Menu Planning Monday - On Tuesday!

A bit of a surprise yesterday -- daughter's other daycare provider (babysits 3 days a week vs my 2 days) left her a message that she was going to visit her grandmother for 2-3 weeks. I had an unexpected visitor at 7am - Brayden Lee! He'll be with me from 7am to 5:30 pm for 5 days a week for the next few weeks. This means -- dinner must be quick and easy, as I'm usually quite tired by the end of our day together!

Monday
Boneless chicken breasts in Lemon Pepper marinade,
cooked on grill
Cheddar Brocolli Rice
Green Salad

Tuesday
Tuna Macaroni Salad*
Whole wheat bread, butter

Wednesday
Leftover chicken sliced on
Chef's salad

Thursday
Leftover Tuna Macaroni Salad
Ritz Crackers

Friday
Order-in Pizza

Saturday
Roast Pork Loin
Browned potatoes
Peas

Sunday
Stir Fry w/left over pork


This Tuna Macaroni Salad recipe has been in my family for at least 50 years. I remember my grandmother making it for any large family gathering in the summer. This is one of those dishes that always tastes better as a leftover, so I make lots so we can eat it for several meals.

RECIPE - TUNA MACARONI SALAD

Ingredients
2 cans tuna in water
1 can Veg-All
1 lb shell macaroni
1 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced onion
1 to 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
1/2 cup bottled Ranch Dressing
Salt, pepper, celery salt to taste
Optional: 1 or 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped

Cook shell macaroni according to pkg directions; don't overcook. Run macaroni under cold water to stop cooking process. Drain. Cover and refrigerate at least one hour.

In large mixing bowl, mix tuna (drained), Veg-All, celery and onion (optional eggs). Add macaroni. Add Mayo and Ranch dressing. Mix completely. Add salt, pepper and celery salt to taste and mix. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours. Serves 6-8 as a main dish.

Stocking up at Walgreens

There are some good sales at Walgreens this week. I apologize that I can't give you links to coupons that I use or dates they appeared in the newspaper. I just don't have time to keep track of things like that! You may, however, find several of the coupons to print off in the right column of this blog page. You can also print of Walgreens' coupons on their web site, if you don't get the Sunday paper before you go shopping. I used Walgreens sales today to stock up on pantry items. All are items we use on a regular basis. 4 Hellman's Mayonnaise 30 oz - Sale $2.99 3 Ragu Spaghetti Sauce - Sale $1.67 Total $16.96 Coupons Mayo - 1.00, .50, .40 Ragu - $.50 $3 Walgreens Register Rewards Out of Pocket $11.56 Rec'd $5 Walgreens Register Rewards Bic Soleil Razors - Sale $4.99 x 2 = $9.98 Walgreens Alum Foil - Sale $.49 x 4 = $1.96 Walgreens Storage Bags Sale .99 x 3 - $2.97 Total $14.91 Coupons Bic Razors $2.00 x 2 = $4.00 Walgreens RR $5.00 OOP $5.91 Edge Shaving Gel Sale $2.99 Easy Saver Coupon - $1.00 Mfg Coupon - $1.00 Walgreen Weekly coupon $1.00 OOP - FREE Total Merchandise $34.86 (sale prices) Cash Paid $17.47 50% saved on items we use every day!

Don't Overlook your local Hardware Store when being Frugal!

Ace Hardware has instituted a rebate program similar to Walgreens'. Purchase items, go online and put in for rebates, and get those items for a deep discount or free. Since house and car maintenance are an expensive part of daily life, it's great to have another store to turn to for these household needs. Similar to Walgreens and CVS, you need to sign up for an Ace Rewards Card to take advantage of these deals. You should be able to sign up online, though I've tried twice now with no luck. You can also sign up at your local store. In our area, ACE is having a huge "Grand Opening" sale on June 27, 28 and 29. Here are examples of what you will be able to get FREE AFTER REBATE (FAR): Rust Stop Spray Enamel for Grills - $3.99 - FAR OxiOut Emergency Stain Stick - $1.99 - FAR Jobe's Fertilizer Spikes - $99 - FAR Mr. Clean Auto Glass Cleaner - $2.99 - FAR Mr. Clean Car Protectant for rubber, plastic and vinyl - $2.99 - FAR GUMOUT Fuel System Cleaner - $3.29 - FAR These items are not free after rebate (though they could be if you have coupons!), but are deeply discounted: Sprayway Glass Cleaner - $1.99 - $1.00 rebate - $.99 final cost Murphy Oil Soap - $1.99 - $1.00 rebate - $.99 *Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner - $1.99 - $1.00 - $.99 *Shout Laundry Stain Remover - $1.99 - $1.00 - $.99 Fantastik Heavy Duty Cleaner - $1.99 - $1.00 - $.99 Poly Rope with Winder, 100'- $1.99 - $1.00 - $.99 Tire Wet Protectant - $1.99 - $1.00 - $.99 Fix a Flat - $1.99 - $1.00 - $.99 Elmer's Glue All 16 oz $2.99 - $2.50 rebate - $.49 *RayOVac 30 pk AA or AAA batteries - $9.99 - $5.00 rebate - $4.99 6 pc Double-Ended Power Drill Bit Set 7 pc Drill Bit Set 10 Pc Bit and Nutsetter Set - all $5.99 - $5.00 rebate - .99 each 1400 psi portable Power Washer - $84.99 - $25.00 rebate - $59.99 23 pocket Big Mouth Tool Bag - $9.99 - $5.00 rebate - $4.99 Sportsman Lantern - $9.99 - $5.00 rebate - $4.99 ACE Insecticide Spray - $2.49 - $2.00 rebate - $.49 (4 rebates) Cutter Back Yard Insect Spray - $9.99 - $6.00 rebate - $3.99 (2 rebates) ACE Home Insect Spray 1 gal - $6.99 - $5.00 rebate - $1.99 (2 rebates) *OFF Inspect Repellent Spray - $3.99 - $3.00 rebate - $.99 (2 rebates) ACE Weed & Grass Killer - $2.99 - $2.00 rebate - .99 (2 rebates) *These items have had coupons in recent Sunday paper flyers. Use the coupons and save even more and possibly get the item for free. I'm not completely sure how this rebate program works -- if you get your rebates on an ACE giftcard and have to spend that money at ACE, what the expiration policy is, what the "Rewards Points" are about, etc. I am going to my local ACE later today to sign up, and hopefully they will provide more information.

Frugal grandparenting

Who knew a two year old could be so much fun to take to yard sales?! My grandson loves cruising through other people's garages, and is amazingly picky about what he does or does not want to buy. Most kids spot ANY toy and yell and scream until they get it. Brayden says "Ummmmmmmmm...Nooooo" more often than not.

Friday morning (he'd spent the night with us Thursday night), we were up and ready to head out the door by 8:30am. First yard sale, Brayden spotted a box full of Army Guys that he insisted his grandfather would love (and he was right). But he didn't find anything there for himself, despite the yard sale advertising TOYS TOYS TOYS and there being plenty age-appropriate toys for him to choose from.

But at the second yard sale we got the deal of the day. A Little Tykes Kitchen, complete with "communications center" (the phone rings and tells you things like "It's time to wash the dishes" or "Let's get cooking!"), talking recipe book (Chef Tony give you step by step recipe to create spaghetti and meatballs or bacon and eggs with your plastic dishes and food), a microwave, stove (burners light up), sink (makes water sounds), refrigerator, oven, and more. It came complete with dishes, silverware, cooking pots and pans, cooking utensils, a huge amount of food, and more. It's not exactly like the one here in the picture (it's actually got more burners and more counter space), but it's close. The price? $15.00!

Today, Jeff and I went out to yard sales and once again, I had a GREAT find. I found a Kasey the Kinderbot (Toy of the Year in 2002), an interactive robot that teaches numbers and letters - for $2! Retail price for this on Amazon today is $199.00! It's perfect for Brayden, who is enthusiastically learning his numbers and shapes and colors. When my kids were small we had a similar toy, except not computerized, of course. It was a small "robot" in which you placed cards, and the child matched numbers or colors or letters and the robot beeped. Both my kids absolutely loved this toy, and really learned a lot from it. I think Brayden is going to love it, and it will really help quench his thirst for knowledge stage he's going through. He can now count to 19 and knows all his colors and shapes. I think that's pretty good for a 26 month old... but then, I'm his grandma, so I guess I would!

So, grandparents -- head to the yard sales! Toys are SO expensive these days and there are so many great deals to be had at yard sales and garage sales. The kids don't care if the toy is used, believe me!

BETTER THAN YARD SALE PRICES - FREE!!

Here's a Toys R'Us coupon for a FREE Thomas the Train toy - value up to $12.99! (Thanks to Money Saving Mom). Brayden loves Thomas the Train -- I think I'll do some frugal Christmas shopping!