Shades Of Red White and Blue

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday July 3, 2009 as we present "SHADES of RED –WHITE and BLUE!"

Shades of red, white or blue remind me of 4th of July parties and fireworks and special times with family and friends. Vintage aprons, adorned with red roses against what was once a vivid blue, now slightly worn with time. Blue and white checked linens - once grandmother's finest, still carrying traces of the 4th of July picnics I had as a child. Pale blue Depression glass against the finest white tablecloth, topped with a white milk glass vase and filled with the summer flowers. On the wall, a white French farmhouse shelf displays white china hand painted with red and blue buds.

Adding a little color to your table, shades of red, white and blue can turn any meal into a celebration. Blue and white Italian place settings against a red tablecloth. An angel food cake atop a favorite white cake stand, topped with fresh summer blueberries and strawberries. Red sugar-coated candies in a white candy dish hand painted with blue forget-me-nots. Hanging nearby, white and blue checked kitchen towels decorated with shiny red apples.

Placed somewhere you didn't expect, red, white and blue can create a burst of color in any corner. Red roses on canvas and hung on a freshly painted blue wall. A piece of broken china jewelry - tiny blue and red roses against pure white china. A white lace sun catcher, with a red and blue design, hanging in the window. In the guest bathroom, a blue tissue box holder painted with white and red flowers. Tucked into a corner of your purse, a blue hanky trimmed with red and embroidered with white daisies. And dangling from your wrist, a bracelet made of cinnabar, turquoise beads and bone.

For a special touch of whimsy, plug in 4th of July light bulbs in red, white and blue. Use a white table runner with appliquéd blue rabbits and red rose buds. Display faux strawberries dipped in white chocolate placed in a blue cake box that looks pretty enough to eat. You can wear a soldered charm of red breasted robins against an azure sky, sprinkled with white German glass glitter or write on the white pages of a notebook decorated with red roses and blue ribbons. With shades of red, white and blue surrounding us, celebrations of life can happen any day.

Still Learning New Tricks!

This past weekend was a joyful opportunity to do wedding and floral decor for a sweet couple. I really enjoyed working with them over the past several months and it's always a joy to see our plans come together for their special day. They had decided early on to use Sedums for their table centerpieces and wanted to incorporate them into other areas of the wedding decor.

By some standards, I'm relatively new to floral design. I've been doing wedding, event and floral design for the past 5 years working only by word of mouth. I received my advanced certificate just last summer and have done around 60 weddings and events. So while I've had lots of great experiences to learn from, I feel like I'm still learning. Using sedums in the Bridal Bouquet was a new experience for me. It's always fun to learn new tricks!

A Rose By Any Other Name

I've never seen a rose I didn't love. From the first blossom of spring, gently swaying in the breeze, to an intricately stitched needlepoint rich in history, I love them all. Silk roses mixed with a bunch of silk hydrangeas, gracing a vase on the mantle. Cabbage roses on a sugar bowl and creamer, brought out for a grandmother's tea. Colorful rose cupcakes scented as beautifully as they look.
Roses represent so many wonderful things and are often used to celebrate special milestones such as weddings, births and anniversaries. We might write a special announcement on stationery with long-stemmed yellow roses lying against a background of a French poem. Use white satin roses to create wedding memories in a vintage box.
Roses have also been used throughout the centuries in home décor. Like wild pink roses painted on porcelain china plates. A crystal bud vase embellished with a pink silk rose, ready to hold a freshly picked rose bud from the garden. A French ribbon rose attached to a crocheted cushion in the living room. Hand built ceramic roses to use as drawer pulls, or as a magnet to hang up a special photograph.
Milliners used silk roses to embellish the finest hats; perhaps one covered with embroidered lace and handmade millinery roses. Seamstresses stitched the richest brocade drapes adorned with roses. Grandmothers embroidered the most delicate rose patterns on tablecloths and handkerchiefs. Now we can give silky velvet rose pins a special corsage. For everyday occasions, you might wear a vintage pink rose apron or admire a rose-shaped pillow made of hot pink satin.
Throughout the years, famous artists have studied and painted every aspect of the rose. Antique lithographs and post cards from the 1800s grace our homes today with their everlasting beauty. From a rhapsody of roses printed on canvas and hung over a doorway to garlands of decal roses that make favorite items look hand painted, roses continue to gracefully fit every lifestyle and décor.
Join us at Forget Me Not Dreams and Make Mine Pink for Pink Friday as we once again celebrate our beloved roses!

Back to the savings...

Welcome back to the savings!

Before I get to this weeks deals, I came across a GREAT way to help out those in need with very little effort:
Go here
Click on the box to donate a box of Mac & Cheese to Feeding America
Next, fill out the email addresses of a few friends so they can do the same!


OK...on to the savings...


Albertsons 6/24 – 6/30

* There are 2 double coupons (up to $1) in the ad. You can only use 2 per shopping trip, but they can help save you some extra money.

Ball Park Beef Franks BOGO
$1/2 RP-6/7

Coke/Pepsi/7UP 12pks $2.60 each (+ dep) wyb 5

Lindsay Black Olives 4/$5
- $1/2 IP

Malt O Meal bagged cereal B2G1 Free
- $.50/1 IP

Powerade 32 oz. Buy 10, get 5 FREE ($.75ea or $.50ea wyb 10!!)

Shoppers Value gallon milk $5/3 (good for 2%, 1% or skim)

Tombstone 12” Original Pizza $3.99
Catalina coupon promo:
Tombstone 12" Original Pizza
Purchase between 6/19 and 7/12
Buy 4 and get $3 OYNO
Buy 5 and get $4 OYNO
Buy 6 or more and get $5 OYNO


HUGE Mix & Match sale...Save $5 for every 10 items you buy.
The prices listed are individual price/price wyb 10 items. Remember…you can mix & match, so you don’t have to buy 10 of the same item to get the $5 savings!!

Air Wick Freshmatic mini $5.99/$5.49
- $4/1 IP (Go to Money Saving Coupons)

Air Wick I-Motion starter kit $5.99/$5.49
- $3/1 IP (Go to Money Saving Coupons)

Bagel Bites 7oz $2.00/$1.50
-$1/2 IP

Capri Sun $2.00/$1.50
- $1/1 SS-4/19 (good on Capri Sun Sunrise ONLY)

Carnation Instant Breakfast $3.99/$3.49
- $1/2 IP

Classico Pasta Sauce $2.49/$1.99
-$1/2 IP

Coffee-Mate creamer $2.99/$2.49
- $1/1 or $1.50/2 IP

Crystal Light On The Go 7-10ct. $2.49/$1.99

Dannon Activia yogurt 4 ct $1.99/$1.49
- $1/1 DND SS-5/10

Dannon Light & Fit Yogurt 6ct $1.99/$1.49
- $1/10 or any (2) Light & Fit 6-packs SS-6/21

Dole Fruit Bowls $2.49/$1.99
- .75/2 SS-4/26

Heinz 57 Sauce 10oz $3.29/$2.79
- $1/1 SS-5/17

Jolly Time Microwave Popcorn 6pk $2.49/$1.99
- $1/1 IP

Kashi TLC bars 6.7-8.4 oz. $2.99/$2.49
-$1.50/1 IP

Kashi Go Lean cereal 14.1-17.5 oz. $2.99/$2.49
- $1.50/1 IP

Kellogg's cereal - Frosted Flakes 14 oz. $1.99/$1.49
- $1.50/1 RP-6/7

Kellogg's cereal - Raisin Bran 15 oz. $1.99/$1.49
- $1/1 IP
- $1/1 RP-6/7

Kellogg's cereal - Rice Krispies 9 oz $1.99/$1.49
- $1/1 RP-6/7

Kellogg's PopTarts 14.1-14.7 oz. $1.99/$1.49 (Cheaper at Safeway this week...they have a similar deal...buy 5 save $5 making these $.99 ea wyb 5!)
- .55/1 RP-6/7

Kraft Easy Mac $1.00/$.50
- BOGO mfg 6/21 Parade magazine (from Sunday’s paper)

Kraft Mac & Cheese $1.00/$.50
- B3G1 Free (up to $1.29) (IP)
PLUS…There is a Catalina coupon that will print:
Kraft Macaroni and Cheese
purchase between 6/26 - 7/12
Buy (4) & get $1.00 OYNO
Buy (5) & get $1.50 OYNO
Buy (6) or more & get $2.00 OYNO
Good deal:
Buy 10 - $10
Get $5 off for mix & match deal wyb 10
Use 2 - B3G1 free (might only take off $.50, but may take off $1 ea)
OOP $4 or $3 & get a $2 OYNO

Planters Big Nut Bars $2.49/$1.99
-.75/1 SS-4/19

Purina Dog Chow 34 lb. bag $19.99/$19.49
- $3.50 IP

Resolve Carpet Cleaner 22oz $3.99/$3.49
- $1.50 IP

South Beach Fiber Fit Bars or Cereal Bars $2.49/$1.99
- $1/1 IP

Spray & Wash Bright & White Bleach Alternative 40 oz.
- $1.50/1 IP

Starkist Tuna & Tuna Pouches $1.25/$.75
- $1.50/3 pouches (this is a tearpad found next to the product on the shelf OR by the display in the store!)
There is a Catalina coupon for this:
Starkist tuna pouches
Buy 5 get 1.00 OYNO
Ends 7/14
Works in multiple of 5…get 2 - $1 OYNO wyb 10, & so on!
Good deal:
Buy 30 = $37.50
Get $15 off for mix & match deal wyb 10
use 10 - $1.50/3 coupons
OOP $7.50 & rcv 6-$1 OYNO cats!



Walgreens 6/22 - 6/27

I haven't really done a lot of Walgreens deals, but thought I'd start doing them since there are some GREAT deals to be had. They have a program (right now anyway...heard a rumor that it will be replaced possibly in July by something else) where you get a RR (Register Reward...like a catalina except Walgreens calls it this!) wyb a specific item. There are a few "rules" you need to know:

1) You can only earn ONE RR per item, per transaction. (Ex: If you bought 2 Aquafresh in one transaction, you will only receive ONE $3RR. BUT, you can purchase different items that produce RR's. I've been buying Aquafresh & Zyrtec & have been receiving a $3RR Aquafresh AND a $5RR Zyrtec)

2) You can't use the RR you earned to purchase the same item because your new RR won't print. (Ex: Aquafresh is $3 this week & has a $3RR wyb it. If you use your $3RR from Aquafresh to purchase more Aquafresh, the $3RR won't print out. BUT, you could use your $3RR Aquafresh to purchase something else that produces a RR...like the Zyrtec.)

3) The amount of manufacturers coupons & RR's can NOT be greater than the amount of items you have. (Ex: If you have 4 items & have a mfg coupon for each item & you also want to use a RR , you'd have to add a cheap "filler" to your transaction so the RR can "attach" to that item. I generally buy something small...right now, the little Johnson & Johnson Baby powders are $1.29 or $2 wyb 2 (must buy 2 for that price!) and are producing a $1RR...great way to use a "filler" and also earn most of your money back! OR, if you have 4 items & have 3 mfg & 1RR, you would not need a "filler" since your coupon total matches the total number of items you have...make sense??)

4) They generally expire 2 weeks from the date you earn them. Each week they have something that will produce a RR, so I generally "roll" my RR's to other items...making sure the item I'm buying with a RR is not from the same manufacturer that produced the RR.

OK...on to the savings...

Accu Check Meter $14.99 (get $5 RRs)
$14.99 MIR on the box
= $5 MONEYMAKER after MIR and RRs

Aquafresh Advanced Toothpaste $3 (get $3 in RRs)
$.75 SS 6/21
$1 IP
= $.75 MONEYMAKER - $1 MONEYMAKER after RRs

Band-Aids $3/2
$.50 5/17
$1 RP 3/15
$1 RP 4/26
= $.50 - $1

Bertolli Dinners $5.99
$1 RP 6/7
$1.50 IP
=$4.49 - $4.99

Chex Mix or 2 Liter Soda (includes 7UP, Sunkist, A&W, Canada Dry, or Hawaiian Punch) $4/3$.50/2 Chex SS 6/7
$1/2 Chex SS 6/7
= $.83 - $1.08 each

Coke product 12-pks $13/4 (get $3 RRs wyb 4)
= $2.50 each after RRs

Cover Girl Cosmetics B1G1 50% off
$1 P&G 6/7
$2/2 P&G 6/7
= varies

Cutter Insect Repellant Twin Packs $6.99
$2 SS 5/31
$2 June All You Magazine
= $4.99 each

General Mills Cereals $7/3 (get $1 RRs wby 3)
$1/3 SS 5/31
$.55 Cheerios, Lucky Charms or Reese’s Puffs IP
$.75 Fiber One IP
$1 Cheerios IP (if you sign up for this now, you might get it by the end of the week)
= $1 - $1.67 each after RRs

Glad Trash Bags $6.99
$1 IP
= $5.99

Huggies Little Swimmers - 10-12 pack $6.99
$1 SS 5/17
$1.50 printable
$1.50 SS 4/19
= $5.49 - $5.99 each

Kotex Pads, Pantiliners, Tampons, and Maxi Pads $2.99 (get $1 RR wyb 2, $3 RR wyb 3)
$.75 SS 6/14
$1.50/2 IP
$1.50/2 June All You Magazine
$1 IP
$2/2 IP
$1 SS 6/14
=$.99 – $1.24 each after RRs wyb 3

L’Oreal Feria or Excellence-to-Go Hair Color $6.99 w/Walgreens WFC
$3 RP 5/17
=$3.99

Lysol Disinfectant Sprays $7/2 (get $2 RRs wyb 2)
$1 SS 6/7
$2 SS 6/7=$.50 - $1.50 each after RRs

Lysol Neutra Air or Airwick Fresh Matic Ultra 50% off
$4 Airwick IP
$4 Lysol SS 5/31
= varies - at least half off with and additional $4 off (this should be a pretty low price.)

Skintimate or Edge Shave Gel $1.99 w/Walgrees WFC
$1 Skintimate IP
$1 Edge IP
$1 Edge SS 5/17
= $.99

Speed Stick or Lady Speed Stick $2.99 (get $2 RRs)
= $.99 after RRs

Splenda No Calorie Sweetener $2.99
$.75 June All You Magazine
$1 SS 6/7
$1 June All You Magazine
$2/2 SS 6/7
$2/2 IP
$3/2 April All You Magazine
=$1.49 - $2.24 each.

Zyrtec 30ct $18.99 (get $5RR wyb)
$4.00 SS 6/21
=$13.99 plus $5RR (net of $8.99 for a month’s supply!)

Don’t Forget the John Frieda June Deal:
John Frieda Hair Care (get $5 RRs wyb $15)
$1 IP
$1 SS 6/14
$3 SS 6/14= varies (at least 33% off, if you use the $3 coupon on the Root Awakening products you get each item for only $.33 each!)


Hoping to be able to add Safeway deals next week. Too many good deals at Walgreens & Albertsons this week...ran out of time! :)

Happy savings!
~Pam

New Etsy Shop Open, Come for a Visit!

As you know, we work closely with 4 other friends, to produce and particiapte in shows
together. We all have marched through the long hours of crafting in the wee hours of the
morning when our children were small, getting "real" jobs that were too confining for our
crative minds and personalities, always returning to our shows, selling our handcrafts and
now vintage finds. Of course over the years we have all built up huge inventories of fabric,
paint, brushes, wood, wiggle eyes, yarn, embroidery thread, more fabric... does any of this
sound familiar?

Well, most of our husbands aren't too happy with our piles, rooms and storage spaces full
of Stuff! So, our new Stitch 'em Up! site on Etsy will help our little group to sell some of our
exqusite fabrics, beautiful threads, supplies of all kinds... great STUFF! So take a minute or
two and visit us on Etsy, check out our STUFF so we can get out there and buy more
STUFF to share with you!

Have a great week!

Karen

Father's Day, Reflections on a Great Dad

I was stumped on what to write for today's blog. Father's Day is over, on to something new and different. But... is it really over until a year from now? No, every day is Father's Day in my heart. My dad passed away several years ago following a surprise battle with a cancerous brain tumor. There was barely time to say good-bye, but the little time that we did have left together blessed me with memories that fill my heart to this day.

We were best buddies. I loved sports almost as much as he did, so he taught me to play baseball, basketball and football just like the neighborhood guys. On his deathbed, he told me that a Little League Coach had asked if I could be on his team, my mom thought it inappropriate. He said that he was so proud of me and still was. He taught me to believe in myself and the talents that God had given me. He taught me to love the Lord with all my heart, to trust him with my hurts, joys, husband and children... now grandchildren. He was my role model, my teacher, advisor and friend. Today, my sons are great fathers because of what my father taught me and what he taught my husband. I can be thankful every day for a wonderful father who loved me enough to make a difference in his family for generations to come. My eldest grandson's middle name is John and my newborn grandson's first name is Hagen, my dad's family name. Tears of joy come when I see how his love is passed on. I love you Daddy!

You know that sudden flutter you feel when you discover a long sought after treasure? Maybe it's a piece of faux pastry delicately iced and trimmed with lace satin ribbon that takes hold of your imagination and makes you smile. Or vintage china pieces with hand painted roses that bring back forgotten memories. Crisp table linens, reminiscent of special teas shared with Grandmother so many years ago. A vintage rhinestone necklace and bracelet to put on for just the right occasions.A white painted cottage cabinet to be filled with hand-painted dishes, appliquéd tea towels, chenille bedspreads or vintage toys. Wrought iron candle sticks that dangle delicate crystal drops. They add an instant aura of old-fashioned romance.

Hand stitched needlepoints, rich in history, combined with pastels silks for a treasured pillow. Tea cozies trimmed in Venice lace and satin ribbons and bows - stunning as any china teapot and just right for an afternoon tea party with friends. Favorite finds of all shapes and sizes, to fill each corner and to suit every whim, wait for you to discover on Pink Friday at Forget Me Not Dreams and Make Mine Pink.

Joyce Lucas, Founder Make Mine Pink