Look What Tania Did!

Tania over at the Little Vintage Cottage is incredibly talented.  So when the call rang out to show me what you've been working on lately she gave me my choice of what I could pick.  Now this lady is uber talented so picking a favorite was no easy task.  I could easily fill my blog up with hers, no kidding!

So I decided to go with the first makeover project she did that really knocked my socks off.  Tania took an ordinary twin size headboard and turned it into a faux fireplace.  Fantastic!

From this -

To this -

To this -

Now I can totally see this with candles or even one of those electric fireplaces, like what I have, inserted in the center.  Can't you?  But this is where Tania's amazing ability to thing outside the box really comes into play.  I mean seriously, would you have ever thought to do chalkboard paint and draw a fire on there?  Never would have crossed my mind.

How about that!  To see more about how she did this check out her post HERE.  And while you are at it check out the rest of her blog and see what else she has been up to.  Also be sure to check out her sweet little vintage travel trailer she's redone.

Thanks Tania for letting me share your talents! 

Alright!  Who's next?

Purging Once Again

We've been back in our house just over eighteen months now and I am determined not to let things get out of control and pile up.  It amazes me how quickly one can accumulate stuff.  In no time at all it will start to take over.

I started purging a little bit last year, but I decided it was time to go through the entire house and clear out some clutter.  I began in my bedroom by going through my closet and purging some of my clothing and shoes.  Then I reorganized it and because I have used a lot of the items up that I was storing in there I was able to completely eliminate on entire plastic tote.  I also have more space in there too, not to mention extra empty hangers.

Next was the downstairs powder room.  My oldest daughter happily accepted all of my hair accessories so I eliminated another storage container from under the sink.  Other than that not much else in there.

I purged a ton of paper from my tiny home office tucked in the corner of our living room.  We seem to acquire a lot of it when school is in session.  I also purged and re-organized all of my important papers and got them corralled into one binder complete with tabs - Home, Auto, Life & Personal.  Our tax returns and supporting documents went into a big envelope and labeled.  I eliminated a huge stack of paperwork from the top shelf of the hall closet and the corner of my desk.

I went through all the drawers and cabinets in the kitchen and got rid of a few things I wasn't using.  I cleaned everything out as I went along as part of my spring cleaning endeavors.  For the most part the kitchen was in great shape.

I talked to the girls and we decided to hold off purging their rooms until school is out.  That is when we usually go through all of their clothes and do the hand me down and seasonal shuffle so it makes perfect sense to wait the six weeks and do it then.

I've been really careful about what we buy and bring into the house.  I am just not interested in filling this house up with crap again.  No, no, no.  As a result I had a nice little pile of goodies to take to the thrift store and donate and our house still feels breathable.

Have you done any purging at your house lately?

Last Week's Thrifty Moves

Sunday I made two loaves of oat bread and two loaves of whole wheat.  The girls ate almost an entire loaf of oat bread right out of the oven for lunch.  I also used half a dozen Easter eggs to make a big bowl of egg salad to go with the fresh bread.  It was pretty darn good.

I cleaned out and reorganized my bedroom closet purging several items, including five pairs of shoes, that I set aside to donate.  In re-organizing a couple of bins I had in there I was able to eliminate one of them completely as I had used up most of what was stored inside.  Whoo hooo!

After work on Wednesday I went to JoAnn Fabrics to get more white muslin and use a 40% OFF coupon that a friend gave me and it expired that day.  Four yards for $10.15!  While there I was looking at the quilter's cutting mattes and the clerk informed me they were going on sale for 50% OFF the very next day.  Needless to say I had no problem waiting a day.  I headed back on the way home from work Thursday and picked one up.  And a ruler too, also half price.

I treated the girls to dinner out at our favorite pizza buffet restaurant near our house.  I used a gift card a friend had given me at Christmas.  No money out of pocket and I still have a little left on the card for another time.

I did an online store survey for Fred Meyer and earned an extra 50 bonus reward points toward a fuel discount.

I didn't do any grocery shopping this week!

I did buy some lighter weight cardigan sweaters, however.  I found a really nice black one on sale for $17.88 at ShopKo.  I wore it and I love it.  The right weight, the sleeves are long enough (I really struggle with that), soft and it fits me really nice.  By Thursday I had convinced myself it was okay to go and get the royal blue one.  I've always wanted one in that color.  I checked out and was handed a $10 OFF $10 coupon.  I went right back and bought another one in fuschia for $7.88!  Now I have a sweaters in every color to compliment my wardrobe.  I won't need to buy another sweater for a looooooooooong time. J

I relisted four crocheted baby afghans for sale in my Etsy shoppe.

We fed our kitchen scraps to our chickens.  I sold two dozen eggs to a friend and a dozen to our next door neighbor.  The girls have been super productive this week!

I washed out two gallon size Ziploc bags to reuse.

How thrifty was your week?

Travel Size First Aid Kits

Earlier in the week I posted about our Go Bags.  A couple of weeks ago my youngest and I made travel size first aid kits to tuck inside.

After going through the things we already had on hand in the upstairs bathroom we made a quick trip to the dollar store.  There we filled in the gaps with the purchase of some extra band-aids and these nifty red containers that were the perfect size.  And they were red!

Somehow I've managed to accumulate several pair of tweezers.  Not sure how because I don't remember ever buying them, but I've got them so I put a pair in each kit.  Along with band-aids in assorted sizes, cotton swabs, cotton balls, gauze squares, tape and alcohol pads.

These would be great to put in a purse or gym bag too.  Or a tackle box, a back pack, glove box.  I think I need more of these containers.  I could make more of these and give them as gifts.  Hmmm.

I Want To Know - What Are You Up To?

Okay folks.  I've been sharing what I've been up to lately and now it is your turn.  I know there are some really talented peeps out there.

Some of you have been so kind to let me know through facebook and my email some of the projects you've working on doing lately.  A few have even sent pictures and I love that!

But I’m greedy and I want to see more!

I'd also like to share your hard work and great ideas here on the blog.  So if you are interested and want to be featured I would be thrilled to post your projects.  Just send me a quick blurb of what you've been up to and some pics to my Thrifty Mom email.

What do you say?  Any takers?

Broccoli Beef

I like to make a lot of Asian inspired dishes for my family and one that we really enjoy is also a simple one too.  Quick to prepare and delicious. 

Broccoli Beef

1 10 oz. sirloin steak, thinly sliced

1/2 medium onion, thinly sliced

1 carrot, peeled and thinly sliced

2 cups broccoli florets

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1/2 cup water

1 packet brown gravy mix

1 cup cold water

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 Tbs. oil

2 cups cooked rice

In a large skillet, heat oil.  Saute sliced steak until medium rare.  Add onions and carrot and continue cooking until onions are tender.  Add garlic and stir.  Add 1/2 water and broccoli florets.  Cover skillet and allow broccoli to steam until tender.  Meanwhile stir gravy packet into cup of cold water and soy sauce.  Pour over meat and vegetable mixture, stir to combine and heat until gravy thickens.  Serve over rice. 

I usually start the rice and then by the time I have the beef and broccoli done the rice is done too.  It comes together in about 30 minutes for a fast weeknight supper.

I hope you try this one and enjoy!

Our Go Bags

For Christmas I made each of my girls the beginnings of what I like to call a Go Bag.  The idea behind it is so we can easily get ready to head out for a quick getaway or go on vacation.  And if there is an emergency (or zombies show up) we are better prepared.

I started out by purchasing two heavy duty backpacks.  Not too big because my girls are rather on the small side and they need to be able to easily carry them.  The backpacks have plenty of pockets for stowing various necessities.

In the pockets I put the following items to get them started:

Toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste and dental floss

Travel set of plastic bottles for toiletries

Trial size bottles of lotion

Comb and brush

Wet wipes

Facial tissues

Water cup with lid & straw

An all-in-one camp set of dishes and utensils

We are still working on them and as we add things I will share what we do with you.  I think it is important to be somewhat prepared, you know, just in case.  And I think having them for travel is a great way to figure out what works, what doesn't and to keep them well supplied.

What do you think?  Is this something you have done or would consider doing?