Did Someone Say Giveaway!?!

Ok Folks, this is the second Sluggy's Boring Blog Box Giveaway for 2016.

Spring has started to spring here so I am in the mood to give stuff away!

Here is what you can win if your entry is picked(the flowers are just decoration).......

1 x Dove Shampoo
1 x Arm & Hammer Toothpaste
1 x Tresemme Dry Shampoo(trial size)
1 x Bath Sponge
1 x Centrum Vitamints
1 x Lubriderm Lotion
1 x Zinn's Max Freeze topical pain reliever
1 x Eucerin calming Lotion(trial size)
2 x Russel Stover's mini Chocolate boxes
1 x Oral-B Toothbrush
1 x Simply Venus disposable Razors
1 x Conair ColorVibes Hairbrush
1 x Scunci Kids Barrettes
1 x Maybelline Mascara(brownish black)
2 x Nivea hand Cream tins
4 x Sinful Nail Polish(Blue Persuasion, Dawn, Love Bite, Dumpling, )
2 x Wet n' Wild Lip Sticks(Cashmere, Cherry Frost)
1 x Listerine Dental Floss
1 xPhysician's Formula Super BB+ Powder(Light Medium 7836)

Over $75 in regular retail of toiletries(and chocolate).

Here are close-up photos of the potential winnings.............

I'll leave this giveaway open until Sunday, April 10th, at 11:59pm Eastern Daylight Savings Time, so that gives everyone a full 12+ days to enter this one.  On the 11th I'll put all the valid entries into a container and draw out a name and that person wins.


You may get ONE ENTRY EVERY DAY by leaving a comment on this blog post until the Giveaway ends.
Tell me what here is the thing you most want to win in your comment or tell me what your travel plans are for this year or tell me if you are going to plant a garden this year and/or what you plan to grow.
Or tell me whatever you feel like telling me in your comment.  8-)

You can also get 3 BONUS ENTRIES by posting this Giveaway on your own Blog or Facebook or Twitter with a link to the giveaway.  Just perform this action and then leave 3 comments/entries on this post along with a link to your post on your blog OR Facebook OR Twitter to receive your Bonus Entries.

  Disclaimer--This giveaway is open to those with mailing addresses within the US or Canada only.
If you are in Canada, you will receive a smaller box of goodies, as the shipping rates internationally are ridiculous and I am not taking out a mortgage on my house to pay to ship this stuff.  ;-)

**
If you need this shipped to Canada, I'll have to change the box and it's contents a bit.  I can ship a plain box weighing up to 3lbs. via 1st class mail, which, while much more than the flat rate Priority to US addys, is still affordable.  These prize boxes usually weigh 7 or more lbs. when full, so if the winner is in Canada, I'll let them pick and choose which of the items they prefer sent in their box, until the box weighs 3lbs.  I hate to have to do this(not ship ALL prizes to them)but I would hate it even more to exclude them totally from entering the giveaway.

***NOTE***

Please make sure there is a way for me to contact you in your comment.  If you're not a registered Blogger User with your contact information on your User page, please put your email addy in your comment or email me your email addy privately when you leave a comment so I can get ahold of you if you win. If your Blogger associated user profile is a GOOGLE one with those Google Circles nonsense I CAN NOT CONTACT YOU as Google Circles doesn't show your contact info.  I again had to disqualify some entrants in the last giveaway because their profile is linked through Google and not Blogger.  Please check your profile!  And if you ARE entering through a Blogger profile PLEASE have contact info(email addy)in that profile.  If I can't access your email addy I can't contact you so email me your email addy or add your email address to your User Profile.  If you have sent me your email addy privately for a previous giveaway I still have it on file so no need to resend it for this giveaway.

If I can't contact you then you can't win.  I have had to disqualify more readers than I care to due to this issue and I sure don't want it to happen again.  Thanks!

So let's get this started!

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

It's the "Spring is Springing" Edition......

Over the last 4 days the Forsythia bush has budded and is blooming as of Sunday.  It's rainy and cold today and we are still getting nights in the 30's so I don't have high hopes that these blossoms will remain much longer.
I suppose this seems that yardwork for 2016 isn't far off. lolz

Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned last week.......

1. Sunday--Leftovers
2. Monday--Subway Sandwiches
3. Tuesday--Leftover Corned Beef meal
4. Wednesday--Salmon, Asparagus, Noodles
5. Thursday---Spaghetti and Meatballs, Caesar Salad, Garlic Bread
6. Friday--Steak, Salad, leftover Asparagus
7. Saturday--Take-out?  Will be cooking for Sunday.

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Leftovers(Don't remember what)
2. Monday--Leftovers(I have Beef Bourguignon)
3. Tuesday--Leftover Corned Beef meal
4. Wednesday--Salmon, Asparagus, Noodles
5. Thursday---Spaghetti and Meatballs, Garlic Bread
6. Friday--Marinated London Broil, Salad, Baked Potato
7. Saturday--Leftovers or Whatever you can make(Don't remember what)

6 meals cooked at home.
3 new meals and 4 nights of leftovers in some form or another.  We just had whatever on Saturday but we did go out to Eat for Lunch both Friday and Saturday.  Hubs was home both days from work and we ran errands both days so we splurged on eating out.

As for my grocery spending......Two trips last week and I spent $31.90 total.
Trip to Target added another $18.96.
I have spent $241.52 in all for March so far.
Between $9.48 and $59.48 of the potential $250-$300 March food budget left to spend with 4 days left in the month.

Leftovers going into this week...... 2-3 helpings of Spaghetti and Meatballs, a small piece of Steak.

We did have a bit of food waste this past week unfortunately.  Some hamburger rolls got moldy and had to be tossed.  If it's just a spot I'll remove it and still use them but a few were "eat up" with mold. bleh.

Here is this week's "food plan"--

1. Sunday--Baked Ham, Corn Casserole, Monte Carlo Veggie Blend, Deviled Eggs, Dinner Rolls
2. Monday--Subway Sandwiches(Iz tired of cooking!lol)
3. Tuesday--Leftover Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad
4. Wednesday--Cod, Baked Potatoes, Corn on cob(freezer), Leftover Asparagus
5. Thursday---Chicken Thighs(some way), Veggies-maybe leftover Sunday veggies?
6. Friday--Pork Chops w/Apricot Glaze, Sugar Snap Peas
7. Saturday--Leftover Chicken Thighs(if we have any) or Fish, Potato Salad, Veggies of some kind

This week will see 4 new meals cooked and 2 meals of leftovers(re-purposed into new dishes or not) and 1 meal Out/Take-out.

What I need to buy for this menu?  Salad Greens is all.  I bought the chicken thighs and potatoes last week.  Hubs will use the leftover ham from Easter dinner this week for lunch sandwiches and I'll use the little steak to make a steak sammich for lunch 1 day.  I sent more ham and all the leftover corn casserole with BIL so I didn't eat it. lolz
No Eating out this week just Subway tonight using my points on my Loyalty card to get them for free. 8-)

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?

Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten last week?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week?

Sluggy

Late Week Rite-Aid Moneymaker

I made a late week trip to Rite-Aid on Saturday.

I wanted to figure out a way to use that $3 off $15 Hair care products Q that printed on my receipt last week.
Plus I still had a Tresemme $3/2 Q from last Sunday's inserts and I got a $5/1 Nexxus Rite-Aid Q in the mail on Friday.........

I activated a partner offer for $10 in points wyb 2 Sundown products on my Plenti card  and I printed off a $2/1 Sundown vitamin Q before we left to run errands and then I got this stuff.........

2 x Tresemme Beauty-full 'poos on sale=$10.00
1 x Nexxus 'poo 20% wellness discount=$5.91
1 x Sundown gummie viatamins on clearance=$5.14
1 x Sundown Lutein on clearance=$3.49
SubTotal.....$24.54

Coupons Used
1 x $3/$15 hair care products ReceiptQ=$3.00
1 x $3/2 Tresemme items ManuQ=$3.00
1 x $5/1 Nexxus item MailedQ=$5.00
1 x $2/1 Sundown vitamin IPQ=$2.00
Coupon Total.......$13.00

$24.54-$13.00=$11.54 + .44¢tax=$11.98 Total

I paid with $11.98 in Plenti Points.
I earned $4 in new Plenti Points(the Tresemme and Nexxus qualified for the $4 on $12 weekly Deal), $3.99 in activated Plenti Points(buy 2 Beauty-full Tresemme items)and $10.00 in partner activated Offers Points(Buy 2 Sundown items) for a total of $17.99 back in points.
$11.98-$17.99=$6.01 "moneymaker".

Sluggy

The Good & the Not-So Good at Target Yesterday

Well Hubs and I made it up to Target on Friday.  It was crowded as I thought, though it would be not nearly what it will be on Saturday. lol

I went with 2 previous gift cards earned for free on "Buy something and get a free Target gift card" that amounted to $15(a $5 and a $10).
I also took a loaded Target gift card I got for free with credit card points, which had $18.37 left on it.

A fistful of Manufacturer/IPQ coupons and a Spend $50 on food/beverage & earn a $10 Target gift card coupon as well.

This is what I bought........

2 x Kraft parmesan cheese 1lb. containers on sale=$6.82
2 x Bear Naked granola=$7.98
2 x Snapple teas=$2.98
1 x Goldn'Plump chicken legs $2.99 w/instant $1 off sticker on them=$1.99
1 x Lay's chips on sale=$2.00
2 x Ice sparkling drinks on sale=$2.00
2 x Hawaiian rolls on sale=$6.00
1 x MC pie on sale=$5.99
1 x Ortega steak kits clearance=$1.94
1 x Ortega green chiles clearance=.86¢
2 x large eggs on sale=$1.98
1 x Swirl bread=$2.69
2 x MC pot pies on sale=$4.50
2 x Minute Rice on sale=$3.58
SubTotal.......$51.31
So we made it to $50+ on food/drink and earned that $10 Target gift card

I also bought this in the same transaction.......partly in honor of Sonya Ann and partly in honor of the release of the new "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2" movie....lolz

4 x Windex=$12.56

New SubTotal........$63.87
I earned another $5 Target gift card for buying the Windex AND earned a $3 OYNO Target Catalina Q.
Woohoo!


Coupons Used
2 x .75¢/1 Kraft parmesan cheese IPQ=$1.50
1 x $1/2 Bear Naked granola IPQ=$1.00
1 x BOGO Snapple tea hangtag Q=$1.49
1 x $1/1 Goldn'Plump chicken IPQ=$1.00
1 x BOGO Ice sparkling drinks IPQ=$1.00
1 x .55¢/1 MC pie IPQ=.55¢
1 x $1/2 any Ortega items IPQ=$1.00
1 x $1/1 PF Swirl bread=$1.00
1 x $1/2 Minute Rice ManuQ=$1.00
2 x $1/2 Windex IPQ=$2.00
Coupon Total.....$11.54

$63.87-$11.54=$52.33-$15 in Target gift cards=$37.33-$18.37 Target gift card balance=$18.96 OOP.

When I got home I submitted for $2.25 in cash rebates($1 for the Minute Rice, .75¢ for the MC pie and .50¢ for 1 of the Ice drinks)through Ibotta and Checkout51.
So after that my OOP becomes $16.71 and I earned $3 Catalina and $15 in new Target gift cards.

The Not-So Good was I mistakenly bought the wrong brand of swirl bread and didn't realize it until I got home and Ibotta wouldn't take my rebate for that. doh!

I bought Thomas' instead of Pepperidge Farm but on the good side of this, the cashier pushed the $1 PFQ I gave her through. lolz
So I got a loaf of bread that was .30¢ cheaper to begin with, saved $1 off of it by mistake and didn't get my .75¢ rebate, so it's only a .45¢ "win".  I can live with that.  ;-)

Unfortunately I didn't print out the King's Hawaiian rolls IPQs in time or that would have been cheaper.  I still wanted them for Easter dinner as I really didn't want to have to make my handmade rolls.  I prefer my family recipe but I guess I am just getting old and tired.....why kill myself to make everything at home, right?  It's not like the brother in-law will notice they are store bought. lolz
I am going to whip some butter with honey though to serve with these...not like they aren't sweet enough, right?  8-)  But it will be a nice extra touch to make up for that they aren't homemade.

And those 1lb. containers of parmesan cheese are twice the size of the little canisters you see at the store and buy and THEY WERE THE SAME PRICE AS THE LITTLE CANISTERS!  Why not get twice as much for the same price, right?  And the coupon made them $2.66 each....can't beat that with a stick!

Sometimes when I go to Target to do these deals I end up buying filler junk.  I really wanted to avoid that this trip.  Why spend $50 if half of it is stuff you didn't go to get anyway, right?  The pie is for Easter(again, I am being lazy.lol)and the chips are for Easter for the pre-dinner snacks and veggie tray(and Hubs will eat whatever is left later). The Swirl bread is for making French Toast Easter morning for Hubs and I....a little treat for us.

I am happy overall for once with a Target trip.  I don't often say that. ;-)
Used $33.37 in gift cards, $11.54 in Qs and $18.96 in cash.
Got back $15 in gift cards, $2.25 in cash rebates and $3 in CatQs.
And that $18.96 OOP cash didn't bust my march food budget either.  8-)

Sluggy

Grocery Shopping This Week

Nothing too exciting here on the food front this week.
I went to Maine Source Tuesday after my mammogram and picked up a few things--

* 2 lb. asparagus @ $1.79 lb.
* 5 lb. russet potatoes $2.49
* 4 dozen eggs @ $1.29 doz.
* 1 lb. butter $2.49
* 5 lb. bag frozen veggies blend $5.99
I spent $19.84 total.

Some of the eggs and the frozen veggie blend is for Easter dinner.  I'm also going to whip some of the butter with honey to serve with the rolls for that dinner.
I made the asparagus Wednesday night for dinner and we'll eat on the leftovers later this week.....I love asparagus in season!
No plans yet for the taters but they'll get used eventually.

I also hit Weis(PMITA)Markets on Wednesday and bought this stuff...

* 6 lb. chicken thighs @.98¢ lb.
* 2.71 lb. ground beef @ $3.99 lb.
* 1 Roma tomato for .46¢
 There are a $3 discount sticker on the beef and a $2 discount sticker on the chicken so my $17.06 bills turned into a $12.06 bill which gave over a 40% savings rate over regular retail.
So I am $31.90 OOP for all groceries so far this week.

I had planned to go to Target Thursday on one of my rare trips to that store but something came up that kept me from going so I might have Hubs take me today as he is off from work.
There's a $10 Target gift card off wyspend $50 on food/beverage purchase Deal.  I have a $10 Target gift card to use(which was gotten free on another deal)plus I have another loaded Target gift card with $18+ left on it plus I plan on getting stuff that's on sale and I have my trusty coupons so this trip won't cost me anywhere near $50.  Some of what I want there is for serving for Easter(rolls, a pie, etc.)so I need to get there before Sunday.

I am at $222.56 for March so may squeak by under budget at the $300 level for food this month.  I don't have any hopes of coming in under my lower end $250 level however.

Ok, I want to ask y'all how do you prepare chicken thighs?
I have a few reccipes I regularly utilize for this cut of the bird.......a lemon peppered thighs with a zuke in tomato sauce dish, grill it with or without some kind of marinade first, grilled and barbecue sauced, or boil and break down into pieces for soups/stews/fajita filling.
I suppose I could fry them up too....that is, if everyone here liked dark meat fried chicken. lolz

Do you often cook chicken thighs and how do you prepare it/in what dish?

Send me some ideas folks!  I am getting rather tired of what I do with this cut.

Sluggy