The Culture Pass

Some FANTASTIC money saving, culturally enlightening news for my Arizona pals...

Starting on April 1, it’s your ticket to local museums, the Phoenix Zoo, and other must-do attractions (like Desert Botanical Gardens and The Arizona Science Center) FREE. FOR SEVEN DAYS. FOR FOUR PEOPLE.

Here’s how it works - you pick up a Culture Pass at your local library anywhere in Greater Phoenix (that means it includes Chandler, Scottsdale, Glendale, Tempe, Mesa). The pass is good for seven days, for four people. Some of the places it gets you in:
Arizona Museum of Natural History, Arizona Science Center, Children’s Museum of Phoenix, Heard Museum,Phoenix Art Museum and more are all covered by the pass.

I know you’re asking, “What’s the catch?” No. Catch. At. All. Economic times are hard, and everyone is looking for something to do that’s free and entertaining. So a bunch of sponsors got together (including the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust and Macy’s) and decided to influence the community with arts and activity.

To see a full listing of FREE attractions, as well as more details, visit: http://www.theculturepass.org/. And be sure to tell your friends - there are enough passes to go around!

Party Time... EXCELLENT.

After Grandma Bernie's funeral, Jamie and Gina decided to spend the rest of the week in Arizona. Friday just happened to be Jamie's Birthday, so we had a ROCKIN' party. Here are the 3 girl cousins (Taytum, Anna and Emma) squished on an office chair, waiting for Grandpa to spin them around and around and around and around. Surprisingly, no puke followed this little activity. Only giggles and smiles and screams of "again, again, again".

The fam.
Saturday we got to celebrate the upcoming baby of Trent and Sarah Porter. My Aunt Sharron was kind enough to let us use her BEEE-YOU-TIFUL backyard for the baby shower. Here is Emma locked inside the house, ensuring that I was able to finish all the last minute details before guests arrived. If you are wondering why she is already in sleeveless outfits, it is because it was NINETY DEGREES on Saturday. I only wish I could pull off an outfit like this. :)

Sarah (middle) with Amber and Katie. All the girls in the ward helped SO much to make sure everything was perfect. Sarah gives so much to so many in the ward... it was really nice to be able to have a party in her honor. We are excited to meet her baby.

My Aunt Sharron made Sarah a gorgeous baby quilt. She made one quite similar for Emma and her cousin Tyler as well. What a wonderful piece of posterity to have!!!

OH I JUST LOVE ME SOME PARTIES!! What a fun weekend!!

Our Dear Grandma Bernie

Grandma Bernie (Greg's Mother's Mother) passed away on March 12, 2009.

Her health was declining, but her death was sudden and unexpected. She was a woman with an endearing personality, contagious smile and abounding love. She will be greatly missed. Here she is with Emma at a Foutz Family Reunion in June of 2008.

We left on Saturday, March 14th for the funeral services in Cortez, Colorado. Uncle Jeff drove with us and kept Emma entertained in the back seat. They snuggled up together to watch "Enchanted". I'm not sure who enjoyed it more? :) Here are Jeff and Greg in front of their grandparents old store. Greg has many wonderful memories playing around this store.
Emma was exhausted at bed time with all of the friends and family around to keep her entertained during the day. This evening, she fell asleep right on top of her favorite stuffed animal. Seriously can't be comfortable for Emma or the dog.

Jamie and Gina drove TWENTY hours from Austin, Texas to be with the family during the funeral services. We are SOOOOO grateful they made the sacrifice. It was wonderful spending time with them. During difficult times, it is always nice to be surrounded by the ones you love.

Here are Bernie's children and husband at the grave site. From left to right: David, Brenda, Tamie, Papa Loyd, and Linda. They were such wonderful support for each other. I know Grandma Bernie would be proud of the love they share.

The pall bearers bringing the coffin cover.

Cousins Anna and Emma. Anna was SO SWEET to Emma all weekend. She would love and kiss on her. Play games with her. Tickle her. Laugh with her. Help her walk around. And make Emma feel so special. Cousins are the BEST. She affectionately calls her "Emma Emma Bo Remma".

Greg sang FOUR musical numbers for the funeral services. We thought it a bit much, but his mother INSISTED that it is what Grandma would have wanted. :) I got to play my violin for 2 musical numbers, which is always fun.

Most of the Adams family. Kurt and Tara were at the funeral, but had to leave town before the grave site service. We miss them in the picture but are so glad they got to attend the funeral with us.

Gregory Loyd and Papa Loyd with Emma Loyd. Just kidding. Emma Margaret. Papa Loyd and Grandma Bernie had been married over 60 years. What a legacy of love. Papa Loyd was impressively strong through her death and passing. No doubt buoyed up by the Spirit of peace and comfort that the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings. I know we were.

Blog Book - AWESOME Deal!

I just published my 74 page blog from 2008. TOTAL COST? WITH SHIPPING? $23.05

If you are interested in this amazing deal, the website is: http://www.blurb.com

You will use the following coupon code to get $10 off: hewlettpackard10

Not sure how much longer this coupon code will be active, so you better JUMP ON IT!

Happy Publishing!!

Finding Fun in Frugal!!

Kids are not cheap. Especially ours. We can only get pregnant through invitro fertilization. This little gem of a face cost us a cool $20,000. And worth every penny.

We are currently saving our pennies and dimes for our next IVF attempt. Could be awhile, but we are TRYING. In doing so, we have tightened our budget and recommitted to a new level of frugality. What does that mean? I've gone COUPON CRAZY.

Now before I start, you must know that I was TERRIFIED of coupons and have had MANY reservations about the process. But, as I have learned from other experts, I'm feeling more comfortable and confident and I'm saving LOTS of money.

I've decided to address some of my fears and my solutions. Maybe it will help some of you overcome a hurdle you are experiencing. Coupons are not for everyone, but in these uncertain times, any extra dollar helps. Am I right? Or am I right?

FEAR #1 - Will I have to shop at multiple stores and spend hours a week?

ANSWER #1 - I put a limit to my stores. Some don't, but I have chosen this approach so that I don't go LOOPY or let it consume my life. I shop at ONE grocery store (Fry's or Walmart) and ONE pharmacy (CVS) each week. VERY manageable.
FEAR #2 - We are very healthy eaters and most coupons seem to be for junk food.

ANSWER #2 - I get most of my produce from a FANTASTIC produce co-op (http://02b8ce3.netsolstores.com/). For $15 a week I get all of the produce I need for the week (and then some!). In addition, I have noticed that the coupons really do include some healthy options. I pass up quite a few because of their poor nutritional content... but there are PLENTY for me to use and save money.

FEAR #3 - Will my menu planning be affected?

ANSWER #3 - YES! But believe me...this is a good thing. I used to plan my menu based on what I felt like cooking. Then I would make my LONG list and head to the grocery store. NOW, I look at the sales and the coupons for the week and plan my menu around that. In 2 weeks it has saved me almost $100. I can still do fun meals, but I have altered my starting point.


FEAR #4 - Will I be able to keep everything organized? And will this take over all of my free time?

ANSWER #4 - Thanks so many wonderful women who have "mastered" the art of couponing, we can now link to their resources and save so much time and energy. I don't have any fancy box, I just keep the coupons (not even cut out) each week in manila folders. My favorite website is www.couponmom.com - they literally spell everything out for you. All you have to do is get the paper and they do the rest. They find the deals in the stores (Fry's and WalMart for AZ peeps) and then compare them to the coupons that have been distributed in the newspapers and online. They do ALL the hard part. It takes me about an hour each week to look on their websites, find the corresponding coupons and make my list. Not bad at all. Another fantastic site is www.moneysavingmom.com. I so appreciate all of their hard work.

FEAR #5 - Do I really need to get the newspaper for the coupons and is it worth it?

ANSWER #5 - I have found that the paper is really worth it. We pay $8/month for an AZ Republic subscription and I have used $25 in coupons these last 2 weeks on products that we would NORMALLY buy anyway. Sure, sometimes I have to switch to a brand that is not my normal brand... but I'm cool with that if it saves a few bucks. But a few bucks here and there add up VERY quickly. You do have to be careful that even WITH a coupon, it is still not more expensive than the generic brand. This happens every so often, but most of the time you are coupling a store sale with a coupon, which makes it EXTRA cheap.

GO FRUGAL GO!! It has been a fun game to me and who doesn't LOVE saving money?

I WOULD LOVE ANY ADVICE/TIPS FROM THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN DOING THIS MUCH LONGER AND KNOW MORE TRICKS OF THE TRADE!!

That was THEN... This is NOW

My "thens" were wonderful then, but my "nows" are really great now.

Got a new jogging stroller off of Craigslist for 35 buckaroonies.

I love Craigslist and I LOVE my new stroller. I would not have chosen the color, but HEY when it's CHEAP, you can't be picky. My entire body does not cringe in pain now when I run.

Here is my garden in October 2008 and my garden now. The middle row is empty, because the vegetables have already been harvested and EATEN for dinner. We have enjoyed lettuce, carrots, peas and cilantro with our meals this week. YUM!! I'm now on my second round of produce, including cucumbers, squash and melons, which I am PUMPED about.

You long-time "Tammy Following" blog readers may remember that my diaper bag was stolen in February of 2008. Right out of my car. I was super bummed and disappointed in man kind. I bought the red bag to replace the stolen bag. Last week I got a post card from the police department saying they had found my "purse" and had it ready for me to pick-up. So I strolled down to the Police Department and claimed my old diaper bag. Stolen ONE YEAR ago. Most of the stuff was still inside. Seriously, what thief would want diapers, formula and wipes??

Finished my third concert of the season with Tempe Symphony and FINALLY remembered my camera. My sister snapped a few shots of the orchestra. The first pictures are from my High School orchestra. Can you even IMAGINE being forced into red bow ties? I much prefer the black... thank you very much. Our last concert is in April and I'm super sad. We won't play again until September. It sure is a fantastic experience!!

I Climbed to Conquer Cancer!

Four immediate members of my Dad's family have died from cancer. We miss them. My father-in-law is battling lung cancer right now. I decided to do something about it last Saturday. I joined up with the Verizon Team (Thanks Sarah!) and hiked up and down South Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona (11 miles total). It benefited the American Cancer Society.

I hiked with friends from the ward - Amber Newell (my sister in law's twin) and Amanda Mortley. We had a great time. One of us threw up. One of us peed along the path. One of us had pinky toe pains. I won't divulge who had what. Let's just say that we bonded.