Friday, October 30, 2009

Coupon Preview - just for you

It's the first Sunday of the month, which means there's an additional P&G coupon insert. YEA!

Are you wondering if you should buy additional papers? Check the Sunday coupon preview below to see what's included. A wonderful way that I am saving more time with my binder is by using this preview resource. I clip the coupons that I KNOW I will use, but leave the rest of the inserts in the accordion section of my binder. Then I check back here when I compare my weekly store fliers. It saves a LOT of time.

Click below to see what you may need to buy.


And then head on over to my new home for more details, since you may be missing out on a weeks worth of posts. :)

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Thrifting, accessorizing, baking...come on over.

hi friends -
There's lots going on over at the new location.
Navigating a thrift store, accessorizing a mirror, and tons of bulk baking.
Please come join us, and thank for taking the time to update your URL.

To change your subscription to the new location, or subscribe for the first time please click here.
You can also receive updates via email. Click here to subscribe to Balancing Beauty and Bedlam by email.

**I have had emails from numerous readers that they’re having trouble adding this new URL to their Google Readers. Apparently, the Reader is finding this old site and redirecting back to here. Make sure you delete the old site first. Sign out and sign back in before adding my new site.

If you did that, then the work-around solution for updating google reader; try adding this address http://www.beautyandbedlam.com/feed/

into the “subscribe to this blog” spot in the Google Reader, it picks up the latest post at the new site. You have to add the feed/ at the end of my basic URL.

Thanks so much for taking the little bit of extra time through my bedlam.

I've been missing you all. :)


Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Please Update Your Subscription to Beauty and Bedlam

Have you found me at my new home on the web? If not please stop by my new (yet same as the old) blog now hosted on WordPress.

If you currently subscribe to this blog, pretty please click here to re-subscribe to my site. I sure don't want to miss you. :)This will be the last update you receive if you are a current subscriber.
You can also receive updates via email. Click here to subscribe to Balancing Beauty and Bedlam by email.

See you at my new home!

Baking Day/Hour - my plan

With fall scheduling in full force, pondering why I am barely keeping my head above water in certain “family manager” roles has been a topic.

My conclusion? I don’t have a plan.

Now, mind you, I am not a “write everything I do down” kind of a gal, I love the carefree aspects of life. Yet I am letting the weeks get the best of me without being intentional in some of the little things. Typically it’s the little things that I LOVE, but these days, it’s the little things not done that are getting me.

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We're working on getting all of the subscriber's feeds moved over to my new home, so if you want to see my plan for the day come on over here.

Remember...I've MOVED to http://www.beautyandbedlam.com.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Come on over to my new home!


Don't forget to link up for Tasty Tuesday at my new home -
http://www.beautyandbedlam.com
I'll have the post up by 11:00pm EST.

If you have my button on your sidebar, you don't need to do a thing.
I've been tricky like that and have been forwarding you all to www.inpassionatepursuit.blogspot.com, but that is just too difficult to remember.

Many of you have been so kind to enter Balancing Beauty and Bedlam onto your blogroll.
I would love it if you could take one minute and correct the new blog address. :)

We are not quite done, but it just wouldn't be "me" if I led you over to a brand new perfectly finished site, would it? Continue to watch for the changes over the next few weeks.
The powers that be are just waiting...for me.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Fall Tradition - Magic Pumpkin Patch

Several pumpkins

The Magic Pumpkin Patch is another tradition that is sure to spark the magic of Fall/Halloween for your kids!
Tell your children that this year you have found some magic seeds to grow pumpkins.
Gather your kids together and give each child 1 magic pumpkin seed. Have them bury each magic seed in the yard and place a toothpick marker for where they buried their seeds. While they are sleeping, place a small pumpkin, which you purchased from the grocery store, on each place they planted a seed. Watch as in the morning they are amazed by the beautiful pumpkins their magic seeds have grown into.
Take a picture of each child with their pumpkin in the patch and put it into your Fall/Halloween tradition book.

For many more fall/Halloween tradition ideas, browse here.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Frugal Fashionista - one stop shopping

Frugal Fashionista is back, and ready to roll.

(If you're new to this series, begin at the beginning by unpacking your reservations on a Frugal Fashionista wardrobe. )
I heard your cries, I received your emails, and trust me, it's not for lack of clothes to show you.

I just thought you might have wanted a break from my frugal fashion trips, but obviously not.
Always forgetting to take pictures when I was wearing the outfits was the problem that I encountered in doing these posts.

Oh yes, and then there were the dogs...

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And the kids...
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Enough excuses...on to what you've been waiting for.

I am doing a two part post for this one.
I have decided to take you through a typical thrift store outing and show you what I look for.
Everything I am wearing in these pictures was from one shopping trip last week.
My goal of this post is different. It's not to put together my cutest ever outfits, but to show you how you can mix and match while spending pennies on the dollar.

As you are reading, try and guess how much I paid for it all.
You are going to drop to the floor!
I approach my wardrobe much like I do my couponing and stockpiling.
Many local thrift stores offer discounts on certain days.
On Sunday at my local store, one colored ticket is always 75% off.
Keep that in mind as you guess. I only looked at that color.

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With winter right around the corner, I love to look for new sweaters, turtlenecks and comfy clothes that I can wear to football practices. I need to be warm, but I don't have to look frumpy.
This Banana Republic sweater is perfect, and can easily be dressed up with a scarf or jacket. These Limited jeans are a bit too short for me, but you'd never know it once I rolled them up and made them capris. Now they fit perfectly and they look like they were made to be capris.
If you have great ankles - show them off. :)

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A classic green Gap turtleneck will give me so many options.
Here I paired it with the comfiest, down vest by Lands End.
Yes, it looks brand new. Another sign that Lands End is total quality.

The Anne Taylor brown pants were a steal, and hopefully after I wear them they'll stretch out a bit. ( I didn't try them on, and typically I do.)
The only other option is to lose the eight pounds I've gained in the last few months - ugh.

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Here is the same turtleneck and pants paired with two jackets that were UNDER one dollar.
Do you see how different all three outfits look just by switching them up a bit?
Our NC fall days don't always necessitate a heavy coat, so these are perfect.
Jackets like this are a typical find at most thrift stores.

One of my favorite finds of the day was this great black dress. If you've followed this series at all, you know I have a thing for the perfect, little black dress. I have about ten of them.
Please.no.lectures. Just being honest. But, I wear them - a lot.
When something like this is so comfortable that you can sleep in it, I buy it...regardless.
And this is one of those finds. I wish you could see my drop down pink necklace more closely.
It's perfect with the V-neck, but if someone gave me a big chunky pink necklace, I think I'd prefer that instead.
It would make more of a statement and bring out the pink accents.
This style looks great on almost any body shape.

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I love, love, love this classic Eddie Bauer turtleneck. I'm so disappointed that we didn't get a better picture of it.
Like Lands End, Eddie Bauer quality is so fabulous that it always appears new, while the look never goes out of style.
Now, I admit, this orange vest was an impulse buy...
I am a "summer," and "summer" skin tones don't wear orange. (Regardless if you buy thrift or new, you must find out your skin tone.)
But it's fall harvest time, and I want to be festive.
Yet more importantly, this was a BRAND NEW suede vest with the $69.00 price tag still on it and I got it for $1.50. I'm just saying.
As long as that orange isn't against my face, I'm fine with it.
I'll wear it to the pumpkin patch and take my pictures with fall orange pride, and them probably pass it on to someone else. It's cuter in real life. :)

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Yes, this was taken moments ago as I just got back from football practice and was sporting my cute Hanes hoodie and Liz Claiborne tank.
If I dress to exercise, it sometimes gives me the false sense that I might actually walk during my boys' practice. :) Exercise clothing is expensive, but I find fabulous items for pennies. Probably because people like me fizzle out on their New Year's Resolution quicker than they'd care to admit.

Now imagine that I didn't just get back from football practice, and that my hair was done in a sleek updo.
Oh, how I love this white dress from The Limited.
Simple, elegant and classic.
Again, comfort is key and this one passes the "nightgown" test as well. Can you see why I have started wearing dresses more? Seriously, this dress is more comfortable than any pair of pants I own. Don't be surprised if it doesn't end up as a night gown after I get tired of it.
When you spend $1 on something, who says it has to be an elegant dress? Why can't it be a nightgown...hee hee.
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Ok, so that was all purchased in one shopping trip.
Remember, it doesn't always happen like that, but I am fairly consistent in popping into my favorite stores and I have it down to such a science that I could dress almost any of you in a complete wardrobe for under $100.

Come with me next time as I show you how I look through the trash and come out with the treasures.

Did you take a guess at how much all of this cost? Remember that I ONLY looked at the colored tags that were marked 75% off, and the majority of the other items in the store were full price.
I am going to duck now because I know you are going to throw tomatoes at me.

All of it...under $12.
I know...it's not fair, but just love me anyhow. :)

Thursday, October 1, 2009

New Coupons have loaded

It's October 1st (WOW), and that means that new coupons have loaded on my sidebar. Please click on over if you're in a reader and see what's being offered.
I always think ahead about my stores' sales cycles and what I need replenished in my stockpile of food.

I'm excited about some frozen vegetables, cereal, and many more.
And yes, even the $1.00 of two Pillsbury biscuits helps me with my "one hour experiment" meals. Biscuits are often on sale for "Buy One Get One Free," which makes these free or nearly free for ALL of you - even if you don't have double coupon stores.
Free Grocery Coupons