Start and stop times are British Summer Time, which means this week’s Phantom of the Opera started at 1pm CDT Friday and will end 48 hours after – only a few more hours left!  Due to copyright restrictions they can’t be extended – but wow, what a great way to see live, professional theater for less…FREE!

Andrew Lloyd Webber will be streaming his musicals online for free every week.

Lloyd Webber’s series, The Shows Must Go On, began with his 2000 adaptation of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starring Donny Osmond, Joan Collins and Richard Attenborough.  Last week we enjoyed Jesus Christ Superstar from a 2012 London West End production.  I must say that one totally rocked; there’s a reason London’s West End has an incredible reputation.

The musical will be available on YouTube The Shows Must Go On.

The other day I took a lump from my regular container of dough and mixed in a box of brownie mix (double chocolate with chips!) and my oh, my, a delicious time was had as we ripped off warm pieces while watching the Great British Bake Off.  This is a plain sourdough loaf I look from the oven minutes ago, but why not have fun and experiment?

I’m no longer focusing on the nightmare we went through in 2013 (you can see those posts if you want to search for more pictures) because so many lost more, so here’s a shot of what I now view outside my side windows – can you see my nearest neighbor without binoculars?  Now a DuPage County Wetlands Prairie – with an official sign!  This year prairie grasses will appear because they take longer to germinate than the flowers.  I think something like 55 different seeds were planted – the little house on the prairie, 21st century style 🙂

We’re supposed to get two inserts in this Sunday’s paper (4/19), 1 SmartSource and 1 RetailMeNot. Sometimes you’ll find your paper has divided them differently and not all papers will carry the same coupons or even have the same values.

SmartSource coupon insert – April 19, 2020
Airwick Essential Mist Starter Kit $3/1 (5/17)
Airwick Botanica Scented Oil Starter Kit or Room Spray $1.50/1 (5/17)
Airwick Scented Oil Twin or Triple Refill $1.25/1 (5/17)
Airwick Freshmatic Ultra Starter Kit $3/1 (5/17)
Airwick Freshmatic Ultra Twin Starter Kit – Buy One, Get One Free B1G1 (5/17)
Alaway Antihistamine Eye Drops Packs or ONE Twin Pack $8/2 (6/19)
Alaway Antihistamine Eye Drops $4/1 (6/19)
Bic Soleil, Bic Flex, OR Bic Comfort 3 Hybrid Disposable Razor Pack $4/1 (4/25)
Blue Buffalo Blue Dry Dog Food $3/1 (6/30)
Blue Buffalo Dog Treats $1/1 (6/3)
Boston Market Frozen Item $1/1 (6/14)
Claritin Non-Drowsy Cool Mint Chewables 8ct+ $4/1 (5/17)
Claritin Non-Drowsy Children’s 10 ct+, Reditabs for Juniors 10 ct+, Or Syrup 4oz (exc. Claritin-D) $2/1 (5/17)
Claritin Non-Drowsy 30ct+ Or Children’s Claritin 8oz or 20ct+ (exc. Claritin-D) $6/1 (4/26)
Claritin Non-Drowsy 60ct+ or Children’s Claritin Chewables 60ct (exc. Claritin-D) $10/1 (4/26)
Claritin Non-Drowsy Mint Chewables 24ct $6/1 (4/26)
Claritin-D non drowsy 15 ct $8/1 (4/26)
Claritin-D non drowsy 15 ct $4/1 (5/17)
Clorox Fabric Sanitizer Products $1.50/2 (5/19)
Clorox Fabric Sanitizer Product .75/1 (5/19)
Dole Fridge Packs $1/1 (6/14)
Dr. Scholl’s Insoles ($7.95 or Higher) $5/1 (5/3)
Dr. Scholl’s Freeze Away Wart Remover or Corn, Callus, Bunion or Blister product with Duragel $2/1 (5/3)
Duracell Optimum $2/1 (5/16)
Finish Dishwasher Cleaner $1/1 (5/3)
Finish Jet Dry Rinse Aid $1/1 (5/3)
Jergens Sol any product $3/1 (5/17)
Kerasal Intensive Foot Repair $2/1 (10/30)
Kerasal Fungal Nail Renewal or Kerasal Multi-Purpose Nail Repair $5/1 (10/30)
Kotex Pads or Liners $2/1 (5/16)
Kotex U Tampons $2/1 (5/16)
Opcon-A Allergy Eye Drops 15ml $1/1 (6/19)
Rimmel London any product $2/1 (5/31)
Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Color & Top Coat, inc. the Limited Edition Miracle Gel Donut Cafe Collection $2/1 (5/19)
Sargento Stick or String Natural Cheese .75/1 (6/22)
Sargento Stick or String Natural Cheese $1/1 (6/22)
Sargento Snack Bites Cheese Snacks .75/1 (6/22)
Sargento Balanced Breaks Snacks .75/1 (7/12)
Sargento Balanced Breaks Snacks $1/1 (7/12)
Sargento Snack Bites Cheese Snacks $1/1 (6/22)
Scotch-Brite Scrub Sponges 3, 6 or 9 pack, Advanced Scrub Dots or Glass Cooktop Cleaner $1/2 (5/31)
St. Joseph Low Dose Aspirin $1/1 (6/15)
St. Joseph Aspirin 90ct or Larger $2/1 (6/15)
Stonyfield Organic Single Serve Products OR 1 Large Cup (24-32oz) OR One Multipack (4pk or Larger Inc. Yobaby, Kids and Whole Milk) (Void in LA and NV) $1/3 (5/31)
Toms of Maine Prebiotic Toothpaste, Deodorant or Body Wash $2.50/1 (5/31)
Toms of Maine Prebiotic Liquid Hand Soap or Bar $1.50/1 (5/31)
Toms of Maine any item $1/1 (5/31)
Werther’s Original $1/2 (5/31)
Werther’s Original .50/2 (5/31)

RetailMeNot Everyday coupon insert – April 19, 2020
Allegra Allergy 24HR 24ct+ or Children’s Allegra Allergy Product $4/1 (4/25)
Almay Eye Cosmetic $3/1 (4/18)
All Laundry product $1/1 (5/10)
Axe Body Wash $1.25/1 (5/3)
Benadryl Product ETS $1/1 (5/2)
Crest Toothpaste or Liquid Gel 3 oz + $1/1 (5/2)
Crest Multi-pack Toothpaste 3.0oz+ ETS $2/1 (5/2)
Dove Amplified Textures Hair Care Products ETS $2/1 (5/3)
Dove Hair Care products $2/2 (5/3)
Dove Men & Care Hair Care $2/2 (5/3)
Flonase 60ct + $5/1 (5/2)
Flonase 120ct+ $10/1 (4/26)
Fungicure any product $4/1 (4/29)
Fungicure any product $2/1 (6/30)
Hellmanns Real Mayonnaise Product .25/1 (5/3)
Listerine Mouthwash (500ml or Larger) $1/1 (5/17)
Listerine Ready! Tabs Product 8ct+ $1/1 (5/17)
Love Home & Planet EasyDose Ultra Concentrated Laundry Detergent $2/1 (5/3)
Love Beauty & Planet liquid hand wash products $1/1 (5/3)
Love Beauty & Planet products $1.50/1 (5/3)
Love Beauty & Planet products $4/2 (5/3)
Purina 5.5 oz cans or One (1) count Variety Pack of Friskies Wet Cat Food Any Variety $2/32 (6/19)
Purina Friskies cans 5.5oz Stuf’d & Sauc’d or Ten (10) 3.5 oz pouches of Friskies Warm’d & Serv’d Wet Cat Food any variety $2/10 (6/19)
Purina Grain Free, Select 10, Simple Goodness or Superfood Blend Dry dog Food 2lb+ Bag or Carton $3/1 (5/19)
Purina Beneful Wet Dog Food 9-10 oz Tubs or 3ct/3oz Sleeves $2/4 (5/19)
Renuzit Snuggle Oil Refill or Oil Diffuser $3/1 (5/3)
Renuzit Adjustables Air Freshener Cones – Buy 4, Get 2 FREE B4G2 (5/3)
Seventh Generation EasyDose Ultra Concentrated Laundry Detergent $2/1 (5/3)
Suave Men Hair Care $1/1 (5/3)
Suave Green Range Professionals Shampoo or Conditioner Product $1/1 (5/3)
Suave Professionals Shampoo or Conditioner $1/1 (5/3)
Talenti Gelato or Sorbetto $1/1 (5/3)
Tresemme Pro Pure $5/2 (5/3)
Tresemme Pro Collection Shampoo or Conditioner $4/2 (5/3)
Zyrtec Adult product (70ct) product $10/1 (4/25)
Zyrtec Adult product 24-45ct Product $4/1 (5/2)

Face masks have become an emblem in the fight against the coronavirus, with officials in the United States and elsewhere recommending — and in some cases requiring — that people wear them to help slow the spread of the deadly outbreak. Here’s four popular masks and their effectiveness from an article in The New York Times, which is offering free coronavirus-related articles.

As if grocery shopping isn’t already stressful enough these days, you may find that when you do have to venture out – plenty of other people had the same idea at the same time. And with many stores limiting the number of shoppers allowed inside at one time, you could find yourself cooling your heels outside for as long as an hour or more, waiting for your turn to get your groceries.  From checking customer count to making a reservation to shop, here are some ways grocery stores are coping with social distancing as reported in this Coupons in the News article.

Way to kick paper coupons when they’re down!  This is one of the goofiest reasons yet to stop printing inserts and sadly enough they pay consultants for this advice.  Here’s the Coupons in the News article.

Concerns about the coronavirus have prompted several stores and delivery services to stop accepting paper coupons indefinitely. But that’s just fine with Ibotta and about 20 of its partner brands. Not because they don’t want you to save money, but because they want to help save the planet.

An article from HuffPost about what you can and can’t make at home for disinfecting when you can’t find the stuff in stores or don’t want to go out (no, vodka isn’t an actual ingredient).  These days, even clean freaks are getting a run for their money. In order to keep the coronavirus at bay, it’s important to disinfect your kitchen, bathrooms ― even the air ― sometimes multiple times per day. But with the recent panic-buying that’s wiped store shelves clean of commercial disinfectants, you might not have the usual products on hand.

Fortunately, you can make DIY hand sanitizer, disinfecting spray and wipes. Here’s what you need to know about making your own cleaning products that kill the coronavirus.