My kids love snow cones. I love snow cones. They taste sooo good when it is hot outside! But for me…heading to the snow shack every time we wanted was was getting expensive. So last year I got an ice shaver to make our own snow cones at home.

Then I noticed how expensive the liquid flavorings were in the store. It really adds up! I set out on a mission to figure out how to make our own snow cone syrup.

I googled it and it didn’t take me long to find out that making your own snow cone syrup is EASY, and cheap too! Here is the recipe I use.

1 packet Kool-Aid
2 cups sugar
1 cup water

Mix all together in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Immediately remove from the heat. Cool. I used my kitchen funnel to put the syrup after cooling into an empty snow cone syrup bottle from the store. You can use any recycled bottle.

That’s it! Super easy. Last year we discovered we really liked the Tropical, Berry Blue, and Grape Kool Aid for our syrup.

Have you ever made your own snow cone syrup before?

It was a crazy morning at Smith’s (Utah)! They’re running one of their Mega Event sales, which are always popular (buy 10 participating items, save $3 instantly). But combine that with the Mega/Double Coupon event they are doing here in Utah where all coupons under $1 are credited to a full $1.00, and you’ve got a bit of a frenzy, especially in areas where there is only one Smith’s store close-by and lots of couponers…

It brought up an interesting dilemma for me – how much is too much when buying multiples of sale items? (I moved a few weeks ago, and my old Smith’s store was always really well stocked and I rarely ever ran into anyone else using coupons there, so buying multiples of an item was never really a problem.)

This morning I didn’t buy anything in amounts that I personally thought were excessive (maybe some of you will disagree with me on that, which is partly my dilemma), but there were enough people at Smith’s this morning all trying to get the same items, that even buying 3-4 of one item meant that the next person behind you might not have gotten any. Mind you, I did not “clear the shelf” on any item, but what I find to be an “acceptable” amount of an item might not seem so acceptable to the person behind me who is also trying to get multiples of that same item and there are not enough left. What do you do, and what do you consider to be fair and equitable when you’re all competing for a limited number of items? Hmm…

While I ponder my options and what I personally feel comfortable with as an answer (for me) to this dilemma, take a look at what I was able to pick up this morning:

(4) Betty Crocker fruit roll-ups/gushers/fruit by foot, on sale 1.99 (1.69 after promo, 1.19 after coupon, .55 after Catalina)
(3) Clorox bleach, on sale 1.99 (.99 after coupon)
(2) Dial liquid hand soap, on sale 1.00 (free after coupon)
(4) El Monterrey family pack burritos, on sale 3.50 (2.50 after coupon)
(2) French’s classic yellow mustard, on sale 1.49 (.49 after coupon)
(2) French’s honey mustard dipping sauce, on sale 1.69 (.69 after coupon)
(2) French’s worchestershire sauce, on sale 1.59 (.59 after coupon)
(5) Frigo string cheese, on sale 2.97 (1.97 after coupon)
(8) Hunt’s ketchup, on sale 1.25 (.25 after coupon)
(4) Orville Redenbacher 3-pk popcorn, on sale 1.99 (1.69 after promo, .69 after coupon)
(4) Suddenly Salad, on sale 1.25 (.75 after coupon)
(6) Totino’s pizza rolls, on sale .95 (.65 after promo, free after coupon)
(3) Vlasic dill relish, on sale 1.00 (free after coupon)
(1) Wacky Mac pasta, on sale 1.25 (.25 after coupon)
(10) Yoplait greek yogurt, 1.19 (.19 after coupon)
(2) bunches red seedless grapes, on sale .99/lb
(2) bunches green seedless grapes, on sale .99/lb
(1) Banquet brown’n serve sausage, on sale .99 (.69 after promo)
(3) Trix cereal, on sale 2.29 (1.99 after promo, 1.49 after coupon)
(3) Reese’s Puffs cereal, on sale 2.29 (1.99 after promo, 1.49 after coupon)
(1) Trop50 orange juice, on sale 2.99 (2.69 after promo, 1.69 after coupon)
(5) Chef Boyardee pasta, on sale .99 (.69 after promo, .49 after coupon)
(3) Mancwich sloppy joe sauce, on sale .99 (.69 after promo, .36 after coupon)
(1) bunch bananas, .52/lb
(1) gallon MountainDairy whole milk, on sale 1.79

I used:
(2) .50/2 printable coupons for the fruit snacks [see LINK or LINK]
(3) .25/1 coupons for the bleach [see RP-6/6]
(2) .35/1 coupons for the soap [see RP-6/13]
(4) .55/1 coupons for the burritos [see SS-4/18]
(6) .50/1 coupons for the French’s items [see SS-5/9]
(5) .50/1 coupons for the string cheese [see SS-5/2]
(8) .20/1 couons for the ketchup [see SS-5/16 or SS-6/20] (and Hooray for no HFCS in my ketchup!!!)
(4) .40/1 coupons for the popcorn [see SS-5/16]
(2) .50/2 printable coupons for the pasta salad [see LINK]
(6) .35/1 coupons for the pizza rolls [see SS-4/18 or GeneralMills-5/30]
(2) .55/1 printable coupons for the relish [see link HERE]
(1) .55/1 coupon for the relish [see June AllYou magazine]
(1) .50/1 coupon for the WackyMac pasta [see SS-5/16]
(9) .30/1 coupons for the yogurt [see SS-6/13]
(1) .30/1 printable coupon for the yogurt [see link HERE]
(1) 1.00/2 coupon for the cereal [see GeneralMills-5/30]
(2) 1.00/2 printable coupons for the cereal [see LINK or LINK]
(1) 1.00/1 printable coupon for the Trop50 [see LINK]
(1) 1.00/5 coupon for the Chef Boyardee [see June AllYou magazine]
(1) 1.00/3 coupon for the Manwich [see June AllYou magazine]

I then also got (3) $3 off for the Daytona 500 promo.

Total: $70.50 + got a $2.50 Catalina coupon from the fruit snacks

These are just a few of the great deals to be had this week at Smith’s/Krogers. And there are lots of good deals even for those states/areas that are not running the double coupon promo. For the full list of Mega Event items, see this week’s shopping list at PYP. And for all the possibilities for the Mega/Double Coupon Event items here in Utah, see the list compiled on PYP HERE.

Just one of the awesome tools here at PYP…ready-made shopping lists.  We scour grocery ads to find the best deals at many of your favorite stores, and match them with available coupons.   Check the list below and see if you find your favorite store!

Sign up for Rite Aid’s new Wellness Rewards program and get $50 in coupons, plus earn rewards points every time you shop at RiteAid!

LINK to RiteAid Wellness Rewards Program

It’s FREE to join, and you’ll get great perks such as these:

Everyday Benefits

• Members-only sale pricing
• 10% off Rite Aid Brand products every day
• 24/7 access to a pharmacist at 1-800-RITEAID

Earn Rewards

• Get reward points when you shop at a Rite Aid Pharmacy
• Earn up to 20% off non-prescription purchases
• Free health screenings

Additional Online Benefits

• Special member-only offers, discounts and coupons
• Valuable health and wellness information, one stop prescription management
• Online tracking of your wellness+ reward status and points

LINK to RiteAid Wellness Rewards Program

New Huggies coupons on Coupons.com.

Sort by ‘household’ to make them easier to find.

• Save $2.00 on any ONE (1) HUGGIES Baby Wipes (320 ct. or larger)
• Save $3.00 on any ONE (1) HUGGIES Snug & Dry Diapers (60 count or larger)
• Save $2.00 on any ONE (1) package of GOODNITES Underpants (Jumbo Pack or larger)

Also still available:

• Save $2.50 on Any ONE (1) HUGGIES Pure & Natural Diapers
• Save $1.50 on any ONE (1) HUGGIES Little Swimmers® Disposable Swim Pants

Click here to see all current promotions at Kodak Gallery

Scroll down to the bottom to see the 50 free Mommy card offer.
Choose your own design, layout, photo, and text.
Shipping is $3.99 for the 50 cards.

Also, if you’re NEW to Kodak Gallery, you can get an additional 50 prints FREE through this link!

Need a vacation? Southwest Airlines is having a $39 Fare Sale to celebrate their birthday. Travel September 8 through November 17, 2010. Purchase by June 24, 2010.

Hey Yeah
by Steve Miller Band
From the Album Bingo! (Special Edition)
Price: FREE

Stop by Whataburger on June 22 from 7-10 am and pick up a free bacon or sausage Breakfast on a Bun. And if you’re looking for a way to spice up your morning, try it Ranchero Style with jalapenos and picante sauce for free too.  More details here.

Code:  80% off SUMMER – exp 06/24/10

Restaurant.com LINK

*Be sure to read the fine print for each offer, not all offers have the same terms!

Kellogg’s Snackpicks coupons:

Log into your Kelloggs account or register if you don’t have an account.

LINK TO OFFER

Coupons currently available:
*NEW* $1/1 any Keebler Cookies 8.5oz or larger
*NEW* $1/1 Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Treats crispy marshmallow squares, 8ct or larger
$1/1 any Keebler or Sunshine Multi-Pack, 12 ct or larger
$1/1 any Keebler® Wheatables Crackers
$1/2 any Kelloggs Cereals 10 oz or larger

Print at THIS LINK.

If you are new to shopping at Rite Aid, check out my Navigating Rite Aid posts to help you along you way! Remember, you can use a Rite Aid in-ad manufacturer coupon with a manufacturer coupon from the newspaper or online. Read the Rite Aid coupon policy HERE.

Also, this list was made with the Idaho ad. Please verify prices in your area before shopping.

I am only listing the BEST offers this week here. Go to the Rite Aid forum thread for the entire weekly list plus discussion. Additionally, you can use this $5/$20 coupon from Rite Aid Video Values to save you more this week!

AND….if you have not signed up for the Wellness Program yet at Rite Aid, when you do you can print a $5/$25 coupon to use on your next shopping trip. Plus you can earn +UP coupons with your Wellness card too, so don’t forget to sign up for one today!

A new thing Rite Aid is doing is offering +UP Rewards. When you purchase designated items with your Wellness Card, you will get a coupon that prints out at the register you can use on your next purchase. It’s basically cash in your pocket!

Colgate Toothpaste $2.99
Use Colgate Total Advanced Whitening, Total Enamel Strength, Total Advanced Clean or Total $1/1 (6-26-10) SS-6/6 (if buying these kinds)
Get a $2 +UP Reward
Final Price: Like getting it FREE!

Motrin PM $3
Use Motrin PM product, any except trial size $3/1 (8-24-10) RP-4/18
Get a $3 +UP Reward
Final Price: FREE plus overage!

Finish Quantumatic Kit 50% off regular retail
Use $3/1 printable coupon AND
$4/1 Video Values
Final Price: Possibly free after coupons!

Purex 3 in 1 Laundry Sheets 2 for $6
Use $1/1 printable AND
$2/1 Video Values (no longer available)
Get a $1 +UP Reward (when you buy 2)
Final Price: $2 for both after coupons and reward!

U by Kotex 2 for $7
Use $1/1 printable (use two!) AND
$1/1 Video Values coupon (no longer available)
Get a $3 SCR on two
Final Price: $1 for both boxes after coupons and rebate!

Gillette Fusion Proglide $9.99 (if you have done this deal already you can’t do it again!)
Use Gillette Fusion Razor, any $4/1 (7-31-10) PG-6/6
Get a $5 SCR
Final Price: $.99 after coupon and rebate!

Don’t miss this great freebie!
Get all 19 songs on Hairspray: Soundtrack To The Motion Picture for FREE!

Link to Free Hairspray Soundtrack

Get it before it is gone!

If you are a fan of Redbox on Facebook make sure you get your free code for Monday, June 21st. It’s easy. Just go to Redbox’s fan page and click on Fan Freebie. Your code will then come up.

If you are not yet a fan of Redbox on Facebook, now is a great time to jump on.

What movie will you try to get tomorrow?