CREATE

if you read nie nie then you have probably already seen this, if not take a look.

Turn your lights down low

thanks to american idol's show tonight i discovered a great song. i hope you enjoy:

turn your lights down low by bob marley featuring lauryn hill (those two together you know its gotta be good)

and here is colbie caillat's version

i don't know which one i like better, i love them both!

Tip Tuesday { stained tablecloths }

This tip is from Woman's Day magazine, April 2009 issue:

"Cut a stained tablecloth into a set of napkins"

Baby drooling over baby bedding

oh how i wish i had an excuse to buy some of Target's baby bedding that is on sale this week. here are a few of my favs:

this bumper +
this crib sheet, i'm in love

this 3 piece crib set for $13.74? are you kidding me, love it!

and how could this city turned country girl not love this sweet farm girl 3 piece crib bedding again for $13.74?

love this bedding for a boy. wow Target has really stepped up their game in the baby bedding department.

Check it out

*7 organizing myths
*surviving the checkout lane
*kitchen cupboard message center
*musicial tin cans
*darling headband
*fabric covered corkboard
*make your own coloring pages
*decorating with industrial items
*keeping frugality simple
*great before and after entry piece
*3 things
*bright and colorful desk
*great kitchen makeover

Ordinary Day by Emilie Mover

so its no secret to those who know me that i love music! so i thought i would start doing some posts on some new or old music that i really like, so enjoy!



Ordinary Day by Emilie Mover (this is not the actual music video,but it had good audio)



p.s. does anybody know how to actually post the youtube video onto a post? and i am also adding a playlist on the right side that i will continue to add music to. have a great weekend!

Spray paint party!

I didn't know about the spray paint party over at Thrifty Decor Chick. I wasn't really prepared but I'll show you a few things around the house that I have spray painted. Sorry no before pics, you'll just have to use your imagination.

I got this frame at the thrift store and spray painted it white, put some scrapbook paper for the background and placed a doile that a great, great grandma crochet for little ms. m.

this frame is another thrift store find. it was a brassy, gold color and i spray painted it pink (ballet slipper by Krylon to be exact). i think i might put a silouette in it but for now it hangs like this on the wall.

i spray painted the shelf white (was wood), the white bunny was brown, the pink chair was wood, and that frame was gold. i just need to spray paint the brass frame but don't know what color, any suggestions?

i bought most of these frames at the thrift store, they were wood. i just printed that "J" and other saying off of my computer and framed them. super easy and quick project. don't look too close i haven't dusted them off yet.

the candlesticks (minus the candles) on the left are spray painted. i was going for a super glossy silver look, anyone know of good spray paint that will give me a chrome silver look?

i have so many things that are a screaming for a coat of spray paint, but i am waiting for more summer like weather. spring weather in utah consists of lots of wind, sunshine one minute and snow the next so until the weather gets to be a little more consistent you'll just have to check back and see what else is going to get a coat of spray paint!

K-Mart Double Coupons!!

Some of the K-Mart's are doing double coupons this week. My local store is doubling up to $2, so here are my great deals that I found:








*Loreal kids shampoo: found on clearance for $1.39 each after doubled $1 coupon = free!

*Jergens natural glow face lotion: 50% off making it 2.99 after doubled $1 coupon = .99

*Old Spice deodorant: $2.69 after doubled $1 coupon = .69

*Secret flawless deodorant: $4.49 each after doubled $2 coupon = .49 each

*Secret deodorant: $2.49 after $1 doubled coupon= .49

*Lysol toilet cleaner: on sale 2 for $4 after doubled .75 coupon = .50

*Kotex pantiliners: 1.29 each after doubled .75 coupon = free!

*Dove body wash: $4.50 after doubled 1.50 coupon = 1.50



I've found some more coupons so I am going to make another trip, but I want to give you warning that sometimes it is still cheaper to buy the product at Wal-Mart even after doubled coupons so if you're buying a lot of items I might do some research before to make sure you are getting it for the lowest price possible. My tip would be to look for items that are on sale or clearance and be picky about your items, you don't have to use all of your coupons, just the good ones.

p.s. spend $50 and send in your receipt to glamour to get a $25 gift certificate! go here

Tip Tuesday { Old Socks }

This tip is found in Real Simple magazine, April 2007 issue:


"Orphaned or threadbare socks make great dusting cloths. Because they slip right onto your hands."

Check it out

*cute and colorful desk
*pantry mixes for food storage
*eight healthy tips
*making your home magazine perfect
*creative kitchen cabinets
*stylish storage bins
*room redesign on the cheap
*family tree tutorial
*a bandana dress
*repurposing sheets
*i really, really want to make a vintage sheet quilt
*making a play kitchen (are you kidding me? LOVE THIS!)
*make your own memory game
*stockpiling with coupons
*organizing your coupons

My not so extreme home makeover

after visiting restyled home's post to the extreme home makeover (which was a great post by the way i totally agree) i decided that its about time for my very own not so extreme home makeover. i guess i am getting spring/nesting fever

my plan is to go through each room in my house clear the clutter, and redecorate using things i have or things found at the thrift store with a few new things thrown into the mix, only if they are on sale or clearance of course. i live in a cute 1920's cottage style house with 2 bedrooms and 1 bath. as our family grows i know that we will someday move out so on that note i don't want to do anything too extreme, but also would like to make a few changes so that i can enjoy it as well. i also love the idea of being creative and working with what we have, for example in our bathroom we have pink and teal tiles partway up the wall, although i wish for white subway tiles or beaded board i like the idea of being creative and trying to work with it.

we've been in our house for almost 3 years now and still no progress has been made so i am hoping by posting this, it will really get me motivated. i plan to tackle this slowly and hoping to get some help from all you wonderful bloggers. i am going to try and take a room one month at a time. so i am hoping the plan will go as follows: i will post a before picture of the room i am redoing, maybe with some inspiration photos as well. hopefully you will help me and give me some advice and (cross your fingers) i will post an after picture after the month is over. so please help me by commenting on some ideas that you think might work.

my overall feel and design for the house that i am going for is cottage/ farmhouse style.

Here are a few inspiration photos that i have on my computer (note: i have a MILLION others but here are just a few to give you a feeling of what i want the style of my home to be):

Broccoli and Cheddar Mini Quiches

Broccoli and Cheddar Mini Quiches

2 c. broccoli florets
1 c. milk (do not use skim)
1 c. heavy cream or half and half
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 c. grated cheddar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg (opt)
1/2 lb. bacon cooked and crumbled (opt)

Steam broccoli in a pan until broccoli is just tender, 5 to 6 mins. Let broccoli cool slightly then chop into small pieces. In a medium bowl whisk together milk, cream, eggs and egg yolks. Stir in cheese, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Add chopped broccoli and crumbled bacon. Grease a 12 cup muffin tin and place on a baking sheet covered with foil. Ladle egg mixture into muffin cups, filling each cup. Bake at 350 until lightly browned and no longer jiggly in center about 25 minutes. Let cool slightly then run a knife around the edges to allow the quiches to come out easily.

How fun is this?

are you kidding me how fun is this? it makes me want to dance..... and watch dirty dancing. enjoy!

Tip Tuesday { Prevent Freezer Burn }

This tip is brought to you by All You magazine, April 2009 issue:

{ Prevent Freezer Burn }
Press plastic wrap onto the surface of your ice cream before putting the lid back on. This protects it against frost.

Check it out

*improving an old sweater
*how to transfer a mantle into a headboard
*journaling made easy
*does your house need to go on a diet? (mine does!)
*vintage hem, love this concept! i could definitely use some of these
*beautiful laundry room
*great bulletin board makeover
*how to make shades out of mini blinds
*how to make a hanging book display
*love this nursery!
*making a headboard into a bench
*how to make a cake stand
*using a wipe case to hold plastic bags
*magnetic photo frames
*how to make a skirt from dish towels
*the laziest slipcover tutuorial
*advice on getting kids involved in chores

Finding Joy

Go to Rare and Beautiful Treasures for a very tender and inspirational story. It's worth the minute to read it, I promise.

Finding coupons

Go here to Bargain Briana's article on where to find coupons

American Idol Talk

okay so i thought i'd share my thoughts on american idol. i have to say i am a little disappointed this year. let me start by sharing my thoughts about the shows from this week:

Arianna- i think she has a great voice but didn't pick a great song for her (i do love ABBA,but not the spin she put on the song) all in all i would like to see her sing again, i vote yes

Nathaniel- don't like all the drama, don't think he is that great of a singer. judges think kristen doesn't know how to dress, i think its nathaniel that doesn't know how to dress. made me laugh when i heard his song choice was i would do anything for love by meatloaf. perfect song for a drama queen. other thing that made me laugh that several of the judges commented that he was a fun guy. hahaha, do you really think this shows that he is a fun guy, all i see is crying and drama=no fun. i don't think the judges really know the contestants that well this year.personally i think jackie should have made it through. i vote no

Taylor- love her voice, i thought she should have sung no one by alecia keys instead. would like to hear more of her, i vote yes.

Lil- great voice, very big and strong. not really into r&b but i do enjoy hearing her sing, i vote yes

Kendall-thought she had an okay country voice, seems like a nice girl but i am going to have to vote no

Von- he has a good voice, kind of reminds of donny osmond. not my favorite contestant, i vote no

JuNot- has a good voice, doesn't blow me away but has a darling little boy! sorry i vote no he should go home and spend more time with that cute little boy!

Jorge- kind of surprised actually how well i liked his voice. i think i would have to hear some more of him to decide, i vote undecided

Felicia-i thought she did a great job, i vote yes

Kristen-why do the judges put her down so much, quit talking about the way she dresses she looked good that night and the hair was so much better. they need to focus more on her voice and i think she has good one, just didn't pick a song that show cased it, i vote yes

Scott-his voice doesn't blow me away but his story does. wow i think how amazing that he can play the piano being blind!! i vote no, instead i think he should pursue a piano career

Alex-i was laughing out loud at his performance! are you kidding me, funny guy not an amazing voice, i vote no but could maybe think about being a comedian.

my wild card picks, i only need 6: matt (love his voice!), anoop, megan, taylor, arianna and felicia

unfortunately not all of my choices were picked but some were. i have to tell you i am pretty furious that they picked tatiana, what a joke. i'm beginning to think this show is turning into a joke if they had picked norman than i would have been convinced but since they didn't i guess i can keep watching. until then i am still sad about taylor, arianna, and felicia not making it through.

bottom line my favorites out of the top 13 are: allison, anoop, danny, matt, and megan

so what are your thoughts on season 8 so far?

Coupon Lingo

bargain brianna has a great post on translating coupon language. check it out here

Is anybody else having this problem?

I used to be able to copy my documents from Microsoft Word and paste them into my post but now it is not letting me. Is anybody else having this problem?