Thrifty Tuesday- Packing lunch

Since starting my job last week, I have been trying to pack or go home for lunch.  Thankfully, work has a break room where I can eat and knit during my lunch break.  This allows me to save money on gas by not driving around town on my break as well as not spending money eating out.  Hubby has always been good about taking a packed lunch and I am trying to do the same.  Luckily, since work is close to home if I forget my lunch I can just run home instead of being forced to buy lunch out.  

  If you work, do you pack a lunch?  What do you do to keep it from getting boring?  I would love to hear!

PS The starbucks cup is a reusable one that I bring my coffee in...

Would You Have Bought This?

A couple weeks ago I stopped by the little antique store here in town and came home with this beauty.  You totally would have bought it too right?  I mean its gorgeous, who wouldn't want it?

Ok, maybe I brought it home because it had yellow (one of my favorite colors, especially to decorate with!) and the store owner gave me a good deal.  Know what it is?  Its an old car hop tray from sonic.  The car hops would bring your food to you and this tray would hang on the car door while you ate.  Pretty cool huh?

I cleaned it up with lots of scrubbing, soap and hot water and now it found a home on top of my suitcase stack in the living room next to my favorite reading chair.  The tray is perfect for setting down a book, cup of coffee or pen and notebook.  I am so glad I didn't dismiss it as ugly and dirty.  I think its a gem!

Hidden storage

 

Storage is always an important feature in a home.  The house we are renting has funky storage.  There is lots of room for hanging clothes, but not much room or shelves for linens, a vacuum, or craft supplies.  Since we are renting we don't want to invest money (nor do I know if we would be allowed to) in putting up shelves or changing up a closet.  Not one to turn down a challenge, I started thinking of how we could store items like my sewing machine for example.  One day it just clicked.  In the living room, instead of using an end table we have a stack of old suitcases.  Empty suitcases.  Why not fill them? So that's exactly what I did!  The sewing machine now lives in the round blue hat box.  All my fabric and sewing equipment lives in the other two suitcases.  Hopefully someday I will be able to have a craft room where my sewing machine won't have to be banished to a suitcase.  But for now, it works perfectly.  And I didn't have to spend a dime, or worry about filling holes in the wall when we move!  Check back tomorrow for the history of the cute little tray on top of the suitcases...

Homemade Granola for Breakfast

This past weekend I made a batch of Homemade Granola.  This week I started my new job and although normally I don't eat breakfast I knew that wouldn't fly if I was going to be at work all day.  I wanted something hearty without being heavy.   Granola is the perfect solution!  Its full of oats, nuts, raisins, etc.  Even hubby has been enjoying it with me.  I might have to make this an every weekend tradition.  What sort of breakfasts do you make that keep you full until lunch?

New Job

Since moving to Texas I have done odd babysitting jobs, but had yet to find a full time job.  Last week I was offered a full time job right down the road from where we are renting.  It had been my hope to find a job in town without a long commute.  I will be working at a local car dealership and am very thankful for the opportunity.  Hubby is interviewing as well.  As of Feb 28, he will be completely done with the military. 
  Thank you so much for everyone who has been praying for us and our job situation.  We sure appreciate it!

Antler Jewelry Stand Made by Hubby

Hubby has always had a crafty side.  I have mentioned before how he made me buttons for my sweater.  He really enjoys making things from old deer antlers.  His newest creation is a jewelry stand.  He did it all himself and I couldn't be more proud.  We are going to try and put a couple on etsy to see how they do.  If you know anyone who would like it, we can definitely use the sales!  Regardless, I would love for you to check it would and tell me what you think!

Hubby's Etsy Listing

Thrifty Tuesday- Decorating a New House

I love decorating!  If I had unlimited funds, I would constantly be changing up my decor.  As you well know, my funds are quite limited.  And, considering how we are just renting this house, I can't do anything too permanent.  Nor do I want to spend money on a house that isn't mine.  That said, I am trying to find ways to decorate on the cheap without hanging sheets as curtains.  I am a huge goodwill fan, and the other day I scored some wicker plates.  You know the kind you have camping to hold up your paper plates?  I think they were $.40 each so I bought the whole pile.  I then spray painted them white, pale yellow and bright yellow.  Once dry, I nailed them onto the wall in a cascading pattern.  Now we have a feature work of art, completely one of a kind and keeping in our budget.  What do you think?  Like it or not?  I would love to hear your thoughts!

Fiber Friday- A New Sweater

I am so excited about today's post!  I have been in a knitting craze lately and all I want to do is knit.  This holiday season offered a lot of quality knitting time and I was able to start and finish a big project.  Typically I knit small things- shawls, socks, baby items, etc.  I kept putting off knitting a sweater for me because I said I would wait until I lost weight.  I didn't want to spend hours knitting a sweater and then have it not fit.  I have a whole list of sweaters that I want to knit "once I'm skinny".  Who knows how long that will be since I am not actively dieting.  Why shouldn't I knit a sweater for me, right now, as I am.  I found a flattering sweater pattern and dug through my stash of yarn to find something that would work.  I didn't want to have to buy yarn (and I didn't!).  I wanted to knit a sweater to tell myself that I am good enough just as I am.  Sure, if I lost weight there would be a larger variety of sweaters that would look good.  But until then, my life is not on hold.  I am good enough and damn it, I want to knit a sweater.  So without further ado, I am happy to introduce you to my sweater to celebrate me and all of me.  The pattern is Hey Teach! and is a free pattern that can be found on Ravelry.  Hubby lovingly made me buttons out of antlers.  This sweater is a true compilation of our two strenghts.  Other than the yarn, everything is handmade and that makes me so happy!

Thrifty Tuesday- Date Nights at Home

Date nights can get expensive real quick.  Even something as simple as dinner and a movie can cost around $100.  Hubby and I are always trying to find fun, frugal things to do for a date night.  When we moved into this house we discovered an antique pin ball machine up in the loft.  It was too large to fit down the stairs (the owners originally got it up in the loft by renting scaffolding!) so they just left it for us.  At first we thought it didnt work.  We were bummed.  We tried plugging it into a second outlet.  No joy.  Just when we were about to declare it another decoration, Hubby found a switch underneath.  Hallelujah!  Let there be light, and noise, and pin balls!  Hubby and I immediately had a pin ball tournament (I won all rounds... by a lot!).  I know not everyone is fortunate enough to have someone leave them a super cool pin ball machine, but I am betting you can find something in your house to do on a date night.  We can buy a bottle of wine, make a pizza and play pin ball for next to nothing.  Or we can go to a pizza parlor and pay out the nose for pizza, beer and not nearly as cool arcade games.  To us the choice is obvious... we will stay home.

  If you have date nights, do you choose to go out or stay in?  What do you do to keep costs down?  We are always looking for more frugal ideas.  Until then, I will be trying to maintain my pinball champion title!