Posts Tagged ‘cheap finds’

Work has been unbelievably stressful this week, so much so that I cannot even blog about it (maybe after Monday I will fill everyone in).  All I wanted to do yesterdat was wake up and go on a nice hilly run.  When I woke up, the coffee canister was empty.  It was cold outside, so I didn’t run drive up the street to Caribou Coffee to grab one.  So I did something I never do…  Poured the left over coffee into a mug and nuked it. 

It was horrible.  Not piping hot like I prefer it.  I continued on, though.  As I am getting excited, or trying to get excited, about my run, it dawned on me: I was out of Toe Warmers.   Oh no no no. 

Two of the worst things that could have happened to me early in the morning, the two things I feel like I need everyday to keep myself sane, the two things I wanted for my Saturday were  not panning out… 

I don’t need coffee to run, but in this weather, I definitely need the toe warmers to run.  Going to the gym was an option, but quite honestly, I didn’t want to smell see the woman from last week with the perfume, or the men on the weight machines grunting over their 300lb bench press.  I wanted to hit the pavement with warm coffee in my belly (and some pb toast) and the toe warmers on my feet.

 

So I settled for Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred which was fine but not what I wanted to do.

 

Jared and I were also supposed to go to Boyce Park to go snow-tubing but I was simply not in the mood…  Maybe tomorrow.  I really don’t enjoy going outside in this mess! 

 

Instead, I met my mom at Beaver Valley Mall.  It’s about halfway between my parents & us.  Maybe a little more.  I found the last known Boscov’s and used a gift card that I have had for awhile to purchase sheets.  We went out to lunch at a cute little Italian place called Rainaldi’s.  I got the veggie wrap which was okay.  Sometimes restaurants make the veggie wrap so greasy that it’s almost better to get a salad or another item.  Mine wasn’t dripping in grease, which was nice.  My mom and I chatted about different things and it was nice to catch-up.  I think we are going to go Mother-Of-The Bride Dress shopping next weekend, which I am very excited about. 

 

We stopped at Marshalls and I was thrilled to find a “Big Pack” of my Grabber Warmers for $8!  I usually buy one pack for $2, so I hopped on that deal.  The toe ones have adhesive, Marshalls only had the ones for hands.  That’s fine by me, I will use the hands for my feet .

Jared also has got to be the best guy ever.  He we out and got coffee for me last night after I was “done for the evening”.

 

So I’ guess, now, I’ve got everything I need to have in order to enjoy my run…  Except the temperature is frigid…

But I am going to go anyway.  I made such a stink (mentally) yesterday that if I don’t go today, it’s just an excuse.  I’ll just have to enjoy a second cup of my coffee to be extra-warm. =)

Ahhh, a day off!  I couldn’t be happier.  Usually, my work weeks fly by, but Monday and Tuesday, though normal-hour days (8 hours) took forever to get through.  Probably because I have been waiting to be off for the next five days. 

 

Here are a few things from the last few days.  While we were in NY, I was lucky enough to go to Crate & Barrel.  While I did get an ornament, I stumbled upon something I had been wanting to find but never knew what to get:  egg rings.  Jared and I are huge fans of the breakfast sandwich.  In fact, there are few foods I could eat anytime of day:  breakfast sandwiches, cereal, and bagels with peanut butter.  The egg ring was perfect, though I will admit I haven’t perfected using them yet…

The brown looks pretty gross.  I know.  Sorry.  I sprayed them liberally with non-stick spray and also put the pan on high heat so that when I added the egg it would instantly “stay” as opposed to leaking out the side of the ring.  I later tried to just put my spatula on top of the ring and that kept any leaking out. 

 

They are pretty handy.  The spray helps the ring lift off and flip the egg.  They are the perfect size for an english muffin.  Yum.  That is actually Jared sandwich.  I had mine sans meat with spicy cheese.

 

 

I blogged about getting our first tree, but I also realized I haven’t shown any pictures!  Needle-less to say, needles have been falling despite Jared and I watering.  It’s okay.  I will deal with the needles.  I love the tree!

One thing I am good at and and very proud of (snicker) is wrapping gifts.  I love wrapping gifts and take a lot of pride in wrapping gifts.  I don’t buy expensive wrap (all pictured here was bought on clearance the year before.  spent maybe $10 on wrap & ribbon), I don’t spend a lot of time on the wrap, but I try very hard to make the gift look nice.  Part of the fun of getting & giving gifts is the presentation.  For example, the gold snowflakes are cheap Target ornaments that I bought for fifty cents and there are eight in total.  The ribbon, which I had two different kinds of, were $1/each at Joann Fabrics.  I also buy my ribbon first then attempt to match it to the wrap I find.  Also, you will notice the gold wraping paper.  I usually never buy gold wrapping paper.  It’s just not my style.  In fact, gold and silver foiled paper is pretty, yes, but it seems more posh than me .  I do love the tree wrapping paper, it is reversible!!

 

Look at all of the stuff.  When I say I get my stuff for cheap.  Here is how cheap:  From top:  Snowman 3 dish bowl, $5, Target Clearance 2008.  Snowman Spreaders, $5, Homegoods (NYC) 2009.  Snowman bowl, $2.99, Homegoods (NYC) 2009.  Snowman mini-bowl, $2.99, Homegoods (NYC) 2009.  Mitten bowl & Spreader, $4.99, Homegoods NYC (2009). 

 

I will put various dips into the three-bowl server on Christmas. 

The large bowl will hold the veggies for Christmas dinner. 

The Snowman bowl will probably hold miscellaneous chocolates or cinnamon butter.  The mitten bowl will be used for some dip I make + take to Christmas Eve with the extended family. 

In retrospect, I am probably in snowman overload.  It’s okay, you all can be honest with me, I can take it . 

I think I had bought one of these for Jared’s step-mother, but I think when I got home from NYC, I really just forgot. 

Also, I guess I don’t feel guilty, as I will have these pieces for years to come.  Jared and I aren’t huge entertainers (though I am the social butterfly haha, slight sarcasm), but I do enjoy cooking for family and friends so it makes sense to have a few things.  I was also hoping to talk Jared into an open house, but that will have to wait until we put some more work into the house.  In total, all of the stuff cost me less than $30. 

 

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Right now, I am relaxing with my coffee and deciding my “game plan” for the day.  I am pretty sore in my legs after lifting yesterday, so I may “take it easy” at the gym and do a machine instead of the deadmill.  I also have two new Podcasts from Suze Orman that I want to watch/listen to.  I am going to take my time getting to the gym, running to Giant Eagle (anyone else get the new coupons from Market District!?) , and maybe running to Costco.  Oh yea, and cleaning the house.  That was not done this weekend.  Even if it was, I would be re-cleaning. 

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Merry Christmas Eve-eve!

I have been MIA from the computer, focusing instead on getting some “things” done around the house.  I am happy to say laundry is done (not put away), house is semi-neat, and relaxation was had…

 

Friday night Jared went to the hockey game with some co-workers, and I enjoyed a glass of this…

It wasn’t bad.  Generally, I don’t go for white wines (I prefer red), but this was refreshing.  I cuddled with the puppy on the couch more the majority of the night.

 

I took home some left-over bagels from work on Friday (before giving the remainder to the police) and I quickly grabbed two out of the bag.  I knew the one was asiago cheese and that would be Jareds and didn’t pay attention to the other.  It was pumpkin!  I made half before my spin class on Saturday. 

 

Sadly, we cancelled our run on Saturday.  I don’t know if Jared was sad or not, but I was!  Somehow, we still made it to Janoski’s on Saturday.

Yes, the Restaurant looks like a big barn.  You should also note that there is not much healthy to be had at the restaurant.  We both ordered the buffet (so Jared could feast on his biscuits and gravy).  I think I navigated it well, having eggs, a biscuit (they are amazing) with honey, and one piece of sausage.  This is the only place I have sausage.  It’s homemade.  Their farm is across the street, so I “trust” it.  It was a protein filled breakfast, which I needed after spin.

 

We then ventured to the new outlets.  I like this place because it’s not as busy as other outlet stores that are north of Pittsburgh, but it has pretty much the same stores as the one north.  I stopped in Banana Republic and fell in love with a blazer/coat that was $100 but didn’t buy.  We went into Eddie Bauer, and I saw a lot of stuff I like.  Usually, I don’t like much of anything in Eddie Bauer.  We went into Nike, and I found two things on sale.  One I need for the winter months ahead, and one that just adds to my ever growing running wardrobe…

 

I buy all of my running gear one size larger because I hate the feeling of clothes being stuck to me when I run.     I’m strange, I know.  Anyways.  The shirt was $10 and the running gloves were $7.  Funny how the gloves were almost the same price as the shirt.  Here’s to hoping they are warm. 

 

Then, the craziness began.  Jared wanted to go to Macy’s and Kohl’s.  So I agreed and we stopped at another mall on the way home.  He wanted a “New York Outfit” (too cute that boy) so we decided to go to Macy’s.  I let him do his thing while I walked around aimlessly (dangerous).  I tried on a few trenchcoats, made my way to the suits, and tried on a suit that I loved…

Unfortunately, I didn’t take any pictures, but it was so out of my norm.  The blazer was bright fuscia, belted, and had a black skirt.  I loved it.  One look from Jared and he told me it was a no.  Then he informed me that this Macy’s didn’t have a sport coat in his size, and gave a list of the other stores that had it.  By this time, I could have been done shopping (I got my two cheap finds and was content), but I could tell he was on a mission.  So then we ventured out to the next closest mall, Ross Park.  In fact, Ross Park is the closest mall to us.  Traffic wise, it’s just through a tunnel and a few exits of the highway.

 

When Nordstrom opened in Pittsburgh it was sort of a big deal.  They made a brave move and opened during the midst of the recession, along with some other stores like Burberry, Louis Vuitton, etc.  Nordstrom wasn’t was busy as I expected.  In fact, I’m not certain I love that Nordstrom, either.  It was too spaced out.  And their selection left something to be desired.  I’ll take Saks downtown anyday.  And, as a development person, I’d rather see Nordy’s move downtown to bring some more high-end shopping to the central business district.

Jared found his coat at Macys.  I tried on another coat, to the tune of $300.

It was ridiculously warm.  But I was good.  I was very good.  No purchasing.  By the time this was all done, I was tired.  I think I was on a mission to find a coat.  Hoping to find some on sale.

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Sunday I did some speed work on the dreadmill at the gym.  It wasn’t bad.  The people in that gym are nuts.  I think people in gyms are crazy in general.  That’s generally why I am in and out.  I did manage another spin session.  Two days in a row with the Jillian Michaels-esque instructor was enough for me.  I left there and I felt like I got a good workout in.  No, I felt like she was trying to kill us.

 

I allowed the remainder of the day to be relaxation time.  By that I mean, staying in the house and doing miscellaneous things like making a few types of invites for my sisters wedding shower, laundry, etc.

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This week will be interesting.  I’m getting my IUD Tuesday (whoo-hoo!),  I’ve got a long day Wednesday, the Race Expo, carving pumpkins, Halloween, etc., etc.!  Blogging wise, I’d like to update my “About Me” page, and I haven’t updated my running page in quite some time.  Yikes!

 

Happy Monday

My sister sent me an awesome belated birthday gift this week…  a $50 gift card to Sephora!  What a good opportunity to blog about what to buy.  Let me loose in there, and I can do some serious damage. So now, it’s a toss up between buying some make-up “essentials” or splurging on something I’d never normally purchase for myself…

 

Make-up

The Anastasia Brow Wiz ($20) is ah-may-zing.  I tried it once at the Sephora store and purchased it.  I sometimes get little gaps in my brows (for some unknown reason unrelated to plucking & waxing), and this is perfect for filling those in.  I’m not a huge faux-eyebrower, so I don’t use it heavily, but it’s perfect for blending those little holes.  The brush works well too.  I would say this is an “semi-essential”. 

 

Skincare

My teeth are not white.  This is not due to lack of brushing, but rather my beloved coffee and tea.  Enter GO SMiLE Go Discover Teeth Whitening Discovery Kit ($59).  Though this is the cheapest “kit”, it would be all I would get, and cost me money out of pocket.  Not to mention, I would need to purchase more “amplues” which cost $28.  Go figure.  This is a splurge and one I am not ready for.  I will try the WhiteStripes with a coupon from Walmart.

 

Fragrance

I pretty much love this scent.  I often lather on the body lotion to act as a fragrance (haha!) so it seems fitting to purchase the actual fragrance ($40 or $60), and preserve the lotion.  Again, I’d probably purchase the smaller size in an attempt to preserve the remaining $10 for something else.  This is a splurge/necessity as I am currently out of all perfumes.  I know. 

 

Bath and Body

Oh Bliss.  How I love you.  How I cannot wait to visit you in NYC.  Until then, maybe I should invest in this set ($45) to tide me over.  Andrea recently commented on leg waxing.  This seems like a good “training wheels” version to the real thing.  Now, I may have to purchase this and the eyebrow pencil if I attempt a DIY eyebrow waxing haha.

 

 

Hair

The Ojon Volumizing Hair Ritual Kit  ($33) would be a happy medium.  I’ve wanted to try this product, but have never purchased shampoo that is from somewhere other than Target, Walmart, etc.  Finesse.  Or Suave, baby!  And my hair is healthy, so it’s not like I fry my hair with these “less than schmoozy” products.  I have heard great things about Ojon.  This may strike a good balance, because I can get a “necessity” as well. 

 

Tools

I can say I’ve also never invested in a set of brushes.  My brushes are  mismatched which  I’ve acquired while purchasing sets.  Admittedly (you can’t judge me now since I’ve already said I don’t have any perfume at the moment), I don’t even know what half of them are for.   These are steep, ($45) and I’m not certain I’ll know what to do with them.

 

I should also say that my make-up route is simple:

1. Pluck
2. Wash face
3. Face lotion (hey, at least it’s not body lotion, see not to bad)
4. Bronzer
5. Eyebrow filler (when I have it)
6. Liner on lids (if I’m not in the car)
7. Shadow of some sort
8. Mascara
9. Curl eyelashes (but not since I broke my curler haha!)
10. Lip Balm/Gloss

 

I’m sure I could expand on this list.  In fact, there are several other necessity items I need (i.e., eyelash curler) and many other wants, but I will keep you all in suspense, and show you how I balance stretching a dollar with trying new items.

I had this last night for dinner, along with a (whole) tomato and hummus.  Tomatoes are certainly past their prime, I was hoping that my final tomato made it through with the same juicy sweetness as the ones over the past few weeks.  Nope.  Still good, but not summer good.

 

It was a comfort meal, and yesterday was a nasty day in Pittsburgh.  Cold and windy.  I did manage a good workout, my legs are sore (thank you deadlifts), my arms are sore (thank you crazy weight lifting machine).  I will get to go to a weight lifting class tonight at the gym, if I am good, called “Body Works Plus Abs”.  I imagine it being a little like BodyPump.  Though, nothing can compare to body pump. 

 

Well, I’m off to get wrapped up for warmth!) and run!