Serenity Now

::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

2013-05-24T08:01:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. This is the day of the week where other bloggers stop by to link up their best post of the week, and readers get to browse tons of fun project ideas. If you're new here, don't forget to "Follow" or subscribe so you don't miss future parties and projects! Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link--it's good for both of our SEO!

This party is a great place to showcase your very best post of the week (home decor, crafts, party ideas, recipes, DIY, tips and tricks, etc.) and to see what else is out there.

Here are a few of my faves I spotted around the web this week:

sources listed below

~Chicken Feeder Herb Garden via Inspired by Charm

~Shipping Crate Side Table via Simplicity in the South (on Infarrantly Creative)

~Patio Swing Retreat via DIY Show Off

~DIY Herringbone Tray via it's always autumn

~And Me? I'd love it if you have a moment to click over. This week featured:

Time to link up your best post of the week!

Rules:

Please link back to me within your post (text link or party button). I only feature posts and projects that include a direct link back to me in the post.*
No items for sale, shops, link parties, giveaways, etc. and please don't link up the same post week after week. I have a Sponsors section if you'd like to Advertise.
Remember this party is for your best post of the week. Don't link up 10 posts...that's really not in the spirit of this party.
Visit some of the other links--that's how a good blog party works--participation!

*A text link-back (ex- Linking to Serenity Now) is fantastic, but here's the button code if you'd prefer to use that rather than a text link-back:

Party is open until 10 pm (ET) on Sunday night.

What are you up to this weekend?

Did I Feature you today? Click here for a "featured" button for your blog post or sidebar.

Day Off

2013-05-23T08:01:00.000-04:00

The sun is (sort of) shining, though I don't think it will last long today. It's Michaela Byrd's first day of summer vacay after preschool, and my house is a disgusting wreck. I'm taking a day off, guys. Feel free to browse the Project Gallery or past Weekend Bloggy Reading parties for inspiration today.

The link party is scheduled to go live tomorrow morning at 8 am EST. Bring your best post of the week to share! Please be sure to add a link back to Serenity Now within your post...it helps both of our SEO.

Have a good one!

An Afternoon at the Ballet

2013-05-22T08:01:00.000-04:00

Saturday afternoon was all about tutus and hairpins and makeup and dance slippers. Michaela Byrd had her last ballet recital at her dance studio; next year it's up on stage with the big kids. The studio owner chose (of course) the darkest, gloomiest room for the recital, so snapping good pics was hard because I wanted to focus on watching my girlie dance. But I did manage to snag a few that I wanted to share today.

And, of course, we end the day with frozen yogurt. Chocolate, peanut butter cups, Reese's pieces, hot fudge. Perfection.

Have you been to the ballet lately?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments.

Recipe Reviews from My Pinterest Food Board

2013-05-21T08:01:00.000-04:00

So I'm doing this thing where I actually try out some of the recipes I prolifically Pin to my Recipes and Foodie Tips board, rather than just click "Pin It" over and over until my eyes pop out. Imagine that! And there have been times where I've Pinned a recipe from a blog or website and wondered if it would actually live up to the hype. So consider today's post my tried and tested review of a couple recent recipe Pins with my photos to back it up. I'd love to know if you try them too!

Crock Pot Meatball Subs from Growing with Grabbie

This one was as easy as dumping a bag of frozen meatballs in my crock pot along with some sauce and spices. The store didn't have any hoagie rolls, so I bought some ciabatta rolls and it was just as tasty. A great weeknight special!

Beer Bread from Dulce Dough

I searched and searched for a tasty beer bread recipe because I didn't want to spend $87 per loaf buying the mix from Tastefully Simple. We had everything we needed, and it was perfection! Best when served warm, and don't skip pouring the butter on the top!

Chicken and Rice Casserole from pinch of yum

If you sense a theme of "easy" among these recipes, you would be correct. My sis sent me the link for this one, and I am forever grateful. This recipe has healthy options, but I went for the cream of chicken soups 'cause ain't nobody got time for that. I also leave the chicken breasts whole; doesn't make a difference in the outcome. I also add frozen broccoli florets. Still a yummy meal.

Do you use your Pinterest boards to meal plan? Have any new favorites that you've snagged from a blogger or recipe site?

I'd love it if you'd like to follow me on Pinterest. I Pin lots of recipes, home decor inspiration, craft ideas, and homemaking tips. Hop over and check my boards out!

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments!

Featured Project Ideas {Link Party Features}

2013-05-20T08:01:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday! How's your week starting out? As promised, I'm back with some Features from the weekend link party. As usual, there was a fantastic line-up of creative posts: Home Decor, DIY, Crafts, Recipes, Party Ideas, Tips and Tricks, and more. Without further ado, here are some that I spotted this weekend:

~Spring Living Room via Happy Housie

~Philly Cheese Steak Stuffed Peppers via The Kitchen is My Playground

~Above Ground Pond via One More Time

~Kate Spade Inspired Chair Makeover via Fresh Idea Studio

~French Vintage Picnic Party via Princess Splendor

~Orange Vanilla Monkey Bread via The Sweet Spot

~How to Use a Mason Jar with a Blender via Small Home Big Start

~Painted Berry Boxes via While Wearing Heels

~Nautical Style Dresser Makeover via Petticoat Junktion

~Travel Laptop Chalkboard via Sunny with a Chance of Sprinkles

Hope you found something inspiring today! Isn't this a great way to start the week?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments.

One More Day to Link Up Your Best Post!

2013-05-19T10:43:00.003-04:00

I'm trying something different this week and giving everyone one more day to link up to this week's Weekend Bloggy Reading link party before I choose Features. I've been running this party for several years now, and I'd love to see it grow a little more. I'll have a post with lots of Featured Project Ideas up tomorrow morning.

If you haven't joined the fun yet, please hop over to the party and add your best post of the week. We have Home Decor, Crafts, DIY, Recipes, Tips and Tricks, Party Ideas, and so much more! Lots of fun ideas to Pin and tuck away for future use.

If you've already linked up, be sure to browse some of the other projects. If you haven't added a link back to me within your post, please take a minute to do that. I had to bypass several dozen really fantastic projects last weekend for Features because the bloggers didn't link back to Serenity Now within their posts. It's good for both of our SEO, guys!

Hope you've had a fantastic weekend.

Share Your Best Post of the Week-- Link Up!

2013-05-18T10:03:00.001-04:00

Happy Saturday! What are you up to today? I just wanted to offer you guys a quick "weekend update." Please pop in to link up YOUR best post of the week at my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. Today's the day to link up because I'm busy rounding up more Features! I'd love to know which ones caught your eye.

All kinds of posts are welcome here: We have recipes, party ideas, room makeovers, crafts, printables, tips and tricks, home decor, DIY, fashion advice, and more! The code for the button is near the end of this post, or you can add a text link back to me within your post.

This is just a quick "sneak peek" snapshot of all the awesome projects that have been shared at the party this week. You can click the party link above to check them out and share your own project! I'd love to Feature you in a post!

If you haven't linked up yet, hop on over! Be sure to browse some of the amazing projects that have been shared.

If you missed this week's posts at Serenity Now, here are some links for you:

More Features coming tomorrow!

::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

2013-05-17T08:01:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. This is the day of the week where other bloggers stop by to link up their best post of the week, and readers get to browse tons of fun project ideas. If you're new here, don't forget to "Follow" or subscribe so you don't miss future parties and projects! Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link. I've been bypassing dozens of links for Features because the posts don't have a direct link back to me!

This party is a great place to showcase your very best post of the week (home decor, crafts, party ideas, recipes, DIY, tips and tricks, etc.) and to see what else is out there.

Here are a few of my faves I spotted around the web this week:

sources listed below

~Diagonal Color Block T-Shirt via warfieldfamily

~DIY Clay Monogram Medallions via damask love

~Create a Meaningful Home series via SAS Interiors

~Updating an Oudoor Umbrella via Creatively Living

~And Me? I'd love it if you have a moment to click over. This week featured:

Time to link up your best post of the week!

Rules:

Please link back to me within your post (text link or party button). I only feature posts and projects that include a direct link back to me in the post.*
No items for sale, shops, link parties, giveaways, etc. and please don't link up the same post week after week. I have a Sponsors section if you'd like to Advertise.
Remember this party is for your best post of the week. Don't link up 10 posts...that's really not in the spirit of this party.
Visit some of the other links--that's how a good blog party works--participation!

*A text link-back (ex- Linking to Serenity Now) is fantastic, but here's the button code if you'd prefer to use that rather than a text link-back:

Party is open until 10 pm (ET) on Sunday night.

What are you up to this weekend?

I'm heading to dinner and to see The Great Gatsby tonight with my book club...have been looking forward to it all month. And Michaela Byrd's big ballet recital is tomorrow afternoon.

Did I Feature you today? Click here for a "featured" button for your blog post or sidebar.

Not That Innocent

2013-05-16T08:01:00.000-04:00

I hope you heard Britney Spears' singing when you read the title of this post, because I totally did. This looks like the precious face of a puppy angel, albeit a large-eared one, doesn't it?

It's been ten years since we've had a puppy in the house, and Ellie is giving us (and our Pomeranian, Emma) a grand reintroduction.

Her current favorite toys are the plastic lid of a peanut butter jar and anything that squeaks. Her favorite things to chew are my chair legs and the legs of small children who might be passing through the kitchen. Michaela Byrd, whose skinny legs are the approximate width of a No. 2 pencil, makes an excellent victim.

Likes? Eating as many cicada bugs as possible while being walked in the backyard. Cherry picking dishes off the table when children aren't paying attention. Dislikes? Being left alone for any period of time. An empty food bowl.

I say this jesting because I realize that a lot of this is normal puppy behavior, and most of it can be curbed.

We're working really, really hard on the whole "no bite" thing and making her understand that the girls are not chew toys. I need to get some bitter apple stuff to put on the furniture legs. I'm also struggling through the house training...the cicada bugs are out and really threw me for a loop. Ellie has to be leashed when we go out now so she doesn't stuff herself with too many bugs and forget about the whole potty thing. It's super-fun.

On the bright side, it's so fun to see a puppy explore a whole new world. We've been careful to keep her home until she's through all of her shots, but she has enjoyed meeting some family members and their dogs. She seems to be pretty smart. I taught her "sit" the other day in just two tries.

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you may have seen a few Ellie-themed "Don't worry, Mom" pics. I plan on keeping those up...they make me smile.

What's your best puppy tips?

*Bring your best post of the week tomorrow for the weekly link party! I can't wait to see what's up your sleeve!*

Banana Bread Recipe with One Banana

2013-05-15T08:01:00.000-04:00

Did you know you can make Banana Bread with just one banana? I didn't until yesterday! I had one measly brown banana and didn't want to throw it out. With a little Google help, I found a recipe from What a Crock! and tweaked it by adding a few extras. It turned out great, so I'm sharing it with you today:

Banana Bread with One Banana

Ingredients:

1 large very ripe banana

1 egg with enough milk to make 1 cup (I used whole milk because that's what my girls drink)\

1 stick of butter, softened

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

Walnuts (optional)

Chocolate Chips (optional)

Dash of cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

*Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

1. Dump all of the ingredients (except for the nuts and chocolate chips) into your mixer bowl; no need to combine. I just broke the banana up into a couple of chunks.

2. Mix on low to medium-low until most of the chunks are gone.

3. Grease a baking pan. (Grease it really well...the bottom of my bread stuck because I didn't grease it well enough!)

4. If you're adding chocolate chips, mix them into the batter and pour into the bread pan. Top with sprinkles of walnuts.

5. Bake at 350 for 55 minutes. Use a toothpick to determine if the bread is cooked all the way through.

It is a very dense, moist (I hate that word) bread. Very tasty!

My girls eat pretty healthy breakfasts: eggs, toast, fruit, whole wheat waffles, healthier cereal...so sometimes I like to treat them with muffins or a yummy bread. Paired with some scrambled eggs and a small serving of fruit, this would make for a very yummy morning meal!

What's your favorite type of bread?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments!

Martha Stewart Jewelry Sneak Peek (Haul Video)

2013-05-14T08:01:00.000-04:00

It's been awhile since I've had a chance to do anything crafty, so I was beyond excited to be accepted for a fun campaign with Plaid Crafts and Martha Stewart Crafts for a brand new Jewelry Crafting line! I thought it would be fun to share some of the new products out there in a quick video.

If you're reading this in an email or reader, you'll have to click over to the blog to see the video:

What do you think? Like I said in the video, I'm new to jewelry crafting, but so excited to get started. You can never have enough jewelry! Hopefully this gave you a nice sneak peek at the line. It's easy to forget to head over to the craft store to check out new stuff, so maybe now you have an excuse.

Do you have any jewelry crafting tips for me? What looks like the most fun item to you?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments!

*I received crafting items as part of a paid campaign for Plaid Crafts and Martha Stewart Crafts. All photos and opinions are, as always, my own!

Featured Project Ideas

2013-05-13T08:01:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday! I spent yesterday enjoying the Mother's Day holiday, and I promised to share some features from the link party today. We've got recipes, party ideas, DIY, Home Decor, Crafts, and more. I like to share my finds on my Pinterest page as well as Facebook, so be sure to join the fun when the party goes live again on Friday morning.

Here are a few things that caught my eye over the weekend:

~Chalk Paint Buffet Makeover via Made it on Monday

~Chocolate Chip Oreo Cheesecake Bars via Cozy Country Living

~Hanging Mason Flower Jar via a lo and behold life

~Lazy Girl's Guide to Reupholstering via DIY on the Cheap

~Super Hero Birthday Party via Semi Crafter

~Pottery Barn Inspired Rope Chandelier via More for Four

~Ten Basic Manners to Teach Your Son via Helene's Legacy

~Organized Home Video Cassettes via Be Simply Organized

~Wood Shim Pendant Light via May Richer Fuller Be

~It's a BOTB Day over at Centsational Girl! Head over to see the Best of the Blogosphere that Kate and I rounded up for this week. You don't want to miss it!

Hope you found some great ideas to Pin today!

Have a great day!

Happy Mother's Day!

2013-05-12T09:01:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there! I hope you have a day full of love and blessings.

source

"Woman, how divine your mission,

Here upon our natal sod;

Keep—oh, keep the young heart open

Always to the breath of God!

All true trophies of the ages

Are from mother-love impearled,

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world."

-William Ross Wallace

*In honor of the holiday, I'm giving myself today off. I'll be back tomorrow with Features from the link party, so be sure to link up today if you haven't already!

Link Up Your Best Post of the Week!

2013-05-11T10:00:00.002-04:00

Happy Saturday! What are you up to today? I just wanted to offer you guys a quick "weekend update." Please pop in to link up YOUR best post of the week at my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. With Mother's Day tomorrow, I'm planning on running Features on Monday. I'd love to know which ones caught your eye.

All kinds of posts are welcome here: We have recipes, party ideas, room makeovers, crafts, printables, tips and tricks, home decor, DIY, fashion advice, and more! The code for the button is near the end of this post, or you can add a text link back to me within your post.

This is just a quick "sneak peek" snapshot of all the awesome projects that have been shared at the party this week. You can click the party link above to check them out and share your own project! I'd love to Feature you in Monday's post!

If you haven't linked up yet, hop on over! Be sure to browse some of the amazing projects that have been shared.

If you missed this week's posts at Serenity Now, here are some links for you:

So, what did you have up your sleeve this week? Come by and share it with us here! Be sure to check out some of the other bloggers' work too. Here's the button in case you'd rather use that than a text link back.

More Features coming Monday!

::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

2013-05-10T08:01:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. This is the day of the week where other bloggers stop by to link up their best post of the week, and readers get to browse tons of fun project ideas. If you're new here, don't forget to "Follow" or subscribe so you don't miss future parties and projects! Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link. I had to bypass dozens of links last week for Features because the posts didn't have a link back to me!!

This party is a great place to showcase your very best post of the week (home decor, crafts, party ideas, recipes, DIY, tips and tricks, etc.) and to see what else is out there.

Here are a few of my faves I spotted around the web this week:

sources listed below

~Rustic Style Craft Containers via Marisa Howard Design

~DIY Agate Artwork via Dans le Townhouse

~Gustavian Gray Armoire via Divine Theatre

~20 Springtime Uses for Vinegar via Denise in Bloom

~And Me? I'd love it if you have a moment to click over. This week featured:

Time to link up your best post of the week!

Rules:

Please link back to me within your post (text link or party button). I only feature posts and projects that include a direct link back to me in the post.*
No items for sale, shops, link parties, giveaways, etc. and please don't link up the same post week after week. I have a Sponsors section if you'd like to Advertise.
Remember this party is for your best post of the week. Don't link up 10 posts...that's really not in the spirit of this party.
Visit some of the other links--that's how a good blog party works--participation!

*A text link-back (ex- Linking to Serenity Now) is fantastic, but here's the button code if you'd prefer to use that rather than a text link-back:

Party is open until 10 pm (ET) on Sunday night.

What are you up to this weekend?

Did I Feature you today? Click here for a "featured" button for your blog post or sidebar.

The Great Gatsby

2013-05-09T08:01:00.000-04:00

Still feeling like I just want to lay on the couch and watch movies all day. Ugh. With two girls, that's not exactly possible, so I thought I could at least talk about movies today on the blog. Or one movie. ~~A movie starring the incredibly debonair Leonardo DiCaprio.~~ Anyone else super-excited about seeing The Great Gatsby? It comes out tomorrow!

Gatsby ended up as the pick for this month's book club, and I hadn't read it since high school. How I managed to earn a degree in English, Speech, and Linguistics without rereading F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece in college, I'll never know. But reading it again last week swept me back into that glittery, pulsing Jazz Age.

I remember seeing the Robert Redford film version of the novel in high school, and being utterly bored with it. Although I'm not sure I agree with the new director's (Baz Luhrman) choice to use contemporary music, and the trailer has a bit of a manic look to it, it does seem to capture the frenzy and excess that the Jazz Age embodied. I remember loving his take on Romeo and Juliet (also starring Leo!), so maybe I'll love this one too.

There are so many things Fitzgerald had to say about the American dream and materialism...I guess we'll have to wait and see how it translates on screen. My book club is heading out to see it next Friday night, and I can't wait!

If you haven't seen the trailer yet, I'll embed it below (you'll have to click over to the blog if you're viewing this from a reader or email):

Who else is excited for this one?

*Come by tomorrow, ready to share your best post of the week at the link party!

Easy Way to Cook Fried Eggs

2013-05-08T08:01:00.000-04:00

Hello, hello! I'm still just not at 100%, so my sweet friend Richella from Imparting Grace agreed to swing by and share a guest post with us today. She has one of those "light-bulb moment" recipes for us...the easiest way to fry an egg I've ever seen!

Please welcome Richella!

*************************

Mother's Day is this weekend--a time for thanksgiving and reflection on all the wonderful things about being a mother.

My boys have taught me many things over the years. In 22 years of being a mom, I've learned to expect to learn things from them. One thing I never expected to learn from them, though? How to fry an egg.

I mean, seriously. I've been frying eggs for more than 40 years. What else could there be to learn?

Once more, I stand humbled. My son just taught me a bit of cooking magic that I'll share with you: the world's easiest, fastest way to fry an egg. No kidding.

Use a small, microwave-safe bowl. Lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray. Break an egg into the bowl.

Pierce the yolk and mix it into the white just a little.

Microwave for 30 seconds. The egg will make popping sounds in the microwave, but if you've pierced the yolk it shouldn't explode. If you like, you can stick a toothpick into the yolk and leave it in while microwaving; this should prevent too much popping.

Remove bowl from microwave (Careful! It'll be hot!) and flip egg over with a fork or small spatula.
Microwave for another 15-30 seconds. Season as desired.

This makes a fried egg that's the perfect size and shape for a breakfast sandwich. My oldest son likes a sandwich made with an English muffin, a piece of cheese, and a couple of strips of bacon on his fried egg. My youngest son likes the same thing, but prefers to use two frozen waffles instead of an English muffin.

Of course, my metabolism is not quite the same as my boys', so I don't get to indulge in quite the same breakfast sandwiches as theirs. Still, one of these eggs on a light multi-grain English muffin makes a tasty and nutritious breakfast. For 170 calories and 5 grams of fat I get 11 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber. Not bad.

My hat is off to the chef! I'm grateful to still be learning from these fellows!
*******************************

I am so going to try this! Thank you so much for sharing with us, Richella!

If you haven't visited Imparting Grace before, you simply must. Richella's blog is full of inspiring words to warm your heart and soul. She also has a beautiful home and shares home decor posts with her readers. Please stop by today!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie Recipe

2013-05-07T08:01:00.000-04:00

Today's recipe is perfect for a Mother's Day celebration. All of us moms love chocolate, right? And pie? Okay, is it just me? I hope you like peanut butter and chocolate...because they are the stars in this recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie.

My favorite thing about this pie (aside from how delicious it is) is how easy it is to put together. And you don't have to cook a thing. Your freezer will do all the work for you!

Ingredients:

-1 graham cracker pie crust

-1 package of Original Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies (I think any brand would work, provided they aren't the soft/chewy cookies)

-1 small cup of milk

-1 large container of Cool Whip

-Chocolate Syrup

-Peanut Butter

Instructions:

1. Take cookies, one by one and dip them into the glass of milk.

2. After the cookie is dipped, place it on the bottom the pie crust. Fill in gaps with broken cookies.

3. Top with a layer of Cool Whip.

4. Drizzle with chocolate syrup.

5. Use a sandwich bag to hold slightly warmed peanut butter.

6. Drizzle peanut butter after the chocolate syrup.

7. Add another layer of dipped cookies.

8. Top with a final layer of Cool Whip, chocolate syrup, peanut butter, and some dry cookie crumbles.

9. Cover your pie and place it in the freezer overnight. Let it thaw for a few minutes before serving. (It's really best when it's still slightly frozen)

Now you have a sinfully tasty frozen pie to share with family and friends. They will all rave about what a culinary genius you are, and you will secretly smile because you know how easy it was to make. Seriously, you still had plenty of time to watch Project Runway after you made the pie.

Enjoy!

Do you have a favorite pie recipe that's easy to make?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments!

Featured Project Ideas

2013-05-06T08:01:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday! As I explained yesterday, I've been under-the-weather, so I'm sharing some Highlighted Links from the link party today. I'm still not 100%, so this list will be a bit shorter than usual, but I hope you find some great inspiration! I like to share my finds on my Pinterest page as well as Facebook, so be sure to join the fun.

Here are a few things that caught my eye over the weekend:

~Master Bedroom Progress via Desert Willow Lane

~Lego Toy Storage and Organization via Be Simply Organized

~Homemade Tortilla Chips and Guacamole via The Pink Flour

~Board and Batten Wall via Keep Calm and Decorate

~Party Hat Chocolate Suckers via I Got This, Martha

~Pulley Cord Light via Charming Zebra

~Incorporating Vintage Decor via An Inviting Home

~Salted Caramel Twix Bars via Life a Little Brighter

~Reading Nook via Michelle Lee Interiors

~How to Re-Coat Furniture via Two Twenty One

~Mini Blackberry Cheesecakes via The Scrapshoppe Blog

Hope you found some great ideas to Pin today! I hope to be back to regular posting tomorrow, but no promises. Cross your fingers for me...just hoping to feel better.

Have a great day!

The Weather, Under It

2013-05-05T13:11:00.001-04:00

I'm taking a break from today's regularly scheduled highlighted links post. I've pretty much been on the couch all weekend, very much under the weather. I'll have a post up tomorrow with all the fab Features from this weekend's link party, so keep an eye out! In the meantime, feel free to head over to the party and link up! I'm on the lookout for some great project ideas to share with everyone tomorrow.

::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

2013-05-03T08:01:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. This is the day of the week where other bloggers stop by to link up their best post of the week, and readers get to browse tons of fun project ideas. If you're new here, don't forget to "Follow" or subscribe so you don't miss future parties and projects! Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link.

This party is a great place to showcase your very best post of the week (home decor, crafts, party ideas, recipes, DIY, tips and tricks, etc.) and to see what else is out there.

Here are a few of my faves I spotted around the web this week:

sources listed below

~Craft Paint Storage Door via Infarrantly Creative

~Mystery Braid Bracelet Tutorial via A Pumpkin and a Princess

~Hexagon Greenhouse via Not JUST a Housewife

~Fabric Scrap Lampshade via house by hoff

~And Me? I'd love it if you have a moment to click over. This week featured:

Time to link up your best post of the week!

Rules:

Please link back to me within your post (text link or party button). I only feature posts and projects that include a direct link back to me in the post.*
No items for sale, shops, link parties, giveaways, etc. and please don't link up the same post week after week. I have a Sponsors section if you'd like to Advertise.
Remember this party is for your best post of the week. Don't link up 10 posts...that's really not in the spirit of this party.
Visit some of the other links--that's how a good blog party works--participation!

*A text link-back (ex- Linking to Serenity Now) is fantastic, but here's the button code if you'd prefer to use that rather than a text link-back:

Party is open until 10 pm (ET) on Sunday night.

What are you up to this weekend?

Did I Feature you today? Click here for a "featured" button for your blog post or sidebar.

10 DIY Kindle and e-Reader Cover Tutorials

2013-05-02T08:01:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite Christmas gifts this past year was a Kindle Paperwhite from the hubs. I hinted (not-so-subtly) that I'd really like one, and he went out of his way to track one down at the last minute, as all the local places were sold out. Once I had the Kindle, of course I had to have a stylish cover for it. I ordered an adorable patterned one online, but I'd like to try my hand at making one too. I thought today would be perfect to do a little round up of DIY Kindle and e-Reader Cover Tutorials!

I like the way this one's enclosed to keep scratches at a minimum:

whipstitch

I love the way this one can stand up on its own!

Chica and Jo

This one incorporates fun trim:

Nellie Bellie

I love anything ruffled!

Darling Adventures

Love the funky zebra print with hot pink lining. This is a nice "drop-in" sleeve.

handmade harbor

Just looove this one!

The Cottage Home

Embellishment, too much cute:

Stubbornly Crafty

I like the simplicity of this one:

Life in Grace

Use an old book cover!

Unexpected Elegance

Looks like a clutch:

Displacement Activity

The one I bought online is super-cute. I did a maaaajor search on Etsy and decided on this one from Covers by Diana. (She is not an advertiser, I just wanted to give her a shout-out). Great communication and willing to do customizations! Fabulous quality.

Do you use an e-Reader? How do you like to transport yours?

*Don't forget to bring your best post of the week to share at the link party tomorrow! 8 am EST...be there!

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments!

Overgrown Rosemary (Need Your Advice, Readers!)

2013-05-01T08:01:00.000-04:00

Before you get offended, I should say that the "rosemary" in question is a plant, not a person! I love cooking with rosemary and bought some to pot a year or two ago. I stuck it in a large terracotta pot and placed it in a spot by the fence that gets lots of sun.

I wanted it to look like this:

source

Or this:

source

Or go a little Martha like this:

source

So, yeah, what I ended up with is this:

It would seem that you have to engage in an activity called gardening, or "upkeep," if you will, in order to have healthy, well-adjusted plants.

Who would have thought?!

Presently, there could be a band of rabid chimpanzees in there, waiting to grab a small child or Pomeranian in, never to be seen or heard from again.

I can't let that happen.

Should I just hack off everything down to the soil? I need some advice. I hate to trash it, as there is fresh growth....if the rabid chimpanzees will let me get to it.

What do you think? Please weigh in, readers!

Easy Marinade or Rub Recipe (Three Pepper)

2013-04-30T08:01:00.000-04:00

It stopped raining long enough for us to grill some chicken last night for dinner. It was too cloudy to get any good "foodie" shots, but I did snap an iPhone pic of the marinade we used. It's absolutely delicious on pork chops, and pretty tasty with chicken too. If you're looking for an Easy Marinade Recipe to make weeknight dinners a breeze, you might want to give this one a try!

Easy Marinade or Rub (Three Pepper)

originally from Southern Living's Easy Weeknight Favorites

Ingredients:

1 tsp. paprika

1 tsp. dried thyme

1/2 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 tsp. rosemary, crushed

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground white pepper

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1/8 tsp. ground red pepper

1 tsp. olive oil

2 cloves garlic, crushed

Instructions:

Combine paprika and the rest of the ingredients in a small bowl. The. End.

Seriously, it's that simple. I usually brush it over pork chops before broiling them, and you can do the same with the chicken...adding drizzle later to "baste" it.

I often substitute items or mix things up, maybe adding more red pepper and minced garlic instead of the fresh...if that's what I have on hand.

Very tasty!

Do you have a favorite marinade or rub recipe?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments!

Spring Craft and DIY To Do List for 2013

2013-04-29T08:01:00.000-04:00

Spray paint weather has finally arrived in Virginia! With a new puppy, some craziness at home, and a super-awesome stomach bug that has made the rounds, I haven't had much time to devote to my creative side lately. I'm hoping that making a list will help motivate me. Are you a list maker? Here's my personal crafty and DIY list for this Spring:

1. Finish cleaning and updating my vintage printer's drawer.

I scored this bad boy at a local flea market and have had the supplies to make a few changes for a couple of months now. Time to pull it out of the broom closet and work some magic!

2. Create some artwork for the area above my kitchen sideboard.

No, the Valentine's Day decor is not still up! But it's a better shot than the current area, which is piled up with bills, school papers, a dog food bowl (true story), and my camera. (blushing)

T's helping me with getting the kitchen painted. I. hate. painting. Hate! So once the walls are refreshed, I have something cute I want to try with my Silhouette SD and some cool IKEA frames. I think they will fill that area nicely.

3. Make nice with my sewing machine and the couch.

I finally put the PB slipcover on my couch...and it now totally needs to be unwrinkled and de-fuzzed. But I am not loving it with my old plaid pillows. Blech. I have tons of drop cloth material...I want to try some pillows with ruffles, stencils, etc.

4. ~~Whine until T builds~~ a shelving area above the girls' desk in their room.

Natalie and Michaela Byrd have a huge wall of unused space in their room above their desk. I'm hoping to convince T to help me build some nice shelves and an art/corkboard display area. I think it would really look cute and keep their stuffed toys off the floor.

5. Spray paint something!

Good grief, I don't keep a case of spray paint in the laundry room for nuthin'! Mama loves to spray paint stuff. I want to head out and find a small crate to fix up for the puppy's toys. They are worse than the kids'! Almost.

I know for a fact that there about 50 other things I could/would like to add to this list. But I'm already feeling a little overwhelmed with stuff we have going on, so I'm going to leave it with these five things for now.

What's on your to-do list for this Spring? I'd love to know!