Do It On A Dime

Simple Spring Cleaning System

by Filed Under: DIY Projects

My friend Nikki from AtHomeWithNikki inspired me several years ago with her spring cleaning box.

The idea is writing down simple tasks you need to do to spring clean your home (not the daily/weekly tasks that are a part of your normal routine, but those extra things that you always forget to do). Like scrub your front door, deep clean your oven, and get all those dust bunnies out from under the fridge. As Carson would say, “Peeeyewww!” If you don’t end up getting around to having as deep of a clean as you’d like, consider hiring services similar to carpet cleaning in Melbourne to help make your home pristine.

I didn’t want to re-invent the wheel, so I just used this list to guide me and then created my own little box of cleaning chores.

P.S. Did you know that you can win a $50 Family Dollar Gift card and a P&G Spring cleaning gift box? Enter here!

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DIY Upcycled Organizers

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Organization

I heart thrifting.   It boggles my mind that people pay full price for organization tools that they could easily upcycle from the thrift store for a quarter the cost.  It takes a small investment of time, but in less than 20 minutes, you can create stunning organizers and systems on a budget, using commonly found thrifted items!  I find organizing opportunities at the thrift store ALL THE TIME.  You can see my video on ways to organize from the Goodwill here.

One of my favorite trends of the moment are matte chalk paints.  Plaid sent me a sampling of their paints and paint tools to review and give my genuine opinion about.  They come in an array of colors and they are so easy to use!  I kind of want to paint everything now. <3  Here are two simple organizers I was able to upcycle in a matter of minutes.  Don’t forget to enter to win your own gift basket from Plaid below!

You can visit PlaidOnline.com for more tips, tricks, tutorials and ideas to create your own upcycled creations.  Mother Earth and your home will thank you 😉

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Giveaway ends March 27th 2015 at 12:00 am EST.  US and Canada only.  Winners must be 18 or older or have parental permission.  Winner will be selected randomly by Rafflecopter within a week of the giveaway ending and be notified by email. Winners have 72 hours to respond before a new winner is selected.  I will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly.  Please note that Doitonadime is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.  The product offered for the giveaway is free of charge, no purchase necessary.  My opinions are my own.  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Youtube are in no way associated with this giveaway. 

*Plaid partnered with me to bring you this review and giveaway.  All opinions are genuinely my own.*

Organizing Questions Answered!

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Money Saving, Organization

I”m all about sharing with you guys what works.  And I tend to get a lot of the same questions over and over about organizing.  If you have taken the time to write me a note or email, THANK YOU!  The top questions you ask me are: how do I get started organizing, how do I beat procrastination, what do I do if I don’t live near a Dollar Store, why can’t I stay organized even when I try, and what label maker do you recommend? 

So, I answer all of those questions and give my best, practical advice in this video.  Not the “magazine tips” but the real deal.  Things that I know work.  Why?  ‘Cause I’ve tried ’em!

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DOLLAR IDEAS: Fridge Kitchen Command Center

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Organization

Lots of you have asked how we keep paperwork and important documents organized, and I have said in previous videos that a huge key to function is having a kitchen command center.  The side of your fridge is a great space for this, (especially if your kitchen is small!) So here is how I created a functional area on the side of our fridge, using products that are $1 or less a piece.  Some of these I had on hand, so I did this for under $5, but even paying full retail, it would still be a very budget project (You could replicate something very similar for around $15 total!)

Many of you ask about the magnets I use, and these are KEY to having this system work.  You need quality magnets that won’t slip on the fridge.  By far my favorites are these Magnetic Clips to hold my Dollar Spot pencil holder and these OXO brand Magnetic Mini Clips for holding the paperwork.

Full Product List:

1) Sheet Protector Folder (Dollar Tree) and Magnetic Mini Clips to hold it up (OXO brand)

2) List and Notepad (Dollar Spot at Target) and Magnetic Clips to hold it up

3) Pencil Container (Dollar Spot at Target)

4) Cork Boards (Dollar Tree)

5) Flag Chalkboard Labels (Dollar Spot at Target)

6) “Washi” Tape (Dollar Tree)

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Valentine’s Toddler Craft | “Stained Glass” Windows

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Dollar Tree, Holiday, Teaching

I love getting crafty during the week with Carson.  That hands-on time is so important for filling our day (and I really think it helps him rest better for naps and a night!).  One of my favorite go-tos for craft ideas is the Dollar Tree.

They sell self laminating sheets (5 for $1) and they make awesome stained glass windows with tissue paper!

Want to hang out more with us?  Check out my newest Day In the Life Video!

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Easy Valentine’s Day DIYs

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Holiday, Recipes

This is a collab video with Christina from the Subfertile Frugalista and her $5 Frugalista Friday Challenge….Valentine’s Day Style!

Here is the recipe for the BEST Rice Krispy Treats to make your perfect “Giant Hershey Kiss”!

1/4 cup butter (melted in a pan)

Stir in one 10.5 oz bag of Marshmallows (stir until completely melted and then for one minute more after for the best flavor!)

Stir in 5 cups of Rice Krispies

Put into buttered funnels for make Hershey Kiss treats or a tin lined with parchment paper!

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Recipe Organization and Meal Planning

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Organization, Recipes

Here’s how we organize our recipes, make meal planning easy so I can shop sales, and save money by not wasting food.

It really boils down to three keys for us: having an easy access space for our recipes in a quick access binder, freezing foods we won’t eat right away and having ready to go meals in the freezer, and doing a bi-monthly fridge cleanout.

DOWNLOAD MY FREEZER GUIDE HERE and stop food waste!  You can freeze just about anything from milk, to butter, to fruit!

Here’s what I use to create my recipe binder.  I was inspired by Alejandra.tv to create this system:


Two of my favorite websites for creating recipes on the fly are Super Cook and My Fridge Food.

How do you save on food and plan your meals?  Would love to hear what you are doing at your house!

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REFINISH FURNITURE WITHOUT SANDING

by Filed Under: Decor & Furniture, DIY Projects


So this post is all about a super score that I shared on Instagram.  I walked into Lowe’s..and they were going to THROW AWAY a brand new Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformations Kit.  Yeah, you read that right.  Throw it away because there was paint spilled on it.  And I was all over it like Peppa Pig in her muddy puddles.  (Sorry, mom of a toddler over here, haha!)

Anyway, there was this FANTASTIC piece outside of my in-law’s storage garage that the previous owners had left.  And…there were mice living inside of it.  Grody to the max.  Ah  I knew it was worthy of a makeover, though…so here’s what I did.  Completely free and so easy to do.

Don’t have a sander?  It’s easy to makeover furniture.  I would totally do this again!  Couldn’t wait to show you guys!

Want to see the acrylic water DIY from this video?  Click here!

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Budget + Thoughtful Baby Shower Gift Idea

by Filed Under: DIY Projects

When I first saw this post from Eryn Lynum on her blog from Famine to Foodie, I cried.  Full on cried reading it.  It was beautiful.  Beautifully written, and so powerful.

I adapted her blog post, shortening and re-wording a bit, to create a baby shower gift for Carson’s sitter who is with him when I am at work.

You can download my adaptation here: The gift of $9.36

Watch this video to see why I loved it so much…

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$1 DIY GIFT IDEA | How to print on wood

by Filed Under: Decor & Furniture, DIY Projects

You guys asked, so here it is!  Another gift idea for Christmas (or anytime, really!).  We don’t always have a lot to spend, but this gift can be so personalized and elegant…no one has to know you made it for about 25 cents.

FREE PRINTABLE I USED HERE!

Directions to make your image backwards…

  1. Copy your image
  2. Paste into Microsoft Word
  3. Right Click Image
  4. Select “Format Picture”
  5. Click 3-D Rotation
  6. Change the “X” to 180!
  7. Click OK and your image should be backwards!

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