home-sharpied frames

I've been on the hunt for frames for Samantha's room since way before she was born.  In keeping with our grey-and-white-with-touches-of-pink motif, I wanted something punchy, but not super expensive.  I'd find fun frames for a fortune or boring frames for cheap, but not much in that middle territory.  

One day at Target, however, I was hit with a stroke of genius: I'd simply make a boring, cheap frame fun.

I started with some super cheap, plain white frames:

$4.99 and $6.99 - that's what I'm talking about

Then with a bright pink sharpie ($1.99), I went to work on my masterpieces:

All done in five minutes flat:

Absolutely no artistic ability required.  Even if you can't draw a proper circle (clearly I can't), it still turns out fairly decent.

I'd say they fit into the nursery pretty well:

What do you think?

xoxo

KK

thrifty thursday: blooms

There's just something about having flowers in the home that washes me over with an easy wave of contentment and calm.  It's like a burst of colorful joy every time you walk in, reminding you of all the beauty in life's simplest things.

Problem is: having a steady stream of fresh-cut stems can be taxing not only on your time (cutting, arranging, maintaining, discarding, then doing it all over again with a fresh bouquet), but also on your pocket book.

That's why I love succulents - they're pretty and fresh and simple, but cheap (relatively speaking) and last FOREVER.  Even for someone with absolutely zero ounce of a green thumb (that would be me!), these babies are hard to kill.  Therefore, instead of freshly cut flowers for our wedding, we opted for freshly planted succulent gardens in long wooden boxes that garnished our long wooden tables.

burlap runners hand-made by my mother!

photo by cooper carras

We sent as many boxes as we could home with friends and family (many of whom tell us that theirs are still thriving months later!), but we obviously ended up with a good allotment ourselves.  (Oh, what a pity.)  

Our six boxes had been thriving for quite some time, but as you might expect after three months of no care besides the occasional cupful of water when I remember (I know!  I'm horrible!), some of them started to struggle.  This weekend I carted them all into our kitchen and rolled up my sleeves - pruning them, replanting them, and watering them to their hearts' content.  They've been very happy (and pretty) every since.  Good as new!

  
But if you're not a succulent person - don't fret.  There are other super easy, affordable ways to bring plant life into your home. 

While I was at the farmer's market this past weekend, I spotted a beautiful basket of freshly dried lavender bunches.  At $6 a pop, I couldn't help but buy two.

One now guards our stove...

...while the other beautifies our bathroom.
(Not to mention - keep any not-so-friendly scents at bay.  Pretty and practical - that's my kind of bloom.)

 

Do you like keeping fresh flowers at home?  Which do you choose?

 

xoxo

KK

thrifty thursday: stamping

I know it's been awhile but Thrifty Thursdays are back! 

And since I've been bombarding you with wedding details and pictures and stories galore (and I'm not done yet), I figured I'd make this Thursday's an only quasi-wedding-themed one.

 

After yesterday's post on how to "print" paper bag programs on the cheap using a stamp, I wanted to spark your interest in how to use stamps in other ways to trim cost.

 

 

The two stamps we ordered to do our brown paper bags

coming in at $80 and $20 respectively

The KATHERINE & STEFAN banner matched

Paper Source's original graphic to perfection

 

Because I'm all about having things tie together, our wedding thank-you notes had to work with our overall vibe.  We decided on Paper Source kraft paper 4x6ish note cards with a KATHERINE & STEFAN banner (just like the one on our wedding weekend schedule in the invitation suite) printed on the top.  We had Paper Source print them for $2.50ish a pop.

 

When writing my parents' thank-you, however, just one note card would not do.  Rather than just write on plain jane 8.5x11 paper, I STAMPED an 8.5x11 kraft paper card stock sheet that I got for pennies at Paper Source.

Can you tell which banner was printed versus stamped?

It worked so well that I regretted having ordered the printed note cards in the first place - why hadn't we just stamped them all for a fraction of the cost? 

And then it got me thinking about all the other ways you could use stamps to not only save your pennies, but produce an awesome, fun and unique look. 

Hand-write your return address label and have it turned into a stamp

so you never have to pen it again

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Stamp yourself an endless supply of rocking and original business cards

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Totally personalize cocktail napkins for any occasion

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Stamp long skinny envelopes for an alternative way

to serve up silverware

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Stamp some boxes to add spice to your favors

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Or make plain old cups your own by adding a signature stamp

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The possibilities are endless!  There are tons of stamp-making spots nationwide, but I can tell you City Stamp n Sign does awesome work in record time.

 

xoxo

KK

thrifty thursday: avocado toast

With Stefan still settling into the new job he just started at the beginning of July, the two of us haven't quite gotten into the rhythm of a nightly routine.  Rather than plan for each week's meals ahead of time, we've been playing it by ear - making a decision after we've both arrived home and are half starving from our days.


Last week, we were too lazy to venture out to the store for ingredients, but didn't feel like wasting time with eating out, so instead we peaked into our pantry for those things about to go bad.

Chief among them were a pair of avocados and a crusty baguette: the perfect combination for a delightfully simple and incredibly cheap weekday meal.


Simply slice bread into manageable chunks and toast in the oven.

My attempt at an arty, off-center photo which shows off my 

German learning persistence and a beautiful new wedding present

Then take your extra ripe avocados, chop them up guac-style, and season with salt, pepper, and paprika - an essential spice around these parts.

Once your toasts are golden brown, spread them with your creamy creation:

Don't be fooled: while simple, this meal hits all your basics: protein, healthy fat, carbs, deliciousness.  


What's your go-to, easy-as-pie weekday dinner?


xoxo
KK

thrifty thursday: pop purification

When we ate out while I was growing up, there was an unspoken rule that the Kriegs do not order drinks.  No soda or milkshakes or lemonade for us kids; water was just fine.  And so knowing that was that and there was nothing to be done about it, we drank water and it was just fine.  Delicious in fact.

Over the years, however, I developed an affinity for non-water beverages. (I'm talking non-alcoholic here, although you all know my love for the Napa Valley nectar cannot be denied.) 

It started innocently - ordering a little lavender lemonade to compliment my lunch-time sandwich, or swinging by the corner store for an ice-cold Diet Coke mid-afternoon, or picking up a six-pack of Sprite Zero to quench my thirst after a long run (yes, I hate to admit it, but my favorite post-work-out drink was such) - but after enough time, my taste for water - straight up, on the rocks - disappeared. 

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Anytime I was thirsty I went for a soda: Diet Coke, Sprite Zero, Fresca, Diet Cream Soda, you name it.  This habit wasn't only hurting my wallet, it was hurting my health.

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So two weeks ago I went cold turkey: absolutely no soda. 
(And no artificial sweeteners either.  And let me tell you: I was a heavy-hitter when it came to those little yellow packets.)

At first it was excruciating - what DO I drink? 
But then I realized that was that and there was nothing to be done about it, so I drank water and it was just fine. Delicious in fact.  Especially ice-cold out of a beautiful glass pitcher straight from the fridge with some fresh lemon and a bit of mint.

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And two weeks later, I must admit, I can totally feel it.  It could be just mental, but I feel lighter, fresher, more pure.  And there's no doubt I've saved a boatload of cash.

So if you're a soda junkie like me, consider taking the plunge.  I promise it will be worth the (temporary) pain.  Your body and your bank account will thank you. 

xoxo
KK

thrifty thursday: bike + dance through SF

So this past weekend, my mom, dad, and sis were in town for a bit of wedding fun (mainly tastings galore), decadent dining, and San Francisco exploration.  We could not have been luckier with the weather - 80s and sunny were all we saw. 

They've come to visit a handful of times (and since us Kriegs hate a moment of downtime), we've really tried the gamut of things to do in and around the city: the Farmer's Market, Fisherman's Wharf, running the Golden Gate, Go-karts (totally NOT worth it!), Alcatrez Audio Tour, exploring Chrissy Field, trips up to wine country, trips down to Half Moon Bay - you name it.  But more on all of that another time.

This time we opted for an adventure that was so fun, yet so cheap, I just had to save it for this week's thrifty tip.

First step: rent bikes from Sports Basement at Chrissy Field.
While a typical touristy rental spot will run you $50ish for a bike per day, the Basement will let you rent in three hour chunks at $10 a pop.  (And if you happen to be with a San Franciscan Crunch Gym member like Stefan and I, they knock another buck off the price so you're down to $9.)

Dad was already a fan.

Step two: Bike through the Presidio and over to the Pacific coast to get some of the best views the city has to offer, all for the bargain price of nil.

Step three: Cruise over to Ocean Beach for a glimpse of the historic Cliff House perched atop some more stunning views.

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Not quite the wonder it was back in the day,

but still a sight to be seen!

Step four: Make your way into Golden Gate Park to bike past the Dutch Windmill, the Buffalo Paddock, Japanese Tea Garden and plethora of San Franciscans enjoying an outdoor barbeque or soccer game. 

Step five: Loosen those legs with some free swing dancing lessons, available every Sunday 12-2pm.

We weren't quite as good as the experts strutting their stuff in front, but we certainly looked awesome dancing with our super cool helmets.

The day left us exhausted and sun-burned, but satisfied, with plenty of pennies to spare for a delicious dinner that evening.

xoxo

KK

thrifty thursday: wallet wear and tear

I have a wallet I absolutely adore. 
It's black patent leather, so it hides dirt and is super easy to clean.
It's nice and long, so I can put my bills in flat and neat.
It's got lots of little hiding spots, so each and every card has a slot all to itself.
And it's Tory Burch.
Need I say more?

But him and I have been together for quite some time - almost four years to be exact - and so his gorgeous shell has been subjected to a little wear and tear.  And because of it, that gorgeous, signature TB logo has started to peel itself off.

Now I could ditch this first love of mine and trade him in for a brand new version...

Tory Burch Patent Continental Wallet

...but that would run me $195 + tax at my local Neimans (or TB supplier of your choosing).  Instead, I decided to work with what I got.

At first, I just fashioned on some scotch tape and called it a day (which lasted for no less than three months - yes, I used a scotch-taped Tory Burch wallet for more than 90 days), but eventually I decided to make the repair permanent.

Enter: super glue. 
(Approximately 2 bucks at your local drug store.)

As good as new!

So the next time you're ready to ditch your slightly damaged goods, consider repairing instead of replacing.  You'll save money AND space at the garbage dump.

xoxo
KK

thrifty thursday: salad dressing

I have a bad habit of doing a lot of salads out.
And they're not even fancy, hard-to-make-at-home salads.  They're your everyday greens, veggies, and chicken type salads.  Hardly worth the $10ish price tag when I could so easily toss on my own.

But it's not the spinach that has me coming back for more, it's the dressing. Especially when I'm ordering from Blue Barn and I know they make all theirs from scratch with only the purest and most delicious ingredients. 

Their Whole Grain Mustard Vinaigrette = Absolute Addiction for this girl

(And their Master-Cleanse, Miso-Ginger, and Champagne-Sumac aren't too shabby either.)

Blue Barn is so confident in the purity of their blend that they'll give you a full list of ingredients for any dressing on their menu.  With the secrets to their sauce, I've tried to perfect it at home, but I just can't get it right.  I'm always back at their blue door for more.

And that's where this week's thrifty trick comes in:

Simply ask for an extra thing of dressing

when ordering to-go

(which as mentioned previously,

is often)

Sometimes they charge me 50 cents, sometimes they don't.

Sometimes the woman looks at me as though I am the greediest green-lovin' gal there ever was, sometimes she just tosses it in.

The result is always the same: I'm able to make myself the exact same Blue Barn salad I love at home for a fraction of the cost. 

$3 versus $10.

That adds up if you're picking up as often as me.

Do you have a take-out dressing you can't live without?  Any secret mustard dressing recipes you can't help but share?

xoxo

KK

thrifty thursday: gift cards

So it's your birthday (or Christmas or Valentine's Day or Administrative Professionals Day, etc), and you've been showered with presents.

Only problem is you've gotten a gift card for this:

Not so sexy.

Especially since you don't have a bp

anywhere in your general vicinity.

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But what you really want is to be able to shop for this:

Sexy.

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Enter: gift card granny.

There you can sell the gift cards you don't want,

and then buy the ones you do want.

Perfection.

Better than that, while you're there you can shop around for discounts on other always-in-need cards: Whole Foods, Starbucks, Walgreens, or the gas station that's right around the block.  Never pay full price again.

xoxo

KK

thrifty thursday: pack a picnic

So this past Friday night, I was tasked with planning a surprise date for Stefan and I.  With Stefan a bit under the weather last week, we had spent too many nights in so I wanted to go out, but I also didn't want to break the bank on a fancy schmancy dinner.

So I decided to meet somewhere in the middle. 

With the top down on our little convertible, I picked Stefan up from the office at 6pm and drove the two of us across the Golden Gate.  I winded along the coastal highway parking us at a little hidden look-out point with gorgeous views of the bridge and the Pacific.

While I planned on having us enjoy the views from outside the car,

the San Francisco weather worked it's magic as we crossed the GG

changing from sunny to sullen within minutes. 

I think it's still gorgeous.

I then revealed my surprise: a picnic packed with a crunchy baguette, fresh smoked salmon, some juicy strawberries, and a half bottle of Frog's Leap wine.

All for the bargain price of $20.

(Which, when you're comparing to 2 glasses of wine + appetizers out anyplace in this town of ours, is a pretty good deal.)

We sipped and chatted and munched and sipped as we admired the beautiful blue ocean and enjoyed each other's company. We then buzzed down to the Farley Bar at Cavallo Point, full enough to just split some popcorn and a nicoise salad. 

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By the time we were home, the night had felt like a first-class, balls-to-the-wall, decadent night out, but hadn't cost us like one.

So this week's thrifty tip?

Next time you're craving eating out but want it to cost you like you're eating in, pack a picnic and go enjoy it someplace fabulous.  For absolutely no extra cost, I'll bet you can find better views than that pricey wine bar down the street.

xoxo

KK