Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Slavetosave Giveaway: Bravado Designs! {closed}

Slavetosave Giveaway: Bravado Designs!
Now that I've been nursing for a few months, I'm convinced that the people at Bravado really know what they're doing! I've tried on other bras to see how they compare, and no one can touch the quality and comfort of their bras.


5 Reasons why I love Bravado:
1. If you have boobs, they have your size! Trust me. And most stores don't have my size.
2. They carry bras for all stages of nursing. The ones that grow with you for the early stages are genius!
3. I've ordered a bra online from them twice now, and their sizing and sizing helps are fabulous. You can order with confidence.
4. Their overall design is easy to use and super functional. The last thing you want when you've got a starving, fussy baby on your lap
is a complicated bra.
5. Their bras are the most comfortable around. I dare you to go try one on! You won't be disappointed.

In my mind, Bravado bras are worth their weight in gold! Seriously.



Slavetosave's Review
Bravado was kind enough to send me the Sublime nursing bra in Black Cherry to review! I usually prefer underwire bras on a day-to
-day basis because I like the support they offer, but the Sublime gives you a surprisingly good amount of support and shape for a non-wired bra, and is still very comfortable to wear. It has Bravado's signature clips, which I love because they can be undone with one hand. It's also a very well-made, high-quality bra like all of the other Bravado bras I have tried. The ruffle and lace detailing on the bra is very pretty and feminine. It's a nice change from how you usually feel when nursing!


I only have one qualm about this bra. There is a sea
m that runs diagonally down the cup of the bra, as well as some ruffle and lace on the cup. The seam and the ruffles can be seen under almost any shirt I wear, and it makes me look "lumpy." The only tops I can wear with this bra to get a smooth finish are heavy sweaters. That being said, I still love this bra's fit, support, and functionality, and I wear it almost daily!


Buy it!
Purchase the Sublime Nursing Bra for $45.00.

Win it!
Bravado has offered one lucky the same Sublime Nursing Bra I received!


Mandatory Entry:
  • Visit Bravado, then come back and leave a comment stating another product you would like to try.

Extra Entries:

  • Follow Bravado Designs on Twitter.
  • Enter the Bravado $150 prize pack sweepstakes.
  • Follow Slavetosave on Facebook.
  • Follow Slavetosave on Twitter.
  • Become a follower of Slavetosave via google friend on left-hand sidebar. (current followers count, too)
  • Blog about this giveaway. (leave the link) (2 entries)
  • Add the Slavetosave button to your blog.
  • Enter any other open giveaways. (leave a comment for each one)

Don't forget to leave a separate comment for each entry that includes an email address!


Giveaway is open to US residents only and closes February 23rd, 2010 at midnight MST.

Disclaimer: I received a Sublime nursing bra free of charge from Bravado. This was an unpaid review and all of the opinions here are expressly my own.

Monday, February 1, 2010

January Spending Totals

I made my goal by the skin of my teeth this month! Yowser. My goal was to spend under $100/month this year...so does $100.55 count? Lol.

I tried to look over my spreadsheet and see where the big purchases were. At the very beginning of January, I bought a few pre-made meals to have in the freezer for emergency dinners (like Bertolli and Contessa). Thankfully, they're still there as emergency meals because I've been doing well with the meal planning. But they were expensive because I bought them at regular price, so that took a big chunk of my total.

I've been drinking lactaid milk (because the little chica gets VERY spitty when I eat a lot of dairy), and it's about $4 for a half-gallon. Yikes! Hopefully she outgrows this soon.

I also bought a few big things that I only buy once or twice a year (like a big tub of blue cheese at Sam's Club), as well as some meat that I stocked the freezer with. I also made a few make-n-freeze meals, so hopefully eating those in the next few weeks and months will keep my totals lower for those months.


Spent in January: $100.55
Saved in January: $294.71 (74%)


How did everyone else do?

Make & Freeze Classic Lasagna

Classic Lasagna
(adapted from Fix, Freeze, Feast)
Makes 4 entrees, 4-6 servings each

Ingredients
1 48-oz container cottage cheese (about 6 cups)
4 eggs, lightly beaten

3 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
13 cups Basic Red Sauce (below)
24 lasagna noodles, uncooked

2 pounds lean ground beef, cooked and drained
8 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
4 12.5" x 6.5" x 3" foil pans

plastic wrap
aluminum foil


Basic Red Sauce Recipe

(Makes approximately 10 cups)


Ingredients
1 12-oz can tomato paste
2 cups hot water
2 Tbsp dried parsley
2 Tbsp minced onion
1 Tbsp minced garlic (about 9 cloves)

1 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 28-oz can tomato sauce

1 28-oz can diced tomatoes

Mix tomato paste and hot water in a large bowl until smooth. Stir in parsley, onion, garlic, sugar, salt, bail, oregano and thyme. Add tomato sauce and diced tomatoes; mix well. Do not cook.

{Basic red sauce}


Step 1:
Put the baby in the front carrier.

{Aaaaaand, she's out.}

Step 2:
Combine cottage cheese, eggs, and 2 cups of the Parmesan in a large bowl.

{I'm a doe-head and grabbed Ricotta instead of cottage cheese at Sam's Club. But it still worked great and tasted delicious.}

Step 3:
Lay baking dishes before you and spread 1/4 cup red sauce in the bottom of each.

{Layering the pans}

Step 4:
Assemble all four lasagnas at once in layers in the following order:


Layer 1
2 uncooked noodles
1 cup red sauce
1/2 cup cooked ground beef
3/4 cup cottage cheese mixture

1/2 cup mozzarella

Layer 2
2 uncooked noodles
1 up red sauce
1/2 cup cooked ground beef - or whatever remains

3/4 cup cottage cheese mixture - or whatever remains
1/2 cup mozzarella

Layer 3
2 uncooked noodles
1 cup red sauce - or whatever remains
1 cup mozzarella

1/4 cup parmesan

{The finished lasagnas}

Step 5:
Wrap each dish entirely in plastic wrap, then top with foil, label and freeze.

{I made 3 to freeze and 1 for dinner that night}


Cooking instructions
Remove foil and plastic wrap from baking dish, then replace foil. Cook thawed dish for 45 minutes at 375 (1 hour if frozen), then remove foil and continue baking until bubbling and cheese is browned.


Cost Breakdown
Ricotta cheese - $4.87 (Sam's Club)
4 Eggs - $0.49 ($1.49/12 at Ream's)
4 packages Kraft shreds - $3.96 ($0.99 each @ Smith's)
Lasagna noodles - $2.09 (Ream's)
2 pounds ground beef - $5.03 (Smith's)
Tomato paste - $1.55 (Ream's)
Garlic - $0.39 (Ream's)
Tomato sauce - $1.95 (Ream's)
Diced tomatoes - $2.15 (Ream's)
= $22.48/24 servings == $0.93 per serving


That's a heck of a lot cheaper than eating out, am I right? Tastier, too. This meal would be even cheaper if you purchased the ground beef, noodles, tomatoes, etc during a stock-up sale (instead of buying them spur of the moment like I did).

Smith's Mega Deals Shopping Trip

I hit up Smith's on Saturday to take advantage of the awesome Mega Promo going on now! If you haven't been yet, you still have time today and tomorrow to stop by. There are plenty of printable coupons to get you going on this deal, even if you don't have past inserts. Who can pass up such cheap food to stock your pantry!? Check out the details on this week's deals HERE.

Transaction #1$1.99 Chewy Granola Bars
$1.99 Chewy Granola Bars
$1.99 Solo Plastic Plates
$0.99 Quaker Rice Cakes

$0.99 Quaker Rice Cakes
$0.99 Quaker Rice Cakes
$1.99 Krusteaz Cookie Mix

$2.49 Post Raisin Bran
$1.29 Hormel Chili Masters
$1.29 Hormel Chili Masters
-$5 mega savings
-$1.00/2 MFQ Chewy Granola Bars
-$1 MFQ Solo Plates

-$0.75 MFQ Quaker Cakes x 3

-$1.00 MFQ Krusteaz

-$2 MFQ Post Cereal
-$0.50 MFQ Hormel Chili
-$0.50 MFQ Hormel Chili
= $2.66 + tax

(saved $25.25 -- 91%)


Transaction #2$3.49 Electrasol Detergent
$3.49 Electrasol Detergent
$3.49 Electrasol Detergent
$1.99 Kraft Shreds
$1.99 Kraft Shreds
$1.99 Kraft Shreds
$1.99 Kraft Shreds
$1.99 Kraft Shreds
$1.99 Kraft Shreds
$1.99 Solo Plastic Plates
-$5 mega savings
-$2.50 MFQ Electrasol x 3
-$1/2 MFQ Kraft Cheese x 3
-$1 MFQ Solo Plates
= $7.90 + tax
(saved $36.80 -- 82%)

Target Deals (1/31 - 2/6)


Target has changed their system for printable coupons -- they are now each able to be printed twice per computer. Bring a reusable bag and get $0.05 credit per bag at checkout!

Some people have reported finding catalina machines at their Target!!! Has anyone seen this in Utah yet?

{Print the Target coupon policy HERE.}



$2.00 Kraft Cheese Shreds or Block, 8 oz
-$1/2 MFQ HERE or (SS 1/24)
= $1.50 each wyb 2

$2.49 Hershey's Pieces Candy
-$1 MFQ (SS 1/31) (this is regional)
-$1 TQ HERE
= $0.49

$1.00 Sobe Lifewater
-BOGO MFQ HERE
-$0.50 TQ HERE x 2
= $0.25 each wyb 2

$3.99 Dove Men's Bonus Backs
-$1.25 MFQ (RP 1/31)
-$1 TQ HERE
= $1.74

$5.00 Axe Bonus Packs x 2
-$5 Target GC wyb 2
-$1 MFQ HERE
= $1.50 each wyb 2

$8.54 Scott Toilet Paper, 8-roll
-$1 MFQ HERE or HERE
-$1 TQ HERE
= $6.54

$2.25 Nature Valley Nut Clusters
-$1 MFQ HERE
= $1.25

$2.98 Morningstar Farms Veggie Products
-$1 MFQ HERE
= $1.98

$1.89 Dannon Activia or Danimals
-$1 MFQ (SS 1/10)
= $0.89

$1.89 Nestle Juicy Juice
-$1/2 MFQ HERE
= $1.39 each wyb 2

$2.99 Peperidge Farm Swirl Bread or Bagels
-$0.50 MFQ (SS 1/10)
= $2.49

$2.50 Tostitos Tortilla Chips x 2
-$0.55/2 or $1/2 (January All You Magazine)
-$1/2 TQ HERE x
-$3.00 FREE dip wyb 2 bags of chips
= $1.00 - $1.15 each wyb 2 chips & 1 dip

$2.19 Bagel Bites
-$1 MFQ HERE
= $1.19

$2.49 Method Hand Soap
-$2 MFQ HERE
= $0.49

$2.69 M&M Bagged Candy x 3
-$1/3 TQ HERE
-$1/2 MFQ (RP 1/10)
= $2.02 each wyb 3

$1.25 Campbell's Chunky Beef & Bean Chili
-$1.50/3 or $1/3 MFQ HERE or (SS 1/3, SS 1/24) (regional)
= $0.75 each wyb 3

$2.50 Post-it Notes
-$1 MFQ (SS 1/10)
= $1.50

$9.99 Lysol Healthy Touch Starter Kit
-$3 MFQ (SS 1/24)
-$1 TQ HERE
= $5.99

$1.57 Rolaids, 3 pack
-$4/2 MFQ (RP 10/4)
= 2 FREE

Walgreens Deals (1/31 - 2/6)


$1.99 Vitamin Schtik Lip Care
-$2 RR
= FREE

$7.99 Blink Tears
-$1.50 MFQ HERE
-$8 RR
= $1.50 profit!

$10 Joint Juice
-BOGO MFQ HERE
-$10 RR
= 2 FREE

$5.99 Scalpicin
-$1 MFQ
-$6 RR
= $1 profit!

$10.00 Zicam
-$7.00 RR
-$3 MFQ on product
= FREE

2/$20 Pampers Jumbo Pack Diapers
-$2 MFQ (P&G 12/27)
-$2 RR
= 2/$16

2/$5 Cheez-it Crackers or Rice Krispie Treats
-$2 RR wyb 2
-$1/2 MFQ Crackers (RP 12/13) or $1/2 MFQ Rice Krispies HERE
= $2/2

$0.89 Campbell's Condensed Soups (with in-ad coupon page 2)
-$0.40/2 MFQ (SS 12/13)
= $0.69 each wyb 2

$2/2 Toblerone Candybar
-$1 RR wyb 2
= $1.00/2

2/$6 Hershey's Bliss
-$1 RR wyb 2
-$1/2 MFQ HERE (use zip 30013)
= 2/$4

$7.99 Olay Total Effects Body Wash
$8.29 CoverGirl Exact Eyelights Eye Shadow
-$1 MFQ Bodywash (P&G 12/27, P&G 1/17)
-$8.29 FREE Eyeshadow wyb Body Wash (promotion)
= $6.99 for both

$8.99 Venus Embrace or Fusion Razor
-$4 RR
= $4.99

$5 DayQuil or NyQuil x 4
-$2 MFQ (P&G 1/17) x 4
-$10 RR
= $2.00/4

Spend $20 on participating products and get a $10 RR:
12-pack Pepsi 5/$15
2-liter Pepsi 4/$5
Tostitos, Doritos & Lays $2

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Rite Aid Deals (1/31 - 2/6)

Don't forget to use the $5/20 or $5/25 coupon this week.

{Print the Rite Aid coupon policy HERE.}


$7.99 AMO Complete or Blink Tears
-$2 MFQ (RP 1/31)
-$7.99 SCR
= $2 profit!

$2.99 Colgate Advanced Toothpaste
-$1 MFQ (SS 1/3) or HERE
-$2 SCR
= FREE

3/$15 Aero, Triad or Miracle Profoot Insoles or Flex-Tastic
-$10 SCR wyb 3
-$2 MFQ Aero HERE x 3
= $1 profit wyb 3!

2/$5 Garnier Fructis Haircare
-$1 RAQ HERE x 2
-$1 MFQ (RP 1/10) x 2
= $0.50 each

$2.99 Always Pads
-BOGO MFQ (P&G 12/27) (expires 1/31)
= 2/$2.99

$9.99 Benefiber
-$3 SCR
-$2 MFQ (SS 1/10) or HERE
= $4.99

$9.99 Almay Foundation & Powder
-$2 SCR
-$1 MFQ HERE (MFQ with a small Target logo)
= $6.99

$4.49 Advil Pain Care
-$1 SCR
-$2 MFQ (RP 11/15, RP 1/31)
= $1.49

$19.99 Mucinex
-$1 RAQ HERE
-$2 SCR
-$1 MFQ (SS 1/17, SS 12/13)
= $15.99

$0.99 Chex Mix
-$1/2 RAQ HERE
= $0.49 each wyb 2

$2.44 Nestle Valentine Candy/Card Kits
-$1 MFQ HERE
= $1.44


Scenario #1:
$7.99 AMO Complete or Blink
$11.99 Huggies Pure & Natural
$2.99 Colgate Total
-$5/20 RAQ
-$2 AMO/Blink MFQ
-$2.50 Huggies MFQ (from coupons.com last week)
-$1 Colgate MFQ
= $12.47 + tax
(And get back $12.99 SCR (there's a $3 Huggies SCR!)-- FREE diapers & toothpaste!)

Scenario #2:
$15 Aero Insoles x 3
$2.50 Garnier Shampoo
$2.50 Garnier Conditioner
-$5/20 RAQ
-$2 MFQ Aero x 3
-$1 MFQ Garnier x 2
-$1 RAQ Garnier x 2
= $7.00 + tax
(And get back $10 SCR -- FREE insoles & haircare!)

Scenario #3:
$7.99 Blink/Amo Complete
$2.99 Colgate
$2.50 Garnier Shampoo
$2.50 Garnier Conditioner
$6.49 Cottonelle Toilet Paper, 12-double roll
-$5/20 RAQ
-$2 Blink/AMO MFQ
-$1 Colgate MFQ
-$1 Garnier MFQ x 2
-$1 Garnier RAQ x 2
-$0.50 MFQ Cottonelle (SS 1/17)
-$1 RAQ Cottonelle HERE
= $8.97 + tax
(And get back $9.99 SCR -- FREE toilet paper & haircare!)

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