CVS Lunch Run, 11/24

1 Viva Paper Towels
1 Maybelline Mineral Make Up
1 Right Guard Deodorant

Total 24.47
-3.00 Maybelline
-.50 Viva
-15.00 ECB

Total OOP 5.97

Earned
2.00 for Paper Towels
8.99 ECB for Make Up
7.00 for Deodorant

What's your plan for CVS this week?

Menu Plan Monday, Thanksgiving Edition

If you have a moment, please check out my post below and leave your favorite verse--it would be a big help to me!

Here are our dinners for the week:

Monday

Tilapia w/Garlic and Olive Oil, Edamame

Tuesday

Baked Cod w/Sliced Tomato and Artichokes

Wednesday

Sandwiches

Thursday
Turkey
Sausage Stuffing
Artichoke Rice Salad (see recipe here: http://koalamama.blogspot.com/2008/11/recipe-thief.html)
Mashed Potatoes
Cranberry Sauce
Ciabatta Bread
Green Bean Casserole
Pies!

Friday
Leftovers, yum!

Need some great planning/recipe ideas? Want to share your ideas?

Check out: http://orgjunkie.com/2008/11/menu-plan-monday-nov-24th.html

Thanksgiving Day, Verses

We are hosting Thanksgiving at our house this year--for about 12-14 people.

I'm brainstorming a last minute idea, that includes having a bible verse for each person.

I have a few in mind already, but am in need of more--please share your favorites or any related to being thankful in the comments below--I'd really appreciate it!

A couple I have so far:

Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Phil. 2:3-4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Psalm 69:30 I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.

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Col 2:7
Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.

Jhn 1:16
We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us--one gracious blessing after another.

Luk 10:27
The man answered, " `You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, `Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Eph 3:19
May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Black Friday Strategy

Will you be here next Friday?

I'm still scoping out the best deals--thanks to http://www.chieffamilyofficer.com/ I found a great site to help me with my strategy--what store to hit first, which items are must haves, etc.

I will admit that the true strategy session will take place only after my belly is full of turkey. I'll sit down with my Mom and our Sharpie pens and make the plan.

That great site? http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/

For Thanksgiving day deals at CVS, check out the scoop from Alyssa: http://www.kingdomfirstmom.com/2008/11/cvs-black-friday-deals-revealed.html

What's on your must have list this year? Will you be up at 3 am, heading out with your Black Friday Strategy? Let me know in the comments section below.

Frugal Friday, Curried Lentils

Lentils are...
healthy, cheap, and suprisingly tasty.

Especially curried lentils.

Needed:

1 cup of dried brown lentils (70 cents for an entire bag)

2 cups of water

a couple of pinches of Kosher salt, but any salt will do (pennies)

a few pinches of Curry Powder

I used "regular" curry powder, (pennies)

and Hot Madras curry powder (pennies)

Cook on low heat until tender.

That's it. Simple.

healthy, cheap, and suprisingly tasty.

This is a filling meal--especially over rice, and costs less than 70 cents to make!

looking for more lentil inspiration?

check out my post here:

http://koalamama.blogspot.com/2008/09/frugal-friday-sprout-edition.html

looking for more frugal ideas? check out Frugal Friday at Biblical Womanhood http://biblicalwomanhoodblog.blogspot.com/

Recipe Thief

...that's me. I'm the recipe thief. I was mentioning a recipe a couple of days ago...calling it mine, and my hubby reminded me (with the above title) that it was originally his--he was right.

I've realized this is a pattern--if someone makes a recipe I love, and then decides not to make it very often I quickly learn it. Other people start to call it mine. It is not intentional, but if someone sees you make the same thing 20x, they assume you started it.

And yes, I tend to make the same thing over and over, because I am far from a chef.

So, to be sure I give credit where credit is due--this recipe came from my mother-in-law, but I'm not sure where she got it.

I'm participating with the Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipe Swap at Life as Mom today, check out more dishes here: http://www.lifeasmom.com/2008/11/recipe-swap-thanksgiving-side-dishes.html

So, without further delay--here is the recipe for Artichoke Rice Salad:

2 Boxes Rice A Roni Fried Rice mix
1 bunch of green onions
Mayo
Curry Powder
Slivered Almonds
2 cans of artichokes

Cook Rice A Roni according to directions, let cool. Mix in roughly 1.5 cups of mayo. Mix in quartered Artichokes. Add Curry powder to taste. Chop up green onions and sprinkle on top, along with the slivered almonds. Refrigerate until served. Yum!

This is a big hit with the kids, and even with people who don't like Artichokes.

And to my sister--I think you asked for this recipe a couple of years ago--can't remember if I ever got it to you. If not, here it is--finally!

Amber Alert

Please take a minute to read this story. I know I have some fellow Texans who read this blog--this one is hitting very close to home for us. This little girl goes to our church.

http://www.ksat.com/news/18018056/detail.html

Wordless Wednesday, 100th post

My Koala.

In honor of my 100th post, I've finally added a profile picture, and I have a new e-mail address:
tara (at) mamakoala (dot) com


The profile pic is of my little Koala who inspired me to start saving money...which led me to the wonderful world of money saving blogs, personal finance blogs, and so many other inspiring and funny blogs! I'm also working on adding a blogroll to the sidebar:

Mama Saves, Mama Reads, etc.

Happy Wordless Wednesday

(although I'll admit mine was not so wordless this week)!

Join in the fun at www.5minutesformom.com

Frugal Friday

CVS Clearance is my tip for Frugal Friday!

I stopped by the Halloween Clearance Aisle yesterday, and was pleased to find some Modela Tote Bags mixed in with all the orange and black decorations.

I scanned the bags, and was excited that the cost was only $1.25 each. This is much cheaper than regular disposable gift bags! I will be using these to "wrap" some Christmas gifts.

Head on over to http://biblicalwomanhoodblog.blogspot.com/ to read more tips, or to share your ideas!

Honored!

I'm honored to be selected by Karen at Frugal Rhode Island Mama

http://frugalrimama.blogspot.com/

for the Kreativ Blogger Award!

***********************************************************************************

Isn't it pretty?

Thank you, Karen!

The rules: I have to share six things I'm thankful for and forward this award to six other Kreative Bloggers.

I'm Thankful for:

1) My incredible family

2) Grace!

3) My wonderful friends

4) My adorable dogs

5) My job, which allows me to work from home

6) Beginning the Total Money Makeover Plan in May (check out the awesome series of the steps here: http://simplemom.net/dave-ramseys-baby-steps/), which led me down this couponing, money saving path--and led me to the wise women in this bloggy world!

I have many blogs I'm thankful for, but here are six I'm awarding the Kreativ Blogger Award:

• The Bargain Shopper Lady http://www.bargainshopperlady.com/
• The Diaper Diaries http://thediaperdiaries.net/
• Modern Mommyhood http://modernmommyhood.blogspot.com/
• Chief Family Officer http://www.chieffamilyofficer.com/
• Sisterly Savings http://sisterlysavings.net/
• China, Baby! http://www.ourfamilyjournal.com/ check out their fundraiser to bring home their precious butterfly boy, Owen--the story behind the butterfly boy name is beautiful--read that here http://www.ourfamilyjournal.com/search/label/Butterfly%20Story --fundraiser details here: http://www.ourfamilyjournal.com/2008/11/our-family-fundraiser-update.html)

In Shock--a CVS Coupon!

I just received an unexpected e-mail from CVS....

"Veterans Day Savings of $5 at CVS!‏"

That's right, a $5/$30 coupon!

Check your e-mail! Did you receive any unexpected coupons today?

My CVS List...

A few items on my CVS list this week.....

1 Garnier Conditioner at 2.99

-1.00 Coupon

= 1.99 Out Of Pocket

Earn 2.00 ECB

2 Glade Air Freshener Sprays at .99 each

-1.00 coupon

= $1.00 Out Of Pocket

1 Lysol All Purpose Cleaner at 2.50

-1 1.00 coupon

=1.50 Out Of Pocket

1 Glaceau Smart Water (1 liter)

=1.59 Out of Pocket

Earn 1.59 ECB

1 Rimmel Mascara at 6.99

-1.00 Coupon

=5.99 Out of Pocket

Earn 4.00 ECB

Did you already make your trip? What deals are you hunting this week?

I'll update post trip!

If there is any "free" Loreal Revitalift left tomorrow, I'll complete the following scenario:

1 Revitalift @ 11.99/1 Garnier Conditioner @ 2.99/1 Reeses Peanut Butter cups @ .50=15.48

-$3 off $15.00 coupon received in the mail=12.48

-1.00 Garnier Coupon=11.48

-5.00 in ECBs=6.48 Out of Pocket

Earn 2.00 ECBs for Garnier, and 11.99 for Loreal

How did my trip go?

No Loreal at my store, but overall it was a great trip!

6 Bags of Hersheys Bliss=18.00

2 Bars of Symphony Chocolate=2.00

1 Lysol 4 in 1 Cleaner=2.50

2 Glade Air Fresheners=1.98

1 Garnier Conditioner=2.99

1 Large Package Huggies Wipes=7.99

Retail Cost=45.00

-5/30 Coupon

-Manufacturer Coupons

- 5.00 in ECB

Total OOP=25.00

Earned 18.00 in ECB

Menu Plan Monday

Our Dinner Plan for the week:



Baked Pork Chops with Lentil Rice Salad


(trying a new recipe: http://www.fatfree.com/recipes/bean-salads/lentil-rice-salad)

Steamed Fish with Sesame Oil and Ginger, Jasmine Rice

Veggie Sandiches with Hummus and Pita Chips

(trying a new recipe: http://www.recipezaar.com/Hummus-51535)

Baked Halibut

(trying a new recipe: http://www.awesome-chef-recipes.com/california-baked-halibut-recipe-baked-fish/22/)

Dinner at Moms:-)

Check out more menus at www.orgjunkie.com!

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

Have you heard? It's Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. I hope someday the purple ribbon awareness will be as common as the pink ribbon awareness!

I had never heard of pancreatic cancer--until 5 years ago, when my Dad was diagnosed.

He lived for 48 days after the date of diagnosis. 48 days.

Unfortunately, that kind of story is all too common.

You might have heard of it through Randy Pausch--http://download.srv.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/. Or because of Steve Jobs or Patrick Swayze.

How can you help?

Spread the word about Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month...wear a purple ribbon, visit http://www.pancan.org/, raise your voice http://pancan.org/raiseyourvoice/index.html, shop at zgallerie this weekend http://www.zgallerie.com/t-pancan.aspx, donate, or PRAY for a cure and comfort for those impacted.

Budget Wedding Ideas Needed!

My niece was planning her wedding for April, but has moved it up to the end of December--her fiance is joining the Air Force.

Do you have ideas for a beautiful wedding on a budget?

Do you have any do it yourself projects, recommendations on ways to save, or any other advice to help this bride to be?

Voting=Free Food

Vote. Because you should. Because so many sacrificed so we can...

Bonus: Some businesses are rewarding your good citizenship with free food!

Wear your sticker, and go get some of these goodies:

http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2008/11/vote-and-get-free-stuff--like-krispy-kreme-donuts.html

Enjoy!

CVS Run

I made a trip to CVS tonight, but my store was all out of the free toothpaste!

Here's the breakdown on what I purchased.

3 pack Ivory Soap .99 -.25 coupon from 11/2 P&G Insert

Dawn Dishwashing Soap -.25 coupon from 11/2 P&G Insert

1 Olay Body Scrub 6.00 -2.00 coupon from 11/2 P&G Insert

1 Olay Ribbons Soap 6.00 -1.00 coupon from 11/2 P&G Insert

Used 8.00 in ECB

Paid 1.98 on a gift card (free with a prescription transfer)

Earned 5.00 in ECB for the Olay products

Luckily the manager and employees were restocking the shelves, so I'll be able to go later this week and get paid to take toothpaste out of the store.

See what's free at CVS this week at Coupon Cravings:

http://www.couponcravings.com/2008/11/cvs-whats-free-this-week.html

Check out more CVS "snacks" here:

http://mommysnacks.blogspot.com/2008/10/cvs-snack-week-of-november-2.html

Happy Shopping!