10-26-11

Been looking through a bunch of upcycled crafts or projects.
I know, what does upcycled mean?

Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.

Comparison of upcycling to the "downcycling" of recycling a plastic, for example, into a lesser grade plastic. To put it simply, downcycling reduces the quality of the materials, while upcycling maintains or improves the quality of the materials.

Here are some upcycled items that
I thought were neat ideas.

Headboard Bench


Drawer fronts hangers.


Light fixture candle holder.


Marbled fence boards.



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I haven't felt the greatest today. I feel like I've
been filleted inside and out. So taking it easy
and popping a few ibuprofens.


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MAIL CALL

I got my apron pattern today. I already have
the one pattern cut out and ready to go.
Tomorrow I'll start getting the fabric cut out.

Rouge- P&G Beauty magazine with 10
P&G coupons inside.

Coupon for a FREE Suave Professionals product up to $3.00.


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I won another thing off of Ebay today. It was a big splurge
considering it cost $30 (free money of course from doing
surveys). Christopher has his heart set on a train simulator
cd for the computer. So I got him the Railworks 3 Train Simulator 2012 .
It's like having a virtual trains set that I don't
have to put together, lol, and a lot cheaper than an
actual train set as well.


So there's two big gifts crossed off the kids Christmas lists
that didn't cost me anything.
I gotta go through my closet to see what all Christmas gifts
I've bought throughout this year at yard sales.
I need to get out a notebook and start keeping track of
everything.

10-25-11

6:50am

Jumped in the truck to take Christopher to the bus stop
only to realize the glove box and console was open was
open and crap was scattered everywhere. This crap is
getting old!!!! There's nothing of any value to steal
but I worry about when someone doesn't shut the door all
the way or leaves interior lights on such as the one
in the glove box and it runs down my battery.
We won't talk about the recent theft of two mountain
bikes out of the back yard this past week either.
I've lost count as to how many of our bikes have
been stolen. Tax time can't get here fast enough.
I so want some security cameras to catch whoever
is doing it!! The police highly recommended to get
them especially ones you can hook to your computer.
They say they can't do anything about the thefts
even if you have witnesses unless they catch the thief
personally or I have them on video committing the crime.

I've been checking out this DVR 4 camera security
system at Harbor Freight for $299.


This morning me and mom are going to check out the sale
at Dollar General that I mentioned yesterday.
Something tells me that it will be a big disappointment
with little or nothing to offer. I've gone to some
of their sales before and found nothing.
You just never know if it's a sales scam just
to get you into the store to buy things.
After Dollar General I want to stop in another
thrift store to look for more fabric for
my window quilt along with a couple other things
I'm looking for to make Christmas gifts from.

I'm hoping to get my apron pattern within
the next couple of days so I can get started
on those. I got a couple flat sheets for fabric
for those already.


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11:00am

Back from 2 Dollar Generals and 2 thrift stores.

The thrift stores today disappointed me. My second
favorite thrift store raised their
prices. Clothing was stupid priced and I wanted
a couple stuffed animals for some projects and
even the simple stuffed animals were priced stupid.
I'm not paying $2 to $3 for used stuffed animals
that I'd be tearing apart anyway.

At Dollar General I didn't find the .10 cent items.
Those items were marked 70% off though. Which
to me is false advertisement according to their
website which says differently.
Now I did do good at the first Dollar General
we stopped at. The second didn't have much
of a selection and I didn't get anything.

I spent $16 including tax and bought
6 people Christmas gifts!

-6 polo shirts
-1 long sleeve t-shirt
-2 pairs of pants
-1 jean shorts
-1 t-shirt
-2 pj outfits- shorts & shirts
-2 Fall jackets

Now check this out. I totaled up the prices
of everything before the markdown price and
all these would have cost....drum roll please....

$164.50 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saved $148.50 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I found these fabrics, a Christmas valance for .90 cents
and a tablecloth for .60 cents at the thrifts store.
Still haven't found any more fabric for
my window frame quilt.


The valance has glittery snowflakes on it.
I plan to cut circles out of this fabric
to make jar toppers for the gifts in a jars.

The tablecloth fabric I bought to make an apron out of.


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7:00pm

Just now getting some supper of a frozen pizza.
We had to run to Kroger to get some pop.
And I found a few mark downs while there.
I spent $37 at Kroger and $15 at Aldis for
groceries this week.


-twin pack Hamburger Helper cheeseburger macaroni $1.25
-twin pack Hamburger Helper stroganoff $1.25
-2 Pasta Roni butter & garlic .59 cents each
-loaf rye bread .59 cents
-Kroger mouthwash .79 cents
-Tresemme hairspray $1.69
-2 pkgs Sugardale hot dogs .99 cents each
-can of Kroger coffee $2.59
-2 boxes (20 count each) of microwavable candy corn popcorn $2.49 each

I also got
2 two liters Diet A&W Rootbeer
2 two liters Sun Drop and
2 two liters Diet 7UP
for .50 cents each with sale and coupons I found at Speedway.

I splurged today and got the Tresemme hair spray
because mom is taking me to get my hair cut Friday
for $10. I'm hoping she considers that an early birthday gift to me.
I've got to get my hair thinned out and layered!
It's starting to knot up really bad.

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FREE sample of 5 Hour Energy Drink


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Like Cool Whip on Facebook to print
.75 cents off Cool Whip's Season's Delight


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8:40pm

I usually don't buy clothes or shoes on Ebay but
I did tonight. My son's been wanting a pair of
either DC or Vans tennis shoes. Not something in my budget
at the moment to just run out and buy another pair of shoes,
especially for an expensive brand! I cannot afford those period!
So I found a pair of Vans on Ebay for $15.50 plus shipping.
I used free money I have in my Paypal from doing surveys.
I made sure to get him a 1/2 size bigger than what he
wears now because these will be a Christmas present for him.

10-24-11

Tomorrow, Tuesday October 25th, Dollar General is
having a sale that you might want to check out.
All Lawn & Garden, Swim/Summer toys and
green dot home items will all be marked down
to just .10 cents each!!!
Original retail of items could be upwards of $25.
PLUS select clearance apparel can be found for
$1.00 and under.


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Here's kitty's new bed that I DD'd free for him yesterday.
I took the cover off and washed it up then
put his blankie inside it.





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Halloween Light Show




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Tonight we'll be having breakfast for supper.
I originally wanted some lil smokie sausages
but couldn't find them at Aldi so I bought
2 packages of already cooked breakfast sausages.

Cut each sausage in half to make 40 halves.

Next you need a can of 10 biscuits.
Cut each biscuit into quarters for a total of 40.

Press each biscuit piece between your fingers
to flatten into a rectangular shape. Wrap
around sausage. Do this for all.


Tonight I'll pop these in the oven and
make a couple packages of sausage gravy
to dip them in.

This is something I made up so I'll call them
Sausage, Biscuits & Gravy Dip

2 boxes of precooked Aldi sausages $1.78
1 can of Aldi biscuits .49 cents
2 pkgs of country gravy mix $1.00

total cost- $3.27
serves 4 @ .81 cents a serving




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Sign up for all sorts of freebies on your birthday.


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10-23-11

9:45am

Still trying to wake up. Taking the kids to see
Cars 2 at noon today. And since Walmart is close
by on Bethel Rd. we'll stop in there and look for
a broom/mop holder. I really need one as I am
getting tired of tripping over all them in my kitchen.
Need it to hang in my stairwell of the basement.
When you have Swiffers, mops, brooms, dustpans,
and steam mops you've got to find a place to
store them. I was just too tired to do it
yesterday. Will also check on the baking soda
deal with free magazine subscription and
see if they have the Olay gift baskets with
magazine subscription and rebate. Not sure
if that is online only or if it is in stores.

Need to find my big purse to take so I
can smuggle in some pop, lol. I want to stop
by Kroger and get some 20 ounce diet Pepsi.
I have .70 cent off coupons (doubled) and they are $1.49
at Kroger. So with coupons should be .80 cents
each times 4 is $3.20. I cannot afford movie theater
treats!! So $4.00 for our tickets plus $3.20 for pop
is already $7.20 for us to go to the movies.
And that is a splurge for us. Gotta watch our
pennies now through tax time.


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2:50pm

Just got home. Watched the movie and went
to Walmart, the place that is a waste of my
time because I can't find anything!
Stopped by Tony's work since it was on the way
home so he could pick up
his coffee cup that he forgot to bring home
Friday. Drove by the bulk furniture area
in hopes of finding some head or bed foot boards.
Still nothing yet. But as I was leaving the property
I saw a small pet bed in front of a dumpster.
I thought kitty would love it.
The cover is removable so will wash up today
with laundry.


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3:50pm

Got all laundry to still get started.
It's getting late and I'm already tired,
hungry, irritable, have a headache and feel like I can't
get ahead with things today.

I haven't gotten any
more colored ink for my printer but I did refill
the black ink in it. Tried printing off coupons
and they are coming out lighter and lighter.
That's not good when I'm trying to get coupons
rounded up for a big grocery shopping trip in the
next couple of weeks. Grrrr!

I really need to find time to go through
my large freezer down in the basement
and see what I have and what I might
need.

Got supper to make soon. I'm making
angel hair pasta with sauce and ground
turkey meatballs.

1 pound ground turkey $1.60
1.5 cups bread crumbs .50 cents
1 egg .15 cents
dehydrated onions chopped FREE
onion powder, Italian seasoning .05 cents
chopped up garlic .10 cents
angel hair past FREE
jar of pasta sauce $1.00
shredded up sharp cheddar cheese for top .95 cents

TOTAL COST- $4.35
Serves 5 with spaghetti, cheese, sauce & meatballs.
Serves 3 with spaghetti, butter & meatballs.
.62 cents a serving.

I wanted to get my window quilt finished and
hung up this weekend. I thought it was
a 9 pane window and come to find out
it's a 12 pane window. I don't have enough
fabric to do it. So there's another trip
back to the thrift store sometime.

Tony's watching the NASCAR race and this
AT&T commercial keeps coming on. Tony
says it reminds me of me and him, LOL,
saying, "where's that money coming from Tony?"



I got Tony's hair to cut tonight also.
He says he has wings, lol.

Sitting here munching on some candy corn
before supper. Mmmm Good! I don't think
anyone else here likes it so you know what
that means, I have it all to myself.
Last year I stocked up on a bunch of candy
after Halloween. I think I got bags
for .25 cents or less. I kept them in
the basement, a cool, dry place in
cupboards and they are just fine.

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10-22-11

9:30am

Well, I won my apron pattern auction last night :0)
There was another bidder. Don't ya just love it
when you win because you added those couple
of cents to your bid. I won by a matter of .05 cents for $2.05.
You can find patterns for much cheaper on Ebay
when compared to going to Joanns!
Here's the Butterick pattern.
This pattern was actually free for me because
it was around the price of what I get for
doing one survey through Pinecone Surveys.
I thought I could try my hand at this and if it turns out
I could make as Christmas gifts for people like
teachers. What teacher doesn't need an apron or
smock in the classroom? Today while out and about
I want to stop in the thrift store and look
for some pretty sheets to make this with.
Flat sheets have a lot of fabric to offer
for a cheap price tag at thrift stores.

To give this apron as a gift set you could
add it with a homemade gift in a jar with
a potholder and a wooden spoon-
all things that can be homemade for cheap.
Make the potholder with matching fabric
that you made the apron from.

I cannot afford to buy batting to make potholders
so instead I use used blankets as the batting.
Cut out the potholders and cover in your desired
fabric then cover the rough edges in trim.
Trim or binding can usually be found cheap
by the bagfuls at yard sales. Or even though
it is a little time consuming, can be made from scratch
with coordinating fabric.
How to make your own bias binding.
A bias trim maker runs about $4.99 at Joanns
but you can usually find 40% to 50% off coupons in your paper.
Bias trim runs about $2 to $4 each so it wouldn't
take long for this item to pay for itself.

And my last tip for sewing at the moment is
that I don't buy the regular spools of thread
for my basic sewing machine. Instead I pay
around $2 for serger thread spools at Walmart. It offers
much more thread for the money when compared to
regular spools. There's about 3,000 yards of
thread on there compared to about 200 yards
on basic thread spools.
Yeah, it fits looser on the
sewing machine spindle but it does work as
I've been doing this for years. I usually
buy 2 or three basic colors-
white or cream & black or navy blue.


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5:00pm

Just returned home from our visit to the South
end today. I am totally whipped! I told everyone
as we walked in the back door, "if I collapse to
the floor, just step over me and leave me lay!" Lol.

Our first stop was Groveport. We walked an ababdoned
railroad pathway and visited an old canal.




From the old railway path we made our way through some
thick brush over to the newer railroad.
We walked a little ways on it exploring
and finding old railway ties, and nut & bolts from the track.
I also collected sparkly rocks to put in my
birdbath for decoration. They are really sparkly
when sun hits them you just can't see it
in the birdbath since it's dark out.
I also included some old railway glass in there
also that we found.

And as I was walking along
the edge of the track you will see I almost
stepped upon my little friend shown in one of the
pictures below.




From there we headed to the Kroger in Groveport for lunch.
Not much in the way of many fast food places in that area.
We decided we wanted a couple of the deli subs for $3.99.
If you've never had one you ought to try it.
For the money to split between two people you can't
go wrong because it is loaded with meat.
When we got in the store we only found one sub so
I asked the guy behind the counter if he could
make a second one for us and he did. He LOADED it
with so much roast beef! Even a half of a sub
was too much for me to eat!
The sub on the left was the one that was fresh made
for us. Check out how much meat the deli guy put on it!
You couldn't but a sandwich like this at Arby's
for $3.99 for two people!! We ate our lunch in the
truck to our next destination.


From Groveport we headed to a park to do some metal
detecting. There was a river nearby but walking along
it was too muddy as you can see from Jonathan's clothes
from where he fell.



From there we stopped in the thrift store at
Great Southern shopping center. While Tony found a
hose hanger for $1.99 I didn't find any fabric
because I thought it was overpriced.
We was going to stop in Walmart but was way too tired
and we had one more stop to go. I had Tony
stop by the Indianola thrift store so I could
run in and find some fabric for my wall quilt
and aprons I want to make.
Here's some fabric I found for the window quilt.


And a couple flat sheets for some aprons.


I also got both boys Scream movie masks for Halloween
for .90 cents each. One has a black hood and the other
is a white hood. They looked so funny on the ride
home wearing their masks in the backseat looking out
the windows at people.


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7:30pm

Time for milk and kitties, I mean cookies!




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8:00pm

The neighbor kid caddy corner from us invited the
boys over for some cake and ice cream.
Not quite sure why the dad, every year, waits
til late evenings to have his kids birthdays.
Nothing like filling them up with sugar
and energy before bed.

10-21-11

8:15am

Already starting in on getting 3 pounds of
onions cut up. The sinuses are a flowing
this morning! I wear sunglasses to help
keep the onion juices out of my eyes.
The smaller the onion the more potent they
seem to be!!
This will be 9 pounds of onions I will
have dehydrated.



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9:00am

OK, no more itty bitty onions! I'll stick with
medium or larger ones from now on. The little
ones were so potent that my one child is running
around the house saying his eyes are burning
and he hasn't been in the kitchen. I have
the front door open and the fan blowing
the air out. I did manage to get 5 trays
in the dehydrator outside. Yesterday I could
smell the onions all the way in the front yard
at the street! Free or not I don't think
these are worth all this trouble now that
I have learned my lesson the hard way.
My sinuses are running and hurting and
my eyes are tearing and burning, AHHHHH!!!!
I'll be more than happy when I start
dehydrating the potatoes instead, lol.


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Here's a freebie gift set you can get from Walmart.
The free part though is you have to send in a
mail in rebate. I'm not fond of those but have
read that people are getting them.
Looks like you get the rebate in 1-2 weeks.
Deal was found HERE.

Walmart is still offering up these Olay Spa Gift Set Caddy with Bonus 1-Year Subscription to Allure Magazine for ONLY $10! Plus, you’ll score FREE shipping to your home! And, even sweeter, if you forgo the subscription, you’ll be able to submit for a $9.99 rebate found here through 6/30/2012.

To submit for your rebate, find the card inside your package and submit with the rebate form found here (print entire page and fill out form at bottom of page). You’ll get back $9.99, making this deal only $0.01 out of pocket!


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For those of you looking for something cheap to
do this weekend with the kids-

Cinnemark Carriage Place Movies 12
on Bethel Rd. has Cars 2 for $1.00 a person.
The kids have been wanting to see this movie
and I said I would take them once it hit this
cheap theater.

Maybe if I do this for everyone and get on their good
side, lol, they won't complain as much when I say I
want to stop in the thrift store to find some fabric.
I want to find cheap fabric to make my window frame
quilt so I can get it hung up in the living room.
I get fabric from cheap sheets around .99 cents
each or less if half price. Pillow cases are
also around .59 cents each. Bed skirts can be found
as little as .99 cents each.


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12:15pm

My kitchen's tidied up and dishes put away
and the dirty ones going in the dishwasher.
Got my Winter curtains in the dryer.
that I washed last night.
Hoping to get them put up sometime today.

I also got a batch of stuffed mushrooms made
to have with supper. I do have extra filling
that we can use on Ritz style crackers.
I put them in the fridge for now and will
bake about 5pm.



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1:20pm

!!!!!!!NEWS ALERT!!!!!!

President Barack Obama declares and end to the Iraq War
which has lasted 9 years. All US troops will be withdrawn
by year's end.

Channel 4 News


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1:30pm

Well since it's getting into the colder season it seems
like my sewing machine keeps calling out to me to use it.
So today I decided to place a bid on a sewing pattern
from Ebay for an apron. I haven't bought a pattern in awhile
so figured why not. I have some money saved up in my
paypal account from doing surveys so figured I'd treat
myself to something.
It comes with 5 different designs the one below being
my favorite one. We'll see tonight around
9:15pm if I won it or not.



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10-20-11

7:55am

Today I'm going to have to fire back up my
food dehydrator. I have 6 pounds of onions
and about 15 pounds of potatoes with another
probably 3 pounds onions and 10 pounds potatoes
on their way. My friend Kendra is dropping
more off today. I've already done up about
15 pounds of potatoes and 3 pounds of onions
so far.
This is what you can do when you have an
over abundance of fresh produce that you know
you won't be able to eat in a certain amount
of time. Don't let it go to waste! Find
ways of preserving it through canning, freezing
or dehydrating. With the cost of rising food
prices you can't afford not to.


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9:50am

Got 2 bags of onions chopped up and on the dehydrator.
My friend Kendra gave me another dehydrator, woo hoo!
This should make things go much faster than before!
I used the trays from my other dehydrator on
the new dehydrator. They don't fit exactly but
I think they will work so I'll only have to run
one dehydrator instead of two.
I have it sitting outside under the carport
because onions can put off quite a smell
when dehydrating that you don't want in your home.




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Kroger has the every $100 you spend you get a $10 coupon to use
at Kroger Marketplace. If you are looking for some
cheap toys for the kids this week they have
novelty toys for buy 2 get 1 free. Novelty
toys are usually cheap to begin with and sometimes
you can find some marked down on a clearance.
I'm about one shopping trip away from scoring
one of these coupons.


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Like Yo Crunch on Facebook to be able to print off
a couple coupons for $1.00 off 4 or $1.00 off 4 packs.
My kids love these yogurts with the extra toppings
but they only get them once in a blue moon as a treat
because it is much cheaper to buy the regular
Kroger brand yogurt. Now I can splurge with these coupons!
If you shop at Walmart I saw they are .67 cents
minus the coupon off 4 makes them .42 cents each.


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$3.00, $4.00 & $5.00 printable coupons on different Hasbro toys.


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$5.00 free coupon to use on anything $5.00 or more
at Khols when you sign up for their email sales alerts,
This coupon will arrive in your email in 10 days.
I've used these before.
This would be great to find cheap or free Christmas gifts.


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Free 16" x 20" photo poster from Walmart
when you order online. Must use this printable coupon. Expires 10-31-11.
Order photos at Walmart HERE.
Retails for $6.86.


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Be sure to watch Target's printable coupons
for things for Christmas!


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Thinking about going to Save-A-Lot tonight
to pick up some things from their $1.00 sale.
Got my fingers crossed for some of the $1.00 sausage!


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Purchase two 1 pound specially marked boxes of
Arm & Hammer baking soda and send away for a free
subscription for Better Homes and Gardens ($22 value).
These boxes of baking powder are usually under
a buck each and I think I found peelie coupons
on the Arm & Hammer cat litter to drop
the price even further.
These magazine subscriptions
would make a nice & FREE Christmas gift.
Just give the receiver a card and let them
know of the new subscription you got them,
minus the free price sticker, lol.
If you do more than one of these deals for
different people on your Christmas list
then I would do more than one transaction
because for each magazine subscription it
requires your receipt and upc codes as
proof of purchase.
Offer good through May 2012 and is limited
to one per household so if you get more than
one have them sent to different households
as gifts!


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2:25pm

Almost time to go get the first kiddo off the bus.
Tomorrow Columbus schools don't have school,
due to it being Capital Day.
Oh Goodie! They ought to be wound up tonight
because of it.


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3:00pm

My dear friend Kendra stopped by today while
I was napping and dropped off a bunch of food
items on my back door step! THANKS KENDRA!!
If you need some free food check Craigslist.
She goes to the place on Scarborough near
Brice Rd and 70 in the Reynoldsburg area.
They post on Craigslist quite frequently for
FREE fruits, veggies and bread.
Today she was able to get me-
potatoes,
onions,
rye bread (I see some Reuben sandwiches in the near future, lol),
radishes,
& Goldfish sandwich bread.


She also got me these items free-
box of Depends and 10 boxes of
Honey Nut Cheerios with her coupons!
She does really good with coupons like I do.



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4:00pm

Well I got a list made up for Save-A-Lot.
We'll see how it goes and how much of it
I find and actually get. Can't beat meat for a buck!
I plan to spend $25 and get these items below-

10 pkgs mild sausage

2 pkgs Eckrich bologna

2 pkgs Eckrish hot dogs

2 pkgs Butterball turkey bacon

4 imitation crab meat

2 six packs of green bell peppers

2 boxes pop tarts

1 Kraft marshmallow creme


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6:30pm

Back from Save-A-Lot. I actually found everything
I was looking for. For those looking for the mild $1 ground
turkey, I found that the box they have them in
has both the mild and the hot mixed together.
Of course I spent about $10 more than expected
because I had the family in tow. I also
got some mushrooms and a block of sharp cheddar
cheese to make some crab stuffed mushrooms tomorrow.
I found the whole mushroom pkgs marked down to $1.00 each
but they rang up normal at $1.79 and luckily I caught it.
The cashier took them off and said how's that. He
took them off my order altogether so FREE.
I said I like that! LOL.


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