Decorating Mania! on the cheap...

So, as many of you know, I am a huge fan of yard sales and the Goodwill. I think the hunt is part of it, but also because my mom raised me to never pay full price for anything. If you can wait, eventually it will go on sale. I have scored many a pair of shoes and/or handbag on sale. My fave is the $400 red Coach bag at the outlet for $100. I lust after them but can't justify it. Anyway, when H and I were married we didn't really spend much to decorate the house or buy furniture, because said income was spent mostly on alcohol. And now I really want to decorate but...I'm working two jobs, so there must be a reason I am. Hence decorating on the cheap.

I went through all the rooms in my house and set a price limit for what I was willing to spend to get that room the way I want it. I am a firm believer in doing things yourself rather than hiring someone to do it. HGTV can teach you lots. If you've ever seen my bathroom, you know how strange it is. There's tile on the CEILING people. Do you know how hard that is to clean? When you're only 5'3"? Plus, there were shower doors. I HATE shower doors. They are so insanely hard to keep soap-scum free, particularly when you loathe cleaning the bathroom like I do. So I had Jason take them down. You would not beleive the difference! I got a white cloth shower liner (no PVC--you know that smell when you open the package a new plastic liner is in? yeah, that's God knows what kind of toxins going into your lungs). The beauty of the cloth liner is that you can wash it. Meaning, you don't have to spend money on a new, toxic-laden one every few months. New silver rings, frosted plastic trash can, butterfly art for the wall...and oh yeah, the $40 shower curtain they didn't charge me for. Didn't realize it till I got home, and I'm sorry, but that's just your mistake. So the bathroom came in around $80.

I've decided to go with white for a lot of the things in my new, improved interior, mainly because it's cheery. But also, it shows cat hair less. I know, I know...what if I spill something on it? Well, you should be eating at the table, and drinking only stuff that's good for you, and last time I checked, water doesn't stain. Red wine, yes. That's why you get those handy dandy stemless wine glasses. Much harder to knock over. In the guest room, which is currently the main bedroom, I have a wonderful find. Full bed, mattress, box springs and chest of drawers for $60. Got it when I was sleeping on the couch post-D, and my boss's friend was looking to get rid of it. It's really pretty wood, and even when I move into the other bedroom, it will be a place for guests to sleep. Planning on painting this room light green next weekend. Found window film and 4 sheer white drapes on ebay for about $40 total. This will take care of the 2 windows, as I already have curtain rods. Window film is great, because it lets the light in during the day, but blocks a good bit of it too. This saves on heating and cooling bills. Plus, it's just enough to keep the light out at night, without having to invest in expensive, lined curtains. You just press it on and cut to fit. When you don't want it anymore, it peels off. I can use it to cover the window in the bathroom too. The window in the SHOWER. That's random. Target is my favorite store. Found a down-alternative comforter on sale for $29. Got a cover and 2 shams for $49. Bamboo sheets that are WAY softer than cotton for $19. Got a ceramic lamp with butterflies etched in it at Goodwill for $5. Will paint it white and use that with a shade I already have. Maybe pull a Martha and hot glue some ribbon around the bottom of the shade for color. Get a $5 frame at Garden Ridge and put a $2 butterfly print in it (yard sale), and we're good to go.

Next room, study. Need to find a couch and some shelves. And a ceiling fan. Think I can do it for under $200? We shall see...

Everyone else is doing it, so why can't I?

Leslie has me inspired once again. Figured I would try to start writing at least twice a week, if only to be able to look back and laugh. Right now I'm at work (not working apparently), listening to people talk about the old days when they mouth-pipetted. The thought of someone's spinal fluid in my mouth is not appealing, especially right after lunch.

So here I am. Fabulous life, even though I work 2 jobs and have a little bit of a debt problem. 2nd job is leading to less debt, so at least I'm on the right track. Hopefully by next fall when J starts pharmacy school I will be able to be a one-job Betty Crocker with dinner on the table every night. That's pretty much my dream. Take some online stuff for my MPH. Life should continue to be good. I really want us to live together, but with his dad in Cali, he takes care of the house and two people + two houses = not the ideal living situation.

Off to work on my "how to plan a meeting" guide for the Chicago meeting. Detailed, everything I know or have learned, step by step guide to plan a continuing education meeting from start to finish. A little bit more of a project than I was anticipating, but then the best stuff always is a little more work. Hopefully I can get it on the website so newbies like me won't have to fly by the seat of their pants like I did.

Here's to blogging. And to cocktail hour!