Deal Finder Friday!

Hopefully this will be a new series on here to (somewhat) hold true to my blog name.
I am going to try and do a little round up of some deals, freebies, & giveaways floating around during the week.

Giveaways:

Finding Hope Blog is hosting a giveaway for one of her amazing home management notebooks!

My Messmerized Life is hosting a giveaway for a super cute 31 tote!

Coupons:

coupon code Y7F2012 at checkout to get 20% off everything at children's place

Taster Choice coupons: B1G1 & $.65 off 1

Chobani yogurt coupons

40% off one item at Hobby Lobby

20% off your next Payless Shoe Purchase

$10 off $40 Bath & Body Works Purchase

Crayola Glow Explosion Spin Magic for $6.61

Disney Cinderella 2 in 1 ballgown surprise for $9.99

Sign up to get a P&G samples & Coupons

Anyone else know of any great deals or giveaways around the web? I'm not sure if I should just let people comment these or create a link up. Ideas?

Hopes and Dreams for 2012

It's a new year and that means everyone is starting off their resolutions and goals. I'm sure the gym business is booming right now, hehe. Anyway, I wanted to reflect back on 2011 for a minute before starting my hopes and dreams for 2012. 2011 has probably been one of the biggest years of my life thus far. I graduated with my Bachelors in Accounting. I started quite a few new "career" paths. I started this blog. I got married. My first niece and nephew were born. It's kind of silly but as the ball dropped this year I began to tear up thinking about all the memories from 2011.

I am very optimistic for 2012. I would love to be able to further my careers. (Make as much money as possible!) I would like to further broaden my photography skills and knowledge. I want to cook! I want to actually cook something new once a week if I am lucky! I want to continue to grow and develop this blog! I want to get pregnant and begin to grow our family. I want to clean and get fully organized in this house. (I'm sure once I accomplish it we'll end up moving but oh well!) I want to start reading again. Oh, and if that's not enough, I want to travel! It's one of my favorite things to do! We're planning our California trip now and have a few more hopefully in the works.

What are your hopes, dreams, goals, resolutions for 2012? Link up and let us know! :]

New Year!

I'm taking part in the New Year - New Follower's Fest! Come and join the fun! Also, be on the look out for a New Years resolution/goals post coming soon! ...I hope!



ps. Sorry for the lack of posting, not only have the holidays consumed a lot of my time I've also had two deaths in the family of some really amazing people :[ regular posting shall hopefully resume soon!

Homemade Ornaments!

Here are some Christmas ornaments I have made for our tree!

We went with a fake one this year (It was SO easy to set up!) It looks a little scarce but I think it's because the cat keeps climbing it and pushing all the branches down! I'm more of a real tree person but I do enjoy the low maintenance...What about you? Real or Fake?

Crayola Clay Ornaments:

To make these I simply took some white crayola clay (Any clay would work, even model magic!) and used cookie cutters to cut out Christmas shapes. I also used some stamps to add a little something to them. I should have done colored ink to make them stand out but there's always next time. Put a little hole in the top and let them dry!

Once dry string a ribbon through and hang!

Glitter ornaments:

These have been all over pinterest and they are SUPER easy!

Simply take Pledge Future floor wax and pour it into a glass ornament. Make sure it coats the inside and pour out the extra. Then pour the glitter in doing the same. Swirl it around until it coats the inside. Then replace the top! So Super easy!

Sense they are glass I also decided to try some glass etching on them and I love it! Simply brush the product on, wait however long it says (I can't remember this second) and wipe off!

Paper Star Ornament:

This is a little twist on the paper ornament I've seen on pinterest. I took our wedding program, cut it into strips, and folded it into paper stars. (Don't know how? Don't worry, neither did I! I used a tutorial found here!)

Some Other Ornaments on our tree this year:

What does your tree look like this year? What personal touches have you added?

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Christmas Cards & My Fake Mantel!

I am far behind on Christmas cards! Anyone else? So here are some creative ideas I have found around the internet (pinterest more specifically!) :

And here is a Tiny Prints idea that I’m thinking about doing:

So what do you think?? Opinions?
Also, I don’t have a mantel so here’s my makeshift mantel! I took a piece of wood, cut it and put pegs in it.
Then I stained it:

And cut out letters to paint (LOVE my cricut!)

I don’t have the finished product quite ready yet but here it is so far (Don't mind the paper letters...)

Don't mind the absolutely horrible basement floor but what do you think so far? What does your mantel look like?

 

Also linked up at  http://www.the36thavenue.com/

Holiday Decorating!

More Holiday Decorating! (I know, I really just CAN’T stop!) Both of these were super easy and very quick! I got a two pack of canvases, wrapping paper, and some bows. Wrap the canvases like gifts and add a bow! Then hang it on the wall. I might even add a gift tag to spruce it up. The ones with the trees I plan to find ribbon and wrap it like this (but I haven’t found quite the right ribbon yet!)

Second thing I did was print out some awesome subway art (found here) and framed it to put on our headboard! I am falling in love with the subway art. I’m hopefully going to make some of my own so keep a look out for them!

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Advent Calendar!

I decided for our first married Christmas it would be really fun for my husband and I to make an advent calendar filled with fun little activities and treats. Each day we alternate, I will fill either odd or even and he will open and vice versa. I wasn’t quite sure how to do it and didn’t have much on hand besides my mass amounts of craft supplies so I ended up mod podging some scrapbook paper onto clothespins and cutting out some envelopes and etc. on my cricut. I think they might need a little something more but I’m not sure what. Any ideas??

Close-up of the clothespins:

Whole Calendar:

So what do you think? Any ideas to spruce it up a bit?

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