Bjursta, Ektorp, and Poang. Oh my!

Since graduating last April, I have moved 6 times. My seventh, and final, move for the year will be happening next weekend. In order to prepare for the move, I have been searching through IKEA, craigslist, and checking every freecycle post for anything that I can use for the new place. I am overly excited for this change and ready to settle into an apartment that I will get to call home.

The colors we chose for the apartment are Cornsilk and Chainstitch.

The colors don't look quite the same as they did as paint, but they're close. The Cornsilk is more of a pale yellow hue than it appears and will be on one wall in our living room. The Chainstitch will be in the dining room.

If you know me, you know that I am OBSESSED with my couch. It was my first "big girl purchase." I shopped for a couple of months to find this couch. I touched fabrics that made me cringe, sat on very uncomfortable cushions, and went into more furniture stores than I would ever have liked. I finally found THE ONE. It was imperative that whatever color we chose went well with the couch.

I will most definitely be taking pictures to show the before and after of the apartment!

I'm certain I need a chandelier.

Because I based the living room setup around the couch colors we decided to go with the light purple for the dining room. This was for two reasons: (1) we ARE after all Gamma Eta's; and (2) the purple complimented the colors we chose for the living room. I'm really excited to see the outcome. I have NO idea how we are going to decorate the dining room though. I've included some inspiration pictures. Let me know what you think!!!

The ceiling and white furniture! Bliss.

I love this table and chairs!

<3 Tina <3

Deals and Steals

Recently I've been thrifting, freecycling, and craigslisting as much as I can.  Next weekend, I will be finally relocating to a new apartment with my sorority sister, A. I am beyond excited. I will be sure to post pictures of the new place, before, and after the move. It. Will. Be. Glorious. 

For now, I thought I would share some past thrifty finds and bargains. 

There is one Goodwill in particular that I absolutely ADORE. They always have plenty in my size and its all name brands in very good condition. 

 (Please forgive the quality of these photos. They were all taken with my cell phone.) 

Brand new, never worn shoes. $15 at Goodwill.

Thrifted outfit...Gap jeans-Goodwill $6, Jones New York blazer Goodwill $6, Mossimo shirt Target clearance $4, necklace auctioned gift from mom price unknown, boots Goodwill $15.

Mossimo bustier top - Target clearance buy - $5.98

Where are some of your favorite places to find good deals? If you're in the DC area, share your secret spots! I always love finding new places with good bargains :)

Get out there and do some shopping! 

Happy hunting! :)

<3 Tina <3

Truffle Shuffle

I found this recipe on a pin linked to Landee See, Landee Do. I made them for O for a Valentine's Day treat. They turned out pretty good. The fillings would also probably be a great treat even without the coating.

CAKE BATTER TRUFFLES

1 ½ cups flour
1 cup yellow cake mix
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup white sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
3-4 Tablespoons milk (I actually ended up using close to 1/4 cup)
2 Tablespoons sprinkles
Vanilla Melting Chocolate 

Beat together butter and sugar using an electric mixer until combined. Add cake mix, flour, salt, and vanilla and mix thoroughly. Add 3 Tablespoons of milk or more if needed to make a dough consistency. Mix in sprinkles by hand. Roll dough into one inch balls and place on a parchment or wax paper lined cookie sheet. Chill balls in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to firm up.  While dough balls are chilling, melt vanilla melting chocolate and then dip away! Place them on wax paper to set up, top with additional sprinkles and you're done! Chill cake batter truffles in the refrigerator until serving.

Makes around 24-30 truffles.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH TRUFFLES

1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
Milk chocolate melting chocolate for dipping!!
Additional chocolate chips, sprinkles, etc., optional for topping the truffles

1. In a large bowl, use electric mixer to cream together butter and brown sugar. Add vanilla. Beat in flour, 1 cup at a time, until it is mixed well. Beat in sweetened condensed milk and mix until well-combined. Stir in 1 cup of chocolate chips.

2. Cover bowl and refrigerate until dough is firm (at least 1 hour). Use cookie scoop to scoop out heaping tablespoonfuls, roll into balls and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Place all of the rolled balls back into the refrigerator until you are ready to dip them in chocolate.

3. Melt chocolate and dip. Top with additional mini-chocolate chips (or whatever, really).

Makes about 30-40 truffles.

Go give it a try and let me know how yours turn out!! :D
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Howdy!

Hello all. My name is Christine, I'm in my twenties and I'm new at the blogging game. I love to craft, bake, thrift, cook, etc... basically anything that's hands on, I'm in. I've been asked many times to start a blog with my recipes and other projects so that's what I'm attempting to do. Please feel free to make suggestions and share your thoughts with me. I hope you enjoy it, I'm positive I will.

 <3