Couponing 101

At work last weekend we had a picnic for all of our matches and at the picnic we had a parent/volunteer group and it was about budgeting your money.  The main focus was on couponing.   It motivated me so much!   I always grocery shop at walmart....and of course when I pull in the parking lot I start to get frustrated.    I've always loved publix and thought that their sales are good but on other things they are more expensive.  Melanie from 2 Boys + 1 Girl = Crazy Mom came out to talk to the group.   I have always heard people saving a lot of money by couponing but I thought that it wasn't worth the time of finding the coupons...cutting them out..and all that.   But Melanie made it sound so easy and worth it!  She said that she got all of her Christmas shopping done...worth over $1000....all for not even $25 out of pocket!  :O  Whoa!   When she said that I definitely start listening.    She said that she stockpiles up on items so that she doesn't have to shop for them for months...even a year!  Check out her website here and she has tons of awesome ways to save money and giveaways!

So i have decided that I am going to give it a try!  I am definitely learning as I go...but I got the paper last week and the ads at publix.   Today I went to the store and here is what I got.   Of course everything wasn't on sale and I didn't have coupons for everything either.   I thought about how much more I could have saved if I a printer.  So next week on black Friday that is what I plan to get :)

• Scott Toilet Paper 12 rolls
• Loaf of Wheat Bread
• 2 breakstone sour creams
• 1 thing of Cheese singles
• Shredded cheese
• 4 boxes of Kellogg's cereal
• 1 bag of ghirardelli chocolate chips
• 2 things of zip lock bags
• 2 boxes of Swiss Hot Chocolate mix
• Aussie Hair spray
• 2 refills of Airwick fresheners
• 2 cans of tomato paste
• 2 cans of chili beans
• 2 containers of planters nuts
• can of corn
• 2 boxes of Ritz crackers
• Chili Powder
• & 2 boxes of Betty Crocker Potatoes

I ended up spending $50.03 and saved $35.37.   I was happy about it especially when I thought of what I could really save if I had printed off some more coupons!  I also got the best service from the cashier...she explained some things about the coupons to me and told me which competitors coupons Publix uses.  I can't wait to see how much more I can save :)  I have been telling everyone about it too ...so I figured I would tell you too!  I have a feeling I'm going to be addicted!

Just around the corner

Christmas is around the corner and will be here before we know it!  So this morning I took out Harry...our typewriter tree.   I plan to decorate him tonight :)

Georgia Trip

Mule Day was a success!  It was lots of fun and nice and cold!  It was the coldest it has been so far...it was down to 32degrees while we were out there!  Us Floridians have thin blood :) Here are some pics of the weekend :)

Mule Day :)

Saturday is Mule Day!   My sister and I are going to be selling are craftiness this weekend.   I am super excited!  Last year we went too and it was lots of fun.   And I am happy that the high is going to be in the 60's!   I looked through my closet today and realized that I really don't have any clothes for cold weather.   I will be wearing lots of layers :)  Here is a little video from last years Mule Day.

Crafty Goodness

So I have been thinking about trying to dye my own yarn...   Have you tried to do this?  I really don't even know where to begin but I have seen some beautiful yarn that was hand dyed.  Maybe I need something like this?  Any tips or suggestions?

Last night I spent my night making these little embellished bobby pins :)  I like them!

week+end= fun

Relaxing weekend?...not quite!  2 different craft shows in 3 days!...well technically one.   One was a vender show and we were the only true crafters there!  It was an...interesting night!  The other one was fun but hot!... Today while I was bored out of my mind I came across this great blog that everyday posts links to blogs that have giveaways.   You need to check it out here :)  I entered a ton of giveaways....I'll let you know if I win any!

here is a pic of our booth at one of our shows :)  we set it up a bit differently than we normally do!  

Fun weekend :)

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary this weekend by going to Orlando.   We both have been reading the Harry Potter books the last couple of months so we decided to get passes for Universal.  We had lots of fun!   Here are some pictures :)

Giveaway on Marvelous Kiddo

You can have 3 chances to win my lovely seal wallet!   Go to Marvelous Kiddo and here and read her post about my shop and the directions to win!  :)  Good luck!

midnight boredom finds

• If I wasn't allergic to cats and had one, I would make this for Chester (and yes I would name him Chester)
• Cute DIY calendar for the new year!
• The Trustworthiness of Beards
• Um, yes.... the cutest dog in the world
• Gorgeous hallway

picture from beautimuse

2 years :D

On Monday it will be two year's since we got married!   Sometimes it feels like it's been forever...somtimes it feels like yesterday.   I've loved every minute of it :)

weekend!

So Wayne and I went to the Pics on Promenade last night...the weather was perfect!   At Lake Mirror they have a big screen that they set up and they show a movie for free.  There are people who sell food and drinks.   Last night was the movie Hook...which I hadn't seen for a looong time!  Next month they are showing White Christmas...I really want to go and see that one!  Here are a couple pics from last night :)  Hope you have a good weekend!

oh and here is a book that I found when we were thrifting this week...my plan is to make it into a bag like this

Thrifting...

So I went thrifting with my sister this week and I found a steal!   This clutch, which was supposed to be $1.50, was only $.50!   It has a place where it looks like it once had a strap but I am just using it as a clutch.... why don't I go to thrift stores more often???

Mattie & Me

Try, try, try

I'm going to be trying some different things this week and I am excited :)

I have this in the freezer as we speak. It should be amazing.

Later this week some friends are coming over to up cycle some shirts...  I'm thinking of this, this, this, or whooa- this.  wow...too many decisions.   Maybe I will do them all!

HappyTuesday

picture source unknown

Sunset

Auburndale sunset I took Friday :)

LC Earrings

I made these earrings for lovecunningham last night!  You could get them for only $2 at a show.   Go here to see there concert dates :)

My week/weekend in a nutshell...

I drove to Ocala to see my family (my parents, sisters, bro-in-law, and niece) for a few days.  Wayne couldn't go with me :/  As you can tell from the pictures...Bella, my niece, is a BIG hit in our family since all of the pictures have her in them!

I bought her a ball and she seemed to like it.

I made this hair flower that is actually a clip that can be clipped onto a headband... Thanks to my mom for the idea:)

Bella and I at the mall...we are teaching her at a young age:)

P.s. That's my dad in the background of the last pic...he took the first two pictures! 

Oh, and here is a pic of my two guys! 

 Aren't, they cute? :P

yes..

Wish I had this.  LOvE this romper.

per UrbanOutfitters

magical...

My dad took this picture at Disney World last weekend when I was there with my family.   He has been doing ah-mazing photography...  doesn't this picture make you think WDW really is magical?   I'm telling you... after spending ALL day there, it doesn't seem as magical :)  Still fun though!

Yo-yo Purse...

So, lately I have been working on a few personal projects... well I always am!  But I actually got one done before I started working on something new :)... yes, I am bad about working on hundreds of things at once.

Here are some pics of my yo-yo purse...I made it up as I went along.  I love it becasue it has a long strap so that I can wear on my shoulder across my hip.  Next time I will take pics as I go so I can show you how to do it!  (pics from my phone)

love

Yes. Thank you.

per spirocreations

I'm loving stumbleupon

so far I have found...

• fun wall tree
• elegant paper flowers
• birthday balloon wreath
• book smart tote
• swatch portraits
• re-covered office chair

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes :)

To Do this Week:  Make ice cream cone cupcakes :)

I will let you know how they turn out :)  

Picture by jek in the box on flickr

Update:

We made our own version at our Treasured Tape and Craftysarah Party this past saturday....I think they were a hit!

Spoiled...

Some people say my dog is spoiled....maybe he is.

But at least he isn't this bad!...

more spoiled canines

LOST?

So...I used  to watch LOST...waaaay back in during my sophomore year of college with my bestie Danielle :) but then life got the best of me and between classes, papers, and well...everything else, I stopped watching.  Now my hubby and I have nextflix (it's a great thing to have...especially if you don't have DVR or any of those fancy recording things:) ....I saw that they have the season's of LOST and you can watch it instantly on your computer! :) So I talked Wayne into watching it with me and he's hooked already....ha!  I knew he would be...  Any LOST lovers out there??

Freebie on my Etsy!

Starting today! everyone who buys something on my etsy will get a freebie!  A beautiful matchbook notepad :)

(ends on 2/23)

Do something...

So i was driving to work today and I saw this truck...
I just started thinking about how little I do and how much I could be doing!  I'm sure you feel that way or have in the past.....maybe we can change that?  Maybe it won't be as big as clothing or feeding someone.....but maybe it could be something as little as saying hi to someone you normally wouldn't.  Who knows....that person may need to hear that.    I challenged myself to do something...at least one thing every day.   Could you do the same?

Mattie The Poodle..

I have a poodle named Mattie..

Weird fact about him...  when my husband and I come home he always tries to lick his ears (Mattie licks Wayne's ears...not the other way around)...   but he never does it to me.

Wayne says some crazy thing about him being the alpha male...  he may be right but I tell him he is wrong :)

I love my Mattie...& I would love him even if he looked like this.   promise.

Valentines Day...

Valentines day is just around the corner...

I think it is interesting that some people expect so much from valentines day... They might expect that one person to ask them out, send the flowers, buy them sweets... or they may expect their spouse to do some romantic that one day of the year. Sure, I think valentines day is fun but I don't think it should be looked upon as the one time that someone should treat their spouse like they really love them... In my book, valentines day should be every day of the year. Maybe not with all of the gifts...but just to show that one person you really love that you really do love them by treating them that way...every day of the year. Rather than just one day.

So...Happy Valentines Day...today!

The picture is my Heart Duct Tape Wallet that I added to my Etsy today!