I'd Like to Thank The Academy...

This morning I woke to a fabulous tweet from @Rstonebeagle (AKA Rhinestone Beagle) informing me that they had just awarded me and 10 other lovely bloggers the Kreative Blogger Award...BOOYAH!! Kelly and Anita...I am sending you some big ole smooches via the internet right now...did ya get em'? I hope you caught them and not some other strange virtual weirdo!!!

So what this means is I have to tell you 10 random facts about me AND pass this on to10 other blogs that I feel deserve this award...The 10 facts will be relatively simple but the 10 blogs will be the hard part!! Let's get started...

10 Random Facts

1. I am a Flight Attendant by trade, a Realtor by obsession, and a DIY gal by default.

2. The first concert I ever went to was Moody Blues with my parents...my sisters and I weren't too sure what that funky smell was until my second concert in 7th grade when my 6 good friends and all of our dads took us to see Aerosmith. Of course, by then we had a good idea what was going on with all the smoke in the air...and the funky smell that came with it!

3. Although I love grapes and wine and pretty much anything with grape flavor, I HATE raisins...with a passion.

4. I love to cook (though most of you know that) and for the past 2 years and (much to the dismay of my Italian family and Bosnian husband) I no longer eat meat. I am too much in love with sushi and cheese to go vegan...or vegetarian for that matter!

5. I am obsessed with reality TV, again, much to the dismay of my husband.

6. I love to read...I really love to read. I used to sit in a magnolia tree in our back yard and read for hours...now I sit on the couch...

7. I would rather buy tools then have new clothes, shoes, make up, or purses...the only thing that beats tools is cold hard cash, uh, so I can BUY tools!

8. I once flew to Spain by myself to hike the Camino De Compostela. It is a 500 mile hike through some tricky terrain that after1.5 half weeks of non stop rain and muddy boots eventually did me in with a twisted ankle which in turn caused a bum knee... I intend to return and finish that sucker ASAP!!

9. I lived in Ashland Oregon for 2 years and have always wanted to move back...I LOVED everything about living out West except that my family lived so far.

10. I used to be a Deadhead...


Now - On to the Lovely Blogs I will be sharing this with...

1. My Simple Home Life
2. At Home With K
3. Sugar and Spice in The Land Of Balls and Sticks
4. Chick Hardware
5. The Pursuit of Happiness
6. Once Upon a Tomato
7. Sweet Nothings
8. Yesterday On Tuesday
9. Blue Velvet Chair
10. Informal Home

Please be sure to check out The Rhinestone Beagle as well as these other fine bloggers to peruse their insights and also get a little dirt on their backgrounds!! Make sure to leave them a comment to let them know you were there...you know how we all ♥ comments!

Bianca

PS - LAST DAY TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!!! CLICK HERE TO ENTER!!!

GIVEAWAY!!! My Cup Runneth Over...Need a Little Love??

THIS GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED

I am truly honored that, in my short time blogging, my fellow bloggers have not only become friends, teachers, and constant bloggy support, but that they have also found some of my projects (cheap as they may be) worthy of featuring. Last week I posted a much overdue thank you to some lovely ladies but this week I must repeat my words and do the same for I was featured 3 more times since then!! I know, way too much self congratulating going on here but I can't help myself!! My life has completely changed over the past 4 months since starting this here blog so I want to make sure my followers know how much I appreciate them and all the warm and fuzzy vibes they have been sending this way!! :) So without further ado...

Thank you to Organize and Decorate Everything for finding my $1.50 Notes Zone worth a mention regardless of the super small price tag...sometimes the good things in life ARE free...well, close to free! :) Not only is Leanne organized but she is quite crafty as well!! If you need proof, check out her Metal Stamped Bookmarks!!




My Bloggy Friend, Jackie, at Simple Home Life sent some love my way to feature my simple Glass Front Cabinet Organization on the ever so present tight wad budget...it is amazing what one can figure out an use for in a pinch! Jackie is super good with her paint brush and spray can...this gal can even paint a rug!! That's some mad skills!! Go check her out...



And Last but certainly not least...a big smooch to Judy from DIY by Design for featuring my $1 Pendant Light Makeover...a buck is a buck no mater where it lands and I am so happy this buck stopped here! Judy is simply fabulous - don't believe me? Go check out here latest and greatest where she took 4 simple dinner napkins and whittled (OK, she sewed em' but whittled sounded fun...) them into a tote bag and a pillow! What a crafty momma!



All three of these lovely ladies host fab linky parties you don't want to miss so be sure to pop on over and let them know you are ready and willing to link up!! You may be next weeks feature!!!

And since I am feeling so very happy and generous I have decided to go forward with my 2nd GIVEAWAY!! I mentioned last week that once I hit 200 followers I would be giving away another 1 year subscription to DWELL magazine...and the time has come, folks!! But WAIT - since I am feeling SUPER generous I am actually giving away 2 subscriptions...YES, that's right, 2 winners!!

Haven't heard of DWELL? You don't know what you are missing, lady!! Check out this inspiring little craft aimed to keep your counter space clear while providing storage for everyday projects

Via

Or tons of tips for living - check out a glimpse of this mini garden idea for condo living...

via

Or perhaps you feel like building your own work/craft studio?? Check out this article that even show a floor plan...

via

via

Intrigued? I knew you'd be!! So step right up and comment away to enter yourself to win 12 months worth of monthly eye candy to drool over. It will show up in your mailbox like a beacon in the night calling you home to where your imagination will soar with all the possibilities of home remodeling and construction projects your husband will surely roll his eyes at while muttering in sheer horror and frustration..."You wanna do what??" You, too, can be the envy off all your friends when you tell them your latest edition arrived and you must skip your brunch plans to pour over the latest glossy pages while eating bon bons and drinking a glass bottle of wine. OK - back to the program here...

Here are the juicy details and a few simple rules...

*****MANDATORY***** Since this GIVEAWAY is in honor of my followers you must be a follower to enter...makes sense, right?! If you follow just tell me so - if you don't yet follow and/or if you don't know how to do that just go to the right sidebar and click on this image...

That was easy, right?? Now go and leave a message in the comments section lettng me know you are my newest follower!! :)

Do you want more chances to win?? Keep on readin' cuz there are more to come!!

Extra Entries:

• Follow me on Twitter and/or FB...make sure to comment for each one you do as they count for one entry EACH. If you already Follow BOOYAH!! Make sure to let me know (in separate comments, of course!)
• Tweet and/or FB about my GIVEAWAY - one entry for each...
• Post my GIVEAWAY Button on your sidebar and/or blog about my GIVEAWAY in your post...a seperate entry for each!!
• And just for kicks - tell me a little some some about yourself...favorite color, favorite food, favorite day of the week and why - anything!! That is another entry for ya'll!

That equals 8 different ways to enter. Do them all at once or spread them out...I don't much care whatcha do just get er' done!! I will keep this GIVEAWAY (you like how I always have to put it in caps like I am a game show announcer...it's kind of creepy, actually!) open through Sunday night and the winners will be announced on Monday morning...along with a fabulous post I am am sure you will read every word of instead of just skipping to the very bottom where the winners will be announced...I know how ya'll operate!! :) UPDATE - I realized the wording was a bit off as I was going to post this Monday but pushed it up to Sunday so I have changed the deadline to Wednesday and will post the winner Thursday...Sorry for any confusion this may have caused!!

Stay tuned for tomorrows post where I show ya what I have been slaving over for the past week...OK, maybe not that long but it sure feels like it! The good news is I am much more organized because of all my our hard work!! Oh, and I promised an update on the buffet...wait till you see what it's lookin' like these days!!!

See you all here tomorrow...

THIS GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED

Bianca DWELL magazine, giveaway, featured blogger,


May issue of Dwell Magazine cover taken from here!!

And the WINNER is.....

Oh, yes, it is that time!!  Time to declare a winner to my first ever GIVEAWAY!!!  But first a special announcement from your sponsor...ME!

Did ya'll watch the Oscar's this year?  Remember when Kirk Douglas was announcing the winner of Best Supporting Actress?  If you don't remember or didn't watch make sure to click below... Not only did he completely upstage the hosts of the show but he added much needed comic relief to the entire program...

So...those of you who just watched that super clip will know exactly what I mean when I tell you I am about to pull a "Kirk Douglas" on you!  I will indeed announce the winner today but FIRST I have a few other topics I must discuss!!

The past couple weeks have been big for me....HUGE!  I have been on featured 4 different blogs for 3 different posts!!  I wanted to make sure to mention the fabulous ladies and their blogs so you can hop on over and share the love!!

Amy at New Nostalgia featured my cheap-o Notes Zone from her Anti-Procrastination linky party...If you haven't been checking out her blog it is a big MUST DO!!  She is an amazing Power Woman!!

The ladies at At The Picket Fence were quite taken with my $1 Pendant Makeover that I posted on Inspiration Friday!!  It seems they weren't the only ones...At Home With K was also diggin' my frugal find at her Terrific Under Ten Linky Party!



And last but certainly not least...Sandy at Organize with Sandy featured my Office Makeover which also featured the cutest little foster puppy that we ever did see and that miss dearly...Driver.
So a very special thanks and lots of smooches to the ladies for featuring me and my frugal ways...I can't help but love being cheap!  Especially when it comes with accolades like this!!

ANNNNDDDD - another thing...  My new bloggy friend, Ange, has just relaunched her gussied up and revamped blog.  The Blooming Hydrangea (formerly Love From My Kitchen) is a sweet new spot to check out Ange's latest creations such as her new "Cloffice". a rockin' kitchen makeover, and recipes galore for all my Foodie Friends!!  Please be sure to pop in and welcome her back...make sure to leave a comment so she knows you were there!  :)  

ANNNDDDDD - One more thing!  I would like to thank, once again, my first 100 followers that made this GIVEAWAY possible as well as the 70+ who have jumped on the bandwagon since!!   I love to have ya'll here and I will do my best to keep up the thrifty work so you keep on coming back to visit.  Oh - and by the way - once I hit 200 followers I will be giving away an additional DWELL magazine subscription so please stay tuned for that!!!  :) 
NOW ON WITH THE SHOW...which, let's be honest, is why you are really here...
The WINNER of my FIRST EVER GIVEAWAY is:

Cheri from It's So Very Cheri!!  Please email me your address so I can ship this out to ya pronto!!
Thank you so much, everyone, for participating.  again, stay tuned for my next giveaway and don't forget to pop in tomorrow and the rest of the week.  I have made BIG progress in my As Is Buffet and I have a cleaning tip that I felt MUST be shared...You will be disgusted by what I found lurking in my kitchen!!!!
Bianca