300GB Mini External Hard Drive for $69.99

This is a great deal, even techy husband thinks so! Buy.com has this mini external hard drive with 300GB of space for $69.99 (originally $430 - 86% off). It is USB powered and small enough to fit into a pocket. This would make a great back-up for all your documents on your computer. If you have ever suffered from a crashed hard drive, you know how valuable a back-up can be! If you go through ebates you can get 1% back!

Kroger P&G Deal Plan

Jenny at Southern Savers has been working really hard at delivering the deals this week! She has a great scenario on using the P&G Deal that Kroger is offering (buy $25 get $5 off at the register). I would love to copy it exactly but I have already used a few of the e-coupons that she has from the Proctor and Gamble site that you can load onto your Kroger shopping card (link to the right on my page). One of the things I really like about Kroger is their shopping card and the ability to add coupons to it on various sites (cellfire, P&G, etc.). Check out Jenny's site for links to IP coupons mentioned. So here is my plan:


If you wish to do the same, load the coupons onto your Kroger card, locate the manufacturer and internet printable coupons, print out the scenario, paperclip the coupons to it, and go shopping!

Favorite Deals of '08

Common Sense with Money has a post today discussing favorite deals of '08 and I have decided to join in.

2008 was the first year that I really started to use coupons strategically. I had always used coupons but often did not match up sales or stockpile, which is a huge money saver. It was also the first year that I learned about the drugstore games and began to shop at CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid. That has really changed my life, and now I get to try all the things I would never have purchased before for next to nothing and often for free.

It is also the first year that I have been able to give back, a lot. I hate to admit it, but I was never big on giving to food/item drives. I always felt it was a struggle just providing for our family. When my daycare had a food drive this year, I brought in bags and bags of things, sometimes bags coming straight from the store. It was a really, really nice feeling to be able to do that, and I look forward to doing more.

So here are my favorite deals for 2008:

• Free soap! CVS had a fantastic store coupon this past year that allowed me to stock up on tons of free soap. Also, Johnson & Johnson continues to issue great coupons that make their children's Buddies soap free or about .10 each.
• Muir Glen tomato products. Muir Glen keeps issuing $1 off of any product coupons. Their tomato paste and tomato sauce are usually under a dollar at Publix (found in the organic section) and will give you overage which you can use to purchase other products. I have a shelf full of the stuff, and it is really great, especially for chili.
• Kroger's deals that occur every once in a while that usually go like this: $5 off of 5 products or $5 if you purchase $20 of certain items. I have gotten some great free things when they do that.
• Free Poptarts at Target. They had that awsome deal this past summer and I somehow really lucked into it because I had bought 10 newspapers with the right coupons in it. I still have poptarts (last a really long time). I so hope they do that again!
• Free TP at Kroger. And who couldn't use that? The deal still works, by the way!
• Free L'Oreal moisterizers and cleansers at CVS and Walgreens. They have had some kind of big promotions this year for L'Oreal products. They are frequently free or money makers at both these drugstore. I used to only like Mary Kay's moisterizer since it was one of the few that worked and didn't upset my skin. Well, L'Oreal, your promotions were successful! I have a number of your free products and will probably buy them again even if I have to pay money!
• Stocking up on coffee and creamer when Harris Teeter has triple coupon weekends. The creamer lasts a really long time and it has truly reduced our cost. Good coffee and creamer is a must in our house!
• Free Shampoo at Walgreens. Great deal! This is one to watch for in the future.

Check out Common Sense with Money for other favorite deals of 2008!

Paper Cutter on Sale!

This is similar to what I use to clip coupons. It is sooooo much easier than using scissors. It is currently 55% off at Amazon, on sale for $21. Don't forget to staple your like coupons together before cutting if you have multiple copies.

New $3/$15 CVS Coupon!!

It has been a while since we have had a great CVS coupon. Check out Deal Seeking Mom for details. I would suggest saving the PDF to your computer as there is no guarantee when it will be pulled. It expires on January 9th.

Triple Coupons for Harris Teeter Rumor for Jan 1-4

According to Hot Coupon World, Triple Coupons will be at Harris Teeter on January 1-4. There are unfortunately not a lot of great coupons lately and most of the current ones expire at the end of December. However, there may be a few good coupons coming out on the 4th. There should still be some great deals to be had.

Merry, Merry Christmas!

I hope you are all enjoying your Christmas Day! Have a wonderful holiday!

$5 off of $50 Purchase at KMart for Today Only!

Go HERE to print your coupon which is good only for December 22nd.

CVS & Kroger - Saving 83%

I haven't gone on any major shopping trips in a while due to my Christmas to-do list. So things were looking a little bare in the fridge. I spent the morning catching up on my coupon clipping and finally made it to CVS around 1 pm so the things on my list were a little scarce. I had to rearrange my plan and hope that the things were available on my second CVS trip (two CVS's about 10 minutes apart). I also stopped at Kroger for all the free TP with the coupon from last Sunday's inserts. I didn't take pictures because I am so time challenged at the moment! Between CVS and Kroger, the total value of the purchases was $227.93. My OOP for these trips was $39.46 (saving 83%) with a gain of 21.03 in ECBs. I also stopped at Publix which I will share later.

CVS Transaction 1:

EAS AdvantEdge Bar, 1.69

Zantac 150, 4.99
- 1 MF Q $1/1

Halls, 2.49

Excedrin, 3.99
-1 MF Q $2/1

Crest ProHealth Toothpaste, 2.99
-1 MF Q $1/1

Sally Hansen Nail Polish, 5.99

Iceland Joint Vitamin, 29.99

-$10/$50

-$41.53 ECBs

Total before sales/coupons: 63.95
OOP: 4.92
ECBs Earned: $58.73


CVS Transaction 2:

3 Promax Bars, 3 for $5

5 Listerines, 2.99 each

2 Sleepinal, 8.49 each

2 Xmas Cone Decorations, $10 each 50% off

1 Xmas Dog Sweater, 6.99 (she looks really cute!)

2 EAS Bars, 2.49 each

Rolaids, 2.49

Zipfizz Orange, 5.99

2 L'Oreal Eye Shadow, 6.99
-2 MF Qs $2/1

-$10/$50
-$5/$15 Christmas Decoration Purchase
-$61.05 ECBs

Total before sales/coupons: $100.58
OOP: $2.06
ECBs Earned: $63.88


Kroger Trip:

13 Cottonelle 4 Pack, .99
- 2 MF Qs .25/1, doubled
- 2 eCoupons .50/1
- 11 MF Qs .50/1 doubled

4 Barilla Piccolini Pastas, 1.39
-2 MF Qs $1/2

Bananas, 1.79

Onions, 2.99
-1 Kroger Q $1/$3 produce purchase (mailed to me)

6 Eagle Condensed Milk, regularly 2.69, on sale 2 for $4
-6 MF Qs .55/1

Pot Roast, 15.02
-1 Kroger Q $5/$15 single beef purchase (mailed to me)

McCormick Ground Ginger, 3.54

Total before sales/coupons: $63.40
OOP: $32.48 (saving 54%)

$5 off of $30 at Foodlion and Publix

Check out Southern Saver for the Food Lion coupon $5 off of $30 purchase that you can use at Publix as well!! Great deal and it is good until the end of December.

CVS Deal Scenario for Dec 21 -22

These scenarios are for CVS's two day sale. For some unexplainable reason I keep getting coupons for $10 off of $50 which will really come in handy for this sale. Even without that coupon, you can get some great free items. Just be sure to go early because they disappear fast. I also have quite a few ECBs to spend that I earned during Thanksgiving. I am generally aiming to do the first two transactions and if something is out of stock, I will take products from the third transaction as replacements. Click to enlarge.

Are you traveling for the holidays?

If so, and you are renting a car, here are some great Hertz coupon codes:

Save 50% off your weekend rental using Promotion (PC) Code Number 104182 [Exp. 03/31/09]

Go Home for the Holidays: No Extra Charge for 21-24 year olds for weekly or monthly rental using Promotion (PC) Code Number 126884 [Exp. 01/31/09]

One Car Class Upgrade using Hertz Promotional Code 107785 [Exp. 12/31]

$1/1 Printable for Any White Cloud Bathroom Tissue

Save $1 on All White Cloud Bathroom Tissue Products. It appears to expire 30 days after the print date. You can print 2. This should make the four pack fairly cheap.

White Cloud - Bathroom Tissue - Love the Feeling of Comfort

Rain, Rain Go Away...

Michelle at Leaving Excess shared her Minnesota forecast of frigid temperatures on her latest post. I thought I would share our rainy misery here in Tennessee! Maybe I will get to see the sun on Monday!! Woohoo! I probably shouldn't complain, it could be much worse.

Glade Printable Coupon

As you may already know, Glade has been having constant sales and producing many coupons in the inserts. You can frequently get Glade products free or nearly free. HERE is another printable coupon for buy one get one free scented oil candle starter kit. You can use this coupon and one more like $1/1 Glade product on the two candles that you purchase. Their candles really do smell nice, especially the holiday ones.

Hot Buttered Rum Recipe...Yummm!

Have I mentioned how much I dislike this season? No? Well I do not care too much for Christmas. I love the reason, don't get me wrong, but the stress, the buying, the constant toy commercials, the shortened days, and currently the unrelenting rain has really put a damper on it.

On a good note, a few of these and I will feel much better! I highly recommend them. My coworker makes these for our holiday office gathering (off site, of course). You can keep the batter in your freezer for up to three months.

Hot Buttered Rum Batter

Ingredients:
* 1 pound butter (4 sticks)
* 1 pound brown sugar (2 1/4 cups)
* 1 pound confectioners' sugar (2 cups)
* 1 quart vanilla ice cream, softened (4 cups)
* 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions:
1. Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Blend in brown sugar and confectioners' sugar. Remove from heat, and whisk in the ice cream, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour mixture into a plastic container, seal, and freeze.
2. In a coffee mug, measure 1 tablespoon Hot Buttered Rum Batter and 1 fluid ounce of rum, then fill cup with boiling water. Stir, and sprinkle top of drink with nutmeg.


And since we are on the topic of Hot Buttered Rum, here is a recipe for a Hot Buttered Rum Loaf of Bread.

Something for the Person Who Has Everything

I found this great site, My Wines Direct, that lets you ship bottles of wine to people and there is no shipping until after tomorrow. If you are at a loss for something to get someone who has every possible thing in the world already, this may be your answer!

Update: If you go through ebates.com, you get 12% back!!! Sweet!

Link Love: Great Post on Matching Loss Leaders to Coupons

Check out Deal Seeking Mom's latest post. I love her quote “If you don’t get strange stares when shopping-you’re doing it the wrong way:)”

40% Off Any One Regular Price Item at Michaels

Click here to print your coupon for 40% off any one regular price item until December 20th. Since I am in charge of crafts at my Kindergartner's Christmas party this year, it will really come in handy. They also sell Christmas Decorations and birthday party things. Last year I used one of these coupons to buy a helium box to blow up balloons. It saved me a ton of money. If you have a Cub Scout, they sell cake decorating supplies and cake boxes, as well as things you can use for your Pinewood Derby Race Car.

Still Stuck on Writing a Christmas Letter?

Check out this site: Instant Christmas Letters and Story Generator

It is great for those who have too much to do and not enough time to come up with that perfect letter.

This Sunday's Inserts

There are some great inserts (3) today. Go HERE to see a list of the coupons. I would recommend that you get ten papers today. There will not be any inserts in the next two Sunday's papers. There is supposed to be a .50/1 coupon on any Cottonelle which would make a four pack free at Kroger. So think of it as buying TP with the benefit of all those other money saving coupons!

Shopping for a little one at Christmas?

Amazon has a great deal on a Playskool Busy Ball-Tivity Center. They have marked it down from 34.99 to 6.99 (saving 80%) and it is eligible for free super saver shipping. It has gotten some great reviews. Don't you just love having things shipped directly to your friends/relatives? No standing in line at the post office just to pay a fortune in postage!

Snow Day and Recipe!

It does not snow here (Nashville) often but it was a blizzard (southern style not Minnesota style) when I picked up the kids. They were soooo excited. We sang Christmas songs all the way home while I slowly navigated the ice and falling snow. It was fun and scary at the same time. If you live in the South, you know that any bit of snow or often just the prediction of snow will close down a city and cause everyone to shop at the grocery store as if we were to be snowed in for weeks (generally always melts away in a day or two). And the driving...crazy. My husband is originally from Michigan and just shakes his head and laughs. The problem is that we (Southerners) don't get too much really bad weather so we have not got the practice and skills to navigate it well. So even if you know how to drive in bad weather, no one else does and it becomes very dangerous.

Anyway...I am supposed to go to a cookie exchange at my friend's house this afternoon (still on as it will be melted by then). I was planning on making the peanut butter balls that Melissa at I Robbed that Store Legally suggested. They sound wonderful. I had everything but the baking wax. I was going to get it at the store last night. I did actually stop at Kroger on the way to pick up the kids, but as described above, it was a madhouse and nary an employee anywhere. Needless to say, either they don't have it or I could not find it. Anywhere. Bummer.

So I came home, made the kids some hot chocolate and went to look for a recipe with stuff I did have. My husband's grandmother made a family cookbook years and years ago - it even has antique photos in it of ancestors. I found this recipe which was my husband's grand aunt's. It is hand written and photocopied. They turned out exactly as described, very tasty and easy to maneuver for cut outs. Here is the actual text.

Decorated Spice Cookies (flavorful)
by Thelma Splane

"My favorite for Christmas 'cut-outs'. Simple to make and cut out easily"

Ingredients:

3 cups flour
2 teaspoons ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup margarine (2 sticks)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup Karo dark corn syrup

Directions:

1. Sift 3 cups flour, 2 teaspoons ginger, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon and 1 teaspoon ground cloves.
2. Mix 1 cup (2 sticks) margarine and 1/2 cup sugar, stir in 1/2 cup Karo dark corn syrup.
3. Mix in flour and spices. (I usually mix the dough the day before baking day). Refrigerate.
4. Roll out 1/8 inch thick on floured surface.
5. Cut into shapes.
6. Place on greased baking sheet.
7. Bake in 350 degree oven about 10 minutes.
8. Decorate.

Makes 8 dozen 2-inch cookies.

CVS Sale Sunday and Monday 12/21 - 12/22

CVS will have some great deals on Sunday and Monday 12/21 -12/22. Check out Southern Savers for an advance peek at all the free after ECBs products and super savings.

Sports Shoes on Sale at Amazon

For all of you women out there who want to get a head start losing those pounds put on over the holidays and others who need a good idea for a present to give to your lady, Amazon has marked down their Columbia Sportswear. These lovely shoes are marked down to 14.99 (originally 74.95) and are eligible for free shipping. Better order soon if you want them by Christmas!

For the Locals: Cheekwood for $1 in January!

CHEEKWOOD ANNOUNCES SPECIAL $1 ADMISSION “DOLLAR DAYS” FOR MONTH OF JANUARY

NASHVILLE, TN – Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art will open its gates with a special $1 admission charge for the entire month of January.

“Cheekwood welcomes winter and we hope everyone will enjoy visiting our Botanical Garden & Museum of Art,” said Jack Becker, Ph.D., Cheekwood’s President/CEO. “We have many things to experience out in the garden and also throughout the Museum of Art and Frist Learning Center.”

During the winter, there's more happening in Cheekwood's gardens than you might think: evergreens, flowering apricots in the Japanese Garden, birds and other wildlife enjoying abundant berries, pansies, violas, and the brilliant reds and yellows of twig dogwoods. During this special month guests will have many choices for exploring all of the wonderful offerings at Cheekwood.

• Ongoing – The Matilda Geddings Gray Collection of Fabergé

Among the world’s most significant compilations of Fabergé pieces, the Collection includes 57 rare pieces highlighted by three Russian Imperial Easter eggs, and a number of important functional items, fantasy items and floral works.

• Through January 4, 2009 – Artists Collect: The Red Grooms and Lysiane Luong Private Collection
  This exhibition offers the opportunity to study works by artists who have been personally, artistically, and historically significant to the lives and work of the collectors. Over several years, this dynamic couple has acquired works by personal friends like Alex Katz and colleagues such as Phillip Pearlstein, Jasper Johns, and Claes Oldenburg.

· Through February 8, 2009 - Temporary Contemporary, Michael Oliveri: Innerspace, Permaculture and UFO’s

Drawing from science fiction films, Oliveri creates projects that combine sustainable agriculture and food production with pseudo-science. His installation opens a dialogue between Cheekwood’s art and gardens to comment on ecological sustainability.

• Through February 22, 2009 - Video Installation, Reverse Angle: Emerging Video Artists

For the exhibition, Reverse Angle: Emerging Video Artists, video artists from around the world submitted over 50 works to be selected and curated by Greg Pond, an artist and Professor of Art at the University of the South. This exhibition presents a selection of current work in the field of new media.

• Through January 3, 2010 – William Edmondson: The Hand and the Spirit
  This outstanding exhibition features selections from Cheekwood's collection, the largest public collection of William Edmondson's work. Born to former slaves on a plantation south of Nashville, Edmondson (1874-1951) taught himself to carve tombstones and became one of the most celebrated African-American sculptors of the 20th Century.

• January 30 – February 22 – The Scholastic Art Competition

The competition is the oldest and one of the most prestigious student art competitions in the country. Past winners include noted artists such as Red Grooms and Andy Warhol. Cheekwood and The Tennessee Credit Union have been regional sponsors of the art portion of the competition for sixteen years.

• Decorative Arts

Many of Cheekwood’s most precious works are not hanging on our wall. The Museum of Art has several decorative arts collections on permanent display: Worcester Porcelain, Asian Snuff bottles, American & English Silver and American Art Pottery.

• Carell Woodland Sculpture Trail

The Carrell Woodland Sculpture Trail is a unique attraction among American art museums – a place where contemporary sculpture by internationally recognized artists is integrated into reclaimed woodland. As you walk the trail, experience the synthesis of art and nature.

• Saturday AM

Attendees can also participate in the Saturday AM program, dedicated to interactive family art activities, from 10:00 am-Noon every Saturday in the Frist Learning Center.

• Tuesdays for Tots

Attendees can also participate in the Tuesdays for Tots program, dedicated to interactive art activities for pre-schoolers, from 10:00 am-Noon every Tuesday in the Frist Learning Center.

Cheekwood is a 55-acre botanical garden and art museum located on the historic Cheek estate. Cheekwood exists to celebrate and preserve its landscape, buildings, and art and botanical collections, and, through these unique means provide an inspiring place for visitors to explore their connections with art, nature and the environment. Cheekwood is located at 1200 Forrest Park Drive in Nashville, 8 miles southwest of downtown Nashville. Open Tuesday – Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. For further information call 615-356-8000 or visit www.cheekwood.org.

Link Love: Great Couponing Advice

• Great definition of what a "filler" is and how it is used in various stores at I Am A Coupon Magnet.
• Great suggestion on how to begin your stockpile at Deal Seeking Mom.
• Great explanation on the order in which you hand the cashier your coupons at Math and Your Money.
• Great Couponing Lingo Glossary.
• Great explanation of the CVS program for Newbies at ArtoftheCoupon.com.
• Great explanation of the Walgreens program for Newbies at I Heart Wags.

Kroger Trip 12/9/2008

It's just about time to do some holiday baking. So along with me need for pet food, I decided to take advantage of a few of the deals at Kroger to stock up on a few baking supplies. This all happened in a whirlwind of shopping between work and my first child pickup (about 15 minutes in the store). As I was passing the meat section I noticed a blinkie for Jimmy Dean Sausage $1/1. So as I was standing there waiting for them to spit out the coupon, I saw that Jimmy Dean Sausage was on sale 2 for $6 AND they had a coupon attached to the package for a free package of Jimmy Dean Sausage links with the purchase of that package of sausage. So I quickly took advantage of the sale and the combination of the two coupons!

The sale goes through Saturday so you can still take advantage of the savings. Just as a reminder, I get one paper delivered on Sunday and then I go and buy five more. Occasionally, I get an extra insert with our Wednesday paper. If you wish to do the same deals, you may want to purchase/acquire six Sunday papers. Here is what I bought:


8 Jimmy Dean Various Sausage Tubes, regularly 4.09, on sale 3.00
-8 Blinkie $1/1
Final Price: $2.00 each

8 Jimmy Dean Sausage Links, regularly 4.09, on sale 3.00
-8 Peelie Buy One Sausage Tube Get Sausage Links Free
Final Price: Free

6 Daisy Sour Creams, regularly 1.35, on sale 1.00
-6 MF Qs .50/1, doubled
Final Price: Free

2 Parkay Spreads, regularly 1.65, on sale 1.00
-1 MF Q .75/1
Final Price: .63 each

12 Parkay Quarters (4 sticks), regularly 1.55, on sale 1.00
-6 MF Q .75/1
Final Price: .63 each

5 Red Apples, on sale 1.00 per lb (three not pictured, kids...)
Final Price: 3.62

Eggland's Best Eggs, 2.49
-1 MF Q .35/1, doubled
Final Price: 1.79

Whiskas Cat Food, regularly 5.99, on sale 4.99

Stew Pork, 2.81

4 Generic Dog Food Cans, .45 each (there are just no good dog food coupons out lately!)

Total before Sales/Coupons: 117.34
Sales: 28.32
Coupons: 47.25
Tax: 6.31
OOP: 41.77 (saving 68%)

A Cute Giveaway for Your Little Princess

If you have a little princess at home, check out A Frugal Fantasy. Mommy_of_2 is giving away a collection of adorable bows just in time for Christmas! These would make great stocking stuffers!

40% Off One Item at Old Navy on December 10th

On December 10 only, Old Navy retail stores will cut 40% off any one item via this printable coupon. What a deal!

XEROX is Doing Something Cool!

If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services.

How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! It is FREE and it only takes a second.

Are you doing gag gifts this year? Here's an idea!

I know a lot of families and offices like to exchange gag gifts during the holidays. I thought this was funny, and at $2.98 quite the deal! It's Butt/Face soap at Deepdiscount.com. "There's more than one way to entertain yourself in the shower - heyo! Each side of the bar of soap is engraved, so there's no confusion as you work up your suds." Oh, and one more thing, shipping is FREE!

Leopard Print Scarf and Glove Set for $3 & $1 S&H

Need a present for a female in your life? This is a great deal! Jessica London offers this Leopard Scarf and Glove Set for $3.99 (86% off). Apply coupon code "JLE3040" to cut that to $2.99 with 99 cent shipping.

Walgreen's Trip 12-7-08

Much to my disappointment, my area did not get the Maybelline $4/1 coupon so I had to change my plan. The $5 RR also did not print when I purchased $25. However, on a good note, Walgreen's does have a bar of Dove soap for .99 with an in ad coupon. There are also Dove coupons for $1 off of any Dove face product. These work on the soap so you can get them for free. Overall, things went really well. Total value of purchases was $79.02. I paid $14.18 out of pocket (saving 82%) and will get back $2 in rebate. The sales go on all week if you want to make similar purchases.


Here is what I purchased:

Transaction 1:

3 Reynolds Wrap 20 ft, regularly 1.69, on sale .99 with in store ad
-3 MF Qs $1/1
Final Price: Free with .01 overage each

2 Scotch Tape 3 pack, on sale 1.00
-1 MF Q $1/2
Final Price: .50 each

5 Newspapers, .99 each

2 Dove Beauty Bars, regularly 1.69, on sale .99 with in store ad
-2 MF Qs $1/1
Final Price: Free plus .01 overage each

Schick Quattro Titanium Razor, 6.99
-$3/1 from December EasySaver Catalog
-$4/1 MF Q (Dec All You Mag)
Final Price: Free with .01 overage

Angel Soft TP 12 Rolls, regularly 4.79, on sale 2.99 with in store ad
-2 MF Qs .50/1
Final Price: 2.49 each

-5 RRs from previous purchase

Total before sales/coupons: 36.64
Coupons/Sales Savings: 29.38
Tax: 1.39
OOP: $7.26


Transaction 2:

3 Sprite/Coke 2 liter, on sale 3 for $4.00
-1 MF Q $3 off of (3) 2-Liters AND Any (3) Nabisco Crackers (Holiday Party Planner Booklet from Publix Nabisco display in the middle of an aisle)
Final Price: $1.00 each

4 Nabisco Crackers, on sale $2.50
-2 IP Qs $1/2
Final Price: 2.00 each

4 Reynolds Wrap 20 ft, regularly 1.69, on sale .99 with in store ad
-4 MF Qs $1/1
Final Price: Free with .01 overage each

4 Dove Beauty Bars, regularly 1.69, on sale .99 with in store ad
-4 MF Qs $1/1
Final Price: Free plus .01 overage each

Angel Soft TP 12 Rolls, regularly 4.79, on sale 2.99 with in store ad
-2 MF Qs .50/1
Final Price: 2.49 each

-5 RRs from previous purchase
-3.89 Gift Card from rebates

Total before sales/coupons: 42.38
Coupons/Sales Savings: 35.46
Tax: 1.91
OOP: $6.92

Walgreens Scenario for 12-7 to 12-13

Walgreens has some great deals this week. Here is my shopping list/scenario. Click to enlarge. If you have a good collection of coupons, you probably have most of the coupons I have. The sprite coupon came from a Party Planner Booklet I picked up from a Nabisco Display at Publix. On the last page are two good coupons. Just as a reminder, if you are looking for a coupon and don't know where it originated, go to Hot Coupon World and use the coupon database for information.



Nabisco Snacks $1/2 Printable
Arm & Hammer $1/1 Printable (click on Get Coupons on the top left hand side)

For more scenarios, go to Money Saving Mom.

Kid Christmas Presents for Next to Nothing

Don't have much this year to spend on the kids? Here are a few ideas for you. The Graveyard Mall has some great toys/games on deep discount. Check these out. If you order now, they will probably arrive by Christmas.

Spongebob: Employee of the Month PC Game, $1.99
Bratz Rock Angelz PC Game, $3.99
Dino Island PC Game, $3.99
Monster, Inc. PC Game, $2.99
Toy Story 2 PC Game, $2.99
What's Cooking? (children's book), .80
The Prince and the Goosegirl (children's book), .80
Cabbage Kids, Three's a Crowd (children's book), $1.00
The Lady Who Loved Animals (children's book), $2.00
I Want My Potty (children's book), $1.40
Mommy Time (children's book), $2.00
Treasure Trolls (children's book), $1.00
Polar Bear Cub Book and Plush Toy, $1.99
The Christmas Walk (children's book), .79
Fairly Odd Parents 30 Piece Art Set, $1.99
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom VHS, $1.00
Plush Snowflake Holiday Bear, $2.99
King Kong Deluxe Electronic Story Book, $5.59

Total of 18 presents above for $39.30

And if you have a little more to spend, this looks cool:
Spongebob 1 GB MP3 Player, $22.99

There were a number of other interesting toys such as Die Cast Vehicles for 5.99 and numerous arts and crafts project.

Extra 25% Off at Disney.com Until Tomorrow

Use promo code FF25 when checking out to get an additional 25% off of your purchases at Disney.com. This includes sale merchandise. Good through tomorrow (7th).

Household Pink Tool Kit On Sale...Too Cute!

Apollo Precision Tools DT0773N1 - 135 Piece Household Pink Tool Kit

I wish I knew someone to give this to for Christmas. It is just too cute! I think it would be great for a young woman just off to college or getting a new house, or even for those moms who are crafty. It is currently on sale at Amazon for $22.99 (was $59.99) and eligible for free super saver shipping.

Publix Trip 12/4/08

My current favorite Publix coupon expires tomorrow so I wanted to take advantage of it while I could. It is the $5 off of 10 coupon for various Smuckers products in the yellow Advantage Buy Flier with the Thanksgiving stuff on the front (check the front of your store; there's usually a lot of extra ones there). I had focused on the free Martha White Corn Muffin Mix previously but there were a number of other possible uses that I had manufacturer coupons for. This shopping trip was particularly nice because my daycare is having a food drive and I will donate a good portion of what you see.

So here is what I bought:

3 Idahoan Mashed Potatoes, 1.29 BOGO
-3 IP Qs .75/1

3 J&J Buddies Soaps, 1.09
-1 Kroger Catalina $3/3 Johnson & Johnson products

6 Pet Evaporated Milk, $1.00 each
6 Hungry Jack Mashed Potatoes, 1.69
-6 MF Qs Buy Both Pet Milk and HJ Mashed Potatoes get $1 off
-3 Blinkie Qs .75/2 HJ Mashed Potatoes

4 Pillsbury Frosting, 1.50
-2 MF Qs $1/2

2 Pillsbury Brownies, regularly 2.39, on sale 2.00
-1 MF Q $1/2

9 Martha White Corn Muffin Mix, 2 for .99
-4 MF Qs .55/2

4 Martha White Lemon Muffin Mix, regularly 1.19, on sale .80 each
-2 IP Qs .55/2

Huggies Pull Ups, 10.99
- 1 MF Q $1/1

-3 $5/10 Smucker's Products (Martha White, Pillsbury, Hungry Jack, Pet Milk)
-$5/50 Bill Martin Competitor Coupon from Entertainment Book

Total before Sales/Coupons: 60.22
Sales: 6.52
Coupons: 40.80
Tax: 3.70
OOP: $12.90 (saving 79%, paying pretty much what I would have paid just for the pull-ups!)

Free Redbox Rentals Every Sunday For 5 Weeks

Check out Deal Seeking Mom for the Freebie Codes! Great Cheap Entertainment!

BIG Waterplay Playset 88% Off

If your kids are like mine, they love anything that has to do with water. I can't tell you how many times I have walked into my living room and found my kids playing with a bowl of water (not to mention the big mess). Anyway, Buy.com has this really cool waterplay set on sale for $9.99 (regularly $79.99) and if you go through here you'll get 5% off (only .50 but every penny counts). You'll probably have to pay shipping but still a great deal!

Transformer Toy on Sale at Amazon

Transformers Optimus Vs. Megatron Universe Battle

On sale at Amazon for $5.99 (previously 19.99) and eligible for free super saver shipping! If you have young boys, this could make a great Christmas present!

Malt-O-Meal Printable Coupon!

Go HERE to print .75/1 Malt-O-Meal coupon. These are great because you can usually buy them at CVS for $1. They make great fillers if you need to get your total up to a certain amount to use a $$/$$$ coupon, like $10 off of $50. When I went to print this one, it automatically saved on my computer as a pdf. I have no idea why since my printer is not set to pdf. It must be set up like that at the company's web site. Just FYI. It expires 1/3/09.

Cheap Potatoes at Publix

This week Idahoan Potatoes are buy one get one free. Go HERE for a printable that will make these super cheap!

Publix Trip 12/3/08

Yesterday I had to stop by Kroger on the way home from a club Christmas party to pick up some needed treats for my son to take to school this morning. Normally I would have baked something, but just ran out of time. I was really bummed checking out because I was paying full price. The only lanes open at 10:30 at night were the self checkout which I generally don't use. I just happened to glance down before I left and saw this awesome catalina for $4 off of Viva paper towels that someone had thrown away. I took it hoping I could find a deal eventually...and guess what? Viva paper towels were on sale at Publix and they take Kroger catalinas! Now I don't feel so bad about paying full price.

So here is what I bought:



Viva Paper Towels 8 pack, normally 10.19, on sale 6.99
-$4/1 Catalina
Final Price: 2.99

17 Martha White Corn Muffin Mixes, 2 for .99
3 Martha White Flavored Muffin Mixes, .80 each
-2 Publix $5/10 (Go HERE to see this deal)
Final Price: .04 each

Pledge Duster Starter Kit, 2.69
Pledge Refill, 2.99
-1 MF Q Buy Pledge Starter Get Refill Free
-1 MF Q $1/1 Pledge Product
3 Glade Candles, 2.99 each
-3 MF Qs $1/1 from Publix booklet at front of store
-Publix Q $5/5 SC Johnson Products from a recent insert
Final Price: .53 each for the five products

Ground Chili Beef, 4.80 (so not a good deal, but I needed it for a recipe)

Total Before Sales/Coupons: $45.74
Sales: 5.27
Coupons: 25.99
Tax: 3.21
OOP: 14.48 (saving 68%)

Link Love: Funny Baby Video

Check out this funny baby video at Simple Christfollower! My five year old made me replay it five times!

Pasta with Pumpkin and Sausage

My boss brought this in for our office Thanksgiving meal. The taste is definitely different, but I thought the dish was really good and plan to make it myself. My boss asked us to guess the ingredients, and while we could taste the spices, we did not guess pumpkin. It is originally from Rachel Ray. I think it is a wonderful seasonal meal and has some great healthy ingredients.

Pasta with Pumpkin and Sausage

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1 tablespoon
1 pound bulk sweet Italian sausage
4 cloves garlic, cracked and chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
4 to 6 sprigs sage leaves, cut into chiffonade, about 2 tablespoons
1 cup dry white wine
1 cup chicken stock, canned or paper container
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup (3 turns around the pan) heavy cream
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, ground or freshly grated
Coarse salt and black pepper
1 pound penne rigate, cooked to al dente
Romano or Parmigiano, for grating

Directions:

Heat a large, deep nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and brown the sausage in it. Transfer sausage to paper towel lined plate. Drain fat from skillet and return pan to the stove. Add the remaining tablespoon oil, and then the garlic and onion. Saute 3 to 5 minutes until the onions are tender.

Add bay leaf, sage, and wine to the pan. Reduce wine by half, about 2 minutes. Add stock and pumpkin and stir to combine, stirring sauce until it comes to a bubble. Return sausage to pan, reduce heat, and stir in cream. Season the sauce with the cinnamon and nutmeg, and salt and pepper, to taste. Simmer mixture 5 to 10 minutes to thicken sauce.

Return drained pasta to the pot you cooked it in. Remove the bay leaf from sauce and pour the sausage pumpkin sauce over pasta. Combine sauce and pasta and toss over low heat for 1 minute. Garnish the pasta with lots of shaved cheese and sage leaves.

WFMW: Antibacterial Wipes for Shopping Carts

Have you noticed that many stores have antibacterial wipes as you walk into the store? I LOVE these! For years I would come down with some kind of flu and wonder where it came from, until I remembered that I went to the store. There have been studies that show that your shopping cart is one of the dirtiest, germiest things you will touch all day. I am now religious about grabbing those wipes and wiping down the cart handles and anything the kids would be touching. And guess what? It has cut down a ton on our trips to the pediatrician and doctor!

It works for me!

This post participates in Works For Me Wednesday at Rocks in My Dryer.

Handyman Christmas Present

Lowes currently has on sale a Black and Decker 109 piece drilling and screwdriving set for $9.97 (was $19.97). If you have a handyman or woman to buy for, this may be a great gift!

I won! I won!

Thanks to Moms Need to Know I have won a book entitled “Christmas Sucks: What to Do When Fruitcake, Family, and Finding the Perfect Gift Make You Miserable” (by Joanne Kimes). I can't wait to read it! What a great way to start the Christmas Season! Thanks again, Mindi! She has a great blog, click the link to check her out!

Nintendo DS Light on Sale for $99.95

These rarely go on sale, so if you plan to purchase one for someone for Christmas, hurry and take advantage of this deal at Amazon! It is the limited edition Pink Ribbon DS Light.

New Coupons to Print!

Check out Coupons.com for their new December coupons! Remember, you can print them twice. Even if you don't think you will use them immediately, print them anyway. Sometimes, they stop offering them when there is a big sale for that particular product, like Kellogg's cereal recently.

Walgreen's $5 off of $25!

Walgreen's has a new $5 off of $25 purchase for December 1st and 2nd!
To print your Walgreen's Coupon click here! Coupon can also be used online with coupon code FROSTED (expires December 2, 2008)!

Don't forget you can use this coupon at Publix!!

Sick of Turkey...Ordered Pizza!

We were heartily sick of turkey, and I was tired of cooking so we ordered pizza. Of course we've done this in the past. You know, call Papa John's, get put on hold, finally get to order and feel like you have been totally abused financially because you have to make a decision on the spot for the recited specials. This time was different! For the first time I ordered online. I had this fear that my order would be lost in their system and we would get the pizzas three days later. I am happy to report that it seemed even faster for delivery than by calling. I was even able to pay the price plus tip online. I will never call again. What is even better is that there are online coupon codes that you can use when you order (look for the tab at the top after you initiate checkout to find the page to enter the code). Now that is new! Not only is it easier to order online, it is cheaper. You can also save what you ordered to quickly reorder the next time.

Johnson & Johnson Printables!

Click here to print your Johnson & Johnson coupons. There are a number of them.

Burnt Fingers but Great Recipe!

I hosted Thanksgiving this year for my family. Everyone who comes usually brings a dish which makes it easier on the hostess. When I host, I like to provide many of our traditional family dishes and one new dish to mix it up a bit. It is usually something that if it fails miserably it is no big deal - an extra. A few weeks ago I read an article about Tumeric and what a powerful antioxidant it is. It has been said that it may help prevent and cure cancer as well as a multitude of other diseases. So I found a recipe, Pineapple Chutney, that had Tumeric in it and it sounded good. One of the ingredients is banana peppers. My husband was stopping at the store so I asked him to get me some. I have eaten banana peppers before and always thought that they were pretty tame for peppers. These were not. Unfortunately, I didn't find this out until I had already diced them by hand and put them in the pot. The first indication was that the tips of my fingers were tingling. Then they were burning. Really burning. This went on all day. Cooking Thanksgiving dinner with burning hands is miserable! I tried milk, sour cream, lotion, aloe vera, lidocaine, hand sanitizer, ice and Advil. The only thing that put a dent in the pain was Advil, which I took like clockwork because I knew the instant it was leaving my system! On a good note, the recipe was a total success. It wasn't even that spicy. I think the vinegar and the several hours of cooking really tamed it. The men particularly liked this. I will definitely make it again, only I will wear gloves the next time when dicing the pepper!

Pineapple Chutney

Ingredients:
2 cans (20 oz. each) pineapple tidbits, drained
4 cups diced onion
3 cups packed brown sugar
2 cups golden raisins or dried diced apples
2 cups vinegar
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons mustard seed
2 teaspoons ground turmeric
4 teaspoons grated orange peel
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
2 medium yellow banana peppers, seeded and chopped, optional

Directions:
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine all ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until chutney reaches desired thickness. Refrigerate. Serve with meat or over cream cheese as an appetizer spread.

Makes 6 cups

Download Oprah's Favorite Christmas Songs for Free

For the next 48 hours you can download Oprah's Favorite Christmas Songs for free! Go HERE.

CVS Thanksgiving and Black Friday Circular

Check out the deals here. Their sale starts on Thanksgiving day! They have a number of things free after ECBs. If you have not got into the drugstore game, this is a great time to jump in! Remember, you get the full ECBs even if you use a coupon to lower your cost - making money!

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Folding Princess Castle on Sale

The Melissa & Doug Wooden Folding Princess Castle is currently on sale at Amazon for $57.67 (saving 42%) and ships for free with super saver shipping. This toy has 5 Star ratings on many sites and sells for $99 at Toys R Us.

Tasty Tuesday: Hash Brown Casserole

This is one of our favorites and will be cooked sometime during the holiday. It can either be a side or a great breakfast. When I was younger, I worked in DC for a Congressman. This was his wife's recipe, though I have found it in many places. It is very simple, using crushed cornflakes as topping, but really good! To make it fast, I buy a frozen packet of onions with green/red peppers from the store's freezer section (usually less than $1). I also put just the hash browns in the oven to cook for about 10 minutes while I mix up the rest. My husband says it tastes better.

Hash Brown Casserole

Ingredients:
32 oz thawed hash browns
2 large chopped onions
2 cans cream of chicken soup
12 oz. sour cream
1 stick melted margarine
1 cup crushed corn flakes
2 cups grated cheese

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°. Place hash browns in a 9x13 baking dish. Drizzle melted margarine over hash browns. Mix cream of chicken, chopped onion & sour cream. Pour over potatoes. Top with grated cheese. Cover with crushed corn flakes. Bake at 350° F for 45 minutes.

Saved 64% at Publix 11/23/08

Sorry, no pictures today. I am going nuts too busy trying to get ready for Thanksgiving! I had a few things to pick up for the holiday so I took advantage of the sales. I actually did not do as well as I usually do because I bought a few things not on sale and did not have matching coupons for them (crazy, I know). Check out Fiddledeedee for other Publix Super Savers (some great pictures)! The last time I was at Publix, they encouraged me to use my Kroger coupons (mailed to me and catalinas). So I tried it out this trip. They rang up just fine.

Here are my buys:

10 Uncle Ben's Long Grain & Wild Rice, 1.59, BOGO
-5 IP Qs BOGO (These are the ones I talked about here)
Final Price: Free

10 Martha White Corn Muffin Mix, 2 for .99
- $5/10 Q from Publix Thanksgiving Flyer (see here)
Final Price: -.005 overage each

10 Bird's Eye Sweet Kernel Corn, 1.79, 50% Off
-10 MF Qs .35/1, doubled
Final Price: .20 each

1 Muir Glen Tomato Sauce, .85
-1 Kroger MF Catalina $1/1
Final Price: -.15 overage

4 Bird's Eye Steam and Serve, $2.89, 50% Off
-2 MF Qs $1/2
Final Price: .95 each

2 Bird's Eye Steam Fresh Broccoli, 1.79, 50% Off
-2 MF Qs .50/1, doubled
Final Price: .40 each

2 Birds Eye Voila Meals, 4.69, BOGO
-2 MF Qs $1/1
Final Price: 1.35 each

4 Carnation Evaporated Milk, on sale .99
-2 MF Qs .50/2, doubled
Final Price: .49 each

SB Cooking Spray, 2 for $5
-2 MF Qs $1/1
Final Price: 1.50 each

3 Sargento Cheese, 2.50
-Kroger MF Q $1.50/2
-Kroger MF Q $1/1
Final Price: 1.67 each

Tyson Chicken Nuggets, 3.89
-1 MF Q .55/1
Final Price: 3.34

2 Bags Cranberries, 2.99, BOGO
Final Price: 1.49 each

Apples, 2.13
-Kroger Q $1 off of $3 Produce Purchase (cranberries other portion of $3)
Final Price: 1.13

2 Breakstone Sour Cream, on sale .99
-2 Publix Qs from booklet at front of store $1/1 (found out later, this coupon should be for larger size, but rang anyway)
-Kroger MF Q $1/2
Final Price: -.51 overage

Kellogs Corn Flakes, 2.49
-1 MF Q .75/1
Final Price: 1.74

4 Coke 12 packs, 4.00 each
-Publix Q B3G1
-Kroger Q $1.50 off of $10 soft drink purchase
Final Price: 2.63 each

Unbleached Bread Flour, 3.29
-Kroger Q .75/1
Final Price: 2.54

Publix Bleach, 2.00
-Penny Item
Final Price: .01

Phil Cream Cheese, 1.25 (4 for $5 sale)

Purity Egg Nog, 2.49

Publix Kidney Beans, .89

Publix Hash Browns, 2.69

5 Publix Cat Food, 5/$1.99

1 Alpo, .75

Publix Seasoning, 1.29

- $5/50 Piggly Wiggly Coupon from the Entertainment Book

Total Before Coupons/Sales: $143.01
Sales: 42.75
Coupons: 50.10
Taxes: 6.58
OOP: 52.16 (saved 64%)

Harry Potter Boxed Set of 6 Books for $29.72

Go to Scholastic for this great deal! Use 15% off + Free Shipping Scholastic Store coupon code AFFGIFT Harry Potter's first six years at Hogwarts are boxed together in handy paperback editions. A terrific gift for established fans and brand new Harry Potter readers alike. Set includes Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Nintendo DS B2G1 at Amazon Today!

If you have a Nintendo DS game player in your house, you know how much those little games can cost. Today, Amazon's deal is buy 2 get 1 free. Add three (3) qualifying games from the list to your cart, make your purchase, and you will qualify for a free game. The price of the least expensive qualifying game that you add to your cart will be deducted from your total order at the end of the checkout process. Each title in a qualifying order must be unique. All qualifying products must be sold and shipped by Amazon.com. Offer may not be combined with other offers, including promotional certificates, and this promotion may only be redeemed once per customer. Get them quick!

ECB Deals at CVS 11/23-11/29

Check out Common Sense with Money for some great deals at CVS this week!

Great Post on Grocery Spending

Check out the post at Savings Makes Cents for great information on realistic estimates of what you should be spending on groceries, etc. each month. Wonderful information. For what the government thinks you should be spending, check out my post here.

Easy Cherry Cobbler

This is an easy and yummy recipe that can be served as a dessert or breakfast. It will be one of the desserts at our house for Thanksgiving. It is even better with ice cream!

Easy Cherry Cobbler

1 lg. can crushed pineapple
1 can cherry pie filling (blueberry is very good as well)
1 pkg. butter yellow cake mix
1 stick butter
1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional)
Cool Whip or whipped cream or ice cream

Spray 9 x 13 x 2 Pyrex baking dish with Pam. Slice butter into thin pats. Put pineapple, juice and all in bottom of dish. Add pie filling and mix with pineapple. Sprinkle cake mix over all, then evenly distribute pats of butter over cake mix. Sprinkle with chopped nuts. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. Serve with Cool Whip or ice cream.

Danish Cucumber Salad "AGURKESALAT"

I was at Aldi this afternoon getting ready for Thanksgiving. Just so you know, they have beautiful smoked, fully cooked, Butterball turkeys for $1.69 per pound. They also have spiral sliced ham for $1.49 per pound. While I was there I found some really fresh looking cucumbers at .79 each. It reminded me of a great dish we frequently make for family meals and holidays. I grew up with this tempting foreign dish as I am half Danish (not the pastry, but that's good too!). It has a light sweet tart flavor that is a nice compliment to all the heavy dishes that you make for Thanksgiving. You can slice the cucumber in a variety of ways. I have even used my julienne peeler and it comes out great. It is very easy to make! Increase the ingredients for larger crowds. This is generally the right amount for 2-3.

Danish Cucumber Salad "AGURKESALAT"

1 Long English Cucumber
3 tsp. salt
2 TB. white vinegar
2 TB. water
1 TB. sugar
Pinch of Pepper


Directions:
Wash and thinly slice the cucumber. Sprinkle with salt and press (10 minutes) between two plates. Prepare marinade by boiling the vinegar, water, sugar and pepper together and allow to cool. Drain excess liquid from cucumbers and add to marinade. Refrigerate for two hours before serving.

One of Our Holiday Favorites: Broccoli Salad

Broccoli Salad

Description:
It is hard to believe that this combination makes such an incredible dish. It is a favorite of ours and one of the few times that I like raisins. You can use turkey bacon and light Miracle Whip if you prefer a lighter version. For a festive change you can also add dried cranberries.

Ingredients:
8 slices bacon
1 head fresh broccoli, cut into bite size pieces
4-5 green onion stalks, chopped (red onion also works great)
1/2 cup raisins (dark or golden)
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 cup Miracle Whip
1/2 cup sunflower seeds

Directions:
1 Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.
2 In a medium bowl, combine the broccoli, onion and raisins. In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, sugar and mayonnaise. Pour over broccoli mixture, and toss until well mixed. Refrigerate preferably for at least two hours.
3 Before serving, toss salad with crumbled bacon and sunflower seeds.

You Know You Are Obsessed When...

You know you are obsessed with blogging when you dream about it!

When I was younger in undergrad, I was the kind of student who around finals would always have one of those dreams where you discover that you had registered for a class at the beginning of the semester and had forgotten about it, had not attended a single class, could not drop it now, and the only chance at passing the class was to ace the final. I would wake up heart pounding racking my brain to remember registration day! Later when I was working as a payroll executive for a national payroll company and was responsible for paying our biggest customer (over 30,000 people), I would spend all day making calculations. After getting home late, I would fall into bed exhausted and then my day would continue. I would dream about those calculations all night. I would wake up exhausted and feeling jipped because I didn't get a break!

Last night, I dreamed that I was sitting at my desk at work, and a courier showed up for my signature. Apparently some major corporation needed my release to publish something that I wrote. It took me a few minutes to switch from work thought to blog thought and realize that the courier was talking about a funny post that I had done months ago which mentioned one of their products and they wanted to use it as an example in a Quarterly report that would go out to many, many locations in their big company. Even the courier laughed at what I had said. I was instantly flattered that I had provided something important to a company and that someone there actually read what I wrote! Of course, I signed. This funny dream unfortunately ended at this point as my son had an accident and came and woke me up so I could change his clothes. It was pleasant while it lasted...

So what do you dream about?

Free Cake Mix and Sour Cream at Publix This Week

Thanks to Homeschooling Four for the information. Check out her site for other great Publix deals this week.

Duncan Hines Cake Mix (bogo @ $1.99/2)

Use 2 $1/1 from SS 11/9

Makes them FREE!

Breakstone Sour Cream ($.99)

Use $1/1 from Publix Winter Family Savings Mag.

Makes them FREE!

You could make this:

Sour Cream Bundt Cake

"This recipe is great for both yellow and chocolate flavored cakes! It makes a light, fluffy, and SERIOUSLY moist cake."



Ingredients:
1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix

ingredients on back of cake mix package
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup sour cream
1/8 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting

Directions:
Make the batter following the directions on the box, EXCEPT replace 2 teaspoons water with an equal amount of vanilla. Fold in sour cream. Bake according to directions given for baking a bundt cake. Cool on rack, place on serving plate, and dust with confectioners sugar.

WFMW: My Coupon Organizer!

I have had several people stop me in the store recently to ask to see my coupon binder for ideas, so I thought I would share. First, let me tell you, I have tried every kind of organizer. I have used envelopes (fall apart), file folders (too bulky), boxes (too ugly), CD cases (actually worked pretty good but too small now), trading card page pockets (utterly annoying to me), and even just paper clips (lost in purse). I have been on a quest to find something that works for me. My goals were to have something that did not make me look like some crazed couponer in the store, did not let stuff fall out, easy to put coupons in, easy to take expired out, big enough and easy to carry.

Let me also explain that even though I would take my coupons in the store on occasion, generally I already have my trip planned out and the correct coupons extracted from my binder before going in the store. I have very limited shopping time so I have to be exact (which really saves me money). This means that having the trading card page pockets was overkill for me (and I could not stand the time it took to stuff each individual pocket). It is great for someone who wants it all laid out visually for a more leisurely shopping trip. I can have my sections as a stack of coupons that I sort through and it works for me.

So I waited for one of those great coupons for Office Max - $15 off of $50. This is what I purchased:


It is a Case-It binder (about $8 on sale) with shoulder strap and velcro closing. When carrying it into the store, at just a glance it looks like a purse (avoiding the crazed couponer image).


This is what it looks like from the side. It fits easily into a shopping cart child's seat. It slims down at the beginning of the month.


For the pockets, I used those pencil pockets (.59 each - I bought 40) that zip up (nothing falls out). I also write the section topic on the upper right hand corner in permanent marker so that I can easily go to the right section (in alphbetical order). The great thing about these pencil pockets is that they open on the right side which makes it really easy to take your coupons out in the store if you found that amazing sale while your binder is resting on its side in the shopping cart.

In the back I have pockets for my major shopping stores and their specialized coupons:


There is even a folder area that I can put inserts or coupon policies:


In the front I have a pocket made of material to keep my scissors and paper clips ($1 on sale):


Here are my sections that have evolved over time:

Baby
Bake
Batteries, Etc.
Bread/Salad
Box
Can
Candy
Cereal
Clean House
Clean Laundry
Dairy
Drinks
Frozen Salty
Frozen Sweet
Health Vit (Vitamins)
Health Med
Hy-Body (Hy is Hygiene - I wanted to keep all these sections together as they are in the store.)
Hy-Deo
Hy-Feminine
Hy-Hair
Hy-Make-up
Hy-Shaving
Hy-Teeth
Meat
Plastic & Paper
Pet
Sauces
Snack - Salty
Snack - Sweet
Snack - Wet

Then Store Sections:
CVS
Rite Aid
Walgreens
Kroger
Publix
Harris Teeter
Other

Finally, with my $50 purchase, I also bought a an X-Acto Paper Cutter which really saves me a ton of time. Thus, I paid about $35 for my system and it works great for me. For more WFMW tips, head over to Rocks in My Dryer!