My New Favorite Thing...Lasting Nail Color At Home!

It takes a lot to impress me when it comes to doing your nails at home. I love manicures, but can rarely talk myself into affording them. Not to mention, nail polish rarely lasts when you have 2 kids.  Problem solved!!

Here are my nails on day 5:

I have had tons of compliments on them and everyone is shocked to know I did them myself.  Love that!  Who doesn't like a compliment?  :)

Step One:  Apply 2 - 3 coats of your favorite nail color.  In my case it's L.A. Colors, Color Crave from the Dollar Tree, $1.

Step Two:  Black crackle.  I only did 2 coats of the pink (wish I'd done 3, but time is an issue for me), and the following day I applied the black crackle.  In this case, it was one quick coat of Avon's Mosaic Effects Top Coat in Black.  I say quick because you'll need to apply the black coat pretty efficiently.  The reason being, it will start to shrink and "crackle" right away. $6

Tip - Use promo code CYBER2011 for FREE standard shipping on your Avon order!  :)

Step three: Clear coat, clear coat, clear coat.  I did one coat the day of and added another coat each day or two.  Free...this is an old, but still good, bottle of Wet n' Wild.  Usually, $1.

Here are my nails on day nine!! I've only had to touch up one tiny spot on my right hand, on day 7. Otherwise, I'm just adding clear coats in the evening. And remember, add the clear coat to the tip of the nail first, then strokes down the nail.

What else can I say? I love these nails! They were fast, easy, cheap, trendy and compliment worthy...what's not to love!!

A Bit Of A Lucky Week For Wylie Mom

I won a couple of small prizes this week, and both are in thanks to Twitter!

First, I won a $5 Starbucks gift card, just for following SnazzyWin on Twitter. How easy was that? And, it came with a cute Christmas card and magnetic calender. Thanks SnazzyWin!

Second, I won a $50/100 Old Navy coupon from Brandy Ellen at Happily Blended. It was a blog giveaway, and the first 10 peeps to comment won. Since I also follow Brandy on Twitter, I saw her new post right away and was able to snag the coupon. Thank you Brandy for the great giveaway and the Twitter updates!

There are LOTS of blog contests going on right now and you won't win if you don't enter. Good luck!

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme - Wylie Mom

TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year? This one is tough since I don't make wish lists for myself, but here goes! There's a really cute plum (purple) wool coat I love at Old Navy, a gift card for a pedi or eye brow wax, an iTunes gift card (maybe I'd actually use it if it has music on it), cash to pay bills and a successful blog/eBay store in 2010 (okay, that can't be bought....but it's still a wish!).

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received? I still have some really cute hangers I was given 20 years ago.

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle? I hate sewing, but keep thinking I want to make a quilt.

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child? Hmm....nothing really stands out. I guess I really liked my Snow White sleeping bag. I still have it!

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year? Imaginext Dragon Fortress, FurReal Kitty, Disney movies, anything Transformers, Spiderman car from Target, Baby Alive (that potties), skates, cute pink boots from Target, new batons...

6. What is your favorite holiday food? Fudge, although I never actually make it.

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays? I just finished a fake plate of cookies for a prop for my daughter's twirling routine. Does that count? I'd considered making peppermint bath salts...

8. What is your favorite holiday movie? Christmas Vacation and Elf.

9. Favorite holiday song? Elvis' Blue Christmas, although I'm that person who could listen to Christmas music year round. I love it!

10. Favorite holiday pastime? Drinking cocoa! Silly I know, but I love drinking it at home by the fire, in coffee shops, at the mall watching shoppers, etc...

Thanks to Brandy Ellen at Happily Blended for tagging me in this meme/giveaway! I'm tagging:

Heather at Savings So Sweet - Miss Mommy at The Thrifty Mommy - Brandy at Brandy's Big Bargains to keep the love going!!

Check out the giveaway here.

Holiday Cookie Ideas With Only 3 Ingredients From Pillsbury

If you know me well, you know I hate to cook. I can cook, and I mean from scratch. I was the nerd in high school with 100% in Home Economics. I was even in FHA! Lord, that was embarrassing (for them, not me) to admit. Honestly, I'm actually a pretty good cook if a actually get off my butt and do it. But, I hate it! All that standing, and prepping, and stirring only to spend a few minutes eating. Then there's the clean-up. Have I mentioned I hate to clean too? I'm a neat freak and like to pick up, but I don't like to actually clean. You know, soap, water, elbow grease, etc? Anyway, when the holidays arrive I start to stress. I think I should be baking or something, you know, be domestic and stuff? Creating holiday memories for the children. Well...

I found this cute website over the weekend. It's nothing mind blowing, but Pillsbury has put together some cookie ideas that have only 3 ingredients. That's my kind of baking and clean-up!

Pillsbury® Holiday Cookies 3 Ingredients to Wow!

Pictured is the Christmas Tree Sandwich Cookies. Here's how easy they are:

INGREDIENTS
1 package (13 oz) Pillsbury® Ready To Bake!® SHAPE® Christmas tree sugar cookies
3/4 cup vanilla frosting (from 1-1b container frosting)
Candy sprinkles

DIRECTIONS
1.Heat oven to 350°F. Bake cookies as directed on package. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.
2. For each sandwich cookie, spread 1 tablespoon frosting on bottom of 1 cookie. Top with second cookie, bottom side down; press together gently. Sprinkle around outer edge of frosting with candy sprinkles. Store loosely covered.

Sounds so easy, and perfect for the kiddos to help with. Older kids could help with the baking and everyone including real little ones, can frost, assemble or add sprinkles. It sounds messy but fun!

Here's a $1.00 Pillsbury Refrig. Cookie Dough printable coupon to get you started.

What's Going On With Wylie Mom

What's going on with me? Does anyone really wonder? Well, I'll tell you anyway.

Mainly, I'm trying to adjust to being a "school" mom. I was pretty lazy all summer, since it was my daughter's last summer before starting school. I mainly just blogged and played with the kids. But once fall got here, it truly was time to get my life in order.

Late in the summer I gave the Wylie Mom website a make-over. And I have been somewhat adjusting the content since then as well. I'm trying to post useful coupons, freebies and deals and also have been adding a lot more about selling eBay. Speaking of eBay, I am now a Power Seller and a Top Rated Seller!! I'm very excited about both, especially the Power Seller part. It's something I've been working very hard at for a couple of years. Anyway, I have been continuing to tweek to look of my website, so if you subscribe with a reader, check it out http://www.wyliemom.com/. I quit doing the weekly wrap-ups, they got boring for me. But I calculate that I make/save about $20K staying home. I really hope to increase that number in 2010. Also, I've been posting less pictures on my store deals. They too, got kinda boring, and I've been shopping less, and living off the stockpile I have made for myself.

My big adjustment lately has been making a new schedule. Mainly learning what tasks I can fit in where, around my kid's schedules. I'm running around so much with grade school, preschool, and activities for 2 kids, that as crazy as it sounds, I have to schedule my time to blog, eBay, clip coupons, drug/grocery shop, etc. And there's the housework, family time, etc.. Also one of my daughter's activities is private dance lessons. So, with that goes helping her practice in between classes (she LOVES the class, so it's totally worth it, I just never thought of myself as a "show mom"). I do manage to sleep very well, but my "me time" is lacking. Hmm...sounds like a new goal.

Anyway, it's seems strange but after almost 2 years as a SAHM/WAHM I'm still trying to adjust to it. It seems hard to convince myself I had a productive day when I didn't do anything to make money. I know that caring for my family is way more important and valuable (and I'm blessed the the chance to do it 24/7), but it's still a nagging feeling at the end many of my day's. Anyway, I'm grateful I've been given the opportunity to do what I love and I have best hubby in the world for help making it happen.

How about you, what have you been working on this fall?

I Just Won 5 Swagbucks!!

A super huge THANK YOU to Ginger at Attention Target Shoppers. I was the hourly winner of 5 Swagbucks but had to log in by 4pm to claim them. She noticed and alerted me via e-mail.

Yay, Ginger!! I owe her one, since I would have probably not logged in and noticed. :)

Well, I've Really Done It Now!

I started a second blog! :)

It's called "What I Really Think" and it will contain posts about what I really think. Clever name, huh? Haha. The address is http://www.whatangiethinks.blogspot.com/ or just click click here.

I wanted to start a blog where I could throw out my opinions about everything and anything, but knew that Wylie Mom was not the platform for my personal opinions. Today's first post (on the new blog) was about President Obama speaking to school kids today, but future posts might include: products I love or hate, store and restaurant reviews, general rants and raves, stories about things I think are just plain awesome, etc. Basically it will be "what I really think".

I don't expect for us to always agree, but I'd love for you to visit What I Really Think and leave a comment!

P.S. I turn 34 today!! :)

Be Sure To Check Out My Guest Post!

Yay! I was asked to do another guest post! I was surprised and flattered when my friend, Keith, from college asked me to do a guest post for his blog. He's a stay-at-home-dad with two boys and writes a great parenting blog, Mekeliki.

Here it is, The Big Money Saving Article!!

Have a great afternoon. :)

The Wylie Mom Blog Design Phase Is Complete!

It all started a few weeks ago while I was working on my guest post for Attention Target Shoppers. I got to "talking" with Ginger about re-doing my blog a bit. Nothing huge, just an updated template, a unique banner and a button. Ginger also has another great blog called AdlibCorner Blog School. Wow, what a life saver, both Ginger and her blog!

First, she lead to me Our Blog Templates where I started with "The Professional Template". After that, I just tweaked it's colors.

To keep my blog design unique and "original", I did the banner and button myself. It seemed like a great idea since I have somewhat of an art background and could picture what I wanted in my head. I used watercolor pencils and a blender pen, that's it! Then, I just scanned in the design, changed it from inches to pixels, and voila! Sounds real easy, right? In all, it took me a couple of days to get my design right and figure out all the coding. But, let me mention that since I did it all myself, is was free!

One of the most important things Ginger mentioned to me is, do the blog design for yourself. I did and personally, I love it! Be sure to click here to check out my handy work. Enjoy you Sunday afternoon!

Wylie Mom Now Has A Facebook Group

I just made a group for "Wylie Mom" on Facebook. Please check it out and become a fan!!

Wylie Mom on Facebook

Have a peaceful night! :)

I've Been Tagged!

I've been tagged by April at Little April Big World!!

Here are the rules:
1. Link back to the person who tagged you
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

Let's see 6 things about me.....

1. I can't pass an open door without closing it, pass a light without turning it off, or pass a toy out of place without picking it up, etc, I'm an OCD neat freak.....I pick up after the kids way too much!
2. I love office supplies, especially new ones!! I can wait months to open something, I like to admire it in the package.
3. I hate to clean SO much I have cleaners (totally NOT frugal, I know!). I said I was a neat freak, not a clean freak. There is a difference!! :)
4. I pick my split ends.
5. I think Rob & Big is the funniest show, not really a quirk. Just something you probably wouldn't guess about me.
6. I don't like to swim. It's just so much work, the changing, the lotion, the drying and changing back. Ugh! Maybe if I had a pool in my back yard, I'd feel different. :)

Now, I have to tag 6 people. Let's see.....

Tasha at Comical Coupon Cents
Jesabella at Addison's Super Frugal Mom
Debbie at eBay Mommy
Ginger at Attention Target Shoppers
Amanda at Only On Sale
Missy Mommy at The Thrifty Mommy
Momma Val

Oops, that was 7.