Book Review: Everything Romance: A Celebration of Love for Couples

"I can live without money, but I cannot live without love."
                                   ~ Judy Garland

Once again, I was pleased to receive a great new book in return for my honest review from Waterbrrok Multnomah Press.

Everything Romance is a cute little hard cover book perfect for setting out on the coffee table or the bathroom this time of year as Valentine's Day approaches.

I like to use this book kind of like  I would a daily scripture reading. It isn't like a novel, where you would sit down and read chapter after chapter. Instead, it is just short sweet pieces that get you thinking about love, romance, and your special someone.

It is filled with quotes, stories, and little ways to have fun. I loved reading the ideas for cheap dates that would be fun and fit into anyone's budget. And there was also some fun trivia and facts that just made me smile.

For example, on page 20, the Romance Trivia shared that a man who kisses his wife goodbye when he leaves for work each morning averages a higher income than those who don't. And on top of that they usually live 5 years longer as well. I wish that this was true for us in the money sense, but I will take the 5 extra years together over the money any time!!!

And one of my favorite "cheap" dates was on page 79, where they described a night alone where you and your love cook dinner together. I love this idea and had even been talking with the hubby about taking a cooking class together if we could fit it in with the baby coming. The only problem is trying to fit two people in my kitchen.

All in all, this book was fun, sweet, romantic, and it took the focus off the money and put it back on the love. It was one of my favorite books thus far and makes a great Valentine's Day gift.

A few Wegmans Match-ups I will be looking for...

Here are just a few match-ups that I noticed based on coupons I have:

Blistex .15 oz $0.99
use $0.35/1 from 1/22 SS
doubles to make it $0.29 each

Carvel Game Day Cake $9.99
use $2/1 from 1/22 SS
makes this $7.99

Snackwells Bars $2.79
use $0.75/1 from 2/5 SS (says DND on coupon, but my Wegmans usually doubles anyways)
doubles to make this $1.29

Chewy Granola Bars $2.39
use $1/2 from 2/5 SS
makes this $1.89 each wyb 2

Emerald Breakfast to-go $2.99
use $1/1 from 1/29 RP (some may have gotten $0.75/1... lucky ducks)
makes this $1.99

Vick's Nature Fusion $6.49 (with SCC)
use $3/1 from 1/29 P&G
makes this $3.39

Reynold's Wrap recycled 50 sq ft $2.99
use $0.75/1 from 1/22 SS
Doubles to make it $1.49

Franks Redhot $1.29 for 5oz
use $0.75/1 from 1/22 SS
doubles to make it free

or buy 120z for $1.99
doubles to make it $0.49

Lipton Soup Secrets psa $1.59
use $0.50/1 from or $0.60/1 from 1/29 RP
doubles to make it $0.39- $0.59 each

Barilla Pasta Sauce $2.49
use $1/1 from 1/8 SS
makes this $1.49 each

Soft Scrub psa $2.99
use $0.50/1 from 1/22 RP
doubles  to make it $1.99

Dole Parfaits $2.29
use $0.50/1 from 1/29 SS (some may have gotten a $0.75/1... again you lucky ducks)
doubles to make it $1.29

Zone Perfect Bars $1.29
use $0.55/1 from 1/22 SS
doubles to make it $0.19

Softsoap 12oz Bodywash $1.99
use $0.75/1 from 1/29 SS
doubles to make it $0.49

Wish-Bone Dressing $2.19
use $0.70/1 from 1/29 RP
doubles to make it $0.79

Knorr Rice and Pasta Sides psa $1.09
use $0.50/2 from 1/29 RP
doubles to make it $0.59 wyb 2

Furmano's tomatoes $1.59
use $0.50/2 from 1/29 RP
doubles to make it $1.09 each

Q-tips 170ct $1.99
use $0.50/1 from 1/29 RP
doubles to make it $0.99

Carefree Liners $0.99 (18-22ct)
or 54 ct $1.99
use the $0.50/1 from  1/8 SS (excludes 18-22ct)
or I have the $0.50/1 from a mailer that says 20ct or higher
doubles to make this free to $0.99 depending on size and coupon


Kraft Parmesan Cheese 8oz $3.49
use $0.55/1 from 2/12 SS
doubles to make this $2.39 each

Got2b hair stylers $3.99 (same price as the drugstores this week)
use $3/1 from 2/12 RP
makes this $0.99 each

Some Wegmans match-ups

Here are some of the best deals I can find right now at Wegmans. Wegmans has so many products that I will continue to look at add to this list. This is just a start!
Wegmans Brand

1 gallon of Milk $1.99 - $2.09
Sour Cream 16oz $1.49
Shredded Cheese 8oz $1.99
8oz blocks of cheese $1.99
Crushed Tomatoes 32 oz $0.79 (tomato sauce and tomato puree at same price but diff size)
Mac and Cheese $0.49
Tomato Soup 2/$1
64 fl oz juices $1.99
Whipped Topping $0.99
1 liter oral rinse $1.40

Non- Wegmans Brand

Snacks

Nestle Toll House Morsels $2.49
use $0.50/2 from verybestbaking.com
doubles to make it $1.99 each wyb 2

Wilton Sprinkles $0.99

Little Debbie Swiss Rolls $1.99

Little Debbie Nutty Bars or Cosmic Brownies $1.49

12pk Coke products 4/$12 or 1/$3

2-liter Pepsi products 4/$5

Lays potato chips, Doritos,  $2.19

Tostitos $2.99

Triscuit, Wheat Thins, Town House Crackers $1.99

Cheez-it 2/$5

Gold fish 2/$3

Betty Crocker Brownies $1.25

Toiletries

2 ct Reach Crystal Clean Toothbrushes

Arm & Hammer Ultra Max Deodorant 2.8oz $0.99

Aquafresh 3.5oz $0.69

Colgate 6oz $1.99
use $0.50/1 from 1/29 RP
doubles to make it $0.99

Crest Complete 6.2oz $1.99
use $1/2 from 1/29 P&G
makes this $1.49 each wyb 2

Groceries

Hormel Pepperoni $2.49
use $1/2 from 1/15 SS
makes this $1.99 each wyb 2

Hillshire Farms Little Smokies $2.99

Canned and Packaged

Tuttorosso Crushed Tomatoes $0.99

Goya Beans and Chick Peas $0.89

Rinaldi Pasta Sauce $1.29

Progresso Soups 4/$5
$1/4 in 2/5 GM
makes this 4/$4 or $1 each

Chucky Campbell's Soup 4/$6
use $0.50/2 printable
doubles to make this $1 each

or $1/2 or $1/4 from the 1/8 SS if you don't print

Manwich 15.5oz $0.99

Hunt's Diced Tomatotes 3/$3
Sign up for newsletter and get $1/3 coupon here
makes this 3/$2

Heinz Cocktail Sauce 12oz $1.49

Heinz Homestyle Gravy 12oz 2/$3

Special K Cereal 2/$5
use $1/2 from 1/1 RP
Makes these $2 each wyb 2

Special K Fruit Crisps 2/$5
use $0.75/2 from 1/22 RP
doubles to make it $1.75 each

Special K Cracker Chips 2/$5
use $1/2 from 1/1 RP
Makes these $2 each wyb 2

Fiber One Browniess 2/$5
use $0.40/1 from smartsource.com
doubles to make it $1.70 each
(there are many others to use if you don't have this one)

Karo Corn Syrup $1.99
use $0.40/1 from 12/4 SS
doubles to make it $1.19

Frozen

Tony's Party Time Pizza $0.99

Stouffers Craveable Recipes (mac and cheese) $1.99

Eggos Waffles $2.19
(there are some coupons insides of specialy marked kellogg's cereals)

Pets

Fancy Feast 3oz cans 4/$2

Chew-eez Dog Treats $0.99

Free Carefree Panty Liners at Wegmans

I was in Wegmans for just a couple minutes and tried to eyeball the bins near the registers for any good deals. I saw carefree panty liners for $0.69. If you have the $0.50 off coupons, these should double and make them free.

 I hope to have more Wegmans match-ups soon.

Book Review: Alienation

I have found another great company that offers free books to bloggers for their honest review. I recently joined Book Sneeze, and they sent my Alienation, The C.H.A.O.S. Triology 2, by Jon S. Lewis.

I have enjoyed this book and all the action packed scenes. Colt, a 16 year old boy is the last hope for Earth to fight off an alien invasion from a group called the Thule (shapeshifters). He joins an academy to train for his new position, but as he begins his training he learns that a key leader is trying to have him killed. He, accompanied by his brilliant friend Danielle who can hack into any system, and his incredibly talented friend Oz, work together to get through this new trial in life and get ready for the oncoming invasion.

When I first started to read this book, I felt really lost. It moved fast and I couldn't keep up with all the bits and pieces to the story. Then I realized that it was the second part to a triology. So if I had read the first part, I would have been able to jump right in. Either way, after a couple of chapters I was caught up to speed and able to enjoy all the many challenges that Colt faced as he was constantly being attacked by Krone. The attacks came at any minute and the way he and his friends responded was quite remarkable.

As I read this story, I instantly thought of my middle school boys. This story is is filled with gun names that I cannot picture, but I know my husband could instantly tell me what they look like and are used for. Each chapter is so exciting it is hard to find a place to stop and take a break. It has action sequences like a movie or video game that would instantly appeal to young men. I can see my students grabbing this book and not putting it down.

To check out a free exerpt from the story you can go to amazon and read here.

Offer from Bzzagent

Bzzagent is one of my favorite companies to test products for. They recently sent me an email that they are looking for new people to test an electric shaver. Unfortunately, I don't fit the requirements for this one.

They are looking for 13-20 year old males. If you fit the criteria or know someone that does send them to www.bzzagent.com/go/shaver to sign up.

Frugal Fun: Using your local schools

Whether you home school, have children too young for school, or maybe your child attends a private school, you still may want to check out the opportunities at the local public schools. My daughter does attend a public school, so I get regular newsletters and notes sent about special activities. However, most schools also post these on their website, which you could book mark to keep an eye on.

I have noticed that her school has many programs in the evenings and weekends that have little to no cost, lots of potential for fun, and might be educational as well. This particular picture is from a Rain Forest presentation that we attended on Friday night. It was a free show for my son and my daughter was $5! You did not have to attend the school and the all the children there were able to meet incredible animals and even touch some of them.

You can see that my children are much braver than I am. There is no way I want to put a finger on that python.

Check out your local school's website and see if there are any great opportunities waiting for you!!!