Staples: Free Batteries Through April 30th

Staples is having their battery promotion again.  You can get free (after reward that is sent to you in the mail) Duracell AAA or AA 20-pack of batteries with your Staples Rewards card!  There is also a 20% off coupon that I plan on using with the $1/1 Duracell Batteries coupon from the P&G $110 coupon book.  You are able to get 2 per customer.  Remember, you must be a Staples Reward member for this to work.  You can sign up here if you need to for free.

You can also get Pentel E Sharp 0.5mm Starter Set Pencils and Scotch tape for free after Easy Rebate:

Pentel E Sharp 0.5mm Starter Set Pencils, $5.99
Get $5.99 back in Easy Rebate = FREE!

Scotch 3M Pop Up Tape Desk Grip Dispenser, $2.99
-$1/1 coupon here
Get $1.99 back i n Easy Rebate = FREE!

Thanks, The Coupon Posse!

Prescription = Almost FREE Diapers and Easter Stuff!

Getting prescriptions filled is kind of a love-hate thing for me.  I am not happy that one of my kids (or myself or my husband) needs a prescription because that usually means they are sick.  HOWEVER, I do get very excited about the fact that I can turn that prescription into money!  I have posted before about how you can get a $25 gift card for transferring a prescription or bringing a new one in.  Go here for the details on how you do it.  I know that QFC and Fred Meyer often have promotions like this as well.  I choose Albertson's because normally I would use the gift card for when "Twice the Value" coupons came out so I could stretch it the furthest.

Today I had to go fill a prescription for one of my sons.  Of course I brought with me one of the coupons for a $25 gift card when you fill a new prescription.  The cost of the prescription out of pocket for me was $8.65.  Then I got the gift card for $25, making this transaction a $16.35 MONEY MAKER!

Albertson's is having a baby event this week where if you spend $30 in participating products, you get a $10 catalina.  So, I bought a big box of Huggies diapers (size 3, 96 count) and a jumbo pack of Huggies diapers (size 3, 36 count)

Huggies big box (size 3, 96 count), on sale for $19.99
-$3/1 coupon here

Huggies jumbo pack (size 3, 36 count), on sale for $9.99
-$3/1 coupon here

Gerber 2nd foods, on sale for $0.99

Total (before tax)  $30.97
Tax  $2.61
TOTAL  $27.58
-$25 gift card
Total OOP  $2.58!!
Got a $10 catalina

I could have gotten these for FREE if I would have gotten 3 jumbo packs (because I could have used three $3/1 coupons instead of just two) instead of the box and one jumbo pack.  However, I did end up getting 24 more diapers doing it this was, so I figured it was worth the $2.58 I had to pay (that is like at least 2 days of diapers!!).

I also needed some Easter stuff and figured that it was worth saving the hassle to just "pay" a little bit more here (rather than go to the dollar store).  So, with the $10 catalina I got:

2 Egg Dye Kits, on sale for $1.79 each
5 Filler Eggs, on sale for $1 each
Pirates of the Caribbean toy, on clearance for $1.50
-$10 catalina

My son has been wanting this toy for MONTHS since we saw it in the clearance bin at Albertsons.  I was so surprised they still had it!!  AND it was marked down from $5.99 to $1.50.  I figured he has put up with enough of my crazy shopping trips (and heard, "No, it isn't on sale and we don't have a coupon for it," more times that he can count!) to deserve a little treat.  :)

SO...

Total (before tax) $0.08
Tax  $0.01
Total OOP $0.09!!

Overall, I spent $11.32 OOP on all of this (including the prescription that I was going to have to get regardless) and saved $50.84!!  :)  AND I only brought 3 coupons with me to the store (which took me like less than 5 minutes to find, print, and clip)!!

If you would like to learn how you can do this (and save hundreds more on the rest of your everyday purchases), check out my Strategic Shopping Classes!!  I now offer them in all 50 states via Skype!

SNOMOMS Consignment Sale

Do you need some baby/kids clothes or equipment?  Do you not want to pay a TON of money for things your kids will only use for a short time?  Consignment Sales are the way to go!  I have always had great luck getting some really nice clothes and baby equipment (like baby swings, gates, strollers, etc.) at consignment sales.  Babies use their clothes and equipment for such a short period of time that I hate having to pay full price for these items.

The Snohomish County Mother of Multiples organization is having their bi-yearly consignment sale THIS SATURDAY in Lynnwood.  Here is some information about their consignment sales (taken off of their website):

SNOMOMS organizes two clothing & equipment sales each year; one takes place in the spring and one takes place in the fall. A portion of all proceeds go directly to the club to help support our outreach programs and club activities. All club members can take part in the sale.

Everything is extremely organized & sorted to signs to help lead the way, and all clothing is hung and sorted by size and sex. The sale has become so popular that we have secured a new location with twice the floor space! The inventory varies from sale to sale as well as the pricing because members price their own stuff.  


Thirty-seven families with multiples are going to be participating in this sale!  That means there is going to be A LOT of great stuff like:

• Clothes & Shoes — preemies to big kids
• Cribs, changing tables, bassinets
• Car seats, single & double strollers
• High chairs, potty chairs, swings
• Exersaucers, play gyms, carriers
• Rattles, dolls, games, puzzles, books
• Videos, DVDs, LOTS of toys
• Nursery decorations, crib bedding
• Maternity clothing, nursing equipment
• Outdoor toys, play equipment
• Lots of multiples targeted baby & toddler gear
• Much, much more!

Again, their sale is THIS SATURDAY, April 16 and is open from 8:30am to 12pm.  It is at the Edmonds Community College Gymnasium (20000 68th Way, Lynnwood, WA).  They accept cash and local checks with valid ID.

Hope you get a chance to check it out!!  :)

Another Full Circle Farms Promotion!!

If you have been wanting to try out Full Circle Farms Produce, now is the time to do it!  They are offering $15 to  anyone who signs up under my name (MUST put Sandra Shaw in the "How did you hear about us?" field) and enters the promo code SPRINGHEALTH!

A box of produce for about 2 people is $32 a week and a box of produce for a family is $41.  It is fresh, organically grown produce.  They service area in Washington and Alaska and even deliver to your house in some areas.  If they don't deliver to your home, they have multiple pick up sights.  You can cancel at any time, you are not under any time contract if you sign up.  And if you are not satisfied in ANY way, Full Circle Farms will credit your account promptly.  You are also able to view the contents of your box before you get it and customize it if you would like!

To find out more about Full Circle Farms, go to my post here or to their web page here 

This promotion will run only through May 3rd, so hurry and order today!

Menu Plan Monday: April 11-16

Wow!  Can you believe that this week is mid-month ALREADY?!  This year is going by WAY too fast!  I am super excited for summer to be here (I am definitely a warm weather person), but sad that time is going so fast!

This week's meal plan was kind of hard for me.  I feel like I am kind of in a food "rut."  I have made pretty much everything out of Eat, Shrink and Be Merry and the cookbook I was so looking forward to, Looneyspoons, isn't as good as I thought it would be.  I do have a bookshelf full of cookbooks, but it seems so overwhelming to go through them.  So, I am left with the many magazines I get a month.  I have found a couple of recipes in those I would like to try out.  Anyway, here is what I have come up with for the week.  :)

Monday-Leftovers

Tuesday-Bratwurst, Sauerkraut and Bean Casserole, Green Salad, Rolls

Wednesday-Chicken Dill Saute, Green Salad, Rolls

Thursday-Dinner at a friends house :)

Friday-Tandoori Chicken Thighs w/ Chutney, Mint Raita, Lentils and Chard, Rolls

Saturday-Borscht & Beef Pasta, Cooked Zucchini, Rolls

Sunday-Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage, Irresistible Soda Bread

I realize that none of these are very freezer friendly this week.  I am going to buy the Bratwurst on sale (Albertsons) and freeze some for some other day and the Corned Beef is in the freezer from around St. Patrick's Day (although it is on sale at Fred Meyer this week as well).

I get the majority of my vegetables fresh from Full Circle Farms.  I pick up a box of organic, local produce every two weeks.  It is very affordable and the selection is fantastic!  Check it out here.  If you decide to give it a try (you don't have to commit to anything), please let them know that Sandra Shaw referred you!  :)  Thanks!

For hundreds of other weekly meal plans, check out I'm An Organizing Junkie's weekly meal plan linky here.

Chicken Dill Saute

Makes 4 Servings

1 lemon
1 lb skinless, boneless chicken-breast halves, cut into 1/2 inch chunks
3 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion, thinly sliced
2 large peppers, orange and yellow, sliced
1/2 cup water
Salt and Pepper
8 oz. sugar snap peas, strings removed, cut in half
1/3 cup fresh dill, chopped

1.  From lemon, grate 1 tsp peel; set aside.  Into a pie plate, squeeze 1 tbsp juice.  Add chicken; toss to coat.

2.  In 12-inch skillet, heat 1 tsp oil on medium-high heat.  Add onion, peppers, 2 tbsp water, adn 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper.  Cook 3 minutes or until softened, stirring.  Transfer to large plate.

3.  In same skillet, heat 1 tsp oil on medium-high heat.  Add peas, 2 tbsp water, and 1/8 tsp each salt and pepper.  Cook 2 to 3 minutes or until beginning to brown, stirring occasionally.  Add to pepper mixture.

4.  In same skillet, heat 1 tsp oil on medium-high heat.  Add chicken; sprinkle with 1/4 tsp salt.  Cook 3 minutes or until golden brown, stirring once.  Return vegetables to pan; add remaining 1/4 cup water.  Cook 1 minute or until saucy, stirring.  Stir in dill, 1/4 tsp salt and reserved peel.

Recipe taken from Good Housekeeping, May 2011

Lentils and Chard

Makes 4 servings

1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, peeled
3 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 cup yellow lentils
1 tbsp chopped gingerroot
1 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 lb red Swiss chard, cut into 1-inch slices, tough stems removed

1.  In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat.  Add onion and garlic and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2.  Stir in 2 cups water, lentils, ginger, curry and salt.  Simmer, covered, over medium heat 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3.  Stir in chard and simmer 5 minutes.

Recipe taken from Family Circle, April 2011

Mint Raita

Makes 4 servings

Combine 1/2 cup reduced-fat plain yogurt; 1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped; 2 tbsp chopped mint; a squeeze of lemon juice; and pinch of salt.  Refrigerate until ready to use.

Recipe taken from Family Circle, April 2011

Tandoori Chicken Thighs

Makes 4 Servings

Chicken
1 tbsp chopped gingerroot
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp curry powder
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
4 large bone-in chicken thighs (about 1 1/2 lbs), skin removed

Chutney
2 tsp olive oil
1/3 cup each chopped red onion and chopped green pepper
1 tsp hot curry powder
1/4 cup peach preserves
2 tbsp cider vinegar
1/4 tsp salt
2 chopped ripe mangos

1.  Heat oven to 400°F

2.  In a small bowl, stir together ginger, lemon juice, curry, garlic, salt, cinnamon and cayenne.  Place chicken in a baking dish, flesh side up; rub ginger-curry mixture over the top of each piece.  Bake at 400° for 40 minutes or until internal temperature registers 170°F on an instant-read thermometer.

3.  Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a medium-size saucepan.  Add onions and peppers and cook for 5 minutes.  Stir in remaining chutney ingredients and cook, covered, 5 minutes.  Cool.

Recipe taken from Family Circle, April 2011

Irresistible Soda Bread

Makes 12 servings

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 
  

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and baking soda. Blend egg and buttermilk together, and add all at once to the flour mixture. Mix just until moistened. Stir in butter. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake for 65 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the bread comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Wrap in foil for several hours, or overnight, for best flavor.

Recipe taken from Allrecipes.com

Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage

Serves 8

• 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into matchstick pieces
• 10 baby red potatoes, quartered
• 1 onion, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
• 4 cups water
• 1 (4 pound) corned beef brisket with spice packet
• 6 ounces beer
• 1/2 head cabbage, coarsely chopped

1. Place the carrots, potatoes, and onion into the bottom of a slow cooker, pour in the water, and place the brisket on top of the vegetables. Pour the beer over the brisket. Sprinkle on the spices from the packet, cover, and set the cooker on High.
2. Cook the brisket on high for about 8 hours. An hour before serving, stir in the cabbage and cook for 1 more hour.

Recipe taken from Allrecipes.com

Bratwurst, Sauerkraut and Bean Casserole

Serves 4

• 1 pound fresh bratwurst sausages
• 1 (32 ounce) package sauerkraut
• 1 pinch celery salt
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 (15 ounce) can baked beans

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Cook bratwurst in a skillet over medium-high heat just until nicely browned on the outside.
2. Spread sauerkraut in the bottom of a 9x11 casserole dish, leaving a 2 inch margin at the edges. Sprinkle celery salt and brown sugar over the sauerkraut. Place the sausages on top. Pour the beans around the outer edge of the sauerkraut. Cover the dish with a lid or aluminum foil.
3. Bake for about 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until bratwurst links are cooked through.

Recipe taken from Allrecipes.com

Borscht and Beef Pasta

Makes 6 Main Dish Servings

Salt and Pepper
1 lb ground beef chuck
1/4 tsp ground cloves
2 lbs beets, well-scrubbed (peeled if large) and shredded
1/4 cup water
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 lb whole wheat linguine
2 tbsp chopped fresh dill, plus additional for garnish

1.  Heat covered 6-quart pot of water to boiling on high.  Add 2 tsp salt.

2.  Heat 12-inch skillet on medium-high until hot.  Add beef, 1/8 tsp cloves, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper.  Cook 3 minutes or until browned, stirring and breaking beef into very small pieces.

3.  Add beets, 1/4 cup water, and 1/4 tsp salt.  Cook 10 to 12 minutes or until beets are tender, stirring occasionally.  Stir in vinegar.

4.  Meanwhile, add pasta to boiling water in pot.  Cook 1 minute less than minimum time that label directs, stirring occasionally.  Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water.  Drain pasta and return to pot.

5.  Add beet mixture, dill, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper, and remaining cloves to pot.  Cook on medium 2 minutes or until pasta is al dente and well coated, tossing and stirring.  If mixture seems dry, toss with additional cooking water.  To serve, garnish with dill.

Recipe taken from Good Housekeeping, March 2011

Making Money is ALWAYS fun!!

Today I went on an impromptu shopping trip and was able to MAKE money on some stuff!  I wasn't planning on shopping at all this week since I was supposed to be at Children's hospital all week with my son.  His surgery got rescheduled, so I was able to go out and use up the rest of my Albertson's Twice the Value coupons and my Walgreens Register Rewards.

Albertsons

This trip would have been better but since it is the last day of the "Twice the Value" coupons, most of the stuff I wanted to get was gone.  :(  So, I had to improvise and get a couple of other things that are always great to have around.  These are the three transactions I did:

#1

3 Rhodes Warm and Serve Dinner Rolls (LOVE THESE!), on sale for $2.50
-$1/1 coupon from 3/20 RP x 3
-Twice the Value Coupons x 3
TOTAL $1.50

#2

1 Rhodes Warm and Serve Dinner Rolls, on sale for $2.50

-$1/1 coupon from 3/20 RP

-Twice the Value Coupon 

TOTAL $0.50

#3

2 Garnier Fructis Shampoo/Conditioner, on sale 2/$6

-$1/1 here x 2

-Twice the Value Coupons x 2

= $2.00

3 Gerber 2nd Baby Foods, on sale for $0.99

-$1/3 coupon NLA

-Twice the Value Coupon

=$0.97

TAX  $0.26

TOTAL  $3.23

Got a $2 catalina to use on my next order from the Garnier purchase

Rite Aid

6 Bags of Candy (2 Cadbury, 2 Kisses, 2 Hershey's Miniatures), on sale 2/$4.88

-$1/3 from 4/3 SS x 2

-$1/2 Video Values coupon (says Hershey's drops on the video but prints as Hershey's Miniatures)

2 Cadbury Eggs, $0.88

-$0.50/2 Video Values coupon

2 Reeses Eggs, $0.88

-$0.50/2 Video Values coupon

8 NYC Nail Polish, on sale $0.59 after 40% store discount

-$1.50/2 here x 3

-$3/$15 from survey off prior reciept

-$8.98 UP+ Rewards

TAX $0.27

TOTAL OOP  $1.17

Got back (3) $1 UP+ Rewards for Easter Candy and $10 UP+ Rewards for buying $20 in Easter Candy (I had already purchased $4.88 before this transaction towards that $20)

Walgreens

6 Kit Kat Bars, on sale for $0.39 with in-ad coupon

4 Gel Pens, on sale 4/$1 with in-ad coupon (for Easter baskets)

3 Glitter Putty Eggs, on sale 3/$1 with in-ad coupon (for Easter baskets)

3 Bubbles, on sale 3/$1 with in-ad coupon (for Easter baskets)

2 Purex Ultra Laundry Detergent, on sale for $1.99 with in-ad coupon

-$1/1 from 2/20 RP x 2

-$2 Register Rewards

TAX  $0.61

TOTAL OOP  $5.93

TOTAL SPENT TODAY  $12.33

Got back $2 catalina at Albertsons and $13 UP+ Rewards at Rite Aid, so I actually MADE $2.67 today!  :)

I SAVED $71.34 TODAY!!!

To learn how you can save this kind of moolah on your everyday purchases (like grocery, household and GIFTS), check out my Strategic Shopping Classes!  NOW AVAILABLE IN ALL 50 STATES VIA SKYPE!!

Staples: Money Maker on Batteries and Tape

Right now at Staples you can get 20 count AA or AAA for FREE (or MAKE money on them if you have the P&G $110 coupon book) after Staples Rewards Rebate (must sign up for free Staples Rewards card).  The batteries are $12.99 and you will get a check for that amount at the end of the quarter.  The P&G $110 coupon books have $1/1 Duracell coupons, which brings the price you are paying down to $11.99 for each 20 count of batteries.  :)

They also have Scotch Magic Tape on sale for $0.99 this week.  You can use this $1/1 coupon towards it making the tape FREE!  :)

If this seems confusing or you would like to learn how to save money like this more often, check out my Strategic Shopping Classes!