A Short Trip to See Sissie

 So back in July, after I had a collagen shot in my knee after Kim and Sissie tried to break me on the "Shopping Death March" back in May/June, I went for a quick visit to Sissie's house outside DC.

Sissie promised not to break me this time so it was a low key visit.  We did NO outlet shopping!  Amazing, right? lol

I called from my car in her parking space and Sissie came flying out of the house looking a might confused.  She thought I was coming on Wednesday when I had said Tuesday(or something like that).  Oh well.  I was here so it was time for hugs and laughs.

We did think of ways to torment Kim the whole visit, that was part of our fun.  We'd send her photos by text to make her jealous and you wouldn't believe what she said in reply...oy!  What a potty mouth!!

So here's the first one, taken the afternoon shortly after I arrived.

Sticking our tongues out at Kim.  Neener, neener!

My buddy, Bud the cat, guided me upstairs to my room and showed me candy and lots of change on my bed.  Good old Bud!

I screwed up Sissies dinner plan since I don't eat egg salad. 8-(  But she went into action and make wienerschnitzel, spaetzle, gravy and veggies instead.

The next day we headed out for our BIG adventure-a trip to Ikea.

I had never been to an Ikea before though there is one 2 hours away outside of Philly.  If I had thought of it, I would have brought my Viking helmet with horns and worn it in the store. lol

That place was a labyrinth!  Just a maze of areas funneling you along until you were asking how the heck do I escape from this Swedish hell?!

I bet it didn't help that I was probably embarrassing Sissie by trying to pronounce all the signage which was both in English and Swedish.  Luckily it wasn't very crowded in there during the weekday.

This says Welcome in Swedish.  Anne, you need one of these! lol

A cute owl night light.

They had two areas where they had set up a full  on tiny house using all Ikea goods.  We both said we couldn't probably live in these if we didn't have spouses(and Sissie would need a spare one for a closet lol).

This one even had a pair of slippers by the door(they were attached to the floor so you couldn't take them...ask how I know that). lol

A room of Turkish goods.....lamps and rugs mostly but some lovely things.

I refer to this display as the "dead cat room". A blue rug hanging on the wall and on the floor, a blue chair and footstool with small white pelts draped over everything, like a bunch of dead skinned cats(or bunnies if you prefer).

Sissie contemplating the Mona Lisa.

Oh no!  Sissie's glass is empty.  I guess it's time to head into the Ikea cafeteria.......

So we got lunch.  I had a Greek Salad and we split a bottle of water.

But Sissie opted for the traditional Swedish meatball plate only she got the children's sized portion with four meatballs and didn't even finish all of them.

I took a photo of these buns and texted it to Kim and told her it was too bad she wasn't here to taste some with us. *snort*

As we wound our way through the rest of the Ikea maze after lunch we came upon a room were they used 12 inch wooden articulated artist models to accentuate the decor of some displays.

One display had about 10 of them posed identically along a fireplace mantel.  I told Sissie nobody with kids would be able to have that in their home because the kids(at least MY kids!)would think it jolly good fun to pose those mannequins in lewd positions when I wasn't looking. ;-)

Then Sissie spied "the hand".........

Ikea also had an articulated life sized hand and Sissie couldn't resist posing it thusly.  We both had a few laughs over that hand and suspected the security guards had a camera trained on that part of the room and also had some laughs every day when someone would see that hand and pose it with the middle finger extended up.

Sissie wanted to buy one but we couldn't find another(this was the store sample/model)in that room.  I told her to take it to the register and see if she could buy it but she decided not to.

When we got home from that excursion Sissie kept saying she wished she had asked to buy that sample hand.  So I looked on Amazon and found multiple sellers on there selling the same articulated hand!

A couple of days later these happened..........

Sissie ordered 4 hands, one for herself, each of her sisters and me(her sister from another mother).

Mine holds a place of honor on the half wall by my desk in the den.

I call it my mood barometer.........it you see it at full mast it's better to leave me alone. lolz

We made a couple of trips during this stay to Sissie's hangout spot.

Contrary to popular belief, the geraniums out front were still not an ashtray! ;-)

We tormented Kim a few times on this trip, besides showing her the Ikea cinnamon buns she didn't get to have as mentioned above......

I texted her that I got her something from Ikea and then sent this photo........

The free little pencils to write down stuff while in Ikea.

I also sent her photos of any change we found at Mickey D's and other places.

And the big one was this photo..........

This photo of me smiling and holding a DD's bag and a chocolate covered donut and a large Diet Coke(Kim's 2 kryptonites).

You should have seen the awful language she texted me every time we texted her a torture photo!  Maybe I should send those messages to her Bishop if I ever get that mad at her. hehehe

On the Saturday during my visit we headed up to a town in the area that had an Ollie's(Good Stuff Cheap!)and introduced Sissie's hubby to the wonders of Ollie's.  Afterwards we headed across the road to a nice restaurant for Sissie and her Hubby's anniversary dinner.

Some yummy food followed.

Sissie's Hub's steak dinner.........

Sissie's fish dinner.....

my crab cake dinner..........

Afterwards we saw Kim outside the restaurant........

Sissie's Hubs got a better photo of all three of us with Kim's best side..........*snort*

Another day I was putting stuff in my car and found something(not money)on the ground and sent Kim a text that I was thinking of her...........

More horrible language was texted back to me! 8-)

A rare photo of Elliot(above) and Lucy(below)eating dinner.  Lucy hid the entire time I was there except at dinner.  These two aren't as social as Bud.

I hung out at Sissie's home during the week.  I slept late, went to a store or two nearby, then blogged until they got home from work.  Sissie fed me well(too well some days!).

Sissie needed a new mouse pad and brought this home one day......

It fits her to a tee...hehehe

A partial view out the back of Sissie's yard..........

And someday maybe y'all will hear the story behind this mangy bear rug in the den.  Though Sissie's best efforts she has yet to manage to destroy it.  She needs a jar of NAIR......

One day I ventured out by myself during the day to Home Goods and found this Kim wall art too........

Sissie's Hubs found out I do genealogy and before I left to go home I was able to answer a couple of family mysteries for him about his paternal grandfather's side.  I love helping folks that way if I can.

The day before I left Sissie got busy baking in the kitchen.....

Awhile later she had made all this........

She sent me home with a loaf of sweet bread for my Hubs(and he didn't even share with me!)and a bag of peanut butter Rice Krispy treats. 8-)))

It was a very nice visit with Sissie but before I knew it, it was time to head home.  I loved it and I miss Sissie, her Hubs and of course Bud.

And torturing Kim was just an added bonus! lol

Sluggy

Powder Room Reno........Done!

We got another item ticked off our list toward getting this house on the market.  The half bath downstairs got a complete makeover!  Our handyman had it done in 4 days last week.

I forgot to take before photos but I snuck in the room and took these.........

The medicine cabinet/mirror and sink(which hung off the wall) were already removed.  The mirror had a 1980's oak frame around it and the sink was off-white.

Here is the other side of the room where the toilet had been located.  Again, a small/low off-white color.  The walls had been repainted by Daughter years ago and had been builder's white to begin with.  The floor was rolled linoleum, also original to the house.

Here is the new flooring, a wood grained plank laminate that matches the color of the hallway and kitchen porcelain tile floor we put in years ago........

And here is the finished product......

We had him paint the room the same neutral color as what the whole downstairs plus stairwell and upstairs hallway will be.  The heat is new as is the higher elongated toilet.  Disregard the free standing toilet paper holder as we put a holder on the wall that matches the towel ring.

New pedestal sink and Moen faucet set......

New mirror/cabinet and light bar fixture too.

I wanted something clean and minimal as it's a small powder room.  I may hang a decorative item/picture at some point on the large wall to the right in the photo.

It cost more than usual since the handyman painted and we didn't so we paid construction/carpenter wages for that part of the job but still, the total OOP was under $3K for all materials and labor(except we had provided the paint).

Now it's onward to having the kitchen backsplash replaced and the drywall behind a part of it repaired too.  Then it's window time. ugh.

But I am thrilled to have all three bathrooms completed now!

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

 The "Talk Like A Pirate" Edition...

Leaving Rite-Aid last week, waiting at the light to turn I was behind a car with this license plate.  

A modern day pirate?  Argh No.  Notice the frame around the plate...merely a Steelers football fan.  Should have been a Pirates baseball fan, right?

Still it was funny.

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned--

1. Sunday--Manicotti from the freezer, Tossed Salad, Garlic Bread

2. Monday--Tempura Scallops, Fish, Brussels Sprouts, maybe Potato Wedges

3. Tuesday--Broccoli and Cheese Soup, Cornbread

4. Wednesday--BLTs
5. Thursday--Leftovers + Cuke and Tomato Salad

6.  Friday--Beef Pie

7. Saturday--FFY

And this is what really happened.......

1. Sunday--Manicotti from the freezer, Tossed Salad, Garlic Bread

2. Monday--Tempura Scallops, Fish, Brussels Sprouts, French Fries

3. Tuesday--Broccoli and Cheese Soup, Biscuits

4. Wednesday--BLTs
5. Thursday--Leftovers 

6.  Friday--Smoke Sausage on roll, Cuke and Tomato Salad

7. Saturday--Beef Pie

I pretty much stuck to the planned menu(shocking, no?).  A few deviations(sausage sandwiches)but basically the plan stuck.

What got put into the freezer last week....

* Just 2 bags of tomato puree from the garden

What got taken out of the freezer and used...

*  1 bag Brussels Sprouts

*  4 Fish filets

*  1 lb. Scallops

*  1/2 bag French Fries

*  1 bag Broccoli

*  2 Smoked Sausage Links

*  1 lb. Ground Beef

I spent $52.46 on food/toiletries/HBA last week.  $50.88 on the 1st at Weis(PMITA)Markets and $1.58 I forgot to include in September when I bought 2 cans of chili at Lidl to bring home for Hubs  This brings our food/toiletries/paper goods Grand Total so far to $52.46 for October.

There are 20 shopping days left in October.

I've earned $53.75 on Ibotta in October.

I've earned $1.00 on Checkout51 in October.

I've earned $0 on Coupons dotcom/Paypal in October.

I've earned $0 from Aisle.

I've earned 845 points from shopping on Fetch in October which equals $.84.

I've earned 0 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in October which equals $0.

I've earned  50 SB from food shopping on Swagbucks in October which equals $.50.

That's $54.75 in rebates(not counting the Shop Kick/Swag Bucks/Fetch)on $52.46 in grocery spending so in reality it's -$2.29 spent after the 4 rebate apps I count until I cash out on the other three apps. 8-)))

My savings percentage for the last week was 28.29%(without "regular" Rite-Aid trips)for October and the monthly savings total for October comes in at 28.29% so far.(w/out R-A).

Leftovers going into this week....Broccoli 

Cheese Soup, a couple of Manicotti, 2 Biscuits, 2 Smoked Sausage pieces, half a Beef Pie.  Most of this will be lunch fodder for Hubs.

Here is this week's "food plan".....

1. Sunday--Breakfast for Dinner

2. Monday--Homemade Pizza, Salad

3. Tuesday--BLTs

4. Wednesday--Apricot glazed Pork Chops, Acorn Squash
5. Thursday--Meatloaf, Mashed Taters, Veggie TBD

6.  Friday--Korean Beef/Veggie Stir-Fry w/Noodles

7. Saturday--Leftovers or FFY

I've got some flat breads to use up(pizza)and we'll use the last of the garden tomatoes in Salad and BLTs this week.(I never thought I'd ever get tired of BLTs but we've had sooo many tomatoes this year I'm about at that point. lol)

What do I need to buy to fix everything on this menu?  Maybe a loaf of bread, we are low on that.

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?

Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten last week?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week?  

Sluggy

  

Downsizing Time But First Organizing

In our journey to move into a smaller house it's time to get serious about downsizing.  

I got rid of 75 items in September.  Of course they were all food bank donations but I am counting them. 8-)  Today I am searching through all my Rite-Aid/Walmart/etc. buys/freebies that are candy and I have all this to give out for Halloween......

My bread mixing bowl filled plus 2 more bags of fun size bars/treats.  I also have about 50 full size candy bars and bags of gummies I can give out too if the bowl runs empty. 8-)))

A win for all the kiddies plus getting rid of ?? items in the house come Oct. 31st.

I have another food bank donation started.

That's another 50 items leaving the house this month.  I suspect I'll add to this before it gets hauled to the church on Friday.

Add that to the 75 item food bank donation Hubs took up in September.

Tomorrow I'll start gathering all the things in the house I will be listing on eBay and Facebook soon.

But first, I need to tame this mess.........

The right side of the room

The left side of the room.

Yep, that's all the leftovers from the stockpile sale plus everything I've gotten since then.  Some of this is Xmas presents too so not all stockpile items.  I just need to sort and put things away and add some of this to my food bank donation.

So besides washing and grooming the dogs, that's what I am up to lately.
What have you been up to in your corner of the world?

Sluggy

Frugal Friday....the October 8th Edition

Well I didn't go much of anywhere this past week, just Rite-Aid, the dentist and the bank.  I lead such an exciting life, don't I? ;-)

Here are the few frugal wins at Chez Sluggy......

* I had BC expiring plus I had gotten a few(4 exactly)$X off $XX coupons for Rite-Aid so I paired them with deals and coupons to pick all this up on the 2 cards I have with BC still attached to them.....

I believe there were a few more candy bars(4)left out of this photo but otherwise it's all correct.

The Cetaphil were 75% off and I had Qs that made it $1 or less each, Neutrogena Qs that made those items moneymakeres and I had tracking toward a second Nivea deal from last week so I finished that(plus the Nivea men's stuff have Ibotta rebates).  I returned 2 Tresemmes since the in-ad Q didn't scan for those 2 and a Colgate mouthwash since my L2CQ didn't come off so those 3 items are in the photo and not counted.

Total came to(including sales tax)$113.00.  BC and Qs used was $99.50(not all at once since I did multiple transactions and rolled it)so R-A gift card cred spent was $13.50.

I earned back $42 in new BC and $15.85 in Ibotta rebates so a $44.35 moneymaker. 8-)

*  I had a dentist appointment Thursday for a cleaning.  Need to go back in November for 2 small chips that need filling.  While I didn't ask for any samples this time(I'll do that in November if I remember to), I did raid the office's coupon stash......

Lots of Listerine brand Qs came home with me.  These don't expire until June or July of 2022.  R-A generally has some Listerine freebies and deals after BC during their Black Friday sales so maybe I can pair them up with some of those.

*  I found money!

Last Saturday was a stellar change finding day at my Rite-Aid.  A quarter, a dime and a penny at various places in the store(quarter under candy racks, dime under freestanding rack of more candy and penny wedged under the baseboard of the pharmacy counter.

A shiny penny sitting on the side of the "healthy candy" rack(protein bars)and a grody penny outside behind the trash can.  Sorry for the blurry photo....

On Wednesday I spied another dime back in the pharmacy area and it came home with me.

Money Found This Week.... .48¢
Money Found This Year.....$18.39

*  No grocery shopping happened this week.  I know it's shocking but it's true! lol  I haven't gotten an Ibotta Bonus since September Leaves one ended last Sunday.  No Midweek or Weekend ones either.  What the heck is going on?  Did Ibotta and the Universal hear me when I said I was going to try to stay out of the grocery stores in October??lol

That's about it for me for the week.

What frugal wins did y'all have this past week?

Let's hear all about it!

Sluggy