Cute (and Cheap!) Father's Day Crafts

Michaels is holding "make-it take-it events" this week where kids can make some adorable crafts for Father's Day. Most are completely FREE (while supplies last).

Tuesday (6/14) 6 to 8 pm: Decorate a mug (with the purchase of a mug).

Thursday (6/16) 6 to 8 pm: Make a wallet out of Duck Tape.

Friday (6/17) 6 to 8 pm: Make a Father's Day card.

Saturday (6/18) 10 am to noon: Decorate a key chain.

Fresh and Clean Savings...

I can't let the opportunity pass to not share with you some savings to score at Kroger...

- Bic Disposable Razors (4 count) for men are on sale for $3.99. Pair it with a coupon from Sunday's paper for $3.00 off and you pay $.99. There was a coupon from a few weeks ago for women's razors that was also for $3.00 off, making them $.99 as well.

- Quilted Northern Toilet Paper (12 double rolls) are on sale for $5.99. Download a $2 e-coupon to your Kroger card and you'll only pay $3.99.

- All Detergent (32 loads) is on sale for $2.99. Pair that sale with a coupon for $1 off from Sunday's paper and you'll pay $1.99.

Sedentary Danger

It might be easy to lounge around during the dog-days of summer, but a recent study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows that "two or more straight hours of sedentary TV time can double your risk for heart disease". So the next time you're catching up on some must-see TV, sneak in some stretches, sit-ups, or just get up and move during the commercials. Your heart will thank you.

The Ten Commandments

I realized the other day that we have been able to save some serious cash this month on groceries simply by planning ahead and using coupons. I figure that we've saved over $200 on things we use everyday. I can't tell you all items we've paid less than a dollar for or have gotten totally FREE. Below is a picture of some of those items (and that's not all!).
Here are a few tips that I'd like to pass along to you. I didn't grow up in a house that used coupons. I didn't understand what a "10 for 10" deal was until I met my husband. (I really thought you had to buy 10 of 1 item to get a deal. I wondered how so many people could use 10 loaves of bread in a week.) So I've taught myself how to make my dollars go even further. I'm sure that not all of these tips are new to you, but for what it's worth, here they are... The Ten Commandments of Savings:

1. Don't be a brand snob. Colgate might not be my first choice, but for free, I'll learn to like it! Which leads me to tip #2...

2. Don't pay for toothpaste (or at least not very much). Toothpaste has a remarkable shelf life, so don't be afraid to stock up. You'll see several in the picture that didn't cost a dime.

3. Check out weekly ads (either from inserts in the Sunday paper or view them on-line) and maximize savings by combining coupons with sale prices.

4. Make a list! Kroger's website allows you to view the weekly ad for your area and select items to be added to a digital list. You can also add items not shown in the ad and print it off.

5. Speaking of making a list... when you make your list, group items you need based on where they are in the store so that you're not running all over the place.

6. Visit stores that double coupons and offer you an additional discount for using your own reusable bags. Target lets you combine a Target coupon and a manufacturer coupon, which can be very helpful. Senior Citizens discounts can be helpful, too.

7. Organize your coupons you think you'll need before you go. I like to keep mine in the order items are on my list.

8. Watch your checkout carefully. If something doesn't ring up as you thought, speak up. Be particularly diligent about watching the coupons scan correctly.

9. Don't shop when you don't have a lot of time. If you feel rushed, it's easy to carelessly make a mistake in calculations or walk away from a nice deal. Also, don't shop when you (or the other members of your party) are hungry or tired. Someone has learned this the hard way......

10. Be on the lookout for deals that you didn't expect. Give the clearance sections a good once over. I remembered seeing Dramamine in the clearance section at Target and later in the week I saw a coupon for $1.50 off. I went back to get a pack for a mere 38 cents.

O'Banks

Here's letting you know about a little hidden gem... Nestled in the Hanover Industrial Park (near the Hanover Airport) is O'Banks. Don't be fooled by the area. You might expect to find a law office there over a restaurant, but as a plus there is plenty of parking. The service is friendly, the food is delicious and reasonably priced. It seems as though they are almost finished with a remodel, adding extra seating. They have a nice patio dinning area as well.

The laid back atmosphere includes live music on most weekends. If that's not your style, then drop in during the week for some unbeatable specials, such as $4 burgers on Monday nights. They offer a brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 to 2.

You can find additional information and a menu at www.obanks.org.

(Fun Fact- They are running a coupon that prints on the back of Martin's (VA Center) receipts that will save you an extra $2 off a $15 total purchase.)

A Little Bit Nuts... Or A Lot...

Don't you hate when you get a snack mix and end up not eating half of it because you ate around all the cashews? Mymixednuts.com allows you to pick and choose from 70 different ingredients to customize your very own trail mix. You can select up to 14 different items (nuts, dried fruit, chocolate, etc...) that equal 30 ounces. If you're a big chocolate fan, you can go heavy on the chocolate and skimp on the other ingredients, just as long as you have 30 ounces total. The 30 ounces come in 20 convenient 1.5 oz bags. You get to pick your own name for your creation as well. Prices vary depending on the ingredients you select for your mix (as well as the quantity used). It looks like it would run you in the neighborhood of $25 for 20 servings. Shipping costs also vary depending on the method used, and they recommend steering clear of items that might melt during the summer months.

Cutting Boards

I love these cutting boards! Casabella makes a set of 4 silicone boards that are easily identifiable by their color-coded ring and picture (one for beef, poultry, seafood, and veggies). This way there's no second guessing what you chopped last on the board. You can find them at places like Bed, Bath, & Beyond ($14.99- and don't forget a 20% off coupon!).