WE HAVE SNOW!!! Like 15" of it -- WAHOO!!!

Just wanted to share a few pictures of the snow we are getting here at the museum! Hope everyone is enjoying the weather and that you are staying nice and warm!

It's that time of year -- Donation Time!

I just wanted to let you see what I do with all of the stuff I get for free, but really don't need. It all gets donated to people who are even more disadvantaged than us. Just wanted to remind everyone that this is not the season to get the parking spot first, but it is a time when we should think and others and how we can make their day a little more special! I hope that every one is having fun getting ready for the holidays but make sure to take time for others and remember the 'reason for the season!'

Little Walgreen's Trip this week...

With the holidays coming the RR deals are getting few and far between, but I did get a few needed items...
1 Gillette Fusion Razor $8.99 - $4/1 MC - $4 RR = $1.99
1 Dulcolax $6.99 - $3/1 MC - $4 RR = FREE + $0.01 MM
2 Geisha Mushrooms $0.50 ea with in-ad C = $1/2
2 Campbell's Cream Soups $0.69 ea with in-ad C - $0.25/2 MC = $1.13/2
+ Tax $0.54
Total OOP: $2.43 + Earned $8 RR's for next week! A short, sweet and to the point trip!

Martin's Trip this Week!

I went to Martin's this week on Tuesday after work. I only got a few things this week, but I thought that the deals were worthwhile!
2 GG Steamers with Sauce 2/$4 - $0.33 ea Sale - $0.40/1 MC - $0.40 Double - $0.50/1 MC - $0.50 Double = $1.54/2
2 Hallmark Cards $0.99 ea - $0.10 ea Bonus Savings - BOGO Free Martin's C $0.89 = $0.89/2
5 Fresh Express Crouton Samples $1.67/5 (+ each 1 had a $0.55/1 MC on it that doesn't expire for another 3 or 4 years, when this coupon doubles and these are on sale = FREE Croutons!)
2 Friskies Cat Treats $1.29 ea - $0.10 ea Sale - $2/2 MC = $0.38/2
1 jug Apple Cider, not pictured because my husband is drinking it! Grrr... $3.69
+ Tax $0.20
Total OOP: $8.36 --Saved over 50%!

CVS Shopping Trip

Joe and I went into CVS on Tuesday to pick up a prescription and a FREE $25 gift card, and while we were there, I went ahead and picked up the ECB deals for the week.
2 Rolls of Sticker Christmas Tags $1.99 ea - $1.99 ECB ea = 2 FREE
2 -20 ct Tissue Papers $1.99 ea - $1.99 ECB ea = 2 FREE
2 - 12 ct Bows $2.99 ea - $2.99 ECB ea = 2 FREE
2 Gold Emblem Cashews $0.99 ea - $1/2 CVS C = $0.98/2
1 Heath Bar + 1 Reese's King $1.59 ea - BOGO Free CVS C (she actually deducted $1.79) = $1.39/2
1 Advil PM 4 ct $0.99 - ECB $0.99 = FREE
+ Tax $0.98
-$17.30 in ECB's used to pay
Total OOP: Put $0.98 on our CVS gift card + received $13.94 ECB's for next week!

Menu Plan Monday 12/14/09

This week's menu is going to remain simple, but tasty, as I have a LOT of baking to do for others, as well as for myself. It's going to be a very busy 11 days 'til Christmas!
Breakfasts: Cereal, Fruit, Yogurt, Bagels with Cream Cheese

Lunches: Ham and Cheese Sandwiches on little Potato Rolls with chips, leftovers, soup & crackers

Dinners:
Sunday - I cooked over the hearth at the Farm museum this weekend during the holiday tour they have. We ate a delicious meal of pork in sauerkraut with dumplings on top, homemade mashed potatoes, homemade chunky cinnamon applesauce & brownies with chocolate melted on top -- um, um good!
Monday - Taco Salad
Tuesday - Alfredo with Chicken, Broccoli and maybe Tomatoes with Garlic Bread
Wednesday - 2 1/2 year Wedding Anniversary! We're going out!
Thursday - Grilled Steak with Baked Potatoes & Broccoli and Cheese
Friday - Homemade Pizza - Might try a new recipe I found for Pizza Pancakes...
Saturday - Grilled Hot dogs & Velveeta with mini Corn on the Cob (from the freezer)

Hope that your menu plans look as delicious as mine does, I'm super excited to have some grilled food this week, and I know that Joe will enjoy doing the grilling, it's been quite a while... :-)

Rite-Aid Trip 12/13/09

Stopped into Rite-Aid today, and I will definitely be back later in the week for another P'rell Shampoo and possibly another Cover Girl item (Limit to both is 5!), plus they are having a sale on the bounty basic single rolls after coupon, they're only like $0.50 ea!!!
4 P'rell Shampoos $0.99 ea on Sale - $2 SCR x 4 = ALL FREE + $4.04 Profit!
2 Boxes Russell Stover Chocolates $3.99 ea on Sale = $7.98
4 Nivea Lip Care $2.99 ea - $2 SCR - BOGO Free MC x 2 = $3.98
1 Nivea Body Lotion $7.99 - Get 1 Free wyb 3 Nivea Lip care items $7.99 - SCR $1 = FREE + $1 Profit
1 Cover Girl Face Powder $4.99 - $3 SCR - $1/1 MC = $0.99
1 Chap stick Fresh Effects $2.99 - $2.99 SCR = FREE
+ Tax $2.31
- $5/$25 Purchase Rite-Aid C
Total OOP: $22.21 (Paid with Gift Card) - Expected Rebates $16.99 = $5.22

Saturday's Rite-Aid Stop

I stopped into Rite-Aid on Saturday to get a few single check rebate (SCR) items before the sale ended, unfortunately, they were out of most of what I had went for, but I still got a few good deals while I was there anyway...
2 Cookies and Cream Candies 2/$1 on Sale
2 - 4 pks Quilted Northern Double Roll TP $2.50 ea on Sale = $5/2
1 Dry Cleaner's Secret 6 ct $7.99 on Sale - $3 SCR - $1/1 MC - $7.99 MIR = FREE + $4 Profit
1 - 48 ct Prep-H Refill pk $4.99 - $1 SCR - $2/1 MC = $1.99
1 Stocking Stuffer for Joe, Not pictured (obviously) $0.99
1 - 8 oz pkg Diamond Walnuts $2.99 on Sale - $1/1 MC = $1.99
2 - 2 pks Tone Body Soap Bars $2.79 ea - BOGO Free Sale - $1/1 MC x 2 = $0.79/2
+ Tax $1.01
- $5/$25 Purchase Rite-Aid C
Total OOP: $15.76 (paid with Gift Card) - Expected Rebates (SCR+MIR) $11.99 = $3.77 -- Pretty good when you figure that was the price of the walnuts full price ;-)

Martin's Double Dollar Days Trip #2

Stopped into Martin's again last week, I LOVE it when they double $1 off coupons, it really increases your savings more than you would think. I did three transactions, and found some great deals while I was there...
2 Spot Shot Carpet Cleaners $4.28 ea - $1/1 MC x 2 - $1 Double x 2 = $4.56/2 + Earned 2 FREE movie tickets!
1 - 12 oz Crispix Cereal $2.99 - $1/1 MC - $1 Double = $0.99
1 Glade Carpet Freshener $1.49 - $1/1 MC - $0.49 Double = FREE
4 Meow Mix Wet Cat Foods $0.56 ea - $1/4 MC - $1 Double = $0.24/4
4 Hallmark Cards $0.99 ea - $0.10 Bonus Savings - BOGO Free Martin's C x 2 = $1.78/4
2 Nestle Toll house Cookie Doughs $3.19 ea - $0.69 Sale ea - $1/1 MC x 2 - $1 Double x 2 = $1/2
2 Pillsbury Cookie Doughs $2.94 ea - $0.44 ea Sale - $1/1 MC x 2 - $1 Double x 2 = $1/2
1 Heluva Good Sour Cream $1.95 - $0.66 Sale - $0.50/1 MC - $0.50 Double = $0.29
+ Tax 0.71
Total OOP: $10.64

Walgreen's Trip Last Week -- Gotta Roll those RR's!

Stopped into Walgreen's last week after work one day because I had quite a few RR's that were going to expire if I didn't roll them into some new deals, plus Wag's was doing a promo of Spend $25 before coupons & RR's and earn a $5 RR!!! So, here's what I ended up with after 2 transactions...
1 Renu Twin Pk Contact Solution $9.99 on Sale - $10 RR - $2/1 MC = FREE + $2.01 MM
2 Snoopy Activity Books + 2 Coloring Books* $1.67/4 with in-ad C
2 Ducolax $6.99 - $4 RR - $3/1 MC = 2 FREE + $0.02 MM
1 Schick Intuition Plus Razor $6.99 on Sale - $3 RR - $2/1 MC = $1.99
1 pk Stay Free Maxi's $1.99 on Sale - $2 RR - $1/1 MC = FREE + $1.01 MM
2 - 100 ct Envelopes (for all of those Rebates!) $1.29 ea - $1.40 in-ad C = $0.59 ea = $1.18/2
1 pkg Chex Mix $0.99 on Sale - $0.50/1 MC = $0.49
1 pk Scunci Hair Clips $2 on Sale - $2 RR = FREE
1 pkg 150 ct Ornament Hooks $0.99 - $0.60 in-ad C = $0.39
2 canisters Morton Salt $0.89 ea - $0.78 in-ad C = $1/2
5 Candies* $0.39 ea on Sale - $1.95
1 Just for Men Hair Color $6.99 on Sale - $7 RR - $2/1 MC = FREE + $2.01 MM
1 Dozen Eggs $0.99 on Sale
+ Tax $1.58
- $22 RR's Used to Pay
Total OOP: $15.73 - *Pap's Christmas Presents $3.62 - $22 RR's Received = ALL FREE + Profit of $9.89 in RR's!!!!