There's a bug goin' around - the "Design Bug" and I have it!

Well, if I'm not swooning over girly things, I'm swooning over thrift shop DIY furniture pieces.    OK, I do read A. LOT. of decorating and design blogs, and I gotta say, they make me crazy.   Crazy to redesign and redecorate my entire house.

That said, when we moved into our house a year ago, I did nothing to put my own touches on the house.    It was summer, it was hot, and we had just finished renovating a ski chalet, so had no energy to Sue-ify anything, considering nothing was offensive.

Now a year later, I have a major hankerin'!!!    Here are some of the things I found on Craigslist yesterday that if they're still available I might just need to buy.

OK, these two pieces together are only $240!!   That's not to say that's what I'd pay for them.   Imagine them recovered in grey linen and with white piping - Ooooooo, swooning.

This sofa is only $75 (ditto, see above).   Yes, it's hideous as is, but re-upholstered in great fabric would be nice - love the swirl of the arms.

This set is only $100 for both!!!!    I NEED (yes NEED) to find a good (and cheap) upholsterer.   These settee's are all the rage these days.   

This coffee table is $20!!   Imagine it spray painted in a wonderful colour.    Kinda like this project from Centsational Girl

Same with this piece for $65.00.    Too much $$ for this piece, but perhaps $40 would do it.    Oooo, spray painted white or yellow - LOVE.



And finally, I LOVE LOVE LOVE these - check out the detail on them.    Gorg, I say!!!     Again spray painted white, or cream.     Price tag:   $70 bukeroos.

So, as you can see, I 've been busy.     My house - well, is instore for an overhaul, me thinks.      But a DIY overhall.    Keep y'all posted how I make out.    Going to check and see if any of these pieces are still available, and just may go and snap 'em up.    Now to find a decent (and cheap, I think I mentioned that) upholsterer.

Budgeting 101 - 2.0 and Life After 40

Been talking alot about budgeting lately, and that's because I'm darned well having fun with it.    As they say, if you have fun at something, it ain't work (I don't know who said that, but I'm sure someone did).

Today, normally a ski day, was the execution of a new module in our Budget Program.     Flyers.   Yes, indeed, flyers.    Our friends (same friends who gave us the stainless steel jars), taught us a lesson on how they use the flyers to keep their house stalked with all that they need whilst saving $300 a month.

So, this morning, I poured a cup of coffee, and got out paper and pen, and started identifying the best deals in town (OK not in town but in the Westboro area).     Finshed that, grabbed next week's $100 bucks out of the "Groceries" jar, and away I went.   

And let me tell you!!!!!  I came home with a trunk full of stuff, it could last a month, never mind a week.     10 chicken boneless chicken breasts for $14.00!!    8 lbs of ground beef for $16.00!!    $4.00 frozen pizzas for those nights (ie, Friday) when pizza is required (needed?)     A large PC canneloni for $5.00!!!      Laundry detergent for $1.99!!  (picked up 2 of those!).     I realize an abundance of exclamation marks is surely bad writing style, however, I am trying to excude my enthusiasm sheer elation.

On another note, I follow this great blog titled:   Fabulous After 40 - and I have to say, it's nice to hear that these lovely women tackle everyday issues.     Yes, Jen Anniston is over 40, and so is Madonna, and Susan Sarandan (she might be over 50 actually), but really........let's just talk about everyday common issues.



Fabulous After 40


These women are bang on!

Happy Saturday night - watching "The Pursuit of Happyness" (love the title, love Will Smith).

Chaaaa-Ching

Oh, I have been somewhat dis-engaged in the blog world for a bit.    I think it's winter, and me pining for spring this year.     I've always been the person who says "there is no bad whether if you dress for it", and "embrace winter" and "enjoy all that winter has to offer".     But this year............not the case, not even in the slightest.

But yesterday, with it being 12 degrees and sunny, I felt a little hint of excitement.  Could it be?   Could spring be inching closer?    GAWD I hope so.   Yes, I know!   It's only February.  But let us not forget about the little rodent who came out of his hole......and all that it stands for (it IS a credible data source you know).

OK, so Chaaaaaa-Ching.    This is a funny story, but it might be one of those "you had to be there".    Last summer we went to a finance planning weekend seminar with our friends Gloria and her hubby Marc.  So, the funny thing is the dude running the seminar kept yelling "Chaaaaa-Ching" and he would make us yell it too.  Arms in the air and all.  At one point I think we were all hugging one another, and standing on chairs, but anyway, you get the point.    You really DID need to experience this seminar.   We still laugh about it.  In fact, I am grinning as I type. 

That said, as crazy as the dude was, his methology was "cash-based" - meaning buying canisters or jars, and putting your budgeted cash-spend into each jar.      Seemed a little basic at the time, but we have since implemented this methodology.   We are just starting so will let you know how it goes.     By the way our friends (above) bought us these very cool and slick stainless steel jars as a house warming gift.    So, they even look awesome in our kitchen.   



I know I've posted about budgeting before, but I think this exercise is so cool.    I'm looking forward to the next 4 weeks.

What do you do?    How do you ensure you don't go over budget?    How do you make sure you don't spend too much at the grocery store?