CVS weeks 3, 4, and 5....

Okay, so I am a bit behind on posting my CVS deals!!!

I'm so behind, in fact, that I don't remember by deal on this one...all I know is that I got it.

Week #3--I bought 4 power Oral B toothbrushes. I used two BOGOF coupons along with my ECB from the week before. I don't remember how much I was out, but it wasn't much. Then I made the ECB back. (please note this is for June 15-21)
*************************************************************

Week#4--I got a bit off with this one. When I went to CVS, they only had two packs of Charmin--and the deal I had planned out required me to buy 3 packs. I should have just left and come back another time, but I didn't. I did okay on my first trip--it is my second trip that I was out more money. (please note this is for June 22-28)
First trip:

Two packs of Charmin on sale for $5.99
3 packs of Colgate toothpaste--on sale for $2.99
3 packages of Wild Cherry M&Ms (one didn't make it home for the picture!)

Total was: $23.32 (before tax)

I used 2 $1/1 coupons for Charmin
3 $1.50/1 coupons for the toothpaste
$4/$20 coupon
and $12.82 ECB

Total OOP = $0.27!!
made $6 ECB

Trip #2, transaction #1--

1 package Charmin
1 Aussie shampoo
1 pack batteries
1 Colgate Wave toothbrush
1 Colgate toothpaste
1 CVS bandaid

Total was: $22.24 (before tax)

I used $4/$20, $1/1 Charmin coupon, $1/1 Duracell coupon,
$1.50/1 Colgate coupon, and $6 ECB

Total OOP = $9.65
Made back: $10 ECB (Charmin/Duracell), $2 ECB Colgate toothpaste, $2 ECB Aussie shampoo, $1.99 ECB CVS bandaids, $2 ECB Colgate toothbrush = $17.99 ECB!!!



Trip #2, transaction #2


2 boxes Kashi cereal
1 bottle Listerine mouth wash

Total was: $12.87 (before taxes)

I used 2 $2/1 Kashi coupons, and $7.99 ECB from previous transaction.

Total OOP was: $1
Made: $3.49 ECB
*****************************************************

Week #5, transaction #1 (June 29- July 5)


1 box Kashi cereal--on sale for $2.50
1 Accucheck Compact--on sale for $9.99 (reg. $76.99)

Total was: $12.49 (before tax)

I used $2/1 Kashi coupon, $10 ECB from previous week

Total OOP was: $0.55
Made $9.99 ECB

Transaction #2

8 boxes Kashi cereal--on sale 2/$5

Total was $20 (before tax)

I used $4/20, and 8 $2/1 Kashi coupons

Total OOP was $0.50!!!

I have $13.48 ECB left over!!

Menu Plan Monday....

After not sharing any pictures last week, I have plenty to share this week!!

Last week we had salmon patties, mac and cheese and simple peas. It is a very easy meal (especially considering my hubby made the mac and cheese), but it all just tasted so good together!! My hubby likes to experiment with making mac and cheese and this recipe was a keeper. I'll post it below. For the salmon patties, I don't really have a recipe. For these, I used two cans of boneless, skinless salmon (the smaller ones). I typically use saltines in them, but I used Ritz because I was out of saltines. So, I put the two cans of drained salmon in a bowl, added two eggs, salt, pepper, and enough crushed crackers to where it held its shape when placed in a patty. Then just fry them up in some hot oil! So easy and good!! The peas were very tasty---as the name implies, they seem simple, but the taste is great. I used my teflon coated pan to make them and I think next time I would use my cast iron to help in the browning process. Still yummy!!


We also had red hot tuna melts. I had made them before, but it had been a very long time. I'll be making them again soon. They are very good and super simple to make!!


Another new thing was the juicy steaks. I was a bit skeptical about cooking a frozen steak, but it actually worked!! We have some steaks that aren't that great. I don't want to throw them away, so I've tried a few recipes to try to find one that makes them acceptable. This recipe is it!! Now, if I had a grill, I'd try them that way, but I don't, so cooking them in the broiler works for me!! I had to cook them longer than the 5-6 minutes per side. Hubby and I think that is because they were in the bottom of the deep freezer and likely frozen more solid than they would be in a regular freezer.


Another big hit were the green chicken enchiladas. They were so good. I love that enchiladas leave plenty of leftovers!! We got two meals off of this and hubby has enough for lunch tomorrow!! I cut the recipe in half since the boys weren't likely to eat this. Logan likes enchiladas, but he doesn't care for green chilies. That's fine-saved more for me!!


*=new recipe

Monday--Thai peanut chicken*, coconut lime rice* (didn't get to this last week)

Tuesday--taco salad with Cool Ranch Doritos

Wednesday--beef tips and noodles, steamed veggies, roasted red potatoes

Thursday--honey balsamic chicken, homemade spaetzle, salad

Friday--pretzel dogs*, tater tots, salad---->I'm sure we'll head into DC for fireworks, so this may be lunch instead of dinner
******************************************************

Mac and cheese!!
1 box (16 oz.) macaroni
2 cans cheddar cheese soup
1.5 soup cans milk
2 cups shredded cheddar
additional shredded cheddar for the top


Boil the pasta in water with salt and olive oil. Leave a little firm. Drain and set aside. Pour the soup, milk, and 1 cup cheese into pot and stir until melted. Add the pasta back in and stir to coat. Put in a 9x13 dish and top with desired amount of shredded cheddar. Cook at 450 degrees until cheese starts to brown.

For more menu plan Monday fun, head on over to Laura's at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

"Puppy, Momma!"

The other day Lucas and I were cleaning up the toys in the living room. I have three baskets on the sofa table that we store them in, so clean up is a breeze. Some toys had gone under the table, so I was leaned over getting them out, when I heard, "Puppy!! Puppy, Momma!!". I looked over to see Lucas sitting there with his little pointer finger stretched out petting the "puppy". Wanna guess what it was???
A dust bunny---apparently a.k.a. dust puppy!!


And no---this isn't my dust bunny! Mine was only about the size of a penny!!

More from the zoo....(WW)

Taken at D.C. zoo...
(click on this to enlarge---it is eating!)

Menu Plan Monday....

We are trying several new things this week. Hope they turn out!

*=new recipe

Monday--green chicken enchiladas*, rice, beans, salad

Tuesday--salmon patties, simple peas*, mac and cheese

Wednesday--Thai peanut chicken*, coconut lime rice*

Thursday--juicy steak* (I have some steaks that I'm not crazy about, but don't want to throw away--thought I'd try this out), crash hot potatoes (3rd week in a row--we LOVE them), salad

Friday--red hot tuna melts, salad

******************************************************************************
Red Hot Tuna Melts

1 can (6 oz.) tuna, oil or water packed
1 T. oil
1 med. tomato, seeded, chopped (I used two roma tomatoes)
4 green onions, whites and some green, sliced
1 t. capers, optional (I left out)
2 anchovies, minced, optional (I left out)
1 heaping cup grated Jack or Cheddar sheese
4 French or sourdough rolls (any hoagie type will do)
crushed red pepper

1. Drain liquid from tuna.
2. Heat oil in skillet. Saute tomato and green onions until slightly soft.
3. Add capers and anchovies, if used. Stir in tuna. Break up.
4. Add 1/2 c. cheese and gently cook until heated through.
5. Slice rolls in half. Place cut side up on baking pan. Toast lightly under broiler.
6. Spoon tuna mixture onto each bottom half. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and crushed red pepper.
7. Broil until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
8. Serve hot with tops of rolls.

For more menu plan Monday fun, head on over to Laura's at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Great Joy!

Sarah at Mommyology tagged me for this meme.

This meme originated over an idea that was prompted by the book written by Larry Smith & Rachel Fershleiser, Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure. It’s a compilation based on the story that Hemingway once bet ten dollars that he could sum up his life in six words. His words were, “For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn.”

1. Write your own six word memoir.

2. Post it to your blog including a visual illustration if you would like.

3. Link to the person who tagged you in your post and to this original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blog sphere.

Sarah's Link is here.

4. Tag 5 more blogs with links.

5. Don’t forget to leave a comment in the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.

So--on to my memoir:

These boys bring me great joy!

I'm tagging:
Tammy at Little Home Big Love
Nicole at Chasing Aleryan
Melissa at Life With Two

Daddy and Me...

This week's Favorite Foto Friday's theme is Daddy and Me. Here are some of my favorite pics of my husband and the boys. One of them is not my husband, but my Daddy!!

I love this picture of my husband. Logan had a short stay in the NICU and here his Daddy is watching over him.

I love pics of little boys walking with their daddies!! I printed this up for a Father's Day gift and put vellum over it with this poem printed on the vellum. It turned out really nice!

Here is a picture of MY Daddy!! I am beyond a "daddy's little girl". My parents divorced when I was 2 and my dad got custody of me. He flew in the day before I was to be induced with Lucas. I ended up going into labor on my own the very night he flew in. Here he is holding Lucas for the first time and showing Lucas to Logan!
Here is my hubby and Logan feeding Lucas his first bottle (I pumped just so they could feed him).
Lucas LOVES his Daddy!!
Playing outside with Daddy!
This was taken at Patrick's Point last summer. I love this picture!
This one was also taken at Patrick's Point.
See---I can't get enough of this view!!
Lucas was very excited--can you tell??

It doesn't get much better than this!!

For more FFF posts, head on over to Kiss the Frog 4 Me!!

Share the Love...

Melissa at Life with Two gave me this award....thanks, Melissa!
Crystal at Memoirs Of A Mommy created this award in honor of the donor that saved Noah's Life. Noah is her son and he had a heart transplant when he was under one month old. He just turned one earlier this month!! Her hopes are that in passing this award around, we are creating more awareness of the importance of organ donation.
So, now it is my turn to pass on the award to Share The Love and spread the word about Organ Donation. I am passing this on to Sam at The Full-handed Housewife, Sarah at Mommyology, Beth at The Angel Forever, Janice at The Cook Gang, and Michelle at Michelle's Family Life.
So please, Share The Love and pass this award on. Please include a link to Memoirs Of A Mommy in your post!

Oops!!

You know, I try my best to not say bad words---especially when the boys are around. However, traffic brings out the worst in me. Considering we live in the D.C. area, that means I pretty much can't go anywhere without dealing with traffic. Apparently there is one word that I use more than others and tonight I was made aware of that.

Logan was riding around in the above car (we store it in the playroom). Well, he laid on the horn and yelled out, "Dumbask". I'm sure you can figure out what he was trying to say!! Guess I need to work harder to control myself in traffic!!

In honor of Father's Day....(WW)

These were taken at the zoo in D.C.





For more Wordless Wednesdays, go here or here!

CVS round 2

I did pretty well at CVS last week....but I forgot to get pictures of most of my things.

First Transaction:

• 2 bottles Listerine Smart Rinse @ $3.49 each
• used 2 $1/1 coupons and $4 ECB
• paid 98 cents plus tax OOP
• made $6.98 ECB

Second Transaction:

• 6 boxes Fiber One cereal bars @ 3/$10 (which I have found to be very tasty!!)
  
• used $4/$20 coupon, $3/$15 coupon, 2 $1/1 coupons (not sure how others got 6 to print), $6.98 ECB, and $3 ECB
• paid $1.02 plus tax OOP
• made $10 ECB

Third Transaction:

• Gillette Razor @ $9.99, Oral B toothbrush @ $6.99, 2 bottles Dove shampoo @ $4.99 BOGOF (they apparently cost more here)
• used $3/$15 coupon, $4/1 Gillette razor, 2 $2/1 Dove coupons, $10 ECB
• paid 97 cents plus tax OOP
• made $4 and $6.99 ECB

Fourth Transaction:

• 1 box CVS bandaids @ $1.99, Oral B toothbrush @ $6.99, 4 Degree Deodorants @ 2/$5, 1 Dove sample size deodorant @ $0.99, and a 75 count bottle of Advil @ $5.69
• used $4/$20 coupon, $3/$15 coupon, 2 $1/2 Degree coupons, 1 $1/1 Dove coupon, $2/1 Advil coupon, $1.50 off any pain reliever CVS coupon, $4 ECB, and $6.99 ECB
• paid $1.17 plus tax OOP
• made $1.99, $6.99, and $3 ECB

You can find more bargain hunters and their deals here!

Menu Plan Monday....

Last week went pretty well. We tried two new things and they are both winners. Winners because we liked them and winners because there were plenty of leftovers--leftovers are welcomed here!!

First up, the Italian Steak Rollups. I did not cut my steak into 1 inch wide pieces. I left them whole, pounded them out, filled them up and rolled them. We really liked them. Hubby took the leftovers to work the next day and said that it reheated well. There is still sauce leftover that I will use to make spaghetti later this week!

Next is Nicole's cheesy meatloaf. It was sooo good!! Not a traditional meatloaf perhaps, but very tasty!!

Monday--leftovers, strawberry shortcakes

Tuesday--steak and gravy (didn't make this last week either), rice, cauliflower

Wednesday--chicken, tomato artichoke pasta, salad

Thursday--breakfast--waffles, bacon, eggs

Friday--spaghetti, French bread, salad

For more menu plan Monday fun, head on over to Laura's at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Cargo...

Today while we were out running errands, Logan started asking lots of questions about cargo. First he asked if cargo is real. Then he asked what cargo is made of. I did my best to answer him and told him it can be carried on trains, planes, trucks, etc...

Then he proceeds to ask if it is called busgo if it is on a bus. The things his little mind thinks of cracks me up.

Favorite Foto Friday (Bloopers Edition)...

I saw Sarah doing this over on her blog, so I decided to join in on the fun!! Looks like it was a good week for me to start. Goodness knows I get my fair share of blooper photos!!

Take this photo. I was taking a picture of my new flowers when into the frame comes a little boy picking his nose...


Then we have my attempt at getting a good picture in DC during the Cherry Blossom Festival (by the way, it was all in an attempt for a canvas I won--I'd say I finally succeeded!!).








Then there is trying to get the perfect Easter picture!!








Believe it or not, I have PLENTY more of these. All of the above were taken within a one month time frame and is only a sample of the ones I have from that month!!

For more bloopers, head on over to Kiss the Frog 4 Me!