Southern Girl Swap: {What's in YOUR bag?!}

Good morning readers!  Today is our third Southern Girl Blog Hop!  I'm guest posting today over at Razorback Britt!  Check it out to see a few of my favorite things in my makeup bag! 

Today you're in for a special treat!  Miss Abby from Charmed Bliss is sharing with us all the goodies inside her purse!  She's a talented young lady who I met at OBU!  She is a pageant queen, brutally honest blogger, super talented sports management woman, creative and amazing event planner, and just a sweet, sweet soul all around!  I'm glad to call her my friend!  =)

Hello from Charmed Bliss!  My name is Abby and Kati and I have been friends for about 6 years now and I am so excited she has decided to join us in the Blog Hop!  She is spectacular and an awesome blogger with her adorable son!   Over at CharmedBliss I write about life.  I am always honest and hold nothing back!  In fact, I find texts from Kati shocked sometimes at what I write.  I definitely use my blog as an online diary.  Sharing only the most appropriate, fun, and inspiring ideas and adventures in life!   Today's Blog Hop is entitled...

I got my bag from Amazon.com and it has been a great addition to my bag collection.  I change it out when I go on dates or to dinner, but during the day when I need EVERYTHING!  I love this carryall bag.  My favorite part about it - It is not a labeled bag.  There isn't a label on it.  I love that because so many times in today's world - everyone puts labels on everything - and this way I am uniquely me! This is everything that I keep in my bag!  So let's dive in.

My iPad and my book are must haves especially since I have some down time between appointments at work and classes.  I am currently reading Waiting and Dating by Myles Munroe - it is actually a very encouraging read about waiting for Mr. Right while having fun in the meantime (it is Christian Read).  I keep my camera with my at ALL times - even though our phones have video and photo capability - I like to know I have a backup that is more reliable!  I am currently dieting (aren't we all) so my GUM is essential in my purse.  I usually go through about 5-6 packs a week.  My favorites are Extra Spearmint and Watermelon!  LOVE THEM!!  I always keep a hair tie in my bag, no telling when you will need it and I also keep a head band in my bag.  This gold one is my favorite because it has different strands of gold beads - so not only does it match my hair - but it matches every outfit!  The bag of earrings you see is just an extra set.  We all have those crazy mornings and I have to have three things, body spray, lipgloss, and earrings - without them I practically feel naked.  There are 2 pair in there a neutral pair and a coral/orange/red pair - because that is the color I wear most often.

Well Here are some of my favorite things that I keep in my bag:

 My favorite thing in my bag is probably my lipgloss.  As you can tell I love lip glosses because I hate when people's faces lose color - and LIPS is where you can bring that color back!  And plus - lipgloss (especially the ones with pumper and caffeine) make your lips tingly and the day brighter!  I love lip gloss!

My favorite Lip Gloss right now is probably the Moxie Lipgloss from BareMinerals with the Borghese Lip Plumber a close second.  My mom put the Ice Crystals in my stocking and I was reluctant to use it at first because I thought that it was a little teenage for me.  However, it is a perfect sweet-smelling gloss that can go over anything!  It is a great quick fix! The chubby stick is almost never used.  It will get used more often as the spring comes and goes - but right now I try and keep the naturals on my lips!

 As you can probably tell - I LOVE PENS and PENCILS and SHARPIES!  School Supplies shopping every year is my favorite time.  I love the colorful felt tip pens!  They are perfect in any situation!  However, my favorite pens to use are the rainbow InkJoy packs from Paper Mate.  They have a very bold tip and with all of the colors - makes taking notes very fun!  I will admit - that I keep my sunglasses in my purse out of a case, which is probably bad.  Well I know it is bad - as I was taking things out of my purse for this blog, I noticed that my sunglasses are broken  I loved these sunglasses.  They were perfect because 1. I found them at my house (no clue whose they are) and 2. There were NOT tight on my temple and behind the ears - they literally fit perfect!  I LOVED these sunglasses.  Oh Well.


 Just like I can't leave the house without lipgloss - I can't leave the house without body spray, touch up fingernail polish, and my eos lip balm.  I get fever blisters religiously - I am actually shocked that I don't have my medicine in my purse right now.  It is imperative I keep my lips moist at all times.  The slightest dry-ness or chapped parts and I will get a fever blister.  It is a curse that I have gotten down from my grandfather through my mother.  I know it is TMI, but it explains a lot!  This ESSIE fingernail polish is a MUST HAVE this season - it is called Bachelorette Bash!  And the CalGon MoonPetal Musk is a lovely body spray (that isn't too strong) and the eos is ALL from Walgreens!! I am a sucker for a good retail therapy at Walgreens!  It has everything a girl needs - Makeup, Body Wash and Hair stuff, Hallmark cards (I am a sucker for a good cry in Walgreens - especially if I am there for some "therapy") and you can't forget their frozen food section (cookie dough AND ice-cream).  LOVE IT!

This next picture is something that is popular in Waco.  It is called Bee Bar Lotion.  They have different flavors and it is a bar of lotion - it kind of looks like soap - but it is INTENSE lotion.  I was a little reluctant to use it at first because it is a different texture - and very greasy for a moment after you rub it in.  However, it really keeps my hands super moist.  

I know that it is stupid - but I have a Emergency TOGO box that I take in any purse I have.  It has lip liner with a sharpener, finger nail clippers, lipgloss (DUGH), and Tide To Go.  This all fits inside an old glasses case that I have.  It is absolutely wonderful and so convenient; especially since I change purses often.  

Don't forget to go check out the other girl's blogs today and see what fun things we all have in our bags!  Let us know if we are missing anything!!  

Oh and check out my blog over at Charmedbliss because Keisha from Big Pitt Stop is guest posting!  

Southern Girls Blog Hop-DIY pallet coffee table

Today is the second of many Southern Girls Blog Hop!  Allie has a wonderful coffee table for you today that is seriously FABULOUS!  I'm blogging over at Charmbed Bliss today with a fun little Valentine's Day Wreath tutorial!  Don't forget to check out all the other ladies' DIY/tutorial posts from today!  There are some good ones!  ;)

There is also a little giveaway going on!  Make sure & leave a comment on this blog post & my guest post at Charmed Bliss for your chance to win!  Rules below!

Hi everyone! I'm Allie and I blog over at Young Love!! Lately I've been on a DIY/craft kick, but other than that I love to blog about my sweet fiance, Blake and my sweet little pup, Ace! 

So I've seen a million different projects on Pinterest on how to "upcycle" old pallets into beautiful furniture!!! I talked to my dad, and he grabbed me some old pallets from work and it was time to begin! I knew exactly what I wanted to make, and I couldn't wait to begin! This project was EXTREMELY affordable and easy to do! I am SO happy with the way it turned out! I hope this post does a good enough job to explain exactly how to do this project! If not, feel free to comment or contact me (brooksallie@gmail.com) with any questions!!!

Okay so the first step is finding a pallet. I actually had one a tad smaller I wanted to use, but the boards stuck over the edge a couple of inches and the sides needed boards for a smooth edge for the fabric to cover. That would mean a LOT of extra work that I wasn't really planning on, so I ended up using the bigger pallet which did not need any sawing or reinforcing! Ask around to find pallets! I have seen them in the back of stores, and I'm sure if you ask they wouldn't mind giving it to you!

So as far as cost goes... the pallet was free!

The next step was the add a layer of cardboard all over the pallet. I did this so that the batting and fabric didn't sink down in between the wood planks of the pallet. This was probably the most time consuming part! I carefully used a box cutter to fit bits and pieces of a cardboard box I found in the garage and stapled it on! Speaking of staplers... I bought mine a while back at Lowe's for around $15! We've used it several times, so it was definitely worth the purchase! Also, use the biggest (longest) staples that your stapler will allow! You need long ones to go through all the layers.

It basically looked like a big box once all the cardboard was on!

Next, I added a plastic lining just to protect the cardboard from any spills on anything like that! This is completely optional... I found an old slip n' slide in the garage (ha!) and used part of it! But you stable it all the way on!

Total cost so far... still free!

Next layer was the batting! I found come i think 40% off at Hancock's Fabric for $2.99 a yard! I bought  I think 4 yards... so it was around 7 or 8 dollars! It turned out to not be enough (since I switched to a larger pallet) and had to buy a bag of it for $5 dollars at Wal-Mart! I stapled that layer on right over the plastic lining. The corners were a little tricky. Honestly my best advice is to just pull and staple it down as smooth as you can get it! Trim excess as needed! 

Total updated cost... now with the batting we are up to $12-13 dollars!

Batting I found at walmart!

You can see the yellow plastic lining under the batting!

Batting layer finished

After stapling the corner

Trim the excess fabric

Next, time for the fabric! This is the same as the batting... I would begin with the ends, and then move to the sides. Save the corners for last. The corners were a little tricky... I just folded and pulled and trimmed until I was happy with the seam and how it looked! I love this fabric... my mom has had it for a while. She bought it on clearance at Hancock's Fabric for around $7 a yard! I probably used a yard and a half? 

Technically my mom gave me the fabric so it was free for me (thanks, mom!) but we'll say I used 2 yards at $7 a yard so I think we are up to around $30!

I began by adding a few staples to the ends and sides before flipping it over to make sure that my pattern was straight.

Example of the corners! I had my mom and her wonderful friend help me and she folded and snipped and trimmed until we were happy with the single seam along the corner!

All finished, before the legs were added!

After the top was finished... time for the legs! I found these legs at Home Depot for around $5 each. They actually ended up being too tall so I could have gone a size shorter for cheaper but it worked out! My advice would be to finish the top and decide where it is going to sit. Measure how tall of legs you need according to your desired height and THEN buy the legs! Don't forget your brackets to mount the legs! Those are around $1.50 each!

Total Cost is up to $26ish for the legs plus our $30 so around $56 total! 

Here are the legs I found, before stain. Home Depot has several different options.

I decided to stain my legs a dark wood color... you can use any type of stain you want! It doesn't take much at all, so if you already have stain.. I would recommend that! I bought a small can and barely used any, so I'm saving it for future projects!

The Stain "Espresso"

I only used one coat of stain

So with the stain we are at somewhere around $60! Not bad for a one day project! I've seen similar ottomans sell for around $350-$400 so I would say this project was a success! Your price will vary depending on cost of fabric. I have seen some upholstery fabric go as much as $50 a yard. However, since you don't need much and it is such a big statement piece in your room, I would definitely say it is worth it to find a fabric you are completely happy with. But still... shop around! And don't be afraid to shop online. You can find some really great deals on fabric online at very affordable prices!

I am so happy with the final project!

And that's it! Super easy and affordable!!! Hope my explanation made sense... feel free to contact me with any questions! 

What do you think?!

Southern Girl Swap--Blog Hop Guest Post

I'm blogging over at Leslyn's Lovely Life today so hop on over there & check out my post on a few things that are on my Christmas list this year!  And don't forget to comment for your chance to win some Starbucks goodies!  =)

Hi my name is Bethany and I blog over at Bloom Designs! My blog consist of a little bit of everything from graphic design projects all the way to fashion finds! A little over a year ago I got married to my best friend of 5 years, Tyler Toney and together we have a fur baby named Sadie who is pretty much our whole lives right now!

{We like to drink soda pop and gaze at each other on a bench conveniently outside of somebody front door in the middle of nowhere. Oh wait...you don't do that? *smile*}

{Our fur baby, Sadie Swift Toney. Chewer of all things and professional dirt digger.}

Growing up my family didn't have any crazy Christmas traditions besides your usual decorating the tree to Christmas music and gathering around the TV to watch a Christime- time classic...such as Elf. So when I spent my first Christmas as a Toney last year, I realized I had married into a family full of special traditions!

Last Christmas while opening presents- I was handed this tiny box from Tyler's grandmother who we all call "Nean". At first I thought she had gotten me a pair of earrings or even a ring by how small the gift was but while opening the box- I unveiled this tiny pink box that said "Mini Basket of Beauty" on it. It was a little worn on the sides and the color had slightly faded on the front. Looking up, I smiled and got slightly awkward saying "Aw thank you so much Nean!" not exactly knowing what this gift was but still wanting to be nice at the same time! I mean hello...This was my FIRST christmas as a Toney...I didn't want to blow it! Laughing, Nean said, "No..no open the box!" So when I did, I found this small folded up piece of paper that said:

A YEAR FULL OF LOVE

You may think I'm an empty 

box to sit upon a shelf.

But really I'm a box full of 

LOVE from a little elf.

This will last all year long, until

you hear a Christmas song.

Then you decide for next year

in which stack of gifts I will

appear.

Still slightly confused, Nean begins to explain the meaning behind this tiny box. When my sister-in-law Paige was in elementary school, they gave all the kids the opportunity to go shopping in a store they set up in the library. This store contained of small trinkets that you could buy and wrap right there to give to your family and friends for Christmas. So Paige ended up buying this "Mini Basket of Beauty" for Nean that year. When Nean finally opened the present from Paige, she realized that nothing was actually inside the box. Paige had either purchase an empty box or it had fallen out at some point while wrapping it. Seeing that Neans gift from her was empty, it really got her upset. But Nean being the loving and sweet grandmother she is quickly replied, "No Paige, this gift is perfect! You got me a little box full of LOVE!"

So every year, this tiny box gets passed down each Christmas to somebody different in the family. Being the newest member of the family I had it passed down to me from Nean herself. So every time I looked at this box throughout the year, I was reminded of how much the Toney family loves me and how much I am blessed to be apart of it.

During Christmas I think we get wrapped up in thinking "How can I top the gift I gave last year?" or "If I only had more money this year to give the perfect gift..." when really sometimes the best gift you can give is just letting the person know you simply love them.

Even if it that loves comes in the form of a tiny, empty pink-faded box.

What a sweet and unique story and tradition!  Thanks for sharing with us Bethany!  Don't forget to hop on over to Charmed Bliss to check out all the other wonderful Southern Girl Swap blogs for this month!



There is also a little giveaway going on!  Check out the rules below!