Crazy Coupon Lady? Yeah... that's me.

So I've entered the world of extreme couponing... and it's a blast.

I've always been a very conscientious shopper, but I wouldn't describe myself as frugal. However, since I now have two children and pay a sizeable daycare bill I've really learned to bargain hunt, buy second-hand, sell things we don't use, and now... COUPON!!!

I owe my inspiration to a lovely woman named Anna Fuller. I interviewed her and her family for one of my "Project: Homefront" stories. Part of the reason we did the story on their family was because the person who nominated them told us about what an amazing coupon lady she is and how much money she saves her family. She has two binders PACKED FULL of coupons, and she has an incredible stockpile of goods in her basement! Here's a link to the story we did.

http://www.myabc5.com/category/190187/myabc5com-video?clipId=6626983&autostart=true

Anna gave me the inspiration to get started and I did... Here's what my kitchen table looked like the night I dove in.

And here we are now... I'm a money-saving machine. Well, kind of. I'm still learning a lot, but I'm definitely saving money! Here's my binder!

Thanks for reading, and happy couponing!!!

Amanda

akrenz@myabc5.com

Pierce Family Christmas in Florida

(Lydia with Mima and Papa on the beach in Fort Myers, Florida)

(Jewelry from her Aunt Magdalena and Uncle Justin...she still hasn't taken it off)

(Santa didn't go quite as planned, but her cousin did okay.)

(Yes we are that family)

(Of course she loved the box.)

(This was the picture on our Christmas card, done by hisandherphotography here in town)

(Church at Christmas Eve)

(My sister Magdalena...due very soon)

So I guess pictures speak louder than words. Let just say we had a fabulous ten day trip to Fort Myers, Florida to see my sister, brother-in-law and my parents. It was unseasonably warm while we where there, eighties the entire time with clear skies. We took Lydia to the beach and swam in the pool everyday. What a blast! I'm so thankful to be blessed with such great times with my family! I hope all of you had a very Merry Christmas, we sure did.

Rachel Pierce

rpierce@myabc5.com

My mom and dad

This is a milestone month for my parents. I don't think they'll mind me sharing. First of all my mom, Deb, turns 60 this month. It's weird for me to think about that because to me she'll always be in her thirties, with a loose perm, playing some mean tennis in the local city league. Of course my mom does and has done tons of other things in her life but that's the most dominant image I have of her in my memory, in my heart. I remember her telling me her thirties were some of the best years of her life because that's when she was raising her three kids. Congrats mom on your 60th, it really doesn't feel like you're a day over 33.

And congrats to my dad. He's retiring December 31st. He's the Davis County Conservation Board Director and transformed a beaten-up, rundown farm and acres of cropland, into a bountiful recreation and wildlife area. I hope people appreciate the work, I know I do because I know the years of hard work that went into it. Way to go Dad, now to some serious hunting and fishing!

Here they are, Rick and Deb Krenz. Two of the most important people in my life.

Bras for the Cause

Bras for the Cause had another very successful year raising money and awareness for breast and cervical cancer. My mom, Jenny came down from Wisconsin to be my date and we had a blast.
If you want to get involved or attend next year learn more on their website: http://www.brasforthecause.com/about-us
All the money raised goes toward providing mammograms and cervical cancer screenings for Iowa women.
ABC 5 is proud to be a sponsor of this amazing event!
Rachel Pierce
Rpierce@myabc5.com

(I helped a little, I'm one of the people on stage.)

Happy Halloween!

(Lydia eighteen months trick or treating as a Garden Gnome)

(Lydia and I going door to door, we had to take the car)

Sunday night was Beggar's Night and Lydia's first time really trick or treating. Last year we just went to a couple houses to say hi to our neighbors. She was totally into it. I was surprised since she's only eighteen months. The first house our little garden gnome just walked right in, it was so funny and caught our elderly neighbor by surprise. After that she got the jist and was ready to pick a piece of candy and say thank you. We were only going to go to a few houses again this year but ended up hitting up our entire street becasue she was having a blast!

Rachel Pierce

rpierce@myabc5.com

(Lydia just walking right into the first house...she didn't know.)

We love the Pumpkin Patch!

We have turned the Pumpkin Patch into a tradition. We have gone to Howell's Tree Farm for several years. The boys love it and apparently so do thousands of other city dwellers. I'm always amazed by the line of cars that turns off the highway into the gravel driveway of the tree farm. It reminds me of the movie, Field of Dreams, "If you build it, they will come." The 'it' being a pumpkin patch, craft store, beautiful potted mums, petting zoo, corn cannon, corn maze, a playground, etc.... in other words, a taste of country.

I grew up in a small town with 'country' all around me. I love the simple life that comes with small town, rural Iowa. And nowadays I'm paying 7 dollars admission for it. Kind of ironic, but we love it.

Thanks for reading!

Amanda

A Very Happy Florida Birthday!!!

I had my big 3-0 birthday on Sunday! My husband a few months back asked what I wanted and I said I wanted to see my sister Magdalena and her husband Justin. So we booked our flights and headed down to Fort Myers, Florida. It was honestly THE BEST birthday ever!!! We did all my favorite things! We took the boat out to Sanibel Island, collected shells, swam, ate great food, played fun games, went to their awesome church, shopped and just enjoyed each others company. My sister and brother in law are the best hostesses! I can't wait for them to come to Iowa sometime soon so that I can spoil them like they did for us!

Ahhh...back to work!
Rachel Pierce

rpierce@myabc5.com