I heart RiteAid!

I'm still new at this drug store savings stuff, so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw my Single Check Rebate (SCR) for this month. (Okay, who am kidding, I was so excited I called Bri and my Mom. I lead an exciting life!). I'm sure people can do better, but it is amazing to me that I have been missing out all this time. The RiteAid system is so easy, and I like that you get a check back rather than 'store bucks' that you have to keep up with until you redeem them. So here's what I got this month along with the breakdown:

(Ignore some of the partially used things, I promise they were full when I got them =))


In a few different trips over the month I bought:

-Garnier Fructis Conditioner
-Crest Pro Health Toothpaste
-Zantac Cool mint tablets
-Dawn Apple Dish Soap
-Oxy Clean powder
-Pledge Fabric Sweeper
-Aussie Moist Conditioner (x2)
-Zyrtec 40 ct
-Zyrtec 30 ct
-Replenish Contact solution
-Tampax Pearls 40 ct
-Tampax Pearls 20 ct
-Total Advanced Toothpaste
-Tylenol 8Hr

Keep in mind that this is all brand name stuff, and many things are usually pretty expensive (Zantac being the biggie).

With tax, that's a total of $72.31 spent this month. But, guess how much I'm getting back as a rebate check? $50.77!!!! So, I got all that stuff for $21.54 including tax. My biggest rebate is because of the Zyrtec I bought combined with the Tylenol. Tylenol that I bought because it was free and I had a coupon, so it earned me a dollar. I didn't even realize it was part of J&J's rebate and I got $25 because I spent $50 on selected J&J products (keep in mind this is before all the coupons and SCRs which is another neat thing about Rite Aid. I didn't spend anywhere close to $50 on these three things. Rite Aid also has a Zyrtec Rewards program that I'm also earning towards, so they aren't stingy on rebates).

Rite Aid is great at pairing up Single Check Rebate items with coupons that are in the paper (they even tell you about some of them in their circular). Several of these things are free and can even earn you money if you use the coupons (toothpastes, contact solution, Tylenol and Zantac above) . All you have to do is watch the circular and look at the rebates online. Honestly there are several sites that list them weekly which makes it even easier.

Happy Shopping!!

Four Months

I can't believe it's been four months, Ethan. Honestly, I think it is still sinking in. This has been the month where my mind has forgotten you are gone for brief moments. Where my heart cringes when we rearrange the guest room because I wonder where your crib will go. Or I see some fabric and think "That will look great in Ethan's quilt". Seeing the little John Deere hat that Mimi and Pops got you that matches Daddy's hat. Reality rushes in quickly, I try not to focus on what could have been. Regardless of how things turned out, I wouldn't give up all the joy you did bring us when you were here. Oh how I miss you sweet boy!

Things that make me smile

Sometimes I have to remind myself that there are things in my life that make me happy. I just struggle with the things that aren't the way I would choose them to be (losing Ethan, moving again, being unemployed). Don't get me wrong, I know I'm blessed. I just need to sit down every once in awhile and 'choose joy'. Here are just a few of the things that make me smile:

- I have a hubby that loves me, even though I can be difficult. He knows how to make me smile for sure.


- I get to spend time with my doggies every day. Who wouldn't love spending time with these two cuties!


- These pics definitely makes me smile. I think this is the first time I truly laughed after we lost Ethan. Bri was trying to bake a cake for work (they have a birthday tradition where people bring in a cake when it's there turn) and it quickly went down hill. We salvaged it though (cutting off the crustier pieces and adding brownies).




- I have great friends and family all over the country! When days get tough I know I have people I can count on.

- Being unemployed has allowed me to test out my crafty side. Making things for other people really makes me happy!

- Learning how to 'coupon' better. Thanks to Jen, who finally made drugstore shopping make sense! I get excited (yup folks, I live an exciting life =) when I can get things for free or much cheaper.

- Seeing other people who have also had a baby born still go on to have another baby. I don't know the family personally, but have followed their story through friends and they had a baby girl yesterday. It gives me hope that one day we might have a little one on earth too!

Walking with you ~ The things people say

Walking with you was created by Kelly at Sufficient Grace Ministries as a way to support those of us who have lost a child. While I read these posts weekly, I have been observing rather than participating because many things are still too fresh for me. This week's topic was something I wanted to share in though as I think it's something that many people struggle with.

Here's the topic for this week:"... we are sharing some of the things that people said to us while we were in the throws of grief...for better or for worse. Losing a child changes a person, and along with that comes changes in our relationships with friends and relatives. In some ways, our new perspective reveals what's really important in life, and who really cares about us."

I should probably start with two disclaimers. 1) Everyone grieves differently, so what is hurtful to some may not be to others. 2) If you have said anything hurtful that I list below, don't let that discourage you from reaching out in the future. I would rather have something said to me in love that hurt than to be avoided all together.

I have been very blessed to have been supported by a wide range of people. Placed in their shoes (someone who hasn't lost a child), I can't honestly say I would be able to respond as well. I can give you a few clues into what can be offensive/hurtful:

- "You can always have other children": Whether this is true or not, the ability to have more children doesn't absolve the grief over losing our child. Children aren't interchangeable. Getting and staying pregnant isn't easy for everyone either.

- Asking "How are you?" as a social statement rather than wanting to know the answer. Grief makes people uncomfortable, but if you don't want to know the answer, don't ask the question. Know that if you do ask, you could get a reaction of tears or smiles depending on the moment. Sometimes just knowing others are truly interested is the best kind of support.


If you're like me, you don't necessarily know what to say. I can tell you a few things are are helpful to me:

- Do know it's okay to admit you don't know what to say. Even saying 'I love you', 'I'm thinking of you', or 'I'm praying for you' means a lot. Even silence is okay, knowing your intention is what is important =).

- If you want to talk about Ethan, that's okay. I think one of the things most who have lost a child so early fear is that their child will be forgotten.

- Tell me what is going on with you, even if it involves your children. Some of the best conversations I've had since we lost Ethan has been about simple, everyday things. I can't promise I won't get teary, or that I don't say things that are awkward, but knowing we can both be honest is so helpful.

There are many other things that can be said that have already been covered by others better than I could express them (particularly spiritual sentiments people will say). You can click the icon above to see Kelly's post (as well as links to others who have lost a child). I also like Molly Piper's post on this topic as well as the others in her series on grief.

Thanks for letting me think things through on the blog once again, and for all the support you've provided along the way!

Daddy's trip to Ithaca

I was fortunate enough to have my Daddy come visit me up in Ithaca. He hadn't seen Ithaca yet and I knew he was going to love it. Sitting still isn't one of his 'things' and I was all too happy to get out of the house. It was wonderful to have someone to explore the town with and just have some one-on-one time. We took a ton of pics, mostly of the scenery, so I put album links instead of all the pics. Bear with me, I'm just now figuring out Picasa =)

One of the things Ithaca is known for is all the great hiking and waterfalls. The first day, we decided to get out and see Buttermilk falls. What you see from the bottom is nothing like what you can see along the trails. We were both a little surprised at the steepness in the beginning, but it was absolutely gorgeous!



The next day we went to Taughannock state park to see the huge waterfall there. Unlike Buttermilk, you can see the whole thing when you reach the end which is pretty neat. We walked the gorge trail and it is amazing how all of it is carved out.

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Afterward, we went on the hunt to see the Amish. I have a childhood fascination with the Amish, their sense of community and forgiveness are something I admire. Though I see horse and buggy signs a lot I'd never seen any in Ithaca. Bri heard about a town where some Amish folks lived, and Daddy and I struck out! Sure enough, driving through the town were three little boys (one poking his head out the back). We kept driving, admiring the scenery when we saw a sign for fresh produce. We decided to stop and it was run by the Amish! We got some of the best cheese I have EVER had. What a neat little experience!

Dad and I also ventured to see Cornell Plantations. It amazes me that at the end of July they had so many flowers in bloom, but they did. Dad being a landscaper, we had fun walking through the garden and the arboretum.

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And, because he loves me, we went to the mall too. We went to Elmira and looked around. The malls here are much different than Georgia and Texas, but that's probably to my benefit since it means I don't spend money there =). Let's just say that the Ithaca Mall has a setup in the old Abercrombie store with tractors!

On the last day, Brian took Saturday off and we went to Cooperstown. Cooperstown is home of the Baseball Hall of Fame and also has a Farmer's museum. Lots and lots of Yankees and Red Soxs fans for sure! I mainly took pics of the Braves and Texas stuff, but I had to sneak in a pic of Babe. The farmer's museum was neat, but I think by that point we were all pretty worn out. I'd love to go again and spend a weekend there, it was a really cute little town.

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I love you Daddy! Thank you for coming to explore with me =)

Reagan's pillowcase dress

Quilting has opened up my world to a love of fabric. I have been ogling this fruit fabric at Joann's for awhile, but the print was bigger than I would use on the small quilts I've been making. I have seen pictures of little girls in pillowcase dresses lately and think they are adorable! Since I don't have a little girl right now, I decided to make one for Reagan. I was waiting to post the pictures until my Dad was able to bring the dress home (it was a surprise for my niece and sister-in-law).

Honestly, one of the things I love the most about blogs and the internet these days is that you can find free patterns for all kinds of things. I'm going to make her a few more since it was so easy to make. I've seen them worn as dresses, with jeans, and with long sleeve shirts under them so they are pretty versatile. Without further ado, here it is!!

I'll post pictures of the adventures my Dad and I had together later this week. It was nice to have my Dad here to explore Ithaca with and the weather is perfect right now. We both like to keep busy, and there are several places to hike around here. Pictures to come...