A sale that is finally worth a handful of coupons!

If you've noticed it's been a while since I've blogged. There's nothing like having sick kids and being sick yourself. I think we're on the mend so I'll be keeping up better :0)

In my downtime, I've watched many blog about the great Smith's Mega Sale. So last night I spent some time clipping and organizing my coupons. I was truly thrilled to have a handful by the time I was done. Now that Albertsons is gone, it's been a long time since I've been able to do this.

Here's what I got:

4 boxes of Capri Sun

6, 8oz bags Kraft cheese (I put these in the freezer for later)

8 cans Hormel chili

2 bags of Pepperidge Farms Goldfish

4 Sobe Waters

2, 1/2 gallon OJ

2 boxes of Nature Valley granola bars

4 boxes of Nabisco crackers (2 Ritz, 2 Wheat Thins)

10 Hershey candy bars

4 Toaster Strudels

5 Krusteaz cookie mixes

2 Nestle refridgerator cookies (I love to freeze these)

3 pkgs of Solo Bowls
3 pkgs of Solo plates
3 pkgs of Solo cups
5 boxes of Finish (Electrasol) dishwasher tablets (I prefer the tablets over the gel packs. If I only do one dishwasher cycle per day - this will last me at least 3 months!)

I handed the checker my Smith's Grocery Card at the end and noticed prior to scanning it, my total was $199.xx (YIKES)! After scanning it, the price dropped to $122.xx (still a little scary) and after all the coupons were scanned my grand total came to $77.25. This is a 62% savings (according to my receipt). I'm pretty stoked.

Most of what I bought today will go into my storage rotation. I have to say it's been a long time since I was able to stock up on some of the items I got today. I live for these kinds of sales!

It's not too late to take advantage of this great sale. It will run one more week. Hope you can get some great savings as well :0)

Wild Wednesdays @ RC Willey (Disney Pixar's UP)

Have you heard about Wild Wednesdays at RC Willey? I signed up for their emails a while ago and this is how I found out about the sales.

During the holidays when there were a lot of new movie releases, RC Willey would pick a movie and sell it for really cheap. They also have a lot of other fun Wild Wednesday deals.

Today they are selling the new Disney Pixar movie, UP for $8.95. Click on this link to go to their website to order. You can only purchase the movie online and I believe the offer is only good on the Wednesday it's posted. You need to print your receipt, take it into the store (you must pick your location) and pick it up.

Don't forget to sign up for their emails so you'll know when other good deals like this come out.

Udder Covers Deal (Steal of a deal!)

This email came to a friend of mine (~Thanks Tiffany). She passed it on to me, so I'm passing it on to you. Hope you can take advantage of this great deal! This would certainly be nice for yourself or make a great baby shower gift!


This is what the email said:

I wanted to wish you a Happy New Year and give you a promo code for 90% off on our 3 piece gift sets, which include the Udder Cover nursing cover of your choice, a matching Milk Band breastfeeding bracelet and 2 pairs of 5 ply washable 100% cotton breast pads!

If you're not currently nursing, you probably know someone who is or shortly will be! They make great baby shower gifts! We are running a promotion where you can get any of our 3 piece gift sets (regular price $46) for only $5 + S&H. The code is "thanks".

Go to http://www.uddercovers.com/, click on "Shop Now", scroll down to the gift sets, select the one you would like and you will automatically be repositioned to the center of the page where you can enter in the promo code! Type in thanks and it will bring your product total to $5! We are not sure how long this promotion can last. You can use the code more than once - you just have to open a new browser/window to do so.

This promotion gives you 1 giftset for $5 + S&H! This promotion code is valid once per transaction, so you can order as many times as you would like! Thanks again for your earlier purchase and have a Happy New Year!

Jenny Pierce
Owner Uddercovers.com

This is a pretty nice deal if you ask me. Since the promotion may end at any time, take advantage now!

Old Navy Clearance (75% off)

Get ready for some good deals! All stores are putting their already clearanced items (currently at 50% off ) down to 75% off. The sale goes from 1/15 to 1/18. Stores are open from 9 am to 9 pm.

Don't forget to pick up your coupons before you go. Click on this link to take you to their online coupon site. The really good coupons have already been snatched up, but here's what I was able to find.

If you take the green headband off of the girl wearing it and move it to the girl on the right (purple pants) it pulls up a coupon for 10% off an in store purchase.

Also move the yoga mat from the girl on the far left to the girl in the pink jacket and get 15% off womens yoga pants.

It seems like these coupons move around a bit, so if these might be a little different when you look.

If you click on all the girls shoes the coupon for $50 off of $100 comes up, but they were all gone.

The water bottle moves and supposedly if you put it by her mouth a coupon pops up as well, but I couldn't get it to come up.

Good luck - maybe you'll find something better! Happy Shopping!

2010 Savings Tracker

Confession Time:

I must admit that I've really had a hard time setting some New Year's Resolutions. For some reason, the motivation is just missing for me. There are at least 100 things that I know I should be working on, but can't bring myself to commit.

One of my good friends (Tonya ~ thank you) sent me this link today. I'd never seen this before and I think this may be that little incentive I need to keep track of my grocery spending habits. I know that I always come out ahead when I use coupons, I've just never put it down where I can visually see it.

Check out The Coupon Project Blog. This wonderful mom has come up with an Excel Spreadsheet that tracks your grocery spending and savings.

Confession #2:

I am a total failure when it comes to balancing the checkbook/debit card/bank account!

Even though I am totally excited about this new spreadsheet and I'm committing to it right now - I just hope I can remember to do all my data entry. This will truly show me how much my savings at the end of the year will be.

You heard it right here, right now... I am going to maintain this spreadsheet in 2010 so I can see for myself and show my coupon classes the true savings that coupons bring!

By the way - if you're interested in hosting a free coupon class (moms group, neighbors, friends, relatives, church groups etc....), let me know (callmestacy@yahoo.com or 801-589-3946). I've still got a few January dates and I'm booking ahead as well.

I certainly hope this Savings Tracker will help you too :)

Temple Portrait Classes

These are so incredibly beautiful, I had to share. I recently made one to give as a gift (sure hope the receiver likes it ;0).

A company by the name of Poppy Seed Projects has started up and they offer classes on these gorgeous temple pictures.

You've probably seen similar pictures like this at Costco running over $200. Wouldn't it be nice to have and make one for yourself that would be affordable (like $47 + tax affordable????)?

Here's a few more pictures - just so you can see for yourself how nice they are.

Manti, UT Temple

Logan, UT Temple

Mt. Timpanogos, UT Temple

Here's a few needed details:

*Stunning Temple Pictures you make yourself! $47 + tax.

*We teach classes which allow you to take home a beautiful antique style temple picture with a four inch frame available in black or cream. (You can only get cream if ordered through Renee - see below).

*We bring everything you need to do the class. Minimum of 10 pictures required to host a class. Nine different temple pictures currently available.

*Picture is poster size - much larger than local stores, which sell smaller ones for $200.

*To sign up for a class, host a class or get additional information call Renee Piula @ 801.825.6558 or you can email her at reneepiula@poppyseedprojects.com

Honestly, this took a couple of hours. I had all the supplies I needed, it was done step by step and I did it all (and I'm not a really crafty person - if I can do it, so can you!). The step that took the longest was waiting for the paint to dry (LOL!) It was certainly fun to visit with friends as I put this together. It really turned out beautiful (I did the Manti temple). This project was done in my ward - but not as an enrichment or Super Saturday. One person wanted one and it snowballed from there. I hope this is something you'd like to do too. Renee was a wonderful (and very funny) teacher.

Christmas indulgences.....

Okay - who can diet this time of year? I've tried before and have decided that this time of year comes with too many temptations. I have found for myself that resistance is futile.

I hope you don't mind if I share a few of my favorites and a few that I'd really like to try.

I love Caramel Pull Aparts - these were always made for special occassions and Christmas was one of them. Rhodes has a great YouTube channel where you can watch how they put together all their delicious recipes. Here's one way to make caramel pull aparts. Here's another version (the one I typically use) that was on Good Things Utah this morning.

Breakfast Casserole

I don't really have a recipe for this - I just use what sounds good. I start with a hashbrown and egg mixture. I usually add a small bottle of salsa, green chiles, mushrooms, bacon and sausage. I dump all of this in a crock pot (you can also put this in a 9x13 pan and cook in the oven. When I use the crockpot it will cook in 1-2 hours on high or 3-4 hours on low.

Homemade Caramels

3 C whipping cream

1/2 c sweetened condensed milk

2 c light corn syrup

2 c sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

In a double boiler scald whipping cream and sweetened condensed milk over low heat.

In a heavy, 4 qt pan bring corn syrup, sugar, and salt to a boil, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. As mixture begins to turn a light golden color, add scalded whipping cream and sweetened condensed milk, 1 tablespoon at a time until all has been added, stirring constantly after each addition.

Attach candy thermometer to pan and cook, stirring constantly over medium heat until thermometer reaches 232 degrees F. Immediately remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Pour into lightly greased 9x13 pan. Cool in refrigerator until firm enough to cut into squares of desired size.

Note: Caramel becomes extremely hot. Handle with care and keep out of reach of children.

My friend from Cooking with Kiddies posted a couple of recipes that I'm definitley going to have to try out this year. Check out her posts for Cake Balls and Oreo Truffle Balls.

Yummm.....I could certainly go on with all the tasty treats that I enjoy this time of year, but I won't. If you have a great recipe you'd like to share - I'd love to hear about it!