Oops February has come and gone...

...and I'm so behind on my updates!

This is from last months deals.  I'm getting so frustrated --- I have now misplaced TWO digicams!  hahaha.  My disorganized organization - oh well.

 I found some coupons and truth be told they weren't that great.  I've just been stocking the books and keeping a loose inventory in my memory and pulling them to match deals.

I mean seriously...I find that most of the coupons are useless.  Mostly cosmetics --- and let's be honest - who can eat eyeshadow?

I went to see my butcher and he is still just charging me 1.99/lb for 90-93% lean ground fresh and this time I had him run it through twice.  We picked up 35lbs and I also picked up some additional coupon books - YAY.  I like Smart Source a LOT coz they tend to have more food/tp coupons!  Useful!

I had to work for a few hours and my friend called to ask if I could watch the baby for a bit while she went bed set shopping.  I told her sure and could she put the carseat in my car coz I had shopping.

Look! at this baby - she is so hilarious and has such a good time.  That's an apple in her hand and she's already excited.

I took her to the Asian grocer, 2 krogers and another grocery store and she was perfectly good.  She was asking about stuff and waving like Miss America!

 She is always happy to see me and hug me and follows me around the kitchen to see what I'm getting into (like she's in charge HA)...But when she sees Mr. Man she is all over him like he is her FAVORITE!

It cracks me up.

The only thing that draws her away is the sizzling of a pan or the beep of the oven.

Her Mom is always saying she's so bad...but I've never experienced that.  I mean let's be honest --- would I take her on a FOUR store couponing mission if she were a child that misbehaves?

She is always super good for us and follows instructions extraordinarily well and she is so FUNNY...just the stuff she gets into and how she talks to the dog...

Pretty cool for a 15 month old.

While we were out shopping - those dang girlscouts got me - haha.  Can you believe it is $4 per box now.

But I will always buy at least one because it takes a positive attitude for anyone to be any kind of salesperson - much less a little girl.

After the baby left I canned the ground beef - froze 7 lbs and set aside 10 lbs for Mr. Mans friend.

I really hate parting with my purchases even when people pay me for it --- because with SOME people I feel like it's laziness on their behalf where they won't go get their own deals.  But in respect to my husband I will help his friend.

This was a super good deal using an Advil Congestion coupon for $3 off ANY.  I used it on trial sizes to make money:
4 pasta + 4 pasta sauce + 4 advil = $3
swiffer pads: $1.29 ea
wipes: 99 cents
nuk nips: $1.07
led lights: 1.25
pyrex dishes: $1.48 ea

$3.27 for all of this with money maker coupons and regular coupons:
2 charmin
2 charmin wipes
8 - 2pack safeguard
2lbs strawberries
2 pyrex dishes
17 advil congestion trial packs







And that was just the beginning of the February - LOL

Isn't Gettin' Deals a Competitive Sport?

I tell you what...people are getting real hip to coupons.  I honestly did not want to get up early this morning to get them...because I looked at the coupon preview and none of them were particularly valuable.  Mr Man gets up a LOT earlier than I do because he works 6-3 so he ran to get them at the spot next to his gym.

It's been a crazy week and I got a crazy crook in my neck just stretching in the shower - I go for a 90 minute massage about every 10 days but I've been too busy to get one lately.  But Momma in Law comes in 2 days so we are going to both go get one - I already scheduled it.

So let's peek at some deals:

I found some $1 off 2 coupons for the soup - and my Mom asked me to pick her up 5 cases (50 cents ea) and I also found the 2lb rice with coupon for 99 cents.  Not a great price but a good price.  What cracks me up is she gave me the money to buy her 5 dozen then she only took 2 dozen home - and said they would like to "park" the 3 dozen here - how funny is that!

Is it me or has rice become super expensive lately - used to be I could get "ok" rice for 15cents a lb and "good" rice for 25cents a lb...it is what it is and all i can do is put it away.  Better to have something.  I am still appalled that people walk away from deals when they are right in your face.  It's really funny.  And WHYYYYY are they lookin' at my cart like I am a crazy person.  That's just crazy!

I went by 4 stores to grab a few things:

5lbs yellow potatoes - 99 cents
lemon juice, lime juice, spray, hawaiian bread, dressing, fish oil, mustard - 99 cents
cornbread stuffing - 62 cents
3lb bacon end pieces - 1.98/lb

This is the most tedious type of shopping to me - getting only 3-4 items per store.


Even before we started putting back things I rarely bought 3-4 things - we always had things put up because I didn't like running to the store for anything weekly but a sale protein item and the produce which I normally did on Saturdays at a mom and pop Produce stand.

This is some of the tastiest shrimp I've found in awhile (since Sunflower Market stopped carrying the Mexican 16-20 shrimp).  I saw that it was the $5 friday special.  It is normally 10/lb.  I also wanted to get some to make my Momma in Law some shrimp fried rice and shrimp stirfry.  The vinegar had coupons on the neck so they ended up being 89 cents.

I figured it couldn't hurt.  We've been eating a lot of brisket and lean ground beef.  We did have some salmon croquettes the other night which were much easier to mix in the ninja blender.  Mr. Man also loves shrimp Po' Boys...

So after I got home with the shrimp - I told Mr. Man I was going to test a batch for him...so I made 1 lb of tempura.  And made some bacon cheeseburgers as well because Mr. Man and his 2 friends had gone to help another friend set up a radio tower at his house.

I tell you what they KILLED the shrimp - I just set this one bowl aside for Mom because I knew she was coming by to pick up her soup that she had me get for her.

The shrimp got a thumbs up - by the men folk.

Even the baby liked it...I think it was her first experience eating shrimp.  Well I know it was her Mom's friends first time trying shrimp ever...which is kind of strange for a 27 yr old...but maybe my parents could just afford a more diverse range of foods and restaurants for us to try.  We actually were allowed to order whatever we wanted as long as we ate it!

My 8 yr old niece is in love with the baby and loves hanging out with her.  It's a good thing she is a good "big sister" type because my sister in law is 8 months pregnant now and it's exciting around here.  I even took my sister in law couponing.  She really has a thing for pringles and chocolate.

She was so amazed at the deals.  I told her she could do it too and she is welcome to all and any of my coupons that she wants.

Today was the last day of the shrimp deal and I didn't want to miss it.  Don't you know I got the last 4lbs in the store.  Thank Goodness.  As the weather warms up I already know we're going to want lighter meat for our salads.  I must say my nemesis is very motivated lately.  Too bad for her --- we scouted 3 more locations that could give us another 450 free coupon books.  LOOOOL.  Poor thing.  I seriously did not want to wake up this morning.  Since we moved to this house we switched to a king size low profile bed and that thing is the most comfortable bed ever.  It is WONDERFUL to have space to stretch out or read...sometimes I sort coupons and he can still read his gun magazines.  Ha.  I love it.

But despite my "laziness" this morning I still got it done!

Salsa - 70 cents
Mustard - 99 cents
Asian Seasoning - 30 cents
Coupon books - FREE

I barely got my coupons organized yesterday - and now it's time to break down books again.  Some guy at the store asked me how long does it really take.  I said to go find the coupons it takes like 1-2 hours a week - then the sorting and organizing doesn't take that long because I do it while I'm catching up on stuff that I've recorded.  Well my thing is if you are gonna be sitting there just watching tv it won't kill you to sort through coupons and check the websites for the deals.  The husband was sold on it.  The wife didn't look so enthusiastic.  I laughed - I said,"it's your house, do what you think is best-- good luck!"

Mr. Man and I were discussing how "hard headed" some people are.  It just cracks me up how people think they have 'all the time' in the world.  Really?  I wish I could live in such happy oblivion.  But I feel urgency like never before.  That's why I took this semester off - to get everything in order.  Honestly i could already flip some of this stuff I've got for more money, but that's not the purpose of it --- at least not right now. 

Only a few more days and then we will be sitting on the beach drinkin beer!

January 2013 - end of month HauL...

Well...at least I think it is the last haul of the month.  I might have a chaser shopping spree  on the 31st to maximize some special deals but I may not - it just depends on how busy I get.  I tell you what...it is very energizing to save money.

One of my favorite things is randomly finding the "clearance basket" in the grocery store - it's the cart the manager throws in all the stuff they are taking out of inventory.  Yesterday, I found not only coupon books...

 ...but I also found a basket of KIWI products marked down to 50 cents as well as some lights and other assorted things.  Very handy to have shoe black and boot laces around and I can also use that waterproofing stuff on canvas for the patio chairs or to proof my own boots.  You certainly can't beat 50 cents right?




I love my nemesis.  She keeps me sharp and alert - I feel so competitive and alive!  I also love that I have a pair of coupon buddies and we trade coupons and deal tips on certain locations so we really are getting a ton of savings because we have a higher coverage area.  Mommy jeans beat me to all the Proctor and Gamble books on Friday - and I will be honest - I previewed the book the Tuesday prior and was not impressed by any of the coupon amounts.  Also, I had already had a good amount of deals from the December coupon book so it wasn't that crucial.  However - I noticed that even though all 3 of my nemesis (PL) get up early on Fridays they do NOT get up early on Sundays.  Too bad for them...coz on Saturday nights I can barely sleep coz I'm so excited to do my "run" on Sunday morning.  The day will come that me and my coupon ladies will harvest 300 books but it will have to be something of value and a lot of freebies to put that kind of efffort in!

I still cannot believe all I paid for 60 cans of progresso light was 30 cents.  Yup you heard me...a quarter and a nickel.  They had a deal this week of 10 for $10 on the "light" variety.  Yesterday afternoon I noticed 100 free papers thrown aside - and each of them had book2 of smart source that had a 25c off any 1 progresso light soup.  At my local Fry's/Kroger's all coupons are worth $1 - so they were FREE!


But of course I had to marry it with another deal:

Last Friday - I had bought Kisses for the shop - just this ONE Fry's had the kisses 10/$10 and I had $1 off 2 coupons which made them 50 cents.  I went back on Sunday after work and they were sold out - so I brought the tag to the service desk and she wrote me a raincheck.  This morning I went back and the price was up to $3.49 each.  I decided to go ahead and cash out that raincheck and use my 22 coupons.  So the kisses were again 50 cents per 12oz bag which makes it about 69.2 cents per pound. I know it may seem ridiculous to have 33lbs of chocolate.  It is NOT.  When you consider that a bag of chocolate morsels costs close to $4 and a lot of candy bars are now $1, having this much chocolate at your disposal is a blessing.  Even though they are individually wrapped - I am just going to put on some nitrile gloves - put on the netflix and just peel them out and put them in a mason jar to vac seal.  The cheaper cost means more labor - but if I'm just watching a movie and peeling chocolate it is not going to kill me!

 This was my first time getting a 100% savings receipt!  I even joked with the cashier, "I don't think I have 15 cents..." She started laughing! and told me for all the effort I put in she'd be glad to pay the 15 cents!

Haha - you gotta love happy people!
 
 

Yesterday was Mr. Man's birthday and we kept it really sedate.  He did not want to barbecue or have a dinner.  He just wanted a pasta dinner, wild greens salad, 3 cheese italian bread - and I made a 7up cake with cream cheese frosting!

Guess Who Came to Dinner?

She was SERIOUS about the cake










Until we started singin' happy birthday then everything was cool...coz even a 14 month old knows what that song means...I like how she sneaked a poke at the frosting when she thought no one was looking - HA!

I must admit all the stress is worth it once you see happy faces!









Here is the video from my end of month Haul!

 

We Love Kielbasa!!! Especially at $4 for 3 ropes

I'm really starting to like ecoupons...i like them even more when they are dating my regular coupons!

I have almost all my cards lined up with the shop name, number and address.  I'm getting specific deals according to my purchases...I noticed it attached a deal to the Mozart Kugeln chocolates for only 1.50 at any store! WooHoo - I'm going on a mission to find them all over town - because they are regular 6 bucks. I'm so excited!

This haul was $20.12.
I used my instant rebates, catalinas, coupons and existing points deals.  I just love those glass bottles with silicone jacket and I'm so excited to finally have my own label maker.  It wasn't a great deal but it was a good deal.  I figured out the puffs ended up being 49 cents each plus I got points!



My sister in law is grabbing up my cosmetic coupons and sally hansen gel nail strip coupons and I'm glad because I rarely use that stuff unless I can get stuff for $1 or free to put in the "for trade" bins.  truth be told I'm only a strong user of lip gloss and eyeliner!

This haul was $40.94.  that is still a lot more than I'd like to pay but considering I got 6 ropes of kielbasa, 2 lbs of all beef dogs, 1lb of cheese plus string cheese, 5 chocolate creamers, 5 goldfish, 70 corn tortillas, 20 flour tortillas, 9 salsa, 2 bags of spinach and 2 bags of salad blends...it was not a bad haul.  The dogs and kielbasa alone are worth 45...so it is what it is!



The exciting thing about the kielbasa and ball park angus dogs is that I have a fixed price of $5 per bag until Feb 12,2013...but more exciting than that I have $1 off 1 pack coupons!  We love the kielbasa in lieu of hotdogs in our chili dogs and I use the beef dogs to make homemade corn dogs and drop them in the freezer.  I also started making our own french fries because there are too many additives in the frozen store brand ones.

Yesterday I found 90 coupon books.  I already gave away 50 books.  There was a baileys creamer coupon in there for $1 which makes my creamers only 40 cents.  So awesome!  I love their creme brulee flavor and the gold cheesecake flavor!  But the coupons are iffy at best...I will put it this way - I wasn't itching to get to the store with any of them...not like the coupons of last fall that had me running to the store hunting down deals.

There is also a deal in there for wolf chili which will hopefully take those to 25 cents a can.  If I'm able to get 40 cans for 25 cents a piece I will give a dozen to my mom and the rest to the womens shelter because I can my own chili.  Mr. Man would NEVER eat them from a tin can because I do his Mom's recipe and it's hard to eat tinned food.  Also he doesn't like being exposed to heavy metals or aluminum because it gives him migraines.

I think I finally figured out why one of my viewers was always asking me where I get my coupons...and I am just laughing because I would never give up my source.  I mean damn if you want the damn coupons just send me an SASE...you don't have to be deceptive to try and get my source so you can get a local friend of yours to snag my coupons.  HAHAHA --- I wasn't born yesterday and I definitely stay up all night.  So bring it if you want to...but you will fail.

Mr. Man was admiring my coupon binder and said,"you know now that you have that purple book of yours you entered 'hobby status' "  I was like,"EWWW this ain't no hobby"  He chuckled and said,"it's not a bad thing bebe"  I said "HOBBY...hobby is like all those chicks buying stuff at michaels who have no real artistic talent or taste but just get busy with their glue gun.  These coupons fortify our pantry! I started laughing and said there is a reason that the word 'crafty' almost sounds like the word 'CRAPPY' "  Now he always tell me when I throw it in the front seat of my car,"be careful out there with your book of gold"  HA!  He calls them "the real food stamps"  now THAT makes me laugh.  I tell you what --- when people see the coupon binder they are either impressed or mortified --- there is no middle.  I have seen people look at me with hatred for using coupons.  My friend John said it's their pathetic attempt at stealing my power but instead I end up robbing them of theirs.  It's not likely I will be phased by some dirty looks - I have Asian parents - I'm used to seething critical looks - HA!

On a more positive note:  Our little "play-niece" has been visiting more and more lately because she seems to love the park near our house and I always tell them stop by if you are around there's always a plate waiting for you!

She is always gravitating towards Mr. Man and they are always cracking each other up.  I'm so happy to see a happy, intelligent toddler.  She would not take a nap for her Mom but I was able to knock her out with 3 bars of ABC's sung to a different arrangement.  I think it's hilarious that the baby's father is jealous of Mr. Man.

I've been seeing a LOT of crazy kids at the grocery store.  I can't even imagine how BAD these kids would be at home if they are this bad at the store.  Incredible...I always tell the parents "you are a fantastic parent!"  I mean seriously my dog has more self control than a lot of these little beasts.

I've been seeing another weird little phenomenon.  The vacant eyed baby.  These are strange little babies that look KIND OF cute at first...and then you really look at them and they are hollow eyed little zombies.  You can see the lackluster spirit in them and it's FREAKY...WEIRD...almost kind of like seeing an abomination that doesn't make you vomit.  Yucky.  I told my friend I think some creatures are born without souls...even human ones. 

I love instant Rebates! Bwa hahaha!

I had to go spend some instant rebates at walgreens today!  I figured out you can't use them on liquor so I may as well use them now!  The purchase on the right ended up being 35.39 but...I got a 10500 pt credit on my account which is like $10 off your next purchase.

This purchase on the left ended up costing me $20.12 after using some rebates plus coupons plus catalinas!  I'm really excited about the glass water bottle and the label maker!

Tomorrow I will be gathering more coupon books as well as getting some crazy salsa and kielbasa deals!  It's great to have a stocked pantry!

Brillo & Pasta & Sponges oh My!!!

Man oh Man...Mommy Jeans (my coupon nemesis)  got me today --- she hit the main location which has anywhere from 30-50 free papers there.  But you know what...that's ok, because I found 3 additional locations --- how cool is that.  So the day will come that I will be walking away with 100 free papers.  The funny thing is...she always gets the jump on me when the coupons are CRAPPY.  There is really only 1 good coupon in there this week.  However, I also have a second nemesis---the brunette in the gold Prius!!!

I had to go into the shop today because there were 3 last minute cake orders and the case was only half full.  After work I did my shopping and then went home.  You know it does take a specific amount of effort to do this kind of shopping --- but I plan my shopping with a "route"  So that everything is en route to the house plus I can avoid traffic and not waste gas...

First Stop...Walgreens

Cottonelle: $4
Cottonelle Wipes: 29 cents
Pampers: $3
Crest: profit - .03 cents ea

The only reason I didn't buy more Crest is because they were completely sold out!

Second Stop:  Target

Pasta: 9 cents ea
Bakers White Choco: 1.17 ea
Sharpies: 52 cents a pkg

Target was a bit tedious and the pickings were slim on their deals.  I do like that their store was crowded because that gives me a sense of urgency.

Third Stop:  Fry's Foods aka Kroger's

Pringles: 99 cents ea
Tortillas: 1.69
Organic Spring mix: 1.37
Organic Romaine: 1.49
Good N Natural Bar: profit 69 cents
Star Olive Oil: 5.49

Angel Soft TP: 27 cents

Brillo box: 2 for 49 cents

I'm happy they had a lot..what a relief


Last Stop:  Wally World

Estracell Brillo Pads: .43 cents ea
Heinz tomato paste:  50 cents
Kraft parmesan: 3.50
Nivea (double pack): 1.04 ea
Pasta : 43 cents ea


I'm glad I had somewhere to go..coz if I have my earbuds in...I could just troll the clearance for hours at Wally World.  I must admit the Wally World in my previous neighborhood had a LOT of clearance stuff...that was prepper friendly.  I also like to look at all the weird stuff, like this:

Our friends Mom and Baby were back from Texas and I invited them over so the baby could get her little gift that we got her (Dakin Teddy Bear)...and I made homemade burgers and pizza...

I was like OH NU UH what did you do to my baby's hair?  The Granny laughed and said OH I knew that was coming!  Her grandmother is constantly telling me to stop spoiling the kid...but she is so good, and she's bright and alert!  She is also epicurious and likes all new foods!

When she hangs out with us I often do her hair like THIS:

She is exceptionally well behaved and always understands when it's time to do hair and condition hair...Brooky is only 13 months old and she sits more patiently than some adults!

She is a joy to have around!

She absolutely loves our dog and follows her everywhere and hugs her.  The poor dog always looks at us like "HELP ME..." and we just laugh and laugh.

It's funny she used to act real nervous around the dog...but after spending the weekend with us (Mommy went to Vegas) she understood that the dog is not harmful...plus I think because her Mom was not around she didn't pick up on any adults being scared of the animal...I'm glad she learned to be friends with our Dog!

Brooky's grandmother asked me about my couponing.  They arrived shortly after I got home with my haul.  She said she really needs to start again!  Then she asked me something I'd never been asked.  She asked,"So when do you stop buying a certain thing?"  I laughed and said well you know that TP won't expire.  The canned stuff is over 2 years out.  I just rotate it all into stuff we use...it is just preventing useless trips to the store!  She nodded and admitted she couldn't wait to start again!  Yay!

Caramel Chocolate Cookies with Pecans

Here is the video...

Here is the recipe


Preheat Oven to 375F degrees

Ingredients

2 sticks butter (1 cup)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking SODA
pinch of salt

"topping"
1 cup chopped pecans
handful of granulated sugar

filling
36 "rolo" or old fashioned caramels
36 pecans or almonds

Bake for 9-10 minutes, rest 1 minute and cool on cookie racks.
Please be careful not to overbake them as they are a dark cookie and it is hard to tell when they are overcooked.