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Chocolate Strawberry Baked Oatmeal #FoodieFriday

2013-05-23T21:03:00.001-06:00

Thanks for coming by Foodie Friday! Today my cohost Diane has a Kale Eggplant Stew you should check out!

Ever struggle to feed your kids oatmeal? I know when I was a child I really did not like oatmeal. My mom always tried to make it appealing with fresh fruit, or cinnamon and milk. No matter what though, my gag reflexes always kicked in when trying to eat oatmeal. Thankfully my taste buds have refined themselves as an adult, and I actually enjoy oatmeal now. I can not eat it plain though.

Unfortunately, my kids have taken after me and struggle eating the sticky stuff. I've tried a multitude of ways, including fun fruit parfaits, but nothing could get them to eat it. That is, until I baked it. Princess V is the only one that still fights me on oatmeal, while the other 3 gobble it up and even ask for more. According to Princess C "3 is good Mom. Can I have one more?"

Of course Princess V's reaction was a bit more dramatic when after some screaming and wailing, I sent her back to bed, she uttered the words "You're going DOWN for this!" Well, I must be parenting right, but I think some TV shows need to be turned off for awhile...Avatar, or very possibly the old Sonic the Hedgehog we've recently introduced the kids to. And by the way, I saved her oatmeal for her and still made her eat it once she calmed down and apologized.

I'm still feeling a win on this with 3 out of 4 kids liking it

Chocolate Strawberry Baked Oatmeal

adapted from the cookbook Beyond Oatmeal: 101 Breakfast Recipes

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup milk

1 egg

3/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup Almond Bark Shavings

1/3 cup Strawberry Jam

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9x9 baking pan

Combine all the ingredients except the jam in a medium bowl. Pour into the prepared baking dish, and spread out. Add dollops of the strawberry jam on top, or spread it into an even layer.

Bake for 25 minutes. Serve and Enjoy.

~FEATURES~

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal

from Julia Kendrick

I will for sure be trying this one out next! Peanut butter is more Princess V's thing, so maybe she'll like it better.

Steak Sandwich Stackers

from Lady Behind the Curtain

These would be perfect for a Memorial Day get together. Perfect little bites, with a lot going on!

Sweet and Spicy Pineapple Slaw

from This Gal Cooks

Add a little twist to summer bbq's with this side.

A 1 Car Family in a Modern World

2013-05-23T11:41:00.001-06:00

Last week Mark sold his truck. With a possible (and 98% likely) move again in our future, and trying to finish our bathroom remodel, I believed Mark decided to sell in order to have just a tad more money to finish things up here.

Communication was not our strong point that weekend, when 20 minutes after he told me he was selling his truck we had a buyer willing to pay our full asking price. Mark's reason for selling was to purchase a smaller more gas efficient car that could commute him the 2-3 hours north in search of a new job.

So for the moment we hit a crossroads. I was thrilled to be a 1 car family, and Mark kept browsing cars for sale. Although I am perfectly content for the time being owning 1 car, I know in the future it will come in handy to have 2 vehicles in this fast paced world. So I did what I always do at times like this - I thought about it!

Let's make a pro and con list, shall we? Feel free to leave me some comments with any pros or cons I may not have thought about.

For now, we are sticking with the 1 car. Not because the pros outweigh the cons. Actually, the cons just slightly outweigh the pros for me. I like to know that if there were an emergency I wouldn't have to wait for someone to pick me up, or rely on a neighbor to get us to a hospital. That right there provides so much peace of mind, that having 2 cars will be worth it.

However, we will be waiting until we know where we're moving, and Mark has a job before making this purchase. For now, during the summer, 1 car suits us just fine. I have gotten so much exercise in the last 3 days it's unbelievable! I love how I am feeling, and how much fun I see the kids having on their bikes.

Little Monster Behavior Chart

2013-05-21T11:30:00.000-06:00

Part of being a parent is disciplining your children when they make wrong choices, or have bad behavior. It is also setting an example so they know how to behave and can easily choose right from wrong.

We have been struggling with getting our kids to behave kindly, and well, just in general behave. I hope it's not just me that struggles with kids pushing their boundaries, but I know in public I see much better behaved kids than my own. Last week as I lost control of my own behavior and acted shamefully in front of my kids I knew I was failing. I was failing as a mother and example to my kids. I cried to Mark that night, and even though I know I've succeeded in some areas, this one was becoming too much for me.

Mark, as always had a brilliant plan. So I sucked up my tears, and set to work creating a behavior chart for little miss Princess R. At 3 years old and in the middle of the pack, she seems to push boundaries the most. I crossed my fingers and just hoped that this chart was going to do the trick.

The basic idea was to have a chart with an item that could move up and down according to her behavior. Good behavior moves up the chart, bad moves down. I wasn't sure how I was going to create it at first, but it soon came all together. I started on picmonkey to get my basic design (right click to print your own)

I printed our chart on card stock to have a nice solid background for the movable piece on the side. Next I made a slit with an exacto knife down the right side of the chart. Finally we attached a paper flower from My Memories Suite with a decorative brad.

If you do not currently have My Memories Suite, you can use code for STMMMS37783 $10 Off the program download.

Once the flower was attached we used some Zots to stick the chart up on the wall.

It's been a few days since we have implemented this chart for Princess R, and the effects have been stunning! Not just for her either - but for me as well. Instead of losing my cool, and raising my voice, I calmly ask Princess R if we should move her to the Little Monster or up to the Ribbon. Princess R is just that - a Princess. She is not a Little Monster.

We still have our days of tantrums and Doing it Her Way, but they are calmer, we listen to each other better, and our overall behavior has stuck between the Happy Face and The Ribbon. Once we stay at the Ribbon Princess R will be allowed to pull a treat from our very coveted Treasure Box. Today looks like it will be a Treasure Box kind of day.

Meal Planning with Emeals

2013-05-20T06:00:00.000-06:00

I have been completely lax about our meal plans the last few weeks. Perhaps you even noticed that I wasn't posting my plan every Monday as I have in the past. Life was just getting too crazy, and so I let go of dinner control.

Really, that should not be what gets let go. Meal planning saves my sanity every single night. Instead of 4 kids whining and crying to eat, because I took too long deciding what to make and then getting it on the table by 5:30 - I would have 4 kids happily playing, and eating most of their dinner that they helped prepare because I knew what we were having, and gave myself the right time to make it.

I was thrilled when this last week eMeals contacted me to see if I would like to join the eMeals Connect program. Basically, they gave me a 1 year eMeals plan in exchange for me telling you all about them. Of course, all opinions are my honest to goodness true thoughts on the program! So no worries, I'll let you know just how much I like them (or don't if that's the case).

So far, however, I am enjoying eMeals immensely. I received my first week of meals in my email shortly after signing up for the Classic Plan with Walmart as my grocer of choice (they have a few different grocers to choose from, but Walmart was the only one near me). They also just recently announced their Slow Cooker Classic and Clean Eating Plans! This would be a great summer plan to avoid turning the oven on.

Shocked I was! The first thing I noticed was that they break down the price of each item on the shopping list, so you know about how much you'll be spending for that week of groceries. I thought I was a frugal shopper, but eMeals just managed to save me another $10-$20/week in groceries. If the subsequent meal plans are similar in price I will be thrilled!

I haven't tried any of the recipes yet, but we will be this coming week. I've exchanged a few of the eMeals out in favor of my own preferences (and chicken 3 times a week is just a bit much for me). I'll show you the original plan with my altered plan in italics. This is just to accommodate for what I have on hand since I don't plan on grocery shopping this week.

Menu Plan
Sunday - Chicken Pot Pie with buttered Biscuits and Honey Carrots
Actually making Spaghetti with Biscuits and a Side Salad
Monday - Mexican Beef Bake with Fajita Rice
Changing the side to regular White Rice
Tuesday - Easy Spare Ribs with Coleslaw and Baked Potatoes
Skipping the Coleslaw and having Mashed Potatoes
Wednesday - Chicken Fried Rice with Sesame Ginger Salad
Actually having Ham Fried Rice
Thursday - Classic Ravioli with Stuffed Zucchini
no zucchini, just a simple side salad
Friday - Apricot glazed Pork Tenderloin with Wild Rice and Green Bean bundles
Strawberry glazed Steak with Creamed Corn
Saturday - Rosemary Garlic Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Black-Eye Peas
No black eye peas

*I received a 1 year eMeals plan in exchange for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Free Gifts from Cents of Style

2013-05-17T12:02:00.002-06:00

Have you checked out Cents of Style lately? I just LOVE their line. Everything is stylish and at a great price (yes one even cheap old me can afford).

Today only, they are giving away a FREE headwrap with every order. NO MINIMUM purchase!

They're not stopping there though! Oh No. If you spend $20+ today, you will get the Free Headwrap and a Free set of Earrings!

Keep going though, Spend $30 and you'll get the headwrap, earrings, and a scarf for FREE!

Let Cents of Style update your closet this spring.

We are not done there though! Use the code STYLE101 for 10% off your order, and FREE Shipping!

You really can't beat this deal.

*This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are however my very own. I even own Cents of Style products that I purchased with my very own money.

Asparagus and Pork Stir Fry #FoodieFriday

2013-05-16T20:36:00.001-06:00

This has been a very long, very straining week. So I did what I don't normally do, and made a very easy meal, and am now going to share it with you. Please visit my co-host Diane on her blog Simple Living and Eating, for another great recipe!

Asparagus and Pork Stir Fry

Ingredients

2 cups Minute Rice

2 cups Water

2-3 TBS Olive Oil

1 bag Flav-R-pac Asparagus Stir Fry*

Leftover BBQ Pork Ribs**, cut into bite sized pieces (or any other leftover meat.)

Soy Sauce

Directions

In a wok, or large frying pan, heat the oil. Once the oil sizzles with a little water droplet, add the Asparagus Stir Fry mix, and pork.

While the veggies are cooking, heat the water in a medium saucepan. When it begins to boil, add the rice. Cover, and remove from heat.

Once the Veggies and meat are heated through, remove from pan. Serve over the rice with a little soy sauce dribbled on.

*If you prefer to use fresh veggies, the mix contains asparagus, carrots, celery, green beans, and cauliflower. Julienne the carrots and green beans. Chop the cauliflower and celery into bite size pieces. Cut the Asparagus into long strips, almost like Julienne, but leave the stalk intact.

**The meat can be left out. I always enjoy a little added meat to our dishes though. For an extra boost of protein instead of meat, you can use some scrambled eggs. They would also be delightful in this dish.

~FEATURES~

Asian Mango Slaw

from Cook With Sara

This would be the perfect twist to plain old coleslaw.

Garlicky Cilantro Lime Dressing

from Peace but not Quiet

This dressing will go well over any of your summer staples - salad, chicken, tacos. Yum!

Peanut Butter Mini Cheesecakes, topped with Chocolate

from Something Sweet Winnie's Blog

I'm in heaven. These are the perfect treat for a long week.

Did you know? I have a pinterest board dedicated to all the Foodie Friday Features (plus ones I really really like, but didn't feature).

Add a Little Color to Your Porch #MiracleGroProject

2013-05-16T04:01:00.001-06:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Miracle-Gro. All opinions are 100% mine.

I love spring time! All the flowers begin blooming, and the world becomes a more colorful place.

Every spring though, I look at my front porch and feel blah. There's not much color besides the door (a dull green), and it just isn't all that inviting. This year, I decided to remedy that. After planting my vegetable garden, the porch has become my top priority! I need a little cheerful color greeting me as I leave and come back to the house each day.

The great part, is that it's really easy to add some color, and it doesn't have to be expensive either. I used what I had on hand, along with some flowers I received for Mothers Day to put together this bright little piece for my porch.

First gather your supplies. You'll need the following:

A colorful bucket

flowers, or flower seeds

Moisture Control Potting Mix

a little backyard dirt

Next fill your bucket halfway with the Potting Mix. If you're repotting flowers make a small well and transfer the flowers to your bucket. Top off with a little more potting mix, and some backyard dirt. Water the flowers, then sit back and enjoy your little splash of color.

Don't worry if the flowers were looking a little wilty when first planted. With Miracle Gro's potting soil, a little water and sun, the flowers will perk right back up.

In an effort to encourage more families gardening, from small potted plants to large garden areas, Miracle-Gro has put together The Gro Project.

For more fun garden projects, visit Miracle Gro's Pinterest page. Then get out and Gro something!

Today I was Mom

2013-05-15T09:00:00.000-06:00

As I sat in church this past Sunday, and listened to talks about Mothers, my 3 year old Princess used my in much need of a shave, legs as a racetrack for the car we brought. As I watched her happily run the car up to my knee, and back down to my foot, these thoughts ran through my head. I came home, and put them to paper, but spent a little time tweaking it.

These are my thoughts on motherhood. Enjoy.

Today I was Mom

Today I was a Racetrack

and my lap your favorite cushion

Yesterday I made 3 meals

And Cleaned 3 dirty rooms

Tomorrow I will play chauffeur

And nurse, and Biggest Fan

There was a time I was just me

But then you came along

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

I'll always be Your Mom.

Make Dessert Easy

2013-05-14T21:00:00.001-06:00

This post brought to you by Private Selection. All opinions are 100% mine.

We love desserts around here! If you couldn't tell from all my delectable Foodie Friday recipes lately, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen concocting recipes, and hoping they turn out great. When I have company coming over though, I do not like to experiment with our dessert. Sadly, that's exactly what I did the last time we invited friends over. I spent a fair portion of the day creating these little apple pies, only to want to hide after serving them. They really were that bad!

Looking back, I should have gone with one of my tried and true recipes, like cookies, but I didn't. It would have been so nice if I had some of Private Selections Upside Down Cakes on hand. Instead of serving odd looking and a tad cold apple pies, I could have just pulled out an Amber Honey Apple Spiced Upside Down Cake. A quick warming in the microwave, followed with a flip onto a pretty plate, and voila! Dessert served without embarrassment.

Of course the German Chocolate Fudge or Double Chocolate Molten Upside Down Cakes would have also been delightful to serve up in a pinch.

If there's one thing I learned about entertaining from my Mother In Law, it's to always keep something quick and easy on hand. She stocked me up one summer with brownie and cake mixes for the "just in case" events that came my way. It was so nice to have those in my pantry when the calls came in to drop a dessert off at the church...because I signed up to do it! Sometimes I sign up for too much, and easily forget until those calls are made. Private Selections look so scrumptious, and since they are already mixed and baked, are even easier to prepare and drop off in a pinch - Warm, Flip, Serve.

Private Selection is a premium Private Label Brand sold exclusively at Kroger and it's affiliated Stores. To find a store near you, visit the easy to use Locator Tool.

Right now Kroger is offering a $1 Off or $2 Off coupon to Private Selection Upside Down Cakes.

Private Selection Upside Down Cakes coupon

Disclaimer: Coupon ends 6/2/13. Official rules: In order to load these coupons to your card, you will need to sign into your Kroger account or set up a Kroger account and enter your card number. Limit one use per digital coupon. Digital offers are not eligible on Managers Specials, cannot be combined with manufacturer paper coupons on the purchase of a single item, and do not double. Not all items are available in all stores. A limit of 150 coupons can be loaded per household at one time.

Private Selection uses only the best ingredients when making their cakes, so it truly tastes homemade!

Connect with Private Selection

Private Selection Upside Down Cakes on Facebook

Private Selection Upside Down Cakes on Pinterest

P.S. Don't Forget the Cake!

The Lake House by Marci Nault #BookReview

2013-05-14T08:00:00.000-06:00

The Lake House

By Marci Nault

About the Book: VICTORIA ROSE. Fifty years before, a group of teenage friends promised each other never to leave their idyllic lakeside town. But the call of Hollywood and a bigger life was too strong for Victoria . . . and she alone broke that pledge. Now she has come home, intent on making peace with her demons, even if her former friends shut her out. Haunted by tragedy, she longs to find solace with her childhood sweetheart, but even this tender man may be unable to forgive and forget.

HEATHER BREGMAN. At twenty-eight, after years as a globe-trotting columnist, she’s abandoned her controlling fiancé and their glamorous city life to build one on her own terms. Lulled by a Victorian house and a gorgeous locale, she’s determined to make the little community her home. But the residents, fearful of change and outsiders, will stop at nothing to sabotage her dreams of lakeside tranquility.

About the Author: Marci Nault hails from a town not too far from Lake Nagog in Massachusetts. Today she can be found figure skating, salsa dancing, hiking and wine tasting around her home in California. Marci founded the website www.101dreamscometrue.com - a motivational website that encourages you to live your dreams.

So far she has accomplished 90 of her 101 dreams.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed The Lake House. I felt pulled into the little community of Nagog, and wished for awhile that we lived lakeside as well. I hurt with Victoria as she faced the mistakes from her past, and wanted to yell at her old friends to forgive. With Heather I rejoiced when she moved her life on, and laughed at the antics of her new neighbors.

What I mostly took from this book, however, was that we need to slow our lives down and be aware of those around us. We should take the time to get to know our neighbors, and allow them to know us. Most importantly though, we need to not be so self-involved we miss those events that are important to those we care most about.

The only thing I did not like about The Lake House, was it did periodically get a little steamy. Although I would not classify this book as a romance, it did have it's parts that were a little too descriptive for my comfort.

Applie Pie Burritos #FoodieFriday

2013-05-09T20:40:00.002-06:00

Please visit my co-host Diane at Simple Living and Eating.

Today's recipe is brought to you by my husband Mark. He surprised me periodically with his creativity in the kitchen. Especially when what he is saying, doesn't sound all that appetizing to me.
If you recall I've attempted, not once, but twice, to make mini Apple Pies using puff pastry, and failed both times. So we had a nice bowl of Apple Pie Filling sitting in our fridge. I knew I needed to use it, I just didn't know how.

Then in comes Mark and he says
"Hey, you know that Apple Pie filling in the fridge?"
yes?
"I was thinking, let's wrap it in a tortilla, and drizzle butter, cinnamon and sugar on the top."
really? That sounds....not so great. But what the hey, let's give it a go.

An hour later (with a small twist of chocolate and ice cream by me) - "Holy Moly! This is good! I need more apple pie filling!"
And that my dear readers is the story behind Apple Pie Burritos. A little late for Cinco De Mayo (my bad), but that's OK because these are good anytime, anywhere.

Apple Pie Burritos

Ingredients

1 jar homemade Apple Pie filling

4 flour tortillas

1 TBS melted butter

1 tsp Roasted Saigon Cinnamon

2 tsp sugar

Chocolate syrup

ice cream

Directions

Warm the apple pie filling up in the microwave. About 2-3 minutes (stop periodically and stir). Spoon 4 TBS filling (or your own desired amount) of filling onto a tortilla. Roll the tortilla up. Repeat with each tortilla. Drizzle melted butter across all 4 tortillas.

In a small bowl combine Cinnamon and Sugar. Sprinkle over the tortillas. Top with a few scoops of Vanilla Ice Cream, and drizzle on some chocolate syrup.

Eat, Enjoy, Make some more.

~FEATURES~

Peanut Butter Pasta
from Confessions of an Overworked Mom

It seems strange at first, but it's another great way to get the Asian inspired peanut flavor into pasta.

Very Berry Spinach Salad
from Ashley's Dandelion Wishes
I love how simple this salad is, while still popping with pretty colors.

Pile-On-Tops
from A Handful of Everything
If your still looking for a Mothers Day Breakfast, this would be perfect!

Cut the Clutter and Enjoy more Family Time {Think About It}

2013-05-09T12:15:00.000-06:00

There has been so much going on in our lives right now. Between just being a Mom, and trying to really put more into this blog, as well as remodeling the bathroom, and other life stresses, I found myself getting completely overwhelmed.

I found my stress came out towards the house. I was tired of picking the same thing up over and over and over again. I was tired of feeling like the only one who cared to have a clean house. So I stopped cleaning beyond the absolute necessary chores.

So then one day, I was talking to my mom, and she told me something she's often said before

Less is More.

Yes Mom, I know, but so many things have an emotional attachment to them. I often have a harder time getting rid of items then the kids because I remember what we were doing when we got them. And as before when she's given me this simple advice, I pushed it aside, thinking I couldn't do it. I'd be the mean mom taking their toys away, the mean wife tossing things away and saying no to more "stuff".

And then a day or two after I talked to my mom I came across this post -

Why I Took My Kids Toys Away from Living Well, Spending Less.

This time, my moms advice came back to my mind, and I knew I needed to make the change. We needed to get rid of a lot of the "stuff" cluttering up our house. Not just for my sanity, but to bring our family back to true happiness. We've spent too many days crying over toys, not finding that special toy in the mess, and tears and tantrums because "It's too hard to clean up Mom!"

Before I made my plan of action, I presented the idea to Mark. We believe in team parenting, so I wanted to make sure he was on board, and felt good about what I was about to do as well. We gave it a day to think about, and then presented our plan of action to the kids.

Hey Kids, Mom and Dad were thinking, we have too many toys.

Noooooooooo! Don't take our toys away!!!

We're not taking your toys away! Calm down and listen please.

And then we did it. We involved our kids in the process to make room in our life for more family activities, instead of more toys.

The Idea: Earn money by selling toys at a yard sale. Use the money for a pre-chosen family activity.

The Plan of Attack: We told the kids they didn't have to sell any of their toys, but if they did we could earn money for something we can't normally afford to do. Mom and Dad wouldn't make them sell anything, but we would encourage them to minimize and choose only a few favorites to keep.

We began with the stuffed animals. 2 large bins of stuffed animals stuck in storage, with more hanging around the toy room was a bit much. We involved the kids, and had a stuffed animal sorting party. Mark and I pushed to get each Princesses pile down to 5 stuffed toys. We ended with 1 full bin to sell (and a very happy Mama!). Now every night as we clean up the toys as a family, some may get tossed into our yard sale pile as the Princesses realize they don't ever play with it.

The Goal: Bowling! Frequently we hear requests to take the kids bowling. Bowling can get expensive, and exhaustive with all the kids - but we know they enjoy it, and it will bring us closer as a family. It will be affordable as well. For me though, I will enjoy more time with the kids playing, instead of cleaning up their crazy messes as they try to find that 1 toy hidden in the depths of the toy box.

Think About It!

Are you being overrun with clutter?

It might not be an insane amount of toys (my kids really don't have that many), but if it's enough that tantrums are a daily occurrence, and you feel overwhelmed just looking at them - then you probably have too many for your space and your kids.

The tantrums truly tell us something. It's kind of like a hidden message. To me "Mom it's too hard to clean up" really was saying "Mom, I have too many toys, and I've just as overwhelmed by them as you are"

Disney Planes Coloring Pages

2013-05-08T08:55:00.001-06:00

We are so excited for Disney's new movie Planes! Every time we see a preview the Princesses start getting all excited, and shouting

It's Cars! It's Cars!

And then I try to explain to them that, no it's like Cars, but it's planes. They were made by the same people. To which my kids have now decided to call this new movie

Cars Planes!

August 9th is a long way off still, but I know this is one we'll be going to the theater to see (and we don't make it out to the movies often with 4 kids...). So in the meantime, I'm very excited that Disney has put together some coloring pages for the kids to enjoy.

Just click on the image and you'll be taken to the coloring pages you can print out.

Motherhood Matters {Book Review}

2013-05-07T10:03:00.001-06:00

Tour Schedule

About the Book

Motherhood is a divine calling---but it may not always feel that way. Now you can show the women in your life how much they matter to you, with this delightful and heartwarming volume of wit and wisdom about the divinity, reality, and rewards of motherhood. Fresher than flowers and sweeter than chocolate, it's a perfect gift for the women who give so much. In these hectic days where life's demands can quickly become a heavy burden, Motherhood Matters helps you find more memorable moments and take the stress out of the to-do lists. Written with clarity, concision, and wit, this short, yet indispensable handbook is better than flowers, more guilt-free than chocolate, and gives back to the woman who sacrifices so much of herself every single day.

BUY THE BOOK

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Connie Sokol is a mother of seven, a national and local presenter, and a regular speaker at Education Week. She is a monthly contributor on KSL TV “Studio 5,” and regular blogger for KSL "Motherhood Matters." She is a former TV and radio host for Bonneville Communications, and columnist for Deseret News and Utah Valley Magazine. Mrs. Sokol is the author of several books including the award-nominated romance Caribbean Crossroads, the 8-week Challenge program of Faithful, Fit & Fabulous, Life is Too Short for One Hair Color Series, as well as talk CDs and podcasts. Mrs. Sokol marinates in time spent with her family and eating decadent treats.

CONNECT
Website * Facebook

My Thoughts

Mothers Day is this Sunday! Are you ready for it? Have you found that perfect gift to tell Mom how much you truly appreciate her?

I received an e-copy of Motherhood Matters by Connie Sokol in order to share my review here. True to any good small inspirational book, Motherhood Matters is full of inspiring tales and words of wisdom. I was expecting to feel a nice little uplifting as I read this book, but I got so much more. I was reminded that what I do as a Mom does matter, and it matters so much more than I often give myself credit for. Connie helped show how even on those not so good days, we can still find joy and hope in the journey.

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/15/13 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop

2013-05-06T21:33:00.001-06:00

I have so many books. SOOO many books! I also have a very hard time getting rid of books. Thankfully I have been able to receive many books for review that I may never have otherwise picked up. I have found so many good books this way, but have also read some that I didn't particularly care for. Then there are some that I read, enjoyed, but don't feel the need to hand onto any longer.

I look forward to this hop hosted by Kathy at I am a Reader, Not a Writer since it gives me the chance to clear some space, and you the chance to win some books! Right now, I need all the space I can get too. We only have 2 bookshelves, since the rest broke in our move. I have yet to get around to replacing them, and well - I have 18 boxes of books just hanging out in my basement. Not how I like to see my books. So I'm clearing my shelf, so I can pull a few more out. Isn't that nice of me?

Did I get a little winded there? So sorry. Here is what ONE lucky reader will win from moi

The Freedman and the Pharaoh's Staff

by Layne Heymont

This is a review copy I was sent for free. I wanted to bad to delve into this book, but emotionally I couldn't. It is strong from 2 very opposing sides. I hope whoever wins will be able to enjoy the historical content in this book, and see the view the author was trying to display in so dramatic a work.

GPS Your Best Life

by Charmane Hammond & Debra Kasowski

I enjoyed this book. I felt like I gained some insight into how I want my life to turn out, and what I need to do to go there. Now it's time for someone else to map their best life!

ec·o·nom·ics: a simple twist on normalcy

by Kersten L. Kelly

I read this book about a year ago. It was a very interesting read, and helps bring economics into your daily life, on a level most people can actually understand. Read my full review.

Racing from Death: A Nikki Latrelle Racing Mystery

by Sasscer Hill

I enjoyed the premise of this novel, but there was just too much horse racing talk I didn't get, and romance and drugs for me to enjoy.

The Lake House
by Marci Nault
I want to like this book so bad! Review will be on the blog early next week, but here's a quick inside view - New England Lake House, living around friends and family, love and heartache.
I'm giving this book up, because the love border lined on the not my kind of reading side. Which is too bad, because if it was just a bit cleaner, I would've loved this book so much.

The Path of the Fallen
by Dan O'Brien
This is a BIG BOOK! Just so you know. But a fun YA novel that explores another version on life, death and the beyond. Read my full review.

Roost
by Jasmine Winterson
This tale was just too unbelievable for me, and since it was set in modern day America, it made it that much harder to connect and believe I was in the story. Read my review.

THAT IS NOT ALL THOUGH! The winner will also receive my very last Home Maid Simple branded Book Bag: sporting Home Maid Simple's button and the phrase "Turning Your House Into A Home"

OPEN to US and CAN residents.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Motherhood: Keeping it Real

2013-05-06T12:58:00.000-06:00

*This post is an entry into Mompact's REAL Moms Giveaway*

When I saw Mompact talking about Real Moms, I though to myself - Every Mom is a Real Mom. We're just all different in how we approach things. What do they mean REAL Moms? So I started giving it some thought, and came up with this fun little picture.

I think MOST Mom's can relate to the above experience. Kids find something they shouldn't, get into it, make a mess in 2 seconds flat. How in the world did we as Mom let this happen?! Weren't we watching them? Don't we spend every waking moment right next to them, playing, teaching, crafting, and having fun?

The truth is we don't. That's not to say I go off and eat bonbons while my kids run a muck No. No. This flour (yes friends, that is about 5 lbs of flour!) incident happened when I took 5 minutes to go put clothes on. I wasn't getting a shower that morning (don't be offended, but I don't get a shower most days), I wasn't playing on facebook. I wasn't even blogging on this particular morning.

What did happen? Let me recount. I had gotten up that morning, ready to tackle the day. I fed the kids, and got them dressed. One even made it all the way to dress up clothes! While they were harmlessly playing with their toys, I ran down to our room to wake up Mark and get myself dressed. As most mornings go, I skipped a shower, waiting for a time when Mark could watch the kids, and I didn't have things that needed doing. So I'm dressed and headed back up for a fun filled day, when I walk into this.

My first reaction was wanting to cry. Something must have gone right that morning though, and I took the moment to capture the utter joy on my kids faces. This - this is where mothering will show it's true colors. I could have been angry and yelled. I could have thrown our couch out instead of cleaning it.

Instead - I laughed. I took some photos to remember. It's surprising actually how often I find myself searching for this photo - just to laugh. I then shook off the kids clothes, pulled out the vacuum and did some major cleaning of floor and couch.

A few weeks (maybe even just days), my kids showed up in the kitchen like this

I don't even remember what I was doing this time. Probably eating bon bons while cooking something like Macaroni and Cheese for lunch.

I try to be honest with you. My life is not perfect, my house is not clean all the time, but I do the best I can. Right now, in this crazy ride called Motherhood, I find it to be most real when my kids are smiling and laughing. I can ignore the messes, forget the burnt dinner from the night before, and just enjoy the moments.

Clean or messy, pinterest perfect or FAIL funny, if the kids are feeling loved - that is what matters

This is REAL Motherhood.

Mothers Day Breakfast In Bed {Foodie Friday}

2013-05-02T22:54:00.001-06:00

Please visit my co-host Diane at Simple Living and Eating. She has a Sausage and Eggplant Cassoulet for you today.

Mothers Day is coming up in 2 Sundays everyone. That means 1 week to get those gifts ready, and plans made to remind Mom just how much you love her. As a mom, I will tell you right now, it's the little things that mean the most - an acknowledgement of all she does and sacrifices for you is what Mom is looking for.
Last week I shared 7 gifts Mom will love - today I'm giving you 2 simple recipes to make Mom's breakfast extra special.

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 Bananas
1 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Streusal Topping
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp Roasted Saigon Cinnamon (gives it a very light kick)
1/4 tsp Nutmeg

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
Cream together shortening, sugar, eggs, and bananas. Set aside.
Sift flour, baking soda, and salt together. Add to the wet ingredients, and mix until well combined. Fill muffin liners 1/3 full (I bought my cute muffin cups from IKEA) with batter. Add a few chocolate chips, and fill the muffin liner up to 2/3 full.

In a bowl combine butter and sugars. Slowly add in flour and spices until just combined. Crumble on top of muffins. Bake for 50-60 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Oatmeal Yogurt Parfait

1 cup water
1/2 cup Rolled Oats
1/2 cup frozen mixed fruit, thawed
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
Fresh blueberries and strawberries

Boil water, and add the oats. Stir until well mixed. Layer a 1/4 cup oats in the bottom of a cup or parfait dish, top with 1/4 cup frozen fruit mix, then 1/4 yogurt. Repeat the layers. Top with a spoonful of fresh blueberries and a strawberry. If you really want to make it special, add a chocolate butterfly! Directions for that can be found at We Lived Happily Ever After.

Don't forget to pretty up the breakfast tray! Add some fresh flowers, her favorite book, whatever it is your mom likes. Go ahead, spoil her!

Maybe your mom doesn't care for oatmeal, yogurt and muffins. Or perhaps you're looking for a special dinner. Check out these other ideas you could whip up for Mom!

~FEATURES~

Raspberry Sweet Rolls

from Butter and Jam

I would enjoy this for breakfast any day!

Chicken and Tortellini with Tomato Cream Sauce

from Hot Eats and Cool Reads

Creamy tomato and pasta? Yes please!

Actimel Mango and Passion Fruit Smoothie with Fresh Basil

from Anyonita Nibbles

Smoothies are a Mom's best friend to get through the crazy days. These look especially good and easy to make.

This post can be found at the following Link Parties

Finding Self Worth {Think About It}

2013-05-02T12:26:00.000-06:00

Have you ever wondered why you matter? Why should you care about things? Why should anyone care about you? Do you recognize yourself when looking in a mirror?

I believe we all at times ask ourselves these questions. It’s part of our journey to become an individual with likes and dislikes. But most importantly I believe the answers to these questions give us our self worth. They tell us just how much we value ourselves, and in turn how much we will value those around us.

Think About It!

Why do you matter? Because you’re a person. A living breathing person, you absolutely matter. Maybe you’re a mom – you sure matter to your kids, even if they don’t always acknowledge or appreciate it. Perhaps you are a teacher – those kids you teach need you. They’re practically like your very own kids. Father, daughter, nephew, grandparent – someone in this world thinks you matter to them.

From a religious standpoint – you matter to God. You might think no one in this world cares about you, but I know He does. We are all His children, and He cares for each of us individually in the struggles we go through. Just as mothers and fathers on earth, He can’t/won’t fix everything and make it all better, because He wants us to learn. Some lessons are hard to learn, others are easy. But also as parents on earth, He feels our pains and our sorrows our joys and excitements. He cares about you.

Gaining Self Worth

I didn't use to care. That is, I didn't use to care about how I looked, what I wore, or what others thought of me. At least that’s the outward show I gave. In truth I cared deeply what others thought, but brushed them off as not worth my time. Looking back, a big problem I had was that I didn't feel great about me inside, so why should I care about my outward appearance? I was a nice person, that’s all that should have mattered.

It took someone outside my family to show me just how much self worth I had, and help me gain more. Mark was and is my rock in self worth. He truly didn't care what I looked like on the outside, but looked at my heart instead. He still doesn't care really – shaved legs or not – but he wants me to care. Do you know why? Because when I started caring, I only became a better person. When I found that looking nice, and feeling good on the inside could change more than just me, I cared. I know Mark will love me through any stage I go through, and that was what stuck. It’s taken some time to grow into this new found self worth, and it’s still growing. What I want most though, is for Mark to have a nice wife, that loves herself enough to take care of herself. Sure he wouldn't care if I went out in a stained t-shirt, knots in my hair, and hairy legs – but now I do. I do because he cares about me.

Does any of that make sense?

Think About It.

Has someone changed your life, just by simply loving you for you?

I got a shower yesterday morning. I put Princess V in charge of the younger kids, and then allowed my trust in her to over ride any worries that someone was going to get severely hurt while I took care of me. Do you know what happened?

No one got hurt. Everyone was happy, and so was I. I took the time to show myself a little love, and our day went so much better than most. In fact, the day went so well, that even the lack of Internet didn't get my spirits down. I did some major cleaning in the spare room, got laundry done, fed kids, played with kids, fixed the curtains Mark didn't like, and kept up with potty training Princess R. All with a smile on my face, a calm voice, and love radiating out from me. All because I loved myself first. The kids spoke kindly to one another, homework and chores were done without complaint, and we all felt the sun shining in our home.

I still may not have a great sense of fashion, and I’ll definitely still wear my worn thin flip flops out in public. But my hair will be combed, and I will care if there are huge stains on my shirt. Because I matter to someone – I matter to me. I have a husband who showed me that, and I am so grateful for his forever love.

Things I Love

2013-05-01T18:43:00.000-06:00

I had a pretty rough night last night. Mark was so kind and let me sleep in (actually he always pushed for me to sleep in, but still, very nice of him). So after waking up, and taking a shower, I started thinking about all the things I love and that make me happy. Here is a short list for you.

Cute Kids Clothing – and the kids wearing them of course

Reading good books – like The Dressmaker of Khair Khana.

Such a good read, and insight into women in the middle east.

The Happify Community. What a difference they are making in individual lives as we come together on their social platform.

Good Food.

Blogging – and my new Business Cards. I loved how easy these were to create at Modern Greetings, and when I realized I messed up a quick email and call got the order fixed before printing!

Time with Daddy – but especially watching the kids spend time with Daddy.

What Makes YOU Happy?

*Just a note - this is not a sponsored post, nor does it contain affiliate links. I just wanted to share the things that make me happy.

Remodeling with Pfister Faucets {Giveaway}

2013-04-30T12:32:00.001-06:00

I've mentioned a little on here, and some on my Facebook page that we are remodeling our bathroom. It started out as a small idea -

Get rid of the Walk-In Tub

(although I had 5 good reasons to keep that tub!)

Upon buying our new house, our realtor asked if we would sell the walk-in to her. She would take care of the removal and purchasing our new tub. That was the easy part. Mark and I like to dream with our homes. We truly love making a house into a home, and that includes making the layout fit (a reason buying new wouldn't be such a bad idea). Ideas began to flow, plans were made, and walls started to come down. Remodeling is very exciting, but I'm also learning I'm not as handy as I wish were. In our current stage, I can't do anything - it's electrical work. Mark does that.

What I have been doing though, is design planning! I've already bought new towels for just Mark and I (the other ones are 7 years old, gasp!), and started looking at fixtures. The one thing that we took the longest to decide on, but are the most happy with, are our new faucets. Since we gutted the whole bathroom, we've been able to completely customize the fixtures to our style.

Before I show you the faucets we're installing, let me show you a little of the reno plans.

OK, this isn't quite accurate. We've made some more changes since this plan was drawn. But just take a look at the master bath. It use to be the only upstairs bathroom, and only have a tub. We are adding the walk-in shower, and turning the doorway to open straight into the master bedroom. I am so stoked about this little retreat we are creating!

We of course wanted to make sure we got quality faucets, and when I think faucets, I think Pfister. Top of the line quality! We are installing the Kenzo line into our shower. Isn't it sleek?

Pfister has been an absolute pleasure to work with and has sent us all the components needed to make sure it is installed correctly, along with extras like the towel bar and tissue holder. I really can't say enough good about the experience I've had working with Pfister.

So let me just share the experience with one of you! One lucky reader will be receiving their choice of Pfister faucet (up to a $400 value)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Weekend Baking {Menu Plan}

2013-04-29T09:01:00.001-06:00

I've never spent quite so much time in the kitchen as I did this last weekend. Maybe it was because I finally got some major cleaning done during the week, or maybe I was just really excited about some of the ideas I have cooked up for you. I don't know. I do know, that by the end of the day yesterday my feet were killing me!

Here's a little run down of what I made:

Sourdough bread. I made my first starter ever last Sunday, and was itching the whole week for it to be ready to use. Unfortunately my bread machine decided it can't sit still anymore, so it pulled it's own cord partway through rising. Thankfully my mom taught me bread making as a child, so I easily adapted and oven baked it.

Mini Apple pies. I tried making these a month or so ago and they failed. They failed again. I don't think I'll be attempting apple pie with phyllo dough anymore. It's just too tricky to work with.

Chocolate Butterflies. These were so fun to create, and turned out so pretty. Although Mark's reaction to the books in the fridge will be right up there on things I will never forget - "Umm, did you know there's a couple of books in the fridge?" Yes honey, I put them there. Find the tutorial at We Lived Happily Ever After.

Chocolate chip Banana Muffins and Yogurt Oatmeal parfaits. I've made these before, and whipped them up quick Saturday so I could do a little photo shoot. I even bought some pretty flowers just for show (and really I love having fresh flowers in the house!)

Nutella Banana Fudgesicles. This happened. It oh so happened. Mark bought our very first jar of Nutella and I went wild! Last Sunday it was nutella no-bakes (just switch out the peanut butter in this recipe with nutella). This week it was fudgesicles and sandwiches. The girls loved their Nutella and Honey sandwiches.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This week's Menu

Monday - Steak and Egg Burritos

Tuesday - Stovetop Beef and Penne Casserole

Wednesday - Pancakes and Bacon

Thursday - Lasagna

Friday - Pizza night

Saturday - Leftovers

Sunday - Hawaiian Ham Skillet

May's Freezer Cooking:
Italian Beef and Beans
Beefy Enchiladas
Chicken Tucson
Spaghetti Casserole
Ham and Corn Casserole

7 Mothers Day Gifts She'll Love!

2013-04-26T13:49:00.000-06:00

2 weeks - and then it's Mothers Day.

I love this day to celebrate my own mother, but now that I am a mother myself I like to use this day to reflect on how I can be a better mother. I won't lie though - I enjoy being shown just a little extra love on this day as well. Even if it's just home made cards - a little something to show that what I do does matter.

1. Breakfast in Bed. Let her sleep in - even if she's not actually sleep. Allowing mom to relax in bed for just this one day will rejuvenate her mind and body. She'll be happier, and so will everyone else.

2. Photo Books. There are so many different options for photo books these days. Mom will love having a professionally bound book with photos of her children. On those hard days, a flip through this book will remind her why she's mom. Blurb book currently has a sale for Mothers Day books - 20% OFF when you use code LOVEYOUMOM

3. Home Made Cards. Moms don't need expensive gifts to feel loved. A hand drawn card made with love will always mean more to mom than anything else.

4. Jewelry. Depending on the Mom, jewelry can be a wonderful tangible gift. These necklaces from Cents of Style are perfect for mom, and can be personalized with initials.

5. Flowers. Mom's love flowers. Pick them from your own backyard, or personalize a bouquet from a local shop. Every time she sees these flowers she'll be reminded of the love she has in family, and will bring a smile to her face.

6. A Flirty Apron. Or something else she wants but won't splurge on for herself (for me this happens to be a Flirty Apron..)

7. Finally if you just don't know what to give Mom - don't guess. Give her a gift card. Places like One King's Lane and Layla Grace have fashionable items for every taste. These are my personal favorite online sale sites for home décor.

Now you know what to get Mom! Don't be like me, and wait too long to order. I have the bad habit of wanting to buy something online, but forget it takes a few days for shipping. Order early to have in time for your mom!

*This post contains affiliate links. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I believe moms everywhere will enjoy these gifts, otherwise I wouldn't recommend them.

Nachos - Made for Dinner {Foodie Friday}

2013-04-25T21:40:00.000-06:00

After indulging in my Nachos made for dinner, head on over to my cohost Diane for some delicious looking Carrot Chickpea Soup!

Mark has requested a few more manly type meals. In truth he doesn't request much, but he came home one day with a bag of chips and a #10 can of Nacho sauce. The challenge was on!

He of course only expected chips, cheese, salsa and sour cream. He was not expecting what he came home to - a high pile of chips, shredded chicken, beans, cheese, tomatoes, green onions, sour cream and guacamole.

I could not in good conscience serve my family nachos as a meal. Unless of course I found a way to balance it with a slightly more healthy take. This my friends, this was good. I even had some as leftovers for lunch one day.

Ingredients

2 chicken breasts

2 tsp Wildtree Fajita Seasoning

1 cup water

1 bag tortilla chips

1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup cheese sauce, divided

1 avocado

1 TBS Wildtree guacamole mix

1 tomato , chopped

4 green onions, chopped

sour cream dollops

Directions

1.Place the chicken, fajita seasoning and water in your crockpot on high for 3-4 hours. Once the chicken is cooked through, use forks to shred the chicken. Set it aside.

2. On a large baking sheet (a 9x13 baking dish would also work well) spread out half of the tortilla chips. Spread half of the chicken, and half of the pinto beans on top of the chips. Pour 1/2 cup of the cheese sauce over the first layer. Repeat the layer of chips, chicken, beans and cheese.

3. Place your nachos in a 350 degree oven (can be preheated or not), for 30 minutes. While the nachos are heating up, cut the avocado in half. Remove the pit and peel. Mash the avocado with a fork, and stir in the guacamole mix. Place in fridge.

4. Remove Nachos from oven. Top with tomatoes, green onions, and dollops of sour cream and guacamole. Enjoy!

And if you're wondering - this recipe makes enough to serve a small army...I'm not kidding, it's a lot and pretty filling. Mark's only "complaint" was not enough cheese.

~FEATURES~

Banh Mi Asian Burgers

From Half Baked Harvest

I have never heard of Banh Mi before, but she had me at "drippy eggs". I will do about anything for a nice soft egg yolk.

White Chocolate and Maple Caramel Eclairs with Orange and Star Anise Cream and Chipped Almonds

from Anyonita Nibbles

Have you noticed anything yet? If it has maple, I'll probably feature it. If it's got maple and caramel, there's no way I'm passing it up! I'm headed to a food coma just looking at these...someone pull me away from the screen!

Strawberry Rhubarb Cake

from Food Done Light

Guess what I found growing in my backyard this week? RHUBARB! This cake will be making it's way into our house this summer.

Practice Makes Perfect {Think About It}

2013-04-25T13:19:00.002-06:00

Practice Makes Perfect

I seem to find myself teaching the kids this good bit of advice a lot recently. At this very precious time in their lives, they are learning the value of doing something well, and the hard work it takes to accomplish something well.

I worry actually that if I become too slack, they will be too much like me - everything done will be only partly done, or only satisfactory instead of excellent.

I don't want that. I want my kids to strive for excellence, and reach it. Because really, is it worth doing something if it's only so-so? We have this little sign hanging in the kitchen that the previous owners left. It's a humorous, but also true.

I almost always look busy, or at least feel busy, because I'm doing too much only partway. It's time to focus and narrow down what I do.

Think About It!

I'm not saying everything has to be perfect all the time...because well that would make everyone go insane! What I am saying is we should pick an area we want to excel in, and then go for it. Don't settle for less than your best. Keep practicing until you are truly happy with what you've accomplished.

Think About It!

Why in the world is this the topic I'm thinking about today? A lot of reasons. It's the product of my mind going 50 different directions and deciding that everything I was thinking fit under this one idea.

I'm tired of being a Jane of all Trades.

I want to hone my skills so when people ask me what talents I have, I can tell them instead of handing them a long list of things I enjoy doing. We've had a couple discussions this year on talents and hobbies and the things we've given up as we became mothers. Those were some of the best discussions I've had around here, and I want to put them to use. So I'm not going to sit around wishing I was better, but I'm going to start changing; I'm going to be better!

Think About It!

I'm not going to give up anything I like doing, but I am going to have more of a focus. This year, I plan on improving my sewing skills. I've got the basic knowledge. I can make things that look nice - if you don't look too closely.

Why this skill? Well, it seems to come in the most handy, and I know my kids will benefit from it. Actually, my kids are pushing me into it. It's only April, but I already have 1 request for a Belle costume, 1 for a Tinkerbell, and another that keeps changing but I think is currently either Cinderella or Ariel.

It would be one thing if the Princesses asked me to buy them a costume. It's a complete different thing when they specifically ask you to make it. My kids believe I can sew these costumes, so I should believe I can too. Kids are pretty amazing don't you think? They see where we can go and believe in us, even when we aren't so sure ourselves.

Not to get ahead of myself or anything (though I have a habit of not sitting still), but once I master my sewing skills I plan to return to my artwork. I took some classes in college, and while looking back through my old work I realized I've got another little talent - one I completely forgot about!

Will you join me?

Pick an area of your life you'd like to improve. Reach for the stars and believe you can excel in it. Don't give up, or move on until you have become satisfied with your accomplishments.

How am I going to achieve my goal? First off, I need inspiration. I've created a little corner just for me in this house. Something I've never done before, and to be honest - I didn't realize just how much I needed this space.

Next, decorate with things that will inspire you to keep striving towards you goal. For me that's a wall calendar with different quilt patterns, and my college artwork. For you, it might be some quotes, books, or photos.

Make sure you have the tools to succeed as well. I have a very nice sewing machine Mark bought me a few years back. It hasn't seen as much work as I would like, but that's about to change. I am now saving up for a serger, because I know they can take my skills from so-so to amazing! Sometimes all we need is a good teacher. I've been browsing the sewing classes at Craftsy, and really think I may take one or two...or all of them. They even have free mini courses if you just need a little help to get started.

Finally - get to work! Try to set aside time every day to practice and work on your goal. If not everyday, at least once a week! If you don't make the time, it won't happen.

What are you going to work on? Let's encourage each other in the comments!

*This post contains affiliate links. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I share because I think these classes are great!

DIY Repurposed Roller Shade: Instant Kitchen Facelift

2013-04-24T13:54:00.000-06:00

If you look really closely at the left side of my shade here, you'll see a speck. It's no ordinary speck. That my dear readers is a squashed mosquito. Very flat too. I have no idea how long this bug was a part of the kitchen decor, but upon buying this home I knew it needed to go.

I LOVED the roller shade though. Personally I think they are the best kinds of blinds because it eliminates dangerous cords, and they are extremely easy to pull up and down. I digress though. Let me tell you how I turned this into that for an easy DIY Kitchen Facelift.

I'll try and break down into easy steps for you - but please leave a comment or email if you have any questions.

Measure - You'll want to start by doing a lot of measuring. First measure the height of your window, and how far you want the shade to reach down. Then you'll want to unroll the current shade and measure the width. Next you'll pick out your fabric and measure. Give yourself a 1 1/2 inch seam allowance on the sides, and a few inches on the bottom.

Cut - Cut out your fabric. Next you'll want to roll your shade onto a cutting mat on the floor. Anchor the roller so it doesn't get in your way while you do this. Measure from the very top of the shade down to where you want the shade to end, and then give yourself another 1-2 inches (just for good measure).
DO NOT do what I do, and just cut off the bottom. First make sure you're shade is straight both up and down and side to side. Then go ahead and cut off any extra of the current shade (my shade reached almost to the kitchen floor. I didn't need that much, and I wanted to get rid of the smooshed bug).

Iron, Fold, Pin, Hem - Go ahead and leave the old shade for a bit now. Take your piece of fabric and measure out the seam allowance. Fold at the 1 1/2 inch mark, and iron it down. This will create an easy line to follow for a finished hem. After ironing the seam, unfold it. Now you will fold the edge back in, but just so it lies on the ironed crease. Fold over again, and you have a nice finished edge. You only need to do this on the 2 sides and the bottom. The top can be left a raw edge. Pin the folds as you go. In the corners, turn the bottom edge in at a 45 degree angle to get a more clean and professional look - just make sure the pin goes through both edges to hold it in place.

Now you're ready to hem it up. You'll be sewing blindly. Just make sure you know where your 3/4 edge is on your machine, and you'll be good to go. For my Husqvarna Viking, that put my fabric right on the edge of the presser foot.

Position Fabric and Glue it on - You are almost done! With your roller anchored still, position your fabric on to the front of the shade (you would hate to hang it up, and realize you put the pretty fabric on the wrong side, wouldn't you?).

The side edges will go right up against the side of the old shade. Only the bottom will fold under to the other side. Once you have the fabric positioned, make sure it's laying out flat. You'll see why a little further down...

Start with the top edge and using fabric glue, glue the edge down. Let it dry before moving down the rest of the shade. If you want, and I think if I ever do this again I will do this, use a sponge brush and smear fabric glue across the rest of the old shade. Lay down your new fabric and press flat. Let dry.
Or do what I did do, and just glue the edges...

Once the front if completely dry, flip your shade over, and turn the bottom edge over. Glue down.

Reattach the original, or add a new pull ring for easy up and down action.

Voila You're Done!

Unless of course you made the mistake I did, and you now have a bubble of fabric after rolling the shade up.

If this happens to you, find a coordinating fabric and add a decorative strip to cover it up. Just use the fabric glue sparingly here, or you will end up with some spots (DOH!)

I hope you found the tutorial helpful. If you have any questions on this tutorial please leave a comment or send me an email.

I would love to have you join me on Facebook and Twitter, where I frequently talk about other home designs, and share photos of in progress projects.