"Take it Off" Tuesday - 3.25.14

Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid 25oz $3.19

Use the $1/1 Seventh Generation home care item Target coupon found here 

AND use 10% Off Seventh Generation Dish Liquid Cartwheel Savings offer (will deduct $0.22)

**Total $1.97**

Then submit to Ibotta, and earn $1 back via Ibotta App for buying Seventh Generation Dish Liquid 18oz+.

**Final Cost: $0.97**

*Learn about Ibotta HERE 

"Meal Plan Monday" 3.24.14

Meal planning Monday is here again...it comes so soon every week!  This weekend was my husband's 34th birthday, and we spent some time in Kansas City MO, just enjoying our little family.  I didnt have a whole lot of time to plan, since we were out of town all weekend, so this week is focused on simple meals.

Monday  - Easy Stuffed Shells

Tuesday - Chicken Enchilada Bake

Wednesday - Home-Style Stew

Thursday - Pizza Chicken Roll-ups

Friday - Sweet 'n' Sour Pork Chops

Monday  - Easy Stuffed Shells

Things you need: 36 uncooked jumbo pasta shells, 1 jar (24 ounces) spaghetti sauce, 36 frozen fully cooked Italian meatballs (1/2 ounce each), thawed, 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse in cold water.
2. Spread 1/2 cup sauce into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Fill each pasta shell with a meatball; place over sauce. Top with remaining sauce and cheese.
3. Bake, covered, 35 minutes. Uncover; bake 3-5 minutes longer or until bubbly and cheese is melted. Yield: 12 servings.

Tuesday - Chicken Enchilada Bake 

Things you need: 4 to 1/2 cups cubed rotisserie chicken, 1 can (28 ounces) green enchilada sauce, 1 to 1/4 cups (10 ounces) sour cream, 9 corn tortillas (6 inches), cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces, 4 cups (16 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
DIRECTIONS

1. In a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish, layer half of the chicken, enchilada sauce, sour cream, tortillas and cheese. Repeat layers.
2. Cover and bake at 375° for 40 minutes. Uncover; bake 10 minutes longer or until bubbly. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving. Yield: 10 servings.

Wednesday - Home-Style Stew

Things you need: 2 packages (16 ounces each) frozen vegetables for stew, 1 to 1/2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes, 1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted, 1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed tomato soup, undiluted, 1 envelope reduced-sodium onion soup mix

DIRECTIONS

1. Place vegetables in a 5-qt. slow cooker. In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, brown beef on all sides.
2. Transfer to slow cooker. Combine the remaining ingredients; pour over the top.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until meat is tender. Yield: 5 servings.

Thursday - Pizza Chicken Roll-ups

Things you need: 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each), 12 pepperoni slices, 8 slices slices part-skim mozzarella cheese, 1 can (15 ounces) pizza sauce

DIRECTIONS

1. Flatten chicken to 1/4-in. thickness. Place three slices of pepperoni and one slice of cheese on each. Roll up tightly; secure with toothpicks. Place in a greased 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish. Spoon pizza sauce over top.
2. Cover and bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Uncover; top with the remaining cheese. Bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Yield: 4 servings.

Friday - Sweet 'n' Sour Pork Chops

Things you need: 1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, undrained, 1 cup honey barbecue sauce, 1/3 cup finely chopped onion, 2 tablespoons chili sauce, 4 bone-in pork loin chops (8 ounces each)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small bowl, combine the pineapple, barbecue sauce, onion and chili sauce. Pour half into a greased 3-qt. slow cooker. Top with pork chops and remaining sauce.
2. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until meat is tender. Yield: 4 servings.

Shopping List: 

о 36 frozen fully cooked Italian meatballs (1/2 ounce each), thawed

о 1 can (28 ounces) green enchilada sauce

о 1 to 1/2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes

о 2 tablespoons chili sauce

о 1 can (15 ounces) pizza sauce 

о 1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, undrained

о 1/3 cup finely chopped onion 

о 9 corn tortillas (6 inches), cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces 

о 8 Slices mozzarella + 2 Cups mozzarella

о 8 slices slices part-skim mozzarella cheese

о 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

о 4 cups (16 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

о 1 cup honey barbecue sauce 

о 1 to 1/4 cups (10 ounces) sour cream 

о 2 packages (16 ounces each) frozen vegetables for stew

о 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each)

о 12 pepperoni slices

о 4 bone-in pork loin chops (8 ounces each)

о 4 to 1/2 cups cubed rotisserie chicken

о 36 uncooked jumbo pasta shells

о 1 jar (24 ounces) spaghetti sauce

о 1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

о 1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed tomato soup, undiluted

о 1 envelope reduced-sodium onion soup mix

Enjoy!

~Danielle 

3.23.2014

Helloooooooo! Long time no posting, eh? Thanks for sticking with me.  I've had a bit of a rough week I suppose, and am dealing with some health matters, so there was an unexpected pause in posting.  I will be posting like regular this next week!

~Danielle 

'Wellness Wednesday' - 3.12.13 - Going green for St. Paddy's Day

So, when I was planning out posts for the week, I thought, St. Paddy's day week is perfect for our first wellness challenge.  Spring is in the air, there seems to be a break in the 340530959083405 feet of snow most of the US is getting this year, let's do some exercise.

Stop. Think about this. People are gearing up for a day of drinking. A NIGHT of drinking. A day AND night of drinking.  Y'all don't need an exercise challenge right now - you need hangover cures!

So, when you go out drinking - keep these things in mind:

1. WATER - try to keep up on it, but if you don't, drink 16-20 ounces before you fall asleep.  It will help IMMENSELY with the dehydration that alcohol causes.

2. Eat - BEFORE - you drink.  Having something in your stomach slows the absorption of alcohol.

3.  Grab a cup of coffee - caffeine *can* help headaches - so if that works, keep on with it but it can also cause more dehydration or cause headaches, so it may not be for everyone.

4. Pain meds - but stick to NSAIDs and avoid Tylenol, since you've already given your liver a workout.

5. Last, but not least, though certainly the least fun....don't drink yourself stupid!

Enjoy!

~Danielle 

'Take it off' Tuesday - 3.11.14 - FREE Suave body lotion (CVS)

Buy 4 Suave Body Lotion – $3 each

Total: $12

Use 4 -$2/1 coupon from the 3/9 Red Plum insert ($8)

Pay $4 and get $4 in  back

**Free after coupon and extra care bucks**

'Take it Off' Tuesday - Heather's Target Run 3.11.14

Good Afternoon! I have a great morning at Target today.

I also learned something new. I don't think it's exactly correct, but it's the way the Target systems are currently set up. If you have two mobile coupons for the same item, it will come off twice. For example, today, I purchased two Downy fabric softeners at $7.99 each. I had two manufacturer coupons for $.50 each and two Target mobiles. One was $2 off two and the other was $1 off one. Both came off. The moral of the story is to always scan your mobiles, even if you don't think you have anything on them.

Here is my loot for today:

I broke my order up into two transactions.

For the first:

Downy Liquid Fabric softener, buy 2, get a $5 gift card
2 x $7.99 = $15.98
- 2 x $.50 off one manufacturers coupon, printable from coupons.com
- $1.00 off one Target Mobile
- $2 off two Target Mobile
Paid $11.98, received $5 gift card

Crystal Light liquid, buy 3, get a $5 gift card
3 x $3.49 = $10.47
- 3 x $1 off one manufacturers coupon, printable from coupons.com
Paid $7.47, received $5 gift card

After tax and redcard savings, I paid $20.02 on the first order, and saved $19.47. I also received $10 in gift cards.

For my second order, I purchased:

Oscar Mayer P3 packs $1.79 x 3 = 5.37
- $2.69 - 50% cartwheel savings
- 3 x $.75 off one manufacturers coupon, available on coupons.com
Paid $.46 for 3, or $.14 each

Mushrooms $1.79
- $1 Target Mobile
Paid $.79

Celery $1.58
- $1 Target Mobile
Paid $.58

Bananas $1.20
- $1 Target Mobile
Paid $.20

Dannon Light and Fit Greek Yogurt $1 x 4 = $4
- $1 off four manufacturers coupons, from coupons.com
- $1 off four Target  printable coupon
Paid $2.00 for four, or $.50 each

Suave Kids Conditioner $1.79
- $1 manufacturer coupon, from Sunday Insert (RP 3.9.14)
Paid $.79

Suave Kids Body Wash $1.79
- $1 manufacturer coupon, from Sunday insert (RP 3.9.14)
Paid $.79

Suave Natural Infusions Shampoo $2.74 x 2 = $5.48
- 2 x $1.50 off one manufacturers coupon, from Sunday insert (RP 3.9.14) or coupons.com
- 2 x $1.50 off one Target printable coupon
Free!!

Suave Natural Infusions Conditioner $2.84 x 2 = 5.68
*****you need two computers to do this deal a second time
- 2 x $1.50 off one manufacturers coupon, from Sunday insert (RP 3.9.14) or coupons.com
- 2 x $1.50 off one Target printable coupon
Free!!

Bic Razors $2.99
- $3 off any Bic razor manufacturers coupon, from Sunday insert (SS 3.9.14)
Free!

Colgate Optic White Toothpaste $2.99
- $1.50 off one manufacturers, from coupons.com
- $1.00 off one Target printable coupon
Paid $.49

Arm and Hammer Litter $10.99
- $3.00 manufacturers coupon from Sunday inserts
Paid $7.99

Iams Cat Food $6.49
- $2 manufacturers coupon, from coupons.com
Paid $4.49

Disney Princess Paint Sets 3 x $1 (in dollar section)

Top Sirloin Steaks $8.99
- $3.00 buy it today sticker
- 5% Cartwheel
- $1 Target mobile
Paid $4.69

Market Pantry Bagels $1.34 x 4 = $5.36
- 5% cartwheel
- 2 x $1 off two Target printable
Paid $2.96 for four, or $.74 each

Loreal Feria Haircolor, on clearance, $4.48 x 2 = $8.96
- $5.00 off two manufacturers coupon, from Sunday inserts
- $3.00 off two Target printable coupon
Paid $.96 for two

M&M's $2.89 x 2 = $5.78
- $1.50 off two Target printable
- $1.50 off two manufacturers coupon, from Sunday inserts
Paid $2.78 for two, or $1.39 each

Tank Tops $5 x 2 = $10
- 10% cartwheel
- $3 off two Target printable
Paid $6.30 for two, or $3.15 each

Garnier Haircolor $4.48, on clearance
- $3 manufacturers coupon, from Sunday inserts
Paid $1.48

I had two additional Target coupons come off at the bottom. I believe they are duplicates, as I described with the Downy, on the sirloin and Dannon yogurt, but I'm not sure.

My total was $40.27, after tax and redcard savings. I applied my two $5 gift cards, from the previous transaction, and paid $30.27 out of pocket. I save $71.02.

Between the two orders, I paid $50.29, and saved $90.49. Woo hoo!

'Take It Off'Tuesday - 3.11.14 - FREE Almay Eye shadow (Walgreens)

Buy (2) Almay Shadow Softies Single Eye Shadows $5.98 + $2.99 (Buy 1 Get 1 50% off) 

Total: $8.97

Use $5.00/2 Almay Cosmetics Coupon (zip 77477)

$2/1 Almay Cosmetics and Makeup Removers (In the March Walgreens Coupon book) 

*Walgreens coupons will deduct for each item, so it will take off $4

**Free after coupons**

'Take it off' Tuesday - 3.11.14 - Colgate White MM (Walgreens)

Buy Colgate Optic White or Colgate Optic White Enamel White Toothpaste, 4 oz. ~~ $3.00 

Use (1) $1.50/1 Colgate Optic White Toothpaste, 3.4 oz. or Larger Coupon 
Pay $1.50 and get $2.00 RR (register rewards)
**Free product, with 50 cent money maker!**

*There is also a coupon from the Sunday paper for Colgate that would make this free, but with no money make

"Meal Plan Monday" - Irish Week - 3.10.14

I sat down to plan meals this week, and decided that we would have an Irish themed week.  I googled a LOT, but let me tell you, google just can't do everything.  So, I turned to my Irish girlfriend, Ger, and she's advised me on some great things to try.  Here's what we've got planned: 

• Monday - Calcannon (A traditionally Irish dish mainly consisting of mashed potatoes with kale or cabbage)
• Tuesday - Dublin Coddle (Coddle was created to use up leftovers, but usually has sausage, bacon, potatoes, onions and carrots)
•  Wednesday - Irish Stew 
• Thursday - Creamy Chicken Boxty
• Friday - Shephard's Pie

Monday ~ Calcannon

Things you need: 3 lbs potatoes, 1 cup of butter, 1 1/4 c of hot milk, freshly ground black pepper, 1 head of cabbage, 1 lb ham (cooked), 4 scallions, chopped parsely

Directions

• Steam the potatoes in their skins for 30 minutes. Peel them using a knife and fork. Chop with a knife before mashing. Mash thoroughly to remove all the lumps. Add 1 stick of butter in pieces. Gradually add hot milk, stirring all the time. Season with a few grinds of black pepper.
• Boil the cabbage in unsalted water until it turns a darker color. Add 2 tablespoons butter to tenderize it. Cover with lid for 2 minutes. Drain thoroughly before returning it to the pan. Chop into small pieces.
• Put the ham in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 45 minutes until tender. Drain. Remove any fat and chop into small pieces.
• Add cabbage, scallions, and ham to mashed potatoes, stirring them in gently.
• Serve in individual soup plates. Make an indentation on the top by swirling a wooden spoon. Put 1 tablespoon of butter into each indentation. Sprinkle with parsley.

*See the original recipe HERE

Tuesday ~ Dublin Coddle

Things you need: Potato soup, thyme, parsely, 2 onions, sausages, half litre of whole milk, roughly diced potatos, pepper.

Directions

• Start the potato soup, and add the cooked bacon, sliced onion, big bunch of thyme and some parsley.
• Cook for about 30 minutes.
• Add chopped potatoes to the soup (waxy, not floury)
• 3. When the potatoes are nearly cooked add the sausages (cocktail is fine) and cook for 15 minutes or so.
• Add the milk, and pepper and cook for another 15 minutes or so. Serve hot.

*See the original recipe HERE

Wednesday ~ Irish Stew 

Things you need: 2 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 lb mutton or lamb cutlets (bone removed) cut into 2" chunks, 2lb potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters, 1 cup onion, roughly chopped, 1 cup leeks, cleaned and finely sliced, 1 cup carrots, roughly chopped, 1½ pints  dark beef stock, 2 or 3 cabbage leaves, thinly sliced, Salt and Pepper

Directions

• In a large frying pan heat half the oil to hot but not smoking. Add half the lamb pieces and brown all over. Remove the lamb and place in a casserole, cover with a half of the potatoes, onions, leeks and carrots.
• Heat the over to 350 degrees
• Add the remaining oil to the frying pan, heat again then add the remaining lamb and brown all over. Add to the casserole and cover with the remaining vegetables.
• Add the stock, cover with a tight fitting lid, cook in the oven for 1 hour. Add the cabbage (if using) replace the lid and cook for another hour. Check from time to time to make sure the stock isn't reducing too much, if it is add a little boiling water. The meat and vegetables should always be covered by liquid. If the sauce is too runny at the end, cook a little longer with the lid removed. Season with salt and pepper.

Serve piping hot.
*See the original recipe HERE

Thursday ~ Creamy Chicken Boxty

Things you need: Boxty - 1 med potato, peeled and grated, 1 1/2 c fat free milk, 1 c flour, 3/4 c mashed potato, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 pepper, Filling - 2 bacon strips, 2 c sliced mushroom, 1 med leek, 1/4 c half and half, 2 tbsp flour, 3/4 c fat free milk, 2 c cubed chicken breast, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1/4 tsp salt

Directions

• Place grated potato in a colander to drain; squeeze to remove excess liquid. Pat dry. In a large bowl, combine the grated potato, milk, flour, mashed potato, salt and pepper. Let stand for 20 min.
• Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Add mushrooms and leek; cook until tender. Gradually add cream. Whisk together flour and milk; add to pan. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in the chicken, salt and pepper; heat through. Remove from the heat and keep warm
• Coat another large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium heat. Pour 3/4 cup batter into center of skillet; lift and tilt pan to coat bottom evenly. Cook until top appears dry; turn and cook 2-3 minutes longer. Remove and keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter, coating skillet with cooking spray as needed.
• Spoon filling onto pancakes.

*See the origianl recipe HERE

Friday ~ Shepherd's Pie 

Things you need:

• 1 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 onion, diced, 2 carrots, diced, 2 stalks celery, diced, 2 cloves garlic, crushed, Salt and freshly ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 2 pounds mutton, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 cup beef stock, 1 1/2 cups garden peas, Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
• 
  

Directions

• Preheat oven at 400 degrees F.
• Add butter and oil to a large skillet on medium heat. Saute onions, carrots, celery and garlic until tender for about 7 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Once the vegetables have softened and start to brown a little add the tomato paste and mix evenly. Add the ground beef and cook until beef is no longer pink about 10 minutes. Add the Worcestershire sauce and beef stock. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook and simmer for another 10 minutes. Mix in peas. Transfer mixture to an oven-proof baking dish and spread evenly. Place potato on top of ground beef mixture and spread out evenly, once the top surface has been covered, rake through with a fork so that there are peaks that will brown nicely. Place the dish into the preheated oven and cook until browned about 20 minutes. Spoon out the shepherd's pie and serve.
• Fill a large saucepan with cold water and a tablespoon of salt. Add potatoes to the water and bring to a boil. Let potatoes cook until soft about 20 minutes. Once the potatoes are at a desired density, drain the potatoes and place them back into the saucepan for mashing. Add butter and cream and begin to mash potatoes into a semi smooth consistency. Once at desired texture add cheese and mix well. 
• Season with salt and pepper.

*See the original recipe HERE

That wraps up our meal plan for the week....I hope you enjoy them as much as we plan too!

**May the luck of the Irish be with you**

~Danielle 

"Family Friday'' - 3.7.14

It's Friday y'all!  While trying to figure out what to do tonight, I came across a pin and thought...hm...this is exactly the amount of sweets I need and patience I have for tonight! I've done these before, and they've always turned out well.  And, since I know they work, I have the added bonus of not worrying whether the glass jars will explode in my over or not!

You dont need much for this project.  Just a few ingredients.

• Cake mix - the kind with vanilla pudding, because its the tastiest
• 10 jars of baby applesauce (applesauce so you can secretly feed it to your family instead of tossing it out...they will NEVER notice. Trust me on that)
• Food coloring.  Even if you think you have enough, get some more.  It takes a lot of color for bold vibrant colors, and mama *thinking* there was enough *may* be why purple is so...um...pink. 

Then head home, and grab 6 bowls. Mix your batter, and divide it evenly into each bowl, then start with the color.  Use as much as you need, and make whatever colors you want.  And remember you need A LOT of color to make it bold! 

Next, spoon them into the baby food jars – the first time we did this we tried different heights, and different designs. We mostly did whatever we wanted, since who really cares what color a cupcake is? You are still going to want to eat it!

 

 We DID learn that it is important to fill them about half full…

 Otherwise, they spilled over. A lot. Sort of a fail there, but what can ya do!?!

We just chopped off the top, and put some frosting and sprinkles on – delicious! We also put whip on some. My daughter did not have a preference – she loved them both equally - but really what kid wouldn't like both cake and whip and cake and frosting.  

And with the extra parts we chopped off? We made the elusive ever searched for delicacy of Unicorn poo 

Enjoy!!

~Danielle 

"Take out Thursday" - 3.6.14

Morning!  Take out Thursday is going to be a day to share what other gems Ive found in the online world to share with you.

First one I want to share is a blog my girlfriends and I created - called Pinteresting Mamas.  As our babies have grown, its slowed down, but its a great blog that encompasses everything pinterest. 

"We’ve all been there…You love it, you want to make it, do it, bake it, believe it.

You want to drink that smoothie, eat that cookie, do that workout, buy that product.

You pin it. Now what? Aside from becoming a workout obsessed super crafter who makes a 9 course homemade meal 7 days a week, what is a supermom to do? How do you know if all the effort is worth it? Enter your very own As-Seen-On-TV-Martha-Jillian-Wonder Woman wanna bes who have BEEN there, PINNED that, and Hey-Mamma-How’d-You-Like-A-Review-To-Go-With-Those-Flourless-Chocolate-Cookies (delicious, by the way).

Meet us.

The Mama Mafia.

We are here to make your Pinteresting life a little more so, and to save you some time on the crafts that aren’t so…Pinteresting."

The Pinteresting Mamas have a multitude of talents, from sewing, to drinking, to cooking, and beyond.  Some of my favorite posts are a humor filled post about 'detachment parenting', Saturday night drink posts, more specifically about Long Islands, and family fun posts learning about the scientific method.

The most recent post is from today, about a handy way to keep eggs a good size for a sandwich.  I hope you enjoy this blog as much as I do, and if you have suggestions on other blogs to share, email me at TheFrugalMamas@gmail.com!

~Enjoy

"Wellness Wednesday" - 3.5.13

Afternoon!  Welcome to wellness Wednesday. I was at a loss at first on what to start with. Challenges are fun - and group motivation is great, but no one wants to be surprised with that!  So we'll focus on the aspects of wellness.

There are seven general areas of wellness:

• Emotional
• Emotional wellness is being able to handle, manage and express emotions and feelings freely and effectively.
• Occupational
• Occupational wellness is seeking/finding satisfaction in paid or unpaid work, or academic ventures.
• Physical
• Physical wellness is taking good care of your body.
• Spiritual
• Spiritual wellness explores reason and meaning of life.  It involves dogma and ideals that provide purpose in our life, and helps us understand and appreciate the depth and immensity of life, and natural forces.
• Intellectual
• Intellectual wellness keeping your mind happy. The tenacity and dedication to continue learning, expanding knowledge, and improving life skills.
• Social
• Social wellness is the ability to relate to the people in our lives - the ability to establish and maintain healthy relationships.
• Environmental
• Environmental wellness is recognizing that you hold some responsibility for the health of the environment.

Wellness is so so so so so important to health, and so easy to forget about in our daily lives of running around trying to please everyone.  Each week, we'll focus on one area of this.  Next week will be physical wellness since that is the easiest, and one of the most coveted.

~Danielle 

"Take it off" Tuesday - InSync Probiotic Deal - 3.4.14

Walgreens Deal

 

InSync Probiotic - 30 ct, $19.99

• On sale for $10, get $10 in register rewards
• *There is also a $2 coupon inside the box

Total OOP: $10.00  
                 -$10.00 RR
                 -$2.00 Q inside the box
                  $2.00 moneymaker