Rite Aid Trip

Rite Aid is not one of the drugstores that I favored for my Drugstore Game habit. Partly because I perceived that CVS was the easiest to play -- and Walgreens was the one with the benefit when the school supplies hit in July (that would be NOW--- and yes, it is paying me back handsomely)
But this week, I decided to do some work at Rite Aid. I was quite pleased -- although the immediate thrill of the CVS zero balance is not possible at RiteAid -- for those of us who are total thrill junkies --- But after the Single Check Rebate arrives --- woo hoo!! (I started a separate savings account for depositing rebates -- I'm curious to see how it grows. Obviously the CVS Extra Care Bucks won't go in there -- and neither will the Walgreens rebates since they grow by 10% by choosing to receive them as a Walgreens giftcard. I can't make 10% in the stockmarket these days!)
Anyway --- my RiteAid trip this morning netted the following:

• 2 packages of Revlon cream eyeshadow -- BOGO at Rite Aid, less 2 coupons good for $2 off 1 and SCR for $4.00-- made them free with about $1.50 overage
• 2 bottles of John Frieda Shampoo --- by one get the second one for half off at Rite Aid -- then $3.00 of two coupon on the display, $1.00 off one coupon from the paper, $1.00 off Rite Aid Beauty book coupon AND a $3.00 SCR coming to me. End of the list: less than $2.00 for the two bottles (so I figure I'm down by about $.50 right now)
• two bottles of Suave shampoo $.99 ea at RiteAid and 2 coupons for $1.oo any bottle -- free plus $0.02 overage
• 1 bottle of Advil $2.99 at RiteAid -- less a $2.00 coupon from the paper. (I think this puts me down about $1.50 total)

As soon as I submit my SCR requests --- I'm good to go.

Wonderful Evening: The Mount

We found a terrfic way to spend an inexpensive evening in an elegant setting!! What alot of fun. The Mount in Lenox MA is the restored summer home of Edith Wharton. It is one of the grand cottages from the Gilded Age -- and it is definitely grand and gilded. This beautiful residence has been painstakingly restored to its former elegance and grandeur. Currently, the Mount is facing foreclosure and is working very hard to increase visitors and donations. (We purchased a membership earlier this season to help support the cause -- you can go to the Mount's website and make a donation to save this gorgeous property too.)

One of their current offerings is an evening event on the weekends from 5:00 - 8:00 (I think they're trying to be a pre-Tanglewood event) You can enter the grounds for FREE, sit on the grand porch and have a glass of wine and some nibbles (they charge for the food and drinks) and walk through the gardens at your leisure. We attended last night's event. There were probably only a dozen other people there --- not crowded, not loud --- just lovely. Wine for both of us and nibbles ran about $20 and we spent over 2 hours wandering through the gardens, listening to the fountains, catching the breeze on the porch (it was deadly hot here this weekend) and enjoying the pianist playing under the awning.

I know, I know --- I could have had wine and nibbles at home for far, far less money -- but trust me, my patio and gardens DO NOT look like this.

Having noted that (rather obvious fact): I did make a quick list of the plants that were in the gardens. I have all of the plants in the Italian garden (shown to the right) but my garden does not resemble this in any way, shape or form. Seriously, the Italian garden is done with ferns, hostas, white nicotania, boxwood and ivy. That's it!! I kept walking around in circles, looking for what else was there that made it so glorious. Even the French garden (the photo at the top of the post) didn't have anything I don't know and love for plants. Its all about the way in which they're arranges and planted. And WOW!! what a difference that makes.

All in all, this was a really beautiful evening --- one that we'll definitely be repeating. I'm thinking this is a nice way to take friends for a quiet drink and some conversation without getting into the crowded restaurant scene. For the non-wine drinkers, they also offered soft drinks and a lovely sparkling water. This works for just about everyone I know.

Frugal Food: Pasta with Kale

Jen at FrugalUpstate is doing a terrific series on frugal foods -- some of her recipies are excellent and really deserve a look. She challenged readers to add to her recipie posting -- so here goes.

First off, be aware: we are in a really different place in our life-cycle than most of the "blogger mommies" (thank you Katie Couric for that term). We are a two person household most of the time. We entertain really, really frequently -- whether its kids, grandkids, in-laws, outlaws, friends or neighbors -- one of the things about living in a vacation destination area is that everyone uses you as an excuse to visit the destination. Add to all of this that many of the friends and relations we entertain are vegetarians or at least leaning in that direction: there are also a whole bunch of foodies in the mix. All of that means that the tastes and textures we prefer and use may not be what the frugal moms in the universe can get past their offspring's palates...

With that said: Pasta with Kale
Ingredients:
1 bunch of kale cleaned really well and chopped into ribbons
1 onion sliced thinly (I use the mandoline)
1 -2 tsp of minced garlic in oil (depending on taste)
a few tablespoons of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
1/2 - 1 cup of raisins (depending on taste)
1/4 cup of feta cheese
3-4 tablespoons of chopped nuts (whatever is in the pantry)
1 box of bowties cooked according to the package directions and HOT

Heat the EVOO in a cast iron skillet --- saute the onion and garlic until fragrant and beginning to soften. Add the chopped kale and saute until wilted and softened. Stir in the raisins and nuts. Allow them to heat through for a minute or two. Pour the kale mixture into a large serving bowl and stir in the hot pasta. Add the feta cheese and stir one more time.

We serve this with fresh, crusty bread and good butter --- DINNER!!!

Two Drugstore Deals This Week

There are two extremely great deals at drugstores this week that I cannot resist (and one pretty good one)
First, the pretty good one. You might have noticed that last week Rite Aid (not my favorite, but still pretty good for deals) had the Herbal Essences shampoos and conditioners on sale. They were also in the monthly Single Check Rebate program AND there were coupons for them in last weeks paper on Sunday.... so at the end of it all, the shampoo and conditioner were FREE. But I had to be greedy. Herbal Essences also has a program going where some of the bottles are marked with codes that allow you to submit them for a free manicure and pedicure. I wanted to add that deal into the free shampoo. I know, I know, I'm greedy. Anyway -- neither of the RiteAids near me had any of the bottles marked with the free manicure/pedicure codes. So I passed on the deal and held onto my coupons. Greedy, I know.
This week, CVS has Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner on sale for 2/$5 -- mix that with the coupons for $3/2 bottles and we're down to $1 a bottle and it matches the RiteAid deal BEFORE the single check rebate. I'd only need to save an additional $2 to match the RiteAid deal fully. So, if I add them into a deal on something else and use the $3/$15 coupon --- I'll still end up with free shampoo, and I'll get my free manicure/pedicure too. Yep, I already checked, CVS has bottles with the codes -- lots of them.
The next deal is a Walgreens or RiteAid deal: Special thanks to Money Saving Mom for this one. (If you aren't in the habit of reading her blog --- get the habit!! She can really save you some serious time and cash)
Find a copy of Sunday's SmartSource insert (07/13). There was a coupon for B1G1 L'Oreal Vive Pro shampoo or conditioner. This same shampoo and conditioner is on sale B1G1 at Walgreens and Rite Aid this week.
So, if you buy 2 and use 1 B1G1 coupon, you'll get two free! (The store will give you one free as part of their promotion and the coupon will give you one free from the manufacturer!) Can't get any better than that!!
Last deal is a CVS deal (and one I never thought I'd want to take advantage of!!) Special thanks to iheartcvs for all of the details on this.
CVS is offering the 4 X 6 10 Page hardcover photo books ($3.99), Free after extra bucks, LIMIT 16 x 8 10 Page hardcover photo books ($7.99), Free after extra bucks, LIMIT 2Photo books

Some things you need to know:
1. You can't make photo book online for this offer. It must be made in store at the Kodak kiosk machine.
2. You can carry the pictures in any media device like memory card, CD, flash drive or etc. Make sure you arranged them in the order you want.
3. Offer is for 10 page photo books and It is 10 one sided pages4. For 10 pages, you can upload up to 54 pictures. But more number of pictures, smaller pictures you get. Best option is 2 per page or sometimes 3.5. You can choose different types of background. You can use your own pictures as the background but you have to edit option in every page. Select your pictures, and then it auto arranges them on the pages for you. You can also change the order, size, etc.6.
Your project will save there for about 2 days so you can reprint again if u want. But since so many number of photo book will be created this week, it’s better to ask
Now start stacking up the deal:
buy two of the 10 page photobooks for an initial total of $15.98
give them the 3/15 coupon
give them two (2) of the insert coupons:Kodak Photo Book $3 (7-31-08) (CVS and Wal-mart) SS 5/4/08Kodak Photo Book $3 (8-31-08) SS 6/8/08
pay the final 6.98 out of pocket (or with extra bucks) and get two photobooks AND $15.98 ECB back.
The only thing I'm not super thrilled with on this is that I end up with and ECB for 15.98. I'm looking for a way to combine this with some other deals (break up the two photobooks into two different transactions) so that I get two different ECB for 7.99 each rather than one huge ECB. I just find that the large ECB are really tricky to use.
Hmmm..... if I mix a photobook in with the Herbal Essences and........

Free Book: The Alchemist

I just finished downloading a new book to my Ipod --- thanks to SimpleDollar for letting me know about this freebie!! Here's what he has to say about the book:

Over the last few years, about twenty different people have recommended that I
read The
Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, but I’ve been avoiding it largely because of so
many other things to read. Well, now you can get it for free as an unabridged
audiobook, perfect for listening to on a long road trip. Just fire up iTunes,
visit the music store, search for “Paulo Coelho The Alchemist” and download it
for free (until July 14). I downloaded it and am saving it for an upcoming road
trip, where it’ll provide a worthwhile listen.

So off to Itunes I went --- you knew I couldn't pass up a freebie like this --- and now the book is sitting in my Itunes folder awaiting its deposit into my Ipod. But of course, I did some checking as to what I was getting here (you knew that, didn't you?)
Here's what Amazon had to say about it:

Like the one-time bestseller Jonathan
Livingston Seagull, The Alchemist presents a simple fable, based on simple
truths and places it in a highly unique situation. And though we may sniff a
bestselling formula, it is certainly not a new one: even the ancient tribal
storytellers knew that this is the most successful method of entertaining an
audience while slipping in a lesson or two. Brazilian storyteller Paulo Coehlo
introduces Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who one night dreams of a
distant treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. And so he's off: leaving Spain to
literally follow his dream.
Along the way he meets many spiritual
messengers, who come in unassuming forms such as a camel driver and a well-read
Englishman. In one of the Englishman's books, Santiago first learns about the
alchemists--men who believed that if a metal were heated for many years, it
would free itself of all its individual properties, and what was left would be
the "Soul of the World." Of course he does eventually meet an alchemist, and the
ensuing student-teacher relationship clarifies much of the boy's misguided
agenda, while also emboldening him to stay true to his dreams. "My heart is
afraid that it will have to suffer," the boy confides to the alchemist one night
as they look up at a moonless night.
"Tell your heart that the fear of
suffering is worse than the suffering itself," the alchemist replies. "And that
no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every
second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity."

You can even access Paul Coehlo's blog.
This sounds like it will be an interesting listen for our upcoming road trip to Northern Maine.

Fourth of July

I love the Fourth of July! I love the parades. I love the fireworks! I love the concerts. I love the picnics!! I love being with family and friends. Its a pretty great holiday all in all.

So what are the budget plans around here for a terrific fourth??

Well, of course, we'll be attending the Pittsfield July 4th Parade. This is the largest parade in the Northeast (or so they tell me). It typically goes on for about 2 and half hours. I'll get there early enough to ensure a seat on the green in the shade. I'll spread out a blanket and set up a couple of lawn chairs and have my breakfast on the lawn. We'll be joined this year by my husband's mother and by some friends and their 86 year old mother. We've invited two other couples to join us, but haven't heard as of yet if they'll be coming. Unfortunately, the two mothers do not speak the same language, so they won't have much to chat about -- but it will still be fun. I'm making my grocery and packing list today -- I'll pack a thermos of coffee and a bottle of juice along with some frozen bottles of water to keep us cool. Then I'm thinking about blueberry muffin/coffeecake to keep everyone happy before the parade. Once the parade gets going, no one is thinking much about food (at least in our happy clan) Everyone is ooohing and aaaahing over the bands, the floats, and the gigantic balloons. We'll be hot and thirsty (another frozen water bottle, anyone?) -- but food won't matter just then.

After the parade, we'll head back home for the afternoon. I've got hamburgers (got a great deal at the supermarket this week) and salads to feed the clan for the main meal of the day. We'll fire up the grill and enjoy the shady patio. Even the dog will likely get some July 4th hamburger!! (She's already wearing her patriotic spirit in the form of a star-spangled bandana)

Late afternoon, we'll head over to the "big city" about 45 minutes away. They have a huge festival downtown at State headquarters. It will be long underway when we arrive --- but there will be concerts (usually a military band or two) and jugglers and street performers while we await the fireworks.

The fireworks are the highlight of the whole day -- they reflect off of the office towers -- all sheets of glass windows -- and off of the reflecting pools that are a part of the grounds of the state office buildings. Its beautiful!! It will be a long walk to wherever we've managed to park the car -- and we wont' rush, as we would just sit in the traffic jam anyway --- We'll get home late, tired and very happy.... Maybe popsicles to finish the day??? Or would that be gilding the lily.

The entire day will cost us a few gallons of gas (not as cheap as it used to be!) and the groceries I've already picked up --- not bad for a terrific holiday together with family and friends.

First Walgreens Rebate

I received my first rebate gift card from Walgreens in the mail today (or should I say gift CARDS?) Apparently one of the offers was a separate deal (not sure how) so it came as a separate gift card. So --- two gift cards in the mail today from Walgreens totaling just over $20.
I also finished filing my receipts for the June rebates from Walgreens, and they total just under $30. If the Walgreens website is correct, I should be receiving that in toward the end of the month.
When I finish out the July rebate deals, I'll be able to have Walgreens reload the card that just arrived (from the May rebate) so I shouldn't have to wait as long for the rebate to be in my hot little hands.
Speaking of which -- the July rebate looks pretty good to me. Here's my plan:

• definitely the Hebert candy bars for $.99 (what's to lose?? and what's not to love about free chocolate?)
• the Dr. Scholls gel pads -- I never thought I'd be addicted to these, but I bought a set last month when they were on Register Rewards and I love, love, love them. Another set with a big, fat rebate? Sure!
• Veet -- I go through this stuff like crazy in the summer. Its a good in-between the waxing solution without generating really coarse stubbly hair.
• Right Guard deodorant -- got my coupons all lined up -- with the coupon deduction, this is an even better deal
• Excedrin -- this is another product that we use alot of around here. And if the deal happens to be good on the Excedrin Migraine - that's so much the better.
• Alavert -- this isn't the time of the year when we go through this alot, but the fall is coming and we'll surely use it. I've been saving a coupon I received from the company especially for this.
• portable power for the Ipod -- I want to look at this one in person before I make a decision. We love our Ipods around here -- and on long trips we often run them down because we can't charge them back up while we're away from home. If this looks like a solution -- I'm in. We'll see
• Visa activation fee --- as far as I'm concerned, this is free money -- I usually give my niece and nephews gift cards for birthday's etc -- but I've avoided the Visa giftcard because of the fees --- I happen to believe that the kids should get my money, not the Visa corporation! But, I end up restricting them to one store, because of the gift card I give them. I feel a Visa giftcard coming on for the July birthday boy!
• Glade air spray -- with the dog, we're using this more and more. Might as well get some money back from Walgreens.
• Spray'nWash -- And I can do this deal more than once --- its on sale this week -- same price as at my beloved CVS -- but with the rebate, Walgreens wins. I have several coupons -- and I'll be stacking them all up and maxing out this deal. I'll just pile the bottles in the laundryroom cabinet and use them as I go.
• Box fan --- this was in the June Rebate catalog too and I wasn't going to do it --- until my sister sent me an email outlining the overlap between the June and July rebate catalogs and pointed out the fact that on purchases made during those 2 days YOU CAN SUBMIT FOR BOTH MONTHS --- add that in with the $5 off of a $20 purchase coupon and a couple of Register Rewards that I had and I've got a free fan. The fan is already purchased, and in fact, is already in my window and doing its job.

So all in all, I'm thinking that my July rebate might be somewhere in the neighborhood of about $50!! What I can't figure out is: Am I getting better at the Drugstore Game or did the deals get better?? I'll be glad when I start using the gift card -- it will make it that much easier to track the actual cost vs reward of the program....