Our State Magazine - Coastal Issue May 2013

Our State Magazine contacted me a couple of months ago for an interview.  The swing bridge, built in the mid 50s is the topic of discussion.  It is being replaced in the next few years and Our State Magazine wrote an article about it.

Purchase a copy of the magazine, or view the article: Link

My interview is under the "Bridge Memories" section.

I would highly recommend a visit to Topsail Island.  If you do, let me know and I may just invite you over for supper!

The Days of Hairawn Muhly

I am sure I have piqued your interest.  This blog is usually about coupons, saving money, giveaways, and beach renovations, but today, it's about a book.

Every once in a while you come across an item that you pay full price for and it's worth every penny.  For me, it is the book 'The Days of Hairawn Mulley'.

'The Days of Hairawn Muhly' is set in a different time - when things were simple.  Belongings and technology did not rule our lives, but people valued and appreciated what they had.  Taking care of family, helping out neighbors and hard work were at the top of the to-do list.  Best of all, the book is written about a place that is near and dear to my heart, Surf City, NC.

I am fortunate enough to know the author, Carol Ann Ross. She has had a lot of adventures in her lifetime, but currently is an author, and an excellent one.  She writes about her real-life adventures and real-life people. 

If you want a fantastic read for the summer, please go to this link and purchase it from Amazon.  If you are really nice to me (which you always are), I would be happy to get it signed by the author, Carol Ann Ross.  Link: The Days of Hairawn Muhly

Also, check out her blog, Link

Enjoy!!!

The 2013 Beach Project - Back Yard - FINISHED Outdoor Shower

If you are lucky, there are moments in your life when you stop everything, forget everything and just be.....enjoy.....breath.....

This moment happened for me when the outdoor shower was finished and I enjoyed it for the first time.

Let's back up.  This all started when we acquired the beach house.  We realized that our family needed a place at the beach (to keep the Mama happy - ME). The opportunity came our way to seize the moment and move forward with that realization.  Just in case you missed the remodeling of the beach house, here are the links: #1, #2, #3, and #4.

One of the first things that came to me as we assessed the task of remodeling was that we needed an outdoor shower.  There is only one indoor bathroom and an outdoor shower is a must after a busy day on the beach. Plus - I have ALWAYS wanted an outdoor shower and our subdivision in Winston is not condusive to this.

Did I mention that the Husband can do anything?????

Pinterest came along at just the right time.  I was able to pull some images to give the Husband an idea of how I wanted it to look.  Other than hot water, looks are the most important thing!

We (the Husband on a rainy day) picked up some free treated wood from a person that had it listed on Craig's List and were able to save a lot of money.  It was still very expensive to build, but it's not going anywhere anytime soon.  It is VERY solid. 

To view the post for the portion of the outdoor shower that we built in Winston and hauled to the beach, follow this Link.

Pause that thought.....we got to the beach late and it was already dark.  When we woke up and looked outside, the view was breathtaking.

 

 

 

Azaleas were in bloom everywhere.  The colors were stunning!

Back to the shower....

We dug the hole and filled it in with oyster shells to create a French drain. At the coast, oyster shells are used in the same manner as gravel - for example - to fill in holes in the driveway.

Next came the wall that the shower head is mounted to......

....then the side walls. Sorry for the dark photo, but it was getting late.

Now that everything is framed, we can start on the plumbing.

But not without supervision!!!

Grandma Edna, Mom and Aunt Sherri are visiting while we work.  That's okay - they were also the breakfast and beverage providers and did an awesome job of helping clean up afterwards. 

It's plumbing time.  The all-important cold AND hot water is being connected. 

 

Mom and I drug this piece of board off of the beach last year after a hurricane.  I love the combination of colors.  We were able to use this as the board to mount the shower head to the outside of the outdoor shower.  When you have an outdoor shower, why have only one shower head? 

 

The Husband also installed a spicket so that we can wash off our feet, the beach chairs, cars or whatever else needs water.  He mounted it to a piece of metal that we found in the outdoor building. Use what you've got!

 

Fortunately for us, Lowes at the beach did not have the same type of metal that we purchased in Winston for use on the side walls.  Uncle Harold had these two pieces laying around and gladly gave them to us.  If you need anything - Uncle Harold has it. 

 

 

 

We had this metal bar laying around and used it for the door handle.

 

 

Finally - the finished product!

 

 

The shower is complete with the stool that I picked up from the side of the road during bulk pickup week - in my dress clothes, on the way to work.

 

There is a sense of pride that we have in being able to say we built this shower ourselves.  We have the bruises and scrapes to prove it, but better than that, a HUGE sense of accomplishment.

 

One photo that I regret not taking is the view of the woods when the door is open. It it private, peaceful, serene and you can really loose time out there.

 

I will be the cleanest gal in the state! 

Backyard Garden 2013....Pin There, Done That....Using what you've got.....

Can you tell that I struggled with naming this post?  Is it about the garden, Pinterest or re-using?  I will let you decide.

Pinterest...... I have a love/hate relationship with her, as most of you probably do as well.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE all of the fantastic food, projects, fashion and funnies that she has to provide.  Why do I look at the food on Pinterest at night, when I am getting ready to go to sleep when it only makes me hungry!?!?!

The "love" portion emerges when I see a Pin that is appealing and I realize that I have the components to make the item or recipe. 

Insert springtime......

I have been frequenting the "Garden" category lately and refreshing my memory with items that I previously pinned during the winter.

I am a mild hoarder.....if someone is giving something away (particularly a family member) and I envision a use for it, I gladly take it from them.  I may not use it for a while, but I keep it. Also, I really like springtime - the flowers, grass, trees - yea - whatever - it's bulk pickup time!  Where your neighbor's trash can be your treasure - for FREE!

Old windows have been used in so many crafts.  I am fortunate enough to have two of them.  I have had them so long, that I don't remember which family member I got them from so I can't give them credit.

I saw this fantastic idea on Pinterest to take the glass out of a window, attach legs to them and cover one side with screen.  This way, you can grow lettuce under the screened window, in the shade, and cucumbers or squash on top of the windows that gets full sunlight.

GENIUS!!!!

I thought that I was going to have to nail the legs onto the sides of the window, but realized that these were originally swinging windows and still had the hinges attached. Treat it with a little bit of the husband's "grease in a can" and the hinges move perfectly. SCORE! My legs can now lay flat for storage!

 
I have planted the lettuce and will soon plant the cucumber or squash to run havoc on the top of the windows.  Do you see the piece of decorative metal that cap the end of the raised bed?  It's from an old sewing machine.  We got it from a yard sale a few years back for about $5 for both pieces.  The dogs like to run the fence and bark at the neighbors dogs, so this helps keep them out - along with yelling of course!  I could go on and on about re-using what you've got, but I think you get the picture. 

Do you see the piece of decorative metal that cap the end of the raised bed? It's from an old sewing machine. We got it from a yard sale a few years back for about $5 for both pieces. The dogs like to run the fence and bark at the neighbors dogs, so this helps keep them out - along with yelling of course! I could go on and on about re-using what you've got, but I think you get the picture. 

Did I mention that I did the project all of this by myself AND while the Husband and I were building the pieces for the outdoor shower at the beach house?  (see the "The 2013 Beach Project - Back Yard - Outdoor Shower" if you missed that post.)

Upcoming Events at Harris Teeter and Lowes Foods

 

It's that time again!!! 

 

Harris Teeter will have Triples April 24 - 30

 

AND

 

Lowes Foods will have Super Doubles April 24 - 30

 

I no longer do the matchups for these events, but check out

 

 Moola Saving Mom

and

 Coupon Keri

 

for the best matches.

 

Good Luck everyone!!!

$3.00 off a $3.00 purchase from Food Lion?

You read correctly!!! 

 

Food Lion is encouraging us to sign up for their Shopper's Companion program.  Do you have a MVP Card?  If so, all you have to do is sign up, and an email will be sent to you.  Open the email and you can load the $3.00 directly to your Food Lion Card.

 

SWEET!!!

 

Are you already signed up for this program?  No worries, you can still get the $3.00 e-coupon.

Light Bulbs anyone?

Light bulbs are one of those things that you take for granted.  When you have one that works well, you don't really notice that it's there.  When you flip that switch or turn the knob for the lamp and the light bulb had blown, it really stinks.  IF you happend to be out of light bulbs in your house - it really, really stinks.

Let's take a step back.  With all that's happening in the world today, if the inconvience of having a blown out light bulb is our only problem, we are doing pretty darn good.

But wait - I have good news!!! It won't solve EVERYONE'S problems, but if you are out of light bulbs, it will solve yours!

Lowes Foods has their GE CFL Sprial Energy Smart 1 count light bulbs on sale for $1.00.  These babies are usually $6.99.  This is an 85% savings!!

But wait - there's more!!!  We received coupons in Sunday's paper for $1.00 off.  This makes it a 99% savings (after tax).  I went to Lowes Foods on my way to work this morning, picked up 4 and paid $.28 total. A lot of times, stock on this type of item is low, and if we received a coupon for the item, they go really fast.

If you want to take a gamble on stock and wait until 4/22 (Monday), there may possibly be a catalina deal associated with this.  It's not been confirmed for Lowes Foods, but other stores are participating, so who knows? 

Here are the details of the catalina:
Buy 2 or more GE energy smart, GE reveal, or GE energy-efficient soft white lighting products between 4/22/13 and 5/19/13
Buy 2, get $2 OYNO
Buy 3, get $3 OYNO

Good luck everyone - let me know how you do!