1. it's always fun to get new clothes, right? well, if new clothes aren't in your budget, try wearing old things in completely new ways (i find that other blogs can be VERY inspirational), or try doing a little alteration! this vintage dress has been in my closet for years, but i've only worn it once. it originally came to about the middle of my calves, and if you know how short i am, you know that that length isn't flattering. so, in less than an hour, i'd cut, ironed, pinned and hemmed it to make myself a new dress for fall! (dress-vintage, cardigan - gift from chris, slouch boots - vintage)2. utilize the barter system. in the time i've been selling on etsy, i've done some amazing trades with other sellers, and i've also done trades with artists and designers in person. most crafty people like to support other crafty people, and trading is a fun way to get something new without having to spend extra money. shy like me and a little nervous about asking people to trade? here's a site that takes the awkwardness out of asking.
3. make things with items you have around the house. something i made years ago (and need to make more of) was an air freshener that was neat to look at. it's super simple, just get an orange and poke whole cloves into it, completely covering it. the orange will dry and it will leave your house smelling AMAZING! and they're nice to look at, so you can make a few and set them in a decorative bowl on your coffee table!
4. redecorate your house. before chris and i moved into this house (and we had lots more clutter because i was well on my way to being a hoarder), he would come home from work and ask, "what did you change today?" you don't have to buy anything new, but move lamps, books, knick knacks, etc. from room to room until you have a completely new look with no money. but if you have a few dollars to spend, anything can be given a facelift with spray paint!
5. have friends over for dinner and a movie or game night. if you have an appetite like i do, eating out can get expensive. why not invite friends over and tell them each to bring one dish? that way it costs less, plus it's easier to cook one dish than an entire meal! and the best part, staying in means you get to wear sweatpants!
if you have ideas on ways to have fun or be creative without spending much money, i'd love to know!
i have to be careful about what i put in the living room, otherwise that flower loveseat can look kind of grannyish. we actually rarely ever use this room, which i thought was a waste when we first bought our house, but now i kind of like having a nice, quiet room that rarely gets used! the first thing i noticed when i walked in to our house before it was ours was the white mantle in the living room. it was and still is my favorite thing!
there's not a lot to show in my kitchen, because everyone knows what cabinets and appliances look like, so i picked my favorite things. the antique table i got from my friend haley before she moved to california. i've had many people offer to buy it when they come over to visit, but it stays with me! the bird cage light was a gift last christmas, and i still stare at it! the last thing is an old brass turtle that i keep beside the sink to hold my rings. it was a gift from my sweet friend 
even though my woopie is gone, i'll always have his paw print (with some extra fur). next, my favorite antique bird print, one of my favorite vintage lamps (that nearly electrocuted me, thus forcing me to learn how to rewire a lamp) and little white birds, all on top of the entertainment center. little bird eggs (the ones i focused on are flojo's) and nests. last, a print from one of my 
the rules for entering (and you have multiple chances to win)!
the stones i've been using lately include amethyst, black quartz, turquoise and emerald. can you believe the stone in the second picture is a raw chunk of emerald? in the last picture, the stone that looks like an aqua brain is raw turquoise, and i think it may be my new favorite!
i apologize for the poor picture quality, but today has been dark and rainy (not that i mind a rainy day) which isn't conducive to good picture-taking. when chris and i were on the way back from our island vacation/anniversary trip, we stopped in north carolina at this huge warehouse type store that had everything you could possibly imagine; most of it was crap, but this book was reason enough to go! it's called "animal house style" and it's written by julia szabo. it's not only about decorating a house for humans and furry or feathered friends, but it shares tips on everything from cleaning up fur to using safe, chemical free solutions to clean your house. i still haven't read much of it because i always end up looking at the pictures and forgetting where i was at!