Fourth of July Fun!!!

I love the Fourth of July! Its a holiday that no matter how old I get, I always feel like a kid. The fun, the food, the fireworks! Growing up, we always had this big block party that my mom coordinated every year. Neighbors and friends would congregate on our front yard with desserts and fireworks, and the party lasted for hours! Kids ran around with sparklers and poppers, and the dads formed a group in the middle of the street lighting up the main event. My dad always went out of his way to get some of the illegal kind that rocketed into the sky for the finale. I'm not sure it was a picturesque Norman Rockwell painting or anything, but my memories are sure rosy and warm. I appreciate what my family and neighbors did and have a happy fondness of the holiday. Not only that, but they instilled a sense of pride and love for our amazing country!

So to honor America's birthday, here are some fun ideas and links to help kickoff your celebration!

First off, how about some fun Red, White, and Blue sweets!

http://www.craftbyphoto.com/red-white-and-blue-rice-krispies-treats/?crlt.pid=camp.N6hvWXGSLGgY

http://www.reasonstoskipthehousework.com/firecracker-cookies-with-pop-rocks/

How about some food ideas for that BBQ or party!

http://www.psxo.com/inspiration/fourth-of-july-party-ideas/?pp=1

http://www.honeybearlane.com/2014/06/10-fabulous-4th-of-july-recipes.html#_a5y_p=1890211

Its not ALL about the food, how about some fun crafts!

http://www.thejennyevolution.com/patriotic-4th-of-july-kid-crafts-activities/#_a5y_p=1895581

You know how I love a good wreath!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/192696069/patriotic-4th-of-july-burlap-red-faux?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_campaign=Share

http://www.iheartnaptime.net/20-craft-ideas-link-party-features/

How about a fun free printable?!

http://howtonestforless.com/2014/05/20/god-bless-usa-free-printable/

I honestly could go on and on for pages. There are so many fun and creative ideas on Pinterest! We all know how it sucks you in. Admit it, you go to look for a recipe and next thing you know its been over an hour! Ha!

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July! 

-Happy Pinning!

Pinterest and the Pauper feature and update!

My little blog has been featured on a super fun website called homeheaven.com.au! I am so excited! They did a piece on recycling old furniture into something new, and asked to use my popular chevron cabinet make-over. Here is the direct link:  http://homeheaven.com.au/renovations-repairs/diy/gallery/recycled-diy-decorations-your-home/recycled-diy-decorations-your. This site is so much fun, I don't even know where to begin! Go check it out!

As I took a closer look at my blog, I decided it needed a new simpler look. I gave the blog itself a small make-over and spent 3 days going through links and images. If you see anything not working, please let me know! 

Thank you to everyone who has visited Pinterest and the Pauper! You are awesome! Thanks for the love!

-Happy Pinning!

How To Paint Your Front Door!

Painting your front door seems like a pretty straight forward thing, right? Roll on some paint and ta da? What I did not think about when painting my front door was all the dings, dents, dirt, and weather that it has withstood. Not to mention the old "Welcome Home" sticker that was basically glued and faded to the middle of the door. It is most likely the door the house came with and I do not know how many little hands have touched it, but we have been here for over a year now and it was time for some TLC.

I just happened to stumble upon a tutorial on Pinterest about a month before I painted. It must have been meant to be! When I went to paint the front door, I followed the tutorial step by step and ta da! A clean and new found front door!  I couldn't get rid of some of the bigger dents and this is a rental, but you get the idea! Our newly painted blue front door....

Before

After

Painting your front door isn't any harder than painting a wall, but there is a technique that makes it look flawless! Here is the link to the tutorial:

http://www.theidearoom.net/2012/06/how-to-paint-a-door.html

Supplies:

1) Your choice of colored indoor or outdoor paint. I used the color Indigo Clothe by Valspar in a Satin finish from Lowe's. I only used 1 and 1/2 of their sample jars! Total of $6!

2) A roller brush

3) Regular angle brush 2 inches wide or so.

4) Sand paper

5) Painters tape

6) Possibly primer if you need it.(I didn't use it on this project. My door is under a large area of house and porch so it doesn't get a lot of sun or weather, etc.)

How To:

1) Tape off any areas that you don't want paint touching. 

2) Remove what hardware you can. If you can't remove it, cover it well in tape.

3) Remove anything from the door such as old tape or stickers.

4) Sand any rough areas down.

5) Clean the door well with water and soap. Let dry.

6) Now that you have a nice clean and smooth front door, paint! Starting with the indented areas first. Use the angle brush.

7) After the indented areas are painted, paint their raised middles. Now each panel should look painted.

8) Now using the roller brush, paint the very middle strip of door that runs top to bottom. Paint in up and down with vertical strokes.

9) Next, Paint the very middle area that runs horizontal with left to right brush strokes. Now all the panels and middle areas should be painted with only the outer door areas exposed.

10) Starting at the top area of the door, paint all the outside edge areas. The top and bottom areas are left to right strokes, while the sides that run top to bottom are up and down strokes. 

11) Repeat coats in the same manner until the door is nice and even.

(See the original tutorial for more photos)

Side tip: If you are worried about brush strokes you can use this stuff you mix with the paint that makes the paint dry slower. Ask your local hardware store! I didn't use any, but some of you may have really nice flat doors that would look amazing with some extra umph!

This project cost me less than $20. It only took about 2 or 3 hours and most of that was coats of paint drying. It didn't take much effort and really changed the look of the front door! If you just want a simple front door change, grab some paint and switch it up! Have fun with it, but keep your HOA in mind. Ha!

Have a great week and happy Pinning!

Summertime wreath!

Ok, so last week I showed you my front door make-over. I'm really liking it! I am enjoying its simplicity, especially since it didn't break the bank and it adds something fun before you even enter my home. A preview, so to speak....

Today I'm going to show you how to make a pretty Summertime wreath. Woot! Bring on some color! I saw this wreath on Pinterest and it hung on a navy door. I said to myself, "I MUST HAVE THAT!" and so began the make-over. The wreath itself was honestly one of the easiest to put together(no really!) and with very minimal effort. Just the supplies, hot glue, some floral wire, and about an hour of my time. I wish I could say it was under $20 but it was closer to about $25-$30. Still not bad! And its so easy, even those who consider them selves "craftless" can do it!

So here it is...My pretty summertime wreath (on my new blue door)!

Here's the How To:

Supplies:

1) A grapevine or twig/branch type wreath. ($6.99 full price at Hobby Lobby)

2) A green small leaf type garland. (Hobby Lobby on sale 50% off, so it was about $8)

3) A flower spray type garland. (Hobby Lobby on sale 50% off, so $8 as well)

4) Wood letter of your last name or a monogram. Whatever you want to hang in the middle.(Hobby Lobby at about $3)

5) Hot glue gun and glue sticks.

6) Floral wire.

7) Your choice of ribbon. I used burlap ribbon.

8) Small piece of twine.

9) Your choice of paint for your wood letter.

To Make:

1) Paint or even modge podge your wooden letter and let dry. Set aside for later.

2) Using floral wire, secure the green garland to the wood branches of the wreath. Its going to hang somewhere so make sure its on there nice and tight!

3) On top of the green garland, add the floral garland using the floral wire as well. Secure this in several places over and under the other garland. Nice and tight! 

4) Use hot glue gun to add additional security where you think it needs it.

5) Make a bow from your ribbon and chose where you want to fasten it. I used both floral wire and hot glue.

6) Underneath your bow, hang your letter using the twine. Secure the twine to the actual branch part of the wreath for security. 

7) Hang on your front door!

That's it! No wrapping, pinning, flower making, or hot gluing your fingers together. Ha! So easy!

Here is the Pin of inspiration:

http://www.onsuttonplace.com/2014/03/simply-spring-a-diy-wreath/

Her blog is SUPER cute and she has the original tutorial on her site with more photos as well. Hop on over and have a look!

Next week I am showing you how to paint a front door properly. Stay tuned!

As always, Happy Pinning!

~Amanda

Front Porch Makeover!!!

Spring is here FINALLY! Slowly but surely my projects are starting to get finished up. (Holla!) Spring in WA means a few days of sun followed by a week of rain, so I struggle to get things done as fast as I can. I have some fun posts coming up, but this one is going to be one of my favorites this year I think. 

I have a nice wide porch area leading to my front door which has been sitting pathetic for months. Duck tape from Halloween and a dead poinsettia to name a few items gracing my doorstep. It was not very welcoming and quite frankly, boring. Here it is in all its boring glory...

So I decided one of my first spring projects would be to add some colorful curb appeal. I also have one small confession. I am a plant killer. I just cannot grow anything to save my life, so this little make-over had to involve, fake, yes fake, plants. hehe. The perk? I don't have to water and it still looks green. Ha!

So I made a wreath (next post!), painted the front door, bought a rug and plant, and used my daughters rain-boots she wore all of once. Ta Da! A welcoming and colorful doorstep. Much better don't you think?

Here's what I did:

1st) I went to Lowe's and bought one of their $3 sample jars. The color I chose was called Indigo Cloth by Valspar. This one jar painted my whole front door. Can I get a woot? I chose it in semigloss. I wanted to paint over all the dings and nicks. It wasn't perfect, but it is SO much nicer! A different post will be on how to paint your front door, so stay tuned!

2nd) I had a medium/large pot that was an off white color just sitting in my garage so I spray painted it yellow and bought a silk plant to go in it.  I purchased the plant at Michael's for 40% off. Was originally $35 and I got it for $22.

3rd) I used my daughters cute rain-boots and bought silk lavender plants that are fairly realistic if you ask me, and stuck one in each boot. I got those at Michael's as well for 50% off. They cost me about $4 total. Did I mention I don't have to water them? hehe.

4th) I hunted for an outdoor rug, but one that covered a large area, not just the patch by the door. I found the navy and white chevron rug(you know how I feel about chevron!) at Target in the garden section. It was my most expensive item at $29! I love it.

5th) I made a new spring wreath to adorn my new blue door. I went to Hobby Lobby and made the wreath for about $30. A  bit more expensive than my previous wreaths, but its pretty fun! I will be posting the wreath tutorial next! 

This isn't a fancy make-over by any means, but it was affordable, easy, and turned out cute! In the next few posts I will share my how to's and the Pinterest inspirations that helped transform my boring porch. Stay tuned!

And as always, Happy Pinning!

Menu switch up!

I'm hungry but nothing sounds good. Familiar? I get bored with my usual menu sometimes and lately it has felt, well...eh. Not exactly excited to make a meal when I feel this way. So I decided to hit my handy dandy Pinterest boards and switch it up. Spring is here right? (Well the calendar says so. Ha!) Out with the stews and roasts and in with the lighter springy menus! So here are 3 MUST TRY,( like right now) meals that we just love!

#1) Pollo Fundido aka Cheesy Chicken. This is our new favorite. Plate licking good! And thank you for introducing me to Mexican melting cheese! So many uses. This one won't disappoint!

http://theneaglesnest.blogspot.com/2010/07/pollo-fundido.html

#2) Logan's Firehouse Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta. OMG! So cheesy and creamy! Kid tested with second and third helpings!

http://amysnewkitchen.blogspot.com/2010/03/chicken-cordon-bleu-pasta.html

#3) Cheap Korean Beef. This is the easiest meal ever! So fast it can be made in a jiff on a busy week night!

http://elizabethbryant.blogspot.com/2010/05/korean-beef.html

Visit the links for the recipes! These are so worth adding to your menus! And while you visit, check out their other recipes! So many good ideas!

-Happy Pinning!

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Happy St Patrick's Day! May the luck of the Irish find you! I love these little holidays but mostly because I get to do something extra fun with the kids. Usually this involves some sort of sweet treat! Today I decided to make Shepherd's Pie for dinner and green rice Krispy Treats made with Lucky Charm marsh mellows with  green milk for dessert! And we didn't forget to build our trap to try and catch a leprechaun! So here are a few fun ideas for today! Oh, and don't forget to wear your green!

This is just like the trap we made! We used green construction paper to form the hat and we bought shamrock stickers and gold coins to lure the Leprechaun up the pretzel ladder! Have fun and make it your own!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/83316661828800809/

This is my favorite Shepherd's Pie recipe and I have tried many. Its so simple and delicious! You could make it in individual bowls or just like pictured. Tis an Irish meal that's filling and warm! Also perfect for those kiddos who don't like cabbage and corned beef!

http://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/2013/05/shepherds-pie.html

These treats are just too much fun and you cannot go wrong! Just fancy rice krispy treats with a bit of green food coloring and marshmallows from Lucky Charms cereal. Serve with a cup of green milk! The kids will have a blast!

http://www.classyclutter.net/2014/02/st-patricks-day-rice-krispie-treats-with-lucky-charms-marshmallows.html

You don't have to spend big bucks to have fun on these little holidays. Just take a moment to add a little fun into it and your kids will think you're the coolest mom or dad on the block!

Happy St Patty's Day and Happy Pinning!