ABCZooHome

Meal Deal 3/23-4/5 (UN, MSWT, AM): Spaghetti & Meatballs

• Buy 1 2-lb. bag of Rosina meatballs (around $6.99)
• Get 1 12-oz. bag of Skinner spaghetti
• Get 1 12-oz. bag of Dole classic salad
• Get 1 12-oz. pkg. of Rhodes rolls

Special Purchase Deal (UN, MSWT): Buy $20 of select Kraft foods, get a $10 coupon for next United purchase. *2 per customer*

• Planter’s On the Go nuts – $.99
• Planter’s dry roasted, cocktail, or honey roasted peanuts – $2.50
• Crystal Light On the Go – $2.50
• Wheat Thins or Triscuits – $2.50
• A1 steak sauce – $3.19
  • $1/1 A1 Steak Sauce or Marinade, exp. 4-3-11 (SS 03/06/11)
• Kraft mayonnaise – $2.50
• Kraft Easy Mac cups – $.99
• Capri Sun – $2.00
• Kraft Deluxe mac & cheese or Velveeta shells & cheese – $2.00
• Velveeta cheese – $4.99
• Kraft singles – $2.49
  • $1/2 Kraft Regular Singles (SS 02/13/11)
• Oscar Mayer Lunchables – $2.50
• Oscar Mayer ham or turkey lunchmeat – $3.00

B1G1 Deals (UN, MSWT)

• Buy 1 pkg. boneless, skinless chicken breast fillets, get 1 free, equal or lesser value
• Buy 1 pkg. signature patties or sliders, beef or turkey, get 1 free, equal or lesser value
• Buy 1 box Arnott’s Cheeseboard crackers, get 1 deli cheese ball free
• Buy 1 4-pk. of Electrix lightbulbs, get 1 free

Coupon Match-ups (UN, MSWT)

• Philadelphia cooking creme – $1.99
  • $1.50/1 Philadelphia Cooking Creme, exp. 5-31-11 (SS 03/06/11)
• Cuties clementines, 5-lb. box – $4.77
  • $1/1 Cuties Box, exp. 4-4-11 (SS 02/27/11)
  • $1/1 Cuties Clementines Box printable
• Post cereals – $2.50
  • $1/1 Honey Bunches of Oats Raisin Medley, exp. 4-10 (SS 02/27/11)
• Ball Park franks – $2.00
  • $1/2 Ball Park Product, exp. 5-25-11 (RP 03/27/11)
• Bob Evans side dishes – $2.98
  • $0.50/1 Bob Evans Side Dish printable
  • $1/1 Bob Evans Side Dish printable
  • B1G1 Bob Evans Side Dish printable
• Coffeemate liquid creamer – $3.49
  • $1/2 Nestle Coffee-mate Liquid Creamer, exp. 4-30-11 (RP 01/30/11 #2)
  • $0.55/1 Coffee-mate Liquid or Powder Creamer Product printable
  • $0.75/2 Coffee-mate Liquid or Powder Creamer Product printable
  • $1/2 Nestle Coffee-Mate Liquid Creamers, exp. 3-31 (ALL YOU Dec ’10)
• Eggo waffles – $2.00
  • $0.75/2 Eggo Frozen Product, exp. 4-8-11 (RP 03/13/11)
• Nestle Toll House cookie dough – $2.50
  • $0.75/1 Nestle Toll House Cookie or Brownie Dough printable
  • $1.50/2 Nestle Toll House Refrigerated Cookie Dough printable
• Pillsbury Toaster Strudel or Scrambles – $2.00
  • $0.50/2 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Pastries, exp. 5-7-11 (GM 02/13/11)
  • $0.50/2 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Pastries, exp. 6-4-11 (SS 03/13/11)
  • $0.50/2 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Pastries printable
• Weight Watchers yogurt – $.59
  • $1/5 Weight Watchers Yogurt Cups, exp. 3-31-11 (ALL YOU Jan ’11)
• Gorton’s fillets – $3.49
  • $1/1 Gorton’s Item, exp. 4-23-11 (SS 01/16/11)
  • $0.50/1 Gorton’s Item (SS 02/13/11)
  • $1/2 Gorton’s Item printable
• SeaPak shrimp or fish – $4.99
  • $1/1 SeaPak Product, exp. 3-31-11 (SS 03/06/11)
• Ken’s salad dressing – $2.50
  • $1/1 Ken’s Marinade, exp. 4-30-11 (SS 03/20/11)
• Lay’s or Wavy Lay’s – $2.50
  • $0.55/1 Lay’s Potato Chips, exp. 5-2-11 (SS 03/13/11)
• Huggies diapers, jumbo pack – $8.99
  • $2/2 Huggies Little Movers/Snugglers, exp. 4-16-11 (SS 03/20/11)
  • $1.50/2 Huggies Diapers, exp. 4-16-11 (SS 03/20/11)
  • $2.50/1 Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers printable
  • $2/1 Huggies Diapers printable
• Huggies wipes tub – $2.50
  • $0.50/1 Huggies Baby Wipes, exp. 4-16-11 (SS 03/20/11)
• Pedigree dry dog food, 32-lbs. – $19.99
  • $3/1 Pedigree Food for Dogs, exp. 4-17-11 (RP 03/06/11)
  • $3/1 Pedigree Food for Dogs printable
• Balmex, Desitin, or A+D ointments – $3.99
  • $1/1 Balmex Diaper Cream printable

B1G1 Deals (MSDFW)

• Buy 1 pkg. boneless, skinless chicken breast fillets, get 1 free, equal or lesser value
• Buy 1 pkg. signature patties or sliders, beef or turkey, get 1 free, equal or lesser value
• Buy 1 pkg. of Applegate Farms lunchmeat or sliced cheese, get 1 free
• Buy 1-lb. of deli guacamole, get 1 28-oz. bag of tortilla chips free

Coupon Match-ups (MSDFW)

• Philadelphia cooking creme – $1.99
  • $1.50/1 Philadelphia Cooking Creme, exp. 5-31-11 (SS 03/06/11)
• Cuties clementines, 5-lb. box – $4.77
  • $1/1 Cuties Box, exp. 4-4-11 (SS 02/27/11)
  • $1/1 Cuties Clementines Box printable
• Post cereals – $2.50
  • $1/1 Honey Bunches of Oats Raisin Medley, exp. 4-10 (SS 02/27/11)
• Ball Park franks – $2.00
  • $1/2 Ball Park Product, exp. 5-25-11 (RP 03/27/11)
• Pillsbury Toaster Strudel or Scrambles – $2.00
  • $0.50/2 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Pastries, exp. 5-7-11 (GM 02/13/11)
  • $0.50/2 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Pastries, exp. 6-4-11 (SS 03/13/11)
  • $0.50/2 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Pastries printable
• Ken’s salad dressing – $2.50
  • $1/1 Ken’s Marinade, exp. 4-30-11 (SS 03/20/11)
• Lay’s or Wavy Lay’s – $2.50
  • $0.55/1 Lay’s Potato Chips, exp. 5-2-11 (SS 03/13/11)

B1G1 Deals (AM)

• Buy 1 pkg. boneless, skinless chicken breast fillets, get 1 free, equal or lesser value
• Buy 1-lb. of deli carnitas, get 1 10-ct. pkg. of tortillas, 8-oz. of beans, and 8-oz. of rice free
• Buy 1-lb. of deli Monterey Jack cheese, get 1-lb. of deli ham free
• Buy 1-lb. of deli guacamole, get 1 28-oz. bag of tortilla chips free
• Buy 1 4-pk. of Electrix lightbulbs, get 1 free

Coupon Match-ups (AM)

• Cuties clementines, 5-lb. box – $4.77
  • $1/1 Cuties Box, exp. 4-4-11 (SS 02/27/11)
  • $1/1 Cuties Clementines Box printable
• Post cereals – $2.50
  • $1/1 Honey Bunches of Oats Raisin Medley, exp. 4-10 (SS 02/27/11)
• Nestle Toll House cookie dough – $2.50
  • $0.75/1 Nestle Toll House Cookie or Brownie Dough printable
  • $1.50/2 Nestle Toll House Refrigerated Cookie Dough printable
• Pillsbury Toaster Strudel or Scrambles – $2.00
  • $0.50/2 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Pastries, exp. 5-7-11 (GM 02/13/11)
  • $0.50/2 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Pastries, exp. 6-4-11 (SS 03/13/11)
  • $0.50/2 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Pastries printable
• Gorton’s fillets – $3.49
  • $1/1 Gorton’s Item, exp. 4-23-11 (SS 01/16/11)
  • $0.50/1 Gorton’s Item (SS 02/13/11)
  • $1/2 Gorton’s Item printable
• Lay’s or Wavy Lay’s – $2.50
  • $0.55/1 Lay’s Potato Chips, exp. 5-2-11 (SS 03/13/11)
• Huggies diapers, jumbo pack – $8.99
  • $2/2 Huggies Little Movers/Snugglers, exp. 4-16-11 (SS 03/20/11)
  • $1.50/2 Huggies Diapers, exp. 4-16-11 (SS 03/20/11)
  • $2.50/1 Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers printable
  • $2/1 Huggies Diapers printable
• Pedigree dry dog food, 32-lbs. – $19.99
  • $3/1 Pedigree Food for Dogs, exp. 4-17-11 (RP 03/06/11)
  • $3/1 Pedigree Food for Dogs printable
• Balmex, Desitin, or A+D ointments – $3.99
  • $1/1 Balmex Diaper Cream printable

It’s been a little while.  I’ve had some health issues – again – and for a while I was on a crazy restrictive diet, and just generally didn’t plan well.  No recipes this week, it’s mostly thrown together, pre-made, or obvious dishes.  My goal is to go two full weeks on the contents of my pantry and freezer except for replenishing milk and bread around the halfway mark.  It should be easy if I can stick to a plan and stay committed to not spending anything on food.  So here is what I think I’d like to do this week, though I reserve the right to switch out with other meals on my master list.

Monday
B – cereal, yogurt, fruit
L – pasta salad
D – Frito casserole
Extra – blueberry pie

Tuesday
B – hot cereal, fruit
L – mac & cheese, frozen veg
D – shrimp stir-fry
Extra – Rice Krispie treats

Wednesday
B – eggs & toast, fruit
L – grilled cheese sandwiches, sweet potato fries
D – lemon pepper chicken, veg & pasta side (no kids)
Extra – Chex mix

Thursday
B – corn pudding, fruit
L – pot pies
D – crockpot round steak
Extra – Jello salad

Friday
B – cereal, yogurt, fruit
L – sausage, cheese, crackers, carrots
D – beef tenderloin medallions, scalloped potatoes, frozen veg
Extra – cookies

Saturday
B – waffles, fruit compote
L –  city chili feed, or pizza bagels
D – shepherds pie (leftover round steak)
Extra – pudding

Sunday
B – biscuits & gravy, hashbrowns, eggs
L –  chicken nuggets, sweet potato fries
D – beef fried rice (leftover tenderloin)
Extra – corn fritters

Today’s prompt: Your favorite book or author.

I can’t narrow this down to one.  Two series and one stand-alone book mean a lot to me.

Gone with the Wind

My 8th grade “Core” (English, spelling, and history) teacher showed us Gone with the Wind.  I fell in love with Scarlett and the antebellum South and got my hands on the book as soon as possible.  Despite its over-size length I read every word, and then again, and then again…probably half a dozen times since then.  A real classic and I love it to death.

Harry Potter series

I may not  qualify as a “super fan”, but I think I come pretty close.  I was introduced to it just after Goblet of Fire came out, so I was a little late to the party.  But I was there for the midnight releases for the next three books, and each time I read the entire book in a single day.  And of course the midnight movie releases, and usually a couple of other times that weekend.  LOVE IT.  I’ve read each of them more times than I can count, listened to them on audio more than once, and belonged to a theory group before Deathly Hallows came out.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

When I was a kid I inherited a set of Oz books, most of which had been my father’s and even my grandmother’s as a child.  The old kind of hardbacks.  They may not be first editions or anything, but they’re very old.  There are 14 by Baum but many more written by his niece and others, and I have probably 90% of all of the ones written in the first half of the 20th century.  I read and re-read them for years and years, probably as many times as I’ve read the Potter books, or more.  A has them now, but she’s not nearly as enamored of them as I am.

**Please note that each link in this post is an Amazon affiliate link.

Today’s prompt: How you came up with the name for your blog.

In 2005 we bought this house and went on a pet acquiring phase.  Over the next year we adopted (in no particular order) 2 parakeets, many fish, several dwarf hamsters, a couple of mice, a guinea pig, and more dogs – we had Sharla (top photo) before we moved here.  Shortly after that I needed a new screen name for something or other, and I came up with abc for the kids I had at the time, zoo because of all the animals, and mom, well, that’s obvious: abczoomom.

Over the next few years we gained and lost (mostly lost) pets until finally we were down to Sharla and Remus (bottom photo, on the right).  Still, when I started my new blog a couple of years ago I chose ABCZooHome to go with the name.  Four kids and two dogs are still a zoo in my book.
Find other participants in the 31 Days Blogging Challenge:

**LAST WEEK TO REDEEM FREE COOKWARE STICKERS**

Meal Deal 3/23-4/5 (UN, MSWT, AM): Spaghetti & Meatballs

• Buy 1 2-lb. bag of Rosina meatballs (around $6.99)
• Get 1 12-oz. bag of Skinner spaghetti
• Get 1 12-oz. bag of Dole classic salad
• Get 1 12-oz. pkg. of Rhodes rolls

B1G1 Deals (UN, MSWT)

• Buy 1 pkg. of boneless country pork ribs or pork ribeye chops, get 1 free, equal or lesser value
• Buy 1 pkg. of Oscar Mayer shaved deli meats, get 1 free
• Buy 1 lb. of deli spinach dip, get 1 28-oz. bag of tortilla chips free
• Buy 1 box of Band Aid bandages, get 1 free
• Buy 1 10-ct. box of Top Care allergy medicine, get 1 free

Coupon Match-ups (UN, MSWT)

• Kraft barbecue sauce – $1.25
  • $0.75/1 Kraft BBQ Sauce, exp. 4-3-11 (SS 03/06/11)
• Banquet frozen dinners – $.89
  • $1/5 Banquet Dinner printable
• Cheerios or Total cereal, selected varieties – $2.50
  • $1/2 Select General Mills Cereals, exp. 4-30-11 (SS 03/20/11)
• Sunny D, 64-oz. – $1.50
  • $0.25/1 Sunny D Product, exp. 4-30-11 (SS 01/16/11)
• Healthy Choice frozen dinners (incl. Cafe Steamers) – $2.50
  • $1/2 Healthy Choice Steaming Entrees, exp. 3-27-11 (ALL YOU  Jan ’11)
  • $1/2 Select Brands Frozen Entrees printable
• Pillsbury crescent, cinnamon, or sweet rolls – $1.67
  • $0.40/2 Pillsbury Crescent Dinner Rolls, exp. 3-26-11 (GM 01/02/11)
  • $0.40/2 Pillsbury Sweet Rolls, exp. 3-26-11 (GM 01/02/11)
  • $0.40/2 Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, exp. 4-23-11 (SS 01/30/11)
  • $0.40/2 Pillsbury/Grands Sweet Rolls, exp. 5-7 (GM 02/13/11)
  • $0.40/2 Pillsbury Crescent Dinner Rolls, exp. 6-4-11 (SS 03/13/11)
  • $0.30/3 Select Pillsbury Refrigerated Dough, exp. 6-4-11 (SS 03/13/11)
  • $0.50/2 Pillsbury Crescent Dinner Rolls printable
  • $0.40/2 Pillsbury Sweet Rolls OR Grands! Sweet Rolls printable
• Pillsbury Sweet Moments – $2.50
  • $0.75/1 Pillsbury Sweet Moments, exp. 5-7-11 (GM 02/13/11)
  • $1/1 Pillsbury Sweet Moments Refrigerated Dessert printable
• Farm Rich appetizers – $4.99
  • $0.75/1 Farm Rich Product, exp. 4-30-11 (SS 03/06/11)
  • $0.75/1 Farm Rich Snack printable
• Jose Ole taquitos – $4.49
  • $1/1 Jose Ole Product printable
• Vlasic spear pickles – $2.99
  • $1/1 Select Vlasic Items, exp. 6-30-11 (ALL YOU Mar ’11)
  • $0.55/1 Vlasic Pickles, Peppers or Relish printable
• Act II microwave popcorn, 3-ct. – $1.25
  • $0.50/1 Act II Microwave Product, exp. 4-29-11 (SS 02/27/11)
• Pedigree Healthy canned dog food, 13.2-oz. – $1.00
  • B1G1 Pedigree Canned Food for Dogs, exp. 4-17-11 (RP 03/06/11)
• Cottonelle bath tissue, 12 double rolls – $6.99
  • $0.50 off Cottonelle Bathroom Tissue, exp. 4-24-11 (SS 03/13/11)
  • $0.50/1 Cottonelle Toilet Paper printable
• Kleenex tissues, 70-100-ct. or 8-ct. pocket – $1.67
  • $0.50/3 Kleenex Product (SS 02/13/11)
• Kingsford Matchlight charcoal, 12.5-lbs. – $8.99
  • $3.50 off Kings Hawaiian Rolls AND Charcoal, exp. 5-15 (SS 03/13/11)
• Duracell batteries, AA/AAA8, C/D4, 9V2 – $4.99
  • $0.75/1 Select Duracell Batteries, exp. 3-31-11 (P&G 02/27/11)
• Sensodyne toothpaste, 4-oz. – $3.99
  • $0.75/1 Sensodyne Toothpaste, exp. 3-31-11 (RP 01/02/11)
  • $0.75/1 Sensodyne Product printable

B1G1 Deals (MSDFW)

• Buy 1 pkg. of boneless country pork ribs, get 1 free, equal or lesser value
• Buy 1 pkg. of Oscar Mayer shaved deli meats, get 1 free
• Buy 1 lb. of deli smoked sausage, get 1 pkg. of deli smoked leg quarters free
• Buy 1 box of Arnott Cheeseboard crackers, get 1 Market Street signature cheese ball free

Coupon Match-ups (MSDFW)

• Cheerios and Total cereal – $2.50
  • $1/2 Select General Mills Cereals, exp. 4-30-11 (SS 03/20/11)
• Healthy Choice frozen dinners (incl. Cafe Steamers) – $2.50
  • $1/2 Healthy Choice Steaming Entrees, exp. 3-27-11 (ALL YOU  Jan ’11)
  • $1/2 Select Brands Frozen Entrees printable
• Vlasic spear pickles – $2.99
  • $1/1 Select Vlasic Items, exp. 6-30-11 (ALL YOU Mar ’11)
  • $0.55/1 Vlasic Pickles, Peppers or Relish printable
• Keebler Club or Cheez-it crackers – $2.50
  • $1/2 Keebler or Cheez-It Crackers, exp. 3-27-11 (RP 01/30/11)
• Cottonelle bath tissue, 12 double rolls – $6.99
  • $0.50 off Cottonelle Bathroom Tissue, exp. 4-24-11 (SS 03/13/11)
  • $0.50/1 Cottonelle Toilet Paper printable
• Kleenex tissues, 70-100-ct. or 8-ct. pocket – $1.67
  • $0.50/3 Kleenex Product (SS 02/13/11)
• Duracell batteries, AA/AAA8, C/D4, 9V2 – $4.99
  • $0.75/1 Select Duracell Batteries, exp. 3-31-11 (P&G 02/27/11)

B1G1 Deals (AM)

• Buy 1 pkg. of boneless country pork ribs or pork ribeye chops, get 1 free, equal or lesser value
• Buy 1 pkg. of Oscar Mayer shaved deli meats, get 1 free
• Buy 1 tube of Aim or Pepsodent toothpaste, get 1 free
• Buy 1 box of Band Aid bandages, get 1 free
• Buy 1 10-ct. box of Top Care allergy medicine, get 1 free

Coupon Match-ups (AM)

• Banquet frozen dinners – $.89
  • $1/5 Banquet Dinner printable
• Cheerios or Total cereal, selected varieties – $2.50
  • $1/2 Select General Mills Cereals, exp. 4-30-11 (SS 03/20/11)

• Sunny D, 64-oz. – $1.50
  • $0.25/1 Sunny D Product, exp. 4-30-11 (SS 01/16/11)
• Pillsbury crescent, cinnamon, or sweet rolls – $1.67
  • $0.40/2 Pillsbury Crescent Dinner Rolls, exp. 3-26-11 (GM 01/02/11)
  • $0.40/2 Pillsbury Sweet Rolls, exp. 3-26-11 (GM 01/02/11)
  • $0.40/2 Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, exp. 4-23-11 (SS 01/30/11)
  • $0.40/2 Pillsbury/Grands Sweet Rolls, exp. 5-7 (GM 02/13/11)
  • $0.40/2 Pillsbury Crescent Dinner Rolls, exp. 6-4-11 (SS 03/13/11)
  • $0.30/3 Select Pillsbury Refrigerated Dough, exp. 6-4-11 (SS 03/13/11)
  • $0.50/2 Pillsbury Crescent Dinner Rolls printable
  • $0.40/2 Pillsbury Sweet Rolls OR Grands! Sweet Rolls printable
• Jose Ole taquitos – $4.49
  • $1/1 Jose Ole Product printable
• Kleenex tissues, 70-100-ct. or 8-ct. pocket – $1.67
  • $0.50/3 Kleenex Product (SS 02/13/11)
• Kingsford Matchlight charcoal, 12.5-lbs. – $8.99
  • $3.50 off Kings Hawaiian Rolls AND Charcoal, exp. 5-15 (SS 03/13/11)
• Suave solid anti-perspirant – $.95
  • $0.50/1 Suave Deodorant Product, exp. 4-17-11 (RP 03/20/11)
• Keebler Club or Cheez-it crackers – $2.50
  • $1/2 Keebler or Cheez-It Crackers, exp. 3-27-11 (RP 01/30/11)

Today’s prompt: Your favorite holiday.

It’s not a holiday, per se, but I like birthdays.  Sure, I like all the stuff that goes with Christmas, the food at Thanksgiving, the cookouts on the 4th of July.  I just think birthdays are more fun for less work. Unless you’re throwing a giant blow-out party of course, but ours are much more low-key than that.  Case in point, the above cake from A’s 7th birthday.  Clearly I am not a decorator, but it did the job.  And it reminds me that I haven’t done anything like that since then.  I guess I have about 3 months to decide on birthday styles this year before B’s 10th.  My birthday and Chris’s are before that but we don’t do anything more interesting than going out for dinner.
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Today’s prompt: Something you love about yourself.

Umm…not much.

I’m a great planner, but my follow-through leaves much to be desired, to say the least.  That’s not much of a blog post, but it’s what I’ve got.
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Today’s prompt: Your biggest insecurity.

Hmm, that’s cropped funny.  Oh well, go with the flow.

I suppose my biggest insecurity would be how I deal with my kids.  I’m not as fair as I think I should be, and I think B in particular gets the short end of the parenting stick.  Sometimes I dwell on that too much and get quite upset at myself for it.  I know that no one is perfect, but I still think I’m not at the top of my game.  I expect they’ll turn out ok anyway.
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Today’s prompt: A skill you’d like to learn.

My answer is two-fold.  I’d like to learn how to take good pictures, and also how to edit them properly.  This is probably the best picture I’ve ever taken, and I know it could be better.
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Today’s prompt: Something you’re afraid of.

Heights.  The Skywalk they have there now?  No way.

I like pictures of the Grand Canyon that show the river. (random thought)
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