Extreme Couponing? No I'll just go to Aldi's.

I am absolutely amazed by what these women on TLC's Extreme Couponing can do.  I am inspired to be like these frugal divas.  There is only one problem: I am lazy, unorganized and barely a coherent grocery shopper.  I can't even remember to use one coupon that I have before it expires!  So I found an alternative to coupon clipping, extreme or otherwise: Aldi.  I love Aldi!  I was thinking that Aldi was like one of those cheap grocery stores where everything is generic and cheap but it tastes like its generic and cheap.  No NO No.  Aldi is a great little grocery store where all of the items are generic brands but the stuff tastes as good as, or BETTER than the name brands.  Seriously. 

I also made a big pot of Olive Garden's Toscano Soup from this recipe:
Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana

It is Jason's Favorite and it turns out really good, we used a can of Spinach instead of Kale and used Half and Half instead of Heavy Whipping Cream.  It's Wonderful!

I was running low on my home-made frozen dinners so I made some tonight.

I start by seasoning and grilling some chicken breast on the Foreman, Jason and I made a big bowl of mashed potatoes and then added veggies out of the can,

Then into the freezer they go. 
Since I was grilling up the chicken I went ahead and got the meat ready for fajitas that we will have tomorrow night for supper.

This Labor Day spent laboring

    Today I went and helped out with my Granny's yard sale.  There weren't  a lot of bargain hunters out today but I was able to help pack everything up afterwards.  And Granny gave me this:

It may be the oldest sewing machine ever. I am so excited to have it. Granny gave me a crash course in using it, but when I got it home I couldn't figure out how to get the needle to pickup the bobbin thread (and I'm not sure if that even makes sense) so Mama came out and helped me with that. 

And I sewed two pieces of fabric together in a straight line... pretty proud about that.

I have also been working on an art project (for youth group) for the last week. Here is the original artwork done by Gabrielle (Oiseau-vert) :

This is my version of it on a 80" x 55" Poster.

What do you think?  By the way.  I did get permission from the original artist to use their work as inspiration, if anyone is wondering.

Busy Busy Busy

I enjoyed a very productive day off today.  I spent all day working on projects for youth group and spending quality time with Jason.  We completed this project today:

We got the image from a google image search for Cross Tattoos.  We printed the image onto a transparency and let the youth group trace the design onto the back of one of my billboard posters from work using the overhead projector.  Today I went over their outlines with permanent marker.  Then Jason and I painted the whole thing red.  We then touched up the cross with black Glossy paint.  I think it is just awesome.

I also started on a second project and I will post progress pictures when it is complete.

Spiritual Fruit Projects

Youth Group Project Fruits of the Spirit.

Can you guess which is which?

I feel like I should say that the ideas for each of these were from various google image searches, some from photographs, graphics drawings and paintings.

Update to entryway.

Okie Dokie.  Today I was able to spend most of the day working on our youth group space at church.  I painted one of the dressers, computer desk and book shelf.  I also started painting the mirror frame.  I'll post pictures as everything is finished with those.  I am trying to remember to do before and after pictures of each in order to show the progress.
J and I got to work together all afternoon and that was fun. He made supper, and I prepped some meals for the week.  I grilled a big pack of chicken on the Foreman and put it with veggies in plastic containers to place in the fridge/freezer. I haven't tried making my own frozen dinners before so I will let you know how that goes.  Together we folded and put away the laundry and I put our new over-the-door shoe organizer in the entryway closet to organize our hats, scarves, gloves and other things:

I am still in need of a mail sorter that I am trying to pickup at a Thrift store or yard sale.  I am absolutely in love with these entryways but I am also realistic about how much money we are able to spend on this small project.

Some of my favorites entryways/mudrooms from around the web:

The Goodwill Binge

I have always loved getting a great bargain. I love yardsales and thrift shops, curb alerts and freecycle.  I like to try to buy as many things as possible second-hand.  It is almost always less expensive and its also more eco-friendly than buying new. 
 As far as thrift stores go I love Goodwill.  I have been partial to one in Clarksville, Tn that is very organized with everything divided into categories and separated by size. My big concern with them is high prices.  This is donated second hand merchandise, there is no reason the prices should be retail or even half of retail in most cases.  I have actually seen items sell for more money than you could purchase them new on sale.  Ridiculous. There is also a Goodwill nearby at Hopkinsville, Kentucky that I visit less frequently because it is not categorized and sized like the Clarksville one.  However when you are really shopping for bargains low prices beat out convenience, and so to the Hopkinsville Goodwill I went.

I hit the mother load.  I don't know who was downsizing their wardrobe but Thank You very much.  I got 12 tops and 1 dress for $37. All really cute stuff.  I was very fortunate today.

Spare Bedroom Dresser

Update on my Epic Fail from yesterday.  My boss thought it was ridiculous that I thought I would get fired. She expressed that although it wasn't ideal, there were extenuating circumstances and that I was a great employee and that I needed to just keep working at getting my priorities and balance to where I needed them to be.  Good to know.

On another topic, I've been thinking about how to organize my drawers. I want my drawers to look like this:

It doesn't.  First of all, I have mostly brown, black, gray and white socks. Second until recently I have been "balling" them up, that is if they are even mated at all, and tossed in a drawer.

The dresser in my bedroom has 7 drawers 3 small across the top and then two rows of two at the bottom.

The Jewelry Organization on my dresser is for another day.  I have nightgowns in the top left drawer, Bras in the middle, Panties in top right.
Second row left to right  white socks colored / socks
Third row left to right     Sleeping shorts / pajama bottoms.
I am looking for frugal solutions for dresser drawer organization. Do you configure yours differently?

In the spare bedroom dresser I store my less frequently used items:

The First two drawers are for "fancy" panties & bras and also for tights and hosiery.  In the second picture we have sports bras, bathing suits, strapless bras and shape-wear. 

(Above) Third Drawer: Sports bras and active-wear

 

Plus a newly empty cabinet: What should I store in here?

I also just finished folding all of my sheet sets in my linen closet into bedsheet bundles thanks to the great direction in this Instructable:  

How-To-Fold-Bedsheet-Sets-into-a-Bedsheet-Bundle