Homemade Valentines

This year I decided to do homemade valentines with my daughter. They were so easy and turned out super cute! I let her pick out the paper she wanted (from my way to large of a stash). I made a stencil by folding a piece of cardstock in half and drawing a heart so the point hung over the edge of the fold and when cut out it unfolds to look like a butterfly. For her class at school we got little tubes of bubbles and candy spree for my dance classes and attached them to the center to look like the butterfly body. This would be a way fun activity for older children to do. They could cut out their own butterfly hearts and decorate them and attach the candy. Super easy and way fun! Enjoy!

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Time to link up! Can't wait to be inspired! We're making homemade Valentine's tomorrow so check back later this week to see them! Enjoy!

*Follow me & my co-hosts Lindsay and Jennifer
*Link to a specific post--not your home page, no giveaways, or no etsy shops
*Link something you've done in the last month
*Post my button on your blog so everyone can join in the fun
*Visit & comment on at least TWO other links posted
*Come back to see if you've been featured!

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So loved looking at all the projects from last weeks link party! Check out the features!

Love this room makeover from live.laugh.rowe.

Love this little dresser from Candy's Clothes Closet

You know I love me some scarves! Check out this super cute and easy tutorial from Pinafores & Pinwheels

If you're making over a kitchen and want an inexpensive high end look check out this concrete counter top from Salvage Savvy

Love this super cute burlap wreath from My Hearts Desire

White Chicken Chili

My husband is a huge chili fan and he now says this is his favorite! It's also a hit with our girls and it's super easy so it doesn't get any better than that!

Here's what you need:
3 cans great northern beans rinsed and drained
3 cups chicken - I usually put in 2-3 chicken breasts and shred them before you serve.
1 15 oz jar alfredo sauce
1 can chicken broth
1 1/2 cups frozen corn
1 cup sour cream
1 small sweet yellow pepper chopped
1 small onion chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
1 Tbsp ground cumin.

I can't do hot stuff...like my mouth burns for hours, I turn bright red and sweat bullets for an hour after, but if you want it hot (and when I say hot I mean hot for me and mild for you) add 2 cans green chilies

Put it all in the crock pot. Cook on low for 8 hours. Easy right? Enjoy!

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So I'm a day behind this week! An extra long weekend and I'm still thinking it's Monday...try Tuesday! I hope you all had a fabulous week and weekend. Due to lack of keeping my days straight I'm not doing features this week, but check out the most viewed link last week.

It's Overflowing

Don't you love that vase! It makes me want spring! And even though a couple weeks ago our trees started budding and we were outside playing, winter and the bitter cold is now in the air. I guess I could do spring on the inside of our home. Now let's get to the party and I promise there will be features next week! Also check back on Thursday for a family favorite recipe!

*Follow me & my co-hosts Lindsay and Jennifer
*Link to a specific post--not your home page, no giveaways, or no etsy shops
*Link something you've done in the last month
*Post my button on your blog so everyone can join in the fun
*Visit & comment on at least TWO other links posted
*Come back to see if you've been featured!

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You know what to do! Link up and show off those projects!

*Follow me & my co-hosts Lindsay and Jennifer
*Link to a specific post--not your home page, no giveaways, or no etsy shops
*Link something you've done in the last month
*Post my button on your blog so everyone can join in the fun
*Visit & comment on at least TWO other links posted
*Come back to see if you've been featured!

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Check out these amazing links from last weeks party! I'm totally inspired and love looking at everyone's projects!

Look at these beautiful kitchen remodels! You need to head over and check out the before pictures!

Kitchen Remodel from It's Overflowing

Kitchen Remodel from The Dressing Room

How cute is this little sweater! I feel like sewing may be in my near future! :)

Ruffle Sweater from The Little Giggler

Love the look of mercury glass and I love how this display turned out!

Mercury Glass from A Grace Full Life

This idea is fabulous! Make your own dishwasher packets!

DIY Dishwasher Soap Packets from Lady With The Red Rocker

So it's 11:55pm and of course I'm starving and these look so good! I think baby is going to have to settle for some crackers cause I don't have the energy to pull out the waffle iron and make them :)

Whole Wheat Waffles from A Little Nosh

Can't wait to see what you've been up to this week! If I featured you feel free to grab a featured button! Enjoy!

Do you coupon?

I just wanted to share what I've been up to around my house the past little bit. I think the subject of finances is or can be a sensitive subject to talk about. The truth is I think a lot of people are in hard times financially. I know for our own family we've been dealing with financial struggles for the past four years. We've gone through 3 job losses in two and half years and what savings we did have was quickly used up. We've added children along the way which as you know adds to the list of expenses you need to plan for. With our situation is isn't possible and doesn't make sense for me to work outside of our home. I've been on the look out for a stay at home job that I could do on the computer, while still being able to care for our children, but lets be honest those jobs are hard to come by. We've long ago cut out all those little extra things like cable, eating out whenever we want, picking up that cute shirt because it's on sale and all the many other various activities that sometimes you just don't think about...you go do it because you want to. We've really had to buckle down and say, "Is this something that we want or need? Can we really afford it?" Now I don't want this to be a downer post. I have so much that I'm grateful for and know that I've learned a lot through these trials. I also know that my family has been blessed with help along the way to get us where we are today and to help us make it each day, week and month with the things that we need. Now you know I'm a thrifty girl especially when it comes to furniture, decorating or any kind of craft project. I love make things myself and saving money in the process and I'm always looking for new ways to save our family money. I've never been big into couponing as far as groceries or personal needs items or everyday household items go. I had no idea what you can really do to save yourself a big chunk of money. I've clipped coupons that have come in the mail and I check my weekly adds and do price matching at my local Wal-mart, but there is so much more that I could have been doing! And I've only just begun and need a lot of tips and tricks! I recently came across the site Freebies 2 Deals and started reading up on the different deals that were posted and what you have to do to get those deals or free items. Um...it's AMAZING what you can get!

Check out my shopping trip to Smith's today.

Total cost after tax $12.14. This was in 2 separate transactions using my fresh values card and then my husbands fresh values card using store sale price, ecoupons and a P&G promotional event. Now do you want to know how much I saved? Of course you do! The total would have been $44.30 before tax! Seriously did you know you could do this? It's amazing!

Another great deal I found a couple months ago was on Crest toothpaste 6.4 oz tubes on sale for $.99. Great deal so when I was at Wal-mart...I'm swear I'm there at least once a week I decided to price match it and found these:

Bonus packages each with a free travel size toothpaste. I was feeling really about this deal and grabbed a bunch to stock up. Then when I got home and opened the box I found a $.75 off coupon. Now you're guessing what comes next...use the $.75 off coupon on top of the sale price of $.99 and you get a total of $.24 for a Crest 6.4 oz tube and a travel size tube of toothpaste. Now that's a steal!!!! Can you tell I was really proud of myself? I think this little experience has been my driving factor to learn to coupon!

So my questions for you: Do you coupon? What have you found the best deals on and how? Any helpful tricks or tips that you've learned? I'd love to hear anything you got to get me on my way! 

By the way if you don't coupon and want to learn more, Melea at Freebies 2 Deals has started a fresh start series to introduce what she does and how to do. I'm not in any way getting compensated for promoting Freebies 2 Deals, but really you need to check it out! Enjoy!

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Hello friends! Happy (late) New Year! I hope you all had a fabulous new year! I unfortunately spent new year's eve in the emergency room with my youngest daughter and then she was admitted to the hospital. Needless to say 2012 did not start off so great! I am happy to say that she is now back to her normal busy, funny and chatty self! I also just need to say a big thank you to everyone for your kind words and encouragement about baby number 3! Thanks for being so supportive and I promise I have projects coming soon!

Now let's get to the party! I can't wait to see what you've all been working on!

*Follow me & my co-hosts Lindsay and Jennifer
*Link to a specific post--not your home page, no giveaways, or no etsy shops
*Link something you've done in the last month
*Post my button on your blog so everyone can join in the fun
*Visit & comment on at least TWO other links posted
*Come back to see if you've been featured!

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