Happy-Go-Lucky

Shine on Friday

2012-02-23T22:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday!
We are so excited to party with you and see what you've been up to this past week.

We have so much looking at each and every link linked up to our party. We are so grateful to have you join our party. I hope you all have just as much fun as we do. A few of the most viewed links from last week's party:

1. Side Table Makeover shared by Karla at My Serendipitous Life
2. Two Ingredient Cake made by Lady with the Red Rocker
3. Photoshop Quick Tip by Sarah over at Life on Walnut Street
4. 3 Day Potty Training Shantalle shared at Lifestyles of the Stay-at-Home Mom

And my favorite link from last week are these adorable hand cookies. Mari shared her Kissing Hand Bilingual Activity and I think Connor would love making these cookies. Connor and I read this book all the time and now I can't wait to make these cookies with him.

If you've been featured, don't forget to grab a featured button. Also, my fabulous co-host, Amy is featuring more links over at One Artsy Mama. Head on over there and check them out.

Now it's your time to SHINE!

<center><a href="http://happy-go-lucky-harvey.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Happy Go Lucky" src="http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m13/harveyusn/shine3.png" /></a></center>

Show off your fabulous creations with us and be inspired by what others have created!

Please link up crafts, recipes, home decor, etc.
I would love for you to follow me and One Artsy Mama
Grab a button and post it on your blog to help spread the word
Have fun and visit other links. We all love comments:)

Mingle With Us

2012-02-22T23:28:00.000-05:00

There are no rules to this blog hop. Just link up your blog's main page. Then have fun reading new blogs and making new blog friends. We would love for you to follow the hostesses in the first four spots and our guest host in the fifth spot.

Please leave a comment so we know to follow you back. Grab our button if you want to share our blog hop with others. There will be a new list every Thursday, so be sure to come back every week. Also, if you are interested in hosting a giveaway for our blog, please email any one of us. We would love to have you!!

<center><a href="http://happy-go-lucky-harvey.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Happy Go Lucky" src="http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m13/harveyusn/blog-hop-button-175.gif" /></a></center>

We hope you have fun and thanks for joining us! We are so excited to find new blogs, share great ideas, and inspire each other.

Make Your Own Instagram Magnets

2012-02-21T20:44:00.000-05:00

So, I've been obsessed with Instagram since last summer. Could you tell?

After I made my photo collage last month, I decided I wanted to make magnets out of my favorite Instagram photos. The best part about this project is it's cheap, easy and you get to upcycle old boxes and magnets.

Let's make a few together.

First, we need to print out our favorite pictures. I use PowerPoint again since I don't have Photoshop. Shocking I know:)

I set the page to be 12 x 18 because I knew I wanted to print my finished picture as a 4 x 6.

I imported the pictures and made them each 6 x 6 so I could fit 6 pics on one picture. Then I saved it as a jpeg and uploaded it to shutterfly so I could have it printed as a 4 x 6 at Target. You could have it printed anywhere or even print them yourself at home. If you do it this way, each picture will measure 2 x 2 when printed.

Once your pictures are printed, gather the rest of the supplies:

old business card magnet
cereal box or any piece of cardboard
double sided tape
scissors
pictures

Cut each of your pictures out. Then cut your cardboard and magnet into 2 x 2 squares.

Now take your double sided tape and tape each layer together. I started by taping the cardboard to the magnet and then taped the picture to the cardboard. Just make sure you don't tape the cardboard on the side of the magnet that attracts to the magnetic surface. (I almost made this mistake)

Aren't they cute?! I'm going to take a few to work to put on my filing cabinet so I can look at my boys while I'm at work. I'm also going to make a few for the grandparents! They will make great gifts.

An Instagram picture of my Instagram magnets

This is a super easy project to make. And it's always fun to recycle some old cereal boxes. Remember you don't have to use Instagram photos; you can use any of your favorite pictures! This project cost me 38 cents to make 12 magnets because I only had to buy the pictures. All the other supplies I already had around my house.

I hope you have fun making your own photo magnets. I'd love to see any that you make so please come back and leave a comment if you make some.

Meet Veronica from Adventures of D and V

2012-02-20T10:50:00.001-05:00

Hi there! I'm Veronica (the "V" in Adventures of D and V) and I am beyond thrilled to be Kara's guest today, here at Happy-Go-Lucky. The "D" is for Daniel, my amazingly wonderful husband of 2 years and my best friend. Our lives have been one adventure after another since we met.

(The best day of our adventure thus far, our wedding day!)
We have many adventures remodeling and decorating our little house.

It is a real fixer-upper.

I love completing a project and posting before and after pictures!

You can read more about it {here}.

We have adventures in gluten free cooking.

Last year, after some tummy issues, Daniel tried going off gluten.

It has helped him a lot, so I now have tons of new GF recipes to share!

{here}

We have adventures living out and growing in our faith as followers of Jesus Christ together.

Go {here} to find out what white shoes have to do with Jesus!

Every day there is a new adventure waiting for us!

I hope you hop over and join us on our next adventure.

Thanks Veronica for being my guest today!! I love all the gluten free recipes you share.

Shine on Friday with a Fun Giveaway

2012-02-16T22:08:00.004-05:00

Welcome back to another Shine on Friday Party. We are so glad you are joining us!!

A few of the most viewed links from last week's party:

1. Bathroom makeover shared by Maddie over at Hell on Heels Housewife
2. Savory Hand Pies made by Treat & Trick
3. Paper Bag Floor shared by Marilyn over at 4 You With Love
4. Framed Glitter Heart created by Sarah over at Crafting and Creativity

And my favorite is this adorable We go together Dry Erase Board created by the lovely Nat and Holly @ My Sister's Suitcase. I just love this so much and can't wait to print it out!!

If you've been featured, don't forget to grab a featured button. Also, my fabulous co-host, Amy is featuring more links over at One Artsy Mama. Head on over there and check them out.

Also, this week we are hosting a super fun giveaway. We are offering one lucky Happy Go Lucky and One Artsy Mama reader free ad space on both of our blogs now through March 31st. If you don't have a blog or Etsy shop, we will showcase your favorite charity or blog.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now it's your time to SHINE!

<center><a href="http://happy-go-lucky-harvey.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Happy Go Lucky" src="http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m13/harveyusn/shine3.png" /></a></center>

Show off your fabulous creations with us and be inspired by what others have created!
Please link up crafts, recipes, home decor, etc.
I would love for you to follow me and One Artsy Mama
Grab a button and post it on your blog to help spread the word
Have fun and visit other links. We all love comments:)

Creating Memories - Guest Post on Jen and Barb

2012-02-16T17:59:00.001-05:00

What do you do on a regular basis to create memories that will last a lifetime?

This week the lovely ladies of Jen and Barb Mom Life are focusing on spending time with family, enjoying each other’s company and creating lasting memories. As part of the series, I was asked to share how my family spends quality time together. I would love for you to check out my post at Jen and Barb Mom Life and share how your family spends time together on a regular basis.

Also, check out this great video that gives tips on spending quality time together as a family.

It's Time to Mingle!

2012-02-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

It's Time to Mingle!

Hosted by Happy Go Lucky, I Heart Crafty Things,
Joy in the Jumble and Keeping Up With Kristi.
Each week we will choose one blog at random to spotlight at the next week's blog hop.
This weeks guest host is Smarty Pants Fun

There are no rules to this blog hop. Just link up your blog's main page. Then have fun reading new blogs and making new blog friends. We would love for you to follow the hostesses in the first four spots and our guest host in the fifth spot.

Please leave a comment so we know to follow you back. Grab our button if you want to share our blog hop with others. There will be a new list every Thursday, so be sure to come back every week. Also, if you are interested in hosting a giveaway for our blog, please email any one of us. We would love to have you!!

<center><a href="http://happy-go-lucky-harvey.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Happy Go Lucky" src="http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m13/harveyusn/blog-hop-button-175.gif" /></a></center>

We hope you have fun and thanks for joining us! We are so excited to find new blogs, share great ideas, and inspire each other.

Meet Jill from Create.Craft.Love

2012-02-14T05:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I have one last guest for our Valentine Countdown Party and you all are in for a treat today. Jill is here to show off a few of her super creative Valentine crafts. Then you are going to want to head on over to her blog, Create.Craft.Love, because she is full of awesome, crafty ideas!!

Hi everyone! I'm Jill, the crafty mastermind behind Create.Craft.Love!
I am so honored/flattered/thrilled that Kara asked me to guest post! It's my very first!!

Yup - that's me and my boys! (My reason for existence!) I work full time outside the home and spend the rest of my waking hours chasing my two year old fireball. I created Create.Craft.Love. as a showcase for some of my favorite craft projects and tutorials (and as a way to maintain my sanity). My friends always ask me "how did you do that?" Now I can show them!

Kara asked me here to showcase some of my Valentine's Day crafts. I have definitely been hit with Cupid's arrow! In honor of this most lovey-dovey of days, I've fashioned a handful of V-day projects and I want to share them with all of you!

Felt Heart Garland

{I had seen a tutorial on Pinterest for this and just had to make it! Thank goodness for good pictures because it was in Japanese! I love cute garland! It can really add something special for holiday decor!}

Cupid Arrow Wreath

{This is probably my favorite wreath I have ever made! Who knew that yarn and a dawl rod could make something so adorable!}

Wedding Song Lyric Art

{I kept seeing all this amazing subway art and printables on various websites. I really wanted something unique and personal to my husband and me. I came up with using our first dance song lyrics!}

Heart Pillow

{For this, I really just wanted something homey and seasonal. I love the look of burlap and felt together! Don't you?}

Thank you to Kara and all you readers for allowing me to stop by and share some of my projects with you! Please stop by my blog and check out my latest and greatest creations - Create.Craft.Love.! (Just wait 'til you find out what I have in store for March Madness!)

- Jill -

Thanks Jill for sharing and inspiring us today!! Head on over to Create.Craft.Love and check out all of Jill's inspiring crafts and ideas. You are going to love everything she shares!!

And don't forget to link up all your Valentine's Day crafts, recipes, DIY, and projects to our Valentine Countdown party going on HERE! Today is the last day of our fun party we are hosting.
Sponsored by:

Meet Dani from Live Creatively Now

2012-02-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

I'm thrilled to introduce you all to another fabulous guest today. I invited Dani from Live Creatively Now to be my guest during our Valentine Countdown Party because she shares some fabulous Valentine's Day crafts on her blog. Today she is showing us a fun gift she made for her husband.

Hi!

Me and Hubby at Squadron Christmas Party!

Thank you so much for having me!! I am Dani from Live Creatively Now! I live in the Florida panhandle *score* with my amazing husband and my furry babies, Dixie (rabbit) and Mineki (cat). I am new to married life, military life, Florida, and blogging, but I am a long-time crafter! {My craft hoard can testify} Advice on any of these is much appreciated!

Over at Live Creatively Now I share tutorials and inspiration on any and all types of crafts. I tend to become obsessed with one method or theme before moving on to a new one and thus have sewing, jewelry making, bow making, and all other manner of tutorials!
But onto the main event, making an awesome valentines gift for anyone!

So what do you get the military man for valentines day? Chocolates? Doesn’t eat them. Teddy bear? Lol, no. Roses? . . .

This is where I found myself about a week ago when I walked into wally world and realized I am running out of time until V day. Personally, I hate all the manufactured insanity of all those blank-staring bears and pink boxes of chocolate so I did the only thing to do: Make something!!

What I finally settled on are I *heart* cards!! Playing cards each with a little message with something you love about the giftee. Every night my husband and I tell each other one thing we love about the other person, no matter what. It makes going to bed angry after a fight very difficult. By putting these little messages on cards, he will still be able to read one thing I love about him each night even when he is deployed overseas. Yay!

Don’t think this is just for a deploy-able hubby though! How cute would these be to read to your little one each night at bedtime? Or to send to your parents to let them know that you might not call but you still love em! I can't think of anyone that would not love to receive such a personal and thought-filled gift.

What you need:

Deck of cards
Scrapbooking paper
Mod Podge
Permanent marker or other writing implement
Scrapbooking decorations of various natures. . .
*optional* A little box for storage

Since I intend my husband to take these with him when he deploys, I chose some “manly” scrapbboking papers to cover my cards with.

Cut up your papers to fit your cards! On the paper with the grids, my cards were 5x7 small squares. I just used strips of the grid paper to draw lines on the regular paper so everyone would be the same size.

*Tip* I spent quite a while cutting 52 pieces of scrapbook paper before I realized I would not be using all the cards. . . If you want them to fit back in the card box you only need 30-40 depending on the thickness of your papers. If you are using a little gift box for storage, cut away!

Apply a generous layer of Mod Podge to the faces of the cards and a thinner layer to the cover paper. I let them get just a little tacky before squishing them together.

Trim off the little bit of paper that hangs off the corners.

Realize that you only can fit about 30-35 in the box after covering 52 cards. . .

If I wasn’t making these for my hubby to take with him overseas, I would use one of those cute wooden boxes from the craft store as storage. Wouldn’t that be so cute all covered with your little paper scraps?

I cut some super basic shapes out of plain scrapbook paper to write my I *heart* messages. Mine are super plain because, well, I don’t think hubby would appreciate a bunch of frillies as much as I would. Plus I doubt he would notice any further decorations. . .

Do this with all of your cards, varying your messages and decorations! Here are a sampling of mine.

Keep in mind that this is an incredibly personal gift. Use whatever messages and decorations fit the person you are making it for! I made two samples of what you could do for a teen girl, mostly because I really wanted to use some pretty papers and some bling!

Imagine having the loving words of a family member to read whenever you need a little boost. Or just everyday as a little pick up!

{Hugs!}

~Dani

http://www.livecreativelynow.com

And don't forget to link up all your Valentine's Day crafts, recipes, DIY, and projects to our Valentine Countdown party going on HERE!
Sponsored by:

Family Rules Canvas {with a Printable}

2012-02-10T09:00:00.000-05:00

Could you guess my Pinterest inspired project from this sneak peek?

My Pinterest Challenge piece this month is a Family Rules canvas.

I was inspired by this pin on Pinterest but new I couldn't stencil anything because I am too much of a perfectionist. I knew I wouldn't like anything that I tried to hand paint myself. So when I came across this great tip by I Am Momma - Hear Me Roar, I knew just what to do. I created my image on PowerPoint and then ordered an Engineering Print from Staples. It only cost me $1.99. I then used modge podge and adhered it to an 18 x 24 canvas. I lightly sanded over the entire print and then painted another layer of modge podge over everything. After everything that all dried, I painted the sides of the canvas black.

Click HERE to get your own copy of these family rules that you can download and print yourself.

A quick and easy project that I love! The engineered print is a fabulous solution to having things printed and being able to sand it like wood. I highly recommend it!!

You still have time to link up your Pinterest inspired crafts, projects, recipes, and decor to The Pinterest Challenge going on HERE. We can't wait to see what Pinterest has inspired you to make!!

It's Your Time to Shine!

2012-02-09T22:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday!

And that means it's PARTY TIME!!

But first I want to share a few of the most viewed links from last week's party:

The most viewed links from last week's party were:
1. Kids Birth Time Decor shared by Erika over at Bliss Images and Beyond. I absolutely love this idea!!
2. 52 Reasons I Love You Book made by Lisa's Craft Blog.
3. Resizing Buttons shared by Pam over at Threading My Way
4. Shay over at Raising Dieter shared a fabulous book called Lose Your Mummy Tummy

And my favorite is:

This AMAZING log with initials carved in it shared by Jaime over at Three Scoops of Love. I love this idea and I've added it to my Future Projects board on Pinterest!!

If you've been featured, don't forget to grab a featured button. Also, my fabulous co-host, Amy is featuring more great projects over at One Artsy Mama. Head on over there and check them out.

Now it's your time to SHINE!

<center><a href="http://happy-go-lucky-harvey.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Happy Go Lucky" src="http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m13/harveyusn/shine3.png" /></a></center>

Show off your fabulous creations with us and be inspired by what others have created!
Please link up crafts, recipes, home decor, etc.
I would love for you to follow me and One Artsy Mama
Grab a button and post it on your blog to help spread the word
Have fun and visit other links. We all love comments:)

Mingle With Us

2012-02-09T00:30:00.000-05:00

There are no rules to this blog hop. Just link up your blog's main page. Then have fun reading new blogs and making new blog friends. We would love for you to follow the hostesses in the first four spots and our guest host in the fifth spot. Please leave a comment so we know to follow you back. Grab our button if you want to share our blog hop with others. There will be a new list every Thursday, so be sure to come back every week. Also, if you are interested in hosting a giveaway for our blog, please email any one of us. We would love to have you!!

<center><a href="http://happy-go-lucky-harvey.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Happy Go Lucky" src="http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m13/harveyusn/blog-hop-button-175.gif" /></a></center>

We hope you have fun and thanks for joining us! We are so excited to find new blogs, share great ideas, and inspire each other.

Meet Melissa from A Dozen Years Later

2012-02-08T11:35:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited to introduce you all to Melissa from A Dozen Years Later. We have been friends for over 10 years now. We taught middle school together for 9 years before she left me and moved to Rhode Island. She is an amazing cook and baker. I really miss the fabulous treats she always made for me. You have to check out all of the delicious recipes she shares on her blog.

Hi. My name is Melissa and I blog over at A Dozen Years Later.

I am a married, work at home mom to a 12 year old daughter. I am obsessed with reading blogs and pinning like crazy on my Pinterest boards. I love reading magazines, drinking cherry Coke zero, and watching lots of reality TV. I also enjoy cooking, baking, and crafting.

Valentine's Day Pineapple Coconut Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Today I am going to share a great recipe for Pineapple Coconut Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting. The best part is... since they have fruit and veggies... I find them to be perfectly acceptable treats to have for breakfast. I love to eat them cold.

This recipe is adapted a teeny bit from Kendall's recipe here.

Ingredients -

2 cups of all purpose flour
2 cups of sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
4 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups shredded carrots
1/2 c. drained crushed pineapple
1 cup sweetened coconut

Directions -

You need to chop the carrots up more finely. I used my mini food processor.
Combine the eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla.
In a separate bowl mix the sugar, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients a little bit at a time until it's all incorporated.
Add the pineapple, carrots, and coconut. Mix until combined.
Bake at 350 degrees. Cupcakes - 19 minutes
Check to make sure they are done before cooling on a wire rack. Once they have cooled you can frost them.

The Best Cream Cheese Frosting - via Southern Living Magazine - October 2010

Beat 8 ounces of cream cheese and 3 Tbsp. softened unsalted butter at medium speed until creamy.
Gradually add 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt, beating until blended. Stir in 1 tsp. of vanilla.
Frost the cooled cupcakes. Seriously... I could eat this frosting with a spoon...it is amazing and pairs perfectly with this cupcake recipe.

I also decided to whip up these quick and cheap toppers. You will need some toothpicks, tape, and red or pink construction paper. I just cut out small hearts out of the construction paper and used a small piece of tape to attach a toothpick to the back of them.

Thanks Melissa for being my guest today. These cupcakes look delicious!! Head on over to A Dozen Years Later and check her blog out. You will love all the recipes she shares and she has some fabulous printables.

And don't forget to link up all your Valentine's Day crafts, recipes, DIY, and projects to our Valentine Countdown party going on HERE!
Sponsored by:

Melted Ice Cream Chocolate Cake

2012-02-07T12:00:00.000-05:00

This month's Crazy Cooking Challenge was to make chocolate cake.

And who needs an excuse to make chocolate cake?!

I certainly don't!!
So I quickly started searching for the best chocolate cake recipe. As I searched, I came across a fun cake recipe here that called for melted ice cream.

I was immediately intrigued and knew I had to try it.

So I gathered what I needed:

box of chocolate fudge cake mix
2 cups melted vanilla ice cream
3 eggs
1 cup water

All you do is mix everything together and bake according to the directions on the box of cake mix. I baked mine at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

The best part about this is that you can combine any cake mix and ice cream flavor together. I think I'm going to try coffee ice cream next.

After icing it with my favorite chocolate buttercream icing, I had a deliciously, moist chocolate cake!! And I used my heart cake pan for Valentine's Day:)

So what do you think? Are you just as tempted as I was so try using melted ice cream as an ingredient when you cook your next cake?

I have a feeling you all are going to be craving chocolate after today's post. I can't wait to see all the other chocolate cake recipes linked up to this month's Crazy Cooking Challenge.

Pinterest Challenge Round 5

2012-02-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

It's that time again and we are so excited to get this round started!

If this is your first time joining us, click HERE to read more about how The Pinterest Challenge got started.
Here's the schedule for the week:

Today: Start linking up your Pinterest inspired projects over at Rebecca's blog - Better Life Bags. The link party will open until midnight on Sunday.
Tuesday: Visit our guest pinhead, Bev @ Flamingo Toes to see her Pinterest Piece.
Wednesday: Amanda @ Ninth Street Notions will reveal her project
Thursday: Check out Ashlee @ I'm Topsy Turvy to see her Pinterest piece.
Friday: I will share my Pinterest inspired project.
Saturday & Sunday: Finish working on your Pinterest piece so you can link up by midnight on Sunday.
Monday: Voting will begin.
Tuesday and Wednesday: Voting continues.
Thursday: Winner is announced!

Check out the sneak peeks of our Pinterest projects. Can you guess what they are?

Ready for some Pinterest fun?! Head over to Better Life Bags and start linking up NOW!!

And don't forget to grab a button.

<center><a href="http://happy-go-lucky-harvey.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="The Pinterest Challenge" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7vlq8MLbcmI/TvP4Dszq61I/AAAAAAAABWs/Ds9KNjOirC4/s1600/Do+you+pin+button.jpg" /></a></center>

It's Coming!

2012-02-03T17:17:00.001-05:00

Are you ready?

More details announced Monday!!

Shine on Friday

2012-02-02T22:02:00.001-05:00

It's time to Party!

And you know what that means - We want you to SHINE!

Last week's party was FABULOUS!! There were so many amazing crafts, tutorials, and projects linked up.

The most viewed links from last week's party were:

1. Ombre Art by Becca over From Gardners to Bergers
2. Candy Can Valentines shared by The Messy Roost
3. Updating Goodwill Canvases by Karah over at The Space Between
4. Conversation Heart Tree by Amanda over at My Heart's Desire

And my favorites are:
These Baked Buffalo Chicken Wontons made by Melissa over at A Dozen Years Later and this Growth Chart shared by A Grace Filled Mess. I will be making the wontons Sunday for our Superbowl party and can't wait to make the Growth Chart as a baby gift.

If you've been featured, don't forget to grab a featured button. Also, Amy is featuring more great projects over at One Artsy Mama. Head on over and check them out.

Now it's your turn!

<center><a href="http://happy-go-lucky-harvey.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Happy Go Lucky" src="http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m13/harveyusn/shine3.png" /></a></center>

Show off your fabulous creations with us and be inspired by what others have created!
Please link up crafts, recipes, home decor, etc.
I would love for you to follow me and One Artsy Mama
Grab a button and post it on your blog to help spread the word
Have fun and visit other links. We all love comments:)

Meet Cath from Home is Where the Heart is

2012-02-02T11:00:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited to introduce you all to Cath from Home is Where the Heart is. She is my first guest for the Valentine Countdown Party and she is showing off a fabulous Valentines gift. You are going to love this!!

Hello, hello! Welcome to my very first guest post! My name is Cath (short for Catherine), all my friends call me Cath and since we are going to be friends, that's what I want YOU to call me!

My blog is Home is Where my Heart is. I share real life on there including DIY projects, organizing, kids, recipes etc. Come by for a visit when you have a chance, and please say 'hi'!. I love finding new blogs which is why I love the blog hop that Kara hosts. I'm honoured to be here at 'Happy Go Lucky', and thanks for having me Kara!

Today I'm going to share with you the 'Valentine's' that I have made for my 2 youngest kids, ages 7 and 11. I wanted it to be something they could use, something that wouldn't just end up in the trash within a week and something that would show them how much we love them. I think this idea has incorporated all of the above!

Insulated Water Cups filled with chocolate, gummies and a love note! The reason this fits so well, is that my kids love drinking water and this way they have their very own cups (dark blue for Matthew and light blue for Maya) with lids (less spillage) so they can always have water with them. For kids who aren't water fans, this will encourage them to drink it more.

Materials Used:

Insulated cup (I got mine for $5 each at The Canadian Superstore)
Valentine paper (1 piece cost .99 cents)
Candy & Chocolate (bought in bulk for $3.00)
Love note (I have included a FREE printable for this)
Total Cost: $8.99 total ($4.50 per kid)....not bad!

Here's what I did:

Bought 2 cups (insulated with lids and straws) and 'heart' paper.

Cut the paper to fit inside the cup.

Created a printable (free for you...just right click and save!)

My husband and I each filled in our 5 reasons (so really they got 10 reasons...moms and dads are different and each appreciate different things so I thought it would be cool if they heard 5 things from each of us.)

After we filled out our lists, we popped it inside the cup along with some heart shaped chocolates and gummies.

Here's what it looks like...pretty and simple and not expensive. Win - Win - Win!

I think they're going to really like them!

Thank you so much Cath for sharing this fabulous idea! I hope you'll head on over to Home is Where the Heart is and show Cath some love!

And don't forget to link up your Valentine's Day crafts, recipes, arts, and projects HERE.

It's Time to Mingle

2012-02-02T05:20:00.000-05:00

There are no rules to this blog hop. Just link up your blog's main page. Then have fun reading new blogs and making new blog friends. We would love for you to follow the hostesses in the first four spots and our guest host in the fifth spot. Please leave a comment so we know to follow you back. Grab our button if you want to share our blog hop with others. There will be a new list every Thursday, so be sure to come back every week. Also, if you are interested in hosting a giveaway for our blog, please email any one of us. We would love to have you!!

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We hope you have fun and thanks for joining us! We are so excited to find new blogs, share great ideas, and inspire each other.

We're a Perfect Match!

2012-02-01T22:05:00.001-05:00

It's time to start making Valentine's Day treats! I love Valentine's Day - I love giving little treats and I love getting little treats. And I'm even more excited because this is the first year that Connor is excited with me!!

We've been busy making fun Valentine gifts and treat bags for grandparents, friends, and teachers. Well, I've been making them and Connor has been eating the candy while helping me:)

First and my definitely my favorite, I thought it would be fun to give Connor's friends at school a Valentine Colors & Numbers Memory game as a special Valentine treat.

I made the game and then I made the treat bag toppers to say "Our Friendship is a Perfect Match."

Download and print the treat bag toppers HERE
Download and print the memory game HERE

Print two copies of the memory game on card stock. The treat bag toppers fit standard size snack/sandwich bags.

I also decided that I had to make one for Connor to give to him as a little Valentine's Day treat.

We will be playing this together tomorrow night! Print out your copy today and have some fun!

Then we made a fun treat bag for the hubby. He loves all candy that is sweet and sour so I thought it would be cute to make these "You Sweeten My Sour Days" treat bags.

For Connor's teachers we made the treat bags to say "You Sweeten My Days" and filled them with their favorite candy.

Feel free to print and use any of the treat bag toppers. They can all be found HERE.

Don't forget to add your Valentine's Day crafts, recipes, arts, decor, and projects to our Valentine Countdown Party.

Valentine Countdown Party

2012-02-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

Come and link up all your Valentine's Day crafts, recipes, arts, decor and projects! Revive last year's posts and let's share as many ideas as we can! Please do grab a button for your sidebar or post

and

we'd love if you followed the hosts too!

Shine on Friday with Another Giveaway

2012-01-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Shine on Friday!! We had a fabulous party last week and we can't wait to see what you all have been up to this week.

Here are the features from last week's party:

Yankee Doodle Designs shares this fun Valentine's Day Word Art. I love Tagxedo! My students use it all the time for vocabulary activities and Karin shows you some fun ways to use it.

Melanie over at Creative Art and Design shared her Plarn Bags. You all must have been wondering what plarn was too! It is plastic yarn. I've never even heard of plastic yarn but I'm loving her bags!

Flight Platform Living showed us how they made a garden glockenspiel. Connor would love this in our backyard.

Thank you Stardust - Decor & Style for sharing some useful links and blogging tips. Everyone loves getting tips on how to make their blog better.

And Shawna showed off her Heart Rag Wreath over at What I Do When I Play. Super cute and easy!!

It was so hard to pick out a favorite because I really think all the crafts, tutorials, ideas, and recipes you all shared are truly fabulous But I had to show off these gorgeous 5 generation pictures Amanda joy over at Joy in the Jumble shared last week. They are AMAZING!!

Make sure you visit my co-host Amy over at One Artsy Mama to see which links she is featuring today.

And we are so excited to announce the winner of last week's giveaway.

Last week was extra special for our Shine on Friday party because we had our first giveaway. Thank you everyone who linked up and left comments. The winner of the gorgeous handstamped necklace made by fabulous co-host Amy over at One Artsy Mama was Ami!

Congratulations Ami!

Since we love giving things away, we decided to have another giveaway.

This week we are giving away a fun book I made on Blurb. It is called A Year to Remember. It is similar to a journal and encourages you to record daily memories. events, quotes, etc. for a year. There are even blank spaces for pictures to be taped in.

The winner will be able to choose the color of the book and can have the cover personalized if they want to. You'll get one entry for following my blog, one for following Amy and one for each project you link up to our party. If you are already a follow, you get credit for that:)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now it's your turn to SHINE!

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Show off your fabulous creations with us and be inspired by what others have created!
Please link up crafts, recipes, home decor, etc.
I would love for you to follow me and One Artsy Mama
Grab a button and post it on your blog to help spread the word
Have fun and visit other links. We all love comments:)

It's Time to Mingle

2012-01-25T23:34:00.000-05:00

There are no rules to this blog hop. Just link up your blog's main page. Then have fun reading new blogs and making new blog friends. We would love for you to follow the hostesses in the first four spots and our guest host in the fifth spot. Please leave a comment so we know to follow you back. Grab our button if you want to share our blog hop with others. There will be a new list every Thursday, so be sure to come back every week. Also, if you are interested in hosting a giveaway for our blog, please email any one of us. We would love to have you!!

<center><a href="http://happy-go-lucky-harvey.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Happy Go Lucky" src="http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m13/harveyusn/blog-hop-button-175.gif" /></a></center>

We hope you have fun and thanks for joining us! We are so excited to find new blogs, share great ideas, and inspire each other.

20 Homemade Cleaning Products

2012-01-25T21:26:00.001-05:00

I've become a little obsessed with searching for DIY cleaning products. I love the idea of using less chemicals when cleaning and I especially like that it is so much cheaper. I can't believe how much I've spent in the past on cleaning products when I could have been making them myself.

In my own quest to find simple recipes for homemade cleaning products, I've decided to compile a list here to share with you.

#1: General Surface Cleaner

2 cups water
2 cups white vinegar
1 teaspoon baking soda

#2: General Surface Cleaner

2 cups baking soda
3/4 cups Castile soap
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons vinegar

#3: DIY Clorox Cleaner by Lady with the Red Rocker

1/4 Cup Bleach
1 Teaspoon Laundry Detergent

#4: Cleaning Wipes
Use your favorite DIY cleaning solution to make your own cleaning wipes. Lil Daisies has a fabulous tutorial on how to do it.

#5: Glass and Window Cleaner:

1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
3 cups water
1 tablespoon lemon juice

#6: Glass and Window Cleaner:

2 cups hot water
1/4 cup vinegar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon lemon juice

#7: Homemade Carpet Spot Cleaner from Lost Button Studio:

4 cups warm water
1/2 cup vinegar
2-3 Tablespoons baking soda

#8: Tile and Grout Cleaner:

1/2 cup baking soda
1/3 cup ammonia
1/4 cup white vinegar
6 cups warm water

#9: Natural Nesters shares how to make homemade Swiffer Sweepers. How fabulous is this?

#10: Cutting Boards:

Spray separately: vinegar then 3% hydrogen peroxide.

#11: Laundry Stain Remover:

1 cup warm water
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide

#12: Powdered Laundry Detergent:

I cup borax
1 cup washing soda (found in the laundry detergent aisle)
1 cup shaved bar soap - Ivory, ZOTE or Fels-Naptha

#13: Fabric Softener:

4 cups hot water
2 cups white distilled vinegar
2 cups baking soda
10 drops essential oil of your choice

#14: Fabric Softener:

4 cups warm water
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup hair conditioner
1/4 cup baking soda

#15: Furniture Polish:

1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice

#16: Dish Soap:

2 cups soap shavings
2 cups hot water
1/4 cup white vinegar or lemon juice

#17: Dish Soap:

3 cups Castile soap
3/4 cup warm water
Few drops essential oil (optional)

#18: Homemade Soft Scrub Cleaner:

3/4 cup baking soda
Start by adding 1/4 cup liquid dish soap - keep adding until you get the right consistency

#19: Febreeze / Deodorizer:

1 cup fabric softener
1 cup white vinegar or baking soda
2 cups water

#20: Deodorizer:

1 cup water
1 cup vodka

I'm so excited to make and use these cleaning products around my house!! I'll let you know how they turn out. In the mean time, I want to see your homemade cleaning products. I'd love for you to share below.

Football Cookie Cups

2012-01-23T06:21:00.001-05:00

My husband is a HUGE New York Giants fan so Connor and I were excited to surprise him with these cookie cups last week for his birthday.

And now that the Giants are in the Superbowl, I will be making these again in 2 weeks!! I wanted to post this earlier last week but was afraid I might jinx the Giants. Good thing they pulled it off.

Here is how I made these fun treats:
I started by making chocolate chip cookies in a mini muffin pan.

While they were in the oven I made the little footballs: I printed out a row of small footballs, placed the picture under the wax paper (you can't really see it in the picture, but they are there), melted chocolate candy melts in a decorating bag, and squeezed over the image to form football shapes. Then I melted white candy melts to make the laces.

Once the cookies were cool, I iced them with my favorite buttercream icing recipe:

Mix 1 cup unsalted butter, 3 cups confectioners sugar, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons milk until blended.

Then I dipped the iced cookies in green sugar sprinkles.

To make the cupcake/cookie toppers, I made, printed and cut out these images. Then I cut out larger circles with red cardstock. I taped the NY Giants image to the red circle with a toothpick in between.

If you would like a copy, please email me at happygolucky337@gmail.com

Top cookie bites with toppers and chocolate footballs. Then enjoy these yummy treats!

Happy Monday everyone! I hope everyone has a great week!!