How to make Almond Butter!

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Money Saving, Recipes

Can you believe this jar is $11 from Vitacost? Crazy!

For the price the grocery store charges for almond butter, you should be cracking open a can of liquid gold. Or at the very least prime rib. The cost is outrageous. Almond butter can run you $8-$9 PER SMALL JAR. I can’t think of another explanation other than it’s the health-food industry capitalizing on a “trendy” food with a lot of added health benefits. And considering how fast we go through it in our house, I was really excited to discover how easy it was to make your own.

Almond butter is loaded with vitamins and minerals and is great for your health. Peanutbutter is good for you, too (has lots of protein), but isn’t good to be consumed in mass quantities…especially if you have the 24-7-PB&J-requesting-kid. It’s so easy to switch it up with some almond butter with ZERO preservatives and keep your family eating healthful, varied foods on a budget!

You’ll need a food processor and a large bag of raw almonds. The cheapest place to purchases them is Costco where you can get a large bag for about $17. That makes the cost per jar right around $3…about 1/3 of the price in the store!

Process the almonds for 10-15 minutes (stirring occasionally with a spatula) until smooth and creamy like peanut-butter. Store in mason jars in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. We love to label ours with dissolveable labels.

I hope you give this easy recipe a try. Carson and I will show you how simple it really is!

signature

*This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are genuinely my own. Links contain affiliates.*

From Diaper Box to Organizer!

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Money Saving, Organization

I know we all have diaper boxes or Amazon boxes sitting in the recycle bin.  Why not take some jute twine and a little hot glue and make them over to create a classic organizer.  It’s so easy and is pennies on the dollar compared to expensive rope organizing boxes.  Hope you give this simple craft a try!

signature

*This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are genuinely my own.*

Pottery Barn Inspired Topiaries…from Dollar Tree!

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Dollar Tree

Topiaries are so pricey.  Pottery Barn sells them for at least $60 a piece, and other stores still gouge you!  I’ve seen them at Home Goods for around $20-30 a piece (on the low end), and much higher for the larger ones.

But, you can make elegant, Pottery Barn inspired topiaries for LESS THAN $10 A TOPIARY!  Here’s what you need and how to do it:

signature

*This is not a sponsored video.  All opinions are genuinely my own.*

Dollar Tree Organizing Makeover!

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Dollar Tree, Organization

IMG_1586Having multi-use spaces in your home poses a challenge for effective organizing.  But, just because you have a small home doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice spaces feeling open and organized.  A friend of mine has a pantry/laundry room combination in her kitchen.  Trying to combine two very different areas, she felt overwhelmed.  She was trying to hide food in the cupboards, in the laundry room, wherever she could squeeze in space!  But, she never felt like things were easy to access, and she wanted a system in place.

Here was the space before:

Screen Shot 2015-06-11 at 9.36.39 AM Really, she just needed a way to contain everything she was using and to think outside the box when organizing.  Sometimes we are so used to having things one particular way that we don’t take time to think if that zone is really the most effective use of space.

In a trip to the Dollar Tree and the Dollar Spot at Target, everything was completed for right around $30.  No kidding.  Here is the after:

IMG_1587

IMG_1584

Check out the video to see the secrets behind some of these systems!


 

signature

*This is not a sponsored post.  All opinion are genuinely my own.  Links contain affiliates.*

Easy Salad in a Jar | Organized Lunches!

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Dollar Tree, Organization, Recipes

Making lunches can be a pain (I mean really…we have to do it EVERY DAY??), and making healthy choices is even more time consuming.  Washing, cutting, peeling, prepping.  That’s why I’m loving my salad in a jar.  They are so easy to prep at the beginning of the week, so you can eat healthfully all week long but not have to worry about the time commitment.

Here is how I prepare and serve them along with my favorite home-made Italian Dressing.

 Italian Dressing

  • 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon of Italian Seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • (Red pepper flakes for a little kick…my favorite part!)

signature*This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are genuinely my own.*

Dollar Store Furniture and Decor

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Dollar Tree, Money Saving, Organization

There are a couple main player in my eyes in the Dollar Store game: Dollar Tree (where everything is $1), Family Dollar (where things are more than a Dollar, but still very inexpensive).

Here are some of my favorite organizational and decor products in recent weeks from these two stores.  Easy, inexpensive, functional, AND beautiful!  What more could you ask for?

signature

*This is not a sponsored video.  All opinions are genuinely my own.*

Space-Saving Dollar Tree DIYS

by Filed Under: DIY Projects, Dollar Tree, Organization

The majority of the messages and comments that I receive are those of you asking how to organize small spaces.  You don’t have a walk-in closet and you lack storage options.  I want to keep providing you ideas and inspiration for making the most of what you have.  Small spaces are NOT a curse, they really can be a blessing.

Here are two quick ideas that we use around our home:  The first is turning Dollar Tree bins into drawers and the second is a tank top organizer.

IMG_0736

Inexpensive and easy.  Watch the video below to see how to make them!

Tools needed for Pull Out Drawers:

  • Dollar Tree bin with a lip or ledge
  • 1/4″ Aluminum Trim Channel (comes in 4 ft lengths), cut to size
  • #6 1/2 inch screws
  • Power Drill (with a drill bit slightly wider than screw, and a bit about 1/3 the circumference)

Tools needed for Tank Top / Scarf Organizer:

  • Wooden hanger
  • Dollar Tree shower rings
  • Scarves and tank tops!

signature

Dollar Tree Decor | Pottery Barn Dupes

by Filed Under: Decor & Furniture, DIY Projects, Dollar Tree, Money Saving

Is anyone else as obsessed with Pottery Barn as I am?  They have such classic, timeless decor and such exquisite presentation.  My catalogs have drool on them.  But overpriced stuff just isn’t my jam.  I just “shop” inspiration.  It’s free after all 😉  Besides, getting the high-end look for less gives me a high.  Charlie laughs at me, because I’m easily over-excited by super glue and jute twine.  It’s sort of a problem.

Here is one of the looks I was wanting to recreate.  My favorite of all is this Egan Paneled Mirror that retails for $300.

The re-creation of this look has been floating around Pinterest for a while, and many versions involve particle board.  But that’s a lot of work (and requires tools I don’t know how to use), so I knew that with some creative thinking I could make it happen completely from Dollar Tree.  As in, no product from any other store…and I succeeded.  You can literally create a $300 mirror for just $12!

 

IMG_0269

Check out how to make this beautiful mirror and 3 other simple DIYS!

signature