My daughter's thrifty laundry room re-do

Linking up to the party at Mimi's Tray of Bliss Premiere of her brand new Five Star Frugal Link Up 


My daughter is a busy working mom with 2 little ones and another son due this spring.  To get ready for an even busier season of life, she is doing a multi week home de-clutter and organization challenge Facebook group thing.  The first weeks assignment was their kitchens.

This week's challenge was the laundry area.   

I don't have a complete "before" photo but here are the highlights 

First, she had some boxes she wanted to use for children's art supply storage. She thought about covering them with fabric but my fabric stash didn't have enough of any coordinating fabrics for all 4 boxes.

Then I remembered all this roll gift wrap that I bought at Hobby Lobby at least 5 years ago. The rolls are very long and the paper is almost too sturdy for one time gift wrapping.

Since their laundry room was already painted gray, she used the the black and white prints.

I think the covered boxes look so pretty and they really hold lots of stuff like glue and crayons and tape.

The only thing she spent money on was for these new laundry hampers.  She added their photos to help with sorting. 4 year old Elizabeth even told 1 year old JJ where he was supposed to put his dirty laundry. 

These hampers have a solid shelf on top that should be a good surface for laundry folding.

Their washer and dryer is not new, just cleaned off and decluttered.

She moved her heat press to the cabinet between the 2 appliances - its a perfect fit too. She uses the heat press to add custom designs to clothing and accessories.

 This space on the wall was damaged from an old rack. They didn't have any of the gray paint so they painted a big almost black square there to use as a faux bulletin board.

Here's the AFTER in one photo.

Really nice job I think! 

Monday to - do list ........

Good morning everyone! It is cold foggy month in Oklahoma so I will mostly be doing things indoors today. I started my week's to do list last night, I think it will keep me busy all day.  There are a couple of items from last week's list that didn't get done and had to be rolled onto this list.  And I need to add "clean stovetop" to the list as my morning oatmeal boiled a bit over.  

I know some of you are saying "ewwww" right now. Sauerkraut is one of those foods that people either like or they can't stand.  My husband and I like it, especially this German kraut from Aldi. I don't think they carry it all the time but have it during their German week events. 

I'll be baking the pork loin chops with diced onion and the kraut for our supper. 

Oven meals are great on cold days like this, the oven cooks the food and also helps warm up the house. 

About my previous post, I had no idea napkins from old tablecloths would be so popular! 

They really were quick and fun to sew. One son claimed the set of 12 and the others have been promised to my brother's girlfriend. 

About the size I use for napkins, I like about 17 inches.  On a reuse project like cutting up tablecloths, you just about have to let the fabric decide though. 

Have a good Monday everyone! I hope to get as many boxes checked on my to do list as I can. 

Sewing- napkins and baby cloths

I've been cleaning out a closet and got rid of several tablecloths that didn't fit our table but I kept 3 sort of vintage thrifted tablecloths even though  they didn't fit our table either. I thought about cutting them down into dish towel size but I am not really in need of more dish towels right now.

Then my son mentioned he wanted more cloth napkins. So yesterday, I cut the 3 tablecloths into napkin size and finished off any edges that needed it. 

I left the sewn edges in tact so some of the new napkins only needed 2 or 3 sides finished off with narrow hems. I first ironed them and then machine stitched. They were a quick project, 

There are 4 in the first stack, 6 in the middle stack and 12 in the last pile. 

It was the biggest of the 3. It had a repeating design of this big fruit bowl so I tried to center one on each napkin. 

I don't know if my son will think these are cool or hokey. But if he doesn't like them, we will use them.

My other sewing project used 3 little flannel blankets from the thrift store. They were really too tiny to swaddle a baby but I bought them because the fabric looked brand new and the color is fairly gender neutral. 

I cut them into rectangles and rounded the corners, then sewed them up into burp cloths. 

4 of them are a good size for a burp cloth but the 5th one is pieced from the scraps and is a bit small. But maybe it will be used by an older sibling on a baby doll when the new babies arrive.

My craft room has no shortage of supplies to continue with similar sewing projects. Hopefully I'll get more done soon! 

CVS this week

I recently found a YouTube channel that spells out her bargain deals in detail. She shops at a number of stores and I like the ones she does on CVS as that is the store I concentrate on

She posted a video yesterday of her CVS deals,  I think she bought over $300 and paid for it all with Extra Care Bucks and got back more Extra Care Bucks than she spent. 

http://youtu.be/BeuejaCCziI

So after I watched it, I organized my coupons and went to CVS.  I am very happy with my deals though I spent $38 but I got items we really need.

I got 7 packs of diapers ( they are all little sizes for the 2 future grand babies)

6 bottles of Bayer low dose aspirin

3 bottles vitamins

3 boxes band aids

And the little cans of butter cookies were on clearance for 75% off. 

All their Christmas and special toys were 75% off and I looked hard but only got my husbands favorite store bought cookies from all the clearance aisles.

I used coupons on everything, some were in yesterday's paper and some were printed from coupons.com, I also used some ECBs from last week, quarterly rewards, beauty club rewards and a mailed $5/15 and some coupons from the in store scanner.

My receipt says I saved $104.58

And I got back $25 ECB for my next shopping trip.

If you are interested in great deals like this, look at the YouTube link and look at other stores she shops at if you don't have a CVS. 
LASavings8 on Youtube

http://www.iheartcvs.com/ I Heart CVS is another site you where can see the current and next few weekly CVS ads. 

happy shopping everyone
and for you who don't or can't shop CVS,  I'll be back with non-shopping posts soon. 

Snow Tree - use what you have project

I packed all the Christmas things away yesterday. I left one tree up because I want to decorate it for Valentines. But it is just the first week of January and it still seems a little early for pink and hearts.

So I had the idea to do a snow themed tree since it is so cold! But I don't have any snow ornaments.

I looked on Pinterest last night for ideas and saw lots of cute ideas but I didn't have the needed supplies. So, I just went to bed and left the tree bare.

Then this morning, I thought about snowflakes and used my Cricut to cut assorted snowflakes out of white card stock.  I also found a box of clear glass craft ornaments that my daughter bought years ago (looking at the price tag, I am guessing in 2005)

I also got out a bunch of silver pipe cleaners and some beads.

The finished snow tree

We used white school glue and lots of glitter on the paper snowflakes 

My daughter and granddaughter swirled paint and glitter inside the clear balls. 

If you look close, you can see the silver pipe cleaner snowflakes my son made. 

I am really happy with this project that required no trips to a craft store. 

Later in the evening, our other granddaughter was here, she likes the snow tree too.

Another CVS post

If you've read my blog much at all, you know I get great deals at CVS.

Seems the more I shop there, they more incentives they offer me to shop there even more. 

I got 3 emails from CVS this week, notifications of a total of $12 in Extra Care Bucks and a coupon. These can be used on just about anything.

I don't have access to many major retailers or the time to go to every store. So for me, focusing on CVS deals does add up to big savings. 

First day of Twenty Fifteen

Happy New Year to everyone! 

This little statue was bought years ago at a thrift store. 

He was handmade by someone who left his legs bare. In the front, he is fine. But his backside, well, my children all giggle about it.  So I just keep his back turned where it doesn't show. 

A southern tradition we follow is eating black eyed peas and cabbage on January 1. I'll cook the peas with a little diced onion and ham and we will eat them on top of a bed of rice. 

The cabbage gets sautéed in a little butter with some onion just until tender, then seasoned with salt and pepper and a tiny sprinkle of sugar.  Sugar on vegetables is Southern too but not something I do except for this cabbage dish.

Dessert will be a cherry pie- it's not traditional to New Years but my husband has been wanting one. 

Apparently I am a rusty pie baker as I didn't cut the vent holes nearly big enough. 

Yes, there is a big mess in the bottom of the oven where the pie bubbled over. 

Thankfully we have a self cleaning oven and I will run than cycle later. 

I used canned tart cherries - the label says they are healthy (healthy before they get cooked in sugar and a crust anyway)  and 

I used the recipe on the back of the can. 

Happy 2015 everyone! 

Do you have New Years traditions?

Christmas highlights

We enjoyed a very sweet Christmas program at church, our grandson played the little drummer boy for the second year in a row. 

Great grandchildren and great grand parents had some very special visiting.

Lots and lots of presents!

Presents everywhere!

A very light snowfall

Waffles and pancakes for several breakfasts- especially good with real maple syrup from my brother 

A sweet funny photo from my brothers girlfriend - this is her pet Daisy modeling a Santa hat. I think it is cute as can be. 

My brother's dog, Boomer - he is not usually allowed on the furniture but he was especially tired and I am a big softy. 

I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas celebrations. 

Sons....

My sons are 14 months apart but obviously have very different personalities.

They did both learn to make stuff and do stuff when they were growing up. And here is proof. 

I think these photos from this week are just hilarious.

One son is wearing a camouflage Santa hat and ornaments in his beard. 

The other is at an ugly sweater party and they are wearing shirts they embellished with fabric and iron on adhesive from me and bows and tiny ornaments from their grandmother.

Vote if you want but I must say my comments are not always working.

Do you prefer the super handyman redneck son's decorations or the attorney son who usually looks like he stepped out of GQ with the bows and teddy bears on his shirt? 

Both are funny as can be!

Sorry for covering up the cute young woman's face but I don't know her and she may not approve having her photo blogged. 

Another weeks to do list

Monday's to do list - it's doesn't look too daunting. I have today to myself so I am expecting to get all of today's things done and may get a few of the others done too.  I am guessing most everyone reading this also has a lot to do this week and next week too! 

I've already taken out the trash, walked and have the laundry started.

You know I have a CVS deal to show.  I've been using Ponds cold cream and moisturizer for a long time, maybe 15 years. Ponds is made in th USA, simple, reasonably priced and just keeps my face soft.

Last week, these large jars of Ponds were buy 1 get 1 50% off.  I had $1 coupons on each, a $5 off $15 scanner coupon for face cleansers, a $4 ECB that came by email and I used a $10 ECB and about $3 on a CVS gift card.  I spent no cash at all. 

I didn't earn any ECBs on this purchase but the before deal cost of the Ponds will be added to my beauty rewards ($5 ECB earned for every $50 in beauty purchases and CVS tracks them on your CVS card)   The CVS deals in the next few weeks don't interest me much so I was happy to spend my ECBs and get enough Ponds to last me a long time. 

My husband uses the Ponds moisturizer on his face in the winter too.

My latest CVS deal 

My brother has been making beautiful fresh wreaths for us for years.  You all know that I am lousy photographer and the colors don't show up right but this years is bright colors, red and blue and green and even has a set of battery operated twinkle lights. 

I really like it and the lights are a fun surprise. 

I better stop this post here, and get busy if I plan to check off those tasks today. 

I hope all of you get lots done today. 

I'll be back later to show another spectacular wreath that is very different from the green one and was made by brother's girlfriend.

What a difference a week makes

Last Monday, I had so much needing done that it took most of the week to get things right.

This week, I've already made so much progress on my to do list.  I did cleaning and laundry first thing. 

This afternoon I've been sewing and in between I went to town for a few errands,

I needed to mail off a package and also mailed 2 letters that used our last 2 postage stamps. So I bought 4 books of stamps while I was there, I made sure to get all Forever stamps as they will always work 1 per letter even when postal rates go up. Right now, I think it is 49 cents a letter. I think when I was a little girl, it cost a nickel and when I was a newlywed it was 20 cents. 

These stamps should last us maybe 6 months or longer.  Most all our bills are paid online.

On Black Friday, I did less an hour worth of shopping and one store that I shopped at was Bath and Body Works as all their stock was buy 3 get 3 free and you could stack coupons. I got lots of products to last the year and the clerk talked me into buying their Black Friday tote bag, a very nice black and gold bag with 6 full size products inside. She said I could exchange any of the scents I didn't like.

Well, I didn't like several of them so I did even exchanges on them today.

The Vanilla Bean Noel smells just like a sugar cookie and I got it for my grands after their baths. 

And of course I stopped at CVS. I wanted to do this Schick razor deal. Coupons.com had a printable buy 1 get Schick coupon.  When you purchase $25 of Schick, you get $10 ECBs.

So I bought 4 packs, used a scanner coupon and and ECB and gift card from previous and weeks and got all the razors for no money out of pocket.   And got a $10 ECB for next time.

I had so many comments and emails about my messy house last week. It is something we can all relate to I guess. I am happy to say that now every bed is made, all dishes washed, all laundry put away and surfaces are cleaned off. I'm not going to photograph it all, you will just have to take my word for it.

I've continued to have trouble leaving comments on some blogs. So with some hesitation and after making almost all the settings private, I switched to Google.  It seems to of worked! I can comment now. 

Hope you are all having a good Monday!  We are having leftovers for supper but I am making a big salad to eat first. So I am off to the kitchen to chop .............

It's being to look a lot like Christmas

It's been a lot of work but I finally got our Christmas decorating done and I am very happy with how it turned out. This year, we have 4 small trees.

This tree has multi color twinkle lights, Santa things and scentamental ornaments.

My father in law painted the Santa on horseback.

A silver tree and a green tree with twinkle lights and pink ornaments. 

These ornaments are very vintage and all have little scenes in them. 

This tree has long pink bulbs and some birds. My son thinks all Christmas trees need birds on them, even when the bird ornaments are old and very shabby.......

This one is my favorite. The ornaments, all made by my mom, are Christian symbols call Chrismons and crocheted Angels. 

On this fridge are my parents stockings that they used years ago. They are not very big and we all found it tricky to find tiny things to stuff them with.  

The stockings  don't weigh much and I hung them with clothesline that glued magnet strips on the back of. Aren't they pretty? 

The little stockings are plastic canvas and I made them a few years back.  The grands can play with the little ones but not the big ones as they are a bit fragile.

I hope you all are getting in the holiday spirit too!

My daughter's mantel

My daughter and her family have started their Christmas decorating. Their mantel is almost finished and I think it is really pretty.

She made the "O Holy Night" with her Silhouette cutting system. 

The stockings are new and were bought last year during the 90% off clearance at Target. 

To finish them, she plans to add their names in red, again using the Silhouette. 

At my home, things are a little more normal than they were yesterday. The 8 time-consuming gifts are finished, some of my other to-dos got done today and I think lots more will get done tomorrow. 

I laughed at some of your comments on yesterday's post - it seems so many things just get out of whack this time of year- 😄