Summer Reading - Heaven is Here

Inspired by Jen at Epbot - a wonderfully clever blog by the author of Cake Wrecks who never fails to inspire me, I thought it might be fun to share some of my summer reads.  There's just something about summer and a good book, don't you think?  Before we delve in, if you haven't checked out Epbot, what are you waiting for?  I am always amazed by her craftiness and eye for detail.  A table decorated with pennies?  A jewelery holder made from soda bottles?  Where does she come up with these ideas?  And you have to love the sense of humor that has made Cake Wrecks such a hit. Once you can tear yourself away from Epbot, get that cold glass of lemonade and your lounge chair ready.

On to book #1, Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson.  Another one of my favorite bloggers!  I've been following Nie Nie Dialogues for a number of years.  Stephanie and her husband Christian live in Utah with their five beautiful children.  Stephanie blogs about their daily life, crafts and projects she and the kids are working on, the latest antics her children are up to and her strong faith.  Everything changed in 2008 when she and Christian were in a horrific plane crash.  With burns over 80% of her body, she fought just to survive.  Her sister posted updates on her blog, letting everyone know how Stephanie was doing.  Stephanie has since chronicled her daily struggles on her blog, sharing her recovery with us all.  The pain, the surgeries, the frustration of not being able to do the things she wanted to.  In some small way, I felt like I was with her as she healed and grew stronger.  That is one of the most wonderful things about the internet, being able to "meet" people I otherwise never would have.  Looking for updates after she went in for yet another surgery.  Laughing as she shared some goofy story about one of her kids.  Smiling as she posted pictures of her lovely daughter, Charlotte, remembering when she spoke about her fear of not being able to have any more children due to her injuries. 

Her book is naturally written with the same uplifting sense of joy and wonder about the world. I'm not done with it yet, but love it so far.  Its so interesting to hear about their life pre-crash.  They used to live in New Jersey!  I cracked up when I read about how strange the people seemed to her, cold and unfriendly.  Its also so interesting to read about her strong religious beliefs and how that influences how she lives her life. 

Anyone else reading Heaven is Here too?  I'd love to hear your thoughts.  If not, what book do you have your nose in right now?

6/3 - 6/9

CVS

• Oral B Adult Manual Toothbrush $2.77, use $1 toothbrush CRT (if you got this from the red machine) and get back $2 EB (Limit 2) = $0.23 profit
• Starbucks Refreshers $1.50, buy two, use two $1 coupons and get back $1 EB (WYB 2, Limit 1) = FREE
• Speed Stick Men's or Lady's or Stainguard $2.99, use $1 coupon (5/20 SS) and get back $2 EB (Limit 1) = FREE/$0.01 profit
• Oral B Cross Action Power Brush or Refill (2 ct) $5.99, use $1 toothbrush CRT (if you got this from the red machine) and get back $5 EB (Limit 2) = FREE/$0.01 profit
• Physician's Formula Cosmetics - spend $10, get back $5 EB (Limit 1) *Combine with rebates below

Rite Aid - not seeing anything good so far

Walgreens

• Brainstrong Kids Gummy Drops (30 ct) $10, get back $10 RR = FREE 
• Omega Smart Ultra Fish Oils Super Critical Softgel (30 ct) $10, get back $10 RR = FREE 
• Walgreens Lansoprazole 15 mg Cap (14 ct) $6, get back $6 RR = FREE 
• Goody Ouchless (select items) $2, get back $2 RR = FREE

Printable Rebate Offers

• Arm & Hammer Simply Saline Neti Pot TMF up to $14.99 Exp. 7/13/13 (Email me at frugalsuz at hotmail.com and I'll forward you the form)
• Bounce Outdoor Fresh 8 Month Dryer Bar $5 rebate Exp. 6/30/12
• CoverGirl and Olay Cosmetics (CG items that have Olay in them, not CG or Olay items) Buy $20, get back $10 Exp. 7/8/12
• Febreze Noticeables "Trade Up" Valid up to $3.50 Exp. 6/30/12 (Starts 1/1/11)
• Glade Expressions Fragrance Mist Starter Kits (up to $4.99) or Refills (up to $3.99) Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 6/30/12
• Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 6/30/12
• Hill's Science Diet Ideal Balance dry pet food TMF up to $12.99 Exp. 12/31/12
• P&G Spend $50 on Venus, Olay, Secret, CoverGirl, Clairol, Herbal Essences, Aussie, Head & Shoulders, Pantene, Safeguard, Ivory, Crest 3D White, Always and/or Tampax, get back $10 and P&G makes a $10 donation Exp. 6/5/12
• Pantene Satisfaction Guarantee - up to 2X your purchase price Exp. 6/30/12
• Physician's Formula Organic Wear Lash Boosting Mascara TMF Up to $9.95  Must include "Try Me Free" label from product to qualify Valid 11/1/11 - 10/13/12
• Physician's Formula Cosmeceutical Youth Boosting Concealer TMF Up to $12.95 Must include "Try Me Free" label from product to qualify Valid 1/1/12 - 12/31/12
• Physician's Formula Cosmeceutical Youth Boosting Foundation TMF Up to $14.95 Must include "Try Me Free" label from product to qualify Valid 1/1/12 - 12/31/12 
• Scrubbing Bubbles One Step Toilet Bowl Cleaner Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 6/29/12
• Stouffers Farmers' Harvest Steam Perfect Bags Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 9/1/12

• Vaseline Body Lotion (10 - 32 fl oz) Satisfaction Guarantee up to $7.99 Exp. 7/31/12
• Zyrtec10mg Tablets (3, 5, 14, 30 or 40 ct), 10 mg Liquid Gels (12, 25 or 30 ct), Children’s Zyrtec (any size) or Zyrtec-D (any size) Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 12/31/12

Hangtag/Peelie/Tearpad Rebates to Look For - please let me know what you find as well!

• Arm & Hammer Single Use Laundry Detergent Power Paks sticker (hot pink color) TMF up to $9.99 Exp. 12/15/12
• Dickinson's Facial Cleanser Hangtag TMF Exp. ?
• Finesse Color Lock Styling Product $2 rebate Valid 4/22 - 7/22/12 (or 4/22 SS)
• Freeman Facial Anti-Stress Mask Hangtag TMF Exp. 12/31/12
• Oxi-Clean Dishwashing Booster TMF Exp. 12/1/12

Buying X to Get Y

I am around $8 shy of the P&G $10 rebate WYB $50.  So I headed to Walgreens to buy the profitable Ecotrin and now I have $8 in free money to use towards buying something for the rebate.  I'll probably pick up a Venus razor or some Olay body wash (BOGO 50% off this week at WAG).

• 2 Ecotrin (45 ct) $1.50 each, used two $1.50 coupons (5/6 RP) and got back $2 RR (WYB 2) = $2 profit
• Nice! Pretzels $0.99
• Total was $0.99

Repeated three more times at a couple stores.  Every time my total has been super low at Walgreens lately, the registers crash and burn so I picked up some pretzels just so I wouldn't have a zero total.  

Awesome Pepsi Deal

Don't know how long this deal will last, so if you live near a Stop & Shop, better get there quick!  Saw this on SD -

• 5 Pepsi 6 pk Bottles (16 oz or 16.9 oz) $3.67 each (shelf price for me was $4.49), got instant savings of $12.95 and got back $7 catalina (for spending $20, based on shelf prices) 
• Total was $7.33 with bottle deposits ($1.50 in total) = $1.17 profit!

Went to another store and bought another five packs and the Tic Tacs ($1).  Used my $7 catalina to pay, got another one and only forked over $0.89.  The instant savings is the glitch, so who knows how long that will last.  The catalina deal is advertised in the circular and will likely continue on based on shelf price.


CVS

• Mars Chocolate Singles (1.08-2.15 oz) $0.75, got back $0.75 EB (Limit 1) = FREE

Rite Aid

• 3 Snapware Containers $4.49 shelf/$3.36 sale for the bottom two and $5.99 shelf/$4.49 sale for the double pack, used three $2 coupons (4/29 SS) = $6.12 with tax for all three

T-Shirts, Keychains and Home Improvements

I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!  Its been hot and humid all weekend here but despite that, we had fun.  My parents and sister came up for a visit n' lunch and to see all the improvements we've made to the house so naturally, I had to give the house a good scrubbing first.  That was a barrel full of fun while sweating bullets.  But it needed to be done, especially after all the work we've done downstairs and all the dust that kicked up.  I love that feeling of kicking back and relaxing after you know everything is nice and clean.  I also got the spring cleaning bug and donated a bunch of clothes and tossed a lot of things that I haven't used at all since we moved into the house.  Wished I'd tossed that stuff before moving, would have saved me some lifting!  

My first issue of Real Simple magazine came in the mail on Saturday.  I love this magazine and got a free subscription from the points we've earned on My Coke Rewards.  I couldn't wait to get started on some of the ideas from the magazine!  DBF cut a piece of wood to fit inside one of our dresser drawers and I rolled up all my t-shirts, using the wood as a divider to keep the sections separate.  I have enough room to roll a second layer of shirts on top and this was I can see everything I have all at once.  What a clever idea!

Da boyfriend and I went to a craft fair over the weekend and I spotted this beautiful key chain. Isn't the pattern gorgeous?  

On to the improvements!  I'm so happy that the whole first level of the house is finally done.  Well except for the bathroom, but that's going to be several years before we're able to afford to redo it.  The closet doors are still up, we're going to switch them 

Before...

and AFTER!  The carpeting over the nasty tile floor has made a world of difference.  It actually feels nice to walk on the floor now!  And the light blue paint really brightened up the room.  I love the contrast of the moulding against the paint.

Before....

and AFTER!  Isn't this bench adorable?  We picked it up from Bed, Bath & Beyond and the coat rack is from Christmas Tree Shops.  This whole level is so happy and cheerful now.  And cool, the tile floor under the carpet keeps the floor refreshingly cool to the touch.  It feels like this level is air conditioned.  Its not so nice in the winter, but for now, it feels wonderful.

I've had this little table for years, picked it up at AC Moore forever ago.  Its the first thing you see when you walk up the stairs and is a great place for keys, mail, junk from your pockets, etc.

I don't think I ever took a before picture of this part of the room, but there used to be a door at the base of these stairs.  We think the previous owners had turned the house into a mother/daughter and put in the door to give this level a little privacy.  It was handy when doing demo, we could easily block Shadow and Gigi from coming downstairs and being in the way.  But it blocked the light switch there on the wall and was a pain in the ass, so off it went.  Such little changes that make such a huge difference!

I Don't Always Find NBPR Rebates in the Store...

but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis. :)  I got lucky tonight and found a bunch of NBPR rebates on my travels - Dos Equis $25/$40 beef, chicken, seafood and/or tortillas (Exp 5/31, DOSNA011), Heineken $10/$10.01 fresh/prepared food (Exp 7/31, HKNNA038) and Amstel $25/$100 Groceries (Exp 9/30, AMLNA004 - says "receipt" so you'd have to spend $100 all at once). 

I love going grocery shopping on Friday nights!  The stores are nice and empty, the teenage cashiers who could give a hoot about my coupons are working and there's no traffic getting to and from the stores.  Plus its the end of the sale week for stores like ShopRite and Price Chopper, so I sometimes find clearanced meat, and the start of the sale week for Stop & Shop, so they aren't out of stock on anything yet.  Love it!

Price Chopper

• Hellmann's Mayo $2 with in-circular coupon (and addt't $10 or $15 purchase - can't remember which) used $1 coupon (5/20 RP) = $1
• 5 Oscar Mayer Cold Cuts $1 each, got back $4 catalina (WYB 5) = $1 or $0.20 each
• 6 Ball Park Hot Dogs $3.99 each, B1G2 free sale and used two $1 off 3 coupons (5/6 RP) = $5.98 or $0.99 each *There's an in-circular coupon for Kingsford charcoal at $4.99 WYB 3 Ball Park hot dogs.  We don't have a grill yet so I passed on this 
• Hillshire Farm Cheddarwurst $2.50
• 4 Nabisco Crackers - Wheat Thins/Triscuits $2 each, used two $1 off 2 tearpad coupons (my mom found these for me so I'm not sure what store she got them from) = $6 or $1.50 each
• Total was $13.48

I'll use the meat towards a $10 Heineken NBPR rebate on $15.01 of meat and/or seafood (Exp. 7/31, HKNNA039).  As I was checking out, the guy ahead of me was also buying mayo so I gave him a second $1 coupon I had on me.

Stop & Shop - bought 5 OM before this so I'd be able to use the $4 catalina to pay for my larger order

• 5 Oscar Mayer Cold Cuts $1 each, got back $4 catalina (WYB 5) = $1 or $0.20 each
• 4 Land O Lakes Half Sticks Butter $3 each, used four $0.75 coupons (this was from coupons.com a while back but there's also a $1 coupon in the 4/29 SS) = $1.50 each
• 6 Crystal Lites $2 each, used three $1 off 2 tearpad coupons and got back $3 instant savings (WYB 6 qualifying items) = $1 each  *In NY (and possibly other states as well), the Crystal Lite is a gas deal instead of instant savings deal.  I bought these in NJ
• 4 Steak-Umms $4.49 each, BOGO sale = $2.24 each
• 2 Hillshire Farms Smoked Sausage $4.49 each, BOGO sale and used two $0.55 coupons = $2.29 or $1.14 each
• 2 1/2 Gallons Milk $2.29 each
• Used $4 catalina, total was $28.85

I'll use the meat towards a second $10 Heineken NBPR rebate on $15.01 of meat and/or seafood (Exp. 7/31, HKNNA039)

The Oscar Mayer packages say "Great for Snacking."  Now I ask you, have you ever had the munchies and thought to yourself, hmm, some ham sounds good right about now?  I didn't think so.  This catalina deal is working at ShopRite too, I just didn't find these size packages there.  It also works on the larger/normal sizes of cold cuts too.

ShopRite

• 2 Children's Allegra (6 ct) $3.49, used two $5 coupons (5/6 SS) = $3.02 profit
• 6 Ears of Corn $0.17 each
• 3 Raid Ant Baits $2.79 each, used three $1 coupons (5/20 SS) = $1.79 each
• Hot Dog Rolls $1.50
• 4 B&M Beans $0.99 each
• Snapple 1/2 Gallon $1.99 - bought this for a TMF rebate but just realized that was for a full gallon so I'll take this back
• Used $2 catalina and $0.15 bag discount, total was $9.35

5/27 - 6/2

CVS

• Mars Chocolate Singles (1.08-2.15 oz) $0.75, get back $0.75 EB (Limit 1) = FREE
• Pepsi 12 packs four for $14 and get 5th case FREE = five for $14 *$1 coupons here

Rite Aid

• Snapware Containers 25% off - $2.99 and up, use $2 coupon (4/29 SS)
• Pepsi 12 packs $4, buy three and get back $3 UP (Limit 2) *$1 coupons here

Walgreens

• Ecotrin (45 ct) $1.50, buy two and use two $1.50 coupons (5/6 RP) and get back $2 RR (WYB 2) = $2 profit
• Skintimate Shave Cream/Gel $2.99, use $1 coupon (5/13 SS) and get back $2 RR = FREE/$0.01 profit
• Youtheory Collagen Type 1 & 3 Tablets (120 ct) $7, get back $7 RR = FREE
• Tecnu First Aid Gel (2 oz) $7, get back $7 RR = FREE

Printable Rebate Offers

• Arm & Hammer Simply Saline Neti Pot TMF up to $14.99 Exp. 7/13/13 (Email me at frugalsuz at hotmail.com and I'll forward you the form)
• Bounce Outdoor Fresh 8 Month Dryer Bar $5 rebate Exp. 6/30/12
• Febreze Noticeables "Trade Up" Valid up to $3.50 Exp. 6/30/12 (Starts 1/1/11)
• Glade Expressions Fragrance Mist Starter Kits (up to $4.99) or Refills (up to $3.99) Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 6/30/12
• Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 6/30/12
• Hill's Science Diet Ideal Balance dry pet food TMF up to $12.99 Exp. 12/31/12
• P&G Spend $50 on Venus, Olay, Secret, CoverGirl, Clairol, Herbal Essences, Aussie, Head & Shoulders, Pantene, Safeguard, Ivory, Crest 3D White, Always and/or Tampax, get back $10 and P&G makes a $10 donation Exp. 6/5/12
• Pantene Satisfaction Guarantee - up to 2X your purchase price Exp. 6/30/12
• Physician's Formula Organic Wear Lash Boosting Mascara TMF Up to $9.95  Must include "Try Me Free" label from product to qualify Valid 11/1/11 - 10/13/12
• Physician's Formula Cosmeceutical Youth Boosting Concealer TMF Up to $12.95 Must include "Try Me Free" label from product to qualify Valid 1/1/12 - 12/31/12
• Physician's Formula Cosmeceutical Youth Boosting Foundation TMF Up to $14.95 Must include "Try Me Free" label from product to qualify Valid 1/1/12 - 12/31/12 
• Scrubbing Bubbles One Step Toilet Bowl Cleaner Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 6/29/12
• Stouffers Farmers' Harvest Steam Perfect Bags Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 9/1/12

• Vaseline Body Lotion (10 - 32 fl oz) Satisfaction Guarantee up to $7.99 Exp. 7/31/12
• Zyrtec10mg Tablets (3, 5, 14, 30 or 40 ct), 10 mg Liquid Gels (12, 25 or 30 ct), Children’s Zyrtec (any size) or Zyrtec-D (any size) Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 12/31/12

Hangtag/Peelie/Tearpad Rebates to Look For - please let me know what you find as well!

• Arm & Hammer Single Use Laundry Detergent Power Paks sticker (hot pink color) TMF up to $9.99 Exp. 12/15/12
• Dickinson's Facial Cleanser Hangtag TMF Exp. ?
• Finesse Color Lock Styling Product $2 rebate Valid 4/22 - 7/22/12 (or 4/22 SS)
• Freeman Facial Anti-Stress Mask Hangtag TMF Exp. 12/31/12
• Oxi-Clean Dishwashing Booster TMF Exp. 12/1/12

You Gotta Try This Polish

ShopRite

• 4 Marcal Napkins $1.74 each, used four $1 coupons (4/15 RP) = $0.74 each
• 3 Turkey Hill Ice Creams $1.99 each
• 2 Borden American Cheese Singles $0.88 each 
• Total was $11.26

Stop & Shop

• 5 Barilla Pastas $1 each, got $2 instant savings/sale (WYB 5) = $3 or $0.60 each
• ICBINB $2.50, used $1.25 coupon (from coupons.com - goes away, comes back...) = $1.25
• Strawberries $1.99
• 6 Crystal Lites - clearanced to $1 each
• Total was $13.98

I had $1 off 2 Crystal Lite coupons at home.  Thinking about bringing them in the next time I stop by to see if they'll give me an adjustment.  If not, that's fine - $1 each is a great price.

I've heard about folks finding clearanced Nordic Ware baking items at Target for ages but wasn't able to find anything until this weekend.  I'm pretty sure this is from Christmas - $4.98 down from $9.99.

How cool is this nail polish!  Its Sally Hansen Magnetc Polish!  You put on a first coat, let that dry, put on a second coat and then hold the bottle top over your nail.  There's a magnet in the top that pulls the top coat into these cool waves.  My sister picked this up at Target for about $9.  It was a little high maintenance for me - its usually all I can do to wait for one coat to dry - but I love the way it came out.  Unfortunately, we did a bunch of work to the house on Sunday and I totally ruined my manicure.

My sole shopping for today - had $20 in UP's to use at Rite Aid. I could have bought the free after rebate eye stuff (or whatever it is) and rolled the UP's into rebate money but I just didn't feel like it.  So instead, I burned the money and now I have no UP's to worry about expiring.  I think I'm going to try and take it light over the summer and just do the deals that are super fun.  We've done a lot of work to the house and we're going to take the summer off to enjoy all our hard work and the nice weather.  I'm going to try and do the same for couponing, but we'll see how it goes.  I can never resist for long.  Here's what I got -

• 4 RA Plastic Cups (12 pk) $1 each/$0.80 with 20% discount
• 2 Sally Hansen Salon Effects $9.79 each/$7.83 with 20% discount
• Sobe Lifewater $1.79/$1.43 with 20% discount
• Used $20 in UP's, total was $1.71

I've been wanting to try the Salon Effects for ages but they're so expensive!  Now's my chance.  :)

5/20 - 5/26

CVS - the gas deal is back!  Spend $30 in qualifying items and get back $10 gas gift card. There are a TON of items for this promo!

• Salonpas-Hot Capsicum Patch (1 ct) $1.87, get back $1.87 EB (Limit 1) = FREE
• Spend $10, get back $3 EB (Limit 1) - includes Skippy PB $2.49, Hellmann's Mayo $3.48 ($1 coupon 5/20 RP), Lipton Sides $1.49 and Bertolli or Ragu Pasta Sauce $1.69

CVS Monthly Deal - valid until 5/26

• Jonathan Adler Designed Roll Cover with Bonus Cottonelle Roll $1.99, get back $1.99 EB (Limit 4 *buy one at a time) = FREE

Rite Aid

• OcuFresh Mini Drops Eye Therapy (30 ct) $4.99, use $1 coupon and get back $4 (SCR #31, Limit 2) = FREE/$0.01 profit

Walgreens

• Sheets Sleep Strips (10 pk) $4.99, get back $5 RR = FREE/$0.01 profit

Walgreens May Monthly Deals - valid until 5/26

• Renew Life First Cleanse 14 Day Kit $18, get back $18 + 10% bonus for putting rebate on WAG gift card = $1.80 profit
• U by Kotex Sleek Tampons $3.99, use $1 coupon (5/20 SS) and get back $3 RR = FREE/$0.01 profit

Printable Rebate Offers

• Arm & Hammer Simply Saline Neti Pot TMF up to $14.99 Exp. 7/13/13 (Email me at frugalsuz at hotmail.com and I'll forward you the form)
• Bounce Outdoor Fresh 8 Month Dryer Bar $5 rebate Exp. 6/30/12
• Febreze Noticeables "Trade Up" Valid up to $3.50 Exp. 6/30/12 (Starts 1/1/11)
• Glade Expressions Fragrance Mist Starter Kits (up to $4.99) or Refills (up to $3.99) Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 6/30/12
• Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 6/30/12
• Hill's Science Diet Ideal Balance dry pet food TMF up to $12.99 Exp. 12/31/12
• P&G Spend $50 on Venus, Olay, Secret, CoverGirl, Clairol, Herbal Essences, Aussie, Head & Shoulders, Pantene, Safeguard, Ivory, Crest 3D White, Always and/or Tampax, get back $10 and P&G makes a $10 donation Exp. 6/5/12
• Pantene Satisfaction Guarantee - up to 2X your purchase price Exp. 6/30/12
• Physician's Formula Organic Wear Lash Boosting Mascara TMF Up to $9.95  Must include "Try Me Free" label from product to qualify Valid 11/1/11 - 10/13/12
• Physician's Formula Cosmeceutical Youth Boosting Concealer TMF Up to $12.95 Must include "Try Me Free" label from product to qualify Valid 1/1/12 - 12/31/12
• Physician's Formula Cosmeceutical Youth Boosting Foundation TMF Up to $14.95 Must include "Try Me Free" label from product to qualify Valid 1/1/12 - 12/31/12 
• Scrubbing Bubbles One Step Toilet Bowl Cleaner Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 6/29/12
• Stouffers Farmers' Harvest Steam Perfect Bags Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 9/1/12

• Vaseline Body Lotion (10 - 32 fl oz) Satisfaction Guarantee up to $7.99 Exp. 7/31/12
• Zyrtec10mg Tablets (3, 5, 14, 30 or 40 ct), 10 mg Liquid Gels (12, 25 or 30 ct), Children’s Zyrtec (any size) or Zyrtec-D (any size) Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 12/31/12

Hangtag/Peelie/Tearpad Rebates to Look For - please let me know what you find as well!

• Arm & Hammer Single Use Laundry Detergent Power Paks sticker (hot pink color) TMF up to $9.99 Exp. 12/15/12
• Dickinson's Facial Cleanser Hangtag TMF Exp. ?
• Finesse Color Lock Styling Product $2 rebate Valid 4/22 - 7/22/12 (found in 4/22 SS along with $1 coupon that expires on 5/13/12)
• Freeman Facial Anti-Stress Mask Hangtag TMF Exp. 12/31/12
• Oxi-Clean Dishwashing Booster TMF Exp. 12/1/12

"You're Such a Guppy"

Do y'all love Karmin like me?  I downloaded their recent album last weekend and can't stop listening to it.  I bet you Too Many Fish will be the next song they release.  I love Amy's voice, its got such a nice quality to it.  And the way she raps?  Hot damn!  Have you heard I Told You So?  Amazing!  Is it corny that I love that she doesn't curse?  There's just something very sweet and endearing about her.  Nick's not so bad on the eyes either.  

How excited are we for the Grey's Anatomy finale tomorrow?  There hasn't been this much excitement on Grey's for ages.  I did not see that plane crash coming at all.  I've heard one of the characters won't be back for next season - who do you think it will be?  

Ok, let's get down to business.  Remember all those gift cards I bought last week?  I ended up with $190 in catalinas of free money to spend at ShopRite.  Here's what I've bought over the last couple days:

• 2 Pop Secret popcorn $2.50 each, will send away for $4 Stella Artois NBPR rebate on $4.01 of popcorn 
• 3 Oscar Mayer cold cuts $2.99 each, got back $2 catalina (WYB 3)
• 2 SR frozen whole strawberries $2.99 each
• Hefty Jumbo Size bags $3.69 - so happy to see these in SR.  They're 2.5 gallon size and I use them to store extra flour and sugar bags until I'm ready to use them
• 2 Simply Potatoes $0.99 each
• 2 Arnold Pretzel Rolls $3.49 each
• 4 San Giorgio Linguines $0.88 each
• Margarita Mix $2.99
• Milk $2.29
• 2 McCormick Taco Seasonings $0.50 each
• 2 SR Sugars $5.89
• 2 SR chocolate chips $4.99 each
• Crisco shortening sticks $4.19
• 4 cases Diet Coke $11

Got all this for $2.40 in cash!  At one store, my cashier rang everything up, I handed her my $40 in catalinas (that's the most I've tried per order) and when my total came down to $1.46 - she says to me - "Wow! Next time just tell me you have that many coupons and I won't even bother ringing you up, you can just take the stuff out."  Too funny


Price Chopper - no luck with the $2/$9.99 health or beauty care coupon from the iSave machine today.  I did get a $4 off $24.99 health/beauty coupon though - boo.

• 4 Pantene Sham/Cond $3.33 each, used two BOGO coupons (4/29 P&G) and $3 off 2 coupon (5/13 P&G) and got back $5 catalina (WYB $15 of select items) = $1.34 profit
• 2 Pam Sprays $3 each, used two $1 coupons + tripler = FREE 
• 2 Mangos $0.69 each with coupon from Pharmacy
• Blueberries $1.50 with Facebook coupon - can't find this link anymore!
• 4 Chef Boyardees $1 each, used $1 off 4 coupon + tripler = $1 or $0.25 each
• Used $1.50 off $25 purchase catalina, $5 catalina, total was $5.42

A Case of the "Mundays"

Price Chopper - they're doing triple coupons again this week!  You have to spend $15 and use the circular coupon to triple your manufacturer's coupons (limit 3).  I figured I'd buy Land 'o Lakes butter using the $1 coupon (4/29 SS) since these were really cheap last week with triples and I never got a chance to pick them up.  WRONG!  They're $5.39 so with the triple coupon, $2.39.  I didn't really want to spend that much, but foolishly, I hadn't brought any other plans/coupons with me.  So I put back the items I'd bought to get me to $15 and just got the Pantene. Sigh, Mondays.

• 4 Pantene Sham/Cond $3.33 each, used two BOGO coupons (4/29 P&G) and $3 off 2 coupon (5/13 P&G) and got back $5 catalina (WYB $15 of select items) = $1.34 profit
• Yuengling Beer (24 pk) $15.99 with in-circular coupon
• Total was $23.23

Got a coupon from the catalina printer for $1.50 off my next purchase of $25.  I've heard that some folks received a $2 coupon for a $9.99 beauty(?) purchase but I wasn't so lucky.  I'll use the Pantene towards $10 P&G rebate (WYB $50).

ShopRite

• The Good Cook mini-muffin pan $9.99
• 2 Reynolds mini baking cups $1.39 each
• 2 SR Flour $1.99 each
• Wilton jumbo baking cups $1.99
• Cheese cloth $2.39
• Pepperidge Farm ginger bread candle $1.50
• Used two $10 catalinas, total was $3.50 with $0.10 bag discount

I wasn't sure I'd be able to use two $10 cats in the same order, so I had a game plan in mind for splitting up the purchases if the cats beeped.  But they went through without a problem.  They did beep, but I'm pretty sure that was just because they were for a big amount.

At another store, I got -

• 6 Perdue breaded chicken breasts $4.99 each, used three $1 off 2 peelie coupons
• Ground Beef $8.88
• Boneless Sirloin Steak $6.54
• 3 Kikkoman Marinades $2.29 (Teriyaki) and $1.69 (Soy), used three $1 coupons and got back $2 catalina = $1.27 or $0.42 each
• Heinz Ketchup $1.47 (with addt'l $10 purchase)
• Used four $10 catalinas, total was $5.10

Will use the meat purchases towards a $25 Dos Equis NBPR rebate on $40.01 of beef, chicken, seafood and/or tortillas (DOSNA011).

The Evolution of a Stockpile Room

When we first bought our house, this is how the stockpile room originally looked.  Dark wood paneling on every surface, a narsty and dirty baseboard heater, dark, spotted tile on the floor, dim lighting and a funky smell.

We found out what the smell was when we took off the paneling - mold.  Mold, mold and more mold.

We had that taken care of very quickly.  A company came in, sprayed down all the walls with a chemical that kills the mold and stops any new growth.

But unfortunately, the walls behind the paneling were not in the best shape.

So off they went. 

Da boyfriend put DryLok on the cinder block walls, waterproofing them and then added a vapor barrier on top to keep out moisture.  I'm sure he did a lot of other things too, but its all starting to blur together into a home improvement haze.

Next came the sheetrock.  We got the mold resistant kind for good measure.  

I quickly learned that sheetrocking is not fun.  Its dusty and very messy.

After da boyfriend spackled and sanded down the walls, they were ready for some color.  It took two coats of primer and two coats of paint, but the walls are now a lovely shade of blue.  

DBF added moulding on all the corner edges and above and below the existing shelf to cover the seams. I think it looks really nice against the blue.

He spray painted the cover for the heater, brightening that up considerably.

I'm not in love with the lighting in this room, but changing out the 60 watt bulb for a 100 watt one did wonders to brighten everything up.  I scrubbed the light fixture for good measure.

Did you know you can't buy windowsills?  The things I'm learning lately!  No worries, DBF whipped one up.  And yeah, we got some paint on the shelf.  DBF sanded it down and put on a light stain so it would match the moulding.  There are still a couple spots here and there but we both said - good enough and let them be.

After wrestling the carpet into the room, taking measurements and wrestling it into place, we now have a carpeted floor!  I love carpet and now I don't have to worry about mopping those nasty tile floors anymore. We're going to carpet the other two rooms on this level of the house as well.

I'm off to sleep for a couple weeks straight.  See you in June.  :)

The Cutest Darn'd Kitchen Timer You'll Ever See

ShopRite - with all the projects that we're doing around the house, I had no qualms about taking advantage of the gift card promo this week ($10 catalina WYB $50 in gift cards).  I've been furiously buying gift cards all week and I'm up to nineteen $10 catalinas.  That's $190 in FREE money to use next week for groceries!  Can't beat that.  We'll be using a chunk of these gift cards this weekend to pick up some paint, carpeting and other supplies that we need to finish off the first level of the house.  We already spent a bunch earlier in the week buying sheetrock - not a fun activity for a day off, let me tell you.  I'm so excited to have that floor almost done.  I'll post pics when everything's all pretty and beautiful again.


CVS

• Children's Allegra Allergy 12-hr (12 ct or liquid 4 oz) $9.99, used $5 coupon (5/6 SS) and got back $4.99 EB (Limit 1) = FREE
• 2 Keebler Graham Cracker Pie Crusts - clearanced from $2.77 to $0.69 each
• Used $0.75 EB and $5 EB, total was $0.62

On another card - 

• Children's Allegra Allergy 12-hr (12 ct or liquid 4 oz) $9.99, used $5 coupon (5/6 SS) and got back $4.99 EB (Limit 1) = FREE 
• Snickers Candy Bar $0.75, got back $0.75 EB (Limit 1) = FREE *Barely made it out of the bag before da boyfriend devoured it
• Hamburger Kitchen Timer $4
• Used $1 EB, $3 EB and $5 EB, total was $1.13

Rite Aid

• 6 Gerber Baby Foods $1.59 - $1.79 each and two Gerber Juices $3.79 each, BOGO 50% off sale and got back four $3 UP's ($3 WYB 2, Limit 4 offers) = $0.17 in total
• Total was $12.17, used four $3 UP's  

How adorable is this?  I found it in the seasonal aisle with other summer stuff.

5/13 - 5/20

CVS - don't see anything great for the weekly deals, did I miss something?


CVS Monthly Deal - valid until 5/26

• Jonathan Adler Designed Roll Cover with Bonus Cottonelle Roll $1.99, get back $1.99 EB (Limit 4 *buy one at a time) = FREE

Rite Aid

• Schick Hydro Silk Razors $9.99, use $4 coupon (5/1 SS) and $4 circular coupon = $1.99 *Buy two more times and get back $10 UP (WYB $30, Limit 4) = $4.03 profit
• Visine $5.29/$4.23 with 20% discount, use $1 or $2 coupon (3/11 RP) and $1 RA coupon (May Video Values) and get back $3 UP (Limit ) = $0.77 - $1.77 profit
• Rimmel Nail Polish $3.99 and BOGO 50% off, buy ten, use ten $1 coupons (3/11, 4/1 or 4/29 RP) and get back two $5 UP's ($5 WYB $15, Limit 2) and $10 UP (Nail Extravaganza UP deal - $10 WYB $30, Limit 2) = FREE/$0.10 profit

Walgreens

• Starbucks Refreshers $0.99, use FREE coupon (4/29 SS) and get back $0.99 RR = $0.99 profit
• MidNite or NatuRelief $5.99, use $1 coupon (11/6/11, 1/15 or 3/11 SS) and get back $5 RR = FREE/$0.01 profit

Walgreens May Rebate Item - valid until 5/26

• Renew Life First Cleanse 14 Day Kit $18, get back $18 + 10% bonus for putting rebate on WAG gift card = $1.80 profit

Printable Rebate Offers

• Arm & Hammer Simply Saline Neti Pot TMF up to $14.99 Exp. 7/13/13 (Email me at frugalsuz at hotmail.com and I'll forward you the form)
• Bounce Outdoor Fresh 8 Month Dryer Bar $5 rebate Exp. 6/30/12
• Febreze Noticeables "Trade Up" Valid up to $3.50 Exp. 6/30/12 (Starts 1/1/11)
• Glade Expressions Fragrance Mist Starter Kits (up to $4.99) or Refills (up to $3.99) Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 6/30/12
• Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 6/30/12
• Hill's Science Diet Ideal Balance dry pet food TMF up to $12.99 Exp. 12/31/12
• P&G Spend $50 on Venus, Olay, Secret, CoverGirl, Clairol, Herbal Essences, Aussie, Head & Shoulders, Pantene, Safeguard, Ivory, Crest 3D White, Always and/or Tampax, get back $10 and P&G makes a $10 donation Exp. 6/5/12
• Pantene Satisfaction Guarantee - up to 2X your purchase price Exp. 6/30/12
• Physician's Formula Organic Wear Lash Boosting Mascara TMF Up to $9.95  Must include "Try Me Free" label from product to qualify Valid 11/1/11 - 10/13/12
• Physician's Formula Cosmeceutical Youth Boosting Concealer TMF Up to $12.95 Must include "Try Me Free" label from product to qualify Valid 1/1/12 - 12/31/12
• Physician's Formula Cosmeceutical Youth Boosting Foundation TMF Up to $14.95 Must include "Try Me Free" label from product to qualify Valid 1/1/12 - 12/31/12 
• Renuzit Fresh Accents Long Last Air Freshener (After the Rain, Raspberry or Apple and Cinnamon fragrance) TMF $2.29 for Unit Holder and one Refill or $2.99 for Unit Holder and two Refills Exp. 5/14/12
• Scrubbing Bubbles One Step Toilet Bowl Cleaner Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 6/29/12
• Stouffers Farmers' Harvest Steam Perfect Bags Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 9/1/12

• Vaseline Body Lotion (10 - 32 fl oz) Satisfaction Guarantee up to $7.99 Exp. 7/31/12
• Zyrtec10mg Tablets (3, 5, 14, 30 or 40 ct), 10 mg Liquid Gels (12, 25 or 30 ct), Children’s Zyrtec (any size) or Zyrtec-D (any size) Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 12/31/12

Hangtag/Peelie/Tearpad Rebates to Look For - please let me know what you find as well!

• Arm & Hammer Single Use Laundry Detergent Power Paks sticker (hot pink color) TMF up to $9.99 Exp. 12/15/12
• Dickinson's Facial Cleanser Hangtag TMF Exp. ?
• Finesse Color Lock Styling Product $2 rebate Valid 4/22 - 7/22/12 (found in 4/22 SS along with $1 coupon that expires on 5/13/12)
• Freeman Facial Anti-Stress Mask Hangtag TMF Exp. 12/31/12
• Oxi-Clean Dishwashing Booster TMF Exp. 12/1/12