50% Off Winter Clearance Sale

Hey girlfriends... If you have a Value Village thrift store in your area you may want to check out their Winter Clearance Sale on Monday, February 16th (President's Day). 50% Off everything in the store.

We have found great deals on gently used and/or brand new items. Such as home decor items, furniture, name brand clothing, sports gear, books etc... I have a fetish for cookbooks and usually find a few that I have to add to my collection.

Happy Bargain Shopping!

Getting ready to Garden

While at Michael's craft store I found more treasures in their bargain bins. I picked up a Gardener's Journal and metal plant label stakes. The journal was $5 and has tabs and sections for monthly calenders, notes, planning/planting grids to design your space, garden notes, photos, etc.. The metal labels were only $1 each and the gardening gloves were free (I got them at a home and garden show). I'm going to enjoy my new treasures this Spring and Summer. These would make a good gift for some one for less than $10.00, just toss in a gift bag or flower pot with a couple of packets of seeds and whaalah!

P.S. They also had a Travelers Journal for those who would like to journal about their trips and adventures and add their photos too.

Shopping Treasures

This week I stopped in at my local Michael's craft store. I had some spare time to take a look at their newly opened location, and wanted to see what deals they had. I am in the process of cleaning out drawers and the area where our homework/sewing station is, that is in my kitchen. I am looking to do a makeover of sorts and am trying to find some spring colors. At Michael's I found a long isle with bargain bins with prices ranging from .50 cents to $7.00

Everything pictured here was only $1.00 each. I found weekly menu planners, matching recipe cards and glass magnets. I bought enough for me and extras to give as gifts. For three dollars you can give someone a menu planner, recipe cards and a set of matching magnets. That is a great frugal idea and gift. If you are crafty you could make a apron to go with the gift and maybe a wooden spoon or wisk from the dollar store.

I plan on making push pins for a message board out of the magnets with the birds and flowers. Of course I plan on making the message board too, if I can't locate just what I'm looking for. There were tons of other items but, I was trying to not spend too much. So another day awaits a frugal find of shopping treasures.

Day After Thanksgiving Sales

Was it just me or were the sales for the day after Thanksgiving lame? On Thursday night we poured through the ads in hopes that the few things that were on our list were on sale. We were disappointed with the ads and the department stores. We thought that with the economy suffering the way it is, there would be some incredible deals out there to entice the consumer to purchase.

No, we did not get up before dawn and stand in line. We got up when we felt like it and headed out around mid morning to a few stores and the mall to hang out and meander around. We did get a few things on our list, but no great bargains were out there for what we were interested in buying. Our family is being frugal and simple with presents this year. We are also making homemade gifts to give out to family and friends.

I did take my receipt back to Video Only (for our new TV that we got two weeks ago) and got a refund for $151.00 It was cheaper today, than when we got it on sale then. Not bad, there is a little extra cash for some Christmas gifts.

For those of you that braved the crowds, I hope that you found better deals than we did.

Veterans Day & Shopping

Happy Veteran's Day to those who have and are serving our Country. Thank You for our freedom and your dedicated honor and service. My Dear Hubby was a former Army Veteran and I am proud of him dearly. I wish that I had known him when he was serving (we met shortly after he was honorably discharged). I have a thing for a Man in Uniform. But... that is a story for later or maybe not. Hubba! Hubba!

While out and about today doing errands I went to a local thrift store (Value Village) that was having their 50% off on all items for Veteran's Day. I picked up a cute piano/music station ($2.50) for my littlest sweet cheek who is 10 months old. I also picked up some Old Navy snow pants and snow suits (less than $5) for the kids for our vacation in December to Leavenworth Washington. I also found a ton of really cute princess dresses and other clothes for the lil sweet cheeks. For my pre-teen I got him a brand new pair of Old Navy Camo Cargo Shorts with tags on them, he loved them. I found myself a couple of jackets and tops. I also found a cute book called "In a Pickle or a Jam" with tons of canning recipes. For Dear Hubby, nothing. He is picky and he wasn't with me. Daddy was at home playing with our sweet cheeks while I got to go out for a few hours, BY MYSELF! Isn't he just sweet?

I tried to find something for the house to decorate with, but they really didn't have a thing that looked worth buying or I couldn't live without. Ho hum. But I did enjoy my excursion. Bargain shopping can be so much fun.

Easy Breezy

Kitchen Gadgets

This apple peeler, corer, slicer was a good purchase ($19.99 - 5.00 off coupon = $14.99 at Bed, Bath and Beyond). I was peeling, coring and slicing apples and pears on my own with a paring knife and the fruit would turn brown really fast and they would be too thick or uneven. So I purchased this gadget and thought I'd give it a try. WOW!!! It is quick, easy and the slices are even and look awesome. I didn't even get a chance to use it for a while. My pre-teen son loved using it and enjoyed helping in the kitchen.

Also shown in the photos is my semi new Nesco Food Dehydrator. I wanted one of these for a while, but was being frugal and didn't want to buy it for full price at the store or Online. I happened to stumble on this great find at a garage sale and scooped it up for $15.00 which saved me about $40.00. It had only been used once to dry strawberry's and then sat in a garage. It came with four trays but could stack up to twelve. Now I'm on the lookout for more trays. We've dried apples, pears and kiwi so far. They taste wonderful and make great healthy snacks and an added treat for sack lunches. Does anyone else dry foods and what is some of your favorites?

Girlfriends Getaway

In Central Oregon

The Sisters Three Mountains in Central Oregon

My frugal floral bargain find at Goodwill $6.99

Artwork statuary's in the Condo at Eagle Crest Resort

Pampered Pedicures by the fire. I'm in the middle.

We had a great time on our girls getaway to Redmond Oregon at Eagle Crest Resort. I blessed my two friends April and Teriann to a 3 night stay. My two littlest sweet cheeks came along too. We didn't take many photos or do much outside of the condo. We have been so busy canning, baking, drying food, getting husbands off to Elk Hunting, getting ready for our Women's Church Retreat, schooling, appointments....... that we decided to relax and quit running around. We wanted to relax, connect and focus on us for a change.

We didn't get much sleep because we stayed up until 2 AM each night chatting and laughing. The statuary artwork happened to be pretty funny to look at after you had a couple of night caps. They seemed to be staring at us and was kind of creepy.

I ventured out on a hike the first morning very early. My two sweet cheeks awoke too early, so I decided to take them out in the double stroller on a hike, so my girlie's could sleep in. One has three children and runs a daycare and the other has eight children and they don't get the luxury to sleep in. What mother has the luxury to sleep in? It doesn't happen. What I thought would be a two mile or so hike ended up being about an eight mile hike on really steep terrain and I got lost. So I really got a workout in.

We went bargain shopping one day at Goodwill. That was pretty funny. We went all the way to Central Oregon to go to Goodwill. Go figure. We all got some frugal finds. I also picked up a couple of cookbooks that you prepare and make ahead recipes/meals and freeze them for later.

We menu planned for the trip and cooked all of our meals at the Condo. We only ate out for brunch in Sisters on the way back home. We also menu planned together for the month and gave each other new ideas for our families.

We did pedicures at the condo in front of the fire. I brought all of the supplies and we enjoyed the conversation and pampering treat while my little sweet cheeks were fast asleep.

We had so much fun. Hope that we can do it again and soon.

Domestic Diva

I purchased these two sets of "Glovelys" for the domestic diva, the other day at Ross for $2.99 a pair. Aren't they just too cute. The packaging says Glamorous gloves for everday chores. I intend to use the pink pair for sanitizing and scouring the bathroom etc... The blue pair I plan on using in my garden. They are nice and long so soap, water, and dirt doesn't drip or get on your wrists and forearm. They came in other patterns and colors too.

Momma's going out

Tonight was girls night out and four of my dear friends and I went out for a little bargain shopping and late night dinner. First stop was to Value Village thrift store for their Labor Day Sale of 50% off everything in the store. I got there a little after 7pm which was even better because green tags were 70% off, from 7-9 PM.

I am picky on items and they must be in very good condition (like new) in order for me to purchase them. I was on the prowl for winter clothes for my two little sweet cheeks. Looking for size 2t /3t and 9m/12m. I came home with two bags stuffed full for less than $27.00 I saved about $40.00, not bad. Well my guess would be I actually saved almost $200.00 That's if I would have purchased them brand new at the department stores.

I found some darling dresses, dress shirts, sweater vests, slacks, denim jeans, corduroy skirts and swim suits for both of my sweet cheeks. Some items were brand new with tags still on them. Really good quality clothes and nice brands like Carters, The Children's Place, Baby Gap, and Old Navy. I even found a nice (Karen Scott) red casual wear knit jacket for myself.

Last stop was Dinner at Applebee's for their late night special, 1/2 price appetizers. What fun, I sure enjoyed our girl talk and laughter. Every stay at home mom needs a night out with the girls once in a while to keep our sanity. Thanks Dear Hubby for encouraging me to go and have fun and for taking care of our sweet cheeks. There are left overs in the fridge.

Refunds, Rebates and Hassles

Today I gathered up all of the items that have been needing to be returned to the stores that I purchased them at. I don't know why but I dislike having to stand in line and return items. I like the cash back, but not the hassle and time it takes. Remember I have to take my two little sweet cheeks in and out of their car seats each time, not to mention having to keep the two also preoccupied, happy and the occasional diaper change.

So after making my returns at Fred Meyers, Walmart, Bi-mart, and Fashion Bug I had about $96.00 in cash. That is always nice. Then my next stop was to Costco to redeem my 2% check back of annual purchases. That was $86.00 plus returned an item for $20.00 So I had a little over $200.00 in cash to spend.

So how should I spend it? Well I could have spent it on clothes or something for the house but no that wasn't needed. So I used the cash to help stock my pantry and freezer for the winter. I bought several big family size packages of meat at Costco and will divide them in separate freezer bags in the morning and a bought couple of cases of diapers for my sweet cheeks and they went in the garage on the shelves in my stockpile. At Walmart I picked up some sale items that would come handy later. I also stopped at a local farm in town and purchased two cases of fresh picked peaches and gravenstein apples, Yummo. They too will be heading to the freezer once they are prepared and sliced. Oh, I forgot to mention that I picked up a free pizza at Costco while I was there. I received the pizza coupon when I referred my Dad in June. Dinner was done, no cooking no mess to clean up, Yippee!

One of the hassles happened after making my Walmart returns and purchasing my groceries. As I was leaving I happened to notice that I was overcharged on a few items. Nine items actually. Stovetop Stuffing was .68 cents a box so I bought six boxes thinking ahead for Thanksgiving etc.. since my local store in town charges almost $3 a box. Well I was charged $1.68 a box. Then I bought three packages of OM natural turkey and ham at $2.50 each, but was charged $2.98 each. So I had to wait in line again at the customer service desk and get another refund of $7.44 I guess I'll have to watch my items being rang up better or at least make sure that I check my receipts closer. Not bad for a few hours of returns. I guess it was worth the hassle.