Big Y Trip

I don't always go to Big Y, or if I do go, I don't get "killer" deals, but today was a really good day!! Here's how I did:


2 Mrs. T's pierogis - $2 each
2 pizza sauce - $1 each
Fresh Express Spinach - $1.50
2 Carando pepperoni (BOGO) - $4.19
white rice - $1
Bird's Eye peas - $1
2 (4pk) Joint Juice - clearanced for $2.49 each
2 single Joint Juice - $1 each
Cascade crystal clear dishwasher stuff - $3.89
3 bags Rice Works chips - $2.99 each
Mug root beer - $1
2 Marcal toilet paper -$.60 each
Asparagus bunch - $1.38
Total before coupons = $37.11

Used:
$1/2 Mrs. T's = $3
$1/2 Carando = $3.19
(2) $2/1 Joint Juice = $.49 each (the 4-pks!)
(2) $1/1 Joint Juice = FREE
Cascade FREE coupon (mailer)
3 Rice Works = FREE bag coupons
2 Marcal = FREE coupons
Total OOP (after tax): $15.10

Wal-Mart Trip

I did okay at Wal-Mart today. Sometime I need to go in there when I have hours to spend and just try to clean out some coupons! Today when I went to pay, I thought the amount sounded higher than it was supposed to be, but there were people behind me so I didn't want to sort it out. I got to the car, and figured it out. The McCormick seasoning was supposed to be 2/$1, but they rang up $.94 each! So, basically, my total should have been $2 less than it was. Buuuut...I didn't feel like going back in and dealing with it. Not as good a transaction as I thought it was going to be, but you win some, ya lose some. :o)

4 Pringles - $1 each - used (2) $1/2 = $.50 each
4 McCormick - $.94 each - used (2) $.25/2 = $.81 each (should have been $.37 each. ::sigh::)
2 Johnson & Johnson First Aid kits - $.97 each - used (2) $1/1 = FREE + .06 overage
2 Kotex (20 pk) liners - $1.00 - used (2) $1/1 = FREE
Total oop: $5.70

What to Buy for $3.75

Went to Stop & Shop and Shaw's yesterday for more strawberries and freebies!! I did want to pick up some more free bagels, but I forced myself not too. I'm running out of freezer room! But I did clean and organize the freezer which was good. I was able to make a list of things I'd "forgotten" I had, so I can plan a menu next week to use some of it up! And make more room for freebies!! :o)

3 1-lb. strawberries - $5.00 used 2 $.50 catalinas & 5% off purchase = $3.75
6-pk Poland Spring water - FREE
2 pie crust - FREE
2 pkg. frozen veggies - FREE
3 frozen lemonade - FREE

"Dressing Like a Daughter of the King"

Head over to the Stay at Home Missionary for yesterday's full guest post by Marianna, owner of Bellissima Modesty Boutique. The direct link doesn't seem to be working, but this part of her post really jumped out at me. I love the part about looking the part as the "CEO" of my home!! :o) This was a great reminder that my "job" as a wife and helper is an important role, given to me by God, and that I should look for ways to weave beauty into everything I do. Enjoy! :o)

"During my recent study of the dynamic and beautifully detailed portrait of the character of the woman whom God calls "beautiful" and having "surpassed them all", I found it interesting to note that in the midst of the accounts of her hard work and diligent planning, God also mentioned what kind of clothes she wore! Often in God's Word, we see that when women are specifically mentioned, details about their outward appearance are often included. I believe God created us as women to care about our appearance. Not so say that we should be vain or overly consumed with outward appearance, for a meek and quiet spirit is the greatest beauty we can possess! But I believe that how we dress and what we look like on the outside, is a reflection of what is in our hearts.

Proverbs 31 paints a portrait of the woman that God said "excelled them all" (meaning that her work as a keeper of the home excelled all the other women mentioned in the Bible!). The strongest lines and strokes on the canvas of this woman's portrait, are of her fear of God, her love for Him and her family, her good work ethic and the use of her hands to bless others. But we notice in the details, that this woman weaves beauty and excellence into everything, including the way she clothes both her family and herself.

Prov. 31:22b (Amp.)
"Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made]."

This woman knows that she is not only a King's daughter, but she holds a very valuable position as keeper and manager of her home, and she dresses to fit the job. Not to say that every day we always feel like a princess or that we should do our housework wearing a taffeta skirt and wearing a tiara on our heads, and it doesn't even mean that we need to dress in expensive or fancy clothes as we go about our daily work. Is what it does mean, I believe, is that we should dress in a way that helps remind us that what we are doing is important, and that we are a royal people, a chosen generation (1 Peter 2:9) and that everything we do is to be done unto the Lord, the King of Kings (Col 3:23).

When we remember that, and dress as the daughters of the King, or as the Queen of the home that you are, it shows the world that, one, we take delight and joy in the job we hold as homemaker (or for some of us, as "homemaker in training"), and two, that we dress in a way that is pleasing to the eye of our family and ourselves. So throw out your bleach stained tees, and stretched out sweat pants (save them for your next painting project), and put on something that suits the position you have in your home as CEO. ;-) Like the woman in Proverbs 31 you'll feel yourself ready and willing to take on your God given tasks with joy and pride!

Wearing a perky apron can help us remember that we have the privilege of being a servant like Christ was! (John 13:4, He "laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.") "

Shaws P&G Deal

Shaws had a promo this week buy $20 worth of select Proctor & Gamble products, get a $5 catalina. I didn't spend a lot of time on this, but it caught my attention because I had dish detergent on my shopping list, had a couple good coupons for Cascade, plus the Price Chopper double coupons that Shaw's will take as competitor coupon. Oh, and I needed some applesauce.

Ugh, the applesauce. That's a whole 'nother story. Recently, I've started baking with applesauce rather than oil in many things (so good, btw. makes things VERY moist). Well, last week I was putting the applesauce back in the fridge and, well, dropped the whole huge thing on the floor. Needless to say, I needed another jar. :o)

Anywho, I was able to use 2 PC double coupons. I had 3, but the lady saw it said limit of 2, so I couldn't use the 3rd one. But, it really didn't matter, I think I made out better, because the PC coupon would double up to $3. She just gave me $3 more off, instead! :o) Fantastic!! So, here's what I got. Oh, and I was pleasantly surprised, that the Dawn on sale was the large container, not a small one!

Oh, one more thing. I REALLY like the little capsules for dish detergent. However, the most "bang for my buck" was obviously in the liquid. So, I compromised and got 2 of each. :o) Figured I was getting a good enough deal either way!


4 Cascade dishwasher detergent - $4.39 each
1 Dawn Hand Renewal dish soap - $2.99
50 oz jar applesauce - $2.59
Total before coupons: $23.14
Coupons used:
2 $2/2 Cascade ~ $4
2 PC double coupons ~$6
$1/1 Dawn ~ $1
Total after $.93 tax = $13.07 and got back $5 CAT

Menu Plan Monday!

So this week, I'm going to try to stick with the menu in place. I'm a pretty moody eater (like.."I'm in the mood for...." or "I could really go for some...") so I often stray from the "gameplan".

Monday ~ Mozzarella Chicken (except I'm adding roasted red peppers too. and maybe a different sauce) & veggie (TBD)

Tuesday ~ Angel hair & roasted red pepper alfredo, garlic bread

Wednesday ~ Sweet & Sour chicken stir fry

Thursday ~ Kielbasa & Sauerkraut

Friday ~ Tuna melts on bagels, soup

Check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more Menu Plan Monday ideas!!

Freebies by Mail

I usually get some freebies in the mail...it really makes getting the mail exciting! I didn't get much last week, but here's what came.

Sample box of Total Cranberry Crunch. Get your sample here. Came with a $.75 coupon...very valuable. Will double to $1.50 at stores. Yay!

Aveeno night firming cream with a $1.50 off coupon. I'm not sure where that came from.

Quaker True Delights ~ Dark Chocolate Raspberry Almond granola bar with a $1.00 coupon. Get your sample here.

I don't typically enter sweepstakes, but a few weeks ago, Kraft was holding one where the chances seemed pretty good, and the prize was worth it. You could try to win 4x a day... and I finally won! I got 3 coupons for FREE items! Any Nabisco cracker product (up to $4.49) ~ FREE; any Kraft, Cracker Barrel, or Polly-O cheese (up to $3.99) ~ FREE; any Planters snack product (up to $5.00) ~ FREE!

If you're a freebie junkie like me and want your mailbox to be surprise central, Walmart.com also offers great freebies, trials, & samples! Click here to sign up for yours!