Three Cheers For Grocery Rewards

In this economy, every little bit we can do to save money helps. And we do it by putting my boyfriend in charge of the grocery shopping.

He is the greatest grocery shopper ever. He organizes all his coupons, watches for specials, and manages to make the most of Winn-Dixie's rewards card program. I don't know how he does it, I've never been good at that sort of thing.

Look at this receipt for our last gas purchase! We paid just over two dollars for twenty gallons of gas. Yes, you are looking at that receipt correctly, eleven cents per gallon.And he manages to grocery shop in a way that makes this a normal fuel purchase. Granted, I don't drive my car much so we only have to buy gas about every three weeks or so. That gives him more time to build up a good reward amount.

 

When it's my turn to shop, I certainly don't do this as well as he does. If I happen to have a coupon I use it, but I just don't have the talent or patience for organizing them and waiting to match them up to the specials. About the only time I take advantage of the extra "buy this item" gas bonus is when my favorite ice cream is on sale. Yum, ice cream!

What is your favorite money-stretching tip?

Cat

Bracelets

I've made three bracelets already from Shelley Nybakke's Tennis Anyone pattern. You really should give this one a try. These bracelets are quick to make and lots of fun! I only have pictures of two of them, because I haven't taken the third one off my wrist long enough to take pictures of it.

I made this one with blue sapphire Swarovski crystals and silver permanent-finish seed beads.

For the next one, I used Swarovski gold pearls and Miyuki seed beads, but I don't know the color number.

The one I'm wearing has pink Swarovski crystals and pink gold-lined seed beads. I love it! They all look so different too, depending on the beads I use.

What have you been working on lately?

Cat

A-to-Z Blogging Challenge

It's only two weeks until the A-to-Z blogging challenge starts. I'm excited and nervous at the same time.

Anyone who follows my blog knows that I'm a sporadic poster at best.  Will I be able to post every day for a month? I hope so, because this seems like it's really going to be fun.


I wrote down the alphabet letters and I'm writing down topics next to each letter as I think of them, so I'll be somewhat prepared. I haven't thought of anything for "K" yet. Kumihimo? I've never done it and really don't have much of an interest in trying it, but maybe I could show some pictures of other people's beautiful kumihimo projects.

Some people in the group are pre-blogging and scheduling their posts to appear on the proper day. That might be a good idea.  At least that way I know I won't miss a day.

I'm also excited to read some new blogs. We've been encouraged to put a two-letter code by our blog name to denote what type of blog it is. That will make it easier for me to find other craft blogs to read (and get hooked on).

Click on the link in the first sentence if you want to join me in this challenge!

Cat

Happy Day To All!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Hope you will all be enjoying a hearty meal of corned beef and cabbage tonight. I know that's what I'm having for dinner!

Cat

Hair Dangles

I think I said something a few posts ago about the hair dangles that I made.  I've been having a heck of a time trying to get a good picture of them!

This one still isn't the greatest, but I think it's the best I'm going to get.  I made them using colorful hair barrettes, glass beads, and firepolished crystals, with a feather on one and a piece of chain on the other.  They were kind of fun to make, and I'm sure I'll be wearing them, but I don't really think the end product was worth all the effort it took.  They aren't all that expensive at CVS.

Oh, well, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

Cat

Bead Shopping

Tara needed some beading wire, so we decided to take a little trip to the bead store to get her some.  It's always a fun adventure.

Oopsie, I may have gotten a little too adventurous and bought a few things for myself.  Oh, well, I didn't need to eat this week anyway.  :)  Here is a picture of all the loot.  I replenished my stash of 3mm Swarovski bicone crystals, got some seed beads in colors that I don't have, picked up a beautiful dichroic cab to bezel, and there are some tilas (with 4mm crystals to match), twins, tiny drops, and jump rings too.

This is a close-up of the small rectangular glass beads in the center.  I don't know what I'm going to do with them yet, but they were much too pretty to pass up!

Then I just fell in love with this piece of chain.  I'm a sucker for anything shiny, and sterling silver is one of my favorite things.

I told Tara not to even let me go near a bead store again until I've made a few projects with these beads.  I'd better get beading!  I just bought some bracelet patterns from Shelley Nybakke at Sturdy Girl Designs, and they use lots of crystals, so I'm ready.  I'm going to start off with the quick little tennis bracelet so you should be seeing some pictures of completed work soon.

Cat

March Pocket Calendar

I have the March pocket calendar ready to share with you.  Feel free to print it out and use it. The picture on the top is a cute little shamrock that I beaded using brick-stitch and Delica beads.  I even broke out my 24-carat gold Delicas for the outline!  They are so expensive that I have to use them very sparingly, but I like the bit of "pop" that the gold added.  The shamrock pattern was designed by Dana Hill.

Before I post the picture, though, I have to tell you a funny story.  There is one particular post on this blog that even now, long after I've written it, continues to get very many spam comments on it every single day.  Which I then have to delete.   

One of the spammers, by mistake, checked the little box that says "Notify me when new comments are posted" when he posted his spam comment on my blog.  So now he has written me another comment.  He asked if I can change the option he picked, because his email inbox is being deluged with notifications every time a spam comment is written on that post.  HAHAHAHA!!!  I am laughing so hard right now!  I responded that I will look and see if there is a way I can change it for him. 

Actually, I will just delete his comments, that will probably stop the "flood" of emails.  I did find it hilarious that a spammer had to ask me to help stop him from getting spam.  ; ))

Okay, I guess I am easily amused.  Now that you have suffered through that little story, here is the March calendar that I promised you.  Remember to come back and get the calendar for April next month.

Cat