AMISH FRIENDSHIP BREAD..yummmmm

It's that time of year again.  It seems like almost every Christmas someone gives me a starter recipe of AMISH FRIENDSHIP BREAD..yummmmmm    (It's hard to say it without saying yummmmmmm)                                                                                                                   

If you've never tried it, you need to.  I had always heard that only the Amish know how to start it, but I came across this starter recipe (in case there's no Amish in your neighborhood) 


DIRECTIONS FOR AMISH FRIENDSHIP BREAD STARTER
In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Let stand 10 minutes. In a 2 quart container glass, plastic or ceramic container, combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or flour will lump when milk is added. Slowly stir in 1 cup milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Cover loosely and let stand until bubbly. Consider this day 1 of the 10 day cycle. Leave loosely covered at room temperature.

These are the instructions I use and send along with each "starter" I give away.  I put the instructions in a page protector to prevent messes ( I learned this the hard way)

AMISH FRIENDSHIP BREAD INSTRUCTIONS
**Do not use any type of metal spoon or bowl for mixing ** Do not refrigerate ** If air gets in the bag, let it out ** It is normal for the batter to rise, bubble and ferment
Day 1- Do nothing, this is the day you receive the batter (or the day you made the batter)-- go by the date on the bag
Day 2- Mush the bag
Day 3 - Mush the bag
Day 4 - Mush the bag
Day 5 - Mush the bag
Day 6 - Add to the bag--1Cup Flour, 1Cup Milk and 1Cup Sugar--then Mush the bag
Day 7 - Mush the bag
Day 8 - Mush the bag
Day 9 - Mush the bag
Day 10- Follow instructions below:
1. Pour entire contents from the bag into a NON METAL bowl
2. Add 1½ Cups Flour, 1½ Cups Sugar and 1½ Cups Milk
3. Measure out 4 separate starters of 1 Cup Each into (4) 1gallon zip-lock bags.

Keep a starter for yourself and give the other 3 to friends along with a copy of this recipe. Should this not be passed on to a friend on the first day, be certain to follow the instructions for each bag and tell the friend which day the batter is at when you give it to them. It’s helpful to mark the bag with the date when you separate the starters. (Day 10 of one batch will be Day 1 of the next.)

4. Preheat the oven to 325°F
5. Add to the remaining batter in the bowl:

3 eggs                                                                
2 tsp. Cinnamon

1 Cup Oil (or ½ Cup Oil and ½ Cup Applesauce)
 ½ tsp. Vanilla

½Cup Milk                                                           
1½ tsp. Baking Powder

1 Cup Sugar                                                           
½ tsp. Baking Soda

2 Cups Flour                                                     
½ tsp. Salt

1 Large Box Instant Vanilla Pudding                  
1 Cup Chopped Walnuts (optional)
6. Mix Well

7. Grease 2 large loaf pans.

8. Mix an additional ½ Cup Sugar and 1tsp.Cinnamon and dust the pans with ½ of the mixture.

9. Pour the batter evenly onto the pans and sprinkle the remaining Sugar/Cinnamon mixture over the tops.

10. Bake 1 hour (check after 50 minutes).

11. Cool until bread loosens from the pan evenly (about 10 minutes)

12. Turn out onto a serving dish--serve warm or cold: for guests or yourself. (yummy)

I made this Grocery List so I would have everything on hand

4½ Cups Flour                  3½ tsp. Cinnamon      

½ Cup Applesauce            4 Cups Sugar          

½ tsp. Vanilla                     1 Large Vanilla Inst. Pudding

3 Cups Milk                       1½ tsp. Baking Powder
1 Cup Chopped Walnuts    3 Eggs               
½ tsp. Baking Soda           (4) 1 Gallon Zip-Lock Bags

½ tsp Salt                           1 Cup Oil (or ½ Cup--if you use the applesauce)
                        
If you keep a starter for yourself, you will be baking every 10 days.
The bread can be frozen for later. It makes Great gifts!  As in Christmas ;)

Reminders:

Once you have made the starter, you will consider it Day One, and thus ignore step 1 in this recipe and proceed with step 2.
 You can also freeze this starter in 1 cup measures for later use. Frozen starter will take at least 3 hours at room temperature to thaw before using.



LOVE,
GRAMMY<><

ABC's OF DE-CLUTTERING

Some of these......OK,OK........MOST of these...I haven't tried,

but I intend to...

(ONE DAY NEXT WEEK)

A: AIM TO REDUCE CLUTTER BY A DEFINITE NUMBER. When getting rid of items, have a specific goal in mind. Instead of saying you want to get rid of SOME of the books on your overstuffed bookshelf, say you want to get rid of 50%. Don't say you want to get rid of a FEW pairs of shoes, state you want to donate 10 pairs to charity. Focus on reaching your goal.


B: BRIBE YOURSELF. Make something you really love to do dependant on the completion of today's task. If you promise yourself you won't call your best friend until you organize your medicine cabinet, you're sure to finish the small task. No cheating!

C: CHOOSE A SPECIFIC SPOT FOR KEYS. Take the time to return keys to the chosen spot after each use.

D: DUMP JUNK MAIL into the recycling bin or trashcan the moment you receive it. Deal with other mail at least once a week.

E: ESTABLISH MINI-GOALS. If you can't face organizing an entire room, break the job down into manageable tasks. When cleaning your closet, sort shirts one day, skirts the next, shoes the next, and so on. This way you won't be put off decluttering because it is too big of a task.

F: FIX IT OR DITCH IT. Have you ever put aside broken items to fix "one day"? Chances are these items are still broken. Immediately schedule a date on your calendar (one week from today is ideal) and repair them by the time the date rolls around or finally toss them. If they're not important enough to repair, they're not important enough to keep.

G: GIVE EVERYONE THINGS TO DO. Organizational chores should never rest on a single person's shoulders. Hold every capable member of the household responsible for their own clutter. Penalize people for noncompliance.

H: HANG A LARGE FAMILY CALENDAR IN THE KITCHEN. Write appointments, lessons, meetings, etc. on the calendar so everyone can see what's happening this week. Each family member should have his or her own color so you can tell who's doing what with a single glance.

I: INVEST in some fun and decorative wall hooks for each family member to hang up backpacks, bags, hats, or jackets. Place them at appropriate heights for each person.

J: JUST SAY "NO!" to people or activities not supporting your goals. There's just not enough time to do everything for everyone. Understand what you're trying to accomplish, where you are going, and how you plan to get there. Don't overextend yourself by doing anything else.

K: (I LOVE THIS ONE) KEEP A RUNNING GROCERY LIST on the refrigerator or bulletin board. Jot down grocery items as you notice you need them. This way you won't have to do a list from memory before you go to the store.

L: LABEL any storage containers in detail so you won't constantly have to open them.

M: (MY PERSONAL FAVORITE) MAKE LISTS: Make lists for things you have to, both immediately and in the future. Clearly label each list appropriately, like "To-do," "to call," "to email," "to follow up," "to buy," etc. Such lists will help you get things done.

N: NEVER SAY NEVER. If you always feel overwhelmed by clutter and don't believe you'll be able to change your buying habits or packrat tendencies, the chances of you becoming clutter free are pretty slim. Always have a positive, take-charge attitude. Never allow your clutter to rule your life. You're in control.

O: ORGANIZE CUPBOARDS WITH VARIED BINS. Have one bin for your spices, one bin for pastas, one bin for baking goods, one bin for teas, etc. These bins will reduce the chances of having cluttered cupboards where nothing is easily found.

P: PUT EACH ITEM AWAY after each use so you won't waste time searching for it when you really need it.

Q: QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY. It's better to have a few items you truly love and enjoy than many items you don't really like. Always remember "quality over quantity," and you'll simplify your life.

R: RECYCLE CONSTANTLY. When the new issue of a newspaper or periodical arrives, immediately pop the last issue on the recycling bin. Don't hang on to old issues in the event that you'll finally get around to reading them. You won't. Likewise, when you buy a new shirt, an old shirt must be discarded, given to a friend, or donated to charity. This "one-in, one-out" rule keeps the level of stuff below the clutter point by limiting total numbers.

S: SET THE TIMER for 5, 10, 15, or however many minutes you can organize uninterrupted and work on the most pressing issue at top speed. It's amazing how much you can get done in a short amount of time.

T: TAKE A PHOTO. Take pictures of possessions you don't want to forget and save the pictures in a photo album or scrapbook. Keep the memory instead of allowing the memory to take up space.

U: USE IT OR LOSE IT. Cancel your subscription to any periodical you toss into the recycling bin without reading. Date your pantry items and toss them after a year of nonuse. Give away clothing you haven't worn in the last year. Pass along books that you know you won't read again. Assess anything that sits unused for six months.

V: VISUALIZE. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Think about how wonderful your life is going to be when your environment is organized and clutter free. Don't think about the amount of effort that it will take to achieve your vision. Just focus on the dream.

W: (THIS IS THE WAY TO DO IT) WRITE THINGS DOWN. Don't try to remember everything. Just jot it down when you think of it and refer to your list or notes when needed.

X: (MY MOST FAVORITE THING TO DO---ASK MY FAMILY). X THINGS OFF YOUR LIST Cross out the chores you've completed off your to-do lists. It fosters a sense of accomplishment.

Y: YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION. In order to have an organized home and a simpler life, you must stop the clutter influx. Stick to buying the things on your grocery list and avoid stocking up on the "great deals." (UNLESS THEY'RE FREE OR NEARLY FREE) What's the point of buying 100 containers of Palmolive Dish Wipes if you have no place to store it?

Z: ZIPLOC BAGGIES. Don't underestimate the great organizing power of little Ziploc baggies. Sort your junk drawer, throw all like items (matches, thumbtacks, small nails, etc.) into bags and line them up in the drawer. When you need something, just grab the needed bag and go.

OK...now I feel inspired...I'm going to get with it...

As soon as I get

"A ROUND TUIT"

Sorry...I couldn't resist

LOVE,

GRAMMY<><

ONE DAY NEXT WEEK

I’ve often thought about writing a book about being a mother. At first, I thought I might call it “Motherhood is a Constant Interruption.”

How many Mothers have finished something you were doing without having to stop and do something else in the middle?

How many Mothers get to have a bath (or even go to the bathroom) without some small person coming in?

It seems that I was always going to get back to something I was doing- in a few minutes,- but first, I have to finish these dishes, or... but first I have to put in a load of wash or... well you can fill in the blank.

Now what was that thing I was doing? Hmmmm…..

There's one thing that might have helped. You’ve probably heard about the round tuit. No? Sure you have… It’s a great thing to have. It helps you get a lot of things done. Everyone wants one because you hear them saying “yes, I’ll get this or that done...when I get a round tuit........

 (pause for groans)

OK, so as time and years have gone on, the title of my book has changed... It’s now called:

 ONE DAY NEXT WEEK.....

ONE DAY NEXT WEEK I'm going to call my friend...

ONE DAY NEXT WEEK I'm going to wash the kitchen floor…

ONE DAY NEXT WEEK I'm going to clean out the refrigerator...

ONE DAY NEXT WEEK I'm going to shave my legs....

You see where I'm going here... You know, it might not even happen next week because I’m not sure if I can get “a round tuit” by then.....

 (Pause for groans, again)

I really Do intend to write a book. Who knows, maybe I’ll be the next Barbara Johnson. If you haven’t read her books, you should try one. She wrote “Where Does a Mother go to resign?” and my favorite “Living between Estrogen and Death” and many more. A couple of my favorite quotes from her books are:

“If raising children is supposed to be so easy then why did it begin with something called Labor?”

and

 “You know why God doesn’t give babies to women over 50?.. Because they would lay them down someplace and forget where there they put them..”

and the list goes on...... (I have a list for Everything)  

Speaking of Estrogen (I did say something about Estrogen didn’t I? Oh yeah, the Barbara Johnson book)

Anyway... I’ve now reached that part of my life I call... MENTAL PAUSE.

I can be in the middle of an important conversation, start to begin a new sentence, and poof, it’s vanished... Lost forever in the Bermuda triangle of Mental Pause. Or I can’t remember names of common things around the house, like... door... or… sink…or…Husband.

I’ll be talking about something to old “what’s-his-name” and the name of the object disappears... finally, I just point at it and say “THAT thing, you know what I’m talking about!”

Pointing has become my latest aerobic activity and “what-cha-ma-call-it” is my noun of choice these days.

Before this, umm...what was I saying...?

 Oh yeah... before this Mental Pause, I went through Peri-menopause. (Personally I prefer Perry Como---Everyone under 35, ask your Mom who that is) and before that of course there was PMS. Which now seems like a “walk in the park”;

 but I digress…

One of my goals in life is being organized.....

(as mentioned in another post--I pause while those who know me best try to control their laughter.)

and I’m hoping that this blog will help me do that and maybe share a little wisdom with others while I’m at it, Not to mention a little humor while I'm at it.

"A merry heart doith good ...like a medicine" proverbs 17:22



LOVE,
GRAMMY<><

A DAY TO REMEMBER

It was 16 years ago today...

Our oldest grandson was born...

It was the day I became a "Grammy"

   I remember the day he came home. His Mom and Dad were living with us.  He was beautiful...no, I really mean it.. He was beautiful..even though he was a little bit of a "cone head" (which rounded out quickly, with a little rubbing from Grammy ;) )  My DH said to someone, "I have to keep reminding myself that he's theirs and not ours".

It seems he couldn't decide when and how to make his arrival. His Mom was my baby, so it had been a while since I had been in the labor and delivery wing...now it's called the birthing center..and everyone gets to be there...Long story short---after about 13 hours of labor, with about 3 hours of pushing (thus the "cone head"), NEHEMIAH (what a beautiful name) was delivered by emergency C-section. I was in the operating room when he was born and I was the first one to hold his hand.

 I knew even then that he was someone very special.. 

I've been looking around my house to find one of his baby pictures and, of course, I can't.  But I have this one of him with his Dad when he was very small .

Here's a more recent one...

And one more, with his family, to show how much he's grown...

As you can see, I have some more grandkids (aren't they BEAUTIFUL!)  There's 12 here in this picture, one in heaven and one the way!  That will make 14!

 Each one of them is so special and so precious to me. Each one holds a place in my heart that no one else can fill.  I am truly

 BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE!

But, today, my mind goes back to that day, sixteen years ago, when a handsome young man came into my life. He stole my heart away and changed my life forever.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NEHEMIAH!

LOVE,

GRAMMY<><

MARKING TIME

I was in the band since the 5th grade

and in the marchig band since the 7th grade. 

There was a term that was used called "Marking Time".

 This meant that the band member was still marching

only they weren't going any place. 

I have decided to do this for a while with my blog.

My  main purpose for my blog was to pass along "words of  wisdom" and some practical advice about life in general.  One of the main goals was to help others save lots of money by shopping with coupons.  I have been working on changing my blog around to include a data base of information....

  It's taking longer than I thought.... 

A LOT longer than I thought....

SO...

for a while...

I'm just going to "MARK TIME"
In other words, while my posts may be  interesting,(hopefully), they may not be so informative.

I am going to start with this...

DID YOU KNOW?

Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store.

If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.

Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil

It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!

Peppers with three bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating.

Peppers with four bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.

Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef.

It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.

To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of

spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat

Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic

and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic them up.

Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove,

Set heat to med-low and heat until warm. This keeps the crust crispy.

No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.

For easy deviled eggs, put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag.
Seal, mash until they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients,
reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy,
squeeze mixture into egg.Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.

For more fluffy frosting, when you buy a container of cake frosting from the store,
whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size.
You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount.
You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.

To reheat refrigerated bread, place them in a microwave with a cup of water.
The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.

To prevent weeds, wet newspapers, put layers around the plants,

overlapping as you go. Cover with mulch and forget about weeds.

Weeds will get through some gardening plastic but,

they will not get through wet newspapers.

When outdoors, place a dryer sheet in your pocket...

It will keep the mosquitoes away.

To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper.

The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.

To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge,

add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift-wrap roll to your vacuum.

It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress.

Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose.

Place pin in seam of slacks and ... ta da! ...static is gone.

Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot

water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient,

such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car

When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!

If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside,

just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.

Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream

and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner
you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.

To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2' with

Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dishwashing liquid; mix well.

You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!

Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,'

They can't digest it so it kills them.

It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works

and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

If you use dryer sheets, remember to wash the lint filter with soap and water
often to save the dryer and prevent dryer fires.

Most of these I knew but some of them I just learned..

SO...

even though it may be hard....

It IS possible to teach an "OLD DOG" new tricks!!!

LOVE,

GRAMMY<><

HOME MADE SIMPLE BOOK

Thanks to Andrea over at Mommy Snacks,

 I sent for my FREE
Home Made Simple Coupon Book,

There's over $35.00 worth
 of coupons in there!!!

I can't wait!!!

LOVE,

 GRAMMY<><

COUPON INSERT PREVIEW (10/11/09)

COUPON INSERT PREVIEW (10/11/09)

This is a preview of what’s going to be in this week’s coupon inserts.

It looks like we will have (1) Smart Source,
(1) Red Plum, and (1) P&G Saver.

Coupons very by region so your insert may be just a little different.
If you see something you like on this list that your inserts didn't have,
check out one of the Coupon Clipping sites and order some!

Smart Source (SS)

FOOD:

CANS/ JARS
$0.75/4 Campbell’s Chunky Soup Cans (exp.11/22/09)
$0.30/4 Campbell’s Condensed “Great for Cooking” Soups (exp.12/31/09)
$1.00/2 Crush, Diet or Regular (exp.11/30/09)
$1.50/1 Newman’s Own Organics Coffee or K-Cup (exp.12/26/09)
$0.50/1 Shop ‘n Save Can Tomatoes (exp.10/31/09)

FRIG.
$0.40/1 Bob Evans Breakfast Sandwiches (exp.12/13/09)
$0.35/1 Bob Evans Frozen Breakfast Item (exp.12/13/09)
$0.50/1 Breyers Inspirations Multipack Yogurt (exp.1/3/10)
$0.75/1 Breyers Swirled Lowfat Yogurt Disney Multipack (exp.1/3/10)
$0.55/1 Butterball Turkey Bacon (exp.12/31/09)
$0.55/1 Eckrich Smoked Sausage Product (exp.11/15/09)
$1.00/1 Farmland Special Select Sliced Ham or Ham Cubes (exp.12/31/09)
$2.00/1 Farmland Quarter Spiral Ham (exp.12/31/09)
$1.00/2 Farmland Sliced Bacon (exp.12/31/09)
$1.00/1 Hormel Refrigerated Entrées (exp.1/10/10)
$1.00/1 Nestle Toll House Refrigerated Cookie Dough (exp.11/30/09)
$0.50/1 Shop ‘n Save Shredded Cheese (exp.10/31/09)

FREEZER
$1.50/2 Birds Eye Voila (exp.11/21/09)
$1.50/1 Tyson Any’tizers Chicken Breast Chunks or Crispy Breaded Wings with Sauce Packets (exp.1/31/10)
$1.00/1 Tyson Frozen Breaded Chicken Bag (exp.1/11/10)
$0.55/1 Tyson Frozen Breaded Chicken Box (exp.1/11/10)

PACKAGED
$0.55/2 Duncan Hines Cake, Brownie Mix or Frosting (exp.1/31/10)
$0.55/1 Mentos Gum (exp.1/31/10)
$1.00/1 Ocean Spray Instant Oatmeal (exp.12/31/09)


NON-FOOD:
CLEANING
$4.00/1 Air Wick Freshmatic Ultra i-Motion Starter Kit or Compact i-Motion Starter Kit (exp-11/22/09)
$4.00/1 Air Wick Scented Oil i-Motion Starter Kit (exp.11/22/09)
$1.00/1 Air Wick Scented Oil Twin Refill (exp.11/22/09)
$0.35/1 Comet Soft Cleanser or Comet Spray Product (exp.12/11/09)
$0.25/1 Finish/Electrasol Powder or Gel (exp.11/8/09)
$0.50/1 Finish/Electrasol Quantum, Powerball Tabs or Gelpacs (exp.11/8/09)
HYGIENE/BEAUTY
$0.40/1 Ban Antiperspirant/Deodorant (exp.12/31/09)
$1.00/1 Biore Product (exp.12/31/09)
$3.00/1 Biore Skin Preservation Product (exp.12/31/09)
$0.75/1 Colgate Total, Max White, Max Fresh, Sensitive or Kids Toothpaste (exp.10/31/09)
$2.00/1 Curel Itch Defense Moisture Lotion (exp.12/31/09)
$0.75/1 Curel Moisturizer (exp.12/31/09)
$0.75/1 Jergens Moisturizer or Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer, Face or Body (exp.12/31/09)
$1.00/1 John Frieda Collection Product (exp.12/31/09)
$1.00/1 Playtex Gentle Glide Tampons, (exp.12/31/09)
$1.00/1 Playtex Sport Tampons (exp.12/31/09)
$2.00/1 Schick Disposable Razor Package (exp.11/22/09)
MEDICINE/HEALTH
$1.00/1 Mucinex Adult Product (exp.1/3/10)
$1.00/1 Mucinex Children’s Product (exp.1/3/10)
FREE Ricola Natural Mixed Berry with Vitamin C wyb Any Ricola Bag, 19-ct. (exp.11/8/09)
PAPER/PLASTIC
$0.75/1 Reynolds Parchment Paper (exp.12/31/09)
$0.85/1 Viva Towels Big Roll Package (exp.11/21/09)
$1.00/2 Wet Ones Wipes Canisters or Boxes of Singles (exp.1/11/10)

OTHER
BABY
$2.00/1 PediaSure (exp.12/31/09)

PETS
$3.00/1 Purina Chef Michael’s Canine Creations Bag Dry Dog Food (exp.11/23/09)
$1.50/1 Purina Dog Chow, Puppy Chow, Little Bites, Active Senior 7+, Healthy Morsels, Fit & Trim or Naturally Complete (exp.10/25/09)
B4G1 Purina Mighty Dog (exp.11/30/09)
$2.00/1 Purina One Dog Food (exp.12/10/09)
B1G1 Purina One Wholesome Entrées Dog Food (exp.12/10/09)
$3.00/1 Purina Pro Plan Dog Food (exp.12/31/09)
$1.00/1 Purina Tiny T Bonz, Beggin Littles or Busy Bone Mini Package (exp.1/10/10)
B1G1 Chef Michael’s Canine Creations Can Dog Food (exp.11/23/09)

RedPlum (RP)

FOOD:

CAN/JARS
$1.00/2 Jif Omega-3 Peanut Butter Products (exp.1/31/10)
$1.00/2 StarKist Pouch Products (exp.12/6/09)
$1.00/2 StarKist Sandwich-Ready Tuna Salad Pouches (exp.12/6/09)

FREEZER
$1.00/2 On-Cor Entrées (exp.12/31/09)

PACKAGED
$1.00/1 Betty Crocker Decorating Cookie Icing (exp.11/7/09)
$0.50/1 Hostess Snack Cakes (exp.12/31/09)
$1.00/2 M&Ms, Snickers, Milky Way, 3Musketeers, Twix, Skittles, Starburst, etc. (exp.10/31/09)
$0.75/2 Quaker Chewy Granola Bars Boxes (exp.12/31/09)

NON-FOOD:
HYGIENE/BEAUTY
$2.00/1 Lubriderm Body Lotion, Cream or Ointment (exp.12/31/09)
$1.00/1 Nivea Body Wash for Women (exp.12/31/09)
$1.00/1 Nivea for Men Energizing Face Scrub, Face Wash, Face Lotion or Post Shave Balm (exp.11/30/09)

MEDICINE/HEALTH
$7.00/2 Advantage Brands (exp.12/31/09)
$10.00/3 Advantage Brands (exp.12/31/09)
$3.00/1 Citrucel with SmartFiber Fiber Therapy Product (exp.12/31/09)
$2.00/1 Contac Cold & Flu Product (exp.12/31/09)
$2.00/1 Ecotrin Aspirin Therapy Product (exp.12/31/09)
$2.00/1 Gaviscon Antacid Product (exp.12/31/09)
$1.00/1 Nature’s Bounty Product (exp.11/25/09)
$2.00/1 Nature’s Bounty Your Life Men’s or Women’s Multi (exp.11/25/09)
$3.00/1 Os-Cal Calcium Supplement Product (exp.12/31/09)
$2.00/1 Phazyme Anti-Gas Product (exp.12/31/09)
$2.00/1 Visine Totality Multi-Sympton Relief or Total Eye Soothing Wipes (exp.1/31/10)

PAPER/PLASTIC
$1.00/1 Quilted Northern Soft & Strong or Quilted Northern Ultra Plush Bath Tissue (exp.11/28/09)

OTHER:
PETS
$1.00/1 Snausages Dog Snacks (exp.12/6/09)
$1.00/1 SnawSomes! Dog Snacks (exp.12/6/09)

P & G SAVER (PG)

NON-FOOD:
CLEANING
$1.00/1 Bounce Dryer Bar (exp.11/30/09)
$0.25/1 Bounce Sheets (exp.11/30/09)
$0.25/1 Downy Liquid Fabric Softener or Dryer Sheets (exp.11/30/09)
$0.30/1 Joy Product (exp.11/30/09)

HYGIENE/BEAUTY
$1.00/1 Aussie Product (exp.11/30/09)
$2.00/1 Clairol Natural Instincts or Loving Care (exp.11/30/09)
$1.00/1 CoverGirl Product (exp.11/30/09)
$0.75/1 Crest Toothpaste or Liquid Gel (exp.11/30/09)
B1G1 Herbal Essences Shampoo, Conditioner or Styler (exp.11/30/09)
$1.00/2 Olay Bodywashes, Bar Packs or In-Shower Body Lotions (exp.11/30/09)
$3.00/1 Olay Definity Facial Moisturizer or Facial Cleanser (exp.11/30/09)
$1.00/1 Olay Facial Moisturizer or Facial Cleanser (exp.11/30/09)
$1.00/2 Olay Hand or Body Lotions (exp.11/30/09)
$5.00/1 Olay Pro-X Product (exp.11/30/09)
$1.00/1 Oral-B Floss Pick, Satin Floss or Any Glide Product (exp.11/30/09)
$0.75/1 Oral-B Pulsar, CrossAction or Advantage Toothbrush (exp.11/30/09)
$1.00/2 Pantene Products (exp.11/30/09)
$0.75/1 Scope Mouthwash (exp.11/30/09)

MEDICINE/HEALTH
$1.00/1 Vicks Formula 44 Custom Care (exp.11/30/09)
$1.00/1 Vicks NyQuil or DayQuil (exp.11/30/09)
$3.00/1 Prilosec OTC (exp.11/30/09)
 

Now to get busy and match them up!



LOVE,
GRAMMY<><

ORGANIZING COUPONS

Many people ask me how I organize my coupons.

Before I share my method with you, let me just say;

THERE'S NO RIGHT OR WRONG WAY

TO ORGANIZE COUPONS!

I am giving a coupon class next week.

I have invited two other "COUPON QUEENS"        

to explain their method

(different from each other’s and mine)

to the class

WHATEVER SYSTEM WORKS FOR YOU IS THE BEST!

I have tried MANY systems for organizing my coupons.

They have ALL failed me in one way or another.

The one I use has failed me the least…so, that is why I use it.

It is the BINDER/BASEBALL CARD HOLDERS System.

The “down side” to this system is time consuming to set up,

however, once it is set up, it doesn’t take long to maintain.

* I get 2 papers delivered. (More about this on another post)

I buy more if there’s going to be lots of coupons.

(Sometimes, I have up to 7 or 8 of each page)

* I match the pages together so I can clip them at the same time.

* I keep a shoebox with index cards for dividers

(in case I don’t have time to put the coupons in the binder)

* I lay the index cards out on the dining room table and

as I clip each coupon, I separate them by categories.

* I put the coupons into their proper place in the binder

and I’m ready to shop!

  I HAVE THREE MAIN CATAGORIES--

FOOD, NON-FOOD and OTHER

                                           UNDER FOOD:

                                            1. CANS/JARS

                                            2. FRIG.

                                            3. FREEZER

                                            4. PACKAGED

                                            5. PRODUCE

                                           UNDER NON FOOD:

                                            1. CLEANING

                                            2. HYGIENE/BEAUTY

                                            3. MEDICINE/HEALTH

                                            4. PAPER/PLASTIC

                                            5. SCHOOL/OFFICE/ETC

                                           UNDER OTHER:

                                            1. BABY

                                            2. PETS
                                            3. RESTURAUNTS/STORES

                                            4. MISCELANIOUS

                                            5. GIVE AWAY

I have “sub-categories” under each category

(I know… it sounds obsessive)

Then they are alphabetized by brand.

(I know…. it sounds REALLY obsessive)

I have learned (the hard way) that when you use this system,

it’s better if you don’t “pull” the coupons.

You just make a note next to the items on your list

of which coupons you are going to use

and how many you have.

Then, as you put the item in your cart,

you get the coupon(s) from the binder

and put it in an envelope or pocket of your binder.

When you are ready to check out…there’s all your coupons.

The best part is if you don’t use a coupon,

you don’t have to re-file it!

BOTTOM LINE-

When I am in the store and

something I use all the time is on an

“Unadvertised Special”,

And I quickly flip through the binder

and find that coupon that makes it

“FREE or NEARLY FREE”,

IT IS WORTH EVERY MINUTE I SPEND ORGANIZING!!!!

How do you organize your coupons?

I would love to hear from you about your method.

Just leave me a comment!

LOVE,

GRAMMY <><>

Super Deal on Baby Einstein DVDs (TODAY ONLY)

+++UPDATE+++ THIS IS TODAY SAT. (SEPT 26) ONLY.
Charlene at My Frugal Adventures  has posted a great deal on

BABY EINSTEIN DVDs

at Toys R Us and Babys R Us. 

The Baby Eistein DVDs (Reg.-$14.99) are on sale-

"Buy one get one free". 

That's a pretty good deal.

BUT, they also have a promotion going on-

Buy 2 DVDs and get $10.00 off at the checkout.

Now, that's a GREAT deal!

2 Baby Einstein DVDs for $4.99 total = $2.50 each!!!

I think this sounds like a great deal for a Grammy,

or for anyone that needs a gift!

(You might want to call your store first to see if they still have some)

Go here for additional information.

LOVE GRAMMY<><

Breaking News: Biggs to TRIPLE!

Little Miss know It All  just announced that Biggs is going to tripple coupons on October 2nd - 5th!!!  

Ready...Set...Clip, Print, Organize, Shop....SAVE!

Time to STOCKPILE!!!

Go here to learn more.

Happy Shopping!!


LOVE,
GRAMMY<><