Building it myself..and a few super cheap Christmas toys..

One day I was literally sitting down at the computer desk and looked over. My eyes met an old 70's wooden speaker box. For some reason the light bulb went off and my creativity went into a spur of the moment thought process that I could not shake.

Truth be told, I HATED having old clutter laying around. Yet, it was from Doug's family and I did not want to trash it because, well, you just don't do that. So, what better way to use them, than to RE PURPOSE them?

A- HA !!

And with that, the thought to make them into a Barbie house was born.

It's deeper than a traditional book shelf with plenty of space.

I won't have to spend an excess on lumber as it's in the box itself.

All for me to purchase is enough to make the triangle roof :). I have paint, I have lumber and supply.

I am GOLDEN :)

I'll buy faux wood floor samples at Lowe's (with my gift card from family) and I will purchase other odds and ends there also.

My only other dilemma was finding Barbie furniture. OH MY..eBay folks, seriously, c'mon..way too much money! So I got my coupon on. If you go down one post you see the barbie with bathtub I bought on yoyo.com using promo code "yoyodec" that made it right at 6 bucks.

Well the other day I was in kohl's because I had a $10 off coupon AND a 20% off coupon - that I could combine.

I saw this Barbie for 24.99 but after coupons she was only $6! YAY! Happy mama!!

I figure if I can find a few more cheapy sets like this - she will be set on the furniture part.

OH I can not wait to show this masterpiece off. Tomorrow I'll sand it down, maybe paint the next day and then this weekend I pray to have it done:) Gotta love Christmas on the cheap! :)

Speaking of cheap, I went into Family Dollar today to see what kind of toys they had. I was super surprised to see this:

Thomas the train - WOODEN puzzles!! - A set of 3 in a WOODEN box!! Too cute! Best part? Only 5 bucks! My son will love these!

I also ventured to Walgreen's, because they had a $4 off coupon applicable to all their $9.99 toys. (can use to buy up to 3). I went looking for Barbie furniture sets, to no avail.

But came back with these instead, 6 bucks for play doh (full sizes) and accessories? OH SO CHEAP! :) And well, my daughter liked the makeup, so, hey, I had to get it, since my parents never let me use it as a child. (maybe that's why I like it so much now) haha.

What great toy deals have you snagged as of late? DO share:)

Family Dollar: I think I LOVE You !!

Okay, I let me just say Family Dollar did not ask me to endorse them, nor did they contact me, I am just so tickled pink with them I wanted to write, er, TYPE a review up :)

So in 2005 as new parents, we were so broke most times we couldn't afford ANYTHING. Not a thing, not even wal mart brand (I know, that's pretty much bottom barrel, right?) - Now you know why I am so darn frugal and cheap and clip coupons.

Anyway, MiMi was 6 months old and I went to a Family Dollar, and was amazed at the cute baby stuff they had, most being only 6 bucks for an entire outfit. Most of the dresses and halter sets looked like they came from a boutique. Only, the prices and location were very different. I always got compliments on her Family Dollar outfits :)

I received an Advertisement from Family Dollar in my mailbox yesterday. They had a $5 off $25 coupon (still available for print on familydollar.com and their facebook page). I also clipped the buy one get one 50% off kidgets apparal for boys coupon). You can clip the same ones and print them here:
Family Dollar Printable Coupons
I figured I had nothing to lose, and while I was at it I had two coupons for gain that were expiring today so I loaded the car with my kids and off to Family Dollar we went.

This is what I got:

* Dish tub I needed so I bought it anyway for $3.50
* MiMi's size 7 Easter Dress for only $10
* Ethan's shoes for $5
* Kidgets 3t outfit for $8
* Kidgets 3t outfit for $7 (used kidgets buy one get one 50% off so only paid $3.50)
* Gain detergent on sale for $5 used $1 off manufacturer coupon - $4
* Dryer sheets $2 used $1 off manufacturer coupon - $1
THEN I used my $5 off $25 coupon and my grand total was $32 AFTER taxes


Yep, AMAAAAZING!!! And isn't the dress super cuuute??

I was skeptical at first that the quality might be lacking but NOPE, very high quality, the dress even had an underliner sewed in. PERFECT!!

I bought a similar dress at children's place last year for $40!! Family Dollar's dress (the brand is Extremely me) is way cuter, in my opinion! And for $30 less, can't beat that! Not at all!

Here is Ethan in one of the Kidgets short sets I bought for 7 dollars (was actually 3.50 after the buy one get one 50% off coupon I printed from familydollar.com)



I would compare this brand to Kohl's Jumping Beans line, but Kidgets is def. more modern and fun - and CHEAPER :)!

Then there comes the customer service of the employees at the particular store I visited on Cliffdale. PERFECT! So often, (and you can ask anyone of my friends) I am quick to complain if I do not like something. One thing that I have noticed as of recently is a lot of places lack customer service. SO, it was a GREAT surprise, to be greeted upon walking in the store with a "welcome", and a "how are you doing". There is nothing in the world that draws me back to an establishment than good customer service.

Family Dollar, I have to say, with your low prices, great products and exceptional customer service and friendly employees, you pretty much will have me as a weekly shopper :)