SpOokTaCuLAr Savings

We saved bunches today at Kroger! They are having a Mega 10 Event (where you get $5 knocked off your total by purchasing 10 participating items). If you purchase another 10 items, you'd get $10 knocked off your total, and so on.

We particularly racked up by stocking up on some Smart Ones frozen meals. Jason saw a $3 off when you buy 10 coupon on one of the boxes, so we used that in addition to the fact that they were also part of the Mega Event. We got 10 of those alone making them about $1.68 each.

Another item that we scored big with was Gatorades. A single Gatorade is normally $1.10 each. With the Mega Event... try $.49 each.

Kroger medium eggs are on sale 2 dozen for $1.

Men's Right Guard deodorant was on sale for $1, plus there was a BOGO free coupon in the paper today. For some reason the sales girl insisted on putting in the value as $1.50, so I'm pretty sure that we made a little money today!

How to Fake a Salon Manicure

Here's a way to save on a DIY french manicure:

You'll need:

- nail file
- paper towels (just in case!)
- a clear base coat
- sheer pink polish (sometimes you can get a set of pink & white together for this purpose)
- white polish

- a clear top coat
- nail polish remover
- 1 small, soft bristle brush
- several Post-it sticky notes (yes, just humor me) (optional)
- a cuticle stick or wooden skewer (optional)
- hand lotion (optional)

1. Start by filing down clean, dry nails. Now would be a good time to slather a little lotion on your cuticles and gently nudge them back.

2. Apply the clear base coat and allow to dry. I tend to stick with Sally Henson, but I also use Revlon all the time. It depends what's on sale!

3. Now... I'm going to go 2 different ways with this, "A" would be an easier version, and "B" is for those of you who feel a tad more adventurous!

Here's "A":

3. Apply the white polish to the tips of your nails. It does NOT have to be even remotely perfect, because we're going to clean them up in a minute. I like the white to look thick on the tips, but it is completely up to you. At the very least, the white should be close to the white on your natural nails. Start in the middle of the nail with 1 stroke, and then work on the outsides. Allow to dry.

4. After you've allowed the white to dry, dip the end of the small, soft bristled brush into the nail polish remover. Use the brush to edge and clean up the white polish. This is why it didn't have to be perfect!

5. Fill in the pink space on your nails with the pink polish. You can try to keep it off of the white, but if the polish is sheer enough, coating the entire nail (including the white) should be okay. Allow to dry.

6. Go over the entire nail with a top coat. Try to slip a little on the under side of your nails to essentially seal the polish. Allow to dry.

7. You can saturate your cuticle stick (assuming it's wooden) or saturate a wooden skewer (be careful with the pointy end!) in nail polish remover and carefully clean up an extra polish that may have gotten on your fingers. I typically let nature take it's course and it will loosen up and come off on it's own the next day. It's up to you if you're pressed for time.

8. Admire your handiwork!

Now... plan "B" for those of you how love a DIY challenge!

3. Apply the pink polish first to the entire nail and allow to dry COMPLETELY.

4. Tear off some pieces of the Post-it note (you want the sticky end). Carefully align the sticky end of the piece of paper on top of your nail so that you can still see the whites of your nail (or where you would like for the white polish to go). While the paper is adhered, paint the tip of the nail white. It's alright if you go onto the paper. Slowly pull the paper off (it may leave a slight indentation, but you shouldn't notice it once you apply a top coat.

Do this for each nail, removing the paper as you go.

5. After the white polish has had a chance to dry, apply a clear top coat. Slip just a little polish on the underside of the nail to seal the deal.

6. Feel free to saturate your cuticle stick (or a wooden skewer) in nail polish remover and clean up any stray polish.

7. Admire your handiwork!

Last step... treat yourself to staying out of the kitchen or doing any manual labor for a little while because you wouldn't want to compromise your beautiful manicure!

Pucker Up

Pucker up! Snag a FREE lip item from Bath & Body Works with ANY purchase from their website by entering code: FREELIP. Or try to print off the coupon and pick up your free lip item in the store. You'll need to act quickly because the offer is only good through Sunday (10/31)!

Promises

For some reason I was completely unaware of the tornadoes that touched down yesterday. I've been very surprised to see the extent of the damage all over the Richmond area. Out of all of the pictures that I've seen, I thought that this one was particularly poignant. It's not all that clear, but you can make out not just one, but two rainbows. Just a little reminder that God does keep His promises.

Michaels' Halloween Events

Michaels is hosting Halloween Events this week. Almost all (except for Friday) are FREE for little crafters. Drop in your local Michaels on the following nights from 6 to 8 PM.

Monday- Halloween Glow Explosion Eyes
Tuesday- Quick & Easy Costumes (make-it take-it)
Thursday- Halloween Mask
Friday- Halloween Treat Bag (with the purchase of bag)

And then on Saturday, they are hosting a "Free Family Halloween Event" from 10 AM to 2 PM where kids can show off their costume, get their faces painted, and even make a Duck Tape cuff.

Keep Colds Away

Are you getting enough sleep? Real Simple shares simple and drug-free ways to keep the common cold at bay this month. One of them is to be sure you're catching enough zzz's. They stated that a recent study showed that people who do not average around 7 hours of shut-eye a night were three times more likely to come down with a cold. So do yourself a favor (and everyone else around you) and take care of yourself by getting plenty of sleep!

Sad Holiday News

We found out this evening that Sonic's Holiday Mint Blast will not be featured this year!! I am so upset! It had the perfect mix of peppermint candies and ice cream. We were told that there would be some sort of cookie mix blast this year. I certainly hope they bring back Totty the Elf. R.I.P. Holiday Mint Blast... you will be missed!

Garden Ridge

Garden Ridge is back in Central VA! I fulfilled my need to make the pilgrimage to Garden Ridge after not being in one for several years. Jason humored me as we trekked out to Midlothian to see the newly opened store. They have lots of home goods and already have a decent selection of Christmas decorations. I think the biggest surprise that we saw there was the huge assortment of scrubs for $5.99 (for tops and bottoms). I don't have a need for scrubs, but if you know someone who does, this would be the place to shop!

(P.S.- Don't forget the tolls!)

Best Time to Stock Up...

According to Good Housekeeping, the best time to stock up on household items and non-perishable foods is right after Thanksgiving. Supposedly retailers offer more coupons between November to December than any other time of year. Couple that with store sales and you'll keep a little extra cash to be used for those holiday necessities!

Savvy & Stylish Invention

I wish I had thought of this! The "Card Cubby" is a genius way to organize gift cards, coupons, rewards cards, and credit cards. The alphabetized inserts are the key to chic organization that help you have money saving offers handy. They come in a variety of patterns and cost around $20 (some more... some less). Check out their website: www.cardcubby.com. Some stores in the area carry them.



P.S.- Most of the pink patterns are on sale during the month of October!

Tropicana is Extending Program

Good news! Tropicana's Juicy Rewards Program is being extended until February 28, 2011! You still have time to enter codes from cartons, search, and print off TONS of coupons. Read the fine print on the offer to be sure that the merchant is extending their promotion with the program. Check out the offers from Brewster's, Leap Frog, Massage Envy, Pizza Fusion, Extreme Pizza, The Children's Museum, The Science Museum, and many more!

TODAY ONLY- Winter Coats for $16!!

Today ONLY Old Navy is having their Women's Frost Free Jackets on sale for $16!! They are regularly priced at $49.50!! They come in 6 delightful colors. Check out their website: http://www.oldnavy.com/ NOW to get yours! For this price... buy a couple!

More Unmarked Police Cars

I'm not sure how valid this is... but rumor has it that there are more and more unmarked police cars on the road. They're not using flashy or sleek cars, but rather mini vans to catch unsuspecting speeders! So the next time you're cruising along a little faster than you should, be on the lookout for a mini van to pull you over. Apparently mini vans aren't just for soccer moms anymore!

Halloween Scents

I am LOVING the smell of Bath & Body Works new seasonal items! They smell like fall!! I am a big fan of "Zombie Blood" (it sounds gross, but smells like heaven... marshmallow to be exact!) and "Candy Corn" (which smells like caramel). I have them in the Pocketbacs.I also am appreciating their anti-bacterial hand soap in "Jack-o-Lantern" (Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin).

Some of them even glow in the dark! SpOoKy!!

Kroger's Keeping Money in Your Pocket...

Here are some tips for saving this week:

* Febreze Air Effects... $1 off coupon downloaded to Kroger card + $1 off coupon

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$2 off!

* Progresso Soups... on sale for $1 each + downloaded $.50 off coupon (when you buy 2)

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2 cans of soup for $1.50!!

* Quaker Rice Snacks... $.99 (when you buy 10 participation items) + $.75 off coupon

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Tasty little snack for about a quarter!!!

And my favorite...

*Kraft Easy Mac... $.49 (when you buy 10 participating items) + $1 off coupon downloaded on card (when you buy 2)

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2 Easy Macs for FREE!!

There are lots of good deals on the "Save $5 when you buy 10 participating items" sale. Pair many of those items with manufacturers coupons and you'll get even better savings!