I'm a Couponer!!!

I haven't mentioned it but about a year ago my husband and I started couponing. Feeding a family of five can be hard with any budget but were trying to stretch our dollar. We now get two Sunday papers, two coupon organizers, and print coupons online. I found a great local couponer site that keeps track of all the local sales. Here is a the link -



I have since taken over the couponing and am very excited about the deals I get. Like today I bought two dozen eggs at $1.00 a dozen, a loaf of white bread for $1.00, three bags of frozen Bird's Eye steam in bag vegetables for $1.00 a bag - a $1.00/3 coupon ( total = $2.00), and the best deal ( and the reason I made the trip) four boxes of Cookie Crisp cereal were 4 boxes for $10.00 (then I had three coupons for $.85 off each box which doubles = $5.10) bringing the total to $4.90 for four boxes of cereal. To make the cereal offer better, I got $.20 off each gallon on my next gas purchase. I then used a coupon for $3.00 my next purchase from Giant Eagle. That brought my total to about $6.85.

Saturday's Auction

I spent last week and Saturday inputing tax info for my husband on Saturday but got to go to a great auction later that night. No kids, a good steak dinner out, and five hours at an auction. It was fun, stressful, and just what I needed. I have been craving a good auction but haven't been to one in a while - or at least one that I could afford. I bought the leftovers from the vintage clothing rack, a box of lace, some vintage books, etc. But here is a few items I took pictures of to show my Mom but I thought I would share with you, too.
I got some box lots of Christmas including this great cotton spun snowman -


I also got this unique corn husk painted folk art stork -


Lastly, in a box lot of vintage shaving brushes and vintage large sunglasses was this unique brass antique mold. Unfortunelty, I have no idea what it made or what it was used for. The bottom is marked ?alente & Micheletti N.Y.. If anyone know what this strange mold is used for or what the mark reads, let me know.

What Happens In Vegas ....

That old saying 'What happens in Vegas, stay in Vegas." makes a lot of since but not in the way you think. It's not because everyone is wasted and makes horrible mistakes like in the movie The Hangover. It is for all the scary, dirty, and freaky homeless people. I think since the last time I was in Vegas (ten years ago), the government dumped off tons of homeless people in Vegas and told them they can't leave. Every corner and in front of every casino are strange homeless people in costumes. Yes, large commercial grade cartoon character costumes like Woody and Buzz from Toy Story, Hello Kitty, Transformers, etc. But they are dirty, stinky, and dingy. Most of these costume wear transients want parents to let their children (yes, there are tons of people with babies and toddlers walking around Vegas now. But that should be another discussion all together.) take pictures with their favorite cartoon character in exchange for a little dough. But who wants a Disney style picture next to a drunk homeless man to remember forever. There were a few that were taking advantage of the strange situation. We got a picture of a very dirty Minnie Mouse and Garfield the Cat laying on the sidewalk surrounded by empty liquor bottle and smoking cigars. Hopefully, I will have some pictures to post after I get them developed.
My husband and I did have a great time away but are glad to be home. I am trying to get back in the routine but it's not working. I originally had plans to come back from Vegas and take a little more time off to get my husband's taxes done. I am having problems getting anything accomplished with that but still haven't gotten anything new listed either. I did get some items relisted onto Etsy. I listed 12 relisted on 2/20/12, 9 items on 2/25/12, 4 relisted on 2/26/12, 14 on 2/27/12, 7 on 2/28/12, 5 relsted on 2/28/12 (Leap Year Day), 10 relisted on 3/1/12, and 9 on 3/2/12. That brings the new total to 3297.
I did spend some time over the last few days revamping my Oliveyouvintage Etsy site. I change most of my gallery photos to a double shot to make my pages flow a little better. I need to work more on this website and get more followers. I got an extra camera for Christmas. So I need to take my old camera with me when I go shopping to take pictures of my haul. A perfect example of when I should have taken my camera was the auction my Mom and I went to when I returned from vacation. It was an amazing collection of items that filled two huge barns at a fairgrounds. I had fun but actually didn't buy anything. I dug threw the trash and dumpster for my treasures. I ended up with a railroad conductor's style hat, a few 1950's day dresses (damaged), a handfull of broken jewelery pieces, and an antique doll for my Mom.