Menu Plan - Week of 3/30/09

Monday: Chicken Helper: Jambalaya, Corn, Peas, Bread

Tuesday: Cheeseburgers, French Fries

Wednesday: Oven Fried Pork, Corn, Green Beans, Beans, Bread

Thursday: Mac & Cheese, Carrots, Crescent Rolls

Friday: Pizza, Salad

Saturday: Spaghetti, French Bread

Sunday: Cream of Mushroom Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole

Jeff and I tried to do a menu before but I did not have enough resources. I have found a website called I'm an Organizing Junkie that does a Menu Plan Monday. They post and many other people do the same. I should be able to get plenty of ideas and hopefully we can start trying out new recipes again. I also stumbled upon MyRecipes.com which looks like a great resource. I also check out Menus4Moms.com for other ideas. It was always nice to plan for the week because then you always had the food on hand.

Mailbox Monday

I started reading a blog called, A Frugal Friend, which was designed to help families reduce their expenses through grocery deals, coupons, rebates and by receiving free products from reputable companies.

I started looking into the free offers and received a few last week. I received the Head & Shoulders sample and a Real Simple produce manager magnet reminder. I also received the Oriental Trading and Things Remembered catalog free in the mail. I have signed up for the free magazine offers, but still awaiting to get my first ones. Check in next Monday to see what I get free this week!

GCD Studios

Recently, I learned GCD Studios had an open design team call. I applied to be on their design team. Overall, they had 471 people apply for the 8 positions! All I can say is WOW! Heidi will make a decision tomorrow for the new design team members by calling them!

Coordinates Collections - March Magic Cyber Crop #7

Here is my layout for MMCC #7. I primarily used September 2007 "Hello Fall" kit. This challenge was to use 4 different leftover alphabet fonts on the layout! The sketch layout is from Pink Sketches. It can be found here. I created a 2-page layout by mirroring the sketch. This worked great for birthday pictures from a recent party Jakob and I attended for one of his friends at school. The journaling mentions Going Bonkers and date 11/15/08.

The 4 different stickers I used are as followed:
Happy - KI Memories
{B-Day} - Zach's Life
4 - Heidi Grace
Sarah - Reminisce Boys Gone Wild

Coordinates Collections - March Magic Cyber Crop #6

It has been a busy weekend so far. This is my first challenge to complete since I was printing resumes and preparing for today's job fair. The job fair went well. Tonight, I finally was able to scrap!!

Here is my layout for MMCC #6. I primarily used September 2007 "Hello Fall" kit. The cupcake paper is Junkitz - Birthday Party. Alphabet letters are Doodlebug Design, Inc - Shin-Dig. The birthday party stickers were from my stash. This challenge was to look at the gallery and scraplift it! I chose awjmgmom's layout. It is found here. This layout was perfect for Troy's 2nd birthday party that Jakob and I attended.

Coordinates Collections March 2009 Challenge #2: Future Looks Bright

I used Coordinates Collections' September 2007 "Hello Fall" Kit. The flowers and buttons are from my current stash. The flowers were a recent purchase from Target - think Making Memories. This is an older picture of Jakob. I took this picture April 15, 2007. He was 2 years old. This month's Challenge #2 from CC was the following: I want to see your layout using flowers. They can be any type of flowers: hand-cut, stickers, felt, chipboard, fabric, plastic etc… and you can use as many as you want, but you must use at least 5...
I created this layout using a sketch from SketchThis. It can be found here:

Coordinates Collections - Pre-Crop Challenge #1

As mentioned in my previous post, Coordinates Collections is hosting an March Magic Cyber Crop this upcoming weekend! Pre-Crop Challenge #1 was to show a picture of your scrapping space AS IT IS right now!! Then, if it needs to be, ahem, tidied up a bit, take another pic and post that too!! I found this to be a fun challenge and my general scrapping area is clean again! I do my scrapping on the card table, BUT as I do things in here my things tend to spread to my desk and my dresser!! So this was great to clean it all back up! I'm sure my DH will appreciate this challenge!!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

CVS and Walgreens: March 24th

Walgreens
Transaction #1:

Listerine - 2 for $9.00 (Plus additional $3.00 RR)
-$2 Listerine Total Care, printable (IE) or printable (FF)

Total Before Savings and Coupons: $9.98
Total After Walgreens Savings: $9.00
Total Spent: $4.98
Total Saved: $5.00 or 50%
RR Remaining: $3.00 (I also received 2 coupons for future Listerine purchases. $2.00/1 and $1.00/1)

Transaction #2:

Kellogg's Frosted Flakes - 4 for $10.00
Kellogg's Frosted Flakes - 4 for $10.00
-$1.00/2 off Kellogg's Frosted Flakes printable
Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats - 4 for $10.00
-$1 off Kellogg’s Multi-Grain Krispies, Raisin Bran Extra, 11.2 oz., RP 2/22
Kellogg's Special K Strawberry Bars - 4 for $10.00
-.70/1 Kellogg’s Special K Protein or Kellogg’s All-Bran Fiber Product, any 4ct.+ RP 2/22
(Purchase 4 Kellogg's Cereals, Get $2.00 RR)

Total Before Savings and Coupons: $15.00
Total After Walgreens Savings: $10.00
Total Spent: $4.30 (I used the $3.00 RR from Transaction #1)
Total Saved: $10.70 or 71%
RR Remaining: $2.00

CVS

Crest Pro-Health Enamel Care - $3.49 (ECB $3.49)
-.75/1 Crest Paste or Gel, 4.2oz+ PG 3/01

Trident Xtra Care Gum - $0.99 (I could not find this at Walgreens for $0.79 price)
-$.75/1 Trident Xtra Care Gum, single pack, SS 3/08

Compound W Wart Remover - $10.99

Total Before Savings and Coupons: $16.37
Total After CVS Savings: $15.47
Total Spent: $5.99
Total Saved: $10.38 or 63%
ECB Remaining: $3.49 and $5.00 off $15.00 coupon

***

Total Before Savings and Coupons: $41.35
Total After Store Savings: $34.47
Total Spent: $15.27
Total Saved: $26.08 or 63%
Remaining ECB/RR: $5.49 and $5.00 off $15.00 coupon

Coordinates Collections - March Magic Cyber Crop

MARCH CROP DETAILS!

Join us at Coordinates Collections for the March Magic Cyber Crop!! Challenges will be posted on the CC CYBER CROP section of the Forum at NOON(Central) on Friday, March 27th, and you will have until MIDNIGHT (Central) on Sunday, March 29th post your creations in the CC Gallery.

Your participation will earn you not only a CC store discount (anywhere from 4-24%), but ALSO chances to win the March Magic Cyber Crop GRAND PRIZE!! They will also have LOTS of games to play and chances for other little prizes!! Do you like rainbows? How about a pot of gold? If so, our March Magic Cyber Crop is where you NEED to be the weekend of March 27th-29th!!!

One grand prize winner will get to choose EITHER a $30 Gift Certificate to the CC store OR TWO FREE kits!!! Be sure to mark your calendars and be ready for the scrapping fun!

PRE-CROP CHALLENGES

Just to get everyone in the mood... CC will be issuing some pre-crop challenges during the week before the crop too!! Pre-Crop Challenge #1 and Pre-Crop Challenge #2 have already been posted! One pre-crop challenge will be posted each day until the crop.

There is also a Spread the Word challenge to email, blog or post on another forum (follow all forum rules when posting on other boards) about the CC Cyber Crop. Click the link to see the details.

Kroger: March 22nd

We only needed a few things today from Kroger. The Coke 12-packs were still in the car when I quickly took this picture.

Coke Zero 12 packs - $4.00 each; or Buy 3 for $10.00
- $1.00 Coupon from MyCokeRewards.com
- $1.00 Coupon from MyCokeRewards.com
- $1.00 Coupon from MyCokeRewards.com

Yoplait Yougurts - $0.60 each; 12 for $6.00
- $0.40 Shortcuts.com
- $0.60 Shortcuts.com
- $0.40 SmartSource Coupon Insert 03/22
- $0.40 BONUS Coupon
- $0.40 SmartSource Coupon Insert 03/22
- $0.40 BONUS Coupon

Hot Pockets Calzone - $2.50

- $1.50 Catalina Coupon

Total Before Coupons and Sales: $25.04
Total After Kroger Savings: $20.87
Total Spent: $11.77
Total Saved Overall: $13.27 or 53%

Coordinates Collections March 2009 Challenge #1: Ice

Each month, Coordinates Collections has challenges and prizes. Here is Challenge #1:
I want to see your layout using bright and bold colors…. I want to see them light up the gallery. You can use neutrals (white, ivory, kraft, black) as accent colors but the primary colors in your layouts should be bright and bold! No pastels need apply for this challenge...

I am so glad to have this layout completed. The paper and pictures have been sitting on my black card table for about a week. Between keeping the boys extremely busy for Spring break, I was running out of time to scrap. When I had some free time, I was tired and worn out!! Tonight, I went through the different sketches and found this one from Pencil Lines. It is their Sketch #126.
I rotated the sketch clockwise 90 degrees to fit my pictures better. Here is my take on the sketch:

Majority of the paper is the SEI Glitzmas Assortment Pack from the Coordinates Collections Store. The red and white cardstock were from my stash and the ribbon was from a previous kit. The stickers are Doodlebug Designs "Shin-Dig" and were from a kit. The buttons are from my new recent collection that I bought from Wal-Mart!

Journaling: We had ice on Jan. 27-28. It was bad enough to cancel many schools! Jakob had fun "carefully" slipping n' sliding.
Jakob - almost 4 years old!

Coordinates Collections May 2009 Kits & Addons

Jamie from Coordinates Collections has posted previews of the May 2009 kits and extra addons on her blog! They look lovely!

KIT 1 includes products from Scribble Scrabble, Sassafras Lass, My Minds Eye, Pink Paislee, a fun Daisy Bucket bird stamp and Prima:

KIT 2 includes products from Little Yellow Bicycle, SEI, My Minds Eye, Jillybean Soup, and Buttons Galore:I think I really love Kit 2. The colors are so bright and cheerful. There is a contest to name the 2 kits over at the forum. If you think of names, you can post them at the CC Forum! These May kits and addons will be available for preorder for non-subscribers and selection by subscribers on April 1 at 10 am MST. The May kits will ship May 8-10.

March 2009 PageMaps Card Sketch: Thanks

I created this layout using one of PageMaps card sketches:
Here is my take on the sketch:
I created this card for my mom. She came to visit on Friday-Saturday (3/14-3/15) and we had so much fun! We were able to go shopping together without the kids on Friday and then we did some more shopping with the kids on Saturday. She always splurges on things, but normally on everyday things you need (like clothes, etc) that you don't always buy...especially on yourself. I tend to buy for the kids first before buying me new clothes. Thanks MOM!

ANYHOW... All the paper on this card were in my scrap tray. I'm not really that good at remembering who made what once it goes in my scrap tray. Some of the paper is from the February 2008 "Groovy Chick" kit. The blue stickers are Heidi Grace and the tab is from Paper Salons.

Kroger: March 16th

I did okay today at Kroger. Not everything had coupons, but some of the stuff was needed. I was able to display everything we purchased in the picture except for 3 freezer items.

Here were the really good buys:
Betty Crocker Boxed Potatoes .99¢ ea
-.40/1BC Potatoes Cellfire e coupon
-.40/1 BC Potatoes printable or printable (use with e coupon makes it FREE plus .21¢ overage)

Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks $1.49 ea
-.75/2 Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks Cellfire e coupon
-.50/1 Betty Crocker Fruit Stickers SS 2/01 (makes it .49¢ ea)

Kellogg’s Cereal 8.56-18 oz, $2.09 ea
Frosted Mini Wheats
-.70/1 any Kellogg’s Cereal 10oz or larger RP 2/22 (makes it $1.39)

Chex Mix $2.29 ea
-.60/1 Chex Mix Cellfire e coupon
-.50/1 Chex or Cheerios Mix SS 2/22 (use with e coupon makes it .69¢ ea)

Pillsbury Toaster Strudel $1.49 ea
-.50/1 Toaster Strudel Cellfire e coupon
-.35/1 Toaster Strudel printable or printable or SS 2/08 (use with cellfire makes it .29¢)

Yoplait Yogurt Cups .62¢ ea
-.50/6 Yoplait Cups printable
-.40/6 Yoplait Cups SS 2/08
-.50/6 Yoplait Cups Cellfire e coupon (use with .50/6 paper coupon makes it .37¢ ea)

Crest Pro-Health Enamel Shield Toothpaste 6 oz $2.99 ea
-$1 off Crest Pro Health Toothpaste PG 2/08, RP 2/22
-$1.50 off Crest Pro Health 4.2 or larger PG e coupon (use with paper coupon makes it .49¢)

Total Before Coupons and Sales: $81.92
Total After Kroger Savings: $67.77
Total Spent: $52.34
Total Saved Overall: $29.58 or 36%

CVS: March 15th

I have been reading a new blog called Southern Savers. It puts together the current specials at different retailers and coupons associated with those items to get the most out of your money. Today I went to CVS for their specials!

Here's what I bought today at CVS:
$4.99 - Irish Spring Body Wash 15 oz. Limit 1
-$1.00 off Coupon

$2.99 - Colgate Max Whitening Toothpaste 6 oz Limit 1
-$0.75 off Coupon

$7.99 - Revlon Lipliner (Buy 1 Get 1 Free)
$7.99 - Revlon Lipliner (Buy 1 Get 1 Free)
-$0.50 off Coupon

$1.19 - Doublemint Gum
-$1.19 off Coupon

$3.29 - 2% Milk

Total Before Sales and Coupons: $29.48
Total Spent: $7.76 (I had a Gift Card)
Total Saved: $21.72 or 73.7%
Extra Care Bucks Remaining: $7.98

(If you factor in the the $7.98 ECB, I technically made $0.22 from my shopping trip!)

March 2009 PageMaps Card Sketch: Hello! Card

I created this layout using one of PageMaps card sketches:
Here is my take on the sketch:I used my scraps to create the card except for the stickers which were in my stash. The leftover scraps are from Coordinates Collections February 2008 "Groovy Chick" kit.

Coordinates Collections March 2009 Card Sketch: Thank You

I created this layout using the Coordinates Collections' March 2009 Card Sketch.
Here is my take on the sketch:
I created this Thank You card using mainly scrap pieces from previous CC kits. The thank stickers are from the CC Celebration kit and the you stickers are from my stash.

Coordinates Collections March 2009 2-Page Sketch: Hawaii

I created this layout using Coordinates Collections' March 2009 2 Page sketch.
Here is my take on the sketch:Journaling: Mom and Dad went to visit Randy and Nikki in Hawaii in December 2007. Randy was stationed there with the US Navy.

Supplies: Red cardstock, Patterned paper (Zach's Life), Hawaii sticker (Hambly Studios), Airplane stickers (Jolee's by You), Hawaii stickers (Jolee's boutique), Tourist stickers (Jolee's boutique).

Gettin Sketchy - March 2009 Sketch: Time to Play

I bought the paper from the Coordinates Collections' store. It was called Piggy Tales Paper Pack, Steadfast Tin Soldier. The brads were from the February 2008 "Groovy" kit. The playground stickers are EK Success Jolee's boutique Park Fun. I used Heidi Grace cardstock alphas stickers for the title and the number 3.

The design is based on a March 2009 sketch from Gettin Sketchy. The sketch can be found here:


Journaling: On June 23, 2008 Jakob and Mommy went to the Rockbrook Elementary playground. Here is my take on the sketch:

Teacher Job Fair

Well, I went to the first job fair for the 2009-2010 school year. Over 700 people were registered to attend the job fair. It was split into two sections: Elementary and Secondary. My degree and certification classifies me as Secondary. I am Texas certified 4th-8th Generalist, ESL Generlist 4th-8th, and Math 4th-8th. I want to teach middle school math. There are normally more people for the Elementary levels than Secondary. It was a really organized job fair. To give you an idea of how many people were there applying for a variety of positions, I was number 192! The lady I sat next too arrived right at 8:30AM and was number 98! Others around me had numbers in the 240s, so I am guessing they had an easy 300 people on the secondary side. I think my 5 minute interview went okay. I try not to over analyze it. There is another job fair at a college this upcoming Wednesday.

Job Fairs Beginning Soon

Job fairs are right around the corner including a few this weekend. I have been diliently working on applications to the variety of school districts in the area. Tonight I did a few more including updating my resume on LinkedIn.

I WON!!! -- February: Coordinates Collections 3 Sketches & Challenges

Each month, Coordinates Collections creates a variety of scrapbook challenges. As you complete challenges, the pictures are uploaded for others to see. Today, I found out I won two different contests for February: the 3 sketches contest and the February challenges! My card was selected and it was the birthday card I had made my brother. Funny thing...I won the 3 sketches contest on his birthday! For the challenges, I created 9 Reasons I Love You, A Good Read, and my bff erica.