Freebies

Today I happened to get my free sample of Simple Skin Care from Target. Can't wait to try it out. More info to come!!

Sunday's are fun days

Rob and I ended our weekend hanging out in Frisco and visiting a pumpkin patch. Unfortunately we didn't get any photos at the pumpkin patch though :(

I did, however, find some great makeup at the Dollar Tree!

 L.A. color eye shadow and eye liner. I bought this yesterday and tried it out today. It lasted all day for me, which is amazing. I also use the blush from the Dollar Tree as well. I will only buy mascara and base from Target.

Elf lipstick. Love this stuff! Lipstick but I think it works as a lip stain. Lasts quite a while.

Dark red nail polish $1!

Sun was in our eyes-Fat Straw

Dollar tree makeup

 This just goes to show you that you don't need to spend a ton of money on makeup. I don't!

Best chips ever.

Whit goji blossom tea.

Coupons

This morning I went couponing and brought along Rob. Now he wasn't thrilled,but he owed me one, and I wanted to show him how amazung couponing could be. I honestly did not get much. I just stopped by Walgreen's and got boty of use some FREE chocolate. They were having a sale on Lindt chocolate for 2/$4 and I had two $2 off 1 lindt product. So we both got one for free! He was amazed and speechless when we walked away fro. The register with a $0.00 balance. He told me this was against America to walk out of a store with items and not actually purchase them lol. Anyway, I was glad he finally got to witness the magic.

Free chocolattttte

Enjoying my steamless wine glasses. Thanks to my MIL

Weekend Fun!

Rob and I were lucky enough this weekend to share 3 days off together. We both scheduled off on Friday together to just have a lovely 3 day weekend. Friday was a bit hectic since we travelled to Downtown Dallas for most of the day, and then I had to rush home to make Halloween snacks for the Ronald McDonald House.

My new hat from Target. Love!!

Rob at the BIG Dallas

Trying to pull my pants up :)

Yours truly at the BIG Dallas

After our day out here roaming around, I went home to make some snacks for RMDH. This is a house that allows family with sick children to stay there for a low cost or for free. I was lucky enough to help host an Activity Night. I got to play Bingo with some children Friday night, and they just melted my heart! I was a little worried since I've never been around a charity/volunteer house like this. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I will definitely be doing it again. Even the truly ill children were such a delight!!

My Halloween snacks were gobbled up very quickly!

My attempt at ghostly strawberries

 These dirty worms were such fun and easy to make. Chocolate pudding, crumbled oreos, and gummy worms.

Dirt and Worms!

Mummy cookies made from scratch!

Paleo Meal: Pot Roast

Okay, this meal might not be 100% paleo, due to the sauce, but most of it is. Now that it's Autumn I really have been wanting to make some comfort foods, which is a huge craving of mine constantly. Since I recently started couponing, as well as paleo, it's obviously been difficukt to find paleo type foods. That's why this one isn't 100% paleo.

Last Saturday I went couponing for the first time and found major deals. One of the major deals was the Campbell's Slow Cooker Sauces. I had never even heard of these before, and that's probably because I do not shop at larger grocery stores. So I went to Target to get these slow cooker sauces for FREE. They were usually 2/$4 and I scored both free.

I finally was able to try out the Tavern Poy Roast Sauce, and I'll simple say it turned out phenominal.

Ingredients
2-3 lbs of Boneless Beef Chuck
1 packet of Slow Cooker Sauce
3 stalks of Carrots
1 lb of fresh Green Beans
10 Red Potatoes, halved

The meat was a little pricey, but that is because I purchased it at Target.

Place meat in crock pot and pour sauce over it.

Chop up the veggies and add them in.

Chop up the veggies

Place everything in crockpot. Set of low and cookfor 7-8 hours.

Pot roast

My little helper. Loves her some green beans.

Final product!

 This meal turned out amazing. I was skeptical of the sauce,but this was our favorite meal by far! And it was my first time making pot roast. Go me!!

Rob gave this a 5 star.

Paleo Meal: Steak

Sadly, Rob and I have done horribly with this Paleo diet. We've been eating out so much lately since I was too tired to cook. Rob attempted to cook for me one night, and it was just awful. Poor guy probably wouldn't survive without a woman.

Last night I cooked Steak, red potatoes, and veggies.

I purchased 3 nights worth of steak (6 cuts) for only $5 on Albertson's. They had a buy 1 get 2 free deal.

This meal was extremely simple. I just threw some seasoning on the steak and stuck it on the grill. 

As for the side dish, I just cut up broccoli, carrots, and several red potatoes and put them in a pan. Drizzled olive oil on it and some garlic salt. Stick in the oven at 250 degrees and cook until tender!

Coupons: Week 2

Last week was the week I got into couponing. I wasn't sure how it was going to work out, and I definitely didn't realize how addicting it was going to get. Last week wasn't that great on buys, since I didn't have any ink for my printer to get the great deals. I finally bought some, so this week was my first real week to score BIG deals.

All week long I have been gathering all my coupons together and figuring out where I'm going to be scoring all my great buys. I follow a Dallas couponer, so she shows everyone how to get the good deals locally. You can check out her site at www.mydallasmommy.com

Not all her deals are right for me. I won't buy something unless it's under $1, and something I'm actually going to use. I typically buy all my products for cleaning at the dollar store, so if these coupons aren't making the final price under $1, it's not worth my time. The only thing I will buy over a dollar is my mascara and base foundation.

So here's what I got..

My first stop was at Walmart:

(3) Downy Balls - normally $2.26. I used a $5/3 coupon making these $0.60 each

(1) Bic Disposable Razors 10 pk - $2.96/ pk. I used $2/1 coupon making this $0.96 or $.09/ea

(2) Maybeline Mascara (my normal brand). Normally $4.97, on sale for $3.97. I used (2) $2/1 coupon making each one $1.97

Total cost before savings: $19.68      Total Cost after: $7.23 = 65% OR $12.45 in Savings!

My next stop was at Walgreen's. I actually went to two different stores, since the first Walgreen's ran out of the soap I was buying.

My first Walgreen's

(1) Visine-A Regularaly $7.49 on sale for $1.99. I used $2/1 coupon, making me $0.01 back!

I walked out with a FREE Visine!

Normally $7.48 I paid $0. Saving 100%

My second Walgreen's:

They were having a Buy one Get one FREE:

(4) Dial Soap 8 pk - Regularly $5.99 -On sale for $4.99 -I used a Buy 1 get 1 free coupon

Total cost $6.48 w/tax for 4 pks OR $0.20 a bar. 

I was paying way more at the dollar store.

Normal cost of all this: $23.96 I paid $5.99 (not including tax) = Savings 75% OR $17.97

My third trip was to Target:

(1) TRESemme base product $3.49 (normally $4.99)

(1) TRESemme Professional product $4.97 (normally 5.99)

I used (1) Target coupon $2/2, and (2) $2.50/1 MF coupon. Then I used my 5% off with my Target Cartwheel program = Total price $1.39 for both

(2) L'Oreal shampoo trial size $0.97. I used (2) $1/1 L'oreal product = MADE $0.06

(1) Up & Up Cough Drops $1.84. I used (1) $1/1 Target Coupon = $0.84

(2) Up & Up eye drops $1.12. I used (2) $1/1 Target Coupon = $0.24 for both

I also used my 5% Target Cartwheel discount program = $0.57 for all 3

(2) Campbell's Slow Cooker's on sale for 2 for $4. I used (2) $1/1 Target CP and (2) $1/1 MF, plus my 15% off Cartwheel= FREE

Marie Callender's Easy Sides$1.27. I used (2) $0.75/1 MF and $1/2 Target CP = $0.04 for both

Here's everything I bought at Target.

I can't really read the receipt, but I'm pretty sure my calculation are wrong on some of the items above.

(Note: the receipt doesn't show the regular price of items, just the sale price)

Normal cost of everything - $23.54 I paid $1.30 = Savings 94% OR $22.24

 Everything I bought on Saturday.

Regular cost of all items: $74.69. I spent $15.01 = Savings 80% OR $59.68 

Not bad for my first "real" week of couponing!!

Paleo - Pork Chops

As you may know, Sunday was the day I did a little couponing, and found some amazing deals. At Albertson's they had a sale on their meats, like every other week. I picked up 2 packages of porks, which had 12 pork chops in them all together. Only paid $5.65 for both packages, and it's lasting us three meals.
I ended up making some steamed veggies and some noodles from a bag tonight as the side dishes. The noodles were not Paleo, nor healthy, but we have to cheat occasionally to stay sane.

Soy Pork Chops

6 Pork Chops

3 TBS of Soy Sauce

2 TBS Honey

3 Garlic, chopped

2 steams of Broccoli

3 Carrots

1 pre-packaged noodles

In small bowl whisk soy sauce, honey, and garlic together. Place pork chops in a zip lock bags, and fill with mixture. Let marinate 3-4 hours. Once you're ready to cook, spray your baking pan and place pork chops in pan. Place in oven at 300 degrees for 10-15 minutes, or until cooked.

soy pork, steamed veggies

Since the pork chops are so small, especially after baking, we get to eat 2.

This meal is extremely easy. Takes maybe 5 minutes prep time and 15 minutes cook time. For 3 nights worth of food, it only costs us roughly $9. That's about $3.00 a night!

Baby Fever

Not really sure why I have a tiny bit of baby fever lately. I definitely don't think Rob and I are ready for one, but all the baby/toddlers outfits are sooo cute!!

Paleo Meal #3

Sunday night we had another amazing meal from The Gracious Pantry. Every dish I have made so far has been phenomenal, even Rob has enjoyed it.

Last night I made Charmoula Cod and Sauteed Green Beans with Shallots.

Charmoula Cod

1/4 c Olive Oil

3 tbs Lemon Juice

1/2 tbs Paprika

1/2 tbs Garlic, chopped

1 tbs Parsley, chopped

1 1/4 lb Cod

Mix all but the cod in a small bowl. Dip the cod in the mixture, and coat evenly on both sides. Place on baking pan, sprayed. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 ish minutes.

Green Beans w/ Shallots

3/4 lb Green Beans

6 Garlics, chopped

3 bulbs of Shallots, chopped

2 tbs Olive Oil

1/4 c Parsley, chopped

Place oil and green beans in a skillet, cover, and cook on Medium. While green beans are cooking, chopped up shallots, garlic, and parsley. Mix them into the skillet. Cook until green beans are tender. 

Coupons: Week 1

So today was my first week of couponing and I would say I did a great job. My first stop was at Walgreens where they had a buy 1 Purex at regular price ($5.99), and get 2 free. I bought 6 of them, which totaled $11.98, then used 3 coupons ($1.50 off 2) and came out spending $7.48. Basically I paid full price for one, and got 5 free.

My second item at Walgreens was Robitussin which is regularly priced at $8. It was on sale for $4.99, and I had a $3 coupon. So I only paid $2 for this.

At Walgreens alone, I said $32 and 78%. Amazing. :)

I also got $5 off dog food at my local pet supply store, which I needed more food anyway, a free car wash, a free movie rental, some samples of facial wash that are being mailed to me, and B1G1 Pork (paying only $5 for 3 nights of pork) at Albertson's

Can't get much better than that!

Couponing

The last few days I've been feeling poorly and haven't stuck to my Paleo diet as much as I've wanted to. I believe I've caught a stomach virus, so eating hasn't been one of the things I've wanted to do much of. I've feeling better now, and what way to top those great feelings with couponing?

I use to coupon back in the day, only for a little while, and quickly fell out of it. I started it back up recently since I have a little more time, and access to the coupons. I do need to get ink for my printer so I can print the online ones out.

Anyway, so I follow mydallasmommy.com on her couponing hints and tips. Since this is only my first week couponing, I can't do most of the savings on her site. It's takes a couple weeks to save coupons in order to get the great savings. But today I sat down and sorted through my coupons so I can go out Sunday and score some deals. Little did I realize, most of the places end their sales on Saturday. All I can say is I missed out of a lot of deals I was looking forward to, but now I know better.

This Sunday Walgreens is having a sale on laundry detergent. Buy one get 2 free, so I'm buying 6 and stacking them with 3 coupons making me come out of the store with 6 detergents paying only $7.. they normally cost $6 each. So all in all, with 8 coupons I am saving over $52 on laundry detergent, car wash, dog food, makeup, dry shampoo, medicine, and I forget what else. I'm pretty excited :)

Also, Albertson's, like always, is having sells/coupons on meat. We're going to have lobster one night.. buy 1 get 2 free. What what. Tomorrow I'll be posting everything I bought!