Our Advent Calendar

Well, this weekend I finally got my thoughts together and made an advent calendar. 

Remember the Coca-Cola crate I found last weekend?  Well, that was one of those items I bought with an idea in mind . . .

I found these foam numbers at Hobby Lobby . . .

(I wasn't all too thrilled with the colors they chose, so I painted a few of them.)

and these (shatter-proof) Christmas ornaments at Walmart. 

You can probably gather the rest . . . but I simply hot glued the foam letters to the ornaments. (Note: the backs of the the foam numbers were sticky, however it just wasn't enough to hold well.)

And, lastly, the best part of all . . . displaying them in the crate.

I have to say . . . this is getting me pretty excited about Christmas!!

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When 

&

meet . . .

you're sure to see two playin' gals . . . 

and two talkin' mamas!

It's been amazing meeting so many incredible new friends through blogging. I couldn't have been more thrilled to discover Natalie from Johnny in a Dress lives just a few short miles away!
And, I'm pretty sure Ross is just as excited . . .

What a grand day!   

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An Advent Calendar

I have always loved an advent calendar. I grew up with one that looks almost identical to this one . . .

So Happy

My parents have always gone all out for Christmas, and that advent tree brought some of the most wonderful memories for me.  As a child, I couldn't wait to get down the stairs and put another ornament on that tree! It certainly wasn't Christmas without it . . . which is why I knew there'd need to be one for our kids.

I've spend several weeks now racking my brain for ideas, and I believe I've gotten a good start with these . . .

And, my personal "adult" favorite . . .

(How, in the world, did I not think of that one!)

Sources: lilla a, Pottery Barn, Etsy, Martha Stewart, Room Envy, Style Me Pretty

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Blog Post Trade-Off: Make the Best of What's Around

Hi there!  My name is Tanya from Make The Best Of What's Around. This is my very first time doing a guest post. I am so excited to be blog swapping with Holly @ Life As A Thrifter. Like Holly, I too am a thrifter. I love finding old, inexpensive things and giving them new life. Today, I'm going to share with you a makeover of a tray I found at a Habitat For Humanity Store. If you'd like to view the original post, you may do so {HERE}.

 My husband picked this dingy old thing up at Habitat For Humanity.  He knows what I love.

 I gave the tray a good sanding and chose to spray it with Krylon Blue Ocean Breeze.

 I used a block sander and distressed the edges. I like more of a rustic look.

 To make it nice and cheery, I Mod Podged some bright and a little vintage looking paper to the bottom of the tray, let it dry and...

it now sits on my kitchen counter where I use it to hold my coffee accessories.  I can't go a day without have a cup of french press coffee. 

This was a very frugal project. You can makeover just about anything with a bit of paint, Mod Podge, and cute scrapbook paper.

Thank you, Holly for allowing me to be a guest on your lovely blog.  If you'd like more frugal and fun ideas, come visit me @ Make The Best Of What's Around.  I love meeting new blogging friends! 

 ...Tanya...

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Flea Market Finds

Well, there's no doubt I could have bought truck loads more! Nevertheless, I came home with some really fun finds. Some of these I knew exactly what to do with . . . and some I just couldn't leave without.

AND, to top it off, Fleming and I found 2 new thrift stores on the way home that day! You'll have to stay tuned for those . . .

Happy hunting, everyone! :)

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Pictures from the Flea Market

Ahh!!  Here is just a taste of what I saw this weekend . . .

 It's more and more fabulous every time I go!

More on my finds later . . .

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Flea Market

I'm off to shop a flea market this weekend!!

 

My heart is already racing . . .

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Nifty Thrifty Things

I'm SO super honored to be a guest blogger over at Nifty Thrifty Things today!!

Surely, you've seen Vanessa's neat stuff!?!?! She's super creative and really thrifty! Here are a couple of my favorite projects she's done . . .

A Type Case Project

Painted Vases

Check her out! You won't be disappointed!

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Old Light Fixture

Do you remember this?

Well, it was meant to replace this . . .

And, thanks to my dad . . .

it happened.

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A Family-Friendly Home

Recently, I got a few comments asking how I was able to keep a "family-friendly" home. I'm not so sure I'm the best one to answer this question, but I'll certainly try my best. 

Although children are quite possibly the most wonderful things in the entire world, it is from my experience that they will inevitably cause 2 problems in a household . . .

1. requirement for all valuables to disappear

2. an over abundance of toys

Now. I will first admit, I can be a bit of a neat freak. I don't collect a lot of knick-knacks or picture frames, and I get panicked over the first inkling of clutter. Therefore, I was lucky in the standpoint of not having to get rid of a lot of things when Ross arrived. 

Secondly, I will also confess Ross has been remarkably good about not getting into the things she shouldn't (i.e. plants or breakable things).  

It has been my goal from the get-go to maintain a descent looking home regardless of how many children live in it. In most cases, I choose to buy things I know won't get damaged or were bought at the thrift store in which it probably only cost a few dollars anyway.

Undoubtedly, addressing the over abundance of toys has been the most difficult issue . . . especially in our little house. I've tried my very best to conceal as many toys as I can.  Like in a cabinet . . .

  

. . . or in a basket.

I've tried to place toys in several places throughout the house that might spark her interest as opposed to . . . the plant.

Despite everything, cleaning and keeping things tidy will always be a challenge. Teaching an 18 month old how to clean up can be exhausting. Surely, we'll get there . . . one of these days.

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