$2.50 Bathroom Fix

So, our bathroom sink was a mess. It has been this messy probably since the last time I cleaned it. And I kept putting off cleaning it because there is so much stuff to move and it takes forever.

I decided I needed some type of basket to contain all of my beauty products because it would A) make it look nicer, and B) it would be so much easier to clean thus giving me motivation to clean more often. After searching Goodwill and Homegoods, I didn't find what I was looking for in size or price. Then I went to Target. Why didn't I go there before?? I started browsing around in the $1 section, and then found this! It was selling as a "Halloween decoration," but it was exactly what I was looking for! And at $2.50 to boot!

Doesn't this look sooo much better? Everything slides in so nicely, and it all fits, which is amazing! It totally cleans up the counter. (I'll admit that I also cleaned the sinks before taking these pictures!)

And just in case you don't believe me on the price...

This would have cost me at least $10 anywhere else (Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, The Container Store). Even the baskets I was finding at Goodwill were around $1 or $2, and I would have had to spraypaint them.


Here is another trick I use for my makeup tools, eyeliner, and mascara. I bought this glass mug at Walmart awhile back for about $2. It works great because everything is easy to grab.

What kind of things do you use to organize your bathroom counter?

Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

This weekend went by way too fast. I feel like I was just starting to be productive and then it was bedtime on Sunday night, with Monday morning just around the corner. I did manage to have some relaxing time and accomplish some things I wanted to (there will be more on these accomplishments in a later post). Our weekend was full of Mexican food, bike riding on the Tobacco Trail, touring some houses in the annual Parade of Homes, Hokie football, seeing the movie Moneyball, catching up on our favorite shows, and brainstorming ideas for our den which badly needs decorating. Hopefully in the next few weeks some of these ideas will come to fruition!

One more thing I did this weekend: bake this delicious chocolate cake. This is another one of my momma's. Enjoy this recipe - it really is a treat!


Chocolate Chip Pound Cake
1 box yellow cake mix
1 small box Jello chocolate pudding mix
1/2 c. sugar

Add:
3/4 c. oil
4 eggs
3/4 c. water
8 oz. sour cream
1 c. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 and grease bundt pan. Mix dry ingredients together in large bowl, then add wet ingredients. Add chocolate chips. Bake for 55-60 minutes. Cool before removing cake from pan.

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How was your weekend? Did it fly by like mine did?

Happy Birthday Mom!

photo by Bella Pictures

Today's post is dedicated to my mom. She is such an amazing woman and I'm so thankful to have grown up with her as my teacher, my caretaker, my comforter, my confidante, my spiritual leader. Of course she is spending today doing flower arrangements and setting up a wedding for a good friend whose son is getting married this weekend  - that is just an example of how selfless she is. She totally rocks.

I hope you have a wonderful day, Mom! I love you!

photo by Blythe K

photo by Bella Pictures

October Goals

So I've never done a "Goals" post before, but I think it will help me to have it written down in public instead of on a sticky note that I can just throw away. There have been some things lately that I have been wanting to get done, but haven't still, and I feel like making them official goals will be helpful for me and keep me more accountable. You probably don't care about these but I'm going for it anyway!

My October 2011 Goals:

Start exercising again - go on a run or walk 3x a week

Organize our budget and start seriously saving

Keep up with my I Peter Bible study homework (time with the Lord at least 4x per week)

Finally get my wedding dress cleaned and preserved (I know I am so lazy... it has been what, a year and 2 months??)

Do at least one of the crafts that I have pinned on Pinterest

Work on being intentional with my time so I can accomplish what I want to, instead of not thinking about it and then at the end of the day wondering where the day went (this is a fuzzy goal and it will be interesting to see how this goes!)

Avocado Dressing

It certainly has been a while since I posted a recipe. Last night I had a ripe avocado I needed to use, and in my daily email from MyRecipes.com I saw a recipe for Avocado dressing! How perfect! The website had it paired with chicken tostadas, but I didn't have the ingredients for that so I decided to change it up. I cooked up some Costco salmon burgers (ever tried these?? they are delish!) and this dressing was an AMAZING topping. There is something about the sour cream and avocado mixture that is just perfect. I'm sure it would be a great topping for a number of meals. Check it out!

Avocado Dressing

1 ripe avocado
1/4 c. reduced fat sour cream
2-3 tbsp. lemon juice
3 tsp. canola oil
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground red pepper

Blend all ingredients in a food processor until creamy and smooth. Top on a favorite salad, burger, tacos, fajitas, etc.

Adapted from MyRecipes.com

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United together

Last weekend, my church piled all of its campuses into the Durham Bull Athletic Park for a beautiful morning of worship and celebration of what God has done in our city through this church. Over 7000 people attended, with 300 getting baptized!! Jesus really showed off that day! For me, it was a pretty emotional day. Worshiping outside was so spiritual, and it was amazing to look around and see so many believers worshiping together. It made me so excited to do it in heaven one day. Check out this video to see what all went down:



If you happen to live in the Raleigh-Durham area, check out The Summit Church! There are campuses spread out throughout the area, where the sermon is broadcast to each one. So basically it's all the same church, while being reachable to all the areas of the Triangle. Not to mention it is completely gospel-centered. I really do love my church!

Hello Fall!

While it has remained to be high 70s this week, there is definitely an overall feeling that has settled upon us. Autumn is here and I am excited about it! I made it official by bringing out my fall decorations, which are not many but I'm okay with that. It really doesn't take much to make your home feel the change in season.

These flowers are from the local Harris Teeter. A mason jar makes a simple yet classy vase. And I picked up that adorable pumpkin at HomeGoods. I pulled out my fall placemats, and voila! I have a beautiful autumn tablescape.

We got this wreath last year in Blowing Rock, NC. It was so fun to pull it out again for the season!

We will be adding pumpkins to our doorstep once we take a trip to the pumpkin patch!
What are your go-to fall decorations? Have you decorated your home with them yet?

Rain is a good thing

Rain, 1945
Arthur Leipzig

It has been a dreary day week here in Raleigh. We had a cold front come in last weekend, and since it never got sunny again I keep thinking it will be chilly when I step outside... yet the temperature is well into the 70s and sometimes 80s. I kept feeling like I should be switching out my clothes for the new season, even though it's still pretty warm... I'm a little slow but starting to catch on.

I liked this picture because it pretty much sums up my week: the obvious rain, as well as the man in the picture who resembles Donald Draper. Now, if you don't know who Donald Draper is, you should get to know him. And to do that you need to watch Mad Men. Besides my usual commitments, literally all I've been doing this week is watching Mad Men. Michael and I are obsessed, to say the least. We are through season one and it just keeps getting better. While I do not condone all the behavior that goes on in this show, I highly recommend it. (It is clean in the sense that there are not any disturbing or graphic scenes, but the characters in the show have little to no morals, just an FYI.) If you are looking for something to do in this dreary weather, watch this show! If you really need to be productive, seriously don't.

I hope you are having a good week! How are you occupying your time while it rains?