Could it be true? A Painted bathroom!

A while back I posted about my unpainted bathroom, a project that I could never get started.  Well as of today, its another project (halfway) crossed off my to-do list!  If you will recall, my master bath was very blah and not a happy room for me.  

After an amazing garage sale weekend, the bathroom project seemed to come to the top of my project list because I found everything needed for a bathroom redo for LESS THAN $5.

Except the project never happened.  All the components sat for several weeks in the bathroom corner, staring at me, begging for me to use them.  I finally decided to do something about it - nope, I did not start painting, instead I tried to shame myself into painting by posting about my serious procrastination on the project.  I really wanted to paint... but I had a trip to see my sister in the works, a wedding, and tons of other much better things to do.  

Well everything changed this past Friday.  In an effort to procrastinate on another project (i.e. work), I decided it was time to get out my paint brush and get to work.

In case you are wondering, it takes forever to paint a bathroom.  There was a ton of edges, corner, etc.  I did my first coat and was pretty proud of myself.  

My husband (who spent the day actually working) came home and said "it looks good but... [ uggh, the dreaded but!] I'll need to touch it up later".  That is exactly what I did not want to happen.  I love my husbands help, but he is really busy with work right now and he frankly does not have time for me to add a random project to his list.

I planned to let the paint dry and do touch ups the next day.  Then Saturday came and it was time for Aggie football...  then that night we had an event to attend.  I figured I would work on it Sunday.  But Sunday I was pretty tired from the event the night before and frankly, Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest, right?!?!?!

To clarify, this entire time everything from out bathroom has been moved into our bedroom.  The mirror, the trashcan, the furniture pieces, etc.  EVERYTHING.  

Finally on Tuesday (4 days later... pretty pathetic, I know) I decided to actually finish the project - at least the painting portion.  I did some paint touch ups and brought in the bathroom necessities.  I let the hubby move the furniture piece back in later because it was too heavy.

I think the blue looks nice but I would really love to add a stencil like Carol at Giddings Lane did here - .  

I am so in love with this paint job she did!  

We also want to paint the mirror white so the entire room is blue and white and Joe is convienced we need to get rid of the furniture piece.  I do not disagree, I just am not sure where all my stuff will go.

To sum up the list of to-do's I still need to accomplish to actually wrap up the project:

• Add a pattern to the walls
• Find a different place for storage, remove white furniture piece
• Paint mirror
• Change or fix the light fixture
• Apply my vinyl wall quote

Fingers crossed this project is finished before 2012!

One Kings Lane :: Ideas for Using Free $15 Credit!

Yesterday I posted about a free $15 credit to One Kings Lane - if you signed up and are looking for $15 or less options, you should totally check out the Zak Designs store!  I found several kitchen items between $10 and $25 items.  The items are very cool looking, bright colored and would be perfect for a bright kitchen or even a graduation gift for a soon to be college student!

I'll keep on the lookout for other cheap options and let you know if I find anything especially great!

If you haven't signed up for One Kings Lane, do so now so you can get a free $15 credit!

Full disclaimer - if you sign up using my link and buy something, I will get a $15 credit... but if you refer someone and they buy something you can get a $15 credit too!

One Kings Lane Free $15 Credit!

I just found One Kings Lane, another daily deal site like Groupon.  They seem to have upscale home goods... most of the stuff I have found is very pretty but out of my price range.  

They have had some items (kitchen bowls, napkin holder, ect) that are around $10.  That is a pretty super price because right now they are offering a free $15 credit to anyone that signs up for their website.  That means FREE goodies - and shopping for free is my favorite kind of shopping!  

I am hanging onto my credit for a little while until I find something I really like - but there is not guarantee that the credit will be available much longer... so sign up now!

Frequently these daily deal sites will offer $10 credits; when I see these I always sign up... several I have not used but its always good to have the free credits just in case!

Click HERE to get your $15 credit! 

What did you find on the site?

Thanks MyLitter!

Frustrating Shopping Experience.

I just wrote a book long post about a extremely frustrating experience at HEB.  I decided not to post it because it was purely a rant that provided absolutely no useful information to my readers, much less positive information.  Instead I am allowing myself to rant... just in a much shorter format.

Needless to say, I hate shopping there.  I avoid it, then about every other month I get suckered back to the store with the allure of a good deal.  The good deal rarely pans out because they have a confusing coupon policy that they can't figure out (even if you are in the right).  They aisles are crowed with oversized shopping carts, families with a billion kids out of control, and really slow walkers.  I end up leaving the store angry I tried to like it again because of a good deal.  I don't like HEB. 

Am I crazy that 5 hours after leaving the store I still find myself frustrated when I think about it?  Do you have any store that drive you completely batty?  Do you give them a second chance and, if so, do you routinely regret it?

Sweetest Day = Sweet Deal!

I just read that the 3rd Saturday of October is designated as the "Sweetest Day"... 

Wikipedia says this day "offers all of us an opportunity to remember husbands, boyfriends, the sick, aged and orphaned, but also friends, relatives and associates whose helpfulness and kindness we have enjoyed". Sounds a bit like valentines day but I am happy to join in the celebration!

Lindseys Whimsys is celebrating the Sweetest Day this year by offering a 15% discount* on all Lindseys Whimsys rentals that are booked or stationary that is requested by October 22, 2012 (I am adding a week because I just discovered this fun holiday).  Just mention "The Sweetest Day" when you email lindseyswhimsys@gmail.com and you can get this sweet deal!

If you haven't checked out Lindseys Whimsys rentals, please do so and tell a friend!  these are perfect pieces for just about any special occasion.  You can also get custom made, personalized stationary from Lindseys Whimsys as well!  

Happy Sweet Day!   How do you plan to celebrate?


*Minimum rental of $75 required for discount.

Couponing at Target!

I LOVE Target... who doesn't though?!?!?  That being said, I always found it to be a bit more expensive so I never did grocery type shopping there.  However, my favorite couponing blogs regularly post great deals  at Target so I decided to dive in... and I have been WAY surprised by the fantastic deals out there.

Few things to note regarding Target:

- You can stack coupons at Target to get super great deals.  Stacking is when you take use both a store coupon and a manufacturers coupon for big savings

- Printable Target Coupons are here.  You can print up to two of each coupon... just select the coupons you want, print, and repeat the process... voila two of each coupon printed. I tend to print most coupons, even those I do not think I will use because they may match up perfectly with a manufacturers coupon or a clearance sale at Target

- Target regularly has coupons for clothes ($4 of kids jeans, $3 off ladies shirts, etc.)

- You can get Target mobile coupons texted to your phone.  I have found that these coupons are higher value then the printable store coupons.   At check out, just pull up the link from your text message and the cashier will scan your phone for the coupons.

Last night I went to Target and got the following:

2- Clorox Stain Fighting Pens 

2- Quaker Chewy bars 

2- Pretzel M&M's 9.9oz 

4- Hunts tomatoes cans

2 - Extra Gum packs

2 - Tic Tacs

1 - Transformers toy

1- Mabelline lip gloss

1 - Neutrogena face wash bar

2-  whisker Lickin's cat treats

1- Olay Regenerist face wash clothes

Retail cost: $48.57

Combining manufacturer coupons, Target printable coupons, Target Mobile coupons and clearance items I paid: $12.69

That is a total savings of $35.88... Pretty good shopping I think!

A few other things of note:

- I took advantage of some crazy good deals... but please note I only got 1-4 of each item.  I am totally against shelve clearing... let everyone save!

- At checkout, the younger guys are usually way easier to check out with then older men or old women (the older people tend to not be as coupon friendly).  Check out with a younger guy or a younger girl if at all possible when couponing (this is a pretty good rule of thumb anywhere, not just at Target... men couponers you should also follow this rule of thumb!!!

To find great Target deals, I follow these blogs:

MyLitter

KrazyCouponLady

TotallyTarget

Where have you found your best couponing deals?  Any surprising finds?

Happy 31 Anniversary!

Happy 31th anniversary Billie and TC!  31 years and 1 day ago you tied the not.

In a day when lasting marriages are a rarity, you are a great example of a loving marriage with a foundation in Christ for me and Joe.

Thank you, love you, and congratulations!