Back to School

Presented by Mami Innovative Media, this is a sponsored post.  I am a Kmart #BackToSchool blogger, though all opinions are my own.

 

BACK.  TO. SCHOOL.

Those 3 words have and always will be dreaded to me.  I really dislike school, going, homework, taking my daughter, getting  up early, all of it. It's official I am a school-hater and I don't care who knows it!
There is exactly a week left before my little one enters kindergarten, I can't believe it folks. I swear just yesterday she was a chubby little bundle in my arms.

 

Now she is going into kindergarten, almost 6 and holding crabs!

 

We went on a vacation last week to the Oregon Coast and while we were looking at the sea lions there were some people catching crabs on the dock, she asked to hold them and she did! They were feisty little buggers but that didn't bother her one bit. She held every crab they caught and even tossed them back in the ocean, this girl amazes me!

Speaking of Back to School, where do you do your shopping? After seeing this video by Da Rich Kidzz I am totally going to Kmart. This video and these kids are awesome! I love seeing little kids who are so talented and this video is great. Please check it out, you won't regret it.


 

DIY Photo Canvas on the Cheap

I am no master decorator, but when I put something on my walls I want it to look nice but I don't want to spend a fortune. I found the solution

Anyone can make a photo canvas, really it's that easy. I am not a super crafty person, I would like to think I am but I'm not and this project made me feel like a DIY rock star!

1- Gather your supplies

I used a color print for this canvas, and black and white prints for the ones above. I prefer black and white because it looks better. I also used a collage print. Matte Modge Podge also gives the canvas look, I don't think glossy would do the trick, stick to matte for this project.

2- Place push pins on the back four corners of the canvas. This allows you to paint the edges without your project sticking to your work surface.

3- Paint the edges of your canvas using the foam brush. You don't want any white to show through, so paint the edges and your photo will cover the rest. No need to make this look pretty. Allow the paint to dry completely.

4- After the paint has dried Modge Podge the back of your photo and stick it to your canvas. Smooth it out so there aren't any air bubbles.

5- Paint the edges of your photo so it blends with the canvas. It creates a "feathered look" I forgot to take a picture, but here is a picture of it on my other canvas.

6- Use the bristle brush to "paint" the top of your photo with Modge Podge. This step freaked me out, because it looked like I was ruining the photo, but have no fear it will dry clear!

Then you're done! You can hang them up or place them on a shelf and pretty up your home.

PRICE BREAKDOWN
Canvas- $2.99- Joann's sale price
Modge Podge- $4.99- used a Joann's 50% off coupon
Foam brush- $0.10
Bristle brush- $3.00
Acrylic paint- $1.99
Photo Print- Free with Walgreens deal

Total price = $13.07
Normal Price from an online store= $40+++

Plus I have Modge Podge, paint and the brushes to make more photo canvases! 

Twist on my Thoughts

Look around, you have so much. I have to remind myself of this all the time. It is really easy to get stuck in a dark hole comparing yourself and thinking you don't have enough.
I don't have a dishwasher and yes I can't stand it, but at least I have dishes and food to eat off those dishes.
I have 3 kids 5 and under and yes it's difficult, but I can have children. A privilege a lot of people don't have.
I live in an apartment with my family, but I have a safe place to live and a roof over my head.
I am trying to have perspective and think of what I have versus what I don't have.

I have food to eat
I have money to pay my bills
I have a minivan that runs and is reliable
I have clothes and shoes for my daughters
I have family that loves me
I have 3 awesome little ladies
I have my health and my family is healthy
I have all these things and so many more.

Today I challenge you to focus on the HAVES instead of the HAVE NOTS. Trust me when you feel like everything is going wrong it's hard, but try to think of everything that's going right, it makes it a LOT easier, trust me.

Question of the day: What is 1 thing you have that you value? 

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I Workout

So sometimes I workout, notice the sometimes. I have a little something called

For example, I am still on level 2 of Jillian Michaels 30 DS because I haven't done that specific workout in over a week. This week I went to my Pinterest Fitness board and did a different workout each day. Today I went to my cable on Demand and chose a workout from there, do you see a pattern? 

How do you stop workout ADD? Or is it okay to do a different workout each day because at least I am working out? You tell me. 

If you are in need of active wear, please go to Old Navy (I was not compensated in anyway to say this). I have talked about Old Navy active wear before here, and for our anniversary the hubby took me on a shopping spree for workout clothes, and I spent over $100 on Old Navy active wear because it's the bomb! I got over 12 different outfit combos for that price and to me that's a deal! 

I am now in desperate need of new workout shoes, any suggestions? 

If you need workout inspiration make sure to check out my Fitness board on Pinterest. 

If you missed it recently I blogged about:

**Poo- you just have to read it

**Being Reckless

Question of the Day: What is your favorite workout? 

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The Straight Poop or Scoop

I figured it was only fitting to tell yet another poop story on le blog since the most viewed post is this one and the top ways people search my blog are

Yes that really happened...

That post has only a few less page views then the post where I gave away an iPad Mini, seriously people are freaky with the enema stuff...

I am at a loss lately as to how I should handle this little one...

She's a cutie I know, she also like to stick her hands in her diaper...yep I know

My two older girls never did this, like not one time. In the past month she has done it about 8 times. Although when you are "holdin' hot turds" as my hubby would say, it feels like way more then 8. 

My hubby went in the room to check on the girls the other night, and little missy was covered in poo and it was all over her crib, he took the baby and I took the bed, it was a mess. 

So I ask you today 

Did your kids ever do this? 

How did you deal with it? Duck taping the diaper closed is not an option

Do you have any fool-proof potty training methods? 

My uncle used duck tape to stop my cousin from doing this, and while he was cutting the diaper off she stuck her hand down there and he cut off the tip of her finger. I need a duck tape free option, for serious though help me out please! 

**This post was started a while ago, but as of today my top search term for this blog is "enema stories" and that's the scoop. 

Also if you like to shop online, check out my Instagram shop follow me at:

@prettygreatdeals on Instagram!

Reckless

If you haven't noticed, I have been gone for awhile. This blog started becoming a burden, sponsored posts, reviews, sponsor giveaways, blah blah blah. You get the point. I have been struggling lately and it has made me feel reckless, reckless with money, life, my social media usage (it was out of control). I am going to be getting a new blog design installed, and I am going to be switching to Wordpress and after that happens I plan on coming back. But it will be different, I will be blogging and saying what I want, how I want. Honestly if you don't like it no one will force you to read it, I guarantee it.

My first post when I come back will be all about my biggest pitfall
COMPARISON
it's an ugly word, that makes people feel awful, and it is destructive.

Question of the Day: Do you ever feel reckless?