Temecula Berry Co.

After driving to lake skinner only to find their waterpark was closed, we decided to make the best of it and to pick blueberries! Did you know there are lots of varieties of blueberries?  If you enter the berry patch and walk over to the tractor and turn right, you will see little signs at the bottom of each bush. They show you what each variety looks like and they all taste completely different. My favorite are the "misty" variety pictured above.  I try to just pick those, but the kids like to mix all different kinds. It makes a nice surprise every time you eat one. 
The Berry Co. is open all summer from 8-6. The cost is $5 a pint.

Updated: Rite Aid 5/27-6/2

Renpure Organics Shampoo or Conditioner $4.99

Buy 1, Receive $4.99 +Up Reward

Final Price:  FREE
You can do this first and then use those +up rewards on whatever else you buy.  Or use this item to get your subtotal to $15 so you can use a $3 off $15 survey coupon.

Kellogg’s Cereal, Pop Tarts, or Rice Krispies Treats $1.88Use some of these:
$1.00/3 Kelloggs Cereals, any flavor 8.7 oz. or larger from RP 5/15

$1.00/2 Kelloggs Frosted Mini-Wheats and/or Kelloggs Raisin Bran Cereals, any flavor 14 oz. or larger from RP 5/15

$1.00/3 Kelloggs Pop-Tarts Toaster Pastries, any flavor 8 ct. or larger from RP 5/15

$1.00/3 – Kellogg’s Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Corn Pops, Honey Smacks, Frosted Mini-Wheat little bites and/or Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes Cereals, 10oz or larger – (kelloggs.com)

$1.00/2 – Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes Cereals – (snackpicks.com)

$1.00/1 – Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes with Fiber, Less Sugar, 16oz or Larger – (couponnetwork.com)

$0.70/1 – Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts Mini Crisps, 6ct or Larger – (moms.poptarts.com)

$0.70/1 – Kellogg’s Raisin Bran Cereal – (snackpicks.com)

$1.00/2 – Kellogg’s Raisin Bran, Raisin Bran Crunch or Raisin Bran Extra Cereals – (kelloggsrasinbran.com)

$1.00/2 – Kellogg’s Rice Krispies AND/OR Cocoa Krispies – (snackpicks.com)

$1.00/2 – Kellogg’s Rice Krispies AND/OR Cocoa Krispies, 12oz or Larger – (kelloggs.com)

Final Price:  as low as $.88 for the frosted flakes with fiber if they have it.  Print  a few different coupons in case they don't have the variety you are looking for.

Correction: all $50 must be spent in a single transaction.  I just did this deal today and split my transactions so I could spend my +up rewards, but I didn't get the $15, so the cashier returned and re-rang them together and it printed.

I love promos that carry over from one week to the next.  They work best if you are patient.  Now would be a great time to get a couple good deals on sunscreen and then watch the ads until 7/26 to pick up a few more good deals.  If you make it to $50 (before coupons!!) then you could get $15 back without having spent much more than that.  For instance, the Coppertone puts you $8.99 closer to $50 while only costing you $4.99.  If you bought 6 coppertones, your "total" would be $53.94, but you would have only spent $41.94 after coupons and would get back $27 in +up rewards ($2 from each sunscreen and $15 from the promo) making it $14.94 for 6 sunscreens ($2.49 each).  Unfortunately, this particular scenario can't work because you can't use 6 Rite Aid Coppertone coupons, but it gives you an idea. 

 Spend $50.00 on the following sun and skin care products, Receive $15 +Up  Reward (valid 6/1 – 7/26)

Rite Aid Sun Care Products
Buy One Get One Free*note: this item would only put the cost of 1 sunscreen toward your total $50 even though you are buying 2 because it is a store promo.  If it was a BOGO free manufacturer coupon, both items would work toward your total.

Coppertone Sun Care Products $8.99
Buy 1, Receive $2.00 +Up Reward
Use one of these:
$1.00/1 Coppertone Suncare products, any 2 oz. or larger from RP 5/22
$1.00/1 – Coppertone Suncare Product, Excludes Lip Balm or Trial Size – (coupons.com)And one of these:
$1.00/1 – Coppertone Product, any – (adperk.com)

Pay $6.99, Receive $2.00 +Up RewardFinal Price:  $4.99

Banana Boat or Hawaiian Tropic Suncare
Buy One Get One FreeUse two of these:
$1.00/1 Banana Boat Sun Care product, any 4 oz. or larger excluding lip balm from SS 5/22
or
$1.00/1 Hawaiian Tropic Sun Care product, any 4 oz. or larger excluding lip balm from SS 5/22
And one of these:
$2.00/1 -  Banana Boat Item, any – (adperk.com)
Final Price:  Varies

************

Aquafresh Toothpaste $1.99Use both of these:
$1.00/1 Aquafresh Kids Toothpaste, any from RP 4/17
$1.00/1  -  Aquafresh Kids Product, any – (adperk.com)
Final Price:   FREE

Spend $30.00 on Huggies Diapers, Receive $10 +Up Reward

I'm doing this:

Buy 4 Huggies Diapers (Jumbo pack) $8.97
Use 4 $3/1  Huggies Diapers here
And use $1.00/1 – Huggies Diapers 20-46ct, Pull-Ups Training Pants 19-26ct or GoodNites Underwear 12-15ct – (adperk.com) available 5/29
And use the 2 $1 off any Rite Aid purchase coupons from watching the Wellness + video and the Rx services video
And use the $3 off $15 purchase survey coupon from the bottom of a previous receipt

Pay $17.88, Receive $10.00 +Up Reward
Final Price: $1.97 each

For Rite Aid's complete list, go here.

Stater Bros

Oops!  Not pictured is a package of Gerber Graduates Fruit Strips. 
I spent $19.73 and saved $48.91. $14.41 was from paper coupons and $34.50 was store promotions.

Stater Bros Clearance Rack

The stater bros on Hancock has healthy choice fresh mixers in the back corner marked down to $1.51. I think retail is $3.99 or so. There is a coupon for $1 off 2 you can print here.  Enter the number 63829897 in the box.  They also have some exterminating supplies and party streamers, cups, and napkins.

Ice Cream in a Bag

I just came across this awesome summertime project for kids!  I haven't tried it yet, but a friend did and it works!

What you'll need:

• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 cup milk or half & half
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 6 tablespoons rock salt
• 1 pint-size plastic food storage bag (e.g., Ziploc) 
• 1 gallon-size plastic food storage bag
• Ice cubes

How to make it:

1. Fill the large bag half full of ice, and add the rock salt. Seal the bag.
2. Put milk, vanilla, and sugar into the small bag, and seal it.
3. Place the small bag inside the large one, and seal it again carefully.
4. Shake until the mixture is ice cream, which takes about 5 minutes.
5. Wipe off the top of the small bag, then open it carefully. Enjoy!

Tips:

A 1/2 cup milk will make about 1 scoop of ice cream, so double the recipe if you want more. But don't increase the proportions more that that -- a large amount might be too big for kids to pick-up because the ice itself is heavy.

Thanks, Kaboose!

Swedish Meatballs

I totally stole the above image, but left the copyright intact, so that's legal, right?  I have no idea who recipegirl is, but I like my recipe better.

I really like making these and they are relatively inexpensive...I usually double the recipe so we have leftovers.

1 lb ground beef (I don't pay more than $1.99/lb.  I buy a lot when it's cheap, then put it in quart size baggies in the freezer as flat as I can get it, about a half hour before I start dinner, I toss it in some hot water and it's thawed in no time.  Disclaimer:  The health dept. doesn't recommend this method of thawing)

3 slices of bread crumbled up or cut into tiny bits (I use whole wheat)

1 T dried minced onion (you can find seasonings in bulk at Winco for CHEAP!)

1 1/2 t. salt

1/4 t. pepper

1/4 t. nutmeg

3/4 c. milk

Preheat oven to 350.  Soak bread and seasonings in milk for about 15 minutes, then mix the ground beef in, form into 1" balls, and place on a cookie sheet.  Bake for about 20 minutes or until brown through.

Meanwhile...

Boil water and prepare 1 package of egg noodles according to directions.  (I stock up at $.50 or less and usually use whole wheat)

AND simultaneously multitask...

Melt
2 T butter or oil or combination of both
Add
4 T Flour and brown for about a minute
Add
2 c beef broth slowly (I use Pacific brand.  Sometimes Winco has it for $1.68 a box and then I stock up!!  Otherwise Henry's sometimes has it for $2 a box)
Whisk while adding to get it smooth.  Bring it up to a boil and let it thicken up a bit. 
Add a cup of cream or a can of evaporated milk (NOT sweetened condensed milk, they are totally different but the cans look the same.  Not that I speak from experience... ;) )
Salt, Pepper, and Nutmeg to taste.  Start with maybe 1/4 t of each(??)

I like to put the meatballs in the sauce before I serve it, but as long as it all ends up on the plate, the presentation is up to you. 

So if I get the meat for $1.99/lb and the noodles for $.50 and the broth for $1.68 (enough for a double batch) and the evaporated milk for $1, and the rest are negligible amounts, that's about $4.33 for the meal.  You could even afford to steam some broccoli or zucchini to go with it!  Enjoy!

A couple freebies at Stater Bros until 5/31

Farmer John Hot Dogs, $.99
Use $1 from 5/8 SS
Final Price: Free
Stater Brothers Yogurt, $.50
Use $.55 from 5/22 SS or here*
Final Price: Free

*They only accept one copy of an internet printed coupon per visit.  If all else fails, at the door, there is a coupon book with American flags on it and inside on page 6 is a $.30 off any dairy with the real california milk seal, making it $.20 per yogurt.

Propel Zero, $.50
Use $1/2 from 2/13 SS
Final Price: Free

And one not quite free...

Nestle Ice Cream Bars OR Sandwiches OR Drumsticks, $2.50

Use the $1.00/1 from here

Final Price: $1.50

UPDATED! $2.99 Paper Towels at Walgreens (Sunday and Monday only)

I heard that Walgreens has Scott Naturals 6 pack of paper towels for $3.99 this Sunday and Monday only.

There was a $1 off coupon in Smart Source on 5/22 or you can print one here.

Even better!  There is a $1.50 off coupon here.

Vons 5/25-5/31

Vons takes the prize for the cheapest corn on the cob at $.22 each!  Everywhere else is $.25 each, not much difference.
Kingsford Charcoal                                    $5.99/16 lbs
Mission Tortilla Chips                                 $1.99 with in-ad coupon
Bertolli Olive Oil                                         $4.99/17 oz

Henry's 5/25-6/1

Right now, Henry's has the cheapest cherries at $1.88/lb, but later in the season they could go as low as $.99/lb. 

Peeled Baby Carrots                        $.99/lb
Avocados                                        $.99/each
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast    $1.97/lb
Broccoli                                          $.88/lb
Mangos                                          $.88 each

Food4Less 5/25-5/31

Watermelon                                        $.16/lb

Kraft American Singles                        $1.78
Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ Sauce            $.78
Farmer John Hot Dogs                        $.78
Post Cereals                                       $1.88
Kool Aid Mix                                     $.10/2 qts
Cucumbers                                         3 for $.99
Jose Ole Frozen Burritos                    $.50
Yoplait Yogurt                                   $.50

Albertsons 5/25-5/31

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts    $1.99/lb
Fuze                                                 $.50/16.9 oz
Keebler Cookies                              $1.99
   I LOVE the Coconut Dreams!  They are just like the Girl Scout Cookies!
They have a smores promotion going on.  There is an in-ad coupon for $2 off when you buy graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate bars, but last year, we found out, the coupon works if you buy any combination of the three, so I will probably use it to get 3 Honey Maid Graham Crakers since we don't need marshmallows or chocolate.  The crackers are $2.99 each so I would pay $2.32 each after the coupon.

Buy 10, save $5 promotion (limit 50 items)
Price shown is AFTER discount
Pillsbury Brownie Mix                        $.49
Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce           $.79
Skippy Peanut Butter                         $1.49/16 oz
Gatorade                                           $.50/32 oz
    the Gatorade and brownie mix are good fillers to get you to 10 items if you are short a couple items

Stater Bros 5/25-5/31

Watermelon                                            $.17/lb
Popsicles/Fudgsicles                               $.99/8 pack
Fritos/Cheetos                                        4 for $5 (must buy 5)

Buy 6, save $3 promotion (limit 24 items)
(prices are AFTER discount)
Nabisco Crackers                                 $1.49 (33 varieties)
Capri Sun                                              $1.49/10 pack
Philadelphia Cream Cheese                    $.99/ 8 oz
Bull's Eye BBQ Sauce                           $.99/18 oz
Cool Whip                                            $.75/8 oz
Oscar Mayer Bologna                           $.99/16 oz
Knudsen Sour Cream                            $1.49/16 oz
Knudsen Cottage Cheese                      $1.99/16 oz

Check out how much Jesus loves me.

I scored all this for $10 at Stater Bros. The corn was 4 for $1. The berries were $1 each. The lunchables were FREEEEEE! I found 75 cent off coupons in a kraft book at the door. The lunchables were 75 cents when you buy 10, so I bought 10. This was the last day of the sale, so I'm glad I went tonight. And doubly glad I left the kids with Mike since that means I had my full mental capacity along with me.

Temecula Regal Cinema's Summer Movies

Every summer, Regal offers two free movies for kids during the summer at 10 AM.  This year, they changed things.  Admission is $1 and kids 3 and under are free.  That's not so bad.  Not free, but close and maybe it will keep the crowds down.  Since Ellie is still 3 until the end of July, that means $1 for all three of us to see a movie.  Or maybe they would just let me send the kids in...Hmmm, I doubt it.  So, here's the schedule for June, plus some Focus on the Family Reviews for each movie so you don't accidentally let 3 year old see something she shouldn't:

June 7, 8 and 9 @ 10 AM
Tale of Despereaux  Review
and
Diary of a Wimpy Kid  Review

June 14, 15, and 16 @ 10 AM
Charlotte's Web  Review
and
Yogi Bear  Review

June 21, 22, and 23 @ 10 AM
Marmaduke  Review
and
Megamind  Review

June 28, 29, and 30 @ 10 AM
Cats and Dogs  Review
and
Shrek Forever After  Review

By the way...Megamind was the best movie ever...just saying.

The rest of the movies for this summer are over here.