Sunday, April 24, 2011

CVS Trip April 24th

CVS:
Total Spent $1.96
Total Saved $15.71
Today when I went to CVS I scanned my CVS card at the magic coupon machine like normal. I was excited to receive a coupon for $1 off any deodorant. Score, free Dove Men's deodorant.
Dove Deodorant (Reg. $4.99, Sale $.99 - $1 Q = .01 profit)
Blink Tears (Reg. $11.99, Sale $7.99 - $1 Q = $6.99, Earn $7.99 ECB)
I paid using $5.71 in ECBs and $1.96 OOP. I earned back a $7.99 ECB.

Free in the Mail

I got a couple fun items in the mail this week.
Vocal Point sent me a coffee cup. When I opened the mailbox I was mad because I thought someone threw trash in there. Then I realized it was actual mail. Inside the cup was several 55 cent off coupons and a free coupon for Coffee House creamer.
I also received a pack of Extra Dessert Delights gum. What a fun week to check the mail.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Kool-Aid Playdoh

One of my boys favorite things to do is play with Playdoh. I stock up on it anytime I see it on a super good deal. As a special treat we will make different kinds of Playdoh. This week we made Kool-Aid Playdoh. I was able to get Kool-Aid for a penny a packet so this made for a super thrifty project for my boys.
Ingredients:
1 packet Kool-Aid mix
1 1/3 cups flour plus extra to add if sticky
1/4 cup salt
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1 cup boiling water
1 1/2 Tbsp oil
1. In a large bowl, mix together the Kool-Aid, flour, salt and cream of tartar. 2. Bring one cup of water and 1 1/2 TBSP of oil to a boil and pour into the bowl of dry ingredients. The scents will really come out at this point and it will turn the color of the Kool-Aid you are using. Be careful at this point if making this with kids. It will be super hot!! 3. Stir with a large spoon until it forms a ball. You may have to add more flour if too sticky. I had to add about another 1/2 cups to get it a texture we liked.
We have been keeping our Playdoh in a baggy in a fridge. When we want to play with it we just pull it out and it is ready.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Yard Sale April 17th

On my way back from CVS this morning I stopped by a yard sale in my neighborhood. I found some great shoes that have never been worn. I paid $7 for the 4 pairs of shoes and the Paris sign.

CVS Trip April 17th

CVS:
Total Spent $.45
Total Saved $15.96
Aquafresh Kids Toothbrush (Reg. $2.59, Sale $1 - $1Q = FREE)
Aquafresh Kids Toothpaste (Reg. $2.67, Sale $1 - $1Q = FREE)
Handy Manny Coloring Book (Reg. $7.99, Clearance $.79)
Easter Grass (Reg $.99, Earned $.99 ECB's)
Paas Egg coloring kit (Reg. $1.99, Earned $1.99 ECB's)
I paid using a $3.50 ECB and $.45 OOP. I earned back a $1.99 and $.99 ECB.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Easter Mantel

I decided to decorate our mantel for Easter this year with only using things I had around the house. It turned out okay but I think next year I will leave the black family sign out. It is too dark with the other items.
I used a few glass vases I had and filled a couple with clear Easter grass and plastic eggs. The other two I filled with assorted plastic eggs only. I added a couple stuffed bunnies, a stuffed Easter egg and some green candles in the back. I had a single cloth napkin I found on clearance last year so I folded it and placed it in the middle. The green bunny egg holder I made and will be showing you how to do that in a couple of days. I added a glass jar I had that was filled with rocks, two Pine Cone Bunnies my boys made and an Easter sign. I finished it off with a bunny serving dish.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Pine Cone Bunnies

My oldest son loves holidays. I mean LOOOOVVVEES holidays. When I told him we were making pine cone bunnies he wanted to make them right that second. Problem was, we had to find the pine cones. After a few walks around the neighborhood we finally found some that would work for our project.
What you will need:
pine cones
googly eyes
pipe cleaners
pom poms
felt
card stock or construction paper-white and pink
glue
hot glue gun

Start by cutting out the card stock for the ears and teeth. Use glue to attach pink inner ear to the white outer. Cut out felt for the feet. I attached mine to some foam to help it stand better. Use hot glue to attach the whiskers, pom pom nose and teeth. Glue on the eyes, ears and tail. Attach to the feet and use a black marker to draw some "toes".

My 5 year old was able to help with a lot of it but my 2 year old pretty much just threw the supplies on the floor so I had to pick them up a million times. They both really love the bunnies though and are very proud of them.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Homemade Applesauce

I got a good deal on apples a couple weeks ago so I used them to make applesauce. It made my house smell great while it was cooking. We will definitely be having this again soon.
Ingredients:
7 lbs apples (I used Fuji)
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1. In a slow cooker, toss together the apples, brown sugar and lemon juice.

2. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or until apples are very tender.

3. Mash up the apples with a potato masher.

4. Stir in the cinnamon.

This is great by itself but would also be yummy as a crepe filling or on pancakes.
This recipe is linked to:

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Menu Plan- April 10th - 16th

My Mother-In-Law gave me some slow cooker recipes when I was visiting last week. Some of them sound very good so I will be making several dinners from those recipes. Should be a fairly easy cooking week since I will be using the slow cooker so much. Breakfasts: Pioneer Women's cinnamon rolls & fruit eggs in a hole cereal/oatmeal X 2 pancakes blueberry muffins eggs and toast Lunches: Leftovers X3 sandwiches and fruit Eat Out Lunch at a birthday party Dinners: Texas BBQ Beef N Beans and Veggies Slow Cooker Chicken Breasts, Rice and Salad Soup and Rolls Slow Cooker Taco Casserole and Salad Picnic Meal at the Drive-In movie BBQ Sloppy Joe's and fruit Hot dogs & Hamburgers on the grill with pasta salad and fruit

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Yard Sales April 9th

It is finally yard sale season. One of my favorite subdivisions (the one I hope to live in someday) had a community yard sale. I wasn't looking for anything specific but found a few items to take home. I spent $7 for two pairs of shoes, a cookbook, basket, package of balloons, stuffed M&M (for my mom), a snowman sign, Easter egg ornaments and a package of raw hides for my dog.

CVS Trip April 9th

CVS:
Total Spent $.67
Total Saved $9.62
10 Snickers Eggs (Reg. $.87, Sale $.50 - $1/2Q = FREE)
Straws (Reg. $1.59)
I paid using a $1 ECB and $.67 OOP. I earned a $1 ECB for bringing my own bag.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Cinnamon & Sugar Snowflake Snacks

My oldest son is on spring break so I have been looking for things to do to keep him busy. One idea I came across is to make a snowflake shaped snack out of tortillas. My son loved the idea and jumped right in to help.
Fold the tortilla in half then fold in half again. With a pair of clean scissors cut out shapes like you would if making paper snowflakes. Place the snowflakes on a greased cookie sheet. Spray the top with cooking spray and sprinkle with cinnamon...
and sugar.
Bake at 400 degrees for about 7 minutes. Watch closely so they don't burn.
Let them cool and enjoy.
My husband and I make them as snacks (without cutting a snowflake shape). After they come out of the oven we sprinkle with powdered sugar and a drizzle of chocolate sauce.