that Country Living lampshade

I saw it and gasped. I really liked it. Without a doubt I knew I would be making it. Easy, easy but time consuming.


Don’t be fooled by the cover. That lamp may be $39.99 but the lamp SHADE is another $59.99!

Here’s my version…..

Pretty, huh?

I found a much less expensive shade at Garden Ridge and used a 40% coupon to get the stencil at Michael’s. The paint is some leftover from something else. And I improvised by dabbing on the paint with a wadded up napkin rather than a sponge.

Perfect? Nah.

I kind of like how the paint is thick in parts and thin in others. It really shows when the light is on.

Jacob really likes it. Before I went to bed last night, I admitted I liked it but didn’t love it like I thought I would. He said that didn’t matter because he liked it.

Linking up to DIY day at A Soft Place to Land because you can SO do this yourself!

Finances Teacherized

My dad would be so proud. Just a few months before he passed away, he left his staunchy office job and partnered with another accountant to start a new CPA firm. His firm almost immediately became an Endorsed Local Provider for Dave Ramsey. My dad prescribed to Dave's (we may as well be on a first name basis) guidelines and strict financial advice. My dad even paid for me to go to one of Dave's big seminars several years ago when it rolled through town. I paid full attention, took notes, and wanted to start saving for my emergency fund. (Jacob was no where near being in the picture at that point.)

Well, we are about to complete our first month working with Dave Ramsey's envelope system from the old Financial Peace University. Jacob figured out our budget and I took it from there. I went and got the cash necessary to be set for the month. Instead of buying the envelope system wallet that is available, I got a streak of teacher creativity.

Above are the envelopes I carry on a daily basis.

I just got some regular ole envelopes that were tucked away in a drawer. Added some leftover scrapbook sticker letters I had tucked in another drawer (hence the funky labels on each envelopes), and then had them laminated using a gift card to Knowledge Tree a former student gave me.



About a week into the process, I went back and added this little piece of velcro. Necessary for all file folder game pieces holders and cash envelopes, in my opinion. These are things I learned in college - okay and may a few other things.

I also learned that you can write on anything that is laminated with a Sharpie. Yes, I know they are permanent.....I smelled, I mean, I uuussseeddd them a lot in college. Anyway, they also taught me that if you combine the high fumes of a Sharpie with the overwhelming fumes of Nail Polisher Remover, then you will be in total bliss and have not a clue what is going on in your classroom. Okay, not really but the nail polish remover will "erase" the permanent maker. (Not so tough and permanent now are you, Mr. Sharpie?) See?



Now, they are all ready for next month. Works for us - and hopefully we will be debt free in about 2 years. I am proud of our good start. We couldn't have done it without you Daddy.

See. Spot. Save. Craft.

See. Target has always been one of my favorite stores - if not my favorite. I know the layout of each Target in the area. I know where every clearance endcap is and that is usually what I end up shopping. But one of my favorite things that Target has incorporated in recent years is the Dollar Spot right behind the carts as you enter the store. Sometimes I find some good stuff and sometimes I don't. But I always look. Don't you just love that section?

Spot. Well, I just wracked up on some great fall items and knew exactly what I wanted to make with them. They had these sticky-back chipboard letters (orange and sparkly), fall scrapbook paper, and small Halloween scrapbook paper.

Save. So for only $4, I had all I needed to make some cute bunting banners. I knew I had some black cardstock, some brown craft paper, and some jute twine somewhere in the house. (With and 1100 sq.ft. house you can't really have one of those fancy, shmancy craft rooms)

Craft. So easy and so quick. I made one for Halloween and got a jump on things and made one for Thanksgiving too.

sorry for the blurry pics

I treat the area below as if it were a mantle. The Halloween stuff will begin its yearly showcase next weekend, so the spooky banner will be coming down for a few days. I just think it is a fun little addition and SO easy and cheap. Plus, I have lots of leftovers to make other decorations and maybe even some invitations for a par-tay!

do you see Sydney right there in the corner?

Well, Happy Fall and Happy Decorating. I am linking up to the DIY party over at A Soft Place to Land.

Better by Accident

First, you have to start with a blank slate. My find: the bathroom wall.

Next, you gather things left by previous homeowners and flippers and cool stuff bought at an estate sale. My finds were a rusty antique door plate ($2), glass knob, and two skeleton keys.

Then, you need to gather thrifty backdrops. My finds were two small wooden circle things for $1 at a yard sale, a yucky 70s-style oval frame at Goodwill for $2, and a piece of gorgeous scrapbook paper at Michael's for $.59. Oh yeah, you also need to grab Ivory/Antique White spray paint and some glue that you have around already.

Put it all together and what do you get. New wall art.

Now, we are not finished. You have to go to bed, not be able to sleep, hear a loud noise, get up and check for robbers, find the glass knob on the bathroom floor, laugh at yourself, look up and see something better than you did before you went to bed. My find: this.

Hubby said he likes it better this way too.

Family Treasures

Jacob and I were blessed to begin building our nest with rooms full of furniture. We have even had extra, extra furniture store in our garage and attic. Needless to say we have not wanted for much nor have we needed anything. Several of the pieces we have in our home have came from family and some we bought before we knew each other.

I always think about how much stuff we have and how so much of it has been obtained for fairly reasonable prices and many pieces for free. It makes me like our home even more - the fact that we haven't spent a ton of money on it and it looks as nice as it does. Mostly this is because of the furniture and heirlooms that have been passed down in my family. I thought I would share a few of the hand-me-down pieces we have in our dining room the way they looked before.

These pieces don't look quite the same anymore and I'll share how they look now in a later post.

Item #1: Old Milkcan with Lid

Do you see that milkcan in the background? We've had that as long as I can remember. I ran across this picture the other day. That's me on the old loveseat. I have no idea where the milkcan came from, only that it has been passed down on my mother's side of the family.

Item #2: Green Vinyl Covered Chairs

Here are the chairs (look in the background) that my mother's parents gave my parents as a wedding present. You can see the chairs better in the picture below as well as the table they gave with the chairs. Dad rebuilt the table top years ago and it is still unfinished.
The table sat in our dining room until 2 months ago. It is now in our attic.
Now, the chairs are out of the attic and in our dining room.

Item #3: Grand Ruby's Cabinet
I believe we got this cabinet after my grandfather (mother's father) passed away in 1991. It originally belonged to his mother, my great-grandmother, whom we called Grand Ruby. I have had it since about 2003 when dad moved to Georgia for a short stint.
I love my brother's face in this picture!

Well, the milkcan still looks the same, the chairs are in the middle of being recovered, and the cabinet has been in the makeover process since about 2005. No worries, it is just about finished now. I love that the dining room (and whole house) is filled with so many family pieces. We are surrounded with memories and have things here as reminders of the people who used them daily. I think it gives our house such a unique character.