Ugly Bread Box

Once upon a time.....

there was an ugly bread box.

 

So I decided to get it and fix it up.

I couldn't find anything for the top of my refrigerator that I was happy with.

 

So that's where the bread box came in.

A little CeCe Caldwell Hershey Brown chalk paint.

 

Trimmed out in Vintage White.

I used my cricut to make a stencil.
 

And I got some scrapbook paper and covered the ugly wheat looking thing in the center.  I glued it on and brushed a thin coat of Mod Podge over the top.

I also used some dark and clear wax.  

And now I have something new for the top of the fridge.

And I might as well have something I like on top of it, considering I stand in front the fridge several times a day wishing the grocery store fairy would go shopping for me.

 But she's a moody thing and rarely wants to venture out.

 

I still need to figure out exactly what I want to put with the box.

 
So I ask... 

what's on your refrigerator?  Do tell.

I sometimes join the following parties - 

Sunday
http://debbie-debbiedoos.com/
http://itssoverycheri.com/

Monday
betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
http://youaretalkingtoomuch.blogspot.com/ 
http://www.getouttamyheadplease.com/
http://www.askannamoseley.com/
thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/  1st & 3rd
Tuesday

http://cedarhillranch.blogspot.com/

http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/

Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/ 

http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
www.houseofhepworths.com/
http://kristenscreationsonline.blogspot.com/
http://restoreinteriors.blogspot.com/

Thursday

http://www.myrepurposedlife.net
http://katherinescorner.com/
http://www.impartinggrace.com/

Friday
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/
http://www.thenotsofunctionalhousewife.com/
http://whipperberry.com/
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/  
http://missmustardseed.com/  
www.fivedaysfiveways.com/
http://www.doodlesandstitches.com/
http://littleinspiration.com/
Saturday
http://too-much-time.com/
diyonthecheap.blogspot.com/ 1st Sat of the Month
www.countrymommacooks.com/

Where ya keep important stuff...

I've got this little problem.


It's actually a big problem.


It can sometimes cost me money - which is unthinkable!


On some things, I'm very organized.   :)

Others, heh... not so much.

When the saleslady (or salesman - no discrimination here), asks "would you like your receipt in the bag?"  I always say yes.  Because it's in the bag with the actual purchase that I might, just might, want to return.

Putting it in my purse.... no way....I get tired of all of the papers in there and I inevitably want to quickly clean out my purse on my way to go shopping again.  So do I take the time to go put them up in the desk in the big receipt file....

well, no...

hello?  I'm going shopping!  I don't have time for that!

Once - years ago - I put a little index card box in the cabinet to put important receipts in.  You know, TV's, lawn mowers, etc.



I've been thinking for a while now that I need to do something like that again, only make it more accessible.  I looked and looked for a good container to put them in.  My index thingy was plastic and all bumpy textured and I wasn't sure about making it pretty.



Then it hit me.

Like a slap in the head. 

A recipe box.

So long story short.... (really, am I calling this short at this point?!)  I happened upon a wooden recipe box in the craft section at Wal-mart for about 4-5 dollars and I thought "this is it."

 

So I used this opportunity to try some of my samples of CeCe Caldwell's chalk paint.  YAY!

I just started brushing some on!

No real method - just some here and there.  It dried quick so it took about five minutes between coats.

I love this color!  But I wanted it messed up, so I distressed - just by wiping with a damp rag - and then added wax.   Both dark and clear.

I then stenciled "receipts" on the top.    

Now who would have thought of that one?  ;)

 

And to pretty it up just a bit, I added some little burlapy flowers I bought at Hobby Lobby.  I tried making my own with burlap, but.... FAIL.  Burlap just comes apart too easy cutting something that small.  I just didn't have it in me.  I bought a pack of six flowers (there are three different shades, it's just hard to tell in the pic) for either $4.99 or $5.99 and since that was the only thing I bought (I know!!  Can you believe it?!!), I used my 40% off coupon.  Well worth the few dollars after my stress of cutting tiny burlap flowers!  Sheesh!

So the whole point of this box was to keep receipts so inside - WARNING - this is not cutsie yet! - I have the same little dividers I had before.  The ones in front will be my department store purchases.  No, you don't see Home Goods.  No Costco.  Just basic stores around here and even those are an hour away... '(  I want to put 60 days or 90 days or whatever the return policy happens to be on each of the index cards so when I look through the file, I don't have to turn to the back of the receipt and look it up, it will be right there.

The month tabs in the back, will hold the receipts from daily things such as gas, groceries, restaurants, etc.  Things I will want to hold onto just until I check to see if they've cleared the bank correctly.

So now I have a box that I can leave right out on the counter at all times, and hopefully, just hopefully, put all of my receipts in it in a timely manner.  Hopefully  :)

And there you have it!  My little organizational tip for the week!  No, I only usually post once a week and since this is my first organizational type post, let's make it at least for the month!  ;)

So tell me.. how do y'all keep your receipts together?  Do you just go file them right way?  Put them in a box and hope you never have to dig through it to find what you need?  :)   Please share!  

I sometimes join the following parties - 

Sunday
http://debbie-debbiedoos.com/
http://itssoverycheri.com/

Monday
betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
http://youaretalkingtoomuch.blogspot.com/ 
http://www.getouttamyheadplease.com/
http://www.askannamoseley.com/
thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/  1st & 3rd
Tuesday

http://cedarhillranch.blogspot.com/

http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/

Wednesday
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/ 

http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
www.houseofhepworths.com/
http://kristenscreationsonline.blogspot.com/
http://restoreinteriors.blogspot.com/

Thursday

http://www.myrepurposedlife.net
http://katherinescorner.com/
http://www.impartinggrace.com/

Friday
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/
http://www.thenotsofunctionalhousewife.com/
http://whipperberry.com/
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/  
http://missmustardseed.com/  
www.fivedaysfiveways.com/
http://www.doodlesandstitches.com/
http://littleinspiration.com/
Saturday
http://too-much-time.com/
diyonthecheap.blogspot.com/ 1st Sat of the Month
www.countrymommacooks.com/

 

Christmas in July Blog Hop Party!

This has been an awesome week of sharing Christmas ideas! 

I'm going to share a recipe that I always take to Christmas dinner at my in-laws.  Actually, I always take it to Thanksgiving dinner and Easter dinner, too.  :)

It's Green Bean Casserole, Swiss Style

2 cans or 4 cups of green beans (I use french style if I use canned)

1/2 pound swiss cheese, grated

2 T butter

2 T flour

1/2 tsp onion, grated (I just dump in a bunch of dried minced onions - easy peasy)

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 tsp sugar

1 cup sour cream

1 cup cornflakes, crushed

2 T butter, melted

Place green beans in a casserole and sprinkle with cheese.

 

In a saucepan, melt 2 T butter and blend in flour.  Add onion, salt, pepper, sugar, and sour cream.  Cook slowly for a few minutes, stirring constantly.

Pour over beans and cheese.  (I just stir everything together - once again, easy peasy)

Sprinkle top with crushed cornflakes and melted butter.

Bake at 400 degree oven for 20 minutes.  Serves 8.  (No way!  Not in my family!)

 

I love this.  Not only is it good, but it's easy to make and I usually have everything on hand except maybe the swiss cheese and sour cream. 

I'm STILL using my Tupperware cereal storage after all of these years and I love it.   This is about the only recipe I use cornflakes for and it keeps them fresh forever.

Oh, and I would have loved to have had a picture of the finished casserole all tasty looking and ready on a plate... however, that was not happening in my family!  They had dug into it before I ever had a chance to way whoa!  Sorry!!

So now, what Christmas ideas do you have?  Because today we're having our Blog Hop Party!  So pull out those old posts and dig through your files and link up your recipes, crafts, and/or decor ideas and it will show up on 8 blogs!

My partners this week are - 

Mrs. Hines Class

ADD Housewife

Melissa's Cuisine

Go Ahead Take A Bite

Stone Gable

Laughter and Grace

Scraptastic Memories

So what are you waiting for?  Go ahead!  Link up now!  :)

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I sometimes join the following parties - 

Sunday
http://debbie-debbiedoos.com/
http://itssoverycheri.com/

Monday
betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
http://youaretalkingtoomuch.blogspot.com/ 
http://www.getouttamyheadplease.com/
http://www.askannamoseley.com/
thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/  1st & 3rd
Tuesday

http://cedarhillranch.blogspot.com/

http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/

Wednesday 
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/ 

http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
www.houseofhepworths.com/
http://kristenscreationsonline.blogspot.com/
http://restoreinteriors.blogspot.com/

Thursday

http://www.myrepurposedlife.net
http://katherinescorner.com/
http://www.impartinggrace.com/

Friday
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/
http://www.thenotsofunctionalhousewife.com/
http://whipperberry.com/
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/  
http://missmustardseed.com/  
www.fivedaysfiveways.com/
http://www.doodlesandstitches.com/
http://littleinspiration.com/
Saturday
http://too-much-time.com/
diyonthecheap.blogspot.com/ 1st Sat of the Month
www.countrymommacooks.com/

Christmas in July

Hi all!  Summer has kicked my butt as far as blogging goes, but that's only because I am having to get some REALLY yucky jobs done!!

 A whole bunch of this
 

and this

and this

 
  and even this


So unfortunately, blogging has been having to take a back seat to major housework!  bleh!

 

 But a while back I told Sharon over at mrs. hines class that I would love to participate in a Christmas in July Blog Party with her and several other great bloggers.  So here I am ready to go, the only problem is with all of my yucky jobs going on, I haven't had a chance at all to create anything and since I started blogging in January, I don't have any Christmas posts from last year.  :(

Therefore, I am just gonna showcase some other neat projects I've found out in blogland!

 My area for this week is Homemade Gifts and Crafts so here are a few links from another partner this week, Micki at Confessions of an ADD Housewife.

 

Micki  came up with these cute little candy canes to keep from getting sticky candy all over her tree.  Now that's smart thinkin'!

She also has a post about a beautiful rosemary Christmas tree.

 

 

And last, but not least, a super cute snowflake wreath made from popsicle sticks!  How fun would this be to do with the little ones?!  Well, it would be fun even without little ones!  :)

 

I also love some easy gift wrap ideas such as this brown paper with a handmade snowflake, that can be found here.

 

And this neat Christmas tree cutout giftwrap from Martha Stewart.

So there you have it - a few Christmas in July ideas to get you going ahead of the season!!

If you missed the posts from yesterday - Monday, July 23rd -  go back now and check out the Holiday Fare with ADD Housewife, Melissa's Cuisine, and Go Ahead Take a Bite.  They have some awesome recipes that are sure to make your mouth water!

Today, not only do I have handcrafted items, but so does Stone Gable.  Go see what's craftin' at her blog!

On Wednesday, July 25th there will be a Cookie Exchange at Laughter and Grace.

And on Thursday, July 26th, there will be some Christmas Card ideas over at  Scraptastic Memories and Mrs. Hines Class.

The best part is Friday when we have our Blog Hop Party!  So pull out those old posts and dig through your files and link up your recipes, crafts, and decor ideas at any one of the hostesses blogs - 8 hostesses, 1 blog hop!

I've got nothing but a chair..

I had all of these cute words floating around my head to say in this post.

I thought about telling a cute little story from the teddy bear's perspective.

I also contemplated talking about bringing out my inner child.

Or even about missing my childhood and wishing I could go back and relive it. **shudder**

But today....I've got nothing.

No fun stories.

And not even any made-up stories.

 

I've just got a chair.

A chair and a bear.

I might have stayed up too late last night.

I might have watched a Memphis Redbirds baseball game with a start time that was delayed 2.5 hours.

I might have even stayed for fireworks.

Then of course, a two+ hours drive home.

So after getting up early for church, I'm tired....and I've got nothing.

Just a cute little chair, that became my maiden voyage into Anne Sloan Chalk paint.

 A little Aubusson Blue all over.

Then Country Grey in certain areas.

Some light distressing.

A trip outside for pictures.

And I have a happy bear

with a new-to-him chair.

I can't wait to see you next time.  I'll try to stay awake.  :)

I sometimes join the following parties - 

Sunday
http://debbie-debbiedoos.com/
http://itssoverycheri.com/
http://joy2journey.blogspot.com/

Monday
betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
http://youaretalkingtoomuch.blogspot.com/ 
http://www.getouttamyheadplease.com/
http://www.askannamoseley.com/
thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/  1st & 3rd
Tuesday

http://cedarhillranch.blogspot.com/
http://creatingahouseofgrace.blogspot.com/

http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/
http://shadesofamberinc.blogspot.com/

Wednesday 
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/ 

http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
www.houseofhepworths.com/
http://kristenscreationsonline.blogspot.com/
http://restoreinteriors.blogspot.com/

Thursday

http://www.myrepurposedlife.net
http://katherinescorner.com/
http://www.impartinggrace.com/

Friday
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/
http://www.thenotsofunctionalhousewife.com/
http://whipperberry.com/
http://romantichome.blogspot.com/  
http://missmustardseed.com/  
www.fivedaysfiveways.com/
http://www.doodlesandstitches.com/
Saturday
http://too-much-time.com/
diyonthecheap.blogspot.com/ 1st Sat of the Month
www.countrymommacooks.com/