There is a LINE between good-frugal and ridiculous. And I really, really should learn to get on the good side of that line in all circumstances…because somehow, there is a mechanism in my brain that will ALWAYS let me buy the $3.99 DeSomethings Cream Puffs at Market Basket (that are always $6.99 at Shaws), but WON’T let me buy a box of tissues without a coupon when I feel a cold coming on (and when my stash is depleted…how did that happen?).

That decision never goes well for me.  Because now I’m here with a nose is so sore I can’t even SMILE. Eeeeh. But, I stayed home from church today and slept in till oh, about an hour ago, so I’m going to get ready for the day, throw in a load of laundry, and put up blog posts (market basket first!) in between trying to get my house back in order, since really, who feels like cleaning when they’re sick? Not meeee….and then I’ll have my husband pick up some Puffs Premium with Aloe tissues and maybe some Panera soup on his way home.

In some e-book I was looking at recently, I came across a simple “recipe” for a homemade linen spray. That one called for 1/2 cup of vodka and 15-20 drops of Lavendar, but since our Vodka supply was slightly low, I decided to go with this recipe for a homemade lavendar linen spray. Calling for 1/2 cup of distilled water, 1 teaspoon of vodka and 5-6 drops of Lavendar, it was just the perfect amount of scent.

I put it in a clear plastic bottle, but think I want something a little bit fancier…looking around online, I came across exactly what I want:

It’s frosted glass, but unfortunately only available wholesale…and I can’t seem to find it anywhere else online. Which means I might go to choice number 2:

6 for only $10.50 or $2.50 each!

I read another recipe for cucumber body/linen spray that used a real cucumber…but can’t find it anywhere. Anyone know of something similar?

]]> http://nesaving.wordpress.com/2009/08/30/homemade-linen-spray/feed/ 0 Kat 8oz Frosted Apothecary Glass Bottle W/ Clear Mister Frosted Glass Perfume Bottle http://nesaving.wordpress.com/2009/08/24/the-zucchini-project/ http://nesaving.wordpress.com/2009/08/24/the-zucchini-project/#comments Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:35:49 +0000 Kat http://nesaving.wordpress.com/?p=1036 ]]>

When we left for New Jersey last weekend, I noticed a few more baby zucchinis growing. I’d already pulled 3 out of the garden the weekend before, and figured I would grab the growing ones in a few days or so. Yesterday was my designated baking day (in between church & a Fantasy Football draft for my husband’s league), so I trudged down to the garden and started pushing aside leaves. I guessed, um, wrongly. For now I had these to work with:

That’s 11, by the way. ELEVEN. And HUGE. And at least five more are growing. I’ve had trouble with what I thought was a normal 6 or so!

Then out came the recipes:

I used a 9 X 5 and 4 of those cute mini-loaf pans for each of the bread recipes, and a standard muffin tin & a mini-muffin tin for the muffins and somehow got 3 recipes down starting at 8:30 and ending the mixing processes at 10:30 (I got the last ones out of the oven around 11 or so).

I made:

*Standard Zucchini Bread using this recipe. One thing I LOVE about the mini-tins is that I can customize. So I did half with currants & walnuts (which my husband doesn’t like), and I made the big loaf and the other two mini ones without. Quick and easy, this one is incredibly moist–not that I’ve had zucchini bread that wasn’t…

*Zucchini-Chocolate Chip Muffins…these ones worked really well as mini-muffins, especially with the called-for mini-chocolate chips. Totally prefer them to the big ones since they’re so much more “snack-sized”, and are easier to manuever in our ridiculously-college-sized-freezer.

*Pumpkin-Zucchini Bread that honestly, I haven’t even tried yet! But the batter was delicious…

So, I forgot to take the obligatory drying-racks-full-of-food baking day picture, but here they are all wrapped up in tinfoil and bagged to go! (They all blend together, but there’s 6 mini-loaves and 2 Big ones + muffins). But after ALL of that…it only took up TWO zucchinis.

I also sliced and marinated 2 full zucchinis, which I’ll grill and then freeze (a trick I learned from my dad…he’ll grill up batches of zucchini, summer squash, eggplant, peppers to freeze for ready-made veggie side dishes).

Then lastly, I plan to cook with two (I’m thinking a zucchini quiche, and then some fried zucchini sticks with Panko bread crumbs), and then shred and freeze two for zucchini bread when I run out of the stuff I’m cooking now. The rest are going to friends, ’cause there won’t be ANY more room left!

I’ve been sort of on a couponing sabbatical this summer–I look here and there, but mostly stuck to mall deals. But this week–I’m back in the game! And I think I needed that break, especially since more often than not, I’ve had Friday’s off, and we leave Thursday only to get back late Saturday or Sunday (and yeah, that’ll be the case again this weekend), which barely leaves time to blog, never mind do the actual shopping!

But this week’s sales were too good to miss, and since we have Bible Study tomorrow and then we leave for Fire Island Thursday, I had to fit it all in tonight. Here were the results, with which I am well pleased:

Stop No. 1: Target

Target Stop

Air Wick:
Normal Price: $11.99 / On Sale: $5.99
Minus Coupon:$6.00 (8.9 SS)
=$.01 overage

Bic Pens, 2 packages:
Normal Price: $2.00 each / Sale Price: $1.00 each (I didn’t have the $0.50 ones @ my Target)
Minus coupons: Target $1.00/2 printable & Bic $1.00/2 (8.9 SS)
=$0.00

Sharpie Highlighter $0.99
Minus $1.00/1 printable coupon here (PDF–scroll to last page)
=$0.01 overage

Total OOP: $0.00
Total Savings: $22.98

Stop No. 2: Staples!

Staples Stop

Back-to-School Rebate Week!

Handyline Dry Erase 3-Pack $3.99 OOP
Rebate: $3.99
Final: $0.00

6 1-Subject notebooks: $0.01 each
Total OOP: $0.06

2 Packages of 120-count college-ruled paper $0.79 each
Total OOP: $1.58

2 reams of 500 count paper $4.99 each
Rebate: $3.99
Total OOP: $2.00

Total OOP:$16.59
After Rebates, OOP: $4.62

Stop No. 3: CVS

CVS Stop

Just a quick stop to pick up the free Revlon Foundation:

Cost: $9.99, on sale from $13.99
Minus Revlon coupon: $1.00 (7.19 SS)
ECB’s OOP: $9.00
ECB’s Back: $9.99

Unfortunately, I tried some on, and while it matches my skin tone really well, the perfume-y smell of it made me sooo nauseous.

Stop No. 4: Rite-Aid

Rite-Aid Stop

My Rite-Aid was out of a lot of items, and I also had trouble since they had marked the 60 watt bulbs also down to the $2.50 sale price, but they were ringing up at $7.99. Had to return it and switch it out with the manager, who was decent–she even refunded me for the coupon since there was a customer waiting.

Kotex $0.99
My coupons wouldn’t print for this! Bought it anyways though.

Carefree: $0.99
Coupon: $-1.00/1 printable
Total OOP: $0.00
I would have bought 2 with both coupons, but the coupon specified “Ultrafree”–it went through just fine though on the normal brand above!

Snickers: $0.50 each
Coupon: -$1.00/2 (7.26 RP)
Total OOP: $0.00

GE Lightbulbs: $2.50 each
Coupon: -two $1.00/1 printable coupons
Total OOP: $3.00
After $2.00 Rebate: $1.00/2 (Though with the extra refund the manager intentionally gave me, I got both for free!)

Total OOP before Rebate: $2.99
Total OOP after Rebate: $0.99

Stop No. 5: Walgreens

Walgreens Stop

2 Reach toothbrushes and 1 Listerine: 3/$9.00 (I didn’t have any discounted ones like others are reporting)
Use 1 $3/3 coupon from the 8/2 SS
Total OOP: $6.00
Register Rewards: $6.00

2 neosporin for $7.98
2 two $1/1 coupons from 8/2 inserts or $1/1 printable coupon (IE Link) or FF Link
OOP: $5.98
Register Rewards: $4.00

6 Highlighters or Scented Gel Pen @ $0.19 each after in-ad coupon:
Total OOP: $1.14

2 Two-Pocket Folder @ $0.19 each after in-ad coupon:
Total OOP: $0.38

Penway Filler Papers @ $0.49 after in-ad coupon:
Total OOP: $0.49

Penway One Subject Notebook @ $0.49 after in-ad coupon:
Total OOP: $0.49

Stayfree Maxi pads (16-24 count)–$1.99
Buy 2 and use B1G1 coupon from 6/28 SS
$0.99 each after coupon

Lysol Toilet Bowl cleaner–2/$3
Use $1/2 coupon from the 7/12 inserts or $0.50/1 printable coupon
$1 each after coupon

I got a raincheck for the Jergens Lotion, though I always forget if RR work with rainchecks…anyone else know?

Total OOP: $19.43 (on gift card from Easy Check Rebate program *sniff*)
After Register Rewards, only $9.43 OOP

I also stopped at Shaws, but that’s a separate post since this one is long enough!!!

So, for my non-food shopping:
Total OOP, including gift cards & ECBs: $48.00
Total OOP after R. Rewards, ECBs, & Rebates: $15.04

Not too bad!

I’m trying to decide whether I like Shaw’s new circular system…I certainly like the font, appearance, and the ability to calculate totals by click-and-drag products, but the circular itself seems to be much slower, and not as big (even with the “enlarge” button). But maybe that’ll change in the future…for now, it’s much more of a pleasure to look at!

Shaw’s printables here.
Buy 4, Get $4.00
Buy 4 Edy’s Ice Cream (B1G1!) This week. Read the Fine Print, since I’m just looking at the online version & can’t read the small type!

Coke 2 liters 4/$4.00

Split Chicken Breast $0.99/lb.

NY Strip Steak $5.99/lb.
Use with $1.00/1 lb. or more Shaw’s Printable

DiLugi Marinated Tips (Beef or Turkey Parm) $4.99/lb. ,(Chicken or Pork) $3.99
Use with Free Deli Salad with Diluigi Marinated tips in-ad coupon

Kellogg’s Cereal, Fruit or Yogos snacks or Poptarts 4/$7.00
Use with $1.00/1 Kellogg’s cereal coupons, $1.00/2 Poptarts coupons (6.17 SS)
Use with $1.00/4 Shaw’s Printable

Tide Detergent $10.99
Use with $0.35/1 Tide coupon (6.07 PG)
Use with $1.00/1 Tide Shaw’s Printable for
1/$9.64

Nabisco Snack Crackers 2/$5.00
Use with $1.00/2 Nabisco Shaw’s Printable
for 2/$4.00

Crystal light 2/$4.00
Use with $2.00/2 Crystal light printables from coupons.com

In-Ad coupon for free Dasani 24-pack of water when you buy 2 Wheat Thins and 2 Crystal light jars

Pepsi/Diet/Mtn. Dew 5 12-packs for $5.00 when you buy 5 and 1 Frito Lay 20-24 ct. Big Bag for $5.99
(Pepsi Limit 5, Must buy 5) with in-ad coupon

Buy 2 Bags of Malt-O-Meal cereal and get 1 Free with in-ad coupon

Kiwi’s 2/$0.88

Fresh Cut Seedless watermelon $0.49/lb.

B1G1 Free:
Blueberries
Edy’s Ice Cream
Philly Gourmet Steaks for Sandwiches
Nathan’s Sausage or Kielbasa
Jolly Time Popcorn, Wise Potato Chips or Pretzel Sticks
Equaline Vitamins
Cakemate Decors B2G1 Free
Desert Glory Nature Sweet Salad Cherry Tomatoes on the vine; use with $1.00/2 Shaw’s printable

10/$10.00
Barilla Pasta; use with $1.00/6 Barilla Shaw’s Printable for 6/$5.00
Betty Crocker hamburger Helper; Use with $1.00/3 hamburger helper coupon (6.07 SS)
Vitaminwater or Smartwater
Drakes CoffeeCakes
Thomas’ English Muffins
IttiBitz/Red Sox/Kemps
Shaw’s Diced Tomatoes
Schweppes 2 liters
Ken’s Steak House dressing; use with $1.00/2 Kens coupon (5.03 SS)
Nissian Noodles
Red Pack Diced Tomatoes
Shaw’s Marshmallows
Close up/Aim/Pepsodent toothpaste
Slim-fast meal bars
Gillette Foamy Shaving Cream
Alpo Dog Food
Barbaras Snackables
GoGo Sqeez Applesauce
Red Mangoes
Sunkist Fruit Cups

My first blog award…I’m so excited! And I got the comment alert right after Bible Study, so I was nearly hopping up and down in church…so my thanks to Jen at http://frugalici0us.blogspot.com, who totally sounds eerily like me…same state, same age…interesting!

So, I need to tag 15 people with this award, but at the moment it’s after 1 AM, I’m planning to get up at 6 AM, and I’ll be gone all weekend (again, I KNOW!), so I’m going to defer for just a little while until I have the energy to link & comment on 15 blogs.

Jennie-O Fresh Turkey Breast $0.99

Shoulder Steak for London Broil $1.89/lb.

Dole Bananas $0.39/lb.

Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops $1.99/lb.
Use with $1.00/3 Shaw’s Printable

Buy 10 Kellogs/Keebler/Eggo/Sunbeam products (10/$25.00) and get two free Movie Cash tickets

Quilted Northern/Brawny $5.99
Use with $1.00/1 Brawny Shaw’s Printable
for 1/$4.99

Red Baron Pizza 3/$10.00
Use with $1.00/2 Red Baron coupon (3.01.09 RP)
and $1.00/3 Shaw’s Printable for
3/$8.00

General Mills Cereal 4/$10.00
Buy 4 and get a coupon for milk up to $4.50 with your next purchase
Use with $1.00/3 Gen. Mills coupon (4.05 SS1)
for 4/$9.00 + Milk

Buy 2 Bags of Malt-O-Meal Cereal and get 1 Free with in-ad coupon

Crystal Light 3/$6.00
Buy 3 and get a free 24-pack of Shaw’s water with in-ad coupon
Use with B2G1 Free coupon (3.29 SS)
and get 4/$6.00 + a free water

Buy 2 participating products and get a free Clorox Disinfecting Wipes

Pick 4 Packages of Produce for $7.99:
Strawberries, Blackberries, Blueberries 2/$5.00
Grape Tomatoes, Peeled Carrots or Cauliflower, Fresh Spinach or Peppers 2/$5.00
Red Potatoes or Yellow Onions 2/$5.00
CA Navel Oranges 2/$5.00
McINtosh or Empire Apples 2/$5.00
Mushrooms 2/$5.00
Cantaloupe 2/$5.00
Ocean Spray Craisins 2/$5.00
Natrually Fresh Organic Salad Dressing 2/$5.00
Mann’s Organic Veg. Medley 2/$5.00
Organic White Mushrooms 2/$5.00

B1G1 Free:
Doritos
Friendly’s Ice Cream
Ball Park Franks
Fresh Ground Turkey (Jennie-O)
Bar-S Bacon
Pier 33 Mussells in Butter Garlic
Sunkist Almond Slices
Asian Sensations Appetizers B1G1 Free

10/$10.00
Coke/Diet/Sprite
Shoppers Value Pizza
Shaw’s Whipped Topping
Chimichangas
Tuttorosso Tomatoes
Del Monte Vegetables
Equaline Toothpaste
Kleenex; Use with $1.00/4 Kleenex Coupons
Prince Pasta; Use with $1.00/6 Shaw’s Printable
Gl. Vitaminwater or Smartwater; Use with tear-pad coupons found at local gas stations
Knorr Lipton sides; Use with $0.75/2 Knorr Coupon (4.05 UL)–doubled to $1.50/2…each is only $0.25!
Hunt’s Pasta Sauce
Pretzels/Cheese Curls
Easy Mac
Powerade; buy 10, get 5 Free
Shaw’s Bread
Powerbar
1 Gal. Poland Springs
Wise Chips
Sobe Lean or Lifewater
Canned Fruit
Sour Cream
Odwalla Bar
Shaw’s Ice Cream cones
Cranberry Sauce
Grated Parm. cheese
Shaw’s Tissues
Shaw’s Rice Mix
Shaw’s Barbeque Sauce
Equaline Dental Floss
Polar Soda
Shaw’s Coffee Filters

Wow, not such a great week overall, but some good individual deals…and it looks like there’s not much hope for us wishing for more circulars to be posted online! As of now, it seems like the Market Basket site is down–let’s cross our fingers for a site update!

Center Cut Pork Chops $1.69/lb.

Center Cut Chuck Steak or Roast, Bone-IN $1.79/lb.

Lamb Leg $3.99/lb.

Deli Rare Roast beef $3.99/lb.

Coho Salmon Fillets $5.99/lb.

Florida’s Natural Orange Juice 2/$5.00

Healthy Choice Entrees 3/$5.00

Prince Pasta 5/$5.00

Pastene Tomatoes 6-pack $5.99

Stem Cluster Tomatoes $1.29/lb.

2-lb. California Sweet Strawberries $3.29
Save $1.00 when you buy 2 Entenmann’s All Butter Loaf Cakes 2/$5.00

Country Kitchen Scotch Oatmeal Bread $0.99

Thin Crisps 2/$4.00

Kashi Sale:
Go Lean Cereal 2/$5.00
Heart to Heart Cereal 2/$6.00
Tasty Little Bars 2/$5.00
Tasty Little Snack Cracker 2/$5.00
Oatmeal 2/$5.00
Pizza $4.99
Dinners 2/$6.00

Chicken Legs, Thighs, Drumsticks $1.09/lb.

Boneless Beef Loin Sirloin Strip Steak $4.99

Carando Quarter Sliced Ham $2.39/lb.

Near East Pasta Sides 2/$4.00

Yoplait Go-Gurt $1.99
Use with $1.00/2 Yo Plait Coupon (3.22 SS)
for 2/$2.98

Athenos Crumbled Feta $2.99

Smart Balance Spread 2/$5.00
Use with B1G1 Free Smart Balance coupon (3.01 RP)
for 2/$2.50

Powerade Drinks 5/$5.00
Buy 5, get 2 Free

Coke, Dr. Pepper, Sprite, Zero 3/$3.00

Life/Cap’n Crunch 2/$5.00
Use with $1.00/2 Life Coupon
for 2/$4.00

Quaker Quakes 3/$3.00

Rice a Roni 5/$5.00
Use with $1.00/4 Rice a Roni Coupon (3.08 RP)
for 5/$4.00

Red-e-Mixt Bread Crumbs $0.99

Dove Soap 4-Pack $4.99

Lemons 4/$1.00

Mangos 2/$1.00

Blackberries 2/$3.00

Green Beans $0.89

Summer or Zucchini Squash $0.89

Hydroponic Boston Lettuce 2/$3.00

Tender Green Spinach $1.29

California Celery Hearts $1.79

Red Sweet Peppers $1.99/lb.

Sweet Slicing Onions $0.69/lb.

Spring Refresh Contest–No purchase necessary, and you could win home cleaning services for a year! See store for details. I’d love to see a New England Savings reader win this, after all your hard work to get the most for your money! If anyone does win, come back and let us know!

Split Chicken Breast $0.99

Boneless Pork Sirloin Steak $0.99

Shoulder Steak for London Broil $1.79

Hannaford Hamburger Buns $0.99

Hannaford Yogurt $0.45

Hannaford Creamy Peanut Butter 2/$3.00

Hannaford Elbox Macaroni $0.87

Gatorade 5/$5.00

Red Vine Cluster Tomatoes $1.69/lb.

Old Neighborhood Roast Beef $4.99/lb.

Taste of Inspiration Maple & Brown Sugar Ham $5.99

Organic Bananas $0.79/lb.
Organic Baby Peeled Carrots $1.99/1 lb. Bag
Extra Firm Tofu $2.49 each

Granny Smith or Braeburn Apples $0.99/lb.
Navel Oranges 4/$1.00
Green Peppers $1.49/lb.
Red Potatoes $2.49/4 lb. bag
Zucchini $0.99/lb.
Red or Green leaf lettuce $0.99 each

Freihofer’s Italian Bread 2/$4.00

Hannaford Mustard $0.99

Ace of Diamond White Chunk Tuna 5/$5.00

Kraft American Cheese Singles $1.99

Cabot Sour Cream $1.19

Simply Smart Milk 2/$6.00
Use with two $1.00/1 Simply Smart Coupons (3.08 SS)
for 2/$4.00

Wholly Guacamole $2.29 each
Use with $1.00/1 Wholly Guacamole (2.08 SS) or printable

Era 2x Laundry Detergent $3.99

Bounty Basic or Marcal Paper Towel Big Roll $1.59
Use with Marcal B1G1 Free coupon (4.05 SS)
and get 2/$1.59

Hannaford Baking Soda $0.89

Hannaford Scouring Pads $0.99

Hannaford White Vinegar $2.00/128 oz.

Clorox Bleach $1.99

Nature’s Place:
Celery Hearts $1.99
Baby Spinach $2.99
Chicken Thighs/Drumsticks $1.69/lb.
Pasta $1.39
Soy Milk $2.79
Black Beans $1.19
Apple Juice $2.84

3-Day Sale April 10-12, 2009:
Cook’s Spiral Sliced Ham $1.39/lb.
Semi-Boneless Beef Rib Roast $4.99/lb.
Shadybrook Farms $0.99/Fresh Turkey; Use with Shadybrook Farms printable
John Morrell Smoked Ham $0.99/lb.
Carando Sliced Ham $1.99/lb.
Leg of Lamb $2.99/lb.
Hummel Spiral Sliced Half Ham $1.99/lb.
Hillshire Farm Brown sugar spiral sliced ham $1.99/lb.
Butterball Fresh Turkey $1.29/lb.
Shady Brook Farms Fresh Turkey Breast $2.29/lb.; use with Shadybrook Farms Printable

All-Week:
Strawberries 3/$5.00
Asparagus $1.69/lb.

Coke 4/$10.00

Land O Lakes Butter $1.99
Use with $1.00/2 Land O Lakes Coupon (3.29 SS)
for 2/$2.98

80% Lean Ground Beef $1.99/lb.

Large Artichokes $0.99 each

Red/White/Yellow Russet Potatoes $0.99/lb.

Sweet Potatoes or Yams $0.99

Fresh Italian Meatballs $3.49/lb.

Bay Scallops or Littleneck Clams $3.99/lb.

Hood Sour Cream 3/$5.00
Use with $1.00/2 Hood Coupon (4.05 RP)
for 3/$4.00

Cascadian Farm Organic Cereal 2/$6.00
Use with two $1.00/1 Cascadian Farm coupons (2.22 SS)
for 2/$4.00

Powerade 10-Pack Buy 2, Get 1 Free

Hersheys Single Candy Bars Buy 2 Get 1 Free

Cereal Bars 4/$6.00
Fiber One Chewy Bars, Nature Valley Granola Bars  or Chex Mix Bars. All Varieties & Sizes. (Excludes Bonus Size Family Pack.) Limit 1 offer per transaction.
Use with two $1.00/2 Fiber One coupons (3.08 SS) for 4/$4.00
Use with two $1.00/2 Nature Valley coupons (3.08 SS) for 4/$4.00

B1G1 Free
Lay’s Potato Chips
Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain Wheat Breads
Thomas English Muffins
Philadelphia Cream Cheese
Hillshire Farm Kielbasa or Smoked Sausage B1G1 Free; Use with $1.00/3 Hillshire Smoked Sausage coupon (3.08 RP) and get 4-for-the-price-of-2-less-$1.00
Oscar Mayer Sliced Bacon
Breyers
CareOne Vitamins
Ballpark Beef Franks; Use with $1.00/2 Ballpark Coupon (3.15.09 SS)
Rondele Cheese Spreads or Pub Cheese
Simply Enjoy Water crackers
Planters Mixed Nuts
Sylvania Daylight Bulbs

10/$10.00 Round-up
Birds Eye Boxed Vegetables
Ittibitz Ice Cream cups
S&S Pasta
Velveeta Shells & Cheese Cups
B&M Baked Beans
Kraft Macaroni & cheese
Knorr Pasta Sides: Use with $1.00/3 Knorr Coupon (1.18.09 RP)
Near East Rice Pilaf
Nestle or Hershey Big Box Candy
Stop & Shop Fruit Cocktail