So here is a really good purchase I made at Albertsons this past week;

This deal probably would go all the way til Tuesday (Dec. 15, 2009)

Buy $15 in Betty Crocker products. Get a $5 voucher.

I bought 10 progresso Soups @ $1 each= $10
2 free progresso broths (1 free broth when you but 5 progresso soups) = $0
1 Betty Crocker potatos $1
2 Nature Valley Nut Cluster $2.49 each = $4.98
1 Check Mix $1.49
Total before coupons= $16.47

Use 3 $1.10 off of 3 Progresso soups found on coupons.com
Use 1 .50 off 2 Progresso Soup found in the 11/15(?) SmartSource insert
Use 2 $1off Nature Valley Clusters coupons from coupons.com
Use 1 .50 off Chex Mix coupon also found on coupons.com
Use 1 .40 off Betty Crocker potatos (excluding potato buds) coupon also found on coupons.com
My Albertsons also let me use 2 .50 off Progresso broth coupons
= $8.77
subtract $5 from the voucher you will get towards your next purchase.   Everything listed above will = $3.77

WOW! What a deal!

 I used random.org to select our winners and they were,

MOLLY for the knitting book!

And Jen N for the Mother-Daughter Book Club!

Congratulations ladies.  I emailed ya and hope to hear from you soon.

Thank you all for entering.  I am sure to do this more often so be sure to check back.

I found an awesome deal at Walgreens last night and I thought I would share it with you all.    They have a BOGO on their Organix shampoo. (Southern CA here)  and there was a little tag on my shampoo that said try us for free.  Limit one per household.  So I ended up getting 2 free organix(c) shampoo for FREE!  Now this is a steal of a deal that even my hubby could love. 

 Wow, what a title eh?  Ok, well, first off we have 2 books up for giveaway.  I am so excited about one so let me start with that.

This is a fantasticly coolified knitting book.  All different kind of patterns to make some interesting, unique but fun gifts for kids.  Some of it definetly is not me (there is a mermaid costume knitted in there. Unique but so not me ) there is knight armour sweater, and a bowling alley set, oh my.  Seriously, if you knit, this is one book you will want to have.   So, I am giving one away to a lucky winner.   All you have to do is post away.  Tell me your favorite thing to knit/crochet or even your funniest craft story.   I want to hear.   So that is 1 entry.  A couple other ways are to,  post this giveaway on your blog/facebook/etc.  Tell me in a serperate comment.  The 3rd way you can enter is also by being or subscribing to my blog.   SO that will give you 3 enteries. 

The Next book I have up for contest is

Back:

Book club is about to get a makeover. . . .

Even if Megan would rather be at the mall, Cassidy is late for hockey practice, Emma’s already read every book in existence, and Jess is missing her mother too much to care, the new book club is scheduled to meet every month.

But what begins as a mom-imposed ritual of reading Little Women soon helps four unlikely friends navigate the drama of middle school.  From stolen journals, to secret crushes, to a fashion-fiasco first dance, these sixth-graders are up to their Wellie boots in drama.  They can’t help but wonder:  What would Jo March do?

The Mother-Daughter Book Club will delight daughters of all ages in a novel about the fabulousness of fiction, family, and friendship.OK, so here is what I thought.  It definetly had a more modern tone to it.  The daughters have no respect for their mothers,  everyone has a crush on somebody, some of the dialogs were kind of lame but over all I really enjoyed it.  It wasnt one I started and then gave away in the middle of the book.  I thought it ended very well.  I am pleased with the ending but I wont spoil the book for you.  I loved the little Louisa May Alcott facts throughout the book.  I dont know how accurate they are but it was fun to read.  Definetly geared more towards younger age group but if you wanted something light hearted, clean, then enter to win this book.  

I dont think this is a Christian book.  But there is no cussing, no kissing, and no sex.   Ages for 9-12.
So, how do you enter; simply follow the same rules above for the knitting book.
1st entry- Tell me one of your favorite classic books
earn 2 additional entries by,  subscribing or mention that you are a subscribed reader and/or posting this blog contest on your own blog/facebook/network.   Let me know you’ve done so in different comments.

Finally; I have a book review.  I’m not giving this book away.   I’m finding it too valuable right now. LOL.  This is one actually given to me and it didnt take too long to read.  Its only about 128 pages.

 Momma’s Guide to Thriving On One Income by Kimberly Eddy.

There is many different sections.  The book is mainly a tool on showing you how you *can* live on one income and ways/steps to do so.  Most of it is pretty much common sense but I did glean a few helpful tips.  

For example:
One of her *tips* to keep ahead of the game (so to speak)  is record ever credit card purchase in your checkbook as if its already gone.  That way at the end of the month, you are frantically trying to come up with the bill amount.  

I wont repeat the whole book on here.  It was one I was not sorry to read.  One of the things that did “bug” me, for lack of a better word, is the “bless to be blessed” mentality we seem to have and she does express it in her book.   I have a problem with this kind of thinking.   I wont create a sermon but it was one of the things that bugged me.    It wasnt a deliberate, push that said, “Hey be sure to bless someone so you can be blessed!”   but more of a way of saying, “Hey its good to bless others (ok I totally agree!) it is sure to come back to you (eek,) .

When I was searching more about the author I found her site here
and noticed this book was on sale 50% off! Be sure to see if your budget cant not handle owning this book.  It is so filled with practical ways to stay at home, take care of your children, and still live. 

Thanks Ya’all for stopping by!

 Tina, you are the winner of the Thomas Kinkade book! Please email me with an addy on where to ship this.

Thank you Jen for visiting my blog.  Always great to see people here.

So, Friday I had 4 wisdom teeth pulled.  After 45 minutes of trying 6 different places to put an IV in me, it was 30 minutes of pulling my teeth.  Now, that just seems weird. LOL. Unfortunetly I have those kind of veins that it just takes forever to find. Lovely.  Today is day 5 and I’m slowly recovering.  Meds make me kind of loopy.  But oh well.   One side of my face needs makeup but the other side looks like I’m sucking on a gumball or something.  This is what I looked like shortly after getting my teeth pulled. 

 

 Looking forward to holidays!  Moneysavingmom has some great frugal ideas on having thanksgiving meal within a reasonable budget.  Be sure to check her out.

So, my whole OOMC plan, kind of fell through the cracks this weekend.  Family came and I decided that was much more fun and important.  On top of that, something went wacko with my tooth ( the wise one) and I havent been able to eat.  Which meant that cooking all that fine food was just torcherous.  So, I’m kind of doing a wee bit at a time.  Tonight I am doing the rice and chicken and we’ll work from there.

I had wanted to do this with MoneySavingMom and FishMama but I got sick and therefore am about 2 days behind.  But I am determind to do something.   My freezer is kind of small so I am not sure exactly what I can/will be doing but here is a basic idea;

2 Batches of GF Pumpkin pancakes
Pumpkin Puree (in the oven as I type)
Egg salad for this week
4 Chicken Tetrazinni a bit tweaked though so we can eat it GF
3 batches of Cream of Chicken GF style
GF Granola (adapted)
Yogurt
2 dinners of slow-cooked pepper steak
1 batch of oven-baked rice (makes a LOT!)
And I have a pot of beans soaking.   I should have done something besides just pinto but oh well. 

And thats probably all I’ll have freezer room for.  LOL.  So I’m starting with that and we’ll just go from there.

So I’m doning my apron and off I go!

 Its that time of year where the days grow shorter and its time to pull out all that winter reading.   I just finished reading;  The Many Loves of Marriage by Thomas and Nanette Kinkade.

WOW.  What a good book.  I wasnt sure I was going to enjoy it. But I do!  Just as his paintings create a sense of warmth and desire, so does that reflect in their marriage.  Nanette is surely one you want to take notes from and learn.  Her pillar of strength for her husband is evident in his writtings and his love and devotion for God and family is evident in his. 

I am not sure I could write a good enough review.  Its one you just have to pick the book up and read. You read of some of their journeys throughout the country and with each other.  Of the times of hardship and the times of ease.  Like a normal human couple fallen in sin, they had their troubles, but its not a despressing read.  You find encouragement in what they went through, what they learned and how you can better yourself when you find yourself in a simular situation and how ultimately God prevails. 

So, I am giving you a chance to read this book!  I have to apologize first off though, my daughter did a scribble mark near the ISBN number on the back of the book.  Blush.  The only reason I mention it is because it may not be a good Christmas gift kind of book.   

To enter;  Drop me a line telling me your favorite marriage book OR Thomas Kinkade painting. 
I personally have always been drawn to the country cottage look of some of his. 

Earn an additional entry by subscribing to my blog.  Dont ask me how you do it.  LOL.  I am believe there is a button near the top of the right hand corner that says subscribe.   I’m doing it this way cause most blogs do and I would hate to be any different from anyone else.  (please note my silliness and not seriousness)

Earn another additional entry if you can tell me how to add a URL image on wordpress since the newest change.  Yes, I am kind of frantic.  I can add one from my desktop, figured that one out but not from a URL.   Everyone of you that does this, regardless of if its been posted before or not will recieve an additional entry.
Here is what happens;  I get all the way to insert the image, I paste the URL, center the image but the “post image” button is still that grey color and clicking it does nothing.  grrr. 

I will pay shipping cost.   So, post away!

 I’ll be drawing names in 1 week!

 Thought you Yankee Candle lovers would love this coupon, its for $1 off or $1 Yankee Votive.   Nice time to stock up for the holiday season!
This Link will help you find a store near you.

EXPIRED

These would a nice edition to Christmas.  Tie up with some festive ribbon along with some homebaked goodies.  A nice frugal but thoughtful gift. 

We all like reading new books and blogs so I thought I would share a few of my favorite ones.  I visit these frequently.

Life as a Mom-

Money Saving Mom

Prairie Frog Blog

Fruitful Abundance

Everyone knows- Pioneer Woman

Gluten free cooking for a busy Mom