Bad Goodwill

I feel like I’ve had a terrible fight with my best friend!

If you’ve been around these parts for more than 2 seconds you know that Goodwill is(was) my unofficial best friend…………………… or maybe my official best friend since I see more of Goodwill. I think all of that shall soon change.

It pains me to write this post, but I have to know

Has anyone else noticed a HUGE jump in Goodwill prices?

I was shopping Goodwill today and could not find a shirt under $7-$8! ARE YOU KIDDING ME! Eight Dollars for a USED shirt when I can get a new one for that? I picked up a plain white button up shirt with ARM PIT STAINS and several RIPS can you guess the price? Yep, $7. There is something terribly wrong with that, and it isn’t only one Goodwill that I’ve noticed this at.

I used to adore Goodwill shopping, though I have to admit my opinion has gone downhill and I do believe I will be finding a new best friend.

Please let me know if you’ve had the same experience.

Oh My Bloomin Petunias

I have become obsessed!

Obsessed with these

 Picture link

I’ll pause here so you can stare at it for a moment.

Isn’t it beautiful? I think it’s flirting with me…… Not in front of my readers!

Picture link

Anyways, moving on

This new obsession comes with a few downfalls, first I may or may not have a black thumb and it’s highly likely that I have often forgot to water any said plant that has come home with me. Second, honestly my goodness have you priced these things? If you haven’t I’ll save you the heart attack and just let you guess. Yes, you’re on the right track, now add $40. There was no way I was going to pay that for something that was most likely going to suffer from dehydration.

Sooo, are any of you as in love with these as much as I am? Well, you are about to love me just as much. I happen to be out today hoping to grace this paper colored skin of mine with a kiss of sun when what should I stumble upon, YES some beauties. I smiled, they winked back but in my heart I just knew it was another evil flirtation that would leave me broken hearted…… AND THEN, there it was a ray of sunshine reflecting off the CLEARANCE sticker for $4.50. I grabbed one, (yes just one, they’re heavy) and rushed to the cash register, I knew there had to be some mistake. I quickly asked the nice lady “Are these marked down because they’re going to die soon?” to which she responded “Nope, we just have too many. In fact there are a lot of plants in there and it should get quite big and last the whole season very well”. AWESOME! So if you happen to find yourself obsessed as well, head over to home depot and indulge yourself.

I Have Learned

Being organized really makes this

much much easier, though still not fun!

Amazing Purpose

I was all set to write up a “tufting tips” post to go along with the ottoman re-do till I received an e-mail today saying I had won a prize from the Ultimate Blog Party.

First, I have to say I’m so excited to win, I never win anything! but the true reason for my post today is because I was moved by the purpose behind the site offering the prize.

Premades with a Purpose

Please check out the about section for the story behind this site.

Without getting too deep I can say I relate to Lena on a very personal level.

With that being said, I know there are so many of us who are new to blogging, don’t know much html or your blog just doesn’t look the way you’d like it to. I for one have surfed and surfed the internet for blog templates I liked, only to find the ones I liked were $40+. I couldn’t justify the price on a blog that had no income. In steps Premades with a Purpose! Lena’s templates are about $5! FIVE DOLLARS! That’s like the price of a coffee these days, that I can justify.

I hope you all will take chance to go visit Premades with a Purpose. You may just find the template you’ve been looking for or even an answer to a customization question you’ve had.

Tools for the Trade

I’m not a huge fan of sanding, it’s usually a pain and the feel of sandpaper just makes me cringe. It’s like nails on a chalkboard to me.

No longer!

The HB picked me up one of these babies

Oh isn’t it cute!

Now to find some goodies to test this baby out on!

Thank you HB!!

Shine to an UGLY Floor

Maybe you recall this post?

I’m sure you do, it was a post with it all… anger and a catchy tune, that’s like a good movie right there.

Anyways, before we even start I still have to state upfront that linoleum and I are not on good terms! I am however quite happy with this little bottle of “thank goodness a product that does what it claims”.

Now don’t get me wrong my floor isn’t perfect (by any means) and I’m still looking to replace it, but in the mean time while I wait for the funds for that to magically appear….If anyone knows a magician who can perform this please by all means contact me!… this little inexpensive bottle has really saved me.

My linoleum is quite a few years old and even after a good Cinderella style scrub it still looked disgusting to me, I realized it was because the floor had no shine to it………… at all.

I hit the cleaning isle in hopes that some shining light would direct me to my saving grace. There it was, the fluorescent lighting bouncing off the label.

Ok ok, maybe it didn’t happen exactly like that but go with me here.

The label had the two words I was looking for, quick and shine.

It’s so easy to use, you simply start with a clean dry floor, rinse your mop, squirt it on the floor and do a quick push around the area. Let it dry for 15 minutes and you’ll see a gloss to your floor you haven’t seen in awhile.

I LUHVE it!

 

Disclaimer: I have not been compensated by the manufacturer of this product and do not endorse said product. I am simply sharing my experience and/or opinion of mentioned product. Use of said product is at your own risk.

Green Cleaning

TDC is have a cleaning party so I figured I’d join in.

I have to admit cleaning isn’t exactly on the top of my fun list, is it for anyone, other than Martha Stewart? I don’t exactly hate it so if I had the choice of cleaning or the flu, I’d pick cleaning. I tend to do regular upkeep cleaning and then break out the big guns when the DEEP cleaning mood strikes.

Here are some of my favorite cleaning products or tips.

Vinegar!!!!

LOVE IT! Not only can you clean a kazillion and one things with it, but you can cook with it, it’s non-toxic and you can buy two jugs of it at Costco for like $2. You can’t go wrong.

Don’t you love to clean the oven? No? Yeah me either. It’s a cramped area to get to, the chemicals they sell to clean it are toxic, all around, it’s just a pain. TILL NOW (I had to, it felt like an infomercial moment)

When I purchased my condo the oven came with it, needless to say I didn’t realize I had purchased the past tenants burnt and caked on grease. I sprinkled the door and bottom with baking soda and then added vinegar, it bubbled and fizzed for a bit and I let it sit. After a few minutes I took a kitchen sponge and just wiped it all up, I was amazed that even the tacky grease came up.

I have linoleum floors like the picture above, oh how I hate them, and oh how I REALLY hate those little dimples in it. You know dimples are cute on a person, not so much when it’s a floor that collects yuck in those little dimples. The floors are just one more place that vinegar becomes my special friend, it cleans the floor well and I don’t have to worry about any residue being left behind.

I use vinegar in the sink as well. I could go on and on about vinegar but I fear the relationship may start sounding a bit unhealthy with all this dependency so I will move on.

I find I clean the toilet more often then almost anything, ohhh no don’t get the idea it’s because I enjoy it, after all, it is the toilet, but more because I can’t stand the idea of catching a stomach bug and having a non clean smelling toilet. You get me?

I used to use this oh so wonderful product, I loved it, it worked wonders. I mean I didn’t even have to scrub, that’s great in my book. Then came green products, I am all for this idea (part of the reason I love vinegar). I honestly don’t think we have any choice as a nation other than to be more conscious and green about the products we use. Sooooooo I tried this new product.

I really wanted to love it, I did, but it just didn’t work like I expected. I’m still holding out hope for a green product for the toilet and I’ll let you know as soon as I find one.

The shower/tub is another area I used to really dislike cleaning, mostly because I couldn’t get it as clean as I wanted. I’m fairly picky about the tub being able to sparkle! Soap scum is the enemy!

Till I found Kaboom I had tried everything from scrubbing bubbles to bleach. Now, I spray Kaboom on, go spray the other tub/show then come back and do a quick scrub and rinse. Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have to scrub but I have issues. Did I mention I’ve actually tried waxing the shower? Issues, lots and lots of issues.

Finally my Stock.Up.On product and always have around

 

I can’t say I prefer one over the other, just whichever one Costco is currently stocking. I use these to wipe everything, clean up any spills, blow my nose…. ok maybe not that last one but everything else. I wouldn’t go so far as to call myself a germaphobe but knowing that everything has been disinfected is great.

I would love to hear about any of the products or tricks that work for you so please leave a comment.

Victoria Secret Sale

Sometimes there are sales just worth mentioning.

I’m usually not what you would call a Victoria Secret groupie, the stuff is ok but I find their bras uncomfortable and most stuff overpriced. I did however receive a VS card as a gift… so I headed to the mall, why not right.

I noticed a gentleman holding the tell tale pink bag but the front said:

I love sales, and a sale makes a gift card even better.

The store was packed, I mean like thanks for the breath mint PACKED. Then, through the bodies I could see why………… 75% off. I love me some 50% off but 75%! Now you’re talkin.

Oh yeah they had some 3 for something or 6 for something else business going on but who really has time for that with a 75% off sign staring you down. Not me my friend, not me. Plus, you know it’s a good sale when you have people trying to grab out of the pile you’ve created. You know the uncomfortable “oh that’s mine” as they look at you with a naughty word in their eyes and all along you’re just giddy with excitement because you found it first.

Now this next picture, memorize it, study it, GET IT.

I picked one of these babies up. I was a tad iffy about it because I didn’t quite understand how it worked so here goes. This beauty cost me $29 (normally $39 and I had $10 off). Inside you will find 10 spray trial size VS fragrances (great size for travel) along with a voucher for a full size of whichever of the 10 fragrances you like, plus $10 off $35 purchase.

I did have one problem with this set though, only on the back of the voucher on the inside (which you can’t see till you open it) and no where on the box did it say a fragrance “up to $39”. Everywhere on the box it simply says “full size”. I simply spoke to a manager in the store, because the fragrance I wanted was $49 not $39 and since it said it nowhere on the outside of the box they gave me the fragrance I wanted. I say it never hurts to ask.

So all said and done I paid $29 and got a full size $49 fragrance, $10 off a purchase, and 10 perfect for travel fragrances. Not bad I say.

Oh, and they have some soothing hand cream for 75% off, (which makes it $2) that made my hands feel so soft. You should pick some up… at another store because well     uhmmm

That's my pile!

No more presents

I recently read this article….. no no please, feel free to go read it, I’ll wait here listening to Christmas Tunes.

No rush.

I’m so sorry, I should have warned you that after reading that you would suddenly have a scrooge image in your head, and the need for some cocoa to get you back in the Holiday Spirit.

I mean don’t get me wrong, I love slightly skewed math math to back up your facts, and I know we are in a recession right now, but don’t kick us while we’re down.

The holidays aren’t about giving your “sister-in-law a 35% gross margin marked up sweater”, its about being with and appreciating the ones we love.

If giving the ones I love a gift to say I’m thinking about you is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

Now, I wouldn’t be a true Birdie if I didn’t have a tip or suggestion on how to turn this article around would I?

How many of you have those cute little corner gift shops and stores you like to visit and shop at on the weekends?

Did you know that on average for every $100 spent at a locally owned independent store $68 goes back in to the community through taxes, jobs or other expenditures? Only $43 out of $100 spent at a national chain stays in the community. See here.

The next time you’re looking for a gift for a holiday or loved one, check out a local “mom an pa” shop, or take a tour through some online crafter sites. Not only will you be giving support where it is most needed but you’ll likely pay less for a quality item instead of a “35% gross margin mark up”.