Just wanted to add a quick update to my previous coupon post -- Kroger this week is running their $5.00 off 5 items (select varieties of products) and I couldn't help but try to snag a few deals.

Retail Price $24.31

$5.00 off 5
Sale Savings $3.76

Coupons $5.45

Paid $10.10

My 5 Items

1 - Cascade Powder or Gel

Select Varieties, 75 oz or Action Pacs, 14-20 ct $3.99 EA.

Additional Coupons:

Save $0.50 on Cascade
when you buy any ONE Cascade ActionPacs kroger.com (download the Kroger app, search for Cascade coupons, load directly to your Kroger card)

$.45/1 Cascade Product coupons.com

2- Tide Laundry Detergent

Select Varieties, Liquid, 50 oz $5.99 EA.

Additional Coupons:
Save $1.50 on Tide
when you buy any ONE Tide Detergent kroger.com (download the Kroger app, search for Tide coupons, load directly to your Kroger card)

3- Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste

Select Varieties, 5.8-6 oz, Pro-Health Mouthwash, 500 ml or Oral-B Toothbrush $2.99 EA.

Additional Coupons:

Save $0.75 on Crest kroger.com(download the Kroger app, search for Crest coupons, load directly to your Kroger card)

$.50/1 Crest Pro-Health (coupons.com - no longer avail) 

4&5- Gillette or Secret Deodorant (I bought one of each)

Old Spice, Select Varieties, 2.6-6 oz $3.79 EA. 

Additional Coupons:

$1.00/1 Gillette Anti-perspirant/Deodorant or Body Wash (coupons.com – no longer avail)

$.75/1 Secret Outlast or Scent Expressions (coupons.com – no longer avail)

Sincerely,

Chardonnay

Crazy for Coupons

What does one do with two weeks off of work once the hustle and bustle of the Christmas holiday is over? Glad you asked, and I’m sure this is not the answer you expected – COUPON. It’s amazing what you can do with a bit of free time. The prelude to my couponing actually starts with a lazy day on the couching watching TLC marathons. After one episode of ‘Extreme Couponing’ I was hooked. A couple hours of internet research later, I stumbled upon this amazing site Krazy Coupon Lady. These ladies do all the work for you – from searching the ads for the best deals to providing you links to coupons and more. Their beginner guide for couponers was a fantastic read Beginner Guide.

Now just to calm all of you who might think I have lost my mind… am I intending to become a self-proclaimed penny pincher? NO. Will I still pay full retail price for nearly everything in my closet? YES. I’m just looking to save a few $$$ here and there on stuff I would buy anyway. (It’s also scarily addicting, a tad exhilarating and even a bit FUN). I’ve included my first attempt at couponing below and a few ‘highlights’ that I’m proud of.

Two trips to Walmart and one trip to Food Lion later, here is the fruit of my shopping… 

Walmart

Retail price $94.44

Coupons $33.50

Paid $60.94

Highlights

Maybelline New York Great Lash BIG Mascara

Retail $4.44

Coupon $2.00 coupon link (coupons.com)

Paid $2.44

Ajax Laundry Detergent (39 loads)

Retail $2.50

Coupon $1.00 coupon link (smartsource.com)

Paid $1.50

*We got two of these which means we can wash 60+ loads of laundry for $3.00!!! 

Dial for Men Body Wash 

Retail $3.97

Coupon $2.00 coupon link (coupons.com)

Paid $1.97

Yes To Facial Towelettes  (face wash / make up remover wipes)

Retail $5.97

Coupon $3.00 coupon link (yestocarrots.com)

Paid $2.97 

Food Lion

Pompeian Olive Oil (16oz)

Retail price $12.98

BOGO + Coupons $7.49 coupon link (pompeian.com)

Paid $5.48 

And finally... a couple things I learned

• Don’t buy things you don’t use – there is also a show on TLC for hoarders
• The best deal is to use a coupon for something already on sale – I recommend scouring local grocery store ads for good deals or items you need and then searching the web for coupons you can use (olive oil example)
• Sign up at coupons.com
• Many coupons only let you use one per transaction (hence me enlisting the help of my boyfriend and multiple trips to Walmart)
• Walmart is one of the stores that apply additional savings to your entire transaction or allow you to receive cash back for coupons (ie. $3.00 product, $3.25 coupon, either .25 off your transaction or cash back) – I haven’t found a “moneymaker” yet but I am on the hunt!

Give credit where credit is due:

http://thekrazycouponlady.com/

http://www.coupons.com/

Sincerely,

Chardonnay

P.S. What's in my glass...

I usually don’t care for Chardonnay with a screw off top– personal preference but I love to hear the “pop” when you open a nice corked bottle. However, this particular bottle happened to have a pair of flip flops printed on its screw off top and with a sale price tag of $5.00, I couldn’t resist. This flipflop California Chardonnay was yummy, I love $5.00 finds. Pretty dry, not too fruity – was delicious with sharp cheddar and crackers!

Cleanin' out my closet (sans Eminem)

The motivation behind my decision to change life (my closet) as I know it is that I hope someday in the not too distant future I will be forced to share my closet with a member of the opposite sex. This member of the opposite sex happens to be my wonderful boyfriend however I still stand by using the word ‘forced’. I would prefer he move in and use the perfectly fine closet in the guest bedroom. Apparently it doesn’t work that way and you are supposed to share everything, including the master closet. This of course was news to me as I grew up as an only child and never had to share anything.

The predicament I was in was that I designed my master closet when I renovated my condo. The design carefully took into consideration the exact number of shoes and Louis Vuitton bags I owned plus those I intended to purchase in the foreseeable future. Also carefully crafted into the plan was hanging space for my collection of dresses and plenty of room for my sweaters and t-shirts. No shelves to spare for my jeans and sweatshirts either. What I did not include in the design was sharing all the space 50/50 with someone ELSE. The first lesson I learned was that 50/50 was never going to happen, so I set the bar high and my goal was 70/30. Relationships after all are about compromise right?

Below is how I got from before to after and what I am claiming to be 70/30 real estate.

I did my best to compartmentalize my life (my closet) because let’s face it – there are days that I need to channel my inner rock star and this requires knowing right where my blinged out jeans and skull t-shirts are. For those of you who don’t know me that well… this is not a joke. Yes I own multiple pairs of jeans with ‘bling’ on the butt and more than one t-shirt with skulls on it (perhaps even one with skulls and bling, whoa).

In another compartment went all my work stuff. This was because not every day do I want to be dressing like an IT Auditor. Ok to be honest, I hope I never actually dress like an IT Auditor and if I do please stop me. You get the point though – there needs to be a compartment for black express pants and cardigans (slight gag). Joining the real world was an awakening and I too had to break and add the dreaded cardigan to my wardrobe. I realize it is perfectly normal (and looks great) to wear cardigans while not at work, but that is just not me. My non work sweaters have a bit more spunk to them than three quarter sleeves and six identical buttons.

Here are the sanity check questions I asked myself for every piece of clothing:

·         When was the last time I wore this? If it didn’t make it in the wardrobe rotation this time last season, good-bye (tear)!

        Is it from a store I still shop at? This was a tough question, but I forced myself to seriously consider items from stores I no longer shop at (American Eagle, A&F, etc). They only made the cut if they were super cute and timeless (which most items did not fit this description and were super trendy… goodbye!).

        Does it still fit? This was also a tough question, every item in my closet still ‘fit’ but as I’ve gotten older (and I can’t believe I’m saying this) I like my pants a little higher, a little looser and my shirts a little longer. Those items that didn’t fall into those fits were gonners, goodbye!

Would I buy it again? These items were definite keeps, I have this black puffy North Face vest that I’m in love with. I bought it years ago and would buy it again every season if it wore out. No one could convince me to part with it.

Yes, No, Maybe-SO? The Yes pile obviously went back into the closet. I didn't feel like a reasonable decision maker about the Maybe-SO pile so I've set it aside for a second opinion.

 The no pile- the out of style, slightly worn, I can’t believe I own this items went into a pile for Goodwill. The other items were split up between the following:

Poshmark: This is an amazing site (and App) that allows you to create a ‘closet’ to sell your gently used items. The App  makes it super simple to post pictures and prices and even shop in other people’s closets. There is a flat shipping fee the buyer pays and you print a shipping label straight from your email and send the package. Poshmark handles the transaction piece to it and you pay a 20% cut for the service.

https://poshmark.com/

thredUP: This site (and App) is awesome because you don’t have to wait for your items to sell. You order a Clean Out bag, fill it up with clothes, send it back to thredUP  with free shipping and they give you $$ for items they want to purchase. They then in turn sell the items on their site so you can get great deals on other people’s stuff too. You get up to 40% of the resale value in cash.

http://www.thredup.com/

And because there was no way I was going to get rid of 30% of the stuff I owned (and still liked but rarely even wear)…. I took one for the team and put stuff in the guest bedroom closet!

Sincerely,

Chardonnay

What’s in my glass…

Why Chardonnay? Because no woman should ever attempt to clean out her closet without a glass, or two of wine! I uncorked my first bottle of Chardonnay from Moldova tonight and it was amazing. This bottle is definitely up there near the top of my $20 and under list. I picked up this Chateau Vartely on one of my ‘grab a bunch of bottles with anything labeled Chardonnay under $20’ trips to Corks and Kegs. Now if only I had a cheese plate to go with it…

A Heartfelt Thanks

I have participated in numerous walks and 10ks for a variety of causes. I have donated and contributed to a list of charities and organizations. This time though, it was different. I was not walking just for a cause, I was walking for me. I was walking for my family who has directly experienced the pain and loss this disease inflicts. I personally know the roller coaster of emotions that comes with a PKD diagnosis - the extremes of fear and hope itself. This time it was different - it was about as real as it gets. 

To each of you who have joined me on this journey through reading my blog, thoughts, prayers and donations, thank you. I have said thanks many times over for contributions for other things, but this time it is different. Thank you this time comes from the bottom of my heart. My story began with a man who lost his battle to PKD years before we would have even met. It is through opportunities like this to raise money for the PKD Foundation, that I am giving myself a chance to write the rest of my story, and my children's stories. 

To the people who stood by me and walked with me, my thank you is simple, I love you.

Sincerely,

Chardonnay

What's in my glass...

An emotional glass of delicious Chardonnay, Mars & Venus. A yummy cheap bottle I picked up the other day from Corks and Kegs. Cheers!

Fix #2

STITCH FIX

For those of you who missed my first social media blast about my latest addiction, you haven't completely missed out-- this blog post is just for you. I would be a bad friend, daughter, facebook friend and blogger if I did not share this with you. All you need to know is two words: Stitch Fix.

Soo what is the hype all about? What is Stitch Fix? Stitch Fix is a personal styling service where you can tell them what styles you like and what your budget is. They then package up a present of 5 items and send it to your door. The items are hand picked for you and you keep what you like and send back what  you don't.

 To sum it up, let's call it ballin' on a budget. It is a way that us ordinary people, for just one moment, can feel rich, famous and fabulous. It's having a personal stylist on speed dial (not quite, but pretty close). I'm going to show you the clothes first, let the excitement build, and then show you how it works :)

Below are the contents of Fix #2, and yes-- I kept them all!

Two adorable sweaters, just in time for fall....

• The striped one is a unique burnout "cheese cloth" type of fabric, perfect for the warm fall weather we have in Virgina-- I absolutely loved it right out of the box, and even more once I put it on. Can't wait to pair it with a pair of black skinnies and boots.
• The other is a preppy elbow patch look-- preppy not usually in my wardrobe but I think I can add a "rockstar" flair to this with some blinged jeans so I kept it.

A polka dot chambray button down and a gray pair of skinnies...

• Again, not usually for the preppy look but I kept the chambray shirt because I WANT this to be my style.
• When I schedule my fix, I asked for a pair of grey skinnies- you ask and you shall receive.

A dark green riding blazer lined with polka dot silk 

• I also had requested a blazer in this Fix, when I first pulled it out I was a little disappointed-- the picture doesn't do it justice. I absolutely loved this once I tried it on and can't wait to wear it with leggings and boots. 

One of the best parts-- a style card comes with each item telling you how to wear the outfit and a picture of how to "dress it up" or "dress it down"... can they make it any easier?

Alright so here is what you need to know-- the "how it works"...

1. Sign up and complete a style profile (styles you love, styles you hate, colors you won't wear, how you like your clothes to fit, do you have pierced ears, what you want to start incorporating into your wardrobe, and how much you spend on various pieces of clothing, you can also link your style profile to a Pinterest board-- in my first Fix I received a bracelet I had totally pinned on Pinterest, whoa)
2. Pick a date (select when you want your first Fix to come, they send you a box filled with 5 items, the styling fee is $20, if you keep anything the styling fee gets applied as credit to whatever you buy)
3. Package arrives (warning-- you might fee like a kid on Christmas morning, you try everything on and decide what you want to keep and what you don't, *I have not sent an item back to date, shipping and return shipping is all free)
4. Finalize your Fix (login to your account and finalize what you are keeping, if you keep all 5 items you get 25% off, make notes in your style profile for the things they sent that you loved and what you didn't and why)
5. Schedule your next Fix

Another amazing thing they do is give you $25 in referral credit for every friend that signs up, I encourage you to do it and tell your friends!

Stitch Fix - Sign Up!

Check out all of these other reviews where people share what they got in their Fixs-- you know its good when all these people (including myself) are sharing the good news, without being compensated in any way by Stitch Fix.

Stitch Fix Reviews

Sincerely,

Chardonnay

What's in my glass...

Tonight's glass is a classic under $10 bottle- Excelsior Chardonnay from South Africa. My favorite thing about this glass is that it was poured at a lovely chilled 54 degrees thanks to my new wine fridge, ohh the little things in life. 

twenty five

I spent my early twenties celebrating my birthdays in typical bar star fashion. My 21st birthday was a trip Vegas with two of my very best friends. It felt like a right of passage and I spent the birthdays to follow celebrating in similar style. I've now officially crossed into my mid twenties and the shots of tequila are fewer and far between. In fact it near makes me cringe thinking about the days where I would refuse to take them with salt and lime-- and would force the people with me to also partake in putting their big girl panties on and throwing back straight shots of the awful stuff. I spent my early twenties feeling a tad hard core and frequently channeled my inner "rock star".

I like to think as I enter my mid twenties I'm still a bit hard core, just hard core in an entirely different way. At 25, I've spent years being driven. I made it through college, grad school, a CPA certification and landed a great "big girl job". At 25, I've owned my independence. Last year I purchased my first home, 12 hours away from "home". At 25, I'd now like to set the cruise control and bask in life a bit. It's time to focus a little less on "achieving" and "doing" and focus a little more on just "being".

Below is a perfect example of what 25 looks like. My birthday dinner this year consisted of staying home and cooking; pineapple turkey burgers with pepperjack cheese, homemade mac & cheese, easy bruschetta from my Brilliant Eats Kidney Cookbook and a pear cider to top it all off.

25 feels like a milestone -- possibly the bridge between young immature early twenties and real adulthood. 25 feels tiring -- reflecting on 25 years of life; man I've done, felt and seen a lot. I've traveled to amazing places around the world, I've made amazing lifelong friends, I've loved, I've lost, I have hurt and been hurt. 25 feels satisfying -- I've made it this far, great memories, a few regrets and baggage in tow, and I'm ready for the road ahead.

Cheers to 25 years!

Sincerely,
Chardonnay

What's in my glass...

Stepping away from the wine for a glass of Blue Bee Apple Cider. Now this isn't really me being adventurous-- it definitely tastes more like a sparkling glass of wine. Blue Bee Cider is Virginia's first 'urban cidery' and is located in the heart of downtown Richmond's Old Manchester District. This new Richmond business was featured in the Richmond magazine several months back and after hosting a work event here, I am totally hooked. This particular cider is 'Argon 1904', check out the link if you want a glass too --> Blue Bee Cider. Cheers!

(Heart)Breaking News: FDA Responds to Tolvaptan New Drug Application

Waiting for me in my inbox the other night was this email from the PKD Foundation...

It's hard for me to put into words at the moment how I felt reading this email. For tonight I'll keep it short and sweet. To put it simply, I'm reminded of the Addison Road song- Hope Now.

"Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow"

Everything. Rides. On. Hope. Now.

This is by no means the FDA’s final decision on drugs for PKD. For now, this is just part of the process, not the end.  I find peace tonight in knowing that of the 157 written testimonies that they read and considered, one of those was mine. I may have a disease that will be a burden and a struggle and a fight, but I am sure going to make it count.

Sincerely,

Chardonnay

What’s in my glass…

An interesting twist on your typical white wine, a bit sassy ;). A delicious, light and sweet white I picked up at a liquor store the other day in good ole Bowling Green, KY.