ShopRite Deals 5/1 to 5/7

NEW! Thai Kitchen instant rice noodles- .99
use .50/1 printable coupon doubled- FREE (Thanks Katina!)

NEW! Carolina rice bag(5oz)- .99
use .50/1 coupon from 5/1SS doubled- FREE

Goya low sodium beans- 3 for 2.00
use .75/3 coupon from 3/13RP doubled- .17

Bailey's coffee creamer- 1.24
use 1.00/1 printable coupon- .24
use .50/1 printable coupon doubled(use zip 10020)- .24

Be a better spouse challenge- Days 4 and 5

Day 4: Do Something together

I have to admit, because of our busy schedules, we didn't get to do this on day 4. By the time we had dinner, did homework, picked up fundraiser items from Sonny's school, and got the kids in the bed, it was time for us to crash. I guess you could say we went to bed together; we never go to bed at the same time but we sure did that night! We did make up for it on day 5 by sitting and having dessert on the couch together and catching up on one of our favorite shows. We had fun, giggled together and just relaxed. It was a great way to end the week.

Day 5: What's your best mode of communication?

Ironically, we ended up talking about this on day 3 for about 10 minutes or so. Our best mode of communication is good, old-fashioned face to face talking.  But, both of us can become a bit sensitive at times, so it's best to bring up big discussions when we are in good moods. If there is something important that I need to talk to Hubby about, I have to make the situation light-hearted; not just for him, but for me since I do still get a bit nervous bringing up certain things to him. The great thing is, once we get started with our talks, they almost always end in a good place. We've tried to talk over the phone, through e-mails or text, but something always seemed to get left out.  A great face to face conversation works well for us.

Tragedy in Alabama- How you can help

I know we all have been seeing the devastation that's been happening in Alabama. The tornadoes that ravaged the state has left many without anything, and even an unfortunate few have lost their lives.

When tragedies like this happen, you often wonder how you can help.  Besides sending funds to the red cross and other organizations, you can also send what you have at home.  Many families down there are in desperate need of things that we frugal shoppers tend to get for free or very cheap. They are also in dire need of clothing and many items for children, including toys, formula and diapers.  I know that some of you readers are awesome at stockpiling many items, including clothing, toys, etc. Now we can use our talents to help fellow Americans!

Here are some addresses where you can send your items:

Mountaintop Community Church
225 Centerview Drive
Vestavia Hills, AL  35126

Disaster Relief
c/o Moody Baptist Church
902 Church Street
Moody, AL  35004

Alabama disaster relief
c/o Belk Center
2101 Bowers Park Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405

Don't have a big stockpile or you can't afford to give up some of it right now? No worries. Grab a 5 dollar bill or write a check and mail to:

Salvation Army Disaster Relief
P.O. Box 100339
Altanta, GA  30384

You can also send monetary donations to Mountaintop Community Church.
I plan on sending a box of things or a monetary donation every two weeks until the State gets back on their feet. I hope you all are able to send a little something too. It's nice to know that we can really make a difference here and that our items are going to an actual address we know and a real community of people.

Big thanks to my internet buddy Angie and Swaggrabber Sheri for the information!

Be a better spouse challenge- Day 3

Remember the good stuff

On Day 3 of the challenge, Kristen wants us to sit down, grab a pen and paper(or open a word document) and actually write down things that we love about our spouse. No matter how big or little it is, it goes on the list. She also makes a point of saying that things like "good dad" or "good husband" don't count. The point is to write things that made your heart skip a beat when he did it in the beginning of the relationship.

I can't really tell if this was a difficult or easy challenge for me. It took me some time to create the list in the assignment, but it was really great to have everything all on one page and immediately made a difference in how I see my Husband and I's current relationship.

All and all, I do have to say it was a fun exercise. We do something similar to this every anniversary, but it was nice to just sit and do it, without Hubby right in front of me, and end up with a wonderfully long list.

I did go pretty personal with the list, so I'm afraid I won't be sharing it with you all. I'm not sure what items he'd have no problem with me sharing to the internet world and which ones he's dead-set against sharing.

So, if you are following the challenge, this one should be a interesting experience for you. Give yourself a few minutes and gloat on paper about your spouse. You just may see him or her in a new light once you are done.

Want to try the Be a Better Spouse challenge? Click here to get started.

My friends don't know I'm frugal

One of the funny things about living this lifestyle is that you either wholeheartedly announce your intentions for being frugal or you just do it to take care of business, keeping it quiet but being determined to stick with it. So far on my journey, I've been part of the latter team.

Be a better spouse challenge- Day 2

Accept them for who they are

Now this one wasn't too hard to practice. Even though we are a young couple with only a few years under our belt, I've learned to accept some of the big parts of my husband that I know won't change within my lifetime and even see these quirks as a great addition to our marriage and family.

Kristen asks us to list a few of these "quirks" as a practice, and promises that the tables will be turned on us later in the challenge. So, here a bit of Hubby's list:

-He's bit of a slob. He has a habit of throwing his clothes right on the floor, even if I just washed them. This creates a mound of half dirty/half clean items that he has to rummage through every time he needs an outfit for the day. So sometimes he smells like purex, and sometimes he smells like dirt. I've learned to like his smell either way.

-He's the uber-procrastinator. I thought I was bad, but he's totally got me beat.  He had 6 months to finish his last album, but waited until 2 days before it was due to actually do it. THE WHOLE ALBUM. I love to make plans for things, and I may plan it a week or two before they actual event, but it is planned before the due date. I've learned that when we do it his way, things tend to turn out fantastic as well. Like the album, the crunch time brings the best out of him.

- He's the spokesperson for Corny. Whether it's a corny joke, corny display of affection, or something completely goofy and embarassing that he shouldn't do in public, he does it. He sings in public. Loud. At the supermarket, Best Buy, or on a quiet train. It makes me want to hide in a cocoon but also makes me laugh out the side of my mouth.

I really liked this assignment because, like the last challenge, it made me see that the little things are something to laugh about and make light-hearted, not create stress over. 

Want to try the Be a Better Spouse challenge? Click here to get started.

Meal Plan Monday(or Tuesday....)

I've been really bad about posting out plans on here! I'm trying out a new planner(review coming soon), so I get the meals down on there and forget to put them on here. Sorry guys. Here's what I have in mind for this week:

Monday: Stove top turkey casserole served over brown rice
Tuesday: Pan seared mustard tilapia with buttered nooodles and broccoli
Wednesday: Lamb enchilada bake with side salad
Thursday: Italian turkey soup with beer bread
Friday: Pizza night!
Saturday: falafel in pita with tzatziki sauce
Sunday: Dinner out with the grandparents!

Dessert of the week: Strawberry surprise cake

Be a better spouse challenge- Day 1

Let Bygones Be Bygones

Way to start the challenge off with a hard one, Kristen!

This is definitely one of Hubby's pet peeves with me. I don't know why but I feel like I have to put in a dig into him when he forgets to do something for the 1000th time, or he doesn't get the kids ready for bed the way I do. I even grit my teeth when he pulls a snack or box of cereal from the stockpile that wasn't set to be used for another few months. I know this is all small stuff, and you shouldn't sweat it, but it is hard for me to conquer. We discussed this during our 5th anniversary, and I promised him that I would work hard on alleviating this issue, but I don't think I worked hard enough.

Today, I bit my tongue on the small stuff ALL DAY. I was so proud of myself and realized that it isn't so bad. I also noticed that it did make a difference in our day; Hubby seemed more relaxed by the end of the night, and the kids seemed less agitated about bedtime.

Let's see what tomorrow will bring.

Want to try the Be a Better Spouse challenge? Click here to get started.

Be a better spouse challenge

As half of a wonderful relationship, I do constantly evaluate whether I'm doing a good enough part of being a spouse.  And when it comes to being frugal and having to be so strict with a budget, I feel as if maybe I may be taking things too far sometimes and causing a strain.  My wonderful Husband does say repeatedly that things are fine, but I miss things being "spectacular."

ShopRite Deals 4/24 to 4/30

Colgate toothpaste- .88
use 1.00/1 coupon from 4/3SS- FREE

McIIhenny tabasco sauce- 1.29
use .50/1 printable coupon doubled- .29

Green is Universal

Of course, today is Earth Day and there are many companies, blogs, cities, schools and individuals that are taking advantage of this day to increase awareness of keeping our Earth healthy. There are also wonderful freebies and incentives going on today in celebration(FREE starbucks, anyone?).

I love Earth Day because it's the start of our "darkness hours of summer" in our home.  In honor of Earth Day, we do an hour of darkness and silence. This is a time when we either teach Sonny a new game, Hubby and I get to catch up on books we've had no time to read, or we all do a cool craft outside, if the weather permits.  This year, with duchess in the mix, it looks like time outside will be the bulk of our hour. We'll do lots of crawling the grass, playing with designated outside toys and maybe even a first time with bubbles.

I do love to spotlight the few bloggers that encourage me, and hopefully their readers, to be green and even frugal, all year.

Alex keeps it green and frugal by making her pets' foods, creating wonderful meals out of leftovers, decorating in a shabby chic fashion and even vacationing all summer in a mobile home by the side of the lake.

Jenny takes frugality and being green to the next level by creating a wonderful garden on the side of her house, foraging for mushrooms in the forest near her home, and even installing solar panels in the house that she and her husband-to-be own.  Now that's inspiration!

We try to keep things green all year, as well. Hubby takes the train into work everyday(he gets to ride for free since he works for state transit) and we got rid of our second car. When I have to work long periods of time down at the base, the whole family drops me off and I carpool while there. Thanks to Alex's advice, we've been making our kitty's food and are gradually getting him away from store bought. His health has been getting better and his weight is fantastic now. Sonny is a big advocate of recycling in our house and in the summer time, we make it his "job" to take the recycling out weekly. Every year we try to incorporate something new to being green yet frugal. This year, finally, I will be growing my own herbs. I've been waiting for 2 years to start this and am very exicted.

How about you all? Do you have special activities you love to do for Earth Day? What "green" aspects do you incorporate into your lifestyle all year?

ShopRite: get .55, 1.75 or 5.00 added to your card!

Guess what? Today only, anyone with their ShopRite price plus card registered on Cellfire has a chance to get a .55, 1.75 or 5.00 e-coupon added to you account! This will be taken off your next shopping trip automatically. Talk about instant savings! They are only offering this from 6am to 3pm, so hop over there to see which e-coupon you can score. Good Luck!

Speaking of Luck, today is the last day to enter to win the 25.00 walmart gift card! So, get that cellfire coupon added and then use that residual luck to win a gift card.

Apple Cinnamon Raisin brown betty

I'm a fan of the simple. I'm also a fan of producing great, stick to your ribs recipes that are easy to put together. This is one of those recipes.  Brown betty recipes are easy to begin with, but add in some cheap cinnamon raisin bread I got on clearance at the grocery store, and you have a masterpiece.

Cinnamon Raisin Apple brown betty

Half a loaf of cinnamon raisin bread
4 apples(golden delicious or granny smiths)
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter or margarine

Grease a 9x13 pan. Set aside.
Peel, core, and dice 4 apples into cubes. Place in a large bowl.
Dice butter into small cubes and place into the large bowl.
Dice the bread into small cubes and place into the large bowl.
Sprinkle the brown sugar into the bowl and stir everything together.
Spread the mixture out into the pan, cover with foil and place in the oven.
After 30 minutes, remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes.

Serve hot, warm, room temperature, with whip cream or ice cream. It's all up to you!

Spring Breakin'

This will be an eventful week. Dearest Sonny Boy has his first official Spring Break!

Our VistaPrint Winner is...

Thanks to all that entered! After tallying the facebook, twitter and comment entries, and taking inputing the info into Random.org, the winner is:

Entry number 10: Rhonda Rouse!

Rhonda has the most entries into the contest and won with one of her facebook wall post entries. Congrats Rhonda!

The winner has 48 hours to contact me at 4hatsandfrugal at gmail dot com, or I will pick another winner.

Don't be sad if you didn't win! Hop over to Baby Good Buys and enter to win a 25.00 Walmart gift card from 4 Hats and Frugal.  Lots of way to enter!

ShopRite Deals 4/17 to 4/23

Click here for information on 4 Hats and Frugal's ShopRite match ups.

Breakstone sour cream- .99
use .50/1 printable coupon doubled- FREE

Heluva good dip- 1.49
use .50/1 printable coupon doubled- .49
use .75/1 coupon from 2/27SS doubled- FREE

Colgate toothpaste- .77
use .75/1 coupon from 4/3SS doubled- FREE

Frank's red hot thick sauce- 1.49
use .75/1 printable coupon doubled- FREE

Military Woman- It's back!

ILuvBNaMom just wrote:
"Just found your blog. Great stuff. Love the recipes. Really like the story but... ummm... I can't find the next episode. Have you written any more to it since June 09? If so, where is it hidden??"

Why yes, I have! And yes, it IS hidden...somewhere. Want to know where?

Tale of a Military Woman

I launched it on my Birthday, totally forgot to share it with you all. That's the mind of a Mom, I guess.  For those of you that haven't had the chance to read the series, I'll be posting a chapter every Friday. And for those that were diligently reading the drama that is Military life, there are new chapters ready to publish as soon as we get through the original ones! I'm so excited about this new blog, and I'm really excited to finally continue with the story. I have 12 years worth of experiences to share and I've only gotten to the 5th month of it. We still have to discuss engagements, 9/11, overseas deployments, arrests, bomb-building, drunken stupors and lots more. I hope you can join me every week and hop on over now to read Chapter 1.

Lazy Mom's guide to couponing

Since the buzz over the extreme couponing show has started, and since my post last week about the show, I've gotten quite a few e-mails about how I actually prepare my shopping trips, handle my coupons, work on my grocery budget, etc. Well, I'd like to get down to the nitty-gritty for everyone.

A dedication to my boy..

Since I dedicated a whole post to duchess, documenting her latest accomplishments, it's about time I did the same for my boy. I don't want him to feel jealous, ya know?

1. You've become addicted to homework. It's not that you are a stickler for doing it but you are a stickler for doing it at a certain time. Right after we get home from school is your favorite choice and you are NOT a fan of doing it after dinner. I'm just glad you like to do homework, since I know that will change in s few years.

2. You continue to love your sister more than anyone would have ever expected. You even share your toys with her and put on little shows for her entertainment. Unfortunately, she's starting to grow weary of you lol. You exhaust her a little bit. You'll get it someday.

3. You've become a coupon divo. You know that coupons get us lots and lots of cereal, popcorn, soy milk and unlimited bananas(not really on the last one). So, of course whenever mom takes you to the store, you ask where the coupons are and if I paid yet. He's also a stickler about paying for things at the store. Square.

4. You inherited your mother's human stick figure dilemma, but you've also inherited your father's issue of growing like a weed. This means it's becoming harder to keep you in clothes that fit. Thank goodness for the stockpile of clothes we have for you, and the consignment shops in the area. Honey, I blew up the kid. Indeed.

5. You're reading. By yourself. I cry almost every time you do it. There was a time when I thought you would never get to this point. To see you quiet in your chair, reading "Are you my Mother" makes my heart super happy.

6. My job title is something that constantly boggles your mind. It may be because every time you aak me what my job is, the answer changes. Sorry kid, mom has many different jobs. Yup, cooking is my job. Yes, getting you from school is my job. Yes, working on the bombs is my job. So when I say I'm busy, I'm not lying. I promise.

7. School house rock and powerpufg girls are your new favorite things to watch. This is how I know you are my child. I really needed someone to sing "conjunction junction" and "zero the hero with.

8. As you get closer to the ripe old age of 6, I realize I love you in a totally different way than when you were 6 months, or even 3 years old. While it is different, it's definitely increased. It's going to break my heart when you turn 18 and move away. Ow, achy heart! Calm down!

9. Sneakers are becoming a "thing" for you. Sorry, I gave you that vice. We'll adjust the budget accordingly.

10. According to you, Dad and I are your best friends. Thump thump. There goes my heart again.

ShopRite Deals 4/10 to 4/16

Friendship sour cream- .99
use .55/1 printable coupon doubled- FREE

Yakisoba noodles- .49
use 1.00/2 coupon from 3/14SS- 2 FREE

Win 50.00 for VistaPrint!

There are only a select few web stores that I obsess over, and I have to say, VistaPrint is definitely one of them. 

Extreme couponing: yo-yo coupon policies

So, Extreme couponing, the series, premiered on Wednesday and I'd have to say, the entertainment factor was off the charts. Seeing someone get 5 carts of grocery stuffs for 6 bucks, is nothing but astounding. How could you not love the drama of bringing a 600 dollar tab down to nothing?

The life of a scrabble junkie

Hello, my name is 4 Hats and I'm addicted to scrabble.

There are many wonderful games out that that I just love to play; like Uno, poker, twister, heck, even scattegories is a good one. But, the end all and be all for me is scrabble.

Caramel Corn

In honor of the Ultimate Blog Party going on over at 5 Minutes for Mom, I wanted to contribute yet another fun but frugal party munchie! This one we've made every once in a while for a few years, whenever I'm able to get popping corn on sale for cheap. It's a great accompaniment to my chocolate popcorn recipe. I found that actually popping corn kernels for this recipe works best, unless you find an unflavored microwave popcorn. It's a good amount of microwaving, but an easy (and cleaner) to make your own caramel corn. Add in a some nuts to give it a Cracker Jack feel.

Winners of the amazon gift cards!

We didn't get to 500 likes, but that's OK! That just means I still have prizes to give away once we do :o).

Thanks to all that did like the facebook page, told friends about it, and had those friends tell their friends. I'm still shocked at all the love I get from my readers and I appreciate you all more than you'll ever know.

Now onto the winners. All winners were picked through Random.org:

The winner of the 25.00 amazon gift card is: Marty De!
The winner of the 10.00 amazon gift card is: Emily G !
The winner of the 5.00 amazon gift card is: Lauren B!

Congratulations to all of the winners! Please contact me through my facebook page with your e-mail address so I can send you your prize. All winners have 48 hours from today to contact me. If they fail to contact me within that time period, new winners will be selected.

Those that didn't win, don't fret! I'll be picking my ultimate fan winners this week, and check out the giveaways I have coming up for this month:

25.00 AMC theaters gift card
25.00 Walmart gift card
50.00 gift certificate for Vistaprint

Thanks for entering, thanks for liking me on facebook, and thanks for being so great!

ShopRite Deals 4/3 to 4/9

International Delights creamer- .99
use .55/1 printable coupon doubled- FREE

Frigo string cheese individual packets- .33
use .50/1 printable coupon- FREE