Well folks, I made another terrific Target trip this week. I spent about $17.00, and got everything below...including the "Pursuit of Happyness" DVD, which is priced around $15.00 at your local bookstore. Let's just say I'm very pleased with my deal findings.

Another terrific Target trip

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the Williamses!!!

The Williamses - 2009

O Christmas Tree

Our Christmas Tree 2009

A Terrific Target Trip

This week, I made out like a bandit at Target (or Tar-jay, as my sisters and I would say)!!! I was able to make good on two deals:

1. Kellogg's cereal is on sale right now - buy 3, get 1 free. Some boxes are even priced as low as $2.66. I paired (3) $1/1 Kellogg's cereal Target coupons (I tried to use 4, but they wouldn't let me use a Target coupon on the free item) with (2) $1/1 Kellogg's Special K cereal coupons, (1) $1/1 Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats Little Bites cereal coupon, and (1) $0.75/1 Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal coupon. I spent a total of $2.49 on 4 boxes of cereal!!!

2. Target has a deal going on right now through 10.26.09 where if you purchase 5 Glade holiday candles, oil candle holders, or refills, you get a $5 Target giftcard. I had (5) B1G1 coupons where if you purchased an oil candle glass holder or tin, you got a pack of refill oil candles for free. I also had (5) $1.50/1 oil candle glass holder or tin coupons. Lastly, I had a $1/1 Glade item Target coupon from this month's Real Simple magazine. When I went through the checkout, I gave the cashier the B1G1 coupons first, and he wasn't sure how to enter those in, so he called his supervisor who was able to take care of those coupons. Then I gave the supervisor the $1.50/1 coupons, and he said that he couldn't take them because he could only take one manufacturer's coupon per item. I calmly explained that the B1G1 coupons applied to the refills, and the $1.50/1 coupons applied to the holders. He called a manager over, and I explained the same thing to her. She told me that Target's policy with B1G1 coupons is that they apply both to the item you're getting for free as well as to the item you're purchasing to get that item for free...which, in my humble opinion, makes zero sense. I stated that I was still buying the holders and tins in order to get the refills for free - just at a lower rate of $1.50 off a piece. She told me she didn't want to be the "coupon police" and would allow me to use those coupons "this one time". My cheeks were a little rosy when I left, but I ended up saving $21, spending only $4.91, and I got $10 in Target giftcards!!! I plan on doing the SC Johnson rebate 3 times over as well to get a $15 rebate and make the most of this deal!!!

The Target Trip

So, overall I spent $7.40 out-of-pocket, I received $10 in Target giftcards, and I'm going to receive a rebate of $15 from SC Johnson...so I actually MADE MONEY off of these deals!!! $17.60 to be exact!!!

A Quick (and Delicious) Interruption

I know I still have one (or maybe two) more installments regarding "Things I Love About Fall", but I had to interrupt to post another recipe. This Shepherd's Pie recipe was given to me by the Palmers (love you guys!). The preparation was very minimal, and the result was amazing - and healthy too! It contains quite a bit of veggies, ground turkey (instead of red meat), and the majority of the flavor comes from rosemary and low sodium/low fat chicken broth. Delicious! Just make sure you indeed use a 10" pie pan! I only had a 9" pie pan on hand, and some of the juices spilled over into the oven...and I was too full after dinner to clean it up!

Shepherd's Pie

Things I Love About Fall - Installment #2

THE FESTIVITIES.

There are ALWAYS really fun things to do outdoors in the Fall, i.e. going to pumpkin patches, going apple picking, etc. Seth and I were really excited to be back in Ohio for Fall this year because we got to experience the one-and-only Circleville Pumpkin Show. The small town of Circleville, OH devotes 4 days to this pumpkin extravaganza, and they pull out all the stops. I had gone to the CPS when I was younger, and Seth had been once before in college, but we were excited to finally be able to go together.

The crowd

The pumpkin tree

The BIGGEST pumpkin of all

The two of us, elated upon purchasing a bag of the infamous mini pumpkin donuts

Also, who doesn't love a good old-fashioned night in, carving pumpkins, roasting pumpkin seeds, and drinking apple cider (some prefer it spiced and hot; I prefer it non-spiced and cold)??? Here are this year's creations from the Williams household:

Seth's jack-o-lantern

My jack-o-lantern (yes, I used a stencil)

We had such a blast this Halloween, as it was our first Halloween where we lived in an area that trick-or-treaters came through. My sister Shelby came over, and she, Seth, and I had a great time greeting the kids and seeing all the fun costumes, while staying warm with the help of blankets and hot chocolate!

Seth excitedly awaiting the arrival of our first trick-or-treater

Me and Shelb staying warm

Last (but not least), we participated in the "BOO-rito" give-away that Chipotle was doing on Halloween. Basically, if you came dressed up as a burrito, Chipotle gives you a burrito, burrito bowl, or taco for FREE!!! We had fun with this...

Introducing the tinfoil hat, scarf...

...and diaper???

My parents also hosted a squaredance on their property this year, but we were visiting friends in San Diego when it took place. Hopefully, it will be an annual event, and we'll be able to post photos next year!

Things I Love About Fall - Installment #1

THE FOOD.
Seriously, sometimes Fall food is so much better than Summer food, or Spring food for that matter. Probably because of the fact that on a chilly Fall day, there's nothing better than warm cup of something and a hot meal to come home too. Fall food does it's job - it warms you up! This past week I did something I've never done before: I meal-planned. Hence, with it being Fall and all, I'd like to share with you some of the goodies I whipped up in my own kitchen.

Elsa's Cider Beef with Cheddar Smashed Potatoes

• Elsa's Cider Beef with Cheddar Smashed Potatoes - This recipe, which I got from my mom, was featured on the Rachael Ray Show (so it's online). Apparently, it is one of her mother's recipes. It's the epitome of a comfort food, and the flavor is outstanding. Apple cider and sharp cheddar cheese - great combination! This definitely got a "two-thumbs-up" from Seth, so I know I'll be making it again! (note: In the photo, the potatoes are yellow not due to butter, but due to using yellow cheddar cheese instead of white cheddar cheese.)

Southwest Chicken Soup

• Southwest Chicken Soup - This recipe is great because you literally dump everything into your crockpot (which you can do the night before, and pull it out of the fridge in the morning), and when you get home from work you have a hot meal all ready to go! And you can adjust the spicy factor however you want with the salsa and Rotel. Thank you Emily for this recipe!

Ingredients:
1 lg. can fat free refried beans
1 can black beans, drained
1 can corn
1 lg. can chicken breast
1 can fat free chicken broth
1 sm. jar salsa, however hot you prefer
1 can Rotel tomatoes with or without chilies

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a crockpot and heat through for several hours. Top it with shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and/or crunched up tortilla chips and you're all set!

Holiday Babka & Banana Bread

• Holiday Babka (Mother's Polish Bread) - My dad recently had surgery, and since Seth and I are on such a tight budget, I was trying to think of something I could make for him instead of purchase. My grandma (my dad's mom), who was 100% Polish, was an excellent baker and cook. Oftentimes, she would bake wonderful loaves of Polish sweet bread and bring them over to our house when my dad was a single parent and we were living in Cleveland. My dad told us that one time, my grandma brought over her bread after my sisters and I were already in bed, so he stayed up and ate AN ENTIRE LOAF with the help of a large glass of chocolate milk. Obviously he loved this bread, so I thought I'd give baking it myself a shot, even though I don't have my grandma's recipe - she never wrote anything down. I found this recipe here (note: I made it without raisins.). It didn't rise properly, so it was definitely denser than it should have been, but it was good nonetheless. Especially toasted.


• Banana Bread - I made the banana bread as a back-up to the Babka, in case it didn't turn out. This recipe is quick and easy, and a great way to utilize bananas that have gotten a little too brown for your liking. While I make this banana bread all year long, it tastes especially good paired with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate on those cold Fall mornings. You can also add miniature chocolate chips (and they need to be miniature, or they'll sink) to this recipe, and have more of a dessert-type bread.

Ingredients:
3 ripe bananas
1 c. sugar
1 egg (I substitute 1/4 c. egg product or egg whites)
1 1/2 c. flour
1/4 c. butter
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together and pour into a greased bread pan. Bake at 325° for 1 hour.

ENJOY!!!