$10 off $25 at JC Penney

Click here to print your coupon for $10 off $25. It can be used in store or online. The offer is good through June 2. Now that's a good deal!!

Oscar Mayer House Party?!

There is a fantastic site out there that you all need to check out right now. It's called House Party. Click here for a quick link.

Here's how it works: You sign up at their site to host parties at your house that are sponsored by major brand names. They supply you with everything you need to host a successful party and in return you get their name out and spread the word about their product

I applied to host an Oscar Mayer Top Tasting Dog Party on June 20th. I just found out today that I was selected!! How cool is that?? They'll be sending my party pack in the mail... and all I had to do was sign up and answer their survey!!! I'll be getting lots of free hot dogs, condiments, plates, napkins, whistles (?), aprons and serving trays.

Go check out the website!!! Yay!!

Free sample of Dunkin' Donuts Coffee mm mm mm

Click here to get your free sample of Dunkin' Donuts coffee! I LOVE their coffee and am super happy to snag this freebie!

$2 off Banana Boat Suncare printable

This post is for my father-in-law, who asked me at our Memorial Day party why there aren't any deals on sun care.. :)

Click here to print your Banana Boat $2 off coupons! Rumor has it that Rite Aide has Buy 1 Get 1 Free on Banana Boat this week (I haven't been there to check it out myself).

$1 off Coffee-mate printable

I took a bit of a vacation on couponing and such over Memorial Day so you might have noticed my lack of posts. Never fear - I'm back and ready to get going! Here's what was in my inbox this morning:

$1 off Coffee-mate Creamer. Click here to print yours (don't forget to hit your back button to print 2).

Free Oscar Mayer Beef Frank coupon!

Oscar Mayer is offering a totally FREE coupon for Beef Franks. Click here to sign up and get yours now!! Yay for free!

Thanks Hip2Save!

Oh, and if you don't really like getting all the newsletters and such after you sign up for freebies and coupons, here's a helpful tip: Create an e-mail address to use specifically when signing up for promos and newsletters. That way your normal inbox won't be bogged down with all the extras from places like Kraft, Betty Crocker, Pepsi etc. :)

Free Nexcare Bandaids

Click here to receive a free sample of Nexcare bandages. Offer is good while supplies last, so hurry!!

And yes, I was extremely touched by this website as it had a story about a 6 week old little girl named Vivian who had to undergo heart surgery and was a complete success. Since Vivian is my daughter's name, it struck a chord with me... So you better sign up now! haha

Free reusable tote from Kraft

Kraft is offering a free reusable tote bag when you buy 1 participating product during the month of May. This works wonderfully with all the Kraft coupons floating around right now!

Eligible products include:

Capri Sun
Nabisco Chips Ahoy
Oscar Mayer deli Chicken, Ham or Turkey Breast
Ritz cracker
Kraft Mac and Cheese
General Foods International French Vanilla Cafe

Here's the scoop:

For the month of May, buy any product from the Kraft Foods Brands featured, send a 3x5 card with your name and address, and your original cash register receipt with purchase price circled, and snag an Every Day with Rachael Ray reusable grocery tote - FREE!

Mail to: Every Day with Rachael Ray Magazine
Attn: Kraft Foods Promotion
16 East 34th Street, 14th floor
NY, NY 10016

Limit one per household/address. Please allow 6-8 weeks for shipment. Offer valid until 5/31/09 or while supplies last. Requests must be received by 6/6/09. Requests must include a 3x5 card with your name and address, and your original cash register receipt.

Click here for the official details.

Target Trip 5/18

Here's the breakdown of tonight's Target trip:

2 Triscuit crackers: $2.66 each
(2) $1 off Triscuit here
(1) $1 off 2 Triscuit Target coupon here
Final cost: $2.32 for 2 boxes ($1.16 each)

2 Ritz Crackers: $2.75 each
(2) $1 off Ritz Crackers here
(2) $1 off Ritz Crackers Target coupon here
Final cost: $1.50 for 2 boxes ($.75 each)

2 Kraft Salad Dressing: $1.99 each
(2) $1 off Kraft Salad Dressing here
(1) $1 off 2 Kraft Salad Dressing Target coupon here
Final cost: $.98 for 2 bottles ($.49 each)

4 Kraft EZ Mac: $.77 each
(2) $1 off 2 packages here
Final cost: $1.08 ($.54 each)

1 Dove Go Fresh Deodorant: clearance for $2.54
(1) $1 off Dove deodorant clipped coupon
(1) $1 off Dove Go Fresh Deodorant Target coupon here
Final cost: $.54

1 Clairol Perfect 10 hair color: found on clearance for $5.94!
(1) $5 gift card from Clairol website
Final cost: $.94

2 Kraft Mayo: $1.99
(2) $1 off Kraft Mayo here
(1) $1 off 2 Kraft Mayo Target coupon here
Final cost: $.98 ($.49 each)

Total out of pocket: $9.76

Saved: $26.64!

Target makes my stomach hurt

We all know there are great deals to be had at Target.. My mom and I went this evening to see what deals we could find using the $50 Kraft coupons. I was able to purchase 14 items for $9, saving approximately $30 so it was a mild success. (I'll post details and scenarios in my next post.. but I just need to vent for a second haha)

Shew, okay, here I go... For those of you that are new to Target, here's the scoop. Target offers their own in store coupons in addition to the manufacturer's coupons we get in the Sunday paper and Internet printables. (If you would like to print Target coupons, see my Printable Coupon Link on the right side bar). You are then able to stack the Target coupons with manufacturer's coupons for even better savings!

For example, say you have a $1 off Ritz cracker manufacturer's coupon and you have a $1 off Ritz cracker Target coupon. You are able to combine or "stack" those coupons for a total of $2 off. Great deal, right?

HOWEVER Target cashiers are completely inept to handle this sort of transaction. I was in line arguing with my cashier about coupons for no less than 15 minutes tonight. She ended up getting 2 more associates to come and verify that it was okay for me to use these coupons at which point one of the associates said it was okay, but I couldn't go clearing out their store shelves (he was referring to 2 boxes of Ritz crackers I was purchasing!!??!!). She accused me of trying to use more than 1 coupon for each item when in fact I was purchasing 2 of the same items. In the end I politely asked her to double check the amount of coupons she scanned as to the amount of coupons she had in her hand. She was extremely upset that I asked her to do this, but guess what?? Turns out she missed a coupon.. What a surprise.

Oh, and there was also a line of 5 more customers behind me.. They had to open up another lane to accommodate them just so the 3 cashiers handling my transaction wouldn't be interrupted. argh.

I know many more of you have had bad experiences with Target and their coupons. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear your stories and if you have any info of what avenue I should take to start a formal complaint, I would really appreciate a comment!

Thank you for listening to me vent. I'm done now, I swear.. haha :) Let's get back to living cheapie!!!

CVS Deals 5/17-5/23

There isn't a whole lot at CVS this week, but here's what I've found worth mentioning...

Dry Idea Deodorant on sale for $2 get $2 ECB (Limit 3)
- $2/1 at coupons.com

Free plus $2 ECBs!

Purex Laundry Detergent BOGO $6.99
Remember when I posted the deal at CVS about the free laundry detergent? If you weren't able to get to CVS in time to snag these, the sale is going on again. The coupons are no longer printable, but if you still have yours... go to it!!

FREE

Sally Hansen Buy 1 get 1 50% off
-Buy 2 at $8.49 each - $16.98
-$4.25 (BOGO %50 off SALE)
-Use B1G1 from May or June All You Mag

$2.24 for 2 Quick Dry Pens

Skintimate Shave Gel on sale for $1.20

- Use $1/1 manufacturer's coupons

$.20! Not bad

New blog look ... again ...

So, being the creative person I am, I couldn't stand using someone else's blog layout. So, I made my own. :)

This is my very first attempt at designing a blog background and header, so please bear with me. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I'm sure I'll be changing it again soon.. like tomorrow. haha

All You Magazine Info

All You is a fabulous magazine offered by Wal-Mart containing TONS of coupons. You are able to subscribe to it or you can pick it up at the newstand (i.e. Wal-Mart). There has been a lot of chatter recently about the newstand issue containing more coupons than the subscription version. This, of course, has upset lots of All You subscribers.

I came across a great article this morning from Deal Seeking Mom explaining what the heck is going on with all of that. You can read it here. She also offers a subscription deal on her blog for 2 years of All You for $17.95. That is a fantastic deal (Amazon offers it for 1 year for $10). Check it out!

$10 off $20 Buca di Beppo

Click here to print your coupon for $10 off $20 in dining at Buca. This offer is only valid until May 19, so get your pasta on!

Free All Bran goodie pack from Kellogg's

Click here to sign up for a Promise Pack that includes 1 sample of Strawberry Medley Cereal, 1 Strawberry Drizzle Fiber Bar, 1 Red Raspberry Fiber Drink Mix and $4 in coupons. Now that's a great freebie!!

Thanks to My Frugal Adventures for the heads up!

$.88 ice cream at Baskin Robbins

Baskin Robbins is currently offering soft serve ice cream cones for only $.88! That's a heck of a deal! The offer runs through May 25th, so you can be sure to have your fill of cheap ice cream. You can find more info here.

Oh yeah, and if you join their birthday club, you can get even more free ice cream!

Free amazing blog backgrounds!

Aqua Poppy Designs has a collection of the prettiest blog backgrounds I have ever seen and best of all - she offers them free! If you're looking to spruce up your blog or are just getting started, this is definitely the place to go! Click here to check them out. You won't be disappointed!

Free creative downloads, templates, etc. This is amazing!!

I stumbled across the phenomenal site Living Locurto tonight and just had to share it with everyone. I was completely blown away by the huge amount of information. If you need creative inspiration or are looking for specific ideas, here is the place to check it out!!!!!

Click here to get started!

Free Bling Panty from VS

For a limited time you can join the Pink Nation and score a free Bling Panty with any Pink purchase at Victoria's Secret. Click here to get your coupon for your panty plus $10 off any $35 Pink Purchase. Not a bad deal!!!! (You'll have to sign up to become a member of Pink Nation)

6 Free Taster's Choice Samples!

I love coffee. Coffee coffee coffee. Click here to get your free sample of 6 different flavors from Nescafe Taster's Choice!! mmm mmm mmm!

$1 Art Books on sale at Met Museum

The Metropolitan Museum of Art currently has a sale of art books ranging from $1 to $10. Here is a partial list.

$1 Books

* The Arts of Byzantium $1
* Mother-of-Pearl: A Tradition in Asian Lacquer $1
* Poets, Lovers, & Heroes in Italian Mythological Prints $1
* Metropolitan Museum Journal: Volume 27, 1992 $1
* Metropolitan Museum Journal: Volume 29, 1994 $1
* Metropolitan Museum Journal: Volume 30, 1995 $1
* Metropolitan Museum Journal: Volume 32, 1997 $1
* Louis Comfort Tiffany at The Metropolitan Museum of Art $1
* More Sale Books

$5 Books

* Chinese Export Porcelain $5
* Venetian Prints and Books in the Age of Tiepolo $5
* Egyptian Stone Vessels: Khian through Tuthmosis IV $5
* The Year One: Art of the Ancient World East & West $5
* Life Along the Nile: Three Egyptians of Ancient Thebes $5
* A Private Passion: 19th-Century Paintings & Drawings, Grenville L. Winthrop $5

Free Movie Monday

Here is your Red Box free movie code for Monday, May 11th.

6A43JK

This code is valid for 1 free movie rental from any Red Box location.

Sadly, this is the last Free Movie Monday code. Red Box is changing their format and will now be offering 1 free code per month instead of every week. It sure was fun while it lasted, and heck, we can still get 1 free movie a month!!

Lots and Lots of Kraft Coupons!

Coupons.com has listed LOTS of Kraft coupons. Click here to print yours NOW because they won't be around long. (Remember to print them twice!) Once you've got them printed, click here to get lots of deal ideas (lots of freebies!) available at Target using these coupons. Oh what a week it's turning out to be already! :)

Thanks Hip2Save and Cherry Picker!!

Free Sennheiser Cadet-Style Hat

Sennheiser is giving away free cadet-style hats, 1 per household. Just click here to snag yours!! What a deal!

Extremely CUTE and CHEAPIE Mother's Day Gift Tutorial!

This year for Mom's Day I really put my thinking cap on.. Both my mom and mother-in-law have been blessed with many many years of great Mom's Day gifts. So what, oh what is a girl to do??

Here's what I came up with.. an extremely simple, but extremely thoughtful and memorable Mother's Day Gift. The best part is - it's very inexpensive to make, and you're seriously gonna wanna make one once you see how easy this is!!!

The Simple Silhouette

List O' Supplies:

- Black cardstock

- Pretty scrapbook paper

- Scissors

- 5x7 frame

- Profile pic of your subject

- Some type of adhesive (I used Mod Podge, but I think scrapbook adhesive would work better)

- Thin ribbon (not pictured)

- Pencil (not pictured)

- Exacto knife (not pictured)

- Self healing cutting mat (not pictured)

First, you need to take a profile picture of your subject. (For me, this was an epic challenge since my subject was my two-year-old super active lil girl. I finally discovered the easiest time to snag a pic was while she was watching a Disney movie.... haha)

Next, I used Photoshop to convert her pic to black and white and bump up the contrast. Any type of photo editing software (like the one that came with your digital camera) should let you do this. If you don't have access to that kind of software, just use a normal 4x6 print and use a copy machine to make it black and white.

When I sized my image, I made it 3 x 2.5 so it would fit nicely in the 5x7 frame. You can adjust it to whatever size you like. (And I erased a bit of the background so it wouldn't eat up all my printer ink.)

Then, I carefully cut her printed image out using an Exacto knife. I would highly recommend using an Exacto knife for this project. Scissors tend to make the cuts a bit jaggedy, and for a nice silhouette flowing lines are the best way to go.

Once I cut out her image, I used the cut-out as a stencil, flipped it over so I could only see the white side and traced it onto the black cardstock with a pencil. (You may notice the first picture above isn't the one that I used for the final silhouette. I had to go through lots of images before I finally decided on one that I liked, but I was taking pics for the tutorial during all of it.. whoops!)

I then carefully used my Exacto knife to cut out her image. Be sure to take the extra time to cut precisely. It's amazing how much of an impact a small cut can make.

Once I had my purty silhouette cut out, I started on the background. I used pretty scrapbook paper that I found at JoAnn's on clearance. I used the glass from my frame as a template to cut around. Then I cut out a second piece of scrapbook paper about 1/4" all the way around smaller to make a bit of a mat look.

Then I got this great idea to use super thin ribbon to make a bow for the silhouette's hair. I don't think I used any more than 4" for the hair ribbon. I just made a tiny bow out of the ribbon. (If you're making a boy's silhouette, you could use this as a little bow tie instead..)

After I had everything cut out, I used Mod Podge on a Q-Tip to glue everything together because that's what I had on hand. I would recommend using the scrapbook adhesive instead of wet glue, but hey, whatever you have on hand works!!

(Oh, did I mention I made 3 of these?? haha)

I glued everything in this order:

- Hair ribbon to silhouette

- Big background to smaller background

- Silhouette to background

I let the final piece sit for about 10 minutes and then I put it in the 5x7 frame. And ta-da! A super easy, super cute Mother's Day Gift!!

Go make one right now because they are sooooo easy!!!!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!