The Savvy Mamma

  Upcycle Project  Thrift Store Microwave Stand We moved into a new place with very minimal counter space and being a family of 6 this is quite the issue for us. So being the savvy mamma that I am I quickly found the cheapest way to maximize the space we we're working with.  I searched all the second had stores in my local area. I would have loved to go yard sale hunting but I live in Erie PA and it was not the time of year for that. So naturally I did the next best thing and I went thrift store hopping. Starting with the well knowns like The Salvation Arm and Good Will, they were a bust. It didn't take me long at all to find this one pictured here for only $5.00! This is why I love the littler private owned shops. You always find the most unique things and at a great price!  Here is my before picture of the microwave stand. It needed a very good cleaning first and for most. I knew there were a few options for me when it came to this transformation. I could paint it,...

Heart Shaped No-Sew Pillow This no-sew pillow was so fun and simple to create. Trow it on your couch, bed or bench to add a touch of love in any space. The supply list is short and the creative possibilities are endless.  You're going to need some fleece. This is where you can have some fun with your pillow. I chose to use two different colors for mine but you can do a solid color design or get a patterned print if you'd like.  Supplies you'll need: - 2 pieces of fleece. The size can vary depending on the size of the pillow you are looking to make. Mine is about 18 inches wide.  - A pair of good scissors  - Stuffing. Now this is where you can get savvy. If you have an old pillow laying around go ahead a rip that sucker open and use that filling. Or just go buy a cheap Walmart or Dollar General pillow. It is so much cheaper than buying a bag of fill.  -As for the template, you can print one out using a Cricut or Silhouette machine or if you have a steady hand dra...

It’s the little details that always make us smile and full us up with joy. Those little things are just what we each need in our lives, no matter how we find them, cherish them. For me it was the little details I added in while cleaning out my office space for the new year. I completely emptied my desk and everything on top and started fresh for the new year. I honestly think that’s the best way to clear clutter and get rid of the things you simply have no use for anymore.  I don’t know about you but I can’t work, let alone think, in a messy area. Same goes for the kitchen too. So my goal this year is this: Simplify, organize and prioritize. Simplicity was achieved when I cleared the desk of all clutter, next came organization. My main source of chaos is the papers that filter into this house daily. Papers from each child every day when they get home from school, the mail , which is mostly junk and papers from work. My kindergartener alone could fill a room with one w...

Wood work has been my new hobby lately now that its nice outside, I had a few pallets last fall and finally got around to doing something with them! This was super easy to do! I cut off the end of a pallet, that's what I used for the main part of the rack. Then I used aa long board I also had laying around (you can cut more of the pallet if you want) for the bottom. I used long nails but you can also use screws. I scrubbed the rack when it was completed with Dawn dish soap, a brush and the garden hose. Let it dry in the sun for a few hours,  flipping every hour or so to dry every side. Then with a brush I lightly painted it white, to give it that rustic look. Let dry again I used a stencil, black paint and a sponge to do the lettering You can use whatever you want to fasten to the back for it to hang on the wall. Just go to your local hardware store or even Walmart!

So I recently went to Sams Club looking for a Pokemon cake for my sons 9th birthday and they didnt have anything I asked for just a plane white frosted cake, no edging, nothing but a flat white cake I went to Walmart bought 2 things of white frosting and a squeezable tube, a little one, of black frosting. Also need red food coloring I turned one frosting can into red and left the other white Using a cake piping kit I did the red first, then the black in the center a d lastly added the white to the bottom. It didnt take long and it turned out fabulous!  Dont limit yourself to what the stores have I wanted to decorate it but didnt want to spend the time baking!

Here's a quick and simple way to recycle a couple old tee shirts into 2 dog toys All you need is a pair of scissors and two old t-shirts. Find the t-shirt out onto a smooth surface, you will only be using the bottom portion of the t-shirt. Cut off the bottom hem of the shirt. Then cut across underneath the armpit of the shirt Now continue to cut strips out of the piece of shirt that you removed Cut anywhere between 12 to 14 strips Now take each strip and stretch them. Gather all the strips together and cut them on one end. Anchor it down underneath something heavy. Separate into 3 different sections and braid. Tie a knot on each end. For extra support on each end you can save one strand of each color and tie around underneath each knot For the smaller toy I simply used the arms of each t-shirt! This takes about 20 minutes to do and I guarantee that your dog will love it! You can also experiment with different ways to tie your dog toys for different types of toys ...

I love my garden, so much that I give it the best possible fertilizers I can. One of the best ways to help your garden flourish is by mixing in compost. Being a family of 6 we generate quite a bit of stuff to add to the compost pile and living up north I dont have the luxury of beautiful weather all year around so adding to my compost daily is not pleasant. Although that chore is reserved for my 8 yr old son. Still, having banana peals, apple cores and egg shells laying around my kitchen until I feel like trudging out back through 2 feet of snow is not ideal. Plus my cleaning OCD just won't allow it! I just needed something to hold my compost until there was enough to take out back, which only takes a day or two in my house. It also had to be easy to clean and have a sealed lid. What better way than to use and recycle a plastic tub! I found a 4 lb tub that once contained the most delicious ox roast this tri state area has to offer! Nice excuse to buy and devour a container in ...