New Ikea spring line up

Have you seen the new spring line up? I have to say Ikea has stepped it up on the cottage farmhouse look.
 Here's a peek at some of the new spring stuff.

come to MAMA!!!!!! Hurry april hurry!

 First of all the faucet will be mine. I already have the apron sink from Ikea, It was meant to go in our old cottage. It never got put in, so I have been storing it. So now I am going to get this faucet to go with it. I think I am in love.....haha

 This trolly is O to sweet it also comes in black .  This would be great in a kitchen or bathroom.

 This is so for my bedroom. What a beautiful laundry basket.  This will also be on my pick up list.

Cute farmhouse table and the light fixture this  is also in the spring line up. Could that fixture be any sweeter?

Last weeks find~ Salvation Army

I can't wait to show you what I have planned for this old tool box.  5.00 at the Salvation Army!



Something sort of like this......

These are not your average chicken coops

Beach coop? lol

love!!!

Cupola turned Coop

Farm Dreaming

Farm Herb Garden

Garden

Guest house

Old cupola....now a chicken coop

1940's gate

Daffodil's in a blue mason Jar

Here are some beautiful daffodil's I picked yesterday and put in a blue mason jar.

If your wondering about the J. Elaine Photography~ That's my photography name on facebook

You don't have to spend a lot of money to make things look beautiful. I used a old blue mason jar! you could use a coffee cup ~ teacup~ or even a glass. 

Simple beauty

What I saved on this week

Another Goodwill or as I like to call it (The Will) deal!  Found these Knife dividers/holders  sitting on a shelve just waiting for me! Brand new..  total score

Two of them were .99 cents and one was 1.99 Williams-Sonoma

The large one was 34.95 new
The small ones were 19.95 new


That's 54.90 if bought in the store new.  I scored them for 3.00 still in the wrappers! Total savings= 51.90

Hello, Goodbye

Hello everyone, it's been way to long since my last blog post. And a lot as happened.  First of all, the hubby was offered a amazing job offer!  And he took it! So, as of a month ago we packed up our cottage and are now renting a beautiful house closer to his work. It was very hard leaving our cottage where we started our married lives and brought our little boys home to. We have entered into the unknown. We are hoping to build a home in about a year and a half. But you never know, we could always end up back in our cottage.  Life is giving us a adventure  and as long as we are together ....it all good!

Here is a beautiful picture out the front window of the rental!

It's a beautiful view for my coffee in the morning!

I hope you will follow us long the crazy adventure we are on. I have lots coming...organization, recipes, photography, trips, money saving tips , crafts and of course home decorating!



till later oxox

Popcorn in a Brown Paper Bag

I am totally over that peee- yew smell if those metal lined microwave popcorn bags not to mention the $$$

I had read several times that you could pop popcorn in a brown paper bag?

So, I thought lets give it a try!

Step 1 you will need brown paper lunch bags, and a bag your choice of popcorn

Step 2 measure out 1/4 cup dry popcorn. I used 1/2 cup but it was a lot!

Step 3 put it in microwave for about 3 min....keep a eye on it ,when it starts to slow down take it out

Step 4 Enjoy!

- I was very surprised at the amount it made
- Make sure to use 1/4 cup when starting, The 1/2 cup almost over flowed
- This is totally money saving.  Supermarkets sell it at $ 4 a pound and usually $6
 ordinary popcorn is about $1 a pound or less, good organic popcorn is $2
 also, I think Costco sells it for $3 for 12lb.

- Your saving money
- your getting rid of that awful microwave smell
- your not putting those metal lined bags in the landfill
- you can recycle your brown paper bags
- No hydrogenated oils
- Who knows if those microwave bags are toxic

- If you want you can add oil to your bag
- you can also add butter or seasonings to your popcorn
- I paid 1.99 for the popcorn and 1.00 for the bags

The 1/2 a cup filled this big serving bowl!

Enjoy.....

Last minute stock-up

I had a last minute stock up Yesterday. I noticed a great deal on toilet paper! and it was at my rock bottom stock up price, with a couple in store coupons and my store savings card. here's what I got.

50 packages
200 rolls
plus a free package of 4 rolls
so a total of 51 packages 204 rolls
.22 cents a roll

Regular price 99.50 before tax
savings from plus card 49.50
total 50.00
They started out at 1.99
went down to 1.00 with savings card
then I used a 5.00 off 50.00 order coupon
=45.00
then I used a free 1.00 item with 10.00 purchase
total before tax 45.00
total 47.50

I still had money left from my budget of 400.00 a month to do this.
we are pretty stocked up for awhile, plus I got a package of 12 this week in my regular shop.

I also picked up hamburger marked down 50%
I got 6 lbs
regular 6.09 for 2 lbs
it was 3.09 for 2 lbs
so 9.27 for 6lbs.....which will do our meal plan for hamburger for  2 months.
break down  4.36 a month!
so 56.77 for 204 rolls of toilet paper and 6 lbs of hamburger


Happy Savings!

12/26/11 week savings

I am still making a dent in next years grocery's I did really good today. I think this was one of my best shops! I got all the canned sauces I need for my homemade spaghetti for the next year.  Here's what i got for my 50.00 dollars this week.  I should add that i have only spent 46.00 last week and 42.00 this week!

11- paper towels
10 -28oz cans diced tomatoes for red sauce
12 -cans tomato paste for red sauce
2- loafs honey wheat bread
pepperoni for homemade pizza
2- packages of mozzarella cheese for pizza
12 pack diet coke
12 pack double roll angel soft
gallon whole milk
2% milk
sugar- for homemade cookies
Total-  42.30
Before- 83.07
savings- 40.77
I used 3 coupons and my store savings card

Next week I will have to do a meat shop....

Have a blessed day!

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!

Many Blessing to you all. I hope this Christmas season brings you joy and love! From our home to yours Merry Christmas to you all. 

Stocking up ..I saved a little over 50%

Good Morning everyone. I hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas week .I took advantage of some sales this week to stock up on some food items.  I did really well , Here's what I got.

10 boxes of stovetop
10 boxes of Spaghetti Noodles
10 packages of Birds eye frozen vegetables
2 sara lee pies
1 brawny paper towel
1 mayo
1 loaf of bread
1 12 pack Pepsi
2 kotex
- no meat this week


-I stock up on the things that i use when i find them at rock bottom prices.
- The bread was free with the purchase of the mayo
-Original bill 85.70
- Total spent 46.53
-savings 39.17
- plus I earned gas points
- I wont need to buy Stuffing or Noodles for the rest of next year!
- I know what i need for meals for the year. I know that's extreme, but I have been doing this for awhile.
- Try planning your meals out for a week or a month to start with. Watch the ads, know what you need. --Stick to one drug store and one food store to start with.
- I shopped at a local store called farmers food


-Here's a little tip- if you need candy for New Years baking, taking or just eating. Shop the day after Christmas for bags of candy. They will be 50% off or more. You can also use your coupon if you have one for big savings.

 - If you need flour this week and you have a Wegmans near by, they have it for 99 cents, they also have pasta for 79 cents
- Kmart has eggs for 99 cents , butter for 1.99 , orange juice 2 for 5.00 with in store coupon


HAPPY SHOPPING AND SAVING

Today's Finds!

 I am so excited! I found some really great wood boxes today. I have been looking for some to hold  the boy's books. (Will some of their books anyway).

They match!

Nice and deep and handles

Only 6.00 

Paula Deen Makeover! Ya'll!

Hold the front door everybody!!!  I am about to go crazy.  Let me first start by saying I love me some Paula Deen !

Paula Deen!

-She's Southern , She's Sweet ( yes, I have meet her!) and man can that women cook!

-But what has me hooked on Paula right now is her Furniture Collection and her home! Needless to say, I love it all.

- Over the Summer I was at My best friends, Mom's house. She had this BEAUTIFUL bed! Which was from the Paula Deen Collection! What, shut the front door, Paula Deen Has Furniture?  I had to see this. And I did, 2 weeks later Paula's Home was on CMT cribs! All I can Say is WOW!

- Here's what my friend's  Mom's Bed looks like!

Beautiful

- So to get to my point, I love the decor and design of her style.

- Here are some pictures of what inspires me from here collection and her home! Hope you enjoy.

- The style is just wonderful, Let the thriftyness  begin!
- Stay tuned for updates!
- Have a great day!