40 Free 4x6 prints from Walgreens (exp: 11/1)

Through tomorrow (November 1, 2011), you can get 40 free 4×6 prints from Walgreens. Here’s how:

::Go to the Walgreens photo site and upload your photos.
::Add 40 photos to your cart and go to checkout.
::Use coupon code DRUGSTORE40 and choose in-store pickup. You’ll get 40 photos for free to pick up at your local store.

Thanks, For the Mommas!

Yummy Italian Bread Machine Breadsticks & Noodle Soup

Today, I made a favorite noodle soup recipe from a beloved friend of mine.  I remembered seeing a recipe for some bread machine breadsticks, and since my dough wasn't done in time to make fried bread (another yummy from my beloved friend) I made some Italian breadsticks. 

I got the recipe from Money Saving Mom and let me tell you---they were YUMMY! (plus, the bread machine does the work, so I did other things during that time!)

If you want to cook up a large meal for leftovers or for a large family, here is the  Noodle Soup recipe:

Noodle Soup 

1 package Egg noodles
1 Large can Cream of Mushroom
1/2 jar of alfredo
whole stalk of celery cut up
can of carrots (or fresh if you have it)
2 cans chicken broth (or 1 carton 32 oz)
4 chicken breasts cooked, cut into bite size pieces
1 can of water

1. Dump the chicken broth, water, mushroom soup, celery, carrots alfredo into large pan and cook until vegies are tender. 
2. Cook the chicken, then add to the soup.
3. 5-7 minutes before serving, add the egg noodles to the soup.  Cook 5-7 minutes or noodles are done.

That's it!  So deliciously yummy for fall weather.

Plan to Save and Actually Spend More

Don't ya just hate it when you PLAN on saving money, calculate the necessary coupons you can use and then due to lack of time, bad scheduling, and last minute procrastination you overspend what you planned to spend in the first place?  Don't we all have days like that?

I knew we were about out of toothpaste, so I jumped on the deal at Walgreens for 2/$5.50 Crest, getting a $3.50 RR back to use next time, AND I had 2/$2 coupons, so I paid $1.50 out of pocket and got a Walgreens coupon for $3.50 to use in the future.  My future use for the $3.50 RR was for some razors for the hubs (which I still have yet to buy) and that just didn't happen.

On the way to the baby shower today, I didn't plan appropriately and had to stop last minute for some baby shower cards (yeah...I coulda made 'em, but when I post the baby shower on here, you will see I was all "made" out), some extra peanuts to snack on and a gift bag.....(Dollar Tree was the first choice, but it was too far in my lack of time.)

So....in my LACK of frugality, I spent $12 on 2 cards--which were a hoot,a gift bag, peanuts, and gum....AFTER the $3.50 coupon.  It definitely goes to show that procrastinating is BAD all the way around. 

So fellow bloggers, if you learn anything from my rambling today....plan, plan, and plan...avoid procrastination....that's really what I learned today. 

Great Idea Thursday-Waste Not, Want Not

Waste not, want not....right?

I know many families who go through a lot of yogurt in a week.  All of those little containers end up being tossed out, and most times, not even recycled. 

Here are some great uses I found for re-using those yogurt cups, big and small:

--Use the containers to create LARGE ice cubes to use in your cooler to keep your cold foods cold. 

Ideas from Frugal Families:

1. Make a crocheted cupcake gift box. This has got to be one of the more creative ideas I have seen. Click here for instructions.
2. Use the cups to start seedlings for planting in your garden or grow herbs on your windowsill, such as basil.
3. Use the cups to wash out small paint brushes
4. Use the cups to hold jelly beans or other small snacks at a kid's birthday party
5. You can easily store beads and other craft supplies in a yogurt cup
6. Do you have leftovers from dinner? Use the cups to store them
7. Make cookie dough ahead of time and store it in the cups until you have time to bake
8. Use the yogurt cups to hold your children's lunch box snacks
9. Starting at the top, cut the cup in one long spiral and hang it from a child's ceiling for a room decoration
10. Use a yogurt cup as a toothbrush holder
11. Fill the cups with Jello or home made pudding
12. Use the yogurt cups to to hold small amounts of tempera paint for the kids. They can use extra cups to mix interesting colors.
13. Use them to make almost any craft that requires a mini flower pot, such as a pilgrim hat.
14. Make a mini Christmas tree. Simply fill with a bit of soil or stones and "plant" small cut evergreen branches. Then decorate your tree with thin ribbon or mini Christmas decorations. Decorate the base with colored tissue paper and more ribbon. These cute little trees make great gifts, and are so inexpensive, you can make enough of them for a school Christmas party.

Make your own Chia Pet:
(Also known as Mr. Grasshead)
You will need:

• Grass seed
• Old pantyhose
• Potting soil
• Yogurt containers

Put about 2/3 tablespoons of grass seeds into the feet of old pantyhose. Put about 1 - 1 1/2 cups of potting soil on top of that. Then tie a knot in the end to keep it from falling out.
Paint Mr. or Mrs. Grasshead's face. Fill the yogurt cup about 3/4 full with water. Then put the Head onto a yogurt cup.
 
Make sure to leave a long enough "tail" on the pantyhose so that it reaches the water. Also make sure to keep water in the cup so that the grass will grow. Kids love to watch Mr. Grasshead grow and to cut his hair!!

Maracas
Materials Needed:

• Clean yogurt cups with lids
• Large popsicle sticks (available in craft stores)
• Low-temp hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Small dried beans
• 1/8"-wide red and green ribbon
• Colored paper
• Masking tape
• Glue
• Paint, markers, or crayons

Before distributing cups to students, cut a 1/2-3/4" gash in the bottom center of each cup. (Length of cut depends on width of popsicle sticks purchased. Gash should be about 1/8" longer than stick is wide.) Insert popsicle stick into opening of each cup until about 1/4" of stick is visible inside cup, and hot glue stick securely in place. Be sure to use a LOW TEMP glue gun. At higher temperatures, glue will melt the plastic cups. You may wish to glue the stick both inside and outside cup the cup for added strength. Allow glue to cool completely before distributing cups to students.

With students, pour about 2 Tbsp. dried beans into a yogurt cup, replace lid, and tape shut. Cut a strip of paper about one-half inch wider than the cup's circumference at its widest point and about six inches longer than the cup's height. Wrap paper around cup, leaving three inches of extra paper at both the top and bottom of cup. Tape paper in place. Use red and green ribbon to gather paper around top and bottom of cup and tie closed.  Popsicle stick handle should protrude several inches from the paper covering around the bottom of the cup.

Encourage students to use different colors of paper, paint, markers, and/or crayons to decorate their maracas as they choose.

Most important....YOUR idea for re-using that yogurt container!  What can you think of?

---

Walgreens: Free toothpaste or toothbrush

Walgreens has a 4-day sale running today through Saturday. You can get free Oral-B Complete Deep Clean Toothbrush or Crest

Buy 2 Crest Complete Deep Clean Toothpaste 5.8-6.2 oz. at $2.75 each
Use 2 $2/1 Crest Complete or Oral B Deep Clean coupon from the 9/11 SmartSource insert
Spend $1.50 plus tax out of pocket, Get $3.50 Register Rewards back
Free plus overage after coupons and Register Rewards

Thanks, Moms By Heart!

Walmart Price Match Policy UPDATE through Christmas

Walmart is making it even easier to guarantee you get the best possible prices this Christmas season.

They’ve announced that they will not only match all competitor’s prices, but that if you purchase an item at Walmart anytime between November 1 through December 25, 2011 and then find it at a lower price at another store, you can bring in the competitor’s ad and your receipt and they will give you a Walmart gift card back for the difference in price.

Fine Print

Purchases must be made from November 1 through December 25, 2011. You must bring in the competitor’s ad AND your receipt to receive the Price Match Difference. Black Friday and internet prices are excluded.  Items on Layaway are eligible. Find more details here.

Thanks, I Heart the Mart!

20 PhotoCards for $1.49 shipped

Need to create some birth announcements, planning a party, or just want to get a head start on Christmas photo cards? You can get 20 Custom 4×8 Photo Cards for only $1.49 shipped from SeeHere right now. Here’s how:

::Sign up for a new account with SeeHere (or login to your existing account).
::Create a 4×8 photo card and choose to purchase 20 copies.
::Go to checkout and enter the promo code 25cards.
::Your total should only be $1.49, including shipping.

Thanks MoneySavingMom!

How do I become a President FREE poster

I saw this on MoneySavingMom.com and just HAD to share it with you.



Request a free How Do I Become a President? Poster.

I ordered mine today!

Great Idea Thursday-Make do

It's Thursday again!  Know what that means? 
Another super-wonderful idea from Yours Truly...
                           yes...that's me!

***Make do with what you have onhand.***

Today's blog is dedicated to a new friend...Hob Nobbin herself...you know who you are.

Her family has inspired me to be happier with what I already have, as I do have a lot already!!

Here are some ideas to use what you have to have a little fun!



Paper flowers with directions from Minimozblog.blogspot.com



Scripture Candles @Confessions of a paper-craft chick



Pinterest





Pinterest



Instead of going to the movies, spending money on a family activity, or shopping....why not spend time together and play ball, Frisbee, a game indoors (Pictionary anyone?) or just read a book out loud to each other.   (Yes, even adults enjoy this)

***Make do with what you have onhand***

Remove annoying particle from your eye

We are still in the midst of our church building project, and last night I was putting up ceiling tiles. 

I came home, removed my contacts, flushed out my eyes from the debris and still woke up this morning with the feeling of something in my eye. 

I put drops in them.

I blinked and moved my eyeball all around.

NO HELP.....how irritating it was!

So, I jumped online to Instructables.com.

 It has a link for eye particles, and on STEP 3, the particle FINALLY left my eye.  (angels sing....the clouds disappear).



I thought I would help you all out in case you ran into this problem at some time.

Great Deals at Target, Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS

If you are heading to the store this week (10-16 through 10-22), check here BEFORE you miss out on any great deals!

TARGET--

CVS

WALGREENS

WALMART

$1/1 Kettle Chips

There is another nice new coupon available to print for $1/1 Kettle Brand Chips 4 oz or larger.

If your store carries Kettle Chips, you can also bring in the Walgreen’s ad and Price Match their sale price of $1.99 (thru 10/22), making them .99 cents after price match & coupon. If you aren’t familiar with Target’s Low Price Promise you can check it out HERE and it can’t hurt to print out a copy and keep it with you.

I'm just saying....

Saw these during our field trip to the Pumpkin Patch.  

***Feel free to copy and paste

Great Idea Thursday-Pastor Appreciation Month

Here we are at week 2 of Great Idea Thursday theme!  Are you excited?  I sure am....

This week, I would like to remind you that it doesn't take GREAT ideas, but any ideas to show your Pastor appreciation for Pastor Appreciation month this October. 

Here are a few ideas for Great Idea Thursday:

***Offer to take your Pastor's dry cleaning and pay the bill.***

***Wash his car and detail the inside.***

***Make a "coupon" for free shoe shining (and actually do a good job when he presents the coupon).***

***Gift card to a coffeehouse or a restaurant of his liking.***

***Personalized gift basket with his favorite items. (You can make this yourself....it doesn't have to be purchased)***

***A financial gift***

***A paid for get-away for the whole family.***

New Project to Make from "Very Homemade"

I saw an ADORABLE project to make for THE BOY that is a tutorial from Very Homemade. 

I have cut out my pattern and hope to get this completed in the near future.  I just haven't been in the mood to sew lately, but have several items cut out and ready to go for when the mood strikes!



Creation Corner also used this tutorial and created her own Boy ties...

C-U-T-E!

Blockbuster Express Free Codes

If you are looking for a movie to rent, you might want to try one of these codes good on $1 rentals at Blockbuster Express. They are valid thru 10/10:

6550BW7
54DWTM6
63MAYB7
36ABDP4
63KRFT4
59SLRH4
46WHZS2
46NCCC9

Thanks Coupon Sense!

Walgreens: Cottonelle Toilet Paper Cheap

Beginning today (October 7, 2011), you can get two 12-packs of Cottonelle toilet paper for just $1.75 after Register Rewards. Here’s how:

Buy 2 Cottonelle toilet paper 12-packs at $5 each
Use $1/1 Walgreens coupon from the Walgreens October coupon booklet (these are next to the weekly sales fliers when you walk in the door, will take off $2)
Use 2 $0.75/1 from 9/11 SmartSource insert or $0.50/1 coupon here
Spend $6.50 plus tax out of pocket, Get $3 Register Rewards
$1.75 each after coupons and Register Rewards

Thanks Money Saving Mom!

Great Idea Thursday-Window Treatment

Hello and happy Thursday to ya!  I went in for a teeth cleaning for THE BOY and I today, and was asked what my plans were for the weekend, and automatically I thought it was Friday.  About an hour or so later, I was brought down to earth....what?? It's not Friday yet?

So, in favor of this WONDERFUL Thursday, how about a new weekly Blog theme? 

Great Idea Thursday

If you have a Great Idea that you want to share, add it to this post!  I would love to hear what your great idea is!

The first Great Idea to kick off this new weekly themed post is taken from a FANTASTIC book I checked out from the library.....

REAL SIMPLE--869 new uses for old things.

****Weigh down a window treatment.  Open one end of the bottom hem and slide in a butter knife to keep the fabric from taking flight*****  (Great during Autumn with the windows open and the curtains a-flying)

Book page wreath, Family Visit, Birthday Partying...

It's been  a CRAZY past few weeks! 

Our church is moving into a new space and we are rebuilding the inside to suit our needs, so that means THE HUSBAND and I are there twice + a week to help clean/build/labor...etc.   

After demolition of old space and new wood walls installed



Had to REMOVE wood studs and put up metal studs, then sheetrocked our new sanctuary



Painting the sanctuary



Helping THE HUSBAND tape up the HVAC in the ceiling



Almost completed new sanctuary

Also, I received a call last weekend that my mom and her husband, were coming to visit...so that was a lot of fun!!
 We played some pictionary.....

 Went out to eat

There were some friend birthdays recently, so I made one friend a book page wreath, which I used the tutorial from Loving Life Book Page Wreath.  Sooooo easy...

I kept one for myself.   Gotta love free projects.  I had all of the stuff on hand!

Also, our church's 5th Anniversary service was today (Sunday) and we wanted to show the Pastor and wife Jaime our appreciation for their hard work, service, and wonderfulbility--yeah...it's a Wendy-word.  

Some of the ladies and I thought that date night babysitting coupons would be nice, but alas.....it's hard to find printable coupons online...so I made some.



I stole borrowed the image from aforementioned personal site...thx Jaimers!



Spent time with some new wonderful friends this weekend since her birthday was Thursday....

All in all....it was a WONDERFULLY busy week.  Please forgive me for neglecting you all...I promise to start being a better blogger.  :)