More Frozen Pizza Deals

Go here to get a $1 off any 12” Tombstone coupon. 

(hit your “back” button three times to get the second one to print)

Food Lion has these 3/$10, so you can get them for $2.33 each.

Lowe’s Food has the Palermo Pizzas on sale Buy 2 Get 3 Free and these are really good pizzas (my newfound frozen pizza favorite).  It says you save $20.73 on five and since you are getting three free then the pizzas are $6.91 each.  Buy (5) pizzas for 13.82 and then use (2) $1/2 coupons and your total will be $11.82 so that would make them $2.36 each. 

Marbles Kids Museum

I highly recommend taking your kids to Marbles.  It’s a huge interactive museum where you don’t have to worry about saying, “NO!  Don’t touch that!”  Or “SHUSH!  Be quiet!”  Marbles encourages and pretty much requires participation and activity!  Admission is $5 per person, which isn’t a bad cost for the HOURS upon HOURS of fun to be had there.  They have some awesome events coming up so make sure you check out their What’s Happening page. 

On the third Tuesday of every month from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm you get $2 admission into Marbles.  That’s not a bad deal at all.  I think I might be taking advantage of this!! 

You might want to check out First Friday at Marbles on November 5^th.  “Make a whole evening of play and adventure with a visit to the museum and IMAX Theatre for The Polar Express as it returns to IMAX for its final ride.”  I am very saddened by this and think I might just make this a night out for the family.  That is one great movie and we watch it a few times a year, especially during the summer when you are longing for colder weather.

Wednesday November 24^th, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm receive one free museum guest pass for every 4 cans donated.  I think I might email them to see if you have to use the pass on that day or if you can save it for a later date.  I sent an inquiry… I will let you know what they say.

Tombstone Coupon

Go here to get a $1 off any 12” Tombstone coupon. 

Food Lion has these 3/$10, so if you can get two computers to print out your coupons you can get 3/$7 if you use three coupons, that comes out to $2.33 each and that’s a pretty cheap meal.  Remember you don’t have to buy three in order to get the sale price, so even if you only get two coupons (by hitting your “back” button three times after your coupon prints the first time) you can still get 2 for $2.33 each

$8 Scrubbing Bubbles Coupons

Go HERE to print $8 worth of Scrubbing Bubbles coupons.  Hopefully these should net you a great deal when paired with a sale.

The Fragrance Collection by Glade Coupon

Yes, I’ve been MIA for a bit… but it’s been a long week or so!  Sorry.  I will put up as many coupons/deals I come across today to make up for it!

Here is a buy one get one free coupon (up to $6.99 value) “buy one The Fragrance Collection by Glade 3-wick candle or reed diffuser, get one free”  This should net you a great deal when they go on sale, especially if a drug store puts them on sale for BOGO free!  That would be awesome

Ragu Meal Makeover

Sign up for the Ragu Meal Makeover on Facebook.  You submit pictures of your favorite meal using Ragu and one person will receive a Meal Makeover Kit.  It says it’s loaded with “great products for your kitchen.”  Check out the rules for entry here.  Looking at the rules the Meal Makeover Kit has an approximate retail value of $315.  Not too shabby!!

Curel Coupon

The awesome Target Curel deal that I posted yesterday… what to do if you didn’t save the $2 coupon?  I’m sure you were thinking that the product is so expensive that even with the coupon it wouldn’t be cheap enough for you.  This is why I cut all coupons for things that I would use if they were the right price. 

I went online and searched for a Curel coupon.  I did not find any.  SO, the next best source is always the manufacturer website.  I go onto the website and there is a way to get a coupon advertised nicely.  If you take the Skin Advisor assessment then you can print a $1 coupon.

Here’s the Target deal I posted yesterday but using this printable coupon instead.  Either way it’s still a money maker!! 

Buy (2) Curel Sensitive Remedy Lotions (9.4 oz) clearance to $3.28 each

Use (2) $1/1 Curel coupons from the Curel website

Use (2) $1/1 Curel skin lotion Target store coupons

Spend $2.56 + tax OOP

Get $5 Gift Card back

I already have a $5 gift card from a previous deal so I will use this to pay and really make some money.  If you were to do little deals like these throughout the entire year and use your gift cards to roll over (like you do with drugstore deals) then you could probably “make” enough to use towards Christmas each year.  I’m not talking about hundreds of dollars or even a hundred, but if you had $20 accumulated by the end of the year than that is one less person you have to buy for.  This is one idea I am going to try and implement in the little bit of time before we have Christmas this year and see what I can’t do!

 

Glade Coupons

Right now from Right@Home they have $8 in Glade printable coupons.  You have to join Right@Home which is SC Johnson so check it out, sign up and print your coupons.  Just remember to hit the back button three times after they print the first time so you can get two of each. 

Normally paired up with a Target coupon or a drug store sale you can get these items super cheap or even better, FREE! 

RDU Groupon

Today’s Groupon is $30 worth of merchandise at shoebuy.com for only $15.

·         Does include sale items

·         Cannot be combined with other offers

·         Shipping is FREE within the US

·         Can be used across multiple orders

·         Expires in one year

They not only have shoes, but other items as well so check out their site before ordering and see if you think it’s worth it.  Think Christmas!!!  I do like that if I buy something today for $20 that I’m not forced to get something right then to bring my total up to $30 and you don’t forfeit the balance by not using the entire Groupon in one purchase.

Deals for Today

 Walmart deals of the week

Target deal of the week

One year subscription to Parents magazine on Tanga for $6.99.  Use the coupon code PARENTS.

Free Sears gift card to help with Christmas for active duty military between October 13, 2010 and December 31, 2010

Office Depot has just released a $10/$20 coupon!

Free full sized Mary Kay mascara (and more) when you text MARYKAY to 467467.

Eight ways to make money online by Blogging with Amy

Motivated Moms has 2010 Chore Planners marked down to $2.  Use coupon code LLNOE to get $1 off making them only $1.  (Sample Pages)

Free eBook The Simple Dollar: How One Man Wipes Out His Debts and Achieved the Life of His Dreams

Pampers Gift to Grow 50 points code = 2BEGINEARNING50

 

Target Deal on Curel

There is a great deal at Target right now on the Curel Sensitive Remedy lotions. This is based on the store having this on clearance which clearance items can vary store to store. Either way check it out and see if this deal is profitable enough for you!

Buy (2) Curel Sensitive Remedy Lotions (9.4 oz) clearance to $3.28 each

Use (2) $2/1 Curel coupons from 10/10 SS

Use (2) $1/1 Curel skin lotion Target store coupons

Spend .56 + tax OOP

Get $5 Gift Card back

Weight Loss Bandwagon

I have jumped onto the weight loss bandwagon again.  I am determined to get rid of these last fifteen pounds that plague me and to tone up and look better in a bathing suit.  I figure if I start now instead of the beginning of the year I will make healthier choices through the holidays and influx of horrible (but delicious) food that I will be faced with. 

I am counting my calories, working out and drinking water.  The good ole fashioned, tried and true way to lose weight.  I track everything on Spark People.  I will be making a group on there and will post once I form it so you can join me in my quest to look great and make my husband drool! 

I don’t deprive myself but try to make healthy choices and I am rejoicing in any temptation that I turn down.  So far today I have…

·         Talked myself out of going through drive thru this morning and getting a biscuit for breakfast (saved 400 calories minimum)

·         I have turned down birthday cake even when it was already cut and set on my desk when I got back from class (saved another 400 calories minimum)

·         I have turned down movie theater popcorn (probably about 100 calories)

All in all I have turned down 900 calories (minimum) today and 3500 calories is equivalent to a pound of fat so that equals ¼ of a pound!  Not to mention that I am trying to keep my caloric intake around 1200 and I was EASILY eating 2500 per day.  Over a week’s time using those figures I should lose 2.6 pounds not including the calories I burn working out. 

Did you know that not getting enough water can inhibit you from burning calories?  Your body has to be properly hydrated in order to be able to burn those calories so make sure you are drinking enough water and this should help out tremendously.

I am going to get off my soliloquy for now, but look in the next few days for a page to be added to my blog to keep up with the weight loss, working out, calories, etc.  I am so excited to be headed in the right direction again. 

Please join me for some moral support!!

CVS Deals

Here are the deals for CVS…

Azo Itch Relief $6.99 Earn 5 ECBs Limit 5 (month-long deal)
-$2/1 AZO Itch Relief Maximum Strength
=FREE + .01 cent overage after coupon and ECBs!

Colgate Total Advanced or Enamel Toothpaste $2.99 Earn 2.99 ECBs Limit 2
-$0.75/1 Colgate Toothpaste 10/3/2010 SS Insert (exp 10/23/2010)
=FREE + .75 overage after coupon and ECBs!

Dial or Tone Bar Soap 2-3 pk $1.99 Earn 1 ECB Limit 1
-$1 Dial Bar Multi-Pack or Liquid Hand Soap 10/10/2010 RP Insert (exp 11/28/2010)
=FREE + .01 cent overage after coupon and ECBs!

Garnier Nutritioniste Spend $20 Earn 10 ECBs Limit 1
-Multiple Garnier Printable and Insert Coupons

Gillette Shaving Items Spend $15 Earn 5 ECBs Limit 1
-$1/1 Gillette Fusion Shave Prep 9/26/2010 P&G Insert (exp 10/31/2010)
-$2/1 Gillette ProSeries Skin Care Product 9/26/2010 P&G Insert (exp 10/31/2010)
-$2/1 Gillette Fusion ProGlide Manual Power Razor 9/26/2010 P&G Insert (exp 10/31/2010)

P&G Products page 1 Spend $25 Earn 10 ECBs Limit 1
Bounty Paper Towels 8pk $6.99
-$1/1 Bounty Paper Towels P&G What Matters Most Mailer (exp 11/30/2010)
Charmin 16 pk $9.99
-$1/1 Charmin Basic Upromise eCoupons
-$0.25/1 Charmin Bath Tissue 10/10/2010 P&G Insert (exp 11/30/2010)
Downy or Bounce $5.97
-$1/1 Downy Fabric Liquid Softener 9/26/2010 P&G Insert (exp 10/31/2010)
-$0.50/1 Bounce 9/26/2010 P&G Insert (exp 10/31/2010)
Tide or Gain $10.97
-$2/1 Tide Laundry Detergent Redbook Magazine (exp 10/31/2010)
-$1/1 Tide Detergent 9/26/2010 P&G Insert (exp 10/31/2010)
-$1/1 Gain Laundry Detergent 10/10/2010 P&G Insert (exp 11/30/2010)

My deal scenario for the $25 P&G Deal…

Buy (3) Downy @ 5.97 ea (17.91)

Buy (1) Charmin toilet papers @ 9.99 (27.90)

Use (3) $1 coupons from 09/26/10 P&G (24.90)

Use (1) .25 coupon from 10/10/10 P&G (24.65)

Get back $10.00 ECBs (14.65)

If you already have some ECBs in your stash this will sweeten this deal!  I plan on using a $5 ECB and $1.50 I have left on the Hillshire Farm Visa gift card, so I will spend $18.15 and get $10 ECBs back.  That is not the best deal, but I am almost in desperate need of some fabric softener!

Quaker Oats Products 2/$5 Earn 2 ECBs Limit 2
-$1/1 Quaker Oats Hearty Medleys
-$2/1 Quaker Chewy Granola Bars 9/19/2010 RP Insert (exp 11/13/2010)
-$1/1 Quaker Instant Oatmeal 9/12/2010 RP Insert (exp 12/31/2010)
=FREE + $1 overage for Granola Bars after 2 $2 coupons and ECBs!

Spend $10 Earn 3 ECBs on Select Biore, Jergens, Curel or John Frieda Products (psa $6) Limit 1
-$2/1 John Frieda Hair Care 10/10/2010 SS Insert (exp 12/4/2010)
-$2/1 John Frieda Sheer Blonde or Brilliant Brunette Product
-$2/1 Jergens Overnight Repair Moisturizer 10/10/2010 SS Insert (exp 12/4/2010)
-$2/1 Curel 10/10/2010 SS Insert (exp 12/4/2010)
-$2/1 Biore Cleanser 10/10/2010 SS Insert (exp 1/31/2011)

Other Deals

Accu-Chek Aviva Monitor $9.99 Earn $9.99 Mail-in-Rebate
=FREE after rebate!

Dawn Hand Renewal $.97 Limit 3
-$0.50/1 Dawn Hand Renewal Dish Liquid 9/26/2010 P&G Insert (exp 10/31/2010)
-$1/1 Dawn Hand Renewal P&G Home Made Simple Mailer (exp 4/30/2011)
=as little as FREE or .47 cents after coupon!

(if you need dish detergent use the $1.00 Gain dish detergent coupon from the 10/10/10 P&G  to get it free at Walmart OR save for HT’s next super doubles because they have the large bottles for $1.99 so you could get the big bottle for free.)

Garnier Herbashine Hair Color $5.99
-$3/1 Garnier HerbaShine Color Cremec
-$3/1 Garnier Herbashine or Nutrisse Color Cream 9/12/2010 RP Insert (exp 12/31/2010)
=$2.99 after coupon!

Lindsay Olives $1
-$1/2 Lindsay Olive Product Family Circle Sep 2010 (exp 3/31/2011)
-$1/1 Lindsay Olives Printable
=.50 cents-FREE depending on your coupon!

Pampers Cruisers $8.99 Limit 3
-$1/1 Pampers Diapers 9/26/2010 P&G Insert (exp 10/31/2010)
=$7.99 after coupon

Purex Buy One Get One Free (3-in-1 Laundry Sheets are $7.99)
-$3/1 Purex 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets 10/10/2010 RP Insert (exp 11/6/2010)
=$1.99 for two 3-in-1 laundry sheets after two coupons!

Renuzit Adjustables $.88
-B3G3 Renuzit Adjustables Air Fresheners 10/10/2010 RP Insert (exp 10/24/2010)
=$2.64 for six or .44 cents each after coupon!

Softsoap Body Wash Buy One Get One Free
-$1/1 Softsoap Brand Body Wash 10/3/2010 SS Insert (exp 10/23/2010)

Welch’s or Jif Buy One Get One Free
-Welch’s and Jif Coupons

This is from The Thrifty Mama website.

 

RDU Groupon

Today’s Groupon is $7 for $15 worth of food at Havana Grill.  Havana Grill is located in Cary at 404 W Chatham Street.  I have never been there so I can’t tell you anything about it but it seems like a good deal if you are ever out that way.  It says they also have a heated outdoor patio, so that could be nice!

There is a side deal for $10 for six beginner group swing dance classes at Hot Club in Durham.  This is normally $75 so the savings is awesome!

Also another side deal for $19 admission to Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover live.  This is a GREAT deal.  I’ve heard a lot about Dave Ramsey and everyone (from what I’ve heard) sings his praises and is given great lessons on how to live debt free.  Definitely worth checking into!

CVS Trip

I did a CVS trip last night because I had a rain check on the Gillette Custom Plus razors for $5.97 (better price than even Walmart) and I had coupons... $3 off, so that's a great deal. Plus, we needed milk and I don't have all my coupons together to hit the grocery store so we hit up CVS. Here's what the trip looked like money wise...

(3) 10 pks Gillette Custom Plus razors @ 5.97 each
1 gallon milk @ 3.59
1 pk of boot laces (hubs needed them)
Subtotal was $25 (and change)
Used $4/20 ECB = 21
Used (3) %3 coupon = 12
Used $7 ECB = 5
Used $1 ECB = 4
Total was $3.50 (exactly) after all coupons and ECBs
Used a $5 Visa gift card I got from Hillshire farm
Total OOP = FREE!!

Now going to head inside and do all of my coupons and get them straight. It's been a few weeks since I've done them so I'm super behind and need to get caught up while on fall break from school.

Hope you're having a great day!!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

If you missed my posts on homemade laundry detergent you can find them here and here. I just realized that I never posted the recipe for it. What a dunce!

Here is the recipe for the homemade laundry detergent...

You will need...
(1) 5 gallon bucket & lid
(1) bar soap (not the glycerin type!!!)
1 Cup Borax
1 Cup Washing Soda

Step 1. Grate the soap into a pot using a cheese grater and cover with water. Boil on high, stirring constantly, until the soap is melted.

Step 2. Add the Borax and Washing Soda to the mix until dissolved (you can add more water if necessary so feel free to use a big pot)

Step 3. Pour the mixture into your 5 gallon bucket and fill up half way with hot tap water and mix thoroughly.

Step 4. Fill the rest of the way with hot tap water until your bucket is filled and mix again.

Step 5. Let it cool, put the lid on and let sit overnight.

You will have to cut the detergent with water, equal parts, before using. It will have the consistency of egg whites when you pour it so don't worry about that! Use about 1/4 cup for an HE washer and about 5/8 (just a little over half a cup) for a regular washer.

I ordered some plastic bottles and lids from US Plastics to go ahead and bottle all of my detergent. For twenty half gallon bottles and lids was $17 and change, including shipping. You can just recycle your old laundry detergent bottles too if you just rinse them out to save even more.

I had concerns while making this that my pot would then taste like soap, but this is not the case, so no worries! I even used one that was nonstick and still no residue or after taste!

I have been using my homemade laundry detergent for months and love it. I love that I don't have to worry about whether or not I need to spend $10 this week on a bottle of detergent and then get irritated when my husband uses more than what I think he should and thus "wasting" it! That is completely my opinion but if you are watching your pennies and trying to cut costs, this definitely helps!!

Check here for a post on homemade dishwasher detergent. I haven't done this yet, but I'm thinking about it. I'm really thinking about just washing all of our dishes by hand since I have AT LEAST ten bottles of dish detergent that I've gotten for free.

Now, hopefully later today/tonight I will be posting some more information on how I cut corners in order to shave from our budget, especially on groceries and some great information on how I keep organized.

Organized Christmas

As you can tell today I am on a mission to get organized.  Here is a wonderful site called Organized Christmas.  I highly suggest you peruse the documents available on this site.  They seem wonderful!!!  I am printing them out as we speak!

Here’s to an organized Christmas!

Organomics

I ran across a great website today that has many lists that you might find helpful.  Smead Organomics has many, many good printable lists.  You should check them out and see if any of them will work for you.  I printed the house cleaning list for this weekend to give me a good challenge.  I am going to do it by this list this weekend and see what things I would add to it and then I will make my own that works for me.   

Beauty & the Beast Deal

You must cash in on this deal (can’t be beat really)!  Print out the $10 coupon for Beauty and the Beast Blu Ray and DVD combo pack.  You have to be a Disney Movie Rewards member.  If you aren’t, just take a second and sign up.

Next you can go to one of two places… Toys R Us or Walmart

Toys R Us price is $22.99

Use the $10 coupon

OOP $12.99 + tax

Also at Toys R Us when you buy any Disney movie you get a free coupon book.  It appears to be one of “Disney Origin”.

Walmart

Take the Toys R Us printed ad (from the paper)

They will price match the $22.99 Toys R Us advertised price

Use the $10 coupon

OOP $12.99 + tax

If you don’t have the Toys R Us ad or don’t have a Toys R Us around you then the price is $24.96 and with the coupon is $14.96.

I did some price comparisons online and this is what I saw in the weekly ads (online) but still the paper ads nonetheless. 

Kmart priced $29.99 – 10.00 = $19.99. 

Best Buy priced $24.99 – 10.00 = $14.99

Target priced $25.99 – 10.00 = $15.99

 

Just a Few Deals

I just wanted to give you a few deals that I’ve run across today…

100 free 4x6 prints from Snapfish using promo code OCT10PRNT

Pampers Gift to Grow code worth 50 points = GIFTSTOGROW4MOM

Sign up for Hot Prints to get your free MONTHLY photo book (you  get one every month)

Reportedly Cheese Nips are $1 at Walmart (rollback) and there is a $1/2 coupon at coupons.com so this would make it .50 ea when you buy two boxes.

If you are a member of Vocal Point you should sign in and sign up for your free box of Barilla Plus pasta.  Sign up if you are new and see if available.

On Vista Print you can get 140 free address labels and only pay the $3.10 is shipping & handling.  (check out the free deals)

New Huggies Enjoy the Ride code (5 pts) = BJQTWZMFQJWFPGB

 

Ulta Gift Set

Ulta has a great make up set on sale right now.  It is normally 24.99 but on sale for 19.99 and says it has a value of $200!  If you didn’t save your flier in the paper or if you don’t get the one mailed to you there is one online here that you can print out for $5 off!  So you can get this make up set for $14.99!!!  Think ahead for a Christmas present!

If you sign up for the Ulta Rewards program (or are already a member and scan your card) you will get 4 points for every dollar you spend, so 56 points.  I am doing this based on pre-tax subtotal because I don’t know if it’s based off that or the entire total. 

If you did get your ad in the mail there is a coupon for $3.50 off and 3x the rewards (FYI… in the middle of the mailer there is yet another coupon for 3x the reward points on all your purchases during this promotion, expires 10/23/10).  You have two ways you can do this transaction if you are a rewards member and got the flier in the mail…

Buy the kit for $19.99, use the $3.50 off/3x rewards points, would mean $16.49 OOP and 192 points.

OR you can buy the kit for $19.99, use the $5 printable coupon AND the 3x bonus points coupon from the middle of the flyer, spend $14.99 OOP and get 168 points.  I will probably do this transaction.  Least OOP expense and good deal on rewards.

Rewards scale

500 points = $4.00 off

1000 points = $9.00 off

2000 points = $20.00 off

3000 points = $32.00 off

4000 points = $45.00 off

7500 points = $100.00 off

 

 

P&G Cooking Up Early Detection

I had a catalina print out at Harris Teeter with the following promotion…

Purchase $25 or more worth of qualifying products IN ONE TRANSACTION and receive a Free P&G Pink Cooking Set!

Participating products include:
• Align
• Always
• Aussie
• Bounce
• Bounty
• Cascade
• Charmin
• Cheer
• Clairol
• Cover Girl
• Crest
• Dawn
• Downy
• Duracell
• Era
• Febreze
• Fixodent
• Gain
• Gillette
• Head & Shoulders
• Herbal Essences
• Iams
• Ivory
• Joy
• Kandoo
• Luvs
• Max Factor
• Metamucil
• Mr. Clean
• Natural Instincts
• Nice & Easy
• Olay
• Old Spice
• Oral B
• Pampers
• Pantene
• Pepto Bismol
• Prilosec OTC
• Pringles
• Puffs
• Pur
• Safeguard
• Scope
• Secret
• Swiffer
• Tampax
• Tide
• Vicks
• Zest

Send: Name, address, zip code and phone number, along with the ONE RECEIPT dated between 9/20 – 10/17/10.

Stores that are NOT participating are: Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, WalMart and Target.  The receipts from these stores will not be honored for this program.

Most grocery stores are participating (call to confirm your local grocer) as well as K-Mart.

Receive a free Cookware Set from Good Cook’s Hope Line including the following (just a reminder that all of these items are PINK as it is for breast cancer awareness… they are hoping cooking with pink items will remind you to “Save the Boobies”!)

• Classic Balloon Whisk
• Nylon Scrub Brush (2 piece)
• Saucepan with lid, (2qt)
• Three Piece Mini Tool Set (spatula, slotted spoon looks like a rounded spatula)

Mail to:

Cookware Offer
P.O. Box 49461
Strongsville OH 44149-0461

Must be postmarked by 11/13/10 and received by 11/27/10 (per the Terms and Conditions on the catalina)

To confirm you can call (866) 315 - 2203

 

 

RDU Day Care Groupon

Do you know anyone who lives out towards the 55 and Highhouse/Green Level Rd. area and needs or uses day care?  There is an AWESOME deal on Groupon today for the Childcare at Little Pros Academy West Cary.  You can get four weeks of daycare starting at $234.  The $234 is the price of the entire four weeks of day care (not weekly cost) and INCLUDES the registration fee!!!  I only wish we lived out closer to that area because I would put Brynn in there in a heartbeat to see how she likes day care.  Only if the one at Tryon and Cary Pkwy were doing it!

 

Here’s the stuff from Groupon for more information…

 

CLICK HERE FOR THE DEAL!!

 

The Fine Print

• Expires Dec 9, 2010
• Must register by 12/9.
• Limit 1 per student.
• May buy 3 more for age 6wks-1year, 4 more for age 1-2, 7 more for age 2-3, 8 more for age 3-4 & 11 more for age 4-5.
• Valid for age level purchased and listed location only.
• Must use 4 weeks consecutively.

Today's side deal gets you a four-week childcare session from Little Pros Academy in West Cary. Choose from the following five options:

• For $304, you get four weeks of full-time childcare for ages six weeks to one year (up to a $1,366 value)
• For $284, you get four weeks of full-time childcare for ages 1–2 (up to a $1,286 value)
• For $250, you get four weeks of full-time childcare for ages 2–3 (up to a $1,150 value)
• For $234, you get four weeks of full-time preschool for ages 3–4 (up to a $1,086 value)

·         For $234, you get four weeks of full-time pre-kindergarten for ages 4–5 (up to a $1,086 value)

·         Registration fee (up to a $150 value) is included with your Groupon

• Brand new facility features daily or weekly enrichment programs, including Spanish, language arts, technology, and movement & sports
• Drop off your child as early as 7 a.m. and pick up by 6 p.m. every weekday

Must begin classes within two months of today. Valid for West Cary location only.

RDU Groupon

 Today’s Groupon is $99 for three laser hair removal treatments at Bella Trio Day Spa which is up to a $600 value which makes it a 84% discount.  Bella Trio is located at 5826 Fayetteville Road Suite 103 in Durham (27713). 

 Also appears to be a side deal… $25 for paintball premium package at Xtreme Kombat which is a $70 value!  This might be a good present for a man in your life (or boy!).

My Weekend Goal

My weekend goal is to learn how to use Google Docs so I can put stuff out there that I use and then you can have access to them for your own use!  I have so many forms and lists and such that I come up with that it has to be helpful or useful to someone other than myself!

I’m such a nerd when it comes to stuff like that, but for some reason people still like me!  Hope you are up for a good weekend!  I know I am… I don’t have to clean.  I have hired a lady to come in and clean the house.  I feel like a slacker for doing that, but more on that later.  I have to concentrate on getting down my to do list that I have been longing to get to and will possibly have the time this weekend since I won’t be scrubbing and cleaning every nook and cranny that is in my house.

Have a great day!

Aldi's Deals for the Week

Baker’s Corner 4-n-1 Halloween Sprinkle Jar – 2.99

Baker’s Corner Halloween Frosting – 1.29

Baker’s Corner Halloween Confetti Cake Mix - .95

L’Oven Fresh Mini Cupcakes – 1.99

Bake House creations Halloween Sugar Cookie Dough – 1.99

Southern Grove Peanuts & Candy Corn Mix – 1.99

Hallween Orange Cream Soda – 1.79

PurAqua Purified Water – 2.79

Bake House Creations Halloween Cookie Dough – 1.99

Bake House Creations Halloween Cinnamon Rolls – 1.49

Bake House Creations Halloween Cinnamon Twists – 1.79

Benton’s Haunted House Kit – 6.99

Children’s Halloween Costumes – 12.99

Blue Motion Girls’ Opaque Tights – 2.99

Autumn Tableware – .99

Renwick Fall Candle Assortment – 4.99

Happy Harvest Chili Style Diced Tomatoes - .49

Happy Harvest Whole Tomatoes – .89

Brookdale Chili with Beans – 1.19

Chef’s Cupboard Family Size Soup – 1.19

Chef’s Cupboard Soups – 1.99

Chef’s Cupboard Hearty Soup or Chili Mix – 1.69

Chef’s Cupboard Refrigerated Soups – 3.69

Plats du Chef French Onion Soup – 3.99

Savoritz Soup, Chili & Chowder Crackers – 1.69

Savoritz Cornbread Crackers – 1.29

Kirkwood Boneless Buffalo Style Zings Chicken – 4.99

Bremer Select Dinner Size Italian Meatballs – 4.99

Sea Queen Breaded Fish Strips – 2.99

Mama Cozzi’s Pizza Kitchen Deep Dish Mini Pizzas – 2.29

Cooper’s Toasted Ravioli – 2.69

Season’s Choice Sweet Potato Fries – 1.89

Blue Horizon Pasta – 3.99

Bremer Frozen Rice - .99

Reggano Pasta Skillet Dinners - .89

Fit & Active Light Cranberry Juice – 2.29

Nature’s Nectar 100% Apple Juice (Caprisun-esque drinks) – 2.29

Beaumont Flavored Coffee Creamer – 1.29

Earthwise Electric Chain Saw – 39.99

Earthwise Electric Blower/Vacuum – 34.99

Gardenline Lopper and Mini Shear Set – 7.99

Gardenline Expandable Garden Bag – 6.99

Gardenline Telescopic Rake or Broom – 3.99

Workzone 32 Piece Screwdriver Set – 7.99

Workzone 16 Piece Wrench Set – 9.99

Wells Lamont Work Gloves – 4.99

Adventuridge Mens’ Hooded Sweatshirt – 14.99

Adventuridge Men’s Stell Toe Work Boots – 24.99

Fruit of the Loom Men’s Work Socks – 4.29

WD 40 Oil – 2.49

Fall Holiday Flower Assortment – 4.99

** The below items may Not be available at all locations **

O’Donnells White Chocolate Cream Liqueur – 8.99

Crofton Utility Heater – 14.99

Adventuridge Men’s Work Coat – 29.99

Burrylane Ladies’ Fleece Lined Hoodie – 12.99

 

 

Link to Get You Thinking

DIY Natural is a site that I found some information on a few months back regarding homemade laundry detergent and then it populate for a search I did for the homemade dishwasher detergent.  Matt Jabs says a few things that caught my eye…

“I do not publish any homemade product recipes until they are tried, tested, & approved by both me and my wife!”

“This post is just another small step toward another form of independence – another notch in the self-reliance belt if you will.  It’s about changing our mindsets to encourage creative thought.  It’s also about family fun time together.”

I think I am going to peruse the site and see what else is out there that we can make for ourselves.

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

I am so tired of paying so much for dishwasher detergent!  I found it for a great deal many many many moons ago and bought six things of it, but those have now run out and I was forced to pay almost full price for dishwasher detergent.  I have contemplated many times on whether or not I should just stop using the dishwasher because I have so much Dawn that I have netted for free (or just tax) with sales and coupons.  Seriously, I have at least TEN THINGS of dish soap under my sink.  Whilst reading my daily email from Money Saving Mom today there was an entry on how she found a recipe for making your own dishwasher detergent, so I perused it and am thinking that it might just work. 

Ingredient list

::  1 Cup Borax

::  1 Cup Washing Soda

::  ½ Cup Kosher Salt

::  ½ Cup Citric Acid

Directions

::  Put all ingredients into a container with a tight fitting lid and shake.

::  Use about 1 TB per load

::  Pour some white vinegar into the "rinse aid" compartment of your dishwasher. This will help to keep your dishes from having a "cloudy" look!

Julie also states on her site, Flitterbugs, “If you do a bit of research on homemade detergent, you will find lots of "controversy" as to how well it works. Apparently, much of this has to do with what type of water you have. Also, it is debated as to whether or not borax is "good" for the dishwasher, as it can build up in your plumbing. Dig a little deeper, and you will find that all commercial dishwashing detergents have a borax-like ingredient....they just also have a chemical to keep the plumbing clear. It is a good idea to every month or so use a regular detergent for just one cycle to clean out the buildup. Enjoy!”

I made my own laundry detergent a while back and it’s worked out great so why wouldn’t this?  I’m not sure what hubs is going to think about this venture, but why not?  I don’t think that I really spend that much on dishwasher detergent each year… let’s say an average of $4 (paired with sale and coupon) for a thing of the packets, tabs, gel packs, whatever you call them as we don’t use the liquid stuff.  One thing last for about two months, so $4 x 6 = $24 per year.  Is that really worth the time and effort to make my own?  It doesn’t sound like it takes much time or effort and I already have all the ingredients less the citric acid.  I wonder how much that is?  I could probably get away with getting the liquid detergent and probably not spend as much and cut my cost without having to worry about making this stuff.  I don’t know… I have to find out how much citric acid is first.

Here’s another helpful link for homemade dishwasher detergent.  I’ve checked out this site before and it is extremely helpful for homemade alternatives and a wealth of information.

 

 

Operation Christmas Child

This year I have decided that Aly is old enough to start learning that Christmas is not all about Santa bringing a bunch of presents, but is about giving, especially to those that are less fortunate than we are.  I have decided this year that we will be contributing to Operation Christmas Child.

Operation Christmas Child is where you fill a shoe box with small gifts, toys, hygiene items, etc. and wrap with Christmas paper and they get sent to a child in a different country who otherwise probably wouldn’t receive any gifts. 

Here are the basics on the program…

::  Determine which age/sex you are buying for

::  Fill a shoebox with little things

::  Include a note (picture if you want) to the child and include your address, you might get a letter back

::  Wrap the box and lid separately

::  Put a rubber band around the box

::  Put a label on the box (denoting who you are preparing it for)

::  Include a donation of $7 (or more) per box

::  Drop off at a location near you

That is all you have to do! 

Helpful links

::  Operation Christmas Child home page

::  Directions on how to prepare your box and labels

::  EZ Give option (can track your box) and labels

::  Find drop off location near you

To help Aly understand this concept I am going to get on the OCC website and tell her about it and explain what it is, what they are doing, who the kids are, what their lives are like, how they wouldn’t have any Christmas presents otherwise and stuff like that.  I think putting pictures with the words will help her little mind understand it better.

 

Lyrical Friday

We are going with a Lyrical Friday this week.  I normally rock out to some music at work on Fridays.  My play list is very diverse and includes a lot of various music types that some might be surprised to hear from me!  Regardless… Here is the first one for the day.  See if you can’t figure it out!

“They can beg and they can plead but they can’t see the light cause the boy with the cold hard cash is always Mr. Right!”

Open Table

Have you ever used Open Table?  It’s a website where you make your reservations for restaurants.  You have to choose from the ones that use their services but this is great!  You don’t have to wait on the phone to see if they have it or when they will have something close to it.  All of the information is right there at your fingertips now via your computer. 

I joined Open Table because I found a link by searching a restaurant we know we wanted to visit, so I joined and made the reservation online.  Then I see that you can accumulate points for making and KEEPING your reservations!  How awesome is that?  Most places are only 100 points, but evidently there are some that offer 1,000 points!

Here is the breakdown on the points for our area and the reward.

2,000 Points = $20 Open Table Dining Cheque
5,000 Points = $50 Open Table Dining Cheque
10,000 Points = $100 Open Table Dining Cheque

The “cheques” can be used at any Open Table restaurant.  They expire 180 days after you get it.  BUT the best part is that your points don’t expire unless your account has been inactive for 12 months.  You could really rack up some points this way and cash out for a really nice dinner somewhere. 

I checked the locations that participate in the Raleigh area and they are in all price ranges which is nice.  I am going to keep my eye out for the ones that offer 1,000 points for visiting.  This way we can rack up some good points for free meals!  There are some strings attached to the bonus points… but they seem easy enough to meet!

::  Must have two people

::  Must both order an entrée (or equivalent)

::  If reservation made for two people but only one shows the bonus points will not be given.

Looking around the website I also saw that they have a mobile app for smart phones so I am going to download that onto my BB so when we are on the go we can also see if we can rack up some points when we need to find somewhere to eat.  Hmmm… maybe this is going to be a good deal.  Maybe not.  But it’s worth a shot!

 

 

 

Toys R Us Trip

I went to Toys R Us on my break for work and here is what I got…

 

::  (1) My Little Pony RC car @ 14.99

::  (1) Color Wonder Travel Tote @ 9.99

::  (1) Color Wonder Painting Disney @ 12.99

::  (1) Operation @ 7.99

::  (1) Connect 4 @ 7.99

 

Deducted 12.99 for the Crayola Deal

$5/$25 Coupon

(2) $4 Coupons for games

(1) $5 Coupon on MLP RC car

 

Total OOP = $25.75

 

** Crayola Deal:  Buy 9.99 worth of Crayola products and get the Color Wonder Painting Disney set (12.99 value) for free