More Doors!

Another old cabinet door that I repurposed...

After: A home organizer (corkboard/keyholder) with daisy thumbtacks. I <3 recycling!

Can money buy happiness?

I love when people say "Money can't buy happiness." I beg to differ. Money could buy me lots of things that make me happy. Fast cars, new shoes, gourmet meals, etc. Does this mean that I'm unhappy with my old car, old shoes and fast food? Not at all. But it seems to me that if used right, money certainly can buy happiness. The world is filled with hungry bellies, sickness, homelessness and fear. So can money not buy food, medical care, shelter and the comfort of knowing your loved ones are safe? It absolutely can, and I wish more people with the means to do this for others, would.
In these hard economic times, there are many folks out there just wondering where their next house payment or meal will come from. People who wonder if they will have a job next week, or next year. Good, hardworking men and women who have never asked for a handout and are merely trying to support their families. Would a check for a million dollars make their marriages last longer? Probably not. Would it make their kids stop fighting? Doubtful. Would it make their bosses treat them with more respect? I'm guessing no. But... would it help pay for little Sara's braces? Yes. Would it pay for groceries and bills? Absolutely. Would it reduce stress and worry and allow for a peaceful nights sleep? More than likely.
The idea that money can't buy happiness clearly came from someone who had it and was miserable. Somehow I have a feeling that the lack of meaningful relationships, compassion and appreciation for life had more to do with this persons unhappiness than the balance of their bank account. Money cannot make you happy if you are unhappy with yourself. Only you can do that. But for many people struggling to make ends meet, living on the streets, out of work, sick, uninsured and scared... money can very well be the difference between happiness and depression, or even life and death. I'm not saying that money fixes everything, because I don't believe that for a second, but money certainly can make things easier and life a lot brighter.
Everytime I see these politicians on TV talking about "creating jobs" and "boosting the economy" I cringe. I have been looking for full time work for over 2 years and the only ones I have found have been minimum wage positions. Here in Michigan, that is $7.40 an hour. If you work 40 hours a week, after taxes you are bringing home about $250. Let me do the math for you. That's about $1000 a month to pay for your home, your vehicle, food, energy bills, gas, insurance, and necessities. God forbid you need new tires or break your arm, because those things are not in the budget.
How is the average person supposed to survive on that amount of money? The answer is, you're not. I see these people on television wearing suits and watches that cost more than my car, spending millions on commercials and talking about how they are concerned with our well being. How they are out to "help the little guy". It's all B.S. You have owners of big companies driving $200,000 sports cars to their multi-million dollar homes and could care less that the average worker in their company can't even afford new shoes or medicine for their children. It makes me sick. We have sports stars and celebrities making millions, yet your average family can't even afford to go to the movies, a concert or a ball game. How does that make sense? What is wrong with the world when these things are acceptable? When did it become OK for children in our own country to go without food or medical care and live in cars?
The next time you want to say "Money can't buy happiness." go find the mother who's watching her child die because she can't afford the medicine she needs, or the father who's laying awake night after night wondering how he can pay for food for his family. Go to them, look them in the eye and tell them that money can't buy them a little happiness.

Mini Cheesy Chicken Pot Pies

This in another muffin pan dish (yes, I love these) although I  will definitely use my jumbo muffin pan the next time. They are delicious either way though. So if you don't have a jumbo size pan, no worries.

Ingredient List:

1 can biscuits
1 package boneless, skinless chicken breasts/tenderloins
1 bag frozen veggies, thawed
 (I used california mix, but any will work.)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
salt & pepper

Heat oven according to biscuit directions. Cook your chicken however you prefer. I did mine in the crock pot with a packet of dry soup seasoning for several hours, but you could boil it, grill it, fry it, etc. Whatever works for you. Once it is cooked, shred the chicken & place into a large mixing bowl. Add the can of soup, salt & pepper, cheese and veggies. I cut my veggies up into smaller chunks, but that might not be necessary, depending on your choice of vegetable. Stir everything up together and make sure it is well blended. Press a biscuit into each well greased muffin cup (use 2 biscuits if you are using jumbo muffin pans) making sure to work it up the sides. Fill up each biscuit with your chicken/veggie mixture and bake for about 15-20 minutes or until biscuits start to brown & cheese is melted. Pop them out & they are ready to enjoy.
***The cost of this meal is about $8 and easily feeds 4. Leftovers are so easy to store and reheat and make great adult lunches. This is another easy to make ahead & freeze dish for busy folks. Hope you like it! XOXO

More Trash to Treasure!

BEFORE.

(A cabinet door I found in the trash.)

AFTER!

(A corkboard/keyholder for my Mother-in-law. Complete with custom made, matching thumbtacks.)

Childhood Memories

Remember being a kid and thinking you couldn't wait to grow up? We were convinced that life as an adult was so much better. Boy were we wrong. Life as a kid was so much simpler. Someone cooked for you, cleaned up after you, took care of you when you were sick and made sure you had everything you needed. Your only job was to go to school and have fun. Aside from the occasional chores and whatnot, life was just easy. I know everyone gets older and thinks back on the way life was and thinks that their generation was the best. But I am going to just state the obvious anyway and say that MY generation really is the best. Being born in 1979, the 70's were behind us, but in my home, and I'm sure many others, bits and pieces of them still lingered. Orange shag carpet and 8 track players for instance. But the 80's were looming on the horizon. Microwaves, video games, MTV and more were waiting just ahead.
Oh the 80's... such memorable times. The 80's brought us so many wonderful things. Technology (Who remembers BETA?) was just the beginning. Walkmans paved the way for ipods, microwaves reinvented dinner, mobile phones were fast becoming something more than just television props and speaking of television... MTV was making its mark on the hearts of kids everywhere. "I want my MTV." was more than just an advertisement, it was a way of life. You didn't just hear your favorite songs, you watched them. You dressed like your favorite MTV stars and VJ's and you couldn't wait for your favorite hour, whether it was 'Yo! MTV Raps' or 'Headbangers Ball' or one of the many reality shows/specials that came along as the channel grew. TV and movies were a big part of any kids life if you grew up in the 80's & 90's. Everyone has a favorite and the list is endless. Cartoons when I was a kid were just better. You can take your Spongebob idiot pants and stick it where the sun don't shine. I'll take 'Smurfs', 'GI Joe', 'Transformers', 'Carebears', 'Gummi Bears', 'Muppets', or anything from the 80's over that junk anyday. Television shows were family friendly and taught you life lessons, not how to kill someone and leave no evidence behind, or how to act like a trashy, ignorant disaster. Things were just better back then. Toys were meant to be played with, not to play for you. You had to use your imagination and be creative. You didn't get every new toy that came out and you didn't expect to, either. When you made your Christmas list, it was things you wanted, not things you demanded. You might get 1 or 2 things off your list, not every damn thing on it. And if you didn't get the one thing you really wanted, you either saved your allowance (that you actually had to earn) and bought it yourself, or you asked for it the next year. You played outside, you rode your bike to your friends house 4 blocks away. It wouldn't have even occurred to us to ask our parents for a ride. You played sports and kept score. Winning made you feel good and losing made you try harder the next time. If you were bad at something, it was ok to say so. It made you want to practice more or just try new things. If you had a fight with your friends, you handled it yourself. My mom never called my friends mom and told her to make her kid apologize. I would've felt like an idiot. We called each other names and picked on one another. Every kid was a bully at some point, until they got picked on too. How did our parents handle it? They told us, "Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you." or "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." and we got over it. Life was just different back then. Simpler. Easier. Better.

The 90's were the last of the good times. Now, by good times, I don't mean the Grunge look. That was just bad all around. No one can pull off that much flannel and ripped denim. Not even Jared Padalecki. But the 90's were the end of an era. The last of the normal kids. By 2000, seeing a kid on a bike was like seeing a unicorn. Being ridden by a fairy. Over a rainbow. Made of gumdrops. Ok, you get my point. Things have changed. Some may think it's for the better, but not me. Yes, I love my cell phone, and facebook, and the internet just as much as the next guy, but I'd give it all up for a chance to have the simplicity and fun of my childhood back. So here's to all the "Back in the day." and "When I was a kid." and "I remember when." moments that are sure to come. Hold on to those times. Share them with your kids and grandkids and let them live on forever...

Mufffin Pan Pizzas!!

Perfect mini deep dish pizzas. Who knew?! All these years, I have been using my muffin pan for, well... muffins. Well, not anymore! All this week I have been making Pinterest inspired dinners, and if you haven't noticed, I am loving these muffin pan, individual serving dishes. Not only are they quick and easy, but clean up is a snap and they are so fun to serve. Leftovers? Perfect! Grab 1 or 2, heat them in the microwave, and you have a fast and delicious lunch, dinner or snack.
Planning a Super Bowl party? How great would these be? You can make all different styles to suit many tastes, and kids and adults would love them.

Ingredient List:

1 package pizza crust (any kind will work, or use biscuits)
pizza sauce
shredded mozzarella cheese
your choice of toppings

Grease your muffin pan very well. Press a small amount of dough into each cup. Make sure to work it up the sides, but try not to go over the top of the cup, or it may burn. I opted to brush each one with melted butter and sprinkled parmesan cheese & italian seasonings on top, but that is up to you. Drop a spoonful of sauce into each cup, top generously with your mozzarella cheese, then add your toppings. I made pepperoni & hawaiian style. For the hawaiian, I sliced up lunch meat syle ham and added crushed & drained pinapple. The best part about these is that there is no wrong way. If you are making them for a party, make several different styles. Or let guests pick their own toppings before you bake. It's up to you.
Once you have your toppings on, bake according to your pizza crust directions. Once done, they should pop right out of the pan and be ready to serve. Yum!

***Do you have kids? Make several of these ahead of time & freeze them in individual portions. When kids want a snack after school, all they have to do is grab a couple & heat them up. No one will want pizza rolls again after they've had these tasty treats.

Homemade Mac & Cheese! (My version)

Let me start by saying I LOVE macaroni and cheese! Seriously. But I'm not a huge fan of the box ones. (Velveeta Shells & Cheese being the exception.) So I decided I'd roll up my sleeves and make my own. From scratch. Yes, you read that right. The problem was, every recipe I found was made with fancy cheeses or weird sauces. Fancy cheese is great for appetizers, but I like my mac & cheese old school. So... here is my version. It is as basic & easy as can be, but it is DELICIOUS! I'd like to note that this is a comfort food. It is not a healthy recipe, so if you are looking for low fat, fat free, heart healthy, etc. You are going to want to look somewhere else...

Ingredient List:

1/2 box pasta (I use cellentani style, because I like the shape, but any pasta will work.)
1 stick of butter (or margarine)
1 can cheddar soup
Milk (1 can full)
1/4 cup of parmesan cheese
salt & pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese (however much you like)
1/2 sleeve of crackers, crushed (I use town house style.)

Start by cooking your pasta per package instructions.
While pasta is cooking, in a large bowl, mix your soup, milk, parmesan cheese, salt & pepper, and stick of butter (melted).
Make sure it is blended very well. Once pasta is cooked and drained, put it back into the hot pan & pour your soup mix over top. Stir it together very well & pour it into a 2 quart baking dish. Sprinkle a generous helping of the shredded cheddar cheese on top, followed by your crushed crackers. Bake in a 400 degree oven for about 25 minutes, or until cheese is melted & begins to brown.
This is very creamy & the crushed crackers add a nice buttery crunch. Serves at least 4.
**Try using broccoli cheddar soup instead, along with added veggies for a different twist. Or add chicken or beef for a casserole style meal. There is no wrong way to make this, so feel free to mix it up. It's your dinner, make it how you want it. :)

Corn Dog Muffins!!

Not only are these delicious, but they are incredibly easy to make. Since I rarely (and by rarely, I mean never) cook from scratch, I made these using a box corn bread mix. If you love to cook or have an awesome corn bread recipe, use it.

Ingredient List:

1 box Jiffy Corn Bread Mix (this mix requires milk & an egg)
5 hot dogs cut in half

I used paper baking cups in my muffin pan, because it makes clean up a snap, but feel free to grease yours & skip the cups.
Start by making your corn bread following the directions on the package. Fill cups about halfway. Place one half of hot dog in the center of each cup & bake per corn bread instructions.
That's it! No really, that's it. This couldn't be simpler and the cost was about $1.50. It makes 10 muffins and a great meal for kids or parties.
I served mine with my homemade mac & cheese and had the best comfort food meal EVER! Enjoy!

Simply Elegant Valentine's Wreath

If you're like me, then you probably have a wreath (or some form of decor) to hang on your front door for every single holiday. As I was digging through my seasonal decor, I realized I did not have one for Valentine's Day. I had forgotten that my previous one fell victim to high winds & rain last year and sadly, could not be saved.
The silver lining? I got to make a new one! (Insert choir of angels here) But alas, since I am currently unemployed and on a fixed budget, I decided to try to make one using only supplies found at my local Dollar Store. I wanted a very simple, yet elegant wreath and limited myself to a $5 budget for this project. Did I succeed? You tell me.

I am very pleased with the final result. My total cost for this project was $4 ($1 under budget) and it took me about 15 minutes to make.
Supplies:
1 wooden wreath (I used a medium size but you can choose what works for your space.)
1 spool of hot pink ribbon (Prefer red or light pink? Knock your socks off!)
1 pack of styrofoam heart picks (I chose these because they are lightweight, but any hearts will do.)
1 bunch of red silk daisies
Hot glue gun & glue

Start by cutting the wooden picks off the ends of the hearts, if you purchased this style. Then cut the stems off of your silk flowers, leaving just the flower.
Glue one end of the ribbon to the wreath & let dry. Once glue is dry, wrap ribbon around the wreath. You can cover the entire thing or just use as an accent. Once it is wrapped, glue the other end & allow to dry. Using the remainder of the ribbon, cut into 3-4 equal lengths, stack them atop one another and make a good sized bow. Fluff the loops, angle cut the ends to the length you want and glue the bow to the top of your wreath.
Select your prettiest flower and glue it into the center of your bow. Then glue one of your hearts into the center of the flower. This is the focal point of your wreath. You may want to do it along the side or bottom, there is no wrong way to make this.
Once the glue is dry, decide where you want to place the rest of your hearts (and/or flowers if you wish) and glue them in place as well.
Once all the glue has hardened, take another piece of ribbon, yarn, string, etc. and tie it onto the top. This will be your loop with which to hang it from. That's it, you're done! Now hang it on your door and impress all your neighbors and friends with your creativity! XOXO

Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings!

This is a recipe I found on Pinterest, but made very minor changes to. I never follow a recipe exactly, but this one is as close as I've ever come. :)
It's another 5 ingredient dinner, which I love, but also a Crock Potter, which I LOVE! Cost for this meal is less than $10 and would feed a family of 4. Because it's made in the crock pot, it's a great dinner for working parents.

Ingredient List:

1 package of boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenderloins
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 can of biscuits
2 Tbsp butter or margarine

**I added diced onion, sea salt & pepper, also. Feel free to add veggies or any seasonings you prefer.

Place chicken, soup, butter and seasonings into the crock pot, blend together well. Add water until chicken is well covered. It will cook down, so don't worry if it seems thin/watery. 
I added my chicken frozen, so if you forgot to thaw it out the night before, no worries. Cook on High setting for a minimum of 5 hours. If you work and are worried about leaving it for more than 6 hours, use the Low setting and it will be just fine.

About an hour or so before you are ready to eat, open your can of biscuits & tear them into chunks. (I tore mine in half, because I like my dumplings a little bigger.) They will fluff up as they are cooking, so keep that in mind. Toss them into the crock pot, stir the mixture to get your biscuit chunks well covered so that they absorb the juices for better flavor. Put the lid back on and if you haven't already, I recommend adjusting your heat setting to Low. In about 45 minutes to an hour your meal will be ready to eat. (I left my dumplings in for about an hour and a half & they were perfect, but some people prefer them a bit less done. This is entirely up to you.)

Your finished meal should look something like this.
This is one of the BEST chicken & dumpling recipes I've ever tried and by far the easiest. Having been raised in a southern cooking family, I am a bit fussy when it comes to my favorite comfort foods, and I give this dish 4 stars. My hubby also loved this and he's not even much of a chicken & dumplings fan. (Had I known this earlier in the relationship, I might have reconsidered. I mean who doesn't like C & D?)
This is also a great meal to make in larger quantities for family gatherings and parties. Just double or triple the ingredients and you are good to go. So try this one out today & I guarantee you will be adding it to your family's meal rotation. Enjoy! XOXO

Super Healthy Vegetarian Lasagna Rolls

This is a 5 ingredient meal that is healthy and delicious!

These are your 5 ingredients:
Whole Grain lasagna noodles
Frozen (chopped) spinach
shredded mozzarella cheese (low fat is better)
1 can of pasta sauce (your choice)
16 oz. container of cottage cheese

Start by cooking the pasta as directed on package. (About 10 noodles for a 13x9 dish) While pasta is cooking, combine the spinach (thawed & drained) with the cottage cheese. I added some low fat parmesan cheese to mine as well, but it is up to you. Once the pasta is cooked, make sure it is dry, then lay the noodles out on a sheet of wax paper. Scoop a spoonful of your cheese & spinach mixture onto the end of each noodle, then roll them up. I poured a little of my pasta sauce in the bottom of my baking dish, then placed each roll (seam side down) into the dish. Then pour the remainder of your sauce on top, cover with a generous layer of  shredded mozzarella cheese and bake in a 400 degree oven for about 30-35 minutes. (Or until cheese begins to brown on top.)
Each roll is a perfect little serving, no cutting or mess. I served mine with some garlic bread and we had a delicious, healthy dinner. Even my meat eater hubby gave this recipe 2 thumbs up. :)

This is a great recipe for a family on a budget, as well. Total cost for ingredients was around $8 and would easily feed a family of 4. Also, great meal to make ahead & freeze individual portions for adult lunches. Try adding shredded chicken for a different twist. :)

Learning to sew.

For Christmas, my Mother-in-Law bought me a sewing machine. I was so excited and surprised and couldn't wait to try it out. Well, as soon as the holiday madness settled down, I made a quick trip to the craft store for supplies and got down to it.
It has been many years since I used a sewing machine. (Like, since middle school home ec class as a matter of fact.) So, needless to say, it's taking some practice to get back into the swing of things. But, I am making progress, though I don't see any ball gowns or fancy stuff in my near future. :)

My first project was this baby blanket. I found some cute fleece remnants at the craft store & figured I'd give it a go. Lesson 1: Fleece is evil. After cutting it (several times) and never having the 2 pieces match up, I just pinned it anyway. Then I proceeded to sew it. Lesson 2: Fleece is the Devil. Not only is fleece very soft, but it's very stretchy. It catches on the machine and moves all over. Lesson 3: Next time I want a fleece blanket, use the no sew tie method. But, it's finished and although it's far from perfect, it's a blanket, so I count it as a success. The next one will be flannel & cotton though...

My second project were these 4 mini princess pillows. I have had this princess fabric for years and had no real use for it. After my Mother-in-Law sent me a bag of fabric scraps/remnants, which included the pretty butterfly one, I decided to make these little pillows for my nieces dolls. I mainly just wanted to practice using the machine, but these were fun and a great form of practice. (The flipped pillow is Snow White by the way.) The fabric had all the princesses in little squares, so I just cut one of each out and matched them up with some of the butterfly material, sewed, stuffed and viola! Adorable little pillows that are perfect for a little doll bed. Project 2 was a success. :)
I'm not sure what my next project will be, but I feel slightly more confident in my abilities, so hopefully something cool. I will keep you posted...

Make your own crayons!

These were so easy & fun to make, I can't wait to make them again. All you need are old crayons and a muffin pan. I used paper baking cups, to protect my pan (and I liked the textured edges) but not all the directions I read called for it.
Start by removing the paper wrappers from your crayons. This is the worst part, but because I didn't have any kid helpers, I used a utility knife to speed up the process. Once you have finished stripping your crayons, decide what colors you want to mix. I chose to stick with color families. (Purples, reds/pinks, greens, etc.) Then break your crayons into pieces & fill the cups. Do not overfill.
Place pan into preheated 250 degree oven for about 10 minutes (give or take) or until melted. I took a toothpick to mine to swirl the colors & removed them before they were 100% liquified, but you can let yours fully melt, that is up to you. They cool pretty quickly & easy peel away from the paper baking cups. A little clean up on the edges to make them pretty and you are ready to color.
Great kids project. Have a Valentine's party coming up? Make heart shaped ones to give to the kids instead of candy. I plan on buying some fun molds for the next time I make them. :)

Meet Hank

For those of you who may not follow me on facebook, there's someone I'd like you to meet. His name is Hank and he is a big part of our family.

Hank is the Travelocity Roaming Gnome (in case you didn't recognize him) and he's a bit famous. But, unlike most celebrities, Hank is very grounded. For the most part, he likes to hang out at home with us, but he has been known to get his party on from time to time...

He's a fun loving, witty guy and he has a huge fan following, but he rarely lets it go to his head. He loves to travel and road trips are his absolute favorite hobby. (see above photo) Just this past summer, Hank took a trip to Grand Haven for the Coast Guard Fest and spent some time at the beach.

He loves to sit and watch the sun set over the water, and never complains about the sand in his beard. He has a great sense of adventure and has been looking for the right gal to share his life with for some time now.

Sadly, not all the ladies he's met have been the "angels" they claim to be. Lesson learned there. But he trudges on. Never feeling sorry for himself and always staying positive. He is such a charmer though, and we knew it wouldn't take long for him to find the right woman. His patience finally paid off this week, when he met this lovely gal.

I'd like you to meet Willow. She is just what Hank needs. Her sassy personality are a perfect fit for him. The two of them are inseperable and I have a feeling there might be a gnome wedding in our future. (and hopefully, a few adorable little gnomies) But for now, it's just nice to see him happy. (and have another woman in the house) I'm sure there are plenty of new adventures in Hank & Willow's future this year and we can't wait to share them with you. So, keep checking in to see what these crazy kids are up to. Happy 2012, everyone! XOXO

***Disclaimer***
In case anyone is unsure, I am not insane, and I know that Hank isn't a real person. I just have a healthy imagination and love gnomes. When my hubby & I bought Hank, we knew we had to have some fun with him and we definitely have. And when I found Willow, I just knew she would be the perfect addition to our silly little game. :)

Giving old memories new life!

Everyone has those old items that we can't bear to part with, but have no real use for. Attics, basements, garages & closets around the world are filled with these memories, but we just aren't sure what to do with them. Well here's an idea. Repurpose them! An old table can be turned into a work station for crafts or a homework area for kids. Antique kitchen appliances make great display pieces. Use them to decorate above your cabinets, or choose a few favorites (maybe grandmas old mixers) and bookend your cookbooks on your counter. Was Uncle John a great photographer? Display his old camera on a shelf next to some photos he took. Have an old sewing machine that doesn't work anymore? Use it in an entryway for a statement piece. Drape a handmade throw over it & hang a picture of Great Grandma above it, so you always have a piece of her nearby.

Stack old books and use them to create depth on a mantle or shelf. This is also a fun idea for kids rooms. Use your old favorite childhood books on a shelf in your son or daughters room. Have childrens books that have seen better days? Remove the images and frame them for an inexpensive and fun theme in a playroom or nursery. If you like this, but don't have old books, check garage sales & thrift stores or ask friends and family if they have some they are willing to part with. Books have so many great uses and are full of history and character, so dust them off and get creative. I have an old typewriter that was my grandfathers, and I have always loved it, but obviously with computers now, I have no use for a typewriter. Instead of sticking it in a closet, I used it as a bookend. I have a photo of him on the shelf next to it and each time I see it, I think of him and smile.

A vintage telephone or record player would make a great display piece as well. Old records can be hung on a wall and make a fun border for a teenagers room or a bar area. Use the records themselves or the covers or both. Have old baking sheets laying around? Paint them & hang them for magnet boards in a kitchen or kids room. Old ladders make great shelves, magazine racks, quilt holders and more. Old toys and games make great display pieces in kids rooms. Old clothes can be turned into new clothes, blankets or fabric scraps for craft projects. Have some old purses just taking up space in your closet? Why not hang them and use them for storage? Have a daughter that's really into fashion? Old shoes, purses, scarves, belts, jewelry and more can be used to decorate her room. Turn old dresses into throw pillows. Use scarves and belts as curtain tiebacks. Purses, hats and shoes can be displayed on shelves next to vintage fashion magazines. Or pin vintage clothes to the walls in funky dress up styles, for a great statement piece. An old dress form would be perfect for this, too!

I think you get the idea. Anything can be made new again if you just give it a chance. Take a trip around your local craft store every so often and get inspired by the fabrics and colors. Before you go buy new lamps, maybe try changing the existing ones. A little paint and creativity can go a long way. Make covers for your throw pillows instead of buying new ones. Did you get new kitchen utensils? Save the old ones and give them to the kids to use when they play kitchen. We are too quick to throw away and replace things, so before you take out the trash tomorrow, take a second and make sure you aren't tossing out any treasures.