Frugal Friday With Marsha 5/31/13

Here we are to the end of May already.  Has this year been flying by for you?  It sure has for me!

I've been down with chronic bronchitis this past week.  I'm very glad to be feeling better and trying to get back in to the routine of things.  I'm also thankful for insurance to help pay for my prescriptions.

I will be setting up to sell at the monthly flea market this coming Sunday.  I've slowly been getting things together for that.  It's going to be about all I do now until Saturday night, as I work to get all my wares loaded into my van.  I do hope it pays off to go.   This week I've been working hard to fill up my big jar of dish scrubbies for sale.

I realized that I had $8 in Register Rewards from Walgreens that expire on Sunday.  I knew I better go use them because by Sunday I would forget!

Here is what I ended up getting on a quick, pretty well unplanned trip:

$2.08 out of pocket!  I feel pretty good about the trip.

I used 2-$1 coupons for the All along with my $8 in Register Rewards, then I applied $5 credit from my Balance Rewards.  I also used .25 that was left of my gift card I had redeemed for through mypoints.com.

I didn't come home with any more RR's, so if I want to keep shopping Walgreen's it means starting over again.  I guess that all depends on their sales  :)


I can't wait to see what you share with us this week.


 

Squidoo Hopping--Opinions Please!

I am asking this week that you leave me your thoughts, opinions, and suggestions on this weekly squidoo blog hop.
When I started it, my intention was a way for lensmasters who blog about squidoo to link up their blog posts.
There are a lot of lensmasters who blog about squidoo, whether it be tips, tricks, SEO, blogging about their lenses etc.    I only ended up with 2 regular bloggers who linked up.  I truly did appreciate them.

Then, I came up with the idea of allowing lensmasters to also link up 1 or 2 of their lenses as well.   I was thinking this would give access to another point of backlinking.  Also, it would give others a chance to see the work of others as well.

I have been doing this hop for about 3 years now I believe and it's still never really taken off.  There have been a couple of weeks with around a dozen link ins, but that's it.

I paste the link in to 3 groups on facebook.  I email the link to my connections on google+ and then I go back in and share the link with the one squidoo group in google+ that I am in (I was in 4 groups, but not sure if the others were closed or if I was kicked out?)

So please be honest with me in your comments this week.   Should I stop doing this blog hop?  If not, what suggestions do you have to get more people to participate and link in?

With all that said, if you do link up, please choose any 1 or 2 of your lenses that you would like to share this week, as well as any blog posts you would like to share pertaining to squidoo as well of course.

P.S.   I've admittedly still been addicted to bubblews this past week.  I've checked in with squidoo each day checking if any of my lenses are being flagged.  As of yet none are.  I have some photos gathered to update a couple of lenses.  And, speaking of the word gather----I must get in to all of my lenses where I have shared gather.com posts and see what I can exchange for those links as the last word is that gather probably will not be returning, especially as we knew it.
 

Frugal Friday With Marsha--Income Tax Refund

Our income tax refund has been a long time coming in, but finally got here Wednesday.
First my husband says "we  are going to be busy all day shopping", to which I replied, "just because we have money doesn't mean we need to go out and just blow it."

Well.......we didn't "blow" it all.  We did pay off the credit card, which we will use again because for another month we get an additional .25 off per gallon of gas when we use it.  I know gas is going up everywhere, so you all can relate to us wanting the additional off.  There is no interest on the card until after Dec. 31, 2013 so we will pay  back what we use for gas.

I want to put back $500 to have for vacation week in July.  As of right now there is still more then enough left to do that.....it's a matter of getting hubby to the bank to get the cash and then him not touching it!

We bought some household needs such as light bulbs and such.  I got a dress and my daughter got pants.  We bought small birthday gifts for the 3 grandchildren who have birthdays around the corner (May 29, June 1 and June 5)

We went grocery shopping at Aldi.  We spent $138 there.  If you have opportunity to shop Aldi, you know how much that $138 can get you.  I feel so much better with a stocked deep freeze and cabinet of canned goods.
Look at this banana pepper plant that we bought at Aldi for $7.99!  I wish now we have bought the tomato plant and bell pepper plants as well.  There are 3 plants. (you can see the blender that we bought too as ours had quit working.  We found this one at Target on sale for $16, down from $29.99!)

 Our big purchases were at Walmart.  A porch swing for $148.  A patio set for $198 plus $49 for the umbrella.  There we also bought tubeless tire inserts for Jasmine's bicycle.  We have too many stickers and thorns around here.  She can ride her bike again!  And, we bought 2 power cords.  You know, one for when we are on the swing with our laptops and the other for when we are on the deck using the patio set.

We tried to buy a tv at Walmart too because ours is acting up.  They didn't have it in stock and we found out yesterday that they can't order any more of that set in.  We are now considering buying the 50" one that they have on close out.  It was a demo model and has no remote, but it's fairly cheap and we can buy a universal remote.

What do you think?     I look forward to your comments.
I also look forward to seeing what others link up this week.
 

Squidoo Hopping--Plugging Along

Admittedly, I've not been in squidoo much this past week.  I did just a few minor updates to a few lenses.  I checked for comments.  Mostly, I was checking in to see if any of my lenses have been locked or marked.  So far none have, but that may only be because they haven't gotten to the giants yet?

I have loads of lenses that as I see them need major overhauls.   (I'm not keeping up with any of my online projects except bubblews these days)

I'm going to leave it to your choice which 1 or 2 lenses you would like to share in the linky this week.
Also please share any blog posts you have written about squidoo.

Comment if you have had experience with this second filter!   Thanks! 

WIP Wednesday 5/22/13

I skipped posting last week.  I just didn't feel like I had made enough progress to post.
I did finish making all of those plastic canvas coasters (61 in all):

I then spent a few days working on making dish scrubbies.  I plan on setting up at the monthly flea market on June 2.  I'm working to fill my jar of scrubbies for sale.   I stopped on those and started working on a toothbrush rug.  It's been awhile since I've made one and they are fun.  This one is made in brighter colored material that I've been saving in a box.  I finally felt like I had enough strips in my box to complete a rug.  This is what it looks like so far, and I am loving the bright colors!

Last week I attended the Needlers group at the quilt shop and worked again on my applique bunnies.  I only get a bit done in those 2 or 3 hours, so not worthy of a photo each time.  However, I should be meeting with my stitch group monthly now too and progress further on those.
The Friday before was Sit n' Sew at the quilt shop.  I hadn't worked on on these blocks with the rectangles for a time.  I had 20 blocks made and I made 20 more that Friday night.  As of right now I doubt I will work on these except this once a month.  Looking at the box I'm sure I can make at least another 20 blocks.  I will make as many as I can and then decide what all I can make with them.

Last but not least, I worked more on the birthday pillowcases.   I have just the one completely done, and it's for Skyler, who has the first birthday on May 29.  I have 9 more to complete and all they need to be completed is that I am zig-zagging around the names.  The next 2 birthdays are June 1 and June 5, so those 2 are up next to finish.  Won't take me long to finish them all.

My days have been so crazy.....I don't really see that slowing down any with all the things I do outside the home as well as trying to keep up the home (which I am sucking at right now) and all the things that I  do on the computer.
I really need a schedule, even for days that I am away from home most all day!

Until next week, I am linking up with:





 

Frugal Friday With Marsha--Staycations

I went on hiatus last Friday---a staycation I will call it.  I had thought about scheduling my Friday post and then decided to just take the week off.

According to wikipedia, a staycation is "a period in which an individual or family stays home and participates in leisure activities within driving distance, sleeping in their own beds at night. They might make day trips to local tourist sites, swimming venues, or engage in fun activities such as horseback riding, paintball, hiking or visiting museums. Most of the time it involves dining out more frequently than usual. Some people may include one or two overnight visits at relatives, friends or a longer trip."

We've never taken more than a staycation!!  Maybe some day we might afford a "real" vacation.

We picked up my daughter Heather and her 2 children in Inman, Kansas and headed to McPherson, Kansas for the 100th year celebration of All School's Day.
Wow!  I have never seen such a crowd for a parade!!  The population of McPherson is only around 13,000, but people come from the whole county as well as surrounding counties for All School's Day.
Here is a photo I snapped of the block and side of the street that we were on to watch the parade.  Eight blocks was like this on both sides!

The parade lasted about 2 hours.  I took lots of photos, but this was our favorite float.  It was mad scientists representing, I think, Humara.  They were hilarious doing their experiments and dancing to rock and roll music.

After the parade we did a little shopping at Walmart, ate lunch at McDonald's and then went back downtown for a tour of the McPherson Opera House.
It was so very interesting.  Unfortunately not many of my photos came out well at all.
I snapped this photo as we drove up the street from the outside.

This photo is of one of the upper seats.  The prime of opera seating.

The entire opera house has been restored as close to original as it could be.  Beautiful art work and design.  The history was so interesting.  We brought home a booklet with the history as well as a show booklet for the season as well.  They have a free show coming up that we hope to make it to.

In other news this week, I was able to purchase 3 raised beds for gardening through the local buy, sell, trade group on facebook.  I bought 3 of these at $10 each.  Not sure that was the best deal, especially considering when I left the gal told me $10 is what she paid for them, but never got to use them.  She may have never used them, but they were out to get weathered!  I would have talked her down a bit on price, or talked her into at least one more for the price had I known that information beforehand.  I am also thinking that these would be easy to build, so I will check on the cost of materials.
Anyway, we probably will do nothing with these this  year as we have already planted, but we are working towards the dream garden for next season.

Your turn.  I can't wait to see what is shared this week!

Squidoo Hopping--Children

Soon I am heading out the door to go to my 3 yr old grandson's Headstart Promotion.  In honor of Jacob, I am making these week's hop theme children.

Link up 1 or 2 of your lenses that are about children.  Anything to do with children  :)

Also don't forget to link up any blog posts you have written with squidoo as the subject as well!

Squidoo Hopping---Rankings

Good Thursday!
This week I would like to ask you to share your highest ranked lens and your lowest ranked lens in the linky.

My Helen Steiner Rice lens rose to the top of my list again for a bit.  I assume, as usual each year because of Mother's Day.  It didn't stay there long.  I still don't have any lenses even in tier 2.  Oh how I really must work on that!

Please link up any blog posts you have done this past week pertaining to squidoo as well.  Feel free to link up your highest and lowest ranking lenses in addition to any and all blog posts.     Thanks!!

Sew Pretty T-Shirt Dresses Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway!r

 Welcome to the "Sew Pretty T-Shirt Dresses" blog tour, featuring finished projects and giveaways from Sweet Seams' latest book. The designers over at NYC-based Sweet Seams wanted to create a collection of fast, fun, and inexpensive dresses to make for their daughters, granddaughters, nieces and god-daughters. The dresses, which all start with a simple T-shirt, were inspired by all the little girls in their lives who feel special in projects that were made especially for them. Crafters can upcycle any T-shirt, maybe even an old favorite that doesn't quite have the same fit anymore or one that's stained near the hem. With 28 very different styles to choose from, anyone can find a design that fits the little girl in their own life.  

I am thrilled to be able to take part in the Sew Pretty blog tour. 

When I rec'd the email asking if I would do a book review of Sew Pretty T-Shirt Dresses, my first thought was making dresses for all 4 of my granddaughters.

When I rec'd a second email asking if I would take part in the blog tour, of course I said yes.

I love this book! I have made one dress so far. This is the Patchwork of Art design. The first photo is the dress. The second photo is my granddaughter, Willo, wearing the dress. She wore it to church and showed it off. I had her take it off after church, at which time she informed me that I was to make sure to get it washed. She wanted to wear it the following Sunday as well.

I have built a squidoo lens with my full review as well as the press release of Sew Pretty T-Shirt Dresses.....and photos featuring some of the other designs in the book.  I hope you will click HERE and check it out.

Here is the complete schedule for the blog tour. I do hope you will check them all out. Come back day by day until tour end!

May 5  

The New York Mom will feature a finished project  

Nouveau Stitch will feature a finished project, “Flirty Shirt”  

Just Pure Lovely will host a giveaway  

The Crafty Princess Diaries  will host a giveaway

May 6

Craft Knife will feature a finished project, “Cool Water”  

Stitched by Crystal  will feature a project for her 9-month-old  

BlogHer DIY will feature a project

May 7

Prudent Baby will review and host a giveaway

House of 34 will host a giveaway

May 8

Smashed Peas and Carrots will feature a finished project, “Bubble Tea”  

Simply Modern Mom will review and might do a project

May 9

Marsha’s Spot will feature a finished project, “Patchwork of Art” and host a giveaway

Sew Spoiled will review the book  

Maya Made  will feature a finished project  

May 10

Dollar Store Crafts will review the book

Only From Scratch will feature a project

May 11

A Few Shortcuts will review and host a giveaway

Wild Olive will feature a finished project  

Positively Splendid will feature a finished project   

May 12

On the Laundry Line  will feature a  finished project  

Elegance and Elephants will feature a finished project

May 13

Luvinthemommyhood will review and host a giveaway

My Little Gems  will host a giveaway

Now for the fun part! How would you like to win your own copy of Sew Pretty T-Shirt Dresses? Just enter using the rafflecopter form below.

 

Disclosure: Sixth&Spring Books gave me the information and I received the book from Soho Publishing Co. for the purpose of this blog tour/review/giveaway. I was not compensated in any other way, and any opinions are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

WIP Wednesday--5/8/13

I didn't post last week.  I didn't have much progress, and sure not enough to warrant writing about!

I'm still moving along with the pillowcases, but only here and there.  I was able to buy the last fabric that I needed and have that last pillowcase started.  I do plan on getting it mostly done today.  It happens to be for the first grandchild's birthday of the year, which is May 28.  Then they start coming fast--the birthday's that is---June 1, June 5, July 3, August 13, August 15, August 29, September 8, November 7, and  then the last is my daughters birthday on October 9.
Means I should get this post done and move on in to my craft room and get to work.

Here is a picture I took of my progress:

 Yesterday was sewing club at church, where I am still fighting away working on the quilt top that I've been working on for months!  One of the gals suggested that I go ahead and start putting some of the top together.  She said that would make me feel like I was at least getting somewhere with it.
So, here you have the top row of the middle part of the quilt:

I am still working away on my goal with making these plastic canvas coasters.  I have made over 50 of them so far and I'm still not out of that huge ball of yarn.  I hope hope hope to finish them up TODAY.  I really need to move on to other projects as I am planning on setting up to sell my crafts at the flea market June 2.

Moving along and getting back to work here, I am linking up with: