I'm back....

Sorry, my blog has been empty for most of the week. I took a much needed break from the computer. I will be back on tomorrow to ad some new things. I did want to add that the jewelry deal that is listed a few posts down and on the right side of my blog worked great and the pieces are beautiful! It would be a great gift for a girlfriend or even a stocking stuffer. Go take a look.

I also have to say that my CVS trip was awesome! In about 20 minutes, I walked out with $122 worth of products and CVS paid me $72 in ECB's to buy it all....can't make that much in most jobs today. It was so much fun. So, I will return tomorrow and hopefully something meaningful and worth sharing. Sleep well until then....

E-coupons Getting Me Free Stuff This Week!

Go load some ecoupons to your Kroger card so that you can partake in these great deals!

(2) Oil of Olay ribbons body wash - $3.99 each
Load BOGO e-coupon at P&G here
use two $2/1 from recent insert (if you don't have two there's also a $1/1 out there)
Total: FREE

Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner - $2.49
Load $2/1 e-coupon at P&G
use $3/2 from recent insert
Total: FREE

Gillette Men's disposable razors - $5.99
Load $3/1 e-coupon from P&G
use $2/1 from recent insert
Total: .99

Gillette Venus disposable razors - $5.99
Load $3/1 e-coupon from P&G
use $2/1 from recent insert
Total: .99

Betty Crocker Frosting - $1.50
Load $.55/1 e-coupon from Shortcuts here
use $.50/1 (will double) from recent insert
Total: Free with overage!

Gearing up for Thursday....

I went to CVS early and got some of the deals out of the way for Thursday here's what I got.

Transaction #1

3 $25 American Express Gift Cards ($11.85 in processing fees)
ECB's earned: $10
Gas Rebate: $15
Gift Cards: $75
Total: $13.15 profit!

**Note: I usually don't do this kind of deal, but it was too good to pass up.**

Transaction #2

Maybelline liquid foundation: $8.99
$3/1 recent coupon
ECB's earned: $8.99
Total: FREE, plus $3 overage!

Complete Multi care eye solution: $8.99
Internet printable $2/1 here
ECB's earned: $8.99
Total: FREE, plus $2 overage!

Loreal lip gloss: $2.49 (in the clearance section)
recent $1/1 coupon (Walgreens ad, but manufacturer coupon)
Total: $1.24

I also used a $4/20 CVS coupon
Spent $10 in ECB's and got back $18 in ECB's

**Check back this weekend to see the Thanksgiving deals I snag!**

Not Seeing the End of Diapers? Here's some help...and coupons

Free samples and coupons from Huggies (paired with a sale and e-coupons you can get a good deal):

My Super Creative Readers

For those of you who are creative with words should definitely give this contest a try! The prize is $2500 - if I can think long enough on it I'm try it myself.

Raid Your Grocer's Markdown Table!

I know I've said this before, but make sure you carefully comb over the markdown table in your grocery store. You won't believe some of the deals I've gotten there. Here are just a few that I got a my Kroger this week:

Premium M&M Chocolate candies- Original: $3.99 Sale: $1.99

use $1/1 recent coupon

Total: $.99 (great stocking stuffer or for a gift bag)

Huggies Jumbo pack - Original: $15.99 Sale: $7.99

use shortcuts $1/1 ecoupon

use $1/1 recent coupon

Total: $5.99 for 52 diapers!

Pampers jumbo pack pull-ups- Original: $10.99 Sale: $5.49

use cellfire $1.50/1

use $1.25 recent coupon

Total: $2.74

1 Gal. Naturally Preferred Organic Apple juice- Original: $7.99 Sale: $3.50

Cascadian Farms organic frozen vegetables: Original: $3.49 Sale: $1.29

use $1/1 recent coupon

Total: $.29

Now, your store may not have these exact deals, but I bet they have some! Keep your eyes out. I love being able to match a coupon to an item that has been marked way down. It excites me! :)

$10 in Coupons from Pillsbury!

Click the image to recieve coupons for Pillsbury products...

Make Money Just By Searching...

Thanks to Money Saving Mom, I finally figured out how this swag bucks works! Basically you earned points by searching through swag bucks. The search is taken from reliable sources like Google and Ask.com. With your points you earn gift cards. You can earned cards from place like Target, Disney, Southwest Airlines, Subway, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Starbucks and many more! Most people will earn just a few points per day, but if you refer people you will earn their points, too. That's how the points start to ad up and money is made. Why not try this? We are going to search anyway, right? Might as well get something for doing it! Give it a try and let me know how it goes for you! Click here to give it a try

30 Days of Thanks...

For the next thirty days I am going to highlight something for which I am thankful. Too many days go by where I forget to even acknowledge that which I am so blessed to have. I rarely live in the reality that 99% of the world lives on less than what I have. I spend too much time focusing on that material things in life, which will all pass, and not enough on those things that God says are eternal.

Today I am thankful for:

My family heritage

I realize this may seem strange at first, but once I explain I think you'll understand why I am so thankful for my family's heritage. About this time of year I am always so grateful to the legacy that my grandparents have given me. Thanksgiving is a HUGE event in our family. Christmas is big, but it can be missed for the in laws every other year without hearing too many people complain. But Thanksgiving...it is basically stated in the wedding vows that you will ALWAYS be there. My grandparents were attending Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky 48 years ago. They were married students living in married student housing. They had become good friends with another couple from Pittsburgh, PA who also lived in the married student duplexes. Since my grandparents were from New Jersey and very poor, they were unable to make it home for Thanksgiving. Their friends were in a similar situation. So, in attempts to make a sad situation better, they had their very first Thanksgiving together, having no idea what they had just created. From that point on the two families - the Stevenson's and Vogel's - became one. This year will be the 48th year we've celebrated Thanksgiving together. There are 43 of us in all now, including spouses, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. We usually go to Pittsburgh and stay with the Vogels and use thier church facilities for the gathering. However, this year my grandmother is finishing up her chemotherapy so we will all be traveling to Kentucky (so that my grandparents don't have to travel). We rent out a huge church fellowship hall, stay in a hotel, and eat about three of the biggest turkey's you've ever seen. We all arrive on Thanksgiving day and help prepare the meal. Before the meal begins we each go around and say what we are thankful for that year (note that there have been marriage proposals and baby announcements done at this time as well), needless to say, there are always lots of tears. This alone takes almost two hours! After the time of giving thanks we all stand, join hands, and sing the doxology - I promise you've never heard it sung so sweet. The day after Thanksgiving is always so much fun. We usually have a theme for the day, past years have included the Amazing Race, Survivor, Medieval Times, and other things like taking a school bus to the movies, or renting out a Japanese Hibachi grille. Whatever we do, it is always amazing! I've never spent a Thanksgiving any other way but this, and yet, I realize every bit how precious this tradition is and how important it is to hold to. If you sat around our Thanksgiving table you would not know where the Stevenson's end and the Vogel's begin. I am so Thankful.

CVS small buys, good moneymaker!

I didn't buy much this week - but I'm gearing up for next week! Here's my moneymaker this week:

L’Oreal Age Perfect Pro-Calcium Radiance Perfector Moisturizer - $15.99

use $1/1 coupon from recent insert

ECB's earned: $15.99

Total: FREE, with $1 overage

CVS cleansing cloths - $3.49 (trying to get my total up to $20)

use $3/1 from coupon that printed off my receipt (CRT)

Total: $.49

Advil Travel size - $.99 (still trying to get my total up to $20)

Use CVS $4/20 coupon

My total ended up being $.58 and I made $3 in the deal. Yeah! That large ECB will come in handy next week with my large transactions...can't wait!

Free Virtual Books for My Readers!

Mobistories is cute company that sells virtual books for kids. I just bought a few for my son and daughter. Because they are so confident that your kids will like them they are giving my readers $10 worth of credit to try them out. Use the code BSM214A to get your discount. This code can get you at least two books, plus there a free book you can select as well. Once you buy them you will get a confirmation in your inbox with the downloads available. You can download them right to your computer or download them to a CD. These look like they would be great to use on road trips and they would also make great stocking stuffers! Enjoy! Click here for Mobistories.

Christmas Gift Basket Idea

Here's a great idea for a gift basket using all the great deals I've told you about recently:

Glade oil candle holder - free @ Target (also free @ Wal-mart right now)

information here

Russell Stovers bag of chocolate - less than a $1 at CVS this week information here

Starbucks chocolate candy bar - free @ Target

information here

Archer Farms miniature coffee bags - free @ Target this week.

coupon here

2 Teasta tea sample bags - free online here

No one has to know you got it all for free! I would love this kind of gift! Have fun being creative with all this stuff.

CVS is Out of Control on Black Friday!

If there's a will; there's a way and I will make it to CVS during the Thanksgiving holiday! CVS is giving tons a stuff away after ECB's (see full ad scan here) here's what I've come up with so far:

**Note: you can get these deal early if you go on Thanksgiving day!**

Playtex Gentle Glide (Sport is included): $3.99

use $1/1 coupon from recent insert

ECB's earned: $3

Total: Free with $1 overage!

Schick Quattro Razor or Trimmer: $7.99

use $2/1 coupon from recent insert

ECB's earned: $6

Total: Free, with overage!

Colgate Total: $2.99 (Limit 2)

use $1/1 coupon from recent insert

ECB's earned: $2.99

Total: Free with $1 overage!

Magnavok Universal Remote or Phillips Headphones: $6.99 (Limit 2)

ECB's earned: $6.99

Total: Free

Aussie shampoo, conditioner, or style product: $2.99 (Limit 2)

use $1/1 coupon from recent insert

ECB's earned: $2.99

Total: Free with $1 overage!

Johnson's Soft lotion: $5.69

use $1/1 coupon from recent insert

ECB's earned: $5.69

Total: Free with $1 overage!

Gatorade: $1.49 (Limit 3)

ECB's earned: $1.49

Total: Free!

Hershey's candy bars: $1

use BOGO coupon from recent insert

ECB's earned: $1

Total: Both Free

Garnier Nutriste Cleansing Towelettes: $5.99

use $1/1 coupon from recent insert

ECB's earned: $5.99

Total: Free with $1 overage!

Maybeline Liquid Power Mineral Foundation: $8.99

use $3/1 coupon from recent insert

ECB's earned: $8.99

Total: Free with $3 overage

5-hour energy strength 2pk.: $3.99

ECB's earned: $3.99

Total: Free

Covergirl Smoother's pressed powder: $5.99

use $1/1 coupon from recent insert

ECB's earned: $5.99

Total: Free with $1 overage

Covergirl Smoother's liquid makeup: $5.99

use $1/1 coupon from recent insert

ECB's earned: $5.99

Total: Free with $1 overage!

Loreal juice sheer lipgloss: $6.99 (limit 2)

use $2/1 coupon from recent insert

ECB's earned: $6.99

Total: Free with $2 overage!

Sally Hansen maximum growth plus nurishing nail color: $3.79

ECB's earned: $3.79

Total: Free

Bic Soliel Single Razor with 2 cartridges: $5.99 (Limit 2)

use $3/1 coupon from recent insert

ECB's earned: $5.99

Total: Free with $3 overage!

***Okay so here is the part you will brag about to your grandchildren (maybe that's a little over the top): You will get $110.69 worth of stuff -- and here's the kicker -- CVS will pay you $19 to do it! I am sure there will be plenty of $/$$ coupons to use as well so it stands to be an even better deal. Talk about saving money - we are making money! Obviously, you will need to do more than one transaction and I'm sure more coupons will come out between now and then. Plus, I'm sure that other bloggers will come up with even better scenerios, so stayed tuned!***

I just realize a few of the coupons I posted are expired, however, my CVS often will accept expired coupons as long as you are within a month of the expiration date. Hopefully, yours will do the same. :)

Some Free Samples for you!

Free Purell Hand sanitizer (if you have kids, who doesn't need this?):

I got Nature Made vitamins with this sample:


QualityHealth src="http://lm.logicalmedia.com/42/3479/6511/" border=0>

Coupon for free formula here:




Free kit for nursing moms ( I got this with both my kids and it's full of great stuff!):



Free, fun eco-living tips:



Win a trip to Colorado here:


Here's a soda giveaway:


I love this book - it's great for cheap dates - also good for vacations where you are going to eat out a lot. My sister got one for her honeymoon when they went to Maui!

Deals to Meals

Deal: Carnation Evaporated Milk - Free @ Kroger!

Meal: Sweet Potato Soufle (great for Thanksgiving)

Ingredients
3 large sweet potatoes cooked and whipped
1 cup sugar
2 eggs beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 stick butter
1/2 cup evaporated milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 bag marshmallows
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions
Peel and cook potatoes until tender. Drain potatoes and whip. Add sugar, eggs, salt, butter, milk and vanilla. Mix well and put in a greased 1 1/2 quart casserole. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 25 minutes. Place marshmallows and pecans on top and return to oven for about 5 minutes or until brown on top.

Deals to Meals

Deal: Free Carnation Evaporated Milk @ Kroger

Meal: Chocolate Toffee Trifle

***Here's the sweet Deal to Meal (can you tell I love chocolate?)***

(adapted from a wonderful Paula Dean recipe)

Ingredients
1 box chocolate cake mix (recommended: Duncan Hines)
1/2 cup strong coffee
2 cups fudge sauce, recipe follows, or 1 (16-ounce) jar fudge sauce
3 chocolate covered toffee candy bars, broken into pieces
1 1/2 cups heavy cream whipped and sweetened with 1/3 cup sugar

Directions
Prepare the cake according to the package directions for a 9 by 13-inch cake. Cool thoroughly.
Prick the entire top of the cake with a fork. Pour coffee liqueur over the cake and allow it to soak in. Wrap the cake with plastic and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Slice the cake into 1-inch thick pieces.
Line the bottom of a large glass bowl with a single layer of cake. Pour 1/4 of the fudge sauce over the cake, top with 1/4 of the candy bar-bits then 1/3 of the whipped cream. Repeat layering 2 more times ending with fudge sauce and candy bits. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Cook's Note: Assemble the trifle shortly before serving or it will get soggy.

Hot Fudge Sauce:
1 (4-ounce) bar German chocolate
1/2-ounce unsweetened chocolate
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter
3 cups powdered sugar
1 2/3 cups evaporated milk
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla
To make the sauce: Melt the German chocolate with the butter in a saucepan over very low heat. Stir in the powdered sugar, alternating with evaporated milk and blending well. Stirring constantly, bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer until the mixture becomes thick and creamy, about 8 minutes. Stir in the vanilla.

CVS is Back!

Finally, CVS has some worthwhile deals! Here's what I got this week:

(Sunday and Monday only)
Loreal Advanced Revitalift - $11.99 (good luck finding this still available!) use $1/1 Loreal Revitalift coupon from recent insert
use $2/1 Walgreen's coupon (this does scan in the system)
ECB's earned: $11.99
Total: Free, plus $3 overage!

St. Ives body wash - $3.99
use $2/1 printable here
ECB's earned: $3
Total: Free, plus $1 overage __________________________________________________

Crest pronamel whitening toothpaste 4.2 oz. - $3.49
use $1/1 Crest toothpaste from recent insert
ECB's earned: $3.49
Total: Free, plus $1 overage!

Palmolive dish soap - $1.49
use $.25/1 coupon from recent insert
ECB's earned: $1
Total: $.24

Glaceau Smart Water bottle: $1.59
ECB's earned: $1.59
Total: Free!

Rimmel mascara: $6.99
use $1/1 coupon from recent insert
ECB's earned: $4
Total: $1.99

Listerine Agent cool blue mouthwash: $3.99
use $1/1 printable here
ECB's earned: $3
Total: Free!

Russel Stover's chocolate (bags): $3.29 buy 3
use BOGO coupon from today's paper
use B2GO from recent insert
Total: $3.29 for all three
***I needed a $3 filler to get my $5/25 coupon to work***
***These will make great little gifts - maybe for my kids teachers***

Huggies diapers: $9.50
use $1.50/1 coupon from recent insert
use $2/1 CVS coupon from recent receipt
Total: $6
***I needed diapers - remember to use those ECB's on things you need, too!***

Garnier Fructic Conditioner: $2.99
use $1/1 coupon from recent insert
ECB's earned: $2
Total: Free!

I did two transactions using a $5/25 coupon and a $5/15 coupon (it got mailed to me this week, along with a $3 free CVS item, and a Free bottle of Pepsi coupon) Anyone else get these?

I ended up spending about $15 in ECB's but I got back a little over $16 in ECB's. Not bad considering I got diapers, candy, and few items that I didn't receive overage on. All in all, I was paid $1 for all this stuff! Whoo hooo!

TEASTA is giving away two free samples of their tea. All you have to do is choose two samples and use the order code TRYME. It appears that you can do this deal endlessly. These would make a great stocking stuffers or just a nice touch to a gift basket. I got myself quite a few! Enjoy.

Thanks Money Saving Mom!

Delicious Dove Deal!

So here's my latest chocolate freebie! Can't get enough, I guess. I will be sharing this one with others as well...I have a few suggestions before I give the low down on this deal. First, take some scissors to the store with you, and second, do this separately from your normal grocery run. I went to Kroger this morning for our weekly trip and then went back for this freebie tonight. Also, if you can, I would suggest the Uscan machine b/c you'll need to do two transactions and you don't want people to wait while you are taking coupons out of the box. Okay, here goes...

1st Transaction

***Note for every 10 items you buy in the mega event sale you receive $5 off***

5 Dove minature icecream bars (it will say $3 of coupons inside) - $2.50

10 Nail Saver Scotch brite sponges
use$1/1 coupon here - $1.00

4 Carnation evaporated milk cans
use $1/2 coupon here - $1.00

1 Tylenol express gels
use $2/1 in this weeks RP - $2.50

Before Total= $29.00
-$10.00 (mega event sale)
-$10.00 (sponge coupons)
-$2.00 (carnation coupons)
-$2.00 (tylenol coupon)
After total: $5.00 and change

2nd Transaction

5 Pints of Dove icecream
use $2/1 copoun (found inside the icecream boxes you just bought!) - $2.00

1 Scotch small lint collector
use $1/1 coupon - $1.00

4 Nail saver scotch brite sponges
use $1/1 coupon above -$1.00

Now get yourself some fillers - I got milk, butter, and papertowels.

Before Total: $20.00 (approximately)
- $5.00 (mega sale event)
- $10.00 (Dove coupons)
-$1.00 (lint coupon)
-$4.00 (sponge coupons)
After Total: Free (you may need some more fillers to keep out of the negative)
Enjoy! Thanks Thirfty Mama for the heads up on this deal!

30 Days of Thanks...

For the next thirty days I am going to highlight something for which I am thankful. Too many days go by where I forget to even acknowledge that which I am so blessed to have. I rarely live in the reality that 99% of the world lives on less than what I have. I spend too much time focusing on that material things in life, which will all pass, and not enought on those things that God says are eternal.

Today I am thankful for:

My Husband

I definitely do not tell him or show him enough just how grateful I am to be married to such an extraordinary man. He is completely selfless where I am concerned. I never feel as though he is intentionally putting his needs before my own. He so evidently loves the Lord and puts Him first in his life. He is an active father. My children are going to grow up so loved and desired because their father participates in who they are. He is my best friend and favorite companion. My heart bursts with gratitude to the Lord for choosing me to be his wife.

Siphon the Truth - Let Go of the Junk

Yesterday someone said something that cut me deep. I've been bothered by it ever sense. Ever have something that just lurks in your mind and you can't seem to shake it? I think the reason this particular jab hurt so badly was because I knew it was partially true. I think that's probably true with most criticism. It's important that when we are criticized we learn how to siphon what part of it is true, and let go off the junk that came with it. I've heard it said this way before, "there was probably a nugget of truth in there somewhere, but the problem was it was covered up by a bunch of crap." Dig through the "crap", find the nugget of truth, and let it go. This is exactly what I need to do today - right here, right now - I'm letting go.

I won a Kreativ Blogger Award thanks to Dr. Mom over at the Frugal Dr. Mom blog! She's got a great blog with some very practical money saving strategies. Thanks! I am supposed to say six things I am thankful for as well as award this to six other bloggers.





I am thankful for:


1. My husband


2. My children


3. Parents who raised me to love the Lord


4. My church


5. The places God has taken our family


6. Our home





Bloggers who deserve this award:


1. Lorrie at Mommy Stays Home


2. Brianna at Bargain Brianna


3. Rachel at Commencentsical


4. Becky at Nickels and Dimes


5. AlanaJo at That's Just Nifty Thrifty


6. Crystal at The Thrifty Mama





Make sure to check each of these fabulous blogs out!

Deals to Meals: Dangerous Chocolate Cake

One of my readers, Elizabeth, sent this recipe to me. I thought it was a great idea and wanted to share it with the rest of you.

Deal: $1.50/1 Nestle Tollhouse chocolate morsels here
Meal: 5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips
a small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (high). The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous). And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

Psst...here's a great new offer from General Mills!

I recently joined Psst...! It's a company that sends out coupons and offers in hopes that if you like the products you will tell others, who will tell other, who will tell others...you get the idea. So far, I received an email coupon for $1/4 Yoplait yogurt, $1.10/1 Progresso soup, and $1.25/1 Pillsbury Grands frozen cinnamon rolls. Today, in the mail, I received a coupon for a FREE bag of Pillsbury Grands frozen cinnamon rolls and 10 $1.25/1 coupons to give to friends. I really like this program because, not only do I get to try products for free (what's better than that?), but their coupons seem to usually be pretty high value as well. If you'd like to sign up yourself click here. I can't wait to see what the next offer will be!

If you'd like me to send you the coupons I've received so far email me and I'll send them to you! lizzylanguage@gmail.com