My Covered Bridge

My Favorite Projects

2017-05-22T09:44:00.002-04:00

I've been thinking about some of my favorite projects lately...

Ombre Penny Art

$10 Orb Chandelier

Homemade Dance Floor

Drop Cloth Laundry Tub Skirt

$10 Headboard made from an old door

My Friday Five

2016-02-12T06:14:00.000-05:00

Here's a list of five things I did to save money this week -

1 - Brought my lunch to work all week. A lot of leftovers!

2 - Made all my meals from food on hand in my pantry and freezer. No grocery shopping this week.

3 - Made 'art' from an old dress that my daughter had bought from Goodwill years ago. The zipper was broken and it had seen better days. The fabric was interesting, though, so I cut it down and framed it using two inexpensive frames I bought at Michael's (years ago). Nothing out of pocket. (I'll share pictures soon)

4 - With the temps so mild, I've been able to keep the thermostat down. I love having lower heating costs.

5 - Did my own taxes online for free.

Getting closer to financial freedom!

How Did My No-Spend January Go?

2016-02-08T16:33:00.000-05:00

So, I challenged myself to spend less during the month of January. I'm pretty happy with the results. Here are the numbers:

$35.00 Gas

$12.66 Eating out

$29.35 Groceries from Aldi

$ 6.00 Groceries

$50.00 Doctor appointment copay

$133.01 Total Spent

Obviously, I still had my fixed expenses like my mortgage and utilities. And I was able to use a couple Walmart gift cards to offset my food costs. Keeping my spending to a minimum was very do-able.

In addition to keeping my spending down, I was able to make extra money also. I picked up a few extra shifts at work and spent time making money from online sites. In January, I earned:

$75 Paypal from Swagbucks

$25 Walmart gift card from Swagbucks

$17.50 check from InstaGC

$15 Paypal from Gifthulk

$6.12 Paypal from QuickRewards

$5 Amazon gift card from Bing

$143.62 Total Earned from Online Sites

That's right - I earned more online than I spent on extras!

What have I learned? I don't need much to be happy. Buying stuff isn't important to me. I'd rather save than shop. And I like having extra money to start paying off my mortgage quicker. It didn't feel like I was missing anything. Consumerism isn't for everyone. I've set goals for myself and that makes it easier to stay the course. And February will look a lot like January.

By sticking to a no spend month, I have no intention of staying home every single day. Yesterday, for example, we had a very unusually warm winter day so I went for a walk with a friend and stopped for a drink. Just one. Not too much out of pocket for a fun outing. Then we came home and watched the big game. It was great getting out of the house for a while and I didn't feel guilty about spending a few dollars.

As I write this post, it's February 8th and I've already done my grocery shopping for the month (I might need some fresh fruit and veggies). I did spend more out of pocket on groceries but it was all chosen carefully based on the store flyer and coupons. And I've already picked up some OT at work. I'm pretty excited to watch my savings go up again this month. I'll keep you updated!

Growing Wealth Is More Fun Than Buying Shoes

2016-01-26T11:00:00.000-05:00

So, I was out yesterday and a funny thing happened. I overheard my friend ask another friend if she liked her new shoes. Curiously, I turned around to look at the new shoes. They were black heels. Were they cute? Sure. Were they worth it? No. This friend has plenty of shoes including other black heels. Why did she need a new pair? My gut reaction to all of this was interesting. Instead of wanting to run out and buy myself a new pair of shoes, I was thinking her purchase was crazy. That was $25 (I'm guessing, of course) she could have put in her retirement account. My friend is young and that $25 would have grown for years as opposed to the shoes she'll wear a handful of times. To top it off, no one noticed her new shoes. If she bought them to impress us, she failed. She had to point out she was even wearing new shoes. No one really cared. Meanwhile, because I don't buy shoes very often, I put $5,500 into my Roth IRA this morning with the money I've saved. I am building my wealth. And it is fun.

I've always been a saver. Somewhat frugal. But I have been very focused lately and want to save more. I have set a goal to retire at 55. That gives me nine years to build enough wealth to live on for the rest of my life. If I increase my savings rate, I can retire in six. That sounds so much more fun than a new pair of shoes.

How am I going to increase my savings this year?

1 - I have plenty of clothes. I've never had a huge wardrobe but I'm completely fine with that. I'm not going to buy any new clothes this year. None. Not shoes or a t-shirt or jeans. I'll wear what I have.

2 - When the weather gets a little better, I'm going to walk to work at least twice a week. It's two miles each way which will help me stay in shape as well as cut down on fuel costs.

3 - I'm going to pick up extra shifts at work. I've already picked up a few this year and I'm hoping to get extra hours going forward. I can easily pay my bills on my regular take home pay (which already has 8% taken out for my 401K - a percentage I want to increase), so every extra dollar will go into savings.

4 - Cut my food costs. I do coupon and buy sale items already but that isn't enough. I know I can get my spending down in this category and I plan to work hard on it this year.

5 - Continue my no-spend January into no-spend February. I found it to be very easy to spend nothing this month (with my only exceptions being food - under $30 out of pocket - and gas (using my grocery store gas promotion, it was only $1.59 per gallon!). I didn't miss the malls or Target or HomeGoods or any of it. I enjoyed staying in (and warm!) and cooking or relaxing. Watching movies and Portlandia (I just discovered this show and it is hysterical!) and Fixer Upper (Chip and Joanna are incredible!). I went for a couple walks in the snow, visited some open houses in the area (I love houses so this is very entertaining for me!), and surfed the internet. It's been a great month and I intend to do exactly the same stuff next month. And the month after. This should easily help me save more.

Those are a few ways I plan to grow my wealth. I want to spend some time formulating a comprehensive plan which I'll share here. Financial freedom is getting closer.

No Spending January - Still Going Strong!

2016-01-24T11:38:00.000-05:00

This post may contain affiliate links.

Day 24 of my no spending January and it's going well. Actually, it's been pretty easy. I knew I'd have to spend a little on gas and food but I haven't spent money on anything else. I filled my gas tank once and will easily make it through the rest of the month (It's nice living about two miles from my office!). I've been eating mostly from my pantry and freezer so my food costs have been very low also. I did make a trip to Aldi for some fresh fruit, vegetables and bread. I did get a couple of extras like chips and crackers, too, but I only spent $29.35. And I probably won't get anymore groceries for the rest of the month. Considering that the only other groceries I bought this month came from a Walmart gift card (earned on Swagbucks), my out of pocket is minimal. In addition to keeping my spending to an absolute minimum, I've been able to increase my income by taking a couple extra shifts at work and spending a little time online. I've cashed out for a $25 Walmart card and $50 Paypal from Swagbucks already. I've made $5 from Gifthulk, $10 from InstaGC, and $6.12 from QuickRewards. It all adds up!

Increasing my income while lowering my spending has been quite fun. I have no intention of doing anything differently next month. Or next year. I love the freedom that comes from consuming less. I love watching my wealth increase. The realization that if I lose my job - or want to walk away from it - I will be fine. I plan to increase my 40K saving rate from 6% to 8% today. And I'll probably increase it again once I get used to that take-home number. I will invest the full $5,500 in my Roth IRA by the end of February. And I will pay down a portion of my mortgage (I know a lot of people don't believe in paying off a mortgage early, but I hate debt and want to be completely debt free. My mortgage is the only debt I have so I know this goal is attainable.). Early retirement is in view and I can't wait.

No Spending January - Update!

2016-01-11T10:29:00.003-05:00

This post may contain affiliate links.

I'm nearing the halfway mark for the month of January and still going strong. So how am I doing? I didn't spend one penny until January 10th! Then, I did have to fill my gas tank (at $1.59 per gallon, it wasn't too expensive! I was able to take advantage of a gas points saving program from my local grocery store. I earned $.60 off per gallon!) and had to buy lunch out. I was on a day trip to see my daughter play hockey. I needed something to eat between her games. I bought from the lunch specials menu to save money and took the leftovers home for dinner. That set me back $12.66 for the two meals. Not bad. Not great, though. How am I living without spending? Here's a short list list of tips -

1 - I've been eating what I have on hand. Whenever I think about going out to shop for groceries, I look at my pantry and freezer and eat what I already have. It might not be 'what I'm in the mood for' but it's a lot better than spending money!

2 - I reheated yesterday's coffee. A few days last week, I didn't finish my pot of coffee. Instead of dumping it, I reheated it the next morning.

3 - I used Walmart gift cards to buy a few things I needed to complete meals - fresh bread and fruit and veggies. I earned them from websites and use them to get free groceries. I explained how I earn them in my last post. I've even put in a little more effort to increase my earnings!

4 - I brought my lunch to work every day last week. This is an easy one for me because I don't want to run around during my 30 minute lunch break. I sit at my desk and relax. Or run Swagbucks on my phone. I've already earned a $25 Walmart git card and $25 Paypal from Swagbucks this month!

5 - I earned $3.50 from Ibotta on groceries I purchased from Walmart (with gift cards - nothing out of pocket!). Ibotta is a great website/app that pays rebates on groceries - and not just prepackaged food. I save on bananas, milk, OJ and lots of other fresh food! It really helps keep money in my pocket. And if you sign up through my referral link, you can earn $10 after you redeem your first rebate!

So, those are some of the strategies I'm using to save more. And so far, it's working! Hopefully, it will help you too!

Saving more. Earning more.

2016-01-04T09:42:00.001-05:00

This post may include affiliate links.

Hello 2016! This is the year that I get serious about financial freedom. I've always been somewhat frugal but I want to step it up. I have decided not to spend any money in January beyond my fixed living expenses, food, and gas. I really want to see my bank account balance go up. So far, so good. I stayed in all weekend and watched movies (it was cold outside anyway). I did run a couple errands and picked up a $1 loaf of bread from Walmart - but I used a gift card so there was nothing out of pocket. Actually, I have a few Walmart gift cards (I'll explain where they came from in a minute), so almost all of my food expenses will be covered with those.

In addition to watching my bank account balance increase, I will also watch my retirement account balances increase. I am saving 6% of my income in my 401K (my employer matches a portion of that) and I plan on maxing out my Roth IRA ($5500 - which I did last year also!).

I don't make lots of money but saving half of my income is important to me. That's my goal this year. But that's not my only goal. I also want to earn more. This is my plan to do that:

Unfortunately, I don't have a "Make Money" button. I do have some side hustles though. While I hope to get a raise this year, that is out of my control. For now, I earn extra money online.

Swagbucks - Last year's earnings - $885. I plan to get that over $1000 this year.

Quickrewards - Last year, I earned $180. I started using the site in March so with a full year ahead, I should be able to increase this easily.

Gifthulk - Last year - $110. I can do so much more on this site so I plan to double this number in 2016.

Perk - $225. This is an easy phone app. I definitely could do more so I'd like to see this number go to $300.

InstaGC - $26. I started this site in December so not bad for one month. That should be easy to beat.

I also plan on taking extra shifts at work. I'm even thinking about adding a part time job on my day off. I'll have to see if that is an option.

So, that's my plan. Earn more, save more. Every month, I'll let you know how I'm doing. Real numbers. I'll also let you know how I'm doing it. Small steps will add up and financial freedom will become a reality.

New Year. New Goals.

2015-12-31T14:20:00.001-05:00

This post may contain affiliate links.

I'm back! And I'm happy to be setting new goals for 2016. I can't wait to share all the details with you! I plan to start my year with a no-spend January. There are a couple of exceptions - food and gas. Those will not be big expenses, though. I'll share the details throughout the month along with some of my favorite ways to increase my income (using online sites like Swagbucks, Gifthulk and QuickRewards to name a few). And I'll let you know exactly how I did on January 31st!

Happy New Year!!

My Friday Five - Clothes Pins

2012-07-06T09:04:00.000-04:00

Clothes pins aren't just for hanging laundry anymore - check out these fun projects!

1. Planters

Seventh House on the Left

2. Table

Better Homes and Gardens

3. Snowflake Ornament

Under the Table and Dreaming

4. Ombre Decor

Style Me Pretty

5. Wreath

A Soft Place To Land

Are you inspired yet?

Ramsign Giveaway!

2012-07-05T12:10:00.000-04:00

I have another awesome giveaway - a Ramsign house number sign! Ramsign makes beautiful porcelain enamel signs. Here are some examples -

And one lucky winner will get to choose any house number sign (1-5 digits) that they want!

That's a $99 value!

Check out the Ramsign website or the Ramsign Facebook page to see all of their designs!

Now for the details on how you can win -

{please leave a separate comment below for each entry}

1. Follow My Covered Bridge through Google Friend Connect. Leave a comment.

2. Like Ramsign on Facebook. Leave a comment.

3. Like My Covered Bridge on Facebook. Leave a comment.

4. Follow Ramsign on Twitter. Leave a comment.

5. Follow me, Kristen @ My Covered Bridge on Pinterest. Leave a comment.

That's 5 chances to win!

Good luck!

Giveaway will be open until Tuesday, July 10th, 2012 at midnight est.

Giveaway is open worldwide.

ChicoBag Giveaway - Winner!

2012-07-04T08:40:00.001-04:00

I have a winner for my ChicoBag Giveaway!

Congratulations

Athena!

Please send me an email - kmwerynski@gmail.com - so I can get your information!

My Friday Five - Fourth Of July

2012-06-29T09:26:00.000-04:00

Fourth of July is right around the corner - so here's a collection of patriotic ideas to help you celebrate!

Ready?

1. Patriotic outfit -

Patriotic by kristenmycoveredbridge featuring satchel handbags

2. Patriotic Wreath -

Oddlekadoodle Primitives

3. Flag -

Simply Cy-Fair

4. Cheescake Bars -

My Recipes

5. Decorative Accessories -

Makoodle

Are you inspired yet?

Giveaway - ChicoBag Reusable Bag!

2012-06-27T09:06:00.000-04:00

I have a new giveaway - a ChicoBag reusable bag! ChicoBag is an environmentally friendly company that produces fashionable and reusable shopping bags. And one reader will win their Vita rePETe Dark Roast -

What makes these bags so great? They are durable, attractive and machine washable! Oh and they can be stored in a tiny pouch -

How convenient is that?

So, a couple of weeks ago, ChicoBag sent me a Vita rePETe to review. I used it for a day at the beach -

I filled it up with beach towels (and I was surprised how many I could stuff in there!). The best part - tossing it into the washing machine when I got home! It cleaned up great! Then I packed it up into the little pouch and put it away.

I have been keeping it in the glove compartment of my car and using it for my trips to Aldi. So convenient!

ChicoBag makes their bags in lots of colors and designs. Check these out -

You can see all of the designs and products by liking ChicoBag on Facebook or following ChicoBag on Twitter!

Want to win a Vita rePETe Dark Roast?

{Please leave a separate comment below for each entry}

1. Follow My Covered Bridge through Google Friend Connect (leave a comment)

2. Like ChicoBag on Facebook (leave a comment)

3. Follow My Covered Bridge on Facebook (leave a comment)

4. Follow ChicoBag on Twitter (leave a comment)

So that's 4 chances to win!

Good luck!

Giveaway will be open until Sunday, July 1, 2012 at midnight est.

Giveaway is open to US residents only.

Disclosure - ChicoBag sent me a Vita RePETe for review. I received no other compensation for this post. All opinions expressed are mine.

Easy Drop Cloth Laundry Tub Skirt

2012-06-26T09:50:00.011-04:00

I love easy projects. So this drop cloth laundry tub skirt is one of my favorites. :-)

I wanted to do something with my old laundry tub -

Although it's outdated, it worked fine. I looked into replacing it but I just couldn't justify the cost of buying a new tub - they were a few hundred dollars! So, I decided to cover this one. I love the idea of using inexpensive drop cloths (here are some of my favorite drop cloth projects). I headed over to Home Depot and bought a 5 x 5 drop cloth for $8. I only needed to cover the front and right side and the small drop cloth would be perfect. I measured and cut - leaving the factory hem on the left and bottom (yea for not having to sew the hem!).

After it was cut, I sewed a strip of velcro to the back.

To keep the project easy, I used stitch witchery to attach red ribbon to the front. Then I attached the other side of the velcro to the tub (that side was peel and stick) and that was it!

I also gave the top of the tub a little update -

Yup, that's right - white spray paint!

Here's the cost breakdown -

Drop cloth - $8

Ribbon - $6

Velcro - $8

Stitch Witchery - on hand

Total - $22

This project was easy and inexpensive. And I have a much more updated laundry room!

I've shared this project here - Today's Creative Blog, Restore Interiors, Savvy Southern Style, Creations By Kara, seven thirty three, The Shabby Creek Cottage, My Romantic Home, The Shabby Nest, Between Naps On The Porch, Young House Love, Bower Power, Centsational Girl, Ten June

My Friday Five - Paint Sticks

2012-06-22T06:45:00.000-04:00

I've put together a collection of fun paint stick projects - who doesn't love a quick and inexpensive project? And who knew you could make so many things with paint sticks?

Ready?

1. Paint stick vase -

Sweet Charli

2. Paint stick planter -

Cheltenham Road

3. Paint stick flag -

Dreaming In Color

4. Paint stick utensil divider -

Dreaming In Color

5. Paint stick doll bed -

Martha Stewart

Are you inspired yet?

Madison At Main - Winner!

2012-06-18T10:23:00.000-04:00

I have a winner for my Madison At Main Giveaway!

Congratulations

Sarah B.

I like My covered Bridge on FB (Sarah Bee)

Please send me an email - kmwerynski@gmail.com - so I can get your information!

My Friday Five - Father's Day

2012-06-15T08:39:00.000-04:00

With Father's Day fast approaching, I thought I'd share five recipes that I've pinned on Pinterest - Dads love food. Everything from breakfast in bed to a delicious dessert after dinner.

Ready?

1. Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes -

Cooking Classy

2. Easy French Dip Sandwiches -

Tricks Chef's

3. Easy Barbecued Ribs -

Mmm...is for Mommy

4. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sandwiches -

Dinners, Dishes and Desserts

5. Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Cheesecake Pops -

My Favorite Things

Yum!

P. S. You can check out all of my pins on Pinterest here.

P.P.S. You still have time to enter my latest giveaway - an accent rug from Madison at Main!

Giveaway - Madison At Main!

2012-06-13T10:23:00.001-04:00

This giveaway is now closed.

Here's a chance to win a cute area rug from Madison At Main! Woohoo! Madison At Main has a beautiful selection of area rugs - and one lucky reader will win the Jellybean accent rug of their choice! These are some of my favorites -

Aren't they cute?

Well, here's how you can win the Jellybean Accent Rug of your choice -

{please leave a separate comment below for each entry}

1. Follow My Covered Bridge via Google Friend Connect - leave a comment.

2. Like Madison At Main on Facebook - leave a comment.

3. Like My Covered Bridge on Facebook - leave a comment.

You have three chances to win!

Good luck!

Giveaway will be open until Sunday, June 17th, 2012 midnight est.

Giveaway is open to US residents only.

Shabby Apple $75 Gift Card Winner!

2012-06-11T08:53:00.000-04:00

I am really excited to announce the winner of my $75 Shabby Apple Gift Card Giveaway!

Congratulations

Jackie Reini!

Please send me an email - kmwerynski@gmail.com - so I can get some information.

My Friday Five - PVC Pipe

2012-06-08T09:15:00.000-04:00

I love finding creative ways to use inexpensive materials. So, today I'm sharing a bunch fun projects using PVC pipe. Who knew that you could do so much with such a basic building supply?

Ready?

1. Bud vase -

Modge Podge Rocks

2. Curtain Rods -

A Little Of This, A Little Of That

3. Decorative Mirror -

Thrifty and Chic

4. Bathroom Storage -

Family Handyman

5. Playhouse frame -

Sweetest Littles

Are you inspired yet?

How I'm Planning For A Debt-Free Christmas

2012-06-06T09:40:00.000-04:00

If you've been a reader here for a while, you know I've mentioned that I set some goals this year. One of those goals is to spend $0 at Christmas. Generally speaking, I don't like to spend money. I don't mind buying a birthday gift or fixing up the house with a small purchase. What I don't like - buying lots of gifts at once. And then paying the bills in January.

So I had an idea. Last December, I told Craig that I wanted to try something new. Instead of opening up my wallet during December, I want to do everything for free. Which will take a lot of planning. A years worth of planning.

I decided to focus on this goal. I've sort of challenged myself. And I think I'm doing ok so far. Here's how I'm doing it.

1. Swagbucks. This is by far the component that has helped me the most. If you aren't familiar with Swagbucks, let me explain. It is primarily a search engine that pays you to search the web.

Each day, I search through this site and earn Swagbucks. When you reach 450 Swagbucks, you can cash them in for a $5 Amazon Gift Card (or other great gift cards. The Amazon GC is just the best value). You can cash in up to 5 of any one type gift card a month (For example, you can get 5 $5 Amazon gift cards in a month. And if you still have more Swagbucks, you can cash them in for a Walmart GC or Paypal cash. Whatever you want!). I easily earn $25 in Amazon Gift Cards each month. As of right now, I have $145 in Amazon Gift Cards in my account. I also have 6171 Swagbucks (I haven't cashed in any during June yet).
Craig also has a Swagbucks account. He has (last I checked) about $70 in Amazon Gift Cards.
So how do I earn so many Swagbucks? This is what I do -
- Search. I earn anywhere from 7-40 (yes I really have earned 40 from a search) each day. Some days I earn two or three times from searching.
- Swagbucks TV. When I'm working (or searching Pinterest...) on the computer, I keep a tab up and 'watch' Swagbucks TV. Every 10 videos, I earn 2 Swagbucks. It doesn't seem like much, but it really adds up during the day. And it isn't really hard since I'm already on the computer.
- Daily poll. It takes about 2 seconds to answer the daily poll for an easy Swagbuck.
- Swagbucks Toolbar. Just having the toolbar on my computer earns me one Swagbuck a day. (Note the Daily Poll and Toolbar will earn about 60 Swagbucks a month alone).
- Games. Sometimes I play the Swagbucks games. I earn 3 Swagbucks for every 2 games (or so). There is a limit each day but it still adds up.
- Swagbucks TV mobile. I downloaded the app on my phone and let it play everyday. I do have to turn my data package off so I don't get charged by my phone carrier. It also has a daily limit but is a very easy way to earn.
- Special offers. I look around this tab each day to find ways to earn. In the past, I have found short videos to watch, surveys to complete, and websites to click. This is hit and miss, but I usually find something in here.
- Celebrate my birthday. Yup, Swagbucks sends an email on my Birthday with a 50 Swagbuck code. Nice.
- Random codes. Swagbucks will offer codes sometimes. I have found that the best way to find these codes is to follow them on Facebook. Many people will let you know that a new code is out (although they are not allowed to share the actual code, they will tell you where to find it). They also share codes on Twitter.

So, that's how I earn through Swagbucks. And because I challenged myself this year to earn as much as possible, I try to earn at least 150 a day. Which I've found is not that hard.
And I just want to add that I've been earning Swagbucks for years (long before I had a blog). This is the first year that I've set this goal though. I've been having fun with it (I love a challenge!). I became an affiliate because I have had such great success with Swagbucks.

2. Entering Blog Giveaways. I love giveaways. But I don't spend much time entering them. It's just not too practical. But...I do try once in a while. And I've won lots of stuff - $100 Michael's GC, $50 wall stencil, $50 Shabby Apple GC, and $80 lotion to name a few. How do I win? I usually enter on smaller blogs so my chances are good. You'd be surprised how many small blogs have great giveaways! I usually check out Tip Junkie and Someday Crafts for giveaway lists but there are many more ways to find them. And a little tip - if you enter a giveaway, become a follower of the blog. Chances are that there will be many more giveaways there in the future.

3. Join Sneakpeeq for a free gift.

I joined a while ago and received a beautiful pearl ring that I'm going to give to my daughter.

I also have a $10 credit but I haven't picked anything out yet.

{Contains an affiliate link}

4. Survey sites. I have no affiliation with any sites but I have used e-Rewards for a while. And I earn a $25 American Eagle Gift Card every quarter. It's an easy way to end up with $100 at the end of the year.

5. Freebies. A while back, I shared some of my favorite money saving websites. Well, most of them can point you to some fun freebies. Everything from body wash to lip gloss to nail polish. And much more. All of these things make great stocking stuffers.

6. Regifting. Oh I know we aren't supposed to admit it. But I don't think there is anything wrong with passing on something (that I have never used) that will make someone else happy. So, I have a few items that will be wrapped up in December.

And there you have it. My plan for enjoying a debt-free Christmas.

$75 Shabby Apple Giveaway!

2012-06-04T10:31:00.001-04:00

This giveaway is now closed.

I have a great giveaway to announce - a $75 Shabby Apple GC! Woohoo!

I love Shabby Apple so I was really excited when they offered me the chance to host this giveaway! They have such gorgeous dresses, bathing suits, and jewelry. Here are some of my favorites from their site -

Aren't they beautiful? Well, here's your chance to win a $75 Shabby Apple Gift Card.

{please leave a separate comment below for each entry}

1. {mandatory} Like the Shabby Apple Facebook page and come back here to tell me which Shabby Apple item is your favorite.

Additional entries -

2. Follow My Covered Bridge on Google Friend Connect. Leave a comment.

3. Follow My Covered Bridge on Facebook. Leave a comment.

4. Share this giveaway on your Facebook page. Leave a comment.

5. Follow me, Kristen @ My Covered Bridge, on Pinterest. Leave a comment.

So that's up to five chances to win!

And if you want to go shopping now, you can get 10% off by using the code mycoveredbridge10off! The code is good all month!

Good luck!

This giveaway will be open until Sunday, June 10th, 2012 at midnight est.

It is open to US residents.

I have not been compensated to host this giveaway. I just love giving my readers a chance to win great prizes!

Winners!

2012-06-04T09:01:00.000-04:00

The winners of my latest giveaways are...

$85 Hapari Swimwear - April G

My Memories Suite - Kim

Congratulations ladies!! I have already sent you emails to confirm your info.

My Friday Five - Drop Cloths

2012-06-01T09:27:00.001-04:00

Looking to decorate on a tight budget? Well, try using drop cloths! It's amazing what you can do with them. I found so many great ideas that I made a whole new Pinterest board featuring drop cloth projects - check it out! Here are some of my favorites.

Ready?

1. Table runner -

Country Living

2. Rug -

Lovely Crafty Home

3. Headboard -

Tenth Avenue South

4. Pillow -

It All Started With Paint

5. Ottoman -

Gardeners To Bergers

Are you inspired yet?

Head over to my Drop Cloth Ideas Pinterest board for more great projects!

Turning A Closet Into An Office - Part 1

2012-05-31T10:50:00.000-04:00

We've decided to work on our living room (I know, I know. It'll make sense in a moment). It's a very boring, rectangular space. There are no architectural elements to work with. No real charm. And although I painted it and hung a TV years ago, I sort of left it at that and moved on to other projects.

The TV doesn't get used too much anymore (now that the family room has been renovated). It was time to make this space into a (somewhat) more formal room. (This is where I add - we are so not formal. We are really making this space into a formal living room for resale.) So, the TV needs to come down. Which is step one. Removing the TV means relocating some electronics which were stored in the 'closet' behind the living room wall.

This closet is in our family room - and it is directly behind the TV. You can see the cables that we ran through the wall to connect the cable box and DVD player. It's where we've hidden all of this stuff for a couple of years. We decided to address this little closet. We want to make it an office space. A place to keep our printer, modem and router. Maybe extra office supplies too. Craig and I both use laptops and we don't really need a dedicated office so this will be perfect. And it will solve the other living room issue -

My old 'office'. Yup, it was right in the middle of our formal living room. Which I never really liked. But, it's where I set up my old desktop computer years ago. That computer doesn't get used anymore but that is where the modem and router are still set up. Relocating the modem and router to the closet makes the most sense for us.

But first let me share a 'closet' before shot.

This closet used to be a wet bar! Complete with mirrored walls, glass shelves, and a brass sink! I know, awesome right? Well, not really my style. I removed the shelves and mirror a while back. And I painted the doors when I renovated the family room (I'll share some before and after pics of my family room soon - I had forgotten just how ugly it was seven years ago!). The wet bar transformation stopped right there because I started on some other projects. So, now it's time to take it a little further.

We cleaned everything out and got to work. We shut off the water to the sink (which I didn't even know was on since I had never used this faucet!).

We disconnected the pipes and out it came -

We decided to leave the pipes as is just in case the next homeowner wants to turn our office into a wet bar (and the pipes weren't really in our way).

Then we turned our attention to the tile counter/shelf -

Yay - demo complete! Next step - building a shelf. We chose to build the new shelf out of MDF. We have used it in other projects and it has worked well. It doesn't warp, it is easy to work with, and it looks great painted. Using the old shelf as a template, we cut the new shelf -

An improvement already! We still have a ways to go (it's funny how such a small project can have so many steps!). What's left?

- fix the paneling

- putty the holes

- caulk the seam where the shelf and paneling meet

- prime everything

- paint the walls

- paint the trim and doors

- run the cables for the modem and router

- (maybe) add a couple more shelves (not something we need right now so it may have to wait)

And then we can start working on the living room!