Work For Me Wednesday!

I don't do this enough but Rocks In My Dryer (http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/shannon/)
is hosting her weekly WFMW and I thought I would put my two cents in.

Lately something that is working for me is cooking more than one meal at a time. If I am already dirtying up the kitchen and taking the time to make my family a meal, I just go ahead and make the meal for the next night. It really doesn't much more time and I end up trashing the kitchen anyway, no matter how much I cook. That way, the next evening I get to relax and not rush to get dinner on the table and the kitchen cleaned. I can pop the meal in the microwave or oven and sit and relax with the kiddos.

In the same vain, if I am making a more complicated dish or a casserole, I go ahead and make 2 and freeze the second.

Last night, I made a chicken stir fry for dinner and while that was on the stove, I threw all the ingredients into a pot for chili. My husbad is going to put it on the stove when he gets home.
We plan to carve pumpkins tonight so that will be enough mess, thank you!

Spending Free Week and CVS~~~~~~~

I am broke as a joke. We have enough food for the week so I am going to try to not spend anything this week.
I have not seen any incredible deals that i might miss out on anyway!

That does not mean that I will not make a stop to CVS. I don't have to spend any actual money there anyway!!!!
There is a Spend $20 and get $10 back on cold remedies and I have Buy One Get One Free Hall's coupons and a Thera Flu rebate to work. A Neti Pot is also included in the deal so I may try to work that in, also. This deal has a reported limit of 3.
There are also Bic COmfort 3 razors on sale for 5.99 with a $4 ECB. I have heard there are $2 off coupons so these will be free.

Fall Festival

We took The Bug to her first Fall Festival last week. She had a blast! She got to sit by herself in a firetruck (thankfully, it was turned off!), she bounced in the bouncy castle, got to ride in a horse drawn carraige, and saw her first hot air balloon (which she tried desperately to ride in!).

Princess Bug

SO we are on our way home from the sitters on Wednesday and The Bug tells me that she would like to dress up when we got home. She wanted to wear her "tappin" shoes and her crown and be a fairy princess. We got very excited about this and couldn't wait to get home.

Well, we walk in the door and there is a box from Mom-Mom. I open it up and it has a Fairy Princess costume in it. The Bug screams

at the top of her 2 year old lungs "I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!!!"

Great, so now everytime she wishes to do something, she thinks the mailperson is

just going to magically bring it!

It was too cute, though.

She got her fairy wand out and kept saying "I wish, I wish, from my little heart..."

A Few Good Krogers Deals this week.....

Annies Homegrown Macaroni is $10 for 10. That is a fabulous deal! It is usually 2.39. Also if you buy a box, go to to www.annies.com and click on OFFERS. Use the information on the box to get a free subscription to KIWI magazine.

Febreeze Noticeables are 6.99. There is an insert coupon for $5 off one. Go to the Kroger site and download a $5 off coupon from P&G to your Kroger card. THese end up being free and in some cases, depending on the cashier, you may get some overage.

Energizer Batteries are $2 for a 4-pack. There is a coupon on the package for $1 off. Remember, you will probably need a battery or two for Christmas so stock up!

Johnson & Johnson makes a kiddie bar soap called a Buddy Bar. These are 1.09. There is an insert coupon for $3 off 3 Buddies products. If you buy three, you get a catalina for $3 off 3 more! You can really stock up on these. Even if you don't need them, they are great for donation.

The new Ore Ida steam and mash potatoes are on sale for $2 and there is an insert coupon for $1 off. I am anxious to try these!

If you are in need of formula, I have see Kroger has been marking it down for clearance.


Peace

Another Little Online Dealio

Go to http://www.artscow.com/diy/mousepad

Use code - MOUSE199
And make a personalized picture mousepad for 1.99 shipped.

These deals come around sometimes and I always do one or two to have on hand for emergency gifts.

Peace

Christmas

So it is right around the corner!
I can't believe it!

I am trying to get a headstart on things and keeping my eye open for deals. I won't tell you exactly what I got as I want my family to be surprised!
I thought I would share few few that I have done so far. I can't guarantee that they will stay valid much longer, though!

The Children's Place - www.thechildrensplace.com has a large selection of kids clothes for 50% off, use promo code HAA8 to get an additional 15% off

If you register at Fortum and Mason's web site http://fortnumandmason-usa.com/My-Account/Register.aspx you get $15 off and free shipping. They have all sorts of teas and English biscuits that would make great gifts. I got 2 things for .75! Use code DCDDAUT8

Oriental Trading has free shipping right now (which is a rarity!). Use code AHW903

Footlocker.com has a great deal on Men's hooded sweashirts, they are $7. Free shipping is over, though! Sorry:(

So that is what I have so far. I will update on any really good deals I find.

Peace

The Bug met Dora Saturday!

She got so excited! We waited for over 2 hours to see her at Once Upon a Child. She walked right up to her and said "hi Dora, how are you?" like she had known her all along. She was so mesmerized that they had to physically remove her from the Dora area. She talked all day about getting to sit on Dora's lap.

Much to my husband's dismay, we also found some tap shoes so she now wants to tap her little heart out all over our house. Of course, there is more falling on her rear than tapping but it all makes me giggle and makes The Saint shudder!

Diaper Deal of the Week

Great deal on diapers at Walgreen's.
Jumbo packs of Walgreen's brand diapers and kid pants are all on sale for $5.99.

That is a great price these days but I can make this deal even better!
There is a coupon booklet at the pharmacy counter that has a $2 off coupon in it. You have to ask for it but I haven't had a problem getting one. What is even better, you ask?? They don't have to keep these coupons, you can use it over and over again. Of course, this depends on your cashier but I have had luck if I don't tear it out and just hand the whole thing over. They scan it and I just stick it back in my bag without hesitation.

I am using Register Rewards from previous transaction to pay so I am paying $2.99 a pack!

Peace

Funny Things Kids Say.....

So The Saint, The Bug, and I were sitting on the back porch. He and I were chatting about work, life, the state of the world, etc over an end of the day beer. The Bug was tromping around on the porch and playing in the flower pots. All of a sudden The Bug runs up to me and says this:

"Mommy, I want Santa to bring me a violin for Christmas!!!"
"A what?!?!"
"A VIOLIN!!!!"
"Really, a violin?!?!?!"
"Yup, and a bow!"

Let me remind you, she is only 2. A genius, I tell you!

And yes, I am getting her a violin.

I missed out on the camera!!

At Meijer on Saturday! I was totally bummed!

BUT I got 20 boxes of pasta for free!!! Rock on...........

We had a great day yesterday. I decided to skip church and go to the track! I know if I was Christian, I would be going to hell. Even more so because we took the girls! Luckily us Unitarian Universalists leave room in our beliefs for a little fun on Sunday! Not to say that church is not! I am digressing.

The girls had a blast. We met a friend with his kids out there and they all giggled and laughed and had fun (when they weren't whining and crying!). One of the girls goes to the same sitter that The Bug does so they had fun just being in a different environment together.

The Bug before we left The little girls hanging out The Bug and her buddy

Some pictures from our most recent trip to FL

Sound asleep after a long day at the beach!

The Bug at The Beach

My silly girls and serious husband

Father and Daughter
Fried chicken on the beach!

My deals this week

SO I am working on a few -

Meijer
Ronzoni Smart Taste Pasta on sale for .99 and there are 1.00 off coupons. I ordered 20 coupons so I will be getting 20 boxes for free!!!
They also have a digital camera on sale (have I mentioned how much I HATE mine!) for 99.99. The ad mentions $20 in instant saving when you purchase it, plus the is a 10% off coupon and I have $40 in birthday money left.
Healthy Ones lunch meat is $1 and there are .75 off coupons
Shrimp is 4.99 a bag


KMART
Is having the Super Doubles again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They will double all coupons up to $2!
I got a lot of good deals on pet food with Goodlife recipe coupons.

Walgreens
The Revlon Colorsilk is on sale for 1.99 and you get back 1.00 in Register Rewards for each box.
There is a coupon for $1 off 2. That makes it about $1 for 2 boxes of hair color.
Nutrigrain bars are 2 for $5 with a $2 register reward on 2. I plan to use the $2 from my Colorsilk to bring this total down.

Not much else going on that I see but will post if I do.