CVS

I had a whole whopping $1 ecb expiring so I bought the following:

3 notebooks @ 3 for $1
carefree pantyliners $1
dove candy bar 78 cents

used :
$1 ecb
50 cents off carefree
free dove coupon from cvs scanner

paid 63 after taxes and coupons

got back $1 ecb for the carefree

Target

I decided to go to Target to buy some graph paper for school. Well, I ended up spending close to $115! But I did buy loads of stuff and some large items too.


Here goes:

small room ac unit 5000bc $57.48 (I figured this would probably be the cheapest I would ever find one)

desk chair $9.98 (granted it is pink but still I desperately needed a chair and it turned out to be rather comfy!)

2 - tower fans @ $6.24 each (I have never seen them this cheap)

small metal personal/desk fan $4.88 (works quite nice)

Hot Shot Bug Spray $2.78 (probably not that great of a price)

Neutrogena foaming pads bonus twin pack $2.48 (realized it is for that cleaning device they sell - oh well)

Clean and Clear Blotting Papers twin pack $1.98 (I love these but am generally too cheap to buy them)

2 sets of Clean and Clear Acne Wash twin packs with bonus trial size sample $2.48 each

2 sets of Clean and Clear blackhead eraser scrub twin packs $1.98 each

Revlon emery boards $1.47

Revlon lash and brow groomer $3.99

3 Composition books @ 20 cents each

4 refill filler papers @ 37 cents each

2 graph paper notebooks @ 75 cents each

5 notebooks @ 10 cents each (going to go back and buy 10 more today)

cottonelle wipes $2.24 (free coupon was about to expire)

Only used 2 coupons:

$5 off any 2 Revlon Beauty Tools catalina
free cottonelle wipes

Total after taxes and coupons $114.73



I will not have to buy facial cleansers for hopefully 2 years with all of these and all of the Biore ones that I bought awhile back. Also after going back today to buy more notebooks I am hoping that I will be good for at least this entire year of college (3 semesters). Would be nice if they would also last me another 3 semesters. I think I have about 17 of them so far. I am already on a second one for Algebra class and it is only 3 weeks in!!

Other than that I have not really been shopping. I pretty much have used up all of my Extra Care Bucks and haven't really been shopping there or anywhere lately. I am using up our stock pile and it hasn't even made a dent in it! I am just buying groceries but only items we absolutely need and when there is a good deal ($10 off coupon or $10 gift card with a certain purchase). We have a tiny fridge and freezer so can't stock up too much. Also have no cabinet space and a very tiny kitchen. But we do have certain food items stockpiled for awhile.



I look at it this way the ac unit was originally more than my entire total!! Almost like I bought the ac unit and got everything else for free!!!

Ebates

Ebates has online rebates and coupons for over 1,200 stores! This is one of those stores that you go through their link to whatever shopping site you choose and then you get cash back on your purchase. They also have coupon codes available on their site to help you spend less. I have been using them a lot since I signed up and have already had 2 checks sent to me. They also offer specials where they double the cash back for certain stores.

They are free to join and they generally have a sign up bonus of $5 to $10 when you sign up. Go here for details.

Gift Card Rescue

Here is a way to buy gift cards for cheaper than their face value. You can also sell any gift cards that you do not want!

Bounce It Off Millions

This looks pretty cool! Bounce has created a really interesting experience on Facebook. Are you undecided on something? Can't decide between 2 places of where to go for vacation? Having trouble on deciding something that has been nagging you forever? Then submit your question to Bounce Facebook and click on the Bounce it Off Millions link. Your question will turn into a poll where millions will be able to give you their opinion. This could possibly help you decide!

Not only that but Bounce will choose 4 of the most interesting polls to be featured in a Facebook ad which will end up giving you even more opinions from various people.

There is also a contest on the page where you can win 2 Bounce Dryer Bars (one for you to keep and one for you to give to a friend!).




***I participated in this campaign as a member of One2One Network and am eligible for a prize drawing. All opinions stated in the post are my own. ***

Free 8x10 Collage Print at Walgreens

Use code PRINTONE to get a free 8x10 collage print. Pick up at store and it will be completely free (not sure of shipping charges if you select mail order). These are great for presents for the grandparents. I do these everytime they are free and hold them back for Christmas. Go to walgreens.com and make sure you select 8x10 collage and use code PRINTONE at checkout. Expires on Saturday.

Free $10 Credit!! Rue La La

Go here using this link and get a $10 credit added to your account when you sign up. Of course it is completely free to sign up!

With this credit you could potentially score something for free or very close. I see some Crocs for $19.90 and with the credit they would only be $9.90.

I also see a Cuisinart 5pc Pro Prep Cutlery Set for only $15.90 so after your credit it would only be $5.90.

Ebates

Ebates has online rebates and coupons for over 1,200 stores! This is one of those stores that you go through their link to whatever shopping site you choose and then you get cash back on your purchase. They also have coupon codes available on their site to help you spend less. I have been using them a lot since I signed up and have already had 2 checks sent to me. They also offer specials where they double the cash back for certain stores.

They are free to join and they generally have a sign up bonus of $5 to $10 when you sign up. Go here for details.

Gift Card Rescue

Here is a way to buy gift cards for cheaper than their face value. You can also sell any gift cards that you do not want!

If Only Things Would Have Been Different....

Well, today I received in the mail an invitation to take some honor classes at my school. I scored high enough on my placement test that I have been chosen to take these classes.

Of course they are not offered at the 2 campuses nearest me. :( With my lousy vehicle and extremely limited hours in which my son will be in school (3 hours a day) this will not work. But nonetheless I am extremely proud of myself.


I grew up with a mother who constantly told me I would never amount to anything and no matter how many times I showed her awards I had won at school or my report cards (only times I got bad grades was for gym class everything else A and B's) she just said "so?". I really feel if I would have had a slightly normal family my life would have been way different than the many struggles I have endured in my years. This letter makes me both happy and sad. I see what could have been if only I had a caring family and not the family from hell.

So if anyone out there is reading this and you too have had a very unloving childhood just remember you are not alone. There are others like you out there. Just try to keep your chin up. I know it is hard but you have to. Even if it is just to spite them. :)

Spanakopita Recipe

Ingredients:

3 boxes of frozen chopped spinach .99 cents each = $2.97 (I recommend using 4 boxes)
1 small block of feta 8 oz $3.99 (I recommend using 2 blocks)
Dill Weed $1.59 (I bought the Badia brand which is in with the Spanish foods their spices are super cheap)
Pam cooking Spray (I used both the olive oil kind and the butter flavor) $2.89 each
2 large eggs $1.49 for a dozen
Athens Phyllo Dough $3.69 (only used 1 roll out of 2)
2 bunches of scallions or green onions (whatever you want to call them) $1.18
1/2 container of cottage cheese $2.79
1 bag of Success boil in bag rice (do not cook!)
salt and pepper to taste
splash of lemon juice
olive oil



So for $20.59 I had way more than enough to make a large pan and have certain items extra (Pam, eggs, dill weed, phyllo dough). At the restaurant I go to a small piece of spinach pie is $4.99 and I am guessing in the pan I just made there is probably anywhere from 9 to 12 pieces depending on how you slice it (possibly even more).

If I bought 9 pieces it would cost me close to $45! So this is a very good savings!


****Put frozen spinach and phyllo dough in fridge overnight to thaw.******

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Drain as much water from spinach as possible. This is my least favorite thing about spinach.

Wash scallions, chop both white and green parts up nice and small. Saute them in olive oil, sprinkle some dill weed (depending on your taste), a splash or 2 of lemon juice and salt and pepper.

After the scallions seem nice and sauted add the drained dry spinach and mix together and cook some more. To get all the flavors combined. Let cool.

In a very large bowl crumble up the feta. Try to smash it up as much as possible. Add 1/2 of the container of cottage cheese (I wasn't so sure about the cottage cheese but you can't tell). Though next time I will add 1 more pack of feta and 1 more pack of spinach. Combine feta and cottage cheese until they are mixed.

To large bowl of feta cottage cheese mixture add the spinach mixture. Mix really well. Eat some now if you must.

In another bowl crack the eggs and stir like crazy. Now add this to the spinach and cheese mixture. Mix everything up really good.

Open up 1 bag of boil in bag rice and mix throughout the spinach and cheese mixture. This will help to absorb any extra moisture from the spinach. This is actually the way they serve it at that restaurant. I was not aware they were being sneaky. lol

Now the fun part. Working with the phyllo dough. But I think I outsmarted it! I used Pam instead of brushing melted butter with a pastry brush on each sheet of it. I was scared that it would not turn out right but it seems and tastes just fine to me.

I used an 8x12 sized pan. Spray pan all over the inside and up the sides of it.

Unwrap 1 of the rolls of phyllo dough. Take 1 piece (it is very thin) and place it inside the pan. Spray pam all over it. Take another piece and do the same. Each time 1 piece at a time with Pam sprayed on it. Do this with about half of the roll (say 10 to 12 sheets?). Now add your spinach mixture evenly all on top of the sheets of phyllo dough. Now do the same exact thing with remaining sheets making sure to spray them. I read that you should score the top sheet to make things easier when cutting. Go for it if you want to. Spray top sheet as well.

Now throw it in the oven and check it at about 15 minutes to get an idea. Turn it around if needed. Put it back in for another 10 to 20 minutes depending on your oven. It should look pretty and golden. I highly recommend adding the rice because of the moisture of the spinach. My phyllo dough did not at all taste doughy and I am guessing this was the reason.

I have heard so many horror stories about how hard it is to work with phyllo dough. I didn't think it was bad. Of course I didn't make anything fancy I just layered them. I plan to make a Greek apple pastry with the remaining phyllo dough in a few weeks. I will again layer them in a pan.

Calorie and fat content: I have no clue! Just eat it and enjoy!!!

MIA

So a lot has been going on for me lately. Hence the reason there really hasn't been too many posts. I had a death in the family which I am still trying to push in the back of my mind so I don't have to deal with it just yet. I also have been getting things squared away for school. I should be starting school in August as long as nothing goes wrong prior (knock on wood). Some other things have been going on that is not at all good so I am trying to remain hopeful.

I have gotten a lot of things accomplished in the past few months and even if no one else is I am very proud of myself. Everything I have been doing and am doing I am doing for my son. If you have been following you know that my family is well not the most caring nor considerate to say the least. So at times it can get very difficult.


As I type I have a spanokopita in the oven. I have never attempted to make one before so hopefully it turns out yummy. I love spanokopita so much and so does my son. I made a huge pan full (no triangles for me). I didn't really go by a recipe (I rarely do) and just got ideas from various recipes I found online.


Depending on how things go in the next couple of months I hope to have more posts up each week. I have a lot of ideas brewing around in my head so it should be good.

I haven't been going shopping much (due to lack of funds) and the best part? It hasn't really effected us since we have been stocked up from previous sales.

Now I just have to stock up on the following:
Pur faucet refills
vacuum bags
cotton balls
rubbing alcohol
filters for my air purifier
filters for my dehumidifier
filters for my window unit ac


The timer just went off. Wholly molly! It is SOOOOOO GOOD!!! I will take some pictures of it and post later and give somewhat directions and kind of a recipe. lol

It seriously tastes like this one I like at a certain Greek restaurant.

magicJack

So recently I had an issue (I think a storm fried them both even though I have a surge protector) with both my modem and my Vonage phone adapter (router). I was able to go to the cable company and get a replacement for my modem. So I was once again able to go online but I could not get my router to work. I sent my router back today and Vonage is sent me out a replacement today (which I should get in a couple of days - free of charge). I have been with them since 2004 I believe.

Well, my cell phone which is Virgin Mobile which is a pay as you go type (which is great for emergency use) costs 25 cents a minute and 7 cents a minute after that. I like it for the fact that I use it for emergencies (calling AAA for instance) and that I only have to add $20 every 3 months. But if I have to use it to call the cable company when my modem is not working it sucks cause I am on the phone for at least 20 minutes but again that normally does not happen to often. Well, of course this week was a week I needed the use of a phone constantly (I am not a phone person at all so I can go without a phone for long periods of time (days etc.). Unfortunately, I HAVE to make an EXTREMELY important call and today was trying to make it and all the wait times were anywhere from 38 minutes up to 60 so minutes! So yeah my cell phone so isn't going to work for that. So I went and bought magicJack from Office Depot today.

That was back in May and I have been using it ever since. I did get my Vonage back but I haven't gotten around to hooking it back up. Though that is because I have a hard drive to installed and replace ethernet adapter and I didn't want to have any issues. A friend was supposed to install both but has been MIA ever since so now I have to try and do it. The ethernet thing should be simple it is the hard drive that is making me nervous.

Not saying that MagicJack is 100% perfect though. You do have to actually be online while using it. I would advise against browsing online while on the phone because it will make voices kind of echo and sound funny. But as long as you just talk while on the phone and don't play around on your computer there is no issues. If you are not online your calls will go to voicemail. For basically 40 bucks a year it is a good investment. Of course if your internet is not working well then you are out of luck.

Ebates

Ebates has online rebates and coupons for over 1,200 stores! This is one of those stores that you go through their link to whatever shopping site you choose and then you get cash back on your purchase. They also have coupon codes available on their site to help you spend less. I have been using them a lot since I signed up and have already had 2 checks sent to me. They also offer specials where they double the cash back for certain stores.

They are free to join and they generally have a sign up bonus of $5 to $10 when you sign up. Go here for details.

Gift Card Rescue

Here is a way to buy gift cards for cheaper than their face value. You can also sell any gift cards that you do not want!