Archive for the 'Shopping' Category

Cutting A Cantaloupe

I learned how to cut a cantaloupe when I was a teenager working at Old Country Buffet. I didn’t know how valuable a skill the Lord allowed me to learn way back then. I hardly knew how to cook at all, and could really care less about it at the time. Now, I love cooking! And have a growing family who actually likes to eat my cooking. And now, I am able to share this skill of cutting cantaloupes with you today.

Here we go!

First, slice off the ends. This makes it easy to slice the cantaloupe without is sliding around your counter top:

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Next, stand up your cantaloupe on the flat side we just cut. We are going to slice the rind off all the way around. Like in the picture:

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It should look like this when you are finished going all the way around:

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Now, slice the cantaloupe in half ( long wise) and scoop out the seeds with a spoon (or your hand):

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After scooping out the seeds, place the cantaloupe “hollowed” side down and slice into thin pieces. See picture:

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You can leave it like this for eating:

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Or, cut the slices one more time in the opposite direction for chunks or wedges:

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That’s it! It’s as simple as that.

Happy slicing, cutting and eating!

For more kitchen tips, stop by Tammy’s Kitchen Tip Tuesdays!

What a Deal!

***Update!!! My sincere apologies! After really taking a good look at the Planter’s Granola Bars coupon, I realized it says you must buy a carton of granola bars to get the $1 off, not just one bar. I am sorry for misleading you all in this deal. Please don’t try this deal with that coupon, as it is not meant to be used in that fashion.

Thanks!

Cara

I stumbled upon a great deal at Dillons (21st & Fairlawn) today! They have a Planter’s Peanuts display set up at the end of the candy isle with Planter’s Granola Bars on sale for 69¢ a bar. The greatest part was there is a $1.00 off Q right on the display making these free, plus 31¢ towards your other groceries! (Don’t worry, I left some Q’s for some of you too, but hurry, they won’t last!)

  • 2 Heartland Pastas 3.00, used $1.60 in Q’s
  • popcorn kernels $1.99
  • 2 Russell Stover chocolates 2.98, used BOGO Q
  • 15 Planters bars 10.35, used 15 $1 off Q’s

Total OOP:  $1.54! That was a 98% savings!

Super Savings Saturday…at the Mall!

Me, go to the mall on a Saturday? I sure did! I almost can’t believe it myself. Well, I really only stepped foot in JCPenny, but that counts, right? Even if it was for only 20 minutes flat…and that was because of all the crowds! :)

JCPenny recently sent out a coupon for $10 off (they are green). I usually just throw these out because you have to spend so much to get the $10 off, but this time the coupon was $10 off a $10 purchase. Now that is appealing! You can find an assortment of things in a store like that for close to $10.

We roamed a bit and I ended up finding a tie clip that was a Door Buster Sale item regularly $22, on sale for $10.99…used my $10 off coupon and walked out the store paying just $1.06! My children and I have been wanting to get my husband one of these since his birthday last year!

I am so thankful for coupons! I hope you got one of these JCPenny coupons too—don’t throw them out! And if you don’t want it, can I have it?  ;)

Happy saving!!! See what others saved this week at Money Saving Mom!

Kmart!

Looks like the Kmart in Topeka is joining in on the Super Doubling Coupon event! Check out Shannon’s post at The Grocery Weekly for more information and details.  Thanks Shannon for the heads up!

Here is another very helpful post on taking advantage of this deal from bargainbriana.com.

My Walgreens Trip

I did end up stopping by Walgreens yesterday to take advantage of the $5 off coupon. It didn’t turn out quite like I hoped, but it was still great!

I went ahead and bought the free-after-rebate items and was still $2 short of $20 so I planned on getting some of the 99¢ marshmallows as fillers. They were out of all the large marshmallows when I got there. I roamed the store looking for something that cost around $2, I ended up get 2 boxes of Kleenex that were buy one get one free for $2.19.

I still wanted the marshmallows though, because I want to make a treat for a get together soon. Well, there just “happened” to be another Wags on my way to a friend’s house last night, so I made a quick stop. Yay, they had the marshmallows and the FREE razor I was looking for!

All that to say, here’s what I got at Wags:

Transaction #1

  • 2 boxes Kleenex $2.19
  • Loreal Age Perfect cream $14.99, used $1 off Q
  • Almay mascara 6.99, used $1 off Q
  • use $5/$20 Q

Total OOP:  $18.60  All of this went on my gift card (so that makes it free) and I will get back $24.17 on my gift card for the FAR items!

Transaction #2

  • Marshmallows 99¢
  • Quattro Razor $6.99, used $4 off Q and $3 off Easy Saver Q

Total OOP: $1.57 And again this all went on my gift card, so it was free!

When it was all said and done I spent a total of $20.17 on my gift card (no money out of my actual pocket!) and I will be getting back $24.17…Walgreens paid me $4 to take all of this home!!! I still have $19 on my card too!

Today is the last day to take advantage of this coupon!

You wanna see how others are saving big, check out Super Savings Saturdays at Money Saving Mom!

Happenings at Michaels

Just wanted to update all you bargain shoppers, in the Topeka, KS area, with the latest find…shoes!

Thanks to my friend Elissa, I found pairs of shoes at Michaels today for 79¢ each!
The shoes are sitting in a basket right outside on the sidewalk in front of the store. The only sizes I noticed left were mostly 5,6,7 and one pair of 9’s. You can find them in black and white only now.

Here is a picture so you can see if you even want to bother with them:

These are cute all by themselves, but they also display an idea on how to embellish them to give the shoes your own personal style.

Also, I noticed that they are going to be having a free, Doll Craft Creations event on Saturday, September 20, 2008 from 10am – 2pm. Bring your daughters along to make a “Pretty Posy Doll Tee” and “Designer Doll Bag” for their American Girl dolls.

If you are into cake decorating, all the cake decorating classes are 50% off for the month of September! You will have to go to your nearest Michaels to get details on the class schedules.

Another neat thing I came across today is their area of $1 items. There are several nice items that would make cheap frugal gifts. If you come across a 40% off one regular priced item coupon in their ad, you can make the item only 60¢! I picked up a package of 8 note cards and envelopes today using this idea. There are lots of items to choose from like stamps, memo pads, cards, little bags, and much more.

If You Have to Shop at Walmart…

You might as well get something free!

My husband was in need of some more pants for work, and the best place to get these is at Walmart. Yikes!
Since I had to go, I figured that I would make my trip worth while. I headed over to Be Centsable to check out The Grocery Gathering post. You can click on Walmart there to see what the latest deals are, as well as, coupon match ups to the items on sale!

I did a quick scan for free items; and here is what I was able to get free:

  • 2 packages of Kotex
  • 7 WellPatches
  • 1 travel size bottle of Gold Bond body powder

I actually got 21¢ overage too, so that went towards the pants. That put a smile on my face!

Kmart Rocks!

For anyone that knows me, you know that I can NOT stand shopping at Wal-mart. I do go there; but I avoid it as much as possible. So, for that reason I have been exploring Kmart a little more lately.

One of the things that impressed me today was they carry some items I have not been able to find at any of the other stores around here. If you have gotten the recent coupons for free Mighty Dog and free Purina Friskies Party Mix Cat Treats, you can find them at Kmart! The Party Mix coupon says free up to $1.69, these cost $1.99 at Kmart, but they still gave them to me free.

Also, if you were aware of the Huggies Clean Team Flushable Wipes deal at Wal-mart where you could get them really cheap, you can now get them free at Kmart. They have the travel size packs there for 99 cents. The coupon is for $3 off of 2. Not only are these free, but you even get some overage; try $1.02!

Don’t forget the free Pert Plus I told you about in this post.

I was really impressed, and thankful, that I was able to “keep” all my overage. I am not sure if this varies by register clerks or if it is just a Kmart policy. (When I say “keep” I mean they just took it off the rest of my total, equaling less OOP.)

A few other things that were noticeable: it was QUIET in there, not once did I get bumped into by someone (other than my own children), they keep coupons all over their store, they have lot of items marked on clearance and you can use your Sears Card there.

But for today, I am quite happy with Kmart. I can’t wait to see what else I find out about them!!!

Hey, if you know anything else great about Kmart that I haven’t mentioned here leave a comment. Don’t keep all the secrets to yourself! ;)

Kmart Coupons

I came across this opportunity for more coupons today:

Get two $5 coupons when you sign up on Kmart’s email list:)

Kmart has free pens…

And dare I say it; more free Cover Girl make up! (I posted this especially for you Holly!!!)

If you were not able to take advantage of this deal last week at CVS—or you just don’t have enough already (wink*wink*), you now have the opportunity to get more Cover Girl foundation free at Kmart. Check out Jen’s Whimisical Life for more details on how to do this.

And don’t forget the pens…we NEED more pens right?!  :) Hey, we are a homeschool family; and can you believe I ALWAYS have the hardest time trying to find a pencil or pen around this house!?!