Lamberts Lately

Create It Thursday #7 (Plus Features)

2013-06-19T20:30:00.000-05:00

Glad y'all are back for another week of Create It Thursday fun!

Last week, we had a fabulous collection of your newest ideas. Here were a few of my favorites...they're on the Create It Thursday Pinterest board too! This 4th of July drink is so pretty, and looks delicious! This was posted by We Made That.

I just love natural cleaning ideas...this Lemony Whitening Scouring Cleanser is a must-try! This is from Let This Mind Be In You.

Salted Caramel Swirl Applesauce Brownies...YUM. This is a great recipe if you bake for those with egg allergies! It's from Anyonita Nibbles.

How amazing does Ranch French Bread sound from Queen of the Red Doublewide? Don't mistake this for bread with ranch on it - the ranch flavor is actually baked into the bread! Some regular readers here know I'm currently on a gardening kick. This idea to grow potatoes in a garbage can from Domestic Bliss Squared is genius!

I (briefly) thought about doing something like this DIY Ruffled Shade for Emma Ramey's nursery. I thought it was going to be crazy hard, so I didn't, but this tutorial makes it look so easy! This is from Random Thoughts From an Incoherent Mind. My husband is a HUGE fan of Beef Wellington. This looks like a great alternative that could be done any night of the week! A Kitchen Hoor brought us this recipe.

In need of a wow kind of summer drink? This is it! This Blackberry Mint Lemonade from Simply Suzanne's at Home looks so delicious. Thanks so much to everyone that linked up last week! If you were featured above, here's your feature button:

Now let's get to this week!
Here are the rules... -Please link to your actual post, not just your main blog link. -No giveaway links or shop links, please! -Visit a couple of other links in the collection...you never know, you might learn something. -If you'd like to add my link or button (below) to your post, I'd appreciate it! -Linking up means you are giving permission to be featured on next week's post, possibly using a picture from your post (see above for examples). Of course, all features include a link back to your site.
Now show me what you've got this week!

Random Finds For Your Tuesday

2013-06-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd give y'all a few (very, very random) finds that I've loved over the past week!

-I told y'all about my friend Lindsey, who's son just underwent the bone marrow transplant. This is the letter she wrote to her son's donor...just an incredible post. -We're on the hunt for a kitchen for Emma Ramey. My in-laws have one and she is obsessed...so I believe that's going to be her Christmas present. Here are a few of my favorites! -I have always just loved Sarah's writing style...she just has the sweetest heart and has such a way with words. This post is about her 5 years with her husband. Beautiful. -I found this on Pinterest and am a little obsessed. We need a playroom in a bad way...mostly so I can get these creative ideas that I have for it into action. -My blog friend Melissa shared her new home on her blog this past week...and Y'ALL. It is gorgeous. Must see!
-Have you seen those cute chalk art pieces, but have no clue how to do it? Yeah, I didn't either...until I saw this post from Mandy. What a genius idea!
-This idea? Precious. It's homemade play-dough that smells good!

-Love this post from Erin on loving where you are. -I guest posted at my friend Erin's blog yesterday! And, I'm guest posting at Katie's blog today! Happy Tuesday!

Father's Day, in Pictures

2013-06-17T10:20:00.001-05:00

I'd say Noah had a pretty great Father's Day. Here are a few pictures from our day!

We started the day with presents. Noah got an espresso maker, delivered to him by his best girl.

Of course, he had a helper too.

And what's Father's Day without a card that includes an inappropriate joke? No, I'm not telling y'all what it said, but my (13 year old at heart) husband enjoyed it. :)

We snapped a picture before heading to lunch! This was about as good as it got with Miss "I'm Ready for a Nap" Emma Ramey.

See?

She did perk up once we got to lunch. Girl loves some Mexican food...who can blame her? We all headed home, got a decent nap, and had a great family day. It was incredible!
*Y'all check out my friend Erin's blog...I'm guest posting over there today too!*

20 Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half

2013-06-14T14:45:00.000-05:00

I've been at this grocery budget thing for awhile now. Over the years, I've learned a few tricks along the way that help me maximize what I get and minimize my budget. Here's what I've learned! 1. Shop from your own pantry. This sounds a little strange, but has gone a very long way in cutting our grocery bill. As you see things on sale, buy what you'd need for 8-12 weeks worth. Sales cycles typically go on about an 8-12 week rotation, so that's what you'll need to get you to the next sale. So, for example, let's say cheese goes on sale. If I go through 1 pack a week, I'd need to buy around 10 packs to get through to the next sale. This way, you're not buying what you need for the week...rather, you're always buying what's on sale! 2. Don't meal plan. I hear the gasps from bloggers...hear me out. When you meal plan, you typically make a list of things that you need to pick up from the store to fulfill that meal plan (whether they're on sale or not). This costs way more! Instead, plan your meals as you go, using the "shop from your own pantry" method above. Trust me, I'm just as much of a planner as the next person, but it's not the cheapest way! And, if you use #1, you'll have a great selection at your house, so it won't be too difficult to "plan" your meals. 3. Coupons, Coupons, Coupons! I can't say enough for using coupons. I tried to get into the habit when we first got married, and just couldn't. Then, one day, somebody posted a link to iheartpublix.com, and I never looked back. These sites today make it SO easy to coupon...seriously, they tell you which insert to look in or actually link to the printable coupon. Go here to learn more - she explains it way better than I ever could! One thing I do recommend - don't just use coupons without store sales. Make sure you pair the two up for maximum savings. That link above explains everything! 4. Use and buy convenience foods when needed. Convenience foods (frozen meals, pre-packaged meals) have their place. There are just times when you don't want to cook...you have three options. Suck it up and cook (which you know you won't), go out and pay WAY too much for fast food/to-go food, or use a convenience meal. Guess which one's the cheapest? You don't want to do this all the time of course, but I definitely keep these around the house. I typically stock-up when you find great sales and coupons to match...after all, they're usually pretty shelf-stable, so you can buy a good bit! 5. Budget. This goes without saying...make a budget and (try to) stick to it. I, personally, aim for $50 a week...that covers meat, produce, groceries, and toiletries for us. Do I always stick to it? Nope. But limits just help you stay at your goal. A good reference point...I have 3 people eating in my house. We eat almost all of our meals at home, and I like to stick to about $1 per meal. So 3 people times 3 meals a day is around 9 dollars a day...or about $50 a week! So that's my budget. 6. Buy in bulk. Especially for meat and produce, I've found it's best to buy in bulk. If I find a great deal one week on a veggie we eat, I buy a lot, prep if needed, and freeze...and we have that veggie for months! Of course, the big warehouse stores (Sam's, Costco) are great for this, but I buy my meat through Zaycon foods. They offer great quality meat and really low prices. I have purchased their bulk chicken twice...just divide it into freezer bags when I get home, and we have chicken for quite awhile! 7. Cook in bulk. I love doing freezer meals. When you're making a recipe, just cook double and freeze it! That way you have a meal ready to be thawed out and served (rather than possibly making those expensive fast food runs). It cuts down on getting sick of leftovers, reduces energy costs (only have to fire up the oven once!), and you can use up some of that bulk purchase you just made. Win, win, win! 8. Make a list. If you coupon, this will happen...don't go to the grocery store without a list. Wandering through the aisles is the easiest way to throw impulse (read: expensive) purchases in the cart. They can add up quickly! I make my list from the right to the left of the store. You kind of have to know your grocery store to do this, but it makes it easier to stick to the list! 9. Don't go to the store hungry. I fall victim to this too sometimes. You are SO much more likely to make impulse purchases at the grocery store if you go hungry. Eat before you go! 10. Look for almost out-of-date items at the store. This is a great trick to saving on produce and meat. A lot of times, grocery stores will mark their perishable items down right before they can't sell it anymore, just to get rid of it. If you know you'll be using it quickly, stock up! 11. Take distractions out of your grocery trip. Being distracted during a grocery store visit is another easy way to make those purchases you probably shouldn't. Leave the kids at home if you can. Don't go when you have to be somewhere in 15 minutes. Got something on your mind? Put that trip off. 12. Don't be brand loyal. This is a huge mistake when it comes to grocery shopping. We all have our favorite brands for certain products...throw that out the window. Chances are, your brand rarely goes on sale or has the best coupon for that product. Instead, buy what's cheapest that's a comparable quality. 13. Have a "Use Up" container. Keep a container in your fridge and your pantry for items that are about to expire...your "Use Up" container. Go through your food about once a week and place items in here that might be about to go bad. Make it a priority to use these items instead of throwing them away! 14. Substitute recipe ingredients when needed. If you're out of an ingredient for a recipe, don't just go out and buy it...get creative! A lot of times things can be substituted that make little to no difference in a recipe. I always google "substitutions for _____________ in recipes" when I'm in this situation...you'll be shocked how many different ingredients you'll get. 15. If you must buy an ingredient for a recipe, know where to buy it. Let's say I need a carton of sour cream for a recipe. I always hop online before making the quick trip to the store to see where the best price is. This might not be an option if you only have one grocery store near you, but I have 3 - so I check out the weekly sales quickly to see if anyone has it on sale. I also search the coupon database to see if there are any coupons out there that would make it even cheaper! Gas cost is also something you have to factor into this. Is it worth saving 20 cents at a store if you have to drive 10 extra miles to get there? No. 16. Know your maximum "buy price." Before you ever make your grocery list, know what the maximum price you'll buy an item is. This is a great list. Of course, it will vary by region, and you'll need to learn your store's best prices, but don't buy items that are over this price if you can help it. 17. For non-food items...opt for reusable instead of disposable. This has been a great trick at our house. Instead of using countless rolls of aluminum foil/plastic wrap to store food, we bought a cheap set of Rubbermaid containers to hold leftovers. I also use dish rags instead of paper towels (when sanitary)...paper towels can be expensive if overused! 18. Make your grocery runs in 1 trip. It may sound odd to spend more per trip to save, but it works. Not only do you not have to pay the fuel cost to get to the grocery store multiple times, but many grocery stores offer coupons to save x amount off of x purchase. For example, I am a big Publix shopper - my Publix takes the $5/30 purchase Winn Dixie coupons from Enjoy the City books. So I can either make 3 $10 runs per week and save nothing extra, or combine those trips and save an extra $5. No brainer! Plus, it's just easier not having to go to the grocery store multiple times a week. 19. Don't be afraid to try something new! Most of the time, when a manufacturer rolls out a new product, they'll offer big discounts in the form of coupons and store sales to get you to buy it (and become hooked). So take advantage of it! Look for coupons for newer items...usually, there is at least one grocery store in my area that will be running a sale on it too. Plus, it's just kind of fun to try something new! :) 20. Bring those reusable bags. Many stores give a discount for customers that use reusable shopping bags...take advantage of it! You're also doing your part for the environment this way, and you take up less space in your trash (read: buy less trash bags). I hope this helps some of y'all...I can all but guarantee it will significantly lower your grocery bill if you implement these! If you'd like to follow along with my weekly grocery trips, click here. **Don't forget...this is the last day for my Brider Baubles giveaway!**

Slimming Down With Slim-Fast

2013-06-13T14:43:00.000-05:00

A few months ago I decided it was time to take off the baby weight. I could sit here and tell you all the polite reasons for why I wanted to do this and I'm sure you've heard them all before: "I wanted more energy!" "I wanted to look thin!" "I wanted to weigh the same as I did at my wedding/prom/graduation!" I mean, all of those are true--don't get me wrong. But you want to know the real reason for why I want to lose the weight? I want to be that mom at the beach this summer. Not the "Ah, she looks good (for having a 14 month old)." No, I want to be the mom that everybody looks at and says, "She has a baby?" You know... those moms. I want that body. So earlier this year, I got to work! There have been a few steps that are absolutely essential to my progress: 1. Getting Active. I'm just one of those people that can count calories all day, but can't lose the weight unless I get up and get going!

This is my view for 30 minutes each day. Emma Ramey and I take a walk every day that we can. My neighborhood goes in a circle and when I drove it one day I found that it was .7 miles. So, I can walk around it 3 times in 30 minutes and have a great workout! I'm planning on beginning toning workouts in a few weeks, but this provides great cardio for now. 2. Water, Water, and More Water! Drinking lots of water is so essential to losing weight for me. The best part: it's basically free! I keep a big cup of water next to me all day and aim for 6-8 glasses, but I don't always get there. For some reason, it just helps me lose weight and makes me feel better in general. 3. Watching Those Calories. This is just a given. You have to watch what you eat. For the first few months of my diet, I meticulously counted each day, and lost about 10 pounds. Well, I fell off the wagon a little about a month ago, and my diet just kind of went stagnant. I was so excited to get the chance to work with Slim-Fast to jumpstart this diet thing again! I want to lose a few more pounds before our summer vacation, and I think this will be the perfect thing to do just that. 4. Giving Myself Grace. Y'all, we all fall short of goals sometimes. It happens. While I am doing everything I can to get that beach body, I have to give myself some grace sometimes too. Do I skip a workout every once in awhile? Yep. Do I have that burger occasionally? Absolutely. And that's ok--giving myself grace in this process has taught me it's a marathon, not a sprint! By using the Slim-Fast Weight Calculator, I found I can safely lose up to 8 pounds by our beach trip...so that's my goal. Wish me luck on my journey to becoming that mom! Check out the Slim-Fast Facebook page here, or share why you really want to lost the weight here. :) So tell me, what are the reasons you TELL OTHER PEOPLE you want to lose weight? And what are the REAL reasons you TELL YOURSELF? Comment below and you will be entered for a chance to win a $1,000 SpaFinder gift card! Entries will be pooled between participating blogs and two lucky winners will be picked at random. Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.

Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 6/13/13 – 6/30/13.

Be sure to visit the Slim-Fast brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

Create It Thursday #6 (Plus Features)

2013-06-13T07:23:00.000-05:00

It was another great week for Create It Thursday! Last week, you guys linked up over 150 of your best ideas. Here are a few of my favorites! As always, these will also be on the Create It Thursday Pinterest board. This week, TipToe Fairy showed us how to make homemade chocolate syrup. Of all the recipes I've ever seen online, I don't think I've ever seen one for this...what a creative idea! I have a bagless vacuum...I love it, but if you have one, you know it can get funky sometimes. Angela brought us a tip is week on how to clean it! Nutella Stuffed Crepes with Bananas...oh my mouth is watering just thinking about this. Yum! I would totally eat this 3 meals a day. Thanks to TitiCrafty for this recipe! What kid wouldn't love a fishbowl snack? This is such a cute idea, and a great way to get your kids involved in the kitchen. This one's from We Made That! If you've seen my kitchen table, you'd probably know that I need this tip...in a bad way. It's super easy and you probably already have the items in your house to do it! Definitely trying this one. Thanks Domestic Bliss Squared!
This chocolate lasagna recipe is from Wine & Plum...doesn't it look just sinful? Another creative way to serve up something delicious! (And, reading back through my features, I'm clearly on a choclate kick today.) I am slightly obsessed with PF Chang's Lettuce Wraps...this looks like a similar recipe! These are Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps from Life with the Crust Cut Off.

I love this 3 Dimensional Wall Art post from Sew Can Do...so creative! This is a real eye-catcher. Thanks for everyone that participated last week! If you were featured, you can grab your feature button below:

On to the show for this week!
Here are the rules... -Please link to your actual post, not just your main blog link. -No giveaway links or shop links, please! -Visit a couple of other links in the collection...you never know, you might learn something. -If you'd like to add my link or button (below) to your post, I'd appreciate it! -Linking up means you are giving permission to be featured on next week's post, possibly using a picture from your post (see above for examples). Of course, all features include a link back to your site.
What have you guys been up to this week? Link up below! Also, don't forget to check out my Bridier Baubles giveaway...it ends tomorrow!

Midweek Randoms

2013-06-12T07:15:00.000-05:00

Today I'm linking up with my friend Megan for Midweek Randoms!

-We got a date night for the first time in a few weeks this weekend! Emma Ramey stayed with the grandparents and we went to one of our favorite restaurants (where our rehearsal dinner was held).

-This weekend was another attempt in getting this house organized. Closets are up now. The master closet is all but done now (this picture is a before, I promise). Of course I had my trusty helper.

-Speaking of organization, here's an example of it...on opposite day. Please tell me I'm not the only one who has a living room that looks like this every. single. night.

-But oh, this child slays me. Totally worth cleaning up the dirty living room every night. Here she is yesterday giving her baby doll love. :)

-We've all been dealing with some kind of sickies around here. I was first, on Monday, and Noah and Emma Ramey followed yesterday. Nothing huge, just felt yucky. We're thinking it was a mild case of food poisoning.

-We learned the hard way a few days ago that Emma Ramey likes popcorn. Don't ever leave food out around this child.

-And she likes sitting in baskets. She seriously sat here for 10 minutes, playing with random items she could reach.

-I am so proud to say that I'm finally on the national bone marrow donor registry. My blog friend Lindsey's sweet little boy Will is having a bone marrow transplant today...Will is the guy that inspired me to join. My sample is now in the mail!
A lot of bloggers are joining together today to pray for Will...we actually have enough people to pray for him for the full 24 hours of his transplant day. How amazing is that? I'm proud to say I'm part of it, and would love for y'all to be part of it too! Please pray for his complete healing and for a successful transplant today.

-I'll leave you with a picture of my child doing her favorite thing in the world...hanging upside down. People wonder why our nickname for her is "Monkey"...she earned it.
Happy Wednesday!

Barbecue Muffins Recipe

2013-06-11T07:38:00.000-05:00

I have developed 2 big secrets in the kitchen in the past few months: biscuit dough and crescent roll dough. You can seriously do ANYTHING with them. They are the easiest way to pep up boring leftovers! Take this recipe for example. We were on about our third day of eating barbecue, and frankly, we were getting sick of it. So, I created barbecue muffins and had a whole new meal!

Here's how I did it! Barbecue Muffins Ingredients 1 lb BBQ pork, chicken, or beef...anything will do! 1 cup barbecue sauce 2 tbsp. hot sauce 1 tube biscuit dough 1 cup shredded or sliced cheddar cheese
Directions

1. Take your biscuit dough and press it into the bottom of 10-11 parts of a muffin tin. (I had the kind of dough that had 8 biscuits per can...I just had to divide them.) 2. Mix the hot sauce, barbecue, and sauce together in a bowl. 3. Slice the cheese (or use shredded) on top of each one of the muffins. 4. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, until cheese is melted and biscuits are starting to brown. Serve warm. SUPER easy recipe, and absolutely delicious!

Bridier Baubles Giveaway!

2013-06-10T13:19:00.002-05:00

Bridier Baubles has become one of my favorite sources for cute, trendy jewelry. They've rolled out several new pieces for the summer that are precious!
I love the Stormy Seas necklace - how pretty would it be for beach pictures? I actually just ordered an Ashley Link bracelet last week...I can't wait for it to come in! It's one of those pieces that could go with just about anything.
The always popular Britta bead is now available in pink! So bright and fun.

And, the Reagan necklace is a fairly new one to the Bridier Baubles line-up...another versatile piece that would be cute dressed up or dressed down.
Oh, what's that you say? You'd like to win a Reagan necklace? Here's your chance to win the Lemonade Reagan necklace from Bridier Baubles!

Enter with the Giveaway Tools widget below. I'll shut it down Friday night and pick a winner Saturday.
Good luck! And a huge thanks to Bridier Baubles for sponsoring this giveaway!

Entry -Form

Why I'm Not Giving Up on Google Friend Connect...Yet.

2013-06-07T07:35:00.000-05:00

I'm sure many of you have heard about the impending shut-down of Google Reader. In a few weeks, it will be no more. But I think there's been a lot of misconception about what that means. You see that little widget on my sidebar, below "follow along?" That's called Google Friend Connect. While it's related to Google Reader, it's not the same thing.
Google Friend Connect is a way for you to follow blogs. When you follow a blog, it automatically loads that blog into your Google Reader and your Blogger reading list. I, for one, use Blogger reading list. That's the reader that shows on the lower half of the main page when you sign in to blogger.com. It loads the blog post title, a picture from it, and maybe the first paragraph of the post. I love scanning through that and seeing what I might want to read, and just clicking over to the blog from there.
Google Reader is something different. It is an actual service through Google that loads the full text/pictures of all of your subscribed blog posts. I would be willing to bet that many of you don't even use it.
So don't freak out too much about Google Reader going away...yet. Google Friend Connect (the widget on many Blogger users' sidebars) isn't going anywhere (for now). There is a lot of talk of it going away soon, as Google has really started focusing on their Google+ interaction, but it's still safe and sound as of right now. And, when somebody follows you through it, it will still load your blog onto their Blogger reading list. If you are like me and use your Blogger reading list as your reader, here's my suggestion - don't stop using it yet, but do backup your reading list to another service like feedly or Bloglovin'. I've seen a huge shift in my traffic to Bloglovin' in the past couple of months, so I'm thinking that's the way most people are going with their subscription. But, you don't have to stop using your Blogger homepage yet! If you have deleted the Google Friend Connect widget from your sidebar, you will find that, if you try to add it back, it's not there anymore to add. Don't freak out about this either! When I was doing a blog install one day, I figured out a backdoor kind of way to add it back. Here's how...

Go to your layout tab, and click "Add a Gadget" (your page will probably look different than mine, but will still say Add a Gadget somewhere).

This box will pop-up. You won't find the Google Friend Connect widget in this list anymore...Google+ Followers is there, but it's not the same thing. So, on the left, click "More Gadgets."

In the circled box, type "Google Friend Connect" and search.

Select the "Members" option...on mine, it's the second one that comes up.

You can delete the word "Members" if you don't want it to show up as a title on the widget...just leave that box blank if you don't want a title at all. The size of 200 pixels is pretty standard for Blogger sidebars, so that should be fine...but, if you notice your sidebar cutting the widget off, just make it smaller.
Select ok, and you now have GFC again! I hope this helps some of y'all! You more than welcome to email me or comment with questions.

Create It Thursday #5 (Plus Features)

2013-06-06T07:15:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Create It Thursday #5! Last Thursday, you guys linked up 230 of your latest and greatest ideas! Let's see what my favorites were last week! As always, these are also shared on my Create It Thursday Features Pinterest board. I just love freezer cooking. Y'all might remember that I did a post similar to this a few months ago...we seriously ate that food for months! These recipes look absolutely incredible. This one is from Little Kitchen, Big Bites.

These Cake Pop Popsicles are seriously adorable. Lisa of Hoopla Palooza provides step by step instructions on how to make them in this post! Loft beds are totally something I"ve got on the "dream house" list for Emma Ramey's room. I just think they are so cute and functional! Bright Green Door shares how they created this precious piece. You know, I've always wondered how to bind a notepad at home...this post shows you how to do it! Peanut Life Adventures makes a really cute stamped notepad this week. This is a great project - a faux canvas wall art gallery from Someday Crafts!
I'm definitely keeping this recipe around for those times I need a breakfast to feed a crowd - a breakfast banana cake! Doesn't it look amazing? Thanks, Buttercream Bakehouse! Think peanut butter cookies. Now stuff them with Rolos. I mean, you can't go wrong. Another great recipe from Six Sister's Stuff! I love these blue jean tablecloths from Restyled Junk! How fun would this be for a birthday party or blue jean-themed event? Something about this Country Club Chicken recipe just stood out to me. It looks like it would be an easy, delicious weeknight meal. Thanks, Keepin' Up With the Jahns! A huge thanks to all of the bloggers that contributed their amazing creations last week! If you were featured, you can grab your button below:

Now, let's get this week started! Here are the rules... -Please link to your actual post, not just your main blog link. -No giveaway links or shop links, please! -Visit a couple of other links in the collection...you never know, you might learn something. -If you'd like to add my link or button (below) to your post, I'd appreciate it! -Linking up means you are giving permission to be featured on next week's post, possibly using a picture from your post (see above for examples). Of course, all features include a link back to your site.
What have you been creating this week?

The Rainbow

2013-06-05T06:30:00.000-05:00

We had a somewhat stormy weekend around here. It was one of those weather patterns that could produce a storm one minute and sunshine the next.

So, naturally, we got a rainbow out of the deal. It was one of those fabulous rainbows that goes from one side of the sky to the other - just a gorgeous end to the stormy day.

Whenever I see a rainbow, I think of our journey to getting pregnant with Emma Ramey. Many of my long-time readers here know that it wasn't an easy one. After a year of losses and negative tests, it's a given that we were frustrated and sad with the situation.

So, the summer I got pregnant, we stopped to regroup. We didn't necessarily focus on getting pregnant - rather, we focused on finding where we wanted to go with our journey.

The day before Noah's birthday (July 3rd), I went on a fishing trip with Noah, his dad, and his brothers. If you've ever been fishing, you probably know you have to leave super early in the morning. We were on the water by probably 7:30. It seems like, when I go out on my father-in-law's boat, I sit in the same place - the seat right in front of the center console. So, I got on my normal perch and soaked up the morning salt air.

It was a little stormy that morning too...you could see the storm clouds in the distance. But, just like this weekend, we also had a mix of sun - so here came the rainbow. That morning, I saw the most gorgeous rainbow while sitting on my seat at the front of the boat.

And, right then, 3 days before taking a pregnancy test and 1 week before I "should" have been able to find out anything, I had a hunch that this might be it for us.

I still can't explain it to this day, but I felt the most overwhelming peace come over me. I felt somebody tell me "it's alright now." God uses his creation to speak to us sometimes - He definitely used it to speak to me that morning.

We were out of town, so I didn't take a pregnancy test until we got home (after I had 2 very vivid dreams about it)...and it was positive almost immediately. Once again, several days before I should have gotten a positive. And, in the two weeks after I found out, I saw two more rainbows...seriously, what are the chances of seeing 3 within 3 weeks? They aren't kidding when they call rainbows "God's promises"...it definitely has a special meaning with me.

There are some moments where you just feel your life change - that is one of mine. And, for the rest of ever, I have a sign that reminds me of my journey to get this little girl.

And it was totally worth it.

Father's Day Gift Guide

2013-06-04T07:40:00.000-05:00

We are officially in the home stretch for Father's Day gift ideas. If you haven't ordered a present for your favorite dad, this is the week! I'm going to be honest...I don't get guys. I just don't. Some of the things they're into are just foreign to me. But, I have observed the men in my life...here's a Father's Day Gift Guide of things they've received over the years and have just loved...or things I think are just cool!

1. iPad Aluminum Keyboard Case Holder and Stand If your husband/dad is a little bit of a tech nerd (cough cough Noah Lambert), this would be amazing. It has a built-in keyboard for the iPad (one of Noah's biggest complaints that it's missing), and offers a sturdy cover. Would be great for the traveler too! 2. Personalized Money Clip
Noah has a money clip that he bought on our honeymoon...he has never used a wallet, just this clip! A personalized one would be such a special touch. 3. Maverick Long-Range Grill Thermometer I had never heard of this until I was researching this post...what a cool idea! It lets you know what temperature you're grill is at from up to 300 feet away. 4. The Beer Lover's Gourmet Gift Box Have a dad that loves to grill/cook and loves beer? This is the perfect idea without having to actually give him a 6-pack! This includes a few marinades, sauces, and mustards with beer flavor. 5. Bluegrass Whiskey Barrel
Ok, I'm going off of what Noah has told me - apparently you can age whiskey in this. He received one as a groomsmen gift and is absolutely obsessed with it. 6. Kabob Grill Baskets
This is a really cool idea - instead of using kabobs on the grill (and risking your food falling off), just put your meat/veggies in these little baskets and grill. Much easier, and these are reusable! 7. Magazine Subscription

One of the great things about technology these days is that magazine subscriptions are available in print or on your favorite reader! Men's Health is always a great option - GQ and Esquire are also good ones. 8. Indoor Putting Green
Got a golfer in your life? This would be wonderful! Includes lake and sand trap feature, and an automatic ball return.
9. Digital Picture Frame
Most guys are not all about changing out picture frames. My husband, for example, still has our faded engagement picture in his office...from 6 years ago. So, I got him a digital picture frame a couple of years ago...it's a great way for them to keep updated pictures in their office! 10. Smartphone Light bulb
Ok, another cool idea I found while researching this post - this light bulb can be programmed with a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone to turn on and off! It has a built-in timer and dimmer, and can be used outdoors.
**Check out Jamie's blog...I'm guest posting over there today too!**

Sponsor Love - June (and a giveaway!)

2013-06-03T14:09:00.000-05:00

What is up with this year? It's absolutely flying by! I promise I just wrote the May sponsor post yesterday, and here we are at the beginning of another month. Crazy! There are a few great finds in this month's line-up, like discount codes specially for my readers and giveaways! Read on for more info.
Jennaration Boutique I'm so excited to welcome my newest sponsor, Jennaration! This is a PRECIOUS new online/Facebook boutique that is selling some of the biggest trends right now. I love everything I see from them!

The cute yellow dress I had on a couple of weeks ago was actually a Jennaration dress...the first of many items I must have from there. You can check out their website here and facebook page here - mention that you're a Lamberts Lately reader for a 15% discount! Rodan and Fields - Melanie Gould
Melanie has truly turned this skin care line into my skin care line. It's a very high-quality, personalized approach to skin care - I always tell people, "Think Proactiv, but grown up." It meets your individual skin needs quickly!
Click here to see Melanie's site!
Julie the Fish Designs

I just love Julie the Fish's handmade gift items! She has so many special, personalized items - even things for dad, like collar stays and money clips. This definitely isn't the same old tie for Father's Day!
Julie the Fish has a sale going through June 5th that will benefit a deserving family in Oklahoma...such a great idea! Check out her shop here.

Bridier Baubles
Bridier Baubles is one of my favorite sources for cute, trendy jewelry! They are rolling out several new pieces this month - the popular britta bead in pink and the fancy floral necklace in a variety of colors - that are just perfect for summer.
You can check out Bridier Baubles here! And, stay tuned for your chance to win a bauble later this month. :)

They Call Me Mama

They Call Me Mama is the cutest mom blog, if you haven't checked it out! Emily blogs about her experience with 2 babies and a chiropractor husband. She also just got a new blog makeover by yours truly! :)
You can check out Emily's blog here.

Crystal Faye

I told y'all about a few of my fun monogram finds from Crystal Faye a few days ago - and her cute products don't stop there! She also has a great line of accessories, stationery, and even adorable hairbows for little girls. So many cute items in one place!
I'm hosting a giveaway for $25 in Crystal Faye goodies right now - check it out! And, as always, you can put in the code Lambert10 at checkout for 10% off your Crystal Faye order.

Sunglasses Shop Sunglasses Shop is a fabulous resource if you're in need of a quality pair of sunglasses! They offer many different styles, even goggles and sport sunglasses. Their prices are comparable and their selection is wonderful. Check out their site here!
Collage Maker
Collage Maker is an online photo editor and collage maker! You can upload your pictures and make collages that can be turned into great gift items like coffee mugs, t-shirts, and pillow cases. Another fun option for Father's Day gifts!
Click here to see their site!
A huge thanks to all of my June sponsors! If you'd like to join in for next month's line up, I'm offering 25% off of all ad spaces, this week (June 3rd - June 8th) only. Put in the code LLJune for the discount...order from this page.
I also have a new giveaway for y'all today!
The people at Minted are offering one of my readers a $50 credit! This is a great online shop for tons of different stationery lines. You can see a few of my favorites below!

Enter with the Giveaway Tools widget below. Entries will be closed Friday night, and a winner will be chosen/emailed Saturday. Good luck!

Entry -Form

Insta-Pictures - May

2013-06-02T16:23:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I am SO much better at posting pictures to Instagram than to the blog. It's just so easy to click and go!

Here are a few pictures from Instagram in May that haven't made the blog yet.

This was our first attempt at using the backyard swimming pool this summer. She actually has a 9 month swimsuit on here - I was shocked (and so happy) it still fit! It was a little too cool that day, so she wasn't having the pool...so we played in her swimsuit in the backyard instead. You win some, you lose some.

My girl on Mother's Day, eating Mexican...her favorite!

With my mom and me on Mother's Day. :)

Crusing in the back yard...doesn't she look cool? :) That car is her favorite.

My incredibly sweet former boss sent me an invitation to their celebration of becoming an IB school...I thought it was so nice! I seriously had the best principal in the world when I taught. But, of course, I thought it was on a Friday when it was a Thursday, and missed it...oops! I was so sad!

Our next attempt at the pool...she actually got in this time! :)

I took this picture one morning, and it's actually a pretty good representation of my morning nap times...coffee, clutter, and computer. :) I usually try to get work done during that first nap, then clean in the afternoons, so my house is usually a mess while I'm working.

Think she liked the lasagna she had for lunch?

Before our walk one day. We both look forward to getting some sun (and exercise for me) every day!

The nice people from Sprout sent Emma Ramey a few snack samples to try. Her favorites were the yogurt bites. I bet you can't tell from this picture what she thought about them. :)

This exists. You're welcome.

Snacking by the pool on Memorial Day!

I think I mentioned this week that Noah's on a barbecuing kick lately. He has a new grill, so he's been trying out all kinds of things. On Memorial Day, he smoked ribs and a Boston Butt - so good. I found a copycat Dreamland sauce recipe that I made to go with it - it's actually not bad! If you try it, add a little bit more syrup, brown sugar, and vinegar.

Story of my life...I tell the child she's too big for the box...she gets in anyway. I get this face. She's lucky she's cute sometimes. :)

My poor girl hasn't been feeling to hot this past week. We don't know what's up - maybe a little cold? She's also finishing cutting molars, so that's not helping. One night, she just wanted to cuddle with me and watch TV (something that NEVER happens) and wear a pink bow she found.

Her curious face...the neighbor kids were playing football, and she was very concerned about it.

And last but certainly not least, my baby taking care of her baby. I melt.

Happy June!

**Housekeeping notes: I added a home tour page to the blog today! I've been meaning to do this for so long - it has a lot of our home pictures in one place, and gives you access to all of my home tour posts. Check it out!

This is also the last day to enter the giveaways for your chance to win a cruise for 4 and your chance to win a $100 Shell gift card!**

My Monogram Must-Haves For Summer (and a giveaway!)

2013-05-31T08:05:00.000-05:00

Everybody needs a few great monogrammed items for summer...and I have the perfect place for y'all to find them. The fabulous Crystal Faye has definitely been feeding my monogram addiction this month! She has a few new items I've been just swooning over.

Her monogrammed koozies are just to die for...so cute! I ordered this one a few weeks back, and couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out. There are lots of different color/monogram options available at her site too!

I also went on and ordered myself another Crystal Faye monogrammed hat, considering I wear my first one, oh, 4 times a week? I figured my neighbors were getting tired of seeing the same one on our daily walks, so I went for a different look this time. :) I just love this washed aqua color - so pretty and perfect for summer!

I noticed this gorgeous gold and pearl monogrammed bracelet on a few other blogs, and before I could even order one, Crystal surprised me in my last order with it! :) Isn't it gorgeous?

I just love that it has my monogram on it...such a personal touch. I've already worn it a few times and adore it...it goes with so much!
So, obviously, I've gotten my monogram fix for summer. Now it's time for you to get yours!
Crystal is giving one of my readers a $25 credit to her shop! Enter with the giveaway tools widget below.
I will cut off entries next Thursday night (4/6), and pick a winner Friday morning.

Entry -Form

Good luck! And remember, as always, Lamberts Lately readers get a 10% discount at Crystal Faye with the code Lambert10!

Create It Thursday #4 (Plus Features)

2013-05-29T20:05:00.000-05:00

Welcome back for another great week of Create It Thursday! Last week was another big week - almost 200 of your best recipes, DIY creations, and crafts!
Here are a few of my favorites from last week. These have also been pinned to my Pinterest feature board!

I love this adorable Watermelon Star Cake from My Turn For Us! The best part - it's healthy! This is SUCH a smart idea from Jenae Today - Magnetic Lamp Shade embellishments! Very cute and practical. Can you say YUM?? Chocolate Cherry Chip popcorn from Kreative Creationz - I'm going to have to try this! I am always looking for natural or homemade household cleaners...but I've never seen a homemade toilet bowl cleaner. This is a very interesting post from My Lamp is Full.

BANANA SPLIT PANCAKES - oh my gosh I'm drooling. Wouldn't this be perfect for a birthday breakfast? This is from Hun...What's for Dinner? This idea for a reusable laminated sandwich bag is so smart! This would be great for a child's lunch box, or if you brown bag it frequently. It's an easy sewing project too! Thanks, Sew Can Do! Ok y'all - this idea is BEYOND adorable. It's a complete movie night for Lady and the Tramp with your kids! Definitely saving this one...thanks I Gotta Try That! I don't know why I never thought of this one...DIY hair detangler! Domestic Bliss Squared features the recipe on her blog this week. Thanks for another amazing collection of your most creative ideas! If you were featured, you can grab your button below:

Now to this week! Here are the rules... -Please link to your actual post, not just your main blog link. -No giveaway links or shop links, please! -Visit a couple of other links in the collection...you never know, you might learn something. -If you'd like to add my link or button (below) to your post, I'd appreciate it! -Linking up means you are giving permission to be featured on next week's post, possibly using a picture from your post (see above for examples). Of course, all features include a link back to your site!
Show me what you've got this week!

Memorial Day Weekend, in Pictures

2013-05-28T10:39:00.001-05:00

We've had a fun, busy weekend! I took a ton of pictures with my phone, but only pulled out my big camera for Emma Ramey's 14 month pictures yesterday. Here's the rest of the pictures from our weekend.

One of Noah's good friends got married in Huntsville this weekend, so we headed that way Friday afternoon!

This was after the rehearsal dinner Friday night...we VERY rarely go out anymore, but we got a chance to spend some time with friends...so here we are trying to pretend like we weren't exhausted. :)

Noah didn't have to be at the church until 3 Saturday, so we had a chance to get out and have fun in Huntsville! Here we are at brunch.

We also got a chance to do a little bit of this...y'all, I cannot tell you how long it's been since I laid out at a pool without a child. It was incredible!

Then, of course, we had the wedding Saturday night. The reception was at a really cute place...it was an old lumberyard that had been remade into a place for parties. Very eclectic and funky (in a good way)...it was cute! We had a lot of fun. (This picture is TERRIBLE, but it's the only one I had of us.)

Another picture of a few of the guys' girlfriends/wives.

We headed home on Sunday to this monkey...I was SO glad to see her! That's the longest we've ever been apart. We decided to have a pool day Sunday afternoon, since it was so pretty!

On Monday, we got a chance to have a coffee date with my sweet friend Jessie!

...and then the pool day spilled over into Monday too. :) This girl loves the water!

Check out that after-swimming hair!

14 Months

2013-05-27T12:34:00.002-05:00

Happy Memorial Day!

My sweet girl was 14 months yesterday! Here's what she's up to...

Weight: Right at 25.8 pounds...in the 90th percentile!

Height:
You haven't really changed since last month...so about 31 inches. That's the 75th percentile.

Clothing Size:
Still holding strong in 18 month clothes. We could probably get away with a couple of 24 month outfits, I just haven't really tried yet. You're almost ready to move up to size 5 shoes!

Diapers:
Still doing great in size 4's. You're going through maybe 4-5 a day now. We're about to have to start using overnight diapers though.

Feeding:
Eating 3 times a day...breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You get a sippie of milk with each meal. You also have 2 snacks a day. No more night-night bottle...no more bottles at all for that matter, you're completely off of them! You still love anything carb-y...Cheerios, bread, puffs, etc. You love broccoli and bananas, and you've really started liking snack pouches this month! You also love eggs...you eat one every morning.
Hair/Eyes:
Gorgeous blue eyes, and (for now) blonde hair. It's still probably 4 times longer in the back. :) But, you're starting to (slowly) get some more on top!

Sleep:
Still great...you probably go to sleep at 7-7:30 at night, and sleep until at least 7:30 in the morning. We FINALLY figured out the problem with your naps...I wasn't waiting long enough between them! As long as I give you 3 hours between naps, you'll take 2 1.5 hour naps a day.

Fun Stuff: -You are a wild child! You love doing "flippies," bouncing on the bed (you say "ba ba" like your Tigger doll while you're doing it), and hanging upside down. Such a monkey - you earned your nickname! -You are talking more and more. You say "Mama," "Dada," "Bye Bye" (LOTS), "Hey," "Ca cuh" (cracker), "Ha" (Hardy), "Dis" and "Dat," "Ga" (outside, for some reason), and a few other words we don't know the meaning of yet. :) You also jabber all the time! -You can point to your nose, ears, and belly (when you're in the mood - sometimes you just point to your ear for everything). -You can tell us what a duck says ("cak cak"), a cow says ("mmmmmm"), and sometimes you'll tell us what a bird says ("teet teet"). You'll also tell us that a rabbit "ha ha ha" (hop hop hops). -Your favorite books, by far, are the Brown Bear books. You also love your first 100 words book...for some reason, the bath page is your favorite. :)

-You love harassing Hardy more and more. :) You think it's hilarious to lay on him, and you've started pulling his tail and popping him in the nose...we're working on that one. You just love it when he'll fight you for one of his toys! -You'll definitely let us know when you're not happy about something. Tantrums are still in full-force...not much, but they do happen. -You love spinning in circles now...we can thank your Daddy for that one. :) -You love bringing me things...especially outside for some reason. You pick up pieces of grass and you're SO proud to bring them to me. -Speaking of outside...you love it! We play in the pool lots now, since it's hot, and you love your playhouse. -You love being tickled...your belly and under your neck are your spots. :)

Happy 14 months, sweet girl!

What's In My Makeup Bag?

2013-05-24T07:47:00.000-05:00

I consider myself a pretty practical person, and that extends into things like my makeup collection. I'm not fully stocked in very expensive makeup...but, there are a few staple items that I think are worth the money.

What's In My Makeup Bag? by leslieflambert featuring urban decay eye-shadow

Rodan and Fields Unblemish Regimen - I've talked about this plenty of times before - I love how it keeps your skin beautifully clear! Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Medium Beige, mixed with Rodan and Fields moisturizer and applied with a Beauty Blender. This is a great foundation for the price - applies a matte (but not clumpy or thick) finish. I read a few weeks ago about mixing your foundation with moisturizer for a lighter look, and it works wonderfully! I dab a little bit of foundation and moisturizer all over, then pat it in with the Beauty Blender. It gives such a natural (but covered) look. Mac Loose Powder in NC40 - I use just a little bit of this over my foundation...just to keep the shine away. I apply it with an E.L.F. Kabuki brush. E.L.F. Mineral Blush in Rose - this is a fabulous value for the price...I love it! I apply it with a Mac 129 Blush Brush.
Naked and Naked 2 Eyeshadow - absolutely obsessed with these palettes - I use both, just depends on what mood I'm in. The primer that comes with Naked is so great (but E.L.F. makes a great one too), and I love the brushes that come with Naked 2! From Naked, I typically use Virgin/Sin mixed together, Naked/Buck in the crease, and Darkhorse to blend my eyeliner. In Naked 2, I usually use Foxy/Bootycall all over, Chopper/Tease in the crease, and Snakebite to blend my eyeliner. Sometimes I'll get experimental though. :)
E.L.F. Mineral Eyeliner in black - love this eyeliner...I'm not great at applying a straight line, but I use a shadow from my Naked palettes to blend it after I apply, so it really doesn't matter if it's perfect. It blends very easily!
Lancome Definicils Mascara in Black - I had a sorority sister in college that always had the prettiest, longest lashes. One day she told me this was the mascara she used, and I've been hooked ever since!
Mary Kay NouriShine Lip Gloss in Pink Sateen - This gives great coverage, but isn't too thick...just gives your lips that perfect finishing shine!
I've also become a little bit of a nail polish junkie lately! Here are a few of my favorites...

Favorite Nail Polishes by leslieflambert featuring a matte finish nail polish

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Gray Area (has just a little bit of a purple finish...and I LOVE this line! Great value for a great formula. I'd say it works almost as well as the expensive stuff!)
Essie 3 Way Glaze (In my opinion, the best base/top coat out there.)
OPI Bastille My Heart (A great, deep red color.) Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Mint Sorbet (Such a fun summery color!) Essie Smooth Sailing (This is my nail polish for when I'm feeling experimental...I had it on my toes just a couple of days ago!) Essie Ballet Slippers (The BEST neutral pink you'll find!) OPI Cajun Shrimp (This one is super popular in salons around here. It's a great, bright pink!) Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Lacey Lilac (I just happened upon this one in a store a few days ago, and it immediately caught my eye. Very pretty, light shade of purple.) Alright - what am I missing out on? What are a few of your current favorite beauty products?
**Random note: If you follow daily deals and discounts sites, Totsy is one of my favorites! They are having just an insane sale today...I'm talking $9 smocked dresses, $2 board books, and lots of deals in household items, toys, women's clothing, etc. It's a great time to stock up...click here!***

Create It Thursday #3 (Plus Features)

2013-05-22T20:02:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends! Welcome back for another fun week of exploring your favorite creations!

There were almost 200 participants in Create It Thursday last week...another incredible turnout! Here are a few of my favorite posts shared. Holy COW...this Crock Pot Chocolate Lava Cake shared by Love, Pasta, and a Tool belt is right up my alley! I was just amazed at this idea of starting seedlings in old toilet paper rolls! This was shared by Designed Decor.

I'm obviously on a chocolate kick as I write this post. :) These Chocolate Chip and Toffee Cookie Cups by From My Perspective just look amazing!
Missy's Homemaking Adventures shared this 15 minute pin cushion that looks so convenient! I might need one of these. I certainly needed this tutorial for Perfectly Fried Chicken from Hope In Every Season...I've always wondered what the secret is! She makes it look so simple.
This Pinata Cake by Loving Life in Pink is just precious! This would be so cute for a Mexican-themed birthday party, or a Cinco De Mayo party. I don't know about y'all - but if you're an iPhone family like we are - you probably get your cords and chargers mixed up. This is a fool-proof way to organize them, brought to you by Life in Ryans'! Big Mac Salad. Let me repeat - BIG MAC SALAD. I know those terms kind of contradict each other, but this looks delicious! Thanks, Far From Normal!

Mounds Bar Lip Balm by My Lamp is Full - YUM! Looks great for your lips, and you get to taste a Mounds Bar without all the guilt. :) These gorgeous no-sew curtains are by Glitter, Glue and Paint! I think everybody needs a trick like this up their sleeve. If you were featured this week, you can grab your button below!

On to this week! Here are the rules... -Please link to your actual post, not just your main blog link. -No giveaway links or shop links, please! -Visit a couple of other links in the collection...you never know, you might learn something. -If you'd like to add my link or button (below) to your post, I'd appreciate it! -Linking up means you are giving permission to be featured on next week's post, possibly using a picture from your post (see above for examples). Of course, all features include a link back to your site!
Show me what you've got this week!

The Great Yard Resod of 2013

2013-05-21T11:27:00.000-05:00

I'm pretty sure I worked harder than I ever have this weekend.

Let's get a little bit of a backstory. When we moved into our house, it had been vacant for months, and the lawn hadn't been very well kept. We live in the middle of what used to be a cow pasture...so there are a few hundred years of weeds just waiting to grow underneath any grass. Well, when the grass isn't maintained, the weeds will grow.

And that's what we had. Our front yard had become nothing but weeds...most of which were dead from trying to treat them. It was embarrassing. I would see these gorgeous yards when we walked, then come to our nasty yard. Something had to be done. So, for Mother's Day, I got a new yard! First, the old stuff had to be removed...not an easy task. We basically had to till the whole yard and just scoop away the old stuff (mostly dead weeds).

So, my yard looked like this for a couple of days...gorgeous, isn't it? We just worked on it after Noah got done with work each day last week.

This girl was a trooper. She loves being outside anyway, so she got a little bit of sidewalk chalk and a snack, and she was set. Noah and I took turns removing the old stuff and watching her.

(Did I mention she can use the sidewalk chalk now?? When did that happen? Now, if we can just keep it out of her mouth, we'll be in business.)

There were huge sections of our yard that sat lower than others, so it flooded and killed any grass that was there...so we had dirt delivered to fill that in. It had to be spread next. So we had it spread, everything was great...then the rain came. And y'all - I am talking MUD PIT. Like, if somebody wanted to hold a mud wrestling competition in our front yard, they could have. It was DISGUSTING. Our sod was delivered Friday afternoon, right in the middle of the rain. Well, sod has to be unpacked and laid within 48 hours, so we had no choice but to lay it on top of the mud. So, for two days, I raked mud flat and pounded sod into it.

Y'ALL - not easy. Every bone in my body ached. That is tough stuff.

It was a disgusting, hard job, but I am so pleased with how it turned out!

We are still working on getting some of it a little greener...I'm a little worried we didn't water it enough initially (the brown parts sat on a higher part that was dryer), but it's starting to pep up. And there's a nice coat of mud on my driveway and sidewalk that needs to be pressure washed this week. But overall, we're done! A couple of notes... -I am so, so saddened by the devastation in Oklahoma today...a lot of long-time readers here know my experience with tornadoes, so this just strikes a chord with me. If you'd like to help - prayer is by far the best thing you can give. I always encourage monetary donations to local charities (possibly funds set up by the school system, local churches, or the local hospital)...I found, with our tornado, they did a much better job of getting the funds to people that needed them. If you'd like to donate items, I'd recommend diapers (especially newborn sizes), baby formula, work gloves, feminine hygiene products, school supplies/teacher supplies, cleaning supplies, and plus-size undergarments...those were the things needed most with our area. Used clothes and water bottles were the most donated items for us...so, even though I'm sure those are appreciated, they will be overwhelmed with those kind of donations. If you know of any specific local funds set up for Oklahoma, or if you've heard of any needs they have, please comment on this post and I'll get it added to this. -On a much lighter note, I'm guest posting at The Chirping Moms today! Check it out!

More Ways to Save on Fuel with Shell's FRN™ Program

2013-05-20T11:00:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I told you a little bit about the Fuel Rewards Network™ program, or FRN™ program. This is a fabulous way to save on gas...something that can be difficult to find sales and discounts on.

One of the best things about this card is that it takes things you are already doing to help you save on Shell fuels! I told you a few ways you can save with the FRN card in the last post...here are a few more ways I've found to save with your FRN card!

Shop through FRN's online mall that includes more than 700 name-brand online merchants. For every $50 you spend, you earn 5 cents off per gallon at participating Shell stations! Some merchants might even offer 2x, 5x, or 10x rewards...what a great way to save when shopping at popular online stores!

Some retailers offer FRN incentives for buying items in their store. For example, you might see a 5 cent per gallon reward for buying a certain brand of detergent at your local supermarket. You might also see some retailers offer double rewards on certain days. This varies by retailer, but check your local stores to see if they offer these perks!

Earn 3 cents per gallon at participating Shell stations for every $100 you spend when you use your MasterCard to pay at participating FRN grocery stores. You can also earn 5 cents per gallon savings off Shell fuel the first time you use your MasterCard when dining at participating FRN restaurants. You can stack this on top of savings you're already earning!

The average FRN member is saving $0.31 per gallon at Shell (according to fuelrewards.com on 5/20/13). I was amazed to check out fuelrewards.com today and see that there were some members paying as little as a penny per gallon when fueling up! I know fuel costs have been a big part of our household budget lately, and I'm sure they've been a big part of yours too...saving anything you can is so helpful. Imagine taking your fuel cost down to next to nothing...many members of the Fuel Reward Network program are doing it every day!

Check out these fun videos about FRN: If you'd like to sign up, you have two options: head to your local participating Shell station to pick up a card pamphlet (like the one above), or go to fuelrewards.com and sign up. They'll send one right to you! Once you select “Fuel Rewards Network” for your card, enter your card number and pin, then follow the remaining steps to complete enrollment. This can also be done on the FRN Mobile App for iPhone or Android. They make this program so easy and accessible! One note – if you are a member of Kroger Co. and/or Ahold fuel rewards programs, you will redeem these separately from Fuel Rewards savings through the FRN program. If you'd like more information on the FRN program, you can check out their website or their Facebook page! If you haven't entered already, don't forget you have the chance to win a $100 Shell Gift Card from our friends at BlogHer! Check out my first FRN post to enter.

Another quick note...

2013-05-19T09:40:00.004-05:00

I'm all about these quick notes this week, aren't I? :) I'm currently running a sale on custom blog designs over at Sweetie Baby's Designs!

Today is the last day of this promotion, so I thought I'd give y'all a head's up. You can order here (use the code above for the discount) or email me for more info!

Guacamole Potato Salad Recipe

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

As many of my recipes are, this one was created out of necessity. Namely, the necessity to clean out my fridge. I was swimming in supplies from Cinco de Mayo, but quite frankly, we were sick of Mexican food. We had Mexican for dinner Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday night of that week...it was old. Luckily, I was able to kind of give these ingredients new life in a fun take on potato salad!

This is a light salad that's really great for summer. I hope y'all enjoy it as much as we did! Guacamole Potato Salad Ingredients 12-14 New Potatoes, boiled until fork tender and cooled 2 avocados 1 pack guacamole mix 1/2c Fat Free Sour Cream 1/4c Salsa Salt/Pepper 2 tbsp Butter 1 handful Cilantro 4 oz cheese, shredded or thinly sliced Directions Take your potatoes and cut into 1 inch pieces. Sometimes, I like to just smash them a little...it gives a better consistency, in my opinion. It's up to you though! Mix in butter until well distributed. Puree avocados and add in guacamole mix. (Confession time - I just used Wholly Guacamole in the pack. 1 full pack equals about 2 avocados worth of guacamole.) To guacamole, add in sour cream, salsa, and about half of the cilantro. Mix with the buttered potatoes. Salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with cheese and remaining cilantro.