Super Bowl 2014

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So the “Big Game” is this weekend and no the Steelers aren’t in it, but you know there will be talk about the commercials and halftime shows at the water cooler on Monday so why not watch it.  Plus it gives you an excuse to eat appetizers (which I could just eat a meal of just appetizers!) and veg out in front of the TV on a Sunday night.

 

Here are a few things to help you enjoy the game a little more: 

“C”lue-Funny Buzzfeed. “Worst Types of People at Every Super Bowl Party” I qualify for at least two.  Maybe 3.  http://www.buzzfeed.com/justinabarca/worst-types-of-people-at-every-super-bowl-party

“L”ink- Crack dip, might be my newest favorite Pinterest tired and “family approved” dip.  I suggest it on those round buttery crackers, but a spoon would work too!  Plus it’s easy, and who doesn’t love easy?  http://www.plainchicken.com/2008/07/chili-cheese-dip_22.html

 “T”hought- Trader Joe’s Golden Rounds Crackers are just as good as Ritz if not better and no artificial crap. The work great with the crack dip.  10 out of 10.

I didn’t mean to leave you hanging

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So, I didn’t mean to not complete my last post about couponing but I didn’t want to overwhelm anyone. Couponing can be a pain in the butt but I think it is worth it. I mentioned writing the date on the front of the coupon flyers. That’s a must for most couponing sites (of which there are thousands of). Also, take a look at the name on the outside of the flyer. It will either say Red Pack (RP) or Smart Source (SS) on the front. Occasionally you will see Procter and Gamble (PG). You will see the abbreviation for these on the different coupon sites with the date after that. It tells you where you can find a coupon for that item. For example: You want to find a coupon for Tide. Go to the coupon database I told you about in my first blog http://www.southernsavers.com/coupon-database . Type in Tide. You may see ones you can print. You may also see one that says RP 1/19 or SS 1/17 after it. That means if you look in the Red Pack from 1/19 or the Smart Source. There should be a Tide coupon in there. Remember every paper is slightly different. Even the Trib and Post Gazette so I would say it works about 85% of the time. I save the sale flyers for about three months then toss them. That way you don’t have to cut coupons every week.

“C”lue – In some cities half of the coupon flyers come in that pack of flyers in your mailbox each week. So before tossing these in the recycle bin check to see if there are any packs of coupons in there!

“L”ink – I love the show Parenthood and we watch it every week. Usually on DVR because I can’t stay awake beyond 10pm…sometimes 9:30. With that said I’m a crier and this show makes me cry a lot. Happy tears though too! Check out this Buzzfeed for examples why: http://www.buzzfeed.com/juliapugachevsky/23-times-parenthood-made-you-cry-happy-tears

“Thought – Little Duck Organics Tiny Fruits – So M started eating solids by eating anything she could get her hands on. Then she decided she didn’t want any meat in her diet. Now there are days all she wants is carbs, carrots, and bananas. These are great little dried fruits that she eats like candy and they are good for her. I’ve tried them too. A 9 out of 10. Only reason I didn’t give them a 10 out of 10 is they are a bit expensive for the small bag.

I’m not an extreme couponer, I just like to save lots of money…

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I would never make the tv show for extreme couponers.  I do coupon, but I use them on items that we will actually use.  You won’t go to my basement and find 100 cans of green beans.  Ok, maybe 10, but I swear I got a good deal!  No one coupons the same.  You will take tips from here, tricks from there and coupon your own way.  You will also find your favorite stores to coupon at.  Mine are Giant Eagle, Target, and CVS.

“C”lue: Get a Sunday paper.  Want to make it easy?  Have it delivered.  You can have the Sunday paper delivered for about a $1 a week.   If you find a deal it can be cheaper.  I promise you can easily make that money back by couponing.  Keep an eye out this time of year at places like the Auto Show or Home Show.  Usually there are booths there to sign up.  The second I bring it in the house, I take out the coupons.  Look at the spine of the coupon book, I find the date and write it on the front.  I will explain in another post some of my next steps, but if you don’t have the coupons from the paper you are missing a big chunk.

“L”ink: Fooducate – http://www.fooducate.com/ A cool site that rates the foods we eat.  Great for those of you on a diet.  And it’s January, so is there anyone out there that isn’t on a diet or at least trying to eat better?

“T”hought: On a Trader Joe’s kick lately.  Trader Joe’s Chicken Burritos – Chile Verde.  Not bad for a frozen burritto.  6 1/2 out of 10.

And it begins…

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So for at least 5 years now, Dan has been telling me I should write a book.  Not going to happen.  For one, I have.  I was in 5th grade and it was for toddlers.  Even though it was published nationally, that’s where it ended.  My English is crap and my spelling is worse.  In fact, I admit that Dan checks a lot of my in-depth emails to clients before I send them off.  I know what I want to say, but it doesn’t always come out that way.  Dan calls it “Carrie Speak” and in that, he is well versed.  So basically I’m saying if you are reading this, excuse my bad English and yes I know my mother taught English…doesn’t matter…I stink at it.

Tonight at dinner he changed his “write a book” to “start a blog”.  I blew him off, but it was bugging me through putting Maddy to bed and then folding the 3 loads of laundry.  Who wears all these clothes anyway?  There is only three of us. I digress.  I thought about what he said I should put in it and thought about what I wanted to write.  I also thought about if I really want to do this.  There are so many blogs out there and what is going to make mine different?  I’m not funny so I knew that wasn’t going to be it.  What does everyone ask me all the time?   Couponing, Disney, and Opinions.  But opinions on what?  Places to go, things to eat, websites I use…anything really.  Dan and I try to do different things.  Especially now with Maddy.   Our food choices are changing and our places to go are expanding.  Kids will do that to you.  This blog isn’t going to change the world, but my goal is to share my little bits of wierd things and hopefully help someone along the way.

So that’s my goal.   I want to blog at least once a week, and I want to help.  If I can save someone $10 or let them know a great new food to try (or one to avoid), then good.  I also promise not to do just mommy tips.  I also plan to share a lot of the websites I use or blogs I read.  Rarely is my stuff new, I borrow from others.  But sometimes isn’t that the best stuff?

I plan to post these every Friday.  This week maybe I will do two.  I’m just hoping I don’t do four blogs and get busy and forget.

“C”lue: When looking for printable coupons I check out this database first… http://www.southernsavers.com/coupon-database  simply type in the product you are looking for.  If there are printable ones in there it will tell you.  There is more to this site that my sister-in-law shared with me a few years back, but that’s for another blog.  Start here.  I will give you more information about this site later.  It has saved me thousands of dollars.  Probably half of that was at CVS.

“L”ink: Vinegar and Dawn Dish Soap makes a great tub cleaner.

Wierd sounding I know, and stinky I admit, but it works.  Our tub is crap and until we can afford to get rid of the plastic overlay that they put over the old tub I have to keep it clean.  Nothing seemed to get that plastic clean.  This does and it does it with not a lot of work.  Find more details here: http://thecraftpatch.blogspot.com/2012/05/pinterest-tested-tub-cleaner.html.  My only change?  I use a magic eraser from the dollar store to wipe (not scrub) before I rinse.  Even works a bit better that way.

“T”hought:  Trader Joe’s Mini Ice Cream Mouthfuls – 12 in a box.  10 out of 10

Love.  Can’t say enough about them.  Run don’t walk to buy these.  But buy many boxes.  They are small and you can eat 2 maybe 3 in a sitting.