Happy 5 Year Anniversary!

Joe and I celebrated 5 wonderful years of marriage on June 16th!  This picture is a little late, but it's a pretty good one of the two of us, so I thought I'd share anyway.

Menu Plan Monday: July 2nd 2012!

This week begins July, and two challenges.  Jessica at Good Cheap Eats is having a 'Pantry Challenge.' I thought it would be a good idea for Joe and I to do this as well so we have a nice cleaned out freezer to put our garden produce in for winter time.  Also, Stephanie at Keeper of the Home is working on having a less cluttered house in 8 weeks, and I'm with her.  I'll be posting updates to both 'challenges' pretty much daily.  Hopefully by the time school is starting up again, I will have a clutter free house, and an emptied and then freshly stocked pantry!  That's the goal at least ;-)

Anyway, here's what's cooking this week....

Breakfasts: Cereal, and Bob Evans with Joe's Grandfather on Tuesday

Lunches: Fruited Chicken Salad, Chick-fil-a on Grocery shopping day (Monday), Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Quesadillas with Chips and Salsa, Leftovers x 3

Dinners:

Sunday - Sliced Steak Sandwiches with Sauteed Onions and Mushrooms and Baked French Fries and Veggies and Dip

Monday - Leftover Fruited Chicken Salad with Chips and Veggies with Dip

Tuesday - Pulled Pork Sandwiches (from Freezer) with Baked Potatoes or French Fries and Veggies with Dip

Wednesday - Homemade Pizza with Veggies and Dip

Thursday - Crock-pot Chuck Roast with Carrots, Potatoes, Onions, and Mushrooms with Homemade Bread

Friday - TBA - Joe's Family is coming up to visit, so we are still planning the menu

Saturday - Chicken Taquitos (new recipe) with Mexican Rice and Chips and Salsa

Extras: Brownies!

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

ALDI Deals, Starting 06/27/2012

Here are some of this week's ALDI deals...

• Wednesday June 27th ONLY: Tyson Fresh Split Chicken Breasts $0.99/lb and Cattlemen's Ranch Fresh Beef Skewers 11.2 oz $4.99 ea
• Baker's Corner Blueberry Pie Filling 21 oz $2.49 ea
• Belmont Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake 8" 41 oz $9.99 ea 
• Burman's Yellow Mustard 14 oz $0.69 ea
• Clancy's Bagel Chips Sea Salt or Roasted Garlic 6 oz $1.79 ea
• Happy Harvest German Potato Salad 15 oz can $0.99 ea
• Kellogg's Pop-Tart Assortment $1.89 ea
• L'oven Fresh All Butter Loaf Cake 11.5 oz $2.49 ea
• Little Salad Bar Hummus Quartet 20 oz $3.99 ea
• Mama Cozzi's Pizza Kitchen Mega Pizza Rolls Pepperoni or Combination 17 oz $2.49 ea
• Oscar Mayer Classic Wieners 16 oz $1.49 ea 
• Sealtite Beverage Containers 2 gal and 1.25 gal Pink, Blue, or Aqua (BPA Free!) $4.99 ea
• Sweet's Salt Water Taffy 16 oz $1.79 ea
• Tuscan Garden Dressings Bacon Ranch or Raspberry Vinaigrette16 oz $1.29 ea 
• Sweet Corn $1.69/4 pk
• Red Grapes $1.98/2 lb container
• Seedless Watermelons $4.79 ea
• Strawberries $1.89/lb
• Blueberries $1.29/pint
• Cherries $2.19/lb

For more information about ALDI, visit their homepage!

Weekly Spending Report: 06/24-30/2012!

It was nice to get back into some deal shopping this week.  And I found some GREAT deals, gotta love it when that happens!  Here's my weekly spending report...

• Tuesday's Shopper's Trip (no post, just 1 qt heavy cream): $4.38 oop
• Tuesday's Rite-Aid Trip: $2.34 oop, Earned $6 UP+Rewards
• Tuesday's CVS Trip: $11.31 oop, Earned $9 ECB's
• Thursday's Big Lots Trip (no post, just internet cable): $4.24 oop
• Thursday's Walgreen's Trip (no post, 6-24 pk cases of H2O): $12.66 oop 
• Saturday's Hoffman's Trip (no post, just 2 newspapers and 1/2 gal Ice Cream): $11 oop

Total OOP: $45.93 oop - $15 Earned Rewards = Net OOP: $30.93!

Tuesday's CVS Trip!

I also stopped into CVS on Tuesday.  Here's what I ended up with...

2 tubes Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief Toothpaste $6.49 ea - $1.63 ea Sale - $1/2 MC (newspaper) - $4 ECB x 2 = 2/$0.72

3 boxes Pop-Tarts (for Joe) $2.57 ea - $0.57 ea Sale - $1/3 MC (newspaper) = 3/$5

+ $0.59 Tax

- $3 ECB's used to Pay

Total OOP: $11.31 - $9 Earned Rewards (includes $1 from Green Bag Tag) = Net OOP: $2.31!

Tuesday's Rite-Aid Trip

Tuesday I stopped into Rite-Aid while I was in town to grab some super-cheap Zantac.

3-24 ct Cool Mint Zantac $10.79 ea - $2.80 ea Sale - $5/1 MC (newspaper) x 3 - $2 UP+Rewards x 3 = 3/$2.97 ($0.99 ea!)

1 bottle Lighter Fluid (for Joe) $2.79 - $0.56 card discount = $2.23

+ $0.14 Tax

- $9 UP+Rewards used to Pay

Total OOP: $2.34, Earned $6 UP+Rewards for next week!

Menu Plan Monday: June 25th, 2012!

Last week was insane trying to get back into the swing of things from our weekend away, Joe's 33rd birthday, and out 5th wedding anniversary, and things didn't slow down here at the museum to give us any slack, so no menu plan, we sustained on leftovers and takeout.  But, now the house is cleaned, the laundry is caught up, and there isn't anything major at the museum until next week, so this week should be better.  I've got some new things on the menu, along with some family favorites, and I have a nice little to-do list made up for both me and Joe.  Here's what's cooking this week...

Breakfast: Cold Cereals, Fruit

Lunches: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Leftovers, French Toast with Fruit, Taco Salad and Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Dinners:
Sunday - Homemade Stromboli with Veggies and Dip
Monday - Fruited Chicken Salad Sandwiches with Chips and Veggies and Dip
Tuesday - Pasta with Sauce, Garlic Bread, and Steamed Vegetables
Wednesday - Beef and Broccoli Newman's Own Freezer Meal Kit with Jasmine Rice
Thursday - Quesadillas with Chips and Salsa, and Veggies and Dip
Friday - Out :-)
Saturday - Sliced Steak Sandwiches with Baked French Fries and Sauteed Mushrooms and Onions

Extras: Brownies

For more AWESOME Menu Plans, visit Org Junkie!

Weekly Spending Report: 06/17-23/2012!

This week  I stayed out of the stores and not only did we save money, but I got caught up on a LOT of housework after our get-away last weekend.  Here's our spending totals...

• Earned $25 for helping my Mom clean on Wednesday + $25.00
• Friday's Rite-Aid Trip: $8.26 oop, Earned $9 UP+Rewards
• Saturday's Shopper's Trip (no post, just 2 newspapers and a soda): $5.78 oop

Total OOP: $14.04 - $34 Earned Rewards/Cash = Net OOP: ALL FREE + $19.96 Money-maker!

Friday's Rite-Aid Trip

Friday I finally go to stop into Rite-Aid for some deals, and luckily, everything I wanted was still in stock!
Here's what I ended up with...

2-4 pk Double Rolls Charmin TP $4.29 ea - $2.15 ea Clearance - $1/2 MC (newspaper) = $1.64 ea or 2/$3.28

2 Colgate Max Fresh Toothpastes $3.99 ea - $1 ea Sale - $1/2 MC (newspaper) - $2.50 UP+Rewards x 2 = 2 FREE!

8 pks Tic Tacs $1.49 ea - $0.49 ea Sale - $1 UP+Rewards wyb 2 x 4 = 8/$4

1 pouch York Pieces $4.49 - $2.25 Clearance (for Joe) = $2.24

+ $0.75 Tax

- $8 UP+Rewards used to Pay

- $2.99 SCR Check used to Pay

Total OOP: $8.26, Earned $9 UP+Rewards!!!

ALDI Deals, starting 06/20/2012!

Here are some of this week's ALDI deals...

• Wednesday 06/20 Only: Fresh Chicken Kebobs $4.99/lb
• Bolthouse Farms  100% Carrot Juice 32 oz $2.99 ea
• Cheese Club Macaroni and Cheese 7.25 oz $0.39 ea
• Crane Ladder Ball $16.99/set 
• Friendly Farms Whipped Dairy Topping 6.5 oz $1.49 ea
• Great Gherkins Refrigerated Kosher Dill Halves 32 oz $2.59 ea
• Halex 5-in-1 Volleyball Combo Game Set $14.99 ea
• Happy Farms Cheese Singles American or Swiss 12 oz $1.49 ea
• Kirkwood Frozen Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts 48 oz $5.49 ea
• L'oven Fresh  Wheat Hotdog or Hamburger Buns 12 oz $0.99 ea
• Range Master Portable Charcoal Grill 14" $13.99 ea
• Range Master Charcoal Briquets 16.6 lb $4.69 ea
• Stonemill Essentials Spice Rubs 3.25-3.78 oz $1.49 ea
• Blueberries $1.29/pint
• Strawberries $1.79/lb
• Cantaloupe $1.59 ea
• Avocados $0.69 ea
• Sweet Corn $1.49/4 pk
• Peaches, Plums, and Nectarines $0.39 ea

For more information about ALDI, visit their homepage!