Have you tried a Walmart Beauty Box?

If you haven't tried the Walmart Beauty Box, you might just be missing a great thing!

 

 So, what is a Walmart Beauty Box?  Well, it is a box full of sample sized goodies!  These are NOT small sample sized goodies either, as most of the time, the samples are fairly large in size...which makes this all the more exciting!

 

The Box comes to you 4 times a year, as it is a "seasonal" box. That means most of the times the Box is geared toward the Season we are in or should I say going into. 

 

The cost is only $5.00, which is just the cost of shipping.  I have been able to try out some new products that I would have never tried, if it hadn't been for the samples they sent.  Like for instance, I wasn't going to spend $20 on a moisturizing cream to only find out I might have hated it...so, trying a nice large sample for a month, let me realize I either liked or hated it.  So, this box is well worth it.

 

 

Here is all the goodies I received just yesterday in my Walmart Beauty Box.

 

Opening the box...look at all them goodies!

 

Here they are all laid out on my counter.

 

Nice selection this time.  The hairspray will be great for my purse.  The hairbands must be a fairly new product as these have silicone dots on them, so they should hold hair nicely.  Anxious to try out the new mascara.  Who can't use some Coconut Butter this time of year?  Another item getting thrown into the purse.

 

Some cotton swaps, St. Ives facial scrub, Aveeno products and Burt's Bees sample.

 

A Vera Wang perfume sample and some Crest 3D whitening. 



 

Well, not a bad sample box at all!  If you are interested in signing up for your own Walmart Beauty Box, click on the link below.  This is NOT an affiliate link and I have nothing to do with promoting anything from Walmart.  Just thought I would pass on a fun box for all of you to try as well.

https://beautybox.walmart.com/how-it-works/

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TO LET ME KNOW YOU STOPPED BY

Dog Leash Tutorial

What do you do when you just got 12" of snow and you have no where to go but HOME?  Well, you can spend all day on Facebook or you can search Pinterest for some fun, quick projects with materials you already have on hand.

After a short time of searching, I came across the perfect project....DOG LEASHES.  Considering I have a ton of fabric scraps in my sewing room...I was certain I had all the materials for this project.

 

Who wouldn't like to have a choice of several cute Dog Leashes?  I mean, now I can have one in my car, in the house, even in my "overnight" bag for when we leave for mini weekend getaways...no more forgetting the dogs leash!

 

These are so easy to make, all you need is a basic sewing machine, some long scrap fabric, fusible  interfacing , and a swivel bolt clip.

I found the full, detailed instructions over at Sew Mod blog.  They were simple, and very easy to follow. Here is the Dog Leash Tutorial if anyone else is interested in whipping up a few for their fur babies.  These would make great little gifts to give to family and friends next Christmas too with a little doggie treat bag.

Here are two that I whipped up in less than an hour.  These are so simple and fast to make!!!


This one is for my daughters mini Doxie.

 

 

 This one is for my Golden Retriever.  

 

Another Pinterest Project completed and I have to say this is "2 THUMBS UP" for easy to follow instructions, and a quick fun project.

 

Have fun and stay warm!!!

Painted Glassware

One of the easiest, most inexpensive, personalized way to give a gift...is just paint some inexpensive glassware.  You really DON'T need any talent for this, just a little bit of craft paint, some glassware or dinnerware from the Dollar Store, and you have a one of a kind gift. 

 

You can personalize them for any occasion, whether it be by adding a name/date/or special colors...these make wonderful ANY occasion gifts.

 

Here are a few I have done over the years, some are rather simple in design and some took a little more time.  All of these are done with craft paints from my local JoAnn's or Micheals...baked in my oven...and they will last for years to come.  They are even dishwasher safe, if you choose to use them. 

 

This was painted for my nieces 1st birthday.

 

 

The next few were done for a Christmas Cookie Exchange

 

 

 

 

The next two were my grandbabies footprints, just pressed onto a plate, with very simple designs.

 

 Here are some Pilsner glasses I chose for my sister.  These were actually Christmas gifts and these did take a little more time to do. 

 



Don't worry, you really DON'T need any artistic talents.  Here are a few I found on Pinterest using simple designs with dots and lettering. 

 

 

So, next time you are looking for a personalized, inexpensive gift....grab some Martha
Stewart or Folkart craft paints from the craft store and make some beautiful gifts.  The directions are right on the backs of the bottles. 

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY...LOL

 



January, the month of Organizing

Most people consider January to be the month of "Resolutions".  It is essentially, but it is also the month of Organizing.  Just head to any big box store or hardware store and you will find Plastic Bins,

Organizing shelves, and not to mention a few books or magazines sitting out geared toward "Organizing"...sitting right out front for all to see.

 

When living in a teenie tiny cozy house it DEMANDS organization.  Seems like clutter just makes the house even smaller. 

 

Now that all of our 4 children are grown and living on their own, we have a few spare bedrooms that were just crying calling out for some attention.  They had served their purpose for quite some time, but now it was time to make them into something useful again.

 

I have decided, the Hubby and I, needed our own Dressing Rooms.  Our bedroom closet, dressers, and just about every area of our Bedroom was busting at the seams...fighting for space.  So, why not take two "unused" rooms and convert them into our own separate dressing rooms?  No more fighting for closet space, no more fighting for mirror time, no more anything...just our own personal space. 

 

I just finished MY Dressing Room today and couldn't wait any longer to show your the "BIG REVEAL"....well, it's not that big, but I sure am happy to have my own space. LOL

 

 

No more shoes hiding behind clothes in my closet.  This was used as my daughters TV holder and bookcase.

 

 

 The closet is finally clean.

 

 

I was so glad I remembered I had these wire cubes hiding in my basement.  I used them when I did craft shows, now they will house clothes that don't require hanging.

 

Sweaters and jeans live in them now.

 

 

 Also, my collection of Purses.

 

 This is an old coffee table that I plan on refinishing into a nice padded bench.  But, it will do for now.  I will eventually add a piece of foam on top, covered in a pretty fabic and I will paint the legs...but that's for another day.

 

 

 A wall mirror is housed behind the door, and I have my "overnite bag" along with my "shopping" hipster purse, on a hook for easy access when needed.

This is my "Vanity" area.  My husband built this for my daughter for her Vanity/homework area.  Its a great use of space for an otherwise "dead space" in a dormer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tray of Perfumes

 

 Found this idea on Pinterest.  Its an old ladder that I just tied my scarves onto.  Now I can see all my scarves without having to rummage thru a drawer of mess.

 

Standing at the door and looking in.

 

 

 

 EVERY Dressing Room needs a Dress Form.  JoAnn's has them on sale right now, so I had to just grab one up.

 

 

 Its COLD outside, so she had to put on my favorite soft scarf.

 

Well, there you have it.  MY own personal Dressing Room.  Now, to move onto my husbands room. 

 

 

 

 

 

I pinned it, I made it! Sunday Supper review

 

Today's meal is a side dish that most everyone enjoys....Macaroni & Cheese. 

 

If you are like me and you belong to Pinterest (who doesn't at this point?!), you probably have so many recipes "pinned" and only have made a handful of them!  Well, I decided it is time to change that!  Like seriously, what is the point of saving all them recipes, if I never make any of them?!

 

 

So, I decided that I would start making some of the Recipes I have "pinned" and let you know how they really turn out.  I am by no means a Baker or a Chef, but I do like easy, delicious, have-the-ingredients-in-my-cupboard, kinda food! So simple foods are what I enjoy making.  The kind of dish you can take to a potluck dinner or party and don't have to explain what it is?! 

 

 

Today's dish was done all in my crockpot.  LOVE this method of cooking...just dump it in and go!!! This Crockpot below is One (of the few...lol) of my favorites that I cook most my meals in.  I like the fact it has a 4hr/6hr/8hr/10hr timed settings...and when the time is up, it switches itself to warm automatically!  So, no coming home to over cooked and burnt meals, if you are running late.

I decided to give this Crockpot Macaroni & Cheese Recipe a try. 

 

 

 

 

I did however, add a can of "broccoli & cheese" condensed soup to the ingredients just to make it a little more creamier.  I added that right in the beginning with all the original ingredients.  I am pretty sure if you don't have that, you could add any condensed cheese soup (I might even try Cream of Chicken soup next time!) to this recipe. 

 

 

Easy Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

3 cups milk
12 oz can of evaporated milk
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
8 oz brick of cream cheese
16 oz box of elbow macaroni
1 tsp ground mustard
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
OPTIONAL: 1 can of condensed soup (cheese, cream of chicken, broccoli & cheese)

 Place all in Crockpot and set heat to low. Cook for 2-4 hours or until noodles are soft and sauce is the consistency you like (slow cookers vary a lot, especially with something like pasta, so you’ll have to start checking it at about 2 hours and stop once noodles are soft and sauce is the consistency you like.

My review:  It was really good, very creamy, very tasty, had everything in my pantry and very easy to make!  But I have to say, it was definitely done in about 2-1/2 to 3 hours.  At 4 hours, the noodles were a little overdone.  This is in my opinion...A KEEPER! 

This recipe was found over at:

http://thriftyjinxy.com/easy-crockpot-macaroni-cheese-recipe/

 

This is one of my favorite Blogs, so be sure and stop on over and check it out!!!

 

 



Sending Salutations

What has happened to the Tradition of sending Christmas Cards? Sending Salutations to friends & family?

 Is this another lost tradition that we will soon look back on and say, "Remember When?"  Or something we will tell as a "story of days past" to our children & grandchildren? 

 
Like the days of when Christmas Carolers would ring your doorbell and you would open it to hear beautiful Christmas Carols to just brighten your spirits!

Looking back 20 years ago, I can remember the frame of my doorway being filled with Christmas Cards that I would tape around it (yep, got that little tradition from my Mom)!  From Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve, I would love to open my mailbox to find BEE-U-TEE-FULL Christmas Cards sent from friends and family!  Just a small greeting wishing my family a "Merry Christmas & Happy New Year" from their family. 

 

 

How I miss those days!!!  Now, I literally can count on just a small handful (like myself) who actually take the time to pick out Christmas cards and sit down to sign and address them to family & friends. I am actually saddened, by the thought of this possibly being another "Tradition" gone one day.

 

 

 

Is it just all the hustle & bustle that we have made our society feel?!  Is it the fact of the rising cost of the stamp?  Or that we rely SO much on technology anymore that we feel if we just make a "Post" on Facebook that this will cover the time of sending a Card? 

 

Whatever the reason may be...please, slow down, take a moment, and "Send a Salutation" this year to your family & friends and just brighten their mailbox with the thought that you was thinking about them this Christmas Season!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Plaids vs. Tartans

Sounds like maybe a football game ready to take place?!  But, recently I have been seeing these BEE-U-TEE-FULL prints all over Pinterest & in some Shops.  So, I decided to dig in and find out if there really is a difference between the two...or is it just a "marketing" name each designer gives to their line?  Well, there truly is a difference!!! 

 

Here is some fun facts:

 

All Tartans are plaid

but not all Plaids are Tartans!

 

A true Tartan pattern 

has a matching pattern both horizontally

and vertically with a center point

meeting at a 90 degree angle, and

Stripes can be wide or thin

and woven in many different colors!

Here are a few Tartan Plaids...don't they just scream Christmas?!

 

I need to find me a pair of these!

 

Would love to have a blanket scarf like this one!

 

Just coziness!

 

 

Adorable Mugs!



 

 

So homey!

 

 

Here are a few Plaids:

 

Just loving these Maxi Skirts!

 

So, do you personally love them or hate them?!  I know they are "trending" at the moment...so spending a small fortune on them is not reasonable...which means I will be "thrifting" this week on the search atleast one Plaid or Plaid Tartan pattern!