I used Random.org to generate a winner in the Pillsbury/Scrapbooking prize pack. I had 101 entries, and Random.org chose comment #33 which was Laura!

Laura said...
Our sweet Sunday morning moments are always shared on our way to sunday school. Our pastor brings donuts for us all, and we grab one on our way to class!

I have emailed Laura and she has already gotten back to me!

Below are the best prices I have found this week in Omaha for the ingredients I need for my Thanksgiving recipes. I thought I would post this in case you are looking for the same ingredients I am!

Turkey

• HyVee Young Whole Frozen Turkey $.49/lb with $25 order (Hy-Vee)
• Norbest Turkey $.47/lb with additional $25 purchase (No Frills)
• Our Family (generic) Premium Turkey $.33/lb (with additional $25 purchase) + buy any turkey on Thanksgiving week, get a coupon for $5 off your next purchase of $50 or more (Bag N Save)
• Jennie-O Turkey (frozen) $.68/lb (Baker's)
• Fresh HoneySuckle Whole Turkey $.98/lb (Baker's)
• Fastco Basted Turkey $.58/lb (Fareway)
• (Super Saver claims to have "Turkey Insurance" and that their Turkey price will be at least $.02 per pound less than the lowest advertised price of their competitors)

Mashed Potatoes

• Russet Potatoes 10 lb bag $1.49 (Aldi's)
• Butter (generic) 16 oz $2.19 (Bag N Save)

Gravy

• Swanson Broth 14 or 14.5 oz $.48 (Hy Vee)

Sage "American" Stuffing/dressing

• Stove Top Dressing 5-6 oz $.88 (with in ad coupon) (Hyvee)

Orange-Cranberry Relish/Sauce

• Ocean Spray cranberries $1.28 (Hyvee)
• Cranberries (generic) $.99 (12 oz bag) (Aldi's)
• Navel Oranges 4 lb bag $1.99 (Fareway)

XiaXia's Rolls (Below are some options in case you don't want to make from sratch!)

• King's Hawaiian Dinner Rolls $2.48 (Super Saver)
• Super Saver Dinner Rolls, white or wheat 12 ct. $.88 (Super Saver)
• Rhodes Dough 18-34.5 oz $3.69 (Bag N Save)
• Pillsbury 8 oz Crescent or 12-13 oz Cinnamon rolls $.97 (Bag N Save)

Yams/Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows

• Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows 10 oz $.78 (No Frills Fresh)
• Fresh Yams $.29/lb (Bag N Save)
• Sweet Potatoes $.33/lb (sold in 3-lb bag for $.99) (Aldi's)

Ambrosia

• Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows 10 oz $.78 (No Frills Fresh)
• Dole Pineapple, Mandarin Oranges or Tropical Fruit 15-20 oz $.99 (Hy-Vee)

Jello Salad

• Jello gelatin 3 oz $.38 (Super Saver)

Olive/Pickle/cheese appetizer tray

• Best Choice Chunk Cheese 8 oz $.98 (Super Saver)
• Our Family Pickles (16 oz Sweet whole gherkins or Bread and butter chips or 24 oz dill spears) $1.69 (Bag N Save)
• Our Family Pitted Olives 6 oz $.99 (Bag N Save)
• Hy-Vee Pickles 24 oz 2/$3 (HyVee)
• Hy-Vee Green olives (selected varieties) 5.75-6 oz $1.18 (Hy-Vee)

Cheese Ball with crackers

• Nabisco Snack Crackers 7-10 oz assorted varieties $1.88 (Fareway)
• Nabisco Ritz Crackers 7.5-16 oz $1.99 (Baker's)

Cranberry Cookies

• Cranberries $.99 (12 oz bag) (Aldi's)
• Butter (generic) 16 oz $2.19 (Bag N Save)
• Nestle Morsels 11-12 oz $1.74 (Super Saver)

Pies

• Sara Lee Assorted Pies 37 oz 2/$5 (Super Saver)
• Pumpkin or Pecan Pie (fresh baked) 24 oz $4.66 (Super Saver)
• Belmont Homestyle Pecan Pie 32 oz $4.99 (Aldi's)
• Mrs Smith Pies assorted flavors 27 oz 2/$5 (Bag N Save)
• Apple Pie filling (generic) 21 oz $1.29 (Aldi's)
• Bake House (generic) Refrigerated Pie Crusts 2 count, 15 oz $1.89 (Aldi's)
• Pillsbury Pet-Ritz Frozen Pie Crusts 2/$4 (Hy Vee)
• Kraft Cool Whip 8 oz $.77 (Bag N Save)

Ham/pickle/cream cheese roll ups

• Hy-Vee Pickles 24 oz 2/$3 (HyVee)
• Our Family Pickles (16 oz Sweet whole gherkins or Bread and butter chips or 24 oz dill spears) $1.69 (Bag N Save)
• Philadelphia Cream Cheese $.69 (8 oz) (Bag N Save)

Green Bean Casserole

• Cupboard (generic) Cream of Mushroom Soup 10.5 oz can $.59 (Aldi's)
• Chef's Cupboard (generic) French Fried Onions 6 oz $1.99 (Aldi's)
• Our Family (generic) vegetables 14.5-15.25oz (includes Green beans) $.25 (No Frills Fresh)

Here are my favorite deals in Omaha grocery this week (As an added bonus, I will also be posting my Thanksgiving list and the best prices for the items I use to make my meal in another post.):

Hyvee

• HyVee Young Whole Frozen Turkey $.49/lb with $25 order
• Swanson Broth 14 or 14.5 oz $.48
• 7-Up 12 packs 4/$10 (with in ad coupon)
• French's Fried Onion 6 oz $2.97
• Dole Pineapple, Mandarin Oranges or Tropical Fruit 15-20 oz $.99
• Hy-Vee Pickles 24 oz 2/$3
• Hy-Vee Green olives (selected varieties) 5.75-6 oz $1.18
• Ocean Spray cranberies $1.28
• Stove Top Dressing 5-6 oz $.88 (with in ad coupon)
• General Mills Cereal 2/$4 (8.7-11.8 oz assorted varieties + Golden Grahams 12 oz)
• Pillsbury Pet-Ritz Frozen Pie Crusts 2/$4

No Frills Fresh

• Norbest Turkey $.47/lb with additional $25 purchase
• Our Family (generic) vegetables 14.5-15.25oz (includes Green beans) $.25
• Coke Product 12 packs 4/$11
• Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows 10 oz $.78
• Bar S Jumbo Franks $.99
• Whole Beef Brisket $1.99/lb

In addition to their regular week long special, No Frills also has a 3 Day Price Buster Sale  Friday 11/19-Sunday 11/21 that includes the following

• Lay's Potato Chips 10.5-11 oz $1.98
• RC Cola, 7 Up, or Dr Pepper 6 pack half liter bottles $1.75

Bag N Save

• Our Family (generic) Premium Turkey $.33/lb (with additional $25 purchase) + buy any turkey on Thanksgiving week, get a coupon for $5 off your next purchase of $50 or more
• Fresh Yams $.29/lb
• Celery $.37/stalk
• Philadelphia Cream Cheese $.69 (8 oz)
• Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers 12 oz $.69
• Pillsbury 8 oz Crescent or 12-13 oz Cinnamon rolls $.97
• Kraft Cool Whip 8 oz $.77
• Mrs Smith Pies assorted flavors 27 oz 2/$5
• Rhodes Dough 18-34.5 oz $3.69
• Butter (generic) 16 oz $2.19
• Our Family Pickles (16 oz Sweet whole gerkins or Bread and butter chips or 24 oz dill spears) $1.69
• Our Family Pitted Olives 6 oz $.99
• Fresh Boneless Chicken Breast $1.99/lb

Baker's (Remember their sales are almost always WITH card)

• Jennie-O Turkey (frozen) $.68/lb
• Fresh HoneySuckle Whole Turkey $.98/lb
• Nabisco Ritz Crackers 7.5-16 oz $1.99
• Coke Products 2 L $1
• Dr Pepper, 7-Up, or A&W products 2 L $.88
• Gerber 2nd Foods 3.5-7 oz $.89 

Aldi

• Cranberries $.99 (12 oz bag)
• Sweet Potatoes $.33/lb (sold in 3-lb bag for $.99)
• Chef's Cupboard (generic) Cream of Mushroom Soup 10.5 oz can $.59
• Chef's Cupboard (generic) French Fried Onions 6 oz $1.99
• Russet Potatoes 10 lb bag $1.49
• Apple Pie filling (generic) 21 oz $1.29
• Bake House (generic) Refrigerated Pie Crusts 2 count, 15 oz $1.89
• Belmont Homestyle Pecan Pie 32 oz $4.99

Super Saver

• Sara Lee Assorted Pies 37 oz 2/$5
• (generic) Frozen Vegetables 14-16 oz $.72
• Jello geletin 3 oz $.38
• Pumpkin or Pecan Pie (fresh baked) 24 oz $4.66
• King's Hawaiian Dinner Rolls $2.48
• Super Saver Dinner Rolls, white or wheat 12 ct. $.88
• Nestle Morsels 11-12 oz $1.74
• Chex cereal 12.8-14 oz $1.58
• Coke or Pepsi Product 24 packs $5.48
• Best Choice Chunk Cheese 8 oz $.98
• Northern Bath Tissue 12 double rolls bonus packs $5.88
• (Super Saver claims to have "Turkey Insurance" and that their Turkey price will be at least $.02 per pound less than the lowest advertised price of their competitors)

Fareway

• Fastco Basted Turkey $.58/lb
• Nabisco Snack Crackers 7-10 oz assorted varieties $1.88
• Navel Oranges 4 lb bag $1.99
• Capri Suns or Kool-Aid Jammers $1.89

***Remember that I generally just price match at Walmart as much as I can rather than go to all the stores separately! I LOVE being able to do that. You can also pricematch at Target, but I find it easier to pricematch at Walmart.

I have to admit that I have not had a chance to go to Dave and Buster's yet, but I have heard it is a ton of fun!! Lots of friends have told me it is the perfect fun night out for grown ups (One friend described it as Chuck E Cheese for adults but even better!) I know they are a fun place for dates and to just go hang out, but did you know they have party rooms there as well?! 

They do, and I think it would be a fantastically fun place to go for a company, holiday, or family party! And guess what?! They have a great promotion going on right now!! If you book a party early, you can get free room rental AND 25% more game play. This offer is only valid if booked before November 24th, so you will want to contact a Dave and Buster's planner today on their website.

As a bit of information from Dave and Buster's,  "Each location is designed to accommodate any kind of gathering with a complete restaurant and an arcade full of the hottest games. With party rooms ranging from the giant Showroom to the Small Party Room, Dave & Buster’s is the place for parties of all sizes – party planners can even rent out the whole place! Attached is a Holiday Guide that covers the various party options."

Now, here is the exciting part!! Dave and Buster's is sending me a $25 Gift Card so I can experience Dave & Buster’s for myself, and a second $25 Power Card for me to give to one of my readers!!! How fantastic is that!!

(Note: When using the Power Card, you will need to see the front desk at your local store to activate the card for that location before it will work properly.)

Here is how to enter the Giveaway (PLEASE make sure to leave an email address in each comment so I can reach you should you win):

MANDATORY ENTRY (Must do this first for other entries to count): Go to Dave and Buster's website and check in the top right corner to see where the nearest location is to you then come back here and leave a comment telling me how close it is in miles. Mine is .44 miles away (yes it really is that close).

Once you have done that, you can get up to 6 extra entries by doing the following things (Just make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry, and leave me your email address in each comment so I know how to contact you should you win):

1. Become a Google Friend follower of my blog (You can do this over on the right side of the blog where the followers box is). If you are already a follower, just let me know that in your comment.

2. Subscribe to my blog via Email or an RSS feed/reader. (Yes-you can use this entry if you are already an email or RSS subscriber- just let me know how you subscribe to my blog).

3. Refer a friend to this blog and leave a comment after they become a follower or subscribe.

4. Become a Facebook fan of the blog here.

5. Tell me how you found this giveaway/blog.

6. Follow me on Twitter here.

This giveaway is for USA and Canada residents only.

Be sure to leave a comment for each entry with your email address. The winner will be chosen using Random.org on Wednesday December 8, 2010 at about 11:59 PM Central Time. FYI that is my daughter's 8th birthday!! So, Happy Birthday Salsa!!

**By way of disclosure I should say Dave and Buster's is providing me with a $25 gift card to check out their place for my self as well as a $25 card to give to a reader. No other compensation was given for this post, and as always all opinions expressed are my own!**

WOW-what a big day on Ah...Deals...Beckeesdeals! This is my 2000th post!! Can you believe it?! I also hit 100 Google followers today! And the most exciting part to me is that I have not even had this blog a year yet! (I started it 12/28/09)

As a reminder, today is also the last day to enter to Pillsbury Prize pack giveaway. Go here to check it out and to enter!!

And while you are at it check out my Babycenter giveaway here.

Also, be on the lookout for ANOTHER great giveaway posting later today from Dave and Buster's!!! (I have 2 more coming as well later this week)

Wes and I read about how high Turkey prices have gotten, so I was pleased today to see that Baker's here in Omaha has 2 different kinds of Turkeys on sale right now. One kind is $.68/lb the other is $.98/lb. I just saw this on a TV ad so I have to do some more research to see what the difference in the birds are, but I am super happy to see the prices falling back down to less than a dollar a pound!!

Also, I heard (have not yet verified) that BagNSave advertised in yesterday's Sunday World-Herald (Which I have not read yet) that they have Our Family brand Grade A Premium Turkey, .33/lb (with $25 additional purchase-that excludes the price of the turkey). This deal should be good through 11/24/10

I have to admit something...I am NOT a frugal Thanksgiving cook. I, in fact, go a bit crazy for Thanksgiving, even when I am just cooking for my family of 6 (2 adults, 4 kids ages 2-7). But, over the last 2 years, while I have been cooking for our family and friends on a budget, I have tried to cut down a bit. Just so you know where I am coming from, let me tell you that in the past, I have taken my mom's Thanksgiving menu and made it all plus a few additions I have added along the years (keep in mind ALL items are made from scratch including the cranberry sauce). So, (prepare for overload and shock) here is my mom's menu Plus my additions (I will denote those with *):

• Turkey
• Mashed Potatoes
• Sage "American" Stuffing/dressing
• "Greek" Dressing
• Cranberry Dressing
• Cranberry sauce
• Orange-Cranberry Relish/Sauce
• Gravy
• XiaXia's Rolls
• Yams/Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows
• Ambrosia
• Jello Salad
• Olive/Pickle/cheese appetizer tray
• Cheese Ball with crackers
• Hot Apple Cider
• Christmas Pudding
• Cranberry Cookies
• Pies-1-2 Pumpkin, the whatever else I feel up to making (Apple, Cherry, cream pies, mince meat)
• Pecan Pie*
• Ham/pickle/cream cheese roll ups*
• Green Bean Casserole*

Ok-I realize that for a family of 6 this is a bit crazy, but I feel like it is not much of a holiday if I am missing anything. However, I am realistic, so I have cut it down a bit, and there are a few things I no longer do from scratch.  So here is the menu as I have streamlined it over the years and which items I no longer make from scratch.  Also, some of the items I make throughout the weeks before and after instead of all on one day (like the desserts).  (Highlit items I still make. Bolded means I have cut it from the menu, and I will put comments next the the items):

• Turkey
• Mashed Potatoes
• Sage "American" Stuffing/dressing (I actually no longer make this from scratch though-we found that our little family likes Stove Top just as well and it is far easier!!)
• "Greek" Dressing (I actually LOVE this, but it is the hardest/most time consuming thing on the menu and I found I am usually the only one to eat it, so I cut it out-it also has expensive ingredients that are not as easy to find here in Omaha as they were to find growing up in Utah).
• Cranberry Dressing (I just cut down to 1 dressing)
• Cranberry sauce ( I just like the one with Orange better so I only make one)
• Orange-Cranberry Relish/Sauce
• Gravy
• XiaXia's Rolls (Admitedly I do not always do these from my XiaXia's recipe/from scratch. Sometimes I opt for pillsbury ones or premade to save time, but I always regret it!)
• Yams/Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows
• Ambrosia (Yes I realize this is both Bolded and highlit-It remains on my menu, but sometimes I don't get to it or have room in the fridge, so it is an iffy one)
• Jello Salad (As with the Ambrosia, this one is one I often end up skipping, and when I do make it, I rarely make the full Jello salad recipe-often it ends up being just jello made by the kids, and that is perfect for our family!)
• Olive/Pickle/cheese appetizer tray (This one really depends on sale prices. I like to have it for people to snack on all day while we cook, but if these items do not go on a great sale leading up to the holiday, they are cut out!)
• Cheese Ball with crackers
• Christmas Pudding (I save this for Christmas if I make it at all-my family is not big fans)
• Cranberry Cookies  (I always make these but usually not right on Thanksgiving-it is part of the Thanksgiving week treats though)
• Pies-1-2 Pumpkin, then whatever else I feel up to making (Apple, Cherry, cream pies, mince meat)
• Pecan Pie*
• Ham/pickle/cream cheese roll ups*
• Green Bean Casserole*

Have you heard of Mist8? According to their website "Mist8 is a revolutionary new all-purpose cleaning spray that tackles the 8 most grueling home cleaning tasks for you."

If you want to try it out go here and fill out the form to request your free sample!

Thanks That Freebie Site.

Lots of places have begun to release their Black Friday ads. As I mentioned in my previous Black Friday post, make sure to double check your local ads on Thanksgiving to make sure what you are looking for is part of your local ad as sometimes they vary regionally and sometimes the early released ads are not exactly the same as the final ads.

That being said, I want to tell you about a website I found and love! It is Black-friday.net. Here are a few reasons I particularly like this Black Friday site:

• They have listed all the Black Friday ads that have been released.
• You can search the lists by store or by item.
• You can sign up for email alerts for when new ads are released.
• You can make yourself a list on their site of the items you are interested in (which is an easier way to make the list I talked about in my previous post).

As an FYI-they have just released the WalMart ad and the Toys R Us ad is already up-those are usually 2 of my favorites and I am going to go look through them in just a minute here!

The Pillsbury gieaway ends on 11/17-just a couple days left to enter!!

Remember to enter BOTH of my giveaways (the BabyCenter one would make a GREAT baby shower gift) There are still LOW entries.

You can enter to win this fun giveaway that includes yummy Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls as well as Scrapbooking items meant for a family fun Sunday brunch! Go here to check it out and to enter!! This giveaway ends this week and has 48 entries right now!!!

AND this next giveaway is perfect for the expecting/new mom OR for a baby shower gift! You can enter to win this fantastic prize package that includes two new BabyCenter parenting books (BabyCenter® Pregnancy and BabyCenter® Baby), a package of Seventh Generation diapers, a gift card from BabyCenter partner, Shutterfly and a BabyCenter bib!!! This giveaway ends on 11/27 (my baby sister's 22 birthday). Go here to check it out and to enter As of this post there are 30 entries-the chances are good.