Disney Thanksgiving Printable: Mickey Mouse Pilgrim Candy Box

Fun and Easy!!! You just to print and cut then tape or glue!!!

Download the template here:
Mickey Mouse Pilgrim Candy Box


Will you let Pilgrim Mickey have a spot at the table this Thanksgiving? Don't worry ... he doesn't eat much and even brought his own turkey leg!

Instructions:

Use scissors or a craft knife to cut out Mickey's body and each of his arms. Do not cut along dashed lines in the body or arms -- these lines are where you will fold the paper.
Take Mickey's body and make all of the folds along the dashed lines for the body and the tabs. Make each fold away from you except for Mickey's legs. For Mickey's legs, fold the top dashed line towards you and the bottom dashed line away from you. This will help Mickey sit on the edge of a table or shelf.
Glue the tabs to the inside of Mickey's body. The glued tabs will create an open box on Mickey's back.
Fold each of Mickey's arms in half along the dashed line and glue the two sides together. Be careful not to glue the tabs at the end of each arm together. Instead fold the tabs outward in opposite directions so it creates a base to attach the arm to Mickey's body. Glue each arm to Mickey's sides.
Drop a few pieces of candy into Mickey and make a special delivery!

more crafts:
Download the template here:
Minnie Mouse Pilgrim Candy Box

Mickey & Friends Thanksgiving Coloring Page

Disney Family.com's printable crafts are specially designed with muted colors to conserve your printer's color ink.

Hy-Vee Match ups and Sales 11/16-11/24

Go Here at PennyPinchinmom to see all the coupon and sales match ups My favorite matchups that I will be utilizing, Its a great add week:


 Coca-Cola Products - 4/$11

Purchase 12 packs or 6 packs. Purchase of 4 required. Limit 1 per customer.

(use your store coupon1/1 any 12 pk coke  from the fundraiser book for an even better deal at 1.75 a 12 pack! if allowed)

Pillsbury Frosting select varieties 12 to 16 oz. - $1.58

$0.35/1 Pillsbury Frosting or Brownie Mix, exp. 1/31/12 (RP 11/06/11 R)
$1/2 Pillsbury Frosting or Brownie Mix, exp. 1/31/12 (RP 11/06/11)
Final Price:As low as 2/$2.16 or $1.08 each

Crisco Cooking Oil 48 fl. oz. or Baking Sticks 20 oz. select varieties - $2.99

$1/2 Crisco Product, exp. 1/31/12 (RP 11/06/11)
$0.50/1 Crisco Product, exp. 1/31/12 (RP 11/06/11 R)
Final Price: As low as $2.49 each

Hershey’s Baking Chips select varieties 8 to 12 oz. - $1.88

$1/2 Hershey's, Reese's or Heath Baking Chips, exp. 12/31/11 (SS 11/13/11)
Final Price: As low as 2/$2.76 or $1.38 each

(look for vendor coupons on display at the end of the baking isle by the meat counter for a buy 3 get one free, Final price with that coupon would be $1.44) My side note is that I got some of those coupons about a month ago on the hersheys baking chip endcap, I don't know if there are still some or not.

General Mills Chex Cereal select varieties 12.8 to 14.25 oz. - 3/$5 or $1.67 each

$1/2 Chex Cereal, exp. 12/24/11 (GM 11/13/11)
$1.10/2 Chex Cereals printable
$1.10/2 Chex Cereals printable
$1/2 Chex Cereals: Rice Chex, Corn Chex, Wheat Chex, Honey Nut Chex, Chocolate Chex, Multi-Bran Chex, or Cinnamon Chex printable
$1.50/2 General Mills Cereal printable
$1/2 General Mills Cereal printable
$1/3 General Mills Cereal, exp. 12/3/11 (SS 10/23/11 R)
Final Price: As low as 2/$1.84 or $0.92 each

Nabisco Snack Crackers or Ritz Crackers select varieties, 5.5 to 15.5 oz. - 2/$4 or $2 each

$1/2 Nabisco Crackers printable
$0.75/2 Nabisco Crackers, exp. 12/31/11 (SS 11/13/11)

Final Price: 2/$3 or $1.50 each

 

Hy-Vee sale 11--16/ 11-23

Honeysuckle or Jennie-O Frozen Turkey free with additional purchase of $2.99lb ham and coupon



Smucker's,(use coupon from 11-06 RP) Folgers, Dunkin' Donuts, Crisco, Jif, Pillsbury, Eagle Brand or Hungry Jack Products Get $5 off instantly with $25 purchase, look at pic above!
Hy-Vee Mother's Choice Diapers $12.99
Hy-Vee Brown & Serve Rolls 2/ $3.00 $1.50
Hershey's Baking Chips $1.88
Pillsbury Cake Mix $0.88
7-Up Products 12 Pack Cans or 8 Pack Bottles 3/ $8.00 $2.67 (use hy-vee coupon booklet $1/1)
Coca-Cola Coke Products 4/ $9.00 $2.25 (use hy-vee coupon booklet $1/1)
Old Orchard Healthy Balance or Cranberry Naturals Juice Cocktail $1.77 (use
$1/1 coupon)
Hy-Vee 100% Natural Pumpkin stock up price! $0.69
Hy-Vee Green Beans or Corn $0.39
General Mills Chex Cereal 3/ $5.00 $1.67 (11-13 ,10-02 GM,10-23 S
$1.00/2)=$1.17 each

Hy-Vee Kettle Cooked, Potato or Tortilla Chips or Party Mix $1.50
Imperial Vegetable Oil Spread $0.59
Philadelphia Cream Cheese 4/ $5.00 $1.25
Cool Whip Whipped Topping $0.99
Hy-Vee Dinner Rolls $1.28
Kraft Stove Top Stuffing $0.99
Dole Celery $0.49
Dole Classic Iceberg $0.99 (use $.75/1 use zip code 99218
coupon)
Ocean Spray Cranberries $1.69
Organic Pomegranates 2/ $4.00 $2.00
Stemilt Washington Granny Smith Apples 97¢lb.
Sweet Juicy Clementines for 5lbs $5.99
Hy-Vee Spiral Sliced Whole Ham 1.99 lb.

online ad:

Post Shredded Wheat or Grape-nuts 2/ $5.00 $2.50
($1/2 use coupon + catalina)

Peter Pan Peanut Butter $2.18 use $1.50/3 – Peter Pan Peanut Butter – (bricks.coupons.com)

Country Crock, Brummel & Brown, Promise or I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!Spread $1.99 (use$1/1 coupon)=$1 each
Fancy Navel Oranges 99¢ lb.

Black Friday: Walgreens and Target

Walgreens scan Ad

Target scan Ad


thanks survivingthestores

Bass Pro Shop on Black Friday

full Scan Ad


Browning Stainless Steel Thermos/Mug Combo Kit - $14.97 each (regular price $29.99)
Secure Vault by Boyt - $39.97 each (reg $64.99)
Wildgame Innovations IR4 Scouting Camera - $49.97 (reg $99.97)
Bass Pro Shops Enigma Combo Fishing Reel/Rod - $59.97 each (reg $149.99)
Rifleman QD Manager 3 9x40 Riflescope - $169.97 each (Reg $229.99)
Includes FREE Leupold Scope Coat ($24.99 value)
11/24/11 - 11/27/11 Deals
Clothing
Bass Pro Shops Men's, Ladies & Youth Hooded Sweatshirts - $10 each
Wolverine Lined Shirt Jacket - $29.97 each (reg $54)
XPS SoftShell Systems Jacket - $29.97 each (reg $59.97)
Scent-Lok Savanna Jacket or Pants - $39.97 each (reg $99.99)
Under Armour ColdGear Evolution Men's Solid Mocks - $39.99 each (reg $49.99)
Under Armour ColdGear Evolution Men's Fitted Leggings - $44.99 each (reg $54.99)
Under Armour ColdGear Evolution Men's Camo Leggings - $49.99 each ($54.99)
Under Armour ColdGear Evolution Men's Camo Mocks - $49.99 each (reg $59.99)
Equipment
Bass Pro Shops LED Flashlight (6pk) - $7.97 each
$1.33/flashlight
Camo Fleece Throws - $7.97 each (reg $17.99)
Cuddeback Capture Digital Camera - $99.97 each (reg $199.97)
Garmin Venture HC GPS Bundle - $99.97 each (reg $299.99)
Garmin eTrex Vista HCx Topo Bundle - $159.99 each (reg $349.99)
Leupold Acadia 10x42 Binoculars - $169.97 each (reg $299.99)

Old Navy Black Friday Ad 2011: The Best Deals!

Old Navy will be opening its doors on Black Friday at Midnight. But, hold on to your hats! Old Navy is also open ON Thanksgiving from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. What?! On Thursday there is a $10 off $50 coupon in the ad. On Friday morning they are offering a free Kodak Easyshare Sport camera bundle with $40 purchase. I am sure supplies on the camera will be very limited. Old Navy also has great on-line shopping, and if you order more than $50 the shipping is FREE! Have fun and be sure to pack a snack!
Top Three Deals



Pea Coats, Sale Starts Friday at Midnight. Riveting Wool-Blend Pea Coats for the family. For kids and baby only $19 and for Adults only $29




Jeans, Sale Starts Friday at Midnight. Phenomenally Famous Jeans, All kids and baby on sale for $10 and All Adults on sale for $15



Sweaters, Sale Starts Friday at Midnight. Sweaters for the whole family are on sale for $15
Other Deals

Fleece, Sale Starts Friday at Midnight. Powerhouse Performance Fleece for kids and baby on sale for $5. Also on Saturday only the Adults Performance Fleece on sale for $8

Sleep sets, Sale Saturday only. Packaged toddler sleep sets on sale for $10

Tees, Sale Starts Friday at Midnight.Extremely Graphic Tees for the whole family on sale for $5

Tops, Sale Starts Friday at Midnight. Waffle-Knit tops for the family on sale for $7

Womens Fleece, Sale Starts Friday at Midnight. V-Neck womens Performance Fleece on sale for $5

Hoddies, Sale goes through Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Men and Womens Applique or fleece hoodies on sale for $15

Outerwear Accessories, Sale Starts Friday at Midnight.

Fleece Scarves $1
Gloves $2
Socks $3
Fleece Hat and Gloves Set $4
Slipper Slides $5

Toys R Us Black Friday Deals

Stores will be open on Thursday 11/24 (Thanksgiving Day) but start times vary by location. Check your local ad. Thanks goes to How to Have it All for help with this list. You can see the full ad scan HERE. The first 100 shoppers will receive a $500 Holiday Savings Book.

Remember to check prices on Amazon before heading out, as last year many of these deals were matched!

Doorbusters (Thursday 9pm to Friday 1pm)

VTech Learning Laptop $14.99
Power Wheels Boor or Barbie (12 volt) Mustang $199.99
Razor Sole Skate or S Scooters $19.99
Riptunes 2GB MP3 player with Video Playback $14.99
Vivitar 12.1 MP Digital Camera $39.99
Power Wheels Fisher-Price Barbie Lil Trail Rider ATV Girls Sport Quad $49.99
Babies R Us Specially Marked Diaper Value Box, 48 – 96 ct. $10 (limit 4)
Squinkies 2-Packs- 10/$10 (must buy ten)
Apple iPod Touch 32GB (4th Gen) $299.99 + Get $50 ToysRus Gift card
Apple iPod Touch 8GB (4th Gen) $199.99 + Get $50 ToysRus Gift card
LeapFrog Leapster2 Learning Game System $24.99
Sylvania 7″ Android 2.2 Tablet $74.99
Baby Alive My Baby Alive Doll $22.49
Transformers Dark of the Moon Action Figure – Ultimate Optimus Prime $47.99
Lego Sets- 35% Off
Hexbug Nano Habitat Set with 2 Hexbug Nano Units $11.99
Tech Deck 96MM Skateboards $1.99
Littlest Pet Shop Playset – Rescue Tails Center $14.99
Bratz Dolls $4.99 (reg. $10.99)
Disney Princess & Me Doll Outfits and Accessoires- B1G1 free
Bop It! Reaction or Bounce Game $10.49
Vtech Kidizoom Digital Camera $19.99
Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway Set – Thomas and Percy Starter Set $17.99
Tonka Chuck & Friends Chuck’s Stunt Park Playset $14.99
Coby 7 inch Portable DVD Player $49.99
Vivitar DVR 410 Digital Video Recorder $19.99
Canon PowerShot A2200 14.1 MP Digital Camera $89.99

Extra Doorbusters (Friday 11/25 5AM- 1PM)

Disney Princess Favorite Pink Royal Castle $19.99
Air Hogs Radio Control Helicopter $19.99
Earth’s Best Baby Food Variety or Pantry Packs- B1G1 (limit 2)
Babies R Us Scented Club Wipes 432 ct. Box $5 (limit 3)
GPX Clock Radio $4.99
Coby 7 inch Digital Picture Frame $24.99
Imaginarium Deluxe Wooden Artist Easel $49.99 – Free Imaginarium Paint and Color Starter Kit with Purchase of Any Crayola or Imaginarium Easel Priced $19.99+
LeapFrog Alphabet Pal $9.99
Vtech Jungle Gym Bouncing Colors Turtle $14.99
Tonka Bounce Back Racer $14.99
Kung Zhu Play Sets & Vehicles- B1G2 Free
Huffy 3-2-1 Trike $49.99

3 Day Sale

Nerf Dart Tag Fury Fire Blasters $17.99
Nerf Dart Tag Strikefire 2-Pack Blaster $11.19
Nerf N Sport Wall 2 Wall Basketball $9.99
Avigo Kawaski ATV $26.99
Phineas & Ferb, Strawberry Shortcake & Toy Story Bikes- 40% Off (final price $41.99-$50.99)
Select Mega Blocks Sets $9.99
Fisher-Price Imaginext Dragon World Fortress Castle $29.99
K’NEX Rippin’ Rocket Coaster 2 $29.99
Mindflex Blitz Game $47.99
Polly Pocket Pretty Packets Fashion Super Collection $14.99
My Little Pony Rainbow Dash Radio Control Airplane $9.99 (includes bonus Pony worth $5.99)
John Deere 21 inch Tractor $16.99
The Home Depot Carrying Case Workbench $14.99
Star Wars The Clone Wars Spinning Electronic Grevious Lightsaber- 50% Off
Transformers 2 Deluxe Figures- B1G2 Free
Kung Zhu Hamsters & Armor- 5/$10 (must buy 5)
Sony DVDs & Blu-ray Movies $3.99 (reg. $9.99)
Select Video Games for Nintendo DS, 3DS and Wii- B1G1 Free
Nintendo 3DS Super Mario Bundle $189.99 (includes Mario 3D Land and Free Super Mario Bobblehead Stylus)
Xbox 360 4GB Gaming System with Kinect $199.99 + Free $10 Toys R Us Gift Card
Kinect Sensor with Kinect Adventures Game $99.99
Sony PS3 160GB Game System Bundle $199.99 +2 Bonus Games and PS3 Power A Wired Controller
Select Video Games for XBox 360, PS3 & Wii- B1G1 for $5

Rebates

Bounce. Get a $5 mail-in rebate wyb a Bounce Outdoor Fresh 6-month Dryer Bar 11/1/11 and 12/31/11.

University Games. Get $5 back by mail wyb the gameZERO before 12/31/11.




Toys 'R Us/Mattel. Get a FREE 7x9 soft cover photo book from Shutterfly (a $15.99 value) wyb select Mattel games at Toys R Us before 12/31/11. You will need to pay $1 shipping and handling.

Christmas Card Workshop

Hello, I am so excited to start card workshops and thought that Christmas would be a perfect time to start my card workshops!  The pictures of the cards are the five that we will make, Also keep in mind if you are not a card maker you can order cards from me, details  are as followed: 

Details on the Christmas Card Workshop:

December 6th 6:30-9pm (a come and go as needed, will take about 20 min. per card) At my house

I will supply all the materials, you make the cards and take home the 5 cards you see in the pictures I have attached. This is a momma's night out with treats and snacks!

Please email or call me at 648-8998  so I can save a spot for you only 8 spots available per workshop, if there are a more than 10 people wanting to attend I will have two workshops. I would like a all rsvp's by November 23rd. 

Cost per workshop $10  

Feel free to forward this email to you friends, I would love for this evening to be fun filled with friends!

Not a card maker? I am taking orders for the cards that are attached.

Ordering is simple, please list the number of the image or a description of the card with how many you would like

Ala cart cards $3.00 each (pick and chose which ones and how many you would like)

Sets of cards: five card  (one each) $12

Set of Cards: five of the same card $12

Order dead line is November 23rd, delivery date by December 10th.  Please note there might be some limits on some cards, because this is a handmade item not all cards will look exactly like you see on the picture but as close as it can. 

3 Free My Coke Reward Points

Watch a video here and receive 3 FREE My Coke Reward Points. You must be logged in at time of viewing to receive points. This offer is available for a limited time only.

Pampers Gifts To Grow New 10 Point Code

Right now you can sign into your Gifts to Growsign into your Gifts to Grow account and enter the code FAC1111PYWFNXRD to get 10 more FREE points!

Here's How to Tell the Deals From the Duds at a Dollar Store

Despite their name, 99-cent stores can offer great deals on items like coloring books, notepads, stocking stuffers, baby clothes, soap, and so on.

"The biggest misconception about dollar stores is that they only have junk that no one needs and everything is low quality," says Andrew Schrage of MoneyCrashers, an investment website.

There's too much competition for them not to offer similar products to general stores.

But watch out: Some products should only be bought at a general store. Read through to see if you can guess what's a deal and a dud at the 99-cent store.

DEAL: Pet Toys

Pet toys can stand to get beaten (and eaten) up since they're so cheap, and the store usually has a great selection.

NO DEAL: Batteries and Other Electronics

Some stores sell "gray goods," or products made for a foreign market. Oftentimes they fail to comply with U.S. regulations and as a result, they can be dangerous.

Batteries can be prone to leakage and fail to last as long as name-brand batteries. This means you'll spend more on replacements.

Also be forewarned that some UL labels on electronics and extension cords may say they're U.S. approved when they aren't.

NO DEAL: Domestic Fire Products

Lighters, tiki torches, barbecue makers, and outdoor candles should never be bought from a dollar store. If you do, you might find your house go up in flames like a Hawaiian-themed barbecue.

DEAL: Cookware

Dollar stores stock lots of basic cooking supplies, including pots, pans, spatulas, ice cream scoopers, cheese graters and oven mitts.

You'll save 50 to 90 percent on items, compared to prices at Target, but sometimes these kits will be really dirty, missing pieces, or just flat-out broken. Check to make sure.

NO DEAL: Groceries

Whatever amount you might save isn't worth the risk of eating counterfeit products or food made for international destinations that haven't been U.S. approved.

The merchandise may be also expired: Food-carrying containers sit outside for long periods of time, and temperature changes spoils the food, Terri Gault, founder of TheGroceryGame.com, tells MainStreet.

In terms of pricing, grocery stores offer better deals, especially with pre-packaged baking goods and generics. The big box stores are even cheaper when they're having a sale or giving out coupons.

DEAL: Cleaning Supplies

Buy these, especially items like mops, rubber gloves, or sponges. They're the same as what you'd get at the grocery store, just cheaper.

You can also go for liquid cleaners, says Schrage, but oftentimes their formula is diluted and leaves residue.

Also think about buying disposable clean-up items like toilet paper and paper towels. Keep in mind, however, that you may want to buy these toiletries in bulk.

DEAL: Greeting Cards

Dollar stores stock up on lots of good, quality cards, which they sell for cheap. A drugstore like Duane Reade will charge $1.40, but the 99-cent store price comes in at about 50 cents.

DEAL: Party Supplies

As with greeting cards, dollar stores always restock party supplies.

Their merchandise tends to be fun and lively, and most importantly, cheap. They carry everything you need, from hats to plastic plates, cups, and utensils.

NO DEAL: Children's Toys

DO NOT buy these at a 99 cents store. 99-cent store toys are made cheaply so you won't want to risk having a piece breaking off in your kid's throat. Same goes for baby products—avoid them.

Items sold in the dollar stores sometimes bypass U.S. approval, which as we pointed out earlier, could mean high levels of lead and other chemicals. Remember those Chinese Mattel dolls?

NO DEAL: Over-the-Counter Medications

Stay away from vitamins, as the amount of nutrients the label claims is probably faulty. Cheap vitamins also don't dissolve quickly enough for your body to absorb them.

Similarly avoid buying aspirin, ibuprofen, and other over-the-counter meds at a 99 cent store. Independently-owned 99-cent stores have been known to counterfeit these products.

"Suppliers digitally alter a label and scan it into a generic bottle or package," Greg Guila, a lawyer specializing in patent law at the firm Duane Morris, tells MainStreet.

http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-113761-11597-1-what-you-should-and-shouldnt-buy-at-the-dollar-store?ywaad=ad0035&nc

Food Storage Guidelines

from: Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech
Food Pantry Refrigerator Freezer
(RoomTemp) (33°F to 40°F) (0°F)
Bread and Cereal Products
Baked quick breads 4-5 days 1-2 weeks 2-3 months
Bread 5-7 days 1-2 weeks 3 months
Bread, rolls unbaked 2-3 weeks 1 month
Flour, cake, all-purpose 1 year 1-2 years
Flour, whole wheat 6-8 months 1-2 years
Pies and pastries 3 days 4-6 months
Pies and pastries, baked 1-2 months
Rice, white, (cooked) 6-7 days 6 months
Packaged Foods and Mixes
Cookies, packaged 2 months 8-12 months
Herbs 6 months 1-2 years
Herb/spice blends 2 years 1-2 years
Spices, ground 6 months 1-2 years
Spices, whole 1-2 years 2-3 years
Cornstarch 18 months 2 years
Popcorn 1-2 years 2 years 2-3 years
Frozen vegetables 8 months
Fruits
Frozen fruit 1 year
Fruit juice concentrate 6 days 1 year
Fruit pies, baked 2-3 days 8 months
Dairy Products
Butter 2 weeks 9 months
Cottage cheese 1 week 2 weeks
Cream-light, heavy, half- and-half 1 week 1-2 months
Margarine 1 month 9 months
Milk 8-20 days 3 months
Ice cream and sherbet 2 months
Hard natural cheese 3 months 6 months
Processed cheese 1 month 6 months
Meats, Poultry, Eggs and Fish Meats
Fresh beef steaks and roasts 3-4 days 6-12 months
Fresh pork chops 2-3 days 4-6 months
Fresh lamb chops 3-5 days 6-8 months
Southern Savers Handbook : page 24
Fresh veal 1-2 days 4-6 months
Fresh ground meat 1 day 3-4 months
Cooked meat 2-3 days 2-3 months
Canned meat 1 year 1 week* 3-4 months
Ham, whole 1 week 1-2 months
Bacon 2 weeks 3 months
Luncheon meat 2 weeks 1 month
Fish
Breaded fish 3 months
Cooked fish 3-4 days 1 month
Fresh fish 1-2 days 3-6 months
Seafood-clams, crab, lobster in shell 1-2 days 3 months
Seafood-oysters & scallops 1 day 3-4 months
Seafood-shrimp 1 day 1 year
Poultry and Eggs
Fresh poultry 1 day 1 year
Eggs, pasteurized 12 days 1 year
Egg substitute 10 days 1 year
Wild Game
Game birds 2 days 9 months
Venison 3-5 days 9-12 months
* Opened + Cooked ^ Refrigerate after opening # After manufacture date

freeze milk?

Want to do it?
When you go to freeze the milk look at the date on it and figure out how many days are left until it expires. Write that number on the outside of the jug.

Example: The milk expires 3/14, 10 days from today. Write a 10 on jug. You are basically stopping time and now the milk will expire 10 days from when you start to thaw it.

You do not need to remove any milk from the jug! Now, when you are getting close to needing milk, pull it out at night and leave it in the sink overnight. Look at the number you wrote on the jug and use your calendar now to figure out the new expiration date. In the morning it will still have a solid ice core but go ahead and stick it in the fridge. By lunch time it’s ready to drink. Note, milk should only be frozen for 2-3 months.

Tip: If you freeze whole milk you may need to shake it up a bit after it completely thaws. Whole milk may also turn slightly yellow, it is still fine to drink. If your kids notice the color change… then it’s time to turn that into chocolate milk and they’ll never know!!

Do you have anything else strange that you love to freeze?

thanks SouthernSavers

I have not done this but sounds like a great idea if you can get milk when its on sale and stock up! Please note that HY-VEE has Milk on Sale on 11-12-11 1/2 gal for $1.28!!!!

Having an extra freezer saves time and money

One of the biggest challenges to couponing can be storage. We need to buy enough of a sale item to last the next 6 weeks, but that seems daunting when you have a small cabinet or a little fridge/freeze. Does it save you money to have an extra freezer?

Ways it can save money:

You can buy more of the sale items to last you until the next sale. A big example is frozen vegetables in our house. We tend to grab a bag of vegetables with almost every meal, so 6 weeks of bagged veggies is a lot. There is no way I could fit that in our inside freezer. When the vegetables are on sale with a coupon that might be 25-40¢ each. I really want to be able to get close to what we need at that price rather than paying $1.50 each when we run out and have to buy them off sale.

You can stock up on fresh produce and meat when it’s in season. We love to hit the farmers market in the summer. I always try to buy the largest box they have of squash, corn, peas, zucchini, broccoli etc. and then spend the next few days blanching and storing it all. Buying in season and storing fresh vegetables we can save up to 50% versus paying out of season prices.

You may not know this, but your food is will actually last longer in a deep freezer (not your freezer attached to your refrigerator). Most stand-alone freezers get colder and keep a more regulated temperature than kitchen freezers. For some items it lengthens the freezer life by 3-4 months!

Ways it can save time

Use your extra space to store prepped and ready to go recipe items. Cut up vegetables (onions, peppers etc.) ready for recipes, or mix up some homemade cookie dough starter and store it to always have a base cookie ready for a ton of combinations.

Not only prepping food, but also storing ready to freeze meals is another huge time saver! I have many friends who cook only once a week and store all their meals for the week in the freezer. There are other folks that do this once a month! Not only are you saving time that night for dinner, but you also save time by only getting the kitchen dirty once a week.

Finally with all the storage capability we need to point out the obvious time saver… you have the ability to go to the store less often. Make one trip to the store a week a freeze those extra gallons of milk needed to get you through the week. You will quickly find that you don’t have those panic moments nearly as often that you are out of chicken and need it 5 minutes from now.

(with that being said if you would like to get I deal on a freezer the best time to get one is Feb, when Hy-Vee will have a sale on them, in the past they had deals where you but one get it back in coupons!!!)

To start, you can freeze all things in the world but it doesn’t do any good if you don’t store them properly. Depending on the food you are freezing the prep will be different. In general for vegetables you will need to clean and blanch them just long enough to stop any further ripening. This helps to preserve color, texture and flavor for 9-12 months depending on the vegetable. That means you can buy items in season and store them until the start of next years season!

If you are storing cooked meals, either package them in square freezer safe containers for easy stacking or in freezer bags with all the air removed. Casseroles can be the one exception. I would recommend storing them in disposable pans and make sure they are packed to the top.


So we have everything blanched and ready, it’s also important to note what you are storing them in. You have a number of options today, but depending on what you pick you make increase the storage time of your food by 6 months or more! The number one thing working against you in food storage is oxygen, so working hard to remove as much as you can from your food is best.

Storage Options:

Plastic Freezer Bags – The most affordable way to store items, Make sure you are using a bag labeled as “freezer”, there is a huge difference between these and regular storage bags. Lay the bag flat and smush it to get out as much air as possible. Depending on the brand you pick most bags can keep food for 1-2 months without freezer burn starting.

Double-Wrapping – Wrapping your food in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil is a technique that can actually work better than plastic bags. This is best for casseroles, and cuts of meat. Still work the items to get out as much air before freezing.

Vacuum Sealing – This requires purchasing a vacuum unit, normally around $100. You also have the expense of buying bags etc to continue using the sealer. If you store food often it could be well worth the purchase though. Foods stored using this method can last up to 1-2 years without freezer burn beginning. To store moist foods like soups and stews make sure you have the appropriate vacuum containers. (Lately we are seeing a lot of deals on these so don’t rule it out!)

What exactly can you freeze?
I would say almost anything! Aside from normal things, we freeze cheese, eggs, milk, refrigerated rolls, cream cheese, etc. Also don’t forget about things you can freeze to save time later: cooked rice, chopped onions, broths, and more. Obviously the one thing to stay away from though is a can of coke!

Tip: In south it is also common to freeze flour, bread and other similar products. Remember if you freeze any baking ingredients that you should always warm them to room temperature before cooking.

Cute great easy fun ideas for Thanksgiving Tabletops

Free Fun Christmas

Has this winter weather got you in the mood for the Holidays? At our house we start listening to Christmas Music this week, (I love Christmas music!) If So you will want to cheek out this website http://www.freefunchristmas.com/

Oriental Trading has a cute website to make some yummy kid friendly fun food recipes, also on the website you can print out coloring pictures and Santa Letters. I like the Snow Man mini donuts, they are way cute! and a great way to use up some of those candy corn!

Hy-Vee Match ups and Sales 11/9-11/15

Penny Pinching mom has the matchups for the Hy-Vee's sale. I am sad that there is not a single great deal, grrr oh well they must be waiting closer to Thanks Giving to give us the good deals at which point I will expect rain cheeks. Any ways go here for the matchups

Cheesy Cucumber Bites

The Holiday’s are here people. Sales are flying, my house is bussling with talks of turkey, and pumpkin pie, the kids are making Christmas lists, etc.

With the Holiday’s come guests. I am one of those strange people who actually enjoys entertaining! I really spend way to much time worrying about what I am going to make, how I am going to set the table, and so on. I am working on not over planning, but it is hard to do.

Appetizers are one type of recipe that I think you can never have enough of. Especially quick, easy, and delicious ones. You can even serve several appetizers as a dinner. That has to be one of my favorites! These Cheesy Cucumber Bites are one of my go to appetizer recipes.

I timed myself while I was making these; 10 minutes, Start to finish. Surprise guest? No problem! As long as you have what you need on hand you can have these on the table in 10 minutes! That is one reason I love these! The other, they are light, flavorful, and delicious!
Cheesy Cucumber Bites

6 ozs Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 (8 oz) Pkg Cream Cheese (softened)
3-4 tbsp milk
1/4 tsp dried dill
1/8 tsp garlic powder
pinch pepper
2 seedless cucumbers. trimmed



Peel cucumbers in stripes (fancy) , or peel whole cucumber.

Cut into 3/4 inch slices. Using Melon baller or spoon scoop a small amount of flesh from centers of slices.

Let sit hollow side down on paper towel for 5 minutes.

Mix Cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, milk, dill, garlic, & pepper in food processor or with mixer until blended evenly.

Transfer to a large-heavy duty plastic bag.

Snip corner from the bag with filling.

Pipe filling into each cucumber slice. serve immediately.

**You can make filling ahead of time and refrigerate for quicker prep time!

thanks, totallytarget

Hy-Vee sale 11--9/ 11-15

not a get week for things on sale!

Dannon Activia Yogurt 2/ $4.00 $2.00
Hy-Vee Sour Cream $1.28
Hy-Vee Yogurt $0.29
Hy-Vee Beef or Chicken Broth or Stock 2/ $3.00 $1.50
Blue Ribbon Beef 7-Bone Chuck Roast 2.49 lb.
Cortland or Fireside Apples 99¢ lb.
Dole Snowy White Cauliflower $1.88
Grimmway Farms Whole Carrots $0.99
New Crop California Kiwi Fruit 4/ $1.00 $0.25

Hy-Vee 1day Sale 11-12th

Xtra Laundry Detergent 5/ $10.00 $2.00
Hy-Vee Milk $1.28
Palermo's Classics Pizza 6/ $10.00 $1.67
80% Lean Fresh Ground Beef 1.88 lb.
Dole Premium Bananas 39¢ lb.

Use Baby Powder to Prevent Sweat Stains & Other Creative Solutions!

Baby Powder
Love this idea for preventing pit stains — only problem is, it requires ironing (which I loathe)! Sprinkle a bit on a shirt’s collar and underarms and then iron. The powder will create a barrier and repel sweat stains. Plus, there was just a
$1.00 Johnson & Johnson coupon which will make for super cheap Baby Powder at Walmart or Target!

Baby Wipes

Don’t you HATE when you put on your shirt and get deodorant all over it! Use a baby wipe, and it will wipe right off. Finally, a way to keep my black shirts looking nice.

Liquid Fabric Softener
This next recipe is something I use almost daily, because, as I said, I really hate to iron. I fill a spray bottle 1/3 full of fabric softener and top it off with water. Simply mist over any wrinkly clothes and hang to dry. The wrinkles will disappear like magic.

Thanks, Real Simple!

Hy-Vee 2day Sale 11-3th - 11-4th

Tostitos or SunChips $1.88
Hy-Vee Grade 'A' Fresh Large Eggs $0.88
Hormel Little Sizzlers 5/ $5.55 $1.11

Hy-Vee sale 11--2/ 11-08

Ge Here for Coupon Match ups from Penny Pinching mom


General Mills Cereals $4 off with additional purchase of 4 and coupon (use manufac coupons to!)
C&H Pure Cane Sugar $1.88
Hy-Vee All Purpose Flour $1.18 but have seen it for $.99 other times so is not the cheepest price! It may be the best price for the season.
Nestle Hot Cocoa Mix $0.99
Hy-Vee Spices 25% off
Hy-Vee Frozen Vegetables $0.68
Hy-Vee 100% Natural Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast 1.77 lb. California Angeleno Black Plums 99¢ lb.
Hy-Vee Russet Potatoes $1.18
Mission Ripe Large Hass Avocados $1.50
Washington Bartlett or Bosc Pears 99¢ lb.

Johnson & Johnson

This was on the Today Show!

ENTON, N.J. -- Two chemicals considered harmful to babies remain in Johnson & Johnson's baby shampoo sold in the U.S., even though the company already makes versions without them, according to a coalition of health and environmental groups.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has unsuccessfully been urging the world's largest health care company for 2 1/2 years to remove the trace amounts of potentially cancer-causing chemicals – dioxane and a substance called quaternium-15 that releases formaldehyde – from Johnson's Baby Shampoo, one of its signature products.

Johnson & Johnson said it is reducing or gradually phasing out the chemicals, but did not respond directly to the campaign's demands.

Now the group is ratcheting up the pressure and urging consumers to boycott Johnson & Johnson baby products until the company agrees to remove the chemicals from its baby products sold around the world.

"Johnson & Johnson clearly can make safer baby shampoo in all the markets around the world, but it's not doing it," said Lisa Archer, director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. "It's clearly a double standard, something they can easily fix."

Archer said her group has met with Johnson & Johnson representatives three times since spring 2009, and is disappointed the company is not making safer baby shampoo and other products in the U.S. when it does elsewhere.

On Monday, the campaign sent Johnson & Johnson a letter, signed by about 25 environmental, medical and other groups representing about 3.5 million people in the U.S. and other countries. It urges the company to publicly commit by Nov. 15 to removing the chemicals from all personal care products worldwide.

In response, Johnson & Johnson said in a statement that formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are safe and approved by regulators in the U.S. and other countries, but that it is gradually phasing them out of its baby products. It said it is also reformulating baby products to reduce the level of dioxane below detectable levels. But it did not say whether it would respond to or meet the campaign's full demands.

The letter, addressed to CEO William Weldon, was signed by groups including the Breast Cancer Fund, Environmental Working Group, Friends of the Earth, American Nurses Association, Physicians for Social Responsibility and Green America.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/01/johnson-johnson-baby-sham_n_1069123.html

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/?id=29383169&q=Johnson+%26+Johnson+Baby+Shampoo+Has+Cancer-Causing+Chemicals&p=1&st=1&sm=user&search=