Master Bedroom Getaway

   Whether you're the type that believes your master bedroom is a sanctuary that should be kid and toy free or if you like to have those little bodies snuggled up next to you on a Saturday morning to watch cartoons, your Master Bedroom is a central part of your home.  Important things happen in your Master Bedroom and it should reflect the couple that thrives in it.  If the Kitchen is the heart of the home, the Master Bedroom is the soul.
 
   Just because you're in the Military doesn't mean you can't create the atmosphere you so richly deserve.  A bed can make a statement without the heavy, hard-to-move headboard and you shouldn't settle for a bed setup that you aren't in love with!

   Before our last PCS move, we sold our bed and most of our furniture to save on truck space as well as make a little money.  When we arrived, we had to start all over again with much of our most basic needs (like a bed).  While it was a bit of a drag, it was also an opportunity.  We got a great deal on a King Mattress and Box Spring ($500 from American Freight).  At the next paycheck, we bought a basic metal bed frame ($60 from Costco.com) complete with an excellent mattress topper ($100 from Overstock) on the third paycheck.

   Being picky and with this gorgeous new bed, I didn't want to settle for the typical, hideous, tacky, bed-in-a-bag set.  I was ready for an adult's bed.  The budget wouldn't stretch to afford a homemade quilt for quite some time, so one day, when I was out at Costco, I saw a flannel sheet set (for only $29) that would be a beautiful bedspread.  It was for a Queen, so I had to cut up the fitted sheet, hem it, and attach it to the flat sheet, but it turned out better than I even imagined!

   The next step in the process was to think of some kind of headboard.  Knowing that another move was inevitable in a matter of months, and again, with no budget for a physical headboard, I took a curtain rod we had lying around and purchased a pair of black, sheer curtain panels from Big Lots ($10).  The effect is absolutely stunning and best yet, will be incredibly easy to take down and move!

   Lastly, I purchased two unfinished dressers from IKEA ($70 for the pair) stained them in our favorite color (Jacobean) and set them flanking the bed as nightstands.  They're perfect for catching clutter, books and holding lotion, wipes and diapers.  Best nightstands EVER!

   I wanted a punch of color so I took a leaf I found lying on the road on one of my walks, pressed it and framed it in an old, barnwood frame purchased from Hobby Lobby ($10 on sale).  I then took an old frame, painted it green and placed it around a picture I painted.

I also took a lamp shade I purchased from IKEA in their As-Is section ($6) and attached it to a basic floor lamp purchased from Walmart ($7).  I stenciled a fluer-de-lis pattern on it in a light gray and voila.  The result, is we have an amazing, comfortable, elegant-looking master bedroom which is a sanctuary any time of the day or night  It was inexpensive, has a decided stamp of "Smiths" and will be easy to move!

   If you're looking for a way to spruce up your Master Bedroom or if you're a newlywed couple looking for furniture, first things first, decide what you like, then get creative!  Go shopping in your home to see if there are any accessories that will better compliment your new retreat.  Stay within budget and spread the costs over several paychecks to avoid going into unnecessary debt.  DIY projects are always a great way to save money as well as maintain control over the end result.  There's no reason you can't enjoy a sanctuary of your own!

Stores I Love and Why You Should Too!

In Econ 1010, you learn that there's rarely ever a fixed price for anything.  Those who provide services or goods have a target price they'd like to receive for their goods as a whole rather than individually.  You don't see a Fortune 500 Company creating staff meetings about how much they want to make for each little product, rather they set a dollar amount for what they'd like to collect at the end of the fiscal year.
   If ever you've traveled on an airplane, and you ask those around you how much they paid for their tickets, you'll find that some paid their proverbial arms and legs, while others practically fly for free.  How is this?  Because at the end of the day, businessmen know that some profit is better than none at all, and they'll take the highest amount from whomever is willing to pay that price.  What this creates in the market place (or rather, should, if a free market is left to its own devices without government interference) is that you can shop around for the same product from several different merchants before acquiring the best deal.  Now that the econ lesson is over, here's my list of favorite stores, and why you should love them too!

COSTCO:  You may be thinking, "I'm not paying $55 to a store just so I can shop there!"  That kind of thinking is both absurd and asinine.  Costco will refund your membership fee at any time if you are unsatisfied.  Costco offers an amazing American Express card with 3% cash back on all purchases.  We shop using the card and then pay the bill off each month and then at the end of the year, we receive 3% back in the form of a check.  We always get more than enough to pay for the next year's membership and by being a member, you become privy to all sorts of amazing deals.  You might be thinking, "I don't own a business, what on earth would I do with that enormous can of black olives?"  Costco is more than a store full of oversized canned goods.  Costco carries different merchandise based on location, so each time you PCS, each store will carry its own unique perks.  Costco's brand (Kirkland) carries the best baby wipes on the planet (no, that's not my opinion, it's fact).  You can get a box of 900 wipes for $20.  Let me tell you something about these wipes.  I've been known to accidentally wash a wipe or two and they come out of the dryer strong as ever.  I've found myself holding it up thinking, "What is this washcloth?"  That's how strong and amazing they are.  In addition to wipes, Costco carries both Kirkland brand diapers and Huggies.  These big boxes of diapers are the same price ($39 a box) but they almost always have one brand on sale at any given time (for $32/box).  If you're pregnant or already have babies in the home, you'll want a Costco membership.  In addition, they have monthly coupons that are outrageous.  They have everything at Costco!  Furniture, amazing food at amazing prices (did I mention you can get a hot dog lunch with a drink for a buck fifty?!), pharmacy (which accepts Tricare ExpressScrips) as well as Gasoline that is always cheaper than market value.  "I don't need Costco gasoline, it's cheaper at the PX."  True, it usually is cheaper at the PX, but the Costco membership card travels with you.  If ever you need gas and there's not a PX around, Costco will still save you money.  And in case you already forgot, if you get an American Express Costco Card, you receive cash back on every purchase!! So, get a Costco membership already!!!

TARGET:  Walmart's better looking and nicer cousin, right?  "Duh, Jane.  Everyone already knows that!"  But did you know that Target offers a Debit card which gives you an automatic 5% off your total purchase at checkout?  I know the cashier has already talked to you about it, and if you're like me, you instantly heard white noise and said, "Not interested, thank you."  But the next time you are at Target, ask them for a pamphlet so you can read all of the fine print at your leisure.  It's a Target Debit Card which connects directly to your existing Debit Card/Bank Account.  It's not like a credit card, there's no APR or annual fee or anything like that.  If you're already using a debit card at Target, for heaven's sake, do yourself a favor already and get the Target Debit Card!  It's free, and you save an instant 5% on every purchase (in store or online AND you get free shipping)!  I absolutely love it!!!

WALMART:  Not as nice or clean as Target, I know, I know.  But they're always busy, aren't they?  Why is that?  They have good prices, sure, but the competition has caught up with them, and there's really not that much of an edge for shopping at Walmart as opposed to, say, Target.  However, I will say this for all you Walmart snobs.  Over Christmas, we were in the market for a TV after Porter took a crayon to our existing one.  Being myself, I shopped around online, in stores, etc, looking for the absolute best TV for the best price.  I found one.  It was a 47" Vizio 3D, SmartTV.  It was a beaut.  It was amazing.  It was incredible.  It was refurbished.  It didn't work when it arrived, regardless of everything we tried.  When we returned it to the store, we found they had one in stock.  The difference between this new one and the refurbished was a mere $100.  We decided that it was worth paying the difference.  But, oh no.  Walmart exchanged the TVs so we paid exactly $0 extra dollars for a brand new TV!!!  That's Customer Service that keeps a business on top.  Furthermore, at another Walmart trip, I purchased an HDMI cable.  It was a Vizio and the tag said $14  (what a steal!)  When I checked out, the final price sounded much too high so after reviewing the receipt, I saw that the cable was $24 as opposed to $14.  Dismayed, I immediately took it to Customer Service and explained that I thought the tag said it was $14 and that $24 for an HDMI cable was just too rich for my blood. The Customer Service rep asked if I'd like to return it, or if I'd just like the difference.  She explained that if Walmart has something marked at a different price from what it rings up as, the Customer gets it for the marked price (in Monterey, they give it to you for the marked price and an additional 3% discount).  That is why I continue to shop at Walmart...

OVERSTOCK:  Overstock simply has amazing prices and what else, is they have flat rate shipping ($3) and free shipping on any purchase over $50.  Like anything, Overstock has better deals in some areas as opposed to others.  I always purchase our memory foam mattress toppers from Overstock because they're priced so well.  In addition, they have great quality dining chairs at a fraction of the cost of what you'd spend at the Exchange or any other store.  If you've not yet visited this site, do so!  You'll never know what you'll find!

KOHL'S:  The reason I love shopping at Kohl's is because they always have sales.  My mom says they artificially raise their prices so that when they tell you, "You saved $250 today!"  It sounds better than it actually is.  But, keep in mind, that Kohl's has a better priced clearance section than even Target.  If you sign up for Kohl's emails, you're almost always guaranteed an additional 15-20% off your entire purchase, and if you get a Kohl's Credit Card, you'll often receive an extra 30% off with an opportunity to earn Kohl's Cash...which is exactly what it sounds like).  I always buy the boys' clothes for the following season from the clearance rack (shorts and pants go for about $2 a pair.  That's about on par with a thrift store, but they've never been worn!)  Lastly, I love Kohl's because each month they get a new stock of children's items called "Kohl's Cares".  Everything in this section is $5 and 100% of the proceeds go to Children's charities.  This month, their special is Dr. Seuss books and stuffed animals.  We bought "Green Eggs and Ham" and two others that have now slipped my mind, all for $5 each (hardback!)  Trust me.  Kohl's is one you want to add to your repertoire!

IKEA: If you've yet to experience the glory that is IKEA, you owe it to yourself to drive to the nearest one and find out what you've been missing.  John and I like to eat before we shop.  They have an amazing cafeteria (try the Swedish Meatballs!).  IKEA is also one of the most family-friendly stores in existence.  They have a nursing room, complimentary diapers (should the need arise) a bottle-warming station, a children's dining area, as well as play stations throughout the entire store.  If your child is potty trained, they can even spend time in Smaland (a supervised play area while you shop).  What can you expect to find at IKEA?  Everything from furniture to toys to home decor and dinnerware.  But best of all?  You can expect INSPIRATION.  Upstairs, IKEA consists of what they call the Showroom.  You walk along a curving path throughout the store seeing entire rooms constructed with IKEA products.  You can physically lie down on a bed or sit on the couch, or work in the Kitchen to see exactly what you like and what you don't.  If you have a hard time figuring out what your style is, IKEA offers a bit more of a hand's on experience than say, HGTV.  Also, what I love about IKEA, is  that you can find inexpensive stuff for your college dorm or your newlywed pad OR spend a little more for your brand new home.  For every level of your life, IKEA will be there.  As one of my all-time favorite stores, I've been known to drive 4 hours just to spend the afternoon indulging in the IKEA experience.  Sounds extreme, right?  Check it out for yourself, then you'll understand!

Daddy Dolls

 
As many of you know, we had a Brother-In-Law just return from a deployment to Afghanistan (Oorah).  When he left, the Red Cross donated "Daddy Dolls" (though Operation Hug a Hero) to all of the children who had a parent going down range.  If you don't know what a Daddy Doll is, they're absolutely adorable!  They take a full length picture of your Solider and attach it to a pillow (essentially).  Her children looked so cute, walking around the house and falling asleep, all while clutching their daddy dolls.  At the time, we knew John would be leaving in a matter of weeks and so I decided to visit the website to order daddy dolls for Porter and Wyatt.   

The dolls, while absolutely adorable, are a bit pricey if you're like the average Military family and have more than one child.  a 12" daddy doll runs just under $24 while a 17" runs just under $30.  If you want a voice recorder sewn into the doll, that adds another $9.  Multiply that by 2+ kids and you're suddenly looking at a very expensive, albeit wonderful, coping mechanism.

As usual, I wanted the dolls, but I didn't want to spend $80 to supply my boys with a piece of their dad while he was away.  I got creative and decided to try making my own, and succeeded (for the most part).  You actually can benefit from my mistakes, so if you are interested in making your children their own daddy doll (or grandma/grandpa, auntie, etc. doll) then here's how I chose to do mine:

Materials Needed to Make 1 Daddy Doll:
* One, full-length photograph of your Soldier (in uniform, if desired) transferred to either a shirt, or some other material.
* One Voice Recorder (optional)
* Cotton stuffing or batting
* Needle and Thread
* Cammo Material (I wish I had thought to use an old uniform of John's before I did ours!)
* Iron-on Paper (also known as Transfer Paper - also optional)

Directions:
1)- Take a good picture.  All you have to do is visit the website to see examples of how they look.  In general, it's a good idea to have your Soldier stand with their hands loosely to the side, but really, I say do what comes naturally and what your kids will like :)  Take a picture with a white background if you don't want to cut around your Soldier's body.  John left before I could take a really good picture, so we used an old one.  It doesn't have to be perfect, your kids just need to recognize that it's daddy.

2)- Get a voice recorder device.  We had an old, nasty teddy bear which someone had just given us that we were going to throw away.  It had a recorder in the paw, so I dug it out and recycled it.  The other recorder, I obtained from Amazon.  (I prefer Amazon, but really, any online market place will give you a competitive price).  I ordered one for $6 (with shipping) and it arrived the week before John left, so I was cutting it a bit too close.  Still, I'm so glad we got a recorder for both boys!

3)- Upload your picture to Walmart.com > Photo Center > Clothing & Jewelry.  I chose to have the photograph put on an Adult T Shirt, just because I wanted a bigger doll... but it's only $11 and if you want to have it sent to your local Walmart store, you'll even save on shipping.  It takes a few weeks to have the shirt completed and shipped.

4)- Once you've got all needed materials assembled together, you'll want to do one of 2 things.  You can either cut the image from the background OR you can leave the image alone and simply cut the shape of the doll out of the T Shirt.
   I chose to cut out the background from John's photo, and then I used the rest of the T Shirt (obtained from Walmart.com photo center) to make the white part of the daddy doll, or the front of the doll.  I used the Iron-on (transfer) paper to make the picture stick to the T Shirt, then I simply cut out the shape of a doll and sewed it together.  If you want to skip the iron-on process, you don't need to cut out the background.  I chose to do this because the picture itself can be a bit scratchy.  Granted, I didn't try washing it first, either.  So, do whatever feels best and is easiest in your situation.  When I make these again, I'm going to skip the Iron-On Transfer because Porter loves his a little too much, too often, and the transfer paper has broken down, which means John is barely hanging onto Porter's doll.  So, again, do what you think is best for your kids.  Wyatt's is still as pristine as the day I finished it.

5)-  Cut the Cammo Material to match the shape of the doll.

6)- Pin the front of the doll to the back of the doll.  If you're unfamiliar with sewing pillows, you want the whole project to be inside-out.  This is will keep a nice, smooth edge on your finished product.  Sew the entire doll, except leave a hole that's big enough for the stuffing and the recorder.

7)-  Stuff the doll with the stuffing/batting all the way up until you reach Daddy's shoulders.  Then, insert the voice recorder (complete with personalized message from Daddy!!).  Finish stuffing.

8)- Sew stuffing hole closed.

9)- Present the doll to your beaming child, and share the pictures of your handiwork on our facebook page!

10)- Remind yourself that you're an awesome mother and a wonderful wife for keeping your children so connected with their daddy.

At the end of the day, my dolls aren't as pretty as the ones you can buy from the official Daddy Doll website.  The edges are a bit wobbly, the stuffing looks more like the cellulite in my legs, and we didn't get the best picture in the world.  BUT, my boys don't love their dolls any less because of that.  They sleep with them, they kiss them, they talk to them, and they carry them around all over, everywhere.  That's the whole point of the dolls anyway, right?  Don't stress about making them perfect.  All your kids will feel when they hold them, is that their mommy and daddy love them very much...

These are also a great gift idea (if you're needing an idea for a family member who is far away).  Really, these dolls are just great coping mechanisms for any loved one that is away from your child!!!

Fall is in the Air (And on your Walls!)

Do you feel it yet? The bite in the wind and the crisp chill that makes you turn up your coat collar? Can you smell the leaves in the air? Do you find yourself daydreaming of hot apple cider? One of my favorite times of year as a child, was when the leaves turned to brilliant shades of yellow, red and brown, until the mountainside erupted in flame. Growing up on a small, family-run, dairy farm in Idaho, afforded me ample opportunity to be outside; enjoying mother nature in all her seasons. I so enjoyed walking in the canyon with my family, collecting handfuls of these brilliant gifts of nature. We would arrive home with pink cheeks, bright smiles and cold noses. My mother taught us how to press the leaves and enjoy them throughout the autumn season, long after all the other leaves had ultimately abandoned their posts. She taught us how to use them to decorate our home and our lives. We'd press them into homemade candles or frame them or turn them into bookmarks. The possibilities are endless!

I think it's safe to say, that no soldier chooses this life for the money. It's certainly not the most high-paying gig (not even the most appreciated, but let's leave that for another day). My point, is you don't have to have 6 digits in your bank account to make your house a home. For this particular project, you don't even need double digits, all you need is time.

While the leaves are turning in all their brilliance, take your kids, dog (if applicable) and Man (if he's home) and hit the trees. Plan an afternoon to walk in and enjoy the area in which you're currently stationed. Explore, talk and be a family! Pick lots of interesting leaves* and have FUN. For parents with young kids (or mothers with a deployed or in-training husband) this little jaunt may just be a walk around the block, but if your kids are older, go ahead and make a day of it! Take pictures of your family outing and be sure to get plenty of your Soldier with the kids.  These photos can be used in photo books (which you can have made on the cheap and are great for when your Soldier is away).

Once home with nature's booty, as a family, look at and admire the leaves. Then take the ones you'd like to keep and put them in a big, heavy book. Space the leaves out so there are several pages in between each leaf. Then lie the book flat and put as much weight as you can on top (about 5 pounds should do rather nicely). This will dry out the leaves and preserve their color and shape. In a week or so, check the leaves. If they're flat and dry (and fragile!) you're ready for Operation Fall.

As mentioned, we used to press flowers and leaves into our homemade candles, but this particular year, with my boys (no husband, as he's gone) we dried our leaves and decided to frame them to fill our home with the colors of Autumn. We did 2 separate projects.
PROJECT 1:
We got some dollar frames (purchased from IKEA and painted at home) a couple pieces of white, printer paper and a few of our bigger leaves. We glued them onto the paper (cut to frame size) using "Elmer's Craft Bond Spray Adhesive" (multiple purpose, temporary or permanent) and simply put them into the frame.

PROJECT 2:
We took the smaller leaves and created our very own wreath. Which we then glued onto more white paper (cut to frame size) and put them into our newly-purchased dollar store frame (or you could put them on the refrigerator  the children's rooms, your front door, etc.).





PROJECT IDEA: Another fun idea,
would be to take pictures of the leaves and edit them as a family.  These days, Photo editing software and aps are a dime a dozen and make photography simple! You could even have a friendly photography contest to see who can get the best shots.  Creating categories for things like: "Best lighting" "Most beautiful leaves" "Best wildlife shot", etc. will help the kids look for things while outside. Once again, you could compile these shots and have them made into a memorable book to enjoy for years to come, or you could pull it out each autumn to display and reminisce.


What I love about these projects, is that these can be used in any home we'll be stationed in. Furthermore, this project can be done with a dollar-store frame or with an expensive frame purchased from a craft store** When the season is over, simply stow them away for next year's enjoyment.*** Good memories will flood your home and invigorate your family.  It may even become a new tradition.

At the end of the day, creating fond family memories will go a long way in your child's life. Some 20 years later, I recall all of the fun things we used to do as a family (both immediate and extended). Most of our fun had to be extremely cheap or free (and therefore creative). I promise you that the free/cheap projects and activities will be remembered long after the expensive ones.

Lastly, get outside! Be active! Go explore! How many seasons will you actually get to enjoy where you're currently stationed? Don't view the various Duty Stations with exasperation, but rather with an adventurous attitude. It'll help your children adjust more quickly and will create fond memories for years to come!


*SAFETY REMINDER:  Be safe while you're out playing Swiss Family Robinson.  Be sure to avoid poisonous plants "Leaves of 3, let them be".  If you're unfamiliar with dangerous plants in your area, do some research before exploring. Knowledge is key. Also, be sure and check for ticks if you're returning from a wooded area. If you're going deep in the woods, be sure to let friends know the general area of where you're going and about how long you'll be. Pack extra water and warm clothes.  If it's hunting season, wear orange and other bright colors.

**MONEY-SAVING TIP: Michaels Craft stores have 40% off coupons available on their website. These coupons are free, and are generally intended for one, regular-priced item. If you want to use a really nice frame for either of these projects, print the Coupon and save!

***SEASONAL TIP: Plastic tubs are a great way to store your holiday/seasonal decorations. For easy identification and moving, I would recommend color-coordinating your tubs to the season (i.e., orange for Fall, red for Christmas, Green for Spring, etc.) and then label/draw pictures on all 4 sides of the tub for further ease.