Giveaway:PEEPS® and PEEPS & COMPANY® #peepsholiday

Tis the season for all things sweet! Whether you’re looking to stuff stockings, top your tree or bring a smile to a loved one’s face, PEEPS® and PEEPS & COMPANY® are here to help!

David and I were excited to receive a big red box full of fun Christmas treats from PEEPS® and PEEPS & COMPANY® to check out and share with y'all.  Did you know they make chocolate mousse flavored PEEPS®?! I had no idea, but they are divine!

After we sampled a few, I got crafty with the PEEPS®.  David got to enjoy some of his favorite holiday treats, plus try a few new ones, too!  The lollipop and Holiday pop were different ways to enjoy PEEPS®.

So, here are the details on all the yumminess.... so many great flavors to try!

    PEEPS® Large Banana Crème Flavored Minion: PEEPS® introduces a new banana crème flavored marshmallow in honor of the beloved Minions characters. Three varieties of the individually packed large Minions include the likeness of Kevin, Stuart and Bob – stars of the Minions movie available on DVD this holiday season. Available only for a limited time!
·  PEEPS® Vanilla Crème Chicks Pop: Fans can celebrate holiday traditions with these four classic Vanilla Crème flavored marshmallow Chicks on a stick.
·  PEEPS® Marshmallow Minions: To celebrate the DVD release of the Minions Movie, PEEPS® created a Minion-shaped marshmallow reflecting their fun PEEPSONALITY®. The original marshmallow Minions are sure to please admirers of all ages. Available for a limited time only!
·  PEEPS® Candy Cane Flavored Marshmallow Chicks: Those who prefer their Candy Canes chicks without the chocolate can indulge in the peppermint-goodness of Candy Cane favored chicks!
·  PEEPS® Large Marshmallow Snowmen: Large, fluffy PEEPS® Brand Snowmen are fun to eat and to share! Available in one count stocking-stuffer size packages, and three count share size.
·  PEEPS® Gingerbread-Flavored Marshmallow Gingerbread Men: Now you can get the gingerbread flavor you crave all year long in something other than a cookie with PEEPS® gingerbread flavored marshmallow gingerbread men.
·  PEEPS® Marshmallow Trees: It wouldn’t be the holiday season without seeing a Christmas tree! Enjoy green PEEPS® tree-shaped marshmallow decorated with red, yellow and blue garland and topped with a star.
·  PEEPS® Marshmallow Snowmen: PEEPS® traditional sized snowmen! PEEPS® Marshmallow Snowmen are adorned with a top hat and candy cane decorations with a nostalgic look.

 · PEEPS® Chocolate Mousse-Flavored Marshmallow Reindeer: These reindeer shaped marshmallow PEEPS® are chocolate-mousse flavored and oh so delicious!
· PEEPS® Holiday Pop: This delicious marshmallow flavored pop comes with four assorted Chicks representing the holiday colors: green, red and white.

Information about the PEEPS & COMPANY® products:
· PEEPS® Plush: Cuddle up with your favorite PEEPS® this year. Perfect for stocking stuffer or under the tree and a warm surprise. Plush varieties include:  PEEPS® Gingerbread Man, PEEPS® Elf Plush Chick, PEEPS® Plush Candy Cane Chick, PEEPS® Plush Snowman.

David claimed this plush PEEP for himself - it's so soft! 

·  MIKE AND IKE® MERRY MIX Candy: Filled with 4 ounces of MIKE AND IKE candies featuring Lime, Cherry and Holiday Punch flavors, this is a great way to add a little extra sweetness to the presents you give or if you need an item on hand for a quick gift that's sure to please the sweetest people in your life.
·  PEEPS® Lollipop: A delightful handmade PEEPS® lollipop perfect for party favors, stocking stuffers, or secret Santa surprises. Available in PEEPS® Gingerbread or PEEPS® Snowmen varieties.

Some of the fun things we did with our PEEPS®....

Try the candy cane PEEPS® in your favorite hot chocolate - delish!  The candy cane PEEPS® were my favorite.  So tasty!

Mix PEEPS with your favorite candies in glass jars or vases to make adorable centerpieces for holiday meals or parties!

Or just tuck them into stockings for a delicious Christmas surprise!

Would you like to try some of these delicious treats yourself? You are in luck! PEEPS® and PEEPS & COMPANY® are giving my readers a discount code to use through 12/31.  It is valid for 20% off your next purchase on their website, no minimum required, from now through Thursday, December 31. Discount code: SWEETINGS15.

They also want to give one of my readers a prize pack featuring several of the products we sampled!  Just enter via the Rafflecopter widget below - if you don't see it, click the link to bring it up, and good luck!  (prize pack will vary from pictures, sponsor will select products to send!)

Organizing Your Coupons

Almost every time I shop, someone stops me to look at my coupon box! So I thought it was about time to share my coupon box here so I can refer fellow shoppers right to my blog! : )

I start with these supplies:

photo storage box from Michael's (but don't forget to buy it on sale, or with one of their 40% off coupons from the paper or email!) Will cost under $3 this way.  I buy two at a time, I replace mine every 3 months or so - they get a lot of wear!!  Plus, I like to change up my box for a new color/pattern - I get bored!!

1 box of small envelopes from the dollar store (you'll replace these once or twice a year probably)

4 or 5 vinyl pocket folders from Walmart, various colors.  (when they go on sale later this summer for back to school, plan to buy a bunch for cheap!!) You can use 3x5 index cards until then - that's what I started with, but you have to replace them often - that's why I love the plastic ones I made!

I traced a 3x5 index card onto every available inch of the vinyl folders.  Cut them all out, set aside.

Open the flaps on envelopes, cut them off. 

Place a plastic (or index card) divider vertically in each envelope.  Label  (using a sharpie) with categories you want to use. (see list below of my categories for inspiration!)

Place envelopes in the box and fill those suckers up with all of your coupons!!

When I cut my coupons, I open all the inserts, then layer like insert pages together, so I am only cutting each coupon once.  Then when you file them in the envelopes, they'll be together.  

Go through your coupons once a month (end of month is best) to clear out the expired coupons, plus you'll remind yourself of what you have to use!

Here are my coupon categories ~ personalize this list to work for your family!

Air Freshener/Candles

Baking

Beverages

Bread & Rolls

Biscuit/Cookie Dough

Boxed Meals/International Foods

Breakfast Baking

Candy/Gum

Cereal/Grits/Oatmeal

Cheese & Eggs

Cleaning - Bath

Cleaning

Cleaning - Floor

Crackers/Cookies

Deli & Meats

Eye & Ear Care

Feminine Products

Frozen Breads/Breakfast

Frozen Appetizers/Entrees

Frozen Fruit/Ice Cream/Dessert

Frozen Pizza

Frozen Veggies

Fruits - Canned, Snacks, Dried

Granola Bars, Protein/Diet Bars

Hair Care

Home Items - Bug Repellent, Light Bulbs, Office Supplies

Jellies/Peanut Butter/Ice Cream Toppings

Laundry

Make-Up

Medicine - Cold, Flu, Allergy

Medicine - Kids

Medicine - Misc (1st aid, stomach, etc)

Medicine - Pain

Milk & Dairy

Milks (canned, boxed),oils, syrups (corn, waffle, etc)

Paper Goods

Pasta & Rice

Personal Care - Body

Personal Care - Face

Produce

Razors

Salad Dressings, Croutons, Pickles, Olives

Sauces, Seasonings, Marinades

Soap, Body Wash, Deodorant

Snacks - Chips, Nuts, Popcorn

Soup, Canned Chili, Tuna

Toothpaste/Toothbrushes

Veggies - Canned

Vitamins & Supplements

Yogurt

I also have store envelopes behind the category envelopes  - In these envelopes I keep store coupons, rainchecks, etc

CVS

Walgreens

Publix

Kroger

Target

Michaels/Hobby Lobby

Local Stores/Deals

Restaurants 

In the side of the box next to the envelopes I keep some small coupon books - my P & G one, a Target one, and the current Wags store booklet.

I carry my coupon box into the store every time I shop - you never know what you'll find on clearance to match up with your coupons! Sit in the cart seat sideways - it fits perfectly! I prefer this to the binder system, but everyone has their way of organizing - use what works for you!

Dollar Store Decorating ~ Ballard Designs Inspired Paint Chip Mosaic Art

Happy Wednesday!! I'm back with another super easy and super cheap Dollar Store decorating idea!
I was visiting blogs a few weeks ago when I was housebound with shingles, and I found this blog where Jennifer had made the most gorgeous artwork out of paint chips, inspired by a $279 Ballard Designs item!!

I have a small area in the family room that needed a pop of color. Our family room is painted a deep, rich brown called Library Pewter from Sherwin Williams, and it's like a cave in there.  I'm about ready for a lighter wall color, but this is what we have to work with now!

I already had a tacky Dollar Tree picture on canvas that I bought to paint over and use for something.  I also had sponge paint brushes from the dollar store, mod podge, burnt umber and gold acrylic paints, I just needed the paint chips.  When I finally got to go out of the house without worry of exposing someone to chicken pox, I met a friend at IHOP in Buford, and ran into Home Depot next door to grab a handful of paint chip cards in blues, golds and browns.  BUT....these weren't squares, they were rectangles. DARN IT!

When I got home, this is what I had to start my project with:

Dontcha love that bird picture? Still, a buck for a canvas is a deal!! I have a few more of these stuck away for other projects!!  You have to look at things and imagine their potential when you are shopping, whether at Goodwill, a thrift store, or Dollar Tree.

So to begin my artwork, I cut out 1" squares of the colors I liked the best - I chose golds, chocolate browns and robin's egg blue for the most part.  I got 3 squares per color.

First I painted the canvas with the burnt umber, and dabbed some gold around the edges of the canvas.  After it dried, I played around with the paint chip squares to get them in a pattern I liked.  I didn't have spray adhesive, which is what the tutorial suggests, so I used glue.  Next time I will start at the edges and work my way into the center, but this time I just worked from one side to the other.  The way I did it, the paint chips aren't perfectly lined up, but hey, live and learn!

After they were glued on and dry, I added a coat of burnt umber paint (I used what I had on hand - in the tutorial Jennifer used stain).  I wiped it off with a paper towel, then added a little more to some of the lighter chips to distress them a little more.  I wanted it to be dark enough to look good on the wall, but still pretty and colorful.  Once that dried, I added two coats of matte mod podge.  They added some funky texture to this piece.  Finally, I added a coat of gold metallic paint, which I also wiped off with a paper towel.  Here's my finished artwork ~

It's not perfect, but I LOVE it!! It's just the pop of color and texture I was looking for.  It's hard to see all of the different colors in this photo because my flash just highlighted the gold paint!  But you can see the texture and that's my favorite part of it!

Here is a shot of it without the flash - the colors aren't the same in real life, but it gives you a better picture of the distressing and the colors....

 I will be making a few more of these - one for Katie's bathroom, and maybe one for the master bedroom.  They are really easy to make, it just takes time cutting out the squares and waiting for it to dry! 

Check out Jennifer's blog for her step by step tutorial!! She did such a great job and I'm so happy I found her blog!!

How I made over my laminate countertops

I am never satisfied with our home. I always have 3 or 4 (at least) projects in the works. For example, the dining room chairs I received from my grandparents' home - I painted and reupholstered 2 of the 6 so far. The others are in various stages of priming or painting. The reupholstered seats are stacked neatly in a corner of the dining room. Fortunately for me, we don't use that room often, so it's not a big deal.

OLD chairs:


NEW chairs:


Likewise the one wall in the dining room with wallpaper. When we moved in 6 years ago, I loved it. Then (at the time still a toddler) David tore a piece of the wallpaper off the bottom...and I lost the love for my wallpapered wall! So last summer I began stripping it - but what a chore. Even with the spray stripper gel used with the razor-y thing, we're still getting a layer of the back paper left on the wall from the wallpaper. It is a mindless but tedious job. I only work on it when I'm completely, utterly, bored ~ which is not often!

One project I did complete was my daughter's bathroom vanity. It was a standard white, but we wanted to warm it up, so I faux painted the countertop to look like granite, and painted the base a warm mocha. It's one of my favorite home makeover projects ever... but one of the few of which I don't have a "before" pic to share. Darn it!

But here is the after!




Two years ago I started a kitchen makeover. Two years. What can I say - my husband is very patient, and luckily for me, doesn't care how long my projects take. I'm very lucky!

When we moved in, the kitchen was U-G-L-Y!! I can't stand white walls, white counters, white floors. I have two kids (Three counting my stepson in the summer) and kids make messes! Or at least mine do. So in my head, I envisioned a Tuscan-themed kitchen - warm, inviting, the heart of our home.

Here's the BEFORE:


When the white tile began showing a yellowish stain in several places, I was ready for a new floor. Too bad the budget didn't agree! But, after many hours at various home stores, I found a gorgeous adhesive tile from Home Depot. I knew how to apply adhesive tiles, having used them in my bathroom at my last home. They aren't super durable, but for a few years, they'd work! So we got them - they are a beautiful taupe/rosy beige slate look. It took me about 3 days to get them all on, and I was in LoVe!

(pretend there's a picture here - tomorrow I'll take one!)

Next, I repainted the white cabinets black. Even now, I'm not sure that was the best idea. But it's done. I replaced the hardware with an oil-rubbed bronze set of knobs, and love them, but they are almost lost in all the black. On my to-do list is to make a glaze with a bronze acrylic paint to rub into the cabinets to antique them and add some interest.




We painted the walls, too. I had the paint picked out forever - Sherwin Williams Different Gold. My sister used it in her home and I love it. But while my husband was at the paint store, I did something bad. I went against my gut feeling, and called to ask him to change it to a buttery yellow. Can I just tell you how much I hate it? It's been up for two years this summer. Ugh. Luckily, last week a nice man on freecycle gave me a full gallon of a wonderfully rich gold paint that I'll be using to cover the butter yellow. Soon!

Lastly, the counters. They were white laminate. They stained often - grape juice, coffee drips, you name it, they stained. I was bleaching all the time. Yuck!
So I decided to try this pricey countertop paint from Home Depot. We got it in the Taupe shade. Painted them with it last fall. I have to say that it did not live up to the claims I'd read. It does scratch, it does take more than one coat, and it does not last. I was very disappointed in it. Especially since it was a special order product from Home Depot, and I had to order two quarts, instead of just the one I needed. But, I wouldn't let the newly-taupe chipped counters go to waste. I decided to faux paint over them to look more like granite, since new counters are absolutely the last thing we can spend money on!

So far, not including the counter paint and polyurethene I aleady had, I've spent
$12 on my "new" counters: $1.50 each for 4 shades of acrylic craft paint at Michael's, $3 for six foam rollers at the dollar store, and $3 for sea sponges at Michael's. Not bad at all, right?!

Since I'm going for warmth in my colors, I chose metallic gold, cream, black, and brown paints. I had a small bottle of white, which I did use to lighten up the brown & black for a couple layers, as well.

If you try this at your home, you'll need to clean the counters very well, sand them down a bit, clean again, then apply a base coat. In my Katie-bug's bathroom, my base coat was a brown latex paint. And in the kitchen I used the countertop paint for my base.

Since I already had a base coat on, I started out dabbing the edge of a sea sponge in one color paint, then dabbing it all over the counter. Once you start dabbing the colors on with the sponge, you may think you are doing it OH SO WRONG, because it will look TERRIBLE! Like a weird animal escaped from a zoo and walked all over your counters with weird little paws!! Like this:



But you are doing it right, I promise!! Keep doing it, over and over, letting each layer of sponged on color dry. And keep a selection of sponges on hand so you can rinse them out after each color and let them dry. I dipped one edge or point in the paint, then blotted them on paper until I got the "dotty" look I wanted. Then sponge on the counter randomly. It will feel like you're doing this forever! But it will all come together, I promise!



Keep going! Over and over and over. Dab with different edges of the sponges, and with lots of different color layers. You want to leave a bit of the base coat showing, but have a ton of other layers dabbed on. I also blended the colors to make lighter or darker shades to use as well. Just to add more color like real stone has!



When you decide you like it - stop, step back, and be sure! If it's what you wanted, then it's time to seal those suckers up. I chose an oil based, clear semi gloss finish polyurethene. I've added 4 full coats, but more around the sink, because I want to make sure it will be protected from drips! I finished this afternoon, so tomorrow I can start putting things back on the counter. That is when I'll have some more pics for you! But for now, here is the picture I took Saturday morning, before the poly coats began. It really does look like granite! Well, to be honest, if you stare at it for long, you'll see dabs of paint, not swirls of rock-y beautifulness. But who is gonna stare at my counters, right? And this is SO much better than the stained white I had before! I Love Love Love my new counter. I have three more sections to do before the kitchen is done. Well, I still need to repaint the walls, and add the glaze to the cabinets. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel now that I am tackling the ugly counters!!



Pictures from this morning:




Please ignore the blue painter's tape - I think I'm going to do ONE more poly coat before I take that off. And ignore the ugly yellow on the walls, and the paint that I got on them - they are going buh-bye SOON! Ditto the painted-over electrical outlet covers - they will be white (or maybe black) soon!


Thanks so much for letting me share this makeover with you!! If you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer them, just leave me a comment!