Bargains for Mamas!

Kroger Spring Dinners - Excellent food at a great price!

2013-04-10T13:46:00.000-07:00

I recently had the opportunity to review a few different Krogrer brand foods, perfect for a family dinner. The items included a Kroger Moist & Tender Pork Tenderloin, refrigerated Kroger crescent rolls, Kroger refrigerated mashed potatoes, and Kroger Cake Mix and Rich & Creamy Frosting.

First off, I am not a great cook. I do like pork tenderloin, but I usually make it in the crock pot, and it's just OK. I guess I could probably brown it first, but it seems to be a little soggy no matter what I do. So, I decided to try Kroger's recipe for Mahogany Pork Roast. Here is the recipe (courtesy of Kroger Foods):

Ingredients:

Non-stick cooking spray

2 Moist & Tender pork tenderloins (about 1lb each)

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 large clove garlic, minced

Directions:

1. Combine honey, soy sauce, and garlic in large resealable plastic food storage bag. Reserve 1/4 cup marinade and store in the refrigerator.

2. Place pork tenderloins in bag with marinade mixture. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight to marinate.

3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly spray a 9" x 13" baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

4. Place the tenderloins in the prepared pan side by side and discard the used marinade. Roast 30 minutes.

5. Brush reserved marinade over the pork. Continue to roast the pork until thermometer reads 155 degrees Fahrenheit. Transfer to a cutting board and let stand 10 minutes with a foil tent.

6. Thinly slice pork and serve with Kroger homestyle mashed potatoes, green beans, and crescent rolls.

I love the fact that there was only a few ingredients in this recipe. NOTE: be sure to follow the directions exactly and "discard the used marinade". I had my tenderloin marinating in the pan (didn't have any large Ziploc bags on hand), and I completely forgot to do this before baking the tenderloins. The marinade burned on the bottom of the pan and smelled terrible! Again, this was my fault, not the recipe's fault!

At any rate, this turned out AWESOME! It was nice and browned on the top, and super moist inside. I couldn't believe how good it was. My husband really liked it, too. And it was so easy!

Now, on to the side dishes. I honestly wasn't excited at first about the Kroger Homestyle Mashed Potatoes. Like I mentioned before, I'm not a great cook, but I can make potatoes! However, I changed my mind very quickly after heating these potatoes up in the microwave. They were buttery, fluffy, and delicious. Note to Kroger: please reconsider having the cooking instructions on the bottom of the package. I had to lift up a very hot package of potatoes above my head to see how much longer they needed to cook. Please consider printing them on the top of the package.

The crescent rolls were awesome as well. I usually do buy Pillsbury rolls, but honestly, the Kroger rolls were just as good - and cheaper! Here's a photo of my Spring Dinner:

Then, my 5-year-old and I decided to make a cake. We used Kroger's Devil's Food Cake Mix and Rich & Creamy Chocolate Frosting. The cake was pretty good; I thought it could have been slightly sweeter. The frosting was really tasty and you could not tell that it was a store brand. Both were on sale for $1 each when I purchased them - what an awesome deal! We decided to use my Pampered Chef square muffin pan to make mini-cakes. My daughter wanted to put some red sprinkles on the mini-cakes - here's the final result. YUM!

Overall, I was very happy with all of the Kroger products that I tried out. The pork tenderloin was awesome, and the crescent rolls were a great deal. I'm not 100% sure I'd spend $3.59 on refrigerated potatoes again, though - they were delicious, but it's so much cheaper to make your own mashed potatoes. I'd definitely buy the Kroger crescent rolls and cake mix/frosting again.

I love saving money on groceries, and Kroger products are a great way to have quality food at very reasonable prices.

*Disclaimer: I am a BzzAgent, and I received samples and/or coupons from BzzAgent for my review. The views and opinions on this page are completely my own.

Need a last minute Mother's Day gift? Here's a printable coupon good for 20% off your entire purchase at Famous Footwear!

2012-05-11T07:54:00.002-07:00

Happy Friday! I found a GREAT coupon for Famous Footwear - save 20% off your ENTIRE PURCHASE. If you're still looking for a last minute Mother's Day gift, it's hard to go wrong with shoes! :) Hurry...this coupon expires May 13, 2012! Offer is valid both online and in store. Some exclusions apply.

Great Mother's Day Gift Idea - $10 for $20 worth of products at The Body Shop

2012-05-02T08:19:00.000-07:00

Not much time left on this deal - hurry before it's gone! Check out this Groupon....for a limited time, $10 will get you $20 worth of products at The Body Shop!

The Fine Print

Expires Jun 30, 2012

Limit 2/person. Limit 1 per visit. Valid only in The Body Shop US retail stores; not valid at other retailers. Not valid online. Not valid toward purchase of gift card or "Love Your Body" membership card. Valid toward sale items.
Valid with existing "Love Your Body" membership card. Non-transferable. Clients may provide email address to The Body Shop to receive Beauty Card valid for 10% off through 7/31/12, starting with next purchase. Card signup not required; card offer not valid in CA or with "Love Your Body" membership card.

$9 for a meal for two at Baja Fresh!

2012-04-28T07:43:00.002-07:00

I love this Groupon for Baja Fresh - for a limited time, you can choose from the following two options:

$9 for a Mexican meal for two (up to a $19.17)

Two burritos or four tacos made with chicken or pork (up to a $6.69 value each)
One order of chips and salsa (a $2.29 value)
Two soft drinks (a $1.75 value each)

$18 for a Mexican meal for four (up to a $36.05 value)

Four burritos or eight tacos made with chicken or pork (up to a $6.69 value each)
One order of chips and salsa (a $2.29 value)
Four soft drinks (a $1.75 value each)

Limited quantity available!! Hurry!!

**Valid at 13 Phoenix-area Baja Fresh locations. Expires Aug 29, 2012. Limit 2 per person, may buy multiple as gifts. Limit 1 per table. Not valid for delivery. Valid only for option purchased.

Join L'oreal's FREE Gold Rewards Program and earn FREE haircolor!

2012-04-27T07:25:00.000-07:00

This is a great deal from L'Oreal! One of the best ways to save money on health and beauty expenses is to color your own hair. If you haven't signed up for L'Oreal's FREE Reward Program, be sure to do so. Register to become a Gold Rewards member and receive FREE hair color products, limited-time offers and more.

Enter to win a $5,000 Home Theater Package - courtesy of P&G Everyday!

2012-04-24T11:24:00.000-07:00

If you haven't entered already, be sure to check out the new contest from P&G! They are giving away a Home Theater Package by Panasonic - along with a weekly prize of a $50 Visa® pre-paid debit card.

Plus...as a P&G Everyday member, you can save money on your favorite Proctor & Gamble products. I especially like the "sampler" you can request a few times per year - the last one I received had a sample pack of baby wipes, a diaper, Crest Whitestrips sample, and more! Sign up today - this is FREE!

Printable coupons with video rewards - save even more!

2012-04-21T08:21:00.001-07:00

Good morning! Here are some great breakfast coupons - and you can save even more with video rewards! If you're not familiar with video rewards, it's super easy - all you have to do is click on and watch a short video to save even for money. For example, the coupon for POST Honey Bunches of Oats is a .80 off coupon - but if you watch the short video below the coupon, you can get an extra .30 off for a total of $1.10! Awesome deal.

$1.10 off POST Honey Bunches of Oats NEW Fruit Blends

$1.00 off General Mills cereals

75¢ off Multi Grain Cheerios® cereal

$1.25 off DOLE® Fruit Smoothie Shakers

$6 for a Movie Ticket and Soda at Studio Movie Grill (Scottsdale)

2012-04-18T07:21:00.001-07:00

I have been meaning to check this place out for a date night! And, Groupon is currently offering a great deal! For a limited time, pay only $6 for a movie ticket and soda at Studio Movie Grill in Scottsdale!

We used to go to Farelli's Cinema Supper Club before it closed, and this theater seems to be similar. Some of their in-movie dinner options include gourmet pizzas ($9.50+), smoked ribs ($12.95), and shakes ($4.95+). Personally, I love the idea of being able to do a dinner and movie at the same time! It really helps when you have little ones at home and have limited time with a babysitter!

The Fine Print

Expires Jul 2, 2012
May buy multiple. Not valid for reserved seating. Extra fee for 3D movies.
Not valid for online purchases.

Studio Movie Grill

15515 N Hayden Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
(480) 991-3106

FREE Bottle of Bayer Advanced Aspirin + Health and Beauty FREE Samples

2012-04-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

Just found a great freebie courtesy of Freefly's:

Free bottle of Bayer® Advanced Aspirin

They also have a couple of good Health and Beauty freebies as well:

Free sample of Sebamed® liquid face & body wash

Free gift tube sample of Vaseline® Total Moisture Lotion

Take me out to the ballgame! Save up to 50% on tickets to Phillies/D-Backs series at Chase Field!

2012-04-16T07:43:00.002-07:00

It's going to be a great Monday! Today's GrouponLivedeal combines my two FAVORITE things - baseball and saving money. For a limited time, you can save up to 50% on Arizona Diamondbacks tickets! Come out and see your 2011 National League West Champions - for less! Limited quantity available - don't miss out! GO D-BACKS!!

Choose from the following options:

$8 for one ticket for infield reserve seating (a $16 value, plus applicable fees)
$20 for one ticket for baseline reserve seating (a $27 value, plus applicable fees)

For each option, choose from the following games:

Against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, April 23, at 6:40 p.m.
Against the Phillies on Tuesday, April 24, at 6:40 p.m.
Against the Phillies on Wednesday, April 25, at 12:40 p.m.

The Fine Print

Expires Apr 23, 2012
Valid only for baseline reserve seating and infield reserve seating. Tickets are non-transferable. Must redeem together to sit together. Customers buy through MLB.com, see additional conditions that apply.

Printable coupons: $1.00 of Aquafresh Kids Toothpaste/Training Paste, $1.00 off Maybelline Mascara, and more!

2012-04-15T07:43:00.001-07:00

Good morning! I saw some good Health and Beauty printable coupons on Redplum today, so I wanted to share them with you. (NOTE: Aquafresh coupon is only valid on toothpaste, not the toothbrushes.) Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

$1.00 OFF ANY Aquafresh® Kids Toothpaste or Training Paste (1.5 oz or larger)

SAVE $1.00 on ANY MAYBELLINE NEW YORK Mascara

SAVE $1.00 on ANY MAYBELLINE NEW YORK Eyeshadow or Eye Liner

SAVE $1.00 on ANY L’Oréal® Paris skincare item (excludes trial size)

SAVE $2.00 on ANY L’Oréal® shade of Preference

TODAY ONLY: 1-day sale at Naartjie Kids - Essential Tops and Bottoms only $8 each!

2012-04-12T07:22:00.002-07:00

If you haven't checked out Naartjie Kids yet, do it today! They are having a one-day sale-get the Summer 2 Collection Entire Stock of Essentials for only $8 EACH!This sale is for TODAY only (April 12, 2012). I think I'm going to have to stock up on some cute clothes for my little girl...at a great price!

Awesome Groupon....save up to 52% at BirthdayExpress.com!

2012-04-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

This deal will go FAST! Over 1,000 sold already! Pay only $15 for $30 worth OR $29 for $60 of merchandise from BirthdayExpress.com! I love this website...I wish they had the Yo Gabba Gabba party ware when my daughter turned 3! BirthdayExpress.com has a HUGE selection of party supplies. Grab this deal before it's gone!

The Fine Print

Expires Jun 13, 2012
Limit 1 per person, may buy 1 additional as a gift. Limit 1 per order. Valid only for option purchased. Shipping & handling not included. Not valid toward taxes. Returns to BirthdayExpress will be refunded for amount paid to BirthdayExpress. Ships to U.S. & Canada.

$5 for $40 worth of Major League Baseball Tickets (or other events) at ScoreBig

2012-04-10T10:03:00.002-07:00

Wow! This is an awesome offer from Plum District...for a limited time, pay only $5 for $40 worth of MLB tickets (or other tickets) from ScoreBig! This is a wonderful way to take your entire family to a sporting event at an amazing price.

Here's how ScoreBig works: simply logon, find an event and tell ScoreBig how much you want to pay for the tickets. ScoreBig will let you know instantly if your offer is accepted. You'll never pay additional fees, and your tickets are always 100% guaranteed! All tickets on ScoreBig have guaranteed savings up to 60% off retail prices, so you get the best possible price. Normally, you’d have to wait in line to join this members-only site. With this offer, you can cut the line and get instant access to upcoming events like NFL games, concerts, and more!

Limit 1 per person
Limit 1 voucher per transaction
Expires 06/30/12

Printable coupons: .75 off one box Multi-Grain Cheerios, .50 one box of Trix, $1.25 off two Marie's Dressing

2012-04-09T14:38:00.000-07:00

Here are a few printable coupons for you.....enjoy!

75¢ off when you buy ONE BOX Multi Grain Cheerios® cereal

$1.25 off when you buy any TWO Marie's® Dressing

50¢ off when you buy ONE BOX Trix® cereal

$3.00 off when you buy any TWO 1.5L Listerine® Zero Mouthwash

One Year Membership to the Arizona Science Center (up to 4 people!) - only $47!

2012-04-06T14:22:00.000-07:00

Wow, this is truly an amazing deal from Living Social - for a limited time, you can get a 1-year membership to the Arizona Science Center for only $47! This is valid for up to 4 people!

Admission to the Arizona Science Center is normally $14 for adults and $11 for kids (ages 3-17), so this deal is fantastic. Hurry and grab it before it's gone!

Limit 1 per family per visit • All services must be used by same customer; cannot be shared •

FREE Sample of Miracle Whip (Facebook) - while supplies last!

2012-04-05T07:25:00.001-07:00

Here's a free sample from Miracle Whip - just go to their Facebook page, "like" it, and sign up to receive TWO free packets of Miracle Whip! Samples are limited - so don't miss out!

*Limit one offer per household. You must be 18 years or older to receive this offer. Offer limited to U.S. residents only. While supplies last. Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.

I just won 25 Superpoints - from an e-mail! Sign up today!

2012-04-04T07:25:00.005-07:00

I really love the Superpoints Network - it's a fun and FREE site where you earn points for doing surveys, clicking the "Superpoints" button, watching videos, etc. I actually just won 25 Superpoints from opening an e-mail!

They typically e-mail you points every day - sometimes it's only 1 or 2 points, but I've received 10 points a few times. I love getting 25 points for doing nothing! :) You can also earn points by doing your everyday purchases through this website.

Once you collected at least 500 points, you can redeem them for cash, gift cards, etc. Join today - it's FREE and a great way to earn some extra cash!

Nestle Easter Buddies Cookies - Only .75 at Target (with printable Facebook coupon)

2012-04-03T20:33:00.001-07:00

I went to Target today and found a great deal on Easter Cookies! Nestle Toll House Easter Buddies cookies are on clearance for $1.75. I had a $1.00 off coupon from the Sunday paper, so my final cost was .75! These are pre-cut and decorated - so easy and yummy!

If you don't get the coupons from the Sunday paper, you can also print a $1.00 off coupon from Nestle's Facebook page. Just "like" them to print the coupon.

Hurry to your local Target - these will go quick!

FREE Easter Bunny Photos @ Desert Ridge Marketplace (Phoenix) - April 6th and April 7th

2012-04-02T07:15:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday! Desert Ridge Marketplace (Tatum Blvd. and Loop 101) will be offering a FREE downloadable photo with the Easter Bunny this Friday and Saturday (April 6th and April 7th), in case you missed it this past weekend. Located near the Barnes and Noble Fountain.

FREE 11 oz Mug from Ink Garden (you only pay S&H)

2012-03-31T08:51:00.001-07:00

I love this offer from Ink Garden! For a limited time, you can design a 11 oz mug and get it for FREE! You only pay shipping and handling charges. This is a great (and inexpensive) gift idea for Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc. Offer expires 4/22/12.

FREE Stuff: Zone Perfect Nutrition Bar, Sanitizing Wipes, and Biore Skincare Samples

2012-03-29T07:47:00.001-07:00

Good morning! I just spotted a couple of fun samples through one of my favorite sample sites, FreeFly's. Here you go:

Free Zone Perfect® nutrition bar

Free sample of Sani® Sani-Hands Instant Hand Sanitizing wipes

Free trial-size sample of 3 Biore® Skincare Products

Protect your home and valuables - for less!

2012-03-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

In this day and age, it doesn't matter where you live - crime can happen anywhere. Here are a few ideas to protect your home and valuables for little or no money:

1. Make sure your insurance coverage is adequate. Did you recently buy a high-price item like a flat-screen TV or jewelry? Check with your insurance agent to make sure that you have proper coverage.

2. Take photos of valuable items inside of your house. Oh, and place them on a shared photo site (i.e. photobucket) in case of a devastating fire).

3. Double check to make sure your windows/doors are always locked.

4. Invest in a security door. They really aren't that expensive; Home Depot and Lowe's have security screen doors that start at a few hundred dollars. We recently got one, and I absolutely love it. It's so nice to be able to leave my front door open for a nice breeze, yet still be protected from any intruders.

5. Consider motion detectors. If you have an HOA, be sure to check with them first, as there may be strict rules regarding them.

6. Shop around for a home security system for complete piece of mind. These systems are not nearly as expensive as they used to be; for example, HomeSecurityFamily has packages that start as low as $35.99 per month.

$1 off 1 bag of Starbucks coffee/.55 off Philadelphia Reduced Fat Cooking Creme

2012-03-26T07:53:00.000-07:00

Good morning! I saw a couple of good printable coupons this morning that I wanted to share with you...I have not tried the Philadelphia cooking creme yet but I've heard good things about it. Of course, I LOVE Starbucks coffee so I always grab their coupons when I see them. Have a great day!

$1.00 off one bag of Starbucks coffee 11 oz

$0.55 off PHILADELPHIA Reduced Fat Cooking Creme

Free Flavor Friday: Coffee-Mate is giving away FREE bottles in about 15 minutes...good luck!

2012-03-23T08:46:00.000-07:00

Coffee-mate is giving away coupons for 200,000 bottles in about 15 minutes (9 am PST, Friday, March 23rd). The form will be available on their official Facebook page. Be sure to "like" the page. If the page doesn't load, just keep hitting refresh, I would guess they'll be bombarded with hits today. Good luck, everyone!

*Offer good in the US only. Offer valid for the first 200,000 valid coupon requests on March 23, 2012 starting at 9AM PST until 11:59PM PST or while supplies last. Limit one (1) coupon per person, per email address, and maximum two (2) coupons per household or address. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. Offer may not be republished without written consent from NESTLÉ. Void where prohibited. Coupon not valid for COFFEE-MATE® NATURAL BLISS®, please see coupon for other restrictions and details.