Savory Salmon

One of my favorite fish is salmon. I have prepared it in the following ways: 

• Pretzel crusted
• En papillote
• Pesto
• Mustard and beer

Most recently, I prepared it simply but it was delicious. I seasoned the filet with paprika, dry mustard, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, pink Himalayan salt, and pepper. I baked it for 25 minutes and served. 

Easy, fast and delicious. That is all there is to it. 

Publix Shopping and Saving

I have highlighted items that I purchased this latest shopping trip to Publix in separate posts. My goal was to feature individual items rather than have a long post with tons of items. 

The total items were: 

• 4 cans Progresso soup
• 1 package of Publix coffee filters
• 1 RiceSelect rice
• 1 Fage yogurt
• 1 Quaker Multigrain Flakes
• 2 Sea Best
• 2 Green Giant Steamers

I spent $18.47 and saved $25.99. I also received $3 in rebates from SavingStar and ibotta. 

It pays to be a savvy shopper. Not only do I save money on shopping, I also earn gift cards and other benefits from the rebate apps. 

Couponing: Soup

I have found that a can of soup is a quick and easy lunch during the work week. I posted recently about Progresso soup sales, coupons, and rebates. The deal has come around again. 

Progresso soup retails for $2.31 and is on sale as a BOGO. 

Here is the breakdown: 

   $4.62 for 4 cans of soup

-  $1 digital coupon

= $3.62

-  $1 SavingStar rebate

= $2.62 or 66¢ each

Couponing: Coffee Filters

Coffee filters is one of those items that is an unsung hero. You can clean screens, deodorize rooms, garden, and lots of other uses for coffee filters. As a glasses wearer, coffee filters are great for cleaning lenses!

Publix has a digital coupon for a $1 off a package of Publix brand coffee filters. A package of 200 retails for $1.29. 

I feel silly buying them since my primary coffee maker is a Keurig. Check out all the things you can do with coffee filters here. 

Couponing: Quaker Multigrain Flakes

I have gotten into the habit of searching in the Publix app digital coupons using the word "free". There are free items periodically!

This time is a free box of Quaker Multigrain Flakes cereal. The 17 ounce box retails for $4.65 and Publix is offering it for free! That is a no brainer!

Couponing: Free Yogurt

It seems that most of my harrowing coupon stories take place at Publix. This is no exception. 

I went to Publix to purchase a series of items. One item is Fage yogurt. Publix had a digital coupon on their app for 1 free container. When I arrived at Publix, I was pleasantly surprised to see a blinkie for 55¢ off 1 container. 

Ibotta also had a 50¢ rebate. 

Here's the breakdown: 

$0 for 1 container

- 55¢ manufacturer coupon

= -55¢ 

- 50¢ ibotta rebate

= - $1.05 

No out of pocket on this one!

Couponing: Competitor Coupons for Beverages

In certain areas Publix considers Target a competitor. My local Publix accepts Target coupons. 

Before Halloween, there was a coupon in the Target ad for a free $5 gift card with a purchase of $15 of select beverages. That same week Publix had some of those beverages on sale: B2G2 12 packs. 

I stocked up on 12 pack cans that week. In order to make the $15 minimum, I had to buy 2 B2G2 deals for a total of 8 cartons of cans. 

While I was at Publix, I wanted to take advantage of the sale on Progresso Organic Soups. They were on sale as a BOGO. The Publix app also had a $1 off digital coupon on 1 can. SavingStar also had a $1 rebate on 1 can. It was $0.99 for 2 cans after coupons, sales, and rebates. 

The total shopping trip was $31.29 with a savings of $37.13 and $1 rebate. 

My goal is always to have the savings higher than the out of pocket. 

Free Cheerios

I've posted a lot about apps I use for budget shopping. There was a great deal on ibotta for a new Cheerios flavor: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerios. 

The deal is to purchase a family size box of Pumpkin Spice or Honey Nut Cheerios and get a free box of Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerios on ibotta. Easy enough!

Once I was at Walmart, I noticed that some boxes had a coupon on the box for $1.05 off of 1 box. That was perfect since I was purchasing 2 boxes. Each box retailed for $3.64. 

In addition, SavingStar had a $1 rebate for 2 boxes of General Mills cereal. 

Here's the breakdown: 

    $7.28 for 2 boxes

-   $2.10 in manufacturer coupons

=  $5.18 out of pocket

-  $4 rebate from ibotta

= $1.18

-  $1 rebate from SavingStar

= 18¢ or 9¢ each

I learned to coupon a little over 2 years ago and I haven't looked back!

Garlic Shrimp Spaghetti Squash

Need I say more? 

I found this delicious recipe on Pinterest and have made it a few times in the last few months. 

It's a flavorful pasta dish without the carbs, gluten, and guilt of pasta. Spaghetti squash for the win. 

I added fresh basil and tomatoes to the mix at the end. I felt that it needed a kick of freshness. 

Christmas High Tea

Last year, I was invited to a Christmas Tea sponsored by a local church. At the tea, there was an opportunity to volunteer to host a table for the following year. Guess who signed up!

I've always loved entertaining and have been sad the last few years having a smaller abode without room to host parties. This was a great outlet for me.

There is one hitch! I do not have any China or elegant dishes anymore. I've moved so frequently from city to city and state to state that I've given a lot of it back to my mom for safe keeping.

I had to find a way to get a hold of dishes for this event without breaking the bank.

I went to work visiting thift shops and online postings on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.

That did the trick and allowed me to acquire beautiful dishes at a low cost. 

I was able to host 8 ladies with whom I work. What a lovely evening of fellowship, worship songs, an encouraging speaker in a beautiful setting. Each gal felt like a precious jewel! I was so pleased to be part of this lovely event! Perhaps I'll host next year!

Thanksgiving 2017

I have to admit that it has been difficult to be back in the habit of blogging since the hurricane in September. Where does the time go? 

Here we are in the midst of the holidays spanning from Thanksgiving until New Years.

This was the first year in almost 6 years that I did not have to work on Thanksgiving. The previous years I worked in the Canadian division and observed Canadian holidays. 

We had a mini-banquet with my department this year. I brought a veggie tray decked out like a turkey. Thank you Pinterest!

On Thanksgiving Day, we had a small celebration with some friends from church. It was nice to stay local. I refreshed the veggie tray from the previous day and brought a pumpkin pie. Since my husband does not eat eggs, I found a recipe that is eggless. Amazingly delicious!!!

Now we're in a mad dash with Christmas around the corner. I love all the activities this time of year!

Texas Taters

Years ago I went to a Tex-Mex restaurant that served something called a Texas Tater. It was a hollowed out potato that had a cheesy chicken mix. 

Even though we don't eat chicken, I thought beans would be a good protein source for this dish. 

I got out baking potatoes and microwaved them for 10 minutes. Cut them and hollowed out the potato filling. I set the oven to 375°.

Next, I heated up a can of black beans and added chopped onion, garlic and the potato filling. 

Once the mixture was hot, I filled the potato skins with the filling. I added shredded cheese and baked them. 

I served the potato topped with sour cream, diced tomatoes, and chives. 

This was a hearty meal perfect for a Fall day!

Couponing: Cream Cheese

I had the great fortune recently to get Arla cream cheese FREE at Publix. 

This time SavingStar has a rebate for free Arla cream cheese at Winn Dixie. The way this 100% rebate works is simple.

1. Buy the product specified and pay out of pocket
2. Redeem the rebate offer on the SavingStar app (same as all other rebates)
3. Receive a confirmation within a couple days with the entire amount added to your account. 

New England Clam Chowder

I love this chowder! 

I order it out when possible and have made it in the past. After reflecting on when in the past, I realized it had been years. 

I looked up a few recipes and most of them called for bacon. While bacon is delicious, my husband is not a meat eater so it is a deal breaker. 

I finally found a recipe I could use and got to work.

Delicious was the result.

How I have missed you, New England Clam Chowder. 

Cereal Hack

Remember all that cereal I've purchased recently (here and here)? I've been taking it for breakfast on the go. 

The worst part is the bottom of the bag where it is nothing but powdery crumbs. 

I got thinking about this annoyance if there was any way to avoid this. Yes! A sieve! 

Pour and give it a shake. 

Problem solved! 

Catch Up Shopping Part 2

We're still catching up on life after the hurricane. This is Part 2 of the catch up shopping (see Part 1).

Restocking the fridge, freezer and pantry do not happen over night.

Publix had Old El Paso dinner kits on BOGO and their app also had $1 off 2 Old El Paso Products. SavingStar also had a $1 rebate. These are easy products to build dinners around and they're pretty tasty.

With coupons, sales, and rebate apps, here was my second attempt to restock. 

Without a ton of coupons, I still managed to take advantage of sales. I saved about the same as I spent. 

Catch Up Shopping

After losing power for almost a week, my fridge was cleared out. We didn't do a lot of shopping for perishables prior to the hurricane so we did well and did not lose much. 

It was still enough that we had a lot of shopping to catch up on to have a working household again. 

Publix had a ton of freebies on their app. 

Publix Premium Pancake mix, Arla cream cheese, and Good Culture cottage cheese were all FREE!!!

Publix had a coupon for $1 off General Mills cereals. SavingStar also had a $1 rebate or the same! Publix also had a BOGO sale. I paid $1.50 out of pocket for 2 boxes of Cheerios and got another $1 back in a rebate. 

Hurricane Hair

In effort to help people, Hair Cuttery was offering a free blow dry and style with a cut for hurricane affected areas (all of Florida). 

I was in need of a shape up so this worked out perfectly! I paid $10 for a typical $35 service at Hair Cuttery. 

And We're Back!

Phew...Hurricane Irma knocked out our power for almost a week. This inhibited our ability to be cooled off by AC and keep things refrigerated. 

From last year's hurricane, I learned a few tricks. The most valuable trick is to freeze a cup of water and then place coins on top. To monitor the freezer's temperature, verify if the coins are still on top. If the coins are on the bottom, the freezer thawed out. 

Once the coins started dipping lower in the cup of no longer frozen water, we knew the cooling was losing force. We sprung into action by eating the ice cream. 

You do what you gotta do!

Hurricane Irma

Due to Hurricane Irma, I will not be posting until further notice. The safety of my family is my priority.

Be safe everyone!

Teetering

Do you ever feel like you're teetering in life? Imagine how this rock feels!

Balanced Rock in the Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs

For I am the Lord God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41: 13. 

Take comfort in God knowing where you are and how deep in the pit you feel. 

You are not forgotten. 

You are not abandoned. 

You are not alone. 

You are loved. 

You are worth more than this world can offer. 

You Were Made to Be You

I was making macaroni and cheese as a dish to pass for Labor Day. In the box of pasta, there was 1 pasta that was not like the others. 

The shape was the same. 

The size was the same. 

The function was the same. 

The color was different. 

In a world of imitators, there is only one Creator. We were uniquely made by the Creator to fit a purpose that only you could fulfill. 

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139: 13-14. 

Embrace your uniqueness. You were made special for this time, this place, and this purpose. 

Focus on the Family

The non-profit organization, Focus on the Family, was founded in 1977 to put a focus on Christ being the center of individual lives and families. 

I had the great fortune of visiting the campus of this worldwide organization recently while in Colorado Springs. 

The large campus features a Welcome Center that shows films, has a bookstore, dishes up delicious treats, and more!

I was particularly taken with a hallway filled with flags from around the world. Nothing new for me. Still attracted to international items after all these years. 

Couponing: Liberte Yogurt

We love yogurt in our house! We use it in smoothies, baking, and eat it plain. 

This yogurt deal was FREE!!!

The deal is on Liberté yogurt where 2 yogurts are free. 

There was not a sale on the yogurt. In fact, the price is $1.79 per container at Publix. 

The Publix app showed 2 digital coupons: 1 free container and 30¢ off 1 container. 

There was also a BOGO Publix coupon.

In addition, SavingStar had a 30¢ rebate on 1 container. 

Here's the breakdown: 

  $3.58 retail for 2 containers

- $1.79 1 free container on the Publix app (digital coupon)

= $1.79

-  30¢ off 1 container on the Publix app (digital coupon)

= $1.49

-  $1.79 BOGO Publix coupon

=  - 30¢ Out of Pocket 

    - 30¢ SavingStar rebate

=  - 60¢