What To Do With Old Linens…

Posted by prettygoodhousekeeping

Nov 27

Did you know that animal shelters are desperate for any kind of linens for their rescue services?  They use them year round but especially in cold weather for feral cats and dogs.

And, it’s not just cat and dog shelters that need them.  They are needed year round for horse, cow and pig birthing.

We support the local shelters here and I give them my linens whenever I have them and I take my friends unwanted linens too. Towels, sheets, table cloths, napkins, anything!

Also, if you clip coupons, please send the shelters coupons for pet supplies that you won’t be using. Just another way to give back that really doesn’t cost a thing.

 

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Little Weeds….Big Bucks!

Posted by prettygoodhousekeeping

Nov 27

Years ago I discovered a lovely flowering plant called the Four O’clock because it blossoms about that time everyday.  I planted some tubers and by mid July I had gorgeous blossoms that lasted until fall.

Red 4 o'clocks

 

 

yellow Four O'Clocks

Fall came, I cut the plants down and dug up the tubers and stored them in sawdust to reuse in the spring.  I saw a ton of little black seeds and swept them up but I didn’t notice the hundreds of seeds that had fallen in the mulch.

Spring came and I was weeding the garden and I discovered that I had little Four O’clock seedlings everywhere.  Annoyed that I would have to pull up and throw out so many of the plants that I loved last year I was a bit annoyed.  Then, with a handful of seedlings it dawned on me…..I am holding money in my hand! Read the rest of this entry

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Nasty Chore Just Got Better For All Of Us…

Posted by prettygoodhousekeeping

Nov 26

So getting ready for company to come and lots of chores to do including the bathroom.

I really dislike cleaning the bathroom but not just for the obvious reasons.  Mainly because I am not the one who leaves the messes in the bathroom!  My kids get toothpaste everywhere, my husband shaves everyday and despite his efforts to tidy up, half of the mess gets left behind in the sink.  My son feels the need to finger paint on the mirrors with soapy hands and my daughter is always ‘bathing’ her Barbies or something.

Then there is the dust.  The dust!  It is incredible in the bathroom!  It is my enemy Read the rest of this entry

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New Cupboards? Yeah, new to me!

Posted by prettygoodhousekeeping

Nov 11

 

Kitchen Cupboard Makeover

If you remember from earlier posts, when we moved into our house in 2009, I hated the kitchen.  It was blue, it was 60′s, it was blue, it was small and did I mention it was blue?  The walls were stark white, cupboards were stark white and then that BLUE countertop and BLUE floor.  Don’t get me wrong, I like blue but I felt like I was drowning in powder blue!  

The cupboards, despite their age, were in good shape.  Did you ever notice the uglier something is, the longer it lasts?  They had raised fronts that just screamed 1960′s general contractor stock.  I looked into replacing just the doors but that was more than I had to spend.

I knew there was something I could do to break up the blue and white in this kitchen and give it a farm style feel. Read the rest of this entry

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Making Something Out Of Nothing!

Posted by prettygoodhousekeeping

Nov 11

Window Picture

 

Isn’t this pretty?  I saw something very similar for sale at an Antiques and Collectibles shop for $60.  I just loved it but couldn’t justify that kind of money for a beat up old window frame and some felt appliques.  Or could I?

So that was my mission for a while.  Scouring antique and junk shops for an old window frame.  Older and more beat up the better.  After about 2 weeks of searching, I found this frame for a whopping $8 and I snagged it. Read the rest of this entry

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Friday…Home Alone With The Kids

Posted by prettygoodhousekeeping

Nov 11

First let me say thank you to all the Veteran’s for their selfless service and sacrifice so that we may live the lives we lead here in the USA.  THANK YOU!

 

So, being Veteran’s Day, the kids were off from school today.  You know, I read in the paper today an editorial that suggested instead of giving kids the day off from school for Veteran’s Day they should stay in school and learn all about what it is that Veteran’s have done for out country.  Hmm, I tend to agree.  What do you think?

 

The kids were in rare form today.  Didn’t want to get their chores done, wanted to fight and whine and I just wanted to scream!   Read the rest of this entry

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Meathead Anyone?

Posted by prettygoodhousekeeping

Nov 11

So Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays so we go overboard when we can to do new things.  So we had a party and I thought I would share with you some pictures of the horifying feast!

halloween table    

We had eyeballs on a platter (deviled eggs), bones in a bucket (crescent rolls shaped into bones and served with marinara), meathead (more about him later) and chicken wing dip just because I like it! Read the rest of this entry

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Homemade Halloween…

Posted by prettygoodhousekeeping

Nov 11

The kids decided they wanted to be an Angry Bird and a Paper Doll for Halloween.  Yeah!  Mommy gets to make homemade costumes this year instead of buying more crap from China. So off we went to the fabric and craft store!

 

For Ben’s Angry Bird, I got 3 yards of fleece.   Basically I made a pillow with holes for the arms and face.  I then attached a 3rd layer of fleece to the back leaving an opening at the bottom for his legs.  So Ben was between the ‘pillow’ and the 3rd layer of fleece.  Needless to say I was glad we had a chilly Halloween!  Then I used some felt scraps for the face and he was done!

Angry Bird

 

Now Molly’s Paper Doll costume was made entirely out of foam board.  Thanks to Disney Magazine for the idea and directions!  First we traced it onto the foam board, painted it, attached elastic straps to the back and I thought we were done.  BE CAREFUL!  Paint, nor crayon, nor marker will stay on the foam board~ it is too slick.  So I sprayed everything down with clear acrylic to keep the paint from running off.  Attached the bow to a headband and we were off!  Thanks again Disney for the great costume ideas!

Paper Doll

 

Hope you all had a fun and fabulous Halloween too!

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Kitchen Makeover on A Budget…

Posted by prettygoodhousekeeping

Nov 8

We moved into this house in 2009 and the kitchen just had to go.  It had the very 1960′s contractor’s standard cupboards with the raised faces and they had been painted WHITE.  Not off white but BLINDING WHITE.  The countertop was a speckled blue and unfortunately not all that old so I couldn’t justify replacing them.  The floor is a blue and tan pattern linoleum that is ugly and again not all that old so I couldn’t justify replacing.  The kitchen is a square with 2 small entrances: one to the dining room and one to the hallway.  It felt very claustrophobic and there was only 1 area with a small amount of counter space and that was between my sink and stove.  Something had to give! Read the rest of this entry

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It Does Matter What Order You Use Them!

Posted by prettygoodhousekeeping

Nov 7

Did you know that the order in which you give your coupons can make a big difference in the amount you pay for your groceries?

This is especially true when you use store coupons because they almost always have a minimum purchase requirement.  

Rule of thumb is this:  As soon as your groceries have been tallied up, give the cashier your store coupons first.  That way you have the larger total prior to manufacturers coupons to help you sustain your minimum purchase.  

Seems silly but it can make a big difference in what you pay for your groceries.

~Brooke

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