10 Things I'm looking forward to this weekend

Since it's been a crappy few weeks, I decided that I'm making myself list 10 things that I can't wait to experience this weekend. Take that, grumpy me!

1. My Sister's 16th birthday. Like most teenagers, my sister can be a bit of a pill, but every year since she became a teen, I get excited about her birthdays. I know that it's one more year closer to her not being a teen anymore and possibly getting her right mind back. Plus, I love to put together great gifts for her. I'm that sister that gives awesome, unexpected gifts. Like brownies with mint icing, or a cool handbag. Word.

2. Playing dominoes with my husband. We tried to do this a few weeks ago, but the kids got in the way that weekend. This weekend, we don't have much planned, so Friday night will be pizza and dominoes night. We always have a great time when we play each other at any game, but dominoes is the most fun.

3. I'm finally taking the kids to get their brother/sister portraits done. Because it hasn't been in the budget, we haven't been able to do this yet. There was an awesome Groupon out for JCPenney 200 dollar portrait package for only 40 bucks. I jumped on that one! Plus, the dress that I put Duchess in for her baby shower still fits her! Sonny has a green button down shirt and tie that matches the dress, so no need to even buy new outfits. I just hope they stay in a good mood during the session.

4. I get to bake bread again! Its finally getting cooler, so I can start baking our sandwich bread again. I told Sonny that I was going to bake special wheat bread for his school sandwiches and his little face lit up. I might even make a few loaves of other types and take it to my Mom's house on Sunday.

5. Since it's my sister's birthday this weekend, we're having a big party at my Parents' house on Sunday. I'm excited about this because I get to see most of my extended family. Since I'm counting down the weeks before I leave, I really want to spend as much time with friends and family as possible. Because of that, we have lots of events and family gatherings planned up until Thanksgiving. This weekend kicks off the busy schedule.

6. Speaking of schedules, we get to go over our fiscal year planning this weekend! Since we both have government jobs, we tend to plan our years around the start of October, which is when the fiscal year starts in military and government jobs. We're going to plan out all the family events, vacations, school events, etc this weekend with a free calender I got at ShopRite to celebrate The Jewish New Year. I love doing this because I can have a visual of how the year will be for us, busy or calm. I might even color code it this year!

7. Since I'm going to have the oven on the bake the bread, I'm going to bake some school snacks for Sonny. I have a stockpile of snacks, but I'd like to keep those there for Hubby to use when I'm gone and he has to pack Sonny's lunch. It's been a while since I've baked his snacks for lunch, so this should be fun. I'm going to check my snack recipes on here and see what tickles my fancy.

8. I get to start running this weekend. I LOATHE running. I just can't do it properly and it sucks because I have to run in my physical fitness test for the military. They used to not base a lot on the run and I would pass on my weight, push ups and sit ups, but they changed the test. If I don't pass the run, I don't pass. So....I have 3 weeks to learn how to run. I'm looking forward to the time alone listening to my music and trying to catch my breath.

9. We get to go to church this weekend. I know this may sound strange, but we haven't been in over a month due to military duty and other family commitments on Sunday. Religion aside, I just love the fellowship at my church. It's full of friendly, funny, people and I need to be around people like that right now. Plus, my church rocks. Literally. They have a band and everything!

10. I'm in the running for 100,000! A great online buddy of mine(Hi Sue!) told me about this contest over on Cheap Sally called Bring Home the Bacon. They are going to staff a blogger to write a few times a week about the best deals they've seen online. The part is that you'll get paid a $100,000 salary! I'm just a small fish but I think it would be awesome if a frugal blogger won this and I'm hoping it will be me. I plan on telling all of my family about it on Sunday to get some votes. I'd love your vote too! Click here and just click VOTE. You can vote once a day, so please feel free to bookmark my page and give me a vote everyday. I would love you forever if you do!

"I don't care"

How unfortunate is it to just not care? When the day to day life has gotten your mind and body to the point of detaching, is it acceptable to do so?

The idea of perfection is something all women, especially mothers, attain to. The clean house, the perfect budget, happy kids(or pets), and providing a comfortable lifestyle for yourself and your family. We strive to create an oasis of good in our own lives and the lives of others. But what happens when we just let go of that motivation?

Lately, I've been stuck in a place of "I don't care."

I don't care if the house is a mess.
I don't care if dinner isn't as good as I used to make it.
I don't care if I wear the same outfit 3 days in a row.
I don't care if my polish is chipping and the neighbors see it on my fingers at the bus stop.
I don't care if I can't convince my son to take something other than peanut butter and jelly for lunch.
I don't care if I've had a ponytail in my hair for the past 2 weeks.
I don't care if my blog posts are lacking.
I don't care if I haven't had a real workout in over a month.
I don't' care that most of my inspiration lately has come from twitter links.
I don't care that some days, I just want to hit the snooze and pull the covers back over my head.
I don't care.

I know this is a dangerous way to think, but it's what happening in my life at the moment. If my house was a multimillion dollar company, stocks would be plummeting right now. The amazing part is that I know I need to care. Eventually, life won't let me just stay in auto-pilot. Plus, above all things, I'm still a woman, and perfection is knocking at my unkempt front door.

Meal Plan Monday!

Monday: Roasted Chicken breasts(on the bone) with roasted potatoes, onions and steamed carrots
Tuesday: Onion and Potato fritatta with side salad
Wednesday: vegan cream of broccoli soup(new recipe coming soon!)
Thursday: Chicken fried rice with egg drop soup and side salad
Friday: Pizza night!
Saturday: Dinner out using a gift card I earned and a coupon that came in the mail(meal should be free)
Sunday: Birthday Dinner for my little sister! We'll be eating at my parents' house

ShopRite Deals 9/25 to 10/1

Wheaties cereal- 1.99
use 1.00/1 printable coupon- .99
use .75/1 printable coupon doubled- .49
and use .75/1 wheaties cellfire coupon- FREE to .24

Pillsbury brownie mix- .88
use 1.00/2 coupon from 6/12RP- .38
use .40/1 coupon from 6/12RP doubled- .08

9Lives canned cat food 4pack- 4 for 6.00(must buy 4, limit 4 offers)
buy 16 packs, use four 1.00/3 coupons from 9/25RP- 1.25 each
also,if you buy 16 packs, you'll get back 12.00 in catalinas- .50 a pack or .12 a can!

Campbell's chicken noodle soup- 5 for 3.00(must buy 5)
use .40/4 coupon from 9/11SS doubled-.44 each
use two .40/2 coupons from 9/11SS doubled- .28 each

Slow cooker Applesauce

It's apple time again! I think this is one of the best parts about Autumn; apples are all over the place and you can't help but grab up a few, or a peck of them. I used to think a peck of apples was something a crazy person bought, until I cooked up a peck in many different recipes a few years ago. Oh yeah, I finished up the peck and posted another list of apple recipes too. So, now it's time for my favorite EASY apple recipe: applesauce! My recipe is super simple, no bells and whistles or additives. It's basically straight apples and everyone that's had it loves it. It's perfect if you don't want your family hopped up on sugar, since it doesn't' contain any.

5 apples cored and cut into small cubes*
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon(optional)

Place water and lemon juice(or vinegar) in the bottom of the slow cooker insert.
Place the cubed apples and cinnamon in the insert and stir until the liquid is over all of the cubes.
Put on lid and turn slow cooker to high. Cook for 3 to 4 hours or until you can't take smell the aroma anymore without tasting.
Once done, take a potato masher and mash the apples until they turn into a sauce. For a finer consistency, use a fork to smash the apples.
Serve warm, cold, mixed with plain Greek yogurt, hot over ice cream, etc.

*I used fuji, eastern or gala, and maybe one granny smith added for tartness

If you liked this recipe, check out my recipe for Apple Cinnamon Brown Betty.

Wordless Wednesday- Nudist at Play

Almost every day she takes her diaper off and does this. Time for potty training?

Meal Plan Monday(or Tuesday....)

I don't know what's going on with me this week, but the motivation is lacking! I realized around noon yesterday that I didn't have any meals planned for the week. Luckily, I had a frozen dinner in the freezer to bide us over for Monday, but I had to put my tail in gear today and figure out some other meals. Here's what I have in mind:

Monday: Frozen family size salisbury steak dinner, with mashed potatoes and some sauteed peppers and onions
Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner; pancakes, turkey bacon, eggs and grapes
Wednesday: Cream of broccoli soup with yeast pan bread
Thursday: Baked Chicken breasts with carrot "spaghetti" and brown rice
Friday: Pizza night!
Saturday and Sunday: Mama's off to serve our country, so it's leftovers for the rest of the family

ShopRite Deals 9/18 to 9/24

Looks like it's going to be a slow week. Most of the deals are repeats from last week, but there are a few new ones in there. Hope you all have a pleasant week!

Kikkoman soy sauce- 1.00
use .55/1 coupon from 5/15SS doubled- FREE
use 1.00/1 printable coupon- FREE

Kikkoman panko bread crumbs- .99
use 1.00/1 printable coupon- FREE

Kikkoman stir fry mix- 2 for 1.00(must buy 2)
use 1.00/1 printable coupon- FREE

Kikkoman tempura mix- .99
use 1.00/1 printable coupon- FREE

Marcal small steps face tissues- .99
use 1.00/1 coupon from 8/28RP- FREE

Campbell's tomato or chicken noodle soup- 5 for 3.00(must buy 5)
Buy 15, use four .40/3 printable coupons doubled- .33 each

Pinball's post

I sometimes feel like my little kitty is kind of the step-child on this blog. Unlike the other kids, he only gets posts dedicated to him once in a blue moon. My poor furry baby. Why is he treated so? I have no idea. I think it may be because he hardly makes a sound unless he's hungry, and his siblings make a point of making as much noise as possible. Well, today, our kitty boy takes center stage. Here are a few facts about our favorite child with fur:

Strange Stockpiles

I do love maintaing a stockpile. It saves us so much time and saves me so much energy. But sometimes I do catch myself stockpiling some of the strangest things. They are usually things that we do use quite a bit, but to the eye of another stockpiler, they may seem quite peculiar.

Take a look at my current stockpile of almond and coconut milk. There was a great deal at one of my local stores that made each carton a little over a dollar after coupons and rolled catalinas. For us, that is a stockpile-worthy price since this is all that Sonny can drink and use with his cereal. Since school has started, I know this stockpile will dwindle way before any of it expires but I know I don't have to buy it anymore until it does run out. Plus, we don't have anymore room in the fridge for more!

Now to another stockpiler, they may see it as a "cool" stockpile but would never think to ever use up their "real estate" for alternative milks. Hence, they would see it as strange. It's a staple here, but definitely not in all houses. It's the same way I look at others' stockpile of paper towels. We don't use them anymore, but I still look in awe at the big stockpiles of them for households that utilize paper towels. I wouldn't have any idea where I would keep a stockpile like that if I was ever able to grow one. It's all relative.

Do any of you stockpile something that others might see as strange, but your household can't live without?

Meal Plan Monday!

It's rubber chicken week! I love when we can roast a chicken and get it in all of our meals all week. It saves me so much time and headache. It's also going to be Sonny's first full week of school, so it's time to start making him some after school snacks. This is what I have in mind for this week:

Monday: Roasted chicken with roasted carrots and brown rice
Tuesday: Teriyaki Chicken fried rice with side salad
Wednesday: Turkey Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and broccoli
Thursday: Matzo ball soup with mini homemade rolls
Friday: Pizza night! Topped with chicken, peppers, and onions
Saturday: Leftovers night! Mom and Dad will be off to Philly for the night, so a quick meal is needed
Sunday: Dinner at my Parents' house. I may make enchilada bake with chicken and take it over there

Dessert of the week: Banana pudding (if we have bananas left by mid week)
Snack of the week: Apple chips

ShopRite Deals 9/11 to 9/17

Kikkoman soy sauce- 1.00
use 1.00/1 printable coupon- FREE

Kikkoman bread crumbs- .99
use 1.00/1 printable coupon- FREE

Kikkoman stir fry mix- 2 for 1.00(must buy 2)
use 1.00/1 printable coupon- FREE

Kikkoman tempura mix- .99
use 1.00/1 printable coupon- FREE

Chore boy sponges- 1.25
use .55/1 printable coupon doubled- .15

Ragu pasta sauce- .99
use .75/2 coupon from 9/11RP doubled- .24 each

10 Things I've learned this week

Every once in a while I have a week where I learn so many new things and I get so excited to share them with you all. So, from now on, whenever one of those weeks arise, I'll do a Friday post listing the great and not-so-great life lessons from the past seven days.

1. Just when I thought Extreme Couponing was over and done with, I found out there is another season in the works. And now there is a show called High Stakes Sweepers, which documents those obessed with entering contests and sweepstakes. Help me, Rhonda.

2. The excitement of getting your child ready for the first day of school, and first time on the bus, will fade as soon as they wave to you from the bus window. I'm proud that I didn't cry, but I missed the bugger all day and so did his sister. I just might pull my hair out when I have to leave him for 3 to 6 months.

3. Yeah, I'm off to fight the war. For serious. This is something I "learned" for sure this week and it hasn't sent our world upside down just yet. That other shoe is dangling though and I don't know what's going to happen when it drops.

4. Just when I see my pantry and freezer becoming empty, a great sale, or two or three, pops up and refills it to the brim. I don't know why I continue to learn this life lesson but I do. Anything empty nowadays makes me antsy, mostly because of the economy and the latest treatment we couponers have endured because of the show mentioned in lesson number 1.

5. People and companies will continue to surprise you, in a good or bad way. I've won some pretty awesome things lately just for following companies on twitter and facebook and yet I've been treated poorly by a company who owed me a 50.00 prize over 2 months ago. You would think that they would recognize the effect of "word of mouth" has been for companies in the past few years and work harder to actually honor their word. Guess not. I'm dying to know how this will pan out.

6. Men do think and have feelings. Heck, they may even sit you down and have a talk about those feelings without you asking them to. It's rare, but it does happen. And I like it.

7. A "kiss" from a cat is almost as good as a peek at heaven. For some reason, my kitty boo has been giving me lots of kisses lately. I think he senses that Mom is about to lose her sh!t in the next few weeks from thinking about all that is going on. He's my favorite furry baby.

8. Unless you say something, no one's going to know about what you do with your time and how you live your life. This became clear to me when I was recently talking with my Mother and she talked about starting a blog. Well, she talked to me about starting "a thing called a blog" like I didn't know what it was and haven't been blogging for 4 years. I realized that I never officially told her about my blogging! Or at least I don't think I did. That was indeed an A-ha moment.

9. I've haven't taken enough advantage of the friends that live near me; before you know it, they may be moving far away from you.  One of my good friends, and the Duchess's GodMother, is moving halfway across the country in a few months. We've done a good job of hanging out and keeping up with each other, but, at least for me, it's never been enough. I don't have a quantity of friends, but I have quality friends, and knowing that one of my best ones won't be around to see whenever I want will be hard. It does give Duchess and I a reason to travel to see her, but my heart still aches at the fact that she won't be two towns over.

10. 9/11 is still changing my life. Besides the fact that the day we won't forget caused my world to turn upside down, it's still causing a ruckus. I'm so proud to serve my country, but I'm so angry that not only me but other people that I care about have to put their lives on the line. Upset that we have to cause our family to worry sick about us and our safety while we are gone. Pissed that we still don't know when we will be able to bring all the troops home. Life isn't fair, I guess, but life's events sometimes deserve a swift kick in the nuts. I have to admit, the anger does get me fired up to fight the good fight. Never Forget....

I'm all over the place today!

Well, I'm actually the guest blogger over at the wonderful James and Jax blog today! I'm really excited this guest post since I love that blog and love talking to James on twitter. She's a fantastic woman and her posts show it. Run on over there and check it out.

Also, I have yet another post up on the Live Better Baby Blog. A big thanks to A&P/Pathmark/Superfresh family for giving me the opportunity to blog there. It's been so much fun and I can't wait to continue.

Lastly, did you all know that I'm trying to bring home the bacon? I'm entered into the Cheap Sally Bring Home the Bacon contest and could win a 100,000 blogging career! Can you imagine? A frugal blogger getting to blog about frugality and getting paid for it! I'd love for you all to vote for me. You can vote daily, so please bookmark the page and click for me everyday.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support. I love each and every one of you dearly!

Where is Autumn?

I have to say, I can't wait for autumn this year. Summer was a bit of a bust, and having a whole new season to start fresh will be just about awesome.

It didn't help that it rained up a storm, literally, most of the summer here in New Jersey, so most of our staycations that we had planned didn't come to fruition. It also didn't help that we had to sign a new lease for our place and realized that we'll need to bring in more money by the time Fall starts officially. Oh, and that I found out I'll be deploying before the end of the year. Yup, summer needs to be over immediately.

Autumn brings some of my favorite sales as well, mostly at the grocery store. Roasts, whole chickens, baking goods, heaven! This is the time of the year where we love to entertain as well; friends are calming down from their summer trips around the world and look forward to a home cooked meal. We can bust out the sweaters and long sleeves, wellies, and light jackets. It's just a fun time.

This year, Sonny starts 1st grade. We'll get back into a wonderful schedule, and maybe even a weekend one with some soccer or karate thrown into the mix. He also gets to take the bus to school this year, which will save us crazy gas money, and of course, my sanity. He'll be on a schedule at school, and I can put Duchess on a schedule at home, without her brother interjecting all day.


Did you all enjoy summer? Are you looking forward to Fall?

ShopRite Deals 9/4 to 9/10

New to 4 Hats and Frugal match ups? Check out the ShopRite match up information page.
Don't forget to bookmark the ShopRite Deals page for an updated list of the ongoing deals this coming week!

Hatfield hot dogs- 1.00

use 1.00/1 facebook coupon- FREE

use 1.00/1 printable coupon- FREE

Crest toothpaste(look for 33% more tubes)- .88

use 1.00/1 coupon from 8/28PG- FREE

Beech nut baby food stage 2- 10 for 4.70(must buy 10)

use three 1.00/3 printable coupons- .17

and get 1.00 back from SavingStar- .07 each after coupons and rebate

Totinos party pizza- .99

buy 4, use two .50/2 coupons from 8/7GM doubled- .49 each

and use 1.00/4 cellfire e-coupon- .24 each

Yoplait greek yogurt- 1.00

use .50/2 coupon from 8/14SS doubled- .50 each

use .50/2 printable coupon doubled- .50 each

and use .50/2 cellfire e-coupon- .25 each

Banana sandwiches

With back to school time in full swing, I figured it was time to share yet another quick and easy after-school snack I put together for Sonny. Bananas seem to always be available and at a great price all year 'round, so this would be easy to put together anytime.  Also, these are awesome frozen! They make a yummy snack for summer as well.

Banana sandwiches

1 banana, sliced into 8 rounds
16 small cookies or crackers(think chips ahoy or ritz)
1/2 cup chopped nuts or sprinkles(optional)

Place a banana round in between two cookies(or crackers).
Roll the banana section in the chopped nuts or sprinkles(optional).
Freeze for at least 1 hour or eat immediately. Your choice!