Check out this blog June 13, 2009

Check This out..

SIGH…why are blogs so hard… June 13, 2009

Someday really soon..we will get this show on the road…in the meantime..isn’t this awesome? If ever a little boy.a little scallywag..decides to bless this family with his little presence..I want his room to be whimsical with little planes and ships and such…

Lucky luck boy… May 17, 2009

Our friends son had his 3rd birthday party yesterday…and although I stayed home with the kiddos (Soph is really sick) Steven was able to go and deliver the goods:

 

A rocket ship and little wooden spaceman…he fits into his little seat to blast off and explore the universe!

a crayon roll made with green cord and Eric Carle ‘Brown Bear Children’

 

I didn’t get an update on how they were received, but I hope little N-Man loves them!

One more thing… May 15, 2009

I just found this bird  feeder on smith&hawken…omigoodness…love at first sight for sure…

THIS BLOG IS NOT DEAD!!! May 15, 2009

HA! did that get you reading? Lacy and I have been far from this blog for far too long…But its baaack!! We have been obsessively collecting coupons, working the system, getting free stuff, creating mini shopping malls in our garages…and finally we have gotten back to sewing, crafting and being creative…which is what truly delights me atleast…so…pics coming soon, lacy helped me figure out the basics for sewing and I’ve since made rockin flannel pillowcases (John refuses to lay his handsome head on anything else) and an adorable sundress for EM!!! one comin for mai mai soon…ALSO!! Im planning a sweet princess party for MaileyAnne’s third birthday party!! Im gonna make the cake!! (Any ideas Kris???)

K…hope you haven’t all lost hope…peace out!

 

Deals. Deals. Deals. March 13, 2009

Okay everyone….hold on to your hats

I went to two grocery stores today and did two transactions at each. I got $272.71 worth of groceries for…….

 

 

 

$21.61

 

 

Which included:

 

28 jugs of Ocean Spray cranberry juice (free, safeway)

12 jugs of light Ocean Spray cranberry juice (free, safeway)

1 box of Quaker granola bars (.96, safeway)

2 jars of Peanut Butter (free, safeway)

5 boxes of Capri Suns (10 in each) (less than $0.65 each box, safeway)

12 bags of Kraft shredded cheese (2 cups each) (less than $0.28 each, albertsons)

3 boxes of Glucerna cereal (free, 1 safeway, 2 albertsons)

1 6-pack of Glucerna shakes (.99, albertsons)

1 gallon of water (.79, albertsons)

2 boxes Planters Big Nut Bars (.67 each, albertsons)

4 boxes of South Beach cereal bars (.67 each, albertsons)

2 boxes Nabisco 100 cal packs (.67 each, albertsons)

1 2-liter Diet Dr. Pepper (free, albertsons)

2 6-packs Jello Pudding (1.57 each..bah, albertsons)

1 18-count box of Always pads (free, albertsons)

4 packs Carl Budding lunch meat (less than $0.38 each, albertsons)

2 cans of Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaner (less than $0.65 each, safeway)

1 overpriced box of bakery cookies for my husband (2.99, safeway)

 

 

PLUS: Safeway gave me $2.50 off my next order (for the Glucerna) and Albertsons gave me $3.00 off my next order for the cheese (I figured that into the cost of each bag)! So I did take those off my total. If I would have had more thinking and planning time (sans kiddos) I could have done a bit better (by a few bucks) but I’m not complaining!!!

 

Here’s a pic..minus the cookiesand bathroom cleaner:

Wonderful Crockpot recipe!! whoop whoop! February 17, 2009

So..I dont really cook pork much..I didn’t grow up with it so I never know how to cook it..anyways..I came across this wonderful recipe that totally kicks butt, its pretty simple, but the results are delicious! I served mine over rice (of course) and added a side of cranberry chutney ( but the lingonberry preserves from Ikea are wonderful too!), here’s the recipe and also..if you ever need a recipe for anything check out recipezaar! for real, its the best.

Slow Cook, Down home, Pork chops

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 6 lean boneless pork chops (1 in. thick)
• 1 (10 3/4 ounce) can condensed chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions

1. Combine 1st four ingredients in a shallow dish.

2. Dredge chops in flour mixture and set aside.

3. Combine what is left of the flour mixture w/ the chicken broth and pour into your crock pot.

4. Pour oil into a large skillet and cook the chops in hot oil until browned on both sides.

5. Place chops in crock pot and cook covered on High for about 2 to 5 hours or until tender.

6. Serve w/ hot rice and/or mashed potatoes. 

++If the gravy becomes too thick just add a little water. If you accidentally add too much water then add a little more flour.

Season w/ salt and pepper too your taste.

This puts my last post to shame! February 15, 2009

Okay…so I always thought Walgreens was WAY over priced, for the same thing I could get cheaply (or so I thought!) at Wal-Mart or Winco. But then I discovered coupons!

 

On friday I decided to try my hand at shopping at WAGS (that’s what the savvy coupon ladies call it..haha) This is what I bought:

 

2 rolls of Bouty paper towels

2 boxes of Starbucks Truffles

1 bag of Halls Fruit Breezers

1 bag of Hall Defense

TOTAL: $19.77

I paid: $5.65……….Not too shabby.

 

 

 

On Saturday I went back…I got:

2 boxes FiberOne cereal

1 box HoneyNut Cheerios

2 cans Progresso Chicken Noodle

2  cans Progresso Pot Roast

2 cans Progresso Beef & Veggie

2 rolls Bounty paper towel

1 Debrox Earwax removal Kit (Sol has gunky ears and I’m so afraid to use a swab on him)

2 Gillette Embrace razors 

1 pack of Extreme3 disposable razors

2 boxes Starbucks chocolate truffles

TOTAL: $86.11

I paid $$27.49 (plus I got $13.00 in register rewards to use on a future purchase this month)

 

I went back today (haha) I got:

 

2 boxes L’Oreal Natural Match haircolor

3 boxes Kleenex tissue with aloe

2 cans Oust air freshener

1 bottle Lysol 4-in-1 Bathroom cleaner

1 bottle Lysol Kitchen cleaner

1 bottle Garner Fructis curl spray

TOTAL: $44.10

I paid: $4.27 

**PLUS! a few of my items were part of the mail-in rebates, which total $6.59 (5.99 +10% bonus for getting my rebate on a WAGS giftcard) so actually Walgreens is PAYING me $2.32 to take this!!!

 

Bottonline: Over these 3 transactions I managed to buy $149.98 worth of products for $30.82!!! And it’s all stuff we actually use and would normally purchase!

Total Savings: $119.16

Now where are those Starbucks truffles…?

My first (hardcore) couponing trip! February 13, 2009

A few days ago I clipped coupons and went grocery shopping. I usually just go to Winco (typically the cheapest on regular priced items, but don’t take internet printed coupons) but i had some albertsons coupons and internet printed ones, and I know they take those. My husband rolled his eyes while I took in a big recipe box full of my ‘dorky coupons’ (I have since made a coupon binder…it’s cute and more understated than the big red box. Plus is more efficient. Steven approved) So this is what I purchased:

1 can of ground coffee
3 bottles of flavored coffeemate creamer (from the refridgerated section)
1 jar of Skippy peanut butter
2.5 pounds of bananas
1 Jello no-bake cheesecake
1 premade pie crust
2 cans of Purina dog food

 

 

I paid……$6.20!

 

 

How you ask? Well here were the coupons I had:

3 $1 off any coffemate (printed off the coffeemate website)
3 doubles (up to $1) coupons from albertsons…used these with the coffeemate coupons
1 Buy 3 coffemates get a can of ground coffee free (albertsons coupon)
1 Buy Skippy get up to $1.50 in bananas FREE
1 Buy Jello Chesecake get crust FREE
2 Get one can of Purina dog food FREE

There were also instore ‘members deals’ for the peanut butter, the cheesecake and the coffeemate. So I walked out of there getting completely FREE: Coffee, 3 bottles of Coffeemate, Bananas, Pie crust, and 2 cans of dog food!!!

Coeur de Pirate (heart of a pirate) February 10, 2009

Commes des Enfants by Coeur de PirateMmm…this is my current musical obesession..the darling girl behind the band which is Coeur de Pirate is Beatrice Martin. Although i cannot understand a word, the lilting gorgeous melody and piano composition make me oh so very happy…i cannot explain..listen to her newest single, Commes de Enfants or watch the video here..she reminds me of kate…yeah Janet?