Target Cartwheel App: The Icing on the Cake

via Google images

 

My love for Target isn't exactly a secret. I have long been a loyal Target shopper, and of course a proud REDcard holder - who can resist that extra 5% off?! I think Target has always done a great job of making their store a desirable place to shop. But then I heard about the Cartwheel app awhile back, and I thought - this has to be too good to be true! An app BY Target specifically for EXTRA savings on their products? That's like the icing on the cake, my friends! Sign.me.up.

 

I was thrilled when I checked out Cartwheel and it was actually relevant to things I was shopping for. In other words, I didn't have to buy 25 packages of something I don't use anyway to save 50 cents. On top of that, the app is so easy to use. I am many things, but unfortunately a couponer is not one of them. I've tried several tips and tricks, even read an article via Pinterest that was sure to send me on my way to becoming the next big Coupon Queen. But it just isn't something that has ever taken off for me. But with the Cartwheel app? I feel like they took everything I hate about trying to coupon and fixed it. 

 

 

Since you can access Cartwheel from your desktop, tablet or phone app, it's easy to check for (& save offers) as you're making your grocery list. Here I just typed in "diapers", and it showed me all relevant offers. I like this feature because if it's an item I'm not brand loyal on, I can just go with the best offer.

I think my favorite feature is the ability to scan items to see if there is an offer (coupon) for them. (With over 700 offers on the app, my odds are usually pretty good!)  So if I haven't already marked an offer before going in the store, this is a quick and easy way for me to see if I can save on extra items not on my list that might find their way into my cart. (not that that EVER happens.)

Say, for example, a gold glitter belt that was calling my name as I spotted it on an end cap. You bet I can justify that purchase when I got $3 off it! It's a bit of a thrill for me to pull out my phone, scan it, and hold my breath while waiting to see if it's my lucky day. I recognize I might have an issue. Just love me through it. 

When you're ready to checkout, just hand your phone to the cashier and they scan the barcode just once - all your offers are wrapped into that one little barcode so it makes it quick and easy! On a recent shopping trip, I was able to save almost $15 using the Cartwheel app! As luck would have it, Patrick was with me and got to witness firsthand how awesome this app is. I know I sound crazy, but it really was a thrill! This happened before I was given the opportunity to write this post and I'm so bummed I don't still have the receipt to share the picture with you guys. But I assure you, it did happen, and I know it will happen again soon at the rate I frequent Target. :)

I've never saved that much on something like this using coupons. It really got me thinking how much more I could save if I would put forth a little more effort, because Target allows you to stack other Target discounts or coupons, manufacturers’ coupons with it - and not to mention that fabulous 5% discount on top of that if you have a REDcard!

I'll be honest - there's a lot more to Cartwheel than I even knew! I learned lots of fun stuff about it when I took on this opportunity. For example, you can use your Facebook login to sign up for Cartwheel. By doing this, you can see what offers your friends have on their Cartwheel lists. I've found some great stuff this way! If you want to use your Facebook login, but don't want your Cartwheel activity posted to Facebook, you can manage that via the app privacy settings. You can also add offers to your list as “private” if you don't want something specific shared on Facebook. 

As if sharing about Cartwheel wasn't enough, I've got even more good news for you! Each comment posted in response to the question below garners an automatic entry into a random drawing for a $1,000 Target GiftCard®!!

To enter, all you have to do is comment and tell me - are you a couponer? If so, what's the most you've ever saved? 

Sweepstakes Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 72 hours to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 1/30 - 2/28.

Be sure to visit the Target Cartwheel brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

 

 

Santa Visit(s) 2013

We took the kids to see Santa last Saturday nearly 2 months ago. (You can see I had good intentions of blogging this, but somehow it fell into the abyss of my drafts folder.) Anyway, it was a weekend we had a bit of a winter storm and it was nice to get out of the house after a few days of cabin fever. Luckily the mall wasn't too crowded and we only had to wait about 5 minutes to see Santa. Manny did very well, and MB? Just as I expected. Poor sister.

It wasn't actually her first visit to Santa this year. We saw him when we were at the Christmas Train right after Thanksgiving. (Which I still need to blog about - get excited!! :)) She wasn't thrilled about this encounter either, even though she had cousins Zeke, Ellie, and Laci with her for moral support. Manny wouldn't go near this Santa though...go figure.

I like to frame our Christmas card and the kids Santa pics each year, so I was quite excited when I found this fun frame at Kohl's - it was only $4.32 after my coupon!

I also let Manny help pick out an ornament for each of them for the year. It came as no surprise that he picked this horse for himself. It may or may not have had some feathers dangling from it at one point. No clue what happened to them. ;)

And for Maeva girl, he said we had to get this one since she is our angel and princess baby. I couldn't say no to that. :)

And that concludes chapter 2 of "Catching Up Before Moving On". What a ride we're in for! ;)

Fall Family Pictures 2013

We had a mini-session with Amanda Rice Photography in early November. Mini-sessions are my favorite because they are short, sweet, and to the point! Plus Amanda always does such a great job of styling them and provides fun props. Unfortunately Maeva was NOT feeling it this particular day. She was just getting over an ear infection, so maybe that was the case. Or perhaps she's a diva, as she was just fine as soon as we loaded up and left. Oh well, Amanda still managed to get some sweet pictures! While I would love to see Maeva's smiling face in some of these, I still absolutely love them and they are a fun memory.

Manny was ready to work that camera! He kept posing and it was just adorable. His hair in these is my favorite ever!!

This picture is SO sweet and it looks like Maeva is pointing out something in the book. But if you look closely, you'll realize she's actually just picking up her fruit snack we had tried to bribe her with.

As I mentioned when I shared this for our Christmas card, I always love a good cry pic of Maeva girl. :)

And finally - this. Quite possibly one of my favorite pictures. I mean, the chokehold Manny has on Patrick? And MB doing the Taylor Swift heart hands? Just so much greatness in one little pic. :)

Thanks Amanda for the wonderful pictures as always!

Birthday Weekend Fun

Today begins a series I like to refer to as "Catching Up On All the Things I Meant to Blog But Never Had the Time To and Can't Move On Because I Still Want Them Documented." It's a working title, bear with me.


Waaay back in November we went to Dallas and had a fun time celebrating birthdays! My niece Ellie turned 7 and my sister had her party at a fun game park place. Here's my pretty momma with Ellie, Olivia, and Manny.

Each of the kids got a game card loaded with tokens, and Manny was QUITE excited about it!

Maeva is always such a big talker. She begged to get on the rides - until you put her on, then of course she freaked out.

 

Here we are waiting to get balloon animals made. The kids were enamored by this! (Maeva snacking, per usual.)

 She sat there and growled at the lady while she was making it. We're working on our patience. ;)

Here I am with the sweet birthday girl! I absolutely cannot believe she's already 7. She has always been my little buddy and it's so fun to watch her grow! We rode go-karts together and I may or may not have set a bad example by trash talking a 14 year old boy that kept ramming into us. Sorry Rach. :)

And then this happened. Oh my goodness. I have NOT laughed this hard in a long time! They had kiddie go-karts and Manny was tall enough to ride them, so I let him. Not sure what I was thinking as he's never operated anything remotely close to this. He was SO excited and all business. He took right off and ran straight into the wall. Luckily a nice worker hopped on and helped the crazy man behind the wheel, for his own safety as well as everyone else's. :)

Saturday afternoon we went to church, where Miss Priss made her rounds with my dad, Rachael, and mom.

After church, we took the kids home, got a baby-sitter, and all of us adults went out to celebrate my birthday! This was such a FUN treat. I don't know that we have ever really done that with all of us, and it was such a blast.

We went to dinner at a cool local restaurant, then listened to some live music on the square downtown. Very fun!

We headed back home on Sunday, and rounded out the birthday fun by going to the Thunder game on my actual birthday (Monday) with my best friend and her husband. And Patrick surprised me with a ring that has my birthstone in it - wasn't expecting that at all! He did good. :) The game was exciting and the Thunder pulled off a last minute victory, but I think my favorite part was when some random guy made the half-court shot for the half-time contest! It was perfection and was cool to see him make it.

I can't believe I turned 33 years old this year. It just doesn't seem possible, but I guess it's true! I'm so thankful for another year, and such a wonderful time celebrating with those I love! Thanks guys for making it so special!! :) xo

It's a New Year!

Kind of hard to believe we're (almost a month!) into 2014, huh? We had a great holiday season and I still have unrealistic grand plans to catch up on blogging from before Thanksgiving even. Side note: I wish I had emoticons to use when I'm blogging. I might be an abuser of emoticons in texting. Is it weird that I have a running list of emoticons I'd like to see created? There are some that are just needed. (Fingers crossed, anyone? Or a STOP sign already? Who is coming up with these?? Maybe I should write an open letter to them.)

Like this one? Probably one of my regular go-to's. I imagine it saying, "he-he!" Do you ever wonder if people interpret them the same way you do? I'd never really thought about the fact that they could have multiple meanings.

I've always considered this one as a cheesy grin. But a few friends finally asked me why I was using it when I was because it's supposed to be like a grimmace/gritting teeth...not a cheesy grin. I wasn't so sure they were right but my google search just confirmed it. So now I feel like this:

But will probably continue to use it as a cheesy grin anyway. So if I text with you, please note that was my intention if I ever used the toothy face.

Believe it or not, I had not intentions of this post being primarily about emojis. But I guess that's what happens when you don't know what you're going to write about, but by gosh - you ARE going to write before it gets any further into the year! So I dug deep into my soul to bring you...a blog about my intentions to blog, and my random thoughts on emojis? I give you permission to worry about me. And also click away and never read again. (insert smiley winking emoji here - it'd be perfect, right?!) I'm going to stop now, before I wave my crazy flag any higher. Just wanted to say hi, I miss blogging, and I"ll be back soon. (wash, rinse, repeat)

Happy 2014 friends! :)