When someone goes to the trouble of mailing frappe coupons to me in a sweet card - I know I have made myself exceedingly clear about my love of frappucinos, and I know my friends ROCK.

I'm getting away for a while. Thirty-six hours of solitude, at a retreat center 'kinda far away' as I told the girls. I look for this to be a time to get quiet in my soul and listen. Not sure what I'll hear, I'm trying to go with no expectations (and that's incredibly hard for this over-achiever).

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Before I make my escape, I thought you should know the burden of leaving my handsome B and sweet C & J without a thing to eat finally pushed me to overcome my new grocery store fear. Surprisingly I was able to use the few skills I've acquired of late to fill the fridge - with $4.00 to spare in our weekly budget! And (this is the big deal part, so act excited) I attempted CVS for the third time and purchased three 12-can cases of Coke, a package of Pampers for J, and two trial sized Act mouth washes all for $19 but I got $7 back - so it was like spending $12 and that makes me very happy.

K: So, we need to talk, you got a minute?
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Budget: Perhaps, what did you want to talk about?
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K: Well, honestly, you're totally crimpin' my style
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Budget: Ha! I don't think you can blame your "style" on me
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K: Alright, bad analogy ,but seriously why do you have to be so uptight?
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Budget: It's kind of my 'thing' - my 'schtick' - my 'JOB'
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K: Ya, I get that, but I'm trying ...I mean, I'm even clipping coupons
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Budget: I'll give it to you on that, we'll see how long it lasts
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K: Your confidence is heartwarming
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Budget: I'm just sayin'
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K: So, like, maybe you could loosen up a little?
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Budget: Not a chance
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K: So we'll talk about it later???
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Budget: That's not what I said
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K: I'll take that as a "yes" then

There is so much I want to share about my new obsession...haven't you heard...coupons!!! know, I know, what happened to the running? or the cooking? or the crafting? Well we're in a recession people, and a girls got to eat! So here's what I've gleaned from my online 'bargain shopper' googling...

1. Learn what a 'good price' is. Sometimes a sale is not really a good deal at all. Research your local prices and what constitutes a good price.

2. Collect as many coupons as you can get your cheap hands on, err sorry your thrifty hands on. Even if it is for a product you can't use, if you can get a free product using the coupon during a sale, you can always donate it. {Wild side note, free products really DO happen. I got two this weekend on my first 'hunting' trip, as I like to call it...free salsa and free Excedrin...CRAZY}

3. Compare your local store ads with your coupons, patience pays off when you don't just rush out with a coupon but actually wait until the item also comes on sale. Better yet, 'stack it' (look at me, I've graduated from novice to intermediate) with a store coupon and then the real savings start.

It's like a game, or as I referenced before a really fun treasure hunt. Except the treasure is cheap toilet paper and free pain killers!!!