Meal Plan Monday: More GF Meals

May 31, 2010 By


Thank you to the many of you who’ve commented on the Gluten-Free dinner plans the past two weeks. I appreciate all your good advice and support! Since I’m being tested on Thursday, I’m back to eating gluten each day, usually during lunch (it does make lunch easier when we’re in a rush). Dinners haven’t been as difficult because I take time each week to plan them out anyway. So I’m continuing with the GF plan for dinner below, mostly; if you see something non GF (like corn muffins), they’re for everyone but me:

Monday–Chicken & Brown Rice Casserole, salad
Tuesday–Chicken, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, asparagus
Wednesday–Italian Spinach Pie, salad, corn muffins
Thursday–Crockpot Shredded Chicken tacos, fixings, black beans
Friday–Crockpot Broccoli & Beef, rice noodles
Saturday–Homemade Pizza, salad (I guess this one depends on what Thursday’s blood test says)

For more meal plans, check out Menu Plan Monday over at OrgJunkie. She has several GF participants!

Filed Under: GF, Home Cooking, Meal Planning

Free Photo Magnet

May 28, 2010 By

Yes, the photo deals keep on coming…

Get a FREE Photo Magnet and just pay $1.00 for shipping over at Kodak Gallery. This would make a great end-of-the-year gift for a teacher or anyone else who needs a little thank you. Click here to make your magnet. Offer good through June 17th.

Remember, you can still get 2 FREE sets of 5×7 Birth Announcements (can also be used as invitations, thank you cards, or birthday cards) from Kodak Gallery. This offer is good through May 31st.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Friday Finds

May 28, 2010 By

  Photo: Fingerpaint…and arms, too.

Hope you’ve had a great week! Here are some reminders and new things to check out:

  • Don’t forget about that 25% off Stride Rite and Outlet coupon I told you about last week. It’s good through Monday. We went yesterday and got 4 pairs of sneakers for less than $90.
  • I read a great post about modeling good consumer behavior for kids from TeachMama, who I was thrilled to meet in person last week. If you haven’t read her blog, you’ll need it this summer for those long summer days with the kids. There are so many fantastic learning ideas there. 
  • Sign up with P&G Everyday Solutions* to receive free samples and coupons by mail from Proctor & Gamble.
  • These daily deal sites keep popping up! The latest is called BuyWithMe*; this one offers deals for these major cities: Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, and Washington DC
  • You can get another 3 FREE Photo Greeting Cards from Shutterfly through June 10th with code CARDS4DAD. You’ll pay .99 shipping to have them sent to you.

And one last reminder, you can still sign up for the All You Grocery Challenge. I’ll be sharing some tips soon about how to organize yourself for the contest period that starts June 20. Look at it this way–even if you don’t win (and I hope you do!), you’ll learn how to better budget your money and your meals, all good skills to have! You’ll probably save money and lose weight over the four weeks. Give it a try!

*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting Moneywise Moms!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Garlic-Thyme Chicken in the Crockpot

May 28, 2010 By
 

I love recipes with only a few ingredients but a LOT of flavor. This Garlic-Thyme Chicken in the slow cooker fits the bill. I had a late start, only turning it on around 2:00pm, but since my chicken was thawed, it was fine. The kids loved the taste, and we all stunk of garlic till the next day, which they also loved.

6 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 lbs. chicken breasts (or bone-in)
1/4 cup orange juice (that’s the purple container)
1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

I sprayed the slow cooker and laid the chicken in the bottom. Then I mixed the other ingredients in a bowl and poured it over the top. Cook on low 4-6 hours, longer if your chicken is frozen to start. If you want the extra step, you can pour the juice out after you remove the chicken and simmer it over low heat, making a glaze to serve alongside the chicken.

I served this with Quinoa with Broccoli and Mushrooms from Celiac Family’s recipe database (good stuff over there, so go check it out!).

To see the rest of my meals for the week, here’s Monday’s Meal Plan. There are lots of other kid-approved family recipes on My Recipe Page.

Filed Under: Home Cooking, Recipes

Free Father’s Day Card at Photoworks

May 28, 2010 By

Get a FREE Photo Greeting Card at Photoworks with code CARD4DAD by June 7th. Good on selected flat photo cards up to $2.49, and you’ll pay $1.49 shipping.

If you’re new to Photoworks, you can also get FREE shipping on your first order with code MYFIRSTORDER. Since you can only use one coupon code per order, you’d want to use this the first time you sign up with any prints or gifts you purchase (I like the photo keychains), then go back in and place the order for the FREE Father’s Day card above.

Last, there’s a site-wide 20% off coupon code LOVEDAD that expires June 7th as well.

Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. Thank you for supporting Moneywise Moms!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Virginia Tax Holiday

May 27, 2010 By

From May 25 through May 31, you can purchase products that qualify as Hurricane Preparedness and pay NO sales tax with the Virginia Sales Tax Holiday. Even if you do not need emergency equipment like a generator, this is a good time to update your home with some basic safety items like fire extinguishers and smoke detectors. You can also use this opportunity to stock up on batteries or bottled water for the rest of the year. Other qualifying items include:

  • Batteries
  • Coolers
  • Duct Tape
  • Fire Extinguishers
  • First Aid Kits
  • Flashlights and Lanterns
  • Plastic Storage Bags (like Ziploc)
  • Smoke Detectors

Does your state also have a similar sales tax holiday? If so, please leave the info in the Comments section so others can benefit. Thanks!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Glidden & Behr Paint Rebate at Home Depot

May 27, 2010 By

For Memorial Day Weekend, Home Depot is offering rebates of $5 off 1-gallon cans and $20 off 5-gallon pails of Behr, Glidden, or Flood Paints, Primers, and Stains. Purchases made in-store between May 27-May 31 qualify, and you can print this rebate form or submit your information online. Rebates must be submitted by June 30, and you’ll need to write the UPC numbers from the cans of paint.

Home Depot is also offering a 10% discount to Military Personnel all weekend.

For additional coupons and information, you can also sign up for the Home Improver Club.

Home Depot Improvers Club

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Safeway this week 5/26

May 26, 2010 By

NOTE: Safeway deals are also applicable to their partner stores: Dominicks, Genuardis, Vons, Pavilions, Tom Thumb, Randalls, and Carrs.

I base my write-up on the Washington DC area weekly ad.


Safeway Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast is $1.97/lb in the Extreme Value Pack. If you buy 5-10 lbs at this stock-up price, you can do my Cook Once, Eat 10 Times cooking session. That preps all your chicken for future meals, saving you a lot of time and money.

Shady Brook Farms Ground Turkey is BOGO at $4.49. Since these are 20.8oz packages, it comes out to about $1.60/lb.

Lucerne Large Eggs 18ct. is $1.49 with in-ad SuperCoupon, limit 2.

Florida White or Bi-color Corn is .17 each.

Fresh Express or Eating Right Salad Bags are BOGO at $3.49.

Safeway Hot Dog or Hamburger Buns are .99 each.

Wish-Bone Salad Dressing is $1.29. If you have the .75 off coupon from the 5/23 insert, it will double, making it FREE.

Lawry’s Marinade, Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ or Heinz Ketchup is $1.49. There was a $1.00 off Sweet Baby Ray’s coupon and a .50 off Lawry’s (which will double) in the 5/23 insert.

Tribe Hummus 16oz. is $3.99. Print a .50 off coupon, which will double at some stores.

Lucerne Novelties (like Ice Cream Sandwiches) are $1.49 with in-ad SuperCoupon. My son is a big fan of the ice cream truck, but we’ve discussed how you can buy a whole BOX at the grocery store for less than one treat from the truck.

Kraft Miracle Whip or Mayo is $1.99 with in-ad SuperCoupon, limit 2.

Crystal Light Drink Mix is $2.00, and you can print a $1.00/1 coupon from their Facebook page.

Marie’s Potato Salad Dressing is FREE when you buy a 5-lb. bag of potatoes and use the in-ad coupon.

4-Day Sale prices from Friday through Monday:
  • Johnsonville Bratwurst or Italian Sausage is $2.99
  • Lay’s or Lay’s Kettle Chips are $1.88 each.
  • Strawberries, Raspberries or Blackberries are BOGO.
  • Gatorade 8pk is $3.99

You can still get two $5 off $50 Safeway purchase coupons in your local Entertainment Book.

Add E-coupons to your Safeway card three different ways at Shortcuts, Cellfire, and P&G eSaver. You can also print paper coupons or load them to your Club Card at Safeway.com. I have used manufacturer’s coupons on products and still seen the e-coupon savings appear on the receipt.

For coupon matchups at stores nationwide, check out BeCentsAble’s Grocery Gathering. For the other Mid-Atlantic chains like Wegmans and Harris Teeter, head over to Mrs. Moneysaver.
 

Filed Under: Store Deals Tagged With:

Square Foot Garden Update–First Harvest

May 26, 2010 By

We finally had a break from the rain, so the kids and I took a good look at our Square Foot Garden to see what was ready to pick. The marigolds are finally coming in. We planted those in the corners to help control bugs, but they haven’t been helpful yet since they’re taking so long! The cherry tomato plants that we started indoors have really taken off as well, but the transplanted cucumbers didn’t make it.

There are my babies, my little lettuce plants. They look great, and we’re waiting for them to get a little larger so we can start picking the leaves off the edges.

 

The radishes were the only veggies that looked ready to pick, and even half of those looked too small. We chose the tallest ones and PULLed. The kids were so proud, and they couldn’t wait to try them.

 We headed back inside to clean the radishes. I used this as an opportunity for scientific thinking:

  • We identified the parts of the plant. Which part grew above ground, which part under? What do the roots do for the plant? 
  • We compared the radishes–why do you think some are larger than others?  
  • We used magnifying glasses to observe that largest radish (they’re pointing to it), and we found teeth marks or scratches. We hypothesized that a chipmunk or squirrel made the marks.

And then we tasted them. At first, they were crispy and mild, and we all agreed we liked them, but then they turned bitter and spicy, and we were all grabbing for water to drink. We laughed and laughed, and the kids couldn’t wait to make Daddy try them too. He didn’t think they were spicy at all.

How is your garden growing?
Filed Under: SFG

WFMW: Connect With Other Bloggers

May 26, 2010 By

I’m devoting Wednesdays to Blogging Tips that work for me. Last week, I shared how I use blog memes.
Tip #2 is….Connect with other bloggers.

Connecting with others brings you so many benefits–a friend to bounce ideas off or work through struggles alongside, guest posts and content material, referrals to monetizing and PR opportunities, sharing information so you’re not reinventing the wheel, and more.

There are many ways to connect. Use whatever works for you:

  • Comments! Leave a comment on posts you read, ask a question, compliment them, or share how they’re reaching you with their writing. Sometimes I get a response back via email.
  • Twitter. When you see another blogger is online, Twitter works as IM. You can chat, ask questions, collaborate, share. By retweeting other bloggers’ posts and tweets, you’re creating rapport.
  • Meet-ups, both formal and informal. Just a few weeks ago, some of us Northern VA frugal bloggers had dinner together. It was great to meet each other after online knowing each other “virtually” for so long. Then last week, I went to MomzShare, a great meet-up of DC area mom bloggers (and there were even gluten-free cupcakes!). It was crazy with 70+ bloggers in attendance, but I met a lot of new people I’d only seen in blogland.
  • Skype and old-fashioned telephone. So far, I’m only using Skype for its IM function (can’t figure out the microphone part), but it’s useful because you can create a chat for many many people at once. Having a conversation with 10 people is interesting! But there’s lots to share and learn. I set up a night to chat with a local blogging friend, and when we couldn’t get Skype to work, I just picked up the phone. We discussed our challenges and obstacles and helped each other out.
  • Conferences. To do a lot of networking, learning, and meeting new people all at once, you can try a Blog Conference. I’m going back to Type A Mom in September. It’s just my pace, a smaller conference, and I’m excited to learn more after being another year into this crazy venture.
How do you connect with other bloggers? How has it helped you?

For more Works for Me Wednesday tips (not just blogging–all types!), head over to We Are That Family.

Filed Under: Blogging, Making Money Tagged With: ,

Photo Mug Deals

May 26, 2010 By

Walmart Photo is offering an 11oz. Photo Mug for just $5.00 with free shipping to store. You can also have it shipped to your home for just .97 more. This mug is on Rollback from its original price of

SeeHere also has a deal on their 11oz. Photo Mug. It’s just $6.49 with FREE shipping when you use code mug2010 by May 31st. If you’re a new customer, you’ll also get 50 FREE Prints with your first order (shipping is $3.19 for those prints).

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting Moneywise Moms!

Filed Under: Uncategorized
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