Friday, May 23, 2008

A few of my Favorite new sites/blogs

Elizabeth introduced me to this cool little blog for

ideas on saving money, freebies and such.


http://freebies4mom.blogspot.com/

Check it OUT!

Heather posts great ideas and deals everyday!


ONE that Heather mentions on her blog --
http://simplemom.net/
I just checked it out today and I really really like this one!!!
Nice, short and to the point entries about being a MOM!
(or just being a human, really!)
On Simple Mom she mentions a Jewlery giveaway...
super neat stuff -- http://lisaleonardonline.com/

I really really really want the Family Tree Necklace!

Here's a list of a few others that you might find interesting too!

http://www.becentsable.net/
Click on Grocery Gathering and then look through the list for a
grocery store new you. (includes places like Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens)

http://www.couponsinc.com/corp/source/cp_clientlist.asp
Contains a list of current Printable coupons.

http://moneysavingmom.blogspot.com/
http://moneysavingmom2.blogspot.com/
THE #2 is the same site... she had to create a new site because
of some "blogger" problems.

Anyway.. great site! I visit it almost everyday.

http://fiddledeedeeblog.blogspot.com/
Found this bouncing around blogs... she posts
great Publix deals... for example BOGO --combined with coupons.
FOr a full time working mom (like myself)--- Sarah is a life saver
for all the time she puts into sharing her finds! Thank you Sarah!

Here's the last one for now:
http://thecentsiblesawyer.blogspot.com/
Denise is the author at this blog plus she's a 2nd grade teacher.
She does a great job of sharing lots of sales at places other
than the grocery.
For example, she provides a link to some free music downloads
(Clint Black... I guess he's some famous country singer... Just kidding!
I know who he is... it's just not my thing)

Ok, I'm done..
Peace!

Melissa

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Oh I will miss Publix!

So today I headed to Publix to pick up a few BOGO deals
and I think I'm going to miss that place after we move. Boohoo!
I think the only place to shop in AL is Winn-Dixie - poo!

Ya never know, I might be able to find some good deals there too.

Anyway, thanks to Sarah at http://fiddledeedeeblog.blogspot.com/
I was able to save a total of $29.16 today.
Spent only $25.88
I got
2 Bags of Lays Chips (BOGO free) = 3.79/2 -- $1.90 each
Gallon of Milk = 3.99
2 Jars of Vlasic pickles (BOGO free) = 2.69 Plus 2 $1.00 coupons = .69/2 -- .35 each
Box of Juice pouches = 1.67
Kraft cheddar stick snacks 3.99-2.00 coupon = 1.99
2 Bottles Kraft dressing (BOGO free) 2.69 plus a .75 coupon = 1.94/ -- .97 each
Bertolli Tomato Basil pouch 2.55 - $1.00 coupon = 1.55
Cooking spray - 2.49
2 Boxes of Uncle Ben's Rice (BOGO Free) 1.39 - plus a 1.00 coupon = .39/2 -- .20 each
Totino's pizza rolls 1.50 - .50 coupon = 1.00
Canned Pineapple = 1.15
Canned Pear slices = 1.17
2 bottles A-1 sauce (BOGO free) 3.85 plus two $1.00 coupons = 1.85/2 -- .93 each
2 packs of Keebler Cookies (BOGO free) 3.09 - 1.00 coupon = 2.09/2 -- 1.05 each

I'm pretty pleased!
Ok so I know I don't have anything here to make a meal.. but I was just stocking up for the
most part. Plus can you beat .20 for a box of Rice? (that your kids will actually eat!)

I also went to CVS this week...
spent all of my ECBs...
got 4 packs of soda/lemonade
Some free toothpaste and a new toothbrush
Free Tums -- plus I'll get 3.99 rebate in a few weeks.
Pack of Skittles for the boys
Large Pack of Pull ups
Bottle of wine
Shaving cream
Allergy med
Total out of pocket -- $4.29 -- AND that's only because I bought the wine! But it was good!

Monday, May 19, 2008

OH! OH! OH! so Yummy recipe!

Tonight is my 3rd time making this.. IT is SO yummy!
I ran across this recipe in Jan when I was searching for A Black Eyed Pea
recipe... the black eyed peas didn't fair so well, but this Lime Chicken is FAB!
I printed it out because the last time my parents had visited they left a jar
of Key Lime Juice... which was suppose to be used for Key Lime pie, but I'm not a
huge fair of Key Lime Pie, so I had to figure out something else to use the lime with..
and this is perfect! I'm using the last bit night... trying to empty the fridge before our move.
(and if you don't know about that.. tune in later)

Here's the source:
http://www.austin360.com/food_drink/content/food_drink/stories/2008/03/0326kittyskeepers9.html

Lime Chicken and Pasta Salad with Cilantro Pesto

4 boneless chicken breast halves

Marinade:
Juice of 2 limes
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. paprika
Salt
1 Tbsp. brown sugar


Cilantro pesto:
1 large bunch cilantro
2 heaping Tbsp. chopped walnuts
1/2 tsp. fresh ground pepper
3 cloves garlic
3/4 cup olive oil
Salt to taste
1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese

4 to 8 oz. bow-tie pasta
Grilled tomato halves

Combine the lime juice, olive oil, cayenne pepper, paprika, salt and brown sugar in a glass bowl or casserole. Add the chicken, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 hours, turning once during that time.

To make pesto: Combine cilantro, walnuts, ground pepper, garlic, olive oil and salt in a food processor and process to a smooth paste. Stir in the Parmesan cheese.

Cook pasta to al dente stage. While pasta is cooking, grill or broil chicken until done, about 10 minutes. Slice into short strips.

Combine the warm pasta and warm chicken with the pesto. Toss until well coated. Serve with grilled tomato halves, if desired, and crusty bread. (This recipe could be made ahead and served cold.) Serves 4.
— Carol Johnson


Tonight I'm just doing the Chicken and serving a green salad.
I've also made the chicken and then used jared pesto to coat the
pasta... wasn't quite as good.. but quick and easy!

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

CVS is so Cool!

I know, kinda dorky. BUT with my new frugal plans, I've started CVSing!
You start with a CVS Extra Card ... scan the ads from the Sunday paper.
Match up sales with coupons and Bam! You can make some $ by just shopping!

This is what I did today.
I bought
1 Box Reeces Cookies $2.00
2 Bags Hershey's Bliss chocolates 2x4.29=$8.58
2 Glade Air Fresheners 2x.97 =$1.94
1 Barbasol shaving cream .97
1 Intuition Plus Razor $9.99
2 Hawaiian Tropic Lip Balm 2x1.99=$3.98

TOTAL OF $27.46
-----------------------------------------------------------------
coupons
.75 off Reeces Cookies
4.29 off for BOGO Hershey's Bliss
.97 off for BOGO Glade Air Fresh
4.00 off for Intuition Razor
4.00 off for Purchase of $20 at CVS
------------------------------------------------------------------
total coupons $14.01
------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL after coupons $13.45
plus tax 1.23
------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL out of Pocket $14.68


BUT here's the good Part!
I purchased things that give
back CVS bucks.

$5.00 ECB for purchasing $10.00 worth of Hershey's chocolate
$6.00 ECB for purchasing the Razor
$10.00 ECB for purchasing 2 Hawaiian Tropic products
=============
$21.00 ECB to spend the next time I go to CVS

SO the way I see it... I made $6.32 for shopping at CVS.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Frugal? (free iced coffee)

Are you frugal?

I always thought that living frugal was living like a cheap ass.
Well, I was wrong. Now, with my family's situation and our
economy the way it is, I've changed my way of spending $$.

I've joined a group that share frugal living ideas and I love it. Although I feel
some are very extreme, I have learn so much in the past few months.

I'll start sharing some of the info here if you care to check back.

First -- I'll start off with a FREE ICED COFFEE on May 15th!

check it out:

https://www.dunkindonuts.com/


Peace!

Friday, May 09, 2008

To be a mom...

This was sent to me this week and I thought I'd share...

To be a mom...
We are sitting at lunch one day when my daughter casually mentions thatshe and her husband are thinking of "starting a family.

"We're taking a survey," she says half-joking.

"Do you think I should have a baby?"

"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping my tone neutral.

"I know," she says, "no more sleeping in on weekends, no more
spontaneous vacations."

But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my daughter, trying to decide what to tell her.
I want her to know what she will never learn in childbirth classes.

I want to tell her that the physical wounds of child bearing will heal,
but becoming a mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw that she
will forever be vulnerable.

I consider warning her that she will never again read a newspaper without asking,
"What if that had been MY child?"
That every plane crash, every house fire will haunt her.

That when she sees pictures of starving children, she will wonder if anything
could be worse than watching your child die.

I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the primitive level of a bear protecting her cub.

That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop a soufflé or her best crystal without a moments hesitation.

I feel that I should warn her that no matter how many years she has invested
in her career, she will be professionally derailed by motherhood.

She might arrange for childcare, but one day she will be going into an
important business meeting and she will think of her baby's sweet smell.

She will have to use every ounce of discipline to keep from running home,just to make sure her baby is all right.

I want my daughter to know that every day decisions will no longer be routine.
That a five year old boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the women's
at McDonald's will become a major dilemma. That right there, in the midst of clattering trays and screaming children, issues of independence and gender identity will be weighed against the prospect that a child molester may be lurking in that restroom.

However decisive she may be at the office, she will second-guess her self constantly as a mother.

Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure her that eventually
she will shed the pounds of pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about herself.

That her life, now so important, will be of less value to her once she has a child.

That she would give up in a moment to save her offspring, but will also begin to hope for more years, not to accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child accomplish theirs.

I want her to know that a caesarian scar or shiny stretch marks will become badges of honor.

My daughter's relationship with her husband will change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she could understand how much more you can love a man who is careful to powder the baby or who never hesitates to play with his child.

I think she should know that she will fall in love with him again for reasons she would now find very unromantic.

I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will feel with women throughout history who have tried to stop war, prejudice and drunk driving.

I hope she will understand why I can think rationally about most issues,but become temporarily insane when I discuss the threat of nuclear war to my children's future.

I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration of seeing your childlearn to ride a bike.

I want to capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is touching the soft fur of a dog or cat for the first time.

I want her to taste the joy that is so real it actually hurts.

My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that tears have formed in my eyes.

You'll never regret it," I finally say.
Then I reached across the table, squeezed my daughter's hand and offered a silent prayer for her, and for me, and for all the mere mortal women who stumble their way into this most wonderful of callings.

May you always have in your arms the one who is in your heart...

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