Save The Date: Thursday, September 10th at 6:30 pm

I'm excited to let you all know that I will be doing a class on saving money at Eckhart Public Library on Thursday, September 10th at 6:30 pm. This is a great opportunity to learn some simple ways to save money on groceries, travel, and everyday purchases. I'll be posting more about this as it gets closer!

I'm so thankful for our library. Not only do they have a wide selection of wonderful books, audio books, and movies, but they also offer great programs for the community! Also, if you have teenagers, make sure to check out The Third Place: A Teen Library! If you haven't been there, you need to go!

TMTT- Homemade Honey Wheat Bread

I love eating out...especially when it involves loaves of warm yummy bread. Our current budget doesn't allow for much eating out, so my husband suggested I figure out how to make the bread myself. My favorite bread is Honey Wheat bread (like they serve at Outback or Cheesecake Factory). This recipe can also be made in a breadmaker.

1 1/2 cup hot water
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons butter - softened or melted
2 cups bread flour (if you don't have bread flour, you can use all purpose flour instead, but the results won't be quite as good)
2 cups wheat flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon cocoa
2 teaspoons instant coffee
1 teaspoon salt
1 packet yeast (or 2 1/4 teaspoons)

Place all ingredients in large mixing bowl starting with liquid ingredients and ending with the yeast. Knead until ingredients are thoroughly combined and you have a wet sticky dough. If dough is too wet, add more flour. Leave dough in bowl, cover, and let rise for 90 minutes.

After 90 minutes, remove from bowl, punch down and divide into 8 sections. Form each section into a small loaf, 2 inches wide and 6 inches long. Place loaves on 2 cookie sheets. Cover and let rise for 1 hour.

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. This bread is best if served warm.

If you are making this bread in your bread machine, just place your ingredients in the bread machine and let it do it's work. I just use the basic setting on the machine when I make this loaf and I get one big yummy loaf.

For more yummy recipes or for great kitchen tips, visit Lisa at Blessed With Grace for Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.

Menu Plan Monday - Using What You Have

I can't believe my time in New Hampshire is coming to an end. My hubby and kids will be leaving on Sunday morning to fly home and I'll be leaving shortly after that. With that in mind, I need to use up what we have left so that we're not wasting food. Also, I'm trying not to spend any money on food this week since we're in a new budget month and I know I'm going to have to do some serious grocery shopping when we get home after being gone for 2 months. So, without further ado...here is this week's menu.

Breakfasts: Cereal, PopTarts, Toast and/or Fruit

Lunch: Fluffernutters or Grilled Cheese and Fruit

Monday- Eggs and Pancakes

Tuesday- BBQ Chicken Legs, Pasta with Sauce, Veggies, and Homemade Honey Wheat Bread

Wednesday- Taco Pie

Thursday- Hot Dogs and Mac and Cheese

Friday- Baked pasta and Homemade Honey Wheat Bread *We'll also probably have a birthday cake since my daughter turns 14 on Saturday!!!

Saturday- Cookout

Although this week is an unusual week, you can get lots of great menu planning ideas at Menu Plan Monday over at I'm an Organizing Junkie. This week, Menu Plan Monday is being hosted by Toni over at The Happy Housewife! Make sure to check it out!

Coach Factory Store Coupon!!!!!!!

Anyone who knows me well knows that I love anything Coach. I have Coach shoes, purses, hair scarves, and even some Coach pencils (the pencils were free for Facebook fans a few weeks ago!) I've told lots of people that I use coupons on my groceries so that I can spend money on Coach purses. Saving money and Coach do not usually go hand in hand, however, by combining this fabulous 20% off coupon with the already reduced prices at the Coach Factory Store, you can snag some great Coach merchandise. Happy Shopping!

Thanks Hip 2 Save!

30% Off Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy

I'm super excited to see that Gap, Gap Outlet, Banana Republic, Banana Republic Factory Stores, and Old Navy are offering 30% off in stores between July 30 and August 2. Plus, 5% of every purchase will be given to Feeding America! Click here to print your coupon!

Thanks Hip 2 Save!!!

50% off Cheesecake July 30th

July 30th is National Cheesecake Day! This is the kind of holiday I like to celebrate. The Cheesecake Factory also has a great promotion going on to celebrate National Cheesecake Day. If you dine in on July 30th, you can enjoy any of their 30 delicious cheesecake flavors for half price. They are also introducing a new flavor of cheesecake...Stefanie's Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake. MMMMM!!!

Thanks for the heads-up Kiki! You can find other great deals and promotions over at Kiki's Korner.

Stocking Up On School Supplies

If you have kids in school (or even if you have little ones at home) , you know that shopping for school supplies and craft supplies can be pricey. Right now is the ideal time to stock up for this upcoming year. Each week, retailers list various school supplies at ridiculously low prices to lure back to school shopping. If you're going to be out and about anyway, you may want to stop by a few stores. If you're not going to be out and about, you can still get lots of good deals online. Just make sure you go through a cash back site like Mr. Rebates!

These supplies also make great fillers for goody bags at birthday parties. You can also purchase these items while you can get them for a steal and donate them to families who can't afford school supplies.

Here are some of the highlights I'm seeing for this week (and as soon as I finish this post, I'm heading out to do some shopping.) This doesn't include all of the great deals out there, so if you know of other great deals, leave a comment so everyone can benefit!

CVS (only good through Tuesday 7/21/2009)
Check your local weekly ad for more details

CVS has lots of great items that are free after ECBs (Extra Care Bucks). For these items, you may want to split them into multiple transactions so that you can roll your ECBs.

*Caliber or CVS/pharmacy filler paper 150 sheets $2 get $2 EB Limit 2 (free after ECB)

*Caliber or CVS/pharmacy memo book 50-80 sheets $.99 get $.99 EB Limit 2 (free after ECB)

*Caliber or CVS/pharmacy No. 2 Pencils 24 ct $1.99 get $1.99 EB Limit 2 (free after ECB)

*PaperMate 1.2 pens 10 ct $.99 get $.99 EB Limit 2 (free after ECB)

*Vinyl Binder 1" ("alumni" brand) $3 get $3 EB Limit 2 (free after ECB)

Walgreens
Check your local weekly ad for more details.

Pilot G2 pens 2 pk $1 get $1 RR (free after RR)

Items for only $.09
2 pocket folder
#2 pencil
Highlighter

Items for only $.19
Paper Mate 1.2 Prism Pens (10 pack)
Paper Mate Mechanical Pencils (5 pack)
Penway® Flexible or Wooden Ruler, 12 in.
100 pack Acco Paper Clips
2 pocket Penway® Poly Folder with Prongs

Items for only $.29
Penway 10 pack Yellow Pencils
Penway 2 pack Pink or 15 pack Cap Erasers

Items for only $.39
Penway® Poly Binder or Glue, 4 oz.
Scotch Transparent Tape, 1/2x450 in.

Items for only $.49
5 pack Bic Brite Liner Highlighters
24 pack Penway® Crayons or 8 pack Jumbo Crayons
School Box

Items for only $.59
Scotch Mailer, 4x7 to 10.5x15 in. or 7 to 10 pack Clasp Envelopes
Penway® Dual Hole Sharpener
It’s Academic Sharpener & Eraser

Items for only $.99
12 pack Crayola Colored Pencils
3 Subject Penway® Notebook, 120 sheets
It’s Academic Stretch Book Cover
Spangles Pencil Pouch
Penway Fabric Carry-All Pouch or 25 pack All-in-One Pencil Set
80 or 100 sheet Notebook, 5x7 in. or 10.5x8 in. or Portfolio.

Target

Items for only $.20
Elmer's Glue Sticks (2 pk)
Erasers (2 pk)
Pencil Sharpeners
Rulers

Items for only $.50
Composition books

Items for only $.88
Construction Paper (96 ct)
Crayola Colored Pencils (12 pk)


Wal-Mart
Check out this great list put together by Money Saving Mom, MoJo Savings, and Deal Seeking Mom!