A Thrift Store Risk

I've been lacking in the jean department lately:/ Mostly because I'm not at a place where I'm willing/able to really invest in really great jeans.

So I went thrifting with 4 kids on toe... sounds positively choatic but it wasn't too bad:) A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!! We were in the area of some thrift stores and I had to take along my entourage or not go!

But you can imagine when I found "my" size in a decent brand:) I was soo excited and they fit wonderfully!

And then I looked down and saw it...

a line across the front of BOTH legs:/ Really??? How do you get a line across both legs with ink?

Normally, I would have put them back on the hanger and then brought them to the front as "damaged goods". But they fit soooo well!

So when I went to check out, I asked for a discount:) Yes, at a thrift store I ask for a discount:) It was a risk  to bring them home not knowing whether the stain would or could be removed... grr!

So I took the challenge.... either to get the stain out or change the jeans into something usable! And everyone thought I was crazy.... LOL... my kids, my husband and yes probably even two people I called for a "pep talk" once I was home.

After some googling and reading, I decided to try what I already had... start with the easiest thing possible... non-acetone nail polish remover.

Since I couldn't work with the pants from the inside-out (the ink didn't go all the way through...a good sign), I just stuffed the leg with a towel so it wouldn't leak onto the side. And proceeded to dab the ink with nail polish remover on a cotton ball.

At first it was hard to see if it was really coming out or if the jeans just were getting darker because they were damp. But I did one leg and then threw the jeans into the washer for a cool wash.

When they came out, I air dried them overnight! And sure enough the ink on the leg I worked on was completely out. The ink on the opposite leg was not as dark too. So I got to work with the remover and cotton ball for the other side;)

I was almost giddy... LOL!! I know soo very silly!! But to think that I had taken the challenge and invested very little time to give these jeans a new life in MY closet:)  I was willing to put forth a little effort and get a great pair of jeans for a super price!

And the weekend before last I went thrifting with the girls and came home with two awesome crochet-like sweaters for Anna... soo bummed they didn't fit me;)

Yep, thrifting works for us:)

Tiny Talk Tuesday & Just a Tad Country?

Our new yard is going to require something more than a push mower.... with 2 acres to mow weekly in the summer, a push mower would be more than a work out;) LOL!!

We've been shopping around for mowers for a few months now. The hubby really was eye-ing a nice zero-turn riding machine... I was eye-ing the price tag. Moving and getting settled into a new home is pricey... yikes! So we feel like anyway we can cut back on those initial costs... the better!!

Brian stopped the other day at a garage sale... when he saw this beauty:)

We got a deal and then he took it to a shop to get it fixed up;) It works and works well for almost 80% less than the new one he was wishing for... NICE savings there;)

While his first buy was a deal, the kids are impressed though with Daddy's latest "must have" yard sale purchase...

a trailer for the mower!
Which they call Big Red Fun!!

They had the best time riding in the trailer! Daddy even took them on a little trip to the river in his two yard sale finds;)

And as much as I want to joke Brian about us turning "country" I have to laugh at myself;) The kids are all clamoring to get into the trailer and I'm sitting their shelling pecans from a neighbor's grove;)

Chris later asked the girls why they liked pecans so much in a dessert I had made from our shelled pecans. The girls weren't sure what to tell him and then he suggested, "Is it because of how they were made?"

I questioned Chris, "How were they made, Chris?"

Chris responded, "By God!"

Of course;)

We are often joked by others about "being country"! How secretly offended I have been by being called "country" or living in the country!!

But I am becoming more and more thankful that we live in an area where we can enjoy the outdoors, the simple things and sweet neighbors:)

Maybe I'm starting to enjoy becoming a "just a tad country"!!

Your turn to join in the sharing of your little ones words;) 

Purchasing Coupons & Kiddie Favorite Food Deals:)

After learning about the Harris Teeter Triples this week, I ordered some coupons.... yes, you can actually purchase coupons. I knew it was next step in being coupon "savvy" so it was just a matter of time before I jumped into that aspect of the game.

I searched through the list of deals to find the things I wanted to stock up on and then I used my list to generate a list of coupons to purchase!! Where did I purchase them.... THE Coupon Clippers!! They have TONS of coupons listed and a search engine that helped me find what I was looking for:)

I purchased coupons for the kiddies favorite nuggets and Brian's favorite hot dogs and then some HT deals. The coupons were mailed on Tuesday and I received them this morning in the mail on my way to the grocery store:) Super Fast!!!

Then I headed over to Food Lion to pick up their store flyer:) I just like having a HARD copy! BUt while at Wally World, I saw that their Ball Park Hot Dog prices were cheaper, so I pulled out the Food Lion flyer and got the BOGO deal even cheaper:) Here's the break down:

Ball Park Beef hot dogs at FL were 3.99 each so BOGO is 2 for 3.99

Ball Park Angus Beef @ Walmart were 2.98, so BOGO is 2 for 2.98

then I pulled out my buy 2 get $1 off coupon... so 2 packs for 1.98... LOL...

THAT's RIGHT 2 packs of Ball Park Beef Hot Dogs for less than $2, or $1 each!!!!!

Then ....LOL.. (yes there is more)

Tyson chicken nuggets were on sale at FL 2/$9 so $4.50 each. Walmart brought their price down to compete with FL to 4.32! Then I pull out my The Coupon Clippers coupon (that I purchased for .12) and got my bags for $3.32.... pretty good for a bag of "safe" nuggets that will feed my kids for at least 2 meals!!! And the normal price at Food Lion for the Tyson nuggets is like over $6!!!

So my total bill for coupons at The Coupon CLippers was about $6, but just in my grocery visit today I've recouped $5 of it.... and I have the triples shop coming up this weekend and Monday... so I'll definitely be getting my $ back, plus more:)

BTW... they have over 1800 more Ball park coupons and 750 of the Tyson nugget coupons:)

Shop Victoriously!

Hahhaaa.... everytime I read that I just smile.... those of us who are bargain hunters usually just droool over the starting bids for the items that we are hunting for on Ebay. But I always get bummed when the ending prices is equal or more expensive than the item if you just picked it up in the store.

I've been "drooling" over a set of books for Anna this Christmas..... Anna is the one who would be the most EXCITED but in reality we'll be reading them as a family, which we all LOVE to do:) Anyway, the set was $45 on CBD and $44 on Deep Discounts. Ebay had plenty to choose from but they were selling for $38ish then add shipping!!! Oh, I could have bought one for $10-shipping but a book was missing, one had loose pages and they just looked ROUGH on the photo:)

Ive found that I do better on Ebay when I "But it Now"..... so I went to the "Buy it now" listings!! And sure enough someone had listed a brand new set, still wrapped, for $25 + shipping!! I saw a similiar set go for $40 the other day.... which is just as expensive when you add shipping. So this new listing +shipping was $15-20 cheaper than buying new somewhere else!

I was sitting next to Brian so we did had a quick diliberation session!! Then I did the check out and since our Paypal account is in his name, his computer started "dinging" with the notifications and reciepts filling his email account:) Hahhaa

I really need to start looking into book swapping online. We have soo many books!! And I know as the kids school at home, we'll need even more.... book swapping just sounds like a good idea!! And probably cheaper, too!!!

Daddy's Exercise & Shoes

Here's Brian taking the kids out... he needed the exercise and they needed to get out of the house:) And the best part, I got to get some tasks done and start dinner in quiet:)

Daddy found these shoes at a recent Goodwill visit..... they look like they've been washed but other than that the shoes are in excellent condition.... no marks on the tread either.....

Didn't I tell you that my husband was a bargain shopper?? And he's not a Goodwill fan either..... but he needed a newer pair of shoes for exercising and he only paid $4 for them!!

We really racked up at that shop!! All three kids got a least two new pairs of pants...Anna got the cutest jeans, I wish I could have me some:)

trying to please my hubby:)

I went grocery shopping today... my weekly stop-n-shop while I'm in town... saving gas you know??

Anyway, I asked my husband what he wanted... like usual and he reminded me that I had yet to get him any Cream of Wheat.

So that was a goal: Get Brian some Cream of Wheat :) So I searched BOTH stores and I found the name brand but it was soo over-priced!! And I didn't have any coupons... so I decided to hold off until a sale or a coupon or both:)

But until the Cream of Wheat purchase I thought some grits for my "country boy" would do (so cheap... like a small bag for a little over a $1) !! When I got home I showed him my purchase.....

He was pleased!!! Then he said, "I just LOVE some grits and sausage!!"

Hmmmm..... sausage?? Nope. Didn't pick any up!! Hahhaaaa.... so maybe next week we'll get to have his meal:)

BTW.... found another peacemaking stratgedy for grocery shopping! At the first store the treat is picking out the fruit snacks. And at the second store when things get "boring" the treat comes out and the kiddies are soo distracted Momma actually can get some shopping done:)

BTW..... at our local Walmart they have a pretty large assortment of ladies tank tops on clearance..... you know the ones you wear around the house in the summer:) Anyway, totally like $1-3 dollars a piece:) Totally well priced for getting stained, bleached and drooled on:)

Our Shopping Day

I ventured out to town with my little helpers under toe!!!! Phew...we left at 10am and returned at quarter until 5pm....long trip:) But I got a lot done:)

My first stop was Penney's to checkout a new bedding set that I'd been eyeing... of course they didn't have it (check out Andrea's new bedding from Penneys)...but I did find some deals......







...all of it at least 75% off with an additional 15% off of the sale price..... Christopher's shorts and shirts were $1.66 each and Anna's dresses were $4.32!!!!

Then we ate at Sonic.... yes, outside and the car temp said 100!!! Crazy...the kids didn't play on the equipment long since it was in the sun, so it might have been a good day to go since I wanted to get to two other stores:)




Anyway, the kids "lasted" through me returning some bedding and then picking up some groceries and "food supplies" for Canada.... we returned home, ate dinner, cleaned dinner, cut Christopher's hair (again), and did baths. After the kids got to bed I started working on the laundry some more.....

DAY ONE of our FINAL 3 DAYS of PREPARATIONS for CANADA!!!