Category Archives: Frugal Living Tips

Traverse City Bound? Chateau Chantal has FREE Jazz at Sunset

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traverse city sunset

We talk a lot about #GRDates around the West Michigan area, but with the National Cherry Festival coming up in Traverse City, I can’t help but dream of the Traverse City wine trails, too!

Chateau Chantal’s Free Jazz at Sunset season kicks off this Thursday, June 16, and is held every Thursday from 7:00-9:30pm through September 1, 2011.

Jazz at Sunset is a great way to watch the sunset over West Grand Traverse Bay from the spectacular hilltop vista at Chateau Chantal Winery while listening to the Jeff Haas Trio and other musical guests for the summer season.

They also have Tapas Tours and Wine Dinners for the summer beginning today! Book online at Chateau Chantal.  Summer hours: Monday-Saturday 11am-8pm and Sundays 11am-5pm.

The Best West Michigan Resale & Consignment Stores {Fashion & Home}

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west michigan consignment shopsphoto credit

I’m cleaning out my closet and found a few things that are worth consigning (some with the tags still on them!), so I asked a trusted source for some of her favorite West Michigan consignment shops. Here are some of the best on our list.

  • Rosa’s Closet (Wealthy St, East Grand Rapids) – Rosa is a doll! I’ve said a million good things about her shop and showed you the CUTE outfits she put together for me in January when I went to Nashville for a conference. Stop in and see her. Even better, hold a Sip & Shop!
  • Rock Paper Scissors Consignment Boutique (East Hills, Grand Rapids) – I purchased a really cute top here and really loved the modern, trendy feeling of the store. Plus, I remember reading on facebook that Rachel Ruiz from WOOD TV has dropped off a few of her things there!
  • Georgie’s Consignment Clothing (Ada) – I haven’t been in there since high school, but when we were setting up the Grand Rapids Triathlon I was peeking in the window at 3:30am and saw some cute things on display. ;)
  • Encore Consignment (Plainfield, Grand Rapids) – The Spring Clearance Sale is June 24 & 25, 2011 for up to 75% off! My mom recently stopped in and had lots of good things to say about their home decor resale items.
  • Gild the Lily Consignment (Rockford) – This store has both fashion and home items. The website states first time consignors receive 20% off their first purchase of originally-priced merchandise!

Do you have a favorite West Michigan consignment shop to add?

Frugal How-to: Anti-Allergy Cleaning & Maintenance Tips

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I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour conducted by Clever Girls Collective on behalf of Claritin®. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program.

I’m moving from my little apartment on the edge of the country (which I will miss!) to a house in the city (and I’m excited!) at the end of this month. It was nice to rely on the the apartment complex to do maintenance, but now I’ll have to keep things easy & frugal!  I suffer from seasonal allergys AND there’s a dog in the house, so here are some tips for frugal ways to keep allergies at bay during cleaning and maintenance:

frugal cleaning tips

  • We’re repainting a bathroom. When painting a humid environment, add mold inhibitor to the paint.
  • Peak pollen production is early in the morning. Wait until later in the day to open windows and go outside for yard work.
  • Wash wet towels as soon as you’re done using them in hot water with white vinegar (and homemade detergent) to keep mold at bay.
  • Use all that newspaper from purchasing extra coupon inserts when washing windows. It’s lint-free!
  • Wash sheets and blankets in hot water to keep dust mites out of bedding.
  • Once a season, use a solution of 1 cup olive olive and 1/4 cup white vinegar as a natural funiture polish.
  • Keep old t-shirts and wash clothes to re-purpose into rags that can be washed over and over to save money on paper towels and sponges.
  • Don’t switch out storm windows to screens until *after* the pollen calms down. You won’t have to waste time cleaning screens and washing window sills multiple times in the spring.
  • Shampoo carpets regularly. We just rented a Bissell Big Green machine at Lowes — so affordable (under $50!) and really effective.
  • Do you have any tips to share? How do you manage allergies in your household?

Printable coupons for Claratin can frequently be found here or on the Claratin facebook page.

For more tips on relieving allergies visit www.Facebook.com/Claritin. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

DIY Wine Kit {Checking Off the Kitchen Challenges List}

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diy wine kit sicilianos

I’m so excited about the nice surprise I got for my birthday! Thanks to The Bubba and a wine making kit from Siciliano’s Market on Lake Michigan Drive in Standale, I’ll soon be on my way to crossing another task of the 2011 Kitchen Mini-Challenges list. (I really need to get going on the rest since we’re now half way through the year!)

I’ll keep you posted on the process with photos and videos in case you’re interested in trying it, too.

Have you made your own wine before? Do you have any insider tips for me?

Frugal Cooking Focus: Kale {Fulton St Farmer’s Market}

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fulton st farmers market

This morning I met up with Jen from The Big Binder blog at Fulton St. Farmer’s Market.  There really are lots of frugal foods there. Some are from Michigan, some aren’t. They had cantelope for $1.00, lots of local asparagus for around $2.00/lb, and so much more.  Jen talked me into buying some kale (only $3.50/lb), but beyond using it in a salad I was at a loss. Luckily, we have some West Michigan ladies to the rescue!

Frugal Cooking with Kale:

  • The Big Binder suggests making Kale Chips. Brush with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt, and put in the oven on 200 F until crunchy. Great for kiddos and super easy!
  • The Local Cook has a How to Cook Kale post with her top 10 ideas to get you started.  I love that Wendy frequently shares recipes using ingredients that are a bit unfamiliar to me. Great resource for using up some of your CSA items!
  • Vegan Bon Vivant has a great recipe for Kale & Lentil Soup.  Adrienne assures me that kale keeps well in the refrigerator for a long time if it’s kept dry.

west michigan farmers markets

Check my list of popular West Michigan Farmers Markets for times and locations.

What’s your strategy for shopping farmers markets? Do you just buy whatever looks good or do you stock up on the cheapest items to can/freeze/preserve?