Frugal Missus

If A Pictures Worth A Thousand Words...

2012-02-09T18:47:00.000-08:00

Then these lovelies I found at Target are worth a couple of thousand words. Aren't they divine? First time I saw them I think I may have drooled. Just a little.

Not wanting to pay the $16.99 for them I walked away, entertained the idea of trying to recreate the look some thing like the one from Pottery Barn. Sigh...

Source Pottery Barn

Fast forward a few days ago, at Target again and the pictures are marked down, $11.88. Um, better but still not what I felt comfortable paying. I know I am ~~cheap~~ frugal, but I was hoping that the price would grow on me because they were just that cool.

Today I checked back to see if the pictures were there...Happy Dance! They were and marked down to $5.08 (70% off original price each. You know what I did next, grabbed those babies and high tailed it to the cashier. Even she remarked how awesome they were.

Eiffel tower

Big Ben

I put them in the long hallway on the blank canvas of wall. Where they are a bit lonely.

I am seriously in love with the idea of a gallery wall, they are every where these days

Source Pottery Barn

... now to just find a few more great black and white pictures to create a gallery in the long hallway of my home.

Guess you know what I will be doing tomorrow and Saturday morning and I am up for the challenge.

Ta Ta For Now....

Audra

Without Hope or Agenda...

2012-02-06T18:30:00.000-08:00

I am writing again on this blog. The blog I was terrified to start writing until my husband stood over me as I nervously wrote my first post. I didn't even know what to call this blog, everyone out in blog land had such great titles for their blog and I tried to come up with a name.

Frugal Missus.

Not a blog about being decidedly frugal or the fact that I am married (ie: the missus part)...just simply a blog about things that I loved. Top of the list, yard sales, thrifting, DIY, home making, frugality and the pursuit of all.

After nearly two years, I gave up. I felt that life had become to hard, that I really wasn't connecting with anyone with my blog and posts, the same five people were commenting, etc. A pity party so to speak.
btw...you five people RAWK...thank you for always having nice things to say.

The cold hard reality of the situation was...is that I am sick. Not in a mental sort of way...well maybe that too...but honest to goodness so sick that I couldn't get better. Hair falling out, rash, fever, aches and fatigue like I had worked 80 hours in a day.

Skipping all the sorted details, I was diagnosed with Lupus. That evil life sucking illness that can render you in the fetal position within an hour of a flare up. That Lupus.

I didn't say anything when I left, because I was in denial about being sick. I figured a month off and I would be back with a renewed sense of dedication.   Little did I know that it was not meant to be.

Months later, I started to miss writing, reading and sharing. I missed all of you...all the followers that still hung in there and the those who sent emails to make sure I was ok. It's not uncommon to follow a blog for a few years only to have the blogger go MIA.

I wasn't going to write again. I was pretty angry (see pity party reference) at life in general. I had to find that place where I was happy again, or a reasonable facsimile.

After plotting post after post in my head for two months, I had to work up the nerve to find something to post. Because let me tell you, there have been some major transformations in my life and my home in the last 8 months. many things I wanted to share but didn't.

The gist is, I stopped being so critical of myself. I want to blog, I want to write and if there is one person reading this blog still then I will continue to do so.

I might even change the blog around, much like I have changed my life. So without hope or agenda dear friends, I want you to know that I am back, ready to share with you all.

Bonne Nuit Mes Amies...

Audra

Dusting off the blog...

2011-06-27T16:47:00.000-07:00

Ok...ahem...hello? Is there anyone still reading my blog?

I know there have to be a few of you still out there...I hope.

I have been MIA...

Wish I had a better reason for my sabbatical, like a summer vacation in France!

Nope.

A summer by the Beach?

Bigger No...

Uh, I was hiding from my instant celebrity and the random paparazzi?

No...Nope, Nada.

Instead I was in flare up mode and have spent the last seven weeks trying to get back on track.

I have rested.

I have slept,

I have cursed...maybe once or twice.

I have cried and begged.

I have stopped and listened to my body

I am now ready to deal with the aftermath and turning over a new leaf.

I thought about this blog.

I felt sorry for my little blog and for the direction I haven't taken it.

Then I realized that I am all of the things I listed here, I still love being frugal,

I love, love, big puffy heart love decorating and creating oh...and treasure hunting.

All I need is to write, have my great followers/friends I have made blogging,

my family and my health. Oh...and my cats who diligently saw me through

this last flare up.

Even though they didn't clean house worth a darn, they sat on my bed, on the couch and outside the bathroom door.

Now that is love people...

when your fur baby puts it's paw under the door to play footsie with you.

Real love.

I am not going to stop blogging...but I am making changes to this blog.

I need a new color scheme and I want to make it less fussy.

I want to show you all the crazy things I thought of doing while ~~imprisoned~~ resting.

I want to show you how I am down sizing and clearing out.

Because I know others are doing it...and I may need some hand holding as I make my way thorough this.

I love my stuff...but I just don't have the energy to own it and to be bound to it all.the.time.

That being said, I wanted to tell you I am back and I have missed you all. Every single one of you.

TTFN...

Audra

btw...Happy Birthday to my Mother who would have been 77 today. I wish Heaven had visiting hours!

Happy Mothers Day!

2011-05-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

To all the wonderful women who are mothers, step-mothers, surrogate mothers, stand in mothers, mother mentors...Happy Mother's Day.

Missing my own mother today, more than words can express.

Hanging out with The Teenager enjoying the day. Making memories that hopefully he will pass on to his children.

May you all have a blessed Mothers Day!

Audra

Bountiful Baskets Haul

2011-05-07T11:02:00.000-07:00

I haven't bought produce from Bountiful Baskets in a while because, well, to tell the truth, I was a bit put out with the selection of items the last two or three times I have bought from them.

This week, the offerings renewed my zest for this fantastic co-op.

Vegetables

Fruits

For $16.50, this is a frugal deal that can't be beat. Jicama...can't wait to try this in a salad!

Happy Saturday!

Audra

Trying My Hand at a Table Scape...

2011-04-19T18:48:00.000-07:00

I must warn you...take a step or three back because I have finally jumped in, more like tiptoed into the table scape group. You know them, those "cool" ladies who set a table in the most creative and unique ways.

Leigh over at Tales From Bloggeritaville, Margene over at In the Middle of Nowhere (who taught me it doesn't have to be matchy matchy to be gorgeous!) and of course

Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch

who sets a gorgeous table every.single.time.

There are so many talented women out there that set gorgeous tables...

The kind of tables you want to sit down at but not eat from,

because you don't want to mess them up?

Yeah, those kind of tables.

Mine is not that kind of table. So go easy on me...

Just for the record...I always set the table for dinner.

Just not too fancy and rarely with a center piece.

I am kind of simple like that, just sayin'.

Did I mention I have three cats that believe the dining room and kitchen tables

belong to them exclusively?

Ok, I got to quit stalling,

Dining room table Table Scape numero uno for the Frugal Missus.

I didn't have a gold or banded napkin ring so I settled for the spirally black set, from Pier One.

These are the dishes I picked up last weekend from St. Pete's RePete Boutique.

Gold Pier One chargers located at Savers Thrift Store $9.00.

I chose the leopard print goblets to show my wild side!

Rattan bowl picked up for $1.00 at garage sale.

Filled with vase filler from Marshall's. The entire bag was $7.00

I used the woven jute bag to fill in the bottom of the bowl.

Then as luck would have it, today while wasting time before Doctors appointment, I popped into a Thrift Store next to his office. Found six of these napkin rings for $3.00

Exactly what I needed to offset the brown linen napkins.
Don't worry, I removed the price tags after taking the photo.

I hope you enjoyed my first West Indies inspired table scape.

I hope it will be the first of many to come.

Bon Appetite!

Audra

Changing with the Seasons

2011-04-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

I have two book cases, side by side in my family room.

I love them...

they are on the ~~smallish~~ petite side, dainty and painted shoe polish black.

I bought them from my dear friend Yvonne when she changed her style to a more modern look.

I am sure I will never part with these as they are perfect for displaying my finds...

oh and they do a great job holding books as well.

Here is what they looked like before I gave them a cleaning out.

Of course over the few months, they have managed to get a bit full with other stuff.

Looking kind of junky.

I wanted to give them a Summer fresh look...without breaking the bank.

Or even spending any cash at all...so I shopped around the house and after a few attempts,

came up with this.

Voila!

Moved out the spindles and replaced it with a few remnants of things that remind me of summer.

and

I added silver touches here and there....

along with my little French primers tied in twine.

Behind the silver clock is a copy of my favorite book of all time.

To Kill A Mocking Bird.

When I find my other box of shells and star fish, I may tweak it a bit more.

For now... I am pleased with the results.

I like the simplicity, I need more of that in my life.

Audra

Yard Sale Find...

2011-04-17T16:23:00.000-07:00

Slowly easing back into things, have been down and out with flare up,

then respiratory infection and bronchitis.

To say the least I haven't been out looking at the yard sales.

Our community had their Community Garage Sale this weekend.
I wasn't going to participate, since I was still recuperating,
but The Teenager and Fly Guy

were so helpful to get all the tables set up and I had all of the things

in boxes ready to be set out.

and...our HOA only allows four sales a year, January, April, July and October. (Dang them!)

We started to set up at 5:30am and were hit hard at 6:30 am!
Early birds...got to love them. The first group purchased nearly 1/3 of my items!

No pictures of the sale because between 6:30 to 8:30 am we sold all but a few bags of clothing.

Since I was tired and hot... it was already 84 degrees,

we backed up the clothes to take to St. Pete's RePete Boutique.

On our way by 9:00 am we hit a few sales in the neighborhood where I didn't find much. Perfect weather, don't know why this community doesn't have more sales?

I found six of these flutes for $2.50

and this little silver clock for .50

and these silver Restoration Hardware candle holders for $5.00.

I love them tarnished, though I might polish them up later.

Headed over to Litchfield Park to St. Pete's when I saw a yard sale sign. I detoured.

As we pull up I spied this....

Both The Teenager and I said..."OOOOH! Look at That!"

I headed over to ask the price...when I realized that one of the people running the sale is a former neighbor and father to College Diva's best friend for life. We had a lovely time catching up and found out the sale was put on by his former neighbor who moved to Litchfield Park six years ago and now is being transferred to California.

I asked the price on the Pagoda Bird House. He wanted $35.00, had offered it for $25.00. Before I could say anything, he lowered it to $20.00. Yes, a still little bit steep, but this is over three feet high and I knew it would be a signature piece.

Besides, I love unusual bird houses and this fits the bill.

Headed to St. Pete's where I found this set of dishes for $15.00!

29 pieces for $15.00!

They look great with the flutes I picked up earlier in the day.

Headed home happy and in need of a nap!

Linking up to Thifty Treasures with Rhoda at Southern Hospitality.

Ta Ta For Now!

Audra

Fortuitous Happenstance....

2011-04-04T20:13:00.000-07:00

Was it serendipity?

Perhaps a chance circumstance that put me on the path to secure the items I had been thinking of. After all, isn't that why we shop Thrifts, Garage Sales, Consignment and Swaps?

The thrill of the hunt, the rush of rush of adrenaline when we locate a "find" and the joy when we bring it home to love.

This is what fuels me, every Saturday ~~without fail~~ that I can, to get out and drive around hunting for treasures.

Being held hostage by my body and nasty flare ups, I haven't been getting out and about much. This past Saturday I woke up, drank my tea and realized I felt the best I had in weeks.

Grabbed the keys and hit the door....

There were two community sales and four Rummage Sales. One of them didn't start until 9:00 am, giving me two hours to hit the neighborhood sales.

Look what I found....

All for five dollars. I have salad plates and bowls in this lily pad design, can't wait to use them in a table scape.

Then there was these...

Copper pot, about 16 inches high an 11 inches across.

Potpourri holder...I plan on making it into a terrarium, a la Pottery Barn

Five yards of milk chocolate velvet chenille fabric. I have plans to cover the kitchen chairs in this...and make a few pillows as well. All this for $10.00

Stopped at a moving sale ...nearly tripped over my feet to get to the goodness within that Garage!

I saw these...

and did this....

Because I knew that they were...they just had to be...

Yes! Fist Pump and Happy Dance! I saw these seven pewter candle stick holders covered in wax...

and asked if they would take $10.00 for them instead of $15.00 they were marked.

A little hot water and patience...

I also found these lovelies

and these...

and this...

Linen look vase from Pottery Barn. Sigh....

My sister says I can spot Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Ballard and Williams Sonoma at 50 paces.

I can tell you I get all tingly when these items are near...Spidey Sense?

I spotted this set of light yellow dishes from Home by Target. It has been my desire to get away from the Tuscan reds and golds and get back to a simple clean palette. I thought these dishes would mix well with the white dishes I have been wanting.

The dishes I currently have are beautiful but heavy and get possitively nuclear hot in the microwave, in spite being microwave safe.

Getting a bit tired, I decided to stop at the Rummage Sale then head on home.

A little surprised to see the rummage sale set up with individual sellers, kind of like a swap meet or flea market.

Sixteen sellers, with everything under the sun...with a variety of prices.

I made a quick run through to see if there were any treasures.

Then I did this again....

because I spotted these on a table.

a nearly complete set of Pfaltzgraff dishes and....the yellow looked like it would match the yellow dishes I had in the car.

Instead of walking a block down the road to may car, I said a quick prayer and bought them for $10.00.

The pattern is called Key Largo, which was discontinued in 2002.

These dishes are in excellent condition, not a nick or chip in sight.

Bonus!

and they match perfectly with my new-to-me yellow set. What are the odds?

Fortuitous Happenstance!

As I was packing up the dishes, the seller brought out these mixing bowls...did I want them?

Uh...Yes! Yes I did! She said one was missing so she only charged me $3.00 for the set.

I washed them, admired them and put them in my cupboard. I may have opened the cupboard doors a few times to look at them...because they are so perfect!

Now to find the off white dishes I have been thinking of...

Oh well, there is always next weekend!

Bonne Chance and Happy Hunting.

Audra

Frugal Missus and The Teenager Make Pizza

2011-03-23T18:08:00.000-07:00

Yep, you read that right. I finally jumped on the bandwagon with all those other spectacular moms and wives who make their own pizza.

No stinkin' card board pizza for my family...(uh, though I do like California Pizza Kitchens Margherita pizza... oh and the bbq chicken is divine as well...sssh) or some delivery pizza. Nope, I caved into those blue eyes of the teenager and said YES! to making home made pizza.

Now for those of you that have tried this at home and know that it's not as hard as I make it out to be...let me tell you that I am more an experimental cook...you know, I don't follow a receipe but use it more as a suggestion?

With a wee bit of trepidation, we set off to make some pizza's to rival Papa John's! (their Italian Meat Special...to die for!)

Step 1: Make or Purchase Pizza Dough.

We purchased from Fresh and Easy on mark down for .75 each. One wheat and two traditional white doughs.

Step 2: Roll dough out into circle about 1/3 of inch thick

Step 3: Place on pizza sheet because you don't have a pizza stone...(I must find one!)

Step 4: Sauce the pizza dough. Take care not to over sauce your dough like I did.

We purchased the sauce from our grocery store deli. They have it in plastic tubs for $1.99. I bought two which was more than enough for three pizzas.

Step 5: Put some cheese on it. We purchased Pizza cheese on sale for $1.00. I bought two but only used one for all three pizzas.

Step 6: Pile on the toppings of your choice. In this picture, I am touching anchovies for Fly Guy's pizza. He bought filleted anchovies, no way could I deal with whole fishies.

I do it out of love man...I do it out of love.

Step 7: Make The Teenagers more mom friendly pizza, Pepperoni only!

Step 8: Forget to take a picture of your pizza you made, half peperoni and half veggie pizza.
Uh...No. I don't do anchovy.

Step 9: Pop in the oven for 17 to 20 minutes.

Avoid Step 10: Burn your arm like crazy.

Step 11: Take pictures of baked pizza, hot out of the oven, then accidentally delete it from camera.

Cuz...I'm good like that.

Then sit down and enjoy your home made pizza and wait for the out pouring of love from appreciative husband and kiddos.

It was delicious, as tasty as take out and for three pizza's I spent about $6.00 for each pizza.
The best thing?
That I spent that time with my Teenager, laughing, learning and loving.

oh...one last thing...

Look what I found last weekend at a garage sale.

a pizza cook book! I can see lots more home made pizza in our future.

Bon Appetite....

Audra

Frugal Missus gets out and about....

2011-03-20T19:18:00.000-07:00

I have been under the weather lately.

Not feeling up to blogging or much of anything for that matter.

Gave myself a pep talk to get through the flare up, only to be sidelined by my fibromyalgia.

I don't talk much about these "friends" or their visits, because I try to keep on living and not letting them get in my way.

That works sometimes...and other times...well not so much.

I spent a couple of days, down in the dumps, you know, throwing a pity party for one?

Laid on the couch and debated if I even wanted to blog at all, ever.again. Toyed with idea of getting rid of everything and only keeping the couch, tv and bed.

After all, that's all you need when you are feeling sorry for yourself. :)

Then I started to feel a bit better, the mood swing subsided, another pep talk and swift kick in the back side...and got up and got out.

There were loads of sales this weekend. Two subdivisions in my neighborhood were having community sales. That was enough to motivate me to head out.

Loved this flag...perfect enticement to stop in and take a look.

I am surprised at the number of sales that were being run by men.

This one as well. Lots of goodies to sift through.

I picked up a few things this weekend, my favorite had to be these,

Wrought Iron gate pieces. The lady was selling them because her husband told her he couldn't do what she wanted with them.

She paid this for each piece. I paid $1.00 each.

I don't know what I am going to do with them, but I knew I had to get them.

Picked up these urns for $4.00 each, doesn't hurt to ask if they will take less.

Loved this whimsical cake plate...this will be going on eBay.

Loved the size of the two over-sized baskets. $1.00 each.

They are versatile for decorating or storage options, once I decide where to put them.

These oils were marked $3.00 each. Only problem, they were four years out of code.

The woman told us she still uses them and has never had a problem with them.

I didn't buy any...

However, the second best buy of the day, was from the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group at the Lutheren Church.

They had a Consignment Sale in the Gym... prices were closer to consigment/high end thrift stores.

I spied this and made a bee-line for it.

Yes, I can spy Pottery Barn goodness across the parking lot.

I happily paid my ten dollars, as I have ~~coveted~~ desired this for-ev-er!

At a fraction of the original cost, there was no way this wasn't coming home with me.

Sigh....

Who needs retail therepy when there is yard sale therapy? Hope you found some great things this weekend!

I am linking up with Leigh over at Tales from Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday.

Au Revoir...

Audra

Sweet Surprise Gift From A Sweet Southern Friend

2011-03-11T15:09:00.000-08:00

I have the greatest friend name Meg...

We "met" when I found her first blog a few years ago and started following it. We would email each other and I told her that I was starting a blog as well and she became my first follower.

I didn't even have any posts yet and she followed me!

I think I knew we would be forever friends from that moment on.

I have never met Meg but we have mailed, emailed, and texted.

We have spent hours on the phone just chatting like long lost friends.

Don't you love the blogging community?

How we can live thousands of miles away and start talking like we've known each other for life?

Meg blogs over at How To Eat Well On A Budget...she knows what she is talking about.

She has fed her family and her son's friends and countless others

on a shoestring budget

and does it with a joyful heart.

She is the nicest, most down to earth, lovely lady

and I am blessed to call her friend.

She asked me if I missed any Southern things here in Arizona.

Then she sent me this lovely care package all the way from North Carolina.

Duke's Mayonnaise!

Is there anything more delicious in Potato Salad or on a sandwich?

Fly Guy is really spoiled now, he says he doesn't know if he can go back to Best Foods.

My BIL is from Eastern Texas and was thrilled to see

JohnBoy and Billy's Grillin' Sauce

He told me they use it on EVERYTHING...and I have taken him at his word,

I put it on pork chops, bbq chicken and I even put a little in our hamburgers last night.

This stuff is addicting!

Then there were these lovely plaques from Southern Living at Home.

I am going to hang them in my bathroom with some metal roof tins

I think...

and this cook book

Hometown Heroes is a cook book that Meg and others collaborated on for a scholorship program to honor fallen soldier SPC Christopher Barton. I was honored that Meg sent this to me, as she spent months gathering, sorting, and typing the recipes to send to the publisher. This cook book is a tribute to Chris and all of the other soldiers serving and have served. As Meg puts it "sharing a meal together with family is one of the simplest things a soldier misses when they are away."

This package was a much needed lift to a rough week and I was beyond touched at her gesture. She is a true friend for life and I hope you all will head over to her blog

or email her if you are interested in purchasing one of the Hometown Heroes cook books.

À tout à l'heure !

Audra

I got some 'splaining to do....

2011-03-10T17:41:00.000-08:00

I am junk...there I said it!

Or maybe I should say Je suis junque!

I can't believe two weeks went by without me visiting you all and my blog..I do have a valid excuse.

Do you want to hear it?

No?

Ok.

Here's the mini version. I went to the rummage sale at the church on Saturday the 26th.

I was not happy.

Nope. Not at all.

Not the sale I had bragged about, drug my sister out at 4:30 am to meet me to make the 45 minute drive to Chandler or boasted about to my co-workers how they did.not.want.to.miss.this.... who also came out to see the spectacular event.

Nope...it was bupkiss.

Nada...Zilch and what a major let down.

I didn't even take pictures because I was really kind of pissy...because it was so phenominal last year.

And I even passed up the other rummage sale to attend this one.

Boo Hiss.

On a positive note, I had a blast hanging out with my little sister who was able to score some great clothing items and shoes for herself and both her girls.

I did get some things, just not the fabulousness I expected.

Perhaps the economy being what it is, more people are having sales of their own instead of donating...or ebaying or Craigslisting?

I was not feeling the vibe at the sale or any garage sales we went to. I was kind of feeling..whiny.

Turns out I was getting a migraine. A bad one. A three day, kick my butt event that ruined Sunday- Fly Guy's birthday and kept me out of work until Thursday.

Yeah...good times.

Then my back started hurting...so I went to the crack and wack doctor (my Chiropractor) and let him work his magic.

I thought I should be feeling better but I just wasn't.

I should have known a flare up was right around the corner. So I have been fighting a lovely Crohn's flare up for the past three days.

And...I was feeling a little bit sorry for myself.

Then today, I remembered that it's just a bump in the road. Just another little blip and this too will pass.

There are always other weekends, rummage sales, and hopefully birthdays. What is important is I had a wonderful time reminiscing about our mother with my little sister and remembering how much she is like our mom.

I may have put a downer on Fly Guy's birthday, but we can go out to eat sushi another time.

What matters is that we are happy and he loves me in spite of everything.

That last weekend I had the opportunity to see my College Diva and then visit with my Aunt and Uncle in Cottonwood.

That always does my heart good to see my family.

My chiropractor rocks and my back is almost good as new...

Crohn's is not going to rule my life, it will take a back seat here in a few days and I will be back to almost normal...or normal for me.

I have lots of catching up to do..reading your blogs, posting my few finds and my lovely surprise gift from my wonderful friend Meg who blogs over at How To Eat Well On A Budget, who sent me two packages filled with wonderful goodies that I will share with you tomorrow.

Hope you all are having a wonderful bloggy day!

Hugs.

Audra

Shabby Apple Give Away @ Poofing The Pillows

2011-02-22T19:19:00.000-08:00

Bonjour Mes Amies!

Stacey at Poofing The Pillows is having a Shabby Apple Give Away.

If you visit her blog and enter, you could win this....

Happy Talk Dress! Isn't this the perfect summer dress?

Head on over and visit Stacey's blog here and give her some bloggy love.

While your at it...stop by Shabby Apple's site and check out their divine dresses.

Like this one... or this one....

C'est Magnifique, Mais Non?

With gorgeous dresses and helpful tools to assist you in picking the right dress for your frame. I can tell you I am spending some quality time with the 1943 collection.

Oooh la la!

A bientot!

Audra

Two Great Rummage Sales This Weekend...

2011-02-21T16:06:00.000-08:00

Last year I had the opportunity to attend the Rummage Sale at Cornerstone Church in Chandler, Arizona.
I saw the sign the day before the sale and made plans with my co-worker to meet up and check it out. What a fantastic experience.
If you are in the Metropolotian Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert area, you should attend this event.

Cornerstone Church Chandler Rummage Sale

Church Campus
1595 S Alma School Rd
Chandler, AZ 85286

This may be the biggest, best Rummage Sale that you have ever been to!

Saturday February 26th from 6:00 AM - 1:00 PM at the Cornerstone Chandler Rummage Sale.

Just South of the 202 San Tan on the East side of Alma School Rd.

We have HUGE amounts of clothing, shoes, purses, electronics, TV's, Lawn tools, Athletic Equipment, Furniture, Audio/Visual, Games, Toys, Baby strollers, Cribs, and so much more. If you have never been to a Cornerstone Rummage sale before, you just don't know what you're missing! Bring your truck and/or trailer and be prepared to find some great deals! NOTHING WILL BE SOLD BEFORE 6:00 AM ON SATURDAY.

Here is another great sale on the same weekend.

Kind of sad because this is normally the weekend before the Church Rummage Sale and I can hit both of them. Not this year.

This one costs to attend and also to park.

Junior League of Arizona

74th Annual Rummage Sale – February 26, 2011

Doors open at 8:00 AM,

located at the Arizona Exposition and State Fair Grounds,

1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85007.

8:00 a.m to 12:00 p.m. • $5.00 admission

1:00 to 4:00 • Free Admission, all items 1/2 price

CLOSED from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Come early as this event starts lining up waiting for the doors to open.

Both of these events have a wide variety of home goods, decor, furnishings, electronics, clothing and large ticket items.

Take your pick, either sale is sure to be a treasure hunters paradise!

Happy Shopping!

Audra

Bargain shopping in the rain....

2011-02-20T16:48:00.000-08:00

Weather forecast of 70% chance of rain didn't stop some people from having garage sales and it didn't stop me from driving around looking for them.

Headed out early to pick up my co-op basket from Bountiful Baskets, stopping at a sale right outside of my sub-division. Seller had beautiful items, reasonable prices, however not really my style.

I did spot a couple of boxes of movies and started going through them.

Only to have another shopper offer her $40.00 for the lot of them and get this...The.Seller. picked up the movies that I had set aside and put them in the boxes explaining to me that "he is buying all of the movies".

Shock!

I promptly left. I was still stunned hours later.

That mishap aside, it spit rain a bit, but I kept going.

Most sales were held in garages....

making it easier to shop.

At this sale I picked up these pictures for $3.00.

Which have found a new home above the tub in the master bathroom.

Almost missed this sale because of poor signage...People signs are EVERYTHING to a yard saler.

Some how located the sale and picked up these bird cages for $5.00 total.

That found a home on this shelf also in the Master Bathroom.

The sellers were the nicest people and they had the most amazing items. A man and wife sold their home to help out daughter and SIL in their much larger home. Some of the items they were loading on the moving truck were gorgeous and I wished they were selling them!

I did pick up this lamp on the way out for a dollar.

Which found it's home in the Master Bathroom.

I bought this little trunk for $5.00 from another sale...

It's about 2 1/2 high and has the most wonderful tole style painting on it.

One last yard sale, I found more movies marked $1.00 a piece.
The Teenager and I picked out a few to add to our collection,

This soothed the sting from the other movie debacle.

By 9:00 am the wind was picking up so I headed to St. Pete's Repete Boutique. I make this my last stop on my yard saling trek every weekend. They have a lovely staff of volunteers and there is always something new.

The great thing about smaller thrift stores is that items donated together are put out together, which is why I was able to score four nearly new skirts for less than $20.00!

I love tea length or long skirts. These will stretch my wardrobe without breaking the bank.

All in all, come rain or shine, I had a successful Saturday of bargain shopping.

Hope you all had a wonderful Saturday as well...

Linking up with

Junkin' Finds Friday @ A La Carte

Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous

Flaunt It Friday @ Chic On A Shoestring Decorating

A biento!

Audra

Finding Fabulous Bedding...

2011-02-17T17:11:00.000-08:00

I am cheap...

rhymes with Jeep and there isn't a second doubt that I am seriously not going to plunk down several hundred dollars on bedding.

No matter how gorgeous

All pictures by Belle Notte Bedding

how decadently dreamy

how amazingly tantalizing.....

they are. I just can't bring myself to spend that kind of moola on this bedding,

or any bedding.

Sigh...

Dang broke budget.

What's a Frugal Girl to do?

Keep the peepers open and work with what you find...

Uh- huh. I am talking Fabulous Bedding on a Frugal Budget.

I have long desired a change for my bedroom linens. In fact I want to change out my entire bedroom but we'll save that for another post.

I had been looking at some bedding on mark down at Target...

but I just couldn't find the right size, or the right color or...price range.

I was going to buy a set online, that was more than I really wanted to spend,

so I had to think it over for a few days.

Meanwhile I kept looking...

Browsning an Estate Sale on Friday, I saw this duvet cover and two shams.

Realizing that it's hard to get the full effect of this gorgeous silk duvet, trust me, it's a lovely mix between gold and latte. The color was right, the style was simple enough to add on to,

and the price ...$20.00!

I Know!!!

I promise better pictures when I am not so rushed.

(Washing Machine Repair Man interrupted my photo shoot, also another story for another post.)

While heading to pay for my find, I saw this on another bed.

oooh,

Yes...burlap style linen Queen duvet cover and two shams.

It reminded me of the set from Belle Notte...

not nearly as pricey...

but not as cheap as the silk duvet.

I talk to one of the ladies at the sale, who tells me there are TWO of these gorgeous

sets...

so of course I hawked my first born and bought one for me....

and one to re-sell.

This is the back side of the duvet, cream linen....

while the duvet top and shams are

a fawn colored linen with lovely pastel flowers.

You see why I had to buy both of them? Tres Maqnifique!

Mais Non?

I will be listing the second set on eBay.

Linking up with Leigh from Tales from Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday.

Junkin' Finds Friday @ A La Carte

Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous

Flaunt It Friday @ Chic On A Shoestring Decorating

Head over to join the parties and show off your thrifty finds.

ttfn....

Audra

Ballard Style French Cannisters

2011-02-09T17:37:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't love these Ballard French Cannisters?

Ballard~$75.00 for three pieces

Ooh... I do, but not the hefty price tag.

I have been on the look out for white cannisters at the Thrift Stores, Garage Sales, Hobby Lobby, with the idea to create my own knock off's.

Voila!

Look what I found at Saver's today....

Ballard Knock Off French Cannisters!

Farine, Riz, Café, Thé, Sucre,

I almost walked right past them, before spotting the littlest jars

Thym, Rosmarin, Basilic...

Of course I stopped in my tracks...I had to stiffle a little squeal

Oh, my...there were 8 in the set.

Throwing a look over my shoulder I loaded them into my basket

then rushed to the Register to pay for them.

Ceramic, not milk glass like those from Ballard, but they sure make up for it with the faux crazing and lovely french script.

All of this for about a 10th of Ballard's price.

C'est magnifique, mais oui?

Linking up with these lovely ladies...

Thrifty Thursday @ Tales From Bloggeritaville

Junkin' Finds Friday @ A La Carte

Frugalicious Friday @ Finding Fabulous

Flaunt It Friday @ Chic On A Shoestring Decorating

Baking Beer Bread

2011-02-07T17:29:00.000-08:00

Tonight I am making beer bread to go with our chili. I found this recipe from Hip and Stingy Cheap and Easy Bread a few years ago and had to try it.

Ok...she had me at use left over bread for French Toast.

Oh man...do. I . Love. French. Toast.

I had to try it. What was not too love? Bread in an hour?

I am so there.

I borrowed one of Fly Guy's Oatmeal Stouts and made my bread.

That was six hundred and eleven loaves ago.

Maybe more like 50 loaves ago.

In fact I had to make another one after The Teenager, College Diva and I ~~devoured~~

sampled the first loaf.

The great thing with Beer Bread is that it goes with anything. You can add anything to it that you want, dill, Parmesan, cinnamon sugar and raisins, olives, it all turns out great.

I also have it on good authority that 12 oz. of Ginger Ale works great in place of the beer.

Beer or Ginger Ale Bread

(Hip and Stingy's Recipe)

3 cups of self-rising flour, 1/3 cup sugar and mix.

Add one 12 ounce beer (any type, domestic, imported, dark, light, wheat, ale, ipa, stout), pour into a greased loaf pan, and pour two tablespoons melted butter over the top. Bake one hour at 375.

3 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon baking powder

The Ingredients. I used a White Chocolate Wheat Beer because it was a gift and I was NEVER going to drink it!

Spray pan with Pam or coat with Crisco

dry ingredients, mix well

Add beer/ginger ale ...

Mix quickly as the batter starts to form and bubble up

Dough

Voila

Go make some now...or at least tomorrow!

Bon Appetite!

Frugal Fix...Water Logged Cell Phone

2011-02-03T18:52:00.000-08:00

The Teenagers Cell Phone.

His link to the outside world, or so he says.

Dropped it in a bath tub half full of water...ooops

(Getting ready to bathe the cats)

Hollers "I NEED RICE".

Rice...???

Yes, Rice.

Did you know you could put your drowned cell phone in rice and it will suck the water out.

It is a desiccant meaning *a substance that promotes drying*

Did you know that?

Me neither...

Two days later.

Voila!

Turns out you can put your phone, sim card and battery in a bowl of rice for 24 to 48 hours and the rice will draw out the water.

If phone was in water for more than a couple of minutes, it can take up to six days to draw out the water.

Um...Okay...I don't have six days to be with out phone, so I would get a replacement.

But two days...saving a couple hundred dollars...Uh, Heck to the Yes!

Another frugal tip from the always adventurous...

Frugal Missus.

Frugal Grocery Feburary

2011-02-01T17:30:00.000-08:00

This month I am joining forces with Quilting in my Pyjamas in the Freezer/Pantry Challenge.

Although my stock pile is not nearly as impressive as hers, I have loads of frozen meat and decided to use it up before purchasing any more.

(these pictures taken by The Teenager...who wants you to know I don't clean out the freezer as often as I should!)

(Did I mention that we are going to get a new refrigerator for our anniversary...? This one is as old as College Diva!)

It had been a while since I saw the bottom of my deep freeze...

I found a trout that Fly Guy had caught over a year ago!

(Scary...I know. What can I say...defrosting as I type)

The plan is to purchase fresh vegetables, fruit, dairy and the most necessary of items.

Uh, can we say painful? I might cry when I see great deals passing me by.

My pantry has a nice amount of sauces, pasta, rice and beans. I am going to finally make good on my promise to introduce more variety into our meals…I love all types of food, however when meal planning I tend to get stuck in a rut.

Can anyone relate? Good, because I feel like we have spaghetti every week when I know we don’t really…although I could eat it every week because I love.it.that.much.

Anywhoo…my point being that I am going to crunch my already crunched food budget and see how creative I can get without my family leaving in protest.

This means no little stops at the store to pick up this or that to make a dish. If I don’t have it on hand then I will improvise. Again…I may have a riot in the kitchen, so don’t say I didn’t warn you.

I also won’t be posting my menu ahead of time because I am not great at following menus. I've tried but ail miserably each time. I might for grins put what I think I might make that week then post at the end of the week what I actually made. It might humor you

Since we don’t dine out often, I estimate I will be making 26 dinners. Exceptions will be for a dinner out with a friend and Fly Guy’s birthday celebration dinner. (Sushi)

I have on hand,

Two spiral cut hams…

One 9 lb Turkey

9 lbs ground sirloin

1 lb bacon

3 lbs pork chops

3 lb pork roast

4 lbs pork ribs

4 packages of tilapia fillets

12 lbs chicken breast

3.5 lbs stew meat

4 lb beef roast

2 lbs Andouille sausage

1 package Italian Sausage

1 package of beef cocktail sausages

I have plenty for the month as well as using up items that keep getting ignored…overlooked.

I will be instituting our Meatless Mondays, which sometimes get pushed to Meatless Wednesdays…Thursdays or something.

I plan to cut my weekly grocery expense to $40.00 a week, down from the $75.00

I usually spend.

Wish me luck and come back to visit for more stories from the Adventures of The Frugal Missus.

Audra

Saturday's Frugal Finds

2011-01-30T10:17:00.000-08:00

Woke up, made some hot tea because it was just a little chilly at 40 degrees and headed out saling.

Waited for these geese to head across the street to the other pond.

uh, have you ever been chased by a goose? I wasn't taking any chances.

First sale I found a set of bistro style tables. I am going to use them as end tables for now, but they are so versatile, indoor/outdoor, College Diva's first apartment. I flinched only slightly at the $15.00 price.

One yard sale didn't look like much, but I got out anyway and so glad I did. Nothing priced over a dollar with most items priced at .25 cents! The kind of sale the Queen of Fifty Cents would have loved.

I picked up this fake plant for a quarter,

Not my thing usually, I needed a pop of color for my pot shelf in the kitchen.

Voila! Plant, .25 cents, trunk $2.00 at a yard sale two years ago, & tray (another yard sale find earlier this year) $1.00. Used the tray to give lift to the trunk, which looked dwarfted between these pictures.

These pictures I found last year but forgot to blog about them. I didn't hang them in our previous home because we were moving.

Brought them to new home and had trouble finding place to hang them with our open floor plan.

Solution, prop them up on plant shelf.

I paid $20.00 for the pair in May of last year. Retail price was $250.00.

Back to the quarter yard sale...I also picked up this,

and used it for my kitchen towels until I can get some greenery for it.

Spotted this large wicker type bowl, for a quarter it was coming home with me.

as did the little trunk.

Next stop was the yard sale being run by men. Yes...men.

Picked up two pair of jeans for my niece at $1.00 a piece.

Which will go great with the shirts I found for her on Friday.

Doesn't everyone yard sale on their lunch hour on Friday?

.25 cent each.

Another sale I stopped at turned out to be at a house I had stopped at before last year.

This time around I picked up these scissors because they remind me of the wooden pairs I see in Potter Barn

A couple of coats of ORB will make them perfect for my office area. $1.00.

Also picked up a couple of great clothing items for a $1.00 each.

Doesn't my shower curtain make a lovely back drop?

Purchased this little stand for $2.00 to put in the guest bathroom.

Thinking about giving it a make over either spray painting it or applying a wash over it.

Heres the top of the stand..a few little places of slight damage but I am sure I can cover them.

The candles and leaf came from different yard sales last year. I don't know if I blogged about them.

Leaf was .50 and candles were .10 cents each and I bought six of them.

Last stop, St. Pete's Repete Boutique.

Where I encountered the little boy who just had to have his gurrolla...(gorilla in three year old speak)

I saw this and just had to have it.

An air popper!

For a dollar!

Woo Hoo!

Microwave popcorn has a tendency to trigger migraines so I don't eat it. Now I can make my own popcorn just like we did when we were kids.

Psyched to give it a try.

Hope you enjoyed the goodies, please stop back by for the next exciting adventures of...The Frugal Missus.

Hanging out with Leigh over at Tales from Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday. Come on over and join the fun.

ttfn...

Audra

Crazy things I overheard at yard sales today...

2011-01-29T15:33:00.000-08:00

Today was ripe with loads and loads of yard sales.

I saw all kinds of goodies and wished I had more space and money to get them.

Greatest yard sale of the day....nothing more than a dollar. Most items were $.25 which is the perfect frugal price.

Then there was the yard sale run by men. Yes, three men hosting a yard sale while their wives were gone of a girls weekend to Las Vegas.

It won hands down for most organized sale, all clothing was folded and piles on tables, shoes seperated by size. The man whose house it was hosted at decided to have a sale while his wife was gone, because she had boxes and boxes of items housed in the garage to have a yard sale and then never did.

So he did...and was going to give her the money to redecorate their bedroom.

Can you all say Awwww....with me?

There was the Moving sale that looked more like someone cleaning out cupboards. Three tables of glassware and mismatched dishes, silverware and rubbermaid storeage containers.

Two ladies leaving the sale saying..."You call that a moving sale? What did they expect to move? Everything?" This was at 7:30 am and this is what it looked like.

I am sure they didn't get bought out in 30 minutes...just not much of a sale.

Then there was the lady who was helping her Mother and Aunt with their sale, explaining what she does for a living. "Uh...I am not a Nanny...I am a Household Manager".

She went on to explain that she cleans, cooks and basically keeps the wife company while she shops and then helps with the baby when the wife is busy. The Aunt says..."Oh, so you are like another wife for the wife?" and the lady says..."No I am like the really cool best friend of the wife who gets all the casts offs that she doesn't want and I get paid for being her bff..."

OMG! Hook me up with that j. o. b! I am so good at that!

Then the two men talking about buying a lamp. The one older man asked if it took those "Heparin" lights. The other gentle man said..."You mean one of those Halogen lights". The older man looked confused and said..."I get so confused... I probably told the pharmacy to fill my Halogen pills"

I am so not kidding...

Last sale of the day...another Moving Sale. I see the same two ladies walking away...once again muttering "You call THIS a moving sale? Who are they kidding, more like a trash sale...who wants to take that with them when they move sale, garbage, I mean....really, junk....."

I guess they weren't impressed with the few tables of miscellaneous stuff or the older washer and dryer set for $120.00.

Last stop was St. Pete's Thrift Store, where I overheard a little boy telling his mother that he had to have the "Gurrolla" (gorilla for those that don't speak three year old). When the momma said, "It's three dollars, that's kind of steep..." (It was a huge, floppy, long haired gurolla and worth the $3.00 imo..) the little boy wrapped his arms around the gorilla and said.."Mom! It's a matter of life and death...he will die here with out me and I can't live without him!"

I know...it just melted my heart too! So glad he was able to take him home!

People never cease to amaze me.... Hope your weekend was as entertaining!

Will be posting my finds tomorrow!

ttfn...

Audra

Friday Favorites...

2011-01-28T04:31:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't love fresh flowers?

I would have fresh flowers every day if possible.

Since I can't...

I make due with finding them at great prices at the local grocery stores and flower markets. I check the ads and look at the mark downs in each store.

Some times I come home empty handed, other times I have great flowers for 50% to 75% off retail.

This week I found Oriental Lilies at F&E on mark down from $7.00...

for $2.45 a bunch. I got two.

and put them in a Cylinder type vase as they suggested...(I wish you could scratch and sniff these...they smell heavenly!)

Voila...instant beauty for less than $5.00!

Happy Friday!

Have a joyous weekend mon amies!

Audra

Frugal Food Finds....

2011-01-27T17:57:00.000-08:00

I wouldn't be the Frugal Missus if I didn't try to always find ways to cut our food budget.

I also would be lying if I said I never get stuck in a rut fixing the same ol' things for dinner.

I am a foodie, love to cook and try out new things. The Teenager...not so much. Fly Guy, well his Momma raised him right and he will try it and usually eat it without complaint. He may ask a few questions..."what is that white stuff with cucumber in it?" but he will give it a try anyway.

In an effort to stretch my food dollars even further to feed the boys, I haunt my local grocery stores and the stores around my office for great mark downs.

I usually do a bit of grocery shopping on my lunch hour since there are four grocery stores within two mile of my office. Two major chains, one local chain and one independent specialty grocery store.

Today I hit up one of the local chain stores, Sprouts.

Love...this....store...the produce, breads, meats and cheeses...mouthwatering.

Not to mention loose spices and ethnic foods...it's a fantastic place to shop..and their prices are great. It's like a Farmers Market and Specialty Food shop under one roof.

I usually visit the store by my office at least twice a week. First stop is always the marked down bins in the back of the store. Sometimes it's hit or miss, but today...it was stock full.

I did the happy dance around another customer and started loading up my cart with these lovelies...

Yes, they were all on the mark down bin, as were these...

and these...

and these....

all marked down to the wonderful price of..

Yes... that's right! Less than a dollar for each item! No wonder I was grabbing and a stashing items as fast as I could.

Only a couple items are close to code, within two to three months. The rest are good for a year or more.

Ok...I definately won't have any of this food left in a year.

I make it a habit to check every stores mark downs, even stores in the same chain because they all mark down at different times.

Today I spent $40.00 and walked away with over $200.00 worth of food items. I encourage you to check out your stores mark down aisle, bin or even grocery baskets. You might be surprised to find high end items for a fraction of the cost.

Another great find today was 93/7 hamburger for $2.19 a pound. In order to get the low price you had to buy the family pack of five or more pounds. Not a problem for this Frugal Missus, I just take it home and divide it up into freezer packages and use when needed.

What's a girl to do? I have a flinching point on everything and my flinching point for hamburger is $2.49 a pound. I bought 12 pounds of hamburger which will make approximately 12 meals because I am kind of crazy like that.

I see Spaghetti, Goulash, Meatloaf and Hamburgers in our future, which will earn me bonus points with The Teenager and Fly Guy!

Bon Appetite!

Audra

It's the little things....

2011-01-25T18:06:00.000-08:00

It's the little things that make me smile....

Little, itty, bitty things, that might not seem much to most people...

but are real treasures to me.

The little thing wrapped in paper...

laying on my desk....

waiting for me to open it.

A small treasure...

A hand written note...

"thought of you"...

that made me smile.

Initials of the giver....

someone thought of me and I feel warm all over.

a moment of suspense...

a thrill rushes through me as I uncover my gift.

A gasp of joyful surprise as I cradle it in my hand.

Grinning because I love it and the giver knew I would.

It's the small things that make me smile and make the world a wonderful place.

Audra

Calphalon take me away...

2011-01-23T09:02:00.000-08:00

Yes, Calphalon and not Calgon...

When you see what I found for $10.00 at a yard sale.

That's right...All of these Calphalon skillets, saute pans, omelet pan and stock pot, for $10.00

The Teenager is learning how to cook and these anodized non-stick pans will do the trick nicely.

Best of all, they are already seasoned or haunted at The Teenager refers to them.

( This kid just cracks me up sometimes)

What I forgot to photograph was the lids...uh-oh.

Sales were kind of meager this weekend..but I did find these...

Rooster trivets for $2.00 which I hung here as decor and their close proximity to the stove.

I found two more apothocary jars to add with the larger one I found last year.

added some left over colored pasta and Voila!

My nekid kitchen window has some sassy decor...

I also found that plate last year and put it with the fleur-de-lis plate holder I picked up yesterday for $1.00.

Picked up a few smaller items to add to around the house.

Candle stick holder and vintage style dress form for a dollar each became

a pedelstal for Pier One glass candle holder. (house warming gift from SIL)

and...

a great addition to the top of one of the book cases. I am thinking of giving the form a face lift with some strips of newsprint or wall paper.

Then I added this guy from my friend Yvonne's yard sale...

on the other book case. I really got him for my MIL...but I am growing fond of him hanging out among my collection of spindles. (I think that's what they are called...)

I have been wanting a garlic holder, so this was coming home with me for .50.

caaauuuuute! Mais non?

Spent the rest of the day cleaning and organizing the kitchen and cupboards. I believe we might just be settling in...finally! Hope you all are having a fabulously frugal weekend...

Linking up with Leigh over at Tales from Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday

A biento, mon amies!

Audra

Garage Sale Recap

2011-01-19T18:37:00.000-08:00

With both holidays falling on Saturdays, I suffered from garage sale withdrawls.

Big Time...

Not pretty...kind of pathetic, but I really wanted to look at other peoples stuff.

No after Christmas sales for this lady, no what I really was in need of was a great garage sale to kick off the new year.

In style.

My wish...came true.

My dear friend Yvonne hosted a garage sale two weekends ago, to clear out clutter and downsize.

I offered to help.

She said yes.

Yvonne has fabulous taste in furnishings so I couldn't wait to see what she had to sell.

I have been drooling over her dining room chairs for some time now and when she told me she was selling them well I just had to get them!

Pier One Rattan Dining Chairs....four of them. *sigh*...I love them
(my cats always try to steal the limelight)

Initial meeting with my underwhelming dining room table. We are going to give her a much needed face lift soon.

I had been in search of a big girl desk for a long time. She had this gorgeous desk ...

and it was love. I just had to have it. Excuse the cords and all, I had just set up my old pc...Ethel.

I know...she is a bit old, but she is the first pc I ever built and I have seperation issues. Besides there is plenty of room on the desk for her and Lola my new little HP Net Book (Mini).

Look at this gorgeous distressing.....

Gorgeous, mais non? If you could have seen what was passing as my desk for the past three years, you would completely understand.

Something sort of like this... a tight squeeze for Ethel, the keyboard and me.

Then I invited this beauty to the par-tay!

Yes, the chair I found back in August. She also will be getting a much needed face lift with dark stain and burlap or leopard print fabric on the seat.

Then I spied these lovelies and since they were hanging out by the desk looking fabulous, I asked them to come along for the ride.

See how well they play along?

I had my eye on two divine mirrors as well. I just knew they had to come home with me.

Guess what???

Uh huh. That's right....Yvonne gave them to me as a thank you for helping her with her sale.

Happy Dance!

One for the living room....

One hanging out in the family room until we find a permanent place to ~~hang~~ prop it.

No pictures, we got too busy selling to take any.

Last weekend was our community garage sale.

Can I tell you how excited I was?

New girl to the community...community garage sale with lots of opportunity to meet neighbors....

see where I am going with this?

Nada.

Bupkiss...

Disappointment.

Seriously folks, out of 1000 houses in our community and only 30 participants?

So...I only found a couple of items,

A red cookbook holder! $2.00

Nordic ware cake pan $3.00

Bamboo poles $5.00 for three bunches.

Two bunches of black fronds $1.00

I also picked up several paper backs for .50 each.

This is what I am reading now...

I just can't bring myself to pay full price for a book when I can find them for $.25 to $1.00 on drive ways of local sales.

Finishing a good book is like leaving a good friend.

William Feather

Linking up with Leigh from Tales from Blogeritaville for Thrifty Thursday
and
Linda over at A La Carte for Junkin' Finds Friday

A tout alors!

Audra

what i was doing...instead of blogging

2011-01-14T19:13:00.000-08:00

Catching up on mommy and me time with my cutie....College Diva.

I realize that there will be fewer of these oportunities as she completes college, goes to Spain, heads to graduate school and off into the real world where mommies are not allowed.

Sigh....

I can't believe she grew up. But for one glorious month, she has been here.
in our new home. baking, cooking, cleaning, playing around on my new pc while waiting for her new pc to arrrive (thank goodness for Christmas monies and a nice financial aid refund) since hers died the day after Christmas.

We have had wonderful chats about life, about people and experiences. I realized that my little girl is now a grown woman and I am proud to have her in my life.

So I spent all this time playing mommy and cataloguing these memories for when she is off on her own and we only have a phone and Skype to keep us connected.

Then I spent time watching movies with the Teenager, who was happy to share Grey's Anatomy with Diva and I. I realized that my little boy is now nearly 6 ft tall, deep voiced, handsome young man.

Where did my little guy go...the one who held my hand and said "I hold you" when he wanted me to hold him?

I cherished this time with the both of them, realizing that they are growing up and eventually...sigh....they will leave my nest and make their way into the world.

but...I will always be there to talk, laugh, cry and catch them if they need me.

After all....I am still the Mommy.

Hugs~

Audra

PS: I saw a sign that says my community is having a community garage sale tomorrow. Guess where I will be and I will be posting/blogging from my new HP Net Book. I think I puffy heart this little pc.

A biento!

Target, Caldrea, Mrs. Meyers and Me....

2011-01-05T20:06:00.000-08:00

Thank you for stopping by today! Things have been busy in la maison, so busy in fact that I almost missed heading out to Target for the 75% off Christmas sale. I made it on the very day they marked the items down. Woo Hoo.

I will be posting my finds from Target after Christmas sale tomorrow. What I have to share for you is the fantastic find on Caldrea items.

I big puffy heart Caldrea...one of my all time favorite items is the linen spray. A few spritzes and the linens and room smell fantastic.

I use to order it online, then found some in a boutique in down town Phoenix, then last year discovered it in Target. Sigh...Happiness.

So when I spotted an entire end cap of Caldrea products ...(are you with me???) sporting those tantalizing orange clearance stickers, I tripped right on over and started filling up my cart. Uh Huh...50% off.

All the while thanking my MIL for giving me a Target gift card for Christmas.

So I could buy these lovely cleaning supplies.

They make my heart sing, lift my spirits and make cleaning less of a chore and more fun.

If you check out the Caldrea website, they have 40% off Holiday Scents.

Peppermint Amaryllis and Balsam Fig leaf ...

Sweet Pea...on sale...smells heavenly.

25% off of discontinued fragrances...I highly recommend Sandlewood Riceflower.

Divine.

Go on...head on over. I promise to wait.

Caldrea

Cleaning has never been easier...well unless you are using Mrs. Meyers...

My other favorite cleaner.

I just started using Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day about a year ago, after discovering that is made by the people who started Caldrea. With Basil, Lavender, Geranium,Lemon Verbena scents, there is a fragrance to sure to appeal. What is not to love?

Of course I love Mrs. Meyers Clean Day products just as much...

as Nester at The Nesting Place and Melissa over at The Inspired Room do.

These ladies are some smart chicks...they really are, you should read how Mrs. Meyer's inspires them.

Imagine my surprise when I walked into my neighborhood Sprouts, to find the Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day products half off...with coupons attached!

Once again thankful for Christmas cash so I could buy several bottles.

I take this as a sign to get busy cleaning and organizing for the new year.

I might even light a candle as Melissa suggests.

Ta Ta For Now....

Audra

Musings of a Frugal Missus...

2010-12-30T16:39:00.000-08:00

I sit in front of my ancient computer tapping out a post to share with you. I came to her because she saw me through the start of this blog, assisted in lurking around other blogs and even helped me make friends in the blogging world.

I couldn't just let her sit by while I wrote a post about the holidays and the end of the year, now could I?

btw...I kind of have separation anxiety ... I get something new and I worry about the old things and their feelings. (I know...it's a bit manic, but I have always been this way!)

Our first Christmas in the new house and I didn't decorate the entire house. I really didn't decorate much this year at all.

I wanted serenity, peace and calm..or someone else to do it for me. Ok, maybe not do the entire decorating for me, but help me put it all together, without being over the top or too much.

Then I started reading posts from others who were scaling back, doing less and enjoying more...and I felt..comfortable and relieved. This house and I are still getting acquainted. I didn't want to put too much out and feel claustrophobic.

Just a few little touches here and there.

Surrounding myself with a few of my favorite things and the people I love....

Having a wonderful time catching up with my College Diva, thrilled to have this alone time with her.

Watching her bake tasty treats and talk about Psychology and Anthropology, in awe of her intellect and beauty.

Eating popcorn with the Teenager while we watched our favorite holiday movies.

Talking about his plans for the summer (Alaska) and getting a job.

Seeing my little boy as a young adult and knowing he will always have a soft spot for his Momma.

Sitting around a fire pit talking with my husband about the craziness of this year and the new course our life has taken. Precious moments we rarely get to share due to his work schedule and soon his studying for new certification that could mean a huge promotion.

In all of this, I realized that some how, I have managed to accomplish the feat I have been working on for five years. I. learned how to slow....down. How to stop trying to out Martha, Martha and trying to make everything perfect. Instead live for the perfectness in the moments I share with my family.

The realization that I don't need stuff to make me happy, but that I have all that I could ever need right here, right now.

Christmas flowers from Fly Guy

Knowing that even when I thought about giving up this blog, that there were still people who wanted to read it and the realization that I still wanted to write, to share my thoughts and to get to know the wonderful people hose blogs I stalk...um, read.

I realized for the first time in my life that I am truly satisfied with what I am, what I have and who I am. Though I will always strive for beauty and creating a feathered nest, I don't have to make it look like the decorator magazines. I have what I need, love, happiness and sanctuary. These are greater gifts than anything wrapped under our tree.

Thank you for reading this, for taking the time to say hi and leave a comment. I hope the new year brings you all the love and joy you can embrace!

PS: just so you know...I plan on still garaging, thrifting and junking, just looking into avenues to share them with others!

Bonne année!

Audra

Joyeux Noel....

2010-12-25T03:57:00.000-08:00

image courtesy of chicks57 (flickr.com)

Sending all of you the love, laughter, joy and happiness that this life has to offer.

Thank you all for reading my blog and I hope you will continue to follow me in the New Year. Thank you for your friendship, laughter share across the miles and over a computer screen. For your countless inspiration and encouragement. Looking forward to reading your blogs, meeting new friends and finding joy in the simpilist things.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a day full of making memories with family and friends.

Blessings....

Audra

Finding Treasures In The Most Unlikely Places

2010-12-22T17:48:00.000-08:00

I scoured my brain to find a perfect title for this post. If the title doesn't grab you, perhaps the story will.

I yard saled, uh, garage saled, uh, no...more like dock saled today at work. Yes, you read that right...I shopped at work off of the loading dock.

Now this isn't like a warehouse sale in the garment district of New York or buying from the boats off the docks in San Diego.

Nothing that chi-chi, piles and piles of stuff in crates on the loading dock.

The company I work for was selling items from various stores that had closed down. The scene was reminiscent of American Pickers show.

There were watermelon crates full of bakery items from closed stores. Pans of every size and type, all types of bowls, cake stands, dough knives...the list goes on.

Everything a dollar.

Those American Pickers have nothing on me...

This is the first lovely I picked up...just needed a good cleaning.

Then I spied the pans. Holy Bundt Cake, did they have pans, bread pans, loaf pans, bundt, round, retangular, every size, every type.

It was hard not to go over board and buy cake pans in every size because they were a dollar and they were aluminum. Do I need to remind you how giddy aluminum bake ware makes me. Yeah, it's like school-girl-giddy-head-over-heels-in-love-giddy.

The tiny 6 x 2 pans went fast and I was only able to get one, I didn't get the mondo sized pans, perfect for baking wedding cakes, because I just am not the type of girl...who bakes wedding cakes. (Trust me on this...)

I can't wait to wash these and bake something!

I spotted a huge stack of these small bundt pans and bought three.

Let's add something in here for scale...

I passed over cupcake pans, muffin tins and even a few chaffing dishes when I spied this....

hiding under a pile of stuff. I have been wanting one of these for...ev..er!

My boss was so envious! She loved it and had the perfect place for it.

Today was her birthday....

You are thinking that I gave this lovely to her?

Uh-huh! No... way. I dug, I hunted, I moved heavy stuff around until I found another one exactly like this, for her. Happy Birthday Boss Lady!

So here is my new scale...with a lick and a promise.

Isn't she lovely?

Just goes to show you never know where treasures might turn up...

Audra

O Christmas Tree...O Little Christmas Tree

2010-12-19T19:52:00.000-08:00

I have not been keeping up on my promise to post more and keep up with my much neglected blog. I blame my computer. It has not been cooperating since the move. I suppose it was happy in the old house and is having separation anxiety. Needless to say, this pc...is on it's last leg with a crippled knee.

I am hoping that Santa will bring me one of these lovelies...

HP Mini...sigh, this would make blogging so much easier! Please Santa leave this under my tree!

Speaking of my tree...

I am going to show you my much down sized Christmas tree.

Yes...it is really a little Christmas Tree.

Usually I have a huge tree with tons of lights and loads of ornaments.

Then I slowly started downsizing from a 12 ft to an 8 ft then a 6 1/2 ft to this lovely 4 1/2 ft.

Big change...I know. I think I really like it.

Less hassle and more time with the family.

Isn't that what it's all about?

I use to drive my self crazy trying to out Martha...Martha and on a Shoe String Budget.

I always ended up stressed, run down and sick. It seemed like I spent all this time getting ready for the holidays and rarely had time to enjoy them.

Can you relate?

So...when I spied this lovely tree at a Garage Sale for $10.00 I knew I had to have it. Thrilled when the people accepted my $7.00 offer, I packed it away for seven months waiting to show it off.

Not needing all the ornaments from last years tree I checked the "new" items I picked up at Target Christmas clearance sale. Most items were purchased at 75% to 90% off.

I found these...

and these...

I knew I had some green and gold items from last year that I could probably incorporate with these items to freshen up the new little tree.

Then I went to St. Peter's Repete Boutique last Saturday to find four tables of new Christmas decor that had been donated by a parishioner who decorates large Christmas trees for business.

SCORE!

I found these...

and these...both from Martha Stewart Home.... for a dollar each!

then.. I spied this

The prices were originally $10.00 each. I picked them up for $1.00 each.

Then there was this....

Which was orginally this price

$9.25 then marked down to $8.78. I paid $.50

and these...

$.50 each.

Didn't use them on the tree this year.

Then I saw these lovely poinsettas at Wal-Mart and I had to have them

So I picked up 10 of them at a $1.00 each.

Then I set to work on the little tree.

Voila! Un petit arbre de Noël!
Purchased $7.00 worth of ornaments from church thrift store,
$10.00 from Walmart and $3.00 worth of Target clearenced items and we have a new addition to our living room.

C'est magnifique?

The relief of down sizing the tree is just another step I have taken in reducing the stress of the holidays. Less stress means more time with family and friends. This is something I can get use to.
Funny thing???? I really don't miss all the extras I use to do, the things I thought that made me happy that were really making me crazy.

So with this new found freedom I plan on decorating the house as I feel comfortable. If I feel like it's too much then I won't do it.
Simplify and enjoy.
My new motto.

A tout a lors!

Audra

A Few Pictures of the New House

2010-12-07T18:08:00.000-08:00

Bonjour, mes amis!

I have been busy trying to locate our Christmas decorations and lights in the mess that is housed in the garage. Still looking for boxes and trying to decide what to put up or where to put it. Keep in mind I haven't done much in decorating, just putting things here and there making the house presentable for Thanksgiving dinner. Now I need to prepare for Christmas and not have a breakdown in the process.

As I promised here are a few pictures of the new home. Taking them a little at a time so you can get the full impact of my lack of decorating.

Here is the "formal" dining room. Nothing on the walls yet, still trying to decide which pictures I like up there.

I purchased the two chocolate chairs on the end at a yard sale for $8.00 for the pair! I wish there had been more like this style, or something other than my seriously older floral chairs.

I have been drooling over some lovely rattan chairs...

Or this style....

Sigh...they are tres magnifique, mais non? Until I have the funds or find them at a Garage Sale, Thrift Store or Craigslist, I will have to keep the four floral chairs and possibly cover them in a linen or burlap style chair cover.

Moving on....

Across from the Dining Room is the "Formal" Living Room. This is work in progress, as I hope to purchase a leather chair to match our couch and put some art work on the wall.

Currently I have this piece of art work on display on the easel, until I figure what to do with it or where to put it.

Not the best shot of the art work but...it's several different tiles in a frame. I love the colors, thinking it might need to go into a room that can handle the boldness. Again, this is a temporary set up. That has to move because when I find my Christmas Tree...that is the perfect spot to put it.

Love this sofa table, although she was damaged in the move. The top is three inch thick marble,making this baby h...e...a..v..y! I am having it repaired this weekend.

These are a little something I picked up to put in the living room and decided they are a bit too dark for this room as well. Perhaps the family room... they are upside down, the pointed part is the bottom.

Just have to figure where they will go and then have Fly Guy and The Teenager put them up for me. Yes...they are that heavy. Fly Guy's friends asked him if we had any furniture that didn't weigh a ton...Uh...No. I suppose we don't. Sorry for the hernia guys!

I did hang One thing...just one thing on the wall in this area....

Did I ever mention that I have a complete obsession with clocks? Just saying...

Then the money shot...ok, it might not be the money shot, but it will give you an idea of what I am dealing with here...

View from the front door....

Fly Guy's office is to the left and until we clear it out we will keep those doors closed! It's become sort of a box depository/staging point until we can figure out where our stuff is.

This leads into kitchen, family room and vast area that I have nothing in at this time. I am hoping for some new to me furniture to put in this area. (Yes...that is the back end of the cat...she is nom noming at the cat bowl...)

I will post pictures of these area's this week as well and invite any comments or suggestions as I am feeling a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of pulling it all together. Thanks for stopping by, please be sure to say hello.

A tout alors!

Audra

Frugal Missus Is Back!

2010-11-30T15:44:00.000-08:00

Wow! I can't believe I have been away from blogging for so long! Yet, here I am, writing a post and thrilled to find that my followers are still...following me! Not only have I missed blogging, but I have missed reading, following, keeping up with the blogs I follow. I ...missed...you...all of you!

The move is complete but not without a few hiccups, let me tell you. There was all this business about getting ready for the move, then waiting for the house to be ready, waiting for the paper work, more waiting for more paper work, inspections, then this and that, well it delayed our move by four days! As you can imagine we were in panic mode trying to get moved out before the new owners closed on the old house. We moved in 12 hours! Thank goodness for great friends and family with strong backs and lots of muscle!

I had a plan formulated for our move…it went right out the window. It came down to putting most of the stuff in the garage and sorting through it after the move. I spent the better part of two weeks trying to locate boxes, unpack and figure out where to put our stuff.

If that wasn't crazy enough, College Diva brought four sorority sisters home for Thanksgiving! It was great offering a home to these lovely ladies who were unable to fly home for the holiday. Then things turned topsy turvy and we ended up hosting Thanksgiving in the new house instead of at my SIL's! Always up for the challenge I jumped in and with the help of five lovely ladies, we were able to pull it off! Saved having to host a house warming party!

Now that things are back to "normal" around here I finally have a few minutes to visit my poor neglected blog and all of you lovelies. Will be posting pictures of the new place and the few attempts at decorating. Still trying to figure out what I want to do, taking the time to let the house speak to me and get settled in before making any changes.

I can't leave you without a few pictures, most of them are the tables the ladies set for dinner. The kitchen/family room area is quite spacious, since I don't have furniture to put in this area, the ladies set up the tables and Danielle from Alaska arranged the table settings. She did a fantastic job scouring the house for things to decorate with.

Table One...my kitchen table. Fly Guy bought this for me seven years ago for my birthday from a friends yard sale. Wrought Iron table and chairs, this has to be one of my favorite pieces I own. I have painted it green, white and finally black.

Table Two has dining room chairs as we were a bit short on wrought iron chairs!

Table Three has the patio chairs from outside, vintage patio set from 1960's.

I promise you we moved that hideous box from out of the corner...I told you I am still trying to find things in boxes!

Wanted to show you the chairs...various layers of fabric coverings from over the years, both from my friend and from me...

The one of the right was the original chair covering, I had to remove three other fabrics to get to this one. The one in the middle was from my shabby chic days when the chairs were white and the one on the left was the last fabric I covered them in before putting them in storage for a few years.

Finally, out of storage and into our new home, recovered with upholstery fabric found at thrift store three years ago, three yards, three dollars! I hung on to the fabric hoping to use it for these chairs. Thrilled to have room for this table after all this time.

Happy you stopped by for a visit, I promise to post more pictures and tales of the new home, decorating and garage sale/thrifting adventures.

Ta Ta For Now!

The Frugal Missus~

Frugal Missus is on the move....

2010-10-25T08:59:00.000-07:00

Okay...I know it has been a while since my last post. I have been caught up in the moving process. Trying to sort through mountains of collections, stuff from my past, stuff that Fly Guy has held on to for YEARS...(man that guy is almost hoarder status) tossing, donating,selling and giving away loads of treasured and loved items. Well, it was hard and sometimes a bit painful to let go of things I had found and displayed for years.

The realization hit me that I wanted a stream lined, less cluttered and frou-frou home. I have been collecting items for my nest for so long that I amassed a serious amount of stuff. The thing about stuff is, it has a way of bogging you down. "Want to go see a movie?" Me: "No, I am sorry, I have to dust my tchotchkes". Maybe not that extreme but you know what I mean. College Diva, who after years of dorm living has strategically pared down her items to what she absolutely needs. Just shy of minimalism, her style reflects her personality without causing her stress. Her philosophy "How much am I willing to spend on this item, how much will it cost me?". She is not talking about cash money, but time and effort that goes into maintaining items. That hit home with me as I often felt I was being owned by my stuff.

With that being said, I have been getting rid of, packing, looking for a new home and trying not to get more grey hair. After three months of planning and thinking I was ready for this move...I find myself still feeling rushed and frantic. Is there a such a thing as too coordinated?

Today we will be getting the keys to our new home and the adventure begins. Only three miles up the road but in a new "town" , this move allowed us to keep The Reluctant Teenager in his school and our drive to our jobs is the same. Thrilled the weather is cooler now, as just a week ago it was still summer weather. Unbearable when you are trying to move.

It may take me a few days or weeks to get back to blogging but just know I miss all of you and can't wait to show you my new place and the blank palate for decorating.

A Tout Alors!

Audra

Thrifty Lunches

2010-09-29T05:58:00.000-07:00

As a full time working wife and mother, I am always on the look out for alternatives to brown bagging sandwiches which...get a bit boring after some time.

Keeping with the title Thrifty Lunches, I wanted to show you a few lunches I have packed on the super cheap. To keep costs down, I eat primarily vegitarian lunches...with the exception of my favorite Chinese food take out place.

I haunt Fresh & Easy, Fry's and Sprouts' marked down sections for items for lunch. My goal is to eat for less than two dollars, still providing diversity and unique lunches. .

Red pepper hummus and snap peas with carrots...$2.40 for both, this was lunch for two days. $1.20 is a frugal score! btw...this hummus was so delicious I wanted to lick the container when it was gone!

These two items were picked up today and frozen for lunches for the rest of the week. Chipoltle Mac and Cheese is divine. I usually cut up fresh tomatoes in it and have a piece of bread or fruit. The lasagne is yummy as well, though this will count as one of my meat portions as it has mystery meat in the sauce.

Lunch on the left cost $1.00 put that with a tomato and necterine, cost is about $1.60 .

Lunch on the right cost $1.25 and I will take a small green salad or steamed green beans or broccoli along with it, making the cost about $2.00.

While perusing the mark downs in Fresh & Easy (where I mostly buy marked down items and freeze or use immediatly.) I found Lean Cuisines....on clearance! I both College Diva three of her favorites, Chicken Fettucini and I picked up two of my absolute favorites...Butternut squash Ravioli's. Fly Guy says I will eat anything if it is stuffed in a ravioli! I do love them little pasta squares!

Here is the total of all items I picked up today at Fresh & Easy. Total cost $13.29. But more on that shopping trip tomorrow...

Now on to my very favorite meal...once a week I treat myself to a take out meal from Bejing Chinese Food in Chandler, Arizona. They have a lunch special, entree with drink, soup or egg roll for $5.45. These containers hold enough for two meals! I usually get the hot and sour soup or the wonton soup and then save half of the entree for the next days' lunch.

This time I ordered the spring roll..yummo! Wonderful thing about these containers is they make great tupperware for sending home cooked meals with College Diva when she visits!

I do make sandwiches for Fly Guy or use dinner left overs as the next days lunch. Fly Guy told me that before we married he spent $7.00 to $10.00 a day on eating lunches. I am thrilled to provide lunches for less than $4.00 for both of us!

I estimate that by brown bagging our lunches three times a week we save on average $3800.00 a year. Now that is frugal savings!

A biento!

Frugal Missus

Frugal Flowers

2010-09-22T17:20:00.000-07:00

I love me some fresh flowers. I remember back when Fly Guy and I were first dating, he would bring me flowers every single date. Sometimes three or four times a week. Well...I knew it was getting to be expensive and so casually mentioned that he didn't need to buy me flowers all the time.

I didn't realize that he took it to mean that I didn't like him to buy me flowers! He slowly trickled off to only buying flowers for Valentine's Day, our Anniversary and the anniversary of our first date. What was a girl to do? Being frugal I can't see buying flowers ever single week, even if I love fresh flowers on the entry way table or the center of the dining room table.

Then I realized, I don't need large bouquets to make me happy, just a few blooms will brighten up the area and make me smile every time I see them.

My favorite places to get flowers are the grocery store, if they are on sale...yep, I rarely pay more than $5.00 for a bunch of flowers, doesn't matter what type they are, I just can't see spending more than that, since they last four or five days tops.

Then I discovered Fresh and Easy! They have lovely flowers and I can usually find flowers deeply discounted during the week.

These beauties set me back...

One dollar. Yes indeed, marked down from $6.00 to one dollar. I put them in a vase...uh glass on my desk and had beauty for three days...for only a dollar. How can you beat that?

btw...drinking goblet/vase, was a freebie from a garage sale. Only one of them, so I took it to work to drink my ice tea out of and discovered what a handy vase it transformed into.

Why a glass goblet to drink out of? Why not? I read Frugal Luxuries by Tracey McBride a few years ago and was touched by the message, live life frugally but elegantly. Take pleasure in the small things, enjoy the beauty around you. Drinking out of this goblet makes me feel amazing, I slow down, enjoy my tea and let it refresh me. All in a tiny cubicle workspace..and it makes a great vase for enjoying roses.

I had several people stop and ask what the occassion was ...why I had flowers, not my birthday, anniversary, etc. Nope..."I am the reason.." (You know they think I am a little touched in the head at work...right???)

I also picked up a gift for Fly Guy while buying flowers for me.

A mint and a rosemary, marked down to the amazing low, low price of... (disregard my messy, messy table...I am moving...remember? You might see the Tori Spelling book off to the left, I told you I was spending some time reading it...caught in the act!)

another $2.00 and my husband was thrilled. I guess he kind of likes getting ~~flowers~~...uh herbs. I will love them once they are large enough for me to pinch a little off for cooking~

jusqu'à ce que je vous reverrai

Audra

Where Does The Time Go???

2010-09-20T18:38:00.000-07:00

I was SHOCKED! to find out that I had not posted in nearly THREE weeks. Mouth-droping-eye-popping-tongue-hanging-out-shocked! Where did the time go? I am so looking in the yellow pages for a detective agency to find my lost time... So beside packing...a few more of these

(source)

I might have been busy with a few other *important* things, like ...

I could have been drooling over this, "sigh"

or this...

"double sigh"

I may have wasted a few minutes here and there reading this...

heck, I am a push-ovah...for biographies and well...Tori Spelling. I just love her, seriously...the only reality show I ever watched besides, Rock Star INXS and Rock Star Super Nova. Yes...I watched all three of her shows and will even admit under duress to having them on TiVo...

It's a sickness people. I am trying to deal with it, one episode at a time.

I may have been having a yard sale...yes, Y.A.R.D. because this sale was so huge it went from my Garage, to the Drive Way, to the Yard. Three families brought stuff, I pulled out a third of my stuff and we sold until the Arizona sun about fried us up. Had to wrap up at 10:30 am because the shade was gone, no breeze and I just don't do sun, ladies.

Planning one more big sale in exactly four weeks, where I will bring out the best of the best, the items I thought I could not move out of this house with, but now..have seen the light and I am reformed! Ahhh, would you believe semi-reformed? Okay... are you all still with me?

Yes, I am paring down my treasures, belongings and making things much easier for the Frugal Missus. It seems this movement is gather great steam along blog land, everyone is doing letting go and freeing up space.

I think this post from Nester at Nesting Place says it all. I wish I could hug her! She is like a best friend/sister/blogger who knows what I am going through. Heck, I am sure you all have been there one time or another. I am owned by my stuff and it was getting a little stuffy around here!

Anyway...didn't get pictures of the first yard sale because I was busy setting up, selling and making money. This lovely stash of cash is going to go towards the move and a little sumptin' for the new place. Some thing from Pottery Barn perhaps? Can I just get an AMEN from all of you who are in love with the fall catalog? Show of hands? Fly Guy woke me up the other night asking if I intended to sleep with the catalog every..single...night..??? Ooops. Fell asleep dreaming of this...

and this....

and these...

So just in case you missed me..(because I did miss all of you), now you know what I have been up to..oh, yes, I have been packing, unpacking, going back through packed stuff, getting rid of packed stuff and repacking unpacked boxes.

I have an extra tape gun if anyone wants to join me!

Ta Ta For Now....

Audra

Update on Toilet Paper Storage

2010-08-30T19:45:00.000-07:00

Thank you all who visited and left comments on my toilet paper holder. I thought you might like an update on how we are doing with the new improved tp storage system in the water closet...le toilette.

Fly Guy gives it two thumbs up! Indeed. Instead of leaving me with an empty roll on the dispenser

and a fresh roll sitting on the floor...

waiting for wife or the TP Fairy to put it on this....

Yes...this is what we have in the WC...because the "room" is so small that if you had one on the wall it would be practically in your lap.

(I wish a woman had designed this bathroom!)

I entertained the idea of putting one of these dealio's in there....

which would have been right up Fly Guy's geeky alley...also nice to set a beverage on....

Or let him get creative with a cd rack from Ikea so he could have multiple rolls ...

OR...He would have something like this....

OR...If I had the room and the cash...this baby would just about do the trick.

However, I did not nor do I have the patience to put 16 rolls of paper on them because you know it would run out and he wouldn't tell me we were on the last roll until....

I -am-in-there-alone-and-the-tp-is-under-the-sink-in-the-next-room-and-no-one-hears-my-frantic-pleas-for-assistance!

That is why...Frugal Missus decided to find a tp storage in her frugal price range.

N.i.c.e.... Only 35.00. Oooops...way, way, way out of FM's ballpark.

Then I spied these...

and

Still a bit out of my price range. That is why Frugal Missus came up with this dealy-bob the tp storage baby.

and Fly Guy is using it! He took a roll off and put it on the toilet paper stand. GASP...Shock and Awe! He Loves It...Fly Guy really loves it...He actually takes the spare roll and puts it on the holder. I Know!

I am not saying that this will magically cure husbands of leaving the roll empty...I am just sayin' what's been happening at ma maison!

All for a two dollar investment. Did I mention just how much I love me some Garage Sales?

A Tout Alors!

Audra

Transformation Thursday!

2010-08-26T13:49:00.000-07:00

I am positive someone, somewhere in blog land has already shown this, covered it or called it there own. So if I ~~stole~~ borrowed this idea from you but can't remember where I saw it, I apologize now.

In our current house we have a small water closet off from the open plan bathroom. "Le Toilette" (me) or "Stink Room" (Fly Guy) is always running out of t.p. A.l.w.a.y.s.... I tried stacking extra rolls behind the toilet but it looks awful and is awkward to reach. Since I don't have shelves or room to put a cabinet in there I started looking at the toilet paper caddy's at various discount stores. Have you seen those? Really nice, but still...a bit pricey (since I am trying hard not to spend ANY money)

Inspiration struck! Take a brushed bronzed paper towel holder ...say like this one....

One that you paid $2.00 for at a garage sale.

Decide it would look better like this in the "water closet".

or maybe this way..extra roll is always handy!

and Voila! Cute and frugal storage for papier hygiénique! Mais Oui, c'est belle!

Fly guy even thinks it's a keeper!

Linking up to Tales from Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday

and Debbiedoos: Garage Salen Party

A biento!

Audra

What I've Been Up To Lately....

2010-08-25T17:21:00.000-07:00

Bonjour mes chers amis, il a été trop longtemps!

Things are tres hectic at Maison de Frugal, with the packing, getting Reluctant Teenager ready for his sophomore year in high school and getting ready for his learners permit(frantically chews on nails!) aaaannnndddd...moving College Diva back into Greek Housing from the summer dorms. To surmise...there has been a lot of packing and moving going on.

Still looking for a new home, wanting to move closer to work and cut down the 84 mile round trip (I KNOW!) though I am unsure where the company is going with bankruptcy since the creditors have filed an appeal on the Bankruptcy judges verdict. I have faith that all will work out with our jobs and the move...getting really excited to see what the next few weeks bring.

Just a few pictures to show you what I have been doing...packing, sorting, packing again and labeling boxes because I have to know where everything is...have it labeled and then mark it with a number..1, 2, 3, 4, etc to correspond with the room that the box needs to go into. Maybe overkill but I despise looking for things and opening six boxes to find just that one thing!

Here is my packing and moving crew...

Don't they look motivated? I am always finding them laying around on the job.

I get the stare down when I ask them to get a move on it...we are burning daylight and we have so much to do.

I guess changing positions constitutes "getting a move on it..."

Ling tells me that a 15 minute break is really a three hour nap in cat time.

Ludo spends most of her time ignoring me...until it's time for a photo op!

At this rate it might take me another month or so to get all of the important things packed up. Although Fly Guy is going to take a week off and pack up the garage and his things. (he still has most of his belongings in boxes from when we married three years ago...)

On Saturday I stopped at a Garage sale and saw several moving boxes at the curb for trash pick up. I asked the seller if I could have them and he said yes...he had tons more, as well as bubble wrap and sealing tape, all from his cross country move! He even threw in four moving blankets! His company had paid for all of this for his move so he gave them to me.... Free! You know I was doing the spazzy happy dance over that wind fall.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for my thrifty transformation (I am kinda proud of it!)

A Tout a'lors!

Audra

Wonderful News!

2010-08-13T17:17:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, for the past year, the company I work for has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Today the bankruptcy judge approved our bankruptcy exit stragety!

This is cause for major celebration! The company has been in Arizona for 78 years and employs over 10,000 members. As you can imagine, the threat of unemployment weighed heavy on our minds as Fly Guy, myself and two other family members work for the same company. Today we are thrilled that we will be able continue working and providing excellent service to our members and customers.

Thank you all for your thoughts, kind words and prayers, they mean the world to me. Off to chill the champagne to toast with Fly Guy when he gets home.

Home Town Nostalgia...

2010-08-11T16:19:00.000-07:00

Showing some home town pride and love for Cottonwood and some of the places of my youth. All in all this place was a great place to grow up, even if I didn't know it then. I am fortunate to be from a town that is in close proximity to five major tourist towns. Prescott, Jerome, Camp Verde, Sedona and Flagstaff. You can drive to Flagstaff or Prescott in about 45 minutes and only 20 minutes to Sedona or Camp Verde.

Here is my grade school. The description I borrowed from the Clemenceau Heritage Museum website. I attended 5 and 6th grades in this building. Full of wood floors, giant globe lights and crown molding to die for. I will take the tour one day to get some inside pictures of this gorgeous school/museum.

The flag pole was constructed later after I had moved on to Junior High School on the same campus but a much newer building.

Mingus Union High School home of the Marauders. Front of the school. True story...we had a huge concrete Marauder Head in the front of the school for nearly 25 years until they tried to move him to another location when the expanded the offices and decapitated him. Tears were shed people, tears were shed.

School has had a face lift getting rid of the Dijon mustard yellow paint with brown trim. Ah if those mustard colored walls could talk...

New cafeteria walk up window. This cool feature was not there when i went to school. No..we had a line and hot lunches in side the building peeps.

Next up a short jaunt up the hill to Jerome to the sliding jail. Another one of my most favorite places to hang out and soak in some of the ambiance from this Ghost Town.

The jail is slipping down the hill due to land erosion and explosions in the mines, the jail slid down the hill, across the road and came to rest down the slope on the other side or the road. I have one of the original finials from the fence around the jail.

I hope you've enjoyed the tour..I will be showing you more of my favorite places in other posts.

A Tout Alors!

Audra

Great Finds at St. Pete's Thrift

2010-08-09T19:50:00.000-07:00

First I have to say THANK YOU...!! To all of you lovely ladies who left encouraging words and sound advice on my last post. I hesitated writing it, putting it out there, because...well it's frustrating to not have a perfect life that I strive for. You know? Oh, You do? You don't have one of those cookie cutter perfect lives where everything is perfect? Funny...that is what mon amie Mika said to me. "What? You think none of your readers have been through same things? What? You want to act like you don't have a real life? Write..."

So I did. And I am glad that I did because your words were a comfort. Merci beaucoup...a thousand times.

Now on with the things I have been doing. Packing...looking for a house, dealing with out Dr. Pepper and on this past rainy Saturday I shopped. Yes...it was raining coming down hard and as I head to the grocery store I see some signs. Ok.. I know they aren't going to have sales out in the rain...but there were three in Garages selling their hearts out. Only a die hard garage saler like me is not afraid of rain as I browse through movies and luggage!

Headed over to St. Peter's thrift store. You know... my absolutely favorite place to end my usual Saturday Garage Sale foray.

Yes, down came the rain and watered the dry desert, but St. Pete's was open and doing a booming business.

Located in the back of St. Peter's Episcopalian Church in Litchfield Park, Arizona, this little thrift is small in size but big in great deals. They are only open on Saturday...but get stuff in all week long. That's why it pays to head over weekly.

You might find this...

Grey and charcol bedding from Swell by Target. Full size quilt and pillow shams for Reluctant Teenager's bedroom. $6.00! Fantastic gently loved condition.

Also picked up a new in bag full size mattress cover for $3.00.

Pottery Barn shower curtain...$3.00. I don't know if I will keep this or sell it, but I loved this pattern.

Fly Guy says I can spot Pottery Barn items at a 100 paces...I don't know about that but I do love to find PB on the cheap.

I found this shower curtain last year at St. Peter's..PB, brand new in bag, $3.00. It now resides in Reluctant Teenager's bathroom.

See why it pays to go often? You never know what you'll find.

Set of 12 Ikea glasses for $5.00.

Love this crazy cutlery set...20 pieces for $3.00

Another shirt for Fly Guy. $2.00

Closer detail of the fabric...the colors are amazing.

With school starting right around the corner, I have been on the look out for tshirts for Reluctant Teenager. I hit the mother load of Rocker style shirts for $4.00 each.

4 shirts $16.00 which just about covers the cost of one of these at Marshall's. Yep... I checked. RT is thrilled that he can rock out like a serious bad...dude. No...he wouldn't model them... I checked.

For a rainy Saturday morning... St. Pete's delivered some great finds all for $30.00. Yes, bed set, mattress cover, cutlery, glasses, shirts and PB shower curtain. Now you know why I haunt this place?

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Thanks for stopping by and thanks again for sticking with FM through this rough patch. Looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.

Linking up with Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for Thrifty Treasures.

A Tout Alors!

Audra