Free $10 credit + free shipping from Schoola (check your emails)

Update: Victoria from Snail Pace Transformations just emailed me to say it looks like you can use coupon code LUNCHBREAK to get $10 off + free shipping — even if you didn’t get an email. If you’ve ordered from Schoola […]

Free Ebooks: Creating Homeschool Balance, Busy Toddler Happy Mom, How to Make Healthy Snacks, Plus More

Download a free copy of Zap Your Procrastination: How to Stop Being Lazy and Get Results in Your Life.  Download a free copy of The Busy Mom’s Guide To Speed Cleaning And Organizing: How To Organize, Clean, and Keep Your Home […]

5 Reasons I’m Glad We’ve Chosen to Not Have Many Toys

I was doing a phone interview for a magazine yesterday and the interviewer asked me how to save money kid’s toys. I get that question a lot and it’s hard to know how to answer. Because the truth is: we […]

Gretchen’s CVS Shopping Trip: Spent $2.46, Get $5 ECBs!

CVS Shopping Trip I had ECBs that were expiring and I wanted to use them up before my CVS wouldn’t take them. This wasn’t my best shopping trip to CVS but I was happy to come away with at least $5 […]

We Paid Cash: A Delivery and One Week in the Hospital

A testimony from Reelika Having a baby is always a miracle and a real blessing for entire family. But with all this excitement, huge lists of medical and delivery expenses come, as well. I was in a hospital already three […]

I rarely do this, but I’m wholeheartedly endorsing this…

The past few days, I’ve talked about the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle and told you about some of the resources and why I think it would be beneficial for your family. Some of you have been hesitant about purchasing and you’ve […]

Free Hamilton-Beach Programmable Slow Cooker (after rebate)

Top Cash Back is offering a $26 rebate on the Hamilton Beach Ensemble Programmable 5-Quart Slow Cooker right now — which will make it completely free after rebate. This is for new Top Cash Back members only. If you are […]

Get a subscription to EatingWell magazine for $4.99

Right now you can get a one year subscription EatingWell magazine for just $4.99. You can order up to FOUR years at this price! Just use coupon code: MONEYSAVING at checkout. You can order this for yourself, as a gift, or even […]

The Children’s Place: 50% off + free shipping!

The Children’s Place is offering 50% off + free shipping on all orders right now when you use coupon code PLACE3 at checkout. Let us know what deals you find! Thanks, For the Mommas!

Many of my readers are getting completely FREE kid’s clothes from Schoola!

In case you missed my post earlier this week about this great offer from Schoola, I just wanted to bring it to your attention again because many of my readers are getting completely FREE kid’s clothes with the $15 credit […]

Weekend Giveaway: $25 Lamplight Scripture Prints Gift Certificate (10 Winners)

Lamplight Scripture Prints is an Etsy store dedicated to making fresh and beautiful designs of timeless truth. They offer Scripture prints for every room in your home. This store is run by two moms who desire to make God’s Word […]

How to Eliminate 99% of the Paper Piles in Your Home

Recently, one of my friends who comes over to our house frequently commented about how she can’t figure out how we don’t have pile of paper anywhere. She wanted to know how on earth I accomplish that and what systems […]

Clean Eating magazine for as low as $10 per year!!

This is a rare deal! Today only, you can get a one year subscription to Clean Eating magazine for $14.99 per year when you use coupon code MONEYSAVING at checkout. BEST DEAL! Get it for as low as only $10 per year when you […]

We’re Having a Party for Imperfect Homemakers Tonight (come join us!)

Are you an imperfect homemaker? Do you struggle to keep your home clean and organized? Could you use some practical ideas and inspiration to manage your time better? Stephanie from Keeper of the Home, Beth from Red and Honey, and […]

Why I Turned Down Thousands of Dollars This Past Year (+ win a free Ultimate Homemaking Bundle!)

This past year, I’ve turned down thousands of dollars in paid opportunities. Some of you might think I’m crazy to do so. And when our business expenses are up and our business income is down, I sometimes will question those […]

ShopSmart magazine subscription for $14.96 per year

If mom loves to shop then this might make a wonderful Mother’s Day gift!  If you love to shop “smart”, then this might be a great magazine for you. One of the smartest things that you can do to as […]

Free First Aid Training Online

First Aid For Free offers free online First Aid training and quizzes to help educate you more about first aid and to equip you with lifesaving skills.

Free Cone Day at Carvel on April 30, 2015

Heads up! Carvel is hosting a Free Cone Day on April 30, 2015. Stop by any Carvel location from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and you’ll receive a FREE Junior Soft Serve Cone. No purchase necessary. Thanks, For the Mommas!

Freedom!!!

I was unsure if I should post this because it's not my nature to get super personal on Facebook and I was afraid that a post like this may come off as bragging or boastful. But, after some thought, I decided that God has been too good not share this testimony and that maybe our journey would be helpful to someone else! So, here we go: On November 1, 2011, Brittany and I made the decision to get out of debt. At that time, our non-mortgage debt totaled over $218,000, including student loans (mostly), car notes, credit cards, and a bunch of other stupid miscellaneous debt. The sad thing about my student loans was that only about half of the amount I borrowed was used for tuition, books, room and board. I blew the other half (the "refund check") at Hickory Hollow Mall. I was young and dumb, I guess. But, as of this past Friday, through to the grace of God and after 3 and a half long (very long) years, I am proud to say that we are debt free and the entire $218,000 in debt is finally gone! During this time, we have sacrificed, lived on an extremely tight budget, drove junk cars, carpooled to work, packed lunches, dined in, forwent vacations & furnishing our home, wore old clothes and shoes, rarely shopped, sold personal items and did countless other things to free up money to pay off debt. We also experienced two totaled cars and a failed transmission. But, we kept pushing! While all those things were important and crucial to us getting out of debt, the thing that I KNOW without a shadow of a doubt made the biggest difference was that we Tithed to our church every paycheck for the entire 3 and a half years. I truly believe that God blesses us with everything (i.e. 100%), and if we give Him back the 10% (i.e., the Tithe), He will bless us with a larger 90% to manage for His Kingdom! We saw this happen time and time again: We gave, He blessed. We gave more, He blessed more. It never failed! At times, extra money literally showed up out of no where (no lie). I thank God for giving us the vision and desire to get out of debt, and blessing us with the means and discipline to do so. I also want to shout out Dave Ramsey. We have graduated from (and coordinated) his Financial Peace University class, and I can say that his 7 Baby Steps Plan has changed our lives, our marriage, and our family legacy! His plan works for those who work it. Lastly, I want to thank my beautiful wife, Brittany. You are truly the embodiment of the Proverbs 31 Woman. Spouses have to be on the same page for this plan to work, and you couldn't have been any more on board (even more so then me at times). For all of you going through the process of getting out of debt (or thinking about it), all I can say to you is keep pushing and, definitely keep (or start) giving! Being on this side, I can tell you that's it's all worth it and then some! We finally have that FREEDOM we've been working toward for so long! On to Baby Step 3... Thanks and God Bless!

What My Blog Looked Like in 2007 (trust me, it wasn’t pretty!)

In 2004, when I found out that I was pregnant with our first child, I began searching high and low for something — anything! — I could do from home to earn enough money so I could be a stay-at-home […]

Olive Garden coupon: Unlimited Soup, Salad, & Breadsticks for $5!

Through April 24, 2015, you can get Unlimited Soup, Salad, and Breadsticks at Olive Garden when you sign up for this Olive Garden coupon. Thanks, For the Mommas!

10 Things Every Homeowner Needs Now

This post has been running through my head for a while now...every since I shared my go to housewarming toolbox gift. It seemed to me that it took me quite a while to learn just exactly what type of practical items were truly useful for me as a homeowner so it seemed something worth discussing. So here is my list of top 10 practical items I think are must haves. What do you think? What items would you add to the pile? take away?

1. A long tape measure - even if your house isn't that large, you will need one of these eventually. Obviously you can use it for smaller projects too. While you are at it, get 10 more cheapo tape measures in all sizes. Like socks, these things have a tendency to grow legs and run away.
2. Cup Hooks - This one might seem like an odd must have but I will tell you that I bought a 100 pack ages ago and I have used them so often I had to buy more. They are cheap and super easy to install with a twist, you can't go wrong having them around. Eye hooks are pretty awesome too.
3. Cheapo paintbrushes - even if you don't have big painting plans in store, having a little cache of these babies is always a smart idea. You'll need better paint brushes for larger DIY projects but I never seem to have enough throw away brushes to find one when I need one.
4. Toolbox - Having something bright and stored in the same place everyday will save you endless hours of hunting. Trust me. You'll be thanking me for this one. If you want something a bit fancier, this one is pretty cool.
5. Ratchet Convertible Screwdriver - I'm a bit embarrassed to say I only learned about this tool's existence a few years ago. If you ever have to put together Ikea furniture, this thing is worth it's weight in gold. You're welcome!
6. Metal Bucket - This one is probably a surprise but stick with me. Aside from it's very utilitarian uses (mopping, catching leaks, etc) you can also use these in more fun ways like serving crabs, a quick and dirty beverage cooler and a flower vase. Get a few in different sizes. So worth it.
7. Small Hammer/Screwdriver Kit - This pretty little set can sit in a kitchen drawer and save you from pulling out the big guns when you have a small job like replacing batteries or hanging a nail for a photo. I live by the motto that I can never have enough screwdrivers and it seems to work for me.
8. Magic Erasers - I don't use the term "magic" losely but these are the real deal. They have saved me many a paint touch up, cleaned rust stains from marble and wiped crayon from a painted surface. Get em.
9. Kraft Paper - You already know I love this stuff. Aside from using it as paper for crafting, it makes a great table runner, covers floors and windows if you need to protect them, and makes a great space for coloring and beautiful gift wrap. I have several roles in a variety of widths. Check out my hanging kraft paper hanging roll as an example.
10. Canvas Drop Cloths - Ok so the plastic ones are cheaper - I'll give you that. But you can reuse the canvas ones over and over. Plus they don't flap up as easily in the wind (if you're an outdoor painter like me, thats a big plus!). Added bonus - you can even make whimsical window treatments with them!

So there you have it. My top 10 list that took me far longer to make than any normal person should spend on a blog list. What do you think?

Want a sneak peek at my latest project? Follow Brooklyn Limestone on instagram, facebook and twitter for lots more.

Two free games of bowling every day for kids — all summer long

Looking for a fun and frugal activity during the hot summer months? How about free bowling? Sign up at KidsBowlFree.com to get a voucher for two free games of bowling for each of your children every single day all summer […]

A Look at the Tax Year 2015

A guide to some of the tax rates, deductions and contribution limits for this year.

All About the Dining Room Chandelier

I recently shared our dining room makeover, and today it’s all about the chandelier. The new light fixture is a Feiss Lighting Brass Chandelier from Del Mar Fans & Lighting. It’s the Hugo 4-light chandelier. I love the brass finish and modern design, and the crisp white shades are so pretty. Just to refresh your memory, […]

The post All About the Dining Room Chandelier appeared first on DIY on the Cheap.

Starbucks: Half-Priced Frappuccinos from 3-5 p.m. (May 1-10, 2015)

Yay! Starbucks is bringing back Happy Hour! From May 1-10, 2015, Starbucks is offering Half-Priced Frappuccinos from 3-5 p.m. Thanks, Capitally Frugal!

Free admission to National Parks this weekend (April 18-19, 2015)

You can get free admission to all National Parks this weekend (April 18-19, 2015). Thanks, My Frugal Adventures!

Courage comes in surprising forms (like Chipotle)

It takes a lot of courage to be brutally honest about what you stand for. And courage comes in different forms. For example, you know about Chipotle, the “fast casual” restaurant that’s dominating because of their quick and healthy food. … Continued

Courage comes in surprising forms (like Chipotle) is a post from: I Will Teach You To Be Rich.

Amazon.com: The best online grocery and household deals this week

Here are some of this week’s best grocery & household deals from Amazon.com, courtesy of Terry and Mandi from Jungle Deals & Steals. Many of these prices are higher than what you’d pay by combining coupons with sales, but they […]

Freebies in my mailbox this week: Gilead (book), Kotex samples, Gevalia coffee, and adorable earrings!

Here are the freebies that showed up in my mailbox this past week: Gilead from PaperBackSwap — I’m so bummed that PaperBackSwap is now going to be charging a small amount per transaction. I had some credit in my account […]

Submit your Room for a Spring Makeover with Lowe's

Did you know that New York just suffered through one of the bleakest winters** in the country along with Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Hartford, Louisville, Nashville, Newark, Portland and Providence? Spring has finally arrived around here so absolutely perfect timing for me to share that I'm teaming up with Lowe's and ten other bloggers to makeover a space in each one of those cities! Do you want a spring room makeover? Read on...



Have a space that is in need of a little help? Been putting off a sprucing up project waiting for spring? Just want a change? Fill out the submission form with the details of the space to be considered. You have until Friday to submit a space so hurry! We will be reviewing every single entry and make the room selections next week.

Selected projects should be easy refresh projects such: landscaping, outdoor rooms, painting, easy interior updates that can be completed in the course of 24 hours. No dramatic remodels please.

I'm a sucker for a makeover so I can't wait to tackle it. Not to mention the joy of being teamed up with such great company. The other bloggers that will be part of the panel selecting spaces with me are: beneath my heart | the golden sycamore | all things gd | city farmhouse | our fifth house | liz marie | pretty handy girl | home stories a to z | just a girl |diy playbook

Chosen homeowners will get one of us along with Lowe's products and volunteers to makeover their space. You don't want to miss out on this!

To be eligible, you must:

• Be looking to fix up a space within your residence
• Makeover project should be able to be completed within 24 hours
• Must live in or in a suburb of:
• Boston, MA
• Buffalo, New York
• Detroit, Michigan
• Hartford, Connecticut
• Louisville, Kentucky
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Newark, New Jersey
• New York City
• Portland, Maine
• Providence, Rhode Island
• Must be the owner of your home.
• Be outgoing, energetic, and fun with unique stories to tell.
• Be comfortable being on camera and/or interviewed by local media
• Be in need of expert design help from one participating blogger.
• Be able to make quick decisions in order to keep tight timelines.
• Be available for a 2 day period to complete the makeover (between April 20-May 22).
• Allow photos of your home to be shared online
• Must be 21 years of age or older to apply
• Complete the online application form

This post and project is sponsored by Lowe's but all opinions expressed are mine.

**as per the Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index

Want a sneak peek at my latest project? Follow Brooklyn Limestone on instagram, facebook and twitter for lots more.

A Lifetime of Art in the Canadian Bush

I have some really fun news. One of the most commonly asked questions I field is about the art in our home - specifically, the paintings by Hubby's Grandpa, Bert Weir, a professional artist who is now in his 90th year. I've chatted about the pieces we have (in this post and this post), but it has largely remained inaccessible to readers because Bert resides outside of Parry Sound, so to see or purchase his work has meant a trek to McKellar, Ontario. BUT, until the end of September, his work can be viewed at Evergreen Brickworks Centre for Green Cities in Toronto (which is a little more accessible). I know some of you live in, or visit, Toronto, so here is all of the info about Brickworks.

For those who can't make the journey, Bert also has a book of his artwork available for purchase. We have a copy and I find it inspiring to thumb through because he uses such vibrant and invigorating colours.

I might have some other ways for you to get your hands on some of Bert's art, but first let's take a tour around the Brickworks exhibit. I tried my best to capture the beautiful paintings on display, but the lighting is a bit dim (and a bit fluorescent) there, so it was tricky. You can also see his work on his website.

The showstopper is this 32 foot (!!!) painting, called Transitions, painted in 1978. Hubby's standing in front, for scale. Incredible, right?

Transitions, 1978

In the same space as Transitions are these four pieces:

I surprised myself by favoring not the blue painting, Winter Balsam (second from the left above)...

Winter Balsam, mid 1970s

Instead, I was mesmerized by a painting with lots of purple (!) - purple isn't really in my roster of favorite colours but this painting, October Red, pulled me in (of course, it doesn't hurt that there's a little aqua layered in there).

October Red, 1977

This is why I advocate buying a piece of art you love, and pulling colours from it to decorate a room. Artists just get colour - they have an innate sense of what colours look good together. Design a room around the painting above and it will look stunning.

Brickworks is a great space and it was such a change to see Bert's art against brick walls with history, but his paintings really belong in the space.

After the Red, 2012

I love this peek of Full Summer as you walk down a set of stairs.

Full Summer, 2012

Unfortunately, two of the my favorites, part of the Wave Series, were moved to a meeting room that doesn't have a lot of character. The series, which is comprised of twelve large diptychs, was inspired by Bert's burgeoning passion for sailing. The way in which the wind and water interact is brought to life in these incredible paintings, painted in the late 1980s.

When we went to Brickworks, Hubby and I were told that the conference room which houses the Wave Series was booked, so we weren't allowed entry. There was no way Hubby and I were going to drive more than 3000km and not see these paintings. Hubby didn't want to interrupt (he's so polite!), so I steeled myself, prepared for a bit of confrontation and barged right in but, to my surprise, the room was empty. We were able to take in these paintings in peace and quiet, which was lovely. Can you imagine having something so beautiful to look at during your next meeting? Lucky ducks.

Wave Series # 7, 1989

I love how softly Bert layered the colours in #4 of this series. I took dozens of close up photos and I've been studying them (plus I shared some on Instagram).

Wave Series #4, 1988

I can only imagine how disappointing it will be for everyone who uses this space when Bert's work is removed at the end of September. Having such beauty in the workplace must make it so much more enjoyable - I imagine it would spark a lot of creativity, too! Just look at this hallway:

If I remember correctly, The Purples of Fall is down the corridor pictured above. It's another painting with purple that caught my eye... Hmmm.

The Purples of Fall, 2010

At the end of the hall is another one of my favorites, New Growth, from the Bush Wall Series.

New Growth, 2010

I thought that our painting in the dining room is from the same series, but it's actually from the Summer Landscape and Summer Grasses Series. It brings Hubby immense and immeasurable joy to have his Grandfather's art in our home. For me, it's more about the aesthetics and the energy, but Hubby enjoys a sense of closeness to his Grandpa because our home is filled with his art. He picked out the piece in the dining room, and we appreciate it for different reasons. I love how it makes us feel totally ensconced in nature; with huge windows across from it, it feels like another portal into the wilderness, but for Hubby it means something more. Hubby rarely chimes in about decorating, but much of the art has been chosen by him. It makes our home feel comfortable and familiar for him because he grew up surrounded by Bert's art! We're so thankful that Bert has been so generous and has given us so many treasured pieces.

There are many more paintings at Brickworks, so if you have a chance stop by. If you happen to share a photo on Instagram or Twitter, I'd love if you'd use #BertWeir and tag me so I can see! I'd be happy to pass on your thoughts and experiences to Bert.

For those of you who are as smitten with Bert Weir's art as we are, you can always contact him directly (a studio tour can be arranged by appointment), but Hubby's Mom chatted with me recently about the possibility of selling signed, limited edition prints of his work ($100-200 range) or smaller original paintings. Because I know that many of you, like me, are on a tight budget, there's also the possibility of notecards with images of his work...the sky is really the limit because Bert's wife is a talented photographer and she has cataloged and documented his extensive body of work. For anyone who has ever asked about Bert's art, what would interest you? Prints? Smaller original paintings? Notecards? Something else? What would be your budget? Let me know what you think.

Sonic: Half-priced Cheeseburgers all day on Wednesday (April 15, 2015)

On Wednesday, April 15, 2015, Sonic is offering half-priced cheeseburgers all day long. Thanks, Freebies 4 Mom!

How to Make a Snail Mail Craft Kit

Guest post from Jennie of Little Girl Designs I love sending (and receiving!) good old-fashioned snail mail. Though life moves at lightning speed these days with our access to email, texts, and tweets, I’ve noticed that there is a growing movement […]

10-year-olds are too coddled in this country

Is it just me, or are people are too coddled in this country? I heard this 10-year-old kid order a “truffle burger” the other day. I didn’t even know that word until 3 years ago. I saw another kid YELLING … Continued

10-year-olds are too coddled in this country is a post from: I Will Teach You To Be Rich.

DIY Swiss Cross Paver Planter Tutorial

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. All opinions are my own. I recently mentioned that I will be partnering with The Home Depot throughout the year and hosting a few of their Do-It Herself Workshops. The first workshop is this Thursday, April 16, and I will be hosting at the Cumberland location […]

The post DIY Swiss Cross Paver Planter Tutorial appeared first on DIY on the Cheap.

The 4 Most-Read & Most-Commented On Posts This Week

What 2 Words Would You Write in a Note to Your Younger Self? (The comments on this post are incredibly interesting and insightful!) Easy Whole Wheat Bread Recipe A Day In My Life: When My Plan Didn’t End Up Happening, […]

Free 2-year subscription to Family Circle magazine

Sign up for a free 2-year subscription to Family Circle magazine. Thanks, Moms By Heart!

Rite Aid: Deals for the week of April 12-18, 2015

Here are the best Rite Aid deals this week, with thanks to Shannon for her help in compiling them. If you are new to shopping at Rite Aid or have questions about their coupon policy, click here. Glade Aerosol, 8oz, […]

Walgreens: Deals for the week of April 12-18, 2015

Here are the best deals at Walgreens this week, with thanks to Passionate Penny Pincher for her help with compiling these: Balance Reward Points Buy 2 Well Beginnings Diapers at $6.50, Get 2,000 Balance Reward Points Use $1.50/1 printable $4 after coupon […]

The Children’s Place: 25% off — Shorts, tees, and more for $3.75 shipped!

You can get 25% off any purchase at The Children’s Place when you use coupon code 25PLACE2 at checkout. You can get shorts, tees, and more for just $3.75 each shipped after this coupon code. Hurry! This deal will not […]

18 fun & educational iTunes that are FREE today!

It’s free App Friday! Check out these 18 different fun & educational iTunes apps that are FREE today only.

Free sample of Arm & Hammer Truly Radiant Toothpaste

This is available again! Sign up for a free sample of Arm & Hammer Truly Radiant Toothpaste. Thanks, Freebie Radar!

Easy Whole Wheat Bread

Guest post from Brigette Shevy There’s nothing like homemade bread fresh from the oven! While I love baking and trying new recipes, this is my standard go-to recipe. It is healthy, super easy, and can be thrown together in less […]

Money Talks: Those Darn Joneses

Anytime I indulge in a little magazine devouring, Pinterest trolling, or blog reading, I see folks undertaking expensive renos, splashing out on pricey furniture, and/or shop-shop-shopping for lots of gorgeous accessories (or craft supplies, to make gorgeous home accessories) - and rarely, if ever, with the accompanying hand-wringing and stress I feel when spending money.

Renovating and decorating (or even crafting) can be frustrating because it seems like I never have enough money (or time). I try not to compare my life or spending to someone else's, but although budgeting and planning may be done in the logical part of my brain, the feelings about money do not originate from the same part. I remind myself that choices Hubby and I have made (that bring us so much joy), like buying a more expensive house so we can live lakeside, or paying cash for our truck, changed the game for us. If we had bought a small home somewhere else, kept our affordable car, didn't have our lovable Szuka (vet bills! food!), things could be different - but I wouldn't want to trade any part of my life. A part of my brain gets this. But the pang of, "oh hey, I want that," the whiny little voice complaining, "it looks so easy for them," or the creeping feeling of doubt: "am I doing something wrong if I can't afford this bath reno and a holiday?" aren't always easy to shake.

I figured that I can't be alone, so I wanted to be open and honest about how stressed I am about renovating the bathroom, and spending money on the house in general. I want to paint a more realistic picture of what's going on behind the scenes and just admit: sometimes I can't afford to do, buy or even make the things I want. Plain and simple - no shame.

This isn't a pity party for me at all, because I think that being able to chat about any of this - renovating, decorating, even budgeting - is a luxury, when many people are barely scraping by, or worse.

But you should know that embarking on this bath reno has definitely made me nervous, especially because the estimates we calculated were a little optimistic...

So, we're in a mini spending lock-down until the dust settles. We're scrimping and saving to top up our "bath reno fund" - now, instead of a Mustang in my wallet, I've got the photo above. We've already made a few larger purchases from our savings, like closet doors for the bedroom and some fabric for drapes, but it looks like other changes will have to be put on hold until we come out the other side of the bath reno. Meanwhile, I'm trimming our grocery budget a bit. I'm trying to avoid the Siren Song of the thrift stores. I'm finishing up neglected projects - and using supplies we have on hand. And, other than a quick trip to visit family, vacationing is out of the question for now.

Truthfully, it isn't just the bathroom reno that has me nervous about spending money. I started thinking about money differently, and re-prioritizing a bit, after the loss my family experienced. The funeral home created a photo slideshow for us, which had us pouring over dozens of photo albums. It made me think about my own life, and finding the right balance of fun and responsibility - especially when it comes to money. As we flipped through photo albums, no one said, "he had such a great home with a beautifully renovated bathroom," but instead they said, "man, he sure loved to be outside". Meanwhile, Hubs and I had a truckload full of cabinet samples for our impending bathroom renovation.

I panicked.

After the funeral, we returned the cabinet samples. Staring glumly at a stack of wood doors, I turned to Hubby and said, "I don't care about a bathroom reno. Let's use the money to travel instead. Let's do stuff". That night I got stuck inside our space portal shower, which is starting to fall apart and smells like a monkey's butt, no matter how thoroughly and vigorously I scrub it. Hubby freed me and, naked and freezing, I relented, "okay, maybe a renovation isn't such a stupid idea".

Hubby and I feel very privileged. Not only do we benefit from certain unearned societal privileges, we have a roof over our heads, warm stew in our bellies at night, our health, and the complete luxury of choosing how to spend our savings. Should we save the money instead? Should we blow it on a huge trip? Retire earlier? How much interest could we earn? Mortgage balloon payment? What if we die tomorrow? What will be important? What if we live to be 100? Man, I'll really hate our current bathroom by then... Should we spend more and get quality? Why do laminate counters get the cold shoulder?

Whew.

ALL decadent choices. Still, I find it very stressful to think about spending a good chunk of change on our home, and yet I wish we had more to spend. I have a laundry list of things I'd like to change, update, switch up, and improve. I just have to be patient, and understand that while in some cases we have to wait, we might never have the money for certain things. That's just life. And it's a good life! What we have is enough, everything else is just icing.

I've been getting into the habit of taking some time each day to really appreciate my life, and my loved ones, and to just be grateful. Truly, I'm so grateful. And, to be honest, I feel it immediately when I just disconnect a bit: tear my eyes away from Instagram, power down the computer, and close the magazines - when I get away from the daily deluge of inspiring room makeovers, crafty projects, and the endless lists of things bloggers and magazines think we should buy. Right away I feel my priorities, and my brain relaxes.



I always think of that saying, "yesterday I didn't know it existed, today I can't live without it".

This post in my (very infrequent) Money Talks series is noticeably devoid of any meaningful money-saving tips or tricks but, with this reno looming, and talk of fancy walnut cabinets and quartzite counters, I just didn't want to contribute to any illusion that spending this money on renovations is easy (or necessary).

Printable coupons: Newman’s Own, Truvia, Burt’s Bees

Here are some new printable coupons and e-coupons available today: $1.00 off any ONE (1) Newman’s Own Frozen Pizza $1.00 off (1) Newman’s Own Complete Skillet Meal $0.75 off any ONE (1) Newman’s Own Salad Dressing $0.75 off 1 package […]

CVS: 3 boxes of Zantac for free + overage

You can get 3 boxes of Zantac for free plus overage at CVS this week. Here’s how: Buy 1 Zantac 75, 30 ct. at $8.99 Use $4/1 Zantac Product from the 3/1 Smartsource insert or printable here Plus, use $4/1 […]

How to win when you’re not the best — with Arthur Chu

Yesterday we talked about unconventional ways you can improve your odds of winning. Today I want to take you behind the scenes and show you how you can defeat opponents you have no business beating. I’m going to do that … Continued

How to win when you’re not the best — with Arthur Chu is a post from: I Will Teach You To Be Rich.

Printable coupons: Dole, Campbell’s, Edwards Pie, plus more

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Blue Apron Adobo Chicken + Wild Rice [Sponsored]

I've had such a great experience with Blue Apron last time, I was so excited to be asked to share another recipe. In case you haven't heard, Blue Apron is a delivery service that will send several great recipes and every ingredient needed to whip it up so all you have to do it cook something new and fresh when it arrives. The ingredients are farm fresh and save you the trip to the grocery store.


This time around the recipe is Adobo Style Chicken with Bok Choy and Wild Rice. I will admit when I first read the title of the recipe, I wasn't sure we would like it but I was totally wrong. It was incredibly tasty and we ate every bite! Illustrating one of my favorite Blue Apron features - pushing us to try new dishes and techniques that are a little outside of our comfort zone without any extra effort on my part to hunt down new recipes or ingredients.

Blue Apron recipes generally take me about an hour from start to finish but this one was extra quick. The recipe was easy to follow and there were very few steps. I started by chopping up the ginger, garlic, chives and bok choy as directed.





Once I got the rice started, the chicken got a quick sauté and set aside. Once the aromatics were cooked, the wet ingredients and bok choy were added back along with some cornstarch to thicken the sauce. Finally the chicken is added back the chicken before cooking for a few more minutes and served up with the rice. Sesame seeds, coriander scallion tops were used as garnish.



This Adobo Chicken was very tasty and something I had never made before. Now that I know the techniques I can easily replicate it with different ingredients easily. For example, I would have never thought to add sesame seeds as garnish (let's be honest - I don't garnish my home made dishes!) but I loved the flavor and texture it added. I will definitely be doing that again! Another great Blue Apron experience. We ate every bite of this savory sauced chicken and can't wait to try another recipe. I'm coming for you Chicken + Drop Biscuit casserole and Shrimp Pineapple Fried Rice!




Another great thing about the dish was that it was easy to separate to make a toddler friendly version without having to do a thing beside portion it on a plate. Added bonus: The box is Aggie's new favorite toy!



Once again the lovely people at Blue Apron have provided a coupon code for the first 50 readers to try out the service at a reduced rate (the equivalent of 2 free meals on them!). Just click here.

Click here to learn about just one of the suppliers Blue Apron uses to source it's fresh produce.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Blue Apron but as always, all opinions expressed are my own.

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