Easy D.I.Y. Distressed Pallet Flag......Just in time for 4th of July. #MadeByYouMonday

Happy Monday!  Only another day and a half of school left for my Thomas and then....."school's out for summer." (sung in my worst Alice Cooper impersonation.)   I'm excited for this summer. Vacations at the beach, day/weekend trips, BBQ's with family and friends, golf , hanging out in the sun by the pool and did I mention THE BEACH?

Before I get all sidetracked thinking about the beach, I want to share with you a DIY project I did this weekend.  So quick, so easy and so cheap it was practically free.

I've had this old pallet laying around for probably a year now.   I picked it up down the street from my house in the parking lot of a local business.   I knew when I snagged it I wanted to make it into something cool. I just didn't know what.   I see a lot on Pinterest  of what people make and do with these old pallets,  it's amazing!
I got my inspiration from wanting to do a project for my upcoming 4th of July party. Plus there's a spot on the front of my house that's had the same twig wreath for years and it was way over due for a change.   (Look at me, killin two birds with one stone.)

Supplies Used:
~1 pallet (FREE)
~1 each red, off white, blue paint and black paint - (bought craft paint from Walmart for 50 cents each)
~1 package of assorted sized wooden stars (bought at Joann's Fabric and Crafts with a 50% off coupon. paid only $2.00) 
~1 package of assorted paint brushes (bought at Walmart, $2.47 for a set of 3)
~Saw
~Nail Gun
My total cost was $6.47 but most of us have paint and brushes in our craft supplies. I happened to only have foam brushes at the time and had just thrown out all my old paints.

I don't know why I bought 2 each of the red, white and blue paint.  I guess I got a bit carried away when I saw they were so cheap, plus I didn't think I was going to go with the distressed look when I started out. No worries, they won't go to waste.   I have plenty of ideas to use up the rest of the paint.

You'll have to forgive my photography skills.  I get a bit wrapped up in my projects and forget to snap good pics as I go along.   I'm trying.    This one is so easy, a step by step tutorial isn't as necessary.

First thing I did was have my husband cut the bottom 3 slats off the pallet so it had more of a "flag" shape. Pallets come in all different sizes and shapes, some are more of a square.

To get the distressed look, I painted the blue square and stripes of the flag using a very light hand and very little paint, like a dry brush technique.  

Next I had "roughed" up the stars before painting them.  I used a rock from my driveway, just so they weren't so smooth looking.    After painting them with the cream color, I dry brushed black paint to distress them a little.

Then I had my husband nail them to pallet.   (I did pick out 13 stars but dropped one on the ground and didn't notice til I was all done....shhhh, don't tell)

.....and there ya have it!  Quick, easy and cheap!  My 3 favorite things about any project.

  

I'm linking up this #MadeByYouMonday over at SkipToMyLou.org  
You should go check out her site, it's an amazing place for all things creative.  

Welcome To "The Dieting Dork"

Hi, this blog is the sister or maybe more like a cousin of my main blog The Decorating Dork.

Here I'm going to talk about my never-ending battle with the bulge.    I also plan to focus on fashion for us "plus size" gals.   It's been a giant pet peeve of mine for years!

Can't wait to get all this emotional baggage off my chest ...and off my ass, stomach, thighs, double chin, etc.)

Summertime Picnic Must Have.... Beverage Dispensers

That was a long cold winter and now that Memorial Day is behind us, it's finally starting to feel like summer around here!  
Summer is all about picnics, cookouts and  barbecues. Whatever you want to call them, it means with all that yummy food will be equally yummy cold drinks. What better way to serve up your favorite summertime beverages then in fancy dispenser?

These days you can find drink dispensers in just about any store that has a kitchenware department.   They can range anywhere from $10-$100.  Whether they're made of glass, ceramic or plastic there's a dispenser to fit everyone's style. I've picked out a few of my favorites that are in all different shapes and sizes.  

     

   

                    Glass Dispenser WestaurantStore.com      Glass Dispenser w/ Blue Lid Kohls.com                          

                                                         

        Glass Dispenser w/ Chalkboard Label  Target.com       Mason Jar Dispenser w/ Red Lid Kohls.com

         Double Dispenser with Stand  Kohls.com        Honey Pot  Dispenser w/ Stand WebstaurantStore.com

 Basic Plastic Dispenser w/ Orange Lid  Target.com      Plastic Dispenser w/ Wooden Lid Target.com

                White Ceramic Dispenser Wayfair.com            White Ceramic Mason Jar Dispenser w/                                                                                                                   Chalkboard Label Christmas Tree Shops          

Yellow Bucket  Overstock.com                     Red Honey Pot Overstock.com 

Do you have a favorite?  I'd love to know which one you like and what kinds of drinks you put in your dispenser!      

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!

Tacos, margaritas, guacamole and fruit.......Ay Carumba!   

We love celebrating Cinco de Mayo in our house.  I mean what's not to love about eating some good Mexican food, drinking some cold margaritas and a themed dinner table?

You don't have to go crazy buying expensive dishes, glasses, placemats and decorations.  A trip to your local Dollar Tree should get you everything you need for a fun week night dinner with the family.       

Sometimes I wish I was able to cook better.   I'd love to make a whole authentic Mexican dinner, but being half Spanish doesn't help me one bit.  Tacos it is.... 

I am trying to get back on track with my diet/weight loss, so I'll making myself a taco salad (no shell) and decided on fruit as dessert to go with our fiesta.     Although I will be treating myself to a glass of SkinnyGirl margarita as well.  Hey, Cinco de Mayo only comes around once a year!      

Are you celebrating Cinco de Mayo?   I'd love to hear about your fiesta.     

My Mornings with Millstone® & the Mr. Coffee® 10-cup Optimal Brew™ Thermal Drip Coffee Maker from Wal-Mart #CoffeeJourneys #Cbias #Giveaway

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for #CollectiveBias, Millstone® Coffee, and Mr. Coffee®.  #CoffeeJourneys

I love my morning coffee, don't we all?  Although a lot of people are using the single brew/pod coffee machines, I think a drip coffee maker is still my best bet.   Combining Millstone® french vanilla coffee and the Mr. Coffee® 10-cup Optimal Brew™ coffee maker from Walmart  is just heaven in my book.

Now to make this an even better deal,  #CollectiveBias have given me the opportunity to not only try this winning combination for myself, but I'm able to give one away to a lucky reader! Could it be you? 

Well, you've gotta go on a little journey with me first before we can get to the good stuff.   Keep scrolling....

Heading out to Walmart is nothing new for me, I'm there all the time.   I have to say I've never been in a Neighborhood Market store though.   It's gorgeous, green and full of great buys.

First stop on my journey is the coffee aisle to grab some Millstone® french vanilla coffee. (I'm a flavored coffee kinda gal.)   Millstone® has several other coffee roasts like a  Kona Blend, Hazelnut Cream,   Breakfast Blend and Decaf versions just to name a few, so there's something for everyone.   Did you know that  Millstone® is made from 100% Arabica beans and should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and not refrigerated?  I had no idea, all these years thinking once I opened a package of coffee it had to go in the refrigerator.   Oh well, moving on.....  Next it's to pick up the Mr. Coffee® 10-cup Optimal Brew™ Thermal coffee maker.   Personally I can't use a coffee maker with a glass pot, I'm way too much of a klutz.  I can't tell you how many I've broken over the years.    So not only is a thermal pot the way to go for us "accident prone" people, it also keeps your coffee hot and fresh for hours longer.   Another great function of the Mr. Coffee® 10-cup Optimal Brew™  is the pause 'n serve, it allows you to have a cup of coffee before the full brewing is done.  Awesome feature for when you just can't wait for that first cup of morning coffee, right?    

Mmmmm.... I wish you could smell this!  There's nothing that gets you ready the day ahead then the aroma of that first cup of coffee.

I have to admit, I like to have a little "french vanilla" with my french vanilla.   Sometimes I do use a flavored creamer with my flavored coffee.  What can I say?  

Here's a little  Instagram video of how my morning  #CoffeeJourneys goes.   After I get Thomas on the bus I brew myself a pot of coffee, sit at my computer and call my mom.   The only thing that could make it better, would be if I was at the beach with my mom and my cup coffee but that's a whole other story.

Don't forget after you watch the video make sure you enter the giveaway below for one of the best coffee makers and coffee around! 
 Are you ready to head out on your own #CoffeeJourney? Then enter to win the Mr. Coffee® 10-cup Optimal Brew™ Thermal Drip Coffee Maker and a package of Millstone® flavored coffee below. Good Luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Meal Plan Monday

Happy Monday, it's meal planning day!  I usually plan my weekly dinner menu on Sunday while going through the store flyers and coupons.   

I'm excited to be trying a new recipe this week that I found on Pinterest. (of course, where else?)  Believe it or not I've never made lemon chicken or chicken piccata before but when I saw this one come up on my Pinterest feed it just looked so yummy and easy.   This recipe is for the crockpot, so I figured there was less chance of me messing it up. (fingers crossed)     I'll let you know how it comes out next week.

Do you meal plan?  I love seeing what other people make for dinner.  It's always fun to get ideas and try out new recipes.      

Wordless Wednesday - I Never Thought Spring Would Come

Do you have a Wordless Wednesday?   Head over to 5MinutesForMom.com and link yours up. Then you can check out everyone else's photos of the week.