Sweet Sugar Blossoms: September 2013

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Halloween: Thrift Store Style!

We love holidays at our house!

Everyone's favorite is Christmas but my husband LOVES Halloween!!

I learned really fast that I needed to plan ahead for costumes.

When our boys were younger they were always superheroes but

The Stud likes to be a little more creative.

And for my budget,

creative = Thrift Store!

Here's how we've done Halloween over the years.

2005: Bob Barker & a Barker's Beauty (circa 1975)

This year, I got The Stud's suit, shoes, and my dress for a grand total of only $7.00!

2006: Trailer Trash

This year I splurged a little to keep it "authentic" (The Stud is actually wearing a DDD girdle with beach balls up top!!) but I still kept it under $20!

2007: Rocky & Adrian

The Stud LOVES Rocky so we dressed as Rocky & Adrian.

(Sorry for it's crummy. We didn't take any pics that year, so I had to grab some stills from a video.)

His costume was only a couple bucks and I snagged a su-WEET polyester pantsuit for $12.00!

2008: The 60's

I got lucky this year because I actually had this little number hanging in my closet!

It's actually my mom's from way back and she let me borrow it.

We got The Stud's outfit (including shoes) for around $8.

2009: The King & Queen

The Stud does an excellent Elvis impression so he had to be The King!

I shopped my closet again that year and recycled a bridesmaid dress

so I could match his royal status. =)

Total that year= $12.

2010: MacGyver & Jasmine

Yes, I know they have nothing to do with each other.

Yes, I know we look fabulous anyway.

This year didn't cost a single penny!

The Stud used clothes he already had and a wig we picked up years ago on clearance.

He made his "bomb" out of paper towel rolls and electrical tape.

My mom made my costume for me back in high school for a choir number

and she happened to hang on to it. SCORE!

Thanks Mom!

2011: Confucius

You would be amazed at the random things you can find at a thrift store!

We came across this mask for $6 and had to build a costume around it.

The hat was also $5 but the robe was only $3. Woot woot!

The Stud rocked that $14 like nobody's business!

2012: The Hobo

I was so busy this time last year that Halloween snuck up on me.

I was completely unprepared.

But Big D has learned from his father and whipped out this costume in no time.

Not a penny spent but he won a costume contest at church!

Total: $0

I'm planning on hitting the stores this week to check out costumes for this year.

How do you do Halloween?

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Happy Sunday: A Bit of Heaven

My son's friend was buried yesterday.

'Til we meet again, Carter.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

How To: EASILY Clean Stove Grates

Yes, they're that gross.

Generic brand works just fine.

Your house will smell like your mother is giving herself a perm.

Put them on a cookie sheet in case it drips.

I cannot handle the color that ammonia turned!

Um . . . .yuck.

Woo-hoo! Good as new!

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Happy Sunday: Sorrow vs. Love

My 13 year old son just lost a friend.

It is surreal.

We feel despair.

But we are reminded:

Monday, September 9, 2013

Onion Odor

I love the added flavor onion adds to my food but

I HATE the smell!

It gets on the cutting board, my hands, the whole house. . . YUCK!

I use a candle to fix the house smell but this little trick works on

your cutting board AND your hands!

You need 3 things: lemon juice, salt, and dish soap.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

QUOTE: The Law

I came across this quote while preparing a lesson

and decided I needed a printable reminder.

{print it here}

Just a thought. =)

Happy Sunday!

Saturday, September 7, 2013

My Sweet Feet Secret

I don't know about you but my feet take a beating!

I ask them to take me everywhere and they do; they never get a break.

To add to my poor feet's woes is the fact that I live in Phoenix,

where Mother Nature has perpetual PMS.

It's friggin' hot here!!

This was yesterday. It's September for cryin' out loud!

What makes it even worse is my slight shoe fetish; I own over 40 pairs.

gasp!

I especially love heels.

I {HEART} SHOES!!

But I also {heart} my feet. =)

I don't like that sweaty, sticky, smelly,
"my foot is stuck to the inside of my shoe and I can no longer walk like normal person without some serious effort" feeling.
But I'm not a nylons type of girl.

I can't see ^^these babies^^ looking any better on my feet than the do in the store.

The ones on the right look especially special. HA!

So here's how I keep my feet su-WEET!

Baby Powder!

I just sprinkle it in my shoes,

shake it around a bit,

and VIOLA!

I'm ready to roll!

The powder keeps my feet dry no matter how sweaty the rest of me gets. It also completely eliminates that uncomfortable "stuck-to-the-shoe" feeling that happens after wearing them for 10 hours. I also use it when I wear flats; it's versatile like that. ;)

Yep, I {heart} my feet.

AND SHOES!!