Tuesday, June 29, 2010

What's For Dinner?

For about the past year or so I have been planning out my dinner meals usually two weeks at a time, this time it happened to be three weeks out. I like doing this method because #1 it saves me money (I make a list, it keeps me from just aimlessly wondering the aisles of the grocery store) #2 it saves me from having to go to the grocery store every few days, and #3 it saves me from standing in front of the fridge for an hour every night wondering what I'm gonna make for supper!
So today on Facebook I posted that I just planned my meals and some of you asked to see my list of meals. So, not only will I give you my list, I will actually give you the recipes along with a picture! If you're anything like me, when I'm trying new recipes, I like to see what the food is supposed to look like! Some of the weeks I don't have 7 meals simply due to the fact that we won't b
e home one of the nights or I plan on having leftovers. Also, you might notice there's not red meat recipes...we're not big red meat eaters :) So here goes!

This week's Menu:

Tuesday:
FRESH MOZZARELLA & TOMATO PIZZA (aka Margarita Pizza)
Italian style pizza dough (eithe
r homemade or store bought dough)
4 oz fresh mozzarella cheeze
2 Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced
1/4 tsp salt
Fresh cracked pepper to taste
1/4 cup thin strips fresh basil leaves
1 Tbsp chopped fresh oregano leaves
1 Tbsp small capers, if desired

1 Tbs extra virgin olive oil

1. Move oven rack to lowest position. Heat oven to 425. Grease cookie sheet or 12 inch pizza pan with oil. Press dough into 12 inch circle on cookie sheet or pat in pizza pan, using floured fingers. Press dough from center to edge so edge is slightly thicker than center.
2. Cut cheese into 1/4 inch slices. Place cheese on dough to within 1/2 inch of edge. Arrange tomatoes on cheese. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, 2 tbsp of the basil, the oregano and capers. Drizzle with oil.
3. Bake about 20 min or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tbsp basil.


1 serving: 140 Calories, 5 grams fat


Wednesday:
SIMPLE SAUSAGE PASTA TOSS
8 oz uncooked multigrain spaghetti
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1 tsp olive oil
3/4 lb Italian turkey sausage links cut into 1/2 in slices
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cans (14.5 oz ea) no salt added diced tomatoes, drained
1 can (2.25 oz) sliced ripe olives, drained


1. Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, toast bread crumbs in oil over medium heat; remove from the heat and set aside.
2. In a large nonstick skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink.
Add garlic; cook 1 min longer. Stir in tomatoes and olives. Cook and stir until heated through. Drain pasta; add to skillet. Sprinkle with bread crumbs.

Servings: 1 2/3 cups each = 340 calories, 10 grams fat


Thursday:
SLOPPY JOES & CORN ON THE COB
Ok so I don't really have a recipe for this, so here's what I do. I brown about a pound of ground turkey, saute some green peppers and onions combine these and then mix in ketchup, bbq sauce, mustard, and about 1 Tbs brown sugar. I don't have an exact amount on any of these so just do it to taste.

Friday:
GRILLED LATIN HALIBUT WITH GREEN SAUCE
2 1/2 lb halibut or sea bass steaks about 3/4 in thick, cut into 6 serving pieces
1 Tbs
p olive or vegetable oil
1 tsp seasoned salt
1 jar (16 oz) green salsa (salsa verde)
1 ripe avocado, pitted peeled and
chopped
2 Tbsp chopped ripe olives
Sour cream if desired
Fresh cilantro leaves if desired



1. Heat gas or charcoal grill. Brush fish lightly with oil, sprinkle with seasoned salt.
2. Place fish on grill. Cover grill; cook over medium-high heat about 10 min
, turning once, until fish flakes easily with fork.
3. In medium bowl, mix salsa, avocado and olives. Serve over fish. Garnish with sour cream and cilantro.

1 Serving = 270 calories, 10 grams fat


Next Week's Menu:


Monday:
MANDARIN ORANGE CHICKEN (sorry no picture)

3 Tbs frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
3 Tbs lower-sodium soy sauce
1 Tbs fresh minced garlic
1 tsp chili garlic sauce or chili paste
3/4 cup canned unsweetened mandarin orange
s in juice
3 (4oz) trimmed boneless, skinless chicken breast


1. In a large, resealable plastic bag or containe
r, mix the juice concentrate, soy sauce, garlic, oil, and chili sauce or chili paste. Gently stir in the oranges and their juice. Add the chicken, submerging it in marinade. Seal the bag or container and marinate in the refrigerator at least 6 hours or overnight, rotating once or twice.

2. Preheat the oven to 400. Tra
nsfer the chicken to an 11 x 7 glass baking or casserole dish in a single layer and pour the remaining marinade on top. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 25 to 30 min or until the chicken is no longer pink inside.

Per serving: 183 calories, 4 grams fat


Wednesday:

CAZUELA DE QUESO , ARROZ Y MAIZ (Cheese, Rice and Corn Casserole)

4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup milk
1 egg, beaten

2 cups white rice, cooked
1 can (11 oz) corn with red and green peppers

1 cup mexican style finely shredded four cheese
1/4 cup cilantro
(the recipe doesn't call for shredded chicken but I like to add it, as it gives it more of a main meal feel)

1. Mix the cream cheese, milk and egg. Add the rice, corn and 3/4 cup of the cheese and 3 Tbs of cilantro.
2. Place in a greased, glass pan and bake at 350 for 30 min.
3. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top and bake for 5 more minutes. Rem
ove from oven, sprinkle remaining cilantro on top.

1 Serving = 190 calories, 10 grams fat


Thursday:

POTATO & CHORIZO EMPANADAS (sorry no picture)

Filling:
1/2 cup diced and peeled red potatoes
1/2 cup low-fat chicken broth (divided)
1 oz chorizo sausage
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1 Tbs water
1 large egg, lightly beaten

Dough:

2 cups flour (divided)
6 Tbs cold water
1 tsp cider vinegar
2 Tbs powdered sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup vegetable shortning



1. Filling: In a sauce pan cover potatoes with water and bring to a boil.
2. Reduce heat and simmer for about 6 minutes until potato is tender, drain.
3. Place 1/4 cup broth in a skillet and add chorizo.
4. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 min
5. Add onion and bell pepper and cook for 2 min
6. Add cooked potatoes and 1/4 broth and cook until liquid evaporates.
7. Chill chorizo mixture while preparing dough
8. Dough: level flour with a knife in measu
ring cup
9. Mix 1/2 cup flour, water and vinegar, stirring wit
h a whisk to combine
10. Preheat oven to 400

11. In a separate bowl, mix: 1 1/2 cups flour, the sugar, salt, stirring with a whisk
12. Cut shortening into dough with a pastry ble
nder or a knife, should resemble coarse meal
13. Add this mixture to wet mixture and toss until everything is moist
14. Chill dough in freezer for 10 min
15. Place on floured surface and roll out into a triangle
16. Using a biscuit cutter or a glass, cut into 4 inch circles
17. Spoon 1 Tbs filling into circles and leave a 1/2 inch border, seal dough with fingers
18. Combine water and egg and brush mixture over dough to help seal
19. Place on baking sheet and bake at 400 for 20 min or until golden brown.

1 Serving = 182 Calories, 10 grams fat




Friday:
SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN SCALOPPINE
4 boneless skinless chic
ken breast halves
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt

2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 tsp red pepper sauce if desired
2 Tbsp lime juice
2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro


1. Between pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper, place chicken breast half with smooth side down; gently pound with flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin until about 1/4 i
nch thick. Repeat with remaining chicken. Cut chicken into smaller pieces if desired.
2. In a shallow dish, mix flour, cumin and salt. Coat chicken with flour mixture. Reserve 1 tsp flour mixture.
3. In a 12 inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken; cook 3 to 5 min on each side or until golden brown and no longer pink in center. remove chicken from skillet; cover to keep warm.
4. In a small bowl, stir reserved 1 tsp flour mixture into broth. Gradually stir broth mixture and red pepper sauce into skillet. Heat to boiling; stir in lime juice and cilantro. Serve sauce over chicken.

1 Serving = 260 Calories, 12 grams fat


Following Week's Menu:


Sunday:

BBQ CHICKEN PIZZA
2 cups shredded, cooked chicken breast
1/3 cup bbq sauce
1 pizza crust (store bought, or homemade)
3 Roma tomatoes, sliced
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

2 Tbs chopped fresh cilantro

1. Heat oven to 450. In a small bowl, mix chicken and bbq sauce. Place pizza crust on ungreased cookie sheet; spread chicken mixture over crust. Arrange tomatoes over chicken; sprinkle with cheese.
2. Bake 8 to 10 min or until cheese is melted and crust is browned. Sprinkle with cilantro.

1 Serving = 300 calories, 11 grams fat


Monday:
CREAMY TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE **I don't usually like Tuna Casserole BUT th
is one is really yummy!!**

5 cups uncooked egg noodles

1 can (10.75 oz) reduced fat reduced sodium condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 cup fat free sour cream
2/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/3 cup 2% milk
1/4 tsp salt
2 cans (5 oz each) light water packed tuna, drained and flaked
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1/4 cup finely chopped onion,
1/4 cup finely chopped green pepper

Topping:
1/2 cup soft bread crumbs
1 Tbsp butter, melted

1. Cook noodles according to directions on package.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the soup, sour cream, cheese, milk and salt. Stir in the tuna, peas, onion and pepper. Drain noodles; add to soup mixture.
3. Transfer to an 11x7 baking dish coated with cooking spray. Combine topping ingredients, sprinkle over top. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 25-30 min or until bubbly.

Serving: 1 1/3 cup = 340 calories, 8 grams fat



Wednesday:
TURKEY BURGERS
I have no recipe for this either. I usually just mixed ground turkey with some parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Mix and grill!


Thursday:
CHIPOTLE CHICKEN ENCHILADAS (sorry no picture)
1 jar/can enchilada sauce (red or green)
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
8 corn tortillas
1/2 cup shredded Chihuahua or Monterey Jack cheese

1. Mix 1/4 cup sauce into meat
2. Spread 3/4 cup sauce over bottom of 9x9 baking dish

3. Spread out tortillas on baking sheet and lightly brush both sides with oil. Bake at 300 to soften (about 3 min). Remove and stack to keep warm
4. Turn oven to 400. Roll 1/4 cup filling into each tortilla. Place side by side in baking dish and cover with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 15 to 20 min.



Friday:
OPEN FACED MEATBALL SANDWICHES

Meatballs

Sauce
Whole grain buns
1/4 cup low fat mozzarella cheese


Meatballs:
3/4 cup whole wheat panko breadcrumbs or lightly crushed wasa light rye crispbread
1/3 cup fat free milk
1 lb ground turkey
3 large egg whites
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 Tbs plus 1 tsp grated reduced fat Parmesan cheese
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp salt

1. Preheat oven to 400. Lightly mist a medium baking sheet with olive oil spray. Set aside
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the bread crumbs or crushed crispbread and the milk. Let stand for 2 to 3 minutes or until the milk softens the crumbs. Add the turkey, egg whites, parsley, cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. With clean hands or a fork, mix well. Divide the mixture into 16 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, place the meatballs on the baking sheet.
3. Bake for 12 to 15 min or until no longer pink inside.

Sauce:

1/2 cup finely chopped yellow or white onion
2 tsp minced garlic
1 1/3 canned crushed tomatoes
1 Tbs no salt added tomato paste
1 Tbs water
1 tsp honey
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp italian seasoning
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp dried basil

Lightly mist a medium nonstick saucepan with olive oil spray. Set over medium heat. add the onion and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally for 3 to 5 min or until almost tender (do not brown). Reduce the heat to low. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, water, honey, oregano, italian seasoning, olive oil and basil. Stir with a wooden spoon to mix. Simmer for 5 min for the flavors to blend.

Place meatballs on the bun and spoon sauce on top. Sprinkle cheese on top. Place under the broiler till browned.

Serving = 377 calories, 7 grams fat











Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Happy 4th Birthday to Karina!!!

Can it be??? 4 years have passed since our precious girl came to us??? Now, I see each day through different lenses than when she was 1 or 2. Time passes so quickly that I sometimes forget how tiny she was, or how sweetly her fresh baby hair smelled, or how she would grab my necklace when I rocked her to sleep. And while those memories are forever written on my heart, I put my new lenses on, and see the wonderful little 4 year old that she is. How independent she is, yet still so dependent on us. How sweet and tenderhearted she is. How helpful she is. How she sweetly says, for no reason at all, "mommy, I love you!" How she tells us she loves Jesus. Each day is such a precious day that we are given with her and with each precious day, more precious memories...We love you baby girl!


Every year on Karina's birthday I take a picture of her in her "Birthday Princess" crown. Here are some pictures of each year.


1 year old
2 years old
3 years old
4 years old


This year for Karina's birthday, we had her party at Build A Bear. She was sooooo excited about it and so were all her little friends. They have such a fun little process and all the girls loved it. Get ready for a bunch of pictures!!


Build A Bear!!

Teegan & Karina

Everyone picking out their bears

Me trying to help Karina pick out which bear she wanted. She was the last one to decide...hmmm I know someone else like that...(daddy) :)

Success!! Everyone has a bear!

Karina's turn at stuffing the bear

Stepping on the pedal to give it some fluff

The "squeeze" test: making sure it's fluffy enough to squeeze :)

Jillian's turn

Teegan's squeeze test

Daniela's turn

Squeeeeeeze!

Laila's turn

Jalese's turn
They each got a heart to put inside their bear, but first they had to kiss it and rub it and hug it and I don't know what all else, but it was cute :)

After they each stuck a heart in their own bear, everyone got another heart, including the mommies and daddies, and they all stuck it in Karina's bear so her bear has like 16 hearts! It was very cute :)

Hearts are in, time to sew up the bears!

"Bath" time!

The Dads, doing their thing...waiting for the women :)

What girls do best - Accessorize!!

The finished bear, whom she named Giselle :)

Getting Giselle a birth certificate

They were all sooooo cute! L-R: Daniela with a Panda, Jalese with a Kitty, Teegan with a Bunny, Jillian with a Pony, Karina with Pink Bear, and Laila with a Purple Bear

Silly girl

A mass of bears and kids

All done! Lets go have some cake!!

Opening some presents

mmmmm...cake!

The Cake

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

This Is What Little Girls Are Made Of...

So this is how little girls play with boys toys.... :)

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Mommy Time

Last weekend I had the great opportunity to attend a conference called Hearts At Home. This is a conference held annually in Bloomington, IL and it is for stay at home moms, working moms, moms with little ones, moms with teens, or really just any mom. I got to go with 4 of my great friends and fellow mommies. We left Friday night and went to Champaign (we had to stay at my parents house because Bloomington hotels were completely booked due to this conference as well as Special Olympics being there at the same time) and got to go out to a nice dinner...just the girls! It was so nice! And then we headed over to my parents where we played games and stayed up waaaaay too late, seeing that we had to get up at 6am the next morning :)

So Saturday was the conference and I learned this last year, but for some reason, it totally left my brain and that is this: I always think, ooohhh yeah, I'm gonna pick workshops where they're gonna give me the formula to make my child behave, be thankful, grateful, obey, blah, blah, blah. Well I was humbly reminded once again, through ALL my workshop speakers that it FIRST starts with ME, in MY heart and by MY example. If I want my child to be thankful, I need to model thankfulness, etc, etc. If we're not doing it, how could we possibly think that they will???? Ouch that hurt!

I learned so much again, and pray that it will soak it deep into my heart so that it can flow out of my life into the precious little life that God chose to bless us with.

The following are some notes from the main sessions and workshops that I attended. If you don't want to read them, please feel free to skip the rest, but I guess for my own reminder and benefit I will go ahead and share it. If you'd like to get an audio copy of any session from Hearts at Home, you can go to: http://www.catapes.com/viewresults.cfm?cid=146 to order an MP3, CD, or DVD.

Also here are some websites/blogs from these particular speakers:
Jill Savage: www.heartsathome.org then click on Jill's blog on the right
Sharon Autrey & Laurie Hilliard: www.momandlovingit.org
Susie Larson: www.susielarson.com

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Jill Savage - "The Power of Words"

4 Types of Words Our Families Need To Hear:
1. Power of Affirming Words
- Speaks life to the person receiving them
- Could change the trejectory of someone's life
2. Power of Accepting Words
- Says somebody's feelings and opinions count
- Says you're valuable
3. Power of Appreciating Words
- Gratitude for their character
- Make sure these words get out of your heart to your mouth!
4. Power of Apologizing Words
- Soothes the hurts that we cause
- Brings life
- The frequency of these words help us tune into whats really going on in our own heart

Here are some scriptures she gave regarding the power of our words. I took them all from the Message Bible, I love the way it puts it.

Ephesians 4:25 - "What this adds up to then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ's body we're all connected ot each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself"

Ephesians 5:4 - "Though some tongues just love the taste of gossip, Christians have better uses for language than that. Don't talk dirty or silly. That kind of talk doesn't fit our style. Thanksgiving is our dialect."

Philippians 2:14-16 - "Do everything readily and cheerfully - no bickering, no second guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-give Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof I didn't go to all this work for nothing."

Proverbs 12:18 - "Rash language cuts and maims, but there is healing in the words of the wise"

Proverbs 18:21 - "Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit - you choose"


_____________________________________________________________________________________

Sharon Autrey & Laurie Hilliard - "Am I Doing This Right? - Reaching The Heart"

Proverbs 22:6 - "Point your kids in the right direction - when they're old they won't be lost"

Train: to aim at an objective or a goal.

What's most important?
- the mind? (education)
- their body? (sports, dance, etc.)
- what are 3 things you want your children to be known for when they grow up?
- the heart? (Prov. 4:20-23, 1 Sam 16:7)
- sometimes we get so mixed up in DOING that we forget to BE

How do we build these relationships with our kids?

*Talk along the way
- write notes (in their lunch boxes, gym bags, etc)
- journal (exchange a journal with each other, writing notes, or questions back and forth to each other)
- messaging (texting, email, whatever gets you into their world)

*Laugh along the way
- Lighten up!
- say "no" with a smile
- have some fun! (ex: 5 minutes after the kids have gone to bed go in and turn the light on and say "we're going to go get ice cream!")
- Get into their world
- get down on their level, sit on the floor and play with them
- be weird with them!

*Be patient along the way
- If you find yourself struggling with a child:
- pray "Lord, give me YOUR eyes"
- Speak their love language
- Introduce them positively (if you have a child that is shy, don't say "This is ____, but she's/he's a little shy" Instead use something positive like, "This is _____, and she/he is mommy's super helper today")

*Pray along the way
- Pray the 6 "P's"
- Passion for God
- Purpose
- Peers/Pals
- Partner
- Purity
- Praise in good times and bad

*Protect along the way
- In relationships
- With their time
- From media (tv, movies, internet)

*Practice along the way
- If it is not real to us, HOW will it be real to them???
- Use spiritual applications - use nature as object lessons (ask God to help you think of things)
- Scripture memory
- Model it
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Susie Larson - "Growing Grateful Kids"

**We cannot impart what we do not possess!**

5 Ways To Cultivate Grateful, Thankful Kids:

1. Model Thankfulness
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18
- Don't commit the sin of comparison
- Don't wait for life to get better to celebrate
- Your children will pick up on your perspective
- Refuse worry - it will steal your grateful heart
- Spend time with God, get His perspective
- Start a thankfulness journal
- Say it out loud
- Each day let your children hear your thankfulness
- Teach your children to pray out loud
-Ask your children, "what are you most thankful for today?"

2. Practice restraint
- Just because you can afford it doesn't mean you should buy it
- Partial fasting - nothing should overpower you except the presence of God
- It's not just about practicing restraint, it's about giving God room to work
- Don't do the easy thing, do the RIGHT thing
- Ask God, "what do you want me to lay down so you can work in me?"
- Say no to yourself and stick with it
- Prayerfully ask God to give you a heightened sense of your child's tendencies
- Show your children the muscle of self restraint

3. Take Time To Play
- In good times and bad, life is a precious gift and it's worth celebrating
- If we take ourselves too seriously we miss out on the celebrations of life
- Take time to get together with girlfriends who make you laugh till your gut hurts
- Have friends over for game night
- Build a blanket fort with your kids
- Ditch the housework for the day and go to the park
- During bedtime prayers ask them what they are thankful for

4. Teaching Forgiveness
- Forgiveness is the rebar of the family
- Forgiveness is not an occasional attitude, it is a state of the heart
- Own and admit one's offense
- Humbly ask for forgiveness
- Take responsibility and make reparations
- Regularly pray Psalm 139
- Pray daily for those who you find it difficult to forgive
- Daily receive fresh mercies
- When you blow it with your children, use yourself as an example

5. Give A Blessing
- We need to tell our kids what we see in them
- Ask God for a blessing if you've never received one from your parents
- Remind yourself that you are the object of God's affection
- Speak Blessing
- Speak blessing on your kids
- During difficult discipline seasons, recast God's vision for their lives

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

If It's For Free It's For Me!!

In the past 6 months I have tried to become VERY frugal. I don't mean cheap, I mean FRUGAL :) And one of the ways I do that is by going to "frugal blogs/websites". There are so many blogs out there that people dedicate themselves to finding those crazy good deals and freebies. I request freebies all the time and several times a week I get my freebies in the mail. I get things like sample size lotions, shampoos and conditioners, tampons (all great for my travel bag), sample size coffees, teas, snacks, cereals, etc, etc. All these samples usually come with a really good coupon to try their product.
And I also love coupons, they are my best shopping buddy :) I love the thrill of the hunt! Finding the best deal out there. On an average, I save between $20-30 dollars just with coupons (this doesn't include things I find on clearance or on sale) each time I get groceries. I know it's not that much, but hey, something is something. Now, I DON'T use coupons just to say I used a coupon, that would not be frugal. I try to find the best scenario, if using a coupon doesn't make me come out ahead, it doesn't get used. Here's another bonus about coupons, at most stores, you can use a Manufacturer's coupon (ex: one that you cut out of the newspaper etc...) AND a store coupon for the same item. I do this all the time at Target, for example: you have a manufacturer's coupon for $1 off cheerios and a target coupon for $.50 off cheerios, you can combine these coupons and get a box of cheerios like a dollar. :) If you didn't already know, you can print Target coupons by going to their website and scrolling all the way down to the bottom and there's a link that says grocery coupons and then just select the ones you want and print. Some of this is probably old had to a lot of you, but I just wanted to share in case someone didn't know :)
Here are a couple of websites that I visit all the time to check out the latest deals around:

http://hip2save.com/
She always has great deals and she's funny :)

http://www.totallytarget.com/
I love this one because I shop at Target all the time and this one is all about Target and the good deals.


Today, when the mail came it was like I hit the jackpot :)
Here's what I got:

A huge sample of Rachael Ray's dog food "Nutrish" AND a coupon for a FREE BAG!

A sample box of 3 tampons, always useful :)
Crest whitening strips...hey, who doesn't need whiter teeth right?? Along with coupons.

A Target coupon book with 24 great coupons. Especially since Target is my absolute favorite store!
A gift card from Chase Bank when you open up a checking account. I kid you not, just 3 or 4 days ago, Abel and I both agreed we were going to switch banks, to that's right, Chase. AND now they want to give me free $....done deal!!
A coupon for $10 off a $20 purchase at Office Max. Again, I kid you not, 2 days ago we ran out of ink in our printer and I had a coupon just like this but it was expired. Lo and behold, a new one in the mail today!!
And last but not least, a $5 off a $25 purchase at Toys R Us...hey, $5 is $5 :)