HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

I must confess: I love my birthday! I mean really who doesn't? But what I love is the emails and mailings I get because it's my birthday.
Not just the birthday and well wishes from Family and friends, but the coupons and freebies from stores, restaurants and businesses. I LOVE a deal!


And birthday month is the best time to get them!

I've already received a coupon for 20% off at Stein Mart, $5 off at DSW  (yippee!)
and a free movie ticket from Movie Tavern. It's just the beginning! I cannot wait to see what else I get!

What discounts & freebies do you like to get?

Happy Birthday to me!!!

Wendy

She's Crafty!

I must confess: I have the need to change things up every now and then. I had two framed pictures from our honeymoon that were getting a little old looking. So I freshened them up by making a new mattes. All I needed was scrapbook paper, scissors and tape and viola! New pictures. The possibilities are endless! Most picture frames come with a standard white matte, so dress it up!

 Start with a piece of scrapbook paper, scissors and tape.

 

Original matte. BORING!

Add tape to the front of the matte in each corner. 

Turn it over and face it down on the paper, preferably in the corner so you don't have too much to cut off. 

Cut a hole in the middle of the paper and cut to each corner. 

Fold each side back and tape down. This is where cutting to the corner is important. 

Your matte should look like this from the back side.

And should look like this from the front. 

Refreshed and revived!

Happy Crafting!

Wendy

Saving money at its best!

I must confess: it's no secret that I'm a bargain hunter. It's hobby really and I love doing it. I wanted to share some websites for finding good deals on restaurants, entertainment, etc. I have used all of these personally and I'm not getting anything for it, just wanted to share what I know.

Websites for 'flash sales' – you've probably heard of many of these, and some you probably haven't, but these are the sites that put deals on sales for a few days such as $10 for a $25 coupon for a local restaurant. I like these better than restaurant.com because there is no minimum spending to use the coupon, but they do have expiration dates. And they aren't coupon sites where you have to download a coupon printer to your computer and then search for coupons that you don't use anyway.

Deal Sites for restaurants and services:

www.groupon.com

www.halfoffdepot.com

www.tippr.com

www.loclly.com

www.dealchicken.com

www.livingsocial.com

www.scoutmob.com

www.sweetjack.com

www.kudzu.com/deals

www.dealfind.com

www.kgbdeals.com

www.local.amazon.com

www.google.com/offers

Deal sites for products:

www.groopdealz.com (personal favorite!)

www.saveology.com

www.bradsdeals.com (another personal favorite!)

www.5stardeal.com

www.tanga.com

Happy Saving!

Wendy

Is it really August?!

I must confess: I wish I had more time to blog right now. I've been working full time, but it's a temp position, thank God! Can't wait for it to be over! I'm getting way behind on so many things, and I don't like it. So, I'm always looking for shortcuts. The ones I want to share today are to make my life easier. The first one is about ironing. One of my least favorite chores, but in my opinion, has to be done so we don't look like ragamuffins. I read this years ago and it really works. Line your ironing board with tin foil, then put the cover on. It reflects heat from both sides to help cut down ironing time. Whoo-hoo!

My ironing board and my dog Lola!

The second is making a big binder for all those manuals and instructions, that you might need for that random appliance some day. I used to keep them in a filing cabinet, but damn, they took up a lot of room! And if you give an appliance away or sell it in a yard sale, you have the manual right there! Now when hubby says 'have you seen the manual for xyz?' I tell him to check the big binder. What I don't keep in there is any manual that stays with the house, stove, microwave, etc. Nothing worse than taking those with you if you move!

I made mine with a 3 inch binder and page protectors. And, of course, 

I had to make it pretty because I'm anal like that.

Regular page protectors.  I put everything for that appliance in the same sheet, manual, warranty, etc. 

And you can use both sides for easy viewing!

Ah, summer is almost over, and so is the job. Looking forward to fall and freedom! LOL!!!

Wendy

Pizza Class!

I must confess: I love pizza, but really who doesn't? Yesterday Eric and I had an opportunity to attend a Couples Pizza Class at the Apron Cooking school located inside a Publix grocery store. What a blast, we had a class with lots of other fun couples, made and ate some gooooood pizza! What a treat! Who knew my husband could cook! Or at least make pizza. Per some friends requests I'm posting the pizza dough recipe and by far my favoritest pizza from last night. Hope you enjoy it at much as I did, I would have never put any of these things together! 

Happy cooking!

Wendy

Vacation!!

I must confess: I love the beach! I mean who doesn't really? Oh right, my husband. I love the beach, he sits in the shade. But we both love the pool. We just spent a week at my in-laws in Panama City Beach, FL. Now before you get that crunched up 'eww gross' look on your face, I have to ask, when was the last time you were in PCB? Because in the last 5 years, it has changed A LOT! They now have a shopping center across from the pier called Pier Park. With a Margaritaville, Dicks Last Resort, a Tootsies Orchid Lounge and tons of shops and restaurants, a movie theater and lots for the kids to do. Its just not the same as it was 10 years ago. It's better, lots of new resorts with tons of amenities. Ok enough about that. 

 At the beach, sans husband of course!

 

With that being said, Eric and I have different ideas of vacationing, which can make for difficulties when traveling. He just wants to sit around (in the shade) and do nothing, and swim every now and then, while I want to go out (in the sun) and see and do stuff. But somehow after being together for 10 years we've found a way to make it work. The key to marriage is compromise! We go out and do stuff then sit around and do nothing. We've somehow made it work where both of us are happy. I love nothing more than spending lots of time with my hubby. We never seem to get bored with each other. We got back yesterday from our week long vacay in PCB, now the post vacation sadness has set in. You know what I'm talking about, that dreaded feeling of having to go back to work and household chores. Retirement must feel like a permanent vacation. Looking forward to those days! 

Where ever you go this year, enjoy it before heading back into the dreaded 'real world'.

Happy Summer!

Wendy

Where did May go?

I must confess: I can't believe how busy I've been lately! I guess it's just that time of year: graduations, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, general summer time fun and as always housework! Even as I sat down to write this blog, I had to stop and go fold laundry. With a full time, temporary job, I barely have time to do anything anymore! Or am I just becoming a better juggler? Must be the juggling thing. Today I asked my husband for some help. Can you make dinner? Well you would think I just asked him to cut off his arm. And with all the time I spend giving him specific instructions on where everything was and what to do, I might has well made it myself. Now he thinks he's so freaking awesome because he made dinner. In the mean time, I did 20 other things that needed to be done around the house, but he's still walking around (or should I say sitting in front of the TV) with that 'I'm so awesome cause I made dinner' look on his face. Ugh! Are ya kidding me? Whatever. 

So here is my latest nail polish color from OPI's NYC Ballet Collection, called Care to Danse? This is with 3 coats. I really didn't think it would be so sheer, so I'm not all that in love with it. I think I'll go back to my brighter happier colors. At least for summer. 

Here's to a fun filled summer!!!!

Wendy