Whew! Hello out of pocket spending. This week was a pricey shopping week. I wanted to take advantage of the Pampers sale & coupons so I knew going into the trip that this trip would be a bit more than normal. We stocked up on Old El Paso seasonings, kits and beans and also got 4 packages of Barber Chicken Breasts. At least the Barber chicken guarantees the protein for 4 meals for us!

This Sunday we are going to an Ethiopian themed party that our friends are throwing. Everyone is supposed to bring an Ethiopian dish. I’m bringing a dish called Atakilt Wat. Nope, I’ve never made it. It’s a vegetarian dish that includes cabbage, carrots and potatoes. (This is why I bought cabbage & potatoes)  And tons of spices – many of which I don’t have. Tomorrow I’m going to do some research to see if there are spices I can mix together to make something comparable to cardamom or fenugreek seeds or turmeric powder. Otherwise, I’m going to be headed out to see what store(s) carry these spices!

This was an awesome week for us as a family. Asher turned two yesterday. We’ve been talking to him about his upcoming birthday for about 2 weeks. He would repeat back “Asher two” or “birthday cake” or “Asher’s birthday.” But he didn’t realize just what his birthday meant until yesterday morning when  he saw streamers and ballooons outside his bedroom door. He then realized the day was all about him when he was given the option of going out to breakfast with dadda to get donuts or pancakes (he chose pancakes at IHOP).  I bought an amazing Publix cake (pictured above). We didn’t have a big birthday party and I really didn’t want to order a 1/4 sheet cake… however,  I couldn’t resist. Asher is all about trucks right now. And I just had to get him this cake! Fortunately, Publix Baby Club sent me a $4.00 off 1/4 sheet cake coupon AND I used a $5/$30 Winn Dixie coupon bringing my cake down to $22 versus $31.00. We had friends drop over to eat cake with us so we did put a dent in the cake although there is lots frozen in my freezer right now! Asher’s favorite gift was the lawn mower that my mom gave him. You may remember when I posted Little Tikes Gas ‘n Go Mower deal in August? Well, I was thinking about getting it for Asher until my mom said she got it for him. Well, when he saw the mower, his eyes lit up and he gave this smile that I have only seen a couple times. I thought he was going to cry with happiness. It was adorable. He got some other great gifts and it was so fun to watch him realize that each gift was for him. Today when he woke up, we told him his birthday was “over” and “all gone.” I thought he might cry, but he was fine. Throughout the day he did tell me “Asher two years old” and then “birthday over” and then he would say “more birthday.” So fun. Just amazing to see how far we have come these past 14 months! In Ethiopia, they don’t celebrate birthdays. So to see him love his birthday was fun.

the Publix cake was a hit!

Asher opening a present with his new lawn mower safely next to us

The best shot I could get with the birthday boy. Gotta love squirmy (and cute) toddlers!

Please remember that you do not see any chicken or ground beef purchased because we have stocked up on boneless, skinless chicken breasts and ground beef with Zaycon Foods. **Right now Zaycon Foods is taking reservations for their upcoming Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast Events!

• To see this week’s Publix Weekly Ad & Matchups, go HERE.

• To see this week’s Publix Deals & Steals, go HERE.

Below is what we bought and the coupons we used:

3 Old El Paso Refried Beans on sale 25% off (sale price $1.19)
Minus three $0.30 off Old El Paso Refried Beans
Total Due: $2.67 or $0.89 each
2 Old El Paso Dinner Kit, Assorted Varieties, 8.4 to 19.2 oz, BOGO $2.99 for two
4 Old El Paso Taco Seasoning on sale 25% off (sale price is $0.77 each)
Minus two $1/3 Old El Paso Product, exp. 11/1/14 (SS 09/07/14 #2)
Total Due:  $4.07 or $0.68 each **If you don’t have the $1/3 coupon, go HERE to print a $0.60/3 coupon
4 Barber Foods Stuffed Chicken Breasts, Assorted Varieties, 8 or 10 oz, BOGO $5.49 for two
Minus four $1/1 Barber Foods Product, exp. 10/31/14 (SS 07/13/14 R)
Total Due: $6.98 or $1.75 each
4 Mueller’s Pasta, Assorted Varieties, 12 to 16 oz  BOGO $1.59 for two
Minus two $1/2 Mueller’s Pot-Sized Pasta, exp. 11/20/14 (SS 09/21/14 R)
Total Due: $1.18 or $0.30 each
2 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel Pastries, BOGO $2.85 for two
Minus two $0.75/1 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel, Toaster Scrambles or Pancakes printable
Total Due: $1.35 or $0.68 each
2 Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse Bread, Assorted Varieties, 22 or 24 oz, BOGO $3.99 for two
Minus two $0.40/1 Pepperidge Farm Sandwich Bread or Buns, exp. 11/23/14 (SS 09/14/14)
Receive $0.25 Cash Back wyb Any Brand Pre-Sliced Single Loaf Bread Ibotta Offer
Total Due (when factoring in coupons & cash back): $2.94 or $1.47 each
2 Thomas’ Bagels, Assorted Varieties, 6 ct, 19 or 20 oz, BOGO $4.49 for two
Minus one $1.00/2 Thomas’ Bagels coupon  (zip 10001)
Total Due: $3.49 or $1.75 each
2 Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Snack Crackers, 5/$10
Minus one  BOGO Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Snacks 6.6 oz Publix Store Coupon (from Publix Baby Club)
Total Due: $2.00 or $1.00 each
1 Gallon Publix Greenwise Organic Milk, $6.39
Receive $0.25 Cash Back wyb One Gallon White Milk Any Brand Ibotta Offer
Receive $1.00 Cash Back wyb One Gallon Milk Snap by Groupon Offer
Total Due (when factoring in cash back): $5.14
1 Eggland’s Best Cage Free Eggs, reg price $3.99
Minus one $0.35/1 Eggland’s Best Eggs, exp. 12/14/14 (SS 09/14/14)
Total Due: $3.64
Nakano Rice Vinegar on sale $2.97
Minus one $1/1 Nakano Rice Vinegar printable coupon (zip 34655)
Total Due: $1.97
1 Bag Publix Russet Potatoes, 5 lb bag, $2.99
Total Due: $1.99
2 Heads of Cabbage $0.69/lb
Total Due: $4.61
1 pkg Fresh Zucchini (on sale $1.69/lb I think!?)
Total Due: $2.60
3 Pampers Baby Dry Jumbo Packs, reg price $8.99 each
Minus $4.00 Instant Savings wyb 3 Pampers Jumbo Packs
Minus three $2.00/1 Pampers Baby Dry Diapers; Excludes Trial and Travel Size; Limit of 4 Like Coupons Per Household Per Day (Zip Code 77477)
Total Due: $16.97 or $5.66 each
4 Progresso Beans on sale $0.89 each
Minus one $1/4 Progresso™ products (excludes Progresso™ Pasta Bowl) coupon
Total Due: $2.56 or $0.64 each
4 Combos on sale 2/$4.00
Minus two Buy 1 Combos, 6.3 oz, Get 1 Free, exp 10/17, (Publix Grocery Advantage Buy Flyer “Fall Savings”) coupon
Minus twp $1.50/2 COMBOS single bags 6.3 oz+ coupon
Total Due: $1.00 or $0.25 each
1 Sambazon Juice on sale 2/$4.00
Minus one $1.50/1 Sambazon Product Grocery Advantage Flyer Publix Coupon, exp 10/17 (“Fall Savings” Flyer)
Minus one $1.00/1 Sambazon Organic Juice or Smoothie printable
Total Due: FREE plus $0.50 overage

Minus one $5 off $40 Publix Coupon from Last Sunday’s Paper

Minus one $5 off $30 Winn Dixie Enjoy the City Coupon

Total Spent:  $58.83 Total Saved: $82.02 Percentage Saved: 58.3%