Happy Easter!

I just had to share this photo of the Easter eggs that I made last weekend at a class at church.  We learned the Polish art of making Pisanki.  Just to give you an idea of the detail involved, these two eggs took 3-1/2 hours to make!  But I was thrilled; this is a craft that I have literally been wanting to learn since I was a child.

I also wanted to let you know that I won't be posting from tomorrow through Easter.  I'm picking up my sister from college tomorrow morning, and she'll be staying with us for the weekend.  It's time to turn our focus to this sacred time!

The fasts are done; the Aves said;

The moon has filled her horn

And in the solemn night I watch
Before the Easter morn.
So pure, so still the starry heaven,
So hushed the brooding air,
I could hear the sweep of an angel's wings
If one should earthward fare.


~Edna Dean Proctor, "Easter Morning"

Have a Blessed Easter!

Extreme Couponing!

Have you all seen this video about "extreme" couponers?  Pretty cool!  I really can't believe that guy's stockpile!  I hope his family can use it all!

(Thanks Ashley and Rose for sharing!)

Best Bloom Deals: 3/31-4/6

Produce

Strawberries (1 lb packages) - $1.66
Sweet Potatoes - $0.39/lb

Russet Potatoes (5 lb bag)  - $2.50
Large Sweet Gold Pineapple - $2.99/ea

Meat

Smithfield Shank Portion Smoked Ham - $1.19/lb
Spiral Ham (Apple Cinnamon or Brown Sugar) - $1.37/lb
Holly Farms Boneless Chicken Breasts - $1.99/lb
Whole or Half Semi-Boneless Leg of Lamb - $4.99/lb

Oscar Mayer Sliced Bacon - B1G1
Use (2) $0.75/1 coupon, found in the 3/21 SS
Final Price: Varies

Grocery
Honey Nut Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Trix Cereal, Cookie Crisp - B1G1
Use $1/2 coupon, found in 3/7 SS.
Final Price: $1.14 - $1.59, depending on the cereal

Hidden Valley Ranch Dressings - $2.69
Use $2.00/1 coupon, found in the 3/14 SS
Final Price: $0.69/1

Del Monte Vegetables (14.5-15.25 oz) - B1G1
Use $1.00/5 coupon (2/7 RP) or the $1.00/8 coupon (3/21 RP)
Final Price: $0.47 - $0.55/1

Dole Pineapple - 5/$5
Use $0.55/2, found in the 3/21 SS
Final Price: $0.72/1

Pillsbury Pie Crusts - 2/$5
Use $0.50/2, found in the 3/28 SS
Final Price: $2.25

Euro French or Baguette Bread - $1.00

Drinks

Ocean Spray Juices (64 oz) - B1G1
Use $1.00/2 coupon, found in the 2/14 RP
Final Price: $1.49/1

Gatorade - 5/$5
Use $0.50/1 coupon, found in the 1/10 RP
Final Price: $0.50/1

Freezer
Breyer's Ice Cream (48-56 oz) - $2.50

Banquet Dinners (5.75-10.5 oz) - $1
Use $1/4, found in 3/14 SS
Final Price: $0.75

Healthy Choice Familiar Favorites, selected varieties - 40% off
Use $1/4, found in the 3/14 SS
Final Price: Varies

Green Giant Boxed Vegetables - 10/$10
Use $.60/3 coupon, found in 2/7 GM, 2/21 SS, 3/7 SS
Final Price: $0.80/1

Sea Pak Shrimp or Seafood, select varieties - B1G1
Use (2) $1/1 coupons, found in 2/7 SS and 3/7 RP
Final Price: $3.24/1

Dairy
Bloom Butter - 2/$4

Reddi-Whip - 2/$4
Use $0.50/1, found in the 3/28 SS
Final Price: $1.50/1


Thanks to Sarah at A Bookworm's Bargains for the top deals at Bloom each week.  You can see her full list here.

Wegmans Deals: 03/28-04/03

New Deals:

Asparagus - $1.99/lb.

Wegmans Chunk Light Yellowfin Tuna (6 oz. in water) - $.69

Keebler Pecan Sandies - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $2.00/2 peelie coupon on package
Final Price: $.99 each

Doritos Nacho Chips (11.75-13.875 oz.) - $1.99

Pepsi-Cola (12 pk./12 fl.oz. cans) - $2.75 (Limit 4 - 12 packs)

My store had some Easter decor items already as much as 50% off.

Ongoing Deals:

Produce -
Wegmans US #1 3 lb. Bagged Apples - $2.49
Wegmans US #1 White Potatoes (5 lb. bag) - $1.99
Florida Grapefruit (5 lb. bag), California Navel Oranges (4 lb. bag), or Spanish Clementines (2 lb. bag) - $2.99
Jumbo Cantaloupes - $2.00

Non-perishables -
Cheez-It Cheese Crackers (11.5-13.7 oz.) - $1.99 (through 04/03)
Use $.75/1 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.24
Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix (18.3-19.9oz.) or Cake Mix - $.99
Wegmans Canned Vegetables (14.5-15.25 oz can) Cream Style Corn, Whole Kernel Corn, French Style Green Beans, or Cut Green Beans - $.39
Hunts Tomato Sauce (8 oz.) - $.33
Buy 5 and use $1.00/5 coupon from home mailer
Final price: $.13 each
Simply Asia Noodle Bowls (8.5 oz.) - $1.99
Use $.50/1 Simply Asia product from 02/07 RP insert
Final price: $.99
Wegmans Ziti, Spaghetti, or Thin Spaghetti (16 oz.) – $.69
Wegmans Solid White Albacore Tuna (6 oz., in water) - $.99
Campbell's Chunky Soup (18.6-19 oz, excludes Chili and Full Loaded) - $1.25
Buy 4 and use $.75/4 coupon from 01/21 insert or $.50/2 Chunky Health Request coupon from 01/03 insert (doubled)
Final Price: $.75-$1.06 each
Ronzoni Smart Taste Pasta - $1.00 (through 04/10)
Use $1.00/1 coupon from April Parents magazine or $.75/1 printable coupon
Final price: FREE-$.25
Folger's Classic Roasted Coffee (10.3-11.3 oz., Excludes Decaf or Simply Smooth) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 Folger's product from 02/21 insert
Final Price: $.99

Refrigerated -
Wegmans Orange Juice from Concentrate (64 fl. oz. ) - $1.49
Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, Cinnamon Rolls, Danish, or Dinner Breads (8-13.9 oz.) - $1.99
Use $1.00/3 coupon from 02/21 insert or $.40/2 coupon from various inserts (doubled) or $.95 coupon recently available to print
Final Price: As low as $1.09 each
Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt - $1.99
Use $.50/1 Fiber One Yogurt from 01/24 insert (doubled)
Final Price: $.99
Yoplait Go-Gurt Yogurt - $1.99
Use $.35/1 (doubled) or $.75/2 coupons from 02/07 insert or $1.00/2 coupon from 02/21 insert
Final Price: $1.19-$1.61 each
Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese (8 oz. bar regular or 1/3 less fat) - $1.29

Buy 2 and use $.55/2 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.01 each

Meat -
Wegmans 90% Lean Fresh Ground Beef (6 lbs. or more) - $1.99/lb.
Wegmans Brown Sugar Cured Bone-In Half Hams - $1.99/lb.
Frozen -
Pillsbury Toaster Strudel (10-11.5 oz.) - $1.99
Use $.35/1 coupon from 01/03 or 02/07 inserts (doubled) or $.55/1 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.19-$1.44
Aunt Jemima Waffles (12.3 oz.) - $1.49
Healthy Choice Select Entrees (8.5-9oz.) - $1.99

Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 from ConAgra mailer
Final Price: $1.49 each

Paper/Toiletries/Cleaning -
Wegmans Paper Towels (8 pk./480 ct.) – $4.99 ($.62/roll)
Wegmans Facial Tissue (65-160 ct. cube or flat) – $.79
Edge or Skintimate Shave Gel (7 oz.) – $1.88
Use $.75/1 Edge shave gel from 01/10 insert or $.55/1 Skintimate from 03/07 insert
Final Price: $1.13-$1.33
Suave Shampoo or Conditioner (15 oz.) - $.85
Always Maxi Pads (12-24ct.) or Liners (34-50ct.) - $2.75
Use $1.00/1 coupons from 03/07 insert
Final Price: $1.75
Tampax Tampons (20 ct) (excludes Tampax Pearl) - $2.75
Use $1.00/1 coupon from 03/07 insert
Final Price: $1.75
Barbasol Shaving Cream (11oz.) - $.77 (Limit 2)
Irish Spring Soap (2 bars) - $.88 (Limit 2)
Speed Stick or Lady Speed Stick - $.69 (through 04/10) (Limit 2)

My Wegmans deals are based on the Sterling/Leesburg, VA sales ad and deals that I find in the Leesburg store.

With thanks to the coupon database at Mrs. Moneysaver for help in compiling this.

My store doubles coupons up to $.50, but Wegmans' coupon policies vary by store. Find the policy at your store here.

This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering.

A Week of Great Deals!!!

Of course I meant to share this post by Saturday morning, but life intervened, so here it is today.  I really got some amazing grocery deals last week, for which I am very grateful.  I've really been feeling a bit stretched in the grocery department ever since I both lowered my grocery budget at the beginning of the year and since I used up a lot of my pantry stock in January.  The super deals just hadn't seemed as available, and I was stretching to stay in the budget.

That's why I allowed myself to get all of this last week and start on the April budget early.  It does make me start off April a little behind, but I think that I stocked up on so much stuff that it should help, not hurt, me in the long run.  Here are the deals I got:

I made four trips to Giant for the General Mills catalina promo, rolling over my $10 coupon each time!  I have 3 of the 4 trips pictured here, with the total paid after coupons and the $10 coupon for each.

Trip #1 - $12.33

Trip #2 -  $3.35

Trip #3 - $3.46

I also made a 4th similar trip, and I still have a $10 coupon left to use.  So if you count the $10 coupon I received in the first transaction, I paid just $9.14 in total for everything pictured in the above three photos!

I also made a successful trip to Harris Teeter triple coupons on Wednesday.  My total for all this was $20.61, including tax, down from $85.84 before coupons and sales.  My total would have been quite a bit lower, but I did have to buy a couple of items (i.e. toilet paper) that weren't triples deals.

And I'm planning to make one more trip to HT triples today before the promotion ends!

Menu Plan: Holy Week

For Holy Week (the week before Easter) this week, I am planning all meatless dinners as part of our Easter preparation.  We'll still finish up some leftover meat for sandwiches, however.  My menu focus this week is on simplicity, as I'll be in the midst of lots of Easter preparations!

Breakfasts:
oatmeal, cereal, toast, yogurt

Lunches:
pbj, roast beef and turkey sandwiches, canned soup

Dinners:
Mon - Fried pierogis and vegetable stir-fry
Tues - Bean and rice burritos, fruit salad
Wed - Homemade cheese pizza, carrot sticks
Thurs - Frittata, salad, bread
Fri - Pasta with marinara, salad, bread
Sat - tba
Sun - EASTER

Baking List:
- sandwich bread
- bagels
- French bread
- Easter cookies
- Easter bread

Check out more menus over at OrgJunkie.

Best CVS Deals: 03/28-04/03

Thanks to Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living for the CVS deal highlights.  You can see her complete list here.

B1G1 50% Off Neutrogena Cosmetics $3.49 – $15.29

$3 April All You Magazine
= Possible $.76 MONEYMAKER – $8.47 each (use two coupons)

Gillette Fusion Manual or Power Razor AND Cartridges – 4 to 8 ct $9.99 and up (get $5 ECBs)
Limit 1
$4 P&G 2/7 (expires Wednesday 3/31)
FREE Razor wyb Blades P&G 3/7
= Varies
Deal Idea: Buy 1 Razor ($9.99) and 1 4-ct Blades ($15.49) = $25.48 – FREE coupon ($9.99) = $15.59 – $4 coupon = $11.59 – $5 ECBs = $6.59 or $3.30 each (or $1.31 per blade for a total of 5 blades, possibly 6)

Crest 3D White Advanced Vivid Toothpaste – 4oz or Oral-B Advantage Toothbrush 1ct $2.99 (get $2 ECBs) Limit 1
$.75 Toothpaste P&G 2/7 (expires Wednesday 3/31)
$.75 Toothpaste P&G 3/7 (expires Wednesday 3/31)
$1 Toothbrush P&G 2/7 (expires Wednesday 3/31)
$1 Toothbrush P&G 2/21 (expires Wednesday 3/31)
B1G1 Toothbrush P&G 3/7
= $.24 each (toothpaste) – 2 FREE brushes after ECBs (Use $1 coupon and B1G1 coupon)

Listerine Antiseptic – 500 mL or Pocket Paks – 72ct $1.99
$1 printable
$1 RP 1/3
$1 RP 3/7
= $.99 each

Stayfree Pads (look for UPC: 380040927001) $3.89 (get $2 ECBs) Limit 4– Month Long Deal
$1 printable
B1G1 RP 1/3 RP
= $1.11 MONEYMAKER

Huggies Jumbo Pack Diapers or Pull-Ups (excluding Overnites) $17.98/2 (get $5 ECBs wyb 2) Limit 1
$1.50 Diapers SS 2/28
$1.50 Diapers SS 3/21
$1 Pull Ups printable
$1.50 Pull Ups SS 3/28
$2 Diapers SS 3/21
$2 Pull Ups SS 3/28
$3 Diapers printables
= $3.49 – $4.99

I'm excited about the Huggies deal this week!  With 2 of the $3 off coupons, size 4 diapers should be just $.09 each, beating my generic price.  Even though we mostly use cloth diapers now, I still keep and use some disposables, so I try to stock up when I can.

I'll also be finishing my Easter candy shopping, so I plan to stop by CVS by Tuesday in order to get the 3-day candy deals.

Possible Walmart Tostitos Deal

Yesterday, I walked into Walmart and noticed a gentleman looking at a huge rack of Tostitos chips.  I saw that they were marked $1.98, which is a great price in itself.  Then I saw that every single bag had a peelie coupon for $1.00/1 bag!  So the price worked out to $.98 per bag!

Coupons for Tostitos are usally few and far between, and they're usually for something like $1.00 off one bag and one Tostitos dip.  We buy corn chips regularly, and I have never seen a deal this good.

The gentleman told me he was stocking up for the "big game, " although my husband wondered what game he meant . . . lol.  I bought five bags, and my husband might send me back for more!

I don't know if these deal is available at other Walmarts or if the coupons are at all stores, but its worth a look1

Our Easter Traditions and Frugal Ideas

Easter is coming up next week, and I am very excited.  Since we observe Lent, we've had forty days of giving up some of the good extras in our lives, so I am ready for a time of celebration. :-)

On Easter, we'll probably start off with a simple Easter egg hunt for the girls in our living room, organized by my husband.  This was a tradition in his family, and it certainly will be in ours, considering that my husband proposed to me with an Easter egg hunt!  (That's a story of its own. :-)  I keep a large bag of the plastic eggs from year to year, so all I need each year is the candy.

There are many deals and coupons for Easter candy in the weeks before Easter.  This week, I took advantage of the CVS ECB deal that has been running for a few weeks.  I ended up getting Hershey's and Wonka candy for about $1/bag.

The girls will also each get an Easter basket of goodies.  I've decided not to make this too big a deal in our family; but, in addition to candy, they will each get a couple of books or little toys.  I'm barely spending anything on their baskets this year, besides again the candy. 

Last year I purchased quality baskets from our Pottery Barn outlet when they were significantly marked down right before Easter, so that we could reuse them every year.  I have to double-check my stock, but I believe I have enough little presents to fill the baskets already saved.  These would be from my usual sources of after-holiday clearance, yard and consignment sales, and other random great deals I find throughout the year.

Due to the overwhelming crowds at our church on holidays, we'll be attending church in the early afternoon, so we'll follow the Easter baskets with a big brunch.  A cherished tradition in my family was to make a Polish Easter basket of traditional foods, and I am continuing that tradition.  Each food has a religious meaning; you can read the explanations here.  Our church also has the lovely tradition of blessing all the Easter food on the day before Easter, which further makes the meal meaningful.

 

The meal that we make is pretty frugal in itself, and I try to watch for sales in the weeks before Easter on some of the items.  We'll get together with family members in the evening for a traditional ham dinner as well.

What Easter traditions are you looking forward to this year?  How do you keep holiday costs in check?

This post is linked to Frugal Fridays and Kingdom First Mom's Frugal Easter Eggstravaganza.

Best Bloom Deals: 3/24-3/30

I am pleased to announce that Sarah of A Bookworm's Bargains will now be sharing the best deals at Bloom with us each week.  Please let me know if these are helpful to you!  You can see Sarah's complete list of Bloom deals here.  Also make sure to check out her frugal Easter ideas and the other great deals on her blog.

Produce
Cantaloupes - 2/$3

Russet Potatoes - $.69/lb

Meats
Holly Farms Whole Fryers - $.99/lb

Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage - 2/$4
Use $1/2 coupon, found in 1/31 RP or 3/21 RP
Final Price: 2/$3

Seafood
Sea Pak Shrimp or Seafood, select varieties - B1G1
Use (2) $1/1 coupons, found in 2/7 SS and 3/7 RP
Final Price: $6.49 for 2

Natural & Organic
Nature's Path Granola Bars - $1.15

Tandoor Chef Frozen Entrees - 50% off entire line

Grocery
Bloom Vegetables - 5/$3

Campbell's Soup, Chicken Noodle or Tomato - $.59

Campbell's Chunky Soups - 2/$3
Use $1.50/3 coupon, found here.
Final Price: 3/$3

Emerald Nuts, select varieties - B1G1
Use $1.50/2 coupon, found in 3/14 RP
Final Price: Varies

Del Monte Tomatoes, 14.5 oz - 10/$10
Use $1/4 coupon, found in 2/7 Red Plum
Final Price: 4/$3

Earth's Best First Foods - 2/$1
Use $1/7 coupon, found on Earth's Best website
Final Price: $2.50 for 7 jars

Dairy
Dannon Activia - 2/$5
Use $1/1 coupon, found in 2/7 SS
Final Price: $1.50/1

Breyer's Yogurt - 10/$4
Use $1/10 coupon, found in 1/3 SS
Final Price: 10/$3

Drinks
Gatorade - $5/5
Use $.50/1 coupon, found in 1/10 RP
Final Price: .50

Buy a Tropicana Orange Juice (89 oz), Get a dozen Large Bloom Eggs for Free
Use $1/1 coupon, found in 3/14 RP
Final Price: $3.79 for both

Household
Angel Soft Toilet Tissue (9 Mega, 12 Double, or 24 Single Rolls) - $5.99
Use $.50/1 coupon, found in 2/14 RP
Final Price: $5.49
All Liquid Laundry Detergent, 50 oz - $3.99
Use $2/1 coupon, found in 2/7 RP
Final Price: $1.99

Frozen Vegetables
Green Giant Boxed Vegetables - 10/$10
Use $.60/3 coupon, found in 2/7 GM, 2/21 SS, 3/7 SS
Final Price: $2.40 for 3

Birds Eye Steamfresh Lightly Sauced Vegetables - B1G1
Use (2) $.50/1 (3/21 SS) or $1/3 (3/7 RP), or $.35/1 (2/28 SS)
Final Price: $1.69 - $2.02 for two

Personal Hygiene
Colgate Toothpaste - 2/$5
Use $1/1 coupon, found in 3/7 SS
Final Price: $1.50

Garden 2.0: Update #1

Spring must really be here!  Although I just wrote my first garden post last week, I already have an update!

First of all, two days ago I was thrilled to discover perky seedlings spouting up from the seeds we started!  Since all of our seeds we either harvested or saved from last year, I was really unsure if they would germinate, but so far, so good.  Thanks to advice from a helpful commenter, I also had my husband lower the lights to hang closer to the seeds, which I believe helped.  They sprouted within 24 hours of doing this.

Now that all our snow has finally melted, we also dug through our garden beds and harvested the remaining root vegetables that had been there all winter! 

I had planted some in the fall, but we had so much snow from Thanksgiving on that they were impossible to harvest.  Unfortunately, the radishes turned out to be rotten, but amazingly enough, the carrots are fine and delicious.  They did not have time to get very big, but we have been enjoying quite a few of our own "baby" carrots.

Finally, last Saturday we also planted some mesclun greens and new radishes and carrots outside in our garden beds.  As I understand it, these are plants that should be able to thrive in the cool spring weather.  I tried to plan ahead and spaced the rows so that if these plants are not fully harvested in mid-May, when it is time to plant other crops, we can plant the other plants in between them.  Then by the time the tomatoes and peppers need more room, the carrots and radishes should be harvested.

If you can't tell, we're all very excited about spring around here!

Exergen Temporal Scanner Thermometer Winner!

I am excited to announce that the randomly chosen winner of my Exergen Temporal Scanner Thermometer giveaway is

Comment 52 - Connie

I was thrilled to offer this giveaway, because I thought it was a great prize, especially for moms.  Thanks to all who entered, and thanks to Mama Buzz and Exergen for making the giveaway possible!

Where I'm Shopping this Week

Grocery shopping day around here seems to be working out to be Tuesday.  I'd like it to be Monday, but it seems rare that I have the time on the weekends to get my coupons and list in order to be ready by Monday.  So my current plan is to prepare on Monday and shop on Tuesday morning.

This morning we hit the post office, Giant, and Wegmans.  I seem to avoid the post office with the girls, because it is a lot of buckling and unbuckling for such a quick errand, plus the parking is terrible.  So it was good to get that one out of the way. :-)

At Giant, I did my second transacation of the awesome General Mills catalina deal.  You have got to check this out!  So far, I've gotten about 14 or so items for around $6 total, counting the catalina coupons.  I've based my two transactions so far on the scenarios on Mrs. Moneysaver.  Gina also has come good scenarios worked out.  I'll be sharing more details and photos of what I get later in the week.

At Wegmans, we bought milk, eggs, and salsa (the staples, right?), and I used this week's free coupons for bagged salad and frozen bagels.  By that time LuLu was more than ready for her nap, so we quicly headed home!

Tomorrow I hope to hit Harris Teeter triple coupons.  Hurray!  It seems like these promotions have been less frequent lately, and I am really feeling the need to stock up.  Since we just received somewhat of an influx of cash from our tax refund, I've decided to allow myself to start my April grocery budget early, so that I can take advantage of the really good deals this week.

I'm also on the lookout this week and next for some more Easter candy deals and a few more items for my daughters' Easter baskets.  Did anyone score any fabulous deals on these items?

Restaurant.com is offering another one of their fabulous 80% off promos right now:
Restaurant.com Gift Cards starting at $15.00 for $25 cards. Use code COOK to save an additional 80% Off thru 3/31/10.
We have used these gift certificates at a number of local restaurants with no problem, and it has made it possible for us to have a nice restaurant meal when it would otherwise have been too expensive.
(Disclosure: I am an affiliate with Restaurant.com, so I could earn a small commission if you purchase through my link.)

Where are you shopping this week?

Photo by ckforic.

Menu Planning Monday

Ok, I admit that I am down to the wire on the grocery budget for March, with still a week and a half to go!  And I do have to buy milk and eggs at a minimum this week.  If I find a particularly great deal, I may start on next month's budget a little early, but in general, we are using what we have this week!

On a brighter note, I recommend this Chicken Rice Soup recipe from my menu last week.  It was simple to make and required few ingredients, and I thought it was a nice change of pace for chicken soup.

Here's the menu I've put together for this week:

Breakfasts:

yogurt, oatmeal, cereal

Lunches:

roast beef sandwiches, peanut butter, grilled cheese

Snacks:

granola bars, homemade corn chips that Daddy made over the weekend, popcorn

Dinners:
Mon - The end of the leftover corned beef and cabbage, with some roast beef to supplement
Tues - Pasta with either chicken or meatballs - exact recipe to be determined, salad
Wed - Turkey casserole from the freezer, spinach, bread
Thurs - Breakfast for dinner: eggs, sausage, and pancakes
Fri - Homemade cheese & veggie pizza, salad
Sat - Roast beef & turkey subs, chips, raw veggies
Sun - tba

Check out lots of other great menus at Menu Planning Monday.

Top CVS Deals: 3/21-3/27

Thanks to Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living for sharing the best CVS deals with us.  You can see her complete list here.

CoverGirl Products including CoverGirl & Olay Simply Ageless Corrector, Concealer or Sculpting Blush $10, CoverGirl & Olay Simply Ageless Foundation $12, CoverGirl Clean Liquid Foundation or Pressed Powder $6, and CoverGirl TruBlend Foundation, Powder or Blush $8 (get $3 ECBs wyb $10) Limit 1
$1 P&G 3/7
$2.50/2 P&G 2/7
$5/2 Simply Ageless P&G 3/7
B1G1 Face Product P&G 2/7
= Varies

Deal Idea 1
Buy (2) CoverGirl Clean Liquid Foundation or Pressed Powder $6
Use (1) B1G1 Face P&G 2/7
Use (1) $1 coupon
= $1 each

Colgate Total Advanced, Enamel or Sensitive Toothpaste – 6 to 7.6 $3.99 (get $3.99 ECBs) Limit 1
$.75 printable
$1 SS 3/7
$1 April All You Magazine
= $.75 MONEYMAKER to $1 MONEYMAKER after ECBs

Crest or Oral B including Pro Health Toothpaste – 7.8 oz, Rinse – 14.8 to 16.9 oz, Scope Outlast – 7.6 oz or Rinse – 25.4 oz, Glide Floss or Picks – 30 ct, Cross Action Toothbrush $3.99 (get $2 ECBs) Limit 1
$.75 Glide Floss P&G 2/7
$.75 Crest Toothpaste P&G 3/7
$.75 Cross Action P&G 2/7
$1 Crest Rinse P&G 3/07
$1 Scope Rinse P&G 2/21
$1 Scope Rinse P&G 2/21
$2 Crest Rinse P&G 2/7
= FREE – $1.24 each after ECBs

Pampers Diapers Jumbo or Easy Ups $8.97 (get $3 ECBs) Limit 2
$1.50 Either P&G 2/7
$2 Diapers P&G 2/21
$2 Diapers RP 3/14
= $3.97 – $4.97

Don’t forget the great diaper deal HERE too

Air Wick Scented Oil Refills – 2pk, Fresh Matic Refill – 6.17 oz, i-Motion Kit or Refill – 0.8 oz $4.99
$1 SS 3/7
$4 printable
$4 Kit SS 2/7 (expires Sunday 3/21)
$4 Kit SS 3/7
= $.99 – $3.99

Yay - it's a good week at CVS this week, with free toothpaste and a very good deal on Pampers diapers.  I  think I am also going to do the Easter candy ECB deal this week, since I haven't come across a better deal on Easter candy anywhere else.  Between the ECBs, the special candy prices good through Tuesday, and the many printable coupons (try coupons.com on my sidebar), I think I should be able to get 4 or 5 bags of candy for about $3.  I'll be sure to share my final scenario after I make a trip.

A Few Great Deals

You may or may not have noticed that I haven't been publishing my weekly deal roundup the past few weeks.  Lately between my pregnant tiredness and my limited computer time, it's been difficult for me to spend the as much as several hours that it was taking to track down a good list of deals for you.

There are so many great blogs out there that focus on finding the specific deals (check out some of my favorites on my right sidebar), so you should know where to go to find all the deals you could want.

However, I still do plan to try to share the deals that I personally find or take advantage of each week.  It will be more of a casual thing than a regularly scheduled post.  There are always some deals that just have to be shared!

This week, I shopped at Wegmans for a few staples on Monday (their milk is always the cheapest).  I also couldn't resist swinging by Safeway again on Tuesday for another 5 items in the salad promotion.  It was just too good to resist!  I also wanted to use my $2.50 catalina coupon from the fruit snacks before it expired.

This weekend, I'm going to try to make a little time to swing by Shoppers for their double/triple coupon promotion, which is running yesterday through Sunday.  The best deals here are probably going to be on the doubled dollar coupon items, since they're not tripling $.75 coupons.  Laura has put together a great spreadsheet here of the available deals.

Also, next week's shopping will be boosted by this incredible Giant General Mills promo.  Looks like many different items can be gotten for pennies per item after the $10 coupon.  Wow!

I also have to mention that there are two different links right now to print a $3/1 Huggies Little Movers coupon! 

Lastly, I thought some of you might be interested in an inexpensive way that I've been helping my three year old really internalize some Bible stories.  At Christmas, not wanting her mind to be solely filled with Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, I ordered her a Beginners Bible Nativity VHS from Ebay.  I paid less than $5 for it, including shipping.  It worked so well that she has not stopped playing Mary and Baby Jesus ever since!  So last weekend, I order the Easter version from Ebay, also for about $5.  These have been really inexpensive gifts with a really big impact.

Happy Shopping!

If you are excited about any other great deals, please share!

Garden 2.0

I'm very excited to get into our second year of vegetable gardening!  Especially with the winter we've had, it is such a welcome relief to get out into the sunshine and see things growing!

Last year, as you may remember, we successfully grew a number of crops, mostly by the seat of our pants, as we are very much amateurs!  This year, my goal is to both produce more and spend less, so that we are actually saving money by gardening, as well as enjoying its myraid additional benefits.  I'm hoping to do this by learning more ahead of time and planning our strategy better.

Last weekend, we made a trip to Home Depot for supplies for seed starting.  After my seed starting disaster last year, I did some research about what exactly was necessary for the process.  This post was absolutely invaluable in showing me explicity what to do - how else would I know what a "shop light" looked like?!

Here's the setup we purchased and my husband put together and hung in our basement.  We're pretty proud of it!  The two shop lights cost $10 each, plus the cost of the bulbs.  My husband already had the board, and he purchased the chains and hardware.

We also purchased these Jiffy seed starting trays, for $3.99 each.  They each came with 50 peat pots, which are biodigradable and you can plant right in your garden. 

GiGi and I planted one tray of seeds on Monday, and I am anxiously waiting to see if they germinate.  These seeds are all from last year - either leftover from the packages we purchased or harvested from our plants.  I really have no idea if any of them will sprout, but we were anxious to try.  If I don't spy any green in a week or so, I'll still have time to start a new batch.

Are any of you planning or starting any gardening this year?

Giveaway Clarification

Just a clarification (since my pregnant brain was obviously not working when I wrote the original post) that the Exergen Temporal Scanner Thermometer giveaway ends today, March 18, at midnight.  So hurry and enter if you have not already done so!

Wegmans Deals 03/14-03/20

New Deals:

Ronzoni Smart Taste Pasta - $1.00 (through 04/10)
Use $1.00/1 coupon from April Parents magazine
Final price: FREE

Hunts Tomato Sauce (8 oz.) - $.33

Buy 5 and use $1.00/5 coupon from home mailer
Final price: $.13 each

Simply Asia Noodle Bowls (8.5 oz.) - $1.99
Use $.50/1 Simply Asia product from 02/07 RP insert
Final price: $.99

Ball Park Meat Franks (Made w. beef, pork, and turkey, 16 oz. Regular or 14 oz. Lite) - $1.50
Buy 2 and use $.75/2 from 03/14 RP insert
Final Price: $1.13 each

Wegmans Roasting Chicken - $.79/lb.

Wegmans 90% Lean Fresh Ground Beef (6 lbs. or more) - $1.99/lb.

Ongoing Deals:

Produce -
Wegmans US #1 3 lb. Bagged Apples - $2.49
Wegmans US #1 White Potatoes (5 lb. bag) - $1.99
Florida Grapefruit (5 lb. bag), California Navel Oranges (4 lb. bag), or Spanish Clementines (2 lb. bag) - $2.99

Non-perishables -
Cheez-It Cheese Crackers (11.5-13.7 oz.) - $1.99 (through 04/03)
Use $.75/1 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.24
Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix (18.3-19.9oz.) or Cake Mix - $.99
Quaker Chewy Granola Bars - $2.00 (through 03/27)
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from 02/14 insert
Final Price: $1.50 each
Kellogg's Crispix, Raisin Bran, or Raisin Bran Crunch - $2.49 (through 03/27)
Buy 2 Raisin Bran and use $1.00/2 from 03/07 insert
Final Price: $1.99 each
Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs - $2.00
Wegmans Canned Vegetables (14.5-15.25 oz can) Cream Style Corn, Whole Kernel Corn, French Style Green Beans, or Cut Green Beans - $.39
Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Vegetable Stock or Creamy Vegetable Soup - $2.50 (through 03/27)
Use $1.00/1 coupons from Wegmans Menu Magazine (free to cardholders)
Final Price: $1.50
Campbell's Tomato or Chicken Noodle Condensed Soup (10.75 oz.) - $.50

Buy 4 and use $.40/4 coupon from 01/04 insert (doubled) (expires 03/15)
Final price: $.30 each
Thai Kitchen Noodle Bowls - $1.29 (through 03/27)
Wegmans Ziti, Spaghetti, or Thin Spaghetti (16 oz.) – $.69
Wegmans Solid White Albacore Tuna (6 oz., in water) - $.99
Zatarain's Rice Mix (7-8 oz.) - $1.69
Buy 3 and use $1.00/3 coupon from 01/24 insert
Final Price: $1.36 each
Campbell's Chunky Soup (18.6-19 oz, excludes Chili and Full Loaded) - $1.25
Buy 4 and use $.75/4 coupon from 01/21 insert or $.50/2 Chunky Health Request coupon from 01/03 insert (doubled)
Final Price: $.75-$1.06 each
Folger's Classic Roasted Coffee (10.3-11.3 oz., Excludes Decaf or Simply Smooth) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 Folger's product from 02/21 insert
Final Price: $.99
Tostitos Tortilla Chips (9-13 oz.) - $2.50
Lay's Potato Chips (10.5-11 oz.) - $2.00
Coca-Cola (2 liter) - $.99

Refrigerated -
Wegmans Orange Juice from Concentrate (64 fl. oz. ) - $1.49
Wegmans Gallon Milk - $2.18-$2.49
Turkey Hill Iced Tea or Lemonade (64 fl. oz.) - $1.49
Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, Cinnamon Rolls, Danish, or Dinner Breads (8-13.9 oz.) - $1.99
Use $1.00/3 coupon from 02/21 insert or $.40/2 coupon from various inserts (doubled)
Final Price: As low as $1.59 each
Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt - $1.99

Use $.50/1 Fiber One Yogurt from 01/24 insert (doubled)
Final Price: $.99
Yoplait Go-Gurt Yogurt - $1.99
Use $.35/1 (doubled) or $.75/2 coupons from 02/07 insert or $1.00/2 coupon from 02/21 insert
Final Price: $1.19-$1.61 each

Frozen -
Stouffer's Lean Cuisine Entrees (8-11.5 oz., selected varieties) - $1.99
Pillsbury Toaster Strudel (10-11.5 oz.) - $1.99
Use $.35/1 coupon from 01/03 or 02/07 inserts (doubled) or $.55/1 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.19-$1.44
Van de Kamp's 6 Crispy Haddock Fillets or Fish Sticks (10.9-11oz.) - $1.99
Aunt Jemima Waffles (12.3 oz.) - $1.49
Mrs. T's Pierogis - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from 01/31 insert
Final Price: $1.49 each
Healthy Choice Select Entrees (8.5-9oz.) - $1.99

Paper/Toiletries/Cleaning -
Wegmans Paper Towels (8 pk./480 ct.) – $4.99 ($.62/roll)
Wegmans Facial Tissue (65-160 ct. cube or flat) – $.79
Speed Stick (3-3.25 oz.) or Lady Speed Stick (2.3 oz. Deodorant or Antiperspirant) – $1.88
Use $1.00/2 coupon from recent insert
Final Price – $1.38
Edge or Skintimate Shave Gel (7 oz.) – $1.88
Use $.75/1 Edge shave gel from 01/10 insert or $.55/1 Skintimate from 03/07 insert
Final Price: $1.13-$1.33
Suave Shampoo or Conditioner (15 oz.) - $.85
Always Maxi Pads (12-24ct.) or Liners (34-50ct.) - $2.75
Use $1.00/1 coupons from 03/07 insert
Final Price: $1.75
Tampax Tampons (20 ct) (excludes Tampax Pearl) - $2.75
Use $1.00/1 coupon from 03/07 insert
Final Price: $1.75
Barbasol Shaving Cream (11oz.) - $.77 (Limit 2)
Irish Spring Soap (2 bars) - $.88 (Limit 2)
Arm and Hammer 2X Concentrate Laundry Detergent (50 fl. oz.) - $1.99 (through 04/03)
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 printable coupon (print right away - these go quickly)
Final Price $1.49 each

My Wegmans deals are based on the Sterling/Leesburg, VA sales ad and deals that I find in the Leesburg store.

With thanks to the coupon database at Mrs. Moneysaver for help in compiling this.

My store doubles coupons up to $.50, but Wegmans' coupon policies vary by store. Find the policy at your store here.

This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering.

Menu Planning Monday: Mostly Eating from the Pantry

As I mentioned, I've used more of my grocery budget this month than I'd like, so I'm mostly trying to use what we have this week.  I am making a quick trip to the store today for milk, and I am breaking down and getting corned beef and cabbage for Wednesday!

Here's what else I've planned:

Breakfasts:
cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, toast

Lunches:
Leftovers, eggs, pbj, cheese quesadillas

Dinners:
Mon - Grilled fish (Gorton's), roasted potatoes, spinach
Tues - Roast beef, rice, salad,
Wed - Corned beef and cabbage, carrots, potatoes
Thurs - Chicken Rice Soup with Spinach
Friday - Bean and rice burritos
Saturday - Subs on homemade rolls w. leftover roast beef and chicken
Sunday - leftovers

Baking List:
- sandwich bread
- whole wheat tortillas
- sandwich rolls

Best CVS Deals: 3/14/-3/20

Thanks to Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living for the CVS deal highlights.  You can see her complete list here.

Simply Asia Soup Bowl $1
Use .50/1 from 2/7 RP
Final Price: .50

Betty Crocker Warm Delights .99
Use .50/1 HERE
Final Price: .49

Spend $10 in Glade and get $4 ECB back. Includes:
Glade Sense and Spray $6 - Use $3/1 HERE
Glade Lasting Impressions $6-
Glade Fragrance Collection Candle or Diffuser $6 –  Use $2/1 HERE
Glade Jar Candles $2.50-Use $1.50/2 from 2/28 SS
{Deal Idea}
Buy 2 Sense and Spray $6
Use (2) $3/1 coupons
Get $4 ECB
Final Price: $2

Stayfree Pads $3.89 (UPC: 380040927001) – Month Long Deal
Buy 1 and get a $2 ECBs (limit 4)
Use $1/1 HERE
And Use Buy One Get One Free from 1/3 RP
Final Price: $2.89 and get $4 ECB back!

Spend $15 in select Dove, Degree, Caress and Lever Products and Get $5 ECB’s. (Limit 1)
Buy 6 Dove or Degree Deodorant $2.50 each = $15
Use (3) $3/2 coupons HERE (you will be able to print 3 from 1 computer!)
Pay: $6 and Get Back $5 ECB’s
Final Cost: $1 for 6 deodorants (.16 each!)

Looks like some really good deals this week!  Dove deodorants for $.16 each?  Bring it on!

Super Savings Saturday

I made a very successful trip to Safeway yesterday, despite the fact that for some reason LuLu wailed the entire time we were in the store!  I was alerted to these great deals and got the coupon matchups from Gina here and here.

Basically, I purchased these 16 items (including one additional Nut Clusters not pictured) for a total of $8.49, including tax.  Plus, for buying the 4 Betty Crocker fruit snacks I received a catalina for $2.50 off my next order.  Counting that catalina, it worked out to an average of about $.37 per item!  I also happened to have a little left on a Safeway gift card that I had won in a giveaway, so the whole order cost me only $1.39 in real money!

I was especially thrilled about the bagged salad.  It is harder to find rock-bottom deals on produce than on other items, and we seem to eat more fresh produce every day.  And since I hate washing lettuce, this is a real treat for me.

Here's what else I spent this week:

Wegmans - $108.31
CVS - $4.42
Safeway - $1.39  
Total this week: $114.12
Total this month: $276.80
Total remaining: $38.20

I'm a little nervous about having spent so much already this month.  I have a lot of food, but just buying the "essentials" like milk, fruit, and yogurt could put us over the top this month.  I definitely have not been planning and managing as well lately.  I've bought some extra items and items at higher prices than I'd like, both because I haven't had as good menu plans and because I haven't had the energy to pursue a lot of deals at different stores.  However, my energy level seems to be getting a little higher each week, and hopefully I'll be able to make up for lost time!

PS - The Safeway deals are good through this coming Tuesday!

Frugal Fitness

Okay, I'm sure most of you have been aware of this concept since roughly the advent of home video, but I am newly discovering the awesome advantages of workout DVDs! 

I am no athlete, but this year I have really been trying to be more consistent about exercise.  I've had a lot of aches and pains since I've had babies, and I was getting tired of dealing with them.  I got into Pilates in the fall, but then in the new year - surprise - I was pregnant!  My levels of fatigue and stress this time around have made me even more motivated to keep up with some type of exercise. And it really does help!

Like I said, I am no fitness buff.  I've tried to do exercises from magazines and books in the past, but was always discouraged by trying to balance the book while figuring out exactly what the picture was indicating that I should do.  Then I was always unsure if I was doing it right.

On the other hand, joining a gym or taking regular fitness classes is prohibitively expensive for us.  I did take an eight-week Pilates class at our community center in the fall, which I really enjoyed.  But we can't afford to do that all the time.  I could try to do the exercises on my own, but I knew I would forget them, and it would be easy to cheat.

My solution - DVDs!  My friend lent me Pilates for Dummies, which I did up until a few weeks ago.  Now that I'm in the second trimester, I'm doing Pilates and Yoga Fit Pregnancy, which I got from the library. 

The DVDs are great because I can see exactly what to do.  They keep me exercising for a certain period and in a certain order, yet if I'm pressed for time I can do just 15 minutes and still get something in.  I can exercise in the comfort of my home any time, yet without having to own any equipment.  Also, with all the variety of workout DVDs out there, the workout never has to get boring. 

Fitness DVDs and video tapes are easy to find used at yard sales and thrift stores, as well as on Ebay.  Even if you buy one new at regular price, the price is nothing compared to a gym membership or class. 

Now, if I could just figure out how to keep LuLu from bouncing on my stomach during the workout . . . .


See more great frugal ideas at Frugal Fridays.

Product Review and Giveaway: Exergen Temporal Scanner Thermometer

I was definitely interested and excited to receive a temporal scanner thermometer to review from Exergen Corporation.  As any parent of babies and toddlers knows, taking a child's temperature usually does not rate as a favorite parenting task.  Even my 3-1/2 year old has tended to resist the ear and even a different forehead thermometer that we've used in the past.

The Exergen temporal scanner thermometer works differently than any other that I have tried or seen.  You simply place the tip of the thermometer in the middle of the child's forehead and then slide it across one side to the hairline.  That's it.  It takes about 2 seconds.

My husband, daughter, and I tried a number of readings on each other, and I was favorably impressed.  For one thing, GiGi started to think it was really fun.  She kept saying excitedly, "It doesn't hurt!"  For another thing, the temperature readings we got hovered fairly consistantly around 98 degrees, presumably normal body temperature.  Other thermometers I have used in past seemed to give much less consistent results.  Of course, neither of my children obliging got a fever while we were testing the thermometer, so I wasn't able to test a different temperature range.  However, the results we did get made me fairly confident about using it for a real fever.

Really, I think the best part of the Exergen temporal thermometer is its ease of use.  I did read the instructions very carefully beforehand (there is an included User's Quick Start Guide to help you prevent common mistakes).  However, the instructions were very clear, and, once I got the idea of how to use it, nothing could be simpler.

The Exergen Temporal Thermometer retails for $30-$50.  In all honesty, as frugal as I am, I would not consider that too much to pay for an easy to use, accurate thermometer that will last.  I also liked that it takes a normal 9 volt battery, instead of some expensive special kind.  If you are interested in purchasing this thermometer, you can also get a $5 rebate here.

Also, Exergen has generously offered to give an Exergen thermometer to one Frugally Blonde reader!  To enter, please leave a comment on this post telling me why you would like to try this thermometer.  For extra entries, you may do any or all of the following (please leave a separate comment for each):

1) Follow Frugally Blonde by rss feed.
2) Follow Frugally Blonde by email
3) Follow Frugally Blonde on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. (Leave a link to your tweet.)
4) Blog about this giveaway.  (Leave a link to your post.)

The contest ends on Thursday, March 17, at midnight.  It is open to residents of the US and Canada.  I will notify the winner by email, and he or she will have 72 hours to respond. 

Thanks to Exergen and Mama Buzz for this great review and giveaway!

This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by Exergen Corporation for this review.  The opinions are my own.

Final General Mils Cereal Winners

Since I never heard back from the original winner of Day 1 of my General Mills Retro cereal review and giveaway, I have picked a new winner:

Margaret - comment 51

Also, as an exciting addition, General Mills is also awarding as a grand prize one Atari Game console to one of the five winners.  The randomly chosen grand prize winner is:

Terri - day 3 winner

Thanks again to all who entered and to General Mills for this fun opportunity!

Wegmans Deals: 03/07-03/13

New Deals:

Quaker Chewy Granola Bars - $2.00 (through 03/27)
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from 02/14 insert
Final Price: $1.50 each

Kellogg's Crispix, Raisin Bran, or Raisin Bran Crunch - $2.49 (through 03/27)
Buy 2 Raisin Bran and use $1.00/2 from 03/07 insert
Final Price: $1.99 each

Ronzoni Smart Taste Pasta - $1.00 (through 04/10)

Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Vegetable Stock or Creamy Vegetable Soup - $2.50 (through 03/27)
Use $1.00/1 coupons from Wegmans Menu Magazine (free to cardholders)
Final Price: $1.50

Campbell's Tomato or Chicken Noodle Condensed Soup (10.75 oz.) - $.50
Buy 4 and use $.40/4 coupon from 01/04 insert (doubled) (expires 03/15)
Final price: $.30 each

Thai Kitchen Noodle Bowls - $1.29 (through 03/27)

Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt - $1.99
Use $.50/1 Fiber One Yogurt from 01/24 insert (doubled)
Final Price: $.99

Yoplait Go-Gurt Yogurt - $1.99
Use $.35/1 (doubled) or $.75/2 coupons from 02/07 insert or $1.00/2 coupon from 02/21 insert
Final Price: $1.19-$1.61 each

Healthy Choice Select Entrees (8.5-9oz.) - $1.99

Mrs. T's Pierogis - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 coupon from 01/31 insert
Final Price: $1.49 each

Always Maxi Pads (12-24ct.) or Liners (34-50ct.) - $2.75
Use $1.00/1 coupons from 03/07 insert
Final Price: $1.75

Tampax Tampons (20 ct) (excludes Tampax Pearl) - $2.75
Use $1.00/1 coupon from 03/07 insert
Final Price: $1.75

Barbasol Shaving Cream (11oz.) - $.77 (Limit 2)

Irish Spring Soap (2 bars) - $.88 (Limit 2)

Ongoing Deals:

Produce -
Wegmans US #1 3 lb. Bagged Apples - $2.49
Wegmans US #1 White Potatoes (5 lb. bag) - $1.99
Florida Grapefruit (5 lb. bag), California Navel Oranges (4 lb. bag), or Spanish Clementines (2 lb. bag) - $2.99

Non-perishables -
Cheez-It Cheese Crackers (11.5-13.7 oz.) - $1.99 (through 04/03)
Use $.75/1 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.24
Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix (18.3-19.9oz.) or Cake Mix - $.99
Kashi Cereals (selected varieties) & Granola Bars - $2.50
Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs - $2.00
Wegmans Canned Vegetables (14.5-15.25 oz can) Cream Style Corn, Whole Kernel Corn, French Style Green Beans, or Cut Green Beans - $.39
Wegmans Tomato Puree or Crushed Tomatoes (28-29 oz. can) – $.49
Hunts Tomato Sauce (8 oz.) - $.33
Wegmans Ziti, Spaghetti, or Thin Spaghetti (16 oz.) – $.69
Wegmans Solid White Albacore Tuna (6 oz., in water) - $.99
Zatarain's Rice Mix (7-8 oz.) - $1.69
Buy 3 and use $1.00/3 coupon from 01/24 insert
Final Price: $1.36 each
Campbell's Chunky Soup (18.6-19 oz, excludes Chili and Full Loaded) - $1.25
Buy 4 and use $.75/4 coupon from 01/21 insert or $.50/2 Chunky Health Request coupon from 01/03 insert (doubled)
Final Price: $.75-$1.06 each
Simply Asia Noodle Bowls (8.5 oz.) - $1.99
Folger's Classic Roasted Coffee (10.3-11.3 oz., Excludes Decaf or Simply Smooth) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 Folger's product from 02/21 insert
Final Price: $.99
Tostitos Tortilla Chips (9-13 oz.) - $2.50
Lay's Potato Chips (10.5-11 oz.) - $2.00
Coca-Cola (2 liter) - $.99

Refrigerated -
Wegmans Orange Juice from Concentrate (64 fl. oz. ) - $1.49
Wegmans Gallon Milk - $2.18-$2.49
Turkey Hill Iced Tea or Lemonade (64 fl. oz.) - $1.49
Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, Cinnamon Rolls, Danish, or Dinner Breads (8-13.9 oz.) - $1.99
Use $1.00/3 coupon from 02/21 insert or $.40/2 coupon from various inserts (doubled)
Final Price: As low as $1.59 each

Frozen -
Stouffer's Lean Cuisine Entrees (8-11.5 oz., selected varieties) - $1.99
Gorton's Fish Fillets (7.6-11.4 oz., selected varieties) - $1.99
Use $.40/1 coupon from 01/24 SS or 02/21 SS insert
Final Price: $1.19
Pillsbury Toaster Strudel (10-11.5 oz.) - $1.99
Use $.35/1 coupon from 01/03 or 02/07 inserts (doubled) or $.55/1 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.19-$1.44
Van de Kamp's 6 Crispy Haddock Fillets or Fish Sticks (10.9-11oz.) - $1.99
Aunt Jemima Waffles (12.3 oz.) - $1.49

Meat -
Wegmans Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (Club Pack - 5 lbs. or more) - $1.97/lb.
Wegmans Whole Pork Shoulder - $.99/lb.

Paper/Toiletries/Cleaning -
Wegmans Paper Towels (8 pk./480 ct.) – $4.99 ($.62/roll)
Wegmans Facial Tissue (65-160 ct. cube or flat) – $.79
Speed Stick (3-3.25 oz.) or Lady Speed Stick (2.3 oz. Deodorant or Antiperspirant) – $1.88
Use $1.00/2 coupon from recent insert
Final Price – $1.38
Edge or Skintimate Shave Gel (7 oz.) – $1.88
Use $.75/1 Edge shave gel from 01/10 insert or $.55/1 Skintimate from 03/07 insert
Final Price: $1.13-$1.33
Suave Shampoo or Conditioner (15 oz.) - $.85
Arm and Hammer 2X Concentrate Laundry Detergent (50 fl. oz.) - $1.99 (through 04/03)
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 printable coupon (print right away - these go quickly)
Final Price $1.49 each

My Wegmans deals are based on the Sterling/Leesburg, VA sales ad and deals that I find in the Leesburg store.

My store doubles coupons up to $.50, but Wegmans' coupon policies vary by store. Find the policy at your store here.

This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering.

Menu Planning Monday

Even though I was behind and rushing around this morning, I forced myself to make a menu plan before I ran out to the grocery store.  I new I would be sorry if I didn't!  Here's what I'm planning this week:

Breakfasts:
cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, homemade hot pockets, bagels and cream cheese

Lunches:
grilled cheese, pbj, leftovers, canned soup

Dinners:
Mon - Chicken stir-fry, fruit salad (bringing same to two new mommies - easy recipe to multiply!)
Tues - Pot roast or beef stew in crock pot with potatoes and carrots
Wed - Chicken parmesan w. spaghetti, salad, bread
Thurs - Leftovers
Fri - Frozen grilled fish (Gorton's, from great deal), potatoes, veggies
Sat - Homemade pepperoni and veggie pizza
Sun - Leftovers or meal from freezer

Baking list:
sandwich bread
more homemade corn chips

Check out Menu Planning Monday at OrgJunkie.

Top CVS Deals: 3/7-3/13

Thanks to Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living for the CVS deal highlights.  You can see her complete list here.

Nivea Lip Care – 0.17 to 0.35 $2.99 (get $2.99) Limit 1
B1G1 RP 2/7 (expires Sunday 3/7)
= Two for FREE!

Secret Flawless, Scent Expressions, Fresh Effects – 2.6 to 2.7 oz, Old Spice Ever
Clear – 2.6 oz or Gillette – 2.6 to 4 oz $3.99 (get $1 ECBs) Limit 2
$.50 Secret P&G 3/7
$1/2 Old Spice P&G 2/21
$1 Gillette P&G 2/21
FREE Gillette Body Wash wyb Deodorant P&G 2/7
FREE Gillette Body Wash wyb Deodorant P&G 3/7
= $1.99 – $2.49
Note: Buy Gillette Deodorant, use $1 coupon and FREE Body Wash coupon. Spend $1.99 on both after ECBS making each $1 (body wash and deodorant.)

Oral B Cross Action Toothbrush $4 (get $4 ECBs) Limit 2
$.75 P&G 2/7
$.75 P&G 2/21
= $.75 MONEYMAKER

Keebler Crackers or Nabisco Cookies or Crackers – 4 to 6oz $5/5
$1 Nabisco Crackers SS 1/24
= FREE
 
It looks like a pretty good week at CVS this week.  I'll definitely be going for the free toothbrushes and crackers.  Also, check out the Kellogg's deal on Ashley's complete list; some cereals are as low as $.50/box!  My target price for cereal is less than $1/box, so I plan to stock up on some.
 
Also, CVS is running an Easter candy deal where if you buy $10 worth of selected candy you get $3 in ECBs.  Pair this deal with some of the several candy coupons in this week's paper (and maybe previous week's), and you could get a pretty good deal.

Catch-Up Post

Sorry for my extreme lack of posting last week!  It was both a busy week and a week where I was very low on energy, and blogging just had to take a back seat.  This pregnancy I've really been struggling with my energy levels; it's been hard for me to keep up with my basic housework and I'm way behind in cutting out coupons.  As I get into the second trimester things seem to be improving a little, but not as much as I could hope.

I kind of exhausted myself with freezer cooking on Monday and Tuesday of last week, but thoughout the week I was very happy that I got what I did made.  My final totals were the following:

16 onion bagels
9 sandwich rolls
a loaf of whole wheat bread
cranberry muffins (x2) - all of which we've already eaten!

16 whole wheat tortillas

2 batches of homemade corn chips

a large pot of chili for us and a friend

I was also busy last week preparing for my favorite consignment sale, which took place on Saturday.  I had to tag the items that I was selling, as well as tag some donations to the sale as part of my volunteer commitment.

I always enjoy the weekend of the consignment sale, and this year was no exception.  I didn't need anything major and I didn't get any earth-shaking bargains this time, but I got a lot of items on my wish list, both for the girls and for the new baby.  One of my favorite finds was this beautiful Gymboree dress for only $5, which LuLu will wear next Christmas. 

GiGi already has a gold dress to wear, so I thought silver and gold would be cute and a little different!

I also picked up this Boppy travel swing for the new baby for $10 (retails for $69.99).  Space is always at a premium in our little house, so I liked that this is sort of a bouncy chair and little swing in one.

Since I didn't have any items that I was desperately seeking this time, I enjoyed browsing around the sale and getting to look at everything.  Then, having been up since 5:15, I went home and took a nap!

The rest of our weekend was both eventful, and, as my husband put it, uplifting!  A friend ended up going into labor at a playgroup that I hosted on Friday morning, and had her baby girl that evening.  We helped watch her son, and it was so fun to participate in such a special time.  Then on Sunday, a very good friend, who was my husband's best man, got engaged. 

So despite my tiredness and backlog of blogging and other chores, life is good!

PS - I'll be posting the CVS deals and my menu plan for the week shortly.  I went to Wegmans this morning, so look for some good Wegmans deals tomorrow.  And coming up this week, a review and another giveaway!  Plus, the second installment of my "couponing for beginners series."

General Mills Cereal Retro Gift Pack Winners

Finally announcing the winners of my General Mills Giveaways last week!  They are:

Giveaway 1 - ecochicmama (comment 57)
Giveaway 2 - Donna C. (comment 9)
Giveaway 3 - Terri  (comment 46)
Giveaway 4 - Anonymous (comment 26)
Giveaway 5 - ms-Texas (comment 48)

Important - Giveaway #1 winner, ecochicmama, did not include an email address in her comment or profile.  If this is you, please contact me within 72 hours, or I'll have to pick another winner.  Thanks!

The others winners have been notified by email and have 72 hours to respond with their addresses to claim their prize. 

Thanks to everyone who entered!!!

Wegmans Deals: 02/28-03/06

New Deals:

Campbell's Chicken Noodle or Tomato Soup (10.75 oz.) - $.50

Folgers Classic Roasted Coffee (10.3-11.3 oz., Excludes Decaf and Simply Smooth) - $1.99
Use $1.00/1 Folgers product from 02/21 insert
Final Price: $.99
Turkey Hill Iced Tea or Lemonade (64 fl. oz.)  - $1.49

Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, Cinnamon Rolls, Danish, or Dinner Breads (8-13.9 oz.) - $1.99
Use $1.00/3 coupon from 02/21 insert or $.40/2 coupons from various inserts (doubled)
Final Price: As low as $1.59 each

Van de Kamp's 6 Crispy Haddok Fillets or Fish Sticks (10.9-11 oz.) - $1.99

Aunt Jemima Waffles (12.3 oz.) - $1.49


Wegmans Pork Shoulder (Club Pack) - $.99/lb.

Wegmans Roasting Chicken - $.79/lb.

Ongoing Deals:

Produce -
Wegmans US #1 3 lb. Bagged Apples - $2.49
Wegmans US #1 White Potatoes (5 lb. bag) - $1.99
Florida Grapefruit (5 lb. bag), California Navel Oranges (4 lb. bag), or Spanish Clementines (2 lb. bag) - $2.99

Non-perishables -
Cheez-It Cheese Crackers (11.5-13.7 oz.) - $1.99 (through 04/03)
Use $.75/1 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.24
Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix (18.3-19.9oz.) or Cake Mix - $.99
Kashi Cereals (selected varieties) & Granola Bars - $2.50
Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs - $2.00
Wegmans Canned Vegetables (14.5-15.25 oz can) Cream Style Corn, Whole Kernel Corn, French Style Green Beans, or Cut Green Beans - $.39
Wegmans Tomato Puree or Crushed Tomatoes (28-29 oz. can) – $.49
Hunts Tomato Sauce (8 oz.) - $.33
Wegmans Ziti, Spaghetti, or Thin Spaghetti (16 oz.) – $.69
Wegmans Solid White Albacore Tuna (6 oz., in water) - $.99
Zatarain's Rice Mix (7-8 oz.) - $1.69
Buy 3 and use $1.00/3 coupon from 01/24 insert
Final Price: $1.36 each
Campbell's Chunky Soup (18.6-19 oz, excludes Chili and Full Loaded) - $1.25
Buy 4 and use $.75/4 coupon from 01/21 insert or $.50/2 Chunky Health Request coupon from 01/03 insert (doubled)
Final Price: $.75-$1.06 each
Simply Asia Noodle Bowls (8.5 oz.) - $1.99
Tostitos Tortilla Chips (9-13 oz.) - $2.50
Coca-Cola (2 liter) - $.99



Refrigerated -
Wegmans Orange Juice from Concentrate (64 fl. oz. ) - $1.49
Wegmans Gallon Milk - $2.18-$2.49

Frozen -
Stouffer's Lean Cuisine Entrees (8-11.5 oz., selected varieties) - $1.99
Gorton's Fish Fillets (7.6-11.4 oz., selected varieties) - $1.99
Use $.40/1 coupon from 01/24 SS or 02/21 SS insert
Final Price: $1.19
Pillsbury Toaster Strudel (10-11.5 oz.) - $1.99
Use $.35/1 coupon from 01/03 or 02/07 inserts (doubled) or $.55/1 printable coupon
Final Price: $1.19-$1.44

Meat -
Wegmans Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (Club Pack - 5 lbs. or more) - $1.97/lb.

Paper/Toiletries/Cleaning -
Wegmans Paper Towels (8 pk./480 ct.) – $4.99 ($.62/roll)
Wegmans Facial Tissue (65-160 ct. cube or flat) – $.79
Speed Stick (3-3.25 oz.) or Lady Speed Stick (2.3 oz. Deodorant or Antiperspirant) – $1.88
Use $1.00/2 coupon from recent insert
Final Price – $1.38
Edge or Skintimate Shave Gel (7 oz.) – $1.88
Use $.75/1 Edge shave gel from 01/10 insert
Final Price: $1.13
Suave Shampoo or Conditioner (15 oz.) - $.85
Colgate Toothpaste (3 oz.) - $.69 (Limit 2)
Arm and Hammer 2X Concentrate Laundry Detergent (50 fl. oz.) - $1.99
Buy 2 and use $1.00/2 printable coupon (print right away - these go quickly)
Final Price $1.49 each

My Wegmans deals are based on the Sterling/Leesburg, VA sales ad and deals that I find in the Leesburg store.

My store doubles coupons up to $.50, but Wegmans' coupon policies vary by store. Find the policy at your store here.

This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering.

Menu Planning Monday

Time for another menu plan!  I made these enchiladas last week (sorry, forgot to take a picture) and was very pleased.  I have found that most enchilada recipes call for canned sauce, which I don't like to use unless I get it on some great deal, so I was excited to find one with an easy homemade sauce.  I ate these for breakfast the next day!  (Okay, I'm pregnant.)

Breakfasts:
Onion bagels with cream cheese, homemade hot pockets (frozen), yogurt, cereal, eggs

Lunches:
Cheese and crackers, chicken sandwiches w. pesto or olive paste, cheese & bean quesadillas

Dinners:
Mon - Chili, rice, cornbread
Tues - Turkey soup, cranberry muffins
Wed - Pot roast or beef strew with potatoes and carrots
Thurs - Beef & chicken burritos with black bean dip, guacomole, salsa, and sour cream
Fri - Gorton's popcorn shrimp, corn, chips (working consignment sale that evening!)
Sat - Leftovers/meal from freezer
Sun - Pasta

Baking List:
See baking day plan.

See Menu Planning Monday here.