Giveaway Weekend!

It's time...Craft Group Tim

Whoohoo! I told you I had some great giveaways coming up! (I always do…but the anticipation of the holidays makes them especially fun this time of year!)

Two of my three friends over at How Does She (it’s such a fab site…check it out!) recently started a new endeavor – a business based around crafting. Even better -- crafting parties. How fun is that?

A Makia Craft Group is a great way to spend an evening with the girls – creating, gabbing, eating – perfect!!

But the best part is you don’t have to do ANY prep – no sawing wood, no running around for supplies, no nothin’. Makia helps you plan, organize and host a successful craft group by simplifying every step.

The kits include everything that is needed to complete your craft – glue, materials, paper – all of it! And when you purchase ten or more kits, you get a free kit (a $10 value) for you as the host! And the nice little bonus -- FREE SHIPPING! (Seriously that rocks!)

A stress free, fun and productive girls' night out!

How fun would it be to order craft kits for Thanksgiving day? The kids and parents (and grandparents!) could work on them together:

(OK, that little turkey is killing me!)

And check it out – he turns into a snowman! Two crafts in one!:

(Makia Creations will be taking orders for the Thanksgiving kits until November 15th or until they are sold out.)

My girlfriends and I get together for an ornament exchange every holiday season -- but how fun would be to do an evening of Christmas crafting too?! (They’re not all crafty – but with everything ready to go, I know they could totally pull it off.)  ;)

This countdown to Christmas project would be perfect!:

Ack. Love!:

There are always new fun new kits being added too. I love love LOVE this Christmas subway art!:

Remember there is FREE shipping and a FREE supply kit with every craft group order ($20 value)!

And you don’t need a party to order – get one for yourself and do it with the kids. Or by yourself. With some hot cocoa. Hmmm…perfect. :)

The folks at Makia Creations are giving away TEN craft kits for you and nine of your friends! That's a $250 value! Whooeee, how fun!

You are allowed up to three entries (per person) for this giveaway:

1. Check out the craft kits here and come back to leave a comment telling us which kit you'd like to create with your friends.

2. Become a fan of Makia Creations on Facebook. Come back to this page and leave a comment letting us know you're a fan of Makia.

3. Sign up to host a craft group (it's free). All readers can can get a free kit, preferred pricing and free shipping if they host a craft group. If you host a craft group, leave a comment on this page letting me know.

This giveaway will be open till Monday at noon – have fun and have a GREAT weekend! :)

TDC on The Nate Show!

WHOO to the HOO. I am so excited! I’ve been keeping you in the dark about this fun little news – sorry about that. :) I just didn’t want to say anything till I had an air date, knowing the little I know about TV production…and even now with an air date scheduled, I know it could still end up on the cutting room floor.

But…WHOOHOO!

I’m optimistic and excited so I’m spilling! :)

It started a few weeks ago when I got an email late one night that started:

“Hey Sarah, 
My name is Michelle and I’m a producer on The Nate Berkus Show…”

UM. Hello Michelle!

I woke up hubby from a deep sleep for that one. :)

Anyway, we talked over email and the phone off and on about me coming out, and then I got word early this week that the segment they were thinking about me coming out for was cut.

But they wanted to use my site in a segment called Nate’s Finds – at first I thought it would be just a quick mention, but I think it’s going to be a few minutes worth. (I think. I really have no idea…I haven’t seen what they taped.) So I spent most of the day Tuesday emailing pictures, links, info, and more pictures to one of the producers.

I hear Nate himself was digging one of my project in particular, and did one of his own – can’t wait to see it!

I got word today that the Thrifty Decor Chick segment will be on an episode that airs Tuesday, November 16th.

I have to admit – I was kind of relieved they didn’t need me to come out right now. I’m a planner and the thought of getting the call and flying out the next day was giving me hives. :) At least this time of year -- with the holidays, hubby’s job (three words = marching band season), needing a hair cut, child care, wanting to lose ten pounds. You know.

And now I get to watch and not worry that I look like a total dweeb. It will just be cutie Nate. Showing pictures of my stuff. I can handle that!

Maybe some day I’ll get to go out there and hug swoon over meet Nate in person. ;)

Until then, I can’t wait to see my little “there in spirit” segment! Hope you can catch it!

And as always, thanks for your support! :)

HomeGoods Mom Cave (Giveaway!)

Oooooh…I’ve been so excited about this one! I have a FAB giveaway for you today -- I’ve been chomping at the bit to tell you about!

HomeGoods has a Mom Cave promotion going on right now that you may have heard about around blogland. I don’t care who you are…young, old, work outside or in the home, one child or seven, children or not…every woman needs a spot they can go and just relax. Recharge. Regroup. Cause we make our worlds go round. We do – you are the glue in your household.

And being the glue gets tiring. :)

HomeGoods worked with the talented interior designer Elaine Griffin to come up with four essentials of the Mom Cave:

Sounds good to me! Love it!

Thanks to HomeGoods, I was able to work on my own itty bitty Mom Cave. If you haven’t been to HomeGoods (or TJMaxx) – you. must. go. If you live near one, it is your duty as an American to check out the deals!! At least that's the platform I would run on…

You’ll find just what you were looking for and just the thing you didn’t know you were looking for.

You know I adore their lamps:

See all those drum shades? Swoon. The most expensive lamp I’ve ever purchased there was $50, but most are $30 each. For the selection, quality and the fact that they come with a shade – it’s hard to beat those prices. Lamps are pretty affordable most places, but adding on that shade is what gets ya.

There’s aisle after aisle (after aisle) of mirrors and art:

And there’s always a TON of furniture. I saw these two upholstered headboards the day I was there and thought they were lovely:

 

If you’ve been to HomeGoods, you know that doesn’t even scratch the surface. If you’ve never been but hear us bloggers go on and on (and on) about HomeGoods, you know that doesn’t even scratch the surface. ;)

We have a little spot in our master bedroom that has turned into my own little Mom Cave over the years, and this is what it looked like for a long time:

Ahhhhhh…the shiny brass is blinding me!!!!

Sorry…I couldn’t resist. :)

I thought this spot could use some warming up, and I started with the table. I’d pulled that one from the basement forever ago, and because it’s meant to be an end table, it stuck out really far from the wall. I wanted to cozy it up a bit, so I searched for just the right table at HomeGoods…I found plenty, most in the $150-$200 range. I didn’t want to spend that much and figured I wasn’t going to find what I was looking for.

But then I saw this one…and the birds started singing:

Really…there was a bird in the store. It started singing.

I KID. I KID!!

The singing was in my head. :) I’ve been wanting to pull some metallic tones into the room and this is a lovely muted gold -- the metal has almost a faux bamboo look, and the top is a mirror.

It was exactly what I envisioned for the space…AND it was only $60! Score!

One of the reasons I love HG so (we’re tight, so I can call them HG) is their selection of look-a-likes from more expensive stores. If you stalk browse Pottery Barn catalogs like me, you may have seen this pretty clock:

Well, at $39 it’s just a teensy out of my comfort zone for a little clock…but HomeGoods had a lovely version (I think it’s even bigger than the PB one?) for $15:

And dare I say – I like this one even better?

If I had my way and a few extra hundred bucks a month, I’d have fresh flowers all over our house at all times. But I don’t so I don’t, but I hope to treat myself as often as I can here:

They smell ahhhmazing! Oh, and the “vase” is really a sundae glass. :) Isn’t it so cute as a vase? Love it!

For the past few months, I’ve found myself sitting in this spot every morning to put on my makeup, so I added a box I already had (it was supposed to be a jewelry box) and put my everyday makeup in it:

Since the table had empty space underneath, I found a beautiful storage box at HomeGoods to hide magazines:

It was $16 and I love the hint of gold metallic on it – ties in perfectly with the table!

I initially tried the old lamp on the table, but I was still running into the same issue I’ve had – the light was just too low to read by (or to put make up on). So I stole a floor lamp from the office and it’s the absolute perfect height:

I think floor lamps are so hard to pick out -- I find most are way too tall. This one happens to be just the right height for this chair. I found the drum shade a few months ago at Goodwill and it looks great on this lamp. (Love that natural fabric!)

No Mom Cave is complete (at least in my world) without a spot to cuddle up. I grabbed a luscious blanket for $13 at HG:

Seriously -- $13?! You can’t beat it!

It looks lovely on my little $15 garage sale chair and clearanced pillow I already had:

That chair is the one and only upholstered item I’ve ever bought second hand. I couldn’t get it out of my head when I saw it…and went back three times. The third time it came home with me. :)

Then it was on to the mantel…yes, we have a fireplace in our bedroom. No, we are not rich. Yes, it ROCKS. No, the fireplace was not my idea. When we built our house and sat down with the designer to pick out all of our “extras,” I was in full freak-out, hyperventilating mode by the time we got to the bedroom and hubs announced he wanted a FIREPLACE.

You have got to be kidding. I think I passed out for a few seconds…the dollar signs were giving my hives. But hubby talked me into it…and I am SO GLAD he did. It’s only a few dollars more a month on the mortgage anyway…right Dave Ramsey? RIGHT?!  :) (Don’t hate Dave…we’re paying it off with your guidance!)

Anyhoo, I wanted to keep the mantel simple, but also make it a bit more sophisticated. I took a platter we’ve had for years and tried it up there and loved it. LURVE. Then I found three candlesticks in various sizes at HomeGoods to give some height to the other side:

  

Those candles are totally fake by the way. No catching the art on fiyah. (You can see how I made the DIY art (with wallpaper!) here.)

I wanted to beef up my little photo wall a bit, so I got a couple more black frames, one for $8 and one for $6:

The photos are printed right off our computer onto plain computer paper. (No, I don’t even use photo paper most of the time!) I keep scraps of foam board and cardboard and use them for photo “mats” – I cut them to size, paint them the color of the wall and just center the printed photo on top.

El cheapo art. Photographs are 90 percent of the “art” in our house and that’s just how I like it. :)

The little mirror was a Goodwill find a while ago, and I had been using it as a tray till  now. The wall needed one more little something and it was perfect!

So my little corner of the world, that used to look like this:

Is now just a tad bit warmer and cozier with the addition of some metallics, some soft stuff and a couple more photos on the wall:

(I’m trying out the buffalo check side of the drapes by the way – not sure if it’s staying or not, but ooohweee, I love that print!!)

Of course, in my world, the “Mom Cave” is still surrounded by toys (that I pushed out of the picture) and my pile-o-crap in the corner:

But let’s focus on the relaxing part, shall we??:

Until tomorrow when there’s a cat sleeping in my chair, choo choo’s all over the table and fire trucks lined up on the floor. But I wouldn’t want my Mom Cave any other way. :)

So I have some AWESOME news for you Squeeeezies! I have FOUR $50 HomeGoods gift cards to give away! WHOOHOO! I told you this rocked. I did.

All you have to do is leave a comment. What would you use $50 for? A space for just you I hope! Cause you DESERVE IT! I don’t know you and really have no idea…but I’m going to guess you totally deserve it. ;)

(This giveaway will be open till Monday, the 8th at noon.)

**Disclaimer:  My love and gushiness of HomeGoods, their prices and their products is all my own. They do not ask me to tell you how much I love them. I just do. So I tell you. That is all.

Before and After Party: A private pantry

Hello there! Welcome to the Before and After Party for November! (Can you even believe it’s November?) I can’t wait to see what you’ve been up to! But first, I wanted to show you the pain-in-the-booty project that I am SO GLAD is done.

Remember the pantry door transformation I showed you?:

I was lucky enough to get this beauty for FREE with some help from an Amex Points promotion. But, like always, I saved some cash by installing it myself (with Dad’s help!).

It wasn’t the easiest project ever. Actually, it was really quite annoying. And the part I finished up this weekend didn’t help it’s cause. Sheesh!

I mentioned I wanted to cover the windows on the door with something – I originally bought window film -- but it wasn’t the texture I was looking for. (I ended up using it for the ghost in our foyer!)

So when I posted this project, a few of you mentioned you had used plain old contact paper to get the look I was going for. Bahhhrilliant!

I admit I was a little teeny tiny bit doubtful – I picked up some clear contact paper at Target, and when I got home I tore it open, I was expecting it to be perfectly clear.

Well…you Squeezies were right (I know, I should just believe) – it was exactly what I wanted! A very soft, hazy look – just enough to let light in, but block the view to the canned goods. :)

What you lovelies didn’t tell me was it was a TOTAL AND COMPLETE pain in the booty to install. Gah. OK, maybe you did. I may have blocked it out. 

I started with my supplies – not much needed:

I tried a few things, and the pan scraper worked best for this project by far! I cut out a piece of contact paper, slightly larger than the window pane. When I installed it, I used a razor to trim the contact paper so it would fit perfectly in the pane.

The problem was…1.) the contact paper is supersonic and I tried four razors and not one would cut it easily 2.) when I would push hard to get through the “paper,” the knife would grab at the painted trim around the panel and little itty bitty flecks of black paint were coming off and getting stuck under the plastic:

It was driving me batty. I tried everything possible, and finally gave up. I decided to just cut a piece that was the exact size of each window pane, so I wouldn’t have to do anymore cutting with the contact paper on the window.

It was a lot of trial and error. Lots of cutting, holding it up, cutting, holding it up, cutting, realizing I had cut it too small, starting over. :)

When I would finally get the right size, I’d make sure it was perfect one more time:

Then I soaked the window with window cleaner:

You can try to do this without soaking the window but you will realize quickly it’s next to impossible. :)

When it’s wet, you can move it around and make it fit just so:

Then use your scraper (or any flat surface) to push out the bubbles:

You’ll want a paper towel handy to soak up the cleaner as you go. Lots of pushing, wiping, pushing, wiping.

It took FOREVA. Mostly because I would cut it the wrong size, or scratch it when peeling it off the backing. I lost my mind a little more with each window pane. :) I think it took four days of me tackling it whenever I had a few minutes to tackle it. FUN stuff.

Did I mention I couldn’t use the same size cut out of the contact paper for every window pane? You’d think they were all the same size, but amazingly – NO. Most were just a tad different. How is that possible? Because it’s a Sarah project, that’s why. :)

BUT. Dare I say it…SO worth it!!

It helps just a tad that I decluttered and moved some items around in the pantry:

I adjusted my little labels so they were centered on the shelves:

And I LOVE it.

But I wasn’t done yet. :) Remember how I wanted to light up the inside of the pantry? Dad and I talked and figured out how we’re going to do it – but for now, I rigged it up with an extension cord just to see how it would look:

SWOOOOON. Exactly how I pictured it in my head all those years ago when this project first popped in my head. ;)

I used rope lights around the door frame to get the “glow” look. And now I can see to find my sour cream and onion chips at night:

Awwwww yeah. All is right in my world.  :)

**The instructions on the rope lights say to not put them in an area with no ventilation, as they get just slightly warm. I called the hotline on the package to confirm a pantry is OK, and the man on the phone had no record of the product number – the product they make – so he was zero help. But I have talked to two people experienced in wiring/lighting, and they said it’s absolutely fine. When the manual says the lights get slightly warm, they mean slightly warm.  :) 

The contact paper idea would be perfect for any smallish window where you want privacy but don’t want to block the light – for cheap! The roll was $5 and even with all of my mess ups, I barely used half of it. This would be a great solution for windows above tubs, sidelights by a front door – whatever!

So there’s my before and after for this month…I don’t have a before, before picture handy of the white door we had up initially, but here’s the new door unpainted:

Here it is painted:

And here it is all soft and purdy and lit up:

And here’s all of our food for the world to see before, and the softly lit after:

It makes even wire shelves look pretty. :) This wasn’t an easy project…but totally worth it. And only five bucks for the privacy! (Which, by the way, is WAY cheaper than the window stuff you can buy.)

I am one happy chick!! :)

It’s time to see your before and afters! Remember to only link to the specific post – not your blog. I’ll leave this open so you can link up till next week!

Link it up yo!

Share your Holiday Home

ACK! I am so excited! It’s time to start thinking CHRISTMAS!!!

Yahoo!!

YES, I know…Thanksgiving comes first. I love Thanksgiving as much as the next person…but November 1st really signals the start of the holidays for me. So I get to dream, swoon and plan for them starting today. :)

I am THRILLED to share a fun event some of my beautiful bloggy friends and I have thrown together – I guess you could call it the “progressive dinner” of blogland?:

YIPPEE!!!

It’s a series of linky parties, all holiday-based, all FUN. :) We’ll kick it off with Layla from The Lettered Cottage on Tuesday the 30th for a mantel party. Then Rhoda from Southern Hospitality will host the vignette party on the 2nd. Kate from Centsational Girl will follow with a crafty shindig December 7th. And I’ll finish up with my annual Christmas Tree Party on the 9th.

I know. I know. FUN!! I’m busting at the thought of it. :)

So start thinking about what you may want to link up! You’ve got plenty of time to get ready. :)

Have a great Monday! I’ll be back late tonight with the November Before and After Party.