Mariano's Fresh Market Match-ups Feb.9-22, 2012

Here are the best deals February 9-22, 2012

Double Daze

Every Wednesday you can save 100% more on manufacturers’ coupons.  The manufacturer gives you a deal, and we double it.  Redeem up to 5 manufacturers' coupons worth up to $1 each and spend a minimum $25 in a single transaction, and we make those 5 coupons worth $10. That’s 100% more savings.

Produce

·        Endive or Escarole Lettuce $.99/lb

·        16 oz. Whole White Mushrooms $1.99

·        6 oz. Whole or Sliced Portabella Mushrooms $1.99

·        8 oz. Sliced White Mushrooms $1

·        16 oz. Baby Cut Carrots $1

·        Broccoli Crowns $.99/lb

·        Minneola, Tangelos or Honey Tangerines 3/$.99

·        Sweet Potatoes $.68/lb

·        Bosc, Red or Green D’Anjou Pears $.88/lb

·        Green Cabbage $.35/lb

·        Clementines 5 lb box $4.99

·        Green Beans $.99/lb

·        Roundy’s Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice half gallon $3.33

·        Iceberg Lettuce $.98 each

·        Ripe or Green Bananas $.39/lb

Meats

·        USDA Choice Black Angus Beef Flank Steak $4.99/lb

·        Old Fashioned Applewood Thick Sliced Bacon $3.99/lb

·        Fresh Live Mussels 2 lb. bag $4.88

Deli

·        Dietz & Watson Black Forest Ham $5.99/lb

·        Wisconsin Muenster Cheese $2.99/lb

·        Fresh Ciliegine Mozzarella $3.99/lb

·        German Yellow Potato Salad $1.99/lb

·        Boneless Rotisserie Turkey Breast $5.99/lb

Bakery

Nothing great bakery wise to report this week

Cheese

·        Auricchio Parmigiano Reggiano 7 oz. $7.99

·        Crocker Hills Organic Blue Cheese 4 oz. $4.99

·        Montchevre Goat Logs 4 oz. varieties $2.99

Beer, Wine & Spirits

·        Budweiser, Bud Light or Bud Select 12 pk. $7.49

·        Apothic Red Wine $9.99

·        Taltami Brut Tache $17.99

·        La Crema Chardonnay $15.99

Organic

·        Annie’s Mac & Cheese 6 oz. $1.69

·        Lundberg Gourmet Rice Blends 16 oz. $1.99

·        Blue Diamond Nut Thins 4-4.25 oz. $2.49

·        Xing Tea 23.5 oz $.99

·        Ecos Liquid Laundry Detergent 100 oz. $7.99 Print $1 here

o   Final Price as low as $5.99 during Double Daze

·        Cascadian Farms Granola Bars $2.79 Sign up here to Print $1, Print $1.10 here, Print $1/2 here

o   Final Price as low as $.79 during Double Daze

·        Organic Strawberries 1 lb $3.99

·        Organic Raspberries or Blueberries 6 oz. $2.99

·        Santa Sweet Organic Grape Tomatoes 1 pint $1.99

·        Organic Sweet Onions 3 lb bag $2.49

Grocery

·        Barilla Pasta 12-16 oz. $.99 1/8 SS (if whole wheat is included)

o   Final Price as low as free during Double Daze

·        Betty Crocker Supreme Brownie or Bar mix $1.99 2/5 SS

o   Final Price as low as $1.24 each wyb 2 during Double Daze

·        Starbucks Premium Coffee 11-12 oz. $6.99 1/15 SS

o   Final Price as low as $4.99 during Double Daze

·        Quaker Instant Oatmeal, Standard Oats 11.2-42 oz. $1.99 Print $1/2 here, Sign up for Save $5 wyb $15 select Quaker on Saving Star

o   Final price as low as $1each during Double Daze for 42 oz. of oatmeal!!

·        Quaker Oatmeal To Go Bars 6-12 ct. $1.99 2/5 RP, 1/8 RP

o   Final price as low as $1.24 each during Double Daze

·        Campbell’s Condensed Soup 10.5-11.5 oz. $.99 1/1 SS, 1/8 SS, 1/15 SS, 2/5 SS,  2/12 SS, Print Coupons here

o   Final price as low as $2.95 for 5 cans during Double Daze

Dairy

·        Roundy’s Shredded or Chunk Cheese 5-8 oz. $1.79

·        Dannon Oikos Yogurt 5.3-6 oz.$.99 Print $1/4

o   Final Price as low as $.49each wyb 4 during Double Daze

·        Yoplait Yogurt 4-6 oz. $.49 Print $1/8 here, 1/8 SS, 2/5 SS

o   Final Price as low as $.24 each during Double Daze

·        Blue Diamond Almond Breeze 64 oz. $1.99 Print $1/2 here

o   Final Price as low as $.99 each during Double Daze

·        Land O Lakes Margarine or Buttery Spread 6.5-16 oz. $1.49 1/8SS1, Print $.40 here

o   Final Price as low as $.49 during Double Daze

·        Roundy’s Cottage Cheese 16 oz. $1.49

·        Roundy’s Butter Unsalted/Salted 16 oz. $.2.49

·        Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough 12-18 oz. $2.19 Print $1.25/2 here

o   Final price as low as $1.57 each

·        Clear Value Milk Gallon $2.09

·        Coffee-mate Creamer 32-56 oz. $2.49 Print $1.85/3 here, Print Coupons here

o   Final Price as low as $1.39 during Double Daze

Frozen

·        DiGiorno Pizzas 20.4-36.8 oz. $5.99 limit 3 Print $1/2 here

o   Final Price as low as $4.99 each wyb 2 during Double Daze

·        Jack’s Naturally Rising Pizza 18.1-30.5 oz $3.29 1/29 RP

o   Final Price as low as $2.29 each wyb 2 during Double Daze

·        Wanchai Ferry or Macaroni Grill Entrees 24 oz. $5.49 Print $1 here

o   Price as low as $3.49 during Double Daze

·        Aunt Jemima Pancakes or French Toast 12-5-14.8 oz. $1.99 Print $1/2 here

o   Final price as low as $.99 during Double Daze

·        Roundy’s Ice Cream 48 oz. $2.48

·        Smart Ones Satisfying Selections Bagged meals 11.7 oz $2.19 8/7 SS, Print $1/2 here

o   Final Price as low as $1.19 each wyb 2 during Double Daze

·        Roundy’s Organics Frozen Strawberries or Blueberries 10 oz. $2.49

·        Roundy’s Fries, Tater Puffs or Hash Browns 16-32 oz. $1.69

Misc.

·        Huggies Big Pack Diapers 26-100 ct $19.98, $3 Cat wyb 1, 1/15 SS, 2/12 SS         

o   Final Price as low as $14.98 after coupon and Cat

·        Huggies Soft Pack Wipes 64-72 ct. $2 1/15 SS, 2/12 SS

o   Final Price as low as $1 during Double Daze

·        Keri Lotion 15-24.5 oz $5 Print $2 here

o   Final Price $3

·        Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion 15-24.5 oz $5 1/29 RP

o   Final Price as low as $3 during Double Daze

·        Kotex selected varieties 2/$10 1/15 SS

o   Final Price $4.25 each

·        Mucinex or Mucinex DM Tablets 14-20 ct. $9.98 Print $1 here

o   Final Price as low as $7.98 during Double Daze

·        Nature’s Bounty BOGO Print Coupons here, 1/1 RP, 1/8 RP, 1/8 SS, 1/22 RP, 2/5 RP, 2/12 RP

·        Disney or Marvel Vitamins BOGO Print $1 here, Print $1.25 here, 1/1 RP, 1/22 RP, 2/5 RP, FEB AY

·        Ester-C BOGO 2/5 RP, Print $2 here

·        Move Free BOGO 1/8 SS

·        MegaRed BOGO 2/5 SS, Print $1 here

• Buy $25 in GC’s Pictured: Lowe’s, ITunes, Applebee’s, Bass Pro Shops, Fashion Bug and MasterCard.  Get $5 cat OYNO.

Make your own B&B Surf Spray

I saw online a recipe to make your own Surf Spray.  Now I've never been one to fuss at all with my hair because it doesn't really hold a curl or wave or anything like that.  For example, I can put mousse or curl enhancing product in my hair, use ceramic hot rollers, take them out, spray with hairspray and I've got curls for all of 20 minutes before the weight of my hair drags them down.  I've got extremely fine hair and its thick.  So I typically get it cut in a modified bob with a lot of layering to take the weight out.  I thought this spray might be fun...especially since I had everything on hand but a spray bottle.  So off to the dollar store to get a cheap bottle of hairspray.  (See I don't even have a hairspray bottle in the house!!)

So once you've got your bottle, you need three things:

1. 3 teaspoons epsom salts
2. 3 squirts water based hair gel (I found a bottle of stuff I last used in college)
3. 4 oz. tap water
4. spray bottle (you definitely need one of those!)

So after you have all this stuff...its super easy to make.  Pour it all in your spray bottle and shake it up till the epsom salts dissolve.  Spray all through either wet or dry hair.  And you can either let it dry or use a hair dryer to speed it along.  :)

Here are some after pics!!

So if you want something fun to use in your hair definitely try this out!!  So simple to make and easy to use.  :)

Woolite® COMPLETE

So excited. Just found out that I shared enough to be sent an entire bottle of Woolite COMPLETE!! Definitely will be sharing how it works once it gets here. :)


Woolite® COMPLETE: Thx Woolite COMPLETE 4 my free sample! Like Woolite on Facebook and watch the Woolite Torturer commercial http://on.fb.me/wsvbYe *Please remember the FTC requires you to mention that you received a free sample courtesy of Smiley360 when sharing.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy by Douglas Adams

I wrote a review on the first book in the series.  I would try to review each of the books individually, but they become so interconnected through plots that it's complicated.  Plus the endings give things away and have a way of reversing plots and changing character dynamics.  I'd say that if you read the first one and like then you'll love the others equally.

Although, perhaps you'd prefer the radio version or the television series or the computer game or the movie.  It's obvious that the world enjoyed the series.  It's hard not to love a trilogy in six parts.  Or to ignore a book which allows you to poke fun at the world and ourselves.  I have taken some of the advice to heart. "Don't Panic!" is excellent advice and while I have no robots or aliens to interact with I believe that they are as equally mundane as the human race.  Why shouldn't they want to build a highway in space?

I can't remember not loving any of the parts.  The sixth part (And Another Thing...) was written by Eoin Colfer with the permission/request of Adams family after his death while it is not written by Adams it does remain true to the core characters.

The series kept growing but even Adams had some issues keeping his plots from attacking each other.  The bits of time travel and parallel universes complicate things and it's hard to  keep the same level of humor from the meta when one piece of information can change the entire story.

MILD SPOILER WARNING

That's just a reason why I love science fiction because things can change so much with one line from one character or the creation of totally foreign cultures and species that you can't help but like.  Why shouldn't an author play around with the distinctive characteristics of alien lifeforms?  I love the cows that want to be eaten.  They're total opposites of an Earth cow.  They're personalities are so distinct and they annoy the humans with their pleas to be enjoyed.  The humor is still there.

There is an entire book where Arthur becomes stranded and becomes the sandwich maker.  That's his main job to make sandwiches and the natives love it because they never had a sandwich before his arrival.  I certainly love the entire series even if Adams didn't get to finish it himself, but like Colfer, I love the characters so much that I don't need him to tell me what other adventures they could have.  I can think up my own adventures.

Mostly though, I know that ideas will continue to sprout in my mind after having read this series.  I found a different perspective from a person that knew not to take everything too seriously.

Dog Food: Meat vs Price

Dogs are not carnivores. Dogs are omnivores.  You may think it's silly of me to tell you this, but a large majority of you may subconsciously think it.  The large pet food companies have perpetrated the myth that dogs need meat to eat.

That is not the case.  Our feline friends are strict carnivores and yet a majority of them do not get the luxury of fresh and moist meats.  However, it seems that a great majority of dog food is moist meaty chunks.  Of course any kibble will be consistent of a more balanced diet and these days the canned dog food is formulated that way as well.

The point remains the same.  Your dog doesn't need meat to survive.  Certainly, meat is still an excellent source of protein, but they're showing you a particular kind of food to feed your dog.

Commercial pet foods have only existed for a little longer than the past century.  Dogs survived off of table scraps before being feed separately from their own dishes.  You can bet that meat is unlikely to have been left over in centuries past and definitely not for the dog which served small practical purpose in human survival.

However, we think that dogs should get the same types of food as us.  After all, they are man's best friend so why not give them the meat that they deserve.  It's not that dogs can't eat meat, it's just that you shouldn't go out of your way to feed them a steak dinner.

Their digestive tracts are similar to our own in composition.  They can process starches as well as proteins.  Cats have a short and more compact digestive tract and therefore they have a hard time digesting more complex compounds such as starch.

In the end, you may want to reconsider what you are giving your dog.  Are you opting for the more expensive brand which claims to have more meat?  Or are you opting for the equally good food which uses less fancy proteins which lower your overall costs?  Any commercial pet food brand is going to be formulated to provide a balanced diet for you dog so why shell out the big bucks when you are just buying expensive proteins?

Of course, I recommend a little independent research on your own.  Make your own decisions, but consider the options first.  There is a reason companies use advertising to influence you but that doesn't mean they are influencing you to the best option for you and your pet.

More about specific pet food ingredients tomorrow.

Steve Madden heels with Glitter!!

Lately I've come across several photos of shoes being glittered.  And I thought to myself I just have to try that.  So I went through all of my shoes but didn't find a single pair to glitter.  The two pairs I would have considered have always been a bit too big for me.  I had my sister try them on just to make sure she didn't want them first.  She now has two practically brand new expensive pairs of black shoes.  :(  Since she doesn't really have any dressy shoes that put those two pairs out of the running for glitter.  This did not bode well for my project.  So off to the Rack we went.  I don't like at all how they no longer have certain colored stickers on sale.  Now they just have a general clearance section in each size area.  This makes it a lot harder to find cute cheap shoes.  I did find this pair of champagne colored Steve Madden spike heels that were smudged in a couple places with dirt.  They were marked $17 down from $90.  Which already is a great deal and they fit great.

Now that I have shoes, I also need; painter's tape, PVA glue, Martha Stewart Glitter, an acrylic spray (I used Krylon Crystal Clear), a sponge brush,  something to mix it in and a piece of saran wrap to cover the glitter between coats.  Also putting down newspaper is a good idea too because then you won't get glitter and glue everywhere.  PVA glue is important and a little bit hard to find.  Here in the Chicago area I finally found mine at Dick Blick Art Materials.  I was all set to use modge podge but a friend of my Mom's is an artist and she said I needed something more flexible which is PVA glue.

Next step is to put painter's tape everywhere you don't want to get glitter.  It takes some time to fit the tape along the arch of the shoe.  Make sure to use small pieces and to take your time.  This is what mine looked like after all the tape.  Now it's time to mix your glitter and glue.  I squirted in some glue added glitter and mixed.  Now you just paint it on to the shoe.  Just make sure not to leave any lumps.  It takes about 4 coats of glitter glue to cover the entire shoe.  Make sure to cover the container in which you mixed the glitter and glue with saran wrap between coats so it doesn't dry out.  Give the layers about 15-20 minutes to dry before you add a new one.  After I added the last layer, I let the shoes dry overnight.  Although they were dry the next day, they still felt tacky to the touch.

I wasn't able to spray them right away as I couldn't locate any spray in the house and other things came up in between.  But I did get to it this morning.  Using a quick even spray I made sure to entirely coat the shoes.  After waiting for the first coat to dry, I added a second coat.  I wanted to make sure they were water proof.  I think they turned out great.  Much better than what I started with.  This is something I'd definitely try again with another color and maybe a pair of flats.