My Valentine Banner

It's been awhile since I've posted anything, my computer crashed and life just got in the way.

I did complete my Valentine banner and got it hung up.

Thanks to my Cricut! I'm also working on making something with my Cricut for the kids for Valentines Day. But I ran out of that wonderful glue tape so need to make a run to Wally world today.

Also updated our bathroom last weekend and I'll show pictures later on this week.

Dollar Store Picture Frames

No work again today! The roads are ice covered and I'm staying put. Thought I show what I've been doing.

On many of the blogs you've seen the generic white frames redone from Dollar Tree. Well I made my version and added cute pictures.

I'm just loving this blue color!

Now this blue frame is going cream and still in process..all in preparation for our bedroom redo once the weather warms up!

Today, I need to finish reading 92 Pacific Boulevard by Debbie Macomber and play with my Circut.
(I'm making a valentine banner!)

And we're expecting more snow and ice tomorrow and into next week....

Taking a Chance at Goodwill

This morning we woke up to freezing rain and snow and  vert slippery roads. Thankfully my work called Liberal Leave, which means that each employee can decide if they want to come to work that day. Driving in freezing rain is very scary, I'm definitely a whimp in bad weather.

I'm staying home and cleaning, playing Cafe Work on Facebook,  organizing and watching TV. I always like an unexpected day at home to get things done.

I wanted to show what I found last Saturday at Goodwill.

It's a jar full of misc jewelry and a gamble if there's anything worthwhile.

This bracelet is pretty nice, although I'm not crazy about the gold.

Very cute pearl necklace, I plan on taking it apart and using for a future project.

Stick pin, I still have several of these in my jewelry chest!

These ear rings are a interesting and funny thing - they light up and work!

(No I won't be wearing these!)

Plenty of cheap jewelry...

This pin, how could a teacher not keep this??

There's still plenty to go through and as you can imagine, it a tangled nightmare!

It's always interesting to see what people donate...

Any ideas what I could do with all of these jewelry?

One Day Makeover

I love to spend time on the computer looking at rooms that have been redone.

Here's a one day makeover done in New York using what the homeowner already had.

Pictures are courtesy of House Beautiful.

Here's the before, not really all that bad.

Things are starting to get moved around..

And here's the after!

Head over to House Beautiful for many more pictures.

Isn't it a great transformation? I love it!

My Goodwill Finds Today!

The weather is finally nice here! The temperature in my car showed the outside temperature at 25 degrees and it's beautiful out with the sun shining.

Last weekend I didn't do my Saturday morning thrifting because it was something like -17 degrees! Too cold for this one to venture out!

But today I made my run and found some great things, here's just a few of my finds..

My son is a huge popcorn lover and I this will be perfect for him! And only $1!

This is a package of chipboard letters - again, $1!

This picture cost me $2 and I really like it, works for Valentine's Day and also Mother's Day!

Well I promised DH that I would do some cleaning today and I best get going.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

Creamy Hash Brown Casserole

Finally this week we have had more normal temperatures. Mostly in the mid 20's but it sure beats the below zero temp's we had the last week.

This past week our local paper did a story on a women who had one of her recipes picked to be included in the "Gooseberry Patch Christmas with Family & Friends" 2009 Cookbook. The article included two recipes, and this week I made one of them and we loved it! I'm lucky because my family loves casseroles and they're even better as leftovers.

Creamy Hashbrown Casserole

1 # ground beef, browned and drained (when browning the ground beef, season with seasoning salt, garlic & onion)
1 package of room temperature cream cheese
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can drained mushrooms (I didn't have any in the house so we went without)
1 can of milk (use the soup can)
1 package (30 oz) frozen hash browns

Mix all ingredients together except the hash browns. Once mixed, add a couple shakes of Worchestershire sauce. Mix again, then add hash browns. Place mixture into a lightly greased 13 X 9 cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes covered. Uncover, stir and bake a little longer to get a golden brown top on the hashbrowns. Once removed, let stand for 5 minutes

My Black Typewriter

Last month, DH and I went to an auction and I got this typewriter. It was filthy, the type of filthy that comes from being exposed to the outside. It was coated with mud and we got it for $3! Bless my DH, he cleaned it up, and yes - even put it in the dishwasher Jen!

And now that the Christmas decorations are put away, I have the typewriter in the office with the typewriter picture that I found at Goodwill!!

I Got One!

I'm so excited, I got a Cricut for Christmas! And I've got an area in the family room set up for crafting! For now it's a folding table but I'll be looking for something different at Goodwill!

Here's a jewelry box/storage cubbie that I got at Goodwill that I plan on making it fit my style more.

And my first attempt with the Circut - it's so easy!

I didn't go to work today because the weather is so bad, so I'm going to be working on one of my very own family rules...

Our rules will be different since my kids are now adults but it's going to be fun to come up with the rules, perhaps - "backrubs nightly..." Let me know if you have ideas...

Life Lessons

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully

TWO . Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want..

FOUR . When you say, 'I love you ,' mean it.

FIVE. When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye

SIX . Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

TEN.  In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives...

TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly..

THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN. Say 'bless you' when you hear someone sneeze.

SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson !

SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship...

NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone..

(Is anybody else hungry?)

They Fell in Love from Anthropologie

I had to share my first order from Anthroplogie.

The receipt came in this burlap bag, how cute is this? Their name is even embrodiered.

This tag was wrapped around the set of three towels.

This is the other side of the tag - this is too cute to not keep.

The embrodiery is so precious...

What a great gift to give somewhat getting married or like me - married for awhile!

Aren't these just the cutest towels?