The day I stuck it to my boss

Back when Steve and I were newlyweds, I used to work in a commercial real estate office in Virginia Beach. Back then, I got paid like $8/hour as a receptionist. It was a family owned company so there were some nice perks, like occasionally being treated to lunch, getting to leave early sometimes and nice Christmas bonuses (what's that?! a Christmas bonus! Who gets those anymore?).
On the down side, some of my bosses were real jerks. This one guy, I'll call him Bill, thought he was hot shit. He'd walk around with his Bible and his day-planner complaining how BUSY he was. At least that's what he'd say when he finally wandered into the office at 11:00 and wouldn't return any calls. Bill was so snobby. He only used GOLD paperclips because he thought they looked classier. One time I had to give him a ride to his house. His car was being detailed or something. I had the windows down and he looked at me like I was insane. "Can we get get some air on in here, " he whined.
I'm telling you all this so you can have a picture of the kind of guy Bill was when I tell you the prank I pulled on him.
I shared the front office with Samantha, the office manager. She and Bill had a love/hate relationship. She loved to pretend she hated him when truth be told, I think she loved all the attention from their nagging/kidding/complaining.
One day, Bill was in the supply closet which was just off our front office. He started singing and Samantha and I decided to show our displeasure by shutting him in there. No big deal. He kept singing and ended up being in there quite a while.
Somewhere I get the bright idea to put strips of clear packing tape across the door frame (I am giggling as I type...). Several strips of clear packing tape all across the door. I'm back at my desk when he finally emerges and SMACK! Bill walks right into the tape! It was like seeing someone walk into a giant spider web. I was laughing so hard I fell off my chair! Samantha stiffled a few giggles then followed Bill into his office as he stammered off.
Afterwards, I had to apologize to Bill. I guess I should be glad nothing worse came of it. But I gotta tell you... it was soooo worth it!
This post has been brought to you by Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.

wall art ...finally!

We've been in the house over a year now and there is still one box to be unpacked and some pictures to be hung. I'm just not a very motivated person. So I was in no hurry to put something up on the living room wall. I knew I'd find something I liked and was cheap not too expensive.

Back in January, on the way home from visiting a friend, I stopped at an outlet mall. In Carolina Pottery I saw the coolest wall "tiles." I use quotes because they looked kinda like ceramic tiles but were really light-weight metal. Anyhoo...They were big (check!), blue and brown (check!) and $17 a piece (check!). However, when I got them home, I decided it was too much blue on blue. I thought some sort of backing would look good. Long story short and 9 months later... I finally have them hanging on my wall!

Tada!!!

I cut an old political sign (corrugated plastic) to size and then spray painted it brown because the white showed through the burlap. Then I sprayed adhesive onto it and placed my burlap over it. I folded the corners giftwrap-style and used duct tape to hold them down. I nailed straight through sign to hold it and each of the tiles in place.

Ok, so it's not Goodwill cheap, but not bad for less than $75!

I'm participating in:

R.I.P Kermit

These are part of the latest style in home decor from a "professional" decorator, as featured in a name-brand catalog. You can have a set of 5 for $250. Really? REALLY?
Cuz I think they look like somebody decided to hunt down Kermit the Frog and his friends, chop off their legs, mount them upside down and spray paint them white.

Save big for kids!

I had a great response from my last post, so I thought I would take it a step further and show you the huge deal I got on kids items this week.
Some of you know I work with a local children's consignment sale that happens twice a year. I shopped this week for my daughter and man, did I rack up!
I got 12 tops, 9 pants, 5 dresses, 3 pairs of PJs, 4 hairbows, 1 pair of shoes, a big wagon, a DVD and a small toy castle. The last 3 items will be put away for Christmas. Many of the items were name brand like Gymboree or Children's Place and one of the dresses was a smocked dress (translation: for Southern girls, these are must have for church and special occasions and can be very pricey!)
How much do you think I paid for all that????
$250?
$200?
$180?
$150?
Nope, nope and nope! I Paid $140 for all 37 items!!!

Outfits for less than $20

If you've visited here before, you probably know I like to save a few bucks. This is a particularly helpful habit since I am now unemployed and living off an allowance from the hubby, but that's a whole 'nother post.
It kills me everytime I see on the Today show or in a magazine, "Get the Look for Less!" and the outfit still cost $250!
"Wow, Brandi, you got that dress for $150?," asks goofy Ann Curry. "My goodness! And those shoes are an absolute steal at $160!"
I don't think so... I realize that is a markdown from the original price tag of $9999, but come one peeps! Who really shops like that? (don't answer that if your answer is "me")
I thought I would show you a few deals from some of my past shopping trips. They may not be the height of fashion or the latest trend, but who wants to look like the Kardashian sisters, anyway?
Necklace- $6 - from Cato's (cheaper women's store, usually next to a Wal-Mart)
Polo shirt- $1 - from a thrift store
New York & Co. capris - $3 from Goodwill
Shoes - $8 - clearance from Belk (Southern department store)
Total- $18

Top - $9 - from Cato's
Old Navy linen skirt - $1 - from thrift store
wooden bangle - $1 - from thrift store
shoes - free- I helped with a yard sale and got to keep these
Total - $11

dress- $7 - clearance at Kmart
Gap monogrammed bag - $1.50 from thrift store
shoes (made in Italy) - $1.50 from thrift store
total - $10

Gap top- $2.25 - from Goodwill
Talbot shorts- $2.25 - from Goodwill
beaded necklace - $1 - from yard sale
Born shoes - $3 - from thrift store
total - $8.50

And the best for last...
top - $2 - clearance from Belk
tank - free - promotional giveaway
Ann Taylor Loft capris - $3 - from Goodwill
shoes - $1 - from Goodwill
purse - $.25 - clearance from Shoe Carnival
total - $6. 25

And these are just complete outfits. I have lots of other tops, bags, shoes, etc. Now, who wants to go shopping?!

This post was brought to you by Writer's Workshop.