Meal Plan Monday 8/29/11

 I have wanted to do this type of post for a REALLY long time, but you know how life goes... The idea is that I will be here every week to give you some ideas, but honestly, it may take a few weeks to get a schedule down.  First things first, my sources...  

 Look Familiar??  These photos are from my big shopping trips last week. 

And my Bountiful Basket for this week! The items in the basket were $16.50, the 5 loaves of 9-grain bread was $10, and the Tortilla Pack (7 dozen - variety) was only $10.50.  Total $37!  Order yours before 9pm tomorrow night at the link above and I will help you come up with some recipes :-)

Monday

Breakfast - Pancakes & Yogurt

Lunch - Sandwiches, grapes, pudding and water

After School Snack - Banana Bread

Dinner - Cafe Rio (cause we are celebrating!) 

Tuesday

Breakfast - Cereal & Bananas

Lunch - Sandwiches, grapes, and rice krispie treats

After School Snack - Zucchini Bread (I used homemade applesauce instead of oil-yummo)

Dinner - Mexican Casserole & Green Salad

(I add more veggies to my casserole and cream of chicken instead of mushroom - so messy an so yummy)

Wednesday

Breakfast - Pancakes with strawberry jam

Lunch - Sandwiches, peaches, and fruit snacks

After School Snack - Finish all that bread (yikes)

Dinner - Cranberry BBQ Chicken, corn on the cob, fresh mashed potatoes

Thursday

Breakfast - Cereal & Yogurt

Lunch - Left Overs

After School Snack - Chocolate Chip Cookies

Dinner - Left Overs

Friday

Breakfast - Scrambled Eggs, English Muffins, and Cantaloupe

Lunch - Spaghetti-Os, carrots and Ranch

After School Snack - Peach Cobbler (with nectarines cause what's the difference really)

Dinner - Homemade PIZZA - just wait til you see the pics for this one!

Saturday

Breakfast - Cereal

Lunch - Mini Quesadillas & Fruit

Dinner - Carrot Ginger Soup & Homemade Rolls (stay tuned for bread ideas)

Note: I know it's 110 out, but I have a TON of carrots to get rid of so there ya go!

Sunday

Breakfast - French Toast, Jam and Fruit

Lunch - Grilled cheese sandwiches and left over soup

Dinner - Chicken & Broccoli Braid, Green Salad

Note: I will substitute Green peppers for this recipe and use my own bread dough

Dessert - Zucchini Brownies (never tried, but we'll give it a whirl)

Hope this gives you a few ideas of what to fix for your family this week!  Let me know what you think of the recipes.  I would type the ones I really use, but this post would be a mile long ;-).  I found the closest things though that should still be a good fit.  When I look for a recipe, I am looking for simple ingredients for budget reasons and because I have small children who have very sensitive palates.  So, I won't be offended if you decide to spice em up a bit!  

Bon Appetit!!

Happy Back to School Day!!

Probably one of my most favorit-ist days ever!! The first day of school!!!  I love my children, honest I do, but after 3 months, it's just time to get back into a routine.  I will admit that trying to work with 3 kids in school and add a few extra curricular activities for the bunch, my brain is already frazzled.  I was remembering an old printable my friend Colette put together to help busy mom's like myself and thought I needed to share.

 It's a "Mommy Homework Binder"!  Best of all, it's a free download!  I am planning on mine having a section for each child, a sleeve for the school calendar, a sleeve for the lunch schedule, and a copy of her super cute calendar too to keep track of everything our little family will have going on this year.  I'm super excited about getting everyone back on track!

Stop by her blog My Computer is My Canvas and check out some of the other amazingly cute things she has put together!  She really is amazing!!

Some AWESOME deals this week...

It seems like we have been gone for most of the month of August.  Our cupboards and fridge have been screaming to be stocked... so... Thursday I sat down with my GrocerySmarts lists and box of coupons and off I went... Check out the deals this week that I took advantage of to stockpile this week!  Does it even count as a stockpile if it doesn't last more than a few weeks?

Transaction #1

These items earned Catalinas for their purchase.  And well, we always need more chocolate chips.  I used a $1/10 coupon from the SS-7/10, but there is also one in the BoxTops-8/7.  

Total paid $21.76

Earned $4.25 for my next purchase

Transaction #2 (Both pictures)

Picture on top shows items that were part of the Back to School Mega Event (Buy 10 items receive $5 off your total).  Picture on the bottom was other items on sale that I just 'needed'. 

Total Spent $94.62

Total SAVED $80.62

Not quite 50% but that's ok I guess since I got lots of staple-type products

Ok - Here was my first transaction.  Hunts was doing a Catalina promotion where I earned $1 for every 4 items that I purchased.  It seems there is no limit to this offer. You do not have to do multiple transactions to get this deal multiple times, but it will spit out several $1 Catalinas.  But who cares?  You are going to give them right back in a second anyway!!

Transaction #1

Total Spent $21.65

Total Saved $20.91

Earned $6 for next transaction

(note: the coupons in the RP-8/7 have a different bar code on them and would not scan. period. No "boops" or anything. Will have to be manually added. Hopefully you get a cashier who will do this for you)

Transaction #2

Total Spent $43.53

Total Saved $143.16 (That's what I'm talking about!)

I created my lists on Thursday and went to each store on different days as I had time.  For all you geeks out there... I purchased a total of 174 items for $181.56 or around $1.04 for EACH item!  Yeah!!  Tomorrow I will show you some tricks on how to make the most of your cupboards to fit all this fun stuff!!  I just love saving money!!

Free Samples?? Yes, Please!

 TA DA!!  

I have always considered myself a 'regular' couponer.  I haven't really gotten into rebates and things like that simply because I feel that adds an extra step.  With 5 kids, I just want basics!!  However, I did read on one of my favorite blogs TipResource.com about signing up for a free sample of Honey Nut Cheerios.  Jen had mentioned that manufacturers will also typically add coupons in those samples as well.  Well, why not??  

How much fun was it to open my mailbox last week and have a little gift inside!?  It's funny that I have been couponing for almost 3 years now and feel like there is still so much to learn and I am just NOW moving on to the "Graduate" program of rebates and free samples... look out!!!

TUTU Give-a-way

I just love to share fun things that I find!  This is no different!  My friend Brittany is doing a give-a-way on her photography blog.  Pop on over, and enter to win a DARLING tutu from Butterbean Babies.  If you have a little girl, you must at least try and win this for her.  My 3-yr old princess isn't allowed to look at these because she will want every single one!  

Happy Entering!  And make sure you let them know I sent ya! 

New RJ Blogger

Well, it's official... this has been a long time coming, but I am now writing articles for the Las Vegas Review-Journal!  Guess what it's about??  Coupons of course!  Here is this week's article all about stockpiling.  

Along that same vein, my friend Jennifer Freeman and I taught a WHOLE BUNCH of people in Northern and Central California last week (over 1,100 people all together).  The local ABC affiliate in Fresno did a great piece on our class.  This story goes right along with the article so check it out and let me know what you think!!

I have a few other ideas for articles to write for the RJ, but my creative juices may get stuck, so leave a comment and let me know what types of things you would like to read about... Thanks in advance!! 

Tip Tuesday #6

Add garlic to a recipe in the beginning of a recipe if you want a light garlic taste.  Add garlic at the end of your recipe if you want a stronger garlic flavor.