Fashion Friday - Refashion edition

Mixing things up a bit this week (alright and being lazy) so there is no voting widget thinking- but you still get to check out what I am wearing today, and feel free to comment, good bad or otherwise.  Lord knows I need the guidance.  I do feel like I am doing better though, and am being more purposeful in what I put on, and taking a few more seconds on my make-up too.

I re-fashioned the back top I am wearing, it was a dress/ tunic like top with flappy sides and a high crew neck.  I think I wore it 2 times as it was, so today I took a pair of scissors and made it into a vest.  I cut the bottom band off, cut out the neckline and made it more v-shaped.  I also cut open the front and cut the armholes bigger.

t-shirt and cami - Lane Bryant

Jeans - Lane Bryant

Vest - refashioned from a Target top

 















And yes, that is one of my little monkeys in the tub behind me.  Wanna see? There is actually 2 little monkeys in there, getting clean for their cousins birthday party tonight.

 Have great weekend and don't forget to 'vote' on the outfit in the comments below

Kimberly

53% saved at Safeway today

I love saving, I really do.  I needed to swing by Safeway today to pick up my rain checked tortillas, so I decided to make the trip even more worth my while.  I got most of my deal ideas from one of my favorite deal bloggers, Coupon Connections NW.  Head over to her blog to get all the details and save big like I did, or better!

 

I spent $62.88 and saved $69.79

I few items were on my 'need' list and thus were maybe not the best deal, but I still saved.  

Like Children's Sudefed Cough and Cold (for my little sick kiddos)  was marked 50% off

- the Tortillas were on sale earlier this week but they were out so I got a rain check- so I got 10 packs of 10 for 99 cents each.  

- We were out of sugar, so though it was not on sale, I did have a $1/2 coupon from a peelie from back in November

another great blogger Happy Money Saver reminded me of the great frozen food coupon in this weeks ad- All frozen foods are on this sale, spend $15 and save $5 instantly...  see Happy Money Saver for more details- but I will tell you, I used the Safeway $42 Frozen food coupon book, and scored the hash browns for 87 cents each!  

  Happy shopping!

Kimberly

Fab or Fail Friday- Wardrobe edition - the Everyday Blue Hoodie

I call it the everyday Blue Hoodie, not because I actually wear it everyday, but that it is a go to item for me for regular mom days- either just at home or going to the store- nothing special.  But does it look good?  I think it needs an accessory, but I don't know what....  so here it is-

Blue Hoodie - Target

Purple and white Striped Tank - Old Navy

Jeans (same as lat week)- Lane Bryant

Shoes- brown and ivory hounds tooth  Mary jane Keds - Fred Meyer

 

 

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Loving my little man in these pics! he is so hip :) He Loves his hair done.

Kimberly

Dreaming of a makeover

Who hasn't dreamed of being on a makeover show?  I dream of it all the time! (can you hear me Oprah?)


As you all know by now, I am trying to makeover my wardrobe. Two kids ago I was pretty stylish (I have 3 kids, but I managed to keep it together thru the 1st one). But I have truly lost my fashionista mojo. I used to work in corporate/ retail/ design heaven.. I would see a cute item and buy it. I am far away from that world now- out here in Suburbia, striving to pinch pennies, be super mom, and run a little business. My pocket book is happier, I am healthier (thank you little pills), and a bit more plump. So I feel I have a bigger hill to climb to find my sassy/ fashionable self. But I can do it. (see, this is more of a pep talk to myself than a pot to ya'll) I will study magazines, surf fashion blogs, get opinions from you, the public... and maybe even pay someone else to cut and color my hair (I always do both myself). And if I fail... you you all get sick of me looking frumpy or complaining about it- you can chip in and send me to this gal over at Make you Over. I found her blog today, and I really wish she were my sister/ best friend, so she could work her fashion make over magic and I could move on to another topic.

Fab or Fail Friday- Wardrobe edition x2

Last week's Fab or Fail was a great success, I got great feedback and 69% said it was fab.  So the Grey Sweater Tunic is a keeper, but maybe with some tweaks.  So in effort to speed up my wardrobe spiff up, I am bringing you 2 outfits to rate today.  Please be kind to the photographers, the wrap outfit was taken by my 10 yr old and the green dress by my 5 year old.  So bring it ladies and gents- and help me purge my less than flattering frocks!

Wrap up Sweater- Target

Jeans - Lane Bryant

Boots- Sears

T-shirt - Target

Brooch- sister in law's wedding gift

Green Dress- Target
Black leggings - Target
Black l/s Shirt - Target
Black flats- Nordstrom

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Thanks!!!

Albertsons Doubler run- Free Fries and Lunchables!

We went to Albertsons today, to use up 2 more septs of "Twice the value" coupons.

Transaction #1

Oscar Mayer Creations $1
$1/2 Oscar Mayer Deli Creations (coupons.com)
Final Price : 2 FREE after coupon and double 

Oscar Mayer Creations $1
$1/2 Oscar Mayer Deli Creations (coupons.com)
Final Price : 2 FREE after coupon and double

Ore-Ida Potatoes $2, limit 2
w/ in ad coupon
$1.00/1 any Ore-Ida Sweet Potato Fries from Safeways $42 in Savings Coupon Book
Final Price:  Free after coupon and double

Total = $0, saved $18.45

Transaction #2

 Ore-Ida Potatoes $2, limit 2
w/ in ad coupon
$1.00/1 any Ore-Ida Sweet Potato Fries from Safeways $42 in Savings Coupon Book
Final Price:  Free after coupon and double

Kraft Shredded Cheese w/ a touch of Philly on sale $2.99
$1/1 peelie from previous purchase + double
Final Price:  $.99 coupon and double

Best life Buttery Spread on sale for $2.48
$1/1 from coupon insert in Sunday paper + double
Final Price:  $.48 coupon and double

Total = $1.48, saved $9.09

that'a a total of $27.54 worth of groceries for $1.48 :)  Check out my receipts below

What did you use your doublers on? And don't fret if you didn't use them this week, rumor is we will be getting them again this coming Sunday :)

Happy Shopping!

Kimberly

Fab or Fail Friday- Wardrobe edition

I have clothes on the brain.  Ok, I always have clothes on the brain.  I am a clothing designer by profession, but truly am not the best at dressing myself.  In my defense, I have been designing children's wear for the last 10 years, so I know how to dress my kids, just not myself.  My other issue?  I am not as tiny as I once was.  And while I am trying to correct that, I have come to terms with the fact that I take 2 medications that are known to pack on the pounds, so while I battle that, i want to Rock what I Got.  No more waiting until I loose to look fab.  Plus I have too many clothes that just aren't right.  My goal is to rid my closet of anything that doesn't help me Rock it- Here's is where you come in, I will post pics of me (taken by my 5 year old) and you let me have it.  Vote fab or fail, and feel free to add your bits of wardrobe wisdom to the comments. 

Here goes nothing-

Gray Sweater Tunic Top- Target

Charcoal Leggings- Target

Black Heels with Stitching - Target

Belt - Lane Bryant

 

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Safeway Cereal Stock Up

First of all, a big THANK YOU to Coupon Connections for the heads up on this deal.  (she got an even better deal than I did, so go to her blog to see how she did it) After February's spending freeze, the pantry has some thin spots, and as I enter my 6th month of couponing, I am gaining the courage to 'buy big'.  I am learning how much my family uses certain items, and about how long it will be until the next sale.  So today I headed out to stock up on cereal. 

 Here is what I did

(Safeway deal, buy 4 of select cereals and save $4 instantly)

2 Plain Cheerios  @ $1.49 

- $1/2 coupon from coupons.com

2 Golden Grams @ $1.49

-2 $.55/1 coupons from coupons.com

4 Cinnamon Toast Crunch @ $1.49

-4  $.55/1 coupons from coupons.com

3 Cinnamon Cheerios @ $1.49 

- 3 $.75/1  coupons from coupons.com, or from GM insert

1 Quaker Oat Squares  @ $1.49 

- $1/1 Quaker Oatmeal Squares Cereal 1/30/2011 RP Insert (exp 4/30/2011)

total for Cereal- 12 boxes for  $10.33 or $0.86 per box

I also got a great deal on Better Crocker Fruit Snacks (buy 4 or more and they are $0.99)

bought 4 boxes - 2 $.55/2 coupons from coupon.com

total-  $2.86 or $0.76 per box

Plus I got $1 catalina for buying 4 boxes of BC fruit snacks 

I also picked up some entrees for Hubby's lunch @ $1 each

Fuji Apples @ $.99 per lbs

Safeway select Pizza @ $2.99 each (using the coupon from the Safeway Big Freeze coupon book, found in the freezer section)

and 2 loaves of bread @ $.99 each when you buy 2 or more

All told, I spent $43.40 and saved $56.43, and I have $1 catalina to spend on my next trip

If I feel really crazy, I may swing by Top Foods later tonight and do this deal (big thanks to Queen Bee for this one (check her out for more details)

Transaction #1

Purchase three Honey Nut Cheerios and two Lucky Charms = $5, after $5 instant off at checkout
Used five* $0.55/1 printable coupons from coupons.com
Paid $2.25 out of pocket and I received a coupon at checkout (in the form of a catalina) for $2 off 5 boxes of General Mills cereal!

Transaction #2

 three Honey Nut Cheerios and two Trix = $5, after $5 instant off at checkout
Used  the $2/5 coupon (that printed as a catalina) from first transaction
Final price = $3! PLUS I got another $2/5 General Mills coupon, if I wanted to buy five more.

So that’s 10 boxes of cereal for only $5.25!

Who wants cereal for Dinner?

Kimberly

Spending Freeze Wrap Up

As we close the book on February, we also close the book on our 1st spending freeze. We set a very ambitious goal to only spend $100 on anything that was not a monthly bill. So that meant, gas, shopping, groceries- all were to come out of our $100.  Did we make our goal? No way.  Did we fail?  I don't think so.  Sure, we could have done better, not gone out to dinner, or indulged in pizza last night.  But we did learn alot, and certainly spent less than a usual month. 


 Recap of Spending Freeze
Day 1 = $0
Day 2 = $10.45 (gas)
Day 3 = $0
Day 4 = $10.02 (groceries)
Day 5 = $0
Day 6 = $12.29 (gas and milk)
Day 7 = $0
Day 8 = $5.40 (meat and cat food)
Day 9 = $10.50 (gas for hubs to get to interview!)
Day 10 = $16.45 (gas for hubs to get to 2nd interview!)
Day 11 = $0
Day 12 = $0
Day 13 = $15 for gas, $37.12 on groceries (see why this is still awesome in my next post)
Day 14 = $0 (we all made handmade valentines for each other, enjoyed heart shaped rolls with dinner and  chocolate cake for desert)
Day 15 = $0
Day 16 = $0
Day 17 = $11 (gas)
Day 18 = $0
Day 19 = $1.19 (eggs)
Day 20 = $65.00 (gas, to go see my beautiful new niece, she is still at the Army Hospital 1 hour away, and dinner out)
Day 21 = $0.00
Day 22 = $0.00
Day 23 = $48.24 (groceries)
Day 24 = $0
Day 25 = $0
Day 26 = $0
Day 27 = $0
Day 28 = $14.50 (Papa Murphy's Pizza)

So we  spent $257.16 for Feburary
  $93.40 went to gas
$104.26 went to groceries - not bad for a family of 5!
$59.50  eating out

All in all, I am proud of how we did, and loved seeing exactly where every dollar went.

We bought 0 impulse buys, switched to using homemade cloth napkins when we ran out of paper ones, potty trained our 3 year old when we ran out of wipes, and I learned to make the pricey granola/ nut bars my family loves.  

How did you do for the month?  


Kimberly