1. Pinterest: Let's start off with my most favorite thing this year...Pinterest! I would describe Pinterest as an online pinning board where you can find everything on there: crafts, recipes, home decor, fashion, comedy, quotes, etc. People post a picture (many times with a link) on there of something, and if you like it, you can "pin" it to your own board. The result is that you create your own pin boards of things that you love or that interest you. Some of my pinboards are: Fun Food, I Heart Spray Paint, Home Sweet Home, Quotables, and Kiddo Stuff. It can really suck you in so be prepared! Why do I love it so much? I love to be creative...but my secret is that many times I copycat the creativity that I see from other people. So this website is like a dream come true for me. I've done several things that I've found on here...home decor, recipes, playroom ideas. I don't get to spend a ton of time on Pinterest, but I love to sneak on there when I can.
2. Flirty Aprons: Every woman I know spends time in the kitchen...why not look and feel a little sassy while doing your baking, cleaning, and cooking?!? I love Flirty Aprons (www.flirtyaprons.com). I bought one this year (through a Groupon discount...see #10), and it adds a little fun even when washing the dishes for the 100th time that week. It's perfect to throw on when you have guests coming over and you still have some work to do in the kitchen.
3. Zingo: My two older kiddos LOVE the game Zingo! It's fun and educational so everyone's happy. It's bingo with a twist...using picture words to play all while making a little race out of it. It's a great game to play for more than 2 players too.
4. Pottery Barn Station Clock: I got a little birthday money this year and was so excited to get something that was catching my eye in the Pottery Barn catalog. The Pottery Barn Station Clock is now proudly mounted on my wall in my kitchen/hallway area. It's a great conversation piece, and it's perfect when needing to see the time from several different areas in the house.
5. "Family Rules" Subway Art: I'm loving subway art these days, and I loved finding something that was a meaningful piece to add to our home. I bought ours on etsy.com from "mytreehousetreasures." She was fabulous to work with, and they custom make it for you with your last name. It's been a great reference point when talking with the kiddos, and it's also a good little reminder for Mom and Dad too. :)
6. Sigg Kid's Water Bottles: This year I have become a lunch-making fool. Not only does Abby bring a snack and lunch each day to first grade, I also have to have a snack for Ben on preschool days, as well as lunch for him if he is going to the babysitter (if I worked the night before). I will many times pack a Sigg kid's water bottle in their lunchbags for them to have water, milk, or OJ when they eat. The designs are cute and easy to wash, and they are also perfect for ball games and practices.
7. Melissa & Doug Magnetic Dress Up Dolls: My mom gave some of these to Abby and Ben last year, and they have been played with ever since. There is a Joey doll for boys which has costumes like a fireman, a superhero, a pirate, etc. And there are several for girls...a ballerina, a princess, and loads of outfits to change on the dolls. There are a lot of cute little accessories to go with them...a purse, a crown, shoes, a flashlight, a shield and sword. I many times find the two of them dressing them up (like the girl as a queen and the boy as a king) and creating many fun stories with them.
8. Keurig: We jumped on the Keurig wagon this year. Oh, it's heavenly! We love it, especially me who works the off shifts. I would many times work the night before, go home and sleep until early afternoon, and then suffer the rest of the day with a "I need coffee!" headache. I wouldn't make a pot because it was just me who wanted it. Now...that all has changed, and everyone is happy that momma gets a cup of hot joe when she really needs one. You can get the best bang for your buck on K-cups at Sam's or Costco. And you can have hot chocolate, hot tea, or iced coffee with it as well. Well worth the money.
9. Krylon Spray Paint: Who puts spray paint on their Top 10 list? That would be me, of course. I don't think I could live without the stuff. Spray paint has changed my whole outlook on shopping. If I like a bargain, but hate the color. No problem. Buy a can of spray paint and make it yours. Seriously...I think there is something that is spray painted in every room of our house. When we lived at Blueberry Lane, we had ugly reddish orange shutters on the outside of our home. New shutters were $75/set. I had Jason take them down; I powerwashed them; bought a couple of cans of glossy black spray paint; and presto...fancy new shutters. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars, I think I spent $16 and change. You should never spray paint inside, but grab a tarp or cardboard box and head outside on a sunny day (or the garage on a not-so-sunny day) and spray away. Krylon is my favorite brand for it's quality and their fun colors. You can find it at Walmart, Lowe's, or Home Depot. I dare you to go spray paint something today. Do it.
10. Groupon: Last but not least, is a fabulous website that I love. If you haven't ventured into the world of Groupon, you are missing out on some good deals. They offer some bargain basement prices on any and everything in your area....restaurants, services, memberships, etc. They also have Groupon Getaways for fabulous prices on vacations, big and small. It's all free! Last year they had the local Maritime Aquarium yearly family membership for half off. Instead of paying over $110 for it, we got it for $55. And we went there A LOT! Just to visit one time with our family would be over $46 so we saved a bundle. Check out your local area on there and see what you can find.
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