Sneak Peek!

I've become obsessed with revamping old thrift store frames. I can't show the finished product because they aren't done but I'm actually turning these old treasures into functional beauties... Stay tuned!

My first frames set for a makeover

 (popped that ugly picture out of the one)

-Total: $12

Akk! This is all I can show of this one (until next week)

I'm in love with the bulkiness of this one,
 it will be going up in our house...

This frame is about 8x10 for $3.99.
Sorry ducks, you gotta go!

The other frame I bought was $9.99 

This black spray paint from Krylon actually dries matte
- GORGE!

Sorry if you're looking at these, wondering what the big deal is but I'm just so excited to share what I'm doing that I might spontaneously combust!

$Make Your Own Laundry Detergent$

I had some requests to share how I make my own laundry detergent after posting a picture mid-process. This recipe came from my friend Jennifer who is always looking up cooky things like this, making your own hair conditioner, and other frugal/green projects. I love her for it! 


You need:


1 c. Borax
1 c. Washing soda
1 bar Fels-Naptha soap (found in laundry detergent aisle @ Publix)
1/2 qt. boiling water
1 gallon of water in a large container with a lid


First, I get the gallon of water ready and add the Borax and washing soda. Stir until powders dissolve.


Next, grate the Fels-Naptha as finely as you can.

Then, add the grated Fels-Naptha to the 1/2 qt boiling water and continue to stir and boil until melted.

*I always have chunks and never get the soap completely melted, this may be due to impatience. Just get it melted as much as possible.

Finally, add the melted soap to the gallon of water.

The soap will settle on top so you have to stir and stir and stir. The consistency will become thick and chunky, that's just fine. I find that this detergent gets better as you use it, consistency wise. We keep a slotted spoon in the detergent and stir the whole thing every time we do a load of laundry. It doesn't take it long to get to the type of consistency like store-bought.

I use a quarter cup of the detergent per load (large or super-sized).

This detergent gets our clothes clean, I never use stain fighter, but it doesn't leave your clothes smelling a particular way. They're just clean. We use fabric sheets, and I reuse the sheets as dusters when I'm cleaning around the house.

I hate that I forgot that coupon upon purchase!

All the supplies probably cost around $7, but the only thing you have to repurchase each time is the $0.99 bar of Fels-Naptha. My Borax and washing soda have lasted at least four batches and I have enough to make more. 

A Little Slice of [my] Life

This is my little setup on my little side of the bathroom sink (his & her sinks in the master a MUST in the next house we buy). I just set this up about a week ago and I'm proud to say it's still this organized. All of my go-to makeup and jewelry is right there so I feel so organized and so girlie getting ready in the morning. I really don't think I could be in a bad mood looking at this. 


The serving platter has been kinda just sitting around since I made it from thrift-store plates and tea cups a while back for a display at a craft fair (flop). The bowls are from a recent trip to Michael's where I picked them up for $0.49 each! I'm still obsessing about buying more of those bowls as ice cream dishes...

 Thrift store haul when I bought the supplies for the serving dish display.

 Finished serving dish display, naked.

Haul from recent Michael's visit : )

To make yourself a serving dish like I did: find various pretty saucers/plates/tea cups & attach the together with Gorilla Glue. I had to attach each piece one at a time and let it dry with a few text books pushing the pieces together for an hour before I'd attach the next piece. Apply Gorilla Glue very thinly, it expands when it bonds two things together and can cause major bubbling to occur if you use too much.

I'm really into indulging myself a bit with little things that make me happy. I have a lot going on right now so I need inspiration to break up the monotony. 

Bring on Spring

Florals, bright colors, sunshine, and Easter, I'm ready for it all. I cannot wait for spring! The first previews of spring seemed to be all around me and inspired some impromptu crafting... Enjoy!

Mother Nature:

These are neat little birds that fascinate our daughter, as well as our dogs. They stab their long, pink beaks into the ground looking for something to nosh. They're probably tearing up the next thing photographed, but they're so beautiful I almost don't care.

As I looked out into the back yard today I realized that our grass is growing back from the dead! The new baby grass is so bright green and vibrant, it really lifts my spirits just looking at it.

On to the crafting:

I went to Michael's today with a thought in my head and a gift card in my pocket. My original plan didn't come to fruition but as I was roaming the isles I found these sweet flowers amongst scrap booking supplies and I immediately knew what I'd do with them!

More sweet spring whimsies...

       

...viola!

...ta-da!

This is my first time using E-6000 on bobby-pins and ring pads. I used Gorilla Glue on the last ring pad I made something with and the adornment ended up popping off and I'm really not a fan of how GG bubbles when it dries. I didn't want to use hot glue because I don't like the strings created by it. I have used E-6000 on other crafts and I've never had a problem with it. The adornments on each bobby-pin and ring pad were on snug after about thirty minutes but I'm still going to wait over night until I wear an item. If I have an issue with anything staying glued I will post about it.

Bobby-pins with blanks and ring pads can be found on both Etsy and Ebay, just shop and compare since there are new postings on each site all the time.

Strawberry Delight

Today our little family headed over to a local farm to pick strawberries for the first time. The farm we visited also has a petting zoo which was free unless you wanted feed (25 cents/handful). It was so nice to spend time outside as a family and it's always so much fun watching our daughter interact with animals and  experience new things. 

 "Feed me!" -Sir Goat

 Counting sheep...

 Are all donkeys friendly?

There's nothing like a fresh picked strawberry, add this to the bucket list!

I will say that I think picking strawberries would be easier for parents with children a bit older (our daughter will be two in a month). Our daughter didn't really understand that we could only pick certain strawberries so we had to keep a very close eye on her. 

Finding a farm nearby was so easy. I used this website: 

http://www.pickyourown.org/

Then, I just followed a link to the farm we visited. No muss, no fuss. We paid $2.50/lb. We got over seven pounds! My husband has already made chocolate covered strawberries and topping to make strawberry short cake. I see a lot of running in my schedule this week!

Adventures of a Thrift Store Shopper

Shopping at thrift stores has become an obsession for me. I can only compare it to what men feel like when they go hunting, it's the thrill of the kill! Nothing gets me more excited than finding a gem amongst the seemingly endless racks of riff-raff. For example, we have a thrift store in town that has occasional 50% off days and they get hit hard! I find it far too tempting to buy things for $2 and $3 rather than their usual $4 and $6 so I usually make it a point to hit it up with the rest of the thrifty folk. During the last sale I attended I found a perfect L.B.D. How much did I pay? $3!!! AMAZING! 


Usually I have an accomplice to go with me for moral support and to see who can nab the best find. I own a Dior sweater thanks to another 50% day when I was victorious. How much? $5!!! 

Sometimes, I will hit up the thrift store on my lunch break and this happens...

Couldn't quiiiiite get the zipper up myself so I turned that bad boy around to make sure this would be a smart purchase. I think I paid $6 or so, and it is a Dillard's-ish brand that retails between $40-$80. It's in perfect condition and I love it. I wear it to work which means I have to wear it with the correct side in front, paired with a brown cardigan and some flats (in a metallic color like that of the dress) from Target for about $4. 


Stay tuned for more Thrift Store finds. I am currently obsessing over pretty dishes and earrings or other bobbles to make pretty things out of and hope I can feature something soon!