Hi! I’m Shellie Deringer. I started writing Saving with Shellie in January 2009 to keep myself accountable to my $40 a week grocery challenge and to help others navigate the crazy world of coupons. Frugal living helped our budget survive two babies, one recession and countless emergency expenses. Over the past six years of frugal living I’ve learned many things. The first is that I love saving money. I get such a thrill when I find an awesome clearance deal or am able to afford something that is normally out of the budget.
The second is that my “me-time” has been slowly consumed by a husband who works long hours, two little boys, neighborhood activities, school, sports and this blog. In this season of my life, clipping coupons is hard. Meal planning is hard. Keeping my boys in jeans without holes in the knees is hard. Plus in this digital age when we are surrounded by Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest it’s easy to get bogged down in the details of making everything picture perfect and yet missing the amazing, ordinary moments in the process.
So Simply Shellie was born. I wanted a place where I could share my heart for simple things – not just frugal things. My inspiration was this quote from Leonardo da Vinci.
I’m a mom too, I know. You’re busy. You’re stretched in 10 million different directions. That’s why I’ll be sharing some of my favorite simple recipes. Most of them are kid-approved; and that says a lot if you know my little one, James. You’ll also find easy DIY ideas and crafts. Things you can do to spruce up your home and things to try with your kids. I’ll show you that it doesn’t have to look like Pinterest to be perfect. Just simple touches here and there.
You’ll also find lots more frugal living articles with ideas and inspiration to help you live within your means. I also share ideas to help you use ordinary items in unusual ways, meal plan effectively, create and manage a budget for any income level and more. I’ll show you how to afford the things you love without sacrificing your budget, time or sanity.
I’m also going to be sharing travel ideas. I love to go on adventures with my boys and I know many of my readers are here in Texas too. I want to share some of the fun things we do to inspire you to get out and enjoy this great state. And for those of you who aren’t in Texas? Well, I just might surprise you with some Lower 48 ideas too.
And of course DEALS! Don’t think for one minute that I’m giving up the deals. I find a babysitter for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I’m addicted to Jane.com. Amazon just might be my best friend and half the adventures my kids and I do are courtesy of Groupon. You’ll still find all the fabulous things you love but now there’s more!
But with all this “more” and even less me-time, I can’t make this happen all by myself. I have a great team of ladies that help me keep things running smoothly. All three have been behind the scenes for quite some time. I figure it’s time to introduce them!
Ryan is one of my deal hunters. As a stay-at-home mom with three boys in diapers, I think this definitely qualifies her as an expert! I’ve actually known Ryan longer than I’ve been blogging. She’s my husband’s cousin and our families spend lots of time together. Ryan and her family live in the Austin area. When her husband comes home from work, sometimes she leaves the boys behind and has a mini-vacation at Target. See? She’s just like you!
Lindsey is another one of my deal hunters. She’s a stay-at-home mom with one little girl so she brings a whole new perspective to things. The color pink isn’t in my vocabulary so I’m grateful for all the girl-inspired deals she brings to the blog. Lindsey and her family also live in the Austin area. They love to spend time outdoors and if you’re lucky, she’ll share some of her off-the-beaten-path adventures here in Central Texas.
Amy is my crafty queen. You’ll find her pinning fabulous things for me on Pinterest. She also creates fun crafts for us to attempt and is always mixing up sugar scrubs and bath salts with her essential oils arsenal. She’s often covered in glitter which must be why she brings a sparkle to any room. Amy lives here in the Austin area too with her husband and two kids, a boy and a girl. I try not to visit. Her craft room gives me anxiety.
To get the most out of Simply Shellie I encourage you to:
- Subscribe to one of my Newsletters.
- Connect with me on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google +.
- You can also Contact Me with suggestions, inquiries and partnership ideas.
I hope you’ll join me on this journey and learn to embrace the simple things and love life.
