Whatcha Working On Wednesday

This week has been flying by so quickly.

I wish there was more hours in the day to get everything done.

Aaron was asked to bring in his resume to his job to be considered for a promotion.

He currently works part time for a car dealership as a driver. Transporting cars from their various locations throughout the state. It is paying the bills, and we were happy that he found it after 6 months of looking.

They have a very tiny location here locally. Although they just purchased a very LARGE old Ford location that they will be moving to in the coming months. Going from 30 to 100+ cars on the lot, they are going to be hiring a full time employee. The manager asked Aaron if he would be interested. Yes! Of course!

It would be 50+ hours a week with insurance for at least him after a period of time.

We are now praying and waiting to hear something. We can only hope it will happen before Christmas, otherwise things are going to be VERY tight this year.

Alright onto what has been keeping me busy.

I finally took the plunge and started a stitchery. I was lucky enough to find my first hoop, although plastic, half price at a thrift store for .30 whole cents.

Sorry for the bad pic, I took it with my web cam quickly as dh was using the camera.

I have been busy making some items for my swap partner, I sure hope she enjoys the goodies. I will post a pic once she receives them.

Keep an eye out for a giveaway coming soon. If you are not follower, be sure to start today so you can get in on the goodies for the giveaway in the future.

Frugal Friday

This week I was thinking of projects I want to tackle around my house over my Christmas break from college. One area I want to get done is this cutout in the wall between the kitchen and living room. This is my grandparents house, and when we moved in there had been glass shelfs in this cutout in which my grandparents displayed nicknacks on of all sorts.

I am fond of having the opening there, but at the same time glass shelfs really are out of my decor. The glass shelfs were removed on move in day, with nothing to replace them it has just been sitting bare for almost a year. Yikes!

I finally decided distressed wood shelfs would look great there with canning crocks and a Dry Goods sign hanging above on the kitchen side.

Where do I buy cheap, and I mean cheap wood in short pieces like that in a city like mine which is full of over priced national chain hardware stores?

Ahhh my best hidden secret.... the HH Restore Shop.

We have a Habitat for Humanity Restore Shop that is like a hardware thrift store.

You can find anything to your hearts content to redo any area of your house at a fraction of the price.

Here is a link to search by state to find your local HH Restore

Today I went and picked these 2 pieces of old slightly weathered wood for $1 each

I have a hand sander on the top of my list for Santa to bring me. Although I do have

a very handy neighbor that loves all things old. So I bake him some cookies I am sure he

will let me borrow his hand sander.

I plan on cutting the length down for them to fit. Sand them down and paint them.

Now I have to scour some stores for more canning crocks.

I also dug this out of a bucket in one of the old sheds outside the Restore shop.

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I behaved my self today and did not stop at any thrift stores.

Although I could not resist the huge Rummage Sale sign down the street

at a church. I spent a whole $1 ending up with a whole basket full of goodies.

Sorry not the best photo.

Flag Heart coasters, Wooden wheelbarrow with 3 tools, Wooden snowman,

candy cane and tree door hanger (going to repurpose) Strainer and Fall basket.

(the bag of nails are from a friend)

Ok now how do I make this a food screen cover? Help!

Whatcha Working On Wednesday

I have been busy finishing up my semester for college. I only have my math still running.

Although for some reason I am have a huge problem being motivated doing my independent study to finish. I would rather be crafting then homework any day.

I have been working on some items for my swap partner in our Christmas swap

over at APJ (A Primitive Journey) Come join us, we are a small but ever growing group

of very wonderful ladies.

I habe been busy baking some gingers and other goodies. Here is a sneak peek.

I have not been able to do much crafting this week due to having to catch up on math homework. But check back next week, I have plenty planned for this weekend. :o)

In the meantime, be sure to check out Leslie and everyone else that has joined in on

the Watcha Working on Wednesday.

Tasha :o)

Cucumber Raita Sauce

This is a versetile dish that could be used with many other dishes.

We used it in our Shrimp Curry dish and our Chicken Gyro lettuce wraps.

(Recipes to come)

I would recommend it for any spicy dishes or maybe a hearty soup.

What you will need:

1 Cup Plain Thick Greek Yogurt

1/2 Cup Finely Chopped Cucumber (peeled and deseeded)

1/2 Clove Garlic Minced

2 teaspoons Lemon Juice

1/2 teaspoon Salt

Mince a 1/2 a clove of garlic

Peel & deseed your cucumber

Finely chop 1/2 a cup

(Optional Step)

Place finely chopped cucumber between two paper towels

Press down to release liquid from cucumber

You might have to use your knife to scrap the bits of cucumber off the towel.

2 Teaspoons fresh squeezed lemon juice

Make sure you purchase GREEK Yogurt! Any brand will do,

but it MUST be Greek Yogurt or it will not taste right.

Mix the cucumber, garlic, salt and yogurt until well blended.

Of course take a small taste to make sure it wont poison anyone. :o)

The Finished Product - Refrigerate at least 1 hour or longer before serving.

We like to make it the day before and let the flavors blend

and rest overnight in the frig.

If you try this recipe please let me know. I would love to know your thoughts and how you used it in your dish. :o)

My Saturday Shopping Spree

I had a itching to go to a old farm auction and find lots of prim goodies like the good old days when lived in western PA. Although driving 6 hours to attend a good farm auction was out of the question. So I searched auctionzip.com and found zero in auctions around here for this weekend, which was not surprising in the least.

Hubby was not in the mood to go Thrifting with me so I decided to go alone which was a first for me. Although I had wished all day I had someone to go with me, I still enjoyed myself.

First off I got lost to a prim shop called Gathered Treasures I had never been too. I finally found it, but I was very disappointed with high prices. I bought a couple small things for crafting that was in the 50% of bin. Then made my way to Habitat for Humanity Restore Shop.

I found a rusty old rake handle and a brand new bag of moss. I was near my house so I stopped for lunch rather then eating out, so I could have more to spend later on of course. :)

I then stopped at 2 over prices garage sales without buying anything, then I spotted a new Junk shop. Wow was it filled with goodies. I wish I had money to buy them all. For those of you wondering about a junk shop. It is where the owner has so much stuff packed into a space, you have to dig and sort through things on your own to find your treasures. I assure you these are full of treasures, you just have to find them. I had my favorite junk shop in a small town in PA ran by a 80year old man that I swear had been collecting things all of his 80 years. Oh the goodies I had found in there.

Alright back to my thrifting expedition, at my new junk shop I found a cute child chair painted red and all weathered and prim. So darn cute for $4 I could not pass it up.

Then I headed to 2 thrift stores where I hit the jackpot. I left each thrift store with a cart load of goodies. I was hoping to find some items to redo and make up. But I ended up even better finding items that were good just as they were or items that needed only a little extras or prim accents added to them.

The second store is directly across from the 1st. I think people thought I was nuts when I eyed 2 ladder back chairs and about ran through the store to get them. lol

I was in heaven when the pair, yes the pair was $5.00 Woo Hoo!

I of course loaded them bad boys into my cart with all of my other small treasures.

I had a very large shelf that I had to hold in one hand while I pushed my overflowing cart to the front with the other hand. It was a sight to see. lol

I ended the day spending less then $50.

Alright here are all my goodies.

Also if anyone knows how to get permanent marker off painted metal please let me know.

One thift store is known for marking their items with what I thought was a grease pen.

Today I found it is actually permanent marker. I need to find a remedy to remove it otherwise return it for a refund since it is right on the front.

This shelf needs cleaned up, but is already distressed and ready to hang.

I could not resist this welcome sign. I had hubby hang it by the garage entrance.

Here is my darling little childs chair.

It might join my kids sleigh and ice skates for Christmas.

This Happy Spring sign still had its original price tag.

Going to grunge and prim this up for spring.

Very creative person made this, I am not sure how it ended up a thrift store.

This twig tree needs some extra grapevine

added to it and some white lights and it will be perfect.

Blue basket and rusty tin snowman candle holder.

One of my favorites, a mini buttock basket

Frugal Friday

For those that know me, know that I am about as frugal as they come. I am proud to say that I learned how to pinch two pennies together and make a quarter from my grandpa Dave. Oh how I love that man, and will never forget all that he taught me. (Rest in peace papa dave)

So I thought that it would start a weekly thread about being frugal, and how I am stretching my dollar or pennies as it is most of the time. Somethings I am sure some things are common knowledge but a refresher course is always nice.

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Before we get to my frugal friday post, I have to tell you I am as happy as a dog with two sticks.

I have lost 7lb in 2 weeks!

My dh and I have completely changed our lives two weeks ago. We have cut out all

complex carbs, fast food, fats (olive oil, butter, etc) and raised our protein levels.

I have to say it has not been a easy task, but we are doing it.

Do not confuse this with the atkins diet, as that is a loose some pounds quick

so you can fit into that slimming dress next month diet while eating all the bacon you want.

What we are doing is a LIFE change! I did not realize how much CRAP was put into all the processed and boxed foods that we buy. We make everything from scratch, eat fruit & veggies, Use coconut oil for cooking, and make some very yummy dishes.

It must be working, since I have lost 7lbs in the last 2 weeks, without exercising.

Dont worry I am not trying to sell you some weight loss program, there is none. haha

Just changing our life by what we eat and how we cook it.

I will share some tested and tried, yum factor recipes with you all in the future.

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Frugal Friday

Being tight on money like everyone else these days, I seem to find it harder and harder to even afford birthday cards and gifts. So I went rummaging through my closet and found a cute brand new candle in a little jar that I picked up at garage sale for .05cents this summer.

Then I rummaged through my scrapbook paper scraps and stamp sets

and other crafting items. Mind you I was doing this at 2am, so it did not turn out as good as I had hoped for, but here is the little card and candle set I made for my best friend for her Birthday yesterday. Cost me less then $2 for supplies to make.

Disclaimer: Please do not do craft projects at 2am, otherwise you will make a big oops mistake like mine and write upside down on the inside of the card like I did.

I used the same stamp from a set of 4 stamps I purchased a while back to make this,

as well as the other Birthday cards in a earlier post.

Stamps are a great way to maximize your dollar since you can use them over and over again.

Be sure to check our your local dollar store art supply isle, that is where I have found several cute stamps in the past.

I found a very talented Prim crafter tonight that I just could not wait to share with you.

Be sure to visit her blog and take a peek at her giveaways that are just as wonderful as her talent.

Painting Thyme Needfuls

Wonderful deal over at Queen Kat Designs

For all the stampers out there, I want to share a great deal that is going on over at Queen Kat Designs stamp co.

Save 10% on any order from Queen Kat Designs

this weekend. Use code NE10 at checkout

Sale runs now through 11/15/09

With the coupon, you can save

65% on CLEARANCE items!! ALSO…

It's FREE stamp month!!

through November 30th

Buy 2 stamp sets get 1 separates stamp free

Buy 3 separates stamps and get 1 free

($3.99 value or less)

For every 2 stamp sets you order

you get 1 separate stamp for free! The more you

order the more free stamps you'll receive.

She has super cute designs, wonderful kits and some hard to find items as well.

Be sure to check her out her site HERE.

Whatcha Working On Wednesday

I found a wonderful blog by a great lady named Leslie. She has a Whatcha Working On Wednesday and encourages others to join as well. You can see her great blog at My Country Home.

I have been being super crafty this week since due to some of my classes ending for the semester. I don't know why I have not been crafting much all semester since it is a great stress reliever for me. Which believe me, I needed all the stress relievers I could get this semester.

I am looking forward to crafting, getting the house in order and ready for Christmas while finishing up my last class (math) for the semester. While I await for another long semester ahead of me. Why I thought college at the age of 27 was going to be easier I am not really sure. haha

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Here is what I have been working on this week or finished. A few small projects, but I hope to start tackling a few larger projects this weekend. I will let you know how they are going next week.

The first thing I did this week was make my wonderful mother-in-law Jerri this thank you card. My birthday was on Nov. 1st and she sent me a $50 gift card. I used it some much needed and wanted craft organizers at Michaels. I know the majority of people do not like their in-laws. But I am so thankful to love mine! The angels were stamped and water colored with chalk and my blending pens.

I have several birthdays in the next few months. Of course I do not have any cards. So I figured I would get a kick start now on getting some done. The 4 cards below were all made using scraps I had left over. On the purple cards I plan to add the persons name at the top on the empty space prior to giving them.

The nifty part of the second card (right hand side) is the white rubber piece had been attached to a coupon and hung around the neck of a bottle of olive oil I had purchased. I knew I could put it in my scrapbook or on a card some how. I loved how it turned out.

I took a floral arrangement class this semester. I loved it!

We had to make wreaths, of course I had to make some cute prim ones for my house.

This one I made for our garage door for the summer, it also the perfect size to place on a

table with a large three wick candle in the center.

I received the berry sprays in a 4th of July swap earlier this year, and the twig wreath

I picked up at goodwill for .29cents.

I also made this wreath for our garage door. The white pip berries I had purchased this summer at a garage sale. A huge 2gallon ziplock baggie full for a couple of bucks. I just put a small dent in the bag making this. I love bargains like that. Everything else was purchased at the dollar store. Cheap & Prim my two favorite words. haha

My Baby is SO Big!

This last spring we rescued a small and weak kitten from my neighbors attic. He was so adorable and we quickly grew attached to him. He is still adorable, just 10lb larger.

Yes you read that correctly, he now weighs 10 whole pounds of pure muscle and is a HUGE pest. But we still love him.

Meet Maxwell James (then and now)

It seems like ages since I have posted a new blog. But I need to get back to it.

I have been very busy due to deciding to finally attend college at the age of 26! What in the world was I thinking?!

With some classes ending and with having the itch to craft I needed to find a place to craft. My craft space looks like a tornado hit it twice over. So I have taken to cleaning and reorganizing the entire office/craft room. Stay tuned for pics and more crafty updates coming soon.