New Series Announcement!

I have had a lot of questions and comments about couponing here recently. I have decided to test out a little something to see if it can help anyone. Every Saturday, I will highlight the best deals around for the upcoming week in a series called "Weekly Deal Round-Up". I will include deals from Walgreens, Rite-Aid, CVS, and Target, since these are the national chains.

I will also start posting a series called "Here's A Tip Tuesday". This will vary from topic to topic, but I will be sure to touch on some beginners tips for couponing to make the Weekly Round-Up series more easily understood.

I would love to hear your opinions about these new upcoming series. I'm pretty excited, you all know how much I L-O-V-E my coupons :)

Hope everyone has a wonderful and Happy Valentine's day!! <3 <3

Target Trip

Ok all you couponers out there, if you haven't been to Target this week, grab your shoes.

Here is the breakdown of my trip this week.



TRANSACTION 1:
Quaker Oatmeal Products, Earn a $5 Target GC when you buy five

4 Quaker Easy Express Oatmeal cups- $1.19
1 Quaker Chewy Bars (only because they only had 4 cups left)- $1.99
I only used 4 $1/1 coupons

Use $1/1 Quaker Oatmeal printable (IE) or printable (FF)
Use $1/1 Quaker Oats or Instant Oatmeal printable (after you create your day)

PAID- $2.75, EARNED $5 GC (this deal has the potential to be sweeter)


TRANSACTION 2:
Fusion razor $6.99, earn a $5 Target gift card when you buy two

Use 2 $4/1 Fusion razor coupon from 2/7 P&G insert
Use $5 GC from Transaction 1

PAID- .98 FOR 2 RAZORS, EARNED $5 GC

TRANSACTION 3:
Venus razor $6.99, earn a $5 Target gift card when you buy two
2 Olay Body Wash ($5.49 each)
2 4-Pack GE Reveal Light Bulbs- On sale $1.99

Use 2 $2/1 Venus razor coupon from 2/7 P&G insert
Use 2 Buy a Venus Razor get an Olay Body Wash Free coupon from 2/7 P&G insert
Use 2 $1/1 GE Reveal lightbulbs from 1/3 SS
Use 2 Target Store Coupons for $1.50/1 GE Reveal lightbulbs from here
Use $5 GC from TRANSACTION 2

PAID- $4.48, EARNED $5 GC

TOTAL OUT OF POCKET-
$7.61
**PLUS- I STILL HAVE A $5 GIFT CARD!

Be aware that prices will vary by region. Some stores reported the Oatmeal cups for $1.02. I guess here in Raleigh we can afford to pay $1.19 for the same product!

UPDATE***
Just saw another deal to check on while you head that way-
Dove Men + Care Bonus Packs (includes 4 pk soap & small Body wash) on clearance for $3.19 (at the back of the store by the bonus pack section)

Use the $1.75/1 coupon from the 1/31RP or from here
Use the $1/1 Target coupons from here
Final cost ONLY $0.44! Again, regional clearance prices may vary!! :)

Obsessed with the Etch

I'm not sure why I am soooo in love with Armour Etch. It might be the classy sophistication a little lather of this stuff adds to any glass object in your home. Or maybe because of it's timeless subtlety, or unlike frosted glass spray paint, it can be washed with no problem. No matter the reason, it's something I will have in my arsenal at all times. Sadly, I have to get a new bottle today, and at Michael's, without a coupon, (who would be crazy enough to buy ANYTHING there without one?) the larger bottle is 30 bucks. Ouch.

We have a silent auction at work at the end of March benefiting the APS of Durham and the SPCA of Wake County. To me, this is just another wonderful excuse to roll up my sleeves and get crafty! I didn't want to donate something someone just "had", I wanted something someone could "use". (I have a point I promise, just stay with me!)

Enter my latest etching victim.


I decided to turn this little cutie into an indoor herb vase.
Here is what I used to get started:

-Cricut and cutting mat
-Vinyl (of course you don't NEED a Cricut to do this, painters tape and letter stickers would work just as well)
-Glass Vases
-Armour Etch
-Paint brush

First, I just used my Cricut to cut out a curved edge box, and letters to spell out the words Sage and Basil.

Then I applyed them to the glass vases. Getting the box even and the letters straight is the hardest part of this)

**I used painters tape on one because there wasn't much excess vinyl on the outside of the box. In case the etching cream ran, I wanted to make sure it wouldn't etch outside of the box.

Next, I just covered the box and letters with Armour Etch and let it sit for 20-25 mintues.

Finally, wiped the access etching cream off and gave it a good rub under a running facuet, took the vinyl off and... wah-la.




I am hoping to get more items in for the auction here in the next month! I'm also hoping someone actually bids on them :)

Joining the party over at ASPTL for DIY Day!
Linked up over at Todays Creative Blog for Get Your Craft On!
Partying over at The Shabby Chic Cottage for Transformation Thursday!
Show and Tell over at DIY Showoff! Come check out the talent :)
Joining up for the first time over at Remodelaholic!
Hanging out over at BNOTP for Met Monday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy 27th Birthday to my one and only! Enjoy your day, love ya :)

Iron On Transfers

Got a quick question, hoping someone can help. For those of you who do iron on transfers, what printer do you own? I have an old Dell right now that I wouldnt trust putting that paper into, and am in the market for a new one. I want it to do quality transfers so help a sister out :)

Thanks!!!

Ingredient Chaos

I am a novice cook/baker. And I mean N-O-V-I-C-E. I don't know one recipe by heart and can't convert any form of measurement. If the recipe said 30 tablespoons I would whip out my tablespoon and get to counting. Nonetheless, I have really come to enjoy my time in the kitchen.

Here is the dilemma. We have a HUGE pantry but it is only 4 shelves, and each shelf is close to 2 ft deep if not more. So while there is alot of space, things are easily hidden, and when I try to keep things up front where I can see them, chaos ensues. Let's just say, the "layered" look, doesn't work as nice in the pantry.

The bottom shelf is dedicated to all things baking/cooking. And when it comes to baking, no ingredient really takes precedent, so you have to have easy access to all of them. Enter my attempt to make things easier to find, less messy, and just overall prettier. This is a slow process and will get more containers as money allows.

Before- I know, its AWFUL


What is the start of the After-




Will continue to update as I progress!
Linking up to DIY Day at ASPTL
Check out the goodies over at The Shabby Chic Cottage-Transformation Thursday!
Joining up for the first time over at Remodelaholic!
Hanging out over at BNOTP today for Met Monday!

Guest Room Update

Hope everyone is having a great weeekend! I'm stuck inside today since we got a few inches of snow and a full day of freezing rain/sleet. I know that doesn't sound like much, but the folks here in NC panic at the threat of snow. I had to run to Wal-Mart after work yesterday, and it was worse then Christmas Eve!

So, I thought I would share a little preview of the guest room. We had plans to go to Ikea today (3 hr drive to Charlotte), and that obviously didn't happen, so I am kind of at a stand still right now.

These are just a few shots of some of the fabric and textures being used. I can't wait for it to be done!



The picture on the left of the feet are the BF, me and one of Stella's doggie feet, the first time we took her to the beach


I have another little organizational project in the works, but need to make a trip to Lowes, so hopefully tomorrow!

Joining up for the first time over at Remodelaholic!

Healthy Food Chat

Since I don't have sponsors and am not limited to what I can and can not blog about, I am going to divulge into my personal life for a second. December 28th, the BF and I started back at the gym and flipped our diet 180 degrees. (I know, we are super ambitious for starting 3 days before we are "supposed" to)

It has been a month (to the day) and I have already reached my goal weight (lost 12 pounds, which I feel I gained every ounce of from Halloween to Christmas), and the BF has dropped over 20 lbs! Yay for us. Hitting the gym 5-6 days a week, and cutting out basically all bad food for the past 30 days has been tough at moments, but the rewards have been great. I feel better, my energy has sky rocketed, and the mirror is a bit friendlier to me.

Now, I know that going cold turkey off of the foods I love is just a curse to gain all the weight back, so, since I have reached my goal, I am adding "bad" foods back in, but with a twist.

I discovered Hungry-Girl a little while back and I have seen her on numerous TV shows. She basically takes bad food that we all love, ie: onion rings, mashed potatoes, nachos, cupcakes, etc, and makes them over. Not only does she supply unique recipes, but a lot of the things she does are based on actual restaurant meals.

Example: I don't like Frito's but the BF would thoroughly enjoy this one.
BITE IT (the healthy recipe)

Ingredients:
1/3 cup low-fat turkey or veggie chili
1 La Tortilla Factory Smart & Delicious Low Carb High Fiber Large Tortilla (or alternative below)
2 tbsp. shredded fat-free cheddar cheese
1/2 package Fritos Original Corn Chips 100 Calorie Pack (or other alternative below!)
Optional: 2 tbsp. diced onion

Serving Size: 1 burrito (entire recipe)
Calories: 218
Fat: 6.5g
Sodium: 774mg
Carbs: 33g
Fiber: 14.5g
Sugars: 3g
Protein: 18g


FIGHT IT: (This is Sonic's little Frito Burrito)


Serving Size: 1 wrap
Calories: 674
Fat: 38.5g
Sodium: 1,416mg
Carbs: 66g
Fiber: 5g
Sugars: 3g
Protein: 21g

There are a TON of the restaurant head to heads on the site, along with just generic items like chicken fingers and monkey bread.

I have tried 2 things off of this website:
Fried Cheese Please!


and the Better off (Banana) Bread,


I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. I plan on picking up her book 200 Under 200 from the local library (when I can get there after work before it closes, not easy with an hour commute).

So, I was just curious if anyone else has tried any of these recipes or has any healthy swaps for classic comfort food. Please leave a comment, and I am open to all sorts of food!

The Ceiling Fan VS The Chandelier

Alright, here is the dilemma. In the first floor guest room, we currently have a dinky white ceiling fan, and when I say dinky I mean it's blades can not be more then like 18 inches (and that's a stretch.) It doesn't have a globe on it, and it is strutting it's energy efficient bulb like it is going out of style (which we all know it's not). Don't believe me? see photos here

So now that I am giving this room some life, the BF and I have a disagreement. I want to put just a classic simple chandelier to make it feel a little more special (we have 4 bed rooms, each has a fan, and so does our living room. What can I say, we're fan people).
The BF wants a fan, because he says it's the room that gets the warmest in the summer. We don't have a ton of guests, so I feel that I shouldn't have to sacrifice my chandy for a few nights out of the year.

So I got my Google on and found a few pics that gave me something visual to compare.

Ceiling Fan



VERSUS

Chandelier


(Could this room be ANY awesomer?)

Please don't judge the rooms based on their design, (because the Chandy rooms kick butt), but on the lighting element.

Can a girl get a little back up? Or should I let this one slide?

Taxes

I spent the evening filing my taxes. You all can just imagine my excitement I'm sure.

That's all.

Back to regularly scheduled programming tomorrow.