CVS FREE Deal on Hallmark Cards this Week (thru Sat)

For those of you savvy mommas who have a CVS Rewards card, they have a great deal this week on Hallmark cards (not just Halloween cards as shown in the picture, you can do bday cards, etc.).

Buy 3 Hallmark Greeting Cards at $0.99 each
Spend $2.97 plus tax out of pocket, Get $3 ECBs
Free after ECBs

If you don't do CVS's Rewards program, it is worth signing up (& it's free).  Just stop by any CVS to pick up an application and your card.  They usually have at least one "free" deal each week (like the one listed above).  You have to pay the initial out of pocket, but you get your Extra Care Bucks you can use on something  else, making the cost essentially free to you.  Just make sure you check out the expiration date on your ECBs so you use them before they expire!  For more info on CVS's rewards program, CLICK HERE.  

Free Sephora Deluxe Lipstick at JCPenney (w/ this coupon!)

Coupon good until 11/1/11.

KOHL'S Coupon & Grand Opening

Most folks in Marion probably know, but in case you don't, KOHL's is now open.  Check your mail from the last two weeks - I had a $10 GIFT gift cert mailed to me (unsolicited on my part) from KOHL's that is only good through today, Saturday, Oct 8.  If you got the same thing in your mailbox, use the coupon below to maximize your free gift!

Lowes Build and Grow FREE Kids Clinic: Monster Machine (Saturday 10/8/11)

Another free kids clinic at Lowe's this weekend.  Take your kiddo for a special morning out!  Starts at 10am.  First 50 kids get to participate - register online HERE.

Mississinewa 1812 - THIS WEEKEND

In case you hadn't heard, Mississinewa 1812 is this weekend in Marion (Oct 7-9).  I just got back from the event, where I spent the morning with my two little men and my girlfriend Jackie & her two little people.  We had a great time!  It was a beautiful morning, and is supposed to be a beautiful weekend, so go check it out!

Admission is $8 at the door, but if you stop at MARSH on your way there (at the customer service desk) you can get tickets for only $6.  Kiddos 6-12 are $5 at the door, but only $4 at MARSH, and kids 5 & under are FREE.

Make sure you have $1 bills with you, good walking shoes, & a water bottle!  You can take water & food with you into the event, but trying some of the authentic food at the event is part of the fun.  :)  We found a dip-your-own candle booth, and my boys proudly brought home their own candles to show their dad (for only $.75 each!).  See how cute the are above.  :)

For more info & a schedule of events go to:  http://www.mississinewa1812.com/

WINNER for Book Giveaway - Totally Together: Shortcuts to an Organized Life

 Thank you to all of you who submitted your best tips for keeping your lives sane in the "Totally Together" contest!  We have a winner for the book Totally Together: Shortcuts to an Organized Life.  Congratulations to Jaena.  I read & appreciated everyone's feedback, but as my husband will tell you I'm the most indecisive person in the world, so choosing the winner came down to names drawn out of a hat.  :)   Jaena's mom tip was to use bins/tubs to stay organized and make things easy to find. 

Finding "Shortcuts to and Organized Life" must resonate with many of us, as I had 130 hits on my original blogpost on this book.... either that, or we all just like to win something for free.  :)

If you haven't already, check out the author, Stephanie O'Dea's, and if you're interested in purchasing your own copy of Totally Together for yourself or another mom you can get it on Amazon.com, or any other major book store.


Thanks again to everyone for your feedback - I appreciate your tips & suggestions on how to stay sane & balance family/home/work/life! 

 

What's for dinner tonight?

 Looking for some new fall meals to spice up your kitchen?  I'm feeling like I'm in a rut, and with little time after work before dinner, I never seem to have time to figure out meals & keep "throwing together" the same boring stuff.  I  got an email with food.com's TOP Five Crockpot Recipes and am excited to try them out... I think I'll start with their recipe below.  I recently had pulled pork made by a woman in my small group, and the method/ingredients she used were just like the recipe below.  It was AWESOME (& she said easy!), so I'm definitely giving it a try.... enjoy!

 

Pulled Pork (Crock Pot)

By duonyte on July 25, 2005

Ingredients

1. 4 lbs pork roast ( shoulder or butt)
2. 2 large onions
3. 1 cup ginger ale
4. 1 (18 ounce) bottles favorite barbecue sauce ( I like Sweet Baby Ray's)
5. barbecue sauce, for serving (optional)

Directions

1. Slice one onion and place in crock pot.
2. Put in the roast and cover with the other onion, sliced. Pour over the ginger ale. Cover and cook on LOW for about 12 hours.
3. Remove the meat, strain and save the onions, discard all liquid. With two forks, shred the meat, discarding any remaining fat, bones or skin. Most of the fat will have melted away.
4. Return the shredded meat and the onions to the crock pot, stir in the barbecue sauce. Continue to cook for another 4 to 6 hours on LOW.
5. Serve with hamburger buns or rolls and additional barbecue sauce. Any leftovers freeze very well.
6. TIP: freeze ready-made sandwiches - a scoop of meat on a bun, well-wrapped. These make a great quick meal or snack. To reheat, remove wrapping, wrap in a paper towel, and zap 1-2 minute in the microwave.
7. Note: Shoulder or butt are recommended because the meat shreds very well. Other cuts do not shred as readily. It is a fattier cut, but the fat melts away in the cooking and is poured away when you discard the liquid.
8. Note 2: I have an older, smaller crock pot. The above times work perfectly for me. But if you have a newer or bigger crock pot, you may need to revise times downward, esp. after the bbq sauce is added. I think you need at least a couple of hours for it all to meld, but that may be all you need. Update: I recently bought a bigger crockpot, I think 5 or 6 qts. I cooked a 6 lb pork shoulder in it for 8 hours and it was shreddable at that point. Shredded, added the sauce, and cooked for another hour or so to meld everything. So use your best judgment on timing!
9. Note3: You might want to turn your roast over after it's cooked a while, to ensure more even cooking. I think this may depend on the size and shape of your roast and the size of your slow cooker. Remember that each time you remove the lid you lose heat and be careful, as turning a large piece of meat is awkward.