My Friday Five - Fourth Of July

Fourth of July is right around the corner - so here's a collection of patriotic ideas to help you celebrate!

Ready?

1.  Patriotic outfit - 

Patriotic by kristenmycoveredbridge featuring satchel handbags

2.  Patriotic Wreath - 

Oddlekadoodle Primitives

3.  Flag - 

Simply Cy-Fair

4. Cheescake Bars - 

My Recipes

5.  Decorative Accessories - 

Makoodle

Are you inspired yet?

Giveaway - ChicoBag Reusable Bag!

I have a new giveaway - a ChicoBag reusable bag!  ChicoBag is an environmentally friendly company that produces fashionable and reusable shopping bags.  And one reader will win their Vita rePETe Dark Roast - 

What makes these bags so great?  They are durable, attractive and machine washable!  Oh and they can be stored in a tiny pouch - 

How convenient is that?

So, a couple of weeks ago, ChicoBag sent me a Vita rePETe to review.  I used it for a day at the beach - 

I filled it up with beach towels (and I was surprised how many I could stuff in there!).  The best part - tossing it into the washing machine when I got home!  It cleaned up great!  Then I packed it up into the little pouch and put it away.

I have been keeping it in the glove compartment of my car and using it for my trips to Aldi.  So convenient!

ChicoBag makes their bags in lots of colors and designs.  Check these out - 

You can see all of the designs and products by liking ChicoBag on Facebook or following ChicoBag on Twitter!

Want to win a Vita rePETe Dark Roast?

{Please leave a separate comment below for each entry}

1.  Follow My Covered Bridge through Google Friend Connect (leave a comment)

2.  Like ChicoBag on Facebook (leave a comment)

3.  Follow My Covered Bridge on Facebook (leave a comment)

4.  Follow ChicoBag on Twitter (leave a comment)

So that's 4 chances to win!

Good luck!

Giveaway will be open until Sunday, July 1, 2012 at midnight est.

Giveaway is open to US residents only.

Disclosure - ChicoBag sent me a Vita RePETe for review.  I received no other compensation for this post.  All opinions expressed are mine.

Easy Drop Cloth Laundry Tub Skirt

I love easy projects.  So this drop cloth laundry tub skirt is one of my favorites.  :-)

I wanted to do something with my old laundry tub - 

Although it's outdated, it worked fine.  I looked into replacing it but I just couldn't justify the cost of buying a new tub - they were a few hundred dollars!  So, I decided to cover this one.  I love the idea of using inexpensive drop cloths (here are some of my favorite drop cloth projects).  I headed over to Home Depot and bought a 5 x 5 drop cloth for $8.  I only needed to cover the front and right side and the small drop cloth would be perfect.  I measured and cut - leaving the factory hem on the left and bottom  (yea for not having to sew the hem!).  

After it was cut, I sewed a strip of velcro to the back.  

To keep the project easy, I used stitch witchery to attach red ribbon to the front.  Then I attached the other side of the velcro to the tub (that side was peel and stick) and that was it!

I also gave the top of the tub a little update - 

Yup, that's right - white spray paint!

Here's the cost breakdown - 

Drop cloth - $8

Ribbon - $6

Velcro - $8

Stitch Witchery - on hand

Total - $22

This project was easy and inexpensive.  And I have a much more updated laundry room!

I've shared this project here - Today's Creative Blog, Restore Interiors, Savvy Southern Style, Creations By Kara, seven thirty three, The Shabby Creek Cottage, My Romantic Home, The Shabby Nest, Between Naps On The Porch, Young House Love, Bower Power, Centsational Girl, Ten June

My Friday Five - Paint Sticks

I've put together a collection of fun paint stick projects - who doesn't love a quick and inexpensive project?  And who knew you could make so many things with paint sticks?

Ready?

1.  Paint stick vase - 

Sweet Charli

2.  Paint stick planter - 

Cheltenham Road

3.  Paint stick flag - 

Dreaming In Color

4.  Paint stick utensil divider - 

Dreaming In Color

5.  Paint stick doll bed - 

Martha Stewart

Are you inspired yet?

Madison At Main - Winner!

I have a winner for my Madison At Main Giveaway!

Congratulations

Sarah B.

I like My covered Bridge on FB (Sarah Bee)

Please send me an email - kmwerynski@gmail.com - so I can get your information!

My Friday Five - Father's Day

With Father's Day fast approaching, I thought I'd share five recipes that I've pinned on Pinterest - Dads love food.  Everything from breakfast in bed to a delicious dessert after dinner.

Ready?

1.  Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes - 

Cooking Classy

2.  Easy French Dip Sandwiches - 

Tricks Chef's

3.  Easy Barbecued Ribs - 

Mmm...is for Mommy

4.  Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sandwiches - 

Dinners, Dishes and Desserts

5.  Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Cheesecake Pops - 

My Favorite Things

 Yum!

P. S. You can check out all of my pins on Pinterest here.

P.P.S. You still have time to enter my latest giveaway - an accent rug from Madison at Main!

Giveaway - Madison At Main!

This giveaway is now closed.

Here's a chance to win a cute area rug from Madison At Main!  Woohoo!  Madison At Main has a beautiful selection of area rugs - and one lucky reader will win the Jellybean accent rug of their choice!  These are some of my favorites -

Aren't they cute?  

Well, here's how you can win the Jellybean Accent Rug of your choice - 

{please leave a separate comment below for each entry}

1.  Follow My Covered Bridge via Google Friend Connect - leave a comment.

2.  Like Madison At Main on Facebook - leave a comment.

3.  Like My Covered Bridge on Facebook - leave a comment.

You have three chances to win!

Good luck!

Giveaway will be open until Sunday, June 17th, 2012 midnight est.

Giveaway is open to US residents only.

Shabby Apple $75 Gift Card Winner!

I am really excited to announce the winner of my $75 Shabby Apple Gift Card Giveaway!

Congratulations

Jackie Reini!

Please send me an email - kmwerynski@gmail.com - so I can get some information.

My Friday Five - PVC Pipe

I love finding creative ways to use inexpensive materials.  So, today I'm sharing a bunch fun projects using PVC pipe.  Who knew that you could do so much with such a basic building supply?

Ready?

1.  Bud vase - 

Modge Podge Rocks

2.  Curtain Rods - 

A Little Of This, A Little Of That

3.  Decorative Mirror - 

Thrifty and Chic

4.  Bathroom Storage - 

Family Handyman

5.  Playhouse frame - 

Sweetest Littles

Are you inspired yet?

How I'm Planning For A Debt-Free Christmas

If you've been a reader here for a while, you know I've mentioned that I set some goals this year.  One of those goals is to spend $0 at Christmas.  Generally speaking, I don't like to spend money.  I don't mind buying a birthday gift or fixing up the house with a small purchase.  What I don't like - buying lots of gifts at once.  And then paying the bills in January.

So I had an idea.  Last December, I told Craig that I wanted to try something new.  Instead of opening up my wallet during December, I want to do everything for free.  Which will take a lot of planning.  A years worth of planning.

I decided to focus on this goal.  I've sort of challenged myself.  And I think I'm doing ok so far.  Here's how I'm doing it.

1.  Swagbucks.  This is by far the component that has helped me the most.  If you aren't familiar with Swagbucks, let me explain.  It is primarily a search engine that pays you to search the web.





Each day, I search through this site and earn Swagbucks.  When you reach 450 Swagbucks, you can cash them in for a $5 Amazon Gift Card (or other great gift cards.  The Amazon GC is just the best value).  You can cash in up to 5 of any one type gift card a month (For example, you can get 5 $5 Amazon gift cards in a month.  And if you still have more Swagbucks, you can cash them in for a Walmart GC or Paypal cash.  Whatever you want!).  I easily earn $25 in Amazon Gift Cards each month.  As of right now, I have $145 in Amazon Gift Cards in my account.  I also have 6171 Swagbucks (I haven't cashed in any during June yet).  
Craig also has a Swagbucks account.  He has (last I checked) about $70 in Amazon Gift Cards.  
So how do I earn so many Swagbucks?  This is what I do - 
- Search.  I earn anywhere from 7-40 (yes I really have earned 40 from a search) each day.  Some days I earn two or three times from searching.
- Swagbucks TV.  When I'm working (or searching Pinterest...) on the computer, I keep a tab up and 'watch' Swagbucks TV.  Every 10 videos, I earn 2 Swagbucks.  It doesn't seem like much, but it really adds up during the day.  And it isn't really hard since I'm already on the computer.
- Daily poll.  It takes about 2 seconds to answer the daily poll for an easy Swagbuck.
- Swagbucks Toolbar.  Just having the toolbar on my computer earns me one Swagbuck a day. (Note the Daily Poll and Toolbar will earn about 60 Swagbucks a month alone).
- Games.  Sometimes I play the Swagbucks games.  I earn 3 Swagbucks for every 2 games (or so).  There is a limit each day but it still adds up.
- Swagbucks TV mobile.  I downloaded the app on my phone and let it play everyday.  I do have to turn my data package off so I don't get charged by my phone carrier.  It also has a daily limit but is a very easy way to earn.
- Special offers.  I look around this tab each day to find ways to earn.  In the past, I have found short videos to watch, surveys to complete, and websites to click.  This is hit and miss, but I usually find something in here.
- Celebrate my birthday.  Yup, Swagbucks sends an email on my Birthday with a 50 Swagbuck code.  Nice.
- Random codes.  Swagbucks will offer codes sometimes.  I have found that the best way to find these codes is to follow them on Facebook.  Many people will let you know that a new code is out (although they are not allowed to share the actual code, they  will tell you where to find it).  They also share codes on Twitter.

So, that's how I earn through Swagbucks.  And because I challenged myself this year to earn as much as possible, I try to earn at least 150 a day.  Which I've found is not that hard.
And I just want to add that I've been earning Swagbucks for years (long before I had a blog).  This is the first year that I've set this goal though.  I've been having fun with it (I love a challenge!).  I became an affiliate because I have had such great success with Swagbucks.


2.  Entering Blog Giveaways.  I love giveaways.  But I don't spend much time entering them.  It's just not too practical.  But...I do try once in a while.  And I've won lots of stuff - $100 Michael's GC, $50 wall stencil, $50 Shabby Apple GC, and $80 lotion to name a few.  How do I win?  I usually enter on smaller blogs so my chances are good.  You'd be surprised how many small blogs have great giveaways!  I usually check out Tip Junkie and Someday Crafts for giveaway lists but there are many more ways to find them.  And a little tip - if you enter a giveaway, become a follower of the blog.  Chances are that there will be many more giveaways there in the future.

3.  Join Sneakpeeq for a free gift.




I joined a while ago and received a beautiful pearl ring that I'm going to give to my daughter.

I also have a $10 credit but I haven't picked anything out yet.

{Contains an affiliate link}

4.  Survey sites.  I have no affiliation with any sites but I have used e-Rewards for a while.  And I earn a $25 American Eagle Gift Card every quarter.  It's an easy way to end up with $100 at the end of the year.

5.  Freebies.  A while back, I shared some of my favorite money saving websites.  Well, most of them can point you to some fun freebies.  Everything from body wash to lip gloss to nail polish.  And much more.  All of these things make great stocking stuffers.  

6.  Regifting.  Oh I know we aren't supposed to admit it.  But I don't think there is anything wrong with passing on something (that I have never used) that will make someone else happy.  So, I have a few items that will be wrapped up in December.

And there you have it.  My plan for enjoying a debt-free Christmas.  

$75 Shabby Apple Giveaway!

This giveaway is now closed.

I have a great giveaway to announce - a $75 Shabby Apple GC!  Woohoo! 

I love Shabby Apple so I was really excited when they offered me the chance to host this giveaway! They have such gorgeous dresses, bathing suits, and jewelry.  Here are some of my favorites from their site - 

Aren't they beautiful?  Well, here's your chance to win a $75 Shabby Apple Gift Card.  

{please leave a separate comment below for each entry}

1. {mandatory} Like the Shabby Apple Facebook page and come back here to tell me which Shabby Apple item is your favorite.

Additional entries - 

2.  Follow My Covered Bridge on Google Friend Connect.  Leave a comment.

3.  Follow My Covered Bridge on Facebook.  Leave a comment.

4.  Share this giveaway on your Facebook page.  Leave a comment.

5.  Follow me, Kristen @ My Covered Bridge, on Pinterest.  Leave a comment.

So that's up to five chances to win!

And if you want to go shopping now, you can get 10% off by using the code mycoveredbridge10off!  The code is good all month!

Good luck!

This giveaway will be open until Sunday, June 10th, 2012 at midnight est.

It is open to US residents.

I have not been compensated to host this giveaway.  I just love giving my readers a chance to win great prizes!