Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Day 109: I should probably cancel my Nordstrom card now.



Yesterday, my dear frugal manfriend and I had a very productive day. We both had the day off work, so we went to the bank, gave his apartment a SERIOUS cleaning, he did all his laundry, and we went grocery shopping. (AND I was spoiled with homemade lunch and dinner...what?!)

Walking through the parking lot of the grocery store, I was having yet another meltdown about my life falling apart and how I'm not making enough money and...basically, being a brat.

He just smiles at me and says, "Don't worry about it, babe. You'll be fine. We're an ALDI family now!"

To which I whined, "But I want to be a Nordstrom family again!"

Sigh...I'm trying, but at least one of us has a sense of humor about all this.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Day 104

In an effort to not go to the grocery store before the fridge was truly bare, I ate a bowl of mush for dinner.

The meal began sensibly enough. I sauteed the last few scallops in the freezer with the last of the edible veggies in the fridge. 
Then I added sriracha. Because, duh.
Then I added cheese. Because doesn't cheese make everything better...?
Um...nope. Apparently, not.

What resulted was chewy scallops covered in rubbery mozzarella sitting in a bed of overcooked vegetables.

I don't have any pictures...to spare your gag reflex. 
You're welcome.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Day 99: Spring Cleaning

Some people despise spring cleaning, but I LOVE it. There's something about just getting rid of crap that feels very liberating.
This year I've been trying to keep a pretty tight ship due to lack of storage space in my home, so my cleaning and organizing has not been quite as extensive this season. 

In any case, I do have a list that I follow during the week or two it'll take me to get it done. The list is really just so I have something to scratch off when I complete a task. It makes me feel accomplished ...even if I'm just checking off "Wake Up and Brush Teeth."




1. Collect cleaning supplies
Baking soda // Vinegar // Bleach // Multi surface spray // Rags // Trash bags // Sponges

I'll be the first to say I don't live a very "Green" lifestyle...and my cleaning supplies are no different. To be more cost effective I usually pick up items at the Dollar Store. 

2. Clean out dresser

I like to tackle the area that I feel like will make the biggest impact first. I'd say my clothes/shoes/accessories make up about 60% of my belongings. 

I make a pile for donations, a pile of things to toss, and a pile of things to mend. I've already been through my drawers a few times this past year, so I there wasn't anything new to add to my Because I Shop too Much closet.

It felt GREAT throwing away a half dozen t-shirts from the bar I worked at this past year. Seriously...out with the old!

3. Go through delicates

I throw away any socks without a mate (if all my laundry is done...) and all underwear that I would dub "last resort" undies. Plus any bra that I wore during college. Because I'm 27 and that means it's probably been around the block a time or 2.

4. Jewelry

Does anyone else have a hard time parting with old jewelry? Generally, I keep all of my regularly worn items up front and center. But when it's time to get rid of things, suddenly I get sentimental!
The long forgotten boxes in back full of costume jewelry from grandma or gifts from old boyfriends (ahem, a BUNNYfly necklace...Yep. It's butterfly wings with a bunny where the body should be. And it's as horrific as it sounds.)

5. The Closet

I think it's easiest to just empty out EVERYTHING and start fresh. My apartment looks like an hurricane hit it, but I can see everything when it's out!

Color coordinating is my jam. After I try everything on, I hang all the dresses I'm keeping. From there all my black and grey tops (because that's what I own the most of...so those items stay up front!) Some years I've done it by the colors of the rainbow, other years I sort it by warm and cool colors. I like organizing, but I'm no good at consistency!

I've been working on having a cohesive closet for years. One year I bought several clear plastic boxes to store my shoes. I've been swapping out all my plastic hangers for black fancy no-slip hangers. And I've been finding great hooks and hangers for all my scarfs!




At this point, I'm most likely sitting in the center of my old photo albums, wearing an old prom dress, a wig from a past costume party, and have had a few too many glasses of cheap wine. 

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Day 93

Today I cancelled my internet service. I usually use it at work or on my phone, so it was kind of a waste of money.  Plus, it rarely worked anyway and now I'm saving myself $52.55 a month. 

Internet access is not necessary. Internet access is not necessary. Internet access is not necessary.
Until I want to be blogging...or updating my Etsy...or catching up on A Beautiful Mess in the middle of the night... 
but we'll cross that bridge when we get there :)







For those of you that DO have the internet, watch this video over and over. And over and over. 
I LOVE LDR.
Then go visit this cutie's blog! She's a sweet and sassy music reviewer who also happens to enjoy Lana Del Rey. She's The Original D-Rose !