The work that the non-profit organization, Habitat for Humanity is so important. They’ve had a huge impact all over the world. It’s only fitting that DIY’ers support the cause (since we too love home improvement). That’s the reason for One Project Closer’s annual Before & After series. OPC started this event four years ago as a way to help raise awareness for Habitat, and to support their mission to provide decent, safe and affordable places to live.
How it Works
If you’re not familiar with the series, here’s the basics: you submit pictures and a story from a home improvement project you worked (no contracted jobs) sometime over the past year. Every week of the summer (June 20 – September 21), a winner is selected and their story is published online. Each winner gets a $50 gift card to either Lowes, Home Depot, or Amazon, and we make a donation of $100 to Habitat for Humanity in their honor! At the end of the Summer, the best submission, as voted on by readers, wins a bonus $150 gift card to one of the three stores above.
This year is different and even more AWESOME because One Project Closer has asked 13 blogs to get involved, each hosting a week, picking that week’s winner, and featuring the Before and After article on their site.
This week’s host is OPC’s The Better Half and the first before and after story is being feature TODAY – here! I hope you’ll check it out and submit your own before and after story!
How to Enter
If you want to submit a before and after story, email your submission to beforeandafter@oneprojectcloser.com or enter via the link party to show off your great transformations HERE. You have all summer long to link up. I’ll share a reminder and link each week.
I’m excited to be hosting the North Pittsburgh “I Love Thrifting Day” again this year! I love thrifting day is one day out of the year when thrifters all over the world celebrate the art of thrifting. It is a time to meet new friends, connect with old ones and share the love a a good find.
We have a super fun busy day planned. Here is Pittsburgh North “I LOVE THRIFTING day” tentative schedule for Sat. July 7th:
9 a.m. North Hills GoodWill
10:30 Wexford GoodWill
11:30 Cranberry Twp. GoodWill
12:30 Lunch at Primanti’s
2:00 Gibsonia GoodWill
3:30 p.m. Share and pictures (location to be announced)
Join in for the entire day or somewhere along the way! Plans, locations and time are subject to change. Local to Pittsburgh? Join us! I can’t wait to meet you! We’re going to enjoy a day of thrifty treasure hunting! Bri and I had a blast last year and hope to have a bigger crowd this year.
The GoodWill stores on the N. Pittsburgh I LOVE THRIFTING day schedule are giving a 10% discount to shoppers wearing the t-shirt {our group}! How exciting!
~*~*~*~
Are you attending the Haven Conference? I am! It’s another fun opportunity to meet my amazing DIY blog friends! I have to admit I’m a little, maybe even a lot nervous! I haven’t made arrangements to meet up or sit with my e-friends/soon-to-be real life friends and fear I’ll be sitting by myself. Seriously…the words to just speak up don’t come to me until after the opportunity has passed. Why is that? Why wasn’t I born more outgoing and brave?! So, if you see me – please introduce yourself! Bri was going to accompany me, but something came up and now I’m on my own. Counting down the days!
And if you have a DIY project you’d like to share or a guest post for the couple of days I’ll be out of town, now’s the time to show off! 🙂
Mr. DIY is the cook in our family. He finds cooking relaxing and therapeutic after a long day at work. He enjoys it. {Who am I to argue?}
We were super excited when we swapped out blue laminate countertops for granite last year. On a photo shoot day, it looks like this:
When Mr. DIY has finished creating a delicious meal, it looks like this on a good day:
And usually when I clean up, it’s streaky-looking in certain lighting. I was more than happy to try Granite Gold‘s products for a little help with cleaning that mess on a regular basis, to have an easy solution to my almost daily chore.The food is always amazing but the kitchen usually winds up looking like the Muppets Swedish Chef stopped by for a visit…
After clearing all of the clutter and crumbs, I used the Granite Gold cleaner to get through spills, water marks and grease…
I love the citrus scent and streak-free formula {not the result I was getting with brand name cleaning wipes}.
Our granite has a honed finish, but the Granite Gold polish brings out the granite’s natural beauty and when used weekly, provides ongoing protection against water marks.
Gorgeous shine! Great for cleaning our Virginia Mist granite and marble subway tile backsplash too!
One lucky DIY Show Off winner will receive:
The Granite Gold cleaning kit includes 5 must-have products:
Daily Cleaner: Our #1 best seller is a streak-free formula that safely deep-cleans natural stone surfaces, leaving a fresh citrus scent
Polish: Quickly add shine and luster to granite and other natural stone surfaces.
Shower Cleaner: Instead of using other household cleaners which can damage natural stone, our shower cleaner is the safe alternative to prevent mold, mildew, soap scum and hard water deposits
Outdoor Stone Cleaner: Easily attachable to your garden hose, it is safe to use on patios, decks and driveways because the biodegradable, ph-balanced formula won’t harm plants, animals, siding or plastics
Sealer: To provide long-lasting resistance to staining and soil build-up you only need to use our natural stone sealer once a year! So add it to your spring-cleaning to-do’s.
Specially formulated to clean and maintain all-natural surfaces, Granite Gold’s complete stone care line gives consumers the tools to keep their natural stone protected and looking first-class. The non-toxic and non-abrasive formula won’t scratch surfaces, is environmentally friendly and safe to use on any food-preparation surfaces.
+ a $50 Bed, Bath and Beyond gift card!
HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:
Sign up to receive the latest stone care advice from the experts at Granite Gold.
Visit Granite Gold on Facebook for latest stone care advice, helpful hints and updates. Leave a comment that you “like” Granite Gold.
Follow Granite Gold’s on Twitter for the answers to your stone care questions and leave a comment about it.
Comment on how you’ve helped spread the word about the Granite Gold giveaway (Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, G+, blogging). {THANK YOU for your help!}
Leave a comment telling Granite Gold which natural stone in your home could use a little special TLC.
Giveaway starts today and ends June 30th, 2012 at midnight EST. One winner will be chosen randomly and announced shortly after.Open to US residents 18+ only. Good luck!
DIY Show Off received compensation and product for this honest review based on personal experience and giveaway was donated by Granite Gold.
