Lighting Update DIY

I have been working on a new, brighter look for our home, and this time I tackled the lighting. Being on a budget, I decided to give my current light fixture a lift rather than purchasing a whole new light fixture. So, I went to Lowe's and purchased a can of Rustoleum spray paint for about $6. I simply took off the shades, wiped the fixture down with a wet rag and started slowly and evenly spraying. After watching for drips and all surfaces were covered, I left it hanging outside in the sunshine for faster drying time. So, if you have one hour and $6 to spare, you too can update your room making the old new, bringing the fab out of the drab!    

        

Free Fruit at Publix

This weekend at Publix catch a great deal on oatmeal and fruit. Quaker products are 50% off. So, print two Target coupons for .75 off Quaker cereal. Next go to the Publix website and print a coupon from the weekly ad coupon section for $3 off fresh fresh fruit when you buy two Quaker products. So, get two boxes of Quaker oatmeal for $1.50 total and weight out $3 of fruit which you get FREE!

Art from the Heart

I have an inexpensive, art from the heart project that will make you and your kids smile today...fingerpainting! If your walls are too bare or you like to give personalized gifts, this may be the answer. I purchased a canvas at a thrift store for $1 and painted over it with white spray paint to cover the image. After drying, simply use painters tape to make an image or word that you want to standout on your canvas. Next, get the kids and finger paint and let them colorfully conquer the canvas. When they are finished, slowly peel up tape and let the masterpiece dry. If you can find an inexpensive ornate frame at a thrift store it would enhance the beauty even more. Use any color scheme or canvas size; the possibilities are endless! With Mother's Day around the corner, maybe give this a try for the grandmothers in your life? 

CHEAP Baby Formula

There are some awesome coupons available for print right now that will get you some super cheap baby formula at Publix if your store accepts Target competitor coupons. First, print two of the $4/1 Gerber formula coupons from the weekly ad coupon section on the Publix website. Next head to Target's website and print two of the 25% off Gerber formula coupons as well as the $5/$20 of Nestle products (of which Gerber formula is) You should be able to combine all of these to get a really awesome buy on a typically expensive necessity! If you do not use this, it is a great opportunity to buy for the purpose of donating to mommy's who need it. 

Publix Organics Deals

I was at Publix today for the start of their new weekly ad and noticed a few nice surprise deals on organics I thought I'd pass along...

Publix Greewise Organic Coffee Beans $4.19 per bag- I looove their French Roast! This is better than a sale plus coupon sometimes on coffee that is not even organic!

Publix Greenwise Milk Gallon $5.19- I happen to have a $1/1 coupon from their baby club making it an even better deal

Sambazon Juice $2.50- find the $1/1 coupon for more savings

Also, I know Boca Burgers are not an organic brand, but they are B1G1 and if you match the Publix digital coupon you can get a box of meatless burgers for .75! We looove the 'chicken' patties as they are kid friendly and I don't have to worry about antibiotics & hormones in the meat substitute.

Superhero Standoff

My husband was telling me about a conversation he had with our 3 year old daughter about our savior Jesus Christ. He said that Jesus died for us, rescuing us from eternal death so we could live with Him forever and how we now have the power of His Holy Spirit living in us. Out of this, she understood that Jesus Christ is our super hero and that we have His super powers too. She even said that she wants to die also. I do not know that her little mind articulated that spiritually, she will die and live with His Spirit forever, but I couldn't help think 'maybe so'. Wow. We adults make things waaay too complicated. I mean, God says to come to Him like little children, so what better example than the life of my own children?! I think of all the Marvel Comic superheros, Spiderman, Batman, Superman, ect. In all of these stories, there is a fight between good and evil with crazy, extraordinary powers flying all over the place. This is real; this is the world we live in. The cool thing about this colorful comic book revelation, is that we can choose to participate without fear, knowing the bad guy will never win. I envision a small paper comic page with Jesus trampling Satan's head and a word bubble encompassing the onomatopoeia, 'BAM! SPLONK! POW!!!' Can you see it? If you can, grab a sword and let His super powers charge through you...all the glory to God! Now, where did I put my cape??

God's Numbers

Yesterday was all about the number 3, as my sweet little girl celebrated this sizzling, fresh age. (Congratulations, by the way, to the Cochran Family for winning the Amazon gift card giveaway in honor of the celebration!) As the day went on, my mind turned more and more over the significance of the number 3 on both a spiritual and biblical level. John 4:23 tells us the Father is seeking those who will, 'worship Him in spirit and truth.' This combined with God being the author and creator of ALL, even numbers brings a fun element to the prayer in Matthew 6:10, 'Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven'. So where is the God link of something so ordinary in the world, yet so alive in the Spirit? If you do a little digging, it is easy to see that the number 3 appears many times in the Bible, all in significant matters. After researching, I found 3 to be representative of completeness. I do not know exactly what this means in my daughters life, except that I will now pray specifically in this year that His work in her will be done in His complete timing and complete ways without interference or distraction. How exciting is that?! I just found another clue on a super crazy and glorious scavenger hunt! Have you ever thought about how something as simple as a number could mean so much more than it appears? What significance do numbers have in your life? I'm beginning to think they are all just shiny little treasures waiting for the dusty haze to be blown off the top of their glossy surface...on earth as it is in heaven!!

Let's Celebrate...$20 Amazon Card

Bright bursts of confetti and balloons adorn the room like colorful rainbow sprinkles atop a decadent chocolate cupcake. My sweet little girl is turning 3 in a few days and in honor of this momentousness celebration, I am hosting a giveaway for YOU! I am giving away a $20 Amazon Gift Card to one reader and to enter you must simply be a follower of Merry, Mary, Marry! and make a comment to win. Not a reader yet? Well come on and start following! The winner will be announced the evening of Monday, April 8th. Now come on and let's CELEBRATE LIFE!

Thrift Store Furniture Makeover

This was my first thrift store furniture makeover and it left me thinking, 'Why have I not done this before now?!' I suppose the reason is I felt like I would mess it up, or not know how to achieve what I wanted but truth is, there are enough websites and tutorials available to make anyone a professional. So, I found this vintage side table (see the cute lil' wheels!) for $14.99 not knowing what I'd do with it, but knowing it was a total steal and scooped it up without question. Next, I purchased my supplies: 

Oil based enamel paint- as it's more durable for furniture that will get heavy traffic (about $10 at Lowes) paint brush ($1 dollar store) and a container of Wipe On Poly (about $10 at Lowes) I already had sandpaper and after the project was done have lots of paint & poly leftover for future projects. So, lightly sand the table and then wipe dust away with wet rag. After dry, get to painting (with gloves!). There is really no right or wrong way to do this. This process took me about an hour start to finish. After the table has fully dried & no longer was sticky, I came back with my sand paper and simple rubbed random places until I got the look I wanted to achieve. Finally, use a rag to apply Wipe On Poly for a seal. Simple as that! If you are like me, you may be your own worst critic. But, if I may say, you will never know the amazing possibilities unless you TRY and may actually surprise yourself. Fun project, supporting small local business, inexpensive new furniture and another wrinkle in my brain....good day.

Sesame Ginger Rice Noodle Salad

Wow, I am so excited to have stumbled into this meal and share it with you because it is absolutely delicious! This was not planned, but came out of random ingredients on hand so you can interchange them as to what you have already. I cooked 1 package of rice noodles and then refrigerated them. Next I shaved 1 carrot and steamed 1 package of sugar snap peas. Once the noodles are cold, mix vegetables with noodles and 1 small bottle of sesame ginger dressing. Finally, I tore up 1 package of roasted, seasoned seaweed into small pieces and mixed in along with sesame seeds. I like a little crunch in my salad and happened to have some fried onions to put on top as well. That's it! This fresh and fabulous meal will easily cost less than $5 total and feed 4 people. Some other ingredient ideas that may be nice to play around with are chicken, tofu, pork, peanuts, corn and broccoli. What's your spin on it?

Easy DIY Compost Bin

The best way to give your garden an organic boost is to add your own home grown compost to your soil. This is as simple as keeping a container on your kitchen counter to place all of your vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, paper & egg shells in and then carrying it out to your compost bin which would have your leaves and grass clippings in as well. Compost bins can be pretty pricey-until now. We spent $15 on a new trash can and lid then simply drilled holes down the sides and on the bottom for the organic matter to breathe. Every few days, put a bungee cord on the top to secure lid, tip the bin on it's side and roll around in the yard to mix your compost. Easy on the eyes, good for your crop, cheap & good exercise! If you are curious for more information, there is a great book, Composting For Dummies for a few dollars on Amazon that will educate you on the matter. 

Gutter Garden How To

Since the warm weather has arrived, my hands have been busy with Spring projects, rather than inside typing blogs. As a result, the gutter garden is finally up and this is what it looks like. Hooray! So, if you have limited ground space, a bad back, or pesky strawberry eating rabbits, you may want to consider gardening like this. So, the price break down is about $6.50 for the gutter, about $3 per end cap, 3 brackets at $1.50 (prevent sagging) each and some aluminum wire for about $2. (I brought my list to Lowes and they helped me find everything as I was clueless.) This brings the total to about $17.50, plus soil and seeds of course. Simply drill hols in the bottom of the gutter for drainage, as well as 2 holes in the back of the gutter to run your wire through to hang. Attach your 3 brackets to the top of the gutter before you hang, and run the wire through the bracket hols that a screw would normally go through. Simple as that! I have planted strawberries, arugula, butter crisp lettuce & collard greens. Once my crop has beautifully peaked for my salad plate, I will report back with photos. In the mean time, merry gardening! 

Organic Vegetable Seeds Deal

If you are thinking like me, Spring cannot get here any faster. There are 1001 magnificent things about the coming of Spring's dazzling dance, but the one I am on the edge of my seat about is gardening! If you have not already purchased seeds for your vegetable garden, I found an awesome deal you may want to scoop up. Get 13 organic vegetable seed varieties for only $1.22 each and FREE Super Saver shipping with the Ferry Morse Organic Vegetable Garden package. I have never been able to find organic seeds priced this low so this is a real steal! If your a newbie to gardening, I am excited for you! A garden does take work, but once you taste the rewards you will never turn back. If you are still not sure, think of what  can save on your grocery bill!

Renewed Mind

I am redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ

Darkness lurking my way better recognize

I am the daughter of a King

It is over me you hear Him sing

Songs of victory and joy

His Holy Spirit I will employ

In the daily battles of my mind

Love is patient Love is kind

In my weakness He is strong

No greater Love than this will ever come along

FREE Les Misérables eBook

If you are an eBook reader and like a good story of redemption, you may enjoy the classic tale of Les Misérables  at no monetary expense now through Amazon. Yes, the film is out in theaters and is all the rave, but reading it may have an even more profound impact for you. Why not, it's FREE?!

FREE Fruit & Vitamins

Thanks to help from iheartpublix.com I have a couple FREE deals for you to scoop up at Publix right now. Not only can you save lots on these deals, but you can have money donated to the charity of your choice in the process. So, log into your account at commonkindness.com and print the $1/1 Sundown Vitamin and .50/1 Del Monte Fruit Naturals Mango Cup coupons through the Redplum link. Remember you can print each coupon twice. Then, cut the 2 of the $3/1 Sundown Vitamin coupons from the current Green Advantage Buy flyers available at Publix. By doing this, you can get 2 FREE bottles of vitamins that are priced at $3.99, as well as 2 FREE cups of mangoes when your coupon doubles at the current 10/$10 price. 

FREE Printable Love Notes

Happy Valentine's Day friends! The day is still young if you want to do something simple and sweet for a sweetie in your life. I found some fun, FREE downloads to print at home for cute lil' love notes. Follow this link from Paper Coterie: 

http://www.papercoterie.com/blog/love-note-printables/ 

Get 2 pages of colorful love notes to cut, paste, and craft with. Or, simply hide them around your home for your loved one, or lil' loved ones to find in a joyful moment of surprise.

CHEAP Dog Treats

I got my Sunday paper at Kroger this morning for only $1.50 as it was 25% off and then was happy to find Beggin' Strips coupons to match a current sale at Publix. So, if you need dog treats, clip the $2 off Beggin' Strips coupon from today's paper and combine with $1 off Target printable coupon to get the treats for .69 each after the current buy one get one free sale! 

A Merry Heart

(Pro 17:22)  A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

I have heard people say that happy people live longer and I know there are many studies that allude to this idea. But, what better proof than the living Word itself? Choosing to have joy in our hearts and the Holy Spirit working in us, produces a remedy unknown to the medical world. Not only do we live eternally with Jesus in Heaven, but we can let His Spirit renew our minds and bodies on a daily basis. He is real and He is powerful. Let's choose His power over circumstance today and be merry in Christ Jesus!

K-Cups Deal

If you drink  K-Cups for Keurig Brewers you may like the current deal on Amazon Warehouse. Get 48 cups of Timothy's Midnight Magic coffee for .68 each, a total of $33.03 with free shipping included! 

SUPER CHEAP Diapers

There is an AWESOME diaper deal you won't want to miss on  Luvs at Amazon Warehouse for only .09 cents per diaper! Get a box of 264 diapers for just $26.13. You cannot even find off brand diapers for this cheap. It is specifically for size 1, so if you have a little one or a baby shower coming up, grab the deal before it's gone. Remember, the box may be damaged, but the diapers will be untouched. Also, get free shipping if your purchase is over $25, or with Amazon Mom or Amazon Prime. If you have to pay for diapers, may as well pay a lot less right?

A Royal Feast

(Pro 15:15)  All the days of the afflicted are evil, But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

This verse is a simple road map for the day and tells us that the journey begins in the heart. Afflicted is another word for depressed, or poor in Spirit. If we wake up feeling poor in Spirit, but know Jesus, we can hopefully remember that the depressed feeling is not of God and call it out to flee. Jesus is the exact opposite; more rich in Spirit than we probably have actually realized-and we have access to that treasure! So, let's choose to be merry in our hearts (because it is an intentional choice) and feast on the day as the royalty we are in Christ Jesus. 

Cheap Organic Produce

While in Kroger today, I noticed some great organic produce deals to pass along...

Organic Gala Apples .99 lb
Organic 3 lb bagged Russet Potatoes $1.99
Organic 5 lb bagged Carrots $3.99

Also, if you subscribe to Earthboundfarms.com email for the weekly coupon, you can use the current $1/2 earthbound farms products coupon on a deal like I found. The organic kale clam shell packages were on manager special for $1.85 each. So, after purchasing 2 of these at the special price and using my coupon, I really spent $1.35 each!

.19 Cents Organic Snack Bar

If you haven't done so yet, you totally need to scoop up the organic, gluten free snack bars at Kroger now through this Saturday. Here's how: Good 'N Natural snack bars are part of the 10 item mega event and are .39 each with this deal. Next, log into your account at Common Kindness to print coupons for $1.50 off every 6 bars you purchase (while the company is in return donating $$ to the organization of your choice) and get each bar for .19 each.  I have had the Cranberry Almond flavor and found them quite delicious-especially to be gluten free, organic and no fake ingredients! So, get your 2 prints from your personal computer which is 12 bars, and find 8 other items in the mega event you can get for free or cheap-such as 4 free toothbrushes & 4 free packs of dental floss. Here's the link page for your coupon: http://www.commonkindness.com/printable-coupons-4

DIY No Sew Draped Shade

Need something on your windows but don't have much money to spare? This may be the perfect project for you! I made this draped shade for under $10 and it involved no sewing at all. You could make yours for much less depending on the fabric you choose as that is where your expense is. So, all you need is a tension rod ($2), no sew tape ($3) fabric, ribbon and an iron. Follow the instructions on the no sew tape to make nice seams on all sides according to the length you need. After your seams are made, hang on tension rod and drape 2 pieces of ribbon over the rod so the ribbon is on both back and front sides of the fabric. Finally, tie your ribbon up as high as you would like your shade to drape from. Done! If you need privacy, simple untie the ribbon. 

I got the idea from a draped shade on Urban Outfitters but did not have $34 per window to spend. Quick saving tip- I got my supplies at Hobby Lobby and printed a 40% off coupon for 1 non sale item. Print your coupon before you head to the store in case the fabric you love is not on sale. 

Coupon Class Success

Yesterday, I was privileged to be accompanied by 6 sweet women to discuss 'Coupon 101'. It was sooo much fun and a great success. I walked away feeling so blessed that God would give me something as silly as coupon-ing to share with others, while making the most of the provision God continually provides. Whether you read my random string of thoughts from time to time or follow this blog all together, thank you for joining in on the fun of the journey. Hoping you find a joy filled blessing to hold on to!

'Catch All' Rice Casserole

Rice casserole is a GREAT 'catch all' recipe for dinner that is sure to be tasty, simple, inexpensive and healthy. This meal cost me about $2.50 to make and feeds 4 people. Of course the cost will vary depending on the vegetables and meat you choose. If you do not already, subscribe to emails from Earthbound Farms for a weekly produce coupon. I got 2 bags of organic carrots for .20  each after using my printable savings. The casserole pictured here is 2 cups brown rice (you can get white rice FREE at Publix right now-see iheartpublix.com) which I precooked. Then I added 2 cans cream of mushroom soup which I got for .30 each on the current sale at Kroger or Publix, 1 diced carrot, 1 C peas, 1/2 diced onion, handful of spinach that needed to be used up and 1 package of Seitan which is a wheat protein, meat substitute, I got on Manager Special at Kroger for $1.50. Simply mix it all together with salt and pepper, top with cheese and bread crumbs if you'd like and bake covered in foil until carrots are softened, about 50 minutes at 350. Do you have a different version of rice casserole I should try?

Versatile Loaded Potato

If you are in need of an inexpensive, versatile meal, loaded potatoes may be a nice meal for you to put on the week's menu. You can get a 5lb bag of organic russet potatoes for $2.99 at Publix through Tuesday and top it with any number of things. Your meat lovers may like chili, cheddar and sour cream or barbecued chicken with caramelized onions on top of their potato. I like a variety of sauteed vegetables with crumbed blue cheese and freshly chopped herbs. The possibilities are endless and work great with whatever may be on sale or leftover in your refrigerator. Regardless of what you choose, you can surely get a delicious dinner for $1 per person if you plan wisely. 

FREE Egg Beaters TODAY

If you shop at Kroger, there is a download today only for FREE egg white Egg Beaters. The download is today only onto your Kroger card through their website once you log in. You do not have to actually make the transaction today, but only the download. Personally, I have never used this product, but I'm sure I know someone who would, or can find a simple recipe online for it. 

FREE at Kroger

There are A LOT of freebies at Kroger right now, not even mentioning all the super cheap items with the Mega Price Event they have going one. If you want a nice shortcut, iheartkroger.com lists the sale items plus the link you can print the coupon from. Or, you can hunt them out yourself using Kroger's website and print from swagbucks.com for added benefits. These are the following items which are FREE right now (and I believe another week as well) after you print the coupon and combine with the sale: Chex Mix, Heluva Good Dip, Little Debbie Danish, Martha White Muffin Mix, Wolfgang Puck Iced Coffee, Reach Floss & Reach Toothbrushes. If you happen to have a few quarters in your pocket, you can also stock up on boxes of Mom's Best Cereal and individual Balance Bars at .25 each! 

Morningstar Farms CHEAP

If you have not already, tomorrow is the last day to get a few boxes of Morningstar Farms products for only .50 each at Publix. Their in store yellow 'Healthy New Food Year' is valid through the end of tomorrow which has a coupon for $2 off 1 Morningstar Farms purchase. I am combining this with a printable $1.50 off coupon from Kellogg's Family Rewards (1,000 points) to get mytotal down to .50 each. The meatless crumbles are great for taco nights or meat-ish loaf, while the black bean and veggie burgers are great for an inexpensive gourmet burger night. 

FREE Kellogg's at Publix

You will want to make a quick stop in Publix this Saturday or Sunday to take advantage of their 50% off Kellogg's sale on cereal and Pop-Tarts. I hope you have been saving your Kellogg's Family Rewards Points found on the inside of marked boxes because now is the time to redeem them! If not, you can start now and enter any codes that may be in your pantry. For 1,000 points you can redeem a coupon for $1.50 off 1 box of Pop-tarts or a box of Kellogg's cereal. Make sure you get your double prints with the refresh or back browser button. Pop-Tarts at my Publix location are $1.95 per box, which means this weekend they will be .97 each. So, when I use my $1.50 off coupon, not only will I get FREE Pop-Tarts, I will also get .53 in overage applied to the rest of my grocery bill for each box I purchase! Whether it be my pantry or someone else's, this is a deal to stock up on!

New Publix Freebies & Cheapies

I am one of those fortunate shoopers whose Publix allows competitor's coupons such as Target. I noticed that Target has some new coupons to print, as well as in store that make for some great deals at Publix right now. Here's they are:

Quaker Perfect Portions Oatmeal- Get 2 bags FREE & 2 bags for .25 each. Currently they are 2/$3 at Publix with a peelie coupon on the package for $1/2. Print 2 copies of each Target coupon: .75/1 Quaker product & $1/2 Quaker products, combine & voila!

Lean Cuisine Salad Additions: Currently $2 each at Publix with lots of coupons available to print online. Combine that with this coupon from Target: Free Fresh Express Salad wyb 2 Lean Cuisine Salad Additions. You should get a dinner for 4 out of this scenario for under $2!

Campbell's: Tons of Campbell's deals swirling around with tons of coupons to find and print online. Combine these with the coupon Target has available: Buy 2 Campbells Soups & get a FREE Swanson broth. *Note, the coupon does not say it excludes organic so I'm going to try for that!

I Wants

The other day I found myself getting so tired of hearing the words, 'I want' clammering off my daughter's mouth. 'I want a snack. I want ice cream. I want to go down the slide.' And so it goes all the day long, I want, I want, I want. Thankfully,God's sweet Spirit stopped and gave me a double check once over of myself. He said, ' You know I hear the same words coming from your mouth all day too.' GASP???! Why was I so shocked? It is totally true and I had a splinter the size of a redwood tree in my eye. God hears my whiny inner voice saying, 'I want a break. I want a new couch. I want the sun to come out. I want new red designer flats in a size 6 pleeeeease.' I may even have a case of the I wants worse than my precious daughter. Thank you Jesus for gently putting me in my place. I need to turn my wants into gratitude for what I already have, and one day hopefully the same trend will be seen by my children. Thank you Lord for a new day with new mercies, and a little less I wants. 

Coffee & Coupon 101

After many requests of how to get the grocery bill down while bringing savings up, I have marked a date and time for us to coupon over coffee. Sunday, January 27th at 4pm I'll be at Panera off Hwy 31 in Franklin to explain the spinning details of the coupon web. Several people have told me they get overwhelmed just thinking about couponing, which is understandable because it is A LOT of information. But like most great things, it takes time and practice to build on what you know and along the way. Plus, you simply cannot lose since you are always saving something. It's a win-win game! So, you have to start somewhere right? Let's start together! Let me know if you want to join us for the fun. 

A Challenge Worth Taking

I have challenged myself to something I want you invite you into as well. I've been thinking a lot lately about relationships in general and the people that God places in my life. When I looked in detail at my week's activities, I realized that some weeks I see the employees at the grocery store more than anyone else outside of my household. Wow, right?!  So, why the heck do I not know these people by name and have relationships with them that are real and meaningful?? So, when I go shopping this week, I am going to ask people's names, remember them, and call them by name in the future. I know that is what I would want if I were them. They are not shadows of my shopping experience, but special people with incredible stories waiting to be told and loved on. Who would ever say no to that? I know it may not be convenient or comfortable at first, but what really is that is worth the dive? Will you join me?

FREE at Publix NOW

This week at Publix you can score FREE baby food, black olives and gluten free bread among other super cheap deals. I like to use iheartpublix.com for easy to find deals and she as the coupon links attached to the sale items for you (as early as Mon for the Wed ad) So, if you use the links she provides and can get double prints on them all, you should be able to get 12 free Beechnut Stage 4 Foods as well as 2 Rudi's Gluten free breads when combined with the Buy One Get One Free sale. Stock up and save with a merry step along the way.  

Gourmet Burger Goodness

Can you believe this meal was made for 4 people for a total of $2.00?! My full belly can testify to it's goodness-both nutritionally and tastefully. Here's the breakdown: 1 package of frozen black bean burgers ($1.50 sale + coupons), free burger buns, 1/2 an onion caramelized in 1 TBS butter, 8 strips of turkey bacon (.50 for the package sale + coupons), free fresh spinach & mayonnaise on the bun. Coleslaw was free too with a recent sale + coupons, pickles were in the fridge to be used. If you want to try something similar, there is a great $2 off Morningstar Farms coupon in the Publix Yellow Advantage Buy flyer now that you can combine with a $1.50 off printable coupon from Kellogg's rewards for a really great deal. I also come across fresh veggie burgers on Manager Special at Kroger often in the section you would find tofu. This is a versatile meal that will satisfy your budget and your dinner guests simultaneously! 

Matching Socks?

Between my curious kids and the monster feasting on socks in my dryer, I do not ever seem to have a clean, matching pair of socks. Most days, a matching pair of socks is the least of my concern while my children are teaching each other how to twist off the milk cap and watch the epic splash on the floor. I suppose I could look at this as an opportunity to live more freely, not caring what people may think of me or my children and our wacky mis-matched socks. I realize that the very thought of this may be horrifying while imagining the warped stares of strangers  directed at your feet. So this got me thinking, am I the only one who does not always wear matching socks? Come on, be honest now. I mean where did the idea of matching socks come from in the first place? I suppose it's a social standard we all walked into without ever thinking twice. So, if you come across someone without matching socks, think twice before giving judgement. Perhaps the act of wearing socks alone is an achievement, or maybe they walk in a freedom that is waiting for you to explore. 

Saving Star?

I am wondering if any of you use or have heard reports of using Saving Star? I have heard of it, but never branched into this digital means of savings. I signed up because I got 50 Swagbucks points to do so (getting me closer to more Amazon money, hence free diapers) So, from what I understand, after signing up, I choose the participating stores in my area, enter the store's card number (like my Kroger Card) and then load coupons onto the store card. The site also said after I save $5 in coupons through Saving Star, I get a $5 Amazon card as well-BONUS! So, I am wondering if anyone has experience with Saving Star? Are coupons ever doubled? Can store coupons be paired with Saving Star coupons? If you have some helpful insight I sure would appreciate it! I am bummed that Publix does not participate, but maybe this is an opportunity to tap into more savings elsewhere. 

Opinions = Gift Cards

If you like to write and like to give opinions, you may enjoy getting paid to do just that. I have been a member of an online product review site for a few years now called Viewpoints that pays out in Amazon Gift Cards for written, qualifying product reviews. At the moment, you can write 5 reviews for a $5 Amazon gift card. If you already use Swagbucks.com for printing your coupons to then redeem Amazon gift cards like I do, you know your Amazon bank grows quickly. If you are curious, head to this link for more information:

http://www.viewpoints.com/thegoods/Viewpoints-5-for-5?utm_source=reviews_surveys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=5_for_5_01112013

FREE eBook & The Winner Is...

Congratulations and many thanks to The Cochran Family for entering the Shutterfly Photo Prints Package! Stay tuned for another giveaway to come in the near future. In the mean time, I found a fun, FREE Kindle book for all of you to scroll through this weekend, Tongue Twisters for Kids on Amazon. If you are not a kid person, this could potentially be fun for a long rod trip, or maybe even a night in with cocktails. I mean seriously, how many times can you say 'hiccup teacup'?! Try it, you may end up with a smile on your face.

How Does Your Garden Grow

You know the best way to cut down your grocery bill & ensure chemical free, nutritious food in your home is to grow it yourself?! I know, sounds crazy right? Not really. Gardening can be as simple as you would like it to be. If you have never tried gardening, or think your thumb is black, I challenge you to give gardening another go.  You do not need a a plot of land to grow herbs or vegetables, and container gardens are not confined only to pots. Gutters, rain boots and even cinder blocks have proven to yield beautiful results with a little soil, a lot of love and sunshine, and a tiny seed. If you have children, gardening is especially fun for tiny hands and big imaginations. So, how does your garden grow? I mentioned a while back about my gutter garden, which I have now purchased supplies for (about $10 total and is ready for me to secure on my fence. When it is up and going and will give you more details. Hopefully my gutter gardening photos will have lettuce, greens and strawberries flowing from it's plastic sides rather than the usual boring rain water. What are your gardening goals for this Spring? 

Organic Cranberries Deal

I was excited to find organic cranberries on sale for $1 per bag at Kroger today- and then even MORE excited to get them FREE after they were rang up incorrectly. I am so glad a took a second to read my receipt before leaving the store. Do you?? Cranberries freeze really well and are quite scrumptious in a muffin with some orange zest. If you are not much for the kitchen, incorporate them into your decor with a beautiful glass vase and candles. Hopefully you can find the same deal!

Juice & Bacon Coupons

There are 2 coupons I just stumbled upon that you can match up for a great deal at Publix right now on bacon & on juice. Get a 32 ounce bottle of blood orange juice for .60 by printing this coupon http://noblecitrus.com/coupon/images/coupon-high-res.pdf which matched the BOGO sale. Did you know this amazing flavorful juice is the BEST margarita mixer ever?! Also, get turkey bacon for .50 a pack by going to Jennie-O Facebook page, liking them and printing $1 off bacon coupon to match the BOGO sale right now, good through Tuesday. 

Meatish-Loaf

Dinner at the Bennett's is Meat-ish Loaf tonight. This meal is an inexpensive, nutritious & delicious option that feeds four for under $5. Wondering what the 'ish' part is? I'll tell you...I mixed 1 pound organic ground beef ($2.99  at Kroger on sale) with 1 package  of non-gmo soy crumbles also found at Kroger, on sale for $1.49. Instead of using an egg, I substituted 1 TBS ground flax seed mixed with 3 TBS water. Then I mixed in 1/2 C oats and 1/3 C water along with salt and pepper to taste. Finally I added 1 shredded carrot & 1/4 chopped onion to the mixture, put in a loaf pan and topped it with a sauce made of ketchup, dijon mustard and brown sugar. Barbecue sauce is also a great option.  Then bake at 350 for about an hour, or until firm and the loaf pulls away from the sides of the pan. I'm serving it with garlic mashed potatoes, corn and rolls, but this dinner will go with almost anything you have on hand. If you try it, let me know how it goes. I'd also love some new meatloaf recipes if you've got one!

New Publix Ad, More Freebies

The new Publix ad starts today through next Tuesday with lots of deals to be had. I am still stocking up on FREE vitamins by Sundown and Nature's Made by combining printed coupons by manufactures and Target to combine with Advantage Buy Flyer coupons found in store. Today Centrum vitamins go on sale for 25% off which I have lots of coupons to match with. I have no need personally for all these vitamins (8 bottles so far), so my husband is going to find out if the missions team at church may be able to use them. There is always someone in need somewhere right? I love that clipping coupons is not only a way to save money, but fulfill needs of nourishment in the process!

Who's Hat is That?

I've been thinking a lot about friends lately and this got me digging around in the Bible to see what God has to say about a friend. I was a little surprised that when searching back to the original Hebrew and Greek meanings of the word 'friend', the definition kept bringing me to the word 'husband.' Hmmm. This makes me stop and really think...and then just be in awe of God's plans for all of us. It is in His design for our spouse to be our friend, I would even suggest our BEST friend. I am often guilty at looking so hard for something right under my nose...friendship. I have lots of friends which I am so blessed by and I am totally not discrediting that, or any one of them. You know how you just sometimes have those emotional days or frustrating days or moments when you just want to call your friend and vent, cry, or scream (maybe all at once?) But if you are like me, sometimes a text doesn't get very far and a voice mail will not do and an email may get spammed. Let's face it, we all live busy lives and no one is at fault for doing so. All the while, I have my husband, my friend, who I could call on and in a moment's time would listen to, hold tight and love on me. I think I sometimes get wrapped in the lie of society and media that a spouse is somehow less than when the truth is that our spouse is capable of more than we realize. Yes, being married comes with a lot of hats to wear the longer the knot is tied, but we are equipped  by God's sweet Spirit for any type of hat from the sombrero to the fedora. My sweet son loves to wears hats. He struts proudly around our home exclaiming, 'Hat! Hat!' with anything on his head from a colander to a brassiere. Maybe as spouses, we should be a little more childlike and dare to wear (or give) the 'Best Friend Hat'- whatever that looks like, to our spouse. I bet it fits better than we realize... probably looks pretty good too! 

FREE Vitamins at Publix

There are 2 awesome deals for you to swoop up at Publix right now that involve FREE  vitamins for adults and vitamins for kids at 90% off. The deal that ends tomorrow night is on Flintstones Vitamins. They are advertised at 25% off, regular price $6.19. There are a few ways to get these for free, or worst case scenario .64 each which is 90% off. You can print coupons from target.com if your store accepts this competitor's coupon as well as print from swagbucks.com, and clipping from this Sunday's paper if you got one. (My sweet neighbor was kind enough to bring over the coupon inserts she wasn't using from her paper!) Also, at my Publix there was a $3 off 2 blinkie coupon in the vitamin section. So, you have lots of options on where to get your coupons from for this deal, but keep in mind you only have through the end of January 8th to get it. The other deal is on Sundown vitamins. You can print coupons from swagbucks.com or use some from this Sunday's paper. Combine 2 coupons totalling $3 off or more with the $5 off 2 items coupon in Publix's Green Advantage Buyer flyer in store to get you $8 off 2 bottles of Sundown vitamins. I chose 2 bottles which were $3.99 each (folic acid & B-Complex) making them FREE!

GIVEAWAY: Shutterfly Photo Package

Today is a great day for a GIVEAWAY don't you think? With all the fun photos taken over the last few weeks of Christmas Cheer, I thought a photo package giveaway would be nice to have. So, here it is: Enter the giveaway for a chance to win a Shutterfly Prints Package which will include 25 4x6 prints, 2 5x7 prints & 1 8x10 print. If you are the winner, you will receive a code to enter in your Shutterfly account for you to redeem your photos. How to enter? You must be a follower of Merry Mary Marry! Reply to this post  stating you are a follower, how you follow, and mention your favorite post. Facebook is new to Merry Mary Marry! So, the more ways you follow, the more times you can enter, a separate entry for each way you follow, by replying to this post. You have through Friday, January 11th the enter, with the winner being announced on Saturday January 12th. Once the winner is announced, he or she must reply with the preferred method of sending the code for the photos. Let the entries roll!