The Frugal Life of a Mom Gets the Stylish Blogger Award!

Yay! The Frugal Life of a Mom has been presented with The Stylish Blogger Award, many thanks to Quality Time with Jenni.

The rules for accepting this award:
1. Thank & link back to the person who awarded you this.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pay it forward to 10 recently discovered great bloggers.
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their award.
So here are 7 Things about myself:

1. I'm not a cat person (except for Spaz, the neighbor cat).
2. I am a food addict, which is why I need Weight Watchers.
3. I am singing along to the new Kesha CD in my van right now (not right at this moment, but currently that is the CD that is in my van)
4. I LOVE LOVE LOVE couponing and sharing my deals with you all.
5. I work from home as a medical transcriptionist.
6. I am the oldest and prettiest of three (I DO have two handsome brothers). :)
7. I am a proud mama of three and married to the love of my life for 17 years.

Here are the 10 blogs I'd like to share this award with!

1.  The Coupon Posse' (You gals have THE best local blog. What a great Posse' of ladies you are)
2.  The Repurpose Project (I love your craft ideas)
3.  The Coupon Goddess (You are sooooo funny)
4.  Happy Money Saver (I LOVE all of your recipes, from homemade baby wipes to Chicken Soup)
5.  Keeping Cents (I love the deals you come across)
6.  Savvy Spending (You have great info on your blog)
7.  107 Down (I love that you are sharing your weight loss journey with the rest of us)
8.  Frugal Chic Living (I love your Fred Meyer posts)
9.  Thrifty and Thriving (I love your Target posts)
10.  The Thrifty Home (One of the best craft blogs on the block)

Thanks Quality Time With Jenni for this AWESOME award!

Cheryl

Are You Trying to Get Financially Organized?

Photo courtesy of Dittle Dattle

Well, I came across some really good information and some helpful tips over at Dittle Dattle. Carrie over at Dittle Dattle has come up with a Dave Ramsey Inspired Financial Notebook. If you are maybe having a hard time getting started and don't know where to begin, I highly recommend you hopping on over to her blog and seeing what ideas she has come up with. This is VERY interesting and I think it could be very useful. She even offers FREE (you know I'm all about FREE) printable pages so that you can set up your own financial notebook if you want.

Thanks Dittle Dattle!

Cheryl

Albertsons = Hot Quaker Sale!

Yay, it looks like the Quaker sales are starting up. Anyone know if we are getting doublers this weekend? If we do, this sale is EVEN better. Okay, check this out.......

Starting Friday, January 21st (the Catalina does NOT start until Friday, January 21 and runs through 2/13/11) at Albertsons, you can get Quaker Oatmeal for only $0.30 per box.  Here's how:

Quaker Instant Oatmeal, $2.50 x 5
-$1.00 off from 1/2 RedPlum or recent Printable (NLA) x 5
-$3.00 instant Albertsons Discount
=$4.50, get back a $3.00 Catalina – that’s like paying $0.30 each!

Then, you and "roll" your Catalina to use on your next order. So, do it again and EVEN less OOP (out of pocket)!

This sale is going to be HOT.  You REALLY might want to consider ordering extra coupons and then make sure you place a "special" order with Albertson's so you are able to get "yours." So, as you can see, if we get doublers, this could EVEN BE BETTER! :)

**Remember that if you want to deal with "coupon friendly" to check out the Albertsons in Liberty Lake. They are AWESOME!

Thanks Frugal Chic Living!

Cheryl

$1/1 Nestle Cookie Dough

Nestle Toll House has released a new coupon! Just go on here to print out a coupon for $1/1 Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough. YUM!

Thanks Hip2Save!

Cheryl

Product Comment

I know I have had a hard time lately keeping up with the product comments, but work has me sooooo busy right now that I am having a harder time keeping up with my blog. I hope you all understand. I'm trying here, but strugglin' a little.

Anyway, here is a product comment for you all.

Goldfish Crackers (Pepperidge Farm Crackers)-Thank you very much for making such a great brand of products. My family truly enjoys both the cookie and cracker (Goldfish) products. We look forward to enjoying them for a longtime. Thanks! Cheryl


Thanks!

Cheryl

Free Sample of John Frieda

I love these freebies! Sometimes they even come with coupons. Just go on over here to request your free sample. You even have the choice to pick from FIVE different samples. Yay!
 
Thanks!
 
Cheryl

Rite Aid Update

Blakey and I headed out to Rite Aid this morning as we had to drop Sadie off at the groomer's. She was looking pretty shaggy. Anyway, we thought that we would stop in at Rite Aid and see what kind of deals we could get and maybe see what kind of sale items they had in stock. We went to Rite Aid on Argonne and Mission and we went to Rite Aid on Sprague and Pines. Here is what we found out.

Rite Aid on Argonne

Had a few facial tissue.
Did not have any of the 4-packs of the Simplify Toilet Paper, and I can't remember if they had any of the single rolls of the TP that was on sale, but I wanna say that they didn't.
Did have T.G.I. Friday Snacks. FYI, in case you are not aware of the sale, they are on sale for $0.97 and then you get a $1 +UP Reward back from buying it. So, essentially, it is FREE! There is a limit of how many you can purchase, and I believe it is fix.
No Dixie Paper plates.

Rite Aid on Sprague

Had a few facial tissue, but the limit was one per person.
I don't believe they had any TP. To tell you the truth, I'm not 100% sure on this.
They had a few of the Dixie Paper plates, but they were not the ultra. The RA coupon says for Ultra.

However, I was there at 10 o'clock this morning, but I still wanted to share with you all.

Thanks!

Cheryl

Some Printables I Came Across This Morning

Here you go....

$0.55/1 Sue Bee Honey (Pair this up with the sale at Fred Meyer for some cheap honey)
$0.75/1 One box of Sunbelt Cereal
$0.50/2 Totino's Products
$5/1 Zantac
$1/1 Cetaphil

Thanks Coupon Geek, Printable Coupons and Deals!

Cheryl

Rite Aid

Just wanted to give you a heads up that, if you can still find the Rite Aid TP and Tissue, that I am hearing reports that Rite Aid has limited the amount of +UPs you are able to get. The limit I am hearing is four. So, if you buy more than four, it sounds like you will not get more than four +UP Rewards.

Thanks!

Cheryl

B1G1 Free Minute Maid Coupon

Here is an awesome coupon! Just go on over to the Minute Maid Facebook page, “like” them, and click on the “MMOJO” tab to print a buy one Minute Maid Orange Juice 64 fl oz Carton get one FREE coupon (BOGO).


Thanks Hip2Save!

Cheryl

Being a Girl Sample Pack Available AGAIN

The Being a Girl Sample Pack is available again. This comes with ....

3 Tampax Pearl Tampons (1 Regular, 1 Light, 1 Compak Light)
2 Always Ultra Thin Pads (1 Regular, 1 Long/Super)
2 Always Thin Liners

Just go on over here and sign up. If you have done this before, as I have, you should be able to do it again. I was able to request it again. :)


Thanks Hip2Save!

Cheryl

Recipe=Homemade Oreos

I am sad to say that I will NOT be taking part in the making of this recipe as I am not sure that I would be able to limit myself and still be able to stay on plan, but I thought this looked SOOOOOO GOOD that you might want to make it. :) YUM!! I found this on My Baking Addiction. Wow, she can REALLY bake! :)

Homemade Oreos
makes 25-30 sandwich cookies

Ingredients

For the chocolate wafers:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa (I used Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 to 1 1/2 cups sugar [see recipe note]
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) room-temperature, unsalted butter
1 large egg

For the filling:
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) room-temperature, unsalted butter
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (I used clear vanilla extract)
Optional- Gel dye

Method
1. Set two racks in the middle of the oven. Preheat to 375°F.
2. In a food processor, or bowl of an electric mixer, thoroughly mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda and powder, salt, and sugar. While pulsing, or on low speed, add the butter, and then the egg. Continue processing or mixing until dough comes together in a mass.
3. Take rounded teaspoons of batter and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet approximately two inches apart. With moistened hands, slightly flatten the dough. Bake for 9 minutes, rotating once for even baking. Set baking sheets on a rack to cool.
4. To make the cream, place butter and shortening in a mixing bowl, and at low speed, gradually beat in the sugar and vanilla. Turn the mixer on high and beat for 2 to 3 minutes until filling is light and fluffy. (Optional: Blend in a tiny bit of gel dye until you reach the desired color.)
5. To assemble the cookies, in a pastry bag with a 1/2 inch, round tip, pipe teaspoon-size blobs of cream into the center of one cookie. Place another cookie, equal in size to the first, on top of the cream. Lightly press, to work the filling evenly to the outsides of the cookie. Continue this process until all the cookies have been sandwiched with cream. Dunk generously in a large glass of milk.
Notes:
-I used Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder instead of Dutch Processed.
-I used Wilton Gel Dye to color the centers.
-Once I measured out a rounded teaspoon of dough, I rolled the dough into small balls before baking.
-This recipe is slightly adapted from Smitten Kitchen and can be found at http://smittenkitchen.com/2007/05/my-kingdom-for-a-glass-of-milk/]

Wow, thank you for sharing My Baking Addiction!

Cheryl

FREE Hoodie from GroovyDo?

This should make for some nice freebies. I LOVE freebies!  There is a company called GroovyDo. It is powered by GeoDex.  Well, GroovyDo is going to offer a new, easy way to search, buy and share what’s local to you. Currently, GroovyDo is offering up the chance to become a GroovyDo Beta user.  A Beta user means that you will test GroovyDo when it comes out in a trial and provide feedback on how it can be better before GroovyDo is available to the world. So, even better, the first 100,000 people to sign-up to become Beta users WILL get a FREE GroovyDo Hoodie (pictured above) after the Beta Program is completed. If you’re interested in becoming a Beta tester, just go on over here and complete the form.

Thanks Hip2Save!

Cheryl

You can fill out a short survey for a FREE $5 Gift Card to PeeledSnacks.com. Just go on over here for the survey. You will also be automatically entered to win a box filled with all the new snacks. The gift card will be e-mailed within 2 days after the contest ends on 1/17, and a winner will be selected on 1/18.

You can also get FREE shipping when you sign-up for their newsletter!

Thanks Keeping Cents!

Cheryl

Hobby Lobby 40% Off of One Item

Here is another 40% off of one item at Hobby Lobby. Just go on over here to print it out or EVEN get the code for online ordering.

Thanks Keeping Cents!

Cheryl

Rite Aid is HOT!!

Yep, I took myself to Rite Aid this morning before going to Weight Watchers, and I took myself AFTER Weight Watchers to a different Rite Aid. Between the two stores, I did three separate transactions.  Here is what I came back with.

Trasactions #1 and #3 (from two different stores)



Transaction #2 from store #1.

Okay, here is what I did.

Transaction #1
Rite Aid Facial Tissue $1 X10
no coupon
= $10

Maalox $6.49 X2
-20% discount, makes them $5.19 each
-$5/1 from insert I ordered X2
= $0.38, making them $0.19 each!

Dixie Paper Plates $3.99 X2
-B1G1 free sale
-$3/2 from Rite Aid VV
=$0.99, making them $0.49/$0.50 each!

-$11 in +Up Rewards from previous transactions
=TOOP $0.37 plus $2.12 in tax (darn tax). :) I actually didn't pay anything out of pocket 'cause I just put it on a gift card that I have. So, FREEEEE for me! :) Plus, I made money too!!

Here is the deal. For each facial tissue you buy you get a $1 +UP Reward back, BUT wait a minute, that's not all. When you buy 10, you get a suprise $3 +UP Reward too. So, all-in-all, I got $13 in +UP Rewards back! So, I made money! :)

Transaction #3 (done at a different Rite Aid)
Rite Aid Facial Tissue $1 X4 (they have a limit of 4 tissue and toilet paper per person)
no coupon
=$4

Dixie Paper Plates $3.99 X2
-BOGO
-$2/2 from December VV
= $1.99, making them $0.99 each!

Sundown Vitamins $4.49 and $3.49
-BOGO
-$1/1 Rite Aid VV
-$3/2 printable from here (thanks Coupon Posse')
= $0.49, making them just $0.25 each! (Plus, these go towards your Resolution Rewards)

-$1/1 Resolution VV
-$4 in previous +UP Rewards

= TOOP $1.48 plus $0.91 tax. Plus I got back (4) $1 +UP Rewards for each tissue, (1) +UP Reward for the vitamins, ANNNNNNND I got my $20 +Up Resolution Reward!!!!! WAHOO!!! I WAS SUPER DUPER EXCITED AND SO they got to watch me do the happy dance. I REALLY did not think I was going to hit that mark. So, yay, I'm really made a profit on this order!

Okay, so Transaction #2 done at my first store.....

FYI-They have marked their Christmas stuff down to 90% off at both Argonne and Pines!

So, that was transaction #2.

I used NO coupons and spent $11.73 plus $1 in tax. I SAVED $107.10! I'm set on wrapping paper for next Christmas. I was a bit worried because we bought lots of wrapping paper last year at Walmart for super cheap, but they didn't have any this year, so I have wating AND watching. Look at the digital Christmas ornament. That was normally $15. I got it for $1.50! WOW!

I did pretty darn good today. Good luck. I hope you get what you want/need. :)

Cheryl

Cheap Wipes at Toys R Us/Babies R Us

Here's a good deal for a couple more days. So through Monday, January 17, 2011, Babies “R” Us and Toys “R” Us have 400-count boxes of BabyGanics Organic Baby Wipes on sale for only $5 per box when you buy two boxes.
They are priced at $10 per box, but when you buy one box, you get one free, making them only $5 per box!

Thanks Money Saving Mom!
 
Cheryl

$1/1 Angel Soft Printable

This is a good coupon. Just go on over here to print out a coupon for $1/1 (12-doubler roll or larger) of Angel Soft Bath Tissue.

Oh, make sure you use zip 20002.

Thanks The Coupon Posse'!

Cheryl

Old Navy Sale=Up to 80% Off!!

Remember how I was telling you all about Old Navy earlier this week? Well, guess what? If you want in on the sale, YOU CAN GET IN ON THE SALE! :) Yippe! starting today January 14th through January 17th, ALL Old Navy stores in the U.S. and Canada will be hosting a "Practically Free-For-All” Clearance Sale. :)You’ll be able to get up to 80% off when you take an extra 40% off already reduced items (like I did earlier this week to score some CHEAP wintercoats for the kids). One thing to remember is that this is valid in-store only. Go on over here to their Facebook page for more information.

Remember that if you DO go to make sure you dig up a coupon here from Barker's Bones. I dug one up that I used with my purchase and it was for $15 off of a $75 or more purchase. It was well worth it! :) If you do go, I would love to hear/see what you were able to score.

Okay, have fun!

Thanks Hip2Save!

Cheryl

Albertsons Liberty Lake

Well, I went out to visit my friends out at Liberty Lake Albertson's this afternoon. My friend was in there last night and was telling me about some great (clearance) deals that she had come across and so I wanted to go out, use my doublers, and see if I could find what she did. I was not able to, but did come across a few AWESOME deals.

I don't know about you, but I was sooooooo excited when we got doublers in Wednesday's paper, but then looking at the ad I was a bit bummed 'cause I felt like there was nothing for "me."

Anyway, I went out there and here's the scoop......

Kellogg's 2 for $5
Frosted Flakes
Rice Kirsipies
Froot Loops
Nutri-Grain Bars
Cinnabon Bars
Pop-Tarts 12 ct
Pop-Tarts Mini
Crisps
Rice Krispies Treat
Fruit Snacks

Keebler 2 for $5
Crakcer Packs
El Fudge or Fudge Shoppe Cookies
Right Bites
Sunshine Cheez-It
Keebler Fudge Shoppe Cookies are 2 for $5

Buy 6 participating Kellogg's or Keebler products in a single transaction using your Albertsons card and get FREE milk!

Buy 6 and get "FREE" milk right? Well, guess what? You don't have to buy the milk! It just takes $6 off of your order! Plus, if you have coupons you can use them and double them and make your OOP even cheapear.

Here is a scenario they have in the store for you.

Buy....
Cheeze-IT X4
ANY Kellogg's cereal (last night it was JUST Crispix?) for $2.50 each
-$6 Kellogg's savings
-in store coupon for FREE cereal (from cashier)
= Pay $4, making them just $0.66 each! You can't double any of these as these are FREE item coupons.

Keebler Fudge Shoppe Cookies $2.50 X2
- $1/2 from cashier X3
-$6 Kellogg's savings
-3 doublers
= $3, making them only $0.50 each!!!!

I didn't take a picture but I went out today and bought

Transaction #1
Emerald Nuts 2 for $4 X3
-$1/1 printable X3
-3 doublers
=FREE

TOOP-ZERO!!

Transaction #2
Emerald Nuts 2 for $4 X1
-$1/1 printable X1
-1 doubler

HolidayKleenex $0.50 X3
-$0.50/3 from insert
-1 doubler
=$0.50

TOOP= $0.63 ($0.13 of that was tax)

Transaction #3
Keebler $2.50 X6
-$1/2 from cashier X3
-$6 Kellogg's savings
-3 doublers

TOOP=$3.00!

So, today at Alberstons I saved a total of $50.57! I spent OOP $3.63! WOW!!!

Okay, good luck!

Make sure that if you are out in the Valley and if you want AWESOME service to check out the Albertsons at Liberty Lake. They are AWESOME out there!

Thanks Corey!!

Cheryl