My Five Favorite Kitchen Gadgets

 As I was prepping for dinner tonight, I thought to myself, WOW there are some items in my kitchen I just LOVE! I think they are “must haves” for my kitchen and maybe for your kitchen too! Besides the normal necessary appliances, the range, fridge, dishwasher, and microwave, I came up with 5 items in my kitchen I could not live without! My 5 items were:


1. My Pampered Chef Knives – I believe that a good knife or two is a must have for every cook. It really reduces the time you spend slicing, chopping, and dicing in the kitchen. It is so much easier to cut things one then multiple times especially raw chicken and beef! I have 2 Pampered Chef knives, but this big one is my favorite and I have yet to lose a finger from its sharpness. My husband jokes that “I take better care of my knives them him”! I store then in a separate place in their handy covers that came with them. I use them and then hand wash them right away, dry them, and put the cover back on them. If you ever have a question about a Pampered Chef item, ask me about it!

2. My Bunn Coffee Pot – Perhaps this is a little extreme, but we LOVE our coffee in our house. We love it even more when it brews an entire pot within two minutes! It is very handy in the morning hustle and bustle. I put the coffee in the night before so in the morning all you have to do is add water and then you have freshly brewed coffee. This was an anniversary gift from my husband’s parents after we made comments on how great their coffee tasted with their Bunn!

3. My Iced Tea Pot – We have had this Iced Tea pot for almost 8 years now. We received it as a bridal shower gift and it has been busy brewing ever since. My husband and I are addicted to fresh brewed iced tea. I will even ask at restaurants if their iced tea is brewed, because that is the only way I will drink it. I never drink any type of pop; my preferred cold beverages are water, lemonade and TEA! We use this pot at least one time per week if not more. I would be devastated if this item broke!

4. My Mini Chopper – This is a life saver for chopping onions! I just peel and quarter the onion and pop it in here and chop away. It dices really fine and I hardly have to touch the onion. By the way, that is one of my pet peeves when my fingertips smell like onions! It is also great for making salsa! I coarsely chop my tomatoes, onions, peppers, and cilantro and season it with salt, pepper, and lime juice. I let the mixture sit over night. The next day I throw it into my chopper and chop away, make a wonderful salsa!

5. My Scrub Brush – I think it is so much easy to wash dishes with one of these handy scrub brushes in which you can fill dish soap directly in the handle. I find that I rarely have to fill the sink with soapy water to wash dishes.

So do you have some favorite kitchen gadgets?

Giant Eagle is Now Part of Shortcuts

Are you a Giant Eagle shopper like me?  The good news is that Giant Eagle is now part of Shortcuts.


What is Shortcuts?

Shortcuts.com is a company that provides e-coupons that you can load onto your store loyalty card. When you scan your card and purchase the item, the savings automatically come off your bill.

Why is this important?

Because it will save you even more money because most of the time you can still use a paper coupon for the same item!

How can I get started? It's very easy.

Simply go to shortcuts.com
Register your Giant Eagle Card
View and select from the coupons available on Shortcuts.com

Print your shopping list
Shop and save!

Now, not all coupons will be available for all stores. You will have to click on the coupon to see if that particular coupon is available for your store. Right now it looks like there's not much available for Giant Eagle, but definitely register and keep checking back so that you can add coupons as they become available.

Thanks Michelle at Money Saving Madness.

Giant Eagle Deals 04/29/10 – 05/05/10

Please note, I use the Cleveland, Ohio area Giant Eagle Advertisement as well as the SS, RP, and P&G coupon sections. Deals and coupon values/availability may vary by region. My final prices are calculated using the NE Ohio coupons doubling coupons up to $0.99. I may not include ALL sale items, but the ones I feel are good to GREAT deal!

Shaping up to be a GREAT stock up week at Giant Eagle!

Produce:
Bagged Salads - BOGO
Strawberries - BOGO
Navel Oranges – $0.69 each
3# Bagged Apples – BOGO
Blackberries - BOGO

Grocery:
Campbell’s Condensed Soups – 10 for $10
Use $0.25 off 4 from 3/28 SS
Final Price - $0.88 each

Betty Crocker Potatoes – 10 for $10
Use $0.25 off from 3/28 SS
Final Price = $0.50 each

Knorr Side Dishes – 10 for $10 STOCK

Pop Secret – BOGO

Lipton Iced Tea 12 packs - $4.99

Thomas’ Plain English Muffins or Entenmann’s Little Bites – BOGO

Cheerios 8.9 oz or Golden Grahams 12 oz – 4 for $10
Use $1 off 3 from 3/28 SS
Use $1 off 2 printable
Final Price = $2 - $2.17 each

Mrs. Butterworth’s Pancake Mix – 2 for $4

Campbell’s Chunky Soup – 4 for $6

Ortega Taco Kits & Shells – 5 for $10
Use $0.75 off 2 from 4/18 SS
Use $1 off 2 from May All You
Final Price = $1.50 - $1.25

GE King Size White Bread & buns - $0.99

Ken’s Salad Dressing 8 oz – 10 for $10
Use $1 off 2 from 3/7 SS (x4/30/10)
Final Price = $0.50 each

Rozini Healthy Harvest or Smart Taste Pasta – 2 for $3

Doritos – BOGO

Crystal Light Sugar Free Drink Mix 8 qt or 10 ct – 2 for $5
Use $1 off from 3/21 SS
Final Price = $1.50
Kraft BBQ Sauce or Squeeze Mayo – BOGO

Maxwell House 10.5 – 11.5 oz - $2.79
Use $1 off 2 from 3/21 SS
Final Price = $2.29
General Foods International - $2.79
Use $0.75 off from 3/21 SS
Final Price = $1.29

Meats:
Boneless Top Round London Broil – BOGO
Boneless Value Pack Country Style Pork Ribs or Prime Roast - BOGO
Boneless Center Cut Pork Loin or Value Pack Chops – BOGO

Ballpark Franks – BOGO
Use $0.75 off 2 from 3/14 RP (x4/30/10), 5/2 RP
Use $0.75 off Angus (if included) from 3/14 RP (x4/30/10)
Use $0.55 off Angus (if included) from 5/2 RP

Oscar Meyer Bacon – BOGO
Use $0.75 off from 3/21 SS

Oscar Meyer Bologna – BOGO
Use $1 off 2 from 3/7 SS

Nathan’s Best Franks - BOGO

Household:
Colgate Toothpaste – 2 for $3
Use $0.75 off from 4/25 SS
Final Price = FREE

Frozen:
Lean Cuisine – $1.99
Buy 6 and get FREE Skinny Cow Treats Instantly!

Breyer’s Ice Cream – 4 for $10

Green Giant Boxed Veggies – 10 for $10
Use $0.60 off 3 from 3/7, 3/28 SS
Final Price = $0.60 each

Gorton’s Fish or Shrimp – 25% Off
Use $1 off Shrimp from 3/14 SS
Use $0.40 off from 2/21 SS
Use $0.60 off from Feb All You
Ore-Ida Fries, Tots, or Hashbrowns – 4 for $10

Farm Rich Appetizers - $5.99
Use $0.75 off from 3/14SS
Final Price = $4.49
Jeno’s Pizza or Totino’s Pizza Rolls – 10 for $10
Use $0.40 off 2 Pizza Rolls from 4/18 S
Final Price = $0.60 each

Dairy:
Milk - $1.98 (YEAH!!!)

Kraft Shredded or Chunk Cheese – 5 for $10

Breakstone Sour Cream – 4 for $5

Gold Peak Tea or Simply Lemonade – 2 for $4

Mission 10” Burrito Tortillas or 8” Multigrain Soft Taco Tortillas – 2 for $5
Use $0.75 printable

I Can’t Believe its Not Butter Spray or Quarters or Promise Spread – 2 for $4

Yoplait Gogurt, Kids, Trix, or Delights – 3 for $6
Use $0.75 off 2 from 3/21, 4/18 SS
Use $0.35 off from 3/21, 4/18 SS
Use $0.40 printable or $0.80 off 2 printable
Use $0.50 off Delights from 4/25 SS
As low as $1 each!

Grands – 4 for $6
Use $0.30 off 2 from 3/28 SS
Final Price = $1.20 each

Breyer’s Inspirations, Disney, or YoCrunch - $1.99
Use $0.75 off Yo Crunch from 3/28 SS
Use $0.50 off Inspirations from 3/28 SS
Final Price = $0.49 - $0.99

Instant $$ Deals (MUST BUY SPECIFIED QUANTITY):
Twizzlers 12 to 17.6 oz – 4 for $5

Purchase 4 and Get $2 off OYNO:
Special K Cereal or Bars – 4 for $8
Use $1 off 2 cereals from 5/2 RP
Final Price = $1 each!!

Purchase 10 and Get $2 off OYNO:
Gatorade 32 oz – 10 for $10

Purchase $10 and Get $3 off OYNO:
Healthy Choice Complete Selections – 3 for $10

Healthy Choice Café Steamers – 3 for $9
Use $1 off 2 from April All You

Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers - 2 for $6

Hunt’s Canned Tomatoes – 10 for $10

Eggs Beaters – 2 for $5

All Whites – 2 for $4

Purchase 20 and Get $2 off OYNO:
Yoplait Cups – 20 for $10
Use $0.40 off 6 from 3/21, 4/18, 4/25 SS
Use $0.50 off 8 from 4/25 SS

**FREE Signature Collection Body Lotion with any Bath & Body Works Gift Card Purchase of $25 or more (expires 5/12/10)**

Happy Shopping!

CollegeAdvantage – For Ohio Residents

CollegeAdvantage, Ohio’s 529 college savings plan is offered and administered by the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority, a state agency since 1989. CollegeAdvantage has many benefits that make saving for college easy and affordable:
•Earnings are tax-free.

•Deduct contributions from Ohio taxable income ($2,000 annually).

•Use your funds at any college in the country.

•Pay for tuition, room and board, or books.

•Contribute as little as $25 at a time.

•Benefit from professional money management by leading financial firms.

•Save with FDIC-insured bank products.

•Pay no enrollment fee, no maintenance fee and low administrative fees.

•Transfer funds to another child.

•Withdraw funds at any time.

•Change investment options.

We have personally used CollegeAdvantage for over 4 years now and it is so easy to start saving for your children’s college education. I personally consider a college education a necessity not only for this generation but for our children to have a secure future.

Morningstar rates Ohio's 529 plan as "Top 5" college savings plan in the nation

Morningstar Inc., a leading provider of independent investment research, has named Ohio’s CollegeAdvantage 529 direct plan as one of the top five college savings plans in the nation in a report that was released April 23, 2009. In reviewing the Ohio direct plan Morningstar stated that “the strong investment options, low costs, and good flexibility make this plan tough to beat for Ohio residents.” In rating each state’s 529 plan, Morningstar focused on features such as fees, investment quality, asset allocation and flexibility. The Morningstar report can be viewed online by visiting www.morningstar.com.

Morningstar also prefers Ohio’s innovative plan structure, stating “the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority not only created the plan, but it also manages it directly. This setup is rare in the 529 universe and it gives OTTA more freedom to choose from a variety of mutual fund families, such as Vanguard, PIMCO, GE Asset Management and Fifth Third Bank (for CD options.)”

CollegeAdvantage is offering a “Spring Refer a Friend Program” where you can earn $50 for your account for each enrollment until June 30, 2010. For a limited time, CollegeAdvantage is once again offering the popular Refer a Friend Program. You can earn a $50 referral bonus each time your friends and family open a CollegeAdvantage account. To encourage your friends and family to get started saving for college, they will also earn a $25 referral bonus just for opening the account. But don’t wait; this offer is for a limited time only. Friends and family must open an account by June 30, 2010 in order for both of you to receive the referral bonus. The referral bonus will be applied directly to your designated CollegeAdvantage account. If you are interested in opening an account, send me an e-mail at spendless2savemore@gmail.com and I will forward a referral to you.

Creamy Chicken Penne - $5 Dinner Challenge

Ingredients:
2 cups penne pasta, uncooked ($0.50 for box)
3/4 lb boneless chicken sliced ($5.99.3# bag = $1.50)
1/2 c chopped onion ($0.25)
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 red pepper chopped ($0.99)
2 tsp minced garlic
2 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp flour
1-1/2 cups milk ($0.50)
4 oz Cream Cheese, cubed ($0.50/2 = $0.25)
1/2 cup grated romano cheese ($0.50)
Salt & Pepper to taste
Parsley as garnish

Directions:
Cook pasta as directed.  Cook chicken and onion in oil in skillet for 6-8 minutes, add red pepper & garlic, cook for 1 minute.  Remove from heat.

Melt butter in saucepan.  Stir in flour until well blended.  Add milk and bring to a boil.  Cook on medium for 2 minutes stirring continuously until thickened.  Add cream cheese, grated cheese, salt, and pepper.  Cook 1-2 minutes until blended.

Drain pasta and place in large bowl.  Add chicken mixture and sauce, toss to coat.  Top with parsley!

Check out more $5 Dinner Challenges here!

Scrubbing Bubbles Coupons

There are some NEW Scrubbing Bubbles coupons available from Right at Home here. 

• Save $1 on Toliet Gel
• Save $5 on Automatic Shower Cleaner Starter Kit
• Save $1.50 on the Automatic Shower Cleaner Refills

Menu Plan Monday – 4/26/10

This is going to be a rough start to the week.  After about 6 months of my husband taking his Master's classes online, he has to do a class for 8 weeks at the satelite campus.  So that is on Monday nights for the next 8 weeks, OUCH!  Double mommy duty of dropping kids off before work, picking kids up after work and still cooking dinner, hence we wil have an easy spaghetti night!

Monday – Spaghetti
Tuesday – Burgers & Fries
Wednesday – Creamy Chicken Penne
Thursday – Beef Stroganoff
Friday – Garlic Lime Chicken Fajitas (Using the new McCormick Recipe Inspirations I got for almost FREE at Giant Eagle)!
Saturday – Nephew's Birthday Party
Sunday – Eat Out

Window Washing

Growing up, my parents were always excited about spring and washing windows!  It was a whole day event, mom would do the inside while my dad followed her on the outside.  I never quite understood how it was so exciting! 

My husband and I have been married for 7 1/2 years and we have never done this window washing tradition, I vowed to not wash windows.  Well last year we replaced ALL of the windows in our house.  It is so nice to have beautiful windows that ALL open easily to let that spring time breeze in to clear out the winter germs that might still be looming!

This year the spring cleaing bug has hit me big time.  I have been cleaning out closets like a mad woman.  And guess what I did today?  Yep - I washed ALL the windows in the house, inside and out.  It felt really good and they look all shiny and new!  It rained a few hours later, but it felt good to clean all of the dirt out of the inside of the windows.  So perhaps I am like my mom??

After I did this by hand with Windex, yes Windex my mom ALWAYS uses Windex, I found this cool $2.50 off coupon for Windex Outdoor.  Perhaps next year I will try it!

Happy Spring!

Lunchable Subs Money Maker at Giant Eagle

Here is a quick and easy money maker at Giant Eagle right now.  The Lunchable subs (without drinks) are BOGO!  They ring up $1.24 each.  Use the $1 off coupon from 3/21SS, paying only $0.24 out of pocket.  But wait!  It prints a $1 catalina for each one purchased, making it a $0.76 money maker!  I was bummed I only had 2 coupons!  Check out all the deals at Giant Eagle this week here!

Free 4x6 Photo Magnet from CVS!

Get a FREE 4x6 photo magent from CVS when you pick it up in the store.  This is a $6.99 value!  Enter promo code FREE4MOM at checkout, but HURRY only valid until April 28!  I just ordered mine, it will take 5-7 days to complete your order!

2 FREE Black & Decker LightsOut Switches

Receive 2 FREE Black & Decker LightsOut switches when you buy $45 of P&G products in one transaction from Babies R Us or Toys R Us!  This is a $59.98 value PLUS you get free shipping!  Qualifying products include Always, Bounty, Charmin, Crest, Dreft, Duracell, Oral-B, Pampers, and Tide! Purchases must be between 4/18/10 - 5/1/10.  Download the rebate for here!

Round 2 – Making a 2nd Meal from Leftovers

So it has been a tough week and a half on my family. Last week I had to travel for work for four days. This left my husband in charge of the kids and the household. They all survived however my husband became sick Friday night and was in bed ALL weekend. He finally went to the doctor on Monday and is now back up to par. Needless to say, the kids and I were pretty much on our own the WHOLE weekend (payback??) and when I cooked, I cooked my normal amounts. My husband did not eat anything and thus I was left with a lot of chicken and over a half left of a meatloaf.


When Monday rolled around I did not feel like cooking anymore and I REALLY needed to use up these good leftovers. So we had 2 nights where we made new meals out of our leftovers. Here is how that went:

Saturday – Roasted whole chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy

Sunday – Meatloaf with corn and rolls

Monday – Homemade chicken noodle soup using the rest of the chicken leftovers.

Tuesday – Spaghetti with meat sauce. It is really good to just add a few slices of meatloaf crumbled up into your pasta sauce. It was delicious and the kids ate it up. They love meat of course!

I just thought how cool it was that we were able to use up our leftovers as not traditional leftover nights. They were disguised in a new delicious meal! By just using a few different things in our stocked pantry with the leftovers lead to two completely new meals for us!

Free Reusable Tote from Kelloggs for Earth Day

Go here to get your order form!

Celebrate Earth Day!

Together, Toys"R"Us and Roots & Shoots have developed the following list of activities to help families appreciate the outdoors this Earth Day.

Jump! Whether you call it skipping rope or jump roping, it's a great activity to improve strength and fitness and can be performed on grass or pavement.

Retreat to the Beach. Instead of driving to the beach, recreate a piece of the coast's serene atmosphere with a sandbox in the yard.

Be Farm and Garden Fresh. Get to know your local farmer and enlist the kids to join you at the local farmers' markets. Better yet, plant your own garden that everyone can care for and enjoy all season long.

Let's Go Fly a Kite! Show the kids how to soar into a colorful sky with only the force of nature to power your kite. A centuries-old activity, kite flying can be enjoyed at any age—with a little wind, of course!

Give Back. Gather the family for a volunteer day dedicated to beautifying the earth. Many communities have organizations that champion environmental protection and regularly organize events like stream and trail clean-ups.

Be Bubbly! Invite the neighbors to create bubble wands out of objects found around the house like straws, pipe cleaners, strawberry baskets and coat hangers. Take the kids outside and have your own bubble party!

Take a Hike. Locate a nature trail near you and take the kids on a woodsy adventure. Hiking is a group activity that provides great exercise and hands-on experiences with the natural world.

Start a Kickball Game. All it takes is a rubber playground ball, make-shift bases and some friends to start a kickball game. Create a neighborhood tournament and coach the kids though innings of bouncing fun.

Catch and Release. Butterflies are some of nature's most beautiful creatures, although they aren't easy to observe when they flutter in the sky. Using an insect or butterfly net, capture them and show the kids how to appreciate their beauty up close. Then let them loose.

 

To learn more about the Jane Goodall Institute and Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots, please visit janegoodall.org and rootsandshoots.org.

New Raid Max Bug Barrier

Right @ Home has a new $3 off coupon for Raid Max Bug Barrier, just in time for all the Spring bugs!  Go here to print yours!

Giant Eagle Deals 04/22/10 – 04/28/10

Please note, I use the Cleveland, Ohio area Giant Eagle Advertisement as well as the SS, RP, and P&G coupon sections. Deals and coupon values/availability may vary by region. My final prices are calculated using the NE Ohio coupons doubling coupons up to $0.99. I may not include ALL sale items, but the ones I feel are good to GREAT deal!


Produce:
Broccoli - BOGO
Bagged Salads - BOGO
Strawberries - BOGO
Navel Oranges – $0.69 each
Compari Tomatoes - BOGO

Grocery:
Dei Fratelli Canned Tomatoes – 10 for $10

Barilla Pasta – 10 for $10
Use $1.00 off 2 from 3/7 SS
Final Price = $0.50 each

Jif Peanut Butter – 2 for $4

GE Apple Juice – 4 for $7

Fruitables 8 Packs – 2 for $4
Use $1 off from 3/21 SS
Use $0.75 printable
Final Price = $1 each

Orville Redenbacher’s 3 or 4 Packs – BOGO

Kellogg’s Mini Wheats or Raisin Bran – 4 for $10
Use $1 off 2 Raisin Bran from 4/11 RP
Use $1.50 off 2 printable
Final Price = $1.75 - $2 each

Classico Pasta Sauce – 2 for $4

Open Pit – 10 for $10

McCormick Recipe Inspirations – 2 for $3

McCormick Grill Mates or Grilling Spices – 40% OFF

Capri Sun or Kool-Aid Jammers – 2 for $4

Dole Fruit Jars or Bowls – 5 for $10

GE Tomato or Chicken Noodle – 5 for $3

Meats:
85% Ground Beef - $1.99/# Value Packs
Boneless Sirloin Tip Roast – BOGO

Regular or Junior Lunchables – BOGO
Use $1 off from 3/21 SS

Kahn’s Franks – BOGO

Oscar Meyer Meat Franks - BOGO

Household:
Soft Soap Liquid Hand soap – 10 for $10

Frozen:
Stouffer’s French Bread Pizza – 5 for $10

Smart Ones – 5 for $10
Use $1.50 off 7 from 1/10 SS
Use Free Flatbread wyb 3 from 1/10 SS
Use $3 off 10 from 1/10 SS
Final Price = Varies

Green Giant Valley Steamers – 3 for $5
Use $0.50 off 2 from 3/7 SS
Use $0.40 off from 3/28 SS
Final Price = $0.87 - $1.17 each

Dairy:
Eggs – 5 for $5

Minute Maid OJ – 2 for $5

GE Tea – 4 for $5

Sargento Shredded Cheese – 2 for $4
Use $0.50 off reduced sodium from 4/18 SS
Use $0.75 printable
Final Price = $0.50 - $1

International Delight Creamers 32 oz – 2 for $5
Use $1 off 2 from 3/7 SS
Use $0.55 printable
Final Price = $1.40 - $2 each

Breyer’s Yogurt Cups – 20 for $10
Use $1 off 10 from 3/28 SS
Final Price = $0.40 each

Daisy Cottage Cheese – 2 for $6
Use $0.45 off from 3/14 SS
Final Price = $2.10 each

Instant $$ Deals (MUST BUY SPECIFIED QUANTITY):
Honey Bunches, Grape Nuts, or Shredded Wheat – 2 for $3
Use $1 off 2 Honey Bunches from 3/14 SS
Final Price = $1

Coke or Sprite 12 packs or 8 packs – 3 for $10
Pepsi or Mountain Dew 2L or Lipton 1.5L – 4 for $4

Twizzlers 12 to 17.6 oz – 4 for $5

T.G.I. Friday’s Skillet Means – 2 for $8

Ruggles Ice Cream – 4 for $10

Purchase 4 and Get $5 off OYNO:
Dawn Dish Liquid 19-24 oz or Direct Foam 300 ml – 2 for $5
Use $0.25 off from 3/7 P&G
Use $0.50 off from 4/4 P&G

Mr. Clean Bath Scrubber 2 Ct or pourables - 2 for $5

Febreeze Air Effects – 2 for $5
Use $1 off from 3/7 P&G

Cascade Powder or Gel – 2 for $8
Use $0.50 off from 3/7, 4/4 P&G

Swiffer Wet or Dry Refills – 2 for $8
Use $0.50 off from 3/7 P&G
Use Swiffer Rebate here

**Earn $0.20 Fuelperks for every $50 on gift cards (expires 4/22/01)**

Happy Shopping!

I just got a ridiculously strong biodegradable trash bag for FREE!

I just got a ridiculously strong biodegradable trash bag for FREE!

Menu Plan Monday – Week of 4/19/10

WOW - so my husband was sick ALL weekend and we never saw him for 2 days.  I thought I was a single mom.  Therefore I did A LOT of cooking this weekend.  We will see if I can cook this week, it will be tough!  He is on antibiotics now, but I am praying no one else comes down with it!

Monday – Meatloaf
Tuesday – Tuna Noodle Casserole (recipe to follow)
Wednesday – Leftovers
Thursday – Meatball Casserole (recipe to follow)
Friday – Burgers & Fries
Saturday – Eat Out
Sunday – Eat Out

Giant Eagle Deals 04/15/10 - 04/21/10 - SHORT LIST

I have been out of town so this week I am only doing a "SHORT" list of must get deals this week at Giant Eagle!

Yoplait - 20 for $8 (must buy 8)
Use $0.55 off 6 printable

Boneless Chicken Breasts - $1.99/# in 5# bags

Oreos - 2 for $4 (must buy 2)

Cinnamon Toast Crunch or Honey Nut Cheerioes - 4 for $6 (must buy 4)
Use $0.55 printable for Cheerios

FREE MILK wyb 5 below:
Mini Wheats or Raisin Bran - 4 for $10
Rice Krispie Treats or Special K Bars - 2 for $8
Kellogg's Fruit Snacks - 5 for $10
Pop Tarts - 4 for $10
Chips Delux, Town House, or Vanilla Wafers - 2 for $5

FREE Giant Eagle Reusable bag wyb 2 Sun Chips - 2 for $5 (I got a FREE coupon in the mail this week)!

$4 oyno wyb 6
Grands, Golden Layers, or Cinamon Rolls - 6 for $6 WOW!!

Strawberries and Bagged Lettuce - BOGO (You only have to buy 1 they ring up 50%)!

Thats's all I got!

$20 Olay Rebate

$20 rebate when you purchase $50 worth of Olay Facial Moisturizers, Facial Treatments and/or Facial Cleansers.

All purchases must be made by May 9, 2010. Rebate submissions must be postmarked by May 21, 2010

More Contadina Coupons!

Go here to print more Contadina coupons!

Menu Plan Monday – Week of 4/12/10

This is going to be a rough week because I am traveling for work. That means Dad is in charge, wish him luck!


Monday – Dad’s In Charge
Tuesday – Dad’s In Charge
Wednesday – Dad’s In Charge
Thursday – Dad’s In Charge
Friday – Eat Out
Saturday – Eat Out
Sunday – Steaks & Potatoes on the grill

Swiffer Giveaway!

A Few Shortcuts is giving a $40 Walmart gift card away to purchase your own Swiffer Vac!  How cool is that!  Jump on over here before 4/19 for your chance to win!

Free Benadryl at Walgreens!

This week Walgreens has the 24 count packages of Benadryl on sale for $4.99.  If you buy 2 you get a $5 register reward.  Use the $5 off 2 coupon from the 4-11 Red Plum to score two free packs of Benadryl, just in time for allergy season!

Clear Out The Clutter Challenge - Coat Closets!

So I am joing with Money Saving Mom and her Clear Out the Clutter Challenge!  Today I tackled my 2 coat closests.  Below you can see the before and after pictures of the coat closet in the mud room (thats not used as a coat closet).  Not bad and now all of my son's games are in one place for him!

Above the the "after" picture of my hallway coat closet, I forgot to take a "before" one.  I was able to get the winter coats washed and put away for another year, so it better not snow anymore.  I also used this handy hanging shoe organizer for all of the hats, gloves, and scarves!  I collected a lot of items to give away or hold for a garage sale!  We have been in our house for 2 1/2 years now and I really never pull everything out of both closets before and did a reorganization, so this was a great exercise.  Next weekend I will be working on the two linen closets upstairs!

The Garden Seeds are Started

So today was such a productive day!  I got the seeds started for the garden this year.  This year's garden will include:

Cucumbers
Cherry Tomatoes
Tomatoes
Green Peppers
Jalepenos
Cauliflower (NEW)
Broccoli (NEW)
Zucchini (NEW)
Cilantro (NEW)
Lettuce (NEW - will plant directly in the garden)
Carrots (NEW - will plant directly in the garden)

So we are attempting SIX new plants this year.  We will see how it goes.  We always have great sucess with our cucumbers, check them out here, as well as the peppers and tomatoes.  We have had bad luck with green beans due to the rabbits that like to have bunnies IN our garden (2 years in a row).  We also tried cantelope and watermelons last year, but for the space they take up we only got 1 - 2 per plant.  So on to better things!  I cannot wait until the garden starts producing some of our fresh veggies!  What's in your garden this year?

Day Out With Thomas

Do you have a little boy that loves Thomas as much as my 4 year old does?  Well the Day out with Thomas will be at the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railrooad May 22 & 23 and 28-30!  We went last year and my son LOVED it! 

With your ticket, you get a 25 minute train ride pulled my Thomas, pictures with Sir Topham Hatt, Lego displays, model train displays, bounce houses, and so much more!  It is well worth the $14-$18 ticket price.  But wait, order your tickets here and use promo code TW510 to save $2 off each ticket!

Welcome to Spend Less 2 Save More!

Welcome to my blog! I am so excited this is my first blog ever and now my first Ultimate Blog Party!!

I am Kelly and I am a full-time working Mom of two young boys. Last year I discovered this awesome thing in the blog world, couponing!! Ever since then I am so addicted to couponing! I guess that is not a bad addiction since it actually saves my family money! I use to use coupons here and there, but now I am OBSESSED with coupons! I spend a few hours a week clipping, sorting and organizing my coupons and then I plan my store trips. Yes, I play the drug store game at CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid. I LOVE CVS!! I feel that if I do not go, I am missing out on something! My other favorite store, GIANT EAGLE! Who knew you could score some really sweet deals there and I never have a problem using all my coupons!

So more about me? I have been married to my high school sweetheart for over eight years now. We have known each other for more 14 years! We met as we were both working in a local grocery store. I was the cashier; he was the bagger (ironic?). We live in a lovely suburban neighborhood in northeast Ohio, where we get to enjoy all the seasons! I have a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and an MBA. I currently work in sales and marketing for a Fortune 500 company. I love my job, and my laptop, and of course my blackberry! I feel like I always need to be connected to something.

After being married four years, my husband and I received the most wonderful gift ever, a son!! Three years later we welcomed our second son. What a wild ride it is has been so far with a four year old and a one year old. Two little boys certainly have A LOT of energy and boy can they eat! After I give my all to everyone all day, the best part of my day is when I get to give baths, read bedtime stories and tuck those two handsome little boys into bed, at 8 o’clock sharp! Yes, I am also the “sleep police” as my husband calls me! I believe enough sleep is one of the most important things we can give our children. I worked hard those early months to train to make them great sleepers and now I have two boys who sleep in their own beds all night for 11-12 hours straight. That is one of my most proudest accomplishments as a Mom! I cherish my sleep too much and it is too much to sacrifice a good night’s rest for everyone! Babies are not born good sleepers; you have to train them to be!

In my copious amounts of spare time (really?) I love to cook, bake, garden, shop, travel, and play! I believe the reason we had children was so that we can do fun children things again! Just this past weekend we took the boys to Great Wolf Lodge and man did my husband and I have a great time. It has been six years since I went down waterslides, and yes I went down them all! I look forward to Breakfasts with Santa, Hayrides in the fall, Thomas the Train Rides, Trips to the Zoo, and so much more with my kids!

Another important aspect to my life is making our money go as far as possible. My husband and I believe strongly in saving for the future! This includes contributions to 401K plans, IRA’s, 529 Plans, Life Insurance, CD’s, Savings Bonds, savings accounts, and the piggy bank! Life is precious and you always need to be prepared for the future! My husband and I were given great upbringings from our parents who lead us both to be able to obtain college degrees, awesome careers, and a wise sense of financials. We want the same for our children. Education is the best preparation we can give our children for a successful future and life that is ahead of them!

I started Spend Less 2 Save More to hold myself accountable for spending less money and saving more money for our future! I post weekly deals from my favorite store, Giant Eagle; I also post deals and freebies I find as well as the deals I get while I am out on my shopping adventures! I have also started posting my weekly menu plans on the blog! Yes working mom can cook for their families! I also post some of the recipes I make for my family like these yummy Chicken Tenders with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce! I will also be blogging about my garden adventures this year.

So come join me at my blog and the Ultimate Blog Party this year. Now more then ever it is important to spend every penny wisely that you earn and make it go as far as possible! I may have some different views than other bloggers out there that you may just like! And feel free to ask me anything, I’ll give you some sort of answer!

There are so many great prizes to be won at the Ultimate Blog Party this year, my top three picks would be:

40- One winner will receive a 3 day 2 night stay from Holiday Inn Main Gate East in Kissimmee, FL (less than 2 miles from Disney World) a value of $250.

Provided by: Holiday Inn Main Gate
Follow here: bloggin2noggin

39 -Be My Guest certificate ($250 value) for one lucky winner, (2 night stay for a family of four) at any Hilton Garden Inn.
Provided by: Hilton Garden Inn
Follow here: bloggin2noggin

11 – A $100 gift eCertificate to Restaurant.com, immediately redeemable online at over 13,000 restaurants nationwide.
Provided by: Amy LeForge of Earnest Parenting
Visit Our Fan Page: Earnest Parenting

And if my top 3 picks are already chosen, I would like (in the order below):
03, 95, 02, 15, 32, 31, 71, 73, 112, 37, 52, 61, 84, 107

Giant Eagle Deals 04/08/10 – 04/14/10

Please note, I use the Cleveland, Ohio area Giant Eagle Advertisement as well as the SS, RP, and P&G coupon sections. Deals and coupon values/availability may vary by region. My final prices are calculated using the NE Ohio coupons doubling coupons up to $0.99. I may not include ALL sale items, but the ones I feel are good to GREAT deal!


Can I say SLOW week, except I will go for the Soft Scrub deal!!??

DEAL OF THE WEEK!!!

Soft Scrub Total Bath & Bowl or Kitchen Trigger - $0.99

Use $1 from April All You

Use $1.50 off from 3/7 RP

Final Price = FREE – MONEY MAKER!

Produce:
Cauliflower - $1.99 (Strongsville/Southland/Berea/Brookpark)
Bagged Salads - $1
Strawberries - BOGO
Navel Oranges – 2 for $1

Grocery:
Dole Fruit Jars or Bowls – 5 for $10

Frosted Mini Wheats, Nutri-Grain Bars or Fiber Plus Bars – 5 for $10

Campbell’s Select Harvest – 10 for $10
Use $0.50 off 2 from 2/7 SS
Final Price = $0.50 each

Juicy Juice 46 oz – 2 for $3

Brownberry Whole Grain or Natural Breads or Entenmann’s Donuts - BOGO

San Giorgio Pasta – 10 for $10

Kool Aid Fun Fizz – 2 for $4
Use $1 off from 3/28 SS
Final Price = $1

Campbell’s Tomato or Chicken Noodle – 5 for $3

Old El Paso Products – 20% off

Hidden Valley Ranch Dressings or KC Marinades – 4 for $10
Use $2 off Farmhouse Originals (if included) from 3/14 RP
Final Price = $0.50

Kraft Cheesy Explosions – 2 for $1

Valu Time White Bread - $0.69
Valu Time Wheat Bread - $0.95

Skippy – 2 for $4

DelGrosso Pasta Sauce – BOGO

Gatorade – 10 for $10

Duncan Hines Cake or Brownie Mix – 10 for $10
Use $0.55 off 2 from 3/28 SS
Final Price = $0.45 each

GE Buns – 10 for $10

Hamburger Helper – 10 for $10
Use $0.75 off 3 from 3/7 SS or printable
Final Price = $0.50 each

Meats:
Boneless Bottom Round Roast - $1.99/# (Strongsville/Southland/Berea/Brookpark)
Boneless Chuck Shoulder Roast – BOGO
80% Lean Ground Chuck - $1.99/3 for 3# or more
Eckrich Polska Kielbasa or Smoked Sausage – BOGO

Hebrew National – BOGO
Use $0.75 off from 3/7 SS

Household:
Sparkle Paper Towels 6 Big or 8 Regular – 2 for $9
Angel Soft 9/12/24 – 2 for $9

Soft Scrub Total Bath & Bowl or Kitchen Trigger - $0.99
Use $1 from April All You
Use $1.50 off from 3/7 RP
Final Price = FREE – MONEY MAKER!

Frozen:
GE Ice Cream – 4 for $10
Klondikes – 4 for $10
Banquet Meals – 10 for $10
Hot Pockets - $1.88

Dairy:
GE Shredded Cheese – 4 for $6
Minute Maid OJ – 2 for $5

Instant $$ Deals (MUST BUY SPECIFIED QUANTITY):
Boston Market Meals – 5 for $10
Twizzlers – 4 for $5

Breyer’s Yogurt Cups – 20 for $8
Use $1 off 10 from 3/28 SS
Final Price = $0.30 each!

Pillsbury Savorings or Totinos Pizza Rolls – 3 for $8
Use $1 off 2 Savorings from 1/31, 3/7 SS or printable

Super Pretzel – 4 for $6

Purchase $10 and Get $3 off OYNO:
Quaker Life or Oatmeal Squares – 2 for $6

Cap’n Crunch – 4 for $9

Quaker Chewy Bars or True Delights – 2 for $5
Use $1 off 2 from 2/14 RP

Quaker Instant Oatmeal – 2 for $5

Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix – 2 for $5
Use $1 off 2 from 1/3 RP

Aunt Jemima Syrup – 2 for $5
Use $1 off 2 from 1/3 RP

Happy Shopping!

Menu Plan Monday – Week of 4/5/10

WOW – April already? I hope everyone had a blessed Easter and got to enjoy family, friends, and lots of really good food. I just love Holidays, I notice even more so that we have two young boys. My oldest is really beginning to understand what they are about and I love to watch the joy on his face! So back to another work week. I have some new recipes waiting in the wings and I will post them as soon as I make them up!


Monday – Tuna Noodle Casserole (recipe to follow)
Tuesday – Crock Pot Roast
Wednesday – Easy Chicken Enchiladas (recipe to follow)
Thursday – Hamburgers & French Fries
Friday – Eat Out
Saturday – Me & the hubby’s bowling night!
Sunday – Meat Manicotti (recipe to follow)

HAPPY EASTER!

Wishing everyone a very blessed Easter!  My wish is for your to enjoy the day with family, friends, and good food!  Hopefully you are having as wonderful a day as I am with my family!