New Budget Strategy

If you're like me, you're always looking for ways to cut back, spend wiser, save money...but still have a life!

I've never really had a set budget but I have a pretty good sense of our input and output. However, some months we are more frugal than others. I will admit that our biggest problem is eating out (but I'm working on freezing more meals so we'll always have something available to make for dinner). We eat out for dinner about once a week and I'd say there's a lunch thrown in there on most weeks, too. The problem is, by the time you throw in a Starbucks Chai Latte and a happy hour after work and the "budget" is blown.


I have often heard of people who stick to a budget by using cash only to pay for everything. That was never really practical for us with a biweekly paycheck. Well, now my husband gets paid only once a month so I decided it would be the perfect opportunity to give this budgeting strategy a try.

So starting this month, we will have a family allowance (for eating out and entertainment) and my husband and I will each get our own personal allowance (for aforementioned Starbucks and happy hour treats). This way I won't feel guilty for that Hobby Lobby splurge and my husband won't feel like he has to ask permission to buy a soccer jersey.


Any of you out there use the cash only method? How does it work for you? Any tips for a novice? Or do you have a different budget strategy that works for you?

Wish us luck! I'll let you know how it goes!


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I Hate Goodbyes...

Goodbyes are always so hard. I had to say goodbye to a good friend today...the embroidery machine I had borrowed while my sister was in town (thanks, Sharon!).

When I first brought the machine home, I figured I'd put a few initials here and there but I never dreamed I would grow to LOVE that machine so much! I found myself buying dresses for my daughter just so I could embroider them. Every gift I made I found a way to incorporate a name or an initial. It was beginning to become an addiction.

But, all good things must come to an end and today I returned the embroidery machine to its rightful owner. I'm not going to lie, there were a few tears last night as I packed up the machine.

So to help with my mourning period, I decided to show you a few of the many projects I completed with my friend, Bernina's help. (Unfortunately, many of the projects I can't show you because they are gifts that I haven't given yet.)

Here are some clothes that I monogrammed for my daughter as well as my son's Lightning McQueen Apron.



Some doll dresses I monogrammed for a friend of mine. (This is one of my favorite projects. I would've loved to have my doll dresses monogrammed when I was a little girl.)


And a pennant banner for a friend's little boy who just turned 5.


Not pictured are some blankies, keychains, more clothes, adult apron, school uniform, and a few more child aprons.

Goodbye, Bernina. I will miss you. However, the good new is, now my family knows what to buy me for Christmas! Hint, hint ;)

Kid's Art on a T-shirt

Several months ago, I was working on ideas for handmade children's gifts. I was trying to come up with some ideas especially for older kids and something that would be great for boys and girls. So I came up with the idea of using children's own art to put on a T-shirt for them.

Since my children are too young to draw anything other than scribbles, I enlisted the help of my friend, Alyssa...or more accurately, her son, James to be my guinea pig.

She sent me several pictures that he had drawn and colored (he's 5 and quite the budding artist). I chose this picture that he had drawn of their pet chihuahua.

And I turned it into this...


I feel like I must explain that I was not going for an exact replica of his drawing. I was instead looking for a drawing that I could create an abstract representation of on a T-Shirt. There are lots of great mediums for creating an exact replica, but that's not the look I was going for here.


Here's what I did: (Sorry I don't have any "in process" pictures. Not sure what I was thinking)

- I bought a plain T-shirt at Target (I think it was like $5).
- I printed the picture on my computer (depending on the size of the actual drawing, you might need to adjust the size).
- Cut out the BASIC SHAPE of the drawing. It's best to use fairly simple drawing and don't worry if you don't include every aspect of the drawing (remember, we're going for abstract representation). For example, I did not include the arms and legs or eyes, although they were in the original drawing.
- Find a fabric to use for your basic shape. In my case, I used a black, cotton fabric with white paw prints. Iron your fabric onto some Heat 'n Bond. Then trace your shape onto the fabric and cut it out.
- Next, iron your shape onto your T-shirt (make sure to prewash your T-shirt and fabric just in case there's any shrinkage). Sew around your shape on your machine or by hand in order to secure it to the T-shirt. I just sewed a straight stitch in black all the way around. You could get creative here and use a contrasting thread color or a zig zag stitch. Use your imagination!
- Depending on the details of the original drawing, you will likely need to embellish the basic shape that is already attached to the T-shirt. To represent the collar around the dog's neck, I used blue and red felt which I hand stitched on using embroidery floss.

And that's it! Here's a side by side of the original drawing and the finished T-shirt.


And here's the happy artist who is VERY PROUD to be wearing a T-shirt that was designed by him!


This would make a great birthday present for kids, or even for moms, dads and grandparents who would be equally as proud to wear their children's and grandchildren's art! Get your child involved in making the T-shirt by having them pick out the fabric and embellishments. Kids love to see their art displayed...what better way than to wear it!


***As always, I don't mind if you borrow my ideas, but please only use them for your own personal use, not for resale. And if you do borrow my idea...send me a picture!***


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It's So Very Cheri

Bookshelf Redo

Hi blog friends! As you know, my sister and I were hard at work this past week while my husband and kids were out of town. We completed A LOT of projects, including (but not limited to) a total room makeover, painting furniture, making crazy pants, sewing projects, cleaning out the car (I figured I'd take advantage since both car seats were out), changing the dryer door, hanging curtains, embroidery projects, catching up on the Twilight Saga.

Here is one of the many projects that I completed. Remember this dark bookshelf I bought at a garage sale for only $10?


I primed it...


And painted it...


Now don't be alarmed by the bright, orange color. Ok, you can be a little alarmed...I was when I finished painting it. I have never been a big fan of orange and I have NEVER voluntarily painted ANYTHING orange before. But for some reason, I decided that this bookshelf needed COLOR!

The table next to our small, living room couch used to look like this...


But now it looks like this...


After painting 2 coats of orange, I glazed it using a walnut color stain which I applied with a foam brush and then wiped off with a rag. The glaze served 2 purposes: 1) it adds some nice texture and dimension to the bookshelf and 2) it tones down the orange. Here's a closer look...



One last Before of the whole wall...


And After...


I love the punch of color this little, orange bookshelf brings to this area. But now the problem is...I want to paint the end table (which I just repainted a couple of months ago) on the other end of the couch!


Hmmmm....I'm thinking a bright blue! Stay tuned for this makeover, coming soon!


Go check out these parties!

A Few Projects

The house is quiet tonight. My sister left to go home today :( and my husband and kids don't get home until tomorrow :)

So instead of spending this time cleaning and putting the house back together after a week of kid-free projects, I'm instead vegging out in front of the computer and watching The Office. I figured I'd try to be a little productive and show you a few of the MANY projects my sister and I completed this week.

As you know, my sister and I spent the better part of the week working on my living room/dining room makeover (I will have pictures up soon, I promise. I just have to finish hanging everything on the walls and making it look all cute). But that's not the only project we worked on. This is how we spent much of our week...


Remember this T-shirt project I told you about in my last Future Project Friday post? Well I completed my own shirt. Cute, right? And for only $3!


But not all of our sewing projects turned out quite so cute. My sister has a book with lots of patterns in it for repurposing T-shirts into various clothing and household items. She wanted to make some yoga pants. Well, they didn't quite turn out as planned...


We had many names for these pants: wrap pants, rap pants, crap pants, crazy pants & funky pants.


They don't look so bad when used for yoga, but they are still kind of crazy.




Since he's been in Miami, my son (he's 3) has been thinking that Mommy and Tia Jennifer were painting his room, namely his door. He wanted a red door, because that's his "favorite color...and pink and purple." Well my sister felt bad for him that he wasn't getting a new door, so she decided he needed a mini makeover in his room. Here's what she came up with...


I decorated my son's room in a vintage cowboy theme when I was pregnant with him. That's how it is still decorated. But my husband has been begging me to redo the room in a sports theme. I guess we just started the makeover with these new drawer pulls! It's not a red door, but I'm sure my son will LOVE the new look of his dresser!

Happy Friday!

I'm postponing this week's Future Project Friday until next week. I've been so busy with all of my projects at home, I just haven't had time to peruse all of the great projects out there in blog land. I'll get back on track next week, I promise.

So here's what I've been up to that's been keeping me so busy. My husband and children are out of town (for the first time without me!) until next week. My sister is visiting and we have been very busy!

I'm nearly done with the living room/dining room makeover, we've been doing some sewing projects and I've been painting some furniture. But don't worry, we're having a little fun along the way, too.

Yesterday we rewarded our hard work by going shopping! There's this great import accessory store close by where everything is cheap, cheap, cheap. It's a must-do when my sister is in town. Here's what I picked up...


I came away with a new bag which I LOVE! I was tired of the "mom" bag that I had been carrying. My sister said it was "invisible." This new bag is anything but invisible. I also got the brooch that I am sporting on my jean jacket (just to give it a little bling) and the round shell earrings I'm wearing. I got another pair of earrings (not pictured) and only spent a total of $56. Pretty good, huh?

How about a close up look at my new purse...

Did I mention I LOVE it!?!



So my sister and I have not only been busy with home projects, we've been busy with something else. We have spent the last 3 days catching up on the Twilight Saga. About a month ago I DVR'd Twilight during a free movie preview. I had not seen the movie nor had I read the books. But I was really curious as to what all the fuss was about. From teenagers to grown women, everyone seemed to love these stories. So I had to see it for myself.


So we watched the movie and I liked it. I wouldn't say I loved it but I was compelled enough to want to see the second movie, New Moon. So we rented it. And I liked it, too.

Well of course since we'd seen the first and second movies, we went today and saw Eclipse. I definitely thought the movies were all compelling and interesting and I enjoyed the love story...but I have to say that I'm still not sure I get it. But I'll definitely see the next one when it comes out :) Any Twilight fans out there? What do you love about the book and the movies?

Paint, Goodwill and a Broken Toe

Part I - Paint

Yesterday at 6:30a I said goodbye to my husband and 2 children as they headed off for the airport. This is the first time my husband has traveled alone with the children and the first time I've stayed behind. I said my "goodbyes" and "I love you's" and by 6:35a my sister and I were moving furniture and getting ready for my big living room/dining room/guest room/craft room makeover.

By midday, the room went from dark and red...



To bright and primed...


It already looks 100% better! I can't tell you how happy I was to see the last of that red paint disappear.


Part II - Goodwill

To reward ourselves for our productivity, we ran a few errands and checked out a new thrift store, a Goodwill I hadn't been to and a Habitat for Humanity ReStore (which I was so excited to discover!). I picked up a few treasures...


I scored this awesome $5 table at Goodwill! I'm not sure where I will put it, but it's just calling out for a fun coat of paint.


I picked up this $.69 frame at the thrift store. I think I'm going to use it to display one of my Great Grandma's brooches like I saw Barbara over at Hodge Podge do. The fabric is actually a pillow case, but I love the bright colors and pattern and I think it would make a really cute apron!


Part III - A Broken Toe

After running our errands and eating a quick bite of lunch, we got back to work on the room makeover. With the priming done, we started putting some color on the walls. It's hard to tell in the pictures, but it's sort of a blue/green color and I LOVE it! It looks so beautiful and fresh and bright (can you tell how much I hated that red paint?).





Around 10p we were finishing up the first coat of paint when my sister stubbed her right, pinky toe and broke it. :( So we had to cancel our pedicures for this morning and plans for the rest of the week have been put on hold (antique shopping, flea market, rearranging furniture). But this much is for sure - somehow, by the end of the week, I WILL have that room done! And at the very least, my sister will be there to keep me company while I do it! Stay tuned...


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