Serenity You

My Find of the Week : Mommy Mittens

2012-02-28T09:30:00.000Z

I found these cute mommy mittens on pinterest! arn't they cute!!!
I can't seem to find the original source but I've heard that they are sold online at www.inhabitatshop.com but are currently sold out

I could do with a pair or 2 of these

Check these great sites out

Handmade Notebooks

2012-02-27T08:00:00.000Z

I made these cute notebooks as gifts at Christmas. I couldn't post them on here until after the big day in case they saw them. And then it slipped my mind until I came across my own little notebook that I made and it reminded me

These ones were for my sister

And these ones were for my dad

These were so easy to make. I just brought some cheap 18p jotters and shopping list from Wilkos and just decorated them with some pretty paper. Don't you just LOVE easy crafts!!

Check these great sites out

Serenity Saturday : 28

2012-02-25T11:16:00.000Z

Hi and welcome to week 28 of Serenity Saturday!!

Thank you so much to everyone who linked up last week!
I'm hoping that this week will be our biggest party yet! so please share this on your blog or facebook page!

Don't forget to check out at least 2 other link up's as after all, that's what the party is all about!

My favs from last week were:

Felt American Flag Cushion from Twigg Studios

Smitten Lovebird Dress Tutorial from Sew Can Do

Revamp Your Blog from Blissful & Domestic

And last weeks most clicked was :

Quiet Book from Suburbia Momma

If you have been featured feel free to grab my 'I've been featured' button

Rules :

you can link anything you want! only rule is that you place my link button on your post or somewhere on your blog. And please visit at LEAST 2 other link ups

I show off the featured link on my facebook page, skinny scoop, Clipix and Pinterest

My favourite posts will be featured on next weeks link party

And also the post that get's the most views from YOU!!

Check these great sites out

10 Simple Tips to Keep your House Tidy

2012-02-23T06:00:00.000Z

I really struggle to keep my house clean and tidy. Mainly because I HATE cleaning!! But I've been trying some ideas out and so far they are working
Everyday I do my normal everyday chores like washing the pots, hoovering etc.. But I always feel like I didn't have enough time to do all the other things that needed doing around the house. That's where tip number 1 comes in
1. After the normal chores do an extra 10-15 minutes doing just one thing. This could be cleaning the cupboards, sorting your photos out, cleaning out behind the sofa. Just make sure you spend no more than 15 minutes a day
2. Find a place for everything. This might sound easy enough, but when your dis-organized this can be the hardest thing ever!
3. Use boxes and containers in drawers. Don't you just hate it when you open a drawer to look for something and the contents is scatted everywhere? And use Velcro to hold them in place
4. Keep a basket at the bottom of the stairs for things that need to be took up later

Source

5. Never leave a room without taking something with you. This could be taking a mug back into the kitchen. Take the kids toys with you and pop them in the basket on the stairs. And if you go upstairs, take a basket with you.
6. Do a load of laundry everyday! you might have a certain day that you do all the laundry every week, but who want's to spend an whole day sorting through dirty clothes. Do one load everyday to keep the washing down, and then it wont seem like your doing that much.
7. Dust and fold the laundry while on the phone. My mum is always ringing me and sometimes I can be on the phone to her for a good hour! While I'm chatting away nothing is getting done. but a bit of dusting can easily be done while on the phone

Source

8. Set up a donation station. Have a box where you can put things you don't need or want any more and when it's full donate it to your local charity shop
9. Give the kids chores. Give each child age appropriate chores that they have to do each week and in return get a reward. See my reward points here
10. Make everyone take their shoes off when they enter your house. This might sound a bit rude to your guests making them all take their shoes off, but you'll be surprised at how much dirt is actually brought in the house on our shoes. If you want you carpets staying nice a clean this one is a must!
Hope these help!! they have certainly helped me!!

Check these great sites out

This post has been featured at :

52 Weeks of You : The Sewing Loft

2012-02-22T11:25:00.000Z

Hello! and welcome to '52 weeks of you'
Where every week I'll feature one of YOUR great blogs!
So if you'd like to be seen here email me at serenityyou@hotmail.co.uk
And tell me a little about yourself and your blog
Please note : Get your name down now as there is a 4 month waiting list

This week I'm featuring The Sewing loft

My blog is super new and offers "how to" style tutorials that highlight the 3R's: Reduce, Reuse & Recraft!

right now I am the featured sewing expert on Craftfoxes.com and am sharing tips, tricks, patterns and answering questions.Or you can find fun facts and a simple craft here on

favecraftsblog.com

Here is my favorite project
Taming the Scrap Basket

Happy Crafting!

Heather Valentine

The Sewing Loft Blog

www.thesewingloft.com

Follow on Facebook

My top 5 posts are:

Sweater Kitty

This is just sooo cute!!

Simple Friendship Bracelet

Would make an excellent gift

Sewing Weights

How cool are these!

No More Wire Hangers

These are just gorgeous!!

Lamp Makeover

How amazing is this!!? WOW

Thank you so much Heather for sharing your wonderful blog with us.
Go and visit Heather at The Sewing Loft and she also has a fantastic Etsy shop
here are a few of the items she has for sale

Check these great sites out

My Find of the Week : Valentines Cards

2012-02-21T09:00:00.000Z

Ok Ok, I know valentines day was last week but i've found these really cute cards for ideas for next valentines day (I know how we all like to be prepared)

So here they are:

Heidi made this lovely card and there's a link to make your own

Not sure who made this or where it's from, but I do know that it is really really cute!

Cute card from Martha Stewart

Just love it! Made by Nikki

How sweet is this? And it's available as a free download

MY husband would love this one!

You can make your own over at Tagxedo

BUTTONS!! I just love buttons!!

Like this Post? Then please vote for me

My Handmade Valentines Cards

2012-02-20T09:00:00.000Z

Here are a few cards that I made last week for Valentines day

Check these great sites out

Serenity Saturday : 27

2012-02-18T11:51:00.001Z

Hi and welcome to week 27 of Serenity Saturday

when you link up don't forget to take a look at a few of the other link ups.
Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!!

my favs from last week are:

Valentine's Day Critters from Mom on Timeout

Plastic Bottle Birdhouse from Jellyfish Jelly

And the most viewed link last week was:

Apple of my Eye from Twigg Studios

If you have been featured feel free to grab my 'I've been featured' button

Rules :

My favourite posts will be featured on next weeks link party

And also the post that get's the most views from YOU!!

Check these great sites out

Another Linky Blog Hop

2012-02-16T21:53:00.001Z

1. You must have the Linky Followers tool on your site to participate.

2. You must follow the person who has the party on their site as aThank You.

3. Just add your blog button to the LINKY PARTY below.

4. Then grab the BLOG HOP code: You will find the code right under the Linky Party where it says "CLICK HERE TO ENTER", just under that it says: "WHAT IS A BLOG HOP? GET THE CODE HERE". Click on "GET THE CODE HERE" and enter it into a post on your site.

5. Then you follow other bloggers, leave each one of the blogs that you follow a comment letting them know you are following them and ask them to follow you back.

If you add the BLOG HOP to your own site, you will get lots of new followers (see rule #2).

This is a Blog Hop!

Check these great sites out

Scrapbook Paper Shoe Boxes

2012-02-16T08:00:00.000Z

I saw these lovely fabric covered cardboard boxes at sew fantastic and on pinterest. And I thought that the they would make cute storage boxes for my kids shoes. We have a shoe rack in our hallway but the kids always just throw their shoes everywhere, so I stated using boxes. But the boxes didn't look that great, I have an old takeaway box and a nappie box

But the thing was i didn't have no fabric!! so I'd thought I'd try and improvise by using scrapbook paper instead! Each box used 3 sheets of 12 x 12 paper. I simply cut to size and glued on!
here's my green one

And here's my brown one. I love the paper I used on this as the front looks like wood

And here they are on my messy shoe rack

Like this Post? Then please vote for me

Clipix : The Newest Way to Stay Organized

2012-02-15T21:00:00.001Z

Clipix is the Newest way to keep yourself organized online

You create clipboards with images, items or articles that you want to save and refer back to. This is not a new concept but Clipix is different!

The thing I love the most about Clipix is that you can make your clipboards private! This is brilliant if you want to make a clipboard for gift ideas for the special certain person. But you don't want that certain person finding out what ideas you have. Simple, you can change your privacy settings for each clipboard. You can change each individual clipboard to either only you can see it, just friends or everyone!. How cool is that?!

Here's a pic of my very first clipboard :

My Posts

One of the great features of Clipix is that you can have a multiboard. This is where you have a few board inside one main board. For example, you might have a multiboard called 'Decorating Ideas' and inside this might have clipboards for 'Bedroom', 'Bathroom', 'Kitchen', 'Living Room' and 'Kids Room'.

You could also used this feature to keep all your recipes organized. In side your main 'Recipe' board you might have clipboards like 'Starters' 'Main Course' 'deserts'. Or how about a main homeschool board with clipboards sorted into different topics.

You can also create syncboards. This is where you choose which friends to share this board with and everyone of them can clip something to it. This would be great for sharing your crafts with each other.

I'm really loving this. If you would like your own clipix account go to Clipix.com

you can also get the clipix app on your iphone. so now you can clip things anywhere and at any time!

what would you use clipix for?

clipix

Promoted Post

52 Weeks of you : Living and Learning at Home

2012-02-15T08:00:00.000Z

I am a young mom of two young kids (3½ & 1½). My husband and I homeschool our children (obviously we are just starting out!) I love home and my blog is about just that…Living and Learning at Home. My goal in blogging is to encourage other moms that they can teach their children too, whether it be officially homeschooling or just taking advantage of every teaching opportunity in their young lives!

My favorite post is probably Science Activity - Making Apple Butter

Amy

www.livingandlearningathome.com

Here are my top 5 posts

Science Activity: Fall Leaves

Love this idea. Definitely going to be doing this one with the kids as soon as the leaves come back on the trees

Valentines Wreath for the Birds

Great idea for a random act of kindness

Memory Verse Box

such a great idea

Marshmallow Snowflakes

Great winter craft for the kids and I bet they'll love eating them after

Thanksgiving Tree Such a lovely idea
Thank you so much Amy for sharing your great blog with usGo over to Living and Learning at Home and check out all her other great posts!!

Like this Post? Then please vote for me

My Find of the Week : Egg Carton Lady Bug Craft

2012-02-14T09:00:00.000Z

My Find of the Week are these really cute Lady bugs. In England we call them ladybirds, I don't know why because they look nothing like birds and they don't have feathers. Strange

These are made from recycled egg cartons and would make a great craft to do with your kids on Valentine's day

I'm going to make some this week with my little monkeys and I'll put the post up next week sometime. Hope they will look as cute as these guys

Like this Post? Then please vote for me
This post has been featured at :

Chicken & Veg One Pot

2012-02-13T11:28:00.002Z

I got this recipe from Easy Cook magazine, but I changed it slightly

Ingredients:

1 onion
chicken pieces (i used quorn)
1 bay leaf
700g potatoes
200g carrots
broccoli
200ml crème fraiche
300ml stock
frozen peas

Serves 4 - ready in 35 minutes - 511 cals - 25g fat

1. Heat a bit of oil in a large pan. Add the chicken and cook for 5 minutes

2. Add the potatoes, carrots, bay leaf and half the broccoli. Pour in the stock. Bring to the boil and cover & cook for 20 minutes, add the rest of the broccoli after 5 minutes of cooking.

3. Add the peas and crème fraiche. cook for another 2-3 minutes.

4. Remove the bay leaf and serve

Pin It

Like this Post? Then please vote for me

Linky Followers Blog Hop

2012-02-12T08:00:00.000Z

As most of you maybe aware that GFC is going away for wordpress blogs and maybe all together soon, So follow me on the new Linky Followers which is over on the left

You can also follow me via Facebook, Networked blogs, Blog Frog, Blog Lovin, Skinny Scoop or RSS Feeds. All these options are on the left side bar <--------

Also add your blog to the Linky List below for everyone to see and make sure you visit at least on blog!!

And grab the linky hop party code at the bottom and place it in a post on your blog so everyone can join in with the fun!!

Like this Post? Then please vote for me

Serenity Saturday : 26

2012-02-11T08:30:00.000Z

Hi and welcome to another Serenity Saturday!!!
***************

The winner of the Graze Box giveaway is :

* Lesley Harbron *

Congratulations Lesley. I will be in touch soon with the details

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

I just cant believe how talented you all are!
It made picking just a few to feature very very hard
But here they are:

Free Cleaning Printables from Pinch a Little Save a Lot

Princess Castle Cake from Mrs Fox's Sweets

Sweater Pillows from Alderberry Hill

And the most viewed post was:

Pink Chocolate filled Kisses from Simply Sweet 'n' Savory

If you have been featured feel free to grab my 'I've been featured' button

Rules :

you can link anything you want! only rule is that you place my link button on your post or somewhere on your blog.

My favourite posts will be featured on next weeks link party

And also the post that get's the most views from YOU!!

Like this Post? Then please vote for me

Foto Friday : Vivid & Sky Blue

2012-02-10T08:00:00.000Z

This weeks Foto Friday theme is Vivid

The theme this week over at the Gallery is A family story
I don't have many photo of all my three kids together, as when i take a photo it's guaranteed that at least one of them will look away! This was taken on my little man's first birthday

And for Scavenger hunt Sunday

1. Facial feature
This is also my photo for Project 64 with the theme Sky Blue
My daughters gorgeous eyes

2. Shadow

3. Spicy

Paprika - my favourite spice

4. Gold

My wedding and engagement rings

5. Fabric

This photo is for Edit me Challenge

Here's the original

And here is my edit

Linking up to some of these great parties

Like this Post? Then please vote for me

Valentines Treats and Presents

2012-02-09T07:30:00.000Z

Here are some lovely valentines gift's I've found online
I really want that chocolate valentines gift from Amazon. (husband if your reading this -hint, hint)
What's your favourite?

AVON

JML

Tesco

Amazon

Like this Post? Then please vote for me

52 Weeks of You : Destination Craft

2012-02-08T11:48:00.002Z

Hello! and welcome to '52 weeks of you'

Where every week I'll feature one of YOUR great blogs!

So if you'd like to be seen here email me at serenityyou@hotmail.co.uk

And tell me a little about yourself and your blog

Please note : Get your name down now as there is a 4 month waiting list

This week I'm featuring Destination: Craft

Hello! My name is Kathryn. My blog is called Destination: Craft, where I post lots of crazy crafts and projects. I have two kids (Luke, 3 and Gracie, 1). I mostly like to sew but I try lots of other crafts also.
Kathryn Pepper

Kathryn's favourite post is her Cereal Box Wreath

And two of her other favourite are her Really Ruffles Skirt and her Ruffled Lamp Tutorial

And here are my favourite posts from her great blog

Waterproof Snack Bags

Love this!! Brilliant

Scratch Off Valentine Countdown

what a lovely idea

Flower Headband For Baby

these are just so so cute

Drawstring Gift Bag

I want one of these of each of my kids

Personalized Grandparent Gift

Definitely going to be using this idea next Christmas

Thanks so much Kathryn for sharing.
Go and visit her blog Destination: Craft now! and tell her I sent you over.
She also has a link party every Monday!! so go and link up

Like this Post? Then please vote for me

Valentines Day Flowers from eFlorist

2012-02-07T08:30:00.000Z

eFlorist have a great selection of flowers that can be hand delivered on Valentines day.
Also use the code BUY10 and get 10% discount

Here are a few pics from their website

I keep leaving their website page left open on my netbook and PC in the hope that my husband will get the hint and get me some flowers for valentines day!!
My favourites are the very 1st photo and the very last photo.
what is your favourite??
Fingers crossed that he get's me some!!!

If you would like to order some from eFlorist click the link below. and don't forget to quote code BUY10 for 10% off

Like this Post? Then please vote for me

Journal 10+ (Review)

2012-02-06T11:39:00.000Z

Last week I received it the post a journal to review.
I was so excited as i just love journals. But this is no ordinary journal, this is a 10 year + journal!!

There are just 4 lines to write something everyday for the next 10 years! If you don't like writing and keeping journals, don't worry, because it only takes 3 minutes a day, if that and you'll get over 10 years worth of memories.

Each daily page covers a single date, so you can see what you did on this date every year!
There are 4 lines to write what you want, and also 2 cirlces, a slash / , and a p.
the cirlces and the / can be used for whatever you want to use them for. some people have used the circles for telling the am and pm weather or tempruture. Or to colour code the entry. The slash can be used to make note of your wieght, blood pressure etc. I'm still thinking about what to use mine for.

At the beginning of every year is a looking ahead page with space to write you goals and accomplishments.
There is also space after the daily pages called carry-over pages for you to continue writing if you need extra room. That's what the P is for on the daily pages, just write next to the P the page number where you have carried over what you needed to write

There are also pages for noting medical and automobile records. Pages for remembering special dates and address and telephone numbers

At the beginning of every month their is a page to categories each day, to make finding a certain entry easier.

It also has 2 bookmark tassels, one black the other gold.

If you would like to own ones of these fantastic 10 year journal go here www.journal10.com

I'm definitely going to be buying another one of these journals for 2023!!!!!

I'm still thinking about how to categorise my entries and what to use the circles and slash for on the daily pages. Any ideas? What would you use them for?

Like this Post? Then please vote for me

I have received the journal 10 to review and keep. I have not been paid for this review and all opinions are 100% mine

Serenity Saturday : 25

2012-02-04T15:21:00.000Z

First of all I'd like to say sorry for this post going up late, and don't know what's been going on with me this week, I've been away with the fairy's. Getting all the day's mixed up!!

Thank you to everyone who linked up last week!
All the link ups were fantastic!!
But here are my favs

Wire & Yarn Valentines Word from Alderberry Hill

Sweetheart Glitter Cottage from Sew Can Do

Cheats Cushion Cover from Just for Daisy

And last weeks most viewed was

Pretty in Pink from Bella Nest

If you have been featured feel free to grab my 'I've been featured' button

Rules :

you can link anything you want! only rule is that you place my link button on your post or somewhere on your blog.

My favourite posts will be featured on next weeks link party

And also the post that get's the most views from YOU!!

Like this Post? Then please vote for me

My Travel Checklist

2012-02-03T21:01:00.001Z

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of My Travel Checklist. All opinions are 100% mine.

Mondial Assistance is launching My Travel Checklist widget. And I've had the chance to give it a try. Basically you make a checklist of things you need to do and items you need to pack for when you go on holiday and this widget helps you stay organized and not forget anything. And it's great! i love making lists and it's so easy to use.

You can either download the widget to your computer or mobile phone. Or use the online version

then once you've done this your already to go. just put in some information about your holiday. such as type of holiday, weather and what mode of transport you be using to get there.

Then just go through the options and check whatever you want to add to your checklist. And if something isn't on the list you can add your own custom items too! Once you have done this click on 'save my checklist'.

Then your all set! All you have to do now is access it via your mobile, email it or print it out!!

And you can have more than one list, so you can have separate list for your holiday in the sun, skiing holiday or your business trip.

This widget it is so simple to use and great for helping you not to forget anything. I'm going on holiday in September this year and I will definitely be using this!

Saucy Meatballs with Rice

2012-02-02T09:30:00.000Z

Saucy Meatballs with Rice

This doesn't look that nice in the photo as i mixed it all up and ate a few meatballs and then remembered i hadn't took a photo.
This recipe uses vegetarian meatballs, as I'm a veggie, but the original recipe can be found here.

for this you need
packet of vegetarian meatballs
350g frozen spinach
1 onion
2 tins of chopped tomatoes
rice (i used boil in the bag rice, easier)
parsley

in a large pan soften the onion in a little oil. Then add the meatballs, tinned tomatoes and frozen spinach and cook for about 15 minutes
Meanwhile cook your rice.
when finished garnish with parley

Linking up to some of these great parties

Like this Post? Then please vote for me

52 Weeks of You : Natural Nesters

2012-02-01T11:50:00.002Z

My sister and I have a blog together at www.natural-nester.blogspot.com. We love family, home, DIY, cooking, kids interactive learning activities, etc. We really focus on a variety of things! Please for sure go check it out. One of my favorite posts is: http://natural-nester.blogspot.com/2012/01/inspired-by-yellow-gray.html This is the outdoor patio furniture that my husband and I made for our new house. He made the furniture, and I sewed all the pillows and cushions! It was a big job since this was my first time sewing something this big….the only thing I had sewn before was a plain elastic band skirt!

Brittany T. Suell

Here are my 5 favourite posts

Up-cycled Wine Bottle Decor

Love these!! So cute, the colours are fantastic!

Toddler and Choices

Great idea if you've got a child and want him to learn a bit about independence

Swiffer Sweeper

What an absolutely great idea!!! I'm so going to make myself one of these!

A Picture of your Favourite Memory

So beautiful!!! Love the dress, Love the flowers, Love the Photo!!

Just Remembering

A sad story of loss.
This made me cry so much, but I thought this just had to be shared

Go and Take a look at the rest of their great blog Natural Nesters and tell them I sent you over

Like this Post? Then please vote for me