• Save A Lot: Deals for the week of February 22 – 28, 2012

    The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience.  It is a great time to stock up on some Save A Lot deals.  Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!

    Meats and Seafood

    Family Pack Rib Eye Steaks – $6.99 lbs

    Assorted Pork Chops – $1. 79 lbs

    Family Pack Cube Pork – $1.89 lbs

    Port Side Tilapia (16 oz) – $3.99

    Cooked Cocktail Shrimp (40 to 60 oz) – $4.99

    Butterball Turkey Bacon (6 oz) – $1.00
    Use $0.55/1 coupon insert from 1/15 Smart Source (Expires 2/16/12)
    $0.45 each after coupon

    Carolina Ground Turkey (12 oz) – $1.00

    Pick 5 for $19.99 promo on going: Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts of fresh, frozen or smoked meats and pay just $19.99 (about $2 per pound).

    Fridge and Freezer

    Banquet Breaded Chicken, Patties, Tenders, or Nuggets (25 to 26 oz) – $2.99

    Hot Pocket Singles, Pepperoni, Ham & Cheese, Breakfast (3 oz) – $0.88

    Marie Calendar’s Chicken Pot Pie – $2.29

    Oscar Mayer Wieners (16 oz) – $1.00

    Oscar Mayer Bolagna (12 oz) – $1.00

    Oscar Mayer Lunchables – $1.00

    Save A Lot Today Chicken Strips or Meatballs (7 – 8 oz) – $1.00

    Banquet Brown ‘n Serve Sausage Links, Maple or Original (6.4 oz) – $1.00

    Gwaltney Pork Sausage (12 oz) – $1.00

    Budding Deli Cuts, Ham, Turkey, Chicken, and Roast Beef (3 – 4 oz) – $1.00

    Hormel Sliced Pepperoni or Hard Salami (3.5 oz) – $1.00
    Use $1.00/2 coupon insert from 1/15 Smart Source (Expires 3/15/12)
    $0.50 each after coupon

    Hinsdale Corn Dogs (3 count) – $1.00

    Fisher Boy Fish Sticks (6 oz) – $1.00

    Fisher Boy Shrimp Poppers (4 oz) – $1.00

    Tortino Pizza Roll, Pepperoni or Cheese (15 count) – $1.00

    Tony’s Crispy Crust Pizza, Pepperoni or Supreme (9 – 10 oz) – $1.00

    Banquet Dinners (4 – 9 oz) – $1.00

    Buyers Best Crinkle Cut French Fries (32 oz) – $1.00

    Pillsbury Grand Biscuits (16 oz) – $1.00
    Use $0.30/2 coupon insert from 12/4 Smart Source (Expires 2/25/12)
    Use $0.30/2 coupon insert from 12/11 Smart Source (Expires 3/3/12)
    Use $0.30/2 coupon insert from 1/8 General Mills (Expires 3/31/12)
    Use $0.30/2 coupon insert from 2/5 Smart Source (Expires 4/28/12)
    Use $0.35/3 coupon insert from 1/8 General Mills (Expires 3/31/12)
    As low as $0.85 each after coupon

    Sunny D Orange Mango or Orange Strawberry (48 oz) – $1.00

    Produce

    Roma Tomatoes – $0.99 lb

    Seedless Grapes, Red or White – $1.49 lb

    Mini Carrots – $1.00

    Dole Salad Mix (12 oz) – $1.00

    Celery – $1.00

    Yellow or Red Peppers – $1.00

    Jumbo Navel Oranges or Red Grapefruit – $1.00

    Klondike Rose Potatoes – $1.00

    Household

    Angel Soft Bath Tissue (4 pack) – $0.99

    Sparkle Paper Towels – $0.99

    Grocery

    Crystal Bottled Water (24 pack) – $2.99

    Hargis House Chili with Beans (15 oz) – $1.39

    Kaskey’s Chicken or Beef Bouillon Cubes (3.25 oz) – $1.89

    Marcum Gravy Mixes – $0.57

    Mantia’s Wide Egg Noodles (12 oz) – $1.39

    Shelby”s Grove Sliced Peaches or Fruit – $0.99

    Mantia’s Garlic Toast – $2.29

    Save A Lot Today Sandwich Cremes (12 oz) – $1.19

    Libby’s Tropical Fruit Salad (15 oz) – $1.29

    Sundia Fruit Cup – $1.00

    Chef Boyardee Canned Pasta – (14.5 – 15 oz) $1.00

    Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper or Chicken Helper – $1.00

    Progresso Vegetable Classic Soup (19 oz) – $1.00

    Nissan Souper Meals (4.3 oz) – $1.00

    Hormet Micro Cups (7.5 oz) – $1.00

    Chicken of the Sea Chunk White Tuna (5 oz) – $1.00

    Knorr Sides (4 – 7 oz) – $1.00
    Use $1.00/3 coupon insert from 1/29 Red Plum (Expires 2/26/12)
    Use $0.50/2 coupon insert from 1/29 Red Plum (Expires 2/26/12)
    $0.77 each after coupon

    Betty Crocker Flavored Mashed Potatoes (4 – 6 oz) – $1.00

    Kraft Mac & Cheese Cups or Boxes (2 – 7 oz) – $1.00

    Malt O Meal Cereal (10 – 12 oz) – $1.00
    Use $1.00/3 printable coupon from Malt ‘O Meal (coupon no longer available)
    $0.77 each after coupon

    Kool-Aid Bursts (40 oz) – $1.00

    Hawaiian Punch, Assorted Varieties (32 oz) – $1.00

    Mrs Freshley’s Buddy Bars, Oatmeal Cream Cookies, Swiss Rolls & Honey Buns – $1.00

    Nestle Candy Bars (2 – 3 oz) – $1.00

    Wylwood Cut Green Beans or Whole Kernel Corn (28 – 29 oz) – $1.00

    Diane’s Garden Tomatoes (28 oz) – $1.00

    Red Gold Ketchup (36 oz) – $1.00

    Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals!  Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends.

    For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here.  If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list.

  • Fresh & Healthy: Lunch Box Meals

    Lunch Box Goodies

    School lunch box goodies for the kiddos!  Today the girls picked out some delicious items for their lunch.  After they went to bed I made them a homemade chicken salad sandwich and put it in a pretty princess bag for them.  Here’s what they packed:

    • Homemade Chicken Salad Sandwich
    • Fresh Banana
    • Fresh Cauliflower
    • BBQ Chips
    • Yogurt
    • Shared a Honey-bun
    • Juice Bag

    Always something fun to eat in the lunch box.

  • Song: “Without Love” by Stacie Orrico

    This song speaks about the love of God from 1st Corinthians.  It is great to reminded of the greatest love we were given!  Here are a few phrases from the song.

    If I speak in the tongues of angels
    But have not love
    I’m only a resounding noise
    If I have the gift of knowledge
    And if my faith moves mountains high
    But have not love I am nothing

    Though I know the One who holds
    The stars in the heavens
    In the palm of His hand
    And if I give all I possess
    To the poor and the helpless
    I’ll still gain nothing
    Without love

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

    It is a super busy week with a lot of additional activities going on but I have a menu planned out to make the evenings flow even more smoothly for the family.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef Entree):  Special Event
    • Tuesday (Seafood or Pork Entree):  Lemon Pepper Salmon, Fresh Fruit
    • Wednesday (Chicken Entree):  Spinach Chicken Bake, French Bread
    • Thursday (Pasta or Vegetarian Entree):  Special Event
    • Friday, Saturday, & Sunday:  Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting

    I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef entree, Tuesday a seafood or pork entree and so forth).  It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned.  I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.

    Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family.  On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home.  As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes.  If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).

    As a family of four our life can get busy.  What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget.  Our family typically eats 6 to 7  dinner meals at home a week.  We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat.  Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family.  Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day.  Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends.  The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety.  We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.

    Photo by Liz

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    Last week we celebrated the girls 7th birthday (a wonderful highlight to our week)!  The upcoming week it full of extra activities, but hoping to make a lot of progress with my goals as well.

    Here is the update on last weeks goals:

    Family Goals

    1. Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everyday
    2. Read a book to the girls everyday
    3. Have each girl read 1 book to myself or Jake 5 days this week
    4. Go on our Date Night with Jake
    5. Celebrate Valentine’s Day
    6. Celebrate Brina & Karlie’s Birthday
    7. Spend time together as a family

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
    2. Go to bed by 10:30 pm or earlier Monday to Thursday – with the extra activities this didn’t get done
    3. Finish reading When Work and Family Collide by Andy Stanley – haven’t even started it yet….
    4. Read and listen to the next section of  Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God by John Piper (our church Community Group is going through this book together).
    5. Packing “To Do” List – working on it

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned and written by Monday
    3. Spend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house
    4. Dinner ready by 5:30 PM (Monday through Thursday) – had a couple later nights with appointments
    5. Spend time re-organizing and de-cluttering the downstairs Bookshelves / Desk / Dressers – started but not finished

    Business Goals

    1. Pay all bills that come in the mail this week
    2. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    3. Spend 10 minutes a day cleaning and organizing my desk
    4. Write a Guest Blog Post
    5. Finish 2011 Business Taxes – items at Accountant so waiting for them to wrap up their piece

    Ministry Goals

    1. Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requests – didn’t get this done with all the other activities this week
    2. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses – working on it
    3. Complete our personal 2011 taxes – almost done, waiting for our business taxes to be completed before finishing
    4. Put money aside for upcoming trips – was able to do some
    5. Put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes – put some aside

    Here are my goals for the upcoming week:

    Family Goals

    1. Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everyday
    2. Read a book to the girls everyday
    3. Have each girl read 1 book to myself or Jake 5 days this week
    4. Go on our Date Night with Jake
    5. Spend time together as a family

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
    2. Go to bed by 10:30 pm or earlier Monday to Thursday
    3. Finish reading When Work and Family Collide by Andy Stanley
    4. Read and listen to the next section of  Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God by John Piper (our church Community Group is going through this book together).
    5. Travel “To Do” List

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned and written by Monday
    3. Spend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house
    4. Spend 30 hour a day de-cluttering the house

    Business Goals

    1. Pay all bills that come in the mail this week
    2. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    3. Spend 10 minutes a day cleaning and organizing my desk
    4. Finish 2011 Business Taxes

    Ministry Goals

    1. Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requests
    2. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses
    3. Complete our personal 2011 taxes
    4. Put money aside for upcoming trips
    5. Put cash aside for 1 year of Jake’s College Classes

    I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.  I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true.  When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals.  Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick).  Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.

    Why Share My Goals?

    • To keep me accountable
    • To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
    • To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
    • Create healthy habits in my life
    • To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn

    How did you do this week on your goals?  Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.

    The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results

  • I Love You Sweet Girls!

    I have always enjoyed this book and thought the quote was appropriate with today being the girls birthday.  No matter how old the girls get they’ll always be my babies.  Thankful for the opportunity to be a Mom to Brina and Karlie!

    Photo Credit

  • Book: “Crush It!” by Gary Vaynerchuck

    In a recent trip with the family out to the midwest (Nebraska and Kansas) I brought the book Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk.  My husband had picked up the book for me for Christmas.  I enjoyed reading Gary’s book and was able to get through it pretty quickly while we were in flight.

    Gary’s passion overflows into his book.  The book is short, sweet and to the point.  Not only does Gary encourage you to follow your passion he also reminds you that it takes time and a lot of hard work to accomplish your goals. He is honest and straight forward about how to create your own personal brand around your personality and passions.  Everyday whether you realize it or not you market your personal brand.

    The author gives a variety of ways to start building your brand as well as additional resources to check out.  He discusses a variety of Social Media tools. Although he highlights the ways that work well for him he also recommends a variety of other avenues and suggests that you find which ones are most beneficial for you.   Gary encourages each person to follow their dreams and “crush it” in their own way!

  • Happy Birthday Brina & Karlie!

    Happy 7th Birthday to Brina & Karlie!  We love you sweet girls.  It is amazing how quickly these last few years have gone by and we are thankful for the many wonderful memories we have shared.  Wishing both of you many more awesome years of great times! 🙂

    Photo Credit

  • Recipe: Swedish Baked Potatoes

    I had the family’s Valentine’s Day Dinner celebration pretty much planned out based off the items that I had in the refrigerator and pantry (steak, baked potatoes, fresh stir fry vegetables, fresh fruit salad, cherry limeade fruit punch from the girls birthday party, poppy seed french bread, and cheesecake).  Since I had gotten potatoes on clearance at the grocery store earlier I wanted to do baked potatoes to go with the steak but was hoping to try a different recipe.  I adapted this recipe from SeasaltwithFood and it turned out really well!  Everyone in our family LOVED these potatoes (including the kids)!  The girls even wanted to know if they could take the leftover potatoes to school for their lunches the next day they like them so much.  The best part is they were pretty easy to do.  They had much more flavor than regular baked potatoes plus we didn’t add any additional butter or toppings because they were so tender and tasty (which means they were probably healthier for us too).  This one has become family favorite already!

    Swedish Baked Potatoes:

    • 4 large Potatoes
    • Garlic Seasoning
    • Olive Oil
    • Sea Salt

    Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.  Place the potato on a cutting board and make thin slices down the whole length of the potato (each slice should go almost all the way through the potato).  Put potatoes on a baking tray or in a baking dish.  Sprinkle Garlic seasoning over each potato. Make sure some garlic seasoning gets down in between a few of the potato slices on each potato for extra flavoring.  Spread butter over the tops of each potato with a butter knife.  Brush olive oil on over the butter.  Sprinkle the sea salt on top of the potatoes.   Bake for 20 minutes on convection oven or 40 minutes if baking regularly (bake until potatoes are tender).  When done the potatoes will be soft on the inside and the skin will be crispy.

    You can put butter, sour cream, bacon pieces, and cracked pepper out as additional toppings for those wanting more flavor.