Super Savings Couponing at Publix

Okay...for over a year, I've been trying to figure out this extreme coupon thing.  I've tried to clip coupons, shop the Sunday papers, and get the best bargains.  Inspired by by my sisters Meg and Andrea (well maybe as competitive as I am...inspired by the competition), I have gotten my coupon book together and have made a commitment to save big bucks this year!

First things first...get your coupons in order.  I reused a three ring binder that I already had a home.  Then I purchased a package of baseball card sleeves (found at the register in Walmart where they sell pokemon cards and such).  Then I went through my coupons that I have previously stored in a file folder and divided them into categories.  I then slipped the coupons into the sleeves by category.  With coupons ready and Publix circular in hand (from the previous Sunday's paper) I headed to the store.

First things first....stop at the entrance to Publix and pick up two of each instore circular they offer.  I only picked up one on this trip, but was later advised by my sister Andrea to pick up two each time!

What I purchased! 

Bumble bee tuna (4 pack) - Buy One Get One (B1G1) for $7.49.  = $3.74 each
Special K cereal - B1G1 for $3.35= $ 1.67 each
Lance Crackers - 2 for $4.00 plus used $1 off coupon = $1.50 each
2 Grands Biscuits - $1 each = $2 used .40 off coupon doubled equals .60 each
Lysol clearner - 2 for $4.00 plus used $1.00 off coupon = $1.50 each
Pepperidge Farm Deli Flats - B1G1 for $2.99 plus used .40 off doubled equals $1.10 each
Sun Maid Raisin (6 pack) 2 for $3.00 plus used .55 off Publix coupons (found in Publix circular)= .95 each
Publix milk - $2.69 gallon - no coupon


Total $25.04
Saved $25.14 with B1G1 and coupons!

Happy New Year

It's a new year and time to review the resolutions.  This year, I want to leave a smaller footprint, cut my grocery bill in half, expand my creative universe, exercise and eat better in preparation for my 25th anniversary trip and enjoy every day with my wonderful husband and children.  Oh yeah.....and less facebook and less worry about children and things out of my control.  Here's what I plan to do!

1. Post on a regular basis.

2. Use my reusable grocery bags every time I go to the grocery store.

3. Become a coupon queen.  Photo from first trip to Publix for BIG savings to follow.

4. Zumba, Group Power, Tennis etc....at least 4 times a week.  Continue to shop with Bluebird CSA for my fresh locally grown produce.

5. No snooping, prying, obsessing on facebook, blogs, etc.......

Okay...now I've been held accountable!  Please help to keep my on track!

The Sweetest Bride

I recently had the pleasure to meet a most delightful bride to be.  Chelsea, a very grounded young woman ...planning a small wedding is truly more in love with the idea of being married than having an over the top wedding.  Here is the cake I made for her special day.  Chelsea made the topper and wanted red roses because her future husband Phil has always given them on special occasions.  Everything about the bride and the wedding was beautiful.

Apple Pie Pops!

Okay I admit it....this is one of those recipes I found in the dentist office and discreetly tore out of the magazine!  I don't know what I did with the clipping, but I later found it again online!  Who would have thought that making pie could be so much fun!  Basically, you combine chopped apples, lemon juice, apple pie spice (cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice), and sugar to make the filling.  Buy a box of the premade piecrusts (the kind you roll out) and cut the dough into shapes using cookie cutters!  Here's the Better Homes and Garden link to the recipe!  Super easy and very impressive looking! What a great way to serve pie! 

http://www.bhg.com/recipe/pies/apple-pie-pops/

Fall Sugar Cookies

Okay... Mother Nature has really been playing with us the past few days.  After enjoying a few days of fall like temps....this week we were greated with another mini heat wave.  The weatherman assures us that we will feel highs in the upper 70's by Thursday but in the meantime...I'm keeping the feeling of fall alive by baking delicious fall sugar cookies, packing my bags and heading up to Asheville for a couple of days with my son to visit family and enjoy the fall leaves! 

Fall is Finally Here!

FINALLY!  Fall blew in this past Monday at around 7 in the evening!  The wind started blowing...leaves were flying, and of course the power went out!  Twenty minutes later, the temperature had dropped about 15 degrees!  HEAVEN!
What better way to celebrate the crisp fall weather than to bake a huge batch of gingerbread cookies.  The delicious scent from these apple and leaf cookies filled my house and brought the entire family running to sample the first gingerbread of the season!

Making a Splash!

One word for the past four weeks in Georgia - HOT!  Staying cool is top priority...so of course if you are going to have a birthday party in August...it's most likely going to be a pool party!  I made these bathing suit shaped cookies for my neighbor's daughter Katherine who is an avid swimmer.