Adirondack chair refresh with a paint sprayer plus a giveaway!

Adirondack chair refresh with a paint sprayer

Please tell me that I'm not the only one that hates to paint. Don't get me wrong, I love the way things look with a fresh coat of paint, I just don't have the time to brush on coat after coat of paint.  I'm sloppy too.  I usually just want to get the project done so I don't care what things get destroyed in the process.  Which I must say, isn't the best attitude to take on.  My dog has been several different colors because she's gotten too close to my project a time or two.

Not to worry! There is hope for people like us!  I recently got a Finish max paint sprayer and I have been going to town!  It's easy, fast and totally not sloppy at all!  I can't wait to show you my first project!


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Tie Dye party with 6 different tie dye shirt restyle creations

Tie-Dye party with 6 different tie-dye shirt restyle creations


The weather is getting warmer, the sun is shining and the friends are coming over in droves! We are always looking for fun {electronic free} activities for the kids, especially as they get older.  My 13-year-old daughter Isabella is very much like I was at that age.  She is drawn to anything creative where she can express herself.  Her friends are very much the same way. So one afternoon, a half a dozen girls gathered around my patio table for some tie-dye fun!  But the fun didn't stop there!  We created six different ways {most of them no sew} to restyle their t-shirts!

refashion a t-shirt after tie dye

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Father's day photo gift with Snapfish

There are so many photo sites out there now that it's hard to find the best one. I must be honest with you, for years I jumped between sites based on what coupon codes I could find and usually settled on the site with the best deals.  This method didn't always work out in my favor!  Sometimes, you really do get what you pay for!

I'm a big fan of giving personalized gifts.  Snapfish is launching an amazing new version of their site redesigned from scratch. They listened to their customers and you can tell! I was able to design a personalized gift for my dad for Father's Day and it took me less than 5 minutes! The new site is even available on your phone or tablet so you can design where ever you are! 

If you are my dad, stop reading now! You will spoil your surprise! If you aren't keep going so you can see how easy it was to make a personalized canvas from one of my favorite vacation photos.

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Show your most loyal family member some love


This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sponsored by Purina for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

One of the best things that we have done as a family was adopt our nearly five year old golden retriever, Sophie.  Sophie was a Christmas present for our family less than a week after we moved into our new home.




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Update your boring office supplies with some gold spray paint!

Am I the only one that wants to gold all of the things? I am loving this gold trend right now and love it even more when I can take some boring office supplies from my junk drawer and update them in a matter of minutes.  This project didn't cost me a dime since I had everything on hand, but now, my office supplies look like a million bucks!  It's so easy!



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How to write the perfect thank you note! Plus free printable thank you notes

Many people underestimate the value of a handwritten thank you note. Some people want to send a quick e-mail thank you so they don't forget or think that a quick thank you in person is enough, but a hand written note is the best way to show your appreciation.  I've got a few tips to help you write the perfect thank you note.  Tips that may be helpful with graduation and wedding season approaching!

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Free coloring pages round up for grown ups!

Do you ever find yourself at a restaurant with your family waiting for the meal to be served and taking the crayons from your kids so that you can color their coloring page menu? I know I'm not the only one! Lately, I've been getting the itch to color and thanks to pinterest and a long list of fabulous designers and contributors, there are lots of free printable coloring pages that will fulfill your need to color.  I have gathered a few together for you.  Color outside the lines if you want! No one is looking!



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The Ultimate Craft Stash Giveaway!

For longer than I would like to admit, I have had a box of craft supplies in my closet just waiting for a giveaway.  I've added to them with some awesome supplies from Silhouette, Heidi Swapp, Mod Podge and Martha Stewart.  There are too many supplies in this box to list and I am giving them all away to one lucky reader! BONUS!!! I'm not the only one having the ultimate craft stash giveaway! There are a slew of us all with awesome stuff to win!
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Graphic t-shirt using heat transfer vinyl

Graphic t-shirts are hot this summer!  You can find them everywhere, but why grab one at the store when you can make one? While I was at SNAP conference last month, I picked up some Expressions Vinyl. I have been digging these racer back t-shirts from Wal-Mart of all places {can't beat the $4.97 price tag!} and now I've been embellishing shirts til my hearts content. I love making custom t-shirts, and nothing is more custom than one you create on your own.  Heat transfer vinyl is so easy to use that you will be whipping shirts out like a pro in no time!



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Where do you find support as a parent?


How and where can you find support as a parent?


From the moment I became a mom I sought out other parents who could help me normalize parenting.  I have been involved in lots of co-ops, play groups, moms Bible studies, MOPS, and on-line pregnancy/parenting support groups.  The ability to talk aloud about what you think only you are experiencing was so helpful to me and those groups helped me get through some difficult times in parenting especially in the early years when you are trying to figure it all out..


One of the hot topics of discussion in parenting circles is how to tackle a weight issue in your child.  Many parents aren't sure how to have this discussion with their children.  A therapist gives some great tips on how parents can open up the dialogue with their kids so that change can occur to promote a healthier lifestyle.
**Tip: Being a good role model is key!**

Another favorite topic of discussion in mom groups that I have been a part of is birthday party celebrations. I've had to ask myself a few times who the party is for. Am I creating a Pinterest worthy celebration for my kids or am I doing it to impress other moms? Check yourself on this one. Your kids probably won't care if the plates, cups and snacks all match a certain theme. I promise!

I remember going all out for my oldest son's first birthday, and yet it's a celebration that he won't remember!  There are whole blogs and websites dedicated to birthday party planning.
I must say I'm grateful that Pinterest wasn't a thing when my kids were little. There are so many great ideas but does the inspiration out weigh the celebration?

And finally, all parents of multiple children struggle with how to incorporate a new baby into the family without making the older children feel left out.  

It was always really important to me to spend one on one time with my older children when there was a new baby in the house.  Even if I was tempted to put a movie on and take a nap when the new baby slept!  My oldest son and I would build trains that would take up the whole downstairs.  My daughter and I would read books together or play kitchen.  We would spend time with the baby monitor plugged in to the garage outlet and ride bikes in the cul de sac.

If I needed to get some cooking or laundry done, I would try to incorporate the things that I needed to get done, and let the older kids be involved in it too.


Where do you find parenting support?  
I think it's best to start looking for help before you think you will need it. Having people around you as a sounding board helps. Many times, those parents in the early years will also last through the teen years too. Keep those friends close, you will need them!
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The best chocolate chip cookie recipe!

I love a good chocolate chip cookie {because they are the best kind of cookie} and since I can't keep a good thing all to myself, I thought I would share with you the best chocolate chip cookie recipe out there. It's the only recipe you will need! You will make the best chocolate chip cookies every time. Promise!


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Are you putting limitations on yourself?

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Godspeed Pictures, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #wherehopegrowsmovie http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

"I'm just a mom." Have you ever found yourself saying that?  I know that I have caught myself saying that phrase... More than once this year even!

My primary job for the past 16 years has been that of a stay at home mom.  I graduated college married with a toddler and despite the degree with the fresh ink, we had decided that I would stay at home and be the primary caregiver of our children.

One child, turned to three {how does that happen?!} and I loved my role as a mom. Though there were times that I felt like I was saying no to God and opportunities that He had given me because of limitations that I was setting on myself. I was in a season on life that placed limitations on my schedule because the kids were young and I was the primary caregiver, but as the kids got older, I realized I started hiding behind those limitations and using them as an excuse.  Thankfully, our perceived limitations do not stand in the way of God's purpose.
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Gold painted seashell candles

We live very close to the beaches of the Puget Sound.  In fact, spending time at the beach is one of my favorite things ever!  I'm still a kid at heart and love walking the shore collecting shells and sand dollars.  The big question is, what do you do with them once you get home?  Well, I have a fun craft that didn't cost a lot of money but will help you make your shells a keepsake.



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Don't worry! Free teacher appreciation printable that will take you less than five minutes!

Could the end of the school year get any busier?  Mother's day is this weekend, spring sports are in full effect, there is a concert or assembly to celebrate everything and on top of it all the sun is shining and the days are longer and now we have to remember teacher appreciation week.  Holy cow!  How can we keep it all straight?!

Not to worry!  You aren't too late to get in the game and show your teachers some love. This printable is teacher approved, teacher created and it's sure to make all the other teachers jealous! Bonus, it will only take you a few minutes to print it up and you will have the best gift in the whole school. Promise!

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May free printable memory verse

How did May happen already?!  April flew by with barely a blink. But the new start of the month, means a new free printable memory verse for all of you.

Right click, save and print out your verse and then tape them up all over your house so that your whole family can work toward memorizing scripture.  

As always, my free printables are for personal use only.  Please don't sell them.  That's just not awesome.

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Easy to make pencil vase

On Wednesday I shared with you 20 teacher appreciation gifts that you could make today. Today, I want to show you a simple pencil vase that I whipped up in under an hour. This would make the perfect gift for teacher appreciation week.

Easy to make pencil vase
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