Mother's Day and Oliver's Birthday

One week ago my little man turned 1 year old. We had his birthday at Matthew and Hillary's house since they have a large enough yard to hold everyone. This was a hard day for me because I woke up with one of the worst migraines I've had in a long time. I had wanted to make Oliver's cake myself, and I wanted to spend the afternoon just playing with him. I did get the cakes baked for his birthday, but never did get around to frosting them (even with Nolan home to help me) and instead of playing with OLiver that afternoon, I sent him off with my mom. I had to enlist the help of my terrific oldest sister to get him a cake. At least Nolan got to take him to the park in the morning. By the time of the party I was feeling well enough to actually leave my couch and join the party. My SIL was great enough to take pictures for me.





Nolan made a pinata for the party. He wanted it to be as indestructible, but still breakable as he could. So there were two layers of cardboard, separated by wooden dowels to support the entire structure. We didn't even bother with blindfolds, and everyone who went at it got 3 hits as hard as they could. The person to break it? Grandpa Jensen.

So, since Oliver loves food, I thought that he would just dig into his cake and make a huge mess. Nope, he decided that he would rather just pick off the M&Ms and eat those instead of the cake. As you can see he was very careful just to get the M&Ms.

I've decided to copy my sister, and ask to get family portraits done for Mother's day. Mother's day happens to coincide with OLiver's birthday, so we did both family portraits and first birthday pictures. My favorite out of these 3 is the "E" photo.

I love the pictures! I can't wait til they're ready for pick up! I am so excited to do this each year.

grocery deals: april 21-april 27

Here are the grocery deals of the week. But first, Safeway has new coupons to download onto your safeway card. There are a lot of good deals at Safeway this week that match up with coupons. If you've been downloading coupons for a while, then you should have enough to stack some deals.

FoodsCo
potatoes: $.97 for 10lb bag
Yoplait yogurt: $.50 each
Maruchan instant lunch cups: $.25 each
Hostess twinkies, cupcakes or hohos: $2 each
Breyers ice cream: $2.50 each
Michelina's budget gourmet classic entrees: $.49 each
Kroger value vegetables or T.J. farms fries: $.98 each

Safeway
pepsi or 7-up 2 liter bottles: $.69 each (Saturday and Sunday only)
Golden Grain pasta: $.79 each (Saturday and Sunday only)
Naval oranges: $2.99 8lb bag (Saturday and Sunday only)
LOndon Broil: $1.99 lb
Fresh Express shreds, spinach, or salads: $1 each
red seedless grapes: $.86 lb
Lucerne milk: $2.25 each when you buy 2
General Mills Cinnamon Toast crunch: $2 (downloadable coupon $.55 off one)
Sun Chips: $2.99 each (downloadable coupon $1 off one)
Nature VAlley granola bars: $2.50 each (downloadable coupon $1 off two)
Delimex Taquitos: $6.99 (in-ad coupon) (downloadable coupon $3 off) final price: $3.99
Chef Boyardee pasta: $1 each
Green Giant canned vegetables: $.79 each (downloadable coupon $1 off three)
Betty Crocker Specialty potatoes or hamburger helper: $.99 each (downloadable coupons $.75 off three hamburger helper, $.40 off one potatoes.)

Savemart Supermarkets
Iceberg lettuce: 3 for $.99
Tomatoes on the vine: $.97 lb
General Mills Cereal: $1.49 each (must buy 4)
El Monterey Burritos family pack: $1.99 (in-ad coupon)
boneless skinless chicken breasts: $1.99 lb.
Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks: $1.49 each (must buy 4

Raley's and BelAir
12 pack 7-up: B2 G2 free
Breyers ice cream: 2 for $5
Bisquick: $.99 (20 oz)
Betty Crocker baking mix pouches: $.99 each

Happy Shopping!

grocery deals: april 14-april 20

Here are the grocery deals for the week. But first a shopping tip: don't be afraid to buy meat in the value packs. Just make sure to separate the meat into meal sized portions before you freeze it. When I buy hamburger, I buy the value packs, then come home and divide it into 1 lb packs, wrap it in plastic wrap then freeze them. write the dates on the packages so you know when you bought them. I buy value packs of chicken breasts, then put 1 breast into each ziplock sandwich bag, then freeze. It makes pulling out, and thawing meat for dinners easy and simple.

Safeway
Safeway frozen boneless skinless chicken breast: $1.67 lb (sold in a 4lb bag)
Eating Right boneless skinless chicken breast: $1.99 (value pack)
Duncan Hines cake mix: $.99 each
Safeway premium bread: $.99 each
Safeway hickory smoked thick sliced bacon: $1.99 lb (sold in a 3lb package)
Cantalope: $.39lb
Doritos:BOGO free
12 pack 7-up cool packs: Buy 2 get 2 free

Savemart SuperMarket
beef chuck roast:$1.67 lb
red seedless grapes: $.87 lb
ground beef:$1.99 lb (max pack)
campbells tomato and chicken noodle soup: $.50 each
VO5 shampoo or conditioner: $.69 each (in-ad coupon)
Pillsbury dough (crescent rolls, cinnamon rolls, etc.): $.99 each

Raleys and BelAir
Tri Tip roast: $2.47 lb (limit 1 package)
Sweet white corn (cob): $.27 each (limit 12)
Fresh Express garden salad: $.97 each (12 oz)
cucumbers: $.59 each
Yoplait yogurt cups: $.45 each
Fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts and thighs: $2.49lb (not the best price this week, but not bad if you don't want to drive somewhere else.)

FoodsCo
Mangos: 2 for $.98
pork spareribs: $1.37 lb
fresh chicken breasts (on bone): $.99lb
Crisco cooking oil: 2 for $5 (48 oz)
Ansera long grain rice: $1.98 (5lb bag)
sara lee classic white or wheat bread: $1.98 each

Viva Supermarket
New York steak: $2.99 lb (valu pack)
twin pack whole chickens: $.79 lb (Thurs. it's only $.69lb)
boneless skinless chicken breasts and thighs: $1.59 lb

Happy Shopping!

Oliver's almost walking

My little guy has been getting better and better at standing on his own, and yesterday he finally took a step on his own. I expect him to really start walking any time now.

grocery deals: april 7 to april 13

Hi, here's the grocery deals for this week.

FoodsCo
Strawberries: $.97 for 1lb
Fresh boneless pork sirloin end chops or roast: $1.47lb (family pack)
Blue Ribbon rice: $7.98 for 25lbs
Tropicana Fruit punch: $.98 each
Popsicle Big Stick or Ice Pops: 5 for $5

Safeway (new coupons available to download onto card)
Safeway boneless skinless chicken breast: frozen in a 4lb bag, $1.67 lb (Saturday and Sunday only)
Smithfield bacon: $1.99 each (16oz) (Saturday and Sunday only)
Foster Farms split chicken breast: $.99 lb (value pack)
Iceberg lettuce: $.48 each
Green seedless grapes: $.98 lb
Lucerne large eggs 18ct.: BOGO free
Yoplait yogurt: $.50 each (print coupon $.50 off 6, download another coupon to make it a total of $1 off 6. so buy 6 for only $2.)
Quilted Northern Bath tissue: $10.99 24 double rolls (in-ad coupon)
Hot pockets: $1.50 each (in-ad coupon)
Yoplait Go-gurt: $2 each
Huggies or pampers diapers: $7.99 jumbo pack (in-ad coupon)
7-up 12 pack: $2.49 each (in-ad coupon)
Campbells condensed soup (chicken noodle and tomato): $.50 each
Safeway breads: $1.50 each (regular and breakfast)

Raleys and BelAir
Jif Peanut butter: $1.49 17.3 to 18oz (in-ad coupon)
Keebler chips deluxe cookies, town house crackers, grahams or sandwich bites: $1.88 each (in-ad coupon)
Tillamook Chunk Cheese: $5.99 2 lbs (in-ad coupon)
Ground beef 80%lean: $1.97 lb (3 lbs or more)
Boneless skinless chicken breasts: $1.87 lb
Hot pockets: $1.49 (must buy 5)
pasta or rice-a-roni: $.88 each
Michelinas budget gourmet: $.89 each

Happy shopping!

Grocery deals: March 31 to April 6

Well, this week doesn't have the biggest deals, but I'll let you know what the best prices are anyway. I've discovered that great deals come about every 3 weeks or so. I'm adding in ham prices since many people traditionally have ham on Easter, which is this Sunday!

Safeway
Safeway smoked whole or shank half ham: $.97 lb (limit 2
Safeway spiral sliced ham: $1.67 lb (limit 2)
LUcerne ice cream: $2.50 each
Strawberries: $1.50 lb.
Betty Crocker Cookie pouches: $1.69 each (You can always find coupons to download onto your card, and print ones online)
12 pack Coca-Cola, Pepsi or 7-up: buy 2 get 2 free (for 5 days only)

FoodsCo
Cantalope: 3lbs for $.99
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: $1.77lb
Kroger shredded or chunk cheese: 2lb $4.98
Tree top apple juice: 3 for $5
Nabisco wheat thins, ritz crackers: $1.98 each
Yams: 3lbs for $.99
Avocados: 3 for $.99
Baking size potatoes: $.25 lb

Raleys and BelAir
12 pack coca-cola: $2.39 each when you buy 4 (limit 4)
Dreyer's ice cream: $2.50 each
Raleys spiral sliced ham: $1.57 lb (limit 1)
Martinellis sparkling cider: $1.89 each
Del Monte pineapple: $1.57 each
Strawberries: BOGO free
Mission tortilla chips: $1.49 each
Michelinas entrees: $.89 each
Imperial margarine: $.50 each
Boneless skinless chicken breasts: $2.49 lb

Side notes: Target has eggs on sale til Sunday: $.99 for a dozen
Don't forget the great deals at Walmart this week. Look at the last post for details.

Happy shopping!

New Grocery Deals

New grocery deals! But first a shopping tip: I've been told by a couple of people that they can't find where to download the coupons on Safeway.com. You need to go to the links Shortcuts and Cellfire. These are the places where I download my safeway coupons. And they've just added more to the Cellfire link, so go there soon.

Walmart: Careful these prices are good from Sunday, March 28 to Sunday, April 4
Great Value Brown 'n Serve Rolls: $.88 (12 ct)
Green Giant Canned Vegetables: $.60 each
Great Value Butter: $1.50 (1lb)
Great Value Cream Cheese: $.50 (8 oz)
Fresh Strawberries: $2 (1 lb)

Safeway: prices good Wed. march 24- Tues. march 30
Safeway Hickory smoked bacon: $5.99 for 3 lbs. (Sat. and Sun. only)
Lucerne Large eggs: $.99 dozen (Sat. and Sun. only)
Fresh Foster Farms whole chicken: $.69 lb.
Broccoli Crowns: $.87 lb
Betty Crocker Cake or Traditional Brownie Mix: $.69 each. (must buy at least 4) ( I have 2 coupons on my safeway card for $.75 off each cake mix, so I bought 4 for $1.29)
12 pack pepsi or 7-up: Buy 2 get 3 free.
Progresso soups: BOGO Free (There are also coupons you download onto your card.
Safeway Select Artisan Cake slices: $.99 each.
Yoplait Delights 4-pack: $2.50 each (I had 2 coupons on my safeway card for $1 off each, which makes them $1.50 each.
Gold Medal Flour: $1.29 for 5lbs
Mix and Match: $75 each when you buy at least 4: products include: Hunt's pudding cups(Nolan loves to have these in his lunches), Rosarita Refried beans, Chef Boyardee pasta, Rice-a-Roni, etc. (see ad or website for all)

Foods Co:
Sweet Cantalope: 3lbs for $.99
Pork Spareribs or beef back ribs: $1.17 lb
Skippy Peanut butter: 2 for $3 (Buy 2 and get 32oz. Tropical Strawberry preserves for free)
Blue Ribbon rice: 5 lbs for $1.98
Michelinas budget gourmet classic entrees, or T.J. Farms shoestring fries: $.68 each
VO5 shampoo or conditioner: $.69 each

Raleys and BelAir
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: $1.67 lb. (really good price so stock up)
Naval oranges: $.33 lb
7-up 12 packs: Buy 2 get 3 free.

Happy shopping!