CCE Update 3: Decorating on less than a dime

Sacred Mundane4 Comments0

I guess this doesn’t technically have to do with cash, coupons and envelopes, but in a way it does because I am already seeing how my little cash-in-envelopes makes me really not want to spend our money!

So, I love seasonal decorating.  I’m too slow to do much Christmas decorating (meaning that by the time I get it up there it’s almost time to take it down!), but I like doing wintery things that I figure can stay up until early March.  So some of you may know that my favorite store on the planet is Anthropologie.  Basically think eccentric, hand-made, rich textures, vintage…and very very expensive.  I’ve actually never bought anything there for myself, but I like to look for inspiration.  The sad part is that I’m never quite as talented as my imagination hopes that I am.  Meaning, my projects end up looking like something an kindergartner brings home.  But I figure I’ll never get any better if I don’t try, right?  So, last time I was there they had these big art-pieces made out of pieces of sweaters sewn together.   I loved it.

So I wanted to decorate for Christmas/winter, but didn’t want to spend any money. Not a dime.  I had all these coupons to Michael’s, but if you’ll remember I swore I would never set foot in that place again (probably a bit rash), so anyway, my budget? $0. Now I had a headstart because I had this square wood 2″ frame that was 3′ x 3′. No back or anything, just a wood square.  I also had a bag of old sweaters that I was taking to goodwill.  Hmm…  Though they didn’t fit very well, I loved the colors and textures–winter white and icy winter turquoise, cable-knit, chunky sweaters.

So, out came the scissors! I cut off the sleeves, necks, zippers.  Sewed one white cable-knit into a pillow, and another turquoise chunky sweater into another pillow. Then, I cut up the rest of them into chunks, pieced them together like a funky quilt, sewed it all, stretched it over the square like a canvas, staple-gunned it into place, and stuck it all up on the mantel.  Then I found two big hurricane candleholder/vases and at mom and dad’s house I found an old paper bag filled with crocheted white Christmas ball ornaments my grandma had made eons ago. I filled one hurricane vase with those balls, up to the brim, then I took a long strand of tiny white Christmas lights we had (with the white cord) and shoved them into a big ball in the other lamp, hid the cord behind the sweater collage, and viola! the mantel was aglow with winter light.

Now, I don’t claim that it’s fit to be called artwork, and some of you may walk in and go, “Wow. You cut up sweaters and did a very poor job of sewing them together.”  But, I love my winter mantel, the frosty colors and the warm glow of my funky Christmas light hurricane lamp.  And I love that it didn’t cost me a cent!  My next project is to use antique-looking wrapping paper to Mod Podge the top of an old antique desk we have, then sand it down to look worn.   And finally, I’m having a crazy urge to highlight my own hair. Is this stupid?  I’d love your thoughts. What are some of your best creative zero-budget projects? I’d love some inspiration. And if you have advice for hair-coloring, send it along…

Why I Love My Church

Devotional Thoughts1 Comment0

I’ve written before about loving your church, about how it has a whole lot less to do with a congregation adhering to your preferences, singing the songs you like, etc. and a whole lot more to do with just getting to know the people and loving them, no matter what.

Well, we’ve just come through a ministry flurry.  BUSY. Last week I felt like I was running a race all week long, and yesterday was the final lap–the formal women’s Christmas Dessert, where over 300 women came to celebrate Christ’s birth.  Let’s just say it was a lot of work, and it was beautiful. Amazing.  I loved it.  But what I loved most was the joy of watching the dozens and dozens and dozens of people who helped do different tasks, all come together and work.  Thirty women hosted tables, dozens of men served as waiters, there were musicians, sound and tech people, greeters, people doing registration, people assembling centerpieces, people plating desserts, people making coffee, people just doing stuff, doing whatever needed to be done. And when the whole thing was over, at almost 10pm last night, there were still at least a dozen people there, cleaning, bagging up linens, washing dishes, sweeping floors. It was amazing to see that truly many hands make light work.

There are always a few downers. You hear complaints, things go “wrong”, people get stressed. But I tell you, I love my church family viciously.  I am so thankful to here.  I am honored to be here.

So, nothing amazing, just wanted to express a thankful heart.  I’d love to hear why you love your church:  List 5 things you’re thankful for…

CCE Update 2: Shopping

Sacred Mundane3 Comments0

I’m happy to report that my first big shopping trip doing the CCE experiment (Cash, Coupons & Envelopes) is successfully behind me.  Again, mixed bag–but it comes with a fun story.

I had been clipping all week, so Friday morning I bravely zipped up my puffer jacket, armed with my envelopes, my cash, and my list of what to get at each place.  Albertson’s, Rite-Aid, Winco, and Target.  It all actually went fine.  I’m amazed to report that I got our groceries for the month (including toiletries) for $140.  However, I’ll still have to buy fruit, milk, and fresh stuff thorughout the month at Safeway, but it’s safe to say I think I saved a little.

That part that was tricky was at Target, because I needed Christmas gifts for Dutch, a few things for Heidi, some toiletries, some stuff for women’s ministry, you get the picture. So I had them ring it up in 4 different totals, and I felt like it took an hour using my silly cash stash from my different envelopes.  Then, the register I happened upon didn’t have any change.  So she had to add up all my “cash backs” then get assistance to get her change and give me all my change.  Are you laughing yet?  Yes, I was sweating by the time I got out of there.  Then I forgot to use one of my coupons. Shoot!

But one really cool things was this: I had prayed on my drive there, asking God to just make me a good steward for my family, etc. and had also prayed (ok this sounds silly) for something to wear to this Christmas dessert thing I’m emcee-ing with Joy tomorrow.  You know my silly justifications: pregnant last year, clothing fast, blah blah…the bottom line? I just wanted something fun!  Well after using my coupons, I thought I’d stop by a consignment shop right by Winco.  I had a little bit of Christmas money my parents had given in advance, so I headed in.  In the parking lot I ran into a girl I knew who was new to Willamette, who I’d chatted with a bit. She’s a former pageant queen (read: she’s beautiful and has really nice clothes!). Anyway, she was dropping off some of her clothes at the consignment shop. We chatted, then I headed in. A few minutes later she came timidly up to me and said, “I feel sort of silly doing this, but I have all these clothes and they’re not going to buy them…would you like them?”  My jaw dropped.  Would I like them? Um, yeah!  I happily took her clothes, including one Bebe dress in brand-new condition.

So had to laugh because I think the lesson for me was this, an old lesson made new again:

The right way to budget/shop/steward our finances is whatever is by faith.

I can clip coupons out of obligation, obsession, greed, fear, wanting to get ahead–you name it.  Or I can do it by faith, joyfully, freely, whenever time allows, without fearing or fretting when it doesn’t work out, without stressing if I have to pay a bit more every once in a while.

I can also not clip coupons out of laziness, stubbornness, selfishness, not wanting to do what everyone else is doing (pride).  Or I can do that by faith as well–letting go of control and asking God to do what only He can do–take the material things He’s given us and multiply them for His glory and for furthering His kingdom.  Bottom line? My heart.

Of course we all knew this, right? But I just love how God reminds me over and over–it’s so much less about what I do and so much more about why I do it.

Conclusion:  I think coupons are great. I got another great diaper deal today–200 diapers for $22. That’s $16 cheaper than Costco. I also had a stressful coupon encounter at another unnamed store today–where the fine print made me want to punch the cashier in the face (would not have been good).  But I also want to make sure an obsession with saving doesn’t take me away from things far more valuable–like my kids (Speaking of, Heidi is chewing on the CHristmas lights right now–I better go!)

Thanks for adventuring with me!  More to come…