Brooke Blogs This

School is just about out, and if you are like me, you are starting to wonder just what you are going to do to keep the kids entertained, on a budget. Kids Bowl Free is a wonderful program (that requires you to sign up) where kids get 2 free games of bowling, every day this summer. Regal Cinemas are showing "G" and "PG" rated movies for $1 every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 AM all summer long. This is especially appealing if you have a little one and your not quite sure they will make it through a whole movie. Speaking of movies, check with you local parks department, many around here host movies in the park at least once a month May through September. Also see what is going on at your library, besides weekly story time, they usually offer other programs as well such as puppets, magicians and reading programs where your reader can possibly score freebies (movie tickets, free pizza, free books, etc) for reading a book a week. Don't waste your money going to a ma

Here are the deals that I just can't pass up this week (and neither should you)! Walgreen Mars and Dove Candy Bars - $.39 Post Cereal - $1.75 Soft Soap Body Wash - 2 for $6, plus you get $4 Register Rewards Starbucks Frapuccinos - 4 for $5, plus you get $1 Register Rewards Old El Paso 12pk Taco Shells - $1 Hamburger Helper - $1 (there have recently been coupons in the paper for $.75 off of 3) Dole Fruit Crisps - $1 (A few weeks ago, there was a $.50 coupon in the paper) Duncan Hienz Brownie Mix - $1 Lunchables 2 for $3, plus you get $1 Register Rewards Finish Power Tabs - $3.49, plus you get $1.50 Register Rewards (and if you've been saving your coupons, you probably have the $.75 coupon tucked away) Gillette, Old Spice and Zest Body Wash (mix and match) - 3 for $10, plus you get $3 Register Rewards (There are also multiple coupons. In this weeks paper there is a Gillette Body Wash $2 coupon. In recent papers there have also been $1 off 2 Old Spice Products, Buy 1 Get 1 Free O

My coupon project continued into March, and here are the results: *Unless otherwise noted, my comments to them were compliments Heinz Heinze Ketsup - 2 $.50 coupons Ore Ida French Fries - 4 $.75 coupons Campbells Prego Itallian Sauce - 1 $1 coupon Campbells Soup 1 $1 coupon Unilever Country Crock Spred - A coupon book for Unilever products. 12 coupons totaling $11 Popsicle - A coupon for a free product, worth $5 Lipton Knorr Noodles - Did not send coupons General Mills Yoplait - I recieved a $3 check after complaining about a products texture. They sent the check instead of a coupon due to my states dairy laws. Totinos Pizza Rolls - Did not send coupons (No response was received at all) Proctor & Gamble Puffs - Did not send coupons (No response was received at all) Cover Girl - Did not send coupons Other Uncle Bens - 1 $1 coupon Jose Ole Frozen Mexican Products - 1 $1 coupon New York Brand Bread Sticks - Coupon for a free product worth $4 Dole Salads - 3 $.75 coupons

I hope everyone had an awesome Easter. We sure did! The Easter Bunny came and the dogs didn't chase him away or eat him or anything (at least as far as I can tell.) The kids were very excited about thier baskets. Other than the traditional baskets, we for went any other traditions on Easter. There were no egg hunts, there were no huge dinners. We ate candy (ok, so maybe that IS traditional), cinnamon rolls, fish sticks and fries and Mexican food. MMMMMMMMMMMMMM...Mexican. I am eating the left overs now. Overall it was a pretty fantastic (and the fantasticness was much needed) weekend. Now I just hope I haven't set my sights too high for the upcoming week and weekend!

Lately I've been asked lots of questions about my couponing, and I never seem to be organized enough to give anyone the full run down, so I though I would post some of my favorite tips. Feel free to ask questions, and I'll be glad to answer. Consider this an overview and I'll go more in depth on some of these in later posts. 1. If you use coupons, you will save money. Period. However, it is important to know what your goal is. Are you trying to get more expensive products at a bettr price? Are you trying to get your grocery bill down to a certain amount? Your goal will determine over all how much you save/spend. 2. Usually (I've never found a case where this isn't true) you can only use 1 manufacturer coupon and 1 store coupon on a single item. If you purchase 5 products, you will need 5 coupons (if you want to save on all 5) unless the coupon states otherwise. 3. I tend to save a bigger percentage and have a lower grocery bill when I buy the less expensive item

Use code 448234 at Payless to get 20% off through April 24 At Snapfish use code TAXDAY to get $10.40 off any order of $25 or more through April 20 OR use code MOMMYBOOKS through April 18 to get 2 free 8 1/2 by 11 memory books when you buy 1! (I will SO be using this one, especially since I can cash in my coke rewards points and get the first one for free too!) This weekend only (April 15-17) use code TAX11 at The Childrens Place to get 20% off. Happy Shopping!

The last 6 months have been turbulent, to say the least. There have been all kinds of ups, downs, and stresses both at work and at home. I thought the end of 2010 was going to kill me. But, what doesn't kill us, makes us stronger. I believe I have become a better wife, mother, friend, employee and Christian. I have had to examine my own flaws, forgive others, and take more of an interest in the emotional well being of every one around me. I have found truth in the Bible, that I had never found before (and if you know my background, that is a biggy). Yes, the past 6 months have been rough, and yes, I would gladly trade them, but, I have learned some very important things about myself, others, the world and life. Top Ten Things I Have Learned: 1. Life is a balance of God's will, man's free will and prayer to change either. 2. I am still a work in progress. 3. If you feel the need to hide or lie, then you know what you are doing is wrong, no matter how many ways

Some people have been asking how I keep my grocery bill down, and the truth is, sometimes I sacrifice what we eat. Hamburger Helpers go on sale for less than a $1, and I have coupons, we're having Hamburger Helper. The Homestyle Bakes usually aren't a bad deal either. I noticed on my last box of Pasta Roni (which is never more than $1) it had a recipe for adding beef or chicken, making it a lot like a Hamburger Helper as well. The truth is, meat (ground hamburger, shredded or chunked chicken) mixed with a pasta and sauce with a vegetable side, is usually the cheap way to go. But we all get tired of eating the same thing, every day, so here are some of my favorite cheap recipes. These I've tried and the Family has approved: Braised Chicken Grease the bottom of your crock pot, and add in enough onion (fresh chopped or frozen or pearl onions) to cover the bottom. Add as much potatos (fresh cut up or frozen) and carrots (fresh, frozen or canned) as you would like. Combine 1

Well, February did not have the wonderful results that January did. However, I still got some pretty amazing coupons. Pledge (S C Johnson Company) sent a coupon for a free Pledge product ($4.00 value) I wrote 3 Con Agra companies: Chefboyardee sent a $.50 coupon Manwich also sent a $.50 coupon Banquet Homestyle Bakes also sent a $.50 coupon. Mt. Olive Pickles sent a $.75 coupon in response to my compliment and another $.75 coupon for signing up for their news letter. Tyson sent 3 $1.00 coupons good off any Tyson product. Blixtex sent 3 $.25 coupons. Kellog's Pop Tarts is supposed to be sending coupons for signing up with them, however, I have not received any as of yet. My other companies that were a bust this month inculde: General Mills Progresso Hamburger Helper Trix Coty Sally Henson N.Y.C. Color Other Pepsi/Starbucks Wrights Baccon (Tyson) Mahatma Rice (Riviana) Wishbone Salad Dressing (Unilever) Scotch Bright (3M) Sun Drop (Prescot Bottling) Tostitos (Frito Lay) Old S

Getting Shiloh out at daycare this morning: Shiloh points to the vehicle next to us and says: "I am gonna buy that truck." Me: "You like that truck?" Shiloh: "Yeah." Me: "Why do you like that truck?" Shiloh: "It goes vroom vroom like a motorcylce!" Me: "Oh, you like motorcylces too?" Shiloh vigurously nods her head. =)

When I go so long with out writing, it's hard to know exactly what to write about. Hopefully, one day, I'll be able to post as often as I'd like. But for now, that is just not possible. On the plus side, some things are finally starting to come together for us. Jeremy bought a motorcylce, and the whole family is looking forward to some rides. I think it will be a great family leisure activity (even though we can't all be on at once)and will also give me and Jeremy something to do just as a couple every now and then as well. Trust me, that is some well needed and wanted time. Even with the purchase of the motorcycle, money just doesn't seem as tight here lately. I think we finally have a manageable budget. Baseball is back in full swing for Zachary, and he really seems to love his coach and team this year. They played 5 games in 24 hours this past weekend and won every single one of them. Not just won, they blew the other teams away. Zachary got several good h

The project is simple. Write the maker of a product every day for a year. Do not ask them specifically for coupons as I did in the Coupon Mania post. Do not write regarding any particular product more than twice in a year. Do not write any particular parent company more than four time is a month (or once a week). Be honest in what you write, give feed back, ask questions. (NOTE: While I have these categorized by parent company, I never wrote to any parent company more than one time in a day.) JANUARY RESULTS NESTLE: Purina pet food -2 coupons worth $2 each Hot Pockets -2 coupons worth $.40 each SC JOHNSON Ziploc -coupon for free bags ($5 valule) Glade -coupon for a free candle ($6 value) Windex -coupon for a free bottle of Windex ($4 value) SARAH LEE Jimmy Dean - coupon for $1 off and Sarah Lee product CON AGRA Banquet frozen meals - 2 coupons worth $.50 each Kid Cuisines -2 coupons worth $.50 each KIMBERLY CLARK Cottonelle toilet paper - 4 coupons worth $.50 each MCNEIL

Call it being busy, call it the winter blues, I just haven't felt like blogging lately. But that doesn't mean I haven't thought about it, or you! I have a HUGE coupon project in the works, that will be much like my Coupon Mania post in early 2010, only MUCH MUCH bigger. =) With that being said, I've thought about moving my couponing/money saving posts to their own blog and just using this blog for personal posts. What do you think? Are you interested in just one or the other and rather have them seperated? Or is it easier to get all my info and thoughts in one place? Leave a Comment letting me know! As for an update on our lives: October We had Zachary for fall break and generally had a good time. Football season came to an end. Shiloh loved trick or treating this year, I still think we have halloween candy at the house! November We had friends over to celebrate my 29th birthday. I have decided I have to make the most of this last year before I enter my 30's.