Still Here...

I am still here! The past two weeks have been crazy at work and home. Thankfully the busiest part of the tax season is over and I should be able to start blogging on a more regular basis!

Talk to you soon...

Yummy!!!

I am always looking for a good recipe to mix in with old favorites. I stumbled upon this particular recipe through a new blog I visited. I have a feeling this will be the first of many of her recipes I try out for dinner. Take it from me - this was a really good twist to chicken. Probably not the healthiest, but I did use light ranch (that counts right?!?)! My husband gave it an 8 of 10 stars (he said it could be a 10 with more bacon, but I thought it was just the right amount). This recipe will definately get added to the "old favorites" rotation. It's nothing fancy, but it is soooooooooooo good! Enjoy!

Bacon Cheeseburger Chicken

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp butter

6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, split

1/4 cup teriyaki sauce

1/2 cup Ranch dressing

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1/2 lb bacon (or bacon bits)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a large skillet, heat oil & butter over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts, and saute 4 to 5 minutes each side, until lightly browned. Place browned chicken breasts in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Cover with teriyaki sauce and dressing. Sprinkle with cheese and top with bacon bits. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.

To see step by step instructions and a lot of other great recipes visit Amanda's blog

Do you have any favorite cooking sites you would like to share!?! I have to admit I am a cooking blog junkie as well. I would be alot more productive (and skinnier) if I could stay away from Pioneer Woman and several other cooking blogs!!

August Spending

It's "Financial Shape in 2008" at Money Saving Mom. Here's how I did this month...

My grocery shopping was exteremly random in August. Since it's only my husband and I it's very easy to skip a week if I don't have to time to shop. That happened a couple of times in August due to work and youth events! I have listed my out of pocket expenses as well as my mail in rebates. I seperated my Walgreen's rebates out, because I get that on gift card and use it to lower my out of pocket in future transactions.

August Spending:

Total Merchandise Purchased: $899.69
Total Coupons/Store Sales: $662.70
Total paid out of pocket: $213.75
Gift Card (that i received for free): $23.24
Less Mail in Rebates: $55.24
Total OOP after cash rebates: $158.51

Average Weekly Spending: $35.22 (after cash rebates)

Total Walgreen's rebates: $37.69

How did you do in August?

CVS Shopping, September 1

Traffic was nonexistent on my way home from work on Monday - so decided to take advantage of that and get my CVS shopping done!

Store #1:

$3.49 - CVS brand dryer sheets
$1.29 - 1 Goody's Extra Strength, 6 ct. (earn $1.29 ECB, limit ??)

$5.98 - 2 Tubes of Colgate Total Advanced Whitening (earn $2 ECB each, limit 2)

---------------------------

$10.76 Subtotal

Less Coupons:

-$2/$10 CVS Coupon)

-$1.50 Colgate Printable

-$1.00 Colgate Total Avanced (8/24 SS

-$5.79 ECB

---------------------------

$.47 OOP (plus tax)

I earned $4 in ECB's for the Colgate and $1.29 in ECB's for the Goody's Powder

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Store #2:

$12 - 6 Bottles of Suave Bodywash (earn $2 ecb wyb $6 of Suave)
$1.25 Scotch Satin Tape (on clearance and I needed it to stockpile for Christmas)
---------------------------
$13.25 Subtotal


Less Coupons:
-$2/$10 CVS Coupon
-$6.00, 3 B1G1 Suave Bodywash (6/22 RP)
-$5.00 ECB
-------------------------
$.25 OOP (plus tax)


I earned $4 in ecb's for the Suave


Check out everyone else's CVS ideas at Money Saving Mom and Centsible Sawyer

I am Publix Super Saver

This week I will be joining in on the Publix Super Saver's at Fiddledeedee! Sarah is so great at finding the deals - go check out the other Publix Super Savers' "here"!




Here's a run down of what I purchased. To make a shorter post I have put the corresponding coupon in parenthesis beside the item. I also put the sales price (not the original price) therefore, my savings is merely coupon savings, not actual savings from non-sale price.

$3.50 - 4 Lender's Bagels (-$3.00; used 4 $.75/1 Lender's Bagels, Toss for Cash Publix Coupon)
$.99 - 1 Head of Lettuce
$4.09 - 2 Velvetta Cheese (no coupon, but qualifiny purhcase for Kraft coupon)
$3.18 - 2 boxes of Kraft Pasta (-$2.00; used 2 $.50/1 Kraft Salad peelies that double to $1.00)
$2.40 - 12 Packets of Koolaid
$8.00 - 4 Kraft Single Slice Cheese (-$8.00; used FREE wyb Kraft coupon)
$4.00 - Sara Lee Bread (-4.00; used FREE coupon)
$5.98 - Greeting Cards (-$2.49; used B1G1 Publix greeting card coupon)
$3.49 - 2 Bags of Green Giant Vegetables (-$2.00; used 2 $1/1 Green Giant Printables)
$2.19 - 2 Jars of Mt. Olive Relish and Pickles (-$2.00; used 2 $1/1 Mt. Olive)
$1.99 -1 Jar of Jalapenos (-$1.00; used 1 $1/1 Mt. Olive)
----------------------------
$39.81



Less:
-$24.49 in coupons (see detail above)


$15.32 (plus tax) OOP


I agree with my friend Katrina - Publix is becoming my favorite place to shop!!!


Happy Shopping!!

Cheap Lender's Bagels at Publix

You can get a super cheap breakfast at Publix until Wednesday (or Thursday depending on your sale week). Here's the deal:

Lender's Bagels are on sale B1G1 this week at Publix. You can get two for $1.75. The best part is Publix has a new coupon book out, Toss for Cash, that has a $.75/1 Lender's Bagels!! If you use two coupons you can get two bags of bagels for $.25 (plus tax)!

Special Notes to help you...the Toss for cash book was at the front of the store (where the sale ad's, Advantage Buy flyer and other"flyer" type items). In addition, the Lender's bagels are located in the dairy section, beside the cream cheeese!!!

CVS Scenarios for week of Aug 29th - Sep. 4th (Aug. 31- Sep 6 in most areas)

Oh, how I LOVE CVS! I somehow managed to get a rather high balance of ECB's. While I enjoyed knowing I had nearly $70 in ECB's - it was a lot of pressure. I think mainly due to busy season at work (since I do most of my CVSing at lunch). Regardless, I made the decision to use "moneymakers" to get items that I need for my home. Therefore, my first scenario is very tailored to what I needed this week; however, I wanted to show everyone how you can do it too! I also included a couple more scenarios for those of you who may want to "grow" or "roll" your ECB's to a better week! Enjoy...


Scenario #1 - I need dryer sheets!!


$4.99 - 1 box Bounce Dryer Sheets
$5.98 -2 Tubes Colgate Total Advanced Toothpaste (earn $2 ECB's/each, limit 2)
-------------------------------
$10.97

Less Coupons:
-$2/$10 CVS Coupon
-$1.50, Colgate Printable Here
-$1.00, Colgate (8/24 Insert) -Note: it would be ideal to use 2 $1.50/1, but it wouldn't let me print 2 of these coupons)
-$.25/1, any Bounce (P&G Insert)
-------------------------------
$6.22 Total Due (plus tax)

I will pay with $5.79 in ECB's and earn $4 in ECB's.

Scenario #2 - I can never have to much make-up!

$11.98 - 2 Covergirl Wetslicks with Crest (earn $5.99 ecb's, limit 1)
------------------------------
$11.98 Subtotal

Less:
-$2/$10 CVS Coupon
-$5.99, BOGO any Covergirl Lip Product (9/1 P&G Insert)
-----------------------------
$3.99 OOP (plus tax)

I will use a $4 ECB and earn $5.99 in ECB's


Scenario #3 - Squeaky Clean :)

$12 - 6 bottles of Suave Bodywash (earn $2 ecb when you buy $6, limit 5 offers)
----------------------------
$12.00 Subtotal

Less:

-$2/$10 CVS Coupon
-$6, 3 BOGO Suave Bodywash (6/22 RP)
----------------------------
$4.00 OOP (plus tax)

I will use an $4 in ECB's and earn $4 in ECB's

If I am able to do all 3 scenarios I will have gained $.20 in ECB's this week! Not to bad considering I got several useful things and dryer sheets (which I am in desperate need of).

Do you see any good deals that I missed!?! Let me know?

Please make sure you check your local ad with the deals before you purchase anything!!

Happy Shopping!

CVS, week of August 22-28

Still getting used to the new ad week, but it seems we are still getting the same ECB's as everyone else (so I am not complaining)!! I haven't seen anyone mention the Viva paper towel deal (it's an 8-pack paper towel roll for $6.49 with a $1 ecb), but that's actually something I have been wanting to stockpile, so I set off to make a good transaction. Here's what I did:

Transaction #1;

$6.49 - Viva paper towels (receive $1 ecb)
$5.99 - Pop Fizz Energy Drink Mix (receive $5.99 ecb's)
$1.49 - Kotex Lightdays (receive $1.49 ecb's)
--------------------------------------
$13.97 Subtotal

Less Coupons:
-$.50/ Viva, printable
-$1.00/1 any Kotex Product (August Edition, All You)
-$2/$10 CVS Coupon
--------------------------------------
$10.47 Total Due

I paid with a $10 ECB and earned $8.48 in ECB's. Not bad (in my opinion) for good paper towels!!

I will post some more scenarios later - I am headed to church!!

If you want to see what everyone else is doing this week at CVS check out MoneySavingMom and Centisble Sawyer and Jenn at Coupon Coup

Free Shampoo/Conditioner at Rite Aid

I know, I know. But who can pass up FREE (plus tax) shampoo!!! L'Oreal Vive Pro Shampoo & Conditioner is BOGO this week at Rite Aid. There is also BOGO insert coupon (07/13 SS). Combine both and get two free bottles!!

Check out more Rite Aid deals at I Heart Rite Aid!

CVS, Week of August 17-23

I wasn't to excited with the CVS ad this week. However, I have several ECB's expiring and I would like to roll them. Here's what I have come up with to roll my ECB's to a better week!

Scenario #1:

1 Schick Quattro @ $7.99 (earn $5 ecb)
1 Pedialax Enema @ $2.19 (earn $2 ecb)
2 Glade Air Freshners @ $.88

$11.94 Subtotal

Use:
$2/$10 CVS Coupon
$5 ECB
$4/1 Schick Quattro Coupon (08/03 SS)
BOGO Glade Spray (08/03 SS)

$.06 OOP (plus tax)

Earn: $5 ecb and $2 ecb

Scenario #2:

1 Neosporin @ $5.49
2 Bandaids $2.99/each

$11.47 Subtotal

Use:
$2/$10 CVS Coupon
$1/1 Neosporin Coupon (various inserts)
$1/1 Bandaids (various inserts)
$1/1 Bandaids (various inserts)
$6 ECB's

$.47 OOP

Earn $5 ecb

What will you be buying this week? Need more ideas? Head over to Centsible Sawyer's CVS post for more ideas.