Our New Sofa

We have a new sofa! I was just fretting last weekend about how bad our sofa looked. One of the cushions had a worn spot/hole in it so I flipped it over and saw the larger hole that I had forgotten about.

So, this week when we had an ad at work for a large garage/remodeling sale I decided to go before work on Friday to check out the two sofas that they had. Also, after I found out whose yard sale it was and how particular she is about her house I knew I had to go. She was Lainey's 7th grade English teacher.

Here is what I found.

It is Norwalk Furniture - J Raymond brand. No telling how much she paid for it. I'm not too sure about the extra two plaid pillows but they are just pillow forms with shams on them. So I can be on the look out for something to change them up. I got it for $200 and it looks like it has hardly been sat on. Tulip Tree carries this line of furniture and I've looked at it before. What I looked at would have been $800+.

Not really a fabric that I would personally pick if money was no object and I was ordering a J Raymond sofa but I am happy with it.

Lainey is sad that the "sofa of her youth" may be sold at a yard sale. She would rather me sell the "counseling sofa" and keep the old sofa for the basement. I'm dreading the thought of a yard sale right now so they may both be in the basement for a while.

I was afraid I would have to repaint the living room. I think the color looks ok. I was afraid the "peachy-ness" of the current paint would be more pronounced with the new sofa but it seems ok. The big problem is that the dye in the blue sofa has rubbed off on the walls and the new sofa does not cover it up. I am going to try Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and see if that does the trick. If not, looks like I'll have a big painting project soon.

New windows

They are so beautiful! The house already feels better...or that may just be my imagination.
Hopefully the electric and gas bills will show a change.

The living room front windows

Parker's room

Kitchen window from inside. This is the one that the stainglass hangs on.
I am going to have to reposition the hooks so I haven't hung it back yet.

The downstairs ones look the best. The biggest difference.

Parker's eight grade graduation

Didn't get very many pictures because I was sitting so far away.
This one is a little blurry but shows Parker getting his awards.

White cabinet - before

I am so excited about the cabinet. Looking at the photos it almost looks worse than in person.
Hopefully I'll get started on it today or tomorrow.

This shows the glass. This is the inside of the top door.

the missing spot for drawer

The outside of the door. Glass covered with paint.

Prom 2010

I look so short in this one.

The girls in Lainey's group.

The whole group.

Lake & Brianna

Kyle, Lake & Brianna

The entrance at Clay Hill

The red carpet

One of the food tables

Kyle by the Hollywood

View of the tent

The theme

View from the parking area

Parking area

Walk-in at the high school

My birthday lunch

The song

First Day of Spring

I decided to post the first daffodil from Kyle's yard in honor of the first day of Spring. Mine are not blooming yet and when I noticed his last night he picked it for me. It was so pretty this morning on the counter with the sun shining on it.

Well, I finally did it. Met my grocery budget/goal!!!!
My goal has been to get our groceries down to $75 every two weeks by using coupons and shopping the sales at Kroger.

My total at Kroger Thursday night was 75 even!!!
I could barely contain my excitement when the checker told me.
I saved $43.73 using Kroger savings plus and coupons.
I bought milk & yogurt for starter to make a batch for Kyle and he gave me $5 so I guess technically I could say I got it down to $70.

I did buy some Tyson chicken Anytizers that I would normally never buy. It was on sale and had coupons and Parker has friends over tonight so I planned that purchase as a treat for tonight.

Stocked up on meat that was on sale, got milk for a batch of yogurt for us, cheese on sale, crackers on sale, chips (for tonight) and other specials they had going. I think the only items not on sale were butter and kitchen garbage bags.

Now my next goal is to make a menu plan and stick to it. I am also going to do my own little pantry challenge and hopefully not have to get too many groceries with next paycheck.

Made a really good avocado salsa today.
2 avocados, chopped
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 cup roma tomatoes, chopped
1 can corn, drained (I used half a bag of frozen that I microwaved to thaw a little)
juice of 2 limes
2 Tbs. olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt
Combine all and serve with chips. Could probably cut back on the salt a little because of the salt on the chips. It called for a diced jalapeno but didn't have any that weren't frozen.
I'll try that when I have fresh ones. This was amazingly simple but so tasty!
Lainey and I both loved it.

Snow pictures

Here are some snow pictures that I had forgotten about. They downloaded with the shelf photos.
The camera date says it was January 8 but not sure if that is correct or not....but probably is.

New storage shelf

Here are the before and after photos of my kitchen closet. I love the new shelves. Such a good deal. They were a little bit of a splurge but I am so happy with them. They fit perfectly in the back of the closet. Just like they were made for it. Still haven't decided where the others are going in the basement yet.

The only problem I had were some of the stockpile items didn't stand up well on the wire shelving but the shoe box and baskets solved that problem.

Before: Had already started cleaning off shelves when decided to take pictures.

 

After: I purged a lot of stuff that didn't need to be in the kitchen closet so now there is room for the stockpots & paper towels/toilet tissue to be on the shelf.

My frugal ways 2010

I just watched the movie Julia and Julie...I really liked it even though I have heard mixed reviews about it. I laughed and cried plus learned alot about Julia Child's life. But most of all it made me think about this blog that I started and have since neglected.

I was thinking about what I could write about and decided since I am not keeping up with the frugal journal I planned for the year I could just do that here on the blog. I do enjoy it more than facebook and I am so addicted to blogs so why not be a little addicted to my own and track my journey here.

First, frugal accomplishments for 2009 (at least what I can remember right now)

No longer buy jar pasta sauce - make and freeze homemade marinara

No long buy yogurt except for starter - use the recipe from www.thefrugalgirl.com and totally love it! I even have Kyle & Lake hooked on it. Parker and I love it but Lainey won't try it. She has never been a big yogurt fan. Last Saturday I made two batches...one for me and one for Kyle. 8 quarts, 2 pints and 1/2 pint. Walmart's gallon milk makes more than 4 quarts of yogurt. Kroger's milk is exact...weird. Just found out that WM does not buy milk from farmers that use growth hormones. Haven't researched Kroger milk.

Started Couponing - I have sporadically used coupons but last year due to the economy which caused furlough days at work on top of no raise for two years I got serious. I researched the great world of couponing and learned tons! I went to a class given by a local woman at our extension office in November. I am doing pretty much what she is doing but I just try not to use as many processed foods. I embarassed the kids a few times in 2009 by getting so excited about the deals I was getting. Especially the day I was getting Celestial Tea for free! That doesn't happen too often.

Started CVSing - Was really diligent about it at the beginning of the year but my stockpile of toothpaste and deodorant was pretty full so I slacked off a little. Now the deals do not seem to be as good. Although they are starting a promotion of doubling bucks tomorrow. Not sure exactly how it works though.

Frequented Goodwill and consignments.

Utilized the library more.

Cut cable back to less than half the monthly bill but only had 20 channels. Now have satellite and have changed the phone/internet plan. Now saving $10 a month by combining satellite/phone/internet and canceling cable.

Sold books on amazon.

Come home for lunch most days. Don't order pizza....make homemade.

Started using Microsoft Money program - this has helped me track my money/bills better than any system I have ever tried. It has really helped me track my spending at the grocery store, ATM withdrawals and dining out.

Made homemade laundry detergent from thesimpledollar.com

Made lotion recipe that Mom's neighbor gave her. Made it possibly in 2008 and am still using it. Definitely good frugal lotion. Will probably make more next month. Going to use coupons for the baby lotion that goes in it this time.

Started a coupon book.

Grew a garden - even though it was small I didn't buy much lettuce at all this spring. Except from my favorite farmer at the farmer's market.

Clean my face using the oil cleansing method simplemom.net and it feels amazing! Using a lot less moisturizer.

Started canning salsa.

Gave a lot of homemade Christmas gifts.

Goals for 2010

- Implement one new frugal thing each month

- Keep a list all the books I read this year.

- List more items to sell on ebay & amazon

- Complete more craft/decorating projects

2010 is already feeling like it is going to be stressful.

5 more furlough days at work. 3 full-time people's jobs were eliminated on Thursday. One of my best friends that has been there the entire time I have been there. My back-up person that covers for me when I am gone no longer sits beside me. Already feeling the stress of how time off is going to work in our department. How will we be able to take a week off at a time? How will I like working there now that my friend is no longer at her desk? She is no longer there to laugh with, to meet at the coffee pot for a vent session....it just isn't right! This recession stinks and these people losing their jobs stinks!

Now I have the thoughts of how will I make it when my job is eliminated or the doors are closed for good. People keep saying it won't happen but two years ago I would not have believed the changes that have taken place in our office. Too many chairs are empty.

What would I do....a 42-year old single mom in a small rural town...what would I do?

This post turned long and sad.

Today's accomplishments

- Lainey found her prom dress. Green & yellow and short. 25% off a short dress is a lot less than last year's. It is on layaway so only $60 more to go.

- Made a big batch of granola to go along with the yogurt.

- Marinara batch.

- Cleaned out dresser drawers and found items to post on ebay plus more organized.

- Unclogged bathroom since with the baking soda / vinegar /Dawn method and boy did it need it!

More soon.....