Matt and I have been in our house for 4 years now. This house is our first house and we bought it with the intention of being in it for around 5 years. When we were in the process of buying a house we looked at so many different ones. This house was the first one that felt like home. We walked in looked at it and made an offer that same day.
Looking back we should have taken a bit more time because we have found things we hate about this house. Although, when you are coming from a 700 sq foot apartment, 1500 sq ft seems like a mansion.
We purchased this house because we saw the potential in the house. It's not old. The house was built in 2002 but the previous owners did not do anything to make the house appealing. That's why it sat on the market for a long time.
We have put a lot of time and energy in this house and it will be sad when we sell it but it will also be a relief to be done with all the projects. It seems they never stop!!
Some of the things we have done include:
Replacing all the old appliances with new energy efficient ones
Pulled out the builder carpet and installed laminate flooring
Painted all rooms of the house
Painted kitchen cabinets
Added crown moulding in all rooms
Scraped the popcorn ceilings to make them smooth
Replaced all light fixtures and ceiling fans
Replaced all door stops and door knobs
Added a mantel to the fireplace
Things on our to do list this year include:
Install tile floors in bathrooms and kitchen
Replace kitchen sink and faucet
Replace faucet in kids bathroom
So our goal for this year is to finish the projects and get this house on the market so we can move on to something bigger. Our to-do list has become a lot smaller. Even though we have made so many changes to the house we have been able to do it very inexpensivly. More on that later though.
Hopefully we will be able to put our house on the market by the end of this year. Crossing our fingers and hoping for the best.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Are you a BzzAgent?
Have you ever heard of BzzAgent? It is a great website that allows you to sign up for different campaigns that they have going on. You get to test out new products for free! You will receive an email when you are invited to sign up for a campaign. Then you will fill out a short survey and BzzAgent will mail you your products. After you have used the products you log back in to your account and give a review of the product(s) that you tested. That simple, really!
Look what I received in the mail today! I received full-sized products to test out along with a ton of coupons. Score! I was so excited for these that I went and cleaned my bathroom at 10 pm just to see how the scrubbing bubbles worked. It worked awesome by the way!
If you are interested in becoming a BzzAgent then go to their website and sign up. Why not? It's free after all!!
Look what I received in the mail today! I received full-sized products to test out along with a ton of coupons. Score! I was so excited for these that I went and cleaned my bathroom at 10 pm just to see how the scrubbing bubbles worked. It worked awesome by the way!
If you are interested in becoming a BzzAgent then go to their website and sign up. Why not? It's free after all!!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Another successful trip
Last night I had another awesome trip to Target. I think by far Target may just be my favorite store to score fantastic deals!! You can use a Target coupon along with a manufacturer coupon to sweeten your deals. It totally rocks! So here are some highlights:
3 boxes Nature Valley Granola Bars $1.00 each - I paid $0.00!!
1 bottle Ibuprofen $.99 - I paid $0.00!!
4 Reeses Peanut Butter cups $2.76 total - I paid $1.38 for 4.
1 package of chicken drumsticks $1.99 on sale, regular price $2.99 - I paid $.99.
2 bottles of mouthwash $2.78 total - I paid $.78 for both.
4 Quaker Oatmeal cups $4.08 total - I paid $.52 each or $2.08 total.
1 bottle Season Salt $.90 - I paid $.30.
My total before coupons was $45.00. After I handed over my stack of coupons my total dropped to $26!!! How awesome is that!?!
The people in line behind me rolled up with their cart overflowing with food. I didn't stick around to see what their total was but I guarantee it was easily over $300 probably more. I felt bad because a lot of the items in their cart I knew I had coupons for in my binder. A little education will go a long way.
Happy couponing and have a great week!
3 boxes Nature Valley Granola Bars $1.00 each - I paid $0.00!!
1 bottle Ibuprofen $.99 - I paid $0.00!!
4 Reeses Peanut Butter cups $2.76 total - I paid $1.38 for 4.
1 package of chicken drumsticks $1.99 on sale, regular price $2.99 - I paid $.99.
2 bottles of mouthwash $2.78 total - I paid $.78 for both.
4 Quaker Oatmeal cups $4.08 total - I paid $.52 each or $2.08 total.
1 bottle Season Salt $.90 - I paid $.30.
My total before coupons was $45.00. After I handed over my stack of coupons my total dropped to $26!!! How awesome is that!?!
The people in line behind me rolled up with their cart overflowing with food. I didn't stick around to see what their total was but I guarantee it was easily over $300 probably more. I felt bad because a lot of the items in their cart I knew I had coupons for in my binder. A little education will go a long way.
Happy couponing and have a great week!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
A personal one
This post is more of a personal nature so if you don't care to read that is fine. It's more just for myself and therapeutic for me to get my words and thoughts down. No names will be mentioned just for my own reasons.
When something is said to someone else and it really hurts their feelings do you acknowledge what you said to that person and apologize? Or is it up to the hurt person to just let go and move on and be the bigger person and forgive even though there was no apology ever given? What's the correct thing to do? How long do you hold on to hurt feelings before it just consumes you?
Yesterday Garth Brooks was on Oprah. If you know me well, you know that I have a love for Garth Brooks and his music. BIG fan here!! Anyway, yesterday he sang his song "If Tomorrow Never Comes" and I sang it loud and proud. And then I cried. Yep I cried. The words to that song go something like this :
'Cause I've lost loved ones in my life
Who never knew how much I loved them
Now I live with the regret
That my true feelings for them never were revealed
So I made a promise to myself
To say each day how much she means to me
And avoid that circumstance
Where there's no second chance to tell her how I feel
This song can apply to anyone, male or female. The song says make sure you let everyone in your life know how much you love them and care for them. You will never know when it will be your last chance to say the most important words ever.
I've discovered how to let go believe it or not. People will do and act how they choose and you have no control over anyone except yourself. I've had no choice but to figure out how to let go and move on. I'm not hurt anymore and I'm not sad anymore. What does make me sad is the broken relationship that will take a while to repair.
Without my family and friends I am lost. They mean the world to me and I cherish every memory. So thank you for always being there for me when I needed you most. I love each and every one of you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok, enough with the mushy stuff. On to the fun stuff. I'm thisclose to being finished with my 5 month long dresser redo. Hopefully in the next week I will have pictures to post. Finally, that monkey will be off my back.
When something is said to someone else and it really hurts their feelings do you acknowledge what you said to that person and apologize? Or is it up to the hurt person to just let go and move on and be the bigger person and forgive even though there was no apology ever given? What's the correct thing to do? How long do you hold on to hurt feelings before it just consumes you?
Yesterday Garth Brooks was on Oprah. If you know me well, you know that I have a love for Garth Brooks and his music. BIG fan here!! Anyway, yesterday he sang his song "If Tomorrow Never Comes" and I sang it loud and proud. And then I cried. Yep I cried. The words to that song go something like this :
'Cause I've lost loved ones in my life
Who never knew how much I loved them
Now I live with the regret
That my true feelings for them never were revealed
So I made a promise to myself
To say each day how much she means to me
And avoid that circumstance
Where there's no second chance to tell her how I feel
This song can apply to anyone, male or female. The song says make sure you let everyone in your life know how much you love them and care for them. You will never know when it will be your last chance to say the most important words ever.
I've discovered how to let go believe it or not. People will do and act how they choose and you have no control over anyone except yourself. I've had no choice but to figure out how to let go and move on. I'm not hurt anymore and I'm not sad anymore. What does make me sad is the broken relationship that will take a while to repair.
Without my family and friends I am lost. They mean the world to me and I cherish every memory. So thank you for always being there for me when I needed you most. I love each and every one of you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok, enough with the mushy stuff. On to the fun stuff. I'm thisclose to being finished with my 5 month long dresser redo. Hopefully in the next week I will have pictures to post. Finally, that monkey will be off my back.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
How I shop for kids clothes
My kids get new clothes 2 times a year. In the spring and then again in the fall. Now, that's not to say that if I see an awesome deal on something while I'm out and about I won't purchase it. I'm not that much of a cheap wad!! I mean I just do 2 big shopping adventures. But I buy enough during those two times to last them a while and I pay pennies compared to what it would cost if I did buy the clothes at regular stores. How?? Consignment sales.
If you are able to find a consignment store or sale near you, here's what you will need to do immediately. First, call or text all of your girlfriends and let them know about it. Second, figure out your plan of attack when the doors open. Third, make sure you have a laundry basket, bag, or heck, a shopping cart even! Fourth, leave the kids at home with the hubby because you are going out with the girls to shop and then get pedicures after because you are worn out from all the bargain shopping!!
I spent $80 on clothes for my 2 boys the other day. The picture below is what I purchased for just 1 kid. There are 16 shirts (3 of which came with matching shorts), 4 pj sets, 1 vest, 1 dressy outfit for church, 2 swimming shorts, and 2 pairs of shorts by themselves. The most I paid for an item was $2.50. Not bad!! Not bad at all!! For my other son I purchased just as much if not more for him. Plus, my older son still has outfits from last summer he still fits into so we can rotate those in as well. I went to the consignment sale on half price day and there was still plenty to choose from. And, I even put items back because I didn't want to go too overboard. There were people there that bought waaaayyy more than I did. But I have a budget people! Buy what you can afford. I am impressed with what I purchased though.
If you are able to find a consignment store or sale near you, here's what you will need to do immediately. First, call or text all of your girlfriends and let them know about it. Second, figure out your plan of attack when the doors open. Third, make sure you have a laundry basket, bag, or heck, a shopping cart even! Fourth, leave the kids at home with the hubby because you are going out with the girls to shop and then get pedicures after because you are worn out from all the bargain shopping!!
I spent $80 on clothes for my 2 boys the other day. The picture below is what I purchased for just 1 kid. There are 16 shirts (3 of which came with matching shorts), 4 pj sets, 1 vest, 1 dressy outfit for church, 2 swimming shorts, and 2 pairs of shorts by themselves. The most I paid for an item was $2.50. Not bad!! Not bad at all!! For my other son I purchased just as much if not more for him. Plus, my older son still has outfits from last summer he still fits into so we can rotate those in as well. I went to the consignment sale on half price day and there was still plenty to choose from. And, I even put items back because I didn't want to go too overboard. There were people there that bought waaaayyy more than I did. But I have a budget people! Buy what you can afford. I am impressed with what I purchased though.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Memories
My Grandpa was an amazing person. My siblings and I were so lucky to have wonderful grandparents and we were able to spend a lot of time with them growing up. They lived out in the country on a bunch of land. They grew their own crops and had chickens too.
When we would come to visit my Grandpa would take us on the back country roads. He knew every mile of road we went on. I remember thinking at times that we were really lost but he knew exactly where we were. We would stop at any local mom and pop grocery store and get a soda pop and a mr. Goodbar. I remember thinking on those hot Texas summer days that a soda pop and mr. Goodbar was just what I needed. If my Grandpa ever had to run into town for anything he usually always brought us back a mr. Goodbar. Needless to say, mr. Goodbar is my favorite candy bar!
So as I sat there in line for only those 5 minutes it made me feel like a kid again. Just for 5 minutes I was able to relive a wonderful memory. If my Grandpa were alive today he would be 101 this year. I miss him dearly and I am so thankful for something so simple as a mr. Goodbar to make my day.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
A penny saved...
...Is a penny earned. Hello all! I hope you have had a great weekend. Our weekend was pretty uneventful except for my hubby finishing up the trim around the baseboards of our new flooring and my exciting trip to Target. More on Target in just a minute. I'm so glad to finally have the flooring finished. It looks great and Matt has done an amazing job. I will post pics soon of the transformation. On to Target...
I can't express to you the amount of money that you can save by using coupons. I've said it a thousand times!! It is amazing the deals that are out there that anyone can get from using coupons. I've been able to try out so many new products that I wouldn't normally buy without coupons.
So yesterday I went to Target with my coupon binder in tow. I knew this was going to be a good trip but I didn't know how good it was until I checked out. Here are a few highlights of what I purchased:
4 Men's Dove Deodorants $3.99 each - I paid just $.99 each.
1 roll Bounty paper towels $.99 each - I paid $.74 for 1 roll.
9 boxes of Nature Valley granola bars $1.00 each - I paid $0.00! FREE!!
1 2 liter bottle of Diet Pepsi Max $1.25 - Free!!
1 box Kelloggs Crunchy Nut cereal $2.50 - I paid $.50.
1 jar Newmans Own Marinara sauce $1.89 - I paid $.89.
2 jars Miracle Whip $2.50 each - I paid $1.00 each.
1 package Kraft sliced cheese $2.54 - I paid $.54.
1 lb ground beef $1.99 - I paid $.99.
The most expensive item I purchased was chicken breasts that were $5.39. My grand total for everything you see in the picture was $125. I have to admit that I was a bit nervous because I knew my total was going to go down but I wasn't sure by how much. After all my coupons were scanned my total out of pocket for everything in the picture was $67.27!!!! Can I just tell you how excited I was!!??!! Saaaweeeettt!
I walked out of that store with my head held high feeling like a million bucks. I might have been one of the last customers out of Target but I really didn't care. My hope is to inspire others not to brag. Even though I was so excited about my loot I want to let you all know that anyone can do this. It does take patience and some understanding of how everything works but if you are serious about it, you can accomplish the same thing.
If you ever have any questions please leave it in the comments or send me an email. I hope you all have a fantastic week. Now I'm going to go sit with my hubby and watch Les Miserables with a granola bar and Pepsi.
I can't express to you the amount of money that you can save by using coupons. I've said it a thousand times!! It is amazing the deals that are out there that anyone can get from using coupons. I've been able to try out so many new products that I wouldn't normally buy without coupons.
So yesterday I went to Target with my coupon binder in tow. I knew this was going to be a good trip but I didn't know how good it was until I checked out. Here are a few highlights of what I purchased:
4 Men's Dove Deodorants $3.99 each - I paid just $.99 each.
1 roll Bounty paper towels $.99 each - I paid $.74 for 1 roll.
9 boxes of Nature Valley granola bars $1.00 each - I paid $0.00! FREE!!
1 2 liter bottle of Diet Pepsi Max $1.25 - Free!!
1 box Kelloggs Crunchy Nut cereal $2.50 - I paid $.50.
1 jar Newmans Own Marinara sauce $1.89 - I paid $.89.
2 jars Miracle Whip $2.50 each - I paid $1.00 each.
1 package Kraft sliced cheese $2.54 - I paid $.54.
1 lb ground beef $1.99 - I paid $.99.
The most expensive item I purchased was chicken breasts that were $5.39. My grand total for everything you see in the picture was $125. I have to admit that I was a bit nervous because I knew my total was going to go down but I wasn't sure by how much. After all my coupons were scanned my total out of pocket for everything in the picture was $67.27!!!! Can I just tell you how excited I was!!??!! Saaaweeeettt!
I walked out of that store with my head held high feeling like a million bucks. I might have been one of the last customers out of Target but I really didn't care. My hope is to inspire others not to brag. Even though I was so excited about my loot I want to let you all know that anyone can do this. It does take patience and some understanding of how everything works but if you are serious about it, you can accomplish the same thing.
If you ever have any questions please leave it in the comments or send me an email. I hope you all have a fantastic week. Now I'm going to go sit with my hubby and watch Les Miserables with a granola bar and Pepsi.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Back at it
I am back at the gym again. Matt and I had memberships at 24 Hour Fitness but we cancelled them a while back. A new rec center opened a stones throw away from us so we purchased memberships there. It worked out to be cheaper each month than 24 Hour. But in the last few months since we cancelled our memberships I know I have gained weight. Yuck!! Boo hoo!! I hate carrying around extra flubber! Nothing fits right and I'm not comfortable with myself. Blah! So here I go again. Back on the ol' treadmill I go.
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