Silhouette Giveaway!

One of my favorite craft blogs Brown Paper Packages, is hosting an AMAZING giveaway! A silhouette cutting machine with all the goodies. Check out her blog--she has so many cute ideas and sign up for the giveaway!!! Here is the direct link!

Sillouhette Giveaway at BrownPaperPackages!

New cute homemaking site!

Well, new to me! I just barely stumbled upon it today and I am super excited to check it out later tonight once the boys are snoozing away. {am i the only one who blog stalks like that? i could do it for hourrrrrrrrrrs!} anyway, she is actually having a flirty apron giveaway on her site right now! they are the cutest sweetest aprons you ever did see. go check it out! the giveaway ends next week!




http://happilydomestic.blogspot.com/2010/08/joys-of-homemaking-flirty-aprons-review.html

Silhouette Giveaway!

Have you been to sugardoodle.net recently? they've got a silhouette giveaway right now that ends later this week! check out her site and see all the amazing things you can make with the silhouette. i want to win! im obsessed with crafty gadgets--and this is all the rage!!



link:

SUGARDOODLE SILHOUETTE GIVEAWAY!

More Rhubarb Recipes!

Last summer I came across some new yummy rhubarb recipes, and this year as I was flipping through the May issue of Martha Stewart Living [one of my favorite magazine freebies I am lovvvvvvvvvving!] She had quite a few rhubarb recipes that I CANT WAIT to try!! I think I might make the Rhubarb upside down cake when I am out in CT for my mothers {50 and FABULOUS} birthday! Here is the main link to access all 33 of Martha's rhubarb recipes, and the newest upside cake is the last link!









http://marthastewartliving.com/photogallery/rhubarb-recipes

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/rhubarb-upside-down-cake

Teacher Appreciation Gifts!

Since I only have small babies, I don't have teacher appreciation gifts to make normally....but....this year I got to help make one! Our wards Relief Society President happens to be her son's "Classroom Mom" in charge of the gift! She had an idea in mind [to make a sign for her classroom door] and asked me if I could come up with something cute that was blue and brown [her favorite color combination] So I whipped up a set of coordinating teacher gifts--File folders, bookmarks [both from Hobby Lobby] Decorated Clipboard, Front door frame, pencil holder and desk drawer organization box! [that idea came from: http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2010/04/box-of-teacher-goodies.html] and put it all in a cute chocolate brown tote box [from walmarts new office line]
I was going to decorate the outside of the box, but im thinking the teacher may just want to use that in her home and not want "mrs ranes" on it...so I think they'll probably just temporarily tape the card on the front of the chocolate colored box.

Take a look!

Caddy Crazy!

I love these plastic car caddy's at Walmart! They are $1.50 and come in [at least at my local store] orange, yellow, blue and lime green. I wish they had red so I could put some in my craft room---I might just do yellow up there. Anyway, I bought a ton to organize my overflow of personal care items that I've been getting so much of lately from Walgreens/CVS deals. I have 2 little parties tomorrow--a baby shower and a housewarming party. The shower is for a mother that just had her 3rd baby and requested diapers and wipes as gifts. I didnt want to just wrap up a sack of diapers and wipes, so I tried to think of something cute that wasnt a diaper cake [someone was already making one] this is what I came up with--its perfect for a portable changing station.


I wanted to decorate the wipes container too!


Then I thought I'd snag another caddy for the housewarming gift and fill it with cleaning goodies to store in a cabinet and keep organized!


I hope they like their gifts! I was a little hesitant on the "coopers pooper caddy" i thought it was cute and silly, but some people dont have my goofy humor and was nervous it might be in "bad taste" or offensive to the mother--I asked a few people and they thought it was cute...so hopefully she'll think its fun too.

Family Mission Statement

Ever since I saw that the Gosselins (back in the day many seasons ago when they were a happy family) Had a mission statement made up as a family, I knew I wanted to do one for our little family. Time passed, and I sort of forgot about it---but I've been seeing 'Family Rules' signs a lot of fun crafty blogs. This one in particular inspired me to make one of my own!



http://brownpaper--packages.blogspot.com/2010/03/family-values-canvas.html

I wanted to use my cricut letters as stencils, and paint the the letters on, and I probably should have. I was too lazy and wanted something up fast (to cover up two big holes my husband accidentally put in the wall! eek!) so I just used cut out letters on paper squares. To be honest, I'm not 100% in love with it because its not what I had originally invisioned, so maybe ill redo it someday when I dont have another million projects swirling in my head (yeah right!) but for now, its a somewhat cute-hole cover-er.
I am making a "Backyard Rules" sign to nail up outside with cute rules like "swing super high" and "eat picnic lunches" stuff like that---I think im just going to modge podge paper letters on that one too.....we'll see.

We're almost done tidying up our front yard, so I put out a little bit of decor on the covered part of our porch. I covered ratty old pillow with burlap and stenciled on our initial and home address. Painted the wood "loveseat" and barn star....I sanded it in spots, but my "sanding sponge" kind of sucks. I need a better way to shabby-ify things up.




A few more projects that I can hopefully post pictures of soon are sillouettes of briggy and oliver on plaques in our dining room, and THIS AMAZING SANDBOX!

http://knockoffwood.blogspot.com/2010/04/plans-easy-to-build-sandbox-or-snowbox.html
I had begged the author of knockoffwood.blogspot.com to post plans for a pottery barn kids sandbox knockoff---and she just posted one on her blog. It seems relatively easy--Im just hoping I can find someone to aid me in my first building project!

Besides a few fun around the house projects like I mentioned above, Im starting to work on my best friends bridal shower that is red/black lingere "sexy and sweet soiree" as I make things I'll be posting them!

Win a Pillow Pet!

These things are just the cutest! I love the idea of it being so cute and fun, but also be practical and comfy! I love this blog [take it from me]---she gives reviews and giveaways of all neat stuff!!! I have her blog button on the side, in case you wanna head on over--but here is the direct link to win a pillow pet!!! I picked the bumble bee...but there are a few I really want for the boys. I love the turtle too!!!
http://takeitfrom-me.blogspot.com/2010/04/pillow-pets-review-giveaway.html

Baby shower gift

Im pretty sure my sister-in-law Amy wont be checking out my homemaking blog while she's on an anniversary vacation with her hub...so its safe for me to post this so my mother-in-law can see it! It came out pretty nice--the blue base is a little brighter than what I wanted, but for the most part I like it--I hope amy does too!

Recycle Crafts

I love to recycle "garbage" and turn it into a craft project. I let Briggy play and build with cardboard canisters and tp rolls...but one thing I have been accumulating lately are baby food jars. Mr. Oliver goes through 6 a day! Here are some fun tutorials I found recently! Fun Fun Fun!



Baby Food container Tutorial



Pincushion Tutorial

Even though I have nursed both Brigham and Oliver, I do have some empty formula cans and nut-cans that I can use to make this other fun project!



Twine Covered Can Tutorial

Awesome Walgreens savings for 2/21-2/27

My 2 favorite deals for this week are AWESOME! Mainly, because last week Tom asked me to pick up deoderant because his 'stash' was running low. (If you saw all of my bathroom "stashes" you would think im crazy...I honestly have at least 6 of everything you could need for personal care...thanks to walgreens!)

Here is the deal scenario to get you quite a bit of goodies!



Excedrin Menstrual Complete Express Gels 20 ct get $2 RR (this deal ends 2/27)
This week they are on sale for $2.50 each. They are NOT advertised at this price, but should ring up that price...(have them scan it before you pay just to make sure)

There are 2 separate sites you can print out $2 off coupons. You are allowed to print copies of each coupon TWICE on each computer, so after you are done printing, make sure to click back and refresh the screen. (I know lots of people have multiple coupons, so this is where you can get a crazy stockpile of coupons--I only have one computer and do just fine...but it would be nice to have more!)

1) http://www.excedrin.com/offer.shtml

answer the survey question "excedrin" and you'll be able to print off the coupon

2)www.coupons.com has $2 off coupons--look under the "healthcare" button on the left side.

That will give you a total of 4 coupons.
Grab 4 boxes of excedrin, and ring each box in separate transactions. You will pay 50 cents for each one, then you will recieve a $2 register reward (Do this four times, dont pay with the register rewards)
Total out of pocket cost is $2...but you will have $8 worth of register rewards!!!

Now you have $8 "Walgreens Money" to use towards a transaction of Right Guard Deoderant!



They are on sale BUY ONE GET ONE FREE this week. Their cheapest price is the Right Guard sport in Solid or Gel for $2.99
Here are the following coupons for RightGuard:

1) www.coupons.com has $2 off 2 RightGuard product (print twice!)
2) www.smartsource.com has $2 off 2 RightGuard product (print twice)
3) http://www.rightguard.com/allstar/ (fill out the quick info and you'll be able to print off 2 $1.50 off coupons--make sure to print twice!)

When you use 2 of the $1.50 coupons you will be getting both RightGuards for free Because 2 RightGuards=$3
When you use the $2 off 2 coupon you'll be getting 2 RightGuards for 50 cents each.

Thats 6 sticks of deoderant for $2....use one of your $2 RR from the excedrin deal (plus very cheap filler items--because you'll have more coupons than product...I would buy the Royal Pudding thats on sale for 25 cents with the in-ad coupon) and that transaction will be free--or a few cents, depending on what filler item you use!

Remember, you have a total of $8 RR, so you'll be able to do buy more deoderant depending on how many coupons you have printed off!

I know im not the best at explaining all of this--it makes a lot more sense in my head than putting it into words on here, but if you have any questions you can always comment or message me and ill try to walk you through any problems...or of course check out all my fav coupon sites:

www.hip2save.comwww.dealseekingmom.comwww.thekrazycouponlady.com

I will be free of menstral related headaches and my husband will be smelling nice for quite awhile thanks to Walgreens :)
Good luck!!

Awesome Giveaway

A few of my favorite blogs always have such great info, but they also host awesome giveaways! This one lady in particular is very sweet and has meaningful posts and projects:
Beneath My Heart
She is giving away artwork from Red Letter Words (faith inspired art)
Check it out!!! it ends tonight at midnight...I would have posted it sooner, but I havent been blog stalking as much as normal this week!! :)

Coupon Organization

I've only been couponing since May 2009...so I know I have a lot to learn, but one lesson I learned early on is that organization is essential for savings. I would clip my coupons toss them in a basket, rifle through some and put them in envelopes and head to the grocery store. I still saved money using coupons, but as a couple months passed and my coupon stash grew it became harder to have them in envelopes and very VERY frustrating searching through them at the grocery store. I decided to make a coupon binder, separated by category, so I could open up a section in an aisle and have access to every coupon.
I purchased the largest size heavy duty binder at walmart...it was around $7
I purchased 2 sets of clear baseball card holders (around $5 each)
I had dividers already, but they are around $2 at walmart
Thats all you need! I added a pencil pouch in the front. I use it for walgreens trips, or a grocery trip based on the flier deals, so I pull the coupons I know ill need ahead of time for the one store Im visiting.
Inserting the coupons in the clear dividers makes it so easy to see what product you have a coupon for and the expiration date! Here are a couple pics I just took of mine so you can get an idea:

Relief Society Bulletin Board

I was itching to do a project with my new Cricut Expression (yea!) so I volunteered to do the RS bulletin board for the new year! The serenade cartridge that was a bonus with my cricut--it has some really fun girly elements, I especially like the trees, birds and scrolls. I was looking online for other pictures of RS bulletin boards to get some inspiration....because I know there has to be some crazy cute ones out there with all the crafty mormon talent goin' on :) But I couldn't find anything! I had planned on having a magnet board (the center piece, so fliers, reminders and birthdays could be easily changed) and also all the ribbon decor on top of it are magnets so teachers could use them in there lesson on the chalkboard if nessecery. One thing that I wanted to do was have really taut twine running horizontally (a few rows) in between the two squares, that you could hang pictures or additional little fliers with closepins (I had scrapbooked about 16 with coordinating paper) but after getting everything up on the board there just wasnt enough room without it looking too cluttered. I just used craft paper that you can find in the mailing section of any store...I love brown, tan...and it goes with all colors. I bought different colored ribbon so I could change the borders with each season (march--green, april--green and pink, may-july=red and blue, august (not sure yet), sept-nov brown and orange, december-red and green) and our ward lettering will change to match. That way you dont have to change too much up, but it stays current and festive!
Oh, and of course I had to make one of my signature clip boards to match for any handouts or sign up sheets that need to go around :)