Who Tha HECK Invented POPCORN CEILINGS?

DIYing... How hard can it be?

As most of our Facebook followers and Etsy customers know, we have been remodeling our livingroom (from head to toe). For someone as messy as me, that is the ONLY way to do a remodel. 

We started by ripping up the carpet. We walked on subflooring for over a month... BUT NOT BAREFOOTED! LOL

Do you have ANY idea how much dirt is under your carpet??? YUCK!

Next, we scrapped off all that nasty popcorn ceiling... double yuck! You would not believe the dust and spider webs (yes, my Sunshine FREAKED out). Not to mention how much it brightens the room to remove it. Each on of those tiny little popcorn bumpie thingys casts a shadow, who knew?

See... YUCK!

*

It was absolutely shocking what mobile home places use popcorn to COVER UP!!! After three coats of ceiling primer paint combo, we decided just to go with the imperfections. They aren't that bad (anything is better than what was there... POPCORN). And we didn't want to get into to much expense. At the end of the day, it's still a mobile home as far as the insurance company and bank are concerned. But the difference is still awesome!

Can you see the difference??? Awesome!

This was soooo worth the mess. Scraping off the popcorn was by far the easiest part of the reno... but the MESSIEST! We looked like we worked in a cocaine factory...

 

Again... well worth the mess! So if you have popcorn ceilings, scrape that crap off, you'll be amazed how much better it looks.

I'm Addicted to PINTEREST...

(quietly standing)... "My name is Barbara and I am addicted to pinning".  

Admitting that you have a problem is half the battle, right? Well... I admit it, I have a problem. They say the second half is wanting to be cured... sorry folks, no can do! I <3 Pinterest. You should too!
While Pinterest isn't for everybody, it sure is for a lot. Have you seen the people using it??? Woowzer!
Anyway, if you haven't used it, you should at least try it. I've been able to get a lot of good information there AND some ideas for some projects I recently completed. It was the inspiration for my total living room makeover (that is still in the works) and was my "go-to" when I hit a snag during the remodel.
So whether you are creative, or not.... a collector, or not.... an inspiring cook, or not.... Check Pinterest out at www.pinterest.com

Now... let me go see what my next project will be. LOL

Back on the COUPON CLIPPING bandwagon!!!

I am soooo glad to be coupon clipping again!!!(And so is my bank account!)

I don't claim to be an expert... in fact, I am still just learning (of course, aren't you always?). But if I can save a few bucks, why not?

I started couponing a couple of years ago. Like most, I watched a few episodes of Extreme Couponing and wanted to be THAT GIRL!!! Well I'm here to tell ya, I am FARRRR from THAT GIRL! However, I have learned to match coupons with sales, stack coupons and try to save as many $$$ as I can.

Before you ask, I don't teach people how to coupon (I don't think I'm that good). My suggestion to you is:

1. Find someone in your area that teaches a class and TAKE IT!

2. Learn the policies of the stores in YOUR area for taking Qs.

3. Learn the language!

4. Get a few of your friends together also interested in it and support each other. Learning can be overwhelming and discouraging... you can use the support.

Okay... enough about that! Like I said, I'm back on the wagon. I fell off a few months ago. I just simply didn't have the time. I was starting a new business, we moved TWICE, bought a house, have been doing a total remodel (of our living room)... it's just been one mess right after the other. Besides, my stockpile was in great shape. 

Well.... now it's not!

A few of my girlfriends had been couponing together for months now and I just did not have the time to join in. But I decided this past week ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH. I work hard, all the time. I deserve a break. So I excepted the invite to tag along on their trip. (All of my coupons had long expired so I just was going along for the ride and to see if I could get my desire to clip back). Well... I did. I ended up throwing a plan together right there in the store (with the help of my SISTAS). I did pretty well. My retail on my few things was around $80 and my OOP (Out Of Pocket, see what I mean about learn the language) was around $30. Not to bad. 

We hit the winery for a glass of wine, then the chinese place for some grub... 

NEVER GROCERY SHOP ON AN EMPTY STOMACH... NEVER

Below is what happens when four coupon divas hit Publix on a Friday night.... 

Retail: $685.84   OOP: $139.94

Let's just say... that gave me the fever!!! Good timing too. The men in my life informed me a few days ago "Our cereal stash is down to four boxes. You need to clip something". Hanging my head in shame, I admit to paying full price for a box of Fruit Loops the other day. (My SISTAS are gonna kill me). It was the first box of cereal I had paid $3.99 for in TWO YEARS! It darn near caused me to have a stroke.

This morning I decided to throw a coupon trip together. It wasn't much, but I had a few things I wanted to get before the sales ended on Tuesday. So here is my trip today...

Retail: $189.69   OOP: $64.53

Again, not great... but I'll take it! A few of the things I did not have a coupon for (which I hate) but they at least where on sale so that helped my feelings a little.

14 boxes of Kellogg's cereal

(four of them FRUIT LOOPS, lol)

5 gallons of milk

2 bottles Wesson Canola Oil

1 Hellman's Mayo

3 Uncle Bens Rice

4 bottle Ken's Salad Dressing (16oz)

2 jugs Mott's Juice

2 cartons Swanson's Chicken Broth

2 boxes Lipton Tea (100ct)

2 cans Dole Pineapple

1 bag Gold Fish

2 boxes Ritz Crackers

2 bottles Heinz Ketchup (48oz)

4 packs Borden Cheese slices

6 bags Borden Cheese grated

We may soon need mayo and ketchup again, and we are still out of mustard... but I think we are good on cereal for a few weeks.

*** Never stockpile more than you can use. Unless you donate to family, friends or the local food bank. 

A New Beginning...

Hey Y'all... Decision made! I know right! (A decision? Coming from someone who suffers so from Undecidinitis like I do. Well, it's an attempt anyway. I decided to go with my old blog, since everything was already set up and all... AND I could actually remember the username and password (yep, I'm one of those too.) My Sunshine (aka: boyfriend; aka: Chris) is FOREVER picking on me about forgetting my usernames and passwords. But this will show him....... I REMEMBERED (only took me four tries!)

Over the next couple of days, I hope, I'll get y'all caught up on what we've been up to and why we I decided to start blogging again (or at least attempting to).

So wish me luck!