Crazy deals at CVS!

This is just a quick note to let everyone know that my local CVS is doing inventory and had a HUGE table of goodies marked 90% off! They were still putting out more things when I left. I don't know if all CVS stores are doing this, but it may be worth your while to check it out. I found packs of blank CDs (20 per pack) for $1.50, tubs of high-end body butter for $.99, socks for $.25, and lip balm for $.10!! Somebody pinch me!

The Golden Egg

This week's golden egg was a craigslist find. (If you are not familiar with craigslist, it is a free classified ad website. You can select your city and state on the website and browse local listings for just about anything. The website is http://www.craigslist.org/ .) I found a small bunch of cookbooks for sale for $5 total and I had been looking for one of the books in particular. The seller and I made arrangements to meet. She drove up in her black SUV and I arrived in my black SUV. She handed over the cookbooks and I coughed up the dough. "Awkward" you must be thinking! Actually not! The seller was a lovely lady named Shari and we ended up laughing together about how it looked like we were doing a drug deal when really we're just stay-at-home moms just trying to make and save a little money! Anyway, the five cookbooks were all in brand new condition and I think I'm going to enjoy all of them when I only was expecting to use just one. So Shari if you're reading this, thanks for providing the golden egg of the week. You made my day...and my dinner!

Seasonal shopping

Take advantage of post-holiday clearance! Stores will often drastically reduce seasonal or holiday items. Look for solid colored items such as napkins, plates, and gift bags that can be used for other things. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Valentine's day: pink or heart-themed items are great for a girl's birthday party or anniversary. Use solid red napkins and plates for Christmas or July 4th.

St. Patrick's day: use green items for Christmas or for a boy's birthday party.

Easter: pastels are perfect for baby showers, kid's parties, and spring birthdays.

July 4th: use the red and white items for Christmas and the blue for summer parties.

Halloween: use Halloween candy for Christmas stockings. Just make sure the expiration date will still be valid and try to stay away from Halloween-themed packaging.

Christmas: save for next year or use year-round. Red and green are great colors anytime!

Goodbye old man winter!

Winter here was brutal, with record breaking snowfall and frigid temperatures. I have never been so happy to see spring arrive! To celebrate spring’s arrival (We’re already 6 days in!) I’m going to share some fun ideas that I’ve incorporated into my home this year. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have!

Cut spring flowers from the yard and place them in a glass vase. Dress it up by making a coil of the leaves from the plant and place into the bottom of the vase. Not only is it pretty, but the leaves help to hold the flowers in place.

 
 
 

Am I the only one who is more than just a little annoyed by the leftover strands of plastic Easter grass? Defying all logic (and my vacuum) those pesky little stinkers can be found in my house virtually any time of year! Make your own, custom paper grass in no time flat. Just throw some colored paper into your paper shredder, and out comes beautiful Easter grass! Use old scrapbook paper, cards, construction paper, whatever you can find. Get creative with different colors and textures! It's also recyclable. Pictured here is solid green cardstock. *Hint: this works best by using paper that is colored on both sides.

 

 

 

Display Easter candy in decorative glass canisters, vases, or baskets around the house. Those colorful foil-wrapped candies and jewel toned jelly beans are too pretty to sit around in a bag!

The hostess with the mostess: you!

Spring is in the air and that means plenty of visitors in our house! (The human kind, that is.) Having no family nearby means frequent visits to our home, which we LOVE! Try out this fun no-sew pocket towel pictured here. Try out a few of my favorite tricks to lavish on your guests!

• Hang a fluffy robe on the guest bedroom door
• Place a basket of goodies on the nightstand and tailor it to your guests. I like to set out good chocolate, water bottles, maps of the area, local guide books, flowers, linen spray, and magazines.
• Set out a vase of fresh-picked flowers from your yard. (If your guests don't have allergies!)
• Plan special meals, but don't spend too much time in the kitchen- try to cook ahead.
• Make an excel spreadsheet of frequent visitor's likes, dislikes, and allergies in the food department so you're never left wondering if Aunt Mable enjoys eating cucumbers!
• Offer suggestions of activities, but allow them to choose.
• Have a basket of sample-sized shampoo, lotion, toothpaste and spare toothbrushes in the bathroom.
• Buy a hairdryer for the guest bathroom.
• Make sure there are plenty of extra blankets in the bedroom.

 Here's a fun, no-sew idea for adding an extra-special touch that will delight your guests!

Place towel right side down.       Fold towel in half       

Fold 1/4 of towel under

Fold other half                    Drape over larger towel

*Fill the pocket with a washcloth and toothbrush, sample sized lotion, shampoo, soap, or tuck in a fresh flower. Since the pocket is not secured, the contents must be lightweight. 

The Orange Golden Egg

In honor of the upcoming Easter holiday, your usual golden egg has been dyed orange. I bought this structurally sound trunk with a sad exterior at a yard sale last spring for $5. My Dad's birthday was last week and he is one of those people that has everything- yikes! He is currently planning to add a game room to his vacation house, so with creative juices flowing, I set out to refinish the trunk. The trunk will now be a perfect game chest for the new retro-beach inspired room. Success was sweet- he loved it!
Cost of project: trunk $5, paint 2 cans at $4.49 each, painters tape $2.99.
Total: $16.97- not bad for a one-of-a-kind gift!
Disclaimer: please excuse the messy garage in the following pictures-nobody's perfect, right?
 Here are the steps if you are interested in taking on a similar project:

Exhibit A: One ugly trunk!

Exhibit B: Painter's tape and a good dusting

Exhibit C: Two cans of spray paint later!

Golden Egg

This week's golden egg can be many things if you shop at Kroger. They are having a killer sale this week that ends on Sunday. Kraft 8 oz. shred or bar cheese is $1 a bag. I know several Krogers around here had a coupon dispenser for $1 off 2 Kraft cheeses, which makes them $.50 a bag! I bought about 8 bags and froze them. Tuna pouches are $.49, which means you'll gain $.06 after the $.55 coupon. Mott's apple juice is $1 a bottle, and so on. Enjoy the savings and create your own golden egg! Go to http://www.kroger.com/Pages/Default029.aspx and click on "weekly ads" for the sale flyer.