My Shopping Day~03/31/2014

Normally first of the month shopping trips are huge.  A quick survey of our freezer and pantry, I discovered a lot going on in there:)  I was able to make a menu plan for the first week basically with what we already had on hand.  Meaning our shopping day was short and sweet:)

Here are the details of our shopping trip:

Walgreens- we went Saturday evening while milk was still on sale
$6.98- 2 Gallons skim milk

Save A Lot
$6.98- 2 Gallons skim milk
$0.50- Tomato
$7.48- Total

BJ's
$1.59- Bananas
$2.78- Lettuce
$4.37- Total

Dollar Tree
$3.00- 3 boxes tissues
$1.00- Wax Paper
$4.00- 4 packages of toilet paper
$8.48- Total after tax

Walmart
$5.92- White Wheat Flour
$0.96- Marshmallows
$2.38- Spinach
$2.28- Pork Sausage
$2.22- Chopped Onions
$0.74- Parsley
$1.28- Onion Powder
$2.48- Creamer
$1.98- Cinnamon Applesauce
$1.76- Flour
$3.88- Avocados
$11.84- 2 Whole Chickens
$37.72- Total

Farmer Market
$4.00- Cherry tomatoes
$1.00- 2 Green Peppers

Blue Star Farm
$8.00- 2 dozen Organic eggs


This shopping trip has been added to our April Monthly Spending post, where I keep track of what we spend for the month of April.

Menu Plan for the week of 03/31/2014

I cannot believe it will be April tomorrow.  Where is this year going?  It needs to slow down a bit.  This year keep flying by and my boys continue to grow up :(  They just won't stop :)

We  hope that you all had a fabulous weekend.  We did nothing.  We were supposed to go to a church picnic but it rained and rained and rained some more.  Thankfully with all the rain, I didn't have to go out and water my garden.  It was done for me :)  And since the county came out and fixed our drain pipes, we didn't have another flood :)

Here is our menu plan for this week:

Breakfast
Pancakes X2
Baked Oatmeal X2
Gluten Free Oatmeal Spice Muffins
Oatmeal with raisins and honey
Fruity Spinach Smoothie

Lunch- Our usual
Salad with homemade ranch dressing and a banana for me and hubby
Sandwich with homemade bread, carrots and peanuts for everyone else

Dinner
Chicken Nuggets, Mac & Cheese and green beans
Lentil loaf with mashed potatoes and peas
Alfredo pasta with green beans and rolls
Spaghetti with peas and garlic bread
Chicken Noodle Soup and grilled cheese with fruit
Sausage Gravy over biscuits and eggs with fruit
Baked Chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans

Snacks
Carrots sticks
Ants on a log
Peach Crisp using this Apple Crisp recipe
Peanuts
Popcorn
Chocolate Oatmeal no bake bars
Homemade Energy Bites 

What do you have planned on your menu plan for this week?  Post below, I would love to read all about it :)

Walgreens deals for the week of 03/30/2014

Things to keep in mind when shopping at Walgreens:
1) You must have as many items as manufacture's coupons
2) Register Rewards (RR) are considered manufacture's coupons
3) You are allowed 1 manufacture's coupon and 1 store coupon per item
4) When redeeming a Register Rewards against the same offer may not receive another RR
5) 2 coupons can be used with Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Sales :)

Check out Walgreens Coupon Policy here:)

Walgreens has rolled out a program called Balance Rewards. You earn points you can later redeem. Click here to read more about this program.

Mars candy- $0.59- Limit 6

Puffs- $0.99

Dozen eggs or Butterball turkey bacon- $1.29

Post cereal- $1.99
$1 Post Great Grains Vanilla Graham or Berry Medley cpn- 03/09 SS
$1 Post Poppin Pebbles cpn- 02/23 SS
$1/2 Post Pebbles cpn- 02/23 SS 

Gold Medal Flour- $1.79 with in ad cpn- Limit 3

Gatorade- $6/6 with in ad cpn- Limit 6 and get 1000 points

Hunts tomato sauce or Butterball Chicken Broth- $1/2 with in ad cpn- Limit 6

Wrigleys, Extra or Trident- $0.69 with in ad cpn- Limit 3

Jif or Smuckers Strawberry- $4/2 with in ad cpn- Limit 4

Ragu pasta sauce or Good & Delish Organic pasta- $3/2 with in ad cpn- Limit 4
$1/2 Ragu cpn- 03/09 RP

Brandywine mushrooms or Nice Mandarin oranges- $0.69 with in ad cpn- Limit 10

Scrubbing Bubbles, Fantastik, Windex or Shout- $6/2 and get 1000 points
$1/2 Scrubbing Bubbles toilet cpn- 03/16 SS
$2/2Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaner cpn- 03/16 SS
$0.75 Scrubbing Bubbles all purpose with Fantastik cpn- 03/16 SS
$1 Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cpn- 02/23 SS
$1/2 Windex cpn- 03/16 SS
$1/2 Shout cpn- 03/16 SS 

Glade spray air fresheners- $6/2 and get 1000 points
$1.50/2 Glade Spring collection cpn- 03/16 SS
$0.55 Glade Premium room spray cpn- 03/16 SS
$1.25/2 Glade Premium room spray cpn- 03/09 SS
$0.55 Glade Premium room spray cpn- 03/09 SS 

Sun detergent- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE

Easter Eggs Mega or Jumbo kit- $7.99 and get 2000 points

Paas egg kit or Egg Dye cups- $1.99 and get 2000 points when you buy 2

Suave or Dove hair- $6/2 and get 2000 points
$1/2 Suave Men hair cpn- 03/23 RP
$0.50/2 Suave Naturals hair cpn- 03/09 RP
$1 Suave kids hair cpn- 03/09 RP
$1.50 Dove Men Care hair cpn- 03/23 RP
$1.50 Dove hair cpn- 03/23 RP
$2 Dove Advanced hair cpn- 03/23 RP 

Clairol Nice & Easy or Root Touch Up- $5.99 and get 500 points
$3/2 Clairol box hair color cpn- 03/30 P&G
$1 Clairol box hair color cpn- 03/30 P&G
$3 Clairol Age Defy, Perfect 10 or Nice & Easy cpn- 03/30 P&G
$3 Clairol Age Defy, Perfect 10 or Nice & Easy cpn- 03/09 SS

Old Spice or Herbal Essence bodywash- $7/2 and get 1000 points
$2/2 Old Spice cpn- 03/30 P&G
$0.50 Old Spice bodywash or bar cpn- 03/30 P&G
$1/2 Old Spice cpn- 03/02 P&G- EXPIRES 03/31
$1 Herbal Essence bodywash cpn- 03/30 P&G
$0.75 Herbal Essence bodywash cpn- 03/02 P&G- EXPIRES 03/31 


Gillette body razor or Mach 3 razor- $7.99 or Mach 3 Sensitive, Fusion ProGlide, Fusion or Venus razor- $9.99 and get $2 RR
$3 Gillette body razor cpn-03/31 P&G
$2 Gillette body razor cpn- 03/02 P&G- EXPIRES 03/31
$3 Mach 3 razor cpn- 03/09 RP
$2 Mach 3 razor cpn- 03/02 P&G- EXPIRES 03/31
$4 Fusion Family razor cpn- 03/30 P&G
$3 Fusion ProGlide razor cpn- 03/02 P&G- EXPIRES 03/31
$4 Venus razor cpn- 03/30 P&G
$3 Venus razor cpn- 03/02 P&G- EXPIRES 03/31
$4 Venus razor cpn- 02/09 RP- EXPIRES 03/31 

Listerine- $4.99 and get 1000 points
$1 Listerine mouthwash cpn- 03/09 RP

Zest bar- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE
$0.50 Zest bar cpn- 03/30 SS

Accu Check Glucose monitor- $14.99 and get 5000 points

Zima Max freeze or Arnica Max- $6.99 and get $4 RR

Walgreens batteries- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE and get 1000 points

Dawn- $0.99 with in ad cpn- Limit 3
$0.25 Dawn cpn- 03/02 P&G- EXPIRES 03/31

Arizona tea or drink- $1/2 with in ad cpn- Limit 4

CVS deals for the week of 03/30/2014

Don't forget to....
1) Go to cvs.com/email and sign up for the ExtraCare email and receive a $4/20 cpn
2) Stop by the Red ExtraCare coupon center and get CVS cpns
3) You can use a manufacturer's cpn along with a CVS cpn
4) You can use a B1G1Free cpn along with a B1G1Free sale to get both products for FREE

To view CVS Coupon Policy- click here:)

Dawn or Puffs- $0.99
$0.25 Dawn cpn- 03/02 P&G- EXPIRES 03/31

M&M's Mega, Birthday Cake or Mars Chocolate singles- $0.99
Use $0.74 CVS Coupon Center cpn

Hershey Easter kisses, eggs, minis or Cadbury minis- $5/2 and get $1 ECB
$2/3 Whoppers, Hershey kisses, Reese's, minis, eggs, Cadbury or Jolly Ranchers cpn- 02/23 SS

Spend $15 on American Greetings and get $3 ECB

Xtra laundry detergent- $2

Renuzit adjustables or Total Home tissues- $0.88
Buy 2 Get 1 FREE Renuzit Adjustables cpn- 03/16 RP- EXPIRES 03/30

Buy 2 Sally Hansen cosmetics at $3.99+ and get $3 ECB

Spend $10 on Maybelline eye and get $3 ECB
$1 Maybelline mascara cpn- 03/02 RP

Physicians Formula foundation, powder or blush- $9.99 and get $2 ECB

Spend $12 on Loreal cosmetics and get $4 ECB
$2 Loreal eye cpn- 03/23 RP
$3 Loreal Butterfly mascara cpn- 03/23 RP
$2 Loreal face cosmetic cpn- 03/16 RP
$2 Loreal face cosmetic cpn- 02/16 RP 

Spend $10 on Softsoap bodywash or liquid hand soap and get $3 ECB

Buy 2 Loreal hair color and get $4 ECB
$2 Loreal hair color cpn- 03/16 RP
$5/2 Loreal hair color cpn- 03/16 RP
$2 Loreal hair color cpn- 02/16 RP
$5/2 Loreal hair color cpn- 02/16 RP 

Clairol Age Defy hair color- $8.99
$3/2 Clairol box hair color cpn- 03/30 P&G
$1 Clairol box hair color cpn- 03/30 P&G
$3 Clairol Age Defy, Perfect 10 or Nice & Easy cpn- 03/30 P&G
$3 Clairol Age Defy, Perfect 10 or Nice & Easy cpn- 03/09 SS

Gillette Venus- $9.99 and get $2 ECB
$4 Venus razor cpn- 03/30 P&G
$3 Venus razor cpn- 03/02 P&G- EXPIRES 03/31
$4 Venus razor cpn- 02/09 RP- EXPIRES 03/31 

Spend $10 on Crest ProHealth, Oral B and Crest Glide floss and get $5 ECB- Limit 2
$0.50 Oral B Glide floss, floss picks or Crest toothpaste cpn- 03/30 P&G
$1/2 Oral B Glide floss, floss picks or Crest toothpaste cpn- 03/30 P&G
$3/2 Oral B Glide floss, floss picks or Crest toothpaste cpn- 03/30 P&G
$0.75 Crest toothpaste cpn- 03/02 P&G

Oral B Stain erasing toothbrush & Crest 3D White strips value pack- $9.99 and get $4 ECB- Limit 2

Crest Sensi Relief- $4.99 and get $1 ECB- Limit 2
$0.50 Oral B Glide floss, floss picks or Crest toothpaste cpn- 03/30 P&G
$1/2 Oral B Glide floss, floss picks or Crest toothpaste cpn- 03/30 P&G
$3/2 Oral B Glide floss, floss picks or Crest toothpaste cpn- 03/30 P&G
$0.75 Crest toothpaste cpn- 03/02 P&G- EXPIRES 03/31 
$1 Crest Sensi Relief toothpaste cpn- 03/02 P&G- EXPIRES 03/31

Oral B Cross Action power toothbrush or refill- $5.99 and get $2 ECB- Limit 2
$3 Oral B Adult battery toothbrush or 3D White Action Recharge toothbrush cpn- 03/30 P&G

Listerine Orginal, Cool Mint, Fresh Burst, Zero or Pocket paks- $7.98/2 and get $2 ECB- Limit 2
$1 Listerine mouthwash cpn- 03/09 RP

Spend $20 on Excedrin and get $10 ECB
$1.50 Excedrin cpn- 02/23 SS

Buy Aleve, Nexcare tape or Futuro and get $5 ECB
$1 Aleve cpn- 03/16 SS
$1 Aleve cpn- 02\16 SS
$2/2 Aleve cpn- 02/16 SS
$3/3 Aleve cpn- 02/16 SS 

February 2014 Monthly Project

In January, we did a massive freezer cooking day.  It was a hit and I loved being able to just dump the contents of the zipper bag into the crockpot, turn the crockpot on and walk away.  Hours later, dinner was ready to serve.

I was curious to know if you could make and bake bread in the crockpot.  I used the Swagbucks search engine to look up the answer.  To my surprise, why yes you can cook bread in the crockpot.  I found and followed a recipe from Busy Moms Menu Plan. 

I got the ingredients in order and off to work we went:

I put 1 Tbsp of Yeast, 2 Tbsp Sugar, 1/4 tsp salt and 1 1/2C Wheat White Flour in my food processor and processed it for 1 minute.

I then added 1 Tbsp Oil and 1/2C boiling water.  I hit the dough button and let it do its thing.

When the dough started clumping up, I took it out and formed it into a ball:

I let it rise 1 hour in my unheated oven.

I placed the dough on top of parchment paper in my crockpot.  Turned the crockpot on low for 1 1/2 hours.

This is what we got after 1.5 hours in the crockpot.  I sliced it up and served it with our Lasagna Casserole dinner this evening.

The opinions in my family.  The boys all loved it, they said it tasted great.  Michael and I not so much.  It was very heavy and didn't look cooked all the way through.  So, I don't think we will be making this any time soon.  I will stick to making 1 hour rolls :)

**Affiliate links included**

Purex Crystals Review & Giveaway

I was super excited when chosen to test out Purex's Newest Crystals.  We really enjoyed the last Purex Crystals, Fresh Mountain Breeze scent we tested out.

Make laundry day Fabulously Fresh with New Purex Crystals Limited Edition Fabulously Fresh.  New Purex Crystals Limited Edition Fabulously Fresh is the latest Purex Brand laundry enhancer bringing a fresh sensation to your laundry experience.  This limited edition bottle and scent will add a colorful escape to your laundry day.

New Purex Crystals keep clothes smelling Fabulously Fresh for weeks, not days.  It does not reduce the absorbency of towels and is safe for all loads, including children's sleepwear and athletic wear.

I am loving the cute colors of the new bottle.  The last scent I tested out we really enjoyed, well this one we love even more.  I am not big into strong floral scents and this is not a strong floral scent.  It smells light and airy kind of what you might imagine Spring might smell like if it had a smell :)  It is Fabulously Fresh :)

And the crystals are this cute neon green:

Want to see how Purex Crystals work for your laundry?

Purex has blessed me with 3 coupons good for a FREE bottle of Purex Crystals Limited Edition Fabulouly Fresh to give out to my wonderful readers.  Simply leave me a comment below and you will be entered to win 1 coupon.  This coupon giveaway will end on 11:59 EST on April 3, 2014.  I will use random.org to randomly select 3 lucky winners on April 4, 2014.

Before you go: To celebrate the release of New Purex Crystals Limited Edition Fabulously Fresh, you can enter for your chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree and a year's supply of Purex Crystals Limited Edition Fabulously Fresh for a new Spring wardrobe.  100 others will win a free bottle of Purex Crystals Limited Edition Fabulously Fresh.  Click on the above link to enter the sweepstakes.

**The Purex brand provided me a sample of Purex Crystals Fabulously Fresh in exchange for a product review.  However, all the opinions expressed here are my very own.**

My Shopping Day~ 03/23/2014

The last shopping day for the month of March.  I will be including the last 2 days of March in April's spending post.  Chris asked if I would be shopping at BJ's.  When I told him I was he proudly announced to the family that we would gladly go shopping with me :)  I didn't care for most of the free samples.  Chris, on the other hand, loved them all, even though the Hot Pocket burned the roof of his mouth :(

Here is are the details of our shopping trip:

Walgreens
$3.49- Gallon Skim Milk

Save A Lot
$6.98- (2) Gallons Skim Milk

BJ's
$1.49- Bananas
$2.58- Lettuce
$4.07- Total

CVS
$3.79- Listerine
$3.79- Listerine
$3.79- Den Tek flossers
$3.79- Den Tek flossers
$0.79- JTB Paper Towels
$15.95
-1.00 Listerine printable cpn
-4.00 ECB
-1.00 ECB
-0.79 JTB Paper Towel Coupon Center cpn
$9.16
-5.00 CVS gift card- Thank you Swagbucks :)
$5.01- Total with tax and got $5 in ECB's :)

Dollar Tree
$1.00- Hefty Slider bags
$1.00- Hefty Slider bags
$1.00- Hefty Slider bags
$1.00- Hefty Slider bags
$1.00- Zest soap
$1.00- Zest soap
6.00
-1/2 Hefty Slider printable cpn
-1/2 Hefty Slider printable cpn
-1.00 Zest printable cpn
-1.00 Zest printable cpn
$2.36- Total after tax

Farmer Market
$6.00- (15) Organic double yoke eggs

This shopping trip has been added to our March Monthly Spending post, where I keep track of what we spend for the month of March.  How did we do?  Did we make it or did we bust our grocery budget?  Hope on over here and find out :)