Like Merchant Ships

Fails to wash top of milk bottle

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:51:00 +0000

As a 1930s wife, I am
Poor

I'm great at encouraging thrift, but my stocking seams are always crooked. HT: Mrs. Elliot

Decorating the hand-me-down office

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:08:00 +0000

Mismatched woods challenge even the seasoned secondhand decorator.

I remembered a $10 rug squirreled away in a closet. Its warm tones help blend the oak with oxblood chairs and walnut bookcases.

See an oriental rug dirt cheap? Buy it!

Not everything should match. This discount store lamp swirls all the browns and golds together.

We both hated the existing 14-foot-long cornice. Would it even come off the ceiling?

But the rug worked its magic, downplaying the burgundy and drawing out the blue and orange.

No luck with the conference chairs! We scavenged a $25 table the exact gray of the walls and stacking chairs on clearance for $7.

I'll use these with my bistro table at home when the perfect chairs present themselves.

They say every room needs a touch of animal print! Too bad this is still attached to the animal--and the office.

Not perfect, but better and with minimal expense. Done!

What can I say?

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:36:00 +0000

We frugal moms hope our kids will love making things. Mine must have been watching me get the most from my potted fern all summer.

Still, I never expected to see an arrangement gracing this Indiana Jones diorama.

"So it looks all wild and jungle-y."

Nor its trimmings firmly affixed to the tabletop with packing tape.

"So they won't ever come off in the wind."

Or, you know, with Windex.

One of those days

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:58:00 +0000

I rallied everyone early, eager to make the produce market by 8. Planning an ice cream social for 50 had just fallen into my lap.

The kids were fussing by the time we arrived. We only crossed a couple items off the list.

I pressed on. Sam's Club, followed by Aldi, then a bicker-filled, seat-kicking ride home.

"Do NOT talk!" I growled. The day was slipping by, gas wasted, everything left undone.

"Go to your room and do not talk to me again!"

I have 3 grocery stores within a 2-minute drive. I pledge to shop only those till this baby arrives, local organic foods and/or bargain prices be darned.

There is a price for sanity and I may just find it at the bottom of my Walmart receipt.

Nursery decorating, part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:00:00 +0000

Green meets pink with the thrift store stove I moved from the kitchen. The floral plates relocated from over the crib.

My husband hates this bird lamp with a passion, but I still keep giving it a place of honor.

And here's the best buy of the week: an old metal chandelier.

Originally overpriced at $25, no one bought it...until I scooped it up on 99-cent day.

What would you do to make it fabulous? Leave it white? Add colored shades? Something fanciful with ribbon?

Nursery decorating, part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:13:00 +0000

Let's not kid anyone--this room is mostly Elise, with a little bit "itty bitty," as she calls him.

We've reused the green toile crib skirt and yellow sheet. Good thing I never got around to painting the blue crib rails!

On the office chair search at Habitat Homestore, I fell in love with this oil pastel.

The clear blues and greens stood out from a shelf of Holiday Inn extras. $30 was a splurge, especially when I had already spent $100 for the dresser and bed.

When we flipped it over, we saw the distinctive Lyzon label (one of Nashville's oldest galleries).

I'm sorry, baby #3, for not organizing a Hot Wheels nursery in red and blue. You'll soon learn I have to use what I have.

I promise to move you in with Andrew the minute you take notice!

Decorating the nursery, part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:19:00 +0000

Operation Big Girl Bed is nearly complete.

We swapped the double guest bed for this wicker set from a recent yard sale. It gives us just enough floor space for 2 kids. Baby boy's clothes are folded in the tall dresser.

(Here's what it looked like before.)

I repurposed the vintage linens for the daybed--one benefit of using an old unfitted coverlet and dust ruffle.

Everything goes with white, and kid stains are easily lifted with Biz or bleach.

I don't have any matching patterns--only the pink-and-green stripe valances I found at Goodwill.

My aunt passed along this estate sale toile chair. She uses its ottoman to climb into bed.

The vintage quilt helps tie everything together. Can you read the embroidery?

Sarah Miles, Age 7, 1931.

You work--I'll do the pretty stuff.

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:05:00 +0000

Yawn. I'm worn out from helping my husband put his new office together...quick!

He has more important things to do than shopping the government surplus warehouse.

I had always imagined it as the best kind of treasure trove, where oddities abound and everything is free.

No conference chairs, but we almost requisitioned this rug. It turned out to be a 25' red carpet!

(Incidentally, anyone can bid on Metro Nashville surplus online!)

We replaced his predecessor's slick cherry finish with the 1950's desk that's original to the office.
Now I need to round up a rug, 5 chairs and a side table--cheap.

Because I don't think taxpayers need to foot the bill for overpriced office furniture.

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:45:00 +0000

Celebrating

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:12:00 +0000

Many of you have written to ask about my husband's job search.

In short: we've been in limbo for the last few months, waiting to see if he could catapult out of a frustrating situation.

To complicate things, the State stepped in for restructuring, freezing the interview process altogether.

Argh!

We just learned that his immediate boss has been removed...and my husband has been promoted in his place!

This is far better than our previous options A, B, and C ever were, a lifetime career goal for him and the least transition for our little family. We are so grateful!

Let's just hope my nesting energy will cover the nursery AND a new office.

Picnic ware for half-price

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:35:00 +0000

Since I usually entertain other moms, I've been watching for reusable kid cups. Above, 50-cents for 6 at Walmart.

Here's the secret to buying summer plastics: choose colors which look great all year.

Picture this yellow with the golds and browns at an autumn table...or even the greens and red of Christmas.

Not as fun as the splashy flamingo print, but much more flexible.

Taking care of myself

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 13:36:00 +0000

Yesterday I had some "highly suspicious" skin spots removed. Then I exhausted the kids at the zoo, big nose bandaged and all.

To my surprise, the dermatologist recommended plain old Vaseline for immediate scar prevention. He says it helps the wound heal faster than Mederma.

I love it when the frugal alternative is also the superior one.

No more airport food

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:51:00 +0000

One of the best things about our trip was the absence of fast food. Oh, sure, McDonald's is everywhere, but we convinced the kids that it only served island fish.

Amazing how much easier it is to resist a temptation you don't drive past twice a day.

While I was gone, Jeana wrote about how her family's trip to England totally changed her approach to food.

I also enjoyed Laurel's cheerful thoughts on eating well in lean times.

All I can tell you...

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:37:00 +0000

I have the A/C set to 68, and I'm not feeling one whit guilty about it.

Decorating for the wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:25:00 +0000

It was great to be of help: conditioning flowers, arranging a family lunch, and carrying decorations to the reception.

Let's just say I can vouch for the the whirlwind, sweat-all-you-can vacation diet!

We didn't know we'd be making a bridal bouquet until the wedding day.

Above: blooms from the common shrub exora, maidenhair fern, and old fashioned coral vine, all from the garden.

The ivory ribbon went missing, so she wrapped the stems with her grandmother's handkerchief.

My mother-in-law saved her chipped Waterford just for nosegays like these.

We bundled the cut blooms with rubber bands for easy transport.

Tropical colors can really stretch your decorating dollar.

And what's not to like about everyone helping make the day a little brighter?

More from the wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:19:00 +0000

Andrew decided he was brave enough to carry the rings, but the wedding day was too hot and heavy for navy blazers.

I found this Kitestrings seersucker outfit just before zipping our suitcase shut.

Thank goodness for cooler alternatives--and only $2.49, if anyone's counting!

Speaking of last-minute substitutes, we scrambled to find a ring pillow around the house.

We improvised with this island basket and two family rings.

(The real rings got locked in the safe without a combination!)

I ended up wearing my hair off my neck, a shiny layer of perspiration and my widest, stretchiest shoes. The best laid plans!

Forgive the unflattering photo, but I knew you'd want to see, for better or worse.

Elise was tickled pink in a hand smocked gown.

It was a lovely wedding, improvisations and all.

The not-so-triumphant return

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:28:00 +0000

We flew in late late late last night.

I have to run to a doctor's appointment and pick up my laptop this morning, then I'll be back with a zillion photos.

Good to see you again!

Vacationing with TV

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:59:00 +0000

One of the best parts about eschewing cable at home is getting to watch a little HGTV on vacation.

I think I've figured out what's wrong with this country!
A single secretary buys too much stuff in a state without sales tax. Trade up your reasonable 2 BR condo for a 3 BR, 2 BA townhome (only $100,000 more!).

Why not just get your spending under control?

Want to live green? Build your 6,000 sq. ft. eco dream home, but first, "design to sell" your bungalow across the street with green decor.

Isn't it more eco-conscious to adapt the existing space? A smaller footprint uses less resources & materials than new construction.

Don't get me wrong: I enjoy the creativity and recycled elements, and we could all learn a lesson about cleaning our our houses before putting them on the market.

Yet I have to wonder at the culture of normalcy this kind of entertainment creates. How can average families afford houses $500,000 and up? When will someone say, "You know what, it's okay to have 2 kids in one bedroom. Here's how you do it."

Is there a particular HGTV show you find inspiring? Let me know in the comments!

Helping without being in the way

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:39:00 +0000

The bride sees tall, wild, tropical bouquets for the tables. We could throw them together in a snap.

But that's probably not the way things will work out.

Step away from the bucket, Meredith. These are not your garden shears.

Keeping cool

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:52:00 +0000

We've only made it to the beach once, but we've been busy crossing errands off the list.

Since my internet time is so limited, I used my Frugal Hacks spot to chat about what I've been whipping up in my mother-in-law's kitchen.

Did you know a package of 4 ice cream sandwiches costs $7.85 here? I'm thinking it's almost worth it!

On the other hand, it's making this frozen lime dessert seem awfully frugal by comparison.

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:03:00 +0000

We arrived, and my pregnant fingers and feet have swollen to 3x their normal size. I can barely get my widest shoes on! Any sure-fire remedies for that?

I will be able to check in sporadically, so until next time, thanks for reading!!!

Meredith

Polished and perfumed

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:24:00 +0000

Phase 3 of the Frugal Frump experiment is now complete. How many months was I out of perfume, anyway?

I was buying barrettes at Family Dollar when this Avenue perfume caught my eye. It's a spicy blend of rose and citrus, and the price was right: only $3.

My best tip for shopping discount and dollar stores:

Look for major brand names hidden among the made-for-$1 products. If body products are manufactured for Greenbrier International? Keep on walkin'.

Ideas? Check.

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:16:00 +0000

Implementation? Oops.

Family Fun is one of the best budget-friendly resources I know. (Buy a 1-year subscription for only $1.49 on Ebay!)

I find so many good ideas...that I promptly forget to use. I've begun letting Andrew rip out projects for himself.

Do you have a system for doing all the great crafts and games you see? How do you make sure that your educational investments don't go to waste?

Extra pairs of eyes

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:10:00 +0000

I've been looking for a new makeup bag for ages. My mom found this one for 50-cents.

Not only is it just big enough, its organic green pattern looks great with my bathroom colors. Score one for friends and family!

Whew!

noreply@blogger.com (Meredith) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:41:00 +0000

It does give me a quiet thrill to see everything so fresh and folded...

...even if it only happens once a year! Now who can tell that all these clothes are secondhand?