Trash to Treasures Wednesday: Luxurious Headboard

Have you ever looked at your bedroom and felt like it seemed plain and was nothing to look at? Sometimes the smallest feature can give a room a more formal decadent look?

For instance: Your bedroom may look fine if your bed doesn’t have a headboard but having a headboard gives a more finished look. It creates a focal point that may be lacking.  It gives height and interest where it is needed the most.

Headboards are expensive and the more specialized it is the more expensive it is. There is a way to have a headboard that is not only to your specifications but with fabric of your own choosing.

The headboard pictured gets its luxurious look by the fabric alone. Underneath the beautiful lavish covering lies a piece of plywood, ordinary, everyday, ugly plywood.

There is no limit to what you can do with it as far as shape, design and embellishments but for this particular headboard the fabric speaks for itself. The plan was to tuft it but doing so would have actually taken away from the look in this case. The print is small, defined and elegant therefore left to speak for itself.

For less than fifty dollars in fabric and padding this project gave a finished, beautifully appointed bed the look it deserves. The stool from last week’s Trash to Treasures Wednesday was covered with left over fabric from this headboard project giving the entire room a pulled together look.

If you prefer a more casual feel use the bedding to adjust the look. In the picture while the headboard is more formal fabric the quilt has a more casual feel making for a more eclectic look overall.

Be sure to visit Reuter’s Home Designs for more before and after trash to treasure projects.

Next Week: Making a luxurious hassock.

Selling Your House Tuesday – How much should you put down?

I like to get pre-approved before I even start looking for a house because if/when I find the one, I want to be in a position to get it. If you find a house and make an offer without having a pre-approval someone else can swoop in and make an offer and get your house while you are stuck in limbo waiting for a decision. Not too many people are willing to wait around to see if you get approved. Try to make this process as fun and anxiety free as you possibly can and save yourself some grief, get pre-approved.

There are so many different kinds of loans these days requiring different down payments.  Twenty percent down, at the very least, is ideal. One reason is for the simple reason you have to mortgage less and will have a lower payment but another compelling reason is if you put down less than twenty percent on a mortgage you will have to pay PMI insurance(Private Mortgage Insurance). All banks put it on loans more than eighty percent. It is for their protection.   

If you are putting less than twenty percent down, watch very carefully, as you are making payments, for the equity to reach twenty percent. It will be your responsibility to go to the bank and have the PMI insurance removed. Otherwise you could be paying it throughout your entire mortgage unnecessarily.

Also, before you start making payments take your payment divided by twelve and add that much to your payment amount. That way you will be making an extra payment per year. If you do it from day one you will be so used to it you won’t even notice. I owned a home in Florida the first time I ever heard of doing this and if I had stayed in that house till I paid it off, I would have saved fifty-eight thousand dollars and paid it off eight years sooner just for paying the extra hundred and twenty dollars a month.

If you’re sitting there thinking, “I can’t afford an extra hundred and twenty dollars per month!” then maybe you want to think of buying a lower priced house because it will pay off in the long run for you. Also going with a fifteen year loan will save you a ton of money as opposed to a thirty year loan. By paying it off sooner you are paying less interest.

If you’ve bought houses before you pretty much know what you’re getting into but if you are buying your first home. Try to refrain from going to the limit on your budget. You want to be able to enjoy your home and your life at the same time and that can’t happen if you’re house poor. You can always work your way up into that dream house as you build equity and stability in your lives and jobs but if you are scratching and clawing to make your mortgage payment each month you are setting yourself up for disaster and possibly the loss of your home that you worked so hard to get.

Do it yourself Monday: Wallpaper removal

Removing wall paper can be a thankless job. If you’re lucky the top coat will peel right off in big sheets and all you have to do is remove the pasty undercoat and clean. If you are not lucky, however, it can be a long and tedious project

If it comes off easily in big sheets, spray the papery under layer with a spray bottle filled with warm water. You will see it start to bubble up before your eyes now you can scrap it off easily. You will need to scrub down the walls thoroughly as paint will show the imperfections from the paste if you don’t not to mention will not stick well to the wall.

There are many techniques for taking off wall paper. If you’re having problems removing it, there is a tool to score holes in the paper which you then spray with a paste solvent that will soak in the holes making it easier to remove. These supplies can be found at your local Wal-Mart.

Steam is another way to break down the paste and pull it off but take care as steam can be damaging to drywall and wood so take care.

No matter what manner in which you choose to remove it, be advised, unless you are one of the lucky ones to get an easy one, it will take a lot of time and even more patients to complete this project.

Pictured: This is a very large room that was papered from top to bottom and it came off in miniscule pieces at a time. It took a week literally working morning to night peeling and scraping using multiple techniques.   The results were still worth the headaches.

Coupon Sunday: Coupon Clubs

Ahhhh Sunday, it’s finally here. Hurry to Gibby’s  and get your newspapers filled with coupons to see what exciting deals lie between the glossy pages of inserts.  As you cut out your paper riches don’t leave behind the ones you feel you won’t use, cut them out as well. There are a lot of fellow couponers out there or people who would like to be.

Form a coupon club. Get together at a local restaurant like Hoges . They have a nice big back room where you can all gather round a table and share tips on organizing, shopping and the best deals but most of all share coupons. Those supposed worthless coupons that you went ahead and cut out, are now the ticket to get you more of something else that you really want for while you may not have needed those four Beggin Strip coupons because you don’t have a dog, Suzy Q sitting next to you does and she just happens to have four coupons for your favorite salad dressing.

Coupon clubs are not only good for trading coupons and tips. It’s wonderful to spend time with others who share the same passion for saving money and get the same thrill of the whole experience that you do and to form new friendships.  It also gives others, who are interested, a chance to be a part of it all.

Couponing is the one addiction that truly benefits you and your family. It saves so much money and the time that it takes though less than most people think, is no more than anyone might invest in a hobby.  At first it may be an awkward at best endeavor but as you achieve your own techniques and your own system that feels right for you, it will become a obsession that even the kids can share.

Not sure how to find others who share your fixation? Next time you’re in the grocery store look among the people perusing the isles and find one with coupons. Approach them and ask about them. There isn’t a couponer alive who doesn’t love talking to others about their love of couponing.

There are no new articles on Saturday

There are no new articles on Saturday. Go ahead and take this opportunity to catch up on some past blogs that you missed and don’t forget to check out Reuter’s Home Designs website.

Have a great day.

Anything Goes Friday: Quick, clean, easy way to change the cat box

This week’s article may not be pleasant but it can make the lives of cat lovers much easier. It’s so simple, clean and easy that you will wish you knew about it sooner.

BEFORE you add litter to the cat pan, slide the entire box into a kitchen trash bag keeping the open end well over the end and tucked under the box, make sure the trash bag is smoothed down into the shape of the box and pour the kitty litter in.

When you are ready to change it; grab the bag at the opening and pull it off the box inside out and everything will be inside and ready to tie off and discard.

NOTE: If you have previously used the cat pan without the trash bag, make sure to clean, disinfect and dry it. When using the cleaner method you have no fear of touching the actual cat pan because nothing ever comes in direct contact with it so you run the risk of forgetting and touching the pan if it hasn’t been cleaned properly. Also if it isn’t dried well you could trap moisture between the bag and the pan.

It’s so simple….so easy……and so clean.

Stop by our local Tropic Shoppe at 47366 Y&O Rd, East Liverpool (330) 385-4100, for all of your pet supplies

Decorating Thursday: Organizing your jewelry

Those of you who love jewelry, who shop for it and who receive it for gifts accumulate, over time, more than you can store affectively. What do you do with it? Do your necklaces become tangled? Your earrings get lost and you’re left with just one? Do they all get tangled up in a blob of chains with earring posts sticking out of it? Or, do you keep it in different boxes in an attempt to avoid such catastrophic messes?

Such is the case of an area woman who, over many years accumulated so much jewelry that she had fourteen various jewel boxes, an armoire and various sizes of other boxes full.  She no longer knew what she had or where to find it along with dozens of pairs of mismatched earrings.

The solution: Reuter’s Home Designs took a dresser found in the basement and transformed it into storage for all of it for less than ten dollars by using core board, purchased at the local Dollar Tree, cut and glued together into shallow trays and covered with fabric, doubling and even tripling the capacity of each drawer and using trays with sections in them that the client already had on hand from something she had purchased.

While organizing the jewelry to put into its new home several dozen earrings were reunited with their counterpart, making for a very happy client.

See this and other decorating ideas on Reuter’s Home Designs website.

Next Thursday: Digitally enhanced decorating.

Trash to Treasures Wednesday: making an elegant foot stool

How many times have you picked out a pair of shoes from your closet and needed a place to sit down to put them on but in a hurry, ended up awkwardly trying to battle with getting them on while still standing.  I’m finding as I get older, it’s getting harder and harder to balance on one foot to manage this feat.

I found the perfect solution in a pile of junk in the basement in the form of a cheap old bar stool from the seventies.  I cut the legs off covered the seat with batting and with minimal sewing of fabric that I had left over from making a headboard (see next Wednesday’s Trash to Treasures). It made the perfect sized stool for inside a walk in closet that was a perfect place to sit down to put on shoes and as an added bonus it matched the headboard giving the bedroom a high end, pulled together, coordinated look.

Take some time to browse your storage/junk room you’ll never know what treasures you might find or what might inspire you.

Visit my website at www.reutershomedesigns.com to see before and after pictures of this quick and easy project.

Next Wednesday: How to make a luxurious headboard.

Selling Your House Tuesday – Open House

There is as much to be said about not having an open house as to having one. 

1.       Some realtors feel it’s a waste of time especially when it’s turns out to be no more than the neighborhood snoop session.

2.       Some people worry about security issues.

3.       Some just plain don’t want people traipsing through their homes.

The upside, however, of having an open house is.

1.       Once you’ve got it cleaned and looking beautiful you can get as many people possible through it while it’s looking its best. You know what you have to go through each and every time you get a showing, this way you kill several birds with one stone.

2.       It’s like unveiling a long awaited art piece, build the drama. Having an open house makes a bit of a spectacle. It says, “Hey look at me!”

3.       It’s your one greatest chance to hit the ground running as far as selling your house goes. It’s putting your best foot forward and making a spectacular first impression.

4.       Even if you get a flood of nibby neighbors they will more than likely run to tell someone else how beautiful it is…..that could be a good thing.

5.       If you are concerned with security issues. Be sure to remove any thing that is of great value because even while there is a realtor on site at all times he/she cannot be in every room at every minute with everyone.  There’s always the obvious….don’t leave money, purses, wallets, keys to the house or cars lying around.

When I have an open house, I like to bake chocolate chip cookies and leave for guests. It helps them remember your house and it smells so homey and comforting. While I do use air fresheners at times, I like the more subtle ones. You don’t want people to walk into your house and get hit with an overpowering smell that suggests you have something to hide.

I’ve sold houses both ways, with and without an open house. Since it’s never taken me more than a week to sell a house, I can’t really say how much difference it made for sure.

Go with your gut on this one because, in the end, you need to feel comfortable with leaving your home open for the masses.

One last mention; You know from past blogs to take down family photos because the buyers want to be able to envision themselves living there and it’s hard to do with Aunt Harriet staring you in the face but personally, I don’t like pictures of my kids/grandkids around for strangers to see…..you never really know who is walking through. Sorry, creepy but needed said.

Next week: How much should you put down? How can it affect how much you pay for the house in the end?

Do It Yourself Monday – Paver Patio

You can install a paver patio in a day or two at a relatively low cost and fairly minimal effort. It is an excellent alternative to pouring cement or building a deck and with little thought can be designed to look like a high end, comfortable and beautiful outdoor living space.

Although the larger pavers are, in my opinion, preferable it is easier to work with the smaller ones and they are more cost effective.

Clear off the area in which you want to lay your pavers, leaving it as level as possible and debris free. Spread a four to six inch layer of sand evenly over the entire area. Lay the pavers out in the desired pattern placing them in a slight twisting, rocking motion to insure firm placement. Use a rubber mallet to help even each paver with the others.

Once all pavers are placed, surround the perimeter of the patio with dirt to keep them from sliding apart and the erosion of the sand beneath them.

To prevent rocking and to tighten the pavers up, pour sand over the patio and using a broom sweep it forcing as much sand into the cracks as possible.

After a little time the pavers will settle in to their spot, the grass will grow around it and the patio will become a more solid feeling, beautiful and useful outdoor seating area that is easy to clean with a hose and a broom.

Use your imagination when placing your pavers. Go around trees. Leave a void in the center for a fire pit or sand box. There are many options and limitless ideas to make your patio your own outdoor paradise.

Visit my website at www.reutershomedesigns.com to see before and after pictures of a couple simple but effective paver patios.

Next Monday: Removing wall paper

Coupon Sunday –Store Coupon Policies

In order to avoid embarrassment at the check-out and paying more than you planned, it is very important to do some research, ahead of time, to learn the coupon policies of the store in which you plan to shop.

One policy that may add confusion to your shopping is one that tends to differ from store to store. Some stores allow you to use a coupon on each of the two buy one get one free items but most, however do not. Most stores allow you to use a coupon on the buy one item but not the free item.

Some stores will allow credits for overages that is, if you have more in coupons than the item cost, some stores will allow you to use the credit toward other purchases. Typically, stores will only give up to the cost of the item making it free but not giving any credit above the cost of the item.

There are stores that allow more than one coupon on one item as long as one is a store coupon and one is a manufacture coupon.

Investigating the store coupon policies can get you the best deals possible since some stores double coupons up to a certain amount, some offer extra incentives like points to be used toward gasoline purchases or percent off perks.

 No matter what the policy, it is best to know them before you peruse the ads to choose the best ads for the coupons you have, to come up with the best possible price for which you can get it.

Keep in mind, two ads may have the same item on sale and just because one may be advertised at a lower price, consider the coupons you have in conjunction with the stores policies to determine whether it is actually the better buy in the end. It may be that the lower priced item could potentially cost more after coupons than the higher priced.

No Posts on Saturday

There are no new posts on Saturday but I'll be here tomorrow for Coupon Sunday.

Thanks for stopping, I appreciate your interest and am always interested in your comments and questions.

Have a great day and I'll see you tomorrow.

Anything Goes Friday – Crafty Gift Ideas

Flower Pot of Ink Pens

Purchase a small flower pot of artificial flowers, I found one for $5.00, a package of the cheap, plain ink pens and some florist tape. Pull all of the flowers out and separated if connected. Leave the stem on them about an inch or two shorter than the ink pens. Wrap the stems of the flowers to the pen from top to bottom and replace them in the pot.  They look beautiful on your desk and are available when you need a pen but what I liked best about them is when I worked with all men, they would take off with my ink pens never to return them…..After I made this unique and beautiful and very useful flower pot, I never lost a single one.

Fabric Gift Boxes

When I go to bridal or baby showers, I like to give unique gifts. Gifts that no one else will give them. My favorite is to take a box with a lid. You can purchase them at just about any discount retailer. Cut fabric and sew into a box shape to fit. Wrap the box with batting and slip it into the fabric skin. Cover the lid the same as the box and fill it with miscellaneous necessities, i.e, for a baby shower fill with pacifiers, booties, bottles, onesies or anything else that will fit. It is not only a beautiful way to give a gift but the box is also useful for keeping things in after the shower.

Pacifier Tree

This is a cute craft idea for a baby shower for a new baby girl. Purchase a small  empty flower pot, a few  picks of silk leaves, pacifiers, lacey socks, a piece of Styrofoam to fit the flower pot, craft wire and florist tape. Roll the socks down so the lacey part sticks out like a flower. Place the pacifier in the sock so the nipple sticks out of the center of the “flower”. Then wrap the wire around the sock below the lacey part and between the nipple and handle of the pacifier and wrap wire with florist tape. Stick into flower pot with Styrofoam and arrange the leaves around them. This is a very cute gift idea that gets a lot of ooohs and ahhhs. The only down side is the mom-to-be doesn’t want to use them because they are too cute to take apart. Note: If using the pacifiers with the buttons in place of the handles, turn the nipple in and use the button for the flower center…..very cute.

Next Friday: Quick easy and clean way to change the cat box.

Decorating Thursday – Closet Organizing

I am one of those people who’s an absolute freak about organization. I like having a place for everything and keeping it there. I like the feeling of knowing where everything is and can locate it at a moment’s notice.

I have found that the best way to keep my closet organized is to use as few drawers as possible. Using drawers makes it hard to find what you’re looking for and practically insures wrinkled clothes. I use two to four drawers (per person) at the most for socks, undergarments, night gowns/pajamas and belts. Tops, shorts, pants and sweaters/sweatshirts are all folded and put in opened cubes. Shoes are on shelves across the bottom. Skirts, dresses/gowns, suits and blouses are hung. Top shelf of closet is left for purses and hats

This system eliminates the need for dressers in the bedroom leaving more space for other necessary furniture and doesn’t have to be the expensive closet units you see in home design stores. I’ve used drawer/cube and shelf units that you assemble and connect together purchased in discount department stores that look beautiful and give the room and closet a high end look.

You could also use one of the few drawers you have for drawer organizers to keep jewelry out of the way and in a safe place.

See pictures of closets in homes I’ve designed on my website at www.reutershomedesigns.com

Next Decorating Thursday: Jewelry organizing

Trash to Treasures Wednesday – Turning a closet into a Luxurious bed

Do you have a room in your house that serves as three or even four rooms? You know the one I mean, the extra bedroom/den/work-out room/etc. I was recently faced with the dilemma of making a very small room into all of the above and was just about there when I came to the conclusion that you can’t put ten pounds of sand in a three pound bag. In order for it to serve the desired purpose and still look esthetically pleasing, I just needed that room to be a few feet larger….just a few feet!  I was just too darn close to give up.

After a good bit of pondering and some real old fashion stick-to-itivness, I figured it out.  In this small but valued room was a closet so full of clutter that the door could barely be closed. This isn’t the normal everyday run of the mill junk that you actually use but toss in a closet to keep out of sight. This is a closet filled to the brim of junk from years gone by never to be seen or used again but still lacking the ability to part with it.

I gutted the closet. Sorted, organized, stored and compromised the release of some of its contents until there was nothing left but shelves. I pulled out all of the shelving and used it for additional seating in the basement family room. (See Last Wednesday’s trash to Treasures Post)

I took off the doors and framed the opening with draperies that needed a home. I pulled the center drapes back against the wall and added a picture.

I put the nightstands inside the closet on each side and the headboard in the center. I added lamps    creating a luxurious sleeping area for overnight guests.

Those extra few feet gave me the space I needed to keep the bed out of the way for the desk, dresser and treadmill, that folds up and out of the way when not in use, to all share the space and still look like they belong there.  

This room has achieved maximum usage and still maintained beauty and comfort. To see before and after pictures of this project visit my website at www.reutershomedesigns.com

Next Wednesday see what I did with an old bar stool

Selling Your House Tuesday – Odors

Everyone knows that when you are around a smell for so long that you can no longer smell it. That is true with smoking and pets. Two of the most revolting smells a prospective buyer can be met with upon entering your home. Both give the impression of unclean even if your home appears spotless. Few people don’t care about buying a foul smelling house.  Have you ever asked a trusted friend, “Now tell me the truth, does my house stink?” Consider me your friend and I’m telling you as a true friend should. If you smoke or have a pet, all the Fabreeze in the world isn’t going to take the smell out. The only way to eliminate the smell is to eliminate the source even if only temporarily.

If you have a pet or are a smoker or both you have eliminated your audience of buyers down to three categories, other smokers, people who just don’t care and buyers looking to buy low and flip. Even other pet owners don’t want someone else’s pet smells in a house that they are thinking of purchasing.

My suggestion, even though it isn’t a popular one for some, is once you’ve cleaned the carpets, draperies, furniture and just about every possible surface and painted. Start smoking outside until you sell your house….I promise you enough of the odor will still be on your clothes that you wear back into the house to keep your closet and dirty clothes area smelling funky. For that I suggest putting an air freshener with a natural smell so it doesn’t look like you’re trying to mask odors……like you are.

Pets are another down side of selling a house, unlike smoking, your pets are a beloved stinky family member and even those of us who love our pets and understand the dilemma, we still don’t want to buy someone else’s stinky dog house. My suggestion in this case is. Prepare for an open house and remove all signs of a pet living there then take the pet with you during the open house. After the open house you are going to have to just stay on top of dusting, vacuuming, fur and drool until you sell it but keep all evidence out of sight. You might be able to pull off masking the odors but a lot of pet paraphernalia is only going to bring it to the forefront and suggest the odor is present even if it’s not.

Selling a home is not easy, more so because of the inconvenience. You literally have to change your lifestyle to be ready for strangers to meander through your home, at a moment’s notice, to pass judgment on it.  Unfortunately, that is what you have to put up with to get your house sold and get the highest possible price you can get.

Next Tuesday….Open houses.

Do it yourself Monday – Changing a light fixture

Changing a light fixture is something that I never could imagine myself doing as I am a really big chicken when it came to electricity. However, my desire to do it won out over my fear and I found that there was nothing to be afraid of. Just be sure to cut the power and pay attention to what you are doing.

You’ll want to have a power tester. They are inexpensive and you’ll know for sure that the power is off.

Turn off the electricity; remove the light cover and bulbs. There should be either thumb screws or regular screws holding the old fixture in place. Once the old fixture is removed, unscrew the caps over the ends of the wires. Use your power tester to be sure there is no juice to the connections. Once you are sure, go ahead and unwind the wires from one another, disconnect the ground wire and your half way there. 

You will be attaching the black wire to the black wire, the white wire to the white wire and the ground wire to the same screw that the old one was attached to.  To attach the new fixture place the black wire of the new fixture to the hot wire (the black one)by placing them side by side in the same direction and winding them together in a clockwise motion then screw the cap on securing them together. Repeat the same step with the white wires. Connect the ground wire and you’re ready to put your new fixture up.

If your fixtures are close to the same type you might be able to use the same brackets. Most of the ones I’ve installed can go right back up with the same brackets, however, I have ran across a few surprises but have had no problem following the directions of the new fixture.

Once the fixture is in place and the bulbs and covers are secure, turn the power back on and make sure it works.

I’ve come a long way since the first time I attempted changing my first light fixture. There is no feeling in this world like the satisfaction of doing it yourself. Be careful, be safe but be brave enough to try. You will be so proud of yourself. Don’t forget to check out my website for more ideas and helpful hints at www.reutershomedesigns.com

Next Monday: Putting in a paver patio.

Coupon Sunday – Favorite buys

In the eight weeks that I’ve been couponing I have had some pretty exciting sales, those would be the ones in which I walked out of the store without paying a dime…..uh hem, legally.  Aside from my Freebies, I’ve listed, in detail, three of my favorite coupon scenarios where I felt especially pleased with my purchase.  You may get some ideas how you can save.

Coffee Mate Creamers regularly $2.29 each, I got for 2.5 cents each. They were on sale two for three dollars, I had two .55 cent coupons, which were doubled. I also had a coupon for .75 off when I purchase two Coffee Mate Creamers. 

  $4.58 for the two Creamers

 -$1.58 Store discount on weekly special

 -$ 2.20 for the two coupons for .55 cents each that was doubled

 -     .75 off coupon when you purchase two.

       .05  I paid for both creamers.

I had five coupons for .75 off three boxes of Hamburger Helper.  The Hamburger Helper, which is regularly $2.00 was on sale for a dollar each. I bought fifteen boxes of Hamburger Helper for .50 a box. I also got a coupon on my receipt for $2.00 off my next purchase of Hamburger Helper which gave me a free box.

 $15.00 for fifteen boxes on sale for $1.00 each

       .75 doubled x 5 =$7.50 off

$7.50 for 15 boxes of Hamburger Helper that would normally have cost $30.00

I had two coupons for .50 off two cans of Dole Mandarin Oranges. The oranges were on sale for $1.25 per can. I had an e-coupon for $2.00 and food perks for .48 cents. Making the four cans that I purchased just .13 cents per can.

$1.25 x 4 =            $5.00

 .50 doubled x 2= $2.00

E-coupon =            $2.00

Food perks =             .48

                                   .52 divided by 4 cans =  .13 cents each.

Ok, one more because this one is just too good to not tell you about. My local drug store offers reward dollars on you next purchase. I had $5.00 dollars in rewards to put toward my next purchase and two 3.00 coupons for filling out two surveys. Pepsi products went on sale buy four get one free with a store coupon. I was allowed to use two coupons.

10 - 12 pks of Pepsi, normally 5.99 each were now $3.25 each. I had two coupons for $3.25 equaling $6.50 off.

5.99 x 10(12 pks) = 59.90 – 2.74 store discount x 10 = 27.40 – two coupons totaling 6.50 – 5.00 reward coupon and two 3.00 coupons for filling out two surveys.  I got ten twelve packs of Pepsi for 15.00. That’s $1.25 for each twelve pack. That’s just a little over a penny per can.

Come back next Sunday and we’ll talk about Coupon Clubs.

Saturday-No New Posts

There are no new posts on Saturday but I'll be here tomorrow for Coupon Sunday.

Thanks for stopping, I appreciate your interest and am always interested in your comments and questions.

Have a great day and I'll see you tomorrow.

Anything Goes Friday - Occupying Your Grandchildren for the Weekend

I am the grandmother of five children ages 7, 6, 4, 3 and almost 2.

While my daughter is the proverbial Super Mom, with the older three in extra-curricular activities, keeping a house and her brood fed, bathed and clothed, and as a free lance writer preparing  bi-weekly articles www.survivingfive.com (particularly the Surviving Five and mommy brain post), having five very young children can wear even the mightiest super mom down. So occasionally I will get them for the weekend to give her a break.

My basement family room is decorated with my grandchildren in mind. I have a TV and DVD player set up with a large selection of children’s movies, a Wii game console with games, toys, coloring books, puzzles and well you get the picture. I keep plenty to busy them for hours on end. I painted the door leading to the bathroom with chalk board paint so they can go crazy being creative.  I purchased a bounce house a couple years ago and I use it year around, outside in the summer and downstairs in the winter. They never get tired of it. It was by far the best purchase I’ve ever made and with five grandbabies I will more than get my money’s worth out of it. We spend just about every waking hour in the basement in the winter when they visit.  

Before they arrive I make up a bunch of mini pancakes and put them in a zip lock bag in the fridge. I then throw a pkg of cream cheese a couple bananas and about a fourth cup of powdered sugar in the food processor and put it in a container in the fridge. Then I get the kitchen clean and the table set before they get here. Staying caught up early on is crucial as you can lose control fast with that many cookie snatchers around.  

Once the kiddo’s arrive I don’t even have to suggest eating breakfast they are running in the door heading straight for the table, after hugs and kisses, wanting “panatates” because theeey looove “panatates” (I’ve been told). All there is left to do now is put the mini pancakes in the toaster spread the banana cream between two and drizzle syrup over them. I try to give them meals that they don’t usually get at home so it will keep coming to grandmas special.

After breakfast I take them downstairs, put a baby gate across the steps and turn em loose. They have a ball.  Late morning I put the baby down for a nap and clean up breakfast dishes and make lunch while the other four play their little hearts out. After lunch, which we also have downstairs we go outside if it’s nice.

 I like to get the Chef Boy ar Dee pizza kits. I make up the dough and divide it in four balls and let the kids each stretch out their own dough, I put the sauce on and they put on pepperoni and cheese. They love making their own dinner, which at Grandma’s is typically pizza, hot dogs and ice cream oh and a little bit of pop. What? Just a little. Hey I’m grandma. I don’t have to be the responsible one I get to be the fun one.   We play games, sing songs, bounce, play Go Fish and play with toys. If we’re outside they play on the swing set and in the sand or blow bubbles until they are so filthy and tired they are begging to get their bath and go to bed.

The next morning we do a repeat breakfast of day one. Then, however comes the moment when Grandma is no match for Super mommy. While my darling daughter does this day in and day out…..I don’t, I only raised one child and I’ve got twenty-three years on her. Waiting for Mommy to come rescue me is like being a child waiting for Christmas. It is so crazy how they wear me out but I wouldn’t trade being a grandma for anything in the world. I love them as I love my own sweet girl. Three or four weeks rest and I’ll be ready to do it all again.

The message in this story is to come up with most unique things to do, the most fun meals to make and the yummiest treats to serve and trust me the simplest of all of them are the best. It will keep you elevated to movie star status with your grandchildren.

Decorating Thursday – Homemade Window Treatments

One of the best ways to save money decorating is to make draperies and window treatments yourself.  Ok, maybe everyone isn’t a seamstress but there are ways to cut corners with minimal creativity involved besides you’re more creative than you allow yourself to think.

One of my favorite little tricks to getting a high end look is to make my own cornises. (See my website for pictures. www.reutershomedesigns.com  My Design Style Tab, master suite window treatments).You will be surprised at how easy it was to get that look.

I made the cornises by purchasing Styrofoam insulation in small sheets. (They come four or five in a bag). Measure the width of your window, cut the Styrofoam insulation to fit plus a half Inch or three quarter inch, whichever thickness you are using, then cut the sides and top and glue together with liquid nails allow to dry, cover with batting and the fabric you've selected, attach L brackets and install on them.  They are so easy to make and have such a high end look.

I made the draperies in the pictures as well but you can purchase inexpensive sheers or draperies to compliment your new cornises.

You can always find fabric on sale and there are almost always coupons to apply to the savings so it’s generally the most inexpensive way to go to get such a luxurious look.

Next Thursday: Closet organizing.

Trash to Treasures Wednesday– Storage Seating

We always need more seating and we ALWAYS need more storage. Today we are going to get both for no cost.

I was working on a basement family room job for a large family who hold large family gatherings. Enough seating was always a problem so while completing the fireplace make over I thought storage seating on both sides of the fireplace would be a perfect solution.

I need to build more storage seating but don’t want to go over the budget. No problem. There was an upstairs closet that had shelves from top to bottom in it that had to go as I had other plans for that closet.

I tore out all of the wood shelving, pulled all the nails, primed and painted them.  I also had two maple shelves that came out of an armoire from my own stash. I built a frame for each side of the fireplace from scrap two by fours and cut and attached the wood planks to it. I then cut planks to fit part of the top of the bench that was not going to open and attached to two maple shelves with hinges.

After the paint dried, I finished it off with some throw pillows leaving this family room with extra seating and storage on both sides of the fireplace creating an inviting and cozy area to gather with friends and family.

See Decorating Thursday 6/30/2011 to see the fireplace make over if you missed it. Then go to my website www.reutershomedesigns.com to see before and after pictures.

Next Wednesday: Come back to see what I did with the closet where I got the shelves.

Selling Your House Tuesday - Over investing

While decorating a home, it’s sometimes hard to refrain from selecting high end appliances, fixtures, surfaces and flooring.  There are instances when you really need to pull the in reins .

If you are going to live in your home till the day you die or are going to pass it on to your children, if you have no plans to sell or recoup all the money you put into it then by all means, knock yourself out. You deserve to live how you want to and be surrounded by the things that make you most comfortable.

If you are purchasing a house intending to sell it you need to consider the Fair Market Value. That is what your house is worth based on geographical location and economy.

If you purchase a house for $30,000.00 in a neighborhood with like houses and valued the same and update it with granite countertops, high end appliances, Hardwood floors and custom draperies, chances are, you are not going to see a return on your investment, however, if you purchase the worst house in the best block, that is a $30,000.00 house in a neighborhood of homes valued at $100,000.00. you would be on the right track to go for it.

You might think that I have a talent for stating the obvious but it still happens. Some people think just because they put all the updates into a house that it makes it worth more and are disappointed and offended when they don’t receive the bids that they think they should. With all of those upgrades, you will get bids but don’t be surprised if it’s not what you’re hoping for.

You can still get a high end look by choosing materials appropriate for your particular project. Laminate flooring instead of hardwood, solid surface instead of granite (there are even some pretty awesome looking laminate countertops these days as well). Go for the stainless appliances, if you must, but just don’t get the top of the line. If you save money on some of the higher budget items then go ahead and splurge on nice accents.  Just keep tight strings on your purse or you could end up making a beautiful home for someone else to enjoy on your dime.

Visit my website to see some of the low cost alternatives I’ve utilized. www.reutershomedesigns.com

Come back next Tuesday Selling your house with odors.

 

Do It Yourself Monday – Installing Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile is a great choice for Kitchens, bathrooms and entry halls. It’s beautiful, durable and easy to clean.  It is easier to install than you might think.

Let’s start simple.  You want to install ceramic tile over concrete or plywood floors. If your floors have carpet, linoleum or vinyl, it will need to be removed. Make sure before you begin that the floor surface is clean, smooth and free of any imperfections that may cause the tile to not lie flat. If you’re tiling over plywood it is best to use concrete backer board, it helps with adhesion, however, I have installed it directly on plywood with no problems.

Decide which direction you want your tile to be placed. Straight or on the diagonal? Straight is easier but I love it on the diagonal because it makes the room seem wider and I just think it is beautiful that way so the added effort and cuts are worth it to me.  

Start at the most visible spot in the room, the dead center, and work your way out across the room allowing your beginning tiles to be the guide for the rest of the tiles. Apply an even layer of thinset to a small area of the floor where you want to begin. Apply it with the smooth side of a notched trowel then go over it with the grooved side to make grooves in the thinset.  Butter each tile with thinset, yes just like you butter bread, all over and groove it as well. Place your first tile. Position how you want it and press firmly with a slight wiggle motion to adhere the thinset on the floor to the thinset on the tile and work out any bubbles that might be trapped.

After lying the second tile arrange the space desired between by placing tiling spacers at each corner to insure proper and uniform spacing. Continue on throughout the room placing full tiles and cut tiles to finish to the edges. Wipe clean and let dry 24 hours.

After allowing the thinset to dry, you are now ready to grout. Grout does come in different colors so be sure to chose the one that you are satisfied with alongside your tile. Using a float apply the grout to the spaces between the tile, pushing it down in as you go and wiping excess from  the tile. When finished, wipe over it until you have as clean as possible. It will still dry with a haze. Once dry, you can clean it to a shine.

Some people prefer not to seal their grout as they claim it discolors it. I never really noticed it doing that but either way, I feel it’s best to seal it especially in the kitchen and bath areas.

This has been a very basic description of do it yourself tiling on the simplest of cases as there are so many techniques and issues that may arise I couldn’t possible go over everyone of them in a blog. However, you CAN do this. If you don’t have the answers you need, please keep checking as you can find answers to any question you could possibly have on the internet. Just don’t let it discourage you from doing it. Once I took on my first tiling project I didn’t hesitate to do it again. I never regretted it or was unhappy with the results. See my website for before and after pictures of tiling and other projects I’ve done at www.reutershomedesigns.com

Next Monday: Replacing those old outdated light fixtures. See you then.

Coupon Sunday - Tracking Savings on the Computer

Wow, I can’t believe its Sunday again already.  It’s my favorite morning of the week, I just can’t wait to go down to Gibby’s and get my papers filled with all my money saving treasures. Waiting to see what coupons I will get is torture.  I love matching them up with the Store ad flyers to see what I’m going to come home with FREE.

In order for me to fully appreciate my impending shopping trip, I have designed a spreadsheet that I enter my intended purchases and the regular price of the item as well as the amount of the coupon and it tells me how much I will spend, how much the item is each, how much I saved and what percent I saved on that particular shopping trip. It also keeps a running total of savings since I started couponing.

I’m in the process of designing it to include every coupon I have in a database so when I enter the item it will tell  me if I have the coupon and the amount along with the expiration date but not quite done with that yet so I’ll continue to use it as I have it for the time being.

My spreadsheet consists of the following columns, # of coupons, # of items, item, price, coupon, Type of coupon special ( I enter an “X” if it is to be doubled, a “b” for buy one get one free and a “b50” for buy one get one 50% off.), Specials, Double, Advantage, Total, e-coupons, additional savings, rebates, Final Cost, Savings, Cost per item and percent saved.  There is also a place that keeps a running total of my savings from the time I started couponing.

What I like about this system is I don’t have to sit down and figure it all out and risk making a mistake that I won’t find out until the check-out line.  It’s easy, all I have to do is enter the item that I intend to purchase, the amount of the same coupons I have for that item, how many of the item I am purchasing and how much the coupon is for and my spreadsheet figures out all the savings for me. When I go to the store I can, for the most part, know what I’m spending and what to expect. There are those few rare deals that I find while I’m shopping that might throw off the plan a little but when I get home I’m sure to enter it so it will pick up and include all my savings.

It is so much fun to see that I’ve saved 80% or more. Even though I pretty much know how much I’ve saved when I’m leaving the store, it is so much fun to document it and watch it unfold on my spreadsheet. Almost as much fun as it is to put my treasures away on my stock pile shelves. It’s a beautiful sight.

I’m starting a coupon club in my area for all the local couponers to get together and share techniques and coupons. Our first meeting is this Sunday.

Be here next Sunday to read about some of my really great purchases and how I got them.

There are no new posts on Saturday but I'll be here tomorrow for Coupon Sunday.

Thanks for stopping, I appreciate your interest and am always interested in your comments and questions.

Have a great day and I'll see you tomorrow.

Anything Goes Friday – Stretching a dollar with Gift Certificates

I like to get the absolute most out of every dollar I can. In this economy who wouldn’t? Call it cheap. Call it thrifty. I call it smart. I can think of all kinds of other things I could do with my money.

I have a checking account that offers Rewards points when I use my bank card as a credit instead of debit. The Rewards points can be used toward all kinds of gift certificates for stores, restaurants and gas and even for Visa cards to be used for anything. I always get Home Depot Gift Certificates with mine since that seems to be where most of my money ends up anyway.

When I decided to purchase a six piece DeWalt tool set, I went to Giant Eagle and purchased a Home Depot Gift Certificate with my bank card. I then took that gift certificate to Home Depot and purchased my tools with it.

In the end, I got rewards points for using my bank card as credit, which bought me a hundred dollar Home Depot Gift Certificate.

I filled up my gas tank free with the fuel perks that I got from the gift certificate purchase at Giant Eagle.

If that wasn’t great in itself I got my tools on clearance since the combo I wanted was being discontinued to offer a new combination for the following year.

$100.00 gift certificate for using my bank card

$50.00 full tank of gas from fuel perks from the purchase of Gift Certificate

$150.00 off the regular price on clearance.

I saved $300.00!!! Ok, the Clearance was a lucky break but $200.00 of my savings was just from taking a few extra minutes to purchase a gift certificate for the store where I was going to purchase my tools.

Saving money, like anything else, gets easier with practice and experience. Just take a minute before you reach for your wallet or before you step up to the cashier and think, “Is there a way I can save money on this purchase?”  Anymore, I won’t buy anything without figuring out if there is a way to get it for the least amount of money I can possibly spend on it.

As always comment/questions are welcome. Comment below or contact me at maryannreuter@ymail.com

Next Anything Goes Friday: Keeping the grandchildren happy and occupied during weekend visits.