Happy Thanksgiving! I'm off to Savannah!

Well, friends. I'm taking a break from blogging the next few days. I'm spending Thanksgiving in Savannah, GA with my brother, his fiance, and my mom. I can't wait to travel to the land of southern hospitality, home cooking, and beautiful plantations!

My husband decided to stay back for the Husker game. I'm thankful he'll be taking good care of our pets while I'm gone. Hope you all have a relaxing Thanksgiving with friends and family!

Children's Place extra 30% off

Children's Place online Black Friday has started. They are offering an extra 30% off and free shipping (no minimum!) with promo code: BLACKFRIDAY.

What time online Black Friday sales start for each retailer

Kuddos to Brad's Deals. This list is awesome. It tells you when each retailer is starting their ONLINE Black Friday sales. Sure takes the guesswork out of it. The screenshot below shows a small portion of the list. At the top are the stores you can shop right now followed by the exact times everyone else is starting their online doorbusters and special sales.

Nine West 50% off, plus extra 15% off boots

Nine West is having a great sale right now! A lot of retailers offer $19.99 or $29.99 boots on Black Friday, but I'm not a fan of them. Too cheap looking for my taste (even though I am cheap and don't like to spend much). When it comes to boots and shoes in general, I think it's better to pay a bit more for a higher quality item. It will last you longer and will probably be more comfortable.

Nine West has some nice leather boots. Get 50% off boots and booties and then an additional 15% with code NWEM5. According to Brad's Deals this is one of the best sales they've ever offered.

I really like the following boots in black. The first is originally $169 and is marked down to $84.50. It is $71.82 with the extra 15% off. The second is $179 and marked down to $89.50. The extra discount brings it to $76.07. Shipping is free!

Nine West Counter Boot

Nine West Valcaria

I'm on the hunt for a nice pair of black boots so that's why these caught my eye. There are a lot of brown and camel colors as well. Purses and accessories are on sale too!

kate spade 75% off

For all of you Kate Spade lovers out there - up to 75% off select items through Saturday, November 30th. Click here to go to the site. You may be required to submit your email and zip code.

I like the Cobble Hill Small Kori in Oyster. It would match with just about any outfit and I think it's a style that can be used for years to come. The original price is $398 and it's marked down to $149. Shipping is $5.

Or how about the Bow Valley Helena? The original price is $478 and it's marked down to $189.

Check out their shoes and accessories as well! Sure these purses are still a pretty penny even at the sale prices, but choose a timeless style that you'll use for many years. That way you get your money's worth!

Deal bloggers you should be following

Following certain bloggers is the easiest way to score awesome deals. They do this for a living and share what they find. Read their blogs, but also like them on social media. This is how I find out about all sorts of freebies and steals. It's especially helpful to follow them now when there are so many sales for Black Friday. I swear these bloggers must not sleep. They've been posting 24/7 the past week. With stores starting their Black Friday sales at different times it's impossible to keep up. Let the pros do the work for you!

For example, Walgreens offers free 8x10 prints, 4x6 prints, holiday cards, collages, etc. throughout the year. I rarely read their emails or visit their website - who has time for that? The bloggers I follow are great about posting when these freebies happen and what codes to use. Last week, I got 50 4x6 prints for free. Today I ordered a free 8x10 (use code TURKEY8x10). We also got 40 free holiday cards which I'll send out soon.

What do you think?

So here are the pros I follow:

Neiman Marcus last call extra 40% off everything, extra 60% off clearance

I just received the below email from Neiman Marcus last call. The sale runs through 11/27. If you haven't shopped in their stores or on their website before, they have designer goods for much less. I've purchased Coach loafers and a Michael Kors watch from them for a fraction of the cost.

The extra 60% off clearance is what caught my eye in this email. Check out this high quality Rachel Zoe bag that drops from $350 to $140. The same bag is at Saks Fifth Avenue right now for $247! That's a savings of $107!!

This Resin Cabochon Bracelet in teal drop from $52 to $14.50. There is also a matching statement necklace that goes from $84 to $23.50.

I don't normally spend a lot of money, but if it's a good deal on a high quality item that I can use for a long time - I will splurge. Purchase items that are classic and timeless, not trendy, when buying designer duds.

Why Kohl's is my favorite Black Friday store

I love Kohl's!!! I shop there year round, but especially on Black Friday. They started their online Black Friday sale last night at midnight and the deals are still going on. Every Black Friday, Kohl's lets you earn $15 in Kohl's cash for every $50 spent. This year you can redeem the Kohl's cash between December 2-11. Many of their Black Friday deals have rebates on top of the sales. For example, I just purchased this KitchenAid Classic Plus 4.5-qt. Stand Mixer and CorningWare French White 10-pc. Set for $118.44 online. Retail is $364.98 for both items! I saved $246.54!!! For comparison, the sale price at Walmart for the mixer alone is $199.

Kohls.com

Kohls.com

Update: I also just bought this Food Network 15-pc. Stainless Steel Cutlery Set. The original price was $179.99 and I got it for $12.51! That's a savings of $167.48.

Here is how I did it:

Building a workbench - part 3

My husband is still at it! Thank goodness he's been blogging lately because I honestly haven't gotten much done.

Here is his third and final workbench post. (Part 1 and Part 2 can be found here and here if you missed them.)

Today I’ll show you the finishing touch on the workbench.  The lighting!  For some reason our garage only has a single overhead light so a work light on this bench was a necessity.  This only took about an hour.  It should have been less, but I failed to read an important sticker that was on the light that explained something that was easily avoidable.  I won’t get into that to save myself a little bit of embarrassment.  Let’s get started.

Building a workbench - part 2

Part 1 can be found here if you missed it.

Well, I may have lied yesterday about what I’d be writing about today.  Unfortunately I didn’t get to install the shop light on my workbench last night because I failed to realize that I didn’t pick up the eye bolts that I needed to hold it to the structure.  Today’s post will be short and sweet as I show you the pegboard and outlet strip I installed last night.

Start your Black Friday shopping this weekend

I was going to wait until next week to post about Black Friday, but so many places are doing pre-Black Friday sales that I thought today was appropriate. 

Competition is extremely fierce between stores this year since Thanksgiving is later. There are less shopping days in the holiday season which means stores have started their Black Friday sales earlier than ever and have engaged in price wars.

Check out these articles:

Black Friday Comes Early as U.S. Retailers Panic Over Holiday Sales

This Year, Black Friday Basically Starts a Week Early-If Not Sooner

Early Black Friday sales let shoppers sleep in

The below article from Brad's Black Friday (my favorite Black Friday site) tells you which stores are offering Black Friday prices this weekend:

Brad's Ultimate Black Friday Strategy: How You Can Win Black Friday with Walmart, Best Buy, and Everyone Else

Building a workbench - part 1

 Today's post is from my wonderful husband!

Greetings, readers!  I’m honored to do the first guest post on this blog!  You’re in for a mediocre treat!  Today and tomorrow I’ll show you how I built a simple workbench for the garage.  The plan was in my head throughout the build.  Building from an actual paper plan may be more your style.  Things are a little more accurate that way I suppose, but my bench turned out exactly how I pictured it with little to no mistakes.  Let’s see how I did it.

Make your own skinny Christmas tree

I made this Christmas tree. Yes, the tree itself using a landscaping log and greenery. 

Adding shutters to a desk

If you missed my desk redo, check it out here.

The desk looked better, but still blah. Today I added shutters to the back.

Desk redo

We're working on our office this week and trying to get organized. Big task!

This wood desk was $7 at EcoStore. They had it priced at $10 and came down to $7. (Every little bit helps!)

I loved the shape and the handles. Had it been in better condition, I may have stripped and restained it. However, the wood was pretty beat up in places. I decided to paint it white.

Nebraska Crossing Outlet Experience

Holy smokes there were a lot of people at the new outlet mall today! We arrived at about 1:00 p.m. It opened at 10:00 a.m. and it sounds like it was the craziest from then until about noon. They were expecting it to get really busy late afternoon again as people started getting off work. Don't get me wrong, it was still plenty busy while we were there from 1:00-4:00. Parking was a mess. We lucked out and followed a shopper who happened to be leaving. We ended up getting great parking, but we were the exception.

Nebraska Crossing Outlets Grand Opening

http://www.nexoutlets.com/

I'm off to the new outlet mall, Nebraska Crossing Outlets! (Sorry work. Priorities.) Today is their grand opening.

Painting laminate floors

Just like laminate countertops, laminate floors are everywhere. If you missed my tutorial on painting countertops, check it out here.

Apparently you can paint laminate floors as well! Who knew? While I'm thankful we replaced all of our flooring with new, I kind of wish I had some old crummy laminate to try this out on. (Hint to my friends... anyone trust me enough with their floors?!)

*All of the pictures in today's post are from the respective blogs.

I found a tutorial from View Along the Way.

Vinyl decals on shutter

I know Halloween is long gone, but I got a great deal on these items and thought I would put this project together so it's ready for next year.

No sew pillow covers using hot glue

Throw pillows are a great way to spruce up a home for less. You can add in pops of color or just create a more luxurious look with pillows.

You probably have some lying around. Maybe the material is outdated or worn, but don't toss them just yet! Make a new cover for them in a few minutes using hot glue. Yes, hot glue!

Veterans Day Discounts

Thank you, veterans! These three simple words do not seem enough.

Unplugging on the weekends

Hope you're all having a great weekend! I've been trying to add new posts on Saturdays and Sundays, but I'm going back to being completely disconnected on those days (besides checking my phone occasionally). I'm on my computer all week and enjoy time away from it on the weekends. This is how I usually feel on Friday:

http://www.livescience.com/11065-digital-overload-computer-frying-brain.html

Readership seems to be down on the weekends too... you all probably feel the same! I'll still be busy with projects, but you'll have to wait until Monday to check them out :) Thanks for understanding!

Metal chair makeover

We've all used plain brown metal chairs. They may be ugly, but they come in handy!

90% off Halloween at Shopko

Shopko started their 90% off Halloween sale today. They also have 90% off some fall decor which you could put out now for Thanksgiving.

Paint storage

My grandma had this old metal locker/storage thing in her basement. I'm not really sure what to call it. It was dirty, had rust everywhere, and smelled like mothballs. But nothing a little elbow grease and paint couldn't fix.

90% off Halloween at Target

Head to Target now. They started their 90% off sale yesterday in some of their stores. Remember discount and selection can vary from store to store.

I went to the N 48th store in Lincoln, NE and found a lot of great stuff!

Decorate with free printables

Maybe you've noticed free printables on pinterest. If you haven't taken advantage of them, you should! Afterall, they're FREE!

I was working on a project last night with some free letters and burlap. My dog, Stormy, is always such a patient assistant.

Red hot buffet

I found this buffet on Craigslist and thought it was unique. It's solid wood and has some nice serving features. The guy wanted $60, but it had been on Craigslist for a while so luckily he came down to $30.

After Halloween sales update

Here are the discounts on Halloween decor as of today, November 4:

Hobby Lobby - 66% off
Target - 50% off decor, 70% off candy
Shopko - 75% off
Walmart - 50% off
CVS - 50% off
Walgreens - 50% off
Michaels - 80% off
Pier 1 - 75% off

Keep in mind that discounts and inventory can vary from store to store.

I'm going to hold off until Wednesday or Thursday to see if I can snatch up bigger savings. Of course, I run the risk of items being picked over or gone. I ran to Michaels on November 1 and they had a decent selection left at 80% off. The cashier said they had three times as much on October 31 and that it was 80% off then.  I'll have to remember that for next year.

Learn to arrange flowers

I love fresh flowers (hint to my hubby if you're reading this)! There are numerous studies which show that having a bouquet of fresh flowers can elevate mood and reduce stress levels. Ordering flowers from a floral shop on a regular basis can get pricey. Learning how to arrange flowers is a skill that will come in handy and save you lots of money. There are so many occasions where flowers are appropriate - holidays, births, illnesses, engagements, showers, birthdays, etc.

Most community colleges offer continuing education classes. I took HORT 4000 - Fundamentals of Floral Design from Southeast Community College in Lincoln, NE. I also took HORT 261 - Floral Design 1 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. They're not like typical college courses. They were very fun and hands on. Every week we made a new bouquet to take home. We learned about color, lines, shape, texture, space, care and handling, managing a floral shop, marketing and critiquing of floral designs.

Here are some of the arrangements I have made:

Paintable wallpaper for a backsplash

Backsplashes can be pricey. They range from several hundred to several thousand depending on the material and size of kitchen or bathroom.

Putting in tile meant spending more money and time on the kitchen backsplash than what we were willing to. We started brainstorming and came across paintable wallpaper. A lot of people have done beadboard wallpaper backsplashes.

Turn an old dresser into a tv stand

I found this dresser on the curb. It was missing two drawers and was looking pretty rough, but I was excited!

I had been on the hunt for a taller tv stand and thought this just might work.

All about EcoStore and Free Fridays

I've mentioned EcoStore a couple of times in passing and I think it's time they got their own post especially since today is their Free Friday. EcoStore is located at 530 West P Street in Lincoln, Nebraska. If you are reading this blog and don't live nearby, be sure to check your local area for a similar store.

Here is their website with their hours and more information: http://www.ecostoresne.org/index.html

I ran to EcoStore today over lunch because of Free Friday. Basically, on the first Friday of the month they set out a bunch of stuff that is completely free. The next day for this will be December 6. One of the back rooms was sectioned off with the free items. While EcoStore may look kind of sketch, there are actually working professionals and contractors there on a regular basis. And DIYers like me!

Reupholstered bench

What a fun Halloween yesterday! Halloween decorations at Hancock Fabrics and Michaels are 80% off. I think places like Target, Shopko, and Hobby Lobby will wait until next week to drop the price dramatically (80-90%). Again, I'll keep you posted.

Now onto my next project. I found this bench at an auction for $10.