My Coupon Binder

I really thought I'd never be one of those crazy girls with a coupon binder. But the coupon system I had wasn't working for me. I would cut out some random coupons for stuff I normally bought, shove it in a plastic envelope I kept in my purse, and then desperately try to remember what coupons I had without pulling them all out in the grocery store. Not much of a system, and I was throwing away more coupons than I used. I knew it wasn't working, and I tried a few things to keep track of what I had--even going so far as creating an excel file on my computer with all the coupons I'd cut, which I updated a total of once.

When my sweet friend Becky showed me her coupon binder, I was hooked. Even though I'm not a fanatical couponer, I thought her binder was great and I thought it was a great solution to my organizational problems.

So the very next day, I headed to Office Depot and stocked up on coupon binder necessities.

Here it is in all it's glory! It's a little embarrassing how proud I am of this binder.

I started with a basic 1 1/2 inch binder. I could've gone a little bigger, but since it's just Josh & I, I don't have that many coupons, and I wanted something I could manage easily.

I bought tabs prenumbered from 1-31. These were about $8.

Then I added trading card protector sheets in between each tab. These were on sale for $3 for a pack of 10, I started with 30 of these (one between each tab) and that's working out well for now.

My only complaint is that not every coupon fits nicely in these slots--some are way too big and needed to be folded. I know there are other options out there for inserts, and I may look into those, but for now these work alright.

I used The Krazy Coupon Lady's binder Table of Contents as a jumping off point. Some of her categories weren't relevant to me, and there were a few I added (breads, meats, etc.) I printed a pretty list and used a plain sheet protector to place it at the front of the binder.

At the very front of the binder, I placed a plastic pocket to store a notepad, pen, and scissors.

I'm already feeling so much more inspired to cut and use coupons! I can't wait to get the Sunday paper and add to my stash.

30 Before 30: Saving More than I Spend

Yesterday I went to Publix without much of a plan, which is a huge no-no in the couponing world. I needed some things to make this ridiculously delicious Oreo dessert for Easter and some mustard to make this delicious baked corned beef. I hadn't really bothered with coupon matching because I wasn't planning on buying anything else.

Lo and behold, I got to Publix and found a ton of great sales to match coupons I had, and I completed one of my 30 before 30 goals: #23 Save more than I spend at the grocery store! I didn't even realize it until the cashier handed me my reciept, and then I had to restrain myself from jumping up and down. It's the little things, people.

Here's my pull:

Yes, that is a lot of yogurt--it was on sale for more than 50% off, which is cheaper than I've ever seen it. Josh eats it every morning, so I stocked up. I'm proud because I met my goal, got what I needed, and only bought stuff we will actually use.

Here's my proof:

 

I know many people save much more than this every week, but this is a big deal for me! Usually I manage to save about the same as what I spend, or a little bit less. I'm so excited I finally broke that 50% barrier!

Secret Ingredient Meatloaf

I know there are some people who don't like meatloaf--but I don't understand those people! I personally love meatloaf, and I know Josh does too. It's a relatively quick and easy meal to make, and since I use ground turkey most of the time, it's not too unhealthy.

My problem was that I never had a recipe, so I just mixed ingredients until the consistency seemed right. I used eggs, breadcrumbs, Worcestershire sauce, and spices. It always tasted good, but often it came out crumbly or too dense. And then someone shared this meatloaf recipe with me, and my life was changed!

Are you dying to know what the secret ingredient is?

Stuffing mix! Here's the magical recipe:

• 1 Pound Ground Meat (Beef or Turkey)
• 1 Egg
• 1 Box Stuffing Mix
• 1 Cup Water

Mix everything together, smoosh it into a loaf pan, and bake at 350 for about 45 minutes.

I have made this a couple of times now, and it turns out perfect every time. I love that it doesn't require guesswork! The consistency is always perfect, and thanks to the spices in the stuffing mix, it tastes delicious. We had this last night with roasted broccoli and corn on the cob, and it was perfect!

Confessions Confessions Confessions

I really missed writing midweek confessions last week and am glad E, Myself & I is back to it this week! I guess I could've done them myself without linking up but what fun is that?

Here are my confessions this week:

• I keep trying to justify the money and space necessary to purchase invest in a Kitchen Aid mixer. I know I would use it, it's just not really in our budget right now plus we don't have space for it. Sigh. A girl can dream.
• Ever since saying it here, I have been craving a liverwurst sandwich. I bought bread and butter pickles at the store the other day and forgot the liverwurst! I need it soon. 
• Normally I don't work on Wednesdays, but I am working today so that I can go to Lakeland this weekend for my little buddy's baptism! My alarm is set for M-T-Th-F, so it didn't go off this morning, I woke up at 6:59 (I am supposed to be at work at 7) and it is throwing my whole day off. I have no motivation and just want to go back to sleep.
• I am SO excited to be going to see Emmett this weekend, plus I get to carpool with my friend Lindsey and her sweet little boy Myles. This is the highlight of my month!
• My Valentine's day chocolate--my absolute favorite chocolate in all the world--is gone. I ate it all. It was delicious and wonderful and I want more!

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Couponing 101: What I Learned

As promised, I am here to share some of the tips and tricks I learned at the Southern Savers Couponing 101 workshop. Before attending the workshop, I had tested the waters of couponing already, so I was already familiar with many of the basics and how to use the Southern Savers site.

If you're new to couponing (I so hate that every time I use that word, it shows up with a red wavy line. It's a real word! I swear!)  I highly recommend you check out some tutorials on Southern Savers first. Jenny explains the basics way better than I every could!

Keep in mind that Southern Savers focuses on stores in the Southeast, and store policies/prices/etc differ through the states. Much of what Jenny talked about applies specifically to Florida, where we mostly shop at Publix or Winn Dixie, because we are different than many other states in the SE (no doubling, true BOGO sales, etc) If you live outside of this region, there are multiple other websites out there that can help you maximize your savings!

Here's what I learned:

• "Lowest Price" for an item is usually 40%-50% off of normal retail. I should not be buying a product if it has not hit it's lowest price. For most products, this happens every 6 weeks or so.
• Stock Up and only buy what is on sale. This requires committing to shopping weekly-- something I need to work on! If something is on sale and I don't buy it because I don't go grocery shopping that week, it means I won't see the lowest price for another six ways, and I'll probably be forced to buy it at a higher price.
• Get 2 Sunday Papers: The main reason for this is so that when items are Buy One Get One Free you can use two coupons, even though you're really only paying for one of the items. We get one paper delivered daily, and I think what I will do is when it is a "good" week for coupons, I will purchase another Sunday paper.
• Ask for Coupons: Jenny shared how her husband recently became gluten free, and she was having a hard time finding coupons that worked for this. She started calling gluten free companies and asking for coupons--and lo and behold, every single one of them sent her coupons! All you have to do is call customer service for a specific company, ask that coupons be mailed to you, and most companies will oblige.
• Ask for Coupons at Customer Service: This applies mostly to Publix, which is where I shop mostly. You know how there are a million little machines and tear pads spread throughout the store with coupons? If you ask at customer service, most stores have a stack of all of these coupons ready for you and you can skip the treasure hunt. Amazing! 
• Saving Star and UPromise: These sites offer e-coupons that can be loaded onto your store loyalty card (Winn Dixie) or UPromise card (Publix) and the savings goes into an online savings account. With SavingStar, you can cash out your account once it hits $5; with UPromise, the savings are placed into a long term savings account for your child (or future child). 
• Don't Clip the Coupons: This is where I was having the most trouble. I would go through the Sunday inserts, clip out only coupons for products that we normally buy, and then toss the rest. Later on, I would see a great deal to match a coupon I didn't clip, and regret it. Jenny's suggestion is to save the entire Sunday inserts, and not clip anything. Just save them whole. Then, each week, when it's time to shop, you can use Southern Savers to match up the weekly ad to coupons, clip out the coupons you need, and go to the store. This is my plan from now on. While I have to admit that I kind of missed flipping through the inserts this morning and getting excited about what I found, I know this will save me more money in the long run.
• Save on Produce & Meat: This is the hardest part for me, and likely for everyone. They don't make many coupons for fresh produce and meat, and the sales aren't always amazing deals. Jenny offered suggestions for both.
• Buy Local (for both): For produce, join a CSA or shop at a Farmer's Market. I use the Neighborhood Garden for organic produce and have been impressed so far. For meat, try a local butcher shop--their prices are actually around the same as grocery store sale prices and you may be able to negotiate.
• Know your prices: For bargaining power at the Farmer's Market, use www.marketnews.usda.gov to research Federal prices for produce.
• Buy in Bulk: Whether you purchase a whole cow from your butcher (not an option with an apartment sized freezer!) or shop meat sales such as Zaycon.

Whew. That's a lot.  And that's just from the few notes I jotted down. Jenny gave a ton of good information and I am so glad I went to the workshop!

If you have any questions, please ask. I'll do my best to answer! Happy Couponing!

Couponing 101

Josh and I are on a pretty tight budget, especially since he started his home inspection business last year. So I do what I can to save money, and one of those things is cutting coupons from the Sunday paper. If you check out my 30 before 30 list, you'll see that one of my goals is to save more than I spend at the grocery store.

I came relatively close a few weeks ago--my best trip yet: (Yeah, I was pretty proud!)

My plan of attack is normally to flip through the Sunday inserts and cut out coupons for products that we normally buy. Then, when I decide we need groceries (weekly, biweekly, whenever I get around to it...) I look at the current Publix ad, try and match up some of my coupons, and shop. The downside to this is that I usually forget about some of the coupons I've cut out and they expire before I use them, or there's something really good on sale that I saw a coupon for but didn't cut.

I've checked out the Southern Savers website a few times but haven't really been committed to using it, so I haven't really been seeing the results I'd like.

So when I saw that Jenny from Southern Savers was offering a Couponing 101  class here in Jacksonville, I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to sharpen my skills to achieve my goals!

The workshop was today and it was wonderful. Jenny was really informative, engaging, and funny. She took questions from the audience and I left feeling inspired and ready to save more money! I am especially excited to get started at CVS--the idea of free personal care items has intrigued me for awhile, so I am committed to following through so I can stock up on free toothpaste.

I'm working on a post for tomorrow on the details of what I learned and more information, but I just wanted to give you a head's up to get excited!

Kabocha What?

In my organic vegetable order last week, I received a very odd looking vegetable.

Source

I'm not all that familiar with squashes, so first I thought it was a misshapen acorn squash. I did some research and found out it was actually a Kabocha Squash, which I had never heard of, much less cooked or eaten. Thank God for Google.

While researching some recipes, I found out that Kabocha is a Japanese variety of winter squash, and that's it's often called a "Japanese Pumpkin". It's rich in beta carotene, iron, vitamin C, and potassium.

Fortunately for me, Kabocha Squash are very simple to prepare and taste yummy with just basic roasting.

I sliced the squash into 1/2" pieces--not an easy chore, considering the skin is extremely thick (I left it on though, after reading that it would soften enough to eat during baking). I drizzled it with a little olive oil, sprinkled with salt and pepper, and baked for 20 minutes at 400 degrees.

Verdict: It was delicious! The skin did soften up and the squash was really good. For being such a simple recipe, Josh and I both really enjoyed this!

I haven't really experimented much with squash until recently, because I always assumed that if I didn't like the yellow variety I wouldn't like any of them. However, I've discovered that I love butternut squash and I apparently really like Kabocha squash too! Next on my list to try: acorn squash and spaghetti squash.

Comfort Food Quesadillas

After my extremely frustrating day yesterday, I was in the need for comfort food. I had to get groceries anyway, so while I was at the store, I picked up some fresh mushrooms and fresh spinach to make one of my favorite things in the whole world:

Quesadillas.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

When I was growing up, my mom always made quesadillas with ground beef and cheese. Those remain one of my all time favorite comfort foods. Honestly, I will put anything in a quesadilla and call it delicious. The melted cheese never fails to make me happy. Chicken, Spinach & Mushrooms is one of my best creations though!

Recipe:
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked & sliced into thin strips
1 package sliced white mushrooms
1 large onion, sliced
1/2 bag fresh spinach
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (I use mozzarella)
8 large flour tortillas

Saute onions in oil or butter until golden. Add mushrooms, saute until the mushrooms are tender. Add chicken and spinach. Stir until the spinach is wilted completely. Turn heat down to low. Add cheese a little at a time, stirring constantly so it melts and covers everything.

In a separate skillet, place flour tortilla in a bit of melted butter. Spoon chicken mixture onto one side of tortilla, fold other side over. Once the bottom is golden and crispy, flip and cook the other side. Serve immediately.

I know you can buy a fancy pants quesadilla maker, and I probably will when we have more space. For now this method works for me. Yum! I got hungry just typing this!

Yum!

Katie at Marriage Confessions is doing a giveaway for $100 gift card to Olive Garden. A chance for free food? Sign me up!

Josh and I had our first date at Olive Garden, so every time I go, it brings back special memories. Plus I love their salad and breadsticks! We went a few weeks ago with some friends, and everything was delicious. So when I saw Katie's post and the chance to win a gift card, I couldn't resist.

Midweek Confessions

I'm linking up to E again because these are therapeutic! I like spilling my guts.

• I hate, hate, HATE the dentist. HATE. Is that clear enough? They scare me to death. I have no idea why, really. Even the ones that sedate you scare me. I keep saying I'm just going to let all my teeth fall out and get fake ones and be done with the dentist.
• I just bought a mirror at Hobby Lobby that I have no idea where I am going to put it. We live in a one bedroom apartment and don't have a ton of space. Justification: it was 50% off, I had a gift card from my MIL for Christmas, it is gorgeous, and it was made in America. What do you think?

• I hate the amount of time it takes to put on makeup the morning, but I hate the way I look without makeup more. I don't wear a ton, but I have to at least do my eyes or I look like I'm 12.
• I didn't watch the State of the Union last night. Josh did, and complained the whole time. This is why I don't watch--because I'd just be annoyed. So I ignored it. 
• I think I could give up sweets pretty easily. What I can not give up is cheese and bread. I could live off of either one of those.
• Whenever I use my computer, I realize how disgustingly dirty it is. Dusty and the screen has some random smudges on it. But I always forget to actually clean it. Oops.

That's it for this week!

Gator Toes & Kangaroo Bites

My brother is in town this weekend for a business conference. He generously hauled up our "new" couch that we inherited from my aunt & uncle (Thanks, guys!) Last night we went to dinner and since he had a friend with him, the obvious choice was Clark's Fish Camp. If you're a Jacksonville native, you've probably visited this rustic restaurant on the creek. If you're not from around here or you just haven't been--you're missing out!

Highlights of Clark's:

• They host the largest private taxidermy collection in America, which is displayed throughout the dining areas. I'm talking lions, tigers, giraffes, and a multitude of other animals--some of which I couldn't even identify. (I'm pretty we spotted at least one honey badger though!)
• Their menu boasts everything from Southern basics like fried shrimp and grits to exotic selections including llama, python and kangaroo.
• A recently added large aquarium features a 5 foot alligator named Lilly.
• Beautiful location on Julington Creek--when the weather is nice you can sit outside and enjoy the view.

Clark's is always my choice when I have friends visiting from out of town, and it never fails to please.

Last night we started with BBQ Chargrilled Gator Toes:

You can see I was a little skeptical, but they actually were pretty good. Just like chicken. Even better when dipped in the accompanying Toe Jam sauce!

Next we sampled fried Kangaroo. I don't know how I feel about eating kangaroo, but it was delicious! I'm usually not a huge fan of "gamey" meat. I'll eat venison but it's not my favorite. The kangaroo was impressively good though! Next time, we plan to try the llama, python and antelope.

For dinner we stuck to more commonplace choices. I had delicious coconut shrimp, while Josh, of course, chose the largest steak on the menu:

Yes, folks, he finished it all. And ate his black eyed peas and macaroni and cheese, too. My husband is impressive.

If you're looking for good food and a good time, I highly recommend Clark's Fish Camp. It's always an adventure!

The Proof is in the Salad

I am submitting this as proof that I am meeting at least one of my New Year's goals!

I made a huge chopped salad yesterday and am currently enjoying some of it with spicy Asian ginger dressing. Yum!

Snowman Cake Pops!

I made Snowman Cake Pops for my family this weekend, and I pretty much love them!

One of the gifts I gave a few people this year was membership in my inaugural "Cake Pop Club". This means I am committed to making cake pops at least bimonthly and making sure they're delivered on time (yikes!). I saw these snowmen on Pinterest (where else?) and made these as their introductory pops.

I know there are several ways to make cake pops, but I've only tried one way. Bakerella is the one who introduced me to cake pops and inspired me to make my own, and I use her method faithfully. She has a great video tutorial here that you should definitely watch if you have any interest in cake pops! I'm going to share a mini-tutorial on how I made these, but trust me, Bakerella is the expert.

1. Start with a box of cake mix, whatever brand you can get on sale. I usually use chocolate or vanilla, but the fun part is you can use whatever floats your boat. I bake it per the directions on the box, but I pull it out of the oven a few minutes early. You want the cake to be cooked through but not burnt at all on the top, because that makes the next step harder.

2. Once the cake is cooled, crumble it up into a big bowl.

3. Add frosting. Some recipes say a whole can, I have found that I usually use a little less than half a can. Mix the frosting into the crumbled cake a little at a time, until it forms a dough.

4. Using your hands, roll the dough into balls and set on a cookie sheet. I aim for about 1 1/2 inches in diameter; the bigger the cake balls, the harder they are to dip. Place the cake balls into the refrigerator for at least an hour.

5. Now comes the fun part! Place two balls on each lollipop stick. The stick should go all the way through the top ball, and about halfway through the second.

6. Melt your  white candy coating. I use Wilton Candy Melts, because they're readily available at craft stores in a variety of colors. You can melt them in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until completely melted. For the snowmen, I used a tall coffee cop to melt the candy, so it would be deep enough to dip the entire snowman. One trick I learned from Bakerella is to add vegetable oil to the melted candy. It makes it so much easier to dip. I added about 1 tbsp for the 12 oz bag of candy melts.

7. Gently dip each snowman into the melted candy. If it the candy doesn't make it all the way over the top of both cake balls, tip the cup or gently tip the snowman. Don't stir--it'll make the cake balls slide off the stick. Trust me, I've lost many a cake ball in a pool of melted candy.

8. Set the dipped snowmen on foil or wax paper to harden. Aren't they adorable?

9. As the candy hardens, it turns matte instead of shiny. Once they're set, you can add their facial features and give them some personality! I used candy sprinkles for their noses, using a little extra melted candy to attach it. For the eyes and mouth, I tried an edible marker for some of them.

Add a plastic treat bag and some ribbon, and you're all set!

Pinterest Love, Part I

Oh, Pinterest, how I love thee. (If you are a female, and have not yet become addicted to Pinterest, please leave me a comment so I can send you an invite so you can share in the joy). Some of the girls at church are planning a Pinterest craft day, so that we can accomplish some of the many things we have pinned and have yet to actually do.

So in the spirit of Pinterest, and how much there is to love, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite pins that I have actually done (go me!). These are mostly recipes, because I have to cook so I might as well make something fun. Unfortunately, at this point in my life, I don't have to craft, so those things get left undone.

Bacon & Egg Toast Cups (credit)

This is like a fancy twist on one of my favorite breakfast staples, the egg-in-a-hole. Yum. Basically, it's a circle of bread (I used a drinking glass to cut them out) pressed into a muffin tin, add a slice of bacon, and an egg. Bake at 350 until the white of the egg is set. These were easy, and delicious, and now my husband wants them all the time.

Buffalo Chicken Dip ("Crack Dip") (credit)

 Another yum. I have a slight obsession with all things buffalo sauce, and have done everything from buffalo chicken mac & cheese to buffalo chicken calzones. So this dip is right up my alley. And considering it uses one of my secret kitchen shortcuts, canned chicken breast, it was super easy. I served it at a church potluck with some Wheat Thins, and it was a hit.

Peanut Butter Cheerio Treats (credit)

If you are looking for a simple and delicious snack or dessert idea, this is the recipe for you.  I'm generally wary of things that call for boiling sugar, because I don't have a candy thermometer, and don't want one (see my last post) and I usually end up over boiling or under boiling the sugar. I took a chance on these and made them for my family when we went camping for Thanksgiving. I consider it a success when my picture (on the right) looks almost as good as the one on Pinterest!

Twine Wrapped Letter (credit)

The first (and only!) Pinterest craft I have completed so far. I saw this on Pinterest, but I actually saw one that my friend Ashley made first. Again, mine is the one on the right. This project involved a wooden letter from Hobby Lobby (I've heard paper mache may be better, but they were out of S when I went), a ball of twine, and an absurd amount of hot glue. Especially around the ends, I think there may be more hot glue than twine. I love how it turned out though! It is currently hanging above our key hook, and it makes me smile every day. 

So now you can begin to understand my addiction to Pinterest. Next time I'll show you some of the things I want to make!