Just in time for Memorial Day! If you're in need of something to spice up the buffet table at your Memorial Day cookout, look no further than this DIY tiered tray. It's super cute and great for holding desserts, utensils and so much more.

I put this little beauty together for $5 and it took all of 10 minutes. I bought the various cake plates and trays from the dollar store and used hot glue to attach the painted candlesticks. The best part about this DIY tiered tray is how customizable it is.

I went for a silver galvanized look, but this tiered tray is just as easily recreated with glass or plastic and painted with any color. I have seen these trays on kitchen and bathroom counters, too. They're great for storage and display.

If you're in need of some cute display this Memorial Day, you can make this DIY tiered tray in 10 minutes and for $5. Check out the instructions below!

One of my favorite things about birthdays is all the free things. And I'm not just talking about the presents. I'm talking about all the coupons and goodies you get from being a rewards member at your favorite stores and restaurants. So far, my favorite goodies have been a free scoop of ice cream and Baskin Robbins and free tater tots at Sonic. That coupon for Olive Garden is going to taste mighty good this weekend too. But one birthday reward has blow all the rest out of the water and that is my free gift from being a Sephora Beauty Insider.

May's Beauty Insider birthday gift at Sephora was this cute blush and lipstick combo from Tarte. Anyone who knows me know that I am definitely not going to sneeze at free makeup. In fact, I will more than likely do everything I can to get free makeupt. It was a no brainer to yes to the Tarte duo at the checkout counter, especially when I haven't tried any of their makeup before.

​This Tarte combo comes with an Amazonian clay 12-hour blush in the shade paaarty and a tartiest lip paint in the color birthday suit. Lipstick is my weakness. Actually, that's why I was in Sephora in the first place. I was buying my birthday lipstick. (I chose Stila stay all day liquid lipstick in perla, but that's a different story.) I was eager to get this Tarte freebie home and try it on.

This Tarte lip paint is fantastic! This lipstick has a cool mint smell and goes on like a dream. It felt so light on my lips. Not to mention, the shade is a dark dusty rose color that makes for the perfect nude lip. And the Tarte blush is a nice light pink color that didn't make my already rosy cheeks too rosy. I usually stay away from blush for this very reason, but I have a feeling I will be picking this one up often.

Let this blog post serve as a reminder to you that when your birthday rolls around, don't forget to check everywhere you are a rewards member with so you can get your free goodies too! Tarte is a great brand and if you haven't already, check out their makeup!

Things have been crazy for me these last few months. I have not had time to maintain my website like I should due to producing an awards show in Las Vegas, graduating, and turning 21, but now that things are winding down, prepare for a Beanies & Weenies like you've never seen before.

This past semester was rough. I was taking 17 credit hours worth of classes and working as an editor at ECU's student newspaper. On top of that, I was part of a specially chosen group of students who flew to Las Vegas at the end of April to attend the National Association of Broadcasters convention and produce the Best of Festival awards show for the Broadcast Educators Association. I have been a busy bee since February!

Now that graduation is over and my birthday has passed (I finally turned 21!), I plan on dedicating a lot more time into Beanies & Weenies and my freelance services. For starters, I plan on updating this website and posting many more blog posts with cool patterns and tutorials. I also plan crochet a giant inventory of goodies for Etsy, local markets, and maybe, just maybe, a few giveaways (shhhhh!). 

Anyway, that was my quick update. Check back later this week for what could be a fun crochet pattern or interesting DIY. I haven't decided yet.

Until then, check out these pictures to see what I've been up to for the last 3 months!