Staying Home Sawyer

Real Life Living on a Real Life Budget

DIY, Lifestyle

In search of wings, preferably Angel Wings please.

Red Bull Thank You Gift (2)I love myself some energy. I’m an energy addict. And don’t tell me there is no such thing, because I made it up. I crave energy like the next guy craving his next nicotine fix. But then I fall asleep. At inappropriate times. Now you understand why I need the energy.

I started off slowly, with maybe a Red Bull here and there. Then I graduated to a Monster a day. Per Day. I know how bad it is for me, so please don’t bother with an intervention. I’ve already intervened on your behalf. I stopped drinking energy drinks and started drinking coffee. At least that’s much more socially acceptable. I’m always trying to be more socially acceptable anyway, so I guess it’s a win-win.

Because I’m always trying to push my favorite things onto other people (they all love my blog as much as I do I’m sure)…I took to the streets with my energy drug and got to work. I needed to thank some co-workers for their amazing help with a project, and what’s better than giving them the wings to fly?

Just buy a pack of Red Bull, print these tags: Red Bull Thank You Gift Tags, cut them, and tie them to the can!

Note to self: Next time add vodka. They would have liked it more.Red Bull Thank You Gift

DIY, Lifestyle

Give Yourself a Hand!

Learn to Hem by HandI like a good wedding as much as the next girl. Or guy. Or small child. After 10pm. Who doesn’t love to spend money on a new outfit, put time and effort into getting ready, and dance the night away? I hope there’s free booze.

I’m a cheapskate, but I’m not going to look like one. I mean, I’d much rather give you an expensive gift than spend the money on myself. Who wouldn’t? (This is extremely sarcastic, as I would totally rather spend the money on myself. Again, who wouldn’t?) I will make you a nice gift to go along with my expensive outfit, do you like popsicle sticks?

Because it is not socially acceptable to spend more on my outfit and less on the bride and groom (at least in my world…), I decided to get a little crafty in the sewing department (not my best crafting skill). I bought this dress from Dailychic.com and thought I could make it a little more “me” (i.e. not so long!). By the way, I got the dress for $19 shipped after a coupon code I had. Some may say that’s the definition of cheapskate…I prefer “thrifty.”

I grabbed my needles, pins, and thread and went to work. I used the pins to find my ideal length, pinned the crap out of it, and used a tape measure to be sure it was equal length around the dress. Then I just sewed it by hand. Now, if you look closely, you can totally tell I am not a sewing machine, but who’s going to notice that from afar? No one. In fact, the two people that knew I did it myself couldn’t believe it. To be honest, neither could I.Learn to Hem By Hand Dress HemAfter I finished sewing, I put it on again to be sure the length was good. All was well, so I took a fabric scissors and cut off the (large) piece from inside. It turned out super cute, and I bet no one could tell I hemmed it myself!Hem by Hand DressAnd now that I know I can sew by hand I’m having a hard time imagining all the possibilities!

Dress Hem By HandMy hemmed dress (!) and my hot date (!!!).

Birthday's, DIY, Lifestyle

You’re Coming to Visit?

Wine Bottle GiftWhat’s that you say? You’re coming to visit? Pssshhhh…I’m totally prepared! I’m going to make it look like I’ve been waiting for your arrival for months. Which I have. If anyone asks.

I’m not the type of person to greet you empty-handed. Either I will cook up a delicious meal (at least that’s how my husband describes them) or I will be prepared with a gift that you will love. And you will love it. Or you will pretend to love it. Either way I will tell anyone that asks that you loved it.

This may surprise you, but I actually do listen when you talk.  I remembered to write down your favorite wine when you mentioned it, and I went to the store looking for the exact kind. Only I couldn’t find it, so this is what you’re getting. It’s the thought that counts right? I even Googled it thinking that might help, but it didn’t. This is what Google told me to buy, so I hope you like it.

I can’t just give you a bottle of wine, I wouldn’t want you to think that I think you’re a lush. I mean, I’d like you more if I thought you were a lush, because then you would belong to my secret club too. If you can call it ‘secret.’ Which I do, so just humor me.  But because I’m always thinking about you, I have this little souvenir I picked up for you at a street fair a month back. I’m going to tie that onto the neck of the bottle with twine (to make it look more authentic), and hope you love it. Which you will. Or you’ll pretend.

Can’t wait to see you!

Birthday's, DIY

How to Become a Wine-Drinking Cat Lady Recluse

 

Hourly Gift Basket; Gift Basket IdeasI’m starting to identify with those recluse type people who stay indoors and don’t have any friends. They just seem to have such an easy life: no people to impress, no need to get dressed, no birthday gifts to buy. I’d rather be a cat lady recluse, but I would assume they’re kind of the same thing. I would limit my cats to five though. Five cats seems perfect. After five, you’re just crazy. And who wants to be a crazy cat lady recluse? No one. I also want to be a wine-drinking cat lady recluse. That sounds much more fun. I will drink wine with my five cats. Maybe we’ll play a little monopoly too, I mean they are clearly going to be fun cats. Maybe we will get real wild and play beer pong.

I’d love it if my fun cats would sing little birthday jingles to my friends on their birthdays, but until I actually become a W.D.C.L.R., I will have to come up with something else. It’s pretty exhausting actually. I’m pretty sure that my friends would rather have the cat jingle, but for now they’ll have to settle for whatever my crafty mind comes up with. So I’ll throw together little gifts and hope for the best.

 When I don’t really know what to get, I’ll go with a little selection of everything. Some wine, chocolate, sugar treats, chips/dips, and maybe a lottery ticket or two. Then I’ll just wrap them up individually, and put an hour on each gift. Perfect little way for my friends to open something every hour. And then I’ll remind them that next year all they’re getting is a cat jingle.Gift Basket Ideas; Hourly Gift BasketWhaddya think? Would you rather have the cat jingle or the gift basket?