True Confessions of a Cheap Shopaholic!

So I went shopping today..... I know, I know-everyone who knows me is soooo shocked about that! I had a $10 off coupon at JCPenney burning a whole on my desk-it's the coupon for $10 off a $10 purchase or more. Well of course I went with the plan of spending only $10-hey I figure free money!!! So as I look around-I spot this cute glitter tree (Mr. Smith might not be too happy). Original price $19.99.......on sale for 60% off so we are down to $7.99. Need to find something to take me to the $10 mark....... So I find this ornament (more glitter) for $5.99 on sale 60% off $2.40........

Do you feel the suspense in the air? After my coupon and tax of course......my total (it's a bank breaker) came to 41 cents!!!!!!!!!!! My receipt stated that I saved $25.60!!!!! Yeah sometimes I think I am a ROCK STAR!!!!

Moral of this story is.....

1. My children know that's how I shop, on sale and with a coupon.

2. Basically the stores should just give me stuff for free.

3. If you want to shop with me, just be forewarned that I will always find the cheaper bargain and you will pay full price(those of you who have shopped with me will know who I am talking about).

4. I will get in trouble for this post because Mr. Smith has no clue what I did today and now I just posted it. STINK!!!

I am participating in A Soft Place To Land's DIY Day!

Shabby Parisian White Christmas Continued....

So it's getting a little nutty around The Smith Hotel (meaning I can't seem to stop decorating for Christmas). Here is a good example........I bought these tags(about 27 of them-it could keep me busy for awhile) at a thrift store a few weeks back for 49 cents. What to do with them....Well I had to get a squirt bottle because I read somewhere(can't remember) to take instant coffee and water and spray it on stuff to antique it. Outside 2 days ago-in the cold wind-you could find me in my slippers squirting these tags in the backyard. Oh I don't remember reading about how coffee not only stains paper but fingers, slippers, and concrete!!!! Mr. Smith asked today(2 days later) if I was going to clean up the stained concrete........I told him a little rain, a little heat, some pool water and the stain will disappear(in a couple of years). But I digress, so let's see tags, my book stand, a little burlap braid and a picture frame found at the thrift store today($3.99), some stamps found at Tuesday Morning($2.99) and TADA-my french, christmas, coffee smelling sign thingamabob!!! That is my Eiffel Tower lamp and shade that I scored in Portland last week! Dollar Tree silver tree on top of a thrift store urn. Instant Christmas decor for really cheap. That's how I roll folks!!!!

This morning after Mr. Smith and I dropped the kiddos off at school, we hit a couple of garage sales. What you say???? In December????? Hey, it was freezing but I did get 3 different size christmas trees (little ones-okay the biggest one is about 4 feet) for $1 each!!! Mr. Smith thought that I was giving one away to my grandma (yeah right and break up the trio)! Plus I picked up a Longerberger basket and brick for $2. Garland for $1. Oh and picking Drama Queen up from school, I had to stop off at the garage sale across the street from the school(so I was a little late) and got an apothecary jar for $5(it's pretty big too).

So the whole point of this story is...

1. You can garage sale shop in December.

2. Apparently I am still not done decorating for Christmas-need to find a place for those trees.

3. Don't tell your husband that you are keeping something until after you get home from the garage sale! Otherwise he might make you leave it there!

Christmas 2009 at TheSmithHotel

That's me....Mrs. Smith and Mr. Smith there working away on our "Present Wreath". Got the idea from Martha Stewart's Living magazine this month. Of course I had to add my own twist, since we are doing the "Shabby, Parisian White Christmas theme" this year I decided to wrap gift in brown paper bags, newspaper and copies of vintage music. Add in some twine, burlap, and ribbon-our new wreath. I bought the pinecone wreath frame at a thrift store in town for $3 with my vision already in my mind. Mr. Smith so kindly offered to wire the packages to the frame for me(he does a much better job). Mr. Smith came up with the idea to hang the wreath during construction off a coat hanger from our ceiling fan. My supplies consisted of the pinecone wreath, the boxes I covered were from around the house, grocery bags, twine, burlap(scraps from my pile), newspaper, cardstock, tape, extra ribbon and wire. Total cost around $10. We did hang it inside our house because I wasn't sure how the humidity would affect the paper and tape. That's okay since I will enjoy looking at it whenever I walk by.

Oh and as I was looking at the pictures, please over look the boxes and laundry. I promise they are cleaned up now. What can I say it was Sunday night and we were doing laundry and decorating-who has a clean house when you are doing that?

Our Shabby, Parisian themed Christmas!!

Yes, if you were wondering what Boy Wonder and Mr. Smith were doing-they are putting up an Eiffel Tower on top of The Smith Hotel Christmas tree.

We avoided the rush on Black Friday but had to venture out yesterday to get some supplies. So as Mr. Smith and the kids waited patiently in the car, I ran inside Michaels. Grabbing what I needed, I thought I would make a quick perusal of the holiday items before standing in the checkout line. Much to my utter delight, this silvery, glittery Eiffel Tower was 40% off. Now I have to backtrack for those of you questioning why I needed an Eiffel Tower.

Here is the conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Smith......

Mrs. Smith-"I want to do a shabby, Parisian theme Christmas this year."

Mr. Smith-"Maybe the lamp (Eiffel Tower) that you got in Portland would work."

Hours later.....

Mrs. Smith-"Can you get the Eiffel Tower lamp on top of the tree?"

Mr. Smith-"No, it is too large-we would need something smaller."

So with that conversation in my mind-what do I find at Michaels but a smaller version of the Eiffel Tower(in silver no less). As I leave the store, I pull out my purchase from the bag and jump up and down in the parking lot as the kids hang out the car windows giving me thumbs up and cheering!!!! Even Mr. Smith is smiling!!!! He was even happier to hear that I got it on sale! What do you have on the top of your Christmas tree?