Thank You, Hermitage Publix

In 2011, I finally called it quits on the Donelson Kroger and gave my heart to Publix, completely. For two YEARS I have literally been driving by SIX grocery stores to shop at the Hermitage Publix at Oakwood Commons.

Why? Two words. Customer Service.

For the past few years I have enjoyed the most pleasant shopping experiences. Buying groceries is not my favorite task. It's mundane and repetitive and takes up my time. However, I actually don't mind the weekly chore when shopping at Publix.

I've gone in dressed to the hilt and, other times, looking like a rag-a-muffin after a day at the lake. I always feel like I have VIP status at Publix. It doesn't matter who you are or what you look like. They treat all of their customers with the utmost respect. They look you in the eye. They ask you if you need help and they mean it. They ask how your day is and actually stick around to hear the answer. They aren't bothered by my daughter's weekly request for a cookie. They compliment her on her manners and wink at me. The deli knows how I like my meat sliced and the seafood department has answered countless questions for my curious Kindergartener. She now impresses everyone with her knowledge of lobsters. Plain and simple, they get to know their customers. My coupons are welcomed, rain checks are given freely, and I'm always offered help to the car. In fact, even when it's pouring down rain they have a plan for that too. My favorite employee always chats me up about SEC football and another has developed a bond with my daughter over Build-A-Bear. From the moment I enter the store until I climb back into the car, I am impressed and pleased at every turn.

I'm not quite sure what goes on behind the scenes to ensure that the employees are always so happy and helpful but it's a business model that others should be watching. It's certainly made me a beyond loyal customer.

Yet, after 3 years of bugging your corporate real estate department, I'm finally getting a Publix in my neck of the woods. No longer will I have to pass by multiple, subpar grocery stores to make my weekly purchases. The Hermitage Publix has been good to me. So good. Some wonder why I get so sentimental about it. It's just grocery shopping after all. Grocery shopping or not, I sometimes get the feeling that customer service is a dying art. So forgive me for flocking to one of the few places I can get it on a consistent basis. Your motto is "where shopping is a pleasure." I get it. Totally.

So, thank you, for being what you advertise... and then some.

My new Publix in Donelson has some big shoes to fill. They could learn a lot from you. I hope they don't let me down because I'm kind of looking forward to cutting my drive time down from 25 minutes to 10. It's been a long time coming. :)

P.S. Thank you to the real estate department for making it happen! I was your biggest fan and advocate before Donelson (37214) was even on your radar.

Back To School Without Breaking the Bank

Hello everyone. I just wanted to share with you another article I wrote for FUSION magazine. It's very timely considering that school is starting back. In fact, in my area, Tax Free days start tomorrow, which is another great way to save. Here's to another great school year.

*If you are unable to view the article in this post, please click here*

Ya'll - I'm Published!

Last year, around August, I was contacted by a magazine and asked to write an article for their quarterly publication. To say that I was thrilled is an understatement. It was a total God thing because He somehow orchestrated the right people to be in the right meeting at the right time discussing the right topic and miraculously my name came up. I've since been asked to write for them a few more times and they have been so fantastic and lovely to work with. It's also been a great outlet for me as I love to write and this has given me a good excuse to get to use a thesaurus. Oh how I love the thesaurus. I know, I'm a nerd. Granted, I just had to use spell check to fix "thesarus." I love words but spelling them is a whole other story. :)

Anyhoo, I digress.

In case you've never heard of FUSION, they are a devotional magazine for adults published by Randall House and it's distributed in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. The magazine is part of the D6 curriculum that my church uses. I love the D6 program because it is consistent across the board, meaning that I am studying the same themes that my 5-year-old is learning about in her Sunday School class. It's really neat to hear her take on the same subject and it makes it super easy to discuss Biblical principles together.

Because there is such a big lead time in the publishing world, my article has just been released but this is a perfect time to share it. In the article, I give some ideas for how to have a fantastic and fun summer without breaking the bank. We are seriously counting down the last few days of school over here. Bring on summer fun!!! So, without further ado, please check out my very first published article....

Summer Family Fun on a Budget

(can I just tell you how cool it is to see my name in print! squee!!!)

RECIPE: Loaded Potato Soup

Here's another favorite at our house. We actually had it tonight. YUM!

Photo By Real Mom Kitchen

LOADED POTATO SOUP

2 large baking potatoes 1/3 cup butter 1/3 cup flour 3 cups milk 1/2 t. salt

1/4 t. pepper 2 green onions, chopped 6 slices bacon 1-1/2 cups cheddar cheese 1/2 cup sour cream

Peel and chop potatoes into small pieces. Boil in water until tender. Set aside. Cook bacon, drain and crumble. Set aside. In a dutch oven, melt butter and whisk in flour. When combined, pour in milk. Stir over high heat until a roux is formed. Reduce to low-medium heat. Add salt, pepper, onions, bacon, cheese and half of the potato chunks. Mash the remaining potatoes and add to the mixture. Let simmer for 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream. Garnish with extra onions, bacon, cheese, and sour cream if desired. Serves 4. Can be doubled.

FREE Finance Software to Start The Year RIGHT!

Last year about this time I was introduced to Mint.com. I tried it for a few weeks and I loved it. You can read what I had to say about it here but I was anxious to come back and review this program after a year.
Mint has been a HUGE time-saver for me! My favorite features include being able to set up my own categories and budgets that are specific to our family. I also love all the visual tools they have available. A quick glance on the bar graph lets me know if we are on track with our budget for this month or not. I also really enjoyed looking at the data over a year's time to really see where our money goes. What can I say, I'm a sucker for pie charts. ;)
One of the neatest features is being able to "split" a transaction. Let's say I'm at Target purchasing household items and also picking up a birthday gift. Instead of me having to "split" the transaction at Target, I can do it with a click of the mouse at home and designate just how much of the purchase should go into each category. They also have apps for iPhone and Android, so you can check it on the go.
It's the start of a new year, which is the perfect time to get your finances in order. I hope that you will love MINT just as much as I do. Did I mention that it was FREE? Check it out for yourself.


Mint.com also comes with some amazing reviews from Time, PC Mag, and Money Magazine who give it extremely high marks for security, functionality, and ease of use!

Shutterfly Winners Announced

Well, our big family picture day is tomorrow. I'm saying a prayer now for Grace over at Clearly Photography who has the honor, priveledge, task of capturing our extended family crew of 14 on digital media to be preserved for all time. Bless her. Luckily, the weather is going to be delightful so we do have that going for us. :) I can't wait to get the pics and order our cards from Shutterfly.

And, I'm pleased to announce the winners of the Shutterfly giveaway who have won 25 holiday photo cards. Drum roll please......

clgleaves@

jennysue1538@

loriquesinberry@

Congratulations! Your photo codes will be sent to the email address you provided within 72 hours.

Welcome FiftyForward Staff Members

Today, I had the pleasure of speaking at The Retreat for FiftyForward. If you aren't familiar with this organization, you can check them out here. They are the leading resource in Middle Tennessee for those 50+ who seek to live longer, more fulfilling lives. I spoke at the Donelson Station location, which also houses The Larry Keeton Theatre. My family and I are very excited to be attending their production of Miracle on 34th Street in December, but they have performances year round!

If you are a FiftyForward staff member, WELCOME! I rather enjoyed speaking to your group and answering your questions. I hope you will be able to use some of the tips I shared with you during our workshop and I also want to help you navigate your way around this site.

If you are new to couponing, then I would highly recommend you take a look at my Frugal 101 series. This is kind of a step-by-step guide to get you going. Next, you'll want to browse through the FAQ list for some added info. Don't forget to stop over and "Like" Coupon Queen Diaries on Facebook!

Also, right now I'm hosting a giveaway sponsored by Shutterfly for 25 personalized holiday photo cards! Go here to register to win. THREE winners will be chosen!

Thanks again for stopping by and best of luck as you start on your money-saving adventure!

Shutterfly Giveaway - 3 Winners! [CLOSED]

**This giveaway is now closed. Winners announced here.**

I love sending out Christmas cards. This is one of the first things I try to check off my list. I love getting cards too, especially Christmas photo cards. I mean, it's really nice if you send me a heartfelt card but I particularly enjoy seeing how my family and friends and their children have changed and grown over the past year. A part of my decorating routine is to look back over the cards of the previous year that I safely tucked away in the bins with tree decorations.

Last year Shutterfly offered me some complimentary holiday cards and they turned out beautifully. We used our picture from Thanksgiving at Disney and I thought it looked fantastic. They were the 5x7 cards and the paper was nice and thick. It's my favorite! This year I am planning to order from Shutterfly again. We are having family pictures in just a few weeks where we will be sporting T-shirts from our favorite football team. We are a house divided (Me: Go Bama! - Hubby: War Eagle!). It might be no small feat to select an appropriate card for that photo, but with hundreds of designs to choose from, I'm sure I'll find one that is perfect! Shutterfly also has photo gifts, which make great presents. My grandmother looks forward to her calendar every year.

Are you a blogger? Want a chance at 25 free cards this holiday season? Register here: http://goo.gl/DDw7Q

Shutterfly isn't just treating bloggers to free cards this year. They are also offering 25 cards to 3 of my readers. Complete the form below for your chance to win (Email subscribers will need to visit the site in order to complete the form).

Required entry:

• Let me know how many holiday cards you usually send out.

Bonus entries (will be verified): Current subscribers are eligible too.

• Subscribe to Coupon Queen Diaries Email Updates or RSS Feed.
• Go over and "Like" Coupon Queen Diaries on Facebook.
• Follow me on Twitter AND Tweet the following: "Check it out! @bishopstaci is giving away 25 holiday cards from @shutterfly. Enter to win! Three winners. http://bit.ly/tETvoB"

Details, Details, Details:

• This giveaway is open to residents of US & Canada only.
• Comments will not be counted. You must fill out the form below. One entry per person. Duplicate entries will be deleted.
• This giveaway will end on November 3, 2011 at 9 PM. Winners will be selected by Random.org and posted on Coupon Queen Diaries.
  
• After the winners are selected, I will send the promo code within 72 hours to the email address provided.
  

Good Luck!

Disclaimer: Shutterfly has offered me 50 free cards in exchange for this post. However, all opinions are my own.

Welcome Team Wilson Class!

I just wanted to welcome those of you who are visiting Coupon Queen Diaries after attending the class hosted by Team Wilson.

I hope you will be able to use some of the tips I shared with you during our workshop and I also want to help you navigate your way around this site.

If you are new to couponing, then I would highly recommend you take a look at my Frugal 101 series. This is kind of a step-by-step guide to get you going.

Next, you'll want to browse through the FAQ list for some added info.

Best of luck as you start on your new money-saving adventure!

V8 Fusion $0.50 at Food Lion!!!

Today I happened across an AMAZING deal on my daughter's favorite juice at Food Lion. The V8 Fusion varieites are all on sale for $2.50 each. I paired these with the $1.50 Q from 6/26 SS to get them for $1.00 each! This is quite a deal in itself. Plus, there was also a Q from 6/26 SS where you can get a V8 Fusion Tea FREE when you buy 2 V8 Fusion bottles. Even better.

Then, when I got to the checkout, every 2 bottles triggered a $1.00 Catalina good towards my next purchase. Score!!! That makes the juice $0.50 each + FREE tea.

Deal Break Down:

+ 2 V8 Fusion Juice, $5.00

+ 1 V8 Fusion Tea, $2.50

- 2 V8 Fusion Juice Qs (6/26 SS), $3.00

- 1 V8 Fusion Tea, FREE WYB 2 Fusion (6/26 SS), $2.50

Earn $1.00 Catalina

Final Total: $1.00 for 2 bottles of juice + 1 bottle of tea!!

Notes:

1. I have no idea how long this Catalina is running for. Everything I can find online says this promotion ended in 6/25. Apparently it didn't or they started a new promotion.
2. Because I had no idea about the Catalina deal, I purchased all of mine in the same transaction (15 bottles total) and I received seven $1.00 Catalinas.
3. I was shopping at the Food Lion in Old Hickory.

Happy Shopping!

Dealing with Expired Coupon INSERTS

For all my couponers who save inserts, I have a surprise for you today!!! I came across this website that lets you know when it's safe to toss those old expired inserts. You do need to register for the site but it is FREE.

Once you have registered, you simply select your state and view the list of inserts that have 100% expired coupons. Grab those inserts and toss!

This is a huge timesaver for couponers who follow the insert only method. Not to mention a space saver too. I was so excited to find it!!

Great site. Check it out for yourself!

4x6 prints for $0.01 at Snapfish!

Snapfish is running an amazing promotion right now in honor of Independence Day. You can get 99 prints for just $0.99! That makes them a penny each.

I'm way behind on ordering. I had to go back to my Christmas albums to get caught up. Eek!

99 photos for under $1.00 is a great price!! Go here to order yours and use code JULYPENNY99

FREE Father's Day Cards

I've got 2 great deals for ya on Father's Day cards. They're so great, they are FREE!

• Card Store - Get a FREE Father's Day card using code SENDDAD. Send it to your recipient for FREE too!
• Tiny Prints - Get 2 FREE Father's Day card using code FDGIFT and FREEFD. Ship it to yourself for FREE or to your recipient for $0.44.

I went ahead and had mine shipped directly to their recipient because you could pick the mailing date. One less thing to worry about, right?! They were quick and easy to make and I personalized them with my own photo(s).

Remember, Father's Day is June 19th.

If you are looking for a cool gift to put inside your card, check out this deal.

Best Father's Day Present. Ever.

I saw this today and was so excited. This is a gift certificate for an airplane ride where you are the pilot - a real, in-flight pilot! Granted, the instructor is with you but STILL. You know your Dad or Hubby would go crazy for this!! I know mine will. Best of all, it's half price today on Groupon and there are aviation locations across the country. The certificate doesn't expire until 2012 so, if you have already gotten your Father's Day gift, think ahead to their birthday or Christmas.

1. If you are new to Groupon, sign up here, then complete the following steps to locate the deal.
2. Current Groupon members should go here.
3. Select the drop down arrow and choose Birmingham, AL then look for "Discovery Flight and Ground Lesson" on the right side.
4. Purchase.

Check out this cool video that shows an example of what happens in flight.

Monkey Joes & Pump It Up Deals

It's the 1st official day of summer round these here parts and kid's entertainment deals are popping up left and right. Today, at Living Social, you can score deals from Monkey Joes and Pump It Up.

MONKEY JOES - Get yours here.

• Choose from 2 locations (Brentwood, Rivergate)
• $5 gets you 1 admission + a popsicle.
• You can buy up to 5.
• Expires 10/03/11.

PUMP IT UP - Get yours here.

• Choose from 2 locations (Brentwood, Mt. Juliet)
• $14 gets you 4 admissions. May be used on mulitple visits.
• Limit 1 per person.
• Expires 10/09/11

If you are new to Living Social, you will get a $5 credit when you sign up here. The best thing I like about LS is that if 3 friends also purchase the same deal, you get yours FREE!

*HOT* Old Navy Groupon

Groupon released a new deal late this afternoon but it's not too late to snag it. But you better hurry as I doubt this will still be around tomorrow.

You can get a $20 gift certificate for only $10. You have until 7/31 to use it (in-store only). I'm grabbing this and hoping to maybe use it for uniforms when they go on sale (Groupon is valid on sale merchandise).

• If you are new to Groupon, you will need to sign up here. Plus, new members get a $5 credit.
• Current members can go here to score this deal.
• Limit 1 per person.

Official Publix Coupon Policy (Hermitage, TN)

I stopped in today for my weekly Publix trip and found that they now have official written copies of their coupon policy available to customers. I picked mine up at the customer service desk. The official policy is written on the front and not much has changed from the way they have been doing things.

• They accept Publix coupons, manufacturer coupons, Internet coupons, and competitor coupons.
• They accept competitor pharmacy RX coupons.
• They do not accept % off coupons.
• Coupons much match the items you are purchasing.
• They reserve the right to limit quantities.
• For BOGO offers, each item is a separate sale (i.e. will ring up 50% off).
• You can use 1 MFG coupon + 1 Publix coupon (or competitor) per item.
• For $ off entire order coupons, you may use 1 Publix & 1 competitor coupon per transaction if your total meets the requirements.

See? Nothing new there. On the back of the policy it lists the specific competitors for this location at Oakwood Commons in Hermitage, TN. I was pleased to see Target on the official list but I was sad that GFS was not listed.

Overall, I'm just happy that we have it officially in writing and it will be standard across the board even though the competitors may vary from store to store.

Thoughts?

Vacation for a Fraction of the Cost

We are just 3 short weeks away from a little trip I like to call "School's Out For Summer." We will be spending a weekend in Chattanooga and I'm already scoring deals left and right.

Here's how you can have a fun vacation on the cheap too.

• Plan. My husband has a very laid back approach to vacationing but, in the back of his mind, he has a list of things he would like to do. I'm the exact opposite. I would be perfectly fine with a scheduled itinerary for every day of the trip. However, in order to save some money we have to meet in the middle because, typically, deals don't just fall in your lap after you show up. You gotta find them before you go.
• Hotel. Reservations are necessary to ensure you have lodging. I used Hotels.com to score a great price on a hotel that also serves complimentary breakfast. Be sure to look for those extra perks when you choose your accommodations. Also, Hotels.com has a reward program that earns you 1 FREE night for every 5 nights you stay (does not have to be consecutive).
• Dining. Hotel will have breakfast taken care of but we know that we will need at least 5 meals (2 dinners + 3 lunches) while we are at our destination. I've been following daily deal sites like Groupon & Living Social (new subscribers get $5) in my destination city, as well as Restaurant.com to find gift certificates for half price or less.
• Attractions. For this trip, we decided on 2 big things (1 each day) that we definitely wanted to see or do. I've been scouring Ebay & Craigslist for deals on those attraction tickets. So far, I've been able to save at least 50%, which is huge because these attractions are pretty pricey.
• Snacks. We are all big snackers. To save us from having to purchase these on the road, I will be packing a small cooler with food and drinks. I also plan to prepare small baggies of snacks to take with us while we are out and about each day.
• Gas. There isn't a whole lot you can do here and it always seems that gas prices rise in the summer. :( I like to take advantage of the Publix gas card coupons that will save you $10 off a $50 gift card to BP or Shell. They run these promotions about once every 4-6 weeks. I also use the Gas Buddy app on my phone to locate the cheapest gas in whatever area we are traveling. Sometimes it's worth it to go just one more exit.
• Cash Back. If I'm doing any sort of online purchase, I always go through Ebates. All of the retail links above can be shopped through Ebates where you earn a percentage back on your purchase. For example, right now, they are offering 15% cash back at Restaurant.com when you shop through their site.

A little planning really does go a long way as far as saving money on vacation. At this point, we know what attractions we are going to see and where we are going to eat but I'm leaving the WHEN up to hubby. See, I can compromise. :)

Do you feel like any of the above tips will help you save money on your summer vacation?

Work From Home Opportunity & FREE laptop!

I get asked about my at-home job a lot. I'm a medical transcriptionist and it has provided the income and flexibility needed for me to stay home with our daughter.

You can read more about my journey with medical transcription here and here.

I just found out that the school I attended is offering a huge discount this month ($300 credit) or a FREE laptop! That is an amazing offer. However, you must enroll by May 31st!

If you are interested in medical transcription or billing & coding, visit my alumi page to request information or call to enroll. Be sure to mention my ID (ref13748) to receive this tuition special or get your FREE laptop with enrollment.

Also, if you are a military spouse you may use MyCAA funding towards any of the Career Step programs, which can cover up to 100% of the tuition costs.

Publix Coming to Donelson?

There have been a lot of rumors going around in regards to Publix coming to Donelson. In fact, these rumors pretty much started a year ago when Food Lion closed and left a big vacant space on Lebanon Road. I get asked every few weeks if I know anything about it.

Here's what I do know.

I prefer to get my information directly from the company so I contacted the Pubix real estate department last year and again recently. My emails were returned via phone call both times by Nancy who was very polite and left me very informative messages since I missed her calls.

June 2010 (from memory): We are aware of your area but we have no plans to come to that area now or in the foreseeable future. We prefer to build our own stand-alone buildings and at this time have no intentions of taking over the space to which you are referring.

April 2011 (verbatim): Hi Staci, this is Nancy calling from Publix Supermarkets here in Lakeland, Florida. I received your email in regards to the Donelson area. We do not have any final plans right now, possibly in the future, but I think it will happen but there is nothing finalized at this point. We are a little bit further than the last time I called. We will just have to wait and see if we can get any plans finalized. Hopefully in the future we can hope to serve you in the future in the area. Just wanted to give you a call back. Thank You. Bye bye.

What does this mean?

Honestly I do think we will see a Publix in Donelson but I think it's going to take some time. My understanding is that Harbor Freight and Dick's Flowers are both moving, which would vacate that entire wing of the shopping center. If Publix does come to the area, it remains to be seen whether or not they will renovate the available space or knock it down and start over. Me and the hubs actually have a friendly wager placed on this small detail. He says bulldozers are coming. :)

At this point, nothing is official. If you have received other information, feel free to comment on this post. However, I can neither confirm or deny the validity of any rumors going around. What I know is posted above.

Trust me, I want a Publix in Donelson about as bad as anybody else. Maybe even more. As Nancy said, we're just gonna have to wait this one out and see.

*Fingers Crossed*

Updated 05/06/11: Today I got a tip to check the Metro Planning Council Website. They are showing this project with final approval to overtake the current space with some sign, parking lot, and sidewalk modifications. You can view the layout map here. Details can be found in this document. This is good news. Good news indeed!