Bargain Scores – Page 10 – Dust Bunnies and Dog Toys

Finishing Touches in the Pantry

Published on February 2, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

Thanks to a great BOGO Free sale and gift cards from Christmas I recently finished up the pantry. Because I wanted to add some more baskets now that we had more room, I decided to replace the ones we’d been using since we were in Kodiak – which will be repurposed in the studio and the spare room.

I also picked up some tiered racks for things like olive oil, bbq sauce, etc, and added a lazy susan next to it for the spices that didn’t make it into the spice rack.

Additional turntables in the remaining corners created accessible storage for drink ingredients, sauces and jellys.

The hubs made use of the wall space next to the door by hanging the cooling racks and fryer scoop.

Just like he did in the guest bathroom closet, the hubs added an additional light to the pantry for those items that are on the lower shelves.

Up above there is room for the rotisserie, a basket with spare grease cans, the hubs’ cast iron pan, paper towels and a basket for storing plastic bags. I went back to get that big basket after the BOGO sale, and ended up getting a super deal because it rung up on clearance for much less than what I anticipated paying with my 40% off coupon!

The bottom of the pantry became home to the dog food and recycle containers, with room left over to store my soda habit.

My final pantry project was the jars for our sugar, flour and other staples (seen in the picture above). It was a fairly simple project. I picked up several of these screw top jars on sale at Fred Meyers.

I put them right to use and had to come up with a quick temporary labeling system until I had time to make something pretty. So I grabbed my trusty dry erase marker and hand wrote each item. That of course didn’t last long.

Based on that, I knew I didn’t want to do the cute chalkboard labels I see all over Pinterest. Instead I decided to create vinyl labels for each with my Silhouette.

They turned out pretty nice! I love that they are easy to read and should hold up to repeated use. Plus they look pretty spiffy all together on the shelf.

And that’s our pantry. It’s the perfect marriage of organization and inventory, which not only makes me giddy, but keeps the happy as well. I think that’s a sign of a project well done. 🙂

The Easiest Pinterest Project To Date

Published on January 21, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

Remember that pretty copper pot I thrifted a little while back? I finally got around to converting it into my cache pot for the kitchen and it was seriously so easy I barely really don’t have much to explain. I followed the steps I found on this DIY post and I think it took me all of 10 minutes! So without further ado, here’s the how-to in just 4 easy steps.

Gather the supplies: container and charcoal filter. — Step 1: Gather the supplies – container and charcoal filter.

Step 2: Cut filter in half and prep with glue dots.

Step 3: Attach filter to underside of container lid.

Step 4: Put lid on container and sit back to appreciate your handiwork!

And that’s it! My pretty kitchen scrap pot is ready to collect trimmings for a future compost pile. Until then it holds the things I’d rather not put into our new septic system. For now, when it’s full I wander out into the woods on our property and dump the contents in random places so if wildlife do sniff it out, it’s never in the same area and they don’t become accustom to eating scraps.

I could have saved the other half of the filter for when this one wears out in 3 months, but instead I put it on the underside of our regular trash can lid to help with the odors that tend to accumulate there and I’m pleased to report that it seems to be helping!

So there you have it. Easy Peasy, Cache Teesy! 🙂

Getting My Sale On…

Published on January 20, 2014January 25, 2014 by Jenna1 Comment

Back before Christmas I swung by the Payless Shoes in Wasilla after stopping at a store nearby. I had a gift card and figured I’d take a quick look to see if there was anything I might want. Turns out there was something I needed – on sale. I snagged two pretty clutches for future work events at just $6 each along with a pair of heels in nude and the same pair in black. Work wardrobe staples. After the sale, a coupon the cashier applied because I had to wait for them to fix the register and my gift card I spent less than $10. Oh yeah, that’s my kind of shopping.

I was especially happy with the clutches because I’d been on the hunt for one like this the week prior for my company Christmas party. When I couldn’t find one I opted to have my hubby hold my basics since I was running around managing the event anyway, but it’s a good item to have at the ready should I need to attend a gala or other upscale event – either for work or fun!

And the gold one is just too pretty to pass up, especially at that price! I think it will look FAB-U-LOUS with some of my purple dresses for a fancy smanchy date night one day. wink, wink 🙂

Shortly after this the hubs got my crown molding shoe rack installed in the master closet. Another Pinterest find, this rack was meant to hold my heels since my flats are kept in the cubbies he installed in the closet shelving.

I insisted that he choose a molding that stuck out farther than he originally planned because that’s what the Pinterest image showed, which turned out just fine, but some of my smaller heels have to be delicately perched so they stay put. Although if we had gone with a smaller molding I think some of my taller heels wouldn’t have fit, so it’s a trade off I guess.

I used the space below the rack to hang some of my larger costume jewelry that doesn’t hang well in my jewelry cabinet. Right now they’re just hung on clear thumb tacks, but I might use something a little fancier before it’s all said and done. Until then, thumb tacks seem to work just fine!

I do plan to paint the molding, but haven’t decided what color just yet. Options include white (to match the rest of the closet shelving & trim), gold (to coordinate with the gold accents in the master bath) or purple (just because!). So what do you think of the rack? Have a color preference? I want to hear it!

Bargain Hunting

Published on January 17, 2014January 18, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

Shortly after we moved in to the new house, something told me I should visit the thrift store around the corner from my office. I’m sure glad I did because I hit a jackpot of items for areas of the house. I knew it was going to be one of those trips when I spotted this copper tin right off the bat when I walked in. I’d been looking for something like this to make a cache pot (kitchen scrap pot) for a while. It was the perfect size, had a lid and had a great look to it. And at $4 it was perfection. A far better price than the ones I was finding online for $60 and $70!

I also found a basket and shell for the guest bathroom, a fantastic wine rack, a large glass jar, decor pieces, pretty trays, an adorable little Princess House jar and a basket to collect eggs in when we get our chicken coop up and running this summer! And each was a fraction of the price I would have paid new. Here’s a picture of the whole haul from that trip.

After that, I didn’t make it back to another thrift store for a while, but last week I hit three different ones around Anchorage within two days and left each empty handed. Granted I was shopping for specific items, but they were things you’d expect to find in thrift stores. I was fairly disappointed and had even considered buying some of the items new if I couldn’t find them soon. That evening I had 30 minutes to kill before I was due at my next appointment so I decided to check out the Wasilla Value Village since I hadn’t been there yet.

I didn’t even grab a cart as I headed in because I figured I wouldn’t find much, but as soon as I stepped in the door I saw a whole stash of wicker hampers against the wall. The exact item I’d just posted I was in search of on a local buy/sell page! No one had responded to my request, because apparently they’d all already been donated! Some were smaller, some had liners, some had lids, some were in good shape – but not all of those characteristics lined up in the same piece. I chose a larger one with a lid, but no liner for my guest bathroom. I also found more decor items, a pantry jar, a flower pot for spring and a lovely purple storage box for my office. Isn’t that little owl candle holder the cutest!? He was just $4 – a far cry from the $60 Pottery Barn owl lanterns I’d been lusting after back in November!

Granted this wasn’t as big of a haul as the previous treasure trove, but after the little dry spell I was plenty happy with it. I finally hit the Alaksa Picker store today and found a couple great bargains there as well. I’ll share those soon once I get them cleaned up and in place around the house. I’ve got a post in the works on how the cache pot came together set for later this weekend. And watch for a post on where that wine rack ended up soon too!

Do you have a favorite thrifted find or a favorite thrift shop? Tell me about it!

New Thrifty Haunts

Published on January 10, 2014January 12, 2014 by Jenna1 Comment

One of the best things about moving to a new place is finding new, exciting stores – especially discovering which thrift stores have the best inventories! Although we’ve been pretty busy since the move I have had time to check out a few local shops and have to say I’m pretty darn impressed.

The Wasilla Salvation Army Thrift Store was the first new thrift shop I investigated due to its rather large size and convenient location right off the main drag of town. It was pretty well laid out for a thrift store and seemed to have a good variety of inventory. Unfortunately their hours don’t always work for my commuter schedule, but I was fairly tickled to see they had a decent pricing policy, as some thrift shops I’ve perused seem to be a bit bi-polar in that department – likely dependent on whoever volunteers for that task on a particular day.

I was also impressed by Boardwalk, which is also located just off the highway, but closer to the road that leads to our area. This shop is a combination of three main vendors – Home Again Decor, Gladheart Acres and Cranberry Cottage – with a smathering of consignment pieces too. I got to speak with one of the managers while visiting and learned that they plan to start renting out space to regular vendors this year and they sounded interested in having some of my Thrift D’ Creations items available. Once I’m settled and back to crafting I’ll certainly be looking into it – maybe even getting some Valentines inventory prepped this week!

I was already aware of the Alaska Picker shop which also houses a unique antique restorer, Fancy Lou. I’m a fan of both on Facebook and love seeing their new inventory via social media when I can’t stop by to browse. Luckily, they are now just a few miles from my home, which means I can always make a quick shopping trip on the weekends.

Thrifter’s Rock, located half-way between Wasilla and Palmer has been a favorite of mine for a while now. Run by a local church to support their missionaries, they have amazing sales and a pretty good rotating inventory. Just 10 minutes from our house, they are always a first choice when thrifting.

Another new favorite is Chickadee in nearby Palmer, just 15 minutes from our house. I’d been wanting to check them out since spotting them earlier this summer, but schedules just hadn’t permitted it until recently. I knew I’d hit the jackpot when I spotted this antique sled out front as soon as I stepped out of the truck! And at just $26.50 it was a great deal!

Vintage Poppy in downtown Palmer has been on my radar for a while now too. I made it a point to visit them when I was visiting from Kodiak and ended up buying the “Moose, It’s what’s for dinner” sign that hangs in our kitchen on one of those trips. There are also other vendors in the same shop, including Alaska Chicks and Love Nugget Designs, so they always have a variety of apparel, accessories, home decor and antiques. I haven’t been in since the Alaska Picker moved out of this spot and into their own digs so I think it’s high time I return to check out what’s going on.

There are still a few stores I’ve spied, but haven’t had a chance to check out just yet, like Happy Dawn’s Thrift Store located between our house and Wasilla, which looks like it might be a perfect resource for home decor project materials. I also need to check out the Value Village I spied at the far end of town since it seems pretty large.

Of course I have grand plans to hit the multitude of antique shops throughout Wasilla and Palmer this summer, so watch for projects from those adventures! What’s your favorite thrift shop or boutique?

Entry Way Décor Storage

Published on January 6, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

As a serial decorator, I’ve amassed quite a trove of basic décor items. There are the usual suspects: platters, baskets, candle sticks, etc. From the moment we signed on the dotted line, I’d planned to store all of these items in a cabinet of some sort in the entry way and this wonderful find fit the bill perfectly. Now that we’re in the house, it was just a matter of organizing everything in this new ‘home’. I finally unpacked and sorted all of my décor items last week, which left me with this mess.

Although this inventory fluctuates with use, I wanted each type of item to have a specific spot in the dresser, so finding things would be easier. I started with the larger items – vases, glass cloches, baskets and made sure they’d fit in the two cabinets. One small drawer holds all my candles, the other has all my scentsy bars and hooks.

There is a drawer for ‘fillers’, another for ‘containers’ and one for misc items that I use sporadically. Not only was I able to fit everything that wasn’t in use somewhere in the house in this one piece, I still have one whole drawer empty! That means there’s room to grow my collection! Woo Hoo! I feel a thrifting spree coming on! 🙂

That large mirror – another bargain find at just $30 on a local buy/sell page – sitting on top will soon hang over the dresser. It might get a facelift after a while, but for now it will work just fine with the dresser’s rustic finish.

I’m excited to start decorating this new space for each holiday, creating a warm welcome for our guests. So now I want to know. Do you decorate your entry way? If so, do you go all out or keep it simple?

Winter Style

Published on January 4, 2014 by JennaLeave a comment

It’s no secret that my favorite color is purple, so when I decided I needed a trench style coat for work purple was my first choice. I knew that purple trench coats existed because I’d seen them in catalogs before, but didn’t have much luck finding one now that I was actually looking to buy.

Then amazingly this one showed up on a local buy/sell page I follow for just $40! The seller said it was an XL from Nordstroms, but that it fit more like a M. I set up a time to meet and try it on with visions of me sashaying into my office the next day in my pretty purple coat. Unfortunately, when I did try it on it was far too tight in the arms – so much that I was afraid I might rip it if I moved. So the hunt continued.

A few days later I decided to indulge in a little retail therapy at Burlington Coat Factory. I browsed several departments before wandering over to the store’s namesake section, where I immediately spotted purple amongst the hangers. Not only was there a purple trench in my size, there were two different styles to choose from!

I tried both on for the hubs, who was with me and we both agreed that the first option was more professional looking, and it was a few dollars cheaper. Ding, Ding! We have a winner! And after a coupon it rang up around $54, which was close enough to the buy/sell option’s price to make me happy. I decided to get a new white scarf to go with the new coat and absolutely LOVE the combo.

I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on both the coat and the scarf, even though it does show dog hair and slobber exceptionally well. But then again, what doesn’t right? And it’s plenty warm, especially since it covers my rear end on the way from the car to the office. It’s the simple things in life! 🙂

The Skhoop

Published on November 22, 2013November 21, 2013 by JennaLeave a comment

Although it’s been in the negative temps around Anchorage recently, I haven’t broken out my full arsenal of cold weather gear yet. But with a work trip to Fairbanks today, I finally gave in and dug out my Skhoop skirt. This insulated skirt is basically a coat for your booty and legs. I first heard about them last year when I was visiting Anchorage from Kodiak and noticed someone wearing one. I asked how she liked it and when she said it was awesome I asked where I could get one.

When I researched them a little more and saw the price tag I decided it wasn’t really necessary, but the next trip over the hubs made he got one for me because he knew I’d love it – especially since he got the purple one!

Dubbed “smart clothing for active people”, the Skhoop brand originated in a small Scandinavian village where outdoor winter activities necessitated insulated clothing. Now available in a variety of styles and lengths, along with other clothing and jackets Skhoop has become a best seller in cold climates like Alaska.

I chose the shorter skirt, just because I was afraid my clumsy self would get tangled up in the longer version and do a face plant in the snow, which would defeat the warmth on my posterior. Although there are days I wish I had an extra layer on my lower legs, that’s probably the area of the body least affected by the cold – at least for me.

I’ve added a pair of Polartec touch screen gloves from Althleta to my daily use line-up this year and am pretty pleased with them. Especially, knowing that I got them for free thanks to rewards points on my credit card! I also got a pair of fleece tights with the balance of that reward card and another $9! I love a good bargain, but I relish it when it keeps me warm too!

Finding My CHI and My Lucky Streak All at the Same Time!

Published on November 13, 2013November 12, 2013 by JennaLeave a comment

I’ve had a CHI flat iron for about 2 years now and love it. I was first introduced to the brand when I borrowed my mother-in-law’s iron while visiting her and instantly knew I wanted to upgrade from my ‘bargain brand’. Unfortunately, it recently developed a short where the cord connects to the iron. I first thought it had popped the fuse because it wouldn’t turn on, so I hit the rest button on the plug with no success. But the heating indicator light came on when I moved the cord, so although I was able to continue using it with the cord strategically positioned, I knew the end was in sight.

I originally thought I’d hold out for a black Friday sale, but then I saw a purple CHI flat iron on sale at JC Penney while browsing a beauty look book in my Shopkick app! (Seriously, if you don’t have this app, get it now. It’s become an obsession for my hubby.) Same awesome brand, but in purple and on SALE from $95 to $74.99?! Um OK!

The only JC Penney around is downtown, which always means parking hassles and traffic, so I wasn’t looking forward to the shopping trip, but it was worth it. Luckily the hubs was off and wanted to run errands with me, so I let him drive on the snowy roads. This was just the beginning of my lucky streak. Not only did we find a curb-side spot right by the door, but just as we were about to put coins in the meter a woman passing by explained that you don’t have to pay the meters on the weekends! Say what?! If I’d known that… nah, I still wouldn’t like driving downtown.

Once inside we collected our ‘kicks’ and then were quickly directed to the salon by a Bieber look-a-like (figured if anyone would know where it was, it’d be him! LOL) and the sales lady there knew exactly what I was looking for when I asked. She also helped us get an additional 20% off for being retired military on Veterans Day weekend and explained the warranty on my old CHI would probably be honored if I sent it back to them. More good to know info!

And the cherry on top was realizing that the new iron came with a free gift – a bottle of CHI silk infusion serum! Score!

I’ve used the new iron twice now and am pleased with how it performs. It’s a little different than my old model, in that the indicator light and on/off switch are on the inside of the iron rather than the side. It doesn’t have a heat selection option like my old iron did, but I honestly never really changed it other than when I’d bump it accidentally and then wonder why my iron wasn’t very hot! So it’s not a feature that I really miss. The cord on the new iron is also much longer than the old one, which I appreciate.

I’ll be contacting CHI about my old iron to see if there’s anything they can do about that. Wouldn’t hurt to have a spare on hand – maybe I’d even keep it at work for those days when the weather kills my style. 🙂

SURPRISE Baby Shower!

Published on October 23, 2013October 30, 2013 by JennaLeave a comment

As an event coordinator for a community bank, I plan a lot of different types of events, but I was recently asked to arrange a surprise baby shower for a co-worker. Yes, I have an awesome job! 🙂 Luckily, I already had a “Baby Shower” board on Pinterest full of ideas. Those who know me personally would now say “but of course you would!” LOL

My recon/planning partner learned that the nursery was being decorated in yellow and purple, so we based all of the decor off that, including a ribbon garland that can be hung in the nursery.

My co-hort picked out adorable mini cupcakes with purple and yellow frosting to match our theme so I made a simple cupcake stand with two square glass plates from Walmart and a glass candlestick from the thrift store. Easy peasy! And you’d never know it only cost about $8 to make! Oh yeah! Thrifty chic!

And what baby shower is complete without a diaper cake? I’d recently seen a new style done to look like fondant on Pinterest, so I gave it a try. Note to self – next time use thinner ‘flannel/receiving blankets’ rather than the cute, but thick fuzzy blankets! Granted the chevron one was from her registry so I just had to make it work. A little ribbon trim and thrifted faux flowers gave it the finishing touch. Our male colleagues were quite baffled at the idea of a cake you don’t eat, but they too thought it turned out pretty well. Although it did look good enough to eat on my pretty cake stand I bought last year at Home Goods for a measly $15!

My Pottery Barn knock-off drink dispenser – which I found at Safeway for just $17 – finally found a use other than decorating the tops of my kitchen cabinets. It held the very tasty pink lady punch that was a surefire hit! And the recipe was super simple:

1 quart pineapple juice
1 quart cranberry juice cocktail
2 quarts ginger ale
Cranberries to garnish (or substitute fruit or other berries)

It was actually so good that I brought the rest home to share with my hubby who liked it as well – which means it’s super good because he’s a secret chef! 🙂

I also framed a picture from the maternity session I had done with her and her husband the week prior so their baby girl will have a picture of mommy and daddy in her room from the moment she arrives!

We all chipped in to get the stroller she still needed and put together a hospital survival kit, so she’s got everything ready for the trip to the delivery room! I’m still surprised we were able to pull it off without her finding out. We had a few close calls and thought she might be on to our little scheme, but we were very happy that she was truly surprised!

That was my take on a simple, chic baby shower! Whatcha think?