A brief recap and then on to the deal blogging!

So I’m back after a great AM of shopping with my two new bffs from the Daily Journal , Ryan and Scott.  It was a super duper shopping trip.  I rocked it out with the coupons @ Meijer and did some terrific Adli bargaining. Aldi rolled out the red carpet.  The suits met us at the door and I had 4 people following me around the store at all times, one taking pics.  They were even kind enough to give me an Aldi canvas bag as I left (score!) for my future Aldi trips.  I spent about $30 there and got a ton (they took a pic of my receipt).  Next we cruised to Meijer where they were a little less gracious.  I guess Aldi was happy to get the PR and Meijer could have cared less.  Ryan got clearance from corporate but the local store manager was less than cooperative (boo!) and so it took us a few minutes to get our wheels turning.  Finally with permission to take pics, we rolled around the store getting odds and ends.  I had some non-usual things on my list – Children’s tylenol, cake mix/frosting for the eldest princess’ school carnival which is tomorrow, but managed to get out of there for ~$60 before coupons and then ~$43 after coupons.  Boo-yah.  Brings us a little under budget (probably sounds frivolous to some of you $45/week mamas) for the week which is nice and I stocked up on a few things that I had coupon match ups on for this week (i.e. I bought 3 loaves of bread AND english muffins carb overload!).  I totally meant to take pictures with my digital camera of them taking pictures of me but FORGOT.  Dumb me!  I even had the camera with me.

Speaking of couponing, I have an article for you to read if you’re just getting started in the coupon game.  Go read Jenny’s (of Mommin’ It Up ) post on Musings of a Housewife for a beginner guide to bargaining.  I don’t claim to be a grocery shopping bargainista (although I am pretty crazy with the coupons) so I felt a bit at a loss today but I still think I did a pretty good job.  🙂

Ok, so I’m trolling the ‘net, twitter, and webboards and have big bargains to tell you about.  Plus, to give you a little hope for the future I have some things to give away in March, folks.  That’s right, let the good times roll!