I always find so many wonderful places on the interwebs…. and love to share them with my readers!!
Here are five of my time-saving, clutter busting, recycling and reusing favorites from this week:
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I’m constantly using the camera on my smart phone to snap pics of Ariel…. but why not use it to make my life easier?!?! I love this series of tips from apartment therapy and found the comments from readers very helpful. I’m definitely going to start using some of this info to make my life easier!!
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Sometimes I’m the one with a brilliant solution…. but so many more times, it’s someone else! Family Handy Man has some great tips on busting clutter–I’m in love with all of them, but especially the shower caddy one! Fantastic!!
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I find our recycling center locally to be incredibly helpful and am so glad it’s there. But sometimes I wonder, “is that item really recyclable?’ Turns out some of the things I thought were recyclable indeed are not. It depends on your area. Check out ecosalon’s 10 Surprising Things You Can’t Recycle and see if you’re doing it right. Again, there are lots of great comments on this article, so check there too–you might find your area is mentioned and there may be an exclusion for you.
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Designed by Dawn Nicole has a great idea for organizing your shower miscellany! I could even imagine drying swim suits or lingerie with this!! Brillz!
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And even though I don’t have an army of children, I still think this is a genius idea! Lazy Mom Tip #49 will provide sanity for many a mom on laundry day!!
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And because I love you and I LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea and am running out as soon as I finish this post to buy these materials…. I am giving you a BONUS Fabulous Friday Find: Blue Cricket Design’s Rain Gutter Guard Earring Holder!! It is just the thing for Ariel’s burgeoning earring collection!! (And I’m kinda thinking I can use cup hooks to hold earrings and bracelets next to the earrings… so she’ll have her coordinated sets together!)
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So, what cool sites did you find this week? Share!!
“Here comes Peter Cottontail, hoppin’ down the bunny trail….”
Yes, it’s that time of year again!! And while I have the spring tablecloths out and the plastic eggs oh-so-artfully displayed, something’s missing.
Hmmmm.
Wonder what it is?
OH! Yes, that’s it. Decorated eggs. I’m feeling the need to decorate eggs. Those plastic eggs are certainly practical and last for.ev.er. but I’m itching to decorate something!!
And of course, I could drive over to the library and find a real live, printed-on-paper book and search for inspiration that way.
But…. naaah. I’m staying home in my comfy clothes and going Pinning! Come along!
I am absolutely in love with these gorgeous eggs from Crap I’ve Made. (Yes, that’s really the name of the blog! Yes, I think I could totally fill up a blog with a name like that. Whaddya think about “Crap Made by The Tween and Me” ? No? Guess I should stick with my day job, eh? 
) Anyway, aren’t these lovely? Note: read the comments for an alternative method of making the design.
Crafty Endeavor made these beautiful embroidery floss eggs. I’ve seen this idea a lot but fell in love with the colors she choose…. and the linear look of the light blue egg is so different from any one else’s. Love!
Just when you think you’ve seen it all—-It’s Overflowing shows off a really innovative idea: Chalkboard Paint Easter Eggs!! Good thing we’re doing these projects with hard-boiled eggs!
Want some mystery eggs? Try tie-dying them with Silk Neck Ties (yep, like the ones Daddy wears—except you should probably leave his alone and get some from the thrift store!) with this technique from Mommy Knows. So very different looking! I like!
When it comes to reading and comprehending German words, my comfort level ends around strudel and biergarten. And when it comes to Japanese words… I don’t know much past sushi. But the washi tape eggs from Flamingo Avenue (yes, it’s all in German!) are stunning!! I didn’t need to know German or Japanese to appreciate their beauty. And now….Must. Order. Washi. Tape. Immediately.
Oh, yes, I have that feeling. It’s time for decorating!! After all, “Hippity, hoppity, Easter’s on its way!”
How will you decorate your eggs this Easter?
Planning for St. Patrick’s Day has been so much fun this year, thanks to Pinterest. I’ve pinned so many wonderful projects even though I know I can’t possibly do all of them. At least not this year! But there’s always the next year… and the next… and the next…
Here are a few more of my favorite St. Patrick’s Day dessert ideas. (I posted some last week here.) Also, you can check out my Pinterest Board for some more!
Chocolate Dipped Oreos from lolly jane boutique:
Choclate Guinness Cupcakes from Siggy Spice:
Green Pudding Dessert from Kroma Design Studio:
No-Bake Thin Mint Cookie Truffles from Six Sisters’ Stuff:
Green and White Bundt from Love from the Oven:
What are you making for St. Patrick’s Day dessert?
I don’t think it’s a huge secret how much I love Pinterest. The wonderful crafts, the yummy foods, the beautiful homes… I’m pretty much moved in over there already!
So a few weeks ago, I started a St. Patrick’s Day board. I already had other holiday boards and had been adding to them as I found great ideas. I had NO IDEA just how many wonderful St. Patrick’s Day ideas I would find!!!
Here are just 5 of the fabulous craft ideas I’ve pinned recently on Pinterest. Stop by my St. Patrick’s Day board and see the rest! And, I’d love it if you’d follow me!
A Welcome Shamrock from Crafts by Amanda:
Kirigami Shamrock Decorations from Zakka Life:
Paper Strip Shamrocks from Sugar Bee Crafts:
“Stained Glass” Shamrocks from Rust & Sunshine:
A Leprechaun Trap from The Crafty Chicks:
Aren’t these some cute ideas? Will you try some of them?
Wow! I have so many things to be grateful for this holiday season… and the latest one is my rediscovery of Family Dollar! The store that I loved growing up is still around and kickin’!
You see, growing up in the country, with a 20 minute drive to the closest small town, shopping options were limited. Lucky for us, Family Dollar was one of our few options. Need laundry detergent? Stop by Family Dollar. Need craft supplies? Stop by Family Dollar. Need holiday supplies? Stop by Family Dollar. I think we were in that store on almost every trip we made to town.
And it was the perfect size. Had practically everything you could need in a manageable sized store. Not a mega-store where you could wander around for days and never find your way out.
I had forgotten how convenient and easy shopping at Family Dollar was. And I’m lucky enough to have one within the 1 1/2 mile radius I try to stay within from my house. It’s super close and stocks great everyday supplies at great prices… and a lot of surprises too!
In fact, this summer, when I needed some fun pieces in bright colors for re-decorating Ariel’s room, I popped in the Family Dollar. I didn’t plan on going there. But I was driving by… and got the whim to stop in.
Boy, was I glad I did!! I found the perfect lime green and pink colors I was using for her room–sheets, storage containers, a few accessories. It was awesome! And I felt like the prices were quite reasonable. (A few of the items were way less than I had expected to pay!)
And a fantastic rediscovery of shopping locally! Since all of the big-box stores are on the other side of town (more than 1 1/2 miles away!), Family Dollar is my go-to store now to look first for those needed items.
So when I was asked to participate in the Family Dollar Blog Tour this holiday season, I was delighted!
Now, I must tell you, some of the items I purchased on my recent trip to Family Dollar are Christmas gifts, so I can’t share details of everything I bought because you never know who’s really reading your blog and I would hate to spoil some surprises! But, suffice it to say, I bought some of the best bargains I ever expected to find!
Here’s just a few of the things I found:
A GINORMOUS peppermint stick–for only $1!!
a CD of the soundtrack to Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who for only $4!!! (I found it on Amazon for much more than that!!)
a 2-CD/2-DVD combo pack of The Police–Certifiable (live in concert) for only $6!! (again, a stupendous price as compared to other places online) (umm, this is for me–it’s their reunion tour!!)
and this HUGE peanut butter cup that is supposed to be a present but might have to be replaced before Christmas because it is singing “EAT ME NOW!!” to me!!
And there was so much more! These are just a few of the simply wonderful discoveries I made at Family Dollar!
It was a delightful shopping experience. A clean store, well-stocked shelves, conveniently located, helpful staff, and short check-out lines—how often do all of those come together in one place?!?! And practically in my backyard!
Overall, I was so happy with my shopping experience at Family Dollar. I will definitely be stopping back in to finish up a few more gifts now and will be making it one of my first stops when I’m shopping. Now that I’m in the habit of going there, I’m sad that it hadn’t been tops in my shopping routine earlier.
Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Family Dollar and received a gift card to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.
Yay for Friday! Let’s celebrate with some of the coolest sites I found this week.
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PC World had a great article this week on How to Recover a Lost Phone, Tablet, or Laptop. Certainly it’s a great idea to secure these electronic items, but how many of us actually do it? (admission: I just did mine after reading this article! You should too!)
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This week’s award for the absolute cutest holiday idea goes to not martha for her adorable tiny gingerbread houses, a few variations. SO awesome!
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Yes, this has happened to me and no, I had no idea how to fix it. So I ended up pitching the whole kit and kaboodle. No more, thanks to Painted Ladies and their fab tutorial on Fixing Broken Powder Cosmetics. Yay!
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Love this I Spy table from Audie’s Oddities! So much fun! I can just imagine the conversations and fun times that would be had around it. 
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And this last one is last simply because if I had put it first, none of you would have kept reading.
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No kidding. Doesn’t this just sound divine? Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Ball. Just the thought of it added 5 pounds to my hips. Now to find out if it will make it to the table or if I’ll be like the folks at Curvy Girl Guide and end up eating it with a spoon. Hiding in the kitchen pantry. Threatening anyone who comes near me. Not kidding. It sounds that good.
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So, if you’re still reading, what interesting finds did you discover this week? Please share!!
Welcome back to this week’s version of Five Fabulous Friday Finds! I’ve been having tons of fun peeking around the corners of the internet and wanted to share some of my discoveries with you.
I had totally forgotten about this!! So happy that The Accidental Scientist featured “Lightning in Your Mouth” so now I can share it with Ariel and all of you!! Did you ever do this as a kid? I loved it!!
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Oh, this Flower Origami Ball from Instructibles is so beautiful! Maybe one day I’ll find the time and patience…..but for now, I can just enjoy its beauty!
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DP Shots has some of the most stunning photography I’ve ever seen. Check out these 70 Majestic Countryside Photographs. My favorite is the leaf scene above. Ariel’s favorite is the shot below.
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Surprise! That cow is awesome!! Definitely a squeal-inducing photograph much appreciated by my tween!
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Loved the fun and enjoyment that I know Ariel and friends would love making and eating these DIY Custom Colored Donuts from Modern Parents Messy Kids. Because, as my child tells me all the time, the icing is the attraction for most kids.
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Found this awesome post on Cost-Effective Lunchables on The CSI Project and was instantly intrigued. Since Ariel is making her lunch this year (instead of me or King Triton doing the duty), she’s constantly looking for new and exciting items to include. This post had some great ideas for both saving money and adding interest to her lunch.
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So those are some of the fab things I discovered this week.
What did you find? Please share!!
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The FREE App of the Day from Amazon is PrinterShare Mobile Print! Normally priced at $12.95, this is a STEAL today!!
Good reviews…. I’m downloading it now!! There’s not a lot that I need to print from my phone… but I’m not going to wait and then have to pay for it later!!
Amazon has a great deal on Southpole Junior’s Basic Solid Color Crew Neck Tees going on right now! Normally priced at $18, they’re now $3.64 – 7.99, depending on the size and color you choose. And they qualify for FREE Super Saving Shipping and FREE returns.
100% cotton crew neck tees! In reading the reviews, most people liked the shirt. It isn’t a sheer tissue tee, but it’s not a super thick basic tee either. Sounds like exactly what I need to get for Ariel. And, while the sizes listed are Medium-Extra Large, the reviews indicate that it runs small, so I’m thinking even younger tweens would find this to be a great shirt. And you can’t beat the price!!
And there are lots of colors to choose from!!
This is a great deal!! If you’re looking at add some great shirts at a great value, head on over to Amazon to pick up your shirts NOW! I’m not expecting these to last long!!
