Tuesday 15-minute couponing spree

Do you ever go to the store for one thing, however you leave with multiple bags? Well that was me today! I only wanted to run into Publix to grab some strawberries for lunch and ended up leaving with two full grocery bags. Luckily, I had my handy dandy coupon wallet with me so I had a coupon for pretty much everything I bought.

(3) Hungry Jack Pancake Mix Pouches
- used (1) Buy 2 get 1 free manufacturers coupon
(1) package of strawberries
(2) Hormel Compleats meals
- used (1) buy 1 get 1 manufacturers coupon
(2) Coffee Mate Natural Bliss coffee creamers
- used (2) $1/1 Natural Bliss creamer manufacturers coupons
(2) Kraft Fresh Take seasoning blends
- used (2) $1/1 Kraft manufacturer coupons
- used (1) $2/2 Kraft products coupon found in Yellow Advantage Flyer
(2) Glade Expressions Fragrance Mist starter Kits
- used (2) $2/1 Glade Expressions manufacturer coupons
- used (2) $1/1 Glade Expressions Publix coupon found in Yellow Advantage Flyer

Total before coupons and in-store promotions: $31.49
Total after coupons and in-store promotions: $10.56

Buitoni Dinner for 2!

Hi All,
I was finally able to use my $2.50/1 Buitoni Frozen Dinner for 2 that are brand new. At Publix, these bad boys ar $8.99 and, even with the coupon, they are still a little too pricey for me.
As I was wandering the aisles of Target, however, I found them on a temporary price cut fo $6.99 minus my $2.50 coupon. This made them only $4.49 a piece or $2.25 per person!

Marathon anyone?

So the fiancee and I have been ducking and dodging that bullet named "getting our a**es back into shape" for quite a looooooooong time now... Everyday it's something else and then we say oh we start tomorrow or we start next week, which then turns into next month, and then moves to a new years resolutions. You get the picture.

Anywho, as we are huge Disney fanatics and were just discussing the Disney Half Marathon that was held on Saturday, we came to one conclusion: WE NEED TO RUN the Disney Family 5k in 2013. Sure it's still quite some time away, but we both have not worked out in, dare I say it, about a year or maybe even longer and need to get our bodies into shape and then train for the race. This is the ultimate Disney-thing we have not yet done. There is a Disney Wine and Dine race later this year, but that's a half marathon and I, honestly, don't think we will make that one (Plus, it's $160 per person). Also, this will be the first marathon either of us will have participated in, and having it be a Disney themed marathon just makes it that much more special!

Is anyone else planning on training/running a marathon this year?

Sunday Publix & Target Grocery Trip

Hi all,
thanks again for reading. I went grocery shopping a little late this week and therefore really didn't need that much. I took a trip to Target and then to Publix.

Here is what I bought at Target:
(1) Cascade Dishwashing pouches 20ct.
- used (1) $1/1 Cascade dish soap found in Have you tried this yet mailer
(4) Healthy Choice 100% Natural frozen meal (on price-cut for $1.89 each)
- used (2) $1/2 Healthy Choice manufacturer coupons
(1) Round top white sandwich bread
1lb Ground Beef

Total before coupons: $14.00
Total after coupons: $10.00 (the cashier accidentally scanned a coupon twice)

Here is what I bought at Publix:
(2) Express Salad blends
- BOGO
(1) carton of cherry tomatoes
(1) Cucumber
(1) carton of strawberries
2lbs of bananas
(2) Velveeta Cheesy Skillets
- used (2) $0.50/1 Velveeta manufacturer coupon found on Facebook
(3) Voskos Greek Yogurts
- used $1/3 Voskos yogurt manufacturers coupon
- used $1/3 Voskos yogurt Publix coupon found in Yellow Advantage flyer
(1) 1lb bag of Sargento shredded cheese
- used $1/1 any cheese 16oz or more coupon found on coupons.com
(1) frozen Corn
(1) black beans
(1) Extra thick Oscar Meyer Bacon
(2) Wheat Thins toasted chips
- BOGO
(2) Publix Premium Ice Cream
(2) Kraft Fresh Take seasoning blends
- used (2) $1/1 Kraft Fresh Take manufacturer coupons
- used (1) $2/2 Kraft Publix coupon found in Yellow Advantage Flyer
(1) Bag frozen French Fries
(1) 10ct Tortillas

Total before coupons and in-store promotions: $70.35
Total after coupons and in-store promotions: $38.89

Movie Date for under $9.00

Happy Friday,
I just found an awesome deal on Groupon if you are looking to head to see a new movie this weekend or any other day before May 30, 2012.
Cobb Cinema Plaza Cafe, located downtown Orlando, is offering two movie tickets for the price of only $9.00. The only exception are 3D movies. This deal expires in about 2 days so you better hurry!

I may even buy another one!

Right Guard Deodorant for under $1.00

Good Morning all,
Thanks to a post made on the iHeartPublix page, I was able to print out (2) $3.00/2 Right Guard Deodorant coupons.
Currently, at Publix, the deodorant is on a BOGO sale for $3.89.
I picked up 4 of these bad boys for only $1.78 plus tax; that makes them only $0.45 each. Retail Value for all 4 is $15.56 plus tax. It can't get much cheaper than that!
Head over there today, as this sale will end by the close of business at Publix.

S'mores inspired Ice-Cream Pie

As I was sitting at work hearing my fellow cubicle neighbor discuss the fact that she will be making dessert tonight, I got jealous. I wanted something too... but I did not want to have to buy 400thousand ingredients to make a batch of cookies or buy a pound of flour just to use half of a cup in a muffin recipe.
I also needed to clean up the house tonight, so I didn't want to make something that took a while to make. So here it what I made!

S'mores inspired ice-cream pie

Ingredients

6 mini prepared graham cracker pie crusts
chocolate ice cream
marshmallow fluff
toppings of your choice (graham cracker crumbs, chocolate syrup, chocolate chips, etc)

Directions

Take ice cream out of the freezer and let sit for about 10 to 15 minutes, until soft enough to spread. Take the mini graham cracker crusts and fill with chocolate ice cream. Put back into the freezer for, at least, 30-45 minutes. Then take back out, top with a heaping spoon of marshmallow fluff and graham cracker crumbs, chocolate syrup, chocolate chips, or any other topping of your choice.

Sure it's not the iconic S'more you grew up with as a kid, but it's an easy and really delicious spin of the old classic!

I know I loved it! :)

ENJOY!

Tastebud Rockin' Turkey Meatballs

As stated, I am taking full advantage of the Publix Viva Italia sale and up on tonight's menu: meatballs. Here is the recipe.

Tastebud Rockin' Turkey Meatballs

Ingredients

1/2 pound ground turkey (with the other half I made turkey burgers for dinner tomorrow)
1 medium egg
1/2 cup of seasoned breadcrumbs - OR - 1/2 plain breadcrumbs and 1 teaspoon of dried parsely
1 tablespoon of parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon of milk (optional)
pinch of salt
pinch of pepper
3 tablespoons of butter
Jar of your favorite pasta sauce or it can be homemade

Directions

Mix all ingredients, except for butter and pasta sauce, together in a bowl. Heat 3 tablespoons of butter in medium pan. While butter is melting, form meatballs to the size you like. I prefer them to be larger and have less rather than smaller and have more.

 

With the ingredients described, I make about 8 large meatballs. Once butter is melted, add the meatballs and brown on all sides.

Wile that is cooking, place tomato sauce in a sauce pot and simmer.

When meatballs have browned on each side, add to sauce and cook until internal temperature has reached 165 degrees, about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of the meatballs.

Serve over pasta. I used whole grain pasta, which I got for free with coupons a little while ago. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and a pinch of dried or fresh parsley.

ENJOY!

25% off for DVC Members to go see La Nouba by Cirque Du Soleil

Good news peeps,
if you are or know someone who is a Disney Vacation Club member and you have always wanted to see a show presented by Cirque Du Soleil, now is a great time. DVC Members receive a 25% discount for category 2 tickets until March 30, 2012 for La Nouba located Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World.
To purchase tickets, call (800) 800-9800.

P.S. I have seen this show and thoroughly enjoyed it! Well worth the money, especially if you can get the tickets at a discounted rate.

Sunday Paper from 2.19.12 - worth it?

Hey fellow followers.
before you grab the paper this morning for coupons, check out SouthernSavers preview of the coupons you find inside. It may not even be worth it this weekend. I know I am going to skip it for the one insert they have with coupons have been covered in the last couple of SmartSource and RedPlum inserts.

Younger isn't always better!

After being stopped for the umteenth time for looking younger than I actually am, I decided to write a post about it. As a disclaimer, I am turning 25 this year. First, let's start off with a couple of real-life scenarios.

Buying a lottery ticket:

I walk into the 7-11 to buy a scratch-off. Mind you, I buy, at least, one ticket a week at the same store! Anywho, I go in, pick my ticket, get my debit card out and she says: "I have to ask, are you even 18?!" I casually laugh and seriously question her judgement with "What? I don't look like I am 24" - needless to say, she thought I was joking and I had to get out my ID, which she checked twice because apparently the year 1987 does not indicate 24 years old before October!

Buying Cold Medicine:

Here I am, standing in line with a sore throat, runny nose, and about to pass out. I hand her the cold medicine, she swipes it, and says "ID please" - without hesitation I hand it to her, she swipes the ID along the register, looks at the ID and says "Really? You're 24? You look like you are barely 18". With the next sneeze approaching I give her a sarcastic smile, nod, and say "mmhmm".

I could go on and on with these stories and do have to say, I am not flattered to appear younger than I actually am. Ask me again in 10 years and I am sure that will have changed, but for now, let me look 24, please! When I was 16, people thought I was between 19 and 21 and now that I am 24, people think I am between 16 and 19... I don't know how to look more "24-ish". I wear make-up, do my hair, don't wear hip-hugger jeans and my shirts show just enough cleavage to still look classy, not trashy. I dont have big dangly earrings, but rather wear small studs. I don't have any more piercings and use a purse that holds more than my lip gloss, car keys, and debit card. I have a phone that is not enclosed in a Juicy Couture case. I have a college degree and am starting a master's degree. What else do I need to do?! (By the way that was a rhetorical question").

Anyway, I just felt the need to vent! :)

Happy Saturday night everyone!

Saturdate

This is the first weekend in several weeks that we have actually spent at home again. Last weekend we drove down to Vero Beach and stayed there for a few days and the weekend before we stayed at a Disney resort. It's nice being home.
Today we did a date-day. We went to the movies and watched The Muppets, which was only $1.75 per ticket (I know, awesome, right?!) and then we got ice-cream sundaes afterwards.
When we got home we threw in the FRIENDS series and let the rest of the day zoom past us. For dinner, I made pizza and for dessert I made these fantastic pumpkin choco-chip squares. Here are the recipes!

Free-style Margherita Pizza

Ingredients

Refrigerated pizza dough
1 large tomato, sliced
1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup of fresh sliced basil leaves
Fresh cracked pepper

Directions

Turn oven to 400 degrees. Roll out the dough, place on a baking sheet and sprinkle with 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil. Place in the oven and bake until slightly browned on top, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and layer the pizza crust with sliced tomato and cheese and put back in the oven until heated through and the dough is cooked all the way.
Once finished, take the pizza out, sprinkle with basil, pepper, and the balsamic vinegar combined with the remaining olive oil. Serve with a side salad.

For dessert, I made Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cake and you can find the recipe here.

Cereal Anyone?!

As I was roaming the waves of the web, I happened to go onto IheartPublix and  CouponingToDisney at just the right time last night. On there I found a $5/5 Kellogg's Cereal coupon, which appears to still be available. Coincidentally, Publix has all Kellogg's cereal at 50% off on Saturday and Sunday. Needless to say, I woke up this morning and headed straight to Publix.

Here is what I bought:

Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats
Kellogg's Fruit Loops
Kellogg's Special K low-fat Granola
Kellogg's Frosted Flakes
Kellogg's Cocoa Krispies

Retail Value: $22.20
Total OOP expense: $6.10 or $1.22 per box

That is an awesome deal!

*UPDATE*

Saturday night I was able to print this coupon 2 more times. Today, Sunday, I went back to Publix with the two coupons I had and bought ten more boxes. Combined with the 6 boxes of Fiber One Cereal I bought several weeks ago (post can be found here) that were pretty much free, I think we will be set for a while!

Jammin' Jambalaya

Tonight I wanted to share a recipe for all of my home cooks and cooking adventurers. This recipe is also good if you are looking for a meal that feeds 6+ people for not a lot of money or want/need leftovers for the next day. So here it is!

Jammin' Turkey Sausage Jambalaya

Ingredients

1 large red, green, yellow, or orange bell pepper, chopped
1 medium sized yellow onion, chopped
2.5 cups of chicken broth, a little more in case your rice needs more liquid towards the end
2 cups of white rice, uncooked
1 lb/package of smoked turkey sausage, sliced
1 teaspoon of garlic, minced
2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 large tablespoons of tomato paste
1 can of fire-roasted diced tomatoes
1 bay leaf
1 pinch of pepper
1 tablespoon of thyme

Recipe

In a large pot on medium heat, heat up the 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Once heated, add the minced garlic and sausage. Brown the sausage in the skillet about 6-7 minutes and then add the diced bell pepper and onion. Season with pepper and thyme and stir. Cook until onion has become translucent.

Now add the rice, fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato paste, bay leaf and chicken broth. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.

Once boiling, turn down the heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is tender.

**If you don't have enough liquid and the rice is not yet tender, add about 1/4 of a cup of chicken stock at a time until it is cooked through.**

DONE!

*You can also substitute the fire-roasted diced tomatoes with regular diced tomatoes to make it a little more mild in taste. If you like it spicy, add some red pepper flakes or toss in a diced jalapeno. You can also add chicken or shrimp, but this is kind of my cheap and easy version of the dish.

Hope you enjoy!

Rainy Day Savings

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for reading!

Today is a rainy day here in Orlando but the shopping still needed to be done. This week I relied more on the sales that were going on as opposed to the coupons I had. Luckily, I got everything I needed for this weeks groceries. I went to Publix and also picked up a couple of items at Walgreens today.

Here is what I bought at Publix:
(4) Green Giant Frozen Vegetable Blends
 - BOGO
(1) Birdseye Bell Pepper Stir Fry Blend
(2) boxes of Mueller's Lasagna Noodles
- BOGO
(2) boxes of Muellers Whole Grain Penne
- BOGO
 - used $1/2 coupon found in SS
(1) Publix brand boil-in-bag white rice
(2) Bertolli Pasta Sauces
- BOGO
- used $1.50/2 coupon from Target
(3) Voskos Vanilla Bean and Honey Greek Yogurt
- used $1/3 printable coupon on the Voskos website
(1) package of Idaho buttery mashed potatoes
(1) 8-count Coca-Cola Classic bottles
(1) package of Murray's Chicken Breast
(2) packages of Jennie-O Ground Turkey
(1) 3-count fresh tomatoes from Tasti-Lee
(2) packages of Hormel Compleats meals
- used 1 BOGO printable coupon that I found on the Hormel website
(2) Express Salads
- BOGO
(1) package of Fresh Basil
(2) 4-count fresh bakery bagels
- BOGO
(2) packages of shredded Kraft Mozzarella Cheese
- BOGO
- used $0.50/2 from SS
(1) Pringles BBQ flavored chips
(2) Fresh Pizza Dough
- BOGO
(1) package of Strawberries
(2) 15oz cans of Hunts diced tomatoes
- BOGO
(4) cans of assorted Progresso Soups
- BOGO
- used $1/4 coupon found at Publix
2 lbs of Bananas
*used (1) $5/$30 Publix store coupon*

Retail Value: $102.13
Total after coupons and in-store promotions: $55.53

Here is what I bought at Walgreens broken down into transactions:

Transaction 1
Gilette ProGlide Razor - $9.99
- used $5/1 coupon in P&G Have you tried this yet booklet
- received $4.00 in RR

Transaction 2
36-count Playtex Tampons - $6.99
- used $4.00 from previous RR
- received $2.00 in RR

Transaction 3
Scope Mouthwash - $2.99
Wrigley's Gum - $0.69
- used $1/1 coupon found in P&G Have you tried this yet booklet
- used $2.00 from previous RR

Total OOP expense at Walgreens: $9.91
Retail value: $22.23

OVERALL RETAIL VALUE: $124.36
OVERALL OOP EXPENSE: $65.44

What deals did you find this week?

Planet Smoothie for $2.25

To make Star War fanatic Sean's Friday special, I bought him a smoothie from his favorite smoothie establishment. Well, not really. I bought him a printable gift certificate for a smoothie... same thing! :)
Usually we do not go to Planet Smoothie very often (due to the cost), but on Half Off Depot, I found a voucher for any smoothie for $3.00 and an additional 25% off.
This made a 32oz any-kind smoothie only $2.25 instead of $6.79!!!

Needless to say, he was excited and will be taking his voucher to Planet Smoothie tomorrow, to start the day off right!

Weekly Dinner List

Aah, it's Thursday! Thursday is my night to make a grocery list and plan out all dinners through next Thursday. I always go grocery shopping on Friday's after work and get frustrated when I do not have my weekly dinner list with me (yeah, i know!). So before I go into what's on this weeks menu, I do have to say that I am taking full advantage of the VIVA ITALIA sale at Publix, as anything "italian" is on sale this week. This will help keep the weeks grocery bill as low as possible. Also, I did not make Jambalaya last week so I will be doing so this week.
Here it is:

Friday
Jambalaya

Saturday
Whole Grain Pasta with Turkey Meatballs
I just adapted a standard meatball recipe to fit the taste I am looking for when using ground turkey. I mix the ground meat with an egg, regular or italian breadcrumbs (which ever one I am in the mood for), salt, pepper, parmesan cheese, milk, and parsley.
Then I sear the meatballs in a couple tablespoons of butter and then let them cook through in store bough tomato sauce. It is BOGO right now at Publix, which is awesome.

Sunday
Pizza Margherita
I am adding a salad on the side (also BOGO at Publix)

Monday
Turkey Burgers with a side salad
(YES!! we are having these again this week; in case you haven't noticed, it is one of our favorite dishes)

Tuesday
Veggie Stir-Fry with Whole Grain Rice
I bought Kikkoman stir-fry seasoning a while back, which I received for free after the coupons I had. I will serve sauteed bell peppers, onions, and broccoli over whole grain rice for this dish.

Wednesday
Lasagna
Made with ground turkey instead of ground beef.

Thursday
Sauteed Chicken Breast with wild rice and broccoli

What are you all making?

Home-made VS Store-bought work lunch

So it has been quite some time since I posted and wanted to get things up and running again with a dilemma I struggle with often: should I prepare lunch at home and bring it to work or should I run into the nearest grocery store and grab a frozen one?

Here are a couple of things I want to address:
1. Price
2. Convenience
3. Variety

First off, let's talk about the cost. Depending on what type of lunch you are used to or want, the cost of a home-made vs store-bought lunch can vary also. When I stop at Publix to grab something for lunch, I tend to head for the freezer section and pick up a Healthy Choice or Lean Cuisine. Usually, these run right around $2.50 - $4.00. If I do this 5 times a week, lunch will cost me about $15.00, on average.
For $15.00, I can also have an awesome daily lunch that fills me up a lot more than something out of a plastic container that was flash-frozen 3 weeks ago.

I think the convenience of picking up a frozen meal at the grocery store is a no brainer, as compared to standing at the stove the night before or morning of to prepare the meal. Personally, I prefer picking it up at the store, but then I think about the fact that I will, probably, want more for the $3.79 I just spent on a Healthy Choice Cafe Steamer.

Lastly, variety! Sure, all of the frozen lunches have something for anything you are craving, but there is nothing like making your own and using exactly the foods you want to eat. Sometimes, with the frozen meals, you want the chicken parm but dont want the pasta that comes with it, or you want only the rice that accompanies the chicken enchiladas and so on and so forth; you see where I am going with this, right?

Overall, I love the convenience of the store-bought lunch, but love the overall cost, variety, and taste of a home-made lunch, so I tend to do a mix of half home-made and half store bought lunches throughout the week.

Here are lunch ideas for an entire 5 day work-week under, roughly, $15.00:

1. Rice with a sauteed chicken breast and a side of your favorite veggies
2. Black Bean and cheese burrito with a side salad (or left-over veggies)
3. Turkey Burger
4. Pasta with Turkey meatballs (divide a pound of ground turkey and use part of it for the turkey burger and part for the turkey meatballs to save money)
5. Orzo with roasted vegetables

The most expensive part is always the meat, so this will be most of the $15.00 budget you have. Vegetables should be fairly cheap, and don't hesitate to make it more convenient by picking up the frozen mixed veggie bag. Pasta and Rice should also not break the bank, especially if you are going for the store brand, not the Uncle Ben's or Bertolli kind.

Another tip I can give, if you make lunch at home for yourself, make all recipes, or most recipes have one or more ingridients in common. This way you do not have to buy 4 different meats and so on. This is why, for example, in the meal list above, the veggies are prevalent throughout most of the meals, as well as using the same meats for different dishes.

Which type of lunch do you prefer?

Just found out that the V-Day heart shaped donut from Dunkin' Donuts has 400 calories... Was it worth it?!

Weekly Dinner List

I decided to dedicate a weekly post to the dinners I am planning for the week. Feel free to chime in and let me know what you are making or something I should try.

Monday:
Roast Chicken with Balsamic Bell Peppers = 405 calories
Will serve the chicken breast on top of a bed of mashed potatoes infused with caramelized onions.

Tuesday:
Avocado & Jack Turkey Burgers = roughly 370 calories
I am going to serve these on a whole-wheat bun. The Pepper Jack cheese will add flavor and an added kick to the turkey burger. The side will be a simple salad to keep the meal somewhat light and low in calories.

Wednesday:
Chicken and Black Bean Burritos = 353 calories

Thursday:
Turkey Sausage Jambalaya = roughly 250 calories
Kind of my own recipe. I use the Butterball turkey sausage instead of andouille sausage to cut calories. I also omit the often added oregano and substitute this with thyme. Delicious comfort food!

What are you making this week?

Awesome deals for V-Day!

Strapped for cash and wanna do or give your loved one something special for Valentines Day? Check out HalfOffDepot and enter your city for awesome deals on food, massages, and outdoor activities!

How to stay sane at the Grocery Store

Sometimes, even if you only need a handful of items, being in the grocery store can drive you crazy, right? Especially on those days where the entire neighborhood seems to grocery shop at the same time and granny and gramps argue, in the middle of the isle, about which cereal helps them digest the best. To keep sane at the grocery store, I invested a whopping $10.00 on a magnetic grocery list divided into categories/sections (can be found at Target). This way, I am I am in the produce section, I can look at my list and grab everything I need, rather than grabbing a couple of things and 10 minutes later realize I need to get back there because I forgot something.
Also, as I use coupons, I invested in a $1.00 coupon organizer I also found at Target and divided it into the same sections as my grocery list is. This way I know exactly which coupons I have available for which product/grocery aisle.
You can also divide the organizer by the different stores you shop at or even where you have received the coupon from (i.e. Smart Source, RedPlum, Coupons.com, etc.)

FREE hair products at Walgreens!

In today's paper is a $3.00 off got2be product coupon. Currently, at Walgreens, this is a BOGO product at $5.99. If you use 2 of the $3.00 off coupons you will get $12.00 worth of hair products for free.

Valentine's Day Escape!

Good Afternoon savvy kings and queens!

As mentioned in a prior post, it is that time of year again; yes THAT time to spend $80 on flowers that will wilt away in 3 days and the day the entire world eats at a restaurant and catches a movie. This year, as Sean is going to school again and has class on V-Day, we decided to take the weekend prior to the actual day to celebrate valentine's day in addition to our one year engage-a-versary! I wanted to celebrate our engage-a-versary to kick-start our wedding planning again. So much has happened last year that we lost sight of everything but I want to get back into the swing of things. Also, we decided it would be a DFTW. For those of you that do not have the mouse-lingo down, that means Disney Fairytale Wedding. There are a couple of different ideas we are toying with, but I think I can say that Disney is the path we will be heading down.

Anyway, back to my original idea for writing this post. As Sean will be at work and school until late on V-day we decided to take this coming weekend as our time to celebrate. We booked a room at Disney's Vero Beach Resort, which I am suuuuuuper excited for. Neither of us have ever been there and we will be staying from Friday to Sunday. It is supposed to be an extremely relaxing place right on the ocean. We did pick an ocean-front room, which makes me even more excited.

The resort is about 2 hours from here, Orlando. We plan on driving there after work on Friday and having dinner at one of the restaurants: Shutters. Have I mentioned how excited I am? An entire weekend outside of the city chillaxing with my old man (sorry Sean) to the sound of the waves taking away any sort of work week stress! Epic!

We do frequent staycations at the Walt Disney World Resort, but this time it feels different. It feels more like a vacation because we actually have to drive to a place we have never been before. But, and here comes the big but, I just found out that it is supposed to rain all weekend. I told Sean but it did not seem to phase him very much. Also, during certain times of the year, you can see the itsy-bitsy tutle baby's make their way into the ocean. Now, to leave you salivating over my awesome weekend, here are some pictures:

Savings tip of the day: If you put away $1.00 everyday you will save $365.00 a year! All of that without even trying!

Staycation Rewind

Last Friday night, as every Friday night, Sean and I were sitting on the couch, tv on, laptops on, cell phone in hand, and boredom nesting itself into our current state of mind. Like so many times I ask Star Wars God Sean "What do you want to do this weekend?"; his answer, "I don't know, what do you wanna do?". I have become less and less flustered about the "I don't know" answers to my questions because I realize I do it too, just maybe not as often. So anyway, as my mind is always thinking, I went onto the DVC Member webiste (for those of you unfamiliar, it is the Disney Vacation Club website) and wanted to see if any rooms are available on such short notice at one of the resorts at WDW. After entering the date, which was Saturday to Sunday, I waited for the page to load and, sure enough, never fails, the rooms that were available were the same ones we had stayed at oh so many times before; Old Key West Resort or Saratoga Springs. I really did not want to use my points on these rooms so I clicked "search again". I was not expecting any different results, however when Boardwalk Villas, or BWV for short, came up as being available I had to snag it. And I did!

Let me start off by saying how difficult and unlikely it is to have availability at BWV on such short notice. I mean, before we would need to book, especially on a weekend, at least 3 to 4 months in advance. With the room reservation done, I couldn't contain my excitement and started dancing and yelling out "Woohoo, Boardwalk, baby!" (don't ask lol).

As we really didn't want to spend a ton of money on our 24 hour excursion, I decided to cook Sloppy Joes and pack it up to take with us on our stay. This way we eliminated one restaurant meal, or about $50.00. I also told Sean that we will eat the Sloppy Joes for dinner and then eat lunch at the resort directly, which is, besides breakfast, one of the cheaper overall meals.

At 7am I heard the soothing sound of waves wake me up; yes, waves (thank you BlackBerry alarm for being so kind). I got up, made breakfast and woke Sean up. We ate breakfast, packed our overnight bag, and headed to Disney's Animal Kingdom. We got there at 9:03am, perfect timing. We walked around the park and, for the first time, were able to catch The Lion King show, which was awesome! Very Cirque Du Soleil-y! By the time the show ended it was already 11am and we decided to ride some more rides. We bought a snack, 2 eggrolls and a drink and by 1:00pm I told Sean we should go to the resort to see if our room is ready yet, although check-in is not until 4pm. Luckily, it was!

As we made our way through the Boardwalk resort I could not wait to get to the third floor to see our room; boardwalk view, of course. We got into the room and it was a lot more spacious than I though and the view was phenomenal. We were right about the Big River Grille restaurant and were able to see the entire boardwalk from our room. We chilled out on the balcony for a while, people watching, and then decided to have the Sloppy Joes for lunch and find something "cheap" for dinner. After that, as we did not have any place to be, I decided it was time for a nap! After a 2 hour nap I rolled over and saw Sean was still sleeping. I stepped back out on the balcony and enjoyed the scenery. Once Sean woke up, we went downstairs to explore.

The Resort has so much to offer; from games, to recreational activities such as tandem bike riding, shopping, and dining. As the sun was setting we decided to take a stroll to the other side of the lake where the Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts are located. At the Beach Club Resort, they offered complimentary S'more making on the beach and UP! playing under the stars.

We decided to get dinner at the Germany Pavillion at Epcot because we could walk there from the resort. After downing a Brat and what seemed like a half gallon of soda we headed back to the resort. To finish the night, we went to the Atlantic Dancehall also located at the BWV resort. There we had a couple of drinks and, by midnight, made our way back to the room. The next morning we grabbed some breakfast treats at the Boardwalk Bakery and enjoyed our last few hours before check out while sitting on the pier and watching the boats go by.

For those of you wondering, here is a breakdown of the money we spent:
(1) bottled soda - $2.59
(2) Eggrolls (as snacks at the Animal Kingdom) - $5.12
(2) Brats with Sauerkraut and (2) sodas - $20.19
(1) Egg and Cheese croissant - $4.19
(1) Bagel with Cream Cheese - $2.69
(1) Latte - $3.39
(1) Mickey Mouse Oreo Cupcake - $5.12

Total: $43.29
Not bad for a trip to the happiest, and sometimes, most expensive place on earth :)

Dinner in :30!

Happy Hump-day followers!
Today I decided to keep it easy for dinner (as I often like to do) but I still wanted to have a restaurant style dish.
Thanks to my fellow blogger Bumfuzzled Jane, I have a new addiction to MyRecipes.com. On here, I have found countless delicious and easy meals for the everyday cook.
On tonight's menu: Cajun Chicken Pasta
Ingredients (which I got right off of the site):

YUMMY!

• 12 ounces uncooked linguine
• 2 pounds chicken breast strips
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided 
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 small green bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 (8-oz.) package fresh mushrooms 
• 2 green onions (white and light green parts only), sliced
• 1 1/2 cups half-and-half
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• Garnish: chopped green onions

  
Directions (also straight from MyRecipes):

1. 1. Prepare pasta according to package directions.
2. 2. Sprinkle chicken evenly with Cajun seasoning and 1 tsp. salt. Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; add chicken, and sauté 5 to 6 minutes or until done. Remove chicken.
3. 3. Add bell peppers, mushrooms, and green onions to skillet, and sauté 9 to 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender and liquid evaporates.
4. 4. Return chicken to skillet; stir in half-and-half, next 3 ingredients, and remaining 1/4 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring often, over medium-low heat 3 to 4 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Add linguine; toss to coat. Garnish, if desired, and serve immediately

How easy was that?! And trust me, it was delicious!

Valentines Day ideas for under $20.00!

It's that time of the year again. Time to celebrate  love because, apparently, the other 364 days a year do not count!  For today's post, I decided to give you guys some ideas for under $20.00 that you can do for or with your love.

1. Rent a movie and order take out.
2. Bake a sweet treat.
3. Go out for ice cream.
4. Celebrate V-day a day earlier or later to avoid increased food prices at restaurants.
5. Make a CD for your love to listen to on their way to work.
6. Make a personal gift box with things he or she likes (such as favorite candy, drink, movie, you get the pic)
7. Buy flowers from your local grocery store and make your own v-day inspired chocolate bark.
8. Gas up the car and drive somewhere you have never been.
9. Make a V-day card for the other person using your favorite picture.
10. Make love or chore coupons the other can redeem.
11. Buy some candles and massage oil and make it a relaxing night.
12. Make a scrap book of trips you took or your love story for the other.
13. Get a key chain, picture frame, or pen engraved with loving words.

These are just some ideas to get your ideas flowing. Do you have any more to add to the list?!

Publix and Target Grocery Haul!

Yay, it's Friday!!!

Not the best week for couponing this week, at least for me. I needed a lot of fresh foods this week so those coupons are a little harder to find. I didn't really see a lot of deals that I could combine with coupons to stock up. I have, however, bought all of my groceries needed until next Friday for a very reasonable price!
Here is a pic:

  

Here is what I bought a Target:

1 Bounty Basic paper towel roll

1 4-pack of Charmin toilet paper

2 Speed Stick male deodorant (had a coupon out of a SmartSource for buy one get one free)

2 packages of ground beef

1 can of Enchilada Sauce

1 4-pack of Hawaiian Sweet Roll buns

1 10-pack of medium sized flour tortillas

2 green bell peppers

1 red bell pepper

6 Dove dark chocolate bars (found these in the clearance section for $0.68 a piece!!)

Here is what I bought at Publix:

Chicken breast

1 carton of 12 large eggs

2 bottles Pompeiian extra-virgin Olive Oil BOGO

Cilantro

Mushrooms

Bananas

Strawberries

1 Jar Newman's Salsa

2 packages of Sargento Mozzarella shredded cheese BOGO

2 packages of Gordons Fish Sticks BOGO

4 Whole Grain Barilla pasta packages BOGO

2 jugs of Publix Deli Tea BOGO

1 quart of Half and Half

2 Avocados BOGO

Total Due at both stores together: $97.14

Total paid at both stores after store discounts and coupons: $60.95

Not bad for an entire weeks worth of groceries and a couple of items to stock!!

Weeknight Savvy Dinner: Veggie Chicken Biscuits

Good evening loyal followers and occasional lurkers!
Tonight I wanted to share my recipe for another wallet-friendly dinner idea. Honestly, I didn't feel like cooking something extravagant, but wanted something just as tasty. Here it is!

Veggie Chicken Biscuits
(Serves 8... or 4 very hungry people)
Items needed:
1 can of Pillsbury homestyle biscuits
olive oil
shredded cheese (whichever kind you like; tonight I used the three cheese blend)
2 medium sized bell peppers (preferably different colors for presentation purposes)
minced garlic
1 small white onion
2 medium sized chicken breasts
salt
pepper
paprika

Directions:
Turn the oven to the temperature indicated on the biscuits and let it preheat. Meanwhile, cube the chicken into bite sized pieces and and season with salt, pepper, and paprika. If you like it a little more spicy, add some cayenne pepper and omit the paprika. Also cut the bell peppers and onions into strips, julienne style. Next, cook the chicken in a tablespoon of olive oil until brown, crispy, and done. As the chicken cooks, grab another pan and add a tablespoon of olive oil, a tablespoon of minced garlic and the bell pepper/onion mixture. Do not stir the veggie pan too often; you want them to get nice and seared for flavor.

As both of these are cooking away, pop open that can of biscuits and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Flatten out each biscuit to the size of a coaster. Brush these with olive oil and add about 1/4 cup of cheese. Once the chicken and veggie mixture is done, evenly distribute this on each biscuit, add a little more cheese on top and let this bake for about 15 minutes. Voila!

I added a minimalist salad as a side and it was delicious. Try adding your favorite salad dressing for dipping, rather than ketchup or barbeque sauce! ENJOY!

Wedding Planning on a budget!

So it has been a couple of days since my last post, as things are quite busy throughout the week. I wanted to dedicate today's post to all of my budget savvy brides!

I have been engaged for just under a year now and we were originally going to get married on April 12, 2012, however due to some unforeseen circumstances we had to put the wedding on hold. Now that 2012 is here and things are finally settling back in, slowly but surely, it is time to pull out the wedding planner, my stack of bridal magazines and start planning again.

This time around, since we initially already put deposits down on a venue, honeymoon, wedding dress, photographer, and cake, I am a lot more conscious about how much things cost and what really isn't necessary. I feel better about keeping a budget in mind, rather than booking all of these things and then realizing that I will have to sell a kidney to be able to afford it all.

I always feel like a lot of brides get assistance, financially, from other family members, but, unfortunately, this is not the case with Sean and myself. We will pay most of the wedding ourselves with the exception of possible last minute funds that will come from mom and dad that they are able to give to us. As mentioned before, Sean and I are an average couple living off of an average salary. This brings me back to the title of this post: wedding planning on a budget!

Wedding Savvy Tips:
1. Think ahead! 
Although many great weddings happen in a short period of time, if you rush to set a date that is not too far away, chances are you will spend more money because you have to make decisions quickly and do not have time to sample different vendors.
2. Think weekday!
Many times, brides will receive an incredible discount for having a wedding Monday through Thursday and you will also be more likely to get the venue you want, if it is a popular one. Just an example, the venue we initially picked out had a $1000 price difference for the rental space and we have no food and beverage minimums, whereas the Friday - Sunday weddings had a $3500 food and beverage minimum.
3. Think destination wedding!
With a destination wedding, you can combine wedding and honeymoon into one trip. Most destination weddings are also all inclusive, so you do not need to worry about additional costs.
4. Think small!
Do you really need 3rd cousin Ruthie who you have not spoken to since you were 16 at an event that is so near and dear to your heart? Smaller weddings have a much more romantic and intimate feel and also cuts your cost on anything and everything.
5. Think breakfast!

Early morning breakfast, brunch, or lunch receptions are about 30% cheaper (if not more) per person. It is a rising trend that will be memorable for all of your guests. Also, if your wedding is earlier in the day, chances are  people will not drink as much, so there is no need to invest in an open premium liquor bar. Rather, have breakfast/brunch/lunch themed drinks, such as mimosas, bellinis, lemonade, coffee, and even bloody marys. Your guest will still have their alcohol fix but in a much more wallet-friendly way!
6. Think homemade favors!
If you like to bake, like me, fill mason jars with the dry ingredients to your favorite cake or cookie and pass these out as favors. They are useful and come from the heart, rather than spending $10+ per person on something that they will leave (on purpose or by accident) on the table at the end of the celebration.
7. Think Party, not Wedding!
What I mean by this is in reference to ordering your wedding cake. If you tell them the cake is intended for a wedding, there is an automatic price increase. Why? Because they can! If you are not into the traditional wedding cake design and like something a little more personalized, tell them you are wanting to order a cake for a party. Tell them exactly what you want and you will get it at less of a price than if you tell them its for a wedding!

These are just some of the tips I can share with you at this time. I am sure I will think of plenty more as the times goes on. We have not set a concrete date for the wedding, but are planning on doing it around the first week of October 2013, as this will be our anniversary!