Target Deal Alert!

Need a super cheap dinner idea?  Head over to Target and pick up a family size Stouffer's lasagna (38oz) and a bag of Green Giant Steamers and only spend $3.74!!!!  It doesn't get much cheaper than that to feed a few hungry bellies.  Here is my tiny haul:

Here is how this breaks down:
Buy one Stouffer's family size lasagna on sale for $6.49
You get a bag of Green Giant steamers (select varieties) FREE when you buy the lasagna
Use 5% off Stouffer's Frozen Entrees on the Target Cartwheel app.
Use $1.50 off Stouffer's Family size entree Target printable coupon (found on their website)
Use $1.00 off Stouffer's Family size entree manufacturer coupon
Total spent = $3.74 (don't ask when the 5% came off, I'm just relaying what the receipt said)
Even if you don't have the $1.00 off manufacturer coupon this is still a great deal!

PLUS if y'all are coffee snobs like our household is...there is a great deal on Gevalia whole bean coffee.  I found it on clearance for $4.83 AND there was a Cartwheel offer for 20% off all Gevalia coffee making it $3.86!

Target it THE place to shop this week.  There are so many great deals and I'm not sure about your store but ours had TONS of markdowns in the grocery section.  Just make sure to check the expiration date!

 Happy Savings!

-J

Seeing Spots - A DIY Dalmatian Print Pot

I know I am a little late to the game but I love how dalmatian has become a popular animal print in home decor.  When I saw these talented bloggers take the print to a whole new DIY level I kept the concept in the back of my mind.

Via The Hunted Interior

Via Make It A Double

Via Little Green Notebook

So when my sickly succulents (I have ZERO luck keeping them alive...le sigh) needed a new home, I hit up my local thrift store and bought a little terracotta pot for $0.59.  It was in need of a facelift so I thought it would be a fun excuse to introduce a little dalmatian into my decor.  After a few coats of white spray paint and some hand painted spots here is the final product:

 

I feel like the spots look more "cowish" than dalmatian but I'll live with it for a while.  I think if I could redo it I would allow for more white to show...oh well.  Here's to hoping my succulents perk up in their new home!

-J

Craigslist Finds under $100

Remember that yard work I talked about yesterday?  Well it turns out digging up shrubs can do a real number on your feet.  I have either a bruised bone or muscle or tendon (can't you tell I'm a doctor?) on my right foot.  As I lay here unable to hobble around I have been perusing Craigslist and dreaming up projects (the boy would kill me if I brought home another project with so many "to-dos" laying around the house).  So, I share with you some lovely finds (active links under each photo...sorry if any are taken off the market)

This AMAZING Thomasville campaign style table/desk for only $50!!! Oh how I want you in my house NOW!

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/fuo/4480957253.html

Don't you see what I see?  No?  You don't see a DIY bar cart in the making?  I would take this $35 microwave cart, paint it high gloss black, add some brass pulls, add wine glass holders, hang some pretty linens on each side, and add a tray to organize all the libations.  See it now?

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/for/4455917252.html

 This 80's Fredrick Ramond brass chandelier would look lovely in a foyer.  I love the detail at the top.  And at $80 its quite a steal for a Fredrick Ramond light fixture.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/app/4464940454.html 

This West Elm low butler tray and stand is normally $170 in stores but this one is listed at over 50% off!  It would make a cute side or coffee table.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/fuo/4423083426.html

If any of you are in the Raleigh area, maybe one of these is just the piece you have been looking for.  If not, happy hunting!

Couponing at Target

Hey all!  Hope everyone had a lovely weekend.  I won't be doing Insta Weekend this week because, quite frankly, I don't think you want to see Instagram pictures of me spraying Roundup and the bushes we dug up from an exciting weekend of doing yard work.  Yep, we know how to throw down on the weekend.  So, a few posts back I shared my love for couponing and a few tips for saving at CVS.  Today I thought I would share some tips for couponing at Target (who doesn't love Target?!)!  I treat couponing at Target just like I described couponing at CVS.  One really cool thing they have started doing (besides the Cartwheel app...if you don't have it, get it!) is giving you Target gift cards when you buy certain products.  Let me start my little lesson by showing you what I scored today: 

Deal #1:

If you bought 2 participating Dr. Scholl's items you would receive a $5 gift card (for a future purchase)

I purchased 2 Dr. Scholl's DreamWalk Arch Supports - $5.49 a piece

I then used 2 $2 off manufacturer coupons

Total paid - $6.98

I then received my $5 Target gift card

Deal #2:

If you bought 3 participating personal care items you would receive a $5 gift card (for a future purchase)

I purchased 1 Simple cleansing facial wipes - $3.79

1 Simple eye make-up removal wipes - $3.79

1 Clear Scalp & Hair shampoo - $4.99

I then used 2 $2 off Simple manufacturer coupons

1 $1.50 Clear manufacturer coupon

1 $1.50 Target coupon for Clear shampoo

AND I used my $5 Target gift card from my first transaction

Total paid - $0.57

I then received my $5 Target gift card

So, total spent on all the products was $7.55 but if you include the $5 gift card it's kind of like getting all of it for $2.55!  

I hope my quick lesson in couponing at Target helps you save in the future! 

Sunday Steal - French Bistro Style Stools

French bistro chairs are all the rage.  Even with the recognizable checker pattern, they make a stylish neutral seating option.  I love that they can be as dressy or as casual as one wants.  Here are some lovely examples of decorating with French bistro chairs:

Via paloma81.blogspot.com

Via Betterdecoratingbible

Via Habituallychic

Via Minnickinteriors

So when I came across these Broyhill barstools at Home Goods I immediately wanted to take them home.

Sadly, we had just purchased two lovely Thomasville barstools after a long time scouring Craigslist.  Plus the stools were only counter height.  If anyone is reading this post, maybe my little find will help you out with your home decor needs.   Anyhoo, happy hunting!

Easy Date Night In Dinner

Last night the fiancé (5 months later it still hasn't gotten old calling him that) worked late so I prepared a little date night dinner to greet him when he got home.  I stumbled across the idea of making individual pizzas out of naan a while back, so when it was on sale for $1.50 for a package of 2 it was a no brainer.  I picked up some pesto, onions to caramelize, blue cheese, and pepperoni for toppings.  Here is a helpful penny pinching tip: when making a pizza (or individual pizzas) for 2, go to the deli and order a quarter of a pound of sandwich style pepperoni.  It is way cheaper and the larger pepperoni slices make for a more gourmet looking pizza.  Once you decide what toppings your tummy desires, make the pizza, place on a baking sheet (I lined mine with my trusty Silpat), and bake in a 425F degree oven for 10-12 minutes until the crust is crispy and slightly browned.  Throw in a bottle of wine, some lovely conversation, maybe get a little crazy and light a candle, and you've got yourself a "fancy" date night in.  Here is how my pizzas turned out (I swear they looked better than my picture shows...I need to learn the art of taking pretty blog worthy pictures...one step at a time):

Bon appétit!

-J

Come On And Get Happy

There are times I struggle to be TRULY happy.  After researching a lot about happiness (I will share the reason behind that another day) I have come to the conclusion that a good chunk of happiness is rooted in genetics.  But there are most definitely external factors that promote or harm happiness.  One thing I really struggle with is comparison disorder...this is what I dub unhappiness brought on by comparing one's life to the lives of others.  As much as I love (or more accurately: as much as I am addicted to) social media, I feel that Facebook fuels my comparison disorder.  What started as a way to keep in touch with old friends is now a way I measure my self worth.  Seeing that written down makes me a little ill...it shouldn't be that way!  So why do I let Facebook dictate how I feel about myself?  Why do the number of "likes" I receive make me feel better about my life?  When did it become the norm to peacock your life for all the world to see in hopes of gaining reassurance or praise?  Why is it that we create an idea of where we are SUPPOSED to be in life based on what we see our "friends" (because let's just admit that about 70-80% of our Facebook friends aren't REALLY our friends) doing?  I kind of wish we could go back to the days where "keeping up with the Joneses" meant keeping up with the freakishly talented women (or man) down the street rather than keeping up with the "perfect" lives people display on social media.  I know behind those Instagram filters they are probably doing just as much comparing as me.  So in hopes of inspiring anyone else who is dealing with comparison disorder today, or any day, I leave you with some of my favorite quotes I have found on the one and only Pinterest.  Enjoy:

 

Now if only I could practice what I preach!  Here is to day 11 of 21...over half way to forming my blogging habit!  Happy Friday all!

-J