Red, White, and Budget friendly...

Did you see these cute dishtowels at the Dollar Tree?!?!?! Mine had matching place mats too!!!!!

I couldn't resist doing something with them. So, I sewed around the edges and voila:

Isn't that the cutest little pillow EVER?!?!?!? They are gonna look so cute strewn around my outdoor furniture for all those 4th of July cookouts and gatherings. And they're only $1.00 a PIECE! Woooooooooooo hooooooooooo!

Gettin' Crafty on Hump Day....

Last week was my BIGGEST link party to date with 26 links, so lets try to top that shall we?!?!?

And the most popular link last week with 60 hits was Amanda @ The Hand Me Down House with her ingenious outdoor lighting. I am SOOOOO doing this at my house...I'm currently scouting out garage sales for wide mouth jars....

Its that time folks, so lets do this!

Please leave a comment if you link up, and visit some of the other links and spread some comment love there too :)

Lets par-tay!

I have plenty of help with demo...

I apologize for my recent disappearance...this demo is kicking my butt!!!!! So, this past weekend, I got geared up, and decided to tackle my bubble gum bathroom:

I quickly decided it was a lot of work. I then called for back-up.
And all was fine and dandy until more back-up showed up to help. Tons and tons of THESE:

These are earwigs...and they are VERY prominent in my area. They are DISGUSTING!!!!!!!! And in my basement they fall out of the ceilings onto your head if you push too hard on the paneling. YUCK!!!!!!!!!!! Now, let me explain, that I'm not living in some nasty house...they are just out in FULL FORCE this year and everyone is having trouble with them. I hate them, no seriously...HATTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE them! But...I'm trying to stick with a bright side mentality, so the bright side is that while these are prominent in my area...there are many places that have 8-legged insects running wild. So.....I'll take an earwig over a spider ANY day! ;)

GIVEAWAY at Thrifty Decor chick!!!!!

Thrifty Decor Chick is having an AWESOME giveaway for a silhouette craft cutter...go check it out!!!!!!!!!!

Gettin' Crafty on Hump Day....

Hey folks, its that time again. Time to get crafty on hump day and link up those projects!!!!!! Last week we had a great turn out! And the most visited link from the party was the intervention post at Blue artichoke interiors....

Check out her fabric, don't ya just LOVE IT?!?!?!?!?

Lets PARTY! Please leave a comment if you link up...and visit some of the other links to leave them some comment love too :)

My froggy nursery....

Well, since I'm still remodeling the new place, I thought I'd continue with my old house photos.

We did a frog theme for my sons nursery and I just LOVED it.....it turned out exactly how I wanted it, and I miss that room so much! We used painters tape for the stripes, and then I got a frog stamp that I used along the border.

I got the table & chair from IKEA, super duper cheap. And then I found the pillow at Penneys outlet on clearance for $1.99!!!!!!!!!!!

Oooooh oooh, PICK ME, PICK MEEEEEEEEEEEE....

Everyone, guess WHAT?!?!??! I was selected to be one of the 8 contestants on Win, Lose, or Blog!!!!

What is Win, Lose, or Blog? Well...its a collaboration of bloggers coming together to lose weight and get healthier! Each season lasts 8 weeks, and there are 8 contestants in each one. They had over 50 applications for the first season, so you can imagine how ECSTATIC I was when I found out I was chosen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, how does this work...well, they will be setting up a blog for me to share my journey, and I hope you all will follow along with me. I will have to post my weight EVERY week which is a scary scary SCARRRRRRRYYYYYYYYY (and kind of scary) thing for me, but hopefully, it will be good motivation. And the bright side is, even if you all are laughing at me, I won't know, cuz in blog land, I can't see you laughing :)

I suppose I should tell you a little about my story huh? As a child, I went through a couple "fat phases" but for the most part I was relatively thin. Then, when I turned 20 years old, I started gaining weight out of no where, like crazy. I had some other odd symptoms so I went to see my doctor. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (in 2000), and in 18 months I gained approximately 100 pounds (doing NOTHING different than I had been doing I might add!) I was FURIOUS to say the least! Since then, (1 DECADE later!!) weight loss has been a major struggle for me. Usually, no matter how hard I work, it doesn't seem to want to move. And sometimes I just don't wanna work lol. But, I'm hoping the added accountability of having my readers and all the followers of this new blog to help me move forward! See...after my surgery I found out that on top of the obstacles we already were aware of to getting pregnant...turns out one of my tubes is completely blocked. So...the dr. says that anything I lose will increase my odds of conceiving, and I really really really want another baby. I can't begin to describe the disappointment I feel every single month when I see that single line on the pregnancy test. Not fair!

I'm good at "making over" other things...but not so much myself. Maybe its time for my own personal DIY ;)

Anyway, will you take this journey with me?!?!?! I hope so! Its a long road, and I need all the support I can get! :)

Check out the blog where I'll be tracking my progress HERE

And the winner is.........

Ok, so I used the Random.org generator to get the number, but I can't figure out how to get the picture of the little box to post on here? Someone, anyone, help me PLEASE! lol.

Anyway, the number chosen by random.org is.......2. Which means our winner is....drum roll please............

Laurie!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations Laurie!!! Email me at Itiznikki@yahoo.com so I can get the information to ship this to you!!!!!!!

I just want to say thanks to everyone for entering this little giveaway! Not only did I break the 200 follower mark, but I hit over 60,000 hits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You guys are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

A new party, with PRIZES!!!!

Hey everyone, if you get a chance, be sure to head over to my blog bud Sharon's blog (try saying that 3 times fast...) for her new garden party!!!!!!!!

Link up any of your garden/outdoor type crafts, and enter to win some fabulous prizes!!! Click here for the info:

Fail Friday...

Remember these:

From my post here...I'm currently repairing them, because 2 days after I posted them, every single cross fell off its frame. Looks like I'll be trying silicone this time. That is my fail of the week

Whats yours? Link it up!!!!!! :)

CSI Project....

So, 2 weeks ago, I placed in the TOP 10 for the weekly CSI Project challenge. The guest judge...Kate from Centsational Girl!!! I was stoked.

Then, I saw this weeks challenge...Dollar Store crafts.......

SERIOUSLY...could there BE a challenge more up my alley?!?!?!??!?!?!

I heart the Dollar Store, I have a "favorite" dollar store (yes, I am aware that's pathetic).

Anyway, I've entered almost my entire blog LOL...I sure hope I win! :)

You should check it out and enter some projects!!! I'm off to scope out all my competition right now! ;)

CSI Project

Gettin' Crafty on Hump Day....

Today, I'd like to start off the party with a tip I learned. This tip has saved me HOURS AND HOURS of elbow grease, blood, sweat, and tears. And I simply must share it! In my lovely new house, the wallpaper pulled off the wall in whole sheets with ease. But we were left with walls that looked like this:

COVERED in wallpaper glue. UGH. Typically, I turn to my standby of vinegar water and some hard scrubbing, and it'll come off. But, I have a confession...I hate the smell of vinegar. No scratch that, I LOATHE the smell of vinegar.

So, my aunt says that water & fabric softener works even better. I thought, "yeah, right." I mean honestly, what does fabric softener have in it that would take off glue, I mean come on, get a grip. So, just to prove how right I was, I decided to give it a try. I could NOT have been more wrong. Spray it on and the glue wipes right off, LIKE MAGIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ITS amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Check it out:

Not to mention that my house now smells AMAZING!!!!!!! :)

Ok, so, lets party!!!!!!!!!!! Please comment if you link, and please visit some of the other links and comment there too :)

Happy linking...

Feeling Gray......

Every time I buy a new home, I've got a particular pallet in mind before the ink has even dried. Usually, I've moved in mentally before we even write up an offer. I'm not the only one right? Please tell me I'm not the only one that lays awake at night obsessing over color schemes, and furniture placement, and window treatments?!?!?!?

Well...this house...I'm into Gray. In a BIG way! After purchasing 4 gallons of Sherwin Williams "Gray Area", I can't WAIT to get my paint on!

So, I've been looking for inspiration online and here are some of the rooms I'm crushin' on :)

Living Etc.

Elle Decor

Bandelle Blog

And this last one simply because 1) I'm planning a mural for my wall as well, and 2) I want red drapes!!!!!!!!

Contemporary Interior

So where do you go for your design inspiration? :)

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!! Help me break the 200 mark!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey ya'll, I'm sooooooooo close to the 200 follower mark I can TASTE IT!!!!!!!! So, I need my readers help. I am asking/begging you....please refer your friends to this giveaway :)

Wanna see whats up for grabs?

This SUPER STINKING ADORABLE summer tote!!!!!!!! And inside...some Estee Lauder Products including a sample sized mascara, small blush brush, blush (unsure of color because everything is still sealed) night repair serum, etc.

So, whaddya gotta do to win? Each person is allowed up to 4 entries...here's how:

1) Become a new follower and leave me a comment letting me know you did. Or, if you're already a follower leave me a comment and let me know that too :)

2) Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to that post

3) Facebook about this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to that post

4) Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to that post

So, if you do all 4, you leave 4 comments, you have 4 entries, and so on and so forth. I'll be selecting a winner this coming Saturday the 19th. Entries will be open until Midnight on Friday the 18th.

Help me break that 200 mark!!!!!!!!!!! :)

NO fail Friday today!!!!!!!!

Today is a NO fail Friday...and why you may ask? Because....I'M CLOSING ON MY NEW HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry...I'm excited...just a smidge.

Anyway, so you don't get lonely while I'm panama jackin' it through this remodel, I'll share some photos with you of my last home remodel. Now, please remember that these were taken in 2006...longggggggggggg before I even knew what a blog was. So, they're not the best quality, but...they'll do.

Here is my lovely prison living room when we bought the house:


And here is the after:

Obviously, the first thing I did was to remove the prison bars. Second...vertical blinds YUCK. Then, I used the sticky tiles to tile the top of the ledge to hide the holes where the bars had been. Then, we painted. I have to say, the pumpkin pie color on my accent wall has to be one of my favorite colors I've ever painted with. And unfortunately it was a mis-tint, so I'll probably never find another one again......Oi Vey.......

Stay tuned for more additions of "My Old House" :)

Gettin' Crafty on Hump Day.....

Ok, so this is going to be COMPLETELY off topic, but what can I say...that's just how I roll...

Craftaholics Anonymous is hosting a Christmas in July party (PS-sign up ends tomorrow!!!!) and I could NOT be more ecstatic about it! Its going to be a great time, and I hope to make some new friends.

One new friend, is Teresa...who I am making a gift FOR. Anyone have any ideas?!?!? I have a few...just like to get my readers opinions...

Well, since shes a new friend, I wanted to give her a shout out and feature one of my favorite crafts she made...so check THESE OUT!!!!

How incredibly cute AND simple are these ribbon/button bookmarks?!?!?!? I have so many friends that are bookworms, and I loveeeeeeeee giving books as gifts...but a book never seems like enough ya know. Add in a hand made bookmark, and THAT'S a gift!!!!!!! And I must add, if you get a chance to check out her etsy shop, DO IT! She is seriously gifted in the paper crafting area. That is an area I have almost zero talent in. I think its cuz of my deep seeded fear of paper cuts. I should discuss that with my therapist....

Ok, so now that I've put in my little plug for my new home girl, lets get this party started......

Please leave a comment if you post, and please post my button somewhere on your blog. But most importantly, please visit some of the other links and leave some comment love :)

Thanks everyone, lets see what you've been up to.....

Tequila makes me get my craft on...

I’m not a huge bottle person…I mean, don’t get me wrong, I like em’ as much as the next guy, but I don’t typically swoon over them. But then, while cleaning my local college boys dorms (don’t even ask…let me just tell you that college boys are DIS-GUSTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I found this lovely little tequila bottle. Maybe it was the shape, or the little round cork lid, but whatever it was, I liked it.


Drawing inspiration from All Thingz Related, I decided to turn to Graphics Fairy for some help. Since I’m on a coffee kick, I figured, why not make it a coffee bottle. Presto…there ya have it…

I like it. I like it a lot. :)

PS-Thank GOD blogger is fixed....I was starting to get a nervous tic...

I HEART alphabet photography...

I'm seeing alphabet photography everywhere, and I just love it, its so out of the box! So when I spotted these at my local Dollar Tree...

I knew they would frame my letters PERFECTLY! Now, I just need to find letters...

At first, it was really hard, but then the more I looked, the more I started to see them. Since we just bought the new house I'm on a "home" kick, so I figured that's what I should spell. I can't tell you how hard it was to find an M....who'da thunk...

H...with an iron fence

O...a beautiful stained glass church window

M...a set of GORGEOUS doors on one of the beautiful old catholic churches in town

E...my picket fence out back

Put them all together and display them on my lovely $3 buffet, and I LOVEEEEEEEEEEE it!!!! I can't wait to try more! Maybe some names or something...hmmmm......

Arrrrrrrrrgggghhhh Mateys, Check out me Booty...

That's pirate for lookey what I got!!!!!

I had a good garage sale-ing day and wanted to share my treasures!
$5.50 for all that goodness!!!!!!


Starting with this GORGEOUS 100% solid wood table lamp. This beauty cost me $2, and once I get finished with her, she'll look like a million bucks! Shes close already... :)

PS-this is by far the HEAVIEST lamp I will probably ever lay my hands on!

I have a confession to make. I have a MAJOR affinity for Gnomes. They're little and jolly and cute, and sharply dressed, I mean, whats not to love?!?! If I ever find one I shall catch him and keep him in my pocket...unless I'm wearing my tight jeans, in which case I guess I'll just shove him in my purse with all my other crap. I purchased this book called "Gnomes" for .50 cents. I got more than I bargained for with this one. Imagine my surprise to find NUDE PICTURES of gnomes in there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let me tell you, it has ruined my image of them a tad bit. I really didn't see that coming from a mile away....

And this...my loveeeee. I have been searching for her for months and months and months! I have BIG plans for her! HUGE! More to come on that in a future post....

So what'd you find this week? :)

Gettin' Crafty on Hump Day....

I'm quite a ways away from moving into the new place. But that shouldn't stop me from making things for it right?!?!?! I've known for some time that the next place I move is having a coffee themed kitchen. And about 18 months ago, I bought 2 rolls of this FAB border...which is what started the whole thing:


Imagine my absolute delight when I found this:


Its a lid to a paper mache box (see the back):

I got it on half off day for .49 cents at Salvation Army. I heart Salvation Army. Anywho...it matches my border. Things that match make me happy :)

I decided, it needs to be a clock. Everyone needs a clock in their kitchen right? No? Hubby says I should just leave it and hang it as is. I never listen to hubby.

So, I found this monstrosity at Goodwill for $2.99 (and don't even GET me started on how outrageous goodwill's prices have become, I mean SERIOUSLY...someone needs to explain to them they are NOT Macy's, ok, I mean GET OVER YOURSELF, seriously *taking Valium*) Now that that's out of my system, I feel better.


So, I ripped that ugly beast apart and united the innards with my lovely lid and VOILA......perfection.......

So the color scheme is black cabinets, with the beige counters and floor already in there. Gold color for the walls (same as the color in the border) and red curtains and accents...what do you think?

So what've you been craftin' for hump day? Link it up, and please comment when you do. Also, visit some of the other links and share some comment love with them too. Please please pretty please :)

My week....

Ok, so I wish I could tell you that the reason I didn't get any crafts done last week is because I was laying around recuperating from my surgery, but that is not the case. Lets sum up my week shall we?

1) Uncle in law passed away Sunday

2) surgery Monday

3) visitation Tuesday

4) bought a house Wednesday

5) sorted junk Thursday

6) garage sale & house closing Friday

7) garage sale Saturday

8) ran around all day Sunday and Monday

Soooooooooooo, needless to say, I'M POOPED!!!!!! ;)

My dr, really hit the nail on the head though. At my pre-op appointment he said he wanted me to take it easy the whole week. I told him I would and then he rolled his eyes and said "I know you." Whoops ;)

Anyway, I'm working on a craft today for gettin' crafty on hump day, and we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow :)

(that is until we close on this new house and I have to start packing...lol)