SPRAY PAINT QUEEN

Best Friends?

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:51:00 +0000

You sure don't see this everyday. She didn't mind sharing her water but food....No Way even if she is a sweet lab!

Squirrel Problems

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:33:00 +0000

Over the years, this house has had a small isolated squirrel problem. Their "entry" way into the home had been blocked off for some time now except when the roof was redone in the Fall. The wood that we had used to block them had been taken out for some part of the roofing work and was never placed back.

A few nights ago, the little one was hearing things in the ceiling above our living room. Upon investigation, hubs had realized that indeed they had started getting into our attic again. New walnuts, poop, and other tidbits on top of the insulation gave way to clues.

Hubs was...well pissed. He had been trying to combat these guys for some time now and we were doing really well. Only we didn't know that before we moved in or after, the squirrels had chewed through some wires exposing the copper in the attic. Hubs was even more pissed at this. His day off was supposed to be relaxing, not on squirrel patrol.

We followed the chewed wire into our living room wall, opened up a small hole (squirrels nest) and had to do what we were hoping not to...tear down the wall - gasp!

We just finished up some work in this room last summer so this was totally not in the books but had to be done. We can not sleep well at night knowing that these suckers posed a potential fire hazard for us.

So, down it came. We ended up finding and disposing of a squirrel nest in our wall bay above our entry door, opened the wall to expose all the wires so we could see the extent of the damage to fix it and replaced the insulation. We did not have time to finish (after insulation) and I'm not sure how fast we can get this space back to normal but for now at least we feel better. After the living room, hubs spent the remainder of the evening fixing the wires in the attic and disposing and replacing of the insulation that had been ruined.

While we had the extra access, we put more wood on the inside as an extra barricade to keep them out. Would you believe they even gnawed on the studs? As hubs was reaching down trying to pull out chewed insulation, he "felt" ~~found~~ and disposed of six dead squirrel bodies that were....old. We have layers of insulation so he had to pull up the layers to get to the chewed insulation and to where they had hid/died. They liked the spot closest to the eaves of the house where it's incredibly hard to get to.

I've been in the attic myself and never noticed a thing so it's amazing how they could have been there and no one know. I think it was more of a motel for them because of this mild winter. They probably came in as needed and left on good days. As far as the dead one's, I hate to say it but they could have been up there since before we moved in. Who on earth wouldn't have smelt that? Craziness.

Have you had squirrel issues before? I swear I need to steer clear of that show Infested on Animal Planet. It gives me the creeps and really ups my phobia of all things rodents.

Here's a good article on squirrels and how they can get into your home that I came across. This one on removal of dead animals in attic is informative too.

Has Spring, Sprung?

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:43:00 +0000

So, I've been seeing some new things popping up in the yard despite what the groundhog says. Amazing. I planted this primrose last summer just because it had died out in the pot and well whether it came back or not, it was better to plant it than just toss it. So I did, in some random spot by bricks. Had I known it would actually come back, I'd of found a better spot but Wow. It's February in NE Ohio and this sucker is in bloom.

I also found some bulbs peeking through too. I think these are daffodils. At any rate, either they are being teased and are confused or this may be the worst it gets this winter. As I type this, snow is melting and from the weather this morning may not see snow for another 8 days...maybe.

Do you think Spring will knock on your door early this year?

Upstairs Loft - Laminate Over Hardwood

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:20:00 +0000

We started a project today that we had not initially dreamed of doing especially in the middle of winter but we figured we could get it done relatively fast so we jumped on it. Did I mention free? I'm sure you heard that one mans trash is another mans treasure right? Well that was the case today.

A homeowner was getting ~~rid~~ replacing some tongue and groove laminate flooring that was previously in his home. It was still in very decent shape so they asked hubs if he would want it. Otherwise they were just going to pitch it. Needless to say that it ended up coming home that day.

It wasn't enough to do a large room so we thought we'd put it in the upstairs loft. We had been wanting to replace/refinish the flooring upstairs for some time but after the kitchen, laundry/guest room, computer room, and living room we were whipped for a season.

Before - Not the greatest lighting, sorry!

While we still plan to refinish the floors one day we thought this would be a great way to rid ourselves of the horrid/old/dirty carpet - today. At least in one area. To give you a heads up, we followed our own directions and most certainly didn't do this by the book. Being that this is a somewhat non-permanent fix, we chose to do it our way; which for many may be the wrong way.

Here's the before:

and brace yourself. I was in shock too after we pulled up the carpet/padding and I saw what color they had painted the floor up here!!! I thought the other rooms were bad...sheesh.

Best I can guess is it's an aqua-teal sort of green. Wowza. There's some beautiful antique hard wood floors under there begging to be refinished...one day.

What you see below is sand that had went through the carpet and padding over the years. Can you imagine? This is why I don't like carpet.

We also ened up taking up the trim around the room as well as on the doors for the laminate. It was junk and most peices we could pull off by hand. Craziness.

At any rate, we layed the laminate directly over the antique floors. This is what I mean by not paying attention to how we did this as I'm sure many would go "wah?" There are no moisture issues in the loft and the antique hardwood floors are very sturdy and quite level so we felt just in our efforts. I guess it helps that it had been "coverd up" for many many years too.

I know a lot of people frown at laminate because it doesn't have the greatest longevity, but it sure is a lot easier to put down than any other DIY floor jobs I've participated on and is a lot cleaner of a job too.

After

We still have to trim, do some drywall work and repaint but that'll be another weekend project. For now, we are diggin the one day fix!

Kids Party Fish Bowls

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:42:00 +0000

photo credit

I was googling my way through some clever ideas for fish bowls and came acoss the fun party ones pictured above! Aren't they cute? The bowls pictured above have crayons and goldfish crackers perfect for a little one's birthday party! Just use some tissue paper like you would for stuffing in gift bags to form into flower like toppers.

Creating an awesome metallic vanity

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:56:00 +0000

Guest post written by Mel Carter

I'm always impressed by shiny things. I'm not really sure why my tastes have always been drawn to lots of metallic things. But, that's always been the things that I pick out first when I'm decorating the house. For my husband's and sons' sake, I tend not to go towards that kind of stuff so much when I'm decorating common areas. But right now I'm changing an extra walk-in closet that we have into a little dressing area with a vanity. I really can't wait until I'm finished with it!

Of course, I'm going to use as much as my style in it as possible because it is my own personal space. While I was online looking for the perfect shiny vanity for it, I ran across some info on tile floors and thought it would be great for our kitchen. We have some old laminate floor in there that just doesn't look so great anymore. So I think that we're going to retile the room.

But I also found this amazing metallic vanity that is the next best thing to an outright mirrored vanity. (I've looked into those and they're too expensive.) It's going to be perfect for my space!

See Disclosure

Let him know he’s “Da Man” with Printable Candy Bar Wrappers!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:44:00 +0000

I was browsing the internet trying to get some unique ideas for Valentine's Day this year and came across a gift idea over at Jeanne Winters that I thought was truly unique!

It's called "Udaman" candy bar wrapper that you can print in a jiffy from her blog and wrap around your husbands favorite candy bar! If your health conscious you could probably get away with using a health bar too!

One of my husbands favorite is Twix but instead I used the Twix with PB since they were in a nice festive looking red wrapper.

I tapped two together since I liked the look of the big bar but you can adjust down the size of the free printable that Jeanne Winters offers to fit smaller bars.

The ingredients are:
Love, Marriage, Joy, Patience, Laughter, God, Trust, Fun, Peace, Faith, Romance, Hope, Rest, Adventure, Family

The Nutrition Facts are:
Serving Size - U Decide 'Cause U Da Man. Best when enjoyed with your Valentine

I likey! How about you?

Small Space Organizing by Kathryn Bechen

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:34:00 +0000

Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-Room Guide to Maximizing Your Space

By Kathryn Bechen

Baker Publishing Group

While we may admire the spacious rooms in large homes we see in magazines or on TV, let’s face it: most of us don’t live in rambling estates. Instead, we live in homes, apartments, or condos with small rooms and even smaller closets. But you can enjoy an organizes, beauty-filled life no matter what the size of your space.

In this practical book, you could learn how to

• Perform a room-by-room audit of your space to see if it’s functioning at its best

• Make the most of existing storage space and find clever ways to add more

• Find creative ways to arrange furnishings and accessories that maximize space and bring harmony and style to the home

• Live graciously in a small space with others (especially those who aren’t organized!)

Whether you’re an empty nester who’s downsizing, a newlywed setting up your first nest, or someone who just needs some creative new ideas, you’ll love these strategies, tips, and solutions to maximize space and enhance your quality of life.

When I first heard of this book, I thought this is exactly what I need! Organizing is on my to-do list for this New Year and what better way to achieve that than someone who knows firsthand about small spaces and creating a stylish, organized space that’s budget friendly.

I particularly liked that the author personalized the book with her own experiences and I found it very down to earth and practical. She even speaks of Pepto-Bismol pink walls and I’m sure a lot of us have seen that a time or two, more so if you are truly from the 70s or before. The last place I lived still had that color tile in the bathroom and it was utterly hard to find anything to go with it! Yuck. We lived with it since we were renters but despised it none the less. This book gives great suggestions as to how you can recreate those kinds of spaces and also how to keep them tidy so that they seem bigger than what they really are.

I really enjoyed this read and I am sure if you’ve ever had orange shag carpet or wondered where your guests will sit or an arms reach sized bathroom or a shoe box of a closet -- then I’m certain that you’ll appreciate this fun read and be inspired to re-create your space! I'm looking forward to putting some of these idea into play!

Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-Room Guide to Maximizing Your Spacecan be found at your favorite bookseller!

About the Author: Kathryn Bechen is an award-winning journalist in the San Diego area and has published several organizing and decorating ebooks. She is also a blogger at www.KathrynBechenInk.com!

I received a copy of the book for review purposes and all opinions expressed are my own.

Get Organized with Animal Print Organizers!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:53:00 +0000

Want to have a little fun with organizing? momAgenda has super hot and stylish items that can make it very motivating to get organized this year. Right now it's 35% Off Spirals + FREE Shipping on orders $40+ at momAgenda.com! I'm leaning towards the animal print, how about you?

What I like about these is that they have a 17 month calendar, can be personalized, include weekly and monthly formating along with ribbons to divide the pages and of course come in fun colors.

Do you use an organizer to keep up with doctors appts, soccer games, birthdays, blog schedule or other area in your life?

Show your support for Walgreens

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:01:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

While I normally don’t post about in detail on SPQ about pharmaceuticals or the like, maintaining our health is an important aspect of our lives and dealing with medication can be a part of that. Some of you may already know if you already follow or are a fan of Walgreens on Twitter or Walgreens on Facebook but there are some changes that have been made at Walgreens regarding prescriptions that any of you currently relying on the Express Plan should know especially if you rely on daily prescriptions that need refilled soon!

Express Scripts and Walgreens no longer work together after unsuccessful negotiations and so the contract expired at the end of 2011 (see associated press release regarding Walgreens and Express Scripts here). Walgreens wants to continue smoothly without an increase in costs to its customers even if that means they would receive lower reimbursement rates at below the industry average. This goes for all Walgreens pharmacies nationwide including Duane Reade pharmacies in the New York City area.

So if you were on the Express Scripts plan with Walgreens you may want to know the changes that will take place at Walgreens. To minimize disruption and inconvenience, Walgreens has put forth a comprehensive national effort to make the transition as smooth as they can even if that means taking care of you should you be forced to leave Walgreens in order to use Express Scripts in-network coverage.

While this only affects patients with certain prescription plans managed by Express Scripts, I would still suggest either contacting your local Walgreens or checking the back of your prescription card to see if your plans deals with Express Scripts.

**Through January personal/family memberships (includes pets) with savings on more than $8,000 brand name and generic medications for $5.00 for an individual and $10.00 for a family as well as annual membership for its Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens. This includes discounts on flu shots, diabetic supplies, bonus’s from buying Walgreens brand products for photo services and more

Q&A - Kathryn Bechen, Author of Small Space Organizing

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:35:00 +0000

Question and Answer by Kathryn Bechen, Author of

Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-Room Guide to Maximizing Your Space

Q: Do you consider small space living a "quality of life" choice and if so, why?

A: Indeed, I do. Whatever housing lifestyle choice you make for your family I think is okay, but I think that you should make sure you're consciously choosing, and not just going with a McMansion in the 'burbs or an acreage in the country with a big house because you feel outside pressure from anyone else to do so. I believe housing size is a lifestyle choice too in that housing size and the number of possessions in it take up time in your life, and time IS your life, so you want to be sure you're spending your time in a way that feels right for you because you can never get time back! If living in a large home with a large yard full of flowers makes you happy because you like having big family and friend gatherings there, and you are comfortable with all the time, maintenance, and expense that all involves, then I think a larger home is right for you. If, like me and my husband, you would rather live in a (high-quality) small space that does not require hours of cleaning and large outlays of money for home maintenance, lawn care, and furnishings, plus gives you more time to spend doing enjoyable things together, having small dinners with a few friends, and traveling, then I think small space living is for you. And always, no matter what the size of your home space, personalize the furnishings and decor to your taste so it feels beautiful to you. That doesn't mean you have to spend tons of money; it means choosing furnishings and accessories within your budget that you feel are attractive.

Q: What does "rightsized" living mean?

A: I think "rightsized" is a relative term, personalized to you and your family. A home that seems small to one family might seem big to another. A home that seems small to you at one phase of your life might seem large at another time in your life. When I personally think of small space living, I think of about 400-1200 SF, but some people might think my 1200 SF apartment is big. I've heard people say they're downsizing to a "small 2700 SF house." To me, 2700 SF is big! Again, I'd like to inspire people to make very conscious choices as to the size of home space they live in, so they're happy, because I believe when you're happy at home, it radiates out in a positive way to others in the world. Kind of like when you find the perfect jeans that fit just right! And likewise, I'll be bold enough to declare here that when your home space doesn't feel appropriate and supportive to you, you sadly radiate that crankiness out into the world too!

Q: What's the first step to downsizing?

A: Buy a 3 inch three-ring notebook and clear sheet protectors and a pencil case that you can put on the binder rings so you can take notes, keep biz cards etc. in the sheet protector, and put pens and your keys in the pencil case. Begin by walking through every room in your home and list out every large item and furnishing that you want to donate or sell so you will be able to see what you're going to have to move. Do this with any outside storage sheds and the garage as well. Don't forget the attic or other out-of-the-way spaces. It's not carved in stone; you may have to walk through your home numerous times, and you may have to negotiate the items with your mate and family as well.

Q: Can someone really be happy, and stay organized, living in just one room?

A: Absolutely! Some people actually prefer it, especially if they live in a studio apartment in someplace like New York City where the excitement and culture of the city is their "backyard," or in San Diego, where parks and beaches are the same. In one room, everything has to have its place, and I believe every home should have only the things in it that really bring you joy, but when living in one room, that's even more important. Make your home beautiful to you, even if it's one small room!

Q: What's your best tip for creating a foyer if you don't have a "real" foyer?

A: If you enter right into your living room, create a "foyer" near the front door using an attractive small bedroom nightstand. Hang a mirror over it, and place a basket under the legs of the nightstand. Put your keys in the nightstand, put your shoes in the basket, and check your "do" every day in the mirror before you leave the house.

Q: What are your two best small space organizing tips?

A: 1. Keep your gadgets and appliances simple by buying only what you'll truly use.

2. Use all-white dishes and clear glassware to cut down on how many dish sets you buy. If a dish breaks, you can easily find a new similar white piece and not have to get a whole new set.

Q: How in the world can you create a "spa-like" experience in a teeny-tiny bathroom, especially if the kids' rubber duckies have taken up residence?

A: In a small home, especially if there is only one bathroom, the bathroom should ideally be totally free of clutter and toys. You can achieve that by giving each family member a plastic basket or tote to hold their toiletries and toys. Instead of being stored in the bathroom, each family member keeps their basket in their bedroom and carries it to and from the bathroom. They also keep their own towel and washcloth in their bedroom--hang it on a hook in the closet. Many of us used this M.O. in college. Assign time slots for each family member to bathe for 30=45 minutes daily each so there is no squabbling about sis taking too long in the bathroom. Set a timer if need be. Make it a family rule that each member will respect others' time in the bathroom and not interrupt so each family member feels they can have their private bathroom "spa time." And last but not least, each family member cleans up after themselves immediately after their bathroom time so it's clean for the next person. No whiskers in the sink and no pantyhose dripping on the bathroom rod!

Q: What's your best tip if a couple has to share a small home office?

A: (Laughs.) Pray! Seriously, unless you work on projects together often and need to collaborate, each person should have their own side, corner, or at least a desk that's uniquely theirs, and the other person should not invade their turf without permission. Do your best to keep order on both sides; don't let it get totally out of control with clutter as that's disrespectful to your mate if you are sharing a space. That being said, Nancy Neatfreak is going to have to lighten up a bit if she's married to Max Messy. My husband and I share a home office, and he has one side of the room and I have the other. I systematically put everything away at the end of the day, and he's a little bit looser with his paperwork, but not a messy. He uses a big black chair and office armoire that closes up so I can't see his paperwork, and I have an Old World feminine style desk that I love, and a pretty slipcovered chair. Put your personal decorative stamp on your side of the room, and don't worry about your styles matching. When people walk into our home office they laugh and immediately comment on whose side is whose because it's very obvious!

Q: What's your best organizing tip for kids sharing a bedroom?

A: Just like a home office shared by mates, kids should each have their own side that's personalized to them. Or at least their own bed if using bunk beds, for instance. I think each child should have their own desk for school studies as well, and their own dresser and side of the closet.

Q: How is it possible to create an organized "library" in a small home?

A: Buy tall white bookshelves and line your longest living room wall as a focal point. Arrange the books on the shelf in an artful way, mixing in collected knickknacks for an interesting look. Or, today your e-reader, in lieu of bookshelves, can be your library in a small space if you don't want to dust bookshelves. Also, if you have a dining nook, you can put floor to ceiling bookcases to create a charming little library.

Q: In your book you talk about the binder notebook method. What is that exactly?

A: It's the three-ring binder notebook I mentioned in the downsizing question above. It helps you have a portable place to jot down your thoughts, plus store biz cards and fliers from housing developments you're touring etc.

Q: What free download do you have today for our readers/listeners so they can get started right away in organizing their small space home?

A: Go to www.SmallSpaceOrganizing.com and sign up to get the free article I wrote, Small Space Savvy in a Big Stuff World. There's also another free home organizing and decorating article there as a bonus.

Bio for Author Kathryn Bechen

Kathryn Bechen is an award-winning professional writer whose articles have appeared in popular national and regional magazines and newspapers. She specializes in lifestyle feature articles and has also published several organizing and decorating e-books. The lifestyle companies she founded, Organized with Ease and Kathryn Bechen Designs, have served clients worldwide. Kathryn has organized and decorated 13 personal small space residences together with her husband Steve, and they currently live in their favorite small space ever: a 1,200-square-foot high-rise apartment in beautiful San Diego, California. She blogs about timely lifestyle topics at www.KathrynBechenINK.com.

Disclosure - There was no compensation for this post however affiliate links may be contained there in. I am simply apart of a blog tour for Small Space Organizing: A Room-by-Room Guide to Maximizing Your Space and found this information to be of use to myself and my readers!

52 Weeks To An Organized Home - Closet Organization + Linky!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:12:00 +0000

I mentioned last week that I would be joining in on the 52 Weeks to an Organized Home. Last week's theme was actually kitchen counter-tops and sink. For the sake of organization I had to divert from the weeks theme which I will make up later and tackle a much needed project - a closet. This closet is actually in one of our newer rooms (computer/spare room - see before and after photos here) that we did last year so it hasn't been that long and this closet has hit the last straw. I must say that closets have always been an organizing weakness for me. It's too easy to hide and cover up crap and not have to deal with it.

Hubs was looking for his stud finder and well I insisted it wasn't in this closet! That it must be somewhere else like his truck, basement or in his tool bag, anywhere but being in here, I insisted. I had to swallow up that this was my fault. I had allowed this closet to be a throw all/cover up in quickie clean ups and well...things happen. Some of the things you may see are a copper rack for hanging pots which never got hung, a pot for which no other reason is in here except to have stuff in it, paint, rugs, thank you cards, a printer and basically the whole nine.

Here is a good look at the before of the closet.

This is what it looks like after I tackled, donated, threw out, and put things in their proper place as well as labeled.

I'm content with the outcome and the more I think about it, I could really use another shelf or two, maybe. The spacing between them I think is what causes me to stack so much.

I didn't buy anything for this project and used what I already had like baskets and big Tupperware/plastic food containers for labeling etc (which help de-clutter my kitchen cabinets too).

The pot rack has not been hung yet but it is out in full view waiting to have a home, the printer is still in there (we will be giving it to my mother-in-law) and a lot of things found either a new home or was thrown out. The two window air units are in there because it's a pain to take them either to the attic or basement each season so we keep them near the rooms for easy access since these are pretty heavy.

Oh but I did find the stud finder...imagine that.

Have some closet organization before and after? Share it here!

Reader Favorites of 2011 + Link up Yours!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:13:00 +0000

Here's what was hot at Spray Paint Queen this past year!

Old Outlet Cover to Shabby Swag

Early 1900s Post Cards Found in Wall

Out of Storage with a New Look

So tell me, what was popular on your blog this past year? You can link up whatever you wish whether it be craft, recipes, tutorials, etc.

New Years Organization and Free Printables!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:11:00 +0000

I hope your New Years is off to a fab start! I'm trying to get back into the swing of things and aim to be a lot more organized this year than I have been. I was fortunate to find some great free printables to help keep my butt on track that I'm excited about utilizing.

First - A weekly cleaning chart. I know we all realize what needs cleaned and picked up but sometimes things go by the wayside so this I hope will help keep things in perspective and actaully help me feel more accomplished during the day!

Second - A Goal Chart - There's plenty of days where I lay my head down on the pillow and think of something I was supposed to do that day that totally slipped my mind. Hopefully this fun chart could come in handy for you too. I like that it has water intake, fitness, and blog dailies too!

Third - Weekly Menu Planner - I got into menu planning a little last year but didn't keep up with it. So this year I hope that this one will suit me better and I can even add somethings to the shopping list so I don't end up forgetting that the milk was lower than I thought when I'm out shopping for example.

You can find all of the printables I mentioned above plus many more at design finch!

Oh, and last but not least, I will be partaking in a 52 week organizing event called Organized Home Challenge. Each week will have a theme or target area in the home to tackle and tips on how to maximize your space. Join me if you wish!

Do you have any special goals that you plan on working toward for New Years? I'll be honest; I typically do not ever make New Years Resolutions because for me, it's the worst time of year to keep them. But this year I'm going about it all different. These are simple attainable things I wish to improve on and not so much a complete overhaul.

Away from Home

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:16:00 +0000

Guest post written by Derick Burks

Being away from home for so long was tough – I really missed my family. I love everyone I’m related to but my mom in particular is my rock and it was hard not being able to see her every day like I was used to. When I moved back here it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders…all of a sudden I didn’t have to worry about whether or not her HughesNet satellite internet service Willsboro was paid up and whether she had food on the table – now I’m able to go to her house every day and make sure she’s doing well (she almost always is) and that’s really helpful for me from a peace of mind standpoint. I think there’s something to be said for being part of a big family but mom and I have always been the closest. It’s like we’ve got a little family of two to uphold and I’m so glad she’s been willing to relinquish some control.

See Disclosure

New-Skin - Share the Outdoors Sweepstakes!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 07:00:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of New-Skin. All opinions are 100% mine.

We set up a real Christmas tree this year like we have in years past and I always get some scratch or nick on my hands every time. This increases for me during the winter when my skin gets dry. It gets so bad sometimes I can just bump into the desk or dresser and nick my skin.

There’s a product called New-Skin that is supposed to have incredible cover protection as well as to help prevent infection for everyday wounds and I was surprised to find out that they’ve been around for 100 years. I could have really used their liquid bandage from time to time as well to help rid of some scars I’ve obtained from over the years like when I cut my thumb with a box cutter! Ouch. Their liquid bandage has a Scar Fade Gel and can even help treat poison Ivy for those of you who do a lot of gardening.

For those of you who like to WIN, you might want to check out the New-Skin sweepstakes! There are 3 amazing grand prizes up for grabs like a skiing trip to Breckenridge, CO, a tour of the Botanical Gardens in Atlanta, GA or a hiking trip to Yellowstone National Park, MT. If you are like me and feel as if you’d never win anything that big as long as you live well then there is also 500 extra winners for the first entrants who will score a New-Skin waterproof container. So the sooner you enter the better.

If you enter feel free to include a link to your sweepstakes in the comments to increase clicks and how you would use your new skin products if you won!

holiday scrubs

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:17:00 +0000

How sweet it is this time of year. For the most part this time of year reminds me of some of those Hallmark movies where everyone has good will toward men and their spirits are lifted. Of course it's not always bright and cheery for everyone. I've even had a Christmas or two that was actually hard to get through because of what I was going through at the time. That's why I love that Blue Sky Scrubs http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/ has very nice Christmas medical scrubs (mostly scrub hats). I love this idea and how it can bring (even if it's just a little) cheer to someone who can't be home for the holidays.

This one above is one of their designs that I like called O Christmas Tree Poppy located in the Blue Sky scrub store. I just found out that my neighbor is in the hospital and will be having open heart surgery. I hope that he recuperates well and is able to find a little holiday cheer even in the most uncomfortable and scarey circumstances. Do you like cheery scrubs over the standard blues?

I hope you all have a blessed and very lovely holiday as well as good health to you all!

See Disclosure

Have Organizing Roadblock?

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:04:00 +0000

With New Year's quickly approaching, I wanted to give you a heads up on a new program that has launched that may be able to help you tackle some of those New Years organizing goals! It's called "Ask the Organizer" which you can take a peek at here http://blog.rubbermaid.com/ask-the-organizer/.

This program allows you to get expert personal organizing advice from Rubbermaid's team of Certified Professional Organizers! So if you get stuck in a major organization roadblock this coming year and need some inspiration or advice then reach out to the experts.

Do It Yourself - Holiday Wreath

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:24:00 +0000

If you opt for a real Christmas Tree, be sure to use every bit of it! We normally have to trim the bottom of ours up a bit to get it to fit well into the tree holder. Or I'm sure you can rob these from the back of your tree and no one will notice! But basically these branches that you trim, you can make fabulous wreaths from. Here's a incredibly easy way I did mine.

When I use everything, I mean everything! Not only will you get your scrap branches together but you will also use the twine that your tree was wrapped up in. As far as your branches, pick out the best pieces, trim them down (with good clippers) to a reasonable length, pick off the uglies and lay them on top of each other.

Next, take your twine and wrap and tie the tips of all your branches together.

Now you are ready for the bow. You'll want to leave the excess twine in place for hanging. You can make your bow or in this case I found one really cheap that I liked for about $2.00. I placed it on there to get an idea of how it looked and exactly where I wanted it.

If your satisfied with it then go ahead and tie it in the area where your twine is. A lot of big bows are prepared for hanging already and have either wire or other something for you to attach it. In this case it was a pipe cleaner fabric of sort. You just attach it to your twine and branches.

And now my dear you are done! Find a nice location to hang and enjoy all season long. I tied the loose twine together and hung from a nail where no one can see. I hung mine outside and didn't chose the door because I wanted snow to get on it. Here's how it looks with fresh fallen snow!

If you don't have a bow or just tie ribbon on it you can also use ornaments and other nifty things around your house just waiting to get beautiful!

Me likey, You likey?

Making Your Own Holiday Ornaments

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 13:58:00 +0000

Make your own ornaments if you have the time, or want an awesome craft to do with the kids- Not to mention saving a TON of money doing so. It's actually neat to explore your own creativity and it doesn't take a designer to do it.

The first cheap and easy ornament to do is the Seashell. If you live near a beach then this is right up your alley as they are FREE. If not, you can often find them at craft stores, garage sales, thrift stores etc. Most of what you can use, you already have around your house. For instance, the one in the picture- all I used was some glitter nail polish for the shell and attached a bow in the back of it - via hot glue, tape, doesn't really matter as long as it holds. You can even paint them, add ribbon, beads, etc. Shells have endless possibilities, plus I love the nautical look.

A very nice lady named Mary made this one for me. Again, the cost to make this is dirt cheap! Mary saved wine corks and odd items for crafts such as this. If you don't have corks lying around, you can still find them at thrift stores, garage sales etc. She glued the corks together to form the reindeer, then glued string and a little bling. The eyeballs you can find at Walmart or Target for about a buck. I personally think this one is the neatest.

And finally, a super easy craft for especially younger kids. If you have popsicle sticks or even corndog sticks, that's virtually the main item. Glue on some eyes or just use a sharpie or crayons. The ears are made from pipe cleaners and the nose is just red fabric. It's not anywhere near something you'd find at Macy's but, kids love to see their handmade ornaments go up every year.

Marina Games - Crossword Cubes Review/Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:55:00 +0000

I love crosswords, even the tough ones where I can never figure out the answer. It’s something about the challenge, puzzle and defeating it that keeps me intrigued. My little one is even into crosswords and we make sure that when we are traveling we at least have one crossword book to take along with us. If you have a little crossword fan on your hands too then the Crossword Cubes dice game is a must try. It's for one player or more, ages 8 and up and is very educational. The crossword cubes game is relatively small and portable so this could help the kids stay entertained with long holiday travel In addition, it’s small enough to fit in a stocking!

How to play –
Roll all 13 dice and create words from the lettered dice in a crossword fashion. The letters are numbered so for each word(s) you add up the numbers (similar to scrabble). The highest score wins. It may seem pretty easy but there are rules that make it challenging. I would even suggest using a timer to make the game even more challenging for older kids.

If you have a little speller on your hands then this would be a good educational game to add to your collection! I don't know about you but my little one loves to out play us parents in any game so the challenge to out spell can bring on some fun times! The Crossword Cubes Game retails for only $7.99 at Amazon!

Giveaway! One lucky reader (US Only) will win their very own Crossword Cubes game! Giveaway ends 12.15.11 at midnight EST. Winner will be chosen via random.org.

Winner
rickpeggysmith@........
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Disclosure: Product, information, and giveaway have been provided by Marina Games through the Family Review Network. The opinions expressed are my own and I was not swayed by the items mentioned above.

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:15:00 +0000

Content by Mauricio Benson

It isn’t bad enough that I have all of these blogs I like to read and tons of web site to shop online and let’s not forget the old standby Facebook. Now I have ANOTHER site that I have to frequent like an addict. It is called Pinterest have you heard of it? Because if you haven’t you better get on there right now and starting pinning your little heart out. It is kind of a genius idea. Before we had Pinterest we would just copy and past pictures or links from our favorite blogs and web sites in to emails or Word Docs or sometimes even (gasp) the Notepad (does anyone even know what that is anymore?). Now we have Pinterest. A mecca of all the things that we want in our lives but don’t yet have and are now going to covet from everyone who does have. I find myself watching Direct tv while on Pinterest every night. It is like I can’t sit down to watch a show without having the laptop open on my lap and Pinterest pulled up pinning impossibly difficult to make recipes. Lord knows I will never make them but they just look SO GOOD!

See Disclosure

Noteworthy Bookmarks - Clean Sweep

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:45:00 +0000

I'm cleaning house. On my browser that is. I have a ton of bookmarks and I've been going through them and doing a clean sweep! I'm going to share all the craft and other goodies that could relate or be of interest to some of you! And at the very least, I will have them here if I need to ever go back to them.

You've been Boo-ed. I really want to try this one year!
http://beenbooed.com/

House Plant Sticky Leaves Help! - We have had the worst time with our Gardenias this year. It's aweful, I finally just cut them all back an we'll see what happens. This is one of my favorite flowering plants but they do not grow up North like they do in the South ;(

Shoe Box Wall Art - I am so wanting to try this. How very frugal but yet so very clever.

Ugly House Photos - Hey, it was interesting...lol

Ugly Flooring from History - Hey, this was interesting too..lol You might actually recognize some of these, I know I did!

Hardwood Floor care - Basic Do's and Don'ts

Hardwood Floor Refinishing and Repair - Hubs and I checked out this very informative video before attempting ours along with other massive amounts of research.

Well, that's it for this go round. It's been so crazy around here with the holiday, colds, and everything else that as of late that I haven't had the opportunity to really get into crafts. When I first started blogging I thought that instead of one blog I'd create a few so that each could focus on a particular theme. However, I find that it's more of a struggle to juggle them all at times. I often wonder if one big blog with various focus's would have been more ideal. I've also been kicking around a few other changes as well. I think sometimes a wee little break can often make the heart grow fonder or at least I like to think so! Nonetheless, I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon When You Take the North "Poll"

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 23:07:00 +0000

Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best! Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North "Poll!" You'll Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon** to use at MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting!

Tiny Prints Holiday Card Giveaway CLOSED

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:43:00 +0000

Love Tiny Prints or beautiful cards? If so I'm sure you'll want to enter the giveaway for 50 Christmas or holiday cards!

This will probably be the easiest giveaway you've entered in awhile! There are no loops or "like this" or "like that" or follow me this way or that way. All you need to do is visit Tiny Print's Christmas and holiday cards and come back and tell me which design you might choose if you won (along with your name and email) in the comments!

**Also, keep in mind of a very special one day promotion 11/9/11 where you can receive a FREE Cards to your kids from Santa! Simply Visit Tiny Prints Facebook page to find out how to personalize one of the following greeting cards FREE. Checking it Twice or Santa's Scroll....Hurry! This ends 11/9/11 at 11/59 pm.**

Good Luck!

Winner will be chosen via random.org and the giveaway ends 11/15/11 at 11:59pm!

GIVEAWAY ENDED

Winner Tarah
tarah716@....

Tiny Prints be provided me with information to facilitate this post. In addition I may receive address labels in exchange for this post. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.