Barnes & Noble: 25% Coupon

Barnes & Noble will be having a Store Savings Event – 11/19 through 11/22.

Use this coupon to get 25% off one item.

Kodak Gallery: last day for $15 gift code!

Sign up today for Kodak Gallery's Million Thanks Giveaway and receive a FREE $15 gift code to spend in the online Kodak Gallery!

Hurry! Today (11/18/09) is reportedly the last day to sign up! And the code you receive will expire on 12/01/09. You can go here to sign up.

Think: Christmas shopping!

There are many items available in the Kodak Gallery for $15 or less, including Photo Books, Photo Mugs, Photo Mousepads, Photo Gifts and Ornaments, Personalized Note Cards, and Photo Prints or Enlargements.

I am very pleased with the photo products I've received so far.

Because there is a limit of one gift code per person, you should be able to register an account (and get a FREE $15 photo gift!) for each person in your household.

Happy bargain shopping!

Book Review: The Story of Christmas

The Story of Christmas, written by Gwen Ellis and published by Thomas Nelson, Inc., is a colorful retelling of the birth of Christ and the events surrounding it. Based on the Read and Share™ Bible, the book begins with the birth of John the Baptist. Next comes the appearance of the angel first to Mary and then to Joseph, the trip to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus, the angel’s announcement to the shepherds, the arrival of the wise men bringing gifts, the flight to Egypt, and finally the return home to Nazareth. The “Can You Retell the Story?” activity at the end of the book is a great way for children to learn to tell the story themselves.

The very first time I read the book to my three-and-a-half-year-old, I was impressed by the clarity and simplicity with which these Bible stories are retold in language she could readily understand – and without extraneous embellishments! As I read aloud the truths I’ve known and loved since early childhood, I was gripped once again by the reality of Christ’s humble birth and the fact that the King of Kings was laid, not in a crib in a palace, but in “the box where the animals were fed” when HE was born!

Besides the reinforcement activity at the very end of the book, each two-page story also concludes with a thought-provoking question. For example, having recounted the angel’s message to Joseph (“Name the baby Jesus. He will save people from their sins.”), the follow-up is: “The name Jesus means “savior.” What does a savior do?” As we endeavor to communicate the message of the Gospel to our little one on a daily basis and as we work to explain the true meaning of Christmas amid our culture’s abundant distractions, I’m thankful for the opportunities this book presents to highlight these Bible truths.

Although designed in a cartoon style, the illustrations by Steve Smallman appropriately capture the realities of the biblical accounts. Watching my little one’s reactions as she listens and looks at the drawings, I appreciate the care that has been taken to produce an excellent teaching tool for little ones like her. The suggested age range for this book is four to seven. Because of the book’s simple yet engaging style, however, I would even recommend it for two-year-olds or younger.

The book comes in a hardcover format and is 24 pages long. The version I received also includes an animated DVD with six stories from the life of Jesus (approximately 17 minutes total length) as well as coloring pages and other bonus features. Two stories on the DVD (John the Baptist and Jesus Is Born) complement the book. The price for the hardcover book is $7.99 and $10.99 for the hardcover book with the DVD. Based on the quality of the materials and the content and educational value, I would say those prices are fair, and I think The Story of Christmas would be a great addition to a young family's Christmas library!

Disclosure:
A complimentary copy of the book was provided to me, as a reviewer for Mama Bzz, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. in exchange for today’s blog tour.

A big “Thank-you!” to the folks at Thomas Nelson, Inc. for the opportunity to enjoy and review this wonderful book!

Publix Super Savers – 11/16/09

It’s been an exciting week at Publix! (And the deals are still on – until 10:00 p.m. today!)

Betty Crocker Frosting (12 to 16 oz) – B1G1 for $1.75
Use $0.50/1 coupon (SmartSource 10/25)
OR use $0.50/1 printable coupons
FREE (plus $0.12 or $0.13 overage!) after doubled coupons

Progresso Soup (18 oz or 19 oz) – B1G1 for $2.29
Use $1.10/1 printable coupon
$0.05 after coupon

Yoplait Yo-Plus Yogurt (4 pack) – B1G1 for $2.50
Use $1.00/1 printable coupon
OR use $1.00/1 coupon (SmartSource 11/08)
$0.25 each

All of this for only $0.60 – thanks mostly to printable coupons and overage on the frosting! The hotdogs were the Penny Item for this week.

And these goodies on a second trip ($14.93 total):

Del Monte Fruit Chillers (8 count) – B1G1 for $2.63
Use $1.00/1 printable coupon
$0.32 each

Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers (12 oz) – B1G1 for $2.39
Use $0.40/1 coupon (General Mills 10/04)
$0.40 each after doubled coupon

Lindsay Olives (6 oz) – B1G1 for $1.99
Use $1.00/2 printable coupon
$0.50 each

Kellogg's Crispix Cereal – B1G1 for $3.61
Use $0.75/1 printable coupon
OR $1.00/1 coupon (Redplum 11/08)
$0.80 or $1.05 each

The Crispix boxes had coupons on them: $2.50/1 Cheez-It Crackers wyb two Crispix Cereals. So, I got the crackers for $1.49!

Juicy Juice (64 oz) – B1G1 for $3.65
Use $1.00/2 printable coupon
$1.33 each

Emerald Deluxe Mixed Nuts (10 oz or 11 oz) – B1G1 for $5.79
Use $1.50/2 coupon (SmartSource 11/08)
$2.15 each

Tangerines (3 lbs) – $1.88
These are probably the real highlight!

Gotta love those printable coupons! Thanks once again to FiddledeedeeMom for posting coupon match-ups every week!

Birthday Season: Lots of FREE Loot!

We've been celebrating "Birthday Season" for my Dearest at our house, cashing in on some very nice birthday coupons to help us celebrate!

My favorite people, enjoying food and friendship!

Register your birthday on the following sites, so you can print coupons when "Birthday Season" arrives for you! Some sites will send a "welcome" coupon, and most sites will send an email reminder about the birthday coupon a week or two before the date.

I'm listing the goodies by category:

Main Dishes:

Don Pablo's – $10 Birthday Discount on Habaneros Club Card

You have to get the card in the restaurant prior to registering it online.

JM got the $10.79 Carnitas for $0.79 (plus tax) after the coupon.

McAlister's Deli – Coupon for $5.00 off your next meal

JM got the $6.99 Taco Salad for $1.99 (plus tax) after the coupon.

Moe's Southwest Grill – FREE Entree (excluding fajitas)

Red Robin – FREE Gourmet Burger of your choice

Ruby Tuesday – FREE Handcrafted Burger of your choice

Schlotzsky's Deli – FREE "The Original" Sandwich

Sticky Fingers – FREE Half Slab of Ribs (or other menu item up to $13.99 value)

Firehouse Subs – FREE Sub Sandwich

This coupon arrives via US Mail – and does not have an expiration date!

Ice Cream or Dessert:

Atlanta Bread Co. – FREE Cookie

Baskin Robbins – FREE Scoop of Ice Cream (2.5 oz)

Cold Stone Creamery – FREE "Create Your Own Creation" (ice cream + 1 mix-in)

Dairy Queen – B1G1 FREE Blizzard Treat (16 oz each)

Marble Slab Creamery – FREE Regular Cone

My friend Keren at Saving in Greenville links to two other sites with extensive lists of goodies you can sign up for as you approach a birthday:

– Freebies 4 Mom
– Bargain Banana

So, "Happy Birthday to You!" – from the frugal blogosphere!

Walgreens Deals – 11/08/09 thru 11/14/09

It’s a great week to stock up on baking goods! Here’s the plan, using the $5 off $25 coupon (in the weekly flier):

Ocean Spray 100% Cranberry or Cranberry Pomegranate Juice (64 oz) – on sale for $1.99 each
Use $1.00/1 coupon (November Coupon Book)
$0.99 each after coupon

Buy two Carnation Evaporated Milk (12 oz) – $0.99 each after in-ad coupon
Use $0.50/2 coupon (SmartSource 09/27 or RedPlum 11/01)
OR use $0.50/2 printable coupon
$0.74 each after coupons

Buy two Gold Medal Flour (5 lbs) – two for $3.00 after in-ad coupon
Use two $0.50/1 printable coupons
$1.00 each after coupons

Buy two Sun-Maid Raisins (18 oz.) – two for $4.00 after in-ad coupon
Use $1.00/2 coupon (SmartSource 11/08)
$1.50 each after coupons

Clabber Girl Baking Powder – two for $1.00 after in-ad coupon

Honey (32 oz) – $3.99 after in-ad coupon
(Get the limit of three.)

Other good deals include:

Buy two Nexxus Mousse – on sale two for $5.00
Use $4.00/1 coupon (November Coupon Book)
(Coupon will deduct $5.00 total.)
FREE after coupon

Buy two Cover Girl Lipcolor – B1G1 for $3.99
Use $2.50/2 coupon (P&G 11/01)
$0.75 each after coupon
(Do this deal twice.)

Hallmark White Tissue Paper (20 sheets) – $0.39 after in-ad coupon
(Do this deal twice.)

Of course, I’ll need some “filler items” (e.g. fall decorations already on clearance for 75% off) due to the Walgreens’ rule: “Number of coupons in the transaction cannot exceed the number of items in that transaction!” And I have some RRs I’d like to use as well…

Praising the Lord for His abundant provision!

All of these (mostly) baking goods for $11.46 out of pocket after coupons, $11.50 RRs, and $2.92 from an old (almost forgotten) gift card.

It was exciting (even to those in line behind me!) to see the numbers on the cash register decrease from almost $70 to just under $12!

FREE samples for Mom and Baby!

Click here to sign up for free samples, including:

• Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew
• Pampers Extra Protection Diaper
• Huggies Little Movers Diaper

And the diaper samples often come with coupons that can be combined with diaper sales at our favorite drug stores!

What's Cookin'?

It's another rainy (and quite windy!) autumn day in the Upstate – a good day to be inside cooking and baking. And the smell of fresh-baked bread is always so homey!

We'll be enjoying Classic Meatloaf for supper. (I made a double batch – part beef, part venison.) We'll add some frugal finds from the freezer and cupboard in the way of veggies and comfort food (i.e. mashed potatoes)! There's also Sweet Butter Bread in the making – to be enjoyed as part of Meatloaf Sandwiches later this week. Yum!

And since there's still some left, we'll probably enjoy some Chocolate Chip Banana Bread for dessert. (I'll plan to post and link to the recipe later.)

Frugalista Notes:

• I love to modify recipes! Part of my experiment today should have included adding grated carrots to the meatloaf recipe, but I got in a hurry and simply forgot. I've also thought of adding grated cheese. Adding veggies and/or cheese can be a great way to add more nutrition, of course.
• Meatloaf is a great way to stretch grocery dollars (or pesos, etc.); I have fond memories of meatloaf meals, enjoyed as a child!
• Eventually, I'll be baking bread in the oven – instead of assigning that portion of my work load to my maiden, the bread machine. When I do, I'll have to add baking time to the recipe instructions... But until then, I'll enjoy the welcome help!
• Banana Bread is just a great frugal invention – a wonderful way to salvage bananas that are perishing. And chocolate chips are a welcome addition to almost any dessert!

Recipe for Sweet Butter Bread

Adapted from a Pillsbury bread machine booklet, this is a favorite at our house!

Ingredients:

1 cup (warm) water
3 cups bread flour
¾ cup whole wheat flour
2 Tbsp ground flax seed
2 Tbsp wheat germ
¼ cup sugar
1½ tsp salt
¼ cup butter
1 large egg (or ¼ cup Egg Beaters)
1¾ tsp (active dry) yeast

Place ingredients in the bread case and insert the bread case into the bread machine. Select the Sweet Bread Mode and press Start.

Enjoy!

Recipe for Classic Meatloaf

Oats are what make it classic, in our opinion. That is, part of the identity of meatloaf at our house is that it must contain oats!

Ingredients:

1 to 1½ lbs ground beef (or ground turkey or ground venison)
1 cup uncooked oats (½ cup quick oats + ½ cup old-fashioned oats)
¾ cup finely chopped onion (or 3 tsp dried onion)
1 cup spaghetti sauce (or tomato sauce or tomato juice)
1 egg, lightly beaten
½ to 1 tsp black pepper
½ tsp seasoning (adobo, etc.)
(½ teaspoon salt)

Heat the oven to 350°F. Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl. Shape the meatloaf mixture into a 1.5-quart loaf pan. (Garnish with ketchup, barbecue sauce, etc.)

Bake 50 minutes to an hour (until the meatloaf is not pink in the center, and juices show no pink color). Let stand five minutes before slicing. (Garnish with more ketchup, barbecue sauce, etc.)

Enjoy!