Ask The Helpful Housewife

Every Room Gets Ready!

I know I'm not the only person who decorates their powder room for the season!  But I do it very simply, I will admit.  Everyone eventually uses this particular room in our home, so it may as well be appropriately coordinated.  You can see I placed another of my DIY wreaths in here, but instead of a red ribbon and bow, I used an ivory satin ribbon and a beautiful silk peony to match the rest of the details.  The ceramic vase holds a stem of ivory peonies, holly, evergreens and berries.  This silk arrangement is stablized in the vase by small pebbles.  It weighs it down nicely to keep the vase from falling over if bumped, and also keeps the silk flowers upright and cheery.  And it wouldn't do to not have fun dispensers for soap and lotion!  The snowman soap dispenser remains in the bathroom through January until the Valentine's Day holiday arrives.  Nice duo purpose!  The hurricane on the tank holds evergreen scented votives that are lit every evening through the New Year.  (After that I switch them back to fresh linen or cotton scented votives.)

With the lovely seasonal allergy boon this year, I am forced to keep tissues ready at all times!  I don't stress about hiding the package in a tissue holder because you can find such cute printed boxes these days.  And of course, the requisite holiday hand towels!  And, you guessed it, they are for show.  I keep a full size hand towel ready on the edge of the sink for folks to use.  I just simply swap it out frequently from a stack under the sink.  You can see in the reflection of the mirror that this powder room is located in our main entry hallway.  When it's that visible, it needs to be decked out! You can also see a tiny peek of the garland on the bannister...  that's a different area for a different day.  I hope my holiday home tour is getting you in the mood to decorate your home, too!

DIY Decor

 

I found quite a few pins on Pinterest that incorporated hanging wreaths on your kitchen cabinets to make it "merry" in the busiest room of the home.  All of them were based upon solid red ribbon looped around a dollar store wreath.  Well, unfortunately, all of our dollar stores were sold OUT of the small, plain wreaths!  So....  here is a step by step on how to recreate this look if you are in the same situation!

 

Supplies needed:    plain wire bound garland from the dollar store  ($1 for a 15 foot length)

                               red ribbon - any style you prefer!

                                painters' tape

                                fabric gift bows (optional- I found these at Hobby Lobby for 50% off)

I cut sections of garland according to the "loop" already formed in the garland, but you can make them larger or smaller.  Simply cut the garland to your desired length!

Because this particular garland is wire strung, it makes it easy to form the wreath.  Just simply twist the two ends together securely.

Now, measure how far down the kitchen cabinet door that you want your wreath to hang.  Cut a length of ribbon that is 2 1/2 times the length that you want it to hang.  Lay it so that the center of the ribbon is under the top of the wreath and then pull the bottom end of the ribbon up to the top.

Cut a piece of painter's tape and place it across the ribbon ends.  You will use this to tape the wreath up INSIDE the top of the cabinet door, and the wreath will hang down in front. 

At this point, your wreath is ready to be hung!  However, I took it a step further because I found these ADORABLE ribbon gift bows that matched the ribbon I had selected to hang the wreaths.  I just simply peeled off the backing and stuck it to the ribbon right at the wreath top.  To ensure that it stayed on through the holiday season, I did add a staple to each one.  I just stuck the whole thing in a regular stapler and pushed down.  Easy peasey.  Now they won't come off!

Ta Da!  Very simple, yet elegant, (and most importantly) affordable decor!  FYI, the letters that spell out MERRY on top of the cabinet?  Those are the cardboard letters from Hobby Lobby, spray painted with red Krylon spray paint + primer all in one.  They stand up all by themselves.  So cheerful! So, if you are looking for an easy way to decorate, I hope this helps inspire you!

My Dirty Big Secret Is Now SMALLER!

No, the basement isn't finished yet. Not by a long shot! I still have to sort out each individual box and purge/re-organize them, but at least I have the space to do it in now. I ended up taking 3 very full loads to Goodwill on Tuesday, including 2 dressers, a table, a desk, and tons of miscellaneous other stuff. Boy, was I tired! Hauling furniture up the stairs, outside, then loading into the vehicle in 100 degree heat was exhausting! But it definitely made a difference. Now I can work on making it NICE. By that I mean re-vamping the craft area with the other table that will be replacing the existing one next week and making the area inspiring; getting rid of boxes I empty and making sure I have all the same type of plastic containers, labelled and on shelves for storing keepsakes and Christmas decorations; and by putting up some pretty curtains in the window and adding some more drywall, a drop ceiling, yada yada yada...

But I have room now.  And, as promised, here is the fruit of my labor...

 

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Quite an improvement, don't you agree? Obviously it still has a ways to go, but for a good 12 hours of steady work, I'm happy with what I have at the moment. This winter will be perfect timing to go through boxes. I'll be stuck inside most of the time anyway!

So, have I inspired you to declutter and dig out a little? I hope so! It is such a liberating feeling - you really should try it sometime!

 

Digging out from under the avalanche...

Yep, I've been AWOL for a week or so.  I know! I know! Why haven't I been posting? Well, the Helpful Housewife has a dirty little secret. Well, not so little in size, once you see it.  I've been in my basement.  Before we left on vacation, we had a water heater incident, and I also had to empty some bins to use on our cargo carrier that attaches at the hitch.  It's time to clean up the mess, but instead of just putting everything away, I got carried away! As usual...  I made a bigger mess instead.  You know how sometimes you get the urge to purge and reorganize?  Big mistake to get that with a basement! Too big of a project!  Here's what I'm dealing with:

 

I feel so ashamed! But I have always been about full disclosure on here! It wasn't this bad when I started.  I'm tearing a lot of stuff apart to get rid of the last of the old furniture that's down here from when ANDY WAS A KID!!!! Yeah, sad, I know.  But in the meantime, I need to sort to purge/store what's invading my life and basement.  If I don't return in the next week or so, send in 911. I may have been buried alive!

But I have made some progress... the playroom is at least acceptable, though still not up to my standards.  My kids will be happy with it, and since I avoid it like the plague, I don't care all that much!

 
   

But I am on my way to Goodwill with load number two in just a few minutes.  I have a photo to prove it! And the car was just as full yesterday with load number one.  I'll most likely be making even one more trip today with the truck, loaded with old furniture... there IS a light at the end of this tunnel!

 
YIPPEE!!!! I'm making progress! It's a turtle's pace, but I'm getting there.  I promise to let you see what the final dungeon looks like!

 

Brightening up the Family Room a Titch...

Sometimes things get boring. Really boring. And sometimes you just can't justify an entire furniture suite just because you need a change of pace.  That was me today.  I was feeling a bit blah over the family room, and mainly the furniture.  THIS furniture:

 
It is a large sectional sofa that just blends into the walls.  Again... blah. I know I keep harping on you lovely homemakers and wish-I-were-a-homemakers that it pays to have the skills to knit or sew.  Well, I put it to use today!

 
Yeah, I know - whooptidoo! But to me it made a BIG difference! This one throw pillow really brighted up this area and opened it up.  I ran out of polyfil, so I had to put my project on hold.  I did get out to the store tonight to get some more, so tomorrow I will whip up one or two more for the other sections of this huge sofa, but for now I am so much happier about my space! And it was much cheaper than new furniture.  I already had everything on hand!  And the print was so darn cute:

 Sorry, it's fuzzy.  The other photo I took was kind of flourescent and I have no idea why.  But it's called "Balanced Bird" by from the echino collection by etsuko furuya.  I paid way to much for it and had hesitated to cut it for years. It was time.  And I am so happy I did!

A Photo To Prove It!

I hate my kitchen flooring.  That is no secret.  It is Armstrong Congoleum, and it simulates grouted tile, but it has tons of tiny grooves and lots of texture in  it.  In other words, it is a dirt and stain magnet.  I hate it.  It's designed to be a hard wearing, dirt hiding floor. It isn't.  I love that it isn't actual tile and grout (the only thing I hate worse!) but it shows the dirt horribly, and it is so hard to clean with all those microscopic crevices. Gosh, how I wish I had good old fashioned linoleum! That nice, smooth surface you could actually mop clean! Whatever happened to it? Now, if you want a smooth surface, it's wood that requires special care.  Sigh....

Anyway, I have tried EVERYTHING to clean this stinkin' floor.  I've used every floor cleaner on the market.  Every soap, detergent, mop, device.  You name it.  Nothing got it clean.  I've bought the expensive steam mops, the Hoover Floor Mate (don't bother -it's junk), and have even used a bristle brush on my hands and knees.  NOTHING worked. I even called the flooring manufacturer.  Know what they told me?  Use the Swiffer Wet Jet! Yeah, right....  I gave it a go.  What a joke! It didn't even get the surface dirt!  It works great on my hallway where there's wood flooring, but it's a smooth surface. 

So today I had enough.  I filled a bucket with hot water and a generous amount of Borax and stirred it in to dissolve.  Borax is pretty basic in ph (as in alkaline).  It will cut even the worst grease and dirt in other yucky jobs, so I thought, why not give it a go?

PRAISE THE LORD! Wanna see the difference between Borax and Swiffer Wet Jet?  Here's the photo:

 
On the left is where I simply wiped over it with the Borax solution with a rag.  To the right is where I was almost breaking the darn Swiffer Wet Jet apparatus by pushing down so hard and scrubbing with all my might when I mopped earlier in the day.  You have to click on the photo to open it in a larger view to really appreciate it.  I wish I were an actual photographer who could take a decent photo to really appreciate it.

Anyway, the old school, cheaper version won out.  I am going to save so much money on cleaning products from now on! As it is, I use baking soda and vinegar for most of my cleaning, along with a few products from some Eco lines to supplement for laundry.  But I always have Borax on hand as a laundry booster and a toilet cleaner/dishwasher detergent ingredient.  So yay! Win-win for me! But I still hate this flooring.... 

Extreme Couponing: Let's Get Real

Have you seen the new show on TLC, "Extreme Couponing"? I've watched a couple episodes, and honestly I just can't watch anymore.  It just is not realistic.  First of all, it is promoting a hoarder's mentality.  Really, what are you going to do with 150 yogurts? And why do you have 75 2-liters of Mountain Dew in your closet instead of your clothing? Come on, people! Second of all, if you are someone who uses coupons faithfully you know that this show HAS to be scripted because stores have coupon policies in place that would never allow these situations to exist! I would love to see a store that lets you use 35 of the same coupon, all worth over $1.00 off, and then double all of them?  Yeah, right....  in whose alternate universe is that happening in?

So, let's get real about it.  Right here, right now.  Full disclosure on my part: I've read several of the books out there on using coupons, and there are some GREAT tips to follow.  But all of these books give you the cardinal rule up front: follow the stores' coupon policies.  Learn them, know them, memorize them.  Keep up to date on changes to them.  AND these books are also quite honest in that they say you'll probably save 30-60% off your grocery bill on average over time.  That is more realistic. And the results I've had are about that when I average it out.

I've been able to find my own system, and I will try to put it in a nutshell here for you.  Obviously, everyone has to find something that works for them, but this is what I have found works the best for me.  The results have been good: last week my total bill was $358 at Kroger, but I only spent $91 when all was said and done.  No, I didn't have over $1000 in products in my cart and only spend $1.38.  Does anyone even believe that? Anyway, here's how I do it.

Each week, when my Sunday paper comes, I go straight for the coupon flyers.  If they have a good selection, I will go out and buy 5 or 6 more newspapers.  Never any more than that, because there are limits on the number of coupons you can even use in the first place.  For example, at our Meijer store, only the first 2 coupons double, and after that each coupon is only good for face value.  And those that double are only doubled up to 50 cents.  At a Kroger about 20 miles away (each Kroger has it's own coupon policy - you need to check with each one to find out what it is), they double manufacturer coupons up to $1.00 everyday, but only the first 3.  After that, they are only good for face value, and you can only use 5 max.  Cellfire is an online tool that lets you load coupons onto your store loyalty cards, but Meijer is not a partner, and even though Kroger is a partner, I DO NOT USE THEM, because they changed their policy.  If you scan your loyalty card, the cellfire coupons will count before your regular coupons and you can't use the regular ones.  And cellfire coupons are usually very low value anyway.

So, I go through my coupons, and cut all of them out.  YES, I cut ALL of them out.  I then put them into a three ring binder, organized by section of the grocery store, and stored in the plastic pages that are used for trading cards.  Once they are organized and put away, it's easy to find them when I need them.

As I then go through each sale flyer, I match up every item on sale to a coupon.  If it isn't on sale, and doesn't have a coupon, it doesn't go on the list.  Simple as that.  It has to  be both. This maximizes the savings.  I try to use the larger value coupons at Kroger, since they double a higher value. If a coupon is valued over $1.00, I use it wherever the item is on sale.

Once I have my list of items on sale that have coupons, I put those coupons in an envelope with the list, grab my binder and head off to the stores.  I take the binder, because often there are unadvertised sales, and you never know when you'll have a coupon for one of those items!

Here's an example of how I made it work on some of the more expensive items I buy on a recent trip:

I had 7 coupons for $1.00 off any Colgate variety toothpaste, 4.0 oz or larger. Kroger had their 6.4 oz Colgate marked down from 2.98 to 1.98 with Kroger card.  I also had 6 coupons for .75 off any Colgate toothpaste, same conditions.  Since only 3 coupons double at a time, I had to split my order up to maximize it.  This ultimately created 3 transactions, but worth it since 7 tubes ended up being free, and 6 of them were only .48 each!   A total of 13 tubes for about $3 - the regular price of one tube of toothpaste!. With 4 kids, we go through a lot of toothpaste, so that was a great deal.

That same trip, they had Bounty paper towels on sale - an 8 pack, normally 10.19, was 5.99 with Kroger card.  I had 6 coupons for $1.00 off any multipack.  So, with two transactions to get the maximum doubling of coupons, I ended up getting them for 3.99 each.  Savings of 6.20 per package!

Laundry detergent is another big expense in our house.  Kroger had the 50 load liquid Tide, all varieties, on sale with card for $3.99 each. HUGE DEAL without the coupons! But I had 8 coupons for $1.00 off any Tide detergent.  So, three transactions later, I had purchased them for $1.99 each.

I had a total of 3 transactions for all my coupons in groceries, cleaning supplies, etc.  One cart, but well organized.  I did find a few items on sale that were 10 for $10, get 11th free that I had coupons for as well.  These are great deals to watch for.  It takes some time to develop your own system, and be able to recognize the deals and savings.  At first it would take me 3 hours to shop; now I am in and out in no time at all because it has become second nature to me.

I ended up giving some of the laundry detergent and toothpaste to our church for the personal needs closet portion of our food pantry.  Along with a bunch of B1G1 deodorants that I had purchased with coupons.  I also gave my mom some of the paper towels.  So I don't have stacks and stacks of stuff in my house like a hoarder.  I spread the savings to others.  But I still don't have to pay a ton at the store for essentials. 

The concepts I gave above work the same with any item.  Pasta, canned goods, coffee, you name it.  If you have coupons, use them! 

For more in depth help, try these two books:  "The Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half" by Stephenie Nelson (love this one), or "How to Shop For Free" by Kathy Spencer (another good resource). 

It takes some work, but not 40 hours a week cutting coupons and building on an addition just for your filing cabinets and extra storage! Like I said before, let's get real.  The television show is not realistic, and is not promoting responsible consumerism. And sometimes what people do to get the "too good to be true" deal is actually illegal.  Both books I mentioned cover this as well...

Good luck!  I know this was pretty vague, but a blog post isn't nearly enough space to really detail it!

"Window" Shopping

I've been indulging in some eye candy this morning...  I found two emails in my inbox that I absolutely couldn't resist opening.  I'm going to put lots of pictures in this post as I just can't help myself!  I have to share these lovelies with all of you! 

First, I opened my email from a London-based shop called "Plumo".  I'm positive I've posted about them before.  It's where I got my sweet little lollie makers from!  Anyway, they are having a big summer sale, and I had to peek.  I fell in LOVE with so much!  Here are some items that I added to my wish list (and may even be ordering by this afternoon if I lose my willpower!)  As you click on each photo, it should then change the large image to the one you just selected....  I hope it works. 

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I can't decided which of these items I like the best!  I absolutely ADORE the retro doilies and the polka dot pots.  But the Lena Totebag is near and dear because my nickname all through highschool and college was "Lena".  There is so much more on their website than these goodies.  They have gorgeous clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, home items and gifts.  And once in a while I get an email from them that offers free shipping, which is always wonderful when it's coming from England!  Sign up for their newsletters.... you'll get those notifications, and will always know when the next yummy thing is coming!

I also happened to check out the April Cornell website.  In their email they showed some beautiful new summer prints for the kitchen.  The Blueberries print and the Strawberries print collections are so cute, and perfect for those picnic-like days of summer.  And then there was the  California Check print collection....  so reminiscent of the 1950's, and fresh and bright to really perk up your day!  Sigh.....  I want.  I want. I want.  (My husband would tell me to want in one hand and wish in the other and see which one fills up first. But I am so tempted to take advantage of their sale as well!)

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 I personally love the watering cans... how sweet! If you click here it will take you to the table linens section, by category/print.  If you click here, it will route you to the watering cans.  But also be sure to check out the exquisite clothing lines, too!  When Attie, my oldest, was not quite 2 years old (and still an only child for a few more months!), I went to the actual April Cornell store here in town and got her an absolutely amazing Christmas dress, and mother/daughter matching aprons in the same fabric collection.  We still wear those aprons every Christmas when we bake cookies together!  But I have to admit, I only purchase from this site once in a very great while, and only when on sale.  Kitchen linens, especially table cloths, are my weakness.  I have way too many already that I have found at antique sales, flea markets and such.  I love the vintage ones, but when I find a brand new one that is a replica of a retro design, I have a tendency to get it.  I don't feel as bad when I use it daily and wash it so frequently.  But I'm an addict.  I have an entire shelf in my linen closet devoted to kitchen linens, and two drawers in my dining room "buffet" that hold the rest of the collection.  And I can't squeeze another in either space.  That's the main thing stopping me from going nuts on these items today.  Especially the California Check pattern, as it's on sale!

Hope you all enjoy browsing these sites like I did!

Need some Housewife gear? Now available!!!

If interested, just check out The Housewife goods here....  I've got my Christmas list taken care of now!  lol

Soap Slivers Get a New Life!

Are you sick of those little slivers of soap that are too tiny to use once the bar has been worn down?  Don't save them and melt them into a new bar!  It's time consuming and a hassle.  Here's an easier solution:

Get some inexpensive tulle from the craft store.  Cut about 4 10x10 inch squares.  Lay them all on top of each other.  Set the soap slivers in the middle and gather up the corners and sides.  Secure it all with a strong rubber band.  Ouila!  A shower pouf/scrubbie with the soap built right in!

Another option is to just purchase the little organza party favor bags that have drawstrings attached.  Just put the soap slivers in there and tie it shut, and you have another simple scrubbie to use!

Revisiting A Mom's/Housewife's Net Worth

About a year ago I posted this, but I wanted to put it out here again after a lengthy conversation I just had with my mother and a friend.  I also frequently have this conversation with my husband, because at times I feel like a "kept woman" after leaving my job.  I get a guilt trip over not contributing financially, and he always jumps to the other side of the fence and is very adamant that I contribute way more by staying home.  No, he's not a chauvanistic neanderthal; he's just a great husband who is very supportive of me!

What is the salary of a mom/housewife worth?  The figure they keep tossing out there is $120,000 per year.  Not a bad figure, hey?  About 4 or 5 years ago, Andy got his USAA magazine in the mail, and they had an article in there on this very same topic, and they actually estimated it at around $140,000 I think.  I like that number better.  I wish I could find that archive in his office!!!  Counting for inflation and cost of living increases, I bet it would be more by now!

Whichever number you assign to it, it still isn't enough, but let's assume it's a fair amount.  When you think about all we do to keep our households running, we just couldn't afford to be without us housewives/moms.   We do the cooking, cleaning, laundry, managing of the budgets, shopping, caretaking, and more.  To pay a chef, drycleaner, accountant, personal shopper, daycare, and and other professionals to do these jobs for us, we would be spending three to four times more. 

Want to know the main reason why I left the engineering field when my oldest child was born?  Most of my paycheck would have gone to daycare.  Once we had all of our children, there was no point in going back to work.  Even when I had opened my own business, I was spending over $600 per week for PART TIME daycare for 4 kids.  And I still was doing all of the household management anyway.  No wonder I broke down and had Molly Maids come in once a month to do a good cleaning!  That was $100 well spent in my eyes!  For us, it is more fiscally intelligent for me to stay home. 

Moms are still undervalued today.  I hate the feminist movement; I am a firm believer that you should never feel bad about the choices you make for yourself.  If you want to work, great!  It shouldn't be because you feel like you have some bra-burning legacy to live up to.  On the other hand, if it means providing for your family, then yes, you must do it, and do it proudly!  And if you do it because you simply enjoy it and it makes you sane and happy, I applaud you!  On the other hand, if you want to stay home because you like the lifestyle of being at home with the kids and doing the housewife thing, I applaud that too.  Don't let anyone make you feel guilty or like you aren't contributing.  Because believe you me, you are.  At a rate of $120,000 per year. 

But for those of you who think that even though you love being home with the kids, and you love nothing more than a sparking clean home and freshly baked cookies coming out of the oven, you are just playing house and not really doing anything with your life?  There truly is value in what you do.  And when you can't see the emotional and spiritual value in what you do for your family some days, realize this: you are saving your family a whole bundle of money on those professionals who could be doing it for you!  As my husband loves to remind me....

Green Clean On The Cheap!

Yes, I missed Earth Day on the blog.  I know!  But to atone for it, here are a couple cleaning recipes for you!  These are really easy on the wallet and really hard on dirt and grime.  I know that it's tough sometimes in this current economy to stay green while taking care of your home and family, but you don't have to shell out for the expensive green cleaners.  Simply use these cleaning products that you can whip up on your own in a matter of minutes for only pennies!

Glass Cleaner

1 part white distilled vinegar

1 part water

Simply pour into an empty spray bottle and use just like the more expensive glass cleaners.  Works better, in fact, and if you use a flour sack towel instead of paper towels you not only save trees, you don't have that pesky lint that is left behind by the paper!

All-Purpose Cleaner

1/2 cup white distilled vinegar

1/2 cup warm water

2 tsps borax

Mix until the borax is dissolved, and pour into a spray bottle.  Antiseptic, works great, cuts grease and grime, and safe for food surfaces, too!  Use caution when pouring out the borax, though, that you don't inhale it. You can even add a drop or three of essential oil to this to give it a lovely fragrance.  I happen to like lavender and geranium oils in mine!

Dishwasher Detergent

1 part washing soda

1 part Borax

Combine in a plastic, sealable container.  Use 1-2 tbsp per load in the dishwasher.

Toilet Cleaner

1 cup white distilled vinegar

1 cup baking soda

Pour each into toilet bowl.  Let sit for 1/2 hour, then scrub clean and flush to rinse.  Sparkling!

The costs associated with these cleaners is so much less than commercial cleaners!  I can buy a box of Borax for about $3.89, and a box of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda for about $2.89.  A gallon of white vinegar is $2.67 where I shop, and baking soda is super cheap when you buy the big box of the generic brand.  I have found plastic spray bottles for .98 cents.   And I use an old, large, plastic butter tub for my dishwasher detergent and have it labelled clearly under my kitchen sink. 

If I total all those things up, I have about $11 invested, and these cleaners will last me forever!  I have two spray bottles, and it works out to less than a penny per cleaning session with them.  Even the dishwasher detergent recipe saves a ton of money.  The typical box of name brand detergent can be on average $6 per box.  I get four to five times as much for that same price by making my own!

I hope these little tips help you.... Your home will be sparkling and germ free without any dangerous toxins and chemicals.  Open the windows once in a while, and get the fresh air moving, too, by the way!

"The Coupon Mom"

I know this book has been out for a while, but a few weeks ago I picked up "The Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half" by Stephanie Nelson.  It is wonderful!  Although I already am a coupon user, this book had some great tips in it.  I tried some of them out, and ended up having some pretty good success.  My receipt said I spent $94 after all the coupons and sale items, but my savings total on the receipt was beautiful:  I had saved $53!  Apparently my total grocery bill that day would have been $147 if I hadn't been paying attention to the ways to save that she lists. 

I am going to continue to use her methods and see just how much bigger my savings can get.  If you want to learn more about it, go to www.couponmom.com and check it out!

"The Coupon Mom"

I know this book has been out for a while, but a few weeks ago I picked up "The Coupon Mom's Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half" by Stephanie Nelson.  It is wonderful!  Although I already am a coupon user, this book had some great tips in it.  I tried some of them out, and ended up having some pretty good success.  My receipt said I spent $94 after all the coupons and sale items, but my savings total on the receipt was beautiful:  I had saved $53!  Apparently my total grocery bill that day would have been $147 if I hadn't been paying attention to the ways to save that she lists. 

I am going to continue to use her methods and see just how much bigger my savings can get.  If you want to learn more about it, go to www.couponmom.com and check it out!

THE Must Have Item This Fall...

 
 
 These bowls are simply amazing! Two years ago, my mom gave me 2 sets of these bowls for Christmas.  They come with matching plates that sit under them perfectly if you like.  Unfortunately, one broke, so this past Christmas, I asked for one more set of 4.  We use them ALL the time, so they are always in the dishwasher, and 4 more would be so handy in this family of six.  Well, bless her, she gave us 2 more sets instead, since we didn't want anything else!  We use these every. single. day.  No lie.  Every morning, they come out of the cupboard for cereal, oatmeal, or Malt O Meal.  At lunch I fill them with soup or mac and cheese.  At dinner they get used for chili or stew or any other hearty dish.  Even lasagna at times when it's extra gooey! And at night, Andy uses one for his evening ice cream indulgence!

These are so versatile. They are great for any occasion.  Put them on your registry.  Your birthday list.  Your Chrismas wish list.  Dishwasher and microwave safe.  Durable.  (Unless a 4 year old throws it in a sink a little TOO hard!) And a good basic white to match most any decor.  A bargain at $29 for a set of 4 bowls and 4 plates that will be a favorite for years and years!  And occasionally they go on sale, so watch for that, too.  Available at Williams-Sonoma stores and online. 

Tonight I'm using mine again... chicken chili is on the menu, along with home made rolls, veggies to crunch on, and home made hummus dip. And then later on tonight we'll use them for popcorn, the plates for donuts, and have cider while we watch a movie!