My first giveaway! Coupons valued at over $60!!!

I was going to wait until I had my "launch party" in a couple of weeks, because I'm having a huge giveaway party with some great prizes from my friends sites on my sidebar (check them out by the way!), but I was inspired by everyone over at Moneysavingmom, that I decided to join in the fun!

I have Free item coupons valued at over $60! These are the coupons that were recently featured in the All You Magazine! You do have to make a small purchase to make the item free, but as many of you know, or have already done it....all you have to buy are Kool-Aid packages, and you get great free items in return!

I have to give away as a package deal:

(5) Free (up to $4.50) Nabisco Wheat Thins Crackers - when you buy three Kraft, Nabisco or Oscar Mayer products (excluding single serve)

(10) Free (Up to $4.50) Crystal Light - when you buy three Kraft, Nabisco or Oscar Mayer products (excluding single serve)

Again, Kool-Aid packets are not single serve, and do count as your three Kraft products - so for as low as .30, you can have crackers and Crystal Light for FREE!

These coupons expire 08-31-08 - I will mail them out Thursday morning, and you should have them by Monday. It gives you over a week to use them, but for free stuff - that shouldn't be a problem!!

How to enter:

*Simply leave a comment below for an entry (1 entry)

*Link to this post in your own blog (5 entries) *Leave in your comment that you linked so I can get your extra entries!

Hurry, this contest ends tomorrow night (Wednesday night) at 9pm PST. Winner will be posted Thursday morning!

Good luck!

I survived!

What a crazy weekend! My Mother-in-law was here for the weekend, quite unexpected I might ad. That sent me into a cleaning frenzy that seriously only happens when she comes down. It is really kind of nice, because I get the chance to Spring clean more than once a year! :-)

We had a nice time on Saturday, took Turbo out to ride his quad. He sure is getting good (and fast) on that little thing. I took some video that I hope to post later in the week. We then went to DH's cousin's house for dinner, and saw some family that we haven't seen in ages (another thing that only seems to happen when Mother in law is here). Sunday we took Taterbug out to see/feed her horse. Then the kids went school clothes shopping with Grandma (something she has never done before, but I was ohhhhh so thankful!).

All in all, a great unexpected weekend...and the white gloves my MIL owns never came out...not even once! Maybe I'm getting better at this cleaning thing afterall!

What, you're here in town?

Yes, yes, my mother-in-law called about an hour ago, she is HERE...in town...as in NOT ENOUGH TIME TO CLEAN here in town. So, if I am MIA this weekend, it's because I am cleaning like a mad woman for the white glove treatment I expect to receive.

YIKES!

Menu Plan...Thursday?!!?

I know most bloggers use Menu Plan Monday, but you have to realize I'm just catchin' on here, and since I made a promise not to drag my family to any more restaraunts (who am I kidding...drag?), I decided to make my menu for the next week.

Friday: Broiled Halibut (bought on the Oregon coast last month)
Garlic & Herb pasta
Fresh green beans from the garden, with bacon and onions of course :-)

Saturday: Spiral sliced ham (have on in the freezer that I NEED to cook)
Au gratin potatoes
Mixed veggies

Sunday: Grilled jamaican jerk pork chops
PW's crash potatoes
Sauteed zucchini & onions

Monday: Ham, Cheese & Broccoli braid (old Pampered Chef standby)
Salad

Tuesday: Scrambled eggs with ham
Toast
fruit

Wednesday: Fish sticks
Macaroni & Cheese
Carrot sticks

Thursday: Something simple like sandwiches, chips and veggies - we will be packing for our camping trip starting Friday!!! Wooooooooooohoooooooooo a whole week away!

So, we'll see how I stick to it. Sometimes I use it as a list of what to choose from, and mix the nights around as I see fit, but we'll see.

NO GOING OUT TO EAT!

Eating out...do you enjoy it?

I have to admit, even in my frugal ways, if my DH says "Let's go out to eat" I am the first one in the car, buckled and ready to go! I love food...plain and simple! Mexican, Thai, Italian, Chinese, heck, even a good ol' burger at the local burger joint makes me weak in the knees...

Until...

We pay the bill. I can't believe how sick it makes me feel after we leave (could be the gross overeating of chips, salsa, and that huge chimichanga...) I get "buyers' remorse" when going out to dinner, and it honestly ruins the whole evening. All I can think about is what that money could have been spent on...groceries, paying down debt, all things that really mean more to me than a simple Pad Thai with chicken and peanut sauce...but yet we still go....and I'm always the first one in the car!

So, DH and I made a pact. I told him that even if I begged and pleaded, he was to tell me NO! Not really fair to put the weight on his shoulders, but I need his help! I pledged to keep a menu plan, and keep the house stocked with EVERYTHING I need to make sure the plan was followed. I pledged to take better care of my family by providing them with wholesome, yummy food that doesn't cost $50 for one meal! And you know what??? I'm a pretty darn good cook, maybe, just maybe, they'll start leaving me a tip every once in a while!

In order to be accountable, I will post dinner menus here, and let you know each and everytime I fall off the wagon. I plan on ONLY going out to eat if it is a special occasion...and no, every Monday is not a special occasion!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

For reasons listed below (in my post about learning frugal lessons from my Mom), and many, many others, I am so thankful to have you as a mom! You inspire me to be the best mom I can be, and have taught me lessons that I cherish every day!

Love you!

Great contest/giveaway to share!

Brandi over at Mountain Morning is giving away this great cookbook! I have checked out the author's site, and it sounds like a cookbook you don't want to miss!

I came across this blog today through Moneysavingmom, and wanted to share this giveaway with all of you! As many of you know, I am a cookbook addict! I figured this giveaway was right up my alley, so hop right on over and enter here.