How I'm Being Frugal Right Now

It is the time of year that I hate. Right after the holidays, and it is cold and snowy. My bank account this time of year is always low, due to holiday overspending and retail therapy for the winter blues. My new year's resolution is to be more frugal and simplify my life. Here are the ten things I am doing right now to live frugally.

1. Shopping at thrift stores. For $7.00 I got a banana republic button down blouse (looks brand new), brown ann taylor work pants, a black sweater, and two books. This was from the doggie thrift store so all my money went towards my favorite animals. I couldn't have even bought the books for $7.00 at borders. After retail shopping the other day I had to get back to my roots.

2. I'm not buying magazines full price anymore. I can get them "used" at the thrift store for .50 or even better for free at the library. Our library has great subscriptions you can take out for 3 weeks at a time. Example: Glamour, Oprah, Consumer Reports, Martha Stewart, Rachael Ray, In Style.

3. Im using coupons for things we use. I got these dryer sheets for .52 with a coupon. Did we need dryer sheets no, but we will soon, i only bought one box so it wasnt a waste of $$ we'll use 'em.

4. I'm wearing slippers. This is from my mom telling me my whole childhood to wear slippers, it keeps the wear and tear on my socks down and my floors in better condition from winter shoes.

5. Im learning how to make a good cup of coffee. Don't laugh I make the worst cup of coffee ever! Too strong, too weak I can't get it right. Then I end up buying a D&D coffee for $2.09 so im attempting to save that $2.09 every day .

6. Miss Baby is wearing second hand clothes and playing with second hand toys.

7. I'm making our dog food. Our dog has a gluten allergy and needs specific food that is very expensive. Every week I make his food for a fraction of the cost. When Miss Baby is on solids I also will be making her food too!

8. Hubby and I are not eating out as much. If we do eat out we go for lunch which is cheaper, and a happier time of the day for Miss Baby.

9. We are only buying what we need for the week from the grocery store. I'm famous for letting vegetables, meat, and cheese go bad, which in turn is a waste of money.

10. Im not buying things I don't need because it is a "good deal". Im slowly getting better at this!

What are you doing to live frugally?

Retail Shopping

As you know I do not retail shop alot. But for Christmas I got gift cards to the retail outlets in our town. So hubby was gracious enough to go with me and take care of Miss Baby while I tried on clothes. I forget how much I hate brand new clothes shopping, it is not as rewarding as finding that perfect shirt for $1.00 that fits you perfectly! This is what I got for $38.00. Which is a ton of money to spend on clothes for me, but I didn't spend a cent :)

Everything I got was from Banana Republic

Grey Dress Pants $12.00

Sunglasses $6.00

Cardigan $20.00

It has been chilly here on Fairview Ave. Here is Miss Baby in her cheetah fleece vest and her Uggs. Yes real Uggs, They were hand me downs :)

Stay Warm!!

Sunday on Fairview Ave.

Im sitting here in my cozy living room reading blogs. All of a sudden I stop because I can hear this noise.... I think to myself what the hell is that noise, and it hits me the whole house is snoring. I can hear Miss Baby snoring peacefully over the baby monitor. Hubby and the T.C.F.H are snoring on the couch, T.C.F.H gets up and makes his way to the dog's bed and continues to snore there with the dog. There is not a more peaceful time on Fairview Ave.

It has been a busy day. Miss baby and I went to visit Gramie and Pepe today. They head to Florida next week for vacation so we wont see them for a while. I am so jealous I wish I were flying somewhere warm next week! It is so cute how much they both love her, and how content she is at their house.

Hopefully I'll get some thrifting in this week. I've been trying to clean out my house and live more simply. I am the type of person if the item is a "good deal" or free I take it, even if I will never use it. Then I let it sit in my house, and hubby complains how it is collecting dust. So my goal this year is to only buy or take from the dump things I will absolutely use. Wish me luck with my new year's resolution, I think it is obtainable, just might take some self control :)

Baby Brain

So yesterday was gramie Wednesday. Miss Baby and I had so much fun with gramie, we went to two different thrift stores, and out to lunch at our favorite cafe. On the thrifting scene we didn't get too many items. I got a how to live frugally book, a magazine, and a Ralph Lauren wool sweater dress. Well I had a wool sweater dress.... having the baby brain that I do I threw it in the washer... on high. Now the dress fits Miss Baby, oh well at least I donated $2.00 to the church thrift store.

Speaking of baby brain. I've been home on maternity leave and have been obsessed with food network. I especially love the Barefoot Contessa. Unfortunately I cannot cook for beans. Well I attempted to make one of her steak dishes that looked so easy to do on TV, needless to say I didn't do so well. The steak was soso but i dropped one my aunt's homemade potholders in the oven and didn't realize it.... well the whole house filled with smoke, and I had no idea why the oven was smoking until I opened it up.

So I guess I will never have a cooking show of my own. I guess i'll have to stick to blogging!

Thank You!

Kim over at http://touchofnostalgia.blogspot.com/ was so sweet and awarded me my first blog award! As part of the award you are suppose to share 7 things about yourself. Hummm where to start:

1. I recently had a baby girl (6 weeks ago) and am loving every minute of motherhood!
2. I am obsessed with looking at other blogs and getting great ideas!
3. I have a huge place in my heart for dogs and cats from the humane society, if hubby let me I would have 20 cats and dogs.
4. I loovee to yard sale and have been known to bring home stuff that I never use because it was "such a good deal" Im working on that this year.
5. 90% of my wardrobe is from second hand stores.
6. I dream about having a house that looks like it came straight from the pages of pottery barn and then have to remind myself that catalog is my definition of "house porn" my house will never look that perfect.
7. I hope someday that I can own my own second hand store/coffee shop.

I am suppose to then choose 15 recently discovered great bloggers. I can't choose so sorry I wont be able to pick just 15 I LOVE them all!

Thrifty Finds

Yesterday, Miss Baby and I decided to take advantage of our sunny day and went out thrifting. We went all the way to our favorite thrift store to remember it is closed on Thursdays!! Oh what a mommy brain I have! We went to two other thrift stores and walmart. Miss baby loved the two thrift stores and screamed her head off in walmart. She takes after her mother, I hate walmart and always want to scream my head off in there too! I hate going in there with her, whenever we are in their weird people touch her without asking and are always mauling her. We try to stay away from there as much as possible!

Anyways here are my two finds for the day a total of $5.00

A pretty spring skirt from the limited for $2.00

A nice wool heavy pair of mittens for $3.00, perfect for walking the dog!




We were going to head out to our favorite thrift store today, but I have a flu ridden husband and a cranky baby. Maybe next week!

Snow Snow and More Snow

For some reason all these storms have decided to hit on Wednesdays, which of course screws up my mom's visiting schedule! Miss baby and I miss her visits when it is nasty outside.

Because of the snow I have no new thrifty finds to share with you. Miss baby did have some pictures done at Sears last week. Out of 11 pictures 3 of them came out okay. Here is one of my favorites. Yes she is smiling, but the only way she would smile is if hubby held her. So here he is holding her from behind the sheet. We went to thd Dr. today she is a whopping 9 lbs 1 oz and 22 inches long.

Miss baby and I are going to venture out on Friday to the doggy thrift store. Hopefully we'll have some more finds to report back.