Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Couponing Extravaganza!



This week was a great shopping week for me.  I love the end of the month sales because I can usually find things to use my almost expired coupons on.  I was a little bummed though becuase this month there were lots of coupons that expired on the 29th which was the last weekend, instead of the 31st.  But I did get to use my prior rain-checks from the begining of the month and had great savings!  Here is a list of all the great deals I got!  
(Key Terms: WYB = When You Buy, MQ =  Manufacture Coupon, 

Walgreens: 


*Hawaiian Tropic Royal Tanning Clear Spray, 6 oz, 9.99

*Hawaiian Tropic Dark Tanning Oil, 8 oz, 9.99
Buy One Get One Free
Use 2 $1.00/1 Hawaiian Tropic Sun Care Product Exp. 6/25/2011
Final Price: $4.99 each when you buy 2


* OFF! Clip-On Starter Kit $7.99
Use B1G1 FREE – OFF! clip-on Mosquito Repellent Starter (up to $10.00) – (off.com)
And Use $1.00/1 OFF! or Raid Products, .5 oz excluding OFF! Deep Woods Sportsmen Mini Spritz from Walgreens June Booklet (will take off $2.00)

I was able to use a $2.00/1 MQ also
Final Price:  $4.98 for both


* Tylenol Precise Pain Relieving Cream, $7.99
Rain-check for the sale price of $5.99
Use $5.00/1 MQ
Final Price: .99  


* Right Guard Deodorant, 3 oz, 4.49
* Got2b Pomade, 5.99
Buy One Get One Free
Use Buy One of Each Get $1.00 MQ Exp. 5/31/2011
Final Price:  2.49 each when you buy two


Total Order:
Before Coupons: $58.43
After Coupons: $20.93


CVS:

* Pantene Pro- V  Shampoo, $4.24
Buy 2 get $2.00 ECB
Use 1 $3.00/2 MQ Exp. 5/31/2011
Final Price: $1.74 each when you buy two


* Pantene Pro-V Conditioner, $4.24
Buy 2 get $2.00 ECB
Use 1 $3.00/2 MQ Exp. 5/31/2011
Final Price: $1.74 each when you buy two

* Bic Soleil Razors, $6.99
Buy 1 get 1 50% off
Use 2 $3.00/1 MQ Exp.  6/12/2011
Final Price: $2.49 each when you buy two


Total Order:
Before Coupons: $30.95
After Coupons: Free!!!!!! (I have a $10 ECB that was about to expire) 


RITE AID:


* Kelloggs Cereal, 4.49
(I had a coupon for $1.00/3, but I didn't notice until I got to the register that it expired 5/29/2011, so I got three boxes and was unable to use the coupon, but it was still a really good deal on cereal)
On Sale for $1.88
Final Price: $1.88 each

* Renpure Oraganics Shampoo or Conditioner, $4.99
$4.99 Up Rewards WYB 1
 Final Price: Free!!!!!

* Oral-B Pulsar Toothbrushes, $5.99
Rain-check for the sales price of $2.99
Use $1.50/1 MQ Exp. 5/31/2001
 Final Price: $1.49 each

Because you get $4.99 back on each Renpure Shampoo or Conditioner and I bought one of each, I seperated my order into two different parts.  I bought the cereal, toothbrushes and one bottle of shampoo in my 1st order and in my 2nd order bought the following bottle of conditioner and a bottle of water.  I paid for my second order with my Up Rewards.

Total Order:
Before Coupons: $35.43
After Coupons:  $8.62 (not including my bottled water)

Kroger:

* Excedrine, $1.88
Use $1.00/1 Coupon on the box
Final Price: .88

Total Order:
 Before Coupons: $5.64
After Coupons: $2.64

My Total Shopping Trip:
Before Coupons: $130.45
After Coupons:  $32.19

Saturday was all about Strawberry Jam

Saturday consisted of me picking strawberries, making 18 jars of jam, and preserving 6 cups of sliced strawberries.  Here is the recipe so you can make some if you would like.
Strawberry Jam

Ingredients:
* 8 cups of strawberries
* 6-7 cups of sugar, preferably organic
* 1/2 tsp of butter

* One box of Sure-Gel

Equipment:
* Large saucepan
* Laddle
* Jar funnel
* Jelly jars
* Jar lids
* Jar rings
* Jar tongs

(Sorry the picture of the jelly jar is sideways)

Step One:
You need 8 cups/8 quarts/4 pints of strawberries.  I used freshly picked ones, you can use whatever you would like to use.  Freshly picked or store bought.  I would suggest that if you are going to use store bought, you buy organic.  Rinse and slice the strawberries. If you have small strawberries they can be sliced in half, if you are using large store bought strawberries, you should quarter them.   Before you start any on the cooking process you will need to put your jars, lids and rings through a hot water bath.  If your jelly jars are brand new than you should wash them with soap and water first. 

Hot Water Bath Directions:
Place jelly jars in a stockpot.  Fill each jar full of water and fill the pot full of water up to the lip of the jars.  But a lid on the stockpot and turn the burner on high until the water comes to a rolling boil, then you may turn the burner down to low and leave them be until they are ready to be filled.  For the lids and rings you may place them both in the same pan.  Fill the pan with water.  Turn the burner on high and allow the water to come to a rolling boil.  Once the water boils you may turn the burner down to low and leave them be until the filling process.




You don't need as many strawberries as I got.  Like I said in the begining I made 18 jars of jam along with 6 cups of frozen sliced stawberries and still had some left over for Josh to enjoy.  I also made stawberry short cake for an afternoon snack.  I will also attach that recipe. 

Step Two:
Puree Strawberries.  I use a food processor, if you do not have one you can use a blender.  This is what they should look like.

Step Three:
Dump the pureed strawberries, Sure-Gel and 1/2 tsp of butter into a large (6-8 qt) saucepan.  Combine the mixture well.  Cook on medium-high until the mixture comes to a rolling boil. Stir occasionally, if you do not stir enough the mixture will stick to the bottom of the pan.  I also included a picture of Sure-Gel so you can see what your are looking for, it is the aisle at Kroger by the canning jars and plastic zip-lock bags.
 Step Four:
Once the mixture has come to a rolling boil, add your six to seven cups of sugar.  If you are using organic sugar, it is sweeter than regular white cane sugar you only need to use six cups.  Mix well. Cook on medium-high heat.  Once the mixture starts a hard boil, set your kitchen timer for two mintues and stir the whole entire time.  Once your two minutes is over with.  Remove your jam from the stove and we will start the jar filling process.
 Step Five:
Before you begin the jar filling process you must skim the the light pink foamy top off.  You can do this with the ladle that you use to fill the jars with.  Just put the excess in a small bowl.  To begin the jar filling process use the jar tongs to remove the jar from the hot water bath.  Set the jar as close to the pan as you possibly can.  Put the jar funnel on top of the jar and fill to the top lip.  Put the lid and ring on the jar and place the jar upside down on the counter.  This allow the air to settle in the bottom of the jar instead of the top which will prevent mold. 
(this is what the the jam should look like once the foam is skimmed off)
Enjoy!

From My Kitchen to Yours!
Megan

Friday, May 27, 2011

How to Organize Your Own Freezer!




A few days ago my post was about an article that I found about getting rid of the clutter in your kitchen and ways to organize your freezer.  Well I was able to run to Wal-Mart yesterday and pick up the few things that you need for this DIY project.  Since there are only two of us at my house, and my husband is a stickler for not wasting anything, I freeze EVERYTHING! Another good thing about freezing is, if you live somewhere like I live where there is no grocery, you never run out.  So here is my version of freezer organization.

Supplies:

* pencil
*  5-7 plastic containers
* plastic see through luggage tags or badge holders
* scrap booking paper
* decorative scissors
* twine ( if you are using badge holders)



Directions:

Step One:  On some type of word document type out how many different categories you want.  I used: pork, chicken, beef, veggies, soups, pasta and baking.  You could use fish, dairy, bread, breakfast or lunch whatever you have mostly in your freezer.  After each word I left 6 spaces to ensure myself enough room.  I used Georgia type font and size 20.

Step Two:  Once you have typed everything up, if your paper is not 8X11 you will have to cut it down to the proper size.  Print your labels.

Step Three:  Trace out the size of badge holder/luggage tag on your paper so that you where to cut.


Step Four: Cut out labels.

Step Five:  Place labels in holders and affix holders to plastic containers with twine.

Step Six:  Fill containers with food items!  Enjoy your nice organized freezer!