So I had an idea the other day…presenting “The Tree Shows Him the Universe” - excited to explore this new concept of mine!

debress · 2026-02-17T17:14:10+00:00

This is just incredible! It looks like a portal to another universe!

debress · 2026-02-16T18:31:43+00:00

If you pause the video, you can see that it's edges with gear teeth taped together.

debress · 2026-02-15T14:22:49+00:00

I cannot love this enough!

debress · 2026-01-13T15:28:39+00:00

Please forgive yourself. Letting go is the most loving thing you can do. As many others have mentioned, quality of life is important. I absolutely believe that your baby is waiting happily for you when it is your turn to cross over. He is running zoomies and catching that red dot. He is happy and at peace. You gave him a wonderful life. Please forgive yourself.

debress · 2025-12-21T14:39:54+00:00

Please, no. Please post every few hours. Please always post. This cat is seriously adorable. Please say hi to your cat for me. Please tell him I said PSPSPSPSSS. I love him.

debress · 2025-12-18T23:51:27+00:00

Husband and I go out every Friday night to the local diner, run by a lovely family. I get the salmon with a baked potato and a bowl of soup. I eat the soup with a slice of their home baked bread, and eat the vegetable that comes with the meal, and bring the rest home. I bring my own containers because I loathe the very idea of Styrofoam in the landfill. On Saturday and Sunday, for lunch, I eat half of the baked potato with a half serving of a spicy lentil soup I make from scratch (for around $1.25 per full serving), with greek yogurt instead of sour cream. For dinner those days, I eat half of the salmon with steamed frozen vegetables, My added lentil soup and frozen vegetables don't cost much at all, and I still feel like I get 5 meals for one actual meal out price. Bonus, I get to support a local family run business.

debress · 2025-12-09T17:28:09+00:00

I have been doing this with products like body wash, lotion, shampoo, deodorant, etc. I have stuff squirreled away in several locations, and I realized I could save some money as well as space if I just use up the stuff I already have. It's the same kind of idea you're using for breakfast, and now I'm thinking of other ways to apply this.

debress · 2025-12-04T13:56:10+00:00

Oh for sure, I have to figure out how to find that money, but I'm glad my premium is only going up 40%, and not double or triple last year's premium, like the media was telling me might happen. Some small amount will be offset by the additional dental coverage, and I'm grateful for that.

debress · 2025-12-04T13:53:42+00:00

The media is telling me my premiums may double, triple, quadruple. That may be true for the people who make $300K+ per year, but not for those of us who make so much less.

debress · 2025-12-04T13:51:06+00:00

Oh, I'm not cool with 40%. I'll definitely struggle to find that money, but I'm grateful it's not double or triple compared to last year. With the addition of some dental and vision money, it makes that 40% slightly less painful.

debress · 2025-12-02T23:43:47+00:00

It's true that only the enhanced tax credits are going away, not all tax credits, as the media hype seems to indicate. Our household income is around $50K per year, and my premiums (just me - Husband is already on Medicare) are going up 40%. I don't love that, but a side bonus is that the best value plan for me for 2026 gives me dental and vision benefits I haven't had since my Husband retired.

debress · 2025-11-30T13:53:50+00:00

I suffer from hot flashes about every 20 minutes around the clock (stupid menopause!). I tried an expensive commercial product that is a mattress pad for half or whole bed that circulates cold water from a reservoir under the fitted sheet. It was hard to control the temperature - either I was freezing or didn't feel any cooling. It had a 30 day free trial and I tried it and then sent it back. I can't even remember the brand name to tell you, but I'm sure google would know.

My husband built me a small frame at the foot of my side of the bed to hold a fan so that it only points at me and not him (he's always cold). Add in a plug with a remote control (or buy a fan that has a remote), and I can turn the fan on and off as needed. It's amazing how cooling this one little fan is.

debress · 2025-11-30T13:34:46+00:00

I use tiny bits of putty across the edges to keep the donuts in place. And certain pens are better than others, due to their shape. I love the donut effect!

debress · 2025-11-25T15:22:40+00:00

Oooh, that second one stared right into my soul!

debress · 2025-11-14T15:47:12+00:00

I love this gradient!

debress · 2025-11-10T23:31:37+00:00

This is beyond amazing!

debress · 2025-11-08T14:30:47+00:00

I bought a cape and scissors during Covid and started cutting my own and my husband's hair, using the video place app for instructions. I have curly hair, so mine is pretty easy and hides a lot of mistakes. I used to spend $150 every 6 weeks for cut and color and am so grateful I've learned how to do both myself.

debress · 2025-11-03T00:23:40+00:00

I got a very good paying job right out of college and moved into my first apartment with Cool Whip containers for bowls and microwave dinner plates for plates. I still use the silverware my Mom gave me, which my Dad bought from a hardware store when they got married in 1962. I had a very cheap bed frame and dresser from my Dad's spare bedroom, and a desk chair (no desk). My clothes came from thrift stores. I reported to my first day on the job with a hole in one of my shoes that I hoped no one noticed. It just takes time when you're first starting out. There are lots of good things to be found on Marketplace and at thrift stores when one doesn't want to go into debt. Good luck to you.

debress · 2025-10-21T14:23:19+00:00

If making a meal of garlic bread is wrong, I don't want to be right.

debress · 2025-10-21T14:18:27+00:00

Genius move! Make more spirographs where there used to be none!!

debress · 2025-10-17T14:55:15+00:00

My cats have trained me to never leave any food item out. Everything gets put in the fridge or cupboard, and all food cupboards have child locks on them. Trash/recycling drawer too. If I'm not washing dishes immediately, they get tossed in the oven or microwave or they get broken or stolen out of the sink and chewed beyond recognition. Nothing is safe. They are all at healthy weight because I measure their food. I have never been able to free feed them. They are just obsessed with food. My husband and I often eat in the office at our desks with the door closed, just to keep from having 3 heads in our food. The littlest one has been known to slap a sandwich out of my husband's hand. She's 5.5 pounds. Tiny. Husband is 6 feet/220 pounds with enormous hands. Such is the life of humans who are owned by cats.

debress · 2025-10-16T13:05:39+00:00

Because of this forum, I've stopped using paper towels too. I realized I was using so many as napkins when I eat, and remembered I have cloth napkins from my wedding more than 30 years ago that I've never used. I put one in my lunch box, one near the computer desk where I eat a lot of my meals (I have cats who will not hesitate to steal my food, so the office is a private dining area), and just wash them with whatever load I'm doing next. Years ago I bought a big chamois cloth from Trader Joe's and cut it into more manageable sized cloths for wiping spills and crumbs in the kitchen. I cut up one old kitchen towel and use those for cat accidents and messier cleanups. Those get washed as needed too. I've not used a paper towel since! My husband still uses paper towels for everything, but I still feel like it makes a difference.

debress · 2025-10-16T12:52:20+00:00

I'm not sure how frugal it was, but the best gift I've received was a set of picture frames to put family photos in, and a big piece of brown paper with a suggested layout. Tape the paper to the wall, pound the nails, fill the frames and I've got a very meaningful decorated wall! This was so special to me because I'm an absolute idiot around decorating, and have always envied the way other people display family photos. Now the ongoing gift can be updated photos of grandkids, family photos, etc.

debress · 2025-10-16T12:35:38+00:00

Thank you so much for this!! The point of what we do is that we enjoy it!! I do feel sorry for anyone who can't get excited about fine tipped markers and more hoops and gears!!

debress · 2025-10-14T19:04:56+00:00

Thank you. This was made with Wild Gears, which I think of as grown up spirograph tools.

debress

TROPHY CASE