DIY Lucite Style Studded Tray

 

 

I have been working on Lovey's (my three year old) big girl on and off for over a year now.  I want it to be a chic but fun room and have been looking for a tray for her dresser when I stumbled upon this blog posting about making a DIY Acrylic (Lucite style) Studded Tray.  I knew immediately that I wanted to make this for Lovey's dresser and couldn't believe how easy it was to make. 

 

 

 

I stopped by Michael's and got a Studio Décor 11X14 Acrylic Shadow Box.  Regular price was $7.99 and I used a 40% off regular price coupon to score it for just $4.80.  I ordered the Gold Studs off Amazon for under $10 with shipping. 

 

 

 

I got home and taped off the frame with painters tape so that I could protect the acrylic while I used my drill, and to mark the spots where I wanted my studs.  I started 1/2 inch from the corner and marked every inch all the way around the parameter of the frame. 

 

Next I drilled my holes, and then removed the painters tape.  The studs are super easy to use; I was able to screw them together without using any tools.  For less than $15 bucks, and 30 minutes of my times I got this super cute tray to put in Lovey's room

 

 

Reorganize 2014: Pantry Can Organizer

One of my perpetual New Year's Resolutions is to get more organized in every aspect of my life.  Join me as I organize every nook and cranny of my home...and the hubs and I started with the kitchen pantry.  I am fortunate to have a decent sized pantry it was a hot mess with no real order.  I knew I could better utilize this area and maximize our storage.  

Here are the before pictures of my mess.  

I knew that my canned goods were utilizing a lot of our shelf space so the hubby and I got creative and created a cheap and cost effective canned good storage solution.   Using a Rubbermaid wire shelving piece that we flipped upside down and hung at an angle using the Rubbermaid brackets we were to empty up a lot of our shelf space. All the materials were picked up at our local hardware store.  I am able to easily see what canned good I have available now.   I love that I still have room under the wire wrack for other food to be stored.  This took only an hour to complete at a cost of under $20 bucks.  

I can't wait to show you the other organizing ideas that I will be putting in the pantry.  I am going maximize this small area and also turn it into the command center for my busy household.  

Jillian Michael's Detox Water Review

We have all seen the Jillian Michael's Detox Water that is floating around Pinterest claiming that you can lose up to 5 pounds in a week.  The question is of course does it work?  After my return home from a blissful month long vaca in Key West (I know I know I am totally blessed to have gotten a whole month of fun in the sun) complete with many trips to bakeries boasting 1/2 pound chocolate chip cookies I had put on a few LBs.  I was really draw to this detox because it is NOT a fast, but rather a detox.  You drink the detox water in addition to other liquids and your regular diet for 7 days.  

Jillian Michael's Detox Water

60oz Distilled or Purified Water (I used Distilled Water)

1 Dandelion Root Teabag  (link here if you can't find it in-store)

2TBS Lemon Juice

1TBS Sugar Free Cranberry Juice

I found the Dandelion Root Tea and the Sugar Free Cranberry Juice in the health food section of the grocery store.  Please be aware that the cranberry juice specified is not the run of the mill cranberry cocktail that you find on the juice aisle but a no sugar added pure form of cranberry juice.  It cost around five dollars for the bottle but with the quantity required for the detox water it will last quite a while.  

Here are the results after day 7...

I am down 4 pounds.  Not a radical amount of weight but this detox is a great tool to jump start a diet and get momentum going for further weight loss.  During the detox I kept to my regular eating habits but I did get back into my normal (non vaca) exercise routine so that may have helped in the weight loss.  I did find that after a few days I was getting thirsty despite drinking a lot of the detox water that is probably because most of the ingredients (especially distilled water) can dehydrate you.  

The Verdict

I would do this detox again.  Realize that this is mostly water weight but it is great for starting a diet or if you need to loose a few pounds for an upcoming event.  

Ink Blot Art for Lovey's Big Girl Room

For over a year I have been working on Lovey's Big Girl Room (Lovey is what I call my charming three year old) and the spot over her dresser has been bare.  While in Key West I popped into Earthbound Trading Co and found these adorable Rorschach style ink blot canvas prints for a steal at just $8 for the pair. 

  

The prints were originally priced at $24.95 a piece and reduced to just $4.97.  They were also running a promotion for buy one get one fifty percent off the second.  There were lots of beautiful pictures to pick from and I would have purchased more if I had a way to get them home from Florida...luckily I just found out that they opened one locally so I will be headed that way to look at their selection.  

What I Wore: NYE Outfit

Outfit Details: Kardashian Kollection Keyhole Gold Stud Shirt (Sears), Arizona Super Skinny Colored Jeans JC Penney, Michael Kors Berkley Clutch (Available Here in Brown), Black Round Toed Heels (Old)

After our December being so hectic with our vacation to Key West, and then the chaos that comes with arriving back home and settling back into a routine it was nice to get to spend a quiet evening in the home of a friend who had a wonderful New Years gathering.  

Welcome 2014: Resolutions & Change

Welcome to Marilyn Vs. Martha my little blog about my quest to be the perfect blend of Domestic Goddess and Sex Goddess.  A mix between Marilyn Monroe and Martha Stewart.  A new year is upon us and with it the traditional making (and usually breaking) of New Year's Resolutions.  In hopes of letting you get to know me a little better I thought I would share mine with you.  

Hubby and I after my first 5k in Key West, FL

1) Run six 5ks in 2014: I have never been athletic, I never played a sport...I was a confirmed couch potato and fast food eater.  About five months ago I decided I had enough of viewing myself as a non-athlete.  My wonderful husband bought me a treadmill and I began to run very slowly.  In the beginning I couldn't run a mile without huffing and puffing.  It was hard but I completed by first 5k in Decemeber while vacationing with my family in Key West.  This year my first resolution is to run six 5ks. 

2) No More Yoga Pants: If you are a mom I am sure you know what I am talking about.  Frequently we have closets full of clothes but find ourselves running around town in yoga pants with our hair in a ponytail.  My resolution is to get up, get dressed, and do my hair and make up 5 times a week.  Really don't we all feel better about ourselves when we do this so we can invest the little extra time to get ready in the morning

3) Invest More Time With Friends & Family:  2013 was a rough year, but one that really taught me about the things I want out of life.  I want to tell the ones around me more frequently how much they mean to me and invest more time with those I care about.  I told a coworker the other day that I was bummed that we weren't working the same schedule because things are more upbeat and happy when she is there.  She gave me a hug and said that made her day....Moral of the story tell those in your life how much they mean to you.  

What are your resolutions for the new year?   Do you keep them or forget about them? 

Happy 2014, and I hope this a wonderful new year for everyone!