A quick Booking It update...

I got The Help! I got The Help! And it was A.MAZING.

First recommended by another Booking It participant, I thought this book sounded great from the first mention. I quickly put myself on the waiting list at our local library. I took my kiddo and niece into the library for Story Hour last Thursday and renewed a couple other books and then found a quiet corner to read. As I was leaving a little while later - the girls from the front desk hollered at me and said a book I had requested was ready (in the 45 minutes between renewing my books and leaving) and it was The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!

If you've read any Jodi Picoult then you've seen this style of writing...several people (in this case three women) telling the story every few chapters...each woman's story intertwining with the other stories. A #1 New York Times bestseller - this book is extremely well written and for me...is so hard to even wrap my mind around.

Three women, Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny are living in Jackson, Mississippi in 1962...not all that extraordinary until you realize Skeeter is white and Aibileen and Minny are black and are maids for Skeeter's friends. And Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960's was not a friendly place to be for blacks or anyone who supported the movement of equality between blacks and whites.

Now...I don't claim to be a genius or to hide away from things that happened in the past or even currently but I sometimes have a hard time wrapping my mind around things. Events like 9/11 or Katrina hit me but I can't totally comprehend what happened in these places. I know about them because I'm a big news hound and will stay glued to the TV, newspapers and news websites for hours on end but really...unless you are there and experiencing it - how can one truly understand?

This book is the same thing...I know the history of the United States and slavery and how poorly blacks were treated but really? In 1962? This was happening? Really!? My mom was 10-years-old in 1962 and for some reason I just can't see my family having a maid (well, for one they were poor and for two they lived in Northern Indiana) and maybe if they had lived in Mississippi they would have but to me 1962 doesn't seem that long ago and it seems like the kind of treatment that happened in this book should have been long over...but I also know that it still happens - even today in 2010. It is just hard for me to even understand.

The flap says, "Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed."

An incredibly moving story...this is one book you shouldn't miss and one book you won't be able to put down until you've read every single page.

Want a great way to tell your life story to your kids?

Check out Mommy's Piggy Tales new series!

Visit her today and plan on linking up weekly to share about your life!  I'll be working on my post for tomorrow throughout the day and linking up in the evening...  This is a great (and easy) way to get your life story on paper (or on the computer) for your children to enjoy at a later date.  And who knows - you just might enjoy your trips down memory lane as well!

Marsh ad highlights - 6/10 to 6/16

Bummed you missed some great deals with Marsh's Mega Sale? Don't be! It looks like the sale is on again this week - with all of the exact same items!

Click here to see the Mega Sale items from last week!

Perdue thighs and drumsticks - $.98/lb (save at least $.81/lb)
Keebler or Kellogg's crackers/snacks/cookies - B1G1 FREE (save $3.18 or more on two...free item must be the same kind as purchased item)
Ore-Ida potatoes - 3/$5 (save $4.89 or more on three...when you buy three in one transaction, more or less than three will be $2.50 each)
Emge roll sausage - B1G1 FREE
Butterball turkey (patties/burgers/links) - B1G1 FREE
Oscar Mayer wieners/bologna - B1G1 FREE (free item must be same kind as purchased item)
Eckrich loaf or variety pack - B1G1 FREE (free item must be same kind as purchased item)
Tom's snacks - B1G1 FREE
Krispy crackers - B1G1 FREE
Kool-Aid drink mix - B1G1 FREE
Ore-Ida Bagel Bites - B1G1 FREE
Sunbeam bread - B1G1 FREE
Home Pride bread - B1G1 FREE
Smart Balance sour cream - B1G1 FREE
Reser's potatoes - B1G1 FREE
Aunt Millie's buns - B1G1 FREE
White bread (from the deli) - B1G1 FREE
Garden Fresh salads (in the deli area) - B1G1 FREE
Hostess Donettes - B1G1 FREE
Food Club stuffed manzanilla olives - B1G1 FREE
Emeralds snack nuts - B1G1 FREE
Orville Redenbacher's popcorn - B1G1 FREE
Kozy Shack pudding - B1G1 FREE
Famous Amos cookies - B1G1 FREE
Food Club seasoning or gravy mix - B1G1 FREE
Miceli's ricotta cheese - B1G1 FREE
Kellogg's cereals - 3/$4.98
Sunny Delight - 10/$10
Charmin or Bounty - $6.49
Red or Green seedless grapes - $1.48/lb (save $1.51/lb)
Del Monte Gold whole pineapples - $2.99
5lb bag of Idaho Russet potatoes - B1G1 FREE
Yogurt or chocolate pretzels (in the produce section) - B1G1 FREE
Concord Foods smoothie mix (in the produce section) - B1G1 FREE

And so what do you do with all those things where you B1G1 FREE?  If you don't plan on using the second item, give it to a friend or donate it to Salvation Army or a shelter.  Or go with a friend and split the cost of the one item so you're paying just half price for the one item you get.  You could even just approach another shopper and say, "Hey - I'm buying this item but don't need the second, would you use it?"  And just give it to them...doing this after you check out (so maybe to another shopper as they are leaving) so you're sure the items are scanned and paid for properly.  I'll be doing one of these things with the two bags of potatoes I end up with - I'll only need one!

Regular weekly grocery shopping... Ugh.

If we don't quit blowing budget, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself! This is the second week in a row that we have WAY blown the budget. I even had to use the debit card...I had no other cash with me. Dang it. Well - here's what we got!

Bounty was $10.28 for $5.99
Charmin was $9.18 for $5.99
11 cans Stokely's veggies was $11.55 for $5.50 (eight being donated to church)
4 cans Libby's fruit was $7.40 for $4.00 (donated to church)
1 Food Club black pepper was $3.59 for $1.80 (closeout - marked 50% off)
2 Ken's marinades was $5.98 for $2.99 (B1G1 FREE)
10 Kraft Velveeta shells and cheese was $18.70 for $9.90
2 Shamrock Farms milk was $2.78 for $0.00 (FREE!)
2 Edy's ice cream was $10.98 for $2.98
3 Tombstone pizzas was $17.34 for $8.97
2 Dean's gallon milk was $5.98 for $3.98
2 Lawry's marinades was $6.58 for 3.29 (closeout - marked 50% off)

Along with slice cheese, lunch meat, yogurt, cottage cheese, cream cheese, bread and fresh fruits and veggies we spent $95.35 and saved $69.60 or 42%. Not spectacular but not too bad either...at least the savings part of it. The spending part is killing me though. We have GOT to behave these next few weeks!

Week of 5/7 through 5/28 grocery budget

Okay, I know straight up I blew budget this month!  We went into last weekend knowing that with all the Coke and Pepsi products we were buying, that there was no hope of not going over.  But we decide together that it's wise for us to do that every so often to get a deal that we don't want to pass up.  I'm actually going to break down my listings below...so I can see how close my regular shopping did in comparision to the budget.

5/7  Kroger - 3.41, saved .84 (21%)
5/7  Kroger - 16.00, saved 28.00 (63%)
5/8  Marsh - 5.38, saved 9.40 (65%)
5/8  Marsh - 51.19, saved 68.84 (58%)
5/15  Marsh - 1.39, saved 1.30 (48%)
5/16  Marsh - 56.84, saved 25.62 (31%)
5/16  Walmart - 17.53, saved 5.94 (appx - based on Walmart's "regular" price versus the rollback price) (25%)
5/22  Marsh - 60.47, saved 78.19 (56%)
5/22  CVS - 2.01, saved 17.00 (appx 90%) - used gift card
5/22  CVS - 5.19, saved 19.97 (appx 80%) - used gift card and left with $5 in ECBs too
5/23  Marsh - 68.64, saved 57.20 (46%)

5/28  Walmart - 27.01, saved 6.04 (appx - based on Walmart's "regular" price versus the rollback price)
5/28  Walmart - 40.30, saved 18.08 (appx - based on Walmart's "regular" price versus the rollback price)
5/29  Walmart - 12.00, saved 17.76 (appx - based on Walmart's "regular" price versus the rollback price)
5/29  Walmart - 24.08, saved 8.12 (appx - based on Walmart's "regular" price versus the rollback price)

5/30  Marsh - 93.37, saved 73.54 (45%) - and about $20 of this was stockpiling pop and razors

Total spent (EVERYTHING):  484.81
Total spent (subracting CVS (gift cards) and stockpiling):  354.22 (bummer dude...over budget by $54.22!)

Total saved (EVERYTHING):  435.84
Total saved (subtracting CVS (gift cards) and stockpiling):  328.87

Percentage saved (EVERYTHING):  appx. 47%
Percentage saved (subtracting CVS (gift cards) and stockpiling):  48%

So...  For sure not the best month but there have been some months were it was worse!  I just have to keep working on it and see where we get to.  I'm thinking this next month will be better because we got a LOT of stuff in the last few weeks!

Marsh ad highlights - June 3rd to June 9th

Ready for another Mega Sale?  You better be because Marsh has one starting tomorrow!  As always, save $5 instantly when you buy 10 specially marked items.  There is no limit on these - so you can buy 50 of the specially marked items and save $25!  Match these sale prices with coupons and you've got even better deals!

Mega Sale items (price after final reduction of $.50 per item)
Kraft, Food Club or Sargento cheese (select varieties) - $1.49
Dean's milk (gallon) - $1.99
Kellogg's cereals or Nutri-Grain bars - $1.99
TombStone 12-inch pizzas - $2.99
Kraft Velveeta shells and cheese - $.99
Gatorade Thirst Quencher - $.58
Minute Maid or Simply Orange - $2.49
Keebler or Nabisco snacks - $1.99
Keebler Cheez-It snacks - $1.49
Kellogg's bars or fruit snacks - $1.49
CapriSun or Kool-Aid Jammers - $1.29
Kraft cheese - $2.49 (includes Deluxe - which has had recent coupons and string - which is a fave at our house)
Dean's cottage cheese - $1.49
Bull's-Eye BBQ sauce - $.99
Edy's or Dean's ice cream - $2.49
Jell-O, Yoplait yogurt or frozen smoothies - $1.99
Pillsbury strudel, scrambles or pancakes - $1.49
Marie Callender's pot pies or dinners - $1.99
Swiss sweet tea - $.99
Wanchai Ferry - $5.49
Welch's grape juice - $2.99
Palmolive - $1.99
Olay or Gillette - $3.19
Juicy Juice - $1.99
Food Club ketchup - $.69
Food Club dressing - $1.39
Yoplait fridge pack - $3.49
Yoplait greek yogurt - $.49

Perdue boneless, skinless breasts - $1.87/lb (save $2.62/lb)
Vine ripe or Red Roma tomatoes - $.99/lb (save up to $1.50/lb)
Stokely's vegetables - 2/$1 (save $.98 on two)
Food Club butter quarters - $1.88
Center Cut boneless pork loin - $2.28/lb (save $1.71/lb)
Hershey's or Dean's milk - 10/$10
Libby's fruit cocktail, peaches or pears - 10/$10
Brownberry wide pan bread - B1G1 FREE
Ken's salad dressings or marinades - B1G1 FREE
Mission tortillas - $1.79 (match with recent $1.00 of blinkies for cheap shells!)
Aunt Millie's breads or buns - $1.29
Snapple teas and juice drinks - 10/$10
Bounty or Charmin - $6.49 (match either with recent $.25 coupons for $5.99 prices)
Handi-foil pans - B1G1 FREE (great if you plan on a bake sale or taking meals to a shut-in or new mom, etc)
Secret - $3.48 (not the best price by any means but probably as about as cheap as I'll find it right now when I match with a $.50 coupon)

And that's it for me!  Well - that's more than enough for me - that's what I see as the good (or better) bargains in this next week's ad. 

Made a quick trip to Marsh for my granny and had to share!

Since she's gotten older, my grandma has gotten to the point where 99.7% of her meals are eaten on paper plates.  She loves Dixie plates (not sure why those are just what she buys) and they were on sale at Marsh this week - add in the fact that there were coupons in a recent Red Plum insert and I had a deal on my hands!

8 Dixie paper plates (four big/four small) was $30.00 for $8.00

By the time you add in tax I spent $8.84 but I saved $22.00 - that's 73%!  That's probably one of my higher percentages for recent trips - too bad it was for her (meaning I used the debit card for her account) rather than mine (which would greatly help my percentages for the month)!  I'm glad I was able to get a good deal for her though - now instead of buying them at the store when she needs plates, she'll just have to let me know she needs them and I'll be over to stock her up (she's not got the space to keep them really).

Booking It 2010 update

I went to the library recently in search of something to read - I had nothing in mind and nothing was really jumping out at me. I remembered though that I'd read an Eileen Goudge book called Woman in Red some time ago and decided to pick up a couple of her novels.

Well - I picked up just one at first...Stranger in Paradise - the first of three books in a mini-series called "A Carson Springs Novel." I read 20 pages of it last Thursday night before I fell asleep...Friday I finished the other 301 pages (at 1:30am Saturday technically - I couldn't put it down!).  The story of a mom, Sam, who in her late 40's falls in love with a man (who just so happens to be more than 15 years younger than her and her youngest daughter's step-son - yeah, did you catch that?) and ends up pregnant (while her oldest daughter has been trying for years to conceive and is now divorced because her husband left her when she couldn't provide children).  The story that folds is one of love, family and learning that life isn't what it seemed to be.  A fabulous story that makes you feel like you're in Carson Springs - you won't want the story to end.

Because I finished the first one so quickly I HAD to get my hands on the other two (I knew there were more but only got the first one because I had also picked up two Karen Kingsbury novels which I have yet to touch) and so I went to the library that Saturday afternoon!

It actually took me almost another week to finish the next book, Taste of Honey. It wasn't that it wasn't just as smashing as the first - I had meetings and/or prior engagements Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights this past week and just didn't have the time to sit down and read like I like to.  It was the story of Gerry (the best friend of Sam in the first book), a middle-aged divorced mom of two (well, three) who gave up a daughter for adoption and the trials she faces when she reaches out to that older daughter - and how it affects her family at home as well as the life of the adopted daughter.  Throw in a love interest who is famous and mourning the death of his wife and you have another novel that was splendidly written with clear details and a great story line.  When I read the front cover and there was a quote from Kristin Hannah (Firefly Lane and Between Sisters) that said, "This wonderful novel is filled with characters as real and honest as your own best friends," I knew this was going to be a good one!

So I finished that one up on Saturday morning and started the third one, Wish Come True, that morning as well. I'm not quite halfway though it yet but it is just as good as the first two!  The story is about another Carson Springs resident, Anna Vincent who is employed by her sister, Monica, and whose life comes crashing down on her when Monica is found dead, floating in her pool at her house, LoreiLinda.  I've just gotten to the part where Anna meets the man the flap describes as "an ally" who becomes her partner in the hunt for the real murderer.  You'll see Sam and Gerry again, along with other characters mentioned in the other Carson Springs novels...it'll be just like being home again!

If you're looking for some good reads, I would highly recommend these books!  There were a few love scenes that surprised me (while I was reading at work!) and a tiny bit of foul language but everything else that is amazing about these books way outweighs the tiny bit of bad. 

Now, I still have to finish Wish Come True plus the two Karen Kingsbury novels I picked up almost two weeks ago AND the James Patterson novel (Cat and Mouse maybe?  Pop Goes the Weasel?  I can't remember which) that I picked up before the long weekend (just in case I needed it!).  I'm gonna be busy these next two weeks or so!

And our regular weekly Marsh trip built the stockpile some too...

1 8roll Bounty was $10.28 for $5.99
1 Bounty napkin was $3.69 for $2.49
1 12roll Charmin Ultra was $9.18 for $5.99
6 1lb+ packs ground chuck was $24.31 for $13.89
4 12pk Mountain Dew was $20.36 for $10.00
2 Kraft 100cal cheese snacks was $5.98 for $2.00
4 Sweet Baby Rays dipping sauces was $15.32 for $6.67
1 Lawry's marinade was $3.29 for $.98
1 Aunt Millie's bread was $2.99 for $1.45
1 Aunt Millie's buns was $2.69 for $.44
3 Keebler Wheatable nut crackers was $11.37 for $3.47
1 Mach3 8ct razor blade was $19.98 for $9.99 (50% off - closeout)
1 Azteca (?) flour tortilla was $3.19 for $1.00

Along with milk, pasta, sour cream, eggs, lunch meat and some fresh fruit and veggies we spent a total of $93.37 - almost $20.00 over budget!  But we knew going into this weekend that we were going to do some big time stockpiling and that's what we did.  We saved $73.54 or 45% - so not too shabby.  Yes, we went over budget but we got several items that we use regularly that we shouldn't need for some time now. 

I went to the basement last night for a couple things and was like WHOA - look at our shelves!  It was nice to be able to go to the basement and get everything we needed for the dinner we had planned from the freezer/shelves and not have to scramble to go to the store for food.  THAT and the fact that we save so much money is why we stockpile!

So, uh...we did some stockpiling this weekend!

In four different trips to Walmart we came home with:

4 solar salt for the water softener
12 40oz Heinz ketchup was $29.04 for $12.00
6 Kraft mayo was $14.94 for $11.82
1 24pk Sprite was $6.42 ("normal" Walmart price) for $3.96 (priced matched to Meijer)
7 24pk Coke Zero was $44.94 for $27.72
2 24pk Mountain Dew was $12.84 for $7.92

Along with some new plastic cups ($.25 per cup), pancake mix and syrup, paper plates, Malt-O-Meal cereal and Kraft dressing (on sale and had coupons).

In those four trips we spent $103.39 and used money from savings to do so...  I'm guessing we saved around $50.00 or so - so about 33% we saved.  It was nothing spectacular but we thought the deal on Coke/Pepsi products was pretty darn good so we decided to stock up on it now.  Brian's thinking that should last us six months or so. 

Kroger ad highlights - 5/27 to 6/2

Just looking at the front page of the Kroger ad is making me very happy!

Ground chuck - $1.67/lb (3lb or larger)
Tyson boneless, skinless breasts or tenderloins - $1.89/lb
Kroger cheese - 4/$5
Tostitos or Lays - $1.88 (woohoo!)
Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ - 10/$10
Betty Crocker Cake mix or Martha White muffin mix - 10/$10
Betty Crocker brownie mix or Cool Whip topping - 10/$10
Kraft salad dressing - 2/$3
Miracle Whip - $2.19

Okay, so really - it was just the front page that excited me but I'll be hitting them up for a few things at least!

Marsh ad highlights - 5/27 through 6/2

Check it out!  Marsh has got the Memorial Day sale goin' on!

Fresh ground beef - $1.68/lb (save $.81/lb) - buy 3 Kraft Singles (3/$4.98) and save $1.00 on ground beef
Fresh ground chuck - $1.99/lb (save $1.41/lb)
In-husk, bi-color, white or yellow corn - 10(ears)/$2 (save $4.70 on 10 ears)
12-pack Pepsi, Coke, 7-Up products - 4/$10 (save $8.76 or more)
RIB FEST!

• Western style - $1.68/lb (save $.71/lb)
• Spareribs - $1.98/lb (save $1.01/lb)
• St Louis style spareribs - $2.98/lb (save $.51/lb)
• Pork baby backribs - $3.98/lb (save $1.01/lb)
• Country style pork ribs - $1.98/lb (save $1.01/lb)
• Lloyd's baby backribs - $13.99 (save $3.00)

Aunt Millie's buns or bread - $.99 (save $1.70 or more)
Kraft cheese (shredded, cubes, 100 cal. pack, chunk) - 2/$4 (save $1.98 or more on two)
8-Piece deli fried chicken - $4.99 (save $2.00)
Lay's potato chips - 2/$4 (save $3.98 on two)
Oscar Mayer bologna - B1G1 FREE
Sweet Baby Ray's sauces - B1G1 FREE (sweet - the honey mustard and sweet & sour dipping sauces are great!!!)
Margaritaville seafood entrees - B1G1 FREE (save $6.99 on two)
Tiger Bay tilapia - B1G1 FREE (save $5.99 on two)
Sara Lee deli meats - $5.99/lb (save $1.70/lb)
Kraft mayo or Miracle Whip - $2.49
StarKist tuna (pouches) - 10/$10
Country Time lemonade mix - B1G1 FREE
Gatorade - 10/$10
Heluva Good! dip - 2/$3 (match with recent $.75 coupons for $.75 dip)
Pop Secret - B1G1 FREE
Nabisco, Keebler, Kellogg's crackers and cookies (select) - $1.99
Charmin - $6.49
Bounty paper towels - $6.49

And there are several coupon match-ups out there...Aunt Millie's, Lloyds, Sweet Baby Rays, StarKist tuna, Pop Secret, select Keeber/Nabisco/Kellogg's, Charmin, Bounty - just be on the lookout for them!

Our customary weekly shopping trip at Marsh...

3 Food Club shredded cheese was $8.07 for $5.04
1 Green Giant steamers was $1.99 for $.20
1 Marsh egg was $1.59 for -$.12 (yep, got paid for the eggs!)
2 Kraft Nut Crisp crackers was $7.58 for $2.98
9 Hamburger Helper was $14.67 for $2.16
4 Cocoa Pebbles was $11.96 for $4.64
2 Mission tortilla shells was $6.38 for $2.00
1 Aunt Millie's slim sandwiches was $2.99 for $1.84
1 Snuggle fabric softener was $4.69 for $.49
1 Fritos scoops was $2.99 for $1.48
1 Fritos jalepeno cheese dip was $2.79 for $1.48

Total spent: 68.64
Total saved: 57.20
Percentage: 46%

Woohoo!

I made a quick trip to Kroger for my momma the other day...

This summer she is watching all three kids (my one and my brother's two) and so she's been stocking up on ice cream pops, snacky treats and other little things. 

10 Kroger ice cream sandwiches was $22.90 for $10.00

I spent $10.00 and saved $12.90 - which is 56%.  Not too bad and she pays me back - even better!

And my CVS prescription cards have come in very handy again!

I've mentioned before that thanks to the "fill a new prescription and get a $25 gift card", I've been able to get some good deals at CVS.  There was the Almay make-up deal, make-up and body wash deal, the Tostitos deal and the Diet Dew deal.  These four trips have netted me lots of Diet Dew, Tostitos, make-up and body wash.  Today's trip?  More body wash!  And it only took me two transactions...

Transaction #1
3 Dawn dish soap (Hand Renewal) was $5.97 for $1.00 ($1.99 each - $1.15 (12/$10 sale item) - $.50 P&G coupon for each)
3 Nivea "Touch of Shimmer" body wash (for women) was $17.97 for $2.97 ($5.99 each - $1.00 (sale price) - $4.00 coupon for each)

Total out of pocket (well, off the prescription gift card):  $5.19
Total saved:  $19.97
Received $5 ECB for purchasing $15 in Nivea products

Transaction #2
3 Nivea body wash (for men) was $14.97 for $2.97 ($4.99 each - $1.00 (sale price) - $3.00 coupon for each)
1 Nivea lip gloss (I wasn't sure the total above was going to make it for the "spend $15 get $5 ECB deal") was $2.99 (no sale, no coupon)

Used $5 ECB from Transaction #1
Total out of pocket (again used prescription gift card):  $2.01
Total saved:  $17.00
Received $5 ECB for purchasing $15 in Nivea products

So all said, I spent $7.20 on my gift card, left with $5 ECBs and purchased six body wash, three dish soap and a lip gloss.  I didn't make any money but really, I saved a lot - like just over 81% savings.  I love it.

Balance on this gift card:  $10.01 (this is the second of four $25 gift cards)

Today was a GOOD day for some deals...

I knew on Thursday that I was going to hit up Marsh today before work because they were having a one-day only meat sale...  The last time I went after work (around 1:00pm) they were OUT of almost everything.  So I got myself up early today and was at Marsh by 8:15am.  I bought:

6 2.5lb+ Perdue boneless skinless breasts was $71.40 for $26.75
6 Purnell roll sausage was $23.34 for $11.88
6 Eckrich smoked sausage was $23.94 for $11.88
2 Hormel pork loin filets was $19.98 for $9.96

My total before my card scanned was $138.66 - that's almost two weeks worth of groceries!  After my card (no coupons) my total was $60.47 - I saved $78.19 or 56%.  And we've got a LOT of meat to last us for several weeks at least!  As always, I love Marsh.

Ooo! Ooo! Marsh is having a one day meat sale!

Saturday morning - if you're needing to stock the meat freezer, you better get yourself to Marsh!  They are having a one day meat sale and it is THIS Saturday!  When I did my preview last night this wasn't with the online ads, I didn't know about it until I got to work this morning and saw the actual ad!  Here's the whole sale!

Perdue bonless skinless chicken breasts - $1.58/lb (save $2.62/lb, limit six)
Whole boneless ribeye - $4.88/lb (save $3.11/lb) - these are 14lb to 15lb cry-vac packages - can be sliced for free
Boneless ribeye steak - $6.98/lb (save $5.01/lb)
Hormel Always Tender pork loin filet - $4.98 (save $5.01)
Sugardale Prestige ham steak - $2.49/lb (save $1.00/lb)
Food Club bratwurst or italian sausage - $2.99 (save $1.00)
Marsh sliced bacon - 2/$5 (save $.98 on two)
Bar S franks - $.79 (save $.90)
Bar S thin slicked lunch meats - 2/$6 (save $2.98 on two)
Eckrich smoked sausage or Purnell's roll sausage - $1.98 (save $2.01 on Eckrich and $1.91 on Purnell's)

This is all while quantities last (which means no rain checks) so get there early!

PS - I just realized every punctuation in this post is an exclamation point!  :)

A quick book review...

So, not this last Booking It 2010 update on Life as Mom but the one prior to that, someone linked up and reviewed The Reserve: A Novel by Russell Banks.  It sounded like a good book so I picked it up.  And then spent the last three weeks struggling to get through it.  It was a fiction novel set in the 1930's but for some reason, I couldn't keep that thought in my head.  I kept thinking it was a more current setting until I'd get to a section about the Hindenburg or something like that.  And four or five times through the book there were short sections (maybe two pages) that were in an italicized font and I have no clue how those sections related to the rest of the book.  I know, strange. 

So - I finished the book.  I'm not normally one to sit a book down without finishing it.  I know for sure that this is a book that I'll never pick up again.  It just wasn't that good to me.  I did note that Russell Banks wrote other books (listed in the front of the novel) and wondered if they were any better (or worse) but didn't take the time at the library tonight to even check one out.

On my list next is a book by Eileen Goudge called Stranger in Paradise.  I read her book Woman in Red last year (maybe the year before?) and another by her (but the title is failing me now) and LOVED Woman in Red.  The second one was good but not as good as the first.  So I'm holding out high hopes for this one!
I've also got two Karen Kingsbury novels - Waiting for Morning and Moment of Weakness.  I think I've read the first one - at least, reading the flap sounded familiar but I don't remember how it ended so I picked it up again.  The other one is the second one in her Forever Faithful series.

I also put a request in for James Patterson's Pop Goes the Weasel, the next book in the Alex Cross series.  I had grabbed one of his books last week when I was there (Where the Wind Blows) but it wasn't an Alex Cross book so I took it back (I read it a long time ago - just like I have all his other books).

And I'm still on the waiting list for The Help by Kathryn Stockett (another recommendation from a LifeasMom link).  I can't wait to get my hands on it.  So for now - I'm off to read Eileen's Stranger in Paradise.

Oh yeah - anyone ever read Robert Parker?  The librarian suggested him but when I read about a character in multiple books, I want to start at the beginning and I wasn't sure which to pick up first so I decided to do some research first.  But - if anyone has read him...good, bad, indifferent?

Be on the look-out for two inserts this weekend!

Thanks to The Coupon Clippers I know there are two inserts this weekend - one from Smart Source and one from Valassis (Red Plum).  I'm actually pretty excited about several coupons in this weeks inserts - there are quite a few that match up with the sales at Marsh and Kroger.  That's my kinda insert!

Here are links to previews at The Coupon Clippers:

Smart Source

Valassis (Red Plum)

Happy shopping!

Free samples in the mail

Recently Crystal over at Money Saving Mom asked if signing up for free samples is worth the time and effort? 

I've only recently begun to sign up for free samples myself and have decided I agree with Crystal...  YES!  It is very worth signing up for free samples in the mail.

Just today I received a P&G Brand Sampler in the mail that included two Cascade ActionPacs and a 1.7 fl oz Pantene shampoo and conditioner.

Who doesn't love free stuff in the mail?  And make it free stuff that I use (which is all I sign up for)!?  As a bargain shopper - I LOVE it.  The Cascade is going under the sink for when I need it and the sample bottles of Pantene go into a box upstairs that I use to pack in our overnight bags and camping gear for when we are headed away from home - they are small, lightweight and can even be refilled after they are empty!

And that was just what I got today.  In the last few weeks I've gotten free samples from Axe and Dove for Men (body wash) and Caress body wash.  All for ten seconds of filling out some lines on a website.  And sometimes I've heard that samples even come with coupons - hello!?  That's my kinda sample!

So - what about you?  Do you sign up for free samples?  What kind of things have you received?