Join the Party!

Today I’m linking up my post From Dilemma to Delightful with Amanda’s Show Me the Progress party. Please head on over there and check out the transformations the participants have made (after reading mine, if you haven’t already!). Oh, and link up if you can!

Quick Fix

A couple of weeks ago, I confessed to you some of the reality at my house.  One of those things was this plant.

Shortly thereafter, I cleaned it up, and I believe it will make a full recovery.

The plant sits on the little landing halfway up the stairs, so I see it every single time I go up or down.  Today, I suddenly noticed as if for the first time, this:

Yuck!  I must have the plastic saucer, or all that would be on my carpet, but gross!

Solution, a bag of rocks I got at Dollar Tree some time ago for a different purpose.  Better!

Cheap and easy, that’s my style!  (No, not in that way!)

Featured Blog: Life at the Zoo

First off, I want to let you know that I now have a button available for you if you have been one of my Monday feature blogs. The code is on my right sidebar; feel free to grab it (on a voluntary basis, of course).

Today’s featured blogger is someone I’ve “known” for quite a while, in the bloggy sense. Tricia from Life at the Zoo is a busy mom whose blog is funny and inspiring, and authentic.

Authenticity was her goal for 2010, but I really think she had it already. While you’re checking out that link for a look at her home in its authentic state, be sure to take note of what she did with the super cool chemistry lab chairs she scored for $4 each!

Tricia is crafty…here is one of her more recent projects:

And here are some of my other favorites:

Before and After buffet (you’ll see how she made the awesome lamp shades, too).

This table is soooo cool, you’ll have to see how she made it to believe it.

It took a lot of thought and planning to get this photo wall to look this good, and she shares her tips with us.

But Tricia is not only about projects and a pretty home. She is encouraging, and inspiring, and you can tell she truly loves her life. To get a glimpse of that read Things I Love…

On Saturdays, Tricia does a post about things she’s seen around the blogs that week, called Inspire My Saturday…it’s always fun to see some great things you may have missed. Recently, she celebrated her one year blogiversary, and did her Saturday post as a look back over the year. Inspire My Saturday, Birthday Edition is a good way to get to know more about Tricia and her blog.

Please stop by Life at the Zoo, take a look around, and be sure to leave a comment!

Winner

Random.org picked #2 as the winner of the sweater giveaway from Resweater.

That makes Treasia Stepp of Stepp Into My World the lucky lady!  Treasia said she likes the pillows people have been making with sweaters; now, if she likes, she can make one herself with her free sweater from Kris.

Coincidentally, I also felted a sweater recently.  The problem is, this time around, I didn’t mean to felt it!

I found this Ann Taylor LOFT wool/angora/cashmere hoodie at my consignment outlet for $1.  I loved it; it was soft, warm, and pretty.

Then this week I washed it.  I had done it before with no problem, but this time I accidentally left the machine on fast agitation, and I guess that’s what did it.  It shrunk.  I tried to stretch it out when it was wet, but it’s still just a little too small now.  Fortunately, I’m not out any money; I certainly got my dollar’s worth out of it.

I’m still hoping I can salvage it somehow…maybe get it wet again and just put it on and wear it to stretch it out?  Otherwise, I guess it will go into the sweaters-to-repurpose box.

Have a great weekend, everybody!

I Got Nuthin’

Sorry y’all, I’ve had a couple of sick kids this week, and there’s nothing of interest happening around here.

I will pick the winner of the Resweater giveaway tonight; until then, there’s still time to enter.

Thank You!

I’ve received a few awards recently that I need to acknowledge.  First, the Kreativ Blogger award was given to me by  Angie of The Country Chic Cottage, Melissa of Frugal Creativity and Kerri of Kerri’s Klutter.

Amber Waves of Grain gave me the Beautiful Blogger award.

I am honored that these ladies thought of me.  Thank you!

Both of these awards ask that you share 7 things about yourself, so here, totally randomly, are 7 trivial things about me.

1.  I like to sleep.  A lot.  I often take a nap in the afternoon.

2.  When I was in fourth grade, I came in second place in the school’s mandatory speech competition, with a 3-5 minute speech about robins.

3.  I still have two baby teeth (there were no permanent ones to take their place; dentists are always amazed that they’ve lasted this long).

4.  I have never broken a bone.

5.  I am a great-aunt 7 times over.

6.  I hate to make a salad, but I love to eat it if someone else made it.

7.  I don’t like to talk on the phone.

Okay, I’m going to offer these awards to anybody who has never received a blog award.  If you are reading this, and are as-yet award-less, take your pick of the two.  Tell 7 things about yourself, and pass it on to several blogs that you like.

Thanks again to Angie, Melissa, Kerri and Amber!  Please visit these ladies.

P.S.  Don’t forget to enter the giveaway I’m hosting for Resweater.

Featured Blog: Resweater, and Giveaway

Giveaway now closed!

Last week I was approached by Kris of Resweater to see if I’d like to host a giveaway for her. Of course I would! Her blog was new to me, so I decided to do it for a Monday highlight.

As you might suspect from the name, Kris’ blog is all about recycling sweaters. You know I did that several times, but she takes it to a new level.

Look at all these goodies she’s made!

Diaper covers for cloth-diapering mamas:

Adorable tissue pack covers:

Reversible purse:

Crazy-cute elf slippers:

Kris says these are dryer balls, but I think they look really fun to play with too:

Kris posts lots of tutorials so you can try your hand at making something from felted wool, and if you win her giveaway, you can start for free!

Kris sells wool sweaters for recycling in her artfire shop, and will give the winner the sweater of her choice. Just leave a comment on this post. Winner will be drawn this Thursday at 9:00 pm.

Please visit Kris’ fun blog and shop and see what she’s got going on!