Just Stuff and Nonsense!

Hey everyone!  Just a short little post, but actually not so much "nonsense," but definitely "just stuff."  My grandmother use to say "just stuff and nonsense," usually when someone was trying to pass on gossip.  She wasn't keen at all on gossiping.  That phrase just popped into my head today, I guess because I've been thinking about her a lot lately.  You just never stop missing someone even when they've been gone for over thirty years.  Anyway, this post is about "just stuff," really random stuff.

I don't know if you live in an area with great "out-of-the-tap" drinking water or if, like us, you have to use bottled water or have an RO system.  Well, we have the RO system at our kitchen sink, and it is also hooked into our refrigerator for the water and ice in the door.  We just always seemed to gravitate to the bottled water, but would refill the bottles a couple of times.  Started thinking that probably wasn't such a great idea, so we decided to try some other things.

One of the brands I checked online was the Contigo.  It has very good reviews, and I liked the idea of the stainless steel.   Then guess what we found at Costco today?  The exact set I saw online, and they were a very good price.  

They are for hot beverages or cold, and look like they will be super-easy to clean.  We shall see.  Now we are just keeping a pitcher of cold water in the fridge instead of 8 or 10 water bottles.

Costco also had a big selection of these.  I think most of you know how much I love these battery-operated timer candles -- love, love, love!  This is a new set to me.  The others I've gotten were in sets of 4 candles all the same size, so this one is making me very happy.  I have so many "very high" spots in our home that I really like to decorate and add candles, but this person doesn't really like to get on ladders any more than is absolutely necessary -- these are the perfect solution, and the batteries last a nice long time.

Last, but certainly not least -- weather!

I hope the weather is much better where you are than it is here.  Even though the humidity is only 

14% (I truly think someone read the equipment wrong on that one), it is totally miserable with the temp at 107*.

I'm truly focusing all my energy on that "stray thunderstorm!"  The term "stray" doesn't really hold out much hope, and the East Valley (where we live) is really big, so it could show up in a lot of different places.  However, I am selfishly hoping that it decides to sit right over my house and drop a ton!

Sorry, I feel I've complained way more than my fair share this summer about the weather, but it just makes me grumpy and I simply must vent.  For those who will get some nastiness this Fall and Winter, please feel free to vent your woes to me.  I will give you a gentle "cyber" pat on the back and console you with words that it too shall pass.  Is that a fair trade-off in the venting and complaining department?  I certainly hope so.  Thanks so much for putting up with me!

Retail Therapy on the Cheap!

Hey everyone!  I hope this has been a terrific week and that your upcoming weekend will be awesome!    We are going to a Polish Festival on Saturday to enjoy some brats and such, and then we are going up to Lake Pleasant just to see how that area has changed in the last twenty years since we last visited!  The weather should be perfect, but I will be keeping a watchful eye open at the lake for the sound of rattles, since this is peak time for our slithery rattlesnakes -- did you know they don't mind the water?  Eeek, I'm creeping myself out!

Anyway on to happier things like my "retail therapy."  I think I must be one of World Market's very best customers -- well, The Man thinks so anyway!  I signed up for their Customer Rewards Program, and I'm telling you, there are some real perks.  All you have to do is enter your telephone number whenever you make a purchase, and wonderful things happen.  For every $100 you spend, they send you a $10 reward coupon to use however you wish to in the store.  I absolutely love, love, love their coffee and for every 6 bags you purchase, you get a reward coupon for a Free one; but that's not all.  If you purchase coffee on Wednesdays, you get double points, and they always have their "Coffee Specials" on Wednesdays!  How cool is that!  Oh, and last but not least, you get a $10 reward coupon on your birthday!  Now, maybe you understand why I like this store so much!  I get their email alerts, and last week (on Wednesday) they were having a BOGO Free promo going on their coffee!  Yippee, I was off to buy a supply of my favorites.

Well, I got my coffee but then had to do some looking around and guess what I discovered?  

I found their "Clearance" section!  I'm not talking about the seasonal stuff that they keep right up front where you can't miss it -- I'm talking about a couple of racks of table linens, kitchen towels, aprons, baskets, and much more, all tucked back in the far back corner of the store!  

Everything was at least 50% or more off.  These kitchen towels were so darn cute, and turquoise is my current "color crush!"

Turquoise and red - yes, yes, yes!  Now why would they have all this wonderfulness hidden away?

I'm always on the lookout for table linens that can go with the many colors of my Fiesta dishes, and these certainly do just that.  I wanted a set of 6 but only found 4.  I may check out the other WM that's close by.

The napkins are nice and big, and the fabric is a soft linen.

And the placemats are reversible -- BONUS!

I also found these napkins rings, and they jumped right into my basket!

Whew, after all that shopping and saving so much money (wink! wink!), all I could think about doing was making The Pioneer Woman's Perfect Iced Coffee (you can get the low-down HERE).  This is my favorite caffeinated beverage when the weather starts to warm up.  I always blend these specialty coffees with my regular Costco brew (half & half) -- there is still great flavor and is much more economical than using them straight!

So, there you have it -- retail therapy on the cheap!  And you know what?  I had just as much or more fun than if I had an endless supply of "$" to buy anything I wanted.  Yep, it's the "thrill of the hunt!"  Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful weekend!

Retail Therapy -- Better Than a Spa Day?

Hey everyone!  Just wanted to do a quick little post before The Man & I get back to our "projects."  I hadn't been out shopping by myself in awhile -- when you are both retired, you tend to do everything together -- so one day last week, I went out for a little "Retail Therapy!" The Man also went out & did his own thing.  We do love spending time together, but I think it's important to have "alone" time, too.

Thank goodness it was a bit cooler on that particular day,  because I had lots of stops to make.  First on my list was Bath & Body Works.  I love their hand soaps & Wallflower plug-ins, & especially like it when they are on sale -- well, I only buy in that store when there's a sale!  Yesterday was all about "Fall" scents -- like Creamy Pumpkin, Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin, Warm Apple Cider, Orchard Walk & Vanilla Buttercream, oh my!

My second stop was Hobby Lobby, need I say more?  I always go in with a list & coupon or I'm sunk! Of course, all of the Fall, Halloween, & Thanksgiving is right at the front of the store, followed immediately by all the Christmas things.  I browsed a bit in the Fall section, but only bought a couple of things.  You see, I hadn't gotten my Fall decor boxes out of the garage storage yet so I really didn't know what I might NEED....lol!   I did get more jute twine (that stuff is so useful) & my first tube of E6000 glue -- several projects tumbling around in my brain!  I looked at their florals, but I think the prices on those, even on sale, are kind of high.  Michael's is often times better, price-wise.  An hour can go by really fast in this store!

Then I was off to Kohl's for some new lingerie -- they always have great sales!  No, I'm not showing you my "granny panties!"

Next stop, Sprouts.

 Sprouts Farmers' Market

If you haven't shopped at a Sprouts, you are missing out.  No, I'm not getting paid!  I pretty much just go there for the fresh produce.  Their prices are very reasonable, the selection is great, & the quality is wonderful.  They also have excellent weekly sales and a very friendly-helpful group of workers.  The link above takes you to their Home page, so you can find out if there is store near you.

My last stop was Wally's World (Walmart) for a few basics.  It was a great day to be out running around, and I felt refreshed and renewed enough to get back to our projects.  The reveals should be coming soon!

Thanks for stopping by, & please stop in for a chat again very soon!

~CAS~