Best Coupon EVER

Just yesterday when I was watching Oprah eating Bon-bons (okay there were no bon-bons!), I watched a woman win $25,000.  I was totally phsyched for her because it had DEEP meaning watch it over on Oprah, that’s a whole other story.  I was more jealous of all the audience members who went home with $5o0!!  Each and every one.  Yes, I’ve tried to get Oprah tickets before and never could, so not only do I not get to see her in person, I’ve got ZERO chance of any goodies, until now.

I missed todays episode but luckily I follow several blogs (Momswhosave.com) and they passed along the good news that Oprah and Payless Shoe Source were teaming up for a HEFTY coupon. I printed it so fast your head may have spun, I know mine did.  It’s the kind where you get 50 percent off EVERYTHING you buy.  Not one item, not buy one full price get one half off this was full-fledged, BREAKING NEWS I’M BROKE, certified GOOD news.

We just got back from Payless, and we were not alone.  Thank you Oprah for giving ALL of us a break and Payless, I’ll never forget you giving us a break either.  Good Coupons lead to Good Customers. (insert your best Terminator Voice here) Rest Assured Payless,  I’LL BE BACK.  And might I add, the girls at the New Market Square Payless store in Wichita, KS were absolutely AWESOME.  As busy as they were they couldn’t have been nicer.  When I said, I’m gonna go home and facebook and blog about it, they answered, “Please do.   This is a great deal!!”    Wish I had gotten their names, but Mr. Manager or Ms. Manager please let them know, they done GOOD.

Oprah Has Hers, I Have Mine

So what if Oprah Winfrey’s favorites are on everyone’s Christmas lists each year, I have a feeling the things on my favorite list are more attainable, and for sure are more affordable than the ones you’ll find on Oprah’s.  Besides all that, my favorites are most likely available at every Walmart, Target, Dillons and Walgreens in America so your drive to stock up won’t be a long one, and if you play your cards right you’ll likely find a coupon for them too.

Let’s start in the dryer. I couldn’t resist the Bounce Dryer bar.  You stick it to the wall of the dryer and don’t have to bother with dryer sheets, according to the package for like four months!  I haven’t had mine more than a couple weeks but so far so good.  Even if it only lasts three months I have to say I didn’t realize how annoying those dryer sheets were till I didn’t have to mess with them anymore.  The clothes look and smell good, this one is a go.  (Yes they are kind of pricey but I had a coupon, OF COURSE! and remember you only need three of them per YEAR!)  As you see in the picture, it looks like a Twinkie on your dryer wall, but I bet not quite as tasty!

Every year for my Dad & Carla’s wedding anniversary I get them a cake from Cheri’s Bakery.  This year, because I try to get a different flavor every time, I chose lemon because I thought all the other ones I had picked before.  Let me just explain, I don’t like to buy stuff I don’t like.  I don’t like lemon food.  I love lemon in my tea, water and lemon drops. That’s where the lemon love ends.  In the interest of being a loving daughter I bought it anyway and figured oh well, I’ll just save myself the temptation of all those calories and the rest of the family can enjoy.  WRONG.  That cake has my mouth watering weeks later.  It was sooooo moist and luscious.  Let’s just say, if you ever go to Cheri’s and aren’t sure what to buy, pick the Lemon Cake.

And finally this go around, I’m waiting anxiously for my friends from Beau Monde spa in Wichita to call me to tell me my new powder is in.  I am sooooo NOOOOOTTTTTT a fan of mineral powder.  I’ve tried it all, and frankly, that crap is invisible on me.   Invisible is not a good thing for me and makeup, I want the high-powered stuff to cover up every imperfection or what’s the point.  Anyway, one of the girls out  at Beau Monde West sent me home with a sample of the new Matte version of the Bare Escentuals foundation.  I tried it just for grins and giggles and I GLOWED.  Not in a freaky way, but in that blushing-bride, WOW-I-Look-Better-Than-I-Did-Seconds-Ago way!  So, I ran back to Beau Monde to get me some.  NOT.  Allegedly I’m not the only one who loves it, the company didn’t make enough in my color.  So I’m waiting patiently to get my Matte Minerals and I’m being nice to let you in on it now, so you can wait with me.  Misery loves company.  Later dudes, and dudettes.

Too Much

When I try to explain to people that we have too much stuff.  And by we, I mean “ALL OF US”, I am sometimes met with a blank stare.  Like well, Lady, YOU might have a house full of crap, but I certainly have never overspent in my life, and I need everything I ever purchased.

Let me be more specific today.   Let’s say scissors.  How many do you have in your household.  I know, I know.  Everytime I need a pair to wrap a gift I can’t find them either, but as I was cleaning out junk drawers over the weekend I found enough for the whole block.  This year, my daughters are taking used scissors to school, and if they ever ask me to buy them more scissors, I might have to pull out the dozen I put in the hold everything junk box, because frankly my scissor drawer can’t hold them all.  Yes I have a dedicated drawer for my scissors ….and tape.  But it’s a little drawer.

Anyway, the scissors excess is just this weeks example.  Next week, like Oprah, I may have to unveil my makeup brush collection, I must have bordered on obsession with those at one point too…  the thing is now is a perfect time for me to trim the excess, cause Breaking News Folks:  I’m Broke.  The crazy thing is I have everything I need, so why do I still feel compelled to go out and spend?  Especially when I noticed scissors are included in the back to school sales.    I guess because I’m Anita Cochran, and downsizing my material life may take me some time.

 

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My bad

I pride myself on picking out perfect presents. I think the most successful present I ever gave someone, back in the days when I spent more money than I should of…was a Kindle. My step-mom Carla, LOVES to read…so when Oprah said, the Kindle CHANGED MY LIFE. I thought, well, then Carla must have one. I ordered two.
I tried mine out first, and yep, fell in love. The kindle for those of you who don’t know is an electronic book. Actually it’s an electronic LIBRARY. You can shop for books and download them instantly. Not only are you saving trees you’re saving money, typically a Kindle version is half the price of the book itself. It’s also great for travel, you can take all your book with you wrapped in something the size of a book. It’s great for the treadmill, it sits there and you simply press a button to turn the page. It’s just very convenient.
Now on the other end of the spectrum I once gave my BFF a Yurman bracelet. Turns out she can barely wear jewelry, it makes her itch. I’ve since asked for that baby back, and now I wear it! SO while it was a bad gift, at least it wasn’t a waste of money.
Speaking of waste of money, I’m afraid that’s what this years Father’s Day present will end up. I thought I was exceedingly clever, to order my dad a pair of golf pants. Here’s the catch, not just any golf pants, but LOUDMOUTHGOLF.com pants. Have you seen John Daly in the plaid pants? Those are LOUDMOUTH pants. Their website says they want to bring back the days of loud crazy golf pants, and when you see them you’ll say, well they did it.

Trouble is when Dad opened his present and saw those pants, (appropriately named, Disco Balls) I thought he was gonna puke. He ended up laughing but I could tell inside he was thinking, the only way I’m wearing these in public is if someone pays me. He is afterall one heck of a businessman.
Since I’m not paying him to wear them, I think it would be funny if someone else would. So any if you big dogs out there who need a golf partner, ask Larry Steckline to play, and require him to wear the Loudmouth pants….then when he shows up in his disco balls, the laughs on me….and just maybe that present will be perfect after all. Sorry Dad. I’m Anita Cochran…and that’s what I really wanted to say.

 

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