Deals & Steals

I took a break from couponing for a few weeks just to limit my running around.  Yesterday I picked it back up and swung by CVS and Walgreens while my daughter had dental work done.  I was pretty happy with the deals that I got.  I didn't separate my photos based on stores like I normally do but I will separate telling you about the deals!

Walgreens:
3 Edge Shaving Gel for $1.25 each
3 Purex detergent for $1.50 each
Nice Water bottles for $2.49 (we use these to take to ball games)
Skittles for 50 cents each (I plan on passing these out to my kids at the football game today and saving from the concession stand)
Softsoap for 99 cents a pump (we were out of soap!  Need to stock up!)
Large Softsoap refill BOGO for $7.79 for both
Dial Foam Soap BOGO for $3.29 for both (this is a larger bottle than the regular pumps and foam usually lasts much longer - trying something new)
3 Capt. Crunch Cereal (a favorite) for $1.76 a box
Cornflakes for $2 a box (saw a recipe for cornflake cookies on Emeals blog this week that I plan on trying.  Only peanut butter, corn syrup, cornflakes and sugar - no bake!)
2 Domino 4 lb. sugar - $1.61 each

CVS:
3 boxes Cheerios for $1.38 each
3 boxes of Truvia for $1 each
Ajax for 49 cents
Charmin for 2 for $9 (we were out of TP!)
Nestle spring water for $2.49

I found these at CVS in the 90% off bin.  They are little cosmetic purses, coin purses, mirrors and notebooks.  I got enough for 8 stockings for girls!  The notebooks were 19 cents each and the bags were 49 cents each.  A steal!!

Cooking Generously

 Since I recently wrote a post about giving generously through couponing, I thought I'd do a post on giving generously through cooking.  With 3 kids in school and 3 kids at home and homeschooling, I knew it would be hard for me to be as involved in my kids' school as I might want to.  One way I can minister and serve INSIDE my home is through cooking.  I am part of the cooking ministry at school that provides meals for school families in need.

It's so easy to double what I am cooking for the Fish Sticks and share with another family.  I will confess that once or twice, I spent time cooking and delivering a meal to another family to then realize I had no clue what WE were going to have for supper that night.  :)

**Remember to stock up on disposable containers at the Dollar Tree to make it simple for the family in need.  Who wants to have to wash someone else's dishes and then have to try to get them back to them? 
**Make enough that they can have leftovers for lunch or supper the next day. 
**Try to keep it well balanced...not loaded with processed foods.  See if you can find out what foods they are already receiving so that they won't get pasta and red sauce for 5 days in a row.  Make sure they don't have any allergies.
**Be generous.  Make sure the meal is complete with a main dish, side dishes and even a dessert.  Occasionally go above and beyond by adding salad dressing, drinks, etc.

Some of you might not like to cook or might not have the time to cook.  If that is the case, get creative.  Grab a few $5 pizzas from Little Ceasars and a salad kit at the grocery store with a pack of cookies.  Once a friend brought us Chick Fila.  That was a big treat as we don't eat out much.  Get a rotisserie chicken from the grocery with side dishes.

Tender Cornmeal Muffins from the Hillbilly Housewife (my favorite!!!) with Ham and Veggie Chowder.  There were 2 containers of chowder, one for leftovers or to freeze.

Salad kit of mixed greens, cubed apples, Craisins, pecans and feta cheese

Cake batter cookies - these are awesome and so easy.  I usually make them with Devil's Food cake and chocolate chips but I used what I had and did vanilla cake with butterscotch.  If you want the recipe, click HERE.

Boxed up and ready to go.