Updating a Standing Mirror

I wanted a yellow mirror. I had the vision in my head. I started browsing Craigslist immediately. I wanted my price range to be really low, like 30 bucks low. I found what I wanted (not yellow yet) for 50 bucks. It was close enough in distance, so I called to check it out. I managed to get the woman down to 20 bucks because she was tired of having it sit around (always bargain!) On my way home I stopped to pick up some Krylon spray paint, in the exact yellow I had in my head!

This being my first spray paint job ever, I didn't sand the wood (it did just fine without sanding). I covered the mirror with newspaper and taped the edges down under the wood frame. I grabbed my masks and I went to town. I forgot to prime it, so it ended up taking 2 cans of paint (I have learned since then!). I am in love with my mirror!!! The whole project was under $30 and I have a nice accent piece in my room now!

My lovely tape job

Anyone for the news?

Tada! My Mirror!

Remember when shopping on craigslist always go with a friend and never pay cash up front for anything! If it's not in your hand, don't pay them!

Now go and spray paint something (and wear a mask for safety!)

 

Quick Bean Dip

The one nice thing about committing to a blog is the fact that it forces me to not be lazy during the day, bc I need something to blog about! So this afternoon, after running around like a crazy person, I became hungry. You will see that this is a trend with me, I eat a lot! I just bought a bag of bell peppers, and I am famous for eating them like an apple! Today I wanted a little something to dip them in, so I decided for the sake of blogging, I better make something from scratch! I reached for the can of garbanzo beans, and alas, I have none. Story of my life! I do however have about 15 cans of kidney beans thanks to a great sale and some serious coupon usage (organic beans down to 9 cents a can!!). So, this is how my lunch goes...

1 can rinsed kidney beans
3 Tbsp flax seed oil (tryin to get my omega 3s in)
4 shakes of my hot peppers flakes
3 Tbsp of Franks Red Hot Sauce ( I put that s**t on everything!)
A couple shakes of garlic salt

And a few minutes spinning around in the food processor!

A little extra hot sauce in the middle!

Quick and Healthy!

This recipe clearly doesn't have to be followed as is. This is more of an inspiration! It's a good way to fill up on protein and get some omega 3 in your diet. You can dip whatever veggies you want into it, smash it in to a wrap or do both!

The rest of my day consists of hanging out with a 5 and 8 year old (not mine, work) and then hopefully taking a nap then waking to a bottle of wine!

Too Cheap to Subscribe!

I will admit, I love reading magazines. I love ones about food, arts and crafts, fashion, travel (the list goes on!). A few things bother me about magazines though. First, that is a lot of paper to waste in one sitting. Most of us can breeze through a mag in less than an hour. Then what? I have a stack of magazines sitting next to my unused tv collecting dust. Second, they cost too much. After paying to subscribe to everything I think I want to read, I have spent well over 100 bucks! Some magazines are realllly expensive. I could always get the fancy online subscriptions, but that means I am still spending money. I have 2 ways to avoid cost and wasting paper!

1) Visit a Book Store!  I know they are now few and far between thanks to many E products on the market (all of which I have yet to cave in and buy). I do however, have a Barnes and Noble down the road that I frequent on a slow Sat. I love just grabbing a stack of mags and walking over to the cafe. I typically bring my own tea and sit sipping while cruising for FREE!! Love it.

2) Go to the Library! I know some people might think it tacky to read mags at a book store when we have no intent to buy them. I have heard the line,  "it's not a rental service". Well,if you feel that way, head to the library! I started doing this when I realized my library let me check out last months magazines. If you don't mind being a little behind on the craft mags, grab last months and see if the circulation desk will let you check them out. Or, just sit in a quiet corner and read all you want! That is what they are there for! Plus some libraries have cafes now too! The first time I saw one I had felt my elementary school teacher breathing down my neck about food or drink in the library, but that shock quickly wore off and I ran out to my car to grab my mug!

3) Pinterest! I started following my magazines on pinterest and now I can save the recipes I like without having to cut them out or keep a whole magazine for one thing! My vegetarian times subscription will be sad to see me go, but I can still find all the good stuff!

I hope this doesn't seem to long and boring! I am sure some of you feel like I am stating the obvious, but this is for those who always feel like you want to read something yet don't want to subscribe!

Let me know where you go to read your magazines! I'd love to learn new locations to hang out.

Another fun possibility is a magazine swap!!!! Start moving those old mags you no longer read and get some new goodies for free!  Don't forget to invite me! I have a few years worth of Marie Claire and Glamour to get rid of!

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to my first post!


It have been wanting to start this blog for about a month now, but I couldn't for the life of me come up with a good name! Today I was laying in bed mid day (1pm to be exact) and I was thinking about the pressure from my BFF about writing this blog. Knowing we secretly just want to spy on each others daily live, the name came to me! Ten Thousand 300 miles is the distance we now live from each other (insert sad sounds). We were college roommates and best friends via random trips and a constant Internet connection for over 10 years now! I live in NJ, she lives in Melbourne Australia and according to online research, we are about 10,330 miles apart. 

I hope this blog inspires you to be creative and possibly even caring! I will post everything from pinterest fails, cute Internet discoveries, thrift shop finds, yummy recipes and maybe even boring details of my normal days! Please be patient with me as I grab my camera and try to organize my thoughts and actions in ways that you the reader might actually enjoy! I will be open to comments and sharing!! I love when people share tidbits from their daily lives!! 

For now I will leave you with this brief introduction. I will be back shortly!

College. Bad taste in fashion, good taste in friends!

I am the bride and Barb is the one trying to kill me!