Monday Meal Plan Menu

If you would like to join in on Organizing Junkie's Meal Plan Monday's, check out her site. There are lots of great cooks that link their weekly menus there and share their recipes. There is something for any kind of diet!

Here's my menu for this week:

Monday Burritos

Tuesday Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo

Wednesday Potato Soup

Thursday Meatloaf

Friday Spaghetti

Saturday Pork Chop Dinner

Sunday Egg & Sausage Breakfast

Todays Coupons

SMARTSOURCE
Accu-Chek Aviva System AND Aviva Test Strips $10 (5/29/11)
Activia Parfait Crunch $1 on 3 (3/27/11)
Barber Foods $1 (4/16/11)
Benefiber $2 (4/16/11)
Benefiber $5 on 2 (4/16/11)
Best Life Buttery Spread, Spray or Baking Sticks $1 (5/8/11)
Biotrue Multi-Purpose Solution, 10oz 2pack $4 (4/11/11)
Biotrue Multi-Purpose Solution, 10oz+ $2 (4/11/11)
Caribou Coffee, 12oz bag $2 (4/30/11)
Chinet Casuals Plates .55 (4/30/11)
Claritin, 20ct+ $5 (3/27/11)
Claritin-D, 15ct+ $4 (3/27/11)
Colgate Adult or Kids Manual Toothbrush .35 DND (3/19/11)
Colgate Toothpaste, 4oz+ .35 DND (3/19/11)
Danimals $1 (4/26/11)
Danonino $1/1 six-pack or 12-pack cups (4/26/11)
Dulcolax, 25 ct Laxative Tablets or 25 ct Softener or 4 ct Suppositories $1 (6/30/11)
Dynamo, Ajax, Fab, Final Touch or Niagara Products, any $1 on 2 (5/31/11)
Excedrin, 20ct+ .75 (4/16/11)
Excedrin, 80ct+ $1.50 (4/16/11)
Glade 4oz jar Candles $1 on 2 (4/2/11)
Glade Carpet & Room Odor Eliminator .75 (4/2/11)
Glade Fabric & Air Odor Eliminator $1 (4/2/11)
Glade Plugins Scented Oil twin refill $1/1 or two single refills (4/2/11)
Glade Premium Room Spray, 9.7oz $1 (4/2/11)
Glade Scented Oil Candles Products $1.50 on 2 (4/2/11)
Glade Sense & Spray Refills $1 on 2 (4/2/11)
Glade Sense & Spray Starter Kit $3 (4/2/11)
Glade Tough Odor Solutions Air Sanitizer or Surface Disinfectant & Air Sanitizer $1 (4/23/11)
Hersheys Bliss Chocolates, 8oz+ $1 on 2 (4/2/11)
Hersheys Kisses, Reeses, Hersheys Miniatures, Cadbury or Whoppers bags $1 on 3 (4/2/11)
Honey Bunches of Oats Raisin Medley $1 (4/10/11)
Huggies Baby Wipes Tub, 72ct or less FREE up to $3.49 wyb Huggies Baby Wipes Refill, 300 ct.+ (3/19/11)
Huggies Little Snugglers or Little Movers Diapers $2 (3/26/11)
Huggies Pure & Natural Diapers $2.50 (3/26/11)
Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers $2 (3/19/11)
Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers, 60ct+ $3.50 (3/19/11)
Listerine Mouthwash, 1L+ .50 (12/31/11)
Listerine Total Care, 500mL or Restoring Listerine, 1L $1 (12/31/11)
Listerine Zero, 500mL+ $1 (12/31/11)
Lysol Clean-Flip Starter Kit or Floor Cloths $1 (6/1/11)
McCain Purely Potatoes Frozen Potato Product $1 (4/30/11)
Mentos, 45pc+ bottle $1 (4/30/11)
Mentos, 15pc+ $1 on 3 (4/30/11)
Nature Made Vitamin D $1 (3/27/11)
Nature Made Calcium $1 (3/27/11)
Nature Made TripleFlex $3 (3/27/11)
Neutrogena Naturals $1 (4/27/11)
Pediasure $2 (5/31/11)
Pepperidge Farm 3-layer cake .55 (5/22/11)
Polly-O String or Twists Cheese $1 on 2 (3/31/11)
Resolve Laundry Pre-Treat .50 (4/10/11)
Resolve In-Wash Stain Remover $1 (4/10/11)
Similac SimplePac, large size powder 1.37lb+ $3 (5/31/11)
Similac SimplePac, large size powder 1.37lb+ $5 (4/30/11)
Skim Plus Milk, any 64oz $1 (4/10/11)
Tostitos Artisan Recipes Chips $1 on 2 (4/13/11)
Zegerid OTC $3 (4/2/11)
Zegerid OTC, 42ct $6 (4/2/11)

PROCTER & GAMBLE
Always Infinity Pads $1 (3/31/11)
Always Pad, Clean or Feminine Cleansing Cloth .50 (3/31/11)
Always Pantiliners, 34ct+ .50 (3/31/11)
Bounce .50 (3/31/11)
Bounty Paper Towel or Napkins .25 (03/31/11)
Cascade .25 (3/31/11)
Cascade Rinse Aid $1 (3/31/11)
Charmin .25 (3/31/11)
CoverGirl $1 (3/31/11)
Cover Girl Naturalluxe Lip Balm FREE wyb Cover Girl Naturalluxe Foundation (03/31/11)
Crest 3D White Professional Effects, Advanced Vivid, Stain Shield, Gentle Routine Whitestrips $5 (3/31/11)
Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express or Professional Effects Whitestrips $10 (3-31-11)
Crest Rinse, 946ml + $1 (3/31/11)
Crest Toothpaste 4.0oz+ or liquid gel .75 (3/31/11)
Crest Toothpaste 4.0oz+ or liquid gel (exc Cavity, Baking Soda or Tartar) $1 (3/31/11)
Dawn .25 (3/31/11)
Downy Liquid or Dryer Sheets $1 (3/31/11)
Duracell CopperTop Ultra Advanced or Ultra Photo Lithium .75 (3/31/11)
Duracell Hearing Aid, 6 pack+ $1.50 (3/31/11)
Febreze Air Effects $1 (3/31/11)
Febreze Fabric Refresher $1 (3/31/11)
Febreze Flameless Luminary Refill $1 (3/31/11)
Febreze Flameless Luminary Starter Kit or Device B1G1F up to $4.99 (03/31/11)
Febreze Noticeables Warmer FREE up to $3.29 wyb Refill (3/31/11)
Febreze Set & Refresh $1 (3/31/11)
Gillette Bodywash $2 (3/31/11)
Gillette Bodywash FREE up to $4.99 wyb Gillette Deodorant (3/31/11)
Gillette Fusion ProGlide Razor manual or power $4 (3/31/11)
Gillette Fusion Shave Prep or Gillette Fusion ProGlide Razor $1 (3/31/11)
Gillette ProSeries Skin Care $2 (3/31/11)
Head & Shoulders Shampoo or Conditioner $1 (3/31/11)
Iams Canned Food Dog or Cat .50/3 (03/31/11)
Iams Healthy Natural Dry Food Dog or Cat Food $1 (03/31/11)
Iams Proactive or Premium Protection Dog Dry Food or Cat Food $1 (03/31/11)
Metamucil $1 (3/31/11)
Nice N Easy $1 (3/31/11)
Nice N Easy Color Blend Foam $3 (3/31/11)
Olay Bar, Body Wash, In Shower Body Lotion, or Hand & Body Lotion $1 (3-31-11)
Olay Bar Soap, Body Wash or Shower Body Lotion FREE wyb Olay Facial Cleanser (3/31/11)
Olay Pro-X (exc .03-1oz) $3 (03/31/11)
Old Spice Body Wash FREE wyb Olay Spice APDO (3/31/11)
Old Spice Products $1 on 2 (3/31/11)
Oral-B Battery Toothbrush $3 (3/31/11)
Oral-B CrossAction Manual Toothbrush $1 (3/31/11)
Oral-B Pulsar, CrossAction, Advantage TB .75/1 or any 2 Indicator or Cavity Defense (3/31/11)
Oral-B Stages or Zooth or Crest Kids Manual or Power Toothbrush .50 (3/31/11)
Oral-B Stages or Zooth or Crest Kids Toothpaste .50 (3/31/11)
Oral-B Stain, Glide, Glide Floss Picks .75 (3/31/11)
Pampers Diapers or Pants $2 (3/31/11)
Pampers Wipes, 60 ct+ .50 (3/31/11)
Pantene $1 (3/31/11)
Prilosec $3 (3/31/11)
Puffs .50/2 (3/31/11)
Puffs FREE up to $1.99 wyb Vicks Product (3/31/11)
PUR Multi-Pack Replacement Filters $2 (3/31/11)
PUR or PUR Flavor Options System $4 (3/31/11)
Satin Care Shave Gel or In Shower Moisturizer .55 (3/31/11)
Secret .50 (3/31/11)
Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant $2 (3/31/11)
Swiffer Refill FREE up to $7 wyb Swiffer Starter Kit (3/31/11) .
Swiffer Sweeper Wet Mopping or Dry Cloths B1G1F up to $10 (03/31/11)
Swiffer Wet Jet Starter Kit $5 (3/31/11)
Tampax, 18 ct+ $1 (3/31/11)
Tampax Pearl or Tampax Pearl Compak, 18 ct+ $2 (3/31/11)
Tide Detergent .35 (3/31/11)
Tide Stain Release, 26-50 oz powder, 15-34 ct duo pac or 36-68 oz liquid $3 (3/31/11)
Tide Stain Release 10ct duo pac, 20oz liq, or 14-21oz pre-treat FREE wyb Tide Detergent, 75 oz. (3/31/11)
Venus ProSkin MoistureRich, Embrace, or Breeze Refillable Razor AND Venus Cartridges $5 (3/31/11)
Vicks Sinex $4 (3-31-11)

Simple, Cost-Effective Ways to Spring Clean

Simple, Cost-Effective Ways to Spring Clean

With the end of winter thankfully coming up, it's now time for all of us to get our homes ready for the great weather, good spirits, and joyful activity that comes with the arrival of spring and the promise of summer. It's time to Spring Clean!

The one problem with Spring Cleaning is that it can get expensive, especially if you are doing a very thorough clean of your entire home. There are all the products you need to buy. There are the cleaning appliances that you'll eventually replace. There are bigger considerations for your house, such as the maintenance of your air conditioning system. These things are all a part of Spring Cleaning, and so there are often high costs, but necessary, if you want to have a clean, healthy home for the rest of the year.

So how can you avoid some of these high expenses? Well, you have to be willing to compromise. You also have to be creative! With that in mind, take a look at some of the following tips and feel free to add you own!

Use Home-Cleaning-Remedies
You know all of those expensive cleaning products? Well, you can often find home remedies that can clean your house just as well as some of those expensive products. And often, these home remedies are easier on your house, because they lack the harsh chemicals of bleach and ammonia. They are also good for your health and the environment. For example, try using baking soda to clean mildew off of the shower curtain in your bathroom. You can use diluted vinegar to clean soap scum from the bathtub as well. You simply have to be a little creative. For more cleaning recipes be sure to check out Lisa’s earlier post, “Make Your Own Household Cleaners”

Buy Efficient Cleaning Supplies
By efficient, I mean the classic tools, those cleaning supplies that have been around forever: mops, brooms, bagless vacuum cleaners. These cleaning tools are less-expensive than their newer counterparts, and they are more efficient. Think of all the waste that a combination sweeper/mop creates; also think about how much money you spend buying those replaceable pads every few weeks. If you have a mop, you may have to spend a bit more time wringing it out and cleaning it as you use it, but you won't have to spend a lot of money in order to use it. Likewise, if you use an efficient bagless vacuum cleaner, you can avoid having to buy bags every few weeks. The vacuum cleaner will run much more efficiently, allowing you to clean your house easier.

Clean Creatively!
Finally, think about how you can clean your house creatively. Cleaning creatively means you have to clean areas you wouldn't normally think of as being dirty. Consider the area behind your refrigerator. That's where your refrigerator coils are located. But, the dirtier they get, the more inefficient they become, forcing your refrigerator to work harder in order to cool its insides. In a way, cleaning your house thoroughly can save you money! Dust light bulbs and light fixtures, replace your air filters, clean your windows around your doors, and you might find that your house is more efficient, thus helping you save money on energy.

What's your favorite Spring Cleaning tip? 

By-line:
Lauren Bailey, regularly writes on the topics of online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: blauren99 @gmail.com.

SWAGBUCKS BIRTHDAY BASH -- GET 80 BONUS SWAGBUCKS

Swagbucks (the best place on the web for free stuff) is turning 3, and the celebration they have planned for the 28th is going to be HUGE! It'll feature a bunch of Swag Codes, a new look and feel for the Swagbucks Blog and the launch of two new features, one of which will redefine the way you use their search function.

You definitely won't want to miss it, so be sure that you're on the site bright and early the morning of the 28th for your chance to earn big and be a part of the biggest birthday celebration on the web!

Swagbucks.com is a site where you can earn 1,000s of free products for doing the things you do every day. Whether it's searching the web, watching videos, playing games, shopping or more, we've got a way for you to be rewarded with free stuff. No strings. No gimmicks

If you havn't signed up for Swagbucks yet, now is the perfect time.  Not only will they start you out with 30 swagbucks, but if you enter this special code (3rdBirthday101)

when you click on my link below, you will get ANOTHER 50 swagbucks! That's a total of 80 swagbucks for signing up using my link (click on the small banner below) and my special code.  This code will only work with my link, so get signed up today and be ready for the big birthday bash!


CLICK HERE ON PIC!

Monday Meal Plan Menu

If you would like to join in on Organizing Junkie's Meal Plan Monday's, check out her site. There are lots of great cooks that link their weekly menus there and share their recipes. There is something for any kind of diet!

Here's my menu for this week:

Monday Chicken Fingers

Tuesday Beef Broccoli Stir Fry

Wednesday Chicken & Noodles

Thursday Pork Chops

Friday Breakfast for Dinner

Saturday ??

Sunday Taco Salads

Coupons for 2-20-11

COUPONS FOR 2-20-11

RED PLUM
Air Wick Candle, any $1 (4/03/11)
Air Wick Freshmatic Compact Odor Detect Starter Kit $3 (4/03/11)
Air Wick Scented Oil Twin Refill Pack $1/1 or 2 (two) single refills (4/03/11)
Air Wick Warmer Unit FREE up to 2.19 wyb Air Wick Scented Oil Refill Fragrance (4/03/11)
Bertolli Pasta Sauce $1.50 on 2 (3/20/11)
Brown Gold Coffee Product $1 (5/31/11)
Emerald Breakfast on the Go Product, 7.5oz+ $1 DND (4/17/11)
Hefty One Zip Bags $1 on 2 (5/31/11)
Kibbles n Bits Dry Dog Food, any bag $2 (4/15/11)
LOreal Hair Color Product $2 (4/17/11)
LOreal Hair Color Product $5 on 2 (4/17/11)
LOreal Kids Shampoo or other kids products .75 (4/17/11)
LOreal Perfecting Base by Studio Secrets Professional $2 (4/17/11)
LOreal Skincare Product $1 (4/17/11)
LOreal Studio Line Styling Product or Vive Pro Glossy Style Product $1 (4/17/11)
LOreal Vive Pro Shampoo or Conditioner $1 (4/17/11)
LOreal Youth Code Product $3 (4/17/11)
Nasoya Products $1.50 on 2 (5/31/11)
Nasoya Super Hummus $1.50 (5/31/11)
Nestle Raisinets, 3.5oz .50/2 (5/31/11)
Nestle Raisinets Stand Up Bags, 4.0 oz.+ $1 on 2 (5/31/11)
Pop Secret Product .50/2 (4/3/11)
Purex Complete with Zout Detergent or Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets $3 (3/19/11)
Purex Ultra Concentrate Liquid Laundry Detergent $1 (4/16/11)
Purina Beggin, any size $1 on 2 (5/20/11)
Robitussin, 4oz+ $1 (4/30/11)
Sprayway Glass Cleaner $1 (4/10/11)
Sundown Vitamin or Supplement Product $1 (4/6/11)
Sunlight Dish Cleaning Product .25 (4/14/11)
Superpretzel, any .50 (3/20/11)
Uncle Bens Ready Rice Pouch $1 (4/17/11)
Whiskas Dry Cat Food, bag $1.50 (4/16/11)
Whiskas Tray B1G1F up to .69 (4/16/11)

MCDONALDS (all expire 3-27-11)
Get a FREE Fruit & Maple Oatmeal with purchase of any Medium Beverage
Get a FREE Fruit & Maple Oatmeal (no purchase necessary)
Get a FREE Medium Fries & FREE Medium Soft Drink or Tea with purchase of any Angus Third Pounder
(excludes All McCafe and Bottled Beverages)

Swagbucks- Tips for success

If you havn't signed up for Swagbucks, today is the perfect time to do so! Just click the banner picture at the end of this post. Here are the best tips, straight from Swagbucks, to be sure you succeed.

Tip #1
Need To Search the Web? Do It With Swagbucks.com.
www.swagbucks.com is the only place on the web where you can win exclusive prizes simply by doing the things you do anyway, everyday!

When searching the web, the best way to win Swag Bucks (and the only method we endorse) is to use the engine for genuine search and discovery. Our technology is designed to award users who search naturally — simply utilize our engine the way you would with other search providers.

Doing a ton of searches, or clicking on search results, will not increase your chances of winning in any way. Search & Win Now


Tip #2
Get a Toolbar, Stay Connected and Win More.
If you use Internet Explorer or Firefox, the quickest way to win Swag Bucks is to have Swagbucks.com always at your finger tips. The Swagbucks.com toolbar resides on the top of your browser and only takes seconds to install. Get the Toolbar Here

Tip #3
Invite Your Friends & When They Win, You Win.
The quickest way to win Swag Bucks is to get a little help from your friends! Invite your friends to Swagbucks.com and every Swag Buck they win searching the web, you'll win as well. Win up to 1,000 Swag Bucks per referral! Invite Your Friends & Win

Tip #4
Share Your Opinions Through Trusted Surveys.
Major brands want to know what you think and are willing to pay you Swag Bucks to hear it. Complete your personalized profiles and start earning BIG Swag Bucks on your own time, at your own pace. Visit Your Survey Dashboard

Tip #5
Want Swag Bucks Quickly? Complete a Special Offer.
Got your eye on something special in the Swag Store? If you're saving up Swag Bucks but could use a little help, check out our Special Offers Page. You'll find rewarding promotions from major brands. Sign up only for the offers that sound right for you! Complete an Offer Now

Tip #6
Do You Shop Online? Visit Our Shop & Earn Mall Before You Buy.
Odds are we've got the brands you're already looking for, and we'll give you Swag Bucks when you make your purchase through us! Visit the Shop & Earn Mall

Tip #7
Earn Swag Bucks and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint.
Got a new phone in the last few years? Then send us your old cell phone and we'll reward you Swag Bucks. Replace your old dust-collecting cellular with an exclusive Swagbucks.com prize! There's no limit to how many phones you can recycle! Learn More About Go Green

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Interact With The Polls.
Our daily polls page features topics and questions that matter to you. From everything Swag Bucks related, to popular culture, news, and entertainment, the Polls page is consistently fresh, fun, and rewarding. Answer the Daily Poll on the day it becomes available to earn a bonus Swag Buck! Vote Now

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Make Swagbucks.com Your Home Page.
Click on the 'Make Us Your Home Page' link under the 'More' tab and make it easy to access Swagbucks.com Make Us Your Homepage

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Promote on Your Website, Social Profile, Blog or Email Signature.
Grab a Swagbucks.com banner and spread it around and make it easy for friends to sign up as your Swagbucks.com friend! Remember, each Swag Buck they win, you'll win too! Start Promoting Now

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Read the Blog.
When big news breaks about Swag Bucks, it happens first on the Swag Bucks Blog! Find out about all the newest offers, prizes, and Swag Codes, all in one convenient location. Look for posts by The Swag Guy for exclusive Swag Buck opportunities! See the Swag Blog

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Keep Up With Our Facebook/Twitter Account.
Discover what the folks behind Swag Bucks are thinking about and working on in real time! Our social media pages feature an informal community setting for you to gain insights and share your opinion. And don't be surprised if you stumble upon the occasional Swag Code! See Our Twitter Feed

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Receive The Newsletter.
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To sign up for Swagbucks, click this banner. It's quick, easy and SO FUN!

Dollar General Store's Freebies!

Cream of Wheat $1.00--   use $1/1 (1/09/2011 SS)  Final Price is FREE!

Quaker Oatmeal $1.00-- use $1/1 (1/02/2011 RP)  Final Price is FREE!
 
Maalox $4.50--  use $5/1 (1/09/2011 SS) Final Price is FREE! some may receive .50 overage.

FREE Kraft Philadelphia Cooking Creme

Check your Kraft Foods First Taste account. There is a new offer!

Receive a coupon* for one (1) FREE package of new PHILADELPHIA Cooking Creme (up to $4.49 value).

It's spoonable, perfectly seasoned and so rich and creamy, it helps you fight chicken fatigue with ease by making boring chicken taste outrageously delicious. Available in Italian Cheese and Herb, Savory Garlic, Original and Santa Fe Blend, just imagine what it can do for beef, pork, pasta, fish and more.

*All coupons are delivered in 4 to 6 weeks and are offered while supplies last. Offer expires 5/31/2011. Up to $4.49 value.

HOT Kraft Printable Coupons

Coupons.com found on the left sidebar of Easy Frugal Living has several great coupons. Print them before they are gone!

-$1/1 Kraft Macaroni & Cheese 5pk
-$1/1 Velveeta 32 oz
-$1/2 Oreo Spring Cookies 16.6 oz
-$1/1 Maxwell House Daily Brew 34.5oz
-$1/2 Ritz Spring Crackers 16oz
-$1/2 Crystal Lite on the Go Products
-$0.75/1 Miracle Whip 30 oz

Monday Meal Plan Menu- 10 Secrets to Planning Meals

If you would like to join in on Organizing Junkie's Meal Plan Monday's, check out her site. There are lots of great cooks that link their weekly menus there and share their recipes. There is something for any kind of diet!

I would also like to share with you this great article. “10 Secrets to Planning Meals for Your Family” Thanks for sharing your article Sheryl.

Here's my menu for this week:

Monday Terriyaki Chicken

Tuesday Potato Soup

Wednesday Beef Broccoli Stir Fry

Thursday Chicken & Noodles

Friday Goulash

Saturday Pork Chops

Sunday Taco Salads

Cheerios Gift Pack Winner....

The winner of this great General Mills Cheerios Cinnamon Burst Gift Pack is.....

Congrats Mrs. G!  Please contact me with your mailing address so we can get your gift pack out to you.

Cheerios provided my family with this gift pack for giveaway through MyBlogSpark.

Six Simple Ways to Save Money on Your Next Grocery Bill

Six Simple Ways to Save Money on Your Next Grocery Bill

Bethany Kosten is a guest blogger for My Dog Ate My Blog and a writer on online colleges for the Guide to Online Schools.

According to the USDA, a family of four on a low-cost monthly food plan spent as much as $758.90 per month in 2010. On a more liberal food budget, the same family could have also spent $1052.10 per month. Either way, these figures are excessive and easily represent sufficient funds for a mortgage or car payment. Whether revamping your grocery budget out of necessity or simply deciding it is time to put excessive spending on food to a stop, you should know that the grocery bill is one of the easiest areas to cut down on living costs.

1. Consider Generic Brands over Top Name Brands.
All food manufacturers are required to follow certain procedures to provide healthy and safe food products for consumers. Compare labels to see that there is little or no difference between the ingredients of a name brand product and a generic product. However, the difference in cost is often significant.

2. Create a Weekly Menu for Your Family.
Planning ahead is one of the easiest ways to save money on a grocery bill. Take the time to plan a menu for your family and make a specific list of foods needed to fulfill the menu. Sticking with a meal plan will help reduce unnecessary purchases and more frequent trips to the store. Those who have a hard time getting motivated should try using other resources for inspiration. For instance, Dinner Spinner is an iPhone app that can help you find menu ideas based on a specific ingredient.

3. Eat Before You Shop.
Many impulse buys are a result of a rumbling tummy. Those who walk in the store before dinner usually end up spending much more than originally planned. Avoid this scenerio by planning your grocery trips around meal times.

4. Stock Up on an Item at Rock Bottom Price.
Start taking note of prices on certain food items that you consider staples in your household. Most people simply make a list of food items that they need and head to the store. However, smart shoppers realize that all grocery items go on sale at some time. Most stores generally follow a six week cycle. This means that you need to buy enough of an item at its lowest price to last for six weeks when it will go on sale again.

5. Use Coupons on Sale Items for Maximum Savings.
Everyone knows you can save a few dollars on your groceries by clipping coupons. However, the way to truly benefit from coupons is to use them on sale items. If you know the rock bottom price for an item at your store, wait until the item is at this low price before you use your coupon. In many cases, using a coupon at the right time could mean getting a product for free or very close to free.

6. Use Technology to Make Saving Money on your Grocery Bill More Efficient.
Anyone with a Smartphone should know about a number of apps that were created to help individuals plan their shopping trips even while on the go. There is the Shopping List Free app for iPhone and the Grocery List for Android. You can also go online to find and print coupons, search for new recipes, and browse weekly shopping ads.

Superbowl Menu from the Pantry

Here at the EFL home we are kickin back, relaxin and waitin for the Superbowl game to come on.

I love football so I keep my Superbowl menu quick and easy most years. Yesterday hubby asked me, "What can we fix to munch on all day tomorrow?" Usually he doesn't ask, he just waits and eats what is put in front of him. I have a feeling he was telling me in a nice way "NO MORE CHICKEN FOR A WHILE". LOL Here's my Superbowl Pantry Meal:

Mexican All U Can Eat Bar- Taco meat with rice (I use 2lbs ground beef, 1 cup rice & Williams Taco Seasoning), lettuce, tomatoes, Crystal Farms Mexican Taco shredded cheese, sour cream, onions, Ortega Taco Sauce, Mission Tortilla Strips, Tortilla Chips, Old El Paso Taco shells, and Mission Flour Tortilla's.

7 Layer Mexican Dip-I used 1 can Ortega refried beans (the best!), 1/8 cup Ortega Taco Sauce, 1 cup sour cream mixed with 1 tsp Jalapeno Dip Mix from Planters Seed Company and 2 tsp La Fiesta Dip Mix from All In Our Family,chopped green onions, lettuce, Crystal Farms Mexican Taco seasoned shredded cheese (this cheese is soooo good) and garnished it with Red Gold petite diced tomatoes (you can't get a decent tomatoe around here this time of year! We LOVE the Red Gold petites.) Served with Mission Tortilla Strips.

Then I needed a dessert/snack; something sweet.

In the last week I received 2 General Mills cereals to try. Gluten Free Honey Nut Chex from Pssst and Cheerios Cinnamon Burst from MyBlogSpark. Boy wonder and I liked both cereals with milk for breakfast. But what could I make for a snack for Superbowl game?

It is a "revised" Muddy Buddy!

2 cups Honey Nut Chex®
2 cups Cinnamon Burst Cheerios
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/8 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cups powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS

Measure out cereal into gallon ziploc bag; set aside.
In microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter 1 minute; stir. Microwave until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, shake until evenly coated.
Add powdered sugar. Shake until well coated. Store in refrigerator.

Almost game time! Who are you rootin' for?

Win a Cinnamon Burst Cheerios Prize Pack Giveaway

Cheerios provided my family with this free Cinnamon Burst Cheerios gift pack through MyBlogSpark.

Boy wonder and I tried them for breakfast yesterday. We love cinnamon cereals and Cheerios so this was a home run for us!



Made with real cinnamon, new Cinnamon Burst Cheerios cereal will delight your taste buds! This newest edition to the Cheerios line-up allows you to provide your family with a delicious and nutritious breakfast that contains 20% of the Daily Value of fiber (or 5g per serving), has 9g of sugar, is low in fat, saturated fat free and naturally cholesterol free. Cinnamon Burst Cheerios cereal also provides at least 8g of whole grain per serving; at least 48g recommended daily. A true crowd pleaser, Cinnamon Burst Cheerios cereal is sure to kick-start any morning!

Win your own Cinnamon Burst Cheerios Prize pack which includes a box of Cinnamon Burst Cheerios cereal, 4 cereal bowls, a travel cereal chiller and a cinnamon scented candle.

Mandatory Entry: Follow this blog through google friend and tell me what you do to start your day off with a smile. Be sure to also leave your email address with your comment so I know how to contact you if you win.

Extra Entry- Tweet the following: Win a Cinnamon Burst Cheerios Prize Pack! from #myblogspark  #giveaway http://tinyurl.com/4qd3xpy

Entry ends midnight February 9th. USA only. One lucky person will be chosen by random February 10th. The winner will receive their prize pack directly from MyBlogSpark.


Cheerios provided my family with the free product, information, and gift pack through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are our own.

I won a Mozaik Gift Pack!

What is Mozaik you ask? Mozaik is the cadillac of plasticware.

I won this awesome gift pack from Kristie of Healthy Living at Home

Mozaik is designed like real china and silverware.  Mozaik may look like the real thing, but it’s durable, affordable plasticware that you can wash and reuse or throw away. 

Mozaik offers the perfect solution for those occasions when you need something nicer than paper plates, but you just don't have enough real settings.

You can also opt to reuse Mozaik, just hand wash or place the partyware in the dishwasher on the gentle cycle.

This 40-piece service for 8 set (complete with dinner plates, salad plates and “silver”ware) costs under $10. You can pick Mozaik up at CVS or even order it from Amazon.com. For a full list of retailers go HERE.   There are lots of other pieces, so be sure to check out their website.

3 More Giveaways

CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find anything you need whether it be wall art and decor, wallpapers, or even sinks for your kitchen or baths.    

Here are three opportunities to enter CSN Stores giveaways to get you some free money to help with your purchases:

•Janelle at At Home With My Monkeys is giving away a $35 CSN Stores gift certificate.

•Sonya Ann at A Mom, Money and More is also giving away a $35 CSN Stores gift certificate.

•Frances at Looking Forward To Becoming More Frugal is giving away a $30 CSN Stores gift certificate.

I just placed another order today.  I love ordering from CSN Stores.  I've never had a problem with their customer service, shipping or products!