Wedding Day

Wedding Day
Enjoy EVERY moment in your wedding gown. You can't stay in it forever...SO UNFAIR!!!!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Thrifty Tips for November 29, 2012

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CRAFTY GIFT

I am on the hunt for a good gift to make a guy...as of yet, nothing is screaming out to me.  But I loved making these epsom salt bottles and votive holders.  They are super easy too!




What you need:




Glass jars and bottles  (I used an old relish jar, two Snapple bottles and a Christmas tree candy jar that I got for cheap at Walmart.  I save up jars all the time, because you never know what you can use them for. Mason jars would work well for this too.
Modge Podge
Epsom salts
Food coloring (not necessary but it can make a nice effect)
Paint brush
Spray Gloss

1-  Take clean jar and paint on a thick coat of Modge Podge (not so thick that it is drippy).






2- Pour epsom salts onto a plate or wax paper and roll Modge Podge coated glass into the salts or pour salts over the jar.




2A- If you want you can add food coloring to the salts to make a sea glass effect.  Just add a few drops and stir.









3 - Set coated glass to dry for a few hours. Follow drying with spraying the coated glass with spray gloss (I used Krylon).  Spray and let rest for 20 minutes before respraying 3 to 4 times.




4 - Put votive candle or LED votive inside for a pretty effect.





FREE EBOOKS 
(Remember that these were free at the time of my posting. That can change. Always look at the price before you download in case it has gone up.)

Twas The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore (AMAZON

66 Amish Recipes by Luke Wren (AMAZON)

FREE MUSIC DOWNLOADS

Nice!  FreeCCM has 7 free music downloads including "Christmas Time" by Phil Wickham.

iTickets.com has two free downloads including "Christmas Time Again" by Steven Curtis Chapman.

New Release Tuesday has six free downloads this week including "Joy To The World" by Jason Gray.

Hear it First will send you a free download a week when you join their newsletter, and on December 3 they will kick off a 12 Days of Christmas contest.  Totally worth signing up considering it is ALL free.  :)

FREE SAMPLES

While supplies last sign up for a free sample of Aveeno Nourish Hair Care.

Give your pup a free sample of Beneful Tuscan Style Medley (yep fancy dog food) while supplies last at their Facebook page.

FREE CHRISTMAS PRINTABLES


Emily has some awesome Christmas printables at her blog Toad's Treasures.  You will love the gift tags and stickers! 

World Label also has a great variety of sweet Christmas printables.  Cute little Christmas penguins and more!

Like Design Dazzle on Facebook and you can download and print the sweetest little Nativity set!

GROCERIES


ALBERTSONS


Fresh Chicken Breast Boneless, Skinless $1.77 lb
Pork Sirloin Chops Boneless $1.77 lb
Fresh Lean Ground Beef 80% Lean 3 lbs or more $1.99 lb
Clementine Tangerines 3 lb bag 2/$5
Bartlett Pears $1 lb
Large Eggplant $1 each
Romaine, Green Leaf, Red Leaf Lettuce or Spinach $1 each
Large Fuji or Braeburn Apples $1 lb
Barbasol Shave Cream 10 oz Select Varieties $1 (remember great for cleaning mirrors!)
Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix 8.5 oz 2/$1
Coffee-mate Flavored Creamer 32 oz Select Varieties $2.99

SAFEWAY

Fresh Whole Pork Shoulder Blade Roast Bone-in, Sold Whole in the bag $1.49 lb
Fresh Atlantic Salmon Fillets Extreme Value Pack Farm Raised $4.99 lb
Pantry Essentials Milk $1.57 gallon (limit 2)
Chobani Greek Yogurt 6 oz Selected Varieties 10/$10
Barilla Pasta 12-16 oz Selected varieties 5/$5
8 lb Bag Navel Oranges $3.88 each
Red, Bartlett or Bosc Pears 99 cents lb
Ripe Bananas 57 cents lb

FRY'S


Kroger Boneless Chicken Breasts $1.67 lb
Entire Selection of Fresh Pork buy one get one of euql or lesser value of like item FREE
Progresso Soup 8/$10
Powerade or Powerade Zero 32 oz Select Varieties 59 cents
Kroger Vegetables Selectr Varieties 11-15.25 oz Can 5/$3
Romaine, Boston, Red or Green Leaf Lettuce 99 cents
Blackberries 6 oz 1/1 free (save $2.99 with card)
















Thursday, November 15, 2012

Thrifty Tips for November 15, 2012

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THANKSGIVING
Now this is not your typical thrifty tip, but there are several community Thanksgiving celebrations that I found out about here in Arizona that I wanted to share with you.  This is by no means every place, but these are the ones I have located.  If I find more, I will definitely list them here:

Queen  Creek - November 17
Central Christian Church's Queen Creek campus and Canyon State Academy are offering an annual community Thanksgiving dinner to the Queen Creek area on Saturday, November 17th from 3 to 5 pm at Canyon State Academy located at 20061 East Rittenhouse Road.  This dinner is free.


Chino Valley - November 20
Chino Valley Word of Life Assembly Church will host a free community Thanksgiving on Tuesday, November 20th from 4 to 7 pm.  Chino Valley Word of Life Church is located at 490 West Road 1 North in Chino Valley.  


Tucson - November 21
Thanksgiving dinner and Community Blood Drive at Picture Rocks Community Center at 3:30 pm located at 5615 North Sanders Road. The blood drive will run from 1 to 4 pm.

Payson - November 22
Free Community Thanksgiving at 1206 North Beeline Hwy in Payson.  There will be three seating times:  11:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 1:30 pm.  Dinner is free but tickets can be picked up so they can better prepare for how many will be attending.  Volunteers can help out by calling 928-476-2151. Volunteers will also deliver a Thanksgiving meal to the homebound.  Call by November 19th to arrange that delivery by calling 928-474-2151

Prescott - November 22
Community Thanksgiving meal - Salvation Army held from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm at Prescott Mile High Middle School located at 300 South Granite Street in Prescott

Sedona - November 22
Sedona Elks Lodge at 110 Airport road will host their annual free community Thanksgiving dinner with live music.  Dinner will be served from 11 am to 3:00 pm.  Volunteers are welcome call 928-282-7571.  They served 1086 meals last year!


Tucson - November 22
St. Demetrios Greek Orthdox Church will host the Salvation Army Thanksgiving Community Dinner from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.  St. Demetrios is located at 1145 East Fort Lowell Rd in Tucson.


CRAFTY GIFT
Because I love all things beauty related and because I have lots of canning jars, I thought that it would be fun to make a yummy sugar scrub.  You can make a sugar scrub with just about anything you have on hand.  I happened to have some lemon on hand so the choice was easy.  Here is a recipe for a simple, pretty sugar scrub.  Homemade sugar scrub, homemade bath salts (yes we'll probably go there too), some nice bath scrunchies or sponges and maybe a towel or bath pillow can make a nice gift basket this Christmas.  Here is the ridiculously simple recipe.

1 Cup of sugar
1/2 Cup of oil (I used coconut oil. You can use extra virgin olive oil, but I find it can overpower your scents)
3 teaspoons lemon juice
Zest of one lemon

DIRECTIONS:
Combine sugar, oil, lemon juice to make a sugary paste (feel free to add more sugar or oil depending on desired consistency). 
    
 Add in lemon zest and stir well.

No joke...that is it!  Easy as can be and usually there is enough left over to add to any little container you may have at home for you.  Make batches however you like by just doubling up. 


FREE EBOOKS (These books were free at the time of my posting.  ALWAYS check the price before you download)

Seal of God by Chad Williams (AMAZON) (BARNES & NOBLE) (CHRISTIANBOOK.COM)

Livvie's Song (River of Hope Series) by Sharlene MacLaren (AMAZON) (BARNES & NOBLE) (CHRISTIANBOOK.COM)

Circle of Friends 25 Breakfast and Brunch Recipes by Gooseberry Patch (AMAZON) (BARNES & NOBLE)

FREE MUSIC DOWNLOADS

FreeCCM has ten free music downloads including "O God Save Us All" by Disciple

BLOG FOR BOOKS
Do you like to read Christian books and are you willing to share about the books you read?  If so, think about blogging for books.  There are a few publishers you can start out with who will be happy to share books with you for your reviews and buzz.  What you do is read the book and review it on your blog as well as sites like Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads and the like.  It is really easy to set up a blog.  A good way to get started too is by reviewing books you already have.  Here are some links to check out:  Bethany House, Book Sneeze, and Blogging for Books

SAVE MONEY ON GROCERIES
Don't forget to download the latest coupons on Savingstar.com.  The savings adds up and once you have accumulated at least $5, you can cash it in for a gift card. 

GROCERIES

FRY'S
USDA Choice Holiday Strip roast or super Value Pack Steaks Bone-in, Beef Loin $4.77 lb (limit 2)
Kroger Frozen Turkey 10-20 lbs 79 cents lb (limit 1 with $25 purchase)
Cook's Fully Cooked Half Ham Bone-in $1.47 lb (Limit 1 with $20 purchase)
Philadelphia Cream Cheese 4 for $5
Kroger Butter Select Variety 16 oz 2/$5
Russet Potatoes 10 lb bag 88 cents (limit 2)
First of the Season California Navel Oranges 77 cents lb
Broccoli or Cauliflower 99 cents lb
Golden or Red Yams 79 cents lb
Fuji, Rome, Cameo &  Granny Smith Apples 99 cents lb

ALBERTSONS
Honeysuckle White Frozen Turkey 10-20 lbs 79 cents lb (limit 1 per transaction with $25 purchase)
Russet Potatoes 10 lb Bag 88 cents each (limit 1)
Coke 12 pack 12 oz Select Varieties 4/$9 (When you  Buy 4 - Limit $25 purchase)
Sara Lee Oven Fresh Pies 27-37 oz 2/$5
Albertsons Large Eggs 18 ct Grade AA 2/$3 (limit 2)
Farmer John Bacon 12 oz Regular, Thick or Maple $1.99
Coffee-mate Flavored Creamer 32 oz Select Varieties $2.99
Albertsons Half & Half 32 oz Select Varieties $1.99
Powerade Sports Drink 321 oz or Fuze Drinks 16.9 oz Select Varieties 10/$10
Delicious Red or Golden Yams 79 cents

SAFEWAY
Safeway Turkey 79 cents lb ($25 purchase required)
Ranchers Reserve Whole Beef Ribeye Roast $4.99 lb
Dreyer's Ice Cream 1 Quart Selected varieties 2/$6
Simply Orange Juice 59 oz chilled Selected Varieties 2/$6
Pantry Essentials Milk Gallon, Whole, 2%, 1%, or Fat Free $1.77 (limit 2)
Lean Cuisine Simple Favorites 8.5-11.5 oz 5/$10
Nabisco Snack Crackers 5.5-10 oz $1.79
American Beauty Dry Pasta 16 oz Select varieties 5/$5
Ocean Spray Cranberry Cocktail Drinks 64 oz 2/$4
Mission  Estilo  Casero Tortillas $2.69

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Thrifty Tips for November 8, 2012

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THRIFTY GIFT

Christmas is coming soon.  In fact it is about 46 days away.  I thought a fun thing to do up until then is share some tips and tutorials on gifts that you can make for Christmas.  There will be a new gift each week

Today's gift...Moonsand or Cloudsand.  Same stuff really just different names.  Moonsand and Cloudsand are great for sensory tables for kids.  They are fun for molding and shaping, and really just feel pretty awesome.  I used two different recipes and they were both really easy and under $10 to make.  I followed two recipes for this.  Here's what you need:

Four cups of sand
2 cups of corn starch
1 cup of water


OR

9 cups of flour (I bought two 5 lb bags for $1.50 each and used part of one)
1 1/4 cups of baby oil (I already had the generic baby oil)
(No need for another pic of ingredients)

Sand Directions:  This could not be easier.  Measure out sand (I picked mine up at the craft store for $2.99 a bag- I bought 2) and corn starch (the corn starch was on sale for 16 oz for $1.50 perfect measurement), mix together thoroughly.




Slowly pour in the cup of water and stir thoroughly.  


At first it clumps up big time, but it is broken up and mixed easily.


Pros - Molds nicely.  Can re-energize it for molding with some water spritzing.


Cons - The sand I used was a bit stinky, BUT this would definitely keep one from popping it into their mouths.

Flour Directions:  Super simple.  I measured out a half recipe of four cups of flour and 3/4 cup of baby oil.  The recipe mixed really quickly.  The oil balled up a bit, but it really molded nicely and it felt soft like a cloud.


Pros - Molds nicely, mixed quickly, smelled lovely.
Cons - None that I can think of really.

I made both batches in plastic shoe boxes that I picked up at Goodwill (50% off sale so they averaged 75 cents each).  The boxes make nice storage and packaging for the gift. Both sands were easy to break up and remold again and again.  Both were very inexpensive.  Give it a try. 


FREEBIES

Mrs. Dash is still giving away free samples on their Facebook page.  They are giving away up to 20,000 until November 29th.  If you haven't signed up yet, get it today. This usually goes live at 12pm EST.

Get beautiful free Thanksgiving printables for your Thanksgiving celebration at Catch My Party.  Thanks to Tip Junkie for sharing this great tip.  Tip Junkie also has a great paperdoll printable that will allow for lots of fun for the girls at home during Thanksgiving.  You might also want to check out the various free Thanksgiving printables from Paper Glitter

Members of Pillsbury's Not  So Secret Club can sign up for a free calendar.  There are usually great recipes and often great coupons too.  If you aren't a member, sign up today. 

While supplies last sign up for the Facebook freebie offer from Finish Dishwashing Detergent.  You don't have to share the deal to get it.

FREE MUSIC DOWNLOADS

FreeCCM has ten free songs this week including "Hearts Cry" from Chandler Roberts.

iTickets.com has two free song downloads available today including Third Day's "Hit Me Like A Bomb" from their new album "Miracle."

FREE EBOOKS (Remember these books were free at the time of my posting.  Always check the price before you download as they can and do change quickly)

The Negotiator by Dee Henderson (AMAZON) (BARNES & NOBLE) (CHRISTIANBOOK.COM)

Castaway Kid: One Man's Search for Hope and Home (Focus on the Family Books) by R. B. Mitchell (AMAZON) (CHRISTIANBOOK.COM)

Old World Murder by Kathleen Ernst (AMAZON)

The Staycation Jar:  200 Family Fun Ideas For Creative Meals, Main Events, Silliness, Love Projects by Erica McNeal (AMAZON)

GROCERIES

SAFEWAY

Frozen Grade A 8-24 lbs 79 cents lb, Limit 1 with an additional $25 purchase (limit 1) Whiles Supplies last
Butterball Turkey Frozen Grade A 10-24 lbs 99 cents lb, Limit 1 with an additional $50 purchase (limit 1) While supplies last.
Raspberries or Blackberries 6 oz Buy 1 Get 1 Free (Save $3.49 on two)
Fuji Apples or Bartlett Pears 99 cents lb
Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit 99 cents lb
Avocados 99 cents lb
Marie Callender's or Healthy Choice Meals 8.5-19 oz Selected varieties $1.99
Kellogg's Raisin Bran 18.7 oz or Corn Flakes 12 oz 2/$4


ALBERTSONS -
Will match the price on their Honeysuckle White Turkey Grade A Frozen to the lowest advertised price offered by Fry's, Safeway, or Bashas' OR You Can Receive a Free Turkey with a $100 purchase up to 15.99 lbs

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts $1.77 lb
Pork Loin Chops boneless Buy 1 Get 2 Free (regular retail $6.99 lb)
New Crop California Navel Oranges 2/$1
Land O' Lakes Butter 1 lb Quarters Select Varieties 2/$5 (limit 4)
Albertsons Large Eggs 99 cents (limit 2)
Libby's Vegetables 14.5 ti 15.25 oz 2/$1
Johnsonville All Natural Ground Sausage 16 oz $2.99 (mix this up with ground beef to spice up a meatloaf)
Red, Green or Romaine Fresh Leaf Lettuce 99 cents
Butternut, Acorn or Spaghetti Squash 99 cents lb
Roma Tomatoes 99 cents lb (more "meat" in a roma tomato)


FRY'S

Kroger Frozen Turkey 10-20 lb 79 cents lb
Fry's Milk, Whole, 2%, Reduced Fat, 1% Lowfat or Nonfat Gallon (limit 2) $1.57
Blackberries 6 oz 99 cents
Bar-S Bacon 12 oz $1.97 (limit 4)
Boneless Half Pork Loin Sold Whole in Bag Sliced & Wrapped Free $2.19 lb (limit 2)
Frozen Turkey Breast Bone-In $1.69 lb
Gala, Granny, Red or gold or Fuji Apples 99 cents lb
Hass Avocados or Red & Yellow Bell Peppers 99 cents lb
Zucchini or Yellow Squash 99 cents lb

SPECIAL CASE SALE (buy by the case or single)
10 Case Count Kroger Value Sugar 4 lb bag $19.99 case or $2.29 each
24 Case Count Nestle Morsels 10-12 oz $47.99 case or $1.99 each
24 Case Count Dole Pineapple 20 oz can $19.99 case or 10/$10 each










Thursday, November 1, 2012

Thrifty Tips for November 1, 2012

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WEBSITES

Yes!!!!  It is November, and that means in just a few short weeks it will be BLACK FRIDAY!  There are amazing deals everywhere, and if you are like me, you want to know who is selling what as soon as possible.  It makes it so much easier for planning that Black Friday shopping excursion.  Here are some great websites to direct you to those great Black Friday Deals.

BlackFriday@Gottadeal.com is an amazing Black Friday site.  


Fat Wallet is great for deals all year long, but they also give you great ins and outs of Black
Friday.  Got an iPhone?  Take advantage of their iPhone app.

Slick Deals will keep you on top of all things Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

BFAds.net is another great site that will not only keep you posted on the great deals, but they also offer some wonderful giveaways too.

And don't forget that all during the week of Thanksgiving, you can find amazing deals at Amazon!


RECIPE
Jennie-O Turkey Store lean ground turkey is on sale at Safeway.  This is the perfect time to try their Best Every Turkey Meatloaf!  PS...This recipe is amazing for regular meatloaf too.  I hated my meatloaf until I worked this recipe in.


FREE MUSIC DOWNLOADS

Get ten free music downloads at FreeCCM including "I Won't Run Away" from Ashes Remain.

If you like Christian Hip-Hop check out Holy Culture for a couple of great free downloads.

For a very limited time Amazon will give you $1.29 in MP3 credit.  Go to this link and Share & Claim with your facebook friends what your favorite party song is.  Your account will then be automatically credited with $1.29.  You can use that to download a song.  This credit will only last until 11:59 pm PST so don't wait too long.  Oh...you do not have to pick your free music from the ones you see.  I picked one for my favorite party song, but I used my credit actually to round off some credit totals from earlier freebies and downloaded Group 1 Crew's new album  "Fearless."

iTickets.com has two free downloads this week including Matthew West's song "Into The Light."


FREE EBOOKS (Remember that these books were free at the time of my posting.  Always look at the price before you download.)

Prairie Rose (A Town Called Hope) by Catherine Palmer (AMAZON) (BARNES & NOBLE) (CHRISTIANBOOK.COM)

The Lord is  My Shepherd by Debbie Viguie (CHRISTIANBOOK.COM

FREEBIES

While supplies last sign up for a free sample of Centrum Flavor Burst Chews.

Get a free sample of new Purina Cat Chow Healthy Weight and a $1 Coupon while supplies last.


FREE MAGAZINES

Sign up for Rewards Country, refer a friend, and do some reviews and you can get a two year subscription to Parenting School Years Magazine.

Sign up for your free subscription to BabyTalk magazine.  



GROCERIES


SAFEWAY

Eating Right Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat or Sanderson Farms Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts $1.67 lb (limit 4)
Scarlotta Red Seedless Grapes $1.28 lb
Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit 3/$1.00
Free Safeway Dry Pasta When you buy any 2 Ragu Pasta Sauces and Ragu Select Varieties are 2/$3
Hass Avocados 99 cents
Russet Potatoes or Sweet Onions 99 cents lb
Broccoli Crowns or Cauliflower $1.49 lb
Jennie-O Turkey Store Lean Ground Turkey 20 oz $3.99 each
Jennie O Turkey Store Extra Lean Ground Turkey Breast 20 oz $5.99 each
Pantry Essentials Milk gallon, Whole, 2%, 1% or Fat Free $1.77 (limit 2)
Nature Valley Crunchy  Granola Bars 8.9 oz Selected Varieties $1.69 (musts buy 4)
General Mills Honey Nut Cheerios 12.25 oz, Lucky Charms 11.5 oz $1.69 (must buy 4)

LOTS OF GREAT COUPONS IN THE CIRCULAR TOO
Quaker Chewey Granola Bars 8 coutn $1.88 (limit 4)
Kellogg's Pop Tarts 8 ct $1.49 (limit 4)
Dole Canned Fruit 20 oz Pineapple, 11 oz Mandarins or 15.25 oz Tropical Fruit Select $1.00
Keebler Town House or Club Crackers 9.5 to 16 oz $1.99 (limit 5)
Sunny D 64 oz Chilled 99 cents (limit 2)
And lots more

FRY'S

Kroger Boneless Chicken Breasts or Tenderloins Fresh USDA $1.88 lb (limit 4)
USDA Choice Boneless Bottom Round Roast Beef Round Buy 1 Get 1 of Like Item Free (save up to $6.99 lb with card)
Fry's Milk Whole, 2%, Reduced Fat, 1% Lowfat or Skim, Half Gallon 88 cents (limit 4)
Mini Seedless Watermelon 2/$3
Red Tomatoes on the Vine 98 cents lb
Asparagus $2.99 lb
Broccoli or Cauliflower 99 cents lb
Bananas 57 cents lb
Hass Avocados or Red or Yellow Bell Peppers 99 cents each

BUY 10 SAVE $5 (prices listed reflect the savings when 10 are purchased)
Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup or Cream of Mushroom 10.75 oz 69 cents
Green Giant Vegetables Select Varieties 14.5 to 15.25 49 cents
Swanson Broth Select Varieties 14.5 oz Can 49 cents
Heinz Gravy Select Varieties 12 oz or Stove Top Stuffing 6 oz 79 cents
Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce Select Varieties 14 oz 99 cents
Gillette Series or Satin Care Shave Gel or Foam Select  Varieties 2.5-7 oz $1.49
Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Select Varieties Half Gallon $1.99
Kraft Singles Select Varieties 16 ct $1.49
Kleenex Facial Tissue Select Varieties 50-184 ct 99 cents
Marie Calendar's Dinners Select Varieties 12-19 oz or Healthy Choice 9.5 to 10.8 oz $1.99
American Beauty Pasta Select Varieties 16 oz 69 cents

ALBERTSONS - 
Will match the price on their Honeysuckle White Turkey Grade A Frozen to the lowest advertised price offered by Fry's, Safeway, or Bashas' OR You Can Receive a Free Turkey with a $100 purchase up to 15.99 lbs

Albertsons Gallon Milk Select Varieties $1.67
Red Ripe Strawberries 1 lb Buy 1 Get 1 Free (save $2.99 on 2)
Pork Loin ribs Previously Frozen Buy 1 Get 2 Free (limit 1 reward per transaction) reg $7.99 lb
Tilapia Fillet 16 oz Bag Frozen Buy 1 Get 2 Free (limit 1 Reward per transaction) - reg $7.99 each

BUY any 8 PARTICIPATING ITEMS SAVE $4 (The prices listed reflect the savings once 8 items are purchased)
Duncan Hines Classic Cake Mix 18.25 oz Select Varieties 99 cents
Sara Lee Wide Pan Bread 24 oz or Thomas Bagels 6 ct Select Varieties $2.49
Blue Bell Ice Cream 64 oz Select Varieties $3.99
Coffee0mate Flavored Creamer 32 oz $2.49
Ragu  Pasta Sauce 16-24 oz 99 cents
Essential Everyday Pasta 12-16 oz Select Varieties 99 cents
Quaker Cereal 12.5 to 14.5 oz Select Varieties $1.99
Healthy choice or Marie Callender's Dinners, Entrees or Pot Pies 8-19 oz Select Varieties $2.49
Nestle Pure Life Water 24 pk 16.9 oz $3.99
Rice-A-roni 3.8 to 7.2 oz Select Varieties 88 cents