The Children's Museum of Indianapolis - Free Family Night

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis has it's Free Family Night this Thursday, 12/03/09, from 4-8 pm.

The slide is always one of our highlights of the year! My son also enjoys the Jolly Winter section and likes to pretend to ice fish!

The first Thursday night of the month is always free from 4 - 8pm and is sponsored by Target.

Coupon Preview 11/21/09

There is only 1 insert this week and the coupons don't look too exciting. I may pick up one paper this week, just to see what ads might be in it for next week.

Go here if you would like to see the list of coupons in this week's paper.

IMCPL Book Sale

Tomorrow is the IMCPL Book Sale $5.00 a bag sale! The sale will be from 10 -4. Expect it to be busy in the morning!

Take your biggest bag and have some fun!



Go here for more information.

Go here for the location of the Library Service Center.

You cannot take strollers or carts into the center, so keep this in mind. I suggest taking a heavy duty canvass bag. I have a bag with wheels, that is not a "cart" so I use that when I go.

Hobby Lobby Coupon

I've been doing a lot of crafting so I've been keeping an eye out for printable coupons!

Here is a coupon good this week at Hobby Lobby for 40% off 1 regularly priced item.

Sunday Meditations

Isaiah 40:7

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:
but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Coupon Preview 11/14/09

There are 3 inserts this weekend, here are a few of my favorite coupons.


SMARTSOURCE

Daisy Sour Cream, 16oz+ .50 (12/31/09)

Dannon All Natural Yogurt Product. 32 oz. $1/1 or ten 6 oz. cups (1/15/10)

Delsym Product, any $1.50 (2/7/10)

Energizer Batteries or flashlight $1 (12-21-09)

Huggies Baby Wipes, 64ct+ .50 (12/31/09)

Huggies Diapers $1.50 (12/31/09)

Huggies Pure & Natural Diapers $3 (12/31/09)

Marcal Small Steps Napkins FREE up to $2.80 (12/25/09)

Marcal Small Steps Single Roll of Towel, Bath Tissue, or Facial Tissue FREE up to $1 or $1 off larger size (12/25/09)

Ziploc Containers $1.50 on 2 (1/9/10)

GENERAL MILLS

Betty Crocker Cookie Mix, 17.5oz+ .40 (1/9/10)

Betty Crocker Frosting Tub, any .50 (1/9/10)


RED PLUM

I Cant Believe Its Not Butter Sticks $1 (2-7-10)

Lipton Tea Bags, Lipton to Go or Lipton Iced Tea Mix .75 (1-10-10)


There are a TON more coupons this week! Go here to see the complete list. I suggest buying 4 or more papers to maximize your savings. In the Indianapolis area you can get the Sunday paper on Saturday at the Dollar Tree for only $1.00.

Michaels Coupons

Are you working on crafts for the holidays? Here is a link to some great coupons from Michaels, including on for 20% off your entire order - that coupon is only good today 11/14/09.

There is another coupon that is good for 40% off 1 item and may be used 1 time per day per customer!

Go here to see the coupons.

$5 off $20 order at Save-A-Lot Grocery Store

Go here to register and print a $5.00 off a $20.00 order at Save-A-Lot grocery store. There are several locations in the Indianapolis area - go here to find a location.

You can print more coupons to use in the store here.

They have Honeysuckle White Turkeys advertised for only $.99 lb and are promoting a Thanksgiving dinner for under $15.00 here.

Beef and Lentil Slow Cooker Stew - Italian or Mexican Style - You Choose!

One of our favorite dinners is Beef and Lentil Slow Cooker Stew and you can make it either Italian style or Mexican style.

I originally got the recipe several years ago on the Weight Watchers website here. And the photo above is also from Weight Watchers.

I have adjusted the original recipe to suit our tastes and it has become a favorite. I also like that I can throw it in the crock pot in less than 5 minutes and it does not require pre-browning of the beef!

Recipe - Italian Style

1 small onion chopped (if you're in a rush you can omit)
2 cups frozen green beans or 1 can green beans (or in the summer I've used fresh too!)
1 pound beef cubes (I use what ever beef I get on sale and cube it myself)
1/2 tsp oregano or Italian seasoning, crushed
2 - 3 cans (14.5 oz each) diced tomatoes - undrained
1 cup dry lentils
2 - 3 heaping tablespoons of tomato paste
4 cups beef broth
4 carrots chopped
2 cups broccoli stems ** or bagged frozen broccoli
1-2 cups frozen or fresh corn
Whatever other veggie you like!
salt and pepper to taste


If your beef cubes are frozen - thaw them in the microwave first. Place all ingredients (except green beans and corn) in the crock pot. Cook on low 6 -7 hours. Add green beans and corn in for last hour or so to heat. (If you are using fresh green beans you might need a bit more time if you like them soft and not crisp)

To make this Mexican style substitute 1 or more of the cans of tomatoes with the salsa of your choice. If you use all salsa - which is how we like it - you can eliminate the onion as this is already in the salsa!

This is a VERY versatile recipe - you can't mess it up. Just add in what vegetables you like - the lentils make it so thick and yummy. In the summer I make this with fresh veggies from the garden or farm stand. I do not recommend adding potatoes because they tend to mush when cooked that long.


** When I make fresh broccoli, I chop and then steam the stems for a few minutes. Then I cool and put them in the freezer in bags with 2 cups each. My family does not like to eat the stems with steamed broccoli - but the make a nutritious filler in soup and cooking in the crock pot makes them soft instead of tough and woody like they usually are when steamed.

Meijer Deals - East Washington Street Store

I just got this email with a great deal from Dawn - a Frugal Indy reader. Thanks Dawn!


The Meijer on East Washington had about 30+ bags of apples (near the the little room in the back where they check in produce) for $.10/lb. The bags were made up of Gala and Golden Delicious apples (and maybe others), somewhat on the small side. I bought about 15 lbs to make lots of applesauce! I've had one of those fancy apple peeler gizmos for several years ago, but never used it. I think I'll be digging that out of the cabinet.

Also, several months back, you had asked if Meijer marks stuff down in the evenings. My general grocery shopping time is 8-9 p.m.--the deli closes at 9 during the week and they do place several bags of deli meat on the counter for $1.50/lb (including some roast beef that runs $8 something a lb!).

One last Meijer deal is the mark down cooler for refrigerator products (ie. yogurt/cottage cheese). We go through a lot of yogurt in our house, and can usually pick up several days worth at half off (minus whatever coupons I have).

I thought you might enjoy this deal too! If you have a good deal email me and I'll let everyone know!

Veterans Day Sales 2009

If you are in need of some winter clothing - this is a good weekend to shop. Many stores will be having Veterans Day sales! Here is a link to a Macy's coupon.

For those of you who overlook an "expensive" department store like Macy's - I would encourage you to take a look when they are having sales. I have often found high quality clothing items at Macy's (on sale) for the same price of a cheap quality item from Wal-mart or other type store.

I recently bought 4 long sleeved Carter's t-shirts for my toddler and they were priced less than the Carter's outlet price! Plus, with a coupon I had from Macy's ($15 off $40 purchase) I actually got them free with another item I was purchasing! I love Macy's coupons!

Today I'm off to do a little needed shopping before winter sets in for good! Before I go to the mall I always do a quick internet search for coupons for the stores that I plan to look at that day. I also am on the mailing lists of stores I like. One store (Christopher Banks) sent me an exclusive 40% off anything in the store coupon - only for their email list!

Of course I will probably make a quick stop at Goodwill before I hit the mall - you never know what you will find there too!

Here's another printable coupons I found.

Gap

Update: Burlington Coat Factory has a special discount - if you take a used coat to donate you get 10% off your entire purchase. Go here for details.

Coupon Preview 11/07/09

There are 2 scheduled inserts this weekend. We are gearing up to the baking season and I saw quite a few coupons for baking items, nuts and that type of thing.

I would encourage you to go here and take a quick look at what is in this weekend's paper.

Remember that you can get your papers for $1.00 at the Dollar Tree and they have them on Saturday too!

Thank You for Praying

Thank you for praying for my Father-in-Law. He has returned to his home after his surgery and although he is tired - as would be expected - he is doing very well.

I'm sure he would appreciate if you still remembered him as it will take awhile to recover from this surgery. His surgeons were very pleased with his progress and he was even released earlier than most from the hospital! I believe his progress is a testimony to the Lord's working in his behalf in answer to the many prayers going out for him!