Aprons

I made an Apron in December as an "I am at home and have no project" project but it was so Christmas-y that I couldn't wear it every day of the year! so I made it my New Year's resolution to make an Apron a month! Here is how it is going so far...

Made from an old skirt. 

February

Complete disaster. I gave up on this one. I may pick it up later, but for now it looks like a big pink heap of yuck.

Made from an old dress that was too small.

Made from a $2 hideous skirt. Pattern is reminiscent of a Reggae Band, "Watusi" I played with for a show.

Made from a window panel from Goodwill. $1.00. 

A "June Cleaver" Apron for June. Made from a Goodwill  bed sheet.

July

 I am doing something different by making an apron for backstage! More details to follow!

Meal on a Budget AND less than 300 Calories!

This week I made a really easy fast and yummy meal AND it cost me next to nothing!
It's no gourmet meal but I didn't have to shop for anything, I had everything in my pantry.

I didn't buy this it came with the house.  $0

Deal from last week $1

From a previous dish. $0.5?

Leftover from 4th of July. I used 3. $0.60

And Grand Total price: $2.10 ($0.53 a serving!)

4 servings at 279 calories/serving!

I am pretty proud of myself!

Couponing!

Living on a budget can be tricky, but I think it just makes me get creative with shopping and eating. I am cooking things that are on sale AND things that I have coupons for while still trying to keep healthy. Amazingly, cheap foods tend to be less healthy... like the infamous ,

380 calories and 1540mg of sodium per package?!? 

I might get desperate one day, but for now I will do some couponing to avoid this.

SO some of my happy returns from coupons! The trick is knowing what coupons you have, only cutting out what you would buy anyway AND most importantly, waiting until an item goes on sale, so I browse the circulars of CVS, Walgreens, Rite-Aid and Stop&Shop. I picked those stores because they are all on the way in to work so I don't use extra gas. (I might add Wal-Mart to this mix it's not on the way, but not too far.)

Last week I spent $6.09 and got 5 items at CVS

Here's how it broke down:

• Chex-Mix SALE 2/$3 + $.50 coupon =$1.25/package
• Lucky Charms and Reeses Puffs SALE 2/$5 + $1 coupon = $2/box
• Milk (no sale, but I needed it and it went toward gas points)
• + $4 CVS Extra Care Bucks

The receipt says I saved $14.36 today! 

Yesterday at CVS I got a real steal!

• Skintimate shave gel SALE $1.99 + $1 coupon 
• I bought two of these because I had two coupons. 
• +$2 CVS Extra Care Bucks

FREE! I bought something else I needed that wasn't on sale because I needed it so I did spend $6 but I saved $8!

At Stop&Shop the other day

• Nature Sweet Cherry Tomatoes SALE buy one ($3) get one free! +$1 coupon= $1/package

More couponing adventures to follow!

Tiny Project

 Before I left Dallas, I bought a pair of Green Pants from the thrift store for $0.50. They were just my size AND green AND on the clearance rack! I had to get them. But who REALLY wears green pants? 

They are a little too loud, even for me...

So I decided a quick fix would be to make them into cute summer shorts! A few snips and a quick hemming job and...

voilà

I love them!

Perfect for summer! $0.50 shorts!

Something for your computer

I made a fun patriotic background for my computer screen and thought I would share it with you!
Enjoy! More postings soon, I have been busy and have a lot to share!

I made a skirt!

I know it's a bit "wintry" but I already had the fabric.

Aren't the buttons adorable?

I think the interfacing I used was a little too heavy and I still have to add snaps but I am super happy with it!

Opening night tonight! I can't wait to see how the audiences like the show!

Breakfast at Tiffany's

After I read the Novella Breakfast at Tiffany's, I had to watch the movie. I enjoyed it (even though I liked the book more) and I really loved seeing Audrey Hepburn in fun outfits and eccentric accessories. I am sleeping in an eastern facing room now and the sun wakes me up around 6 every morning (even when I get to sleep in!). Anyway I was inspired by Holly Golightly and decided to make a sleeping mask!

So the day I wanted to do this, Joann's was closed already so off to Walmart where I bought everything for about $5.  

Panties?!? I know... but they were the right color and bear with me.

First I cut off the back of the underwear to use, and attached some interfacing

Then I traced a face mask pattern

And cut out two 

Then I cut out the eyelashes out of some gold sparkly ribbon.

then I folded the ribbon in half and sewed it around the perimeter. 

Notice how I used the elastic from the underwear for the headstrap.

I sewed the two sides wrong sides together, flipped it right side out ironed on adhesive backing onto the eyelashes and then ironed it on to the front of the face mask and Ta-Da!