CRAZY for coupons!

Hello all Happy Memorial Day!
And a big Thank You To all our men and woman who serve this country!
I wanted to do a post today because so many of my friends have asked about my coupling and how i do it. I can't give myself the credit really i like many of you tried couponing here and there over the years saving a few pennies and being grateful for that but never in my wildest dreams did i imagine that i could save hundreds of dollars or get anything for free!
  Ive always considered myself a frugal kinda gal sure i drool over $1700 Christian Loubotins like the next gal with a shoe fetish but i can't bring myself to pay tons of my hard earned cash on such a thing.
My fascination with the tremendous amount of savings that can be gotten threw couponing began with I'm sure the same as many of you the show Extreme Couponing!, I couldn't believe how much these people saved, Although i know that some of it is not as accurate as it may seem there is great savings to be had by devoting a few hours a week and some patients to couponing. 
I live in a small space so i can only coupon so much but i have managed to make a pretty nice little stock pile of things we need and use This does take time so be patient .

Ive made it a point to not by things for the sake of getting them free, I do by some things we don't use like Dish washing machine products, and diapers and wipes(i don't have a baby)

Certain things like this i buy because 1. I shop for a friend of ours9 I've become a personal shopper of sorts), 2. So many people i know are having babies  and my neighbor has a disabled child and she uses them as well so i buy these things and make gift baskets for baby showers super cheap(wipes and diapers make the best gifts i think MY FIANCEE CHALLENGED ME TO MAKE A GIFT BASKET UNDER $20! I made this gift basket pictured above for $12 it had 6 jumbo packs of diapers 6 containers of wipes and 6 outfits, 2 packs of hair bows and a blanket) 3. I donate where ever and when ever i can(i have 3 kids at home but none can use 55 tubes of toothpaste) but if its free I'm sure my friends and family and a good charity can use it.
   So with that said i did a little research and i have settled on 2 websites i use the most first is Livingrichwithcoupons.com i swear by this website she does all the work for you short of shipping for you this woman Cindy is amazing, her site is very easy to follow, and so informative she took all the anxiety out of it. And i also usehttp://thekrazycouponlady.com this was the first website i tried and it too is very useful but i do have to say i like livingrichwithcoupons.com better but that's the thing you have to use what works best for you, so just give it a try i believe its so worth it my kids and fiancee thought i was crazy at first but my daughters never have to buy make up

 and my fiancee loves the money we save and never running out of anything, ( I fondly remember last summer when i was able to get 300 SoBe Life waters and 400 Lipton Tea's all for free)And always having what we need and want without it breaking the bank! In this economy its worth the time and effort you will put in,I shop about 2-3 times a week making trips to or from work as not to go out of my way and in due time you will see your stockpile grow Good Luck! And here's a few pics of my shopping trips for inspiration!

                           PHOENIX

PAID LESS THEN $5( THATS MY NORMAL GOAL)

PAID $2.23

PAID LESS THEN $5 AND RECIVED $7 BACK

ALL FREE

PAID $6.15(TODAYS HAUL)

Where have i been….well life has been B NAN NERS!!!! YES I SAID B NAN NERS!lol

Well I've been doing a bunch of things…..All of you know i teach Zumba and its my Love it has been the most amazing experience of my life, i began teaching at gyms but always in the back of my mind wanted more so my big plan is to eventually have my OWN space but for now I'm renting space and I'm having my first class this Wednesday Ive also been teaching at many local senior centers and I've been having the time of my life with them! I'm super excited and scared, I've had so much support and help making this happen i can't thank and express my gratitude enough to those that have help me get here Tara RomanoGetyourfitonwithtara.com My dear friend without who's encouragement i would never have felt i was able to do half of what I'm doing. And even during the times when she pushed and i resisted about starting a website for my custom cut fitness clothes CutzByPhoenix.storenvy.com I'm so glad she never let up on me like a true sister would. Lainie for her tireless efforts in securing the space, and endless encouragement, for all the talks when i felt like i couldn't do it or was to scared to try, for being a living example of a amazing woman inside and out(stylish as heck and a monster in the gym!) My Retro crew(if i named you and all you have done individually id never stop typing you all make me happy to wake up on Thursday's Knowing I'm going to see you all and dance i will always do my best to never disappoint you! And last but not least MyLove Greg who's love and support has kept the light in my life for 7 yrs no words…..OK I'm done gushing So there you have it my month long hiatus has yielded my a new space to boogie and a online store that now has customers from all over the world (Just send a shipment to Ireland! Whoo hoo).. So I'm off to prepare for my first class tomorrow be well and stay tuned!

Phoenix

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone
I hope your enjoying your family and friends, and plan to enjoy a wonderful dinner, and eat lots of chocolate like me! :)
I started it off yesterday with me and mini me making a array of tasty treats for today's dinner we make homemade biscuits

                                                              Easter sugar cookies

                                    and a Mint Chocolate cake with mint cream cheese filling
                                              

And Easter baskets of course

I always enjoy spending time with Mini me it reminds me of the times i spent with my mother learning to cook and make traditions, I didn't have my mother in my life for as long as most but in the short time i did she taught me so much and with out even knowing she instilled a desire to build long lasting traditions with my kids.

I was very fortunate to have a great relationship with my mother when she was alive, and i can only hope to have the same with Mini me.

Well on to other things a had a great day coupling this morning as well i went to Rite Aid and CVS and got quite a bit of items for free

here's what i got and the break down

Rite Aid

(2) Pantene conditioners $5.49 each on sale for 2/ $6

(2) Pantene Silk Mousse Stylers $4.99 each on sale 2/$6

(2)Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara $8.99 each Buy 1 get 1 %50 off

(3) Dawn dish soap $1.99 each on sale $.97

Retail Total $41.85

Sale Total $28.49

Coupons used

(2)Buy1 Shampoo or Conditioner get Styler free

(2) $3 off Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara

$10 Rite aid rewards from last week

$1.99 in Rite Aid rewards from last week

Total coupon saving $24.49

balance $1.96

tax $1.85

Out of pocket paid $3.81

Received $10 in Rite Aid rewards to use for Next week!!

CVS

Rescue Stress reliving aid $8.99

used $5 Register Reward from last week

used $2 Register reward from last week 

Out of pocket paid $1.99

Received $8.99 register reward from Rescue stress aid

Gillette Pro Glide Razor $12.49

Clear Mens shampoo $4.99

Eggs(i only had 3 in fridge needed more to dye lol) $2.99

Coupons used

$2 off Gillette Razor

$4.99 of Clear shampoo from Magic coupon Machine

$8.99 From Rescue Stress relief

Retail Total $20.38

Out of pocket after coupons $1.99!!!!

Received $4 Register reward from Gillette Razor

Second Transaction

(2) Sunday papers

used $4 Register reward from Razor 

out of pock paid $0!

Couponing started off as a hobby for me but is now sort of a way of life it is easier then people think Yes you must invest a bit of time but to save as much as we do its well worth it and with sites like livingrichwithcoupons.com How can you go wrong this lovely woman named Cindy Runs the site and does a amazing job she practically does all the work for you short of going to the store and shopping for you check out her blog you will be glade you did!

Have  great day 

Phoenix 

Busy, Busy,Busy Bee !!!!!

This week is a week of madness to say the least  Ive been toying with the idea of opening a Etsy store and now I'm finally going to do it! Ive been crafting like a mad woman lately and lots of my friends seem to think i need to sell a lot of what i make so here goes! My store will be a collaboration between the things i make and a new joint venture with RPI Hair Company a hair distribution company that I've recently began working with. They sell weaving, and braiding hair, and hair maintience products. I've personally used there products and they are of high quality and standard which is the only reason i decided to work with them ill bring you more information on the store and all the products featured so stay tuned……..Btw i am rocking my RPI hair which help me create this awesome victory roll today!

And these fabulous glasses are the ones from my previous post Phoenix Freebie Finds check out that post to see how you can get a great pair of glasses for free!

I Did IT! Im a monster!!!!!!

Sooooooo I've been a busy girl in the past few weeks lots of things going on right now lots of plans being made. First things first, In and effort to expand my fitness career i took the Les Mills CX WORX training course LesMills.com. Let me tell you it was brutal to say the least the program is a wonderful program for toning and strength training

 my instructor Angel was awesome but a no nonsense kinda fella we had to hold a 5 minute plank/hover i hurt in places i didn't know i had mucsles!

  I was the one to cry on the first day i admit it BUT i left the class feeling accomplished now i have to practice practice practice and get my video finished before i can't teach on my own, If you have never tried a strength training class and your a cardio junkie like me i recommend trying CX WORX or any of the Les Mills programs I'm looking forward to building and toning my mucles giving my body more definition! NO WORRIES in a ZUMBA ADDICT for life! this is just something I'm adding to the resume! Have a great Day and be Happy, Healthy, and Blessed! And remember anything is possible if you believe in yourself!

52weeks of happy 9/52

As you well know I'm new to the wonderful world of blogging so I'm still a avid fan of many blogs, of course being that I'm a lover of  retro, vintage , and sewing those tend to be my blogs of choice I have a few favriotes and I'm discovering more everyday so with that said one of my favriote bloggers is Kat from petticoatsandpeplums.blogspot.com she has a wonderful blog focused on her life,baking crocheting, and sewing adventures on her blogs she's doing a 52 weeks of happy you post each week a few things that have made you happy that week no matter how small of large with matching pics so here goes this is my first week(I'm a bout 8 weeks behind but better late then never)!

1.I found a fabulous vintage pattern to make my first long lusted after playsuit

2.Joann fabrics had a pattern sale on Butterick fabrics 5/$5 I've been waiting to get these for 3 weeks it felt like Xmas!

3.My mini made dinner chicken,spinach,and feta pizza I showed her how to make it a few months ago and she made it all on her own this time I'm so proud of her

4.Retro Fitness my second happy place I love working here

 my students are awesome

5.My Love his new business is doing so well this is one of his new t-shirts

 it's selling like hot cakes I'm so very proud of him http://www.storenvy.com/stores/55864-akage-apparel

6. Being the super bargain shopper that I am I got the deal of a lifetime 

Coastal.com a online eyeglass

And contact lense company they have a promo you first pair of glasses are free 

I got these amazing cat eye glasses free I paid

Shipping ($14.05)!

7.One of my Zumba girls Donna's birthday we had the best class that night again. 

I LOVE MY JOB!

8.Getting certified to teach Les Mills CX WORKS this weekend

9.I did the big chop#2 I've decided to really stick to my natural hair 

it was so chemically processed and damaged so I cut it all off and 

I'm allowing it to grow healthy( I did dye it reddish blond I love light colored hair ;)

So there you have it my first week of happy I really like this idea it makes you think about things 

That are most important in life!

Love and hugs

PHOENIX 

Phoenix Freebie Find!

Hi Guys i decided that i wanted to start a sort of segment with in my blog about any freebie or extrmely great deals i find to pass along to you this weeks freebie(well almost freebie) is from Coastal.com it is a eyeglass and contact lens company. They have this great offer that they will give you your first pair of glasses completely free all you have to pay is shipping!( my shipping cost was $14.06) Besides the great deal there customer service is bar none! My glasses came and were amazing they were exactly like a pair i saw that were three times the price and they also included a bottle of cleaning spray, a glasses screwdriver, and a cleaning cloth all free! Unfortunately the prescription was wrong (an error on my part) But i called and the woman named Amber was wonderful she sent me a return address label so that i can return them for free and have them remake them for free!! I cant say enough about this company i will defiantly buy from them, You cant bet free, and you certainly cant bet great customer service! Here is a pic of my fabulous cat eye glasses they have so many different styles that are name brand(i personally don't care what brand they are as long as the style suits me) But for those that do they have many well known name brands to choose from.

Phoenix's Sewing Adventures!

Those that know me know I have just as big a passion for sewing as I do fitness so in my spare time I love to create fabulous frocks, I mostly like to find vintage pieces from the 1950's and recreating them some of my most favriote pieces are from pinupgirlclothing.com and vintagesuitsbymary.com both these sites feature great reproductions from the 1940's and 1950's from dresses to swimwear and all things In between. Most people that know me also know that I and queen of the bargain ( post about my super couponing shopping trips will be featured here as well) So combining my love for a great bargain and sewing is a match made in heaven . I find great ensembles that I can recreate for a fraction of the price my very first was a dress worn by Masumi Max a model from pinupgirlclothing

I then saw this fabulous bustier and I had my 20th high school reunion coming up and In high school I was a bit of a recluse and very much a tomboy dressing and a bit over weight so I wanted to go to my reunion looking like a pinup model so when I saw this look on pinupgirlclothing I knew I had to recreate it

It was very rewarding when first no one believed I was who I was and second they were impressed with the fact that I made my entire wardrobe for our weekend long reunion. So from time to time I will post my sewing creations most will me look alike versions, others just things I wanted to make next on the sewing table is this fabulous playsuit from Vintage suits by Mary I found a pattern by McCall 8234 that I will tweak to recreate this cute playsuit stay tuned for the out come.

Who am i?

Hello and welcome to my blog this is something I've been wanting to do for quit sometime now I've always been a writer I'm one of those people that better expresses myself with a pen then verbally, I've been writing poetry since i was 7. Well who am i My name is Nanyamka(pronounced Nay-Yom-Ka) but everyone calls me Phoenix
I'm a Old soul of a gal or so I've been told I've always been shy growing up but as i got old I've become more extroverted, I'm a mom of 4 and I'm engaged to possibly the best man ever created, i have in the past 2 year become a fitness instructor something i never thought id do in a million years i teach Zumba and it is by far the best job ever.I am the biggest Prince fan know to man (i own a prince comic book and a Prince chocolate bar ive made my daughter and i matching Prince costumes for halloween ) I have an insane need for all things purple and most people that know me think i need some sort of shoe rehab
I am obsessed with the 1950's, all the fashion, Pin ups(im dabbling in that as well) and hair just the sheer classic beauty of everything back then makes me happy and wish i was born in that time, i love to sew so my main focus when i do so is usually reproductions of the clothing (which you will see my triumphs and failures lol)i have a passion for creating things new and fun, i love thrift shopping and making something fabulous from something hideous, so that's a little about me more insight to follow as this blog progresses thanks for stopping bye and ill see ya soon....i hope:)

New Beginnings

Well although its been a week since my late day at Shore Fit Club mentally I'm feeling kind of like its the first day, I'm past the disbelief of not seeing all my wonderful members anymore and now I've transitioned into the realm of fear of uncertainty.

Although I'm currently working else where Shore Fit was my first real full time job teaching Zumba, so getting the new gang use to me and building my clientele  i feel like I'm starting all over in a way, they say there are certain steps to grieving I'm not quit sure what they all are and what order they go  but I'm in the acceptance stage now lol i know in time things will work out i just miss my gang