Some New Purchases

I have bought a few things lately (other than my dresser) that I've been really happy with, and wanted to share them!

1.  Wire baskets - $1.98 each
These little metal baskets (they come in 5 colors) were right inside the doors of the home living side at Walmart.  I thought they were cute, and when I saw they were only $1.98, I knew I needed some!  I bought 4 my first trip, I went back for 2 more, and I'm probably going to get a few more the next time I go back!  I keep finding great places to use them! 
I replaced some old fabric baskets in my medicine cabinet with two of these.  One for adult meds and one for kids meds.
I reorganized my food cabinets, and used the baskets to hold:  sprinkles, opened packages of baking supplies, and snacks.  (Btw, did you know sprinkles expire?  I was shocked to see I had some that expired in 2012! Eeek!)

This is kiwi green and rose gold.  They also carry them in  blue, white, and gold, but several colors have already sold out at my store!

2.  Hello (kids toothpaste)
My kids are weird about toothpaste.  They only use Kids Crest - and on the off chance we had to use regular toothpaste, they'd all scream and cry and tell me it was too hot.  Totally ridiculous, but totally true.  I don't know if I didn't brush their teeth well enough, or if the Crest toothpaste just doesn't dissolve very well, but I always had blue globs of toothpaste in my sink.  When we ran out of toothpaste a few weeks ago, a new kind caught my eye.  Trying a new toothpaste sounded a bit risky for these picky kids, but it was watermelon flavored and I thought that was pretty safe! It's called Hello.  It smells so good, and the kids LOVE it.  They have several other flavors, and some that have fluoride in them.  I need to ask the kids' dentist this month if they need the extra fluoride.  I read an article recently about how the average person is getting too much fluoride... so that's why I opted for the fluoride free one!
Also, the toothpaste is white, and dissolves really well and I've never had globs of it leftover in the sink.  That's reason enough for me to keep buying it!  It's a tad more expensive than the Crest, but totally worth it in my book!

3.  Valentines Haul from Target
I'm already in full Valentines prep mode at my house.  (It is my favorite holiday!)  Target usually has the best selection of Valentines things, so I went last week to check it out before it was all picked over!  I left with the biggest smile on my face and two bags full of Valentines things!  The cupcake/frosting mix and the pack of blue Valentines (to the right with the mailbox) were the only things not up front in the $1-$3 section.  I got Hayden and Allie the cutest Valentines to pass out to their classmates, adorable plastic plates (which happen to be the kids favorite colors:  Hayden = red, Allie = orange, Krissy = pink, Austin = blue!) a darling mini cake stand (I wanted ALL the colors, but settled on white), some mini chalkboard placecards for our 2nd annual Valentines dinner, a new weekly planner (for menu planning), bandaids (because my kids go through them so quickly), and a small pack of pink doilies

I'm still on the hunt for something for my front door.  I haven't seen any cute Valentine options at any stores.  I've browsed Pinterest, and may make something if I can't find anything I like!

My New Dresser

Guys, let me first start by saying... prayer works!

You know that dresser I talked about in my last post?  I found it on Craigslist, fell in love instantly (with the look of it AND the price), and was crushed to hear it was already sold.  The buyer was supposed to pick it up this weekend, and the seller said she'd let me know if they didn't end up getting it.  I tried to go about my day Friday as usual, but I was seriously so upset!  I prayed about it every time I thought about it - which, lets be honest, was a lot.

We've sold things on Craigslist before and people that said they were going to come didn't really come, so I prayed these buyers would be like that.... so I'd get the opportunity to buy it.  And that's exactly what happened.  Right before noon on Saturday, Melanie (the seller) texted me "Dresser is yours if you want it".  IF I WANT IT?!  OhMyGosh YES!  I started jumping up and down screaming - the kids thought I was nuts.  Kevin had just left to run an errand, and I called him and could barely contain my excitement.  Then I called my mom.... and then I texted my sister... and then me and the kids danced around the kitchen (we did the Chuck E Cheese Happy Dance, with music and all) because I was so excited. By the end of our little dance party they were all screaming "We are getting the dresser!"

Kevin and a friend went to pick it up about an hour later, while I stayed home to get our room ready.  I was texting Melanie back and forth, and she was the sweetest.  She said she actually had other people interested in it, but offered it to me next because she could tell I wanted it so bad. 

We knew it had a drawer that needed work when we bought it, and Kevin got right to work on it.  It's so nice having a handy husband! :)  So, if you're wondering why in the pictures below it's missing two drawers, he had to remove the bottom drawer to get to the one above it.  I was so excited to move our clothes out of the kids dresser and into our very own, very grown-up, dresser!

Every time I walk down the hallway, or glance in our room, I just look at it and just smile!
I. LOVE. IT!

...Before & After.... 

Yard Saling + the app

It's no secret I love a good yardsale!  (Especially ones that are filled with great gently used kids clothes for cheap!)  One of my favorite yard saling tools is my yardsale app {it's free}!

I use this everytime I get out to yard sale! It locates sales from your current location.  I usually look at garage sale listings on craigslist Thursday evening and pick one or two that sound promising.  I will leave home bright and early (usually by 7) and then use my app from there.  

You can click on each red marker and it shows you the ad that's been posted (on craigslist) about the sale.  

My best yardsale advice is:

1.  Bring plenty of cash.  You never know what deals you are going to find!

2.  Shop early!

3.  Have your phone with you so you can look up info about what you are considering purchasing.  I was hesitating on buying Kevin a set of hand weights for $10 last weekend because I thought they were a cheap set.  I decided to buy them and googled the set when I got home to make sure I didn't pay too much.  They sell new on amazon for $79! 

4.  If someone is asking more than you want to pay for something, ask them if they will take less, but offer a fair price.  

5.  Shame on the people that don't price their items, but shame on you if you want something and don't ask the price!  I'm still crying about a pirates chest Hayden would have loved to own, but I didn't want to stop the lady (who was having the sale) from her conversation with her neighbor.  I continued to browse and someone came up behind me, interrupted her, got a price on the pirates chest and snatched it right out from under me... For $5. Ugh.  Lesson learned! 

6.  Lastly, if you can shop w/o your kiddos, you can look faster and cover more sales!  (Kevin's been great about watching the kids so I can get out by myself!). If that's not an option, bring your stroller and plenty of things to keep your kids eyes and hands entertained (iPhones with kids games, snacks, books, or anything else they enjoy!)

Happy Yard Saling! :)

Straight Lines

I'm very particular about my lines... when I fold a paper, I want the corners to match perfectly.  When I cut something (especially a picture), it's gotta be a perfect straight line.  This summer when my sister was home and we were shopping in Huntingburg, I ran across a used paper cutter.  It was from Staples and the shop was asking $9 for it.  I know paper cutters are $25-$100, which is why I never bought one, so I jumped on it!  I hadn't had the opportunity to use it until Krissy's newborn pictures were delivered. 

The paper cutter was a great buy!  It works great and it gave me the perfect straight line I was looking for!  Ask Santa for one this year if you don't have one already :)  It will come in handy

Price Match

*Please read my update here*

This may be old news for some of you reading this.  I know Walmart price matches.  I have never taken them up on this offer, mainly because I didn't know how it worked.  I did some grocery shopping last week and had a Walmart employee fill me in.  I could have been saving so much money so I wanted to pass along the info.

When it comes to electronics, or things for your home, or make up, you need to have the ad with the advertised lower price.  The cashier will then over ride the price and match the lower one.  When it comes to food, you don't need an ad.  You just tell them, "I want to price match the milk.  Aldi has it for $1.49 (or $1.99, whatever it is)," and they just over ride that price!  I thought the brands had to be the same, but they don't!  You can get a Prarie Farms milk or Deans milk for that $1.49! The only milk that won't work with is the organic milk.  I can't believe they just take your word on it, but they do!

You better believe this week I'm going to Aldi and making a list of the price of cream cheese, sour cream, shredded cheese, butter, canned goods, frozen veggies, etc and from now on I'll be having Walmart price match!  Hello one stop shopping!

Thrift Finds

I don't know many people who enjoy thrifting quite as much as I do, so when my sis is in town, I love for her to go with me!  She has a great eye and usually spots things I over look.  I told her she had to put "thrifting with sis" on her to do list.  On Monday we braved the 150% humidity and we both found some great finds!  Here's what I got:

I'm hoping to wear these 3 shirts after I have the baby... ($2.50 each)

Motherhood Maternity dress ($2.50)

A few things for Hayden.  The overalls are adorable on him, but he isn't a fan.  Maybe he can wear them for Halloween?  ($2 per item)

A few cute tops for Allie.  ($2 each)

Some casual dresses for Allie.  ($2 each)  The first pink/stripy one had never been worn!

Thrifting

Hello, Thrifting.  I have missed you. 

I bought 2 pair of jeans - the light pair are for post pregnancy, the dark pair are for when I lose the baby weight!

The light jeans are Gap Long & Lean jeans (My Favorite jeans ever), and the dark are called Truck Jeans.  Both retail for @ $70 and I paid $5 a pair!  Love it!

I found this super cute North Face sweater that I'm hoping I can wear this winter.  The sleeves are extra long and it looks like it's never been worn.  I was marked down from $5 to $2.  I think yes!

This was by far my favorite find.  As I've said, I'm wanting to make the baby's bedding.  My plan is to use red and blue as the main nursery colors and if it's a girl add pink touches and if it's a boy add navy blue.  I had looked at crib bumper patterns and I knew that would be the biggest sewing challenge I faced.  Then, I found this Pottery Barn Kids bumper that will match perfectly for $5!  Looks brand spakin' new!  I couldn't pass it up!!!

Who is ready to go thrifting?!  I am!!!!  Can't wait to see what I find on my next trip out!

Yard Sale Addict

*My computer turned on today - so I'm going to make the most of it!*
A few weeks ago I started my Friday routine of yard sale shopping.  I was getting discouraged because I had found squat to buy.  3/4 of my kids wardrobe comes from yard sales so I needed to get on the ball with finding some good deals!  Then, yesterday, the game changed!  I went to Clear Creek Subdivision sale.  There were at least 40 sales in that neighborhood and most had baby/kids items.  I ended up getting Hayden a bag full of name brand clothes, Allie a bag full of name brand clothes, myself a bag of maternity clothes (everything was $1-$2 - I couldn't resist!), and a cute children's wooden table and chairs for our dining room.  (I was keeping an eye out for a cheap one!  So happy to have found one.  I still want to put a coat of paint on it - probably later this month though!)

(Everything pictured totaled $21.)  The 3 pair of shorts finished Hayden's summer wardrobe.  He has about half his winter clothes and I've already bought a few things for next summer too!

(Everything pictured totaled $21) Allie pretty much has nothing for the winter, so this is a good start!  Her summer wardrobe is about 95% done.  She needs a couple more church dresses - then I will start on next summer's clothes!

(Everything pictured totaled $18) Like I said, everything was less than $2, so I got a few things that I didn't have to have (the 3 dresses), but the shorts/tanks/tshirts are all stuff I will get my money's worth out of!

Including the table and 2 chairs ( which were $10 {the kids were playing with one when I took the picture}), I spent $70.  Not bad, not bad at all! 

Easter Dress(es)

Every year I seem to think I need a new Easter dress.  I don't really buy many (if any) new dresses during the year, so I always look forward to finding *the* Easter dress.  Shopping was really starting to frustrate me.  I looked ridiculous in everything I tried on!  Amy suggested, at the same time I was thinking, that maybe I should just look for a non maternity dress that isn't fitted.  Seemed like a good idea but I wansn't having much luck finding something appropriate for Easter that wasn't fitted. 

Last Saturday when we went to Indy, we stopped in Terra Haute at the TJ Maxx.  My mom told me they have a good clothes selection so I was anxious to check it out.  I entered their dressing room with 7 potential dresses and left with 3!  I couldn't decide because I liked them all so well!  So, now all that's left is to find Hayden, Allie, & Kevin something to wear - and I usually don't have a problem with that :)

P.S. The reason I convinced myself I needed all three dresses was because I thought they would be good for Florida too!  Just hope they all still fit by then! :)

Aldi Finds

I've been wanting a new rug for our family room.  Nothing fancy, but something more neutral than the paisley brown/orange/red rug we had before.  It went well with our old couch and loveseat set, but didn't coordinate with the set we bought a year and a half ago.  I just couldn't stand spending $70+ on a plain rug!  I was doing my weekly grocery shopping at Aldi and by the registers I saw rugs for $19.99!  They look like a plain piece of carpet, but that's exactly what I was looking for!  They were 5'x7' and I couldn't remember what size I had at home, so I went home to measure to make sure it was the same size before I loaded one in my car.

Sure enough, it was the size I needed!  I went back that afternoon and bought one.  The kids thought it was the grandest purchase.  They danced, hopped, laid, and ran all over the rug.  Who knew they would be so excited about something so little!

I also found this little step stool at Aldi.  My mom has one like it, but green, and Hayden loves it!  I bought him one and it was just as big of a hit as the new rug.  It actually became the source of all kids of fights (b/c Hayden nor Allie wanted to share) so I went back and bought a 2nd stool (they were only $5.99).  Two great finds at Aldi!  I love their random house hold items!

Rockin' Red Dress!

My new obsession is thrifting.  When the weather warms up I think the thrifting might cool down, or completely stop, because I will be yard saling my Friday (and maybe Saturday) mornings away!  Man I love a good bargin!

When my sis was home over Christmas, we did some thrifting together.  If you keep up with her blog, you already saw the post she did... Thrifting in Indiana.  We had lots of fun and I wish she was here to go weekly with me!  We both found some great finds but all the credit for my red dress goes to my sis!  We were browsing the dress racks when she held up this red silky dress.  We kept holding up hiddeous things and laughing about them and I thought that's what she was doing... but she said, "You should really try this on".  I started to laugh and she said she was serious.  I told her to put it back, it was ugly!  I had a handful of things to try on and she insisted I try on the red dress.  Just to make her happy, I did, but I knew I'd hate it...... or not.  It actually fit me so well, and I thought it was really flattering!  She was giving me tips on how to accessorize it to bring it up to date.  She wanted to see the after pic, so here it is - just for you sis! :)

To the 80 year old lady that gave away her vintage silk dress, thank you :)  I love it!
(p.s. Thanks Dad for taking my picture!)

I also dressed little Allie to match her momma today!  *LOVE* having a little girl!

Painted Bowl

Kevin let me do a little shopping yesterday with out the kids - HALLELUJAH! Ok, maybe I was a little too excited about shopping kid-free, but it's SO nice to be able to take my sweet time in a store!  Usually my shopping consist of getting exactly what I need and walking right back out.  I went to Hobby Lobby, TJ Maxx, Pier 1, & Target.  I didn't buy a lot, but it was nice to just get out and look.  I did find this beautiful bowl on clearance at Pier 1!  It was originally $20 and I bought it for $4.98.  It matches my Fiesta Ware so beautifully I couldn't pass it up.  I see it sitting in the middle of my dining room table full of bright fruit!

This Weeks Finds

I have been having yard sale with drawl.  I don't know how I'm going to make it through the winter.  Maybe I will frequent Goodwill? 

Friday morning is the best time to go!  You get the best pick of things, and I've found that most people will even take less than their asking price, even after they just opened!  (I'm not one of those people that takes a load of stuff up and tries to knock them down on every thing, but if it's something bigger I like to negotiate.) 

Here's the run down of what we bought:

Children's Place 3 piece outfit + shoes = $6

Old Navy dress and turtle neck + the most adorable squeaker shoes = $6

Play clothes = $5

2 dresses (old navy and oshkosh) = $3

Gymboree puffy vest and Children's Place jeans = $5

2 pair Carter fleece pjs + Old Navy Fleece dress + Children's Place fleece hoodie = $5

Old Navy/Children's Place pants and jeans + Old Navy zip up + Kelly's Kids tshirt + random shirts = $13

Gap & Chaps summer polos + Cute tshirt + (like new) Puma shoes = $9

The whole lot of kids goodies

Finally found some play food for Allie's kitchen!  All this + grill = $4

Kevin found some "guy" stuff and I found a couple Christmas and Birthday presents (not pictured), so overall it was a great day of bargain shopping!

Today's Deals

I wish I would just stop having so much luck at yard sales, so maybe I could stop going!  Last week my friend Amy came over and was telling me how much her boys LOVE their John Deere power wheels tractor.  I told her I'd have to look for Hayden one at a yard sale.  She laughed and said I'd never find one at a yard sale!  They are anywhere from $200-$300 new.

Last night I was browsing Craigslist garage sale listings.  One in Newburgh mentioned a "John Deere Power Wheels Tractor".  I told Kevin I was considering getting it for Hayden for Christmas, but I didn't want to pay more than $75-$100.  Amy told me if it needs a new battery they are $40 and I didn't want to have almost $150 tied up into something like that.  The sale started at 6am and I sent Kevin over to check it out while I stayed home with the kids.  He texted me at 6:04 saying he had left the sale.  I asked if he got it or not.  He said he did and it had the yard cart on the back along with the charger, and the battery worked great.  Then I asked him what he paid for it.  He said, "Guess".  I knew that was a good sign.  I guessed $60.  Here's a picture of it.... what do you think it's worth?!

Well he gave her the asking price on it ----- $30!

What a steal!!!!  Hayden is going to be so excited on Christmas morning.  I know we'll be outside riding it in the freezing temps!  Actually, maybe I will have Kevin get the barn cleaned out enough that he can ride it in there.  For now, it's going to my parents house until closer to Christmas!  Less than 3 months till he gets it.  I'm so excited to give it to him!

At the same sale (I went back later), I bought some fabric and 2 patterns.  They are just small pieces, but I am anxious to play around and learn how to sew.  Maybe sewing will be a new hobby?  My grandma over heard me saying tonight I wanted a basic sewing machine to learn on and she told me she has one I could have!  I can't wait to get it!  Thanks Grandma!  Now if she could just teach me all she knows about sewing I'd be set :)