I got a few great deals this week. First stop was King Soopers to get salads and candy bars. I know there is irony between the combination of greens and chocolate.I can’t turn down all of the stuff for just $0.72! And I can totally justify 180 calories in a candy bar if I have a salad for lunch beforehand.

When the weekly ads changed on Wednesday there was a great pasta and beverage deal. I got 20 boxes of pasta and 20 drinks for a grand total of $3.09.

I went to Target this morning because Connect Four was on sale for $7. I had a $4 off coupon from Hasbro games and stacked it with a $3 off coupon from Target. Total cost for two: $0.64. I will hang on to these to donate at a Christmas toy drive. Update: I went back with 2 more sets of coupons that I printed from Bob’s computer. I found 2 boxes with a Dominos pizza coupon inside for a free medium pizza! This means a game and pizza for $0.32 total! I can’t open the game to get the coupon out since I am donating all of them, but it is still a great deal if you’re keeping it!

I also couldn’t be prouder of my friend Jen! She used to get excited about saving 40% on her grocery bill and has now gotten a bill for 99% off. It is amazing what a little time clipping coupons can do.

We took the pups to Westminster Open Space this evening to romp around and socialize with other dogs. The open space is over 400 acres that is available for dogs to run around off-leash. It is by far the biggest dog-friendly park we have been in. There was a small stream running through it and also a nice pond for swimming.

It just so happens that we got a few inches of snow 2 days ago, and it all melted today. Holy mud, Batman! The dogs loved it. Me, not so much. My shoes kept getting stuck and I nearly lost them in the mud a few times. Bob came prepared with boots, but he couldn’t get away all neat and tidy either.

Coda had a great time playing fetch as he normally does. We are still trying to teach Wellesley how to fetch. He understands how to get the ball, but he would rather parade around with it and show off how proud he is to have it instead of bringing it back. Coda gets frustrated and follows him around waiting for Wellesley to drop the ball. A few times Bob had to throw a snowball to trick Wellesley into dropping the tennis ball for Coda.

After a while fetching and swimming it was time to go home. Bob was on clean-up duty and had to wipe the dogs down first.

I was outside enjoying the 59 degree weather while washing Bob’s car today when I realized spring has sprung. I planted a bunch of flower bulbs in the fall hoping I’d get a few to pop up this spring, despite the dirt in Colorado being like sand.

Imagine my surprise when I saw daffodils starting to pop through!

And hyacinths

And Tulips

How is the weather in upstate New York?

Today is my mom’s 50th 35th birthday. I didn’t get to fly home to see her today, but I wanted to make her proud. She has taught me to buy things on clearance. As a kid, I would be told to clip coupons during my summer breaks, and we’d drive to Auburn, NY to go to the Wegman’s that doubled coupons to get a bigger savings.

I have been clipping coupons for almost 2 years now and call my mom to tell her about great deals. Today was no exception! Happy birthday mom, I spent TWO CENTS on all of this stuff.

I have proof. A SAVINGS of 103%! Darn taxes forced me to pay two cents. Oh well, I’ll take it! The sad thing is I never pay for anything with cash these days, and it was weird looking in the bottom of my purse for two lousy pennies.

Happy birthday mom! xo

I got home from work and found this mess that Paco created. He knocked his food bin off the shelf and had a feast. Notice how one piece made it into his food bowl?

I cleaned up most of it then called in the big guns. They were very happy to help!