Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

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From our home, to your home, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! Here's a pic of me, kid 1 & 2, and baby number 4! It seems baby number 3 (also white and furry) doesn't like camera's. Yup, what can I say, I'm a serious dog lover and in total denial of all the shedding that goes on in our house!



We've had a wonderful Christmas Holiday so far, and even more fun is in the works as we make the trek to Sarasota, FL tomorrow to see the Hubby's parents! I love traveling the day after Christmas because the kids are worn out from all the Christmas festivities, making the long drive actually tolerable for once...love that!

Anyway, because of our trip, Frugalicious friday for the next couple of weeks is cancelled. However, mark your calendars because this fun day is ON again January, 8th 2010. Wahoo, bring on the new year...I am so excited for 2010 and another great year of fabulous home improvements, Diy projects, and thrifty finds of course!

So again...Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! And I'll see you in 2010!

Last Minute Gift Idea!

Ack...I've missed you blog land! This Holiday season has put a serious damper on my blogging activities lately! But with all of our Holiday festivities, gift buying and wrapping winding down...I am happy to be back and ready to share some more thrifty projects!

As you know Christmas is just around the corner, and if your like me, you might be scrambling for a few last minute gift ideas! Well here's a great gift idea that will cost you just around a dollar. I know, I know, your thinking what gift could I possibly buy or even make for just over a buck?
Well, how about this fun initial ornament!

This project all started with these great little gold frames from where else...the Dollar Tree! Yup, just a buck...love that!

Here I used push pins to hold the ribbon in place. Now you could just push the pins directly into the ribbon, but I chose instead to loop the ribbon around the pins with a little glue.

These letters I had leftover from a previous project in kid 2's room. All they needed was a little festive red paint to go with our Christmas theme. Kid 2 was not happy about covering up that pink, but loved her finished ornament!

Next I glued the letters onto some leftover wrapping paper. No need to go out and buy new Christmas scrap booking papers...I always use what's on hand! Besides I absolutely love this bright n' fresh green color!

And before you know it...finished! Yup, this project is super quick, and pretty cute for just over a buck each don't you think? Check out the Hubby's pupeteering hands below...too funny!

I think kid 1's Gingerbread man (to the right) approves as well! These ornaments are so fun... perfect if you need a quick and inexpensive gift ASAP!

And a reminder...Frugalicious Friday this week is cancelled due to Christmas! I'll sure miss seeing every one's fabulous finds, crafts and Diy projects. But we'll be back in a couple of weeks...see you then!

A Fabulous Frugalicious Friday...Guest Host!

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Do you know what today is? It's Frugalicious Friday, and the fabulous Kathy from her blog Creative Home Expressions will be our guest host this week...thank you Kathy you rock!

Well, I have been swamped this Holiday season with several things on my plate, including a new part time job that I'm very excited about. Then add to the mix the Holiday Decorating, parties, gift buying, wrapping and mailing, kid 1's basketball and kid 2's Cheerleading and Girl Scouts! Phew...I'm exhausted just thinkin' about it all!

So Kathy from her awesome blog Creative Home Expressions, is taking over for me tomorrow and hosting this fun day all about $aving, while adding her own chic flair no doubt! So link up and share your fabulous finds, crafts and Diy projects, And give Kathy a shout while your there...she'll have the MckLinkey list up and running Friday morning!

Finally, there will be no Frugalicious Friday on December the 25th or even January the 1st for obvious reasons! So after tomorrow, the next Frugalicious Friday will be on January the 8th, 2010...wahoo, bring on the New Year! So Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday's everyone, and here's to a joyful and prosperous New Year!

We Have a Winner!

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Yipee...it's time to announce the winner of my giveaway from Frugalicious Friday! We had 45 participants link up their fabulous finds, crafts and Diy projects and I'd say that's not too shabby considering it's the heart of the Holiday season right now and we're all scrambling to get stuff done!

Christy from her awesome blog Embellished Bayou so sweetly offered one of her adorable wooden ornaments for a giveaway! She's so crafty and creative, I wish I had just a quarter of her talent.

And without further delay, using an on-line number generator, the winner of one of these 3 wooden ornaments is... Amy from her blog The Red Chair Blog! Congratulations Amy you get to choose which ornament you like best! I'll be in touch with you ASAP to gather your contact information and ship this festive baby out!

And to everyone who linked up their fabulous finds, crafts and Diy projects...you rock! I'll post a recap hopefully Tuesday, but with the Holiday to do list I've got going on right now, don't hate me if it's Wednesday! Thank you again to Christy from Embelished Bayou! If you haven't been by her blog, give her a shout, she's got tons of great crafty ideas and inspirations!

Happy Monday Everyone!

Frugalicious Friday & a Giveaway!

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Welcome to the 11th edition of Frugalicious Friday! Today's a big day because we've got a giveaway...wahoo! This day is all about sharing your fabulous, thriftiest, most frugalicious home decor Finds! And if you revamped or renewed your find in a fab Diy project, tell us about that too...we can always used a little extra Diy inspiration! Are you new to Finding Fabulous? Here are the guidelines for this fun day that's all about $aving!

Well I am super excited because Christy from Embellished Bayou is kindly offering up one of these 3 bee-autiful hand painted wooden ornaments to one lucky winner, and the winner gets to choose...how cool is that! I just adore Christy's blog Embellished Bayou...she has got to be one of the craftiest blogger's I know. In fact, I'd say she's totally craftalicious! ;) How cute are these hand painted wooden ornaments?

Okay, my frugalicious finds came from a simple trip to the Dollar Store! Ya know, decorating for the Holidays isn't cheap. In fact, after you buy the outdoor decorations, wreaths, garland, and lights, not to mention the tree and presents...you can easily spend a small fortune. So every year, I make a trip to the Dollar Store in search of fun decorations, that won't break the bank! Here's what I found for just under $10: a fun Holiday sign, sparkly stars, faux glass ball ornaments, even snowflake ornaments, all for just $1 each...love that!

So armed with my Dollar store finds I set out to spice up some of my existing Holiday decorations. First things first, the mantle. These apple green ornaments, and gold sparkly stars are just what my tired mantle needed for a little extra Holiday bling! Oh and the flat screened TV...I just pretended it wasn't even there. Maybe next year I'll cover it in wrapping paper. Hmmm...somehow I don't think the hubby will go for that!

Our Christmas tree has a gold and red color scheme, so these gold sparkly snowflakes are perfect! I've seen similar ornaments from Pottery Barn for over $10 each...yikes!

I thought this sign that reads "Santa, I want it all!" would look great on my new shelf in our mudroom. I also put Holiday wrapping paper in this frame that usually holds a vintage map. Yup, I'm the crazy girl who decorates her mudroom with Christmas decorations!

And finally this red sparkly star found a home above our nutcracker collection. I hot glued natural twine rope and hung it directly on the mirror.

So there it is...fun Dollar Store finds that add a little sparkle and bling to otherwise simple Holiday decorations! What's your latest frugalicious find, craft or Diy project? Link up and join the party and consider yourself entered for this sweet Holiday giveaway! (the winner will be announced Monday)

So link up...and give us the scoop on how you $ave!

Frugalicious Friday Recap!

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Wow...I am definatley feelin' the linky love! 61 fabulous blogger's linked up on Friday and I am thankful for every single one of you! You posted revamped dollar store finds, renewed thrift store finds, and just all around fabulous finds, crafts and Diy projects! Here are a few of my favorites filed under Holiday Decorations that won't break the bank!

Karla from It's the Little Things That Make a House a Home linked up her adorable Jingle Bell Wreath. Karla picked up this simple berry wreath at the dollar store, and then added jingle bells to give it more presence! What a simple idea with fabulous color and texture...love it!

Rebecca from her blog Blue Cricket Design shared with us her paper mache ornaments that she used for her front door Christmas frame. These ornaments she made are so colorful and fun and look fabulous centered in her front door Christmas frame. This is such a fun n' unique Holiday decoration...I love this!

Mikael from her blog Starter Home to Dream Home linked up her festive blue and silver ornament trees. And she claims she's not crafty. Well, based on these beautiful ornament trees and her other fun Holiday decorations, I'd say she's a total crafty gal. Aren't these fabulous...love those feathers too!




And Finally Stephanie Lynn from her blog Under the Table & Dreaming shared with us her fabulous faux mercury glass decorations. She bought these shiny little trees at the dollar store, and used a faux painting technique to create the look of mercury glass. I'd say they're spot on...and look just like the real thing. Great job Stephanie Lynn!




So that's a wrap! With 61 participants...Frugalicious Friday last week was a big success! If you participated...as always thanks for the linky love! And if you haven't linked up yet, Friday will be here before you know it! So link up, show us how you $ave...we want to see your fabulous finds, crafts and Diy projects!
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See you on Fridays!

A Fresh Holiday Centerpiece

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Welcome to the 10th edition of Frugalicious Friday! This day is all about sharing your fabulous, thriftiest...most frugalicious home decor Finds! And if you revamped or renewed your find in a fab Diy project, tell us about that too...we can always used a little extra Diy inspiration! Are you new to Finding Fabulous? Here are the guidelines for this fun day that's all about $aving!

Okay, my frugalicious find (well not really a find, but more of a creation) is this fun Holiday Centerpiece I put together with fresh fruit, pine cones, Christmas tree branches, and Holly tree branches.



I started with fresh fruit! In a perfect world I would have used limes and clementines. However, limes are pretty expensive this time of year, so I chose to use green apples and tangerines instead. The pine cones I found in the woods behind our house. And finally the cranberries were leftover from our Thanksgiving day dinner! All together the fruit was just under $10.


I layered the ingredients one by one. First cranberries, then green apples, then orange tangerines, and finally greens and pine cones.



I placed the greenery in a circular motion just above the tangerines, starting with the Christmas tree branches, then added a layer of holly tree branches.



Finally I placed 3 large pine cones on top of the greenery.



Now I liked this centerpiece a lot. However, I reassembled everything again looking to create a more simple arrangement with cleaner lines. Yup, what can I say, I'm a clean line girl!



So I alternated smaller pieces of greenery and pine cones. Then I added holly leaves, and then one large pine cone for the center.

And here it is finished! Ahhh...a fun n' colorful centerpiece using fruit and greenery from my back yard, now that's my kinda thrifty Holiday decoration!

I'm linkin' this post to these favorite days:

Diy Day

Trash to Treasure Tuesday