I'm baaaaaaaaaack....

I can't believe it's been 8 days since I posted last.

We had a great Thanksgiving full of family, friends and food. What else could you want.

Our tree went up just before Thanksgiving in an effort to make our house festive and get the most out of the holiday season for the least ($). The outside decorations went up Sunday just before DH and I came down with a ugly little stomach bug.

Now, it's back to couponing and blogging.

Grocery Shopping at Publix - Friday Night Edition

I got most of my grocery shopping done Friday night. I just knew that the store would be packed Saturday and I didn't want to deal with it. My DD was also packing up her house and needed to stick some stuff with us until moving day - which we hope is Tuesday.

Bottom line, I picked up most of my groceries - and specials - for $80 with a savings of $60. My best deals included six Sara Lee Simply Sweets for only .70 each. These are perfect for 2-3 people as a evening snack/dessert. I also got three Ritz crackers and a Crackerful for only .60 using both manufacturer coupons and target coupons. Another great deal was on Domino sugar. I picked up four five pound bags for only $1.49 each. That's the same price as Kroger is charging for four pounds of their no-name sugar.

I think I have everything for Thanksgiving except the Turkey. I purposely decided wait until Monday to pick up the bird so it wouldn't have to be stored in the freezer. I will pick that up Monday after my dentist appointment. (Subject of a forthcoming blog. Agggr.) I also need to pick up my fresh green beans from the local market Tuesday. Other than those items, I need get something for breakfast and lunch this week since we'll be in most of the week.

This is my work area. Sometimes.

Sometimes, I just do my work where I happen to be.

I took this picture because this is the cleanest my desk has been in quite some time. Usually, my desk just catches papers throughout the week and it can be piled up so high that you can't even find the keyboard. (Good thing there's a laptop I can use!)

It took me a couple of hours to go through a bunch of old papers and toss the useless items, move some items into folders and complete a couple of tasks.

I think I need a bigger memo board. This is one of those french things and you can't put a push pin in it. I've got a project on tap to create a memo board from some leftover foam insulation and some scrap fabric. I think it needs to be 24x36 but I don't think my board is that big.

I admit it, I'm a sucker for a good deal....

Earlier in the week, I proclaimed that it was a Freezer/Pantry Challenge week with the primary purpose to make some room in the freezer for a turkey. Ha! I can't even follow my own rules.

At least not when it comes to a bargain. Kroger was running a four day, Meat Madness sale. They had their Tyson boneless, skinless chicken breasts on sale for only $1.59. A great price for no coupons.

I picked up four packages Tuesday night. (I think I left three in the case and they were gone before I could walk away.) Each package had three breasts making a total of 12. I packaged up two packages of three and three packages of two. My total expense for the chicken was right at $10.

To be fair, I have served several dinners that relied heavily on freezer goods so I have made some room. And the chicken packages will still be smaller than a turkey. Unfortunately, I noticed that Publix is going to have their Sara Lee desserts at 50% later this week. Last time, I was able to pick up several of the Simply Pies for less than $1 after coupons. Why do they do this to me? Turkey or pies? Pies or turkey?

I may just have to repack the freezer so I can squeeeeeeeze that turkey in there! I could always just buy a fresh one. HaHaHa!

Works for me - Sifter

I don't think I've ever had an actual sifter. In all my years of cooking, I made do with a small strainer if anything needed to be sifted. I recently started decorating cookies and I was advised to sift the powdered sugar. (I had never sifted sugar for cake decorating.) The first time, I tried to sift using the strainer. It was difficult since my strainer is very small.

I looked several places to find a sifter. Walmart didn't have one, nor did Publix. I finally found one at Target. It was a fancy, smancy deal with two or three actual sifting mechanisms in it. I put my powdered sugar in it and it disappeared into the inter-workings of the sifter. It took 30 minutes of beating it (with a wooden spoon) to get all the sugar out. Clearly that wasn't going to work.

I finally found an old-fashioned sifter when I looked again at Publix. You know, the kind with the little rotating handle like your grandmother had. Works like a charm. Wonder if I can return the one to Target - with the powdered sugar still stuck in it?

Evolving the Thanksgiving Menu

As we getting closer to Thanksgiving (I just realized it was NEXT week!), I have a better handle on what we're eating -

Turkey and Honeybaked Ham

Dressing

Homemade Mashed Potatoes

Whiskey Glazed Carrots

Sweet Potato Casserole

Fresh Green Beans with New Potatoes

Harvard Beets

Rolls, Iced Tea, Pecan Bars, Pumpkin Pie, and Brown Sugar Pound Cake

Coffee, Milk

BIG Kudos to Hubby

We will be celebrating Thanksgiving at our house this year.

The biggest problem we faced was where to sit everyone. Our dining room table is smaller than our kitchen table but neither was big enough for all of us. Hubby suggested that we get a folding table to match the one we already have in our office and use both together.

I looked on line today to find a table just like the one we have - 6 foot long and folds in half for compact storage. The cheapest one I found was on Walmart.com and it was nearly $90 plus it had to be ordered. I found one locally at Office Depot, it did not fold in half, but the price was right at $39.

When I got home today, Hubby had gone to Walmart to see what they had. He came home with a matching table for only $45. Good deal and exactly what we wanted. The best part, I didn't have to deal with it.

Hugs and Kisses to my great Hubby.

Update on Christmas Projects

It seems like things are taking longer than they should, but here's where I am:
(Sorry, there are not pictures but that would ruin the surprise.)

I've finished some "goodies" for my grandson and my soon-to-be grandson. These were time consuming projects but they're all done now.

I'm currently working on some toddler sheets that my DIL has asked me to assist with. (I would have the fitted ones done but I ran out of elastic on the very last one!) I will pick up another package and finished that one tomorrow. I need to go back and correct one of the first ones I did. (We were trying to re-construct a toddler sheet from a single sized bed sheet. That was -by far - much harder than starting from scratch. Apparently, it's just too big. I have DD's crib mattress now and it is much easier to have something to fit it against.) I should be able to wrap up this whole project this week.

I haven't started working on any Christmas ornaments yet. Usually by now, I've at least decided what I'm going to do.

Grocery Shopping at Publix

As I wrote earlier, my goal with grocery shopping this week was to limit purchases to needs and deals. We will be eating mainly from freezer and pantry storage.

The verdict: I think I did really well. I had a rough budget of $50. My total OOP was $53.48.
Savings of $36.08. Best of all, I paid in cash (yes, really green stuff), I can't remember the last time I did that.

I ended up getting both a package of ground sirloin and a package of ground chuck. (These are for our two meals this week not from the freezer - hamburger steaks and tacos.) I picked up milk and cream, bread and some fresh veggies (tomatoes, cukes, lettuce, etc.). I stocked up on White Lily Flour which was on sale for only $1.49. I picked up two bags today. I may pick up two more before the sale ends. (I find that my store runs out of this product quite frequently and when I'm making cookies and cakes, I can go through a bag in no time.)

The deals this week included:
- Krusteaz Muffin mix (bogof) and $1 off 2. The original price is $2.69, the net price was
85 cents each. I picked up two blueberry muffin mixes and two cinnamon crumb cakes.
- Kelloggs cereal. The original price was $3.99 each. They were on sale buy one get one
free and I used a manufacturer's coupon AND a target coupon for each. I picked up
two Rice Krispies and two Crispix - all four for only .25
- Spice World spices were also on sale for only .50 each. I picked up two paprikas,
a black pepper, and a oregano. There weren't many options to choose from.

Frugal Friday

I'm really going to work on keeping my grocery expenses down this week. My plan is to focus on eating out of the freezer and pantry. Limit expenditures for items to be consumed this week. Stock up only on items that are at rock bottom prices - with or without a coupon.

I know that Publix has White Lily flour for just over $1.50 for the five pound bag. Also the Spice World spices are only .50 each.

I will carefully search through my coupons before I complete my grocery list and head to the store.

Thankful Thursday

No matter how long or how bad the day is, I am always thankful to be greeted at the door with a hug and a kiss. I have a wonderful hubby.

Works for me - Dinner Pre-cooking

Thursday evenings are family night at my house. DS, DDIL and three grands come for dinner. Since I work full time, the preparation time for dinner is very limited. In order to make things come together in a brief amount of time, I select dinners that can - at least somewhat - be partially prepared ahead of time.

For example, we're having lasagna for dinner tomorrow. I've precooked the ground beef and it's in the freezer. I'll saute the peppers and onions Wednesday and assemble. At that point, it will sit in the fridge for DH to put it in the oven Thursday evening. Even if I have to work late, dinner can be bubbling along while I'm driving home.

I also use this process for other dinners like Chicken and Dumplins, Soups or Roasts in the Crockpot. It works for me by speeding the process will cutting the actual prep time on Family dinner night.

Update on Weekend Grocery Shopping

Publix has some really go deals this week:

As a highlight, I got free Betty Crocker potatoes, 9 cent tomato paste, spaghetti sauce for less than .50, chocolate chips for only .25 and potato chips for only .50 (full size bag). Unfortunately, I didn't have a lot of coupons for the items at the best bargain. It must have been an off week. My OOP was about $85 and I saved $60. $16 of that savings was from a Rain Check (bogof) for the Publix brand antacid.

Next week we'll be eating items mostly from the freezer and only purchasing perishables and items to round out the meals. I need to make a little room in the freezer for holiday purchases. I can't buy a frozen turkey until I find room for it. I also need to clean out the side-by-side freezer in the kitchen. So next week is a FREEZER CHALLENGE.

Planning ahead for Holiday Baking

I've already started stocking up on some common baking items. This weekend I picked up a bag of flour, a jar of marshmallow creme and some chocolate chips. I have several cans of pumpkin and plenty of evaporated milk. I've been stocking up on real butter from Aldi's and I have several bottles of vanilla. My supply of sugar is sufficient until it goes on sale again.

For now, I'm working on a rough menu for Thanksgiving. My first actual Thanksgiving.

Turkey or Turkey Breast
Honeybaked Ham (DS and DDIL)
Homemade Mashed Potatoes
Stuffing or Dressing
Fresh Green Beans
Harvard Beets
Some kind of Sweet Potatoes
Rolls (DD and DSIL)
Iced Tea

Pumpkin Pie
Some kind of Cake or Apple Bars
Decorated Cookies for the little girls
Fruit Salad or Ambrosia

Menu Monday

Saturday - Steakhouse Noodle Soup and Baked Potatoes
Sunday - Crockpot Roast with Potatoes and Carrots
Monday - BBQ Pork Chops
Tuesday - Leftover Roast
Wednesday - Potato Soup and BLTs
Thursday - Lasagna and Green Salad
Friday - Pizza

Christmas Projects

I've got several projects going on for Christmas gifts. Because some of the recipients also read this blog, I'm not going into too much detail here.

Some items are completed, some are started and, unfortunately, some are yet to be started.

My most challenging project has been the cookbook. I have many of the recipes ready but I had hoped to photography all of them to be included. Sadly, that may not come together in time. But, that being said, the recipes themselves are the most important part and that should be completed in time. I've decided on a three-ring binder with standard sized paper. This will allow for revisions and additions at any time in the future.

I also want to work on some customized Christmas cards - maybe even a postcard - to send to family and friends.

What did you do today?

I washed a wedding gown. I really did.

The dry cleaners wanted a minimum of $100 to get a wedding dress cleaned and that didn't even include the storage box. I decided that the cost to clean versus the cost of the dress was way too high.

The dress was primarily dirty at the hem and had some makeup smudges inside the bodice. I started with the hem. I filled the sink with some barely warm water and some Woolite. Using a clean white washcloth, I "rubbed" the hem of the satin under skirt to remove the dirt. Then, I washed the tulle overlay just like you'd hand wash your stockings. It worked pretty well. To clean the bodice, I did the same thing.

To rinse the dress, I filled the tub (clean) with warm water and swished the dress around. Then I dunked it up and down a few times to make sure all the soap was out. It's drip drying in the bathroom as we speak (as I blog). I think it will do fine. If I could find someone who has a steamer, that would be great but I think it will store better clean than dirty.

Sometimes, it just prudent to take a chance.

Works for me - My Lunch Bag

I work full time and I take my lunch to work about 99% of the time. (Going out to eat is a RARE treat.) Over the years, I've used many things to carry my lunch. Each of the bags was cute or stylish but not very functional.

I've finally found a bag that is the ultimate in function. It's a neoprene bag from byo. It's totally washable - hand or machine. It will dry overnight from a spot cleaning. Fold flat for storage and has comfortable handles. It keeps my lunch relatively cool without added ice or cold packs. Best of all, it will hold a sandwich sized plastic container perfectly horizontal (actually, it will hold two if you stack them). I can take leftovers without fear of a tip or spill.

It also works great for taking baby's bottle, food and an extra diaper to dinner.

Best of all, I picked up this little gem at Walmart for only $2 on clearance. Retail price on line is $10-20 and it is available in a variety of stores..

Oooooh! I got a great deal tonight.

Warning: If you are three, stop looking at my blog. You'll ruin your Christmas surprise.

Place: Target
Item: Leapster Tag System
Regular Price: $49.99 at Target
Sale Price $39.99 (price drop)
Tag Q $10.00
Target Q $10.00
Net Price: $19.99

I had to stand my ground because the cashier said (up front) that he may not be able to use both coupons. Sure enough, the Target coupon would not take. We called a customer service person over. Long story in a short version: the Target coupon was not valid until tomorrow. Huh? It was published today. Ultimate result, another customer service person was called over and they pushed the Target coupon.

I wanted to get two but they only had one left. (They had six of these things just Sunday!) I'm going to try to find another one tomorrow.

Update: I found a second one today. One green, one purple. Perfect!

Prescription Deals

I would strongly recommend that anyone taking a name brand drug frequently check the web to see if that manufacturer is offering any specials, rebates or coupons. One of the drugs I take is Frova. My co-pay (after insurance) is $60 for nine tablets. A generic is not currently available but similar drugs for the same condition do have generics and they are available to me for only $5 (nine tablets) after insurance.

Because of this, the manufacturer is seeing the need for a hook to get people to spend extra money for their name brand. Last year, this manufacturer offered $20 rebates each month for up to six months. I was able to take advantage of at least three of these. I just discovered that they are doing it again.

Now they're offering a $35 discount (at point of sale) each month for up to six months with the offer expiring 12/31/09. This brings my OOP to only $25 and change per prescription. I still think this is a ridiculous price to pay for nine tablets, but that's the way it is. I'm trying to stay on top of this and get as many as I can before the end of the year. I should be able to take advantage of this four times. That would be a savings of $140 and, if I do not have to use all of these before New Year's Day, I'll have some on hand to start the new year. I'll need it because my co-pay for generic meds is increasing from $5 to $10 next year.

Winterizing, Phase 1

We spent the afternoon today making some improvements in an attic storage area. Because we are changing seasons it is just the right temperature to do work like this. Not too hot and not too cold. This particular area gets a lot of cold air infiltration because a squirrel has chewed himself a little hole in the upper part of our chimney and when the temperature drops, cold air just pours in. We hope that the added insulation and the insulated board will help keep us warm and maybe we can find someone to repair the hole soon. Great job hubby.

Step by Step guide to saving Grocery Money

Each week I clip the coupons from the Sunday paper and the free community newspapers. If I have new magazines, I clip those too. I will clip any coupon I think I might use or someone I know will use. This includes new items and items which may not be my favorite brand. I have stopped clipping coupons for things I will not buy.

On Monday, I check www.hotcouponworld.com to see the Sneak Peek for Publix. I will scan the list of buy one, get one free items and make a list of the ones that are of interest to me. I jot down the prices but use these only as a guide until I see the actual ad. Prices do vary.

My Publix runs it's sales from Thursday to Wednesday. Because I know a local town starts their sales a day earlier. I will check that store's ad on the internet on Wednesday. (www.publix.com) I've found that mine are always the same. This way, I know (on Wednesday) what will be on sale beginning Thursday. I compare this to my sneak peek list.

From here, I create a weekly menu and devise a shopping list. As I'm preparing the list, I will cross check between sale items and coupons to maximize savings. If it's not on sale and I don't need it, it will wait.

The final step is to check the blogs to see if I've missed any deals. My two favorite blogs for Publix are www.fiddledeedeemom.com and www.iheartpublix.com. I can also use the coupon database on www.hotcouponworld.com to see if there are any additional coupons that I've missed.

Next stop, the store. I usually save at least 25% and normally run at about 40-50%. On some rare occasions, I can save as much as 80% but these times are usually the result of some super saving bargains and lots of super cheap items. I normally pay full price for mil and meat and that can bring your savings percentage down quickly.

In a year, I've stocked piled enough food pantry items to feed our family for several months and have a freezer full of meat, vegetables and convenience items. We always have cheap snacks, baked goods and ice cream. (At last count, I've saved well over $3000 - mostly in grocery store purchases through the use of sales and coupons.)