More 12/11 Expressions

Yesterday was our community's luminaria evening - I was so caught-up in "stuff" we missed seeing it.  Also, USAA came through again this year, they gave us a nice dividend even though it was tough year for insurance companies.  We will appreciate the $.  Our paper today had a local on-line estate auction.  I spoke with my husband and he told me to go ahead and bid on a few items.  The auction ends Tuesday.  I put in my max prices - and have already been out-bid. Que-sara, sara - because I am too darn frugal to go any higher - but wish whoever gets the item the best. I feel a lot better this week - we have been eating more healthily (is that a word)?  I need to cut the sugar and caffeine and then I can earnestly start the PINK Method - but, I can start trimming now :)

12/11 Expressions

Pictured above are the two towels I have been talking about.  The brown bath towel - I got a set of 10 towels on-line with free shipping from Wal-mart on Black Friday for $22.00.  So, the embelishments took some of my time and leftover fabric/trim/beads - recycled.  The top one for the guest bathroom - a hand towel from JCPenneys, originally $25 - on sale for $12.50 - and I used my free $10/$10 coupon to get it for $2.50 plus tax.  Cute hand towel - but I don't think I'd ever spend $25 on it - does that make me cheap or frugal :)

12/10 Expressions

Frugal deeds for the day:  A local cupcake shop was giving away cupcakes for donating items for the homeless.  My daughter and I took some canned items and she got a cupcake.  Then we each used our starbucks card (she got her own - a mypoints freebie) and then we headed to JCP - with my $10 off $10 coupon.  I found a hand towel for the guest bathroom - regular price $25, sale $12.50, minus my $10 - so $2.50 plus tax.  Still a lot of $ for a hand towel - since I just purchased bath towels for $2.22 on Black Friday.  A bit of embellishment and they become crazy expensive.  Then to Earthfare - we had coupons.  First, we got an organic lunch - and a free bag of organic sugar.  After lunch, we did a bit of shopping of shopping there with some more coupons - we got 2 lbs of ground round for free and a whole chicken.  Also, the store brand truffles were on sale, so, I bought a box for $5.99 to add to the mixed nuts I got for my contribution to the office holiday snack session.  My daughter and I watched another Redbox - I think the $1 rental has now come and gone.  But, I got some knitting in.  Now I need to get some cleaning in and get set for the new week.

12/9 Expressions

Woot - have been in an e-mail campaign to keep my daughter in the same high school until she graduates - new one is ready for the next school year.  Looks like it works :)  Sometimes it really does help to speak-up :)  I started sewing embellishments on my Black Friday bath towels from Wal-Mart - $2.20 each - I already broke 3 sewing machine needles - just got 2 packs.  Hope I have better luck.  On top of that - when I put the machine on the dining table - I pulled a muscle :(  I hope to have a few towels finished tomorrow.  Mail was good - I got my annual gift for being a mail decoy.  This year, instead of cashews - I got mixed nuts.  I will be taking them to work to share them for "snack day".  I also have a coupon to use at Earthfare - free lb of chuck with a $5 purchase - their truffles are to die for - so, for around $5 - I will get a box of trubbles - to add to the nuts - and I believe I am done gift shopping for the rest of this month.  Oh, as a treat for myself - and of course in case we put the house up for sale so we could change school districts - I purchased a house cleaning groupon.  It will be nice to have someone else do the stuff I hate at 1/2 the price.

12/8 Expressions

Public service announcement:  you can go through withdrawals/increase your BP if you go cold turkey off of caffeine.  Yikes!  Monday, I started the P.I.N.K. method - says no coffee - so, I drank tea.  I was about an 8-12 cup a day coffee drinker - also, sometimes stopping at Starbucks, etc.  Starting Monday - I started getting a really bad headache, could tell my BP was high.  Thought it was a fluke - by yesterday, I put in a vacation slip and thought perhaps I just needed to rest.  Of course - before the end of the day, I called for a dr. appointment.  After taking my blood pressure - which was high - and chatting - turns out I am probably going through a caffeine withdrawal.  He told me to wean myself off of the stuff.  So, on my way to the pharmacy, I got a caramel frappe - doctor's orders :) - and picked up my modified bp rx and something for my severe headache.  Boy, do I feel a lot better - and a bit nutty.  I really thought I had some horrible condition - and turns out - it was something I didn't even think about.  So, I am enjoying a cup of joe (sans the fancy flavors) - and start weaning tomorrow.  So glad I have tomorrow off too - I was having a hard time sleeping because of the pain - so am exhausted.  Don't even want to imagine withdrawal pains from anything stronger than caffiene - this was enough to throw me way out of whack.

More 12/6 Expressions

Today, I made some progress on the scarf I am knitting for my daughter.  Doesn't look like much - but I am pleased so far.  Spent two hours at a community meeting regarding re-zoning school districts - extra time to keep my hands busy :)

12/6 Expressions

Serendipity?  I ran out of my Ultra Purex and what was waiting for me at the front door?  The new Triple Action Purex.  I am a Purex Insider, so I get to give the product a whirl :)  I plan to post a review shortly.

Disclosure:  Purex provided a free sample of their Triple Action laundry detergent so I could write a review.  However, all of the opinions expressed here and in any future posts are my own.