Frugal — Page 2

{Mildly Extreme} Master Bedroom & Playroom Makeover

Yes, by that headline, you’ve probably figured out what this post is about – The planning for my {Mildly Extreme} Master Bedroom & Playroom Makeover. We’re on a ridiculously tight budget, which is why it will be only mildly extreme, lol. But – There is SO much that you can do to totally transform a space without spending a ton, just by being super creative and resourceful. And creative is one skill that I do actually excel at! {Unlike cooking…. But that’s another story.}

**This is an awesome room. This is not my room.**

I found this amazing photo on Pinterest, but unfortunately, it doesn’t link up anywhere. {Pinterest tip: PLEASE make sure you pin to original sources when adding content!} So I have no idea who to credit, or how to get any of these materials. But – this is kind of my inspiration for my space – I’ll be painting our walls this color – {any suggestions of paint brands? I hated the last kind I used!} – and painting our trim white. Our room is already in shades of black and grey, but I love, love, love the use of textures and patterns here. Just perfect.

What I’m Workin’ With:

Mommy and Me – Sharing a Room

This is the designer crib bedding set that Abby has right now – It’s from Carousel Designs, and it was so worth the cost. It was the most expensive purchase I made when shopping for baby stuff – but it’s as gorgeous today as it was when I bought it, even after 20 months of washing. Due to our big, crowded household of extended family, Abby and I have been sharing the Master Bedroom, and will be for about another year. {But that’s ok, since we both adore pink and polka dots.} Now that she’s become a toddler, I want to upgrade our space, and make more room for her to play. My office is also in the bedroom until the end of the year, so the big challenge in this makeover is to make separate areas for all of the uses in the room. Also – Speaking of challenges – This Master Bedroom was built without a closet! Whaaaat? There was clearly no woman involved in the planning on this, lol. So we’re building one in.

This is what I sleep on – Keep, or Switch?

I chose this bedding set before Abby was born, because it matched so well to hers. The polka dot trim and damask type pattern tie them together really well. But, while I do still totally love it, I feel kind of ready for a change. I’m debating a few different options, and you can see them on my Master Bedroom & Playroom Makeover planning board on Pinterest. I’d LOVE some comments on this board, with your opinions as I add and decide.

The Makeover Plan

Over the next two months, I’ll share pics of our projects and progress, and of course a big reveal at the end! Here are a few of my plans and ideas:

Build a closet. I wanted to go all-out, and build a really awesome customized closet… But, most of what I wanted was out of my price range. So, we’ll be building a smaller, but still cool, closet along one wall.
Convert to a toddler bed. Abby’s crib has a few scratches from moving last year, but is still in really great shape. It’s the type of crib that converts to a toddler bed, and I think it’s about time to make the switch.
Cover the carpet. I’d LOVE to add laminate floors, but that will be a year or two from now. Our carpets wasn’t in great shape when we moved in – and with a toddler and a puppy here, they are a mess. So, we’re going the more affordable route – We’ll be doing a thorough carpet cleaning, and ordered an awesome new rug from Mohawk Home, to cover the damage and really upgrade the room.
Playroom Space. We just got the sling bookshelf from One Step Ahead, which is an adorable way to store and display Abby’s book collection. I also ordered a super cool toy chest, and we just set up the ClosetMaid 9-Cube Organizer, with some cute pink fabric bins, and it’s going to be an AWESOME new option for toy storage!
Office Space. I will be moving my desk and shelves to a corner, with my rolling file cabinet and lamp, to make a great little office area. I need a rug, and will add the ClosetMaid Mini-Organizer to keep all of my smaller accessories neat and easy to access.
Wall Art. We’ll be painting the walls and trim, and I’m in need of some cool wall art too. The room has really high vaulted ceilings, so the walls right now look very bare. I have a TON of cool ideas to choose from on my Creative Wall DIY board on Pinterest – Leave some comments to help me decide. There are so many amazing ideas there to be inspired by!

There’s a boat-load of work to do, but I’m super excited to get started! We had meant to get this rockin’ a month ago – but with my big computer crash, I really got pushed behind on all of my projects! My goal is to have our room ready by the end of May, for my birthday.

What do you think?

I’d love some comments on my Pinterest boards, to help me make some decisions. {I got some great feedback on Facebook from ya’all, with helping me to choose a rug!} And if you have cool DIY idea posts that can help inspire me, be sure to leave the link in a comment below! You guys rock.

Posted by Meagan Paullin on March 28, 2012 Filed Under: Homemaking | 8 Comments

Why this product is a must-have for every frugal gardener!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Scotts® for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Most of you have probably noticed that I love to garden. Well – let me adjust that. I love to HAVE a garden. Being able to grow our own fruits and veggies so that I know the foods Abby is eating are safe is really important to me. And being surrounded by beautiful flowers and trees all summer makes me feel centered. But, I’m very much garden-challenged. Luckily, my mother moved in with me a couple of years ago, and she is a total Master Gardener, and has helped me so much. With her tips and advice, {and careful guidance when I’m digging around out there!} we’ve managed to put together a beautiful garden at our new home, that will continue to get better and better each year. Love it.

Your New Frugal Garden Helper

One of the things that my mom helped me to learn was that it’s very seldom that your garden’s soil is optimal for growing. But it’s also pretty easy to turn that poor soil into a great place to plant – You just need a good planting mix to give it a boost. She swears by Miracle-Gro products, and is really excited to see what kind of results we get from the new Expand ‘n Gro™ product we’re using this spring. It promises to give you up to 3x the flowers and vegetables that you’re used to growing, and they are calling it their best planting mix ever. Sounds pretty awesome, right?

Why do I want to use it?

The Expand ‘n Gro planting mix is made out of 100% natural materials and, “When mixed with native soil, Expand ‘n Gro™ helps loosen and aerate soil. It creates up to 90% more air space than native soil alone, so moisture and nutrients can reach plant roots.” That means it makes any soil, even really compact and clay soil, into a spot that can finally grow beautiful fruits and flowers!

How and Where do I use it?

Since almost everyone’s soil can use a little help, everyone can benefit from this stuff. If you’re using it in your garden, you simply spread a layer about 1-inch deep over your whole garden area. Then, using a garden tiller or even just your shovel, work it into the top 4-6 inches of soil. Then you just plant like normal, and give it a good watering. So easy peasy even I can’t mess it up!

I want to grow plants, but don’t have any room for a garden?

No worries! You would be amazed at how many things you can grow in just a few pots on your patio or porch! Grow a mini veggie garden, or just plant some pretty blooms to brighten each day. And the Expand ‘n Gro works in containter plants too. It’s easy to get started – Find some great pots with drainage holes and saucers. Fill each pot 1/3 of the way full with Expand ‘n Gro. Slowly add water, and stir it all up. The mix will expand from the water, and then be ready for you to plant as usual.

Is it really worth buying?

You know that I’m always looking for new money-saving tips, and I’m all about frugal gardening. It might at first seem like it’s a better value to just use the dirt you have, and not bother with things like potting mixes or fertilizers. But – when you plant in poor soil, some of your plants won’t make it, and the others just won’t thrive as well as they could. That’s a waste of both time and money, if your tasty veggies die before making it to your table! And the really great thing about the Miracle-Gro Expand ‘n Gro is that it improves your soil for years – making it a really great value, and totally worth adding to your own garden this spring!

What are YOUR best spring gardening tips?

Share your best tips on growing the tastiest produce and the prettiest flowers. Do you have any great tips to save money in the garden? Do you have a favorite plant, or product? Share your great ideas in the comments – I love hearing from you guys!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on March 21, 2012 Filed Under: Green Living | No Comments

Smart Solution for Busy Moms: The Couponizer Saves More than Money – #Giveaway

Shopping Used To Be A Chore…But Not Any More!!

We love couponing and finding deals for our readers!! We also want to make sure you have a system for organizing your coupons that way you don’t get frustrated or overwhelmed. I’ve teamed up with the super smart Shopper’s Haul, and a ton of other great bloggers to give away a The Couponizer System
to one lucky reader. The Couponizer does more than save you money – it saves you time too. And one super lucky winner is going to get that full system for free in this awesome giveaway!

The Couponizer System Includes:

The Couponizer (With Elastic Closure Strap)
Customer Loyalty Card Sleeves (Inside Couponizer)
Shopping List
CoupTracker
Scissors
CoupStacker-Expandable Coupon Sorting Mat
Clear Zipped Carrying Bag

To be entered in the giveaway, complete the entries on the Rafflecopter Form below. Entries will be verified and no duplicate entries will be allowed. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents and will end on 2/25 12:01 EST!

Why I teamed up to bring you this giveaway…

I am a couponer – but am not a pro! I don’t share many coupons or match-ups here, since it’s definitely NOT something that I’m an expert on. Even so, by spending an extra 20 minutes before a grocery shopping trip, I save us an average of 40% off on our bill each week – which is an enormous help in our super-tight family budget. One of the KEYS to saving with coupons is having a good system and being organized – and the Couponizer totally simplifies that. Since my goal here is to find Smart Solutions for Busy Moms, I knew that this was something I wanted to give you guys a chance to win! {And, if you’re feelin’ lucky – Check out the other giveaways in the sidebar too. There is over $1,500 in prizes to win right now!}

Smart Solution for Busy Moms: The #Couponizer Saves More than Money – #Win one today! #Giveaway sunshineandsippycups.com/2012/02/smart-…

— SunandSipCups (@SunandSipCups) February 21, 2012

Have fun & Good Luck!

[Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on February 21, 2012 Filed Under: Giveaways | No Comments

Frugal DIY Fun: Toddler Exploring Set

“Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn’t music.” – William Stafford

I’m a crafty girl – I love glitter and rhinestones, Mod Podge and Tacky Glue, pretty papers and ribbons…. and I have so much fun sharing my love of all things creative with the kiddo’s in my life. And, crafting with kids has helped me see new things – kids are so fascinated with new textures, shapes, sounds, and colors. That led to the creation of our Toddler Exploring Set – a super easy DIY idea, made from totally inexpensive materials. Even if you’re not usually much of a DIY’er, you can do this. So… Let’s get started! {You might remember me mentioning these Exploring Sets earlier this year in 65 Fun Fall Ideas for Kids – we love making new sets!}

“Having a two-year-old is like having a blender that you don’t have the top for.” – Jerry Seinfeld

You probably already have most of the supplies you’ll need – But one thing that you will need to get in advance is a set of empty water bottles. We used the mini ones – they’re easiest for tiny toddler hands. You’ll also need a good glue {I used Quick Dry Tacky Glue}, so that you can glue each bottle closed. You also might want to get a small shoe box, or cute basket, for your little one to carry their new Exploring Set around in – they love that. Now – the fun part! Read through the list and find some fun ideas to try. All of the bottles are really simple to make, and will totally delight your little one. Enjoy!

“There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.” – Walt Streightiff

Sound Bottles: In the Red bottle above, I used white beans mixed with some fun red glitter – these are nice and noisy when you shake ’em! You can also use things like rice, popcorn kernels, or jingle bells. Kids love discovering the different sounds.
Bubble Bottles: Fill half full of water, add a little bit of dish soap, and a squirt or two of food coloring. Your little one will love seeing a plain bottle of water turn into a bubble party when they shake it up!
Discovery Bottle: Fill a bottle half way with sand or rice, and add a few tiny toys too. Kids will learn that the toys are there even when they can’t see them – and will love learning how to find them again!
Glow Bottle: Fill a bottle with glow in the dark stickers or glow sticks. Show your kiddo how different it looks when they crawl underneath their blanket – what a surprise!
Silly Bottle: One of our favorites is to fill a bottle up with little Glitter Pom Poms – these are the cutest thing, and Abby loves them! They look super cute in the bottles, and have such bright and vibrant colors!
Snow Globe Bottles: Fill bottles with a mixture of water and glycerin, add food coloring if desired, throw in a pinch {or more, you can never have too much!} of glitter, and add some fun little toys or trees. So much fun!
Slow-Down Bottle: Fill a bottle 2/3 full of clear corn syrup, then add sequins, or tiny toys. As they tilt the bottle, they can relax and slow down while they watch the toys sloooowly slide to the side.
Nature Bottle: These ones are more temporary – grab a tiny branch off of an evergreen tree, some fall leaves, dandelion flowers, acorns – whatever is in season. Your little one will delight in getting to really look at these things up close – you’ll delight in knowing that they won’t EAT them while they have them up close!

Big Kid Options

Magnet Bottle: Fill a bottle with rice or sand, and add a few metallic items, like pennies, old game pieces, etc. Then – let them use a big magnet against the outside of the bottle to ‘magically’ pull those hidden items into view!
Guessing Bottle: Fill a bottle up with tiny pebbles – or something fun like Jelly Beans! – and have your kids guess how many are inside. Don’t glue the top on this one, since you’ll then want to dump it out, count it together, and see how close they were. Our boys love to challenge each other.

Do you have any fun ideas to add?

There are so many different variations you can use – and I’d love to hear your creative ideas! We love to make new bottles all the time, and sometimes it’s hard to keep coming up with great ideas – so I look forward to what you guys come up with. Keep it crafty!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on December 15, 2011 Filed Under: Uncategorized | No Comments

Busy Mom Solution: STP Simplifies Car Care! #engineluv #CBias

“I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol.” – Author Unknown

When I was approached about a new project to learn about the STP Multipurpose Motor Treatment, I knew that this one would have to involve Mike too – I don’t know much about car care at all. It turned out to be a great shopping experience – I learned a lot, and I’m excited to have him teach you some of the simple tips too! Who knew maintaining your car could be so easy?

“Driving a brand new car feels like driving around in an open billfold with the dollars flapping by your ears as they fly out the window.” – Grey Livingston

Mike – So many people make the big mistake of not doing regular maintenance on their vehicles. Even if you drive an older car, it’s still really important to take care of it. Changing your oil, using a good antifreeze, tire rotation – all important for keeping your vehicle running well. And a new product that I’m really impressed with that will help you out a lot is STP Multipurpose Motor Treatment. If you’re intimidated by car care – don’t be! This product is as easy as it gets – Step 1: Grab a bottle of the treatment at a local store like Walmart or Auto Zone, and open up your gas tank.

“Walking isn’t a lost art – one must, by some means, get to the garage.” – Evan Esar

Step 2: Pour it in your tank. I like to use a funnel, to minimize the chance of spilling, and to make the job faster. I prefer these big funnels, but any type will work fine. And you can just pour it in directly – it’ll work fine. Just pour it a little slower so you don’t get a mess.

“Leave sooner, drive slower, live longer.” – Author Unknown

Step 3: Pour it in! Yep, it’s really that simple – and you’ll be surprised at how effective such an easy treatment can be. Why should you use this STP Multipurpose Motor Treatment? Well, here are a few things that I think are really great:

It can be used a few different ways, to help prevent a lot of common problems people see in their cars.
It can clean the deposits and other junk out of the system – this makes the car run a little better, and can save on gas too.
Gas these days can contain a lot of water – in cold weather, that water can freeze, which clogs up your fuel-lines. STP Multipurpose Motor Treatment removes water, so you can prevent that problem from happening.
If you have a high-mileage car, using this treatment will help it run more efficiently, and can help extend the life of your vehicle.

“Money may not buy happiness, but I’d rather cry in a Jaguar than on a bus.” – Françoise Sagan

STP Multipurpose Motor Treatment works in many different ways to protect your vehicle – AND you can use it in many different things around your home! This is great for just about anything you’ve got with a motor – mowers, snow blowers, chain saws, leaf blowers – and if you’re a lucky guy and have a motorcycle, it will help keep that running great too. So – one product, easy to use, and works on everything you’ve got. I give STP Multipurpose Motor Treatment a thumbs up!

Remember:

Just like eating healthy and exercising can help keep your body running well, so that you can avoid trips to the doctors office – regular maintenance of your car at home can help you avoid expensive trips to see a mechanic.

Check out STP on Facebook for a great coupon, and follow them on Twitter too.

Learn more about the full line of great STP products on their site.

See the rest of our shopping trip on Google+.

{This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias All opinions, tips, and photos are 100% ours!}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on December 14, 2011 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 1 Comment

How To: Earn money with zuuzs.com

Shop, Share, and Earn with zuuzs!

I’ve used tons of cash back sites over the years, and didn’t think I could get excited over another one. But after checking out zuuzs and getting started, I can honestly say that this is my VERY favorite cash back site I’ve ever used. Seriously. It rocks my socks.

What is zuuzs??

Here’s how it works – Sign up for a free zuuzs account. No, really – go ahead and get signed up, I’ll wait….

Sign up for your totally free zuuzs.com account today!!

Ok, now you’re signed up and ready to Shop, Share, and Earn. What does that mean? Well, when you are ready to do some online shopping, log in to your zuuzs account first, instead of going to the merchant directly. It takes less than a minute of extra time – and it’s totally worth it. Do a quick search on zuuzs, find the store you want to shop with – and bam, you’ll find some cool online coupon codes that you can use to save extra cash! Score.

Get Paid to Shop!

Now, click the button and head to the store you want to shop at – like Target, or Walmart. Shop and check out just like you usually would – but since you shopped through zuuzs, you’ll get totally free cash back deposited into your account, just like magic. Getting paid every time you shop?? Double score!

Friends Don’t Let Friends Pay Full Price

You’ve heard me say that a million times, right? Well, zuuzs is filled with smart cookies who feel the same way – so they reward YOU for your awesomeness when you share zuuzs with your friends, family, and networks! As you can see in the graphic – when your friends earn cash back, so do you!! And when their friends earn cash back – you ALL do! This is called your Circle of Friendz, and I’d love to have you join mine today…..