Boxwood Clippings

This pill box in the Target Dollar Spot really caught my eye, and I’ve already found it uber helpful to have in my glovebox. It’s also available in yellow and hot pink, but this teal green was my fave. :)

Remember, you still have time to enter the HOLLER DOLLAR CONTEST, where you could win a $20 gift card to the Dollar Tree! We’ve been really enjoying the submissions so far, and can’t wait to see more. Deadline is this Friday (June 21st), to see more details click HERE.

What can you find for a buck?

On my last trip to Ikea I spied a few items to use this idea for Kimberly’s baby shower.

candlestick + hot glue + plate = very cute cake stand

Large Cake Stand: $15 ($9.99 candlestick, $4.99 plate)

Small Cake Stand: $7 ($4.99 candlestick base, $1.99 plate)

These cakestands look great and cost a lot less than buying a comparible sized cake stand. I also bought extra plates to use as magnetic boards on our plate wall. Love Ikea! Have you been loving anything from Ikea recently?

I have been dying to get some things up on the walls around here and saw these cute salad plates at Crate + Barrel that caught my fancy. I decided to try making them for our family room wall.

I bought a few different sized plates from the thrift store, sat down in front of the tv and got to work. I outlined my designs in pencil and then went over my design with a black sharpie.

This was super quick and easy and if I didn’t like the way it turned out I cleaned the plate with all-purpose cleaner and paper towel and started over.

I read on Pinterest you can bake the design at 350 for 30 mins, but I decided to skip this step so I can wipe off, and change the designs without buying new plates.

I used my handy-dandy command strips to attach the plates to the wall, so I can change the arrangement around without marking up the wall.

Fast, inexpensive and easy, it’s amazing what you can get done while watching tv! I think this would be a great project to do with kids this summer. Have you given sharpie plates a try get?

Back in high school we used to eat at the Pizza Factory all the time, and I’d always order their chicken caesar pasta salad.

One night many years later I got a craving for it, and thought it’d be super easy to imitate, and it was!

s

What You’ll Need:

Bow Tie Pasta

Romaine or Green Leaf Lettuce

Chicken (I use rotisserie)

Regular Bread

Caesar Dressing

Tomatoes/Parmesan Cheese/ Pepper/ Salt/ Olive Oil : for garnishing

j

Directions:

Boil water,cook pasta and cool. Meanwhile, chop up lettuce and place in large bowl with cooled pasta. Pour dressing over to taste and mix well. Serve on plate, and top with chicken, parmesan cheese, pepper and a tomato. Toast bread (about 1 slice per serving) under grill with olive oil and salt, when slightly cooled, rip apart and place on salad.

This has become one of our favorite go-to meals because Brock loves it so much. It’s not a guilt free salad, but SOOO yummy and awfully crunchy and perfect for any summertime supper!

One of the first things I needed to figure out when we moved house was how to clean my laminate wood floors. I asked a few family members and decided to give this Method wood cleaner a try.

It works amazingly well, has a soft almond delicious smell and is non-toxic. I am addicted. You simply squirt a little of the solution onto the floor and use a microfiber mop like this $10 Clorox one I picked up from Target, to clean your floors. I could clean my floors all day long with this, but as they look great for after one brief sweep cleaning is done in a jiffy!

Thanks Mike, Mumsy and Sar! You can buy Method’s wood cleaner at Target for $4.99.

Any great products you are obsessed with? We’d love to give them a try.

It’s hard to visualize freezing temperatures in this sweltering heat, but winter once again will show it’s face in just about 4 months (at least here in UT).

Yesterday we purchased these Sorel Boots at the Sundance outlet in SLC for only $45 (including tax), down from $150. The same boots on Amazon are still going for $132 and $89, which confirms what a great deal this actually is!

The boots which were originally priced at $150, were marked down to $89.99, then $74.99 and now marked at $59.99, BUT now through the end of June there’s an extra 30% off all their shoes, accessories and men’s clothing, making their final price $44.89 including tax.

If you’re interested, be sure to act fast. The selection was pretty stocked yesterday especically with larger sizes, but it’s sure to dwindle pretty fast with prices like these.

Good luck, and be sure to let us know of your great finds. :)

Today we’d like to share how to make these super simple bulletin boards that we’ve had great success with.

Here’s What You’ll Will Need:

Picture Frame

Cork Board/ Sound Choice Board

Fabric

Batting

Staple Gun

Scissors, Ruler, Exacto knife

Directions:

1. Measure frame and cut board to fit (if the frame has a backing you can trace that size). We buy the 4′ x 8′ sound choice board from the hardware store or cork boards from the thrift store for our board.

2. Make sure the board fits in frame after cut, not too snug because the fabric will need to wrap over the board and take up a little space.

3. Use cut board to measure how much padding you’ll need. Cut to same size.

It should look like this:

4. Staple padding onto board.

5. Use your board to measure and cut fabric allowing about 1 1/2 inches on each side.

6. Start with a long side and staple back fabric. One staple about every 2 inches.

7. Next, staple the opposite side. Be sure to pull it so there’s no wrinkles.

8. Now for the edges. Follow these photos…

They should look something like this:

When you’ve stapled all around your board should look something like this:

9. To finish, simply staple to the frame so it’s secure.

Playing around with size, fabric choices and nailhead trim to get the exact look and function you want for your space is great. We especially love them in our offices and by our by our entryways. Check out Sarah’s HERE.

We hope you enjoy creating your own boards and loving them as much as we do!

We are always on the hunt for a great couch for clients, family and friends. After searching high and low we have concluded that this is the best around.

This sofa is significantly less expensive than any other slipcovered couch we’ve been able to find (we’ve looked…a lot)

It also comes with a 10-year warranty, considerably better than more expensive brands that come with little warranty or none at all.

Not only does this couch beat competitor couches, we think it is also the best value in the Ektorp Series.

The 3-seater sofa is $399, 85″ long, and comfortably seats 3 people. Our favorite sofa is 99″ long, and has a chase which can easily handle 4-5 people for just $100 more.

The sectional is $799.00. It only offers only a little extra seating than our favorite and is $300 more expensive!

Obviously, the size and shape of your room dictate what sofa you need to purchase. But if you have an option, the loveseat + chaise combo is the biggest bang for your buck.

Color is also another huge factor in sofa shopping. Although, I love this gray color, the white is the only color that is machine washable. This was a huge selling point for me. We are hoping for babies and puppies at some point so wanted something that could be thrown in the washer. The white is at least $100 cheaper than the colors, and you can never go wrong with a blank canvas! No matter how much you change up the color scheme, this couch will always work.

We bought this couch and are more than happy with its looks and comfort. It may not last a lifetime, but we are more than happy $500 got us a machine-washable slipcovered sectional with a 10-year warranty!

Have you got a piece of furniture you love that was a great buy? We’d love to hear.

Salad season is in full swing so we’ve decided to share a few of our favorite recipes over the next few weeks. First up is this decadent strawberry salad. Our sister, Helen introduced us to this scrumptious salad and it’s been a favorite ever since.

What You’ll Need:

h

Salad Dressing:

1 c Diced Red Onion

2 c Canola Oil

1 c White Sugar

2/3 c White Vinegar

2 tsp Dijon Mustard

2 tsp Salt

Salad:

Spring Mix

Strawberries

1 c Pecans

1 c White Sugar

Craisins

Cucumber

Feta

……………………………………

Directions:

I usually start this salad by making the candied pecans. You’ll want to warm a frying pan on low/medium and mix the pecans and sugar until the sugar melts. You have to consistently stir or else you will burn both pecans and your pan, so make sure to do this ahead when you can have undivided attention. Once the sugar is melted, you can spread the pecans out onto foil to cool.

Next, it’s time to make the salad dressing. Blend all dressing ingredients together and store in air tight containers in your fridge until ready to serve. This makes a lot of dressing so you usually only need half for a large salad. I usually make a full batch as it keeps well in the fridge for a week, which also means you can prepare beforehand if you like.

When you’re ready to serve layer salad ingredients on a platter, drizzle the dressing and top with the candied pecans. You can play around with amounts of salad dressings to whatever you like. I like lots of cucumbers and feta!

Be prepared to dazzle your taste buds and your guests, this is a winner every time!

Today we’re thrilled to be sharing a simple organization system over at Live Simply By Annie.

Annie has serious talent and an amazing blog…do pop over for visit. :)

Good morning!!! Today we’re delighted to be announcing our first Holler Dollar Contest, where you dear readers get the chance to win a $20 gift card to the Dollar Tree…whoot whoot!

We love sharing our $1 finds, and hope that you’ve been finding some of your own. Well now we’d love you to share, please send us your photos of your best $1 purchases and we’ll pick out our favorite and you’ll win the gift card!

Please send entries to mail[at]boxwoodclippings[dot]com with your name, contact, and product information (photo, price + store ) by June 21st, plenty of time to keep your eye’s peeled, we’ll announce the winner June 26th.

Good luck! We can’t wait to see what you’ll find :)

We are two baby-crazy sisters. We are both dying to be mummy’s and are loving anything small and cute. We’ve been researching so many baby things and have collected a list of favorite go-to gifts for all of the new babies in our lives. Here is our top five:

Swaddle Designs receiving blankets make our number one spot! We buy them at Nordstrom with complimentary gift wrap for an easy gift, as well as buying them in bulk directly from their website. We always make sure to check for deals in their clearance section here. Nothing is cuter than a baby swaddled up and ready for a snuggle, especially in such a cute blanket.  Everyone raves about how much perfect they are. Learn about the benefits of swaddling here.

We’re obsessed with Ralph Lauren night gowns. Not only are they gorgeous, but the baby can wear these gowns until they are a year or so as opposed to a normal jammies that they grow out of so fast. They also make for a super quick diaper change in the night – so much easier than having to snap all those snappers!

Bunnies by the Bay: The softest, cutest baby toy you will ever find. Read Sarah’s bunny post here.

Manhattan Toy Classic Toy Beads: Fun wooden toy for baby that can double as a funky bracelet for momma.

We still love baby mocs for a stylish and soft way to keep your babies tiny feet warm.

We hope this gives you a few ideas for next time you are baby shopping. What’s your favorite gift to give for a baby?

Bathrooms are one of those rooms that get messy really fast, especially the counter space. By my having the products I use the most often displayed on the counter, they get put away quickly and still look presentable…

I’ve never been a fan of bathroom accessories (overpriced and too granny), and prefer to use things from the kitchen. Glasses and plates work double duty in our house.

With products that don’t’ have the best packaging I simply tear off the label to look more uniformed; a little crazy I know, but hey it only takes a second and looks way better!

Do you have vanity tips? Like how to stop your husband from splashing on mirror!? Do tell!

It’s been said, that as a people we are taking more photos than ever. As a photographer, I think that’s simply amazing.

I’m a little obsessed with documenting life, and it was that idea that first compelled me towards photography in the first place. After all, a picture holds a thousand words, and for me a snapshot holds a thousand memories.

But with the blessing of digital freedom, many of us are not printing what we shoot. And with that we’re missing out on another layer photography. We went from negatives and prints, to digital files just put away and forgotten.

In efforts to enjoy my photographs more, I’m bringing them out of the digital world to the physical and temporally filling my staircase with snapshots….

I’ve been loving catching a glimpse as I run up the stairs. When I asked Brock what he thought, he said it looks like someone’s facebook page!

I had some free prints coupons to use so all this was free. But even without coupons it’d only cost around $10, which is a small price to fill such a big space.

I made all the prints black and white so they’d be more uniformed. Then once I started taping them on the wall I decided I’d just to the horizontal ones together it looked cleaner! I like order, what can I say?

My wall of snaps make me so happy, it’s a nice reminder of the good things in life!

When velvet hangers first made their debut I wasn’t exactly thrilled at their aesthetics, it’s hard to beat some pretty wooden hangers. However, when I first tried Costco’s velvet hangers for the first time I was 100% converted.

Not only do they hold your clothes so nicely and snugly, they save so much space in my closet, and look better than expected too. Now my closet is full of the black beauties…

If you haven’t tried them yet, now is your chance as they are on major sale at Costco.

$7.99 for 35 hangers at your local Costco until June 9th!

Em prefers her designer shades, but I’m such a fan of cheapo sunglasses. I like how stress-free they are, and it doesn’t matter if they get lost or scratched.

Plus they are so fun to switch out with different outfits, or plant in different locations. There’s always a pair in my glove box, and by my keys.

These are a few I’ve had my eyes on this season:

 [Charlotte Russe ones found HERE / Target ones HERE / Forever 21 ones HERE.]

So which theory do you favor: one designer, or lots of cheapos?

Today I am excited to show you our new kitchen! We’ve tackled a few projects in our first month so thought it was time to share. I mostly love our kitchen because it sits bang in the middle of the house, I’m so excited to make it extra special and be the gathering place in our home.

Our first project were the pendant lights. I searched the internet and local stores high and low for pendants at a reasonable price. I eventually found Hinkley Lighting and these lovely pendants. Unfortunately, the brass has been discontinued, but I found them on Ebay for $75 each! They are great quality and we are really happy with them. Thanks Brad and Scott for hanging them for me.

The next project was hardware. Most people think I’m crazy for loving brass, but I figure hardware is something you can easily change if you tire, but I have a feeling I won’t! We found these Martha Stewart drawer and cabinet pulls that were really inexpensive. I love the shiny metal against the dark cabinets.

A close up of my favorite thing in the kitchen, my copper Kitchenaid,

 The kitchen has come a long way from this, but I am secretly pinning a few more ideas…I would love to add a major dose of glossy subway tile like this someday:

bhg.com

What kitchen trends are you liking lately?

Last week we threw our sis-in-law, Kimberly a small baby shower. With four boisterous boys, we are thrilled Kimberly is having a girl for her last baby.

We kept the party very simple with just a few decorations and of course some very delicious food.

We found a pink, orange and yellow petal wrapping paper at Target and decided to theme our shower around it…very “spring-y” and girly. For decor, we decided to wrap her presents in coordinating colors for a simple display. We also hung a few Chinese lanterns and pom-poms for a festive entrance.

Kimberly’s eyes say it all…we think she’s excited to be having a girl too :)

I’m sure Baby Catherine will win all of our hearts, but for now her big brother, Teddy has us totally smitten.

We also kept the food very girly with fruit, an over-the-top salad, a variety of Mum’s quiches and Sarah’s legendary lemon buns and meringues.

Such a fun afternoon with some great ladies.

Congratulations Dan, Kimberly and boys, we can’t wait to meet your little baby girl xxx

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

We hope you’re having a relaxing day will those you love! Today we’re sharing an easy peasy project that you could whip up in no time.

When we were cleaning up from making the patriotic napkins, we thought our scrap paper looked kinda cute. So we made a simple banner by just hanging them on twine with mini cloths pegs.

The black and white is a modern twist on patriotic decorations, but still feels festive with the stars and stripes.

Oh how I love easy free projects! This would be a fun to involve kids too. :)

Today is one of our favorite days of the year, the beginning of the DownEast Tent Sale! Undoubtedly, we come away with a major bargain and we get all giddy looking forward to the sale.

Last year I scored my West Elm living room couches for $125 each.

Sarah got this gorgeous curtain rod for only $5!

Here are a few tips for shopping the big sale:

#1 Allow enough time. The tent can be overwhelming and you want to allow enough time for adequate rummaging. Take your time to make your way around the tent and reading the boxed merchandise. Many items do not have a floor display out.

#2 Inspect everything very thoroughly. DownEast usually only exchanges merchandise and many items in the tent sale are final sale.

#3 If you feel a price is too high, you may as well ask for a lower price. It never hurts to ask!

Make sure to check with your local DownEast as tent sale dates vary per location. Happy, happy bargain shopping!