Chex and Kroger Giveaway (including $25 gift card!)

Kroger^® and Chex^® Cereal have joined forces to help you whip up recipes for your holiday entertaining that are easy on your time as well as your budget!

There are so many great tasting Chex Party Mix recipes that you can make in the microwave in only 15 minutes! Try The Original Chex® Party Mix or Chex® Ginger-Honey Crunch for sure crowd pleasers.

Looking for an easy gift idea for friends, family or co-workers? Try wrapping your favorite Chex Party Mix in a colorful tin or bag and personalize it with your own recipe card.

To make things even sweeter, Kroger Family of Stores will have Chex cereal on sale so you can impress your guests without stressing your wallet. For 3 weeks, from December 2nd – December 25th, Kroger will offer Chex cereal at their lowest prices of the year! (Be sure to scroll down my blog and click to print your savings coupon!  Chex cereal is part of the current Mega Event at Kroger right now.)

Don’t forget to visit Kroger and Chex on Facebook to“Like” their pages and keep up with recipes, news and their latest and greatest products.

Upon receiving my prize pack, shown below, I couldn't wait to open it.  My 14 yr. old daughter, Jasmine couldn't wait to get herself a bowl of Chex cereal and opened a box right away. (please note the gift card taped to the front of one of the boxes.)

For the last 3 years I have made the Muddy Buddies as part of my holiday goodies presents for friends and family.  It's been a hit.  I had already planned on buying the ingredients to make it this year as well.  I was thrilled to receive the package from Kroger and Chex to help with my holiday baking. (Muddy Buddy Recipe to follow the photo of my ingredients)
I have bought the ingredients as you will see pictured below, but won't make them until closer to Christmas.  I went ahead and bought additional boxes of Chex cereal to use for the holidays....have to let the rest of us enjoy the cereal for breakfast.

Recipe courtesy of the chex.com website where you will find lots of great recipes!

Chex® Muddy Buddies®

Another popular name for this favorite mix is "puppy food". Chow down; it's doggone good! Prep Time:15 min Start to Finish:15 min Makes:18 servings (1/2 cup each)  687 ratings

Cooking Gluten Free?

Always read labels to make sure each recipe ingredient is gluten free. Products and ingredient sources can change.

Substitution

Peanut butter and chocolate are a favorite flavor combo, but peanut butter lovers can substitute peanut butter chips for the chocolate chips to intensify that flavor.

9	cups Rice Chex®, Corn Chex® or Chocolate Chex® cereal (or combination)
1	cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2	cup peanut butter
1/4	cup butter or margarine
1	teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2	cups powdered sugar

1.	Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.
2.	In 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag.
3.	Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

1 Serving: Calories 210 (Calories from Fat 80); Total Fat 9g (Saturated Fat 4g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 5mg; Sodium 170mg; Total Carbohydrate 29g (Dietary Fiber 1g, Sugars 16g); Protein 3g % Daily Value*: Vitamin A 6%; Vitamin C 6%; Calcium 6%; Iron 25% Exchanges: 1 Starch; 1 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 1 1/2 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 2 MyPyramid Servings: 1 tsp Fats & Oils
*% Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

On to the fun!  Chex and Kroger via myblogspark have graciously offered to allow me to giveaway the same prize package that I rec'd.  One of  my lucky blog readers will win 2 boxes of Chex cereal as well as the $25 Kroger gift card to help with your holiday recipes!

Contest rules:  Open to United States residents 18 yrs of age or older.   Entry deadline is Sunday December 12 at 9 PM CST.  I will use random.org to choose the winner.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me.

How to enter:

Mandatory entry:  Comment and tell me which of your favorite Chex cereals you plan to stock up on during the event.  Make sure that I have a way to contact you if you win.

Additional entries:  (Please leave a separate comment for each entry) 

1.  Share this giveaway on twitter, including the link to the giveaway post as well as the hashtag #myblogspark --comment with the link to your tweet.

2.  Follow me on twitter (marsha32) --if you already do, just comment letting me know.

3.  Follow my blog publicly with google friend connect.--if you already follow, comment to let me know.

4.  Friend me on facebook (Marsha Seiberling)--if you already are, comment to let me know.

5.  Follow me with networked blogs.--if you already do, comment to let me know.

6.  Post this giveaway on your own blog or to other websites that allow such posting.  Post must include the link back to this giveaway to be eligible.  Comment with the link to your post.

7.  Add my button to your blog or website.  (2 entries, please leave 2 comments)

Disclosure:  I was not paid for this review.  Any opinions within are my own.  I was provided with a prize pack from Kroger and Chex through myblogspot for the purpose of this review and giveaway.

Kroger Shopping---Just $7.48 Out of Pocket For ALL of This!!!!!

..

You read that right.....I bought all of this (plus the margarine I forgot to take back out of the fridge) for just $7.48 out of pocket!!!!  Of the $7.48, $5.07 of that was sales tax)   The actual total after coupons was $32.48, but I had a $25 Kroger card to spend as part of my current blogspark.

It's one of the Mega Event weeks, where if you buy 10 of the items on the list you get an additional $5 off your total.  I bought 40 of the items.
Please note I am subtracting the additional .50 off for buying the 10 items off each item.  My store doubles coupon up to $1 off total.
Mega event items:
12-Temptations Cat Treats--.91 each, used 11-.55 coupons doubled to $1 (I had 12 coupons, but once home realized one of them didn't scan) FREE with 8 cents overage.
2-Birdseye vegetables-$1.49 each, used 1-.50 coupon doubled to $1, so $1.49 and .99 each.  (I had in my mind that I printed 2 coupons, but one home remembered the 2nd coupon hadn't printed)
2-Hot Pockets, $1.49 each, used 2-.50 coupons doubled to $1, .49 each.
1-Wolf Chili--.75--used .50 coupon doubled to $1  FREE plus .25 overage.
4-Carnation Evaporated milk--.49 each, used 2-.50/2 coupons--FREE plus 4 cents overage
1-Armour meatballs--$1.99--used .55 coupon doubled to $1--.99
5-Krusteaz Cookie Mix--.99 each--used 5-$1 coupons--FREE pus 5 cents overage.
2-Barilla Pasta--$1.49--used buy 1 get 1 free coupon--register took off full price of $2.19 so I paid .79 for both.
3-Gillette deoderant--$3.50 each--used 2 $2 coupons and a buy 2 get 1 free coupon--register took off $4.95 for the coupon so I paid just 5 cents for each one!
2-Chex Cereal--$1.79--used $1/2 coupon--$1.29 each
2-Ziploc Freezer bags--$1.99 each--used $1/2 coupon--$1.49 each
1 Wesson Oil--$1.99--used .40 coupon doubled to .80--$1.19
1-Best Life Spread--$1.49--used $1 coupon--.49
2-Tidy Cat litter--$1.89--used 2-$1 coupons--.89 each

Other purchases:
Kroger peanut butter--$1.65
Kroger chocolate chips--$1.99
Kroger 12 pack soda--$2--used .50 coupon--$1.50
2-Duracell battery 4 packs, on sale for $1.98--used 2-$1.50 coupons--.48 each.
Kroger Powdered Sugar $1.43
Idahoan potatoes--$1--used .40 coupon doubles to .80--.20
Carnation Instant Breakfast--on sale for $4.29--used $1 coupon--$3.29
2 dozen eggs-on sale for $1.50 each, used .55 coupon doubled to $1--$1 per dozen.

My receipt says that I saved 75%, which includes sale prices plus coupons used.  ($94.12 savings)
I used $44.74 in coupons plus the extra $20 off for a total savings of $64.74 not including the sale prices.

Want to know more about the $25 Kroger gift card that I had to use?  It's part of my next blogspark prize pack with Chex cereal that will be offered for giveaway on my blog!  Watch for the giveaway in the next couple of days.

Even if I hadn't had the Kroger gift card, spending $32.48 for all of it would have still been great.  Some things I would not have bought though as they are ingredients to go with my blog post coming up.

Old El Paso Family Taco Night Winner Announcement!

Time to announce the winner of the Old El Paso Family taco night gift pack.....

Winner will receive what is pictured below:

Without further ado, the winner is....

 and comment 32 came from....


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carriemariep said... 32

I 'friended you' on FB! :)

November 12, 2010 9:50 PM

 

 

Don't forget to enter my other current giveaway of "Wow! You Saved How Much?"  3 winners!  Ends Dec. 10.  Click HERE to enter.

 

Also be on the lookout for my Chex Cereal and $25 Kroger Gift card giveaway coming soon!

 

 

Walgreen's Shopping 11/29/10--Big Savings!

Well....I scoured blogs most of Sunday looking for what might be good deals at Walgreen's.  I got some ideas.  Remember, I had $41.23 total in 12 Jingle Cash (register rewards) to play with.
I put together a list....it would have cost me too much in the long run.  I took off a couple of things that I really wanted and replaced them with cheap fillers.
I headed to Walgreen's this morning, in hopes that everything on my list was in the store.  It was, but I had the Motions Hair Care on my list.  No coupons, but buying 3 for $10 would have given me  back $5 in Jingle Cash.  Once there I realized it was in the ethnic section, so decided against getting it.  Of course, that messed up my list, but I decided to just head on to the register with coupons in hand, and just use as many of the Jingle Cash that the register would allow me to use.  (you can't use them to cover any part of the sales tax.)

In the end I spent $5.22, of which  $4.28 of that was sales tax.   I still have $6.99 total in Jingle Cash to use, and I got $16 total in Jingle Cash from this transaction.

I know that many do several transactions, but for me that is too confusing so I try to just done one. (Unless I am sending Jasmine and/or Steve through the line for a really great deal)

I'm kicking myself as I scanned everything for homescan and put it all away without taking a photo!!  ugh!!

Here is what I came home with:
Life Cereal and Cap'n Crunch Cereal--on sale 2 for $5, with $2 back in Jingle Cash
2-Walgreen's Pantyliners, on sale for 2 for $1 with Walgreen's coupon
2-Vick's Sinex, on sale 2 for $10.  I used 2-$4 off coupons and got back $5 in Jingle Cash.  I also combined a buy 2 Vick's products get Free Puffs coupon with the purchase so got a box of Puffs free.
3-Disney Mini Puzzles--on sale for .39 each with Walgreen's coupon
2-Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice, on sale 2 for $6, used $2/2 coupon and $1/2 Walgreen's coupon
Salonpas Pain Patches, $5.99 with $6 back in Jingle Cash
40 ct security envelopes, on sale for .59 with Walgreen's coupon
1 Reese's snack size 19.75 oz and 1 Kisses Candy Cane 17.80 oz, on sale 2 for $8, used $1 coupon and got back $2 in Jingle Cash
3 Eclipse Gum, on sale 3 for $2 and got back $1 in Jingle Cash
Carmex lip balm, on sale for $1 with Walgreen's coupon, used .30 coupon
Gillette Fusion Power Glide razor, on sale for $9.99, used $4 coupon and got back $4 in Jingle Cash  (OMG!  I just realized I didn't get the $4 Jingle Cash for buying the razor...will have to stop in and ask about it)
Dawn Dish soap, on sale for .99 with Walgreen's coupon and used .25 coupon.

Receipt shows that I saved $3.51 with WAG coupons
$19.80 on sale items and
$52.28 in manufacturer's coupons!!!   Total savings of $75.59.
Let me figure, not including taking off for the advertised prices, just the savings in Walgreen's and Manufacturers coupons, I saved a whopping $55.79!!

Help me out here please.  My brain is not in a math mood and for the life of me I can't remember how to figure what my percentage savings is.  I would like to know both including the savings with sale prices as well as not including the savings with sale prices please. (and when the receipt shows the savings, does that take into consideration the $4.28 in sales tax or not?  If not, I would have only spent .94 without sales tax.) Thanks!!!

WIP Wednesday 12/1/10

Whew!  Today's WIP has been finding time to be on the computer!  after 1:30 pm and I am finally finding time.

WIP Wednesday, where in conjunction with Every Day Crochet we share our works in progress.  I hope you will click the button at the end of my post to join in on the fun and list your own post....or check out what others are up to.

Remember, your WIP don't have to be crafts, they can be virtually anything.

I tried to get busy this last week on things.  I didn't get done all I wanted, but I did do a lot!

I am on my quest to fill this jar with dish scrubbies to be ready for the monster garage sale in March.  Selling some along the way, as I have been doing is a major plus!

 I worked on the hot pads that I am making for Christmas gifts.  I found that I don't have enough of the insulbrite material for the insides to finish what I need....and I will have to also take the covers off the other cushions on the old futon as I didn't have enough from one set for my backings.

 I got busy and thought I would get that strip quilt top completed before sewing club at church next week.  What I found is that I shorted myself 2 of the 12 inch squares....and even if I hadn't I didn't bring home enough of the longer strips to make them anyway.  So, the first thing I will work on next week is making the other 2 squares and completing the top.

 Other things that I did was to complete the order that included the 5 fabric bags.  I then took photos of the bags and went ahead and put them into my etsy store.  My etsy store is and will always be a work in progress as I hope to continue to build it up.  I got my first order!!  It's for one of the fabric bags.  I got the  material cut and ironed for the bag.  Heading in next to get it sewn.  I like to get my orders out ASAP.

The holiday is quickly approaching.  I did get our tree put up, and decorated.  I got out some of my stash of gifts to start wrapping....that's as far as that got time wise.  I am being pulled away from home most all day each day (yes, causing me extreme anxiety too! )  Here is a photo of our little tree.  I bought most all the decorations from our Christmas sale at church.  We bought the tree for $19.99 on sale at Walgreens.  Please excuse all the junk around it.  We have a very small living room and I had to squeeze the tree in a corner in front of the movie shelf.

Adopted Ed by Darren Maddern-- Book Review

November has been National Adoption Month with November 20th being National Adoption Day in the US.

Adopted Ed by Darren Maddern is a sweet book all about Ed.  The pictures are adorable that go along with the story of how Ed finds out that he is adopted.....how he is teased at school.....how he asks his parents about his real parents.

A little about my own family.  The only adopted child in my family in my niece.  My brother and his wife got her in foster care when she was just 2 weeks old.  2 1/2 years later when her parents and grandparents either ones weren't able to do what was needed to get her back, she was able to be adopted into our family.  She is now in 5th grade.  I've heard her asking questions about her real family of late.  This is why I wanted in on this book review.

I have 4 children myself.  I had each one of them read the book.  They all thought it was cute....for the record, their ages are currently 27, 24, 19 and 14.  I also read it to a couple of my grandchildren, who insisted that I read it again, as well as they spent a good amount of time looking through the book on their own.

There is a page that all of my adult children just loved.  It's pictured below.  Also from the photo you will be able to tell how adorable the illustrations are.

  The following information is taken from the One2One Network website:
ADOPTED ED is a simple, easy-to-read and understand children’s book with important underlying messages of personal empowerment and social pressures and acceptance.
It focuses on the life of Eddie, an adopted little boy, who is just like every other boy and girl. At school, when he is teased by bullies about being adopted, his mom offers words of wisdom, which ultimately gives him self-confidence to deal with the situation. 

You can visit the Adopted Ed website here 


You can follow Adopted Ed on twitter here


You can like Adopted Ed on facebook here




Disclaimer:  I was not paid for this review, the opinions are my own.  I was sent a copy of the book by One2One Network for the purpose of the review and my name will be put into a drawing for a chance to win a gift card.

Giveaways Linky Tuesday

Having a giveaway?  Share it here!  Linky is posted each Tuesday and you can add to it until the following Tuesday when the new linky is listed.

Please post giveaway name and ending date.  Link directly to the giveaway post, not to your blog home.

Thanks, good luck, and have fun!

Mail Box Monday Blog Hop!

Time to share freebies that have come in the mail over the past week.  This is in conjunction with afrugalfriend.net (I couldn't find her weekly post today, but it may be somewhere there among all the Cyber Monday listings she is posting  LOL)

I got some great things this week!
Kraft Gift Pack from gather for my reviews which you can find here and here.

I also rec'd my Hallmark Recordable Storybook from gather for review...that will be coming soon!



Other mail:
Free magazines--People, Time, Sports Illustrated, Family Fun, Entertainment Weekly, Forbes, Car & Driver and Business Week.
2 educational dvd's from Strossel in the Classroom
Hallmark and JC Penny Promotional materials
Tart Melts (not free, but a barter with another gather member)(we've already used half of them)


Paypal was good this week too!
$8.00 from beezag
$25.00 from sidetick and
.19 from youdata (I forgot all about this site  until I seen it in my favorites when I got my laptop back!)