Alayna's Adventures

So if you tuned in for my initial foray into *somewhat* extreme couponing , you may have had some of the same thoughts that I did. Why did I spend more than $3 for $75 worth of product?? Why wasn't everything free? Isn't extreme couponing getting lots of stuff I don't need, for free?!  So what did I do wrong? Well, maybe you didn't have any of those thoughts, and maybe you didn't even read my blog into *somewhat* extreme couponing .  That's okay, there's still time!  :)  But just in case you did have those questions, this is an update to share what I have learned.  In my first blog about couponing, I attempted to purchase too much.  Honestly. I spent more on my first "coupon trip" to CVS and Rite Aid than I spent in many follow up trips, and have learned a thing or two about getting some sweet deals since then.  I have decided that a few of the essential tips and tricks to couponing are as follows:   1) Get as many products as you can f...

As a blogger, I struggle sometimes wondering why anyone would ever want to read what I write.  There are so many bloggers out in the blogosphere and I don't feel as though I am as (insert adjective here) as most of them. Not as deep and poignant as this blogger, not as funny and witty as that one, not as holy and wise as that chick, and not as heartfelt and raw as that other blogger.  I'm not fishing for compliments, but, instead, letting you in on one of my biggest insecurities.  I am intimidated by other bloggers.  I'm insecure about what I have to say.  Sometimes, I'm scared to write.  Scared that it won't be received well, or won't be received at all.  That no one will see what I write, no one will care, and no one will be moved and changed.  Even blogging for Deliberate Women, talk about intimidating, right?!?  I'm not Beth Moore or Elizabeth George or Joni Eareckson Tada.  What do I know about God?  How can I s...

Do you ever feel like you just CAN'T get your act together? The house is *still* a mess. The four bushels of clothes to fold and put away are staring you down. Your body is screaming at you because you haven't done anything even remotely close to exercise in two months. You just want to hide from your kids, watch an entire season of Friends, and go to the bathroom alone. Oh, and you haven't showered in days.  Do you feel me? I started this year with gusto and goals.  I composed many lists, things to accomplish, an everything to do list, a blog topic list, and even a "great ideas" list.  I subscribed to a blog about decluttering.  I was even working on an organizational wonder, my "homemaking" binder, which I promise is not as ridiculous as it sounds.  It is meant to be one spot to have meal plans, family calendars, to do lists, idea scribbles, and blog jottings.  How do you think that is working out for me?  Is my life or even my house organized y...

Two thousand and twelve was a year of adjusting for me.  I t was a year that began with me quitting my job and finding my new "work" at home.  I knew when God nudged me to begin my blog shortly before Annika was born, that my job title would change from HR to SAHM plus something more.  God has stretched and encouraged me in blogging in this year, and has more for me in writing in 2013.  My fodder to blog about has been life, period.  My loves, my fears, my passions, my God, my kids, and my hubby - life as an adventure.  And two thousand and twelve was an adventure, a pretty good one as a family...  We had mostly ups and only a few downs, all of which I'll recount for you here.  Annika turned one.  Isaiah turned three.  They both are exerting their independence in various ways, ones that can sometimes drive this momma mad.  But it's part of growing up.  Life is a separation process from the time that the umbilical cord is cut...

When the kids are babes, it's time to establish holiday traditions, whether it's the ones that you did when you were young or starting brand new ones for your family.  It's an exciting thing to do, and John and I have really enjoyed dreaming about and starting holiday traditions that we want Isaiah and Annika to reminisce about with their own children.  We have a few that are really fun, and I'll share them (hopefully) in a few blogs over the Christmas season.  First, my favorite - the Christmas tree!   Our FAVORITE Christmas traditions is going to pick out a tree at a local Christmas tree farm and cutting it down ourselves.  We have gone to a few local farms, but the one we have enjoyed the most is Candle Tree Farm just outside of Washington, PA ( and also on Facebook! ).  It's a short drive from Pittsburgh, but totally worth the trip!  They have a really neat setup that makes finding a tree more of an experience for the whole fami...

Swanky, classy, and... shocking. Three descriptive words that summed up my night at the South Hills Pregnancy Resource Center Dinner on Thursday, November 8, 2012.  My friend, Amanda, and I and over 800 other people attended the banquet at the East Club at Heinz Field.  With a spectacular view of the city and a spectacular view of an empty Heinz football field, it was a gorgeous setting and a night to remember.   Completely empty Heinz Field The Sparks While The Sparks , a local Christian band, played, people milled about before the night's program started.  As far as I was concerned, this night would be pretty memorable, as the guest speaker was none other than Abby Johnson, the Texas Planned Parenthood clinic manager turned pro-life advocate.  She also happened to be sitting at our table(!!), which was right next to the stage, two huge bonuses!  Dinner was great and dessert was even better, but that may be because dessert is al...

So I have this friend who gets a ton of ridiculous stuff for free with coupons all the time at places such as CVS and Rite Aid.  I was inspired and totally impressed with her couponing, and I LOVE a good deal, so I decided that I wanted to try it.  I rounded up my coupons and some tips and pointers from my friend Heather, and gave it a go.  After trying a few stores, I thought I'd share my thoughts and experiences for the average person considering couponing.  Before we start, let me help you with a few terms that you need to know, starting with the most important term first.  Coupon matchups or coupon match up is the term for when a couponer goes through a store’s circular and “matches up” coupons to deals.  These “matchups” are available everywhere on the internet.  Try searching Google for “CVS matchups”, “Rite Aid matchups” or even “Giant Eagle matchups” and you will have more hits than you know what to do with!!  One site that has a lot ...