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Jul 23, 2010

A Very Frugal Friday

I'm linking to the Shabby Nest Frugal Friday post.
Date night on a rainy summer evening...


I rarely wear black. Yeeeeeears ago when I was in college and then in an office job {grimace} and then a classroom teacher, I gravitated to "black on the retail rack." After quite a few years of wearing lots of black, I decided I enjoy color! I know black is a color. But it is the color black.
These two "like new" pieces are from my favorite thrift store which means they cost $2.50 each. (I think the top was less than that.)
The pants are Rafaella (sold at Macy's).




The top is sold on mchalet.com and is the vintage print "Bikini Top Ski Girls." It sells for $24.99. Since some of our happiest family memories were made on ski trips, I HEART this shirt.

(I ADORE these children!)

One Fine Man and I ate out tonight and used a gift card and a coupon! I'm ususally cold in a restaurant so I thought I would trade my shorts and tank for pants and a long sleeved t-shirt.

While waiting on a table, we decided to walk across the parking lot to the Borders. I headed straight for the cookbooks! And there propped on a table was this book:

(photo: Amazon)
Turns out that if you sit in the children's section near the window (at my Borders, anyway), the restaurant pager works!
So while I perused The Pioneer Woman Cooks, One Fine Man combed through historical fiction about battles and ships.

(photobucket)
And then in the middle of reading the recipe for Creme Brulee, the pager went off!


Once in the restaurant, I had the "prize winning" ribs. They were very tasty.
The Mac & Cheese?  Mine's much better. I really would like to discuss that with the chef.


(My sweet boy, Andrew, and me...big sigh.)

Can you believe this old '70's stereo was put out of someone's house? It's in our garage now. It's the project for this weekend! What would you do with it?

Next week I'm going to share a thrift store wardrobe that covers everything from a beach trip to attending a wedding!
So check back. It'll be fun!

$100 Challenge Update
~ Groceries, Thrift shopping and Drugstore deals ~
I barely came in under my limit for the week at $99.01.
Obviously there are some items I do not purchase at thrift stores. Last week I bought new running socks as it seems I am always searching for a clean pair. I run everyday so I need several pairs.
I found a 3 pack at Marshall's for a reasonable price.

My goal is to hone my money saving ways and inch that $100 goal on down because at this rate I will not have anything in my FUNd envelope.

My blog buddy, Brandi, is taking on the $100 challenge, too! Go visit her at My Cup Runneth Over. She's the sweetest!

9 comments:

  1. Love the outfit...Great deal...Have a few hours to blog hop....Love nights like this.......Hope you will stop by....new giveaway on my holiday blog...A BOOK EXTRAVAGANZA!
    http://teresa-grammygirlfriend.blogspot.com/
    http://grammyababychangeseverything.blogspot.com/

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  2. Wow Melanie, I wish i could find clothes like that at our thrift stores. They just aren't there. You look so great. Glad you had a nice date night. Mine is coming up next weekend. I can't wait.
    Have a great weekend.

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  3. You look so gorgeous, love you sis.

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  4. Melanaie you look beautiful! What a fun date night. The new top is precious.

    Thank you for visiting my blog and for following along as well. I'll do the same. Your blog is just wonderful!

    Blessings, ~Melissa :)

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  5. You are cracking me up! I have NEVER seen such cute clothes... when I go into a thrift store... no! There isn't ANYTHING like what you are modeling!

    I LOVE the t-shirt too! And the adorable pic of you and Andrew gets my heart.

    I bet your hubby loved your outfit! :)

    Hugs!

    Sonja

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  6. Looking good Mel, I think you find the good buys because you are so tiny.
    That old stereo could be made into a cabinet and placed in a family room. Could hold many things inside and used as a table top for favorite family room pictures, books, remotes, anything really........:-) Hugs

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  7. Hi Melanie, just wanted to say hello, I clicked on over from another blog but I know I've been here before ;) I have the PW cookbook, I am trying to cook my way through it with a friend. I don't wear black very often in the summer, it's way too hot here, but I quite like it in the winter usually with jeans.... I think you look great in your outfit.
    Have a wonderful day.
    hugs Denise

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  8. I don't know why you do not often wear black. You look great in black!

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  9. Ok, Mrs. Audrey Hepburn in "Sabrina"... you look extremely elegant in black.

    And any date night that includes a book store is my kind of date night.

    As for movies, I know what you mean about the comfort of watching in pjs. And I love comedies! We recently re-watched 17 Again. Made me laugh.

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