Dollar Stores...............

Not sure about where you live, but when I go to the dollar store, there is very little in the store that actually only costs a dollar?  I go to two main chains of dollar stores, Dollarama which is a Canadian chain and Dollar Tree which is US chain.  Dollar Tree, I think things are either $1.50 or $1.75 each.  However many, many things are much higher.

In Dollarama, their prices are all over the place.  I picked up a 2 package of Command Hooks for $4.25 the other day.  A loaf of bread for $2.  The name brand cleaning products can be $3+.  Now granted it's still generally cheaper than the regular stores, but gone are the days of everything being a dollar.

In Canada the food sold in the dollar stores are all shelf stable foods, whereas in the States, they sell frozen foods also.  I do find it interesting how many videos there are out there of people cooking full meals only using food purchased from the dollar stores, like the one below.

Do you shop at dollar stores?  Have you found their prices increasing?

A couple of things

On Tuesday I had to run a couple of errands, went to the library, Dollarama and Zehrs.

I have this bush in the garden, that I have no idea where it came from.  I didn't plant it and as you can see by the photo, the top of it is all over the place.

I bought a plastic stake at Dollarama for $4 to try and "tame" it a bit.

Does anyone have any idea what this bush is called?

Also in Dollarama I buy this damp trap.  It works a treat.  I put it down the basement.  Although our basement isn't damp, it is below ground, so it doesn't do any harm to put one down there.

The one I have down there now has been there since April 10th.

They generally last around three months.  I would recommend this product, as it does work.  Especially in Summer when it's humid.

My most favourite coffee is this one.  We have a Keurig, but I have an insert where I can just use ground coffee instead of the pods.  It was on sale for $12.99, plus I got 2,000 points back which I save and cash in for free groceries.

Do you drink coffee and if so what is your favourite brand?

Paint By Numbers Review

Last month I picked up a Paint By Numbers Kit at Michaels Craft Store.  Here in Canada they are around $20, but if you use their weekly coupon you can get them cheaper.  This is the kit I picked up and is described as challenging; which I agree with.

As you can see it comes with everything and there were over 2700 sections to paint.

It comes with everything to hang it up with.  I attached it to a Command Hook at the end of the pantry in the kitchen.

Hubby bought me another one as part of my Mother's Day gift.  This one is described as Intermediate.

I have made a start, but I am guessing it will take me a month again to finish it, as I treat it like a puzzle and just do a bit then break off to do something else.

I will say it's difficult to see the numbers at times, so had to get out my magnifying glass again.

These kits are a lot more expensive than the dollar store kits.  However, we are painting on a canvas.  The paints are a lot thicker and creamier.  I like the hanging kit.  The brushes though are no better than the ones that come with the dollar store kits.

If I had to choose I would choose the Michael's kits over the dollar store ones.

Some things I have done this week.

Was talking to daughter-in-law about how my drawer organizers move around, she suggested putting feet on the bottom of them to stop them moving.

Went to Dollarama and found these.  Ended up not using the instant Tac, just the bumper pads.

They worked perfectly for the job.

Now when I open the drawer the organizers haven't moved.

I love these mini cucumbers.  The local store had two packs of 6 on for $4.  I managed to snag packs with seven in them!

They keep really well in my Fridgesmart Tupperware containers.  I also pre-peeled some baby oranges ready for eating.

I made a really yummy couscous salad.  I added to one cup of cooked couscous, some veggies and feta cheese and the dressing on it was Kraft Greek Dressing..

Picked up a book from the library that I had ordered.  This is the selection for the book club in the UK my mother goes to.  They meet at the end of February.

I have been cleaning out cupboards etc and putting things we don't need into boxes to donate to the charity store.  Made a trip to drop off the boxes, while doing some errands.

I remembered to check the library website and managed to snag a space in the February craft club, so looking forward to that!!

 

Scrunchies.........

Been busy sewing scrunchies this week........well not all week, I was being a lazy bum when it came to sewing this week and didn't do much.

Anyhow, I decided to make these ones in baby corduroy, which means it is a finer corduroy.  Not sure if they will sell, but if they don't I have four grand daughters who will put them too good use.  I love the floral fabric the best; which one do you like?

I bought the basket they are in to put on the table at the next show I am in from the dollar store.  I can think of a couple of uses for it when not using in shows.  I bought another basket for the Xmas Pocket Tissue holders:

Do you shop at the dollar stores.........which by the way half the time things are not a dollar, but that's a whole other story😊

Busy Saturday running errands.......

Spent most of Saturday running errands. Had to pick up the rug we bought, that I posted about here.  As it is 9' x 12' it means we have to clear out the dining room to put it down.  The dining room is 10' by 15' but as we have the large table that seats 8 we were finding the 8' by 10' rug in there too small, length wise.  I will post a photo when we have it laid.  The good thing about this rug it is top quality and if we move it will go anywhere.

I ordered dh some winter boots on December 26th, and to cut a long annoying story short two pairs finally turned up on Friday, so had to go and pick one of the pairs up.  Needless to say I don't have a lot of good things to say about this company, especially the online division of this chain.  Their online customer service division sucks!!!

Dh wanted to call into a store called Sayal Electronics to pick up something.  Now that type of store typically bores me, however I found it very interesting as they had all sorts of educational toys in there, to do with science.  I picked the three older grands up a new place mat each, a dinosaur one, a map of the world one and flags of the world one.  Told dh we need to go to the bigger store's nearer Christmas as they have such interesting things in it for the kids.

Went to Walmart and bought a new doormat, it's not the best quality but it'll do for the winter:

Then hit up the dollar store to get all the birthday cards for February and a craft to do with Nora next Friday as she has a PA day at school.  Love the dollar store for things to do with the kids without spending a small fortune.

We had lunch out at a place called Jack Astor's.  We haven't been in that restaurant for years, but were pleasantly surprised at the quality of food.  We had Crispy Broccoli Caesar Bites, as we had a coupon for a free appitizer, they were greasy and would not order again, luckily it was free.  Dh had the Chicken Clubhouse with fries and I had the Chicken and Goat Cheese Sandwich with salad for our mains.  Both were excellent, top quality and would order again.  Here is the menu.  I will say we found the place expensive; $3.99 for a soda/pop is crazy.  I always order water, dh won't.

All in all we had a good few hours running errands and spending time together, with me doing what I love to do, shop 😊

Meet the Halloween Quints.......

So here they are all done, with their name tags on.

 The kids are going to be amazed, as each one was born on the recipient's birth date!!

Below on the left is Witchy-Way who is for Nora.  On the left is Goblin who is for Paige.

 To the left is Spell who is for Nitara, in the middle is Boo for Samvith, and to the right is Bones who is for Jeina.

 All were made with material I had laying around the house.

Went to the dollar store and picked up some books and other things for Halloween for them, and not a chocolate or candy in sight, so the parents should be happy!