Scary Good Deals this week

There are some amazing deals on food this week that I just had to share.

RALPHS: 8 Hour Sale on Thursday, Oct. 30th only:

Capri Sun .99 for a box of 10

Tombstone Pizza $1.99

Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs $1.50 each

Avocados .88 each

VONS: 

Gala Apples .88 lb.

Red Grapes .99 lb

Saturday, Nov. 1 only: Betty Crocker Cake Mix .59 and Yoplait 8 packs $2.99

If you're still looking for a Halloween Costume, my friend Holly recommended Castaways Thrift Store in Morro Bay. She was just there and said they have lots of cheap costumes and ideas for Halloween.

La Familia Pumpkin Patch

On Sunday I took the kids to La Familia Pumpkin Patch on Los Osos Valley Road. We had such a good time. It was a beautiful day and the kids had a ball (despite the look on Charlie's face) finding their way through the maze and picking out their Halloween pumpkins. 

Is the Economic Crisis Just What We Needed?

The last two weeks, have been like a big clonk on the head to most Americans. We have been spending money that we never had and it is finally biting us in the butt. I am guilty of it. When we bought our current house, we took on a mortgage that was out of our comfort zone. However, since the bank was more than happy to give us the money, we thought we could afford it. After all, the bank should know, right? Wrong!

Many are putting the blame on banks, middle class Americans, poor Americans, BIG company executives, etc., but I blame the 1980's TV Show "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous." Every week Robin Leach showed us what it was like to have a load of money. We gazed upon 24k gold chandeliers, staggering fleets of Lamborghinis and Rolls Royces, and bathroom fixtures that cost more than most people make in a year. Suddenly our Buick didn't look so great, our fluorescent kitchen light looked cheap and our rusty bathroom faucet was disgusting. We realized what we didn't have, and then had to have it, whatever the cost. 

Now we are all learning the lesson that our grandparent knew, but we refused to believe. My grandma saved everything in plastic and secured it with a rubber band. I'm beginning to stock pile my rubber bands. "Champagne wishes and Caviar Dreams?" I say "Corona whims  and potato chip aspirations." In other words, live simply and be happy.

Frugal Fryer's Fabulous Finds #2

My friend Leah, who owns Fiona Bleu in Morro Bay, gave some great tips about buying Halloween costumes. She wrote "Here's a money saving tip for Kids Halloween costumes.If you have looked online it is so pricy plus you pay shipping!! Plus this way you are being First. I went to Merry Go Round in Slo (their new location is by Applebee's) and found a Brand new mermaid costume for my 2 yr old, it still had the tags on..only $20!!It's a little big on her and i know she'll wear it for dress up play a lot so it's a deal! Then we went to the Goodwill on Higuera in Slo and they have a ton of Halloween costumes for kids and big kids too!! My 5 yr old boy found a skeleton costume that he loved!! and I loved the price only $5! !They also had some new in package wigs and accessories too! My advice is to shop early for the best deals!! Happy Halloween"

Aimee also reminded me about our friend Karen Graham, who is a licensed Esthetician and great at shaping and waxing eyebrows. She is a true bargain at only $10 for an eyebrow wax. She also does facials that are amazing and half the price of most salons. Call Karen at: 704-9105.

VONS: 

Pears 3 lbs. for $1 AMAZING Bargain!

Gala apples: .88 per lb.

Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix: .79 (they are good too)

Ralphs:

Green grapes: .88 lb.

Cantaloupes: 10 lbs. for $10

BAD BARGAIN: Has anyone else noticed how Dreyer's Ice Cream got a lot smaller, but is the SAME price. What's up with that?  

Happy Shopping and please leave a comment!

What's Your Mantra?

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought." -Buddha 

 I have visualized my life's goals since my early 20's. Back then, I called it "setting goals for myself." After much contemplation, I would decide on a distinct goal, imagine it and figure out how to achieve it. 

One of the greatest experiences of my life was working for Disneyland in Paris after graduating from college. Two years before, I was studying in France and took a bus tour that passed the massive site where EuroDisney was being constructed. It was barren, muddy and cold. I remember looking out the bus window, thinking to myself "I will work there someday. That is what I want to do." For two years, I pictured myself working there, traveling, and making international friends. That job changed my life because it was where I met my husband of nearly 15 years (the photo is of us two years ago at our reunion in Disneyland Paris).

My best friend Deb has known me for 20 years and has witnessed my thoughts become reality. She recently wrote the following to a friend: "My friend, Paula always always always wanted to be married by a certain age, wanted a house, dogs, then children by 30.  Guess what?  She has all of these things in the time line she gave herself.  Thoughts become things."

Deb wanted to set her own goals for her life. I suggested she name what she wanted. Perhaps some people don't know what they want, or just don't know how to say what they want. I say, shout it at the top of your lungs!!! Be concise, clear and make them all positive. For example:

I want:

1. to be independently successful

2. to be philanthropic.

3. to earn at least $5,000 per month

After you have listed what you want, make a movie in your head visualizing your achievements. In this scenario, my "movie" would include running a business that is lucrative. I can see myself sitting in my home office, confident and professional. My business would include an aspect that touches the community and makes a difference in people's families. In my "movie" I have a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. My "movie" runs through my head often. I can actually feel myself being in that situation. 

Need more proof that this works? For years I imagined my dream house. It was a big ranch house on a corner lot, surrounded by trees on a large piece of property. Guess what? I live in that house. The one I visualized was brick and mine is wood siding and stucco, but I can live with that. 

Frugal Fryer's Fabulous Finds

 My friends tease me that I can be cheap. Admittedly,  I do enjoy a good bargain and am always searching for ways to save money.  Instead of resisting my "frugal" ways, I have decided to embrace them and share some of my tips and knowledge. After all, with the economy in the pits, we can all benefit from a little extra cash. 

I hope this will become a forum for all of us Los Osos patrons to share ideas, discounts and bargains. If you have any info. on local stores, restaurants, whatever, please scroll to the end of this article, click on "comment" and enter your hot tip.

VONS: Did you know our sorry little Vons is getting a facelift? It will soon have hardwood floors, a florist, and an entire new look to bring it into the new millennium. 

-Right now they have baskets full of "clearance" items that they are trying to get rid of. I bought pull ups for $5, dog treats for $1.75 and cereal for $1.75.  

Other weekly bargains include:

-Red and green grapes for .88 per pound 

-Jennie-O Lean Ground Turkey is buy one get one free.

RALPHS:

-Gala Apples 2 lbs. for $1

- Russet Potatoes - 2 lbs. for $1, 

-Campbell's Soup - 4 cans for $3

Last tip for the week - my friend Erin told me that from Monday thru Thursday, Round Table has a large 2 topping pizza for just $10.99. Guess what we're having for dinner tonight!

Happy Eating and don't forget to leave your shopping tips in the comment section.