Menu Plan- July 10th - 16th

Our visitors have all gone home so we are back to a normal week.  I haven't cooked much in the last couple weeks so I am looking forward to getting back into the kitchen.  In an effort to help straighten up the pantry, I will be planning my meals around the items we already have on hand.  Now if I can just figure out what to do with all this evaporated milk?!?

Breakfasts:
cereal/oatmeal X 2
monkey bread
pancakes
eggs and toast X 2
muffins, yogurt and fruit

Lunches:
sandwiches, fruit and chips X 2
tacos and fruit
beanie weenies and fruit
mac n cheese and fruit
left over pizza
picnic at the beach

Dinners:
Taco Salad
Hot Dogs, Baked Beans and fruit
chicken, rice and veggies
pizza
won tons, rice and veggies
sausage, red kidney bean salad and fruit
hash browns, eggs and sausage

Freebie Friday

This weeks freebies came from various sources, mail, store and drug store.  Since moving to Reno, it is much harder to score freebies at the store since they don't double coupons so when it happens I get very excited.

Tostitos Chips-Free coupon sent in the mail

Purex Complete & $1 off coupon

Hershey's Air Delights candy bar-free coupon from the magic coupon machine in CVS

Seattle's Best Coffee & $1 off coupon

L'Oreal Youth Code & $3 off coupon

Did you score any good freebies this week?



Thrifty Thursday

I didn't find anything at the thrift stores this week but I did find some things while out at the yard sales.

I picked up 14 shirts, a pair of swim trunks, 10 books and 4 small cans of paint for under $10.  Not the most exciting week but at least I was able to find some nice clothes for my boys. 

Did you find anything fun this week?

Crafting with your Kids: Critter Crack-Up

My friend sent me this idea that she found here.  She knew my little guy would love it and right she was.  As soon as I pulled the frozen tub out he got super excited.  I couldn't get it outside fast enough.  This is a very thrifty and easy project to do with your little ones.

 You will need:

a tub to freeze the animals in

an assortment of toys that can get wet

water

freezer

hammer

goggles-we didn't use these but there were a lot of ice chunks flying so it might be safer to use some.

 Pick out an assortment of toys and scatter them around in the tub.  Put enough water in to cover the critters and place in freezer until frozen.

 When the water is frozen pull it out and place in an area you don't mind getting wet.  We did ours outside on the deck.  Let your child break up the ice with the hammer to get the critters out.

Some of the critters came out with small ice chunks still attached.  We just laid them out to melt off.

I didn't notice until we were cracking up the ice that one of the dinosaurs is missing a head.  Looks like the dog may have gotten ahold of him.  :)

Homemade Granola Bars

My boys and I love granola bars so when I found this recipe on Money Saving Mom I made them right away.  It has since been a favorite snack in our house.

 Ingredients:

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/3 cup honey

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 cup oats

1 total cup of chocolate chips, dried fruit, or seeds. (this time I used about 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips and 1/4 cup Craisins.)

 In a saucepan, melt the peanut butter, honey and vegetable oil.

 Remove from heat and add the oats.

 Add the chocolate chips and Craisins (or whatever combination you choose).  Stir well.

 Spread mixture into an 8X8 pan.  Chill for 2 hours, then cut into bars.

Enjoy!!

Linking up to Tasty Tuesday!

CVS Trip July 3rd

I made a quick trip to CVS today to purchase some of their cheap soda.  I was so excited when I got a coupon for a free candy bar from the magic coupon machine.  For those that don't know what the magic coupon machine is, it is the big red and yellow machine that you can scan prices at.  If you scan your CVS card it will print out coupons for you.  I usually try it twice because it will usually give you two sets of coupons.

I split my trip into two transactions today to save me money out of pocket (OOP).

Transaction #1:

1 Oral-B Pulsar Toothbrush (Reg. $6.99, Sale $5.99 - $3Q = $2.99, Earn $3 ECB's)

1 Cherry Coke 2 ltr. (Reg. $1.87, Sale $.69)

1 Tampax Tampons (Reg. $5.79, Sale $3.99 - $1Q = $2.99, Earn $2 ECB's)

I paid using $6.49 in ECB's and $.95 OOP.  I received $5 ECB's.

Transaction #2:

1 Hershey Air Delights (Reg. $1.19 - free coupon = FREE)

1 Oral-B 3D Toothbrush (Reg. $3.29, Sale $3 - $2 Q = $1, Earn $1 ECB)

1 Oral-B Pulsar Toothbrush (Reg. $6.99, Sale $5.99 - $3Q= $2.99, Earn $3 ECB's)

4 Coke 2 ltrs (Reg. $1.87, Sale $.69)

I paid using $7 ECB's and .34 OOP.  I earned $4 ECB's for my next trip.

Freebie Friday

Not many freebies this week.  I have been busy helping at VBS so haven't had a chance to go shopping or anywhere else for that matter.  One of my friends gave me this freebie.  It is a scrapbook set complete with a photo album, scrapbook paper and scissors.  I am not a scrapbooker but am looking forward to giving it a try.

Did you receive any good freebies this week?