Do you coupon? Or want to?

Well I was kinda hesitant at first because I thought it would take too much time to figure out the deals, but by following some blogs they do all the work for me. They tell me what coupons to use, give me links to them, where to use at etc. I just print off some coupons, make a list and go. I have actually saved quite a bit of money. For the past 2 weeks I saved about 40% at the grocery store. I just started this but I think I can save $ by couponing without it taking forever.

My favorite coupon blogs are
thekrazycouponlady.com
and
moneysavingmom.com

The krazy coupon lady has a great page of ALL the online coupons with links to them
http://printablecoupondatabase.com/
She has some great posts called "10 days to become a crazy coupon lady" which is very helpful.

Here are some of Krazy Coupon Lady's examples.
Here is an Example of my List (these are my stock up prices):
Cheese $3.99/2lb
Ground Beef $1.75/lb
Chicken $1.67/lb
Milk $1.89/gallon (whole)- I freeze my milk if it’s lower than this and I want to really stock up
Cleaning Supplies (lysol wipes, bathroom and kitchen cleaners, ect) $.50 or less
Toothpaste/brushes FREE
Cereal $.75 per box or less
Brownie and Cookie Mixes Less than $.50 or less
Dish Soap $.25
Cheap Toilet Paper FREE
Charmin Toilet Paper for my picky husband $6 for the Double Roll 9 packs
Kotex Pads FREE
Johnson Buddies FREE
Granola Bars $.50
Chinet Paper Plates $.50
Bisquick $.90
Fruit Snacks $.50 or less
Good Deodorant $.5o
Cheap Deodorant FREE
Men’s Body Wash $.50 or less

:( Broken

Ahh my sewing machine is broken! So sad. I don't know what happened. I came to sew yesterday and it won't work. I tried different outlets but that didn't do anything. What? I was only 6 years young. What could have happenned, if you leave it on does it burn it up or something? I just can't figure it out.
Soo there goes the money I was saving for my new camera. :( Anyways any suggestions on what kind of machine i should get? or what features or options I should get? What do you have? What do you like/ dislike abut it?
Thanks for the help.

The Heart of Our Home

So here it is- our Kitchen. I am not completely done but I like it so far. :) It's a little romantic/shabby/country, a bit traditional, with a touch of fun and quirky.

I started decorating with the things I already had, which was white ceramics. I also love a kitchen with lots of white, it is "so fresh and so clean clean."

I added the chair pads to the chairs to tie the lighter color over in this area and soften the look and the bum :). I normally have a white bowl full of green apples here when I don't have fresh flowers. I will make a fun little table runner for here too.

Curtains, Ahh. I can't count the number of times I changed them in this room, so important but so hard. I decided on these because it ties the brown of the cabinets around the room and they went with the red ones in our family room, which are right next to these. Our family room is completely open to our kitchen. Light colored ones looked nice but were out of place next to our family room. Plus these ones were thermal and only $15 a panel.

The wall color I chose is Home Depot Cypress Grass. Yes this wall needs work. Thinking of putting vinyl above pictures or making a gallery wall with lots of pictures. I also plan on painting the kiddy table. I love that my kitchen has room for this, it is so easy to feed my girls snacks and breakfast here.

Keepin it real with all the art still on the fridge. Chandlier $40 from Craigslist.

The Little Things

Love my Scentsy & it's ribbon wrap, the cute little calendar blocks my MIL made me, and the white and blue tile. It came from Germany from my baroness grandmother's estate. Love having meaningful stuff like this in every room. I made the table runner. It's a great pop of color, especially for Spring.

I made this little flower wrap and to match the table runner on our island. Continues the punch of color around the room. I plan on making and covering a cookbook in this material. You know cuz every thing has to be in 3's or 5 or just more than 2. :)

I got his birdcage about 6 years ago on clearance at Tar'gae. It used to be black but I painted it white to give it some contrast against the cabinets and sanded it down to give it that antique look. MMMM LURVE IT.


My grandmother gave me these bar stools. It took me 3 tries but I finally got these right. First black, then brown,(cuz that what I had on hand) finally the beautiful antique white that they are. I used Ace hardware's spray paint. So easy and pretty fast. I had to do multiple coats, but each chair only took about 1 can or $3.50. I think they look great with the bead board. They kinda have a fresh beachy feel now. Oh and one more bar stool is on it's way.

Got to have a little vinyl somewhere right? I got this plate stand for $5 and turned it into my fruit/onion :) holder. cuteness.

I just love my new little pot scrubber. It makes doing dishes kinda fun! really. $5 at TJ Maxxers.

So if you read all of this thanks. I found some time and did it all. What do you think? Any suggestions for the kiddie table/ wall?

Victorian Sightseeing

Did you know that Louisville has one of the largest Victorian Districts in the nation? Since my mom and grandma were in town we decided to check it out.  We were ooh ing and ahhing at the beautiful architecture and breathtaking courts and fountains when we happened up on this beautiful home that offered tours. I'll apologize ahead of time for the pict, it wasn't my camera.

It was built in the 1890's and is made of limestone. This house does not dissapoint in intricate details.

Look at this beautiful handcarved staircase!

Looking back at the front door. The fleur-de-les is throughout, as the owner was a french man.

Another look at the staircase. Swoon. Above it is a ginornous landscape painting.

Beautiful stained glass windows throughout.  This one even raises up and down.

Looking up on the stairs.

The music room. Every room had different wood patterns on the floor.

This was one of the first vacum cleaners. Someone had to pump the back like an accordian, an another directed the hose.

The womans master bedroom.

The daughter's room. LOVE those closet doors.

So that is the end of the tour. Of course there are many  more rooms to see go here to see the rest .http://www.conradcaldwell.org/

and go here to see other Old Louisville homes. http://oldlouisville.com/

4 generations made it though all 3 stories. My girls wanted to touch everything but they were good and didn't break anything. :)

Cincinnatian Hotel Briggs Beige

So for our dining room I choose this color.

3008-10ACincinnatian Hotel Briggs Beige
It is a historic color available at Lowe's. It is a neutral yet tan with a gray undertone. It works well in our dining room because it warms it up so much. It looks good with the wood tone and against the white molding.
Here I am erasing the beautiful pencil mural my girls left for me. (before paint)

Mid way shot. Oh much better than the builders off white paint that is everywhere. Lookin good against the molding.

Sorry there is no real after shot. Our honkin heavy armoire is still in the middle of the room. :)

Ready to Work

My Hubby built this great workbench and is ready to tackle all those things on my (our) crafty to do list!

Look What I Found

So I was searching Craigslist as usual and I ran across this dresser for only $10. Ain't she purdy? HA not quite- but she will be. I'm not sure where she will be going yet but I plan on adding a shelf or two and of course repainting. Wish me luck.

While I was there I asked if the mirror was for sale, and I got it for $10 too. B-utiful