Today I'm talking about some hacks that save me money, time, and a hack that saves me face (literally). 

Money Saving Hack

Do you love some of the sheets you see in fancy catalogs or online? I do. I, however, am not willing to shell out over $100.00 for sheets, especially for my kids. This is an issue for me because I like to switch up the decor from time to time and it is such an easy way to change bedroom decor. 

I have finally realized that I can just buy separate pillowcases and get inexpensive sheets! I do this alllllll the time. I love me some Pottery Barn Kids sheets. I like to get the kids excited to use their pillows and get into bed. I don't know a Mama out there who could not use a little extra sleep.  But geez the sheets are just so expensive. So I buy a set of pillowcases and pick up sheets at Target!

Now that I have learned this little trick I am having a lot of fun. I ordered Cameron Star Wars pillowcases from Pottery Barn Kids, but I picked up a set of sheets at Target for about $20. I could not find the exact sheets Cameron has but there are several different star varieties. Here is one, and here is another. Target has so many simple designs and cute sheets in their Pillowfort line for kids. I always like to buy a few different kinds to change them up depending on the season, my mood, or the weather. 

I got Madeline some sheets on sale online and then purchased these adorable Disney Princess pillowcases. She loves them! She lays in bed and uses her imagination to have full blown conversations with the Princesses. 

I am a known fanatic for holiday decor and I have let this creep into the bedrooms. I picked the kids up these cute Peanuts pillowcases for Halloween, and I even got Terry and I some holiday themed pillowcases. I found the kids some holiday duvets - on sale (because I looooove Christmas) and once again, picked up cozy flannel sheets at Target. 

For the holidays I went a little beyond my pillowcase idea. The kids have full blown Grinch duvets. Who doesn't love a little classic Grinch? They love them and start asking about putting them on right after Halloween. They are absorbing my passion for all things Christmas! 

Primer!  

I have mentioned on more than one occasion that my skin is pretty oily. It has been a constant annoyance since I was a teenager. When I put on makeup for work it was usually sliding off my face by 3pm. This was an issue for me. Longevity is a key when putting in the effort to put on makeup. 

I don't know why it took me so long to get to the primer party. I felt like I wanted my makeup to be natural and light so less is more. Well let me tell you I was wrong. What I did not realize was that I was caking on extra powder and re-applying when I could have been just using primer to keep it all into place the first time I applied make-up in the morning. 

I also learned that primer helps to get into the little places where wrinkles are starting to form (oily skin + wrinkles, lucky me!) 

When I first tried out primer I really liked what it did, but I did not like the brand that I used. (It made me break out.) So I contacted my Mary Kay rep, Christina, and asked her to send me some of the Mary Kay primer.  Not only does it have some SPF in it, but it does NOT make me break out at all! I have been using it for over a year and I consider it an essential step at this point. I mean, who wants to put on makeup and have it slide off within a few hours? 

I frequently apply makeup before 7:30am and don't take it off until 9pm. I talked in my favorite mascara post about how important it is to be able to keep something on all day without it smudging or making a mess. I am happy to report that I have found a solution with my MK primer. 

Awesome Kids Boots!

We finally have some nice weather rolling into my part of the country but my yard is really wet. I love to send the kids outside to play but I hate the muddy mess. I have been buying rain boots of some type or another since my kids could walk. I get a lot of mileage out of them since both spring and fall tend to be pretty wet where we live. 

I always got my boots from L.L.Bean for the little kids. Cameron is now getting to be quite a big guy and he has ENORMOUS feet! He has grown out of the boots that fall within my price range at L.L.Bean. I couldn't even find any decent boots at Target that were his size. 

So I searched online and finally found these amazing boots made by Crocs online at Nordstrom. They are only $29.95! Guys, I paid more for the little kid boots at Bean! I am buying these from now on because they are awesome! 

He likes that they have handles he can pull them on with, that he can wear them with or without socks, and he says they are really light so he can run without heavy boots weighing him down. I like that they keep his feet clean and dry and that they come up high enough to keep the bottom of his pants dry. I also REALLY like that if he grows out of them after this year they were not $80. 

And you know the best part? They just rinse off with a hose or in a sink. If they are dirty I don't care at all because the mud just rinses off. Has anyone else ever tried to wash and dry sneakers? No thanks! 

TGIF everyone and enjoy your weekend! I am working on a wall makeover in our sunroom this weekend and maybe if it is dry we will be able to strip and stain the deck.