Day13: Halloween Tinsel Wreath in 2 Steps!

We're continuing our 31 Days of Change series.   New to the island? You can learn more here.  

OMG! It's a big, humungo and awesomely major day on the island.  I have a guest post and the author is the biggest super star in my life.  Not only is she going to amaze you with her ability to create but she will wow you with her eye for bargains and deals.  This craft has the following highlights:

- Made with two (2) supplies

- No glue required

- Costs less than $5 

Oh, and another cool thing about these wreaths is that they put our Michael's Arts and Crafts decor dupes from the Dollar Tree (DT) to use.  

Do you see that $10 garland up there?  Yep, it's at Michael's.  OMG! Keep reading to see how Munchface creates a wreath using the SAME garland she found at DT.  Also, she dupes a wreath the big craft store sells... and she made it for less than HALF of the Michael's price!

Without further delay, I introduce the one, the only, Munchface!!

Hi, I'm Zion. This is my first time blogging so I am SUPER EXSITED [exCited has a -c but I'll let it slide]! So I'm going to be showing you how to make a reeth [wreath... note from Mom] so lets get started.

Day12: Michael's Dupes At Dollar Tree

We're continuing our 31 Days of Change series.   New to the island? You can learn more here.  

Today, we are talking about the Halloween decor that's found at Michael's for 5+ times MORE than the same items at the Dollar Tree (DT).  While shopping at Michael's for an  upcoming fall wreath tutorial, I decided to browse the Halloween aisles... because who goes to Michael's to shop ONLY for what they came for?  I know what you're thinking and yes, I told myself this DT challenge would be the perfect reason to avoid big chain craft stores... Truthfully, I should've listened because I found the same Halloween decor ridiculously priced at Michael's.  

Confessions and lessons of a cheap craft-a-holic, I guess.

Day 11: Smoothie Prep Tips and Tools!

We're continuing our 31 Days of Change series.   New to the island? You can learn more here.  

I shared how we pack all of Munch's snacks for the week on Sundays.  I've also mentioned how we find her clothes for the week on Sundays.  I haven't shared that we also prep all of Munch's breakfasts for the week.

Hubbs is a gym rat.  He is the guy with the shaker cups and protein powders.  He's the guy who has an extra shaker cup and protein powder in his trunk JUST IN CASE he can squeeze in a mid-day workout during lunch or if he forgets to mix in the morning.  Now that he has the morning routine, Munch noticed he was mixing his protein smoothies and she recalled the time I was faking a health nut lifestyle and mixing smoothies for myself (...and giving her the extras).  On a Sunday grocery shopping trip, Munch squealed as she ran to the frozen fruit section.  She begged me to buy her some frozen fruit and to make her smoothies in the morning.  WHAT?! Who has time for that?  Have you seen the price of frozen fruit?  I'm not wasting $10 on two bags of fruit to make a smoothie the kid probably won't like.  I also am not wasting my morning minutes to mix her up anything.

She got an attitude but I kept my pennies that day.  Then, later that same day, it happened.  We were shopping in DT... you know, the place my kid knows the odds are in her favor if she makes a reasonable request... yea, there.  She saw it.

DT (those locations with freezer sections) sells frozen fruit!  Mango? Pineapple?  Peaches? Berries?  Strawberries?  For a $1?!  I agreed to take the time that afternoon, find the recipe that works for her, show her how to use the blender and, IF SHE ACTUALLY STUCK with it, we'd make it part of our routine.  Well, Islanders, she made me eat my words; it's been a month.  Munchface prepares a smoothie every morning and we employ DT products to make our lives easier.

Day 10: Cookie+Brownie+Oreo = A Brookie-reo?!

We're continuing our 31 Days of Change series.   New to the island? You can learn more here.

Pause.  I know you saw that title and thought, "brookie-reo?  What is Tabby doin' now?!"  Just go with it.  It's *totally* a new thing... As a matter of fact, it's a Chocolate Chip Brookie-reo.  You get it, right?  Seriously, if I made the title BROOKIE-REO would you even know what I was talking about? Whatever.  Let's talk yummy and we can come back to this discussion later.


via GIPHY

I'm always impressed when I visit the grocery aisles at the Dollar Tree (DT).  I recently discovered their Betty Crocker cookie mixes.  They make 12 cookies each and I was so excited because they are the perfect size for us.  We only like fresh-baked cookies so having leftover dough is always a challenge for us... we're the people who'd rather bake 6 cookies everyday than have cold or crunchy cookies for a week.  Weird, I know.