Thrift Store Thursday

I am beyond excited to introduce my new category of posts - Thrift Store Thursday! If you know me you know I loooove to thrift. I have a knack for seeing beauty in other people's old crap. It's a gift, really! Haha. I'll start the week off by sharing 2 items I found earlier this month.

The first is a simple glass jar with a lid.

It was marked $2 but I got it 1/2 off for only $1! I will be able to use it for many things but since Fall is here I decided to go with a candy jar.

Check it......

I had the ribbon and raffia. I bought the candy at the Dollar Tree for $1. Total spent = $2!

Next is my favorite. I've been seeing all these cute ways on Pinterest to display your child's artwork. I had all these big ideas of making something from scratch, but when I saw this, my heart sang!

It's just a painted black frame around tin. It was already lined on the back and had a nail hanger. I got it for only $1.50!!!! I couldn't get it to the register fast enough. I knew exactly where it was going to go in my kitchen.

I turned this......messy frig......

Into this......

I love it!

P.S. If you were wondering...yes that is a 'Today Show' magnet! I heart Matt Lauer.

My Very First Give You a Surprise Blog - GIVEAWAY!

AND THE WINNER IS: Jenni from J's Reviews and Giveaways! CONGRATS!

I've been trying to think of a way to share with you guys my love for music...my family's love for music. In our home music pretty much makes the world go round. Hubs is a musician, he lives and breathes it. He's a fantastic musician as well. Oh and a hot musician.........

See what I mean...........

Anyway enough of that......on to the GIVEAWAY! In keeping with the music theme, in November  Hubs and I will be seeing the amazing band Gungor. They're earthy, folksy and just plain lovely and I want to share that with you.






I'm giving away their CD, Beautiful Things!

It's wonderful and I know you'll enjoy their music as much as I do.

They actually have a new album that will be dropping September 20 and I can't wait to get it. Maybe I'll give that one away too!

Follow the instructions below and GOOD LUCK!

HOW TO ENTER

(Leave one comment per entry.)

MANDATORY ENTRY: Follow this blog and leave one comment below letting me know who your favorite band is...easy and fun!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
1) Tweet the following: I just entered the CD #giveaway @PlumWonderful  http://bit.ly/aNca9r

2) Vote for Plum Wonderful at Picket Fence - using the link in the right column on this page.

I'm not affiliated with Gungor in any way. I just love Gungor, I love you and I'm awesome!

THIS GIVEAWAY WILL END Wednesday, SEPT 14, 2011 AT 11:59 CST.

Wordless Wednesday

Major Announcement!!!!!

Brace yourself for this one............

We are officially potty-trained! I'm in disbelief. I can't fathom not having to buy diapers at every grocery shopping trip. I actually feel terrible because we didn't seriously try sooner. Baby boy is 2 1/2 now. We half heartily tried a couple of times in the past but didn't really stick with it. I didn't feel like he was ready. We decided to start Friday since, with Labor Day, we would have a long weekend. I'm ecstatic to share that in 4 days he only had one accident!!!!!! Unheard of, I know. My offspring is a genius! Sadly, however he's a big boy genius and no longer a baby. This is the final thing that officially puts him into little boy status. Sniff, sniff.

Big boy or not, it's still a victory and I couldn't be more proud of my angel.

Good bye......

Hello.........

Bathroom Redo

When we bought our house 6 years ago one of the first things I knew would have to go was the bathroom. It was beyond ugly. Not to mention the 'door' if you want to call it that had a louver shutter in place of a real door. It was slats that you totally could see through, which scared all of our friends away from using our bathroom. Not exactly inviting for dinner parties. We remodeled it about a year or so after we moved it.

Here are some before photos...rose scalloped borders....really? It all had to go!

There was only a shower. We tore it out along with the wall there to make room for a bathtub.

I went with slate floors because I looove slate. I wanted an earthy, cozy, comfortable look. The walls are showing up a little brighter here than in person. It's an olive green color.

We were able to reuse the existing sink and mirror. I love all white rugs, towels, etc.I like clean and simple in the bathroom. This is now...

 A few weeks ago I did a $50 freshen up. I bought a new rug, new towels, new basket and candle. It was a cheap way to give it a little face lift.



My August Favorite Things

This is my first favorite things and I'm so excited to share! Head on over to Cleared for Takeoff to find an awesome linky of other hot momma's favorite things!

1. Urban Decay's Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss, MAX Shade

This stuff is heavenly! I only wear nude colored sticky, sticky lip gloss and this is just that!

2. Crate and Barrel Oil Spritzer

This takes the place of that aerosol non stick spray. I use olive oil in mine, it's healthier for you and it's all natural, no extras added in!

3. Ipad

This should have been #1 because I can't live without it!!!!! I'm obsessed.

4. Pottery Barn Bella Paisley Shams

We're redoing the bedroom and I've just added these shams. My secret is, however, I ordered them from eBay - brand new still in the package for 1/2 the price!

5. Pinterest

Yea I'm the last one to join, but I finally did it and all you crazies were right...IT'S SO ADDICTING!

Date Night Do Over - Japanese

A little while back I showed you how to make my favorite chicken pesto pizza that I get at a little pizza place downtown. I showed you how I make it at home to save $$ (and the hassle of going out).

Now I'm going to share another dirty little secret of mine with you.......

We have Japanese date night at home too! I looooove hibachi chicken, fried rice and sushi! At my local Japanese place we can easily spend $75 on one meal. For years now I've been 'ripping' them off so to speak. I'll be honest I cannot make fried rice like they can. I've tried and it sucks. I also can't make sushi. I've wanted to try, but I'm afraid I'll get nasty fish and poison Hubs. So I take a little help from them and add a little of my own stuff and it turns out GREAT.

First I place a call in order for 3 orders of fried rice, yea, yea I said 3...we like a lot of rice. They're only $3 ea!

I also order sushi - $5

and seafood sauce - $3 (it's ohhhh so good and we eat it on all the meat not just the seafood).

So my total with tax is $18.53 from the restaurant.

Then from the store you'll need:
1 lb chicken - $3
teriyaki sauce - $2 (I used Lawry's.)
shredded cabbage -$2
any other veggies you want to stir fry

My store total with tax is $7.63.

This time I only did cabbage along with some carrots and green onion I already had.

You cut up the veggies you want to stir fry.

Add them to a pan with a little olive oil, teriyaki sauce, salt/pepper and cook until tender.

You cook your chicken the same way. Cut it up and stir fry with a little olive oil and teriyaki sauce until done.

Then you plate with your rice.

Total for everything $26.16!
Total savings $48.84.

To make it a complete meal break out a bottle of Trader's Joes' 'Two Buck Chuck' and you're set and you'll still save over $45.00!