I'd like to thank the Academy...

OK, I didn't win any awards but to simply be featured on two blogs that I completely admire feels like I'm holding a little gold naked statue.

Jennifer at Made by Girl and

Stefanie at A Brooklyn Limestone in Progress,

thanks for the feature.

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$0.29 soap station makeover.

I just love a good soap pump. I want a big puddle of soap in my hand with just ONE press. I don't like standing there pumpin' all day for just a little dime size amount. Weird, yes.

These were olive oil bottles at one time. I took to spout out and replaced them with the pumps from my industrial-sized Costco shampoo bottles.

Problem: wet hands + soap bubbles = slime all over the counter.

I tried putting a plate underneath but the bottles just didn't fit quite right.

2 years ago a tile store gave me this sample of marble when I was trying to convince my husband to replace the tile around our fire place with this.


The marble tile fit nice and snug in plate.

Now the water can drain off the tile on to the plate.


$.029 thrift store dish.

Soap, bubbles and water all contained.

Simple pleasure. Happy.

Check out this link to see how to make your own DIY marble tray.

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Oh Mr. Flu, I do despise you.

Take your ugly wrath elsewhere.

Pick on someone your own size.

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Guest room update.

My dad asked me how my guest room makeover was coming along today.

"Dad, it's taking me forever. I could probably get it done in 4 days but it's impossible when you have little kiddos."

He then told me he just watched The Bridges of Madison County and paraphrased a line from the movie, "When you have kids you put your life on hold to watch their lives grow. Then when they're grown and you pick your own life back up you don't know where to begin."

Preachin' to the choir.

So here's my slow progress on my latest room makeover.

I found these amazing green trellis sheets at HomeGoods several moons ago. I actually purchased them for a client who has run in to some snags so her room has been put on hold. Collecting dust in my closet I thought I'd put them to good use. I'm using them for a few things (don't want to prematurely ruin the suprise) but I will reveal that I cut them up and made a bedskirt. I simply detached the existing ruffle from the muslim and sewed on a new skirt. I will also reveal that I've given up on sewing machine. The thread broke 10 times while I was truckin' along. What up? I fooled around with the thread tension on my needle and bobbin to the extent of a few explicitives...still can't figure the darn thing out. Any ideas?

$16.00 on clearance (although I would have paid full price).

I was so thrilled I bought the last three sets.

I have to wait until my husband comes home to help me lift the mattress but here it is anyway.

During my Vegas thrift adventure I found this lamp for $5.00!

Check out who else found it:

(Image via Eddie Ross).

(Image via Little Green Notebook).

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Frog tape winner is...

#8 Tammy, from the Yellow School House!

Email me your address by Friday, 3/12/10 so I can mail your Frog Tape and t-shirt.

Thanks to everyone who entered.

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petting zoo=

Apparently not such a good idea after all.

Sorry my sweet little man.

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Thriftin' Vegas Style.

Here's my thrift store loot from Las Vegas.

I have no clue what this wooden thing is but I love it nonetheless.

Any ideas?

My mom found these lovely dishes (& a gazillion candle stick holders) to make cake stands.

This dainty chandelier strikes me as so sweet.

I have two old chandeliers now sitting in the garage.

After much debating I finally had my husband won over to install one over the tub.

Then the day of installation he says, "I JUST CAN'T DO THIS. WHY DO WE NEED A CHANDELIER OVER THE TUB? MAKES NO SENSE!"

So I'm back to square one.

The next pictures are from Hotel Furniture Liquidators. I've mentioned this place before. When hotels on the Strip remodel they sell all their furniture to Hotel Furniture Liquidators. They turn around and sell it to the public for a reasonable price. Remember this chair I scored for $5.00? I was hoping to scoop up so more of their $5.00 parking lot deals but it was raining and they had all of their $5.00 furniture locked up in a container that they refused to open (even to peek), despite my pleading...whatever.

All the price tags you see are 50% off what is marked. Kind of silly marketing scheme to make you think you're getting a better deal.

I'd love to tackle everything with paint and re-upholstery.

$35.00 benches.

$40.00 round wooden table.

$35.00 benches.

Wallpaper: $2.50 / roll.

I'll be back Hotel Furn. Liquidators...I'll be back.

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Viva Las Vegas!

Tucson has this funny holiday where the city shuts down Thursday-Saturday in celebration of Rodeo Days. The funny thing about it is no one actually goes to the Rodeo. Instead everyone heads out of town...which is exactly what we did too.

Destination: Las Vegas (grandma's house).

One of my least favorite places on earth. Crowds, thongs on every billboard, smokey public buildings. It's not for me.

My man crinkled his forehead pretty hard when he caught me snapping a pic of him sitting in the car seat strapping on the travel babysitters (aka hours of Kung Fu Panda).

We spent hours at Circus Circus playing every carnival game imaginable. I discovered I'm pretty good at balloon darts. We won a dozen, tobacco smelling stuffed animals. Yeah.

Can't pass up a photo booth.

After a full day of slummin' it on the Strip all day Grandma surprised me with tickets to the Phantom of the Opera! One happy dance later I realized the fanciest thing I had to wear was a pair of Crocks and Walmart men's khaki's pants. There was no time to go buy something new or even jump in shower so mom insisted I wear something of hers. Uh-oh.

And here I am.

These pictures actually make me and my outfit look not so bad...however I felt otherwise. You would never guess that I had that skirt hiked up just below my breast line or that my size 9 1/2 size foot is hanging an inch off the back of mom's size 7 shoe. Oh well, I would have gone in a clown outfit just to see the Phantom.

(Excuse my shiny face, a day at Circus Circus will do that to your complexion).

Phantom was excellent! Lived up to my every expectation.

I couldn't get over that theater! Amazing!

Now there was one big usher lady who really had it out for me. I get the whole, "no flash photography for safety of our performers." line but the show was over and everyone was clicking pics. I don't know what her beef with me was, shining the big naughty spotlight on me...TWICE. Irritating. (End rant).

On Saturday we hit half a dozen thrift stores. Check back tomorrow to see what kind of treasures we scored.

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"Swap till you drop."

While getting high off of oil fumes at Jiffy Lube the other day I was flipping through the January 2010 issue of Better Homes and Gardens and came accross this. (Yes, I tore these two pages out but the guy at the counter didn't seem to care).

It's called a Swap Party I think it's such a great idea. I can't tell you how many Tupperware-style parties I've been to where I feel obligated to purchase something to benefit the hostess who is trying to earn so many dollars of free product (o.k. guilty. I've been a hostess too).

At a Swap Party the concept is everyone brings a few "nice" items they don't use anymore to swap for other people's things that they don't use either. You spend no money and still leave with something(s) cool.

I'll take that green lamp, the gorgeous cake stand and the Anthropologie bowls please.

(To read the print, click on the picture).

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Frog giveaway.

That's right, I'm at it again with another room re-do. My guest room is getting a face lift on a budget (wouldn't have it any other way). This weekend I painted the room using my favorite tape, Frog tape. If you haven't ever used this tape you simply must. It will give you crisp lines and no bleeding! Once you try it you'll never go back...HONESTLY!

Darn you Home Depot for discontinuing it (at mine at least). It does cost a little more than blue tape. However, the time Frog tape will save you by not having to go back and do touch up won't even make you think twice.

The good folks at Frog Tape saw how well my stripes turned out on my hallway project so they sent me some t-shirts and several rolls of tape!

I had so much fun with the last giveaway that I thought I'd share the love and part with a very fashionable t-shirt and a couple rolls of tape. Leave a comment by midnight, Monday, March 8th to be entered.

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