizza 4/$10
• Land O Lakes Dip or Sour Cream $1.28
• Cantaloupe $.78 each

Fareway

• Nabisco Snack Crackers 7-10 oz $1.77 (If you have your Smart Source insert from 08-07-11 there is a coupon for either $.75 or $1 off. You can use with this making it only $.77-$1.02)
• Cantaloupe $.99
• Plums (red or black ) $.99/lb
• Kraft Handi Snacks $.99/4pack
• Broccoli Crowns $.99/lb
• Green Peppers 3/$.99
• Pepsi Product 12 packs 4/$10 with in ad coupon
• Powerade 32 oz bottles $.50 each with in ad coupon (when you buy 10)
• All Natural Fresh Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts $1.99/lb
• Smoked Sliced Slab Bacon $2.99/lb
• Oscar Mayer Bacon 16 oz 2/$5 (limit 2)
• Farmland Hot Dogs 16 oz 2/$1 (limit 2) (ALso, if you Like Farmland Foods on Facebook, you can print a coupon for $.55/1 product...making this a free with overage deal...

***Remember that I generally just price match at Walmart as much as I can rather than go to all the stores separately! I LOVE being able to do that. You can also pricematch at Target, but I find it easier to pricematch at Walmart.

Just a reminder, I have 2 giveaways ending this week-one ending TONIGHT. They are both powered by Rafflecopter so they should be easy to enter! Check them out:

The other day I told you about how you can have Santa send a little note to your kiddos for free through Tiny Prints. Well, I just thought I would share what we got in the mail yesterday with you:



The kids were SOOO excited! Armour (my 5 year old) was running around the house yelling "I am on the GOOD list!! YESSSS!!!" I had to point out that it said to "Keep up the good work" so he would have to still work to stay there. He then said "Yeah Yeah, I know, but for now I am just happy I am there!!!"

In case you missed how to do this, here is the info again:

1. Like Tiny Prints on Facebook.

2. Click on the "Santa Cards" tab on the left and follow the instructions from there!

Have fun with this one! I sure did!

I am trying to be a better kid (or old lady as it may be). I want to do things better-have a cleaner home, write a better blog, help my kids to be the best they can be in school and sports, lose all the "baby weight" I have put on over the years...Boy am I failing.

Often my husband has said that he wants to be able to do his very best at what he is doing all the time, but with medical school, a family, and church responsibilities, he felt like he was only barely passing at everything. I know how he feels right now...Today has brought with it it's own challenges...But the big picture things are the ones I am trying to focus in on and get motivated to do...

Here are the goals I made for the next few weeks and how I am doing:

1-Get my house CLEANED UP before we go to Disney World...it is messier than ever and I have a long way to go...we DID get lots of laundry caught up, the messiest room (the girls bedroom) MOSTLY done, and the kitchen is pretty good...now on to the other billion things around here.

2-Work out and lose this weight-make it a priority-so I bought a family YMCA membership and have been going 3+ times a week. I am doing OK on this one, but it is not getting any easier to work out or to go...sigh...(I am losing some weight though)

3-Get some freezer meals made for us and for my sister in law who will have her baby in the next week...not even started

4-Get some great deals up on this blog each day...with all else going on it has not been everyday-I am sure you noticed.

5-Help my kids transition into school. Well, after day 2 where one kids barfed all over the class and another had a fight, it was uphill from there. We still have some adjusting to do, but at least my Kindergartner doesn't cry each time he gets on the bus in the morning anymore...that's somethin' right?!

6-Prepare and pack for DW-um...no, not done...

Maybe getting this all in writing and posted will make me more accountable...let's hope so because with a 5 month old on his 5th (or 6th?) ear infection and my lack of sleep, I feel unmotivated to do anything today...anyone else feeling that same lack of motivation?

My cousin, Laura shared this link on Facebook yesterday and it was far too funny to keep to myself. I have not laughed this hard in a long time! Please go read these 15 Funniest Autocorrects. There is some swearing in this (consider yourself warned). It is HILARIOUS!

Go read the 15 Funniest Autocorrects. You can thank me later!

Just a reminder, I have 2 new giveaways up. They are both powered by Rafflecopter so they should be easy to enter! Check them out:

A fantastic Carmex Picnic Pack giveaway ending on 8/31.

A wonderful NUK Trendline bottle giveaway ending on 9/5.

It has been a while since I posted about one of my favorite things, Swagbucks. So, new readers might wonder what it is. Basically it is a search engine. Why, you ask am I Searching on Swagbucks rather than somewhere else?! Well, it is because you can earn points, or "Swag bucks" which you can put toward prizes or gift cards. AND today, as with EVERY Friday, is Mega Swag Bucks day! That means more chances to earn more Swag Bucks (which will earn you gift cards or prizes faster!!)! So, make sure to use Swag Bucks for all your searching needs today! I know I will be using Swagbucks all day!

If you have not joined yet, click on my referral link here and start earning Swag Bucks with me! This is a GREAT time to join-with Mega Swag Bucks going on today!! As an FYI, I have made $170 in Amazon Gift cards so far and I have 675 Swagbucks which is enough to get a $5 Amazon Gift card and still have 225 Swag Bucks left. (450=$5 Amazon card).

If you are new to Swag Bucks, please read my explanation of Swag Bucks here. And my explanation of the changes to Swagbucks here.

So, you can get a code for a FREE Redbox movie tonight! You just need to go Like Redbox on Facebook. Then click on the "America's Movie Night" Tab on the Left. The follow the instructions to get the code for a free movie (must be used today)!

Thanks to one of my FAVORITE bloggers Counponing to Disney for alerting me to this fine freebie!!

Wow-Am I really a "Real HouseMom of Douglas County"? It appears I am...I am just not totally sure what that really means...I do think it means that after the first round of competition/games on Saturday I will need to have you all go on and vote for me...if I compete...here is my issue:
I AM a real HouseMom, and as it turns out, I have 3 kids currently playing sports, and guess what? 2 of them have conflicting games at 9:30 am. So, even with Wes off work, I am not sure how we work this and have me competing from 10-noon across town...sigh...

I am sure if I do compete though you it will be hilarious to watch me try to do the things they are having the HouseMoms do. The Village Pointe website says:

The Real HouseMoms of Douglas County is a fun, fresh contest for all moms to enter! Women from around the city will compete in selected areas such as:
- Grocery Shopping/Meal Planning
- Scheduling
- Carpooling
- School Lunch-Making
- Laundry
- Youth Sports Knowledge

Um...Laundry, really-wow-I hope they don't stop by the house and see the 8 clean, dry, unfolded loads in my living room (actually I folded one this morning so we are down to 7 now...)

I am sure this will be fun, but seriously, based on these categories, I am doubting my ability to win this thing...

This message brought to you by the random thoughts of Beckee...