Making "Dollars and Sense"!

With rising unemployment rates, dropping rates of stocks, and gas prices going nowhere soon but up (NC has the highest gas prices in the 48 states--I'm not including Alaska & Hawaii) we've all been feeling the need to make our dollars stretch further. I'm going to do a little series and hope to share some ideas for doing things that make "dollars and sense"!!

• Decorating on a Budget


• Ways to Save $ Around the House


• Grocery Shopping -- Getting the Most for Your $


• Spending Less for the Holidays


• Needs Vs. Wants


• We're All In This Together -- Family Goals

These are just a few of the topics I'll be covering, and I really hope that this will be a "discussion" where you, dear reader, feel free to join everyone in sharing your ideas on the topic in the comment section!!! The more ideas that we have and share, the better all of us can be in saving $$!

I really think that the foundation for all of the rest of our series should be an honest look at our current financial situation. There are many great books and worksheets out there that can walk you through the financial steps, and I think that they're great! (If anyone wants some recommendations, I'd be happy to do a list of some to read)

However, they all start with sitting down and making a list of how much $ you bring home every month and how much $ you spend every month. Include all bills, fun expenditures like movie rentals, eating out, kids' allowances, babysitters, gas, lunches or coffees during work hours, clothing, etc, and make sure you really, honestly list everything! This won't work otherwise!! A great way to do this is for one month track everything by entering your reciepts in a notebook at the end of each day...this will help you really see where your money goes!

Now, the goal in all of this is that hopefully we are bringing home more $ than we are spending. Unfortunately, due to job loss, tough times, or just poor spending habits that isn't always the case. That's when the budget needs some adjusting. Here is where the next part comes into play: Needs vs. Wants!

Tomorrow I'll continue with Needs vs. Wants! Take some time today to make a list of where your money really goes each month. If this seems overwhelming, at least get the basics down. You may want to do a comprehensive list later on, though. Get thinking about your current spending habits. Take a deep breath in, say a prayer, and let it out! Because this is the beginning of a new way of thinking...one that will benefit your family and get you breathing easier!!! :)

Are you ready?!! Let's go!!!

Tagged & My Crazy Life

Angie at Sandals and Daisies has tagged me to list 7 Random Things about myself!

1. I don't like "scented" things. Only vanilla or cinnamon-y scents for candles, and no scented bath stuff or lotions. I don't know why -- just smells yucky!
2. I don't usually bother to have my nails polished because they just get ruined when I garden/landscape (in NC you can garden most of the year!).
3. I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I actually really like the latest New Kids on the Block song "Summertime"! My husband said I had a little smile and google eyes when I watched the video! What can I say -- every 14 yr old girl had mad crushes back around '89! hehe!!!
4. I am the 1st person in my entire extended family in 4 generations to have red hair!
5. I am a bit of a sweet-tooth, and tend to have candy on hand at all times!! When I'm extremely stressed I tend to pick a particular one and get...um...a little addicted to it! :) When we moved here 2 years ago, I was eating red hots and mini frozen candy bars like crazy!! LOL
6. I love to garden, but really hate to water houseplants! They have to be seriously tough to make it in this house!! Yet I have several anyway! :)
7. I don't own a watch. My only one broke several yrs ago, and I haven't worn one since!

Wow, that was harder (and possibly more embarrassing!) than I thought...no brain cells left to tag anyone else, so consider yourself tagged if you want to play! :)

I'd also like to apologize for my lack of interesting/or just lack of posts lately. I have been a little overwhelmed with things here. Just lots of extended family projects I have to finish, trying to get ready to sell some of my antiques and junk this Sat., praying and trying not to worry for my brother (in-law, but I've known him since he was 15, so seems like my real brother) who's going through final testing for a border patrol job (pray about this if you would! May God's will be done--this is a dangerous job), and just trying to keep up with regular life at home too! I'm hoping that next week things will have slowed down a wee bit, and I can get back to "normal"! :)

Here's hoping you're all doing well, and feeling fine!

Leave us a comment and tell who was your mad teenage celebrity crush?!!! River Phoenix & Kirk Cameron were 2 of mine, in addition to the above boy band! ;) You know you had a poster of somebody! hehe Tell us who!

Matthew Mead & Entertaining Simple

I know that this is my 2nd post of the day, but I wanted to share with you about Matthew Mead's new book "Entertaining Simple"!!

I am always looking for simple, easy ideas for entertaining, and Matthew Mead has so many ideas in this book! The photos are gorgeous, and ideas are great!

Matthew says, "Entertaining Simple is about restoring sanity to entertaining, without sacrificing style."

You can purchase "Entertaining Simple" at bookstores across the US and Canada.

Or check out Matthew Mead's website here!

This would make a wonderful hostess or holiday gift as well! Do you have any of Matthew Mead's ideas that you've enjoyed before? Let us know!

Puppy Love & Award

Just look at my "puppy-love" Sadie! Isn't she the cutest giant Yorkie you've ever seen?! She's also known as the "freak" ;) because she's a whopping 13 lbs, and is so honey blonde! Guess this is what happens when you have a 1st time mommy doggie bred -- like Forrest Gump said "You never know what you're gonna get!". Of course, he was talking about life and chocolate, but it works for puppies, too! :)

We just adore sweet Sadie, and here she is back from the groomer, who made her look even less like a Yorkie by chopping off her face hair! Now she looks like my sister's shelter mutt that we also love :). That Forrest was so right! LOL!!!

I also got a totally sweet award a couple weeks ago from Shannon at Bless Our Nest! Isn't this a cute award? Thanks, Shannon! (took me awhile to get my blog sidebars back in order after the new blog makeover...still working on that by the way!)

I'd like to give this "Fluffy Nest Award" to:

Ruthann from Warm Pie Happy Home!! Ruthann has the most lovely posts, and a dreamy dream home that's filled with family and love! This gal could seriously write for a magazine or do a book on homemaking! Thanks for sharing your decorating and homemaking ideas with us, Ruthann! :)

and

Angie from Sandals and Daisies!! Angie is so creative with her amazing home! She has a dining room that I'd love to enjoy a cup of tea in, and this girl can make the prettiest crafts with stuff she already has! She's started to list some on a selling blog, and I'm sure they'll go fast! :) The coolest part about Angie's "Fluffy Nest" is all of the projects that she does with her kids -- I think that's great!

Congratulations, Ruthann and Angie!!!

Have a blessed day, everyone!

Fun Day at SuzAnna's Antiques & New Friends

What a fun day I had yesterday! I had plans to meet Stacey of Flotsam and Jetsam for the first time. We had "met" through our blogs, and decided to meet in person to have lunch and do some shopping!! She is one fun girl, and we really hit it off! It's so nice to get to know new friends!!

Stacey is an antiques dealer at SuzAnna's Antiques in Raleigh. SuzAnna's is one of my favorite places to get some "fun finds", so we decided to meet there! Don't they have a ton of stuff?! And this is just the outside!

Below is Country Porch and Antiques (smack next to SuzAnna's). Sam gets in some great produce...look at these pumpkins! I've also gotten several great things here!!

Stacey and I went for lunch at the cutest little Mexican place nearby, then came back to SuzAnna's Antiques to do some shopping!!

Look who else I met! Jenny of The Red Bulletin Board! She was working at the shop, and it was so much fun to meet her! We 3 gals had a great time talking about the wonderful new things in the store, and sharing favorite blogs and crafty ideas!!

(below: Me, Jenny, Stacey)

I took just a few pics of the shop this time...I think I was too excited to get my hands on stuff and completely forgot to take more pics for everyone! Check out Jenny's blog...she has some recent pics!

Isn't this funny? Old mannequin parts and a rocking horse taking a bath! :)

I don't know why this pic is sideways. But look at these great bottles & bottle jewelry they just got in! Gorgeous!!


Okay, I told you I forgot to take more, didn't I?! But at least I took some of what I bought!

Look at this cool old piece! I think it was top to a furniture piece, and they painted it as a chalkboard! This is gonna go in my sunroom, after I paint the pink a creamy shade of white. What a cool shape!

OK, anyone else get the new issue of Creative Home? They have a pic in there of these 1950's Christmas bulb reflectors that they made into ornaments! I LOVED this idea, and was SOOO excited to see....This fun stash of bulb reflectors at Stacey's Flotsam and Jetsam booth!! You never know where you might find just what you're looking for!



Stacey & I also went to Gresham Lake Antique Mall, and I bought several things from her booth there too! I had loved her stuff/booths before we even started e-mailing!! This girl gets some seriously cool things :).

I didn't spend a ton yesterday (the Junk Bonanza trip was only a month ago!), but I really got some wonderful things!

Look at these fun old clock faces!
Lace...instant ancestor photo...rhinestone buttons and pins...and old tags, key, and other goodies for turning into fun little projects!


A bucket full of old bottles for a great price!

Bring on the denture tablets!!

Stacey even got me a LOVELY present, just because!! She gave me a children's book with the most darling illustrations in it! My girls will love to read this with me -- they are my little helpers! :) I also got a beautiful millinery pin and 1940's holly shaped foil leaves! The cutest little duckie buttons all in a row, and the most gorgeous little lace pieces ever! Wasn't she sweet?! I sure think so! Thanks again, Stacey!!!

I really had a fabulous afternoon meeting new friends and having some fun! If any other NC bloggers ever come through the Raleigh area and want to do some fun shopping together, let me know! We could get a group together!!

To top everything off, MY junk swap package came yesterday from my partner! I'll have to show pics tomm. ;)...can't share all the goodies in ONE DAY!!!

Have a blessed Friday :)