Freebies: Woman's Day Magazine Subscription

Cruise on over to HERE for your free subscription! Hurry, cause they don't last long.

Crockpot Swiss Chicken Casserole

6 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
6 slices (4x4) Swiss cheese
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/4 c milk
2 cups herb seasoned stuffing mix
1/2 cup margarine or butter, melted

Spray or grease crock pot. Arrange chicken in crock. Top with cheese. Combine soup and milk; stir well. Spoon over cheese; top with stuffing. Drizzle butter over stuffing mix. Cook on low 8 to 10 hours or high 4 to 6 hours.

For more yummy recipes, be sure to check out The Grocery Cart and $5 Dinners!

LE1

Embedded Comments Not Working.

Has anyone else noticed on their blog that the "embedded comments" option is broke?

I've switched mine back to "pop up" comments until I get it figured out.

Thanks for everyone letting me know it wasnt working. Here I thought you all just didnt love me anymore! ;)

New Printable Coupons

Save $1 on any Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder

$1 off 2 Progresso Soup or $2 off 4 Progresso Soup

Menu Plan Monday & Another Great Give Away!

If you havent already done so, be sure to go over to Organizing Junkie's site and enter the give away for the adorable hand-made envelope wallet. For all you that uses envelopes to carry your coupons to the store, this would be really nice and last longer!

If you missed my post about Gayle's give away from the Grocery Cart Challenge, be sure to scroll down and check it out also!

I hate meal planning, so why don't I only torture myself once a week making out one plan and be done with it, instead of doing it every single day for that night? It really is so much easier when I plan the whole week in advance, and I feel less stress. Here's my game plan for this week:

Monday Navy Beans & Ham, cornbread

Tuesday Smothered Pork Chops, AuGratin Potatoes, Corn Burritos

Wednesday Goulash Breakfast: Eggs, sausage & Biscuits

Thursday Burritos HH Lasagna

Friday Breakfast Taco Bell

Saturday Baked Chicken, Broccoli, Baked Potatoes Smothered Pork Chops

Sunday Superbowl Party Food: Chili, Tortilla chips w/ cheese dip sauce, guacamole or salsa

Home-made Microwave Popcorn

Home-made Microwave Popcorn... a healthier more frugal way.

1/4 cup popping corn (I buy the cheapest brand)
brown paper bag (I save my brown bags they put my ice cream in, they're about the same size as a lunch bag, but heavier weight)
seasonings

I spray my popcorn lightly with vegetable oil and place in the paper bag. Some like it air popped and do not spray the popcorn, some spray with butter spray or PAM, and some just toss the kernels with a little vegetable oil. It's up to you and your tastes. I personally dont like the chemically taste of PAM.

Fold the top of the bag over three or four times, creasing firmly. Notch the top of the bag to keep it folded. Place the bag in the microwave and microwave on high for 3 minutes, or until there are about 5 seconds between pops. .


Add salt or other seasonings (garlic powder, parmesan cheese, etc) to bag and shake to coat before eating. I melt a little butter on mine and salt.

Grocery Cart Challenge Give Away!

Look what Gayle from The Grocery Cart Challenge has to give away this week!

This is like the cadillac of all coffee pots. Be sure to get over there and enter to win!

Another give away

Be sure all you guys check out Precious' blog for her give away!
It would make a nice gift for someone. I know my hubby would love it!

A Friday Give Away.....

I've posted another FREE give away on my sidebar. 150+ Bread Recipes. Who doesnt like fresh baked bread and now is the time of year to be baking!

Last Saturday I baked a dozen cinnamon rolls. Sunday I baked a pan of Chocolate Chip bar cookies. Monday night hubby is in kitchen digging around. I asked him what he was looking for. He replied "Something sweet to eat."

Can you believe it? There are two things that draw unannounced company to my home. Anything sweet home baked and when I cook fresh shrimp or crablegs. It's like they smell it for miles. The adult son came Sunday and brought friends.... they finished off the cinnamon rolls and left boywonder and his dad a couple chocolate chip bar cookies. So by Monday night there was nothing sweet. Tuesday I baked a Deathly Chocolate Cake.

Now I'm in the mood to bake some bread, how about you?

Taking a Cake Mix from Blah to Better Than.....

well uhmmm, it's deliciosis! 'Nuf said.

1 chocolate cake mix
1 cup sour cream
1 small box chocolate instant pudding

Follow cake mix directions adding pudding at the same time as the mix. Once all ingredients are mixed and wet, then add sour cream.

When mixing the mix will grow due to the pudding. When baked it will poof up and look so beautiful and smooth... don't despair as it cools and falls some and wrinkles up on the top.

I thought it was a failure but, knowing the two I live with and that they'll eat anything... I frosted it anyway.

A good cook always tests her creations before serving them. So I had a piece and it was great. It does make a heavy moist cake, not quite as heavy as a brownie, but not light and airy like a regular cake.

So go ahead and try it! Let me know if you like it as much as we did!

It's Here!

Yesterday I received my Feb 09 issue of the All You magazine from the 2 year subscription I ordered from Carmella at Southern Fried Dreams.
I placed my order with her in late December and my first issue has arrived less than 5 weeks later.... I think that was a great turn around time especially with all the holidays during that period! I know a lot of people are really leary about ordering on line, but Carmella was very nice and helpful and I've had no problems.

If you would like to see the coupons that will be in the February issue click here.

Is it wrong that I

want to sleep on the couch, away from my loving hubby, so I can actually get some good quality sleep?

Since he has started his new job, getting up at 4:15 in the morning and all his TOSSING AND TURNING, I'm not getting very much sleep.

I'm a grumpy butt without my sleep. My daily naps do help, but I'm starting to really drag.

Guess What?

Cutting Coupons in KC has awarded me the Lemonade Award! Thanks Amy! IF you've never checked her blog out, what are you waiting for?

She has posted a 2 year subscription to All You giveaway! Be sure to enter! CLICK HERE! If you are not the lucky winner, you can get your own 2 year subscription HERE for only $18! Now that's a bargain.

The Lemonade Award is given by a previous winner to 10 people who have shown a great attitude or gratitude this week.

I would like to pass this award along to the following people. If you've never visited their blog, go check them out.

Suzanne from Hounding with Frugalsuz. This is my one stop shop for ALL the deals for CVS, Walgreens, and Shoprite.

Melissa from I Robbed That Store Legally She posts her deals from CVS, Jewels and Walgreens, along with some great humor!

Sarah from I'm at the starting line of the rest of my life. Another Kansas City blogger!

Karen from Karen Cooks. Check out her yummmy cooking!

Pubbler from Love Saving with coupons posts Meijer deals weekly.

Nidena from Nidena's shares her life journey with us.

Leta from Leta's Page shares Ingles' triples deals and much more.

Debt Free Mommy from Debt Free One Coupon at A Time keeps you up to date on local store information for Ingles, Bi Lo and Food Lion stores, as well as her confessions of being a coupon junkie.

Bargain Briana I just love this sight. A great place to visit for Walmart deals and give aways!

Mom from Confessions of an Overworked Mom has great posts of all kinds including free stuff! Check it out.

All you have to do is:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs, which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude! Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
3. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
4. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

What to do with all these chocolate chips!

I have several bags of chocolate chips that was bought when they are on sale, and I had coupons. I paid .50 a bag for them. Today I was going to bake some Chocolate Chip Pan Cookies but never got around to it. Hubby had to work all day so I had to do all the outside chores. Boy wonder had a friend spend the night last night and they kept me busy most of the day. So tomorow I will get them baked. Here's the recipe I use.

Chocolate Chip Pan Cookies
2 1/4 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 c butter, softened
3/4 c sugar
3/4 c packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 12oz pkg semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt; Beat sugar, brown sugar and vanilla with butter until creamy. Beat in eggs. Gradually add flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread into greased 9x13 pan. Bake 20-25 minutes. Cool. Cut into 2" squares. Makes 35 squares.

When I made these Sunday, I used 2 2/3c flour and added 1 cup sour cream and they were delicious!

Julie's Sour Cream Chocolate Chip Cookies

When making dinner tonight I found an unopened sour cream in my fridge. It is outdated. The date is 11/18/08. When I looked at it, it had separated some. Do you think it would be ok to use for this recipe?

Julie's Sour Cream Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1 (8-ounce) container sour cream
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (18-ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips Beat sugar, eggs and shortening in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in sour cream and vanilla until smooth. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Drop dough by tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto baking sheets.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown around the edges. Let stand for 2 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool.
Makes 36 cookies.

Amish Brown Sugar Pie

I have a pie shell in the freezer that I need to use. I normally don't bake pies and wanted to try something new, fun, simple and frugal. I went to my Amish Cookbook and I do believe I found one that fits the bill. Just look at the list of ingredients. Soooooo simple, everything is on hand! This is the kind of recipe I LOVE! No high dollar, out of the ordinary ingredients. Just normal, everyday pantry supplies.

Tell me what you think. Have you ever tried this pie? Did you like it? I will let you know what my family and I thought about it. I will probably bake it this weekend.


AMISH BROWN SUGAR PIE
1 unbaked 8-inch pie shell
1 c. brown sugar
3 tbsp. all-purpose flour
Speck of salt
1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk
2 1/2 tbsp. butter
Ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In the pie shell, place the brown sugar, flour and
salt. Mix with your fingers.

Pour the evaporated milk over the flour and sugar, but do not stir or mix this in. Dot with butter, and drift cinnamon liberally over all.

Bake for 50 minutes, or until the filling just bubbles up in the middle. The filling will never completely set, but that's the way it's supposed to be.

This pie is better eaten at room temperature. If you refrigerate leftovers, reheat them in the oven before serving.

NOTE: Recipe can be doubled and prepared in a 10-inch pie shell. For that size,
bake 1 hour and 20 minutes.

My kid is eating me out of house and home!

Do any of you guys' kids start eating more come winter time?

My son does this every winter. I use to worry when he was little cause he wouldnt eat much for several days then he would eat well for the next few days. The doctor told me not worry about it, he would eat when he was hungry and let him eat. He was growing properly and was healthy.

GOOD GRIEF! Every winter here comes the major growth spurt along with a huge appetite! For the most part he eats on an even kiel every day now until winter time and then OMG! It's like he can't get enough. And I'm not talking about junk food or sweets. Pasta, potatoes, veggies, and meat... he can put away the meat!

He wants to eat a full meal as soon as he gets home from school. Then a full dinner with his father and I and then 8:30-9:00 he wants a snack before bed. I feel mean when I tell him he has had enough.

For the last four winters from December to March he grew 2-3" (each year) in heighth also.

Will his growth spurts during the winter only get worse with his teen years coming up, or will they slow down?

$175 million worth of free cosmetics on January 20, 2009

As part of a class action settlement, $175 million worth of free cosmetics products will be distributed to members of the class (see below to determine whether you are a member of the class) for a maximum of seven days, while supplies last, on a first come, first served basis, beginning on January 20, 2009. No rainchecks will be issued. The products will be distributed at stores owned by the Retailer Defendants (see list immediately below).

The stores owned by the Retailer Defendants that will be participating in the settlement product distribution are the following:

Bergdorf Goodman
Bloomingdale’s
Dillard’s
Herberger’s
Macy’s
Neiman Marcus
Nordstrom
Saks Fifth Avenue

A class member will be eligible to receive, while supplies last, a maximum of ONE free cosmetics product from one of the Manufacturer Defendants from which he or she purchased Department Store Cosmetics1 during the class period, May 29, 1994 through July 16, 2003, from the list of products below.

To Determine Whether You Are a Member of the Class, Please Read the Following:
You are a member of the class if you are currently a resident of the United States who purchased Department Store Cosmetics in the United States during the class period, which products were made, distributed and/or sold by the Manufacturer Defendants or Retailer Defendants listed below.

Freebies: SUAVE PRODUCTS OF YOUR CHOICE!

Today's the day to get your FREE bottle of Suave!

Register on suave.com to receive a coupon for one (1) bottle of Suave Shampoo, Conditioner, Hair Spray, Styling Aid, BodyWash, or Body Lotion (good up to $3.00) by mail.

Registration begins at 12:00:01 a.m. ET on January 14, 2009 and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. ET on January 14, 2009. Open to all legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, age 18 years or older. Limit one coupon per household.

Coupons will be mailed 2 - 4 weeks after registration close and can be redeemed through February 28, 2009.


Go here to register, it's quick and painless... I promise.

$15 in Pepsi & Frito Lay coupons

Be sure to save those Pepsi & Frito Lay receipts and mail them in for the Pepsi Superbowl offer! Purchases must be made between 12/26/08 and 2/1/09, mailed by 2/17/09. For the details, download the form here.

Crockpot BBQ Chicken & FREE Crockpot E-book

Now that it is cold weather here in Missouri, I love to cook as much as possible in my crockpot. It is so nice to come home from work and have supper done! Clean up is so much easier for me, cause I'm one of those cooks who will dirty up every pot in the kitchen when I cook. :) One crock thrown in the dishwasher along with our plates and I'm done!

What do I do with all that time on my hands? Clip coupons, blog, clip coupons, blog... haha, you get the picture. Now if I could only find a way to snap my fingers and my coupons would be clipped!

Here is what's cooking in my crockpot right now. This recipe comes from a crockpot e-book of mine. If you would like a copy of it, check out my sidebar.... I've put it up over there for you to snag.... and as always here on Living Easy, it's FREE!

What's cooking in your crockpot?

BARBECUE CHICKEN III
1 frying chicken cut up or quartered
1 can condensed tomato soup
3/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup vinegar
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon sweet basil
1/4 teaspoon thyme
Place chicken in slow cooker. Combine all other ingredients and pour over chicken.
Cover tightly and cook at "low" for 6-8 hours. Makes 4 servings.

LE1

Home Heating Advice Needed

I know when cooling a home, you can save on your utility bill by closing the vents in unused rooms.

But what about heating your home. Does it really save money by closing the vents in rooms you dont use?

Does it depend upon where the rooms are located in the home? What about the rooms in the basement? Should the vents be open or closed? I've always been told that heat rises. So wouldnt it make sense that the vents in the rooms in the basement be open so the heat rises to the main floor helping to warm the rooms from the floor up, and get the most for my dollar?

Last year and so far this year, I have kept all the vents in the basement closed. It seems the floor area on the main floor is always cold. Our home is heated with propane, so I need to heat it as economically as possible and make the propane we have stretch as far as possible.

If you have any knowledge of this, please leave me a comment explaining to me why they should be opened or left closed. I have researched and analyzed this until my head hurts. I just want a plain simple answer... leave the vents closed or open them and get the most from my propane everytime the furnace kicks on.

Let's Trade Some Coupons!

I'm needing:
$3 GoodLife Cat/Dog Food coupons
Mennen Speedstick Deodorant B1G1 FREE
ANY Beer rebates with no purchase required, valid for Missouri (MO). There is currently a few Budweiser, Coors & Miller rebates out there.

I have to trade:
5 Kraft Dining Makes Sense $5- each one has these coupons: $1 off any Kraft singles, shreds, or 2lb velveeta; .50 on any Kraft dressing, BBQ sauce, Mayo, or Miracle Whip; $1 off Digiorno Pizza; $1 off any Crystal Light Powdered canisters or On-The-Go or Kool-Aid; $1 off any Nabisco Munch Packs; .50 off any Oscar Mayer Deli Creations All these expire 3/31/09

Then I have some of them already cut apart if you dont want the whole pamphlet:
$1 off any Kraft singles, shreds, or 2lb velveeta;
.50 on any Kraft dressing, BBQ sauce, Mayo, or Miracle Whip;
$1 off Digiorno Pizza;
$1 off any Crystal Light Powdered canisters or On-The-Go or Kool-Aid;
$1 off any Nabisco Munch Packs;
.50 off any Oscar Mayer Deli Creations

Nescafe Taster's Choice, $1.00 off any 5.3oz or larger, exp 4/5/09;
Nestle Coffee-Mate, liq or powder, .50 off any one, exp 4/5/09
Laughing cow cheese, .50, will have to check on exp date;
Sargento cheese snacks .50, exp 3/31/09;
Starkist Pouch Tuna Buy 2 get one free, exp 2/28/09;
Dannon 6 oz single serve cups, buy 6 get 1 free up to $1.00, exp 2/28/09;

Stayfree B1G1 FREE ANY stayfree product up to $7.50, exp 3/1/09;
KY, Tucks or Soothing Care $3, expires 7/1/09;
Oust Surface & Air Sanitizer, B1g1 free up to $4.25, exp 2/28/09;
Airwick Warmer FREE wyb one oil refill up to $3.19, exp 2/15/09;

plus tons of others! Just ask me if you dont see something listed you need!
My email is provided here on my blog.

I've traded coupons with many people off other forums and have an outstanding rep on ebay. Let me know if you have concerns.

My CVS Shopping List

I'm gonna run to CVS today and try to get the following:
$6 MONEY MAKER
2 Mylanta $11
2 Stayfree Pads $9
2 Speedstick Deo $5
Total $25
minus 3/$15 CVS coupon
minus $4.50 BOGO Stayfree coupon
minus $4.00 Mylanta coupon
minus $2.50 BOGO Speedstick coupon
minus $4.00 ECB from Cottonelle deal
OOP will be $7 (before tax)
I will receive a $10 ECB back for purchasing $20 of the Johnson & Johnson products and a $3 ECB for the Speedstick.

Transaction 2 another Money Maker!
2 Aleve $16
minus $2 aleve coupon
minus 3/$15 Cvs coupon
Total $11
minus $10 ECB from first transaction
OOP $1 (before tax)
I will receive $5 ECB back plus I will submit these for the Bayer 1/2 price rebate and should get $7 back on the rebate!

I've edited the above to get my out of pocket down and here's what I will try:

#1
2 Speedstick Deo $5
minus 1 BOGO coupon $2.50
OOP $2.50 (before taxes)
will receive $3 ECB back

#2
2 Mylanta $11
2 Stayfree Pads $9
Total $20
minus 3/$15 CVS coupon
minus $4.50 BOGO Stayfree coupon
minus $4.00 Mylanta coupon
minus $4.00 ECB from Cottonelle deal
minus $3.00 ECB from Speedstick deal
OOP will be $1.50 (before tax)
I will receive a $10 ECB back for purchasing $20 of the Johnson & Johnson products.

#3
2 Aleve $16
minus $2 aleve coupon
minus 3/$15 Cvs coupon
Total $11
minus $10 ECB from first transaction
OOP $1 (before tax)
I will receive $5 ECB back plus I will submit these for the Bayer 1/2 price rebate and should get $7 back on the rebate!

Banana Bread Like Grandma Used to Bake

My grandmother was a wonderful and creative cook. She loved baking and was well known for her dinner rolls. I remember as a small child around the holidays she would bake banana and pumpkin bread in cans. Back then all coffee came in tin cans. She would make 1lb loafs in coffee cans and then for us kids smaller loafs in vegetable cans.

I saved a tin coffee can and a couple tin vegetable cans and made some banana bread today. I also baked a loaf in my fancy silicone bread pan I found brand new at a thrift store for .25 each. (I picked up two at that price!)




Before using the can you will need to take a can opener and remove the ring/ridge that is right inside the top edge of the can.
Be sure to grease your cans well and Only fill your cans HALF full! After letting the bread sit and cool for 10 minutes be sure to run a knife around the edge and loosen the bread if it has bubbled up over.


I also made one small vegetable can loaf for my son. I didnt run a knife around the edge of his little loaf and ended up pulling the top off! lol

NOTE: not all cans are made the same! Do not use any can that has a green or gold tint on the inside! Only use a can that is shiny silver on the outside AND inside!

After Christmas Sales

I went out today to get my Kansas City Star newspapers and to see what CVS & Walgreens had on sale.

I got my FREE newspapers! I picked up 10 papers at $1.50 each from 2 different Walgreen stores and used my Walgreen rebate gift cards to pay for them. Although I only took 5 from each store, both had TONS of papers! The rack was full and they had stacked about 20 papers in two separate stacks on the floor in front of the racks.

At CVS I picked up the 24 roll Cottonelle deal and used a $4 expiring ECB. $12.97 minus the $4 ecb, my OOP (before tax) was $8.97 and then I received another $4 ecb back. I think I may have had a coupon I could use but was in a hurry.




At Walgreens I picked up several things discounted. Oven mitts and cookie cutters will make up the "cookie mix in a mitt" gifts for next year. I bought one more box of Christmas cards, a bag of 50 bows for .83, a couple candles for .75 each, and several small tin candles for .25 each along with some other items. My actual out of pocket for all items excluding the Cottenelle toilet paper was less than $10.

KANSAS CITY MISSOURI HELP NEEDED

Is there any stores in the Kansas City area that will have tomorow's Kansas City Star out tonight?

I wasnt sure if Walgreens or CVS, or maybe someone else would.

Thanks for your help.

All You January 2009 Coupons

One of my fav magazines for not only the coupons, but also the articles is All You. The All You magazine can be purchased at Wal-Mart.

I'm really not sure what the price is when you buy it at Wal-Mart now a days. They seem to change their price on it frequently. I bought an issue in May for the first time. The price was $2.49. Then in the #8 issue in August the price had dropped to $1.97. I cant remember what I paid in October or November, but my #12 December issue is back up to $2.49.

Most of the times, the savings I'm able to save with the coupons outweighs the cost of the magazine.

I checked into a subscription to the magazine and found Deal Seeking Mom had a great offer for her readers. I signed up for a two year subscription for $19.95 offered by Carmella at Southern Fried Dreams. That's .83 an issue as compared to cash price of $2.24 (after Walmart's 10% discount) at the store. Plus, once your subsription gets started (it may take a while for the first issue) then you will generally have the new issues before they go on the shelf at Walmart.

So if this is a magazine you purchase frequently, sign up for a subscription through Deal Seeking Mom and save a lot of money! Deal Seeking Mom has the instructions for purchasing the 2 year subscription for $19.95 through Carmella. I had no problems, and Carmella was very helpful.

Here's the list of coupons that will be found in the January 2009 issue of All You.
(click the pick to enlarge so you can read it!)