Mini Makeup Looks~Drama, The Movies, & Katy Perry Inspired

Since I am a Cosmetologist (a frugal one) I always have my eye on the lookout for new Hair and Makeup Products at great prices. Typically I bargain shop at Rite-Aid, CVS, and Walmart and their prices seem to be comparable to each other. With that being said, I will be doing more Mini Makeup Looks for my posts and including the prices of the products I buy AND start showcasing them here on Creative Tizzy.

 Now onto the fun stuff, here are the looks I have put together, they are budget friendly, fun, and are ideas in addition to your everyday makeup routine. I’ve included a couple of pics with closeups of some of the pretties.

Drama Pink

Movie Date Night Candy Coated/ Katy Perry Inspired

I had alot of fun with this post, can’t wait to do more,

Enjoy ~Christina

A Mini Makeup Shopping Trip

There’s nothing better than a little retail therapy. That’s exactly what I needed this past week. I love finding cute makeup at frugal prices. Here are a couple of product looks I put together for fall.

The Browns

The Greens/ Neutrals

The Purples

This was alot of fun to put together. The Cosmetologist Girly Girl in me is always on the lookout for fun looks. What do you look for in makeup at the store? Do you go for budget and cute. Do you have a hard time putting looks together? Leave a comment…Christina

Have Fun, Stress Less When Vacationing with the Kids ~Post 3, 9 Final Tips

If you would like to follow along, there are two posts to this series. Have Fun Stress Less when vacationing with the kids Post 1, and Have Fun Stress Less when vacationing with the kids Post 2.

 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Pier August 2012 Vacation

1. When at your hotel keep clothes in suitcases. Why?? because it lessens what you have to do when you go to leave.
2. Use various Apps to get to know your area. Urban Spoon, Foodspotting, Yelp all are great for getting to know restaurants and what is good where you’ll be vacationing. Shopkick for deals, Raining Hot coupons and your local pharmacies for Apps to getting great deals when far from home.
3. Use coupons or online discount codes/ such as retailmenot.com and ebates.com for hotel/driving/shopping etc.
4. Grab a postcard for the family back home and send your greetings to them. Or do as we do, bring back some Salt Water Taffy. When we go to the shore we usually get Dolles on the boardwalk.
5. Collect Souvenirs of the trip. Examples could be ticket stubs, wrist bands, photos, seashells, sharks teeth, sand, postcards.
6. Make a project from those Souvenirs. Get a recycled jar and fill it with the items you collected and you’ll have a great memory to commemorate your spectacular fun filled vacation.
7. Before you book hotel find out what is available at the hotel for kids to do, Lazy River, Pool, Hot Tub, Games etc.
8. When you are finally vacationing, buy things as needed when your there. In case you forgot some things, don’t fret. It’s not like your going to a remote Island or anything, or are you?? Well then tweet those pics…
9. Before you leave the house make sure you clean it. Make all beds, take care of trash, run the dishwasher for the last time and empty fridge of things that will go bad. Use Glade Plugins to make your rooms stay fresh. When we came back home. I walked in my home and everything was done. Smelled fresh and not stale or dank. It was nice to know that I just needed to do the laundry and put the rest of the stuff away. But because I was so efficient from the start that took me an hour to do. Life’s Good!!

All in all realize that with a little preparation ahead of time, you can save yourself mounds of time and trouble from getting overwhelmed, to actually having fun and enjoying your vacation. Now school is back in full swing, so it’s “Back to Life, Back to Reality”, the song is playing in my head right now. Back to a brand new schedule for the year. Leave a some Comment Love, Yeah!! ~Christina

Have Fun, Stress Less When Vacationing with the Kids ~Post 2 14 more tips

 

Picture of Greenville, South Carolina “The Reedy River”

Today I am adding more tips to the series see my previous post to catch up “Have Fun, Stress Less when Vacationing with the kids ~Post 1 Streamlining the preparation with 15 easy tips”

1. If you have a DVD Player take along movies that interest various age groups & have a variety within children's reach.
2. Carry some cash, but make sure to have a debit/credit card and checks if in case you forget your money or credit card. I did just recently when my daughter and I got out nails done on vacation. I almost panicked then asked if they accepted checks. Whoosh saved!! That’s what I get for paying my bills online earlier in the day (forgetting my card at home by computer).
3. Plan on doing laundry 2 days before you leave and pick out fold and put into piles separated by child and adults. For example Shirts/Shorts/Socks/Underwear/1 pair of jeans/1 Hoody. Keep it simple and if staying 2 weeks, pack for 1 plus 2 days, on day 8 do laundry and you’ll be set.
4. Pack toiletries, I use a backpack for this, for separate pockets, yet I still use Gallon and sandwich bags to separate everything. For example: Separate 1 toothbrush and toothpaste into one sandwich bag, do this for all kids and adults/write on them with a sharpie everyone’s names. Bundle Shampoo/Conditioner/Hairspray into a Gallon Baggie. I put full sized soaps into separate baggies, since we have a family of six, we put hotel soaps to shame. Razors/Shave Creams/Soaps bundled together Gallon Baggie. I put my moisturizer/body spray/deodorant into one separate Gallon Baggie. My husbands into another. I have used many different types of toiletry bags and stuff gets spilled all over, so this is what works then if you need something, take out a bag at a time. Easy!!
5. I grab a variety of chips in a pack, usually Lay’s. I used to buy separate snacks for everyone, but the Lay’s variety bag has a cinch top and you can put some more snacks in it like granola bars and peanut butter crackers. My kids can get car sickness so we bring mini coke bottles and mini waters. I buy these the day before and stick them in the fridge so they are nice and cold when I arrange them in an insulated bag.
6. Pack the car/van/suv/truck the night before and stick everything your kids need i.e.: pillow/blanket/stuffed animals/chargers etc. near their seats. Also make sure you have baby wipes in middle console, change for tolls, within reach (if needed), GPS system charging and ready to go.
7. Pack a mini first aid kit and put it into glove box. Include in it band aids/Neosporin/pain medicine/alcohol swabs.
8. Hand sanitizer
9. Are pets coming with? We brought our cat with us to South Carolina. I included cat litter in a plastic bin with lid for the drive. I brought food/water/mini bowls/leash/cat carrier/kitty blanket/litter pan and toys.
10. Recycle your plastic bags. Use them for trash/kitty litter cleanups/change of clothes for kids/wet clothes/laundry.
11. When I pack the suitcases and we are staying over night 1 night and breaking up the drive. I pack individual bags with 1 outfit/socks/underwear/swimsuit for pool/pj’s for each person and stick them all in a tote bag, instead of unloading whole van. And bringing everything in. One bag, easy!!
12. Do you have your hotel confirmation numbers written down or a printout of it? Bring drivers license, license plate number, phone numbers of hotel and emergency numbers/ health insurance cards ( my son got strep the second week we were in South Carolina) keep them handy for anything you anticipate on the trip.
13. Bring a folder of bills that may be due when your gone and hopefully you booked a hotel that has free wifi or use your smart phone to pay them. Or go to the lobby and use the free computer.
14. Bring crayons/tablets for drawing/mini games/markers/crayon books/chargers/DS’s/PSP’s/video games etc. for keeping the kids occupied.

To be continued… there are more tips to come about the drive and when your actually there at your destination.

It’s Labor Day weekend and I may not get anymore tips up until the long weekend is over. Hope you have a Great Labor Day ~Christina

Have Fun, Stress Less when Vacationing with the Kids ~Post 1: Streamlining the preparation with 15 easy tips

Vacation to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina -August 2012

With a little bit of planning you can have a “FUN” vacation, but you need some tips to prepare yourself ahead of time when traveling/vacationing with kids. The following are steps you can take to use as a guideline. I’m telling you I am the master at traveling light and effortless, since we had to travel back and forth from Indiana to Pennsylvania every year. The following may be a little out of order but extremely helpful.

1. Think out your whole trip ahead of time. Sort of a budget before the month begins. So you know mostly what to expect and life isn’t too out of sorts for you and your kids. Preparation is key.
2. Determine your length of stay, a couple of days, a week, 2 weeks or more, then you can plan around this time accordingly.
3. If you are driving, will you drive all the way through or break the trip up. I break the trip up by staying over night in a hotel if the drive is longer than 7 hours. Since I have four kids ages 16, 12, 9, and 7, you can see why. I do want to get to my destination, but with my sanity intact!!
4. What amenities does the Hotel/Villa/Condo have for convenience once you’re there. Don’t be surprised at what they have and don’t. Get acquainted with their policies online for pets, gym, pool, laundry, and access to the outside, the internet and ATM, oh and do they provide a free breakfast?
5. With hotels, are you going all-inclusive or are there any hidden fees. Also, sign up for their club card if applicable to maybe earn nights or get coupons and discounted stays. My husband is a “Priority Club” member of HolidayInn so that helps earn free nights for us if we choose to go with HolidayInn.
6. Check various websites, like hotels.com or priceline, orbitz, expedia, travelocity to find and compare hotel deals. I did this and then went to my hotel website to see if they had anything to offer. They actually had the lowest pricing. So I booked on the hotel site. You can also check for coupon codes for a better deal.
7. Pack lightly, Don’t pack “Just In Case” style. So that you don’t have too much to bring with you.
8. Check the weather for traveling to and from your destination. So that you are prepared for what is to come for the most part.
9. Make sure trunk is packed efficiently. Where you can see through the back window safely, or if your lucky to have a case for on the roof of your car, this will not apply.
10. If staying longer than a week, will you need to do laundry? If so, do they have a service that they will bill to your room. Or laundry facilities that you can use. Remember to get a roll of quarters if that’s the case.
11. Can you get away with packing kids clothes in a backpack, they can carry it on their back and help take things to the hotel room. This is how I would always pack my little ones things, but now their clothes are getting bigger so I have to stuff into a small wheeled suitcase. I would sometimes double up 2 in 1 suitcase.
12. Bring Ziploc bags in various sizes: Gallon, Quart, Sandwich.
13. Separate Kids and Adults phone/laptop/iPod/tablet etc chargers, into baggies. Then the ones you need when traveling in car can be easily reached for if mom keeps them in purse or where kids will be seated.
14. Moms, always keep camera and Smartphone in purse for those times when you need to take a quick picture or make a phone call.
15. Make a list of the things you will need for the trip. That being said, will you need snacks, drinks, medication, special needs, batteries, tickets? Write it down so you don’t forget when your at the store.

I hope that you’ve enjoyed this post so far, but you’ll have to come back tomorrow… to be continued. So stay tuned for Part 2. Hope you have a great start to your weekend. See you tomorrow!! ~Christina

 

 

 

Charming Charlie (My Favorite Accessories Store) Purse Haul

So I was vacationing in Greenville, South Carolina and to my wonderful surprise they have a Charming Charlie store. I absolutely love this store. It can be overwhelming though, if you’ve never been. I have been to the one in Fort Wayne, Indiana, another one in Collegeville, PA and now Greenville, SC. Collegeville is one of the biggest so far. They have every accessory under the sun, from Shoes to Belts, to Purses, to Jewelry, Hair accessories and even Blouses. THE BEST PART about Charming Charlie is…..It’s all color coordinated. Clapping like a Seal right now, just walking in is inspiring let alone buying something. If I worked there they’d have to take my check right back, because it would be spent on the spot. Love!! So when I went into the CC’s at Greenville, they were having a BOGO on top of their red tag items. I guess to make room for the new product coming in. Well I got 2 purses and a pair of sunglasses for $27, yes $27 I was so glad I waited to get a purse, cause I was able to afford 2 and shades to boot. Here’s my Black purse: This was “Free” only $9.99 marked down and it was part of the BOGO deal. Gotta love the Gold chain.

Then here’s the purse I bought marked down to $18 Little bit of bling, soft and nice wide straps. So which one will I choose to use for now, stay tuned…

 

Here’s another post I wrote a while ago during my month long posting Challenges, fyi, Day 18 Challenge about CC’s.

So I encourage you to save yourself some money and check out Charming Charlie, if you don’t have one near you, no problem you can buy everything online. Yeah! Go take a look at all the pretties. Have fun shopping, ~Christina

Day 28 CHALLENGE 31 Tips to Couponing the Organized & Fun Way!

So I’ll start off by saying I was a great coupon clipper about 3 years ago. When the economy was hitting I had to hit the coupons religiously. I would spend 3 hours every Sunday perusing online and circulars to get the best bargains and with some work, I did! I had gotten really good at it and even got my husband in on it too. We’d even have savings competitions going to the store, those were fun. I think when it comes to couponing, to each his own, but I would err on the side of caution that if you do start couponing that you do it for the right reasons and that it doesn’t get to an unhealthy point. ie; hoarding, buying things just because you have a coupon or going to 10 different places all in one day just to get the maximum deals, which would waste time and gas (we all know how expensive that is now).
Anyways, the following are the ways that I have saved and since I am starting to see a buzz on facebook and messageboards about the show extreme couponing on TLC, I thought that I would post what I have done, to save you some time, and with work, some money.
When you set up the basics you will then be able to sit down, sort and cut out your coupons then file them accordingly. It will get easier and you’ll get faster, as you go.

1. Buy a 1 1/2 “ binder and baseball card page protectors to hold your coupons that you are stocking up on.
2. Buy printable labels for labeling your page protectors, each coupon slot is a different item. ie, canned goods, boxed goods, milk, diapers, etc…according to whatever the coupon is for.
3. Get a small accordion coupon holder that will just hold the coupons you will be taking to the store for easy access, and filing. Usually they will have a band on them and I attach that to the part of the cart and slip it through attaching back to the the coupon filer to be hands free.  This will have tabs for labeling your aisles (I label by aisles of the store I usually go to). I felt if I labeled by what the items were that I was fumbling with what aisle is this or that in. Organization is key!!
4. Make a spreadsheet Grocery List of what store you go to, what aisles you’ll need to hit, for what items and what coupon amounts you’ll be using. This can then be printed out and streamlines the process. When you save it, you’ll instantly have a template for the next time.
5. Buy “ALL YOU” magazine, you can clip alot of coupons out of this.
6. Go buy several copies of your local paper and bring them home, During certain times of the year they don’t have coupon circulars. Google this online or look it up through the links I posted below.
7. Make sure you buy an Entertainment Book, these you can get at Walgreens for about $20 or usually a school is selling them. or www.entertainmentbook.com Keep this in your car for when your out and about.
8. Make sure you have a store key fob card for every store that hands one out. Take the time to fill out the application for each. Alot of times they not only send you coupons in the mail but they give you coupons printed out at their actual store.
9. Join facebook and twitter for deals. Usually you can print out a coupon after you’ve LIKEd a stores fan page.
10. Sign up for email at restaurants and local places online and they usually will have a bday club, and coupons sent to you in your email. Just print them off and go.
11. Krogers has a service that you can go to their site and pick out your coupon deals then add them to your Kroger card online. Check your local store to see if they offer that service.
12. Go to sites that let you download and print coupons, you can pick what you want for the week and alot of times they generally coincide with your local deals in the store so it really pays off at the checkout.
13. Shop on double and triple coupon days if applicable.
14. Use rainchecks if a store is out of an item and you still want to get the sale the next time the item is in.
15. Send in your rebate checks if you purchase something save the receipt and instantly send in the info. to get your money back instantly or within the time they allot, which I think is up to 8 weeks depending on the manufacturer.
16. Call up manufacturers directly and have them send you some coupons just for remarking about their products.
17. Use your manufacturers coupons with the deals in the store that are on sale to get your items for pennies on the dollar or free.
18. Read your coupons for specific item (if it’s any size, pick the trial, usually it’ll be for free), quantity, expiration and any small details that may flub up the order when you go to check out.
19. You will find out what goes on sale and when. When to stock up and save at certain times of the year. When not to buy and hold out even if you wanted a certain item. Sometimes deals are worth the wait.
20. When you go to checkout pick out the nicest or most knowledgeable cashier, as this will help with any problems you may encounter in your couponing.
21. Make sure you keep an eye on your deals as they ring up and don’t give your card to them till the end when you can see what your true subtotal is then they scan your card. That will apply all of the in stores deals, then add your coupons after that and you start to see the savings. At the end of your receipt should say your total savings.
22. Shop when your store tends to stock up their items. I usually shop at off times, after they stock up, because, like the movies I like going when there are not alot of crowds.
23. Don’t forget to use coupons at places like, dept. stores, makeup stores, for haircuts, pet stores, fast food, movies, hotels, rental cars, etc….
24. Almost forget Always keep a pen and calculator handy for adding up your cost and savings as you go.
25. Have fun!

Here are some online things I have done that have helped me save.

1. Ebates, make sure you join and you can go to Groupon in ebates and find local deals.
2. I go to www.restaurant.com for local restaurant deals and usually you can get them for 1/2 price for dinners. Print out a coupon.
3. Online coupon codes, especially at www.retailmenot.com I have used them on so many occasions I can’t even count. For pizza and for dept. store purchases. I have saved alot with this.
4. Read email or even answer a survey to get some coupon deals.

Well I hope that I have done my due diligence in helping some of you save on shopping. I am going to start serious couponing again, since watching the savings others have had can be inspiring and fun! I have attempted to track down as much as I can here. I also have a couple of links that helped me out in the beginning.

1. www.hotcouponworld.com
2. www.couponmom.com

These sites can help you with everything and they even have databases for coupons.
I have also googled coupon sites before and alot comes up. See what you come up with and Happy Savings!~

Day 25 CHALLENGE 10 Tips when going to the Movies. Especially when you have Kids

Going to the movies? Well you'll need these tips..Okay so my hubby, kids and I are professed movie buffs. We love at home DVD movies, Online movies and Theater movies. We go to kids movies, action movies and funny movies. My kids and I especially like 3D movies.

10 Movie Tips~

1. Look through your Entertainment book for deals on movie tickets or freebies they usually have. Or if you can find any other coupons then use 'em. Entertainment can be found at your local Walgreens and they are $20 or you can pay for them online and get a discount I believe.
2. Use http://www.fandango.com/ plug in your zip code then it takes you to whatever cinemas are in your area. I have paid ahead of time before online if its a movie like the last Twilight movie I saw, to reserve my spots. They charge you for it though, so I only recommend that if it’s a premiere. If you are trying to save, like me then don’t order online. More for me to buy Charming Charlie stuff.
3. Check out your time, lately I have been going on~off times, like 3:00 pm, on weekends near me the cost is $6.50-$6.75 on Saturdays or $5.00 per person on a Sunday, that is at a Carmike theater. They also have free movies for kids during the summer and they did have recession Tuesdays (not sure if they still do), where their food and drinks were dirt cheap. Call ahead to find out deals in your area. Saves time and money.
4. A note on timing, I leave 40 minutes before my movies start time, leaving me 5 minutes driving time, 7 minutes for Walgreens trip for candy (explain that one later), 5 minutes to get tickets and 5 more minutes for food/drinks, then I am able to get a good seat wherever I want and get situated.
5. Make sure the kids hit the bathroom before you go then you don’t have to take a potty break when your in the theater when there’s a good part on. Doesn’t it always figure too?!
6. Find a parking spot near one of the exit doors on either side of the building and then you can hit the bathrooms on the way out and then exit and your parked right outside, bypassing the next crowd of people walking in.
7. When you get there, make an initial purchase of $15.00 for a bucket of popcorn and when you bring it back the next time the refill is $2.50. This is at Carmike, not sure what deals are at your local theater, but I would call them up to ask, or fish around online. I saw alot of movies last year and spent $2.50 each time for a big bucket o' popcorn, lifesaver.
8. Okay some will bawlk at this, but I do it and will continue too. I hit up the local Walgreens and I get my $1.00 Goobers/Whoppers/Junior Mints/ and Snowcaps. You could go to Walmart too, they have the same candy. Sorry folks I am a smuggler, I really refuse to pay, especially since I had had a conversation with one of the ushers at the food stand asking him why the outrageous prices and he literally told me, we don't make anything on the actual movies that's why we charge so much for sodas and snacks. That's dishonest in and of itself...I could get 4~2 Liters of coke for the price they charge for a large soda with ice. So I refuse, yes I have smuggled in sodas before. I am not dishonest just cheap!! lol. They can charge an arm and a leg, so I get rebellious, shhhh, don't tell...
9. When you enter the theater and if you’re like me and don’t want anyone sitting right in back of you, (let’s face it sometimes you pick seats and it’s pretty empty and you sit down only to have another family sit down right behind you (could they possibly pick another spot, so that I don’t have to overhear their whole conversation, you know the type, hehe)), then sit in the first section all the way down but the absolute last row that separates the upper section. Your near the exit, for potty breaks and no one will be directly behind you. I always pick the middle for optimal viewing.
10. Make sure you turn off you phone, or put it on vibrate, sit down, add the junior mints to your popcorn and have a great time watching your movie. Oh and don’t forget your big handful of napkins. Have fun.

5 stars and 2 thumbs up!!

Day 24 CHALLENGE Ebates and my new Droid X Smartphone

Hope everyone is doing well. I know I am!! Today was a great day I received my Package at my doorstep, yeah, and have been playing with the contents since 2:00 p.m. today.
Sneakin’ a peek

Droid X (My phone) & Droid 2 Global (my teenagers phone)

 
I had been a Verizon Wireless customer for 2 years now, and although I love their service I was not using it like I should’ve been. Now I have an upgraded phone that will give me my monies worth. So I extended my contract and got the phone for free. Yes, free!! Here’s what I did. I signed up with Ebates because there was a promotion that came up on my blog frog community about Ebates, so I clicked it and Registered. I was in the market for a new phone anyways and my new for 2 eligiblity was up on the 17th, so my son and I were eyeballing the new Droids out there. I had originally wanted an iphone, since I already have an ipod touch, but I got a deal in my email for the Thunderbolt and the Droid X you could get them if you are a current Verizon subscriber or a new customer. So I clicked and it brought me to the deal and then to wirefly, but still under ebates. Here’s what I got all together. $5 for new account, 12.50 per phone (2) rebates= $25    $30 total. I have $30 in my ebates account. Isn’t that cool. This is one case where it does certainly pay to shop. Here’s what I paid $0 for Droid X $6.99 for insurance, $49.99 for Droid 2 Global and $6.99 for insurance. The insurance is a monthly cost and is billed as a separate charge on my wireless bill. I then kept on top of wirefly to make sure of when they were sending my phones, I am obsessive about buying online and when I will get my products. Now onto the goodies, here’s what came in the phone box~

The Phone, USB cable, this breaks away into a charging plug for wall and disconnect to plug into the computer. The battery, the back of the phone. I didn’t get any accessories but I did get insurance, just in case. Here’s what it looks like turned on~

I just want to encourage you, if you are in the market for a new phone and your eligible to get a new phone, then click on my Ebates link and check out their deals, this was way better than what Verizon had going. I had shopped around too, at Walmart and various online stores and this was the best deal since I got cash back. So I paid $71.00 with everything plus shipping, but if you subtract the $30 in my Ebates account I only paid $41 for 2 new smartphones!! Happy Shopping, ; )

Day 1 of CHALLENGE Decorative Floating Initial Hair Accessory Holder

My daughters 8th Birthday is coming up and I thought I would make something for her room. We are going to redecorate it in blacks, browns, and beiges. Neutral colors are best, because we will be staging our home soon for moving. To start off with here are the supplies,

1. 2 8x10 in Plain wood picture frames from the dollar store, will be using 1 of the frames and both pieces of glass.

2. Tacky glue (was out of hot glue)

3. A wood initial, I chose an A.

4. Fancy scrapbooking paperclamps.

5. Black, ivory, and clear matte finish Krylon spray paint.

6. 4 screw hooks

7. Scrapbook paper, fancy glittery and textured

8. Various Beads

9. Various ribbons

10. Various stencil shapes

11. Scrapbook mounting squares

Now let's get started

First make sure all glass is cleaned and fingerprint free. Next cut scrapbook paper into 6x4 rectangle. Add scrapbook mounting squares to the back, each corner and 2 in between each corner and 2 in the middle. Peel off squares and center onto one of the pieces of glass. Shown here:

Add glue to each corner, I would have added hot glue, (the best for this project in my opinion) but I was out so I used Aleene's Tacky glue. Sandwich 2nd piece of glass over top making sure all corners are even. I then used the paperclamps to squeeze the glass together for drying. Shown here:

 Now, I added the Screw hooks before I took it outside to Spray paint. I needed to use a hammer to gently get the screw started, then twisted them into place. I used 4 and eyeballed the placement.

I also added the paperclamps I used earlier for the

glass and glued them to the frame.

I then painted 3 coats of black satin Krylon to the frame and the initial, then I used the stencils as a negative and laid them down randomly on the black frame, sprayed a little bit and it gave a unique effect.
I sprayed the frame with a final coat of Clear Matte Krylon.

I added the glass to the picture frame, since it does not have a back to it, I had to carefully fold over the staples on the back, but not all the way so I wouldn't break the glass. I added the various beads to the corners. I also tied bows interlocking all the ribbons together. Glued that to the glass in the corner of the 6x4 paper and glued the A right next to it.

Shown here:

Here is the final product, you could then add a picture hanger to the back to hang on the wall.

~Quick and Easy Necklace~

This is a fun and simple necklace.

I found glass beads at the craft store and metal beads that both have big holes, then found a silver necklace that has a small clasp on one side. Here are the ingredients:

String them together starting with Silver then add your Glass Beads then ending with another Silver and here's the end result:

Hope you have fun with this and let me know what you do!

Creative Low-Cost Low-Calorie Food Tips and Recipes

I want to start off by saying that if you arrived to this post, it wasn't by accident your looking for some ideas on how to lower your calories and  how to eat on a budget. I get that, I totally do! I have 4 kids and suffice to say have to eat separate from what they do, not all of the time but most. Well here goes some tips and recipes to start with and in the future I'll make a page designated to this topic on its own. Starting with the tips and this coincides with my other blog post: http://creativetizzy.blogspot.com/2010/05/11-tips-to-de-cluttering-my-home-and-10.html

1. Drink a tall glass of water with every meal, snacks also.
2. Take multi-vitamin and fish oil tab 1/2 way through meal. This I take a lunchtime 
3. Eat @ 250-350 calories per meal, snacks stay below 200 I have usually 2 snacks a day.
4. Shop in your own pantry and fridge, sometimes we can find things if we just dig.
5. Use spray butter for cooking on stove. http://www.icantbelieveitsnotbutter.com/Spray/
6. Cut out the salt, salt bloats you, I am a professed salt-a-holic and have to say over time, I don't need it and when there's extra dumped on my food without me knowing, it tastes, well, salty!!
7. Cut out the sugar, okay, besides the morning and afternoon cups of coffee, that's it! Limits people, limits!!
8. No Protein bars unless the sugars are low, some protein or breakfast bars have more sugar than a candy bar, you might as well go have that snickers bar anyways!! Check the label.
9. Cut the cheese, no not literally, cut it from your Food Plan. This bloats also, if I cheat, it's with Bleu or sprinkle of parm on my spaghetti, can't do without it. Your stomach will thank-you and you'll notice a difference in your side profile. If you have to have it, make sure its in moderation.
10. Cut out the soda consumption, if you thrive on soda, this is where your calories come from 97 to be exact in one can of Coke, you could lose weight just by cutting out this very thing, diet soda too.
11. Keep away from Aspartame, I was drinking diet iced tea thinking my vision was going and here it was aspartame messing with me, stay away from this stuff. Very in depth site, http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-side-effects.html
12. Use frozen veggies, I have too or alot of things would go bad in my fridge. Although I eat clean, I do my version of eating clean. 
13. By prepacked produce, if this is just for you, smaller servings can be hidden in the fridge so tiny hands can't get them.
14. Use micro meals at lunch (sodium can be a little high on these, so be careful) most are under 300 calories, boom, lunch is done or dinner. 
15. Have fibrous carbs at Supper, what do I mean by fibrous, well these are your fiber veggies, spinach, lettuce, squash, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, cucumber. These take time to digest and therefore helps you to feel fuller longer and you can fill up on these and there are virtually no calories. I make a chicken salad that is huge and it by far exceeds the eyes are bigger than the stomach rule. 
16. Arm yourself ahead of time with foods before the week starts. Okay I know alot of fitness people use this, but it is so true. "If you Fail to Plan, then you should plan to fail". A little preparedness goes a long way. I will see what I have in my fridge, pantry, and for snacks and make a list, go shopping and now I can eat without guilt.
17. Have easy snacks on hand. I love, love, love the tomato/herb Special K crackers http://www2.kelloggs.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?brand=215&product=15771&cat=cereal why do I love these, not only are they tasty, but they are the least calories for the most you can eat, trust me, I compared boxes and believe that most crackers are 140 calories per serving. So in essence you could have almost a double serving and still stay within your 200 calorie snack range.
18. Shop in the organic section of your store, sometimes they have discontinued items that are really cheap or on sale items. Organic has come along way in their prepackaged dept. the prices I see are coming down and that's easier on the wallet.
19. Make a list, have a budget and stick with it. If possible try not to shop with the kids, they can be distracting and get your focus off of eating good.
20. Don't eat after 8:00, anything that you put in your mouth will eventually reach your stomach, 8:00 is 3 hours before I go to bed, my stomach will be empty and therefore the calories I burn throughout the night (when sleeping that's when your body goes to work) will be spent on the fat stores I have instead of the fuel I would eat right before bed, a no-no! If I want something, I'll have green tea with honey and a little milk, this makes me feel better, and suppresses that craving for food.
21. Drink Green Tea like above, read about it here:http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/benefit_of_drinking_green_tea
22. Arm yourself with gum. I can't tell you how many times I just want to chew on something and if I have gum it takes away the food factor. 5 calories http://www.tridentgum.com/
23. Deny the food monster, tell yourself mentally, I don't need it and I have control over food, it doesn't control me. PERIOD. Do not give in and have a piece of gum instead. The hunger pangs will pass and you will say, wow I don't feel hungry anymore. 
24. Look at your labels, what is a serving size and what are the calories per serving size, don't automatically assume that a can is a serving, soup usually has 2 servings, so calories X2.
25. You Can Do It. Keep telling yourself you can, and you will. I did and am going to keep doing it til I get to my goal. Now I have to, I just told you to! Now I have to stick with it. Holding myself accountable.

Now for the foods I use for fuel:

1. Canned beans, navy, pinto, chick peas (it's funny my hubby calls anything other than a stringbean, Goya beans) beans beans they're good for your heart the more you eat the more protein you get, ; )
2. Brown Rice this I make concoctions with chicken and beans and veggies.
3. Non Salted Almonds in a pouch, Walmart sells these @ $3.00 a bag, very cheap.
4. Apples, Bananas, Fruits Easy grab and go snacks
5. Popcorn (Airpopped) I lightly salt ( I mean lightly, just can't do no salt with this) this with butter spray, plus popcorn has antioxidants and fiber, you can have a ton of this and not feel the guilt. Airpop so you don't use any oil, that is where the calories and fat lie.
6. Whole grain, breads and pastas you can get white whole grain bread for kids (fakes em out) and yet you can still eat it to.
7. Jello-and light whipped topping, maybe 15 calories, very minimal and slightly sinful.
8. Slim-A-Bear Klondike bars, okay dudette, these are soooo good and at only 100 calories a bar, my kids fight me over these, I have to hide them in my freezer if we're out of popsicles.
9. Flax seed, I roast these in a pan a teaspoon at a time and add my eggs, they pop like popcorn so you get the benefits omega-3s, antioxidants, and fiber.
10. Oatmeal this is so filling, I do get the kind that takes a little to cook in microwave 
11. Berries of different varieties, blueberries are a superfood
12. Dark Chocolate, I am a dark chocolate fan. I get 70% and above, I think Cadbury's has them, but I get mine in the organic Aisle. Hubby says it tastes bland, but I am used to it and have a different palate now.
13. Canned or pouched Tuna, Chicken, Salmon. Makes a meal fast. 
14. Egg whites in the carton
15. Vinegars of all sorts, I like Malt, Balsamic, Apple I mix them with Olive oil for a light dressing on salads
16. Lemon Juice in the bottle or fresh if you can, makes dishes taste better, plus lemons amp up the metabolism. This I also use on salads
17. Frank's Red Hot Sauce, Ampin' up the metabolism again, put a dash of this on your eggs, chicken, steak, shrimp, yum.
18. Crackers in above tips
19. Mrs. Dash http://www.mrsdash.com/, has a wide variety of salt-free sprinkles so get what you like.
20. I was on a Protein shake kick, but only if I am lifting weights, will be introducing a fitness plan soon, so I'll be going back to that. Can find these in organic aisle or weight loss aisle. Or go to GNC http://www.gnc.com/home/index.jsp protein shakes without soy, look it up about soy and estrogen, it can be confusing so I limit my intake of soy, yet I do things in moderation. It's your choice. I leave it out, read here http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/soymessina
21. Whole grain tortillas, these you can make an white egg omelet with veggies, sprinkle on some Frank's and you've got a breakfast tort to go.
22. Veggies of all sorts, frozen as I said above for quick easy access

Creative Recipes or Concoctions

Breakfast:

Egg White Omelet, I measure out enough for like a 2-3 egg omelet with egg whites, but I first add can't believe its not butter then onions peppers spinach whatever I've got that day and measure serving size for the calories I need keeping it well under 300. Add egg whites, cook and flip, sometimes I don't flip it. Oh and I add fiesta lime Mrs. Dash.

Oatmeal (not the packets, they have too much sugar) the oats in the cardboard tube, usually on the lower shelf in the cereal aisle, with berries or bananas, again whatever I have on hand. I measure out 1/4 cup, this can balloon up to 3/4 filling up the bowl, add berries when you cook the oatmeal in microwave, mix around a little so the berries are still intact somewhat, and yummy.

Grilled Turkey and egg tortilla, grilled turkey with peppers and eggwhites, cook like above eggs and add to the tort, is so yummy and watch your potion sizes, this is key.

Lunch:
Micro meal from Weight Watchers or Healthy Choice, you pick.
Brown Rice, with 1-2 small chicken tenders or breasts, check the calories per serving, with veggies, either spinach, onions, squash, eggplant etc..

Couscous with Salmon or Tuna pouch ( I like to get the steaks in the pouches) add lemon and dash of flaxseed with some type of veggies, sometimes I add beans. Make sure that your calories will come out to up to 350.
Dinner:
Salad with 1/2 Avocado, cherry tomatoes, Butter lettuce or spring mix for variety, mushrooms, cucumbers, Add cooked Chicken breast or saute'ed shrimp. Mix Olive oil Balsamic Vinegar and Mrs. Dash together in tiny bowl with lid and toss with salad.

Snacks:

Bananas with little bit of peanut butter

Strawberries and fat free yogurt

crackers

popcorn

You can sub a micro meal for dinner or vice versa, I tend to switch daily.

Hope that I have given some good hints for you to be successful. The only part I can't do is be there and make sure that you implement it, that's your part. So good luck and in fairness of being human, we all make mistakes, so if you fall off the wagon, don't beat yourself up, just get up, dust yourself off, hold your head up, because you're worthy of being healthy, Now Git'R done. Hope to hear some progress has been made. Click on the comments button to leave me a note and subscribe to my blog, lots coming up!