Tear Pad Coupons.

You probably see them all over the stores, little tear pad coupon booklets. Often when I see them, the product isn't on sale nor a good price including the coupon. However, you can take a couple and use them when you see fit. I did this a couple weeks ago at the Family Dollar. I saw Ragu coupons, for .50 cents off a jar of sauce they had priced at 2.99 each. The coupon and their prices wasn't good to me but I knew if I used that coupon at the grocery store they'd double it to a dollar. I took a couple for later. This week a local store has Ragu 10 for 15, if you buy all 10 at once they were 10 for 10.. I had a couple coupons so I went back for more, and they were still there. I was able to double all 10 coupons and get free Ragu sauce. Since there is no limit I might go get 10 more. We will use it all up. I know there is a hording issue lately for couponing but I can promise I have no desire to clear the shelves. I think if I got 20 its a reasonable amount for my spaghetti and pasta loving boys to finish within the year.

So the next time you see a tear pad of coupons, grab a couple, ya never know.

CVS Trip & Chatter

For those of you who think clipping coupons and watching the ads is a waste of time, you are in for a surprise. A little time and effort goes a long way. Now that I'm a stay at home mom again, I'm getting back into the swing of things. Part of my job now is to make sure the money my Husband makes stretches as far as it can, allowing me to stay home. We by no means have a lot to spend any ways. Its such a good feeling when I can make the money he works hard for go further.

Today at CVS I got:

8 pack of bounty paper towels- sale price- 7.99 - original price 9.99
3 pack of Ivory soap on sale for .99 cents - ?

Use a .25 cent coupon for bounty and a 1.00 coupon for the Ivory.
-4 ECB (had to be used today it expires)
Total- 3.96 and got back 2 ECB.

Awesome deal. I use the Ivory to make homemade laundry soap..even more frugal :)

Menu Plan Monday

Still no baby. Her official due date is Thursday & I have an appointment tomorrow so we'll see how things are going then. As anxious as I am, I want to enjoy these last few days of being pregnant with her. This is the only time in her life that I will be able to completely protect her from everything else. I have a ton of emotions running threw me. I've had a stressful week too.. lost my purse, car broke down and too much to fix, need new car, hubby works 12 hour shifts over night.. ahh! Just a few crazy things but if I keep praying God will help me threw.

Sunday- Pork chops seasoned and fried, baked potatoes, and peas.
Monday- Meatloaf using this recipe but not in the microwave or with that sauce. I will use ketchup and brown sugar on it. Mashed potatoes, Gravy, Corn & Salads.
Tuesday- Taco Pizza here eventually I can get the recipe up. I am just going to use crunched up tortilla chips instead of shells. That is what I have.
Wednesday- Buffet, whatever you can find in the fridge you can eat. I just planned this far so we can see what the doctors say... I didn't wanna get too much then have it go bad or whatever.

Happy May ya'll. Hope all the April showers bring you May flowers.
You can find loads more menu plans if you visit Organizing Junkie

Recipe Review: Cheddar Ranch Dip

For my baby shower in March I made a few different dips and served them as part of the meal/snacks. One of them was Cheddar Ranch Dip aka Crack Dip. This was crazy good.. in fact I made it the day before and it almost didn't make it to the party! LOL I wold suggest eating it the next day because after a day or two it starts to get funky.


Cheddar Ranch Dip

1 16 oz Sour Cream ( you can use fat free)
1 Ranch Dip Packet
1 3 oz jar of bacon bits
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Mix the sour cream and dip pack together then add the cheese and bacon bits. Mix well and chill for at least 20 mins.

I served this with wheat crackers and club crackers There were other veggies and chips everyone could mix up whatever they wanted but I liked the crackers best.


5/5 stars for sure!

Menu Plan

Still no baby! She's stubborn, her father would say just like me. I am so anxious about giving birth again and having a baby at home, that I think its making me a bit crazy. Some nights get I get so anxious I can't sleep. I do praise God for a healthy pregnancy, and that she can come any day and we'll have no health worries. What a relief. Hopefully I can make a small Easter dinner here at home and not have hospital food or no food! Someone better bring me dinner if I am there with the baby! Here is my plan, and since I don't know what Aubriella has in store for us, its just a plan. Oh yeah, our lil fella, will be starting soccer for the first time on Tuesday! He is so incredibly excited, and I can't wait either!

Monday- Smoked sausage cooked in a wee bit of apple jelly and bbq sauce. Baked potatoes & garden salads.
Tuesday- Marinated Steak Strips, & corn on the cob with taters again.. yup. First night of practice for the lil guy!
Wedneday- Elbow Mac with meat sauce and homemade garlic toast. OB appointment & Easter Party at school. Donno if I can juggle both, but sure am going to try! Maybe a later appointment.. need to call.
Thursday- Leftovers or chinese night for us.. unless pizza night?
Friday- Deciding.. need some inspiration
Saturday- Easter Potluck with In-laws at Papa's house.. we're going to spend more time with him since the holidays have to be the hardest without Mimi. I'm making hashbrown casserole and green beans.. maybe deviled eggs from the colored eggs.
Sunday- Ham, green bean casserole, and sweet potatoes. A dessert & if I find some more inspiration around blog land.
Check out
http://orgjunkie.com/2011/04/menu-plan-monday-april-1811.html
for more inspiration!

Meau Plan Monday

Well there is no baby news.. she's still in there and I am still waiting on her baby stuff to be shipped. Recently I got some stuff for her cradle and didn't realize its not sold in stores so I ordered on ebay and the lady decided to go out of town before shipping. Wish I had known that before, I wouldn't have anxiously waited day in and day out. I am full of anxiety now. Hubby just started his new job today, and Aubriella could be here any day. Anthony said before he got on the school bus today "Please come tomorrow Aubrie". He is going to be a magnificent big brother. So here is our menu for the week!

Sunday- BBQ ribs (Anthony's favorite) and pasta salad
Monday- Chili Dogs, Mac and cheese, and Baked Beans. I love Chili dogs and this recipe looks great. Well also have diced onions on top.
Tuesday- BBQ chicken pizza with red onions & salads. I am making my own pizza up this time, I'm not going to use the bbq sauce as a base, but just put diced chicken breast on top that has been cooked in bbq sauce. I will also be using cheddar and mozz. cheese for it. Sounds delish!
Wednesday- Stuffed shells with sausage and beef. More salads.
Thursday- Chicken and barley chili, I think I'll use the barley box recipe & some tortilla chips
Friday- Clean out the fridge or maybe some chinese for us..

Back to the way things used to be..

For a while I had been working full time while my hubby was on lay off. As great as it felt to contribute to our family, I sure missed being home. My hubby did a great job taking care of things, but it was so hard for everyone to not have me home too. The good news is Hubby found a new full time job and now I can stay home again! :) Even better is, I am due to have our little girl Aubriella any day now. She isn't due till May 6th, but next week could be the week! I really hope she comes at the end of the month. So now I am back to hunting bargins, menu planning, recipe trying, and doing all the stay at home Mama things I missed so much!