Holidays

DIY “Dia de los Muertos” Luminaries

October 30, 2017October 30, 2017 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

For those of you wondering what this is…it’s a holiday celebrated in Mexican and Latin culture. It’s a happy time to celebrate, remember, and honor friends and family who have passed away and is usually celebrated between Oct. 31st-Nov. 2nd.

According to Mexican folklore, the gates of heaven open for these few days and allow the spirits of the deceased to reunite with their families for 24 hrs. Family and friends of the deceased create altars with “offerings” of the deceased favorite foods, sugar skulls, sweet bread, candles, marigolds & trinkets. People also dress up and decorate their faces like a sugar skull with jewels and flowers to visit the gravesites.

Today, I wanted to share this simple DIY luminary project you can make yourself!

Supplies:

clean, clear vase

print out of a sugar skull coloring page or a plain skull if you want to design your own

sharpie markers or fabric paint

double-sided tape, regular tape

To Make:

Clean and dry your vase where you will be adding the skull.

Next, cut the skull out leaving a few inches of paper around the edges of the skull and apply it to the inside of the vase with the tape you have on hand.

Now you’re ready to decorate! For this one I used sharpie markers and traced along the lines of the skull. You can use whatever colors you like and get creative!

Now remove, your “skull template” and your luminary is finished!

I didn’t seal these so be careful not to get them wet. The marker will wash off. Each year you can wash them and design a new skull.

Here’s a pic with a few tea lights at night:

I hope you enjoyed this little project and learned something new! Make one for your loved ones and join in on the fun!

Thanks for stopping by,

~The Dimestore Gypsy

Recipes

Fall Comfort Food: Shepard’s Pie with Cheesy Tator Rounds Topping

October 20, 2017 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

Hey guys! We had our first cold front blow thru this week and I must admit, I’m loving it! I thought I’d share with you one of my recipes I made this week for dinner. It’s Shepard’s Pie with Cheesy Tator Round Topping instead of the traditional mashed potatoes.

You’ll need:

1 lb. lean ground beef (can use regular, just drain fat after cooking)

1 bag frozen mix vegetables

1 small jar brown gravy

1 small can reduced fat cream of mushroom soup

1/2 bag of tator-tot rounds

1-2 cups of reduced fat shredded cheese

seasonings of your choice for meat and filling mixture

Cooking:

Cook the tator rounds as per instructions on the bag. While these are in the oven, you can brown the beef and season to your liking.

2. Next, add your mixed vegetables, brown gravy, & cream of mushroom soup. Season and stir to mix. (I used a sprinkling of garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, & pepper) Remove from heat.

3. Place the beef mixture in a casserole dish & top with the tator rounds.

4. Add 1-2 cups of cheese, depending on your liking. (I used about 2 cups)

5. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 min. or until cheese is melted. Dig in and enjoy!

I hope your family enjoys this as much as we did! Thanks for stopping by!

~The Dimestore Gypsy

Home Decor

The Dimestore Gypsy Etsy Shop Now Open!

September 26, 2017September 26, 2017 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

Hello friends!

There’s been a lot of revamping around here and I just wanted to give you a quick update. I have created an Etsy shop where you can shop my handmade, seasonal home decor!

On the home page you will see a “shop” tab on the menu. Click on that tab and you will be able to see updates & previews of items available in the shop. I look forward to creating something fabulous for you!

~The Dimestore Gypsy

Home Decor

Fall Home Tour-Kitchen & Nook

September 25, 2017September 23, 2017 The Dimestore Gypsy2 Comments

Hello! This past Friday was the 1st official day of Fall, yay! Bring on the cooler weather and pumpkin everythaang!!

I like to decorate for Fall and then around the 1st of October, I re-arrange/put away some of my decor and transition it into Halloween. Today I thought I’d share with you how I decorated my kitchen & nook area for Fall.

20170916_152256 — Kitchen Hutch (this would also make a great centerpiece on your table)

20170916_152431 — I found these little harvest corn cobs from the dollar tree!

20170922_115308 — I love having this chalkboard in the kitchen. I decorate it just about every holiday!

20170922_115337 — I found a big bag of these acorns at a “market days” event and I always incorporate them somewhere during Fall.

That’s it my friends! I hope you enjoyed the tour. I’ve linked similar items for you down below if you’d like to re-create any of these looks.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek!

~The Dimestore Gypsy

Hutch:

filler pumpkins — pumpkin filler set of 6

Kitchen Island:

cylinder vase (can also be found at dollar stores)

Chalkboard:

Table:

DIY

DIY Farmhouse Style Dollar Store Pumpkins

September 15, 2017September 15, 2017 The Dimestore Gypsy6 Comments

Hi guys! Happy Friday!

I’ve finally busted out the fall decor and pumpkin everything! I was wanting a few more faux pumpkins (because you can never have enough, right) for my mantle and I remembered seeing them at the dollar store a few days ago. They are the brightest shade of orange and I thought maybe I could paint them to match my home décor.

So that’s exactly what I did!

I mixed a little of brown and white paint to get the color I was wanting. Then I applied 2 coats with about 10 minutes of drying time in between. I went back and added some dimension with a slightly darker shade in between the segments. After they were completely dry, I added 1 coat of matte varnish to protect the paint from chipping.

Here they are completely dry with a bit of Spanish moss around the stem!

I just love the way they came out and they look great up here on my kitchen hutch!

This a fun and inexpensive way to add some fall touches to your home. You can paint them whichever color you like and get pretty creative with these. I hope you enjoy this little project and I’d love to see how you incorporate these into your home decor!

Have a great weekend,

~The Dimestore Gypsy

Recipes

Dressed Up Dark Chocolate Boxed Brownies

September 6, 2017 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

Hello everyone! Hope all is well with you guys and for all my fellow Texans that were affected by the hurricane, know that you are in my thoughts and prayers! #TexasStrong

As we get back to some normalcy around here, (bedtime and schedules went out the window during the storm) I decided to share this quick recipe for dressed up dark chocolate brownies I made from a boxed mix.

I mean…hello yummy goodness!! Get in my belly!!

For these yummy brownies all you need is:

1 boxed dark chocolate brownie mix

1/4 c. creamy peanut butter

4 tbsp. pecan chips

Instructions:

Prepare cake-like brownies as instructed on the box.
After adding your brownies to the pan, warm the peanut butter for a few seconds in the microwave just to loosen.
Drop a spoonful of peanut butter into the batter evenly around the pan.
Take a fork and swirl the peanut butter & chocolate back and forth almost like a marble effect.
Sprinkle the pecan chips evenly around the pan and bake as instructed. Let cool and cut into squares. Enjoy!

20170825_213924 — Tasted like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

These will probably become a new family fave! Hope you and your family enjoy.

You can find me on Instagram, just follow the link on my home page and come say hello on Pinterest too!

Thanks for stopping by,

~The Dimestore Gypsy

Uncategorized

Hurricane Harvey Relief: How You Can Help

August 30, 2017 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

The sun has finally come out and the storm has moved…thank goodness! While that’s great to see and hear, the devastation from this storm is not.

So many people are displaced right now in the Houston and surrounding areas due to flooding and rising waters. Some coastal towns closest to the hurricane have been completely wiped out!

There are so many ways you can help! Please consider donating to one of the many organizations accepting. Texas appreciates it and will need it in the months to come! Here are just a few to start:

redcross.org (YOU CAN ALSO TXT HARVEY TO 90999 TO DONATE $10)
ghcf.org/hurricane-relief (hurricane Harvey relief fund set up by Mayor S. Turner)
texasdiaperbank.org
youcaring.com/victimsofhurricaneharvey-915053 (by Houston’s own JJ Watt)

Thank you so much,

~The Dimestore Gypsy #Texas Proud!

Recipes

Spinach & Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Breast

August 11, 2017September 19, 2017 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

Hi guys! Today I’m sharing my recipe for this yummy spinach & mozzarella stuffed chicken breast we had a few nights ago. Let me tell ya…it is so good!

Recipe:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast

1/2 bell pepper, chopped

1 green onion, chopped

1 bag of frozen spinach, thawed & drained

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 tbsp. olive oil for sautéing

3/4 cup of shredded low moisture, part skim mozzarella cheese

*seasoning to taste (salt, pepper, garlic power, & onion powder)

Cooking:

Pre-heat oven to 375. Start with sautéing the bell pepper on med high heat. Once softened, scatter the spinach around, add the chopped green onion, and season with salt and pepper. Sauté this for just a few minutes to let all the flavors mix together. Remove from heat and let cool while you prepare the chicken.

For the chicken make a pocket that you will add your stuffing to.

Transfer your spinach mix to a small mixing bowl. Then add the 3/4 cup of shredded mozzarella, slightly beaten eggs, and salt & pepper. Stir to mix and it’s ready to add to the chicken.

Now divide the mixture evenly between the 4 chicken breast. Arrange on a 13 x 9 baking pan and season as you normally would. I used a sprinkling of salt, pepper, onion & garlic powder.

Bake at 375 for 40-45 min. or until juice runs clear.

Serve it up with a side of rice or mixed veggies and your meal is complete!

Hope you and your family enjoy this recipe. Let me know if you try it out and what you think!

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

~The Dimestore Gypsy

Fashion

Back to School Shopping Sales & Deals

July 31, 2017September 22, 2017 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

August is just about here and you know what that means…back to school! I’ve rounded up some great back to school sales and deals going on right now for you. Scroll on down to check them out.

Kohl’s

-online exclusive extra 20% off Promo Code: HURRY20 *(today only 7/31/17)*

hp-dt-b4-20170731-sale-03 — *Urban Pipeline jeans for young men, select styles 24.99*

2969524 — *graphic tees for boys 8-20, select styles 9.99*

2901918_Dino_Orange — *Jumping Beans tops & bottoms for boys 4-10, select styles 8.00*

3003344_Owl_Purple — *Jumping Beans tops & bottoms for girls 4-10, select styles 8.00*

*all photos from @kohl’s.com

2. JcPenny

-extra 30% off $100 or more/extra 25% off under $100

Promo Code: GOSHOP44 *(2 day online only, Ends August 1st)*

DP0607201717591365M — *juniors deconstructed denim (buy 1 get 1 for a penny) price range $40-$65ea*

DP0601201717104600M — *junior plus deconstructed denim (buy 1 get 1 for a penny) price range $40-$65ea*

DP0620201717062799M — *Flirtitude sweatshirt dress for juniors 24.99*

DIV7_AUG_X2_WK27_SHOES_073117_DESKTOP_S2_1060 — *select style booties 35.99*

*all photos from @jcpenny.com

3. Old Navy

-all kids and baby up to 50% off

-kids activewear & uniforms from $5

-kids shorts & dresses from $8

-kids fleece from $12

*all photos from @oldnavy.com

4. Target

-backpacks & lunch bags on sale

-school supplies starting at .99 cents

–free $5 gift card when you spend $25 on kids clothes

(restrictions apply, see offer for details)

–free $10 gift card when you spend $40 on kids clothes

(restrictions apply, see offer for details)

–BOGO 50% off kids shoes

(see offer details, restrictions apply)

*all photos from target.com

5. Carter’s

-extra 20% off your $50+ purchase online Promo Code: STOCKUP

carters_hp_secondary2_072517 2.gif — *tough tees $6 & up*

*all photos from @carter’s.com

6. Rack Room Shoes

-buy 1 get 50% off 2nd pair (exclusions apply, see offer for details)

*all photos from @rackroomshoes.com

7. Academy

-kids uniforms under $10

*all photos from @academy.com

I don’t know about you but I sure am ready to hit up all these sales now! I hope this helps out some and gets you into the back to school mood.

Have a great day and thanks for reading,

~The Dimestore Gypsy

Home Decor

Entry Table Styling & Lamp Makeover

July 18, 2017September 22, 2017 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

Hello friends! It’s been so long since my last post and I have to tell ya, I’m missing ya! I’ve been babysitting, working on a few home projects, and enjoying my summer…I hope you all are enjoying yours as well!

Today I wanted to share my entry table styling and lamp mini makeover. I’ve never talked about how I put together this area so I thought I’d show you.

This is the table I have in our entry way and there is a large rectangular mirror hanging above. I painted and weathered the mirror myself from an old dresser we no longer wanted.

I love thrifting and found this cute little sign and wreath holder one day at a Goodwill store. About a year ago, I found this gorgeous cracked glass vase at Hobby Lobby that catches the sun light just right! It’s always been in my living room under a table collecting dust so I decided to move it here. I used tree branches I found bundled up on the side of the road that someone was throwing away for a filler. The Acai wood bowl was a gift basket from a previous employer that i saved over the years and just added some pretty wood chip decorative balls to fill it up and give it some height.

My lamp “before” and “after”. This turquoise lamp was about as bright as the vase and I felt like they were competing with each other. For me, it was too much turquoise. I was about to throw it out and I thought I’d try painting it first. I gave it a grey wash and then went back over it with a bit of white to give it more of a stone look. I just love how it turned out and I’m glad I didn’t get rid of it! It’s much more neutral now.

One thing I like to incorporate into my decor are things that have a story behind them or some sort of sentimental value to them.

This basket here is filled with a few of my spouses treasures…the first 2 bucks he ever shot as a teen and a rattlesnake he crossed paths with last year!

It’s fun having family & friends over and sharing stories about how we came about these things.

Here atop this vintage suitcase sits a pair of horseshoes I saved from a cousins quincenera that my baby girl got to be a part of.

Here’s the full view of the table and decor.

Hope you enjoyed checking out this little space in our home. As always, thanks for stopping by!

~The Dimestore Gypsy

get the look:

563056-a-0317[5] — *white stone wood sofa table*

375378_1[5] — *antique bronze rectangle mirror with nested frame*

394387[6] — *dark chocolate brown twisted wreath stand*

1426345-0217[6] — *distressed gold isabella scroll lamp*

*the lamp I have is a Ross store find. I wasn’t able to find anything like it. I did find this lamp here that you could paint grey to get the same mood. It’s one of those things that if you happen to see something similar at a discount store, grab it!