Fun Pregnancy website

Today, I stumbled on http://www.whattoexpect.com/. This site is from the folks who write the series, What to expect when you are expecting and What to expect in the first year. The books are so trusted that my OB/GYN and insurance company sent me free copies as a congratulations gift. On the website, there is a great pregnancy ticker. It looks like this.

Get your free online pregnancy calendar from WhatToExpect.com



As you can see, I'm 26 weeks, 1 day along and have 97 days until the due date. It can be customized for whether you are having a boy or girl, or whether you don't know yet. Besides the cute bells and whistles, there are plenty of blogs, articles, and coupons to make this website a first stop when I need to choose a baby name, have concerns about new symptoms, or just want to daydream about when I get to hold the new delivery in my arms. If you know someone who is pregnant, be sure to share this website with them.

This week's grocery circulars

This week, the big 3 supermarkets have good promotions. Here are my favorites:

VONS

The Mix and Match sale is back. Pick up a circular in their store. Groups of items are arranged by price point. If you prchase 10 of these items, you will receive an instant $5 off.

Albertsons

Whole Chicken: 69 cents per pound
Wish Bone Salad Dressing: $1.29 each
Jazz Apples: 99 cents per pound
Iceberg lettuce: 2 for $1
Hot house tomatoes: 99 cents per pound
Large navel oranges: 39 cents per pound
Green seedless grapes: 79 cents per pound

Ralphs

Boneless Pork Loin: $1.99 lb.
Strawberries: 99 cents per pound
Life cereal: 4 for $4
Boneless rump roast: $2.99 lb.
Fresh Express garden salad or slaws: 99 cents per pound
Green onions and radishes: 2 for $1
Brown onions 2 for $1
Van de Kamp's English Muffins: 99 cents per pound
Farmer John skinless pork links: 99 cents per pound
Roma tomatoes: 99 cents per pound

Grocery and Home Improvement this week

This is a very exciting week for frugal grocery shoppers. All stores have something to offer. Here are my favorite specials.

Ralphs:

Fresh Split Foster Farms Chicken Breasts: .97 per lb.
Russet Potatoes, 5lb. bag: .97 per lb.
Beef Cross Rib or Rump Roast: $1.97 per lb.
Green Asparagus: .97 per lb.
Cottonelle and Viva bath tissue and towels: $5.99 12 double rolls and 8 rolls respectively
Dannon and horizon yogurt: 10 for $5
Nabisco crackers: 2 for $4

VONS:
There is an interesting mix and match special that can save you plenty of money. It is a bit convoluted for my taste, and easy to mess up, so be sure to pick up the circular from the store to see the specials. If you do, you will save 35 to 50% on the items. In addition, here are some great specials:

Fugi and Gala apples: .68 lb.
Lucerne yogurt: .40 each if you buy ten
Daffodils: 2 bunches for $3

Albertsons:

Raw lobster tails: $3.99 each - time for that lobster dinner!
Cantaloupe: .25 per lb.
Nectarines: .69 per lb. today only
Softsoap: .89 each today only
Eggo Waffles: 3 for $4.98
Beer, wine and spirits sale: 30% off this week for many brands
Cucumbers: .79 each

The Home Depot:

Through 3/22 - 4 inch annuals only 3 for $1, limit 60 - I've never seen such a low price on these. If you are a fan of big splashes of color that only last a few months, stock up on these. For the more practical, frugal shoppers, it is worth the expense to purchase perennials which are always more expensive, but will give you color year after year.

Gallon staked pink jasmine - $3.88 - you can't beat the fragrance of these little pink flowers.

2 cubic ft. bark nuggets - $1.88 - great for mulching around your new annuals. Only through 3/22.

In a previous email, I mentioned several computer deals, but after visiting the stores, decided that it would be better to wait than to purchase these now.

Sunday paper circular bargains

Now that I'm back from an amazing Australia vacation (that ended up being free after tax refunds and the stimulus package), I'm excited to report on the latest sales in the Santa Barbara News Press.

CVS:
Colgate toothpaste is free with the extra bucks using the CVS card.
Irish Spring body wash is also free with the extra bucks using the CVS card.
Fig Newtons and Lorna Doons - 5 for $5
Ajax liquid detergent - 99 cents with card

Walgreens:
Altoids - 2 for $2
Sun-Maid Raisins 18 oz - $1.99 with coupon
Royal Gelatin - 5 for $1 with coupon
Dinty Moore beef stew - 2 for $3
1 lb. epsom salt and hydrogen peroxide - 2 for $1 with coupon
Palmolive dish liquid - 99 cents with coupon
6 big rolls of Charmin - $3.49 with coupon
Kleenex - 89 cents with coupon

Longs:
1 dozen eggs for 2 for $3 Thursday through Saturday
C&H Sugar 2 for $5
Pillsbury all purpose flour - 2 for $4
Ajax dish liquid - 99 cents

There are several good values on laptop computers right now at Staples, Office Max and Radio Shack that I'm going to check out and report on soon since my laptop is on its last legs. Upcoming blogs will also report on Australia vs. US health care system, good travel buys and more. Stay tuned.