Menu Plan Monday: 07/15/2013

This week is going to be a little crazy.  I'm use to working about 3 days a week, this week, I work 5.  Which is nice for my paycheck, but not for my back, which gave out on Sunday.  My dad is having some eye problems, and since I'm working, my husband Joe has to chauffeur him around for me.  And we have an event this Saturday at the museum, so like I said, crazy!  Anyway, this is what were eating this week...

Breakfasts: Cinnamon Sugar Granola Bread Toast (using up a loaf from the freezer), and Waffles

Lunches: Leftovers, Salads, and/or Salads

Dinners: (all served with Salad or Steamed Veggies)

Sunday - Rice Cooker Mac and Cheese

Monday - Spaghetti with Garlic Bread

Tuesday - Chipped Beef Gravy with Pancakes

Wednesday - LO Chipped Beef Gravy and Pancakes

Thursday - Crock-pot Pork Roast with Baked Potatoes

Friday - Grilled Hot Dogs with Garlic Potato Salad

Saturday - Pizza Pockets (probably Ham and Cheese)

Extras: No Bake Cookies

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Weekly Spending Report: 07/07-13/2013

This week was a little crazy, but I got an okay paycheck, so it was time to stock the kitchen back up on some essentials.  Here's what I ended up with...

• Tuesday's Giant Trip: $28.34 oop, Earned $1 Off my Next Order Coupon
• Tuesday's Hoffman's Trip (1 gal Chocolate Almond Ice Cream): $12.50 oop
• Friday's ALDI Trip: $20.73 oop

• Friday's CVS Trip: $6.35 oop, Earned $3 ECB's (Glucose Tablets were free with CVS coupon)

• Saturday's Rite-Aid Trip (2 Newspapers): $4.24 oop
• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip: $11.36 oop

Total OOP: $83.52 - $4 Earned Rewards = Net OOP: $79.52

Last Tuesday's Giant Trip

Tuesday Joe and I stopped into Giant after I was finished at my dentist appointment.  I had a $5 off a $30 purchase coupon, so I tried to stay as close to $30 as I could.  I am so glad to have some snack cheese and yogurt back in the house, and overall, I think we did pretty good.  Here's what we ended up with...

4 Loaves Oatnut Bread $4.29 ea - $1.79 ea Sale - $1/2 MC x 2 - $1 OYNO Coupon wyb 2 = 4/$7

1 Loaf Italian Bakery Bread $2.49 - $0.50/1 Reduced Bakery Coupon = $1.99

2-4 pks Dannon Light and Fit Yogurt $2.09 - $0.20 ea Sale = $1.89 ea or 2/$3.98

4 pkgs Cracker Barrel Cheese $3.69 - $0.70 ea Sale - $1.96 Special Deal - $1/2 MC x 2 = 4/$8

2 cans Muir Glen Organic Tomatoes $1.99 and $2.19 - $1/2 MC = 2/$3.18 ($1.59 ea)

1 Newman's Own Frozen Pizza $6.99 - $1/1 MC = $5.99

1 bunch Bananas 2.22 lbs @ $0.59/lb = $1.31

1 bottle Rubbing Alcohol on clearance $1.19

- $5/$30 Giant Coupon

- $0.10 Reusable Bag Credit

Total OOP: $28.34, Earned $1 Coupon off my next order for buying the Oatnut Bread

ALDI Deals, Starting 07/10/2013

Here's some of the awesome deals at ALDI this week...

• Weds. 07/10 ONLY: Simply Nature Fresh 85/15 Organic Grass Fed Ground Beef 1 lb $4.49 ea
• Weds. 07/10 ONLY: Simply Nature Fresh Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts Antibiotic and Cage Free $2.99/lb
• Multicolored Peppers 3 pk $2.19 ea
• Baby Carrots 16 oz $0.59 ea
• Baby Lettuce 14 oz $1.59 ea
• Cucumbers $0.29 ea
• Grape Tomatoes pint $1.29 ea
• Mushrooms 8 oz $0.79 ea
• Friendly Farms Milk 1 gal $1.99 ea
• Millville Fruit and Grain Cereal Bars Apple Cinnamon or Strawberry 10.4 oz  $1.89 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Linguine or Spaghetti 16 oz $1.19 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Pasta Sauce Marinara or Tomato Basil 25 oz $1.99 ea
• Simply Nature Extra Virgin Olive Oil 17 oz $3.99 ea
• Simply Nature String Cheese 6 oz $2.99 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Salsa Mild, Medium, or Hot 16 oz $1.99 ea
• Simply Nature Organic 100% Apple Juice 64 oz $2.49 ea
• Simply Nature Fruit Bars Chunky Strawberry, Creamy Coconut, or Creamy Banana 4 pks 10 oz $2.69 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Agave Nectar 11.75 oz $2.49 ea
• Simply Nature Rice Crisps Garden Salsa or Sweet Chili 7 oz $2.29 ea
• Simply Nature Organic Dressing Aged Balsamic Vinaigrette or Peppercorn Ranch 8 oz $1.99 ea
• Simply Nature Mild Italian Chicken Sausage 12 oz $3.49 ea
• Season's Choice Steak Fries 28 oz $1.69 ea
• Season's Choice Diced Onion Rings 16 oz $1.29 ea
• Easy Home Hanging Closet Organizer Assortment Blue, White, Purple, or Black, 6 or 10 shelf, or 24 pocket $2.99 ea
• Easy Home Pop-up Hamper Blue, White, Purple, or Black $5.99 ea
• Easy Home 8" Air Circulator Fan 3 Speed $9.99 ea 
• Huntington Home Twin or Twin XL Sheet Sets Assorted Colors $8.99 ea
• Huntington Home 2 pk Jumbo Bed Pillows 20x28" $7.99 ea
• Huntington Home Reversible Twin or Twin XL Comforter (solid/design) $14.99 ea
• 6" Sunflower Pot $2.99 ea

For more information about shopping at ALDI, visit their Homepage!

Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday: Homemade Thousand Island Dressing

 I love a good salad in the summer time.  It's just so refreshing when it is ridiculously hot outside.  Part of a good salad, is good dressing.  A dressing should accentuate the veggies and meat in the salad without overpowering them.  As you all know, I like things simple, and if I can make some thing serve more than one purpose, even better.  This thousand island dressing is just that, simple, and is great for a multitude of things.  It's good on salad, veggie dippers, and even for baked french fries and chicken tenders.  It's just so very yummy! 
Here's what you need (and probably already have)...

• 1 c Mayo (Your choice, everyone has their own favorite)
• 1/2 c Ketchup (I use Hunts, so there's no HFCS in it)
• 1/2 c Pickle Relish (I use the sugar-free vlasic so there's no HFCS in it)
• 1/2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 1/2 tsp Lemon Juice

1. Mix all ingredients together.
2. Chill thoroughly before serving (I usually make it in the evening, so it will at least have chilled overnight).  Refrigerate leftovers.

See, told you it was simple, and tasty.  You should go make some, like, now ;)
 

*Next week I'll share a tasty salad that uses this dressing*

Linked to Homemade Mondays, and Tuesday Talent Show!

Menu Plan Monday: 07/08/2013

This week begins the 2 week pantry challenge.  It should be interesting, you can see my goals here.  As for the menu, we'll be using up some items from the freezers.  Here's what's going on this week...

Breakfasts: Cold Cereal, Waffles, Fresh Fruit

Lunches: Leftovers, Sandwiches, and/or Salads

Dinners: (all served with Salad, or cooking veggies)

Sunday - Taco Salads

Monday - Spaghetti, with Foccacia Bread, and Sauteed Green Beans

Tuesday - Homemade Pizza

Wednesday - Working at Joe's Grandfather's house, we'll probably go out to dinner with him :)

Thursday - Crock-pot Pork Chops, with Mushroom Gravy, and Rice

Friday -We'll be at Tuckahoe Steam Show on the Eastern Shore all day, so we might end up with a frozen pizza, or some grilled cheese

Saturday - Crock-pot Pork Chops with Mushroom Gravy, and Rice

Extras: Homemade White Chocolate Chip Cookies

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Weekly Spending Report: 06/30-07/06/2013

  Well, let's just say that by looking below, you can see that we were out of a LOT of things, and it's the beginning of the month.  TP, Crystal Light, snack purchases, yeah, definitely the beginning of the month.  But, we got a LOT of great deals, and are stocked up for now.  Next week begins the pantry challenge, so that should be better on the budget.  Here's how this week went...

• Sunday's CVS Trip: $1.41 oop, Earned $1.50 ECB's
• Sunday's Dollar Tree Trip: $6.65 oop

• Sunday's Giant Trip: $51.34 oop
• Monday's Dollar Tree Trip (1 mop, since mine broke mid-cleaning): $1.06 
• Wednesday's Giant Trip (1/2 gal Milk): $4.29 oop
• Wednesday's ALDI Trip (shredded cheese, sour cream, fruit granola bars, lettuce, potatoes, chicken broth, macaroni, and salsa): $19.30 oop
• Friday's BJ's Trip (2 pouches Crystal Light, used $1.75/1 coupon): $10.23 oop
• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip: $5.18 oop

• Saturday's Wal-mart Trip (2-12 double roll pks TP, and 1 tube Hairball Medicine): $17.82 oop
• Saturday's Rite-Aid Trip (not pictured 3-12 pks Coke Products, used $4 in coupons): $17.59 oop, Earned $2 UP+Rewards

Total OOP: $134.87 - $3.50 Earned Rewards = Net OOP: $131.37

Linked to Couponaholic! 

Frugal Find Friday: Refillable Cooking Spray

I like to spray my pan with cooking spray before I do things like fry an egg or bake french fries.  However, with the new healthier life style my husband and I are trying to live, I was very surprised when I started reading what was in cooking sprays.  A LOT of things that I couldn't pronounce, including propellants which helps with the spraying action.  Eww!  So I was on a quest to find something else that would serve the same purpose, but didn't gross me out with all of it's additives.  I was in Kohl's one day, and then I found this...

(amazon affiliate link above)
...encircled with a glowing halo of light of course :)
I LOVE IT!  I works super well.  I can easily fill it with whatever my oil preference is (I use Olive), and twist on the top, pump, and spray.  Not only is it healthy (no weird ingredients), but green (totally reusable), and uber frugal (no more buying a replacement every month or so).
In my opinion, you should definitely get one as your budget allows, it will save you a ton in the long run!

Linked to Works for Me Wednesday!

What's your frugal find for this week?

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day to everyone!

Sunday's CVS Trip

This week there wasn't really a whole lot that I wanted from CVS, but I stopped in for some vacation snacks to stash away, and to roll my ECB's.  This is what I ended up with...

4 bags Gardetto's Snack Mix $3.49 ea - $2.50 ea Sale - $0.50/2 MC x 2 = $0.74 ea or 4/$2.96

1 Puffs Tissues $1.59 - $0.40 CVS Coupon (25% off) - $1/1 MC (mailer exp 06/30) = $0.19

1 Speed Stick Deodorant $3.69 - $0.70 Sale - $1/1 MC - $1.50 ECB's = FREE!

+ $0.27 Tax

 - $4 ECB's used to Pay

Total OOP: $1.41, Earned $1.50 ECB's for next week!

Linked to Simply CVS!