Serenity Now

Highlighted Weekend Links-- Share Your Best Post!

2012-03-17T10:31:00.003-04:00

Hi, everyone! I mentioned on Thursday that I'm out of town this weekend for a funeral, so I'll do my best to share a nice long list of Highlighted Links tomorrow. The Weekend Bloggy Reading link party is open, so I hope you'll stop by to share your best post of the week.

All kinds of posts are welcome here: We have recipes, home remedies, room makeovers, crafts, fashion advice, book reviews, and more!

If you haven't yet, please be sure to visit some of the other links from the party and say a quick howdy to those who have taken the time to visit you. I'd also really appreciate it if you'd take the time to add a direct link back to me within your post(s)...I like to return the favor by Featuring the bloggers who follow through with good blogging etiquette!

If you need a little extra reading inspiration, be sure to check out my new Project Gallery or the awesome Blogging Resources Library, with tons of links to blogging tips and tricks from around the blogosphere!

Hope you are having a fantastic weekend!

::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

2012-03-16T08:01:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Weekend Bloggy Reading. I'm out of town, but I hope you'll link up your best post of the week today, and maybe leave me some comment love. Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link.

All kinds of posts are welcome--recipes, crafts, funny stories, home decor, etc.; but please do not link to Etsy shops, businesses, items for sale, etc. (I have a Sponsors section, if you'd like to Advertise with me.)

Here are a few of my faves from this week:

sources listed below

~Organized Family Drop Spot via Hi Sugarplum

~Painted Built-Ins via Centsational Girl

~Slow Cooker Thai Curry Chicken Noodle Soup via Pig and Paint

~Little Girl's Room via Lakeshore Cottage Living

~And Me? This week featured:

New pages! A Project Gallery and a Blogging Resources "Library"
Hanging Photo and Art Display
Organizing Solution: Storing Dress-Up Clothes

Time to link up your best post of the week!

Rules:

Link back to me within your post. I will not feature your link if you don't link back to me.*
No items for sale, shops, etc. and please don't link up the same post week after week.
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.
Please 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 hope to be back tomorrow with some highlights from Weekend Bloggy Reading!

Did I Feature you today? Grab a "Featured" button here for your blog!

I'm Going to Mess with Texas

2012-03-15T08:01:00.000-04:00

I know they tell you not to mess with Texas, but I'm going to do it again. Even though last time I tried, Texas kept my hot rollers and I had to wait until my aunt mailed them to me from Houston.

Here is what I love about Texas:

1. Delicious Mexican food.
Burritos that have not been microwaved and salsa recipes that were not created by someone named Chloe or Todd or Mildred.

2. Laid-back style
People don't seem quite as rushed or harried as they do in Virginia. They are mostly just more relaxed and they don't give you dirty looks if you wear flip flops.

3. Unapologetic Patriotism
I love seeing the US and Texan flags flying. When they said, "'Remember the Alamo!" they meant it.

Here is what I do not love about Texas:

1. Freakishly oppressive heat.
It gets hot in Virginia. In June. It gets hot in other places too. But Texas is so hot that it feels like you're trying to breathe through a wet towel in a sauna. This is why I limit my time to the outlet malls. Sometimes I think that even the devil must stay away from Texas because he says to himself, "Nope. It's just too hot."

2. The Frizz
This is related to the freakishly oppressive Texas heat. In all the years we've been travelling to Texas, I don't remember ever being there in March, so maybe this time by hair will be spared.

So...joking aside....

The reason I am going to Texas is because my grandfather (my dad's father, O'pa) passed away in January and the memorial service is this weekend. He was a Colonel in the Air Force, and I guess some paperwork had to be completed before the service could be scheduled for this weekend.

This turned out to be unfortunate because my grandmother (my mom's mother, Nannie) passed away last weekend and her funeral was in North Carolina last Wednesday.

When you are an adult and your grandparents get older (O'pa was 90 and Nannie would have been 101 in May), you prepare yourself for these things and know they are coming.

But it doesn't make saying "good-bye" any easier. Two funerals/memorials two weeks in a row is a lot to deal with emotionally. My family is doing fine, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't hurt to lose two grandparents in so short a time. My girls have been asking all sorts of questions, so it's been a chance for me to talk to them a lot about family, love, God, and heaven...but it isn't easy.

The Weekend Bloggy Reading link party will go up tomorrow morning as scheduled, and I'll schedule a reminder post about linking up on Saturday, but I will probably just have to do one very large Highlighted Links post on Sunday rather than breaking them up into two posts. I need some time away this weekend, and I know you all will understand.

Here's the button code for the party if you want to get a head start! Recipes, crafts, home decor, book reviews, funny stories, you name it. Come prepared to showcase your blog and find some great weekend reads.

Y'all wish me luck. I'll be flying out tonight with my mom and brother, and traveling with my mom sometimes makes me want to lay down in the middle of a crowded freeway and pray for the end to come quickly.

DIY Hanging Photo and Art Display

2012-03-14T08:01:00.004-04:00

With all these recent posts about organizing, I bet you've guessed I am trying to get into Spring cleaning mode around here! I wanted to show you guys a super easy Hanging Photo and Art Display that I rigged up this week:

I've been eyeing this artwork display from Random Thoughts of a SUPERMOM for two years now...I even Pinned it to my Pinterest page in hopes that I would give it a try one day, and I finally got around to it. I didn't want to copy Kelli's idea, so I used it as a springboard for something that would work for me.

I started with some jute webbing I had on hand. I roughly sized up the wall I wanted to use for the display and cut some of the webbing to length. I lightly pressed and hemmed one end with black thread and added a D-ring to the back to make hanging the piece easier.

I decided that I could fit about 5 clothespins onto the piece to hold art or photos. I gave them a blast with Krylon's Ocean Breeze before tacking them onto the webbing with coordinating thread. I also hot glued the back of the top and bottom of the clothespins to the webbing to make them sturdier. I added a small black button to the front of each clothespin, and I was finished!

Cost? Nothing! I had all the items on hand. If you have spray paint, thread, and hot glue, you could get away with spending a few bucks on the webbing, available at most craft stores in the upholstery section!

This can be a pretty versatile piece. You can use it to display Bible verses or favorite quotations, family photos, or kids' artwork.

I chose to hang it up in a seldom used corner of the play area that looked like a tornado had hit it. After a bit of sprucing, we had a little reading nook, and the girls can see their artwork proudly on display!

A simple project that I wish I had started a long time ago. I like how versatile it is--I can change it out for photos later on!

Do you display photos or artwork in an unconventional way?

Linking to Young House Love, Hi Sugarplum, Positively Splendid, The Shabby Creek Cottage

My Blog Design and Organization Changes (and a Blog Button Giveaway from Designer Blogs!)

2012-03-13T08:01:00.006-04:00

Don't click away! It's still me, Amanda...I just have a new look here at the blog! Same crafty homey foodey funny posts; it was just time for an update. Want to take a little tour with me? There just might even be a little Blog Button Giveaway involved! If you're viewing this in a reader or email, I hope you'll click over to see.

I liked my old banner, but trends change in blog design the same way they do in our homes. It was time to update things around here and keep up with the times. It's been two years since I've changed anything major with the blog! The talented, patient, and fabulous Lauren from Designer Blogs agreed to partner with me on my redesign. She put up with all of my questions, suggestions, and indecision with such a sweet spirit. I had a general idea of the look I wanted, but Lauren is the one whose effort and creativity made it all come together. My awesome new blog button is courtesy of Kim from Seven Thirty Three...not only does she work super quickly, she puts things together so nicely. It's like she knows what I want without having to ask me!

Color Scheme:

I love my color scheme and I get a lot of positive comments about it, so I knew I wanted to keep my background and the fun pink and yellow accents. So, that stayed!

Tagline:

You'll notice that I have a new tagline: Creative Solutions for Staying Sane. When I started up this blog, it was primarily a spot for me to share funny stories about my kids and being a stay-at-home mom. Over time, it has evolved into more of a creative spot. I still share personal stories, but it's really not a "mommy" blog anymore. "A Mommy's Solution to Staying Sane" fit when I started out, but with more creative posts than mom stories, it was time for the tagline to reflect that!

Navigation Bar:

I wanted to keep the same friendly feel to Serenity Now, but add in some new user-friendly (and sponsor friendly!) features. I had Lauren rework my navigation bar under the blog banner, and I'm really excited about it.

What will you find in my new navigation bar?
-A new and updated About Me page with examples of the types of posts you'll find here.

-A Serenity Now Project Gallery! I spent hours and hours going through all of my old links, organizing them into categories with thumbnails to make them easier to browse. It's not perfect, but it's a start!

- A Blogging Resources Library. I realllllly hope you all will head over there to browse, because I've been rounding up good blogging tips and tricks for ages with plans of sharing them here. You'll find everything from photography to SEO to design to scheduling.

-Advertising Information. I'll be updating this page as I work with brands and shops, but the basics are there if you're interested in partnering with me. I'd love to welcome some new sponsors!

-Buttons and Features. Grab a button here or look to see where I've been featured.

So, that about does it! I am really thrilled with the new look, and I hope you like it too. I had you guys in mind as I worked on the Project Gallery and Blogging Resources page.

To celebrate my new look, Designer Blogs is giving away 1 Free Custom Blog Button with Share Code to a lucky reader! Use it for your blog, a blog party, series, anything you like.

Here's how you can enter:
Please leave a separate comment for each entry.*

1. (mandatory to enter)Leave me a comment letting me know what you like best about the new design or gallery pages.
-For Extra Entries-
2. Visit the Designer Blogs Portfolio and leave me a comment with the name of your favorite design.
3. Follow Serenity Now via GFC (Google Friend Connect- so I can see your cutie face on my sidebar!)
4. Facebook this Giveaway with a link to this post.
5. Tweet the Following: Serenity Now has a new look & you can WIN a Blog Button from @designerblogs to celebrate! http://bit.ly/ypjlet @SerenityNowGirl

*Giveaway open until Thursday night at 10 pm ET. Odds of winning depend on the amount of entries received. Giveaway open to U.S. residents only, please.

Thank you so much for stopping by to check out my new look! If you decide to place an order with Designer Blogs, please let them know I referred you!

Organizing Solution: Storing Dress-Up Clothes

2012-03-12T08:01:00.002-04:00

Sometimes, I get more excited about quick makeovers and organizing projects than I do over big stuff. For a long time, I kept the girls' dress-up clothes on a coat rack in the back hallway. As their collection grew, the walkway got smaller and smaller. It was such a mess that they didn't even bother playing with their outfits anymore, so I knew it was time to come up with a simple organizing solution. It was such a "duh" moment (like our American Girl doll and toy storage idea). Here's how we store their things now:

Here is the sad "Before" shot:

What wasn't stuffed up on the coat rack was scattered about the play area. I can't tell you how many times I've stepped on a plastic diamond ring in the dark and said very bad words.

Before I explain how I rearranged all the dress-up stuff, I should tell you that this is not a sponsored post. I just like to tell you guys when I find stuff that works for me!

First, I designated a spot on the other side of the room; a place where the rest of the toys and accessories are. I picked up several packages of 3 MM Command Hooks from Target, ~~stole~~ borrowed T's level, and grabbed a pencil to make sure that my hooks were in some sort of straight line before I hung them. I am more of a messy perfectionist. I'm sure T would have lined those hooks up to the 0.000965th degree, but they looked straight enough to me, and my 6 and 4 year old haven't commented on it. Not at all perfect, but it does the job!

I made sure not to over-burden the hooks, and put chefs' aprons, doctor and nurse outfits, shoes, and accessories in an old trunk that my grandmother gave me years ago. Jewelry, gloves, and watches go in one spot, and headbands, crowns, and purses go in another.

(I realize that it would look much nicer painted, with brightly colored and patterned drawer liners, but it's a very, very old piece, and I can't bring myself to mess with it)

So, this is definitely a quick fix, but it's so nice to have everything in the same "zone" now. The girls play dress-up more now that everything is in the same spot, and I can use the coat rack in the back hall for backpacks and dance bags.

Now I just need some cute artwork to hang above the hooks, and we are set!

What's the latest organizing solution you've discovered for your home?

Linking to Home Stories A to Z, Today's Creative Blog

Signs by Andrea WINNERS!

2012-03-12T07:01:00.001-04:00

Yes, there were 3 Winners from last week's Signs by Andrea Giveaway!

The two winners of Personalized Printables are:

#160, Christy from 11 Magnolia Lane and #49 Jessie Gunderson from Blog Schmog.

And the winner of a Monogram Sign with Overlay is:

#11, "Decor8Rgirl" (no blog)

Winners, please email me by Wednesday at 5 pm (ET) to claim your prize- amandaserenitynow(at)gmail(dot)com. Congratulations!

Thanks again to Signs by Andrea for hosting such a wonderful Giveaway! It's such a pleasure to work with you.

**Don't forget, Andrea has a special discount code if you didn't win today! Until March 22, you can get 10% off your wood sign order if your enter SERENITY10 at checkout, or SAVINGS42012 for 10% (de)signs posters and canvases orders.

I'll be back in a bit with an organizing solution!

Highlighted Weekend Links-- Share Your Best Post!

2012-03-10T10:31:00.001-05:00

Happy Saturday! Are you enjoying your weekend? Please pop in to link up YOUR best post of the week at my Weekend Bloggy Reading party. And don't forget to click over to enter this week's Signs by Andrea Giveaway (Home Decor).

All kinds of posts are welcome here: We have recipes, home remedies, room makeovers, crafts, fashion advice, book reviews, and more! The code for the button is near the end of this post.

Today's list will be short. I caught that stomach bug that's been going around, and spent all of yesterday laying around with a glass of ginger ale. I didn't have time to peruse the list like I would have liked, so I'll have a longer one for you all tomorrow.

If you haven't yet, please be sure to visit some of the other links from the party and say a quick howdy to those who have taken the time to visit you. I'd also really appreciate it if you'd take the time to add a direct link back to me within your post(s)...I like to return the favor by Featuring the bloggers who follow through with good blogging etiquette!

Keep reading to see just a few of the posts that caught my eye so far.

***PLEASE, If you are a Pinterest user, Pin from the original source so that each blogger gets credit for his/her work.***

~Spring Outfit Ideas via The Hill Hangout

~Tablecloth Curtains via Potentially Beautiful

~DIY Character Autograph Book via i should be mopping the floor

~Easy Gnocchi Dish via Shabby Sweet tea

~Spring Burlap Wreath via All in a Day

~Rainbow Ruffle Headband via Ducks in a Row

Okay...I'm out of time for today, but I'll have a whole new list of links to share for tomorrow!

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.

I'm working at commenting as well as balancing my family and fun time this weekend...thanks for your patience! More Features coming tomorrow!

If I've featured you, feel free to snag this button for your blog:

::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

2012-03-09T08:01:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Weekend Bloggy Reading. I hope you'll link up your best post of the week today, and maybe leave me some comment love. Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link. Don't forget to enter this week's Signs by Andrea Giveaway (Home Decor)!

All kinds of posts are welcome--recipes, crafts, funny stories, home decor, etc.; but please do not link to Etsy shops, businesses, items for sale, etc. (I have a Sponsors section, if you'd like to Advertise with me.)

Here are a few of my faves from this week:

sources listed below

~Updated Living Room via The Painted Hive

~DIY Chevron Print via brittany Makes

~Cream Cheese Poundcake Recipe via Inspired by Family Magazine

~Choosing the Right Type of Paint via My Colortopia

~And Me? This week featured:

Time to link up your best post of the week!

Rules:

Link back to me within your post. I will not feature your link if you don't link back to me.*
No items for sale, shops, etc. and please don't link up the same post week after week.
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.
Please 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 hope to be back tomorrow with some highlights from Weekend Bloggy Reading!

(This Code is for blogs that I featured today!):

Signs by Andrea Giveaway (Home Decor)

2012-03-08T08:01:00.004-05:00

Custom signs are all the rage right now in home decor, so I'm very pleased to introduce you to Signs by Andrea today. My newest sponsor has a Giveaway to share-there will be 3 lucky winners...keep reading to find out how you can win a monogram sign ($40 value) or a personalized printable ($9 value)!

Signs by Andrea was born when Andrea's handmade gifts became an instant hit with friends and family. Her shop features beautifully hand-painted signs made from weathered, reclaimed wood. Andrea also designs custom posters, canvas prints, and personalized printables for those of us who love a good DIY.

I love the rustic touch that her painted signs have:

She also offers seasonal signs and custom signs!

If you are a Home, craft, or DIY blog reader, you know how popular those gorgeous printed canvases and printables are right now. Many readers don't have time to craft...why not let Andrea take care of that for you? She has so many lovely choices:

I had the opportunity to review one of Andrea's printables as well as a sign, and I was so pleased with what I received. Andrea's site is easy to navigate, so setting up the dates for my birthdates and anniversary artwork printable was a breeze. Adding a quick note for Andrea with a specification for my wood sign was also easy, and the order shipped quickly. The quality was exactly what it appears in the shop: sturdy, well-made, fine craftsmanship!

I love that the sign can work as part of a little vignette on my sideboard, on top of my hutch, or even as part of an eventual gallery wall I am planning for another part of the kitchen!

Are you too excited to wait for the Giveaway? Andrea has a fabulous DISCOUNT CODE to share with you today. From today to March 22, you can get 10% off your wood sign order if your enter SERENITY10 at checkout, or SAVINGS42012 for 10% (de)signs posters and canvases orders.

Would you like to WIN your own Monogram Sign with Overlay ($40 value) or a Special Dates Personalized Printable ($9 value, each)?

Andrea is giving away 3 prizes: 1 sign and 2 printables. That's 3 separate winners.

Here's how you can enter to win*. Please leave a separate comment for each entry:

1. Visit Signs by Andrea and tell me the name of your favorite sign.
2. Facebook this Giveaway with a link to this post.
3. Tweet the Following: #Giveaway Time! Win a Monogram Sign or Personalized Printable from @SignsByAndrea, via @SerenityNowGirl! http://bit.ly/yZ4ITd
4. Follow Serenity Now via GFC (so your cute face shows up on my sidebar on the right!)
5. Join this weekend's link party and include a link back to me within your post(s) for an extra entry!

*Giveaway open to US residents only. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. Signs by Andrea provided me with a sign and printable to review, but all opinions are my own.

Ruffled Sunglasses Case: Positively Splendid

2012-03-07T08:01:00.006-05:00

I'm still out of town with family, so I have something fun lined up for today. I'm so excited to introduce you to today's guest poster: Amy from Positively Splendid. This is the first time I've had Amy stop by, and I know you'll love her style. She has a beautiful sewing tutorial to show you today. Please help me welcome Amy!
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Hello, everyone! My name is Amy, and my blogging home is Positively Splendid. It is my goal for my blog to be a haven of DIY and crafting inspiration where creative minds of all skill levels can come and feel right at home. I would love for you to stop in for a visit!

For this project, you will need...

Scrap fabric, three different patterns
Fusible fleece

Pinking shears

Coordinating thread

Basic sewing supplies: machine, shears, etc.

Prep Work:

Start by cutting your fabric to the following dimensions:

(2) 4.5 x 7-inch outer pieces from fabric 1
(2) 4.5 x 7-inch lining pieces from fabric 2

(2) 4.5 x 7-inch pieces of fusible fleece

(2) 1 x 13-inch strips from fabric 2 (cut with pinking shears to prevent fraying)

(1) 1 x 13-inch strip from fabric 3 (cut with pinking shears to prevent fraying)

Note: If you would rather and you have a serger, finish the long edges of your 1 x 13-inch strips with a rolled hem for a polished look.

Step 1 / Ruffle each of your 1 x 13-inch strips using your preferred ruffling method. I like to use the method I detail in this post to make things particularly easy. Pin your two ruffles cut from fabric 2 to one of your outer pieces, so that the top edge of the top ruffle and the bottom edge of the bottom ruffle are 1 inch away from the top and bottom edges of the outer piece, as shown. Stitch down the center of these ruffles to secure them to your outer piece. Center your remaining ruffle piece on top of the ruffles you just stitched, as shown, and stitch down the center to secure it in a similar fashion. Trim off any portions of your ruffles that extend past the edge of your main piece, so that your edges are nice and straight.

Step 2 / Iron your fusible fleece pieces to the wrong side of your main pieces. Place your lined main pieces right sides together, and use a 1/4" seam to stitch the pieces together, leaving one of the short ends open. Stitch your lining pieces together in the same manner. Clip your corners, and turn each stitched piece right side out. Press. Now, with your outer piece right side out, and your lining piece wrong-side out, slip your outer piece down inside your lining piece, as shown. Line up the raw (unstitched) top edges of each piece; pin. Stitch along this edge with a 1/4" seam, leaving 2 inches or so open for turning.

Step 3/ Turn your assembled case right-side out through the opening you left in Step 2. Press this seam so it lays nice and flat. Pin the opening shut, as shown, and carefull stitch 1/8" away from the edge around the entire opening of your case, closing the opening as you stitch.

You are finished!

Thanks so much, Amanda, for having me over today! Y'all are welcome to join me over at Positively Splendid any time.

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Thank you, Amy, for being willing to share such a pretty post with me on such short, short notice!

If you haven't been by Positively Splendid before, you are missing out! Amy's blog is brimming with creative ideas. She has such a fun style: full of color and whimsy. I know you will love it. Her sweet and kind spirit shines through her writing most of all. Please stop by and pay her a visit soon!

I'll be back tomorrow with a great Giveaway!

Lucky Shoe Charms: Random Thoughts of a SUPERMOM

2012-03-06T08:01:00.002-05:00

Greetings, everyone! I had to leave town for a few days for a family emergency, but I have an adorable guest post for you today. My friend Kelli from Random Thoughts of a SUPERMOM is going to share a fun St. Patrick's Day Craft with you all. Take it away, Kelli!

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Hi! My name is Kelli and most days you can find me blogging at
Random Thoughts of a SUPERMOM!

I am a wife and stay-at-home mom of three boys. I love to be crafty, make yummy {and SUPER fun} food, share pictures of my cute boys, and blog about the everyday happenings of my life as a SUPERMOM! When Amanda emailed me and asked if I would do a guest post this week, I knew that I wanted to share this easy, crafty St. Patty's Day tutorial. I love all holidays, and I love doing fun little things to make them special:)

One of the worst parts about boys {in the fashion world anyway}, is the lack of accessories, especially when it comes to holidays. Little girls can wear hairbows, necklaces, frilly socks, purses.....well, you get the picture! And what do boys have?!? Maybe a hat or cute tie if you are lucky!

So when I started trying to come up with something for my boys to wear for St. Patrick's Day, I knew I was going to have to think outside the box a little. My boys wear uniforms to school so a cute shirt is out of the question, and I'm pretty sure they would both refuse to wear a tie {even though I think a tie would be absolutely adorable}. So decided to bling up their shoes with some Lucky Shoe Charms!

I started with two colors of felt and a shamrock template.

Cut one color felt a little larger than your template and cut the other color felt a little smaller to make a layered shamrock.

Use a hole punch and make a hole through both layers of felt.

Sew the two pieces together, either with a straight stitch or a decorative stitch. You could also simply use hot glue to hold them together, but I like the little bit of contrast from the white thread.

Tie the charm onto your little guy's shoe and they will be pinch free on St. Patty's Day!

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Thank you so much, Kelli, for being willing to share a project with Serenity Now readers today!

Please be sure to visit Kelli at Random Thoughts of a SUPERMOM. She has such a fun blog, and is a wonderful mom--always planning fun activities!

Please keep my family in your prayers...going on a "roadtrip" with the kiddos is always an interesting venture....I'll be sure to update you all when we are home and settled back in.

American Girl Doll and Toy Storage Solution

2012-03-05T08:01:00.003-05:00

Every so often I walk in to my girls' room and realize that it resembles a nuclear fallout zone. Lately, their American Girl dolls (and Target knock-off dolls) and toys have been the culprits. I knew I needed a better system for all those little toy pieces and accessories...surely there is a better way that leaving everything on the floor, right? I'll show you a little Before and After magic today!

Here is the very unfortunate "Before" shot of one side of their room:

It looks like something out of an episode of Hoarders, I'm sure.

Of course, the AG store (and Target) have lovely little doll armoires, and I've seen some storage ideas online, but those all require extra space. Space we just don't have. It occurred to me that with the exception of a plastic bin that holds extra sheets and blankets, the girls were really just using the area under the bottom bunk for stuffing used tissues. If you don't have kids yet, I bet that sentence made you really want some.

I found the most adorable soft-sided, purple and white, under-the-bed shoe storage bin at Marshalls. Sadly, they only had one in purple, so I picked up another in khaki.

I started by placing empty shoe boxes in a few of the slots to give the storage piece some stability...this is important when little kids will be dragging it out and shoving it back in all day.

I kept like items together (grocery store, spa, tea party, sleeping bags, dance bags, etc) and used gallon ziploc bags to hold shoes and purses before placing them in the bins. This makes it so much easier for the girls to keep things organized, and when they are done playing, the bins go back under the bed!

Michaela Byrd has a hard time keeping all the clothes and shoes together for her Bitty Twin dolls, so they got their own section. All the clothes for the larger dolls were organized and placed back in the girls' doll trunk.

With a little straightening up, the rest of that play area was back together and ready for play time!

The best part is that the storage bins really aren't visible when the comforter is pulled up, and when I finally hunt down a white bed skirt, it won't be a problem at all! It's certainly a lot better than looking at scattered toys and used tissues.

Under the bed storage for toys really is a great idea if you're not using the space for a trundle bed, out of season clothes, or something else. Plastic liners in a shoe container like ours could easily house Legos, Playmobil toys, or superhero characters if you have boys. If our Barbies migrate upstairs, we might see about squeezing another unit under that bed!

I still wish we had space for a dedicated play room, filled with coordinating built-ins and bins, and plenty of space for the girls to play. But we work with what we have, and for now, I have two happy little girls who have sworn that they will keep up with the organizing for fear of losing their stuff to the donate bin.

Do you get creative with organizing solutions for your home?

Linking to Thrifty Decor Chick, Home Stories A to Z, Positively Splendid

Highlighted Weekend Links-- Share Your Best Post!

2012-03-03T10:31:00.000-05:00

Happy Saturday! Are you enjoying your weekend? Please pop in to link up YOUR best post of the week at my Weekend Bloggy Reading party.

All kinds of posts are welcome here: We have recipes, home remedies, room makeovers, crafts, fashion advice, book reviews, and more! The code for the button is near the end of this post.

There are a lot of fabulous posts this weekend...I have more to share tomorrow! If you haven't yet, please be sure to visit some of the other links from the party and say a quick howdy to those who have taken the time to visit you. I'd also really appreciate it if you'd take the time to add a direct link back to me within your post(s)...I like to return the favor by Featuring the bloggers who follow through with good blogging etiquette!

Keep reading to see just a few of the posts that caught my eye so far.

***PLEASE, If you are a Pinterest user, Pin from the original source so that each blogger gets credit for his/her work.***

~Burlap Wallpaper Tutorial via Decor and the Dog

~Boys' Room Reveal via Take the Side Street

~Photoshop Tips and Tricks via How to Nest for Less

~Sweet Dr. Seuss Snack via Random Thoughts of a SUPERMOM

~Marriage Maintenance Mode via Let WHY Lead

~Beadboard Ceiling via Calypso in the Country

~DIY Coupon Sleeves via Deb's Heart and Home

Okay...I'm out of time for today, but I'll have a whole new list of links to share for tomorrow!

If I've featured you, feel free to snag this button for your blog:

Saturday Stop and Shop (Specials and Discounts)

2012-03-03T07:01:00.000-05:00

Are you here for the Weekend Bloggy Reading party? Stop by to link up your best post of the week! I'll be back later today with some highlights from the party, which is open until 10 pm (ET) on Sunday.

I thought I'd share a few quick shop highlights from my Sponsors, who always have something neat going on. Check out what they have in store for you this month!

~The Cat's Paw
I love this month's feature, a blue and white swirl fabric basket. It says "Spring is coming" to me, and I'm always on the lookout for cute accessories for my home. Barbara's shop features affordable fabrics, vintage buttons, and handmade fabric baskets.

~Scentsy
Starting Today! Online Special Exclusively for Serenity Now readers. Every order over $15 placed on Theresa's website will receive a Free Scentsy Bar; orders over $25 will also receive a Free Scentsy Room Spray. As an added bonus....everyone who places an order will have their name placed in a raffle to win our new Scentsy Buddy, Wellington the Duck. He's perfect for your child's Easter basket!

*To be sure and receive your Free Gifts.....go to my Scentsy website, and look for "Serenity Now - Online Special" & click on "buy from party". Orders must be placed by March 24 to qualify for the raffle.

~Shabby Apple
I love clicking through the Shabby Apple site, hunting for new looks. They have free shipping right now for orders over $100! Pina Colada dress? Yes, please!

~Shaklee
Save 15% on your first order from Shaklee today. The Get Clean Household Mini Kit looks like the perfect way to freshen up...Spring is on the way!

~Signs by Andrea
Use code SERENITY10 for 10% off wood signs, or SAVINGS42012 for 10% off your (de)Signs posters and canvases order. Coupons expire 3/22/12.

~ Silhouette
I don't have one (I guess I missed that bulletin), but the new CAMEO would sure be helpful in getting those upcoming Spring projects completed. If you head over to the Silhouette shop, please be sure to use the code SERENITY when you check out.

~Tres Magnifique
Mom in High Heels stocks her shop with all sorts of goodies she finds at European flea markets. These red English ironstone transferware teacups are perfect for sipping some tea these last days of Winter.

{Happy Shopping!}

*If you are interested in partnering with me this year as a Sponsor, I have a slot available! Please email me at amandaserenitynow(at)gmail(dot)com for details. My rates are very competitive!*

::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

2012-03-02T08:01:00.001-05:00

Welcome to Weekend Bloggy Reading. I hope you'll link up your best post of the week today, and maybe leave me some comment love! Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link!

All kinds of posts are welcome--recipes, crafts, funny stories, home decor, etc.; but please do not link to Etsy shops, businesses, items for sale, etc. (I have a Sponsors section, if you'd like to Advertise with me.)

Here are a few of my faves from this week:

sources listed below

~Half Bath Reveal via Home Stories A to Z

~New "Timeline" for Facebook Pages via Creative Kristi

~Marketer's Guide to Pinterest via Mashable Business

~10 Spring Cleaning Tips via My Blessed Life

~And Me? This week featured:

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe (with free printable)
How to Host a Swap Night (Girls' Night Out)
Blog Advice: Why Bloggers Need Community
What Doesn't Belong in This Picture?

Time to link up your best post of the week!

Rules:

Link back to me within your post. I will not feature your link if you don't link back to me.*
No items for sale, shops, etc. and please don't link up the same post week after week.
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.
Please 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 hope to be back tomorrow with some highlights from Weekend Bloggy Reading!

(This Code is for blogs that I featured today!):

Cutting Edge Stencil Winner!

2012-03-02T07:01:00.000-05:00

The winner of the recent Cutting Edge Stencil Giveaway is #119, Heidi from Parties for Pennies. Heidi linked up her Curious George Birthday Party Ideas post to last week's Weekend Bloggy Reading party. Because she linked back to me in her post, she was eligible for the prize!

Congratulations, Heidi. Please email me by Monday, March 5th, at 5 pm (ET) to claim your prize!

Thanks again to Cutting Edge Stencils for hosting such a fabulous Giveaway!

I'll be back in a bit with this week's edition of Weekend Bloggy Reading! I hope you're prepared to share your best post of the week!

What Doesn't Belong in This Picture?

2012-03-01T08:01:00.001-05:00

If you guessed "small, fluffy dog that strongly resembles a cat," then you would be correct.

Also, I would have accepted "electronic charger," "newspaper," "tape," or "floss." But really "small, fluffy dog that strongly resembles a cat" is what I was looking for.

We had a crazy day yesterday, so I told the girls that they could eat their lunch while they watched an episode of Max and Ruby. This was met with wild enthusiasm, akin to informing someone they have just won the lottery or maybe that Pottery Barn is clearancing out half their store. Had I known this would impress them so much, I would have scaled back at Christmas and birthdays and just let them eat in front of the darn TV. Who knew?

At some point, the girls migrated from the living room into the addition, but I heard some strange scratching noises, so I went to investigate. I found Emma on top of the coffee table with her entire snout lodged inside Michaela Byrd's milk cup. She had the good sense to look embarrassed for a moment, until I started laughing and ran to grab the camera.

As with the vegetable garden raiding, she wasn't particularly apologetic. Mostly just worried that I might move the PB Kids armchair that was her mode of transportation to the tabletop.

Anyone else have a naughty pet?

I hope you'll come back tomorrow to link up YOUR best post of the week to Weekend Bloggy Reading. Recipes, crafts, home decor, book reviews, funny stories, you name it. Come prepared to showcase your blog and find some great weekend reads.

Why You Need a Blogging Community!

2012-02-29T08:01:00.000-05:00

This is a completely impromptu post, but after a big bloggy mess yesterday, I decided to talk about why community is so important when you are a blogger.

While the girls ate their breakfast yesterday, I sat down to check my email and go through my Blog Roll for a couple of quick reads. As usual, I deleted a bunch of random messages and clicked over to my blog to see which blogs on my Blog Roll had new posts. I was met with a huge, giant, and completely unpleasant surprise!

A giant, pop-up warning blared in my face, and to make matters worse, I wasn't the only one seeing it. Several blogging friends and readers sent me emails and FB messages letting me know they couldn't view my blog because of the pop-up message.

I took a calm sip of my coffee and decided to check in on the matter later in the week. Uh huh. Yeah right. No, I completely freaked out. As fast as my little fingers could type, I high-tailed it over to a FB networking group for bloggers that I'm a part of. I asked for some feedback there and bloggers were quick to offer to take a look at the site for me and offer me some advice.

As I sat, worried that maybe my blog would blow up, and no readers or sponsors would ever want to click over again to my site, I remembered that my friend Gina from The Shabby Creek Cottage experienced something similar awhile back.

I figured that Gina would be way too busy to get back to me since she runs a very successful blog and Etsy Shop. But I took a long-shot and sent her a desperate email to see if she might have some advice for me. Lucky for me, Gina happened to be checking her email and saw mine come through. After talking me down from the ledge, she directed me to a post she wrote about what to do if your blog has a malware warning pop up. I confirmed with the Blogger Help Forum, but basically the pop-up had nothing to do with my blog. I had linked to another site that had been hacked, and so Google flagged me too. It took some work, but I was able to get everything cleared up by deleting all the links to that site.

The moral of the story is...if you don't have a community of blogger friends, you need to find one or form one!

There's truth to the old "strength in numbers" quote. If you don't know the answers, chances are good that someone else will. It's nice to have a network of bloggers who are quick to offer support in different ways. Bloggers know how it feels to spend hours working on a project, photographing it, editing photos, writing a post, and then publishing and marketing that post. Receiving feedback, whether it's through comments, Pins, emails, ReTweets, or Facebook shares is encouraging...it makes you want to keep up the good work. Last but not least, I have personally learned that community can lead to opportunities, whether it's through guest posts, blog swaps, campaigns, or even job offers!

So, now that you want to be part of a community, how do you find one?

Community won't come and find you. Writing posts 5 days a week won't help. Linking up to 64 blog parties every day won't help. Tweeting your own link every hour won't help. You have to reach out and do some work to make connections. The easiest way is to comment on other blogs. I wrote a whole blog series devoted to the importance of commenting on other blogs. You may have to click around some, but eventually you'll find your own groove and establish some relationships with other like-minded bloggers.

I'm not sure what I would have done yesterday if I didn't have a great group of blog ladies to bounce ideas off of. I probably would have just posted in the Blogger Help Forum and yelled at the screen until someone eventually came by to answer me. That sweet Gina would take the time to personally address my dilemma speaks volumes for the type of person she is. The "Ginas" are the people you want to befriend when you are blog surfing...talented, professional, and friendly...but above all, kind.

So...this was not exactly what I had planned on posting this week, but I felt like it was important for other bloggers to read. Some of you may experience problems with those awful pop-ups and need a fix, and some of you might be new to blogging and need some direction.

Do you have a network of blogging friends to interact with?

Girls' Night Out Idea: Swap Night!

2012-02-28T08:01:00.001-05:00

Swap Night was one of the easiest events that my friend Christy and I have planned this year for our MOPS group. There are all kinds of swaps you can organize: Clothes, Accessories, Kids' Toys, Craft Supplies, etc. We chose to put together a swap for recipes and had a separate room set up for magazines and books.

As I mentioned in my recent post for How to Host a Chick Flick Night at Home, getting your invites out early enough is crucial for giving friends time to plan. If your guest list is small, you could print up some cute little invitation cards to fit the theme of your swap (maybe a purse for accessories, a cute dress, or even a make a bookmark for a book swap). If you're inviting a large number of people, Evite is a great option...especially because people forget to check their Facebook messages or don't have the email option set up.

Be sure you are very clear about the swap part. I'd hate for a friend to show up and feel out of place because she didn't know about the swap!

Christy hosted this one, and we opted to set up the food on the kitchen island, as we had a small group this time. Drinks went on the counter, and we used her spacious living room to eat and chat. Her husband thoughtfully turned the TV to the all-music channel for us...it was actually a great conversation starter!

We put a little spin on our recipe swap and had a competition! We gave each dish a "place card" with the recipe title on it and let the moms vote on their favorite dish. The winner took home a gift bag with a cookbook, kitchen hand towels, fun spatulas, and Valentine-themed sprinkles.

I didn't win, but I shared an amazing chocolate chip cookie pie recipe that I found online. I added a few "wow" ingredients...hope to share it here soon!

You could limit recipes to desserts or appetizers (or both), but we decided that any dish would be fine, provided it was homemade and not a bag of Doritos.

Planned activities and classes are fun, but Christy and I have learned after a year of planning events that most of the moms really just want a chance to relax and TALK. So we did plenty of that...over plates of delicious food. My meal was mostly desserts, but that's okay. Right? Right?!

We recommend having guests email their recipes before the event. Christy planned on typing up a recipe booklet for each attendee as a "thank you" favor!

Let's not forget the other fun part of the night...the book/magazine swap. I know I'm not the only girl out there with piles of old magazines. I dug through mine and hauled a few bags with me, along with a couple of paperbacks. We set up the "book shop" in Christy's sun room, doing our best to separate magazines and books by genre. For the lone copies of National Geographic and Smithsonian, we set up a "Smart People" section. {wink}

There are lots of ways to organizing the "shopping" portion of the evening. If you have a small group like we did that night, you can let it be a free-for-all and let the moms just take what they want. For a larger group, I'd suggest picking numbers and taking turns choosing an item. Moms who bring a book can choose another book or a magazine. Moms who brought a magazine can choose another magazine for the first round. For the second round, open it up to any item, or just let people choose what they want without taking turns.

I got a new copy of SHAPE magazine, a novel, and an old Good Housekeeping cookbook!

As much as I love the events where we get together and go shopping or come up with a themed party, casual nights where we just enjoy good conversation are just as fun!

Have you ever hosted a swap night?

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup (and Printable Recipe)

2012-02-27T08:01:00.005-05:00

I've tested out a few new meal ideas this winter, and today's recipe for Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup was a hit with my family. I loved how easy it was to throw together in a pot, and the leftovers made for great lunches the rest of the week. Keep reading for the online recipe and a free printable recipe!

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
adapted from allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

4 cups chicken (chopped and cooked)
1 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped carrots
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup butter
2 boxes of chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 Tablespoon dried parsley
8 ounces egg noodles

(Note: The recipe originally called for bullion, but the store didn't have any bullion (??!), so I opted for two boxes of chicken broth. I also hate chopping onions, so I just added onion flakes)

Instructions:

1. Saute the onion and celery in butter in a large stock pot.
2. Add the cooked chicken with the carrots, marjoram, pepper, carrots, parsley, bay leaf, and 1 box of chicken broth. Simmer for 30 minutes.
3. Add the noodles. If you used a large bag of noodles (my store only had the large bag), add more broth to make up for the extra noodles. Simmer 10 to 12 more minutes.

Tastes great served with a side of crusty French bread!

Here's a free printable recipe!
Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe Serenity Now Blog

I included extras so you can pass them along to friends. Enjoy!

Linking to Home Stories A to Z, Tasty Tuesday, Positively Splendid

Highlighted Weekend Links-- Share Your Best Post!

2012-02-25T10:31:00.001-05:00

Happy Saturday! Are you enjoying your weekend? Please pop in to link up YOUR best post of the week at my Weekend Bloggy Reading party. And don't forget to enter the Cutting Edge Stencils Giveaway.

All kinds of posts are welcome here: We have recipes, home remedies, room makeovers, crafts, fashion advice, book reviews, and more! The code for the button is near the end of this post.

There are a lot of fabulous posts this weekend...I have more to share tomorrow! If you haven't yet, please be sure to visit some of the other links from the party and say a quick howdy to those who have taken the time to visit you. I'd also really appreciate it if you'd take the time to add a direct link back to me within your post(s)...I like to return the favor by Featuring the bloggers who follow through with good blogging etiquette!

Keep reading to see just a few of the posts that caught my eye so far.

***PLEASE, If you are a Pinterest user, Pin from the original source so that each blogger gets credit for his/her work.***

~West Elm-Inspired Pendant Light via Just So Lovely

~Boy's Closet Nook via Visual Meringue

~Barbecue Chicken Pizza via Itsy Bitsy Paper

~10 Minute Flower Pins via The Frugal Homemaker

~Booze Buffet via House TalkN (please invite me next time)

~How to Coupon and Keep Your Sanity via Living Laughing and Loving

~Rake Scarf Holder via Living. On. Purpose

Okay...I'm out of time for today, but I'll have a whole new list of links to share for tomorrow!

If I've featured you, feel free to snag this button for your blog:

Serenity Now

Highlighted Weekend Links-- Share Your Best Post!

::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

I'm Going to Mess with Texas

DIY Hanging Photo and Art Display

My Blog Design and Organization Changes (and a Blog Button Giveaway from Designer Blogs!)

Organizing Solution: Storing Dress-Up Clothes

Signs by Andrea WINNERS!

More Highlighted Links--Share Your Best Post!

Highlighted Weekend Links-- Share Your Best Post!

::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

Signs by Andrea Giveaway (Home Decor)

Ruffled Sunglasses Case: Positively Splendid

Lucky Shoe Charms: Random Thoughts of a SUPERMOM

American Girl Doll and Toy Storage Solution

More Highlighted Links--Share Your Best Post!

Highlighted Weekend Links-- Share Your Best Post!

Saturday Stop and Shop (Specials and Discounts)

::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

Cutting Edge Stencil Winner!

What Doesn't Belong in This Picture?

Why You Need a Blogging Community!

Girls' Night Out Idea: Swap Night!

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup (and Printable Recipe)

More Highlighted Links--Share Your Best Post!

Highlighted Weekend Links-- Share Your Best Post!