MySpot

A new year... a new name

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:59:00 +0000

For my blog that is. It has been on my heart for some time now to start a different blog. I felt that this blog wasn't titled properly for the topics that I blogged about. After an unexpected month long blog hiatus, now seemed to be the right time for Shining Light to be born.

The end of 2008 was extremely busy and after a couple days without posting anything new, it was suprisingly easy to slack from blogging and find other things to do to fill my free time. I feel guilty, because I had a good, steady readership and I abandoned you all.

Over the last month, it seemed, I thought of an abundunce of topics to write about, what I wanted to do differently, and how to keep blogging a regular part of my already busy schedule. It seemed everyday I was cooking something that I wanted to share a recipe for or making a handmade gift I wanted to teach others how to do as well, and just didn't get around to sharing it.

I have a new motivation to stay active with the new blog and I hope all of my readers will be accepting of this new creation. This blog will still be available, but will no longer be updated.

Please come join me at my new corner of the web at Shining Light. Please let me know what you think of it, what you would like to see more of, or what you think can be improved.

Amanda

Freebies for today

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:36:00 +0000

Here are a few freebies for today:

Good bites Dog Treats – this comes in 3 “flavors”: Oral Care, Hip and Joint, and Multi Vitamin

Free sample of Glad Food Bags

Free Breath – a – licious dog bone here

Free sample of Aveda Shampoo for men

Get a free sample from Huggies

Free sample of Always Infinity

Free Sample of Kotex

Free Sample of Playtex Sport

Free Sample of Stayfree

Free 8 x 10 Picture from Walgreens, use code FREEPIC at checkout, good thru Nov. 8

Petco has Hill’s Science Diet 5lb dog food on sale for $5 to Petco Pals members thru Nov. 9. Combine the sale with this $5 coupon, and get your dog some free food. If you don’t have a dog, consider donating it to a shelter or giving it to a friend or neighbor.

New Pillsbury Coupon

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:36:00 +0000

While looking for recipes that work well for giving as jar gifts, I happened to find a new $1 off coupon for Pillsbury Crescent Rolls. Click here to get yours!

HEB Deals 11/5 - 11/11

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:18:00 +0000

Please note that my circular is valid for the following stores:
14498 Bellaire Blvd., 3111 Woodbridge and 10251 Kempwood at Gessner

Meal Deal:
Buy 2 Fresh HEB Ground Chuck 16oz., and get Baguette Bread 9 oz., from the bakery, HEB Soft Drink 2 L btl., HEB Pasta Sauce 26 oz., HEB Pasta 16 oz

Combo Locos:
• Buy Nestle Coffee Mate powdered Creamer, get 10.3 -11.3 oz Folgers Coffee free
Use this $1 off coupon for a better deal
• Buy Kraft Velveeta Cheese, get HEB Tortilla Chips free
•Buy Kraft Mayo or Miracle Whip, get Hill Country Fare Foam Plates free
•Buy Nabisco Ritz Crackers for Kraft Salad dressing free
•Buy Planters Mixed Nuts, get Nabisco Wheat Thins free
•Buy Fast Fixin' Chicken or Beef, get Big Red or Diet Big Red free
Use this $1 off coupon (sign up for the Fanatic Club and get 5 $1 off coupons)
•Buy 10lb bag Russett potatoes, get 5lb bag of Carrots free
•Buy HEB or Classic Selections Pie, and get Hill Country Fare Whipped Cream free

•Birds Eye Voilla! is on sale for $1.75
There have been a couple coupons for $1 off floating around in magazines
Even without a coupon, this is the lowest I have ever seen this for!

•Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix - .22¢ ea (Limit 4 w/ additional $10 purchase)

•Hill Country Fare Canned Veggies (14.5 - 15.25oz) .25¢ (Limit 4 w/ additional $10 purchase)

*********
•You can view the weekly HEB Drugstore Ad here, they have some good generic gifts and stocking stuffers listed, but nothing that screams "best price ever"

•You can view the HEB Values (these are deals that are good for the entire month) here

•There are also 8 interesting recipes in the Thanksgiving Edition of Showtime Guide here

*********
Let me know what other great deals you found this week!

Kroger Deals 11/5 - 11/11

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:28:00 +0000

Instead of posting every sale item this week with coupon match-ups, I am going to do something a little different this time...

First off, I want to let everyone know that my circular is for the Houston / Sugar Land area. My store will triple coupons up to .39¢ and double up to .50¢

*My regular store will only double or triple 1 like coupon per transaction.
Example: Kroger has Suddenly Salad on sale for $1 per box. I have three .50¢ off coupons. The registers will only double the first coupon, the other 2 will be accepted at face value.

While this is still a good deal, this is not the best deal. I usually break up my purchases into 2 seperate transactions. If your stores have not changed the programming of their registers, then you should be able to get even better deals than what I'm going to post.

If you would like to view this week's circular first, go here.

Here's how to get 10 items for $6

Buy 2 boxes of Toaster Strudels $1.50
Print 2 $1 off coupon from here or here

Buy a 3rd box of Toaster Strudels $1.50
Use the .35¢ off coupon from the 9/7 GM insert

Buy 4 pouches of Betty Crocker Cookie Mix $1.50
Use 2 - .75¢ off coupons from coupons.com and 2 - .75¢ from here

Buy Dial Soap $1.00
Use the .30¢ off coupon from 10/5 SS

Buy 1 box Super Pretzel $1.50
Use the .75¢ coupon from the 9/28 RP

Buy 1 box Orville Redenbacher popcorn $1.50
Use the .40¢ off coupon from the 10/12 SS

These 10 items should come out to $6 after the instant $5 off your total and coupons.

***************

Here is the second scenerio:

Buy 2 boxes of Toaster Strudels $1.50
Print 2 $1 off coupon from here or here

Buy a 3rd box of Toaster Strudels $1.50
Use the .35¢ off coupon from the 9/7 GM insert

Buy 4 boxes of Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate .50¢
Use 2 $1/2 coupons from here

Buy Dial Soap $1.00
Use the .30¢ off coupon from 10/5 SS

Buy 2 Carnation Evaporated Milk .50¢
Use this $1/2 coupon

The grand total for this transaction should be $1.55 for all 10 of the items listed above after the instant $5 off and coupons.

Did you find any amazing deals at Kroger this week? I want to hear about it, leave me a comment below!

Banana Muffins

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:00:00 +0000

Here is a good recipe to use up some bananas that are overripe:

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs, beaten

5 average sized bananas mashed

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon (or more to taste)

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ginger

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt.

In a seperate bowl mix butter and brown sugar until creamy and there are no lumps. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture; stir by hand until flour is mixed in (do not overstir the batter by using a blender or the texture of the muffins will be lost).

Put the batter into a greased muffin pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool 2-3 minutes before removing from pan, and finish cooling on wire rack.

Optional:

For a crunchy topping, mix 3 tablespoons brown sugar with 1 tablespoon water and spread on tops of muffins about 10 minutes before they are done. You may need to make more topping mix depending on how much you want on top.

This recipe makes aprox. 15 muffins

Movie Night Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:07:00 +0000

Today's Redbox code is 67JFP8.

You can only use this code once per credit card, and be sure to return it before 9pm tomorrow to avoid being charged.

Free Pringles!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000

I won a Kmart / Hulk Contest and I ended up with 15 coupons for FREE cans of Pringles!

The only downside to this is that there is no Kmart within 400 miles of where I live and the coupon says that's where it has to be redeemed :(

So my loss is your gain! I am giving away 5 coupons to 3 readers.

How do you get these you may wonder? Either send me an email at myspotwebmaster@yahoo.com or leave me a comment with your email address in it. The first 3 people to reply will get these coupons, if they agree to send a SASE (self addressed stamped envelope).

These coupons are valid until 4/30/2009 and have a max retail value of $1.19

**UPDATE** This giveaway is now closed

comments have been closed for this giveaway as well, if you have any questions please send me a message at the email address above :)

More Coupons!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:00:00 +0000

Check my coupon sidebar for a $1 off Pepsi One 12 pack

Get $2 off a Bertolli Oven Baked Meal here

$1 off True Lemon, Lime or Orange here

$2 off any Goody Ouchless product $2 and up here

$1 off Pillsbury Grands Biscuits here (these may be free in the near future if combined with a sale)

Orajel Free Product Coupon here (requires you completeing a survey & it looks like they mail it to you)

Coupons!

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:00:00 +0000

Kashi has a new $2 off coupon for their new Cereal bars, click here to print (don't forget to try pressing the back button for a second one)

These sure do look yummy! I haven't checked the price on these yet, but my best guess is to try Wal-mart first for these since they usually have the lowest everyday price on Kashi foods.

Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 03:18:00 +0000

I have a few goodies to giveaway here!

First off, I won 2 1 hour Free WiFi hours at McDonalds by playing the Monopoly game. If you would like 1 please leave a comment with your email address, or send me a message at myspotwebmaster@yahoo.com

Second, I have some coupons to give away: I am a member of Pssst, and can send 8 people a link for $1 off 4 cups of Yoplait yogurt, and 8 people a coupon for Progresso Soup (I believe it's for $1.10 off) If you would like these coupons, please leave a comment with which coupon you would like (or both) and an email address. You can also send me a message at myspotwebmaster@yahoo.com

This giveaway will be first come - first served

***Update: It appears that I can send an unlimited amount of coupons for the Yoplait and Progresso Soup, so if you haven't asked for 1 yet, continue to do so! The 2 hours of WiFi are still available!

Free Idahoan Potatoes

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:00:00 +0000

You can get a coupon for a free product if you go to this website and click print coupon. Tell them you have never tried their products before otherwise you will get a coupon for .75¢/3

Kraft Food and Family Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:00:00 +0000

You can preview the upcoming issue of the Kraft Food and Family Magazine here. It is full of delicious looking recipies, and introduces new products that can now be found on store shelves!

The Kraft Food and Family Magazine is a free publication that is sent out quarterly. It often times has coupons in it for free items. If you have not done so already, click here to sign up to start receiving this great magazine.

HEB Deals 10/29 - 11/4

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:00:00 +0000

These deals are only valid for the stores listed below:

14498 Bellaire Blvd. & 3111 Woodbridge

These prices are valid 10/29 - 11/4

•Meal Deal - Buy Oscar Meyer Lunch Meat and Oscar Meyer Beef, Cheese or Fat Free Franks and get: Kraft Natural Shredded Cheese, Kraft Stove Top Stuffing Mix Quick Cups, Kraft Mayo or Miracle Whip, Jell-O Singles, Kraft Easy Mac Cups

Combo Locos

• Buy Nestle Coffee Mate powdered Creamer, get 10.3 -11.3 oz Folgers Coffee free

Use this $1 off coupon for a better deal

• Buy Kraft Velveeta Cheese, get HEB Tortilla Chips free

•Buy Kraft Mayo or Miracle Whip, get Hill Country Fare Foam Plates free

•Buy Nabisco Ritz Crackers for Kraft Salad dressing free

•Buy Planters Mixed Nuts, get Nabisco Wheat Thins free

•Buy Fast Fixin' Chicken or Beef, get Big Red or Diet Big Red free

Use this $1 off coupon (sign up for the Fanatic Club and get 5 $1 off coupons)

•Buy Opa's Country Blend smoked Sausage, get Mission Tortillas 10ct. free

•Buy Bolthouse Farms Mini Carrots, get Fresh Express Cole Slaw free

•Buy Gain Laundry Detergent (150oz or 120 loads), get Gain Liquid Fabric Softener free

•Buy Tide (48-65 loads), get Downy Liquid Fabric Softener free

Other Good Deals

•Pork Spareribs .99¢/lb

•Red Seedless Grapes .77¢/lb

•Hill Country Fare Milk $2.99 (Limit 2, with additional $10 purchase)

•Pepsi (& assorted varieties) 12pk 4 for $11 with in store coupon

•Wholly Guacamole 7oz .99¢

Use the $1 off coupon from the 10/5 SS

Final Price = free

•Kraft BBQ Sauce .79¢

Kroger Deals 10/29 - 11/4

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:00:00 +0000

Prices valid 10/29 - 11/4

Please note: My store will triple coupons up to .39¢ and double .40¢ - .50¢

•Fritos or Cheetos (8.5 - 11oz) $1.27

•M&M, Mars, Hershey or Nestle fun size candy $1.47 (There is a catalina deal for the Hershey's Candy, when you buy $15 you will get $5 off of your next purchase)

•Oscar Meyer Franks are 2 for $4 (8 hour sale Oct 30 4pm - midnight)

•Kroger Buns .50¢ (8 hour sale Oct 30 4pm - midnight)

•Big K 2ltr Soda (8 hour sale Oct 30 4pm - midnight)

•Tombstone Pizzas $1.99 (8 hour sale Oct 30 4pm - midnight)

•Hormel Meat and Cheese Party Trays $8.99 (8 hour sale Oct 30 4pm - midnight)

•Dr. Pepper 2ltr .79¢ when you buy 5

•Buy 2 56oz Private Selection Ice Cream Tubs and get a free 12 pk of A&W, Sunkisk, or Big Red

•12 pk Coke, Diet Coke or Coke Zero 3 for $10 (price good only if you buy 3)

•Purex Laundry Detergent $2.50

Use the $1 off coupon from 10/5 SS

Final price $1.50

Pillsbury Crescent Rolls $1.52

Use one of the many .35¢ off coupons

Final Price .47¢

Kellogs Pop Tarts $1.69

Use $1/2 coupon from 10/12 RP

Final Price $1.19

Yoplait Yogurt .55¢ ea

Use the $1/4 coupon here

Final price .30¢ ea

Pantene Shampoo and Conditioner $5.49

Load the B1G1 Free Coupon to your card here

Use 2 of the $1 off coupons from the 9/28 PG insert

Final price $3.49 or $1.75 ea

Herbal Essences Shampoo and Conditioner $2.49

Load the $2 off 2 coupon to your card here

Use the $3 off 2 coupon from the 10/12 PG insert

Final price = Free + .02¢ overage

•Don't forget if you have an Entertainment Book with Kroger coupons in it they expire October 31st

•Also, don't forget to check the "Oops we baked too much" rack to start stocking up on breads for Thanksgiving - just put these in your freezer and take them out the day before you need them

Free Turtke Chex Mix bar

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:00:00 +0000

You can get a free Turtle Chex Mix Bar by signing up for the Betty Crocker newsletter here

Fiber One Cereal Sample

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:00:00 +0000

Click here to get your free sample of Fiber One Cereal

Quick Kroger Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 01:39:00 +0000

I went to Kroger this afternoon since I didn't make it on Friday, here's how I did:

•2 Texas Toast Bread ($1 off 2 coupon + $1 loaded to card)

•2 Green Giant Boxed veggies (2 - .25¢ coupons)

• Active Lifestyle oatmeal (was free with Cellfire coupon)
•Old fashioned oats

•Kroger Plain yogurt

•4 Suave Body Wash (used 2 B1G1 free coupons)

•2 Covergirl Mascara (they were priced at $4.21 - used B1G1 free from P&G ecoupon and 2 $1 off any product coupons)

•Febreeze Noticeables Starter Kit (On sale for $6.99 and used $5 P&G ecoupon and $5 coupon from insert)

•2 Bounty Basic Paper Towels (Used 2 - .25¢ coupons)

•Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls (Used .30¢ coupon from insert and .50¢ coupon loaded to card)

• 2 Sunday Papers because I didn't make it to the dollar store in time :(

Total cost: $11.67

Total Savings: $36.77

(My digital camera is currently broken, so please excuse the picture above, it was taken on my phone)

Are you prepared?

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 13:00:00 +0000

Hurricane Ike has left some lasting effects on many people in Galveston/Houston and surrounding areas. I was in an area that did not have extreme damage or extended periods without electricity, but since that day my mind keeps thinking about how bad it could have been and how unprepared we really are.

I found a blog called Totally Ready, and it teaches you how to be prepared for ANY situation, whether it be a hurricane, a snow storm, a flash flood or fire. The great thing about this site is that it takes you by the hand and gives you 7 steps to do every week to become more prepared in case of a disaster. It appears that the blogger has a mindset for frugality as well!

Most other websites that have preparedness materials either want you to purchase a prepacked kit (that usually doesn't have everything you need), or pay a subscription fee. This material is free, and encouraged to be shared with family and friends! Totally Ready also shares how to save money on necessary items you should have in your preparedness kit.

I recommend that everyone go over to Totally Ready and take a look around. It does not matter what part of the country you live in, a natural or manmade disaster can happen without warning. You may not want to go as far and complete every step that is suggested, but even just doing some of them will have you more prepared if something happens without warning. Taking a few steps now can make a world of difference later.

Free Popeyes Chicken

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:00:00 +0000

When you sign up for the Popeyes Customer Club you will get a free 2 piece dinner and a meal on your birthday! This offer is only for a few states but Texas is included. I am not sure whether the coupon that arrives via email will work at all locations, but it worth a try.

Free Taco Bell

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 13:00:00 +0000

Taco Bell will be giving away a free crunchy seasoned beef taco on Tuesday October 28th between 2 and 6 pm. This is part of their Steal a Base, Steal a Taco promotion, to read further details, click here

Free Samples

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:23:00 +0000

Free sample of Kotex...as if we don't have enough already :)

Get your free sample of Pantene Highlighting Expressions here

Free sample of Vaseline Intensive Rescue lotion

Sample Orville Redenbachers Popcorn Cakes here (link is at bottom right)

Dunkin Donuts Dark Coffee Sample

I have been MIA

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:11:00 +0000

I want to apologize for not updating the blog consistantly. I have a full time job, I am a college student, and I have daily obligations to keep my life running smoothly. I want to help everyone by posting great deals and ways to save money, and just letting you guys know how things are going in my life, but I want to say that blogging is not my top priority. It is not a job for me, I do not blog for money, although there are a couple of affiliate programs I have on the sidebars, it does not pay my bills.

Things have been hectic lately for me, especially during this past week, but they are settling down and I am working out a better schedule to incorporate more time to consistantly have new material posted here.

I want to thank all of you who are reading this for sticking with me over the past couple weeks when things have been slow here. Also as another side note, my camera is not working at the moment, so until I get it fixed or get a new one I will try to take better ones' on my phone.

My Menu plan

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:56:00 +0000

Most people plan their menus for a Sunday through Saturday week. Well, I plan my menus for a Thursday - Wednesday week (it follows along with my Kroger sales better)

I actually did my grocery shopping for this menu last Thursday and Friday, Here's what we are having this week:

Chicken, corn and black bean Quesadillas

BLT with Avacado and broccoli on the side (I make mine with Turkey bacon to try and keep it healthy

Tacos & Spanish rice

Chicken Pockets (I'll post the recipe when I make them this week) and veggies

Chicken Tenders and Suddenly Salad

Grilled Cheese w/ bacon (again I used Turkey bacon) & chips

Baked Potatoes

I don't assign meals to a specific night of the week, I ask my love the night before what he wants for dinner and take out the necessary frozen ingredients before we go to sleep.

Want to see what the grocery shopping looked like for the meals above? After taking into consideration what I already have on hand in the pantry and freezer, I made my shopping list and spent just over $24 on everything I needed and added a lot of pasta and veggies to my stockpile (Please excuse the blurry pictures, I took them with my phone because I cannot find my battery charger for the camera since I moved)

In the picture above there is 9 bags of Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers (paid $.22 ea)

6 boxes of Ronzoni Smart Tast Paste (paid $.50 ea)

1 Bag rice, 1 Bag red beans

1 jar of Miracle Whip, Tortillas, Cream Cheese

In the picture above there is a head of lettuce, a tomato, an avocado, crescent rolls, and bacon

In the picture above there are 7lbs of grapes and a colgate toothpaste I bought at Target for $1.45

New Coupons

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:12:00 +0000

Some very good new coupons have been released :

$1 off Gold Medal Whole Wheat Flour

$1.75 off Reynolds Parchment Paper, there is also a $1.25 off coupon at coupons.com

$2 off Honey Bunches of Oats, Just Bunches

Right @ Home released some new coupons and when you combine them with the Walgreens Easy Saver Rebates this month, you can get many items for free:

You can get a Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner for free when you combine this $10 off coupon and complete the ESR form.

You can get the Scrubbing bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel, Bathroom cleaner, Fantastic, or Windex and make $.50 in the process, just combine this $2 off coupon with the $1 ESR

You can also get free Shout wipes when you combine this $1.50 off coupon with the $1 ESR

Make sure you take note of the maximum quantities that are allowed for the rebate, and keep your receipts until filling out that rebate form!!! The Walgreens deals are good through 10/11, so if you can, head out tomorrow and snag up some free cleaners!