Fall vegetables

I am always so happy to see bushels of fresh fall vegetables at the store! My husband has been asking about sweet potatoes for a few weeks now. When I saw these at 49 cents a pound, I splurged--I'll wait until they dip to 35 cents a pound for the big stock up, usually closer to Thanksgiving. My personal favorite is the turnip. It's such a uniquely beautiful vegetable. If you don't believe me, flip through the Graham Rust illustrations in your library's copy of The Fine Art of Dining.I love its sweet and slightly bitter flavor. Unsure how to cook them? Hillbilly Housewife has two no-fail methods: Mashed Turnips and My Best Turnips.

Rag rugs?

Check out the Vintage Chica's rag rug tutorial today. Her example looks so colorful, I might just have to try it. I need some entry rugs for the kitchen doors. Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to ban myself from Old Time Pottery yet.

Odds and ends

Q: Can you give some tips for graciously and inexpensively staying warm?
A: Brrr! We had to turn on our heat earlier in the month, too. Last winter, I described how my family keeps it cozy here.

Q: You never told us what you talked about with Kim C. from Life In A Shoe.
A: No, I didn't. I just forgot! It was a crazy time, having just moved, with my mom visiting every day. Kim and I agreed that it's a strange to feel you really KNOW the bloggers you read daily, even if your family thinks you're nuts for feeling that way. We talked about babies, since ours are so close in age, and her upcoming e-book about the secrets of getting a baby to sleep. And finally, a discussion I was so glad to have with someone I respect--how we feel about the question, "Is my blog Christian enough?"

Q: I'm dying to ask, in your move did you ever find the heirloom christening gown you misplaced?
A: YES! It was packed in an archival box and labelled, but that box was within another box and under something else. I had opened the outer box, but didn't look beneath the top layer. Now it is clearly labelled on all four sides! Thanks for the reminder. I should take a portrait of my little girl wearing it before she grows any bigger. It won't be her baptismal gown, but perhaps it will be one of her children's.

Organizing coupons

Reading Biblical Womanhood's Supermarket series made me realize how much I used to love couponing. I let my stash dwindle to a simple pocket file after we switched to a lower-carb, whole foods diet. So how to manage a bigger pile of coupons? Crystal uses her mother's file box system.
Kayla shares a step-by-step pictoral of her coupon binder.

Fall!

I missed the photo of our front lawn at its peak. We'll be raking well into November.

Sideboard smells

Due to my family's collective cold, today's project is a small one. I know this sideboard's musty smell is bad if it breaks through this sinusitis! I've never had a place to organize my linens and china, and I'm itching to unpack those boxes.
What I want to buy right this minute: a spray can of instant smell-be-gone, pretty herb sachets or scented drawer liner
The stay-at-home substitute: a bowl of vinegar in each drawer overnight, followed by perfume samples from old magazines.

Underside of the yard sale quilt

In which I contradict my last two posts

So.
I went to the three yard sales down my street. I found two nice gifts for my husband and hurried the kids to the car. I didn't drive away fast enough. I'm usually disciplined about walking away from sales, but I knew I would regret not buying this old quilt for $20. It has some wear and fading, but no holes. The colors are so perfect with the house--orangey red, bright yellow, a dark loden green. (The photo's colors are off.) My mom has a beautiful fruitwood display rack in her shed.
Any quilters here recognize the pattern? Did I overpay?

The decorating budget

I promised I would share this with you! Boy, looking it over made me realize how little I have left to spend. Remember that the buyer for our old house also purchased my draperies and outdoor furniture? She paid $700. That sounded like so much at the time! I set that money aside for things we would need in the new house.

-$300 various repairs and paint
-$200 sofa for the breakfast room
-$100 armoire that won't fit in the living room
-$50 to my mother for various yard sale purchases
= $50 left

If I don't count the repairs on the new house, I have a lot more to spend. Either way, anything over the remaining $50 will have to cash flow out of our monthly budget. I do include yard sale money there, so all's not lost. We still need blinds for 20 windows and wood for the fireplace mantel, too.

It's painful, but knowing my bottom line will help me weigh one purchase against another. I can also start selling things that don't find a home here.

The home shopping blog

A good night's sleep has done wonders for my attitude!

I have a plan--for discipline, for the house, for my budget. It hinges on a commitment to stay home. Shopping seems to trigger Andrew's bad behavior. My decorating budget is already straining at its seams. I'm falling into the same trap most people do--it's more fun to find new treasures than to unpack boxes and use what I already have. And I have a lot. Boxes of things I've saved from house to house, fabric remnants, old picture frames.

So, the rules: I will find what I need in what I already own. If I don't have it, I'll make it. I will not buy anything for my home from a retail store, including thrift stores. I will not spend time browsing for ideas. Yard sales are still fair game, given that sales are within neighborhood and purchases, within my budget. (I still need Christmas gifts, y'all!)

I'll share each day's project here. Hope you can help me keep me on track!

Keeping it free

KSMilkmaid, one of my favorite bloggers, discusses some pet peeves about overlinked, Google-savvy posts. She also shared a well-balanced, thoughtful article about attracting blog money.
I'm blessed to have more visitors here than I ever expected. Yet, you'll notice I don't have ads or even reviews of freebies. Part of me feels that selling you something defeats the purpose of Like Merchant Ships. Is this site a hobby or an income stream? Perhaps, as a lonely dial-up blogger, I'm simply more sensitive to the long page loads of blogs with heavily studded sidebars. Although, if I have to make an online purchase, I'm always happy to do it through another online friend's link.
Oh, well! Fellow bloggers might enjoy the article as much as I did. Ethical crisis notwithstanding.

Down and out

Sorry about the lack of juicy posts lately!
My goal is, in addition to our daily routine, to accomplish one project a day. That's what I usually document here. However, Andrew has started misbehaving while we are out and about. He knows that's my Achilles heel, and he knows exactly how to play it. "You're a terrible mother!" screamed across an aisle, "You're hurting me!" from FIVE FEET AWAY! The week is tense. My energy, sapped. I feel like a mommy failure.
He's a kind-hearted kid. He generally obeys. He plays independently and gets along well with other children. But until I get to the bottom of this, life as we know it is coming to a grinding halt.

Sweet and simple home

Have you visited Susan Godfrey's pretty new blog, Sweet And Simple Home? I love her colors and design.

Early, but too good not to share

Tammy's Times linked to Kisses of Sunshine's fabulous page of homemade gift ideas --not all of them involving crafts, some of them with estimated costs.

For Lego lovers

Your child can get a free two-year subscription to Lego magazine simply by calling 1-866-534-6258. It is published six times a year. I hope I can use the first issue as a stocking stuffer!

News flash

Just had a surprise visit from one of my aunts. She gave me a couple of great ideas for the house. I think we'll do that simple mantel, painted white. To keep it from looking so small on the long wall, we'll connect it to a bank of shallow bookcases built under the windows on either side. I think this will add a lot of weight to that side of the room. We also decided to leave the computer on the small oak table off the kitchen, instead of making our own desk. In place of my small computer chair, I can use a comfy petite wingback ($20 at a yard sale!). My aunt is a master at mixing things up. I'll include a photo of the rough idea. I'll have to wax the table, move the computer components into the corner, swap the lamp for a bigger one, and hang some low art for balance on the wall behind.

Hope I'm not overwhelming you with all this thinking-out-loud. So many of you have asked how I decorate on a budget, perhaps a peek behind the scenes will be helpful.

I admit it.

I just bought Biblical Womanhood's new e-book, Secrets to Supermarket Savings. Right now Crystal offers a sneak peek special for $3.97. I hope I'll learn something new! I'm still readjusting to the wealth of grocery stores nearby. I can walk to Walmart Market (a concept store featuring groceries and drugstore items only). It's across from a Kroger and a new Publix. Meanwhile, Aldi is a lot closer and just down from my hole-in-the-wall salvage grocer. The other direction points me to Fresh Market and Harris-Teeter. HT has the best coupon policy around--doubles up to 99 cents (limit one coupon/item per trip) and occasionally triples!

With holiday baking specials just around the corner, it's time for some serious pantry stocking!

Bit by bit

A quick peek at the living room in progress. The room's too narrow to float the furniture in the center of the room, as I have in the last two houses. I needed some end tables to hold the lamps. I was glad to find this vintage record cabinet for $5. I like its curvy apron. The table on the other side of the sofa is just a tray on a stand. I like placing pairs in a room for symmetry's sake, but not everything should match exactly! Eventually I'll swap the pillow colors to an azure blue, then find a third accent pillow to break up the set.

My lamp goes out at night, all right

Q: How do you manage your schedule -- housework, moving, CHILDREN, thrifting, decorating. Is it just that 'your lamp doesn't go out at night'?

A: I don't try to do it all. My kids are still young, we have few outside commitments, and I'm not a fussy housekeeper. It drives my mom nuts, how I can have laundry piled up next to fabric bolts next to a stack of magazine clippings. "We LIVE here!" I tell her. I still have to cook 3 meals a day, entertain children, and make sure we have clean underwear!

In the decorating sense, it's better NOT do it all overnight. You should live in the house a minimum of a few weeks before making major decisions. How else will you know what your operating patterns will be? Where the light falls? Which armchairs need coasters and reading lamps? Where people leave their keys?

Someone from work just asked my husband why the house looks so empty from the street. Embarassing! That was just the nudge I needed to do the living room. Can't hang pictures until you are sure where the sofa is going! Three weeks of unconscious thinking coalesced into a comfortable arrangement. We hung the Audobon print. Now I can crack open the boxes of decorative items and books for the next layer.

Making our own mantlepiece?

We think we might be able to make the mantlepiece ourselves and save a bundle of money. It would have to be something almost primitive, with little to no trim. I have access to some old pieces of lumber. This salvaged mantle from Ebay looks like something we could copy.

What do you think? If old boards were tinted a honey color and highly polished, would that style be too rustic for a late '40s home?

Mystery of the hidden fireplace

Our Saturday night adventure sounds like a Nancy Drew title!

I've been stymied by furniture placement in the living room.

That giant armoire I bought for $100? Didn't fit, and gouged the floor in the process.

Desperate for a focal point, we decided to uncover what we thought was a fireplace. We could see the chimney on the front of the house and a blank space between windows (where I wanted the armoire to go).

Dad got his tools, and Andrew ran in circles for half an hour.

It is an exciting thing to start cutting holes in the exterior wall of your home!

No skeletons or treasure maps, but we did find a nice clean opening.

Now all I need is a pretty salvaged mantlepiece!

I'm having a chimney company give us an estimate for repair, but we probably won't make the fireplace functional due to cost and safety.

Since we've never had a fireplace before, it's aesthetically pleasing, working or not!

Tiny cat feet

I love pretty details. If Merchant Ships does one thing right, I hope it is in demonstrating that a beautiful homelife doesn't have to cost a bundle. On that note, here are a few small pleasures from my day:

The unbearable cuteness of girls' clothing after four years of boy. Snuggly Le Top sleeper from Goodwill.
Beautiful postage that costs no more than basic stamps and sparks an hour of studying ecosystems with the preschooler.A fifty-cent stepstool from our newlywed apartment that found a new home in front of the crib. A big brother who likes to peek at the baby sleeping just to make sure she's safe.

Vintage clothespin bag

I stopped at a couple of sales today. While I'm not likely to find an Old Master on these middle-class ranch streets, the big basements and garages are chock full of yellowed linens and unusual Tupperwares. I couldn't resist this vintage clothespin bag, still full. My old one tore to pieces before the move. Though Dollar Tree sells new version, I've never seen one with such a handy long hanger.
At the same sale I bought four pairs of slacks, two sweater sets, two workout suits and a feminine suit for church. I desperately needed more clothes, and these were even petite lengths. Including the bag, a tablecloth and four Smidgets, I paid $8. Pretty great!

In My Library Bag: Bunny Williams

Haven't had much time to fill up the old library bag lately. I did pick up this thick book of eye candy for inspiration. Hope your library has it, because it's a beautiful house, a beautiful garden, a beautiful book. An Affair With A House by Bunny Williams.

Frugal Grandma

This week finds me feeling a little overwhelmed. I keep slowly organizing the new house, settling us into a daily routine, trying not to eat the Halloween candy I bought on clearance at Target. Know what I mean?
So, a quick post for today with some photos. I have to give my mother credit, not only for all the years of garage sale experience she instilled in me, but for constantly finding stuff for our houses--whether I like it or not. The few pieces that stay always make me smile. Last weekend she brought us this corner shelf--handmade by someone's grandfather--for baby girl's room. It was marked $5 (a bargain by anyone's criteria, but she managed to get it for $3. The period trim fits perfectly with our house's original moldings.

She also bought some lemon trees marked down to $7 at K-mart. Just right for the fifty cent Chippendale planters riding around in her truck. I'll move them to the breakfast room soon.

Aargh.

If you haven't yet switched to Blogger Beta, you'll be glad to know there's a new feature that lets you go back and label individual posts in bunches.

Instead of the 640 I did, one by one.

Improving living habits

More good advice from Garner Dodson:
It is easier to break old habits and encourage new, more desirable ones in a new home. Let's go through a day and see what you might want to change. Has getting up and having breakfast been a chaotic mess previously? Is there anything you can do to make it smoother--such as getting up half an hour earlier? ... Will better storage of supplies and equipment save time?...Any one or all of these things, and others you'll think of, can be done within the home and before you know another person in the town. And eventually, you'll be grateful to the move for giving you the incentive and time to improve your family's living habits.--Making The Most of Every Move, p. 160.

I can think of lots of new habits I'd like to cultivate! It's amazing how altering the design of a space can alter the way your family lives. In the breakfast room, I'm planning child-friendly and functional, right down to child-size cleaning equipment in the adjacent laundry room. I'm putting together a "breakfast station" next to the stove, with everything I need--coffeemaker, waffle iron, omelet pan, juice glasses and coffee mugs--stored at the ready. We started a new tradition of the after-dinner walk tonight, too. There's a beautiful park and walking track less than a block down the street.

Reusing a canvas

It was a rainy day, so I let Andrew loose on the big $5 canvas my mom brought.

He's still fascinated with volcanoes, thus the subject. I had already primed the canvas with test samples of yellow paint.

Then I scrounged around the house, coming up with: grey house paint, the front door's red, and tubes of craft paint in green, gold, and light blue.

This limited set of colors ensured that the finished product would more or less coordinate.

He sketched a big version of a volcanic scene in crayon, then I handed him one color at a time to apply.

He swooped, he smeared, he dribbled--and we were done in less than half an hour.

I think he did a wonderful job, and aside from handing him the paints, he did it all himself! The photos were so cute I just had to share.

Hard work

Have you visited Maggie's blog lately? She has two great new posts, Free Ways To Increase My Standard of Living and a Rant About Comparison Shopping. I liked both of these because she discusses the nitty-gritty of living thriftily. It's hard work, and even a frugal icon like Miss Maggie must occasionally steel herself for the challenge.

Me, I've been feeling like a spendthrift after paying $200 for a sofa and buying a house in a ritzier zip code. Later this week I'll share the numbers on my decorating budget so you'll have a better idea where the money is going.

Breakfast room in progress

We accomplished a lot this weekend.My mom and I finally found a sofa for the room that opens off the kitchen. It was priced $199 at the Franklin Thriftsmart, but they gave me a frequent shopper card which took 10% off the purchase. Even better, the low back made it possible for us to slide it into the rear of the station wagon. No delivery charge! After looking at overpriced consignment and estate sales all over town, I was happy to find such a clean, cheerful sofa at a price we could afford. The fabric is a medium blue with textured yellow dots. I originally envisioned a loveseat with two chairs, but this extra-long piece simplifies the room. I still want some cushy down throw pillows to break up its boxy lines, though.

I took an idea from Country Living's cover and arranged all our children's chairs opposite the sofa. The white one was mine as a child, but we try to pick them up whenever we see them for a couple of dollars apiece. Here's a new one we sprayed with some leftover yellow paint. They are small enough to tuck under this yard sale coffee table. We bought it to use as a desk in Andrew's second bedroom. Its melamine top had bubbled from moisture. We replaced it with a Ponderosa pine panel from Lowe's, stained and waxed. Did you know you can buy boards big enough to use as tabletops there?

So far the arrangement works better than I could have hoped. It's the perfect spot for a snack or a game. My husband can lie down and talk while I prepare dinner on the other side of the island. I'm so grateful for this cozy space!

Spray paint and Briwax

Two of my favorite fixes!

We hauled up my great-grandfather's dining table and sideboard this weekend. My aunt had it sprayed with auto-body paint several years ago. In addition to dated colors, the finish itself had chipped and cracked. The price was right (free!) for a classic shape.

I decided not to paint it with by hand; it's going to rain, and I didn't feel like sanding brushstrokes. Spray painting a flat surface has its downsides, though. It's hard to avoid those characteristic streaks and gritty feel.

We gave the table four light coats and moved it indoors. Now I'm applying my best secret, BriWax. A local shop has the most gleaming furniture around, and they recommended it to us years ago. BriWax is an all-natural product that combines beeswax with carnuba. It cleans, stains, and polishes to a lovely shine. Though it can strip some painted finishes, I've found that several coats fill in rough spots, making a soft, touchable surface with a subtle glow.

BriWax isn't cheap ($13 at Amazon, or $16 locally), but one can lasts a long time. Forget about dusting with Pledge or refinishing furniture with polyurethane. Briwax enhances the existing patina with a fraction of the effort.

The queen of make-do

My dirty little secret: I can't sew. But I always manage to make do.

I want to protect the glossy wood floors, so we're instituting a no-shoes policy indoors. Thus the need for a seat for shoe removal and then a depository for the shoes. We thought we might build our own bench and box. We looked at a spiffy ($250) entry piece at Sam's Club. Then we remembered a toy box still hanging around my mom's house. It just fit the niche between cabinet and door.

I wanted to perk it up with a little color. I still had the upholstered seat I made for our first apartment, using a salvaged naugahyde cushion. I "recovered" with a cinnamon red drapery panel for the foyer of the second house. I was happy to press it into service again. I unfolded my masking-tape seam and sawed off the excess foam. Pretend like you're wrapping a gift, and neatly tucked ends don't look too awful. (Having trouble uploading the after photo)
At least it's quick!

Who knew?

My mom is still visiting, ostensibly to help me get the house together.

So why do I feel so unproductive?

Yesterday we hit Sherwin Williams for oops paint. While I browsed sample cards, she cornered painters waiting at the order counter. She explains that I am thinking of doing the work myself, but of course she has never painted a room before. Could he come by and give us a quick estimate?

On the way home we make our guesses. She thinks rolling on two coats will cost $400, and would be well worth that chunk of my budget. I wager closer to $750.

Today we wait around for the appointment. He scans the small living room/dining room combo and the kitchen. The walls are already professionally painted, with no prep work necessary. He scratches the information on a worksheet and hands me the estimate.

$1300.

Whoa. I had no idea I had been saving us so much money.

Waving the white flag

I surrender. I cannot live with all beige walls.

I found this underpriced Audobon egret print at Finder's Keepers, a local consignment store. With one glance, I told the shopkeeper, "I'll take it!"

I needed something huge for that long wall, and the print's burled wood frame and cocoa mat tie our battered brown sofa to the reddish wood floor.

Later I found a magazine clipping I've saved for years-- the same print was propped over a mantle against the yellow walls in an elegant New Orleans home.

No wonder it seemed so perfect and familiar! While I still prefer original art, I have a soft spot for old prints of flora and fauna.

My mom bought a $5 hotel art canvas. She suggested I use it for testing my yellow paint samples, so I could move the board around in different light.

Still wondering what to do with it when the walls are painted. Perhaps I can paint something and consign it, in hopes of making back the money I spent on the Audobon print?

(Update: I later used this canvas for Andrew's volcano painting in his bedroom)

We returned

We made it back from the funeral. How do you Atlantans ever survive that traffic? The whole thing was delayed an extra day because of a family member's bungee jumping accident. Yes, a bungee jumping accident. My husband summed it up when he asked, "Just what was she thinking as she dove off that cliff?"
Both children acted as well as could be expected, following a nine-hour car trip and being under constant observation by all manner of elderly relatives. My two were the descedent's only great-grandchildren; actually, the only children in my husband's family. The little baby met her paternal grandmother and great-grandmother for the first time. My son perfected the handshake technique a politician recently taught him. ("Instead of giving them five fingers, give 'em seven: five firm fingers and two eyes.") At the visitation, he asked his uncle to take him over for a closer look at the sarcophagus.

At least their grandmother knew they aren't totally without culture.

Surprising the husband

My husband's grandpa probably won't make it through the week, so we'll be taking that 8-hr car trip sooner than we anticipated. I decided to surprise him with a freshly cleaned car. I've been driving his car over the summer because the air works more evenly than in the wagon. However, the kids and I have junked it up royally. I removed all the diapers, library tapes and debris; vacuumed, wiped and washed; took out the car seats for laundering. Whew! It was a great treat to see his face this afternoon.

You'll see from the picture we bought a new Britax car seat for the little one. I do think these are the most comfortable seats, if you can find one within your price range. The author of Freakonomics says the brand of seat doesn't matter for safety (or even a seat at all, provided the child isn't in the front). Britax is the only brand we've used that doesn't ever shift or wobble, though, and that has to count for something. We compromised by not buying an infant car seat. Instead, we saved our money toward the convertible Marathon, which can be used much longer. Target drops the price twice a year to $169. I pulled out my stockpile of pharmacy transfer gift cards and my coupon from the Entertainment Book. Andrew's Britax Husky was reimbursed by the insurance company when we were hit by a car last year.

Everything and the kitchen sink

Just a quick post while I have time away from my houseguest.
First, thanks to everyone who offered wisdom about dishwashers and disposals. Since the dishwasher takes almost 45 min. to run, I think I'll save it for company and cook-a-thons. Perhaps it's all my years of handwashing, but those jet-dryed dishes have an unnatural, squeaky texture. Besides, I finally have the sink of my dreams! It's deeper than my deepest pot and undermounted for=easy cleanup. We were so blessed that the previous owners filled the kitchen with products from their wholesale granite business.

The house decorating is not going so well. The beige walls have thrown me for a loop. Almost all of my existing furniture is wooden or deep browns, reds and greens. These warm colors looked rich against my traditional choice of yellow walls. But against a beige background? Blah. Blah. Blah. I am tearing my hair out, because I really don't want to repaint walls which have just been professionally painted. I should try to keep them the color that 98% of future buyers would prefer. In the end, though, it may be cheaper to pick up my paintbrush than to buy different furniture.

I am deeply humbled that my greatest worry is the color of my walls.

Safeguarding wedding gifts

The towering stack of gift boxes caught my eye.

New brides may be tempted to consolidate items and toss the original packaging. But there will come a time when all those lovely gifts must be moved to the apartment, the first home, the slightly bigger home with children, etc.

The best way to safeguard those goblets is to slip them back in the boxes designed to ship them.

Where else will you get a box that just fits a lovely crystal bowl? My boxes are still going strong after our fifth move, with not a stem broken along the way.

I *did* toss some of my boxes before recognizing my mistake. Luckily I found a huge pile of ANOTHER bride's curbside throwaways. C'mon--who wouldn't brake for Tiffany boxes?

Guess who?

I was so excited about meeting a special friend in real life today! It's always a little awkward meeting someone you've known only through the internet. At once, you're both strangers and intimately acquainted with the detail of each other's lives. I'll give you a chance to guess who this incredible mom and blogger is before mentioning anything else about our chat, though.
I will say that, as I drove home, I thought of several questions I should have asked while I was in the presence of such a calm and experienced mom.

Good health for mobile families

Since healthy families adjust to new environments better, Garner Dodson reminds us that it is poor economy to practice poor health habits:
You can do this by studying nutrition and learning to prepare wholesome, attractive meals at a reasonable cost...I especially like to make bread of the whole-wheat flour ground in our little mill. The children, ours and neighbors, swam in when the loaves are taken from the oven and have a feast on crusty warm bread, butter and jam. Good health saves not only money, but days of time, too. A sick child requires almost constant attention, and what mother wouldn't like to be free from this use of her time!--Making The Most Of Every Move, p. 172.

I hope you're not getting sick of these quotations yet! I just love the wisdom of our mother's mothers. I hope that the author's pre-feminist viewpoint doesn't get the book tossed in the next library booksale.
(edited for clarity)

Installing an over-the-range microwave

We've hauled around a GE Profile microwave since two houses ago. I bought it for $25 at the Habitat Homestore, but never had the right spot to install it. Readers here know I can't stand countertop clutter, so I'm thrilled that this built-in microwave will simplify the new kitchen. We had to remove the small cabinet above the stove first. Gotta love that '60s daisy wallpaper underneath! Of course, the secondhand microwave no longer had its mounting screws. We found heavy duty steel brackets to fasten it against the wall. My husband cut a shelf to bridge between cabinets. After I paint the exposed areas, I'll use it for cookbooks or a big tray.

The only problem is my standard cooking times have been burning things to a crisp. I'm just not used to nuking with that much power!

What do YOU think?

I have a bunch of questions that need answers. My mom is visiting every day, we're still having telephone/internet problems, and I just don't have the time to research. Your advice is very appreciated!

*My first dishwasher: I still haven't run it! Is it okay to let dishes sit in there for a day or two until it is full? What cheap detergent do you recommend? Does a dishwasher sterilize bottles and nipples, or do I need to do that separately?

*This kitchen also has my first garbage disposal. Frankly, it terrifies me. Other than the obvious forks and knives, what things should I keep OUT of it? Am I supposed to run water down the drain while it is churning?

*When you go to a walk-in haircut place (Great Clips or Supercuts), how much do you tip your stylist?

25 ways I save

Dawn at Frugal For Life proposed this meme. I'm a little late, but off the top of my head, here are 25 random practices from my house:

1. Shoot and select dozens of digital photos, but develop only the best few. Or none at all.
2. Arrange free or edible "nature things" instead of buying garlands and flowers for seasonal decoration. To me, artificial defeats the purpose.
3. Oops. Frequent readers will remind me of the wooden lemons I use to bulk up my fruit bowl, thus requiring less fresh fruit.
4. Search the meat department for items reduced-for-quick-sale. It's how we meet our goal price of $1.50/lb or less.
5. Scrupulously examine supermarket receipts after checkout. Most groceries give you the item free if you discover a scanning error. Half the time, I do.
6. Continue the mom-chain of generous hand-me-downs. I am blessed to receive things as often as I give to others.
7. Assemble a yard-sale stash of spa goodies for at-home pampering. The ONE time I indulged in a pedicure (9 months pregnant), I purchased a horrible infection, too.
8. Buy and store birthday cards for ten cents each at a charity thrift store. In a pinch, 2 for $1 at Dollar General or Dollar Tree. I am never without.
9. Mail gifts in USPS Priority Mail flat rate boxes and envelopes, a lesson I learned after one too many holiday shipping surprises. Weight is no object as long as my gift fits in the free, flat rate boxes.
10. Buy Tracfone minutes on Ebay. Thanks to a tip from readers here, we routinely find them at half what Walmart charges. My occasional cell phone usage runs around $5 a month.
11. Decant cooking or rinsing water into a watering can beneath the sink. My potted plants drink what would otherwise wash down the drain.
12. Take advantage of promotional coupons by switching prescriptions from one pharmacy to another.
13. Choose hobbies which are free or money-making instead of those that require fees/equipment/tools. For me, the most fun are blogging and yard saling. And of course, blogging ABOUT yard saling : )
14. Mark my master calendar with the month's free family events. We always have frugal choices at our fingertips.
15. Use the $1.50 dry cleaners when necessary. Folks swear by Dryel, but the savings is not worth bringing those chemicals into our home. We spot clean and air wool garments to prolong time between cleanings.
16. Inspire myself with others' thrift. Forget checkout lane magazines with the same old budgeting articles. I keep a copy of the Complete Tightwad Gazette for occasional motivation and use the Internet to research how other families stretch their dollars.
17. Buy in bulk. Not from Sam's Club, but whenever an oft-used item dips to its lowest sale price. That's why my pantry holds two cases of Organic Ragu and enough peanut butter to get us through an ice storm.
18. Choose reusable over disposable. I covet single-size Tupperwares at yard sale prices and pretty cloth napkins in a variety of colors. They make everyday life a little nicer, too.
19. Invest in the tool, not in the labor. Buying a professional squeegee was cheaper than paying a window washer once.
20. Pick a bank with free internet bill pay. The more stamps rise in cost, the more I save each month.
21. Keep a bulging warranty file. We file receipts for consumer goods we buy new. Those flat pillows with the 5-year guarantee? Returned for fresh ones at year three.
22. Treat ourselves to small pleasures (a bag of nice coffee, movies from Netflix). Long-term deprivation may explode in a huge purchase later.
23. Drive older cars. I don't think we've had one newer than a '96. Cheaper to buy, cheaper to insure.
24. Love one another. (1 John 3:11) Kindness fosters contentment. Happy people spend less.
25. Ask, and it shall be given you. (Mathew 7:7). Don't forget to pray for what you need.

In your new home

Garner Dodson encourages the weary movers:
As you sit in your new house surrounded by still-packed barrels and unsorted boxes, you may wonder if you'll ever be able to make a home out of this mess. But cheer up--you aren't working against a deadline as you were when you were getting ready to move. You have weeks--even months--ahead of you to make a home. And it helps to keep this thought constantly with you: physical things don't make a home. It's the interest and love of each member of the family for the others that make a home of any shelter. --Making The Most Of Every Move, p. 155.

One room down...

The only room I consider fully unpacked is the baby's, which doubles as a guest room.

It was a pleasure to put together her hand-me-down crib, since she's been camping in the Pack 'N' Play since birth.

I used our old guest bed with its vintage pillows and spread; it pairs well with the baby's thrift store linens, simple colors and garden toile.

A dainty bamboo table holds a bird lamp. In lieu of a changing table, I folded a butter yellow coverlet across the foot of the bed.

I was finally able to hang this hollyhock watercolor over her crib and three dainty wildflower prints between the closets. I adore the glass doorknobs!

Eventually I'll find more treasures to soften the room, blinds and fabric for the windows. For now, I'm glad one room is done!