Pays to be thrifty

My family has always been on a budget and found that you can save lots by shopping at thrift stores. Instead of paying $80 for express jeans we found them for $3.99 at a thrift store and who cares where it's from! Wash machines have a sanitize setting. Carolina thrift in High Point is my favorite you just have to be willing to dig!

Fall/Halloween sweet treats

Cake pops; cake mix, can of whipped icing, skewers, white melting chocolate, decorating supplies 1. Bake cake like you would normally 2. Let cake cool then crumble completely 3. Add 3 tbsp icing & mix together 4. Roll tightly into 1" balls 4. Melt 2tsp chocolate & dip 1/2" of skewer into the chocolate then insert into balls 5. Cool ball over night with sticks in then 6. Then dip into rest of melted chocolate next day

DIY Halloween decor

1. Clean outside of wine bottle 2. Fill will Halloween candy (candy corn & m&ms better) 2. Wrap ribbon around and glue 3. Use a cut out of card stock with any Halloween themed decor

Everyone needs a "go to"

So you know you have that "go to" or "throw on" outfit that you put on when your in a hurry or too lazy to coordinate but have to look fashionably acceptable. Well here is mine; I got this shirt at rue21 for $24.99 but used 50% coupon and necklace I got off eBay you can also get them off etsy. I found similar tops on eBay for about $14.

DIY flower for tshirt scarf

You can use anything you want for this I chose to use jeans.
1. Turn pants inside out
2. Draw flowers down pants
3. Cut flowers out
4. Fold flower in half then fold again (do this with everyone)
5. Stack them two by two sewing them together like in picture
6. After you see them all together hot glue a flat piece of thicker material to bottom and a pin

Recycle old shirt DIY scarf

Love this idea! My husband has plenty old T-shirts and this is the perfect option to turn them into a cute fall accessory.
1. Lay shirt flat on table and cut hem off.
2. Cut thin strips down shirt, the thinner the more you'll have
3. Lay them out making sure one sides ends are even except for one strip
4.tie the long strip around the even side
5.Cut all but 4 ends of other side making all but the 4 even.
6. Like done with the other side tie one strip around opposite side still leaving three long pieces
7. Face ends opposite like in picture creating a circle with shirt strips
8. Use three long strips to wrap ends together 9. Cut one extra strip a little thicker than before and wrap around end piece hot gluing ends down

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is something that most people really struggle with. It's not easy to forgive someone who does something really mean or hurtful. However, it's you that is a prisoner of that hate and anger. I love the new song forgiveness it says, "the prisoner it really sets free is you, forgiveness." For me, I had never really struggled with it; I struggle with many things but forgiving and getting over things was always really easy for me. This was until someone said some really ugly unnecessary things and for the first time I really struggled with forgiving this person. During this time of anger I couldn't turn on klove or open my bible without hearing or being shown something about forgiveness. Finally after many prayers I forgave that person and felt like 10000 lbs were off my chest and I remembered it wasn't about that person or me. It is about God who forgives us.

Fashion for less

I love finding an high dollar outfit for less! I will go on pinterest and screen shot an outfit then go to thrift store or look online for a much cheaper version. Here is the latest... I got this shirt from oldnavy.com for 30% off, target jeans $15, boots from oldnavy.com they were $32.00- 30%, then used a gray DIY scarf from old tshirt. Paired clothes with a designer inspired watch from eBay for $7.99 and two cable style bracelets!

Easy fall attire

Went to rue21 today and they have lots of cute fall options! If you like easy and simple the loose shirts and skinny colored jeans are great or add a sweater with long necklace to add a little pizazz.

DIY photo canvas

I loooove photo canvas but just can't muster out $50 for one, especially went I want a wall full of them! So thanks to pinterest I found the perfect solution! So you need; pictures, matching size canvas (ex.You have a 5x7 picture, use 5x7 canvas), mod podge, brush, gray paint( if you want shadow/tunnel effect) 1.paint a layer of mod podge onto canvas. 2.trim around picture then place onto canvas. 3. Paint 3-4 layers of mod podge onto picture, let each coat dry before painting another coat. 4. (optional) paint gray on sides of canvas and on edges using your index finger to lightly spread the paint on outside of picture

DIY charm bracelet

Need a gift idea? I made this charm bracelet for $10 using all my supplies from hobby Lobby, don't forget to take a 40% off coupon. You need: decorative trim (very thin), 3 charms (can be beads, letters, etc), tiny & med size jump rings, bracelet chain, and either jewelry wire, super glue, or need & thread(see steps first to decide which one u need)
 1. Use your smaller jump rings to put charms on.
 2. Attach all your charms ( on Juno rings) to larger jump ring.
3.measure decorative trim next to bracelet chain giving an extra inch slack
4.weave trim through link under clasp giving an 1/2 in slack.
5 & 6. Weave trim throughout chain.
7. Cut extra trim slack to 1/3" and wrap around second link.
8. This is the option step you can do what I did and wrap jewelry wire around this top link over top the slack trim left over or you can neatly put a dap of super glue to hold it down or sew it down.
9. Do this step again for other end.
10. Add jump ring with charms to middle of bracelet

Stay full & fit

I don't know if you are like me but, if I am hungry I eat EVERYTHING in sight! The trick for me is to eat fulfilling food, especially in the am, my cravings are really bad about lunch time if I'm not too hungry I can be satisfied with a light healthy lunch. I have three breakfasts I typically alternate among; kashi lean, an omelet, and smoothie. I eat kashi with a side of fruit and an 8 oz cup of almond milk. An omelet i make with four eggs, spinach, ham, & cheese I also eat this with fruit & milk. The last is my favorite, a fruit smoothie. In my smoothie I put two cups of fruit (whatever I am in the mood for), 1 scoop protein powder, 2 tbsp vanilla Greek yogurt, 1 cup almond milk, ice, 4 spinach leaves, and sometimes I add 1 tsp of peanut butter.

Pear, Apple, or Banana?

Do you know what figure type you are? We all know women are shaped soooo differently but typically they can be placed into three categories; pear, apple, or banana. A pear shaped women is someone thicker in the hips & legs while an apple shaped women has more up top if it's a thicker chest or even a belly. A banana figured women is someone whose weight is evenly distributed throughout her body, which is rare! It is really important to know your body type so you know the right thing to wear with it to make the outfit flattering to your shape. Women with thicker hips & legs need to put the emphasis up top! Empire waist dresses look great with pear shaped women; also, dark jeans are a must! Heels will make your legs look longer & leaner which is also great for a thicker leg. For all you apple shaped women stick with a looser top & skinny jeans ur leggings with dresses. Pumps are great for y'all too, to make the legs look longer. Colored jeans will be great for y'all this fall with a nude or black sweaters to take the attention away from up top. Banana figured women can typically pull off any style just be cautious of normal fashion rules.

Catch me if you can

Want to start running and just don't know how? I have a plan, that I used, that is awesome! I have not always be a runner, I played soccer and cheered. I ran when I played soccer but not as a sport regularly. After I had my son, I lost a lot of weight and really wanted to keep it off and my family were avid runners and were always really in shape, especially my sister. I did my first 5k after Ayden in pilot mountain it was a mud run & pretty intense. It only took me 6 weeks after having a baby, practically being a couch potato during that time with my new born, to get the endurance with this routine to run 3.1 miles. This work out routine is super easy and you progress fast! Here is this http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml, go on and print the routine out.

Colorful fall

I love taking part in the new trends, but some I am just a little hesitant. Colored jeans are one of those. They were huge this summer and are still in for the fall. If you're hesitant like me, try wearing a mint color or a light pastel with an over-sized sweater in a nude or black then pair them with some short boots or suede pumps. If you have thicker legs you could try tight red jeans with a dark empire-waist dress that comes mid thigh and put them with pumps to make your legs look longer. You could also wear high boots if the red is just too much! I am also cheap! I love high fashion but sure can't pay the price, even now that we are diaper free I cannot justify paying $150 for shoes or $200 for a bracelet. If your like me, you can try ebay, you just have to know your measurements. I found some colored jeans on there for $14.99 with $6.00 shipping, check out the picture for the sellers I am taking about. I am also loving the blazer look. I found some on ebay too, they are a little pricy for me (I told you I was cheap!) but they beat the $125 name brand price.

We have a winner!

We couldn't wait till this weekend to announce our first drawing winner! If you didn't win this time that's ok, I will have a drawing every month for a DIY craft! We will announce this months with in the next week. Our winner gets to pick her choice of color for her necklace from the picture!

Need an easy outfit?

Try the sweater-belt look. Super easy! All you need is a collared shirt, cardigan, and belt! You can go crazy or stay simple. Typically it works better with a button down cardigan but I only had a asymmetrical black wrap, but it still works. Pair the combo with dressy pants or dark jeans and you're good to go. You can find cheap thin belts on eBay, mine was less that $3.

Be BOLD

Colors are in this fall bright & bold. If it's too much for you pair it with brown or black cardigan

Good morning & hello terrible twos, again?

So you thought twos were bad? Ha! They were just a warm up! While the terrible twos are full of tantrums in Walmart where the old ladies just look at you like your a horrible parent because your child is flinging their arms and legs or partaking in the famous head banging against the ground or wall. Tantrums aren't the easiest thing to deal with but after being ignored for a few minutes they realize the pain isn't worth it. However, threes' are much worse; they are more of I know exactly what I am supposed to be doing it not being doing and I'm going to do the opposite just because! We have tried spankings, unsuccessful. We tried taking away toys, unsuccessful. Often with this phase the child wears down the parent and they give in or just pretend they don't see what they are doing. The key for the terrible threes (one I have NOT mastered) is to wear down the child instead of letting them do it to you. For example, in time out Ayden typically would test us and get out of the chair he is supposed to be in 50 times. Instead of screaming or spanking Jim I get up and calmly place him back in the chair facing the wall. I have to do this over and over for the ten minutes he is supposed to be in time out. This takes a ton of patience and finally is wears down the child and they finally do what they are told to!

Color wheel

I grew up knowing complimentary colors like the back of my hand; helped having a mother as an art teacher! Really comes in handy when you have an outfit and need to find a cardigan to match or an extra dash of color somewhere. If you don't know you color wheel & have a smart phone your in luck! I found the best app and it's free!!! You can actually click on a color and it give you matching colors; it has some other great features too. If your not in the 3G world find one on google images & print it out. The color opposite it on the color wheel is its compliment.

Broken toe???

Ah, so I am mid way into training for a half marathon and this past week I have been a terrible runner! Travis;s grandma passed Wednesday morning so I didn't run my 5 miles that night and with the funeral home Thursday night I couldn't do my pace run Thursday. Then I decided to take my normal Friday off as a rest day so my muscles wouldn't be too sore for my distance run Saturday night; and albe darned if I didn't break my toe Saturday!! I had just put Ayden down and finally fallen asleep (Due to crazy schedule, I had not been able to nap in 2 weeks) when the door bell rang and Maggie began to bark. AHH!! I ran to the front room half asleep and got my two smaller toe caught on the stone wall and went tumbling to my knees clinging my toes! There was an old lady at the door, not really sure what she even said, was in so much pain all I wanted to do was hold my toe. Finally, she left and I hobbled back in the house, forget a nap with the throbbing pain of my toe. How big of a baby am I, I thought. I had a natural child birth but am crying over a broken toe?!!? Well I decided to "RICE" it, something I actually DID learn in nursing school. I knew better than to run on the toe Saturday but decided I could post pone my run till Sunday, however I only made it a quarter of a mile before I had to turn around! Ugh, hoping it heels quickly, going to spend the day being lazy with it elevated, iced, and buddy taped! This picture was taken a few hours after it happened, don't mind my un-manicured nasty feet.

Simplicity

Ok, one more for tonight. This is an outfit I wore the other day I combined a pair of dark skinny jeans & loose fitting shirt. One of my rules, with a few exceptions, if you wear one piece of clothing really tight the rest needs to be loose & vice versa! With skinny jeans, they thicker the leg, the darker they need to be, promise it'll look better! Ever girl no matter the size needs a pair of skinny jeans even just to wear under something else, I use mine a ton especially in winter with boots! The top I wore with this is very thin so perfect for all spring & fall. I went chunky on jewelry wearing a mans watch & jcrew purple charm bracelet. You can go simple on the shoes with a tan or brown pair of ballet slippers or go crazy with some animal print.

Tunic

Love, love, love the tunic look! I got this tunic dress off of ebay it's from old navy. Most tunic's fit really loose and you have to show off other assets, like your sexy legs! I paired this dress with slim white heels to add some height and make my calf's look slimmer. Because the tunic is very simple, it leaves plenty of room to go crazy with jewelry, chunky and bling!