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Category: money saving tips

Budget Friendly Holiday Dinner Party

posted in decor, diy, food, holidays, inspiration, money saving tips, party, Uncategorized by Hanna on

When the holidays roll around it usually involves parties, food and entertainment. All of that can get a little overwhelming and pricey when you are the one hosting and start feeling like it has to look like it came out of magazine. What we are coming to find out is that you can still get a great look that will impress all your guests from just shopping your house, incorporating a little DIY and shopping dollar stores or discounted items. Also fancy, plastic dinnerware makes clean up a dream!

Here are the details on our Christmas dinner party and some tips that can help you!

– Since there was going a lot of people coming for dinner, to keep the cost low we decided to go with a rustic theme to incorporate elements that we could get right outside our door. We gathered pine cones to use in our centerpieces and branches from trees to make twig start place holders. I kept mine to use on my Christmas tree this year or you could let your guests take them as a little party favor to hang on their trees.

-For all the center pieces we shopped our houses for vases, candles and candlestick holders. Basically grab anything that could look good on the table and help add some fun interest and fill the space! The greenery and cranberries we used in the vases we got on sale at a number of craft stores but you could easily gather those things from outside as well the day of the party.

– If you want to know a secret for an easy and SUPER cheap charger 12×12 craft paper is the answer! We got 6 sheets of this metallic bronze paper for $1! To add a little color to our table and break up the layering of the plates we added some burlap ribbon with fringe ends.

-For dinner we decided to do buffet style so we created a quick menu in Word and got it printed out for $5. A chalkboard and some chalk would also word perfect for this! The sign we hung above the food table we created with a font we liked and cut it out using a Silhouette machine and then strung the words up with some twine.

Now lets move to the best part..the food! We’re really excited to introduce you to Megan and Nathan from the blog “Half Cup of Snark“. Hop on over to their blog to see what was on the menu for our holiday party, to enjoy some witty, food talk and get some A-MA-ZING recipes to wow your guest’s taste buds this Christmas!

Lastly, we all know that the decorations and food for a party are just part of planning but looming in the back of our minds is always, “What am I going to wear??” Well we have you covered for that as well. See how our plaid peplum top and window pane swing dress are perfect for any party, including all the ones for this holiday season! We’ll just call this the post that just keeps giving. 😉

Now with all your bases covered for hosting a bomb holiday party we wish you luck on all your family and friend gatherings!

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We’d love to hear some tips and tricks you have tried for saving money hosting a holiday party while still wowing your guest!!

Shared Boy/Girl Nursery | Preciously Paired

Shared Boy/Girl Nursery on a Small Budget

posted in baby, crafts, decor, diy, home, inspiration, kids, lifestyle, money saving tips, thrifted by Sara on

Today is officially my due date, and still no baby. Now that the date has come and almost gone I’m not quite sure what to do with myself! With no date to look forward too or end in sight, it’s just a big waiting game now. But the good news is that both me and the baby are healthy and feeling good. I actually feel really good and energetic, so I thought I’d put this extra time to good use; starting first with the shared nursery reveal that I’ve been promising for weeks!

Currently my husband is in the middle of graduate school, so needless to say we are still living the “poor college student” life. While we live in a small apartment and on a very meager income, I never let that stop me from making my home a beautiful place where we can relax and enjoy being. And believe it or not, it doesn’t require a lot of money or time to do so. In fact, this whole nursery makeover only cost me a grand total of $180! This included both the kid’s bedding and most of the room decor (I already had all of the furniture pieces).

I’ll admit that putting together a cohesive space for baby boy and a toddler girl was rather difficult considering there were many limitations, but in the end it somehow just came together and I’m really in the love with it!
Shared Boy/Girl Nursery | Preciously PairedShared Boy/Girl Nursery | Preciously PairedShared Boy/Girl Nursery | Preciously PairedShared Boy/Girl Nursery | Preciously PairedShared Boy/Girl Nursery | Preciously PairedShared Boy/Girl Nursery | Preciously PairedShared Boy/Girl Nursery | Preciously PairedShared Boy/Girl Nursery | Preciously PairedShared Boy/Girl Nursery | Preciously PairedShared Boy/Girl Nursery | Preciously Paired

Here is a little break down of everything in the room:

Crib – From Walmart which I already had from baby #1

Twin bed – A “hand-me-down” from when I was a girl

Dresser – Bought at a garage sale several years ago

Vintage Baby Quilts – Both baby quilts I made myself using this simple patter by Yoyomama Disigns. I made my daughter’s quilt several years ago when she was a baby and loved the design so much that I decided to make baby brother one as well!

Crib Sheet – Target

Crib Skirt – Made by me using this simple tutorial by Oleander and Palm

Pom Pom Comforter – Made by me. I first fell in love with this pom pom comforter from PB Teen, but I didn’t have anywhere near $169 in my budget for it. However, I was able to make one up for nearly an eighth of the cost. I simple bought a down comforter from Target ($20) and sewed on some pom poms I made up myself.

Twin Sheets – Kohl’s (got on sale for $15!)

Quilted Pillow – Made by me using scraps from my daughter’s quilt and an old pillow I had on hand

Cloud Pillow – Made by me (tutorial coming soon)

Wooden Rocking Horse – Thrifted

Wire Book Baskets – Large one (Thrifted), 2 smaller ones (Walmart).  I gave each a coat of spray paint and then mounted them to the wall using cable hooks which I got from Home Depot.

Rug – Thrifted

Alphabet Print – Free printable from Mr. Printables (I got the frame from Goodwill and spray painted it with some leftover paint I had from the wire baskets)

Sweet Dreams Print – Free printable from This Little Street

Hopefully my next post with include a sweet new baby, but for now I hope you enjoyed a view of this cute nursery! Can’t wait till our little guy can enjoy it too!

 

XOXO,

Sara

Easy Fur vest refashion | by Preciously Paired

Easy Fur Vest Refashion

posted in baby, diy, fall, kids, money saving tips, sewing, thrifted by Sara on

 

Easy Fur vest refashion | by Preciously Paired
Easy Fur vest refashion | by Preciously PairedEasy Fur vest refashion | by Preciously PairedEasy Fur vest refashion | by Preciously PairedEasy Fur vest refashion | by Preciously Paired

Maybe you’ve noticed, I’m kind of obsessed with fur vests. I’ve been searching high and low for a cute fur vest for Addie, but any thing I saw was $20 or more. Quite honestly I think $20 is a fairly decent price for a trendy article of clothing, but being on a strict budget it was definitely out of the question. Even to make one from scratch seemed to be rather spendy. Luckily Goodwill pulled through for me again, and I was able  to find this sweater for only $4! It was a complete steal as it was in great condition and fully lined with fur. Really all I did was detached the fur inside from the sweater and add some lining to the wrong side of the fur. I used a silky smooth lining from an old skirt I had tucked away in my fabric stash…talk about thrifty! Now I just have to find one for me!

And can I just say how extremely difficult it is to photograph a 2 year old! I still have no idea how to work my DSLR camera and chasing around my daughter, baiting her to simply look at me, I probably looked like a crazy woman! It makes me chuckle just thinking about the onlookers passing by witnessing  the whole fiasco. Next time I’ll gladly pay someone to do this kind of dirty work! Nonetheless, Hanna was able to work her magic to make my novice photography skill look it’s best.

Fall Wishlist | Stripes and Polka Dots - creating a versatile wardrobe

Friday Finds #18: Fall Wishlists

posted in fall, money saving tips, Wardrobe Basics, women's fashion by Sara on

Fall Wishlist | Stripes and Polka Dots - creating a versatile wardrobe

(Click on the images to view sources)

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Ok, so now that it is September can we officially declare it fall?

I absolutely love fall fashion…particularly all the layering and all the boots (can’t forget the boots)! I just love the depth and interest layering and mixing-and-matching different pieces gives an outfit. I always feel so “blah” in the summer when all I wear is a tee shirt and jeans because it’s too hot to wear anything more. I try, but truly fall is my comfort zone.

As fall is my favorite season to dress for, it may not surprise you that my wardrobe weights heavily of sweaters, jackets, and blouses (which is also why you don’t see any on my fall wishlist). I like to keep a functioning wardrobe, so this year’s fall wishlist mainly contains “filler” pieces that I’ve been obsessing over, and can also be mixed-and-matched with much of what I already have in my closet. Just by themselves I could probably make 4 different outfits! Versatility is absolutely essential when it comes to my wardrobe.

After having my daughter several years ago, my body was completely different and a lot of my clothes just didn’t fit anymore. Becoming a mom brought me so much joy, but when it came to my wardrobe it was black hole of ill-fitted, old, and random pieces of clothing. It was a struggle every day to get dressed. Finally after several months of this, I cleaned out my closet and started basically from scratch. I did a lot of research on how to create an awesome wardrobe and compiled it in a series I wrote called, “Wardrobe Essentials“. If you feel like you’re in a style rut, definitely check it out- it has changed my life! It sounds cheesy to say, but it literally has!

What’s on your fall wishlist?

Linked to: http://stylelixir.com/2014/09/fall-fashion-2014.html; http://www.rachelthehat.com/2014/09/faux-leather-skirts-linkup.html; http://twothirtyfivedesigns.com/2014/09/casual-friday-link-5.html

Back to School Clothes Shopping Printable and Tips

posted in kids, money saving tips, printable, Uncategorized by Hanna on

Getting ready for the kids to go back to school is an exciting and crazy time! As mothers, we are inwardly looking forward to at the very least a couple hours a day that are kid free, or short a few kids to lessen the chaos. On the other hand it’s quite the chore to round up all the supplies the kids need, make sign-up deadlines, get back into a fixed schedule and do everything else that comes along with school starting. However, today Sara and I are teaming up with 14 other bloggers to bring you some great Back to School projects to help you get ready for the new school year and make your life a little easier!

1. Elizabeth Joan Designs 2. Making It In The Mountains 3. Stripes and Polka Dots
4. For My Love Of 5. Home. Made. Interest. 6. Restless Arrow
7. Little Red Brick House 8. Little House Of Four 9. Cuddles and Chaos
10. Our House Now A Home 11. Kent Heartstrings 12. The DIY Mommy
13. Curly Crafty Mom 14. Houseologie 15. Canary Street Crafts

Today I’m sharing a FREE printable and tips for back to school clothes shopping that will hopefully make it more fun and meaningful, by getting the kids involved, as well as making that “to-do” list to get ready for school less stressful!

Back to School Clothes Shopping check list

This idea originated from my own childhood memories. Growing up in a small town we would have to travel into the city (4 hours away) to do a lot of our shopping. So every summer before school started we would take a “school shopping” trip and make a weekend out of it. Some of my favorite memories are when my mom would take Sara and I in by ourselves and we would have a girl’s weekend shopping for clothes, going to movies and out to dinner. Reading this I’m sure some of you are getting more stressed out thinking about adding more to your plate and subtracting even more out of your bank accounts to do a whole shop and play weekend, but really something similar can be done on just about any budget and with any schedule. I’ll show you how!

TIP 1: When thinking about school clothes, here are the two things I go by: first, make sure each child has at least 5 complete outfits, one for each day of the school week. This is also a good time to get some new shoes, underwear, church clothes and a jacket/coat. Second, save the nice new clothes you buy for just the school week and let the kids wear their old clothes on the weekends when they will probably tend to be a little harder on clothes.

TIP 2: Before you do any shopping go through your kids things and decide what still fits and what will work for the coming school year. If you’re like me and have young kids chances are you won’t find too much as they’ve either grown out of everything or most clothes are worn out from all the summer playing.

TIP 3: Now that you know what you need, make a budget for how much you want to spend on school clothes. You’ll be surprised at how this can fit just about any budget depending on where you shop. If you live in, or near, a city you will be able to shop the sales and use coupons. You can also check out our post on “How to Save Big on Kids Clothes”.

TIP 4: Although it’s not necessary to go all out when school shopping it’s a great time to make it a fun date with you’r child, make it about them and make some memories. One way is to use the free printable checklist I created that you can download below. This will allow kids who can’t read yet to see what they need and then get to color in or mark off items as they get them. This is much better then having you’re kids laying bored on the ground or wondering around the store as you search through clothes that will work.

DOWNLOAD BACK TO SCHOOL CLOTHES SHOPPING CHECKLIST HERE

school clothes shopping date2

Over the weekend I took my daughter on a mommy-daughter date clothes shopping. She’s had a growing spurt this summer so pretty much everything is too short. I gave her her checklist and let her help me pick out clothes for her. After we were done at a store she colored in each item we got. Once we were done shopping we got some ice cream for a job well done! I’m looking forward to making more memories with my girls and this being an every year tradition!

school clothes shopping date

What are some tips or traditions you have when shopping for school clothes?

 

Sew Inspired: Sewing Room Update

posted in decor, diy, home, inspiration, money saving tips, sewing, thrifted by Sara on
As you may have gathered from my previous posts, I’ve been doing a lot of sewing lately. In fact, almost all of my spare time in the last couple of weeks has been spent in my sewing room. And it is my philosophy that when you spend a lot of time in a certain space it should be one that inspires and one that you love. 
 I will admit that my sewing room never looks quite this clean and organized when I’m actually working on a sewing project, but it is a space that I enjoy being in. While it is nothing grand, I believe a home is what you make it. Sure, I’d love a big sewing room filled with lots of light, a big cutting table, and lots of shelving to store my fabric and crafts; but the truth of the matter is this is what I have the means for right now and that’s ok… I still love it! I’m sure many of you are in the same boat where you’re still in school or just starting out and I’m here to tell you that you don’t need a lot of money or space to make something beautiful and functional. 
The only items that I actually purchased for this space were the “S-E-W” letters, the pegboard hooks, the watercolor floral photo, and the table (a past purchase from craigslist for $10); everything else I already had. The pegboard, the wooden letters, and the photo frame I brighten up with some paint I had left over from other projects. I’ve been going a little crazy with my silver metallic spray paint. The diy aluminum/silver metal look has started to become a theme throughout my house (see more of my projects: DIY Silver Lamps | Faux Stainless Steal Dressers).

As for the gorgeous skirt, it’s a little sneak peak of what you’re going to see in our shop that is opening up this summer! 
Linked to:

5 Tips to Stress-Free Family Pictures

posted in family, inspiration, lifestyle, money saving tips by Hanna on
I don’t know if you’ve noticed but regular family pictures have become a very popular thing. I can count on one hand how many times my family got pictures taken growing up. Now it seems like family pictures are a yearly event trend. Don’t get me wrong, I like the idea of having cute, regular family pictures just as much as the next gal but it can sometimes be an event that comes close to giving me an ulcer! From finding the right photographer that is affordable; figuring out what everyone will wear; convincing my husband that family pictures are as necessary as I think they are; to stressing over if my kids will be good so it’s not a waste of time and money– in the end it has left me most often dreading family pictures.
With some experience being both behind the camera taking the pictures and in front having my picture taken, I’ve learned a few tips that will make the process easier and more stress free while getting the most for your money.
1. Find a photographer that fits your style and charges a price that you are comfortable paying. If you look hard enough there is a photography out there that will fit within just about any price range. However, most often the more a photographer charges the better the quality you will get. If you’re wanting to get pictures done regularly maybe choose a more experienced photographer every couple of years and do cheaper/ less experienced photographers in between. (For example, this photo shoot of Sara’s family I did while I was in Oregon since I am be NO means a real photographer!) Also, I have learned that each photographer has their own style of taking and editing pictures. This will make a huge difference on whether you like your pictures or not so make sure you choose one you like.
2. Decide what’s going to look the best in your house. I often look to the color scheme and style of my house to draw inspiration for pictures and what we will wear. By doing this you can be assured that your family pictures will work great hanging up in your house.
3. If mamma’s happy everyone is happy! I read somewhere that the mother should dress herself first in something she loves and then dress everyone else to match. I couldn’t agree more! Let’s be honest, we’re the most self-conscious when it comes to having our pictures taken so if we’re wearing something we feel awesome in we’ll be happy and so will the rest of the family. 
4. Don’t stress your kids out by threatening them if they don’t smile. I once took pictures for a family where the mother was threatening her kids the whole time that they wouldn’t get ice cream after the shoot if they didn’t smile. I think this just stressed the kids out more. Treat pictures like a family outing. Perhaps even go early to the location to give the kids time to explore, have fun and get their wiggles out.
5. Have a game plan of how you are going to use your new family pictures. Don’t let the money you spend on getting your family pictures taken go to waste by letting them sit on your computer. Having an idea of what poses you want and where you will be hanging them will allow you to have an idea of what you want to get out of your photo session. For example, I prefer a traditional close up shot of the family to hang in a big frame in my living room.
*For those of you who are really confused. While you get to enjoy picture’s of Sara’s adorable family, it’s actually me, Hanna, writing the post. As for a little back story behind these photos Sara was brave enough to have me take some family pictures for her while I was out in Oregon last weekend. I haven’t done something like this for a while and again I am NO pro-photographer! We decided to drive around to find some open fields for pictures. Long story short, after tramping around in the fields for a few pictures Sara’s husband ended up having a major allergic reaction to it all (the fields, not the family photos) and ended up with red swollen eyes and legs deeming the end of family pictures. Luckily we were able to get some good shots before the outbreak… What men do to please their wife’s!