UNextreme couponing :)

The Mrs. here!

I've always been a sucker for a good deal.  My mom was (and is) great at getting things on sale, shopping ahead, and clipping coupons when we were growing up.  My dad used the phrase "it's not on sale if you don't actually need it" on a regular basis, and even helped me find one of my prom dresses for $36!!! :)  As I've "grown up" the past few years being a working adult, I have realized the value of making my money go farther.  One way to do that is by couponing, but this can be VERY overwhelming.  I've gotten more "serious" about couponing the past couple years for various reasons, and have discovered a few things that have made this practice a little less insane for me....hope they can help you out!

Do what you can do!  Some weeks I'm really on my game....I get all the right coupons clipped, get to whatever stores I need to, and save a bunch of money!  Some weeks I don't use any coupons and just do the best I can with getting reduced prices at the store. AND THAT'S OK! :)


Let someone else do the hard work for you! I've primarily used Pocket Your Dollars, but I know there are other sites out there that can help.  Some weeks I look up info for 1 store because I know I only have time to get to one.  Other weeks I can be more flexible and head to multiple stores.


Can I give my girls a shout out?!?  One of my dear friends has been nothing short of an inspiration in her couponing ventures....she is systematic and effective! :)  But she doesn't keep this to herself, she shares it!  She created a facebook page for about 30 of her girlfriends where we can all share our couponing "stuff"....sometimes we ask others for specific coupons they may not use (I was able to save a TON on formula from these wonderful women sending me their coupons) other times we post pictures of our "couponing success stories."  Plus, as women, don't we all just love to connect....even if it's about saving money?!?!


Get a system that works for YOU!  There are a lot of different ways you can choose to organize yourself for the most beneficial and time-efficient couponing.....so just try something out and see how it works for you.  Some ideas to try: accordian folder, 3 ring binder, paper clips, giant rubberbands, envelopes by store.

Ask the hubs for some help.  Divide and conquer is our motto!  Often times, I will make the list and do the "research" for what we need to buy, and then I'll call out the date and name of the coupon book and have the Mr. cut them out.  Strangely enough, we enjoy this task together because we know we're saving money, AND it gives the Mr. a little more appreciation for all of the times that I tackle the groceries and couponing on my own. ;)

I realize that all of these things may seem like no-brainers, but for me that is the beauty of *UN*extreme couponing.  I am continually learning the balance of saving money and saving my sanity (as well as the sanity of those around me!).  Do you have any good couponing/money saving tips?  I'd love to know what you do to help your family save money!

Pinterest Baby!

The Mrs. here!  I don't know about you, but I have really enjoyed finding all sorts of new things on Pinterest....recipes, decorating ideas, DIY projects, etc.  I've tried not to go too crazy with re-creating the many "pins" I've found, but here are 3 very easy crafts that I made for my little babe's room.

Original pin: Button Monogram Wall Art

This talented artist hand sews all of these monograms onto fabric.  I, however, have neither the talent or patience for that so I took a simpler route....

1. Mod podge paper onto a canvas

2. Print off the monogram in a few fonts and sizes to see what you like best

3. Arrange buttons, and glue....voila!

Original pin: Headband Holder

Again, because of time and reesources I had available at the time, I did a bit simpler version.

1. Trim paper to fit container and mod podge.

2. It's hard to see in my picture, but I ripped a complimentary print of paper into small strips and wrapped it around the can to add another color.

Original pin: Magnet Board

I thought this was such a clever use of an old cookie sheet!  A couple tips from my attempt:

1. I wasn't sure if I wanted to permanently attach the fabric to the cookie sheet, so I used packing tape rather than glue.

2. For the same reason I didn't want to drill holes in the cookie sheet (for the ribbon used to hang it on the wall) so I choose a cookie sheet that had a rim around it so I could hang it on a nail.

Put all of these crafts together, and my baby's room has personal, sweet, and useful decorations. 

The best part is that these 3 crafts took me very little time (about an hour TOTAL) and NO extra money because I already had all of the supplies!
Gotta' love Pinterest :)

No football? No fear!

Hello faithful followers! It’s Mr. and Mrs. here.

As the NFL season winds down (and let’s be honest….if you’re a Vikes fan, the season ended a while ago) many people are left wondering, “what will I do with my Sunday now that football is over?”  Here are a few ideas to get you through the post-season blues in the positive way.

Think of others. We are lucky in our home that we both enjoy sports, but that is not the case in many homes.  If your spouse and/or kids have put up with you yelling at the TV, changing your fantasy team over and over, and consuming un-natural amounts of chili, then it’s time to try something they want to do!  Maybe it’s a hobby that your spouse really enjoys, cooking a Sunday meal together, taking in a new place with your kids, or even visiting the in-laws (gasp!).  Whatever it is, show them the same support for their passions that they’ve shown you: put on a smile and enjoy the time together.

Rest. This may sound obvious, but this past Sunday with only 2 games on (both later in the day) we actually read a book together and fell asleep on the couch while the little one was napping.  We couldn’t remember the last time that happened, and it felt so nice to just rest.

Game Day.  If you like the competitiveness that sports bring, start a Family Game Day to replace those Sunday afternoon lulls.  In my (Mrs.) childhood, we were very fond of “Wrestle Tackle Football” in the living room! But it doesn’t have to be a “physical” game day either…it could be good ‘ole board games, video games (if you have them), card games, or just make up your own! Usually these game days end up in laughter, and with a pile of great memories too.

Your turn.  What do you enjoy doing on Sunday afternoons, sans football?  We’d love to hear your ideas…

Cake in a Cup

The Mrs. here!
So.....you're having one of those days where you just need a little something sweet to get you through.  No time to make cookies, no chocolate in the house, and you definitely don't want to load the kids up to run to the store.  I have 4 words for you: cake in a cup!!! 

You can make this up, keep it in your cupboard, and it's ready to go at a moment's notice! I first heard about this from a good friend.  I'm honestly not sure where she got the original recipe, but I have passed it along to everyone I know.  Here 'ya go!

Mix:
1 box angel food cake mix
1 box chocolate cake mix
1 bag mini chocolate chips
Store this is an airtight container or ziploc bag until you are experiencing a day like the one I mentioned above ;)

To make:
Mix 1/3 cup of mix and 3 Tbsp. water in a microwave safe mug.
Microwave for 1 min. 15 sec. (this may vary depending on your microwave wattage)
Flip your cake out of your mug and into a bowl.
Add desired toppings. (my favs are coffee flavored ice cream, or vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup)

Looks like your day just got a little bit yummier......enjoy! :)

Off-season Tips for Outdoors Enthusiasts, part 1

Hello Outdoors Sports Fans.  It's the Mr. here.  This will be part one of a series I will be doing on tips for outdoor enthusiasts.  So stay tuned to learn more about hunting, fishing, camping and survival.

Well winter is upon us (sort of) in Minnesota and unless you are an avid ice fisherman, our outdoor experiences are pretty much on hold for now.  If you’re like me, you're itching to get back into the swing of things as soon as possible, so here are a few tips to feed your outdoor cravings:

Clean your firearms. There are very few things that makes a man feel more like a man than when he cleans his guns.  So grab some Rem Oil, take apart your firearms, and give them a good cleaning.  It will be enjoyable and your firearms will thank you.

Organize your hunting and fishing stuff.  I re-organize my tackle boxes at the end of every year, and always find something out of place or something I don't need that can be thrown away.  Loosen the drag on all your reels, and take off all the line from your rod eyes for storage.  One of THE most important keys to fishing success that is vastly overlooked is sharp hooks.  Sharp hooks ensure a good hook set and can lead to an increased number of fish.  Many anglers go through seasons without sharpening their hooks.  This can spell disaster, especially if you fish muskies.  So get a good sharpener at your local store and have at it.

Use a trail camera to spot animal activity.  Continue looking for deer on your hunting land during the winter and spring months to track patterns and activity.  Take a stroll through the areas to see why you are either seeing activity or not seeing activity.  Check for tracks and scraps.  You may even find a new trail you didn't know was there, or even a shed deer antler or two.  What's the food source like, what's the cover like, are there wolves or coyotes that are pushing other animals out of the area?  These are questions you will need to find out from doing your homework.  Knowing the patterns of the animals you hunt throughout the off season will increase your chances of success in the fall because you are more aware of what is or isn't out there.

Join some blogs or chat rooms. It never hurts to gain more knowledge from other outdoorsmen to find out about your favorite lake.

Decide on a food plot.  If you're like our family and plant crops on your hunting grounds (corn, soybeans, alfalfa, etc) you like to plant food plots for the local habitat, but also want to enjoy some of these high grain prices.  Decide on how much you want to plant, but also decide what you want to harvest and what you want to leave.  This will determine where and how you plant because you want the crops you leave to be close to travel areas.  Research shows that big bucks feed later in the year after firearm season in order to store up for the winter.  So if all your crops are out, you just reduced their food supply.  Take this winter and spring to do some research on the variety of crops you want to plant, then decide on how much you want to leave.
 

Prepare for the upcoming season.  If you like to keep up to date on all the latest gear and equipment, start browsing the stores and online companies to see what’s new, what’s trending, and what people are saying about your favorite camp site or recreational area.

Don’t forget to tune into fishing or hunting shows.  I always learn something new when I watch something on TV or listen to a podcast.  It also gets me excited for the next season.   

Stay tuned for future tips…..

Rise and Shine!

Hey! It's Mr. and Mrs. here. 

Being a parent of young children is a great blessing....but let's be honest, there are many changes that come about when those little angels come along.  One of those is Saturday mornings.  Take this morning for example: just before 7 we hear the sounds of talking and babbling coming from the nursery and the looming question has to be asked..."which one of us is going to get up?!?"  Often times one of us just offers to be the first out of bed, change the diaper, start the coffee, etc... and the other one of us is shortly behind.  (I mean honestly, once you're already awake it's pretty hard to go back to sleep most days, right?!?)  Needless to say, we have yet to come up with a "system" that works to decide who is getting up with the babe in the morning.  Post a comment about how you decide who get's up with your kiddo(s).  We would love to know your thoughts. 

Due to some questions about legalities of blog givaways, we have

unfortunately suspended this contest. We are sorry for your inconvenience.

Poor Man's Shelf

It's the Mr. here.  Wanted to share with you my latest attempt to clean up our garage.  Buying storage shelves can be expensive, so I had to come up with another way to organize the stuff.  I had some extra wood laying around so I thought I would throw something together.  Here's what I did...
Supplies (I used what I had, so your measurements could be slightly different)

1 long 2x4

6 shorter pieces of 2x4's (3 about 20 inches & 3 about 6 inches)

1 long sheet of plywood or particle board (length and width to your desire)

3 inch screws and 1 1/2 inch screws
Drill (preferably an impact driver, and regular drill)

Pre-drill bit (optional to prevent splitting)

Skill saw and/or Reciprocating saw (electric works best.... I used battery and ran out of power very quickly)

Level

1. Screw long 2x4 into the wall studs where you want your shelf to go.  Make sure it's level.

2. Screw shorter 2x4's a few inches below the long 2x4.  (these will be used to screw in your support beams.)
3. Cut the 20" support beams; one end at 45 degree angle, the other at about 65 degrees. (does not have to be perfect, if you aren't using the shelf for anything too heavy.)
4. Screw the 20" support beams to the wall so the 65 degree angle is at the top where the shelf would go. 

5. Pre-drill the back end of your plywood or particle board used for the shelf.

6. Place the shelf on top of the long 2x4 and let it rest on the support beams. 

7. Screw the shelf into the long 2x4 with 1 1/2 inch screws

8. Pre-drill the top part of the support beams that go into the shelf.

9. Make sure the shelf is level and attach to the support beams.

Voila!