Quotable Wednesday

"The dangling carrot usually spoils before it is eaten."

-Solo Standings

It's Dr. Seuss week!

Well, it's not a national "Dr. Seuss week" but here in our humble abode, we are going all out Suess.

Since I created Sonny's curriculum for the summer, I had to make sure to at least dedicate a few weeks to the grand Doctor, and this week is the first of 3.  Thankfully, the In Laws made sure that he was blessed with almost the whole collection of the books, so we had to take advantage of it.  Each week we'll end with the bigger classics, like Horton Hears a Who(my personal favorite), how the Grinch stole Christmas and finally, The Cat in the Hat.

Not only is the boy excited, but his geek parents are too. Hubby said I have to wait for him to be home before we make our "Cat in the Hat" hats out of toilet paper rolls because he doesn't want to miss it! The nerve of this man!  But, I can understand him. If I was him, I'd be pissed to miss it too lol.

So far, "summer learning" has been going so well and this week is one of the biggest examples of it. With me being tired, it is real work for me, but it's so worth it. 

Now a few questions for you all:
1. any teachers out there that have done a curriculum around Dr. Seuss books? Any cool worksheets or activities you can share?
2. Avid lovers of books, children or not: what book would you love to plan a curriculum around?(Don't say the Giving Tree...it's on the list).

Good Earth Prize pack giveaway! (Plus the winner of the Suddenly Salad giveaway)

Time for another giveaway! I just love doing these within a few weeks. It's so much fun to be able to offer a contest to my readers. First off, let's announce the winner of the Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad giveaway. The winner is(as chosen by Random.org)....

Jenn from Thrifty on the Dollar! Congratulations Jenn!  I'll be contacting you to get your information :o)

Now let's go on to the next giveaway! When I got this package, it had come at just the right time. I was getting so tired and not at all interested in thinking of a meal.  So, when the UPS guy dropped this box off, I was more than excited!

Besides the fact that all I really needed was some chicken breast to get it started, I loved that it was a healthy version of a boxed meal kit.  Good Earth products have 100% whole grain, no trans fat, no artificial flavors, no artificial preservatives and no MSG. I mean, you can't get any better than that when it comes to something that takes minutes to make. And, it's a new product that is just starting to show up in stores this month, so we should be seeing some sales(and maybe coupons?) for it soon.

Thanks to MyBlogSpark and Good Earth, I have an awesome prize pack to give away! Check out the picture below: 

So cool! The bamboo set is really nice. Hubby and I used it for one of our "date nights" where we turned some leftovers into tapas and used the little bamboo plates and cutlery. The chopping board is perfect for cutting up veigges and you can't have too many re-usable bags! This bag is sturdy and pretty big...perfect for taking to farmer's markets.

How to Enter:
Leave me a comment telling me your favorite healthy meal. It can be something you make or something you love to order or buy at the store.

Please make sure to leave me your E-MAIL ADDRESS so I can contact you. In the last giveaway, a lot of you either didn't leave one or assumed that you had one on your blogger account. Well, you didn't and I had to delete 10 entries after checking all of the blogger accounts. I hate doing that but rules are rules.

Contest will go until 10pm on July 4th. One entry per household.  Good luck!

ShopRite Deals 6/27 to 7/3

International delight creamers- .88
use .55/1 printable coupon doubled(DND5)- FREE

Coffee Mate flavored creamers-2 for 3.00
use 2 .75/1 printable coupons doubled- FREE

Vlasic pickled relish- 1.00
use .55/1 printable coupon doubled-FREE
use .55/1 coupon from June All You magazine doubled-FREE

Sargento reduced sodium shredded cheese- 1.49
use .75/1 coupon from 4/18SS doubled- FREE

Betty Crocker suddenly salad mix- 1.00
use .50/1 coupon from 6/6SS doubled- FREE

Heluva Good dips- 1.29
use .75/1 coupon from 5/16SS doubled- FREE


Butterball turkey franks- 1.64
use .75/1 coupon from 5/9SS doubled(expires 6/30!)- .14

Minute Rice- 3 for 5.00
use 3 .75/1 coupons from 4/11SS doubled- .17

Blue bunny bomb pops- 1.74
use .75/1 coupon from June All You magazine doubled- .24

Sunlight dish detergent- .79
use .25/1 coupon from 2/28 or 5/23SS doubled- .29

Hershey's Chocolate milk- 1.00
use .35/1 printable coupon doubled- .30

Texas Pete hot sauce- 1.19
use .40/1 coupon from 5/9SS doubled- .39

Al Fresco chicken sausage- 2.49
use 2.00/1 printable coupon(try zip 30157)- .49

Blue bunny sundae bars- 1.99
use .75/1 coupon from June All You magazine doubled- .49

Jack Daniels BBQ sauce- 1.59
use .55/1 coupon from 5/16SS doubled- .49

Vlasic dill pickle spears- 1.66
use .55/1 printable coupon doubled- .56
use .55/1 coupon from June All You magazine doubled- .56

Reddi Whip whipped cream- 1.66
use 1.00/1 coupon from June All You magazine- .66

Cool Whip topping- .99
use .20/2 coupon from 6/27SS doubled- .79 each

Smuckers ice cream toppings- 1.99
use .55/1 coupon from 5/16RP doubled- .89

Athenos Feta- 1.99
use 1.00/1 coupon from 5/16SS- .99

Oscar Mayer hot dogs- 1.49
use 1.00/2 coupon from 5/16SS- .99 each

Maxwell House coffee- 2.49
use 1.00/1 coupon from 5/16SS- 1.49
use .75/1 printable coupon doubled- .99

Rice Krispies treats- 2.00
use 1.00/1 printable coupon- 1.00

Ssips 10 pack drinks- 3 for 5.00
use 1.00/3 coupon from 6/20SS- 1.33 each

Friendly's Ice cream- 1.99
use 1.00/2 coupon from 4/25RP(expires 6/30!)- 1.49 each

Morning Star farms veggie burgers- 3.50
use .75/1 coupon from 6/27RP doubled- 2.00

ShopRite sneak peek- week of 6/27

International delight creamers- .88
use .55/1 printable coupon doubled- FREE

Coffee Mate flavored creamers-2 for 3.00
use 2 .75/1 printable coupons doubled- FREE

Minute Rice- 3 for 5.00
use 3 .75/1 coupons from 4/11SS doubled- .17

Al Fresco chicken sausage- 2.49
use 2.00/1 printable coupon(try zip 30157)- .49

Rice Krispies treats- 2.00
use 1.00/1 printable coupon- 1.00

Remember to come back tomorrow for the full list of the BEST deals!

Ultimate Strawberry Syrup!

That luscious drink up there is something that I look forward to every summer. And during my "knocked up" time when my palate is very picky, this drink gets me through the heat and keeps the budget down. While strawberry season is in full swing, I make sure to make strawberry syrup as much as possible and keep it in the fridge. It's great used in my strawberry seltzer above, or drizzled over no-bake cheesecake, pancakes or anything else you may want to add a strawberry flavor to.

Strawberry Syrup

1 pint strawberries, hulled and chopped
1 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1/8th cup lemon juice(optional)

Place strawberries and water in a saucepan and cook over medium heat until it boils.
Once it comes to a boil, turn heat to low and let simmer for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, put mixture through a strainer and push the mixture to get as much of the juice out as possible. Once done, throw out the pulp(or save it and mix into some cake mix to make an awesome strawberry cake!).
Place the juice back in the saucepan and add the sugar and lemon juice. Turn heat back to medium, bring to a boil and cook for another 2 minutes.
Once done, place in a container(preferably one that is heat-proof) and store for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

When I make this into strawberry seltzer, I add 2 tablespoons of syrup to an 8oz glass and mix with cold seltzer. If that's not sweet enough for you, feel free to up it a tablespoon or two.

Quotable Wednesday

"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."

-Nelson Mandela 

I've been nominated! Help 4 Hats win the big prize...

See that banner up top? Yup, I've been nominated for Black Weblog awards!  I'm so excited about this since I mostly keep this blog "colorblind" but love that as a black blogger, I can be recognized for talking about things other than race. A big thanks to the readers that nominated me so far and let me know about it through e-mail. You all rock!

Now, here comes the begging! I would so appreciate it if the rest of my readers could help out 4 Hats and Frugal and continue to nominate the blog.  All you have to do is click that banner up top and it will take you to the voting site. Here are the categories I've been nominated for already:

Best parenting or family blog
Best personal blog
Blogs to watch

All you have to do it put my url in those boxes to put in your nomination. I know I'll be the little fish in the big pond, but if I could even just make the list of nominees, I would be on cloud nine.  Nominations end on the 25th, so there's only a little bit of time left.

Thanks in advance for helping me out!  I have the best readers out there and I appreciate all of your support.

Where are the meal plans?

For the last 2 Mondays I've been slacking on posting a meal plan. This was actually on purpose. The extreme tiredness....and waddling....are starting up big time so that slows me down in the kitchen. This is one of the main reasons I started up my meal plan list a while ago and I am thanking my lucky stars that I did that.  It has been saving us so far and I know it's going to be beneficial once the little duchess gets here. I still usually cook a "new" meal once during the week, but only on the day that I have the energy.  Otherwise, we've been shopping from the freezer. It's been wonderful!

I do still plan on shopping at the stores to get the best deals so we don't run out of food, so this list will be on-going. But, to make it easier on me, I don't think I'll have an actual meal plan posted for a few weeks. Well, you never know.

Giveaway: Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad prize pack!

I have to admit, I'm not a big fan of box mixes.  With me being so frugal and wanting to use what's right in my kitchen, I just didn't see the point of it.  That changed last year when the Suddenly Salad mixes were free after coupon all over the place. I knew that I'd have to try them out, even if it was just to see if I needed to pass them along to family members.  Well, they were fantastic! Timewise, it wasn't much much difference than making my own pasta salad from scratch since I had to boil the pasta anyway, but I didn't have to guess on the flavor. It was a dump and mix type deal, and who can argue with that?

Thanks to Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad, I have the opportunity to give away a truly awesome prize pack to one lucky reader! Check out what you get:

I do love the packs that are offered by MyBlogSpark, and this one was no different. The bag is perfect for picnics(or as a back-up diaper bag!) and the bowls were so sturdy and beautiful! Even my hubby was impressed with this pack.


Want to win? Here's what you need to do:
1. Leave a comment under this post telling me what your favorite picnic/barbeque food you love to make.
2. For another entry, follow 4 Hats and Frugal on twitter! Click here and make sure to leave a separate comment under this post letting me know that you are following me(or that you already do).

Please make sure to leave your (junk) e-mail address in each comment so I can contact you if you win.

The giveaway will be open until 10pm on Sunday, June 27th. Good Luck and thanks to Betty Crocker and MyBlogSpark for the giveaway!

ShopRite Deals 6/20 to 6/26

Chicken of the Sea chunk light tuna cans- 4 for 3.00
if you were able to print off 3 of the 1.00/1 coupons from Facebook, you can get 4 cans for FREE
if you could only print 2, that's still 4 cans for 1.00. not bad!

Mennen lady speedstick- .99
use .75/1 printable coupon doubled- FREE

Post raisin bran, shredded wheat or grape nuts cereal- 2.00
use 2.00/1 printable coupon(sign up required)- FREE

French's honey mustard- 1.50
use .75/1 printable coupon doubled- FREE

Rayovac batteries- .99
use 1.00/1 printable coupon- FREE

Scotties facial tissue- 1.00
use 1.00/1 coupon from 5/16SS- FREE

Fisher fusion nuts- 1.24
use 1.00/1 coupon from 2/28SS- .24
there are more 1.00/1 coupons from 12/6, 12/13 and 1/10SS too

Jell-o gelatin- 3 for 2.00
use .60/3 coupon from 6/6SS doubled- 3 for .80 or .26 each

Fleischmann's margarine- .99
use 1.00/2 coupon from June All You Magazine- .49 each

Blue bunny Ice cream- 1.99
use .75/1 coupon from June All You magazine doubled- .49

Turkey Hill Iced tea or lemonade- .99
use 1.00/2 coupon from 4/11 or 6/13RP- .49

Solo plates or cups- 1.99
use .75/1 printable coupon (IE or FF) doubled- .49

Wise snacks- 1.49
use .50/1 printable coupons doubled- .49
wise chips- IE or FF
wise chips
wise cheez doodles- IE or FF

NEW! All oxi-clean detergent- 2.99
use 2.00/1 coupon from 5/16RP- .99

Lactaid half gallon milk- 1.99
use 1.00/1 printable coupon- .99

Crystal light- 1.99
use 1.00/1 printable coupon (IE or FF)- .99

Maxwell house coffee- 2.49
use 1.00/1 coupon from 5/16SS- 1.49
use .75/1 printable coupon doubled- .99

ShopRite sneak peek- week of 6/20

Fisher fusion nuts- 1.24
use 1.00/1 coupon from 2/28SS- .24
there are more 1.00/1 coupons from 12/6, 12/13 and 1/10SS too

Jell-o gelatin- 3 for 2.00
use .60/3 coupon from 6/6SS doubled- 3 for .80 or .26 each

Lactaid half gallon milk- 1.99
use 1.00/1 printable coupon- .99

Chicken of the Sea chunk light tuna cans- 4 for 3.00
if you were able to print off 3 of the 1.00/1 coupons from Facebook, you can get 4 cans for free
if you could only print 2, that's still 4 cans for 1.00. not bad!

Maxwell house coffee- 2.49
use 1.00/1 coupon from 5/16SS- 1.49


Stay tuned tomorrow for the full list of the BEST deals!
 

Summer's the time for beef

Whether you're a lovable beef eater or only one when the sale is right, we can all agree that summer brings about beef in grocery stores to an obscene level. With all of the grilling holidays, including Father's day, popping up, it's understandable that the stores increase their bovine inventory.  The best part about this for us? More clearance meats!  Because they butcher the whole cow, we see sales on grilling parts but also deep discounts on cuts that we usually won't use in the summer.  This can be a great stock up time for those of us that are able to stockpile within our freezers(I'm not one of them, but I do what I can). Here are a few things we can do to get the best savings and not feel overwhelmed by cuts we've never used:

1. Find out what store in your area has the best mark downs.  If you are lucky enough to have a few competitive grocery stores in your area, you will definitely find that one or two of them have a routine mark down on their meats and produce. These mark downs are usually on items that need to be sold that day or the next, so you'll have to make sure you get them home, wrapped up and placed in the freezer ASAP.  But other than the sell-by date, it is still quality meat. If you still aren't sure if your store does mark downs(they do, but you may not have been lucky enough to catch them), ask the meat department or the customer service desk when mark downs happen for their store. And make sure you're there on those days!

2. Don't be afraid of cuts you've never used.  I think this is one of the biggest mistakes any shopper makes when looking in the meat area of the stores. There may be a good price on a cut of meat, but you just can't fathom how to even start to cook it.  Don't fret! Now that we have the internet, it makes cooking so much easier.  Beef even has it's own website and there is a wallet card you can print out to take with you to the stores to see exactly how to cook a cut.  The website even has a few recipes and tips on how take care of those cheap cuts.

3. Believe in the slow cooker. I do love to use our slow cooker in the winter, but in the summer, it becomes the king of our house. Besides the fact that we seem to be running around more in the summer, it's just so much easier and cooler to use the slow cooker during those hot 3 months. I also love to pair up the mark down meats with the mark down veggies that I find at the store by creating "meal kits" right in the freezer for days when I feel extra rushed. Mark down cube steak out together with cut up discount onion and peppers makes instant swiss steak for us to eat. Add in some rice made in the rice maker, and my kitchen stays clean and cool.

How about you all? Have you ever been lucky to find some mark down meats? Ever been afraid to try out a cheap new cut?

Quotable Wednesday

"There's a fine line between genius and insanity.  I have erased this line."

-Oscar Levant

Graduations, Preterm labor and harsh reality...

Hello world! I'm back! Well, I'm here, but I can't say that I'm "back" at 100%. 

We've been given a scare from the little duchess last week. Long story short, she's ready to come out but that just can't happen right now. So, she's been in a knock down, drag out, fist fight with my body. I can sarcastically say that it's been fun on a bun.  Like pregnancy hasn't already made my body feel like a roller coaster. This is like the icing on the most painful cake on the planet. Yay for kids! Needless to say, after 2 days in the hospital, I'm stuck at home indefinitely. That's supposed to mean no shopping, no driving, no strenuous cleaning, nothing. Yeah right. I'll end up shooting this baby out while hand -scrubbing the kitchen floor. Sorry baby.

Speaking of kids, my wonderful Sonny Boy "graduated" from preschool the same day I went to the hospital. Above is the little warrior in his cap and gown, goofily looking at his "diploma." I put "graduated" and "diploma" in quotes because I was un-aware that they had graduations for preschool. Kindergarten, yes, high school, of course, but pre-school? Come on...seriously? Maybe I'm just bitter because I had to dress my kid in a shirt and tie, sit through about 11 songs in a 90 degree room with about 50 other parents WHILE having contractions. The only upside is that my boy looked super cute in a shirt and tie.

And hey, wanna here the totally best part of this whole thing? We have a big birthday party planned for the boy on saturday! So, you know how I'm supposed to be resting and putting my feet up and drinking lemonade? Well, I can't this week. I got a party to plan. Ooh Ooh! And Sonny is officially out of school, so that means his summer curriculum starts with me this week, so no rest there. And Ooh Ooh! I started nesting. Closets are re-organized, the trash cans have been washed and all of the Duchess's clothes have been washed and put in her drawers.Well, what I have for her. Turns out, all those things I thought I had stockpiled and stacked up high weren't really much once I folded them up and looked at what they were. Not many outfits, no socks, and some other things that I know I'll need right away when she gets home are not in the wardrobe right now. I'm freaking a bit since I have no time to get these things. Looks like we'll be stuck in the house, literally, for a while until Mama can shop a little more online. At least she has a car seat for us to bring her home. That's probably the most important thing.

Well, that's what's up with me! I'm still here....I'm still alive. Just in case you were wondering....

ShopRite Deals 6/13 to 6/19

Sorry this is so late! For an explanation why, see the post under this one lol.  If you see that I missed a match up, would you please, please let me know? My eyes aren't working as well as they usually do since I'm dealing with a bit of fatigue. Thanks all!

Wish bone salad dressing- 2 for 3.00(must buy 2)
use 2 .75/1 coupons from 5/23RP doubled- 2 FREE

Bestlife margarine- .99
use 1.00/1 coupon from 5/16 or 6/13RP- FREE
use 1.00/1 printable coupon(try zip 90210)- FREE

Ban deodorant- 1.49
use .75/1 coupon from 6/6SS doubled- FREE

Brut roll-on deodorant- .99
use 1.00/1 coupon from June or July All You magazine- FREE
use 1.00/1 coupon from 6/6SS- FREE

Land O Lakes buttery spread- .99
use .55/1 printable coupon doubled(sign up required)- FREE

Butterball turkey bacon- 1.50
use .75/1 coupon from 5/9SS doubled- FREE

Post raisin bran, shredded wheat or grape nuts cereal- 2.00
use 2.00/1 printable coupon(sign up required)- FREE

Coffee mate flavored creamers- 1.24
use .50/1 coupon from 5/2SS doubled- .24
use .75/1 printable coupon doubled- FREE
 
Daisy sour cream- 1.29
use .50/1 coupon from 6/6RP doubled- .29
use .60/1 coupon from 6/6RP doubled- .09

Softsoap elements hand soap- 1.19
use 1.00/1 printable coupon- .19

Breyers yogurt- .39
use 1.00/10 coupon from 3/28SS- .29 each

Knorr rice or pasta sides- .94
use .60/2 coupon from 5/23RP doubled- .34 each

Earth's best baby food- .60
use 1.00/7 coupon from February Parents Magazine- .46 each

Naturally delicious salad dressing- 1.49
use 1.00/1 coupon from 6/13RP- .49

Ken's marinade- 2 for 3.00(must buy 3)
use 2 1.00/1 coupons from 5/9SS- .49 each

Dannon light and fit 4-packs- .99
use 1.00/2 coupon from 6/6SS- .49 each

Wise snacks- 1.49
use .50/1 printable IE or FF coupon doubled- .49

Ragu pasta sauce- 3 for 4.00(must buy 3)
use 3 .30/1 coupons from 5/23RP doubled- .73 each

8th continent soy milk- 1.89
use 1.00/1 coupon from 6/6RP- .89

Lipton Tea to go stix- 1.99
use .50/1 coupon from 5/23RP doubled- .99

Olay total effects body wash- 4.99
use 4.00/1 coupon from 6/6PG- .99

Hebrew national hot dogs- 2.49
use .75/1 coupon from 5/23SS doubled- .99


4 Day price break(Wednesday to Saturday)
Schick hydro razor- 4.99 (with an additional 10.00 purchase)
use 5.00/1 coupon from 6/13SS- FREE

Other Deals
ShopRite 18ct large eggs- 1.49

I hope this works!

I've tried to post from my phone a few times and it never would take! I hope this gets through this time. Well, I've been banished to the hospital after 2 days of contractions. Guess what? Pre-term labor sucks. The end. I wanted to wait it out until my doctor's appt on Monday, but Hubby couldn't take seeing me in pain anymore so alas we are here. Is it bad that I made him wait until after Sonny Boy's graduation to take me? Probably. Anywho, if I get stuck here for more than a day I may not get a post up until Saturday, which will be the ShopRite match ups. So....stay tuned.

ShopRite Deals- Save those GM/Kraft/Unilever coupons!

Starting next week, there will be a great Kraft/GM/Unilever promotion going on where we can stock up on some great items! Here are the details of the promotion:

Save up to $50 in free groceries...when you purchase any combo of products from Kraft, GM, or unilever with your Price Plus card.
Registers will automatically keep a running total of your purchases during the qualifiying period (2 weeks). Once you qualify your savings certificate(s) will be printed at the bottom of your register receipt.
You must present certificate(s) at the register for discount.
Redeem your savings certificate(s) at the register OYNO through saturday july 10, 2010.

Spend $40, save $5
Spend $80, save $25
Spend $120, save $50

Qualifying purchases are calculated BEFORE taxes, bottle deposits, and the face value of manu q's, and AFTER SR store q's, SR Price Plus card deductions, and any doubled/tripled manu q's.

There's also a Kraft rebate floating around, so this would be a great double dip!
Let's see if we end up having some fun with this promotion. Thanks for the information, Slick Deals!

Quotable Wednesday

"When Thomas Edison worked late into the night on the electric light, he had to do it by gas lamp or candle. I'm sure it made the work seem that much more urgent."

-George Carlin 

Shake it out....let it go...

I have no problem admitting that I have a hard time letting things go.  Not in the form of grudges per se, but when it comes to going above and beyond, I can't stay away.  If someone is in need of something, and I can use the last few dollars to get it, I do.  If I feel passionate about things, I make sure family and friends know all about it, and even more, see for themselves how great it is.  I go to bat for friends like a prize fighter and I'm not afraid to stand up for what I believe in.  So shoot me. It must be because I was born in the year of the dog. I'm loyal right down to my bones.

The bad thing is, like a puppy, you can hit me with a rolled up newspaper, I'll lick my wounds and still love you in the morning.  Hubby says it's the "spiritual" part of me...do unto others and all that, and I tend to agree with him. Lately though, I've had to do some soul searching and teach myself to "let it go" no matter how difficult it may be.  It was a hard thing to figure out until I decided to look right at my own blog for inspiration.

I have no problem letting things pass by when it comes to frugality.  When I post the ShopRite deals each week, I let you all know the BEST deals to spend your time on. I could easily post a whole list of things you may get for .30 less with coupon, or items that are marked down from 5.99 to 4.99, but why? Time is money, and we are trying to save it.  I "let go" the crap deals and post the best ones for stockpiling. Easy.

When I decide to find a frugal way to do things, I cut out any steps that may take up as much of my time as the more expensive counterpart would. Like learning to make my own fried rice; with a few minutes of prep, I can have it homemade in less time and money than ordering it from the take out place.

So letting go of toxic people, places and things should be so much easier for me than it is.  Plus, if time equals money, and stress takes up time, then unnecessary stress has go to go! I do enjoy these little life lessons that pop up from time to time.  Especially when I can review my own past actions and use them in future situations.

So I'm shaking it out and letting it go....

And mean people suck. That's all.

Have you all had to let go of something recently? Was it easier or harder than you thought it would be?

Meal Plan Monday!

Since we have less than 3 weeks until we're on official "baby watch," I'm trying to get in the favorites of Daddy and Sonny Boy while I still have time for them.  Sonny has been begging for spaghetti for 2 weeks, so even though I think it's way too hot for it, I'll oblige.  In order to conserve energy, anything that needs to be made in the oven(except the pizza) will all be made Wednesday when I make the fish. That's basically Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday's meals. They all can be reheated in the microwave or toaster oven. I have to clear out that fridge for Sonny's bday party.  Should be an easy week!

Monday: Spaghetti with meat sauce(made with ground turkey)
Tuesday: Baked Bluefish with corn and rice
Wednesday: Teriyaki beef and rice lettuce wraps
Thursday: Cheesy Chicken casserole
Friday: Pizza night!
Saturday: Leftovers buffet
Sunday: Mom and Dad will be at a 12 hour class; Sonny Boy gets to eat at Grandma's!

Dessert of the week: Banana Ice cream and Strawberry-apple cinnamon bread pudding

ShopRite Deals 6/6 to 6/12

Luigi's italian ice- .99
use .50/1 coupon from 5/2 or 5/16RP doubled- FREE

Ban deodorant- 1.49
use .75/1 coupon from 6/6SS doubled- FREE

Nesquik milk- .99
use .50/1 coupon from 5/2SS doubled- FREE

Ronzoni smart taste- 3 for 3.00(must buy 3)
use 1.00/1 coupon from Parents, Better Homes and Gardens or Family Circle magazine
use .75/1 printable coupon(sign up required) doubled
use .75/1 printable coupon here doubled
combination of all of these will yield you 3 FREE boxes of pasta!

Post Raisin Bran, Shredded wheat or Grape nuts cereal- 2.00
use 2.00/1 printable coupon(sign up required)- FREE (Thanks Cindy!)

Coffee-Mate liquid creamers-1.24
use .50/1 coupon from 5/2SS doubled- .24
use .75/1 printable coupon doubled- FREE

Marcal facial tissue- .99
use 1.00/1 printable coupon (sign up required)- FREE

Ssips drinks- .77
use 1.00/3 coupon from 5/16SS- .44 each
use 1.00/2 coupon from 5/16SS- .27 each

Reynold's wrap recycled foil- 1.99
use .85/1 coupon from 5/16SS doubled- .29

Francesco Rinaldi pasta sauce(omega 3 variety)- 1.00
use .30/1 coupon from 4/18RP doubled- .40

Bar-S Franks- .99
use 1.00/2 coupon from 5/16RP- .49

Pompeian red wine vinegar- 1.49
use .50/1 printable coupon doubled- .49

Keebler Pecan Sandies cookies- 3 for 5.00(must buy 3)
use 3 .55/1 coupons from 4/18RP doubled- .57 each

Eggland's best eggs- 1.77
use .35/1 coupon from 5/2SS doubled- 1.07
use .50/1 coupon from 5/2SS doubled- .77

Wise potato chips- 1.99
use .50/1 printable coupon (IE or FF) doubled- .99

Lay's Chips- 1.99
if kettle chips are included, use 1.00/1 coupon from June All You magazine- .99

Apple and Eve fruitables drink- 2.50
use .75/1 printable coupon doubled- 1.00

Quaker granola bars- 1.99
use .75/2 coupon from 4/25 or 5/2RP doubled- 1.24 each

Peter Pan peanut butter- 1.88
use 1.00/2 coupon from June All You magazine- 1.38 each

Arm & Hammer 2x laundry detergent- 1.99
use 1.00/2 coupon from 4/11SS-1.49 each

Sorrento string cheese- 3.99
use 2.00/1 coupon from 5/2SS- 1.99
(look for rebate on the bag to get 2 for free!)

Gillette Fusion ProGlide manual razor- 9.99
use 4.00/1 coupon from 6/6PG- 5.99
plus, you'll get back a 5.00 catalina, so .99 after coupon and catalina!
__________________
4 Day Price break (Wednesday to Saturday)
Seven seas or kraft salad dressing- 3 for 5.00(must buy 3)
use 3 .55/1 coupons from 5/2SS (or this printable) doubled- .57 each
(buy 3 and you'll get back a 2.00 catalina!)
_________________
Other Deals
Tyson chicken thighs- .79/lb
Granny smith or gala apples- .84/lb
Fresh peaches- .99/lb
Russet potatoes 5lb bag- 1.49
blueberries- 1.49/pint (limit 2)
Wesson oil(1 gallon)- 4.99(with an additional 10.00 purchase)

ShopRite sneak peek- week of 6/6

Looks like a good week of FREES. I listed the first 2, but rest assured there are more!

Luigi's italian ice- .99
use .50/1 coupon from 5/2 or 5/16RP doubled- FREE

Ban deodorant- 1.49
use .75/1 coupon from 6/6SS doubled- FREE

Ssips drinks- .77
use 1.00/2 coupon from 5/16SS- .27 each

Francesco Rinaldi pasta sauce(omega 3 variety)- 1.00
use .30/1 coupon from 4/18RP doubled- .40

Come back tomorrow for the full list of the BEST deals of the week! There are some good ones coming up!

Frugal Magazine Tips

I decided that with all the wonderful, FREE, subscriptions I get to great magazines, I should share the best frugal tips and blurbs from them. Also, this will give me a place to reference back for my favorite tips without keeping loads of magazine pages on file somewhere. Every month I'll do this rundown, and hopefully you all can learn something too! 

From Parents Magazine:

Use those leftover plastic Easter eggs! Fill them with kid-friendly crackers, dry cereal or fruit snacks and throw them in your bag for a quick snack on the run. 
Save the scoops from powdered drink mixes(like formula, protein powder, etc) and use them to scoop out things like oatmeal, sugar or grated cheese.


From Family Circle Magazine:

3 uses for baking soda-
-throw a pinch in potatoes while mashing them to make them fluffier
-shine silver with a mixture of 3 parts baking soda and one part water
-wash fresh veggies in cold water with 2 to 3 tablespoons of baking soda to get them extra clean


From All You Magazine:

If you need something to do on your down time, shoot over to pogo.com to play games for free. No need to pay for downloads!
If you're a crossword fan like me, check out bestcrosswords.com for free printable puzzles. This would be great for any upcoming summer vacations!

In order to boost your brain power, get more sleep! During your REM cycle, your brain makes new connections, which boosts your problem solving skills.

To learn what fruits and veggies are in season in your part of the country, check out nrdc.org/health/foodmiles. Look for the "what's fresh near you" button.

Use regular white toothpaste to remove tarnish from silver. Squeeze a little paste onto a cloth and rub gently on moistened silver. Rinse the item and polish with a soft rag.

Turn buttons into magnets! Take buttons off of old clothes you plan to use as rags, or get a cheap package of buttons from a discount store. Using a hot glue gun, attach the buttons to craft magnets. Would make a great wedding or housewarming gift!

To unstick drawers, rub runners with a candle or bar soap and they're glide smoothly.

Quotable Wednesday

"It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare."

-Mark Twain

One, Two, Strep Strep....

Well, after the longest day I think I've had in a while, we found out that not only does my sweet little boy has strep throat, but Hubby's got it too. Why I don't have it, I'll never figure out. It could be because i'm not an icky boy. Yup, boys are icky lol.  I had a scheduled appointment with the doctor today and Hubby decided to call off of work and go to the emergency room after taking me to my appointment. Once we found out that he had the start of Strep throat, I immediately called Sonny's doctor, made an appointment for today and we went to grab him from school.  I'm glad we did.....both boys are now sitting at the table eating boxed mac and cheese(their "sick" food of choice) and all dosed up on meds. Me? I'm planning the cleanest clean-sweep of this house and trying to figure out how the belly princess and I can stay as far away from the boys while living in the same house. Sounds like a Chinese riddle.

Anywhoo, just wanted to let you all know why I hadn't produced a post for today. It's the boys' fault. Again I say, boys are icky.