I bag my own groceries.  I put all the cold stuff together. Canned goods together. Bananas and fruit together, toothpaste and toilet paper together and so on.  It's easier to put the groceries away when you get home.  You use less bags.  You can also bring your own bags.  Some stores give credit for using returned grocery bags.
It's so frustrating getting home and dealing with all those nasty plastic bags that don't compost.  I also use the plastic bags for trash bags. If you can't bag your own groceries put your items up on the counter in the order you would like them bagged and tell the clerk what you want done and why.  They never seem to mind.

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Make up, chocolate, and a glass of blueberry wine perked me up this afternoon.  Cold, crisp weather was good for a walk in the sun.

So I felt refreshed after that.

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After Christmas Sales are fantastic this year.  I got some sheer white fabric with green holly leaves and red berries.  There is also some gold metallic thread running thru it.  It was 70% off.  I used some fabric glue I whipped up some sheer winter curtains by folding the edges over and gluing the edges and folding them over.  I folded the top edge over twice. Leaving room for a long 40 inch bamboo pole that I cut from my yard.  The pole slips thru the 2nd loop. I could use long and fairly straight twigs instead of bamboo.

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Your reading emails written back and forth between me and a wine company contest. The emails also involve written snail mail with my good friend Louise.  I just adore Louise.  The emails are cut and pasted from my email account at Yahoo.  So your actually reading events from last to first..

Thank You and Have A Very Merry Holiday! - Christine

 *

*snip*

I just wrote Louise a snail mail letter last night and told her I want a picture of her in her sexy OOPS! Girt Tee Shirt !! Louise's computer is broken and she can't seem to find somebody to come out and fix it.  She loves surprises in the mail. So.. I also wrote that I have got to get OOPS! Wine ordered for Christmas Presents from my local liquor store.  I must also mention that another good organic and low priced wine is called 'Our Daily Red'.  A bottle of OOPS! and Our Daily Red sounds so festive!  Thanks so much for your kindess.  Louise is a house bound senior citizen and she's my adopted Grandmother.  We live an hour and half apart.  I can't drive over bridges which makes things even more difficult.  I will pass this letter around to my friends and pray Louise and I can get together during the Holidays and share some OOPS! wine.  Hopefully I won't forget the camera!  Peace and Love, Christine Drummond

--- On Fri, 12/5/08, Shelia Richardson <srichardson@soiwines.com> wrote:

I tried to submit 2 cute and funny stories today and I keep getting an error after I press submit.  So I will be persistant and submit my stories thru info@oopswines.com   Story Tellers Name:  Christine Drummond Story Tellers Email:  cddrumm@yahoo.com   Holiday Tale (less than 500 words):   This is my 2nd cute story for the day. The first one was about Louise winning the oops girl tshirt. Louise is 83 and having a grand time wearing her OOPS Girl tshirt around Wilmington DE. Well any way..I have a 175 lb plump Mastiff named Archie and an undersized 40 lb boxer named Edith, (yes as in Bunker). I walk them one at a time, several times a day so they can go potty..Each time this holiday season I keep saying 'Let's go Party! instead of 'Let's go potty! oops I laugh. A Freudian slip!   And the first tale went something like this:   Story Teller's Name:  Christine Drummond Story Teller's Email:  cddrumm@yahoo.com   2nd Holiday Tale (less than 500 words):   Last month I entered my oldest (83 years), shortest (4ft 6in), and dearest friend Louise in the (oops) girl t-shirt contest. Louise won the t-shirt. She is having a grand time in Wilmington, DE wearing her (oops) t-shirt to all of her Holiday Parties. Since I didn't win all I really want for Xmas is a picture of Louise in her (oops) girl t-shirt. A little (oops) Holiday Wine Kit wouldn't hurt either! Oh and Louise promises not to drink (oops) and drive!

Never The End

With a Friend!

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I have no idea what to say right now.  I can start by being humble.

My Dear Fellow Thriftymen, women, children...my mind was very unruly today and I apologize for all the editing it caused.  I hope to plump up any crushed feelings with this apology.  Smooth over any gruff attitudes.  I typed like a maniac at thriftyfun.com       ...I'm on new meds and I can get a doctor's excuse.

For future referance all my creative behavior will be barely contained at ...   www.myspace.com/abarcode

Thank You, a not very Rural Angel

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is/was a band I liked.  I'm a black top brunnette I guess..I used to use peroxide on my hair when I was younger.   I always wanted to be a blonde.  At mid life I'm assured my husband loves dark hair. He also said he doesn't mind the silver hairs popping out.  I call the silver hairs tinsel.  I'm very well decorated thank you.

  Well any way..I have been looking for all the uses of peroxide for a long time! I finally found some tips and here they are:

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I've always wanted a --man ..FAN! .. an antique looking one.  Right now at hardware stores summer items are about 75% off.  I finally could afford one. 

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Thrifty Artwork!  A friend of mine lives an hour away so we don't get to see each other very often.  We both go to thrift shops in our own neighborhoods.  We like to compare our thrifty purchases.  I made a note card with this heart spoon rest on the front of it.   I purchased the expensive spoon rest for pennies on the dollar.  Only a Discount Diva would appreciate the art work.

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My husband is home.  The dogs are playing.  It's sunny outside.  Think I'll toss all worries out the window today cause it's Saturday.

a lil bit o'blues and few beers never hurt anybody : )

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Edy Gourmet will be 1 year old on Halloween! 

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Yesterday was a fine day.  My kids drove south for 20 minutes and we drove north for 20 minutes.  We all met at a car show.  Perfect weather to wander around and look at over 1000 various cars.  Meeting at a place like that saved us all driving time and gas money.  I was thrilled to spend the day with my husband and kids.  I will have find more free events in the same area for future outings.

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I'm embarrassed.  My husband dislikes this blog with pics immensely.   His mind is in the gutter.

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I just think my husband is so handsome.  He's worth putting up with!  I'm spoiled rotten!  Just thinking positive today.  Negative activity warps my mind. It's not a good feeling.  My kids are not happy.  I can help mentally but not physically or financially.   It's time to go plant the azeala I got for almost nothing.   

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I’m entering a weekly contest at Ivillage.com called Pink Outside  the Box.

1^st  weeks question:  How do you assert your personal style at work.

   My answer:  I always assert my style with a smile.

2^nd  weeks question:  Tell us about a role model in your life that stays true to their personal style.

    My answer:  I admire any one who recovers from the depths of any tragic misery.  These survivors are all the greatest of role models.

How am I doing?  4 more questions to go.  That means 4 more witty answers.

I could win a trip for 2 to NY, a shopping spree with a stylist, lunch and a blackberry.  A friend also gets the same prizes.

http://ivillage.waidev5.com/pinkoutsidethebox/site/index.php?view=archive&archiveweek=1    LOOK!  I’m on the list of entrants.  My answer is completely different than anybody else’s.  I don’t think weight loss or make up are Pinking Outside the box.

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It's really fascinating to me that I have been married for almost 23 years.  I just turned 47 years old and I feel so vibrant. 

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I'm wondering about cheap light therapy alternatives.  Those lamps are expensive.  We have had a lot of rainy, damp, grey and snowy days.

I do enjoy watching the snow and walking the dogs in it.  But my nose and feet are wet and cold.

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I just moved to Dover,  Delaware.  I lived in Maryland for 21 years.  Before that I lived in Newark, Delaware for 25 years.  I will never ever move again.  I felt like a maniac at times.  It was stressful.  The are a couple of good things that happen when you move.  The excitement of a new area.  I'm half way to the beach now.  Cleaning out 21 years worth of stuff was an enormous task but well worth it.  It's actually 'enlightening'.

Now I have to start new gardens all over again.  I want to landscape around the house, around a pond. and at the forests edge and along the fence we put up to keep the dogs out of our Neighbors Yard. 

I've got ideas for the fence.  The split rail fencewith green wire mesh is the easiest.  It's semi-shady.  I'm planting 3 climbing Hydrangeas along the fence.  I'm hoping for slow growth.  I want the hydrangeas to grow on top of the fence for privacy.

I have a  natural pond with a spring leaking into it.  It's about 25 by 40ft  big.  The Pond is in an Oval shape.  The first thing to do is get the water tested and find out what the tiny, tiny green balls are floating all over the top of the pond.  It's not stringy algae.  My dogs swim in the pond and the 1/4 size tiny pea shaped medium new grass green just flick right off the dogs.  Now I have no idea how to landscape this pond.

There are two more areas to be lanscaped.  Between the yard and the woods around the house.  Between the house and woods is a big area of grass surrounding  the house. Here and there are a few established white oaks.  a few pine trees with branches startintg at about 4ft off the ground.  I've got a few bushes planted around the house already.  I've also planted lots of garlic chives, daisy's and an unknown bush along the back of the house.  That part of the house is in mostly sun.  I've got to go outside and find out what the unknown bush is.

Thats all I've got so far in the yard.  I will  get pictures of the yard up soon.  Any ideas would be appreciated.  Thank You, Christine.

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I'm wondering what kind of dry dog food to feed my dogs.  It's got to taste good and be good for them.  Not to expensive either. 

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I've been been busy gardening and hanging around the pool, playing with my husband and dogs.  Despite some mental and physical glitches I'm very happy.

any tips on designing a white garden would be appreciated.  I love my white flower garden.   White with green foilage is so serene and clean.

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Well it's Wed again.  A hose in my Jeep froze up and burst.  Now I'm stuck at home.  Not so bad because I will not be out spending money.  I already whipped out the Victoria's Secret credit card the other day and ordered a couple of bras that look like jigsaw puzzle pieces.  I also ordered a pair of low ride, bootcut camo's.  I don't know why I want camo pants but I have been looking for a pair and these were perfect.  30 inch inseam, not baggy and low rise.  I'll wear them with black ballet flats.  I've started wearing flats and got over the fact that I'm 5'3''.  My husband is 6'6''.  At 45 years old I can wear what I want too.  :)

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I think I spelled Wendsday right.  A cold Wed looked odd.  Been a long time since I typed out the whole word.  Actually spelling gets me nervous.  I think if you have a spelling error in your post or work that it makes one look uneducated and backward.  One of my favorite things to do is find spelling errors in things I read.  A local zine featuring Bars, Restraunts, Things to do, Bands to see ...has at least one typo in each weekly issue.  I really think I spelled Wed wrong. 

Today I feel great so far.  Money, money is a mood maker.  I get $ out of the bank and get to spend some at Goodwill today.  I'm looking for red items.  I was looking at the Anne Taylor Loft site and the color red is featured in this springs new looks.  Thats great because a few weeks ago I picked up a brand new pair of pointy red ballet shoes from Target at Goodwill for $3.50..made of leather.  I have no idea what to wear red shoes with.  Black is to obvious.  I think I'll try to wear red shoes with grey clothes. 

Well Wed day is rolling on with or without me.  So it's time to move on to another task, chore or honey do list.  

Christine 

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I'm not in a good mood right now.  I feel like crying.  Hormones or I'm BiPolar.  Well this is new to me and I thought I might be in a better mood if I try this because I am frugal.  I do Bonus Points, click on email for 5 cents a day, send for freebies, shop at thrift stores.  I don't think I've ever bought anything for full price.  If I stick to the blog I'll have some good links for frugal living. 

I have 2 kids.  Sarah is 24 and Dougie is 21.  My husband is 6 months older than me.  Right now we are both 45.  I take care of 3 dogs.  One is my Son's Doberman.  She is 5 months old and my son is never home.  She's very dainty and sweet natured.  I have a 5 mo old Bull Mastiff named Archie and a Boxer Mix that is 7 years old.   Her name is Madame Yoo.   I crowned her Madame when the pups arrived (one week after the other)  Archie is 5 months old and 75 pounds.  He gains 20 llbs a month.  He's going to be huge!  Yoo has been queen bee for almost 7 years.  She has blue eyes!  She stays in the yard, is housebroken and is very very smart.  I hope the puppies manner's improve a lot in the future.

Now I have an agenda for the day.  I have to make a list so I'll actually do something.  I sleep a lot.  Ok I will make a list.                   

1. Get a shower.  2. Let my new hair cut dry naturally and see what it looks like.  3. Make the Bed.  4. Make Beef Stew.  5. walk the dogs  6. clean the paw marks off of the front door.  7.  Do laundry and put it away.  8 Walk the Dogs again.  9.  Feed the dogs again.  Vacuum the rugs.  9. Have tea.  and whatever else pups and pops up.

Christine

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