A Simple Christmas

This year the word "Simple" played in my mind. I kept thinking how commercialized Christmas has become. Simple is exactly what we did this year. There was no hustling around to the stores for things, no crowds, no stress. I enjoyed hot tea, the fireplace, movies, popcorn and Christmas jazz music.

It was wonderful!

A simple reef made out of a tree that we took down.

Simple Snow flakes!

Warmth of a simple home...how blessed we are.

There's something simply wonderful about walks in the snow.

Simply Beautiful!

The Frugal Reefs and Trees

So, there was this ugly green tree on the side of the house that grew so crooked, I was more than happy to help my son and husband take this tree out. It was a little eyesore from the street. It did nothing for curb appeal to the house. Down it went. Then I started thinking about what I could do with all the lush green limbs.

I went to a local craft store and got reef wire hoops, then I start my project of making my own Christmas reefs. I have never done anything like this. I wanted it to feel like an LL Bean Christmas reef, kinda rustic too. This is so quick and easy.

I took branches and inserted them in the reef. I used green wire to tie everything into place.

Doesn't it look rustic!

Then I put bamboo shoots poles that we have growing in the back yard in these pots so that I would have something to tie the wire too, I took the long branches and stuck them in these pots, tied them to the poles. These look like real trees growing in the pots don't they?

Beautiful!

Added red bows to finish the look.

Cost for this project...$0.00! I alread had the pots, bamboo poles, red bows, and tree.

Be Frugal and Live Like a Queen!

Master Bedroom Project 1

Sooo, I decided that I wanted to make a few changes in the bedroom. I was feeling a lot in the "less is more" mode. So I decided to strip the room down to the bare walls and floors.

This gives you a small idea of what the bedroom looked like before.

I must say that I do get tired of dusting the blinds.

Well, here are the floors stripped down to the bare!

The bed is so heavy. We actually worked around the frame after taking the matress off. The wall and ceiling are painted the same color. We used Glidden Spread paint color Crumb Cookie, 2 gallons did the job.

So, we started laying the floor. The tools you will need for a job like this is, a tapping block, pull bar, spacers, hammer, measuring tape, circular saw (to cut boards), a jigsaw for cutting out around registers. You will also need an installation kit.

Floor View

Tapping

New Window View

Looking towards the windows.

.....continued at Master Bedroom Project 2

Master Bedroom Project 2

We decided to change the baseboard in the room also.

The one that was there was pretty old.

Corner floor view

View of the window, walls and ceiling.

Finished view of room

Finished view of room

Ceiling view

Husband made the little black table.

Room view from hallway.

I love you in French

Finished!!!

For this whole project that we did ourselves, the cost was approximately $450.00

the room required 8 boxes of wood, 2 gallon of paint, an installation kit, and base molding.

Be Frugal and Live Like a Queen!

The Family Pot

Here is a cute pot that I found at the Goodwill for only $6. The fruit in the pot is what caught my eye. When I opened it, it looked as if it had never been used before. The nice thing about it is that it is bigger than the pot that I had at home. So I got it.

I call this The Family Pot because it is amazing how many times my family comes home and looks toward the stove at the pot. At some point someone will come over to the stove and lift the lid to see what's cooking in it. If there is nothing cooking in the big pot, they almost look disappointed!

I know that when I use the pot, everyone seems so content and happy to sit down to dinner together. I use it for stews, soups, chili, beans, sauces and making liquids to pour into my canning jars.

Finding The Family Pot for $6 was a deal. Having the family together at dinner...Priceless!

Be Frugal and Live Like a Queen

Canning For Seven

Hi Everyone,

It's been awhile since I was here, but I am slowly making progress to come back. My niece and her 3 kids from Florida is living with me and my family. We have a full house now. She recently lost her home in a fire that started from the dryer. She lost everything including her car. Soooo, now there is seven of us in one house. This is a time that I must truly put being frugal as a top priority. I managed to save money by doing some canning. The veggies come from the garden. Yes, canning does take a little time, but it is worth it.

At this time I would also like to thank all the people who donated and helped with my niece and her kids. God Bless you all.

Pickled Cucumbers

Green Beans

Stewed Tomatoes with Rosemary and Basil

Peach Jam, no sugar added

Blueberry Spread, no sugar added

Summer Is....

Celebrity Tomatoes

And Peppermint Growing Far and Near!

And Beautiful Yellow Flowers Growing Here.

Big Smiling Faces...

And Cute Pink Things

And Yellow Flowers That Don't Grow On Strings.

So Take A Seat And Look At The Skies

Never Mind The Strange Pair Of Eyes!

This Summer...Let Your Inner Self Bloom

Candles and Candlesticks

Recently I decided that I wanted to clean things out and take a few things to the Goodwill. So I dropped off a few things and turned around to go in and search for a picture frame, but instead found these discontinued candles from Pier 1 Imports for $2.00 each.

Even though they are Christmas candles, you must understand that green is my favorite color anyway.

So I thought that was good enough reason to buy them...right!

Then I went up another isle and found theses two beauties in the back of a shelf for $6 each.

I liked the brass, but wanted to do something different. When I got home I found some left over black satin spray paint. So I took these to a whole new level of loveliness.

The black satin is striking!

To top the candlesticks off, I sat the candles on top!

The 3 candles and the two candlestick cost me a whopping $18.00