July 31, 2015
Tomorrow is errand day, so I’m gathering my coupons and planning my route to make the day more efficient and a little more fun. How can I not get excited about the prospect of a free Slurpee? 7-Eleven is offering a free item every Saturday and Sunday in August after 12pm. No purchase is necessary. You simply have to scan your 7-Eleven app. I just downloaded the app today, so I hope it all works smoothly. I plan to test it out tomorrow for that free Slurpee! For more details on how to get the app, you can go to www.7-eleven.com/7rewards/. Basically, you text EARN to 711711. They will reply with the link to download the app. The scheduled FREEkend giveaways are:
8/1-8/2 Free Medium Fanta Lemonade Slurpee
8/8-8/9 Free 15-Stick Pack of Juicy Fruit Starburst Gum
8/15-8/16 Free Medium Fanta Lemonade Slurpee
8/22-8/23 Free Snickers Single Bar
8/29-8/30 Free Butterfinger Single Bar
Tomorrow is also the last day to get 49 cent Dr Pepper 2-liter bottles at Target. Go to Myconfectioncorner.com to print save $1 on two 2-liter bottles of Dr Pepper coupons. Reading Target’s coupon policy, they do accept all manufacturer’s coupons including those that say redeemable at Wal-Mart. Target currently has a Cartwheel bonus of 50% off all 2-liter sodas. I have not personally price checked Dr Pepper at my Target, but MySavings.com indicates a starting cost of $1.99 and after all price reductions a final value of $.49. I look forward to checking that out, applying my RedCard savings, and bringing my own shopping bags for additional credit. HEB recently ran a $.50 off a 2-liter bottle of soft drink coupon in the weekly coupon mailer. Unless they’ve raised their prices, I should be able to get a 2-liter of cola for 50 cents there.
Check your JCPenney coupons as well. The last mailing I received has a $10 off $10 purchase coupon which expires tomorrow. It’s a great opportunity to get a jump start on Christmas shopping, birthday presents or back to school items.
Planning ahead for next week, go to Target.com and print 2 of the manufacturer’s coupons: Save $1 on two boxes of select General Mills cereals. I am not sure if this coupon will still be available after today. Target’s new ad starting 8/2 is supposed to offer a $5 gift card with the purchase of 5 General Mills kids cereals. Select General Mills cereals are supposed to be on sale for $2.50 each. Mysavings.com says to buy 3 boxes of Lucky Charms on sale for $2.50 each and 2 boxes of Cinnamon Toast Crunch on sale for $2.50 a box. Using two of the $1 off two coupons, you will pay $10.50 out of pocket and receive a $5 Target gift card. Each box of cereal then comes out to $1.10.
So amidst my more mundane errands, I look forward to a free Slurpee, snagging some bargain soda, and selecting something special from JCP. Planning ahead should minimize my time away from home which is very important to one furry feline who needs my full attention.
July 30, 2015
I just returned home yesterday from a 9 day journey to and from Wisconsin for my annual family reunion. Prior to leaving, my kitchen was 
pretty bare, but I knew traveling with my older brother and nephew I’d better bring snacks. Assessing what I had on hand, I whipped up a batch of “Road Trippin’ Ginger Cookies“. You can find the recipe on the “Travel Treats” page under the main “Recipes” section. I also packed a small insulated cooler full of sodas. Bringing my own pop along, I am able to remain frugal without feeling deprived. We purchased “buckets” of food and shared along the way. For example, McDonald’s has 20 piece chicken nuggets for $5. We ordered those along with a side of large fries and drank water. As soon as I was back in the vehicle, I could drink my carbonated bliss. A can of soda you bring along will cost you about 20-30 cents. Ordering a pop in a fast food restaurant can get close to $2. If you have multiple people in your group and stop more than once, that can add up quickly.
During the third leg of the road trip, I met up with my younger brother in Iowa. Now traveling with him and my nephew can lead to emergency stops–like those caused by sudden blue raspberry slushie cravings. Fortunately we soon found a gas station that just happened to have a variety of slushies for only 99 cents! Jackpot! Of course it might have been worth the extra couple of bucks to forego the whining and complaining about the subpar quality of the cheap slushies. They really weren’t that bad, and I think the snack craving duo was happy.
Road trips are fun especially when shared with your family and friends. I know my family and I made several memories this past week that we will treasure and laugh about for years to come. With a little planning ahead, you can take some of the financial burden out of the journey without feeling like you’re missing out on anything.
July 29, 2015
Big news for burger lovers today! Sonic is offering 1/2 price cheeseburgers all day. The offer is valid on single-patty cheeseburgers with a limit of 5, and add-ons cost extra. If you stop by during Happy Hour (2 pm-4 pm), you can get their sodas, limeades, famous slushes, and iced teas for half price as well. My favorite is the cherry limeade. Num! I think Sid would love a Sonic ice water with the good, small, slushy ice that’s hard to find anymore. Eat well today and stay refreshed!
July 22, 2015
Digging through my coupon stash, I was happy to find the exact ones I needed for this week’s pursuit of kitty litter. While a primitive methodology, my shoebox of savings has proven to be a treasure chest at times. Each week when the new ads arrive in the mail, I pull out what obviously needs to be recycled and “file” the rest of the coupons literally in a shoebox. I prefer to clip the coupons, but if I don’t have time, I just throw the entire page into the box, so when I need to go shopping, I can go to my stash and see if I have an appropriate coupon. Target’s new weekly ad features Tidy Cats kitty litter and Purina Cat Chow on sale for $11.99 each and offers a $5 gift card with the purchase of two. I was pleased to see this sale since Sid was needing a nice refresher. Now through July 25, Cartwheel has an extra 10% off Tidy Cats clumping litter, and Target also has an in-house coupon for $1.00 off the 35 lb tub of Tidy Cats. My coupon stash provided multiple manufacturer’s coupons for Tidy Cats ($1.05 and $1.00 off) and Purina Cat Chow ($1.00 off). If you have not been collecting coupons, you can go to Coupons.com and print a $1.05 off Tidy Cats kitty litter manufacturer’s coupon and go to Target.com to print Target’s $1.00 off Tidy Cats coupon. I do not believe I could use the coupons such that I could buy two tubs of kitty litter using double coupons on both, so I decided to go ahead and stock up on Purina Cat Chow. Sid had no objections to this plan. So basically, I was able to get a 35 lb tub of kitty litter and a 16 lb bag of Purina Cat Chow Indoor Kitty at $11.99 each, use a $1.05 off manufacturer’s coupon, $1.00 off Target coupon, a $1.00 Purina Cat Chow coupon, get 10% off the litter using Cartwheel, get a $5 gift card, and get 5% Red Card savings. Because I had coupons set to expire fairly soon and the extra 10% Cartwheel was a nice added savings, I decided to make two purchases. The first of which provided me with a $1.50 off Purina Cat Chow coupon at the point of purchase which was a sweet bonus. The second transaction was quite similar to the first other than my Tidy Cat manufacturer’s coupon was a $1.00 off instead of $1.05, I now had the $1.50 Cat Chow coupon instead of $1.00, and I could use the $5 gift card from the first transaction. The bottom line for two 35 lb tubs of Tidy Cat kitty litter and two 16 lb bags of Cat Chow was $27.75 without tax if you subtract out the unused $5 gift card. That averages out to $6.94 each item. I think that’s an excellent deal, and you better believe I chose the kitty litter buckets that contained the free Purina Cat Chow Gentle Formula samples. Once I input the new cat food codes into our Purina My Cat Chow Perks account, Sid and I made “Rising Star” status. Since this shopping trip was all about Sid, I did notice I had a coupon for the new Meow Mix Irresistibles cat treats and Cartwheel is offering an additional 10% through July 25. So I got him an extra treat for about half price. Turns out Sid can resist them. He is pretty finicky about treats though. He likes his ice water and Tumblers. I have since found another cat who was thrilled to eat the Irresistibles.
So if you are in need of cat supplies, now through July 25 is a good time to stock up at Target. Even if you don’t have a cat, consider starting a coupon stash if you don’t already have one. It doesn’t have to be much work, but the savings will be there when you need it. And remember Target’s policy of being able to use a manufacturer’s coupon, a Target coupon, and Cartwheel all on one product–stack the savings. Added sale prices, gift cards, and free samples make it even better! Sid’s special corner of the house has been nicely refreshed and his belly will remain full for months to come. Life is good for one big gray cat.
July 18, 2015
I had to make a quick run to the grocery store yesterday. Knowing the summer selling season is nearing its end, I took the long route to the far entrance of the store. The extra steps proved fruitful. A bright purple 45 inch kiddie pool grabbed my attention on closeout for $4.84. That’s the perfect price at which to snag my next raised bed garden container. I selected my pool and carried it to the entrance where the carts are located wondering how I was going to shop with this obtuse object. Balancing the pool over the top of the cart, I precariously entered the store in search of the few items actually on my list. The vibrant violet beacon seemed to call out to everyone in my path. A group of three male employees saw me headed in their direction. One said, “Some kids are going to be really excited to get that.” Don’t judge me. I just went along with it, smiled, and said, “Yes, indeed!” Hey, I have a three year old at home who’s going to be thrilled watching me create my magic with this one. Sid finds me and my projects thoroughly amusing. I’m a great source of entertainment for him. “What on earth is she going to do with that?! What did she bring home now?!” The friendly checkout lady gushed all about the pool as well. I probably should have told her my actual mission and referred her to my site, but I just rolled with it and exchanged pleasantries. Arriving home, as predicted, Sid was intrigued by the big round tub. He jumped right in it. In fact, he loves the thing. Last night, he jumped in and out and in and out of it. I’d toss him toys and cat treats. He’d peer just over the top of the rim to see what was going on outside his fortress walls. So I guess someone really was excited to get that shiny new pool. I had to laugh.
Now is the time of year to look for closeout lawn and garden items. At the end of June, I found a large pot 50% off at Target. I felt $6.74 was a fair price considering the size. As I mention in “Yard & Garden” under Containers, both the flower pot and swimming pool are great vessels for planting a garden. I think they will be perfect additions to my growing farm, if I can reclaim the pool from Sid.
July 17, 2015
How the bird cottage fell down this spring remains a mystery in our house. When I went to pick up the toppled abode, I was surprised to see that it showed signs of residents. I sometimes theorize Sid went to serve an eviction notice and things went awry, but he’s not talking.
The intricate birdhouse was weathered and in need of a little maintenance. Because of the fine details, I used a brush to revive the worn exterior instead of spray paint. A fresh coat did wonders for the bird haven, and it passed Sid’s final inspection. He thought it was great fun to hide behind like a fort and had his paws all inside it while the back was still removed.
The painting was easy. It’s getting it stable again on its bracket that’s the challenge, as the gorilla glue stuck all over my fingers will attest. So while the birdhouse has returned to the top of its perch, there’s still work to be done securing it. And thus, I must concede that no blame should be cast regarding the most unfortunate crash. We shall deem it a foundation issue.
The birdhouse is just one example of how simple and inexpensive it can be to give older items new life. So before throwing out that rusted bird feeder or faded lawn decor, consider taking a little time to spruce it up. A splash of color looks great in the yard. Visit the “Refresh” page of Yard & Garden for more ideas.
July 15, 2015
Today is a big day in our house. It’s Sid’s birthday! My furry little three year old was bright eyed and bushy tailed early this morning. His energy was off the charts, and he was on top of the world (or skyhouse at least).
Sid loves to go outside, so we went out early while the temperature was still pleasant. I was able to take some lovely photographs of my esperanza and plumbago.
Be sure to check out pictures of Sid’s birthday present on “Sid’s Birthday!” page of Sid’s Space. I busted out the power tools and creativity on this one. I also couldn’t resist sharing some of my favorite pictures of baby Sid. Sid enjoyed his tuna luncheon and is now napping happily.
July 14, 2015 Update
My efforts to restore the 2 lbs in hydration I lost this morning have suffered a temporary set back. Tonight as I sat down to enjoy my nice cold refreshing glass of water, the H2O Bandito struck again.
I’m glad someone is refreshed. I, however, am still parched. He is a cute little outlaw.
July 14, 2015
I lost 2 lbs in 2 hours this morning. Yup, I weighed when I got up, and I weighed after I finished mowing the lawn. As far as Texas summers go, we’ve had it easy, but it’s still really hot. In fact, today is supposed to be the hottest day of the year so far. So in southern summer style, I brewed up a big pitcher of sweet iced tea and poured Sid a big cup of ice water. It’s supposed to keep him out of my glass… I only wish the lemons from my lemon tree were ready. Early this spring, I transplanted the feisty citrus tree from its pot into the ground. This is the tree’s fourth season, and it seems to be the happiest it’s ever been now that it’s taken root directly in the earth. To date, I’ve had one lemon. That was last year. It currently has several green fruits on its branches. I’m very hopeful and excited.
The lemon tree is the highlight of the farm right now. I admit to being a fair weather farmer. It’s pure joy in the spring and fall, but in the intense Texas heat, I have no interest. The plants don’t really either. So we’re on break until the August planting season.
So from the farm, I’ve moved on to the belly. A true farm to table movement if you will. In the Recipe section I’ve added two new pages “Flour, Sugar, Eggs…” and “In a Pinch“. “Flour, Sugar, Eggs…” takes us back to the basics. Using the core ingredients typically on hand around the house, you can enjoy tasty homemade food without great effort or expense. Scramble some eggs to serve with the “Cinnamon Sugar Muffins” for a nice brunch or stuff “Homemade Tortillas” with those succulent scrambled eggs and top with “Coco Farms Garden Fresh Salsa” (recipe now on the main Recipes page under Tomatoes) for a breakfast or dinner with a Tex-Mex flair. “In a Pinch” beckons the song in my soul that is ingredient overlap. You can make your own additional ingredients from those you already have. Last year around Christmas, I was able to get 4 lb bags of white granulated sugar for 99 cents each. Using that to make your own brown sugar will give you a lot more quantity for less expense. These recipes are also great if you’re simply out of an ingredient and “in a pinch”.
Stay cool and hydrated, my friends!