GOODe Project: Coupon Organizer

Tonight I decided to get down to business when it came to my coupons.

I heart coupons.

However lately I have been uber disorganized and therefore I have been losing out on some major savings.

So when I saw Going Jane's solution to coupon disorganization, I was game.

Not to mention that my poor little coupon keeper that has done right by me for years needed replacin'

RIP coupon holder... You have saved me hundreds (probably thousands) over the years.

I am always amazed at how much you can save with coupons. Now, I am not a couponin' expert like sisters Frugalista Farm Life and Gal in the Middle, but I can hold my own with a pair of scissors and the Sunday paper inserts.

Truth be told, their mega-saving ways have got me really looking at the sales ads to see how to leverage my coupon dollar and today I saved BIG TIME, by playin' it smart.

I saved a total of $32 today on my grocery bill from coupons alone!

My best purchases included Add's flushable wipes for $.67 each (normally $1.67 each) and drum roll please....

3 packs of Pull Ups (sale 8.99 each) and 2 boxes of Cheerios ($2.50 each) = $32 original price

3 - $2 off Pull Ups Coupons and 1- $5 Target Gift Card for purchasing 3 Pull Ups and 1- $1 off Cheerios Coupon later...

Total Cost: $20
Total Savings: $12

So with my coupons doin' so right by me, I had to do right by them this evening and get organized.

I started with this adorable square box that fits perfectly in the front of a shopping cart.

Then I gutted it.

I just love how cute the inside looks!

Then I grabbed some 8 x 8 cardstock that I found on clearance.

I took a sheet and grabbed my favorite scrappin' adhesive...

Zots!

I cut a strip of Zots to go along all four sides.

Then I took another sheet and put it on top.

Then I grabbed my handy, dandy (Blue's Clues much?) paper cutter and cut it exactly in half.

Ta Dah!

Instant envelopes!

Then I took these nifty Post It tabs and arranged them on each envelope.

I just heart Post It... It is the facilitator in me, I think.

I then placed each envelope into my nifty little box.

I just love all the pretty colors!

I then tossed in a pen and my grocery list notebook...

And, there was still room for my Vera clutch!

Then I put a lid on it and I am all set...

Except for the part where I actually organize the coupons... ;)

It's a GOODe Life: 12 GOODe Years and Counting

Almost 14 years ago I met my heart's desire at a Steak n Shake one evening. All the girls were talking about this awesome Mikey guy and he was suppose to be absolutely dreamy.

Truth be told, I wasn't too interested.

I was a fish out of water... first generation college student ripped from the comfort of small town america and trying to navigate life as a freshman in a much bigger school and city. This Mikey guy was smooth and very popular with the ladies... I was a no-nonsense type of gal (and still am... just sayin') and not interested in this player...

He wasn't too interested in this overly opinionated strong-willed chick either.

God, on the other hand, had something entirely different in mind.

By October of my freshman year, Mikey asked me out on a date and I accepted, after we learned there was a lot more to each other over a retreat one weekend.

We would talk for hours on end and then talk more. It was so amazing to meet someone who already seemed to be a part of my soul. I remember thinking how my time with Mikey felt like time with my family. He fit into my life in a way that no other friend or boyfriend ever had. He genuinely wanted to know who I was and I could tell that he liked me for me--not who he wanted me to be and I felt the same way about him.

By the end of that first date we had talked through the night sitting in the campus parking lot. As the time for the sun to rise approached, Mikey rushed us to a nearby golf course so that we could watch the sunrise together over a bottle of Welch's Grape Soda.

When the date drew to a close, Mikey leaned over and said four little words that set the course for our life together...

"I'm scared of you"

Just what a gal who was quickly fallin' in love wants to hear, right? ;)

He went on to explain how we had a connection that was much different that anything he had experienced before and that it scared him... which was exactly what I loved about him... he told it like it was... no pretense.

I was hooked.

We went on dating until I made what could have been the defining mistake of my life. That winter, I too got scared. I decided things were moving too fast and broke it off... for a whole 24 hrs.

I spent that eternity bawling to my mom on the phone that I needed my best friend, but that I had just broke up with him!

So, I called him and told him the same thing. He came to comfort me --the girl who crushed him-- because he loved me. We spent hours talking and decided that if we got back together it would have to be forever because this breakin' up stuff was too hard on us.

And, with that we were pre-engaged in February, engaged in July and married the following May.

12 years ago today, I married my best friend in life.

Life after marriage wasn't always bliss. Turns out that Disney had been doing some major spin on that whole "Happily- Ever- After" campaign. Two miscarriages and the need for a lot of growing up took its toll in our early years. God knew what he was doing though ;) After lots of prayer and some time, we woke up and realized what a GOODe thing we had :)

Eventually we grew up and together and now have a solid foundation, friendship and partnership after lots of love, tears and hard work.

9 years in, we made the decision, by the grace of God, to bring Miss Add into this world.

Over these past 3 years, God has continued to teach us what marriage, family and parenting is all about through GOODe times, bad times, easy times and really difficult times.

This isn't my happily-ever-after and truth be told, I wouldn't want it to be... Something can be said for experiencing the good and bad in life. It makes you stronger and it solidifies your bond.

After you add it all up, I have to tell you, I am forever grateful that I get the opportunity to spend my life with such a GOODe man.

I heart him :) 

A GOODe Girlie Day!

Today was the perfect girlie day.

Aunt Lou came up and we took Miss Add shopping for her summer wardrobe.

It was a really complicated trip. We walked into JCPenney, grabbed their awesome coupon and took advantage of their awesome sale.

Ten minutes later... shoppin' was done dude!

7 complete outfits, two skirts, another shirt and a pair of sandals... 

And one "not so Cris like" blouse for mama... 

 The outfits were super cute and detailed... each were regularly $17 and were on sale for $7 minus an additional 20% off with coupons.

All together cost this loot cost me $65 including tax...

I saved $120 with coupon and sales.

After all that hard work, we ran home to drop Add off with Daddy and then Lou and I were off to SATC... in my "not so Cris-like" blouse.

Once we got there, I lost my movie cash in the parking lot and frantically scrambled to find it...

Dave Ramsey didn't tell me what to do in times like these!!!

Dag-gone cash!

 A GOODe Samaritan pulled up next to us and asked if we lost something. Turns out they found my $20 and were nice enough to give it back to me. Thank HEAVENS!

After the parking lot drama... we were off to see the girls on the silver screen.

SATC was good. It was good to catch up on the girls. My favorite parts were the mommy moments... I have always heart(ed) Miranda and I could relate to Charlotte on the mommy front as well (sans-nanny of course).

The rest of the movie was ok, but for me it is really about checking in with girls and their friendship. I hope if they do another movie they stay in New York... the world traveling is fun and all, but I'd like to see more of their day to day--like the show.

After the movie, we went home to have dinner with the family and one of my GOODe friends, Leann. We had a yummy dinner, fruit pizza, did some blog talk and watched a little Gilmore Girls...

Like I said... the perfect Girlie day!

It's a GOODe Life: Living a Dream

Remember that mission from last week?


Cris' Mission:
Because I enjoy living in a world of purpose and passion, I enthusiastically encourage others and problem solve because I am influencial and creative... Just sayin'


I was serious about it.


Big changes are underway for the Goodes and more specifically for this working mama.


After 5 1/2 years, today is my last day working for the State of Indiana. I have been honored to work with such talented and committed people for the last several years. And, while I am sad to leave, my passion is calling...

I have decided to enter a new chapter in life.


Life as a freelancer, a consultant, an entrepreneur in the areas of communications, graphic design, facilitation and online presence.


Ladies and Gentlemen... I have decided to pursue my dream job--utilizing my God-given skills in areas where I am talented, passionate and feel I can make a difference.


More details on all of that to come later, but for now, I just wanted to share my news with you--all my bloggy friends.


These changes also have major benefits to life around the Goode house. Schedules can now coordinate with Puddie. And, mama will now be home with Miss Add and her heart.

Balance will be struck. There will be plenty of time for working and professional passion and excellence. But, now there will be time for play dates, play dough and playgrounds as well.

And, if I forget to pull those FREEZE-O-RAMA meals out of the freezer, now I will just have to walk over and pull them out ;)


I have told you more than once how blessed I am... and this transition has only made it more apparent to me. I have the most supportive network of friends, family and colleagues a gal could ask for.


And, in closing I would like to leave you with some quotes from a nifty little book that one of those fantastic people (Miss Jeannie) gave me for my journey...


I highly recommend this little gem of a book: Congratulations on Your Achievement.

It is chock full of inspirational quotes... and we all know I just heart quotes!

You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.- Unknown


Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.- Mark Twain


Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow that talent... where it leads.- Erica Jong


As your faith is strengthened, you will find that there is no longer the need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit.- Emmanuel Teney


The poor man is not he who is without a cent, but he who is without a dream.- Harry Kemp


If a caterpillar refused to change, it could never become a butterfly. Trust God to give you wings.- Faith Stewart.


I will leave you with our family's life verse:


Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.- Psalms 37:4