As summer vacation season approaches, my family is looking at ways to stretch our travel dollars.  One of my favorite ways is to pack as much food as possible for us to eat while traveling.

• Before each trip, make sure that each person has a securely lidded cup with his name on it.  This is especially true when planning a trip to an amusement park or some other areas that will not allow you to picnic inside the gates.  These can be filled over and over again at water fountains.
• For on the road eating, pack a lunch box for each child with assorted snacks that he particularly likes.   To keep things healthy, include some small ziptop bags of chunky cereal mixed with raisins, easy to eat fresh fruits like apples and bananas, granola bars, peanut butter sandwiches on homemade bread, etc.  Then, whenever anyone complains about being hungry, allow him to pull one item out of his box for a snack
• Store a gallon each of milk and frozen water in your cooler.  The water will keep the milk cold and, as it melts, provide cool drinks to refill cups.   To keep both bathroom trips and cost down, have each child alternate a cup of water with a cup of milk.  Just be sure to rinse out all the cups at each stop.
• If the hotel in which you are staying does not offer a complimentary breakfast, create your own.  Bring with you boxes of cereal or homemade frozen muffins that you can put out to thaw the night before.  Serve with milk and fresh fruit.
• Try to book a hotel room with a microwave oven.  Then, for the weeks leading up to your trip, freeze individual portions of leftovers meals in disposable containers.  Pack these, frozen solid and labeled, in your freezer.  Keep a list of what you have in on hand and let each person pick his favorite meal to microwave for dinner.  Supplement each choice with fresh fruit and/or raw veggies and dip.
• Another option for a room with a microwave is hamburgers.  Grill and freeze hamburger patties or hot dogs before you leave home.  Warm these in the microwave and serve with all your favorite condiments, fresh fruit and veggie sticks.
• Even if you don’t have a room with a microwave, you can still prepare some healthy dinners.  Here are several dinner suggestions, along with what to pack where:
  • Chicken Caesar Salad.  In cooler:  frozen grilled chicken breasts, romaine lettuce.  In box:  Unopened Caesar dressing, croutons, grated Parmesan cheese.
  • Sub Sandwiches.  In cooler:  frozen package of lunch meat, sliced cheese, lettuce, tomato.  In box:  Hoagie rolls and/or bagels, small jars of mayo and mustard (use it all or store leftover in cooler).
  • Cheese Plate.  In cooler:  chunks and slices of cheese, soft cheese spread and fresh fruit  In box:  different rolls and cracker.

When she’s not busy clipping coupons, Susan Mathis blogs for thecouponcupboard.com and tries to keep up with her two younger children, son who’s out of the nest, and wonderful husband, James.

Photo Credit: Best Teen Diets Blog

I’ve had a subscription to Good Housekeeping Magazine for as long as I can remember. Not long after I was married, my Mother-in-law purchased me a subscription. It was one of those things that just started showing up in my mailbox monthly, and I had no clue where it came from. Months later my Mother-in-law asks if I’m enjoying my subscription.

Ah Ha! The case of the mystery subscription is solved!

Having the opportunity to tour the Good Housekeeping Research Institute as part of of the SUPERVALU Essentials Everyday event was an amazing opportunity! First of all, the Hearst Building is an architectural dream. Not only is the building itself visually appealing; it is the most “green” building in New York City.

After heading up the elevator you enter the sleek, glass surround office of the Good Housekeeping Research Institute. Upon entering , one is greeted with a huge seal representing the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. Surrounding the seal are various products that have met the rigorous requirements to gain the seal. Rolling images of past Good Housekeeping Magazine editions are even displayed. I was quiet intrigued with the magazine covers from years past.

We learned a brief history of how and why Good Housekeeping Magazine was established in 1885. At the time of inception, there really weren’t guidelines for products.  There was no way for consumers to know which products they should purchase or even if the product worked as claimed.  The Good Housekeeping Research Institute is dedicated to improving the lives of consumers by providing product education and evaluation.

I can definitely tell you that products endorsed my Good Housekeeping have truly been tested and put through the ringer so to speak. Experts such as Chemists and Textile Professions use cutting edge technology and hands on human testing to thoroughly evaluate each product.

A few pictures of what I enjoyed seeing:

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I’m here in New York for my 2nd and final day learning about SUPERVALU Essential Everyday products.

Yesterday, I mingled with several bloggers from across the US whom specialize in various SUPERVALU Grocery stores.  We toured the Good Housekeeping Research Institute and got a behind-the-scenes look at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute lab and test kitchens to see how products and recipes are tested.  It was incredibly fascinating to see how they test products and the countless hours of work, research and rigorous testing that products go through to earn the Good Housekeeping seal of approval.

Dinner gave us a chance to create a meal featuring Essential Everyday and other SUPERVALU private-brand products with a hands-on experience at Home Cooking New York.  This was my first experience at a Home Cooking Party.  It turned out to be fantastic experience with delicious food to boot.  I’ll be sharing some of the recipes we created over the coming weeks.

Today, the Essential Foods for Every Season kicks off with speakers from the SUPERVALU family. I will even get the chance to be up close and personal with Antonia Lofaso, Executive Chef at Black Market Liquor Bar, fan favorite and finalist on Bravo’s “Top Chef All-Stars,” Bravo’s “Top Chef” and author of “The Busy Mom’s Cookbook” (Avery, Penguin Group USA)!!!!

I’m super excited for Antonia Lofaso to lead us through a feast of four seasons of flavors — each featuring Essential Everyday products.  In addition to SUPERVALU recipes, Antonia Lofaso will be sharing a couple of the recipes from her “The Busy Mom’s Cookbook”!

I’ll be home tonight ready to see my family and share my new experiences and delicious recipes with you.

Disclosure:  SUPERVALU was gracious enough to provide me with a trip to NY for the event.  No other compensation was received.  All opinions are 100% my own and may differ from others.

Tomorrow (05/31) is the LAST DAY for the Virginia Sales Tax Holiday.  Water is one of the tax FREE items, so here is a list of the current sales at your local stores.

CVS: Deer Park Spring (24 pk 16.9 oz bottles) $3.77- limit 3
CVS: Poland Spring (24 pk 16.9 oz bottles) $3.77- limit 3
CVS: Aquafina (12-16.9 oz 12 pk or 16.9-24 oz 6 pk) $3.00

Farm Fresh: Deer Park Natural Spring Water 24 Case of 1/2 Liter Bottles $3.33
Farm Fresh: Deer Park Natural Spring Water Sumo Bottle 3 liters $1.00
Farm Fresh: Deer Park Natural Spring Water 2.5 gallon $2.50
Farm Fresh: Super Chiller Gallon $0.99
Farm Fresh: Deer Park Water 6-pk B1G1 $3.33

Food Lion: My Essentials Drinking Water 24 Pack, .5 Liter Bottles $2.99
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These are such great and easy freebies from CVS!

Head over to the MinuteClinic Facebook page to score a freebie from CVS! Simply enter your email address and zip code to have your coupon for a FREE Full Size Moisturizing Body Wash emailed to you within 24 hours.

Registration for this offer will be open until 11:59 PM ET on 5/11/12. Offer expires 5/20/12 or while supplies last. Offer valid in
store only. Not available in New York. One per household. Must be age 18 or over.

Thanks, Southern Savers!

Below are some coupons to help with Spring Cleaning:

• SAVE $1.00 on any Glade® PlugIns® Scented Oil warmer
• SAVE 50¢ on any Pledge® Multi Surface product
• SAVE 75¢ on any Scrubbing Bubbles® Active Scrub Cream Cleanser
• SAVE $1.00 on any (1) ONE 28oz Purex® Crystals bottle or larger (Coupon not valid for trial or travel size items)
• SAVE $10.00 off any Holmes® or Bioniare® aer1 Ready™ Air Purifier retail value $49.99 or less. In-store purchases only.
• SAVE $1.00 on any two (2) Windex® Multi-Surface products
• SAVE $20 on a Sweep debris & steam mop in 1 step with BISSELL Steam&Sweep™
• SAVE $1.00 off any Wisk® Deep Clean™ Laundry Detergent 45oz or larger
• SAVE 75¢ on any two (2) Shout® Color Catcher
• FREE Buy any Glade® Expressions™ Oil Diffuser starter kit, get a refill FREE (up to $5.99)