Optimize your savings with pre planning

Today for breakfast I had Yoplait Yogurt Light in Cinnamon Roll.  It is normally .69 but I had a coupon for it to be free so 0.00 was the perfect price.  This was the coupon that I had from that wonderful Yoplait Do The Swap Giveaway.  Add in a glass of ice water and I was already set.  Hydrated from my nights sleep and the probiotics in the yogurt was working to keep me healthy.  With 100 calories and 0 fat this is a great tasting breakfast for me.  And let's not forget a good source of protein too.  You can get download a printable coupon for $1.00 off the purchase of three (3) cups of Yoplait Light yogurt to get you started with the "Yoplait Light Swap"  HERE.

And I have also picked a winner too!  The winner for the Do The Swap Yoplait Yogurt goodie bag is: Maurine who won by Following @CrazedMind on Twitter. Thanks so to her and congrats!  I have e-mailed her and am waiting on her response to send in to Yoplait and My Blog Spark.

At lunch today I had a wonderful thanks st T.G.I.Fridays.  Wonderful Cajan Style Alfredo Chicken & Shrimp heated up quickly in the microwave here at home.  See I did not even have to dress up to have a resturant meal at home.  Add in that I had a free coupon from SocialSpark.  So that 3.69 cents became an automatic 0 too.  I added in a Route 44 soft drink from Sonic.  Yeppers, from the info on the bottom of my last reciept I was able to get a free Route 44 drink.  Lunch served up at no cost.

Image via Wikipedia

Dinner now I had to take care of 4 of us here at home.  I was not able to bring that about for nothing though.  But I did get the Real Big Deal from Brookshires.  It was FREE ONE Of Each Item:
 Kings Hawaiian Rolls 4 Ct,
Food Club Vegetables 28-29 oz I opted for corn,
Pillsbury Brownie Mix 19.5 oz  
Country Crock Deluxe Side Dishes 21-24 oz there we went for the brocolli and rice cassarole.
WHEN YOU BUY ONE Hormel, Lloyd’s Woodfire Barbeque Or House of Tsang Entrees 10-17 oz.  I chose the Lloyd's Woodfire Barbeque as we could make sliders with it using the Kings Hawaiian Rolls.  
With Brookshire’s Thank You Card I SAVE UP TO $10.86.  It was 7.98 for the main course.  I then stopped at Sonic again.  Used two more of the savings codes from the survey on the bottom.  Ordered 2 Rt 44 drinks without ice.  Took them home to serve up for drinks for all four of us.  Dinner for four at just 1.99 a person.

If I took the whole day, I served 6 meals and only spent 7.98.  That is 1.33 a meal.  This is what they mean by Saving Savvy!  Kelly Hancock, founder of the wildly popular blog FaithfulProvisions.com, started employing easy money-saving strategies of her own.  After slashing her families grocery and eat-out budget by 80%, she started blogging her secrets.  Soon, legions were following her simple steps and daily deals, and her wisdom is now collected in Saving Savvy: Smart and Easy Ways to Cut Your Spending In Half and Raise Your Standard of Living...and Giving! I love the ideas and planning tools in here. And was not surprised to see that my frugal lifestyle already had 90% of these habits in it. But that is not the norm. Most people do not feed a family of four on $100 a month at best. Inside Saving Savvy, readers learn how to:
· Learn their saving style, via a special spending-style quiz
· Eat/cook organic foods on a budget
· Create a money-saving freezer template
· Cook ³ingredient-based meals based on sale + seasonal items
· Teach children about money and budgeting
In addition, those who buy a copy of Saving Savvy can receive a free issue of All You, a magazine packed with high-value, exclusive coupons and offers on national brands (up to $100 of savings). The redemption form is on the back flap of the book for the reader to return with their store receipt for the free issue. I wish I could do this one! But since I was sent the book as a review I do not have the store receipt for the free issue. Alas that is the life....can not get everything for free but I sure am trying to do all I can to help out my family.

On FaithfulProvisions.com, the site that inspired her book, Kelly's money-saving e-tips  are eagerly gobbled up by 150,000 unique visitors per month. Links to offers by national brands, such as Target, CVS, and Walgreens are available on her site, which has even become its own iPhone app and thriving Facebook community. Just saying, you may wanna go hang out there for a bit too.  Sadly most of these items do not work for me in my one horse town.  With only one grocery store and very few chains of fast food we have our limits.  Let's not even think about any kind of a discount store bigger than the local Dollar General.  But I do shop smart, shop locally and find many savings just by applying my time and attention to doing the pre-planning.

Related articles

• Picture Picture Giveaway (theysayimnuts.blogspot.com)

Picture Picture Giveaway

Picture Picture on the wall....

tell us a story...

Tell it all!

Today I thought I would share some pictures and the lil tales behind them with you.

Our first one is a Texas Tall Tale or is that a Fish Story (those are always big!).  While we where house sitting last time, Jimmy brought us a fish for dinner.  Now remember Texas is in the middle of a horrid drought.  But Jimmy pulled in this 35 pound blue catfish from the local lake.  What was nicer was his wife and him taught me how to clean it.  We then later breaded it with shrimp breading (more flavor mixed in automatically) and had us a wonderful fish fry for dinner!

I have to say that I do not sleep well at all.  My wish is to be able to sleep like cats do.  Anytime and anywhere!  Our two kittens decided the kitchen counter is a good spot.....especially on top of the dishes.  So much so that we had to cover them with dish towels to keep them clean!

Today when Princess Emma came in from school she wanted to help me brighten up the day.  So we decided to add some color to our outside porch walls.  There was already a sun and moon hanging on my walls outside.  But they were just made from red clay.  Thankfully with the help of some sidewalk chalk we soon had a brighter outlook.  What do you think? 

I found a new exercise routine.  It helps me stay motivated by walking.  But in this Texas heat a walk around the block can be quite bothersome.  Even twice around the block could wear a girl out.  Now I can do it all in the comfort of home....and you can too.  Wanna join me in a walk around the block a couple of times?

When the Grandbabes were here last, my TK wanted to cheer up her Nonnie.  And that she did.  What a simple thing but I promise you that a nosegay of lil wild flowers can always make you smile.  She picked the wild Lantana outside then used a bit of clear tape to hold them together.  Just a lovely spray of color.  I put them in an antique pill bottle with water.  And let the stay there til they dried....as a matter of fact they are still there.  When was the last time you had flowers given to you?

We love to shop at the local Dollar General.  Great prices and even better customer service.  But I found another plus!  Their store brand is Clover Valley.  And I can get almost any staple in that brand.  With a guarantee.  Tell me when you ever saw a 100% HAPPY Guarantee?  I know my photo is blurry but it is a great thing that makes me smile to just see it.

We also was able to make Princess Emma happy too.  She loves her after school snack and the best is Yoplait Yogurt.  Now with her in school she also can carry it for part of her lunch.  Do you see her new beautiful Yoplait Yogurt PINK lunch tote?

We were so thrilled to be part of Yoplait Do the Swap this year. Small changes can make a big difference over time. That's why Yoplait Light has created the "Yoplait Light Swap" to remind people that by making simple substitutions, like swapping one item from your diet per day for a 100 or 110 calorie Yoplait Light, you can cut unwanted calories and help yourself feel great about daily diet choices. Through swapping tips for food, fitness, and fashion, the "Yoplait Light Swap" can help remind you how rewarding one simple change can be.

• Yoplait Light yogurt offers 33 different options to choose from in fruit, pastry and dessert flavors that contain around 100 calories or less, providing endless swapping options.
• Visit www.Facebook.com/Yoplait to share your favorite food, exercise and fashion swaps, find recipes and quizzes. Alison Sweeney, host of "The Biggest Loser" and author of The Mommy Diet, offers this Top Swap Tip on how she maintains her weight with a hectic schedule.
• "I'm all about easy solutions, and making simple swaps in my diet helps me lead a healthy lifestyle while juggling everything else. I swap a slice of my favorite red velvet cake after dinner for a cup of Red Velvet Cake Yoplait Light which can save me almost 300 calories, without even thinking about it."
• Swap your way to fabulous with the following tips from fashion guru, host of the Style Network's "How Do I Look?" and correspondent for NBC's upcoming series "Fashion Star," Jeannie Mai.
• Swap the bus for a 15 minute walk on the way home, and you can save 60 calories.
• Boost your confidence in seconds by swapping more low-key flats for a pair of colorful heels.
• Expand your wardrobe without breaking the bank by swapping clothes and accessories with your girlfriends.
• You and your readers can visit http://bit.ly/yoplaitswapcoupon to download a printable coupon* for $1.00 off the purchase of three (3) cups of Yoplait Light yogurt to get you started with the "Yoplait Light Swap" today!

*This coupon offer for Yoplait Light yogurt is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota and Tennessee.

Yoplait and My Blog Spark are willing to share with you too.  This week they are hosting our giveaway with a great prize package.  

Your giveaway winner's prize pack will contain:
• (1) VIP coupon for a free cup of Yoplait Light yogurt
• Insulated tote bag
• Water bottle
• Sun glass holder
• Hardcover planner
• Ballpoint pen

"Disclosure: The Yoplait Light Swap prize pack, information and coupon have been provided by Yoplait through MyBlogSpark."

Too Good and True & Giveaway

You have heard that if something sounds too good to be true....than it not true.  Well I have found some things that will prove that wrong.  Here are my Too Good and True finds.

Sometime ago I told you about the Yoplait 2 Week Tune Up.   Well I enjoyed a twitter party with several other moms on this.  I do have to say, this is easy peasy.   I just had the Yoplait Light Fat Free Boston Cream Pie....OMG    good...nuff said?  1 Container has 110 calories and NO NO NO fat!  If your doing diet exchanges then it is equal to1 skim milk.

• Replace breakfast and lunch with a Yoplait^® Light, a grain and a fruit
• Eat a sensible dinner rich in lean protein, and your favorite vegetables for snacks
• Choose 3 additional servings of non-fat dairy, like skim milk
• Stay active with 30-40 minutes of walking every day

Next great find was the Scentsy that I have as a gift from Aunt Rene.  I was so thankful.  But what I have found out that is amazing is the lasting power of the Scentsy bars.  I put in Baked Apple Pie Scentsy Bar first.  Loved the smell.  Had it turned on all day every day!  After two weeks I wanted to change scents.  So, I thought I will turn it on, let it melt and then pour the rest back into the package.  This way I can use it again later and not lose much.  Thought I would be a lil from it.  NOPE!  I got a lot from it.  After 2 weeks of use I still had almost a full container of 'wax' left.  See for yourself.  Now that is quality. 

And my last one is one you can try to share in too! Check out Disney for a chance to win an all-new Nissan Quest in celebration of MARS NEEDS MOMS! (Get it? Quest? Because it’s a journey to Mars? Ahhhhh!!!) Mars Needs Moms” shows nine-year-old Milo’s quest to save his mom from Martians—a wild adventure that involves stowing away on a spaceship, navigating an elaborate, multi-level planet and taking on the alien nation and their leader.  But better still is the idea of maybe winning a NEW CAR!  Hey someone has to win....right?  So why can't it be one of us.  Go now....enter.....put my info in it...I mean yours.....and my fingers are crossed for all of us. 

Oh and you can also win right here.  With a giveaway of:

- MARS NEEDS MOMS T-Shirt (Adult Size)

- MARS NEEDS MOMS T-Shirt (Youth Size)

- MARS NEEDS MOMS Temporary Tattoos (3-pack)

1)      Giveaway to US and Canadian residents only

2)      The giveaway is for 1 prize pack which includes (1 adult t-shirt, 1 youth t-shirt, 3 temp tattoo packs)

All you have to do is leave a comment here that you have gone to Facebook and clicked on the “like” button for Mars Needs Moms.  Please...don't say you have and not do it....just not honorable.

I did not get anything to talk to you today.  Just ate yummy yogurt, enjoyed the sweet smells around here and pray I can win a car.  What did you do today?  OH by the way....anyone visiting the Other Mother at Rants and Raves yet?  She has been a dream to write columns for us.....so please go say hello! 

Random Tuesday Giveaway

Random Tuesday Recipes is a take off on The Un Mom's Random Tuesday Thoughts.  Since it is colder than a witches....un-used cauldron, I thought I would heat the house up by doing some cooking.  And since I had some help with friends from Yoplait than it made it that much easier to do.  I will start off with dessert as everyone loves to eat it first anyway.

Heavenly Chocolate-Raspberry Torte 

Prep Time: 20 min
Start to Finish: 1 hr 50 min
Makes: 12 servings

1 bag (12 oz) dark chocolate chips (2 cups)
1 container (6 oz) Yoplait® Original 99% Fat Free raspberry yogurt
6 Nature Valley® roasted almond crunchy granola bars (3 pouches from 8.9-oz box), finely crushed (heaping 1 cup)*
1 cup egg whites (about 7)
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon fat-free half-and-half
2 teaspoons raspberry-flavored syrup (for coffee drinks) or red raspberry syrup (for pancakes)
1/4 cup powdered sugar
Fresh raspberries, if desired
Fresh mint leaves, if desired
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray bottom of 9-inch round cake pan with cooking spray; line bottom with parchment paper. Spray paper and side of pan with cooking spray.
2. Reserve 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips for glaze; place remaining chips in medium microwavable bowl (or place in top of double boiler). Stir in yogurt until chips are coated. Microwave on High in 1-minute increments, stirring after each, until chips are completely melted (or heat in double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently, until melted). Stir in crushed granola bars and egg whites until well blended. Pour batter into pan.
3. Bake 20 to 30 minutes or until side of torte has risen and center is shiny but firm when touched (if center rises, torte has been overbaked). Cool in pan on wire rack, about 30 minutes (as torte cools, side will pull away from pan and torte will slightly sink). Refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
4. In small microwavable bowl, microwave reserved 1/2 cup chocolate chips and the half-and-half on High in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until chips are melted. Cool slightly, about 2 minutes.
5. Place wire rack upside down over pan; turn rack and pan over. Remove pan and parchment paper. Pour chocolate mixture over torte; spread over top and side. Slide torte onto serving plate.
6. In small bowl, mix syrup and sugar. Place in small resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag and cut tiny hole in one bottom corner. Drizzle over top of torte in spiral pattern; gently run toothpick back and forth through spiral pattern to feather. Refrigerate until glaze is set and firm to the touch, about 20 minutes.
7. Before serving, garnish tray and/or individual dessert plates with raspberries and mint. Cut torte into wedges with warm, dry knife, cleaning knife between cuts. Store torte in refrigerator.


Well since we have that out of the way, let's go on to appetizers. 

Southwest Taco Dip

Prep Time:10 min
Start to Finish:10 min
Makes: 8 servings (2 tablespoons dip each)

2 cups Yoplait® All Natural Fat Free plain yogurt (from 2-lb container)
1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise or salad dressing
2 tablespoons Old El Paso® taco seasoning mix
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons chopped green onions
2 tablespoons chopped tomato
Pita chips, tortilla chips or fresh vegetables
Mix first 5 ingredients. Top with chopped tomato. Serve with chips or vegetables for dipping.
Make-Ahead: Make the dip up to a day ahead, cover and refrigerate. Top with tomato just before serving.
Success: Pita chips or fresh veggies, such as baby carrots, sugar snap peas, or grape tomatoes would make great dippers.
Kitchen Tip: To make pita chips, broil buttered wedges of pita bread 4 to 6 inches from heat for 2 to 4 minutes, turning once.

Of course if you just want to have the goodies and not have to cook we can do that too!  Have you heard about Yoplait Delights?  Oh my goodness.....yummy heaven in a cup and without any work either. Yoplait Delights flavor combinations available in stores right now include, Chocolate Raspberry, Crème Caramel, Triple Berry Crème and Lemon Torte. Which new flavor of Yoplait Delights to come out– Chocolate Éclair or Cherry Cheesecake - are you most excited to try?  I know that I am wanting the Chocolate Éclair myself.  Wow!  I had a get together here and we tried several different flavors.

Actually we found that many of us were just as happy with the Delights as well as the Original.  That just goes to show that Yoplait makes a quality tasting yogurt.  Top that off with their pink lid campaign to help with breast cancer....it is all a win win situation.  Hey, wanna win something too?  Cool we can do that!  My Blog Spark is sponsoring a giveaway for Yoplait Delights.  The winner will get a package Yoplait Delights “Indulgent Escape” gift pack that includes a Chocolate scented votive candle, insulated tote and aromatherapy eye pillow.  Oh all we need for a lil mommy rest and relaxation, right!

How do you win.  Well by leaving comments of course.  So here is the comments I am looking for.

1st comment is to me....on do you enjoy yogurt?  How?  Any tips, recipes, info, kids to eat it ideas?
Next do any of the following and come back and leave a comment that you have done them.  One entry for each activity.  It all seems to be a win win situation here. 
You can visit My Blog Spark  to download a printable coupon for $0.50 towards the purchase of Yoplait Delights parfait yogurt today!
Don’t forget to visit Yoplait on Facebook or Yoplait on Twitter and “Like” or “Follow” the brand to keep up with their latest and greatest products.
Yoplait is giving away one million free cups of Yoplait Original!  Visit Yoplait on Facebook page to sign up to receive a free cup of Yoplait Original yogurt to help celebrate their newly reformulated Yoplait Original yogurt now has two times the calcium of the leading yogurt with 50 percent of the Daily Value in every cup. I will announce a winner in a week.

I was lucky to have My Blog Spark and Pssst share with me for this giveaway. Yoplait and My Blog Spark have provided me with product information, a coupon, and a Yoplait Delights prize pack to giveaway to one of my readers  I did receive a gift pack to help with this too.  That is how I know the candle smells so good and that the yogurt was so tasty.  I got to try them out myself.  YUM! 

Health Gifts

Today I am reminded of how important it is to take care of ourselves.  I know that I am so thrilled Dear is now home in the evenings.  But he has done so much wear and tear on his body.  It is important for us to take good care of him now.  And not just him but also Granny M and myself.  In doing so we can teach College Girl to do preventative care too.
Image via WikipediaWe have added a few new items to our daily care.  One of them is eye drops for Dear.  He works with chemical fertilizer all day.  And it flies in the air no matter what, getting a fine film all over him.  Well I realized it was getting in his eyes too.  Now he washes his eyes out a few times a day (normally at lunch and when he gets off).  We found ROHTO Cooling Eye Drops that are safe for him to  use regular.  And they give a great sensation of relief to him, or so he has told me.  I also love the lil slim bottle that fits right in his shirt pocket.  Now there is no excuse from him that he can not carry some bulky bottle.  I slipped ROHTO Ice eye drops in his lunch box too.  These are good for helping with that horrid red eyes from irritation.  It is great to have for him just in case too many of those chemicals are floating around.
It is also coming up on flu season.  YUCK!  I am so lucky that I get a flu shot every year.  So does Dear.  Granny M refuses to do so and last year College Girl got hers on campus.  But we can have a lil help.  AHCC (active hexose correlated compound) is suppose to help boost immunity against flu and should help with the defenses of the flu shot.  We started adding this to our daily vitamins so we have a lil extra to fight the flu.  I know that last year we had complete school districts closed down due to flu breakouts being so horrid.  Our lil town would take just a lil to close us down if it really became bad around here.
I am having to now take medication because I am a 'pipe' lady.  You know those commercials of people made from copper pipes that have a "leakage" issue.  Mine is more that I feel like a puppy dog having to go mark my spot all over the place.  I am a lil worried that with all of this I have a higher chance of UTIs.  I like drinking cranberry juice but not in large quantity.   It tends to tear up my tummy when I do.  So instead I am taking Cstex Liquid Cranberry Complex every day.  I actually use it to take my morning meds with.  And no more upset tummy from too much acid in the juice.

Image via Wikipedia

Image by Nicholaus Haskins via FlickrI am also eating Yoplait yogurt every morning.  It is packed with great benifits along with a way to help raise money for Breast Cancer awareness.  With every pink lid collected and turned in they will donate ten cents.  Now this adds up really fast.  You can do it too.    I have a great package from Yoplait and MyGetTogether.  We have set up a party at Curves.  We are collecting lids and recording who brings in the most.  The winner will get all of the goodies we have collected.  Yoplait gave us a $15 gift card, a pink bookmark, a shower self exam hanger, and coupons to share, Promise Me, a book authored by Nancy G. Brinker, the founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  We also have a pink tote and a pink wine bottle opener from Sutter Home Wines.  And remember, if you haven't already done so, visit the Hope Overlay tab on Sutter Home's Facebook page  and see how we'll donate a dollar to breast cancer when you add a Sutter Home capsule to your Facebook profile picture. As always, check in with the Sutter Home for Hope website  to keep up with their programs and events. Because until there's a cure, there's hope.
Oh remember I told you that College Girl was looking at a Special Someone.  Well, it seems they have noticed that she is looking.  Whew!  This is so much fun to see her sprout into a woman this way.  She was never one to date in her teens.  But thankfully she has added Certain Dri to her morning routine.  The deodorant she was using did not work all day.  She would have to reapply.  Now Certain Dri works and she is not having to worry.  This is helping her become much more confident while trying to get to know her Special Someone.
Well those are our daily updates on taking care of ourselves.  Have you added anything to your routine for the fall?  Is there something that really works great that you want to share with us?  Let me know!  I do have to say I am so lucky to have had these items sent to me.  They are greatly appreciated.  But alas, as usual, no one sends money too.  Ha Ha!  You know I just want to add....life is really good today.
So why don't we just share....let's give you some of these ways to take care of yourself too.  Yes your going to get one of each of the new items we added to our lifestyle here.  So you can get the

• Certain Dri,
• Crystex Liquid Cranberry Complex, 
• AHCC, 
• ROTHO eye drops. 

It is easy to enter.  And make sure you leave your email so we can reach you if your the winner. 

• Just leave a comment first of all. 
• Add a comment if you follow me on GFC
• Add a comment if you follow me on Twitter

Related articles

• Kroger and Yoplait's 10-Year Partnership in the Fight Against Breast Cancer (prweb.com)
• Flu Shot Season? (fitnesstipsforlife.com)