f r e s h l e m o n s

The Tomatoes are Coming Up!

2010-05-02T18:29:00.000-07:00

I have some plants growing and I am excited because they are looking so healthy! I have never grown my very own tomatoes before, and well...they are growing! Here are some photos of my baby garden in planters. I wish I had a real garden, but this will do for now. Someday!

I have cherry tomatoes, rosemary, boxwood basil & oregano.

Food in Real Life

2010-05-02T18:06:00.001-07:00

I got on a blog! Haha...for reviewing gross food, but it's still fun!

Read the Food In Real Life post!

Homemade Garlic Dill Pickles...OH yeah!

2010-04-25T19:28:00.000-07:00

Thank you My Kitchen Moovement for the recipe!
These were so easy, and so delicious! My friends RAVED about how I am the best pickle-maker in the world. Even though this is the first time I've ever even dreamed of attempting to make pickles. They were definitely garlicky and dill-y. And VERY crisp and tasty. If you are even considering trying to make pickles, this is the recipe to use. YUM

I am soooo a Krazy Coupon Lady!

2010-02-06T22:09:00.000-08:00

I have been following the Krazy Coupon Lady..and this has been my most successful trip yet.

Soooo..I went grocery shopping on Thursday night.

I spent $105.23 and saved $88.36...thats 45% savings!!!

I got so much too....12 lbs of ground beef, 4 boxes of cereal, 3 bottles of bbq sauce, 2 containers of pnuts, 16lbs of cat food, 6 lbs of cheese, 2 jars of spaghetti sauce, 2 loaves of bread, 2 (10pk) flour tortillas, 1 pk hot dogs, jelly, sugar, 3 cans of soup, caesar salad dressing, doritos, 2 can refried beans, 8 pk of paper towels, 12 double rolls of toilet paper, 3 bags of goldfish crackers, 30 pk of freezer bags, 1 can of italian bread crumbs.

I purchased 56 items for 105.23 = average of $1.87 per item (and some of my items like 16lbs Purina Cat Chow Indoor formula was $12.99.

Anyway..just thought I'd share...excited to have a super-stocked pantry. (By the way....don't be concerned about my diet, we already had a bunch of boneless skinless chicken and I buy all of my fresh produce at the local Farmer's Market.)

Groundhog Day!

2010-01-31T11:19:00.000-08:00

Punxsutawney Phil Pudding Pops!! Happy (almost) Groundhog Day!

This is where I found the RECIPE! Thanks Junior Society. Theirs look way better, but they are cute anyway!

Best Coupon Website EVER!

2010-01-21T14:12:00.000-08:00

Love love love this website! The Krazy Coupon Lady will help you to find all of the best deals. She tells you where to find the coupons and has an amazing printable coupon database on the site. She will also lead you to great sales at stores like Old Navy, Gap, Target. A GREAT resource. I check it daily!!

Cute Labels! by Ormolu

2009-11-10T16:09:00.001-08:00

I ran across these labels when making my vanilla extract. Gorgeous! And inexpensive.....would make home made gifts look so professional!

Buy them HERE.

Check out Ormolu's shop!

Make Your Own Vanilla Extract

2009-11-10T15:59:00.000-08:00

Vanilla extract can be very expensive. But we all know the better the vanilla, the better our baked goods taste! So, make your own.

Use about 5-8 whole vanilla beans...add to approx. 32 oz. vodka (Absolut or Skyy is an appropriate quality) into a glass bottle with a lid....wait 6 weeks shaking the bottle a few times a week. Ta-da!

Delicious vanilla extract, and the best part is, when the bottle gets low, just top it off with vodka and give it a few weeks, and it's ready to go again!

Vanilla Bean Sources - Costco (10 beans; approx $10)

Beanilla.com (prices vary)

Bottle - I used the bottle shown above from Ikea. Slom Bottle $2.99

Lonny Magazine!

2009-11-10T14:05:00.000-08:00

Lonny Magazine makes its debut! Many people (like me) are missing Domino Magazine so badly. I am not saying it has been replaced...but a delightful new online publication is making a great attempt at filling some big shoes. Be sure to check out Lonny Magazine!

image from Lonny Magazine

Labor Day Weekend was CHEAP!

2009-09-06T19:29:00.000-07:00

So, I had a weekend without my boyfriend and wanted to have some fun! So, first I painted my toenails, because he hates the smell, and I've needed to do it! I washed my car at the self service wash..so satisfying, then went to the Farmers Market, which is my fave thing ever.

I bought all of these beautiful flowers for $5!! It makes my apartment sooooo much cuter, and just general happiness settles over me. And it made me want to clean, since everything looks better clean and with flowers.

I then realized that I had no vases and went to the Goodwill and scored all of these great clear glass pieces to group for $6 for 5 vases....and on top of that, I found a great dress for $9!

Free Event Invites @ Pingg.com

2009-07-25T19:24:00.000-07:00

A great alternative to Evite.com, I have discovered the website Pingg.com. They find great up-and-coming artists and use their art for the invitations. The invitations are available for free to send as email invitations to all sorts of events, or they also have an option to have them printed and sent to you for a reasonable cost. Check them out for your next event!

Artists Featured above: Jessica Gonacha, Lenny Williams, & Christina Entcheva

Farmers Market!

2009-07-25T18:40:00.000-07:00

We just moved to San Diego, CA (not the cheapest city in the world)...so I am trying to find new ways to save $$. A great source of entertainment is the Farmer's Market. We go to the Hillcrest Farmers Market. It's a great sunday morning event, lots of people watching, good smells and great to talk to the actual people that grow the fruit & veg. And it all tastes WAY better than the stuff at the grocery store, especially the peaches and cherries!

What we bought:

8 huge bulbs of garlic $2.00

3 avocados $3.00

1 big bunch of green onions $1.00

Artichoke hummus $5.00 (a little pricey, but it was our farmer's market splurge and we ate it all the day we bought it, totally worth it)

Huge loaf of cheddar & jalapeno bread (from Bread et Cie...delish) $5.00

Bowl full of limes (about 6) $2.00

Bag of lemons $2.00

Bowl full of jalapenos $1.50

And there is so much more to buy...or taste for free!

Next week I want to get plants, herbs to grow at home. $2.00 per pack! I can't wait.

More FREE Wallpapers!

2009-06-12T14:58:00.001-07:00

Another fantastic site for free computer wallpapers is Kindred. I love this bunnies one by Fifi Lapin, but there are many more to choose from and they are always updating!

Nate Williams - Free Computer Wallpapers

2009-06-12T14:53:00.000-07:00

Nate Williams is a very very talented artist. He offers some of his art for FREE as computer wallpaper backgrounds on his website. Just download! Thanks Nate!

Check out his website: www.n8w.com

Free Printables!!

2009-06-12T14:45:00.001-07:00

I love finding free printable labels to use on spice jars, or organizing craft thingies. Creature Comforts has a whole bunch of DIY and free printable labels, cards, and much more. What great ideas! I can't wait to re-do my spice cabinet with some of the cute labels.

Recession Meal Specials

2009-06-12T13:23:00.000-07:00

Lately I have noticed some of my favorite restaurants are offering Recession Specials. In Atlanta my favorite place for a burrito, enchilada, taco, nacho, etc is El Myr. Right now they offer a special burrito and a draft PBR for $5.00. Unbeatable food and unbeatable deal.

Look for recession specials in your area of the good ol' USA.

Flowers make everything better.

2009-06-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

At the end of a rough week sometimes the best thing to do is sit with good friends. My lovely friend, Emily, made me a delicious dinner, sipped some cold beers and sat in her sunroom full of plants. She had a beautiful arrangement of old random bottles with big blue/purple hydrangeas in them. I wanted some for myself! She just plucked them off of a big hydrangea bush in front of her apartment complex. So, I did too. Free beautiful flowers and spending time with good friends...they make me so happy!

Cheap Jewelry!

2009-06-12T12:36:00.000-07:00

One of my guilty little pleasures is to sneak past all of the 13 year old girls in Forever 21 and buy some cheap cute jewelry. I tend to break everything and change my taste every five minutes, so cheap jewelry is for me!

From Top: Lina Laser Cut Earrings $3.80

Lacquered Leaf Dangle Earrings $4.80

Song Bird Pendant $5.80

Alive! by Nature's Way

2009-05-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

I have been searching for a multi-vitamin that actually seems like it is worth buying/ingesting. I recently had lunch with a friend who told me an amazing story.

She has encountered medical issues her entire life. One of her doctors appointments revealed that she had a polyp (don't quote me on the medical stuff...I'm an interior designer, not a doctor) in her colon an inch or so big. She began taking Juice Plus pills and two months later when they went in to remove a portion of her intestine, the polyp was nearly GONE! The surgery was much less invasive and had a much shorter recovery time.

So, I began doing research on Juice Plus and other similar vitamins. Juice Plus is pretty expensive (about $40 per month). I can't afford that, but would LOVE to have these great benefits. I found a great alternative...Alive! by Nature's Way (about $7 per month). It contains fruit concentrates and vegetable concentrates just like Juice Plus, but also contains multi-vitamin, mushrooms, Omega 3, and a digestive enzyme.

I found the best prices for Alive! online at THIS website.

Best Bargains!! Pearl River

2009-05-21T08:40:00.001-07:00

I thought I would share a favorite website. I love a good bargain, and I love things that you can't just buy anywhere. For years I have been shopping at PearlRiver.com. It's a great place for a fun gift, party decor, kitchenware, and tons of paper lanterns.

There is literally something for everyone, and you will find ten things you want that you never knew you needed!!

Images Top to Bottom: Multi-Color Feather Butterfly Garland ($9.50)

Plastic Cosmetic Bag ($4.25)

Little Tiger Head Shoes for Baby ($9.50)

Visit the NOVA BOUTIQUE

2009-05-20T09:12:00.000-07:00

My beautiful friend Sarah makes beautiful earrings! I have many many pairs of earrings that she has made for me. Visit her shop on Etsy. Everything is handmade, and great prices!

NOVA BOUTIQUE http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6480150

You have to buy these anyway....so buy the cute ones!

2009-05-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

As you probably heard, postage has gone up AGAIN, to $0.44. The only way the have sweetened the deal is to put out the most adorable King & Queen stamps.

You have to buy them anyway...so buy the cute ones.

CLICK HERE to go to the USPS.com Website

Etsy is my Favorite Website - feat. LUCKY FIONA

2009-05-20T08:42:00.001-07:00

Etsy.com is a great place to get great finds that are all handmade or vintage. I was recently in the market for a new collar for my cat, Katrina Beans. Nothing was cute enough for her...she doesn't need to glow in the dark or wear rhinestones. I went to Etsy and came across the BEST COLLARS for cats and dogs, also dog leashes.

Click here to visit LUCKY FIONA's Etsy Shop

Feeling Crafty?

2009-04-24T12:59:00.000-07:00

I discovered this great website - Creative Park - where you can print pages on your printer at home and make oragami, stationary, cards, zoo animals, calendars, scrapbooking patterns and a billion other things. Best part, it's all free!

Check out Creative Park at: http://cp.c-ij.com/en/index.html

Photo Booth!

2009-04-24T12:49:00.001-07:00

Every time you see a photo booth...jump in a start making faces! Have you ever seen someone frowning in a photo booth picture?

Simple Pleasures on the Cheap II

2009-04-24T12:42:00.001-07:00

Trader Joes is my favorite little store. I feel like I'm indulging by not going to Kroger, and their prices are unmatchable on certain items. Two of my favorite things:

1. Two Buck Chuck!! Charles Shaw Wine - I might love it too much.

2. Spray Roses - $3.99 for a good sized bundle and they look beautiful for about a week or more. My go to for flowers if I am having a cocktail party, or just to treat myself.

Simple Pleasures on the Cheap!

2009-04-24T12:31:00.000-07:00

Grow herbs. I recently took a trip to Lowe's for nothing more than to get a key made. I ended up coming home with many beautiful plants. Growing your own herb garden is a satisfying way to get your hands dirty in the spring.

I chose boxwood basil (smaller leaves than typical sweet basil, but a lovely flavor and scent), banana peppers, jalapeno peppers, catnip and cilantro. Pots, soil and plants all cost about $30. And now I have a beautiful little garden growing on my balcony.

It's SOOO much cheaper to do it this way than to buy fresh herbs at the grocery. Also, a great way to keep bugs off of your plants is to create a homemade insecticide.

Insecticide Recipe:

a squirt of dish soap

a squirt of vegetable oil

a squirt of peppermint oil

water

Put it on in a spray bottle and coat the leaves with the spray. Seems to keep the bugs away just fine so far! And it's nearly free because you can make it with things you probably have around the house.

A Sleepy Little Owl

2009-04-14T14:22:00.000-07:00

I have way too much time on my hands these days, but I decided to start making stuffed animals. Maybe I could sell them in local shops or make an Etsy.com shop? This is one of my trial animals. A sleepy little owl.

Free Magazine Subscription to Metropolitan Home!

2009-04-14T14:13:00.000-07:00

Check this out....

Rewards Gold is the best freebie site for magazines. They put out offers every few weeks, all you have to do is fill out a short survey and refer a friend to the offer. Then, in about a 4-6 weeks you get the magazine subscription in the mail. No credit card info, pretty legit, right?

This month's freebies include Forbes Magazine, Latina, and Metropolitan Home. Yay!

and read this book to them.....

2009-04-13T14:27:00.001-07:00

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

Who couldn't use a trip to the town of Chewandswallow??

G E T B A C K T O Y O U R R O O T S

2009-04-13T14:24:00.001-07:00

I have found that the best way for me to make some quick (un-taxed) cash is to BABYSIT. We did it when we were 15, why not now??