Frugal Friday With Marsha 11/15/13

Another part of my frugal life that I have let slide to the back burner is my coupon usage.
I have been working the past few days on getting binder back in order.

First thing was to take out the expired coupons.  They went back to September!
I have weeks and weeks worth of Sunday coupon inserts to cut as well as coupons I have printed, coupons that have come in the mail, and coupons from magazines.

In fact, here is a picture of my pile before I started:

Hubby and I have run into a financial situation where it's been that we've only had a little to spend at the store and had to buy what we could, when we could.
Yesterday is an example.  I had $13 to spend.
I ended up buying 4 apples, garlic bread, Cheerios, 2 bottles of Dr. Pepper, 3 Nissin Noodles, butter, eggs, and toilet paper.   I paid $12.82.
I did have a $1 coupon for the butter, a $1 coupon for the noodles, and a store coupon to get the Cheerios free.
I did have hubby pick up a gallon of milk on his way home from work.

I worked Wednesday cutting and putting coupons into my binder once I got all the expired coupons out.
Yesterday I started just looking through the coupons and cutting mostly just the ones that I think I might use.

I went to the Deal Detecting Diva blog and checked off items from the sale that I hope to buy and printed out my list.  I also printed out some more coupons.
Today I still have to finish looking through a few more inserts.
I do plan on shopping this evening.

With all of this said, I want to note how thankful we have been for my prior coupon shopping and my stocking up when I could.  So many times we've had to just buy a few things to have complete meals for the week using foods from my stockpile.
No, I've never had anything close to a stock of what you see on the Extreme Couponing show.

I do still have 10 cans or Ro-Tel in the cabinet.  This is after what we have used as well as I just donated several cans of it to the food bank.
We used a can of it in this supper:
What's for Supper? Mexican Goulash - News - Bubblews  
It was a hit!

Three things happened that have taken away my couponing motivation:
1.  Our newspaper lost it's contract with Smart Source.  This means we have to buy the Wichita paper to get that insert----and means that I can't go to our newspaper office to buy 5 Sunday papers for $6 and get lots of coupons.   I have done that once in the last 8 or 9 months when there were a few good coupons in the Red Plum that I wanted more of.

2.  My friend that was picking up 30 or 40 Sunday papers free, and sharing the inserts with me and another friend, lost her source.  Not only did I no longer have a stack of coupons, but no longer were the 3 of us meeting to cut coupons and chit chat.

3.  Our store stopped doubling coupons.  This was back in August.  I am still having a hard time with this one.  It really means no more free thanks to a double, and I still look at a .50 coupon and think $1, or a .25 coupon and think .50.


I appreciate any and all frugal/simple living posts that you will link up this week!  If you have posted about shopping trips, please do link those up and keep me motivated.  Thanks!

Squidoo Hopping 11/14/13

Happy Thursday!

Thanks so much to those of you who linked up last week.  It was fun getting back into the swing of things.

I didn't get as much done in squidoo as I would have liked to have, but I did spend quite a bit of time.  This week will be even better.
I did get to one of the 11 lenses that I hadn't dwindled down the amazon links on yet.  It's hard to pick and choose on some of those on what products you want to stay and which ones you want to get rid of.

I still haven't tried the new formats yet, but I have a plan for using all 3 of them.

Is there any new squidoo news that we need to know?

WIP Wednesday 11/13/13

I have been busy in my craft room this week with lots of sewing.  I would bet I've not done as much sewing as I've done in the past 6 days as I've done in the last 6 months total!

First off, as I went through some of the blogs shared in the linky's I ran across a QAL.
It's a Penny Patch quilt a long.  I decided, hey, I can do this!   You can find all the information at:  http://www.stitchedincolor.com/2013/10/penny-patch-beginners-quilt-along.html 

I am not caught up, but happy with my progress.  I have my 12 blocks completed that include my "pop" color of yellow.
I also have all of my 2 inch squares ready to be sewn for the rest of the penny patch blocks.

 At the monthly sit n' sew evening at the quilt shop I have spent the last 4 months sewing together these rectangle pieces into blocks.  I finally finished what was in the box.  I ended up with 130 blocks.  They are all squared up now and ready to be sewn into something.  I am thinking a couple of lap quilts.

 I am still working on the log cabin blocks as well.   I do have 4 done and put together.  Only 12 more to go to finish the top of my wall hanging.

I have still been working on the same quilt tops now at the monthly sewing club at church.  I did finish the first top.  Actually these blocks were to be all one top.  We give these quilts to the Domestic Violence Center and we decided to make these into 2 quilts instead of 1 huge one.
 This is what was to be the center of the quilt and now it's own top:

 These smaller blocks were to go all around the outside, but I am now making them into their own quilt top.  I am going to use the quilt as you go method.

 

 Last but not least for this week is the toothbrush rug that I am working on.

I am linking up with the following blogs:

Frugal Friday WIth Marsha--Linky Party 11/8/13

I can't believe how fast this week has gone by!

How many of you have watched the show Extreme Cheapskates on TLC?

I sat the other night and watched a few episodes.  Wow is all I have to say.  No, that's not all I have to say.

There are some great ideas to be taken from the show.  For example:
*Making good use of leftover food. 
*Saving on funeral costs.
*Tracking your uses of water, gas and electricity.
*Finding alternative ways to heat water and cook your food.
*Shopping thrift stores, pawn shops, craigslist, etc.
*"Dumpster Diving" for items you need (I once carpeted my whole house this way)
*Entering contests and giveaways.
*Being creative in finding venues for hosting parties. (We used our church basement for my daughter's 16th birthday)
*Free samples for things you use every day.
*Making homemade items--cleaners, laundry soap, jellies, etc.
 

Then there are the ideas that are even too over the top for this frugal chick:
*Sharing a toothbrush---omg, use a coupon and a sale and get them free!
*The entire family using the same bath water--I love my family, but eewwww
*Using newspaper for toilet paper---won't that leave newsprint on your bottom?
*Going to a buffet restaurant, paying for 3 and feeding 6?---what restaurant would even allow this?
*"Dumpster Diving" for food----I'm in the middle on this one.  When I worked as a lunch aide, I often took home milk from the dumpster.  For some reason the guy who delivered milk would dump the about to expire into our dumpster.  Of course we took it out as soon as he drove off and put it in the fridge.  And, if it's food in a package, unopened, I would take it too.
*Stalking weddings to pick up the rice, then go home and cook it.
*Using a lantern rather than turning on the light.----This can make sense if it's an oil lamp or something that doesn't take batteries.  On the episode I seen this, it appeared her lamp was battery powered as she turned it off with a switch.  I can't see this as any huge savings since there is the cost of the batteries (Even though, again, with coupons and sales, you can get good deals on batteries)


These really are just a few examples from the shows.  What are your thoughts?


Now it's your turn to link up any frugal type posts you have done this week too  :)

 

Thursday's Squidoo Hop is Back!

I am back!
I have let my blogging here slide for months.  In fact, I have let Squidoo slide for months as well.

It was when I hit upon the email about re-applying for Giant Squid that prompted me to get back into my lenses.  I seen that email days after it came in while attempting to catch up on my email.

I am behind on doing reviews and have a stack of books beside me to do.  Why not make them into lenses and re-apply for Giant?

Here's me story.  First of all, I was confused.  Tons of modules have just disappeared.  Most of them I wouldn't miss as I never did use them at all.  I did miss text with big picture.   With help from members of one of the squidoo facebook groups I am in, I was able to find me answers.  Thanks!

However, it wasn't until I only had one more module to fill in on my book review that a member of the group chimed in to ask me if I realized that I needed to use the review format to build the lens.  Nope....I didn't.   Looks like I still need to do 3 review lenses, but that's ok.

I also read in a bubblews post yesterday by sandyspider that to re-apply we also have the option of using the new recipe format or DIY format.   I have done some craft posts on bubblews where I did step by step how to do make something, with photos......would it be acceptable to take those and also make them into lenses?  It would be duplicate content for the most part, eve if I do some re-arranging and re-wording.      
I think I have posted all of the recipes that I can think of into lenses already.  Maybe I could take one of my recipes from my frugal lens and highlight it into a lens.
I will figure something out.

Let's get on to sharing!!!  If you have done a blog post about squidoo, please link those up.  Also link up one or two of your lenses.  Your choice on lenses to link, but if you have used any of the 3 new formats, please do link those up.  I want to see what they look like.   Thanks!!

p.s.   Nonersays (Winona) does a weekly blog with a linky for squidoo as well.  She does hers on Sunday's.  This means even more exposure for our lenses.   You can find her blog HERE!

WIP Wednesday 11/6/13

Getting back to my regular posting means that once again I will be posting a WIP (work in progress) Wednesday post each week, and linking up with other blogs.

I've missed doing these posts over the past several months.  I've also missed the motivation that doing these posts provide.

I want to start by sharing the toothbrush rug that I just finished on Monday.  I made this one from a bag of selvage strips and other thin strips of fabric.  The bag was given to me by the Quilt Guild president because she knew I made the rugs.   I will say that I don't plan on making another rug with strips this thin.  They were a lot harder to work with.

I have started another toothbrush rug last night.  This one is an experiment of such as well.  I cut up an entire sheet set and I am curious as to how large of a rug the sheet set will make.
You can't see it very well in the picture as I put it inside the bag with all of the strips.

 Last month at Quilt Guild we had an afternoon workshop taught by Candy Hargrove.  She was teaching us to make mini Log Cabin blocks.  What fun!
The biggest thing that I took away from the workshop was squaring up.  I have made many many quilts and have never owned one of those squaring up tools!  I've always used my cutting mat.  In fact, when she said the words squaring up, I didn't know what she meant.
I can't believe I've been quilting for 4 or 5 years at least and didn't really know.
That is exactly why I love the opportunity to attend workshops.

The strips for the tiny log cabins were supposed to be 1 inch.  I didn't realize that my cutter on the edge was actually 1 1/4 inch, so my strips are a bit larger than intended, therefore my blocks are ending up 6 1/2 inches instead of 4 1/2 inches, but I am going to keep going with them.
I do want to make the smaller ones next.

Here is what I have so far:

 What I really want to do is get into my craft room and get my projects together is PIGS (Projects in grocery sacks)  I want a bag for each project that I would like to be working on.

My guild is having a retreat in June.  It will be my first retreat and I can't wait!  It's going to be local so no out of town or motel.  We will sew on a Friday from 9 am to 11 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm.  Our meals will be catered in and there will be lots of door prizes.

p.s.  I am doing a lot of writing over on bubblews.  One series that I am working on is a challenge for A to Z Crafts.   If you are interested, you can check out my index of what crafts I have done so far.  I am trying to do most of them with step by step instructions and photos.
Index to my A to Z Craft Challenge Posts - News - Bubblews 


I am linking up with the following blogs:

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Log in to Instagram, Twitter or Facebook and enter the Sweepstakes one of two ways:

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Frugal Friday With Marsha 11/1/13

I'm back!!   It's November 1st......new month seems like a good time to get back into the swing of things with my blog.

I've been super busy with my personal life with things that have taken me away from home.
Online when I am home, a good chunk of time is spent over at bubblews.

In fact, I am working on an A to Z Challenge over on bubblews that goes with being frugal.  It's a Tightwad Tips challenge.
I have an index post made up of the posts I have done for it already.   If you would like to check some of those out you can find them at:  http://www.bubblews.com/news/930860-index-to-my-tightwad-tips-a-to-z-challenge-posts

I'm going to make this post short this week.  Next week I want to start sharing from the 99 Cent Solutions book again.

I do hope to see some link ups  :)  

An InLinkz Link-up

Play-Doh Halloween and Christmas Craft Fun Books---Review

Play-Doh Halloween Craft Fun
ISBN 978-1-60710-917-4

Play-Doh Christmas Craft Fun
ISBN 978-1-60710-916-7

Both books are published by Silver Dolphin
Written by Susan Amerikaner, Early Childhood Specialist
Illustrated and Digitally composed by Kara Kenna

Each book includes a 32-page activity book, 4 (1 oz) containers of Play-Doh, a plastic knife, and a roller.  There are 15 projects in each book.

Below are examples of pages from each book:

As you turn each page, each book has a little story that goes along.  Opposite each story page are instructions with pictures of how to make something from that page.

I wish I had gotten these books earlier than I did.  The UPS man brought them to me late evening on the 28th.
I was glad to have 3 of my granddaughters over the afternoon of the 29th to help me with this review.

I don't know a child anywhere that doesn't like to use Play-Doh.  It's such a great imagination "toy".
The girls were more than happy to help me with my review.  I wanted them basically to pick one thing to make each, but that wasn't enough for them.
They played with these books for a good 3 hours or more!  They ended up taking over the camera as they took pictures of their projects.  Bear with me as some of them are blurry.

Willo is 6 year old.  Araya is 8 years old.  Ariel is 9 years old.

This is Araya working on making a candy cane.

 Araya's pumpkin

 Araya's skeleton

 Araya's snowman

 Araya's wreath

 Ariel's snowman

 Ariel's stocking

Ariel's wreath

 Ariel's present and something that Araya made up

 Willo's pumpkin

Willo's snowman

Last but not least, Willo's wreath

It's not too late to get the Halloween Craft Fun as both books are available at Walmart.

You can also purchase both books on amazon:
  




Disclosure:  I rec'd both books from the publisher for the purpose of doing a review.  I was not compensated in any other way, and all opinions are my own.  Post does contain affiliate links.


 

Purex Ultra Packs Plus Oxi Review and Giveaway!

Purex has done it again with another great new product.

I have always liked the UltraPacks ever since they first came out.  Perfectly measured and you only have to toss them in the washer.  Toss in 2 for extra heavy and/or dirty loads.  They dissolve quickly in the water.  I really like the scent of these as well.

More information:
The Purex Ultrapacks Plus Oxi combines the convenience of the toss in packs with the concentrated DirtLift Action formula for 2x the cleaning power.
It works to fight over 101 of your tough stains.

Please stay safe--use caution when handling the single load laundry detergents.  They may be harmful i swallowed and can be an eye irritant.  Keep the product in it's original package.  Pay attention to the cautionary statements or icons on the label.  Keep out of reach of children as you would with any household detergent.


Two of my lucky blog winners will get a chance to try Purex UltraPacks Plus Oxi free!  Enter for your change to win a free coupon using the rafflecopter form below.


Disclosure:  The Purex brand provided me with a package of Purex UltraPacks plus Oxi in exchange for a product review.  They also provided the coupons for my winners.  All opinions of the product are my own..

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway