CVS Matchup Nov 27 - Dec 3

CVS Match-Ups – [GC] means it’s one of the qualifying products where if you spend $30 you get a free $10 gift card to your choice store.

* Coupons are all from Sunday papers unless otherwise noted. If I have more than 1 coupon for the same thing at different prices, I’ll list both incase you only have one of them.

* Extra savings if you have been buying 2 Sunday papers for a few of the 2 For items. I only recently started doing this and wish I had started sooner.

[GC] Puffs 95-108 ct. or Puffs Plus 48-72 ct. $0.99 - $1 off 2 coupon = 2 for $0.98 total ($0.49 each)

[GC] Tide liquid 19-32 loads $5.94 - $0.50 off coupon = $5.44

[GC] Dawn 9-10.3 oz $0.99 - $0.25 off coupon = $0.74

[GC] Bounty paper towels  12 pk $9.99 - $1 coupon  OR $0.25 coupon= $8.99 or $9.74

[GC] CoverGirl Foundation, Powder, Blush, Concealer or Eye BOGO 50% off - $1 off coupon

[GC] Oral-B Cross Action Power toothbrush 1 ct $4.99 - $3 off coupon = $1.99

[GC] Duracell AAA, AA 16 pk, D 8 pk, 9-volt 4 pk, Ultra Power AAA or AA 12 pk - $9.99 - $1 off coupon or $0.50 coupon = $8.99 or $9.49

[GC] Vicks NyQuil, DayQuil 48 ct, liquid 24 oz  $9.99 (Buy Two, Get One Free coupon) = 3 / $19.98 ($6.66 each)

[GC] Vick’s Nature Fushion liquid/caplet Combo pk $9.99 - $1.50 off coupon = $8.49

[GC] Olay Regenerist Facial Care $20.99 - $3 off coupon = $17.99

[GC] Pantene Pro-V 2/$6.97 - $3 off two coupon = 2 for $3.97 total ($1.98 each)

Folgers Instant Classic roast or decaf coffee 8 oz - $4.99 - $1.00 off coupon = $3.99

Bigelow Tea 20 ct 2-$4 - $0.55 coupon = 2 for $3.45 total

Pringles 4/$6 - $1 off 4 coupon = 4 for $5 total ($1.25 each)

Downy liquid 40 loads fabric softener $3.99 - $1 off coupon  or $0.50 off coupon = $2.99 or $3.49

Xtra 2x Laundary detergent 28 loads $1.49 - $1 off two coupon = 2 for $1.98 ($0.99 each)

[GC] Glade Scented Oil PlugIns Refills 2 pk $4 - $1 off 2 coupon or $1 off coupon = 2 for $7 ($3.50 each) or  1 for $3

[GC] Cottonelle Wipes 42 ct $1.99 - $0.50 off two coupon = 2 for $3.48 total

Duracell AAA, AA 4 pk, C, D 2pk, or 9-volt 1 pk batteries 2 / $7 – 2 $0.50 off coupons or - $0.50 off coupon and $1.00 off coupon = 2 for $6 total or 2 for $5.50 total

L’Oreal Eye or Lip BOGO 50% off - $1 off coupons

Lysol No-Touch Hand Soap System $9.99 - $3 off coupon = $6.99 + Extrabucks reward of $5.00 towards next purchase

Gillette Bodywash 16-18 oz $3.49 - $1 off coupon = $2.49

Olay Bodywash 23.6 oz $6.00 - $1 off coupon = $5 + Extrabucks reward of $4.00 towards next purchase

Aussie or Herbal Essences Shampoo or conditioner 2/$6.97 - $1.00 off two coupon = 2 for $5.97 total ($2.98 each)

Clairol Natural Instincts or Natural Instincts Vibrant Hair color $5.99 - $2.00 coupon = $3.99

Old Spice Bodywash $3.49 - $1 off two coupon = 2 for $5.98 total ($2.99 each)

Secret Deodorant 2/$4 - $1 off two coupon = 2 for $3 total ($1.50 each)

Old Spice Deodorant 2/$4 - $1 off two coupon = 2 for $3 total ($1.50 each)

Mucinex or Mucinex DM 20 ct or maximum strength 14 ct $11.99 - $1 off coupon = $10.99

Mucinex Fast-Max Liquid 6 oz $9.99 - $1 off coupon = $8.99

Robitussin or Children’s Dimetapp Liquid 8 oz $6.99 - $1 off coupon = $5.99

Poise Pads 27-72 ct $11.99 - $1.50 off coupon = $10.49

Garnier Nutrisse Hair color $4.99 - $1 off coupon = $3.99

Pampers Jumbo pk Diapers 2/$19 - $1 off two bags or one box (use 2) = 2 for $17 total ($8.50 each)

Other Pampers deal : $2 off coupon for One Pampers Diapers AND One Pampers Wipes so…get the diapers and throw in the wipes for $2.49, get another $2 off, and it’s like getting the wipes for $0.49.

Prilosec OTC 42 ct $24.99 - $2 off coupon or $1 off coupon = $22.99 or $23.99 + Extrabucks reward of $5 towards next purchase

Align Digestive Care 28 ct $28.99 - $5 off coupon = $23.99 + Extrabucks rewards of $5 towards next purchase

Metamucil $12.49 - $1 off coupon = $11.49

Disney Gummies Vitamins BOGO 50% off - $2 off coupon or $1 off coupon (or combine if you have both)

Hershey’s Holiday Assorted 7.8 oz – 8.5 oz 2/$5 - $1 off two coupon = 2 for $4 ($2 each) + Extrabucks reward on 2 of $1 towards next purchase

Charmin Big rolls 16-pk $9.99 (limit 3) - $1 off two coupon = 2 for $18.98 ($9.49 each)

[ I won't be getting all of these deals, but I thought I would post all of the ones I noticed that I had coupons for.]

Sunday Funday!!!

It's sad how excited I get on Sundays. I never thought that would be my favorite day of the week. And to think, I don't even have the day off! But on my way to work I stop at 7-eleven and get 2 newspapers, and then on my lunch break I clip coupons. Awesomeness. lol. I already went online to coupons.com to print some coupons, and then printed some more from target.com, checked their weekly ads, and then went to couponmom.com to check what she had listed for savings. But I won't know any further deals until I get the paper and compare my coupons. I won't post any deals until I go myself and actually get them, because it drives me crazy when I see something and then I go and it's not for sale for the same price due to living in a stinky couponing state. lol.

Another reason Sunday is my favorite day of the week is my new favorite show (One Life To Live ends in January so I can't call that my favorite show for much longer) is on: the Walking Dead!!! I love it. If you don't think you would like it just try watching it, but you have to start from the beginning so either buy the season or watch it online. It plays on A&E. I never liked zombie movies much (they creep me out) so I didn't think I'd like it, but this show has such an amazing story line. Love it. And it does creep me out too. I have to shut my bathroom door before I go to bed and leave my closet light on. (For some reason I feel like if zombies were to suddenly appear, they'd come through my bathroom, but with the door shut I'd be safe?) Just found out a few weeks ago too from my friend from work that they play it for free every Sunday at one of the movie theaters around here. But I never catch it when it first comes on. I always end up watching it late, at like 11 pm, because for some reason, as much as I try to watch it at 9 pm, I'm always in the middle of a project that requires me to catch it later.

Well gtg get ready for work!!! Have to make sure I leave early enough to get my newspapers!!

Planning A Yard Sale

I think I might have a yard sale this weekend. I work every day, but I don't go in until 6 pm on Friday and 5:30 on Saturday. From my experience, there's no point doing a yard sale on a Sunday.

So once I decide that it's final that I'm doing one, I need to start advertising ASAP. I don't do any of the costly advertisements, like in the paper or anything. I do it on craigslist, and some local yard sale websites where you post when you're having one. Sounds silly but there are a lot of people that go weekly (mostly in search of antiques, or stuff they can resell themselves) so they'll check those sites. I don't know if it's the fact that I work in retail or what, but I can't stand haggling with people. So that's the one thing that's going to drive me crazy about having a yard sale. The "10 cents" people when it's clearly marked $15. At that rate I'd rather donate it. But hopefully I can make some extra cash to help out around the holidays.

Unfortunately, also from my experience, the worst time to do a yard sale is around the holidays, so I might end up like last year and make $5 the whole day. If I'm needing extra money, everyone's needing extra money, and not wanting to go out and spend it. The best time is tax return time, but then of course I'm not hurting as badly then so I don't think to do one then. lol. I need to remember this come March, April.

Sugar Drop Cookies

Made these with the kids on Thanksgiving. This recipe will be enough for several dozen. I didn't have time to finish baking all of them so I decided to store the leftover cookie dough in my refrigerator, but you can also freeze leftover dough.

Ingredients:
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
1 cup vegetable oil (canola will work as well)
1 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar (or as I call it, powdered sugar)
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tarter (can't remember why in the world I had it, but I did!)
about 1/2 cup or so of white sugar for decorating, & sprinkles optional

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In large bowl, cream together the butter, oil, white sugar, and confectioner's sugar until light and fluffy (I gave in and used my mixer).
3. Beat in 1 egg at a time. Then stir in the vanilla.
4. In a separate, also large bowl (or you'll run into the problem I had with the flour getting knocked out of the bowl by crazy kids, or by your crazy self), combine the flour, baking soda, and cream of tarter. After mixed, pour into the creamed mixture.
5. Real quick on a separate plate, pour the 1/2 cup or so of sugar & sprinkles if you want it, because you'll need it after the next step.
6. The only way to really mix this together is to use your hands, so make sure you did a good job washing them, or double-wash the kids' hands in case they did anything gross in between washings, and dig in.
7. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, and then roll onto the plate with the sugar (and sprinkles if you chose to add those too, like I did).
8. Put onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and use a fork to gently flatten them. Be careful not to press them too flat (I had to redo the ones my 3-year-old did when she wasn't looking because she flattened them like a pancake) or they'll come out super thin and crunchy. Unless you like super thin and crunchy cookies.
9. Cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges appear slightly brown. If you've never made sugar cookies before, it might look like they're not done, or you'll poke them and it'll cave in and you'll think they're not done, but they are. After a few minutes of cooling they firm up. Took me a couple of times to realize that so in the beginning of my baking life I would keep burning all the cookies I made, lol.

Cranberry Cheesecake Recipe

Ingredients :

1 pie crust (or if you are making it homemade, which this time I did not, 2 cups graham crackers and 1/3 cup melted butter)

Filling:
4 8-oz packages of cream cheese (I used Philadelphia's, as I always do for cheesecake)
1 cup sugar
5 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Cranberry topping:
1 package of fresh cranberries
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup water

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. If making your own crust, combine graham cracker crumbs and butter. Press onto bottom of pan and bake for 5-8 minutes. Cool.
3. For the topping, rinse cranberries and throw into a saucepan with the water and sugar. Turn heat all the way up until bubbling and then reduce heat and cover. Stir constantly or it will become a sticky clumpy mess all over your pan. Cook for about 5 minutes, then take off the stove. What I did next, I threw it all into my blender and chose the "liquify" setting, then set aside.
4. Beat cream cheese in a large mixing bowl. Then gradually beat in 1 egg at a time. Add the sugar. Add vanilla. Beat until light and creamy. Pour into the crust.
5. Take a few spoon fulls of the cranberry sauce you made and pour down the middle of the cheesecake. Then take a butterknife and do a fancy swirly pattern with it to give it a marble effect.
6. Bake for 15 minutes at the 350 degrees, then turn the oven down to 200 degrees and cook for about an hour, or until the cheesecake is slightly jiggly when you gently shake it. The key is timing. If you leave it in too long it will start to crack, but don't worry, because then you can just use the cranberry sauce left over to fill the cracks and it's good as new. If preferred you can cover the whole top of the cheesecake with the leftover cranberry sauce, or do what I did and leave it on the side for people's personal preference. To me I thought covering the whole top would've been too much of the tartness.
7. It's best if you can refrigerate overnight (try to let it cool first  for 15 minutes or so, so the condensation doesn't build up when you cover it), but if you're making it the day off like I was, 4 hours in the fridge will do.
* If the cranberry is too tart for some guests, serve with whip cream that they can top it with. It's the perfect touch to add some extra sweetness.

Happy Black Friday!

I didn't think I would be anywhere near the computer today. I had to be at my first retail job last night at 11:30 PM. I thought I was going to be late due to traffic and left my house an hourly early, and therefore arrived at work 45 minutes early. Oops. lol. So I had to wait in the parking lot for a while. Then I worked until 7:30 AM. We were busyish (nothing compared to the electronic stores I'm sure) until about 4 AM (but still nothing that 2 people couldn't handle) and then slow and boring. There's one good thing about the stores opening ealier every year. You can avoid the craziness and still get some good deals. On my way home from work I decided to stop at Toys R Us, and found they had some BOGO Free Nintendo DS and Wii games. So for $19.99 I got Hello Kittie: Seasons Wii (I looked it up. It's $26.99 at Walmart) and Jewelry Designs Nintendo DS. I wanted to get more so bad but I had to control myself because I think today is the day we are going to get the Xbox Kinect sensor on sale for $99. Hubby is about to head out to Best Buy to TRY. It wasn't too busy there on my way home. Then I have to leave at 4:30 PM to go to job #2, which I have a feeling is also going to be super slow.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Getting ready to leave in a few hours to my inlaws, where we will enjoy a nice turkey dinner, until I have to rush off to work. My first retail job is opening up at midnight, so I have to be at work at 11:30 pm, and will get off at 7:30 AM. But it works out better that way, because job #2 doesn't have me going in until 5 PM Friday, so I'll get some time to sleep in between.

I am so mad at myself because I had my glass pie pan packed away in a very unorganized fashion in the garage, and cannot find it (I know what my next project will be), so I had to whip up something from what I had on hand. This is the year I made: Cranberry cheesecake. I haven't tried it yet, so I will let you know tomorrow if it was a hit or a miss. But here's a picture of it baking, and the recipe will be following shortly, when I have more time, and when I decide if it's recipe:post-worthy.