Deals, deals, deals!

Have you tried couponing? I'm not going to be making the cut for TLC's show Extreme Couponing, but I have been managing to build up a smallish stockpile of products we use regularly by combining couponing and store loyalty programs.

From today's trip to CVS, I got
3 Gatorade G Fit Series snacks and drinks
3 Hallmark car-shaped gift boxes (about 8x10 in size)
2 packages CVS pantiliners
3 12-packs of Pepsi
1 box of CVS bandaids
1 candy bar

Total paid out of pocket $9.94 (after coupons and using my previous ECB)
+ I earned $5 in ECB for my next trip

From Rite Aid, I got
2 bottles of Gain dish detergent
1 bottle of Scope mouthwash
1 padlock

Total paid out of pocket $5.04 (after coupons and using my previous UPR)
+ I earned $3 in UPR for my next trip

So in summary, I spent a total of $15.00 today for $48.00 worth of products. And I have $8.00 left to use in the future. I'm definitely not a pro at this, but I've found what works for us and I'm happy with the results.

If you're interested in learning more about this topic, I recommend checking out Money Saving Mom. She has a lot of great tutorials on getting the most from couponing, and she regularly posts other free offers.

Happy Shopping!

A Very New Skill

This summer has been so relaxing. It's the first time in a few years that I've had the time to simply do nothing. Ahh...

In the last week or so, I've finally begun feeling relieved, unburdened, rested, healthy. It's helped me relax to take care of some of the items on my to do list... and to simply leave some items alone for now.

I haven't been doing as much crocheting or crafting or posting, but I'm ok with that. I am finally feeling truly rested.

With all this resting, though, has come the space to try out a completely new skill- knitting. I'm showing you my first project- as you can see, it ended up wonky.

It was just a simple wash cloth to practice my new skills, but made wonky when I tried to add a border. Still, it makes me smile to see the smooth stockinette in the center.

Here she is in all her wonky glory!

By the way, I now know firsthand how the stockinette stitch can curl.

Blessings!

Inspiration

It's been so long since I last posted. I've got a few WIPs going on, but nothing ready to show off yet.

This afternoon, I was looking at the beautiful projects linked up at icrochet. This pillow totally caught my eye. It's such a nice use of granny squares and I love the little flowers on it. Wouldn't it be lovely as an accent piece?

Source: Amona

New Baby Hat

I found out a friend of mine just had a baby! Yay!! Here's the hat I made for her little girl. Since it's summer and hot, hot, hot... I went with a cotton watermelon themed hat. I think it turned out pretty cheerful.

I also got some new yarn last weekend- Sierra by Cascade Yarns. The yarn is 80% Pima cotton, 20% wool. It's soft and such a vibrant shade of pink. Also last weekend, I picked up some Debbie Bliss cotton yarn (I've heard good things about it, so I'm anxious to try it out).

P.S. Need to know how big to make a hat? Check out this post by Little Birdie Secrets. It's my go to place when I'm free styling!!

Cute Sundress

Woman's Day has a pattern for a child's crocheted sundress posted online right now. Here's the link. It looks adorable and might be the next thing I make my nieces. Yay for little girls!

On a related note, has anyone had a chance to check out Little Crochet by Linda Permann?  The sundress at Woman's Day comes from this book.  I've seen It at the local bookstore and it looks like it has several really cute and doable patterns. I just wish there was a Kindle version. 

Happy Hooking!

Crochet Love

One of my favorite parts of working on an afghan for someone is how much love goes into it.  I really mean that. The entire process of making an afghan is a labor of love.  For me, before I even begin, I spend hours looking around for inspiration.  I pour over all the yarn choices I have, debating which color and texture they’ll most enjoy.  I try to imagine where and how they’ll use their afghan. 

Will they keep it on the couch to curl up with while they watch TV?

 

Will they use it to casually throw over their favorite chair as a decorative touch? 

Is it something they’ll keep on their bed and fall asleep with night after night?

 

Wherever they’ll use it and however they’ll use it, I try to plan for that.  And then I begin it.  I count my starting chain over and over and check and double-check that I’m following the pattern correctly.  And once I’ve started it, I work on it hour after hour, night after night.  If you’ve ever made an afghan you know it takes time to finish.  And all the while, all those hours I spend working on it, I’m thinking about the person I’m making it for.  I think about them and about all the things that make them dear to me.  I remember the special times we’ve shared together and make plans for the memories I still want to make with them.  Then I triple check my pattern to make sure I’m getting this afghan just perfect for them.  My mind wanders again and I start to imagine them actually using this blanket, and I wonder if they’ll sense how much I care as they look over all these stitches?  I trust that they will and it makes me happy to know that, through this act of crocheting, I’m able to show someone how much they mean to me. 

Baby's On The Way!

Any day now, there's a new little nephew or niece coming! Hurray! I made these little layettes to welcome the new little one- boy or girl. Here's praying the birth goes smoothly for mommy, baby... and daddy, too!