I just had to…

I never save $45 in one grocery shopping trip…ever.  So that’s what this entire post is about.  The day I save $45 at the grocery store:)

The only time the Brogle’s buy pop or soda is when there is a sale.  Not a 3 for $11 sale like they always have but instead when Rainbow or Cub have a sale like Rainbow does this week.  Buy 5 Pepsi products with a $25 purchase and each 12 pack is $1.48.  Yup.  That’s a good deal.  Especially when Alex’s 2 favorite kinds of pop/soda are Pepsi products, Mtn. Dew and Dr. Pepper!

Here’s what I bought today:

-4 boxes of cereal, 5 12-packs of pop/soda, 1/2 gallon of Organic milk, bunch of spinach, 2 onions, an apple, cider and white vinegar, 2 boxes of Cheeze-its, 1 box of crackers, 1 box of granola bars, 3 cans of juice, 1 gallon of ice cream, sour cream, chocolate sauce, cream cheese, and almonds. 

Total:  $35  which means had I not saved $45 we would have spent $80.  Yup, without a sale like that I wouldn’t have bought most of it which is why Alex is in the other room doing the happy dance. All the “boxed” things he loves we now have in mass quantities!

Happy saving:)

ps…for those who want to save on photo books, I just made one on Picaboo…you can get a free large photobook in linen or leather hardcover for the cost of shipping with up to 20 pages.  Shipping is $8.99. Great deal! Follow this LINK to get yours. Offer ends August 31.

Are you there God…

It’s me…Andrea.
I know you are.  You are here with me right now.  You hold me as the tears fall, you encourage me in your word, your promises speak new life into my sinful, wayward, hurting heart.  And yet, I have to ask.
You have proved over and over again that I can trust you.  I can, right?
That’s when I hear you.  You whisper in my ear…Andrea, I’m here with you, it’s going to be okay, this is right where you are supposed to be, I have your best in mind.  Though it may not feel that way, I have promised you that I am with you.  I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, You are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you,  When you are afraid, put your trust in me.  Come to me…remember who I am.  I am who I am.
You are good.
You are constant.
You are sovereign.
You are love.
You are faithful.
You are abba.
You are provider.
You are creator.
You are redeemer.
You are God alone.
Lord, this trial may not seem as difficult as what others face, it may seem silly and contrite to others, I can try to be stronger than I am…
But it’s the struggle in our life journey right now, it’s the fight for faith, it’s the daily reminder to trust in who you say you are…and it’s hard.
In the words of Marc Heinrich…
When the trial comes, And all hope seems lost, I will find my strength
In the mighty cross
Only Him…Only Jesus…Only there is joy in sorrow found…

Decor on the dollar

literally:)

My favorite place to find art?  Nope, not Target or Homegoods, not the Salvation Army or a thrift store.  My favorite places to find art are at Archivers (or other paper stores) or my own computer.  Surprised?

I’ve found paper to be incredibly cheap (under $1) and to create really fun art throughout our house. Some areas where we have paper as art?  Our bedroom and Alex’s Bathroom.

The paper in the frames I got at Archiver’s for under $1 a piece.  And yes, we each have a picture of the other on our nightstand, we’re dorks like that.  I mean who wouldn’t want to wake up like that:)

And this piece of paper, again was under a dollar.  But the real reason this was a winner, well because Alex loves vintage art, especially art relating to golf, I mean how perfect is that!

Now for computer generated art.  If you have a word processing program and a color printer you are on your way to great wall art.  It’s as easy as that.  This is the print that I made for my bathroom.  I love the idea of Scripture art but I don’t love the traditional look.  So I made it in a more modern way on the computer and now it’s a great way to get my mind ready for the day as I get my body ready.  Perfect!

(Psalm 62:1-2)

One of my favorite home blogs is Young House Love.  Check out some of their great homemade art on the cheap:)

http://www.younghouselove.com/2010/08/reader-redesign-create-barrel/

http://www.younghouselove.com/2010/04/nursery-progress-adding-some-art/

Happy Decorating!

A little more girly…

And a little more manly.  I’m talking about our bathrooms.  For almost 4 years, Alex and I have shared a bathroom, despite the fact that for the past year we have had 2 bathrooms!  I decided that this year, we would try out having separate bathrooms and see how it worked.

The main reason for the change?  The bathroom we shared was in Alex’s office and other than the summer, when I’m up and out of the house before he starts work, having the shower going while trying to work just doesn’t cut it. 

Since I’ve always wanted to incorporate pink into our color scheme, I transformed the other bathroom into the perfect girly space while changing a couple things in the existing bathroom to make it a little more manly.

So here they are, our “new” bathrooms!

Mine:                                   

   

Cost Breakdown: 

-New Shower Curtain $10, Ikea Candle $4, Ikea Frames $15 Total: $29

The rest of the items we had and I grabbed them out of hiding for the bathroom.  We picked up the iconic “Keep Calm and Carry On” postcard at the Imperial War Museum in London last year, before they became the “IT” thing:)  Also the other picture is one I made thanks to a sheet of paper and our printer…more on that later.

Now Alex’s new space:

Updates:  A new picture, totaling $1 for the piece of paper.  Again I grabbed things out of hiding for this bathroom too and the color scheme is more masculine with greens, orange, and red. 

All it takes is a little imagination and basically, some paper:)

Green Monster

No I am not speaking of Old Nessie, the monster of Loch Ness…
I made, tried and liked a Green Monster.

I love healthy living blogs, amongst which Oh She Glows is a favorite, right up there with Healthy Tipping Point, Kath Eats, and Carrots ‘n Cake.  They inspire me to want to not only be healthy but try new things and to RUN!  These girls especially Meghan and Caitlin, are pretty inspiring in the distances they race.
So here we go, back to the Monster!  Mix together spinach (or any green), a banana, strawberries, almond milk, and ice.

It was, well can I say, DELICIOUS!  Definitely making these again…you CANNOT taste the spinach. (please excuse my post shower pic)
YUM!