Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Welcome Wednesday


I have been really enjoying all of the blog hops lately and I've found another one. This is the first time I'm joining Welcome Wednesday hosted by take it from me. Click on the link to read the rules and join in on the fun!

Monday, June 28, 2010

Don’t Believe the Hype

Most people believe that eating salads, skipping meals, or cutting certain foods out of your meals are good ways to loose weight.
Please don’t believe that.
I guarantee you that I leave NOTHING out of my diet. I eat my breads, carbs, starches, meats, veggies, fruits, snacks, and sometimes the ice creams, pies and cookies!
I don’t really like salads and I sure can’t live without potatoes. So, if you had a salad or a skimpy meal last night for dinner, take a look at what I had, then try to argue with me that you have to eat leaves to loose weight.
Beef Enchiladas with Refried Beans -  3pts for the whole meal (and that does include the cheese) and if you need rice add the Santa Fe rice from Uncle Bens

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Food overload

I have been so busy at work this week that I completely forgot to add pictures and updates on the meals for the week. I did pretty good on the meal plan up until Friday because by then I was beat and didn't feel like cooking a thing. 

So to back track:
Sunday and Monday we did the pulled pork sandwiches and everything in this recipe is free free free and if you use your free bread that is free too! Add chips and salsa or dip if you choose too (just remember to count your points for that).

Tuesday we had the Buffalo chicken pizza. It is so easy to make and good too. It is not free but its only 2pts per slice so not bad for a pizza. To make it this low in points I use Fat free mozzarella cheese instead of regular and fat free ranch dressing.

Wednesday we had Chicken and rice tacos. These are only 1 point because I use corn tortillas but the chicken, rice, beans and mexi corn are free. 

Thursday I changed things up a bit and we had hamburger patties. Now on mine I sauteed mushrooms and added a piece of cheese on top. I made roasted veggies to go along with it. For my son's portion, I made brown gravy to top his off. My meal was only 2 pts because of the slice of cheese. His was 2 pts because of the brown gravy. The picture is of his because I was too greedy to wait to take a picture lol.

Friday is where I completely went sideways. I made a frozen pizza for the kiddo and I had some of the Tortilla soup that I'd frozen from some of the leftovers. The tortilla soup is only 3pts if you use baked tortilla chips, fat free sour cream and cheese for topping. If you don't like those toppings you will have yourself a FREE meal!

Today I am getting back on track and yes I am making those grilled cheese stuffed burgers so for now I bid you good night because my stomach is growling!

2 awards, 2 days!

WOW is all I can say. I am so new to blogging that I was shocked to discover that I'd won two awards in two days. They are both the same type of award but from two completely different wonderful blogs!

So here it goes

Award #1 comes from:

A Cuppy Cake Life

Award #2 comes from:
Ingenue Mom

Both of these blogs are amazing and they were one of the first few I started following when I did start to blog. I love them both for their versatility (lol).

So the rules are I must share 7 things about myself and then award 5 new followers this award.

Seven things you didn't know about me:
1.  I love anything pink and girly even though I might not come off as the girly type.
2.  I love the Twilight series books (not the movies).
3.  I love love love to coupon and I only started a year ago.
4.  I wish the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season would last all year long.
People are just nicer during this time of year :~)
5.  I have 12 pairs of flip flops and 2 pairs of dress shoes.
6.  I love the smell of freshly cut grass.
7.  I lost 50 pounds and have successfully kept it off for 2 years now
(which is the exact reason I started my blog in the first place).

Now my awards go to:


I hope you all enjoy their blogs as much as I do!

Thanks again to Ingenue Mom and A Cuppy Cake Life!!!!!

Friday, June 25, 2010

New Friend Friday!

I have had such a hectic week at work that I am just now getting around to posting today. I am signing up agian for New Friend Friday yay! So if your new to blogging and would like to find some new blogs to follow and meet some great people click here to learn more.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

The busy life of a teenager

This was so funny I just had to share it. My son's to do list for the day! He has such a hectic schedule during the day he had to make a to do list lol!


Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Snack time is happy time

I get asked a lot about what I do for snacks and I have to admit this is a tough one for me. Through trial and error I've come up with some really good snacks that I fall back on and some favorites I have around all the time. I generally try to stick around the 3 point margin for a snack or dessert but sometimes its hard not to go over. Some of my favorite snacks are

"Free Snacks"
Fresh Fruits
Fiber One yogurts (or any light flavored yogurt)
Fat Free Jello and Jello puddings
Toast with Fat Free cream cheese instead of butter
All unsweetened canned fruits

If those just don't get the job done then how about these

(Around the 3pt value)
Most 100 snack packs from different name brands (I haven't come across one that was more than 3 points)
Betty Crocker warm delights (the small individual one - yummy)
Whole wheat English muffin with fat free cream cheese
100 calorie popcorn (94% fat free)

And one recipe website that I like to go to a lot for great snack ideas and whatnots is Hungry Girl and today I received an email about the new Smooth and Dreamy Ice cream treats from Breyer and this delicious treat is only 4 points! I would give up an extra point for this one!


Hopefully these tips with help you make it through your day!


Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Follow Me back Tuesdays!

Again another day to meet great people and read great blogs. Its Follow me back Tuesdays. Click here to learn more.  Welcome all new readers to Skinny on a Dime. I'm so glad you've stopped by.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Groceries for the Week

I decided to not do a Publix trip last week and I’m so glad I waited until this week’s sale to go. It was so much better than I hoped it would be!

100_5451

I got all of the food pictured about for a whopping $25 (and saved $105!) Of course the cookies, cakes and chips are not part of my health plan, but they do come in handy when you have a teenager sitting at home during the summer time so yay for BOGO Chips a Hoy!  (The Starbucks ice cream is my cheat for the week-er maybe month)

Since I didn’t purchase any meat products at Publix I still had to stop by Wal-Mart but, but because of my email I sent to corporate about their inability to understand coupons properly, I was given a $25 gift card for my troubles :)  I faired pretty well there too. I got all my meats and a few extras and I paid OOP $20!

100_5453

Meet and Greet Monday!

I keep finding these awesome blog hops to find great new blogs. If your new to blogging or just want to find new followers click on the link below to get started!




Meet and Greet Monday

Sunday, June 20, 2010

~~Biweekly Menu~~


If your just starting out reading my blog you will soon discover that I menu plan for 2 weeks at a time. Its an old habit that I started way back before I started couponing. This is what I “plan” on cooking for the next two weeks!
Sunday – Crockpot Pulled pork and coleslaw sandwiches
Monday – Leftovers and freeze whatever is left
Tuesday – Buffalo Chicken pizza (there are two recipes in the link but I’ve only made this one)
Wednesday – Chicken and rice tacos
Thursday – Upside Down pizza loaf (I will add this one when I make it)
Friday – Breakfast for dinner! Chicken and waffles with hash browns
Saturday – Bacon, onion and cheese stuffed burgers on the grill – YUM
Sunday – Ground Beef enchiladas, Santa Fe rice, and refried beans
Monday – Leftovers
Tuesday – Foil pack Bruschetta Bake (that I didn’t make last week) and Zucchini cakes
Wednesday – Southwestern Chicken and Roasted smashed potatoes
Thursday – Grilled Chicken and Pineapple Quesadillas
Friday – Crockpot tacos (I will add this recipe once I cook it)
Saturday – Grilled hotdogs or Dumplings (my son has been asking and asking for these??)

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Hot Tortilla Soup

Before you judge this recipe, let me tell you that words cannot describe the yummyness that comes out of this soup! I first started making it this past winter and it was a fabulous soup for the chilly nights we do get here in Florida. It also has ended up being a great summer soup too, but again, this is probably my love of anything with a Mexican flair to it lol.

Ingredients and recipe
1 medium bell pepper – diced small
1 medium red onion – diced small
8oz. cooked chicken breasts cut or shredded into small pieces
2 (10oz) cans of Ro-Tel Diced tomatoes and Green chilies
1 (4oz) can chopped green chilies
1 (15oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14 1/2 oz) chicken broth
1 1/4 cup water
1/2 cup salsa
1 tsp each cumin, basil, oregano
1/2 tsp each cilantro, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper
1 oz Baked tortilla chips
1oz Fat free or Low fat Cheddar cheese
2 Tbsp Fat free sour cream

Add all ingredients listed above in a large pot and heat on medium-high, stirring occasionally, for about 15-20 min. Reduce heat to low (simmer) and allow to cook a minimum of 1 hour. The longer it cooks, the better the flavors blend.
To serve, crush 1-2 oz (to be precise it’s about 14 chips if your counting for your points)of baked Tostitos in the bottom of the bowl pour soup on top of chips and top with shredded cheese and sour cream if desired.

**I got the recipe from someone at work so I’m not sure if its a Weight Watchers official recipe or not but it is from one of their group meetings a few years back.

Free Shoes?


About 7 or 8 months ago I signed up to be a shoe tester with New Balance. Let me just say that I love this program. So far I’ve received 3 pairs of shoes from them to test.
This is how it works. You fill out the application and if they need shoe testers with your shoe size in your area they will start signing you up for test projects. They will send you a new pair of shoes to test for about 3 months. Once the test is over, you do have to send the shoes back but they provide all of the materials to send them back. I don’t mind sending them back because its like getting new shoes and sending them back once your done with them! It also is a great way to make sure I walk most days because I want to get the full use of the shoe.
If you are interested and want to see if you qualify click here.

Friday, June 18, 2010

New Friend Friday!

I love new friend Friday! I’ve found so many new blogs and meet some great people!
Join in on the fun here!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Taco Night


Last night, I think I made the final change to my  meal plan schedule lol. Instead of the chicken fajitas (which I'd cooked last week), I made tacos, yay! I love tacos, well I really love anything Mexican, but I do love my tacos.

My son can devour about 4 of them. I usually can only handle two. This is the easiest thing in the world to make and one of the first things I started to cook when I switched to the new food plan. I tell people all the time that ask me that I still eat the same foods I ate before I started and I guess they just don't hear me or care to give it all a try but it is so easy.

My taco version (very similar to yours I bet!)

Lean ground beef 93/7 or 97/3 depending on which one your store sells. I've seen them both in the store. Really it just means to buy the leanest cut of ground beef you can find. Yes I know its expensive but with the money I save on using coupons, I can afford to spend extra on healthy cuts of meat and I usually try to go organic.

So ingredients are:
Lean ground beef
Taco seasoning
Corn tortillas (not soft flour and not corn tortillas from a box)
lettuce
tomato
low fat or fat free cheese
fat free sour cream

cook regular like any other taco recipe and add your favorite toppings. Serve with chips and salsa or fat free refried beans.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Grilled Buffalo Chicken with potatoes and green beans

I changed up the meal plan just a little again last night. (It happens from time to time because sometimes life just doesn't always want to go with the plan, man)

I still cooked the Buffalo chicken (not grilled though, you follow the recipe and cook it in a regular skillet on the stove). I made Betty crocker Three cheese scalloped potatoes instead of the smashed potatoes only because it was starting to get a little late and I didn't have a lot of time to cook some of the ingredients so I improvised. But, but if you are following my plan, one serving of the Betty crocker potatoes it is only 3 points per serving :~)! I was very excited about that. I also needed a veggie so I made just regular cut green beans and it turned into a great meal.







Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Follow me back Tuesday

I just joined Follow me back tuesdays! Its so fun to find new blogs and meet new friends!
Click the link above to see how it works.

The Seven Dwarfs - Which one are you today?


Today I am Grumpy! Grumpy because my alarm didn't go off, grumpy because I had to rush to get out of the house on time, grumpy because I had no coffee or breakfast! I practically growled at the ever so chipper people in my office this morning and for that I am truly sorry :~(

Because I was late, I ended up just throwing random food items in my bag. When I got to work, I ended up with 100 calorie snack pack, a banana, a package of pop tarts (not sure why I grabbed this), a slice of bread and a bag of chips??? I was stuck wondering what the heck am I going to eat for breakfast. When I got to work I discovered ONE package of sugar free hot cocoa mix in my drawer~~ life savior! I had my cup of hot cocoa and my banana. Its not the most nutritional meal but at least I didn't give in to the pop tarts that would've cost me 12 points!!

Now I just have to make it through the rest of the day and I will be okay.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Saturday Suprize


Well there was a slight blurp in my meal plan that included Saturday. We were having a suprize birthday party for my friend at Bongos in Downtown Disney so I really wasn't able to add that in lol! (It would've kinda blown the suprize a little) Hubby and I shared a meal and I'm so glad we did because the servings were huge but their food was oh so yummy. I don't think I did too much damage but still today I'm feeling a bit disappointed that I am overdoing it lately. Maybe because its monday I am having the doom and gloom feeling so hopefully it will pass fast!


Friday, June 11, 2010

Spicy Grilled Fish Tacos with Apples for dessert

Yum is the perfect word to describe dinner! I made the Spicy fish tacos and my son made warm cinnamon apples for dessert. Delicious indeed!

Click here to get the recipe for the Spicy grilled fish tacos. I made a couple of adjustments since I didn't want to grill my fish and I bought parsley instead of cilantro  (it was the stores fault, I swear - lol) so I didn't have any of that on my tacos. I also had chips and salsa with it instead of the beans. Also with all of my recipes, I use mostly fat free products. In this one I used ff sour cream and ff mayo. You can't tell a difference at all!

Below the pictures I've added the recipe for the yummy apples.


Warm Cinnamon Apples

You need the following:
4 Granny smith apples (but you can see in my picture I improvised since I only had Gala apples and I really didn't want to go to the store)
1/2 c brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp water
1 tbsp reduced calorie margarine

Toss apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, water, butter and cook over medium heat, until tender. Approximately 6-8 min.

Chicken and Peppers with Balsamic Vinegar

I made this last night and it was Divine! I have to remember to start taking pictures of what I cook so that you guys can get a clear picture of just how delicious these recipes are!  It was so easy to make as well. I was suppose to make egg drop soup with it but I chickened out (no pun intended lol).  My son was scraping his plate for more and that seems to be a rare find with him lately.

Click on the link here to try this recipe for yourself.

I added the Uncle Ben's Ready rice to it and it was the perfect addition.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Time out or take out?

Sometimes you have those days when you realize that cooking a good healthy meal is just not going to happen tonight. Well, last night was one of those nights. I have a preteen who was starving for affection so instead of making whatever I had on the menu for last night, I made one of my Digiorno pizzas with bread sticks that I bought on sale last week at Publix. I knew when it came to the points dinner was going to kill me but my choices were spend time cooking dinner to save some points and hear whining all night or go for the pizza and spend the much needed quality time with my son (which doesn't happen very often these days).

Of course I chose the pizza. As parents, especially for us moms, we find ourselves always putting too many pots on the stove and eventually some of them go unwatched and boil over. I do this way to often and forget that I'm only one person and my butter can only be spread so far!

I'm not sure how the these two things are related (which I tend to do alot - relate two totally unrelated things together - lol) but my tip for the day is this - Never go on a diet. Change your thought process about what and how you eat instead. I thought this would be hard to do but it was so much easier than people make it out to be.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Veggie stuffed quesadillas

I made a switch around/addition on my meal plan last night. When I got home I just didn't feel like fish so I made Veggie Stuffed Quesadillas. They were just as yummy and dinner was done in no time. Here is the recipe:


Veggie Stuffed Quesadillas


I do a couple of things differently than the recipe. First off, I add chicken because my son doesn't like all the peppers so I have to give his some substance. Secondly, the first time I made these I was out of cream cheese so I used fat free sour cream instead and I loved it. I stick with the sour cream instead of using cream cheese. I also add mushrooms so this ends up being a really big stuffed healthy Quesadilla and lastly I sprinkle a little bit of shredded cheese on top.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

You eat rice and potatoes? How? Why?

Growing up in Arkansas I was (and still am) a huge potato fan. I eat them however you can cook them: fried, baked, grilled, mashed, smashed, boiled, french fries, home fries, sliced and diced, roasted or toasted! Well when I moved to Florida I learned really quick to become a fan of rice.....and beans. Now I love rice, any kind of rice. Brown rice, white rice, island rice, Spanish rice, rice pilaf, you name it I'll eat it.

But...when I started the study for losing weight, I thought my starchy carb days are over and it was a bit sad. I quickly realized that I can have my potatoes & rice and eat them too! On my plan, potatoes are considered a healthy food and as long as I eat brown rice (or white rice in moderation) it is healthy too. When I first started cooking brown rice though it was a disaster. It stuck to the pot and turned out terrible and I thought I was doomed. By accident though, I discovered a great product from Uncle Ben's. Its Uncle Ben's Ready Rice (click on the link to access their website). You pop it in the microwave for 90 seconds and its done! It comes in lots of varieties too. There is Wild and Brown rice, Santa Fe Rice, plain Brown rice and if your not a big brown rice fan, they have Caribbean Rice with red beans, Jasmine rice and Spanish style rice (and many more). Oh and by the way they are on sale this week at Publix - 3/$4 and use either $1/2 Uncle Ben's ready rice RP 5/16 or .75/2 Uncle Ben's products printable to make it even cheaper!

As for the potatoes, I no longer traditionally fry them (well, on occasion I do). I usually roast them in the oven with different seasonings and flavors with olive oil. I also make homemade mashed potatoes from time to time. I use Promise fat free butter and fat free sour cream to add flavor. I will admit though that fat free sour cream is something you have to get used to but now I can't tell the difference. Oh and fat free butter doesn't melt like real butter but it has the same great taste!

This is how I do potatoes and rice in my world.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Savory Herb chicken and onion roasted potatoes



I seem to be doing a great job so far with following my menu plan. It doesn't always go so well but so far so good. Today I'm making on of our favorites in my house and really anytime I can put something in the crockpot and just leave it is always a big hit with me! 

Here is a link to the meal pictured above. Its so easy and oh so tastey! The chicken and potaoto recipe as well as the pictures are from the Lipton secrets website.

Savory Herb and chicken

Oven Roasted Potatoes

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Rico Burritos

I got this recipe from Publix but it's not part of their Apron's meals so I'll just type it out. It was very easy to make. I loved them but my son had a different opinion. I still find that hard to believe because he loves Hot tortilla soup and it has so much more ingredients than this.

You need:

1 10oz can Publix Chunk white chicken meat (drained) (I used regular chicken breasts and cut them up because I have a weird thing against canned meats)
1 16oz can of Old elpaso refried beans (I used fat free beans)
1 11oz can of Rotel Mild diced tomatoes with green chilies (drained)
4 Large Mission Flour tortillas (I used the soft tortilla size and it was a perfect portion)
4oz of shredded cheddar cheese (I used 2% shredded Cheddar cheese)

(I always try to cut back or substitute anytime I can. It makes the meal that much more healthy.)

  1. Preheat large saute pan on medium high. Place chicken, refried beans, corn and tomatoes in the pan; cover and cook for 10 minutes stirring occasionally.
  2. Place the tortillas in aluminum foil and heat in the oven at 350 for about 5 -6 minutes while this is cooking.
  3. Arrange the tortillas on a work surface. Sprinkle cheese down the center of the tortilla and add 1/4 cup of chicken mixture over the cheese. If you like sour cream you can add some now. I did and used fat free sour cream.
  4. Fold two sides in toward the middle, then roll from end to end. Repeat and serve.

Serving Suggestions: Sliced avacados would be a great addition to this meal. You can also serve the chicken filling on top of shredded lettuce. Sprinkle the cheese over top, drizzle with your favorite salad dressing, and you've got a great Mexican - style salad. Also, serve with chips and salsa if you like.

Is Walmart ever going to get it right?

According to Walmart, a $3.00 off coupon (its no longer here) that I printed from the website posted below is fraudulent because it doesn't expire until December 2010! But they are now accepting competitor coupons. Yes, you heard me, competitor coupons, not just price matching. WOW


Chef's Requested Foods

(You have to register for the coupon so it may show up for you. It isn't available for me any longer though.)

Publix trip 6/5

My shopping trip to Publix today was again a pleasure. I am so glad I decided to switch stores and start going to this one. I love this Publix! So here is what I got today:

1 Carton of eggs
1 Package of coleslaw
2 Packages of shredded cheese
1 Case of water (not pictured)
1 Publix deli salsa
1 Olive oil
1 Sour cream
1 Loaf of bread
1 Edwards pie
1 Landolakes cheese
4 Oscar Meyer Deli meats
2 College Inn Broths
4 Uncle Beans ready rice
1 Cilantro
1 Bananas
2 Taco Bell Dinner kits
1 Package of potatoes
2 Poptarts
1 Finish detergent
1 package of dog food
1 Package of solo cups
1 Family package of chicken quater legs
1 Large family size Stoffers Lasagna

OOP - 30.89  Saved  70.61

Not too shabby!

Friday, June 4, 2010

Buffalo Chicken sliders

Buffalo Chicken sliders

2 Tyson ready grilled chicken breasts
6-8 Dinner rolls (I used Hawaiian Rolls just because they were left over from Monday's cookout)
2 Slices of Cheese ( I used white American because my son has a strange thing against yellow American??)
1/4 cup FF Ranch dressing
1/3 cup Hot sauce
1 Tbsp Butter
1 Tbsp Honey

  1. Cook Chicken according to instructions on the package.
  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  3. Add Hot sauce, honey and butter to a small pot and bring to a boil or cook until butter is melted. Once the chicken is done, cut it into three to four pieces. Dip chicken into hot sauce mixture and coat well. Place chicken on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for about 5 minutes.
  4. Cut rolls in half. Add a quarter slice of cheese to each roll.
  5. When chicken is done, add one piece to each roll and drizzle with the remaining hot sauce mixture and top that with a 1/2 teaspoon of your ranch dressing.

Serve with chips and dip or your favorite side item.
This recipe serves 2-3 people.

When to stop?

Lately I've been struggling with falling back into my old habits of picking up fast food or going out for lunch instead of bringing my own. I get frustrated when this happens because I am trying to live on a budget but the healthy foods are not budget friendly and the dollar menus are. For example today I have to run errands for lunch and I didn't have a great start to my morning so I left the house without a lunch. This means I have to get something while I'm out. Not only do I have to spend money, I have to eat something not entirely healthy for me either. So how to I avoid pitfalls like this one you migh ask? Well, on days like this I rummage through my restaurant coupons to see if I have anything good, if not I usually will head to Subway or something that might be a little on the healthier side of life. I have days when Wendy's or Taco Bell is unavoidable just because its convenient or cheaper but if you have to go out try to avoid them as much as possible. Also as for condiments to either be completely taken off or add them to the side, this way you can control how much you eat.

Grub a dub dub....

Photobucket

I normally create a menu to cover 2 weeks at a time but with the recent holiday and my husbands recent trips home I am just now planning my food for the next several days. Here is a glimps of what I plan on cooking starting with today. I will add the recipes as I cook them.


Friday - Buffalo Sliders with chips and dip
Saturday - Rico burritos, chips and salsa
Sunday - Slow Cooker Savory Herb Chicken with Onion roasted potatoes
Monday - Leftover day
Tuesday - Spicy grilled fish tacos, chips and salsa
Wednesday - Spicy chicken with peppers & Rice with Egg drop soup
Thursday - Taco night
Friday - Either Buffalo chicken pizza or sandwiches (depends on what I feel like doing on a Friday night!)
Saturday - Something grilled I'm sure. I have a great recipe for Grilled stuffed Burgers with onions, bacon and cheese.
Sunday - Bruchetta Chicken bake and roasted veggies
Monday - Leftover day
Tuesday - Oven grilled Buffalo Chicken and Restaruant Style Smashed potatoes
Wednesday - Chicken fajitas, chips and salsa
Thursday - Hot Tortila Soup
Friday - Leftover Day


** I don't always follow my own list but atleast it keeps out the guessing game during the week!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Small CVS trip, small change


I made a quick trip out to CVS this weekend too. I only needed a few things but I had a 4/$20 coupon I wanted to use before it expired. So this is what I ended up with....

1 8 pack of Bounty Basic Paper towels - 4.99
1 Gallon of 1% TGLee Milk - 3.19
1 Bag of Stacys Pita Chips - 2.49
1 Container of Tide febreeze - 5.97
1 Case of water (28 bottles) - 3.19

OOP - 6.29 (w/Tax) woohoo!

I used the 4/$20 and $8 in ECB and $3 in coupons.


Publix Trip 5/30


Publix Shopping Trip 5/30 (with my husband!!)

1 lb bananas
1 Green pepper
1 package onions
1 cucumber
2 containers of grape tomatoes (bogo)
1 watermelon (buy 2 lays get $2off peelie)
1 Chicago loaf bread
2 tubs of Helluva good french onion dip
2 Cans Bush Grillin Beans
4 Bottles of Kraft BBQ Sauce
1 Bottle of KC Masterpiece sauce
2 Bottles of Lawrys Marinade sauce
2 Packages of Kraft mac & cheese
2 Bags of lays potato chips
1 bag of Tostito chips
1 large bag of Charcol
1 Package of Splenda
2 Boxes of Digiornio Pizza w/ Breadsticks
3 Packages of Ribs
1 Package of main tail lobster
2 Packages of Beneful dog food
2 Packages of colgate toothpast
2 packages of Q-tips
2 Packages of Kraft cheese singles
1 Bottle of coppertone sunscreen

OOP total = $34.14
Saved = $168.00

Woohoo!! (and I wasn't even going to go to publix!) Hubby was impressed and so was I!

Summer Salad

Yummy Memorial Day recipe....


Tomato and Cucumber Salad


I found a couple of good versions on the internet but I made adjustments to them. This is what I came up with.


1 container of cherry tomatoes (bogo at Publix this week :-)
1 large cucumber sliced and quartered
1 small yellow or red onion cut into small pieces (whichever you prefer)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tblspoons of vinegar (I used apple cider vinegar)
2 tblspoons of sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tblspoon parsley


Mix all ingredients in a large bowl that you can cover and shake without spilling. Mix all ingredients and chill in the fridge for atleast an hour before serving.