Running Time!

Monday, Monday!!!

So, this weekend was great!! We had some of our best friends over Saturday and enjoyed a wonderful meal, competitive game of Mad Gab, and settled down to watch a movie! 

Sunday, we woke up late and had to go to the 2nd service at church! Afterward, we really didn't feel like going out to lunch so we came home and I fixed Lemon Shrimp Parmesan Pasta! It was Amazing and I promise that I will post a recipe this week!! 

A conversation that we had with our 4 year old son on the way to church went a little something like this:

Dillon: "Dad, when we get home, can you build me a monster truck?"

Dad: "We will see"...most common answer in our household!

Dillon: "OK...sissy, dads gonna make a monster truck"

Few minutes later....

Dillon: "Tomorrow, can I get my drivers lessons?"

Dad: "I think you have to be 16 to do that son"

Dillon: " Ah MAN!"

I love those little conversations!!

No menu plan made out today...Will post hopefully tonight!

I finished the Pantry Challenge and I must say, it was easy!! I might even do it every 6 weeks or so!! How did you do on it?? At the end of the blog there is a Mister Linky so link up!!

Today I started the running program! Week 1...OH MY! 

I might be on this week for a couple of weeks! LOL!!

Its hard, but I can do it!!

I am also going to be counting my calories. I was doing Weight Watchers. Don't get me wrong, I like Weight Watchers, but with the new points plus system, I feel I get too many points. I haven't lost anything. What I am going to do is eat 1500 calories a day...for some that may be too many but for me its not! I purchased last year for my birthday, a Mio watch! It keeps up with your calories in/out, heart rate, and so on... I love it! If you burn 500 calories or eat 500 less calories each day, you can loose up to a pound a week. Hopefully I can loose more than a pound a week! According to my watch, I have burned 556 calories in 1 1/2 hours! Not too bad!!

Our local Kroger is having a major sale going on again!! I will be stocking up on some pantry items this week! More to come on this! 

What are your plans for this week? Link up below!!

Hope you have a Blessed day!!!

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Couponing 101

I wanted to share with ya'll what I purchased at Kroger a few weeks back when they were having their Mega 10 Event Sale that seemed to last a month!!
There are 4 bottles of Dawn dish detergent. Ever since the oil spill this past summer, I have purchased Dawn, since they donate a portion of sale to help rehabilitate animals that have been affected by oil spills. My family is one of the many animal loving families out there trying to do their part to save wildlife. Kroger had these on a 10 for $10 sale and I purchased 4 (thats all the coupons I had at the time). The coupons value was $.50. Kroger doubles all MFG coupons, everyday, up to $.50. SO, It doubled to a $1 and they were free!!! Wish I could have said the same for the Crest! I only had a $.75 off coupon, which Kroger will not double, so I paid $.25 each for them. Not bad for a box of tooth paste that is normally any where from $2-$3 a box! This is what you can accomplish by using coupons!

I recently had a "Couponing Party" where I taught over 20 ladies how to use coupons! It was a blast and I am getting together another for December! Just to name a couple of pointers while couponing:

1. Make sure you read the coupon. It may say a certain amount off 2 or have a limited size.
2. Ask to see if your store doubles coupons and which days they double. My area Kroger and Publix stores double coupons up to $.50 everyday! I recently found out that there are a couple of stores in my area that will double up to $1 on Saturdays! I will not name the name until I find out for sure! (Don't want to send people to that store with them thinking they can double coupons that they really can't)
3. Make sure you get several papers each week. I usually get 2 papers. On the Sundays that the P&G insert and GM insert are in them I get 4. I have 4 members in my family, so the general rule is 1 for each person of the family. To start out with, I would only get 2 papers. It can become overwhelming at first if you have too many to sort through!

I will be starting some "lessons" on couponing! I hope you tune each to get them!! I will be posting another one tomorrow with some very interesting statistics that you do not want to miss! I was in SHOCK when I read them! Looking forward to READING your replies! And DONT FORGET, I have a new POLL at the bottom of the page for you take!


~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~

Krogering!

As I mentioned in my last blog, things will be changing on here! I have recently gotten into couponing! More on that later, but I wanted to share with you my deals that I got today while making a quick trip to the store!

I purchased What would have been over $35 worth of groceries for only $19.15. I wanted to stay under $20 this trip since I needed very little to get us through to the next big shopping trip next week! I took advantage of Kroger's 10 for $10 deals this week. (no you don't have to buy 10 items to get the sale) The following items I purchased:

2 jars Kroger brand pickle spears ( I must has pickles in the house, I am addicted) ($1.99 ea.)
1 jar Kroger brand pickles slices (these pickles I paid full price for :( $1.99)
4 bottles Dawn Dish Detergent ($1.00 ea)
1 Kroger brand cream cheese ($1.00)
1 bag Kroger brand Tortilla chips ($1.00) I actually prefer these over name brand!
1 tub Kroger brand Ranch dip ($1.00)
1 box Duncan Hines Milk Chocolate Brownie Mix ($1.00)
3 boxes Crest toothpaste ($1.00 ea)
1 bag Kroger brand shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 block Kroger brand Cheddar Cheese (both of these for 3 for $5 but I just got 2, had a coupon for .50 off 2)
1 pkg ea. White Gravy Seasoning Mix ($1.00), Kroger brand Brown Chili seasoning mix ($.52), and Kroger brand Brown Gravy Mix ($.69)
1 tub Kroger Brand Reduced Fat Sour Cream ($1.00)

My coupons were as follows:
3 $.50 off one Crest Toothpaste (which Kroger doubles to $1.00 making the toothpaste free plus $.5 tax each!)
3 $.25 off one Dawn Dish Soap (which Kroger doubles to $.50 making each bottle $.50 each plus tax)
1 $.50 off one Dawn Hand Renewal Dish Soap (which Kroger doubles to $1.00 making this bottle free plus tax)
1 $.50 off Kroger Coupon for and 2 Kroger Brand Cheese item (Kroger does not double its own store coupons or e-coupons)

MFG Coupon Saving :$2.25
Bonus Coupon Saving: $2.25 )This is where Kroger doubles the MFG coupon)
Kroger Plus Saving: $12.78
Total Savings: $16.78

Even though I only spent $19.15, I had 22 fuel points added to my card!

Now, I am sharing all this with you for one reason...To show you that you can do just like I have! If you are needed to trim your grocery bill (which besides a mortgage payment, this is the highest bill in the average home) you can do this way!!

Go to Kroger.com and enter your Kroger Plus Saving card # and you can download e-coupons! These are paperless coupons that automatically come off your bill once you scan your card! Make sure you print your coupon list so you can remember what you downloaded! You can use e-coupons plus store coupons (ones they send you in the mail), plus MFG coupons all for one item!! That means you get a ridiculously good deal on groceries!!! I will be posting more as the days go on so make sure you check back! I know I have people reading the blog but I would like for y'all to follow it as well!! I hope this helps someone today!!!

Be sure to check back this evening for our dinner menu recipe : Stuffed Pork Chops with Lemon butter sauce!!

~Remember to put God first, and everything else will follow~