Deal Spotting: Cute iPhone covers for Cheap!

Mint Green Lace and Pearl Cover - Black and White Polka Dot Cover - Pink Chevron Cover

Aren't these adorable? I am in the market for a new cover and I think the polka dots might be just what I need! Had to share my finds - free shipping on all! Yes! I'm thinking iPhone covers would be a great stocking stuffer this year...


If you like this post, you might also like:
Fall Fashion Under $25 - Pt. 1
Fall Fashion Under $25 - Pt. 2
Little Man Fashion Under $10
Deal Spotting: Clip-In Bangs 

Chocolate Sugar Cookies

This weekend I really wanted to decorate some cookies, but I have a hard time wanting to make sugar cookies when what I really want is CHOCOLATE. So, when I came upon a recipe at Sprinkle Bakes for Chocolate Sugar Cookies, I was so excited! I tried it, had so much fun decorating, and am still enjoying the taste of them. I made cream cheese frosting to go with them.

I adapted it a little bit for my own taste, so here are the recipes:

Little Man Clothes on the Cheap!

 Fold Over High Top Sneakers  Long Sleeved Striped Tee  Orange Striped Sweatshirt

Dino Jammies  Navy Microfleece Cargo Pants  Grey Canvas Pants

  
Luke has been outgrowing all his clothes, so I have been on the hunt for some new things for him that won't break the bank. I am super happy with some of my finds, so I thought I would share them with you all, in case you have a little man yourself (Christmas?) or have baby showers in your near future!

Happy shopping!

If you enjoyed this post, check out these other style for a song posts:
25 Skirts Under $25
Fall Fashion Under $25 - Pt. 1
Fall Fashion Under $25 - Pt. 2
This post may be linked up at one of these fabulous linky parties, check them out!

Our Week in Pins and Photographs

Please exercise Pin Etiquette: If you like an idea, click to the source and pin the original post!

How amazing does this spinach and artichoke pasta look? I am totally drooling over it. It is most definitely going on my meal list next week. Thanks, Pioneer Woman! 

Gratitude.

I've been thinking a lot about gratitude lately, and how one's attitude can have everything to do with how content they are with what they have. When I saw this quote I had to share it. It's so easy to forget what your blessings are when you are comparing yourself to others. Hope y'all like it! Just click on the image to print it out!

Candy Bar Matching Baby Shower Game w/Free Printables!

Click image for printable page. 

I had the opportunity to help plan a baby shower game for my sweet sister-in-law Lauren when we were last home for Liz's wedding. Our due dates are exactly one month apart, and I am so excited for my little munchkins to finally have a cousin! Our Aunt Karen recommended this game to me and it was so much fun, I had to share it with you guys.

It is a pretty basic matching game. What makes it so fun is 1) the matches are adorable and 2) the person who makes the match gets to keep that candy bar, so there are tons of winners! I was a little worried that the game would take too long, but once you get going it actually goes pretty fast.

I made printables of all the cards that you can click through, but here is an example of what the matching pairs look like.

goes with...

Even if you don't want to use my printables, below is a list of the matches so you can make your own cards!

Deal Spotting: Clip-In Bangs by Jessica Simpson

Okay, this may seem like a weird deal to share, but these clip-in bangs are being recommended to me all over the place. They are normally around $25 but right now Amazon has them for unde $15, with free shipping! I have wanted to try them because of how cute they look on Madeline from Uber Chic for Cheap, and Sydney from The Day Book. I think that if these do work for you, they could save you a boat load of money on haircuts! I am super stingy about paying for hair cuts, that's why I keep my hair so long. It's so much easier. I love having bangs, but I'm currently growing mine out (a grueling process) because I couldn't keep up with trimming them all the time. I just ordered my clip-ins and I'm excited to see if they work with my hair color, and what they look like. I will report next week! In the mean time, if you want to order some, here's the link. They have GREAT reviews and glowing recommendations from other bloggers.

Guest Post for The Sisters Four!

Hey guys! I'm guest posting today for The Sisters Four Say More is More. If you haven't heard of their blog yet, you'll definitely want to check them out. They are four sisters who share in writing this thrifty fashion blog. They motivate me to get ready in the morning and always make me laugh.. You will love them!

Here's a teaser of my post...

Check it out, & happy Wednesday to you all!

5 Day Meal Plan with Shopping List!

Links to the recipes:

The BEST Creamy Balsamic Bread Dip

I love carbs. I am a sucker for breads and noodles and it's no wonder everything I pin on pinterest ends up being one or the other. When I was growing up, for special "fancy" meals my mom would buy yummy bread and set out olive oil and balsamic vinegar in little bowls for dipping, like they do at nice Italian restaurants. I loved it. 

Then, a year or so ago, a friend of my mother-in-law's introduced us to this recipe. I love how it has the same delicious oil/balsamic taste that I've always loved, in one creamy and exciting bowl. It is super quick and easy to make, and it's sure to please a crowd.

I make it in two variations, so I'm giving you both recipes. 

Our Week in Pins and Photographs

Please exercise Pin Etiquette: If you like an idea, click to the source and pin the original post!

This chair is amazing! It was made out of an old suitcase and some tufted cushions. I want one so badly now! Maybe I'll get around to that this spring... Thanks See Kate Sew!

Freebies & Deals For Your Weekend!

This cute Owl Necklace is only $1.85 on Amazon right now, with free shipping! It's so cute, and what a great holiday gift for someone! Also the $2 free music credit is still available too, if you haven't gotten yours yet. (I will be using mine to buy the new Taylor Swift next week. So excited!) Walgreens is offering a free 8x10 photo print until October 20th at midnight, so hurry and snatch that up! (You could print one of these free printables for your house!) Use code TRULYFREE at checkout and opt for in-store pickup.

Dave Ramsey Quote & Free Motivation

Lately I have felt like I could use a little extra motivation to keep my goals in mind, so I typed up two of my favorite quotes ever and printed them off. I framed them so I can see them every time I pass. Of course, I wanted to share them with y'all too - couldn't we all use a pretty reminder of our goals?

DIY Monogram Door Letters

My nesting instincts have really kicked in lately! I want to make or buy about a million different things. I loved this project because it was affordable, simple and fun. Perfect for a busy, pregnant mom on a budget. If you have older kids, it might be a fun craft to do as a family for the same reasons noted above! I knew I wanted to do something on the kids' doors, because they end a hallway and it just looked so empty and white down there. However, I also didn't want it to be to big or extravagant because I hate when things look gaudy or cluttered. I love the clean and simple lines of these monograms.

Here's a quick photo tutorial if you'd like to make your own:

Save Money on Milk & Cheese!

So I don't do a ton of couponing these days, but here is one super easy way to save a few bucks at the grocery store on a regular basis. Coupons.com has this Milk coupon available as well as a Cheese one, and can be used on 1 gallon of any brand of milk you wish or 2 lbs of any cheese! If you simply print these coupons out and keep them in your wallet, and remember to pull them out at the register you will save .75 cents (or $1 if your store doubles coupons) every time you buy milk and $1 every time you buy cheese. A penny saved is a penny earned am I right?! (If you have never couponed before, here is my Coupons 101 post, with the basics.) On Coupons.com you can print each coupon twice from every computer, once you print it the first time just hit your back button (it may ask you to refresh the page after doing this) and it will print again. Then they reset these coupons every month so you should be able to continually print them before your shopping trips! If when you arrive at Coupons.com you do not see these specific coupons, click on the tab at the top labeled "local coupons" and type in area code 84092, then click back to "coupons" tab.

Style for a Song: Fall Fashion Under $25

eyelash lace peter pan top - striped cardigan - denim shirt - classic wool coat - ankle boot - ditsy elephant sweater - polka dot scarf

Canning Tomatoes

 

I love canning. My husband grew up with his mom canning every fall and he is the one who suggested I try it. My mother-in-law taught me a little after we got married and I loved it from the start. I honestly think it's fun and the food tastes so much better than regular cans. I love that we can have fresh tasting food off season. 

Tomatoes are one of my favorite things to can. I am a tomato snob, they just aren't as good when they are off season, so I use these cans in place of fresh tomatoes in recipes all winter. Also, tomatoes are one of the easier things to can (in my opinion) so if you are a beginner they are a good place to start! 

Here's the process broken down into easy steps: 

Our Week in Pins and Photographs

Please exercise Pin Etiquette: If you like an idea, click to the source and pin the original post!

I am totally loving this idea for instagram photos! I have about a million (baije1) and I am always trying to think of a good and visually pleasing way to display some. My favorite things about this project are that you can customize it yourself for however many pictures you'd prefer, and it costs under $10 to print! Thanks, Becky Higgins! 

Thrifted Sweatshirt Re-Fashion

I found this sweatshirt at Savers for $2 a few months ago. As you can see, it. was. huge. My husband was so confused when I was buying it, but I knew I could take it in. I loved the color and the v-neck style of it. It was worth the risk. It also has shoulder pads. Yes, has. I left them! Anyway, once it was home the task seemed daunting because I thought I would need to do a bunch of fancy sewing to keep it proportional but it turns out a quick taking in of the sides and sleeves proved to be all that was needed!

FREE $2 AMAZON MUSIC CREDIT!

Great news you guys. Amazon is offering up another free $2 MP3 credit so you can download some tunes! Just go to this page and answer one simple question, what you think the best care package would include. Then, full disclosure, it will ask you to share your answer on FB.  That's seriously all, so enjoy your new music!

Beadboard Backed Bookshelf Tutorial

We have been working on getting Luke's "big boy room" ready. I am hoping to transition him before the baby comes (ambitious, I know). Anyway, a friend was selling this awesome bookshelf for $20. I loved the size of it, the color (which matches his other furniture) and the sturdy frame. The only real issue with the piece was the backing. Originally it had that flimsy cardboard backing and there were holes in a couple places, in addition to being just generally beat up.

So, we headed to Lowe's to find a new backing for our bookshelf. Here's what we needed to do this project: 

Free Redbox Today (Oct. 10)

Happy Birthday Redbox!! In celebration Redbox is offering a free one night rental when you use the code BIRTHDAY. Limit one free rental per debit card. Grab a flick and enjoy your night in!

DIY Halloween Garland

I made a super easy garland this weekend along with a Halloween bunting banner. Instead of explaining it, I thought I would just do a photo tutorial for you guys which can be found below. I'm pretty sure they are easier to understand than directions would be but if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask in the comments! Happy Halloween!

Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats

Yesterday we were invited to a friend's family get together and our assignment was to bring "finger treats" for the kids. My mind went immediately to rice crispy treats but I wanted to spice it up a bit. I am a chocolate lover, so I thought, why couldn't we make them with coco pebbles instead? Of course, we wanted to make them festive so we decided to make regular rice crispy treats for the purists in the form of ghosts and chocolate ones as bats. 

Let me tell you, they were a hit! Sometimes it is so easy to feel like you have to do some big elaborate thing in order for it to be cute or festive, but you don't. I love how this was so simple, but still yummy and fun. 

When we were newly married my husband surprised me with this cookie cutter set. I love it so much! I use them tons and I know they will get even more use as the kiddies get older. That is where I found the ghost and bat cookie cutters. 

Here's the recipe: 

Our Week in Pins and Photographs

Please exercise Pin Etiquette: If you like an idea, click to the source and pin the original post!

 

I am dying to throw a Halloween party. So, this week's pins are Halloween themed. It seems like the ideas I'm usually drawn to are ones that are so simple and easy. I love the gummies in the ice cubes idea. I think I'll freeze them in lemonade and put them in sprite.  Mmmm.  Thanks Martha! 

Pumpkin Swirl Brownies

I have been getting my pumpkin treat on lately. I can't help myself. Judging from my Pinterest feed neither can anyone else so I don't feel too bad. These pumpkin swirl brownies hit the spot. The best part? I totally winged it and made it up, but it is a KEEPER. I took a basic Betty Crocker brownie mix and spiced it up to get my pumpkin fix in a brownie. These were so divine, I am not kidding when I say I have never loved a brownie more in my life!
So here's the recipe.

Hospital Bag Packing Checklist Free Printable

On Saturday I entered my 3rd trimester! It is completely freaking me out how soon this baby is due for arrival. I am so excited for her to come but I also have so much to do first! One of the things on my to-do list is packing my hospital bag.

You may remember from this post, but my son Luke was born premature, in his 34th week of gestation. Obviously, no first time parent anticipates that happening to them, and we were far from prepared. Not only did I not have a bag packed, but my water broke in the middle of the night, when we were away from home sleeping at my parents.

Here is my big advice:
1) Pack your bag early. Oh, what I would have given to have had my bag packed that night. Even though you may feel silly packing for the hospital when there's still a long trek ahead, better safe than sorry.
2) Pack small and pack smart. You don't want to have to carry ten bags into the hospital. There isn't much space in those rooms and you don't want a ton of junk you don't need. However, you don't want to forget anything critical like your camera or your charger.
3) Have fun! I honestly love so many things about being pregnant. I love moments like this. While I pack my bag I am going to dream of my sweet girl and imagine what she will look like and what it will feel like to hold her.

Here is an image of the free hospital packing checklist printable I made to share with you all:

Pin It To Win It Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!

It's giveaway time again! We're so excited to be giving away a $25 dollar Amazon.com e-Gift Card as well as $5 worth of MP3 credits to one of our lucky readers. It's time to go shopping and treat yourself. We love to be able to give back to you guys for being such wonderful readers! We'll be using Pinterest for this giveaway and you just enter below via Rafflecopter! You'll be asked to pin one of your favorite posts from our site (directions are more specific in the rafflecopter entry form) and then enter with your e-mail address. You can do up to three entries! Our lucky winner will be chosen on Monday October 8th and the winner will be notified via e-mail. Happy pinning!

**Please leave an e-mail address as your entry, or we will have no way to contact you and will have to choose a new winner.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Quick and Easy Old Telephone Makeover

This weekend I was looking at my bookshelf and I felt like it needed a little more color. I have all kinds of knick knacks up there, one of which was this old phone I found in a free box at a garage sale. I spray painted it real quick with a bottle of Pink Watermelon spray paint I had left over from my suitcase makeover. It took two coats and about ten minutes total of my time. So easy! I love it five times more now. This is my favorite way to decorate. I look around my house and figure out if there is anything I can change up without having to buy something. Spray paint is my best friend when it comes to decorating!

If you like this post you may also like:
How to Decorate on a Tiny Budget 
Polka Dot Bottle Vase Tutorial
Vintage Suitcase Makeover 
DIY Chalkboard Frame

Cream Cheese Pie

If you have never made cream cheese pie before, you will die over how easy and delicious it is. When we were little kids this was always our pie of choice, no wonder my mom was so ready to oblige! All it takes is 5 ingredients and 5 minutes. 

Here's the super easy recipe: 

1 8 oz block cream cheese

1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

1/3 cup lemon juice

1 tsp vanilla

1 graham cracker pie crust

topping of choice (we love cherries, blueberries, raspberries, chocolate, caramel etc.)

Beat cream cheese with beaters until fluffy. Add in sweetened condensed milk and beat until smooth. Stir in lemon juice and vanilla. Pour in pie crust and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or until set. Serve with your favorite topping. 

So easy right? I dare you to try to make this pie last longer than a day. It is so creamy, smooth and delicious. Hope you all like it as much as we do! 

 

*If you enjoyed this post, here are some of our other dessert favorites: 

Aunt Val's Caramel
Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies
The Best Apple Pie Filling

**This post may be linked up at one of these fabulous linky parties, check them out!