Happy Wednesday!

September1

Sometimes it’s great to be a bargain hunter; did you hear about this deal? To follow the letter of the offer I got them & ‘gave them away’ to Matt, who then gave them back to me (hee :) – I think he just wanted to be able to say, “I got you flowers!!”) This spot of bright yellow sitting in on my desk just makes me so happy :) .

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Mom’s Murphy Bed #2

August31
Those of you who are either A) related to me or B) have been reading me from (near) the beginning are already at least a little familiar with my mom’s peculiar brand of genius – in the family we call it Mom-Guyvering because ever since we can all remember she’s been able to make cool things out of what seems like nothing at all . She’s working on a new project that I thought you all might be interested in :) , so I co-opted her recent email for a guest post.

First, a bit more backstory. Mom has a good sized 2 bedroom apartment – the bottom level of a house – in Staten Island, NY. She also has four grown kids (three of whom are married) and her first grandkid on the way this fall. Mom loves to gather us all together, but 1) we all live out of state now, 2) hotel rooms in Staten Island are both few and far between AND very expensive, and 3) she believes that everyone should have a little privacy when they’re staying away from home. Essentially, like most moms, she wants us all to stay with her when we visit, and she wants us all to be comfortable. Enter her Mom-Guyvering skills. Fitting 8 adults (not to mention the baby that’s on the way) into a two-bedroom apartment  - even a good sized one – is what most people would deem impossible. Not Mom, though. Last year she turned a little nook in her living room into a private guest room by building a queen-sized murphy bed and installing removable floor-to-ceiling blackout curtains around it. It’s truly a sight to behold. It’s this tiny little area that spends most of its time as her sewing nook:

And then someone comes to visit, she moves a couple things around, and voila!:

The bed itself hides behind a faux wall – you can see it in the first image – it’s the wall with the picture above the sewing machine. When she pulls the wall down (if you’ve never seen a murphy bed in action, it pulls down like an oven door opens), the bed rests on that bench on the far left in that first picture (she made the bench, too, of course).

To give you a sense of where this space is located, that’s the arm of her living-room sectional that you see in the bottom right corner of this picture. When the curtains are up, they block this area off completely from the rest of the living room, and give the guest a surprisingly large space to call their own – and though of course it’s not soundproof, it is surprisingly comfortable and feels very private.

Mom has had a trundle bed in her second (very small) bedroom since she first moved here – that way she had a twin bed whenever she needed it, but could turn it into a king bed if necessary. However, because the room is so small (it even has an exterior door that opens inward from the backyard), it was always a lot of work to set up the second bed and there was never very much clearance  in the room once the 2nd bed was up. She’s been trying to figure out how to Mom-Guyver it for a while, and this is how the idea of Murphy Bed #2 was born. Now I’ll let her take it away. She says:
I roughed out these plans for my little itty bitty (9′ by 11′) guest room 2 or 3 weeks ago – measured repeatedly to make sure everything would work … and the project began last weekend. Here are my plans for how it will look and work:

Here is the room with the bed up.

The bottom “drawer” will be the bed support.
…and the middle “drawers” will pull out to act as night stands. Obviously  the headboard is just a snapshot from somewhere online … I’m hoping to find one at a garage sale or (better still!) at someone’s curb on garbage day.

I have the bed framed out and I hinged it to the wall last night – talk about close working quarters! (Ask me how many times the frame fell down and hit me in the head while tring to get it positioned.  I finally got “smarter” about it and rigged a wider platform for it to sit on temporily while I attached the hinges to the frame from underneath.)  It is standing upright with mattresses inside even now.

I’m going to like it – the only problem is that the bed has to be very low – even lower than I initially calculated – but after checking clearance with the actual frame before installing the six heavy duty hinges – it is what it is, and can’t be any higher.

(yes she made the quilt too – see where I get it from???)
The bed is comfortable … and will be really awesome with a 3″ memory foam topper if I can find another one on the cheap like the one I found for my bed (I allowed space for it).  I know it’s VERY COMFORTABLE with the topper because in the middle of things last weekend when I built the frame and just had it propped up, I took the topper off my bed and put it on the guest room bed just to “try” it out and ended up taking a nap (it just snuck up on me – what can I say!?).

Now, a few days later, I have one of the bookcase/nightstands framed out:
I think my cost is going to come in around $100 – thanks to my two sons who left big plywood scraps in my garage … they both told me “if you have a use for it …. ”  well I guess I have use for it! :)
Believe it or not with the bed down:
  • there’s a little room on both sides … 13.25 inches – frame to wall … if you’re curious
  • there’s about 3 feet of floor space left at the foot of the bed
  • the exterior door opens fully
  • the door to the hall by the bath and kitchen opens out so no problem there
  • the closet doors open fully
More to come as I finish it!

Now do you see why we call it Mom-Guyvering??? I’ll keep posting pics as she makes progress. In the meantime, use the comments to tell her how awesome she is!! :)

Free Crochet eBook

August31

(This one’s for the super-duper Jean, and also Sarah!)

For those of you out there who love to crochet (or those of you who are interested in learning), here’s a great way to get started: sign up HERE for a free crochet newsletter and get a free eBook download with a number of cute patterns!

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Free Chili’s Queso Coupon!

August30

Click HERE to join the Chili’s Email Club and get a coupon for a FREE order of Skillet Queso & Chips! I see a visit to Chili’s in my near future!!

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New Coupon & Sample Offers

August30

Lifescript has a number of new FREE offers available!

Click HERE to join Lifescript and get access to all of their coupons!


Click HERE to get a free sample of Crystal Light.


Click HERE to get a free sample of Snuggle (my favorite!!!).


Quality Health

Sign up HERE for the Quality Health newsletter and get a TON of samples for joining!


Click HERE to get a free sample of the John Frieda product of your choice. If you haven’t tried it yet, you’ve got to check out the Root Awakening shampoo & conditioner – I LOVE it!!

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Monday Morning Sweepstakes

August30

CLICK HERE TO GO TO FULL SWEEPSTAKES PAGE

You can find the full list of weekly sweepstakes by clicking the links at the beginning or the end of this post. There are twelve sweepstakes that are ending in the next week – make sure you get your last-minute entries in!! Additionally, there are still a TON of Publix Gift Card sweepstakes – make sure you enter to win your FREE grocery money!!

Enter HERE

Sweeps: Upromise $100,000 College Dream Sweepstakes
Grand Prize: 1 of 10 $10,000 prizes
Details: Limit one (1) entry per valid existing Upromise member who downloads TurboSaver during the sweepstakes period. If you do not want to download TurboSaver, you can hand print your complete name, address including zip code, daytime and evening telephone numbers including area code and a valid e-mail address (optional) on a 3″ x 5″ piece of paper and mail it in an envelope with sufficient postage to: The 2010 Upromise Back To School Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 2546, Grand Rapids, MN 55745-2546.
Christy’s Note: I dislike downloading toolbars – it always messes up something on my computer – but it can’t hurt to throw an index card in the mail today and maybe win $10k!!! If you’ve already downloaded the toolbar, comment and let us know how you like it!
Ends:  8/31/2010 – Ending tomorrow!

Pictures for Mom & Your Opinion

August29

I managed to get most of the quilt top done last night (I stayed up til 3 to finish it; does anyone else do stupid things like that when you’re immersed in a project and you just want to finish “one more row” and all of a sudden it’s 3 am?). I was talking to my mom this evening and told her I’d post a few pictures for her. This is certainly the loudest quilt I’ve made so far – I like it, but I’m just not sure I love it.

Socs thinks that this new quilt-hanging system I’ve got going is the best thing ever; it’s like his own personal fort! Kitty leg, anyone?

So now, internets, I need your opinion. What fabric should I back and bind this quilt with? Here are your choices (all of which appear in the quilt):

#1 – Orange

#2 – Brown

#3 – Red Butterflies

#4 – Red & Cream

#5 – Purple

Let me know what you think in the comments!

Playing Catch-Up

August28

The fabulous Margueritte left to head back home yesterday afternoon. It’s likely the last time I’ll see her before she leaves for London for a YEAR, and I’m bumming out – I’m going to miss her!!

I spent most of the week trying to juggle work and hanging out with Mags and other life-y things, and as per usual, posting kind of fell by the wayside. Sorry bout that. In any case, here’s a little taste of things that have been going on around here:

Socs continues to believe that if he just licks the blinds HARD ENOUGH,
they will magically open for him. Gross but also pretty funny.

I found this cute little planter at the Hospice thrift store yesterday.
As you can see, I don’t so much grow plants as I do piles of random crap,
so I’m sure it will spend its life in my house as a catchall. :)

Here’s a peek at the new quilt I’ve been working on in between working on all the OTHER quilts. (The fabric, if you’re wondering, is MoMo’s Freebird for Moda, and the pattern is one I picked up at a quilt shop earlier in the year.) I’ve only finished 3 of the 6 rows so far, but it’s going together pretty quickly.

Finally, Saffy says, “ppllllbbbbttt.” :)

Sunday Coupon Preview 8/29

August28

This weekend there will be three inserts – one SmartSource, one P&G, and one RedPlum. These are some of my favorites:

SmartSource:

Activia Dessert 4pk Save $1.00/1 (10/15) DND5
Air Wick Freshmatic Compact i-motion Starter Kit Save $4.00/1 (10/10)
Barilla Piccolini Save $1.00/2 (10/24)
Barilla Tortellini Save $1.25/1 (10/24)
Barilla Whole Grain Save $1.00/2 (10/24)
Campbell’s V8 Soups Save $.75/1 (10/31)
Caribou Coffee, 12oz bag Save $1.00/1  (10/31) DND5
Excedrin product, 20ct+ Save $1.00/1 (10/16)
Excedrin product, 80ct+ Save $1.50/1 9×10/16)
Kool-Aid Fun Fizz Product Save $1.00/1 (9/30)
Lactaid Ice Cream Save $1.00/1 (10/31)
Lactaid Lowfat Cottage Cheese Save $1.00/1 (10/31)
Pam Cooking Spray Save $.35/1 (10/31)
Prevacid 24HR product Save $4.00/1 (9/25)
Red Baron Pan Pizza or Pan Pasta product Save $1.00/1 (11/20) DND5
Woolite Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner Save $1.00/1 (11/30)
Woolite Oxy Deep or Pet Trigger Save $1.00/1 (11/30)
Ziploc brand Slider Bags Save $1.50/2 (10/23)

P&G: (all expire 9/30)

$1.00/1 Bounty 6 roll towels or two towels or napkins
$2.00/1 Pantene Restore Beautiful Lengths Product (exc trial size)
Buy one Secret Clinical Strength deodorant Get $4.00/1 Gillette Clinical Strength deodorant (exc trial size)
Buy one Gillette Deodorant Get one Gillette Body Wash Free
$2.00/1 Gillette Body Wash 8.4 oz or 12 oz
Buy one Olay Total Effects facial moisturizer Get one Olay Total Effects Body wash Free
$2.00/1 Venus Embrace or Breeze refillable razor or Venus bikini kit
$1.00/1 Olay body wash or hand and body lotion
$1.00/1 Covergirl Product
Free buy any one Old Spice Body Wash (exc trial)Get one Body wash FREE
$1.00/1 Gain dish liquid
$3.00/1 Tide Stain Release 26-50oz. Powder 15-34ct Duo Pac or 36-68oz. liquid
Buy any one Mr. Clean Liquid Get one FREE Mr. Clean Liquid up to (3.49)
$1.00/1 Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Spray or bath Cleaner
$1.00/1 Bounce Dryer Bar
$2.00/1 Febreze No spill Diffuser
$2.00/1 Febreze Soy Blend or wooden wick candles
$2.00/1 Febreze Candle
$1.50/1 Vicks NyQuil
$1.50/1 Vicks DayQuil
$2.00/1 Tampax Pearl or Compact Pearl 18ct or higher

RedPlum:

AXE 8.45 oz, 12oz or 18oz shower Gel or Detailer Buy One Get One FREE up to $5.99 (10/22)
Bestlife Buttery Spread or buttery spray Save $1.00/1 (10/28)
Carolina or River rice Save $.50/1 (12/31)
Degree Men or Women Clinical Protection anti-perspirant & deodorant Save $3.00/1 (9/26)
Domino Sugar products 2 lbs or larger Save $.50/2 (11/30)
Kellogg’s Fruit Flavored Snacks 10 ct or larger Save $1.00/2 (10/24)
L’Oreal Facial Skincare product Save $1.00/1 (10/10)
L’Oreal Studio Line or Vive Pro Glossy Style Styling product Save $1.00/1 (11/21)
L’Oreal Vive Pro Shampoo or conditioner Save $1.00/1 (11/21)
Libby’s canned vegetables Save $1.00/3 (11/30)
9Lives dry cat food 3.15 lb + Save $1.00/1 (10/31)
Nivea Body Wash for Women 8.4 fl oz – 16.9 fl oz Save $1.00/1 (10/31)
Nivea Body Lotion 8.4 fl.oz – 16.9 fl. oz. Save $1.00/1 (10/31)
Nivea for Men Body Wash 16.9 fl. oz -500 ml Save $1.00/1 (10/31)
Nutella 13 oz jar or larger Save $1.00/1 (11/21)
Perdue Frozen fully cooked variety Save $1.00/1 (10/24)
Perdue Whole Grain Frozen Fully cooked variety Save $1.00/1 (10/24)
Pup-peroni dog snack 4.8oz or larger Save $1.00/1 (10/16)
Quaker Instant Oatmeal or Quaker quick or old fashioned oats 18oz or larger Save $1.00/1 (10/31)
You can check out the whole list of coupons HERE.
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Monday Morning Sweepstakes

August23

CLICK HERE TO GO TO FULL SWEEPSTAKES PAGE

You can find the full list of weekly sweepstakes by clicking the links at the beginning or the end of this post. There are EIGHTEEN (!) sweepstakes that are ending in the next week – make sure you get your last-minute entries in!!

Enter HERE

Sweeps: HGTV Great Fall Fix-Up Sweepstakes
Grand Prize: $75,000 in cash
Details: One entry per person/email address per day
Ends: 8/23/2010 – Ending Today!

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