The 3 Amigos Hit the Road-Part One

 Not very far South really.  Just down to Maryland with a short jaunt to the Eastern Shore or DELMARVA Peninsula-Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

I drove to Sissie's house Thursday afternoon and after chatting awhile we headed out to the airport to pick-up Kim.  Of course being D.C. there was no parking near the arrivals area so we ended up calling Kim's cell to find out she couldn't find which door to come out. lol We finally got her and no airport police tickets and headed back to Sissie's with a stop at Mickey D's for a "you know what" for Kim. ;-)

We had a grand dinner ala Sissie that evening and stayed up way too late after Sissie went to bed talking with her Hubs.  He is so funny and tells the best stories!

Then we were off at the crack of 11am I think on Friday headed to the Eastern Shore.  Just over the bridge was an outlet mall with a Talbot's so of course Sissie and Kim had to stop!  All their sweaters were $15 there and they had quite a nice selection of women's plus size ones so I picked this one up.....

I don't like/wear sweaters much except for cardigans in the Winter which I wear in the house if it's cold and I liked the colors of this one.  I also bought a necklace........

Not a very good picture but it was a two length chain with seashells on it.  Having grown up by the ocean I had to have it on clearance and it will remind me of this trip every time I wear it.

I was done in 5 minutes so I have lots of photos of me like this waiting in a chair for them to finish. lolz

Then we hit the Adiddas store at that mall and I actually found a pair of wide width sneakers in my size!

And look at that color......

LAVENDER!!!  They were meant for me. 8-)))

The change finding race began before we left Sissie's house when she put a box of chocolate and a quarter on my bed making Kim livid. lol  After the outlet mall we stopped at Aldi's for provisions and I found that cart quarter and Kim was seeing red as I was up .50¢ already.

After Aldi's we stopped at what use to be one of Sissie's favorite restaurants but sadly Covid had put them out of business but a new bar/restaurant was there now so we had dinner at the Oaked 110 Whiskey and Wine Bar.  Friday night was 2 for 1 Margaritas so I threw caution to the wind and ordered 2 margaritas with my crab cake dinner.  By the time I was halfway through the second drink I couldn't feel my legs. lol  Boy, were those drinks strong and I'm a lightweight!

Photo stolen from Kim.  I don't know...Kim looks happier than me here...maybe she snuck a sip of my margarita when  wasn't looking. lol  There was live entertainment, a guy with a guitar and a guy playing the harmonica..........

The food was great but it was a tad noisy.  The waitresses had fun shirts on.  Here is our waitresses shirt....

Another one said, "Whiskey Wednesday, Taco Tuesday but better". lolz

I can't even remember if I finished that second margarita but Kim did suck down a few Diet PEPSI!  Oh the horror as they didn't serve Coke. lol  So we got to the beach house before dark and loaded our stuff in, chatted a while and fell into bed.  There were gale force winds that night along the shore which was exciting, not!  Those winds messed with the plumbing pipes/stack vent pipe and we had a couple of "issues" and I ended up breaking a plunger.  Go me!

So we headed out to see Chincoteague Island on Saturday. 

I bought this pony Xmas ornament when we caught up with Sissie at the wine and cheese shop.  They had a little gift shop tucked in the side too.  Most shops didn't allow you to snap photos inside their shops so no fun pictures of tchotchkes we saw.

We got a nice shot of the 3 Amigos in front of the Pony Statue with the help of a friendly stranger.....

When Sissie went off on her own Kim and I headed to the inlet side where there's a small park with oversized Adirondack chairs for photo opps.

That's Kim in the "E" chair before a large group drove her off so they could monopolize the chairs for 20 minutes because they had a baby in the group so everyone had to take a turn holding said baby with them all in the chairs.  This group was loud and aggressive.....

After we were "allowed" back to the chairs Kim posed thusly.....

 

Then we got a photo with both of us thanks to another friendly stranger....

I had trouble getting on the platform, forget about climbing in that chair without a foot stool.lolz

And I had to post the first photo that lady took because Kim's hair was in her face. teehee

Saw this funny bottle of rum too.

Found a hardware store on Chincoteague so I could buy a plunger for the beach house to replace the one I broke the other night.  Then it was on to a diner for lunch, Maria's Diner, then a couple more gift shops before heading off the island......

That's Chincoteague Bay above.

We drove by the  NASA Wallops Island facility but the Visitor's Center was closed........

And back to the beach house which is located in a resort community across the Chincoteague Bay from the Island.   

We just ate whatever for dinner and I noticed the "Kim Droppings" seemed to be accumulating.........

I sat out on the screened in porch that afternoon and it was lovely.  Many of the houses were on canals cut into the creek for water acccess onto the bay. 

I did have a surprise when I sat down out there though.......

A nail!  It was already bent and I didn't do that when I sat on it. lol  I bet Kim put it there to get back at me for still being ahead in finding change this trip.

The next morning we went into "town" nearby looking for a grocery store and ended up riding through this teeny tiny town 4 times and thoroughly saw everything there was to see(mostly just some houses, a pier and a seafood shack plus a fire hall).  Stopped at the fire hall as folks were setting up for someone's retirement party to ask about the closest store and were told it was at "T's Corner".  Sissie could have sworn there was a store in this microscopic town.  Nope.

I recognized the words T's Corner as a place somewhere along Route 13 on my many trips down the Eastern Shore to Virginia Beach but had no clue how far it was from where we were.  The town is Oak Hall VA by the way as we soon found out after a 20 minute ride there.

The next thing I know Sissie decides we should hit another outlet mall so we drove North to outside Rehobeth Delaware as they have THREE Tanger Outlets there.  More shopping. yay.

It wasn't a bad drive as we took the back roads and stayed off Rte.13 and coastal Rte.1 in Delaware until we hit Bethany Beach DE.  Being Sunday most of the weekend traffic was heading opposite from us so that was great.

Part Two coming on Saturday......

Sluggy

Not Much of A Post Today

 You may have noticed that I didn't post anything yesterday.  Good reason for that as it was election day and Hubs and I worked the polls here in Pennsyltucky.

Of course there was a clusterf*ck or two and even the local news started perpetuating a rumor about the ballot machines being rigged(take it from this not a Democract/not a Republican person who saw the machines that they were NOT).  

Last election voters who's credentials weren't in order had to use a paper/provisional ballot(and there were conspiracies floating around that these votes wouldn't be counted at all).  This election we had voters(mostly Republican voters)who refused to use the electronic machines because some IT person had programmed them so that the first screen called it a Democratic ballot so they assumed the slate of Democratic candidates would come up and not the Republican ones thus making them vote for the party they weren't registered under nor the candidates they wanted elected. *In PA we don't have open elections in primaries-you can only vote for the folks running under the party you are registered for.  These voters refused to use the "rigged" machines and insisted on paper/provisional ballots.

Someone or some ones called the local news so it was all over Facebook and the local media outlets by 11am. that the machines were rigged and a court case was started before the election ended that evening.  What a mess!

 It's too long of a story to get into here and I am still so tired of politics and voters right now.

Anyway we had a good crew of workers as usual and tried to have fun through all the hassles and a very, VERY long day.

At one point we found this new form to have voters fill out..........

I told my workmate that if a deceased voter walked through that door I'd be leaving immediately!  I don't think there was a Zombie Party candidate so we were safe...........lol

I am under orders from Sissie to stay off my knee and ice it today.
Have a good Wednesday and I'll be back on Thursday. 8-)

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

    The "If Mare of Easttown came to PA" Edition.......

Onward to the meal planning!
Moving On-

This is what was planned.....

1. Sunday--Fried Chicken, Tater Salad, Sugar Snap Peas

2. Monday--Manicotti, leftover SSP

3. Tuesday--Leftover Fried Chicken, Tater Salad, Veggie TBD

4. Wednesday--Beef Stroganoff, Rice, Green Beans
5. Thursday--Steak, Baked Potato, Veggie TBD

6.  Friday--Salmon, Veggie TBD

7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what really happened.......

1. Sunday--Fried Chicken, Tater Salad, Sugar Snap Peas

2. Monday--Manicotti, leftover SSP

3. Tuesday--Leftover Fried Chicken, Tater Salad, Corn

4. Wednesday--We had Subway for late lunch so dinner was FFY
5. Thursday--Steak, Baked Potato Wedges, Green Beans

6.  Friday--Beef Stroganoff, Rice, Tossed Salad

7. Saturday--Leftovers

Last week saw 4 nights of home cooked(except the fried chicken)dinners, 3 nights of leftovers/planned overs or FFY and 0 nights of Take-Out/Eating Out.

What got put into the freezer last week....

*  1 piece of salmon
*  2 lb. bag of CA mix veggies
*  2 lb. bacon
*  4 small chicken pot pies
*  2 cans of OJ concentrate
*  1 box of creamed spinach

*  2 containers of gelato

What got taken out of the freezer and used...

*  2 steaks
*  frozen sugar snap peas
*  a bag of green beans
* 1/2 bag potato wedges
* a pan of manicotti
* a pack of stew beef

We spent a whopping $121.01 on food/toiletries/HBA last week at Target, Food Lion($33.31 total, both from last week), 1 item at Weis($3.69), the Produce Market($30.41)and Walmart($53.60).  This brings our food/toiletries/paper goods Total to $152.68 for May so far.   

There are 13 shopping days left in May.

I've earned $90.95 on Ibotta in May.

I've earned $0.00 on Checkout51 in May.

I've earned $0.00 on Coupons dotcom/Paypal in May.

I've earned 1,101 points from shopping on Fetch in May.

I've earned 4,450 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in May which equals $17.80.

I've earned 210 points from food shopping on Swagbucks in May which equals $2.10.

I've earned $18.87 in Target gift cards.

That's $129.72+ in rebates on $152.68 in grocery spending so far.

My savings percentage for last week was 65.36%(without "regular" Rite-Aid trips)for April and the monthly savings total for April comes in at 62.46a %.(w/out R-A).  

Leftovers going into this week...a piece of steak(I'll make into a sammie for lunch), 2 manicotti, 1 helping of stroganoff, rice, green beans

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

1. Sunday--Chinese take-out

2. Monday--Fend For Yourself or Leftover Chinese

3. Tuesday--Take-out(working the polls all day/night)

4. Wednesday--Cheeseburgers, Squash
5. Thursday--Caesar Salad w/Grilled Chicken

6.  Friday--Salmon, Veggie TBD

7. Saturday--Leftovers

What do I need to buy to fix everything on this menu? Got it all...unless of change my mind/the plan. lolz  Not a very exciting plan this week but at least I made a plan, right? ;-)

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

Sonya's Rite-Aid Porn

 If you don't want/need to see a dizzying display of freebies from Rite-Aid then just move on.  I know cousin Sonya Ann won't click off this though. lol

Here is what I "brought home" from Rite-Aid this past week/sales cycle............

Full disclosure there are 4 items missing; a package of homeopathic allergy tablets(those boxes on the far left front-I gave one to Ex-College boy Friday when he came over for dinner)and 3 bath chairs/stools(2 go in the tub for folks who need to sit while bathing and 1 is a swivel stool for getting in/out of the tub if you have leg issues-that one I am keeping).  I just couldn't fit everything in this photo.

Items in this Haul.......

* 3 bath chairs
* 6 bottles of Tresemme 
* 2 bottled of Method dish soap
* 1 bottle of Dove body wash
* 1 6-pack of Dove bath soap
* 2 bottled of Lubriderm lotion
* 1 bottle of Aveeno lotion
* 2 bottles of Dove hand wash
* 5 bottles of Aveeno face wash
* 1 4-pack of Dove bar soap
* 1 box of R-A brand nasal spray
* 1 box of Advil Allergy/Sinus
* 12 bottles of Nature's Truth vitamins/supplements
* 12 bottles of Sundown vitamins/suplements
* 3 packs of Bic disposable razors
* 4 Bic reusable razors
* 1 pack of Bic razor cartridges
* 1 pack Dr. Scholl's arch supports
* 1 bottle of Kerasal foot relief cream
* 1 package of Compeed blister strips
* 2 Aveeno Baby cream
* 11 Cover Girl assorted cosmetics
* 1 Revlon eye cosmetic(on clearance)
* 8  boxes of  Hyland's homeopathic allergy tablets
* 1 king size clearance white chocolate Reese's cups(needed a filler that transaction)

Total spent in Bonus Cash......$501.65
Total earned in Bonus Cash...$513.00
I also got $15 in cash at the Clueless store for a Spend $50/Get $15 Q and I earned $10.60 in cash rebates on a few items I bought through Ibotta making my "earned" amount $538.60.
That's a $36.95 moneymaker overall.

The one mistake I made was those Baby Aveeno products.  Last time there was a BC Deal on Aveeno the baby items were included so I didn't even notice there was no shelf tag this time. sigh.  If I had I'd have bought something else that qualified for the BC deal.  But they were $2 less than the shelf price at that particular store AND besides the $2/1 IPQs I had to use there were $2 freshness peelie Qs on the jars.  I'll try to sell them at my upcoming Stockpile/Toiletries Sale(more on that later)and if they don't go I can always return them to the store as I ALWAYS save my receipts. ;-)

I may be taking a break from Rite-Aid this week as the sales ad is "meh".  Unless something good pops up....... 8-)))

Have a nice Sunday!

Sluggy

Frugal Friday....the May 14th Edition on Saturday

 Frugal wins this past week, May 7th to May 13th........

*  Well it was bound to happen.  While on vacation we hit an Ollie's(Good Stuff Cheap!).  So as soon as I got home I got a 15% off flyer in the mail. lolz  Potential savings for my next trip to Ollie's?  Perhaps....

*  Hubs and I went to Target last weekend to do the Spend $20/Get $5 Gift Card deal, as well as pick up a few items to finish my Ibotta Weekend Bonus.  The trip turned into a clusterfuck!
Since my knee was messed up I took advantage of those electric shopping carts rather than keep walking on it and let me tell you it was great!  The problem came when I went to check out as I used a self-checkout.  The employee working that area saw me in that electric shopping cart and came right off to give me "assistance" which I didn't need.  I guess she figured I was a doddering old lady so she took over scanning my items and must have had 5 Red Bulls that morning because she was moving like "The Flash", pushing buttons and ringing stuff up before I could do my coupons, etc.  I was dizzy and wondering what just happened and ended up using all my free gift cards to pay that were in my Target wallet and then OWED another $6.07.
WTF???
So we went over to the customer service desk to hash these mangled transactions out.

These(except for the chocolate bar)were my 2 Spend $20/Get $5 GC transactions.  Total before Q was $44.33(excluding the chocolate).  I had $6 in digital Qs and I had $8 in  paper Qs that I didn't get to use so I got back $8 in cash at the desk.  I also got $12 in Ibotta rebates(should have been $16 but the Banana Boat rebates disappeared from my account before I got home and submitted the receipt. sigh

And $10 in Target gift cards was received so it "cost" me $8.33 in gift cards(or was suppose to).

Then the steaks......I found 2 discounted nice steaks which were BOGO50% off and had $5 off peelie Qs on them.  I had rung one up before the Red Bull employee came over and just took over my checking out process.  Not only had she not deducted that $10 off my bill but she rang up 1 of those steaks again so the receipt said I bought 3 steaks but clearly only two were in my bag.  So I got another $10 in cash for those 2 coupons and a $8.87 Target gift card as that was the price the phantom 3rd steak rang up and I had used gift cards to pay so I got that overcharge back on a new gift card.

I will still keep that $6.07 in cash I "spent" on my grocery tracking since the $18 total in post coupon cash went into my envelope for that and will be added back into the food budget at the end of the year and I'll account for the $8.87 gift card whenever I used it in the future.  Good times, good time! lol

*  I found money!

A penny on Friday when I went to Rite-Aid for an Rx.

This dime at the same R-A on Saturday when I did some "bringing stuff home from the store".

Another dime later that same day at Weis(PMITA)Markets when I went to get the freebie on Ibotta-Artisan Flatbread.  It was lying in the middle of the floor in the self-checkout area.

There was this penny near the register at the R-A I call the "Clueless Store".  Both times now when I have presented one of those "Spend $50/Get $15 back in BC" Qs it hasn't worked because they didn't scan it.  As a result I have now $30 in cash instead of Bonus Cash for their ineptitude.  Would rather have it in cash anyway and now I also have a nice shiny penny too! ;-)

I found both this dime and penny in the parking lot at the "Suspicious Rite-Aid".  I don't enjoy going there since it's the furthest R-A away that I frequent but I go there because it's a LARGE store and I can find stuff there I can't find at other R-As plus it's super clean.  Except the parking lot has money in it. lolz  I call it the "Suspicious Store" because the cashiers inspect every coupon you try to use and if you end up getting back more BC than you spend they will go over your receipt like it's Nazi Germany and you are presenting your papers for inspection.  What one has to do sometimes to beat the system.....

Total Change Found This Week.... .33¢
Total Change Found This Year......$3.72

*  Hubs and I hit the Produce Outlet on Wednesday and got fresh produce(10 lbs taters, 2.5 lb. squash, 2 lb. strawberries, 1 lb. carrots, etc.), canned OJ, a 2 lb bag of frozen veggies, 2 packs of bacon, 1 lb. of frozen salmon, a pack of creamed spinach, 4 pot pies, a bag of lettuce, a huge can of corn, a lb. of Whole Foods dried cranberries and a WF chocolate brioche plus 2 other items I can't identify from the receipt for $30.41.  I figure it's all more than 50% off regular retail at Whole Foods or Weis or whatever other retail grocer around here(not that we have a Whole Foods within 100 miles of us).  We got great value for that $30.41.

That's about it this week other than all my Rite-Aid hauls which I'll talk about later this weekend.  There were 4 different Spend $50/Get $15 Bonus Cash codes again this sales week.  Yum!

What frugal wins did y'all have lately!?

Sluggy