Swiffer: Not Just for Floors Anymore

Suffice it to say, I miss my washer and dryer. No, I didn't have to give them up when we gave up the house. But after a year of paying storage fees of over $100 per month, I gave them up. Along with many other niceties that I had accumulated over the years.

The apartment complex where I live doesn't allow washing machines or dryers. And those that did didn't allow dogs. So we chose to keep our beloved little pooch over the convenience (not to mention affordability) of washing our clothes and other soft goods whenever we needed to and from the comfort of our own living space. 

A total of $4.00 per load to wash and dry can really add up. And with Christmas literally breathing down our necks, I had to get creative with the sheets, which really needed washing. Sure, I'm no stranger to handwashing a few items here and there, the occasional sweater, once even my husband's work pants - only one pair alloted per employee for his seasonal job delivering packages for Fed Ex.

Of course the bathtub was the only real choice to wash the king sized bed sheets, in some water good and hot, and some nice fresh smelling liquid laundry detergent. The swiffer as an agitator was a last minute brainstorm, borne from the need to save my back and hands trying to stoop over and reach through the shower door enclosure, which I knew from experience trying to clean said bathtub would be painful, to say the least.

It actually works quite well. As I write this I am letting them soak a little longer, and have determined I can probably also use the Swiffer as a sort of water extractor, stamping them down rather than wringing. Though there will no doubt be some wringing involved eventually.

The laundromat across the street has large dryers for 25 cents per 8 minutes, so if I can scrounge a few quarters, I may be able to dry them quickly. If not I will try hanging them in the bathroom with the space heater as I've done other times with smaller items I needed to dry quickly. Wish me luck.

Hope: 2G

 

What a difference a few years can make.

Trying to Pull My Head Out of the Sand

Okay, so it's been a while. But getting distracted and losing focus isn't completely a new thing for me.  And well it's been kind of a rough couple of years. Losing the house, losing a breast, then losing my dad. Not long after my dad's passing we moved again. Not much of a move and to a somewhat nicer (though not much bigger place.) We've been a here a few months now and I think I am finally starting to feel settled. Trying to bond with the place as best as I can, even though it is a rental. It's hard to bond with a rented space after you've owned. But we've pretty much decided this is where we're going to stay for awhile so I'm trying to make it feel like home. And that, of course, starts in your head and your heart.

It's tough to make an apartment seem cozy. White walls, white trim, white blinds, beige carpet, beige linoleum. This place is a little strange as the doors are a deep brown which is really stark compared to the white walls and trim. So I've spent most of my time here just thinking about what I want to decorating wise rather than actually doing it. Part of the reason is I want to do what I can to make things seem ordered and consistent rather than slap dash. And of course the other part of that is funds available for such efforts, or a distinct lack thereof. Luckily I am pretty handy, but even the most handy person needs materials to work with.  And finding what you want, staying focused and consistent on a tight budget is a challenge. To say the least.

So far I've found some really great fabrics to work with and have spent a lot of my time deciding how to use them. My prize find was 4.5 yards of this Thomas Paul Arboretum in Chocolate fabric for $9.00 per yard

If you click on the image and follow the link you will see what a bargain I really got. And it is totally worth the full price of $55, a gorgeous heavy linen and such and amazing print. So I was torn between selling the fabric in my Etsy store, which I have been ignoring also, and using the money to buy some cheap drapes, or using it myself. In the end inertia (and my spouse) got the best of me, and I made some very pretty drapes for our bedroom. They match perfectly with this king size comforter set purchased on clearance at Target for a mere $30.

I had originally hoped to do the bedroom in sage to sort of flow with the living room. But this set was so beautiful and the quality is really nice. Plus at the the clearance price I couldn't resist. And already having the chocolate fabric in a similar theme it just seemed like fate.

So at least the bedroom is starting to come around. We had to buy a new king size bed when we moved, meaning we no longer have our beautiful oak shaker style queen size head board and foot board, which we gave to a very appreciative good friend. In fact we have no head board at all. So for now I've hung a vintage white popcorn chenille bedspread until I can find something a little more permanent. I'm thinking maybe a piece of plywood covered with some foam and the vintage chenille bedspread? Or an antique door. Whichever comes first.

Kiki's New Kicks

Okay, so I know I'm always talking about saving money. But you know, sometime a girl has just gotta splurge! And who better to splurge on than your super cute and very appreciative teen daughter?  Besides, when I saw these I just had to have them, but God knows I would look ridiculous in them!

Plus as any market researcher will tell you, even in a down economy mom's will still find ways to spend money on their kids.  And really, what is the point of saving all of this money yourself and things you and the family needs if you can't spend a little something once in a while on your precious little (even not so little) offspring? 

So since Kiki just had another great and amazing report card (all A's and B's - yay Kiki!) I rewarded her with these super cute Converse Cutaway Sandals in Navy.  Okay, so they were on sale at JC Penney for $26.99. But I didn't even use one coupon!

How To Make $100K!

Over my decade or so on the web, I've had so very many ideas for websites, blogs, and other money making "schemes." Most which remained simply that, ideas and pleasant pipe dreams. One of them was an interactive blog which would simply ask the question, "How to Make $100K!" Which would hopefully elicit ideas from readers how I could go about making this sum (to help pay off my then house mortgage.) I could then try the most viable (as well as perhaps kooky and entertaining) advice and ideas and report the results. 

I was reminded this morning of this idea via an email from Groupon, following the link to their website, then finding out about their "Groupawn" project, where Josh Stevens was challenged to live only off Groupon for one year. Apparently he succeeded and was awarded the sum of, guess what, $100K!

I had to ask myself, how on earth did said "Groupawn" find out about this opportunity? And why do I never hear about this sort of thing until AFTER the fact??  Do I not already spend enough of my life on the internet? I've "doubled." I've done Etsy, Ebay, and any number of auction or sale site wannabees. I've been a web guide, an affiliate, started ebooks, written articles, entered sweepstakes. Do I need to spend even more time online?  If I had started the $100K blog (and promoted it it properly), might some reader have alerted me to the Groupon project? And what is out there right now that I don't know about?

It's a little like hearing someone else has won the super lottery jackpot. Yes you feel great for them. But you always question, did they play religiously? Or are they one of those flukes that just bought one random ticket on a lark and hit it big? Making you wonder, is luck and success something that is random and predetermined, or is it really something that can come to those who think about it, plan for it, intentionally work for it, and/or seek it out? 

Questions for the ages.  But perhaps it still isn't too late. The house may be long gone, but there are other fish in the sea. And we certainly haven't lost the need for a place to live. So maybe I will make this "project" under my Nestish umbrella. Only now I think my goal will be $250K. Which would be just enough (maybe) to buy us a small 2 bedroom starter home or cottage where we live, with a small yard for our daughter and her pets, a laundry hookup for our washer and dryer (ah, no more coin op!) and a basement for all of the stuff we have now in storage. Which is really all we are looking for. 

But, you know. $100K wouldn't hurt either!

Extreme Couponing Dead Zone

So is it just me, or has there been a huge lack of interesting coupons, and lucrative deals to pair them with. I can't help but wonder if it has anything to do with the TLC reality series "Extreme Couponing."

If you haven't seen it, the show takes couponing to the extreme, and beyond. And this is not without controversy. There have been all sorts of accusations by viewers of fraud against the participants, and complicity within TLC.  So it is entirely possible that manufacturers have taken note, as well as supermarkets large and small, and have begun adjusting their policies.  Or it could just be my imagination, and my typical wanderlust i.e. me becoming bored with the whole business.

Regardless, I am still making an effort to get some decent deals. And while I'm not lugging home cartloads of hot sauce and French's yellow mustard (because who doesn't need that!) I have been able to get a few things since my last posting, including:

10 packages of Orbit gum for $.15 per pack (yes, we do like our gum!)
4 - 2 liter bottles of Sierra Mist for free
12 Oral B toothbrushes, between $.50 and free each
2 bottles of Purex detergent, $.99 each
4 packages of 4 count Gillette Sensor Disposable Razors, $1.35 each
Lots and lots of Always and Carefree liners, between $.50 and free
8 rolls of Small Steps paper towels, $.50 each

I'm sure there's more, but these are the ones that stick most in my mind.  It's gotten so I'm finding I need to start getting some extra storage, since things are getting pretty cramped here.  So my current project is finding some sort of shelving unit (for cheap or DIY) for the kitchen. If you have any ideas, please feel free to share!

Fabulous Fabric Find!

I'm so excited about this fabulous new fabric I found shopping recently.  I've been feeling "nestish" lately, itching to do some spring cleaning, and really wanting a few new things for my house. I am so lucky that I live in close proximity to some great outlet malls, so when I had some spare time, I took the drive over the Piscataqua Bridge over to Kittery, Maine for a little window shopping and "off price" retail therapy.  While I was there I stopped into one of my all time favorites, the Crate and Barrel Outlet Store, where I found this little gem.

I only realized on my previous trip to the Crate and Barrel Outlet Store that they carried fabric, and for the bargain price of $5.00 per yard. And while I didn't find anything there on that trip, this time I scored 7 yards of the above Marimekko fabric, which normally retails for $39.00 per yard.  Marimekko has long been one of my favorite (yet so elusive!) fabrics and I couldn't believe my luck. Pus I love the colors. Talk about exciting!

I'm still not sure what I will do with it, and it remains uncut. My first thought was a shower curtain. But I began looking at my sad and depressing bedroom and realized it has been virtually untouched since our move.  I don't have quite enough to make curtains and a duvet. But if I pair another fabric and use this as an accent center panel on the duvet, I may have just enough.  I will let you know what I decide and will hopefully post some pics when I am through!