Brianna's 3rd Birthday

Brianna's 3rd birthday party is only 11 days away, so that means I have been in full-swing party mode for the last couple of days! I need to blog about her party favors I made, which are so cute, and I have some other stuff up my sleeve to make her party a big (and frugal!) success! But tonight I finished something that I am so giddy about - I know she's going to love it!

Stephen and I got her a kitchen set. I am already giddy about that because we have wanted to get her a kitchen for such a long time. Then one day, Leila (Stephen's mom) found a kitchen at a preview event for a consignment where she lives. The price was just $35 but the kitchen looked to be worth way more than that! We okayed the purchase. Later she texted me to tell me she found the same kitchen set at a local secondhand store for $90!! It makes sounds, has a grill, the works. The only stuff it was missing was play food and the "accessories".

So today I went shopping with my grandmother's money to accessorize Brianna's kitchen! After all, what good is a kitchen if you don't have any cooking utensils? I went to Adams Thrift store in Pinebluff to get all these goodies. They know me there and they will treat you right!

Strainer + muffin tin + bread pan + measuring cups and spoons + timer + spatulas/spoons/pasta spoon + big measuring cup = $3.24! (Also I got her colored pencils and I got some Hot Wheels for Hunter, so that is also included in the $3.24 total)

Then I remember I had this pretty ribbon which I have never used and it's been sitting so lonely in my craft bag. So I got on my trusty search engine and within seconds I was here for a bow tutorial. And voila! The kitchen basket for Brianna was born!

It will be presented to her at her birthday party on the 21st by my grandparents. I think she will be thrilled and I think it looks so cute! I also tied together like items (like the measuring cups) with curling ribbon. Thank you local businesses!!

Applebee's Baby Back Ribs

This morning I was telling Kathee at work my plans for cooking tonight. We got ribs for a dirt cheap price at Food Lion the other day (two packs of ribs for around $3; about 2.5-3 lbs worth). I wanted to try a new recipe, of course, and I chose to do the Applebee's ribs sauce. Tim overheard and said, skeptically, that after fixing it I should add up how much it cost me to make it and then see how much it costs at Applebee's.

I took the challenge.

Don't know if he meant it as a challenge, but I'm taking it anyway. So, here are the ingredients, and beside them is about what I paid for them. I had to think REALLY hard on some of these, but if anything, I will estimate a higher price.

3 racks of baby-back pork ribs, each rack cut in half (about one pound each) (We have close to 3 lbs, paid $3 for them)
1 cup ketchup (bought the ketchup for $1.00 with triple coupons. 1 cup is 1/3 of the 24 oz bottle we have. That comes out to about $0.33)
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (paid $1.49, using 1/4 cup of it would cost at most $0.25)
3 tablespoons dark brown sugar (Free. Do I really have to say this? I acquired this from Mary. I'm not as ashamed as I should be.)
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (bought for $0.89 with triple coupons. Considering that our jar is 10 oz., I think 3 tablespoons would be very inexpensive. There are 59 tablespoons in the jar, so probably less than $0.05).
1 teaspoon liquid smoke (We bought this in Charleston, so I have no clue how much it was. If I bought it right now it would cost $1.69, and the 1 teaspoon would cost maybe around $0.10. And that's pushing it.)
1/2 teaspoon salt (I'm definitely not counting salt. Free.)

That comes out to this recipe costing me $3.73. Let's just go overboard and say $5.00. Now let's look at Applebee's choices for ribs. The cheapest option is their half rack of ribs. For $12.49. Now, I don't know how many pounds are in a half rack of ribs, but I know that's usually between 7-8 ribs and we have 6. I have a feeling we came out on top. Woot! We win the non-existent challenge!

Oh, and the recipe is yours for free.

Rebate Time!

Most people know my obsession (thanks, mom) with Rite Aid Rebates. Of course, she is also the probable cause of my obsession with thrift stores, coupons, buy one get one free, and any other cheap frugal deal you can find. After triple coupons a couple of weeks ago, we were comparing notes, and we both stated that we'd like to take notes, if you will, on how much we really save during those trips. So for my rebates this month, I decided to do that. Keep in mind this is only my first trip this month. Some rebates are only good through certain dates that come at the end of the month. But I'd have to say I did pretty darn good.

Infusion 23 shampoo
Original price: $7.69
Sale price: $5.99
Rebate amount: $1.99
Coupon: $3.00
I pay: $1.00

Cutter Insect Repellent
Original price: $5.59
Sale price: $3.99
Rebate amount: $2.00
I pay: $1.99

Old Spice razors (3)
Original price: $4.99
Sale price: $3.99
Rebate amount: $3.99
I pay: FREE

Clairol Nice 'N' Easy Hair Dye (this will help with #80 on my 101 list)
Original price: $7.99
Sale price: $7.49
Rebate amount: $3.99
Coupon amount: $2.00
I pay: $1.50

Charles Worthington shampoo
Original price: $5.99
Sale price: $4.99
Rebate amount: $4.99
I pay: FREE

Gillette shampoo
Original price: $5.49
Sale price: $4.49
Rebate amount: $3.49
Coupon amount: $1.00
I pay: FREE

Revlon nail polish
Original price: $4.79
Sale price: $2.99
Rebate amount: $2.99
I pay: FREE

If I had paid full price for everything, it would have cost me around $45. After I get my rebates back, I will have spent well under $10. See, it's worth it!!