Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Free Best Life Buttery Spread

I went to Meijer today and was able to pick up 6 FREE Best Life Buttery Spread.  I also picked up a cup of Skinny Cow icecream for $0.25!  Note: I only buy one newspaper a week, and I was able to accumulate 4 $1/1 coupons, plus 2 $1/1 printables.  For more details go here.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Menu Plan Monday: 6/21-6/27


It is the official beginning of summer!  It has definitely arrived where I live.  We have been enjoying the warm weather on the lake.  I have been settling in to the new summer routine (vs. hectic schoolyear) and have learned that even though I now have a lot of time to cook, I dread it.  I am definitely not a 1950's housewife. 

Being a problem solver, I figured I needed to solve this problem of the "angst" that I felt every night when I had worked hard all day and still had dinner hanging over my head at night.  Turning on the stove seems like the most awful thing to do when the house is heating up from the summer sun.  I have found three possible solutions:
1. Cold meals- not easy to find suitable with a meat/potatoes husband
2. Crockpot/Homemade microwaveable dinner: lots of possibilities
3. Freezer meals- my personal favorite:)

This week I am back to freezer cooking.  I am really looking forward to being able to just thaw something out and put it in the oven/microwave/crockpot/stove on any weeknight where I don't want to be "chained" to the kitchen.  I really like being free to help my husband in the evening, so easy "heat and eat meals" are perfect for me.  Here's my menu for the week:

Monday: Chicken, green pepper, mushroom BBQ kabobs (just brush BBQ sauce on the kabobs and grill until they are done)

Tuesday: Parmesan, Chicken, and Broccoli Noodles

Wednesday: Ground beef tacos

Thursday: Burgers on the grill

Friday: Chicken & Wild Rice Crockpot Casserole

Bonus Meals: Egg salad sandwiches/ cold meat sandwiches

**Freezer Meals**
Sausage Hash
Garlic Ranch Chicken
Pizza Calzones
Breaded Smothered Chicken

**Bible Study Snacks/Desserts**
Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Fudgy Oreo Icecream Dessert - use homemade hot fudge recipe

For more menu ideas visit Organizing Junkie.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Frugal Fitness Friday: My Fitness Pal



My Fitness Pal is the featured free fitness site of the week.  This site is very similar to Sparkpeople because it provides an easy online free food and fitness diary.  It makes it easy to keep track of everything you eat even when you go out to eat, because you can choose your meal from a list of common restaurants.  It has nutrition facts on over 441,000 foods!  It also has a physical activity diary where you can choose between a list of exercises and input personal data and it will compute an approximate amount of calories burned.

This site also encourages you to network with other people to keep you accountable.  They have downloadable "badges" to place on your blog/emails/etc. that state how close you are to your goal.  I don't know about you, but if I was trying to lose weight, having it broadcast to the world would probably motivate me.

The most interesting tool that this site has to offer is its free iPhone application.  This way if you are out and about all day, you could easily document what you have eaten or what physical activity you have completed.  That way as you contemplate getting that gigantic piece of chocolate cake, you could see whether that is an ok choice for the day, or not.

Also remember, if you are exercising to lose weight, help feed the needy by recording your pledge online.  Read about it here.

Feel free to visit my past posts reviewing these free fitness websites:
Map my Run
Couch to 5k
Yoga Today
Livestrong
Women Workout Routines
My FitnessPal
Military Workouts
Exercise TV
SparkPeople

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Worth Reading: One Pretty Thing

oneprettything

Last week I found this website (One Pretty Thing) while surfing the web.  It is an amazing website.  Each day it give you a round up of the best DIY ideas of the day and also features a round up for a specific topic.  After following it for a few days, I am thoroughly impressed.  I suggest you head on over, since it is worth reading.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Menu Plan Monday: 6/14-6/20



This week is VBS at my parents' church.  They have programs for adults and children in the evening, so we will be busy most nights, which means quick meals!  Also, things are heating up here, so most of the choices for the week shouldn't heat up my kitchen too much.

Monday:  Lunch: Out to lunch with family
     Dinner: Grilled Cheese, Chips, Dill Pickles
Tuesday: Lunch: Leftovers from last week
      Dinner: BBQ Slow Cooker Chicken Breast (just throw he chicken into a crock pot and pour on some BBQ sauce and put it on low for a while), Broccoli, Cut up Apples
Wednesday: Lunch: 
     Dinner: Leftover Chicken Quesdillas, Strawberry Smoothies
Thursday: Lunch: Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas
     Dinner: Grilled Moza-Chicken Sandwiches, fresh fruit and veggies
Bonus Meals: Homemade Pizza, Grilled Hot Dogs and Hamburgers

For more menu plan ideas, visit Organizing Junkie.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Frugal Fitness Friday: Map My Run



Last week I brought to you the Couch to 5k program online.  You can also go directly to the program by this link.  This program helps you go from sitting on the couch to being able to run 5k in 9 weeks.  If you are feeling stuck, because you don't know how far you are running currently, fear not, I have found a new online fitness freebie.

Map my Run is free program that allows you to "draw" the route that you take when running, walking, biking, etc. to determine the distance travelled.  It will make note of mile markers (how far you have until you have gone 1 mile, 2 miles, etc.).  It allows you to choose "up and back" and "loop".  They also have a workout calculator which will determine your speed, calories burned, and bmi.  They are in the process of testing a new format- which is the beta site.  If you create a free account, you can save your routes and join "teams".

I have used this site this summer.  I live in the country, so there is not a lot of choices for routes, but I really like knowing how far I have run.  It really helps me push myself to go a little bit farther each day.  The only draw back is that you have to sit through a 30 sec ad when you first visit the site.

If you are running to lose weight, help feed the needy by recording your pledge online.  Read about it here.

Feel free to visit my past posts reviewing these free fitness websites:
Couch to 5k
Yoga Today
Livestrong
Women Workout Routines
My FitnessPal
Military Workouts
Exercise TV
SparkPeople

Worth Reading Round Up 6/11

I just ran across two really great articles.

A Thrifty Mom just posted Get Out of Debt Part 1 of 3.  It describes how they focused on staying out of debt when they got married and instead tried to focus on the things that really matter.

The Simple Dollar posted Make Each Day your Masterpiece.  It describes looking at life in a way that you really try and make each day/dollar count.

Enjoy!

Free Subscription to Kiplinger's Personal Finance

Go here to sign up for a free subscription to Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine. 

Thanks, Freebie Blogger!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

New Market Coupon Match ups: 6/7-6/13

New Market's is having a  Moonlight Madness Sale on Friday from 4pm-10pm.  They will have Dean's Gallon Milk $0.99 with $25 purchase.  This is not a triple coupon week, which means they will double coupons to $0.50.

Kellogg's Cereals 12.2-20oz - $1.88
Use $1/2 printable
Final Price: $1.38 each when you buy two

Keebler Wheatables 8.5oz - $2
Use $1.50/1 printable
Final Price: $0.50

Angel Soft BAth Tissue 12 Dble Rolls - $4.99
$0.50/1 printable doubled
Final Price: $3.99

Weight Watchers Smart Ones Entrees 8-11oz - $2
Use $1/5 printable
Final Price: $1.80 each when you buy five

Healthy Life Dieter's Dream Bread 16 oz $1.50
Use $0.25/1 doubled from the Smart Source 5/23 Insert
Final Price: $1

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter (8 oz spray or 15oz pkg) - $2.48
Use $0.75/2 printable
Final Price: $2.11 when you buy two

Land O Frost Premium Lunchmeat 16oz - $3.50
Use $1/1 printable
Final Price: $2.50

Eckrich Smoked or Polish Sausage 14-16oz - $3
Use $0.55/1 from the 05/09/2010 SmartSource Insert
Final Price: $2.45

Hot Pockets, Lean Pockets, or Croissants 8-10oz - $2
Use $1/3 from the 4/25/2010 RedPlum Insert
Final Price: $1.67 when you buy 3

Daisy Sour Cream 16oz - $2
Use $0.50/1 printable doubled
Final Price: $1

Shedd's Country Crock Spread 45oz - $3
Use $0.40/1 printable doubled
Final Price: $2.20

Nestle Drumsticks Lil' Drums 10pk - $3.99
Use $1/1 printable
Final Price: $2.99

Bar S Hot Dogs 16oz - $1
Use $1/2 from the 05/16/2010 RedPlum Insert
Final Price: $0.50 each when you buy two

Yoplait GoGurt 18oz - $2.50
Use $1.10/1 printable
Final Price: $1.40

Hunt's Ketchup 24oz - $1.25
Use $0.20/1 doubled from the 5/16/2010 SmartSource Insert
Final Price: $0.85

General Mills Cereal 8.7-14oz - $2.50
Use $1.50/2 printable
Final Price: $1.75 each when you buy two

Hershey's Syrup 24-26oz - $2
Use $1/2 from the 5/23/2010 SmartSource Insert
Final Price: $1.50 each when you buy two

Lawry's Marinades 12oz - $3
Use $0.50/1 printable doubled
Final Price: $2

French's Mustard 20oz - $1.50
Use $0.50/1 printable doubled
Final Price: $0.50

Thrifty Thursday: Cheap Sunscreen at CVS


During the summer my husband and I go out on the lake with his family a lot.  We go through a lot of sunscreen.  This week at CVS, if you buy two Coppertone Sunscreens at $10.49 each, you get back $10 ECB.  That made each bottle $5.50 each.

I sweetened the deal by using two $1/1 coupon printables (I got it off of coupons.com, but I believe that it is no longer there).  Now the final price: $4.50 each.

I used the 2 ECB's that are printing at the in store scanners that only last 3 days.  New final price: $3.50 each.

I used a $5/$15 coupon that had printed on a receipt that expired that day.  New final price: $1 each!!!

I ended up picking up the bag of Skittles for my husband, so that I could use some of my other ECB's.  I'm so excited about this deal, because the spray kind of sunscreen is absolutely wonderful because my husband always wants me to put on his sunscreen so that he won't miss a spot (he had a bad experience with this in the past).  The spray kind really speeds up the process!  So if you are ever wondering whether it is worth reading through all of the CVS deals each week, I and many others would definitely say yes!

For more thrifty ideas visit Coupon Teacher.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

$10/$20 Smokey Bones Coupon

Go here to print a coupon from $10 off $20 at Smokey Bones.  I have used this coupon before, and my husband and I had a great date night.  We had tons of food leftover and were able to eat out someplace nice:).

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Restaurant.com Gift Certificates 80% off !

Restaurant.com Weekly Promo Offer 125 X 125

It's not even the end of the month and Restaurant.com has their gift certificates 80% off!  That makes the $25 gift certificates $2 and the $10 gift certificates only $0.80!  I have used these for date nights in the past and they worked perfect!  Make sure that you read all of the fine print though.

Free Icecream at CVS!

According to Money Saving Mom, CVS has Skinny Cow icecream on sale for $1 this week.  Go here to print off a $1/1 coupon to get a free pint of icecream!  I'm planning on going tomorrow because that is when my store restocks everything.  If you are new to CVSing and get frustrated because all of the free stuff is gone, I highly recommend asking when your store restocks everything.  It has saved me lots of trips now that I mainly go on "restock day."

Monday, June 7, 2010

Delayed- Menu Plan Monday: 6/7-6-12


Well, Blogger has been down for most of today, so here is my "better late than never:)" menu plan.  During the summer I plan on testing out on a small scale some meatless meals for my lunch.  My hope is that I will be able to find at least a handful of recipes that my husband might not notice are meatless.  I am not a vegetarian, but I think that just cutting out one dinner with meat would cut down on our grocery bill, and if done right, be very good for our hearts! 

I also did not include sides this week.  We were given a lot of leftover fruits and vegetables from my brother's graduation party, so we will mainly be eating those up before they go bad.

Monday:
    Lunch:  Salad topped with grilled chicken and cherry tomatoes (see picture above:) )
    Dinner:  Leftover pulled pork sandwiches from my brother's graduation

Tuesday:
    Lunch:  Egg Salad Sandwiches
    Dinner:  Pizzeria Chicken Packets - from Pat & Betty's No-Fuss Cooking

Wednesday:
    Lunch:  Spaghetti with Maranara
    Dinner:  Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas - from The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook

Thursday:
    Lunch:  Leftovers
    Dinner:  BLT's

Bonus Meals (to be made sometime over the weekend):  Broccoli, Rice, and Chicken Bake; Breakfast for dinner

For more menu planning ideas, visit Organizing Junkie.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Frugal Fitness Friday: Couch to 5k



It's summer, which means it is swimsuit season.  If you're not motivated yet, think of how good exercise will be for your heart.  Now that it is so nice out, it seems silly to stay in to exercise.  If you are just as ready to go out as I am, visit the Couch to 5k program online.  You can also go directly to the program by this link.

This program is very simple and easy to follow.  By the end of the 9 week program you should be able to run a 5k in 30 minutes or less!  I'm planning on using this program for my cardio a few days a week during the summer and I hope that you'll join me.

Highlights: There are tons of helpful links at the bottom of this page!  I am planning on downloading the free Christian music with verbal cues of when to run/jog/walk onto my mp3 player (that is if I can find my chord).

If you are running to lose weight, help feed the needy by recording your pledge online.  Read about it here.

If you're not a running fan, feel free to visit my past posts reviewing these free fitness websites:
Yoga Today
Livestrong
Women Workout Routines
My FitnessPal
Military Workouts
Exercise TV
SparkPeople

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

New Market Matchups: 5/31-6/6


This week is Triple Coupon Week at New Markets.  Remember that with New Market's current coupon policy they will triple to $0.50 and that is it.  New Markets generally have higher prices, but if you live far away from other stores, it still might be cheaper to go there than to drive a long way.  Here are the best deals that I see this week:

French's Mustard 20 oz - $1.50
Use $0.50/1 tripled printable
Final Cost: FREE!

Bar S Bologna or Hot Dogs 16 oz- $1
Use $1/2 from the RedPlum 5/16 insert
Final Price: $0.50 each when you buy 2

Hunt's Ketchup 24 oz- $1
Use $0.20/1 tripled  from the SmartSource 5/16 insert
Final Price: $0.40 each

Banquet Value Meals 6.6-12 oz- $1
Use $1.50/4 printable
Final Price: $0.63 each when you buy four

Chef Boyardee Canned Pasta 14.5-15 oz- $1
Use $1.50/4 printable
Final Price: $0.63 each when you buy four

Post Cereals 11-14.5 oz- $1.99
Use $1/2 from the 05/16/2010 SmartSource Insert
Final Price: $1.49 when you buy two

Land O Frost Premium Lunchmeat 16 oz- $3.50
Use $1/1 printable
Final Price: $2.50 each

Tyson Anytizers 18-32 oz- $6.99
Use $1/1 from the 3/7/2010 SmartSource Insert
Final Price: $5.99
 
Daisy Cottage Cheese 16 oz- $2
Use $.45/1 tripled from the 5/2/2010 SmartSource Insert
Use $.65/1 printable
Final Price: $0.65 - $1.35
 
Daisy Sour Cream 16 oz- $2
Use $0.50/1 tripled printable
Final Price: $0.50
 
Lawry's Marinade 12 oz- $3
$0.50/1 tripled printable
Final Price: $1.50

I used Money Saving Mom's coupon database to help compile this week's deals!

New Market Updated Coupon Policy


New Market's coupon policy has changed so that they can participate in Coca-Cola deals.  The main change is that during the Triple Coupon period there won't be "double to a dollar" situations anymore.  Here is New Market's new coupon policy:

We will gladly double manufacturers’ coupons everyday up to 50 ¢.
We will gladly accept coupons over .50 at the face value.
We will gladly accept internet coupons.
We will gladly accept duplicate manufacturers’ coupons per the purchase requirement at face value.
We will gladly accept manufacturers’ coupons for beer, wine, or tobacco products at face value.
We will gladly triple manufacturers’ coupons up to 50 ¢ during any advertised triple coupon period. 25¢ coupons are worth 75¢, 45¢ coupons are worth $1.35, and 50¢ coupons are worth $1.50.
Catalina coupons can be redeemed at face value.
Catalina coupons may not be used with a vendor coupon or any other checkout coupon for the same item.

School's out for Summer!

It's official.  Today was the last day of my first year of teaching.  It has been an exciting and even emotional ride as I went from a baby teacher (the mistakes I made on my first day, still make me shake my head) to where I am at now (maybe a toddler teacher?).  I have learned from both the good days and the bad.  I have so many hopes for next year.  I might even start a blog about my teaching.  For the moment I am just enjoying other high school math teacher blogs.  But, we'll just have to see how everything goes.

To answer the question that has been the most popular question of the past few weeks, I am technically doing "nothing" this summer.  Normally I have a summer job at a local daycare.  My husband and I both decided that it would be best for me not to take the job again this summer.  My original plan had me taking classes to help me earn my Master's in Math, however due to the fact that my job is a long drive north and the closest university that offers it is a long drive south, it will not work unless I am able to get a teaching job closer to home.  They only offer three of the eleven classes needed during the summer, so I would be forced to make the impossible drive during the school year.  Online options are off the table for the moment, because each option is approximately double to triple the cost of the local university.

Since I will have more time on my hands this summer I have created many different lists in excel, to keep me on track and off of my fanny during the day.  I hope to blog about many of my summer projects.  There are sooo many that my husband just rolls his eyes.  I'm also looking forward to finding more freebies, and posting more deals.  I'm looking forward to sharing all the details with you in the days ahead!

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