Saving - PAAS Easter Egg Decorating Kit Coupons!

Super rare coupons available for Easter egg decorating kits over on the PAAS Facebook page!

Grab a couple different coupons - $1/2 kits or $1.50/3 kits.

What fun ways do you decorate Easter eggs?  Please share your ideas on the comments!

Here are a few fun ideas:
*Write or draw in white crayon (or really any color if you want) before placing in the egg dye.  Your white crayon image or text will stay white and be visible after dying the egg!
*Use stickers!  Doesn't matter what kind, raid your stash!  Superhero stickers, sure!  Pretty princess stickers, sure!  Personalize with letter stickers, etc!
*Get out the glitter glues.  Choose to either dye the egg before or not!
*Rubberbands wrapped around the eggs prior to dying and then remove after.  Use multiple bands for added decoration.
*Paint - all sorts of paints work well!  Use a pencil eraser dipped in paint to make cute little dots!

Thanks for the heads up on the coupon, Hip2Save!

Living - Crockpot Egg Bake!

This is my finished product!

I was completely excited when I crossed paths with a "pin" on Pinterest for a recipe for, get this, Crockpot Egg Bake!  Now seriously, why hadn't I thought of that?!  Put everything together before you go to bed, turn on the crockpot and have breakfast waiting for you when you get up!

The original recipe I found is here, however I made some changes to the recipe to use items we had on hand.

This recipe is great for using up leftover ham from your upcoming Easter dinner or if you have company coming and want a simple breakfast to serve them!

Here is the recipe I used:

1 1/2 cups ham, cubed
1 bag hashbrowns 12-16 oz
12 eggs
1 cup milk (I used skim)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp onion powder (can use chopped onions)
2 cups cheese
1/2 red pepper chopped

Spray inside of crock pot (I did not do this and there were spots that were stock on, but not bad).
Whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper and onion - set aside

Place hashbrowns in bottom of crock pot.

Sprinkle 1/2 ham over top of hashbrowns
Sprinkle 1/2 cheese over top
Sprinkle with red pepper
Sprinkle remaining ham and then cheese over top

I only used the peppers on 1/2 of the bake, as the kids do not care for them.

Pour egg mixture evenly over top
Cook on low for 7-8 hours
Enjoy!

Notes:
I did my first batch for supper so that I could guage the timing.  I let mine cook in the crockpot for 7 1/2 hours and I did not touch it once.  There was one corner of the egg bake that had a little burnt cheese on the edge that touched the crockpot, otherwise it turned out exceptionally well.  My favorite part, my kids devoured it!  No complaints, no disgusted looks just quiet, happy mouths! :-)

Saving - Tag Book Coupon!

There is a new Tag Book coupon over here, get $3 off any book $9.99 or more.  Grab a book to throw in the little one's Easter basket!

Expires 6/30/12.

Living - Random Fun: Easter Egg Hunts & Bunny Sightings!

I want to get this post up early enough in the week where other readers can add to the list by leaving a comment of other Easter egg hunts, bunny sightings and more Easter fun events happening!

Below is a nice listing of events around the Sioux Falls area.  I hope you find this helpful.  Happy Easter!

Empire Mall Sioux Falls
The Easter Bunny is available for photos through 4/7, for a fee of course.

Tuesday - 4/3
Brookings - Wellness Center 5-6:30 PM - here

Vermillion - Sanford Care Center 5-6 PM, time based on age groups - here

Friday - 4/6
Yankton - Yankton Mall 10 AM

Saturday - 4/7
Brandon - Brandon Edge Annual Hunt 10 AM - here

Brookings - Swiftel Center 10 AM - here

Centerville - Good Samaratin Center of Centerville Egg Hunt 1 PM - here

Dell Rapids - City Park 10 AM - here

Sioux City, IA - Sunrise Retirement Community 10 AM - here

Worthington, MN - Optomist Club Hunt 9:45 AM - here

Yankton - Typically there is one at the Yankton Care Center in the morning and then one at Sertoma park in the afternoon.  I do not see these advertised yet, anyone know for sure where to find this information?

Sunday, Easter - 4/8
Sioux Falls - Embrace Church following services - here

Saving - Filling Plastic Easter Eggs: Non-Candy Ideas!

If you have been around the blog over the past couple years, you know that I challenge myself each year to come up with new and fun ideas to fill plastic Easter eggs with non-candy items.

Check out last year's post here for the start of a list.  I did include many of the ideas below.  PLEASE share your ideas in the comments as well!

Want some frugal Easter basket ideas, head on over here (this is a post from last year).

Neutral Ideas:
*Squinkies
*Gum
*Magnets (that they can use on the refrigerator or special magnet board to hang their artwork...check out the homemade magnet idea here)
*Yogurt covered raisins
*Erasers
*Chuck E Cheese's Tokens or other local arcade
*Culvers tokens (apparently they sell tokens valid for a free ice cream, didn't know this until the kids received some for Valentine's Day!)
*Burger King, Dairy Queen or Culvers coupons good for the kids free ice cream treat that come from the kid's meals.  If you have unused ones that you have been holding onto, why not put them in the eggs and plan a date with the kids to use them!
*Socks
*Undies (We did this with my daughter when she was potty training and she was SO excited, so this year we plan to do it with our son!)
*Numbered token/paper - the number could designate a numbered "prize", things that are too big to fit in an egg but fun to get for Spring like bubbles, sidewalk chalk, bug containers, butterfly nets, sunglasses, etc!
*Homemade coupons - 'this coupon is good for 1 trip to the zoo' or 'this coupon is good for a special day with Daddy (or Mommy)', or 'this coupon is good for a movie at the theatre or your choice to pick out a rental' or  'this coupon is good for your choice of treat/adventure', etc!
*Temp Tattoos
*Stickers
*Animal Crackers
*Teddy Grahams
*Goldfish Crackers
*Fruit snacks
*Bouncy Balls
*Squirt Toys for bath
*Coins (quarters, dimes, etc)
*Art supplies: Crayons, glitter glue, glue sticks, punches, etc
*Water balloons
*Punch balloons
*Flower or other Gardening Seeds
*Mini Notebooks
*Mini sticky note pads
*Crystal Light or other brand drink packets or the Kool-Aid fizz tablets
*Bath fizzers and other fun bath items
*Band-aids with their favorite characters
*"Bunny Money" - maybe some fun money you make up that can be used to "purchase" different toys, books or trinkets.
*Clues - written or typed clues to finding some other item.  Maybe offer 4-5 different cluess in different eggs.  These clues could also be clues to finding their Easter basket.
*Puzzle pieces - could be to a new puzzle - or maybe even a homemade puzzle with a message about Jesus or a surprise.

Girl Ideas:
*Polly Pockets (big eggs) or polly pocket accessories
*Littlest Pet Shop pets or accessories
*Bracelents
*Earings
*Rings
*Necklace
*Hair Accessories
*Lip balms
*Nail polish (those cute tiny bottles would be super fun)
*Barettes
*Barbie outfits

Boy Ideas:
*Hot Wheel size cars
*Animal Capsules (the ones that 'grow' in water)
*Army Guys or other small superheros, etc
*Small creatures (bugs, dinosaurs, animals)
*Legos
*Accessories for their toys
*Nerf gun darts or pop gun shells
*Fishing lures

I am sure you have ideas too!  Be sure to leave them in the comments!

Saving - Egg Coupon!

Always a nice coupon to have come available, grab the $.55/2 dozen eggs coupon over her on the Incredible Edible Egg Facebook page.

Saving - Minute Maid 100% Juice Box Coupon + Target Deal!

There is a nice coupon available over here good for $1/1 Minute Maid 100% juice box product.  Nice coupon!

Combine the coupon with price cut at Target, where the MM 100% Juice Boxes are $2.69, grab them for just $1.69.  This is a nice price to grab some to gear up for summer travel plans, trips to the park or to finish out the school year with cold lunches.  And I have stuck things like this in Easter baskets before, kids love it!

Saving - Dora DVD Coupon + Target Deal!

Another great deal for a nice Easter basket filler....

Head on over here to grab a coupon good for $3/1 Dora The Explorer: Dora's Easter Adventure DVD.

Currently this DVD is on price cut at Target for $9.99, so just $6.99 after coupon.

Thanks, Totally Target for the price cut info!

Saving - Dollar Tree Spring Containers!

If you haven't been into Dollar Tree recently, you may want to stop by and check out their new Spring colors and fun items.  I happened upon them when they were first putting the items out, so am itching to get back and see whatever goodies they may have put out.

I picked up 2 nice sized baskets with moving handle from the display above.  Of course, just $1 each.  And I will be using them for Easter baskets this year!  I'm tempted to grab a couple of the other items as containers to be used for teacher gifts, birthday gifts, etc!  Fill them up with some couponing goodies and it would make such a cute gift.

What other fun finds have you found at a dollar store lately?

Saving - Tag Books $6.99 at Target!

Remember the $3/1 Tag Book coupon I told you about here?  Great news!  Target now has several of their Tag books on price cut, down from $13.99 to $9.99.  So combine this great price cut with the coupon and snag them for just $6.99.  That's 50% savings!

I hope to grab the Spiderman and Tangled books for my kiddos' Easter baskets!

*Note: I did notice a few Tag books prices reduced at Walmart, however they are marked to $9.98, so you would not be able to use this coupon since it is good on books $9.99 or greater.

Saving - Easter Basket Ideas On The Frugal!

Over the past weeks I have hinted at ideas on filling Easter baskets.  I thought I would round up those ideas and include a few additional ideas for those of you that my be struggling to get going. 

 Basket Ideas:
Well first you must start with a "basket".  With my kids, I have kind of stepped away from the traditional basket that we grew up with to something that is reusable in some fashion.  Last year I grabbed a couple Halloween buckets (that do not shout Halloween - a Butterfly and SpongeBob bucket) on clearance at Target for this year's baskets.  But a couple other ideas:
*Plastic Buckets (like pictured above) - I have seen these for $1 at Michael's (and you could use the 40% off coupon from Sunday's paper) or I am pretty sure I saw some at Walgreens for around $1.50.
*Big colorful bowls - these can be reused for popcorn bowls or other uses
*Dollar store containers - there are normally some cute (and only $1) containers at Dollar Tree that you can designate for another use
*Rubbermaid (or like brand) plastic container with lid (remove lid in order to fill for Easter) that can be reused to hold markers, crayons, a certain toy (like all of my daughter's Littlest Pet Shops), etc.


Filler Ideas Deal Round Up:
*Clay Necklace idea here
*Filled Easter Eggs for Free!  Several posts about these, so hopefully you have grabbed them!
*Skittles Blenders at Target - here
*FurReal Snuggimals - if you are lucky enough to find the 2 pk for just $2.48 this is a Great deal - here
*Movie Certificate! - Did you get the eggs this week at Walgreens that spit out the 2 Red Box rentals?  Why not make a certificate with a code on it for the basket that they can then rent a movie of their choice!
*Crayola Color Wonder On The Go (if you are able to find them) - here
*Character Soft Soap - here (no longer on price cut, but still a decent price with coupon)
*Battery Operated Toothbrushes (deal still available) $1.99 - here
*Aquafresh Training Toothpaste here
*Free Stride Gum - here

Additional Deal Ideas:
Walgreens
*Goody Ouchless Hair Accessories $3, Receive $3 RR = Free!

Target
*Strawberry Shortcake Mini Doll in Purse $6.44
Use $3/1 here or 4/3 Hasbro insert
= $3.44

Walmart
*Connect 4 Travel game $5.44
Use $3/1 here or 4/3 Hasbro insert
= $2.44

Anyone else, feel free to add to the comments!!

Now get shopping!

Living - Hard Boiling the Perfect Egg?! And Decorating Ideas!

I seem to always struggle with creating the "perfect" hard boiled egg, but found this method and am going to try it out.  Is this how you hard boil your eggs?
- PLACE eggs in saucepan large enough to hold them in single layer. ADD cold water to cover eggs by 1 inch. HEAT over high heat just to boiling. REMOVE from burner. COVER pan.

-LET EGGS STAND in hot water about 15 minutes for large eggs (12 minutes for medium eggs; 18 minutes for extra large).

-DRAIN immediately and serve warm. OR, cool completely under cold running water or in bowl of ice water, then REFRIGERATE

Decorating Ideas:
*Kool-Aid dye idea here.

*Use stickers - simply apply stickers to eggs!

*Glue ons - open your craft supplies and go crazy!  Googly eyes, ribbon, tissue paper, felt shapes, gems, glitter glue, etc!  You can even cut out pictures from old magazines and glue or modge podge them on.

*Crayons and Markers - get creative and draw or color your eggs.

*Paint - water colors, finger paints, etc!  How fun to add your little one's finger prints to an egg!

*Speckle your eggs - here

*Glitter your eggs - so cute and easy! - here

*Rubberband technique - here

*One of our family traditions while growing up was to write each person's name with a white crayon on an egg and then place it in the color dye!  The name will stand out once dyed.

How do you decorate your eggs?  What are your traditions?

Saving - Walgreens Egg Deal This Week! 2 Doz Eggs & 2 Redbox Rentals $1.03-$2.03!

Are you dying eggs this week?  If you are still in need of grabbing your eggs to make your little art pieces, here is the deal for you.

This week at Walgreens - purchase 2 dozen eggs for $1.29 each, receive a print out with codes good for 2 Free Redbox rentals!  Combine with the $.55/2 dozen eggs coupon I posted about here.

Deal Scenario:
2 dozen eggs = $2.58
Use $.55/2 coupon above
= $2.03 for 2 dozen eggs & 2 free Redbox rentals!

Now if you are in Sioux Falls, you may find an even better deal!  When I picked up my eggs yesterday at the Walgreens on East 26th, the eggs were only $.79 a dozen!  And I just received an email from reader, Becky stating they were the same price at the 57th & Cliff location! 

Here's how the deal looks:
2 dozen eggs = $1.58
Use $.55/2 coupon above
= $1.03 for 2 dozen eggs & 2 free Redbox rentals!

Saving - *HOT* $1.94 For 4 FurReal Snuggimals & 2 Chocolate Peeps!

Have been on the hunt for prices on the FurReal Snuggimals since my daughter saw them last week and thought they were pretty special.  They ranged from $7.99 at Kmart to $7.44 at Walmart.  Today I hit the jackpot at Target!  The single package of Snuggimals are $5.04 and I was excited...but then I looked at the shelf above them and saw a Snuggimals Value Pack.  It containes TWO Snuggimals AND they were priced at just $2.48!  Check it out in the picture above!

Here's the Deal to grab 4 FurReal Snuggimals & 2 Chocolate Peeps for just $1.94!
Purchase 2 Value Packs @ $2.48 = $4.96
Purchase 2 Chocolate covered peeps single packs @ $.99 = $1.98
Use 2 - $2 on purchase of any Snuggimals when you buy any Peeps Chocolate product from 4/3 PlaySaver insert or here
Use 1 $1/2 Chocolate peeps here
= $1.94! (or just $.33 each for 6 items!)
*The Easter Bunny will make the kiddos day! 

Note: Some are finding the Value Pack marked at $9.99.  For those in Sioux Falls the $2.48 Value Pack is only at the West location.

If you can't find the value packs, here is also a cute Easter single one at just $5.04.  There were several other non-Easter ones as well.  As noted above, Target is the cheapest place I have found these cute little guys.

Saving - Egg Coupon Available Again!

Just in time for Easter egg dyeing, the $.55 off 2 dozen eggs coupon is back over here!  If you don't see it, try taking out your zip code.

Don't forget you can grab some cheap vinegar this week at Walgreens with this deal.

And if you wanna try some cheap Kool-Aid for your Easter dyeing needs this year, I noticed yesterday at Kmart that the Kool-Aid is still marked $.10 a packet and this deal should still be good.

Saving - Heinz Vinegar $.49 at Walgreens!

Walgreens has the 32 oz Heinz Vinegar on sale this week for $.99 with in-ad coupon.  Use the $.50/1 coupon found here to grab it for just $.49!  Great for those Easter eggs!

Saving - Toys R Us Crayola Products Buy 1 Get 1 Free - Plus Deal Scenarios!

Update: Comments on the Living,Laughing,Saving Facebook page indicate that these might NOT be a fun addition to your home.  Sounds like they stain.  So please be cautious if considering a purchase.

Toys R Us has all Crayola outdoor chalks and bubbles on a Buy 1 Get 1 Free sale this week!  This includes the colored bubbles, which you may find the $2/1 ($8 purchase or more) Crayola Colored bubbles product coupon in your 4/3 SS insert.  If so, here is a nice deal!

Scenario #1
Purchase 2 3-packs of the Washable Colored Bubbles $8.99 (based on online prices)
Use 2 $2/1 coupons above
Receive $8.99 deduction for free item
= $4.99 for 2 3-packs (6 containers of bubbles)

Scenario #2
Purchase 1 3-pack Washables Colored Bubbles $8.99 & Washable Colored Bubbles Bubbler $12.99 (based on online prices)
Use 2 $2/1 coupons above
Receive $8.99 deduction for free item
= $8.99 for bubbler and 3-pk of bubbles

Fun Easter basket additions!  Has anyone tried these yet?

Saving - Target Deals: SoftSoap & Oral B Toothbrushes!

Check out these nice deals at Target on kids soap and power toothbrushes.  I'm thinking great Easter basket fillers!!

Spongebob or Dora Softsoap (or other softsoaps available) on price cut $2.29
Use $.35/1 3/27 SS
Plus use $1/1 Target coupon 4/3 SS (regional)
= $.94!

Oral B Stages Kids Power Toothbrush on price cut $4.99
Use $3/1 4/3 PG
= $1.99
*If you have the $1/1 Target coupon from the Sweet Deals mailer this makes an even better deal at just $.99!

Living - Filling Easter Eggs: Non-Candy Ideas!

Each year I find myself trying to think of things to fill Easter eggs with that we use for egg hunts at Easter time.  I like to include non-candy things (and of course sneak in some candies too)!  Obviously you will want to make the eggs age-appropriate.  And if something is specifically for a girl (or boy), you may want to put the child's name on it or add a tag for 'girl' or 'boy' on the egg.

Here is a list of items I have compiled and I ask that you PLEASE add to the list in the comments! 

Some of the items below will require the bigger eggs.

Neutral
*Ice Cream coupons from kid's meals. (Example: The Burger Kings around here give out a free kid's ice cream with a kid's meal.)  If you have extras laying around they would be a nice surprise for the kids.
*Stickers - cut sheets of stickers into single stickers or a few for each egg.
*Temporary tatoos
*Fruit chews
*Yogurt covered raisins or small boxes of raisins
*Coins
*Banditz bracelets
*Homemade coupons (you know how much I love coupons) - Make a special handmade coupon good for a day to the zoo, or ability to skip a chore, go shopping for an item under $5, a special day with Mommy or a special day with Daddy, etc!
*Coupons that tell a story of something to come - If your children are like mine, they know that if Mommy has a special coupon it means an adventure is to come whether it is buying something at the store, going out to eat, visiting a local attraction, etc!  I noticed there are coupons on the back of HyVee receipts showing $1 off admission at the Butterfly House.  My kids love that place and we haven't been there for a while.  I just might slip the coupon in the Easter egg, which will tell the story to my kids that we get to go visit the Butterfly House soon!  Maybe you have a coupon for one of their favorite snacks that don't fit in the egg...throw the coupon in instead!
*Add a piece of paper with a number on it, that goes to a corresponding prize - this is a great way to include things in the egg hunting that don't fit inside the eggs.  Bubbles, Butterfly nets, Sidewalk Chalk, pretty much anything!
*Pretzels
*Chuck E Cheeses tokens (or tokens from a local arcade)
*Gerber puffs - for the babies!
*Erasers
*Bouncy balls
*Socks
*Squirt toys for bath tub
*Animal crackers
*Teddy Grahams

Boys
*Toy cars
*New undies (especially fun for the boys that are potty training!)
*Army guys
*Small plastic animals/dinosaurs

Girls
*Necklace
*New panties (especially fun for the girls that are potty training!)
*Rings
*Lip gloss or lip balms
*Nail polish - small bottles
*Littlest Pet Shops - take them out of the packaging
*Polly Pocket 'stuff' - taken out of the package
*Barrettes

Now, what ideas do you have?  Please leave a comment!

Saving - *Hot* $2/2 Easter Candy Coupon!

If you haven't been able to grab this one yet, here it is!  Grab a $2/2 Easter Candy coupon here.

Good for $2/2 Mars Easter products as follows: Dove Bunny, Milky Way & Snickers Creme Egg/Bunnies, Minis: Snickers, Egg, Bunny, Twix, Egg M&M’s, 3Musketeers, speckled Eggs Mixed Minis, Fun Size: M&M’s: Pastel

This is a great coupon to help you either fill the Easter eggs or add a couple fun things to the baskets!