Operation $40K

Check out this article --> http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/109349/do-it-yourself-laundry-detergent After reading this, I began to try a few different things... -I tried a few loads with nothing other than water. -I tried a few loads with soap that was 1 part soap and 3 parts water. -I tried a few loads of whites with just the borax. ALL loads had items pretreated with my beloved Zout or my trusty bleach pen...the two things I swear by to get out any and all spots. The end result? I noticed no difference from loads of laundry that I normally do with the standard amount of detergent! This means that once my stash of nearly free detergent is gone, I will probably not be buying it anymore! I would love to stop using the dryer and just hang clothes out to dry, but that is an impossibility with the seasonal allergies in our house. Sheets, clothes, etc would trap all the pollen that would drive us insane with sneezing and more as the fabric acts like a large screen and catch

I LOVE garage sale season! The thrill of the hunt, the rush of getting a great deal on something you need and more! You never know what treasure you will find that you didn't know you needed, LOL.... We aren't really shopping this year...I have a housefull of stuff that is facing a move so I really don't wish to add to that pile. I DID make a list of the handfull of things we could use for Ms Sarah and have shared that list with my fellow garage sale junkies, LOL! We have officially entered the season of city wide sales. That being said - remember my Frecycle post? It is GREAT for scoring "garage sale leftovers" that are posted on a Saturday afternoon for pick up that same weekend. Usually, they want you to take it all, not just pick through it. This afternoon, Ms Sarah and I hit the post city wide sales of Waunakee - we got 7 boxes from a few different houses with miscellaneous items like candles, videos, baskets, holiday mugs, Christmas bulbs and just miscellane

All You Coupon Index: May 2010 This month's total value: $91.84! Besides these coupons in the issue, don’t forget to check out our exclusive online printable coupons. We update this frequently, so check back for the latest printable coupons. WHERE do you get this magazine? Walmart has them or you can subscribe for home delivery! Advertiser Coupon Value Expiration Date Ageless Reflection™ Skin Care $2.00 off any 1 item 09/30/10 Aveeno® Ageless Vitality™ $5.00 06/30/10 BODY FORTRESS® Products $1.00 on any 06/30/10 BOOST® Kid Essentials Nutritionally Complete Drink $3.00 06/30/10 Brut® $1.00 05/31/10 Buitoni® Frozen $1.50 06/30/10 Carvel® Ice Cream Cakes $3.00 07/31/10 Catherine’s $10 off purchase of $25 or more 05/31/10 Contessa MicroSteam™ and On the Stove™ Meals $1.00 off any 1 07/31/10 DOLE® All Natural Fruit Jars $0.75 07/31/10 DOLE® Fruit Bowls in Gel $0.75 off 2 07/31/10 Dr. Scholl’s® Pain Relief Orthotics $3.00 07/31/10 Dulcolax Balance® $5.00 09

This is just my list of attention getter's for the sale flier that they just kicked off - I know they have a lot more deals but we are sitting pretty well stocked up on every thing from personal care, paper goods and pet care right now...even plenty of meat in the freezer! I DID add the pet food, in case you need some - they have some pretty good deals! Produce California Strawberries $1.50 (not the great price Aldi's had but Aldi's berries were BAADDD) Use in-ad coupon to get sale price Final price: $1.50 Meat Deals - we are good here as our chest freezer is almost full! Dairy / fridge Deals Tropicana Pure Premium or Trop50 Juice $3.00 Use $1/1 coupon from 3/14 Red Plum insert or $1/2 coupon from 4/25 Smartsource insert Final price: As low as $1.00 after doubled coupon Roundy’s Gallon Milk $1.88 (Limit 2) Use in-ad coupon to get sale price Final price: $1.88 after coupon Frozen Food Deals Michelina’s Frozen Meals $0.47 (Limit 8) Buy 5 and use in-ad coupon Plus, use $1/5 Mi

First of all - YIPPE!! Copp's and Pick N Save stores will double coupons on Saturdays in May besides Wednesdays! OK - I am a bit slow reporting what I got at the store this week, I DID make it to Copp's on Wednesday, even though I had a killer migraine (and ended up with a morphine shot) ;( I did kind of goof, I could have doubled 2 more coupons but was feeling so bad that I just had to get out of the store. OK -- I did 3 transactions and this is what I got: -12 boxes Kraft Mac N Cheese @$.68 (it was a limit of four and I did four per transaction) -2 packs Mission tortillas ($2 each) -2 boxes Tornados (hubby's lunch) -Oscar Meyer turkey bacon -2 packs Yoplait Delight yogurt @$2 each -Motts apple sauce ((store deal)) -6 California individual pizzas $2.50 (for hubby's lunch) -Turkey franks (store deal)) -1 gallon skim milk -1/2 gallon chocolate milk -Motts apple juice ((store deal)) -2 Ortega taco seasoning packets -refried beans -4 hot pockets (for hubby's lunch)((st

Time to clean out the medicine cabinet: McNeil Consumer Healthcare is voluntarily recalliing more than 40 children’s medicines, including Infant Tylenol, Children’s Tylenol, Infant Motrin, Children’s Motrin, Children’s Zyrtec, and Children’s Benadryl. Although no injuries have been linked to these products, these medicines may contain more active ingredient than listed on the bottle. Stop using the medicine, and dispose of it. http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com/# is the website to visit to see if YOUR meds are on the list...here are my thoguhts. WHY spend that kind of money on an area that they are constantly recalling and warning parents about? Here are other ways to bring down that kiddo's fever: *Use GENERIC fever-lowering medicine, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. *Dress them in light, breathable clothing, to let the heat radiate out of their body. Don't bundle them in heavy blankets or cover their head. *Don't believe the age-old saying Starve a fever, feed a cold.

5-9 Smartsource coupon insert (NO Redplum insert this week) Sunday coupon preview Regional coupon inserts & value differences are to be expected! (/XX) after coupon = expiration date () before coupon = multiple of same coupon ETS = excludes trial sizes DND5 = coupon states Do Not Double, but barcode starts w/a 5 Smartsource coupon insert Butterball Turkey Franks, Turkey Sausage Links, Turkey Dinner Sausage, Turkey Bacon or Turkey Lunchmeat items Save $1.00/2 (6/30) DND5 Cheetos Mighty Zingers, 9.5oz bag Save $1.00/1 (6/30) Claritin Non-Drowsy Children’s, 4oz or 10ct+ Save $2.00/1 (6/5) Claritin Non-Drowsy, 10ct+ Save $2.00/1 (6/5) Claritin Non-Drowsy, 24ct+ Save $5.00/1 (6/5) Clear Care Cleaning and Disinfecting Solution or Aquify Multi-Purpose Solution 12oz+ Save $3.00/1 (6/30) DND5 Clearasil product Save $1.00/1 (8/1) Colgate Sensitive Toothpaste Save $1.00/1 (5/29) Dad’s Bite-Size Meal, Healthy Homestyle, Trail Mix, Big Dog Chunx Special Mix, Indoor Blend, Original and Gourmet B

Right by the front door - there was a HUGE display of red, 27 ounce plastic water bottle with the Walgreen's logo on them. Here is the COOL thing about them - they had stuff inside them and were only $.49 !!!! Inside was a sample pack of tissue, tube of hand lotion, pack of crayons and a 7-day pill container. Sample sizes aren't as cheap as they used to be -- they are usually over $1 now SOOOO that makes this a neat little score for the price! Make it YOUR filler item when cashing in your Register Rewards...I did, LOL!

We live five houses away from Sarah's preschool and usually walk her there and back on the morings that she has class. Today, Daddy decided to take her red wagon and let her ride home in style! You can see her being chauffered by him and loving every minute of it! She always make sure she is alwasy strapped in and you can even see her Dora backpack. After that, we went to my favorite place to officially kick off summer - the McKay Center of our local arboretum! The first week of May is when the lilacs are in full bloom and they have TONS of different varieties. A simple walk through there, add a gentle breeze and you would think you died and went to heaven! It's fun to smell the differences between the different varieties, colors, sizes and more! We took lots of pictures, voted on our favorite color and sniffed until our sniffers were worn out. It was a PERFECT day for being out in a big garden and a great day for creating a bunch of great memories. Is there something local, f

Here is the plan for the week...after looking at what I have in the freezer, what I am buying this week and what is on our family calendar. Breakfast is usually the same: cold cereal* or oatmeal* with a piece of fresh fruit (apple, strawberries, grapes or banana) Lunch is either leftovers, peanut butter* & jelly sandwiches, or cold plate with sausage or diced chicken - cheese* - crackers* & fresh fruit. Dinner: Monday - meatloaf, California blend* casserole. (We went out last Sunday night and didn't make this!) Tuesday - left overs/fridge clean out Wednesday - Meatless Meal: Spaghetti* and garlic toast* Thursday - Frozen pizzas* Friday - red beans* and rice* with 1/2 a smoked sausage that I slice & pan fry Saturday - Chicken Enchiladas with corn Sunday - Mother's Day! I have no clue, but know I am NOT cooking, LOL! * Denotes items that were free or almost free from my coupon clipping. California Blend Casserole 1- 16oz. bag frozen California Blend vegetables 1 can c

Two and a half days of fun are over! Chatting with people I haven't seen in a while, meeting new people and sending my stuff to new homes all while making money. Unsold items? The left over Tupperware was re boxed and will get dusted off before the weekend in May when I have a mall cart as part of a multi vendor event. The NON-Tupperware items were boxed up (what little there was!) and already taken over to the Madison house and put in the garage for the neighborhood sale at the end of June. I fully expect that pile to grow over the next eight weeks as I will have gone through my entire attic by then and played the "keep it, pack it or pitch it" game, LOL! The final total of my sales --> $1,541.25 I know that is a good chunk of change, but I am basically a lazy person, and that was a lot of hard work! Hours of sorting, pricing and organizing, then 22 hours + manning the sale, not to mention any baking for cookies, etc to sell... There were easily 50 hours involved whic