Tuesdays Tip - More Spray Painting Projects!

I was mourning the loss of the American Traditions Oil Rubbed Bronze (ORB) Spray Paint.

I am glad to announce I found a replacement!!

Now I can finish painting the door knobs down stairs. I found these great containers at Kirkland's. Only problem I did not like the gold tops.

A little spray paint and metallic glaze... perfect!

I removed the lids and sprayed them.

It gave almost a black look so I used some metallic craft paint to antique it a bit. The lid on the left was glazed the right one was only the ORB spray paint.

Menuless Monday

This is how I feel... whatever, I am not listening....
Last week we received my daughters schedule for all her after school activities. How in the world does everything fall into the same days? We are completely 100% overbooked. Something has to give and I hope it's not my sanity!!! Any tips from you seasoned over committed moms?



Monday: Sandwiches in the car on the way to dance from tennis competition... can someone invent a car meal replicator with organic food? HA!



Tuesday: Thinking Wendy's somehow as I am picking my husband up from the airport and also magically taking my daughter to dance at the same time. I HAVE NO IDEA!!



Wednesday: Do we really have to eat? Another day of events. Think we are fasting until Thursday.



Thursday: Finally a meal at home!! We are going to celebrate and Cheese Ravioli and Meat Sauce with garlic bread.



Friday: One kid gone but the rest of us will eat Pizza at home and watch a movie.



Seriously my friends. I don't know how I am going to get through this. I am a very planned and organized person. I HATE eating meals on the go. I refuse to turn to fast food everyday. I can't do it! HELP I think I am drowning......

Hey the positive is... if I am not eating I will lose those extra 5 pounds fast. Too bad the kids have to eat.

Freebie Friday...It's Back!

NoDoz- College flashback! Get your free sample for those days you can't stay awake.

Free Slim Fast Bar- Try a 100 calorie snack bar. The chocolate chip meal bars are so yum!


Magic School Bus Book- The EPA is giving away this book.


Huggies Little Movers Diapers- Get your free sample from Wal-mart.


Coffee- Free Tasters Choice sample. Please don't take with the NoDoz!

The Winner Is.....

Congrats to Annie she is the winner of the Fisher Price TRIO Building Set!

Thank you all for entering!

If you didn't win and would still like to purchase this great set here is a $5 off coupon.

My kids are still playing with it everyday, we love this product. I give 2 thumbs up!

Wasteless Wednesday - Bad Food?

Have you had this happen?

You are getting ready for dinner and you pull out an ingredient and to your surprise it is bad! Maybe smelly chicken or off colored meat.

Wait don't throw it away yet.....

Pull out the packaging and write down some important information:

• Expiration date and sell by date
• UPC Code cut off if possible if not write it down
• Write down any other production numbers
• Find company website

Once you've got this info simply pull up the company's website. Click contact and report a bad food item. 99.9% they will mail you a coupon for another item (usually worth more than you spent, this time you can get the supersized box) or send you a check for the amount you spent.

Sometimes you luck out and get a package full of coupons!

Think twice before you just throw it away!

If you are highly motivated take your receipt back to the store and get a new item that day. My receipts are usually thrown away or lost after my grocery trip.

Spray Painting Plastic

Anyone else out there in a constant state of craziness? Long weekends are supposed to be spent relaxing. Maybe laying out by the pool or taking naps. Not at my house!

We had a big development in our home.... we put up the baby crib and the changing table. Yes, my little miss is now officially a big girl! *sniff, sniff*

Let me share the happenings... First we found this. Yes, our little ballerina is stretching but she can also get out of the crib.

So I got up in the attic to get this old blue bear bed.

Can you believe this was Kate's toddler bed? Will also used it.

Yes, we don't like to get rid of things. Functional and free people!

But.... I cannot put my pink princess in a blue bear bed. So, that means pink spray paint!

Did you know they have special spray paint for plastic?

Well too bad the colors are NOT pink!

So I opted for a clear primer. After I did a coat of that I used the regular Valspar Pink spray paint! I did about 3 coats.

Can you tell she is excited about her new bed?

The finished product and my little miss asleep in her bed. After 5 minutes of crying at the gate she climbed in and went off to sleep.

Yes, I know her lovie is on her head don't worry she can still breathe. This is how she sleeps.
Verdict: It worked! However it did chip in a couple places.



Easy touch up.... nail polish in the same shade!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for the FREE Fisher Price TRIO Building Set.

Fisher Price TRIO Giveaway!

Look what arrived yesterday.... a Fisher Price TRIO Building Set!

We've anticipated the arrival for several days. This is my first product review and giveaway.

Look at the excited little ones. Ready to play!

Madeline (2) also enjoyed playing. The pieces were just the right size for her little hands. They snap together with ease. It didn't take long for Will (5) to find the directions and start building. The directions were very easy for him to follow.
At the end of the play session this is what I found...
My favorite part (as a mom) is the plastic storage container. Nice and neat organized storage.

Kid bonus, the lid is a building surface to display their creations.

Look what I found at 7am this morning. Will was ready for some playtime before school.

I visited the Fisher Price site. I think the TRIO Cargo Loader might be a birthday purchase.

One lucky commenter will receive their very own Fisher Price TRIO Building Set a $20 value!


Enter now by leaving a comment below! The contest ends on Wednesday, September 9th.

Extra Entries:

• Post the contest on your blog then leave a comment telling me about the post
• Become a follower

If you can't wait here is a $5 off coupon! http://www.fisher-price.com/us/trio/ The offer expires 10/1

Birthday Coupon Overload!

I've posted here and here about birthday and email clubs. My birthday is next week and my inbox is overloaded with free birthday meals! Whoo Hoo!

Let me share:

Baskin Robbins- Free Scoop of Ice Cream
Red Robin- Free Burger of my choice
Pei Wei- Free First Taste Menu Item
Pappadeux- Free Desert with purchase of Entree
On The Border- Free Dip Trio or Brownie Sundae with entree purchase
Spaghetti Warehouse- Free Spaghetti Entree and a Spumouni Sundae
Papa Murphy's- Free cookie dough with pizza purchase

Wow! I am going to have some good eatin!

Wasteless Wednesday - Laundry Room

My laundry room is finally done!!

Remember this post when I spray painted them black?

As I was blog hopping last week I visited Heather's Blog and saw her finished laundry room. It inspired me to finish decorating mine.

I went shopping around my house. I found 2 unused prints and an entertaining trio.

Since I am a muralist I had to paint on the walls. Money spent $0!

I needed to hang up my swiffer and the broom so I just used long nails.

No expensive fancy hard

wear needed.

Yes... I need an new broom it is so ugly!

I want one of those animal print ones from Kirklands.

So long, farewell ugly laundry room!
Now if only I enjoyed doing laundry....

Tuesday Tip - Reader Feature

I get so excited when readers email photos or share frugal tips. Jessica emailed me about this set of wonderful shelves she found for her daughter for $13. She got them online from ABC Distributing. So cute for a little girl!

I visited her blog I absolutely love the title: Babydolls and Lightsabers. Very creative and fun! Stop over and tell her hi!

Thank you Jessica for sharing!