Tip About Buying Produce

Alright. Now, I have to tell you, that I went produce shopping Friday, late morning, which is why I never got to make the chicken broccoli orzo. Anyways, there's a little "farmer's market" (actually it's about the size of a barn), called C&D Produce, not too far from my house. While I was there, I spent $18.29! For 2 weeks worth of produce! Now, if you shop at a grocery store for your produce, $4.xx of that would just be for pre-bagged lettuce! Here's what I got:


1 red pepper - $0.90 ($1.29/lb)
5 plum tomatoes - $0.58 ($0.79/lb)
.59 lbs string beans - $0.47 ($0.79/lb) - that's less than a can costs, and it's better because it's fresh!
2 green peppers - $0.37 ($0.69/lb) - these were $0.78 EACH at Walmart on SALE!
Romaine lettuce (2 hearts) - $1.75
1.97 lb Mini-bananas - $1.75 ($0.89/lb)
3 beefsteak tomatoes - $0.85 ($0.49/lb) - these would have cost about $4 at Publix!
1 orange - $0.35 - I think these were 3/$1
3 LARGE red potatoes - $0.93 ($0.59/lb)
3 bulbs garlic - $0.79 ($1.49/lb)
6 Idaho potatoes - $2.16 ($0.59/lb)
2 Granny Smith apples - $0.76 ($0.79/lb)
1 pint grape tomatoes - $1.79
red creamer potatoes - $0.99 ($0.99/lb)
1 red onion - $0.33 ($0.59/lb)
1/2 pint blueberries - $1.99
6 LARGE carrots - $0.90 ($0.49/lb)
2 HUGE sweet potatoes - $1.28 ($0.69/lb) - I really mean HUGE when I say it about these! 1 could feed 3-4 people!

Total cost: $18.29! Next time I go to Publix, I'm going to check out prices on these items, and I'll compare. I'll try to make a spreadsheet to show you! These are all items I would normally buy even if I wasn't planning monthly meals. If you include the less than a gallon of gas it takes me to get there, I probably spent a total of $20! Not bad!

It's totally worth it! Plus, the little market is Spanish based, so they have some REALLY interesting fruits/veggies there, and the kids get to feel and hear the names of the stuff. Plus, they can TOUCH everything without getting looked at funny. It's a whole learning experience!

Next time you need to buy produce, think twice before getting it at your normal store! (Plus, you can go here before your grocery store because it won't go bad sitting in your car while you grocery shop...as long as you don't take forever!)

Enjoy!

Love,

Sarah

Tulle order in!!

Woo-hoo! My first custom tutu order is to make a peacock tutu dress! I received the tulle Tuesday, and started the dress yesterday! It looks so cute! I can't wait to put the finishing touches on it and try it on Felicity! I will post pictures as soon as it's all together. I'm hoping to ship it tomorrow.

Then, I'll be working on some samples that I hope will sell pretty quickly. I'll also be making Felicity's pirate tutu dress!

Check back later for pics!

Love,

Sarah

Publix Trip 9/14/09

Well, looks like I have hit my "budget" for the month. Although, I still have to go to the produce market to get some fresh fruits and veggies. Darn. HOWEVER, the trip I made today included stocking up on quite a few things. Here's what I got:

I paid out-of-pocket (OOP) $80.74. But I saved $107.07!!! I'd say that's pretty darn good! Plus, I stocked up on pasta sauce, pasta, cream cheese, laundry detergent and frozen veggies! Ok. Hereare my highlights and best deals...

4 All Detergents - On sale $4.99 Each BOGO - w/Qs, I paid $1.50 each!
6 jars Newman's Own - BOGO - w/Qs, I paid $0.85 each!
2 Boxes Kix Cereal - BOGO - w/Qs, I paid $1.25 each!
2 Boxes Frosted Mini Wheats - BOGO - w/Qs, $1.35 each
6 Green Giant Frozen Veggies - 10/$10 - w/Qs, $0.50 each!
4 Toaster Strudels - BOGO - w/Qs, $0.25 each!
6 Healthy Harvest Pastas - BOGO - w/Qs, $0.40 each!
5 Philly Cream Cheese - 5/$5 - w/Qs, $0.40 each!
3 Duncan Hines Brownie Mix - 10/$10 - $1.00 each!

I also purchased items I needed for the rest of the month's meals. So, if you were to take away all the stuff I "stocked up" on, I'd still be under $250. But, since I bought it in September, it's going in my total grocery spending. We'll hopefully make it to the produce market this afternoon, but if not, definitely tomorrow. I'm hoping to only spend about $20 there, but sometimes they have such great, fresh produce, you can't help but spend more! We'll see!

At least I won't have to buy pasta sauce, detergent, frozen veggies, or breakfast stuff for a while (other than eggs)! =)

Happy shopping!

Love,

Sarah

Jamba Juice Coupon

If you go HERE, you can print a coupon for Jamba Juice. When you buy one smoothie, you'll get the second one for $1, when you give them this coupon.

CVS Trip - 9/11/09

So, I wouldn't normally buy groceries (except milk) at CVS, but when I was in there buying milk yesterday, I noticed that their General Mills cereals were $2.00 a box, and I knew I had a $2.00 off of 2 coupon, which would make it be BOGO for me. So, I grabbed their weekly ad on the way out and went home to see what I could do.


Here's how I did!!

4 boxes cereal: $4.00
2 Ajax Dish Soaps: FREE!
2 Colgate Toothpastes: $1.39
1 Crest Toothpaste: $0.99 (after $2.50 ECB)
2 VO5: $1.54
3 lb bag cat food: $2.99
4 full-size EDY's Ice Creams: $5.99! (That's $1.50 each!)

Total cost: $15.19! I saved $49.23! That's a 70% savings at a drugstore! I just couldn't pass up that Edy's deal! They were BOGO. Plus, I had a coupon Buy 3, get 1 free. Since the store offered the BOGO, I was technically purchasing 3. So, I got 4 for the price of 1! We eat ice cream a LOT here, so it was a fantastic deal! Plus, I got $2.50 back in extra care bucks, so my total cost was really only: $12.69. That's just $0.80 per item!

FREE TOILET PAPER!!

This Sunday, there will be a $1.00 a 4-roll or more package of toilet paper! Guess what? Albertson's has Scott Extra Soft 4-roll packs for 10 for $10.00! That means they are $1.00 each! If you use the coupon, they are completely FREE! Guess I need to buy 10 papers this weekend (or at least 5).

BIG COUPON WEEKEND!!!

This is a big weekend for coupon inserts…there will be FIVE different inserts this weekend’s paper: Two SmartSource, A General Mills insert and TWO RedPlum inserts! You can see all the coupons HERE at The Coupon Clippers site.


There are going to be some Publix coupons available that might make for a good deal since they can be used with a manufacturer coupon to save big buck! Here are some ideas:

-$1 off OJ WYB General Mills CEREAL, 8.9 oz or larger
-Buy 2 General Mills products and get a FREE PUBLIX reusable shopping bag
-$1 off Fresh Fruit WYB Nature Valley Granola Bars, Nut Clusters, Chex Mix Bars or Milk ‘n Cereal bars
-$1 off Pillsbury Biscuits or Bread WYB Progresso Soup
-$1 off Publix Ice Cream WYB Betty Crocker Supreme Brownie Mix
-$1 off Ground Beef WYB Hamburger Helper

Old Navy Coupons!

Ok, so I was reading a blog (and I'm sorry I don't remember which one), but if you love Old Navy clothes like I do, you can go to OldNavyWeekly.com and basically just "click" around to find coupons! Supposedly the coupons "refresh" on Thursday afternoons/evenings, but I read that they sometimes have coupons up to $75 off of $100! That's a 75% savings! I'm so hoping to be one of the first to get this coupon (or at least something similar. I would be happy with $50 off of $100!) Anyways, check it out and have fun clicking!

$5 Enfamil Coupon

Formula can be extremely expensive! HERE'S a coupon for $5 off for any of you who use Enfamil!

Tulle is on it's way!!!

Woo-hoo! I just got confirmation that my tulle was shipped and should be here within the next week or so! Yay! I can't wait to get working on these tutu ideas! And, Felicity's halloween costume! She's going to be a pirate princess, because we got a hand-me-down pirate costume for Westley! Soooo fun!

$25 Gift Certificates for ONLY $1

90% off Restaurant.com Certificates (because it's 9/9/09!)

Save 90% with code NINETY, pay only $1 for a $25 certificate

These last for a full year, so stock up at this unbelievable price!

This is a REAL deal. For example, a $1,000 certificate would cost $40, and you'd get 40 certificates for $25 each over the year. You could also stock up on gifts:

Buy gifts now for the holidays--everyone likes to eat out!

Buy general gift certificates for teacher gifts (they can select their own restaurant later)

Buy a large gift certificate for yourself and redeem it for individual restaurant certificates over the year

Send them to friends and family via email as a fun gift now

Buy Dinner of the Month memberships for gifts to give later

My Favorite Publix BOGOs & Great Deals 9/10/09 - 9/16/09

Here are some of my favorite BOGOs and Great Deals for this week at Publix!

Newman’s Own pasta sauce 15 or 24 oz jar $2.69

$1/2; .50¢/1 Newman’s Own – 08-23-09 RP -(If the 50¢/1 doubles = 35¢ each!)
$1/2 printable
$1/2 printable

Quaker Instant Oatmeal 10.9 to 16.2 oz box $3.89
$1/2 Quaker Instant Oatmeal, Any – tearpad
$1.25/2 Quaker Instant Oatmeal Any – 08-30-09 RP = $1.32 each
$1/1 Quaker Instant Oatmeal, Any – peelie

Kelloggs Frosted or Unfrosted Mini Wheats $3.89
$1/2 Kellogg’s Mini Wheats- Kellogg’s Fuel For School booklet
$1.50/2 printable
$2/2 Kellogg’s Mini Wheats 08-30-09 RP = $1.89/2

Pillsbury Toaster Strudel asst varieties $2.49
.55¢/2 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Pastries, (blinkie)
.55¢/2 printable & printable
$1/2; .35¢; .55¢ Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Pastries, Any – 08-09-09 SS
.35¢/1 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Pastries, – 08-30-09 SS
$1/1 printable
.50¢/1 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Pastries, – Return to School, July 09 (makes it .25¢ ea)

ALL Small & Mighty 3x laundry detergent or ALL 2x ultra concentrated $4.99
.40¢/1 ALL 2X printable
$1/1 ALL 2X printable
$1/1 ALL 3X printable
(makes it $1.50 ea)

Of course, there are many other BOGOs and Deals, but these are just a few that I will personally be using!! See more of these from Chattanooga Cheapskate!

Purex 3-in-1 Coupon

Who wouldn't love something as simple as a sheet that takes care of the detergent, fabric softener AND dryer sheet? Using this product should cut down on costs and time on my end. I bought these during one of my Kmart trips, and I can't wait to start using them! (My Costco-size detergent is almost gone.)

I hear a lot of people love this product as well. You'll be excited to know that there is a $1.00 coupon that you can print HERE!

Courtesy of one of my FAVORITE blogs:

Coupon Clippin' Mama

$5 off Coupon from Luv's Diapers

Mark your calendars for September 15th. Why, you ask? Well, because on that day you can register with the Luvs "Take A Stand Campaign" and in return get a $5 coupon in the mail. This is VERY exciting to me! We all know how expensive diapers are, so this is likely to yield some cheap ones!

Oh, and if you don't use Luv's, please sign up anyways and send me the coupon! These are the ONLY diapers that work great for our kids! :-)

Free Full Size Products for Trials

Check out Vocalpoint.com and sign up for FREE full-size product trials! You can sign up to recieve a full-size product to try and review. Just the other day, I signed up for a free Clinical Strength Deoderant!

$10 off of $25 from Advance Auto Parts

$10 off of $25 from Advance Auto Parts!
Click here to sign up for a $10 off of $25 coupon! Will changes the oil in our cars, so I signed up using all of my email addresses! You can also email the coupon to a friend!

8/30/09 Kmart Trip

Well, back in the beginning of August, I took a class about how to use coupons (http://www.couponclasses.com). So far, I've saved over $540! My total in grocery bills since 8/14/09 was around $730. I've only paid OOP (out-of-pocket) around $187! That's a savings of about $540! An average savings of 76%! So, here's the picture from latest trip to Kmart during the double coupon days week! (Most of my savings was during Kmart double days, but I've been able to stock up on several things...shampoos, deoderants, toilet cleaners/fresheners, dish soap, etc.)

Total Bill: $100.10, total OOP: $9.90!


If you are local, I highly suggest you taking this class. It's totally worth the $20 you pay. If you are not local, I highly suggest learning about how to use coupons! I can't even believe how awesome this is!

Westley Turns 1!

Well, my baby boy turned 1 last Thursday! I can't believe it. It seems like just yesterday I was begging the doctor to be induced!

Since his birthday was on a weekday, his party was the Saturday after. Here are some of the pics from his celebration:

Happy Birthday Sign I made:

My birthday boy!

Mommy & Westley

Alright! My own cake!

Delving in!

Mmmmmm....

Impromptu bath (good idea: Always give them their first cake in a diaper only!)

Big sister helping open presents!

Overall, the party was a blast! The kids had a great time and were totally worn out. Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible! We love you all!

Bye for now,

Sarah

A Tip for Juice Boxes

So, we all know that Juice Boxes make a HUGE mess! One squeeze and SQUIRT! Everywhere! We've even tried those plastic holders with handles you can buy at the grocery store. Somehow, my kids skip the handles and go straight for the middle. One good squeeze, and there you go again!

Anyhow, one morning when I woke up, I came out to the dining room to find both kiddos drinking their juice boxes out of a cup! Literally! My dear husband had put the juice box into a cup before putting the straw in. Then, put the straw in and gave it to the kids. It's great! The kids can hold their juice boxes (independence you know) and not spill! Thankfully, neither of them even try to take the juice box out of the cup! Here's what it looks like:



So, whenever we have a party, or people over, we will ALWAYS have plastic cups available, if not for any other reason, definitely for this one!