All About Me - The Deal Fanatic

How We Bought a Home with 0 Down + 0 Closing

May 16, 2012 by The Deal Fanatic · 5 Comments

Ok, it's been almost a 9 month process now. What process? Our mortgage process. The NACA process. You know, the program I keep mentioning but haven't yet said which it is. You know...that one! Well, today I've hit my wall. We've been given several close dates <SEVERAL> and none of them have happened yet. We've even been given a call to come down, to only find out that it's changed....until today! Today we finally received our keys! Now, don't get me wrong...I'm patient. I can wait if given information. I can wait especially if I know a below-market interest rate is in our near future; I can wait. But this company...this company that we are going through has such a poor communication with their customers is horrible. When one takes a job that will deal with the general public you would hope they have in place a communicable way of explaining their process, practices and any information pertaining to their program. NOPE!! What is keeping me from … [Read more...]

Filed Under: All About Me, All Things Home · Tagged With: Home Buying, Home Purchase, Las Vegas Real Estate, NACA

OCD revealed at Las Vegas Container Store Grand Opening

May 12, 2012 by The Deal Fanatic · 2 Comments

I know..I know...silly as it may be and with all we have going on getting the new house BUT....I'ts here and I'm excited! Today's the grand opening of the Las Vegas Container Store. The private tour the bloggers here and I were able to see just made it even more difficult to wait until today! I want it all!!! Those cute little pink, teal, and lime green looking vases....well...they're TP holders! CUTE! Are they not the most adorable display of TP holders you've ever seen. Wait, it gets even better if you weren't sure it could. How would you like to display these cute little lego boxes in your kids rooms or bathrooms or basically anywhere because they are just that cute! Pull apart and you have storage for all those thousands of pieces lego thought was a good idea :-) Or I was thinking even the mini one for my daughters jewelry or hair clips. There's a thousand and one possibilities here. I have a thousand a 3 ideas for these baskets...WANT! These … [Read more...]

Filed Under: All Things Home, Container Store, Retail · Tagged With: Grand Openings, home, organizing, The Container Store

Keurig Vue, Have you seen it?

May 2, 2012 by The Deal Fanatic · Leave a Comment

I've secretly been pining over a Keurig <Haven't we all> for quite some time now. I've used it at friends houses, I've adored it while at events {didn't even know they had a commercial version - very cool} and I've drooled over it in the store. We are HUGE coffee drinkers in this house. But at the end of the day it's just my hubby and I that drink coffee and once I have one cup, that's usually all unless I'm have a dessert that requires coffee :-) . If we're Facebook friends or Fans {can't remember where I shared it} then you probably saw my online yell that I was picked to host a Keurig party from HouseParty.com and receive a brand new Keurig Vue V700 Gourmet Single-Cup Home Brewing System machine to boot! Can you say excited! Oh yeah I was and am :-) Two problems...we're moving and as you already know with this situation, everything {my life} is on hold/limbo. And two...they wanted us to hold it on April 28 {well, that's my birthday} Hmmmm...what to do, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: All About Me, DF Favs, Housewares, My recommends · Tagged With: coffee, House Party

Starbucks Half-Price Frappuccino Happy Hour

May 1, 2012 by The Deal Fanatic · Leave a Comment

I love it when Starbucks has happy hour. BUT, they should try "the waking hour". We need our morning coffee discounted too! However, don't forget from May 4 - 13 you can get 1/2 priced Frappuccino's. Plus they have a new flavor out called Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino, have you tried it yet? I haven't but it's clear I'm a frequequent flyer: I know why Starbucks has made a fortune....they're awesome! I'm 7 points away from my Gold Card and so far I see why so many people are so interested to get to that status. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: All About Me, Food Deals · Tagged With: happy hour, Starbucks

Vera Bradley Deal anyone?

April 27, 2012 by The Deal Fanatic · Leave a Comment

This weekend is my birthday and yes, I'm celebrating all weekend...even if we're in the process of moving. Since my encounter with Vera Bradley, I've been keeping my eyes out for sales. Well, this Weekend is a great Sale! Grab 50% Off Select Colors and it's Valid April 28-29, 2012. And can I say it's also in time for Mother's Day, in case anyone wants to grab this for your mom. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: All About Me, Frugal Friday, Retail, Vera Bradley · Tagged With: Fashion, Vera Bradley

I Need Your Help! – Calling DIY’ers, Home Design and Antiquers

April 24, 2012 by The Deal Fanatic · Leave a Comment

I LOVE surfing the web for great DIY ideas, beautiful design and just overall home stuff. I wondered if I could ask your help! Pinterest is great but I love the emails you guys have been sending me lately. Do you have something your working on that your particularly proud of? Painting your kitchen? Staining your cupboards? Maybe redoing your lighting. Pinterest has been an awesome tool to find all these great things and truly I'm also secretly in love with houzz.com {You can add or follow me there too}. Have you been there yet? I get some really great ideas there. But for right now I do think I use Houzz more because I'm focused on house stuff. I want to see your stuff! I'm looking for great ideas, cool concepts, things that you've tried, things your working on. I can't wait! So, here's what I thought we could do since I'll be sharing updates on the house because YES...we are actually closing this week! Can you believe it. I can't because it seems like it's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: All About Me, All Things Home, Blogger Link Love, Show It Wednesday · Tagged With: diy, home, Show It Wednesday

What are you doing For Earth Day?

April 16, 2012 by The Deal Fanatic · 6 Comments

I'm not sure if Earth Day had an impact on me like it does this year, mainly because this is the first time we will be home owners since the babies are with us. It's important for us to share with them the importance of what they do today, will have impact on their lives tomorrow. FACTS: This year, Cox participated in Earth Hour Las Vegas, an event where Las Vegas shut off its lights in solidarity with more than 4,000 cities in 120 countries to emphasize the importance of energy conservation. Cox in Las Vegas also promotes paper shredding, electronics recycling and holiday tree recycling. In fact, last year, they collected eight pallets or 425 cubic feet worth of electronic waste at a Las Vegas recycling event. Cox Conserves Green Initiatives Cox Communications Overall: 90% of the network operations vehicles at Cox Communications use a new hybrid operating system and are zero emissions vehicles during aerial operations. With Trimble GPS systems now installed in 5,000 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: All About Me, Family, Frugal Resources, Organic · Tagged With: cox, Earth Day

Vera Bradley Love in Las Vegas

April 15, 2012 by The Deal Fanatic · Leave a Comment

So the whole state of Indiana had a secret and didn't tell the west coast. Do you know? Spent the whole day today with the best bunch of ladies including Stefanie at RockstarmomLV. There's one thing to be super excited about an awesome bag you found on clearance {and oh how I love this kind of find}. It's another to rock out a bag that you know the history of why it was created, what they do to serve the community and where they want to go into the future. I couldn't be more proud today to share that I have and own a Vera Bradley Tote. As a matter of fact, I now own two Vera Bradley Totes and a Vera Bradley Double Kiss Coin Purse in Limes Up. Seriously, you couldn't tell this non-purse interested gal that I didn't love purses today. I have many many plans for this coin purse. I see no more pain from carrying my big purses. OH, and their name badges.....they weren't just any Ole' strap...no way! The Vera Bradley Chain Lanyard in Limes Up was used as a name … [Read more...]

Filed Under: All About Me, DF Favs, Retail, Vera Bradley · Tagged With: blogger events, personal, Retail

Home Ownership: What it means to me

April 13, 2012 by The Deal Fanatic · Leave a Comment

Living frugally is a lifestyle. Sometimes by choice, sometimes by circumstance. Either way, it's a conscience way of living. Being in the moment of what is really important to you. Which leads me to the reason why I want to answer this question. Home Ownership. What it means to me...sit a while and I'll tell you why I'm really excited about being a homeowner again. It means so many things to that I just have to make a list so I don't miss any of them: Being a homeowner to me means..... No more relying on landlords for home stability. This housing crash has forced some truly ugly behavior with landlords. Thank goodness for the county which we reside in because they were kind enough to let us know that the homeowners {who make a substantial living} were cashing our hard-earned checks and pocketing them while we waited, to only discover we needed to find a home in 30 days. True Story and a sad one. No more hoping I won't have to file a school variance for our bambinos. Let … [Read more...]

Filed Under: All About Me, All Things Home · Tagged With: All Things Home, home

Aviators Could be my new Happy!

April 2, 2012 by The Deal Fanatic · Leave a Comment

Ever since my shoot during out at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs a few months ago when I lost my sunglasses I have been on the hunt for a pair. When I find something I like I hold onto it. And if you know me, you know what I mean...YES, my black boots that you might always see me in...I LOVE! Comfy cozy and was a great deal. I was so mad at my self for loosing those glass because they were prescription..URGHHHHh.!!! However, over the weekend I checked out Sunglass Hut PREMIUM OUTLET SOUTH and low and behold, I found love again: I've never been a HUGE fan of Aviator Style Sunglasses....But I've being forced to feel otherwise. These glasses actually fit my big ole' noggin. My mug is huge and it's usually pretty hard to find glasses. AND....They were originally priced at $150, marked down to $70 and I got 70% off that. Oh yeah, I paid $25 and change for these. I'm so not into names unless I LOVE, love, love it and then I have to know who it is so I can … [Read more...]

Filed Under: All About Me, DF Favs, My recommends · Tagged With: Deals, Local Deals, Sunglasses