Favorite Things: Old Navy Flip Flops

How can you beat two pairs of flip flops for $5? Our family of four can be outfitted for afternoons at the pool for only 10 bucks! There are plenty of cute colors and patterns for all sizes. My kids have been wearing their pairs to and from swim class for a few months now and they are holding up well. In fact, I think they will last through the entire summer. Gotta love the return on that investment!

Grocery Game: Some Tips From My Frugal Adventures

I recently became a "fan" of the My Frugal Adventures Facebook page. Today, she posted this article that contains some great grocery planning tips.

Cheap and Cheerful wants to know: What is your best money saving move at the grocery store?

Retail Therapy: My Little "Need to Buy List"

I thought it would be fun to see if you, my faithful readers, could be my savvy shoppers and keep your eyes peeled for a few choice deals. As I have blogged before, I try to keep my impulse shopping to a minimum, only buying myself new clothes when I need to replace worn items. If the clothing item is not on my "need to buy" list, I only get to covet it in the store, but I don't carry it to the cashier.

But don't you think I need some new black flats? I'd say it's about time! (see above)

And, I'm hoping, that I will need some new, smaller jeans pretty soon. Ones that would look great all spring with flip flops.

I'm invited to a wedding in July and would love a cheap and cheerful dress. Think outdoor, but upscale.

Oh, and I might even wear a swimsuit this summer. Maybe some board shorts with a tank style top?

Help me! I've got a special prize for the reader who passes along the best deal on the best item!

Grocery Game: Operation Eat-It-Up

Is there a bag of Trader Joe's rotini lurking in the back of your pantry? Or two cans of black beans perched on your shelf? Or maybe some neglected tomato soup? A frozen bag of chicken breasts? Some lonely vegetables? If your fridge and pantry look like mine do this week, it is time to launch Operation Eat-it-Up.

What I have on hand:

Dinner #1: linguine, canned tomatoes (crushed, diced, sauce, and paste), frozen turkey meatballs, frozen green beans, frozen sourdough rolls

Dinner #2: flour and corn tortillas, black or refried beans, Spanish rice "mix", corn

Dinner #3: eggs, bacon, Bisquick for pancakes, two potatoes

Dinner #4: cheddar cheese, wheat bread, tomato soup

Dinner #5: frozen chicken, romaine lettuce, croutons, caesar dressing

So, I have my five dinners for this week without buying anything. Are these my five favorite meals? No. But Operation Eat-it-Up is in place and there is no looking back.

I will probably spend about $45 at the store this week as we are still stocked on bread, cheese sticks, raisins, and some odds and ends snack wise from last week.

My list will include:

milk
yogurt
apples
bananas
cereal
hummus
pita bread
peanuts
Bisquick
trash bags
paper towels

I am excited to see how creative I can be with what is in the house. Geeky, I know.

Cheap and Cheerful wants to know: How do you execute Operation Eat-it-Up?

Deal of the Day: Stride Rite Dress Shoes on Nordstrom.com at 40 to 50% off

There are tons of Stride Rite dress shoes for on sale on Nordstrom.com for 40 to 50% off. Click here to see if you can take advantage of these deals for girls and click here to see the steals for the little man in your life. Stride Rite shoes are always a good value; a great price is a nice bonus though!

Favorite Things: Homemade Pizzelles

Superman has his kryptonite. I have pizzelles. I just can't resist their butter goodness and thin, crisp form. Pretty much all of my extra holiday calories are consumed in pizzelles which my mother-in-law keeps in good supply when we come to visit for Christmas. Since December, I've been keeping my eye out for a pizzelle maker. This Cuisinart model is 47% off. I see a little early Christmas present in my future. Yum.

Deal of the Day: Canon PowerShot

This super deal popped up in my email tonight; it's a Canon PowerShot on Amazon for 40% off. Maybe the St. Patrick's Day leprecaun or the Easter bunny can drop one on your doorstep.

Deal of the Day: Easter Dresses at Target

A couple of weeks ago, while wrapping up my Valentine's shopping, I spotted these dresses at Target. They are only $17.99! Adorable dresses like this don't last long so you might want to head to your local store soon!