Money Matters

Great grocery deals this week!!! Here's a few for ya:

November 17 - 25:

*Fry's:
- milk - $1.59/gal.
- potatoes - .57/5lbs!
- Lay's potato chips - $1.77
- Cool Whip/Dole Pineapple, Mandrin Oranges/Kroger cottage cheese, sour cream, dip/Philadelphia cream cheese/Heinz gravy/Betty Crocker potatoes - $1 ea.
- GM cereal - $1.49 ea. WYB4
- Ritz/Nabisco crackers - $1.88
- Kroger/Kraft shredded or bar cheese (6-8 oz.) - $1.50-$2.20 (50% off)
- Coke/Pepsi 12 pk. - 4/$9
- Jennie-o frozen turkey - .29/lb. WYspend $25
- Nestle Toll House Morsels - $1.98
- C & H Powdered/Brown sugar - $2
- Fry's eggs, 18 ct. - $1.50
- Aunt Hattie's Potato/wheat rolls, 12-14 oz. - $2
- Fry's vegetable/canola oil, 48 oz. - $1.99
- bananas - .49/lb.
- 30% off ANY toy item with in-ad coupon!!! (There was also one in Sunday's ad as well!)

* Albertson's:
- Honeysuckle frozen turkey - .39/lb. with additional $25 purchase
- Coke, 12 pk. - 4/$10 WYB4 (limit 4)
- Dryer's ice cream, 1.5 qt./Haagen Dazs bars, 14 oz. ice cream - $1.99 (limit 2)
- Sara Lee pies - $1.99 (limit 2)
- Lay's potato chips/Nabisco crackers - $1.77 ea. (limit 2 ea.)
- Simply Juice/Challenge Butter/Ocean Spray juice - $1.99 ea. (limit 2 ea.)
- Betty Crocker cake mix or frosting - .69 ea. WYB5
- Campbell's cream of chicken/mushroom - .39 (limit 4)
- Pictsweet veggies (14-16 oz.) - .77 ea.
- BC potatoes/Heinz gravy/Stove Top/Dole pineapple, oranges/Albertson's olives/Carnation evap. milk/Cool Whip/ Ocean Spray Cranberry sauce - $1 ea.
- Quaker chewy granola bars - 2/$4
- Reddi-wip - $2
- GM/Kellogg's/Quaker cereal - $2.50
- McCormick Spices - 50% off
- Free dozen eggs WYB4:
* Pillsbury - crescent rolls, Ready To Bake, Create 'n Bake, Simply cookies, pie crusts - 2/$5
* Bisquick - Shake 'n Pour/ BC - supreme brownies, muffin mix - 2/$4
* Pillsbury Grands biscuits, crescent rolls, cinnamon/orange rolls - 2/$3

* Safeway:
- 5lb. box Mandarin oranges - $3.97
- Safeway frozen turkey (8-24 lbs.) - .39/lb. w/ $25 purchase
- Safeway frozen turkey (up to 16 lbs.) FREE w/ $100 purchase
- Safeway frozen turkey (up to 22 lbs.) FREE w/ $150 purchase
- Sara Lee frozen desserts - B1G1 Free!
- 10lb. bag potatoes - .99
- Hebrew National beef franks - B1G1 free = 2/$6
- GM Honey Nut Cheerios/Lucky Charms - $2.22
- Coke 2L. - .99
- Chex cereal - $1.99 ea. WYB3
- BC cake mix - .99
- BC frosting/cookie pouches - B1G1 free = 2/$2.79

Happy Shopping!! :)

Money Matters

Yes, I missed Monday - yet again! :( Just wanted to post a few good deals for this week!! (Sorry, no time for coupons this time - I've been a slacker & haven't cut mine out for a few weeks!!!) :(

November 10 - 16:
Fry's-
**Buy 10 items & save $5:
-Campbell's Chunky/Select Harvest soups - .99
- Gatorade - .49
- Quaker Chewy Granola bars - $1.49
- Cap 'N Crunch cereal - $1.49
- Red Baron pizza - $2.49
- Hot Pockets/Smart Ones/Stouffer's Entrees - $1.49
- Steamers/Kroger Potatoes/McCain Sweet Potato Fries - .99
- American Beauty/Ronzoni/Healthy Harvest Pasta - .79
- Hormel Chili - .89 (**It's Gluten Free!!!) :)
- Ken's Salad Dressing/Herdez or La Victoria salsa - $1.49
- Simply Potatoes - .99
- 7-Up/RC/Sunkist 2L. - .79
- Carnation/Pet evaporated milk - .69
- Cheez-Its/Snyder's Pretzels/Planter's Peanuts - $1.99
- Annie's Mac & Cheese - .49
- Nestle Cookie Dough/Pillsbury Pie Crust - $1.99
- Honey Maid graham crackers/Nilla Wafers - $1.99
- Nestle Pure Life Water, 24 pk, 16.9oz. - $2.99

Not Part of Buy 10 deal:
- Fry's milk, 1 Gal. - $1.67
- Red seedless grapes - .88/lb.
- Fry's dozen eggs - .99
- Kroger sugar, 4lb. - $1.77
- Pepsi 12pk. - 4/$10
- Fry's powdered/brown sugar, 2lb. - $1.66
- Cool Whip/Kroger Cream Cheese, 8oz. - .99
- Betty Crocker cake mixes - .88

Albertson's:
- Gold Medal Flour, 4.25-5lbs. - .99
- Pepsi, 12pk. - 4/$10 (must buy 4)
- Blue Bunny ice cream - $2.27
- Fritos/Cheetos/Doritos - 3/$5 (limit 3)
- Crystal Geyser Water, 24pk, 16.9oz./Tropicana OJ, 59oz. - $2.50
- BAR-S Bacon, 16oz. - BOGO (2/$5.99 = $3 ea.)
- Chex Cereal - 3/$5 (must buy 3)
- Nestle chocolate chips - $2
- GM cereal - 3/$8 (Receive a coupon for a FREE gallon of milk WYB3!!)
- Barilla pasta sauce - 2/$5 (Get 2 FREE boxes of Barilla pasta WYB2 jars!)
- Apples - $1/lb. (just about every type!!)

Safeway:
- Avocados - .68
- Fresh Express salads - .99
- Ruffles potato chips - BOGO (2/$3.99 = $2 ea.)
- Rice-A-Roni - .99
- Frozen foods - select varieties - B2G1 FREE!
- Old El Paso Taco Shells - .99

Fresh & Easy:
- Pepsi 12pk. - 4/$9 (Must buy 4!)
- F & E pasta, 16oz. - .99
- Nestle morsels, assorted varieties - 2/$4 (must buy 2)
- Cinch Graham Cracker Pie Crusts, 6oz. - 2/$2 (must buy 2)
- Kraft Mac & Cheese - 4/$3 (must buy 4)

**Once again, these aren't all the great deals, but a few!! Happy shopping!! :)

Cutest Shirt Ever!!

OK - so this is the cutest shirt ever!!! Found it over at Get Your Craft On & it almost makes me want to have another one, just to be able to wear it . . . . . ALMOST!!! ;)

Bargain!!

Well, I guess I'm "off" once again!! (Kinda the story of my life!!) ;) I didn't manage to get my Monday post done, but I do have a good deal to share!!! :) While shopping at Goodwill, (or Goodjohn's as Hunter refers to it - so it's "Goodjohn's" at our house!!) :), and looking for costume parts, I came across this great deal:


A practically brand-new office chair!!! It's not real leather, of course, but who cares!! It was in awesome shape & sooooooo much better than the cheapie chair we had!!! (And, like always, I came home & sanitized the heck outta it!!! :) Here's the best part. . . . . it was only $14.99!!!!! Woooo-hoooo!!! :) And as I'm sitting in it right now, I can tell you it feels so much better than the other chair too!!! ;)

Dress-Up Box

OK - I'm sure everyone out there with kids, has some form of "dress-up" box, stash, closet, etc.!!! Well, we do for sure!! (Ours is practically over-flowing!!) I don't like my kids to wear their actual Halloween costume to school, so I always come up with a quick & easy 2nd costume that can be worn at school!! Well, with Activity Day, a book report, 4 Halloween costumes, etc, etc, . . . . I didn't manage to create an elaborate 2nd costume, so off to the dress-up box I went!! :) Being that Noah was the only one "allowed" to wear a costume at school, (Madelyn's bummed that she's in the "upper grades" now!! :( , I figured it would be easy to find something for him with all the JUNK (I mean great dress up stuff) the boys have!! ;) We managed to come up with a vest, tattered pants, an eye patch, and a few other things & ta-da. . . . . a PIRATE!! :) Not too original, but it will work!! Noah is so easy to please & is excited to wear it all tomorrow!! (I think mostly for the clip-on earring!!) ;)

Money Matters Monday

Alright - ready for some good deals this week??? :) (Sorry, gonna combine Monday & Tuesday into one post!!) :) - - They're both about saving money, so it works!! ;)

**For coupons - just going to say "- $1" - meaning "minus $1", and since all stores are doubling to $1, it will save me time!!

** 10/20- 10/26/10 **

Great deals @ Fry's:
- Milk 1/2 gal. - .88
- Kroger cheese (6-8oz.) - $1.66
- Post cereal - $1.99
- Go-Gurt - $2 -$1 off 2 = 2/$3
- Dial hand soap (7.5 oz./ 2-ct. bars) - $1 -$1 = FREE!!
- Crest toothpaste (4.6 oz.) - $1 -$1 = FREE!!
- Dawn dish soap ( 9.5-10.3 oz.) - $1 -$1 = FREE!!
- Progresso Soup - $1 -$1/4 = 4/$3
**Buy 10:
- Freschetta pizza - $3.49 -$1 = $2.49
- Red Baron Pan pizza - $3.49 -$1 = $2.49
- Jose Ole Taquitos - $2.49 -$1 = $1.49
- Eggo Waffles - $1.49

Great Deals @ Albertson's:
- Doritos - $1.99
- Coke 12pks.- 4/$10
- Bryers Ice Cream (1.5 qt.) - $2.50
- Nestle Fun Size Candy Bars - $1.66 - possibly use $1/2 Butterfinger Snackers = 2/$2.32
- Kool-Aid Jammers & Nabisco Chips Ahoy - $1.74 ea. -$1.50 WYB BOTH = .99 ea.
- Santitas Tortilla Chips - $1.77
- Kraft Mac & Cheese 5-pk. - $3.99
- Hansen's Natural Apple juice (64 oz.) - $1.50
- Brach's Candy Corn (9.5 - 11oz.) - $1
- Frozen Food - 10- 40% off!!
** Buy 4/save $4:
- GM Cereal (Trix, Cheerios, Chex, Golden Grahams, Kix, Cocoa Puffs, Cinnamon Toast Crunch) - $1.47 -$1/2 = 2/$1.94 - go HERE to print more cereal coupons = FREE!!
- Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks - $1.47
- Fiber One Toaster Pastries - $1.47 -$1 = .47
- Herdez salsa (16 oz.) - $1.50 -$1 = .50

Great Deals @ Safeway:
- Bananas - .39/lb.
- Ragu (16-26 oz.) - $1.25
- Coke 12pks.- 4/$12.98 + 2 FREE boxes of Nabisco crackers (Good deal only if you plan on buying crackers anyway - pop is $5.99ea - B2G2 - crackers are about $1.50 ea.)
- Gala/Granny Smith/Red Delicious Apples - .50/lb.
- Rice-A-Roni - .88
** With in-ad coupon & $10 purchase:
- Lucern 18 ct. eggs - $1.79
- Ken's Salad dressing - $1.49
- Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks - .99
**Friday - Monday only:
- Pumpkins - B1G1 Free!!
- Progresso Soup - .99 -$1/4 = 4/$2.96
- Doritos - $1.79

Now you've got a day & 1/2 to get your coupons ready!! Best of luck!!! ;)

Dance Bag

WOW!! I actually managed to fit in a project in our busy Fall Break week!!! :) - - Not saying it was a super elaborate one, but a project is a project!! ;)

Madelyn performed at the State Fair, so she wanted a cute dance bag. She had a pink bag that I had made a while back, but was starting to look a little blah! (Not to mention had a lovely blue ink stain!!) So, I got out my supplies & jazzed it up a bit!! Perfect for carrying her dance shoes!! :)

The before:

The after:


Simply pulled off the old ribbon & flower (not pictured), cut strips of fabric & hot glued them on:

Then, hot glued silver wired tinsel/ribbon along edges to cover up fabric edges:

Cut squares of fabric, (I believe I used 4?? Maybe 3 in.- sorry, didn't measure!) :( , then frayed the edges a bit, pinched the center together, making a "bow", then fold that in half:

Simply glue the folded "bow" down & repeat with the other squares until you make a circle!! (Sorry - once again, no picture!!) :(

Next, I took a small chipboard circle & covered it with ribbon - didn't have one (or a button) in the color & size I needed, so made my own embelishment:

Then, added a little white button & a diamond accent on top of the pink ribbon & tied a few strips of ribbon & tinsel to the handles!! Ta-da!! A new (or updated) dance bag!! Madelyn loved it, so I guess that's all that matters, right!!?? :)

Albertson's Update

I was so excited with my good deals, that I just had to post again!! :) I got 21 items & my total was $21.20!!!! HOWEVER. . . . it might have been even cheaper, had I paid attention to what I was doing!! (Got caught up in all my good deals!! ;) I bought TWENTY items, thinking I had to buy in sets of 10!! Duh!! I only had to buy SIXTEEN - 2 sets of 8!!! Sooo, I don't know what I paid the sale price for, instead of the Mix & Match price!! (Sale price was only about .50 more, so nothing major!!) Any who - I bought 20 "sale" items & 1 bottle of Canola oil (on sale, but not Mix & Match!). This is what I got for $21.20:

**The oil was $3, so that means I got the other 20 items for $18!! That's .90 each!!! Cereal for .90???!! And the Reeces Puffs was the BIG 22 oz. box!!! Yes, I know - kinda pathetic that I get excited about coupons!!! ;)

Grocery Tip Tuesday - on Wednesday! :)

Ok - so being that Monday was a holiday, I didn't get my grocery ads until today!! :( Oh well, I guess better late than never!! Here are some great deals at Albertson's this week (10/13-10/19) - hopefully I'll be able to add the other stores later!!!

**If you haven't signed up with Betty Crocker/Pillsbury/General Mills before, go HERE & sign up to be able to print some great coupons!!!**

* Albertson's-

MUST BUY 8:
-Totino's Pizza Rolls - .99
- Betty Crocker Cookie Mix - .99 - use .40 off 1 = FREE -AD!! (after doubling) Also, use .40 coupon from the link above & get more free!!
- Pillsbury Simply... cookie dough - $1.99 - use .55 off 1/= .99 - AD
- Hamburger Helper - .99
- Pillsbury Sweet Moments - $1.99 - use $1 off 1 (link above) = .99 ea!
- General Mills Cereal - $1.49-$1.99 - use .55/1, $1/2, $1/3 = .99 - $1.66 ea!!
- Chex Mix - .99 - use .50 off 1(link above) = FREE - AD!! or use .50 off 2 = 2/$1
- Betty Crocker fruit snacks - $1.49 - use .50 off 2 = 2/$2 AD
- Nature Valley granola bars - $1.99 - use .50 off 1, .75 off 2 = FREE - AD, or 2/$3

DO NOT HAVE TO BUY 8:
- 1/2 gal. milk - .88
- Gold Medal flour - $1
- Barilla Pasta - $1
- Kraft marshmallows - $1
- Arrowhead 6-pk bottled water - $1
- Softsoap 7.5 oz liquid soap - $1 - use .35 off 1 = FREE - AD!

**OK - so there are a bunch more, but I'm off to Albertson's myself, so no time to post all the great deals!!! ;)

Another Week, Another Deal!!

OK - so this is kind of turning into my "good deals" blog!!! :( Hopefully I'll have some crafty stuff to post soon!!! It's way easier for me to pick up a good deal when I'm out & about, than it is for me to find the time to make something!!! - - Priorities, priorities!! ;)

With that said, here's what I've found recently:

- FINALLY got my Arrowhead Aqua Pods @ Albertson's!! They were gone every time I went the first week, then, when they were cheaper, I went back & found some!! I got 6 - 8 pks. for only $3!!! Woo hoo!! ;) (First 4 were $0.88 ea., the other 2 were $1 ea. & had 2 $1 off coupons, so those 2 were FREE!!!)

- Went to Goodwill, (or Goodjohn's as Hunter calls it!!), and found costumes for both my girls - Olivia's was $8 & Madelyn's was $6!!! They're gonna be so cute - can't wait to show 'em off. . . .but you'll have to wait!!!!!! :)

- Found a 3-pk. of boys undies for $2.41 @ Target!!

- Got a cute camera case for $3.24 @ Target!!

Grocery Tip Tuesday

Most of you do this on your own, however, a few people have asked me about my couponing (my new word) & so I thought it I'd share great grocery deals that start on Wednesday!! Here are a few good deals I've found:
* FRY'S: - 10/06/10
(must buy 10!!)
- Coke 2L - $0.79
- Kraft Mac & Cheese or Easy Mac cups - $0.49
- Quaker Quakes - $0.49
- Kellogg's Fruit Snacks - $1.49 - use $1.00/2 coupon = 2/$2!!
- Arrowhead 24-pk, 16.9 oz. bottled water - $2.99
- Wonka Candy 9.47-12 oz. - $1.47 - use $0.50 coupon = $0.47 (after doubling)
-DiGiorno pizza - $3.99 - use (either $1/or $0.50 off - can't remember- used mine last week!) = $2.99
-Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough - $1.99 - use $1/1 = $0.99
-Kraft BBQ sauce - $0.49
- Jell-O Pudding/Gelatin cups - $1.79 - use $0.60/1 = $0.79

Not part of the buy 10 deal:
-Kellogg's cereal - $1.88
- Progresso Soup - $1 - use $1/4 coupon = 4/$3 (it's also on sale @ Safeway for $0.99 if you buy 4, so if you want to save $0.04 or already going there, then it's cheaper there!)
-Campbell's Healthy Request/Condensed soup - $1 - use $0.50/2 = 2/$1

* Albertson's:
- Purex - $1.99 (1st 2)
- Ken's Salad Dressing - $0.99 - use $1/1 = $0.01 CREDIT!!
- Arrowhead Aqua Pod 8pk bottled water - $0.88 - use $0.75/1 = $0.12 CREDIT!!
- Quaker cereal, granola bars, oatmeal, Aunt Jemima pancake mix, syrup - $1 ea WYB5 & use $3/5 in-ad coupon = 5/$5
- Milk - $1.77/gal. (limit 2)
- Kool-Aid FunFizz - $1.99 - use $1/1 = $0.99
- Pop Secret popcorn 3 ct. - $2 - use $0.50/2 = 2/$3
- General Mills Cereal - $1.99 - use $1/2 = 2/$3

* Safeway:
- 7-up/Pepsi 2L. - $0.88 - use B1G1 FREE =2/$0.88
- Barilla/Classico pasta sauce - 2/$4 - use $0.75/1 & buy 2 = 2 jars Barilla for $3 & 2 FREE boxes Barilla pasta!!! (So, 2 jars of sauce & 2 boxes of pasta = $3!!)
- Milk - $1.77/gal. (limit 2)
- Progresso soup - $0.99 ea (WYB4) - use $1/4 = 4/$2.96
- Coke 24 pk - $5.49 ea (WYB2) = 2 - 24pks/ $11 (like 4 -12pks for $11!)

OK - so there are other good deals, but those are just a few at each store!! Good luck! :)

Money Matters Monday

Monday already?? Geez - time sure flies when you're busy!! :) Well, unfortunately, I didn't score that many great deals this week!! :( However, I did get:
- These 2 cute shirts 4 my Ladybug - only $2.50 each @ Wal-Mart:

- Barilla pasta - SIX boxes for $3 @ Fry's!!
- $5.00 off a box of diapers @ Target by stacking coupons!!
- a rain check for Aqua Pods water @ Albertson's - will get 2 - 8 pks FREE!!! (If you didn't get any water, or a rain check, don't worry, they're going to be even cheaper on Wed!!) ;)

Oh yeah - I sold the Cricut!!! Woo hoo - made $50!!! :) (However, if the lady had paid attention to the Jo-Ann's ad, she could have bought it for less than $100 if she went to the 1-day only sale!!! - - Yeah me!! ;)

General Conference Packet

Ready for conference this weekend?? Just in case you need it, here's a fun packet for the kids!!

Conference Packet
(From The Idea Door)

A Little Behind

OK - so I haven't "got around" to much of anything crafty lately!! (Well, nothing finished anyway!!) My "Money Matters Monday" post has been delayed a few days, being that it is now Wednesday!! However, with that said, here are just a couple of my deals for the week:

1. Super cute shoes for Ladybug - Target of course!! ;) Only $3.24!!


2. Pamela's gluten-free chocolate chip cookies - usually between $4-$5 . . . got 'em for $0.50 @ Wal-Mart!!! (Of course I had to buy FOUR boxes!!! - And NO, they weren't expired!!) ;)


3. OK - - so you ready for the deal of a lifetime???? (Drum roll please!!!) At Wal-Mart, I got a Cricut Create foooooorrrrrrrrrr. . . . $45!!!! It was $149 (and $199 @ Target!!!)!!

Can you believe it??? I've got it on Craigslist right now, (being that I already have one), for only $100 - which is still super cheap, so hopefully I can make a little $ off of it!!! ;) Anyone out there interested??????? ;)

4. Cute cupcake stand (Wal-Mart again), for only $2.50!! It holds 24 cupcakes, comes with 24 liners & little crown picks!!! Can't wait to use it - and with 2 girls, we'll use it lots!!:)

Money Matters Monday

Been a busy week - seems like it was just Monday!!!

Well, here are my great deals since last time - of course, all were at Target - don't ask how many times I went there though!! :) - -

1. A cute pink desk lamp for only $1.48:

2. A backpack for $3.74, a lunch bag for $1.75 (and another one for $2.48 that's not pictured), and a 3-ring binder for $0.98:

3. Not pictured: a bag (12 oz.) of M & M's for $1; a (9.5 oz.) bag of Wonka chocolate for $1; Skintimate shaving cream for $0.49; Reach dental floss for FREE!!!; about 4 packs of Cynthia Rowley (26 count) diapers - normally $12.99 each, on clearance for $6.48 - with coupons I paid between $2.48 - $4 each!!!! (actually the diapers were a couple weeks ago, just forgot to post them last time!!) ;)

The items in #3 were all bought using AWESOME coupons!!! Did you know that you can stack (combine) coupons at Target???? I didn't until just recently, and now I do it every time I go!! Here's a few tricks:
a. Go here and scroll to the very bottom & click on "coupons". Browse through the coupons & print the ones you like! Take these Target coupons & match them up with manufacturer's coupons & head to Target for great savings!! :)
b. If you print Target coupons that say "Target Coupon" on the top, or if you receive Target coupons in the mail, you're fine - just stack them with a similar manufacturer's coupon! However, if you print a Target coupon that says "Manufacturer's Coupon", then as long as it has a Target logo on it, they should still accept it as a Target coupon!! (Sometimes, if you have a grumpy employee, they might say otherwise, but just inform them that it has a Target logo & you printed it from the website!!) :) . . .and that I said so! ;)
c. If you don't get Target coupons in the mail, you can go to the link above & register your email address & (I think) your mailing address to receive coupons, etc.!!!
d. If you haven't been there lately, every time you buy certain items, coupons automatically print out at the register - usually GREAT ones!!

Now go out & find some great deals!!!

Sassy Lunch Bag

I was so excited when I found a lunch bag (well, actually it's a lunch purse) at Wal-Mart the other day for only $1!!! It was cute, but nothing fancy. I added some "bling", ribbon & a flower & now it's a sassy lunch bag!! :)

Super easy - grab your hot glue gun & go to town with what ever embelishments you want to add & you're done!! ;)

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Madelyn can't wait to take her lunch to school tomorrow!! :)

Money Matters Monday

Here it is - my first "theme" day!! :) If you know me at all, you know I'm always looking for a bargain!! Well, what better place to show off my finds, than right here!!! So, every Monday, I'll be posting a great deal I found (or two, or three)!!! With that said. . .

Here are today's great deals:

1. Went to Target (of course) & found these cute baby shower invites for only $0.36!! (No, not giving a shower, but I LOVE buying invites because you can always use the envelopes & card parts to make new cards!!) I got 16 envelopes, invites, & little pink bows all for $0.72!!

2. Also at Target - found 3 super cute shirts for my Ladybug for only $1.74 each!! Just a hint about Target - if there's a bunch of something on clearance, it will get marked down even further - just be patient & wait it out!! Don't forget to check back often!! I have my eye on a few items at a few different stores!! (But don't tell - that's my secret!! ;)
Love, love these shirts!!
Also found one for Madelyn - only $1.98!!

3. For today's last great deal - I went to Fresh & Easy!! I got all of the following for a total of exactly $5.00:

That's one avocado, 6 tomatoes, a bag of potatoes & a bag of salad!! NO, they weren't rotten or about to rot!! All the items except for the salad were part of their $0.98 produce!! The salad was $1.99 - the most expensive item!!

Bathroom Clock

I'm getting there!! Almost done with the bathroom - woo hoo!! :) I finished the clock that has taken me forever!! It was super simple - -once I figured out what I wanted to do with it!! I tried a few different paints, a few different lettering styles, and a few different ways to hang the clock!! I finally settled on Rust-Oleum's "Hammered" spray paint, white Contact paper letters, and hanging the clock with a tack!! :) Let me explain. . .

I found this frame

& being that it was only $1.41 - at none other than Fry's- I just HAD to buy it!! (I knew I'd find something to do with it!! :) Then, I found this clock:

a whopping $1.98 @ Target!!! (Not my color, but for the price, I knew I could make it my color!!) Sooooo. . . I decided to combine the two!! At our house, we have a little issue with taking long showers!! (Well, kind of one child in particular - - but I won't say HER name!! ;) Anywho - we're always putting a little clock on the counter so she can check the time & get out within 10 minutes!! I figured a big clock on the wall would be much better!!

For the clock: First, I carefully took the clear cover off the clock, (not as easy as I'd hoped!), removed the hands & then placed a piece of paper I cut, on top of the clock numbers. Then I sprayed it with Wal-Mart's red spray paint! :)


For the frame: after realizing that the frame was actually plastic, (boo!), I tried some paints I had, but they just wiped right off!! :( Then, I used some Rust-Oleum primer (don't know if I needed it, but used it anyway!), then followed with some Rust-Oleum "Hammered" spray paint! (Used this brand because my mom gave them to me to try & FREE is always nice!!) :) After the paint was dry, & got out the fabulous Cricut machine & cut some letters out of white Contact paper & stuck 'em on!! After trying for a while to screw the clock on, I tried to put one screw at the top & slide the clock over the screw!!

Well, I had to start the hole with a tack & then couldn't get the tack out!! .... hence the lovely tack-clock-hanger idea!!! :) What ever works - right!!??

Easy Bathroom Art

This was definitely a no-brainer project. . . yet again!! :) I found some cute red frames at none other than the dollar store, and thought they'd be perfect for my hall bathroom! I used some subtle scrapbook paper as a background & then cut some cute silhouettes with the Cricut - - that's it - - told ya it was a no-brainer!!! :) I'm still working on a few other bathroom projects, so hopefully all will be done soon!!!

Use What You've Got!!

Scary, isn't it!!?? Sadly, this is my ribbon! I've been wanting to organize it for some time, and finally attempted to do so the other day & this is what I came up with: using paper towel rolls & a scrapbook organizer!!! Sounds crazy, I know, but it worked for me!! I just love my sparkly pink organizer, but it just wasn't working for me, as a paper holder! :(

I knew that ribbon does best on something round (so you don't get bumpy ribbon), so the paper towel roll came to mind!! Coincidentally, I had just bought a 6-pack of paper towels, so I kinda sneakily removed all the rolls from inside the paper towels!! (Super easy - just grab on to the roll of towels with one hand & pull (& twist) the roll out!!) .... and yes, you can still stick the roll on your towel holder - if you have the kind that stands on the counter! :)

After my P.T. rolls (no, didn't use T.P. - only P.T!! :) were all ready, I separated my ribbon by color. Then I got to work wrapping it around the rolls & taping/pinning it in place! It was quite time consuming, but a little therapeutic!! I was able to fit 7 rolls in the organizer, but I may end up squishing in another one, being that I have soooo much ribbon!! (For pieces smaller than a foot, I'm just going to keep them in in a baggie.) This was clearly a no-brainer, but just wanted to share my "Use What You've Got" idea!!

Isn't it so neat & organized???!! Just loving it!! :)

** Just sitting in my closet, with my little helper at my side & my other helper wanting to take a picture of me while I wrapped my ribbon!! :)

Finished Wall Art - FINALLY!!

Ok, so I FINALLY got around to finishing my wall art!! I needed a big piece of wood to make the top piece, and finally realized I could use something I already had!! I had a piece of wood that had 3 peg-hooks - - - didn't need the hooks, so I just sawed them off!! :) Added a coat of paint & then repeated the same lettering process as I did in step 1 & hung them all up!!! I made some cute Contact Paper flowers with the Cricut to fill in the emptiness around the words. No, the words on the top board didn't get centered perfectly, but all-in-all, I'm quite happy with it!! :) (Not exactly the "shabby" PB look, but still cute!!) ;)

I think the Contact flowers added a lot!!!

Pottery Barn-Inspired Art

A while ago, I found these boards at Home Depot in the scrap lumber:

For 50 cents each, I just knew that I could do something with them!! :) Well, a few weeks later, I was at Pottery Barn Kids, and got my inspiration!! I saw these hanging on the wall:

I immediately wanted them, (but didn't want to pay $19 - $34 EACH!!), so I came home & got to work!! ;)

Here's what you do:
* Cut the wood (or have it cut for you), to the sizes you want.

* Paint the edges & front sides of each piece (since I was covering it with paper, I only painted the edges & a tiny frame around the front side, just in case the paper didn't fit perfectly)

* Once the paint dries, you can hand paint details on the front sides, or add scrapbook paper, trimmed to fit. (To attach paper - apply a layer of Mod Podge, add your paper, and then add a top coat if desired. I used Elmer's glue & a flat edge (ruler) to smooth out the bumps - - Mod Podge will be much cleaner!) ;)

* After that dries, add lettering - you can use vinyl, paper, or hand-paint it yourself. (I printed out the words in the fonts I liked, cut them out, traced them on, then hand painted them with craft paint! A little time consuming, but wanted the painted look! I had hoped to sand the words, to give it a distressed look, but it just smeared the paint onto the paper & had to start over! Good thing I tried it out on the smallest word!!)

* Unless you care to add embellisments (I did), then you're done!!

So they don't look EXACTLY like PB's, but I love them!! I think the bolder colors will look cute with her room decor!! Since I only spent $1 on the wood & $1 on the green paint I only spent $2 total!! - - Not too shabby!! :) I'm not quite done though, I have one last one to finish & then I'll post pictures once they're all up!!