Frugal Fridays: One-Dollar Bins

I've noticed recently that more stores are beginning to carry the $1.00 knick knack bins near the cash registers. It's hard to resist the colorful magnetic paper pads, holiday accessories or the AA battery 4 pack. Each for a buck? Done deal! I pretty much hit the jackpot yesterday while pursuing the Michael's dollar bins. Retro coasters.

I'd say that's $3 well spent for 18 drink coasters! I chuckled when I read "sassy kitchen" or something of that nature labeled on the bin. I passed up the retro aprons, recipe cards and thermo mug...it was tough to turn the other cheek but I knew I didn't need them. Chris thought they were a little too sexist, especially for Michael's sake, but the retro chick in me couldn't resist. Now, all I need is a coffee table (still can't believe I've never owned one!). Bring it on condensation! 

Anyone else hit the jackpot in the $1.00 nifty knick knacks bins recently?

Frugal Friday: Perpetualkid.com

How awesome are these fun kitchen gadgets?! They'd make great stocking-stuffers this holiday season. 

Drumstick Kitchen Spoons

Bubble Scrubber

Anti Theft Lunch Bags

Thankfully I haven't been the victim of a "who stole my lunch!" misfortune, then again I work with a very small group of people and finding the perpetrator would be as easy as Blanche from the Golden Girls. But if you have a boss that suffers from Micheal Scott syndrome (hey Mr. Scott, whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do, make our dreams come true!), the anti-theft bags could come in handy.

I know someone who would benefit by having one of these sitting by their phone....

Instant Excuse Ball

Whats even better is that all displayed items are under $10! 

Frugal Friday: Target

I love Target to the bone. It's my one-stop-shop for all things household and it shows. There is, however, one department where I've been a bit skeptical about making purchases... furniture. When it comes to furniture, I'm a touch and feel kind of gal; I've got certain expectations when it comes to quality and durability. Sure, you'll see a few sample furniture items displayed in-store but if I can't try, I won't buy (eat your heart out "the late Johnny Cochran")...that is until I saw these quads on their website. I think my "try before you buy" rule might have an exception!

Truss Chair 

$89.99

Dahlia Chair 

$99.99

Blu Dot Real Good Chair 

$90.30

Your gluteus maximus won't be so thrilled after a while, but you know what they say... beauty hurts.

TGIF!!

Frugal Fridays: GOAT Decoration

The decorations which we keep throughout our homes serve many purposes. Some people use them to highlight aspects of their character...for example, one of their hobbies. Some decorations can be used to enhance architectural details of the buildings in which they reside. Perhaps a decoration can be an old family heirloom, which has been past down from generation to generation, carrying with it a great story or tradition. The point I'm getting at is this; while all of those things are great in their own ways...the sad fact remains that they CANNOT make snow cones.

For this reason, the snoopy sno-cone machine is the "Greatest of All Time (GOAT) decoration . Ok, seriously. Many decorations serve as conversation pieces...and in all honesty, in my experience I have found none better than my snoopy sno-cone machine. I received my first for my 5th bday in late 1985, from my great grandma...AKA "Nunny". Several years later it was either lost, broken, given away or sold at a garage sale. Then, about 5 or 6 years ago, while rummaging around a K-Mart store, my parents happened upon one. They couldn't resist buying and gifting it to me. When I opened it up (for the second time) I felt how, I can only imagine, Jesus' followers must have felt upon his resurrection....only better. After all, we're talking about an almost 20 year hiatus here...those busters only had to wait 3 days!!!....and it wasn't even summer (the season in which snow cones are the most appreciated).

Back to snoopy as a decoration. I'm ashamed to admit it...but I haven't ever used my second SSCM to make snow cones. It is strictly a decoration; but nary a person who enters our kitchen fails to make mention of it. People remember them. Either they had one, or their friend had one...or worse, their enemy. The point is, it is always a conversational diving board. The fact that they are only about 18 bucks now, and readily available, does somewhat cheapen it...it's true.

In closing I'd like to say...this post is definitely more jumbled than my typical writing. I told Dolores I was bored (at work) and she suggested I try to write a frugal Friday post. Hopefully you don't judge me too harshly. In any case...it is now 10:25pm and writing this successfully got me through the final 20 minutes of my night...hopefully it did the same for the past 2 minutes of your life. I'm going home!!! 

 

-Chris

Frugal Friday (on Monday): Wall Decals

I kind of lagged last week with my somewhat daily postings. Apparently I'm suffering from chronic dry eye and my eyeballs can't withstand the computer screen for more than a few minutes, hence my brief disappearance. Since I failed to post my weekly 'Frugal Friday' post last week, I'm making up for it now. ^_^

Decal wall stickers have recently invaded many bare-naked walls; they are the perfect solution if Mr. Ropper won't let you paint. Applause to Esty seller Elly Nelly who has created a "buzz" with her playful decals. 

Certainly not your average Lisa Frank stickers.

 

 

Prices vary starting from $18 and up. Frankly, I wouldn't mind a sparkly unicorn decal... or face mask...Halloween is a coming. ^_^

Frugal Fridays: Magnetter

Chris and I tend to be really good about not losing our keys. We are pretty OCD about everything and leave our keys in the same location; we thrive on order and repetition. Plus, since we are active 24hr fitness devotees, having our gym pass attached to the hip, I mean keys, kind of makes it impossible for them to be left unseen. 

I steered away from hanging up your typical 4-tier-country-styled mail sorter/key station in my kitchen; they look overwhelming and well,  just "beige." We currently nest our keys in a milk colored pedestal thingamajig, which we have named "Van Nuys" in reference to the super annoying 'Keyes, Keyes, Keyes. Keyes On Van Nuys' jingle (for all you non So Cal peeps, click here to listen). In any event, this handy dandy magnetic field below could solve anyone's key problems.

For only $14 you can have a hook-free modern key station PLUS mail holder. Just don't mistake them for salad severs. Kind of makes me want to dart my keys across the room to see if they'll stick. Hmm, this could be dangerous...

And since we're speaking about keys, what would you say about personalized key chains? For all you parents, here is a heart warming way to show your kiddies how awesome their art doodling can be.

::Chris' Rant::
This looks perfect...I can't wait to come home after a long day of work; kick off my shoes, grab a frosty beverage...and hang up the keys to my Doll house. 

Seriously this thing is great for those of us whose key arsenal consists of two masterlock keys...but for the rest of us prison wardens...this may not suffice. 

Frugal Fridays: DIY Refinished Tanker Desk

Earlier this week, we took a look as some sleek refinished Tanker Desks that were a tad too much for our wallets. As luck would have it, we found a slightly bruised Tanker Desk on craigslist... and to our advantage just one city from our home.

It definitely needed A LOT of work. Luckily the seller had not 1, not 2, but 3 desks for sale; I guess you can say we got the pick of the litter (though admittedly, all were kind of the runt). Ready for the price? $60 buckaroos! Plus, we threw in an extra $15 and the seller transported the heavy metal mayhem back to our place and safely in our garage.


When we brought her home, the tanker was a "lovely" band-aid tan color; which helped to perfectly highlight the faux wood laminate top...oh, it was an eye soar, complete with several dings and dents. Chris was anxious to start disassembling. After the dissection, we were left with 2 side drawer compartments, a middle back panel, a stack of drawers and last but not least, the aforementioned "wood" top.

If we were to completely restore a desk, I think we would have wanted to start off with a better example; instead, our goal was to go for "respectable". It took some 409 cleaner, a sander, primer, plus 2 colors of spray paint (very limited color selection at Lowes), elbow grease and a lot of waiting for paint to dry. Once the parts were ready for reassembly, Chris and his trusted bff, Chris (#1 baby boy name of the early 1980s) helped out.

And without further adieu...

We topped it off with a custom made piece of glass.

Frugal Fridays: IKEA PS Maskros

One of my current obsessions, besides Sanrio and giraffes (those are permanent actually), are dainty dandelions! When I stumbled upon this cutie, I was jubilant!

With an affordable price of just $89.99, I think I may have found our new dinning room "chandelier!" Seriously, how CUTE is that?!


UPDATE: 
Chris wants to invite everyone over to see the new chandelier. He says, it'll be through the doorway, to the left, past the couch, over his dead body. >_<