Thrifty Maven

We had a great deal of interest in our Carousel Cakes giveaway and who could blame them? Congratulations go out to Abby G. of Rome, GA. If you didn’t win this time, don’t fear. This Friday we have another GREAT giveaway headed your way. The next winner could be you!

Yes, if you upload a photo between now and the 1st of April, you’ll receive 13 Swag Bucks – all for something you were maybe going to do anyway! Realize, you won’t immediately be credited, if you upload a photo now, your account will be padded with 13 extra Swag Bucks in the first few days of April. Again, YOU WILL NOT BE CREDITED IMMEDIATELY, YOUR ACCOUNT WILL HAVE THE 13 SWAGBUCKS ADDED ON ONE OF THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF APRIL.

Due to a massive number of people that have uploaded their picture already, Swagbucks temporarily disabled this feature. It will be back in the coming hours/day so please be sure to stop by again soon and load your photo.

Become a fan of Ritz Crackers on Facebook and print a $1 off 1 coupon just by becoming a fan. You can also get exclusive ringtones and music downloads.

According to one study, children who ate a healthy breakfast had higher energy levels and better learning ability than similar students who did not eat breakfast. Obviously the people at McDonalds have read the same study and are stepping forward to help students taking the FCAT on Tuesday, March 9th.

Participating Florida McDonald’s restaurants in Florida will serve a free Egg McMuffin, bag of Apple Dippers and a milk or small orange juice to students under 15 years old and in grades 3 to 11. The FREE breakfast will be served from 6:00 – 9:00 a.m. Kids must be accompanied by a parent. Child must be present to receive offer.

Remember breakfast is only one part of the equation. Throughout the year review test taking strategies with your student. I know that students in my school have access to a website that helps them prepare to do better on these tests. Start practicing several months before the big day.

You should also make sure your student gets a good night’s sleep the night before the test. Everyone does better when they’ve had enough sleep.

Coffee drinker or not, you definitely don’t want to miss out on the 100% Colombian Coffee “See What’s Behind the Best” sweepstakes. By visiting www.whatsbehindthebest.com, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the philosophy behind 100% Colombian Coffee and enter to win great prizes. The grand prize is $10,000!

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS SWEEPSTAKES. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. ENTRY OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 48 CONTIGUOUS UNITED STATES AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WHO ARE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE OR LEGAL AGE OF MAJORITY IN THEIR STATE OF RESIDENCE ON DATE OF ENTRY. Void in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, all US territories and possessions, and where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. This sweepstakes ends May 28, 2010 at 11:59 AM PT.

In keeping the FCC laws I want let you know that I will be entered in a contest to win a 100% Colombian Coffee pack and a $100 American Express gift card for letting you know about this sweepstakes.

MomSelect

If you watched the Oscars on Sunday, then I hope you didn’t miss The View on MONDAY. Consider it the day after the Oscars dish party!! It Isn’t over till the co-hosts have spoken! Guest co-host Vanessa Williams (“ABC’s Ugly Betty”); Day of “Hot Topics”; co-host Sherri Shepherd Skyped live from Hollywood post-Academy Awards and shared her Oscar experience. If you missed the show Monday then you also missed Lady Antebellum perform. Fear not though because you can always watch The View Recap available at http://theview.abc.go.com/

TUESDAY, MARCH 9 – Guests -Andy Garcia and his daughter Dominik Garcia-Lorido (“City Island”); Elissa Stein and Susan Kim (author, Flow: The Cultural Story of Menstruation).

I can’t make these things up people. The book is about a normally taboo topic, and contains the surprising-and sometimes horrifying-history of cultural reactions to menstruation

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10 – Guests: Forest Whitaker (“Our Family Wedding”); Jesse Ventura (author, American Conspiracies). At the risk of dating myself, let me say that I remember Jesse when he was a wrestler. His career certainly has a lot of twists and turns because he was also the Governor of Minnesota at one time. He now hosts the show American Conspiracies. His new book, by the same name, investigates government secrets and corruption.

THURSDAY, MARCH 11 – Sir Elton John will be sitting with the women at the table and partaking in “Hot Topics”; Guest – Eric McCormack (“Who Is Clark Rockefeller?”). I’m sorry, if you need another reason to watch OTHER than the fact that Elton John will be on then I just don’t know what else to say. I LOVE Elton John. He is a very talented individual and I can only hope that the ladies will encourage him to sing something, anything.

FRIDAY, MARCH 12 – Co- Host Kate Gosselin is back and will join the women and the return of “The View: Fashion Friday” with designer Carolina Herrera. The thing about Kate is you either love her or you don’t. People who wanted her husband to stand up to her were angry when he walked out on her. Let’s just face it no one has half-way feelings about Kate.

So make a standing date with the ladies of The View. You won’t be sorry.

“I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other The View branded items to facilitate my review.”

Buy any Clorox® ToiletWand™ System in a single transaction to get your $5.00 REBATE. Print the form for a $5 rebate on any Clorox ToiletWand System. You must also send cash register recipet and UPC written on the form. This rebate expires February 1, 2011.

You can also print a $5 COUPON on this product.

Take $1 off Johnsons & Johnson’s Baby Lotion with this this printable coupon.

Are you a Blake Shelton fan? Have you heard his song Delilah which is on his album Hillbilly Bone? How would you like to download it for FREE? I knew you’d say yes. Simply head on over to Soundcheck.walmart.com and use the code DELILAH. This offer expires March 30, 2010

Win a year’s worth of Groceries! Share your best original strawberries recipe and you could win 52 $100 Publix Gift Cards. Three (3) Runner-Up Prize Winners will be awarded each awarded as a $100 Publix Super Market gift card. The contest is open to residents, 21 years old or older. in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina.

The contest began February 25 and ends April 7, 2010 at 10:59 p.m. CST. Submit your original recipes at www.publix.com/atseaonspeak. There is no purchase is necessary.

You know you want it. Just look at that cake. Don’t you want to win one for yourself? Head on over to the product review and enter to WIN one of your very own.

Here’s what’s for sale this week at Kroger

• Armour Lunchmakers $1

• Duracell batteries $1.99
- $1 coupon (2/21 RP)
= 99¢

• Milk 1/2 gallon 4 for $5

• Powerbar $1

• Tennessee Pride Gravy $1

The Cart Buster Sale is still going on:

• Betty Crocker Brownie $2
- $1 off 2 coupon (2/7 SS)
=50¢ each when you buy 2

• Betty Crocker Muffin $2
- 50¢ printable coupon
=$1

• Betty Crocker potatoes 67¢

• Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks $1.79
- $1 off 2 printable coupon
= $1.29 each when you buy 2

• Betty Crocker Cake Mix $1

• BettyCrocker Hamburger Helper $1.68
- 75¢ off 3 printable coupon
=$1.10 each when you buy 3
+ Catalina deal: Buy 3, get $1.50; Buy 4, get $3; Buy 5, get $2.50

• Betty Crocker Warm Delights $1.50
- 50¢ printable coupon (2/7 SS)
= 50¢

• Chex Mix Bars $2.29
- 50¢ coupon (2/7 SS)
= $1.29

• Chex Mix, Gardettos or Bugles $1.50
- 50¢ Chex Mix printable coupon
= 50¢

• Fiber One Bars $2.29
- 40¢ printable coupon
=$1.09
+Catalina deal: Buy 3, get $1.50; Buy 4, get $2.50; Buy 5, get $3.50

• Nature Valley Granola Bars $2.29
- 40¢ printable coupon
=$1.09

• Old El Paso beans or shells $1
- 60¢ off 2 coupon here
=50¢ each when you buy 2

• Pilsbury Cookie Dough $2
- $1 off 2 printable coupon or (2/7 SS)
= $1.50 each

• Pillsbury Crescent, Biscuit or Cinnamon Rolls $1.25
- 30¢ off 2 printable coupon on biscuits
= 95¢ on biscuits
- 40¢ off 2 printable coupon on sweet rolls
= as low as 65¢ on sweet rolls
- 40¢ off 2 coupon (1/31 SS) on crescent rolls
= 85¢ on crescents

• Progresso Soup $1.25
- $1.10 off 3 printable coupon or
- 50¢ off 2 coupon (2/21 SS)
=$1.25 each

• Pringles $1.25

• Steamers $1.28
- $1 off 2 coupon (2/21 SS)
=78¢ each when you buy 2

• Toaster Strudel $1.99
- 55¢ off 2 printable coupon here or
- $1 off 2 coupon (2/7 SS
=$1.22

• Totinos Pizza Rolls or Party Pizza $1
- 60¢ off 3 coupon (2/7 SS)
=67¢ each when you buy 3

• Yoplait Kids Yogurt $2
- two 40¢ printable coupon
- 80¢ off 2 printable coupon
=as low as 80¢ each when you buy 2

• Wanchai Ferry $3.50
- $1 coupon here
- $1.50 coupon (2/21 SS)
= $2

These are the deals this week at CVS

FREEBIES:

• Nivea Lip Care $2.99
- $2.99 ECB
- Buy One Get One coupon (2/7 RP)
= 2 for FREE (Please note that this coupon expires 3/7)

• Oral B Cross Action toothbrush $4
- $4 ECB
- 75¢ coupon (2/21 P&G)
= FREE + overage

Other good deals this week at CVS:

• Buy $10 in Easter candy, get $3 ECB
- $1 off 2 printable coupon

• Altoids Buy One Get One $1.99

• Almay Buy One Get One
- two $2 coupon (2/7 SS)
= varies

• Bounce or Downy $5.97
- $1 ECB
- 25¢ coupon on Bounce (3/7 P&G) or
- 50¢ coupon on Downy (3/7 P&G)
= $4.47 – $4.72

• Bounty Basic $5.97
- $1 ECB
- 25¢ coupon (3/7 P&G)
= $4.72

• Cascade 2 for $5.97
- $1 ECB
- two 25¢ coupon (3/7 P&G)
= 2 for $4.47

• Charmin $5.97
- $1 ECB
- 25¢ coupon (3/7 P&G)
= $4.72

• Colgate Total Buy One Get One- two 75¢ coupon (2/21 SS)
= varies

• Dawn 97¢
- 25¢ coupon (3/7 P&G)
= 74¢

• Duracell $5.97
- $1 ECB
- $1 coupon (2/7 RP)
= $3.97

• Gas X or Benefiber $9.99
- $2 ECB- $1 coupon (2/7 SS) on Gas X
= $6.99

• Gillette Fusion, Venus or Embrace $8.99
- $4 ECB
- $4 Fusion coupon (2/7 RP)
= 99¢

• Head N Shoulders or Pantene Expressions $4.99
- $2 ECB
- $1 Pantene coupon (2/7 P&G)= $1.99

• Kelloggs cereal, Pop Tarts or Rice Krispie Treats 4/$10
- $5 ECB
- two $1.50 off 2 printable coupon or
- two $1.50 off 2 printable coupon on Mini Wheats
- two $1 off 2 coupon (3/7 RP)
= as low as 50¢ each

• Nice N Easy $4.97
- $1 ECB
- $1 coupon (3/7 P&G) or
- $5 off 2 coupon (3/7 P&G)

• Pantene 2 for $6.97
- $2 ECB when you buy 2
- $3 off 2 coupon (3/7 P&G)
= $1.97 for 2

• Pepsi 12 packs 2 for $7
- $2 ECB
= 2 for $5

• Stacy’s or True North snacks 2 for $5
- $1 ECB- $1 printable coupon on True North
= $1 each

• Tide $5.97
-$1 ECB
- $1 coupon (3/7 P&G)
= $3.97

• Vaseline Sheer Infusion 2 for $12
-$4 ECB
- two $1.50 printable coupon
= $2.50 each when you buy 2

These are the deals this week at Walgreens

• 3D White dental care 3 for $9
- $3 RR
= 3 for $6

• Bowl Appetit 99¢

• Colgate Total Buy One Get One
- two 75¢ coupon (2/21 SS)

• Crest, Oral B or Glide 3 for $8
- $3 RR
- three $1 coupon (2/21 P&G)
= 3 for $2

• Glade Sense N Spray, Reed diffuser or 3 Wick candle $5.99
- $2 in store coupon
= $3.99

• Hamburger Helper 99¢
- $1 off 3 coupon (2/7 SS)
= 67¢ each when you buy 3

• Hershey or Cadbury Easter candy 2 for $5
- $1 RR
= 2 for $4

• Hershey candy 2 for $3
- $1 in store coupon
= $1 each

• John Frieda hair care $5.99
- $3 RR
=$2.99

• L’Oreal preference $5.99 with in ad coupon
- $3 coupon (1/10 RP) or
- $2 coupon (2/7 RP)
= $2.99

• Nestle candy 49¢ with in ad coupon

• Old El Paso taco shells 99¢

• Buy $20, get $5 RR:
Digiorno pizza $5
Kraft Singles $2.50
Nabisco cookies $2.50
-FREE Cakester when you buy Oreos
Planters Nuts$4
Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh $2.50
Oscar Mayer Lunchables $2.50
- 75¢ printable coupon

• Peeps 39¢ with in ad coupon

• Post cereals $1.75
- $1 off 2 coupon (2/28 SS)
= $1.25 each when you buy 2

• Quaker Quakes 99¢
- 75¢ coupon (2/14 RP)
= 24¢

• Reach Total Care brush or floss, Listerine Pocket Paks or Total Care mouthwash 3 for $9
- $5.01 in store coupon
- three Buy One Get One coupons on Reach toothbrush
- three $1 coupons
= 6 for 99¢

Coupons on gas? That’s a coupon I could really use. This month Murphy USA has a coupon for $2 off your gas purchase of $10 or more! That’s up to a 20% savings at the pump – and with prices rising (again), it couldn’t have come at a better time. This coupon is valid through March 16th.

Oh and did I mention that you can WIN FREE Gas for a year? Check out the Murphy USA Bracket Challenge
four lucky winners will win a year’s worth of free gasoline! Find out how to register and pick your winning brackets for the March Playoffs at MurphyUSABracketChallenge.com!

March Madness basketball brackets must be submitted by 9:00 AM Central Time on March 18, 2010, before the NCAA basketball schedule begins. No bracket sheets will be accepted after that time

Read more: http://www.sheblogs.org/2010/03/oscars-party-blogger-giveaway/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=oscars2010#ixzz0hSBb6dlS

So, will you be watching the Oscars this year? Honestly I thought my invitation to the actual event as an honored guest must have gotten lost in the mail, but I may be wrong. I got to thinking about what would be an appropriate recipe for an Oscar Awards Party. I mean obviously you would have popcorn but do you really think the people at the Awards are eating big boxes of Good n Plenty? I also got to thinking root beer floats. Ah but popcorn and root beer floats do not a party make.

So I put on my thinking cap and I came up with….When Life Gives You Lemon Bars. I thought it might be appropriate. After all the Oscar is yellow and so are lemons. I’ll admit it’s a stretch but I didn’t want to make too many plans because I might have to make a quick trip to Hollywood tomorrow when I will finally receive my award for best supporting actress in a long running family. It could happen you know. “I’m ready for my close-up Mr. DeMille.”

When Life Gives You Lemon Bars

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
Dash Salt
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
4 egs, beaten
6 tablespoons lemon juice
Powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. In a mixing bowl combine butter, sugar, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and 2 cups of flour. Mix well.
3. Press firmly into a 13″ x 9″ ungreased baking pan.
4. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Cool
5. In a medium sized bowl, combine remaining 1/4 cup of flour and granulated sugar.
6. Stir in eggs and lemon juice,
7. Pour onto partially baked crust.
8. Bake 25 minutes. Cool
9. Sift powdered sugar over top and cut into bars.

Makes about 36 bars.

In keeping with FCC guidelines I want you to know that this post is made in conjunction with SheBlogs.org as part of their Hyundai Oscars Party Giveaway.

You know you want it. Just look at that cake. Don’t you want to win one for yourself? Head on over to the product review and enter to WIN one of your very own.

Yes it’s another Facebook FREEBIE. Simply become a fan of SunChips on Facebook and you will receive FREE 10.5 oz bag of SunChips. There is a limit of one coupon per address while supplies last.

Limited to the first 100,000 requests.

Kids workshops are FREE and designed for children aged 5-12. These hands-on sessions are offered the first Saturday of each month between 9 am and noon at all Home Depot Stores.

This month, the kids will be learning how to make a rain gauge. Gosh If I had one here last month it would have over-flowed. I love these hands on activities for the kids and of course they offer great opportunities for you to get photos of your future DIY’er.