Snail Pace Transformations

Shopping Saturdays: 10 Things To Buy At Big Lots

May 11, 2013 by Victoria Leave a Comment

Big Lots is one of 4 stores I stop in at as part of my once a week grocery shopping trip.

Of course Big Lots sells a lot more than groceries and I plan to share 10 things I love to buy at Big Lots but first here are a few tips on how to save the most at Big Lots.

Join their Buzz Club: Membership to the Buzz club is free and once you have 10 $20 or more purchases you get a 20% off all merchandise coupon that you can use in the store. You will also get the heads up through email that a special 20% off day for members is coming up.

Special 20% off days: Buzz club will also allow you to shop at special member’s only events where you will receive 20% off your entire purchase.

Clearance Aisle: All Big Lots have a clearance aisle that contains merchandise marked down even lower than the already low Big Lots price.

Grocery Clear out Carts: Often you will find a grocery cart full of just about to expire food at the front door area of Big Lots. I have seen boxes of Oreo’s in this cart for as low as .25 cents a box.

Go regularly: Big Lots changes its stock regularly. Deals differ from week to week.

10 Things I love to buy at Big Lots

1.Organic Foods

Lower than sale price in my local grocery store. What is available is a bit of a hit and miss but when I find it I grab it.

2.Paint Supplies

Rollers, paint brushes, paint trays, tarps, anything but painters tape (believe me it pays to buy the expensive brand of painters tape)

3.Underwear

Name brands at cheaper than big box store prices.

4.Socks

Name brands at cheaper than big box store prices.

5. Crocs

For the last several years I have bought our family Crocs at Big Lots for just $10 to $15 a pair.

6. Patio Furniture

The supply is limited and it tends to sell out fast but the prices are much less than other stores.

7.Books

My husband has an amazing collection of how to books on the topics of anything renovating all from Big Lots. My favorite beginner’s crochet book is also from Big Lots.

8. Cooking Utensils

I have bought many stainless steel top quality kitchen utensils for less at Big Lots. I have also bought numerous pyrex containers to fill with my handmade items and give as wedding gifts.

9.Electronic Cases and Accessories

The case for my iPad. The cases I have strung on my runners belt. My iPod charger all of them come from Big Lots.

10. Curtains and Rods

I get compliments all the time on my curtain rods and curtains and most peoples eyes go big when I tell them I got them at Big Lots.

What is your favorite item to buy at Big Lots? Or Perhaps you have a tip to share?

Click to read more shopping tips.

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linked to Top Ten Tuesdays at Many Little Blessings, The Mommy Club At Crystal &Co.

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Filed Under: Shopping Saturdays

Pastors’ Wives: By Lisa Takeuchi Cullen

May 10, 2013 by Victoria 1 Comment

Once I found out that Pastors’ Wives was written by the reporter that interviewed Blogging With Amy I had to sign up to review it.

Having read Blogging with Amy’s entire archives during my blogging university freshman year I know she refers to the “pastors wives article” in Time Magazine more than once and it had me curious as to just what the reporter went away thinking about the wives of pastors.

Pastors’ Wives deals with the lives of 3 women, two who went into marriage knowing they would be a pastors’ wife, and one having no idea she would end up one.

I loved the 3 different perspectives the 3 different woman brought to the topic of being a wife of a pastor. I loved the honest look at the women’s backgrounds and attitudes. The author did not give each woman a background of roses in which to grow from and I thought that brought a level of depth to the book.

I however didn’t agree with all the opinions stated in the books ending. I really can’t give much more detail than that without giving too much away and I hate ruining a book for a reader.

One word of caution: Although this book gives an honest portrayal of pastor wives it is not published by a traditional Christian publisher nor is it classified as Christian fiction and therefore contains a few more risque details than one generally finds in books by Christian publishers. (still I give it a 4 out of 5 stars)

To find out more about the book or the author visit the Litfuse Publicity Group Blog Tour landing page.

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(post contains affiliate links)

(I was given a copy of the book for review but the opinions are 100% mine)

Enter Today – 5/2 – 5/23!

Filed Under: Sunday Reads

Day 8 Of The Clutter Busting Challenge

May 10, 2013 by Victoria 2 Comments

Today is one of those days where just finding 7 things seemed like work, but I made myself do it and the whole process took less than 2 minutes.

LESS THAN 2 MINUTES! That is how long it takes to get rid of 7 things in our life space that don’t need to be there taking up our time and energy and leaving us feeling defeated as we gaze around our cluttered homes.

You don’t have to feel defeated you can over come. Making small realistic snail pacing goals can make a huge difference over time.

Being a snail pacer myself I love projects like the Clutter Busting Challenge Crystal is hosting this month. They reinforce what I already know; small every day steps towards a goal leaves you feeling triumphant and spurs you on to set and reach more goals.

Goals setting is not about the speed in which you reach the goal; goal setting is about having an end in mind that spurs you on.

These 7 VHS tapes don’t look like much but so far in only 8 days in I have gotten rid of 56 things. Enough to fill a huge box for recycling, a box to give away and a box to sell.

These VHS tapes will be in the box to sell. People still buy these. I do at yard sales all the time as we still have 2 working VHS machine and enjoy using them with .50 cent titles we find at yard sales or free ones we borrow from the library. VHS tapes take a beating that DVD’s won’t.

Got to admit there are a lot of warm fuzzy memories tied up in the “Elmo Saves Christmas” and the “Veggie Tales” ones. I can still see my children with their chubby toddler cheeks all snuggled up on my lap with their sippy cup in hand, giggling away as we watch the same show for the 4th time that week.

Ach! I got pictures…..

If you have been following my Clutter Busting Challenge this week, you might be wondering if that big box of vinegar and tide bottles actually made it to the curb for recycling pick up. Yes it did! It is sitting out there as I write this. I can see it out the window and so far no strange looks from those walking by.

How is your decluttering going?

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linked to Money Saving Mom’s Clutter Busting Challenge

Filed Under: Housekeeping

The Summer Bucket List : And the Changes it Brings

May 10, 2013 by Victoria Leave a Comment

A few weeks ago I decided to cheer on my friend Crystal Paine while she was doing her first live broadcast event with Lyza Terkeurst . Sure she couldn’t exactly hear my cheering but I did leave her a comment the next day saying I had watched it; online friendship support is different than face to face friendship support…or is it?

Anyways that is a whole different blog post lets get back to today’s topic. During the broadcast Crystal mentioned something I have heard her talk about before; “making a summer bucket list”.

The idea is to sit the family down and brainstorm on what everyone wants to do over the weeks of summer vacation. Then type out that list and post it somewhere that you see all the time to make sure it actually happens.

I have always made a bucket list in my head but sadly never involved the kids although believe me the ideas on my list involved them, if it were a just me list it would say, read several books while swinging in the swing chair instead of things like camp for 5 nights and go to a new water park.

Since that podcast I have been pondering a family written bucket list and announced it to the children Wednesday. They are already shouting out requests some small “a trip to the pool with the high dive” some extremely large “a return to Disney World” (that child is going to be a bit disappointed).

What I quickly realized is that involving the children in this list and posting it where everyone can see it daily means I need to be more proactive in making sure it happens otherwise I will be facing 3 disappointed faces come fall.

Meaning I need to find more time in my day for fun while the sun is out which leads me to my announcement.

My New Blog Post Schedule

Starting next week I will be posting just Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. I will no longer post on Fridays.

Other Changes

Sunday Surfing is becoming Weekend Surfing and will be posted on Saturday.

You will still find Shopping Saturdays and Selling Saturdays alternating with Weekend Surfing on Saturday.

Monday will remain my goal post day

Wednesday will be a wild card day where I will write about time management, simple recipes, faith, fitness, homeschooling, or whatever idea comes to my mind.

Daily Life Captured will be seen on the first Wednesday of the month instead of the first Friday

I will not be having a one week series for the month of June, July or August (one week series will return in September)

If another blogger hosts a series that welcomes other bloggers that I think will benefit my household I might join in (like Money Saving Mom’s Clutter Busting Challenge this month)

Review posts to as much as I can control will be posted on Tuesday, Thursday or Friday.

Yes that still looks like a lot of posts, but one less scheduled post a week for me is on average 2 to 3 hours saved when I add up time to write a good quality post, take good quality photos, edit and label the photos, edit the post, tweak the post for better SEO, publish the post and promote the post. Two to three hours is the same time it takes to visit the local pool with my children or pack up for a weekend of camping (both things I am sure are going to be on that summer bucket list).

What do you do to make more time for fun in the summer? Do you write a summer bucket list?

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Filed Under: This and That

Day 7 of the Clutter Busting Challenge

May 9, 2013 by Victoria Leave a Comment

Today’s 7 tossed are things that I can actually sell to raise money for our upcoming anniversary trip.

There are four Vera Bradley purses in this photo as well as 2 iPad cases. The iPad cases won’t bring in much money but every dollar adds up. The Vera Bradley purses however always seem to resell well.

My plan is to research these prints and purses on eBay today and then post them to my personal Facebook account in my virtual yard sale photo album at prices about 20 to 30% less than average selling price on eBay. This saves me the effort and fees of posting on eBay and gives my friends a deal and first dibs.

What purses my friends don’t want will then be listed on eBay.

I like the purses, and I do use them from time to time but I love the idea of a two night three day getaway with my hubby even more.

I love using memory building trips as motivation to declutter for cash. I think we often forget that memories are built from events not things.

Keeping that phrase “memories are built from events” helps me to declutter more effectively. I think to myself “would I rather keep this, or use the money I will get from selling it to spend time with…..doing…. and building memories”?

Do you ever resell you no longer needed items?

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linked to Money Saving Mom’s Clutter Busting Challenge

Filed Under: Giveaways

Day 6 of The Clutter Busting Challenge

May 8, 2013 by Victoria 1 Comment

Today I started on my bag collection. I am thinking I might get 2 days worth of items out of it all together.

Looking at this picture I find myself thinking, well maybe I should keep that little black backpack. It might come in handy for….

“It might” are stumbling words for those of us on a clutter busting mission. Chances are “it might” is truly an “it won’t”.

“It might” is yet another stealer of our time, energy and joy in our today.

I find the best way to deal with an “it might” item is do one of two things.

1. Get it out of the house the very day you decide to toss it. Every time I have a full box for the thrift store I try to get rid of it that very same day I filled it. I usually get my husband to drop off my boxes that way I can’t grab it out of the box last minute as I arrive at the drop off location.

2. Create an “it might” box. Write the date you placed the item in it on the side of the box, and if in 6 months time you have not used it the item is not a “it might” but a “it won’t” so get rid of it.

Do you struggle with “it might” items?

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linked to Money Saving Mom’s Clutter Busting Challenge

Filed Under: Housekeeping

Tearing Down The Walls Of The Heart

May 8, 2013 by Victoria Leave a Comment

The other day my husband and children were taking apart our old shed in our backyard to make room for a larger one.

As they got to the walls, I couldn’t help but notice the effort it took them to tear them apart.

The walls decades old contained surprises like 1000′s of nails when there should have been handfuls, as well as bugs and even a bees nest (thankfully it was still too cold out to be active).

As I stood back to take a picture for Instagram I was struck by a thought, just as physical walls are hard to remove so are the walls we place around our own hearts.

A person hurt me so badly when I was young that I became an expert wall builder. When I got older and the person was no longer a threat to me, those walls still remained intact and almost kept out the person whom I am building my current home with.

Ugly walls, full of shards require sweat and hard work to remove, whether they be physical or emotional.

That hard work however is worth every ounce of sweat. Our home now has a shed large enough to fit our bikes and our tools.

My heart now is filled with the joy brought by the love of a man whom I tore the walls away for and the laughter of the children that were created from that love.

If you are struggling with emotional walls, remember not what pain from the past they were created for but what joy of the present and future they are keeping you from.

“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” Ezekiel 36:26

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linked to Hearts For Home at Upside Down Homeschooling, Teach Me Tuesdays at Growing Home Titus 2sdays at The Time Warp Wife, WFMW at We Are That Family, Welcome Home At Raising Arrows

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Filed Under: Faith

Review of Pure Natural Diva: Natural Perfume

May 7, 2013 by Victoria Leave a Comment

Ever since being diagnosed with uterine fibroids a few years ago I have been researching what things I can do to avoid their growth and the pain I receive from them.

One thing I came across right away was research done showing how chemicals in the products we use on our skin and hair create higher than normal levels of estrogen within the body thus increasing the growth and pain of fibroids.

At first I thought this was crazy and had to be untrue. Still I cut those products out of my daily beauty routine and sure enough within a cycle or two I felt 80% relief. In fact my fibroids rarely bug me anymore, unless I have fallen off my quest to put less chemicals in and on my body.

One thing that was hardest to give up was my favorite body sprays. I loved their pretty smells. So when an opportunity came across my path to review a natural perfume I was thrilled.

I received 4 trial vials of natural perfume one in each of the 4 scents that Pure Natural Diva Botanicals creates. My favorite was Elixir which contains a hint of vanilla.

Although I liked the perfume I have to admit the price of a full sized bottle is not within my current budget. I was pleased however to see that Elixer is included in one of the two sample packs that Pure Natural Diva Botanicals offers and at $14 to $16 for a set of 3 or 4 sample vials,I just might splurge occasionally on a sample ; perhaps with either Birthday, Christmas or even with my upcoming Mother’s Day money.

If you are looking for a natural perfume check out Pure Natural Diva Botanicals

(I was given a sample of this product for purpose of review but the opinions expressed are my own)

Filed Under: This and That

Day 5 of The Clutter Busting Challenge

May 7, 2013 by Victoria 1 Comment

This morning I got rid of the very last of the empty vinegar bottles, a pair of gloves and a old bike helmet.

So that brings my total to 26 empty vinegar and tide bottles not the 28 I feared. However it is still way more than one person should ever keep as spares in her basement. I now have just the 10 I need for a batch of my homemade laundry detergent.

As I was decluttering the morning I thought about the seductive woman described in Proverbs 7. I couldn’t help but relate my love of buying and storing things I don’t really need to the seductive woman.

These things are attractively dressed, they promise me more time, more money, or a different life in which I will be able to pursue the activity that they are (sewing & scrapbooking supplies) but in reality they steal those very things from me.

To be a good steward I need to live fully in the present, I need to focus on the stage of life I am in now, and these things keep me from enjoying my current life to the fullest.

This month I am getting rid of 217 of those seductive things. Sure some of them are no-brainers like a lifetime collection of vinegar bottles I created when I gave in to the seduction of laziness. Others however are tough to let go of like craft supplies that spoke to my creative side so loudly that I no longer heard the sensible side of me that realizes that in this stage of life I simply do not have time to create past the words on this laptop and the stitches created by my hands when I am winding down for the night.

What are the seductive women in your home? Are you brave enough to toss them?

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Linked to Money Saving Mom’s Clutter Busting Challenge

Filed Under: Housekeeping

Day 4 of The Clutter Busting Challenge

May 6, 2013 by Victoria 3 Comments

I did my Saturday, Sunday and Monday toss on Saturday afternoon. I am actually very embarrassed to show this photo to the world. So before I do here are my lame excuses.

Lame excuse number 1 : We moved my laundry area to the basement a year ago so the recycling bin is on a different floor.

Lame excuse number 2: I have a shelving unit on either side of my washer and drier and it seemed easier at the time to just place these items there than lugging them up the stairs as I emptied them.

Lame excuse number 3: I make my own laundry soap so I do need some of these to store it in (just not this many).

Lame excuse number 4: I truly had no idea that things had gotten this bad. I mean ya I knew I had a few too many, but not THAT MANY.

So here is the picture of my 21 things (7 a day for 3 days)…….

Okay stop laughing now. Yes that is in fact a picture of 21 empty bottles of vinegar and tide. I use vinegar as fabric softener and tide for the whites (I use my homemade laundry soap for all our other laundry).

This story gets worse. Tomorrow you are going to see more of these bottles, and on Friday I am going to have to ask my children to help lug the huge cardboard box they are sitting in up the stairs with me and to the curb for the recycling guys to pick up.

Yes that is right everyone who drives or walks by that morning before the recycle guys arrive is going to see this large mound of 28 empty vinegar and tide bottles and will ponder for the next few miles just how one family could go through that much vinegar and soap.

Oh well, live and learn, and I have learned. I have learned that if you avoid the little for too long it becomes something big and embarrassing.

What did you get rid of today?

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