Gift Idea for Kids: Jump, Jump, Jump!

Need gift ideas for kids?

One of the best presents my boys got for their birthday last year was a gift certificate to Planet Bounce, a local bouncy place for kids. Here's why I loved it:

• It provides a great way to get exercise for the whole family, regardless of the heat or rain.
• It's an experience, rather than a thing (any parent can tell you about their clutter problems).

Another bouncy place, Jump Zone on Race Track Road in Tampa is having a Halloween Bounce & Haunted House Rate tonight (October 17) from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. Cost is $8.

Bouncy places are popping up all over. Find one in your area and give it a try. I have to wonder, though, if bouncy places are very green given all the electricity they have to use. What do you think?

Good Deal on Lindsay Olives at Walgreens

Starting October 18, Walgreens is running a store coupon in the weekly ad flyer for 99-cent Lindsay Olives. Combine that with this $1-off-2 manufacturer coupon to get 2 cans for 99 cents.

I love the green natural olives cut up into a salad! Too bad my Walgreens doesn't carry the natural variety.

Ideas for Stockpiling Bread

Nature's Pride 100% Whole Wheat bread is BOGO (buy one get one free) at Publix through Wednesday, October 21 (click here for more information about this week's sales at Publix).

I never buy bread unless it's BOGO. I stock up and freeze it. Whenever I need a new loaf, I just take one out of the freezer and sit it on the counter. Within a few hours it's as good as new. If I can't wait a few hours, I just toast it.

Skeptical about freezing your bread? I've always been a bit of a freezer snob. I just don't typically like the way food tastes after it's been frozen. However, my mother persuaded me to give it a try, and after that I was convinced. I've never paid full price for bread again! Mom always knows best.

Trying to find the healthiest bread?

• Look for 100% whole wheat flour as the first ingredient.
  
• Don't get fooled by the use of the term "wheat" on the front of the package - check the ingredients to be sure.
• Avoid high-fructose corn syrup.
• Avoid sugar if it's near the top of the list of ingredients.
• Avoid enriched flour or any flour that's not whole grain.
  

Cupcake Stands Have Some Green Benefits

Consider using a cupcake stand instead of a traditional cake for your next birthday party, holiday event, or even a wedding celebration. Depending on how it's done, it could be a cheaper, greener, and more convenient way to go.

• You may be able to reduce (or even eliminate) the need for plates, forks and serving utensils. Guests just take one and eat it!
• If you are having a party at a park or a location away from home, it's nice not to have to fuss with cutting, serving and distributing the cake. It just saves time and aggrevation.
• If you use a silicone muffin pan, you won't need generate the waste that comes from the baking cups.
  
• You can make some beautiful displays with cupcakes without spending a lot of money.
  
• One way to create a unique look is to use some of the unusual-shaped silicone pans (such as hearts, squares, butterflies, etc.).
  

You can purchase cupcake stands and silicone bakeware at places like Target, Joann, and Michaels. Joann and Michaels both had 40%-off coupons in the Sunday paper on October 11 (expires today).

I also came across the online company, Cupcake Tree that touts their cupcake stand as a greener option because it is made from recyclable materials, is lightweight (which reduces the impact of delivery), and is made from locally-grown materials. Cupcake Tree has some very beautiful pictures of wedding displays (including the picture shown above).

Coupon for Flour, Muir Glen, and Cascadian Farms

Click here for a rare coupon for flour (including whole wheat and organic varieties). You can buy some flour to make a homemade pumpkin pie!

There are also coupons for Muir Glen and Cascadian Farms products on this site. To find the coupons, log on to Eat Better America and go to the Community tab. The coupons are on the right-hand column toward the bottom.

Mom, can we make a pie from a pumpkin instead of a can?

Making a pumpkin pie from scratch is actually a lot easier than you might think. Click here for a recipe that is very easy to follow. It even has pictures!

Thanks to my friend, Ronda for this idea. She told me that one of her little boys asked if they could make a pie from the pumpkin instead of from the can.

"Of course I could not possibly say no," said Ronda. What a great mom! Not only was she able to make a healthy dessert for her family, but she created a special family memory in the process.

One way to make a homemade pie a more frugal endeavor is allow your Halloween pumpkin to serve double duty. Opt out of the pumpkin carving so that you can actually eat the pumpkin after Halloween is over. Instead of carving the pumpkin, you might decorate the outside or just leave it plain. Why try to embellish what is already perfect, right?

Great Deals on Kid's Stuff at Walgreens

Walgreens has a lot of really great prices on their summer clearance items:

• Foam pirate swords are 99 cents (regular price 3 for $10). You can imagine how much fun my boys are having with those!
• John Hinde personalized children's mugs are $1.87 (regular price is around $8). I found one for my youngest son, and after an extensive search of many Walgreens, my awesome friend found one for my older son. Yay! Thanks Lisa!
• Kites are 49 cents. I got a really cute tie-die one.
• Workbooks are 75 cents. I got several very nice quality educational workbooks about math and reading.
• First Act Discovery Recorders are $2.49 (regular price $10).

There are also a lot of pools and beach toys at great prices. What kind of good deals have you gotten lately? Please share!

Free Sample of Hussana Body Care Products

Click here for a free sample of Hussana body care products. I'm not familiar with this brand (it's made in the UK), but according to the website the products contain no alcohol or animal products.

Publix Specials - October 15 to 21

This is a particularly good week for sales and coupon match ups at Publix!

Click here for this week's Publix sale flyer. Here are some of the best deals I noticed.

Don't forget that you can use two coupons on the BOGO items (one for each item). You can usually print the internet coupons at least two times. Online coupons sometimes disappear without warning (especially the high-value ones), so if you see one you like go ahead and print it.

• Nature's Pride 100% Whole Grain Bakery Bread
  BOGO
  I purchased 2 at $1.85 each (regular price $3.69)
  
• Cat's Pride Cat Litter
  BOGO
  Click here for $1-off coupon.
  Click here for another $1-off coupon.
  I purchased 4 at $2.85 each (regular price $7.69)
• Lysol Disinfecting Wipes
  BOGO
  Click here for a coupon.
  I purchased 2 at $2 each (regular price $4.99)
  
• Arm and Hammer Toothpaste
  BOGO
  Click here for a coupon.
  I purchased 2 at 50 cents each (regular price $2.99)
• Organic Batter Blaster
  BOGO
  Click here for a $1-off coupon.
  Click here to see my opinion of this product.
  I purchased 2 at $1.50 each (regular price $4.99)
• Ronzoni Healthy Harvest 100% Whole Grain Pasta
  BOGO
  Click here for $1-off coupon.
  Click here for another coupon.
  I purchased 8 at 40 cents each (regular price $1.79)
• Uncle Ben's Whole Grain Rice
  3 for $4
  Click here for $1-off/2 coupon.
  Click here for another coupon.
  There is a $1-off/1 coupon in Parade from the Sunday paper on October 11.
  I purchased 2 at 34 cents each!
• Stacy's Pita Chips
  2 for $4
  Click here for $1-off coupon.
  I purchased 2 at $1 each.
  
• Sargento Shredded Cheese
  2 for $4
• Breakstone's Cottage Cheese
  2 for $5
• Amy's Pizza
  2 for $10. I love the pesto flavor.
• Diana's Bananas Banana Babies
  BOGO. These are really yummy and no trans fat!
• Sunchips
  2 for $6
• Publix Diapers
  $15.99

Also, don't forget to:

• use your Discover card to get 5% cash back on groceries. Make sure you sign up for the program first. Click here for more information.
  
• pick up a free movie at the Blockbuster Express kiosk at Publix. Click here for the codes.

I made my weekly trip to Publix today - my total was $99.78 and my total savings was $77.35. I thought that was pretty good! Better than last week. I wonder if it's possible for the total savings to exceed the total spent? Hmmm...

I would really love to hear your success stories. What good deals did you get?

Good Deal on Organic Batter Blaster at Publix

Organic Batter Blaster is BOGO (buy one get one free) starting today at Publix. Combine the sale with this $1-off coupon for a really good deal. Be sure to print the coupon twice, since you can use a coupon for each BOGO item.

Batter Blaster is possibly the easiest way in the world to make pancakes - and it's organic! My husband's pancakes are definitely better, but these are SO easy to make! It's like a whipped cream can that sprays the batter onto the skillet. You don't even need a mixing bowl!

Later today, I'll be posting more information about the new Publix sales flyer (week of October 15 to 21).