Hurry for these deals!!

Free sample of Kashi cereal-you pick flavor or let them surprise you :)


Right at Home - 1st 10,000 will get a free Glade Fall into Fragrance Gift Pack but everyone gets a coupon booklet :)

Coupons, Coupons, Coupons

Don't forget, you can buy 2 Tulsa World Sunday papers for $3 at Quik Trip locations on Sundays-but, look through each paper you buy before hand to be certain there are actually coupons in there or that the correct amount is in each paper :) Of course you could be like a friend of mine and hit the jackpot of 17 in one newspaper :) She didn't even know it until she got home and started digging through the paper!

Also, new internet coupons are starting up:
RedPlum $1 off Any Hefty One Zip-I often see the small packages of these for about $1.20 at my Walmart-you could get baggies at a pretty good price :) Other new coupons as well
Coupons.com Toward the end of every month, they always start new coupons-check them out :)

Goal Setting Sunday

I did very well this week trying to figure out a good schedule for myself. I was able to get laundry done-atleast one load a day but usually two loads. In between the kids school work and lunch break, I was able to vacuum a room. After most of the kids were done with their school work and while I was waiting on the oldest to finish up or need me for a test, I spent one afternoon reorganizing the linen closet. I really felt like I accomplished alot, the kids accomplished alot, and my house felt cleaner :)

This week, I will of course continue with my schedule in between the kids' school work-this will become a regular course for me. But, my major goal this week is to go through my desk and clean it off :) It is not too bad, but I do have some coupons I printed out, recipes that need to find their way to recipe books, etc...

Gift Baskets-Not Just for Christmas

Gift baskets can be a terrific gift anytime of the year-they can be frugal too! Especially if you are able to find the contents on a good sale throughout the year. Or perhaps, you could even throw in some of those free samples you have gotten over time to add with store bought items. For instance, right now would be a great time to stock up on school supplies that are on sale (or in some parts of the country, clearance!). Many kids are into drawing, coloring, writing, etc... and would really enjoy a gift basket-or, perhaps, a nice pencil box or craft box-full of supplies! I have set back a few school supplies such as notebooks, colored pencils, and crayons for my little artists and journalists for Christmas presents this year. I plan to decorate the covers of the notebooks with stickers, scrapbooking paper, or whatever else I can find-this gift box will end up costing me much less than $1 per child, but I know will give them quite a bit of pleasure!

How to make gift baskets? First, you need to keep in mind the person(s) you are going to be making the basket for. Are they a busy mom, or dad, who would love an easy dinner night? Are they a college student? Perhaps a new 16 year old who just got her first car? See where I am going here? :) You can make a gift basket for anyone, at anytime! You do not have to be super creative-just look around. Or, even get good ideas online.

For the 16 yo, I would include some of those handy car items we have all come to appreciate over the years. A flashlight, a small notebook to record oil changes and other minor car keep ups, a nice cd holder, some nice car scent doo-dads, etc....you could even throw in a cute keychain and some car cleaning supplies. Even a nice little holder for important things like insurance info and important phone numbers would be nice.

You are getting the idea...the options for gift baskets can be endless.

If you are looking for more ideas, here are some great frugal ideas from the friendly web to help you out :

Dollar Stretcher Gift Basket Ideas
BabyZone-Frugal Gift Ideas  Scan down to the Gift Baskets section or read the whole article as there are many good ideas here!
Family Finance Cheap Christmas Gift Baskets
8 Reasonably Priced Gift Basket Ideas

Getting Ready for Christmas-Doll Houses

We are going to be blessed with a doll house for my two younger kids this Christmas. The friend I am buying it from insists it needs to be painted and fixed up a bit. No problem....look online and you can find great ideas, a wealth of info on how to do it (if you are not very creative, like me :) and even some ideas on how to make little things to go in the doll house!  Perhaps your child does not have a dollhouse-maybe some of these ideas can be used for Barbie and her house. Or, maybe you can make this a neat project to do with your child all year long-get some wood and make your own dollhouse. It could just basic and then add on. Look at yard sales for small dolls to go inside :) The past couple of years, some dollar stores have had small doll accessories, such as small tables, dressers, etc.

Here are some links I have come across:
How to Decorate a Doll House
Laura Anne Doll Houses
Jennifer's Doll House Printables
Flipping Freebies Eh-Doll house printables
Jim's Printable Mini's
Get Started With Miniatures
Doll House Parade

Goal Setting Sunday

Well, the kids got on a pretty good school schedule this week. We got alot done. But, I noticed more of my day was gone and chores-regular ones-got slacked on. Laundry piled up, house needs a good vacuum, etc. SO, my goal this week is to figure out how to get more done myself in a day. Perhaps starting a load of laundry at night, so it is ready to dry in the morning. It is too hot right now to dry during any heat of the day with our gas dryer and I don't have a laundry line, so it is best to dry in the am. I know during the kids' lunch time I can also get some things in, such as a vacuuming, or folding laundry, or whatever. I just need to figure it out. Hopefully, this week I can get myself more organized. I like to have most everything done by the weekend so we can just enjoy the time my husband is off from work :)

Food Pyramid Sales and Coupon Match-Ups 8/19

Here are the sales and coupon match ups for Food Pyramid.

Chef Boyardee Pastas 5 for $5.00 -.35/3 from (8/2 SS) doubled = $2.30/3
Wishbone Dressing 16oz. 2 for $4.00 -$1/1 from (6/28 RP) = $1/1
Peter Pan 13-16.3 oz. 2 for $3.00 -50./2 from (8/2 SS) doubled- =$2.00/2
Deli Ham-$1.99/lb
Superiors Hot Dogs-2/$1
Best Choice Mac & Cheese-29 cents
Ground Chuck-$1.89/lb
Assorted Bone in pork chops-99 cents/lb
Country Style Pork ribs-99 cents/lb
Dutch Farms American Singles-12 0z pkg-5/$5

Reasors Sale and Coupon Match Up 8/19

Here are some sales and coupon match ups for Reasors for the week of 8/19. They are having a pretty good 10 for $10 sale going on :) YAY!

10 for $10 Sales:
peaches-10 lbs for $10
Dole Iceberg Salad-12 oz bag
Ball Park Meat Franks
Tony's Pizzas $1.00 each- 1.00/2 (6/7 SS)= .50 each for 2
Tostinos pizza-$1.00 each-$1.00 off 5 (in one of the August inserts-will have to keep searching and update)=$4.00 for 5 pizzas
Birds Eye frozen Veggies-10-16 oz
Best Choice Sour Cream-16 oz
Best Choice Raisins or Applesauce
Chef Boyardee $1.00 each- .35 off 3 (8/2 SS)= $2.65 for 3
Bar-S Bologna-16 oz-$1.00 off 2 here = $1.00 for 2 pkgs.
Right Guard Deodorant $1.00 each- $1.00 off 2 (8/16 SS OK)= .50 each for 2
Soft & Dri Deodorant $1.00 each- $1.00 off 2 (8/16 SS OK)= .50 each for 2
Roma Tomatoes-10lbs/$10
Green Leaf Lettuce-10lbs/$10
Baby Pelled Carrots-10lbs/$10
Mushrooms-8 oz pkg

Others:
Colgate Total $2.50 each- $1.00 (8/9 SS OK)= $1.50 each
Post Cereals $3.00 each- $1.00 off 2 (7/26 SS)=$ 5.00 for 2

Free Nestle Back to School Calendar with coupons

Go to Walmart Here and sign up to get a free back to school calendar with lots of maney saving offers! Plus tips, ideas and products to help you throughout the year :)

Goal Setting Sunday--on Monday :)

I totally avoided doing this yesterday-yes, I admit it, I avoided it!! LOL! Just was not too sure what I would set as goals this week-but it came to me. We are starting back to school this week, so my goal is to get everyone settled into some schedules, new goals, etc...

I straightened all the books and organized them according to each child. I put all our school supplies (crayons, markers, etc..) neatly away (and hid some :).

Im thinking the garage will have to wait until the spiders are less active....sorry, but they really do freak me out!!
Have a blessed week everyone!!

Crocheting for Christmas

Last week, I started sharing ideas about things you can do to get started early on Christmas presents. This week, I found some really great sites for crocheting. I love to crochet-more so when it is cooler outside. I have done it for years. Am I really good at it? Nope--but I try and I have made each of my kids baby blankets while I was pregnant with them. Im not very good at things like sweaters, but I did make each of my girls a poncho one year. I still find projects that are for beginner or intermediate. Maybe one day I will feel good enough to move on to advanced :)
Here are some neat sites I found. Instead of listing individual projects, I am listing the main pages. You can then look through what might interest you.

Free Crochet Patterns : Lion Brand Yarn Company  This is one of my go-to crochet pattern sites...I use this most often-stitch tutorials, lots of neat patterns, and good info. They list projects in easy, intermediate, etc...

FREE Crochet Pattern Index Dolls and accessories, kitchen patterns, etc...

SMART CROCHET - free crochet patterns  More free patterns-Christmas crocheting, curtains, tablecloths and runners, etc...

Free Patterns for Crochet - Indulge Your Love of Crochet!

Free-Crochet.com You can search through the free patterns here-quilts, wearables, religious and inspirational....plus, there is a Free Pattern of the Day

Free crochet patterns.  neck warmers, booties, socks, learn to bead crochet, ponchos-I can go on and on...

Free Crochet Patterns and Tutorials - Learn How to Crochet With Easy Beginner Patterns and Step by Step Instructions  Learn to crochet or try one of the many different patterns here-cute hats, dishcloths, and there is even a tips and troubleshooting area.

Crochet Pattern Central - Free, Online Crochet Pattern Link Directory - Beginner Crochet Instructions - Crochet Tips, Tricks,..  Site has lots of great free patterns plus tutorials as well as instructions for many different stitches

Goal Setting Sunday

My house was nice and clean by the time my youngest daughter's party started--then, well, let's just say it is amazing the mess 4 little girls can make :) They had a blast and that is all that mattered!!

My goal this week is to get our school books all in order for the official start of our new school year the following week. I have a nice bookshelf that a friend passed along to me-more of a pantry type piece of furniture, but it will keep our books nicely contained. I also want to arrange all these school supplies I was able to stock up on! I have so much notebook paper-20 packets-that I will be amazed if my kids go through it all by the end of the year :)

 I also would like to get my garage cleaned all the way out...wasn't this one of my goals last Sunday? Hmmm...well, I will give it a go this week :) I tried some this past week, but the spiders chased me away. Im thinking of treating in there and trying again. I do not like spiders..even Charlotte freaks me out!! LOL! Plus, there are some boxes of clothes in there and I need to figure out what I can keep for the future or give away, or perhaps even sell and put it toward some new clothes.

Have a great week everyone!!

Food Pyramid Sales and Coupon Matchups 8/5

There is not a whole lot going on at FP this week. Some good school sales, but not alot on coupons that I could see:

Ground Chuck-$1.49/lb
Tyson box chicken or Anytizers-2/$4-$1.00 (SS 5/19) = $1.00 per box
Crayola Crayons-24ct pkg-5/$1
Elmer's Glue-5/$1
Spiral Notebooks-70ct-10/$1
Hunter hot dogs-12 oz-79 cents

Reasor's Sales and Coupon Match Ups starting 8/5

lue-5/$!he sales and coupon match ups for Reasors this week :)

Crayola crayons-24 packs-5/$1
Elmer's Glue-5/$1
Tomatoes in the vine-97 cents/lb
Kellogg's Cereal-select Varieties-1/2 off (could be a good deal and especially if you have coupons-I found a coupon for Mini Wheats-$1.50 off 2 from RedPlum -maybe it is still active :)
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts-$1.88/lb
1 subject spiral bound notebooks-10/$1
Michelina's Frozen Entrees -$1.00- $1.00/5 Here= $4.00 for 5
Tyson Skillet Creations -$6.98 - $1.00 (7/26 SS)= $5.98
Pilgrim's Pride Whole Cut-Up Chicken -$1.29/lb- .55 Here = .55 cents off total price of package
Sobe Lifewater $1.00- Buy 1 Get 1 Free Here: = $1.00 /2

Tide Detergent 20-40 use -$5.99- $1.00 (8/2 PG)= $4.99
Ziploc Evolve Sandwich Bags $1.66- $1.50/2 here: = $1.82/2
Dove Deodorant $1.59 - $1.50/2 Here= $1.68/ 2

Goal Setting Sunday

Once again, this last week did not go as planned...so hopefully this week will!! I need to prepare for a birthday party my youngest dd is having, so it will be a clean, clean ,clean week :) I will get to those dusty baseboards while I am at it. Last week, we got the garage cleaned out. It was nice and I have been working little by little on it to make room for one of our cars :)

Also, I stopped by a cute little shop in our town yesterday. I was not looking for anything in particular-maybe something sort of vintage neat :) I found a nice, big armchair! For $20!! One seam on the front of the cushion is popped, but it should be an easy fix...if not, a nice blanket will cover it-lol!! I have it sitting near our fireplace...not sure about the position as of yet, but, I think if I can find another little piece of furniture over there, or maybe two-another chair and a small side table or something...it will help tie it all in :) I have always thought it would be nice to have a bit of a seating area near the fireplace and I am frugally on my way to achieving that :)

Thinking Ahead to Christmas!

Last year, I made quite a few things for my kids' for Christmas presents. All my girls have American Girl dolls and I was able to make each of them something for their dolls to wear. It was pretty easy, fast and greatly enjoyed by them :) But, this year, I would like to get started earlier. I started most of those items in December, in my spare time, and wanting to get it all finished was frustrating. I think they are some things I could have spent more time on-maybe making a certain seam more sturdy, etc...Not just that, I know my sons enjoy getting homemade things from me as well and I would like to find some ideas for them. I did make my oldest some jammie pants and my youngest got a homemade stocking-I drew his name in our family gift exchange and that is what I did for him :)

So, I will send other links to different homemade projects later on, but today, I am going to focus on a few sewing websites. There are so many out there and if you are blessed with a stash of fabric, even pieces that won't make much of anything, you can make some cute things!!

Sewing.org  I was going to list links from here individually, but there are SO many neat projects I thought it best to send the main page-check them out-even help for those learning to sew!
About.com:Sewing  Lots of links to various projects-aprons, dolls, home decorating, etc..
Bella  Lots of links to many different sewing projects
Free Sewing Projects pot holder patterns, sachets, and others-would be great additions to gift baskets too!
AllCrafts  many projects here as well as well as some learning to sew projects.