Found-Shoprite Qs at Customer Service

On my big shopping trip in preparation for our family brunch, I stopped by Customer Service for next week's ad and found the following phamplets.

These are all Shoprite Qs, so they could be stacked with a MQ and a sale for some great deals.
Exp 1/31/10
Limit 1 per family
Pantene Pro-V
$1 any 1 styler excludes trial
$1 any 2 shampoo or conditioner excludes trial
$2 any expression or restoratives

OLAY
$1 any facial cleansers 5-6.78oz and cloths 30ct or 60ct
$3 any 1 regenerist micro sculpting cream
$3 any 1 anti-aging eye roller
CREST/ORAL B
$1 off 2 Oral B 1ct toothbrushes
$1 any 1 crest pro health rinse 1 liter
$5 any 1 crest whitestrips kit

Printable Coupons---get 'em while you can!

The end of 2009 is fast approaching and many of these great printable coupons will likely disappear in the beginning of January.

Grocery:

40c Idahoan product 4oz or larger

50c New York Frozen Bread

50c Minute Rice

55c Treasure Cave Cheese

55c Mission Tortillas

75c Colgate Actiflex Manual Toothbrush

75c No Yolks

75c Nature's Pride Bread

$1/2 Juicy Juice

$1/2 Progresso Products Excluding soup and broth

$1 Muir Glen

$1 Any Fisher product 4oz or larger

$2 Caribou Coffee


Health and Beauty:
 
$1 L'Oreal Lip
$1 L'Oreal Eye
$1 L'Oreal Skincare
$2 L'Oreal Face
$2 L'Oreal Everpure
$2 Theraflu
$2 Theraflu
$2 Root Awakening
$5/2 Root Awakening
$2.50 John Freida

WEDNESDAY tip day....set reasonable goals....A New Year with New Goals......

Not to be confused with New Year's Resolutions.
I don't particularly believe in New Year's Resolutions.  I think it is a lot of pressure and for me, a surefire way to set myself up for failure.  We are setting new goals for the future and the beginning of a new year is a great time to begin to set forth on the journey to achieving those goals. 

1. Continue on our path to eliminate debt.
2. Improve Organization in realtionship to all aspects of our life. 
3. Create and follow a better schedule to maximize "work" time, so we can better enjoy "play" time.
4.  Focus on exercise and healthier eating, but do so within our frugal lifestyle.

These are the main goals I have set thus far.  Check back the first Wednesday in January for the detailed posts on these goals.  These posts will replace Wednesday Tip Day for the month.

The PLAN-----New Year's Brunch----A Day Late!

Here are some of the recipes I was considering for our Family Brunch. 
Updated: The ones with an asterisk were tested and approved!

**Cheddar and Chili Egg Casserole

Easy Sticky Buns

**Potato Nest Appetizer

**Cucumber Sandwiches

**Orange Cranberry Brunch Rolls

Key Lime Tartlettes
We tried this and it did not go over well.

Chocolate Macaroons

Carrot Pineapple Muffins

**Veggie Ranch Scoops

**Red Pepper Hummus

**Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs

Cucumber Hummus Stacks

Microwave Dill Tater Snacks
I still really want to give this a try!

Chicken Broccoli Casserole -Thanks Grandma B!

This recipe is from my Grandmother, although, I am certain it is a common recipe.  My copy of the recipe is even in her handwriting!  Regardless of true origins, I will always consider it hers and remember her fondly as we enjoy it!

2 pkgs frozen broccoli (we often substitute 1 avg size bunch fresh broccoli)-crisp cooked and drained

3 whole chicken breasts- boiled for about 45m-1h.  Cut or pull off bone.
reserve cooking broth

Sauce:

2 cans cream of chicken soup

2 Tblsp Mayonnaise

1/4 tsp curry powder

1/2 tsp lemon juice

1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese

Topping:

1/2 c breadcrumbs

1.5 Tblsp butter

Lay broccoli in bottom of 9x13x2 pan. Lay chicken on top.

Over medium heat combine and stir sauce ingredients until cheese is melted.

Pour sauce over chicken and broccoli. If sauce seems to thick add reserved cooking broth from chicken to thin sauce.

Top with 1/2 c breadcrumbs browned in 1.5 Tblsp butter.

Bake at 350 degrees uncovered for 1 hour.


CHECK BACK THIS AFTERNOON FOR A PHOTO WHEN I AM DONE COOKING!
DD3 has insisted that we go out in this brutally cold weather and I am amusing her so she doesn't go stir crazy on me!  My cooking will have to wait until after lunch.

Adams Farms Deals 12/29-12/31

We didn't really buy much produce last week since we had all the Holiday Feasts at my parents' house.

I used up the last of my green peppers yesterday in the vegetarian chili, so I'm happy to see some nice deals on fresh produce!  There are also some nice deals in the meat department

79c/lb- Green Zucchini

89c/lb- Plum Tomatoes

99c/lb- Bosc Pears

99c/lb- Green Peppers

$1.69/lb Pork Roast

$1.79/lb 85% Lean Ground Chuck

$1.99/lb Bell & Evans Bone In Chicken Breasts

Head on over here for the full sale ad!

Menu Plan Monday 12/28-1/3---Happy New Year!

MONDAY- Vegetarian Chili, Tacos, and Rice

TUESDAY- leftovers

WEDNESDAY- Chicken and Broccoli Casserole with Baked Potatoes

THURSDAY- Frozen Pizza, Mac N Cheese and Wings

FRIDAY- leftovers

SATURDAY- Lasagna and Salad

SUNDAY- leftovers and Spaghetti Pizza

We're hosting a big family brunch on the 2nd, so we're taking it nice and easy this week!

Check back Tuesday for the Chicken and Broccoli Casserole recipe!

Shoprite Sales wk of 12/27-1/2----welcome 2010!

This is looking like another slow-ish week at Shoprite. Let's hope they're waiting to surprise us with the ads for the first full week of 2010 (1/3-1/9) .

My favorite advertised sale this week is Caribou Coffee for $2.49/bag!

It's on sale 1/2 price at $4.49 and there are $2 IPs here!

There were also $2 Qs in the 9/13 RP2 or 11/1 RP.

2c MM-Gillette Fusion Power Gamer $7.99 - Buy 2 Get $8 ONYO

Buy2 @ $7.99=$15.98

Use2 $4 Qs from 11/29 PG = $7.98

Get $8 ONYO

FINAL COST = 2c MM!!!!!

Free-Wacky Mac 79c-50c/1 or 75c/1 5/10SS

29c each WYB2-Wacky Mac 79c-$1/2 5/10SS

39c-Mission 20oz Burritos Tortillas $1.49-55c/1 IP

99c-Cantaloupe (limit 2)

$1.49 each WYB2-Newman's Own Salsa $1.99-$1/2 IP

The Most Important Money Principle

This is an older post from Dave Ramsey's Myspace Blog that seems completely appropriate for this time of year when we are particularly prone to overspending and breaking the budget/bank.  As you fight the urge to go on a last minute shopping spree, bear these words in mind.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007



The Most Important Money Principle


The answer might surprise you.


When you understand this concept, all the other concepts work, and until you implement it, none of them will work. When you stick to this concept deep in your soul, it becomes easy to save money and even have money to invest. Getting out of debt happens quickly once you learn how to apply this concept in your life. Budgeting is made easier, and your marriage and relationships regarding money are freed up and made smooth.


Contentment. That's right, contentment.

Contentment brings peace, not apathy. Not the deadhead fog of Prozac or Valium. Only contentment brings peace. We live in the most marketed-to society, and the very essence of marketing is to disturb your peace. We say things to ourselves like, "I'll be happy when I get that house;" or "I'll be happy when I get that job." Or, or, or, or!


NOT TRUE. Happiness is sold to us as an event or a thing, and consequently, our finances have suffered. Fun can be bought, not happiness.


We live among a bunch of people who are deeply in debt and have no money saved because their emotions were tricked. You probably think I'm writing about someone else, but I'm not. I am writing about you. I know because I suffer from the same disease of "stuffitis" - but I am recovering and so are many of you. The human spirit was not created to attain peace, contentment, or fulfillment by gathering more stuff.


You can get out of debt, save money, and get on a budget, but until your intellect forces your emotions and your spirit to accept that stuff does not equal contentment, your money will always feel stressed. It's time to change your focus and your life for the better!

Here's another link to a Ramsey article on Holiday Spending!

Shoprite Sales 12/20-12/26

Ok, this is pathetic, but I'm only going to mention 1 deal!

The 20oz 100% Whole Wheat and Honey Wheat are back on sale for $1.59, which means more 9c bread for us!

You'll want to go here and here to get 75c Qs for this deal!

I picked up 5 more loafs for my freezer on Sunday!

The Generosity of Others

I was out running around trying to get a few last minute things done and hads the girls in tow.  One of our things "to do" was to drop some clothes to Goodwill.

I had a bad experience at Target, which I won't waste my breath on, but put me in a rather "bah humbug" mood.  We pulled to the back of Goodwill to donate and a man pulled up with a truck full of kids toys.  The woman working there took my clothes but said she couldn't take toys (not sure of the details).  I was suggesting the man take them to Happy Apple, another thrift store that I thought would take them.

He offered me anything I wanted.

I, being grateful and unashamed, took a Home Depot Tool Bench kit and a Camping Set.

His generosity made my day.  It was nice to receive the toys, but more than that he reminded me to not let the little things overwhelm me.  His offer lifted my spirits and for that I am most thankful.

There are so many obstacles and interactions in each and every day that can turn our mood sour, but there are also as many gifts that can lift our spirits.  I was reminded today to let the positive linger and the negative move on.

DD3 was so very excited with her new toys!  We stopped by hubby's office after this stop and she was so excited that she will be able to help next time he fixes something.

How cute is that Fire and see the marshmallows on the stick!

12/13 - 12/20 Shopping Week! And away we go............

It has been so hectic around here, as I am sure it is everywhere, that I didn't do a week end summary last Saturday.  I've decided to let myself off the hook for tracking purchases until the new year, so here's a round up from the 13th-20th before my hiatus from tracking begins!


1st stop: Target and Shoprite
(you can enjoy the top on DD3's head and DD1's bum)

Next Up:  Adams
Hubby made this stop for me!

Shoprite, again!

Target, Shoprite and Rite-Aid this time!

And LAST STOP:

CVS, Shoprite, and Mother Earth's

 Grand Total: $51.77

Not included in these pictures but included in the total spending are 2 newspapers, some pecans, and tissue paper from last week's CVS sales.

I'm generally pleased and also generally done shopping (aside from a few little odds and ends for gift shopping) until after the Christmas holiday!

See you for the 1/2-1/8 week recap on the 9th! or before for other posts!
 

NO YOLKS FREE at SHOPRITE! thru 12/19

There's a new 75c/1 IP here!

These are priced $1.49 right now at Shoprite so they will be FREE after doubling!

Wednesday Tip Day----Frugal Wrapping Tips

In the midst of the Holidays, I thought a post on creative and frugal solutions to gift wrapping would be appropriate!

This cute bow is featured in an article over here on how to make bows out of recycled paper!

Need an alternative for your children's artwork.  Use it as wrapping paper!

We can't possibly save everything they create and this is a great way to let others enjoy it.

One of the more obvious and simple ways we save money on holiday wrapping is to buy it on clearance at the end of the year.  We can usually find rolls for 90% off and use it the next year!

What are your creative and frugal ways to wrap gifts???

Adams Farms Deals 12/15-12/17

Green Peppers have gone even lower!

Green Peppers 69c/lb

White All Purpose Potatoes 5lb bag $1.29

View the current ad here!

Menu Plan Monday---Back at Home

Well, I'm finally done with working nights!  (At least until February!)

And, we actually got around to making the Meatball Stroganoff recipe suggested by Julie about a month ago!

I took about a million different recipe tips for stroganoff and came up with my own based on what I had around the house. 

It was delicious! Thanks, Julie for the tip!

MONDAY- LEFTOVER BUFFET

TUESDAY- SHEPERD'S PIE

WEDNESDAY- CHICKEN PARMESAN WITH WILD RICE AND GREEN BEANS 

THURSDAY-FROZEN PIZZA AND SALAD

FRIDAY-TILAPIA WITH COUSCOUS AND VEGGIES (WHATEVER IS LEFT OR ON SALE)

SATURDAY- BAKED ZITI

SUNDAY- HUBBY'S CHOICE

I'm very excited to incorporate some new crock pot recipes, in coming weeks, from the book my parent's gave me for my birthday.  My mom's (who's famous for coming up with twisted names for things) has invented a new crock-pot.  She asked if a recipe was going to be made in my crock pocket.  It's a crock pot that fits in your pocket so you can take dinner to-go!

I love you MOM!

VISIT MPM FOR MORE!

12/5-12/11 Shopping Week ---Finally Back On Track!

I missed my weekly shopping round ups for 2 weeks in a row. The Thanksgiving Holiday and then returning to work threw me a bit off my game.  No worries though, I am back on track and here is the evidence!

We needed diapers and made a stop into RiteAid and Shoprite while we were out!

Stopped into CVS and Adams for a few good deals!

I needed sugar and Walmart has been the best deal for me, so I picked up 4 bags (all I had coupons for) and stopped in to Adams, again!

I was working near Stop and Shop this week so I managed to grab a few deals on the way into work!

Everything in these pictures was FREE!  It's definitely not stuff that's on our normal list, but it's fun to have something a little different, especially when it's free!

DD3 had a blast making the pizza lunchables!

Sorry, this photo kind of stinks. I think all the snow reflecting in the background created some problems.

This was my big SHOPRITE trip this week!

Lots of goodies!

My total was $3.58 for everything in this picture, but I found some problems on my receipt, so I hope to get a refund of around $2.3x!  There were a lot of great freebies this week!

Finally.....we made a trip to the mall (I'll try and post on that tomorrow) and since Target is in the mall, ran in to get some cheap Apple Juice.

We also went to Adams to get our Christmas Tree ( I'll try and post on that tomorrow, too!).

While we were there I picked up some more deals on produce!

TOTAL SPENT=$33.95

-anticipated refund from Shoprite = $31.5x

I AM SO VERY PLEASED.

Next week's sales at Shoprite seem mediocre so far and we don't have a lot of other needs, so I'm hoping to find some good sales at Adams on meat. If I had the room in my freezer I would buy a bulk 40lb bag of chicken breast, but it's a little too full for 40lbs of chicken!

A Special Printable Coupon Deals ONLY Shoprite Sales List 12/13-12/19

I decided to have a little fun here and just post the Shoprite deals that utilize printable coupons!

I've found that lately I go to the store with a stack of printable coupons and 1 or 2 Sunday Inserts Coupons, so this is a challenge to see what deals we can get without buying the Sunday paper.

FREE-Select Dole 99c-50c/1 IP

FREE-Wet Ones $1.24-$1.50 IP

FREE-Breakstone's Sour Cream 99c- 55c/1 IP

FREE-French's Yellow Mustard 99c-50c/1 IP

FREE-French's Brown Deli Mustard 99c-50c/1 IP

14c- CoffeeMate Creamers $1.24-55c/1 IP

24c/each When You Buy 2-Green Giant Boxed Vegetables 99c-50c/2 IP and 50c/2 Cellfire Q

25c/each When You Buy 4- Campbell's Select Harvest Soups 4/$5 MB4- (4) $1/1 IPs you'll need access to 2 computers

44c/each When You Buy 2-Philadelphia Cream Cheese 99c-55c/2 IP

50c-Muir Glen tomatoes $1.50-$1/1 IP

69c/each When You Buy 2- Grands Biscuits 99c-30c/2 IP

99c-Stash Tea $1.99-$1/1 IP

$1 - Hormel Sliced Deli Meats 2/$5 -75c/1 IP 

Adams Fairacre Farms 12/11 - 12/14

We'll be stopping at Adams tonight to get our Christmas Tree and I figured I should check out the sales since we will be there anyway.

Idaho Potatoes 39c/lb

Green Peppers 79c/lb

Green Beans 99c/lb

Grapefruit 6/$1.99

Carrots 1lb bag 99c

I purchased Yukon Gold and Idaho 5lb bags for a steal in the last couple weeks and stocked up earlier this week on green peppers, so I'll skip those items.

Wednesday Tip Day----The second "R"

REUSE!

I've always been a recycler, but we must try and reduce and reuse first, right!

I don't know about you but I use more internet printable coupons these days than I do Sunday Supplement Coupons.

That being said I keep my printer set to the "draft" quality so as to avoid wasting ink, but I also rarely print on new paper.  I use every piece of paper that comes into my house for my lists and coupon printing. 

What do you reuse around the house?

Adams Farms ---12/8-12/10 PEPPERS!

Adams has a new sales flyer out for sales 12/8-12/10.  The only thing I'm excited about is the sale on green peppers!

79c/lb

I'll be stocking up and using them to make some shredded chicken for tamales,tacos, burritos and such!

Shoprite Sales 12/6-12/13--Free Batteries, Wet Ones Wipes, Creamer and Pizza!

FREE-Rayovac AA or AAA 99c-$1/1 10/18SS

FREE-Wet Ones Wipes $1.24 - $1.50 IP

9c- Nature's Pride 20oz Loaf Honey Wheat or 100% Whole Wheat Bread $1.59-75c/1 IP

19c-Select Natrol Vitamins 1/2 Price $3.19-$3 IP

25c-Starkist Tuna Pouch $1.25-50c/1 IP

49c-Oscar Mayer Bacon $1.99-75c/1 11/15SS

59c-Daisy Sour Cream $1.79-60c/1 11/15SS

4 DAY SALES(Wednesday-Saturday)
Free- Coffeemate Creamers 88c-$1/1 IP or 50c/1 11/1RP

Free-Tony's Crisp Pizza 88c-50c/1 10/4SS, 10/18SS YMMV-DND5

Menu Plan Monday-----the time of year when it all falls apart!

So, last week's plan fell apart as did most of my plans for the week as a whole.  I haven't worked nights in a month or so and since we were returning from the Holiday weekend, I think I didn't plan ahead enough.  It seems like this time of year is a very busy time anyway!

I had grand ambitions of trying to do some cooking on Saturday that would serve as dinners for this coming week since I will be working nights again!  Finishing our yard work and a trip out for a few necessities (we ran out of diapers) took precedence.  We did manage to get all of the outdoor stuff put away just as the first snowflakes began to fall!

What have I learned from all of this......

I need to fine tune my planning skills even further in order to make life easier for crazy weeks, planned or unplanned.

I'm going to keep it simple and use my crockpot this coming week!

MONDAY- Vegetarian Chili, Rice, and Taco Meat

TUESDAY- Leftovers

WEDNESDAY- Meatball Stroganoff! with Egg Noodles (Thanks Julie!)

THURSDAY- Chicken Curry Slow Cooker with Brown Rice

FRIDAY- Leftovers

SATURDAY- Tilapia, Baked Potatoes, and Zucchini

SUNDAY- Hubby and DD3 are making a special Birthday Dinner for me! 

I'm still hoping to do a Freezer Cooking Day in the near future, so please share your best freezer recipes in the comments!  And don't forget to visit MPM for more great plans!

75c Goldfish Coupon is back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go here to print your 75c Garden Cheddar coupon!

These are on sale through 12/5 for $1.87.

The coupon is a DND-5 so the doubling may or may not work out for you, but if your store doubles regardless of the DND, you can get these for 37c.

My girls have been snacking on these for the last couple weeks and loving them.

And heck, they are getting 1/3 a serving of veggies in each serving of Goldfish.

Adams Farms Deals 12/4-12/7

I just checked Adams online ad and am very excited about a few deals on produce!

49c/lb- Yellow Squash and Zucchini!

$1.59-5lb Bag Yukon Gold Potatoes!

$1.29/lb- green beans

We can usually find green beans for around 99c/lb in the summer months, so this price isn't great but it's not bad for the beginning of December.

I love squash and zucchini so this is a great deal and as low as I have ever seen them!

And Yukon Gold are some delicious potatoes, so you can bet I'll be stocking up on a few bags of those!

Wednesday Tip Day----Martha Says......The Golden Rules!

My mom recently gave me a stain removal guide from

 Martha Stewarts "Living".

The Golden Rules of Stain Removal:
~It's best to take nonwashable garments to a dry cleaner.
~Act quickly for stains on washable garments.
~Blot, don't rub.
~Work from the outside in, so you don't spread the stain.
~Always test stain-removal techniques on a hidden area.

Do you have a tip to share on Stain Removal?!  Leave a comment with your "golden rules"!

First of the Month Coupons!!!

As most of you know....the first of the month usually means the release of new coupons and sometimes a reset on the old ones!  There are two I am particularly excited about!

$1/2 Progresso (excluding soup) has reset!!!!

These are great to combine with a sale and score some cheap beans or bread crumbs!

There is a new $1/1 Muir Glen.

You can use this to get Free or Very Cheap small cans of tomato sauce or tomato paste!

Walmart used to sell Muir Glen canned tomatoes for around $1.38,

but my store no longer carries them :(