Sales

Sorry for taking so long. I have been feeling generally blah the past few days. :(

I don't know if anyone else has taken advantage of the buy 5 pilsbury biscuits get a $3.00 OYNO catalina at Kroger, but I have. (and yeah - it was purely because it was free) I'm not complaining, but I've got more biscuits in the fridge than I've ever had before... lol. I've heard they can be frozen (despite the warnings on the can not to), but I figured I'd give a few ideas to use them up if you have 'em.

A poster on slickdeals - nwdealmama - posted the info here - so if you are a member, feel free to "rep" her for the info!

Monkey Bread - southern plate website
Baby Boston Cream Pies - also from southern plate

We've also simply thrown them into the fryer for a few minutes on each side, patted them with paper towels, and then shook in a bag of sugar/cinnamon for some quick donuts.

Today, I'm doing chicken soup (with leftover chicken/bones) and throwing some of the biscuits (cut in 4ths) into the pot for a quick chicken/dumpling meal.

The rest of them have simply been used to sate my ginormous carb-addiction - especially since I broke down and actually bought some strawberry jelly last week.

Don't forget to visit esaver.com, shortcuts.com and cellfire.com to load all your available coupons for your store cards!

Anyway, we'll get on to the deals! Here we go.

Aldi:

There's a new one that opened up on Clinton Hwy. It's pretty exciting, so I'm hoping to go check it out by the end of this week. Here's what I found in their flyer -

Deutsche Kueche white peeled asparagus in a jar - 11.5 oz for 1.69
5# red potatoes - 1.99
2# carrots - .69
2# sweet onion - .99
3# yellow onion - .99

They also have 6" Chrysanthemums, Azaleas, or Hydrangeas for 3.99 each.

Ingles:

4# sunkist oranges - 2.98
Cantaloupe - 2/5.00
Grapes - .96/lb
Boneless, Skinless Tyson Chicken Breasts - 1.98/lb

Hellman's Mayo - bogo 2/4.48 (you don't have to buy both to get the cheap price)
- 1.00/1 Hellman's light mayo (need to sign up to print, can put in "dummy" info)
depending where you are at/who you've traded with, there were .60/1, .50/1, and 1.00/2 coupons in the 1-18 Red plum insert
Lays chips - 2/3.99
there have been reports of 1.00/2 tearpads around, so take a look at various displays
4# laura lynn sugar - 1.48
1# pinto, Great Northern, Navy, or Mixed laura Lynn dry beans - .88
nilla Wafers Bogo 3.98/2
1.00/1 nabisco wyb milk tearpads (found some at CVS on the cooler doors)
Charmin Basic 12 big rolls (equals 24 reg. rolls) 5.98
.25/1 insert coupon (doubles)
Bounty Basic 8 roll papertowels - 5.98
1.00/1 insert coupon
White rice bogo 3# bags 3.08/2
50 ct. brown lunch bags bogo 1.43/2
6pk viva paper towels - 5.98
.75/1 blinkies (I think I found some at Kmart)
Kleenex - .77
.50/3 coupon - doubles
Pop Secret popcorn bogo 2/2.38
.50/1 coupon - doubles
Tetley tea bogo - 2/1.98
.55/1 insert coupon
Dentyne gum bogo 2/3.28
.50/1 isert coupon - doubles
1.00/1 insert coupons
Cedar's Humus 12 oz - bogo 2/2.99
Toufayan Pita Bread bogo 2/1.48
10# bag of chicken - 5.80 (I think this is their regular price - Walmart used to be cheaper, but I haven't checked for a wee bit)
Bogo Carolina pride polska rope sausage - 2/3.28
1.50/2 sausage insert coupon
Delmonte Jar fruit bogo 2/3.87
1.00/1 printable - Several coupons at bottom of page - may need to wait for the right one to pop up.


Kroger:

Their prices have gone up on several things this year. :( But, they still aren't too unreasonable.

Kroger brands:
.48 16 oz Hydrogen Peroxide
1.88 100 ct. caplets or tablets of ibuprophen
1.98 48 oz vegetable oil
.68 canned fruit (if pineapple is included, then it's a great deal for us)
.68 10-12oz box of frozen spinach or broccoli
2.77 gallon of kroger milk
2.59 gallon of kroger orange juice
10.00/10 - dip, cottage cheese, our sour cream (don't have to buy all 10, can mix & match)


Produce:

1.99 Jumbo Cantaloupe (better price than Ingles)
.69/lb jumbo sweet onions
3.99 10# russet potatoes
.99/lb seedless white grapes
5.00/2 fresh blackberries

Meats:

1.99/lb Tyson boneless skinless chicken breasts
2.99/lb - pork loin baby back ribs

Other:

12.00/3 Coke products, get 2 free boxes of ritz crackers
- if you have my coke rewards and have points/coupons to use - makes a good deal on the coke
- 2.00/2 ritz cracker insert coupon
6.00 - buy 4 quaker cereals and get 4.00 off your shopping order
- may have blinkies in different areas, includes granola bars Link to printables
10.00/10 - athenos humus (don't have to buy all 10)
5.99 - angel soft 9-12 roll toilet paper
.50/1 insert coupon doubles
4.00/4 - pilsbury biscuits - buy 5 and get a 3.00 oyno catalina
- various insert and printable coupons - check out bettycrocker.com, pilsbury.com, coupons.com, and couponbug.com
Huggies - 9.99
- 5.00 or 3.00 coupons from coupons.com and couponbug.com
- check cellfire - i have a 3.00/2 and 1.50/1 coupon loaded to my card - if you still have these available - it'll make a great deal in combo with the printed coupons


There's a few other things, but I'm tired and need more coffee. :) I'll post Wags/ST/Kmart later.

monday promo code for Red Box

HG7W56

Enjoy...

I'll try to update later with additional sales. May not get to it until this evening. :)

Evangelical Collapse Revealed by Studies on Parenting - blog link

Fascinating article that explores the decline of Evangelicalism. Thoughts??

Our church has recently done a series on reformation and revival. We've also begun to make that a focus of our prayers - prayers for revival of biblical Christianity foremost in our own homes, and then the natural effects that flow from that - i.e. revival in the church and community at large.

We (David and I) were having some discussions with friends on Christian issues and politics. I think we all pretty much came to the conclusion that the best "fight" a Christian has is beginning in his own household. If your household is in order, then everything else will flow from that. Change comes from within our close-knit familial boundaries - not by attempting to exert pressure on the larger world around us.

Of course, I don't think that means that Christians should lay idly by and watch the world collapse around them or allow their freedoms to be yanked out from under them. However, I do think that we need to be very aware that the biggest, strongest, and most successful battles are in our own homes.

Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

sickies and a little shopping

Well - it started out as allergies, then developed into colds, and who knows what. I think we have a combo problem going on between allergies and whatever little virus we've picked up! Anyways, we've all taken turns with runny noses and fevers and general blahs. I started feeling yucky last night, and today still feel pretty rotten. The baby has been running around with a fever today - asking to go outside, no less! LOL!!! She's running around in footy jammies with her shoes on - lol. Her little eyes are all red and yucky looking - poor baby!

I've decided to officially keep track of my spending vs. savings. I've started logging my receipts - price before any coupons, what I paid out of pocket, and any cats/giftcards that I earned. I started keeping track 3/14 - so I'll be interested to see what it looks like each month.

I stopped at Kroger yesterday. I forget what I initially stopped for - lol - but I came across some chicken on manager's special. I almost bought all of it, but figured I should only get what I was sure I could handle prepping ASAP. So, I grabbed 30 lbs... (3x10 lb bags) I grabbed a few other things since I was there - the standared J&J buddies soap, pillsbury rolls cuz they're a minor money maker deal, more mustard for the same reason, etc...

Anyway, I check out and some of my catalinas print before the transaction is through. The cashier stops and yanks a bunch of them off the machine - and right in front of me - takes one and sets aside on her machine. Then she hands me the rest. I just couldn't believe it! I *should* have said something right there. I guess I was just too shocked. I paid my 4.16 (which sounded like a lot at the time, but i was distracted.)

I came home and called the manager. No one was available, so I had to call back an hour later. When i finally got ahold of a manager - he seemed practically unconcerned. When I mentioned that when I worked in grocery that they considered it like theft to take a customer's catalina's - he did say that it is against their policy and that they'd talk to the cashier and review the tapes. He apologized and said that "hopefully it doesn't happen again." He didn't even offer to replace the catalina she took! I pretty much felt like I wasted my breath at that point, so I was very disappointed.

Then, as I was inputting my receipt, I was checking the totals and making sure all my coupons were taken off since the total had seemed high. Well, I discovered that one of the chickens rang up incorrectly. UGH! I figured I'd have some problems, but when I went in this morning - expecting to get the difference back, they actually refunded me the full price. So that was nice.

So - I guess I need to be more assertive and not mess around from now on. If I see a cashier do something they shouldn't - I'll deal with it right then. If my total seems high, I'll make sure to get it taken care of right away - and check my receipt before leaving the store!

I was going to go shopping this afternoon, but I think the baby is too yucky feeling to drag out. If David is up to it, I may see if he'll want to stay home with the girls and let me wander out by myself tonite. Maybe I'll pick up a few gardening tools while I'm out and finish up my Wags shopping for the week. I sure hope so!

As for house stuff... well... we've got a lot going today. Did history and science - working on reading and math to come. I've managed to get the bedsheets washed, and going to make the bed here shortly.

Super Target nearby??

Okay, this is pretty late in the game, but ST has some beef on sale for 1.99/lb. They have a 2.00 off coupon on their website. Makes a great priced roast or steak! I bought some meat last time it was this cheap (without a coupon!!) and thought it was good quality.


(I'm headed there tomorrow if any of you locals want me to grab you some!)

destruction of our youth

Okay, I'm not a total idiot. We live in a secular world - fallen and deprave. Sin abounds, and corruption is at the heart of all things. It is so sad and disgusting to see it creeping - nay, bounding - into our children's lives! It seems that everywhere you turn, there are over-sexualized images, sounds/music, commercials, clothing, etc... aimed at or placed prominently in the view or hearing of our little ones.

Take, for example, this information copied from Dr. Laura's blog:

Britney Spears and Kohl's Team Up

Kohl’s Department Store has signed a deal with Britney Spears for her to “represent” their Juniors clothing line - you know, the line for young girls. Part of this deal is to promote her music and current tour. Parents, here’s a sample of what Kohl’s sees as a great match for your daughter:

“Get Naked”
My body is calling out for you, bad boy
I get the feeling that I just want to be with ya’
Baby, I’m a freak and I don’t really give a damn
I’m crazy as a mother ‘effer’
Bet that on ya man

Get naked…would you mind?
Take it off (I took it off)
Get naked.

Her so-called “Circus” tour is highlighted on YouTube. Ya gotta love the guys in leather thongs and those tassel pasties she sports. Frankly, she makes Madonna’s Virgin tour look downright virginal.

Kohl’s Department Store must know that:
* Her first marriage lasted 55 hours.
* Her second marriage lasted a bit longer
* She posed in the nude for Harper’s Bazaar
* She flashed a naked crotch at photographers getting out of her car
* She has been busted for drug use
* She lost custody of her children because of child endangerment issues
* And on and on….just the role model for our young daughters of today.

Did you know that Spears was named the “Most Searched Person” in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2007 and 2009? Kohl’s probably thinks that “attention is attention” - what the hell if it sells junior-size schmatas?

One of my listeners wrote a letter of complaint to Kohl’s, stating that she is “very sad to learn Britney Spears is a part of your store. She has had such troubles and still is not in charge of her life, nor has she been found competent to raise her own kids. You have elected to reward her and flaunt her irresponsible behavior. We will no longer shop at Kohl’s.”

I read the (probably) form letter that Kohl’s wrote in response, which purported to “regret that you have concerns regarding this decision. Ms. Spears is an international celebrity and pop culture icon who embodies the spirit of the Candie’s brand and personifies the iconic ‘Candie’s Girl:’ flirty, self-confident, and stylish.”

Their letter goes on to say that Britney has a right to privacy (are you kidding? Twisting tongues with Madonna on a stage demonstrates a desire for privacy??), and her personal life does not reflect the views of Kohl’s Department Stores.

Flirty, self-confident and stylish? How ’bout “piggish, out of control, and irresponsible parent?” She is, however, PAYING Kevin Federline (a/k/a “Daddy”) some $5,000 per week while she blasts around with this vulgar tour which should make billions.

How stupid does Kellogg’s now feel for dumping Michael Phelps for sucking up pot through a bong? They actually thought that values, character and role-model responsibilities mean something! Silly, silly them.

You parents ultimately decide where your children shop and what they buy. Try being responsible and stand up for values. Send an email to:

Vicki Shamion
Vice President of Public and Community Relations, Kohl’s Corporation
E-mail: vicki.shamion@kohls.com

It's disgusting and shameless. More and more, it is becoming difficult to fight for our children's hearts, their purity, and their overall well-being!

I emailed to tell Kohl's that I will not be shopping there, and I will be making sure that everyone I know is notified about their choice. Please - if you are at all concerned about your children - email them also!

Mmm - good and easy...

What you need:

1 lb meat pieces (DD used beef stew meat tonite, but I've used chicken before.)

1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup Italian dressing (I like the zesty kind, but that's me...)

1 16 oz bag of frozen broccoli pieces (or leftover cooked broccoli)

1 16 oz pkg of noodles

Large skillet for meat prep.
Large pot to boil noodles.
Colander to drain noodles.

What you do:

Chop meat into small pieces (if it's not already there...) Combine soy sauce and italian dressing in the skillet and heat until warmed. Add meat. Cook until meat is done through.

When the meat is almost done bring your water to a boil. Add the noodles. When the noodles are almost done, add the broccoli. (yes, both - unless it's already been cooked - you'll just want to add it when the noodles are done so that it warms up.) When they are finished and hot, strain in the colander. Add noodles/broccoli back to the pot, add the meat and sauce mixture and stir. Serve hot!

If you like a little more sauce, feel free to adjust the amount. You really shouldn't need any additional seasoning as the dressing and soy sauce contain plenty of salt and spices. :)

You can also use pre-cooked meats if you'd like to use up some leftovers. You will want to cook the sauce stuff for a little while to combine, then throw in the meat to warm up and soak the flavors. You will want to start the noodles and broccoli first in this instance, since you don't have to worry about cooking the meat through.

Weds. Free Redbox code

JBG123

Enjoy. :)

Been a while...

Well, I can say there's not much to report - but I usually find something to yammer on about! I haven't been shopping as much as I'd planned over the past couple of weeks (except for some nice Target trips - but that's different.) Part of that is a mild lack of interest - which is largely affected by the nicer weather we've had lately and/or the baby's significant need of training!

I still have grandiose plans for the garden, but they are slightly tempered right now due to lack of gardening tools (ya know - the basics like shovels, hoes, rakes, trowels...) My friend Betsy did find a place that has decently priced composting material, so I'm looking forward to getting some of that when I'm ready. I'm still looking for cheap/free wood to box in the area where I want my big garden to go this year. I was thinking of trying to get some bamboo and making a box out of that, using the larger logs for boxing and smaller ones for "nails" or spikes to hold 'em up. Probably a lot more work than I realize... it usually is!

Yesterday we (me and the girls) located a GIANT (and somewhat purty) black widow spider. I didn't think of it til later, but it would've been very pretty for pics. At the time, however, I was more concerned about it's potential attack on the girls - so I took care of it... Needless to say - I'll be doing my gardening in gloves FOR SURE this year.

The baby has been utterly delighted with every moment we've spent outside. Every moment we spend inside, she spends putting on her shoes and asking to go "bye-byes." Her word acquisition is amazing. I was going to list all the ones I could think of that she says now - but the list is getting so long! She does a LOT of babbling too, and it sounds like she's trying to hold sentences/conversations with you. She's also signing a lot, and will even sign words in combination. I don't remember if 2-word sentences are a milestone - if they are, she's definitely saying AND signing them! It is definitely better than the "uhhhh.... uhhhh...." that is so typical! (she does do this sometimes too - lol)

Boo is just growing into an amazing young woman. It's somewhat scary, but utterly wonderful and fascinating at the same time. She shows great compassion, joy, and love for others. I pray she stays that way. I sure hope she doesn't become the shy hermit that I became - it seems so much more fun the other way around! She's doing okay in her schooling. I need to refocus with her. Some of the material is getting more difficult, the language harder, and she's having a bit more struggle in comprehending. Her interests are expanding though, and that is really neat to watch. She's reading more, learning more, asking more questions - it's fascinating.

Oh - in other lovely news - I got my puter today! Yippee!!! David and Boo worked on getting it up and running. I downloaded all the fun anti-virus/anti-spy/anti-spam stuff, and I'm trying to figure out how to run/install virtual machines. Just cuz. I can't believe how little I know about computers now - I feel completely ignorant! I guess that's what happens when you make choices about what to pursue and what to walk away from! I just can't do it all! (wish I'd remember that all the time... lol)

Anyway - that's really about the biggest ammount of news I have to share right now.

Sales:

Walgreens -

Coffeemate - bogo 2.49/2 1.50/1 Printable here - you may need to tell the cashier to adjust the coupon down (but be prepared to get looked at like you have horns sprouting out of your head - some cashiers are clueless about this.) Also, if you have the ability to print more than 2 copies (i.e. if it lets you print 4 like some folks report being able to do, or if you have more than one computer to print from) you could just get 4 creamers and use 3 coupons. You'll pay around .50 for 4.

SmartBalance butter - bogo 2.99/2 I think there were 1.00/1 and/or .75/1 newspaper coupons. There was also a recent coupon for a free 1lb stick pack when you buy the tub. This would be a perfect coupon to take to Walmart, use the add to get the sale on the tub, then use the free coupon to get the free butter for buying the tubs! You can use 2 of the free coupons if you get 2 of the tubs. (you may also wish to try the coffeemate deal at Walmart - they *may* be a bit better at taking 2 coupons)

Garnier Shampoo - there were some recent coupons for 1.00/1 in the newspaper, and some stores have 1.00/1 tearpad coupons on displays. Walgreen's beauty advisors may have a couple behind their counters, but they don't always offer them. Never hurts to ask! At any rate, the shampoo is 2.99 a bottle. There is also a 2.00/1 coupon in the Easy Saver booklet, so combined with the 1.00 manufacturer coupon - free shampoo. Please don't go get 90 coupons and try to use them at one store in one trip... Always fly under the radar!!!

Also, there is a sale on Huggie's diapers this week. If you checkout couponbug.com or coupons.com there are 5.00 and 3.00 off coupons that you can use on the diapers. They are 10.00 a pack, and wipes are 6.00 for a big pack. If you spend 25.00 in the transaction (before coupons - your total can be less after coupons), you will get a catalina for 10.00 off your next order. (if you don't need these coupons but can print them - I'd find a very happy home for them!)

Anyways - it looks like this:
10.00 huggies
10.00 huggies
10.00 huggies
-15.00 5.00x3 printable coupons
15.00 oop plus tax, get back a 10.00 register reward coupon good off your next order. (usually expires in 2 weeks - so you don't have to spend it right away, but you can)

Note - if you buy another set of diapers and pay with the 10.00 register reward, you will not get another one. However, if you check the sales ad - you will find other deals that you can roll it into to get back some RR's to put back into another diaper deal.

Finally - if you like Irish Spring Body wash, if you buy one at 4.49 you will get a coupon for a free one. Some folks have reported that they have gotten another catalina when they buy the second one while others haven't received it. So this deal is highly YMMV. Either way, you get 2 for 4.49 - and maybe even more.

Kmart - reported that some areas are doubling through the 17th - I think Kingsport/Johnson City are the closest to us. :( Wish I had a shopping/driving buddy for that!

Kroger -

They have the mega 10 event going - buy 10 products get 5.00 off your order. Some good deals are included there (especially with coupons), but I can't get into it right now. :( You may have time to order the 1.00/1 quaker rice cake coupons. They are .49 after the sale - so with the 1.00/1 coupons you will get overage of almost 5.00 toward your total purchases. Make sure you have enough stuff to cover it so you don't freak out the cashier and draw too much attention to yourself! LOL.

Pumpkin cake recipe

This is what I call a cheater recipe. It's great for when you find you forgot to bake something and need something quickish. My recipe is a little variable since I didn't measure everything exactly. You should be able to get a feel for it if you've baked before.


I used 1 boxed yellow cake mix.
2 cups of pumpkin puree (1-15 oz. can)
1 cup of oatmeal
1/3 cup of oil or applesauce
3 eggs
1 cup of liquid (I used 1/2 milk & 1/2 water, but you could do all milk or all water)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Topping:

1 tbsp of butter
1/2-3/4 cup of brown sugar
1/4-1/2 cup of oatmeal

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour bottom of a 9x13 cake pan or 2 8x8 cake pans. You can also use non-stick cooking spray on the bottom of the pan instead of the grease and flour combo.
2. Combine the topping ingredients well and set aside.
3. Combine cake ingredients and stir well.
4. Pour batter into cake pans. Sprinkle with topping.
5. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until toothpick poked in the middle comes out clean.
6. Cool, cut and serve.

You could also do this as muffins, but it may take less time. :) This is a fairly moist recipe and doesn't dry out very quickly.

Stuff and whatnots (and a special request please!)

Monday's Redbox code: MS72K3
Go get your free movie and have a great nite!

I needed potatoes for the roast I am making tonite. I also wanted some produce yummies for the baby, and since Food City usually has awesome markdowns, I picked up a bag of potatos for 7.99. Yeah, well - it's 50 lbs. Yeah... that's what I said... Anyone need some potatoes? Any good recipes for potato stuff that freezes well? I'm thinking gnocchi to start - lol. Potato soup this week is a definite. Maybe some potato bread? Going to make sheppard's pie too - I think... And of course, I gotta have some baked taters. Ohh... chicken and jo-jo's are a definite in hubby's book. Likely gonna do the hash browns for breakfast. Yup... very carb heavy week I'm thinking.

Okay, I'm rambling.

Soo... Rhebekka had a tooth that broke this weekend - a molar. Took her to a dentist to check it out today and they want to do a crown because the back half is broke. :( Blah. So much for those sealants they put on her teeth when she was younger - ended up with a cavity and a deep filling. *sigh* Thankfully, we'll be able to pay the ~600.00 bill with our tax return!! Additionally, they are "highly recommending" that she have her wisdom teeth removed. Seems very early to me, but they said she's definitely in need of it! I have to make an appt. and go from there. I can only imagine what that will cost.

On to some coupon/sales stuff.

If you have the 1.00 reach toothbrush/floss coupon - you can get some freebies from Wags this week. There are additional deals - if you read back about a week or so, I detailed a lot of them in my post about March.

I'm researching some CVS deals - anyone already do that yet? I could use some help/pointers!

March is frozen food month. Expect to see lots of sales on frozen stuff. Kroger is having a buy 10 items, get 5.00 off sale. I need to check it out a bit more to see if the pillsbury toaster strudel is included in the catalina deal also - if they are, then it would be a good deal in combo with the sale and coupons. There looks to be some decent deals available for totinos, hungry man meals, and a few other things - if you buy that stuff. If you don't, then don't worry about it... lol.

And a note - if you got the paper yesterday you will have a coupon in it for a free Smart Balance butter block if you buy the tub. Next week, Walgreen's is having the tub on sale for 2/2.99. They don't carry the block (I don't think so anyways...) - but Walmart will. So if you price match the tub for 2/2.99, you can get 2 free packs of butter (if you have 2 of the free coupons) for 2.99. If you have the 1.00/1 coupons, you can get all 4 packages for .99!!

Now, for a little request. We have a lady from church who is going through chemo. She has a difficult time eating right now and is basically living off of Ensure. If you've ever bought the stuff, you know it's expensive! Anyways, there are IP coupons available. I've printed the max that I can print from my computer, so I was hoping to ask that if anyone else can print them from their computer and be willing to pass them along to us, we'd be extremely greatful! It'll be something small that you can do to help out a sister in Christ! You will need to register for them, but I think if you put in dummy info it will go through. If you don't want to register, that's totally kewl - I understand! The links are below:

Free single serve, or savings on 6pk
$3.00 off of a 6pk
Buy 3, get 1 free