Menu Plan Monday - Aug 31st '09

I hate being so crazy right now! I know I haven't blogged much lately, but at least MPM keeps me slightly connected to you all :) The new babe is doing very well, he clocked in at 8lbs 11.5oz and 21 3/4 inches long at his 2 week appointment - that means he's gained more than a pound since leaving the hospital! We've had some trials in the breastfeeding department, but I'll save that for another blog post. He's alert, adorable, and big brother is loving on him tons (even if he's giving us a run for our money!)

We did pretty well sticking to the menu last week, had to shuffle things around a little but otherwise did OK. I'm still not feeling up to the whole process of cooking so the freezer meals have been a godsend! I vaguely remember things getting easier after the first month, so I'm hopeful there's a light at the end of the tunnel :)

Here's what we're planning for this week, don't forget to visit Laura over at I'm an Organizing Junkie for tons of great menu and recipe ideas!

monday - Spaghetti Pie - OAMC ($7.78 for 6 servings)

tuesday - Turkey Veggie Lasagna - OAMC ($5.78 for 6 servings)

wednesday - Cheesy Kielbasa Bake - OAMC ($6.87 for 6-8 servings)

thursday - Burgers, veggies, tater tots ($3.85 for 4 servings)

friday - leftovers (Free!)

saturday - French Toast, scrambled eggs and fruit - Brinner day! ($3.50 for 4 servings)

sunday - leftovers (free!)




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Walgreens photo collage for free!

I came across a great Walgreens deals for photo printing over at Freebies 4 Mom!

You can get a FREE 8X10 photo collage thru Wednesday with the coupon code FUNDAY - a $3.99 value for free with in-store pickup. You can use up to 20 photos on the page. I just ordered mine and will be picking it up later this week! I've seen this item come up as a freebie before, it's an easy way to build a scrapbook for nothing or next to nothing.




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Menu Plan Monday - Aug 24th, '09

We're into week 2 of the new baby and I actually managed to get both kids down for an afternoon nap at the same time! The quiet in the house is heavenly ;)

Last week I did *ok* with sticking to the menu, though one night when I was home alone with the kids I resorted to mac & cheese for my toddler instead of thawing something...we'd had a rough morning and I totally forgot to thaw dinner! This week I'm hoping to do a little better, hubby is back at work so I'm on my own for dinner most nights. It's tough to be motivated when the only other mouth I need to please would vote for grilled cheese sandwiches every night should I give him the choice!

Here's what we're (attempting) eating this week, don't forget to visit I'm an Organizing Junkie for tons more menus and ideas!

monday - Black Bean Quesadillas, sliced green peppers ($5.80 for 6 servings)

tuesday - Chicken Cordon Bleu over egg noodles - OAMC ($6.75 for 6 servings)

wednesday - BBQ shredded chicken sandwiches, mixed veggies ($4.30 for 4 servings)

thursday - Leftovers - free!

friday - Homemade veggie soup, Whole Wheat Biscuits - OAMC ($6.81 for 8-10 servings)

saturday - leftover Cabbage Roll Casserole from the freezer, leftover biscuits - free!

sunday - Clean Out Fridge Night - free!








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50% off photobooks at Walgreens 8/22!

Thanks to Freebies 4 Mom for the heads up on this great deal from Walgreens

Today only (8/22) you can upload your photos at Walgreens.com and order 20 page photobooks for half off! After shipping it works out to 7 bucks a book - a great frugal holiday gift! Just enter the code PHOTOBOOK at checkout.





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Menu Plan Monday Aug 17, 09 - the Epic Fail edition

Yes, I know - it's THURSDAY...I have a good excuse! (Said excuse is currently asleep on my shoulder looking thoroughly angelic...)

I am SO glad that I took the time to stock up freezer meals before the baby came! You forget how tough the first few weeks are, and having one less thing to worry about makes a huge difference. But I do need to get back in the saddle and plan my daily meals instead of standing over the freezer the night before (who am I kidding...maybe by noon that day..) and shopping for something to thaw out.

Here's what I've done this week and what we'll attempt to stick to for the rest of the week - make sure you visit I'm an Organizing Junkie for hundreds of other menus from folks who actually planned ahead ;)

monday - Spaghetti Pie - OAMC ($7.78 for 6 servings)

tuesday - Meatball subs - OAMC ($5.20 for 4 servings)

wednesday - kidnapped by my in-laws for baby visiting!

thursday - Chicken Bombay, couscous, broccoli - OAMC ($9.15 for 6-8 servings)

friday - leftover Cabbage Roll Casserole from the freezer - free!

saturday - Clean Out Fridge Night - free!

sunday - dinner with family - free!







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"Weoddababyeetzaboy!"

After much fanfare (and a rather dramatic entrance), I am SO excited to introduce you to the latest addition to our brood:




Owen Lars, born August 12th at 9:58PM, measuring 8 lbs 1.5 ounces and 21 inches long.

We're getting ready to leave the hospital as I type this, it's been a long couple of days and I am SO ready for my own bed, my own shower, and watching the Boy Wonder get to know his new little brother!

I'll be taking a few more days off from posting, but should be back in the game with Menu Plan Monday and the first week of diving into our OAMC meal stockpile!

Have a great weekend!







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Baby update!

Well folks, looks like the day has arrived! No dinner ideas tonight - I'm sitting in a hospital bed typing this between contractions....I am officially a technology junkie.

The Boy Wonder is having a sleepover with his auntie, and we are just waiting to find out if the new addition will play nice or if they will have to start the Pitocin. My fluid is low so this baby is getting born in the next 24 hours whether it likes it or not! The only thing that really blows is that I can't have anything to eat and I am suddenly craving a big fat bacon cheeseburger and a side of fries with vinegar.

Anyone know where I can find a burger-fla vored popsicle?







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Menu (un)planning - Day 2, and baby update

Since I'm posting about supper tonight, you'd be correct in assuming that the child STILL has not decided to make its appearance. This is one stubborn little person, let me tell you...though knowing its father, I shouldn't be so surprised :)

I did have a non-stress test and a doctor's appointment today - if you missed the tweets (then you should be following me!) we had a very UNeventful test, nothing crazy going on and not a single contraction to be seen. My doctor's appointment was a bit more turbulent, after waiting an HOUR AND A HALF to get into an exam room, he stripped my membranes (yummy) and then scheduled me for an induction for Saturday morning. So, if the extra poking and prodding doesn't get things going in the next few days, I will be checking into the Hotel St. Hospital and will be holding my new baby by Saturday night! Woot!

Dinner tonight was relatively uneventful too, when I was scouring the fridge for dinner ideas I found a HUGE bowl of leftover Kielbasa and Pasta that I had forgotten about. From THREE days ago. Thank you, baby brain. Anyway, it was perfect because I'm a little crampy from the procedure today and not really in the mood for big cooking. I also moved it to the FRONT of the fridge so that we can use it up over the next few days, and I packed one Tupperware container full for Hospital day, whenever it comes. Don't want to be stuck with hospital food if I'm in the mood for something else!

T-minus four days till baby gets evicted from the Uterine Hilton..stay tuned!










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Menu (un)planning - day 1

Day 1 of menu improvisation...I can say for sure that I can't wait to get back to regular menu planning, this takes way too much thought!

Tonight, hubby was craving spicy stuff (and just maybe trying to induce labor), so I hit the pantry. Found two split and one boneless chicken breast in the upstairs freezer that were long forgotten, a green pepper and some salsa that needed to get used from the fridge. Pulled an onion, tortillas, cheese and the fajita seasoning out of the pantry, and VOILA! Chicken fajita night!

I actually boiled the chicken and ended up with 4 cups of shredded meat plus broth...we used half the meat for the fajitas. I think we'll use the other half for a BBQ dish later this week. Total cost of tonight's meal: appx $4.25 with only stuff on hand!







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Quick Update and menu (un)planning

Well as you can see by my counter below, we are "officially" overdue for the arrival - Friday the 7th was my due date, and tomorrow I go for a non-stress test and follow up with my doc. If nothing happens I'll be induced next week, so at least there's a light at the end of the tunnel! I've been having scattered contractions since mid-week last week though, which does get frustrating - I'll get two or three in a row, between 20 and 40 minutes apart, and then NOTHING for hours. Then another two or three, then NADA.

I liken it to a car that won't turn over... RRRUUUMMMMDiggadiggadiggaRRRRUUUMMMdiggadiggadigga...sputter sputter wheeze. Repeat ad infinitum.

Oh and I have to pee. CONSTANTLY.

Since we were expecting baby last week, I didn't do a menu plan - and I hesitate to do too much this week as well since we are really playing every day by ear. I decided to take a cue from Gayle at The Grocery Cart Challenge and will be shopping my pantry for the week! I have stocked up well in preparation for the baby so I should be able to make good with what we have. I'll try and post what I come up with each night as Gayle did, that should keep us away from the call of takeout :) Hopefully SOMEWHERE in there I'll be reporting on a new arrival!!!

Hang in there, dear uterus, you'll be vacant again soon!!!







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Kraft Rebate promotion starts today!

Don't forget - today is the first day you can make eligible purchases for the Kraft rebate program! When you purchase $25 in participating products, Kraft will give you a $5 catalina OYNO at the register and you can send in for a $20 rebate for the rest!

Visit my post here for a complete list of participating grocery stores, and any coupons I've found that can be used!







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80% off at Restaurant.com!

That's right - it's back! Restaurant.com is offering gift certificates at 80% off again! That means $25 GC for just $2!

Just visit Restaurant.com, choose the GC's you want, and enter the code PORTION at checkout - the discount will apply to everything in your shopping cart. You can search by zip code or by region - if you're taking any final summer trips, don't forget to check out restaurants in the areas you'll be visiting!

Be sure to read the fine print, as most restaurants place some restrictions on GC use. This is a great way to get early gift shopping done, or to try out new restaurants without breaking the bank!







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Shaw's Catalina Craziness!

So I did manage to get out for one final shopping hurrah before the baby comes, and decided to make the most of the Shaw's/Unilever Catalina deal (buy $30 worth of participating items - before coupons - get $15 catalina for your next purchase). I double-dipped the promotion and had one of my better shopping trips in a LONG while! My Shaw's gave out three $5 catalinas instead of one for $15, but according to my store manager you CAN use them all at the same time if you like. The only restriction is that they cannot give you cash back on a catalina.

The final totals over 3 transactions:
Total before sales: $129.51
Total after sale prices: $81.94
Total Coupons: $49.60 (includes $25 in catalinas!)
Total OOP: $32.34
75% savings!

Here are my scenarios:

Transaction #1

6 - Wishbone Dressings - used two $1.25/2 insert coupons, and two $0.75/1 coupons (doubled) Three of them had peelies for a free bottle of dressing WYB Chinet salad plates - I'll be saving those for later!
6 - Chex Mix bags - used Peelies for $0.50/2 (doubled) and two printable $0.50/1 coupons
2 - Betty Crocker Warm Delights Minis - used two $0.50/1 coupons
2 - Degree deodorant - used two $1/1 coupons

Total before sales: $47.37
Total after store sales: $30.47
Total Coupons: $11.50
Total OOP: $18.97
received $15 in catalinas OYNO

Transaction #2
10 - Honey Nut Cheerios - used four $1/2 coupons, and two $0.55/1 coupons
8 - Suave Shampoo/Conditioners - used four $1/2 coupons

Total before sales: $52.02
Total after store sales: $36.23
Total Coupons: $9.10 PLUS $15 in Catalinas from Trans #1 - $24.10
Total OOP: $12.13
received $15 in catalinas OYNO

Transaction #3

1 - Cantaloupe
6 - Del Monte Fruit Naturals - used three $1/2 coupons
4 - Shaw's brand chips/snacks - used $1/4 store printable
4 - Shaw's English muffins
3 - Cento Crushed tomatoes (large cans)

Total before sales: $30.12
Total after store sales: $15.24
Total coupons: $4.00 PLUS $10 in Catalinas from Trans #2 - $14.00
Total OOP: $1.24








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