Closet Organization on a Budget

This project wasn't a zero cost project.  I allotted $50 to spend and came in under that so I was quite pleased.  No matter how many things I had tried in this coat closet, nothing seemed to work.  This set up seems to be doing the trick though because there is a place for everyone and everything.

Frugal Spring Floral on a Budget -- DIY

I participated in a floral DIY challenge.

This was super easy to make and all the supplies except for my pliers came from Dollar Tree.

I try to show how I made this in simple steps.

I'm really thinking I may make a second one or something similar for a Mother's Day present this year.

I bought some floral wire but ended up not using it. 

I'd love it if you guys would check it out and let me know what you think.

Planning Block Style

I thought I would share how I am using my block planner.   I have to do hour by hour for work, but for me personally I am a more fluid person.  This planner is from In the Leafy Tree Tops, and I am in no way associated with them.  Just a happy customer.  The format they use helps me in my attempt to juggle a lot of balls at once.

2018 — Everything Old is New Again

2018 has new changes coming that are repeats of old changes.  I guess we can chalk it up to life cycles or just assume my life seems to have reoccuring themes.  Does anyone else notice that about your life? I’ve been accepted to a local university and will be continuing my studies.  I’m both excited and nervous.  My daughter is also in school full time.  Of course, I have our seasonal work for January through April.  Needless to say the year is starting out with a full plate.  Knowing this, I’ve decided to keep my goals simple and focus on key words for 2018:

ORGANIZATION, DEDICATION, AND MOTIVATION

With these in mind my goals are:

1.  I’ve purchased a planner and want to use it to its fullest.  So my first goal is to simply take a little time each week to look over the next week.

2.  Menu planning — I probably won’t plan more than a week or two at a time, but I want to be more diligent about menu planning.  On that same line of thought, I need to do a better job of keeping my inventory records up to date.  

3.  Cooking — I’d like to learn to use my pressure cooker more.  With us all being scattered and busy, I think ease of cooking will be the key to making sure we eat healthier foods.

4.  Continue with my cleaning routines.  In 2017, I cemented new cleaning routines to match only having a few people in the house.  I want to continue to honor those in 2018 to help make my life easier.

Family Goals:

1.  We are planning a cross country trip to visit relatives.

2.  Continue with our budget.

3.  Look into a new car (or a new to us car) for my husband.  We know the time is coming.

I know it doesn’t sound like a lot.  However, I will be taking 15 credit hours, working, and running the household for the first 4 months.  I’ve already registered for classes for the first summer session as well.  I’m actually planning on fall semester being my heavy semester.  I know my time and energy will be limited.  If I can handle these tasks, school work, and enjoy my family then I will look back on 2018 as being a good year, too.

2017 Goals — The Good and the Bad

( Note — I posted a little more about my 2017 goals here.)  

 2017 has been a good year.  I often remind myself of something my dad used to say a lot.  “Grow old gracefully because the alternative isn’t that great.”    

 Big Goals —
 1. We planned and saved for one family vacation — an ocean front condo at a club complete with all the usual amenities.
 2.   While I did get some repairs handled on the house, I did not get anyone in for painting.  In the end my husband and I agreed to wait one more year.  We’ve considered the possibility of moving and fully realize that it would be much easier to paint if the home were empty.  I did accomplish a lot of other things though — including a major purge, pantry and cabinet organization (using Dollar Tree baskets), and a variety of things of that nature.  We also found a couch that suited our needs.  
 3.  Our daughter successfully finished her first semester at the local university and ended with a 4.0 GPA.
 4.  Sigh — we never did get beds set up.  In the end we decided it was just easier to buy from the Farmer’s Market.  

 Usual little goals —
 1.  We did continue to tweak our budget.  Not perfect, but still we were pleased with the results.
 2.  Organization is where I feel like we made the greatest strides....both as a family and as individuals.  

 Personal Goals
 1.   I did use up right many craft supplies on hand.  Early fall I made the decision that I had items I had been moving for over 15 years.  I actually downsized a lot of my supplies.  I was able to give a lot of items to people around me who can appreciate them and use them up far faster than I was.  I felt guilt about having them, but never seemed to have enough of any one thing for specific projects. 2.  I did manage to sew a few items for myself, but I made greater strides in streamlining my clothing.  I created a capsule wardrobe, not necessarily limiting myself to a certain number of pieces, but instead insisiting that everything had to “play well together.”  While I kept a few special pieces, everything is now pretty much mix and match.  I love it!
 3.  I finished two large stuffed animals this year.  An Eeyore and a Minnie Mouse.  
 4.  This was a personal win for me — I really utilized the local library a lot more this year.
 5.  On the knitting front, I did not get back into my charity knitting.  My local group has kind of moved on and I just seemed to lack the motivation.  I’m not sure why.  

 All in all, I am pleased with how well 2017 went.              

Pressure Washer

Carol, over at CTonaBudget, asked about the pressure washer we decided to buy.  We knew we didn’t need a heavy jobs one because our goal is to do regular maintenance to keep jobs from getting too big.

We made a list of what we considered reasonable things to look for in one and our list went something like this:

1.  No more than around $100 in cost.

2.  Lightweight enough I could carry it around and use with no problems.

3.  Easy to operate and also “intuitive” to operate.  (Aka nothing too complicated)

4.  Wish list — soap option for outside windows and cars

5.  We also wanted something that would take up the least space for storage when not in use.

6.  I also wanted to avoid having to buy extra garden hoses and just use the ones we have.

We tried out a couple and worked with a friend, who had a much higher pressured one.  They didn’t really meet our list — they were expensive and cumbersome.  However, the one we recently borrowed did.  It was originally purchased at Lowes several years ago, but they no longer have them.  I began an online search and settled on the one that was comparable on Amazon.

This is what we decided to go with.  

It does not have a reel for hoses or things like that, which was fine with us.  

It is light weight and has the nozzles and capabilities we were looking for as well.

They do have models with higher pressure and other features, and depending on a person’s needs their prices are still good overall.

I do feel like I should say that I haven’t had mine long enough to know how well it will hold up.

However, the one we borrowed is several years old and still going wrong, so I am hopeful that we will be as fortunate.

Changes Coming

Last year some medical problems really threw me for a loop — a mini stroke, severe hypoglycemia, sever anemia, and finally surgery.  I stopped my degree plans a little over halfway and spent this year recovering, both mentally and physically.  I feel like I am ready to jump back in, and I have reapplied.

I’ll be doing a little driving this time — one or two days a week — but the class schedule, teaching methods, and the subject matter work well for me.  As usual, I will keep my spring semester a little lighter to allow for work.  I know this will slow down my progress some, but I have to do what works for me.  I’m aiming for slow and steady....I’ll get there eventually.

 So with that in mind I am working on a grand “to do” list.

 1. Continue to declutter the house one room at a time.  My housework time will be limited, my daughter will be in school full time, I’ll be working and taking courses, and my husband will be working two jobs.  Streamlining is going to be essential.  

 2.  Continue to clean out pantry and freezer, with the long term intentions of freezer/batch cooking for the first months of 2018. 

 3.  Increase my physical activity to start boosting myself up.

 4.  Sell and/or donate a ton of my crafting supplies.  I want to turn that room into a study room.

 5.  Clear my kitchen cabinets down to the essentials — pots/pans/etc.

I’m sure other things will come up as I progress, but this is a pretty good overview list of what I would like to accomplish between now and January 1st.

I’m both excited and a little nervous, but all changes are that way I suppose.

Fall Color

I don’t keep much beside our door.

The two cherubs are in memory of our twin sons, and the terra cotta pot holds my hostas. 

(This is their second year growing, and they are slowly filling in.)

The other pot holds whatever I decide to put in for seasonal “umph.”

This year I decided a little yellow was called for.

Chocolate Espresso Cake

We had a great weekend.  Lots of games, reading, toy playing, and the works.

We were able to attend one of our grandson’s soccer games.

It was so fun to watch the 3 and 4 year olds play!

We went to the mall for lunch and rode the carousel.

We didn’t come back home until Monday, but after hours of driving we decided we didn’t really want “real” food.

I baked a chocolate espresso buttermilk cake and made cream cheese frosting.

The recipe is from The Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten Free.

It is delcious!

I made a 9 x 13 pan since my cake mixes are double the size of hers.  

We had plenty for us and still sent some with my husband for the work week.

First Week of August -- The Frugal and the Not So Frugal

The first week of August was a bit of full one.  Our grandson spent the week with us, we had additional guests more nights than not, and my husband brought home a summer cold to share with us all. So here it is -- The Frugal and the Not So Frugal

 1. Due to an increase in laundry I ran the dryer several times.  While this wasn't frugal, we were able to send everyone home with clean laundry and that was nice.

 2.  I spent about $125 on additional grocery and snack items.  The cost sounds high, but again we had larger than normal amount of mouths.  We also needed some quick food items because of the varying schedules for some of our visitors, who were in town for a wedding and all it entailed.  This comes out of our entertainment budget.

 3.  On the frugal front, we took advantage of back to school sales to pick up a few art supplies.

 4.  I used a Target coupon to get $10 back -- I purchased my grandson's fall shirts, socks, and a baseball cap.  I also bought him 3 school workbooks and a puzzle.

 5.  We used a coupon to get a free "icey" drink from McDonalds. 

6.  We paid out hundreds in co-pays for doctors' visits this week.  Yeah.  Not frugal, but better than with no insurance.  We are hoping that they've figured out what is going on with my husband.  I'll update more as time and information presents itself.

 7.  I checked a book out from the library, but haven't had time to read any.

 8.  I crocheted two doilies using patterns that were given to me.

 9.  I've continued to use up supplies whenever I could.  Household cleaners, etc are going down nicely.  I did, however, pick up a few items for canning soup and to fill in a few gaps in the pantry.  I took $87 from the grocery budget to do this.  This also included some additional items the doctor has recommended for both me and my husband.  

 10.  We ate out two meals.  Fast food ironically.  Our guests from out of state don't have access to some of the restaurants we have here.  They love a particular chicken restaurant so one meal came from there and the other was a Krispy Kreme doughnut run. That is it.

It is hard to decide if financially I considered the week to be a win, but I definitely consider it to be a success.  We had wonderful times, hopefully found a course of treatment for my husband, and I had a whole week of spoiling my grandson.  He and I did a lot of free things -- we played in a wading pool, colored pictures, baked snacks, read books, played with board games, and played hide and seek.  

Christmas in March?

For years I've had this fabric lingering in my stash.  I bought it from a little mom and pop fabric store and had great intentions of making Christmas themed placemats with it.  Every year I've pulled it out near the holiday season and not had time to make them up.  This year I decided to break that cycle. I used the "printed" fabric to help me practice my machine quilting.  Now they are ready and waiting for Christmas 2017.

Throw Pillows (A Work in Progress)

I've completed two of the throw pillows.

I want a burgundy pillow to go with the smaller one on the end.

At present I don't have any fabric I think is quite right, so this is a work in progress.

I'll keep my eyes open for pieces in the thrift store.

Another option that would give me a variety in texture would be to crochet one.

Do you think that with the afghan that would be too much crocheting?

Upcycling and Repurposing Curtains

I had some plain navy blue valances that we had used where we previously lived.  I'd stuck them up at our current living room windows, but hated them there.  They were too short for this length window.

I spent some time pricing curtains online and looking at fabric in Hobby Lobby.

I just didn't want to make that kind of investment (cost wise) for something I wasn't in love with, and I just couldn't find anything I was in love with.  I did check the local thrift stores and didn't find anything there either -- not even a compromise pair of curtains.

I came back home and looked at these valances again. 

I decided to take one down and take it up to my sewing room.

I added a strip of the fabric I used to repair the sofa and then a narrow strip of navy with polka dots.

I like the contrasting patterns, but the colors mesh well together.

So I upcycled/repurposed valances used in a former home.

I did these before I cut out my throw pillows to make sure I had adequate fabric.

I had more than enough and throw pillows are next on my list.

Cost to me -- I used leftover thread (borrowing a tip from Carol and using a slightly different shade of blue in the bobbin).

The valances had more than served me well in the last home...so I consider them a wash.

The blue polka dot fabric was a gift from Mama some time ago.

I think it took me longer to pin baste and to iron than it did to sew them.

So basically I consider this a more or less freebie.

Bonus is they tie in well with the existing fabrics I'm using.

Sewing Again and Question

When I was pulling through my fabric stash looking for curtain material,  I found some St. Patrick's Day themed fabrics.  These were leftovers from many years ago. I used them when my children were young for holiday themed pillows and things of the sort.  

I decided to make a quick table runner and 4 napkins.  I only had enough of the clover fabric to make luncheon sized napkins that were just shy of 12 inches when finished.  That's okay.  They'll work perfectly for what we need.

Cost was paid a long time ago, and I consider this a freebie.

However, I almost cried.  I've used up all of my spool of favorite green thread.

On one hand that is good, because I know my "use it up" policy is working.

On the other hand, I love the color green and can't believe I am out.

Anyone know the most economical way to buy sewing thread?

Simple Curtains

For years my laundry room has simply had a valance over the window top.

Our nearest neighbors aren't super close on that side and I liked having the sunshine come in.

 Recently a gentleman has started parking his 18 wheeler in the cul-de-sac by our home.

I don't mind that at all, but he does come and go at hours when I am usually in my night clothes.

Daughter, too, for that matter.  

My husband and I decided it might be time to put up a curtain over the window.

The room is kind of small and non descriptive as far as color.  I thought a pop of color would be nice.

In keeping with my goals of using materials I have on hand, I pulled through my fabric and found a piece to use.

I had just enough of this simple red checked fabric to make two panels.

My original plan had been to machine embroider down the sides for detail.

However, when I tried my sample I felt like the pattern was being lost in the checks.

So a few hours entertainment for me.

Curtains for the laundry room.

Cost -- nothing new....this fabric was a piece that was in a huge box I bought years ago.

Patience Pays Off

One of my "resolutions" for 2017 is to buy second hand whenever possible.

Last summer when my son moved, I gave them our couch.  Long story short, due to the layout of their new home it was the piece that would work best.  I took their love seat and we made do.  

(It was a piece that I had previously had for years.) 

On my home improvement list was a new couch for the living room.  

I knew I wanted a couch and possibly a matching love seat.

I knew I didn't want to pay a lot.

I knew I wanted something with a print because our home layout is open and all the walls are neutral.

I've been faithfully watching my areas online yard sale site.

A few weeks ago, I was a little sad because I thought I had missed a piece I might would have enjoyed.

However, as life often does, I found this set this week.

The bonus was that not only is it print, but it is floral.

I love floral prints of any kind.

And not only is it floral, but it is in colors I love -- a burgundy, tan, and navy with hints of green in the leaves.

It goes perfectly with my burgundy recliner.

Guess how much I paid?

The family selling it was originally asking $100, which I was more than willing to pay.

However, when they took it out of storage they found two rips on the arms.

She dropped the price to $60 -- without my asking -- and that price included delivery.

Upon careful inspection, I decided that I could easily cover the rips.

I decided to go to my craft room first and look through my fabrics.

I pulled out several pieces that I thought would work and finally decided on a creamy and tan print.

I cut my strips, basted them in a contrasting thread, and pinned them to the arms.

At that point, I knew sewing them on would be a little tricky.

I pondered it for a bit and remembered that I had been given a bag of sewing supplies that included some curved quilting needles.

Armed with those and a matching thread, I set about sewing the strips on.

All total it took me about two hours from start to finish.

By matching the two strips, they look as if they are meant to be there.

Bonus -- I have enough of the fabric left to do several throw pillows to add to the couch.

So I paid $60 for a personalized couch and loveseat that I love.

Valentine's Day Decor

 

I'm have relatively simplistic tastes in décor.

I like a country feel and I like to be surrounded by things that mean something to me.

 

I pulled this heart fabric from my stash, squared it up, and made a quilted table runner.

I think all total including my hand basting I spent an hour on it.

I topped it with candles that were gifts from my children.

 

Simple and other than my time and the thread, it was free to me.

The fabric was a gift some years ago and the quilt batting was leftovers from quilt Mama made.

The plus side, if I decide to do so I can use this same runner in July with some blue and again in December with some greenery.

Chaos Tamed

For a little over a year I had been going back to school full time.

While my family was great at helping me, things still got quite chaotic around here.

Now that I am home, I'm slowly reclaiming my home one room at a time.

I started with the kitchen cabinets.

All that stuff on the bottom left corner came out of that top cabinet.

The second cabinet was just as bad.

On the right, the two newly cleaned and organized cabinets.

The top photo shows our teas, vitamins, a few boxed items, etc.

The bottom photo (the second top cabinet over my counter) is my baking station.

I have my pastry flours, sugars, etc on the bottom shelf.

The middle shelf has my dried fruits, some mixes, and my sprinkles..

The top shelf has my chocolate supplies and baking chips.

 

 

 

There's really no organizing the kitchen cabinets without organizing the pantry.

I had recently done a Sam's Club stock up and things were everywhere.

Everything is now organized....pastas together, beans together, large tubs of whole grains together, condiments together --- you get the idea.

 

 

 

 

I also straightened the corner cabinets that I keep dishes in.

I'm slowly downsizing things and I have 3 casserole dishes, a large pasta serving bowl, and 4 pasta plates that are going to my sister.  I've also packed up dishes I was storing for my daughter in law.  She has her own home now and I'll be sending them home with her.

 

I also cleaned out the spice cabinet and organized it.

Basically I got rid of anything that was too old and put it all back.  I moved all the extras to the highest shelf to rotate down as needed.

 

The home canned goods are all organized and so are the purchased ones.  (Like with like kind of thing.)

 

The organization helps my mental health and it allows me to cook from what I have because I can find everything easily.

 

On my agenda for next is the kitchen drawers.  I have three that need some TLC.

I think I will need to buy organizers for two of them.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (on a budget)

I got a phone call from Mama saying she and my uncle were coming up. 

I wanted to serve lunch, but of course, all I had put on my menu was leftovers since I knew my daughter wouldn't be home.  I wanted to offer something nice, but I was determined to pull from what is on hand to create a simple meal.  Since everyone is going to be here my sister is swinging by on her lunch break.

 

My uncle is having surgery in a few days and is on a clear liquids diet.  I have the bone broth from the chicken I cooked -- perfect!

Keeping with the theme of soup I pulled out a jar of my home canned sweetcorn, two potatoes, and some frozen onions and bell peppers.  This became a quick corn chowder.  (I'll puree a little of it for thickener.)  I already had coffee cake so dessert was easy.

I pulled together a quick pitcher of sweetened tea -- a Southern staple.

Since I had already had some buns, I decided to just butter and toast them.

To make it look a little more planned -- presentation does go along way -- I set a pretty, but functional table.  (We've taken the leaf out since there are usually only two of us and I am enjoying the change.)

 

 

My crocheted placemats and the soup mugs my daughter in law gave me for Christmas work perfectly.  I added one of my favorite candles and I'll remove it when we sit down to eat so I can put the bread in the middle of the table.

 

As things progressed the time table changed.  My daughter made it home early.

She and my sister ate the leftovers I had planned anyway.

 

Having company over doesn't have to break the budget and I think everyone enjoyed the visit.

 

Monday! Monday! Looking at Life Through Rose Colored Glasses

I've never put stock in the idea of Monday being a bad day.  I kind of feel like every day is what you make of it. 

However, if I did put stock in something like that I would say today has been a "typical Monday."

Before dawn my neighbors were banging something so hard it was rattling my dishes in the china cabinet.  The alarm didn't go off and we overslept by half an hour.  I had my mental image of my daughter's schedule mixed up and realized I hadn't prepped for her lunch -- thinking that was tomorrow instead of today.

Mama called and wanted to come up -- after I had spread out a year's worth of client files on the dining room table.  I asked her to wait until the next day.  Organizing a year's worth of receipts is quite a job and of course, I couldn't leave them out for privacy reasons. 

Then my daughter gets ready to leave for school and her car will not work at all.  I mean won't even turn over - despite us driving it yesterday and it being just fine.  I send her to school in my car and we are hoping she doesn't get  a parking ticket.  I call AAA and the Ford dealership (the car is a hybrid and we can't simply jump it).  The nice man from AAA got it started and I got it to the dealership.  Of course, I then needed a ride home.  I couldn't stay to wait for them to check the car because I have the stove delivery today sometime from lunch into early afternoon.

All of this before 11:00 this morning, but like I said I don't believe Monday is destined to be a bad day.   In fact, I've had a slew of blessings this morning. 

1.  I have good neighbors, who look out for things when we are gone.
2.  We only overslept by half an hour, the coffee pot was already set to go, and we had allowed some extra time.  I had plenty to improvise and pull together a quick lunch for my daughter.
3.  While I couldn't visit with Mama today I can tomorrow....and I can be free to enjoy it without worrying about incomplete work.
4.  We have income, good clients, and I get to work from home.
5.  The gentleman, who helped me with the car was nice.  He also told me to call him immediately if I got on the road between here and the dealership and had any problems.
6.  My sister's boyfriend was able to pick me up from the dealership and get me back home.

So all in all, I've had a blessed Monday!