Thought of the Day

"You will always be getting praise and blame, but do not let either affect the poise of the mind."

From the Sutta Nipata

FINALLY FRIDAY

TGIF!!!! It has been one of those weeks!!!

I have a couple of things planned for this weekend:
1) Birthday Party Sunday
2) Going Out to Dinner to Celebrate Our Anniversay
3) Shopping for Great Deals on Fall/Winter Clothes

Have a great weekend and I'll see you on Monday!

Thrifty and Neat Blog Entries Found This Week

1) Fall Planter Ideas - Unfortunately, its that that time of the year.

2) PF Chang's Lettuce Wraps - These sound wonderful

3) A Great Way to Prepare Tomatoes - A simple but great recipe for tomatoes. Sounds yummy.

4) Apple Turnovers - These look great.

5) Creating a Calming Office Space - I see that I am not the only one decorating/organizing their home office.

6) Alyssa at Keeping the Kingdom First has started a great series on Blogging Bits and Tips - You read Part I and Part II for lots of great tips.

LUNCH HOUR SHOPPING YESTERDAY

It's that time of year to do some fall/winter clothes shopping for Payton. Of course, everything from last year is too small. I had a great JCP coupon ($10 off of $25) burning a hole in my pocket so I had to go shopping today. My first stop was JCPenneys. I purchased 2 pairs of pants and 3 shirts for Payton.


3 Pants - $30.00
2 Shirts - $20.00
Total - $50.00
Sale Price ($25.00)
Coupon - ($10.00)
Total incl. Tax - $16.15
That's an average of $3.23 per item















Next stop, Shoe Show and they were having a sale too. Of course, Payton needs new shoes for the fall/winter. I purchased 2 pairs of shoes.

1st Pair - $17.99

2nd Pair - $ 12.99

B1G1 50% Off Discount ($6.50)

Total OOP incl. Tax - $26.44
That's an average of $13.22 per Pair

FREE UNCRUSTABLES

Starting September 28, Smuckers will give away 80,000 Uncrustables sandwiches at Uncrustables.com - just register to submit an after school organization tip and receive a coupon for one free box of Smucker’s Uncrustables sandwiches (4-pack; max value: $3.00). These frozen PB&J sandwiches are incredibly convenient, and three of the varieties come on whole wheat bread. We got one for Alex at IKEA on a day that he wasn't feeling well and this was the only thing that sounded appealing to him. I was surprised that it really did have almost the exact taste and texture of a regular PB&J.

Thanks to Chief Family Officer

FREE CHOCOLATE FRIDAYS - LAST CHANCE

What is Real Chocolate Relief? Mars only uses Real Chocolate - that means its made with 100% pure, cocoa butter. Come back to www.realchocolate.com every Friday through September to get FREE* Real Chocolate coupon for your favorite Mars brand. If its Mars, then you know it is real chocolate. Give away starts 9am EST every Friday.''"

Thought of the Day

What maters is the value we've created in our lives, the people we've made happy & how much we've grown as people.

D. Ikeda

THRIFTY THURSDAY - LOVE MY NEW TABLE

Unfortunately, I forgot to take a before picture of this chest. Just imagine..... black in color, been sitting in a basement for at least 10 years, sitting in my garage for another 2-3 years, cobwebs, dust, dirt, and dog hair. I spent a couple of hours of washing, drying and even blowing it with the leaf blower before I began to paint.

After 3 cans of paint...........this is the result.

I have it in my guest bathroom. I am very pleased with the way it turned out and the best part is this was given to me, FREE. I just wish that I had painted it sooner.

You can find other great thrifty tips and ideas at Thrifty Thursday at Bloggeritaville.

FREE ENTRANCE TO ALL NATIONAL PARKS - SEPTEMBER 26

September 26 is also National Public Lands Day and entrance to all 391 national parks is free!

What Did You Get For FREE This Week?

I bet my mail lady hates me. Because of me, she always has boxes, packages, containers but I love her!


I have received the following this week:

Honey Nut Cheerios Sample and $1 Coupon
FREE Parenting Magazine
FREE Elle Decor Magazine
FREE Traditional Home Magazine
FREE Sample of Burt's Bees Face Cleanser
Purex Coupon
JCP Coupon - $10 off $25
Carter's Coupons
Smiley Face Stickers
Soap Opera Digest
Harry Connick Jr. CD to review
2 FREE Hallmark Connection Cards
Another Package for a Great Giveaway Coming Soon
Bare Naked Bar and Coupon
Martha Stewart Living Magazine
FREE TV Guide

Did you get any goodies?

FREE 100 DAYS OF HOLIDAY NEWSLETTER

Starting September 24, receive a FREE 100 Days of Holiday Newsletter from Better Homes and Garden containing holiday tips, recipes, ideas etc. You can sign up for it here.

FREE SAMPLE OF HUGGIES AND GOODNITIES

Click here to order your FREE samples.

Thought of the Day

"To be beautiful means to be yourse.f You don't need to be accepted by others. you need to accept yourself."

Thich Nhat Hanh

MACY'S BIGGEST GIFT REGISTRY EVENT OF THE SEASON

Customers who make tabletop and houseware purchases of $150 or greater from one of 30 participating vendors between September 23rd and October 4th are eligible to receive a $25 cash rebate in the mail. This is the perfect opportunity for friends and family to get the happy couple a wonderful wedding gift. Additionally, this is an ideal opportunity for all of the couples who have been waiting for the right time to purchase their remaining dinnerware and complete their collection.

In order to redeem this rebate, forms can be found in-store at any Wedding & Gift Registry department or here. Purchasers simply need to mail-in their original receipt and a copy of the couple’s registry to the specific vendor’s address found on the second page of the rebate form. The $25 rebate check will be mailed within 60 days.

Interesting/Fun/Useful Website

When you are looking for an item, this site will help you find it locally, tell you if its in stock, place the item on hold. It works best with chains and department stores.

This could come in handy with Christmas shopping.

KIDS EAT FREE AT BOSTON MARKET

As if you needed another reason to visit Boston Market:

From September 21 through October 31, kids 14 years and under eat free!

Here are the details:
Requires a $6 minimum adult purchase
Up to 2 kids eat free with each adult purchase (kids must be present)
Free meal choices are found on the Kids Meals section of the menu

The offer isn't valid with any other reduced price offer (sorry, no coupons!)"

Thought of the Day

"Whatever the present moment contains accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it - not against it."

Eckhart Tolle

NEW BUZZ CLUB REWARDS AT BIG LOTS

Click here for details and to pre-register.

FREE PRO-X SAMPLE FROM VOCALPOINT

Vocalpoint is giving away a FREE 28 day supply of Olay Pro-X Wrinkle Smoothing Cream. Just log-in and confirm your address to receive. If you not a member, register and then log-in.

RITE AID COUPON - $5 OFF $25

Click here to print.

YOPLAIT DELIGHT PRIZE PACK GIVEAWAY

Did you know nearly 9 out of 10 women experience a mid-day craving and have the urge to snack. 83% percent of women admit they sometimes feel guilty when cravings takeover and they reach for sweets. Yoplat Delights is not a snack to feel guilty over.

Yoplait Delights is a 100 calorie snack. The yogurt is rich and creamy and tastes great.

Thanks to MyBlogSpark, I recently received a Yoplait Delight "Deli Your Day" Prize Pack. My prize pack included a spa mask, wrap robe and slippers and a couple for coupon for FREE Yoplait Delights. I also have a prize pack to giveaway.

To enter this giveaway, please leave me a comment telling me what snacks you and your family find most delightful during the day. Make sure you include your email address.

Additional Entries: For a Total of 3 Entries Per Person

1 Extra Entry for each of the following:

- Follow or subscribe to my blog (Leave me an email letting me know).

- Follow me on twitter. (Leave me an email letting me know).

This giveaway is only open to US residents. The coupon enclosed in the prize pack is not valid outside the US.

This giveaway will close Sunday, September 27, at 9pm. The winner will be notified on Monday. The winner will be chosen random. You will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Good luck!!

MARIA'S BRUSCHETTA

Ingredients:

1 loaf of Italian Bread
Handful Basil, Chopped (from my garden)
2 Medium Tomatoes, Diced (from my garden)
1 Cup of Shredded Mozzeralla Cheese
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to Taste

Optional: Chopped Garlic - I did not have any or I would have added some garlic.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°. Slice Italian bread into 3/4" thick slices. Arrange on baking sheet and add 1/2 tsp of olive oil to each piece. Toast bread lightly and remove from oven. Add diced tomatoes, shredded mozzeralla cheese and basil to each piece of bread until bread is mostly covered. Put back into the oven and bake until cheese is melted.

I made this Sunday afternoon and just hit the spot. It was a great way to use some of tomatoes and basil from garden. Let me know if you try it!

You can find other great Tasty Tuesday recipes at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.

Thought of the Day

Today is the 1st Day of Autumn.

CVS COUPON - $5 OFF $25

Take a flu survey here. Afterwards, you will be able to print a $5 off $25 coupon.

FREE COLORME PAGES FROM CRAYOLA.COM

Upload digital photos at crayola.com/colorme and print FREE coloring pages. A new way Crayola has devised to turn kids memories into coloring pages. You can upload and save up to 5 pictures. You will have 24 hours to print your free pictures.

You will need a code to print for FREE. Codes can be found in specially marked boxes of crayons ($5 for a box of 48).

You can also use Code PR24QCHT.

FREE DOWNY WRINKLE RELEASER

Get a coupon for a FREE Downy Wrinkle Releaser ($2.99 value for 3 oz. travel size) when you submit a photo of something wrinkled (or not). Your coupon will be emailed to you immediately after uploading one photo. Check their store locator to find what store near you carries this product. Looks like Walmart and Target both carry it near me.

Thanks to Freebies 4 Mom.

MENU PLAN MONDAY - 9/21

You can also find other great meals and recipes at Orgjunkie.com.







Monday - Hot Dogs with Homemade Slaw, Oven Fries

Tuesday - Beef Stew, Leftover Slaw, Cream Potatoes

Wednesday - $5 Pizza from Little Ceasars and a Salad(Couple of errands to do after work so I need a quick dinner)

Thursday - Macaroni Grill Creamy Basil Parmesan Chicken & Pasta with Salad and French Bread

Friday - Having Dinner Out for Our Anniversary

Check out other great Monday Menu Plans at Organizing Junkie.

Thought of the Day

Happy Anniversary to Me!!

Today is my 13th Anniversary with my dear hubby!

ANONYMOUS COMMENTER .....

If you would like for me to answer the comments you have been leaving, please leave me your email address. I will not answer your comments on my blog.

Therefore, it is your choice if you would like an answer!!!

Thought of the Day

Sit back and think everything you have in life to be thankful for.