I've mentioned before how I love to see other peoples phone layouts. So I think I'm going to start a monthly series on my layout. I change it up about everyyy month, so why not share it?  My username on cocoPPa is emileeblogs.

grocery store price list [menu planning]

I wanted to share with you my grocery store price list book.  I do 98% of my grocery shopping at Aldi.  They have the best prices in myyy town.  I don't coupon except for personal product items && cleaning items, so Aldi is the best choice for me.  

I created a price book by saving receipts and entering them into my book.  I separated it into categories, and list items in it accordingly.  This helps me stay on my grocery budget when menu planning && I always know how much I will be spending at the store.  

I used a little notebook that I purchased in a 3 pack from Wal-Mart.  I placed washi tape on the front && using a Sharpie I wrote "Aldi Price Book 2013".  Then I used self adhesive tabs on the pages to create categories.

On the pages I just list the item and price.  Depending on the item or category I will also include size and/or weight.  

My categories are:

• meat
• dairy
• canned
• produce
• dry goods
• bread
• frozen
• snacks
• seasoning/sauces
• condiments
• misc. [because I also purchase my paper towels && ziplocs at Aldi]

And there ya have it!  An easy reference price book for grocery shopping.  I keep it tucked in the back of my FiloFax so that I always have it on me.  This way if I happen to be at a different store && see something on sale, I can quickly see if it's cheaper for me than at Aldi.  <333

project 20 pan [update 2]

It's been awhile since I updated my project 20 pan.  This is where I'm at...  I've been able to cross out 10 items!  I'm going to be honest and say that I've purchased things since declaring project 20 pan, however they were only necessary purchases.  Only to replace things I've used up.  I've done really well at keeping my splurge spending at bay!  [Something I'm very proud of!]  I was terribly sad to see the last squirt from my Urban Decay De-Slick.  I loved this stuff.  With summer being over, and me no longer working during the day I have decided to not repurchase it just yet.  I don't have a need for it at the moment.  My Naked Palette never should have been included on this project!  Ack!  This eyeshadow lasts forever!  I'm never going to fully run out of it!  Same goes with my mark blush quad at the bottom.  The ONLY reason I included the mark blush quad, was to remind myself I have a large abundance of blush and do NOT need to purchase more.  I've done pretty well at using up the product that I really wanted to get rid of.  Maybe I'll start another project 20 pan, and make it more realistic by removing the Naked Palette and my mark blush quad.  

I challenge you all to do the same until the new year!  Pick 10-20 items that you need to use up before purchasing anything else.  Link your post below, or just tell me about it in a comment. 

hulu Xbox error code 4004 [fix]

My Xbox hasn't had Hulu working for months. I'm in I.T. so I understand all the basic troubleshooting. Nothing was working. I primarily use hulu during the fall tv season, so I was starting to panic. Sure I have a kindle, a laptop, and a phone I can watch hulu on... It's just not the same.  After scouring and scouring the internet researching the error, I was at a loss. Every suggestion I found didn't work. I was getting frustrated.

Well guys & gals, I fixed it! The "location" of my Xbox was set to "other" instead of "united states". Once I changed that, hulu started right up. After being incredibly angry that it was that simple, I was rejoicing! 

From your dashboard:

*settings

*system

*console settings

*language and locale

*locale

Hope that helps you!  

adorn your android [september 2013]

My cellphone is an extension of me.  There I said it.  I'm not ashamed and neither should you.  My cellphone is my mobile planner, my mp3 player, my music streamer, my camera, my brain, oh and my communication to the outside world ;)

I have an HTC EVO 4G LTE, and I've had it for almost a year and a half.  I adore my phone, and it has been perfect to me.  Today, I'm going to post pics of my customized homescreen [cause it's pretty & fun]!

My Homescreen:

• At the top left I have my 2Do app widget.  It allows me to quickly view my to-do tasks, as well as quickly add tasks in
• The top right folder is my "sleep" folder
• Below that is my shortcut to the website Swap-Bot
• Middle left to right: 2Do app, flashlight app, Candy Crush, CocoPPa [the app that I used to customize all my app icons]
• Next row is my folders: Social Media, Music, Photography, and Games
• Bottom: Phone, Gmail, all apps, GoSMS Pro, internet

• Sleep folder contains my favorite bedtime apps: Sleep Cycle [which tells you what time to wake up that won't interrupt a sleep cycle], Relax Melodies Premium [my favorite sound machine app, and I purchased the premium version], Alarm Clock Extreme, and a shortcut to a gossip forum I like to browse before bed

• Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest
• Youtube, GoodReads, Blogger, SnapChat

• Music app, Pandora, SoundHound, Dogg Catcher Podcast Player
• Tune In Radio, Audible, Amazon Mp3

• Camera, Pixlr-o-Matic, PicsArt, Photo Grid
• Gallery, Lumia, Textgram, InstaQuote
• Text Cutie

• 4 Pics 1 Song, Dots, My Singing Monsters, Google Play Store
• Netgear Genie, Tap the Frog

I just love browsing at other people's apps & screens, so I thought I'd share mine with you all again.

budget bathroom organization

I've recently reorganized my master bathroom, using a very small budget.  Everything I used was purchased from the Dollar Tree & Dollar General.  It's not fancy, but I think it's cute and more importantly it's efficient.  I haven't labeled my baskets yet, because I haven't decided how I want to do that. Let's get to it...

In the above picture I'm giving you a sort of overview of the whole "vanity" area.  I know not everyone has a lamp in their bathroom, but I don't have the best lighting and with my POHS I don't see very well.  I HATE that the lamp cord runs behind the length of the counter, but there's nothing I can do about it.  

Here's the first bottom cabinet under the sink.  This is where I house my hair products.  There's also a lighted makeup mirror behind there in the back.  I'm storing it there right now because I can't use it.  My POHS is bothered by direct light in my eyes.  All the bins were purchased at Dollar Tree.

• A: lamp & lampshade I purchased at Dollar General for under $8
• B: Dollar General mirror for a couple of dollars
• C: Wine glass from Dollar Tree that I keep my toothbrush & paste in
• D: Glass candle hurricane from the Dollar Tree that I keep brushes/combs in
• E: Little metal bucket from the Dollar Tree for my makeup brushes
• F: Three drawer plastic storage I purchased from Dollar General.  Houses Q-Tips, Cotton balls, and Bobby Pins
• G: Tiny candle holder from Dollar Tree with a B&BW candle in it

Larger view of the Plastic Storage and my adorable metal bucket from Dollar Tree

• A: Little ceramic painted birds from Dollar General for less than a buck, they were on clearance.  One says "Live" & the other says "Laugh"
• B: These were a pinterest project.  I took glass containers from the Dollar Tree and adhered them to glass candlestick holders, put some glass beads in it, and a candle.  Spent about $9 total.
• C: The yellow basket also from Dollar Tree has washcloths in it, and the yellow tea cup was from an antique store. 
• D: This large pink basket I purchased years ago at Big Lots I believe, so I already had it on hand.  It holds all my curling irons, flat irons, and blow dryer.

• A: The wooden over the sink shelf I purchased at Big Lots several years ago.  It's not the prettiest thing in the world, but I love the functionality of it.
• B: Hello Kitty jewelry holder.  I have a major love for Hello Kitty.  She makes random appearances throughout my apartment.  I purchased this jewelry holder from Walmart about a year ago.  I put her in the bathroom for my "catch all".  This is where I take jewelry off at the end of the night, but don't feel like properly putting them away in the bedroom.
• C: Makeup pencil holder is from Dollar Tree, it's just a glass container
• D: The little tray that Jess' products is on was from Dollar General for a dollar
• E: This is an empty B&BW candle jar.  I put my phone in it when listening to quieter podcasts.  It amplifies the sound, so I can listen in the shower.

• A: Dollar Tree bin that holds boxes of gauze, bandaids, thermometer, etc.
• B: Same dollar Tree bin that I keep manicuring things in
• C: Little tin bird from Dollar General
• D: Flower arrangement from Dollar General
• E: Cute little painted 2 drawer wooden box also from Dollar General
• *All the decor items were on clearance at Dollar General.  I think I purchased all of them for less than $10.

• A: [All these bins were from Dollar Tree]  This bin has misc. makeup items that I want to store in the bathroom, but I don't use everyday.
• B: Waxing & Shaving items
• C: Sample Society product stash [I'll have another post on the contents of that basket]
• D: Another empty glass B&BW candle jar.  This one has sample society products that I'm currently using.
• E: That bin has all my currently using "face" makeup.  Like foundation, powders, blush, primer, highlighter, etc.
• F: This bin has all my currently using "eye" makeup.