Our Day

I kind of had a rough time of it the last day or so.  Yesterday I felt great most of the day, but around 4 p.m.  I started getting a really strong headache.   I took some medicine, and laid down a bit, hoping it would go away.  I felt a little better later in the evening, so my older daughter and I went to check out the Target clearance.  While in the Target store, my foot started to hurt. I have had a hiving condition since I as pregnant 10 years ago, that flares up every once in awhile.   By the time we got home, my entire left foot was swollen, and I had trouble bearing weight on it.   Also before I went to bed, I noticed my right eye felt a little weird.   When I woke up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, I could not open my eye all the way. I hobbled to the bathroom on my good foot, and saw that my eye was pink and goopy..  I don't know how, but I somehow  also came down with an eye infection. Luckily I already had OTC drops at home, so I could start treating it right away.  Today my eye doesn't look that bad, but I had to wear my glasses all day.  I started to be able to bear weight on my foot this afternoon.  The swelling has gone down some, but not all the way.    As things started to look better,  my stupid headache came back full force.    I decided I was going to just take it easy today before anything else started to hurt. I took two more pain relievers which helped the headache.  Since I basically wanted to sit down today, I decided to take Kara the late afternoon showing of Puss in Boots.  It was not as funny at the Shrek movies, but still cute.  If are a cat lover, there are a lot of furry felines to see. If you are not fond of cats,  well this movie might not be for you.    We stopped by Michaels on the way home so I could get some supplies for a new craft that I hope to share in the next day or two.  I was also hoping to make some special brownies with that kit I got on clearance, but it looks like that will be tomorrow to.   Since I am still not feeling 100%, take it easy day is going to continue for the rest of the evening.

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Treat of the Day

This candy corn fudge recipe is great for your left over candy corn.  If you dont have any leftover, many store have it on clearance right now.    This colorful treat would make a nice Thanksgiving treat to serve to your guests.   You can find the recipe here on WomansDay.com.

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Grocery Deals this Week

KROGER

I broke up my weekly shopping to two stores this week.  Neither store had incrediable sales, but both had enough that it was worth a visit.  

My BEST deals I found at Kroger.

Kroger brand cream cheese on sale $1
Tomatoes on the vine on sale $1 a lb
Red Grapes on sale $1 a lb
Eggplant on sale $1 each
Healthy Life Bread on sale $1, I also used a .35 coupon that doubled, final price .30

The rest of my best deals were part of the buy 10 specially marked items get $5  off special promo
Capri Sun $1.49 after 10 promo
4 Campbells cooking soups on sale .93, part of 10 promo, final price .43 each
Dannon Danimals $1.49 after 10 promo, also used .55 coupon, final price .94
4 Annies Mac and Cheese on sale $1.19, .69 after 10 promo
Swiss Miss cocoa on sale $1.49, .99 after 10 promo
2 Hillshire lunch meat, on sale $3.49, $2.99 after 10 promo. used 2 .35 coupons that doubled, final price $2.29
4 cans of Pringles $1.50, $1 after 10 promo, used $1 off 4 coupon, final price .75

I spent $51.98 for everything in this picture.  I  used $6.15 in coupons and saved $26.03 in savings. 

MEIJER

I stopped by Meijer today after helping at one of my childrens' schools

The BEST Meijer deals I found

Buy 1 Get 1 free Friskies at $3.99.  I also used  a.50 coupon that doubled,  I paid $2.99 for TWO bags of cat food. 
Marshmellow Pebbles on sale for $2.50.  I used a $1.50 coupon from the Nov. All You, final price $1
3 Bagel Bites,  Buy 2 get 1 free and on sale for $1.50.   Spent $3 total for THREE boxes or $1 each
Country Crock on sale $1.50.  I used $1 coupon from Nov. All You, final price. 50
Cool Whip  on sale .99.  I used.50 Meijer Meal Box coupons, final price .49
2 Smart ones meals on sale $2.50.  I used $1 off 2 coupon, final price $2. 
2 Sargento Cheese Slices on sale $2.50, I used two.75 coupons, final price $1.75 each

Special promotion
2 Pillsbury Pie Crusts on sale $2 each, I used .50 off 2 coupon that doubled, final price $1.50 each
2 Pillsbury Cookie Dough (for upcoming christmas cookies) on sale $2 each.  I used .75 off 2 coupons, final price $1.63 each
Buy 4 Pillsbury products (pie crusts and cookie dough included in the promotion) get a FREE gallon of milk.   (on sale for $2.50 this week)
I spent a total of $6.26 for 2 pie crusts, 2 cookie dough and a gallon of milk. Regular price would have been $14.17 for those same items. 

At Meijer I spent $54.67.  I used $10 in coupons, got $4 in free items, and saved $31.33 in sales. 

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Target Deals

We stopped by Target after dinner tonight to see if there was any Halloween Clearance left.  My store is now at 50% off candy and 70% off all other items.   They still had a decent amount of baking/party supplies, so I was able to score a few great deals.  

The spider silicone cups were orginally $4.99 for a 4 pack.  I got them for $1.49 each or  $2.98 for 8!
The brownie kit (plan to altar the marshmellow characters) was orginally $6.99.  I got it for $2.09
The candy corn cookie pan was orginally $6.99.  I got it for $2.09
The multi character pan was orginally $8.99. I got it for $2.69
2 packs of goody bags orginally $1.99 each.  I got them for .59 each. 

I picked up two bags of candy that would be good to bake with in the upcoming weeks. 
Each bag was only $1.35. 

I paid only $13.73 before tax for everything in the picture. 

I also did the Marley and Me Frugal Gift Idea that I mentioned a few days ago.  This movie is orignally $9.  This week it is on sale for $7.   I printed a $3 coupon from Coupons.com, making the final price $4.  Kara is going to love it.  She has seen the movie and loves Marley.

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Does She Ever Learn?

I found an added bonus in my dryer AGAIN last night.  I was in the middle of taking out a load of towels when one of my kids needed help with something.  I went back to the dryer and realized something looked quite comfy in there.   I don't know what Tootsie's fascination with the dryer is all about.  When she was younger I accidently closed her in the dryer.  Luckily I realized she was in there, before I had turned it on.  Every few months,  I find her in the dryer once again.   At least now, I know to always check.

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Frugal Gift Idea #6

Do you know someone who loves to cook or bake?  Now through November 7,  Taste of Home is having their $5 cookbook sale.    Use the code LST88, and receive free shipping on orders more than $20. 
If you are a Shop at Home member,  you can receive an additional 7% back.  If you are not yet a Shop At Home member you will receive a $5 bonus just by signing up here.     Shop at Home gives you cash back whenever you shop online.   



In addition to the cookbooks, there is a limited supply of childrens books also availlable at the great  $5 price.

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Treat of the Day

Do you have candy burn out yet?  I don't.  I love candy, and will enjoy it for a bit longer.  For today's treat of the day,  how about making a candy pie with all those sugary leftovers.  This recipe is from Cake Spy on Serious Eats.   I might have to give this recipe a try!

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Craft of the Day

Each November I have my kids make a Thankful turkey.  I really like this Thankful Turkey made out of yarn from Parents.com.

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Holiday Help

I wanted to share a tip of something I  have done for the last few years, that has really helped me stay organized during the holidays.  I have a holiday journal.  I bought this really cute book for $1 a few years ago.  I think I got it at JoAnns or Michaels in their dollar section.   It is not as big as a school  notebook, and will still fit in my purse when necessary. 

Inside my notebook, I keep a lot of important  information.  I have a Thanksgiving section, and a Christmas section this year. When I started, I only had a Christmas section.   I keep track  of my kids wish lists,  presents I actually buy,  menu ideas, christmas cookies ideas (and where to find the recipes), and this year I added a calendar for both Novemeber and December.   Having everything all in one place so  it can be found quickly, makes my crazy days,a little less crazy. The journal has enough pages, that I should be able to use the same one for a least 4 or 5 more years.  Having more than one year in the journal has also been helpful.  I like that I can easily see what presents I gave for the last few years.   Since I just pulled it out yesterday, I do not have a lot of information entered for this year, but that will quickly change!


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Treat of the Day

Now that the official "holiday season" is almost upon us, I will be featuring  a treat, an ornament and a craft each day to help with your holiday planning.     

My first treat of the day are these really cute marshmellow pilgrim hats from FamilyFun.com.  They are quick an easy to make and your guests will love them.  

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Holiday Card deal from Vistaprint

Its almost time to send out your Holiday cards.  How about this great deal from Vistaprint.  You can get 20  cards, 140 custom  labels and a engraved pen for only $4.99 + shipping.   Choose from over 1000 card designs and personalize them with your own greetings.  The customized labels will make sending them a breeze.  Use the engraved pens to write out your cards or give as a gift.   Which design will you choose?

This is the style I chose.  To get the special deal, click on 20 cards once you choose your design. After personalizing your card, you will be taken to the free labels.  To receive your free pen, click on free pen in the office product catagory. 

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Frugal Gift Idea #5

I am excited about this great deal I just found.  Today while at Target I saw that the Marley and Me movie was on sale for either $7 or $7.99.  Kara loves this movie.  I was thinking about buying it for her as a possible gift.  Tonight I found a coupon for $3 off Marley and Me DVD on Coupons.com, making this movie under $5.   The coupon is good through 11/19/11

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New Month = New Coupons

Today is November 1 and that means many of the coupons on the coupon printing sites have been reset and updated.  I am finding a bunch of great ones on Coupons.com. 

$1 off of 2 General Mills 
$1.50 off 1 Smart Source
$1 off 2 Pillsbury Cookie Dough
$1.50 off 2 Ziploc Containers
$1.10 off 2 Bob Evans side dishes
$1.25 off 3 Kraft Dessert Brands
and many more..

Make sure to print to match with all the seasonal baking and holiday sale prices. 

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How to Make a Fox Costume.. Part 3

In part 1, I showed how I made her fur vest.  If I  had to do it over again, I  would have made it a big bigger.  You can see how I started the costume in part 1 here. .     In part 2, I made the pants.   They turned out pretty good.  They were a big bit in the waist, especially after I added the tail.  If I were to make them a again,  I would have made the waist a bit smaller.  You can see part 2 here.

Kara wanted the belly piece to be a bit longer than her fur top. I cut a piece of white fur  in the desired  size and shape, and then hand stitched it to the front.   

To make the tail, I used pieces of both types of fur.  I stitched a tube out of the brown and cut the point out of the white. After stitching, I turned both pieces right side out. 

I hand stitched the white tip of the tail onto the brown tube.  

I filled the tail with a little bit of fiberfill, and then hand stitched it to the waistband of her pants.  Because the pants were a little on the big side, the weight of the tail did pull them down a bit.. LOL! I told her she did not need to stuff her tail as much as she wanted, but she insisted. 

To make the ears,  I cut triangle shapes a little bigger than the size of the ear.  I straight stitched them on the wrong side of the fur on the sewing machine.  Once stitched, I turned them right side out.

At the dollar store I found a headband that conveniently had a link shape. (sorry for the hard to see picture)   Before hand stitching the ears onto the headband,  I attached two small triangle of white fur on the ears.  

While I was talking care of something else, Kara surprised me and did her own make up.  She applied brown eye shadow all over her face.   I thought it turned out cute and was happy that was one less thing on my to do list.  The only problem with the eye shadow, she went to school looking like she had a bit of a tan today.  She has washed her face a couple of times,  there is still a brown glow. LOL!

When Kara first asked for a fox costume about a month ago, I had no idea how I was going to do it. Now that it is done, I am very happy with the results.  Now I am wondering, what is she going to be next year???   

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Halloween Fun

So did everyone survive the the candy rush?   We had a great time, and I am still recovering.  Of course, first thing this morning, I was on the go again.    I was helping  my daughter's teacher in her World Language class.  It was craft day, and she was teaching about Day of the Dead  (Spanish) and All Saints Day (French).  The World Language class is every other day, and it was just a fun coincedence that craft day landed on the actual holiday. 

The picture above is my entryway that trick or treaters saw when they came to our home.  Last year I had tea lights in all the pumpkins on the stairs which made them glow.  Unfortunately they were sold out of the tea lights at my Dollar Tree when I was looking for them.  I put in glow sticks, but they just didnt look the same thing.   The lights on the banister, and the plug in pumpkins on the landing did give the entryway a nice glow. 

I finally finished Kara's fox costume at 1 pm, so now I can post part 3 of my tutorial.  I know it is too late for this year, but maybe it will inspire ideas for next year.    We got a lot of great comments on this costume.  She will most likely wear it in Halloween festival costume contest next year. 

Kyle was easy on me this year.  I did not have to make him a costume, but his creativity was still flowing.  He was a Ninja Vampire.  He put two costumes together.  He is not in full costume in this pic.  I wanted to show my older daughters costume.  She was Dexter, from the old Dexter cartoon.  If you dont remember it,  Dexter was a boy genius who had a science lab in his room.  He has a sister named Dee Dee, who always wore a tutu.  Dexter had all sorts of crazy  plans, but Dee Dee always seemed to become involved and they never turned out the way he wanted.    I thought the costume was a good idea, because she was totally covered up and warm!

Since I am always the one who takes the kids out trick or treating, I like to dress up too.  This year I saw a really cute tulle cape costume in a magazine, that was easy and inexpensive to make. Tulle was on sale recently at Jo Anns for only .74 a yard.  For only about $6, I had my tulle cape.  I also liked the fact I could wear white sweats and stay nice and warm.

My husband gives out the candy every year.  I was a bit amazed when I got home, and he told me that he gave out all of it.  I had a total of 11 bags!   We had so many kids stop by  this year.   

Normally I have lots of left over candy to eat.. It doesn't look like that is the case  this year.  A measly 4 pieces is all that is left.  I guess I will have to raid my kids candy bags.  In a few days, they are not going to notice anyway.  :)  I hope you had a great Halloween!

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