Creating Hygge in my Sunroom With Facebook Marketplace

Thank you Facebook Marketplace for sponsoring this post. There’s something for everyone!

I have a fun new hobby of turning another’s used into something NEW thanks to Facebook Marketplace. I wanted to create hygge in my sunroom now that the weather is finally nice!

Just last week, my sunroom was full of broken down cardboard boxes that were needing to go to recycling and was quickly becoming overloaded with stuff. It is the first greeting for my guest when they visit, so this was not ok. It needed a little TLC, but I needed to keep it simple and inexpensive. This is where Facebook Marketplace comes in.

Facebook Marketplace has made it so fun and easy to browse and buy items from your local community, and sell any items that are in your home and need a new home. Make money while minimizing and beautifying my home? Yes, please!

It really could not be more simple. If you can take a photo with your phone and know how to send a text message, then you have the skill to use Facebook Marketplace!

Along with a posted photo, add a description of your item, name your price, and wait for messages from people who are interested. I have found some of my most favorite home items locally sourced on Facebook Marketplace.

It is a place to find amazing items to bring beauty into your home. It is a place to post the items you no longer love to make space for the NEW! Yep, I’m all about it.

Used Items to Create Hygge

Here is a secret about me…I really don’t like huge DIY projects. I’m too impatient to get out a bunch of tools and wait for layers upon layers of paint to dry. Plus, I’d have to borrow my in-law’s pickup to transfer anything large, which is simple, but not simple enough for me.

But I what I love, and am pretty good at, is seeing beauty in what someone else might see as used and would want to discard, and knowing how to place it in the right spot, or creatively use in a different way.

I’m also passionate about creating hygge in my home, and often that means getting rid of excess and being purposeful about what brings beauty and a welcoming atmosphere.

While searching Facebook Marketplace, I kept my eye out for things that would beautify my sunroom, fit in my small car, and were practical, but beautiful.

I kept in mind that anything can be updated with a quick layer of spray paint if needed.

Items I Found Recently on Facebook Marketplace:

Plant Stand

I searched Facebook Marketplace for items I can use to update the sunroom. I really wanted a place to display plants in an uncluttered way.

I found the cutest plant stand that was perfect for my needs and met the nicest farmer in a busy grocery store parking lot. He lived close, but outside of the city limits, and was so kind to drive it into town for us (the roads just outside of town had been affected due to the awful flooding here in Nebraska).

I felt safe meeting him. Facebook allows you to see some information on each seller, depending on their privacy settings. I could see that his main image was of his large extended family, and we would be meeting in a public place.

The plant stand fit perfectly in my little hatchback, we said a few cordial sentences to each other, he even lifted it from the back of his truck into the back of my car for me, and we both went on our way.

I had planned on spray painting the plant stand white, but when I saw how the wood looked in our sunroom, I changed my mind!

I love it just the way it is. Isn’t it so cute? It is very practical, too, as I needed something to hold my plants that would not create clutter.

Swivel Stool

This was my second purchase, and when I saw it on Facebook Marketplace, I knew I had to have it!

You would not believe how heavy and well made it is. There is wood on top that is so sturdy, and the bottom leg part is made of a heavy metal…and not the head banging kind. {grin}

It can be used for extra seating, as a side table to set a coaster and a drink on, or as a plant stand.

I paid $20 for it and picked it up in the most beautiful lakeside local neighborhood, which conveniently was right by my in-law’s home where I needed to be that day anyway!

My Favorite Items to Search on Facebook Marketplace

I continued with my online search. I made sure to narrow it down by putting our city in with just a 30-mile radius when searching.

Here are some of my favorite search terms:

Mirror
Plants
Frames
Side Table
Planters
Garden
Lamps
Stools

Notice that all of these searches would come up with items small enough to fit in my car. You can extend your search into whatever you are looking for…furniture, art, clothes…there are so many great things!

Facebook Marketplace lets you bookmark the items that catch your eye, and quickly ask the seller if the item is still available with the push of a button, which then starts a conversation in Messenger, if you desire.

I bookmarked some items that I loved and then noticed that 3 of these items were from the same seller! I messaged her right away and she responded stating how convenient it was that I was interested in several of her items.

I was thinking the same thing, that I could pick the items up from one spot. She was moving out of town and had a really great lamp, plants, a side table, and a really cool plant holder. She was very friendly and gave me some great deals on her items.

Here are images of her items:

Side Table

The side table is so fun. I couldn’t decide what to paint it. It would be so cute with the tray white and legs gold, or tray white and legs black, or I could leave the tray wood and just stain it. I really like the weathered look it has, too. So many good options!

This could be in a bedroom next to a bed, or in a living room with a lamp on it. I am using it unconventionally as a plant tray in my sunroom. I think it fits so great in this space.

Planter

I ended up just spray painting the legs gold and I am so happy with how it turned out. It took me minutes and transformed the look of it, giving it a bit of a modern edge.

Lamp

This is another item I was going to spray paint, but then decided not to once I saw it in person. I just LOVE IT. It is much larger than it appeared in her photo, which was a nice surprise. I didn’t pay attention to the measurements she put in her description, but started to pay attention to this while I continued to shop.

This lamp might end up in my bedroom or on a desk, but it sure adds a warming glow to my sunroom in the evening!

2 Plants

I got both a snake plant and a ficus plant from this seller. I am doing my best to take good care of them, as I am sure she didn’t really want to give up such good plants, but needed to due to her move.

Plants bring such life to a space and I just love what a good deal I got on them. The seller also gave me 2 lamp shades to put around plants…how great of a hack is that? Why have I not thought of that? I just think this is a brilliant tip if you don’t have a planter to use.

My Favorite Facebook Marketplace Purchase

The last buyer I contacted was selling a large round mirror. The buyer wanted $35 dollars for this mirror, and I asked if he would take $30 and he said “why not?” 🙂

I noticed the measurements in the description showed that it was a 36-inch mirror. That is a big round mirror! It was a bargain, as round mirrors of this size and quality usually go for over $170.

It was noted in the description that there was a crack in the frame of the mirror, and it showed a close up of the crack in one of the photos. It was small, and I knew I might even be painting it, so a crack really didn’t bother me.

It already looks so high end, but it will be amazing once I decide on whether I’m going to paint it gold or a brass color. It would be great in a shiny white, too! Oh, the decisions…so fun!

This was the BEST purchase. I have yet to paint or hang it but it will go over the dresser in my room and I will use it daily. It will bring my favorite modern shape to our bedroom wall and will almost act as a window, reflecting light. I’m giddy about this purchase…it was a great deal.

{To Pin}

Selling Your Items On Facebook Marketplace

We had a family gathering this past Sunday and I overheard my sister-in-law ask what is the best way to sell an item online. She wanted to sell a child’s table that her youngest has outgrown. Of course, I interjected and said Facebook Marketplace! It really can’t be easier to sell your items and have a local buyer pay you for them! I told her to take a look around Facebook Marketplace as it is not only a convenient way to sell items, but to also discover and buy some, too.

My bestie from California just called me and told me what fun she is having purchasing baby items on Facebook Marketplace for her first grandchild coming soon!

It really is a great way to find treasures that someone just may have been nostalgic about at one time, and make them items that end up meaning something to YOU…you could even call it….NEW NOSTALGIA!

DIY/Crafts/ Frugal/ FUN/DIY/ HEALTH/ HOME/ Homemaking/ How-Tos/ Natural Products/ RECIPES

DIY Daily Sink Scrub

This DIY Daily Sink Scrub could easily be called twice a day sink scrub because I use it at least twice a day— if not every chance I get! I can’t tell you the satisfaction I feel making such a simple, inexpensive but effective DIY cleaning product. Yes, satisfaction, and JOY!

I know, it is a stretch to use the word joy with a cleaning product but this sink scrub makes me so happy. I’ve learned that scent is a very powerful way to experience emotions, especially when the scent is essential oil –pure and from nature!

DIY DAILY SINK SCRUB – JUST TWO INGREDIENTS

DIY Daily Sink Scrub has just two ingredients—baking soda and essential oil. The essential oil not only makes it a powerhouse when it comes to disinfecting and cleaning your sink but can also be a powerhouse when it comes to affecting your mood!

Decorating/ FAMILY/ Frugal/ HOME/ Homemaking/ Kids/Family

Family Room Basement Makeover With The Help Of Credit Card Points

My husband Todd is someone who has taught me many times what it looks like to live intentionally. He is a thinker, planner, and is very strategic in making decisions.

He is wise and intentional when it comes to our family decisions and how we spend our money, including what credit cards we use. Thanks to carefully saving up our credit card points for 2 (almost 3) years, we were able to pay off our recent family room basement makeover.

We use the MasterCard Citi Thank You Preferred Card and earn ‘thank you’ points when we do. We use the credit card for everything that we can. Todd is careful to pay it off, in full, each month. The points add up, allowing us to do extra things that we normally would not be able to do, like makeover our basement.

Our girls are 13, 16 & almost 18. We wanted to create not just a family space to enjoy the little time we have left with them, but also a space that they could bring their friends (and boyfriends) to hang out and be comfortable (but not TOO comfortable…boyfriends..ahem..) in.

We finished off our basement 10 years ago when we moved in, but it needed updating. The paint color needed to be changed, the couch was sad and sunken with so much wear and tear that holes were starting to form, and our TV was too small for the space. A bigger TV meant a larger TV console. We also wanted a table with 6 chairs for playing board/ card games and a ping-pong table.

Our Basement Family Room Makeover Wish List

paint
new couches
large television for movies and video games
television console with storage
table + 6 chairs for board/card games
ping pong table

Thanks to the help of credit card rewards/points, our wishes came true.

We changed the bright orange paint to a warm blue. We found gray couches that were firm but cozy. The table and chairs were hard to find since we were adamant about having 6 chairs but the space we had to fit them in was pretty small. Todd’s intentionality came in handy when measuring the space and making sure the table and chairs would fit. We have made some great family memories around that table already!

We have so enjoyed our larger TV during family movie nights and the storage in the new console is amazing. It hides all our video games and controllers. The ping pong table is very popular when friends come over.

We have so enjoyed our new family room basement makeover and are very thankful for the credit card we use, the rewards we receive and how it is the perfect match for our lifestyle!

Finding The Perfect Credit Card

There are so many types of credit card reward programs out there. There are some reward programs that literally give you cash back, others give travel points, and some even give gift cards to your favorite stores. Some have an annual fee, some don’t.

It can be overwhelming to decide which card is best for your particular lifestyle, but it doesn’t have to be. Creditcards.com believes in empowering people to make smart choices around their credit cards, which means using the right card for you in the right way.

Their CardMatch tool helps you find the perfect credit card match. It is easy to use and securely matches you with offers in less than 60 seconds. Did you know that 10% of your credit score is determined by the number of inquiries you make to new credit cards? This is why the CardMatch tool is so amazing, you can get matched up with several cards in seconds without your credit score being impacted in any way.

Using a credit card responsibly can be a great way to make life easier, and being intentional in saving the rewards or making sure the benefits fit your lifestyle can add much value to your life. It sure has ours.

A basement makeover is great, but the memories we are making and continue to make with family and friends in that new space are amazing. Intentionality pays off!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CREDIT CARD? DO YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF REWARDS?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

DIY/Crafts/ Frugal/ HEALTH/ How-Tos/ Natural Products

DIY Ring Cleaner Avoid Ring Finger Rash

Oh how I love my wedding ring that was chosen so carefully 20 years ago by my Todd, and oh how happy I am that this DIY Ring Cleaner works! I recently started getting a rash under my ring and it was driving me crazy! It was just underneath the area that my diamond sits and it was red, dry and had itchy little bumps. I had a feeling it was from gunk that had collected under my ring, as on each side of my diamond on the underneath part there are hollow areas in my wedding band. It is the perfect area for grime to accumulate. I was right. After using this DIY Ring Cleaner, I have been rash free.

I wanted to make my own cleaner for several reasons:

I didn’t want to go run an extra errand to pick up store-bought cleaner
I didn’t want to use harsh chemicals
I didn’t want to store it
I didn’t want to spend the money

Frugal/ Gardening/ HOME/ Homemaking

My Simple Potted Plants

Follow New Nostalgia

I kept my potted plants simple and cheap this year! My energy has been down and I really didn’t want to spend a lot of money on plants. I’d rather save it for making fun summer memories with my girls!

Here is what I did:

2 Green pots of Dalias to greet my guests at the stairs by my front porch

1 Galvanized Steel Bucket holding herbs and a Mother’s Day gift from my Mother-in-Law

1 pot of my favorite funky spiral grass named Corkscrew or Juncus effusus ‘Curly Wurly’ that I plant every year. It is so easy to keep happy and I love how fun it looks.

1 pot of plain jane red geraniums (pictured above). They are the cheapest way to add color and take very little care.

1 pot of snap dragons. They were on sale and I wanted to add a pop of yellow to my backyard.

All in all, I only spent $25.00 for potted plants for both the back and front yard. Not bad, huh? They are nothing fancy, but they sure make me happy and make our little yard look thought of and taken care of.

……………

What did you plant this year? Do you plant the same types of flowers every year?

Frugal/ HOME

Saving On Summer Beauty Products For My Teen Girls

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Dollar General for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

{my 3 lovlies}

Summer break has officially started in the Bowman household. I’m super excited about having my girls home for the summer. Honestly, it used to send me into a bit of a panic thinking “what am I going to do with my 3 lovelies with all this time on our hands?” Now, post-cancer, I am just grateful to be here and for the time I have with them. Being teen girls they are much fun to hang out with & I can always find something fun to do with them.

I am a licenced cosmetologist, although I have not practiced in the salon for over 14 years! I still have my skill set, which comes in handy with 2 teen girls (and one pre-teen) especially in the summer. The challenge is finding ways to have them home & have fun with summer beauty products without breaking our budget!

Frugalness is something I preach often, and summer beauty products are not something I want to spend a lot of money on. But, I have 3 girly girls who love to express themselves and get creative with how they look, as most teenage girls do. I love seeing what they come up with, and I’m amazed at their fashion sense & find lots of joy seeing them all express themselves with their own unique style.

I have discovered that shopping at Dollar General is a great way to get some great summer beauty products that my girls love, without breaking the bank. I was surprised that I found so many products that they are familiar with, would want to use, and would get excited about.

This mascara is super recognizable. Everyone woman knows that pink and green bottle as it has been around for years. This is the mascara brand we use and love, and I was delighted to find it at Dollar General at almost 1/2 price of what I am used to paying for it.

My girls also love these particular eyeliners from Mayballine, for 2 reasons. One, no sharpener needed. Just twist and use. Also, they have a great sponge tip at the opposite end for blending. I’ve shown my girls the importance of keeping makeup natural, a way to enhance their God-given natural beauty, not distract or take away from it. Blending eyeliner with the sponge tip makes it look so soft and natural. This is another prodoct I was super happy to find at Dollar General.

I picked up a few more items while I was there. Sponges for blending coverup for those teen blemishes. Some Aloe Vera gel to soothe summer skin, cotton balls to use for removing polish, and my fav — pony tail holders to hold up our messy summer buns!

I grabbed a bottle of sparkly polish for our summer toes and a palate of eye shadows to experiemnt with.

I will be doing some posts coming up of all the ways we have fun with beauty around here, from doing our own manicures and pedicures, to our favorite detox bath using epsom salt and baking soda. I was SUPER excited to find epsom salt and baking soda at the best price at Dollar General!

For more information and inspiration from Dollar General, follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

Frugal/ Healthy Eating/ HOME/ How-Tos/ RECIPES/ Simplifying

How To Have A Friend Over For Lunch Without Cooking Or Baking

I’m slowly getting my energy back after 2 surgeries, but not so much energy that you will find me cooking and baking up a storm in my kitchen just yet! Thankfully, I have a great little market super close to my home. It is a little health food co-op grocer and they have a small deli in the back where they sell amazing homemade wraps, salads, etc.

I often use their food to help make entertaining a breeze. I love that they use ingredients that I would use here at home. They have lots of vegetarian, vegan & gluten free choices, so no matter who my company is, I can usually find something good for us to munch on from my local co-op.

Recently I had a friend over for lunch. It took no time at all to set out a nice little lunch that tasted homemade. I stopped over at the co-op grocer, picked up a few things, and within minutes had my table set and ready to serve my sweet friend.

I kept the cost down by splitting the wrap in two. The cake and granola bar is made there at the grocer and are only 99 cents each. I got a salad mix, some organic corn chips, salsa that is made fresh by the grocer which is to die for, some curry quinoa & chickpea salad, & a couple kiwis.

I peeled a couple of clementines and tossed them into the salad mix along with slivered honey almonds and dried cranberries.

This huge burrito wrap was a little over 3 bucks and was plenty filling for the both of us.

Banana cake with cream cheese frosting & a granola bar cut in half for dessert. Perfect to eat with coffee! I bought one piece of cake and one bar and cut them in half.

Pretty is important…or at least it is fun!! Put food on pretty platters, add a little lemon to the water. Throw on a pot of coffee and make sure to have some cute napkins on hand to brighten up the table.

So easy, very delicious! My friend and I had a great time catching up over lunch & I know she felt loved and cared for by the food I fed her.

{Don’t forget to PIN IT!}

Do you ever buy pre-made food instead of making everything yourself?

What foods do you like to throw onto platters and pass as homemade?

Do you admit to your company that you didn’t make it? I do, as I like to show people that it is easy to entertain without spending hours in the kitchen. PLUS, the food is always so good that I always get asked for the recipe, so I might as well fess up ahead of time! Ha!!

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