Walgreens coupon extended

In a previous post, I mentioned the printable $5/$25 coupon for Walgreens that expired on Thursday. It's been extended through Saturday, so print a new one and head back to Walgreens for more great deals. I'll at least be making a trip for more diapers, and probably do the Unilever deal since I didn't get a chance to do that in my rushed trip yesterday. Enjoy!

Sunday Sales (8/2)

Sorry this is so late in the week, but I realized my stockpile is beginning to dwindle, so it's time to do some deals and stock up. It's amazing how much stuff you use in a month's time! Remember, this is essentially my shopping list, and there are other deals out there, so be sure to check them out. Check the links on my sidebar for some good sources!


CVS - check out the ad for your area at CVS.com
Ask the pharmacy about their auto-refill program and they are supposed to give you a small booklet with $25 worth of coupons!

FREE GIFT! The first time you use your ExtraCare card at CVS during the month of August, a coupon will print at the bottom of your receipt for a free gift. The coupon will be valid for one week after it's printed. I got some free chocolate!

Blink Tears or Gel Tears ($3 overage) It's on sale for $7.99 - earn $7.99 ECB (limit 1). Use the $3/1 coupon from the 8/2 insert.

Electrasol Tabs or Gelpacs, 20 ct. (FREE) They're on sale for $4.50 each - Spend $20, earn $10 ECB (limit 1). Buy 5 and use 5 of the $2.50/1 coupons from the 7/12 insert.

Walgreens - check out the ad for your area at Walgreens.com
Be sure to look around and/or ask about the Walgreens Back To School coupon booklet with tons of great coupons!

Gum Tooth 'N Tongue Toothbrush ($1 overage) It's on sale for $3.99 - earn $3.99 RR.

Vitamin Shampoo or Conditioner, 13 oz (FREE) It's on sale for $3.99 - earn $3.99 RR.

Walgreens brand Hydrogen Peroxide, 16 oz. (33¢ each) Use the in-ad coupon (limit 3).

Pencil Boxes (69¢) I'm looking for a non-pastel pencil box for DS. Maybe one of their 69¢ ones will fit the bill...

Kelloggs Cereals, 12-20 oz (less than $1/box) They're on sale for 2/$5 - earn $2 RR when you buy two. There are lots of Kelloggs coupons from inserts and printables to bring the price down.

Benadryl liquid, 4 oz ($1.49) It's on sale for $4.99 - get $5 RR when you buy two. Use two of the $1/1 coupons from the 6-28 or 8-2 inserts.

5-hour Energy, 2 pack ($3.33) They're on sale 3/$9.98.

Walgreens Diapers, jumbo pack ($5.99) They work, and they're cheap!

Unilever deal -
Buy 8 or more products - get $10 RR, buy 6 - get $6 RR, buy 4 - get $2 RR.

• Suave Antiperspirant/Deodorant, 2.6 or 6 oz (aproximately 92¢ before RR) It's 25% off. Use the 50¢/1 coupon from the 5/17 or 8/2 insert.
• Skippy Peanut Butter, 16.3 oz ($1.40-$1.60 before RR) It's on sale 2/$4. Use the coupons from the 8/2 insert (40¢/1, $1/2, or 60¢/1 depending on your location).
• Ragu, 26 oz ($1.50-$$1.70 before RR) It's on sale 2/$4. Use the coupons from the 8/2 insert (ranging from 60¢/2 to $1/2 depending on your location) or the $1/2 printable coupon.

Month-long snack deal -
Spend $10, get $5 RR (good through 8-29)
These products will also work with the Fuel for School mail-in rebate when you buy 10 items.

• Cheez It Crackers, 7.5 or 9 oz ($1.25 before RR) They're on sale for $2 each. Use the printable 75¢/1 Whole Wheat Cheez It coupon from coupons.com.
• Keebler Cookies, 11.5 or 15 oz ($1.50 before RR) They're on sale for $2 each. Use the printable $1/2 Fudge Shoppe Cookie coupon from coupons.com.
• Nutri-Grain Bars, 8 pk ($2.00 before RR) They're on sale 2/$5. Use the $1/2 coupon from the 8-2 insert.
• Club Crackers, 16 oz ($2.50 before RR) They're on sale 2/$5.

Use the Walgreens printable $5 off a $25 purchase (extended through Saturday) to make these deals even better!

Hanging on for Dear Life!

Last Sunday, our pastor used this as a sermon illustration, and it really clicked for me. He was walking in the park, and as usual, saw several people walking or jogging their dogs. But upon rounding the bend, he came upon two dogs jogging a woman. Each dog probably weighed maybe 40 pounds, but between the two of them, she was simply hanging on for dear life!

That's me. Hanging on for dear life. No, there's nothing major, just minor inconveniences, not even one particular problem I can put my finger on, but combined... I had allowed myself to be overwhelmed.

Come to the water. The Living Water. What made those dogs stop in their tracks, giving their caregiver much-needed respite? Access to the lake, where they lapped up the water as if they hadn't had a sip in days. When the evils of this world try taking you for a ride, come to the water, and drink deeply of the knowledge that He is in charge and He will not forsake you. He will lead you and provide for you. He loves you. Always.

Come to the water and rest.

Get your coupons!

Get $30 in FREE coupons mailed to your house! I love the Home Made Simple coupon booklet, and I request one every time they are released. It's got great coupons from Cascade, Dawn, Febreze, Mr. Clean, and Swiffer. If you've not already requested yours, take the 30 seconds right now! It's well worth it.

Sunday Sales (6/21)

I'm running late again this week. I was out grocery shopping today and realized I hadn't even made my drugstore shopping lists yet! Time to get that done and ready to go. There aren't a lot of good deals this week, but the deals I did find are very good indeed (at least in my opinion!)


CVS - view the ad at CVS.com
ThermaCare Neck to Arm Wrap, 1 ct. (earn $1) They're on sale for $2.49 - earn $2.49 ECB (limit 2). Use this $1/1 printable coupon.

SoyJoy Bars (FREE) They're on sale 4/$4 - Earn $4 ECB when you buy 4 (limit 5). Use BOGO coupons from the 5/31 insert or the $1/5 printable coupon to get an even better deal.

Almay Pure Blends Foundation or Face Powder ($3.99) It's on sale for $13.99 - earn $10 ECB (limit 3).


Walgreens - view the ad at Walgreens.com
Chips Ahoy Cookies, 4-8 oz (45¢) They're on sale 3/$3. Use three of the 55¢/1 coupons from the 5-17 insert.

Aquafresh Advanced toothpaste, 5.6-6 oz (earn up to $1) It's on sale for $3 - earn $3 RR. Use the 75¢/1 coupon from the 6-21 insert or the $1/1 printable coupon to turn this into a money-maker.

Johnson's Baby Powder, 1.5 oz (earn $1) They're on sale 2/$2 - earn $1 RR when you buy two. Use two of the $1/1 coupons from the 3/8 or 4/26 inserts.

Sunday Sales (6/14)

Wow. I'm shocked by the slim pickings at the drugstores this week. I'm not even going to bother heading to CVS or Rite Aid. I'm not sure I'd really bother with Walgreens, either, if I didn't have RRs to use. Check the ads in your area, and I hope you've got better luck than I have!


Walgreens - view your local ad on Walgreens.com
St. Ives Body Wash, 13.5 oz (earn $1.50) It's on sale for $2.99 - receive $2.99 RR. Use the $1.50/1 coupon from the 5-10 insert.

Reusable Bags (33¢) With the in-ad coupon, they are on sale 3/$1. Even if you aren't into reusable bags, these are great to keep in the car for just-in-case, and they work well as gift bags in a pinch (no more Santa gift bags in June!)

Printed Aprons ($5) I love my aprons, and I'd like a few more to add to my rotation, but sometimes it's hard to find them in pretty patterns for less than $20 or even $30. I'll certainly be checking out the selection at Walgreens this week!

The Usable Reusable Bag

Green living. Earth-friendly. Eco-conscious.

There's no doubt that there is a lot of hype these days about one's carbon footprint, and a growing number products and practices that help people reduce their environmental impact. Whether or not you desire to "go green," some of these products can be quite helpful. Reusable bags come in all shapes and sizes, in all colors and patterns, and are beneficial in more ways than the obvious. Here are just a few non-grocery store uses.

• Big-Box Stores/Aldi - Yes, it's still related to shopping, but when you shop at Sams, BJs, or Aldi, they don't provide bags for your groceries. Bringing your own bags can aleviate the frustration of moving your groceries one-by-one from the buggy into your car.
  
• Gift bags - Most people I know reuse gift bags. That same "Santa holding a Coke bottle" bag has been present under the Christmas tree for at least five years now. But Santa has also shown up holding Father's Day presents and "just because" gifts. Today, I gave Santa (filled with health & beauty supplies) to some church friends who lost their house in a tornado on Friday. Now if the bag had been red or striped, I wouldn't have felt so weird as I did giving Santa in June. If the bag had been cloth, I wouldn't have had to add yet another layer of tape to the edges to hold it together. Yes, it worked, but a reusable shopping bag would have worked better.
• Errand tote - Library books to return, envelopes to drop off at the post office, and birthday invitations to pass out at the play-date. Toss things into the bag as you think of them, then next time you go out to run errands, just take the tote and go. No more searching under the beds for overdue books, no more rummaging through files for the phone bill, and no invitations discovered in the bottom of the diaper bag a week after your son's birthday party!
• Beach bag - Stuff in a few towels and sunscreen, and you're ready to head to the pool or the beach. Much more stylish than a plastic grocery bag, and easier to clean than your duffle.
• Travel back-up bag - Keep one or two (most of them fold pretty small) in your suitcase when you travel. If you pick up extra souvenirs, you won't have to worry about how to fit them into your suitcase.
• Mall bag - Instead of carrying 15 bags with rope handles, each of which contains only 3 items, bag all of your items into the same over-the-shoulder bag and save your wrist and your sanity!
• Organize your trunk - We've all got stuff we like to keep on hand in the trunk, but piling your groceries on top of your emergency supplies is probably not the wisest decision. Use a reusable bag or two to store your items together so that you can easily get to them if needed. You can even color-code, with emergency supplies in a red bag, and baby/toddler supplies in a blue bag!

You don't have to get the dull, boring bags found near the check-out at your local grocery store. Be creative and make your own original creation using one of these 35 patterns from Tipnut, or check out the amazing selection of stylish reusable bags, bottles, and more at reusablebags.com.

Sunday Sales (6/7)

I usually try to have my shopping lists done by Saturday, but I'm a little late this week. That's okay, though, since the ads didn't technically come out until today. I've added Rite Aid to my list this week. I don't usually go there, but they've got some worthwhile deals this week. Check the links on my blog for more deals and steals.


CVS - check out the ad for your area at CVS.com
Bayer Contour Meters (earn $5) They're on sale for $14.99 - earn $5 ECB (limit 1). Use the $30/1 coupon from the 3-1 or 3-22 insert. The coupon value will be adjusted down to $14.99, then your $5 ECB will print.

Dawn Dish Detergent (FREE) It's on sale 2 for $2 - earn $1 ECB (limit 1). Use two of the 50¢/1 from the Home Made Simple mailer to get the detergents for free, or two of the 25¢/1 coupons from the 6-7 insert and pay only 50¢ for two.

Gillette Fusion Razor (FREE) It's on sale for $7.99 - earn $4 ECB (limit 1). Use the $4/1 coupon from the 6-7 insert.

Banana Boat Suncare Products (as low as $1.69 each) They're on sale, buy two products, get $7 ECB. Prices start at $7.19 each, so your final price depends on which products you purchase. Use two of the $2/1 printable coupons from BananaBoat.com. With two fair-skinned children taking after their fair-skinned mama, I'm always looking for a good sunscreen deal.

Coke 12-packs ($2.50 each) They're on sale 4/$13 - earn $3 ECB (limit 1).

Pampers Jumbo Pack Diapers ($2.99) They're on sale for $8.99. If you printed out the web coupon from CVS.com on Sunday, you will earn $5 ECB (limit 3). Use the $1/1 coupon from the 6-7 insert to get the diapers for $2.99 each. (They changed the web coupon on Monday and took off the ECBs, but they will still honor the previous print-out according to a email sent to store managers from corporate.)


Walgreens - check out the ad for your area at Walgreens.com
Sunmaid Raisins, 18 oz ($1.99) Use the in-ad coupon (limit 4).

Slim Fast Optima Bars, 6 pk ($2.99) They're on sale for $5.99, buy two and get $2 RR. Use two $2/1 printable coupons from SlimFast.com (you have to register first) or the $1.25/1 coupons from the 5-17 insert.

Rimmel Cosmetics - They're on sale for 40% off. Use the $1/1 coupon from the 4-19 insert or the BOGO coupon from the May edition of All You Magazine.

Nature Made vitamins & suppliments - They're on sale Buy One, Get One Free. Use two of the $1/1 coupons from the 6-7 insert or the February edition of All You Magazine.

No Nonsense, 6-pk socks, 3-pk pantyhose, or 10-pk knee highs - They're on sale Buy One, Get One Free. Use two of the $1/1 coupons from the 3-29 insert.


Rite Aid -
Print your $5/$25 coupon before you head to the store for extra savings!
Colgate Children's Toothpaste, 4.6 oz, or Toothbrush, single-pack only (24¢) It's on sale for $1.99. Use the $1/1 in-ad coupon to get it for 99¢. Then use the 75¢/1 coupon from the 6-7 insert. Deals on children's oral care are hard to find, so I'll be stocking up!

Noxema razors, 4ct (earn 11¢) They're on sale for $1.89. Use the $2/1 coupon from the April edition of All You Magazine.

Folding Quad Chair with Canopy ($14.99) I've been looking for a chair I can take to the pool or the backyard that will provide some shade for me. This will do the trick!


Cheap, Cheap, Cheap Chocolate Alert!!

My buy price for candy bars is 40¢, but at these prices, I intend to stock up on some Mars Candy Bars at Rite Aid or Walgreens.
Rite Aid has the single Mars candy bars on sale Buy One at 88¢, Get One Free. Use the BOGO coupon from the 5-17 insert and they will take off either 88¢ or 85¢ depending on whether they read the coupon carefully or not. You will get your candybars for FREE or 2 for 3¢.

There are some candybars at Walgreens that have a blue tag in the corner that says "2/$1." Use the BOGO coupon from the 5-17 insert to get them for 25¢ each.

The candybars without the "2/$1" tags will ring up 89¢ for the first one, and 70¢ for the second. First give the cashier the BOGO coupon from the 5-17 insert and they will probably take off 70¢. Then give them the Walgreens in-ad coupon (2/$1) which will take off another 59¢. So you're paying 15¢ each.

Grocery Deals (6/3-6/9)

This is looking like a pretty good week. There's lots of good meat sales, so I will probably be focusing on stocking up on that. We've had a lot of veggie deals lately, but meat has been slim pickings and the meat section of my freezer is nearly empty. Remember, there are other deals, but this is essentially my shopping list. Check the links on my blog for more complete deal lists.

Kroger
Meat Sale -

• Sanderson Farms Family Pack Split Chicken Breasts, fresh, all natural - 97¢/lb
• Country Select Salmon Fillets, frozen, sold in 3 lb. box - $4.99/lb
• Hormel Seasoned Pork Fillets, 23-27.2 oz pkg - $5.97 each (use the $1/1 from the 5-17 insert)
  
• Private Selection Bone-in Turkey Breast, frozen - $1.17/lb
• Flavor Seal Ground Beef, fresh, sold in 5 lb pkg - $1.58/lb
• Kroger Value Whole Fryer, fresh - 88¢/lb

Other deals -

• Yoplait Yogurt Cups - 2/$1 (use the 40¢/6 coupon from the 5-31 or 4-19 insert to get them for 37¢ each)
  
• Gala Apples - 99¢/lb
• Valencia Oranges, 4 lb bag - $1.99
• Roma Tomatoes - 97¢/lb
• Florida Sweet Corn - 4/$1

Schnucks

• HoneySuckle White Ground Turkey, 16 oz roll, frozen - 10/$10
• Soy Joy Nutrition Bars - 10/$10 (use the coupon from the 5-31 insert or the $1/5 printable coupon from soyjoy.com to get them for 80¢ each)
• Oscar Mayer Louis Rich Turkey Cotto Salami or Turkey Bologna, 16 oz - 10/$10 (use the $1/2 coupon from the 5-31 insert to get them for 50¢ each
• Old Orchard Juice, 64 oz - 2/$3 (use the $1/2 printable coupon from oldorchardjuice.com to get two bottles for $1 each!)
• Butterball turkey, frozen, 16-24 lb average (I don't know the starting price, but there's a coupon for $6 off in-store. Perhaps this coupon would be usable at another store or later at a better price?)
• Ripe Avocados - 10/$10

Sunday Sales (5/31)

Here's my drugstore shopping list for this week. Actually, I won't go to CVS unless my area has the milk deal. Remember to check out the links on my blog for some great sites that list even more deals. *Note - My grocery store ads run from Wednesday-Tuesday, so I will post my grocery lists on Wednesday.


CVS - see the ad courtesy of Hot Coupon World and Slick Deals
Gallon of milk, all varieties ($1.79) It's on sale for $2.79/gallon - earn $1 ECB (limit 2) - Offer not in all states!

Memory Foam Pillow ($9.99)

iTunes Gift Card - spend $50, get $10 ECBs (limit 5)


Walgreens - see the ad courtesy of Hot Coupon World
Bayer Contour or Breeze 2 Meter ($10 money-maker) They're on sale for $10 - earn $10 RR. Use an "up to $30 off" coupon from 10-26, 2-1, or 3-22. If you don't need the meter, donate it (or give it to FIL to replace the one that your children broke while they were visiting!)

Ecotrin, 40 ct. ($2 money-maker) It's on sale for $2 - earn $2 RR. Use the $2/1 coupon from the 5-17 insert for overage. (You'd better do this deal five times, mom, since I gave you all five of my coupons!)

Bic Soleil disposable razors, 4-pack (99¢) They're on sale for $4.99 - earn $1 RR. Use the $3/1 coupon from the 5-17 insert.

Kellogg's Nutri-Grain bars, 8-pack ($1.75) They're on sale at 4/$10 - earn $3 RR when you buy 4.

Duracell Batteries ($1.99) There's an in-ad coupon making these $2.99 each. Use the $1/1 coupon from the 5-17 insert.

Expectations

One of my common phrases has always been, "Expect the worst; then you'll be pleasantly surprised!" Being disappointed in something you've had high expectations for can so easily ruin your day that I've always thought it easier to avoid disappointment altogether.

DH has wanted an iPhone for so long now that it's been a daily topic of conversation for at least three months. With our two-year contract halfway completed, he went to the cell-provider's store to make his purchase as his birthday present. To make a long, complicated story short, he was told he couldn't get an iPhone for another 4 days. He went to another store, which not only confirmed that he couldn't get one that day, but said that according to the fine print, he'd have to wait until January 2010! Angry, frustrated, and disapointed, he returned home empty-handed.

He decided that he would return to that first store after four days to see if he could get his iPhone anyway. Those four days were miserable for the entire family. He could not hide his anger and frustration from dealing with incomprehensible policies. He had little expectation that the phone company would pull through, but he was going to try anyway just in case.

When my Bible study was interrupted by his triumphant phone call from his new iPhone, the first thing I (jokiningly) said was, "So you put yourself and the WHOLE family through this for nothing?!" After hanging up, I looked again at the focus verse.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Philippians 4:8

"Of course," I thought smugly, "DH's whole outlook on life was brought down by his negative thinking. And his attitude affected all of us for days! How much better it would have been if he didn't expect the worst!" There was that phrase... my phrase... my advice. "Expect the worst; then you'll be pleasantly surprised." Okay, DH may have frustrated me for 4 days, but this has been my mantra for at least 15 years! How many others have I made miserable in that time? How many hours have I wasted bemoaning catastrophies that never came to pass? Think about these things...

Grocery Deals (5/27-6/2)

Vacation is good, but sometimes you need to take a break from "family time" and get some alone time. What a great chance to check the grocery circulars for this week and start my shopping list for our return. I always try to clean out the fridge before a long trip, but it always means we come home to an empty fridge! So unless we want to eat ketchup & pickle quesadillas for supper... Remember, these are my local deals that run from Wednesday-Tuesday. Check your stores' ads to see if the same ones are in your area.

Kroger
10 for $10 continues!:

• Kroger frozen veggies, 9-16 oz
• Green Giant frozen veggies, 7-10 oz (many coupons available)
• Dial bar soap or pumps (35¢/1 coupon from 3-8 insert)
• Cattlemen's BBQ sauce, 18 oz (50¢/1 printable from Cattlemen's website)
• Cool Whip ($1/2 printable from coupons.com)

Other Deals:

• Kroger Milk, all varieties, 1/2 gallon - $1.29
• Kroger Eggs, large or ex-large, dozen - 88¢
• Gala Apples - 99¢/lb

Schnucks
Boneless Round Steak - $1.99/lb
Fresh Express Premium Garden Salad, 9-12 oz - $1.49 each
Florida's Natural OJ, 64 oz - $2.88
Dole Juice Blends, 64 oz - $2.50
Bertolli Pasta Sauce, 13.5-24 oz - 90¢ each - on sale $2 each (coupon from 4-5 insert)

Sunday Sales (5/24)

Hope you got your shopping fix last week, because there's not much going on this week. I'm helping someone find some good makeup deals, and the deodorant, toothpaste, and bandaids are just fillers to use my RRs or ECBs before they expire (that's called "rolling" your RRs, by the way.) These are the deals I'm planning on checking out at the drugstores. Check the links on my blog for sites that list even more deals. Oh, yeah! Remember, it's Memorial Day weekend, so there are no coupons in today's paper. Don't waste your money trying to save it!


CVS - see the ad courtesy of Hot Coupon World
Sunday & Monday ONLY:

• Band-aids (FREE) They're on sale for $2.99 - earn $2 ECB (limit 2). Use the $1/1 coupon from the 2-8 or 4-26 insert.
• Clearasil Stayclear facewash (earn $1) It's on sale for $3.99 - earn $3.99 ECB (limit 1). Use the $1/1 from the 4-19 insert.
• Revlon Nail Color (FREE) It's on sale for $3.99 - earn $3 ECB (limit 1). Use the $1/1 cosmetic coupon from the 4/26 insert.

Other Deals:

• Colgate Total Advanced (FREE - possible overage) It's on sale for $2.99 - earn $2 ECB (limit 1). Use the $1/1 from the 5-10 insert, the $1/1 printable from colgate.com, or the $1.50/1 from the March issue of All You Magazine.
• Speed Stick Pro deodorant, 2.7 oz (FREE) It's on sale for $3.99 - earn $3.99 ECB (limit 2).
• Loreal True Match compact Makeup ($8.99) It's on sale for $12.99 - earn $2 ECB (limit 1). Use the $2/1 coupon from the 4-5 insert.
• Covergirl Simply Ageless foundation ($11.99) It's on sale for $12.99. Use the $1/1 from the 5-3 insert.
  

Walgreens- - see the ad on Walgreens.com
Covergirl Cosmetics (price varies) It's on sale Buy One Get One 50% off. Use two $1/1 coupons from the 5-3 insert.

Loreal Face & Lip Cosmetics (price varies) It's on sale Buy One Get One Free.

Trident gum (FREE) It's on sale 3/$2. Use the 75¢/1 coupon from the 5-10 insert.

Grocery Deals (5/20-5/26)

My grocery store sales run Wednesday to Tuesday, so here are the grocery deals I'm planning to purchase. Kroger's got some great deals that match up with coupons, so it's stock-up time! Schnucks doesn't have any deals that are worth my time and gas, so I'll pass them up this week.


Kroger
10/$10 sale -

• Kool-aid sugar-sweetened 8 qt. canisters (50¢) - Get two and use the $1/2 printable coupon from coupons.com. We don't usually drink it, but Kool-aid is great to have on hand just in case, especially at that price!
• Michelina's entrees, 5-9 oz frozen (80¢) - Use the $1/5 printable Lean Gourmet coupon or the $1/5 printable Traditional recipe coupon.
• Clif Builder's Protein Bar (77¢) - Use the $1/3 coupon from the Go Organic for Earth Day booklet found in Kroger last month.
• Kroger Frozen Vegetables, 9-16 oz - No coupons that I know of, but I'm getting some anyway!
• Kroger dozen large or ex-large eggs
• Kroger value baby wipes, 80 ct.

Other deals not part of the 10/$10 sale -

• Ball Park Franks, ($1.50) - They're on sale 2/$4. Use the $1/2 coupon from the 5-17 insert.
• Hellmann's Mayonnaise, 30-32 oz ($1.53-$2.23) - It's on sale for $2.73. Use the coupon from the 5-17 insert (50¢/1, 60¢/1, 60¢/2, or $1/2 depending on your region).
• Kraft Miracle Whip, 30-32 oz ($1.73) - It's on sale for $2.73. Use the $1/1 printable coupon from coupons.com.
• Pepsi 12-packs ($2.40 each) - They're on sale 4/$12, buy 4 - get 1 free. That's 20¢/can.
• Mentos gum (FREE) - Though it's not advertised, it's on sale in most stores for 99¢. Use the $1/1 or the 55¢/1 coupon (doubled) from the 5-3 insert to get them
• Kraft Barbecue Sauce, 18 oz (6/$1 without coupons, money-maker with coupons!) - Now this is a good deal. Buy six bottles. They're on sale 4/$4 - get two FREE when you buy 4. So you get 6 bottles for $4. But wait! Use up to six of the BBQ sauce coupons from the 5-3 insert (either 75¢/1 or $1/2 depending on your region) to make them even cheaper. But there's more! When you get six bottles on the same receipt BEFORE 5-24, when you check out, you will get a catalina coupon for $3 off your next order!
• DiGiorno or California Pizza Kitchen Pizza, assorted varieties 11.9-34.2 oz (as low as $2.24 each) - They're on sale for $4.99 each. Use the $1.50/1 DiGiorno coupon from the 5-17 insert or the $1/1 printable from coupons.com. Use the$1/1 California Pizza Kitchen Pizza coupon from the 5-17 insert or the $1/1 printable from coupons.com. But wait; there's more! There's another catalina deal where if you purchase 4 in "any combination of 12" DiGiorno or California Pizza Kitchen Pizza varieties" you will receive a catalina for $5 off your next order.
• Mangos - They're on sale 3/$1!

All You Magazine Subscription Deals

I've mentioned before that All You magazine is a great source for coupons... and also a quality read! Amazon has a special deal going on right now where you can get a full year's subscription for $10 IF you order by May 31. It's regularly $15 through Amazon, but if you purchase in May, you get an instant discount of $5 applied at checkout. Not a bad deal at all! Of course, Marli at Womanly Excellence still has a two-year subscription for $18 through Southern Living at Home. That's obviously the better deal, and she's great to work with. However, if you're not sure you want to commit to two years, the Amazon deal is a great opportunity to get a year's subscription at a good price.

Sunday Sales (5/10) - Target & Walmart

I don't usually make a list for Target or Walmart. I get frustrated because the prices vary so much by area. The best deals are usually found in the clearance section when you use your coupons. However, I saw some deals in yesterday's fliers, so I'm making my list! Remember, I'm listing the deals I plan to get. This is essentially my own personal shopping list.


Target - Check out the Target forum on Hot Coupon World or A Full Cup to see more.
Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs (FREE) They're ranging in price from $1.95-$2.05 depending on where you are. Use the $1/1 Target printable coupon AND the $1/1 printable manufacturer's coupon from coupons.com to get them nearly free (depending on the price in your area). Remember to hand them the manufacturer's coupon first!

Bertolli Frozen Meals ($3.00 each) They're on sale for $6.00 each, buy 3 and get a $5 gift card. Buy 3 and use two $1.50/1 printable coupons from the Bertolli website, and one of the $1/1 coupons from the 3-15 insert. Get back a $5 Target Gift Card.

Circo Rash Guard T-shirts ($6.99) My boys lived in these last summer, and I've got hand-me-downs for Little Brother to wear, but Big Brother is without any. It's not the best price in the world, but I don't have time to go searching right now! Besides, I received a coupon in the mail last week for $5 off when I spend $50, and these shirts (and maybe a cute top for me) will help get me there.


Walmart - Check out the Walmart forum on Hot Coupon World or A Full Cup to see more.
Kraft Miracle Whip, 16.5-18 oz ($1.00) They're on sale for $2.00. Use the $1/1 printable coupon from coupons.com.

Hershey's Bonus-Sized Syrup ($1.18) They've got the 26 oz. size for $1.68. Buy two and use the $1/2 coupon from the 5-17 insert. The 24 oz is regularly priced at $1.95, so it's a decent deal. FYI, I started couponing in November, and last week was the first time I've seen a coupon for Hershey's syrup. I think the next batch will be coming in August, so if you want some, go get them now!

Hone Maid Graham Crackers, 14 oz. ($1.50) It's on sale for $2.50. Use the $1/1 printable coupon from coupons.com.

Breyers Ice Cream, 48 oz. ($1.75) It's on sale for $2.25. Use the $1/2 coupon from the 5-17 insert.

Ball Park Beef Franks ($2.00) They're on sale for $2.50. Use the $1/2 coupon from the 5-17 insert to get two packages for $4. Not the best price in the world, but when Ball Park Beef Franks are the only ones your kids will eat... I'd be perfectly happy to never buy hotdogs again if only they wouldn't request them daily. Oh, well.

Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bars, 6 pack ($2.50) I like to have these on hand. At 42¢ each, they're not a great price, but if CVS doesn't include the plain Hershey bars in their candy deal, this is the best I can do right now.

Sunday Sales (5/17) - CVS & Walgreens

I hadn't even thought about this week's sales and coupon match-ups until I saw the massive number of coupon inserts in today's paper, but now I'm chomping at the bit to see what kind of deals I can get this week. I also saw some promising deals for Wal-Mart and Target, so I'll be doing those in another post.


CVS - see the ad courtesy of Hot Coupon World
Purex (2 for FREE) They're on sale for $6.99 - Buy One, Get One free. Use the BOGO internet printable coupon if you still have it (it's not available anymore) to get 2 detergents for free. If only they had HE detergent!

Schick Disposable Razors, trial size (FREE) They're sold for 99¢. Buy two and use the $2/1 coupon from the 5-10 insert to get them free!

Colgate Sensitive Whitening, Enamel Protect Toothpaste, 6 oz or Colgate Visible White, 4 oz. (99¢) They're on sale for $3.99 - Earn $2 ECB (limit 1.) Use the $1/1 coupon from the 5-17 insert.

Honey Maid Grahams, 14.4 oz ($1.50 each) They're on sale 2/$5. Buy 2 and use 2 of the $1/1 printable coupons from coupons.com.

CoverGirl Outlast lip color or lip stain ($2) It's on sale for $7 - earn $3 ECB. (limit 1) Use the $2/1 coupon from this week's insert (5-17) to bring the price to $2. Great price for my favorite, must-have lipstick! I'm just disappointed that the limit is only one...

Tropicana OJ, 64 oz ($2 each). They're on sale 2/$5. Use the $1/2 coupon from the 5-3 insert.

Sally Hansen products (various prices) They're on sale Buy One, Get One free. There are various coupons from the 3-8, 3-29, 5-10, and 5-17 inserts. The May and June issues of All You Magazine have some BOGO coupons that would work wonderfully with this!


Walgreens - see the ad courtesy of Hot Coupon World
Colgate Visible White Toothpaste (earn $1) It's on sale for $4.99 - earn $4.99 RR when you buy one. Use the $1/1 printable coupon from colgate.com.

Dry Idea Clinical Complete (earn $1 or FREE) It's on sale for $5.99 - earn $5 RR when you buy one. Use the $1/1 coupon from the 4-19 insert. If you can find the roll-on, use the $2/1 printable coupon from coupons.com to make this a $1 money-maker. I've also heard that some people have found a $2/1 coupon on the box for the Clinical Complete.

Purex (2 for FREE) They're on sale for $8.99 - Buy One, Get One free. Use the BOGO internet printable coupon if you still have it (it's not available anymore) to get 2 detergents for free. Walgreens doesn't usually have HE detergent either, though!

Bayer Quick Release Crystals, 4 ct. (FREE) They're on sale for $2.49 - earn $2.49 RR.

Right Guard Antiperspirant/Deodorant Professional Strength (FREE) It's on sale for $5.99 - earn $5 RR when you buy one. Use the $1/1 coupon from the 4-19 insert. I've also heard that some people have found a $2/1 coupon inside the box for the Professional Strength deodorant.

Skintimate Shave Gel (24¢) It's on sale for $1.99 - earn $1 RR when you buy one. Use the 75¢/1 coupon from the 4-26 insert.

Benefiber, 20 dose powder or 16 dose packets (99¢) It's on sale for $4.99 - earn $2 RR when you buy one. Use a $2/1 coupon from 2-22, 4-5, or 5-10.

Ball Park Franks (2 for $2.29) They're on sale Buy One at $3.29, Get One free. Use the $1/2 coupon from the 4-26 insert (expires 5/17) or the 5-17 insert.

Splenda (2 for $2.98) It's on sale for $2.99 after in-ad coupon. Buy two and use the $3/2 coupon from the 3-29 insert or the April issue of All You magazine.

Q-tips, 375 pack (2 for $3.40) They're on sale 2/$4 with the in-ad coupon. Use two of the 30¢/1 coupons from the 4-5 or 5-17 insert. Not a great price, but with DH's ear troubles, we seem to go through Q-tips amazingly fast.

Brawny Paper Towels, 8 rolls ($5.49) They're on sale for $6.49 with the in-ad coupon. Use the $1/1 from the 5-17 insert to make them just 68¢/roll.

Off Clip-on Mosquito Repellent plus... ($5.99) It's on sale for $8.99 - earn $3 RR when you buy one. Use the free refill printable coupon from off.com to get the starter kit AND refill for $5.99. OR use the BOGO printable coupon from off.com to get two starter kits for $5.99.


Cheap Chocolate Alert!
Head to CVS:
Hershey's or Reese's Single bars (33¢ each) They're on sale 2/$1 - Spend $15, earn $5 ECB. So, if you buy 30 candy bars, you will essentially get them for 33¢ each (which is under my 40¢ limit). If you have any of the $1/1 coupons left from the 4/19 insert, they would obviously bring the price even lower. Yes, you will have to store them, but you won't have to buy candy for a LONG time!

Hershey's Extra Large Bars (FREE) They're on sale Buy One at $1.99, Get One free. Use two of teh $1/1 coupons from the 4-19 insert. (This may or may not be part of the ECB deal shown above.)

Get your paper(s) today!

Today is one of those ultra-good coupon days. The Sunday paper has TWO SmartSource inserts AND this month's Proctor & Gamble. If you're one of those lucky people who happen to live in the right area, your paper contains the Red Plum, too. I'm just limited to the one Red Plum I get on Tuesday in my mailbox.

So be sure to pick up at least one paper today. Personally, I'm getting five... well, I got one delivered, and my mom is buying me 2 double-packs of the AJC to give me when I visit next week! (That means I get 4 more Red Plums!!)

Click here to get a preview from Taylor Town. Remember, not all areas get exactly the same coupons, but at least the preview will give you an idea if extra papers might be worth buying this weekend.

Happy Birthday to Me!

I had this great post planned, with the title, "31 Candles, 31 Wishes." I was planning to list my hopes, dreams, and expectations for the next year. Well, after struggling to come up with #4, I decided there was no way I was going to make it to 31. How disappointing.

But, wait! What a blessing it is that I'm so happy and content with that which God has blessed me! I can't come up with 4 things I'd change! When I think of all the times I've doubted His guidance or His decisions... Today is a day of rejoicing and thanking God for his goodness.

What were those 3 things, you ask?

1. That my FIL will soon get on the transplant list and find a liver doner so that he can spend more time with his grandchildren.
2. That DH and I will make some good, close friends nearby since we've found it difficult to hang out with the ones that are 8 hours away, now!
3. To get Little Brother potty-trained this summer... at least daytime trained! (Yes, totally selfish, but hey, it's my day to wish!)
   

I guess next year I'll have to plan to spend some time on my "32 Candles, 32 Blessings" post. Until then, count your blessing and give thanks to the Lord, the father of mercies.

Meal Planning (5/11)

I'm focusing on pantry- and freezer-cooking this week. We're going on vacation in a few weeks, and I'm trying to use up items we're storing instead of buying stuff that might go bad before we get back. Remember to check out the weekly Menu Plan post at orgjunkie.com to get lots of ideas for your own meal plan.


Monday: Swedish meatballs (super-easy, low-carb version from The Renaissance Wench)

Tuesday: Bertoli skillet meal (I'm NOT "cooking" on my birthday! Well, maybe some cupcakes.)

Wednesday: Chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, peas

Thursday: Turkey & Lentil quesadillas, avocado, rice

Friday: Asian-inspired beef (DH is cooking this, and he doesn't use recipes so I can't share!)

Saturday: Crock pot chicken (use up random cuts of chicken from freezer) & mixed veggies, dinner rolls

Sunday: Leftover Buffet

Sunday Sales (5/10)

Tomorrow is Mother's Day, and I'm taking the day off. No coupon-clipping, no deal-searching, no blog-writing. So, I'm posting the deals now. Remember, I'm listing the deals I plan to get. This is essentially my own personal shopping list. Check out the links on my blog for some great sites that list even more deals. *Note - My grocery store ads run from Wednesday-Tuesday, so I will post my grocery lists on Wednesday.


CVS - see the ad courtesy of Hot Coupon World
Breeze 2 or Contour Glucose Monitor (earn $5) Its on sale for $14.99 - earn $5 ECB. There have been coupons in various inserts to make these free up to $30. Use the coupon and pay nothing but tax, then get your $5 ECB.

Bayer Quick Release Crystals, 4 ct. (FREE) They're on sale for $2 - earn $2 ECB (limit 1).

Crest ProHealth Enamel Shield Rinse, 14.8 oz (49¢ each) It's on sale for $3.49 - earn $2 ECB (limit 2). Use the $1/1 coupon from the 5/3 insert.

Schick Quattro Razor for Women (99¢ each) They're on sale for $8.99 - earn $4 ECB (limit 5). Use the $4/1 coupon from the 4/26 insert.

Coke 12-packs ($2.60 each) They're on sale for 5/$13. That's like paying 22¢ a can. Not as cheap as the Pepsi at Walgreens, but this is the best price I've seen on Coke products since I've been price checking.


Walgreens - see the ad courtesy of Hot Coupon World
Breeze 2 or Contour Glucose Monitor (earn $5) Its on sale for $14.99 - earn $5 RR. There have been coupons in various inserts to make these free up to $30. Use the coupon and pay nothing but tax, then get your $5 RR. Then, if no one you know needs the monitor, donate it!

Pepsi 12-packs ($2.40 each) They're on sale for 5/$12 with the in-ad coupon. That's like paying 20¢ a can. If you drink Pepsi or have a party coming up, that's not a bad price at all.

Walgreens Brand Baby Care - Buy one, get one FREE. Time to stock up on diapers!

Parent Hacks

Our paper shredder died on us, but we had papers that I didn't want to just toss into the trashcan. What's a mommy to do? Pull out a hack, a Parent Hack, that is! With the torn-up papers wrapped tightly in one of Little Brother's radioactive diapers, I felt much more confident about placing them in the garbage can.

What is Parent Hacks? According to their website,

"Parent Hacks is a collaborative website that collects and publishes parents’ tips, recommendations, workarounds, and bits of wisdom – their hacks – in a single pot so we can all partake. Here’s the stuff that would have been left out of the instruction manual...if there were one. We're not experts in the pediatrician-, psychologist-, or teacher- sense. We’re just out there, raising our kids, finding the little tweaks that make this crazy adventure go a little more smoothly."

This has got to be the BEST free online parenting resource. I'm shocked that I've been doing this blog for three months and haven't mentioned it yet. But, of course, with the gadget in the top corner of my Google homepage, I don't really think of it as something separate anymore. In my mind, suggesting that you check out Parent Hacks is like suggesting that you check your email! But then it occurred to me, maybe someone hasn't discovered Parent Hacks yet. I have had access to this rich source of information since Big Brother was just a few months old. I would browse the archives as I sat there nursing him, gleaning so many ideas and tricks. Now with more than 2,000 posts, there is a hack for nearly anything you need. What issue are you dealing with right now? Potty training, sleep deprivation, picky eaters, planning a birthday party, baby proofing, and more are all covered in depth. Go now and search by keyword or browse a category; the archives are full of information. Have fun!

5 (Unconventional) Mommy-Must-Haves!

In honor of Mother's Day, here are five unconventional items this mommy must have! This one's for the ladies, so any guys out there, you can stop reading now and wait for my next post. You won't get any last-minute gift ideas here. You've been warned!

As a stay-at-home-mom of a 3.5-year-old and an almost 2-year-old, it's difficult to feel like a woman at times. I don't have time to spend on myself to get ready when I'm dealing with diapers, pants that keep falling off, lost sippy cups, and last-minute potty breaks. I've found five unconventional Mommy Must-Haves that make the most of that 5 minutes I have in the bathroom to get ready to go.

1. Honey - Yes, for the bathroom. I've found honey to be a wonderful facewash. It is naturally antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. It soothes my sensitive, irritated skin, kills the bacteria that causes acne, and provides antioxidants for my skin while moisturizing my dry skin. And it's cheaper than most of the quality facial cleansers out there!

2. 100% Shea Butter - This is my moisturizer. I use it morning and night. It's very soothing, and doesn't have any unpronouceable ingredients that will probably break me out. And my acne rarely flares up now that my skin is properly nourished and moisturized. I've been using honey and shea butter for about a year and a half, and my complexion has never been better. With these two products, I can avoid all of the acne creams, Retinol, green concealer, beige concealer, and oil-absorbing powder that I had to use just to make myself look presentable! That's a HUGE time-saver for me.

3. Everyday Minerals Pressed Powder - This is mineral make-up that is less expensive than the over-advertised ones, but better quality. The pressed powder version is a bit different, though. Instead of loose powder that you apply with a kabuki brush, this powder is pressed with natural Jojoba and you apply with a circle sponge like your basic Revlon or Maybelline. It's less messy and quicker to apply. It also travels easier! And the coverage is great.

4. Cover Girl Outlast Lipstick - It lasts all day so you don't need to reapply. It doesn't come off when you kiss your LO or eat a grilled-cheese sandwich. And if you tried it when it first came out, the formula's changed. It's easier to apply before it dries and the gloss is smoother and is slightly flavored. It's also cheaper than most of the other long-lasting lip colors.

5. Menstrual Cup - TMI warning!!! I considered not mentioning this, but it's made such a difference in my life that I just had to share. I will be pretty up-front, so if you're squeemish, you may want to skip this one. See, guys, I told you that you didn't want to read this! If you are still dealing with "Aunt Flow," you know how annoying it can be. "AF" always shows up at the most inconvenient time, your diaper bag is filled with pads and tampons instead of toys, you're constantly running to the ladies' room to deal with the situation, you're children won't let you go to the restroom without joining you, and your bathroom cabinets are full of products that DH won't touch, but your children are far too curious about. I considered getting pregnant again just to avoid AF. Enter the menstrual cup. Whether you choose the Diva Cup, the Keeper, the Mooncup UK, or another brand, the menstrual cup makes AF SO MUCH easier to deal with. It's a silicone bell-shaped cup that you insert, it collects the blood, and twice a day you remove it, dump it in the toilet, rinse it off, and re-insert. On my really heavy day, I have to empty three or four times instead of twice, but it's still great. Here is an informational brochure created by an acquaintance of mine if you want to know more.

Please comment and share your "must-haves." I'm always looking for ways to make my life easier!

Coupon Update!

Sunday is Mother's Day, and for a while it looked like SmartSource and RedPlum would be treating it as a major holiday by not putting coupons in the paper. I just found out that there will be coupons in Sunday's paper, including another $1.50/1 Kraft Salad Dressing! I'm much happier about eating salad when I know the dressing was FREE. So don't forget to get a paper (or four) this Sunday!

Click here to get a preview from TaylorTown. Remember, not all areas get exactly the same coupons, but at least the preview will give you an idea if extra papers might be worth buying this weekend.

Saving money while shopping online

May is an expensive month for my family. In addition to Mother's Day, we have my birthday, Little Brother's birthday, the birthdays of both my nephews, and my sister's anniversary. June is slightly less expensive with Father's Day, DH's birthday, and my MIL's birthday. With two sick kids for the past month, I've not been able to get out much, and I've ended up using the internet for my gift shopping. With Ebates, I've been able to get some really good deals.

Here's a non-gift example (don't want to give away any suprises!) DH's tennis shoes have fallen apart. He's picky about his shoes, and he knows exactly what he wants (brand, size, style, color) but now that we've moved away from our usual store, he didn't know where to get a new pair. Amazon had something similar for $90, but that was too much to pay for something that would "hopefully" work. Off to Ebates. I entered the shoe brand name, and it returned 7 stores. One of which, Famous Footwear, gets me 9% cash back when I use Ebates. To the right of the store names, some had a button stating, "See Coupons." By clicking that, I see that I can get 20% off my order when I use the coupon code listed. So, I click on the Famous Footwear link. I find his shoes (originally $85) on sale for $65. I use the coupon code from Ebates to bring the price to $52 +shipping. That's it. No forms or paper work to deal with. I just sit back and wait for my "big fat check" to arrive. Yes, a $4.68 rebate doesn't seem like much, but every bit helps. Plus, during those seasons where you end up spending more (Christmas, back-to-school, May/June madness) it can really add up!

To give you an idea of the variety of stores, here are just a few that currently offer rebates through Ebates:
Adagio Teas - 6% (there you go, dad!)
Apple iTunes - 3%
Barnes & Noble - 4%
The Container Store - 4%
DSW - 4%
ebay - 3%
Holiday Inn - 5%
Hotwire.com - 2%
JCPenny - 4%
Office Max - 4%
Overstock.com - 4%
PETCO - 6%
REI - 3%
Sephora - 8%
Shutterfly - 10%
Starbucks Store - 8%
Target - 4%
Walgreens - 4%
1-800-Petmeds - 8%

Best of all, it's a FREE service! Go to Ebates and sign up to save.

Meal Planning (5/6)

Yes, I'm a few days late. But it's NEVER too late to do some meal planning. I'm trying to use up some stuff from my fridge and freezer since I've not been all that impressed with the offerings at Kroger and Schnucks lately.

Monday: Chicken (in a crock pot.) It's the first time I've ever dealt with a whole chicken. Though the experience was not pleasant, at least I can say I've done it! Maybe I will be less hesitant if DH suggests it again. We had Stove Top Stuffing and steamed peas on the side.

Tuesday: Crock pot beef tips. Though good, it needed more flavor. Of course I realized after the fact that I didn't actually look at how much beef was in the package, so I may have needed to double the seasonings. At least I remembered to turn the crock pot on!

Wednesday: Chicken nuggets and steamed veggies

Thursday: Meatball Pizza with a side salad

Friday: DH is going to smoke some turkey! Green beans and mashed potatoes on the side.

Saturday: Quesadillas

Sunday: Leftover Buffet

Grocery Deals (5/6-5/12)

My grocery store sales run Wednesday to Tuesday, so here are the grocery deals I'm planning to purchase.

Kroger
Kellogg's Cereal (as low as 88¢ each) - It's on sale for $1.88 each. There are the $1/1 coupons from the 4/5 insert, $1/1 printable coupons from coupons.com, and $1/2 blinkies out there in the stores for several varieties.

Tuna (Chicken of the Sea, Starkist, and Bumble Bee) assorted varieties of 5 oz packages - It's on sale for 69¢ each. It only shows cans in the ad, but it says "assorted varieties. If the pouches are included, there are several Bumble Bee coupons from the 2/22 insert and Starkist coupons from nearly everywhere. I don't know of any coupons if it's just cans, but the price is still not bad. It's like paying $2.21/lb... and the way my boys devour tuna, $2.21 ain't a bad price.

Yoplait Yogurt, 6 oz cups (as low as 37¢ each) - They're on sale 10 for $5. Use the 40¢/6 coupon from the 4/19 insert (which should double at most stores) to get them for 37¢ each.


Schnuck's
Log on to schnucks.com starting May 11 to print up to $50 in coupons - sponsored by Kraft! There will probably be some good ones.

Large Green Peppers (50¢ each) - They're on sale 2/$1. I like to get these when they're on sale, chop them up, and freeze them to add to casseroles or the crockpot. I also do this with onions. It makes cooking a lot less stressful for a non-cook!

V-8 100% Vegetable Juice, 64 oz (as low as $1.50 each) - It's on sale 2/$5. There's are printable coupons from coupons.com ($1/1) and smartsource.com ($1/2) that will be great if I can get out and buy an ink cartridge soon enough.

Thomas English Muffins, 12-13 oz - They're buy one, get one FREE this week. Use two 50¢/1 coupon from 4/19 insert. Sorry, but I don't know the starting price.

Sunday Sales (5/3)

What I'm doing is listing the deals I am considering snagging for myself. This is essentially my own personal shopping list. Check out the links on my blog for some great sites that list even more deals. *Note - My grocery store ads run from Wednesday-Tuesday, so I will post my grocery lists on Wednesday.


CVS
There is nothing at CVS that I really need/want this week, and my ECBs don't expire until the 19th, so I'm not going to waste the time and gas to get there and back. I can't wait until they finish building the ones closer to home. They just started building one that's less than a mile from my house, but there's one only 5 miles away that is supposed to open in June!


Walgreens
Breeze 2 or Contour Glucose Monitor (earn $5) Its on sale for $14.99 - earn $5 RR. There have been coupons in various inserts to make these free up to $30. Use the coupon and pay nothing but tax, then get your $5 RR. Then, if no one you know needs the monitor, donate it!

Colgate Sensitive Toothpaste (earn 75¢) They're on sale for $4.49 - earn $4.49 RR. Use the 75¢/1 coupon from the 4/26 insert.

Pert Plus for Men (two for FREE) They're on sale for 2/$5 - earn $2 RR when you buy 2. Use two $1.50/1 coupons from the 5/3 insert.

Bayer Quick Release Crystals, 4 ct. (FREE) They're on sale for $2.49 - earn $2.49 RR.

Sock Mop

As I folded the laundry, I noticed yet another of DH's socks with a hole. I added it to the pile of holey socks, now nearly as big as the pile of those intact. I realized I was either going to have to find a good sale on socks or learn to... darn? I don't even know the sewing technique for mending socks! So the socks went into the "repair" basket. Fortunately, I found a sale and stocked up, leaving me with a basket of socks to trash.

That evening, however, I was mopping with a back ache. Mopping is my least favorite chore in the whole house. Thinking that there HAD to be a better way, I vaguely recalled someone mentioning that they mopped by sliding across the floor in their socks. I have socks! But I wanted something strong for those sticky spots (remember, we've got two dogs, two kids, and two parents in our house). Then... brilliance. I put my tennis shoes on, then I put DH's holey socks on over my shoes. Yes, my feet looked quite amusing. They kind of reminded me of that last month of pregnancy. The boys kept coming over and looking at my feet, afraid to touch them. Then I got out the floor cleaner, sprayed a small section, and carefully "skated" over it in my sock mops. It was great, and the floor looked better than it did after my usual mopping. It's easier on the back, and a good workout for your legs! What more could you ask?

Do you have any tips or tricks for making a household chore easier? Please share it! If not, what is your least favorite chore? Maybe someone else has an idea to make it less unpleasant. I'm always looking for good ideas, and I'm sure others would appreciate it, too.

Meal Planning (4/27)

I had noticed several other bloggers of note doing "Menu Plan Monday," but I never really looked very closely. But as I perused Womanly Excellence earlier this week, I looked a bit closer at the "picture" above her menu and realized it wasn't a simple picture, but a button. And more importantly, at the bottom of the button, it said "orgjunkie.com." Of course, organization freak that I am, I immediately clicked and found a wonderful site. Those of you who know me well are aware that I relax by going to WalMart or Target and walking down the aisles that sell organizational products. There is always some sort of bin or cart or organizer on my Christmas and birthday lists. And if you read the "About" page on orgjunkie.com, you will see that I have found my home! Oh, to find someone who understands!!

Okay, back to the point. She does a weekly post where everyone links their menus for the week. In and of itself, this is an amazing resource! But then, she's also got links to resources for meal planning! You've got to go check out this site.

Now, my turn. (Note - DH is out of town for the week. Since it's just me and the toddlers, we're not getting fancy. It's kids' week!)

Monday: Beef-Vegetable stew (Thank you, Ginni!), dinner rolls

Tuesday: BBQ Sloppy Joes, broccoli & cheese

Wednesday: Chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, peas

Thursday: Turkey & Lentil quesadillas, avocado, rice

Friday: Pancakes, eggs, & bacon

Saturday: Crock pot chicken & mixed veggies, dinner rolls

Sunday: Smoked pork, corn, spinach salad, dinner rolls

My Top 5 Posts (so far)

I had always thought blogging was pretty useless, but in February of this year, I realized that it most certainly had its benefits for both blogger and reader. In the two months since, I've used my blog to organize my thoughts, reevaluate my actions, and discover God's will in my life. For my 50th post, I decided to look through and pick my Top 5 Posts, the ones that represent a significant revelation or a substantial change of heart. Here they are (with excerpts) in chronological order. Please leave a comment sharing which was your favorite! Thanks.

I Thought I WAS Cooking!

"On the few occasions where I had to cook, we had Stouffer's lasagna, Tyson chicken-kiev, Velveeta Mac-n-cheese, Banquet Crock-Pot Classics, and Digorno Pizza. Yes, I burned the food occasionally, even after we got the timer, and I sometimes forgot to turn the oven off until bedtime, but I was cooking."

A Cozy Conversation

"The thought of spending more than 20 minutes in serious conversation with me sends DH running for the remote control. It's not that he doesn't want to talk; he does. What he doesn't want is little to me carry on for 30 minutes about why I would like to buy a new shower curtain... and THEN ask him what he thinks and ask HIS reasoning behind it. Like most men, DH does not really care about that stuff. He sees the big picture and that's that. ('Will we still have a shower curtain? Okay then.')"

A Prayer Cheat Sheet

"I've recently realized I can make a 'prayer cheat sheet' to help me stay focused while praying and ensure that my prayers aren't stagnant. In my research, I found a few helpful resources that may benefit someone else out there."

Fire Drills

"In the process of taking out a colander, DH knocks over the precarious tower of tupperware. Lids and bowls (thousands of them?) clatter onto the floor, and before we are able to gather them, the children and the dogs (lured by the noise) run through, scattering them hither and yon. Looks like we're washing more dishes."

Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

"Baby stuff, toddler stuff... that's stuff I know! Preschool, though, that's a scary new world. The toys are more dangerous (those golf clubs are great for hitting your brother). The games are messier (paper butterflies all over the living room). The activities require more supervision (unless you like finding finger paint on the blinds). The interactions require more teaching on my part. Can I handle that? Can I be trusted to accomplish all that?"

Sunday Sales (4/26)

What I'm doing is listing the deals I am considering snagging for myself. This is essentially my own personal shopping list. Check out the links on my blog for some great sites that list even more deals. *Note - My grocery store ads run from Wednesday-Tuesday, so I will post my grocery lists on Wednesday.


CVS
For the newbie, Thrifty Mama is finishing up her series called "CVS - From the Ground Up" that has been extremely helpful in teaching how to make money and build up your ECBs.

Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Rinse (earn $8.02) It's on sale for $6.99 - Earn 4 ECB (limit 3). Buy 2 and use two $2/1 printable coupons to bring your total to $9.98. Receive 8 ECBs for buying two. Then send in the Mail In Rebate Form with your receipt(s) to receive $10 more.

Rimmel Mascara (get 2 FREE) It's on sale Buy One Get One free. Use the BOGO coupon from the April issue of All You Magazine to get 2 for free!

Essence of Beauty Flawless Pedicure ($7.99) It's on sale for $9.99 - Earn 2 ECB (limit 1).



Walgreens
Breeze 2 or Contour Glucose Monitor (earn $5) Its on sale for $14.99 - earn $5 RR. There have been coupons in various inserts to make these free up to $30. Use the coupon and pay nothing but tax, then get your $5 RR. Then, if no one you know needs the monitor, donate it!

Nivea Body Wash, 16.9 oz (earn $1) It's on sale for $4.99 - earn $4.99 RR. Use the $1/1 coupon from the 4/19 insert.

Ecotrin, 45 ct. (earn $1) It's on sale for $2 - earn $2 RR. Use the $1/1 coupon from the 1/25 insert.

Bayer Quick Release Crystals, 4 ct. (FREE) They're on sale for $2.49 - earn $2.49 RR.

Flipz Snacks, 4 oz (2/$2) They're on sale 2/$3. Use the $1/2 coupon from the 4/5 insert.

12 pack Pepsi Products (3/$8) They're on sale 3/$11 - earn $3 RR.

Quilted Northern Bath Tissue, 12 pk ($5.99) Use the in-ad coupon to make it $5.99.

Brawny Paper Towels, 8 pk ($6.49) Use the in-ad coupon to make it $6.49.



Cheap Chocolate Alert!
This is the best I could do this week. It's kind of slim pickings right now.

WAGS - Weight Watchers Chocolates, 3.25 oz (2/$1.50) They're on sale 2/$3. Use the BOGO coupon from the 4/5 insert.

Seeing Beyond the Stars

One of my favorite songs is "More" by Matthew West. Whenever I feel insignificant, alone, or like nothing is going my way, this song puts it all into perspective.

"I love you more than the sun
And the stars that I taught how to shine.
You are mine, and you shine for me, too.
I love you yesterday and today and tomorrow.
I'll say it again and again. I love you more!"

It always brings to mind my favorite Psalm and a related choral anthem, one of my favorites, The Majesty and Glory of Your Name by Tom Fettke.

"O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet,
all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,
the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!" - Psalm 8

Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

It's the end of an era. A leap into the unknown. Today, we dismantled the crib. Sniff. Our baby isn't a baby anymore. The crib was that final hold-out from admitting that we have two toddlers, now. Of course, Big Brother will be 4 in October, so he's essentially a preschooler!

I look at Little Brother's PJs and discover that they're too short. What do I do? Pull out the hand-me-down clothes in the next size, of course, and pack up the outgrown clothes for my nephew. It would be unreasonable to try to keep him in clothes that are too small!

As I look around our house at the games and toys we have for our boys, I realize that I have kept them in toys that are too "small." We've still got the Classical Stacker, the Rock N Bounce Pony, the counting pal, teething rings, rattle/key chains, and even an activity walker! The "Goodnight Moon" game, Elefun, a bowling set, Gator Golf, and coloring books galore are stored neatly away on a high shelf. Why? Why have I not provided toys that stimulate their creativity and mental development? Not for safety concerns nor a lack of opportunity. Nope, it's all me.

I can't admit that they're ready for new things. I'm not ready for them to be ready for new things! Baby stuff, toddler stuff... that's stuff I know! Preschool, though, that's a scary new world. The toys are more dangerous (those golf clubs are great for hitting your brother). The games are messier (paper butterflies all over the living room). The activities require more supervision (unless you like finding finger paint on the blinds). The interactions require more teaching on my part. Can I handle that? Can I be trusted to accomplish all that?

The answer is neither "yes" or "no." It is, "You Must." When I consider my actions in light of my priorities, I know that in order to serve my children to the best of my ability, I must not only allow, but encourage their growth! But still that fear remains. Can I raise my boys into men of God? And then I remember that it's not about me, but Him, and He can accomplish anything in spite of me. Give thanks for his goodness and mercy! Now, where is that stepladder?

“Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”
- Exodus 4:11-12

A Mess After Midnight

There was a messy accident at our house at 1:00 am. (We have two dogs, two children, and two parents. I'm not going into details, but I'm sure you can use your imagination!) DH is not the most pleasant person when woken up in the middle of the night; his temper is short and his people skills are flat. (Though, in all fairness, I don't know anyone who is an angel at 2:00 am!) As he cleaned, I handed him things I thought he would need and things for which he asked. Towels, wrench, tea tree oil, flashlight, vinegar, dust buster, broom, trash can... the list goes on. I spoke hardly a word, since I couldn't think of anything nice to say. But my internal monologue was going strong.

• "Why didn't he...?"
• "Why should I...?"
• "If he would just..."
• "Who was responsible for...?"
• "At least one of us is staying calm and quiet!"
  
• "I just cleaned this yesterday, and now it's even worse than it was."
• "Doesn't he realize...?"
  
• "Forget it!"

Having worked for an entire hour, we looked around at three more messes that had been made in the process of cleaning up the first (shattered glass on the floor, potted plants upturned, and a pile of broken toys.) We decide to call it a night, but neither of us could sleep. DH went out for a drive, and I sat down with a book, Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes. As I read, I was convicted about my attitude. Yes, I was acting with humility and servitude, and an outwardly respectful helpmate. But internally I was not respectful. I was not humble. I was not patient.

Upon returning from his drive, DH thanked me for being so strong when he was so frustrated at the situation. "Strong!" I had helped because I was quiet. And I was reminded why the Bible tells us to be respectful, humble, submissive, and quiet. If I had spoken a single thought of mine, it would have only made the situation worse. Now, I whole-heartedly pray that my mind and heart would be changed so that my internal monologue is that of a humble servant.

Meal Planning (4/20)

I had my meals all planned last week, but then both boys were sick (fevers running from 101-102) from Sunday to Wednesday or so, then DH and I spent the last half of the week fighting off the cold, and... well... the meals just didn't happen. We ate out and ate a lot of cheese sandwiches. Blah! I'm just pretty much using last-week's menu with a few changes here and there.

Monday
Supper: Layered Meatball Casserole, steamed carrots, spinach salad

Tuesday
Supper: Cooked turkey breast from freezer, vegetable quiche, dinner rolls

Wednesday
Supper: Chicken nuggets, steamed mixed veggies

Thursday
Supper: Baked Chicken Breast, brown rice, broccoli w/ cheese sauce

Friday
Supper: Crockpot Beef Tips, Corn Pudding, and mashed potatoes

Saturday
Supper: Smoked Pork (cooked by DH)

Sunday
Supper: Mac-n-Cheese, Hot Dogs, Peas

No More Monkeys Jumping Out of Bed!

It was inevitable, but I had hoped to avoid the situation for at least 6 more months. Little Brother (also known as "Monkey Boy" and "Mr. Hands") climbed out of his crib. I know many children are already in a toddler bed or twin bed by 23 months, but I kept praying he would be like his Big Brother and love his crib so much he would have to be forced to switch at 30 months or so! I feel somewhat prepared... yes, somewhat. The crib converts to a toddler bed, but I'm not sure where the hardware for the conversion is (the attic, his closet?) We've got a twin bed on the floor already (great for mom or dad when he's sick) but would he sleep any better on it? I've researched options like a crib tent or turning the crib around so that the short side is closest to the wall and the high side is facing out into the room. Though I would barely be able to reach in there to put him in or take him out unless he were standing. Then comes the other decisions. Do we remove his toys so they don't tempt him to leave his bed or do we leave them so that he can (hopefully) play with them when he wakes in the morning and give mommy and daddy a chance for a little extra sleep? Should we invest in a video monitor so we can keep an eye on him if/when he's up and about? Since my Monkey Boy can climb any baby gate faster than you can blink, we will need a way to lock the door so he doesn't get out and fall down the stairs or try to run a bath! We've got a knob cover for now, but Mr. Hands will soon figure out how to remove it. What then?

I know all parents go through this, and it all works out in the end, but I've been dreading this for over a year now. Easy-going Big Brother did not prepare me for this. But now I will stop my chatter, breathe, and remind myself that God has prepared me, and it really WILL all work out in the end.

Sunday Sales (4/19)

It's good to be back in the game! I love being able to get these deals to help my family and those around me. Check out the links on my blog for some great sites that list even more deals. What I'm doing is listing the deals I am considering snagging for myself. *Note - My grocery store ads run from Wednesday-Tuesday, so I will post my grocery lists on Wednesday.


CVS (You've got to have a CVS card to get the deals)
For the newbie, Thrifty Mama is doing a series called "CVS - From the Ground Up" that promises to be extremely helpful for making money and building up your ECBs.

Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Rinse (earn $8.02) It's on sale for $6.99 - Earn 4 ECB (limit 5). Buy 2 and use two $2/1 printable coupons to bring your total to $9.98. Receive 8 ECBs for buying two, so that's like paying $0.99 each. If that's no cheap enough for you, print a Mail In Rebate Form and send it in with your receipt(s) to receive $10 more. (Print the Rebate form before they pull it from the internet!)

Edge Infused Comfort or Hydrate Shaving Gel (FREE) They're on sale for $2.89 - earn $2.89 ECB (limit 1).

Bayer Aspirin Quick Release Crystals, 4ct (FREE) They're on sale for $2 - earn $2 ECB (limit 1).

Benefiber (4/$3.16) It's on sale for $5.29 - earn $10 ECB (limit 5) when you spend $20. Buy 4, and use four $2/1 coupons from the 2/29 or 4/5 insert to bring your total to $13.16. Then get back $10 ECB.

Jergen's Natural Glow (2 for $9) It's on sale for $8 each - earn $5 ECB (limit 1) when you spend $15. Buy 2, and use two $1/1 coupons from the 3/15 or 4/5 insert to bring your total to $14. Then get back $5 ECB.

CFL Lightbulbs, bonus 4 pack ($6.99)

Pedicure Tool ($7.99) It's sandal season, and I've been looking at the PedEgg, but CVS has two options that may work just as well for less The Essence of Beauty Flawless Pedicure Complete System is shown as on sale for $7.99 on CVS.com, and the CVS Pharmacy Ped Pro is shown as $7.99 in this week's sale paper. I'm planning on taking a look at both.

Walgreens
Skintimate Shaving Cream (FREE) They're on sale for $2.99 - earn $2.99 RR. This doesn't work on the cans, only the new plastic bottles.

Edge Infused or Energy Shaving Gel (FREE) They're on sale for $2.99 - earn $2.99 RR.

Sunmaid Raisins, 18 oz. ($1.99) Use the in-ad coupon to make them $1.99. That's 11¢/oz, which is a pretty good price if your children are crazy about raisins!

7-up, Canada Dry, A&W, Sunkist, Dr Pepper 12 packs (3/$6) They're on sale 3/$11 - earn $5 RR.



Cheap Chocolate Alert!!
WAGS - Hershey Bagged Candy (4/$1) They're on sale 4/$10. Use 4 $1/1 coupons from the 3/1 insert and pay $6. Then submit for the Easy Saver Rebate of $5.