Craziness indeed

I do not know how many of you have ever been to a toy auction, but I will tell you that you will see everyone from every walk of life... And I mean EVERY walk of life.

My local toy auction happens on Thursday nights at Crystal Falls in Chelsea. It usually costs 2$$ to get it and the auction starts at 6pm and usually gets over around 930ish.. Now as the season progresses closer to Christmas the auction will run later each week.  The bummer is you are not allowed to bring it outside food(with the exception of drinks) so you have to buy it there... they do have sandwiches, hot dogs, chips and soda if you feel the need to munch.

Every week has different items, the most popular will come back every week or so, but the funniest and funnest is the grab bags... The grab bags are 1$$ a bag and you can not peek into them.  The person whose bag contains either Bob's license or a raffle ticket gets to claim the prize. In years past I have seen the prize be 100$$ or higher, most times it is an item or two that were a big hit and he wants to give them away.  Grab bags can have anything inside them, last week we got Salley Hansen nail polish, Revlon make up, Loreal face products and my friend got those instant nail polish strips.  Stocking stuffer's for a buck.. you got it!!!


As of today there are 68 days until Christmas!!! I know I know, shut up woman, but its true.. Start now with some killer sales, toy auction deals, homemade goodies and crazy coupon deals. I have a dozen or so projects under way and I love giving and receiving homemade/handmade goodies. Yes I know some things can be purchased, but if you put the love and time into making it, it makes it that more special..  Christmas is not the getting for me... its the giving!!!  If you are thinking I would love to make something... anything but have no ideas, check out Pinterest!!! They have tons of ideas, tips and tricks to help you become the crafty person you have always wanted to become.

Happy Thursday

Holiday preparing

Ok so this is not my typical couponing post, but one of my favorite and most requested Christmas gifts is my crocheted pot scrubbers... Easy to make and safe to use on all types of surfaces.  I love to use these on my stoneware, cooked on stains, and the things that need just a little extra oomph to get clean.  The great thing is you can throw them into the washer, they are cheap enough to make so you could throw it away.

Ok now that I have rambled a bit I will get to sharing...

Items needed :
size K crochet hook
netting(in your choice of color) Available at Walmart
what I do with the netting is lay it out long ways, fold it in half and keep folding so it is easier to cut.
You need to cut 1 inch strips and tie the ends together...basically you are turning the netting into net yarn.

Once you get a few strips tied together you are ready to start!!

Terms: dc = double crochet
            sc = single crochet
            sl st = slip stitch

Guage is not important for this scrubber.

Make 2
Round 1: Chain 4, join to form a ring.

Round 2: Chain 3(counts as a first dc  now and thru out).  13 dc in ring  join with a sl st in 3rd chain. (14 dc)

Round 3: Chain 3, dc in same stitch, work 2dc in each dc around, join with sl st in 3rd chain.(28 dc)

If you want a medium sized pot scrubber finish off and repeat pattern for second scrubber.

(large) Round 4: Chain 3, dc in same stitch, * dc in next stitch, 2 dc in next stitch* repeat ** around join with sl st in 3rd chain (42 dc).

Repeat rounds 1-3(4) but do not finish off, place the back of the first piece of scrubber against working one(basically you are putting them back to back).  Working thru both pieces sc in each dc around, join with sl st and finish off. 

Now you have my favorite and most requested Christmas gift...

Note: When you come to the knot, I like to push mine to the back, so after you have joined the 2 pieces they are in the middle and not visible.

Coupon withdrawals

I must admit that I love to coupon.. the recent Hannaford coupon was a blast to use and save!!! But my other couponing has been limited to a sparse thing here and there... Tax season has been its name, and has pulled me from the coupon game!!!  I am glad that I have a stockpile and was able to draw from that as needed these last 11 weeks..  the count down has begun and 2 weeks remain for Maine taxpayers to complete and submit their returns... With that in mind I am gearing up for my spring/summer coupon drives!!!

What drives your couponing???  Is it the high of free, cheap, or necessity???  Mine is all!!!  Coupons have definitely made a difference in my life and my familys as well..  Yes it does take a bit of time to start, organization is key, then learning the ins and outs of stores policies and of course the shopping!!!
Stick with me and I will help you step by step in starting on your own coupon journey!!!

Coupon fun!!!

You know when you are walking the aisles of a store and come across some really good deals and on top of that you know that you have a really good coupon to make it free, the feeling is so wonderful you want to dance!!! Do you have a free/cheap item dance?  Oh don't say no, you know you do!!! People will often give me a strange look and I just smile and simply say isn't Free Good???

Kathy Spencer, of How To Shop For Free, is currently running a great contest to win 10 of the coveted
3$$ off 3 Nabisco coupons... if you want a chance to win as do I, then go to www.howtoshopforfree.net and enter.  Her website is a free sign up and the access you get to forums, coupon database, and the connection between her and us is amazing.  We are a community helping each other to save!!!  There are sub forums for stores all over this Amazing Country!!! pop on in, sit a spell and save!!!