Marilyn's Money

Deals...A Year in Review

2009-12-31T17:53:00.000-08:00

A Year of Deals in Review:

Mall Freebies: Aeries A-list, Victoria Secret freebies, Godiva Choclates, Borders free coffee drinks, Sephora birthday gifts, and Bare Mineral sample, Clinique samples, Mascarca from Ulta's (from Seventeen Magazine, it was the only one we could snag!)

Mail Freebies: (The Best of)
4 free tote bags, Olay Pro-X, Secret Clincal Strentgh deoderant, full size Jergen's hand lotion with samples ( I was a Jergen's Ambassador, yes I was picked!) Country Bob's sauce, Glade Sense and Spray and Revlon lip gloss, oh and course many free samples of tampons and pads (hee, hee)

Kmart freebies (double $2): at least 30 name brand deoderant, 5 tubes toothpaste, 5 Listerines, 9 Vo5 shampoos, 10 Glade candles, 6 Glade Scents and Spray, 4 Airwick sprays, 8 boxes of Special K cereal and 4 boxes cereal bars (ok those 12 costed me 16 cents!) 6 A-1 sauces, and probably many more things!

Grocery Store Freebies: Tons and tons of free Chex Mix, Purina One cat food (bags and bags!) Can't Believe its Not Butter, Hunts Ketchup, boxes and boxes of cereal (25 cents or less) V8 Splash fruit juice, Toll House cookie dough, Jennie-O turkey dinner roll x two, Pace salsa 10 free jars, Otrange juice, Warm Delights (many)

All in all its been a great fun year! Really this was my first year throwing myself into the coupon and freebie world. I'm sure there are many freebie items not listed.

Thanks to all the fellow bloggers out there and followers, its been a great year and hope next year brings even better deals.

The Aeries Scoop

2009-12-31T17:10:00.000-08:00

As usual Kristie and I went to the mall today. She still had a few Christmas returns. We stopped in at the Aeries and got the scoop on the A-List.....

Fyi this info is reliable as the store employees. In January we will still get a gift, its lorion in there new scent. When I told the clerk the store took my card the last time I got my gift in December she said in January there will be no card just ask, on Thursdays. However they doubt if they will continue the monthly gifts. They are trying to connect it with the AE passcard (American Eagle), so I have a feeling after January there will be no more free gifts for us.

Anyway at least enjoy next's month freebie!

Free Appetizer at Smokey Bones on 1/1/10

2009-12-29T18:27:00.000-08:00

http://www.fishbowl.com/clt/smkb/pc/200912/4/cpn/cpn.asp

Got Ham?

2009-12-26T07:13:00.000-08:00

Boy we sure do! I am so very grateful though. My brother works for a company that gives them a whole Honeybaked Ham for Christmas.After ham on Christmas Eve and a huge roasted turkey on christmas day, as usual we have tons of leftovers. Let the ham party begin!

Ham and Scalloped Potatoes ( Of course Dorothy's Recipe)
Cut about 1 lb of hams into small peices
Peel and grate about 3-5 lbs of potatoes (we use an old fashioned metal grater for this)
In a large roaster add potatoes, salt, 1 stick maragarine (I chunk it up) pepper and about 1 quart milk. Add 3 Tbsp. flour. Cover and cook at 350 for about 1 hr. Be sure to stir one or twice while cooking (it may be necessary to add a little extra milk)

This cheap, delicious meal will easily serve 5 with leftovers. Hurry 10 lbs of potatoes are still on sale today for $1.19. This can easily be made for less than $2 for the entire meal!

Free Niicorette Gum From Costco

2009-12-25T09:46:00.000-08:00

http://www.costco.com/Browse/ProductSet.aspx?Prodid=11505006&search=sample&Mo=3&cm_re=1-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Sp=S&N=5000043&whse=BC&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ne=4000000&D=sample&Ntt=sample&No=3&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1

What a great way to start out the New Year! From Costco, no membership number required!

Simply...Toffee Bars?

2009-12-21T11:29:00.000-08:00

Here's a great toffee bar recipe I stumbled upon on the web. Really if I could only remember where! If its your recipe please leave a comment and I'll credit ya! Easy, and during the holidays we usually have all of these ingredients.

1/4 box saltine crackers (more or less)

1 cup butter (I used margarine)

1 cup sugar

1 bag

semi sweet chocolate chips ( maybe a little less, I thought this was bit much)

I WARN you...these are NOT low calorie!

First line your cookie sheet with foil, grease it with butter. Apply your saltines like I did.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees

Next melt your butter a sugar. Bring it to a boil for 2 1/2 minutes. Drizzle over your crackers. Bake for 5-7 minutes. They look like this when you take them out.

Next sprinkle your chocolate chips over them, quickly to melt, spread with knife. A bag is more than enough.

The finished product! You got to admit it looks sinfully good!

Now I know this is your favorite picture. Of course its me and Kristie enjoying the fruits of our labor!

Free Little Caesar's Pizza From Hansen's

2009-12-18T15:24:00.000-08:00

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Troy-MI/1-800-HANSONS/36515234012?v=wall&ref=nf#/pages/Troy-MI/1-800-HANSONS/36515234012?v=app_11007063052&ref=nf Thanks, http://jane4girls800dollarannualbudget.blogspot.com/

One For the Guys...Free Maxim Magazine

2009-12-17T18:35:00.000-08:00

http://www.freebizmag.com/brmaxim01welcome.htm?sssdmh=dm5.161728

Looking for Cookie Recipes?

2009-12-15T09:10:00.000-08:00

Stop by http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/virtual-cookie-exchange to find links to new and different cookie recipes, I'm sure you'll recognize a blogger or two here! (look for me!)

Free Weight Watchers Magazine

2009-12-14T13:13:00.000-08:00

http://www.freebizmag.com/emailweight02welcome.htm

Virtual Cookie Exchange...Apricot Slovak Cookies

2009-12-13T18:23:00.000-08:00

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/virtual-cookie-exchange Join me for the virtual cookie exchange: Here's my offering: Dorothy's Slovak Apricot Cookies

Ingredients:

6 cups flour

1 lb margarine (original recipe calls for oleo)

Handful of vegetable shortening (original recipe calls for Spry)

1 16oz container sour cream

6 egg yolks plus another 6 for egg wash

4 tsp baking power

1 cup sugar

Refridgerate dough overnight

Here's my daughter Kristie mixing the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.

Then add the margarine and the handful of shortening. The trick is to do it like "pie dough" rubbing the margarine and dry ingredients together between your palms.

Next make a well and add your 6 egg yols and the sour cream. A "good" dough will show streaks of egg yolk and sour cream in it.

Here's what the dough should look like once rolled out. I buy my apricot filling from the Anderson's, 2 lbs costs $4.99. Be sure to flour well before rolling.

Next brush your cookies with egg wash. I used a total of 6 yolks mixed with a little water.

Am I really smiling? By the third pan its not so fun anymore.

Can you tell Kristie was hard at work? Her shirt tells no tails.

Into the oven they go for about 13 to 15 minutes. I bake at 300 degrees, but look how old my poor oven is! Its from the 60's so use your best judgement. Be sure to grease your pan very well.

Ahhh...the finished product! So good and only at Christmas and Easter do we get these special cookies. Dust with powered sugar before serving.

Free Car and Driver Magazine

2009-12-12T03:53:00.000-08:00

http://a388.g.akamai.net/7/388/1603/0001/www.freebizmag.com/emailcardriver04welcome.htm

Uh-Oh...Maybe Aerie's A-List Gift is Finished?

2009-12-10T10:32:00.000-08:00

I headed to Westfield Mall today to get the great free Aerie's gift (Thurs. only). December's gift is a free chocolate bar. When the clerk punched my card she took it. I forgot it was only thru December of this year. I asked for a new one for next year and she told me Aeries was revamping their A-list program. I asked would we still get free gifts? She replies she didn't know and that corporate was letting it out yet. Guess we'll have to wait and see if this great program will continue. Sob, Sob!

Meijer Super Saturday Ad

2009-12-10T05:52:00.000-08:00

http://meijer.shoplocal.com/meijer/default.aspx?action=entryflash&storeref=116 Besides Meijer's 2 day sale, there will be a Super Saturday!

$10 Off $20 Purchase at Smokey Bones

2009-12-08T18:38:00.000-08:00

http://www.fishbowl.com/clt/smkb/pc/200912/1/cpn/cpn.asp

Fess Up...Do You Do This?

2009-12-05T11:31:00.000-08:00

It struck me so funny this morning, am I the only one who does this? I just can't bear to throw away the quarter of an inch left in my soap bottles. I have to admit it does make for some interesting soap color in the bottle. So fess up, throw away or drain?

Surveys Pay!

2009-12-04T17:58:00.000-08:00

My Survey did again for me! Another $10 will be coming my way again, thanks for clicking on my referral link. This makes $30 total for Nov and Dec combined.

MyPoints also came through this month with a $25 gift card to Applebbes, a nice little gift for Christmas.

While it may be small surveys do pay!

Sears VIP Night Dec 7th 6pm-9pm

2009-12-04T17:29:00.000-08:00

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/dap_10153_12605_DAP_Sears+VIP

Ready for Winter?

2009-12-03T19:11:00.000-08:00

Ready for winter? We live in NW Ohio, and the cold weather is starting a little late this year. I'm sure it will hit us soon. Hubs is getting the snow blower ready for that first big snowfall. The logsplitter is packed away along with the lawnmower. Maybe DH needs a bigger garage?

Comfort and Joy Chocolate Aeries December A-List Gift

2009-12-01T10:47:00.000-08:00

http://www.ae.com/aerie/alist/index.jsp Don't forget your December's Aeries gift on thursday!

30% Off Borders Coupon

2009-12-01T04:49:00.000-08:00

http://www.bordersmedia.com/coup/30decwk1.asp?cmpid=SL_20091201

Boston Market 50% Off Family Meal

2009-11-27T07:15:00.000-08:00

http://www.fishbowl.com/clt/bstnmkt/pc/200911/2/shpprs.htm 50% off Family Meals this weekend only

Pumpkin Roll Time!

2009-11-25T16:14:00.000-08:00

Yes, I'm trying my baking skill...pumpkin roll. I've made this recipe several time and its delish! However, mine never turns out looking like a store bought roll. Here I'm mixing the pumpkin in with the beaten eggs.

Now I'm spreading the pumpkin "dough" into the jelly pan. I line mine with wax paper and grease it well.

Now you can see the roll out of the oven, of course I think I aver cooked it a minute. I'm mixing the filling.

Shhh...No one"s looking here!

My finished product! I'll wrap it in foil and refridgerate till tomorrow.

Heres the ingredients:

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup canned pumpkin

1 tsp lemon juice

3/4 cup flour

1 tsp baking power

2 tsp cinnamon

about 1 1/2 cups powered sugar

Filling:

1 pkg Cream Cheese

4 Tblsp butter (I used margarine)

1 cup power sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Beat eggs in mixing bowl, gradually beat in sugar. Fold in pumpkin and lemon juice.Fold in remainder of dry ingredients.Line a jelly roll pan with well greased wax paper and spread batter into pan. Bake at 325 for 15 min.Quickly loosen sides with knife and turn pan out into a towel sprinkled with powdered sugar. Remove wax paper and roll cake with towel first (this never works well for me!) Mix filling ingredients together with blender and spread on "roll". Roll the dough like a log. Refridgerate and enjoy!

$10 Gift Card at Local Malls With $100 Purchase on Black Friday

2009-11-25T05:30:00.000-08:00

http://www.theshopsatfallentimbers.com/Events/Holiday-Shopping-Kickoff

or click http://www.merrygiving.com/ to see if your local mall is participating!

Special thanks to http://www.macombmoneysavers.com/ for posting this great deal!

MySurvey

2009-11-24T19:44:00.000-08:00

Looking for a great new place to earn cash? I've earned $30 so far this fall, yes in cash (check). The surveys are great, and points add up for each one. Please consider signing up with me as a referral, Thanks!