Saturday, January 22, 2011

Went Shopping

Ok, so I lasted 22 days of the challenge... lol I just wanted to go get some new food and some deals! So, here goes!

Target:



Tide Ultra $0.97- after $1.00 coupon: -0.3
Dannon Activia $1.89 - after $1.00 coupon: $0.89
Reveal Lightbulbs $2.44- after $1.00 mfr coupon and $1.50 Target coupon: -0.6
Goodlife Recipe catfood $0.77 - after $1.50 coupon:  -0.73
Maalox Mint $4.54 - after $5.00 coupon: -0.46
Choxie Chocolate bars x 2 $4.38 - after buy 1 get 1 free: $2.19

Total: $1.88 {WOOT!} Plus I got a register coupon for $1.00 off 2 activia 4-packs at Target
I was giddy after this shop! LOL Yeah, I'm a geek!;)



Walmart:


Spent a total of $64.63 for the following:
Garlic Naan($2.00), Artisan Bread($3.00), 2 boxes Ronzoni lasagna ($1.08 - $1/2 c = 58¢ each), Ronzoni Egg Noodles ($1.08 - $1/2 = 58¢ each), Jiffy Yellow Cake Mix(68¢), Index Card book thing to use as a price book($1.24), Ricotta Cheese($1.83), Almond extract($2.98), Maple extract($3.48), Butter($2.56), Whipping Cream($1.78), Coffeemate creamer($1.82 - 75¢c = $1.07), dozen medium eggs($1.54), Garnier Fructis shampoo($2.96 - $1/1c = $1.96), GF conditioner($2.96), gallon fat free milk($3.17), huge can of chili beans($4.12), Equate vanilla "ensure" 6 pack($5.97), Angel Soft toilet paper[needed desperately! lol]($1.18), Toaster[yeah, we didn't have a toaster, and I have been wanting toast really bad! lol]($6.24), all You magazine[bought for coupons! And yes, I have signed up for my free issues and plan to keep the subscription!]($2.49), black jacket for Stephen[he can only wear an all black jacket to work and he has been getting cold! lol]($10 on clearance from $15!).


Price Chopper:


Spent a total of $50.91 for the following:
Apple pie filling($1.00), Cherry pie filling($1.00), Snack packs pudding(69¢ each - 60¢ off 3 = 49¢ each), GM total Cereals($1.49 - $1.00/2 = $1.00 each), Post cereals($2.00 - $1/2 = $1.50 each), Lean Gourmet meals(79¢ - $1.5 = 59¢), Ensure 4 pack[DS16 is vegetarian, so I like to make sure he is getting all his nutrients! lol]($6.99 - $3/1 4 pk = $3.99), Cherries($2.49/lb!), Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts($2.49 lb. I only bought 2 packs because I know I can get them cheaper later and then I will stock up!), cream cheese(79¢ each, bought 4), ground chuck($1.98 lb).


Hyvee:


Spent a total of $40.11 for the following:

Folgers coffee($2.99 each - $1/2 = $2.49 each), Hyvee Pasta(77¢ each), Hyvee cereals(3/$5), Hyvee granola bars(3/$5), Hyvee salsa(2/$3), baby carrots($1.00), blue ribbon Butterfly Pork Chops(3/$5), and raspberries(sigh... $4.99... the sign above the blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries said $1.98... didn't realize until we were gone that we paid $4.99 for the raspberries! Live and learn! They better be tasty! I have good plans for them though!:) )

We will go get newspapers for coupons tomorrow and go to Dillons, and ALDI if ALDI is open on Sundays(?). I will amend this post with those totals as well!:)

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Couponing

If you can tell by the links in my sidebar, I am so ready to start bargain shopping and couponing again! LOL We will be buying 4 Sunday papers a week to get started, and hopefully I can find some creative ways to get FREE coupons. I had DH pick up envelopes for me today, and I just need to find a suitable box to put them in. I am hoping I have something around the house, but I am not holding my breath!

I plan to clip all coupons, put them in envelopes by categories, and then have an envelope for each store that holds store coupons, the weekly shopping list for that store, the store card, if any, and any manufacturer coupons.

I will post pictures as soon as I get it finished!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Crochet {wristers}

Made some wristers. The multi-colored ones I made the pattern for but have misplaced it, when I find it, I will post it; the blue ones I found a pattern online!




DH's Birthday Cake

I am still eating from the pantry, so I had to get creative to make DH's Birthday Cake!

Here is the recipe:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

(I doubled the recipe because I have a VERY BIG pan!lol)

1 white cake mix
2T cocoa powder
3/4 cup coffee
3/4 cup haf & half
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs

Mix it all, put in pan and bake 35 minutes @ 350.

Icing:

2/3 cup cocoa powder
8T hot coffee
8T butter, softened
4 c powdered sugar
1/4 t cinnamon

Stir together cocoa and coffee. Beat in butter. Beat in powdered sugar and cinnamon. Beat for 1 minute on low, then 2 minutes on medium. This is sooooo yummy!!:)

Let cake cool, then frost!

Everyone LOVED it!:)

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Monday Menus

Sorry, it's a day late! I am struggling with meals this week as we are depleting our pantry with the pantry challenge! LOL

Monday: Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwiches (how sophisticated!!)
Tuesday: Venison steak, mashed sweet potatoes, Mac & cheese, peas, and birthday cake(it is DH's birthday!)
Wednesday: Spaghetti
Thursday: French Toast
Friday: we are going to eat out I think, because it is payday and we haven't eaten out in a while!
Saturday: Mini tacos
Sunday: fend

Last week we had pancakes, and I am always looking for new things to put in the pancake batter. So, I had a box of Jello SF vanilla instant pudding, so I threw that in there and made vanilla pancakes! They were yummy!:)

Monday, January 10, 2011

Monday Menus & Pantry Challenge

I am finding it harder this week than last week to eat from the pantry! lol I am out of salsa and cream cheese... not good! Has it really only been 10 days?? Last week we bought milk, cherries(way good sale!!) and ice. That's it! Tonight, we have to go buy more milk.

Oh, and it snowed!!


That is my husband and oldest son's cars covered in snow! And DS17 doesn't have a back window right now, so I feel bad for him having to deal with the snow! It was a Snow Day today, so the boys were home from school! I actually love snow days! LOL

Let's see, what else... Oh, I made some crocheted wristers... I will post a pic later, with my pattern, for anyone who wants to try them!:) I am working on the first "bought & paid for" hat for a friend!:) I was able to buy the yarn and then put the rest in the gas tank. My unemployment is messed up again, so anything I get right now is going into the gas tank.

Menus:

Monday: Spaghetti, Double Chocolate Snack Cake
Tuesday: Buttered Noodles, fruit
Wednesday: General Tso's Chicken, Rice Noodles, Brownies
Thursday: Venison steak, mashed potatoes, corn, mac & cheese
Friday: Pancakes & Sausage
Saturday: Chicken Fried Chicken & Gravy, mashed potatoes, peas
Sunday: Mini Tacos and whatever leftovers we have on hand!


Thursday, January 6, 2011

Crochet {Jester Hat}

So, I made this Jester Hat and it was supposed to have PomPoms, but I didn't have enough yarn to do the PomPoms. So, I improvised! It is really big, so the next one I make will be smaller!:)



So, that is 3 down, 7 more to go for my Etsy shop! I also sold my first hat today!! A friend wants me to make a flap hat for her and I get to choose the colors!:)