Meal-Planning Day - January 2010 Eating from the Pantry Challenge

If you're going to eat from the pantry more in January 2010, consider today a chance to plan.

Here are some ways I'm planning:

1. Inventory your resources. I was astonished by the amount of staples that we have upon a quick survey! I drew up a list of what I have so that a rough menu-planning sketch for the month will include these items heavily. Try to cluster like items together so that you can envision meal elements. Some like-item categories are:

• Starches: rice, pasta, lentils, other cookable grains, etc.
• Baking elements: Flours, sugars, molasses, honey, evaporated milk, nuts, dried fruits, Bisquick, baking mixes, etc.
• Breakfast foods: Cereal, oatmeal, granola bars, etc.
• Condiments: Marinades, dressings, sauces, peanut butter, jellies, etc.
• Vegetables: Canned, frozen, dried.
• Fruit: Canned, frozen, dried. (remember that for fruits or veggies fresh produce purchases will also come into play...)
• Meats and proteins: Canned tuna, canned chicken, frozen poultry and meats, beef jerky, peanut butter, nuts, eggs.

2. Do a rough monthly menu-plan sketch. This is not written in stone, but it will help to keep you from unnecessarily buying extra groceries from desperation. Throw together a fruit, a starch, a veggie, or a veggie, a protein, a condiment, etc. Cluster varied meal elements, and feel free to add items like, "Fresh fruit" or "Fresh veggie" as a general placeholder for what you'll find on sale during the month as you do your minimal grocery shopping. If you're up for getting creative already, make elemental recipe notes like, "Shredded cheese + brown rice + chicken chunks = casserole". If you like, use the ingredient search on allrecipes.com or recipezaar.com to throw a couple of ingredients together and see what suggested recipes result.

3. Do a final-buy of anything you need on 12/31. I'll be picking up fresh avocados and mangoes at Giant while they're cheap (Thursday's the last day for the sale prices on those), and maybe some poultry or meat since our frozen meat stash was semi-raided in December after our baby's arrival.
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Eating from the Pantry Challenge - Planned for January 2009

My husband and I (A.) recently reviewed the month of December for our bills - which, incidentally, were way lower than usual. It would appear that nothing puts a damper on casual runs to Target, Giant, and other locales like having a newborn at home!

Soon after our monthly bill review, frugality blogger Crystal Paine of Money Saving Mom posted her Eating from the Pantry challenge for the month of January. The timing for the concept was impeccable. Crystal notes: "We're attempting to avoid grocery shopping as much as possible and will be blogging what we're feeding our families, creative recipes we're concocting, and how we're pulling this whole thing off."

While I'm not planning on precisely following Crystal's parameters set for herself and the Paine family, I'm already in a scenario where my husband is doing nearly all of the grocery shopping from my written lists and a few assigned coupons - and I'm home, dreaming up ways to use my stockpile. Like Crystal, we're going to focus what minimized grocery shopping we do on procuring lots of fresh produce and dairy, with little-to-no processed foods bought. (Bonus - that also de facto reduces coupon-finding and -clipping for the month.) So, doing the challenge is not a huge leap of faith - it's more like rendering what we're already doing in this life season in official blog format. I have a feeling that this is going to involve a LOT of casseroles, pasta dishes, and fruit smoothies.

I'll be posting ways that we are trying to stretch our pantry and fridge/freezer contents over the coming weeks, and at the end of January do a bit of summing up of what I've learned, money saved, recipes invented, my husband's perspective, etc. Follow my Eating from the Pantry Challenge blog posts by clicking our "Eating from the Pantry" label...and follow other bloggers who are doing the challenge by seeing Crystal's Mr. Linky list at her introductory post here.

Are you going to be trying the Eating from the Pantry Challenge? What strategies are you planning?
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Works for Me Wednesday: No-cost things to do with kids when it's cold outside!

Both A. and I have preschool aged kids and are used to filling every day with them. But those moms who have kids in school and live in our area are probably going crazy with 2 weeks of time to fill! It's freezing outside, and many of us are on budgets.

So here are some no-cost ideas for things to do on these cold, post-Christmas days.

• Visit the local public library. We live within walking distance, know the staff, and can easily go spend 1-2 hours there. My toddler likes to use a library stool to move around and look at books and videos of his choosing. There are chairs set up in such a way that I can sit to read a newspaper or magazine while keeping one eye on him.


• Visit a shut-in. We just finished with a wonderful Christmas, but there are several people I can think of who are shut in for one reason or another(recent foot surgery, had a new baby, elderly neighbor, etc.). Wouldn't it be a nice gift for you and your child(ren) to take a piece of art(coloring book page with scribbles or more elaborate Christmas craft) and visit that friend? Even a 30-minute visit would encourage a friend. If your kids protest, encourage them to bring along a favorite toy and do a "show and tell" time.


• Visit a local museum. Our area has countless free museum options, and I love taking advantage of those free learning opportunities for me and my toddler. Perhaps your area has a children's museum that offers a weekly discount, or you could work out a discount by inviting your playgroup or circle of friends.


• Host a playdate. Don't clean your house, and don't cook or bake. Just invite a friend who has a kid or kids, heat up the coffee pot or kettle, and sit down for a visit while your kids play. It's a great way for everyone to blow off some post-Christmas energy. Get out your kids' sit and spin, bouncy ball, etc. and encourage your kids to move around.


• Throw a pool party or beach day in the bathroom. My toddler loves to play in the water, and I have a set of bath markers I found on clearance at CVS earlier this year waiting for just such a cold, home-based day. Encourage your kids to put on their swimsuits, get out the kid sunglasses, towels, and pool shoes, and send them to "the pool." Fill up the bathtub with bubbles, blow bubbles at them, and get out the beach or pool toys. Let them make a mess, then have them help you mop it up afterwards. Just think, the bathroom might even be cleaner! If it's the right time of day and you have ice cream in the freezer, you could even send an "ice cream truck" into the bathroom and let your kids eat while in the tub. Of course it would be messy; use discretion!


• Pick a skill you want your child(ren) to learn and start teaching! I'm not a teacher by trade, and though I find it intimidating to teach sometimes, I do consider it a big, God-given responsibility to teach my toddler certain skills. For instance, I'd like him to be able to use a crayon better in the coming year, possibly learning to start writing actual letters and numbers. We'll be getting out the coloring books, doodle board and construction paper lots this winter. I'm also passionate about teaching him about money, so we'll be going through my wallet to start identifying different coins.


• Cook or bake together. My toddler likes to make pancakes with sprinkles and jell-o. I love to be in the kitchen, and I want him to be just as comfortable and skilled when he leaves our home. Cooking or baking should be age appropriate, but you'd be surprised by what kids can do, even with clumsy hands and fingers! One day you could try putting together a cookie mix in a jar or plastic bag with an older child, then the next you could dump it out and mix it up with a different child. Click here for a long list of recipes and find one with ingredients you already have in your pantry. One afternoon you could put dry pancake mix together with one child, then the next morning you could surprise another child by taking pancakes made by the first child to the other (or Dad) in bed. Bake sugar cookies with your kids and allow them to cut out the cookies and decorate them, then take them to a shut-in per the aforementioned suggestion. The possibilities are endless; use your imagination to make kitchen time fun!

What works for you on these cold, home-based days?

$3 Magazine: 2 years of Parenting(School Years)

Slickdeals and Tanga report that a 2-year subscription to Parenting (School Years) can be had for $3. For those with older kids, this sounds like a good deal.

For more details, go here.

JCPenney: $.99 shipping per item through 12/s30

My Good Cents has the scoop on how to score items from JCPenney through 12/30 for $.99 per item shipped!

This is a great deal if you've been eyeballing something for yourself, like a a new food processor or sweater, or something for the kids, like a discounted Christmas dress for next year...

As always, we recommend buying through Ebates, which is offering 3% cash back on all purchases. You can click here to do so through our referral link.

As a side note, I walked through JCPenney last night when I was at the mall, and everything is on sale for 60% off! Adorable pajamas or dresses for the kids for next Christmas abound!

Tuesday Deals Roundup: FREE Gillette Razor, Johnson's Baby Shampoo, and Proctor and Gamble coupons!

Here are some of the hot deals we've seen lighting up the frugality blogosphere:

Get a coupon for free kids' meal with adult meal purchase at Friendly's (or a $5/$25 coupon!). Thanks to Mommy's Wish List for this one! Mommy's Wish List also recently shared a post with a smokin' hot $10/$25 coupon for Yankee Candle Company.

Bath and Body Works has a $10/$40 coupon out, which could make holiday clearanced items even cheaper! Thanks, Jodi!

Frugal Coupon Living has a phone number to call to get your FREE Gillette Fusion razor - good for one per household while supplies last! Thanks, FCL!

Christy of The Bargain Jargon has the scoop on where to sign up for a Proctor and Gamble coupon booklet featuring $15 worth of coupons. Thanks, Christy!

Money Saving Mom's Crystal shared (thanks!) how to score free Johnson & Johnson's travel-size baby shampoos. Great for diaper bags and overnight bags - and not just for babies!

Menu Plan Monday

Anyone else ready for some post-Christmas detox? Too many cookies, fudge, biscotti, cookies, ham, and more cookies... they were all delicious, but I'm feelin' it!

Sorry for the lack of a menu plan post last week. It just didn't happen. I was preparing for a house full of visitors (6 additional adults!) and my husband surprised me by taking the whole week off from work. To work on our mostly renovated kitchen.

It is now 3/4 of the way renovated, but I have to say that I started out our Christmas more stressed and tired than I expected. Don't get me wrong: I'm grateful for my husband's selfless hard work and love, but the timing! Say no more. Any meals that made it to our table last week were courtesy of our Crock Pot, microwave, grill or Chipotle. Yes, I grilled around the piles of snow, thanks to the shoveling skills of my husband!

We have one more visitor arriving tonight, then my husband and toddler head off by themselves for a few days. Which means I have a few days to myself! In my own house! This has never happened before! I don't plan to cook much, but I do plan to organize some things, clean up after our wonderful guests, make some returns, visit with at least one girlfriend, and possibly do a half baking day. Or not, depending on how things go!

What's cookin' in your kitchen this week?
Monday: dinner out
Tuesday: leftover Honeybaked Ham, sweet potatoes, steamed veggies
Wednesday: BBQ chicken, wild rice, steamed veggies
Thursday: steaks on the grill, spinach artichoke dip w/ crackers, homemade bread
Friday: Crispy Chicken Fingers, sweet potato fries, steamed veggies
Saturday: Cobb salad with grilled chicken, bacon, and whatever else we have

Baking list:
Corn bread
Pumpkin muffins
Chocolate chip cookies
Chai tea biscotti
Chocolate-dipped orange biscotti

Merry Christmas (Ex-Post Facto)

We're not sure about you guys, but both of our houses were jam packed yesterday! A. had eight adults and two kiddoes, and Mel had even more! Needless to say, we were a tad busy - and are betting that you were similarly occupied. This morning, while surveying the fridge, the main thought in my head was: Horray for leftovers! We hope that you had a terrific day and were able to spend it with loved ones making warm memories.

With all of our holiday shopping obligations in Christmas past for the moment - we look toward the New Year and all that comes with it. You may recall from our previous post on seasonal sales that the New Year's coupon and sale offerings are health-oriented, so it's a great time to combine coupons with sale prices to stock up on low-fat yoghurts (which have a fairly long shelf life) and much more! Remember that out of season sales on Christmas candy and the like will also prove useful - you can separate green M&Ms from red ones, and freeze for St. Patrick's Day and Valentine's Day, respectively. Finally, don't forget to stock up on clearanced wrapping paper and holiday decorations in the coming days - and stash them in your holiday storage for next year. You'll be thanking yourself around November 2010 that you did. :)

This Sunday's paper (12/27) has a P&G insert worth keeping around, and the 01/03/2010 paper ("New Year, New You!') will have two SmartSource inserts and two Red Plum inserts. Get your hands on as many copies of this particular 4-insert paper as possible as it will be a great boost to your coupon file, especially given how many currently-out-there manufacturer coupons are set to expire on December 31, 2009.
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5 Reasons to Visit Giant This Week, 12/25-12/31

5 Reasons to Visit Giant This Week, 12/25-12/31

1. BOGO Breakstone's Sour Cream
   $0.55/1, $0.55/1 (12/13 SS), $1/2 (11/15 RP)
   If the $0.55 coupons double, you could use two (since you're getting two) and get up to $2.20 off the price of one for two! Free or cheap, in all likelihood.
   
   
2. Maxwell House Coffee, $1.99 (Save $1.50)
   $1/2, 12/13 SS
   Final price: $1.49/each
   
   
3. Cabot Bar Cheese, 2/$5
   $1/3, 08/02 SS (expires 12/30)
   Final price: $2.17/bar
   
   
4. DiGiorno/CPK Flatbread Melts or Pizza for One, 5/$10
   $1/1, Coupons.com
   Final price: $1
   
   
5. BOGO Campbell's Select Soup
   $1/1 Select Harvest any
   Final price: $2 off the price of one can, for two
   

Other Reasons to Visit Giant:

New York Strip Steak, $4.99/lb.

Canada Dry, 4/$10

Breyers Ice Cream, 2/$5
$0.75/1, 10/18 RP (likely a regional coupon)
Final price: $1/each

Drumsticks, Thighs, Leg Quarters, or Whole Chicken, $0.99/lb.

Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops or Pork Loin Roast, $2.99/lb.

Extra Large Shrimp, $6.99/lb.

Giant and Dole Bagged Salads, 2/$4

Avocados, 10/$10 (New Year's guacamole, anyone?)

Tostitos, 2/$5 (normally $3.99/bag!)
$1/1 Tostitos chips and dip, January All You magazine
Final price: $1.50 for a bag, plus the cost of dip
Bauducco Panettone, $6.49

Mangoes, 3/$2

BOGO Sale: Baby Carrots, normally $1.50/bag
Nabisco Snack Crackers (Triscuits, Wheat Thins, etc.) - $1/2, 12/13 SS
California Pizza Kitchen Frozen Pizzas
Ball Park Beef or Meat Franks
Post Honey Bunches of Oats
Smithfield Sliced Bacon
SoBe Lifewater

Other deals:

Perdue Short Cuts Carved Chicken Breast, $3.99

Tribe Hummus, $4.49 (Save $1)

Cool Whip, 10/$10

Jimmy Dean Breakfast Bowls, 2/$5
See 12/06 and 10/04 RP inserts for coupons (values vary regionally)
Final price: Varies.

Minute Maid OJ, 2/$4

Simply Orange, 2/$6

Kraft Shredded Cheese, 2/$4
$1/2 Natural Shredded
Final price: potentially $1.50/bag

Nature's Promise Organic Rice, $2.99

Kellogg's Cereal, 3/$8, plus a FREE 12-pack of Pop-Tarts when you buy three of the following:
Raisin Bran Crunch 18.2 Oz.
Froot Loops 17 Oz.
Rice Krispies 18 Oz.
Corn Flakes 24 Oz.
Apple Jacks 17 Oz.
$1/2 coupons, 12/13 RP
Use one $1/2 coupon when you buy 3, pay $7 for three boxes of cereal and a 12-pack of Pop-Tarts.

Diaper/Wipes Deal:
Buy a Big Pack of Pampers ($19.88 this week, 48-96 ct., sizes 3-6) and any size Pampers Wipes (refills are $5.88) in one transaction, and you will receive a Checkout Coupon (Catalina) for $5 off your next order.
$2/1 Cruisers or Swaddlers, 12/06 RP
$1.50/1 diapers, 11/29 P&G
Use a $2 coupon for maximum savings - net after $5 Catalina is $12.88 for a big pack of Pampers plus the cost of wipes. :)

Holiday Clearance Sale - Gift Wrap, Trim, Holiday Decor, Trim-a-Tree, Toys, Party Supplies, Boxed Carts, Select Candy, 50% off regular retail.

Save $3 instantly when you use your Giant card and purchase $15 of participating Giant items in one transaction. Limit 1 offer per transaction.
24-pack Acadia water, $3.88
Clear Splash flavored water, 4/$3
12-pack seltzer water, 4/$10
Apple juice, 2/$3
Giant Natural Cheese, 2/$4
Giant Cream Cheese, 3/$4
Instant Oatmeal, 2/$4
Pitted Olives, 4/$5
Plastic Cups, 10/$10

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This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering

What other Giant coupon matchups and deals did you spot for the coming week? Post a comment to let us know!

Works for me Wednesday: Buying stocking stuffers throughout the year

I can't say I always do this well, but I do like to accumulate stocking stuffers throughout the year for my family. I don't do well with last-minute stocking shopping, and I spend a lot less money if I stockpile these items all year long.

Here is what works for me:

• I have a dedicated tote bag to store the stocking stuffers in. I keep this in our guest room closet on a high shelf so it's "hidden" from my family.

• I buy small items I know my family likes when I see them on sale. Last year I bought a few Christmas items at the December 26th sales after Christmas 2008. I have coloring books and window decals for my toddler from these sales.CVS, Target and Wal-Mart are my favorite resources for sales. I also scored some free socks for my husband's stocking when working a DSW deal this fall.

• I don't spend a lot of money. I like this challenge, and I work at spending under $20-30 for my family's stocking stuffers. This works for me because I'm competitive and like to work coupon deals.

What can you add? Leave us a comment!

Some FREE Christmas Tracks Currently Available on Amazon

I am lovin' these free Christmas and holiday MP3s on Amazon! Some talented acts have posted free and (yea!) family-friendly MP3s, some part of the 25 Days of Free Downloads, and others whose freebie MP3s took a little more work to find. Consider buying other tracks or the whole albums from the artists whose tunes you fancy!

You're sure to find a version of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" here that tickles your fancy. :)

"Joy to the World" by Casting Crowns
"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" by Casting Crowns
"Snow Angel" by Tori Amos
"The Coventry Carol" by Mediaeval Baebes
"God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen" by Jars of Clay
"No Room" by Todd Agnew
"Wishing for This" by Leigh Nash
"Silent Night" by Sixpence None the Richer
"Silent Night" by House of Heroes
"O Come O Come Emmanuel" by Annie Moses Band
"Oh Come Emmanuel" by Aliqua (this one is particularly beautiful harmonized a capella)
"Oh Come, O Come Emmanuel" by Big Daddy Weave
"Winter Wonderland" by Point of Grace
"I Celebrate the Day" by Relient K
"The Nutcracker Suite, Waltz of the Flowers" by the Bonn Classical Philharmonics
"Joy to the World" by the Stroudavarious Orchestra
"Carol and the Kings" by the Allison Brown Quartet with Joe Craven (folksy banjo and piano flavor!)
"The Night Before Christmas" by Brandon Heath
"Pat a Pan" by Mannheim Steamroller
"It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" by MercyMe
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Hail from Newbornland

Greetings! 'Tis I, A., who welcomed our second daughter into the world last week. I write this post from the ether of those first hazy days of life with a newborn - and a two-year-old, to boot. Am thinking today during the snowstorm how glad I am to be huddled in the warmth of our home with the baby already here, instead of anxiously hoping that a snowplow will visit our part of the neighborhood pronto so that I can get to a hospital. :)

Needless to say, deal-hunting has been moved to the back burner for these first heady days while we figure out nursing, sleep deprivation, and diapering a dimpled, wiggly little booty anew. The support of friends and family has gone a long way - we've had many meals brought to us that have made a big difference in terms of saving us cooking/cleaning/grocery shopping hassle.

Additionally, my couponing and freezer stockpile from the last few months has really helped! Tonight we popped one of my frozen pot pies in the oven - made back in November with couponed frozen veggies and crockpot-cooked chicken, of course! - and enjoyed a homemade dinner with no effort. I also have some sour cream muffins and a bit of spinach dip frozen from a couple of weeks ago - my little Christmas present to myself when I don't feel like cooking. And lastly: a stockpile of nonperishables like tea, brown rice, peanut butter, cereal, honey, powdered milk, etc. will ensure that even in weeks to come when that much-needed trip to the grocery store just doesn't happen, we won't exactly waste away.

Since our little one has joined us, Mel has been keeping y'all going with posts in the last two weeks, and my abundant thanks go to her for her efforts. I plan to rejoin her in posting in the coming days, though my posts (including the 5 Reasons to Visit Giant posts) are likely to develop a more concise style, headlining only the very best deals spotted, since my hands are more-than-occupied with about 8 lbs. of hungry baby these days.

I hope that now that we are past most shipping deadlines and fast approaching Christmas, you are also able to relax, enjoy the fruits of your own coupon savings from the past few weeks, and focus on time with loved ones. Don't worry - there will be plenty of opportunities to coupon shop again in 2010. :)
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Lands' End: 25% off everything + free shipping through 12/20!

Lands' End is running a new promotion: 25% off EVERYTHING plus free shipping through 12/20.

Enter promotion code DEC21 and pin 00003196 at checkout.

5 Reasons to Visit Giant this week 12/18 - 12/25

Five Reasons to Visit Giant This Week:

1. Sweet Seedless Clementines are $4.44 for a 5-lb. box. Stock up for the holidays!

2. Southern Yams or Sweet Potatoes are 3 lbs. for $1! This is 1/3 the normal price.

3. Perdue 93% Lean Ground Turkey is $1.99/lb. Make your own sausage!

4. Daisy Sour Cream is 2/$3 for 16-oz. containers.
$.50/1 11/15/09 SS, $.50/1 12/13/09 SS (should double)
Final price: $.50 each if you have 2 coupons!

5. Nestle Baking Morsels, 2/$4
$.50/2 printable coupon here (should double)
Final price: $1.50/bag

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This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering

What other Giant coupon matchups and deals did you spot for the coming week? Post a comment to let us know!

DSW: Save 25% on any 2 items online through 12/16

DSW is back again, offering a 25% discount on the purchase of any 2 or more items in an ONLINE purchase. Enter promotion code CHEER at checkout.

Sweeten the deal by spending over $35 as a DSW Rewards member and enter promotion code SNOWMAN at checkout.

You could order slippers and socks for someone for Christmas, have them shipped to your door and call it a deal!

Works for Me Wednesday: Buying Christmas Ornaments

It has taken me awhile to accumulate a Christmas ornament collection. I bought lots of glass ball-type ornaments when I was in college to fill a fake tree my roommates and I had. They were cheap, and they filled the tree.

When I got married, my mom gave me a few ornaments from our collection growing up. My mother-in-law also gave us a few ornaments from her collection. But it takes a lot of ornaments to fill a tree well, in my opinion! And ornaments break over the years, especially when you have kids in the house. So I've started practicing 2 key shopping tactics to help my Christmas tree predicament.

Tactic #1.
Whenever traveling to a new place, I look for a Christmas ornament. I look hard sometimes, seeking out specific stores or local markets. I enjoy opening up our ornament boxes each year and remembering our travels, and our tree has a lot of variety on it because of this. My favorites are our wooden violin ornament from Austria, hand-painted wooden ornaments from Germany, "Mele Kalikimaka" kukui nut ornament from Hawaii, and seashell ornament from St. John. If possible, I use a fine tip Sharpie marker to mark the back of each ornament with the city/country of origin and year of travel.

Tactic #2.
I look for ornaments on December 26. Each year I go out shopping early in the morning on December 26, scouting out 50%-75% sales and buying wrapping paper, ribbon, and other assorted Christmas items for the following year. Craft stores are a great source for unique ornaments at reasonable prices, so I always look at Michaels or AC Moore to try to find something I'd like to add to my Christmas tree.

What works for you in this department? Leave us a comment to share your ideas.

Domino's: $5.99 large pizza + Cinnastix for busy days!

If you haven't caught wind of the great Domino's deal right now, head over to Moneywise Moms for the details. Dinner AND dessert for $6? And not having to cook? Priceless of course! I know it's not the healthiest dinner, but you could add a side of steamed veggies or garden salad and make it a bit healthier.

Reader Jen said she has capitalized on this deal twice this week. Sounds like a great idea for a busy weeknight to me! The deal only works for online orders. I know it works in my zip code; check to see if it works in yours!

Free Lotion: Olay body lotion rebate

Slickdeals posted a great rebate available through Procter & Gamble. Can't beat free body lotion, especially during this cold and dry time of year!

Buy any size except trial size of Olay Quench body lotion and send this rebate form in for reimbursement. Up to two rebates per household through February 12, 2010.

Rebates are always a bit of extra administrative work, but to me it's worth it in certain instances. This one is definitely worth it - around $20 of lotion for free?!

Before you buy the lotion go through your coupons - you might be able to save a few additional bucks by using one!

Menu Plan Monday

It's time for another menu plan already! Is it me, or is December flying now? What's on your menu this week?

I plan to take a meal to A. as she's home from the hospital with her new baby girl. It will be fun to visit! I'm not planning to cook a lot the first half of the week because I'm sick. And I didn't get to cook the chicken parmesan last week, so I'm putting in on my menu plan again.

Monday: Chicken noodle soup, salad

Tuesday: Burgers on the grill, baked sweet potatoes, steamed veggies

Wednesday: Stromboli made with Emeril's basic pizza dough, steamed veggies

Thursday: Chicken parmesan, salad

Friday: Chicken chili in the Crock Pot, possibly this recipe

Saturday: Dinner with friends

On the sweets/baking list:

Rice Krispie treats

Gingersnaps *similar to the linked recipe but I use the Betty Crocker recipe in my cookbook with shortening in the recipe

Pumpkin cheesecake, similar to this recipe

Caribou Coffee: 17th birthday specials Monday, 12/14

Caribou Coffee is celebrating its 17th birthday. Today, Monday December 14, head into your local Caribou for these specials:
$1 Medium cup of Caribou Blend coffee
$2 Medium Guittard Mocha
$3 Small Latte and any bakery item
$8.99 for a pound of Caribou Blend coffee

Though I'm not as infatuated with Caribou's lattes as I am with those at Starbucks, I do love the setup of our local shop. It has a kids section complete with a chalkboard on the wall, big bin of toys, and kids' table. My toddler loves to go there and asks to stop in when we drive by it. My MOMS Club chapter even plans group outings there because of the kid-friendly setup.

I encourage you to sign up for the Caribou emails here. You'll get a freebie around your birthday!

To find a Caribou Coffee near you, click here.

Old Navy: 20% off any online purchase through 12/15 - AND $7 pajamas!

We posted here about the 20% off any online purchase coupon code Old Navy has available through tomorrow, 12/15.

Old Navy just raised the ante by sending an email highlighting a sale on $7 pajamas. I like how the toddler sleep sets fit my little one, and $7 is a great price for them. The $7 sale applies to seasonal sleep sets like these and there are 1 or 2 additional prints on sale for $8.

I also like the flannel pants and cami tops like these for myself. $7 for flannel pants and $5 for basic camis is cheap! Can't beat these prices, so snatch them up while they're still available!

I'm guessing the same sale is on in the store, but if you want the best deal buy your pj's today and take advantage of the 20% coupon code by entering ONSAVE20 at checkout.

1800flowers.com: new $20 coupon!

If you missed the November 1800flowers.com freebie A. posted about here, there's another chance for a big discount!

Slickdeals has the scoop on a $20 savings pass you'll receive when you sign up for the 1800flowers.com mailing list. Click here to do so and let us know if you receive one!

I know I for one would love some fresh, festive flowers for a centerpiece on my dining room table. I'll have a house full of guests and this would be a nice touch! I signed up earlier and hope to use that coupon code myself.

Old Navy: 20% off any online purchase through 12/15

Old Navy is running a great sale - 20% off any online purchase through December 15.

Enter code ONSAVE20 at checkout.

And now for the fine print:
**Offer valid on Old Navy merchandise only through 12/15/09 at 11:59 pm ET in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico) at Old Navy online. Not valid at Old Navy stores. Qualifying amount applies to merchandise only, not value of GiftCards purchased, packaging, applicable taxes or shipping & handling charges. Offer limited to one-time use only. No adjustments on previous purchases. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts, including Gap Inc. employee discount

Lands' End: 25% off everything + free shipping through 12/14!

Lands' End is back with another sale:
25% off everything + free shipping through 12/14.

The fine print: excludes gift cards.

Enter promotion code DEC14 and pin 00001248 at checkout.

Happy shopping!

DSW: Save $10/$49 or $20/$99 off online purchases!

I am a big DSW fan when it comes to online shopping for shoes. My tactic lately has been to go to the store, try on a pair of semi-fashionable shoes, and then buy them online.

Since becoming a DSW Rewards member, I've realized that it pays over time to buy shoes for myself in the same place, like DSW. I don't spend over $200 a year on shoes for myself, including sneakers, but I do enjoy buying a new pair every few months depending on my needs. It's even more enjoyable when I get great deals!

This fall I fell in love with these ruffled flats when I visited the store. I *really* liked the teal color and noticed the store didn't have my size in stock. I also remembered that I had a DSW rewards coupon at home from my last purchase. So I went home and bought the same shoes online, saved $10 from the rewards coupon, found a coupon code on RetailMeNot for free shipping, and bought my husband some socks to make up the difference. $10 of free socks and adorable shoes delivered to my home? Can't be beat!

On to the latest DSW sale... you can save $10 on a $49 purchase or $20 on a $99 purchase by shopping online. Use promotion code 2XLOVE at checkout. Let us know what you buy!

It's Friday: Earn Mega Swag Bucks today!

It's Friday: Earn Mega Swag Bucks today!

Every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day!

Never heard of Swagbucks? It's one of our favorite websites because it's easy to earn free prizes by using the Swagbucks search engine. And on Fridays, users have better chances of winning Mega Swagbucks denominations.

The way it works:

• Go to Swagbucks through our referral link by clicking here.
  
• Sign up and create a new profile for yourself.
  
• Search a few times a day, and you'll start seeing points accumulate.

I use Swagbucks to search 2-3 times a day, 3-4 days a week for things I would normally research. It has taken me about 4 months to earn a $10 Starbucks gift card. Sweet! There are lots of other prizes in the Swagbucks store.

As a disclaimer, if you sign up under our referral link, we will receive Swagbucks thanks to you.

A.C. Moore: BOGO Crayola, 40% off Thomas & Friends

I've recently taken to shopping at A.C. Moore because my toddler has fallen head over heels for Thomas & Friends!

In the Sunday circulars, A.C. Moore always has a 40% off one item coupon. In November, I started driving out of my way to visit the store to stockpile wooden engines one at a time at the discounted price. The Thomas engines all run over $12 a piece, which adds up quickly!

Well, this week ALL Thomas & Friends wooden railway, cars, vehicles & playsets are on sale for 40% off. That's the cheapest you'll find Thomas gear, cheaper than the sales Amazon runs for sure. So if you have a Thomas lover on your giving list, head to A.C. Moore!

And don't forget to sign up for A.C. Moore's new rewards program. I just got a notice that I've already accumulated $10 in rewards! Yeah!

Rite Aid: $25 gift card for prescription transfer

Rite Aid recently changed its Sunday circular format, so this week I've been scrambling to find new prescription transfer coupons.

I located them on page 14 of the D.C. area circular. Rite Aid included 2 coupons for "Get a $25 gift card and a coupon booklet with over $75 in savings when you transfer your prescription."

I clip these whenever I see them and keep them in my coupon organizer. When my husband had his wisdom teeth removed last month, I used 2 coupons on his prescriptions at CVS and received $50 in gift cards! I'll be using those gift cards for toiletries we need and stocking stuffers. Can't beat that!

Target also had a coupon on page 39 of this week's circular for a $10 gift card with a prescription transfer. Most drug stores honor competitors' coupons; all it takes is asking!

5 Reasons to Visit Giant this week!

5 Reasons to Visit Giant This Week, 12/11-12/17

1. Super G Boneless Chicken Breast, $1.99/lb Sold in packages of 3 lbs. or more - a great stock-up price to get ready for the holidays! For chicken recipes, check out my meal plan here.

2. Blueberries or Blackberries, 2/$4

3. Progresso traditional soup, Buy Two Get Two Free

$.50/2 11/08/2009 SS (should double), $.50/2 10/25/2009 SS (should double), Printable $1.10/3 here

Final price: ~$1.50-$2.00 each

4. Ragu Pasta Sauce, 2/$4

$.60/2 11/15/2009 RP, should double

Final price: ~$1.40 each

5. Giant Apple Sauce, 3/$4

This is a great stock-up price! I use applesauce as a substitute for oil in some of my holiday baking.

Don't forget to cash out your card rewards by today, December 10. You can save up to 20% with your Giant card. For details, click here.

This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering

What other Giant coupon matchups and deals did you spot for the coming week? Post a comment to let us know!