Disney Cruisin' - A Beach Day in LA

Day 1 of our Disney Cruise vacation started out with a 5 a.m. drive from Tucson to San Pedro, where the ship would be docked at the Los Angeles Cruise Ship Terminal. In true Hargis family road trip fashion, our first stop was the Cracker Barrel in Mesa for a quick breakfast. Once we got to San Pedro and settled in at the hotel, we headed for the closest beach we could find. Our poor landlocked kids were so happy to be near the water again that they spent the first few minutes just dancing around in the sand. 

The first beach we happened upon was Royal Palms Beach. It definitely wasn't the type of beach we are used to! It was very rocky and there wasn't much actual beachfront, but the tidepools were AMAZING! I think this may have been my first time seeing an actual tidepool. It was so neat!

 It was a bit of a challenge getting out to the bigger pools, but we managed it without anyone getting wet!

FYI, cheapie Target flip flops definitely do NOT count as sturdy footwear

 Once the tide started rolling in at Royal Palms, we made a quick slurpee run and then headed over to Lee Carillo State Beach. This one was definitely more what we are used to. It's a nice bay beach, so the water was pretty calm and there were tons of families out enjoying the beautiful day.

Photo Bomb by Paige!

I wish this had photographed better, but Paige sculpted a crab out of the sand

After getting nice and sandy, we headed back to the hotel for the rest of the evening and rested up for the next day's fun!

See the Savings - Week of 4/28

Sorry ladies and gents, no pictures this week. My girlies, in a burt of helpfulness put away all the groceries and there was no way I was dragging everything back out to take pics. Here's the breakdown on this week's savings.

Target

I never usually do as well at Target as I do at places like CVS or Walgreens, but this week there were some smokin' deals to be had - so much so that I called my sister and sent her over there to take advantage of them too. 

1 Crest 3D White Multi-Care Whitening Rinse Bonus Pack - $5.99 (sale price)

- $1.00 / 1 Crest Pro Health Rinse 458 mL or Larger Printable Coupon

- $5.00 Target Gift Card Offer

= $0.01 Money Maker!

1 Crest 3D White Toothpaste Value 3-Pack - $5.99 (sale price)

- $0.75 / 1 Crest 3D White Toothpaste Manufacturer's Coupon

- $5.00 Target Gift Card Offer

= $0.24 for 3 tubes of toothpaste!

1 Colgate Optic White Toothpaste 2-Pack - $5.99 (sale price)

- $0.75 / 1 Colgate Optic White Printable Coupon

- $5.00 Target Gift Card Offer

= $0.24 for 2 tubes of toothpaste

1.5 Liter Bottle of Listerine Mothwash - $5.99 (sale price)

-$1.00 / 1 Listerine Mouthwash 1L or Larger Printable Coupon

-$5.00 Target Gift Card Offer

= $0.01 Money Maker!

2 boxes of Market Pantry Whole Wheat Pasta - $2.00 (sale price)

- $1.00 / 2 Market Pantry Pasta or Sauce Target Mobile Coupon

= $1.00 for 2 boxes of pasta ($0.50 each)

Campbell's Skillet Sauce - $2.00 (sale price)

- $1.00 / 1 Campbell's Skillet Sauce Target Printable Store Coupon

- $1.00 / 1 Campbell's Skillet Sauce Printable Coupon

= FREE!!!

L'Oreal Advanced 1.7 oz Conditioner - $0.99

- $1.00 / 1 L'Oreal Product Printable Coupon

= $0.01 Money Maker!

2 boxes Tampax Pearl Tampons 50 ct. - $8.49 (sale price)

- 2 x $1.00 / 1 Tampax Pearl 16 ct. or Larger

- $1.50 / 2 Tampax Items Target Mobile Coupon

-$5.00 Target Gift Card Offer

= $8.48 for 2 50 ct. boxes ($4.24 each)

El Monterey Chicken and Cheese Supreme Burrito $1.02 (sale price)

- $1.00 / 1 El Monterey Product Manufacturer's Coupon 

= $0.02 for 1 burrito

Up&Up Women's Laxatives 30 ct. - $1.49

- $1.00 / 1 Up&Up Digestive Health Item Target Printable Store Coupon

= $0.49

2 Tubes Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer 2 oz. - $3.98

- $3.00/2 Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizers Manufacturer's Coupon

= $0.98 for 2 tubes ($0.49 each)

1 bottle each Suave Moroccan Infusion Shampoo and Conditioner - $5.58

- $2.00 / 2 Suave Moroccan Infusion Hair Care Target Printable Store Coupon

- $2.00 / 2 Suave Moroccan Infusion Shampoo or Conditioner Manufacturer's Coupon

= $1.58 for both bottles ($0.79 each)

4 bottles of V8 Splash 64 oz. Juice - $7.96 (Try it mixed with coconut rum!)

- $1.99 Buy 3 Get 1 Free Target Deal

- 2 x $1.00 / 2 V8 Splash Beverages 64 oz. Manufacturer's Coupons

$3.97 for 4 bottles ($0.99 each)

Folgers Coffee Crystals - $1.00 (sale price)

- $1.50 / 1 Folgers Product Printable Coupon

= $0.50 Money Maker!

2 Ortega Taco Seasoning Packets - $1.24 (sale price)

- $1.00 / 2 Ortega Products Printable Coupon

= $0.24 for 2 packets ($0.12 each)

Women's Flip Flops - $2.50

- $2.00 / 1 Women's Flat Sandal or Flip Flops Target Printable Store Coupon

= $0.50

4 Cover Girl Single Eye Shadows - $12.56

- 4 x $2.00 / 1 Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara or Eye Shadow Manufacturer's Coupons

- $5.00 Target Gift Card Offer

= $0.44 Money Maker!

Plus I can add this to the current $15 wyb $50 worth of P&G Products Rebate

Duncan Hines Frosting Creations Flavor Packet - $0.84

- $1.00 / 1 Duncan Hines Frosting Creations Product 

= $0.16 Money Maker!

I don't actually like this type of frosting, but the flavor packets are great for making homemade ice cream

2 Nestle Coffee Mate Liquid Creamer - $4.12

- $1.00 / 2 Coffee Mate Creamer Items Target Printable Store Coupon

- 2 x $0.75 / 1 Coffee Mate Creamer Printable Coupons

= $1.62 for 2 bottles ($0.81 each)

Colgate Toothbrush Value Pack 4 ct. - $5.99

- $0.50 / 1 Cogate Manual Toothbrush Manufacturer's Coupon 

-$5.00 Target Gift Card Offer 

= $0.49 for 4 toothbrushes ($0.12 each)

Oral-B Toothbrush Value Pack 4 ct. - $5.99

- $5.00 Target Gift Card Offer

= $0.99 for 4 toothbrushes ($0.25 each)

I was also able to use some $5.00 / $20.00 purchase shoes and apparel coupons on some clearance items to get good deals in those areas as well.

CVS

Green Mountain K-Cups 12 pk. - $6.99 (sale price)

- $1.00 / 1 Green Mountain Coffee K-Cup Pack Printable Coupon

= $5.99

U by Kotex Liners 18 ct. - $1.49

- $2.00 / 1 U by Kotex CVS Printable Store Coupon

= $0.51 Money Maker!

M&M's Single Pack - $0.99

- $0.99 / 1 Hershey's or Mars Chocolate Singles CVS Coupon Machine Coupon

= FREE!!!

4 Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar Snack Size 6 pk. - $4.00 (sale price)

- 2 x $1.00 / 2 Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar Multipack Printable Coupon

= $2.00 for 4 x 6 pks. ($0.50 each)

I used a 25% off Total Purchase CVS Coupon that I got in the mail and some Extra Bucks and walked out the door paying $0.37

Walgreens

Post Fruity Pebbles Cereal - $1.99 (sale price)

-$1.00 / 1 Fruity or Cocoa Pebbles Printable Coupon

= $0.99 (FP are one of my absolute guilty pleasures)

2 Dr. Pepper Ten 2L Soda - $2.00

- B1G1 Free Dr. Pepper Ten Printable Coupon 

= $1.00 for 2 bottles ($0.50 each)

2 packs Stride Gum - $1.58

- $1.00 / 2 Stride Gum Single Packs Manufacturer's Coupon

= $0.58 for 2 packs ($0.29 each)

Butterball Turkey Bacon 6 oz. Package - $1.29

- $0.55 Butterball Turkey Bacon Manufacturer's Coupon

= $0.74

Maxwell House Single Serve Cups 12 pk. - $5.99

- 2 x $2.00 / 1 Maxwell House Cafe Collections Manufacturer's Coupons

$7.98 for 2 12 pks. ($3.99 each)

Plus I got 1000 Points on my card

Plus I was able to use $11.00 in Register Rewards leaving me out the door for $2.30.

Use Your Stash Challenge

Have you ever heard of a Use Your Stash Challenge? I originally came across the idea a few years ago when I was browsing Two Peas In A Bucket, my favorite scrapbooking site. I ran across their Scrap Your Stash Challenge, and since then I try to do one every once in a while, one because it's fun, and two, because I have been thinking about switching to digital scrapbooks but have a ton of supplies that would be wasted if I did.

This morning, as I was surveying the MESS that the girls made in the pantry while putting the groceries away, I had a thought. Why couldn't I apply the Use Your Stash Challenge concept to all those random ingredients that I have in the pantry? You know the ones... all the ingredients for that awesome sounding meal that you never get around to making?

So here it is Guys and Dolls - I challenge you to find somewhere in your life where you have a stash - the pantry, your craft supplies, your closet, your make-up drawer, whatever. Clean it out... Use it up... Repurpose or Recycle it... Since this is a challenge, there will be a PRIZE! If you're a blogger (or pretend to be), write up a post and leave a link to it in the Comments section. If not, just leave a comment telling me what you did. I'll let the challenge go all month, and then, on 1 June, I will pick a winner.

Here's one stash I am hoping to get into this challenge - this giant Rubbermaid tub contains all the girls' outgrown clothes that I have been hauling around with me from state to state with every intention of consigning or reselling them one of these days. Right now it is taking up entirely too much space in my office. 

I hope that you will take on this challenge with me. In my experience, they really are kind of fun. As a bonus, some cluttered part of your life will be cluttered no more. I can't wait to see what y'all come up with!