Monthly Archives:

November 2014

Tutorial Tuesday: DIY $2.00 Curtain Rods!

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Good afternoon, savvy savers! For this weeks Tuesday Tutorials post, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite tricks for finishing off the look of several rooms in my home, DIY $2.00 curtain rods!

To achieve this look:

Materials Needed: 

  • 1 dowel rod
  • 2 screw-in door pulls
  • E-6000 epoxy
  • 2 1 inch tea cup screw hooks
  • Curtain panel

Instructions:

  1. Purchase a dowel rod to fit the length of your window; dowel rods are great as they are inexpensive, come in 12, 18, 24, and 36″ lengths, and most are under $1.00!
  2.  Paint your dowel rod. I used a free paint samples from Lowe’s; they currently have 2013 and Spring 2014 Valspar paint samples for only $0.68!
  3. Next, drill a hole in each end of the rod; a length of 1/2″ deep is fine.
  4. Now, smear a small amount of E-6000 epoxy onto each door pull, and then screw into your pre-drilled holes on each end of the dowel rod.
  5. Finally, measure and install a 1 inch teacup hook on each side of the window, where the rod will sit; if the hooks are not deep enough they can be stretched with pliers.
  6. Now the fun part, hang your rod! 

That’s it! Why pay upwards of $30.00 for a barred curtain rod, when you can make your own for $2.00! This rod is so versatile, in that you can hang wither a traditional rod and islet curtain, os can use the same rod for a islet and clamp-style curtain, for a more cafe inspired look, as well! Why pay upwards of $40.00 at department stores!

Here’s to saving!

Misty

 

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Organizational Tips: Hanging Utility Closet Organizer!

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Good morning, savvy savers! For this weeks Organizational Tip, I wanted to show you how I organize my hallway utility closet. I use a very basic hanging shoe organizer, purchased online for under 10.00!

The organizer holds everything:

  • cleaning clothes and wipes
  • buffing pads
  • steamer clothes
  • air fresheners
  • batteries
  • mini flashlights
  • puppy pads
  • emergency candles
  • small accordion files which hold appliance instructions and warranties
  • interchangeable parts for my Shark Vacuum
  • and cordless keyboards and car detailing kits

I love being able to use a basic, vertical surface to hold what use to be a laundry basket full of miscellaneous household and cleaning items in my utility closet! This organizer has freed up three kitchen drawers, a bin in my shed, and allows me to know exactly where emergency items are when needed the most! I love knowing just where everything is without having to endlessly search drawers, cabinets, bins, and the like looking for that one small, evasive item desperately needed to finish my task at hand! This small purchase has made a major impact on the functionality of my home!

Here’s to organizing!

Misty

Making More Out of Monday Meals: Blanch & Shock Veggies!

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Calling all Stockpilers! For this weeks Making More Out of Monday Meals, I wanted to post about one of my favorite ways to save money while stockpiling, blanching and freezing vegetables, otherwise known as Blanch and Shock Vegetable preservation!

By blanching and flash-freezing your vegetables, you will be able to save 90% off of your produce bills! If you watch your weekly sales ads, and purchase vegetables on promotion, and take a portion of all fresh produce, and freeze these goods, you will never be without health, life saving vegetables!

Here’s how to make them:

  1. Take your vegetables, and prep them; wash, sort, inspect, and chop your vegetables.
  2. Prepare a pot of salted water; use 1/2 teaspoon of salt per half gallon of water.
  3. Bring water to a boil.
  4. Put your vegetables in the boiling water for 3 minutes, no more no less; use a kitchen timer for this process.
  5. While your water is boiling, take a separate bowl, and fill it with ice.
  6. After 3 minutes, using a strainer, transfer your blanched produce to your prepared ice bath; soak vegetables in the ice bath for another 3 minutes, timed. The ice water will stop the internal cooking process, and flash-freeze the produce.
  7. Strain, then drain your vegetables.
  8. Place the produce in pre-marked and dated baggies, then freeze!
  9. Enjoy your produce savings!

Please note, this will preserve veggies for up to one year in a deep freeze, and when ready to use in a recipe, allow to thaw for 2-3 hours, per baggie! 

 

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Battle-Of-The-Bulge, Budget Style: Free Online Yoga Classes!

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Hello again, savvy savers!  Today I am 31 years young, I am 5’6”, and weigh 198 lbs; I am down one pound since last week. I walk my dogs but beyond this am not terribly active. My lifestyle causes sedentary behaviors; I work-from-home, blog, run two internet businesses, and perform advocacy work online as well. I am an internet-based excuser! Today this changes! Spring has sprung, and so shall I! I have taken up yoga, and have started working out with a pedometer on as well! For this weeks Battle-of-the-Bulge, Buget Style post, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite ways to exercise online, for free!

You may ask, why Yoga? Well here are a few reasons I love Yoga:

  • Increased flexibility.
  • Increased muscle tone.
  • Improved overall personal energy.
  • The maintenance of a balanced metabolism.
  • Weight reduction.
  • Consistent cardiac health.
  • Improved athletic performance.
  • Protection from injury.

I often visit the site DoYogaWithMe, where I am able to find yoga classes, ranging in length, purpose, and intensity, for free, but also follow along several workout community forums where I can speak openly and candidly with others in my situation, those trying to work through our personal issues surrounding our body image and weight. 

Times of the month when I chose to look up a Yoga routine:

  • When its too cold or wet outside.
  • When I feel stressed.
  • When I feel run down or exhausted.
  • When I need personal reflection.
  • When I seek peace and tranquility before a long week. 
  • To maintain a sense of calm this holiday season. 

There are so many benefits that can come from even a quick 30-minute yoga session, that I make time for 1-2 sessions, online in my spare time, each week. This is time set aside for my own betterment, and as a result, I am a better person, a more rational useful woman to my family, and a better blogger for my readers! I keep a mat in several rooms of my home, to ensure that I remain excuse-free in my Battle-of-the-Bulge, and knowing that I am just a few minutes away from relaxation and peace of mind, is just an awesome feeling!

I would encourage you all to try out this site for yourself as well! 

Here’s to betterment,

Misty

An Additive of Gratitude, Part II!

Hello again, savvy savers! I wanted to end my weekly posts by bring the week to a close with a post about the reflections on this past week. This weeks reflections are going to be slightly different, in that I want to focus this weeks post, not on what I hope to accomplish, but on what I am most thankful for this past week. I wish to continue this series for the remainder of the year, as an “Attitude of Gratitude-style” post. I will be following this trend for the rest of the holiday season, and each weeks reflections, will reflect the calendar date of each post. I encourage all of my fellow blogging friends, readers, family, and friends-at-large to join in as well.

 

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So, without further ado… here are the 16 REASONS I AM GRATEFUL THIS WEEK:

 

  1. This past Friday, my beloved husband, friend, and confident, Daniel, turned the big 4-0, in such a gracious manner, that I was truly proud of him!
  2. This past week, my husband brought home a new fur-baby, Glenda, a rescue, who after a clean bill of health from our family veterinarian, has already proven to be a loving, thoughtful companion, and helps prove that the old adage, “who rescued who,” to be more than the truth, in our case!
  3. I lost an additional two pounds, as part of my healthier lifestyle, and am hopeful to lose more!
  4. Last week my website hit 500,000 views; I am truly blessed to have reached so many readers since March of this year, and am grateful for all of my readers!
  5. I am having continued success with my ETSY shop, and am loving all of the positive comments, conversations, likes, favorites, and orders this holiday season!
  6. I have finished up my holiday shopping for this holiday season, and came in under budget!
  7. I plan to take some time this afternoon to clean out, organize, and inventory my deep freezer, freezer, and refrigerators; I am grateful for the abundance of groceries, food staples, and other blessings that couponing has allotted my family this past year. I plan to donate 20% of our non-perishable food staples this week to a local soup kitchen and my husband’s school food drive, so that we may pass our blessings onto others!
  8. I am grateful for falling leaves. I somehow love the quiet moments, early in the morning, where I alone can creep across my yard, to fetch the morning paper, while listening to the crunch of leaves beneath my feet, the glow of brilliant fall foliage in sight, and the feel of chill in the air. I long for the days of Autumn!
  9. Finally, I am grateful for my three overgrown puppies, Sassy, Roxie, and Lady. My girls were so ecstatic this morning to receive a new treat from the store, and just the fact that a binky and ball makes there day, makes mine, too; I strive to be the kind of person my pups think I am!
  10. I am grateful for warm, seasonal crockpot meals on cool Fall nights.
  11. I am grateful for having a husband who has not just a true heart for God, but a desire to help others in the process.
  12. I am grateful for being a product reviewer; being able to bring my readers, friends, and family new, affordable products that will make their lives easier, is comforting to me!
  13. I am grateful for silence; I enjoy nothing more than waking up on cool Fall mornings, to a silent house, a cup of warm chai, and the sound of nothingness. There is a contentedness that I find in silence that I long for and crave. 
  14. I am grateful for being a book reviewer; I have been afforded the opportunity to read so many amazing pre-released works from authors previously unknown to me, and the opportunity to share their works with others is always a shared blessing, in the ability to in the greatness of the written word. There is something to be said for the sense of accomplishment that one feel when a good book closes for the last time, on the last page, the sense of forlorn consideration that comes with having to leave newly made literary friends, that no sort of electronic reader can come close to! 
  15. I am grateful for silly pet moments; bringing home a new dog bed and smoked ham bones for my dogs brought forth grins and smiles all around this morning! 
  16. I am grateful for Sundays spent in pajamas and sweat pants; there is something to be said for being comfortable in one’s own home! 
 
So, that’s my list for this week! I love the awesome blessings my life unfolds for me week in, and week out!  What are your goals for the week, I’d love to hear them below in a comment!

 

Happy Sunday!

Misty