Charming Bliss

Check Out Charming Bliss in a Whole New Way!

2010-11-17T15:48:00.002-07:00

Wondering why you haven't seen me much here? I've been busy starting my own business! Exciting stuff huh? I'm excited to introduce Charming Bliss-my new custom photo card design company. I love all the great, inspiring ideas from all the amazing bloggers out there. I've been so inspired that I decided to start channeling all those creative juices into my own business. Check out my blog, my card gallery and my portfolio and spread the word if you like what you see!

Oh, and you can follow Charming Bliss on twitter or check out my Charming Bliss facebook page and become a fan.

The Thanksgiving Table

2008-11-25T05:30:00.000-07:00

(Photo via http://tipjunkie.blogspot.com)

One of my favorite blogs, Tip Junkie has assembled some amazing ideas for making your Thanksgiving table beautiful. You can see ideas for centerpieces here. You can see place settings and other ideas here. See what ideas you can incorporate into your Thanksgiving table.

Turkey Sugar Cookies

2008-11-24T06:30:00.000-07:00

(Photo via http://puppycove.blogspot.com)

Here's a cute idea for the kids just in time for Thanksgiving. Let your little turkeys make these cute cookies to take to your Thanksgiving host or let them decorate while the adults visit. You can get the complete details and recipe over at the Puppy Cove blog.

Good Deals This Weekend

2008-11-22T11:53:00.003-07:00

Famous Footwear: Buy 1, get 1 half off
Bath & Body Works: Select Signature Collection 5 for $25
Aeropostale: 30% off everything Friends & Family Event
e.l.f. Makeup: Buy 1, get 1 half off (50 hours only)
Eddie Bauer: 20% off entire purchase with online code: FRNDSAVE
Studio 32 Shoes: Clearance sale with shoes as low as $5
Yankee Candle: Buy 1, get 1 half off
Old Navy: $15 deals
Gymboree: extra 20% off all markdowns for a savings of 60%
American Eagle: all tops buy 1, get 1 half off

Pink Day

2008-11-14T12:58:00.003-07:00

(Photo via http://lets-explore.typepad.com)

I loved the idea of having a day that revolves around a color. The Let's Explore blog featured a pink day a while back. She tied in the story "Pinkalicious" and then prepared a pink lunch for her daughter. You can read all the details here. Start thinking about what other color days you could prepare for your family.

Why I Like Thanksgiving

2008-11-13T09:39:00.003-07:00

(Photo via www.hornblowerholidays.com)

"What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?"

~Erma Bombeck

Organizing and Managing Your Digital Photos

2008-11-12T08:52:00.003-07:00

(Photo via www.online-tech-tips.com)

Since you brushed up on your photography skills yesterday, I thought today you would like some ideas for organizing all those pictures you just took. I stumbled across the Living Yellow blog a while ago and bookmarked it because I loved her steps for managing digital photos. You can check out all the details here. Get a good system in place now for your photos, so when you take hundreds over the holidays, they won't get lost in the shuffle.

*Your organization assignment for today is to scan your photos and purge any blurry, eyes-closed, cut-the-head-off pictures you have taken. Spend 15 minutes and work from the most recent backwards. If you don't get it all done in 15 minutes, make a goal of spending 15 minutes a day until you get them cleaned up.

Brush Up on Your Photography Skills

2008-11-11T09:36:00.002-07:00

With the holidays fast approaching, why not spend some time brushing up on your photography skills now? We all take hundreds of pictures between Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve and everything else in between. Take a few minutes and check out Mom Shots blog. She has some great tips and tricks to help you get some great pictures. Be sure to check out her tip of the week for some really good pointers.

http://www.momshots.com/

Corn Chowder & Bread Bowls

2008-11-10T06:51:00.000-07:00

Natalie's Corn Chowder

From my very own kitchen!

½ Onion
3 Potatoes

1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
2 T. Butter
1-2 cans Corn with the juice
Crumbled Bacon

1 ½ t. Dill Weed
2-4 cups of half & half (depending on how much soup you want to make)

Chop up the onion and sauté it in the melted butter and dill weed until the onion is clear. Add the potatoes to the onions and let cook for about five minutes. Pour in the entire can(s) of corn including the juice into the onions and potatoes. Add your cream of chicken soup to the mixture. Add half and half to that to make enough for your family. I usually pour in enough half and half to make dinner for that night and leftovers once. Let the soup simmer for about ½ hour to 45 minutes. (Closer to 45 minutes if you used real potatoes.) Once your soup and potatoes are cooked all the way through, sprinkle bacon on top of the soup and serve.

Bread Bowls
1 Loaf Rhodes Wheat Bread Dough, thawed (one loaf makes 3 bread bowls)

Thaw the dough until it’s soft (about 3 hours at room temperature). Cut the loaf into thirds and form each third into a ball. Place on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed, generously, with a non-stick cooking spray. Cover the dough with plastic wrap that has also been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Let the dough rise until it’s double in size (about 2 hours). Remove the plastic wrap and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Allow the bowls to cool and then slice off the top. Hollow out the bowls and fill with soup. The bread that you’re not using as a bowl is great for dipping.

Home Organization for Small Spaces

2008-11-05T15:18:00.003-07:00

Make the most of little nooks and forgotten spots as storage spaces. Home Made Simple walks you through each room and talks about storage spots you may not have thought of. There are ideas for the family room, kitchen, master bedroom, children's bedrooms and bathrooms. Go find some new storage solutions for your small spaces by visiting Home Made Simple.

Thanksgiving Countdown Turkey

2008-11-04T03:49:00.002-07:00

(Photo and idea via www.makeandtakes.com)

Have your kids make this cute turkey full of feathers to count down the days to Thanksgiving. I especially love the idea of writing a new thing you're thankful for on each feather each day. That way when you get to Thanksgiving, you have a fully decorated bird. Another alternative is to pluck a feather each day until the turkey is bare. You can get all the step by step instructions here.

Cupcake Pops

2008-11-03T08:57:00.002-07:00

(Photo & recipe via http://bakerella.blogspot.com)

I ran across these darling cupcake pops at Bakerella today. I think they'd be darling to make for a little girl's birthday party or for a neighbor or friend. I'd love to receive these. You can visit Bakerella here for the complete recipe and step by step pictures and instructions. Enjoy!

Travelzoo

2008-11-01T05:18:00.000-06:00

Looking to travel this holiday season? Look no further than Travelzoo for fantastic deals on airfare, vacations, cruises and more. You can sign up to have the top weekly travel deals sent to your inbox so you never miss out on the lowest deals. I get the weekly deals emailed to me and there have been some fantastic low prices and sales that I wouldn't otherwise have known about.

Charming Bliss Won an Award!

2008-10-31T15:34:00.003-06:00

Crazy Crafty Cousins just gave my blog an award and I'm so honored especially since Charming Bliss is still pretty new! Thank you! You can check out their other blog awards here.

Ghost Hunters Live

2008-10-31T09:09:00.003-06:00

I have fallen in love with the Sci-Fi series, Ghost Hunters. It's a show that follows a team of investigators as they search reportedly haunted locations trying to disprove the hauntings. When they gather substantial evidence they can't explain away, they deem the property as haunted or having paranormal activity. It's usually on Wednesday nights here, but today is a marathon. The show started running episodes at 6:00 am and will continue until they start their live investigation tonight at 5:00 and continue until midnight. If you need a good scare with your kids tonight, tune in and watch. It always sends a chill up my spine. Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

2008-10-27T15:38:00.000-06:00

(Photo via http://www.bakingbites.com/)

This is the recipe I use to make our own pumpkin seeds each year...

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

2 cups pumpkin seeds

1 tbsp melted butter

2 tbsp worcestershire sauce

Garlic salt

1-Rinse the pumpkin guts off the seeds and pat dry. The seeds need to be as dry as possible.

2-Place them on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven at 250 degrees for 15 minutes to dry them out so they'll absorb the sauce.
3-Melt the butter and combine with worcestershire sauce.
4-Put the seeds to a bowl and pour liquid over the top. Mix well.
5-Return seeds to cookie sheet. Bake at 275 degrees for 30 minutes, then turn them over with a spatula.
6-Sprinkle with garlic salt. Then bake for another 30 minutes or until crunchy.

Coldwater Creek Sale

2008-10-25T15:06:00.001-06:00

Up to 70% off at Coldwater Creek and you can use the code WXH5320 to get free shipping. Now that's what I call a good deal!

Halloween Countdown Printables

2008-10-24T05:47:00.000-06:00

I ran across this calendar with a new printable every day for your little witches and goblins to count down to the big day. You can print off new activities every day and you can go back and print all the way back to October 1st. Have fun!

Scary Scooby

2008-10-23T17:42:00.002-06:00

Hold on, man. We don't go anywhere with "scary," "spooky," "haunted," or "forbidden" in the title. ~From Scooby-Doo

Family Packing List

2008-10-23T17:21:00.002-06:00

Are you traveling any time soon? I'm going to spill my secret about organized packing for a family. As an avid list-maker, I have a family packing list that I use each and every time we go on vacation. I created it years ago before we had kids. It's an Excel spreadsheet. I have one column and one color for each member of the family. Hubby is blue, I'm red, and the kids are blue, green and purple.

I have sub-sections on the list.
1- The first section is travel essentials. This includes items like pillows, blankets, sleeping bags, car seats, camping chairs, airline tickets, suitcases, strollers, etc. I modify or delete these items on my list prior to printing the packing list, but I always have everything on my master list and I never save the changes.
2- The second section is clothing. Next to socks, underwear, and shoes I have a #______ to fill in the quantity needed. Then I have spaces for outfit #1, outfit #2, outfit #3....etc. This is especially helpful to list the outfits prior to packing them if you're OCD like me and make your family coordinate on the off-chance that you will capture a great picture to scrapbook one day. (That's an entirely separate post!) I also include hats, belts, swimming suits, pajamas in this section.
3- The next section is entertainment. I list the kids gaming systems, books, toys, DVDs, etc. here. I also list my books, magazines, etc.
4- Next I list toiletries. Toothbrushes, paste, makeup, vitamins, shaving supplies, combs, hair styling aids, etc.
5- The last section is for snacks. I list a couple of different snacks along with water bottles or sippy cups for the kids so I have some food on hand for hungry travelers.
6- At the top right of my packing list, I have a list of pre-travel preparations. I include things like stopping the mail, stopping the newspaper, asking a neighbor to take our garbage cans in or out, getting money from the ATM, setting lights to a timer, watering plants, gas in the car, prepaying bills, and asking the neighbors to watch the house or gather any special UPS or FedEx shipments that might arrive while we're gone.

Amazingly, this entire list fits on one page. I include checkboxes next to each item so we can color them in as we check off our list. I will say that being an organized packer makes it so we rarely forget anything. It's easier to enjoy your vacation with peace of mind. Happy packing!

Dress Up Your Desktop

2008-10-21T06:54:00.000-06:00

Here's a simple project you can do to dress up your computer screen for the season. Set one of these cute background wallpapers to your desktop and enjoy!

1. Smashing Magazine I love these. Every few days I change my desktop to one of these new backgrounds. I've used Fly by Halloween, Fairy Tale Forest, Sad Autumn, and Halloscene so far this month.
2. I love this red leaf wallpaper
3. A very cute Halloween wallpaper
4. A cute one to personalize with your own photos
5. Shabby Princess October desktop to customize with your own photos

What's on your desktop?

The Tastes of the Season

2008-10-20T10:44:00.002-06:00

Last night after dinner at my in-laws' home, I tried the most delicious, yummy Dreyer's Apple Pie Ice Cream. It was divine. It made me realize another reason I love this time of year. There are so many delicious delectables that can only be found when the weather gets cooler. Here are a few of my favorites...

1. Dreyer's Egg Nog Ice Cream, Peppermint Ice Cream and Apple Pie Ice Cream

2. Brach's MilkMaid Candy Apple Candy Corns (Oh my...deliciousness...so yummy I bought 4 bags!)

3. Pumpkin Pie

4. Pumpkin Pie Shakes (I know Arctic Circle has been advertising them)

5. Egg Nog (I saw some in my local grocery store this weekend)

6. Egg Nog Milkshakes (McDonald's starts to sell these pretty soon and they're quite good)

What seasonal foods do you love this time of year?

Autumn Weather

2008-10-16T10:47:00.000-06:00

Now's the time when children's noses

All become as red as roses

And the colour of their faces

Makes me think of orchard places

Where the juicy apples grow,

And tomatoes in a row.

Come then, find your ball and racket,

Pop into your winter jacket,

With the lovely bear-skin lining.

While the sun is brightly shining,

Let us run and play together

And just love the autumn weather.

~Katherine Mansfield

Kitchen Storage Ideas

2008-10-16T10:36:00.002-06:00

Got a small kitchen? Need to find some additional storage space for those kitchen gadgets, overflowing spices, and packages of food? There are some great ideas here. I especially love the idea of using a gadget bin or adding a corner cabinet (see #15).

Alternatives to Pumpkin Carving

2008-10-16T10:03:00.002-06:00

(Photo via www.howstuffworks.com)

I have to admit, I love the idea of carving pumpkins, but every year when we start scooping out the pumpkins and spend hours carving, I quickly lose steam. I thought I'd share some alternatives to carving your pumpkins.

1. Paint your pumpkins
2. Write words on the pumpkins with puffy fabric paint
3. Make a Mr. Potato Head pumpkin with a kit
4. If you can find it, make a Lego Pumpkin
5. Add vinyl silhouettes or lettering to your pumpkin
6. Punch holes into your pumpkin with a golf tee
7. Spray paint your pumpkins different colors
8. Get your pumpkin carving fix online

If you have any other ideas, let me know. I'm always looking for alternatives to getting ooey and gooey from slimy pumpkins.

Seasoning Chicken

2008-10-13T06:28:00.000-06:00

(Photo via www.spiceideas.com)

I've compiled a list of some simple ideas for seasoning and flavoring your chicken.
1. Marinate in BBQ sauce
2. Rub with salt, pepper and season salt
3. Marinate in teriyaki sauce
4. Season with lemon pepper
5. Marinate in orange juice and ginger
6. Marinate in honey and mustard
7. Sprinkle with olive oil, chili powder, cayenne pepper and garlic powder
8. Use a premade marinade like Lawry's (they come in lots of flavors)
9. Marinate in italian dressing
10. Marinate in caesar's dressing
11. Marinate in Worchestershire Sauce and honey
12. Sprinkle with olive oil, garlic, basil and lemon juice

Do you have a favorite seasoning for your chicken? Share it with us!

Saving Money at the Grocery Store

2008-10-11T06:27:00.001-06:00

(Photo via http://www.getrichslowly.org/)

Wednesday, Oprah Winfrey had a great show about being thrifty. She had a woman on there who had some great tips for saving money at the grocery store. I think they're definitely worth passing along. You can read a bunch of the tips here.

Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-10T09:09:00.003-06:00

(Photo via www.ironkettlefarm.com)

Today is a great day to take your family to a pumpkin patch and pick out your pumpkins. Do a little searching to see if you can find an authentic pumpkin patch rather than grabbing your pumpkins on your way out of the grocery store. Be sure to bring your camera. Most pumpkin patches have some great photo ops...bales of hay, tractors, signs, carved pumpkins, and fall decor. Even if they don't have any fall props, those bold orange pumpkins make for great photos...especially if you dress your kiddos in complementary fall colors or in contrasting blue. Get your pumpkins now while there are still plenty to choose from.

Cornflake Leaves

2008-10-09T09:39:00.001-06:00

(Photo by me)

Cornflake leaves beneath the trees-- Are they a breakfast for the breeze?

--Thelma Ireland

Everything Needs a Place

2008-10-08T06:12:00.000-06:00

I have found it impossible to be organized if everything does not have a place. Think about your own home. What things get left out? What items pile up? Does your house feel cluttered?

You can make things so much easier if you create a place or a home for each and every item. If your bills tend to stack up in a pile on your kitchen counter, try buying a basket to hang on the wall just for bills.
If you have piles of clothes, laying around, is it because your closet or your dresser is too full? Maybe it's time to make some clothing donations so you can clear enough space in your closets and dressers to fit all of your clothes.
Are the cleaning supplies a jumbled mess under your sink? Buy a plastic container to corral everything. Not only is it great to give those cleaning supplies a home, but it's handy when you have to clean a room in another part of your house. You just pick up the container and go.
Do your kids have collections and tiny odds and ends that tend to pile up in random places? Give them a treasure box or a small container and let them decorate it and make it theirs.

I started this process a year ago. Since then I've consolidated and created spaces for every trouble spot in my house. It makes putting things away so much easier and it makes finding those items easier when you need them.

I issue this challenge to you today. Find one thing/group of things that needs a proper place. Identify the need and solve it. Buy a cute container or label a shelf for those items. Whatever it is, start with something small and continue until everything has it's own place.

Mini Witches Brooms

2008-10-07T04:57:00.000-06:00

(Photo and idea via www.marthastewart.com)

I love this idea! I think it would be great to have the kids make these and take them to grandparents or teachers on Halloween. All you need are some paper lunch bags, sticks or twigs and some black twine. You can find all of the simple directions here.

Yummiest Caramel Apples

2008-10-06T05:11:00.000-06:00

(Photo via www.gourmetchocolatefoods.com)

I got this from my friend Cheree who got it from her friend Brooke. Anyway, you know the recipe has to be good if it keeps getting passed along. I made some of these last year and I plan to make them again very soon. So yummy!

CARAMEL APPLES

4 large, firm green apples(store at room temperature)
1 bag white chocolate chips*
1 1/2 Tbls. Crisco1 (14 oz.)
1 bag Kraft caramels (comes with sticks)
2 Tbls. room tempurature water
parchment paper
Rice Krispies*
Cinnamon and Sugar

Wash and dry apples and remove stems. Push stick through top center of apples about 1/2 way down. Unwrap caramels and combine with water in a microwave-safe bowl for 30 second intervals, stirring each time until creamy. Immediately roll apples in caramel, coating completely. Place on parchment paper.

Melt chocolate chips and shortening also in a microwave-safe bowl for same 30 second intervals, stirring each time. Roll apples, covered in caramel into Rice Krispies, then in the white chocolate chips, then cover with cinnamon and sugar. Place on paper in the fridge until serving. Cut into slices for easier serving and eating.

*You can also use milk chocolate, peanut butter or mint chocolate chips. Can also top with nuts, sprinkles, cookie crumbs, M&M's, Reeses Pieces.

Shopping Online Outlets

2008-10-04T12:14:00.002-06:00

Did you know that many stores have a regular online website, but also have an online outlet where you can find items even cheaper? If the store doesn't have an entirely separate outlet website, most do have clearance pages. Be sure to check them regularly to find great deals.

Here's a list of some online stores and their corresponding online outlets.
1. Coldwater Creek and the Coldwater Creek Outlet
2. Eddie Bauer and the Eddie Bauer Outlet
3. Chadwicks and the Chadwicks Outlet
4. Crate and Barrel and the Crate and Barrel Outlet
5. JCPenney and the JCPenney Outlet
6. Land of Nod and the Land of Nod Outlet
7. Talbots and the Talbots Outlet
8. Lands End and the Lands End Outlet
9. Overstock is nothing but an online outlet for many larger retailers

If you know of any others, please share them with me! I love a good deal!

31 Things to Do in October

2008-10-03T08:33:00.002-06:00

(Photo via www.history.com)

My friend Jill made this list with fun ideas to do every day in October. A few of the ideas are local to Utah, but most can be done no matter where you live. Pick a few from the list or try them all. October is a great month to do fun things as a family.

Delicious Autumn

2008-10-02T05:10:00.000-06:00

(Picture taken by my hubby)

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." ~George Eliot

Color-Coded & Labeled Containers

2008-10-01T16:50:00.003-06:00

Happy October! Have you pulled out your Halloween decorations yet? I started this afternoon, but got stopped in my tracks when I realized that the totes all look the same. Some have labels and some don't. (For those of you who know me, you're shocked, I'm sure!) So today my post is organizational advice for myself and for any others who want to organize their holiday decorations.

1. Buy storage totes that are all the same size. It makes stacking and storing them easier.

2. If you can, buy the colored totes. They make orange and black ones for Halloween, red and green for Christmas, and pastel totes for Easter. If you keep your eyes open, you can probably find about any color to coordinate with your holiday.

3. Label, label, label! Make your labels detailed. For example, I have one container with pumpkin decorations. I use the Avery adhesive address labels and I put a pumpkin icon next to the title "Pumpkins". I make sure to stick the labels on the side of the container that faces outward.

4. Next I make a list of all the items that are stored in that box. I print the list on Avery adhesive paper, trim to size, and stick that beneath the title. This makes searching for just the right item easier and it makes putting the decorations away easier too. Hubby knows just which container items go in and they get packed back up so they all fit!

5. As you buy or receive new decorations, keep a list of them and update your content list when you pack your decorations back up at the end of the holiday season.

Hopefully these tips will help you organize your holiday cuteness. Happy decorating and even happier organizing!

Spooky Black Halloween Branches

2008-09-30T09:55:00.003-06:00

I saw these darling black painted branches on a display at Oh Sweet Sadie this last weekend. Doesn't it look darling for displaying spooky ornaments and halloween decorations? Go find some twisty, branches and spray paint them black. Place them in a cute vase or jar and decorate the container with some cute ribbon.

Here are some other cute black branches used as Halloween decor:
Design Mom's branches
Spooky Halloween Tree
Branches w/ Halloween Garland
Bewitching Branch w/ instructions

30 Minute Almond Chicken

2008-09-29T06:48:00.000-06:00

I got this recipe in my email from Kraft Foods last week and thought it looked delicious.

It calls for:
8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
1/4 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing
1 cup chicken broth
2 cups green beans, trimmed, halved
1 cup instant white rice, uncooked
1/4 cup PLANTERS Sliced Almonds

You can find the complete recipe here.

Ready, Set, Christmas Shop!

2008-09-27T09:06:00.003-06:00

Thursday marked the 3-month countdown to Christmas. I like to get all of my Christmas shopping done early so I can enjoy the holidays without the stress. Today I want you to sit down and make a list of all the people you need to buy for. Start brainstorming gift ideas and get clothing sizes. Keep all of your information in one place. I keep my list on my computer and print out a copy for my purse. For the next few months, I can keep my eye out for sales, deals, free shipping and buy one get one free deals for the recipients on my list. It spreads out the financial burden and keeps those costly last-minute purchases to a minimum. Help yourself to a stress-free holiday this year.

One Day as a Lion

2008-09-25T05:21:00.000-06:00

(Photo courtesy from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com)

"It's better to live one day as a lion, than a thousand years as a lamb."

~the quote that inspired Zack de la Rocha (formely of Rage Against The Machine) to call his new band 'One Day as a Lion'

This is one of my hubby's favorite quotes, so I thought I'd share it with you.

Go be bold and lion-like today.

Do-It-Yourself Charging Station

2008-09-24T05:33:00.002-06:00

(Photo courtesy of http://www.momready.com/)

Are you drowning in chargers and cords? Between the iPods, the cameras, cell phones, and portable video games, we've got cords everywhere. That's why I fell in love with this simple do-it-yourself idea from MomReady. Go here for a step by step picture tutorial on how to make your very own charging station. Best of all, it looks easy and it will hide our jumbled mess of cords.

Fall Decorating

2008-09-23T04:28:00.000-06:00

(Photo and instructions for feather wreath can be found at www.marthastewart.com)

I love the warm colors of fall and the cozy and whimsical decor that starts to pop up this time of year. Here are some fantastic links to get you inspired...

Blueberry Scones

2008-09-22T04:28:00.001-06:00

I ran across this recipe for blueberry scones made with sour cream on Vanilla Joy. Go check out the recipe here. I think it looks and sounds delicious!

Sales & Hot Deals

2008-09-20T04:28:00.000-06:00

1. Old Navy: 20% off your entire purchase + FREE shipping! Use code: BFF (expires 9/21/08)
2. The Children's Place: Huge sale $9.99 and under (no code required)

And...if you're itching to start your Halloween shopping...
~Spirit Halloween Store has a bunch of online coupons here.
~Disney has many costumes on sale too. You can use the code: TREATS to get FREE shipping (expiration unknown)

Autumn Color I-Spy Car Game

2008-09-19T05:10:00.001-06:00

(Photo courtesy of www.freepicturesfreepictures.com)

The leaves here are starting to turn beautiful shades of red, orange, yellow and brown. Pile the family into the car and drive around to look at the vibrant colors of autumn. Take your camera and squeeze in a family picture while you're out. Make the drive fun for the kids by giving them a list of things to spy. Here are a few ideas:

An all-red tree
A burned tree
A lake
A river
A bright yellow tree
An animal
A tree with no leaves
A red bush
Yellow wildflowers
Blue wildflowers
A pine tree
A tree with orange leaves
A waterfall
A green bush
A tree with brown leaves

Tailor the list to the kinds of trees and plants you'll see on your drive. Have fun!

Everyone's an Artist

2008-09-18T04:50:00.000-06:00

(Photo courtesy of www.toothpastefordinner.com)

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”
~Pablo Picasso

Release your inner artist and do something colorful today. You've got it in you!

Organizing & Storing Your Small Jewelry

2008-09-17T05:35:00.000-06:00

Looking for ways to organize your small jewelry? Here are a few ideas...

1. Buy an earring stand like the one above from this website.

2. Use a pill box and put pairs of earrings together in each different day's compartment.

3. Use a tackle box to hold your jewelry. (Remember Caboodles?)

4. Thread small earring pairs through a button to keep them together.

5. Use the containers made for storing small nails, screws, nuts, etc. You can pick one up at your local hardware store.

6. Cover a piece of foam with cute fabric and wrap ribbon horizontally across the board like a french memo board. Coordinate with your decor and you can hang the foam on the wall. Press your earrings into the foam.

How do you store your jewelry?

Pumpkin Topiaries

2008-09-16T06:23:00.000-06:00

(Photo courtesy of http://www.lowes.com/)

(Photo courtesy of http://www.hgtv.com/)

This is a project I'd love to make this fall season. You use the craft foam pumpkins to create something that will last a long time. You can view instructions here on the Lowe's website.
Here are some beautiful topiaries for inspiration.
Halloween topiary
Polka dot topiary
Happy creating!

8 Creative Pizza Toppings

2008-09-15T06:05:00.001-06:00

I've been using my bread machine dough setting to make homemade pizza dough lately. You can put almost anything on your pizza and it tastes yummy. I wonder why that is? Here are some of the creative pizza combinations and toppings I think I'd like to try...

Spinach, bacon, artichoke, and garlic sauce pizza (a la Papa Murphy's)
Bacon cheeseburger pizza with ground beef, bacon, cheddar cheese, onions and tomatoes
BBQ chicken pizza with grilled chicken, cheese and BBQ sauce
Macaroni & cheese (a la CiCi's Pizza)
Taco pizza with taco with seasoned ground beef, cheddar & mozzarella cheeses, tomatoes, onion, lettuce, olives and sour cream
Hawaiian pizza with ham and pineapple
Alfredo pizza with alfredo sauce instead of pizza sauce and spinach, mushrooms, bacon and onions
Ham & cheese pizza like a ham and cheese sandwich only on a pizza crust

Online Shopping 101

2008-09-13T05:32:00.000-06:00

Many of my friends and family members are hesitant to take the plunge and start shopping online. I've been doing online shopping for about 10 years. (That's like 50 in computer years, right?) Here are some things I've learned:

1. Never buy anything online without searching for an online coupon code first. Most online stores have a place when you're checking out to enter a coupon code for a % off, free shipping or a free product.

2. If you have to pay for shipping, make sure to buy enough in bulk or on sale to make it worth it. Sometimes it's cheaper to run to your local store than to pay shipping costs. Also look for online stores that offer flat-rate shipping.

3. Become familiar with the online store's return policy. Some places print a return shipping label and include it with your order, so if you have to exchange or return anything, it's already paid for.

Here are some of my favorite coupon code websites:

http://www.couponcabin.com/

http://www.dealcatcher.com/

http://www.spoofee.com/

http://slickdeals.net/

http://www.stingier.com/bystore.shtml

Do you have any online shopping tips to share? What's your favorite coupon code websites?

Take to the Skies

2008-09-12T05:24:00.000-06:00

Take to the skies this weekend. Our family bought a pair of Air Hog remote controlled airplanes for our kids. We went to the park and took turns flying them and chasing them all around. If you don't want to spend the money on a remote controlled airplane, try paper airplanes. Check out some paper airplane books from the library or search online for directions on how to fold paper airplanes. Take your paper airplanes to the park and race them. Give awards for the furthest distance, the coolest trick, the fastest and the most creative. Your kids (and your hubby) will love it!

Human Nature

2008-09-11T08:18:00.000-06:00

(Photo courtesy of http://wikimedia.org)

“You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back.” ~William D. Tammeus

The Family Command Center

2008-09-10T07:00:00.000-06:00

(Photo courtesy of www.organizemag.com)

I love the idea of having a family launch pad or a family command center. Check out these links for fantastic ideas for creating your own launch pad.

Article on how to create a family launch pad.

Hallway family command center

Wall-mounted command center

Small spaces around a door

A custom mud room/launch pad

10 Ideas for Windows

2008-09-09T07:00:00.002-06:00

(Photo courtesy of http://www.hgtv.com/)

Look at your windows. Time for something new? Check out these 10 ideas for inspiration on how to dress them up. I especially love the LED curtain rod and the ceiling mount fixture from Pottery Barn.

5-Minute Southwest Layered Salad

2008-09-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

(Photo courtesy of www.kraftcanada.com)

I bookmarked this salad a while ago because I thought it sounded so yummy and easy and I'm all about easy when it comes to cooking! It's made with black beans, corn, salsa, cheese, lettuce, Kraft Rancher's Choice dressing, and tortilla chips. Easy! You can view the full recipe here.

Great Weekend Online Deals

2008-09-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

Old Navy: 40% off one item. Use code: N2FC1XYZB9N1 (Expires : 9/30/08)
**Also, Old Navy is having their Baby and Maternity Sale where you can buy things at 40% off. Be sure to check it out!
Aeropostale: $10 off $10 or more purchase. Use code: 7B4A39 (Expiration: unknown)
Yankee Candle.com: $10 off $25 or more purchase. Use code: CRM807K (Expires: 12/31/09)
Famous Footwear: 20% off no minimum purchase. Use code: 0708199 (Expires: 9/13/08)

Happy shopping!

Family Mailbox

2008-09-05T09:00:00.001-06:00

Here's an idea for a fun family project that you can carry on for weeks, months or even years. Start with a mailbox. If you have young children, they can make a mailbox out of an old cereal box and decorate it. You could also buy a real mailbox and decorate it to match your home decor. Wouldn't it be cute with vinyl lettering on the side? Place it in a prominent location. Introduce your family mailbox to your family. Tell them that they can write notes to anyone in the family and drop the notes into the mailbox. Once a week you can have a different family member be the mailman (or mailwoman) and deliver the mail. When your kids tell you they're bored, tell them to go write a letter to a family member. It will be lots of fun!

On Being Unreasonable

2008-09-04T09:39:00.000-06:00

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man. "
~George Bernard Shaw

Arranging Books By Color

2008-09-03T14:57:00.000-06:00

(Photo courtesy of www.hgtv.com)

I love the idea of organizing your bookshelves by color. I need to buy more colorful books before this will work for me, but check out some of these amazing colorful bookshelves. It's another unique idea to add decor and order to what could otherwise be kind of boring.

1. Rainbow bookcase
2. 2 bright rainbow bookcases
3. Flickr rainbow bookshelf
4. An amazing rainbow bookcase with lots of books

Paper Pricking

2008-09-02T09:24:00.000-06:00

Remember those grade-school days when your teacher would give you an outline of an image and tell you to poke along the lines with a pin onto black paper to make a design? After carefully pricking your design you would proudly hang your black papers in the window and let the light shine through illuminating your work of art. I think today we should introduce our kids to this same project. Do an internet search for kids coloring pages to get great outlined pictures for your kids to poke. Give them a push-pin and lay their picture on the carpet and turn them loose. I think we'll poke out a Disney princess and a Nintendo Mario picture at my house today.

Yummy Smoothies

2008-09-01T08:40:00.001-06:00

(Photo courtesy of http://www.bhg.com/)

The hubby and I have been making smoothies all summer long. They make for a great breakfast. Here's the recipe for the smoothies we've made:

Fruit Smoothies

Ingredients

1 -1/1/2 cups frozen fruit (see combinations below)

3/4 cup vanilla yogurt

1/3 cup vanilla soy milk

1 scoop vanilla flavored protein powder

Pour everything into a blender and blend until smooth.

Fruit Combinations:

Strawberry Banana

Blueberry Banana

Mixed Berries & Banana

Mango Raspberry

Raspberry Banana

Strawberry Mango

Peach Strawberry

Enjoy!

Online Labor Day Deals

2008-08-30T07:55:00.000-06:00

Some of my favorite stores are offering great deals this labor day weekend:

1. Aeropostale: free shipping with code FREESHIP

2. American Eagle Outfitters: free shipping (no code required)

3. The Children's Place: 15% off any purchase with code FA78

4. Crazy 8: $5 tees and up to 50% off prices (no code required)

5. GapKids & BabyGap: Buy one pair of jeans and get the 2nd pair 1/2 off! (no code required)

Happy labor day weekend and happy shopping!

Summer Snowball Fight

2008-08-29T08:52:00.000-06:00

Longing for cooler weather? Why not have a summer snowball fight?

Items needed:
Plenty of white pantyhose (check your local dollar store for these)
Lots of flour (25+ pounds)

Fill the bottom of one pantyhose leg with 1-2 scoops of flour. Tie as close to the top of the flour as possible and cut it off. Tie the next section of pantyhose and repeat until you have multiple snowballs. Make sure everyone in the snowball fight wears darker colors so you can see where you've been hit.

Be prepared for a bit of a mess, but great photo ops. The flour flying through the air in your pictures really makes it look like it's snowing!

Tip: Use leaf blowers to clean the flour off the kids before they come inside. And be sure to clean the flour in the yard up before the sprinklers turn on.

Ironing and Other Fun Jobs

2008-08-28T08:01:00.000-06:00

"My second favorite household chore is ironing. The first being, hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint." ~ Erma Bombeck

And this is what I'll be doing today. Tackling Mount Washmore and ironing the pile. Good times. Good times.

Organizing School Papers

2008-08-27T08:15:00.000-06:00

If you have kids in school, you probably have a mountain of informational papers from the school. Here's how I solved that problem.
1. I bought a 1" view binder for each of my school-aged kids.
2. I typed their name in a cute font with some doodle clip-art and placed that in the spine of the binder.
3. I 3-hole punched all the general information papers and placed them in the binder. You know the ones I'm talking about...lunch prices, school calendars, classroom wish lists, newsletters, etc.
4. I made a friends phone chart for the front of the binder. I have my child's friends' names, phone numbers, addresses, and the parents' names. When my kids make a new friend at school, we can easily add them to the chart. It's great because my older child can call friends to play and do it all by himself.
5. In the front inside pocket of the binder, I keep awards, photos, and any other special documents we want to keep.
6. In the back inside pocket of the binder, I keep artwork and papers from school that we want to keep. I'm very selective and we only keep the very best stuff.
**Here's a hint: If you have large artwork you want to remember, take a picture of it and place the picture in the binder.

Good luck and happy organizing!

Easy, Unique Wall Art for Your Home

2008-08-26T07:51:00.000-06:00

I always love inexpensive, inventive ideas for decorating and sprucing up the house. When I found this idea, I bookmarked it for future reference. The squares are styrofoam blocks covered with scrapbook paper and ribbon around the edges. Think of the possibilities with all the cute scrapbook paper lines out there! I'll be trying this for sure. Here's the link with the instructions.

Grandma's Peanut Butter Fudge

2008-08-25T09:59:00.000-06:00

The kids went back to school today. So, I'm making a batch of my grandma's yummy peanut butter fudge to eat with my son this afternoon while he tells me about his first day. Here's the recipe:

Grandma's Peanut Butter Fudge

5 c. sugar
1 stick butter
1 can evaporated milk (NOT sweetened)
1 t. vanilla
½ large jar of marshmallow cream (or 1 full small jar)
1 c. peanut butter

Cook the sugar, butter and evaporated milk to a soft ball stage (240 degrees). Remove from heat and add the vanilla, the marshmallow cream, and the peanut butter. Put the pan in a sink full of cold water and whip it until blended. Pour into a greased dish. *Makes about 70 pieces.

Awesome Old Navy Denim Deal (Hurry Saturday Only!)

2008-08-23T13:25:00.001-06:00

Follow this link to get jeans for your entire family. $12/pair for adults and $7/pair for the kiddos. Plus, shipping is a flat rate of $7, so feel free to stock up and buy a bunch!

Family Night at the Arcade

2008-08-22T09:48:00.000-06:00

Looking for something different to do with your family? Throw the kids in the car and tell them you have a surprise for them. Pull up at the local arcade and announce a family competition arcade night. Plan ahead for awards to give each family member: Valiant Effort, All-Around Winner, Skee-Ball Sister, Dancing Queen, Dead-Eye, Ticket Master, etc. Play for an hour or so before grabbing ice cream at an ice cream shop and having a family award ceremony on the spot.

Back to School

2008-08-21T09:34:00.000-06:00

Most moms experience mixed emotions when their kids go back to school. For me it's a mixture of sadness and relief. I ran across this quote this morning and it made me smile.

"If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylum would be filled with mothers."-- Edgar Watson Howe

Top Ten Uses for Pencil Boxes

2008-08-20T14:42:00.000-06:00

You can find pencil boxes for cheap this time of year. Walgreen's had them 2/$1. You can't beat that! I use pencil boxes for more than just pencils. Here are the top 10 ideas for ways to organize with a pencil box.

1. Store batteries - I buy batteries in bulk from Costco, but the packaging is big and bulky. I come home and dump the batteries into the pencil cases and they're neatly organized by size.

2. Make a nail kit - Include fingernail polish, remover, cotton balls, files, nail clippers, and all the nail accessories that seem to get lost under the bathroom sink.

3. Individual art kits for the kids - Dump out a box of crayons, a small notepad, and a pencil. Label the boxes for each of your kids. You have something to grab in a pinch when you need to entertain the kids in the car, at church or in a waiting room.

4. Corral the cords - I keep all the camera, phone and iPod chargers in a box.

5. Stash small office supplies - I keep a mini stapler, ruler, pens, pencils, markers, etc. in a pencil box in the kitchen.

6. Medicine chest on the go - Put vitamins, medications and first aid items in a box and take it with you on the next family trip.

7. House miscellaneous tools and junk drawer items - I use a box to store the miscellaneous small household stuff that ends up in the junk drawer (grabbers, sawtooth hangers, zip ties, etc.)

8. On-the-go Shower Kit - Throw in a mini bottle of shampoo, conditioner, soap, razor and a washcloth and you'll have a shower kit to throw in your bag for a vacation.

9. Sewing Kit - Store all those extra buttons you get on clothes when you buy them. Store a couple of spools of thread and some needles, a stitch picker and some scissors and you'll be all set the next time you need to sew on a button.

10. Store collections - If your kids are like mine, they collect stuff. For my kids it's rocks. These boxes are great for storing small collections...seashells, rocks, cards, stickers, etc.

What other ways have you used pencil boxes?

Hand-Stamped Card

2008-08-19T15:18:00.000-06:00

I thought I'd share an old hand-stamped card I made with Stampin' Up! supplies. I don't know about you, but I love getting homemade cards.

Pudding Pops

2008-08-18T21:25:00.000-06:00

Does anyone else miss Pudding Pops? I used to love them. My grandma always kept her freezer stocked with the frozen yumminess. My favorite was the swirl flavor. I can't find them any more.

I ran across this thread the other day about making Peach Pudding Pops and I thought it sounded scrumptious! I also found this version that would be super simple. I think I'll be making my own in the very near future...and I might even share with the kids!