Smells like cake!

Nothing smells better than baking at home. However, my waist doesn't allow cake each week.

I was blog browsing last week and came across this.

For a while I've been wanting a scentsy warmer, but just never got around to getting one.

Well leave it to Wally World to make a knock off. Here's my faux scentsy warmer. It was $15 and the bricks are $2 each. It makes my house smells as if I I made this..... (cake for my dear friends baby shower) and this..... (cake for my oldest daughters birthday)

YUM!!! If you know me in real life I'm a bakery girl.

Why doesn't the cake smell stop my cake cravings????

Free Decorating Tips and Free TV

You would think we spent hours and lots of money on expensive satellite TV since our TV is the center piece of our room.

Nope, we spent $0 each month on our TV bill. We do pay $9 a month for netflix. Love it!

Netflix has cable shows.. imagine that? Last year we decided to ditch the dish.
It was my husband's idea. I agreed very reluctantly and a year later I'm loving it! Never thought I would say that.

Don't get me wrong I miss my HGTV, Discovery Channel and E!

This blog world has also shown me I can get the same decorating tips and entertainment for free.

These ladies have some talent... they give me serious inspiration.

Better After - Home project instant gratification!

The Magic Brush - If I could have a painting buddy it would be this lady.

320 Sycamore - Another mom of a large family. She's got great ideas on a budget.

Nesting Place- Everyone loves the Nester.

Thrifty Decor Chick- Great ideas and a great sense of humor.

Shanty2chic - These girls are master DIYers.

There's No Place Like Home - This girl I know in real life. She's just a beautiful as her house.

Chic on a Shoestring - Great and creative ideas.

Projects Plenty - If I could swap houses with anyone it would be her. She's got great style!

Beneath my Heart- Inspiring and beautiful.

Beyond the Screen Door- Master seamstress.... could I borrow her sewing mind?

The Lettered Cottage- Another blog world favorite. HGTV needs Layla!

So tell me do you have a favorite home decor blog?

Boys + Jeans = Holes Quick

Boys will be boys! Mine is no exception he plays dirty and crawls around on his knees.

Blue jeans are his choice most days. So after about a month this is what I'm seeing when I do laundry..... Holes in his knees!

Here's a quick fix that helps prolong their life...
Iron the patches on to the inside of the jeans and make sure you put a piece of paper or wax paper between the legs.



Then iron them on and viola the jeans can go maybe another month.

Blue Jeans to buy and not to buy:

These brands seem to last longer without holes (in my experience)

• Gymboree
• Gap
• Levi's
• Crazy 8 (a Gymboree company)

These brands have never lasted me more than a month..... maybe even 2 weeks:

• Target in store brand
• Wal-mart in store brand
• Khol's in store brand
• Carters

The top brand will run you more money upfront but if they last for at least 3 months then you save money because if you bought the cheaper thinner one's you would have bought 3 pairs.

Gymboree and Gap run great sales. At the end of season I usually stock up on a size up for the next season.

To make the jeans last even longer... iron on the patch to the inside of the jeans when you first purchase them.

Flu Season

This is the last time you will see us here for a while:
It seems everywhere I look I hear "Swine Flu" or just "Flu". I am a nut when it comes to germs. Really I am!



My mother in law is a nurse at Cook Children's. They've hit record numbers so early on in the flu season. Here are some tips to stay well.

• Start eating yogurt with active cultures. The regular yoplait with the red lid is just as good as the Dan active. Most yogurts have active cultures.


• Take multi vitamins every day. Store brands are fine.


• Cut out some caffeinated drinks and drink more water. Flush your system and keep it hydrated.


• Wash, wash, wash your hands. Use anti-bacteria sanitizer if you can't wash your hands.


• Stay away from play places with lots of kids.


• Most important get your regular flu shot.

Name Brand Chips vs. Store Brand

Have you ever compared store brand and name brand chips next to each other? Well I did. Let me share the shocking results

(not really but it sure sounds good)

I bought two bags of Wavy potato chips. We ate half of each bag then evaluated...

Here is a photo of the Store Brand Wavy Chips. Ummm do you see wave? The Name Brand Wavy Chips now that is a wavy chip.

My results:
The Store Brand

• Most of the bag was broken into small pieces
• It was greasier
• The taste was not as good but pretty close
• It was only $1.75

The Name Brand

• The chips stayed in big pieces
• Not as greasy as the store brand
• Classic taste
• It was $3.00

The Verdict- Pay the extra $1.25 for chips that are dip worthy. I made ranch dip and the small remnants of chips made it very frustrating to get my dip. They just broke into the dip making crumbly mess

Thrifty Thursday

No more last minute runs to the store for birthday or occasion cards..... be prepared! Create a binder with cards ready to sign plus the goodies to make your own. Here is my binder....

I visit the "Boutique Custom Card Shop's" they almost always have a clearance box. These hold individual blank invitation paper (see the photo above) I find the pretty paper and make my own occasion cards. I just sign and write a personal message. I get comments like "where did you find this beautiful paper". It is personal and inexpensive. I get most of my paper for 10 cents each including the envelope. Dallas/ Ft. Worth readers my favorites are Paper Capers in Arlington and R.S.V.P in Colleyville.

I also buy holiday cards on clearance after the holiday and put in my card binder. I used large zip plastic bags no expensive storage bags.

Clearance scrapbook items also come in handy to make your own cards for those craft frugal girls!

Tuesdays Tip

I don't know about you but every year I start out with the same resolution, loose weight or not gain weight. Take a look at my family blog I completely fell off the bandwagon yesterday :(

What I find is lower cal and fresher ingredients are more expensive at the grocery store but not more expensive at your locals farmers market.

If you have a local farmers market take a look around and visit and make part of your weekly shopping routine for your fresh veggies (if cheaper).

I need your help fellow frugal readers, I am looking for great low fat recipes and tips that help you stay fit. Any great products you think work great?

Waste Wednesday

I am going to break my no waste rule. Sometimes you need to be wasteful. I am saying good-bye to the bottom of the bowl candy leftover from Halloween. It has developed a funky smell with all the mixed candy. If it didn't stink I could:

• Top cupcakes with candy
• Sprinkle in Stockings for Christmas
• Break up chocolate bars and mix in cookies
• Leave to eat on my sugar binges
• Continue to load the kids up with sugar and visit the dentist with rotten teeth :)

Frugal Jen has decided to be wasteful for once Good - Bye Candy! Mommy's hips and tummy will miss you :) This jar was overflowing just a few weeks ago. What makes it smell funny anyways? Am I the only one who has this problem?

Motivating Mondays

Do something good for yourself today. Being frugal is about spending smartly. For me I am going to get a smoothie today. A little indulgence, I am having dental work done and I will treat myself to the $5.00 smoothie normally I pass on.

I should be blogging tomorrow about Tuesday's Tips. Hopefully I will be feeling good after my dental stuff. Now, that is something I HATE spending money on.

I need your help!

I need your help! What would you like to see on Thursdays? I would like to feature blogger giveaways but when they are not being offered I would like to have a regular posting. Here are some options I've thought of:

• Meal Planning for the next week. I usually go to the grocery store on Friday mornings.
• We feature a blog reader and how they are saving money too
• Have question and answer like a "Dear Abby" but for money saving questions.

Let me know what you would like to read more of! Tomorrow is Freebie Friday! I've got a big list already!

Wasteless Wednesdays

Here are some tips to cut back on your monthly budget and stop wasting your money. These ideas were given to me by my "Frugal Friend January". She is just as frugal as me if not more :) We always discuss being frugal together.

• Do you have a gym membership you don't use? "Get Real" about either going or cancel your membership. For me this is my monthly splurge I go 5 days a week to my gym. The kids love to play in the kids area it is my daily babysitter. This is something that I don't waste I get all my money's worth. Find out about your gyms activities and kids area. Also check out the classes, try a new one and see what you think. My favorite is Kickboxing!

• Consolidate your errands and shopping trips. Make a list and do all of them at once instead of wasting gas and making too many trips.

• When you eat out share a meal with someone or put half of it in a to-go box and eat for lunch or dinner the next day. When me and my frugal friend recently went to dinner we drank water, skipped the $8 margaritas, shared fajitas, and loaded up on the free salsa and chips. Afterwards we went next door to Market Street and shared a pre-sliced piece of cake Yum! I think we each spent $8 total for a girls dinner!

Motivating Mondays

Remember that "Want List" from last week.

• Prioritize your list and estimate cost


• Budget it in, don't just go and buy it, set up a savings account for big household purchases


• Pass on the 0% interest credit cards for so many months offers to purchase it


• Just try and pay cash for it don't charge it

Remember my items: Here is my plan

• Haircut for me- well still hasn't happened. It is budgeted for next month I just need to commit to a style. I have long hair and want to cut it short. Any tips?


• New winter clothes for me - well this is not budgeted in yet my husband and I are having discussions about the course of action. Basically I need a new wardrobe last year was post maternity. I do plan to get some new jeans I will have to blog on my personal site about my shopping trip I refuse to buy that size.


• Granite counter tops- we have a home savings account that we deposit money into each month. We have a priority list of home projects. Unfortunately last month we had to replace the fence which too a huge amount away from my counter tops. So hopefully in the next year I will get them. But my husband also thinks he has some big items on that list like a man room

Motivating Mondays The "Want List"

We are going to start slow with being frugal. If you are new to this too much too fast will be overwhelming. I know it was for me. I want you to write down on a piece of paper or your blackberry (we will get to that later) a WANT list. Let's keep the list short the 3 most important things you think you want you probably think you need them. These would be things like a new purse, clothes, shoes or things that you think you must get and look great.


Here on Frugal Fabulous I am going to help you get things you really want but, we are going to get there a better way then just plopping down the credit card at the overpriced department store or boutique. I want to have nice things and live within my means and we will get you there too. It is all possible. We ALL have those wants for nice things and they motivate us to save or do more to get them. I will help you overcome the trap of buying them if you can't afford them.


Keep the WANT list handy and always in your purse we are going to address this list on MOTIVATING MONDAYS and have goals to get you there. Post a comment and tell me some of your wants.

Here are my 3 WANTS:

1. Granite counter tops for my kitchen



2. New winter clothes (jeans that fit)



3. A new cute short hair cut.
   
   We are getting ourselves motivated by looking at our WANTS now we will get closer to getting them and getting them at the right time not being impulsive!
   

Tomorrow, I will post Tuesday Tips, a quick easy way to save money!

Motivating Mondays "Looking for List"

Keep a LOOKING FOR LIST. What is this? Write down a list on paper or any electronic device you keep with you. This list will contain small inexpensive items you are on the lookout for. For example my looking for list has: a lamp for Kate's room, jeans for Will and fall smelling candles. If I have a birthday coming up I put this person on my looking for list.

The reason for this list is when I am out and I happen to have time to run in a store (discount store like Target, TJ Maxx etc..) I will look for these items. I DO NOT get away from this list no matter what other "cute" or "sale" items I see. Because those other things are not on my looking for list and will most likely be put in a closet or forgotten. Just because you find something that is a GREAT DEAL, it doesn't mean you have to buy it!

Try a LOOKING FOR LIST this week and see what happens. I bet you save money by not buying other little items that come your way. When you leave the store with only the things you are looking for you will feel GREAT, you will have overcome the temptation to impulse buy and have no regrets later :) Plus you will have saved money, which means more money in the bank for important purchases, which we will talk about next week on Monday!

Tomorrow will be Tuesday Tips! This is a quick easy tip we can all use to be FRUGAL FABULOUS!