Decorating...If You Can Call It That

I have a little artist who likes to create different masterpieces at school, home, and anywhere in between. My fridge fills up fast and I have to switch out each artist original periodically to showcase the budding talent that my DNA created.

In our farmhouse, that my husband grew up in and lived his entire life there is a second flooor. The upstairs if you will. It has four total rooms. One of the rooms was used as a toy room when my husband was pretending to farm (he even pretended to milk the cows). When we moved in, the upstairs was where everyone took their unwanted materials and deposited them in any of the rooms. I should say by the time I moved in the "toy room" only had a pile in the corner and Kurt's old toys. Back to my artist...I decided to turn the toy room into an actual happy, functional toy room. It would be even happier if I had the patience to put some primer and paint over the lovely dark panelling but we'll save that for another time. I hung up a poster that was from a play my daughter was in last year. She won the right to bring it home out of the other cast members. This was headed for the recycling but I thought it would add a little something, something to the area.

This works for me!

I went to Hobby Lobby. Do you have Hobby Lobbys? Oh they are wonderful! I bought some thin, nylon string which I secured to the wall with pushpins (or thumbtacks, maybe they are the same thing?). I tied a knot in the end for the pin to go through and then strung a double line across the wall. Then I did another line a little lower. I figured small/shorter projects could go up on the top line and vice-versa on the lower line. Then I hung the lovely art creations up with clothes pins. I know it looks like all of our space is already filled up but that is not the case. The wall that mirrors the play poster wall is a full wall which has an empty line running the entire length of the wall. Notice the old pinball machine circa late 70s early 80s. It still works because the budding artist occasionally plays inbetween sessions.

How I Decorate

Some people I know wrinkle their noses at me when I mention rummage sales or Goodwill. If they only know what they were missing, I have been able to add to my cow collection for as little as ten cents! I also receive cow items for my birthday or Christmas. The above cow head I got for Christmas a few years ago. I didn't immediately like it but now I'd have to say it is one of my favorites.

Paid $1 for this at a rummage sale about six years ago. It hangs over the large doorway going into the living room from the dining room. 99% of my cows are in the kitchen/dining room area.

This is a cow themed windchime. It has a miniature tire around the cow on the top that says Welcome. The bottom chime area are milk bottles. I couldn't pass this up this spring at a rummage sale for a $1.

Sometimes I find cute items that match the colors in the room and no one would ever think I got it at a rummage sale again for a dollar. The opposite walls are blue and the saying is pretty cute on this little print.

I found the picture on the left at a rummage sale of a friends. I really liked it but it seemed like the perfect spot for this picture would be in a bathroom or laundry room in my opinion. Then when I painted the kitchen the flowers from the painting really popped out and with the frame coordinating with the opposite dining room walls it fit. For a dollar, I could not go wrong either way.

I was so glad we stopped at the rummage sale I found this wall hanging. For ten cents, I was able to replace the ugly cut out cow that was hung indefinetly in it's spot. Seriously, any non-rummagers believers yet???!!!

On this wall I got a snowman in the shape of a star that was hanging here for Christmas. As it got warmer I desperately needed to change the decor. My mother-in-law had a tow rack on this wall. I'm not sure why anyone would hang a towel bar above a stove but there was one there. I took it down when I painted and never planned to reinstall it. So there are large screw holes where I have the bottom hanging attached to the wall. I also paid a dollar for the birdhouse hanging. The tin star above it I found a few years ago and I paid no more than 50 cents.

This is linked to WFMW.

The Master Grocery List

I try to make one trip to the grocery store every two weeks. Lately it has been each week probably due to good deals that I can not past up. I always shop with a list and coupons of course. A few days before I go shopping I start getting myself in a tizzy thinking I am going to forget something which is really quite silly of me.

I usually look through the grocery ad (if there is one) and through my coupons a couple hundred times or so it seems. On a piece of paper I list the following catergories:

• Produce
• Bakery
• Deli
• Canned goods
• Baking items
• Pasta, mixes, etc
• Meat
• Dairy
• Frozen
• Junk

I leave space to write the items I need. Then I also check the cupboards, pantry, refrigerator, and freezers for anything I may overlook. I also do a mental walk through of the grocery store. I do just about everything I possibly can to make sure I am prepared, but sometimes you just forget. If anyone has any other catergories let me know, and I didn't add a household section. I usually make a note in the top or bottom corner and it looks like this--TP! : )

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Hopeful Getaway, Confirmed Getaway

We are going away. It has been a long year and eight months but who is counting! Since we are scraping the bottom of our wallets, I am managing to save money while going away for the weekend.


Go during the off-season. We are going to Door County which is booming with tourists in the warm months. March is super quiet since there is not a whole to do outside besides hike throughout the many parks if you are an outside person. Of course there is always shopping and wineries. With going during the off-season, we are also saving on our lodging. When I called to reserve a room, I was given another discount just because March is a slow month. I did not ask for a deal. We are staying in the largest suite and saving a $110 off the price of a two night stay. I opted to pay $30 more to stay in the largest suite when he offered the second discount. Kurt and I have separate bedrooms now how wonderful is that!? Haha! Most importantly we are self-employed and work 365 days a year. Which means we have to pay someone to do our work and I would say is a downside to being self-employed. Our lodging and hiring someone cost us about the same.


Limit eating out. We'll be away from home for five to six meals. I was told when I called that a goody basket comes with each suite and includes maple syrup, homemade salsa, and coffee. We don't drink coffee so I'll give that to someone who does but the rest sounds wonderful. I'm bring frozen pancakes that were leftovers from last Friday night. Saturday morning breakfast is taken care of and I am also bringing cereal for Sunday morning. Our suite has a full kitchen so I could really bring all the food and cook our meals, but what kind of vacation would that be? We will probably be going out to eat twice and picking lunch up from Subway. The object is to spend as least as possible without being as anal as possible : ) I'm also planning on bringing milk, pop, tea, malted beverages (Boones), sliced cheese (Kurt needs it with his pancakes), apples, oranges, crackers, cookies, chips, popcorn, peeled carrots, and any other snack food Kurt wants. I also have an Entertainment coupon for a restaurant only one problem. This restaurant does not seem to exist but if we find it the coupon is buy one entree get the next entree for free (up to $11). Half price is worth my time to look for this place.


Cheap entertainment. There are many, many parks in Door County and we are planning on visiting one of the state parks which will cost us $7 for a day pass. I like to drive around so we will do that and maybe visit a few shops. We will also bring DVDs since we never seem to have time to watch them while at home. I'm hoping with a little more rest Kurt will be able to watch a movie the entire length instead of falling asleep halfway through. I count going out to eat as entertainment. There these are our big plans for our getaway!


This works for me!

A Hopeful Getaway

If anyone needs a vacation, its me and my husband. This is our chance to get away but not too far. If we go past March, field work starts happening and the warmer it gets the more work there will be to be done. Obviously we need to pay someone to do our work while we are away. This expense is about equal to the lodging expense. If your pennies are super pinched (our always are-Smile), staying with family, friends, or at your family's cabin or cottage would be excellent ideas. We are going to splurge and stay in a hotel nothing fancy and definetly on the cheap side.

We will only be going at the most 70 to 80 miles from home. Not much gas expense maybe a fill up. Right after Thanksgiving I bought an Entertainment Book for our area and the majority of the deals are good through November 1, 2010. The book cost $30 but using it a handful of times and you have your money back easy. Use it all the time and you are saving some serious change. I am planning on eating out atleast twice while away. Each time only paying for one of our meals as we have buy one get one free coupons from the book. Less money out of our pocket. Yippee!

There is a museum I would like to go to which I still need to check into but I can't imagine it costing too much for admission. Otherwise this will be a time to relax. We will be near Lake Michigan so lots of pretty driving I planning on. My expectations are very low for this getaway. I am only looking to get away from the farm and be somewhat entertained. But that works for me and maybe it will for you too!

Save the Ham!

I go grocery shopping about every two weeks and more times then not I pick up a pound of sliced ham from the deli. I am not one to let expiration dates dictate whether food is still edible but deli meat is an exception. With any other food I would throw it in the freezer but for some reason I don't and won't do that with the ham. Not sure why and I think I'm sounding crazy. But for that reason I have two wonderful recipes to use up that short-lived deli ham or regular ham for that matter.


Ham and Cheese Frittata

Oil, enough for a thin coat in pan
3 cups shredded or southern hashbrowns, frozen
Ham, chopped
6-10 eggs, beaten (I use one carton of egg substitute)
Swiss, sharp cheddar, gouda, fontina or your favorite cheese about 1-1/2 cups shredded

In an oven-proof skillet heat oil and add hashbrowns. Make an even layer across the pan flipping after about 6-8 minutes. Spread out to form a crust and continue to cook for another 5 minutes. Lay ham over potatoes and then pour eggs over that and season as desired. Cook over medium heat on the stove. With a spatula run it around the outside of the eggs after they have set to allow unset egg to flow to the outside (kind of what you would do with an omlet). After the outside is pretty well set, stick skillet into a 375 degree oven to allow the center to set. This will depend on the how far the frittata was cooked on the stove so just watch and give the skillet a jiggle. If the center does not jiggle pull out your skillet and top the frittata with cheese. Put back in the oven to melt the cheese which will not take long. Cut into wedges and enjoy. Tastes great the next day too!


Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

Ham slices
Potatoes, sliced
2-3 Tbs butter
2 Tbs flour
onion powder, ground mustard (optional)
2-1/2 cups milk
2 cups shredded Colby, Sharp cheddar, or Gouda (these work really well)
additional milk and cheese

Depending on the amount of potatoes you use this will all vary slightly. Usually I make either a 9x13 pyrex dish or regular dutch oven size amount. Layer potatoes on the bottom and top with the ham in the middle. Then make a roux. Take a medium saucepan and melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted sprinkle the flour and seasonings into the butter. Using a whisk mix together and allow to cook for a few minutes. Mixture will bubble and stir around occasionally. Turn heat up to medium high and pour in milk. Stir constantly until thickens. Reduce heat and continue stirring constantly until desired thickeness is reached. Added shredded cheese. This is really good with tortilla chips in case you get the munchies not that I would know what that is like. Pour cheese sauce over potatoes and ham. It may look like its not saucy enough so I add milk around the edges just so the bottom of the dish is covered. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1-1/2 hours or until potatoes are tender. Additional cheese can be put on top at the end of baked until melted. More great leftovers. This is one of my top five favorite meals.


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One of the Best Christmas Presents Ever

Men are funny. If you casually mention while walking in a store that a certain item interests you and you would like to be a future owner of said item, and you are with your husband they will do one of two things. Ignore you or buy it for you. I casually mentioned that "someday" and I meant someday not Christmas I wouldn't mind having one of those to Kurt. One of those was a large rectangular griddle and those were my exact words to him. For Christmas I got one, and for Valentines day a huge food processor. I'm not one of those women that gets mad if he buys me something for the kitchen because I actually like this kind of stuff. But at the time, we were not married and I lived in an apartment. I did not use either item for a good couple of months because I was not too sure where they fit into my life at that point. Silly I know.

Of course there was one particular small kitchen appliance Kurt would not buy me. I almost forgot to mention this was the guy who surprised me with a small chest freezer for my birthday that same year (farming must been good). But for some reason the butthead wouldn't get me what I truly longed for, especially if I was going to be married to him for the rest of eternity. I would tell him all my friends are getting these and he said that is something more for a 10-year wedding anniversary. I was not waiting 10 years for a mixer.

See my husband loves cookies. Chocolate chip cookies and the dough. He's a farmer and farmer's love cookies. My husband told me if I am ever wondering what food I need to have around the house for him cookies are at the top of the list. That's the only thing I remember on the list...maybe Pepsi or Sundrop was the other....caffeine and sugar. What is, what a farmer runs on! Anyway...when I make cookies for him I cream the butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla with my hand mixer, yes a hand mixer. To combine the dry and wet ingredients I usually used a spatula. I broke atleast two spatulas doing this because I always make a double batch. If not a quadruple batch in two bowls because my husband is serious about his cookies.

I don't know if he took pity on me but we had a little extra money at the end of this year. 2009 was a rotten year and I was not expecting anything for Christmas. Early in December Kurt told me if I wanted I could go get myself one. So I did and I use it not like the other gifts that were barely used at first. It came with a dough hook, whisk, and a mixing attachment. It was a great gift and its versatile. Unlike my hand mixer I am not afraid that it is going to blow a gasket because this baby was made to mix dough. If you make items that require an electric mixer a lot, I highly recomment investing in a KitchenAid mixer. I plan on using mine until the end of eternity or until Kurt is sick of cookies which ever comes first : )

This is linked to WFMW

Cheap Stain Remover and Detergent

Farming is dirty there is no way around it. A bottle of Shout was not lasting very long around here when I had to start washing Kurt's barn clothes. Before we were married, I had started washing my barn clothes with Palmolive Oxy using a tablespoon for each load. I was not using any other detergent and my clothes were coming out cleaner. Once I was faced with the daunting task of cleaning Kurt's pants, which had manure and iodine stains. I turned to my dish soap. Putting a dab on the stain and rubbing it over the area. It was like magic, stains be gone! You do not want to get carried away though because a tablespoon creates plenty of suds. I only use my dish soap now for stain removal and use half of what they recommend for my regular detergent.



This Works for Me. Go see what works for others!

Detangle Spray-WFMW

My daughter's hair gets tangley (is that a word?) and she really dislikes when I try to comb them out. So I bought a bottle of detangler at Dollar General for a buck. I ran out a few months later. Ahhhh!!!! It was working so well and a dollar is not much. But when you have a stockpile of conditioner, something must be done. It was done. I added a few drops maybe two teaspoons of conditoner to my empty bottle and about 1-1/2 to 2 cups of warm water. Shake vigoriously so it combines and use as normal! Hooray and everyone is happy!!



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Green Freezer Containers

I used to get frustrated when I would buy containers of cottage cheese, sour cream, yogurt, etc because the containers are a five. In my area only containers marked with a one or a two are recyclable. When I had a family and began buying larger packages of ground beef/chuck, I needed something I could put the extra meat in to freeze. I had piles in the cupboard of said containers. Lightbulb! Now I had a place to store my ground beef/chuck that I bought when it was at a rock-bottom price. I usually use the 16 ounce size to store the meat. After I put the cover on, I "burp" it to get most of the air out. Store in the freezer for three to six months.

Happy Earth Day. Check out more great ideas here.

Frugal/Cheap Curtains

This is my first time taking part in WFMW .
Back when I did not have a lot of money, wait I still do not have any money. I wanted to replace the curtains in my living room and kitchen/dining area of my poorman's palace. I loved my house by the way except it was located in a "community" (nice word for trailer park).


I recruited my mom to help me. She knows how to run a sewing machine really well. She had a brilliant idea because of the amount of fabric I would need it would have cost me more than I had to spare at the time. The flat sheet! They are sold separately and cost less than 10 dollars depending on thread count and brand. I think I bought two or three for eight dollars each if I can remember that long ago (atleast 4-1/2 years). I picked navy and my mom made me five valances and two panels. Not too shabby. Plus no one knew they were bed sheets.

Now my "new" bedroom desperately needs curtains. I have the curtain rods up and mini blinds, but they need a little color. I'm thinking of looking through the stash of sheets I already have and pulling out a top sheet or two. I'm also thinking of mixing and matching up depending on the style of curtain I make. I have a single window that will get a valance or sweeping panel to the side for it. Then I have a double window that needs more than a valance. Maybe cafe style curtains even though that does not seem very bedroomy does it? Otherwise I could make a valance to match the singe window then panels in a different color/pattern to match. I would really like to be able to do this without buying any new sheets or fabric.

It worked for me once and hopefully it will work again!