Three Rivers Market Weekly Deals 5/31-6/6

MAY 31st-June 6th

Organic Avocados
$1.39 each Save $.30 each

Organic Grape Tomatoes
$2.79 Save $.60

Organic Vidalia Onions
$1.69/lb. Save $.30/lb.

Independence Days Update

We participate in Sharon Astyk’s Independence Days Challenge. This is our weekly update.

Much of last week was spent traveling to a family funeral in TX and back.   When in TX we passed by the house that my grandfather built for them when my father was about 8 years old.  I am in awe of that home each time I see it, as I remember hearing my father talk about building it.  The two sons were in charge of scraping the mortar off of the used bricks that my grandfather had from a construction job so that they could be used in their new home.  Nothing was wasted.  Everything was reused and done so in a manner so that the house is still in excellent condition to this day. 

Plant—sweet basil

Harvest—Salad greens—beet greens, spinach, butterhead, iceberg, romaine; radishes, peas, the first of the beets, spring onions.

Preserve—A few green onions and some pinto beans were added to the freezer.

Waste Not/Reduce Waste—  Without the option of train travel or carpool from here to TX, the most environmentally friendly option was traveling in our most fuel efficient car, keeping the trip short, and being mindful of our speed and AC use.   We brought cans and bottles home to recycle instead of throwing them away while on the trip.  We packed snacks, drinks, and meals from home and bought from a grocery store instead of eating at a restaurant for each meal.  I kept watching for roadside stands and farmers markets to pick up some foods that aren’t yet in season here, but I didn’t find any.  I had so wanted some ripe tomatoes! 

We received some clothes and shoes from a friend at church for our daughter.  She was absolutely thrilled, and though some of the flip flops are a little too big, she’s enjoying wearing them already. 

I broke down and turned on the AC on Sunday, May 30th.  We almost made it to June and held out a week longer than last year.  If it had not been for the inability to move our sleeping quarters to downstairs this year (my dad is staying with us until the renovations on his home are complete), we might have lasted longer.  Each year we last a few days more.  I must add here that when we turn the AC on we turn it to 80 or higher and turn it off when not in use. 

We have a kiddie pool that was given to us by my cousin after her girls played with it for years.  It is probably 8 years old and now has a large crack in it, preventing its use as a pool this year.  We’ve played around with ideas on what to do with it at this point.  I told my daughter that we cannot purchase another one until we figure out a way to either recycle it or reuse it, and this has become an excellent source of dialog.  We think that our local recycling center will take it.  I think we’ve decided to it as a sand pile prior to recycling it, adding a few more years of use.    In looking at options for a new pool, our daughter wanted one of those inflatable pools.  We talked about how those pools tear easily, are difficult to patch, and how they won’t last as long.  We talked about the reasons not to buy something that won’t last.  We have talked about opting for a post consumer pool and one that is made in the USA if we can find one. 

Want Not/Prep/Storage— I added low dose aspirin, arnica gel/rub, and potatoes to storage this week.  Hubby added a roof to the play area.  Hubby and father dry walled the kitchen and bathroom in my father’s home.  I helped with tiling at the house. 

Building Community Food Systems— We donated some spring onions and bok choy to the church vegetable cart.  I worked in the food pantry at church some.  I’m in charge of the food purchases for the children’s program, and I’ve started making those purchases this week.  I picked up local milk for the Wesley House, a local community center which our church helps to sponsor.  I am thrilled that the kids will enjoy good local milk, many for the first time.  Our family visited the farmers market over the weekend.  As we enjoyed locally made ice cream from local milk, visiting with the farmers and their family members, my husband said, “This is why we go to the farmers market,” and smiled brightly.  He’s right.  We like knowing where our food comes from, how it is made, how it is grown.  We like the connection we have to our favorite farmers and how they have become an extension of our family. 

Eat the Food—Perhaps I’ll argue against this point when I devour the first of the ripened tomatoes, but I do not think that there is a better vegetable than the beet!  We ate the first of our beautiful, beautiful beets this week.  It was our first year to grow golden beets in addition to the red and candy striped varieties, and we were not disappointed.  I served the roasted beets in a simple garden salad, and they were a huge hit. 

Tip of the day

It is the end of the month, don’t forget to print your coupons!  Coupon sites often refresh coupons at the first of the month.  If there are some you want to be sure to snag, print them before it is too late. 

Meal Planning Monday

Some of you have asked questions about the approximate costs of our meals.  I’ll try to estimate those numbers below.  Because we buy in bulk so often, some of the numbers are approximations.  We are feeding 3 adults and one 4 year old.  We go heavy on the salad/side dishes and light on the meat, which also helps to save money.

Due to the trip to TX, the meal plan didn’t work exactly as I thought it would.  You’ll probably see some repetition from last week as a result. 

Monday

Grilled venison steak (free after barter, my sister gave us some of her venison from the deer that my BIL took last winter, the marinade is made with free after coupons soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce), cost $0

Homemade Cole slaw (cabbage and onion from the garden are free, mayo and vinegar only OOP expense), cost at the most 25cts

Fried Green Tomatoes from the garden (only OOP expense will be the oil), cost at the most 50cts

Approximate cost of this meal 75cts

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tuesday

Quesadillas using leftover steak (tortillas were leftover from a previous meal and stored in the freezer, bought on sale for $1/pack.  The cheese was bought on sale for $1/pack.  I’ll use green onions and spinach from the garden in the quesadillas), cost approx $2

3 salsa choices (2 were moneymakers, 1 is a locally jarred salsa), cost $0 after moneymaker cancelled out expense of local

Salad on the side (free, from the garden dressed with homemade vinaigrette.  The dressing ingredients of olive oil, red wine vinegar and Dijon mustard were all free after coupons), cost $0

Organic Black Beans (bought on sale for $1.69/lb, serving about half of a pound), cost 85cts

Approximate cost of this meal $2.85

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wednesday

Hot dogs without buns (free with coupon) $0

Pinto beans (free, Uncle gave them to me) $0

Radishes with salt and vinegar (free from garden, vinegar free after coupons) $0

Leftover salad from the garden $0

Sautéed Pears for dessert (pears were given to me, sugar to preserve, organic butter bought on sale for $3.99/lb), cost 50cts

Approximate cost of this meal 50cts

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thursday

Local sausage, cost $6

Homemade Cheddar Biscuits (wheat is home milled, cheddar was $1/pack on sale, organic butter bought on sale for $3.99/lb), cost at the most $2

Seared bok choy (free from garden), cost $0

Summer squash, if large enough to pick (free from garden), cost $0

Approximate cost of this meal $8

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friday

If Rutherford’s Farm in Maryville still has any broccoli, I’ll pick some up to add to our meal.  Approx cost $2, though I’m not sure of the price or if it will be available.

Lamb burgers on the grill without buns (local lamb, purchased a half of a lamb with a friend in the fall), cost approximately $8

Braised kale (from the garden, reserved bacon grease that would have otherwise been discarded), cost $0

Organic red lentils (bought on sale for around $2/lb), cost $1

Approximate cost of this meal $9

With the addition of broccoli $11

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday

If there is any lettuce that we can pick, I’ll make Salad Nicoise for supper (red potatoes, salad greens, peas and radishes, roasted beets, tuna, boiled egg), cost approx $2.50

If we do not need to use the lettuce, I’ll make stir fry (locally purchased beef; cabbage, peas, onions, spring onions, bok choy, and squash from the garden; brown rice), cost $7, $8 with the addition of a little broccoli if I were able to get it on Friday

Approximate cost of this meal $2.50 for Nicoise Salad

$7-$8 for stir fry

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday

Whole wheat pasta with veggies and herbs from the garden (pasta was free after sale and coupons, olive oil free after coupons, veggies and herbs free from the garden), cost $0

Homemade bread (wheat milled at home, yeast was a moneymaker after coupon and catalina), cost $0

Butter for the bread (organic butter bought on sale for $3.99/lb), cost approx 50cts

Approximate cost of this meal 50cts

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Weekly Matchups and Deals 5/30-6/5

Earth Fare May and weekly coupon good through Tuesday here

Target and cheap chicken deal here

Kroger

And check out this deal from one of my favorite readers--Kroger has Santa Cruze juice 4/5.00. There is a .75 cent coupon in the Earth Fare winter savings coupon book which makes them .50 cents each! Thanks Robin!!

Ingles

Walgreens and here for free Always and here for Neutrogena moneymaker

CVS

What to watch for at local farmers markets: there might still be some strawberries, fresh eggs, milk, meats, lettuces, greens (think bok choi, Swiss chard, broccoli raab, lambs quarters, and Chinese cabbage), edible flowers, green cabbage and maybe some Napa cabbage, broccoli, green/spring onions, herbs, sugar snap and snow peas, potted plants and flowers, honey, and home canned goods like jams and jellies.

Tip of the day

Emergency Preparedness Tip of the Week--

Do you know the Heimlich maneuver?  What about CPR?  Basic First Aid?  If not, contact your local Red Cross to find a certification class near you.  Check with your employer—your company might offer some reimbursement for expenses or even offer a free class in house.  Because I work in health care, I’ve never had to pay for a class out of pocket, which has been one of the perks of working in my field. 

What they say about the use of these lifesaving skills is true—you may never use it in a work setting.  I started “working” in health care when I was a young teen candy striper.  In all those years I never had to use the Heimlich or CPR.  In the last 3 years at our church, though, I’ve had to use both, and I thank the Lord that they were successful both times.  You have no idea how much of an emotional experience that is until you are actually put in the position to use those tools.  Your adrenaline is soaring, and panic starts to hit.  Because of years of training and repetition, though, I went through the steps and was able to help the two ladies who were in need.  Take a class now, and have the recertification every two years or as advised by your instructor.

A Happy Thought

 

“Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.”

― Jamie Paolinetti

A little light reading

• LOVE this idea on how to make your own sippy bottle/jar!  We use mason jars all of the time for drinking, and though I might be jinxing myself, we’ve not broken one yet.

I’ve been out of town and am behind on my reading.  I’ll surely have a longer list next week.  Until then, I wanted you all to check out this great idea for a homemade sippy cup.  Many people have been concerned with the BPA of mason jar lids.  When I do this for us, I’ll turn the white part of the jar to the outside so that the inner lining doesn’t come in contact with the liquid.  It is my understanding that the inner lining is where the majority of the BPA is. 

Thank you to all who have emailed me and left comments of condolences.  It brings me joy to know so many of you care.  I am back in town and hope to be blogging more very soon.  I’m catching up on laundry, gardening, and housework now. 

Have a very happy and safe Memorial Day weekend!

Tip of the day

Even though you might have GPS in your car, always pack a map or directions when traveling in unfamiliar territory.  I’ve found that in more rural areas, GPS isn’t always dependable.  Rather than risk getting lost, I like to have a back up plan in place.

Tip of the day

Wet wipes dried out?  Don’t throw them away.  Add a little water and let them sit for a few minutes.  They will be as good as new.

Tip of the day

Have a cute dress that you bought for your daughter?  When it becomes too short for her to wear, turn it into a “swing shirt” by pairing it with bike shorts or leggings.  This extends the use by at least a few months or up to a year or more. 

Tip of the day

I am pleased to be posting the first of the “tips from the expert” series.  Amelia Breed is not only an excellent art teacher, she is one of the nicest and most generous people I’ve ever met.  I’ve included information about her summer art program below.

TIP FROM THE EXPERT

For pre-school aged children, 3-5 yr.

When working on projects that involve gluing, have the children use a glue mixture and a paintbrush. The glue mixture is easily made using Elmer’s glue and water (you’re looking for a thick cream/yogurt consistency), and can be applied the same way you apply paint to paper. For a more natural glue recipe, see below. This is one way to help develop fine motor skills, avoid ‘glue puddles’, and extend your glue supply. Be sure to wash the paintbrush thoroughly so that no glue is left in the bristles where they attach to the handle.

Natural Glue Recipe:

Mix flour and water until you reach a yogurt or thick cream consistency. Apply as necessary.

This glue is white in color when it dries, and may have a slight texture depending on thickness. It works great! You can store leftover supply in the refrigerator in a lidded container for a week or so.

Wheat Paste is another natural/food homemade glue used for wallpapering and professional purposes. It is permanent and archival!

Here is a fun technique you can apply to many surfaces with your young child:

Stained Glass Tissue Paper Collage:

You can rip or cut with scissors multi-colored tissue paper. All sizes and shapes are encouraged. Using a paintbrush and glue mixture of your choice, apply glue to surface. A glass jar is a beautiful way to capture light, but you can also apply to paper (make a set of greeting cards!), cardboard, and unfinished wood furniture. Lay pieces of tissue paper on top of the glue, and then paint a layer of glue mixture on top of tissue paper. Experiment with layering the tissue paper, the colors will blend just like pieces of colored glass!

Amelia Breed is a local artist who runs an art program out of her home studio. For children’s classes this summer, check out www.chickamaugaart.com! (Summer Registration Deadline: June 4) Now offering adult classes too!

Chickamauga School of Art

(865) 357-4625, ameliabreed@chickamaugaart.com

Summer 2010 Class Schedule

Registration Deadline June 4th

Summer Camps will include a ‘snack and story time’ break everyday!

Mural Painting

June 21-25, 9:00am-12:00pm Monday-Friday

Ages 7-10, $100/student

Work as a group to complete one large mural painting! Students will brainstorm and execute a theme of their choosing, learning to work step-by-step from background layers to foreground detail.  Small studies will be theirs to take home. The mural may be exhibited in a local venue (public library, restaurant, etc.) at a future date.

Sculpture

July 19-23, 9:00am-12:00pm Monday-Friday

Ages 7-10, $100/student

Students will learn to create paper maché and found object sculpture while exploring their imagination.  We will draw, paint, build, glue, wrap, tape, and more to achieve each student’s original creation!

Books and Paper Arts

July 26-30, 9:00am-12:00pm Monday-Friday

Ages 6-8, $100/student

This class will begin with a garden walk to collect leaves, flower petals, and other natural material, and finish with a collection of hand-made books. We will make our own paper, explore painting and dying, and learn beginner sewing techniques for binding!

Little Ones Workshop

Friday, June 18, 10:00-11:00am

Friday, July 16, 10:00-11:00am

Ages 3-5, $15/student

These workshops will explore beginner projects to help spawn creativity and develop fine motor skills all in the name of fun! Parents are welcome to stay for the duration of class.

Registration forms found online at www.chickamaugaart.com, or contact me directly.

On the road again...and a bonus tip

Hi gals and guys! (My husband is convinced that he's the only guy that reads this blog--do you think he's correct??)

Daughter and I have been traveling today, going South for the funeral of a dear cousin. Hubby is staying in town to attend a funeral for a very close friend. Both of the deaths were much too soon, and our hearts are heavy this week.

Because of limited access to the computer, I probably won't be updating the blog that much in the next couple of days. I'll post what I can when I can, and as always, I highly recommend that you view the "links" tab to find some other fantastic bloggers to check out. Thank you for your understanding, and if you are a praying person, for your prayers.

One quick tip from my travels today. We arrived at the halfway point in our trip earlier than I had expected. We were tired, but everything was still very manageable. I decided as a way to both save us money and better have control over the ingredients that we would go to a grocery store and pick up some foods to eat in our room. Too bad I didn't think of this BEFORE we left home, and I broke my cardinal rule of leaving my coupon binder behind. (Cue the collective gasps from the hard core couponing readers).

We had packed drinks, snacks, and our lunch from earlier in the day, so all we needed was something filling and somewhat healthy for supper. From what the hotel hostess told me, Super Walmart was the only game in town (ugh). Still, the food had to be better than something laden with God only knows what at a chain restaurant, right?

This particular Super Walmart was pretty light on the organics. Unfortunately much of the fruit and easy to eat veggies were not organic nor did they look that great (picked over near the end of the day, some looked like they should be pulled from the shelves). I looked through every aisle and finally settled on a Mexican themed supper--Amy's Organic Enchilada meals, Wholly Guacamole, organic blue corn chips, and natural apple sauce. They didn't have organic apple sauce or I would have sprung for that. For the supper, I spent around $12 for a healthier meal than we could have bought at any of the restaurants that are within walking distance. Had I better planned ahead for my purchases, I could have fed us similar foods for much less. Given that I had budgeted right at $20 for the food for today and planned to eat supper at a restaurant, though, I think that is pretty good. BONUS--We also have leftovers of the apple sauce, chips, and guacamole to use during our next leg of the trip.

What steps do you take to save money on trips? What about unexpected trips? What about when traveling with children? Here is a post that, coincidentally, I posted at the same time last year. I hope it gives you some inspiration.

Tip of the day

Once a month check your food stores.  This not only helps to prevent spoilage and waste, but it also helps you to keep better tabs on what you have on stock to use for meals.

• Check your freezer.  Discard what is freezer burned or what might be beyond use.  Give it a good wipe down and refresh the baking soda box.
• Look in your fridge.  Use any leftovers, the last of the olives, that last teaspoon of jelly, anything that might need eating to make way for fresh foods.  Give everything a good wipe down and replace the baking soda box in there.  Check the temperature and make sure it is at the proper level.  Vacuum the coils so that it is running properly.
• What do you have in dry storage?  Onions starting to sprout?  Chop them and put them in a bag in the freezer.  This will help to streamline your prep work for supper on busy nights.  Potatoes starting to sprout?  Consider planting them this year as part of your garden.  Garlic getting tough?  Roast or dehydrate it so that you can use it before it goes bad.  With warmer and more humid temperatures, check for signs of molding.  Also note that insect problems tend to worsen this time of the year.  Watch for ants in your honey or sugar or moths in your flour.
• What about your pantry?  Organize.  I like to put the cans so that I can see the labels, because I’m anal because I like to see what is available with a quick scan.  Make a habit of putting the new cans and jars in the back so that you can use them in a first in first out method.  Check any food that you have preserved at home for spoilage and discard what is unsafe to use. 
• Check your spices.  If you can’t smell them, then they are probably too old to use.  Most spices do best if stored for 1-2 years. 
• Plan a meal or two using the odds and ends that you found in your kitchen quest. 

Restaurant.com

Now through May 31st you can buy $25 restaurant gift certificates for ONLY $2.  Go here for all of the details and to start shopping.

Free La Source Body Wash with Online Crabtree and Evelyn Purchase

Go here to start shopping.

Weekly Matchups and Deals 5/23-5/29

Earth Fare May and weekly coupon good through Tuesday here

Target

Kroger

Ingles

Food City

Walgreens and FREE ironman spray or rub here (y’all, I’m going to laugh out loud if I win this bike!) and here for the info on the Noxzema razors for free or cheap and Post Honey Comb cereal deal here.

CVS

May match-ups for Co-op Advantage Stores and Money Saving Maine-iac’s update here and Three Rivers Market weekly deals here

What to watch for at local farmers markets: strawberries, fresh eggs, milk, meats, lettuces, greens (think bok choi, Swiss chard, broccoli raab, lambs quarters, and Chinese cabbage), edible flowers, green cabbage and maybe some Napa cabbage, broccoli, green/spring onions, green garlic and garlic scapes, herbs, sugar snap and snow peas, potted plants and flowers, honey, and home canned goods like jams and jellies.  If you arrive early to a market, you might still find asparagus.  I saw some on Saturday, and I was kind of amazed to still see it there.

Three Rivers Market Weekly Deals

MAY 24th-MAY 30th

Organic Beets
$1.69/lb. Save $.30/lb.

Organic Rutabagas
$1.69/lb. Save $.30/lb.

Organic Pears
$1.99/lb. Save $.30/lb.

Independence Days Update

We participate in Sharon Astyk’s Independence Days Challenge. This is our weekly update.

Late last week the weather was almost cold at night, making it more pleasant for gardening, sitting outside on the back porch for long talks, and lots of play and adventures for our daughter. 

I’ve written and rewritten a synopsis of this week almost 20 times, without exaggeration.  I think I’ll sum it up to say that this last week has been emotionally draining for our family.  With all of the upheaval, I took some solace in the garden.  The rhythmic action of hoeing rows, the rote picking of peas, the methodical pulling of weeds enveloped me in a sense of calm and rest.  In the garden my mind is finally peaceful enough to meditate and pray, and this week my garden vigils were restorative. 

Plant—heirloom red okra, emerite filet pole beans, butternut squash seeds saved from last year, cucumbers, watermelon.  In the church garden I planted 2 rows—1 of Pawnee Shelling Beans and 1 with zucchini and crookneck squash.

Harvest—Salad greens—beet greens, spinach, butterhead, iceberg, romaine; bok choi, the first of the Chinese cabbage, radishes, snow peas, sugar snap peas, spring onions, bulb onions (from last year), flower arrangements, herbs.

Preserve—1 quart bag of chopped onion tops.

Waste Not/Reduce Waste—  I didn’t do so hot in this category this week. I wasn’t as good about composting everything last week as I could have been.  I bought 2 pair of cheap shoes at Target instead of getting something of high quality that would last and could easily be repaired by the cobbler.  I stained yet another shirt beyond redemption, but at least with that one, I can make it into a bag.  On the other side of the coin, my dad’s home repairs are going well.  Since we are reusing some of the things he had from old construction jobs, we have sold a few of the things in the home that needed removed.  He is being careful in how he does the demo so that everything that can be reused will go to another home. 

With the weather being so warm, we haven’t drank as much milk as usual.  Rather than freezing it, I made a few recipes that used a good deal of milk to avoid waste—milkshakes and soaked oatmeal. 

Want Not/Prep/Storage—I added a few toiletries and teas to storage from a Frontier co-op order.  Since I haven’t had a need to go to the grocery, I only made a quick run to pick up coffee this week. 

Building Community Food Systems— Our daughter’s school had a brunch as an end of the year celebration.  I brought a large salad from the garden, homemade vinaigrette, and boiled farm fresh eggs.  I was so pleased to see how many people seemed to enjoy our contribution.  I worked in the church garden this weekend, planting beans and squashes there.  I shared some of our extra lettuces with our neighbors.  I oriented the new church secretary to the food pantry distribution system.  I picked up a few things for the food pantry at the store.  Passed on information about Angel Food Ministry to a handful of people.  I wrote to my city council representative to show my favor of the backyard hens initiative going before that council in June.   

I’ve been working on the menu for the children at VBS. They run an entire week, starting on June 7th, and because we never know how many children we’ll have until we actually have them arrive, it makes planning tricky.   I’ll hope that by that time we might have a few easy finger foods (cucumbers, squash) ready to pick in the garden to use for the kids.  One can hope!

Eat the Food—I made a stir fry this week that was highly enjoyable because of how much of the food was grown by our hands.  We added some locally grown beef and broccoli we bought from a farmer friend and a few store bought organic carrots we needed to use.  Not that I needed justification, but having so much of the meal that was “free” better allowed us to buy good quality beef and organically grown broccoli to add to the dinner. 

Tip of the day

Emergency Preparedness Tip of the Week--

We have talked about first aid kits for your car and for your home, but what about other places you spend your time?  Check with your house of worship to see if their first aid kit is updated.  You might have some extra supplies that you could donate—many of us couponers get these for free or very cheap periodically.  What about your work?  Talk to your employer to make sure you know where the first aid kit is located.  Store a few supplies in your purse.  I can’t tell you how often I’ve used my gloves and bandages to help someone who has been injured.  We also have a small kit that we use when we are hiking or camping. 

Meal Planning Monday

I’m not entirely sure how this week will play out.  We will most likely be going to a funeral in TX later in the week, though the arrangements have not been finalized yet.  My dad will be here to guard the home front, so I’ll try and have a few easy meals ready for him.  This is the plan as of now:

Monday

Herb Roasted Chicken (or if it is very hot outside, I’ll throw the chicken on the grill so as to not heat up the house) and a large salad with the first of the roasted beets

Tuesday

Quesadillas using leftover chicken and black bean and corn salad

Wednesday

Whole wheat pasta with veggies from the garden and any chicken that might still be unused served with dressed salad greens

Thursday

Local sausage and homemade buttermilk biscuits using whole wheat flour, steamed sugar snap peas, and spinach

Friday

Veggie meal with pinto beans, corn bread, stewed greens, and if the green tomatoes are big enough, I’ll fry some of those

Saturday

Venison steaks with my easy marinade, black eyed pea salad, and broccoli raab

Sunday

Grilled hot dogs, grilled pak choi dressed with olive oil and lemon juice, crudités of radishes and snow peas

Free Nature Made Vitamin Samples

• Free Personalized Vitamin Recommendations
• Free samples of NatureMade Chewable Vitamin D3
• Free samples of NatureMade Fish Oil
• Free samples of NatureMade Cholest Off

Thanks Money Saving Mom!

Free Sample Orville Redenbacher’s Cheddar Cheese Popcorn

Go here for a free sample of Orville Redenbacher’s Cheddar Cheese Popcorn.  Sounds yum!

Thanks Southern Savers!

A Happy Thought

“Gardening is the art that uses flowers and plants as paint, and the soil and sky as canvas.”

― Elizabeth Murray

Tip of the day

Preventative health measures are not just good for your wallet, they could save your life.  Today perform your monthly self check breast exam and encourage those you love to do the same. 

Marcal Toilet Paper Deal at Staples *HOT*

Money Saving Mom has all of the details on how to snag eco-friendly tp for $2.99!! We’re fully stocked on tp for probably this entire year or else I’d be ordering tons!

Tip of the day

The tip of the day today comes from Martha Stewart.  What a great use for an envelope, and it is nice to have a funnel in a pinch.  I’ve used the top of a 2 liter bottle cut off before as a funnel, but this is much easier to grab when filling jars.

A little light reading

• Go here for some ideas on healthy foods to eat while pregnant. (Go here if you have trouble with the link). And just in case you are wondering, I’m not pregnant at this time. 
• Want to learn more about victory gardens?  Here is an excerpt:
  • This is where victory gardens come in, because the value you get from a backyard garden differs from the value you get from your job or your savings in a crucial way: money doesn’t mediate between your labor and the results. If you save your own seeds, use your own muscles, and fertilize the soil with compost you make from kitchen and garden waste – and many gardeners do these things, of course – the only money your gardening requires of you is whatever you spend on beer after a hard day’s work. The vegetables that help feed your family are produced by the primary economy of sun and soil and the secondary economy of sweat; the tertiary economy has been cut out of the loop.
• Here is a recipe for making homemade toothpaste.  I look forward to trying this!
• I’ve been telling clients about this website tons this last week, and thanks to Coupon Katie, I’m passing the word on to you all as well.  Depends and Poise pads are also on the list of products if you or a family member has that need.

Hope your weekend is a relaxing one where you get to daydream, rest, snuggle, dawdle, and delight in the many blessings the days offer you!

Kraft Singles Tuesday Night Tickets

Diane, a reader and follower, wanted me to remind you all about this great promotion for baseball tickets.  If you are local, check out the promotions page of the Tennessee Smokies for info on many more great deals.  Take me out to the ballgame…  Thanks Diane!

Thanks to Faithful Provisions for the following info:

If you live close to a minor league baseball team, you can take advantage of BOGO Free tickets on Tuesday nights.  From April 13th through September 7th, bring a Kraft Singles package wrapper (just the wrapper!) to the ball park box office where you can purchase a Tuesday night game ticket and get one free.

There are some minor league teams that aren't participating, so be sure to check the "fine print" for a list.

You can find a list of the teams by state online (scroll down past the map).

Free Sample Clif Mini Bars

Subscribe to the Clif newsletter HERE, and they will send you a free sample of Mini Clif Bars.  Thanks Thrifty Mama!

Backyard Hens Vote at City Council on June 15th, Knoxville

Time: June 15, 2010 from 7pm to 8pm
Location: Main Assembly Room of the City County Building

Event Description:
This is it. The moment of truth. City Council will decide whether to allow hens in Knoxville or to keep them illegal.
The vote will be a close one, so please come to the meeting to show your support. A large crowd will definitely help sway any councilpersons still on the fence! Don't assume there will be a sufficient number...WE NEED YOU THERE! So mark your calendars!
It will also help to write, email, or call your city council representative before the meeting.
As an added bonus, there may be t-shirts!
Meeting starts at 7pm, Tuesday, June 15th at the Main Assembly Room of the City County Building, 400 Main Street.

Magic Jack

Jeanette, a reader and church friend, wanted me to relay the following information about the Magic Jack phone service:

The Magic Jack works exactly like you home ph. it is very easy to install. The only draw back is you must keep your computer running all the time. I always did anyway. The only thing I have hibernating when I am not on it is the screen. You can still set your screen to hibernate, but leave hard drive running. You just buy a cordless ph. that has 3 or 4 satellite ph.'s with it. Hook it up and you got almost free ph. service. You can call unlimited time and amounts to anywhere in the U.S. & Canada for free. The only other draw back is since your commuter is its switching hub. That means every time you call someone you must always dial the area code, but you do not use a 1, because it can be used all over northern hemisphere. If some one calls you they must also put in the area code, but not the 1 . That is all you got to know to use it. We love it.

For more information, read Coupon Mommie’s post here about the service. (I couldn’t get the links to work on the post.  This should be the correct link to the Magic Jack website).

Since I have no personal history with using this service, I can’t say either way as to whether or not it is worth checking into.  However, I’ve spoken with many people who have used the service, and they’ve spoken very highly of it.

Thanks Jeanette!

Card Smart Closing in Knoxville

A reader sent me this info that she thought you all might benefit from knowing:

If you don't already know, CardSmart is closing and has cards 2/$1.  A lot of other stuff is 50% off.

Now might be a good time to stock up on your greeting cards and gifts.  CardSmart is located off Clinton Hwy (click the link above for the contact info).

Thanks Jeanette!

Tip of Day

When cracking eggs for recipes, break them into a small dish before adding them to the other ingredients. If you crack a bad egg or have a loose piece of shell, it is much easier to remove from a small dish than when mixed with the other ingredients. 

Don’t forget the Spicy Chicken Sandwich!

From the Chick-fil-a website:

Make your reservation for an EXCLUSIVE premiere tasting of the Spicy Chicken Sandwich. From May 31 - June 5, Chick-fil-A is giving a limited number of FREE Spicy Chicken Sandwiches to customers who make a reservation. To make your reservation, visit this website (www.GetSpicyChicken.com) beginning Friday, May 21 and choose your preferred Chick-fil-A Restaurant location and time.

Tip of the day

Have a busy week ahead?  Do your best to prep breakfast ahead of time to make mornings a little easier for everyone.

• Make a batch or two of muffins and put them in the freezer.  The toaster oven is the perfect place to warm them, though I have friends who prefer to fry them in a little butter in a cast iron skillet. 
• Make baked oatmeal.  Use my soaked oatmeal recipe and add the leftovers to a Pyrex or ramekin.  Heat in the oven, toaster oven or microwave.  Serve with maple syrup and butter.
• Boil a dozen eggs.  It only takes a few seconds to peel an egg, and they are loaded with vitamins.   Peeling eggs is a good practice of fine motor skills for younger children.
• The next time you make pancakes or waffles, double or triple your recipe.  Store the extras in a zip top bag in the freezer.  Pull a few out as you need them and warm in the microwave.
• Do your kids want to make their own breakfasts?  Prep the foods for them.  Store the cereal in individual sized amounts with an easy open top.  Put the milk in the fridge in a smaller container so that your child can pour his/her own.  Prep some fruit in a small bowl that can easily be pulled from the fridge. 
• Make your own “ready bacon”.  Simply cook a little extra bacon and store it in the fridge.  Pull out a few slices and pop them in the microwave when you are ready to use them.

What do you to do make breakfast time a little easier?

Free Haircuts for Locals

Sweet Deals has some great info about FREE haircuts for Knoxville folks tomorrow and Friday.  Check out all of the details here.

Lane Bryant 40% Off Sale

Go here to start shopping.

Office Max-- Free Products with MaxPerks

Are you a Max Perks Member?  If not, I highly recommend you check out this program.  We bought all of the paper for the Knoxville Coupon Fair for FREE, and I purchase most of our home office supplies FREE through Max Perks. 

The items shown above are all FREE with the Max Perks Bonus Rewards System this week.  Check out all of the details here.

Earth Fare FREE Hamburgers

Go here to print your BOGO coupon—2 free hamburgers with the purchase of 2.  Be sure to sign up for their emails so that you have updates and coupons sent directly to your inbox.

Sundown in the City, Knoxville

Sundown in the City, presented by Regal Entertainment Group.

(Info from the Sundown in the City website) The most anticipated concert series in East Tennessee returns April 22 as Regal Entertainment Group presents Sundown in the City 2010! For five weeks, AC Entertainment presents an exciting variety of live music in downtown Knoxville. Sundown in the City is free, open to the public, and a great event for the whole family to enjoy. National recording artists and successful regional bands, combined with the incomparable atmosphere of downtown Knoxville, draw several thousand visitors to the thriving bars, restaurants and retail shops in downtown Knoxville.

Regal Entertainment Group presents Sundown in the City 2010 with support from Bud Light, Pilot, and U.S. Cellular and produced by A.C. Entertainment. Additional support for this event is provided by WBIR, Knoxville.com, Metro Pulse, Knoxville Magazine, WIVK, WUTK, Threds, and Lamar Outdoor Advertising.

Starting this year, fans of Sundown will be able to receive text alerts to their mobile phones. To receive text alerts about Sundown, fans should text the word SUN to 68572. Standard texting rates apply.

May 20 — Tonic with Aftah Party
June 3 — Blues Traveler with The Dirty Guv’nahs
June 17 — Drive-by Truckers with Eli “Paperboy” Reed & The True Loves

Tip of the day

Check out Nancy Twigg’s column here for the tip of the day.  I’ve used the grocery store deli for a fast and healthier lunch option as compared to a drive-through.  When I did this last, I bought a meal deal at Kroger for $2.99—large deli sandwich, chips, and a large soft drink.  Ok, I know that isn’t an extremely healthy lunch, but I bet it was better than a fast food restaurant and definitely cheaper!

FREE Smokies Tickets with TN Smokies Summer Reading Program

If you live in the Knoxville area, you might want to check out the Tennessee Smokies Summer Reading Program.  Coupon Katie has all of the details here.

Zoya Nail Polish Exchange Program

Go here to learn about the Zoya nail polish exchange program.  You can score Zoya nail polish for half the price.  If you aren’t familiar with this product, Zoya specializes in a healthier alternative to nail polish.  Their nail colors are formaldehyde free, toluene free, camphor free and dibutyl phthalate free.  A friend of mine tried these a while back and really liked them.  Looks like now might be a good time for me to give them a try. 

Weekly Matchups and Deals 5/16-5/23

Earth Fare May

Target

Kroger (Make note of the Huggies Deal)

Ingles

Food City

Walgreens

CVS

May match-ups for Co-op Advantage Stores

What to watch for at local farmers markets: strawberries, fresh eggs, milk, meats, lettuces, greens (think bok choi, Swiss chard, broccoli raab, and Chinese cabbage), broccoli, green/spring onions, green garlic, perennial herbs, sugar snap and snow peas, potted plants and flowers, honey, and home canned goods like jams and jellies.  If you arrive early to a market, you might still find asparagus.