Staying Home Sawyer

Real Life Living on a Real Life Budget

DIY, Holidays!

Sparkle’s BOO Pumpkin

painted-and-glitter-pumpkinsI know this may surprise a few of you, but sometimes people let me babysit their children. Yes, it’s as big of a shock to me as it is to you. I typically start by giving them ice cream and Red Bull, then taking them on a few roller coasters, topping it off with a trip to the local McDonald’s. That, or I roll with my backup plan: stock the house with crafting supplies, kid movies, and holiday themed food. I went with the latter.

I bought a few mini pumpkins, spray painted them white, and gave the kiddos free range with paint. (Not to worry, I thought ahead and covered the table with a cheap tablecloth). See, told you I could handle this.

use-glitter-to-paint-your-pumpkin

While they painted away and we watched Double, Double, Toil, and Trouble (okay, I watched – kids these days will never appreciate some serious MK&A movies like we did), I used Modge Podge to write BOO on my pumpkin, sprinkled with glitter, and made a friendly little pumpkin for my front porch. And by ‘front porch’ I clearly mean the two steps that lead to our front door. Ohhhh the day when I have a nice front porch will come soon enough. Until then I will be grateful I don’t have to sweep the front porch like those crazy cat ladies (who would ever want to be one of those?) <—- Life Goals.

paint-your-pumpkin

 

DIY, Holidays!

Dollar Store Halloween Decorations

Hallowen Decor Ideas from the Dollar Store

With the arrival of October closing in on me, I figured I may as well get a head start on Halloween decorations. After all, procrastination has no place in my home (says the girl who hasn’t really been blogging since July).

Since I’ve been so busy doing just about anything other than blogging, I haven’t really been in the crafting mode either. Now that our travel plans are pretty limited until after Christmas, I figured I should get started on some crafting ideas.

Hallowen Decor Ideas from the Dollar Store - DIY Dollar Store Skull Candlestick

So as usual, I took a quick trip to The Dollar Tree, picked up a few “ingredients” and went to work. I originally bought three plastic skulls, a pack of coasters, and a little skull bobble-head. I used my glue gun to glue each head to the top of the other, making somewhat of a totem-pole. Then I glued a coaster to the top head, and spray painted the entire stick matte black. The skull bobble-head had no major makeover, with the exception of the same black paint.

When I saw how cute the initial project turned out, I went right back and bought more skulls to make another matching candlestick.

Skull Candlestick from Dollar Store Materials

I’m absolutely in love with my skull candlesticks. So much so that I started wondering what else I could do with a bunch of black spray painted skulls. Any ideas?

Hallowen Decor Ideas from the Dollar Store

DIY

New Job Gift Basket

gift-basket-for-new-job

In honor of last night’s debacle, I mean, debate, I put together a little gift basket for the brand spanking new job of the President! Sadly, one of these two candidates is going to be our President in a few months, and thus, I’ve got to start brown-nosing now. I mean, I wouldn’t want to get on their bad side already. So what better thing to do than make our new POTUS a gift basket?! I’m sure they’re going to need all of this stuff in the Oval Office, especially in case of emergency. Nothing stops a potential threat like a pink basket.

gift-basket-for-a-new-job

When the future POTUS takes their new place at the Oval Office desk, I want to make sure they have all the essentials. Mr. Trump is definitely going to need some highlighters to match his spray tan glowing personality, and Mrs. Clinton will need the giant mistake eraser to delete all her emails problems. Either way, I think they’ll both be all set with this basket.

In all reality, I recently said goodbye to one of my favorite co-workers. She left me behind to move on to bigger and better things. Because I was going to miss her something terrible, I put together a little basket of everything she could possibly need at her new job.

new-job-gift-basket

What you’ll need: 

Notebook – “You’ll need to take notes in the beginning”

Paperclips – “So you can hold it together when things get tough”

Nuts – “When things get a little nuts”

Aspirin – “For when the days get long”

Antibacterial – “You’ve gotta stay healthy”

Highlighters – “Highlight the best parts of the new job”

Eraser – “Because you’re bound to make mistakes”

Scissors – “You’re sharper than the rest”

Push Pins – “So you can pin up photos of us in the new office”

Rubber Bands – “Gotta be flexible in the new position”

Stapler – “Gotta start off with all of the staples”

Gum – “Stick to your goals and go the extra mile”

Blow Pops – “When things start to really blow”

Candy – “Sometimes you need a sugar high to get through the day”

Red Bull – “When you need wings to soar”

Photo Frame – “So you can take me with you and never forget me!”

You can download the printable tags here.

Lifestyle, Travel

USVI

Trunk Bay, USVI St. John

Cue the island music, break out the umbrellas for your cocktails, and lather up with lots of sunscreen. When you’re finished, join me on a little magical tour of my summer vacation. Beware: lots of beach photos to be seen, mostly starring none other than yours truly. You see, while it would appear I may have gone on this vacation solo, I promise you that my mother was along for the ride. However, since she prefers I never take photos of her, I’m left with these lovelies she snapped of me. Oh darn.

Water Island, St. Thomas, USVI 2

While visiting mommy dearest in Florida over my summer vacation, we decided to take a girls trip down to the Virgin Islands. I should preface this with a little background. When I was about ten years old, my parents took me on the most magical vacation to the Virgin Islands. We sailed from one island to another for a week-long trip in paradise. I have never gotten over it. It may or may not be where my obsession with islands came from.

Water Island, St. Thomas, USVI

Since that time, I’ve been begging to go back. Between all of the vacations we’ve taken, somehow we just haven’t made it back to the paradise of my childhood. However, since I left hubby at home this time, I have a feeling we’ll be going back quite soon. Let’s let hurricane season pass, and then we’ll set sail.

Honeymoon Beach, Water Island USVI

For our girls trip, my mom rented an Airbnb on Water Island, which is the newest Virgin Island. It’s also the smallest of the group, and has less than 200 residents. In other words, perfect for us to relax for a few days. Not only are there not many locals, there are only two businesses on the island: Dinghy’s Beach Bar (YES!), and a beach-side food bar, Heidi’s Honeymoon Grill. Both are located on Honeymoon Beach, which just so happened to be one of the prettiest beaches I’ve ever seen. And as you can see below, my friend Squirt was a regular.

Snorkeling with Sea Turtles on Water Island USVI

Snorkeling with Sea Turtles on Water Island, USVI

Squirt and I had a little BFF quality time every morning. His friends tended to show up, but we had a special connection. Clearly. That’s what I’m telling myself anyway, because it was magical. He let me pet him for heaven’s sake. If that’s not magical, I don’t know what is.

To me, there may never be another day as perfect as this: swimming with sea turtles on one of the best beaches in the world, only to come out and be greeted by one of the best cheeseburgers I’ve ever consumed. All while sipping a Painkiller cocktail. Paradise indeed.

Cheeseburger on Water Island, USVI

And while she wouldn’t let me take many photos of her, I would like to present the evidence that I was on this vacation with another human being. She may or may not be the cutest mother in the world, so I had to post at least one photo of her. Even if she’ll hold this against me for the rest of my life. As long as I have this photo to cherish for the rest of my life, I’ll take her anger right along with it.

Trunk Bay, St. John, USVI

Although we spent the majority of our time on Honeymoon Beach, I did manage to beg her to take me to St. John one day. Since being there as a child, I’ve been itching to go back. Not only does it have some of the prettiest beaches in the world, but it’s also home to a very large National Park which also includes an underwater snorkeling park. In Trunk Bay you can swim through the underwater park or just relax in one of the World’s Best Beaches. Which was the reason for my trip, clearly.

Trunk Bay, St. John, USVIYou can’t be expected to tour the Virgin Islands and not stop to appreciate the beauty. Which I did plenty of. With my camera. I know people say that you should enjoy the moment and not always be snapping photos, but really, if you don’t have a photo to prove you were there, were you really there?

View of Trunk Bay, St. John, USVI