Back in June I threw a baby shower for my neighbor. I’m happy to say that baby Jack has arrived! I was also given the task of making his mobile since my neighbor said she couldn’t find anything cute out there. This was my inspiration:

It came from a great blog called Spool. They are very talented and creative! I used the free bird patterns they have available for download on their website. I picked up fabric remnants in chocolate brown and sage green, two colors the mom wanted to use in the nursery. I then went to work sewing the little birds. Mine are definitely not as well done as the ones on Spool, but I think the finished product turned out well.

Using sticks from my backyard and fishing line, I hung it from a curtain rod in my kitchen so I could get a feel for what it would look like in the baby’s room.

Hopefully Jack will like it!

Posted under Good Deals, Style

I threw my neighbor a backyard baby shower this weekend. Because the guest list was fairly lengthy for a baby shower, I had to work hard to keep my spending down while making it as stylish as possible. Here are a few ways I saved money:

The Tables

I decorated the tables with $.50 jewelry trees that I learned about on this blog. I also made tissue paper pom-poms thanks to Martha Stewart that were suspended from the trees.

Baby Shower Decor

I dressed the tables with wrapping paper runners. I was able to get two runners out of each roll. I made flower arrangements with fresh cut flowers I picked up at Costco. I got two huge bunches for $8.99 each.

Baby Shower Game

The bibs were purchased in a pack of ten from Target for less than $3. I cut out letters from scrapbook paper to help decorate the space and to create a game where we helped the mom-to-be select a name for the baby.

Baby Food Challenge

The other game we played was the Baby Food Challenge. I made the playing cards using craft supplies I already had. I picked up the organic baby food on sale at Publix. With coupons it was only $.30 a jar which meant that the game cost $3.60.

Baby Shower Favors

The favors were made from $.20 flower seed packets I picked up at Walgreens and supplies I had at home. That means I made 30 of them for $6.

Baby Shower Scrap Book

I made this little scrapbook for the mom-to-be and included one of the baby shower invitations. We also listed the gifts she received so she could reference it when writing thank you notes. I picked the scrapbook up at Hobby Lobby using a 40% off coupon and the “Oh Baby” sticker came from Michael’s.

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Most of the food was very simple. I planned ahead and tried to find items on sale at the grocery store. These ice cream cone cupcakes were made using a virtually free cake mix I got at Publix and frosting that was on sale for $1.

I don’t think any of the guests would have a clue that I pulled off the party without spending much money at all. In fact many commented that I had missed my calling and should have been a party planner!

Posted under Celebrations, Style

My Thrift Store Chair Before

I love looking at before and after pictures of furniture make-overs. It’s so cool to see how someone had some vision (sometimes a lot of vision) to take a beat up, discarded, unwanted piece of furniture and turn it into something fabulous. My husband and I have been renovating our entire house (which took a lot of vision!) and we’re even rehabbing some furniture along with it.

When I first moved to Greenville I found an old chair at the Miracle Hill thrift store. I picked it up for $40. For a long time the chair just sat there because it was covered in the itchiest fabric ever. I could never imagine sitting in it although I loved the lines of it. Unfortunately I didn’t take a “real” before picture, but this is the best shot I had. I cropped it from a photo of our old house.

I had never had any furniture reupholstered before. I was referred to someone I was told would be very affordable, but the quote came back at over $400! There was no way I was about to spend $400 on a chair I bought at a thrift store! So I called around and got a few more quotes, each quote was cheaper than the next! Finally I found one that I figured couldn’t be beat. I picked up some fabric at a fabric warehouse for $4.99 a yard. So for about $200 (including the original $40 for the chair) I have a beautiful, and comfortable, new chair!

My Thrift Store Chair After

I think it turned out great! I love the way the color of the fabric reflects light. It looks so clean and modern, which is exactly what we were going for. Do you have any great before and after photos? I’d love to look at them! Leave your link and I’ll check them out!

Posted under Good Deals, Home, Style

There are lots of great freebies this week to add to your own stash and to donate to others. First stop, Walgreens.

Great Freebies This Week

This week score a bunch of great freebies at Walgreens. Pick up a Colgate Max White or Max Fresh Toothbrush and you’ll get $3.49 in Register Rewards to use on your next purchase. While you’re there grab an 18-pack of Scunci elastics for $2 and you’ll get $2 in Register Rewards.

Next stop CVS for some more freebies. Grab a bottle of Softsoap Spa Radiant body wash and take this$1 off coupon with you and you’ll receive $4.99 in Extra Care Bucks.

You can also get a tube of Colgate Enamel Protect or Sensitive Whitening Toothpaste and you’ll receive $3.99 in Extra Care Bucks. Take this coupon with you for another $1 off to make this deal a money maker.

Get free Sobe Water

Finally, get four bottles of free Sobe water at CVS. They are buy one get one free this week and if you take two of these buy one get one free coupons you’ll get them completely free. Be sure to hit your browser’s back button to get two coupons. It’s regularly $1.79 per bottle which means you’re getting $7.16 worth of beverages for free!

Posted under Charitable Giving, Extra Income, Freebies, Good Deals, Style, Uncategorized, coupons

DoMoreWithYourMoney.com announces the 2008 Shop With a Cause list. These are the top six gifts fulfilling two purposes at once: supporting Upstate South Carolina stores and supporting worthwhile causes. Starting at as little as $5, here is the DoMoreWithYourMoney.com 2008 Shop With a Cause list:

Campaign Jeans

Jeans: Wear your heart on your denim with the pink J & Company jeans available at Campaign, 408 River Street in downtown Greenville. Twenty-percent of your purchase will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.  $176

Go Fish Mittens

Mittens: Stay warm this winter with handmade mittens. Knitted by Peruvian artisans, the mittens are available in multiple colors. Pick up your pair at Go Fish on Main Street in downtown Greenville. Your purchase will support projects worldwid that provide opportunities for the less fortunate. $15

Christmas Cards

Cards: Do more with your Christmas cards by purchasing these cards on Etsy.com. Created by a local designer, a part of each purchase goes to The Frazee Dream Center, a Greenville after school program for under-resourced children. $12

Gift Cards

Coffee: Local coffee shop Liquid Highway serves a greater purpose than handing out a good cup of joe. Every cent of profit goes to supporting medical clinics, schools, and orphanages all over the world and right here in the Upstate. Any Amount

Toms Shoes

Shoes: Toms Shoes has given over 60,000 pairs of shoes to children in need. That’s because every time you buy a pair of Toms Shoes, another pair is donated. Purchase your pair locally at Chloe and Grace located in the McDaniel Village shopping plaza. Approx. $50

Hydromissions Soap

Soap: When you buy a bar of Hydromissions soap you’re doing a good thing. You’re supporting a mission to bring clean water to those who don’t have it. Based in Mauldin, South Carolina, Hydromissions has helped bring access to clean drinking water to dozens of remote areas around the world. Buy your bars of soap online or at Ten-Thousand Villages.  $5

Posted under Charitable Giving, Holidays, Style

The only thing shakier than the economy right now is my blind, elderly min pin. But that doesn’t mean you can’t live with style, flair and panache. Enter: recessionista. What is that ask? A recessionista is someone who can be cheaply chic, elegantly frugal and beautiful at finding bargains. It’s the essence of doing more with your money. So let’s all be recessionistas!

Posted under Style