Happy Hour at Starbucks…

Happy Hour is Coming Soon

A Door to Adore…

I have been looking for a large piece of art to go in our den.  I didn’t want anything too heavy and I definitely didn’t want anything expensive.  The solution, a lightweight door from a wardrobe I am re-doing.  Here is what I came up with.  Once it’s on the wall I am going to hang our family photos around it.

Here is a pic of the wardrobe door I used

I purchased the vinyl lettering from EBay

The paint color is “Bamboo Shoot”.  It’s a mis-tint color sample that only cost $1.00 at Lowe’s.

Painting completed

I purposely went over the edge with the green.  I didn’t want it to look too perfect.

Once dried I applied the vinyl

I slowly peeled back the vinyl

Voila!!  The finished piece.

I will be linking this to the following blogs:

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

http://thepersimmonperch.blogspot.com/?

http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

http://www.sillylittlesparrow.com/

http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/

http://makingtheworldcuter.blogspot.com/

http://madincrafts.blogspot.com/

http://superstinkyboys.blogspot.com/

Shopping with Coupons 101…

I LOVE using coupons, let me say that again- I LOVE USING COUPONS!!!  My obsession with couponing started for me when my husband and I lost our jobs at the same time.  We were both working for the same company and were only given 2 weeks notice of the closing.  We weren’t given a severance package or anything.  Just a “don’t let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya” package.  At least that’s how I took it.  Anyway, being cheap started that day. I started looking at websites that promoted thriftiness.  A few I learned from were the following: http://frugalliving.about.com/, http://www.thriftyfun.com/ and my favorite: http://www.afullcup.com/.  Things are better now but I still use coupons.

That long intro has been leading up to this.  Harris Teeter is having TRIPLE COUPONS this week.  For those of us lucky enough to live near one we are excited.  It means getting MORE for your money.  Now I’m good at using coupons and saving money but I’ve never been able to get $100 worth of groceries for $1.00 like you see some women do.  Although, if you look closely at what they got it doesn’t consist of a lot of food.  It’s usually 20 tubes of toothpaste or 30 bottles of deodorant.  While this is great…I don’t need that much deodorant.  So follow me while I take a trip to Harris Teeter and I show you how I save with coupons.  (It’s also good to know the coupon policy at any store you visit; each is different in the amount and types of coupons they will accept).

Step 1.

My couponing process starts on Sundays.  I usually buy 2 newspapers and cut out almost all of the coupons.  The only coupons I don’t cut out are the ones for babies.  My boys are along way from being babies!!   Here are a couple of good sources to find the coupon insert schedule:

Deal Seeking Mom and Southern Savers

Step 2.

I go through my coupon binder and purge any expired coupons.  Don’t throw those away though.  Families in the military can use them after they expire.  You can send them here: Overseas Coupon Program (www.ocpnet.org).

Step 3.

Next I go online to Harris Teeter.com and browse their ads.  I then try to match their sales to my coupons.  This takes some time. I still spend some extra time at the store because some of their specials aren’t advertise so I have to go through my binder while at the store and match them to my coupons.

Step 4.

I then venture to Harris Teeter.  I grab my cart and I’m off…

2 boxes GoGurt

1 pkg. Pepperidge Farm Deli Flats

1 box Capri-Sun

1 dozen eggs

1 Family Size pack Chimichangas

1 bottle Tobasco Sauce

1 brick of Folgers

1 pack Mentos Gum

1 jar JFG Mayo

2 bottles salsa

1 Tony’s Pizza

1 bag Green Giant Steamers

1 pack Mahatma rice

1 box foil

1 box Wylers drink mix

1 pack Kraft cheese melts

1 pack Sargento cheese

19 items for $18.42

Step 5.

And here’s the receipt…a savings of $ 37.50 !!!