Frugalista Married- Come check her out!

Have you ever visited Frugalista Married?  If not you definitely need to!  My favorite thing about Frugalista Married is how real Cece is!   It is all Real Life.  

Let's get to know Cece and Frugalistia Married a little better...  We asked Cece to write a little something up about her blog and this is what she said,
"So, you want to find out how to get more hours in a day, loose 10 pounds and keep it off without dieting, and earn money from home in your spare time?  Well so do I!  I'd love to tell you that you can find those answers along with the secret to eternal youth on my blog but that would be false advertising and once you realize that you would leave me a mean anonymous comment and unfollow me so fast my head would spin.  What you will find is a fun and real blogger who loves being a part of the blogging community and interacting with others.  I write about life, love, the pursuit of happiness and anything else that pops into my head.   

I consider myself to be part of the "old school" generation of bloggers.  I've been at it for going on 4 years so I started before link ups, Rafflecopter, giveaways, Passion Fruit and blog sponsorships were even thought of.  In fact, this is my first sponsored post which I was lucky enough to win and I've only done 2 giveaways.  But not to worry, I plan to do more because giving something away was so much fun.  With almost four years under my belt you may wonder why I don't have 2,000 followers.  I mean, isn't my blog cute enough?  Haven't I come up with enough funny things to say?  Getting new readers does make my heart happy but that's not my motivation for blogging.  I do this because I love to write.  I always have and I have a good feeling that I always will.  Come find out if I'll ever finish that novel I've been working on for years, what reality TV shows I refuse to watch and my latest confessions.  You may not discover the the secret to making your hair look like the girls in Pantene commercials but you might find some other things you like and it might be worth the visit anyways."
Head on over to Frugalista Married and get into Cece's world.  You will not be disappointed!  You can also follow Cece on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

Friday Feature: Third Sunday Dinner Blog

 Years ago, my family lived a few houses down from an amazing family!  My kids were little then.  I had only my five boys.  And my boys loved their kids.  They would talk about them all the time.  Every time we would pass their house, which was all the time, my kids would look out the window to see if they were outside.  The father of this family is a Chef.  And an amazing one if I do say so myself. 

 His name is Chef Brad. When we moved away from that neighborhood, Chef Brad made our family dinner as we were packing.  And I will have to say that he made the most amazing salad I have ever had!  Even to this day, my husband jokes about me eating the whole thing.  And the salad was huge.  In my defense, I only finished eating it when everyone was done.  :)  And I still have cravings for that salad even after seven years!

My husband stopped by their house one evening and Chef Brad just made brownies.  He gave my husband one and when he came home that night, he couldn't stop talking about them!  He said that the brownies tasted like he was in heaven!

 He teaches people how to cook with all different types of grains.  Grains that I have never even heard from!  And he can make everything taste so delightful! And he also has a cooking show on BYUtv called Fusion Grain Cooking.  The reason I am telling you all this, is because he has recently started a blog called Third Sunday Dinner.  He shares recipes, stories and tips.  The most recent post he did is on Lemons.  He talks about all the health benefits of lemons.  It's very information and you don't want to miss  it!  So head on over to Third Sunday Dinner and check out everything Chef Brad has to offer and you will be wishing that you are neighbors with him too!

Dresser Makeover using Homemade Mod Podge

One of our most viewed posts of all time is our Homemade Mod Podge.  Now this recipe isn't ideal for every crafting project, but it is a cheap and simple alternative.  
Recently, one of our readers emailed us a few pictures that she took of a dresser she redid using the Homemade Mod Podge.  

   I thought that the results were too amazing not to share, so I asked her if I could share her pictures and story with all of you.  And I was so excited when she said yes!

 

This is what Jennifer said:   "I found your mod podge recipe on pinterest recently.  A week later my cousin gave me a colorful and sturdy dresser for my 7 year old, self proclaimed, fashionista...because she keeps outgrowing her dresser!  She asked me to paint her dresser purple ...but I really did not have the room, or money to devote to the project.  I picked up a huge damaged paper pack at Michael's a couple months ago for a sweeeet price that would really make this dresser wild and I thought that it would be a fantastic time to try out that mod podge recipe.  So on a Monday morning after I got the kiddos on the school bus I started measuring drawers and paper and cracked out the ole calculator (I haaaaaate math).  I cut up my paper and layed it out onto the drawers, (to check my measurements....not to shabby) sanded the surface slightly and started mod podging.   I distressed the mirror using some shimmer spray in the color sunflower, that I had in my scrap-booking kit, and added some paper scraps and a light sprinkle of glitter while the mod podge was still wet.  Next I cut out some leopard print shaped and mod podged them to the top of the dresser in a swirl pattern.  My dad painted the knobs and pulls a nice golden metallic hue.  I sanded the edges of everything and this is the end result...My girlie just loves it!  In total I devoted about 8 hours to the project and spent about $10.  I also gained a new addiction to add to my growing list of crafty addictions...decoupaging!"
Here are the before and after pictures:

Didn't Jennifer do an amazing job?  Thank you so much for sharing.  

We had a reader ask if the Homemade Mod Podge can be used as fabric Mod Podge.  I haven't tried it with fabric.  So I thought that I would ask you all.  

Have any of you tried it on fabric?  And how were the results?  

Thanks!  You are all awesome!

 

Feature Friday- Reeds Blacksmith Shop!

Are you looking for the perfect custom gift?   You need to check out our Dad's Etsy Shop called Reeds Blacksmith Shop.  He does AMAZING work and even does custom orders!

These make the perfect wedding gifts!

 A Heart Dinner Bell- wouldn't that look adorable in a country house!

 Here is a hand-forged heart made out of a used horseshoe.

I have one of these horseshoe key rings and I love it!  Go check out Reeds Blacksmith Shop and get your orders in before the rush of the Christmas Season!

Friday Feature: Sew Stormy

My friend has the most amazing quilting room!  She has fabric in her room that could last me a lifetime and I would be so happy!

She started a Star Sampler Quilt on her blog a while ago and for all of you quilters out there, it would be so fun to follow along.  She shows how to make each star block step by step and each one is different.

He blog is called Sew Stormy and we have featured it before, but this was just too fun to pass up!

Here is a little sample of a few of her blocks...

Here is Block 6:

Here is Block 5:

 

Here is Block 4: (and I love these colors!)

 So, hop on over and start your own Star Sampler Quilt!

Feature Friday: Rivers Recipe Review

I recently came across a blog that I fell in love with!  Who doesn't love looking at beautiful pictures of wonderful food?  At Rivers Recipe Review, you will spend your day looking at all the yummy food and wanting to whip up the delicious recipes yourself!

Alyssa Rivers is the creative force behind Rivers Recipe Review.  She takes recipes and reviews them.  Then she rates them on level of difficulty and how good it was.  She also includes changes she would make and if she would make it again. She is a SAHM of two cute boys and you should really click on over to her blog and check it out.

I had a hard time picking which pictures to post here because they all look so yummy!  But here are a few...

The Key West Grilled Chicken looks amazing!

And you will definitely have to check out The Best Sweet Pork Tacos!

My husband will absolutely love these Mini Peach Cobblers!  Peaches are his favorite! And I love how they are in individual servings.

And this Zesty BBQ Chicken is something that I will definitely have to try as well!

So take a few minutes and stop by Rivers Recipe Reviews and I know you will not be disappointed!

Feature Friday- The Crafty Woman

I absolutely LOVE my Kitchenaid.  I don't know what I would do without it.  The problem is that they are SO expensive!  But, every once in a while you can find them for real cheap at Goodwill or at Yard Sales.  They are usually really ugly though.  The Crafty Woman shows a way how to update your Kitchenaid for SUPER cheap.  I thought it was a great idea! 

You can check it out HERE!

If you have not been over to The Crafty Woman, you definitely need to!  She has SO many budget friendly and great ideas!

Friday Feature: Wayward Girls Crafts

We absolutely love this next blog that we are featuring today!  They are a group of sisters, along with their Mom and they are the creativity behind Wayward Girls' Crafts.  You know how much we love blogs that sisters create!

Here is a beautiful party they helped create.  There were individual smash cakes for each child.  How fun is that!

And don't these Peanut Butter Oreo Truffles look amazing?
I love peanut butter, Oreos and Chocolate...Mmmm!

Here is their Wayward Craft Philosophy:

"Being Wayward originally started with an answering machine greeting, but we've realized what an integral part it is of our identities, especially as crafters.

While we like instructions, sketches and patterns, we don't always follow them . . . or even look for them. We see a glorious finished project in our minds and then we just go for it. We attack the problem as best we can, figuring we can figure it out.

Sometimes we take it on because we're cheap frugal. We see a gorgeous creation for $25 or $525 and think it's worth it to save our money. "I can't pay good money for that when I can make that," we say.

Sometimes we take it on because we want something custom. We can (hopefully) get the colors and style we choose. "I won't settle for almost what I want when I can make that," we say.

Sometimes we take it on because we just like to bite off more than we can chew. We like a challenge to help us grow and refine our skills. "I seriously hope I can make that," we say.

I do what I want! is one of our catchphrases—and we do. For the most part, we make it happen. Working by "Braille," we can get through even the most challenging crafts—though sometimes we do have to make the occasional call to our omniscient sources: Mom or Google. Our results are seldom perfect in our eyes, but we usually find a way to make it work."

So take a look at the Wayward Girls Crafts,  you will fall in love!  

And on a sidenote...I wish we were all neighbors!  :)  Wouldn't that be so much fun? A street full of sisters!

Friday Feature: Sew Stormy

I have a friend here in El Paso that is so talented and when I found out that she has a blog, I knew I had to let you all know.  Her blog is called Sew Stormy.  She has five children and as you can imagine, is always busy, but she finds time to work on fun projects.

She has an amazing sense of style!  She just recently repainted her dining room to this beautiful blue.  You can take a look at the before pictures on her blog.  The blue is so calming, I love it!

She is an incredible quilter!  She has a whole room in her house that is set up just for all her quilting!  I would love a room like that!  She is always working on a quilt, or five...

Here is her Daisy Buttons Quilt. 

Here is another quilt that I think is darling!  I love all the colors in it!

This one is called the Modern Rose Garden.

I also love her Swoon Quilt!

But she does more than quilt and paint her house, she also is a canner and cans her own fruit and jams. 

And she decorates so cute!  Here is frame wreath that she made this past fall.  I love fall!

So...you really should head on over to Sew Stormy and look around at all her craftiness!  You won't be disappointed!

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Friday Feature: A Cupcake Love Affair

I recently came across a new blog and I had so much fun looking over all of her posts!  Heather is the talented lady behind A Cupcake Love Affair.  She is a pastry chef that loves to bake and especially loves cupcakes.  And everyone of her treats look so amazing!  My mouth waters just by looking at all the pictures!

She has so many fun ideas for cupcakes.  Here is one for Green Velvet Cupcakes.   I recently fell in love with red velvet cupcakes and I know that these will be no different!  And I just love the clover she puts on top.

And take a look at this Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake.  Anything with chocolate and peanut has to be delicious!  And look at that presentation!

Here is a fabulous Pirate Birthday cake for a 50th birthday party!  She has so much talent!  My cakes never look this good...

So if you haven't discovered her blog yet, head on over and check her out!  You will not be disappointed.

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Friday Feature: Sister Savings

For those of you who live in Arizona and would love to save money while doing your grocery shopping, then I have the website just for you.  It is called Sister Savings.   

Now what I really like about this site is that you don't have to clip coupons.  I have clipped coupons for years and saved so much money, but it does take some time.  Now think about all the time you will save by not clipping those coupons and letting Sister Savings do the work for you!

But it's more than a website for saving money at the grocery store.  She also has menu ideas, recipes, food storage, gardening and so much more!  So you don't have to live in Arizona to take advantage of Sister Savings.  There is something for everyone!

So go ahead and stop on by Sisters Savings website, you will not be disappointed!

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Feature Friday- SANTA CRUZ Chili and Spice Co.

Yesterday my husband brought home some Picante Sauce that a farmer gave him from the SANTA CRUZ Chili and Spice Co.  I usually don't really like this kind of stuff... But, I decided to give it a try this morning and made some egg burritos.   This sauce was seriously to die for and has been on my mind ever since!  I am 16 weeks pregnant and had a doctors appointment.  When I got home I couldn't live without it any longer!  So, I filled up a bowl with this amazing sauce and dipped potato chips in it!  I think I am in LOVE!

Head over to the SANTA CRUZ Chili and Spice Co and check them out.  You will not regret it!  They also sell several different spices.  I am SUPER excited to try out more of their products!

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