Faux Silly Bandz

Well, unless you live under a rock, you have witnessed the Silly Bandz craze that has swept the schools and pool decks everywhere this summer. Children from the ages of 3 to 33 love these plastic bracelets that come in every shape imaginable. My kids are only 6 and 8 but the older one is realllllly, like OMG, into these bracelets. She counts them, trades them with friends, and piles them so high on her arm that she looks like she is wearing a plastic sleeve. A package of bracelets usually cost between $4 and $5. Hey, that adds up after awhile. So, imagine my glee when I found the knock off version at Walmart for only 2 bucks! They had a bunch to choose from: Alphabet, Animal, Rocker, Fruit, Bugs, Girly Stuff, and even some Sea Creatures. Since my kids are so used to my vehement "no" when they ask to buy more Silly Bandz, they were shocked when I said yes. Throw those fakes into the cart, I said! For $2, who cares if they break? Plus, really, isn't that a rule of fashion? Mix your knock off stuff with your real and no one will ever be the wiser but your wallet. Plus, with the extra money, you can brace yourself for the next trend to come around the corner.

Fake Bake

Marty,
"Summertime is finally here"......that song was playing in my head a couple of months ago but now I am singing my own tune, "Is summertime finally OVER???". I love summer with the kids but I think these long, hot days have worn us all out and we are ready to get back into a groove. So, being a twin to Martha Stewart (not!), I decided to bake a cake over the weekend to spice things up. Problem was that, I had no cake baking gear (and really no cake baking abilities). But all of these problems could be solved at my local WalMart. I bought 2 round cake pans for only $4/piece and a beautiful, clear, heavy glass cake stand for $6.97. That's right, not even 7 bucks for a cake stand. I was very excited about this find since I have been on the hunt for a cake stand. I like a simple cake stand best because it lets you add your own decorations. I headed home with gear and ingredients in hand and whipped up a yellow cake (out of a box) with homemade chocolate butter cream. I guess that is more like the semi-homemade chick than Martha but hey, my cake was 1/2 "homemade". I think baking out of a box is homemade anyhow. I mean, you literally make it at home instead of buying it at the store, right? My cake turned out great and my family was very impressed. Plus, what's better than your kids on a sugar high when you are all stuck in the house on a rainy day?
xoxo,
Wally

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe
2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temp.
12 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled
3-4 tbs. milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 1/1 cups confectioners sugar

In a bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. On low speed, add chocolate until just combined. Add milk, vanilla and some of the sugar. Mix on medium. Keep adding the sugar on medium mixing speed until well combined.
(Additional note: I added a tablespoon of cocoa powder as was suggested by someone in the Internet. I wouldn't do that next time, a little to cocoa-y for us!)

Backseat drivers welcome!

Wally, I know we can use a GPS on road trips or the iPhone app, but sometimes seeing is believing! Walmart carries the Rand McNally 2011 Road Atlas and they also have state/local maps - all are perfect for summer road trips or college visits this fall. Heck, with all the paving this summer, a detour could be a great idea! Also, a state atlas/road map makes a terrific gift for the new family that moves to town. Naturally, a good neighbor would make sure the best Walmarts are clearly marked, too. :) Marty

Get organized!

Home office organization is a great rainy day project. Since we are in a drought, I wonder when I am going to get around to getting my office neat and tidy? When I am ready, Walmart has great home office organization tools. The colors are fresh and the containers go with any decor. Standard white, or spruce things up with the green or yellow. I can't wait to get my pictures and greeting cards in these boxes! Wally, I bet your girls could fill these up with craft and art project "stuff" from around the house, right? :) Marty

Gift wrap for baby showers or birthdays!

Usually the gift wrap costs just as much as the gift itself, but not at Walmart! Darling gift bags, tissue and ribbons at reasonable prices - hooray! I scored one for an upcoming shower and grabbed 2 extras to have in my "gift closet" at home. Check out the rick rack ribbon on the elephant bag.... too cute for words! :) Marty

Get your grubby hands on these landscaping gloves!!

I am still planting, even though the summer is half over. My old gardening gloves have disappeared and when I saw these, I could not resist getting a pair and a spare pair to have at the house. Soft, durable, attractive and reasonably priced gardening gloves. I even got my hubby a pair of suede ones. We will be chopping firewood before too long... I hope! :) Marty

Have a crystal ball!

I love these necklaces - similar to ones I've seen at J. Crew and Ann Taylor LOFT for $34-$40. Plastic, faceted beads on satin ribbon. Comes in clear, purple or black. Original price is $10, but I found them on the clearance rack at Walmart for $7. I can wear one with a t-shirt for day/evening or I can wear with a suit to work - LOVE THEM! :) Marty

Father's Day

Father's Day cards from Walmart come in all price ranges, moods, shapes and sizes. I even found some good "husband" cards. Wally, I thought your Dad might like the Alan Jackson cards .... :) Marty

baby's got paperbacks

Wally, I am counting the days until our beach vacation! The selection of reading materials at Walmart is incredible - and it doesn't require an extra trip to a book store. I got some paperbacks and a stack of magazines.... Walmart has it all! PS: I want to read eat pray love before the movie comes out in August! :) Marty

Claire's is killing me

Marty,

Any mother of a preteen girl knows that within 5 minutes of being in the store Claire's, you can blow through $50 in the blink of an eye. Subsequently, that place makes me want to throw myself in front of some moving traffic. So, I was overjoyed when my older daughter discovered a wall of bracelets at Walmart for only a buck. That's right, $1! Wooden bead bracelets, jelly and friendship bracelets in every color, and other fun string bracelets. "Sure, get one for your BFF, get 5 or 6 for yourself, go for it.", I said. I even got a handful of the wooden beads for myself! Even though my darling 8 year old looked at me like I was crazy, she gleefully obliged. And we both walked out happy...and not broke.

:) Wally

PS-Marty, the wooden bead ones look great mixed with my big, wood bangle from Anthropologie. And you know that one was not a buck!

Shorty shorts

Marty,

I just got the sweetest shorts for my youngest daughter at Walmart. She picked out the purple and white gingham ones but they also had green and white, and blue and white gingham. Faded Glory 100% cotton shorts for $8. They have an adjustable waist band which is a must for my petite princess and come in sizes 4-10 (children's sizes of course but I wish they had then in adult sizes). And really the best part is the precious rope belt, very Tory Burch for the younger set!

:)Wally

Thanks a latte!

Wally, I love the jeans, scarves and jelly watches - I will be at Walmart tomorrow to check them out - thanks so much!! Here are the thank you notes I got - 10 notes for less than $3 and they look like a latte "to go" cup. Too cute for words and great to thank people the old fashioned way. I am way overdue writing my parents and my in-laws to thank them for my birthday presents. Don't you just love getting snail mail? :) Marty

Sensational Scarves

Marty,

I can't flip open one of my favorite celebrity gossip magazines and not see a Hollywood "it" girl rockin' a summer scarf. So, in trying to keep up with Jessica Alba, I couldn't resist the adorable summer scarves at Walmart for only 5 bucks. They had them in blue/white gingham, red/white gingham, red paisley, and a solid hot pink. So cute and lightweight, a summer scarf is the perfect accessory for the standard uniform of a tee shirt and jeans. And it immediately draws the attention UP, which is always a good thing. So, that's a wrap...or a scarf!

:) Wally

A Jelly Watch Jubilee

Marty,

What's a gal to do when she doesn't want to wear her nice watch to the pool or the beach? The answer is to get an adorable jelly watch at Walmart. They come in an array of summer colors: white (my personal favorite because it's very Oprah and Sandra Bullock in "The Blindside", don't you think?), hot pink, turquoise, blue, purple, red, orange and of course black. For only $7, you can get a different color for every bikini (haha, I wish, more like tankini in this mom's case). And they are water resistant so when I am forced against my will to swim with my children, my watch will keep on ticking. Poolside or lounging on the beach, we can still look fashionable in our jelly watches. Cue that song again in my head.....

:)Wally

Summertime is finally here...

Marty,

You know with temperatures rising, my favorite Kenny Chesney song, "Summertime", is playing in my head. Nothing says summer like a great pair of white jeans. So, imagine my excitement, when I found the perfect pair at Walmart: Glory Bootcut White Jeans for only $12 (regularly priced at $19 but I got them on sale...win, win!). They come in petite sizes as well. You know that I have been coveting the $150 ones at Nordstrom's so I thought that there was no way these would fit as good. Well, let me tell you, they fit great and look even better. I bought several pairs and shall be wearing them all summer long. And really the best part is if I spill some red wine on them , I don't have to worry that I have ruined my "fancy" jeans. Happy Summer!

:) Wally

Briannas Home Style

This is a fabulous poppy seed dressing! The bottle says "delicious on fresh peaches" but I use it in one of my favorite summer salads. Toss it with your favortie chopped lettuce, dried cherries, granny smith apple chunks, goat cheese crumbles & toasted walnuts. Make it a meal by topping with grilled chicken. The price is Walmart friendly at $2.82 per bottle. Try it tonight! :) Marty

Happy Hour :)

My new favorite crackers are at Walmart! I have been looking high and low for these and can only find them in specialty food stores or a random grocery store here and there. Crunchy and fresh. YUM :) Marty

Pomp & Circumstance

Hey, Wally! As you know, I am swamped with graduations to attend next weekend. I found the best cards at Walmart! They have the Hallmark music ones for $4.99. I also got a pack of 8 graduation cards for only $5. So glad I saw these after work. :) Marty