For the Love of Couponing....or NOT !

I've always been a budget Betty...Looking for sales, couponing a little, and happy buying second hand.  I have felt lately that I have been led to give; Give more than I have been. Good works have always made me feel full !.I have been blessed beyond measure and I believe that when you help those less fortune than you, your return will be 10 fold.  I started donating one hour of pay to the YMCA, and I found a 20 dollar bill on a run....I got the message Loud and Clear !

  I've committed to filling 5 shoes boxes for  Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes. a simple and practical way to brighten up the lives of needy children around the world.  I also have my kids helping me; reminding them of other situations around the world.  They were shocked that kids would need tooth brushes for Christmas.  They are still young, so I haven't shared the whole story of my life with them. I was raised by a single dad, he took care of my sister and I, (although my grandparents help a lot so that he could work).
One year, under my tree was filled with "found" toys from the airlines where he worked.  His coworkers knew of our situation and any time a kid left a stuff animal, barbie, or dolly on the plane; they'd keep them for us. (These were unclaimed for several months ;) My dad wrapped all those used gifts to keep our Christmas magical and it always was ;)

When you're on a really tight budget, it might be easy to feel like you don't have any extra wiggle room to be able to afford to buy the items needed to fill a shoebox, especially when you are saving for college, family vacations, down payments on a house, etc. !! . If that's how you're feeling, you definitely will want to watch this video by Clair from Mummy Deals where she shared creative ways their family is filling 45 shoe boxes for $45! I was very inspired!, thus leading me to fill.

I use this website to help me find deals and save on supplies. MoneySavingMom.com is an upbeat and encouraging blog dedicated to helping you find great deals, stretch your hard-earned dollars, and live on less than you make so you can save more and give more.

I will spare you the details of my very long( 3 hrs) and eventful trip to three stores to get these .25 cent a box crayons..  At the end, I understood completely why people don't coupon or run around finding deals, BUT as I filled those boxes I was reminded that my 3hrs of annoying, was most likely nothing compared the the daily struggles others face.  So, I will go again and find more deals to fill- so that I can brighten a child's life during this season of giving.

Glowing Green

My Kids and I have consumed 2 cups of spinach each a day for a whole week and I really feel great !  We have dubbed this magic drink "The Monster Smoothie".  It is sweet and wholesome.  I've used what ever berries I've had on hand but the one Banana is the key to sweetness and acceptability of little people.

This recipe is super simple. All you need is a blender and the following ingredients:

• 1-2 bananas (I freeze my bananas and I only use one)
• 1/2 cup frozen peaches (We like Strawberries)
• 1/2 cup frozen mango
• a couple handfuls of spinach ( I packed 3 cups into the blender)
• water
• ice (if desired)- never needed

Add enough water to blend and enjoy, that’s it! Get the glow with a Green Smoothie !

Via

I get my spinach ( and other fresh fruits and veggies) from a great local farm, if you live in South Houston I highly recommend it.

Frobergs Farm

I encourage you to try it and serve it to your kids, I guarantee they are not eating this much green otherwise.  ;)

I love me some Pottery Barn !

I found this "knock off"  and it was right in my price range ...FREE !!

via

This is such a great measuring/memory tool for us who move all the time, I get to take the kids milestones with us.  It is no longer available at PB so I decided to copy make my own !

I used a saw tooth picture hanger to hang it on the wall.  I gave it one coat of Walnut stain, which I had in the garage.

I marked off 1-inch marks along the entire length of the board. In order to mimic the lines on a ruler, I made the “quarter” lines 2 inches long and the “eighth” lines 1 inch long. Make sense? I drew all the lines in pencil first, then went over them with my sharpie.  She used a paint pen so that is an option but the sharpie worked fine.

 I used the font  (Century) and printed out the numbers 1-6 in 200 point font. I rubbed and traced the numbers with my ballpoint pen.  This left a slight indention on the  board, I was then able to fill in with the sharpie.

And who does that ??  Do you see that One in the wrong direction.  I started with One and was trying to do too many things at once, when I figure out how to fix I will let you know.  Don't do that !! ;)  Although now it does seem really me !.... a little off.

So, I hope I've inspired you to steal use your husband's wood while he is at work to make something awesome !!

Just a Girl Show and Share

An Update ...Finally !

Here was my Halloween door last year, I think I'm going to do a similar thing at this house.  The Bats were super easy to make using black card stock and I stuck them on the door with duct tape.  I got my inspiration from here.

Some inside Fall decorating !

I moved my office to the dining room, messy and yet beautiful ;)

I actually made my bed.

Kate's room is at a stand still but here is my progress.  I'm trying to decide if I should paint the crib, keep the wall design, and what color to paint her dresser; so here she sits.  There is a real possibility that we will have to move in March and that has squashed my motivation ;(

I hope everyone is having a great fall and I hope Texas gets on board and changes her weather !

A Mermaid Party !!

Happy Birthday  Courtney, you always work hard, you are beautiful on the inside and out, and I love being your mother.

For Birthday's, we write 10 things we love about the Birthday person and post it on a big poster board. The kids really love it and it makes them feel so special.  They also love to hear the story of their birth....that is a blog post all by itself.

The best line this year was from my 2 year old that read: "I love my Courtney and I kiss you in the eye ";)

My oldest baby turned 7.  7 !!!  that is just so old and really really far from being my baby but aren't they always your little ones.  The Days are long but the Years are fast ! Together, we planned this party and it was really a lot of work fun.  Enjoy the pictures.

I will find a picture with food, a little bare here.

Each girl got a tail as a party favor.

Source:

For the tails, I bought 3 yards of towel material at Joanne's using a 50% off coupon ;)  Wrapped in bias tape and used a zip-zag pattern to sew it together, I'd post a tutorial but it would include flying bobbin's, growling, some swear words, and miss spellings ;)

Here is a link to someone with a perfect tail and pattern, I free handed the tails probably leading to some of the above mentioned.  Mermaid Tail Link

Cake:  I made myself using regular white cake, poured batter into six bowls, mixed dye of different colors in each bowl, I poured each color on top of each other (slowly) and baked a usual.

Shark Watermelon : Via

A happy front door

I've had this wreath sitting in my living room for months waiting to be put together.

As always, I'm motivated by The Nester, who is having a Link party for Wreaths, so much amazing stuff over there. 

Here is my wreath:

I'm holding out with summer decor...It's still 100 degrees here !

I hot glued it all down.

Painted my welcome sign from Hobby Lobby with Glidden paint samples from Walmart.

Go check out the rest of the awesome wreaths on her page and you will be inspired too.

I'm linking to her page :The Nester's Wreath Party

I'm busy slip covering and you can see them here

Slipcovers, Slipcovers, oh my !!

I've really been busy I promise ;)

  Here are some photos of my progress :

I recovered Kate's chair, I mistreated a pre-made slipcover from Ballard Designs, I almost cried when I cut the fabric.  I knew based on measurements I only needed to do a little bit of sewing and it would be perfect. 

The stool is not done but this is almost there.

I painted this on her wall, still needs love ;)

I used a white duvet from Target, their Fieldcrest line to slipcover this chair, it had buttons on the bottom and piping included.  This would be a lazier guide to slip covering.

I used Miss Mustard Seed Video, about slipcovering

I painted the black trunk...I'm still working on a perfect color, the coffee filter wreath was a gift to me and I LOVE it.

While the sewing machine was out, I also whipped up some pillows, thank you Pottery Barn cloth napkins.

Even the entry got attention

I've been busy with food planning and have B<L<D planned for the month and I promise to one day enter into the computer to share.

Oh yeah, I have to hang out with them too !

You get the idea, I'm a little busy. I plan to finish before next weekend when I'm having a birthday party for my 7 year old.

I hope you are having a relaxing weekend, enough for the both of us.

Im sharing with

Metamorphois Monday Party

http://justagirlblog.com/

Twiced Owned Tuesdday party

Tuesdays Treasures

Steal on a Rug !

via

A well dressed home

This rug is available at Garden Ridge, YES Garden Ridge for 99.99 for 8 X 10 and 49.99 for a 5 X 7.  That is an Awesome price on a rug.  I did find the rug to be very Gray, more like the bottom picture.  I was hoping for a more brown, like the first photo because I have a hard time being adventurous.  I still may go back and get it ??  But if you are in the market for a rug, run on over !  Have a great day ;)

Where the magic happens...

I got new lamps for the master bedroom, I'm attempting to make our room more elegant, glamourous, and inviting.  Because, this is where "the magic happens" right ?

Where you fall asleep mid sentence because your so tired...magic ?

or you have little people sleeping with you because they peed their own bed....magic?

or he is already asleep with ear plugs (yeah, I feel safe) because you stay up all night on pinterest....magic?  This is also on my update list ;)

FYI:  The lamp is from Homegoods, sea shell bottle is Potterybarn

Sleeping Baby and Forgotten Apron...no sewing !

I realized while Kate was sleeping that Courtney needed an Apron for Art.  My sweet, yet type A daughter had even put the bright yellow paper on my fridge.  I was sure I had something in the house to use, while not being too hokey or having to go completely Martha Stewart.

Thanks to Google and Blogs, I browsed many sites finally coming up with a plan; a combo of many (please search and find a plan that works best for you)... or you can follow my easy no sew plan.

I went straight to my neat fabric/goodwill/I don't feel like cleaning this now bin.

When looks like this:

I rummaged through and found a 2 size 2 small long sleeve dress, which wasn't worth saving for 3 years to give to Kate and this is TX, we wear long sleeves twice a year ;)

                           Here is what I started with

Right away I cut the arms off

Next, I use a scientific measuring device and eyeballed the middle back area

  

I cut from the bottom up, leaving a rectangle middle for the straps

I then cut out the rest of the back following the lines of the dress

And there you go, free up cycling and I even got to shower before Kate woke up !

I hope you all had a great weekend too ;)