Buttons and Bows

CVS and Walgreens Haul 3/4

2012-03-04T08:18:00.002-08:00

Happy March!

2012-03-02T07:44:00.002-08:00

Got my St. Patrick's Day decoration up right on time this year! The lucky sign was a gift from my sister in law and I finished it with a bow to make it a door decoration!

Davy Jones 1945-2012

2012-03-01T14:25:00.000-08:00

SO SO SO sad to hear the news about Davy yesterday :( I've been listening to my Monkees albums non stop since. Saw this quote in one of the articles I read and thought it was perfect.

"Millions of women are mourning Davy's death today. He represented the sweet, twinkly eyed dream boy we all wanted to marry. Snooki represents much that is wrong with our culture today. So ironically, on the same day we hear of the death of a star from an innocent time and the pregnancy of a girl that wouldn't know innocence if it slapped her in the face."

CVS, Walgreens and Target Haul 2/26

2012-02-26T08:35:00.000-08:00

Walgreens and CVS Haul 2/19

2012-02-19T09:00:00.002-08:00

Valentine's Day Cherry Pie Pops!

2012-02-14T18:52:00.000-08:00

Inspired by this post, I tried out Cherry Pie Pops! These were so easy to make and they tasted great! I opted to use food color spray to give the hearts the red color! Ta Da!

Valentine's Day Fudge!

2012-02-14T18:13:00.000-08:00

This is the easiest fudge to make. EVER. Why? It only has 2 ingredients! White Chocolate chips and Strawberry frosting. I followed the tutorial here. It says that you can microwave the chocolate, which is what I did, but I would NOT recommend it. I nearly burnt all the chocolate and ruined the whole thing. So I would stick to melting it over boiling water. It didn't turn out as pretty as I would have liked but it was my first attempt! Anyway, here is the finished product!

CVS and Walgreens Haul 2/12

2012-02-12T13:18:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day Wreath!

2012-02-11T15:39:00.000-08:00

I was so excited to make my first REAL wreath for Valentine's Day! I chose to make my wreath with red and pink fleece fabric. I also found this heart decoration to add to the wreath! I followed this tutorial for the wreath and added a few things of my own!

All the fabric cut! This was the most time consuming part.

This is the wreath done before I added the ribbon and hung it on the door! I was really happy about how it came out!

All Finished! I think my first wreath was a success!

What I used:
2 yards of fabric $5.99 each (40% off)
Heart Decoration
Styrofoam wreath
Ribbon

Walgreens Haul 2/5

2012-02-06T08:22:00.001-08:00

Valentine's Day Paper Flowers!

2012-02-03T10:52:00.000-08:00

I've always loved paper flowers, so this is my first simple attempt. I think they turned out pretty well and they'll last a lot longer than real flowers!

This is what the finished product looked like

The flowers themselves were made from scrapbook paper and Valentine's Day tissue paper. The purple and red scrapbook paper were cut with my pattern scissors into circles. The heart tissue paper was cut into squares (2 for each flower) and then the corners where alternated to kinda make a pin wheel look.

The steams of the flowers were made from tightly wrapped brown scrapbook paper, at three different lengths. A small hole was cut in the middle of all the pieces and my ribbon was thread through and around the paper steam to make a bow in the front of the flower.

The vase that I put them in was weighed down with decorative marbles just to make sure the flowers stayed in the position they were placed in.

I finished it off with a bow and done! :)

Craft Away!

Ashley

Valentine's Day Printables!

2012-02-01T19:46:00.000-08:00

As promised, here is the first of my Valentine's Day crafts. Want an easy and inexpensive way to decorate your home for Valentine's Day? There are TONS of free printable decorations out there that you can use. The first set of printables are going to be the center of my Valentine's Day display. These conversation candy printables are colorful and can be printed in several sizes!

The second printable that I'm using to decorate is a subway art printable. I liked that this one combined words and images, unlike a lot of the Subway art I've seen out there!

You can find these printables here!
http://bunchofcraft.blogspot.com/2011/01/valentines-subway-art.html (subway art)
http://www.iheartnaptime.net/printable-valentine/ (conversation candies)

Thats all for tonight! Watch out for another post coming tomorrow!

Craft Away!
Ashley

Valentine's Day Crafts!

2012-02-01T08:55:00.001-08:00

I've started on my Valentine's Day crafts for the house! In the next few days/weeks I will be posting the following crafts I've made!

- Valentine's Day wreath
- Valentine's Day food goodies
- Valentine's Day paper flowers

This is just a little preview of what I'll be posting in the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day! Look for my first post later this evening!

Craft Away!
Ashley

Target, Walmart, Walgreens and CVS 1/29

2012-01-30T17:33:00.001-08:00

CVS and Walgreens Haul 1/22

2012-01-22T08:56:00.000-08:00

FREE Lotion at Bath & Body Works

2012-01-22T07:02:00.001-08:00

There is a coupon on Bath & Body Works Facebook that you can use to get a 2 FL OZ bottle of their new sent Pink Chiffon for FREE.

This sent doesn't come out until February, but you have a chance to score it for free now!

Today is the last day, so hurry up!

My craft area!

2012-01-18T19:10:00.001-08:00

My craft area is finally getting under way! This is just the bare bones of it and I can't wait to make it look even better!!

Freebies! 1/15

2012-01-17T19:38:00.000-08:00

Target, Walgreens, Walmart and CVS 1/15

2012-01-17T19:22:00.000-08:00

Office Depot Haul 1/10

2012-01-11T09:36:00.000-08:00

Target, Walgreens, CVS & Walmart Haul 1/8

2012-01-11T09:19:00.000-08:00

Target, Walgreens, CVS and Walmart Haul 1/1

2012-01-01T16:22:00.000-08:00

I actually got everything for $18 not $19 like I said in the video, due to a miscalculation! :)

And, just a little tip if you don't have Facebook and you still want the coupons. Just borrow a family members account to print them, like I do :) With permission of course!

Target and CVS Haul 12/18

2011-12-18T08:20:00.000-08:00

FREE French Fries at Burger King Today!

2011-12-16T06:31:00.001-08:00

Burger King is offering a free 'Value size french fry' to each customer today (Dec. 16th). This to show case the new French fry recipe that they are launching today! The fries have 20% less sodium and are cooked in trans-fat free vegetable oil. The best part? No animal products!

So if you're passing a Burger King today, stop and get a snack!

FREE Cupcake for National Cupcake Day!

2011-12-13T15:07:00.000-08:00

As a huge fan of cupcakes, I'm so excited for this!

MaggieMoo's and Marble Slab Creamery are offering FREE ice cream cupcakes on December 15th, National Cupcake Day!

Visit Marble Slab or MaggieMoo's for a location near you!

CVS, Walgreens and Bath & Body Works Haul 12/11

2011-12-12T13:44:00.000-08:00

Sorry, the Combos are from CVS not Walgreens like I said in the video!

Great Bath and Body Works Coupon!

2011-12-09T09:33:00.000-08:00

Bath and Body works has a great printable coupon that can be used online and in store.

This is how the deal works:
If you spend $10.00 or more at Bath and Body Works and you can choose a a FREE item of your choose. The great part is that the item can be up to a $13.00 value! I took advantage of this coupon last night and got some great stuff! I'll share it all in the Sunday Haul video!

Click Here to get the coupon!

Halloween Treat Display

2011-12-08T20:30:00.000-08:00

I know this is super late but it's the only craft I have left to post from Halloween! I made this and took it into work and it was a big hit! This could be refinished to go with any holiday or event!

This is the Black paint I picked up from Jo Ann Etc. (w/ a coupon). I almost didn't have enough, but it got the job done and I was happy with the paint.

For the base of the display, I got this Styrofoam wreath (originally white) and it is pictured above, painted.

I got the spider web from the dollar store and secured it to the wreath with this purple ribbon. I think the ribbon goes great with the orange from the chocolate covered smores (Remember these from the treat buckets?)

I loved the way it turned out and anyone seemed to really enjoy it!

Craft Away!
Ashley

RIP John Lennon - December 8th, 1980

2011-12-08T08:24:00.001-08:00

My Starbucks Rewards Card!

2011-12-08T07:14:00.000-08:00

I try and stay away from Starbucks because I don't like coffee and I think it's WAY too expensive. There are a few cold drinks that I like there, but it is rare that I will get something. My husband on the other hand, loves his Starbucks and though he doesn't go overboard, he feels bad splurging on it.

The Starbucks Rewards Card is something that will make Starbucks a little more affordable! We're going to sign up today! So we can start saving on the little treat that is Starbucks. The best part? Membership is FREE!

Here is how it works according to Starbucks.com:

Make Every Visit Count

The more you come in to Starbucks, the more we’ll reward you.
We want to say “thanks” for coming into our stores and using a registered Starbucks Card. With My Starbucks Rewards, you'll earn 1 Star every time you pay with your Card. And as you collect Stars, you move up to bigger benefits.
Signing up is easy. If you’re already a Starbucks Card Rewards or registered Starbucks Gold cardholder, you're in. If not, then all you need to do is register a Starbucks Card or Starbucks Gold Card.

Welcome Level

Your rewards start from the moment you join by registering your Starbucks Card – and membership is free.

Free Birthday Beverage
All registered Starbucks Card holders get a handcrafted beverage of their choice on their birthday. My Starbucks Rewards will make you feel special all year long, but for this one day you’re extra special.

Green Level

Once you’ve earned 5 Stars, you advance to the Green level. All current Starbucks Card Reward members will automatically be enrolled at this level. You get all Welcome level rewards plus:

Free Select Syrups and Milk
Purchase any beverage on the menu with your registered Starbucks Card at a participating store and you can get select syrup and milk options on the house.
Free Refills on Brewed Coffee or Tea
When you’re at Starbucks you feel at home. Paying with your registered Starbucks Card gets you brewed or iced coffee or tea refills at no charge during the same visit to a participating store.
Free Beverage with Whole Bean Purchase
Get more coffee with your coffee. When you use your registered Starbucks Card to buy 1 lb of whole bean coffee at a participating store, we’ll give you a handcrafted Tall (12 fl oz) beverage of your choice.
Free Trial Offers
We'll make sure you're "in the know" when it comes to new products we're introducing in our coffeehouses.

Gold Level

Collect 30 Stars within 12 months and you step up to the benefits of Gold level for one year. And another 30 keeps you Gold for the following year. You get all Welcome and Green level rewards plus:

Free Drink Every 15 Stars
We want to give you more of what you love. So at the Gold level, you get a free beverage with every 15 Stars you collect.
Personalized Gold Card
We'll send you a special Starbucks Card that recognizes you are one of our favorite customers.
Personalized Offers and Coupons
We want to make sure every experience you have at Starbucks is a great one. So we’ll send you special offers tailored just to the things you like to enjoy.

Currently Loving: Boardwalk Empire

2011-12-04T19:14:00.000-08:00

I am going to start a new "segment" if you will, here at Buttons and Bows. Things I'm currently loving! And we're starting with Boardwalk Empire!

Thanks to HBO GO, Matt and I have started watching this show and we are both hooked.

I've always liked Steve Buscemi, but he is excellent in this show. I love the style and everything about this show which is set in the 1920's. It's EPIC!

Me from A to Z..

2011-12-04T17:56:00.000-08:00

A   If you were an ANIMAL, what would you be?
Being an animal love this is hard to answer.... I'll have to say an Otter.

B   BOOKS: What's on your reading list?
I'm currently reading the complete novels of the Bronte Sisters

C   COMPULSIVE about anything?
Where items belong and the toilet seat being left up.

D   DREAMS - Do you ... dream in color? remember your dreams? keep a dream journal?
I usually remember my dreams after waking, but my the time I'm out of the shower most of them are forgotten. My dreams are extremely vivid.

E   EATING - what's your usual snack?
Tomatoes, Fruits, Veggies

F   A Few of your FAVORITE Things
Christmas Lights, Gourmet dog treats (not for me) and Miniature things

G   GIGGLES! What (or who) makes you laugh? Do you have a good sense of humor?
I think it's really important to be able to laugh at yourself. And when they say if you don't laugh, you cry.. it's true!

H   major HOT Button:
If you mean something that makes me mad then... ignorance.

I   I am ______________
I am growing up.

K   Also KNOWN As... Aliases? Screen names? A non de plume perhaps?
Ashley Heider, Ash, Heider, Ashers, Von Heider

L   I LOVE ...
I love Matt

M   How do you feel about MEETING people? Do it all the time? Rarely? Parties or 1-on-1?
I like meeting people one on one. I'm not a big party person, mostly a home body.

N   What's the story of your NAME? were you named after anyone? Do you go by a nickname? Any aliases?
I was named after the character Ashley from Gone with the Wind. I go by Ashley, Ash and Heider

O   OBSERVANT - What's around you right now? What do you see?
Matt trying to get Boardwalk Empire streaming to our TV, our candy themed Christmas Tree and my Penny Lane sleeping in her green sweater.

P   Who are the special PEOPLE in your life?
The ones you don't hurt me.

Q   Any Little QUIRKs About Yourself:
I'm sure I have them but you'd have to ask someone else.

R   What do you like to do for RECREATION?
Reading, Couponing and bike riding

S   Do You SING in the Shower? In the car? For your friends?
I mostly sing in the car, I have a 2 hour commute around trip for work everyday so it helps pass the time.

T   What's at the Top of your TO DO list?:
Write some letters and get my Christmas Cards in the mail.

U   Any UNUSUAL Experiences:
HA! My whole life is an unusual experience.

V   VEGAS, Vienna, Venice, Vladivostok... How far have you traveled? What's your favorite City?
The farthest I've traveled is Rome, Italy. I would say my favorite city I have visited is London, England.

W   WINTER, Spring, Summer, Fall... What's your favorite season? What makes it special?
I live in ORLANDO, it's pretty much Summer/Spring all year around and I love it!

X   EXes - Things You Don't Do Anymore (but did, once (would you, again?))
Eat meat. Never again.

Y   Any secret/deep YEARNINGS?
Up for publishing on my blog? Naw.

Z   ZERO to ZENITH - Where are you in your life? Still growing? On an upward (or downward) curve? Just skating along?
I wish I knew.

Target, Walgreens and CVS Haul 12/4

2011-12-04T17:08:00.000-08:00

CVS and Walgreens Haul 11/28

2011-11-29T07:54:00.001-08:00

CVS Haul 11/24 BLACK FRIDAY PART 2

2011-11-25T07:09:00.002-08:00

Walgreens Haul 11/24 BLACK FRIDAY PART 1

2011-11-25T07:09:00.000-08:00

Walmart, CVS and Walgreens Haul 11/20

2011-11-20T16:51:00.000-08:00

Big Savings! Old Navy Super Cash!

2011-11-19T07:46:00.001-08:00

When my In-Laws were visiting us, we had a surprise shopping spree at Old Navy. At that time, for every $60.00 you spent you got Super Cash for $30.00. We split up our transactions and ended up getting quite a few of these. They are redeemable from November 17th to November 22nd. So, we'll spend $90.00 out of pocket and get $180.00 worth of clothes! Not bad!

Plus, if their Clearance section is packed I'll be able to get this Super Cash to stretch even further!

If you received some in the past few weeks, don't forget to redeem them!

Walgreens, CVS, Target and Walmart Haul 11/13

2011-11-16T07:13:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! No video on Sunday because the ads had nothing this week! What a bummer! Luckily, Monday and Tuesday brought some good deals and some Money Makers! I'll be picking up a few things from Walmart on the way home today so I'll include those in this Sunday's video! :) Enjoy!

Ashley

Top 10 Reasons Not to Eat Turkeys

2011-11-10T12:15:00.000-08:00

With Thanksgiving coming up I thought it would be helpful to post this article about why you should consider having a cruelty free Thanksgiving. It breaks my heart to think of how many Turkeys and other animals are being slaughtered right now to end up on dinner tables for Thanksgiving Day. You can do something to help them.

"Pardon me, pilgrim! This Thanksgiving, how about ditching the dead bird? These beautiful, inquisitive, intelligent birds endure lives of suffering and painful deaths. Here are 10 good reasons to carve out a new tradition by flocking to vegetarian entrées, thankfully, none of them require stuffing food up anyone's behind.

1. They're Begging Your Pardon
Turkeys are “smart animals with personality and character, and keen awareness of their surroundings,” Oregon State University poultry scientist Tom Savage says. Turkeys are social, playful birds who enjoy the company of others. They relish having their feathers stroked and like to chirp, cluck, and gobble along to their favorite tunes. Anyone who spends time with them at farm sanctuaries quickly learns that turkeys are as varied in personality as dogs and cats. The president “pardons” a turkey every year—can't you pardon one too?

2. Get Rid of Your Wattle
Turkey flesh is brimming with fat. Just one homemade patty of ground, cooked turkey meat contains a whopping 244 mg of cholesterol, and half of its calories come from fat. Research has shown that vegetarians are 50 percent less likely to develop heart disease, and they have 40 percent of the cancer rate of meat-eaters. Plus, meat-eaters are nine times more likely to be obese than vegans are.

3. Can You Spell ‘Pandemic’?
Experts are warning that a virulent new strain of bird flu could spread to human beings and kill millions of Americans. Current factory-farm conditions, in which turkeys are drugged up and bred to grow so quickly they can barely walk, are a prescription for disease outbreaks. Eating a turkey carcass contaminated with bird flu could kill you, and currently available drugs might not work. Cooking should kill the virus, but it could be left behind on cutting boards and utensils and spread through something else you're eating.

4. Recall Process Doesn't Fly
The U.S. government is the only government in the Western world that does not have the power to recall contaminated animal products. Instead, American consumers must trust the profit-hungry meat, dairy, and egg industries to decide when recalls are necessary. Dan Glickman, secretary of agriculture under President Bill Clinton, explained that this limit on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) power to protect consumers from tainted animal products is “one of the biggest loopholes out there.” There are all sorts of killer bacteria found in turkey flesh, including salmonella and campylobacter. The Center for Science in the Public Interest found that 28 percent of fresh turkeys were contaminated with bacteria, primarily with campylobacter, for which the USDA does not even require testing.

5. Let the Turkeys Give Thanks!
Let's face it: If you're eating a turkey, that's a corpse you've got there on the table, and if you don't eat it quickly enough, it will decompose. Is that really what we want as the centerpiece of a holiday meal: an animal's dead and decaying carcass? Thanksgiving is a time to take stock of our lives and give thanks for all that we have, so why not let the turkeys give thanks too?

6. Want Stuffing With Your Supergerms?
Dosing turkeys with antibiotics to stimulate their growth and to keep them alive in filthy, disease-ridden conditions that would otherwise kill them poses even more risks for people who eat them. Leading health organizations—including the World Health Organization, the American Medical Association, and the American Public Health Association—have warned that by giving powerful drugs (via animal products) to humans who are not sick, the farmed-animal industry is creating possible long-term risks to human health and will spread antibiotic-resistant supergerms. That's why the use of drugs to promote growth in animals used for food has been banned for many years in Europe.

7. Without a Wing and a Prayer
On factory farms, turkeys live for months in sheds where they are packed so tightly that flapping a wing or stretching a leg is nearly impossible. They stand in waste, and urine and ammonia fumes burn their eyes and lungs. At the slaughterhouse, turkeys have their throats slit while they are still conscious. Those who miss the automated knife are scalded to death in the defeathering tank.

8. Foul Farming
Anyone who has driven by a farm has probably smelled it first from a mile away. Turkeys and other animals raised for food produce 130 times as much excrement as the entire U.S. human population—all without the benefit of waste treatment systems. There are no federal guidelines to regulate how factory farms treat, store, and dispose of the trillions of pounds of concentrated, untreated animal excrement that they produce each year.

9. Blood, Sweat, and Fear
Killing animals is inherently dangerous work, but the fast line speeds, the dirty, slippery killing floors, and the lack of training make animal-processing plants some of the most dangerous places to work in America today. The industry has refused to slow down the lines or buy appropriate safety gear because these changes could cut into companies’ bottom lines. In its 185-page exposé on worker exploitation by the farmed-animal industry, “Blood, Sweat, and Fear: Workers’ Rights in U.S. Meat and Poultry Plants,” Human Rights Watch explains, ‘These are not occasional lapses by employers paying insufficient attention to modern human resources management policies. These are systematic human rights violations embedded in meat and poultry industry employment.”

10. A Cornucopia of Turkey Alternatives
Tofurky Deli Slices. Give animals and yourself something to be really thankful for this year!"

Information and image from PETA

Target, CVS and Walgreens Haul 11/6

2011-11-06T10:45:00.000-08:00

Enjoy!

URGENT ACTION: 2nd Horse Collapses in Midtown!

2011-11-04T20:41:00.000-07:00

I have just gotten word that another carriage horse has collapsed in NYC tonight. This is what ny-class.org had to say on the horrible event.

"Tonight a second horse in less than two weeks collapsed in Midtown Manhattan. If it weren't for a brave NYCLASS supporter who whipped out her camera phone, took video and pictures and called us, no one would have known about it!
We rely on you - the public - to be the eyes and ears for the horses.
Grab your phone and add our number now, so if you see something you can report horse abuse anytime, anyplace:
(212) 626-6991
Help for the horses comes from you, and it can be just a phone call away. 212-626-6991
Thanks for being a Horse Hero,
Carly Marie Knudson
Executive Director, NYCLASS"

Don't know much about how carriage horses are treated in NYC? Watch this video to find out and take a stand!

Please visit ny-class.org to help save these horses lives!

Ashley

Shows I watch and think you should too!

2011-11-04T20:13:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd share some the TV shows I'm currently watching, and maybe you'll see something you're interested in!

Downton Abbey - Currently on it's 2nd season
Downton Abbey is a British television period drama series, produced by British media company Carnival Films for the ITV network. The series is set during the late Edwardian era (after Edward VII's death) and the First World War in the fictional estate of Downton Abbey in Yorkshire, and features an ensemble cast.

I have ALWAYS loved everything"Period" Film and Literature. Downton Abbey has everything in it that I love about that time period. It's an amazing show and I look forward to every episode!

Terra Nova - Currently on it's 1st season
Terra Nova is an American science fiction drama television series that airs on Fox on Monday nights. It premiered September 26, 2011 with a one-and-a-half-hour episode. It follows the Shannon family as they go 85 million years into the past to save humanity.

I started watching Terra Nova out of shear boredom and because it did sound very interesting in a Jurassic Park sort of way. If you liked LOST, I would give Terra Nova a watch. Unlike Downton Abbey, I'm not DIEING to see the next episode but it still keeps me coming back and as more secrets of Terra Nova unravel, it starts getting more interesting.

Misfits - Currently on it's 3rd season
Misfits is a British science fiction comedy-drama television series about a group of young offenders forced to work in a community service programme, where they obtain supernatural powers after a strange electrical storm.

One of the funniest shows I have ever seen in my life. You watch the first episode and you cannot stop watching it until you've seen the them. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll have a lifetime supply of one liners courtesy of Nathan Young.

Desperate Housewives - On it's 8th and final season
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series. The setting of the show is the street of Wisteria Lane in the fictional American town of Fairview in the Eagle State. It follows the lives of a group of women, seen through the eyes of their dead neighbor. They work through domestic struggles and family life, while facing the secrets, crimes and mysteries hidden behind the doors of their—at the surface—beautiful and seemingly perfect suburban neighborhood.

Desperate Housewives has been one of my favorites for years. It just so crazy you can't stop watching. Some of the seasons were better than most but with this being the final season, everything is up for grabs and I'm excited to see how it all ends.

The IT Crowd - Currently on it's 5th season
The IT Crowd is a British sitcom by Channel 4. Set in the London offices of the fictional corporation Reynholm Industries, the show revolves around the three staff members of its IT department, comprising two geeky technicians, a genius named Maurice Moss (Ayoade) and the workshy Roy Trenneman (O'Dowd), headed by Jen Barber (Parkinson), the department's 'Relationship Manager' who knows nothing about IT. The show also focuses on the bosses of Reynholm Industries: Denholm Reynholm (Chris Morris) and his son Douglas (Berry).

The IT Crowd is show with simple sets and story lines but it is absolutely hilarious. One of my favorite shows!!!

Target, CVS and Walgreens Haul 11/4

2011-11-04T17:23:00.000-07:00

As seeing that I wasn't prepared in my video with totals, here they are.

I spent $8.41 for $34.20 worth of product! So I saved 25.79!

Halloween Treat Buckets

2011-11-03T07:32:00.000-07:00

I wanted to make something special for some of the kids I know for Halloween. This is what I came up with and I think they turned out pretty good!

I made little bags of Candy Corn to put on the top of the Treat Buckets

The different candy that I used to fill the buckets

In the last few weeks, I've needed a few filler items, so I picked up these cute Halloween pencils to include in the buckets for the kids that are in school.

This is what the finished product looks like. It's filled with candy and candy corn topped with a decorated Halloween Chocolate Covered S'more. I'll definitely be doing these again next year. The kids loved them!

Now let's get down to the nitty gritty. How much this cost me to make:

Halloween themed buckets - $4.00 at Target ($1.00 each)

Orange plastic paper - $0 (on hand)

The candy - About $2.00 for all the candy I used to fill the buckets (got all of them with great coupons!)

Halloween Pencils - .50 for both

Halloween Chocolate Covered S'mores - .36 for both (.18 each) I will post the tutorial I used to make these with my next blog!

Orange Ribbon - $1.00 on sale
Plastic Wrap -$0 (on hand)

Total Cost - 7.86 (1.96 each)

Craft Away!

Ashley

CVS and Walgreens Haul 10/30

2011-10-30T18:31:00.000-07:00

Sorry no video this week but here are the deals I got at CVS and Walgreens! There are a few things I might pick up up later this week! :)

The Dentek Floss picks were a deal from last week but this is how it went:

Dentek Floss picks on sale 2/4.00

Buy 2, get 2.00 RR

I had two coupons for 1.50 off

----------

I paid 1.00 out of pocket and got 2.00 RR

----------

FINAL PRICE - 1.00 MONEY MAKER! :)

This weeks deals!

Walgreens

Ricola Dual Action Cough Drops (Cherry) on sale for 2.00

Get 2.00 RR

-----

Paid 2.00 out of pocket, got 2.00 RR

-----

FINAL PRICE - FREE

Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste on sale for 2/7.00

Had 1.00 of coupon and a .75 off coupon

Buy 2, get 5.00 RR

------

Paid 5.25 out of pocket, got 5.00 RR

------

FINAL PRICE - .25 for both

Nivea Body Wash on sale for 3.99

Had 1.00 off coupon from 10/30 paper

Buy 1, get 2.00 RR

-----

Paid 2.99 out of pocket, got 2.00 RR

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FINAL PRICE - .99

Pantene Hair Care on sale 2/7.00

Had a 3.00/2 coupon from the paper

Buy 2, get 2.00 RR

-----

Paid 4.00 out of pocket, got 2.00 RR

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FINAL PRICE - 1.00 Each

Mars fun size candy on sale for 2.49

Had a 1.50 off coupon

Buy 1, get .50 RR

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Paid .99, got .50 RR

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FINAL PRICE - .49

Dawn Dish Liquid on sale for .99

Had .50 off coupon from 10/30 paper

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FINAL PRICE - .49

CVS

Usually, I would not have went for this deal but we use two Brita pitchers everyday in my house, so this was a great deal for me.

Brita Pitcher Filters 3 pack 14.99

Buy 1, get 5.00 EB

Had a 2.00/1 brita filter coupon

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Paid 12.99, got 5.00 EB

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FINAL PRICE - 7.99

TOTAL SPENT: 12.21 FOR 42.46 worth of product! Not bad!

CVS and Walgreens Haul 10/23

2011-10-24T08:09:00.000-07:00

A few good deals and freebies this week!
Enjoy!
Ashley

My new morning ritual

2011-10-19T12:11:00.000-07:00

I love being able to get up, and greet a wonderful new day. I suggest creating a morning ritual that includes saying thanks for your blessings. I’m inspired by the Dalai Lama, who said, ” Everyday, think as you wake up, ‘today I am fortunate to have woken up, I am alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others, to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others, I am going to benefit others as much as I can.’ "

-Zen Habits

Target, CVS and Walgreens Haul 10/16

2011-10-16T11:27:00.000-07:00

I think I might have found a nice little deal at Walmart for Shaving Gel, so I might pick that up this week, but other than that I think I'm DONE!

Enjoy!
Ashley

LEGOLAND Florida

2011-10-14T05:25:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys! I just wanted to share some of my favorite pictures from my free preview day of LEGOLAND Florida which opens tomorrow, October 15th! In my honest opinion, the mini land was the only thing worth seeing, but this is coming from a 25 year old in a park made for those 2-12 years of age and I think 12 is pushing it. There were many rides that small children would enjoy but nothing for the rest of the family members, which I think could be a problem for them, that and their desolate location. Anyway, here are a few of my favorites!

Enjoy!
Ashley

CVS and Target Haul 10/13/11

2011-10-13T18:11:00.000-07:00

This is my haul for the rest of the week! This stuff is from Target (again) and CVS. I said in the video that a new Target coupon was released, I lied, it was a manufacturer coupon from Listerine. I also said that the Dial soap was 1.88, after extra bucks I paid .88 for it. I'm a babbling fool in this video! haha!

As of this Sunday, I'm going to start getting the Sunday paper, so I'm excited to get all the great coupons in there! Can't wait for the deals coming this next week!

Enjoy!

Ashley

House-o'-Lantern

2011-10-10T18:05:00.000-07:00

Ok, next on the list for my Halloween decorations is the House-o'-Lantern. I followed this tutorial for this project.
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/house-o-lantern-785223/

This is what it looks like from inside the house

This is the effect you get from outside the house.

This is a very fun and cost effective way to decorate the windows of your house for Halloween!

What it cost me:

Cardboard: $0 I had the boxes on hand

Orange plastic table cloth: $1 from the Dollar Tree

TOTAL: $1

Craft Away!

Ashley

My first time couponing!

2011-10-09T12:07:00.000-07:00

Couponing, where have you been all my life!? Today was my first day couponing and I'm addicted. How can you not be addicted to saving money?? Anyway, this is my haul from today. Enjoy!

Ashley

Small Halloween Door Wreath

2011-10-07T18:28:00.000-07:00

I started decorating for Halloween as soon as October hit, so I thought I would share some of the projects I've got around and outside the house for Halloween.

First up is a Small Halloween Door Wreath.

What you'll need:
-A small 9' wreath
-Ribbon (I used wire rimmed)
-Any Halloween themed garland

You take the Garland and wrap it around the wreath until it is completely covered, tucking both ends into the wrapped garland. It's that simple. Use the ribbon to hang it from your door and finish it with a bow. This is what I ended up with.

What It cost me:

The wreath: $1 from Dollar Tree

The ribbon: $1 from Dollar Tree

The Pumpkin garland: I got this last year from Target and I believe it was somewhere around $3. I'm sure you could find some others cheaper than that but I used this one.

Total Craft Cost: $5

This is the first wreath I've made so I hope to get a little more complicated with the ones I make in the future!

Craft Away!

Ashley

Envelope embellishments from old cards

2011-10-06T11:18:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Birthday, Wedding and Graduation cards are more extravagant than ever these days. When I'm cleaning out cards I've been given, I always look for bits and pieces I can keep and use in the future.

Today I sent out a wedding card for a friend back in Ohio. Since I only got married a year ago, I still had all those wedding cards laying around. Many of them had embellishments that were easily removed and could be re-used for lots of other things.

For this envelope, I used a velvet embellishment with a pearl boarder and "i do" written in "diamonds". I used this to cover the back of the envelope in the place of a sticker or seal. It really adds a nice touch to a boring old white envelope, which only takes seconds once you find the right piece to use.

It's simple but has a great impact!

This craft cost me $0 as everything needed was on hand.

Craft Away!

Ashley

Crafting for a cause!

2011-10-04T07:27:00.000-07:00

One of the things I would like to do with my crafts, other than decorating my house and giving them as gifts, is to make them useful to charitable causes. In whichever form it helps someone, if it's the proceeds from a sale or just the thought of receiving something handmade when you're sick, it really betters the whole crafting experience 100 times over when it helps someone.

So, with that said, I have been looking into some charities that specialize in these kinds of things. I've found so many good causes that use crafts and homemade items to help the less fortunate. This one stuck out to me and I'd like to share it.

Love Letters: Random Cards of Kindness, Inc. delivers homemade cards to kids 18 and under with life threatening disease.

"Our goal is to create positive and inspirational homemade cards for children with life-threatening illnesses. We also want our "Love Letters Pen Pals" to inspires others in their community to commit to making a difference through our organization."

http://loveletterscares.org/Home.html

It's such a great cause and I cant wait to get started!

As soon as I get some better pictures of the crafts I have made so far I'll be posting some craft specific entries!

Craft Away!
Ashley

A crafty start.

2011-10-03T13:55:00.000-07:00

The major function of this blog is to kind of keep track of the crafts I am making and how cheaply I can make them.

I am new to the crafting world and I would like to see my improvement as I hopefully become more skilled over time. I think that making something with your own hands as home decor, a gift, or otherwise is much more rewarding than just buying something off a self and that is something i want more in my life. It excites me to see something I can make that would be useful to me or someone I know. This is something I would really like to explore further and I think this blog will help me.

I have a small craft area that is still a work in process with many found objects. I find or buy things cheaply to stock up my craft area. I see so many people spending so much money on crafting supplies and though I will indulge myself I'm sure, the challenge of crafting that I like so much is to make something cheaper and more creative than I could have bought.

So I will be posting all the crafts I have made and the cost it took to complete it. If it is from a tutorial, I will post it as well so other can see the steps and instructions.

Craft Away!
Ashley

Buttons and Bows

CVS and Walgreens Haul 3/4

Happy March!

Davy Jones 1945-2012

CVS, Walgreens and Target Haul 2/26

Walgreens and CVS Haul 2/19

Valentine's Day Cherry Pie Pops!

Valentine's Day Fudge!

CVS and Walgreens Haul 2/12

Valentine's Day Wreath!

Walgreens Haul 2/5

Valentine's Day Paper Flowers!

Valentine's Day Printables!

Valentine's Day Crafts!

Target, Walmart, Walgreens and CVS 1/29

CVS and Walgreens Haul 1/22

FREE Lotion at Bath & Body Works

My craft area!

Freebies! 1/15

Target, Walgreens, Walmart and CVS 1/15

Office Depot Haul 1/10

Target, Walgreens, CVS & Walmart Haul 1/8

Target, Walgreens, CVS and Walmart Haul 1/1

Target and CVS Haul 12/18

FREE French Fries at Burger King Today!

FREE Cupcake for National Cupcake Day!

CVS, Walgreens and Bath & Body Works Haul 12/11

Great Bath and Body Works Coupon!

Halloween Treat Display

RIP John Lennon - December 8th, 1980

My Starbucks Rewards Card!

Make Every Visit Count

Welcome Level

Free Birthday Beverage

Green Level

Free Select Syrups and Milk

Free Refills on Brewed Coffee or Tea

Free Beverage with Whole Bean Purchase

Free Trial Offers

Gold Level

Free Drink Every 15 Stars

Personalized Gold Card

Personalized Offers and Coupons

Currently Loving: Boardwalk Empire

Me from A to Z..

Target, Walgreens and CVS Haul 12/4

CVS and Walgreens Haul 11/28

CVS Haul 11/24 BLACK FRIDAY PART 2

Walgreens Haul 11/24 BLACK FRIDAY PART 1

Walmart, CVS and Walgreens Haul 11/20

Big Savings! Old Navy Super Cash!

Walgreens, CVS, Target and Walmart Haul 11/13

Top 10 Reasons Not to Eat Turkeys

Target, CVS and Walgreens Haul 11/6

URGENT ACTION: 2nd Horse Collapses in Midtown!

Shows I watch and think you should too!

Target, CVS and Walgreens Haul 11/4

Halloween Treat Buckets

CVS and Walgreens Haul 10/30

CVS and Walgreens Haul 10/23

My new morning ritual

Target, CVS and Walgreens Haul 10/16

LEGOLAND Florida

CVS and Target Haul 10/13/11

House-o'-Lantern

My first time couponing!

Small Halloween Door Wreath

Envelope embellishments from old cards

Crafting for a cause!

A crafty start.