Operation $40K

We clebrated our last family holiday get together the other night and Ms Sarah got a microphone as a gift from Uncle Bob and Aunt Janet. My little "i" personality LOVES things that result in laughs or applause for her - so this was a PERFECT gift. The floor pedals are for different rim shots and applause...the mic can be hooked up to record or run thru her electric keyboard. (yes, it pays to be the only grandaughter on both sides of the family!) We have had a hard time prying her away from this -- just enjoy the little concert clip. The song is from Hannah Montana, called The Best Of Both Worlds. This totally cracks me up as we don't have cable and I am not sure where she watched this show or how she memorized the words, LOL!

I made it to HyVee today, just like I said I would, for their $1.99 bacon. They ran out! I got the LAST TWO PACKAGES...and they were only 12 ouncers at that! (center cut). I DID see signs every where around the bacon display announcing Rain Checks...so, after I purchased my two packs of bacon, I marched over to the customer service counter! YUP, I got my rain check for three packs of bacon, good for one month. =) Bacon just makes this Midwestern girl happy! BLT Sandwiches, my Autumn Chowder, bacon wrapped pork chops, Rumaki, bacon in my crock pot potato soup, bacon wrapped steaks, bacon and cheese stuffed chicken, the list could go on and on! I have been avoiding bacon as it was $5-6 a pound at all the local stores...WAAAAAY over my price points for meat. Now, I can relax a bit and drool over what I am going to make next. =) OK - accounting time: 100.00 -39.96 HyVee -1.90 Cub Foods -------- $58.14 -18.03 (Girls night) -1.33 (Applebee's overage on gift card) -$3.98 HyVee Bacon! ----

1-16 Smartsource Coupon Preview Sunday coupon preview Regional coupon inserts & value differences are to be expected! (/X) 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 Kraft Homestyle Mac & Cheese Save $1/1 (2-16 )***this should make it FREE on a double day! Jose Ole Save (16 oz or larger) $1/1 (3-15) AcneFree Save $3/1 kit (2-28) AcneFree Save $1/1 non-kit treatment (2-28) Butterball Save $.55/1 (4-17) Butterball Save $1/1 Fully cooked turkey breast (4-17) Celestial Seasonings Tea Save $1/1 box (4-16) Kotex Save $2/2 pads (2-28) Kotex Save $1.50/2 liners (2-28) Kotex Save $1.50/2 security tampons (2-28) Sunny d Save $.25/1 (4-30) Grande Tortilla Chips Save $1.50/2 (3-31) Snyder’s Pretzels Save $1.50/3 (3-31) Louisiana Wing Sauce Save $1/1 (4-1) Louisiana Hot Sauce (12 oz bottles) Save $1/2 (4-1) Scott Bath Tissue (8 or more rolls) Save

Doesn't that just sound fun to say? Try it. =) They have a deal from Roundy's this week: Buy 5 Participating Quaker Items at $2.00 Each, Get Free Tropicana Orange Juice or Trop50 Available coupons include: Quaker Instant Oatmeal, Quick or Old Fashioned Oats: $1/1 from 1/2 Red Plum #2 insert Here is a deal idea from Pocket Your Dollars: ***Deal idea (requires multiple inserts)*** Buy 5 Quaker instant, quick or old fashioned oatmeals Buy Tropicana OJ or Trop50 Use five $1/1 from 1/2 Red Plum #2 insert Final price: Free after doubled coupons** **Personally, I’d buy a $25 BP gift card or the roast deal and another filler to reach my $25 threshold for coupon doubling I am not taking advantage of that offer this time, as I still have plenty of oatmeal on hand that I need to use up. I am with those of you taking advantage of this deal who needs to simply USE it. =) Oatmeal is a wonderful thing - it lowers the cholesterol, fills the tummy and is just darned good! I will be sharing oatm

OK - Roundy's is just messing with us, LOL! We DO have double days on Saturday, according to the latest grocery flier - and will through July This is good for people like me, who were too sick to shop on a Wednesday this week! Seriously, all I have bought this month was twenty pounds of butter, 3 gallons of milk and two dinners out ($18.03 for a girls night and $1.33 for an over run at the local Applebees). Tomorrow I will hit HyVee for their two day sale and $1.99/# bacon. Let's see if it is yummy -- for that price, I am doubtful but can still taste that BLT!! I have coupons ready to go...need a few chili making and lasagna making items but can still hold out a while longer with my stockpile. How are you doing?

When I was a "tween", going through puberty, I first learned of these hereditary headaches in my family. Hormones seemed to be the big driver for them, but a diet rich in nitrates or a lack or consistent sleep both added to their frequency and intensity. Then they went away (yippee!) Fast forward 25 or so years to when I was starting all that fertility work so we could have a baby. Yup, increased stress levels, massive hormone injections, etc brought them back. There doesn't seem to be a real pattern now...weather, stress, sleep, can start me off. I really watch what I put into my body - so no more nitrates or wine. I had a doozy this week - After trying my "protocol", I went in for a morphine shot. Back home to try to sleep it out. It didn't work. So, into the big clinic for the IV therapy yesterday. It's really quite interesting They start with magnesium and then this stuff that is basically epilepsy medicine - it helps calm all the nerve action in the

One thing I LOVE about Pocket Your Dollars is the simple fact that they list the Rainbow ad in their Sunday papers -- which becomes OUR ad that starts on Thursday at Copp's/Pick N Save! The prices shift a little, but they are pretty much on target and link coupon match ups. (Thanks Carrie!) She DID confirm this week what I had already shared with you - fuel perks is now only five cents, and that you have to check with your local store to see if they are still doing Double Days on Saturday. There IS a new Baby item program starting...but more on that in another post. Here is a quick sneak at the new flier, I have put in BOLD what I am looking at. Produce Deals Green or Red Cabbage $0.49/lb Sale price, no coupon needed Final price: $0.49/lb ****I think it is time for some Sweet N Sour Cabbage to go with some of my pork chops! Fresh Express Salad Blends $2.00 Use $0.55/1 Fresh Express printable Final price: $0.90 after doubled coupon Navel Oranges (4 lb bag) $2.50 Sale price, no coup

There’s a new Baby Rewards Club. For every $100 you spend on participating baby products between January 9 and July 9, 2011 you’ll get a coupon for $10 off a $10+ purchase. You must present your Roundy’s card at the time of purchase in order for it to qualify. Qualifying items will be labeled on the shelf “Roundy’s Rewards Club Offer,” but qualifying brands include: Aquaphor, Aveeno Baby, Baby Orajel, Desitin, Enfamil, Gerber, Huggies, Johnson & Johnson, Learning Curve, Luvs, Mam, Munchkin, Pampers, Pedialyte, PediaSure, Playtex, Sassy, Similac, Wet Ones This could add up if it is like their Jingle Dollars Promo - they figure your deals before coupons, etc - I KNOW I didn't give Copp's over $600 in that 10 week stretch and got a $6 gift card! This program is saving you 10% off these items (in future rewards) so count that in to your bargains with your coupons! Happy Shopping!

I had a sick munchkin last week and didn't get the baking done that I had planned on... So, you will see a few dishes that we didn't get to eat last week and this week will also see some baking days for the cinnamon rolls and breakfast cookies, which aren't really cookies but don't tell my four year old that, LOL! Here is the list: Breakfast will include: -breakfast cookies -oatmeal (It's frigging cold out!) -cinnamon rolls -fruit crepes Lunches as normal (sandwiches, soup, left overs, tappas plates) and for dinner... Monday - Meeting night - sandwiches! Tuesday - Bacon Wrapped turkey steaks with bake potatoes, glazed carrots Wednesday - Lasagna with one ground up Italian sausage in in Thursday - Fridge Clean Out! Friday - Birthday party - FREE dinner! Saturday - Baked Mac N Cheese with peas Sunday - Family celebration # 2 for the Hubbie's birthday What are you going to feed YOUR family this week?

Just perusing the sales fliers today and this is what jumped out at me: Remember my price guidelines (Produce under $1 a pound and meat under $2 a pound) HyVee Braeburn Apples $.88/# Eggplant $.88/# 4# orange bag for $1.99 From their 2 Day sale HyVee Bacon $1.99/# (limit 3) ****I don't know if this is good bacon but it is a GREAT price! Red or Golden Delicious or Granny Smith Apples $.65/# Cub Foods Not really worth a visit this week... --Navel Oranges or Red Grapefruit $0.88/lb --Campbell’s Chicken Noodle or Tomato Soup $0.39 (Limit 6) Aldi Cantaloupe $1.19 each (if they are over 1# in weight) Baby Carrots $.49/ package **GREAT deal! Avocados @$.49 each, 2 should be a pound What caught your eye this week?

Thank you to Margy at http://recipesncoupons.blogspot.com and to Diane at http://kouponkrazed.com/ for nominating my blog for a blog award! You can get involved too: How It Works: 1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award. 2. Share 7 things about yourself. 3. Award 5 recently discovered great bloggers. 4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award. Seven Things about ME! 1. I’m thankful to the Lord that I am sooo blessed! 2. I love being able to spend qulity time with my family! 3. I have an AMAZING network of Gal-Pals! 4. I love being able to teach other people how to save money and eat better! 5. I still love selling Tupperware and helping other women make real money on THEIR time and terms! 6. When I’m not chasing those deals and blogging, I’m watching my daughter at Karate or Ballet lessons, playing with Legos on the kitchen floor or volunteering at her school. 7. I enjoy being "crafty" with food, paper, yarn, fabric and paint! I have a DIY at

It's up -- go check out what I had to say :) http://thecutecouponer.blogspot.com/2011/01/does-couponing-really-pay.html

We are entering year 4 of this recession -- and you MUST have a sense of humor about it, things aren't going to change quickly. (sigh) A friend sent this to me in email - I have no idea who the author is, but thought I would pass the chuckle on - enjoy! The economy is so bad that I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail. I ordered a burger at McDonald's, and the kid behind the counter asked, "Can you afford fries with that?" CEO's are now playing miniature golf. If the bank returns your check marked "Insufficient Funds," you have to call them and ask if they mean you or them . Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks are trading higher than GM. McDonald's is selling the 1/4 'ouncer'. Parents in Beverly Hills and Malibu are firing their nannies and learning their children's names. A truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico . Dick Cheney took his stockbroker hunting. Motel Six won't leave the light on anymore. The Mafia is layin