Feature Friday!!

Ok so this post is a little late, but we were really busy today! But here goes anyways!! :) This week I had to feature an amazing blogger, Mandi at Vintage Revivals.

Not only does she have a fantastic blog that is FULL of amazing ideas, creations, inspiration, etc.; but she is also currently having an EPIC ROOM MAKEOVER GIVEAWAY!!

The deadline to enter is tomorrow at midnight, so if you'd like to win, you have all day tomorrow to come up with an amazing blog post about why you need Mandi's help doing a makeover on any room at your own house!!

Just give the button below a click and it will take you right to her blog where you can read all the details about this amazing giveaway!!

If you have any questions, check out her FAQs section here!
Now get to blogging people! You could get a room makeover for FREE!!! And Mandi's a pretty cool chick too, so I really wouldn't mind spending some time hanging out with her!
Good Luck! Happy Friday Everyone!!
Beth :)

Cricut Imagine Giveaway

Skip to my Lou is giving away a Cricut Imagine! Here is a link for the giveaway.

This is a great machine (Cricut Imagine Machine), and the projects that could be done with this little wonder are endless. Check out the video here.

If you would like to enter, leave a comment on her page. Share on Twitter and Facebook for additional entries. Good Luck to Everyone!

Have a great day!

Tide Washing Machine Cleaner and Nexxus Pro-Mend Hair Products

Well, better late than never for our What We Like (or Don't Like) Wednesdays. I have been busy today trying to get Google Analytics to work with our Facebook page. Working with the computer is SO time consuming, especially when what you're trying to do isn't working. And Beth isn't feeling well today. She has a head cold (I think) and is feeling just generally yucky. :( She stopped by today to pick up some medicine. Hopefully, the medicine will help her sleep, and she will start feeling better.

I decided to review two different products today. The first being Tide Washing Machine Cleaner (Tide Washing Machine Cleaner, 3 Pouches) which is available at Amazon.

I have a front-load washer and noticed black scum starting to build up around the door and seal. I changed to powder detergent which helped but was hoping for another solution. I got a coupon for Tide Washing Machine Cleaner and thought I would try it. It was still expensive (at least to me) with the coupon (around $7), but I was hoping it would help. I followed the directions and waited for the washing cycle to end. The areas where there was black scum looked better, and the washer smelled really nice. I used the second pack the following week (again following directions) and got the same results. The areas where there was black scum looked better, and again, the washer smelled fresh. I haven't used the third pack but expect the same results when I do. I will update my post if the results vary at all.

So, what do I think of Tide Washing Machine Cleaner? It helped to clear the scum from my washer; however, the black stains caused by the scum are still there. It also made the washer smell really fresh; however, the smell only lasted for about a day. So with this in mind and due to the cost, I would not purchase it again.

My second review is for Nexxus Pro-Mend Hair Care Products.

 The only positive thing I have to say about the shampoo (Nexxus Pro-Mend Shampoo, Split End Treatment, 13.5-Ounce) and conditioner (Nexxus Pro-Mend Conditioner, Split end Binding, 13.5 oz) is they both smell nice. Now the negatives. The shampoo doesn't lather well (you have to use a lot). The conditioner is runny (again, you have to use a lot). I want a conditioner that sticks to your hair and, well, conditions. These products make your hair feel dry (Beth said the same thing). I'm not sure if these products really mend split ends. With my hair feeling so dry, I can't see how that would help split ends, and I really don't think there is a product out there that mends split ends. The only help for that is getting your hair trimmed on a regular basis.

So for my final thoughts, I think you already know at this point that I would not buy Nexxus Pro-Mend Shampoo or Conditioner again.

  Now the Nexxus Pro-Mend Leave-In Treatment Creme  (Nexxus Pro-Mend Leave-in Treatment Crème, 4.8-Ounce) is a very different story.

I LOVE this stuff. I use it on both damp hair and dry hair. I only have to use a little bit, and it makes my hair so soft and manageable. I also flat iron my hair, and I believe it helps protect my hair from the heat. It doesn't really help with frizziness but, honestly, what does in this humidity!

So, would I buy Nexxus Leave-In Treatment Creme again? Well, that would be a "YES!" because I already have.

I hope you enjoyed my reviews and hope they help in your decision as to whether or not to buy these products.

Have a great night!

Denise

Felt Flower Pins with our Scarves

The new flower pins in our etsy shop look SO ADORABLE with our scarves!! Don't y'all think so??

Strawberry Periwinkle Pin with the Carnival Scarf

Periwinkle Pin with the Enchanted Forest Scarf

Berry Cherry Red Pin with the Red, White and Blue Scarf

Ultramarine Pin with the Under the Sea Scarf

We'd LOVE to hear your thoughts on any of our items! And we LOVE new ideas, so please let us know if there is something you'd like to see us make! Have a great day everyone!

Made on Mondays--Locker Hooking!

Well, my first attempt at Locker Hooking was a success (after some redoing and adjusting). I learned a lot and realized how much fun Locker Hooking is.

I got my materials and tools together.

Seen in the picture above are scissors (they were my mom's), locker hook, tapestry needle, locking medium, and rug canvas.

And here is the yarn I used and the fabric cut into 3/4" strips.

I decided a bracelet would be something easy to start with. Here was my inspiration:

I found the picture here at Color Crazy. Color Crazy is owned by Theresa Pulido, and she is the author of hook, loop & lock (the Locker Hooking book we purchased).

Here is my first try. Beth and I decided it was too wide and too big around. I hadn't gotten far, so it wasn't a big deal. I cut all the fabric pieces out and cut the rug canvas to make it smaller (both length and width).

I started again and...

Here is my finished product. I think it turned out rather cute for my first attempt. We still think it is too big around, so I will make the next one smaller.

Be looking for these bracelets and more to show up in our shop.

Have a great day!

Denise

We're linking up at....

Feature Fridays

Since it's Feature Friday, we are featuring a free sample from Purex and also a link to some great coupons from Target.

Here's your free sample of Purex Complete with Zout detergent. I requested mine and am excited to try it out. Happy Washing!

Here is your link to Target's coupon page. There are manufacturers' coupons and also Target coupons available. Hope you find something you can use. Happy Shopping!

(Just click the highlighted words to access the pages.)

Have a great weekend!

Our Upcoming Posts

We have exciting news! We are going to start doing special posts on certain days of the week. We are doing Made on Mondays where we will feature something we have made or something we plan to make, What We Like (or Don't Like) Wednesdays where we will review products we have tried or something we like (or don't like), Feature Fridays where we will feature something (a blog, a great deal, available coupons, just something we think you will like to know about), and Smorgasbord Saturdays where anything goes. We will, of course, still be doing other posts regarding our business. Beth has already started this with our most recent post titled "What We're LOVING This Week!" Hope everyone has a great weekend!

What we're LOVING this week!

Hi Everyone! :) It's Beth! Hope everyone is having a great week! Mine has been LOOOOOOONG so far, and I can't wait until the weekend!! :) Mom and I have a garage sale to get ready for on the 30th of this month, and we have A LOT to do! Well, take that back, I have A LOT to do! :) Procrastination at it's best right here.

Anyways, each Wednesday we're going to do a post about what we're loving and/or what we're not loving so much. :) This week is all about the love, because I need some positiveness (is that a word??) today!! So here goes.....

First a few etsy finds! These are some items we've come across recently and added to our favorites! (Click on each picture and it will take you to the etsy listing for that item, and then in the description of each one I added a link straight to each etsy shop!)

These little guys are hilarious!! :) And they have tons of different animals, people and even zombies to choose from! :) Check out Paper Moon Gallerie here! (I'd personally LOVE to get one of these in my Easter Basket!!) ;)

Pixie Dust Miniature's has the cutest "miniature magic" items in their shop! Check them out here!! I personally love the ones pictured above and the Harry Potter inspired items! :)

Mom found this little guy, and I fell in love with him when I saw him! Who wouldn't want this cute little dude hanging on your neck? :) Sweety Summer has some really cute jewelry, and hopefully they will restock their shop soon with some new goodies!! Check them out here and keep an eye on when they return!

I LOVE felted wool! And these pin cushions from astashtoys are adorable!! They have a TONS of cute felted items for sale in their shop! Check them out here!

And last but not least is this adorable suitcase from AdaLou Vintage! Sadly for all of you it's already sold, but good thing for me because I'm the one that bought it!!! :) I had a similar one when I was little, (see photo below) and we got rid of it, so I was looking to replace it! :) I LOVE IT! Plus she has lots of other great vintage items too! Check her shop out here!

A few last things I'm loving are my finds from last night and a few things I bought from a fellow blogger yesterday!

On my way home from Zumba at about 6:30pm, I noticed that my favorite Antique Mall/Flea Market, Franklin's was OPEN!! There were TONS of cars there. So I got home gave them a call, and turns out they were having an Open House/Dinner that night. HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS? LOL :) So she said of course come on up, and up I went. :) (I am now on the phone list to be called for events like this, so I won't miss any! hehe)

Anyways, I walked away with a CUTE wooden Pepsi crate for only $14 and a pretty blue Ball Mason Jar that I'd been eyeing for months, that finally dropped in price from $8 to $3! YAY! :) Pretty good deals last night! :)

Last, but not least! :) I got 2 cute items from Amanda at Our Humble A{Bowe}d

She posted Monday about how they were cleaning out their house and she had done a major purge in her kitchen, and had lots of things to get rid of. Then she opened it up and asked anyone to email her if they saw anything they were interested in! So I immediately emailed her and scooped up these lovelies! She was so sweet and we worked out a great deal on shipping, set up an etsy listing for me to buy it and everything is on it's way!! I can't wait to get these goodies!! :)

First is this vintage kitchen organizer, holder thingy. :) The cool thing about this one is it has 4 slots, while a lot I've found only have 3! :) It can hold Paper towels, waxed paper, aluminum foil, and saran wrap. I haven't decided if I'll actually use it in the kitchen or just sit it out to look pretty, (or I might use it in my craft area, I have some smaller rolls of wrapping paper that will fit on it!). :) But it was just too CUTE to pass up! :) And for only $25 I couldn't say no. :)

Next up is this set of 8 vintage embroidered napkins! I just LOVE the blue flower design!!! And the edges are adorable!! I've got a few ideas up my sleeve to repurpose these so hopefully I can get it done soon and post about it on here! :)

Well that's it for this week! :) What are y'all loving? We'd love to see and hear about your recent finds!! :) Send us a message on facebook, tweet us, convo us on etsy, or email us at rattydaddydinkdum [@] gmail.com.

Have a great day!! :)

Beth

Locker Hooking...Wait, What Did You Just Say??

During a trip to have my Mom's sewing machine serviced and repaired we came across a class being offered locally called Locker Hooking. They had examples of a few projects they had made, and needless to say we took one look at it and we were hooked. ;) hehe Here is a definition of Locker Hooking -- "Locker hooking is an “old rug hooking technique” originating from Great Britain in the early 1900's. Using a steel locker hook (a crochet hook with a large needle 'eye' on other end), latch hook rug canvas, fabric strips, and yarn (which is inside the loops) you can make rugs, wall hangings, baskets, purses, kitchen items, frames, clothing, blankets, home decor and accessories." -- that I found here.

Mom ordered hook, loop & lock on Amazon a few days later and the projects in there are SO CUTE!!! All of the photos are directly from projects in the book!

A journal cover!! LOVE this one!

Super cool lampshade!!

Purses and tote bags too!!!

HOW FUN!! Tic tac Toe!

With Easter coming up, who wouldn't want an adorable handmade Easter basket? :)

And finally a CUTE placemat!! I think they even have a table runner as well!

We both can't wait to get started on a few things! We'll be posting about our progess soon, so stay tuned!!!