6-27-11

8:30am

Was watching Good Day Columbus

and saw a segment about this web site

called Thrift And Shout. 

This blog is not only to inspire others with amazing thrift store finds but to also teach others how to live fabulously without spending a fortune.

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8:45 - 9:45am

I decided to start painting the bathroom.

I'm using the free quart of paint

from Glidden called Quiet Rain.

I am loving this really soft blue color.

It flows well with the camel

color in the hallway which

is a soft yellowy-orange color.

Blue and Orange are complimentary

colors on the color wheel and go 

with one another.

And in the bathroom I have greenish

color floors so the blue goes with

it because they are both cool colors.

I still have to put Kilz over the

paint test areas or those areas

will result in a different color.

It's a start, got the tub painted and

now working on the walls.

I'm doing the lower part of the 

walls at the moment because I don't

know when or if I'll get to putting

the beadboard wallpaper up.

So for now I don't want it looking

half finished.

Before

 After

 

Before

 

After

 

 Shower curtain I will use.

 --------------------------------------------

10:15am

-----------------------------------------

11:30 - 12:00pm


Finally got back in the bathroom
to do some more painting.
Half the bathroom is done.
Had to stop to make some brunch
for the kids and then I went to
Speedway.  I also called and got
Tony a doctor's appointment
for Thursday afternoon.
I told her I wanted to change doctors.
The receptionist said I could
only change doctor's once and was
I sure if I wanted to.
It wasn't the regular receptionist
who's all nice and knows us.
I said uh, yeah, I'm tired of the other
doctor diagnosing my husband wrong
with piddly crap
when he has more serious conditions.
I can't deal with that.
We go in and doc said he has a cold
when a second opinion and another
doctor later says he has pneumonia.
Another visit this doctor said
he had an injured knee and when
we got another doctor's second opinion
he in fact had cellulitis and ended
up in the hospital for 3 days.
Because if not treated celluitis
could eat at your skin and insides!
Then my family doctor saw him
once and said the other doctor
didn't have his prescriptions right.
Also this doctor doesn't preform
all the right procedures every time
my husband goes in for a visit.
He's supposed to do regular checkups,
including checking the feet,
when someone has diabetes.
He does not!
Because if not watched closely
diabetics can get infections in their
foot skin that can cause gangrene
which could result in the loss of
feet or legs!!!

So after all these visits
and getting second opinions
wasting our money I am so
done with this other doctor!!


I said to the receptionist after telling her
the above, yeah, I think I'm pretty done
with this doctor!!

What I don't get is we are told
we can only change doctor's once
by choice but sometimes their
doctors leave that building to move
on and go elsewhere and they
don't hesitate hooking you
up with doctor after different doctor
by their choice whether these
doctors fits your needs or not.

Ok I'm done rambling.
I hope I did good at finding him
another doctor at that office.
I did not let them pick one for
me and requested the doctor I have.


Anyway here's my painting so far.


Before
You can see where I tried
a different colored paint
called cyprus grass (around door) on the walls
and didn't like it.
The light blue seems more
soothing for a bathroom.

After

----------------------------------------


1:20pm


Got the back upper wall by the tub
done and round the mirror and
shelf above toilet.
Slowly getting there.
The blue is showing darker in the
photos when it is almost
a whitish-blue.
I can now change out my shower
curtains once the paint dries.
We've had this red microfiber
one for three years at this house
and a couple years in the apartment.
I think it's time for a change, lol.

Had the truck driver neighbor come
knocking on my door while painting.
Don't it figure while you're in the midst
of doing something like painting the
phone rings and people come to your door.
Anyway Tony told him yesterday
he was wanting to sell our car trailer for $600.
Coincidentally today truck driver
neighbor's brother had called him
asking if he knew anyone with a car
trailer.  See I told you God works
in mysterious ways!!
Anyway he's coming to look at
it this afternoon/evening.


-----------------------------


2:00pm


I'm done painting for today.
My arms and hands, which are
going numb, can't take much more.


So far what I have spent on redoing the bathroom-
Price of paint- FREE
Price of shower curtains- FREE
Wall decorations- FREE
Refinishing tub- $4.58


Before & After at the moment.

Need to go figure out what to
have for supper.
Might use the pork steaks I got
yesterday and make homemade ridged
potato fries to go with it.


------------------------------------


4:00pm


Supper


Sliced up some potatoes on
a ridged cutter.  
Sliced the two pork steaks
into 7 servings.
Seasoned steak fries with BBQ seasoning.

I then cut up and fried a 
1/2 pound of bacon til crispy.
Drained on paper towel.

In food processor add
Italian bread crumbs, parmesan cheese,
bbq seasoning & bacon.
Pulse for 1 minute.

Next dip pork steaks into
ranch dressing with bacon
then coat with the breading mixture.
Place into greased casserole dish.
Bake with fries.

-------------------------------------

6-26-11

9:15am

Trying to make up a grocery list.

Gotta run to Kroger today to get

Tony's prescription.

I'm taking along a bunch of Kroger

coupons that they sent me in the mail.

Along with a few regular coupons.

Hoping to find some mark downs.

I've been trying to build up my coupon

collection.  My mom, her friend, 

and my aunt has been so kind to give

and send me coupons by mail.

I no longer get the Sunday paper

because I wanted to cut back expenses,

so along with that went the Sunday coupons.

Just because you don't get the paper

to get those coupons you can always

print some off the internet or find them

hanging in stores or ask friends and 

neighbors for theirs.

Currently the dispatch is $9.93 a month

for a Sunday paper subscription.

That's almost $120 a year so you see

why I canceled it.

Every little thing you can cut back on

that does not seem like a lot can add up

over a year's time!!

By changing over my cable company

this year from wow to insight is saving me

$480 a year, $40 a month.  So by canceling the dispatch

and a new combined cable package I am saving

$600 a year for only those two items!!

I have to schedule Tony a doctor's 

appointment this week.

(going to try to get him in with my doctor!)

Our insurance isn't going to allow

us to get anymore prescriptions

like diabetes meds or anything that you

take on an everyday basis

at a local pharmacy.  If we do

we have to pay full price.

By July 1st they say we have to

start using mail order prescriptions

to get any discount.

I'm not sure if I'm going to like

that because I like to take care

of things in person rather than

mail or phone.

Now all other prescriptions like

antibiotics we can go to the

pharmacy to get.

My honey made us all breakfast this morning.

He made egg sandwiches with bologna.

I called the bologna on the sandwich

the redneck's version of ham, lol.

----------------------------------

In a box of free recipe magazines
I got Friday I found a printed off
version of a book called
Thrifty Meals for Two.
I found one in PDF form
called Recipes and Tips for Healthy, Thrifty Meals
if you would like to read it
and check out the recipes.


-----------------------------------


3:15pm 


Just return home.
Went to Kroger & Walmart.

Found about 5 bags of coupons on my
back door step.  I'm sure it was you
Kendra, so thank you BUNCHES!!  :0)


Then I wanted to look for some boxes.
Wasn't sure where to look
so started looking behind Olentangy Plaza
with no luck.  So then decided to
head over to Olentangy Commons 
Apartments to see if anyone had thrown
any away that I could use.
Let's just say I only stopped at
2 dumpsters and filled the truck up.
And that was with finding only ONE box, LMAO!.
Now mind you I had groceries in the back
end as well.  I had kids sitting cross legged
because I had to put things in the backseat!


HOLY GUACAMOLE BATMAN!!!
I never expected to happen upon all this stuff
from people moving out.
I LOVE COLLEGE STUDENTS
WHO ARE SOOOO WASTEFUL!!!

Magnavox Blue Ray player
&
Insignia Surround System
with 5 speakers and sub woofer.
(wires included but not shown)

120 Watt Samson sub woofer.

25, yes that TWENTY FIVE 12 pack
(about 300 bottles)
of Amp Energy 100% juice!!!
I found online where they go for 
$2.00 a bottle x's 300
is a worth of $600 for all these!!!!!!!!!!!

And a 12 pack of Coca-Cola pop.

Plus we got an under the bed
storage tote with lid, velour lined
 soft guitar case, and a small air
compressor that plugs into
a car's lighter outlet.


The adrenaline has gotten the best of
me at the moment!
Now I got groceries to put away, ahhh,
after unloading the truck.

I spent $74 but got lots of stuff
to last for a couple weeks.


Some deals I got with coupons
and mark downs-
Not everything we bought though.


1 pound Driscoll's strawberries for.25 cents!!  I got 2 containers of them.


Tic Tacs- FREE


5 count Zyrtec allergy medicine- FREE


House salad with bacon- $1.29

Redi Serve Chicken- .62 cents each
On Cor family entrees- $1.79 each

Kroger rising crust pizza- $2.89
Kroger original crust pizza- $2.60

Cheese slices- $1.39 each
Shredded cheese - $1.54 each

Kraft BBQ sauce- .86 cents each

2 pkgs pork shoulder blade steaks- 
$2.39 (1.23 pounds) & $2.55 (1.31 pounds)


Pork shoulder blade roast-
1.89 pounds $3.28.

2 loaves wheat bread .49 cents each
& 1 pkg potato hot dog buns .69 cents

2 boxes Kraft mac n cheese- .59 cents each
1 box Pasta Roni- .59 cents

4:00pm


Still wound up.
Got a pizza thrown in the oven for supper.
Now need to change the laundry over.
I also am washing up all the clothes
I got yesterday for $1.00.


Whew!  This saving money
is wearing me out today!  LOL!


----------------------------------


In the USA Weekend 
there is a coupon for
Buy 1 Get 1 Free
$5.00 Kentucky Fried Chicken meals.


-----------------------------------


How to make a little extra cash with
little to no money up front.
All it requires is gas for your vehicle
and your time.


One way we make a little extra cash,
in desperate times, is to sell some things
that we find during college move out times.
It's 100% profit since
we didn't pay anything for the items.
Between June and September you would
need to cruise the college campus area
and apartments that house college students
looking for items they've thrown away.
You can find items sitting at curbsides
or in front of dumpster areas.
Load them up, bring 'em home,
clean 'em up and test out any electronics
to make sure they are in good working
condition.  You want your customers to
come back or get the word out
so don't try to screw them selling
junk items unless you are honest and
tell them up front if something is
wrong with the item.
Honesty is the best policy
and you want to gain the trust of your
customers!

I research used prices on the internet
of each item to see what it could go for.
I usually sell items for much less than
that just to make a sale and keep
things moving.  People think they are
getting a heck of a deal and I make
a little grocery, gas or bill money.


I used to use a couple classified Yahoo groups
 for the Columbus
area but aren't sure if those are still
around because I haven't used them in
awhile. You could always resort
to using Craigslist.

There are many times I don't sell
stuff and give to charities or
people in need when I don't
need that extra cash.
I can't stand to see good things go to waste.
So I donate to friends, family,
& neighbors that are low income families.
I usually gather lists of items needed
from these families and keep an eye
out for what they may need.
I also donate to churches
and one year I took a load
to a place accepting items
for hurricane victims.

This year I am on the lookout for
blankets for a church doing 
a blanket drive in the Fall
for homeless families.

So even though we don't make a lot
of money I still find ways to
give back to the community
and areas around the US that
are going through natural disasters.

I sometimes donate food as well
to school food drives and to those
in need. 

I have to tell you of these stories that
happened about 4-5 years ago
because God works in mysterious ways!

We didn't have much money and had
just moved to my husbands work which is an apartment complex.
One of our children was just starting school that year we moved. I spent a lot of hours volunteering my time at that school helping out my
child's kindergarten teacher since
it was within walking distance.
They held a food drive and I scraped together
a little box of food to donate to that cause
to help out even though we didn't have
much at that time.  I felt some people out
there were worse off than we were.
Boy did I get a surprise one day when
going to the school when the kindergarten
teacher along with arrangements of
the principal gave me a big laundry
basket of food from their food drive!  
And then on top of
that they had given me a $20 Kroger
gift card to purchase a turkey since
it was around Thanksgiving time!

We had a really nice Thanksgiving that year
and it was the first time I think where we were
able to invite family to our home to eat.
Even though we got the free food donation
we were still sharing the food with others!
If it wasn't for that donation we would
not have been able to buy a turkey that year.

Another time many years ago
a couple large trash bags appeared on
our front door step with children's clothes
in it for our boys.  And I think there may have
been a box of food.  It was a long time ago
so I don't remember.  It was very needed
because we were struggling LOTS
back then.  I still do not know
to this day who donated all the clothes and food
to us as no one ever came forward.

So now I try to give to those
who are struggling like we did way back
when.  It's my way of paying the good
deed forward when possible.








 

6-25-11

8:20pm

Mom, me, Tony and the boys went

to the church and neighborhood sale

this morning from 9-12:00pm.

I got 4 bags of clothes $1.00 for all.

.25 cents a bag!!

I ended up with in 4 Kroger bags:

for the boys- 

10 polo & t-shirts,

1 sweatshirt,

1 pair sweatpants

Tony-

2 polo shirts 

For myself-

1 pair of pants,

5 pairs of shorts,

1 sweater &

1 top.

2 baseball caps .10 cents each

9 pairs of socks .10 cents each

Mom got me a Yankee rose scented

candle at the church sale for .25 cents

and another cinnamon apple candle

at a yard sale for $1.00.

Avon Clearskin .25 cents.

I found one bottle on Ebay for $9.97!

Found at yard sale.

A bag of foam stamp snowflakes.

I looked all over the place last Christmas

for stamps just like these to make

my cookies with and couldn't find any.

.25 cents for the whole bag at a yard sale.

I was a happy camper!

Laundry hamper $2.00

found at church sale. 

Has a removable inner bag.

I also got a body pillow with case

at the church sale.  It didn't have a price

so when I was checking out the cashier

said $5.00.  I said, hmmm, I don't think so!

She quickly came down to $2.00.

Pool ladder found at yard sale.

Was $5 talked down to $4.

VERY good deal.

These Intex ladders sell for $40 to $50!!

 I find really good deals at yard sales.

Even though I think something is

an excellent price I ask if they would take less.

It never hurts to ask is my saying.

I'd say 95%

of the time it's worked for me

to get something lower

than their asking price.

And that was all for the sales today.

The rest of the afternoon we spent

mowing and weed whipping grass,

cleaning stuff off the carport and 

weeding out some of the shed.

And oh yeah, I crawled up on the roof

to blow off branches and helicopter

seeds that's been laying up there.

Also blew out the gutters again

because squirrels are chewing off

small branches and leaves to make

nests out of and they are making a mess.

Made a run to Tony's work

to dump a truckload.

 

It's also good to know steel scrappers

in the neighborhood because

they will come haul off anything

like fridges, microwaves, grills and so on

instead of waiting on bulk pickup. 

About 8:30-9:00pm this evening

some of the kids friends came over

wanting to jump in the pool after

probably playing basketball.

I warned them that the water had

gotten very chilly.

I haven't let our kids in it

in the past week or so because of it.

They didn't believe me and jumped in, lol.

Well let's just say they froze their 

woo hoo's off!!