Repurposing Items

When you need something garden, do you just go to the garden department?  When you need something to hold the pens on your desk, do you just go to the office supply store?  You could do that, but doesn't that kind of limit you?  

When I set up my kitchen after getting new cabinets several years back, I knew I wanted my cooking utensils to be very handy.  I also knew I never liked digging in a drawer for them.  I wanted something a little Tuscany and I didn't want a little jar or an old crock for the look I was after.  It had to be a little more unique.  When I saw this flower pot in Lowe's garden department, I immediately said that's it.  That's the one.  It's a heavy ceramic or resin pot with an old world finish.  It holds lots of utensils and best of all I don't have to fight to get them out.  I hate to be in the middle of cooking and reach for a spoon and 4 other utensils fall out with it.

Repurposing = Problem Solved

 Since I'm in the kitchen with the camera I thought I'd share what I cooked for dinner last night.  First, I had to head to the grocery store.  We both agreed steak sounded good.  Looking at the prices, I decided steak didn't look so good.  And seeing how I've really been out of sorts lately with unjustified anxiety (don't know why but it's there) I didn't think I was up to putting together a dinner from scratch.  I headed to the frozen food aisle and thought I would try Stouffer's (who I love by the way) Braised Beef and Portobello Tortelloni.  I thought it might satisfy our steak craving.  Oh' I was wrong.

I don't know if it's our simple Southern roots?   I mean really you don't hear a whole lot about tortelloni here.  Don't get me wrong we don't all eat opossum here either.  As a matter of fact, red-neck as the South may be, I don't know the first person that eats opossum (pronounced possum). hee-hee.  

Back to the real subject....We just didn't care for this at all.  And it wasn't on sale, either.  I hesitated when I picked it up.  So little for so much.  On the other hand I didn't have to feel bad about throwing the left over away.  It was a big Thumbs down.  Sorry Stouffer's but you missed the mark on this one for me.  And Stouffer's is my all time favorite in frozen meals.

So do you re-purpose items?  Do you have any special tips and tricks for decorating your house?  What about dinner tonight, what are you planning?  I sure could use some easy and yummy quick dinner tips until I'm back on solid ground again.

Have a beautiful day, ya'll!  Hugs....Tracy :)

Guess What I Did With This

A tiny wallet, a need for wall art, expensive taste, can't paint but have a creative spirit. What does this mean? It means that it adds up to the old adage - necessity is the mother of invention - and thank goodness for the hardware store. It means that I can't go to the Bombay store. What now? Oh yeah, what about all those pretty wallpaper samples at Lowes! Okay now what about frames? Lets see think cheap but remember it can't look cheap. It's not trash day no chance of seeing something fantastic on the side of the road. How about Big Lots -no, how about Family dollar - no. I don't want to waste gas going all over town. Not enough money for TJMaxx, Marshalls or Home Goods, which I personally love. I've got it Freds. Freds always has something. It might not be what your looking for at the moment but they always have something decorative that can be used somehow.

That's right I now have art work that only cost approximately $2.00 each for a total of $6.00. I took the wall paper border that they allow you to have free samples of and cut them into individual pieces to fit in the frames and TA-DA you have gorgeous new art! Could it get any simpler. The wallpaper has a nice texture that gives it a much better look than just a piece of paper. My little wallet is saved, I feel like I created something even though I'm most definitely not an artist, and my wall makes me smile every time I walk by.

I would love to see your money saving and creative decorating ideas. Please share them with me. I'd love to show them here.

Blessing to you all dear friends.....Tracy :)