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.