Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Couponing . . . Save Money!

A few months ago, I came across this show called "Extreme Couponing."  a new reality show that shows men and women buying the majority of their food and household products, sometimes spending $0 or getting paid, yes, I said PAID, to take the item out of the store.  All of this done with coupons.

When I first saw the show, I couldn't believe it.  I sat there in disbelief with my jaw open for most of the half hour as these people bought hundreds of dollars worth with next to no cash.  It was amazing!  I also loved that some people donated their purchases to local charities or churches.  To me, helping your family, AND helping others at the same time was super cool.  However, I just didn't quite get how it all worked and how a coupon could make an item free.

Well, tonight our local library hosted Tammi Lee, one of the extreme couponers filmed for the show, and a free couponing seminar.  I have just finished and I can't wipe this smile off my face because it seems so incredible to get stuff for free.  I have little intentions to coupon on a grand scale, but I love the idea of doing it with items that I already would get and possibly getting them for free. I'm going to start with laundry soap, dishwashing soap, toothpaste, and toothbrushes.

Here is Tammi's website.  If you are at all interested in how this couponing thing is done, her website will lay it all out for you.  Tammi says that her goal is to do all the work for people so they can coupon and save money and stay or get financially stable.  Try it out. . .  I'm going to be over the next several weeks!

tammileetips.com

Have a great evening!
~Callie

Saturday, August 27, 2011

The Breakfast Nook, Before & After

I found my apartment the same day that I moved in.  It was kinda crazy and a total act of God.  I was scheduled to leave on a Wednesday morning early August with my mom, my car, and the Uhaul to make the 6 hour drive to Coeur d'Alene, ID from the west coast of Washington, and move into an apartment that I had all lined up.  But when my mom woke up at 5am out of a dead sleep sensing that that apartment was not going to be quite right, she went on the internet where there happened to be this great apartment for rent, cheaper, closer to town, and totally available.  We called on the road, stopped at a Chamber of Commerce in a town along the way to use the internet and complete my background check, and moved into the apartment that afternoon, after, sure enough, the other apartment I had lined up was not quite what I had thought it was going to be.  The small detail that had been left out when the apartment was pitched to me was that it was a basement apartment, and the three small windows that it had, poked above ground less than 6", thus leaving me buried all winter once the snow came.  Uh, no thank you!

So, because I got this apartment so quickly, there were a few things that had to be done after I moved in, which I don't mind a bit.  Plus, the inquisitive side of me has liked getting to watch and learn while "G", my landlord, tears things apart.  :-)

My breakfast nook had windows that were painted shut . . .

 The windows with the trim torn off and the windows out.


 Being a very old home, each window has a pulley system with a long weight on either side like this one to keep the windows open and closed. Cool, huh?!

 The rope on the weight on this side had broken, but the lath and plaster that they used to fill the walls before sheetrock and plaster is very hard and a bear to break through.  I suggested "G" make a small hole right about where the weight would be tied to the rope and string a new rope in there.  "G" liked that idea and thought I was pretty smart.  A guy taking my advice on a man's project!  Woo hoo!  I felt pretty cool.  ;-)
   
My sweet breakfast nook, repainted, working windows and ready for a little decoration.  I have some ideas but am also kind of enjoying the simplicity and cleanliness of the bright white.  

The table has an enamel top.  I picked it up at a flea market for $30 and the chair was a Craigslist buy for $10.  They were a perfect fit here!

Well, enjoy your weekend!  I'm off to the fair tonight and an elephant ear is in my future!

Blessings, 
Callie

Thursday, August 25, 2011

The Apartment Unveiling . . . Part 1

Okay, as promised, here are a few shots of my new apartment.  I have entitled this post Part 1 because I have decided to unveil it in sessions, given that I'm not ready for the entire house to be photographed. Ha!  :-)  So, as I find a few more pieces of furniture and collect new art over the next several weeks, I will unveil more and more.  In the next day or two, I am going to show you the project that my landlord did (with a little help from muah) on my breakfast nook windows.  Now I can open them!

So, I hope you enjoy these first photos.  This apartment is one of five in a very old home - over 100 years old!  I have a personal affinity for old homes with their practical and not-so-practical nooks and storage spots, their often wonderful structures, and the feeling of home that they can so wonderfully exude.  This little apartment has all of these qualities, however, there is one thing that I would change, if I owned it - the brown carpet.  It's not horrible, but I would love wood floors.  I think I will find some great rugs to add some contrast and keep the carpet cleaner.

Have a great Thursday!  It is another beautiful sunny and hot day here in Coeur d'Alene, Id.  It was 96 degrees yesterday!  Whew! I hope you are catching some great end of summer weather as well.

~Callie

 I love to read, and I always have a lot of books by my bed, often reading several at a time.  The glass lamp was a garage sale find - $5!  And, the little clock by the lamp was an Etsy purchase from here.  

 I love this little shelf above the sink!

This painting is an original oil painting painted by my wonderful neighbor when I lived in La Conner, WA.  I am totally in love with it and will always be!

This is looking into the hallway leading to the kitchen.  Can you see all that great storage space!  I got this slightly warped but wonderful table at a garage sale for $2, and this wonderful market basket will be coming to the shop soon!

More coming soon! . . .

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Tomorrow . . . Apartment Peeks!

Okay, I know, I said I would be posting pictures of my new apartment and I have left you hanging.  Part of the problem is a few of the nooks and spots that I want to photograph are missing a mirror or a piece of art, that, without them, makes the space look unfinished.  I suppose I could still post some of these places as places in progress.  I'm not sure . . . I'll think about it.

In the mean time, I promise, I will be posting a few shots tomorrow of some spots that are ready . . . at least for now.  :-)  So, please come back tomorrow and feel free to leave comments and thoughts on what you see.  It's always fun to know what others' impressions are when they look at a space for the first time.

Until tomorrow, have a great evening!

~Callie

Friday, August 12, 2011

Moving . . .

I'm moving and it is exhausting!  But, I just signed a contract on the most adorable apartment in my new town of Coeur d'Alene, ID, and I have been taking pictures to show, and I'm SO excited!  I have one more day of packing and one more 6 hour drive and then I'm home . . . in my new home!  So, stay tuned for before and after pictures as I set up house.  Have a bit of unpacking, arranging, and organizing to do, but I hope to get back to you very soon.  Have a great weekend!

~Callie