Creative Corner...national scrapbook day

Are you gearing up for National Scrapbook Day this Saturday??? I sure am. I will be attending a 2 pm-midnight crop at the local convention center. I am sooooooo looking forward to it. Have lots of "Little Bit" pics to scrap. Would love to scrap all week leading up to NSD. Will see......

Here is my 1st page of the April layout from our Scrap Club. Check out more info on that at Jamie's Stamping Cafe.

Menu Plan Monday

Since we were gone for a long weekend I didn't really think about the menu for this week. Just doing some easy meals this week...using many items from the freezer.

Monday ~ biscuits, eggs, bacon, fruit

Tuesday ~ tacos, spanish rice, olives, cinnamon chips

Wednesday ~ bertolli skillet meal, salad, bread

Thursday ~ tilapia, corn, ramen noodles, fruit

Friday ~ chicken patty sandwiches, chips, fruit

Visit Org Junkie for more recipes!

Deals from the Weekend...!!!

Well, I have been out of blogger world for about 4 days now. Just got back from a mini vaca with the family. We really had a wonderful time....lots of firsts for "Little Bit"....swim, baseball game, zoo, etc...! Besides getting to spend quality time together as a family, we scored some great deals too.

Any great trip starts off with a little planning. We always check our local library for guide books. Then we go online and Google the location to get more ideas. I printed out maps of all the locations we thought we might visit. You can also find brochures at the visitor's center and/or hotel lobby once you get to your destination. (These also come in handy when time to scrapbook the trip!)

We always try to get the best deal we can on our hotel stay. Priceline.com is our friend! We got 3 nights stay for the price we would have paid for 1, if we had bought through the hotel.

My husband and I are baseball fans. If possible we try to work in a game wherever we go on vacation. We have been to 9 different MLB parks together. We try to get fairly cheap seats and go on a promotional night. We have gotten 2 different hats, disposable cameras, baseballs and even a concert after the game. This trip we got fleece blankets!

A great trip can only get better with a little shopping! I like to find stores that I don't have easy access to at home. We found a great little plaza with fun shops, architecture, flowers and water features. They had a Pottery Barn Kids store that I just think has awesome stuff...usually a little more than I want to pay though. However, we did find a great, new stuffed friend for "Little Bit"...Hank the Hippo. He was only $1.99 and she instantly fell in love with him!

I also try and seek out scrapbooking stores when we are traveling. There was an Archiver's on the way to a Botanical Gardens we wanted to checkout...so of course we had to stop! I found this awesome little binder with zipper pouches (to hold my clear stamps) for 50% off. Also picked up some flourish stamps and paper.

Free Jockey Panty...

Check out this offer from Jockey and Macy's. No purchase necessary...just take the coupon into Macy's between May 31 and June 6 to get your free pair of Jockey panties!

Deals of the Day...CVS!

Well....I keep getting $10 off $50 purchase coupons at the end of my CVS receipts...so I thought I would see if I could make a good deal out of one. I think I did pretty good.....Everything I bought, with the exception of one deodorant, gave back ECBs. The extra deo was on clearance for 82 cents, so worked as a good filler. My before coupon total was just above $50. Used the $10/$50, $15 in CVS & manf. coupons, $25 in ECBs & change on my gift card.......getting back ECBs totaling $32.47. I love when I can meet my goal of getting back more than I put in!!! It's almost as if CVS is paying me to shop!

Menu Plan Monday

Well...the pecan crusted salmon from last week was ok....definitely not going to replace the honey coconut recipe! This week's menu is short because we are going on a mini vaca!

Monday ~ frito chili pie

Tuesday ~ crockpot chicken & dumplings, mashed potatoes, fruit

Wednesday ~ pasta, salad, bread

Visit Org Junkie for more recipes!

Introducing...

OK, "Little Bit" is 6 1/2 months old and I just finished scrapbooking her first month! That's not too bad, right?! Highlighted here is the first page in her album.

I covered a large chipboard "g" with patterned paper, used rub-ons for her name, and added flowers with rhinestone brads as an accent. Her birth details are highlighted on a white block, with decorative punched corners. I love this hospital picture. Her little pose is the cutest!

Garage Sales!!!

Garage sales have started!!! "Little Bit" is checking out her new digs we picked up at some sales in town this morning. I have so much fun digging for bargains! Looking forward to subdivision sales. I can just put "Little Bit" in the stroller and off we will go. Hopefully finding some great bargains and getting some exercise.

When we got home from today's outing, I started going through my own closet and weeding out for our sale. I have 3 weeks to get everything ready!

Are you also preparing for an upcoming sale? Found any great bargains you want to show off?

What was that?!

Nothing like being awakened at 4:30 in the morning by a 5.2 magnitude EARTHQUAKE! At first I thought it was thunder, but when the bed was moving I quickly realized that it was something else. My husband got up to check outside, just to make sure it wasn't an explosion close by. Luckily the baby slept through it all. She probably just thought she was in her swing or something!!! We assumed it was an earthquake and figured we would find out about it on the news shortly. Then when the 2nd one hit around 10:15 I started hoping that was the end of it! We are not used to this kind of thing in the Midwest!!! What a Friday!

Check this out...

Li'l Buck's Creations has got some blog booty to giveaway. Go here to enter!

Coupons, coupons & more coupons...

....$2 off Kraft Live Active Cheese from A Garden of Blessings

...$10 off $25 at Lowe's from Centisible Savings

...Eggo's, Pepsi & more at Target from More Than Enough

...more great coupons here!

More Freebies!!!

Freebies4Mom.com is one of my favorite places to find out about free samples! Here are a few recent ones I have requested....

Free sample of Quaker Simple Harvest

Free sample of Reach Access Daily Flosser

Free sample of Prilosec OTC

Discover more samples when you check out the Top 20 Free Samples guest post by Freebies4Mom at Frugal Hacker.

Freebies!

A few more freebies for you to check out.....

Free sample of Kashi Mountain Medley Granola

Free sample of Icy Hot Patch

Free Scotch-Brite Disposable Toilet Scrubber

Menu Plan Monday

Trying a new recipe this week....another one for salmon. I didn't eat much fish for the longest time, but my husband really likes it....so I do what I can to cook it. My favorite so far is the honey coconut salmon. Will let you know what I think of this new one.

Monday ~ biscuits & gravy, eggs, fruit (Was a hit last week so we have to repeat!)

Tuesday ~ pecan crusted salmon, salad, bread

Wednesday ~ peanut butter & banana sandwiches, fruit salad

Thursday ~ pot roast, mashed potatoes, corn, bread

Friday ~ free for all.....leftovers or take out

I like to keep Friday night open. Sometimes our week changes and the menu shifts around...or I just want a day to be lazy and not cook!!!

Visit Org Junkie for more recipes!

Creative Corner...customized note cards

I recently needed a gift for someone I used to work with. She is a sweet girl and just started her own business so I wanted to do something special for her. I was inspired by my friend Jamie's creation and made some note cards with a monogram on them. They were super simple to do, just used some scrap cardstock and designer paper to whip them up. I added some envelopes and wrapped it all together with a piece of coordinating ribbon.

Mom's Night Out!

Last night....and early, early this morning...my friend Jamie and I enjoyed a mom's night out! We had some coupons, gift cards, etc...that we were itching to use and see what good deals we could get. Well...take a look at this......

I got all of the items pictured...plus a mocha iced latte from Sonic...for $1.08! Score! We ventured out to Sears, Bath & Body Works, Kohls, Walmart, and CVS. (My CVS never had the Lypsyl when it was on sale last month for free, so they gave me a raincheck. When we stopped in last night they had 3, so I snagged them up...for free!)

Next, we were off to Shop N Save. They have $10 off $50 about 2 Thursdays a month, plus they were having a huge sale on cereal. We didn't really need too much so I was basically stocking up on some good sale prices thus I wanted to spend as close to 50 as possible to take full advantage of the $10/$50 deal. So I carried my list, jotted down prices, and calculated everything several times before I was ready to check out. My total was $51 and after deal and coupons it was down to $27. Almost cut in half...I think I done pretty good!

Deals of the Day...Walgreens

Had a successful trip to Walgreens today. Got all the items pictured and will end up making money on this deal after mail in rebate on the toothpaste. Check out these deals and more at Centsible Shopper.

Want to go back and check on the razors...they were out today. Can't pass them up for $1.

Mail Call...

It was like coupon central in my mailbox today! I was delighted to see my Proctor & Gamble booklet. My friend Jamie received hers last week only a day or two before the coupons expired. Luckily the one I got doesn't expire until September! Also, amongst the coupons was a toothpaste sample.
Check out these samples you can sign up for:

Free Sample of Eucerin Calming Creme

Free Sample of Caress Infusions Body Wash

Menu Plan Monday

Just keeping it simple this week. Hope to try some new recipes next week!

Monday ~ pasta, salad, garlic toast

Tuesday ~ scrambled eggs, biscuits & gravy, fruit

Wednesday ~ chicken & cheese quesadillas, chips & salsa

Thursday ~ tilapia, corn, salad, rolls

Friday ~ take out....either ribs or pizza!

Visit Org Junkie for more recipes!

Craft Store Coupons

A great way to save on your crafting supplies is by subscribing to a stores email list! Coupons and sale notifications will come right to your inbox. All you have to do is click print to save! Here are a few to check out...

Hobby Lobby
Michaels
Jo-Ann Fabrics

Also, take advantage of the great deals and clearance at places such as Walmart and Target. My friend Jessica just showed me some great paper stacks she recently purchased at Walmart for around $7. They come with coordinating paper, punchouts, alphabets and more. Don't forget about Target's dollar section and clearance deals I posted about here and here.

Creative Corner...cheap paper

Target has some new scrapbooking supplies out...in the $1 section! Check out this cute paper I got the other day. I saw baby girl & boy and wedding paper packs. Each pack comes with 8 - 12x12 sheets for just $1. These papers are even fancier than the usual packs I have gotten in the $1 section before. It includes glitter, embossed, and printed papers.

If you are thinking...well I don't have a baby so I can't use these papers...think again! The baby girl pack only contains 2 pieces that are baby specific. The other 6 sheets could be used for many other projects.

Free shopping bags...

Did you know that the average family goes through about 400 plastic grocery bags a year? Using reusable shopping bags instead of plastic bags is a small, and simple lifestyle change that can make a big difference on the environment.

Many places are selling these reusable bags for about $1, but here are a few opportunities to get one or two for free!

• Score on the Earthbound Farm Conservation Quiz and win a free shopping tote! Offer good for US and Canadian residents only, while supplies last. Quiz must be completed before Midnight PDT, April 30, 2008. One bag per mailing address. Bags will be shipped to recipients in June, 2008.
• On April 19th at 8:00 a.m., as part of Earth Month 2008, Walmart will be giving away one million reusable shopping bags nationwide. Click here to see the details.

So, get your reusable bags and take them with you on your next shopping trip! Don't forget to use your bags them by keeping them in the same place you keep your purse or wallet. Better yet, store them in the car so you always have them!

Crock Pot Hawaiian Chicken

This recipe couldn't be easier. I made this last night for the first time and it turned out great! The chicken came out so tender and juicy! We will definitely have this again.

2-4 chicken breasts
Honey BBQ sauce
Can of pineapple chunks
Shredded carrots

1. Place chicken breasts in crock pot and cover with BBQ sauce. Add in 1-2 Tbsp of juice from can of pineapple chunks.
2. Plug in crock pot and turn to low. Let cook 8-10 hours.
3. About an hour before you are ready to eat add 2 handfuls of shredded carrots and 1/2 to 1 cup of pineapple chunks. Add more or less of each to your liking.
4. Serve with white rice and enjoy!

If you try this recipe, let me know what you think!