Mailbox Monday

Happy Memorial Day!

• If you are a Vocalpoint member, you can get some free samples of Crystal Light Pure Fitness drink mix. If you aren't a member, sign up for free and enjoy some great samples!
• Get a free sample of Ritz Crackerfuls on Facebook.
• Get a free bag of PopChips from JambaJuice on Facebook. You'll be able to print a coupon.
• Get two free samples of Kraft Sandwich Shop Mayo. Scroll down to click on free sample.
  
• Here's another link to register for free Kraft Sandwich Shop Mayo samples.
• Get a free sample from Natural Persimmon Tea.
• Get a free cleaning cloth for sunglasses from MarineLayer.com.
• Get a free sample of Tena Ultra Thin Pads from Walmart.
• Request a free potty training kit from Pampers, with stickers, trophy and tips.
• Get a free bag of Halo Healthsome Dog or Cat Treats.
• Request a free sample of Crest 3D Whitestrips from Walmart. Remember, for Walmart samples your email address is optional (so I don't offer mine).
  
• If you are willing to sign up to be a DMC Mentor, they will send you a free DMC Cross-Stitch Mentor Kit.
• Get a free sample from Pantene's new Customized Collection from P&G BrandSampler.
  
• Get a free U by Kotex sample here.
  
• Sign up to receive a free Miracle Skin Transformer sample.
• Get up to 2 free Teasta Tea Samples when you use the coupon code TRYME.
• Come back tomorrow (6/1) and request a free sample of Bully Sticks All-Natural Dog Treats. Offer is good to the first 150 to request it each month.
• Print this coupon and take it to an Ulta store to pick up a free bottle of Opi Nail Polish.

Overheard

Ted and H had the following conversation the other day:

Ted: You are growing up so fast, you know that?
H: I can't go any slower, Daddy.

No truer words. . .

Fraudulent Coupons

More than one person has emailed me about some coupons for FREE items being passed around via email. They are attached as a pdf file that would be able to be printed multiple times. I've seen coupons for free Doritos, free Pepsi 12-packs, free Dannon 8-packs, and free Folgers coffee. PLEASE don't attempt to use these coupons, as they are counterfeit. Pass along this information to anyone you receive this email from, as I'm sure they don't want to be embarrassed at the checkout! Even if a person says they were able to use one of these coupons, please don't try, as the company will not reimburse the store for that item. Stuff like this gives couponing a bad name, and makes retailers less likely to accept legitimate coupons. Anytime you see a coupon that is "too good to be true" being circulated through email, 99.9% of the time it is counterfeit, especially if it is for a free item. Now you know! :-)

Read more here:
http://www.fritolay.com/about-us/most-common-questions.html#1
http://www.cents-off.com/body_coupon_counterfeiters.cfm
http://www.cents-off.com/doc/PSASmuckerfolgersMay192010%282%29.pdf
http://www.cents-off.com/doc/Reward_PepsiCo_May_3_2010.pdf
http://www.cents-off.com/doc/RewardPepsiCoApril72010.pdf

Lunch Ideas

When I hosted my Go-Gurt giveaway, I asked you all to leave comments about what you serve your kiddos for lunch, beyond the typical peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and macaroni and cheese. I got some great ideas, so thank you! Because it's easy to get in a rut, I thought you might appreciate some new lunch ideas, too. Here is a list of ideas, some that were left as comments and some that I wanted to add as well. Many are variations, but new twists make things interesting! Yogurt, fruit, and cheese are common sides.

• Tuna mixed with mayo and shredded cheese, scooped up with crackers
• Homemade Hummus with veggies and crackers for dipping
• Ham and Cheese Rollups--deli ham and sliced cheese, melted on a tortilla
• Hummus wrap--roasted red pepper hummus on a tortilla, add ham, cheese, and lettuce
• Quesadillas--cheese between two tortillas toasted on both sides in the skillet; great for dipping in salsa, soup, guacamole, hummus etc.
• PBand J Quesadillas--PB in tortillas, toasted, then dip in jelly
• Pizzadillas--sauce, cheese and toppings in between tortillas
• Flautas--kind of like a rolled up quesadilla baked in the oven
• Peanut Butter, banana, and honey sandwiches (or try sliced apples instead of the banana)
• Rolled up peanut butter sandwiches--tortilla with PB, and try adding honey and cinnamon sugar
• Turkey, avocado and cheese sandwich.
• Breakfast for lunch--Omelets, bagels, pancakes with PB and J, scrambled eggs with cheese and veggies
• Supreme Nachos--use up leftover taco meat
• Fishsticks
• Chicken nuggets
• Mini Pizzas--use english muffins or bagels, sauce, cheese, toppings
• Homemade lunchables--Save a lot of money and sodium by making it yourself.
• Let kids get creative and make their own sandwiches--Mac and cheese and pea sandwich, cucumber-ham-cheese, nutella-banana...
• Noodles and frozen red grapes
• Different salads
• All afternoon we have a "snack tray" out with nuts, fruit, dried fruit, vegetables and sometimes pretzels, healthy cereal, etc.
• Tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich
• Chicken salad sandwiches
• Tuna salad sandwiches
• Mix in tuna or chicken with mac and cheese
• Small subs
• Ants on a log--peanut butter filled celery with raisins
• Polish sausage in a bun (or hot dogs)
• "Dinosaur Soup" aka spaghetti o's
• Pita bread pizzas
• Fried egg sandwiches
• Tortilla, refried beans, and cheese heated up in a skillet
• Egg tacos--scrambled eggs with cheese and veggies in a tortilla

If you have an idea that isn't listed, please leave a comment!

Birthday Freebie: Sonic Kids Meal

Sign your kids up for the Sonic Birthday Club and get a coupon for a free Wacky Pack Kids Meal on their birthdays, as well as a surprise for their 1/2 birthdays! This is for kids ages 12 and under.

Our family loves getting free food to celebrate birthdays! Be sure to sign up for other birthday freebies listed in my other posts.

I also found out about this BOGO free deal on Sonic's Real Ice Cream Shakes (click on "New at Sonic" to see details). Through June 27th, buy one shake, either get one free right away or opt for a coupon to use for your freebie later. I have a STRONG feeling we'll be heading out to Sonic soon!! ;-)

Wordless Wednesday--Meet Baby!

We are so excited to announce the arrival of baby J!

She was a much bigger girl than we expected at 9 lbs, 10 oz!

(Click through to my blog if you can't see the pictures)

Roundy's Matchups (Copps, PNS, Rainbow)

Roundy's stores (Copps, Pick 'n Save, and Rainbow) double 5 coupons up to $1 per $25 order every Wednesday and now they are doubling on Saturdays, too! Through Saturday, June 26th, they will also double coupons according to the same rules as Wednesdays (5 coupons up to $1 per $25 order). There are several deals this week, so here are some printable coupon matches to help you make your list. Check your coupon stash to see if you can find more matches. For printing tips, click here.

==================================
Kraft Melt Downs $1.28 (Limit 1 with in-ad coupon)
Also use $1/1 Kraft Singles Melt Down printable
Better than FREE ADC!
==================================
Kellogg's Cereal $2.25
$1/2 Kellogg's cereal here
$1.25 each ADC
==================================
Oscar Mayer Lunchmeat $2.50
$1/2 here
$1.50 each ADC
==================================
Oscar Mayer Beef Franks $1.50
$1/2 here
$0.50 each ADC
==================================
Johnsonville Smoked or Cooked Sausage Links $2.50
$0.55/1 here
$1.40 ADC
==================================
Smart Balance Milk $2.99
$1/1 milk here
$0.99 ADC
==================================
Huggies Wipes $2
$2/2 here
$1 each
==================================
Caribou Coffee $6.99
$1/1 here
$4.99 ADC

Kroger Coupon Matches

Kroger doubles coupons up to $0.50 every day. Kroger deals may differ slightly by region, so be sure to check your ad. Find your nearest Kroger (or affiliate) here. Here are some current printable coupons available to match up with this week's sales. Check your coupon stash to see if you can find any more matches! Happy shopping!


==================================
Johnsonville Brats or Italian Sausage $3.99
$0.55/1 here
$3.44
==================================
Oscar Mayer Weiners or Turkey Franks $0.99
$1/2 here
$0.50 each ADC
==================================
Hillshire Farm Deli Select Lunchmeat $2.99
$0.55/1 here
$2.44
==================================
Huggies Big Pack Diapers $18.99, Save $3 instantly wyb $15 (limit 1 savings offer)
$3/1 here
$12.99 after coupon and savings
==================================
Huggies Diapers Jumbo Pack $8.99, Save $3 instantly wyb $15 (limit 1 savings offer)
Buy 2 and use 2 $3/1 coupons
$11.98 after coupons and savings
==================================
Huggies Baby Wipes Mega Pack $5.99, Save $3 instantly wyb $15 (limit 1 savings offer)
Buy 4 and use 2 $2/2 coupons here
$4.24 each after coupons and savings

**You can also mix and match the above Huggies products to make $15**

Mailbox Monday

Enjoy some freebies this week!

• Get a free sample of Lanacane anti-chaffing cream after you answer some quick questions.
• Get a free sample of Pero Caffeine-Free Natural Beverage.
• Sign up for a free sample of Stopain Pain Relief Spray.
• Get a free sample of Hugo Element Fragrance.
• Get a free sample of Flexitol foot care products. Look on the left sidebar for the free sample.
  
• Complete a short survey to see if you qualify for a free sample of Prilosec OTC.
  
• Download the free audio book E.M. Bounds: Man of Prayer by Lyle Dorsett from christianaudio when you use the code MAYPRAY at checkout.
• Take a survey from Tablespoon on Facebook, and at the end you'll be able to fill out a form to receive a free 1.7-oz. bag of Original Chex Mix via US Mail.
• Get a free sample pack of mini Clif bars when you sign up for their newsletter. You do have to provide your snail mail address if you want the samples in your mailbox.
  
• Like Aveeno on Facebook, then click on “Free Samples” and claim your free sample of Aveeno Nourish Hair Care.
• Get a free sample of Splenda Flavors for Coffee, either Hazelnut or Mocha.
• Sign up for a free sample of Orville Redenbacher's Cheddar Cheese Popcorn. You don't need to enter a Kroger card number to request this sample, but you do need to live in one of the 17 states listed.
• Text FREEFOOD to 27297 and you’ll receive a coupon for a free sandwich from Arby's with any purchase. Standard text rates apply.
• Get four free samples from NatureMade (once you request one, just sign in to request others):
• A customized NatureMade Vitamin recommendation,
• A free NatureMade Chewable Vitamin D3 sample
• A free Nature Made CholestOff sample
• And a free Nature Made Omega-3 Fish Oil sample

Free Movies All Summer at Regal Cinemas

Since 1991, Regal Cinemas has been offering their FREE Family Film Festival, showing free G and PG movies during the summer!  Every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10am, select movies will be shown. Select your state to find a theater near you and which movies will be showing on which dates.  We've done this in the past, and it's a great (FREE!) activity, especially when it is raining or really hot outside.

Thanks Saija!

Freezer Cooking

I bought some extra groceries this week to be able to put some things in the freezer to make life a little easier after baby is born. I spent less than 2 hours, and this is what I accomplished:I browned 1 lb of italian sausage for lasagna, I have 2 lbs of BBQ pork ribs to be made in the crockpot into shredded BBQ pork, and I have a meal of sweet and sour chicken and a meal of BBQ chicken. I also made a BUNCH of purees.

Our family likes to add about 1/2 cup carrot or sweet potato puree to our pancake or waffle mix. It adds some vitamins and doesn't change the flavor at all (at least we can't tell, and I have picky kids!). I also add a touch of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. YUM! So I make a bunch of purees at once, divide them into snack bags which I freeze flat and then put into gallon freezer bags. I did 3 lbs of carrots and 3 lbs of sweet potatoes, so hopefully this will last us awhile! (they are layered in the picture, so there's more than you can see.) When it's time for pancakes, I grab a frozen bag and can usually get the puree out frozen into the bowl, which I then microwave for a minute to soften, and then I add the other ingredients. Easy!

Weekly Groceries

I went over budget again this week, mostly because I wanted to put up some things in the freezer to use after baby is born. I spent $66.01 and saved $99.43 or 60%.

These items were free: Mom's Natural oatmeal x2, Tree Top juice boxes x2, Fiber One yogurt x4, and YoPlus yogurt x2.

These items were $1 or less: Welch's juice x2, Capri Sun, Carrots x3, whipping cream x4, Ziploc freezer bags x2, 3 dozen eggs, Simply Go-Gurt x6, Weight Watchers yogurt x10, and lettuce.

I also bought Johnsonville brats, 3 lbs of strawberries, bananas, cole slaw mix x3 (to make Mahndu), frosting x3 and cake mix (we have birthdays coming up!), 6 lbs of fresh chicken breasts, 4 lbs of boneless pork ribs, orange juice, 5 gallons of milk, ricotta cheese, and italian sausage.

Earn Free Gift Cards for Half Price Books!

I'm excited to see this program back again this summer, because last summer H, G, and M really loved it and got a lot of free books, workbooks, and even DVDs!  The program runs from June 1st through July 31st, and if you go in each week for the 9 weeks, you can earn $27 in gift cards per child!  Can you say AWESOME!?!  I just love that they offer this program.  :-)

For children 14 and under, they need to read (or preschoolers can be read to) for 15 minutes each day for 5 days a week.  Each child fills out a bookmark each week and then brings it in for a $3 gift card which they can use toward merchandise in the store.  Only one $3 gift card is allowed per transaction, so for multiple kids, they can each do their own transaction (more fun for them anyway!).  Last year there were A LOT of options to choose from that were under $3.  You don't have to spend over $3--you can spend under $3, but you won't get change.  So these can be TRUE freebies! 

Find out more about the program here.  Print out your first weekly log here.  Find a location near you here.

Mega Swagbucks Day

Hop onto Swagbucks and do a few searches today!  And don't forget to scroll through the Special Offers to win between 1-4 swagbucks each day.  If you haven't signed up yet, you can sign up here and get 30 free swagbucks to start you off.   They add up fast, and you'll be well on your way to some free Amazon gift cards!

I'm a Test Drive Mom!

Yippee! I've been chosen by Mom Central to be an Infantino Test Drive Mom! I filled out a survey last week, and because of the timing of baby girl #5 coming any minute, I was hoping I'd be picked. Basically what this means is they will send me a few products over the next several months that I will be able to try out with baby. Then I'll post a review and (really cute) pictures of baby using the product, giving my honest opinion about it. This will be fun!

Wordless Wednesday--Hula Hoop

H with the Hula Hoop--she can keep it up longer than I can, and she doesn't have hips! :-)

Roundy's Matchups (Copps, PNS, Rainbow)

Roundy's stores (Copps, Pick 'n Save, and Rainbow) double 5 coupons up to $1 per $25 order every Wednesday and now they are doubling on Saturdays, too! Through Saturday, June 26th, they will also double coupons according to the same rules as Wednesdays (5 coupons up to $1 per $25 order). There are several deals this week, so here are some printable coupon matches to help you make your list. Check your coupon stash to see if you can find more matches. For printing tips, click here.
==================================
General Mills Cereal 4/$10
Coupons here, here, and here
Final price varies
==================================
Kellogg's Cereal buy 3, get $5 off
$1/2 Kellogg's cereal here
$1/1 Kellogg's Granola here
==================================
Tree Top Juice $2.19
$1/2 here
$1.19 each ADC
==================================
Welch's 100% Juice $3
$1/1 here
$1 ADC
==================================
Caribou Coffee $6.99
$1/1 here
$4.99 ADC
==================================
Betty Crocker Supreme Brownie Mix $2.25
$0.75/2 here and here
$1.50 each ADC
==================================
Betty Crocker Warm Delights Minis $2.25
$0.50/1 here and here
$1.25 ADC
==================================
Betty Crocker Warm Delights $1.75
$0.50/1 here and here
$0.75 ADC
==================================
Betty Crocker Pouch Cookies $1.75
$0.40/1 here
$0.95 ADC
==================================
Nature Valley granola bars $2.25
$0.40/1 here
$1.45 ADC
==================================
Suddenly Salad $1
$0.40/1 here
$0.20 ADC
==================================
Gorton's Grilled fish fillets 30% off
$0.50/1 here
==================================
Jimmy Dean Skillets or Sandwiches $3.99
$1/1 here (facebook)
$2.99 ADC
==================================
Hillshire Farm Deli Select or Hearty Slices Lunchmeat $3
$0.55/1 here or $0.55/1 here
$1.90 ADC
==================================
Oscar Mayer Lunchmeat $1.50
$1/2 here
$0.50 each ADC
==================================
Oscar Mayer Beef Franks $2.50
$1/2 here
$1.50 each ADC
==================================
State Fair corn dogs $6.99
$0.55/1 here
$5.89 ADC
==================================
Weight Watchers yogurt $0.50
$1/5 here
$0.50/5 or $0.10 each ADC
==================================
Yoplait Delights $2
$1/1 here
FREE ADC
==================================
Yoplait YoPlus BOGO free
$1/1 here
Should be FREE ADC
==================================
International Delight Flavored Coffee Creamer $1
$0.55/1 here
FREE ADC
==================================
Lightlife Meat Alternatives 25% off
$1/1 here
==================================
Wanchai Ferry Entrees $5.99
$1.50/1 here
$4.49
==================================
TGI Friday’s Skillet Meals $5.99
$2/1 here or $1/1 from in-store flyer (ask at service desk)
$3.99
==================================
Birds Eye Freshlike Vegetables $1.50
$1/3 here
$0.83 each ADC
==================================
Green Giant Steamers $1.50
$0.50/1 here
$0.50 ADC
==================================
Playtex Tampons $3.50
$1/1 here
$1.50 ADC
==================================
Huggies Big Pack $18.79
$3/1 here
$15.79
==================================
Huggies Big Wipe Refills $8.99
$2/2 here
$6.99 each
==================================

Kroger Coupon Matches

Kroger doubles coupons up to $0.50 every day. Kroger deals may differ slightly by region, so be sure to check your ad. Find your nearest Kroger (or affiliate) here. Here are some current printable coupons available to match up with this week's sales. Check your coupon stash to see if you can find any more matches! Happy shopping!

==================================
Huggies Big Box Diapers $18.99, get $3 off at checkout
plus use $3/1 here
$12.99 after coupon and discount!
==================================
Green Giant Vegetables $0.88
$0.50/1 here
FREE ADC!
==================================
Oscar Mayer Bologona $1
$1/2 here
$0.50 each
==================================
Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs $2.50
$1/2 here
$2 each
==================================
Newman's Lighten Up! Salad Dressing $2.50
$0.50/1 here
$1.50 ADC
==================================
Playtex Tampons $2.99
$1/1 here
$1.99
==================================
Pedigree Dog Food $9.99
$2/1 here
$7.99
==================================
Pedigree Canned Dog Food $1
BOGO free here
$0.50 each
==================================

Mailbox Monday

Wishing you lots of good freebies in your mailbox this week!

• Get a free sample of EB5 Facial Cream. 
• Get a free sample of Dove Ultimate Beauty Care deodorant.  
• Request a free sample of Secret Clinical Strength deodorant.
• Request a free sample of Old Spice Body Wash.
• Request your free Child Safety Tattoo pack. 
• Request a free sample of Prilosec OTC.
• Request a free copy of Anxious For Nothing through Grace to You now through June 6th. Limit one per person, USA customers only.
• Through 5/19, get a free Cacique cotton panty in white or black at any Lane Bryant, Cacique, or Lane Bryant Outlet. No purchase and no coupon necessary.
• Pick up your Aerie A-List gift any Thursday in May. This month's gift is a free Super Fruit Mini Gloss.
• Print out a coupon for a free mascara at the Sephora counter inside JCPenney. 
• If you are a member of Sam’s Club you can request a free sample of Dove shampoo or conditioner.
• If you haven't already, you can request a sample of Arm and Hammer toothpaste by copying and pasting this address into your browser: http://www.truetasteofclean.com/
• Request your free Crown Money Map through Crown Financial Ministries if you have never contacted them before. This is a tool to help you get out of debt. 

Free Kids Bowling This Summer

Looking for a fun and frugal family activity for the summer? Kids can bowl 2 free games per day at participating bowling centers. My nephew took advantage of this last summer and had a blast! Find participating bowling centers near you.

I Wish I'd Caught That!

If you are a parent, chances are you've uttered the words, "Oh where is my camera when I need it?" more than once. Your child is in the middle of doing something cute or goofy or gross, and you stand there wishing you had the camera permanently attached to your hand, knowing that this moment will pass before you can get the camera, turn it on, and start shooting. Sound familiar?

We keep our digital camera on the kitchen counter so it is usually pretty accessible, but there have been plenty of moments lost forever because all spontaneity flies out the window the minute we reach for the camera.

One time in particular I WISH I had reached for the camera was when H was a newborn. Ted and I were up in our bedroom on the bed playing with her, spending some quality time becoming more familiar with our new family. Ted was lying on his back on the bed when he lifted H up in the air above him. He was looking at her adoringly, cooing. She promptly spit up. A LOT. All over his FACE, glasses and all! To be honest, I cracked up laughing! I remember having an internal struggle right then--do I run downstairs for the camera, or do I help clean up my poor husband, who has baby spit up ALL over his face?!? A true dilemma! I decided to help him clean up (through my giggles and apologies). I honestly wish I had run down to get the camera and asked for forgiveness later. :-) Now it is only a memory that we hopefully can retell enough to keep it fresh in our minds.

If you do have your camera permanently attached to your hand and have been able to capture some precious moments, I heard about Mamarazzi Monday from Kim at Mom Tried It.

Canon and JuiceBoxJungle sponsored me to write this post, and talk about what shooting video means to my family. Canon has released the PowerShot SX210 IS, which combines the ability to take great photos and also shoot high definition video. It would be nice to have one of these, but our Canon A630 is still going strong!

$3/1 Huggies Coupons Again!

There's two more $3/1 Huggies coupon on Coupons.com! You can get a great deal on Huggies through tomorrow at CVS, where they are on sale for $6.49 after ECBs, so they would be $3.49 after ECBs and coupon! Apparently Huggies will also be on sale next week at Rite Aid.

You can print off a total of 4 coupons if you print two of each. Get 'em before they're gone!

Weekly Groceries

I was able to stay on budget this week, mostly because I only went to one store--staying home always saves me money! :-) If I run around chasing deals, I always end up spending more. There were some great sales on cheese and pizzas in December and January, so I had stocked up then. It was time for another stock-up, so no, this isn't what we are eating all week!

These items were free: Deli Creations x3, Old Orchard juice x1, DiGiorno 200 Calorie pizza x2.

These items were $1 or less: Kraft mac and cheese x4, Rhodes rolls x3, Totinos Pizzas x4, Old Orchard juice x2, Crystal Light x2, Frigo string cheese x2, sausage links, coffee filters (BOGO free-we're good for the year!), Ritz pretzel crackers, and Rhodes rolls x3.

I also bought oranges, broccoli, bananas, milk x4, pancake mix, shredded cheese x9, DiGiorno Pizza and Breadsticks x2 ($2 each after coupons!), Edy's ice cream x2 ($1.29 each after coupon), New York Garlic Bread x2, Nesquik (to make my homemade hot chocolate mix), and lasagna noodles.

I spent $56.80 and saved $82.61, or 59%. My monthly total so far for May is $130.27.

Yoplait Go-Gurt Winner

Thank you to everyone who entered my Yoplait Go-Gurt giveaway!  I loved getting all the ideas for lunches from all of you, and will probably do a post on those soon.  I don't know about you, but sometimes we get stuck in a rut over here and it's nice to get some fresh ideas to shake things up!

Now on to the winner!  I used random.org to choose a number and came up with #7--ScottScubaFam.
This person did not leave an email address, so I will give them until Friday at noon CST to contact me with an address or I will choose another winner.