Hello Spring!

Hello Spring! Goodbye Winter! ....or so I hope. The weather in Atlanta has been so crazy it's hard to tell what season we will get day to day! I am looking forward to warmer weather.

We all know this is the time for spring cleaning. I think I'll start on one of these stow away closets. We also have the idea to repaint the entire downstairs. I got a great deal on paint and I think I'll brighten up the space with a fresh coat of paint! ..and by great deal I mean a 5 gallon Behr paint + primer, in a great neutral, normally sold for $130 for $30! woot!

So what things are you doing around the house for Spring?

DIY POLKA DOTTED CURTAINS

I have been making some real progress in my daughter's room. If you don't remember, I am making over my daughter's room turning it from a toddler's room into a big girl's room. This weekend we worked on the curtains.

I had some all white curtains that I was intending on hanging. I had these curtains hanging in a previous place that we lived in and never got around to putting them back up since we moved.....two years ago :)

So I went to hang the curtains but was pretty bored with them. They matched the décor, but it was just plain boring. After browsing for some curtains, and then realizing I didn't want to spend the money for new curtains, I decided to decorate the white curtains that I already had. I did know I wanted to do polka dots.

So, I went up to Home Depot and got lucky. They had pink and blue paint in the oops section that matched her room. Total cost for the paint $1.00. Next I headed over to Hobby Lobby and picked up some circle foam sponges.



This is another project that me and babygirl worked on. I love how the dots varying in weight of the amount of paint. She did a great job. I think she's turning into a little DIY'r like her mommy.

I'm all about saving, so I have to let you know it only cost me $4.00 to update these curtains! Woot! And here are the not so pretty pictures of how we got it done.

So what do you think?

IKEA INSPIRED PAINTED BASKET

There are so many things that I see that I want for my home, but it's either outside of my price point or I feel I can just DIY it and save money.

That was the case for this painted basket that my little helper and I worked on. My mother n law and

I were hanging out one day and we stopped by the local Goodwill. I am a huge basket hoarder, the more you read my blog the more you will see I have a problem. So at this Goodwill, I spotted a nice big basket for $5.95. I knew I needed a big basket so it was perfect, but it needed some work.

Fast forward to about a week ago, I was browsing through IKEA when I spotted the perfect basket. I wanted it so bad, and it wasn't expensive, but then I thought. I just got that basket from Goodwill, it has the same shape and same handles. I think I can copy that!

So no it's not perfect (Nothing ever is though right, especially with kids helping) but I love it. It was great quality time with me and my little one.

Here is my inspiration and my copy cat

The IKEA basket is $18.99. The total cost for my basket was $8.00.

And now for the not so pretty, behind the scene pictures. If you want the how-to on doing something similar, continue reading..

It was fairly easy. Just find a basket, tape and paint.

(and of course I don't have a full before picture, but you get the idea from these step by step photos)

First. Tape
.

Next. Paint. We used a cheap paint brush and cheap foam brush to get into all the nooks. We also did two coats.

Last. Let dry and remove tape.

Just BE.

I wanted to take a moment to shared with you all a personal campaign I've been on since the beginning of the year.... of just BEING. This year, instead of wanting, wishing, hoping, guessing, trying, striving, and all the other "ings" I'm just going to BE. Be what you may ask. Well that's the thing, I can BE whatever it is I want to BE...and so can you.

Here's the secret on how to just BE: All you have to do is JUST BE.

BE Brave
BE Smart
BE Courageous
BE Kind
BE Loving
BE Caring
BE True
BE the Shining Star you want to be
BE the Achiever you want to be
BE Happy
BE Fit
BE Healthy
BE a Better Person than you've ever been
BE the Best Version of you.

JUST BE.

Does it take work, of course! But the first thing you have to do is JUST BE.

What do you want to BE?

EASY FISH TACOS

Here's a quick meal that takes literally 10 minutes to put together! I'm a new fan of fish tacos. They are sooooo good. Here's how I throw these together in 10 minutes

You'll Need:
Fish (I love Tilapia so that what I used)
Fish Fry Mix (You can make your own, but I'm going for the quick route so pick up your fave fish fry mix from the grocery store)
Corn
Shredded Lettuce
Diced Tomato
Colby Jack Shredded Cheese
Tarter Sauce
Parsley
Butter
Pepper
Soft Tortillas

Do This:
1. Coat Tilapia in your Fish Fry Mix
2. Deep fry Tilapia for 4-5 minutes, or until golden brown
3. Cook Corn on stovetop seasoning with spoonful of butter and pepper to taste
4. Combine everything in tortilla shell. I layered as lettuce, tarter sauce, tilapia, diced tomatoes, corn, cheese and parsley
5. Enjoy!