Save Money, ShopYourWay

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of ShopYourWay Program for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I've been a bad blogger lately, I've been super busy working for a friend part time and getting ready to go on vacation.  I'm so excited to go, but still have so much to do.  Obviously, the last thing I should be doing is shopping online, but well, let's fact it, it's almost 11pm and I'm not going to get some of the things I need from the mall at the moment!

Plus, shopping online allows me to compare prices, features and promotions, without leaving the air conditioning (it was over 100 degrees here today!).  What am I shopping for?   Well, tools for one thing.  I promise to have some great posts in the very near future using some of my new tools.  I have a few posts in the works and several projects to sink my teeth into when I get home from vacation.

But I've also been shopping for bathing suits, that's really what I need at the moment, for me and the girls.  I'm lucky, I live right across the street from one of our neighborhood pools.  Litterally maybe 20 yards outside my door.  It's like having a pool and not having to take care of it.  When the ice cream truck comes by, I send the kids home to grab a popsicle from the fridge and they are back before the truck even finishes serving the line of customers.

With that, and a month at Lake Erie, we need bathing suits.  Over the years, I have come to appreciate the quality and the fit of Land's End bathing suits.  I personally love tankinis and if I can mix and match the tops and bottoms, all the better.  The girls do the same thing and since they have slim fitting suits, Lands End works for my skinny minis.  And for me, I love their tummy control bottoms.

So, why am I telling you all this?  Well, I just signed up to become a personal shopper at ShopYourWay and earn rewards for the places I'm already shopping at (Lands End for bathing suits and Sears for Craftman Tools!).  Plus, as a personal Shopper, I can help others find great deals, know about up coming sales and we can both earn rewards! 

Signing up is super easy, it only took me a few minutes.  Start by Request an Invite to ShopYourWay and then check your email.  Accept the Invite and follow the simple directions to sign up.

We can even shop together on two different computers in two different parts of the world!  How cool is that?!?!?!?!?!  They even have a mobil app, yeah, another fun use for my iPad.

So simple, won't you join me in shopping online and earning rewards?

Request an Invite to ShopYourWay

 

#EclosBeauty Give-a-way!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of éclos Skin Care for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I was so exicted a few weeks ago when an unexpected package arrived for me! I was even more excited to find a free sample of the éclos Anti-Aging Skin Care Starter Kit inside. The package boasts about Apple Stem Cell technology and the use of plant extracts, vitamins and anti-oxidants working together to help minimize the apperance of fine lines, wrinkels and tired skin. I'm all about natural ingrediants, especially when it comes to my skin, but I have to admit, I'd just had an awesome facial and my skin was in great shape!

So, I didn't start using the set right away. Then the little man ended up in the hospital... and a few days later we arrived home, him better and me unshowered for a little longer than I'd like to admit! The éclos set was still sitting where I'd left it, so I grabbed it on my way to the shower. The Apple Stem Cells are extraccted from a rare Swiss apple. This apple has shown the ability to stimulate skin stem cells and encourage aging skin to behave like younger skin. Now, I'm only 35, but it was exactly what I needed at that moment!

What's in the kit you ask?

• Facial Cleanser Skin Prep
• Cellular Activator Face Serum
• Moisture Therapy Regenerative Cream
• Restorative Eye Cream
• Instant Radiance Facial Scrub
• Skin Renewal Clay Mask
• éclos Terry Cloth Head Band

The éclos starter kit has a value of $19.99. Previously similar products were only availabe from expensive department store brands. éclos has brought the Apple Stem Cell technology to mainstream stores at a more affordable price. For more information check out éclos Skin Care.

Normally, I don't like masks, but this one was nice. I also thought it was great they included a terry cloth head band. My favorite product is the Instant Radiance Facial Scrub, it feels lite it warms up in my hands and leaves my skin with a great polished feel.

Want to hear the best news? I have a second kit to give-a-way! Want a chance to win? First, you MUST follow my blog, after that, here's what you need to do:

1. Leave a comment on this post telling me which product in the kit you are most excited about. (1 entry)

2. Blog about this give-a-way, leave me a comment with a link to the blog post (1 entry)

I will select the winner on June 25, 2012, so check back to see if you won!

Mission Organization Monday - Entry Way Solutions

This post has been moved and updated to now include cut sizes!  Find it on the new Domestic Deadline! 

Fabric Rose Necklace

I have been using up a lot of my fabric scraps lately. In doing so, I have amassed a ton of fabric roses. So, I decided to put a few of them together and make a fun necklace. I really like the way it turned out and I got several compliments wearing it at Muffins with Mom at the girls school.

 

There are tons of tutorials out there on how to make these roses, they are pretty easy.  I glued them to a felt back with a chain running through the back side.

Upcycled Striped Skirt

I made this skirt a while back as a part of the Project Recycle Contest.  I love this skirt, it has become a real staple in my wardrobe.  I guess I didn't take as many pictures as I normally do when I make something, so I'm missing a few, but it was a pretty simple project either way.

Ages ago, I picked up this crazy t-shirt at a yard sale, I knew the massive size would come in handy eventually!

Lots of great black and white stripes but this "lovely" logo...

I cut the bottom off for the main part of the skirt.  The stripes running horizontal with the side seams already finished for me.  The waistband was cut from the left over, stripes running vertically.

A few gathering rows and the two parts were joined.

While the skirt had a finished hem from the shirt, I decided it needed a little something more.  Using the left over, I cut strips on the bias, about twice as long as the bottom edge of the skirt.

Here's two of the outfits I've used it with lately, and I'm pretty sure it'll get a lot of wear with solid tank tops this summer:

Peace be with you,

What I Finally Wore Wednesday

Well, after 2 full days in the hospital, my little man is completely back to normal... and already driving me up the wall! Good thing he was cleared to go back to school tomorrow.

I walked in the door, kicked off my shoes and headed straight to the shower and after 2 full days of pinterest, I knew exactly what outfit I was going to recreate:

So glad I made that skirt, it has really become a staple in my wardrobe and so comfortable!

Peace be with you,

At least there is room service

To say my past few days have not gone as I'd planned is an understatement. What started out as a busy yard sale weekend has morphed into a hospital stay with my little man. In hindsight I should have realized he didn't feel well when he didn't eat his donut Saturday morning.

O-man still spent most of the day running and playing even though he willingly took an almost three hour nap on the floor of our church. We left after another busy and successful yard sale with him a bit warm and not feeling too well but asking for tacos for dinner. I resigned to the fact that I was not going out to celebrate but hanging out with the kids and Mexican for dinner (quite fitting for Cinco de Mayo).

We walked into the house, O-man kicked off his shoes and promptly put himself to bed! By midnight he had nothing left in his stomach and by morning wasn't keeping any fluids down.

After a call to the doctor's office, we started "shots" of Gatorade every five minutes and seemed to be improving and even tried a BRAT diet later Sunday evening. Alas, it was short lived and in the wee hours of Monday morning the emergency room was discussed. As his humor was still in tact and he joked with me, we decided to wait until morning and get into the doctor first thing.

Within the hour we arrived at the emergency room and O-man was refusing to walk and didn't want to sit up on his own. Pretty quickly my baby was hooked up to IV fluids for severe dehydration and being admitted.

Fast forward 24 hours and he has slept more than I think he did in his first year of life but is on the mend. He's not too interested in much more than sleep and an occasional Popsicle but I have gotten an occasional smile.

I haven't left his side for more than a quick potty break or to grab a cup of coffee from about ten steps outside his door. I am pretty sure I smell but I really don't care. I am quite thankful for my iPad and wifi to keep me occupied while he sleeps... And the fact thatI don't have to make any food for myself!

The funny part of this? O-man thinks he is here for a broken arm! The IV port is in his arm and strapped to a board so he doesn't rip it out (again) or bend it. He is thankful for the mass of stickers he has acquired during his stay. I guess it is the little things that count!!!

Shout® it Out!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Triad Retail Media for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Laundry, I dread it.  That, and washing dishes.  They are the two chores I absolutly can't stand and will do almost anything to avoid!  But, I must admit, I am really lucky, Iron Fish does the majority of the laundry in out house.  However, he just does the laundry, whatever is in the basket, gets sorted and put into the washer and then the dryer.  

So, when a stain happens, I still need to address it before it goes into the laundry bin.  And with three kids, I am pretty sure I pretreat at least one stain a day!   I try to always treat the stain before the item of clothing goes into the landry basket (or in the general direction of it in the case of my children).

From grass stains on my son's knees to coffee stains on my own shirts, something is stained.  Have you tried Shout® Trigger?   It's a convenient trigger spray bottle of stain fighting enzymes that penetrates, breaks up and lifts away the stain.  It works in any temperature wash and is safe for all colors.  How easy is that?

I am all about anything that saves me time and doesn't require major elbow grease, especially after a long day.  I have a little list of different ways to treat stains, but it's much nicer to have one product instread of an arsinal of liquids to test on the stain.  As moms, we all have enough to do without spending hours on the laundry (even if I a lot of the work is done for me!).   Plus Shout® Trigger is available conveniently at places like Walmart.  Want to learn more, check out Shout® Trigger

What are the worst stains you deal with in your house hold?  What have you tried to get them out?  Do you have any experience with Shout® Trigger?

Also, if anyone has any ideas on how to get my laundry to fold itself and put it's self away, you'd be my hero forever!

From Garden to Table

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Whitney Farms for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I don't really have a knack for growing, anything, but I keep trying to grow my own fruits and vegetables.  Since we joined an organic CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm last spring, we get our fresh produce there weekly, but I still feel like I should be able to grow something in my back yard!

The one thing we have growing in the back yard is strawberries.  I think strawberries are truly my favorite food.  They have been spreading in one bed but I am considering planting them in the other bed too.  Wouldn't this be cool, it's a strawberry tower:

If I do, I am going to try Whitney Farms organic plant food since it is an easy and all natural way to help my plants grow even better.  I have never used any fertilizer on my plants because I try to keep chemicals out of my families diet.  Maybe organic fertilizer would actually give me the ability to grow the produce in my own back yard!  I'm salivating at the thought of more strawberries... strawberry shortcake, home made strawberry ice cream, strawberries and waffles... mmmm... wait, first I have to grow them!

I know that organic soil and organic plant food would both benefit my plants and right now Whitney Farms is offering a $3.00 off coupon on their website:  Whitney Farms®

I'd love to hear how you grow an organic garden and if you have any experience with Whitney Farms.  What grows well for you?  Any favorite fruit or vegetable that you can't go a summer without growing in your own back yard?

May Means My Birthday - With #CoronaRita?

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Chili’s Grill & Bar for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

In a few short days, it will be May, and my birthday!!!!  I'm turning 35 this year, and for a while I was seriously considering throwing a big party for myself.  Thirty was a milestone year for me, but it was a terrible birthday, and I was thinking of making up for it.

But, then I realized, what I really want for my birthday is to get together with my good friends and really spend some time with them.  So, I've started informing them of Girls Night Out, oh, and I'm NOT driving!

Chili's is a great place for this, plus I happen to have a gift card AND Chilli's has an new drink, the CoronaRita which reminds me of something my one of my college roomies used to make.

I still sing the "Chili's, baby back ribs" tune in my head whenever I think of Chili's, but I am usually quite happy with appetizers and dessert!  Seriously, give me some Spinach & Hot Artichoke Dip and some Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie and I'm in heaven!

And one of those CoronaRitas, when you can't decide between a beer and a margarita, look how awesome this looks:

A Margarita with a Corona in it!  I'm just excited to see how the bottle stays upside down in the glass!

Or wait, maybe I'll just go for two desserts... Cheesecake is always good but the Oreo Topped Molton Cake sure sounds yummy too (this is what I get for being up late at night!)

Cinco De Mayo is on a Saturday this year, how will you be celebrating?  I'd love to know your thoughts on this funky new drink!

CoronaRita at Chili's

“You must be 21 years or older to drink alcoholic beverages and as always, please remember to drink responsibly”

Making Changes Before Hoarders Shows Up!

What you are about to see is real

My house is what it is.  There are five of us in a three bedroom townhouse, 3 of whom are 10 or younger.... it is what it is.

But, it's yard sale time again around here!  While I have visions of finding a great chair to add to my master disaster of a bedroom (the vision goes with it when it's cleaned up and in great shape), I'm holding strong.  I've already taken over one car load to the church and plan on taking over a few more.  PLUS, that big bulky entertainment center is getting picked up for the sale.

I've got big plans, they've been brewing for almost 9 years now, that entertainment center was supposed to be there for a few years...  So, it is going, the cubbies in my entry way (right picture above) are moving to the tv wall with the others, making a whole wall of them.  New cubbies, better suited for our needs are getting built.

BUT I NEED YOUR HELP!!!!!

I can't for the life of me decide what color to stain/paint everything!!!!!  Below is a bit more of my color scheme.  I threw in the picture of my dinning room because you can see it right when you walk in the house, from the front door, right through the living room.  The clock was a wedding gift and we stained the table below it to match.  The hutch in the dining room is much darker than the "clock table."  The carpet is a shag of multiple colors of blues and browns.  Couch is a tan micro-fiber type fabric.  I have punches of red and black.  The walls are mainly a pale blue, but the wall where the tv goes, that also goes into the dinning room, is a turquoise blue.

Whatever I pick, the entertainment wall and the new entry way cubbies will stained/painted the same.

When I put these pictures together, the "cherry" color of the table (the color of the current entertainment center) is what jumps out at me as the obvious answer.  This is what my mom suggested.

However, I was also considering black because of my photo wall:

And because I love how great this looks in my entry way:

But I really love the way white built ins look, like this:

Source: honeywerehome.blogspot.com via Emily on Pinterest

Or this:

Source: ballarddesigns.com via Emily on Pinterest

But since I'm only having cabinets half way up, I'm probably going to add some open shelving on either side of the tv, so I can make them look pretty like on the wall to the left of the tv below:

Source: fivedaysfiveways.com via Emily on Pinterest

I'd love to have a fire place like this, but I do also like the combo of two colors:

Source: houzz.com via Emily on Pinterest

For a while I was considering buying new pieces and really like this:

The finish is kind of a gray-brown stain, which to me kind of blends shades of black with shades of brown.

So, please, please, please help!  Leave me a comment with how you think I should finish my tv wall and cubbies, I'm starting this weekend!!!!!!!

Peace be with you,

Compairing Apples to Androids

I am playing around on IronFish's kindle fire. I love it, it's a great toy but I can't. Decide if it is right for me. My computer is missing pieces and while it still works I would really love to have a tablet of some sort. Many of the tablet designers have attended one of the colleges online and were very clever with the design of this one. The biggest problem with the fire is the lack of camera. Supposedly I can blot from my iPod touch but it is so tiny I don't really see that happening. I know there is a way to put pictures on the kindle but I cant figure out how to get them into the blot post (I am actually writing this from the fire now).

So I guess my question is: does anyone out there write their blobs from a tablet? And if so, what are the pros and cons of the tablet you use?

Peace be with you,

Car Seat Safety

Every time I write the word safety, I have to sing the lyrics to "Safety Dance" in order to spell it correctly...

Moving on...

I'm a minivan drivin' mama, have been for quite a while now.  One of the things I loved about my van when I got it was the fact that I can get 6 car seats or boosters in my car.  It's tight, but I can do it.  I only have three children, but I want all kids to be safe when they are in my car.

Have you seen the newest recommendations for keeping kids safe in the car?  If not, check it out.

My kids were rear facing until 18 months, mainly because they were tiny.  JuneBug would throw a fit whenever I put her in the car, she's always had long legs.  I was young and more concerned about her comfort, I felt like I was being mean because she didn't like rear facing.  Just a few weeks ago I was thinking my nephew at two is probably uncomfortable rear facing.  BUT, the reality is, TOUGH, it's for their safety (singing "Safety Dance" again).  I'm really proud of my sister for still having my nephew rear facing, she's doing the right thing.

Most of the time, when kids are in my car, they are in at least a booster seat.  JuneBug is 10, she has just made it to 60 pounds.  She still has long legs and is closing in on the height suggestion of  4'9" and until she reaches that mark, she'll be in her high back booster.  She admits she can see out the window better from the booster, and it's more comfortable.  Plus, it has shoulder lights so she can read at night. My JuneBug is super smart, maybe she will decide to attend one of the many accredited online colleges when she gets older.

O-Man is 4 and barely 30 pounds, just yesterday he was in a booster for a short trip and unbuckled himself.  Guess who's not aloud to ride in a booster even in the neighborhood anymore!?!?!

After I read the article, I read a bunch of the comments.  I had to laugh at some of them.  Most people's cell phones cost more than a good car seat now a days.  Funny thing is, we don't replace car seats nearly as often as we replace our cell phones...

Peace be with you,

Super Hero Capes and Shop Update

It all started with my little guy's request, he was tired of asking me to tie his blankie around his neck and wanted a "real" cape.  Finding superhero sheets at the thrift store was a total score.  I love upcycling and the sheets are light weight so they flutter nicely in the wind.

Here's a fav pic of Super O and Super T a few weeks ago, the caped crusaders captured all the Easter Eggs their buckets could carry.  It was a great day for the good guys!

O-Man says his cape helps him fly much better than just his arms:

I made them reversible with their initial on one side and super hero on the flip.  O-man's is Batman and Tatertot's is Spiderman (yes, I realize Spiderman doesn't wear a cape, but that doesn't seem to matter to the pre-school aged fans). 

Plus, after constantly telling people they would be in my etsy shop soon, I can officially say, the Super Hero Capes are now available and  I'm currently offering free shipping on all capes!!!!

Peace be with you,

WIWW Fedora Style

Kind of a late edition tonight but I'm determined to write this before going to bed.  You have probably seen the cute fedora hats they are showing around, and if not, you obviously aren't on pinterest enough!  I got one recently from Avon and I've been waiting for the right time to wear it.  Then I wore it to church one Sunday but took it off during the service.  Afterwards an older gentleman, a retired pastor, told me I should keep it on.  He said women used to always wear hats to church and it was acceptable for me to wear it during the service (yes, men are supposed to remove theirs) and he hoped I would continue to wear it and others, and maybe bring back Sunday Church hats to our community.  Later that day a friend told me the women still wear hats in her church and showed me an awesome hat she had worn that day.  I'm sold, I'm definitely going to be wearing more hats. 

Here's my pinterest knock off that made me want to get a fedora, I wore this for Easter Sunday:

Here is another Sunday with the hat:

I'm pretty sure my mom didn't like that hat, but I only see her a few times a year and she doesn't check my blog very often, nor does she comment, so I'm going to pretend I didn't see the look she gave me when I put the hat on before church!

What do you think?  Anyone else into wearing hats?

Peace be with you,

Elmo Cupcakes

While out in Ohio last week, I got to make my nephew's birthday cake.  Last year he was too little to have a favorite, so we went with a typical boy sports theme.

A year later and he's definitely got a favorite, and it's this guy:

Personally, I was a huge Ernie fan as a kid, but I do think Elmo is pretty cute also, he wasn't around when I was a kid!!!!  Originally I was going to use the football pan from last year, but it mysteriously disappeared so I went with plan b, Elmo Cupcakes!

I really don't like red frosting so I tinted the frosting and then covered each cupcake in red decorating sugars.  The eyes are coconut jelly beans cut in half with a dot of melted chocolate that squeezed out of a zip lock bag with the corner snipped off.  Elmo's nose is an orange jelly bean.  Realized the night before making these, I could go to a candy store and only buy the amount of each color of jelly bean that I needed instead of having to buy a large bag of mixed and hope there was enough of what I needed!  I might be the last person to know that, but if not, that's my tip of the day, lol!!!

For his big-ol grin, we split your basic "sandwich cookies" scraped out the creme filling and cut them in half.  Slow sawing resulted in less breakage of the cookies.  I did need a bit more icing on the back of each cookie to "glue" them in place.

Tatertot mush have overheard the discussion of the cupcakes because he woke up from his nap (I decorated while he napped) asking for Elmo Cake.  He was so incredibly thrilled when he got his own Elmo cupcake.

This was only the first day with is cousins.  By the end of the week, the poor babe was so over tired from not wanting to miss a minute of his time with them, especially O-man!

Peace be with you,