How to Whitewash a Coffee Table

When I moved recently, I realized I needed a coffee table. I didn't like the cheap ones at Ikea, and I didn't have the money to buy a nicer one, so I searched. And searched. And searched. I set a limit for myself of $10-$20, since I didn't need a long one so I didn't see the purpose of paying more. Finally, after a four month search, I found one while visiting my parents. It was the perfect size, but the finish was in rough shape and one of the legs wasn't stable. I knew my dad could fix the leg (which he did, in all of three minutes), and the rest was a weekend project, so I gladly forked over a crisp $10 bill and threw it in my trunk.

For whatever reason I didn't think to take a picture of the entire table beforehand, just the top, but you can tell it was stained very dark. I'm not into dark wood, I prefer white or light wood for my own decor, so I decided I wanted to whitewash the top and paint the legs. I already had white paint, all I needed to get was sealer and a sander. I borrowed an orbital sander from a friend. You could just as easily strip it and re-stain it or just repair the top as necessary.

There's a great little table under all those scratches

(Please excuse the terrible photos, I was working a basement and used my phone.)

Step 1: Sand the old finish down to the naked wood.

Haha, naked... no but really, you want to get as much of the stain or paint off as possible. This is a much easier process with an orbital sander, but for the legs you'll need to sand by hand. Use 40-60 grit paper.

Once I sanded my own table I discovered it was actually cherry wood, which pleased me. It had a lovely pink color and I knew the texture of the wood would be great for the whitewash finish I was planning. Once I finished sanding the top, I sanded the legs just enough to give it teeth so paint would stick to it (I did the same with the underside of the table). This step is important because wood furniture is usually kept clean using wax, which will reject paint. If you're gonna paint it, the wax has to come off. If your sandpaper gets gummy, grab another piece and keep going.

Step 2: Wipe it down and let it dry.

Cherry planks! That silver strip towards the middle is my favorite

A clean damp cloth or two will do. I wiped everything down and let my table dry overnight to be sure my paint would stick properly.

Step 3: Time to whitewash!

Once my table was sanded and cleaned, I got to work with the paint. I decided to go for a 50/50 mix (no measurements needed, just eyeball it), half paint half water. I really wanted the wood to show through the finish, if you want a more opaque cover you can increase the paint in your ratio or do more than one layer of whitewash.

Half water, half paint

After I mixed my paint with water with my desired ratio, I used a brush to apply it to the tabletop. Working a little bit at a time, I applied the paint, then wiped it off with a damp rag, in the direction of the grain. Brush on, wipe off. Brush on, wipe off. It's literally that easy. (Confession: at one point my rag got too much paint on it and I used my shirt. The one I was wearing. Just whipped it right off. So make sure you bring extra rags.) Let that coat dry for a couple hours, then go back and add another coat if you want more coverage. I was perfectly pleased with a single coat.

After I finished whitewashing the top, I painted the legs, two coats to cover and went over them one more time to get any spots I missed. I painted the underside of the table too, just to prevent any weird shadows. I left the very center unfinished, so as not to gum up the works.

Finally realized I could use a flash in this one. I don't technology very well

Step 4: Seal it up

I used a satin polycrylic by Minwax that I bought in a little tiny baby can from A.C. Moore with a coupon. I got the synthetic brush that goes with it too. I prefer polycrylic because it dries crystal clear, is very low odor, and it dries pretty quickly. I wanted more of a matte finish, hence satin, but if you want a shiny finish go for the gloss or semi-gloss. Follow the directions, sand (220 or 240 grit and a little steel wool) and clean between coats, and you have a beautiful finish.

That antique hope chest underneath is my next project

Viola! NEW COFFEE TABLE! And depending on what supplies you already have on hand, you're paying much less than anything you'd get at a store. I calculated that I used less than $20 in materials, and this is a weekend/free time project for sure, so for a couple days of work and $30, you have recycled a piece of furniture and customized it all by yourself, and not a stitch of particle board was involved!

Notes: I used white paint, and it's called whitewash, but you could honestly use any color paint with the same process. I found a nice grey I'd like to try in the future, and maybe navy blue. Feel free to be creative.

Tips for Keeping Projects Cheap

I hate letting a project get out of control expensive. Hate it. Because at some point I just run out of money and it isn't worth it anymore. Over the years there's a few things I've learned to do that help me keep my projects relatively cheap to complete:

1. Never walk past the paint rejects at the hardware store.

A fresh coat of paint is the quickest way to rehab any piece of furniture. As a rule, always check out the rejects in the paint department of your local hardware store, especially the chains. You can pay a quarter of the price for a fun color, and paint has a relatively long shelf life. Unless you've got a very specific color in mind, you can usually find some awesome cans on those shelves. I don't think I've ever paid full price for tinted paint.

2. Have a few choice tools on hand at all times.

I might be a lady, but I'm comfortable with power tools and you should be too. But since I live in an apartment, I can only keep the basics. Every person should have the following in their toolbox:

-A hammer (any hammer will do, nothing fancy needed)
-Screwdrivers, philip's and flat, in a few different sizes if possible
-An all-in-one tool

via

-A level
-A drill with multiple bits (I got a cheap one from Ikea, works great)
-Sandpaper in a few different grits
-A basic wrench set
-Pliers, needle- and flat-nose

Again, that's a very basic list. I'm sure you could add quite a few more things to your own personal list of tools, but those are the ones I use the most. Also in my own toolbox I keep felt feet for furniture since I have hardwoods, and 3M picture hanging strips because I have plaster walls. If I need a power tool I borrow it from a friend. Always return tools, by the way. Don't be that guy.

Also, please don't feel pressured into buying a "girl's" tool set in pink. It's sexist marketing and it really bothers me.

3. Know what you want, and set a price limit.

I knew I wanted a coffee table, and I knew I didn't want to pay more than $10-$20. I found one eventually and refinished it (next post!), but it takes patience. If you're serious about saving money or refinishing your own furniture for sale or for keeps, drive around on trash night, spend your Saturdays at flea markets and yard sales, and scour Craigslist on the reg. My dad used to tell me there's a reason they call it fishing, not catching, so be prepared to fish for a gem.

4. Stock up on sale fabric or fabric quarters.

via

Both can be very cheap and come in handy for throw pillows (excellent cheap gifts) and recovering small things like seat cushions. Fabrics are just useful in general. Keep some polyfil on hand as well, it's perfect for stuffing those throw pillows or refilling a scrawny stuffed animal.

5. Do research before you start a project.

Make sure you have everything you need before you start. Think of it as cooking - you're not going to want to run out in the middle of your project to pick up things you need. Paintbrushes too.

There you go, a few tips to get you started. Like I said my next post will be about refinishing a beat up coffee table, so stay tuned!

Tie-up Balloon Shades

When I lived with my cousin and her family, in my bedroom she had some linen tie-up balloon shades that I absolutely loved. They were casual, but the little bows added some formality. They were easy to arrange, and when I moved out I decided I wanted my own. The options I found online were way too expensive, so I took another look at my cousin's and set out to make them myself. The below instructions use a sewing machine and assume a basic knowledge of sewing, but with the right fabric you can use fabric glue as well.

My finished curtains. They fit my old apartment windows perfectly, but my new windows were a little bigger...

I started out measuring my windows, length and width, then adding two inches on the width for seams, and four for length, to allow a large enough seam at the top (3") for the curtain rod. For example, if your windows are 36" x 24", you'll need a peice of fabric measuring 40" x 26".

When you go to pick out your fabric, keep in mind that a yard is 36", and home decor fabric is usually 54" wide at  JoAnn's. I didn't use a curtain liner for this project since I used a men's suit fabric, and it's the same on both sides. When buying fabric, it's better to have too much than too little, but you don't want to spend a ton of money either, so check to see if anybody has coupons before you go. (Extra fabric is great for throw pillows). Also, a word to the wise, STAY AWAY FROM JERSEY FABRIC OR ANYTHING "DRAPEY" OR LOOSE. It's a b*tch to work with.

Once you've got a fabric picked, the next thing you need is ribbon. You'll need two spools for each window, with each spool being twice the length of the window (think about it, it's going up one side and down the other).

When you get everything home, cut your fabric to size and start pinning the seams. I allow and inch for seams, so I can make them 1/2" wide and then double it over to hide the ratty edges. Pin the top, creating a pocket for your curtain rod. Mine are thin so I only needed a 1" pocket. Once everything is pinned, sew the sides and the bottom, leaving the top for last.

Roll it up and tie it. BOOM - balloon shade.

Measure and cut your ribbon, cutting a V at the ends so it doesn't fray. Measure a few inches (depending on where you want your ties) in on either side of the top seam and pin the very middle of your ribbon length to the top of the curtain. pin it again at the seam, so when you sew your top seam you sew the ribbon onto the curtain with it.

Finally, sew your last seam. When you're done go ahead and iron your piece, being careful of the ribbon if it's not a cotton blend. Then hang it up, tie it ever so perfectly, and enjoy!

Other notes: if you don't want to use ribbon, you can spend some time making fabric strips to use instead. I preferred the look and the ease of a ready-made ribbon.

CHEAP AND EASY DINNER RECIPES

So you’re getting sick of Pop-Tarts for breakfast and Ramen Noodles for dinner, but you know you’re no Emeril Lagasse. And also, you have a budget of $5.00 a meal?  Well I’ve got some good news for you.  Cooking does not have to be an expensive, mysterious process.  Check out the cheap dinner recipes below! Most of these are easily kept in the fridge or freezer to last you the week or more. 

MACARONI & CHEESE: 

1 Box of elbow macaroni

8 Ounces of cheese ( I like a cheddar blend)

1 Cup of milk

4 Tablespoons of butter

Salt/Pepper to taste

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cook the macaroni, but undercook it a little (pasta should still be firm). Drain macaroni. Spray or grease a cooking pan. Place ½ the macaroni in the pan. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste, and top with ½ the cheese. Repeat the layering process. Chop the butter and dot the top with it. Pour the milk over the whole thing and bake for 30 minutes or until mixture is creamy. 

You can mix in chopped hot dogs or a can of tuna for a more filling meal.  Or add diced tomatoes, spinach, or broccoli for a healthier meal. For a "home-style" mac and cheese, sprinkle breadcrumbs on the top before baking. 

CHICKEN POT PIE: 

1 Can of cream of chicken soup

1 Bag of frozen mixed vegetables

1 Cup of milk

1 Egg

1 Cup of biscuit baking mix (like Bisquick)

Shredded or cubed chicken (leftovers work well!)

Heat oven to 400° F

Mix soup, ½ cup milk, vegetables, and chicken together and pour into a pie tin. Combine the other ½ cup milk, egg, and baking mix in separate bowl. Spread that batter over the chicken mixture. Bake 30 min or until golden brown and cooked through. 

SLOW COOKER CHILI:

1 Lb ground meat (I use lean turkey)

1 Can stewed tomatoes

1 Small can  tomato paste

1 Can kidney beans (drain)

1 Can chili beans (do not drain)

1 Can black beans (drain)

½ Onion (chopped)

1 Clove of garlic (chopped)

Spices:

1 Teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 Tablespoons chili powder

Brown turkey in a pan. Put in slow cooker and add all other ingredients. Cook 4 hours on medium. This is a very basic recipe to keep it cheap. You can also add extras. My favorite additions are some chopped bell peppers, ½ a bottle of beer, and Sriracha sauce.If you make a whole batch it is easy to reheat for a quick dinner during the week. I like mine served over white rice with some Greek yogurt on top.

6 MEAL WHOLE CHICKEN:

Meal #1: Roasted chicken with potatoes

Whole chicken (4-6lbs)

Potatoes (any sort, I prefer red)

This could not be easier. Brush on oil or butter, season to your liking, and pop it in the oven. Cook according to the package. Chicken is safely cooked at 165°. For roasted potatoes, just chop them into cubes, put them in a bowl, coat them in olive oil and bake at 375° until golden brown. You can season them with Italian seasoning, onion & garlic powder, or rosemary, but they taste great with just salt and pepper. 

After you’ve enjoyed your roasted chicken, remove all the meat from the bones and store it in a Tupperware container in the fridge for leftover meals. Your first step should be to make chicken stock out of the carcass. This can be used for a variety of recipes in the future.

How to do it:

Put chicken carcass in a large pot (bones, skin, the whole thing)

Cover with cold water

Add chopped celery, carrot, onion (the amount will vary depending on how large the chicken was and how much you have left. Use your judgement, and don’t worry, you can’t really ruin it)

Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning mix

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 4 hours. Skim off any foam from the surface.

Strain stock. If you'll be using it within the week, you can keep it in the fridge. If not, freeze it. 

Meal #2: Curry Chicken

leftover chicken (chicken breast and thighs work best)

1 onion (chopped)

2 carrots (chopped)

1 potato (peeled and cubed)

1-4 cubes of curry mix (to taste) 

 

I like Medium Hot style Golden Curry brand. $2.50 when on sale at H-Mart.

Sauté onions in a large pot. Add leftover chicken, potato, and carrots. Fill pot with water until it just covers the ingredients. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer for 30 minutes. Add curry cubes 1 cube at a time, and wait 1 minute for each cube to thicken the mixture (I usually use 3 cubes total). Serve over white rice.

Meal #3: Chicken Salad

I don’t eat mayonnaise, so I make my chicken salad with Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and celery, or with Dijon mustard. For extra flavor I’ll add a chopped apple or grapes if I have them. Of course, you can always do it the traditional way with mayo. This is great on a sandwich or as a salad topper for lunch.

Meal #4: Shredded Chicken Quesodillas

Leftover chicken

Can or jar of salsa 

Shredded cheese (cheddar mix or Mexican mix work best)

Shred some leftover chicken using a fork.  Mix shredded chicken with salsa. Spray a pan with cooking spray and lay a tortilla in pan. Place chicken and salsa mixture on tortilla and top with cheese. Place another tortilla on top. Cook on medium heat for 2 minutes or until golden brown. Flip and cook on the other side for 2 minutes. Cut like a pizza and serve. 

Meal #5: Chicken Noodle Soup

Leftover chicken (chop whatever is left into bite sized pieces)

Chicken stock (see above)

½ Onion chopped

2 Stalks of celery chopped

1 Bag of frozen mixed vegetables

1 Box of noodles (I like bowtie)

Cook chopped onion and celery in butter until tender. Pour in as much chicken stock as you want to make. Add vegetables, chicken, and noodles.  Keep at a light boil until pasta is fully cooked. 

PUMPKIN SPICE PANCAKES (OR WAFFLES)

Get out two large bowls. In one bowl, mix together:

1-1/4 cups flour

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons baking powder

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon ginger

½ teaspoon nutmeg

(if you have allspice, you can add 1 teaspoon of it and skip the last two)

½ teaspoon salt

In another bowl, mix:

 1 cup of milk

½ can of canned pumpkin puree

2 tablespoons melted butter

1 egg

Combine the two and cook on a greased skillet for pancakes or in a greased waffle press for waffles.  You can also use Bisquick or any brand bakers mix. Follow the regular recipe but add ½ can of pumpkin puree and the spices. You may need to add a little more milk or mix to get the consistency right.

 

FRITTATAS:

Whisk 8 eggs and a splash of milk together in a bowl.  Chop any desired fillings & add to mix

Southwestern frittata: Bell peppers, onions, cheddar cheese

Italian frittata: Spinach, tomato, mozzarella cheese

Meat lover: Bacon & ham

Garden frittata: Chopped zucchini, squash, & tomatoes

Heat oven to 375 degrees and bake for approximately 25 minutes, or until eggs are firm.You can make them in a pie pan and cut them into wedges or bake them in a muffin pan for a good portable breakfast. Make sure you grease the pans so the eggs don't stick. 

FOOD PART II

FOOD PART II

GARDENING ON A BUDGET

Planting and growing your own produce is a great way to save some money.  There are few materials required to maintain a garden, and depending on which plants you grow, the yield can be huge!  Even if you have a small area, or even an apartment balcony, with some careful organization you can grow a variety of plants. 

SOME TIPS TO GET YOU STARTED:

• Check yard sales or secondhand shops for gardening tools.  I've seen rakes, shovels, tomato cages, and ceramic pots at Goodwill for under $5 each. You will probably want to own your own gloves and have a hand rake for weeding, but many tools you will only need to use once to set up your garden. Check with neighbors and friends to see if you can borrow!

• Use old soda bottles to make hanging soda bottle planters. If you aren't a soda drinker, and don’t know anyone who is, you can always check in a local recycling bin.  These can be hung over a balcony, from the ceiling, or anywhere out of the way. Great for upside down tomato plants! Check in with your local grocery store to see if you can get empty crates or shipping containers to use for your plants.

• Use an egg carton instead of buying peat containers to sprout seedlings.  Fill each space with a little soil and plant one seed in each.  You can bury each carton section to make transferring seedlings outside to your garden bed a snap. You can also help your seedlings grow quicker by putting a small plastic box cover (like the kind bakeries put cupcakes in) over the egg cartons. Just place it in sunlight and this will create a mini greenhouse!

• Check Craigslist under the “free” or “farm and garden” category for mulch, compost, seeds, or seedlings.  Many farmers will consider themselves lucky for someone to take mulch and manure off of their property.

• There are many “garden club” websites that will send you packets of seeds each month for an annual fee.  If you receive gifts for birthdays or Christmas, make sure you friends and family know that this is on your list! Some of these sites also have forums where people are willing to trade plants or seeds.

• If you grow plants that will require a stake or cage, you can find a lot of material curbside to use.  You can build a simple trellis with scrap wood and a few nails.

  

 DESIGNING YOUR GARDEN: 

To make the most of your garden, it is important to plan ahead. 

Decide which plants you would like to grow. Some plants that have produced the best for me are: Summer squash, zucchini, tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, and herbs.   These plants offer multiple harvests per year and you can pluck the produce without killing the plant.

This summer squash currently has 7 veggies growing on it!

You'll know your produce is fresh and pesticide free.

Decide on a layout for your garden.  If you have an apartment or limited space, a container garden will work well.  The internet is a great resource for ideas and blue prints.  I've seen vertical gardens made out of canvas shoe holders, DIY hanging tomato gardens designed for apartment balconies, and instructions on how to re-purpose old furniture into a garden rack. Even just a windowsill is sufficient for a potted herb garden. 

Example of an Urban garden

Home made hanging garden

If you don't live in an area where you can garden year round, collect your seeds at the end of the season for use next year. You can use a dehydrator to dry your herbs to fill a spice rack. Dried squash and zucchini can be used in soups. The freezer will become your friend. Try freezing zucchini bread or batches of tomato sauce.  You can use an ice cube tray to freeze individual servings of sauces like pesto for easy use.  If you can't use everything you grow, you can probably sell your excess at a yard sale or farmer's market. 

HAPPY GARDENING!

I'm Lauren.

My name is Lauren. I've been friends with Kait since we went to high school together way back in the day in a tiny little town on a lake in Northeast Pennsylvania. I'm allergic to animals, so I collect and care for plants,  which of course I name. So far I have five - Begonia, Campanula, Rosie, Pepper, and Rainbow. I'm always looking to expand my brood, and I love talking about my plants as much as I enjoy crafting and decorating on a budget.

My wonderful plants!

My family is chock-full of traditional crafting, from Hungarian embroidery, to needlepoint, to crewel, and crochet. My parents taught be not to be afraid to get my hands dirty, and I'm not. I spend my free time dumpster diving and scouring Craigslist for amazing and simple finds that I can strip down and make it a little more awesome, usually with nothing more than some fresh fabric or paint. With all the websites dedicated to crafting out there, it's easy to find a lot of projects to set out for yourself and end up spending a lot more money and time than you had planned to, and in the end it doesn't end up being what you thought it would. I've done it myself dozens of times before. Hopefully you, dear reader, can find some wisdom in these pages!

The next few projects I have coming up include a couple kitchen chairs that need to be refinished, a very beat up coffee table, and a hope chest in need of a little hope. As soon as I get my hands on an orbital sander... until then, I think our next lesson will be making very cute and easy balloon curtains!

CIAO.

FOOD - PART I

LET'S START WITH THE BASICS HERE

FOOD:

“You’d better cut the pizza in four pieces because I’m not hungry enough to eat six.”

 –Yogi Berra

Apart from being, you know…necessary, food can also be a source of comfort, delight, and an integral part of hosting a get together with friends. However, when you’re on a budget, the time and money associated with grocery shopping may make food seem like a hassle. Maybe it’s the hit to his checking account that’s got Chef Ramsay so fired up.

While you won’t be eating tuna tartare and filet mignon every night, you can definitely create healthy, filling meals without breaking the bank.  Let’s make this easy and break it down into a step by step process.

STEP ONE: ACQUIRE FOOD

GROCERY SHOPPING:

Grocery shopping is a basic and frequently reoccurring task, so it is best to get a grip on this first.  Once you come up with a system, you’ll be able to get in and out of the store quickly, without spending too much.  You’ll also know how much groceries will run you, so you can create a monthly budget to follow.

Here are some helpful tips to get you started:

• Try to plan out your week’s meals first to avoid buying more than you can eat before it goes bad

• Make a list before you go grocery shopping. I only buy up to two items that are not on my list per visit, provided they are under $5.00 each. Try to be practical and avoid packaged or "ready to eat" meals, as it is generally cheaper to buy the ingredients separate and make it yourself. 

And for only $15 more, we'll put it in a box FOR you!

• Grocery stores are cleverly designed to get you to spend more. “Special Deal” displays are set up on the end of the aisles that are most visited by shoppers (think: bread aisle, dairy aisle), free samples prime your body to expect food quickly (you’ll find yourself buying more packaged or ready to eat meals), oversized shopping carts and “bulk deals” encourage you to spend more.

Yeah, they know what they're doing...

• As ridiculous as it sounds, do not go grocery shopping immediately after work or if you are very hungry. When you are pressed for time, stressed, or hungry, everything will look amazing and you’ll wind up with a lot more impulse buys.

• Shop around for pricing. If the stores are close in proximity, it’s worth it to visit more than one to get the best prices on the items on your list

Need an example? Note the difference in generic store brand olive oil price

Aldi: Carlini Olive Oil (16.9oz) = $2.59

Walmart: Great Value Olive Oil (17.0oz) = $3.76

ShopRite: ShopRite Brand Olive Oil (16.9oz) = $4.49

SOME STAPLES TO KEEP ON HAND:

These foods were chosen for their low prices, versatility, and health benefits.  This is by no means a complete grocery list, but it's a good practice to have these items available. 

CABINET:

FOOD	TELL ME WHY
dried beans	protein, fiber, vitamins & minerals, lipids
rice	Protein, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins A,C & E
nuts/peanut butter	protein, fiber, monounsaturated fat (helps manage cholesterol)
oatmeal	Fiber, manganese, zinc, phosphorus (helps manage cholesterol)
pasta (whole wheat)	Protein, fiber, promotes healthy digestion, makes you feel fuller
canned tuna	Protein, omega-3 fatty acids (help brain function)
potatoes	Fiber, potassium, vitamin B-6 & C
tomatoes	Fiber, potassium, Vitamins A, C, K
olive oil	Monounsaturated fat, health promoting nutrients
onions & garlic	Vitamin C, chromium, flavonoids

FRIDGE:

apples	Fiber, Vitamin C
Greek yogurt	Calcium, potassium, zinc, protein, vitamins B6 & B12
2% milk	Calcium, protein, potassium, phosphorus, vitamins D, B12, A
eggs	High in protein, amino acids, omega-3
chicken breasts	Niacin, protein, vitamin B6

FREEZER:

spinach	Calcium, iron, antioxidants, vitamins A, C, E, & K
broccoli	Calcium, fiber, vitamin C
frozen fish filet	Protein, omega-3 fatty acids,

FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP:

Asian Market: I do much of my shopping at Asian markets (H-Marts are our local shop). The seafood is very fresh; most of it is marked as “sushi grade”. If it is fresh enough to be eaten raw, you’re pretty safe. A lot of the produce is cheap and local. They carry a lot of delicious sauces, and seasonings are well priced (sriracha sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce).  There are a variety of rice and noodles for sale here.

 

H-Mart fresh fish selection

Aldi: If you have any Aldi by you, I highly recommend giving it a try. Aldi has all of the basics, and a few extras. Their stores do not have phones, cart/lot attendants, or brand names to help keep prices very low.  The majority of their foods are relatively healthy. I’ve bought chicken for as low as $1.19/lb here! My favorite items to get here are their all natural guacamole,  hummus, and multigrain flat bread. The downside to this store is that their produce tends to go bad quickly, so do not buy more than you can consume in a week.

Check the weekly circular for extra savings

Local:  Farmer’s markets offer fresh, usually organic produce at low prices.  In season fruits and vegetables will typically be cheaper at a market than at a chain grocery store.  Many local bakeries offer steep discounts on day old or misshapen goods, such as bagels and bread, that are still fresh and tasty.  Many butchers offer a daily deal.  You also get the added bonus of helping support your community!

If you toast them, they taste the same

NEXT UP: GARDENING - HOW TO GROW YOUR OWN FOOD

WHERE TO BEGIN

Allow myself to introduce....myself.

It's Kait.

I'm a simple girl who enjoys the great outdoors (fishing, gardening, hiking) and the sometimes equally great indoors (cooking, reading). I enjoy learning new things. Some new adventures in education include: Learning how to swim, finding out that it's going to take a lot more practice until I can truthfully describe myself  as being "okay" at baseball, and learning that while humans have 4 different photosensitive cells in their eyes for distinguishing and determining colors, a mantis shrimp has 16! 

Anyways...

I recently found myself reflecting on how fortunate I am to enjoy a multitude of free or relatively cheap activities, since it turns out that there are a lot of expenses in life that you cannot control. My hope is that I can use this blog to share with others some of my favorite ways to save money, DIY projects, and how to live a fun and frugal lifestyle!