DIY Made my day!

I woke up this morning to a spectacular surprise: I was featured on The DIY Showoff!

When you are a newish blogger, being featured on any blog is an honor…heck, just knowing that someone besides those you begged your family are actually reading your blog! But to find out that a very popular blogger has written a surprise feature about you, well that’s something to turn cartwheels over!

I've been featured, again and again!

I just got home after spending a week out of town for my father-in-law's funeral...so my blogging has taken a backseat to my family. 

 But I came home to some exciting blogging news: I was featured!  And not just once, but twice!  I was featured last week just as all of this was happening, and again today, and never got a chance to thank those who featured me. 

Ok, let me back up a few words. 

 What does it mean to be featured? 

Well, to a new any blogger {insert: ME} it means a lot!  When you are featured, another blogger creates a post in which your blog is highlighted.  So now everyone who reads that blog will read about my blog!  It's a HUGE compliment as well as a wonderful opportunity to attract new readers. So anytime someone features me, it makes me feel special.  Someone out there is actually reading all of my ramblings, and {dare I say} enjoying it!  So thank you!  Thank you to all those who have featured me thus far.  You have no idea how much I appreciate it!

My Valentine's Tea Party Invitations at It's a Hodgepodge Life:

 Follow me Wednesday at 3 Four and Under:

My Pretty 'n Pink Valentine's Wreath is #22 over at Tip Junkie's Wreath post:

and all by ITSELF {eeeeeeee!}  at Truly Lovely

AND {boy did that wreath treat me well!} at Mo Momma: Saving Momma Money! {and DO I like to save money!}

So now I'll be settling back into our "normal" routine and getting back to my projects!

 

 

Today I sorted through my wood for my kitchen island {but was out of "blog" mode and forgot to take pictures!}  But stayed tuned for my Restoration Hardware inspired kitchen island to start progressing soon!

Here are the boards I worked on first:

And here's my inspiration:

But mine will have a marble top.  Eeeeeeee, I'm getting excited!

Organic Food Price Comparison and I Was Featured!

First I have some very exciting news: I was featured!  When you are a new blogger, every time anything happens it’s exciting.  So today my fabric Valentine’s Day Wreath was featured on Truly Lovely.   This is the first time I’ve been featured and I couldn’t be happier.  Thanks Kassi and Kayli!
To see the Valentine's Day Wreath tutorial that was featured,

 just click the picture!

Okay, enough about me, let’s talk about food!

You must know by now that I am in love with Trader Joe’s. If you missed my top 10 favorite Trader Joe items, you can see it here!

I do my best to buy the healthiest food for the least amount of dough. I compromise where I can. I try to buy the dirty dozen fruits and veggies organic but generally don’t buy other produce organic {unless it's on sale.}

Dirty Dozen Fruits and Veggies
celery
peaches
strawberries
apples
blueberries
nectarines
bell peppers
spinach
cherries
kale/collard greens
potatoes
grapes (imported)

It’s a good idea to buy these organic as they have the highest levels of pesticides, according to the Environmental Working Group, EWG.

I don’t always buy organic milk and cheese, but I do make sure all our dairy is rBST {hormone} free.  I try to shop organically as much as I can, while sticking to a budget….. and for the most part I feel very good about the foods I bring into our kitchen. 

Many people steer clear of organic food and/or “boutique grocery stores” because they are WAY too expensive. {You’ve heard the saying “whole paycheck” I’m sure.}
Well, recently a local mom-blogger friend did a price comparison of organic foods at Safeway, Whole Foods and {of course} Trader Joe’s. 

She and her husband posted their results on their blog: The Baby Cuisine Cookbook. The results are shocking!  Well, at least to me they were.
They compared “O Organics” from Safeway, “365 Everyday Value” from Whole Foods, and the Trader Joe’s private label. 

It is unlikely I will be changing my shopping habits any time soon, but this was very educational none-the-less.

What do you think about their results?  Were you as shocked as I was?