Make Your House Your Home

I wanted to post these few before and after photos of our home. You see, my boyfriend lived here all alone before and works out of town so he never felt the need to decorate this place. There was an oversized chocolate brown leather sectional in the middle of the livingroom when I moved in and I immediately had to ask if it could be moved into the "man cave" downstairs.  He agreed and the rest is history. (in the photos it's already downtairs)

I'm adding this post to show the difference a can of paint can do for 1 and the only things I purchased after moving are, the coffee table (craigslist $35), dresser and bookcase from the previous post, and the sofa table. The rest are items I already had and have had for many years and just found new ways to display them. Instead of going out and buying new things all of the time, try and reuse the items you already have and just move them around a bit. You'll be surprised.

I move rather quickly and I had this place painted and decorated the day the movers came. It's been since August and I've changed things around probably 4 times already (I get bored) but the way I have it now it the way I love it. It's a great unisex mix and I find it to be quite cozy. I hope you enjoy :)

The wall right when you walk up the stairs

The bedroom before I actually decorated. This was just after I moved in

The bedroom now... so crisp, clean and sleeps like a charm!

Livingroom before and after

Dresser Makeover Madness!

Ok people listen up! Stop paying full price for household items! I am a craigslist junkie and am always on the hunt for the best deals on items I can use in my home. I look at anything as a project and how I can refurbish them to make them to fit our needs perfectly in our humble abode. Also, don't be affraid to take something you already have and change it up a little with a nice coat of paint.

First things first, search for the really cheap stuff and also the FREE stuff they have listed. I've found a lot of hot ticket items in the free section that people just need to get rid of as soon as possible. You've got to act quickly though because they go fast. My most recent gem was this full size, solid wood, subtly detailed dresser for $25!!! It took some convincing for my boyfriend to get on board because he didn't think we needed something so large in the living room for the TV but once it was all said and done...he's totally on board and loves it! (typical man)

Another quick but super smart tip for saving some cash is don't buy paint at full price! Shop around while at the hardware stores and only look at the Oops section. They sell mess ups for $10 and under in a special section (usually on an end cap or close to one). Sometimes it's a miss but don't give up because you'll find somethings great! I got a total hit last time we went. I refinished THREE separate items with this paint color so it's paid for itself over again. The first was a bookcases we found on Craigslist for $20. The second was this small 3 drawer dresser that was in our guest room (that I used for the tv but was WAY too small and drove me insane). So that's 3 for 1 can of paint at the price of $7!! How can you beat that??

Now here's the trick to getting that soft Pottery Barn finish to your furniture. I don't believe in sanding because well lets face it it takes forever, I live in MN and its cold and I refuse to sit outside in the cold to sand a piece of furniture. So I SWEAR by the Klean-Strip Easy Liquid Sander Deglosser. It's less than $10 and lasts forever! Super easy to use and cuts your time in half. I've used it on all 3 pieces so it's also paid for itself over again as well. I had this bad boy (most recent dresser) "sanded" and primed in about an 1/2 an hour.

Ok so now for the fun stuff! Pictures and steps! I will have links at the bottom to where you can purchase all of the items I used.

What you need/What I used:
Small foam roller set
Small/Medium paint brush
Klean-Strip Easy Liquid Sander Deglosser
1-2-3 Water Base Interior/Exterior Primer for All Surfaces
Your paint

The before... (the ad photo)

Remove the door handles, CLEAN the surface (look at that nasty dust), apply liquid sandpaper, then prime.

Sit back and admire your finished project!!

The small dresser I painted that was in our guest room (with the same paint)

The large bookcase we found on Craigslist painted with the same paint.

Primer: This is a 2pack and I only bought a 1Quart can so you don't need both. Just reference this for the brand and type to buy. http://www.homedepot.com/Paint-Primers/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbt0t/R-202016529/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Liquid Sanpaper: http://www.homedepot.com/Klean-Strip/h_d1/N-5yc1vZug/R-100112667/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Foam Roller: (gives you a smooth surface on wood) http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100158549/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Frosty Paws made at home!

So instead of always feeling the need to give my pups Frosty Paws as a treat here and there I decided to look up and see if I could find a recipe for some and I scored big time. These are not only the easiest things to make but the boys LOVE them. All you need are a few simple ingredients and you're good to go. I promise you, anyone can make these and every pup will love them!

What you need:
Wisk
medium size mixing bowl
muffin pan and or egg crate

Recipe:
32 oz. plain yogurt
1 mashed ripe banana
2 tablespoons peanut butter
2 tablespoons honey

Makes 36 yummies

What you need

Mash the banana, add peanut butter, mix them together

Add yogurt then add honey

Mix well while pups watch in anticpation and then fill muffin pan and egg crate

Of course let the boys eat the beaters

place in freezer... took about 30 mins to harden

Enjoy!

keep enjoying!

                 

Fake and practically free home-made Febreze? Yes please

It's a gloomy and rainy day here in Dallas today so I spent some time searching the web for DIY household items and came across one of my all time favorites! Febreze!!! I thought to myself... how the hell would someone make febreze and actually have it work right? Well from what I've read it works really well and am going to try it out as soon as I get back to my home to Minnesota. My boyfriend used to make fun of me years ago for being obsessed with Febreze but it adds up if you use it often...and with pups, it comes in handy for sure!!

So here's the recipe and ya'll let me know if you make it and how works then I'll do the same when I make it!

            For a regular 32 ounce bottle

-1/8 Cup of Your Favorite Fabric Softener
-2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
-Hot Tap Water - To Fill the Bottle to the Top

Shake well in the bottle once you've got all of the ingredients in
then go fight those nasty pup odors!







Faked out Febreze cost: Fake Febreeze- less than $0.20 for 1oz fabric softner (of your choice)

Total Faked out Cost: $0.20 Each- Compare to Actual Febreze (give or take $6.00) NO THANKS!

Total Faked Savings:  $5.60 each

Source: FakeitFrugal.blogspot.com

Men are like mascara, they usually run at the first sign of emotion....Unless they're waterproof

Like that title huh?

When it comes to being picky I am about as picky about my make up choices as I am my men (although I've found me one thats pretty close to perfect) but my make up on the other hand mascara is my guilty pleasure and I am always on the hunt. I used to use YSL Faux Cils and basically obsessed over it because well...it's the best of the best. Many people love their Dior and their Lancome but once you've given your eyes the chance to flaunt their goodness with the YSL it's hard to consider anything else.

Seeing as YSL costs a pretty penny and comes close to $30 for a tube I have resorted to trying to find something to compare but for 1/4 of the price. My search has been a tough one but I have found my top 3 and will probably continue to try my best and search around for something better. All who know me know that I am easy but yet difficult to please but I am happy with the outcome of these 3 bad boys. Let me know your thoughts and if you have any recommendations for my endless cheap mascara search.

                                                                 Before (and quite scary)

Covergirl Lash Blast Volume (waterproof)

Bare Minerals Flawless Definition

                                                     Loreal Extra Volume Collagen

Almost too cute to eat...

Let's face it, as the holidays approach all we think about is the food we're going to eat and how we're going to prepare it. Even though the dinner is always amazing, the dessert is what I long for the most. I always search for new, fun and innovative little treats so serve guests when they come over and this year I've found one of my favorites. Trying my hardest to talk the bf into having some kind of holiday/xmas/ugly sweater/long underwear party at the house this year, partly because I want to make these cookies!! I'm pretty sure they're almost too adorable to eat but peanut butter and pretzels in the same cookie??  It's pretty safe to say that they'll probably be gone before the guests arrive :) I will post my process for these little munchkins when I make them...

Reindeer Cookies

Printable Recipe

3/4 cup peanut butter

1 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup shortening

3 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 egg

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

Chocolate-covered mini pretzels

Mini brown M&Ms

Regular-sized red M&Ms

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Combine brown sugar, peanut butter, shortening, milk, and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until well blended. Add egg; beat until just blended.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix just until blended.

Form dough into 1-inch balls. To make reindeer-shaped cookies, pinch the bottom of the ball slightly to form a point, then gently flatten with your hand. Space cookies about 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 7 to 8 minutes, until set or just beginning to brown. 

Remove from oven and immediately (and gently) press two mini pretzels into the tops of the cookies for the reindeer's antlers. Press two mini brown M&Ms in for the eyes and one red M&M for the nose (or any other color... some of mine ended up with green noses. They might be South Pole reindeer.). 

Allow to cool 2 minutes on the baking sheet and then transfer to a wire rack or paper towel to cool completely. 

Makes about 40 reindeer cookies.

Source- Budding Baketress